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On October 25, The King Baudouin Foundation, the leading resource for philanthropic giving to Europe and Africa, held a private dinner at Sea Grill in New York City to honor Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola the founder of WeCyclers. WeCyclers is a Lagos-based social enterprise focused on giving low-income communities in developing countries a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through an incentive-based recycling program. At the event were the Founder of African Women In Tech, Anie Akpe; Diversity and Inclusion Reporter at Forbes, Ruth Umoh; Tracy Austin, Busie Matsiko-Andan, Michelle Awuku Tatum, Shimite Obialo, Yasmina Edwards, Adey Hailu and founder of the African Women Power Network, Mary Olushoga.
Wefarm.co the digital network for global small-scale agriculture has raised $13 million in a Series A financing round led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm True Ventures.
This financing round will help Wefarm further scale its network of 1.9 million farmers, and its newly created Marketplace, to connect farmers in Africa, even those without internet access, to the information, products and services they need to be more successful. Investing alongside True Ventures are AgFunder and June Fund, among others. The company received significant follow-on investment from LocalGlobe, ADV and Norrsken Foundation.
Founded in 2015, Wefarm is on a mission to create a global eco-system for small-scale agriculture. With more than 1 billion people directly involved in small-scale farming, it is the biggest industry in the world. Wefarm is building the network of trust for those farmers.
Wefarm Marketplace allows farmers to easily access quality products and services, such as seeds, fertilizers and a range of other non-agricultural items from trusted retailers and brands. In line with Wefarm’s bottom-up model, all products, services and retailers on the platform have been recommended by Wefarm users and can even be purchased through SMS.
Disproportionally, smallholder farmers lose too much time and money due to fake or faulty agricultural products. Farm yields in many parts of Africa are just one-fifth of farm yield in the United States or Europe. Poor-quality seeds and fertilisers also limit growth in plants and animals. Given that smallholder farmers grow roughly 70 percent of the world’s food, Wefarm intends to use its technology to help close this yield gap.
The company’s funding announcement coincides with another notable growth milestone of reaching $1 million in total sales from the Wefarm Marketplace in just eight months since launch; that’s faster growth than both Amazon and eBay in their early stages.
With Marketplace sales growing at more than 40 percent month on month, the business is on a rapid growth trajectory. Over the next 12 months it aims to diversify into supporting farmers with both financing and delivery, as well as enabling them to trade the commodities and crops they grow, with the goal of becoming a key part of the global supply chain on behalf of the farmer.
A resolution adopted at the Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) 5th Annual Conference & Expo, could have far reaching implications for women economic empowerment in Africa.
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum Conference
made history this week when it called for the economic empowerment of women to be linked to the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), at its annual gathering of leading women politicians, businesswomen and entrepreneurs on the continent, 29-30 October 2019, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa.
The initial call was made by renowned economic activist and social entrepreneur, Wendy Luhabe, from the stage on the first day, for radical action and not just conversation, leading to the adoption on Day 2, by the gathering of influential women of a resolution to be delivered to the Chair of the African Union.
Said Luhabe, the Founder of the Women’s Private Equity Fund and co-founder WINDE: “Women do not get invited when nations are going through transitions. We have to make a space for ourselves.”
The resolution states that: “The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), is a monumental milestone on Africa’s developmental roadmap that must be exploited to the full for intra-Africa trade. It will unleash almost unlimited opportunities, new economies of scale, and income and employment generation through greater market and economic integration.
“We are concerned that if women are not involved in finalising the details of the Agreement, women will be excluded from the opportunities that will be unleashed.”
AWIEF Founder and CEO, Irene Ochem, lauded the occasion as indeed momentous for women on the continent of Africa.
AWIEF, which this year celebrates the 5th anniversary of its benchmarking Conference, Expo and Awards, hosted more than 60 African and global thought leaders across business and politics to share insight and thought leadership. UNECA, World Bank, USAID, CTA, Shell, Nedbank, APO Group headlined the flagship event.
The conference theme this year was, Enhancing Impact: Digitalisation, Investment and Intra-African Trade. The two-day event aimed to promote and accelerate the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses for Africa’s inclusive economic growth; share entrepreneurship trends; connect and network with trailblazers from all over Africa and beyond.
AWIEF 2019 Keynote speakers included Dr Vera Songwe, United Nations Undersecretary General and Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); Arunma Oteh, Academic Scholar, Oxford University and former Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank; Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Chancellor Nelson Mandela University and former Vice President and Special Envoy on gender to the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Every year NGO CSW/NY presents the Woman of Distinction Award to a woman in recognition of her leadership in the struggle for gender equality, human rights and women’s empowerment.
In 2020 as we commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing +25, we have decided to honor five (5) women, one from each United Nations Region: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and others.
The five Women of Distinction will receive their awards at the 2020 NGO CSW Consultation Day on Sunday, 8 March. They will also be introduced at the NGO CSW Reception on 10 March.
Honorees must be available to travel to New York City in order to be present for NGO CSW Consultation Day, 8 March 2020.A total of $5,000 will be available to help defray travel costs to be shared among the honorees.
The honoree should be:
A leader of distinction in her field of expertise who has made significant contributions to the Beijing Platform for Action with demonstrated results;
Outstanding young feminist leader who has made contributions to policy or projects related to the Beijing Platform for Action and who demonstrates promise in leading the work in the next generation;
A woman or girl who has advocated for social change and is an effective motivator and communicator;
A leader who is committed to social change and implementing action plans to improve the lives of women and girls when she goes back to her home.
The Women of Distinction will be selected from the five United Nations Regions and the group will represent diversity in age, social cultural mix, urban-rural, and expertise in different critical areas of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Please e-mail names of nominees with the following supporting documents to woda (at) ngocsw.org no later than 2 December 2019.
Cover letter by nominee, with title, name of NGO, email, phone, address.
Curriculum vitae of nominee
Letter of recommendation with name, title, email address and relationship to nominee
Applications are considered complete when the entire set of documents are submitted. Only completed applications will be considered.
Any global NGO can apply to host an NGO CSW64 Parallel Event as long as their proposed event is relevant to the CSW64 theme. Your organization does not have to be ECOSOC accredited.
Your application will be reviewed to determine the relationship of your proposed parallel event to the CSW64 theme and its relevance to advancing gender equality post Forum. This includes the 6 thematic clusters (listed below) and emerging issues (such as migration, climate, and others).
– Inclusive development, shared prosperity and decent work – Poverty eradication, social protection and social services – Freedom from violence, stigma and stereotypes – Participation, accountability and gender-responsive institutions – Peaceful and inclusive societies – Environmental conservation, protection and rehabilitation
Special attention will be given to those who reflect implementation ideas in their applications. Selected parallel events will be scheduled for a 90-minute slot Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 6:15 pm during March 9-20 and on Saturday the 14. Once scheduled, NGO CSW/NY will not accommodate any changes in scheduling or assigned venue.
The 12-week Facebook Accelerator London program will launch in November, and startups will gain access to the knowledge and expertise of Facebook employees, which includes practical workshops in product, engineering, growth, impact, and bespoke mentorship.
Product managers, data scientists, marketers, recruitment specialists and engineers from Facebook will offer mentorship to the startups involved in the program. Facebook Connectivity will support companies that are building solutions to bring faster, cheaper and better connectivity and internet services to people across Africa.
The program is designed for startups from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) that are creating impact at scale using artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR), blockchain and other Facebook technologies.
In line with its growing international cooperation, the African Energy Chamber will welcome young professionals from across Africa, North and South America, Asia and the Middle East to join its office in Johannesburg for 12 months.
The Fellows will be provided with an opportunity to apply analytical skills on concrete challenges and problems across the energy sector, and an opportunity to specialize in upstream oil & gas and local content development. They will work in collaboration with the Chamber’s dedicated oil and gas sector advisors and experts located around sub-Saharan Africa, and help deliver research and consulting projects that address on-the-ground challenges faced by Africa’s oil & gas sector.
Selected fellows will join the African Energy Chamber for 12 to 16 months and join a team that provides comprehensive and thought-provoking research on the African oil & gas industry and energy sector at large, along with critical support to local content development programs across the continent. A large part of the roles will focus on sharing and presenting data and informed views to the Chamber’s partners and the industry, and developing the right capacity building programs to institutional and private parties across the continent.
How to apply: Interested applicants should send their resume at the soonest to mickael (at) energychamber.org and highlight the contribution they wish to bring to the work of the African Energy Chamber.
VC4A is proud to announce the 12 ventures (11 Series A and 1 Seed+) for its 2019 Venture Showcase. These companies selected represent the best investment opportunities on the continent. They have been vetted by 40 VC investors through a rigorous referral and selection process. The companies demonstrate strong revenues and competitive edge, are well-positioned for regional and internal expansion, and are working on important innovations in the healthcare, finance, transport, commerce and advertising sectors.
The founders will showcase their businesses in front of the investors at Africa Early Stage Investor Summit in Cape Town on 13 to 14 November 2019, with the aim of raising $250k-$5mln in Series A capital. All companies provide technology-intensive or innovation-based products or services that are currently available in one or more African markets.
Introducing the 2019 VC4A Venture Showcase companies
Without further delay, the 12 companies are: 7keema (Egypt), Brimore (Egypt), Buseet (Egypt), CredPal (Nigeria), CrowdForce (Nigeria), FinChatBot (South Africa), FlexClub (South Africa), LifeBank (Nigeria), Mobiz (South Africa), Snapnsave (South Africa), Yassir (Algeria), and VRapeutics (Egypt) for the Seed+ category.
7keema is a technology-enabled healthcare services platform that enhances the accessibility and quality of nursing services while empowering female nurses everywhere.
Brimore is a social commerce platform that enables manufacturers to grow on a national scale through a powerful commercial arm of individuals, selling the products to their surrounding circles via all possible channels.
Buseet operates private high-end buses in transporting daily commuters. allowing businesses and employees to book trips on predefined routes through their apps.
CredPal is a financial technology company that enables consumers to make purchases across online/offline merchants and pay in fixed monthly installments by providing them with instant access to credit at the point-of-sale and also on credit cards.
CrowdForce is building an ecosystem of 1 million merchants that will render penetrative market research and financial inclusion services to the billions of consumers in Africa and other emerging markets.
FinChatBot develops bespoke Artificial Intelligence-powered chatbots to help financial service providers acquire and retain customers while reducing operating costs.
FlexClub is a managed marketplace helping independent drivers on digital platforms access vehicle ownership based on their skills while simplifying how purpose-driven investors can earn competitive returns from funding commercial fleets.
LifeBank is a medical distribution company focused on transporting supply chain-sensitive medical products such as blood, vaccines, and oxygen in developing countries using high and low technologies as well as smart logistics.
Mobiz is a powerful yet easy-to-use software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that offers businesses of all sizes cutting-edge customer engagement. Mobiz’s proprietary SmartSMS product combines the ubiquity of established mobile channels with the personalization of the web to create unique calls to action.
Snapnsave is South Africa’s #1 cashback coupon app that gives shoppers and independent traders cashback when shopping in-store, just by snapping a photo of their shopping receipts.
Yassir is an innovative transportation service that can be used with your smartphone anywhere, anytime. It allows everyone to book a driver and to move safely.
And last but not least, our special selection in the ‘Seed+’ investment category is VRapeutic . It develops virtual reality software for therapy, with a focus on learning disabilities and developmental disorders, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and cerebral palsy.
The lead-up to the main stage in Cape Town
These 12 selected startups will be linked to top VC investors as mentors in the coming weeks and receive bespoke investor readiness training that culminates in a 1-week residency in Cape Town, South Africa. During the residency, the startups will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from their mentors, peers, and partners, before delivering their pitches on the main stage of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit. The program offers two days of networking opportunities at the Summit, where entrepreneurs will also engage with interested investors during deep-dive sessions. Moreover, the participants will pitch to a wider audience of corporates, investors and tech professionals at VC4A’s partner event, AfricaCom.
Investor participation has been outstanding this year, with 40 major VCs and multiple angel groups involved in the intensive vetting process. We believe initiatives like this help to build trust and foster collaboration between industry stakeholders, and importantly, create both co-investment opportunities and exit opportunities for our partners.
Interested in attending the 2019 VC4A Venture Showcase and meeting the entrepreneurs behind these 12 companies? Consider joining us in Cape Town in November! or get in touch with us by email at: team[at]africainvestorsummit.com.
She-EO is a powerful, soul inspiring and life transforming experience for purpose driven women. It is a talk-show style experience, which features experts and “battle tested winners” whose stories, authenticity and experiences transform the lives of our audience, and inspire us to think about Money, Career, Impact, Love & Relationships, Health and Wellness, and Adversity from positions of wholeness and strength. The goal of She-EO is to provide safe platforms for multi-cultural women of color to retreat and discuss issues related to personal growth and community engagement. She-EO specifically addresses financial, mental and societal barriers that inhibit the growth and progress of women.
She-EO is a unique gathering of the most determined and diverse women of African descent. We are breaking cultural barriers by having no hold barred discussions about issues that are “taboo” topics in many cultures and communities, because these barriers have to be broken so millions of women can live more fulfilling lives, and make better contributions in their communities.
As we prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and Beijing Platform for Action, take stock of our progress toward achieving gender equality and examine the threats, barriers and gaps that remain, we do not want to reinvent the wheel.
Let us use the Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW and other human rights treaties, the SDGs, as well as a host of other international commitments such as the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, New Urban Agenda of Habitat, UNSC Resolution 1325 and related resolutions and the Paris Climate Accord to measure our progress and make our demands clear.
What are the six thematic clusters?
Inclusive development, shared prosperity and decent work
Poverty eradication, social protection and social services
Freedom from violence, stigma and stereotypes
Participation, accountability and gender-responsive institutions
Peaceful and inclusive societies
Environmental conservation, protection and rehabilitation
This plan can be implemented at global, regional and national/local levels. Please adapt as you wish.

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The new head of the world's biggest software company took the stage nearly three hours into a marathon keynote. It "began" with a new version of Windows Phone -- that adds an instant Skype button, like Apple's Facetime -- and predictive alerts like Google Now.
"We think when a phone knows you, you have a better experience with it," Nadella said.
There's a speedy new keyboard. But Windows Phone still lags behind the others in apps. Microsoft wants to change that:
"It's my pleasure to introduce universal windows apps," Nadella said.
Just like it sounds, developers can build one app that'll adjust itself to run on your phone, tablet, soon, even your Xbox -- and even your desktop PC.
Speaking of those -- they're finally fixing Windows 8:
"Run your windows applications with the new start menu," Nadella said.
It's hardly new. The start menu's been around for almost 20 years, but Microsoft removed it in Windows 8 -- and users revolted. Now, they're back-tracking to make the new touchable Windows a little better for the old keyboard and mouse. If you have Windows 8.1, the update is free.
But the announcement likely to be the most talked about is one that's doing quite a bit of talking itself. or more accurately, herself.
True geeks know Cortana's named after a character in the "Halo" video games. Just like her namesake, she's artificially intelligent.
"I'll add dentist appointment to your calendar," she says during the presentation. "Just so you know -- you have to pick up Christina from airport at the same time."
And unlike Apple's "Siri," -- Cortana is open to app developers. So you could add shows to queues in Hulu, for example, with a voice command. Thousands of developers at the Build Conference will likely teach Cortana new tricks.
The Windows Phone update will roll out "slowly' -- over the next few months.


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Vaya Offers Free Delivery Of Medicines For 3 Months3 years ago
VAYA Express, through VAYA Express Medical Deliveries, is now offering free delivery of medical supplies to assist Zimbabweans in need of critical medicines and drugs during the restrictions imposed due to the COVID -19 pandemic and beyond.
VAYA Express Medical Deliveries is collaborating with Maisha Health fund (formerly Steward Health) to help people in need to reach pharmacies by managing the last mile delivery of their medicines.
Announcing the free service, VAYA Logistics CEO Lovemore Nyatsine said the service will be immediately available from different pharmacies and doctors, starting with those in Harare and Bulawayo. Said Nyatsine:
The free deliveries of medicines and drugs is starting right away in Harare and Bulawayo. Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo will come on stream in the next two weeks… the free delivery promotion would run for three months, until July 31, 2020.
Nyatsine said the nation-wide COVID-19 lockdown across the country, while necessary in arresting the spread of the disease, had restricted mobility throughout the nation, making it difficult for patients, particularly the elderly and those with chronic conditions, to access drugs medical supplies.
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Because Vaya Express was designated an essential service provider, Nyatsine said the company was using the opportunity to offer free medical deliveries to the public. He said:
VAYA Express Medical Deliveries will deliver medicines to the public for free during these challenging times. The team delivering the medical suppliers is trained on the necessary health protocols and will also educate recipient patients on COVID-19 preventive health protocols.
He said to access the service, one simply sends a prescription to a Sasai or Whatsapp number of VAYA Express Medical Deliveries partner pharmacies (list available on the Maisha Website or through a WhatsApp Bot). They make their payment directly into the pharmacy’s Ecocash merchant number (available on the partner list) and send the proof of payment to the same number.
VAYA Express will then pick it up from there, and collect the hard copy prescription and deliver the required medicine within 48 hours.
Nyatsine said the service was specially designed for the elderly, for people with chronic conditions and for those who may not be able to travel into town to collect their medication.
He added that the service was open to any doctors and pharmacies in need of delivering medicines to their home-based patients


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Singer Brandy playing games with video firm
By John Gaudiosi
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Brandy Norwood, the actress and musician best known solely by her first name, is extending her talents into the video game world.
She will provide her voice and likeness, and help develop the story line for a sci-fi/action game that will ship in the first quarter of 2007.
The game comes from Matty/Markus Games, a Los Angeles-based firm founded by director Matty Rich ("Straight Out of Brooklyn") and video game veteran Frederic Markus ("Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.")
Brandy, who has sold more than 14 million albums worldwide, also will develop an original soundtrack for the as-yet-untitled game. Besides hearing this exclusive music in the new game, the release schedule calls for the CD of the soundtrack to go on sale right before the video game ships.
"An original soundtrack from artists that we build games around will be part of our release model at Matty/Markus Games," said Rich, who is working with rapper The Game on an original Mature-rated lowrider street-racing PSP game for release in the fall. A video game soundtrack will be released before that title's release as well.
According to the Entertainment Software Assn., 40% of gamers today are female. Rich said his plan is to provide a strong female protagonist for gamers as an alternative to the typical female caricatures games often feature.
"Brandy will play a strong female character who is put into a situation that she must react to -- one which has the fate of the world hinging on it," said Rich, who added that he wants to incorporate Brandy's personality, emotions and music into the game.
"She'll play a very dynamic character," Rich said. "The success of games like 'Tomb Raider' has shown that there's a need for strong female characters."
Ray J was just on the UPN news talking about how he used to run in gangs, etc. But in the end they reported that he and Brandy are working on a new album consisting of R&B oldies and a couple new songs -- to be released later this year or next.
Hopefully this is just PART of the stuff they're working on.
source: Reuters/Hollywood Reporter


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(Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc VZ.N on Thursday reported its first-ever quarterly loss of subscribers, even as it offered an unlimited data plan, raising questions on whether the No. 1 U.S. wireless carrier may need a larger acquisition than Yahoo to diversify its business.
Verizon has been struggling to fend off smaller rivals T-Mobile US Inc TMUS.O and Sprint Corp S.N in a maturing market for U.S. wireless service, and in February offered an unlimited data plan for the first time in more than five years.
While it has pursued other revenue streams, including a $4.48 billion deal for Yahoo Inc's YHOO.O core business, analysts have questioned if it should pursue a more transformative combination.
“We continue to believe that the company needs a strategic transaction to support their wireless business for the long-term,” analysts at New Street Research said in a note.
Meanwhile, Verizon's main competitor AT&T Inc T.N plans to diversify its business through an $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner Inc TWX.N, which would give it control of cable TV channels like HBO and other coveted media assets.
Verizon’s shares were down 1.2 percent at $48.33 in midday trade.
Earlier this week, Verizon Chief Executive Lowell McAdam said in an interview with Bloomberg News that he is open to deal talks with companies ranging from Comcast Corp CMCSA.O to Walt Disney Co DIS.N.
On Thursday, Chief Financial Officer Matthew Ellis clarified the comments, saying that while the company would consider deals that are in the interest of shareholders, it is confident in its assets.
“The ecosystem is constantly changing, and if there’s somebody who comes to us with an idea of how we can kind of leapfrog forward in that environment, we’re going to listen to them,” Ellis said in an interview with Reuters. But he added, “We are very confident with the strategy that we have.”
In the first quarter, Verizon said it lost 307,000 retail postpaid subscribers or those who pay a monthly bill. Analysts on average were expecting net additions of 222,000, according to market research firm FactSet StreetAccount.
Churn, or customer defections, among wireless retail customers who pay bills on a monthly basis, increased to 1.15 percent of total wireless subscribers, compared with the average analyst estimate of 1.03 percent, according to FactSet.
Ellis noted that churn rose in the first half of the quarter but came down in response to the relaunch of unlimited plans. “It really was a tale of two halves,” he said.
But analysts viewed the results as disappointing.
“They badly missed on every important subscriber metric, and it just underscores that the wireless business is a severely growth-challenged business at the moment,” said Craig Moffett, an analyst at MoffettNathanson in an interview.Net income attributable to Verizon fell to $3.45 billion, or 84 cents per share, in the first quarter ended March 31, from $4.31 billion, or $1.06 per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings per share was 95 cents.
Total operating revenue fell to $29.81 billion from $32.17 billion a year earlier.
According to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, analysts had expected adjusted earnings per share of 99 cents and revenue of $30.77 billion.
Reporting by Anjali Athavaley in New York; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Bernard Orr
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Putting United Auto Employees members from the Normal Motors Lansing Delta Plant picket on a road nook in Delta Township, Michigan U.S. September 29, 2023. REUTERS/Rebecca Prepare dinner/File Photograph
By Joseph White and David Shepardson
DETROIT (Reuters) – The United Auto Employees held off on further strikes towards Detroit Three auto vegetation on Friday, citing Normal Motors (NYSE:)’ sudden willingness to permit employees at joint-venture battery vegetation to be lined by union contracts.
GM’s concession may very well be important if rivals Ford Motor (NYSE:) and Chrysler mum or dad Stellantis (NYSE:) observe swimsuit, doubtlessly clearing the best way for ultimate agreements that may shore up the union’s place because the business switches to creating electrical automobiles.
“Our strike is working, however we’re not there but,” UAW President Shawn Fain stated in a livestreamed replace on negotiations with the three automakers.
Automakers have greater than doubled preliminary wage hike affords, agreed to lift wages together with inflation, and improved pay for temps, however the union desires greater wages nonetheless, the abolishment of a two-tier wage system and the growth of unions to battery outlets in any respect three firms.
Till Friday, the UAW had ratcheted up motion towards totally different automakers weekly to attempt to get its calls for met. Threatening to strike towards GM’s Arlington, Texas, plant that makes cash-cow SUVs just like the Cadillac Escalade spurred GM to agree that EV battery factories would turn into union vegetation with UAW contracts, Fain stated.
Gross sales of electrical automobiles are rising thanks partially to federal subsidies meant to assist a U.S. transition to decrease carbon emissions, and the union desires these employees to acquire the identical pay and job protections granted different members.
“That is completely an enormous step for all of the automobile producers to get a contract performed,” stated Sam Fiorani, vice chairman of world automobile forecasting at AutoForecast Options. “This was the final main hurdle.”
Fain didn’t say, nonetheless, whether or not employees at GM’s battery vegetation would earn the identical pay as union members at different vegetation.
GM is constructing three Ultium joint-venture battery vegetation with South Korea’s LG Power Answer. In August, Ultium stated it didn’t see any path for employees at its Ohio plant to be lined beneath a nationwide labor settlement, rejecting a push by Democratic U.S. senators.
GM is constructing a fourth U.S. battery plant with Samsung (KS:) SDI in Indiana.
“This defines the transition to EVs,” stated Harley Shaiken, labor professor on the College of California, Berkeley. “Clearly, GM’s concession on the grasp settlement will positively be matched by Ford and Stellantis.”
The destiny of battery plant employees was seen as a serious sticking level, with Ford CEO Jim Farley on Sept. 29 saying that Fain was holding the deal “hostage” due to that facet of the talks.
Individually, Ford stated on Friday it’ll lay off one other 495 employees in Ohio and Michigan due to the strike’s influence on two of its meeting vegetation.
The businesses thus far have resisted together with the battery vegetation they’re constructing beneath the grasp settlement, arguing most have been joint-venture factories with different majority homeowners that need to log out on such an settlement.
“GM has agreed to put the muse for a simply transition,” Fain stated in his reside broadcast, including the Detroit firm had “leapfrogged” the pack in negotiations with the UAW.
GM declined to verify Fain’s information, saying solely that negotiations proceed. “We are going to proceed to work in the direction of discovering options to handle excellent points,” the corporate stated in assertion.
LG Power Answer declined to remark. A spokesperson for Samsung SDI stated the corporate didn’t have a remark.
Stellantis’ North American chief working officer, Mark Stewart, stated in a letter to workers that the automaker is making progress within the talks, “however there are gaps that also must be closed.” Ford declined to remark.
The stress is simply rising on the three automakers as EV market chief Tesla (NASDAQ:) minimize U.S. costs of its Mannequin 3 sedan and Mannequin Y SUV, intensifying its worth struggle and additional pressuring revenue on all EV fashions which can be pressured to match CEO Elon Musk’s aggressiveness.
Fain additionally stated on Friday that the UAW might nonetheless strike towards extremely worthwhile pickup truck vegetation if progress stalls. To date, the union has prevented strolling off the job at these vegetation.
“We all know their ache factors, we all know their moneymakers and we all know the vegetation they actually don’t desire struck,” Fain stated. “They usually know we have got extra playing cards left to play.”
Fain has saved automakers in suspense as as to whether he would order further vegetation shut down, or give an automaker a go as a result of they’d supplied concessions. To date, the union has ordered walkouts at 5 meeting vegetation on the three firms and 38 elements depots operated by GM and Stellantis.
Fain stated on Friday that Ford had upped its proposed wage hike to 23% via early 2028. Mixed with proposed cost-of-living-adjustments, employees might obtain pay will increase of near 30%, individuals accustomed to the proposal stated.
Fain’s Friday video addresses have turn into must-see occasions since he launched coordinated strikes at GM, Ford and Stellantis vegetation shortly after midnight on Sept. 15.
GM shares ended practically 2% greater on Friday and Ford shares gained 0.8%. Stellantis shares in Milan ended up 1%.


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The recession wants you to stop doing coke, Sniffy Smith. In Europe, at least, coke prices are up, purity is down, and you've spent half your paycheck on a bag that's 91% "pet worming powder."
According to new figures from a UK police group which you should believe as much as you believe police groups, Brits are paying more than ever, for crap:
Prices per kilo have risen from £39,000 in 2008 to over £45,000 (50,000 euros), but street prices have remained stable.
However, new figures obtained by the BBC suggest almost a third of police seizures are now less than 9% pure, the lowest recorded purity level.
Investing in coke and wasting 90 cents on the dollar on baking soda is even worse than finance stocks.


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Network Shipping (NWS), the ocean logistics arm of Fresh Del Monte, has selected logistics and supply chain technology solutions provider Grydd to automate the platform.
The implementation will help NWS achieve nearly 100 percent compliance in its shipping operation, the company said.
NWS will deploy Grydd to modernize the manual process that relies on spreadsheets, letters, phone calls. Grydd helps NWS manage its assets, plan routes, book shipments, create purchase orders, and track assets, shipments, and product conditions with transparency of its financial and operative data.
The market is demanding faster lead times, lower costs and a better service experience, yet 75 percent of supply chain and logistics companies in the world are still operating under manual processes, according to Grydd.
The deployment of Grydd solutions will assist NWS in outpacing its big shipping line competitors with an almost 100 percent on-time arrival rate versus the reliability of big shipping lines that is between 26 to 50 percent.


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Epsilon announces keynote speakers at Nasscom 2016
Author(s): City Air NewsMumbai, 29 August, 2016: Epsilon, a global leader in creating connections between people and brands, today announced it will be the principal partner of the Nasscom MarTech Confluence 2016 being held on September...
Mumbai, 29 August, 2016: Epsilon, a global leader in creating connections between people and brands, today announced it will be the principal partner of the Nasscom MarTech Confluence 2016 being held on September 1, 2016 at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Mumbai. Epsilon’s Jeffery Evans, Vice President, Digital, Asia-Pacific and Amit Deshpande, Vice President, Analytic Consulting Group, will keynote the one-day event, sharing their insights on building roadmaps for marketing technology and its importance in the current digital world.
Mr. Desphande will participate in the panel Brands in the Era of Artificial Intelligence at 2:40 P.M. to discuss how brands can create compelling customer experiences on emerging platforms. Mr. Evans will partake in the session Your refrigerator is connected to the internet, now what? at 3:30 P.M. to share how new customer interactions and accompanying data sources factor into the customer experience and personalized marketing.
Ashish Sinha, Country Head, Epsilon India, spoke on the partnership with Nasscom, “Marketing is the key to the success for any business and marketing technology is foreseen as the future of the marketing world. We are excited to partner with Nasscom for MarTech Confluence, a platform to explore and share expertise on the steps towards making India the hub for marketing technology.”
Recognising the immense marketing technology talents in the country, Epsilon announced its India operations in September 2015. An all-encompassing global marketing company, Epsilon uses data to drive better business outcomes for clients, including 15 of the world’s top 20 brands, providing end-to-end digital marketing solutions through database marketing, CRM, email marketing and agency services among other key solutions.
MarTech Confluence is Nasscom’s annual conference, which is aimed at bringing together marketers who are also technologists “The “Marketing Technology: The Innovation that drives ROI” theme is a stage for global marketers to be exposed to a wide range of marketing tools that are available and ways to assemble them to create a competitive edge.


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BVO is used in citrus-flavored beverages and has been linked to serious health problems
WASHINGTON, D.C. – An ingredient found in some citrus-flavored beverages that has been linked to a number of serious health problems would be banned under a proposal announced today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer Reports applauded the FDA for its proposed ban of brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which is found in a number of sports drinks and sodas.
“The evidence is clear that brominated vegetable oil in sodas and other beverages poses an unacceptable risk to our health,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports. “Toxic additives like BVO that have been shown to pose toxic risks to the thyroid and other chronic health problems should not be allowed in our food. We’re encouraged that the FDA has re-examined recent studies documenting the health risks posed by BVO and is taking action to prohibit its use.”
Brominated vegetable oil is used in beverages as an emulsifier – a substance that helps blend liquids that don’t otherwise blend easily, such as oil and water. According to the FDA, it keeps citrus flavorings from separating and floating to the top of the beverage. It is used in about 90 sodas and beverages, most of them vibrantly colored and citrus-flavored, according to a database maintained by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Peer reviewed studies conducted on rodents have linked BVO to neurological problems, thyroid, heart and liver problems; and behavioral, developmental, and reproductive issues.
BVO is already banned by the European Union and is one of four food chemicals covered under a California bill recently signed into law that also prohibits the use of Red Dye 3, potassium bromate, and propyl paraben in food produced and sold in the state beginning in 2027.
Michael McCauley, email@example.com


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In the three days leading up to his acquisition of the photo-sharing app Instagram, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talked the startup’s founder, Kevin Systrom, down to $1 billion from his original offer of $2 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Instagram had just secured $50 million from Sequoia Capital and other investors, bringing the company’s valuation up to $500 million. The company’s user base jumped to 35 million people after they released Instagram on the Android. However, the app was free and the company had no other sources of revenue.
Mr. Zuckerberg, who planned to pay for Instagram mostly with stock, asked Mr. Systrom what he thought Facebook would be worth, the people said. If he believed Facebook would one day be worth as much as a company like Google at $200 billion or more, then the equivalent of 1% of Facebook would be sufficient to meet his price, Mr. Zuckerberg told Mr. Systrom, the people said.
WSJ reporters Shayndi Raice, Spencer E. Ante and Emily Glazer pointed out that normally a deal like this takes several days, if not weeks, to complete, and usually involves more lawyers and bankers than were present during the negotiations.
Facebook’s board, apparently, was not happy.


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Keyword: Otsuka Pharmaceutical
Avanir pays $116 million in Neudexta kickback suits; China unveils results for a procurement scheme; Aurobindo founder faces insider trading fine.
Avanir has reached a settlement with the feds over a yearslong marketing and kickbacks probe for Nuedexta.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals had to defend its Nuplazid safety last year, and now the drugmaker faces a DOJ probe into its marketing.
AZ's China sales jumped 25% in 2018; Pfizer Japan recalls valsartan drugs made with Mylan's API; resistance might hurt Shionogi and Roche's Xofluza.
More than a year after CNN's exposé about Avanir's Neudexta marketing, the company is nearing a settlement with U.S. officials.
Antengene collects $120 million in series B; Otsuka inks new digital-pill pact; MabSpace merges with HJB.
Allegations in nearly a dozen kickbacks lawsuits against top pharma companies are unfounded, the government said.
As patients continue taking a more active role in healthcare, pharma's interest in digital therapeutics, already on a roll, will only accelerate.
The Takeda-Shire deal passes investors; Sun suffers from a long list of allegations; J&J and Legend update CAR-T data.
Cancer drugmakers cut prices by 56.7% for China; Celltrion's Rituxan biosim wins FDA panel support; Otsuka renews digital pill deal with Proteus.


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Tata Group earned $1b in FY16 from Rs 18,409cr spend on R&D
Mumbai, May 11 () Tata Group companies have together spent 2.8 per cent of their consolidated revenue at Rs 18,409 crore on innovations in fiscal 2016 and they have gained USD 1 billion worth in incremental benefits. "On an average we spend 2.5 to 2.8 per cent of our consolidated revenue on R&D.
Mumbai:Tata Group companies have together spent 2.8 per cent of their consolidated revenue at Rs 18,409 crore on innovations in fiscal 2016 and they have gained USD 1 billion worth in incremental benefits.
"On an average we spend 2.5 to 2.8 per cent of our consolidated revenue on R&D. In fiscal 2016, it stood at 2.8 per cent, or Rs 18,409 crore. And when it comes to incremental benefits, it has been averaging at USD 1 billion per annum for the past three years or so," Gopichand Katragadda, group chief technology officer at Tata Sons, said today.
He said fiscal 2017 numbers are not out yet as most of the Tata firms are yet to declare their annual results.
Over the years, Tata companies showcased over 3,300 implemented innovations, which has grown over 110 per cent over the past years, under the Tata Innovista programme. The number of patents published stood at over 8,000 since the programme was launched in 2007, while the number of patents granted stood at around 2,500, he said.
A significant number of these innovations are in the digital world, and at the intersection of biology, computing and materials sciences, industrial automation, customer experience enhancement and advanced engineering simulations, Katragadda said.
"Our industries are in the midst of tectonic shifts driven by the democratisation of digital, automation of decisions, and a focus on the environment. The Tata Group has continued to lead in intellectual property generation from artificial intelligence to microbiomics and from driver assist technologies to new 2D materials."
Asked about the implemented innovations, he said these include new products & services, core processes, support processes and design.
Some of the leading innovations in industrial automation, incorporating digital, include TCS' embedded security for the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Tata Steel's smart desulphurisation utilising infrared thermal imaging camera and image processing algorithms and Tata Motors' tyre life extension.
The Tata Motors' innovation leverages real road usage data to incorporate realistic wear patterns into the design process utilising digital approaches.
TCS is also piloting a major advancement in the medical world - a revolutionary microbiome-based bio-markers to flag those at a high-risk for preterm birth and those at high risk for colorectal cancer.
Katragadda said some years down the line, they will open the innovation contest to non-Tata companies as well. At the 2017 session, 52 Tata companies from across 22 countries submitted their projects. Of these, 36 Tata companies reached the second round.Tata's British arm Jaguar Land Rover is developing 3D simulations of automotive components' performance under virtual road conditions to significantly improve design timelines. It is also developing a pedestrian automatic braking system using a stereo camera and algorithms for driver assist.


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General Motors will launch a new national print and online advertising campaign next week, promising consumers “no worries” when they buy a GM Certified Used Vehicle.
The campaign aims to raise the profile of the program and drive traffic to the GM Certified program’s Web site and 3,700 dealer sites.
“The category still needs as much help as possible in terms of creating awareness of what the benefits of Certified are all about. That’s a key driver, to help educate and increase the awareness,” said J. Schaffer, national advertising and marketing manager, GM Certified Used Vehicles. “In a category that’s not clearly differentiated, you need breakthrough advertising.”
The print and online ads, created by IPG’s Mullen of Wenham, Mass., use the tagline “GM Certified Used Vehicles: No worries,” utilizing flash cards to depict all of the things a buyer of a certified used car would no longer have to worry about. There are a total of nine different flash cards in the campaign and images will consist of a tow truck, hitchhiking, call box, wheel shimmy, flares, hydraulic lift, inexplicable noise, breakdown lane and leaky oil.
“Our goal for the campaign was to make the creative more personal to the consumer,” said Brad Audet, SVP/account director at Mullen. “‘No worries’ speaks to an emotional customer benefit. The certified category is driven by peace of mind, and for consumers to fully achieve peace of mind they need confidence that their used vehicle purchase and ownership experience is worry-free.”
Online components include a variety of banner placements on automotive verticals like AutoTrader.com, AOL Autos, Yahoo Autos, Edmunds.com, KBB.com and Cars.com. Some of the units will include a search box, where users can search by vehicle type or by GM’s brands directly from the banner ad. GM will also drive traffic through search ads on Google and MSN Search.
Print ads will appear in a variety of national print publications, including Essence, People, Sports Illustrated and Better Homes & Gardens, with magazine inserts and half-page spread ads. Media duties were handled by Publicis Groupe’s GM PlanWorks along with GM’s former agency, IPG’s GM MediaWorks.
GM sees print as a good opportunity to explain the program in detail as buyers get closer to the purchase point, and Internet advertising as a way to reach the growing number of auto shoppers who go online to research an auto purchase, Schaffer said.
The campaign also includes a significant Hispanic-targeted element, with specific creative that tailors the mainstream general campaign to Hispanic consumers. Those ads will appear in Spanish language publications and Web sites, including People en Espanol, Ser Padres and MSN Latino.
They're arguably the most annoying video ad formats in existence, but soon they'll be a thing of the past, at least on YouTube.
On Thursday, Twitter reported its earnings for Q4 2016, and the results have raised questions about the company's long-term future.
From its $1.5 billion air cargo hub to its growing network of contract last-mile delivery drivers, Amazon is increasingly looking like a logistics company; but shipping and logistics giant FedEx isn't sitting idly by.
Havas Group's Meaningful Brands report delivers sobering news for brands: consumers wouldn't care if 74% of the brands they use disappeared off the face of the earth.


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HONG KONG, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares edged higher on Monday but gains were capped by a reversal in Chinese banks, after the central bank issued rules for the trading of certificates of deposits, reigniting fears that interest rate liberalisation will crimp margins.
The Hang Seng Index ended up 0.3 percent at 23,811.2 points. The China Enterprises Index of the top offshore Chinese listings in Hong Kong finished up 0.5 percent after rising by as much as 1.4 percent earlier.
Haier Electronics surged 13.1 percent to its highest closing level since July 1999 as investors cheered its agreement with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group to further develop its logistics business.
A record yuan fix, robust China November export data and weaker-than-expected inflation helped buoy exporters, along with a solid U.S. jobs report last Friday. More Chinese data is due later this week, including industrial output, retail sales, money supply and loan growth.
Investors will be looking to an annual economic work meeting this week, along with two others for urbanisation and agricultural policy, where China’s leaders will convene to set economic growth targets to gauge the execution of Beijing’s bold reform agenda.
The official China Securities Journal said in a front-page commentary on Monday that the government will probably aim for annual economic growth of 7.5 percent in 2014, alongside 4 percent inflation.


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A few months ago, General Motors’ market cap was about $6B. In November, when I said General Motors will go bankrupt. In December, I said that even with a federal bailout, there’s a chance that the auto manufacturers are still in over their heads. Then what? What if $17.4 Billion isn’t enough?
At some point in time, failure reaches a critical mass that *can’t* be propped up, no amount of money or effort, no matter how Herculean, can save the company(s). It’s possible that we’re living this right now, and if this is true, any diversion of public funds towards assisting this industry is merely throwing good money after bad, and serves to exacerbate and prolong our suffering.
Apparently, $17.4 billion wasn’t enough, because now in addition to cutting more jobs, GM and Chrysler are asking for even more federal money! I’m beginning to see how they plan to “repay” the bailout “loans”:
- Borrow money from the government
- Borrow more money from the government to pay back principle + interest in (1)
- Borrow more money from the government to pay back principle + interest in (2)
- Borrow more money from the…
That’s a damn fine framework for success, and wouldn’t you know, the markets noticed! As of the closing bell on February 17, 2009, GM’s market cap has fallen to a paltry $1.3B. The estimations of their worth have again been halved, and they’re asking for an even bigger loan?
General Motors makes 50 vehicle platforms that nobody wants to buy. The problem is oligopoly: she should never have gotten so big as to be the “lifeblood of American manufacturing”. A free market wouldn’t tolerate it. They could never have gotten so big, while at the same time being so lousy!
These loans are never going to be repaid, but even if they are, the money is going back to “the government” and not to you and me, who are the actual lenders.
What happens when April comes around, and General Motors still doesn’t have a viable future? Do they get more money? At what point does the nonsense end? At what point do the politicians recognize and accept the fact that continually taking money from the taxpayers and giving it to companies like General Motors in massive corporate welfare schemes can’t ever work? I previously suggested one way we might save the auto industry:
Get rid of corporate taxes. Also get rid of corporate welfare. That’s a “level playing field” if ever there was one. Get rid of capital gains taxes, while you’re at it. General Motors paid $37 Billion in taxes last year. Eliminate their tax liability for 2008 and forward. If the government gives them $37 billion of their own f*cking money back (I understand this kind of a distinction without a difference), and they still can’t return to profitability, there is absolutely zero reason to give them any of other people’s money.
FSK commented that my proposal should’ve included “get rid of all restrictions that make starting a new car company nearly impossible”. Let’s add that in the mix, too. If starting a new car company was easy, then the Big Three wouldn’t be “the lifeblood” of American manufacturing, and an entire generation of laborers wouldn’t be dependent on a few monopoly companies for employment.


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Miniclip and Tencent's War Wings has already found success in the UK in its first week of release with top three spots on the download charts of both the App Store and Google Play.
The game has also now achieved one million downloads during its soft launch in Europe and Australia. It currently holds a 4.5 star rating from over 30,000 user reviews.
To help promote the game, Miniclip has launched a TV ad campaign with a commercial called "Conquer The Skies". The ad is currently airing on TV in the UK and is also available to view on YouTube.
War Wings was originally released in Asia by Tencent, where it reportedly received "millions" of downloads. It has been Westernised and published in the West by Miniclip, which was acquired by Tencent in February 2015.
The game has been launched in the UK a few months ahead of its US release. It is the first game to launch as a direct result of Tencent and Miniclip's relationship.


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There is little evidence to suggest that multivitamins benefit health in a measurable way for the average healthy person, according to NPR. Nutritious food is the best source for vitamins and minerals, says the American Heart Association.
A multivitamin or other supplement can prove useful for women of child-bearing age, as reported in the Huffington Post. The same is true for women who are going through or have gone through menopause.
There are certain populations that have vitamin deficiencies that require supplementation, as reported by NPR; however, a well-nourished adult does not need vitamin supplements. The best source of vitamins and minerals is fresh fruits and vegetables, according to Women's Health.


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Aston Martins often prove capable of tangling with the likes of Ferraris and Lamborghinis. But one thing that sets them apart is that, while their Italian counterparts often place their engines amidship, Astons are always front-engined. Right?
Well, discounting their Lola-built LMP1 Le Mans racer, everything that rolls out of the factory in Gaydon – much as they did before at Newport Pagnell – has its engine up front, even with supercars as exotic as the One-77, V12 Zagato and Vanquish. That’s where HBH comes in.
The Danish firm, as we initially reported back in May and followed up on in July, takes its initials from the last names of its brain trust: Jesper Hermann, Christian Brandt and Torben Hartvig, who between them have a wealth of niche supercar experience to impart. For their latest project, the trio teamed up to produce the vehicle you see here: the Aston Martin Bulldog GT.
Aside from the engine being place behind the cabin, the Bulldog GT features unique aluminum bodywork that looks suitably Aston-like and accommodates placing the engine in the middle. And in case the 6.0-liter V12 lifted from the Vantage weren’t powerful enough, HBH has bolted on two superchargers to boost output up to 666 horsepower. That’s said to be enough for a 3.9-second run to 62 mph and a 186-mph top end, but we wouldn’t be surprised to find those numbers conservative.
Perhaps the most intriguing bit is that HBH is not just selling the car, but half of its production rights along with it. That means the buyer can choose whether to keep it as a one-off or put it into limited production and reap the rewards. Sounds like an interesting business model to us. Take a closer look at the finished product in our gallery of images and draw your own conclusions.


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As part of its investor’s call and earnings report for the last quarter, which ended on Dec. 31, Electronic Arts confirmed the company has secured an extension on licensing exclusivity with the Union of European Football Associations.
Along with the multi-year agreement for continued exclusivity rights to the Champions League, Europa League, and Super Cup for the FIFA series, EA also announced multiple new FIFA projects currently in development.
Currently, there are six different mobile titles in the works using the FIFA brand, with the goal being to continue growing the FIFA fandom by further expanding into the mobile games market. These titles range from “authentic simulation to unique arcade formats offering new ways to play for everyone.”
Likewise, EA wants to capitalize on the free-to-play market that doesn’t play its traditional FIFA franchise by continuing to support the free-to-download FIFA Online 4 title. The spin-off will be made available for the first time in countries like Russia, Poland, Turkey, and more in the near future.
FIFA 21 will also be coming to Google Stadia on March 17, which should allow more players to play the latest version of the series on devices that might not meet the technical requirements through the cloud streaming service.
Through the current fiscal year, EA SPORTS titles have “engaged more than 230 million people” and FIFA’s Ultimate Team mode alone recorded nearly six million active daily players in December.
During the last quarter alone, EA has increased its “live service” games revenue to $1.5 billion year-over-year, while the FIFA franchise surpassed 325 million units sold overall.
“Our vision is to create the most authentic, social and connected football experience by bringing our games to more devices, more countries, and more fans around the world,” EA SPORTS VP DJ Jackson, said. “EA SPORTS continues to rapidly transform how fans consume sport, evolving football from a passive and scheduled experience to an interactive one, accessible at any time. This is the world’s game, and EA SPORTS is doing everything we can to further connect players, athletes, clubs, and leagues and grow the love of football, globally.”


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In sport, it’s nearly always an advantage to have been your family’s second-born – and so it appears to be with the Canon EOS R6, which is due to follow its elder Canon EOS R5 sibling at a launch event in July.
The full-frame mirrorless camera hasn’t actually been confirmed by Canon, but some apparently leaked specs seem to show that, just like Serena Williams and Andy Murray, the EOS R6 might just be more exciting (and, ultimately, successful) than its nearest sibling.
Of course, it’s a little early to be making definitive conclusions about the EOS R6. And it’s not as if the camera is going to be objectively ‘better’ than the EOS R5 – the latter will be Canon’s full-frame mirrorless flagship, after all, and has rightly attracted all the headlines for confirmed specs like 8K video capture and in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
But for most photographers and videographers, the EOS R6 is probably this year’s most intriguing new camera.
It will have a full-frame sensor, which is the same size as a single frame of traditional 35mm film. And the new specs apparently revealed by Canon Rumors include the ability to capture oversampled 5K video (a superior technique to alternatives like pixel binning), 4K/60p recording, 10-bit shooting and an “identical” autofocus system to the Canon EOS R5. For video shooters in particular, that’s an exciting cocktail.


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Forget about FOMO – the app includes exclusive collaborations and releases.
Do you know your adidas X Ravi from your adidas X Ivy Park? Well, we have some exciting news for you. The sports brand has launched the new app, adidas Confirmed, in the UAE, which means you never have to miss a drop. So, if you want those three stripe sneakers before everyone else – we’re not judging – here’s what you need to know.
The adidas Confirmed app gives users exclusive access to new releases. The items include cool collaborations with Bad Bunny, BAPE, Gucci and more. Plus, it will share the stories behind the sneakers and a look at the adidas community.
So far, the community stories include British fashion designer Gary Aspden, and the founders of the UK’s first women’s-only sneaker boutique, SHPTLKS. We’ve all heard about giving your home a makeover, but this teaches you how to give your sneakers a makeover.
adidas has been upping its presence in the Middle East, especially across the UAE. In summer 2022, it launched the sell-out collection adidas X Ravi, which was a partnership between the sports brand and much-loved local Pakistani restaurant. Plus, it paired up with a Dubai-based henna artist to create adidas X Dr Azra.
In February 2023, adidas unveiled its new sports campaign, Running Needs Nothing But You. The promotional video includes the Arab world’s most famous footballer, Mohamed Salah. Plus, two of the region’s leading female sportswomen, Egyptian runner Khadija Hegazy and Qatari hurdler Mariam Farid.
In March 2023, Saudi Arabian Football Federation and adidas announced a four-year partnership. As a part of the new partnership, the sportswear brand has created brand-new jerseys. The tops are inspired by the kingdom’s national emblem – the palm tree, no less – and include white, green and golden touches.
The adidas app is available to download now.
GO: Visit www.adidas.ae for more information.


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April 20, 2022
Junction59 welcomes Jill Smith as the newest art director to the Agency’s growing creative department. As part of the team, Jill will lend her skills to Canada Post, TELUS, SiriusXM, and more.
Jill joins us from Wunderman Thompson where she worked across digital and traditional platforms for big brands including IKEA, Volkswagen, TUMS, Sensodyne, and a host of other GSK brands. No matter the brand, Jill is all about helping transform the consumer experience through data driven concepts and compelling content all in the name of long-term solutions that build brand equity.
According to Curtis Wolowich, executive creative director at Junction 59: “when I met Jill for the first time I was taken aback by her passion for the business and her drive for great creative. She has a maturity that you don’t often see. I knew right away that I found my new art director.”


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Fall clause does not apply on the sale of drugs which have an expiry date: DoP
It will benefit those companies who are aiming at AYUSHMAN and trying to quote very low prices
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has issued a letter informing the Ministries/Departments involved in the procurement of drugs through agencies that fall clause does not apply on the sale of drugs, which have an expiry date. It has also instructed concerned agencies to ensure that tenders are issued in adherence with given instructions.
Fall clause is a price safety mechanism in rate contracts. It ensures that if the rate contract holder reduces its price or sells or even offers to sell the rate contracted goods or services following conditions of sale similar to those of the rate contract at a price lower than the rate contract price to any person or organisation during the currency of the rate contract, the rate contract price will be automatically reduced with effect from that date for all the subsequent supplies under the rate contract and the rate contract amended accordingly.
The issued letter by Byasadev Naik, Deputy Director, DoP, stated, “It has been brought to the notice of this department that many government procuring agencies are quoting the provision of fall clause in their tender documents for procurement of drugs despite the fact that the manual for Procurement of Goods, 2017 in para 8.1.14 of Chapter-8 provides for the exception of fall clause on sale of goods such as drugs, which have an expiry date. Accordingly, the Ministries/Departments, which are involved in the procurement of drugs through agencies under their administrative control are requested to take into account that the provision of fall clause does not apply on the sale of drugs which have an expiry date, and to ensure that tenders are issued accordingly.”
Ashok Madan, Executive Director, IDMA, “It’s going to help the companies in government procurement. It will help all those who are bidding in a large number of tenders and companies who are now aiming at AYUSHMAN and trying to quote very low prices. This will save those companies who quote different prices in different tenders. As per fall clause of the procurement manual, the bidder is mandated to give a declaration that the price quoted is the lowest.”
The issued letter has been addressed to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Labour and Employment.


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The excitement of an Obama presidency in 2009 has spilled over to the U.S. retail business. Washington, D.C. souvenir stores expect record profits on inaugural sales as record numbers of people come to town to see the new president take the oath of office.
Shelly Martinez is in Washington on business -- and shopping. "It actually has Obama and Biden on that," she remarked about one item.
She's searching for the perfect inauguration souvenir for her dad. "I know he will keep it forever because he does that," she stated.
Martinez is one of thousands of shoppers joining Obama-mania in preparation for the inauguration.
One souvenir shop welcomes shoppers into a replica of the Oval Office, complete with a smiling president-elect.
Shoppers can also stand at a presidential podium before browsing the rows of keepsakes. You also can spice up your inauguration with Obama hot sauce. Or tee off with a few Obama golf balls.
"Last week I had a gal come in and ask me if I had Obama oven mitts -- did not expect that one," said Jeff Roquen of Political Americana.
But there is everything else -- from a 50 cent inaugural pencil to the Oval Office desk, which goes for $9,000.
So how much is the Obama cut-out? "The cut-out will cost you $36.99 or $39.12 with tax," store owner Jim Warlick told us.
He will open six political memorabilia stores just for the inauguration. "We are hiring 75 new people and will be open all night long," he added.
Warlick placed an order for 250,000 buttons. But because of early high demand, he has asked the official Obama manufacturer to set up an operation in Washington during the inauguration to produce buttons continuously. "Traditionally, buttons are our biggest seller because they are great gifts. You can give them away and they hold their value."
Outside, vendors line Washington streets, selling souvenirs from white vans. They say international sales are up. A couple of shoppers from London commented, "It's not only big in America, but it's big across the world; it's really caused a stir."
Sam Jun has worked one spot for 30 years. He expects his sales to increase more than 15 percent over the inauguration of President Bush. "Mr. Obama much, much better than Mr. George Bush," he said.
The District of Columbia government is limiting the number of vendors for Inauguration Day. Just 500 permits will be issued. The vendors can only employ three workers and each of them must go through an FBI background check.
Alyce Anderson is from the Washington area. She, like most shoppers, is buying inauguration souvenirs for posterity. "I buy stuff for keepsakes to pass down to my children and hopefully they will pass it down to their children and my great grandchildren," she said. "This is history."
On Inauguration Day, the streets will be packed and the shopping lines long. Everyone will be wanting to take home a reminder of when the first African American said, "I do solemnly swear..." and began his presidency.


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Microsoft releases KB5008215 update for Windows 11 to fix SSD performance, installer problems and VPN issues
In what is the last scheduled update for Windows 11 this year, Microsoft released the KB5008215 update. The update takes the operating system up to build 22000.376 and includes numerous security fixes.
Among the changes introduced in this update are new emoji, as well as a fix for an issue that prevented the appearance of File Explorer and desktop shortcut menus. The fixes for SSD performance problems addressed by the previously released KB5007262 are also included.
- Microsoft is making Windows Terminal the default command line in Windows 11
- New GitHub Code Search technology preview is great for developers
- Microsoft's recently released KB5007262 update may fix SSD performance issues in Windows 11
Microsoft's support page for the update contains very little information about what anyone who installs it can expect. The company simply says that it "updates security for your Windows operating system".
Despite the rather sparse release notes, Microsoft has shared a video that not only gives some detail about the update, but also includes various tips for Windows 11. Other issues that are addressed are Bluetooth volume control problems, and an issue that caused File Explorer to stop working.
There is also speculation that MSI and VPN fixes are also included.
Check out the video:
The KB5008215 update is available to download via Windows Update, or from the Microsoft Update Catalog.


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Android Security App Test Results
03 Feb 2014
ZDNet, By Larry Seltzer
In its latest comparison of Android security apps, independent test lab AV-TEST found an overall high level of detection. 16 of the 30 products tested detected 100 percent of malware in the AV-Test, and many more were close to 100 percent. On the other hand, a few had false positives.
Only two of the products (Zoner Mobile Security 1.1 and SPAMFighter VIRUSfighter Android 2.1) failed to meet AV-TEST's standards for certification.
The movement in the pool of products has not been significant since AV-TEST's last Android roundup less than two months ago. The median overall score is the same and the average detection percentage is within 1 percent of the last tests. Read more.


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Prime Inc. has a new fleet captain.
The national trucking company earlier this year named Kevin Bergman as its director of fleet maintenance for all terminal locations in the United States.
“I wanted to make a change and get more on the business side,” he said.
Bergman previously worked in the information technology department. Now, he oversees Prime’s fleet of 6,500 trucks and 11,000 trailers that operate nationwide. He’s been in the role on an interim basis since July 2018, following 10 years as operations and IT development officer.
“For a company like Prime, it’s a pretty big job,” said Tom Crawford, president and CEO of the Missouri Trucking Association.
Typical fleet manager responsibilities, Crawford said, are handling the specifications of new vehicles, staffing the maintenance department, training technicians and ensuring equipment is safe on the road.
“Industrywide, just the staffing is one of the big challenges,” Crawford added. “Everyone hears about the need for drivers. The same type of push is out there for techs and skilled workers that are turning wrenches and checking computer screens.”
According to past Springfield Business Journal reporting, the over-the-road driver shortage is in the ballpark of 60,000 nationwide and could reach 175,000, if current national economic growth continues.
As fleet maintenance director, Bergman oversees roughly 600 associates in 11 areas: tractor, trailer, trailer rebuild, windshield, alignment, tires, auxiliary power, parts, road assist, washing and detailing.
As the national fleet maintenance director, he works with terminals in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and Salt Lake City, along with satellite terminals in Laredo, Texas; Shelbyville, Tennessee; Olney, Illinois; and Decatur, Indiana.
Bergman said he handles “pretty much anything that has wheels on it and some things that don’t have wheels.”
Bergman is spearheading new initiatives involving tire shredding and retreading, as well as an expansion of Prime’s container business.
“We are starting next month, hopefully in mid-April, a tire shredding company,” he said.
Prime plans to team up with industry firms Transport America Inc. and Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, along with local tire vendors like Ozarko Tire Centers Inc., to collect tires and bring them to its Springfield facility for shredding into rubber mulch, dust and other uses.
“They’re very happy and can’t wait to move forward with it,” Bergman said of officials at Ozarko Tire Centers.
Bergman said Prime plans to sell the shredded rubber in the wholesale market. The mulch also would be used around the Prime campus.
“We’ll be producing millions and millions of pounds of shredded rubber,” he said. “We’re recycling green as much as possible.”
Bergman said Prime also is currently researching doubling its capacity for its intermodal rail shipping containers.
“It’s early in the conversation,” he said, noting no timeframe has been established.
In addition, Bergman said Prime officials are exploring selling retreaded tires in the wholesale market while still satisfying Prime internal tire needs. And Prime is starting up a quick-lube oil changing bay, Bergman said, to make it easier on the drivers and cut down on maintenance time.
Bergman began working overnights in Prime’s computer room in 2000 before becoming a systems administrator a few years later, a position he held for seven years before taking his new role.
He succeeds Paul Higgins as director of fleet maintenance, who is now the director of procurement. Bergman said Higgins is in charge of buying trucks, trailer deals and other equipment.
“Kevin’s natural ability to identify opportunity, address challenges and create solutions made him a solid choice for this key position,” said Robert Low, founder and CEO of Prime, in a news release. “He’s been a passionate and motivated Prime Inc. associate for over 20 years, and I am excited for what he’s already done and what’s he about to do at Prime Inc.”
Ozarks Coca-Cola also reaches a three-year labor contract renewal with union.
Jill Reynolds, Private Client Advisor with Commerce Trust Company, says it’s gratifying to see progress in employees she’s mentoring. Reynolds thinks all employees should be mentored because they …
“I think the way we’ve managed our organization is kind of the people first, technology second approach,” says Thomas Douglas, president of JMark Business Solutions. He says it allows them to …
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“I think with the millennial generation, there is a misconception of just kind of flying by the seat of our pants, or we only take passion project jobs or things like that,” says Jenn Darden, …
Angela Frantz with Ultimate Software, says you have to own your mistakes if you want to keep customers’ trust when things go wrong. Frantz says if you let customers know you’re trying to correct …
Greg Burris, with Give 5 and United Way of the Ozarks, says BYU recently did a study on the physical effects of social isolation and found the physical impact is the equivalent of smoking fifteen …
Brandon Goodwin, co-founder and executive producer at Blend, says the idea for a new company came from getting too much wear and tear on their personal vehicles. They purchased a large truck and …
Jamie Kinkeade, owner of The Studio and The MVMNT, says if you want to be successful in business, you must include your family members. Before she realized the importance, she and her husband each …
Wayne Dipper, Chief Operating Officer and co-owner at KPM Technology says IT professionals often work long hours but you still have to make time for your family. Dipper coaches his son’s little …
How open is the communication in your workplace? Nicole Piper, Director of The One Stop for Early Childhood, says one of the most important things is to make your employees feel they are safe, secure …


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Amazon India, the e-commerce giant, saw the greatest growth in holiday sales, with 80% of its customers hailing from tier 2 and smaller cities. Mobiles and accessories saw strong double-digit growth this season compared to Amazon Great Indian Festival (AGIF) 2021 and 5 times higher when compared to average business days.
While Amazon India Vice President Manish Tiwary did not provide specifics regarding total sales during AGIF 2022, he did state that “it has been the best-ever festival sale” for the company.
Amazon claims to have seen participation from 11 lakh sellers, which includes 2 lakh local stores.
“More than 35,000 sellers saw their highest-ever single-day sales. Over 650 sellers became crorepatis (over ₹1 crore sales) and 23,000 sellers became lakhpatis (over ₹1 lakh sales),” Tiwary said.
Online holiday sales were dominated by mobile phone purchases, and Amazon also saw interest in 5G smartphones. The e-commerce platform experienced significant growth in the mid-range price range, with about 80% of sales falling under the ₹15,000 threshold.
“More than 10 lakhs customers bought smartphones for the first time on Amazon.in. Customers preferred brands were Xiaomi, Samsung (M Series), realme, iQOO, OnePlus and Apple,” Amazon said in the festive season sales report.
According to the report, more than 1.5 million new customers made purchases from Amazon Fashion and Beauty, with more than 85% coming from tier 2 cities and higher.
For the vast majority of their purchases on the platform, customers used credit cards.
“Overall credit card (including CBCC and EMI) has the highest transaction share (47 per cent) – so overall credit card was the most preferred option for shopping on Amazon.in during GIF, with every 1 in 2 transactions on a credit card,” Tiwary said.
8 out of 10 consumers had access to credit thanks to services like Amazon Pay Later, debit card EMI, credit card EMI, NBFC EMI (easy monthly instalment), etc.
“1 out 4 purchases were made on EMI and 3 out of 4 EMI purchases were on No cost EMI.Amazon Pay Later registrations increased by 4 times this festive season versus the average business day; With 6.5 lakh registrations during GIF 2022, Amazon Pay Later crossed the milestone of 6 million registrations,” the report said. LiveMint


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Madeira News app
The app, which was launched at the beginning of last year, is proving very popular. For those who missed it, it is repeated here, with a link in the sidebar to the app itself.
The app can be added to your tablet or smartphone home screen for immediate access, and pages load more quickly than viewed in a traditional browser. In addition, there is also the “Accelerated Mobile Pages” version of the website that has been available for two years. This cuts down on the overheads for mobile devices and makes viewing even more speedy. Full details here.


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WASHINGTON – Amtrak continues to make travel in the Northeast affordable by extending through December 16 its fare promotion which offers up to 25 percent off the lowest published coach fare on Northeast Regional service between Washington, New York and Boston.
Sample one-way fares include $49 between either Washington and New York or New York and Boston.
“Customer response to these new, low fares has been strong,” says Emmett Fremaux, Amtrak’s Vice President of Marketing and Product Management. “Amtrak is pleased to be able to extend this exceptional offer to continue to make travel in the northeast more affordable.”
In addition to travel between Washington and Boston, the 25 percent off fare promotion is also available through December 16 on service south of Washington to Newport News, on Amtrak’s Vermonter service between Springfield, Mass. and Washington and on the Keystone service between Philadelphia and New York.
There are no additional taxes or fees to Amtrak prices.


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German firm OK-Chiptuning has been busy tweaking a pre-facelift 2010 Audi R8 V10. They have done a pretty good job, considering they only deal with electronics. And they must be very pleased with the results, because of the name they’ve given it. They call it the Phantom Black Panther!
This R8 V10 has now 620 horsepower and 570Nm of torque, which are 100hp and 50 Nm more than what the standard 5.2 liter Lamborghini-derived engine makes. Now obviously, that kind of power gain cannot be achieved simply by altering a few lines of codes in the car’s electronic brain.
No, OK-Chip has also used a sport exhaust system that helps the engine breath more easily. They also have valves and stuff in them, which means they’re quiet when you are going along normally, and bark like a wounded animal when you step on it.
The extra oomph will invariably affect the performance. They haven’t revealed the 0-100 time, but 100 to 200 km/h is said to be dealt with in 6.9 seconds. The tuner has also fiddled with the chips inside the car’s R-tronic transmission to make shifting gear a bit quicker.
Last but not least, they fit the car with a carbon fiber front spoiler lip, a carbon rear diffuser, and taillights from Audi R8 GT.


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WasteServ will be opening four Reuse Centres to enhance its Civic Amenity Site experience and to further widen the concept of a circular economy.
These centres, which are expected to be opened by the end of the year, will offer used and ‘pre-loved’ items such as ceramics, toys, books, and loose furniture which still hold value and can be reused.
This was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia during a visit at the Ħal Far Civic Amenity Site where one of the Reuse Centres will be opening.
Minister Farrugia explained that people will be able to obtain these items against a pre-established donation which will go towards a fund for environmental initiatives, including a bee conservation program.
A new tender (https://www.wsm.com.mt/en/tenders) has been issued which will see shipping containers repurposed and transformed into a high-end innovative retail space with a creative design to serve as Reuse Centres. These will be placed at the Civic Amenity Sites of Luqa, Ħal Far, Mrieħel and Tal-Kus (Gozo).
Minister Farrugia said that these centres will provide an excellent opportunity to extend the life of various items that still hold value and would have otherwise entered the waste stream. This also complements the objectives of the new Long-Term Waste Management Plan by fostering a culture of resource efficiency and sustainable consumption.
WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca said that through these centres, WasteServ will prevent waste by promoting the reuse of products. This would also serve to raise people’s awareness by urging them to act with greater concern for the environment.


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Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales
Denver, CO 80210
- Tuesday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Street Parking
- Reservations Not Accepted
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Johnson & Johnson recently announced that it will stop producing and selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023, after halting United States and Canada sales two years ago. The company has faced almost 38,000 lawsuits filed by plaintiffs alleging that they developed ovarian cancer after using the product.
Although Johnson & Johnson continues to assert that its product is safe, labeling allegations “misinformation,” the company decided to discontinue all talc-based powder worldwide as part of a “global portfolio assessment.”
What’s behind Johnson & Johnson’s announcement?
Since the 1960s, scientific studies have identified a link between users of talcum-based powders and an increased incidence of ovarian cancer. In 2006, the World Health Organization classified genital talc as a possible carcinogen.
A 2016 study of 2,041 women with ovarian cancer and 2,100 premenopausal and postmenopausal women under hormone therapy without ovarian cancer, showed an increased risk of ovarian cancer due to talcum powder use. In 2018, a Reuters investigation revealed that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that traces of asbestos were present in some of its baby powder and was thus potentially carcinogenic. In 2019, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled 33,000 bottles of its baby powder product “as a precaution” after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found chrysotile asbestos fibers in a sample of the product.
A handful of talcum powder companies added warning labels to their products—Johnson & Johnson did not. In 2018, a St. Louis jury returned a $4.7 billion verdict against the company, finding the company was negligent and failed to warn consumers about the potential health risks of its baby powder. A 2020 appellate court opinion upheld the verdict, finding that the plaintiffs “proved with convincing clarity that [Johnson & Johnson] engaged in outrageous conduct because of an evil motive or reckless indifference,” but adjusted damages to $2.1 billion. Johnson & Johnson petitioned the Supreme Courts of Missouri and the United States to overturn the verdict, to no avail.
“Studies suggest that talc-based products contain carcinogens, and their use increases the risk of ovarian cancer. Plaintiffs suing Johnson & Johnson allege that the company was aware of these risks. Although Johnson & Johnson continues to argue publicly that talc-based baby powder is safe, juries have disagreed and awarded billions of dollars in damages,” said John H. Ruiz, Founder and CEO of MSP Recovery, which powers LifeWallet, a consumer healthcare app.
To limit talc-related liability, Johnson & Johnson formed LTL Management, LLC to hold and manage current and future claims. That entity filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2021 and is forming a trust pursuant to bankruptcy law. The trust will be funded with $2 billion to resolve current and future talc-related claims. Certain royalty streams may increase potential recoveries for victims by an additional $350 million. For information about the claim submission process, visit www.ltlmanagementinformation.com.
Sabrina Martín Rondon is a Venezuelan journalist. Her source is politics and economics. She is a specialist in corporate communications and is committed to the task of dismantling the supposed benefits of socialism // Sabrina Martín Rondon es periodista venezolana. Su fuente es la política y economía. Es especialista en comunicaciones corporativas y se ha comprometido con la tarea de desmontar las supuestas bondades del socialismo


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University of California, Irvine researchers have invented nanowire-based battery material that can be recharged hundreds of thousands of times, moving us closer to a battery that would never require replacement. The breakthrough work could lead to commercial batteries with greatly lengthened lifespans for computers, smartphones, appliances, cars and spacecraft.
Scientists have long sought to use nanowires in batteries. Thousands of times thinner than a human hair, they’re highly conductive and feature a large surface area for the storage and transfer of electrons. However, these filaments are extremely fragile and don’t hold up well to repeated discharging and recharging, or cycling. In a typical lithium-ion battery, they expand and grow brittle, which leads to cracking.
UCI researchers have solved this problem by coating a gold nanowire in a manganese dioxide shell and encasing the assembly in an electrolyte made of a Plexiglas-like gel. The combination is reliable and resistant to failure.
The study leader, UCI doctoral candidate Mya Le Thai, cycled the testing electrode up to 200,000 times over three months without detecting any loss of capacity or power and without fracturing any nanowires. The findings were published today in the American Chemical Society’s Energy Letters.
Hard work combined with serendipity paid off in this case, according to senior author Reginald Penner.
“Mya was playing around, and she coated this whole thing with a very thin gel layer and started to cycle it,” said Penner, chair of UCI’s chemistry department. “She discovered that just by using this gel, she could cycle it hundreds of thousands of times without losing any capacity.”
“That was crazy,” he added, “because these things typically die in dramatic fashion after 5,000 or 6,000 or 7,000 cycles at most.”
“The coated electrode holds its shape much better, making it a more reliable option,” Thai said. “This research proves that a nanowire-based battery electrode can have a long lifetime and that we can make these kinds of batteries a reality.”
The Latest on: Nanowires in batteries
via Google News
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- Science Note: Nanowire Battery Breakthrough on August 3, 2018 at 4:09 pm
The popular lithium-ion battery, for example, survives only a few thousand charges at most. So researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a technology using nanowires that coul... […]
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via Bing News


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Devon quest to plant one billion trees in fight against climate change
Watch Bob Cruwys' report
A new project has started in Devon with an ambitious target of planting one billion trees to help fight climate change.
It is signing up local businesses to help plant the trees and offset carbon emissions, while also helping them to attract a new wave of green-minded consumers.
The Billion Trees Project was the idea of Exeter businessman Chris Collins.
He said many companies, particularly smaller independent firms, want to reduce their carbon footprint in line with the values of their customers who are increasingly searching for brands with green values.
But Chris said many companies find it hard to know where to begin.
"What we are is a step in the right direction for businesses who don't know how to get involved but want to start making an effort," he said.
"It's very easy for the big companies to throw a load of money at a problem and hope that solves it but we're lowering the barrier of entry to every business owner or even consumers if they want to come along and offset their daily commute or their cup of coffee.
"We're making it really simple for anybody, whether you are a business owner or a consumer to come along and make a contribution towards planting these trees."
The ambitious name also reflects Chris's determination to tackle climate change.
He said they are called the 'Billion Trees' project because "we didn't want the task to be too easy."
"If you're setting goals that are too easy, they are not goals, they are a to-do list," he added.
The Billion Trees Project helps grow trees in places like Madagascar, with each tree costing around 15p to plant.
The planting scheme also creates employment and a sustainable community for people living in some of the most impoverished areas.
More information about the environmental mission can be found at The Billion Trees Project.


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Luxury holiday firm signs deal with Cornish resort
Holiday firm Landal GreenParks UK, has signed a deal with a new resort in Cornwall.
The deal brings the total number of parks in the firm’s portfolio to 15 destinations.
The new site Whalesborough Resort & Spa in Bude will benefit from a multi-million investment.
Robbie Davies, development director at Landal GreenParks UK said, “This is excellent news for the business, and we are thrilled to be adding a new resort amidst of nature to the UK this year.
Landal Whalesborough Resort & Spa, set in 450 acres of secluded Cornish countryside that runs down to the coast near Bude, offers a range of 24-character cottages, barn conversions and a refurbished farmhouse dating back to the 14th century.
Currently undergoing a multimillion-pound investment, the resort will see 50-60 new, luxury self-catering units developed over the next two years, adding to the existing range of accommodation.
These onsite improvements are estimated to contribute around £10m in the coming years to the local economy and include the creation of eight full time and seven part time jobs.
The company is aimed at young families and couples looking for a high-quality escape and groups of family and friends who love nature and appreciate sustainable accommodations in the outdoors.


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Apple has just posted a video walk through
for the new iPod touch generation 2
, which was released at the "Let's Rock" event this morning (look here
for our play-by-play live blogging of the event). In the video, Hannah, an Apple employee, takes you through all of the new features on the iPod touch -- including the new 2.1 firmware.
You can watch or download the video from Apple's website