text:
India and its markets are looking forward to the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy review on Friday -- the first after the appointment of celebrated economist Raghuram Rajan as the new governor of the central bank -- at a time when the country is reeling under double-digit food and fuel inflation, and amid uncertainty in the global economic environment ahead of a key meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday and Wednesday.
India’s wholesale price index, or WPI, hit 6.1 percent in August on a yearly basis, up from 5.79 percent in July, with food inflation rising by 12.4 percent annually, mainly due to a surge in vegetable prices, which rose 77.8 percent year-on-year.
Prices of onion -- a key commodity credited with bringing down at least two governments since the 1980s due to shortages -- rose a whopping 244.6 percent in August.
“Heavy rainfall is posing difficulties in procuring onion produce from farms. Within a week of rain stoppage the market will be flooded with onions and prices will be back to normal,” Rajinder Kumar Sharma, chairman of the New Delhi-based Azadpur Agricultural Marketing Committee, told International Business Times. “Normally India does not import onions, but the current shortage in domestic supply has forced a few traders to import onions from countries like Pakistan, China and Iran."
The price of a kilogram (2.2 lbs) of onion cost as much as 80 rupees ($1.27) in the first week of September.
“We will have adequate supply of onions by Oct. 10-15, or before Dussehra,” he said referring to a upcoming Hindu festival, adding: “I don’t think the current onion price hike would hurt the government in the upcoming election, because by election time onion prices are likely to fall to about 10 rupees a kilogram.”
Adding to India’s troubles is fuel inflation, which hit 11.3 percent in August on a yearly basis, indicating the impact of the rupee’s weakness, which has depreciated 12.48 percent so far this year. According to a Bank of America-Merrill Lynch report estimate, a 10 percent depreciation in the currency adds 1 percent to the inflation figure.
Core inflation, excluding volatile components such as food, slowed in August, to record 1.9 percent annually, “suggesting the weakness in demand, and not yet reflecting the pass-through of INR weakness into core,” Goldman Sachs India said in a research note.
Industry Groups Call For Measures To Boost Growth
According to Indian industry groups, inflationary pressures remain a key concern, but at the same time, the government and the RBI cannot afford to discontinue efforts to boost growth, amid a sharp slowdown.
“What has been a key concern for a long time now is that rise in food prices continue to contribute strongly to overall inflation. It is therefore important that structural factors affecting food inflation are addressed on a priority basis,” Didar Singh, secretary general of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, or FICCI, said in a statement.
But, Singh stressed on the importance of efforts to reinvigorate investor sentiment and to boost growth, as the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, or PMEAC, recently revised downward its growth estimate for the current financial year to 5.3 percent from 6.4 percent and “FICCI’s latest Business Confidence Survey also reported a worsening of the near term outlook on investments.”
“Giving a boost to investments at this juncture is imperative if the growth cycle has to be turned around,” Singh said ahead of Friday's review.
However, the beleaguered domestic currency is expected to take precedence over other economic considerations and the RBI’s decision is expected to depend heavily on the Fed’s decision regarding its asset-purchase program, which is expected to impact the rupee's fortunes.
C. Rangarajan, chairman of the PMEAC, told the media Friday that the currently rigid monetary policy stance, which is tailored to prop up the rupee should continue until the currency stabilized.
If the Fed defers tapering its asset-purchase program, “the RBI will then likely roll back July measures if a return to risk appreciates the INR,” BofA-ML said in a research note, referring to liquidity measures undertaken by the Indian central bank to rescue a rapidly depreciating rupee.
“We were always skeptical of the ability of the July 15 tightening measures to arrest depreciation. Yet, we appreciate that the RBI may not want to take risks with already-so-very-fragile INR expectations.”


text:
- News & Analysis
- Video & Audio
- White Papers
- Industry Reports
These are what I think are the most significant stories we published this calendar year, because each one demonstrates a new service concept that will help shape the future of TV.
Important because: It illustrates the next-generation, broadcaster-led Hybrid Broadcast Broadband (HBB) platform designed to migrate the free-to-air mass market into the connected era, and is a classic broadcast (DTT) and OTT hybrid that merges those two worlds fairly seamlessly thanks to its backwards-facing EPG.
Important because: This shows a Pay TV operator harnessing Connected TV to target new markets – in this case the free-to-air market in direct competition with online movie aggregators thanks to a movie offer of its own with more flexible pricing and contracts than you find with traditional Pay TV. This service will eventually include linear channels including sports and will be an early example of ‘Pay TV Lite’.
Important because: An IPTV provider has created a close partnership with a major television maker to provide a virtual set-top box app so it can enable classic multicast IPTV into new customer homes without shipping STBs. This is the TeliaSonera and Samsung deployment. It is a rare example of a Connected TV service that does not use OTT, instead delivering traditional, managed digital TV via the app. It could be the world’s first virtual STB app (it is certainly one of the first).
John Moulding, Editor, Videonet

domain: news


text:
The Russian government is considering establishing a state corporation tasked with developing the domestic auto industry and combining the existing industry’s competencies.
The corporation, to be named Rosavto, will become the main “negotiator” with global automakers, primarily those interested in establishing production facilities within Russia.
According to the Vedomosti business paper, Rosavto will not act as a manufacturing enterprise, but as a curator of all stages of car production in Russia.
RoAD President Alexey Podshchekoldin says the corporation will become part of the existing state strategy for the development of the automotive industry, which is designed to be in place until 2035. Its actual establishment will be completed in the first or second quarter of 2024 and some leading Russian business associations will participate.
According to Podshchekoldin, Rosavto will focus on plans to produce both cars and spare parts in Russia; the development of new models and technologies; distribution of orders; legislative initiatives for the auto sector; and issues of personnel training.
Regarding global automakers, Podshchekoldin says to decide on organizing production in Russia, foreign investors need a “negotiator from the state” along with guarantees that their products will be in demand in the local market. He is confident that a specialized state corporation could take over these functions.
Podshchekoldin adds, “At first there was an idea to create a copy of the USSR Ministry of Automotive Industry, but, firstly, it is more complicated, and secondly, our largest state corporations already have the powers of ministries.”
A separate Ministry of Automotive Industry existed in the USSR in 1946–1947, 1955–1957 and 1965–1988. Now the key aspects of the sector’s development are regulated by a strategy developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The government approved the strategy in its current form at the end of 2022.
The newly established corporation is expected to focus on implementing the industry’s most important goals, such as an 80% minimum level of localization of parts and technological sovereignty. It also will focus on stimulating production and demand and establishment of auto component production. In the latter case, particular attention will be paid to propulsion systems along with rollover protection and passive restraint systems.
The plan will carry the need for huge investments with it. According to preliminary estimates, establishing the Russian auto parts sector and making it competitive in the international arena will call for investing RR 2.7 trillion rubles ($29.6 billion) until 2025. R&D will account for a significant part of this sum.
Veteran industry analyst Vladimir Bespalov says establishing the state corporation will be associated with some serious problems that will need to be addressed.
Bespalov says concepts for developing the domestic automobile industry are different from those of 10–20 years ago, when automobile production was not considered a strategic industry by the state. He also believes consolidation of the industry is needed due to the scale of the tasks it faces.
“Another question is in what form this consolidation should take place,” Bespalov adds. “Manufacturers themselves often cannot agree, and coordination on the part of the state is needed.”
According to Wards Intelligence data, light-vehicle sales in Russia totaled 936,005 in 2023, up 36.2% from 2022 but down 44% from 2021. The top-selling brand was domestic producer AvtoVAZ, with roughly 40% of the market, followed by Chinese brands Chery, Great Wall and Geely.


text:
Everything Everywhere has today (21 August 2012) announced an agreement with Three to dispose of 2 x 15MHz of its 1800MHz to Three.
Dave Dyson, CEO of Three UK, said: ‘Acquiring this spectrum will more than double the capacity available to customers on our network. We have seen a huge growth in data consumption with average mobile handset customer usage now more than 1.1GB per month. Three has led the market in the significant growth of mobile data consumption and the shift to consumer use of smartphones to access the internet.
‘New spectrum, supported by further committed technology spend, is a clear signal that we are committed to maintain our lead as the network built for the mobile internet,’ added Dyson.
The disposal is in line with the European Commission’s competitive assessment of the merger of Orange and T-Mobile in the UK in March 2010, and follows this morning’s news that Ofcom has approved Everything Everywhere’s request to liberalise its 1800MHz spectrum for 4G LTE services.
An Everything Everywhere spokesperson said: ‘As part of the commitments given when the European Commission approved the merger of Orange and T-Mobile in the UK in March 2010, Everything Everywhere was required to divest 2 x 15MHz of its 1800 MHz spectrum.
‘In accordance with these commitments, Everything Everywhere has today announced an agreement with Three to transfer this 2 x15 MHz of its 1800MHz spectrum to Three. Ofcom and the European Commission will review whether the divestment satisfies the merger commitments, and a response is expected within the next three months.’
The merger of T-Mobile UK and Orange UK gave the combined entity a huge 2 x 45MHz of 1800MHz spectrum (along with 2 x 20MHz of 2.1GHz spectrum). The acquisition of the 1800MHz spectrum by Three is not surprising as the operator has by far the smallest spectrum holding among the UK’s mobile carriers with just 2 x 15MHz of 2.1GHz spectrum.
Everything Everywhere’s request to refarm 1800MHz spectrum for 4G services approved by Ofcom
Ofcom reveals final plans for auction of 4G spectrum in the UK


text:
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE: TSM) reported a 91% jump in earnings for the first quarter of 2020 driven by higher revenue. The smartphone and high-performance computing platforms continued to be the major contributor to top-line growth. By technology, the primary contributor to the top-line growth came from the 7-nanometer.
During the quarter, the company’s board approved NT$2.5 cash dividend for the fourth quarter of 2019 and sets June 18 as the ex-dividend date, June 24 as the record date and July 16, 2020, as the distribution date. The board also approved the convening of the 2020 AGM on June 9 and approved the issuance of no more than NT$60 billion in unsecured corporate bonds.
The retail environment has witnessed many changes in customers’ shopping behavior lately, especially after the COVID outbreak. With inflation putting pressure on personal finances, there appears to be a new
Shares of Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) were up over 2% on Friday, a day after the company delivered mixed results for the third quarter of 2022 and lowered its
For technology stocks, 2022 has been a challenging year, with companies losing significant market value amid prolonged stock selloff. In that respect, Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE: CRM) is among the worst-affected


text:
Carbon offset schemes should be formally accredited, according to tourism lobby group Tourism and Transport Forum, wrote Melissa Ketchell in The Courier Mail (8/10/2007, p.33).
Archive for the ‘Offsets’ Category
Posted by gmarkets on 17 October, 2007
By 2012, Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, will require carbon labelling on all the products it sells so that shoppers can compare carbon costs
Posted by gmarkets on 3 October, 2007
According to Randy Stringer and Mike Young of the University of Adelaide, trading in carbon offsets is now a billion-dollar global industry, reported The Advertiser (8/8/2007, p. D20).


text:
HUL today reported a 16.73 per cent increase in standalone net profit at Rs 1,018.08 crore, aided by income from sale of properties, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, while it continued to face headwinds.
The FMCG major had posted profit of Rs 872.13 crore in the January-March quarter of 2013-14.
HUL’s net sales climbed to Rs 7,555 crore in the quarter under review, compared with Rs 6,935.82 crore a year earlier, up 8.92 per cent, the company said in a BSE filing.
The company reported exceptional income of Rs 170.40 crore from the sale of properties in the fourth quarter of 2014-15 fiscal.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd Chairman Harish Manwani said: “We have delivered another year of strong performance with broad-based growth ahead of the market and sustained margin improvement...
“Despite market challenges, our strategic agenda remains unchanged as we continue to manage our business even more dynamically for growth that is consistent, competitive, profitable and responsible.”
Giving future growth guidance, HUL Chief Financial Officer P B Balaji said the market remains volatile and recovery will depend on how the rural market shapes up.
When asked about the growth the company has seen in the rural market during the quarter, Balaji said: “While rural (market) has been growing faster than the urban, rural sales growth has slowed down compared to what it was 2-3 years back.”
Except soaps and detergents and others (which includes exports, water, infant care products), HUL reported double digit growth in all it product categories.
During the quarter, revenue from soap and detergents increased by 5.04 per cent to Rs 3,673.71 crore, personal products increased by 13.43 per cent to Rs 2,249.68 crore.
Revenue from beverages grew by 12.32 per cent to Rs 976.15 crore and packaged food increased by 13.61 per cent to Rs 476.83 crore.
For the financial year ended March 31, 2015, HUL reported net profit of Rs 4,315.26 crore as against net profit of Rs 3,867.49 crore in 2013-14.
HUL’s net sales in the year ended March 31, 2015 stood at Rs 30,170.50 crore compared with Rs 27,408.29 crore in the previous year.
The Board of Directors of the company has proposed a final dividend of Rs 9 per share.
HUL scrip closed at Rs 894.60 apiece, up 3.34 per cent from the previous close on the BSE.


text:
Under Armour is launching a new line of low-weight, high-support shoes for athletes who run. The Baltimore-based sports gear maker unveiled the new Spine RPM footwear line at an event in New York City that also included appearances by the three athletes who will be spokespeople for the brand and the new shoes: Tom Brady, Lindsey Vonn and Kemba Walker. An extensive campaign for the shoe line breaks this summer with the theme "This is how we run."
The message that Spine is not just for runners but also athletes who run will be carried by a TV, print, digital, social media and in-store campaign starting July 9, and featuring the three athletes. The "This is How We Run" campaign, via Crispin Porter + Bogusky, features a 30-second spot starring Brady, Walker and 2011 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Cam Newton. Supporting elements include a 60-second spot with Vonn and Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver Julio Jones, digital, in-store and billboard inventory, as well as support on various social media channels.
Gene McCarthy, Under Armour SVP for footwear, said UA's expansion into the category runs counter to tradition. "Everyone we compete with is a footwear brand that then got into apparel. We are the opposite, and we think that's a benefit." He said the inspiration for the shoe came with the observation at retail that there were essentially two categories of running shoe: support and lightweight. He said the new shoe's inner support "cage" was inspired by the human spine, and is designed to deliver both strong foot support and be lightweight, at around 9.7 ounces.
The UA Spine RPM footwear collection will be available beginning June 29 for men, women and youth. The adult line will have a suggested retail price of $99.99, while grade school shoes will be $79.99.
Speaking at the event, Kevin Plank, founder and CEO of Under Armour, said the company has been on a steep growth curve since it was founded. "We grew to $5 million in the first five years, to $300 million in the second five and hit the billion-dollar mark in 2010," he said, adding that last year the company grew another 38%. Plank says the next move will be to extend the Spine brand into shoes for specific sports.


text:
It's already been a rough year for Facebook but as reported, research group Cambridge Analytica (CA), had access to a ton of Facebook user information that it shouldn't have had it's hands on.
The combination of this, and prior scandals, highlighted a long-dormant rage against how Facebook liberally collects user data to build out profiles for advertisers. Hence the birth of the hashtag #deletefacebook which started trending in the past week and was backed by some significant voices (including Musk, Tesla and SpaceX). All of this led Zuckerberg to go on the offensive, and promise some significant changes.
While it is important to highlight that Facebook isn't the only social media fighting to uphold it's reputation, it is the one with the biggest backlash as of lately. As the linked article points out, Twitter and YouTube have also faced issues in the past year.
And as social media continues to rule the internet, events in recent weeks reinforce that a social network’s public reputation can turn so fast that, if you’re active on that network, association can hurt you.
I still believe Social Media plays a huge part in the world of Marketing and Sales but as Computer World advise, returning to the roots of older tech like the content subscription model will diffuse the situation "pour the energy back into email newsletters, blogs with RSS feeds and podcasts."
We learned something new this week about social networks that we didn’t know before: Their reputations can change in an instant. This is an important new fact. It takes years to establish a personal, professional or corporate presence on social sites. Millions of man-hours spent on crafting posts, engaging with followers and mastering site-specific techniques and practices can be suddenly wasted when that social site starts “breaking bad” in the public imagination.


text:
The data breach earlier this month that potentially exposed information about millions of federal government employees is yet another reminder that any organization that maintains data is at risk of being hacked. And rest assured that if you get hacked, you will incur substantial costs as a result, including substantial notice and related costs and potentially massive third-party liability claims.
We have written extensively about so-called “cyber” insurance, including how cyber insurance is neither comprehensive nor standardized. As a result, when you are shopping for your first (or next) cyber policy it is important to understand what types of coverages, exclusions and conditions are in the market. Making a well-informed purchase starts with knowing your options.
There are too many differences between cyber policies to cover in one blog post, and the market, still in its youth, is rapidly evolving. But here is a list of five important things—in no particular order—to consider when you’re in the market for cyber insurance: READ MORE
While there have been a number of high-profile data breaches in recent years, there have been few coverage lawsuits arising out of these breaches, presumably because cyber insurers have been paying claims. A recent action, however, suggests how cyber insurers may be trying to fund this coverage position: by suing allegedly responsible third parties. In what appears to be a novel approach for insurers covering data breach claims, Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. of America has sued its insured’s website designer in the wake of a cyber attack. Travelers’ complaint alleges that its insured, Alpine Bank, hired Ignition Studio, Inc. to design and service the bank’s website. Travelers alleges that Ignition negligently designed and maintained the website, allowing hackers to access the site through the server on which it was hosted. Alpine spent over $150,000 complying with its data breach notification obligations, for which it was reimbursed by Travelers. Travelers, as Alpine Bank’s assignee and subrogee, now seeks to recover that amount from Ignition. READ MORE


text:
USA Today publisher Gannett Co. has recently held merger talks with GateHouse Media, according to people familiar with the matter, a possible deal that would bring together the nation’s two largest newspaper groups by circulation.
Gannett—which two weeks ago defeated Digital First Media in a proxy fight and fended off the hedge-fund backed publisher’s hostile takeover bid—has also been speaking recently with others about potential deals, including Tribune Publishing Co. and McClatchy Co., the people said.
Get a $50 reward card using this AT&T promo code
- American Eagle Outfitters:
All Jeans + Pants 25% off! Plus, 60% off clearance with American Eagle promo code
Up to 15% off + free shipping at Wayfair
Kohl's Coupon 30% off sitewide
20% off your next online order - Walmart coupon code
50% off + free delivery on $20 orders with DoorDash promo code


text:
The success of an emerging business depends largely on the owner’s ability to convince potential employees or customers that the nascent company is operational, according to new research.
In an attempt to explain why some organizations succeed and others flounder, Erno Tornikoski from the Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences and Scott Newbert from the College of Commerce and Finance at Villanova University, analyzed data collected in the panel study of entrepreneurial dynamics. The three-year study identified and repeatedly surveyed 830 Americans who were actively involved in starting a small business.
About half of the survey participants ultimately created successful businesses — defined by researchers as ventures that had made a sale, hired employees, or received external funding.
The researchers found that an entrepreneur’s personal characteristics, such as level of education, had little to do with the success of his or her venture. Rather, the quality shared by successful entrepreneurs was the ability to make their emerging organization seem legitimate.
“People are likely to buy products, work for, and give money to entities that are credible, that they perceive as operational,” said Newberg. “Organizations that make their fledgling operation appear more legitimate than it might actually be are better able to access customers and recruit employees.”
Photo by 7-how-7.


text:
Target on Monday said that its REDcard loyalty members, who enjoy 5% off all purchases and free online shipping (but unlike Costco or Amazon Prime don’t pay a membership fee) will be able to pay via mobile starting in November, according to a press release.
As part of its holiday plans, Target is also touting the eight new private label apparel and home goods brands its launched within the last year (including Project 62, A New Day, Goodfellow and Co, JoyLab and Hearth & Hand with Magnolia) and a "gift hub" service allowing gift recipients to choose the color or size of a gift or exchange it for something else before the giver’s item ships, according to a company blog post.
After a lukewarm holiday season last year, Target is reducing the amount of promotions it will have and doubling down on differentiated merchandise, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Target is once again turning to its well established merchandise differentiation to offset price competition in the less dazzling consumer product category. That's been a key Target strategy since it lost a bruising price war with Walmart in the 1980s. In addition to partnerships with designers and brands, Target is working hard to bolster its own brands. The new private label lines have been developed using the same research and design approach applied to developing its successful Pillowfort and Cat & Jack kids lines.
Apparel and home decor are where the big-box retailer has been leveraging its efforts most, which makes sense considering earlier this year outgoing CFO John Mulligan said the categories account for about $26 billion in sales. In addition to the private labels, apparel collections touting celebrity partnerships have also helped differentiate the retailer’s merchandise of late. It’s tie-up with British singer Victoria Beckham in April broke online sales records for the retailer’s design partnerships without the attendant frenzy that irritated customers in past collaborations, notably its 2015 Lilly Pulitzer effort. Home decor, and to a lesser degree smart home products, have also become winning categories.
"I think their goal is to build their in-house brands more," Maya Mikhailov, chief marketing officer and co-founder of GPShopper, told Retail Dive earlier this year. "Target was always known for design, earning the moniker 'Tar-zhay.' Their new streak appears to be focused on re-energizing that. It seems to be a natural extension of what their original brand promise was."
Target's hopes are well founded. Sales from such merchandise have been able to bolster margins amid an emerging price war in consumables and grocery. Last month, Target announced a series of price cuts to those goods, an effort to get the word out that it's willing to play on that field. While Target has a reputation for being higher priced than Walmart, that’s not quite true, Keith Anderson, Profitero vice president of strategy and insights, told Retail Dive.
"I don’t know that they really struggle to compete on price the way some people perceive them to," Anderson said. "Target does carry items closer to the 'better' and 'best' category, but on exactly the same item, Target really is competitive. People walk into Walmart and walk out pleased about the prices, and people walk into Target and walk out with things they hadn’t planned on buying, so they perceive Target as more expensive.”


text:
Nearly One-Third of Americans Plan to Spend Less This Holiday Season;
Americans Show Signs of Financial Discipline in the New Year
economic conditions and fear of a looming recession are weighing on the minds of
Americans as they descend on shopping malls and online shopping sites this
holiday season. The majority of American workers (71%) and retirees (72%) said
they believe that the economy has fallen into a recession or fear that it is
headed in that direction, according to the latest Principal Financial Well-Being
IndexSM. More than one-third of workers (37%) expressed concern about
their own job security, up significantly from second quarter this year, when
only 22% of workers expressed concern.
According to the survey, if an economic slowdown forced workers and retirees
to reduce their spending, more than three-fourths of workers (76%) and 49% of
retirees say they would eat out less often. Both groups said they would cut back
on buying clothing and consumer goods (69% of workers and 49% of retirees).
Almost two-thirds of workers (63%) and more than one-third of retirees (39%) say
they would cut back on entertainment to reduce spending, such as going to movies
and concerts. Americans even indicated they would go as far as reducing their
coffee intake—more than one-fourth of workers (27%) said they would purchase
coffee less often. Finally, 11% of workers indicated they would lower their
retirement plan contribution rate.
"Uncertainty about the direction of the economy clearly is top of mind as
Americans navigate the holiday shopping season, which has turned into a gift
giving extravaganza," said Dan Houston, executive vice president of Retirement
and Investor Services, The Principal. "Americans are underestimating their real
spending. To get on solid financial footing, I recommend that every person set a
budget, prioritize gift purchases and use a high degree of fiscal
Spending for the Holidays
Americans are planning to
tighten their financial belts when it comes to spending during the holidays.
When asked about their intentions for spending this holiday season, 29% of
workers and retirees indicated they plan to spend less money than last year.
More than half of workers (59%) and nearly two-thirds of retirees (64%) plan to
spend the same amount as last year while 12% of workers and 7% of retirees plan
to spend more money. According to the survey, nearly half of workers and
retirees (49% and 46%, respectively) are planning to spend between $101 and $500
throughout the holiday season. Just more than one-fourth of workers (27%) and
less than one-fourth of retirees (22%) plan to spend between $501 and $1,000
this holiday season.
Stepping Into the New Year—Financial Resolutions
Americans were given a list of potential financial resolutions they intend
to make as New Year’s resolutions in 2008. The top two resolutions selected by
workers were paying off credit card debt (40%), followed by putting a set amount
of money into savings each month (39%). Compared with fourth quarter 2006,
significantly more workers are making resolutions to save more each month (39%,
up 6 percentage points from 2006) and to stop using their credit cards (22%, up
4 percentage points from 2006). Less than one-fourth of workers (23%) indicated
they do not intend to make a resolution, and nearly half of retirees (49%) have
no such plans.
"There still may be a financial hangover from last year’s holiday season,"
Houston said. "American workers need to put retirement savings before buying the
next plasma TV or cashmere sweater."
Too Much Plastic?
The index also reveals that more than
one-third of workers (39%) report having credit card debt between $1 and $5,000
compared to just 21% of retirees. While retirees have significantly more credit
cards in their name for personal use than do workers, significantly more
retirees than workers report having no credit card debt (66% versus 33%). More
than one-third (34%) of retirees and 29% of workers reported they have five or
more cards. However, when asked how many of these cards they use on a regular
basis, only 5% of retirees and 2% of workers reported using five or more cards
regularly. On average, retirees report having 4.4 credit cards in their name for
personal use compared with workers (3.7).
Know Your Credit Score?
At least six out of 10 workers
(66%) and retirees (62%) have ordered a credit report in the past. However, more
than half of workers (51%) and six out of 10 retirees (61%) do not know their
credit score, despite the fact that Americans can request a free annual credit
Source: The Principal Financial Group®


text:
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. stock plunged Monday to suffer its biggest one-day price decline in the South Korea-based technology giant’s 28-year history as a public company, in the wake of the warning from U.S. regulators to stop using the latest smartphone.
The company launched the Galaxy Note 7 in August and later issued a global recall after finding that the phone may explode as a result of faulty battery cells. But despite the hit to the stock, J.P. Morgan analysts said they don’t see a bottomless drop.
The analysts say they expect the stock to remain little changed from current levels in the near term. And with more shares left in its buyback program, which is expected to be completed by the end of October, and an inexpensive valuation, the downside is likely to be limited.
The stock dropped 110,000 Korean won, or 7%, to 1.465 million won Monday. The percentage decline of 7% was the biggest in four years. The stock has now plunged 13% since it closed at an all-time high of 1.687 million won on Aug. 23.
Year-to date, Samsung shares have gained 16%, compared with the S&P 500’s


text:
25/09/2014 - General News
Z Energy’s waste reduction journey turns another corner this week, with an initiative that will have customers’ gardens blooming.
Z is rolling out help-yourself stands for coffee grounds from its convenience stores on its service station forecourts. Coffee grounds can be collected in compostable bags from the new stands at 33 Z sites around New Zealand.
“The grounds from our coffee machines currently go to compost, along with our other unsold food waste, but some of our customers have been asking if they could have the coffee grounds to put on their gardens,” says Z Sustainability Manager Gerri Ward.
“About 40% of all of householders’ waste is composed of food waste in New Zealand, so this is another way of highlighting alternative uses for food waste than sending it to landfill, where it emits harmful greenhouses gases.
“New Zealanders are pretty good at recycling plastics, paper and glass, but we tend to think less about food waste,” says Gerri.
Giving away coffee grounds and composting food waste is one small but important part of Z’s waste reduction journey. Z set a target in 2012 of reducing waste to landfill from its petrol stations by 70% by the end of 2015.
“Two years later we’re more than three quarters of the way there. While the network has grown from 204 Z stations in 2012 to 213 stations today, our waste to landfill is about a third of what it was, thanks to the brilliant efforts by retailers and site staff,” Gerri says.
“Back in 2012, about half our petrol stations did any form of recycling. Today it’s a different story. Nearly all our stations now recycle cardboard and half recycle plastic, cans and glass.
“About half of our sites also have food waste collection. So far this year we’ve diverted about 226 tonnes of food waste from landfill. Mostly this goes into compost or pig food. Giving away coffee grounds to local gardeners will help us reduce our food waste even further.”
Z is also looking to reduce waste before it comes onto its stations. “An example of how we are doing that is by working with our magazine supplier to tailor the magazines delivered to each station to reduce the wastage,” Gerri says.
“We’ve made great progress towards achieving our goal of a 70% reduction in waste to landfill from our stations by 2015. We’re still working hard to improve and continuing to make good progress thanks to our station staff and members of the public using recycling bins at our stations, and new initiatives like our coffee grounds stands.”
|Z Station||Region||Find the Z Station|
|Z Andy Bay||Dunedin||www.z.co.nz/Z-Andy-Bay|
|Z Curletts Rd||Christchurch||www.z.co.nz/Z-Curletts-Rd|
|Z Dee St||Invercargill||www.z.co.nz/Z-Dee-St|
|Z Caroline Bay||Timaru||www.z.co.nz/Z-Caroline-Bay|
|Z Grove Rd||Blenheim||www.z.co.nz/Z-Grove-Rd|
|Z Pioneer Hwy||Manawatu||www.z.co.nz/Z-Pioneer-Hwy|
|Z Hutt Rd||Wellington||www.z.co.nz/Z-Hutt-Rd|
|Z Kapiti Rd||Wellington||www.z.co.nz/Z-Kapiti-Rd|
|Z Vic Corner||Wellington||www.z.co.nz/Z-Vic-Corner|
|Z Five Crossroads||Waikato||www.z.co.nz/Z-Five-Crossroads|


text:
Xero reaches 400,000 global customers
See also: Has Xero's share price bottomed out?
Xero [NZX: XRO], the cloud-based accounting software firm, says it has more than 400,000 customers globally and is "back on track" in its key US market.
In 2014 it processed more than $250 billion worth of transactions, 95 million invoices and now holds more than a half a petabyte of data collected which covers business performance and gives insight into small business economics and trends, the Wellington-based company said in a statement. The software developer wants a million customers, and is targeting growth in the US market where it sees the potential to take market share of an estimated 29 million small to medium sized business owners.
"New Zealand and Australia's most loved accounting platform has achieved a similar position in the UK and is back on track in the US," chief executive Rod Drury said. "The small business cloud market is still in its infancy: of the addressable market of hundreds of millions of small businesses, only a small percentage currently use cloud financial software."
The company last year raised $180 million in new capital to fund its US growth plans and is eyeing a US listing after it reaches annual revenues of US$100 million, expected in this financial year, and has tapped former Microsoft chief financial officer Chris Liddell as chairman.
Globally tech stocks have pared gains made early in the year as investors questioned high valuations relative to earnings. Shares in Xero rose 1.5 percent to $16.45 and have fallen some 64 percent from their March record of $44.99 as analysts weigh the company's stock price against its ambitious US plans and the ability to take market share from incumbent Intuit.


text:
In recently breaking news, it was exposed that Verizon Wireless would be actively blocking Google Wallet from their soon to be released Galaxy Nexus phone. The reason for this move is to prevent Google Wallet from making traction while they develop a competing technology currently going by the name ISIS. In light of the soon to explode subject of Carrier IQ, the cellular carriers within the U.S. are patterning themselves as dangerous and likely criminal.
History has already shown that consumers in the United States have already been abused and mistreated by the carriers in virtually every possible way from overpriced plans and features to abusive and even predatory overage policies. Verizon themselves are infamously known for detrimentally modifying the handsets they sell to customers; for example, in 2008 they began selling the HTC Touch Pro, unlike the other 3 major carriers (and a couple of smaller ones) they ordered the handsets with half of the original RAM and initially released it at $50 more than anybody else. AT&T has done little to earn themselves a positive reputation after being exposed for attempting to buy T-Mobile for no better reason than removing competition in the market. If you’re looking for examples of how pricing is inexplicably high, simply look to any carrier in Europe where even the more expensive carriers make Sprint look costly and most of them are delivering higher call quality and reliability with data services that are far cheaper and faster.
The Carrier IQ scandal is only just heating up with lawsuits about to be filed against AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint (along with HTC, Samsung and Apple) with the intention to elevate them to Class Action Status. For those who don’t know about Carrier IQ, the very short explanation is that there is software installed on many phones sold in the US that can log every keystroke, button press, phone call, website address (even those that are SSL encrypted) and more. The data being logged is being sent back to server farms and to date it’s unclear of how the data is stored and secured or how it’s being used. The various versions of the software has been discovered running on HTC, Samsung and Apple handsets from AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. So far nothing has been found on Motorola or Verizon handsets, however Verizon’s specifically qualified statement that they don’t run Carrier IQ has raised the question if they are merely using a different or custom made solution. While proof is still coming to the surface, it’s clear that the carriers are guilty of a major violation of privacy and security.
Update: Verizon is in fact using a similar app named Motricity to do their dirty work. Consider me unsurprised.
Google Wallet is now restricted by all of the carriers except for Sprint in favor of pushing their own version called ISIS. For those who haven’t heard of Google Wallet, the easy way to describe it is allowing people to use their phone like a credit card by passing it over sensors in a store and then authorizing the payment. This may sound like a small issue of little importance, remember that whoever is successful in this market will eventually provide their own payment method and become a major provider in the credit and financial world. The 3 major carriers (excluding Sprint) are trying to collectively build their service in hopes of excluding Google.
Cellular coverage is already a $50 Billion industry in the USA, and it’s not unlikely that these carriers will eventually try to spread this system overseas. Between installing spyware on the phones they sell to us, lying about policies, manipulating fine print in ways that would make the nations’ banks proud and joining in highly anti-competitive tactics…well I don’t much trust them to also get involved in the financial industry, especially when they are actively working to exclude their competitors. This actually is the definition of Anti-Trust and over half of the names involved are direct descendants of the broken up Ma’ Bell monopoly. While we need cell phones, technology, credit cards and other electronic payment, the least we deserve a choice of which ones we use. While I suspect there will soon be an online petition to push Verizon into allowing Google Wallet, and hopefully an DOJ investigation into the ISIS partners, at the very least I would urge people to complain to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile and request that they stop blocking Google Wallet on their “Nexus”-branded phones (and any phone that supports NFC).


text:
10 August 2018
Visiongain has launched a new pharma report World Cancer-Treating Drugs Market Forecast 2017-2027: Immunotherapy, Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, Hormone Therapy, Leading Drugs
The future of the anti-cancer drugs market looks promising, as a number of new and innovative therapies are coming on to the market. In recent years there has been a remarkable improvement in the safety of products, with improvements of delivery of chemotherapy, among other techniques, reducing the toxicity of treatments.
The lead analyst of the report commented “’The anti-cancer treatments market will see strong growth driven by the ageing population, increasing demand of biological and targeted drug therapies, continuous patent expiry of major cancer drugs with generic competition eroding their share of the market and the rising uptake of biosimilars.
The anti-cancer drugs pipeline includes monoclonal antibodies, new classes of novel antineoplastics (including PARP inhibitors) and therapeutic vaccines. The launch of emerging classes, including immuno-oncologics, and combination therapies will offer potential breakthrough in cancer treatment. On a global context, the US will remain the largest market while emerging markets will see the highest rate of growth”
Leading companies featured in the report include AstraZeneca, Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck), Novartis, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Roche, Eli Lilly and Celgene.
Notes for Editors
If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please send an e-mail to email@example.com or call her on +44 (0) 207 336 6100
Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, UK, visiongain produces a host of business-to-business reports cusing on the automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors.
Visiongain publishes reports produced by analysts who are qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port of call for the business professional who needs independent, high-quality, original material to rely and depend on.
The increasing rates of patent expiry lead to a counter-strategy of switching companies from Rx to OTC. In the US, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, approximately 106 ingredients and dosage strengths have undergone a change from Rx to OTC to around 700 OTC products on the market.
23 September 2020
. The growth of this market is majorly driven by increasing sales of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products, longer life expectancy and rising geriatric population are some of the prominent factors.
16 September 2020
Visiongain forecasts a continuing growth in global market, submarket and product sales as human vaccines drive pharmaceutical business sales. New key players and technological progress will enter the industry, leading to an increase in the market size of the world market for human vaccines in general.
14 September 2020
The global ophthalmic ultrasound systems market is driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of ocular disorders and diseases, adoption of novel ophthalmic technologies, rising focus on research & development, and growing health awareness amongst the population.


text:
FOLLOWING the highly successful launch of the plug-in Mitsubishi Outlander passenger SUV earlier this year, the Outlander GX3h 4Work has appeared.
Designed for tough commercial assignments, the Mitsubishi Outlander GX3h 4Work inherits the high specification cabin refinement of the passenger Outlander PHEV and the same game changing economy, low environmental impact and off-road capability.
However, what sets it apart is a large and easily 1accessible rear 1,617 litres of payload space. The back seats have been removed and a floor fitted as well as blacked out windows.
The vehicle combines electric battery and petrol power. Unlike non plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Mitsubishi Outlander GX3h 4Work can travel substantially further on battery power – 32.5 miles – more than enough to accommodate most daily duty cycles. As such it rarely needs to visit a petrol pump.
The electric driving range gives the vehicle significant environmental credentials and it emits 44g/km of CO2 with the official combined fuel consumption figure of 148mpg.
The vehicle is exempt the London Congestion Charge and qualifies for the Government’s 20% plug-in van grant. It also benefits from 100 per cent first year capital allowance, which means its cost can be set against one year’s trading profit.
The Outlander GX3h 4Work will work out at just £23,373 after deducting the Government’s plug-in van grant and reclaiming the VAT.
Mike Thomas, General Manager of Product Planning for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said, “The Mitsubishi Outlander Gx3h 4Work represents a significant cost reduction for companies running fleets of vans and independent businesses that need a reliable all conditions, all weather work-horse.”


text:
Meyer Burger Technology has secured a major order from an unidentified North American start-up for its core Heterojunction (HJT) equipment. Image: Meyer Burger
Leading PV manufacturing equipment supplier Meyer Burger Technology has secured a major order from an unidentified North American start-up for its core Heterojunction (HJT) equipment.
Meyer Burger said that it expected to recognize the order intake with an initial contractual down payment at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2019. The total order was said to be valued at around CHF 100 million (US$101 million).
Panasonic is currently the only HJT cell and module manufacturer in North America, via its partnership with Tesla at Gigafactory 2 in Buffalo, New York state.
Several start-ups has recently opted to place orders with Meyer Burger on a turnkey basis for HJT production, including Turkish company EkoRE, which broke ground on the world’s first vertically integrated HJT module factory in Turkey in March, 2019, with an expected initial nameplate capacity of 1GW.
Meyer Burger also noted that the North American start-up had been founded by solar industry veterans.
1H 2019 Financials
Despite Mayer Burger’s latest HJT equipment order, the company noted in its preliminary first half year financial results that margins remained under pressure due to a continued decline in ASPs for standard PV cell and module equipment, notably in the PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) business.
New order completions for HJT were also delayed, despite further potential customer sales.
Meyer Burger said that it expected to report first half 2019, orders of approximately CHF 94 million (US$95.7 million), down from CHF 122 million in prior year period. EBITDA is expected to be negative CHF -14 million (US$14.2 million).
Meyer Burger’s total order backlog was said to be CHF 166 million (US$169 million) as of 30 June 2019.
Dr Hans Brändle, Meyer Burger CEO said, "I am disappointed with our half-year results. We have however achieved a decisive breakthrough with the delivery of our Heterojunction and SmartWire cell connection technologies to REC. At the Intersolar in May 2019, they introduced their groundbreaking new solar module with an energy yield that leaves the PERC competition far behind. The pioneering module is manufactured with our technology at very competitive costs while achieving an industry-leading module performance. The first production line will soon be fully ramped up and the modules are already enjoying strong demand in the high-end segment. This success opens up new strategic opportunities for us."
The consolidated half-year results 2019 are expected to be published on 15 August 2019.
Mar 10 - Mar 12, 2021
Penang, Malaysia (also available virtually)
Understand fully the technical and logistical supply chains that determine the production and performance of solar modules, including all related factors impacting quality, reliability & bankability. This event will be run as a live event in Penang for delegates able to attend and will also welcome virtual delegates via streamed content and online networking.
Oct 27 - Oct 29, 2020
Going into its fifth year over 200 delegates from 150 companies and 20 countries representing the PV supply chain will gather (virtually, due to COVID-19) for 3 days to discuss the technology roadmaps for PV cell advancement in GW markets. The scope of the event has been expanded this year, to cover developments in wafer supply and thin-film investments and technologies alongside all the regular benefits to all stakeholders tracking PV technology and investment trends for the next 5 years.


text:
Innovations-och processledareContact Leif
22 September 2022, 12:32
The company Reselo, which is participating in this year's edition of the Forest Business Accelerator, has developed a unique process where they convert birch bark into a new biomaterial that they named Reselo Rubber. This bio-based rubber can replace fossil-based rubber in consumer products such as shoes, protective gear and toys.
We humans increasingly use fossil resources such as gas and oil to produce a variety of materials and goods, for example plastic and rubber. In order not to accelerate climate change, people today strive towards independence from fossil resources. The company Reselo has developed a unique bio-based material, Reselo Rubber, which functions as a fossil-free rubber.
When this year's edition of the Forest Business Accelerator program started, Reselo was one of the companies that were introduced.
-Forest Business Accelerator is the perfect opportunity for us to strengthen and expand our network in the forest industry. We also hope that it will pave the way for securing the significant quantities of birch bark that we will need to deliver Reselo Rubber to the world, says Thomas Baumgarten, co-founder and CTO of Reselo AB.
Reselo has previously been in contact with RISE Processum, which is a partner of the Forest Business Accelerator, to get guidance and advice for financing in climate innovation. RISE Processum has also produced smaller volumes of the material for testing.
- We at RISE Processum have had an intensive collaboration with Reselo and will continue to work with the company within the framework of the Forest Business Accelerator in three main areas, financing plan, connection to industrial players as well as expertise, and testbeds. Reselo is an exciting company and it will be fun to continue working together, says Leif Lyckebäck, Innovation and Process Manager at RISE Processum.


text:
|By Lisa Brown, St. Louis
Post-DispatchMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News
October 07, 2010 --CLAYTON -- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, known for its genteel atmosphere, has become caught in a legal fight between the hotel owner and the Ritz-Carlton chain that manages the property.
A contract dispute over millions of dollars led the owner, Maritz, Wolff & Co., to threaten to cancel a management agreement with Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., which in turn spurred Maryland-based Ritz-Carlton to file a lawsuit to stop this from happening. .
Though the dispute is heating up, the hotel is not in danger of ending its affiliation with Ritz-Carlton, Maritz, Wolff & Co. co-founder Lew Wolff said Wednesday.
"My sense is that it will get worked out," he said.
Maritz, Wolff, which has offices in Clayton and Los Angeles, owns 18 hotels in North America, including the Ritz-Carlton at 100 Carondelet Plaza. It has an agreement with the Ritz-Carlton chain to run the luxury hotel.
As part of the operating agreement, Ritz-Carlton promised that the hotel would make a minimum annual operating profit of $4 million "for any two consecutive fiscal years," according to the lawsuit filed by the hotel chain last week in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
If that doesn't happen, Ritz-Carlton could make up the shortfall or face the prospect of Maritz, Wolff ending the agreement.
For years this wasn't a problem, but the recession then took a toll on demand for the four-star hotel's swanky rooms, which can cost $400 a night.
In both fiscal 2008 and 2009, the hotel failed to make that minimum profit, according to the lawsuit, and in February, the Ritz-Carlton paid Maritz, Wolff $2.05 million to make up the difference.
After that payment was made, according to the suit, Maritz, Wolff informed the Ritz-Carlton that a minimum profit was also not going to be reached in the 2009-10 period, and it sought another payment.
Ritz-Carlton contends the target only applies to a new two-year period. Thus, the next period for consideration should be 2010 and 2011, the lawsuit said.
"Based upon a flawed reading of the performance standard, (Maritz, Wolff) recently has announced its intention to cancel the parties' long-term operating agreement unless Ritz-Carlton agrees to make multi-million dollar payments that are not required by the operating agreement," Ritz-Carlton argues in its suit.
The chain says it sought arbitration this year, but Maritz, Wolff declined.
Ritz-Carlton asked the court to bar Maritz, Wolff from ending the operating agreement before the payment dispute is resolved by the court.
"Such a termination would eliminate the Ritz-Carlton luxury hospitality brand in the St. Louis market and would cause Ritz-Carlton to suffer the significant loss of goodwill it has established and built in this market over the past two decades."
A spokesman for Marriott International, which owns Ritz-Carlton, said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
Wolff doesn't blame the Ritz-Carlton for the hotel's lagging profits. He said the hotel's revenue declines in the last two years are similar to declines at high-end hotels elsewhere.
"Most hotels have dropped down in revenue because of the recession," Wolff said.
Gary Andreas, an analyst at Chesterfield-based hospitality consulting firm H&H Consulting, said operation agreements that include minimum profit levels are common. "Marriott has the same type of agreements on other hotels they manage," he said.
The hotel industry has seen some improvements in occupancy and room rates this year after a dismal 2009.
"At the end of last year, things really bottomed out, and we're starting to see at least a start of a recovery," Andreas said. "The high-end hotels, however, have the biggest challenge in getting back rates back on track to pre-recession levels."
To see more of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.stltoday.com.
Copyright (c) 2010, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).


text:
This year’s event, which runs until August 26, will offers the latest publications in a wide range of fields such as politics – law, economics, science – technology, education, literature, culture – society, and religion.
Participants cut the inauguration band at the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Autumn Book Festival. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn
The event is organized by the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distributing under the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the Vietnam Publishing Association.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Hoang Vinh Bao said despite certain difficulties, the publishing sector has always organized activities to develop the reading movement in the community, and the 2018 Hanoi Autumn Book Festival is an example.
Visitors to the Hanoi Autumn Book Festival at Thong Nhat Park. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn
The event has been held twice annually since 2013 with the aim of fostering the joy of reading, boosting book copyright transactions and international cooperation in the field.
In 2016, the Autumn Book Fair attracted the participation of 60 publishing distribution, postal, education and training units with approximately 70 stalls. Accordingly, the highlight of the Autumn Book Fair in 2016 was online books.
The online book area introduced the most recent online book editions and an online trading forum of publishing houses and distribution units. In addition, visitors to the book fair had the opportunity to use free applications for digital books.


text:
After today bell electric vehicle company Rivian reported fourth-quarter financial results and 2021 calendar results. The company earned $54 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, with an annual report of around $55 million. Rivian delivered 909 vehicles in the last three months of the year.
The company’s move to more bulk shipments in the fourth quarter of 2021 was not enough to bring it closer to the expected failure. On an adjusted basis, Rivian lost $2.43 per share.
Yahoo Finance announced in advance that the company expects a loss of $2.05 per share on an adjusted basis against $63.99 million in total revenue for the period. Simply put, Rivian made less revenue than expected but lost more money.
In regular trading, Rivian shares fell 6.35% to $41.16 during a broadly negative session, hitting a new 52-week low; The Nasdaq Composite itself is down almost a full percentage point. After hours, Rivian shares fell more than 13% after the earnings release.
Of course, we’re always skeptical about adjusted numbers, so now let’s look at some of the GAAP results. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Rivian’s $54 million in revenue resulted in a negative gross profit of $383 million and a net loss, including all expenses, of $2.46 billion, or $4.84 per share. For all of 2021, the company’s $55 million in revenue resulted in a negative gross profit of $465 million and a net loss of $4.69 billion, or $22.98 per share.
We don’t include gross margin results just to be cheeky. This poses a problem for the company, which said on its income statement that it expects to “recognize negative gross margin in 2022.” So don’t expect the company to come close to breaking even this year in terms of operations; Instead, this year it will work on gross margin neutrality.
But these are just numbers. And the red number is standard for electric car companies looking to ramp up production. So let’s talk about shipping, pricing, a faster supply chain, and what’s in store for the company in the coming quarters.
Yahoo Finance said in advance that analysts expect the company to deliver 40,000 vehicles by 2022. In its earnings report, Rivian stated that it would have “enough parts and materials to produce 25,000 vehicles on our R2”. and RCV platform. Very little per year.
This number of deliveries is in line with Rivian’s expected adjusted EBITDA loss of $4.75 billion for the year, without reducing its strict profit margin.
Rivian is facing challenges, including supply chain rigidity and long delays.
CEO RJ Scaring said the company will announce a new chief operating officer next week who will ramp up production and manage the supply chain.
“The biggest hurdles we face right now are in the supply chain,” Scaring told investors during a phone call. “It’s really a small number of parts for which the supplier isn’t moving at the same pace as our product lines.”
gaming-updates has been aligned with the earnings call and will soon be dedicated to Rivian’s production goals, profitability and more.


text:
Huawei has unveiled its new smartphone the Huawei Mate 9 at an event in Germany. The smartphone will be available in the US in the near future but whether it will come to India or not is still unclear.
At the launch standing in front of a graphic comparing how hot the new phone gets while charging compaed with a Samsung handset, Huawei consumer electronics chief Richard Yu jokingly promised "no explosions!" when charging the Mate 9 -- to a burst of laughter from the crowd gathered at a hotel in the German city.
The Huawei Mate 9 features a large 5.9-inch FHD display and Android 7.0 operating system. The device is powered by a Kirin 960 octa-core processor and backed by 4GB RAM. There is 64GB of built-in storage which can be expandable with the help of a microSD card.
Just like the Huawei P9 and Huawei's sub-brand phone Honor 8, the Mate 9 will feature dual rear-facing cameras with a Monochrome and an RGB sensor. The Monochrome sensor is at 20-megapixels whereas the RGB sensor is at 12-megapixels with F2.2 and Optical Image Stabilisation. The camera on the Mate 9 are Leica-branded.
The Mate 9 will sport a 4,000mAh battery and will have EMUI 5.0. on top of Android Nougat. The phone will be available in China and Europe first at €699 (approx Rs 51,731).


text:
Canadian Arisun officials attending the 2016 SEMA show were there for a very specific purpose, the presentation of their main tires lines, including two which have recently received EPA Smartway accreditation.
Arisun Tires is the brand behind China’s largest tire maker, ZC Rubber, which has set its sights on the North American market, and decided to leverage the great exposure provided by the 2016 edition of SEMA to launch its latest products. Two of these, the AT570, and AD778, have recently received the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) Smartway stamp of approval. This accreditation is an official environmental stamp of approval for both tire lines.
The Arisun AD778 is a premium drive tire applicable for regional paved roads. Its special tread compound and CAD-designed tire carcass, with grooves much deeper than competitive offerings, delivers both extended tire life and easier retreadability, according to company officials.
The Arisun AT570 long-haul trailer tire features precise handling. Thanks to its computer-designed tread, it delivers precise traction with less pressure on road surfaces than competitive products.
Several Arisun products have already received Smartway accreditation, including the AS600, AD737, AT500, and AS673.


text:
What better way to start the 12 Days of Coinbase than with a new way to use crypto on physical goods and experiences for friends and family?
In a lawsuit filed on Thursday December 6th in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, United American Corp. a Florida Company, petitioned the court for emergency injunctive relief citing losses stemming directly from the Bitcoin Cash fork that began on November 15, 2018.
nChain, the global leader in blockchain research and development, has revealed its ground-breaking “Metanet” project to power and integrate the Internet through the Bitcoin blockchain.
On November 20, the heart of the Russian Federation held the eighth Blockchain Conference Moscow. Its organizer is the Smile-Expo international company.
The ever controversial Bitcoin visionary, Craig Wright, is set to use is presentation at CoinGeek Week to outline how he sees the entire Internet changing.
Currently, there is another revolution in the Philippines, which could be even greater because of concerning the technological sector.
CoinGeek Mining很高兴地宣布原有的比特币回归比特币SV（股票代码：BSV）。 CoinGeek将支持比特币现金（BCH）的永久性分拆，继续挖掘BSV链，并将与全球其他公司合作，为BSV硬币建立一个充满活力的生态系统。
CoinGeek Mining is pleased to announce the original Bitcoin is back with Bitcoin SV (ticker: BSV). CoinGeek will support a permanent chain split from Bitcoin Cash (BCH), continue mining the BSV chain, and will work with others globally to establish a vibrant ecosystem for the BSV coin.
The Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX), the token sale platform and Digital Asset Exchange, which is also a subsidiary of the Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX), has been awarded a full Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) licence by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC).
CoinGeek announces it will partner with nChain, the blockchain research & development firm, on the Teranode project to create an enterprise-class full node implementation for Bitcoin (BCH-SV).
CoinPoint, an international crypto and blockchain digital marketing agency, keeps inflating its reach in the crypto industry by employing strategic positioning within the marketing practices resulting in the sustainable growth.


text:
In a bid to alleviate the effects of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on petrol prices, the tax on every litre of fuel dropped from 44.2 cents per litre to 22.1 on Budget night, so if you’ve filled up in the past few days, you’ve probably noticed it’s not as painful as it was a fortnight ago.
It’s not just you. Industry experts agree the fuel excise cut and more have flowed through to all of Canberra’s petrol pumps.
On Wednesday, 6 April, the average price for regular unleaded petrol in Canberra was $1.81. According to PetrolSpy.com, the cheapest fuel was available in Fyshwick at $1.73 and the most expensive was in Nicholls at $1.86.
On Budget night (29 March), when the cuts were being announced, Canberra’s average price for unleaded fuel was $2.08, constituting a drop of 27 cents since.
The Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA) is the national peak body representing the interests of Australia’s fuel wholesale, distribution and retail industry. CEO Mark McKenzie says every one of Canberra’s service stations has passed through the full extent of the excise discount, and faster than expected.
“Everyone was concerned about whether or not the excise cut would pass through, and we thought it take five to seven days. It actually happened faster than that.”
Excise is charged when fuel arrives at the company’s terminal, not at the service station. This means that at the time Treasurer Frydenberg made his announcement, there was already five days’ worth of fuel – or between 700 and 900 million litres – that had passed the excise point.
Mr McKenzie says some Canberra service stations receive more traffic than others and, as a result, it didn’t take long for cheaper fuel to enter their supply lines. Competition then forced other suppliers to follow their lead.
“If I’m sitting there at $2.20 and you’re at $2, people are just going to drive right past me.”
He says some held out for a couple of days before they realised it was worth making a short-term loss.
Fuel excise is one of two components dictating the wholesale price of fuel. The other is product cost and this is entirely dependent on what global oil prices are doing.
Mark says this boat may have been rocked in recent months, but it’s beginning to steady.
“The reason we have a bigger fall than 22 cents per litre is largely because oil prices have been coming down,” Mr McKenzie explains.
There has been a steady increase in global oil prices since the world started emerging from COVID-19 restrictions in late 2021, but these spiked when “we started to hear whispers of a possible conflict in Russia”.
Once the invasion got underway in February 2022, the market “did what all markets did and overreacted”.
“They then realised they may have overcooked it a bit, and prices came down again. But in the middle of March, the US started talking about the fact their [fuel] reserves weren’t as strong as they thought, and so as a result, we got a second spike, peaking on 25 March. This is coming down now.”
Bearing in mind there is a two to three week lag between when the market changes and when the price flows through at the pump, Mark says the combined effect of the excise cut and the lower oil prices means Australia is seeing wholesale fuel prices fall by 25 to 30 cents a litre.
“We’ve been through a period of volatility, but things will steady now”.
Following the Treasurer’s announcement, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said they would come down hard on service stations not passing on the savings.
Subsequent monitoring reveals “significant falls in retail prices in the major capital cities a week after the cut in fuel excise came into effect”.
“We encourage consumers everywhere to use fuel price comparison websites and apps which provide real time information about prices at individual petrol stations before deciding where to fill up,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“We will continue to monitor the petrol prices to determine how the cut in excise is being passed on.”
Original Article published by James Coleman on Riotact.


text:
Virtual reality specialist Jaunt and Dolby Laboratories have launched a section on the Jaunt VR app dedicated to content mixed in Dolby Atmos sound.
The branded Dolby Atmos portal is designed to give viewers easy access to all available Dolby Atmos-enabled VR experiences and is available on the Jaunt VR app for iOS, Android, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, or HTC Vive.
“Over the past twelve months, we’ve been working closely with Dolby and leading filmmakers, musicians and brands to create a library of marquee titles leveraging the Dolby Atmos technology,” said Cliff Plumer, president of Jaunt Studios.
“We truly believe high quality immersive audio in VR is more than half the experience. We’re very excited to offer Dolby Atmos support in the Jaunt VR App for consumers’ enjoyment.”
As part of the launch, Jaunt is releasing the latest episode in a multi-part documentary VR series about Pure McCartney. Other titles available in the Dolby Atmos portal at launch include Jack White: Ball & Biscuit, Revolt: Big Sean, and Rapid Fire: A Brief History of Flight.
Jaunt is backed by a number of prominent investors, including Google Ventures, Highland Capital and Sky.
Last September, Disney led a new US$65 million (€58 million) funding round in the cinematic VR firm, in which Sky upped its investment in the firm and ProSiebenSat.1 came on board as an investor.
ICYMI: UK SVOD viewing still strong despite lockdown lift digitaltveurope.com/2020/09/25/uk-… https://t.co/srsViARNY9
26 September 2020 @ 18:00:00 UTC
ICYMI: Amazon launches new Fire Sticks and redesigned Fire TV UX digitaltveurope.com/2020/09/25/ama… https://t.co/n0r3656Oqu
26 September 2020 @ 17:10:00 UTC
DTVE: the week in view – Six more months of COVID-19 restrictions – where does sports broadcasting go from here?… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
26 September 2020 @ 12:00:01 UTC


text:
France's reputation for producing popular cars was once up there with its reputation for fine wine and good food. However, the popularity of its automotive brands is in decline, as UK consumers continue to indulge in promiscuous shopping habits. One of the biggest losers has been the country's best-known manufacturer, Renault, which last year saw a 21% fall in UK sales.
It never used to be like this. For years Renault thrived on producing stylish, well-made cars for the mid-market, its sales made all the more robust by its strength in a variety of markets from saloons and hatchbacks to MPVs. Despite producing popular cars such as the Renault 5 and Clio, though, its more recent innovations such as 2005's Vel Satis executive car have failed to entice upmarket consumers.
In response, chief executive Carlos Ghosn has outlined plans to shift the brand into territory just below executive marques such as Mercedes and Audi. With supply outstripping demand and the imminent European assault of Chinese manufacturers such as Nanjing Automobile, with a rejuvenated MG, a move upmarket into the quality car market alongside companies such as Saab and Volvo makes a lot of sense.
BMW's downward shift into this catchment area has proved highly profitable. It has produced cheaper versions of cars such as the 3-Series, which have sold well. The problem for Renault is that many of its previous attempts to move into the quality car market have failed.
Looking downmarket is unlikely to do Renault much good either. It already has a perfectly good budget brand in its Dacia marque. Made in and designed for the Eastern-European market, it is among Renault's most popular models in terms of volume sales. It has also proved popular in some Western markets, but the company has no plans to launch it in the UK; while it might prove popular, it could devalue the Renault brand and the margins would be too low.
For Ghosn, 2007 is when the fightback starts and foremost in this battle will be the September launch of the sporty Twingo hatchback.
Will it be enough? We asked Chris Westlake, who oversees Mercedes' direct and digital advertising at Zulu, and Peter Cooke, KPMG automotive professor at Nottingham Business School, how they think Renault should restart.
DIAGNOSIS 1 - CHRIS WESTLAKE, CLIENT PARTNER, ZULU NETWORK
The leader that changed the face of MPV thinking more than 10 years ago has lost its way.
Renault's positioning is confused. On the one hand, it is eager to strut its stuff, with the bold derriere design, chic look and a cheeky beat to its commercials. But then we are also served the safety plaudits and NCAP credentials.
Is it the stylish design or safety space that Renault wishes to own? Even the heritage of designer Patrick Le Quement's courageous styling seems to have run ahead of the market, further increasing the polarising effect.
There is also the issue of size. In the late-90s, as the prime mover into compact hatchbacks, Renault shaped our current understanding of the flexible MPV vehicle concept with the Espace and Scenic. Now virtually every manufacturer has a similar model and Renault's competitive edge has been eroded.
In the small car sector, Renault missed the boat in the UK by failing to release the Twingo here early enough when a Citroen Saxo or Peugeot 106 competitor were nowhere to be seen.
- Refocus positioning. It could be around design or its F1 involvement.
- Explode performance. Communicate what it means to different drivers.
- Compete. Kill the run-out Clio Campus quickly and start building a prospect base for the Twingo, which looks great.
- Recover through more considered category management. Start promoting MPVs as a range and find a creative way of helping people navigate it.
DIAGNOSIS 2 - PETER COOKE, AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSOR, NOTTINGHAM BUSINESS SCHOOL
Renault is caught in the middle of the market and any move upmarket is going to take time. The French have not traditionally fared well in this sector and it will have to make difficult decisions in terms of smaller volumes versus bigger profits.
The question is whether it has a logical range. Many manufacturers are likely to split off and specialise. Renault has links with Dacia, its Eastern-European brand, but does it bring that into western Europe - if so, in what volume? While it has sold well where it has been introduced in western Europe, if it was brought out in the UK, it would risk dropping the price mix overall.
Renault has taken the initial benefits of its tie with Nissan and now the two must plan their next steps in terms of bringing out new and better models.
Renault has not done anything wrong, but it hasn't performed as well as it has in the past. Also, there is so much choice in the market - some players have about 25 products coming out in a year - that it is in danger of getting lost. It is furthermore caught in a catch-22 - pulling back on discounting has resulted in fewer sales.
- Review the range to ensure there is a clear hierarchy between the models.
- Build on the Nissan partnership and make sure all benefits and economies have been taken and that strategic developments will be mutually beneficial.
- Ensure there is a marketing balance between discounts and 'indirect discounts' through financial product offerings. Manage production to ensure the market is not flooded.


text:
Google is taking a step towards a safer internet by pushing websites to switch from HTTP to HTTPs. Why does this matter for your business? Google Chrome will begin flagging websites without HTTPS as “Not Secure”, which may deter potential users. Additionally, HTTP is bad for your SEO efforts. Google has stated that sites with HTTPS are given preference in Google search results, meaning that sites without HTTPS are returned significantly lower in search results.
The difference between HTTP and HTTPs can be confusing, so we’ve broken it down through this infographic.
As the internet expands and develops, so does web design. Over the past decade, thanks to the smartphone boom, websites designed for desktops have moved to interfaces that adjust to both large desktop screens and small phone screens.
Flashback to mid-2000’s: Responsive design was rarely useful. Most people only used the internet from a desktop, so it didn’t matter if your website looked good on mobile devices.
Now that we’re approaching the 2020’s, a mobile friendly website is no longer an option – it’s a necessity. 81% of consumers research a business before making a purchase decision and 51% of that traffic comes from mobile devices such as Smartphones or Tablets.
Many businesses have made strict choices to maintain both a website and a native app without giving much consideration to the possibility of this up and coming middle ground.
No matter your business, digitizing your operation is essential for increased workplace communication, productivity, and success. However, with this new digital frontier comes new problems, and even the most internet savvy individual may fall prey to some common issues of cyber security.
Navigating cyberspace is such a part our daily lives that we rarely consider the potential consequences of utilizing online conveniences. However, even the most experienced and well intentioned user may find themselves making detrimental cyber security mistakes every day. The key to avoiding mistakes is reassessing the most common cyber security myths and find how to truly protect ourselves and our businesses. Here are the 5 most common cyber security myths:
As you may be aware, a serious and vicious piece of malware made its rounds over this past weekend. It goes by many names, WannaCrypt, WannaCry, or Wncry, but the fact of the matter is it has already infected over 200,000 computers across more than 100 countries. Any un-patched computer may still be vulnerable to WannaCrypt and any of its variants. Researchers have announced that WannaCrypt 2.0 is beginning to spread along with other variants.


text:
Some fresh names have been added to the cast and crew roster of the upcoming live-action Star Wars TV series, The Mandalorian. And it's starting to sound like one hell of a crazy show.
We already know that Pedro Pascal (Narcos) will be taking the lead role as a lone Boba Fett-like Mandalorian gunfighter on the edge of the galaxy, and that the series will be executive produced by long-time Disney collaborator Jon Favreau.
But you can now, incredibly, add to that list Carl Weathers of Predator and Rocky fame, and the legendary director Werner Herzog (Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Grizzly Man) in what appears to be an onscreen, in-front-of-the-camera acting role.
“We’re having a great time working with this incredibly talented group and excited for everyone to see what we’re up to,” said Favreau in a post on the Star Wars blog (opens in new tab).
More to come
And it doesn't stop there. They're set to be joined by joined by Gina Carano (Deadpool), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Emily Swallow (Supernatural), Omid Abtahi (American Gods), and Nick Nolte (Affliction).
That's before taking into consideration the rolling list of directors, which is set to include Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).
The series, set to launch in late 2019, will be the headline attraction of the upcoming Disney+ streaming service, which will be taking on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix for pole position in the battle for control over your TV viewing time.
- There's more! Rogue One's Cassian Andor will return for a Disney+ live action show, too


text:
“This is an artificial nose. It is based on optic technology and its particularity is it has a layer of bio-sensors. So it's a bio-optic smell sensor,” founder and joint CEO of Aryballe Technologies Tristan Rousselle said at IFT in Chicago last month.
Based in Grenoble in France, the company develops and manufactures the mobile-connected, universal odour sensors to help manufacturers in quality control and new product development.
“There is still no reliable and universal technology to analyse smell. Of course the human nose can do it very well so essentially the industry, whether it’s flavour and fragrance or food, relies on the human nose.
Rousselle said that one area where human sense of smell cannot be used is to track the evolution of a product, and how its flavour changes over time.
“We are not going to replace the human nose but […] with this sensor they will be more efficient because they will have references and can directly see numerical data.”
The sensor is capable of detecting smells with a degree of specificity - a variation of just one carbon atom when analysing pure molecules – that Rousselle said Aryballe did not intially expect to achieve.
“It can even detect the state of oxidation, which is very useful because over time food can oxidise and there is a variation in the odour. We have even shown, which was a big challenge, that we can compare enantiomers. These are molecules that have exactly the same formulas but a different orientation."
It is also very sensitive, although not as much as the human nose, which can detect aroma molecules at a sensitivity measured in parts per trillion. Aryballes’s NeOse Pro can detect in the part-per-billion range, which covers around 50 to 60% of applications.
The portable and user-friendly device can be used at any point in the supply chain or manufacturing process to ensure batch-to-batch consistency, from raw material sourcing to during the processing of the final product.
Aryballe has already detected, digitised, and stored 800 aromas in its databases for comparison or matching.


text:
Yes, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro can record 4K HD video (3840 by 2160). It also includes support for slo-mo video for 1080p at 120 fps and 720p at 240 fps, time-lapse video and cinematic video stabilization.
During Apple's Monday iPhone SE keynote, senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller said one of the reasons Apple launched a 9.7-inch iPad Pro is to attract Windows users. Schiller said, " the majority of people that come to an iPad Pro are coming from a Windows PC, a desktop or a notebook." This is why it is no surprise that Apple is suggesting Microsoft Office to customers who are looking to pre-order the new iPad Pro model.
Yes, just like its larger 12.9-inch counterpart the 9.7-inch iPad Pro model does include a Smart Connector. The Smart Connector supports the Apple-designed Smart Keyboard. The connector is designed to easily share data and power with the Smart Keyboard, and it adds a variety of useful QuickType features to your iPad Pro. The Smart Keyboard also requires no charging or pairing, like other third-party keyboard cases. The Smart Keyboard is available for both the 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch iPad Pro models starting at $149.00 on apple.com.
Only Apple's iPhone Plus models (iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s Plus) ship with optical image stabilization. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro does however feature the best camera out of all the current iPad models, and it is equipped with all of Apple's other recent camera technology. The iPad Pro features a 12MP iSight camera with Live Photos support, autofocus with Focus Pixels and the ability to record 4K HD video. It also capable of snapping 63-megapixel Panorama photos, and includes a new front-facing Retina Flash on its 5MP FaceTime HD camera for better low light performance.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has the best camera out of all the current iPad models available on the market. It includes all of Apple's most recent camera technologies, except optical image stimulation (OIS). The iPad Pro is equipped with a 12MP iSight camera with a ƒ/2.2 aperture, autofocus with Focus Pixels and face detection. It features Live Photos support, and it is capable of recording 4K HD video and taking 63MP Panorama pictures. The front-facing FaceTime HD camera is 5MP with 720p HD video recording and Retina flash for better low light performance.
No, none of Apple's current iOS products are waterproof. There have been rumors that Apple's 2016 next-generation devices may be the company's first fully waterproof products, but none of the devices announced on March 21st, 2016, including the iPhone SE, are waterproof. There's still hope that the upcoming iPhone 7 will feature an IP rating for water resistance.
It is time for iPad Air owners to decide if they want to upgrade to the new iPad Pro now that Apple has officially unveiled the 9.7-inch tablet. This decision may be easier this year than past years since there has been a significant amount of time between the iPad launches. The iPad Air 2 was released on October 22, 2014 and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro was announced on Monday, March 21, 2016.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is equipped with a 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch Retina display with 2048-by-1536 resolution at (264 ppi). It also includes wide color and True Tone display, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and an antireflective coating.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is a lot like its bigger brother the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Both are equipped with a four-speaker audio system. The 9.7-inch model also includes built-in sensors which automatically adjusts and optimize the audio, and iOS 9.3 adds the ability to play Dolby Digital Plus audio streams.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro was introduced alongside the iPhone SE on Monday, March 21st at Apple's Infinite Loop campus in Cupertino, California. Pre-orders for the new tablet opened on Thursday, March 24th. It went officially on sale at Apple.com, and in Apple’s retail stores, through select carriers and Apple Authorized Resellers on Thursday, March 31 in Australia, Canada, China (Wi-Fi models only), France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.


text:
Telecom OSS BSS
Oracle hasn't added any jobs yet
Get notified when Oracle posts new jobs.
Latest Stories and News
- 1 week ago
- President Trump said he has agreed in concept to a deal under which Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok will partner with Oracle and Walmart to become a U.S.-based company, capping negotiations that have stirred debate over national security and the future of the internet.
- The Commerce Department would delay a ban on U.S. downloads and updates for the TikTok app. The ban is now set to take effect Sept. 27, but could be further delayed or removed if the proposed new partnership goes forward.
- Oracle would have a 12.5% stake in the new entity called TikTok Global, and would provide secure cloud service for data on the popular app.
- Walmart agreed to purchase 7.5% of TikTok Global as well as entering into commercial agreements to provide e-commerce, fulfillment, payments and other services to the new company.
- TikTok’s current owner, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd., would retain roughly 80% ownership of the company. But because ByteDance is about 40% owned by U.S. investors, the new company with equity stakes for Oracle and Walmart can be described as having majority American ownership.
- 1 month ago
- Oracle, an enterprise software giant, is in talks to acquire social media company TikTok’s U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand assets.
- Oracle is working with a group of U.S. venture capital firms that already have a stake in TikTok. The Financial Times earlier reported on the talks and named General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital as two of the investors working with Oracle.
- Oracle’s talks to acquire TikTok’s operations in four countries are ongoing and have accelerated in recent days, and it and Microsoft are far ahead of any other companies that have expressed interest.
- Oracle doesn’t have a consumer-facing social media or video business. In theory, Oracle could use customer data collected by TikTok to improve its marketing products, but spending tens of billions to acquire a consumer social media company would be a significant departure for the company.
- 3 months ago
- Tech giant Oracle is one of a few companies in Silicon Valley that has near-perfected the art of tracking people across the internet. The company has spent a decade and billions of dollars buying startups to build its very own panopticon of users’ web browsing data.
- One of those startups, BlueKai, which Oracle bought for a little over $400 million in 2014, is barely known outside marketing circles, but it amassed one of the largest banks of web tracking data outside of the federal government.
- BlueKai uses website cookies and other tracking tech to follow you around the web. By knowing which websites you visit and which emails you open, marketers can use this vast amount of tracking data to infer as much about you as possible — your income, education, political views, and interests to name a few — in order to target you with ads that should match your apparent tastes. If you click, the advertisers make money.


text:
March 3, 2015 | Venture Beat by Jordan Novet
CloudMine, a startup that sells a cloud service for operating mobile apps and websites, is announcing today that it has picked up $5 million in new funding.
CloudMine offers several components for mobile developers to tap, including object storage, push notifications, load balancing, and mobile analytics. Such things can come in handy for companies that wish to build or expand their mobile presence but don’t wish to own the physical infrastructure for new apps to run on.
Of course, this area has proven interesting to investors, who have backed startups like Kidozen, Kii,and Kinvey, while enterprise software vendors have partnered with or even bought some startups with mobile backend services. Red Hat last year bought FeedHenry, for instance, while VMware relies on Kinvey’s service to deliver a mobile backend in its vCloud Air public cloud…


text:
Written by: Ankit Singhania – Pot Stock News
Over the past few years, the cannabis industry has grown at a breakneck pace, and after the legalization in Canada, it picked up steam at an unprecedented rate. From among the companies that went on to become the top players in the industry, Cronos Group was certainly one of those. As a matter of fact, Cronos has managed to remain one of the major players in the industry, and in a new development, the company today announcedthat it is in the process of making a key acquisition. The acquisition in question is that of a fermentation and manufacturing plant located in Winnipeg, Canada.
When it comes to becoming the biggest companies in the cannabis space, acquisitions and consolidation are generally the way in which companies can grow the quickest. Cronos Group seems to be going in the same direction. More importantly, this new acquisition contains a highly advanced facility that is fully equipped with laboratories that can be used for chemistry and microbiology. For a cannabis company trying to produce new products, it is a highly important factor.
After the plans of the acquisition of this facility from Apotex Fermentation was announced, the investors cheered and CRON stock rose by as much as 3% to $15.76 in early trade on the Nasdaq.
Additionally, it is important to note that the facility in question is also equipped with two large sized areas meant solely for the purposes of fermentation. According to Cronos, those areas will be used for the development of CBD and CBD-based products. Considering the fact that the CBD market is all set to explode over the next couple of years, it is a very shrewd investment from Cronos Group.
The facility will be christened Cronos Fermentation, and it is going to help the company in honoring its agreement with Gingko Bioworks, a company with which it has inked a partnership.
Although CRON stock is up 40% year-to-date, it has fallen 35% since mid-February.


text:
Top Posts & Pages
The town of Princeton announced at the end of April that it will settle a court case about how much affordable housing the town will add through 2025. Six weeks on, the terms of the settlement are still shrouded in … Continue reading
With 2016 at an end, it’s time to look toward what the new year holds for walkable living and development in Princeton. Every year, we try to guess what will happen in the coming 12 months. Which of our guesses … Continue reading
Who said Jersey is one big sprawl? We have a ton of walkable towns – places where you can get to work, grab a beer, or hit some stores without getting in a car. Some of these towns are playgrounds for lovers … Continue reading
Earlier this semester, Rutgers University opened a significant new addition. ‘The Yard‘ replaced a parking lot at Hamilton St and College Ave in New Brunswick. Imagined as a ‘front porch’ for the campus, the project features a mixture of stores and … Continue reading
Last weekend was the Mill Hill Holiday House Tour. Now in its 50th year, the event allows members of the public into the homes of Mill Hill residents, offering a view of one of Trenton’s most interesting neighborhoods.
Princeton University’s big redevelopment of the Merwick-Stanworth site is now almost complete. The construction, which is located on the east side of Bayard Lane (Route 206) between Leigh Avenue and the Princeton YMCA site, broke ground in late 2013. A … Continue reading
A couple of weeks ago, I finally got the chance to visit the new World Trade Center PATH station in New York, which its spectacular ‘Oculus’ hall. The station is absolutely amazing, and a fitting addition to the world’s greatest … Continue reading