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South Korean tech giant, Samsung, has been in the news lately for its upcoming Galaxy S20 series of phones that are scheduled to launch on February 11. The S20 series will be Samsung’s first flagship of the year, and will bring with itself three new phones -- Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Of these, we’ve seen a number of rumors about the Galaxy S20+ and S20 Ultra emerge in the last week or so, and now we have some information of the Galaxy S20 as well. Reports had previously suggested that the Galaxy S20 will come with a 120Hz display, but now fresh details have emerged which claim the high refresh rate will only be limited to 1080p resolution.
This information has come courtesy of popular tipster, IceUniverse, who recently took to Twitter to claim that the high refresh rate on the Galaxy S20 will be locked to certain resolutions only, and as would see the phone include pre-set options for 1080p 60 Hz, 1080p 120 Hz, and 1440p 60 Hz.
It can now be said with certainty that Samsung has cancelled the WQHD 120Hz option of the Galaxy S20 series, leaving only FHD 60Hz, FHD 120Hz, WQHD 60Hz. this means that we can't have the best resolution and the best refresh rate at the same time. What is your opinion on this? pic.twitter.com/GaYJuOubw8Ice universe (@UniverseIce) January 14, 2020
It’s interesting that Samsung is looking to limit the refresh rate on the Galaxy S20 especially considering it will come packing enough power to refresh the display at higher resolutions too. While there is no clarity on why the company’s doing so, one reason could be to improve the battery life on the device.
The particular Galaxy S20 leak has also been confirmed by XDADevelopers’ Max Weinbach who had previously shared several Galaxy S20 leaks. Previously, there have also been leaks about the Galaxy S20+ which is being said to support 8K video recording -- at 30 frames per second (no 24FPS or 60FPS options here). This would be done through the primary camera on the S20+ that would be a 12-megapixel Sony-made sensor.
The information courtesy of a listing shows the Galaxy S20+ 5G, bearing model number SM-G986U. The model was spotted with One UI 2.0 based on Android 10. For internals, it will bring 12GB RAM and pair it with up to 256GB of storage.
As for the chipset, the phone is being tipped to house the Snapdragon 865 SoC under the hood. However, it could be the Exynos 990 for regions outside the US. The listing also reveals benchmark scores, with the pre-production unit of the Galaxy S20+ 5G scoring 923 and 3,267 points in Geekbench 5's single and multi-core tests.


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Supreme Court lets stand ruling denying Chrysler dealership
HELENA, Mont. —
The Montana Supreme Court is letting stand a decision to deny a Billings auto dealership the right to sell Chrysler and Jeep vehicles based on the protest of a competitor.
Rimrock Auto Group lost its Chrysler dealership along with about 700 others when the company filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
The new Chrysler company soon awarded a Chrysler-Jeep franchise to Lithia Motors Inc., in Billings. Lithia already sold Dodge vehicles.
Rimrock challenged the loss of its franchise and was awarded a letter of intent to establish a Chrysler-Jeep franchise in Billings. However, state law allowed Lithia to oppose it.
In 2012, a state hearings examiner didn't find good cause to re-establish Rimrock as a Chrysler-Jeep franchise in Billings.
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a state judge was correct in deciding there weren't grounds to second-guess the hearings examiner.

domain: news


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MAPLEWOOD, MO (KTVI)-Love food? Like to try new things? Then save the day for the 8th annual Taste of Maplewood on Saturday, May 21, 2016, from Noon-9:00pm. Festivities will take place on Sutton Boulevard, just south of Manchester. The street festival brings together foodies, shoppers, and music lovers .
“The Best of the Taste of Maplewood” food and drink contest,will see competitors battling for bragging rights to have their food and libations hailed the “Best Of” by celebrity judges.
Website: Taste of Maplewood


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Although Julia Gillard detailed small business exemptions when she announced the carbon price on Sunday, convenience stores say the tax will mean they’ll be faced with greater costs – either to be passed on to consumers or absorbed at the expense of profitability.
According to the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), absorbing increased costs at the expense of profitability is an unsustainable option, given the existing cost burden the sector is already experiencing.
“Convenience stores are at a critical juncture in terms of their ability to compete with the bulk buying power of the major supermarkets. Overheads are already exceptionally high, and the nature of these 24 hours a day, 365 days a year small businesses means higher utility costs are already a source of serious pressure for convenience stores,” AACS Executive Director Jeff Rogut said.
Rogut said the carbon tax would have an immediate effect of raising utility costs further, increasing the cost burden.
“Then there are the flow through increases, such as rising costs for food manufacturers, which will undoubtedly be passed on. The buck stops with convenience stores. The carbon tax will sit alongside rising costs of labour, security, penalty rates, ‘drive-offs’ on petrol sites as just another cost to be borne by an increasingly hamstrung convenience store sector.”
The AACS feels the interests of independent convenience stores are being ignored by the Government again.
“Which are in the main family run small businesses in its carbon tax modelling,” Rogut added.


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Wawa will examine its uniform policy after a former employee said he was prohibited from wearing a Black Lives Matter mask at a South Jersey store.
Andre Lynch III arrived at the Wawa on Route 38 in Mount Laurel at 5:30 a.m. Friday wearing the same mask he said he’d worn to work several times since the killing of George Floyd.
Inscribed on the mask are “Black Lives Matter,” “I can’t breathe,” and “Say his name.” The messages honor the memory of Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed after white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd’s death has sparked anti-racism protests around the world.
Two hours into his shift, Lynch said, his manager told him he had to change into a plain mask or leave. So, the 20-year-old said, he quit.
Wawa said it could not comment on Lynch’s story, which was first reported by NBC10, under the Delaware County-based company’s policy to not discuss individual workers. But a spokesperson said Monday that Wawa was working to help employees show solidarity with the movement.
“Wawa believes black lives matter,” the spokesperson said, “and it’s why we have posted signage sharing this message in our stores. Additionally, we have been working on ways through our diversity and inclusion efforts to enhance our uniform standards to enable our associates to express their support.”
This week, the company will provide employees with pins to show support for Black Lives Matter “within uniform guidelines, if they choose to,” she said.
Lynch, however, said a small, company-provided pin won’t amplify the voices of people of color.
“It’s like you’re trying to tell somebody, ‘Just shut up,’” he said.
Lynch’s experience comes as corporations are publicly expressing their support of Black Lives Matter and promising to reckon with systemic racism and inequality. Some question whether these statements will actually lead to meaningful change — or amount only to empty promises.
While Starbucks publicly showed support for Black Lives Matter in internal communications, it prohibited employees from wearing Black Lives Matter clothing.
A Starbucks executive told employees, according to BuzzFeed News, that the apparel was prohibited because “agitators who misconstrue the fundamental principles” of Black Lives Matter could use the clothing to “amplify divisiveness.”
A few days later, the company reversed course, saying it would make 250,000 Black Lives Matter shirts available to stores in the United States and Canada. In the meantime, it said, employees could wear their own shirts or pins.
Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens said in an open letter this month that the company condemns “all acts of racism, violence, or injustice” and promises to “listen even more carefully to our Black associates to better understand our own issues and work together to solve them.” Wawa vowed to add more programs that support black communities and pledged $100,000 a year for the next several years to the National Urban League, a civil rights organization focused on economic equality for black and brown communities.
Lynch said a Wawa executive called him Sunday, apologized for what happened, and told him about the pins the company planned to give employees. Lynch said he was offered his job back, but he still wouldn’t be able to wear any masks or clothing that showed support for Black Lives Matter.
Lynch, who worked at Wawa for more than a year, said he is deciding whether he wants to return.
Until Friday, he said, he had enjoyed his job and felt supported there. In fact, he received the Black Lives Matter mask from a Wawa customer whose friend designed it. When he wore the face covering during prior shifts, he said, customers would say “I like the mask” or “We support you.” Since he quit, he’s received “an outpouring of support" from his coworkers.
But as a black man, he said, he wants to show solidarity with people who have for weeks been protesting police brutality and systemic racism in Philadelphia and around the world.
His father, Andre Lynch Jr., said he felt an obligation to take his son’s story public on Saturday with a Facebook post, which has been shared more than 1,500 times.
“It didn’t sit right with me,” he said. “I don’t find it to be a political thing. You’re stating Black Lives Matter. You’re stating a human being’s life matters.”


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AMTD, Xiaomi, SMU and NUS launch digital finance leadership programme
AMTD and Xiaomi will contribute $5m to support the programme.
AMTD Group, Xiaomi Finance, Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Institute of Systems Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS-ISS) jointly launched a five-day digital finance leadership programme aimed at strengthening Singapore’s position as a fintech and innovation hub, an announcement revealed.
The AMTD-Xiaomi-SMU-ISS (AXSI) Digital Finance Leadership Programme aims to help deepen the knowledge and ability of senior finance and regulatory leaders, as well as fintech entrepreneurs in Asia in the areas of digital business transformation and digital finance. This will enable them to harness digital financial solutions and services to strengthen their businesses, according to the joint release.
AMTD and Xiaomi Finance will contribute a total of $5m to support the AXSI Programme to enable SMU and NUS-ISS to build the relevant curriculum and teaching resources, as well as support the cost of managing and organising this programme.
Part of the contribution may also be used to fund scholarships to attract the most outstanding candidates from the public sector to join the AXSI Programme.
The AXSI Programme, which will have two runs each year, will welcome its first cohort of participants in November. Each run will have up to 25 participants. The inaugural run has been designed to coincide with the Singapore FinTech Festival. Participants of the programme will also be invited to participate in the festival.
During their five days in Singapore, the learning sessions will comprise curated content drawn from Asia, focussing on the topics of new financial ecosystem, financial innovation, sustainability and green finance, FinTech solutions and cybersecurity.
In addition to the five-day executive programme, participants will also undergo two days of learning journeys in Hong Kong and Beijing, hosted by AMTD and Xiaomi Finance, respectively.
Beyond FinTech-related topics, participants will also learn and share the best practices of various issues in a post-Covid-19 world, including being responsible and responsive leaders.
Participants such as regulators, corporate leaders and FinTech entrepreneurs, are expected to come from different segments of the FinTech ecosystem in the Greater Bay Area, Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia, to learn and network with policymakers, faculty and industry experts during the programme.


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Dodd-Frank's Birthday Marred By Its Many Inadequacies
Financial reform debates rarely dwell long on the purposes financial markets serve. Instead policy debaters move quickly from cursory diagnoses to regulatory remedies. As a consequence, the reforms that these discussions produce often inadvertently impede the proper functioning of the markets. An impaired financial industry can have deep and devastating effects on people far away from Wall Street and Washington.
The financial industry exists to serve consumers and companies that need to manage their risks and finance homes, educations, retirements, production, and innovation. The regulatory framework within which the financial industry operates can affect the industry's ability to effectively meet those needs. Many people simply assume that, on balance, more regulation will make financial markets function better. For example, 60 percent of the respondents in a Better Markets poll from earlier this month want "stricter regulation on the way banks and other financial institutions conduct their business."
The poll results might have been different if the respondents had also seen a June 2014 Goldman Sachs study that asks the important question-"Who Pays for Bank Regulation?" The research found that post-crisis financial regulatory efforts are particularly costly for low-income consumers and small businesses. A subset of consumers who were once able to get credit cards and home mortgages now rely on payday lenders, government agencies, and other nonbanks for credit.
Other consumers and small businesses still have access to bank credit, but they pay more than they did before. The Goldman Sachs study estimates that a household earning $50,000-the median annual income-pays an extra $200 a year in interest. With respect to business borrowers, the study estimates that small and mid-sized companies are paying, respectively, 41 and 55 basis points more on bank loans than they did pre-crisis. Larger companies, by contrast, are actually paying less than they did before the crisis to fund themselves.
The study attributes the disparate effects in part to the degree to which nonbank alternative sources of funding are available to different groups of consumers and businesses. As the study authors explain, "consumers and businesses that have ready access to alternative sources of finance are less likely to pay the incremental tax that regulation imposes." Low-income consumers and small businesses don't have many funding options, so they cannot avoid the regulatory tax.
There are a number of steps that regulators can take to preserve and expand funding options for consumers and small businesses. First, the capital markets, which the Securities and Exchange Commission regulates, can be a valuable alternative to bank financing for small businesses. The SEC, using its discretionary authority and the authority granted to it under the JOBS Act, can undertake serious efforts to open up viable funding sources for new and growing businesses. These efforts will fall flat, however, if new capital-raising avenues such as crowdfunding and Regulation A offerings are loaded down with costly obligations that put them out of the reach of small companies.
Second, bank regulators can look for creative ways to limit regulatory obligations on small banks. Dodd-Frank's burdens take a tremendous toll on these banks, which are key to small business lending. A well-capitalized community bank should not have to worry about being second-guessed by a bank examiner for making a loan to a local small business or a consumer with whom the bank has had a long-standing relationship.
Third, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection should not lose sight of its statutory objective to ensure that "markets for consumer products and services operate transparently and efficiently to facilitate access and innovation." The Bureau points to its rules, enforcement actions, and consumer complaint database as evidence of its solidarity with consumers, but it has not given sufficient thought to the potential effects of its actions on consumer prices and the willingness of companies to serve consumers. As Robert Clarke and Todd Zywicki wrote in a recent article, "Competition and consumer choice can be powerful vehicles for improving consumer welfare and consumer protection." The Bureau should embrace-rather than tolerate or ignore-its legal obligations to consider the effects its rules will have on small banks and other small businesses.
Fourth, regulators should look back at old regulations to identify those that are particularly harmful to small businesses and consumers. Bank regulators are currently conducting the 10-year review of regulations "to identify outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome requirements" required under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996. This process provides regulators a key opportunity to consider whether particular rules or sets of rules are increasing the costs of consumers and small businesses to financing and decreasing their access.
Dodd-Frank's fourth birthday party was marred by talk of its long list of inadequacies. It is unfortunate to have to add the statute's regressive effects to that list. But regulators can do a lot before the law's next birthday to remove uneconomic regulatory impediments to the financial industry's ability to serve the full range of consumers and businesses.


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September 17, 4:21 PM
SVB Leerink On Thursday Morning Downgraded Inovalon Holdings to Market Perform, Lowered Price Target to $41
August 20, 8:26 AM
SVB Leerink analyst Stephanie Davis on thursday morning downgraded Inovalon Holdings (NASDAQ:INOV) from Outperform to Market Perform and lowered the price target from $45 to $41.
August 19, 12:01 PM
Gainers Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SONN) shares jumped 141% to $1.7950 after dropping 12% on Wednesday. Sonnet BioTherapeutics recently reported its financial results for the three months ended June 30th , 2021 and issued a business update.


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Jeff Bezos, founder, CEO, and president of Amazon.com, decided to try something different with his new billion-dollar charity, Day One Families Fund.
Bezos, through his charity, announced that he...more
Peter Makwanya, a climate change communicator, writes for NewsDay and shares his opinion on sustainable living and survival of children.
He highlights the essence of environmental eco-prenuership...more
A list of eight socially conscious dress shoes has been collected and provided by CauseArtist, a news site that feature brands, people,and products that are creating social good in the world of business and fashion.


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Best local search engine optimization firms ratings in Spain published by topseos.com.es for January 2014.
(PRWEB) January 09, 2014
topseos.com.es has selected the 10 top local SEO firms in Spain supplying solutions in the internet marketing industry for the month of January 2014. Businesses looking for sufficient local SEO solutions turn to the rankings produced online in order to identify local SEO firms which have been scrutinized by an independent third party. The rankings are reassessed monthly to account for the latest achievements of top contesting internet marketing firms and to highlight the top producers of sufficient solutions.
Local search companies are put through the topseos.com.es original investigation process in order to determine which companies in Spain supply the top overall service. Companies are chosen based on merit determined by achievement in the investigation process. This process consists of the use of a set of investigation verticals, communicating with client references, and performing various market and industry research projects.
The 10 best local SEO companies in Spain for January 2014 are:
2. SEO in Spain
4. Redline Company
5. Solar Internet
6. Mister Web
7. Sorted Sites
8. Abad Marketing
9. T2O media
topseos.com.es is a purveyor of web marketing evaluations in Spain. The leading purpose of topseos.com.es is to uncover and proclaim those individuals or companies offering best web marketing solutions available. Local search companies are put through a systematic analysis to ensure the rankings contain the absolute best companies the web marketing industry has to offer.
The 10 top local SEO companies for January 2014 can be found at: http://topseos.news-prs.com/es/local-seo-rankings.
Local SEO services interested in being evaluated and revealed can visit: http://topseos.news-prs.com/es/apply-for-rankings.


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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Nov. 30, 2016, in Bellevue, Washington.
Stephen Brashear | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Microsoft surpassed expectations on the top and bottom lines, but the stock was pressured by weak guidance and cloud revenue that missed expectations.
Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud business segment, which includes the Azure public cloud, as well as Windows Server, SQL Server, Nuance and Enterprise Services, generated $20.33 billion in quarterly revenue, according to a company statement. That’s up 20% but slightly less than the $20.36 billion consensus among analysts polled by StreetAccount.
As for guidance, Microsoft expects to see $52.35 billion to $53.35 billion in revenue for the fiscal second quarter, which implies 2% growth at the middle of the range. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had been looking for revenue of $56.05 billion.
CEO Satya Nadella said on a conference call with analysts that cyclical trends are affecting Microsoft’s consumer business. CFO Amy Hood said weak demand for PCs in September will continue to hit Microsoft’s consumer segment and said to expect a percentage decline in the high 30s for Windows revenue from devices makers in the fiscal second quarter.
Goldman Sachs analysts were not discouraged by the weaker, cyclical segments, and reiterated their buy rating on the stock. They said there’s potential for those segments to rebound and that companies are more likely to offer conservative guidance when faced with a challenging macroeconomic environment.
They believe there is potential for revenue reacceleration next year.
“Looking beyond near-term dynamics, we remain constructive as we see the company well positioned to continue to win deals and expand its wallet share within its existing customer-base, even in a slower growth environment,” they wrote in a note Tuesday.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley also remain confident in Microsoft’s growth potential despite its weak cyclical areas and guidance.
The strength of the company’s positioning for core secular growth trends “remains evident,” they said.
“Bottom line, while heavier cyclical weights brings down our FY23 EPS estimates, we remain firmly convicted in the longer-term secular growth story at Microsoft,” they said in a note Wednesday.
Barclays analysts said Microsoft’s quarterly outlook was a “negative surprise” for investors, and that macroeconomic challenges are slowing migration to the cloud.
However, they said in a note Wednesday that while “shares will likely react negatively in the short term,” the company’s management is still guiding for revenue and profit that “should ensure relative outperformance.”
Microsoft shares have fallen about 25% so far this year, while the S&P 500 stock index is down 19% over the same period.
— CNBC’s Jordan Novet and Michael Bloom contributed to this report.


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Cannabis Impairment, By Bethan Bee Rose
For the first time, researchers believe that they have uncovered precisely how long cannabis users feel impaired after consuming their beloved herb.
Moreover, the new research outlines the timespan during which consumers are capable of driving after enjoying cannabis.
Carried out by a team of investigators from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney, this research touches upon 80 scientific studies into THC impairment. Numerous factors came into play for the investigation, such as a person's frequency of use and the dosage.
Based on the results, users were found to be impaired for 3-10 hours after consuming moderate to high doses of cannabis containing the psychoactive compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).Cannabis researchers and lobbyists say that the findings of their research demonstrate the need to amend drug-driving laws across much of Australia; not to mention the rest of the world. Common DOI incidents result in hefty fines and/or license confiscation.
Weeks post-consumption, cannabis users may still test positive for the psychotropic compound THC, thus making it difficult to differentiate between someone who has refrained from using the plant for quite some time prior to driving and those who consume weed on a regular basis.
Dose and Method of Consumption Has a Major Impact on Cannabis Impairment
As the cannabis industry evolves across much of Europe and the rest of the world, so too do the range of products infiltrating the market.
For example, the need for controlled-dose products is prompting manufacturers to cater towards a growing consumer demographic with goods like sprays, capsules and segmented edibles.
The recent research, which was published in Neuroscience & Behavioural Reviews, highlighted the importance of providing consumers with a mixed bag of consumption methods and dose-focused products. To better understand how THC impacts driving performance, the team analyzed 80 scientific studies that were carried out over the past 20 years.
After inspecting the data, researchers determined that the precise level of cannabis impairment depends on the dose of THC, how frequently the person consumed the drug, the method of administration – e.g. inhalation or oral consumption – as well as numerous other factors
“Our analysis indicates that impairment may last up to 10 hours if high doses of THC are consumed orally," wrote the study's lead researcher, Danielle McCartney. "A more typical duration of impairment, however, is four hours, when lower doses of THC are consumed via smoking or vaporization and simpler tasks are undertaken.
"Regular Cannabis Users are Less Influenced by THC
Occasional cannabis consumers are less likely to be impacted by THC than individuals who use the plant on a regular basis. Specifically, Dr. McCartney noted that consumers could be impaired for up to seven hours if they consumed higher doses of THC. "Our evidence should hopefully help people to make informed decisions and policymakers to make policies that are evidence-based and tell people how long they should wait before driving," she said.Dr. McCartney went on to say that high levels of impairment were noticeable after increased doses of the cannabinoid were consumed by means of inhalation; driving ability was assessed at this stage of the study. No other research of this kind has outlined a detailed meta-analysis that puts an accurate time stamp on cannabis impairment."THC can be detected in the body weeks after cannabis consumption while it is clear that impairment lasts for a much shorter period of time. Our legal frameworks probably need to catch up with that," explained academic director of the Lambert Initiative, Professor Iain McGregor.
Potential Dangers of Cannabis Impairment
Someone who consumes cannabis may still be impaired for more than 24 hours afterwards; even after noticeable effects of the plant have diminished. Sources state that the THC contained in cannabis may impair someone's ability to operate equipment in the workplace and drive in a manner that does not put their own or someone else's safety at risk.
The reason for this all comes down to the side effects that cannabis may have on someone's ability to focus and pay attention, their coordination, reaction time, ability to comprehend distances and decision-making abilities.
Investigators also have reason to believe that cannabis consumption – particularly when mixed with alcohol – may elevate the risk of injurious or fatal accidents, including biking, driving and skiing. Regular cannabis consumers, even weeks after consuming the plant in any form, may also have difficulty with basic motor skills.
Moreover, when cannabis is combined with certain types of sedative medications like benzodiazepines and opioids, the overall effects can be amplified. Because of this, consumers should practice caution as a means of avoiding the risk of injury; especially when driving or operating heavy machinery in the workplace. It's also important to note that numerous factors may influence a person's level of impairment, including genetics, gender, weight, the type of cannabis consumed, age and, of course, how often someone uses weed.
CBD is a Welcome Alternative for Concerned Cannabis Consumers This ground-breaking study into the implications that cannabis may have on motorists shows that the non psychotropic, plant-derived component does not impair a person's ability to drive safely. Fast emerging as a popular ingredient in the medical field, CBD does not cause mind-altering effects, unlike its cousin cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Confusion surrounding the topic has led many law enforcement officials to believe that anyone who tests positive for cannabis, even if that person has not consumed a high-THC strain, may be putting theirs and other people's safety at risk.
While CBD does not impair driving ability, THC was shown to influence mild driving impairment for up to four hours."These findings indicate for the first time that CBD, when given without THC, does not affect a subject’s ability to drive.
That’s great news for those using or considering treatment using CBD-based products," professed the study's lead author, Dr. Thomas Arkell, who noted that CBD-containing products have signaled promise in relieving conditions such as anxiety, addiction and chronic pain.
Many products that currently exist on the market are enriched with a blend of THC and CBD. In order to come to this conclusion, the researchers pulled data from a number of individuals who had inhaled cannabis in its vaporizable form. Each cannabis mixture contained different variations of the plant's most commonly occurring cannabinoids, THC and CBD. Both 40 minutes and four hours post-consumption, study subjects embarked on a 100-kilometre drive along public highways under controlled conditions. Cannabis enriched with CBD did not affect driving ability, whereas THC-potent strains and mixtures that blended THC with CBD appeared to mildly impair motorist driving ability.
Interestingly, impairment caused by THC and THC/CBD mixtures were recorded 40 minutes after consumption, as opposed to four hours. This tells us that psychotropic elements of the cannabis plant can linger in a person's system and cause longer-lasting implications for drivers.
"With cannabis laws changing globally, jurisdictions are grappling with the issue of cannabis-impaired driving. These results provide much needed insights into the magnitude and duration of impairment caused by different types of cannabis and can help to guide road-safety policy not just in Australia but around the world," explained Dr. Arkell.Carried out at the Netherlands' famous Maastricht University, this study was fronted by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney. Written words of the study's findings are outlined in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Understanding the Legality of Cannabis Europe
As a naturally-occurring cannabis compound that possesses anxiolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, it's understandable why CBD is acknowledged as one of the most powerful growth-drivers is the emergence of cannabis legalization across Europe.
The size of the European Cannabidiol Market is forecast to swell at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.7% between the years 2020 and 2027.Currently, no national European government supports the legalization of cannabis for recreational use and/or sale. However, oil extracts containing the non-psychoactive element CBD (cannabidiol) are permitted for sale and consumption, so long as the oil has been extracted from EU hemp and does not contain more than 0.05% THC.
Written and Published By Bethan Bee Rose in Weed World Magazine issue 152


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The impact of COVID-19 on pharmacy has been significant in the short-term, and recent developments have shown that there is opportunity for that to translate into long-term changes for the industry.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is likely to leave a lasting impression on pharmacy and the services provided by pharmacists, according to some industry experts with the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA).
In a virtual session of the 2020 PQA Annual Meeting on Thursday, panelists Susan Cantrell, RPh, CAE, CEO of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), and Ceci Connolly, president and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans, discussed with moderator Laura Cranston, RPh, CEO of PQA, supply chain issues that have occurred as a result of the pandemic, as well as the quick evolution of pharmacy practice that has occurred out of necessity for socially distant patient care.
According to Cantrell, supply chain issues are among the pandemic-related concerns that AMCP members have faced. She cited unusual drug usage patterns as a cause, as medications indicated for other conditions started being used to treat COVID-19.
“This was leading to some anticipated shortages and also some inappropriate prescribing,” Cantrell said.
Cantrell noted that albuterol and hydroxychloroquine are among the medications that have been in short supply.
Although protective measures were put into place, such as quantity limits, Cantrell said they had to be balanced with ensuring that patients could receive the medications they needed.
“Allowing 90-day supplies and relaxing refills too soon, and some things like that, have the potential to contribute to the supply chain challenges. But at the same time, [these measures] were absolutely essential for patients on chronic medications,” Cantrell said.
According to Cantrell, AMCP members have monitored the supply chain and have been working 1-on-1 with patient members, which has been successful in mitigating some of those drug shortages. However, she said the pandemic has shown that the supply chain needs strengthening.
The pandemic also brought about the implementation of telehealth services much faster than some in the industry had anticipated, the panelists said, but many more have quickly adapted to this system of delivering care.
According to Connolly, the turnaround has been “remarkable” for the implementation of telehealth services. She noted that although some providers had invested in capital improvements prior to the pandemic with telehealth in mind, those that did not have technology already in place have resorted, in many cases, to using popular digital services, such as Zoom and Facetime, to remotely reach patients.
Cranston said she believes there’s no turning back from telehealth. “I only see telehealth growing,” she added.
However, Connolly said telehealth isn’t without challenges and that the development of audio-only services is needed to reach many more patients. She noted that many individuals do not have access to broadband or high-tech devices with capabilities required for video telehealth visits. Still, others simply aren’t knowledgeable enough about the technology to make it work.
“Getting past just the technology hurdles, this [COVID-19] crisis has really underscored the inequities of this country,” Connolly said.
According to Connolly, hurdles include a need for technological infrastructure in many rural communities, as well as payers permitting audio-only telehealth visits. In some cases, she said, providers need to get creative in order to reach patients, such as simply driving around to create in-person visits.
Cantrell agreed with getting creative. “This is a period of innovation,” she said.
During the discussion, the panelists also touched upon the expansion of pharmacists’ roles. States, such as California and Connecticut, are looking more to pharmacists to provide patient care services, including ordering and administering testing for COVID-19. In addition, federal lifting of some regulations has made telehealth services possible for many pharmacies, Cantrell noted.
“We can feel good about some of the wins we’ve seen in this crisis,” Cantrell said. “We really need to think about how we can build upon that.”
Cantrell also noted that more policy work is needed. She said giving pharmacists access to information about treatments prior to their approval by the FDA would be beneficial to patients and providers. She cited recent FDA actions with Emergency Use Authorization for certain drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason that information is needed.
“We have a textbook example now about why that’s important,” she said.
Overall, the pandemic has placed a spotlight on pharmacists, their roles in health care, and their ability to provide more to patients and to professional teams.
“We’re seeing many success stories about the important role pharmacists have played in this crisis. We really need to leverage what we’ve learned about pharmacists and other nonphysician health care providers,” Cantrell said.
According to Cranston and the panelists, the impact of COVID-19 on pharmacy has been significant in the short-term, and recent developments have shown that there is opportunity for that impact to translate into long-term changes for the industry.
Cranston L, Cantrell S, Connolly C. The Impact of COVID-19 on Quality. Presented online: 2020 PQA Annual Meeting; May 14, 2020.


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- Cape teacher accused of assaulting student at football game (10/23/16)41
- Pedestrian killed during traffic collision on I-55 (10/23/16)9
- Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter faces challenge from criminal investigator Wes Drury (10/21/16)9
- 18-year-old killed in one-car crash Thursday morning (10/21/16)1
- One issue reveals Clinton's character (10/25/16)20
- Man arrested after dispute at school spurs brief lockdown (10/21/16)6
- One victim IDs his attacker in shooting that killed woman (10/25/16)1
- 'I feel for them' (10/20/16)1
- Hundreds turn out for VintageNOW fundraiser (10/23/16)3
- R.P. Lumber chain buys Southeast Missouri Builders Supply in Cape (10/25/16)7
A young businessman
Harley Scherer is an unusual young man, and we mean that as a compliment.
When Harley was 12 years old, he wanted to restore an old car and asked his parents where he could find a job. At 12, Harley had already found a passion and had started finding ways to pursue that passion, an unusual tact for someone so young.
There was only one problem. Harley wasn't old enough to get a job. Most boys that age would have shrugged off the idea of restoring that old car and moved on to other usual things. Not Harley. He decided to become a self-employed auto detailer.
He made his own business cards and signs. With his unusual entrepreneurial spirit, he started Scherer Auto Detailing of Benton. Three years later, the 15-year-old has bought a 1984 Nissan 300 ZX, a drum set, a welder, an air compressor and tools that will be instrumental in rebuilding the old muscle car.
Good for you, Harley. You're an unusual young man. And we fully expect you to be a millionaire one day.


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GTA discuss concerns in Gozo tourism trade with MEP Roberta Metsola
|Email item||Print item||
The Gozo Tourism Association Executive Council this week met MEP Dr. Roberta Metsola, while she was on one of her visits to Gozo.
During this meeting the Gozo Tourism Association representatives, led by Chairman Mr. Paul Scicluna, brought up various tourism issues of concern which the tourist trade on Gozo is encountering. The topics raised included the effect of Brexit on tourism to Gozo, reduction of VAT rate, state aid, connectivity and immigration.
Dr. Metsola informed the Gozo Tourism Representatives about the various initiatives being taken at the EU that are of interest to islands in general and Gozo in particular. These cover specific budget lines for islands and the European year of Islands.
Dr. Metsola, whilst auguring a good season for the Gozitan tourism industry, assured her full support towards the Gozo Tourism Association objectives.


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Listen up coffee lovers! There’s yet another reason to feel good about your coffee addiction. According to a recent study conducted by the Imperial College London in the U.K., women who drink three to four cups of coffee every day could lower their risk for endometrial cancer by up to 19 percent.
For those who don’t know, endometrial cancer is a cancer that starts in the lining of the uterus – the endometrium. Furthermore, 1 in 37 women in the U.S. will develop endometrial cancer at some point in their lives.
The researchers analyzed the link between 84 foods and nutrients and the risk of endometrial cancer. Nine in particular stood out: total fat, monounsaturated fat, phosphorus, carbohydrates, yogurt, butter, potatoes, cheese, and coffee.
In addition, the diets of 1,303 women with endometrial cancer who participated in the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study and the Nurses Healthy Study (NHS) were examined. Turns out, women in the EPIC study who drank three cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of endometrial cancer by 19 percent compared to women who drank less than one cup of coffee a day.
On the other hand, women in the NHS study who drank four cups of coffee a day reduced their risk of endometrial cancer by 18 percent compared to women who had never drank coffee.
Now, of course, it’s important to point out that this is a correlation rather than a cause-and-effect situation. Also, the study doesn’t mention whether the women drank caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.
Dr. Melissa A. Merritt of Imperial College London in the UK explained to the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention Journal:
Coffee intake is worth investigating further to see if coffee can be used for the prevention of endometrial cancer. However, before clinical recommendations can be made, further studies are needed to evaluate this question in other studies and to try to isolate the components of coffee that may be responsible for any influence on endometrial cancer.
In the meantime, go ahead and pour yourself another cup of coffee!


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In many ways Microsoft surprised the world when it announced that it was going to make its own hardware for Windows RT and Windows 8, and the company isn’t stopping there. In a recent interview with BBC Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer suggested that the company is very much interested in continuing to create hardware around its own software, much to the chagrin of some of its own partners.
“Is it fair to say we’re going to do more hardware? Obviously we are… Where we see important opportunities to set a new standard, yeah we’ll dive in,” Ballmer told the BBC. Ballmer didn’t specifically say if Microsoft was interested in making its own phones, which plenty of pundits assume is the company’s next step with its Windows Phone platform.
“The firm is heavily invested in Nokia succeeding with its Windows Phone handsets but can’t allow for its failure to torpedo the platform,” Davies Murphy Group Europe technology analyst Chris Green told the BBC. “At the very least Microsoft will be developing its own handset to go to market in case Nokia and others don’t do better.”


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This week, The Honest Company revealed that it had raised US$70-million in series C funding in August, valuing the company at close to US$1-billion, giving it some extra firepower to add new categories
Honest Co., founded by actress Jessica Alba to provide products for babies that are made with non-toxic ingredients, raised US$70 million in a funding round as the company seeks to grow
Shaw Communications Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. selected an Ottawa-based software developer to design the user interface for the new video-on-demand streaming service they hope will beat Netflix at its own game
A Toronto-based startup has invented a novel solution for a major problem faced by hospitals: health care acquired infections, or HAIs
To bolster its free medical photo-sharing app, Toronto startup Figure 1 raised US$4-million in its series A financing round earlier this month, largely driven by New York-based Union Square Ventures, an early investor in Twitter, Tumblr, Zynga and Kickstarter
For anyone getting started on their own entrepreneurial journey, startup GridCure offers a few key lessons/tips we picked up along the way
Embedded in an entrepreneurial boot camp for, Rick Spence learns what the military and starting a small business have in common
Canada Revenue Agency released a mobile application for Apple iOS, Google Android and BlackBerry that allows business owners to create alerts for payments, returns and remittances instead of getting notices delivered in their mailbox.
The athletic apparel space is a crowded one, that will only continue to grow. To meet the changing dynamics of consumers and the industry, Lululemon Athletica Inc. is always looking to innovate while maintaining its core brand
Toronto’s Flybits is a high-tech company looking to develop 'context-aware' devices to make cities, stadiums, campuses and even fashion shows smarter and more connected
So many companies today are looking to differentiate their products and services — and so many yawning social needs remain to be solved
What’s important to treps? Ideas. Creative thinking. Problem solving. Inspiration. And innovation.
EY TaxMatters monthly tax bulletin
New EY video announcing 2014 Entrepreneur Of The Year™ program
Infographic: Canadian EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ finalists impress!


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Fortnite: Crossover with Dragon Ball gets teaser and date; check out!
Epic Games released this Thursday (11) a teaser showing the crossover between Fortnite and Dragon Ball. Special content will be released in the battle royale on August 16.
The official publication shows Shenron and the words “Speak. Say your wish”. In the anime, the magical creature is summoned after some character gathers the Dragon Balls.
Although the official launch of the partnership is only scheduled for next week, players can already check out a special lobby in Fortnite. The new scenario highlights the house of Master Roshi, the first tutor of the protagonist Goku. Check out the images below:
Speak. Say your wish… 8/16/2022 pic.twitter.com/m2mmNye3Ny
— Fortnite Brazil (@Brasil_Fortnite) August 11, 2022
A new themed Lobby for the Fortnite X Dragon Ball collaboration has been activated and is now available in-game. ??#Fortnite #DragonBall #FortniteVibin pic.twitter.com/CCbl6APxpk
— Patty – Fortnite News and Leaks (@patty_leaks) August 11, 2022
New Dragon Ball themed Lobby background! https://t.co/knfLLOeebs #Fortnite pic.twitter.com/wW7jPGsVgR
— iannzits (@iannzits) August 11, 2022
As of last month, there was already speculation that Dragon Ball should be the next big attraction for the battle royale. After an update was released, dataminers ripped apart the files and, among other things, found an item with the Capsule Corporations logo (Bulma’s family company in the anime).
And the special event will be launched this month to coincide with Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the new film in the Toei Animation franchise that hits Brazilian theaters on August 18th.
So, how are your expectations to possibly play with skins of Goku, Krillin, Piccolo and others in Fortnite? Leave your comment on Voxel’s Twitter!


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Kim Kardashian has agreed to pay $1.26 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges for promoting a cryptocurrency on Instagram without revealing that she was paid $250,000 to do so.
The SEC said Monday that the reality TV star and entrepreneur has agreed to cooperate with its ongoing investigation.
The SEC said Kardashian did not disclose that she had been paid to post an article on her Instagram account about EMAX tokens, a crypto asset security offered by EthereumMax.
Kardashian’s Instagram post contained a link to the EthereumMax website, which provided instructions for potential investors to purchase EMAX tokens.
“Federal securities laws clearly state that any celebrity or other person who promotes a crypto asset security must disclose the nature, source, and amount of compensation they received in exchange for the promotion,” Gurbir Grewal, director of the SEC’s enforcement division, said in a prepared statement.
Kardashian has agreed not to promote any crypto asset securities for three years.
“Ms. Kardashian is pleased to have resolved this matter with the SEC. Kardashian has cooperated fully with the SEC from the outset and she remains willing to do whatever she can to assist the SEC in this matter. She wanted to put this case behind her to avoid a protracted argument. The agreement she reached with the SEC allows her to do that so she can move forward with her many different business endeavors,” a Kardashian attorney said in an email.
While Kardashian is well known for reality TV, currently appearing on “The Kardashians” on Hulu, she is also a successful businesswoman. Its brands include SKIMS, which makes shapewear, loungewear and other products, and a skincare line called SKKN.
For anyone trying to promote a product, Kardashian provides a huge bullhorn with 330 million Instagram followers.
The crypto industry often uses influencers and celebrities to promote new tokens or products. Matt Damon appears in advertisements for Crypto.com, and other celebrities who have been paid to do crypto promotions include Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Kardashian isn’t the first celebrity to catch the eye of financial regulators, either. In 2018, the SEC settled charges against professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and music producer DJ Khaled for failing to disclose payments they received for promoting digital currency investments.
“This case reminds us that when celebrities or influencers endorse investment opportunities, including crypto asset securities, it does not mean that those investment products are suitable for all investors,” the chairman said. of the SEC, Gary Gensler. “We encourage investors to consider the potential risks and opportunities of an investment in light of their own financial objectives.”
“Ms. Kardashian’s case also reminds celebrities and others that they are required by law to disclose to the public when and how much they are paid to promote investing in securities,” Gensler added.
Cryptocurrency has also attracted increasing attention from Congress. A bipartisan proposal that emerged last month would hand over regulatory authority over Bitcoin and Ether, two popular cryptocurrencies, to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission after wild swings in crypto valuations, dozens of scams and hundreds billions of dollars won and lost.
Cryptocurrencies, after soaring during the pandemic, have had a tough year as prices swing wildly, but mostly down, and with crypto companies coming under increasing scrutiny.
The token that Kardashian was promoting has performed particularly poorly and is now worse at less than 10% of its peak price.
Bitcoin has lost more than half its value in 2022, falling from nearly $46,000 to around $19,000 on Monday.


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Corning's (GLW) supply contract with WaveOptics will enable the latter to manufacture diffractive waveguides, capable of improving the quality of image in AR wearable devices.
Zacks Equity Research. Zacks. Fri, 14 Dec 2018 16:22:00 GMT.
U.S. stock index futures dropped about 0.8 percent on Friday, after weak economic data from China and Europe exacerbated global growth fears and added to unease over the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China.
Reuters. Fri, 14 Dec 2018 07:37:33 -0500.
Unilever, the multinational consumer goods manufacturer, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help with recruiting and onboarding of new employees. ...
By Bernard Marr, Contributor. Forbes. Fri, 14 Dec 2018 00:07:00 -0500.
TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2018 -- Sam Oskooei is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Platinum Lifetime Member in the field of Manufacturing in recognition of his role as CEO of Images 2000 Inc. and Northwood Collection. ...
PR Newswire. Fri, 14 Dec 2018 01:30:00 +0000.
At closing time, the FTSE 100 index was up 1.08 per cent or 73.25 points to 6,880.10. The FTSE 250 index closed up 1.9 per cent or 335.71 points to 17,988.97.
Daily Mail. Wed, 12 Dec 2018 18:39:30 +0000.
A $25 million U.S. transportation grant supporting the expansion of an inland port for containers will directly benefit logistics operations at BMW in South Carolina and other manufacturers in the region.
AutoNews.com. Wed, 12 Dec 2018 12:51:01 EST.


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Chromebooks still rule the school, but…
Not many Wall Street analysts were paying attention. The independents, on the other had, gave it a lot of thought.
Rod Hall, Goldman Sachs: We don’t see these as material for our forecasts. Apple on Tuesday announced a new 9.7 inch iPad with Apple Pencil support staring at $329 ($299 for schools), with pencils costing a separate $99 ($89 for schools). Apple said the new device features the A10 Fusion chip with advanced sensors for AR support. The device is now available to order in more than 25 countries. We believe the lower price point and student discount should incrementally help iPad adoption particularly in schools.
Amit Daryanani, RBC: Catch’em while they’re young. We think the new education push is a timely and needed response to GOOGL making significant inroads through its low cost Chromebooks (starting $149) over past few years. As per a NY Times article, starting with a small market share in 2012 GOOGL grew to be the market leader shipping 7-8 million devices to schools (~3x of MSFT and AAPL). Today 50%+ (30M+) primary and secondary school students in the US use GOOGL’s education apps. While education market in itself may not be large in size or margins, longer term it does create an opportunity to transition users into a specific ecosystem, making it strategically important. We’ll see if AAPL’s renewed push into the market and differentiated features around AR, security and new apps, will help the company gain some of the lost ground. Outperform. $205.
Gene Munster, Loup Ventures: Apple Education Playbook: Hardware, Software, Services… and Creativity. The main takeaway from today’s event is that Apple has a suite of hardware, software, and services that can be used by students, teachers, and administrators to optimize the education experience. At the core, is Apple’s belief that creativity in music, video, photography, and drawing can be a framework for advancing learning in STEM [science, technology, engineering, mathematics]. Apple’s initiatives in education have hit a headwind over the past five years as cheaper Chromebooks have gained more adoption in schools. We believe Apple and iPad are uniquely positioned toward creativity, while Chromebooks are better positioned for the utilitarian aspect of education (essays, spreadsheets, etc)… Our research suggests iPad is strongest in K-5 and Chromebooks are preferred 6-12. We don’t think today’s announcements change that dynamic.
Jun Zhang, Rosenblatt: New MacBook and iPads Targeting the Education Market. As expected, the new iPad 9.7-inch model is retaining the industrial design seen in previous models, but we note that we have not seen 3D sensing fea- tures in the iPad Pro at this event, likely suggesting to us that Apple is not yet ready for 3D sensing on a large screen device. We now believe Apple might launch the new iPad Pro with 3D sensing in Q3, but we maintain our iPad Pro production estimate of around 6 million units/quarter… Other than school teachers and students, we believe the average consumer did not walk away excited from the Apple event. Buy. $180.
Ben Thompson, Stratechery: The meaning of better. To be sure, Apple showed some impressive things yesterday, particularly its offerings around creative applications. So many of the company’s examples and ideas, though, presumed an idyllic environment where everything in the classroom runs on Apple software and, crucially, where schools are rich and students backed by the sort of support structure that allows the creativity Apple is focused on to develop. The reality of education, though, can often be far different: many school districts are scraping for funds, many students are fending for themselves, and, crucially, those two realities are separated. That is, the buyers are not the users, which renders Apple’s most important source of differentiation — the experience of using its products — far less potent.
Ben Bajarin, Creative Strategies: Apple’s True Goal (and Underlying Strategy) For the Education Market. In my opinion, Apple doesn’t need to win the device battle in the classroom to get a win in education. What I mean is they don’t need to displace Chrome or Windows devices in the classroom as the things every student uses in a device 1:1 environment. What they need is for kids to see what is possible with iPad, around everyday assignments, and for them to believe iPad is the only tool to create such compelling stuff. Perhaps then, over time, Apple can win over the decision makers of hardware to at least start deploying at least one or two iPad’s in the class so kids can start sharing and creating on it in ways they can’t on other devices… I believe this effort will start with teachers. Which is the main reason, I believe, Apple’s first attempt to change the narrative around iPad will include a focus on getting teachers on board with what is possible with creativity on iPad.


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Big Lots brings on the breakdancing moms
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It's no secret moms do a lot in this world of ours. But there's always more for them to do.
Now you can add breakdancing Hostess snack foods ambassador to their growing list of responsibilities. Weren't you just about to anyway?
Indeed, that is the new role a group of (very) nimble moms are given in a new online video for Columbus, OH.-based Big Lots (NYSE: BIG), a closeout retailer that has 1,493 stores in 48 states. The videos are the first work from Chicago boutique ad shop O'Keefe Reinhard & Paul for new client Big Lots.
The video, which features a lot of fancy footwork by a crew of deft moms, is intended to spotlight the news that Big Lots is now the official Hostess thrift shop outlet. Hostess manufactures a number of familiar snack foods, including Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Twinkies and Sno Balls.
A number of Hostess snack boxes are the main props these dancing moms prominently use in their tightly-choreographed breakdance that takes them from a Big Lots parking lot into the store to pick up their Hostess products and then make a pass through check-out before moving back out to their minivan.
Listen carefully too. The very hip musical track in the video makes the connection between the dancing moms and Big Lots' new role with Hostess.
A second video introduces viewers to a group of 20-somethings who have just made a Hostess snack foods run to Big Lots. The camera catches them afterwards in their getaway car as they perform a rhythmic a cappella tune celebrating their big haul from Big Lots.
OKRP co-founder Tom O'Keefe said the new videos are emblematic of the kind of work his boutique ad shop aims to do for its clients: "With retail, your work has to work in real time. That model works for marketers across industries. We structured our agency to fill this growing need for efficiently-produced, creatively-driven work that drives results quickly."
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The Italian footwear industry has closed, as explained by Tommaso Cancellara (general manager of Assocalzaturifici), following the letter of the Prime Minister’s Decree published yesterday. But it also tries to evaluate its implications. “On the basis of the decree, Italian footwear companies have concluded the work in progress on schedule. And on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020, they closed”. Impossible, however hard you may try, it is, instead, to hypothesise the impact of the CRV emergency on the Italian footwear sector. Too early, perhaps, also in relation to how the epidemic is spreading in European and non-European countries.
Things to understand
First of all, there is a whole very complex part to understand and manage, explains Cancellara. It is linked with the development of commercial contracts, cancellations, postponements, for which “we have activated a free legal service”. Then, there is an aspect which is related more to the list of those who can and cannot produce from March 23rd to April 3rd. “We still have to understand what to do with those who produce technical and safety footwear for all those activities that must guarantee the regularity of production. Then there is CIMAC which develops chemical, physical tests and CE certifications. For example, in relation to work gloves: for now, it won’t stop, hoping to correctly interpret the decree”.
The testimony from Marche
“In this season – says Marino Fabiani from Fermo, in the Marche region – the production had been diluted. For example, some accessories made in China had arrived late, just before Micam. So, today we have shoes in the manual conveyor, other shoes in the warehouse that can no longer be shipped, and others in the shippers’ warehouses, because they are not picked up. What will we do when we reopen? Turnover and collections are stopped: how will we fulfil the payments due in the coming months?”.


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In the last few days, the Zimbabwe police have arrested trade union leaders and scores of activists nationwide ahead of planned marches over the country’s worsening economic crisis, writes David Hemson. Peter Mutasa, president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) – the country’s largest trade union – was among those detained, along with activists in three major towns.
ZCTU planned a national strike to protest against sharp price hikes, a new tax on electronic transactions and daily shortages ranging from fuel to bread as Zimbabwe’s economy endures a fresh bout of chaos. Large numbers of police were on duty in Harare armed with truncheons, guns and teargas canisters while water cannon trucks were parked on some streets.
Zimbabwe’s moribund economy has hit new lows in recent days with shops struggling to stock shelves, medicine running out and long queues outside petrol stations. Bizarrely, the Zimbabwean government adopted the US dollar in 2008; a currency which was in desperate short supply and largely inaccessible to the masses. Out of nationalist arrogance, determined to show independence from another African state even when facing economic disaster, Mugabe refused to adopt the South African rand which was the ready alternative. The ruling elite hoards and trades millions of USD to gorge itself on its privileged access to the international currency and sees no advantage to itself in changing. Their luxury cars arrogantly race down potholed streets.
As a half-way measure the government has introduced the local ‘bond note’ currency, which in theory has the same value as the US dollar. This has been in freefall in recent weeks, raising fears of a return to the hyper-inflation that wrecked national finances in 2009.
Today comrades rang me in desperation as shops emptied. Working people expect hyperinflation tomorrow and are buying now what they can; retailers are not restocking during the currency chaos. They sent these figures: butter was $21 today, the staple maize $8 (up 23%), a loaf up 22% and cooking oil now $10 (up 151%). But now even though price stickers have been removed to let prices soar, the shops are bare.
|Sadza, maize, 10kg||$ 6.50||$ 8.00||23%|
|Relish, spinach, kg||$ 4.20||$ 7.00||67%|
|Brown loaf||$ 0.90||$ 1.10||22%|
|Milk||$ 1.00||$ 1.80||80%|
|Cooking oil, 2 litres||$ 3.99||$ 10.00||151%|
How are working people in Zimbabwe to survive? For the past period socialists have been arguing for a socialist federation of Southern African states and beyond; this is now a matter of human survival. Although South Africa is no paradise for working people,10kg maize meal costs $0.82c, a loaf of bread $0.63, a litre of milk $0.67 and 2 litres oil $3.07.
Instead of integrating their dependent countries and transforming the region into economic prosperity, the nationalist leadership in Southern African countries excites xenophobia against its own and in SA crusades against destitute political refugees, props up bizarre currency arrangements and restricts the movement of impoverished people and trade in essentials.
The working people have yet to have their say.
Left Unity is active in movements and campaigns across the left, working to create an alternative to the main political parties.
Events and protests from around the movement, and local Left Unity meetings.
Sat 2 Mar, 9.30-17.00
Confronting the Rise of the Far Right, European Conference
Organised by Transform UK.
Bloomsbury Central, 235 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8EP.
Sign up to the Left Unity email newsletter.
Get the latest Left Unity resources.


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Toyota targets new customers with upgraded variants of the Hiace
As if dominating the utility van segment of the commercial vehicles market for many years were not enough, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) is targeting new customers with upgraded variants of the full model change, sixth generation Hiace.
At the world premiere of the 2019 Hiace in Bonifacio Global City last Monday, TMP brand and product planning cluster 1st vice president Cristina Arevalo said that not only will the new Hiace be appreciated more by current retail and fleet customers, it will appeal to new customers, particularly big families who love to go out on weekends and self-drive.
Since its introduction in 1994, the Hiace has continued to dominate the utility van (UV) segment in the Philippines, with more than half of the segment owning a Toyota Hiace in the last four years, Arevalo claimed.
In the low-grade UV segment in the last four years, the Hiace Commuter led with an average of 60.5 percent market share, while in the mid-grade UV segment in the last five years, the Hiace GL Grandia led with an average of 68 percent market share.
Last year, according to the YTD December 2018 sales report of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi), the Toyota Hiace topped the minivan segment with a total of 17,972 unit sales, way ahead of runner-up Nissan Urvan’s 6,824 and the Hyundai Grand Starex’s 3,708.
Starting this year, TMP aims to sell 1,600 units of the new Hiace every month. To help boost sales, TMP is adding a new variant, the GL Grandia Tourer, to the Hiace lineup now consisting of the GL Grandia and Commuter Deluxe. All three variants are manufactured in Japan.
The TMP customer profile indicates that the age range of Hiace buyers is from 41 to 45 years old, and that most are male and married, Arevalo revealed.
Arevalo expects the Commuter Deluxe, with its more comfortable ride, to appeal to small and medium business enterprises and to UV buyers with an average monthly household income of P125,000 to P145,000.
At the same time, the target customers of the GL Grandia Tourer and GL Grandia would have an average monthly household income of P140,000 to P160,000.
Noticeably, buyers of the GL Grandia Tourer and GL Grandia would use their units for both personal and business purposes, while Commuter Deluxe buyers would use their units mainly for business, Arevalo averred.
The last model change of the Hiace was 15 years ago, Arevalo said, so TMP expects the all-new, reasonably priced (ranging from P1.59 to P2.2 million) Hiace to reshape possibilities by redefining what it means to travel in comfort and style.
With 69 dealerships nationwide pitching the 2019 Hiace, Toyota has all the bases covered to reinforce its leadership in the lucrative utility van market.


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After delaying Halo Infinite for over a year, most thought that 343 had everything prepared to drop Microsoft's marquee shooter as a complete package. Instead, the campaign co-op and forge modes weren't available in Halo Infinite at launch. Now, it appears at least one of these features is coming in August.
According to 343's most recent roadmap update, the studio wants to release online co-op by August with couch co-op gaming scheduled for later.
343 is obviously struggling with Halo Infinite's new model. It's come to the point that Halo Infinite has fewer players than Halo: The Master Chief Collection. 343's constant pushing of the release of highly anticipated features definitely doesn't help.
ack in December, 343 promised to roll out the co-op mode along with Halo Infinite's season two update. Then, following the delay of the game's second season to May, 343 later confirmed that fans will have to wait a while longer for campaign co-op.
The recent update to Halo Infinite, though welcome, remains disappointing to fans who expected more content now that the shooter is a live-service title.
It's a huge shame that 343 continues to fail to deliver on its initial promises as Halo Infinite had great reviews when it first came out.
But, it's not all bad news. 343 is at least still willing to keep audiences in the loop. Not to mention, the long-time Halo developers are targeting the release of multiple features by later this year. Case in point, 343 wants players to replay campaign missions by August with plans for Forge mode's open beta a month later. 343 will also hold a community live stream on Wednesday, April 27, to share more details about Halo Infinite's upcoming second season.
The delays and issues definitely are not a good look for Halo Infinite now that it's getting more mainstream attention thanks to Halo's success on Paramount Plus. Hopefully, 343 can rebound and find a way to make Halo Infinite interesting for hardcore franchise fans and incoming beginners


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Nightlife historian Peter Moruzzi will discuss his new book, Classic Dining: Discovering America’s Finest Mid-Century Restaurants (Gibbs Smith, $30) at a free 7-9 p.m. event Dec. 13 in the Tahiti Room at the Mai-Kai. The vintage restaurant at 3599 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, is featured in the book along with Joe’s Stone Crab and Fox’s Sherron Inn. Two-for-one drinks and half-price appetizers will be available. Reservations are suggested at firstname.lastname@example.org.
New York chef Marc Forgione, third-season winner of The Next Iron Chef, will demonstrate recipes from The Macy’s Culinary Council Thanksgiving & Holiday Cookbook at 2 p.m. Saturday at the department store’s Dadeland Home Store, 7675 Kendall Dr., Kendall. Admission is free, but reservations are suggested at macys.com/events.
Norman Van Aken will sign copies of his new cookbook, My Key West Kitchen: Recipes and Stories (Kyle, $29.95), from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at Whole Foods Market, 6701 Red Rd., Coral Gables. The chef will also lead a 7-8 p.m. cooking class for guests who make reservations and a $10 donation for Lotus House at the customer-service desk; 305-421-9421.


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Local food growth
|By Sam Inglot|
Transportation is a big challenge for the growing local food market
This story was corrected on Jan. 7 to say "Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council."
Friday, Jan. 4 — The popularity and demand for locally grown food is increasing — however, this growing interest doesn’t come without challenges, according to two Lansing-area experts.
Specifically, the issue of how to get food to the markets that are demanding them was a main topic discussed today at a luncheon hosted by the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council.
The two presenters, Michelle Napier-Dunnings and Rory Neuner, had an open discussion with roughly 25 attendees. Napier-Dunnings is the executive director of Michigan Food and Farming Systems and Neuner is a consultant with the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. The conversation compared buying local food to recycling — people will do it more often if it’s easy to do.
The growing popularity of local food presents transportation challenges because it takes building a transportation infrastructure “from scratch,” Neuner said. A farmer bringing his products to local markets is one thing, but how do you get locally grown food to the growing list of places — including hospitals, schools and restaurants — that are expressing interest in them?
Making it easier to buy locally grown food can start with food hubs, Neuner added. These are places where locally grown food can be stored, processed, marketed and distributed, and are typically brick-and-mortar establishments, though they can also exist online through Internet transactions between farmers and buyers.
A project planned at the Allen Neighborhood Center on Lansing’s east side is one example of a local food hub, which will be a 5,600-square-foot food building that will open later this year. It will act as a food storage area, workshop and learning space, as well as a year-round farmers market.
Even if there is an established food hub for farmers to use, there are still problems with shipping the goods to consumers who can’t stop by the farmers market. Some transportation challenges that local farmers might face include: Do they rent a truck to ship their goods? Do they hire a company to do it? How would the goods get to restaurants and schools?
Shipping fresh produce around town isn’t as easy as loading up a van and trucking the goods from location to location. Refrigeration, safety standards and deadlines all need to be worked out.
Neuner, who ran unsuccessfully for an At-Large Lansing City Council seat in 2011, is working in Ingham, Eaton, Clinton and Shiawassee counties to address some of the food hub challenges through the Michigan Food Hub Learning and Innovation Network, a project that is being coordinated by MSU and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Through the program, Neuner will try to connect local food organizations, advocates, producers and consumers to address issues facing the local food movement.
Neuner will be holding “learning circles” in the Greater Lansing area to stimulate conversation between local foodies and those interested in successfully buying at, selling at or managing a local food hub. There will be 90-minute sessions held every six weeks throughout the year. The discussions are co-sponsored by MSU Extension and the Allen Neighborhood Center.
Napier-Dunnings said “the window of opportunity is open” for the local food community to grow and expand. She said there are incredible entrepreneurial endeavors that could open up through the growth in interest of local food — including in the transportation area.


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ARM is planning to implement multithreading on its future architectures and the chipmaker believes the move will help boost the performance of its high-end chips aimed at demanding markets.
Mind you, ARM is the epitome of plucky British design, getting more out of less, much like Lotus sports cars or Mosquito fighter-bombers of WWII fame, so the decision to embrace multithreading really isn’t all that surprising. However, it will take a while before we see multithreaded ARMs in our smartphones.
It appears that ARM will focus on multithreading in its future server chip designs, but we have no doubt that the concept will spread to consumer chips sooner or later. Don’t get too optimistic just yet, ARM hasn’t included multithreading on its latest Cortex A15 design and it could be quite a while before we see multithreaded ARM chips in consumer devices.


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Didn’t have time to follow the news yesterday? Here’s what stood out on Wednesday, August 3: the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200-megapixel sensor, Tesla’s Plaid models coming to France, and the Galaxy Watch 5 will have fast charging. To not miss any news, remember to subscribe to the Frandroid newsletter.
Galaxy S23 Ultra: how Samsung wants to make a difference in photos
While Samsung is due to present its next foldable smartphones and new connected watches next week – we’ll come back to this later – we learned new information about the future premium smartphone scheduled for early 2023, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. According to leaker Ice Universe, the smartphone will indeed benefit from a 200 megapixel sensor, but it will be the latest model, the Isocell HP2.
It’s official: the Tesla Model S and Model X Plaid arrive in France and their salty prices with
Last year, Tesla announced a new Plaid version of its Model S. However, the vehicle was then only launched in the United States. Finally, after more than a year of waiting, the American manufacturer has confirmed to us that it plans to launch its Model S and Model X in Plaid version by the end of the year in France. We will thus be entitled to a Tesla Model S Plaid from 138,990 euros and a Tesla Model X Plaid from 141,990 euros.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: charging would be very fast thanks to USB-C
We already knew that the next generation of connected watches from Samsung, the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro, would reach autonomy records for the brand’s toquantes. We now know that it will be the same for fast charging. According to leaker Snoopy Tech, the watches would indeed benefit from a new charger with USB-C connectivity and, above all, a power of 10 W. It would thus recover 45% of the battery in 30 minutes.


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The owner of a Warwickshire butcher’s shop who cheated customers by labelling and selling imported meat as ‘best British’ pork, chicken, beef and lamb is behind bars.
And Simon Drust’s business, The Meat Shack in Studley, was fined £300,000 for its part in the fraud and ordered to pay Warwickshire Trading Standards’ costs in bringing the case.
After initially denying the charges, Drust (51) of St Johns Close, Studley, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to offences of fraud and fraudulent trading.
And The Meat Shack, based at the Spernal Garden Centre in Alcester Road, Studley, pleaded guilty to fraud and ‘engaging in commercial practices which contravened the requirements of professional diligence.’
Drust was jailed for two years and nine months, while as well as the £300,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay the £54,527 costs of the investigation and prosecution.
In addition, Deputy Judge Richard Griffith-Jones ordered £127,690 in bank accounts which had been subject to a restraint order to be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Drust’s partner and company secretary Susan Mitchell (53) of the same address, has been given a police caution, and the charges she had faced were allowed to lie on the court file.
Prosecuting on behalf of Warwickshire Trading Standards, Tony Watkin said that for many years Drust was a market trader, selling meat from a mobile butchery vehicle, before setting up The Meat Shack with Mitchell in 2014.
In April 2015 it was incorporated, and the charges reflected a course of conduct both before and after that date.
“It traded very successfully in terms of turnover. It was presented as a farm shop selling local and organic produce.”
Adverts were placed online and in local newspapers emphasising that all the meat and poultry it sold was British.
The trigger for a Trading Standards investigation came in January 2015 when a woman bought a packet of chicken breasts labelled ‘British,’ and then found a Netherlands label underneath.
A Trading Standards officer visited the shop and found tubs of chicken with the same mislabelling.
After The Meat Shack’s incorporation, the farm shop was refitted with Union Jacks throughout, and adverts claimed it sold ‘local wholesome food’ and British beef, pork, lamb and chicken.
But checks with The Meat Shack’s suppliers showed it was buying large quantities of New Zealand lamb, Dutch and Danish gammon, Dutch and Belgian chicken, and Brazilian and Irish beef.
The annual turnover at that time was around £350,000 – and in June 2016 the fraudulent activity intensified with Drust’s purchase of a set of scales that could print its own labels.
“He was buying meat, foreign meat, and repackaging it and relabelling it as British local produce,” said Mr Watkin.
A Trading Standards officer’s visit in September revealed mislabelling as well as the sale of out-of-date food, and on a further visit in November Drust was caught red-handed relabelling Irish beef as UK beef, and Spanish pork as free range UK pork.
“It was operating as a fraud factory, and the defendant was very much in the middle of what was happening.”
And Mr Watkin added that Drust had a single previous conviction when, about 20 years ago, he was fined £7,000 for an offence of mislabelling.
Saying that he was going to try to persuade the judge to pass a suspended sentence, Quentin Hunt, defending, argued: “If one looks at the advertisements, one can see there are the false pieces of advertising in terms of being British.
“But price is a major factor in this business, and it is not known what proportion of people who bought mislabelled meat would have bought it in any event.”
He handed in references, including some from customers, and said Drust supported charitable works through the business, which was now ‘clean and compliant,’ and laboratory reports show the standard of the meat it sells to be satisfactory.
“Lessons have been learned, and this is a gentleman who is unlikely to trouble the courts again.”
Mr Hunt said that after the guilty pleas were entered, the banks closed all accounts in the name of Meat Shack Studley Ltd and in Drust’s name, and the company was going through the crucial Christmas period unable to process transactions.
So Drust’s partner effectively started another concern which took over the premises and was able to open an account to continue trading and to pay off creditors.
“In respect of Mr Drust, I am instructed to apologise to the court and to the public in general. It was never his intention to defraud people when he set up this business.
“The attendant bad publicity has hit the business very badly indeed, and I am sure that will continue. They used to employ ten staff, now there are three staff at the premises.”
Jailing Drust, Judge Griffith-Jones told him: “You have conducted a business that has provided employment for people. It has, certainly since these matters came to light, been conducted in a compliant and hygienic way – and indeed it is not suggested there was a lack of hygiene at all in this fraud.
“However, you intended to make gains for yourself and consequent losses to others by fraud.
“You did it by tricking people into engaging in transactions by pretending that the meat they were to buy was of British origin and had a good animal welfare background.
“In addition, legitimate businesses who would have higher overheads, advertising the very same products as you, would lose out. So you damaged the very lines of commerce that would have the good effect people want.
“You did this not just briefly, but over a sustained period of time. There were warning by reason of visits, which you reacted to by ramping up the fraudulent activity.”


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Global liquor giant Diageo PLC, which owns the Guinness, Tanqueray and more brands, has opened its first climate-neutral distillery in North America.
The 72,000 square foot facility in Lebanon, Ky., Is used for part of the Bulleit Bourbon operations. The plant has the capacity to produce up to 10 million liters per year with electrode boilers that run on 100% renewable electricity. Renewable energies are used throughout the cooking, distillation and dry house process.
Diageo DEO, -0.80% DGE, +0.77% will use a mix of wind and solar energy to power the electrode boilers, on-site electric vehicles, internal and external lighting and equipment, making the facility one of the largest of its kind makes North America.
These technologies, along with advanced measurement, will enable Diageo Lebanon Distillery to avoid around 117,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, it said. That corresponds to a year in which more than 25,000 cars are taken off the road.
Renewable energy-powered boilers in Diageo's new Bulleit plant.
The new facility complements the existing production at Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville, Ky. Bulleit also produces rye.
Read: Guinness Opens Brewery at Chicago's Fulton Market: Report
The company has halved the CO2 emissions associated with its operations since 2008 and is now working to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2030 using 100% renewable energy in its direct operations.
According to a study by the Beverage Industry’s Environmental Roundtable on the carbon footprint of spirits, actual distillation accounts for between 36% and 40% of total emissions, while the glass bottle of a spirit contributes between 19% and 20%. The rest is accounted for by warehousing, raw materials, transport and more.
“Today more than ever, we believe that companies have a responsibility to our environment, our communities and our planet,” said Sophie Kelly, senior vice president of whiskeys, Diageo NA.
Diageo's electric vehicles on site at the Lebanon, Ky.
The CO2-neutrality of the Lebanon distillery includes Scope 1 or direct emissions from the production site and Scope 2, the indirect emissions with which a company is associated, for example from electricity generation. The location requires the purchase of residual amounts of carbon offsets, in part because Diageo will purchase backup power.
The commitment does not extend to Scope 3 emissions. This category applies to emissions from non-owned parts of a supply pipeline, such as the retailer who sells the liquor bottle.
Diageo hopes to achieve net zero carbon levels across the supply chain by 2050 or earlier, with a tentative milestone to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030.
Diageo acquired Bulleit, then a niche Kentucky bourbon, as part of its 2001 purchase of the Seagram Co. portfolio. The London-based company's U.S.-traded ADRs grew over 20% in 2021 and up more than 40% last year.
Read:The turning point for a low carbon energy future is imminent: S&P Global Platts
Packaging waste is one of the main problem areas in the spirits industry. At the beginning of the year, the English manufacturer Silent Pool Distillers created what is supposedly the “world's first” spirit in a bottle made from recycled cardboard. Green Man Woodland Gin uses 77% less plastic than other plastic bottles and has a six times smaller carbon footprint than glass or PET plastic bottles.
Some manufacturers are using new innovations to achieve greener goals. A startup called Bespoken Spirits has been focusing on sustainable burning since it was founded three years ago. The Bespoken technique bypasses the typical long barrel aging of rye, bourbon and other offerings by creating accelerated aging in a controlled environment using wooden sticks. The aroma develops much faster and so the overall energy consumption is reduced.
Similar climate considerations contrast with Scotland's signature whiskey industry. Whiskey is the UK's most valuable net export, valued at nearly £ 5 billion in 2019, but its largest distilleries have relied on burning gas as well as remote heating oil for years.
Whiskey producers are aware that droughts and seasonal variations in climate change will affect the Scottish barley harvest and water supplies essential to whiskey production, while floods could affect both distillation and transportation, said Morag Garden, director of sustainability for the Scotch Whiskey Association , the Guardian.
The industry has set a net zero target date of 2040, 10 years earlier than the UK government's current target and five years faster than Scotland, according to the SWA.
Companies, including the spirits industry, increasingly believe that efforts to reduce carbon emissions are part of the cost of doing business. About 105 signatories, who collectively have annual worldwide sales of over $ 1.4 trillion and employ more than 5 million people in 25 industries in 16 countries, joined Amazon AMZN earlier this year with -2.48% in its Climate Pledge .
Many have tried to react to the climate-friendly attitudes of their consumers and to anticipate the tougher regulations; some are faced with pushback allegations that they rely too heavily on carbon offsets (e.g. promoting tree-planting programs) instead of aiming to reduce fossil fuel consumption.


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Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at the American Metal Market Galvanized and Coated Steel conference held in Detroit. The conference logically examined some of the underlying market dynamics of materials used in automotive production – hot dipped galvanized steel and aluminum.
And clearly the regulatory environment stemming from both new CAFE standards as well as safety requirements, not to mention mid-term commodity volatility (particularly for steel prices and aluminum prices) have driven and will continue to drive change throughout the automotive world.
CAFE requirements have become “the game changer for all metals,” according to Frank Goodwin, Director of Technology and Market Development, International Zinc Association. He noted, “lighter weight materials remain a huge challenge to steel and zinc-coated steel.”
According to Goodwin, Europe has implemented new coatings (such as a zinc/aluminum/magnesium) to help with “light-weighting,” the term used to describe the materials, production methods and technologies used to reduce the weight of a vehicle without negatively impacting attributes such as safety, cost, recyclability, etc., according to a research brief from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
But this coating innovation will move to the construction industry first, before it hits the automotive world.
Shift from Steel to Aluminum?
The big question asked early on – given the big moves of the auto OEMs toward aluminum: what do steel producers like Severstal think will happen?
Thomas Marchak, Vice President of Commercial from Severstal said, “Ford is looking at aluminum as well…the only tact[ic] for the steel industry is to continue developing these types of steels cost competitively.” According to Goodwin, “vulnerabilities have been the doors and hoods – the bolt-on parts are ‘good pickings’ for aluminum. The body itself is really integrated and has been very successfully defended [for steel], but steel needs to go after the under-body and frame parts,” he added.
The “segmentation to smaller vehicles to reach fuel economy standards places a huge challenge to companies like Ford,” according to Geof Cooper, part of the technical team at Ford Motor Company. “The transition out of trucks and into cars obviously directly impacts revenue and profitability for Ford,” he said.
Cooper discussed the areas Ford has examined to obtain the weight savings necessary to meet fuel standards. He pointed to engine strategy (battery/electric, hybrid and GTDI technology), the need to reduce weight in powertrains (without sacrificing performance, which directly hits revenue), and perhaps most interesting — yet not the most surprising — the primary area of focus: body in white. Cooper pointed to a 55% yield strength improvement for front rails and roof structures through the use of advanced high-strength steels.
The pressure on OEMs remains high as CAFE standards continue to become more rigorous through 2025.
Next week, we’ll publish the latest results from Planning Perspectives on supplier/OEM relations within the automotive industry. The study assesses the quality of relations based upon 15 different categories of spend or manufacture within a car or truck. Ironically (or perhaps not so), the most contentious area involves body in white. The results of the 2011 study can be found here on MetalMiner and the second part here on Spend Matters.


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TORONTO – For investment bankers, it may not get any better: despite seemingly high valuations there is an incredible demand for stocks, especially for those issuers new to the public markets.
That demand was on full display Thursday when Shopify Inc. priced its initial public offering: the Ottawa-based company agreed to sell 7.7 million subordinate voting shares at US$17 a share. At US$17, the shares were priced US$5 above the lower end of the marketing range set a few days back, and US$1 above the top end of the revised price range set on Wednesday.
Judging from investors’ behaviour the issue could have been priced higher: In trading Thursday the shares shot up to US$28.74, before falling to close at US25.68. For the day, more than 12.6 million shares were traded – meaning that the small public float was turned almost twice. By going public, the company, whose specialty is e-commerce, now has a valuation of more than twice what it was deemed to be worth less than one month back.
Against such a backdrop, bankers are hungrily searching far and wide for the next Shopify (or even an old-school legacy brand like Cara Operations, which went public earlier this year and which has seen a steady gain in its share price).
It’s a great time to be a Canadian technology company
Jim Kofman, vice-chair at Cormark Securities, said sector rotation is part of the reason why technology-related growth companies have re-emerged.
After bailing out of precious metals, then resources and after seeking safe havens in yield securities, “growth has come back in vogue,” said Kofman, whose firm is part of the syndicate taking Mogo Finance Technology Inc. public. Vancouver-based Mogo defines itself as “a leading online lending platform providing consumers with quick and efficient access to responsible credit solutions.”
In general Kofman said the companies now going public or thinking about going public are different from those that were around for a period of time during the tech bubble. “The [new] companies have matured, they have real businesses with strong growth stories, even if they [trade] at lofty multiples,” added Kofman.
“It’s a great time to be a Canadian technology company,” noted one banker, who is out pitching possible IPO transactions while admitting that Shopify is a special case because of its world-class technology and unique culture.
One possible candidate is Montreal-based Lightspeed POS, which has been around for a decade and which has received $65 million in external funding – though it financed itself until 2012.
Dax Dasilva, founder and chief executive of Lightspeed, which focuses on on-and offline retail, said that going public remains on the table: “[What happened with Shopify] is hugely encouraging for us and our team to see what kind of outcome all our hard work could bring.”
On Thursday, Dasilva was full of praise for what Shopify, which he described as “a compatriot” company, has achieved. He termed Shopify’s IPO “an incredible milestone for the company and the retail industry as a whole. This is another great example of the innovative technology leaders coming out of Canada.”
Other candidates often talked about are HootSuite, which manages social media platforms; and D2L, Desire2Learn, whose focus is on “developing technology to improve the way the world learns.”
Indeed, at a conference in Vancouver Thursday, Hootsuite’s chief executive, Ryan Holmes, said, “I’m very bullish given the success that Shopify has had, and maybe we will want to speed that up a little bit,” he said.


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XCOM surprised everyone last year, not only by popping its long-dormant head up, but by popping up with a new change of genre. The RTS gone FPS then went back into sleep-mode for a good while but it’s here again now with plenty of new details to gorge upon, as well as a new trailer.
First, let’s talk dates; the 2K Marin game will launch on March 6 2012. Next, let’s talk platforms; the 360 and PC versions are going to be joined by the newly-announced PS3 version, so Sony fans won’t miss out. Finally, let’s see the trailer, showing Special Agent William Carter leading an elite squad in to fight off an alien invasion:
Good, eh? It’s like L.A. Noire meets, well, every other game ever. Seems like those “big changes” rumors weren’t true. Yet another game to look forward to in 2012, then.


text: Logitech has decided to hang on to its Harmony remote product line after announcing plans to sell it off in the wake of "unacceptable" losses from the division. CEO Bracken Darrell had promised that Logitech would take "decisive action" to address that disappointment, but apparently that meant the introduction of more remotes. The Harmony Ultimate, which was introduced back in April, is said to be performing so well that it's made Logitech change its mind. And today Logitech is trying to make the Ultimate line even more accessible by introducing a cheaper package. The hub previously sold for $349.99 with a remote, but around August it'll be made available for $99.99 without a remote, requiring users to control it with a smartphone app.