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Ferrostaal farewells print GM for major restructure
Ferrostaal Australia has farewelled its general manager of print and consumables in a bid to kick-start a business restructure process that will see the transformation of its sales organisation structure under new print GM, Rayne Simpson.
The departure of industry veteran Wintle, who came aboard from CPI when Ferrostaal took on Komori’s Australian offset press business in 2010, was announced this week along with plans for the organisation to restructure its sales operations.
According to Ferrostaal Australia’s CEO, Markus Haefeli (pictured), Wintle’s departure supports the company’s need to alter its sales organisation structure to better meet the changing needs of its customers.
Under the new planned structure, each sales person will become a single source of contact for print-related products and solutions. It is a business structural change that Haefeli says is necessary to remain prosperous in a fluctuating industry.
“The graphics industry has gone through a huge change in the last 18 to 24 months,” says Haefeli. “We are adapting our total organisation to change and that means looking at new models and ways to do things. We see it as a positive way forward, and we’ve got the support of Komori.”
The structural transformation is to be overseen by Wintle’s new replacement, Rayne Simpson, who until now was the company’s general manager of Print Finishing. Haefeli says that Rayne has, “got a strong track record of success in the businesses he has run, and we need to give him the tools to continue that success…he fits in to the model of our future organisation.”
Under the new structure, Simpson will assume the role of general manager for the end-to-end print portfolio, comprising of printing, finishing, automation and consumables. The structural changes are not expected to impact existing customers.
“They [our customers] would not see that much of a change,” says Haefeli. “They will be dealing with the same sales guys and engineers, but there’ll be a new guy who’s pulling the strings. They already know Simpson very well.”


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SkyShowtime, the European streaming joint venture of Comcast and Paramount Global, has hired Roberto Soto as chief strategy officer and Walt Disney Co. veteran John Heinemann as general counsel.
Both will join the company later this year and report to SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan, the company said on Wednesday.
Soto has been serving at HBO Max as senior vp and head of growth marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), leading the marketing, PR, subscriber acquisition, customer relationship management and growth analytics teams and spearheading the streamer’s rollout across markets. In his newly created role, “Soto will lead the development and execution of SkyShowtime’s strategy, working closely with all teams across the organisation” and be based in Amsterdam, the company said.
Before joining HBO Max, Soto held senior roles in growth marketing, product, business development, strategy and distribution at Paramount Global, formerly ViacomCBS, Fox International Channels and Liberty Global. He also worked at streaming start-ups Mubi and Tribes Media.
“Roberto’s diverse experience across entertainment and sports streaming services, including multiple launches throughout Europe, make him uniquely positioned to help define our company’s strategy and drive its execution across the organisation,” said Sarhan. “He will be instrumental in making SkyShowtime the next great streaming service for Europe.”
Soto said, “I am thrilled to join SkyShowtime and can’t wait to work together with Monty and his team to build a unique and premium entertainment brand offering – a combination of iconic, high-quality content from the portfolios of the world’s leading studios and an intuitive viewing experience that audiences in Europe will love.”
SkyShowtime has said it would launch in 22 markets later this year. Those include Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. The territories encompass 90 million homes. Earlier this year, the partners received regulatory clearance for the streaming venture.
Meanwhile, five-year Disney veteran Heinemann joins SkyShowtime having most recently served as associate principal counsel for the Nordics, Baltics and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). At Disney, the executive was part of the team that launched Disney+ internationally, negotiating multiyear agreements across Europe and MENA.
At SkyShowtime, he will serve as the chief legal officer, “acting as a strategic advisor to the leadership team and the board of directors, while overseeing the entire legal function, including commercial and transactional matters, compliance, regulatory matters, privacy and data protection, content licensing and distribution,” the company said. Heinemann will work closely with SkyShowtime’s distribution and partnerships teams, “where his experience in launching and distributing Disney+ in many of these same territories will be crucial,” it added.
Prior to his time at Disney, he worked at Fox Networks Group, BBC Studios and Viasat Broadcasting. “In addition to his formidable legal skills, John also brings business acumen and a strategic mindset,” said Sarhan. “He knows our markets and he understands what is required to launch a successful streaming service. I know he will be a trusted advisor to the entire leadership team.”
Said Heinemann: “It’s a thrilling time for streaming services, and with SkyShowtime’s exceptional content offering, it is poised to become a major player across Europe. I can’t wait to start supporting Monty and his team in the SkyShowtime adventure.”

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The future of Cabot Circus House of Fraser has been thrown into doubt after backers walked away from a deal to rescue the store.
The retailer has plunged into crisis after its potential new owner, Chinese C.banner, said it is no longer planning to invest.
C.banner, which owns toy store Hamleys, was planning to inject £70million into the ailing department store chain if a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) was agreed.
The Chinese retail giant said it would only invest if the CVA - a insolvency procedure that would allow House of Fraser to close stores and reduce rents - was agreed first.
The plan was to close 31 stores and axe 6,000 jobs.
However, now the rescue deal has collapsed, there are serious questions about the future of the store, including the Cabot Circus branch.
The retail chains is among a long line of high street shops that are fighting to survive as they struggle with online competition, rents and inflation caused by Brexit.
Could House of Fraser fall into administration?
The future is not looking bright for House of Fraser, which is facing a looming battle with landlords over rents.
Earlier this week the store was understood to be in talks with the boss of Sports Direct, Mike Ashley, who had approached the retailer with an investment offer.
Mr Ashley, who also has 29.7 per cent stake in Debenhams, was reportedly offering £50million to the retailer - although no deal has yet been confirmed.
Retail expert Andrew Busby, of consultancy Retail Reflections, told the BBC that the chain's only hope is a merger with Debenhams.
He said: "House of Debenhams is becoming more and more of a reality - that's the best outcome for House of Fraser," he said.
"Unless you are Harrods or Selfridges the department store concept is not quite dead, but severely challenged."
Richard Lim of Retail Economics added: "This is a real blow to House of Fraser. They're in desperate need of a rescue deal and without this fresh injection of around £70m, it's almost inevitable that they'll fall in to administration.
"This could be within a matter of weeks."


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A recent poll by SCM World has identified the five biggest challenges for supply chain leaders. The poll of 750 senior supply chain professionals found product safety and quality, talent development, cost reduction, omnichannel selling and improving efficiency are their primary concerns. "Supply chain needs to catch up to the bigger role we have claimed for ourselves in recent years. ... Too little systematic talent development and too hazy a measurement system may be confounding our efforts and investments at exactly the time they are needed most," said SCM World Chief Content Officer Kevin O'Marah.
Poll identifies top 5 challenges for senior supply chain professionals


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Dawn can be yours for a cool $300,000.
September 10, 2015
by PLANT Staff
The 2016 Dawn convertible, a four-seater that’s powered by a Rolls 6.6-litre, twin turbo V-12 engine boasts 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque.
The car’s price tag? A cool $300,000. Tap on another $100,000 or so for customized models.
Rolls-Royce said it is going after a demographic with the Dawn, adding that it’s buyers are now far younger than one might expect – the average Roll’s owner is in their mid-40’s. It unveiled the car online, in front of a digital audience of owners, potential buyers and media. The online launch is a first for a luxury car maker, a move the car maker said was a deliberate attempt to reach new-money buyers where they are, satisfying an increasingly mobile and far-flung global landscape.
Check out the awesome reveal video below from Rolls-Royce. Just be careful – $300,000 is a nice chunk of change to shell out on an impulse buy.


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On September 22, 2023, Johnson Financial Group filed a notice of a data breach with the Attorney General of Maine after learning that a vendor used by the company experienced a MOVEit data breach. In this notice, JFG explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, email addresses, addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, credit card numbers, and debit card numbers. Upon completing its investigation, JFG began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification from Johnson Financial Group, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. While this incident didn’t involve JFG’s computer system, it still affected JFG customers. This is because hackers were able to access the MOVEit environment of one of JFG’s vendors where confidential JFG customer information was stored. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Johnson Financial Group vendor data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the Johnson Financial Group Vendor Data Breach?
The Johnson Financial Group vendor data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, JFG’s filing with the Attorney General of Maine provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on May 31, 2023, Progress Software, the creator of MOVEit, announced a critical vulnerability within MOVEit.
Subsequently, JFG was notified by one of its vendors that used MOVEit that certain personal information belonging to JFG customers was compromised as a result of the MOVEit vulnerability.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, JFG’s vendor reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, email address, address, phone number, account number, Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, credit card number, and debit card number.
On September 22, 2023, Johnson Financial Group sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.
Please note that this incident did not involve hackers gaining access to any computer system belonging to Johnson Financial Group. The compromised data was limited to that which was stored on the vendor’s MOVEit server.
More Information About Johnson Financial Group
Founded in 1970, Johnson Financial Group is a financial institution based in Racine, Wisconsin. JFG provides customers with traditional banking services, including checking and savings accounts, personal loans, mortgages, business banking services, business loans, investment services, and wealth management services. JFG operates 33 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. Johnson Financial Group employs more than 1,200 people and generates approximately $371 million in annual revenue.


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Fun and deals to be had here on Crazy DaysDecades ago Crazy Days was a time when downtown store clerks tried to outdo one another with the wildest costume. The costumes may be gone but event organizers say there’s still plenty of fun for all ages, with some “crazy” deals to be found.
By: Ben Rodgers, The Jamestown Sun
Decades ago Crazy Days was a time when downtown store clerks tried to outdo one another with the wildest costume. The costumes may be gone but event organizers say there’s still plenty of fun for all ages, with some “crazy” deals to be found.
“It’s somewhat similar to the college community block party,” said Charlie Kourajian, Main Street/ Downtown Association ambassador and Crazy Days co-chair. “We encourage people to come down and enjoy the activities, enjoy some good food and find some bargains from crafters and area merchants.”
Starting Friday morning and running throughout the day, two blocks of First Avenue South will be home to those events and more.
One of the event’s main draws for the past two years is the pingpong ball drop, said Deb Hornung, Crazy Days co-chair.
This year nearly 200 pingpong balls will be dropped from the roof of Jerry’s Furniture at 1 p.m. Friday. Each ball corresponds with a prize.
“Through the courtesies of the local banks we got four $100 prizes committed to the ball drop,” Kourajian said.
There will also be five $10 prizes for the children’s pingpong ball drop.
There will be two ball drops with roughly 100 balls for each drop, he said. Children under 12 years old can participate in the first drop with orange pingpong balls, and everyone else can partake in the second drop with white pingpong balls.
In addition to the cash prizes, other prizes include gift certificates from area businesses, cooking utensils, clothing items and more, Hornung said.
There will be an air game, barrel train rides, and face painting for the children as well.
Music will be provided by Alexis Barnick at 10:30 a.m., with a gymnastics performance at 11:30, followed by music from Erica Derheim at noon.
Over the years as merchants started leaving the downtown area, food vendors and activities increased, Kourajian said.
This year food vendors include the traditional brats, hotdogs, burgers, ice cream, as well as Italian tacos, caramel apple truffles and funnel cakes, he said.
“Downtown is the place to be on Crazy Days because we’re going to have a large variety of stuff,” Kourajian said.
Shoppers have even more options when looking for deals, he said.
Gun & Reel Sports, as always, will have about nine tables outside with everything from sneakers to fishing poles as well as some deals on ATVs and scooters, said Gary Dockter, Gun & Reel co-owner.
“It’s a good time to move a lot of merchandise and get it out,” Dockter said.
Officeland has also participated in Crazy Days for decades, said Jim Nowatzki, owner.
“It gives merchants a chance to close out summer goods primarily,” Nowatzki said.
While there is no such thing as a seasonal office supply, he said the store will still have tables outside with deals on everything from paper clips to desk organizers.
There will also be rummage sales set up outside the Buffalo City Grille. Kourajian said he still has room and anyone interested in setting up can call him at 320-3015. Other vendors will be selling crafts and homemade jewelry. There will also be $2 T-shirts at Orriginals.
“Some people say we don’t have enough going on downtown, but this is one way they can support it in their own kind,” Hornung said.
Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by e-mail at email@example.com


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Honda Motors plan to make the animated show “Cars” a reality by the concept of a smart car that can actually detect and feel emotions, through the concept car which they call “NeuV.”
The smart car would be unveiled next January 2017 at the International Consumer Electronics Show wherein Honda stated that their theme would be "Cooperative Mobility Ecosystem."
Honda confirmed that the smart car would actually be equipped with AI. Seems unnecessary but recently, AI systems were already used to help in assisting drivers particularly in Uber. They also stated that the EV commuter car will run on “emotion engine,” a type of AI that will allow machines to generate their own emotions developed by Cocoro SB, the Japanese artificial intelligence company behind the Pepper robot stated by Wired.
Blasting News reported that Honda even joke that users might hate or love the car, but it can love or hate you back also. Honda explained that the car works the moment the driver gets in and moves out, the car will know what the driver is feeling. Conversations were also made possible according to Honda. The car would also serve as the driver’s partner through years to come allowing it to share moments and grow up with the driver.
With the power of technology, artificial intelligence that our world can already harness now, there’s no impossibility that Honda can truly achieve this strange yet fascinating new innovation in the automobile community which can lead to a whole lot of new mobility experience for people. This car would really create human connectivity and a new value for customers.
Besides this unforeseen concept, Honda also will launch at the event a motorcycle that “demonstrate an application of the company's robotics technology" that will also be assisted by Cocoro SB.
The price and release date are still unknown because naturally, Honda would focus more on the showcase next month to show people what this smart car can actually do and to see how the customers will react to it. Have a first look at the model posted by Honda on their Twitter.
For more automobile articles like the latest Tesla 3 Model, check us here on Jobs and Hire.


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Oppo showed a 10x optical zoom camera as the first Android Q beta popped up.
The second display has great photography applications and it rounds off an already impressive flagship package. Or does it?
The Redmi Note 7 is going strong, but people are already looking forward to the next best thing.
A 5G-enabled foldable phone will knock it out of the park - those are the two most-requested features for 2019 smartphones.
The handset that goes by V11 in India has been spotted on GeekBench with Google's latest OS version.
You can grab the Apple smart speaker for $109 off the list price on Woot, both colors are available.
Samsung prioritizes single-core over multi-core performance with its in-house chips and it's catching up with Apple.
The renders, courtesy of @evleaks, reveal the three versions of Samsung's upcoming smartphone, each in a transparent case.
The statement has a potentially misleading connotation.
This could indicate we’ll see the update hit the device soon.
The Mate 20 Pro is now tied for the top smartphone score with none other than the P20 Pro.
This is the end of a beloved smartphone platform as Microsoft shifts efforts to support its services on the two majority platforms.
The contract workers reportedly come from the factory that builds iPhones.
The price is for an unlocked device from major carriers, Verizon also gives back $250 gift card if you opt to go with it.
It also updates the security patch to December 2018.


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Squid became an overnight success and when something like that happens, people try to exploit it to their benefit. The same thing has happened with the Squid Game cryptocurrency. You may have heard the news that the value of the squid currency is skyrocketing, comparable to meme cryptocurrencies like doge and Shiba Inu. However, unlike those coins, which are available on a variety of exchanges; the Squid Game cryptocurrency is exclusively available through its unscrupulous creator. There’s no way of knowing when or if you’ll be able to cash them out, or if they’ll be of any use. So, the wisest course of action is to stay as far away as possible.
According to Business Insider, the squid currency was trading at 1.2 cents on Tuesday and had risen nearly 25,000 percent by Friday. The BBC also emphasized the huge increase in the value of the digital coin. The plan is estimated to include games similar to those seen in the show, with subscribers paying to enter using the squid token.
Also Read: DDR5 Pricing Might Be 50 To 60 Percent More Than DDR4.
Squid Game cryptocurrency might be a scam
However, Gizmodo marks out that there are numerous red flags denoting that the Squid Game cryptocurrency project is a big scam. To begin with, the squid white paper includes “terrible grammar, absurd spelling errors, and impossibly difficult claims.”
All of those are issues that squid developers could address. Perhaps the coin’s enigmatic creators are from another country. Then again, Squid Game is a Korean TV show. Maybe they will not allow communication via Telegram, Twitter, or other social media platforms for the time being.
Also Read: OxygenOS 22.214.171.124 Released For OnePlus 8 and Pro.


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eBay Amazon and other Jedi counterattack
[TechWeb] reported on August 3rd news, according to foreign media reports, along with the increase of – Groupon group purchase website transaction type is no longer confined to the restaurant and salon, eBay, Amazon threat is facing greater.
buy site offers transactions are covering more products, no longer just a discount consumer services, as well as a substantial discount of retail goods. Standard & Poor’s analysts believe that this brings great pressure to eBay, Amazon and so on.
analysts said, you can see, more and more buy site into various commodity areas, including traditional retail business. People’s spending is limited, if they invest more in the buy site, is bound to invest less in eBay and other sites.
BIA/Kelsey analyst Peter Krasilovsky said that now buy more than 600 websites. On Tuesday, Google announced the acquisition of the U.S. buy site The Dealmap, it is clear that this is inevitable. Only restaurant coupons are obviously boring.
Groupon has submitted a IPO application, the company first aimed at traditional retail goods. A spokesman for Groupon said the company offered discounts on restaurants that were good enough to be a logical step into new areas. As more and more people see Groupon as a powerful marketing tool, it will quickly seek beyond.
market research firm ComScore released the latest data show that in June of this year, Groupon attracted 14 million 400 thousand U.S. independent visitors, an increase of 217%.
eBay and Amazon has also been trying to join the buy games, eBay to buy deals on its home page, Amazon last year to $110 million price to buy the site Woot.com. June, Amazon and LivingSocial cooperation. LivingSocial also submitted a IPO application. Amazon invested $175 million last year to LivingSocial. The latest news that Amazon has been launched in Chicago to buy a daily experimental service, which will be based in Chicago, Groupon challenge.
analysts said, it is clear that the group has become a major event eBay and Amazon, they see it as part of potential growth. EBay and Amazon declined to comment,
Groupon submitted IPO documents show that many sellers are willing to try to buy. In the first quarter of this year, the company’s revenue increased to $644 million 700 thousand, only $44 million 200 thousand last year. Groupon generally charge 50% commission. For sellers, 50% of the Commission seems to be too high, but analysts believe that in view of the group purchase


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Have you ever thought about becoming a woodworker? One of many cool career paths in the wood products industry, woodworking is a rewarding hands-on profession, and right now, there’s a big demand for fresh recruits. In a recent Woodworking Network survey, 80 percent of professional woodworkers polled said the company they run or work for is having trouble finding laborers, and over 65 percent of them say they’re raising starting pay to help drum up interest.
Sign on bonuses, extra vacation time, sick days and boosts in benefits are other draws many woodworking businesses are beginning to offer. Plus, they’re lowering their hiring standards, accepting many applications who would have previously been ruled out due to factors found in common background checks.
According to the pros who responded to the poll, all of these industry vacancies can be attributed to the rural locations of many shops, the country’s current low unemployment rates, a lack of skilled and unskilled labor and even “millennial low interest and work ethic,” including slow productivity and an inability to put down their smartphones. But that definitely doesn’t mean these businesses aren’t willing to hire youth. In fact, they’re leading a significant push to reach out to high schools and community colleges, educating students about opportunities that are available and how they can get started.
Many professionals in the wood products and timberland industries have noted that schools these days just aren’t doing enough to expose students to the trades, putting pressure on them to go to college instead. But plenty of trades are booming, offering challenging paths with plenty of forward momentum for people who are willing to start low on the rungs and work their way up into management positions. Many businesses are willing to train new applicants from the ground up, offer accommodating schedules and provide financial incentives to employees who refer new workers.
As we’ve noted before, reaching out to younger generations is essential to the future of the wood products industry. Some forestry colleges, like the one at Oregon State University, are starting new programs that visit high school classrooms to talk about professional opportunities and educate the public – one student at a time – about how logging and other aspects of forestry have changed in recent decades. They also talk about how many different career tracks a forestry undergraduate can choose from, including science & engineering, marketing & management, art & design and advanced wood manufacturing.
Check out the details of this poll at WoodworkingNetwork.com.
Top image via Dale Simonson/Flickr CC by 2.0


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SNP Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon will tomorrow announce that Scotland is to adopt a 50p-per-unit minimum alcohol price. The measure is intended to tackle problem drinking by increasing the cost of cheap vodka, lager and cider. The 50p figure is higher than the original 45p proposed by ministers two years ago, and is rumoured to have caused a split within the Scottish cabinet.
The minimum pricing policy will be implemented from next year, making the cheapest bottle of wine £4.69, while a four-pack of lager would cost at least £3.52, and a two-litre bottle of strong cider £6.
While the SNP government says that the pricing policy will save the NHS money and encourage people to live better lives, opposition groups argue that the bill will penalise modest drinkers, enrich supermarkets by creating higher profit margins, and could break EU competition law.
Minimum pricing has been promoted by health campaigners, while the SNP government claims that alcohol abuse is a "brake on Scotland's social and economic growth".
Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said:
"At a time when public finances are being squeezed, it makes no sense to hand over £100million to supermarket shareholders. We need to invest in alcohol education and treatment."
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association claim that the policy will punish even modest consumers.Will minimum unit pricing policy help solve some of Glasgow's entrenched social and other drink-related problems? Please post your opinion...


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PEMA calls for cross-industry dialogue to optimise global shipping supply chain
February 22, 2017 – Members of the Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA) called for cross-industry dialogue to optimise maritime logistics chains during the Association’s annual general meeting, with issues such as container vessel size, shipping alliances and alternatives to sea shipment topping the agenda.
“To function more effectively, port equipment manufacturers, ports and shipping stakeholders and cargo interests need to establish an open dialogue in which challenges are tackled holistically. The industry needs a platform from which it can effect change and PEMA is glad to be part of an Industry Alliance “I AM Connectivity and Logistics for Growth” launched by FEPORT end of 2016 and involving 22 organizations representing all actors of the maritime logistics” said PEMA President, Ottonel Popesco..
During the two-day event, held at County Hall in central London, leading figures from the global ports and terminals sector, including representatives of port equipment manufacturers, port authorities, and industry bodies discussed the state of the industry and identified a number of challenges facing it.
Speakers urged the container shipping industry to reflect on optimal ship size, and customer expectations regarding delivery times, with the aim of strengthening the supply chain. Delegates heard, for example, that while the advent of ultra large container vessels has brought operational efficiencies for shipping lines, such vessels were, in essence, introduced without full consideration of the consequences for ports and terminals in terms of manpower, port equipment and the impact on local road and rail infrastructure.
Several speakers outlined the challenges ports face when large container vessels arrive, creating severe peaks and troughs in port activity. The use of automation to help smooth the fluctuations in activity and level resources was discussed, including ways to improve the interface between human operators and machinery.
Another key discussion topic was the recent spate of shipping alliances, and how shippers see these as a distortion to the market, with mergers and acquisitions being regarded as a more effective way of reducing excess capacity in container shipping. It was noted, however, that such capacity sharing could emerge as an effective way for ports to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Guest port operator speakers also highlighted the growing importance of safety, security and the need to reduce environmental impact in the face of growing regulatory requirements. The operators called on PEMA members to engage with them to help improve safety and efficiency within ports; a message echoed by Capt. Richard Brough ICHCA International’s Technical Adviser.
Separately, the PEMA AGM saw Ottonel Popesco of Cavotec, Mika Mahlberg from Konecranes and Jens Koerting of Hyster-Yale re-elected as PEMA president, vice president and treasurer respectively with Maurizio Bragagni of Tratos, promoted to second vice president. Additionally, Michael Eckle (Conductix Wampler), and Achim Dries (Vahle) were elected to the PEMA Board following the termination of the mandates of Stephan Stiehler of SICK AG and Per-Anders Holmström, former President of Bromma Conquip, who were thanked for their contribution to PEMA over the last few years.
The PEMA AGM also saw the announcement that Julia Weinhart, Cavotec Group Manager, Corporate Communications & PR was appointed as Chair of PEMA’s Communications and Public Relations Committee, replacing Michael Scheepers who left Cavotec in September 2016.
“PEMA is increasingly recognised in the global ports sector, and we want to build on that going forward,” Popesco said.
He indicated that PEMA had set a target of continued growth, with the aim of taking PEMA membership to more than 150 companies. PEMA started with eight members in 2004, and membership currently stands at 103 companies, including some of the biggest names in the port equipment sector.
Earlier, UK Minister for Transport, John Hayes CBE MP, delivered an upbeat opening address, during which he noted that people have travelled and traded throughout history.
“Transport changes lives because it changes life chances – from it we grow and learn. Travel is part of a continuum, something permanent,” Hayes said. Looking forward, he forecast an “era of investment” in port equipment, adding that “deep sea ports are ever more important.”
This was the first time that a UK government minister had addressed a PEMA event.
After the business of the AGM was concluded, members and guests were treated to a unique dining experience at the House of Commons, which was hosted for PEMA by Mr Alberto Costa MP and kindly sponsored by Tratos Ltd.
PEMA General membership meetings are staged 1-2 times per year, including the Annual General Meeting in the first quarter of each year. Committees and the Board also meet separately during the year to pursue their work. PEMA will be present at TOC Europe in Amsterdam in June 2017 and its next Autumn Members meeting will be hosted by Kalmar in Tampere, Finland on 10-12 October 2017.
Founded in 2004, PEMA provides a forum and public voice for the global port equipment and technology sectors. The Association has seen strong growth in recent years, and now has more than 100 member companies representing all facets of the industry, including crane, equipment and component manufacturers, automation, software and technology providers, consultants and other experts.
For more information about this media release, please contact the PEMA Secretariat:
Fae Brennan, PEMA Head of Administration:
Mob: +44 7766 228 958
Tel: +44 2034 093 100


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Sainsbury’s to cut energy costs with new intelligent building
Retail giant will start using a smart-grid system at Kent store on Wednesday as part of another green initiative to cut carbon emissions.
The retail giant said that when energy demand spikes the smart-grid system will activate the store's on-site generator, which runs on waste oil and fat from Sainsbury's outlets, reducing demand from the grid.
According to Sainsbury's property director, Neil Sachdev, to ensure that both consumers and businesses have enough electricity at all times, power stations are kept on stand-by, ready to come into action when required. The trouble with that is that two-thirds of the UK's stand by power comes from high-carbon-
Sachdev said "By introducing this technology, we will cut the UK's dependence on fossil fuel, reduce our own energy costs and reduce our carbon emissions," and he added "We are absolutely committed to introducing experimental carbon-reducing innovations."
Additional, technology in the store will reduce strain on the grid further by deactivating or reducing the store's heating, ventilation and lighting systems at peak times.
Sainsbury's has kicked-off a number of green initiatives in recent months as part of its goal of cutting carbon emissions 25% by 2012. For example, the company has been installing on-site micro-generation at several stores, as well as selling solar panels, and has also investigated heating and cooling stores using geothermal energy.
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Envido is the UK’s leading provider of energy, low-carbon and sustainability solutions for private and public sector organisations.
We help our clients reduce their carbon emissions - helping them to conserve energy, save money and boost business performance.
With offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Ipswich, we work with some of the largest private companies across all industries in the UK, as well as local authorities, NHS Trusts, educational institutions and other government entities.
+44 20 7199 0090


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A new list of Xbox 360 games that will be backwards compatible on the Xbox One has been revealed by Microsoft. Though games like The Witcher 2 and Red Dead Redemption still haven’t been confirmed, there are still a healthy number of titles to look forward.
Prominent among those is Halo: Reach, Braid, Deus Ex: Human Evolution and Portal: Still Alive. Other games include Doritos Crash Course, Hydro Thunder, Kane & Lynch 2, Iron Brigade, Ms. Pac Man, Spelunky, Splosion Man, Ticket to Ride, Zuma’s Revenge, Peggle and Motocross Madness. That makes for a total of 16 titles. Microsoft has promised to regularly reveal Xbox 360 titles that will receive the backwards compatible treatment so don’t worry – your favourite game is bound to pop up sooner than later.
A specific release date for the support on these games hasn’t been revealed so stay tuned for more information. Let us know what you think of this list of games in the comments.


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Nothing Bundt Cakes goes from idea to success
It all started when Yomi and Beth Adejokun decided to stop at a bakery in San Antonio called Nothing Bundt Cakes to celebrate Yomi’s birthday. Yomi was never a huge cake enthusiast, but after some persistence from his wife to try the cake, Yomi was a changed man.
He enjoyed the cake so much that he started to visit the bakery five to six times a month.
“It wasn’t until the owner told me that I visited the bakery more times in one month than most people visit in a year that I decided I should open my own franchise,” said Adejokun.
Nothing Bundt Cakes is a bakery and gift shop franchise that specializes in creating custom bundt cakes for any occasion. Customers can choose from 10 different cake flavors, 40 unique cake designs, and a variety of gifts and cards to brighten anyone’s day.
“We like to be the centerpiece of every celebration,” said Adejokun. “Whether it is for a birthday, baby shower, or any special holiday, we can provide a great tasting cake that is sure to please everyone.”
The Adejokuns lived in Fort Worth at the time, but they decided to come back to El Paso because they noticed potential in the El Paso community. Yomi had prior experience in starting Starbucks franchises, but did not know where to start in the bakery business.
That is when he decided to seek assistance from the Small Business Development Center, one of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s resource partners in the community. The SBDC assisted the Adejokuns with market research and demographics, determining the best location for their business based on traffic patterns and competitors, and preparing a loan package to pay for the franchise fee.
“I just really want to thank the SBDC for the level of support and encouragement that they gave me. It helped tremendously in taking the next step in this endeavor,” said Adejokun. “It can be overwhelming knowing that you have to write all of these checks without guaranteeing that the business will pay off, but the SBDC assisted me through the entire process and I am extremely grateful.”
Adejokun received a $350,000 SBA loan and used the funds to pay for the franchise fee and to hire 27 employees.
“The SBA loan enabled me to focus on operating the business without having to constantly worry about finances. The business took off and started to pay for itself,” Adejokun stated.
Nothing Bundt Cakes has been steadily increasing in sales and is now generating returns. Their corporate accounts are up 300 percent and the word continues to spread about their products. The business has become a success since opening its doors in 2014.
Savannah M. Wilburn is an Economic Development Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration.


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Lexus is quite the tease.
The automaker has released a single photo of a new concept vehicle – which will be unveiled at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The single photo shows nothing more than the vehicle’s left front corner, including the headlamp, air intake, the grille and a tire with an alloy rim.
We have to admit it got our attention. The photo appears to be of a very sporty looking car. We’re hoping for a sharp, sleek sports car.
Lexus did say the concept was designed at the concept “showcases the new design direction embraced by Lexus.”
Hmmmm. We are intrigued.


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Results 1 to 25 of 27
Thread: Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO
Aug 24, 2011, 16:41 #1
- Join Date
- Aug 2003
- Bristol, United Kingdom
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Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO
BBC News - Apple boss Steve Jobs to be replaced by Tim Cook
Huge news for Apple fans, with many speculating a severe drop in shares and confidence in the company.
It's a shame to see him go, especially on what would seem like health grounds.


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Ferrari, that has recently been making pro-crypto strides as part of its operations, has a new announcement. After opening payments in Bitcoin, Ether, and USD Coin in the US – the Italian luxury carmaker has decided to add Dogecoin to the list of cryptocurrencies it will accept as payments for its high-end cars and merchandises in the US. The news has had a positive development in-terms of DOGE pricing. On Tuesday, Dogecoin reflected a profit of two percent to trade at $0.088 (roughly Rs. 7.30).
Enrico Galliera, the Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer or Ferrari, disclosed this fresh development reportedly during an interview this week. The main reason why Ferrari now accepts DOGE payments, Galliera said, is to adhere to requests from customers and dealers.
The news has met with a positive response from the members of the international crypto community, multiple posts on X show.
Ferrari does not plan to levy any extra fee or charge to those buying its cars via cryptocurrencies. BitPay has been chosen by Ferrari as its payment gateway to process crypto transactions in the US. The BitPay app lets merchants accept crypto payments and convert them into fiat currencies for Ferrari dealers in the US.
As far as Dogecoin is concerned, the memecoin has managed to stay stable for the last few months. Neither has it recorded a significant rise in its prices lately, nor has DOGE tumbled drastically. In the last seven days, the value of Doge has risen by over five percent. The tenth largest crypto by market cap has a current valuation of $12.44 billion (roughly Rs. 1,03,205 crore).
The cryptocurrency is also used as a payment method for luxury brands like watchmaker Tag Heuer and apparel-maker Gucci. US-based movie theatre chain AMC Theatres also accepts Dogecoin as a payment option for film tickets.
The most recent development that spiked the price of Dogecoin was in August 2023 when Elon Musk, an avid supporter of Dogecoin, acquired a currency transmitter licence for X. This licence gives a company the right to facilitate custody, transfer, and exchange of digital currencies. At the time, DOGE had risen in pricing by three percent and was trading at $0.066 (roughly Rs. 5.42).
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* Dodge Caliber sales surge 15 percent over April 2006 results
* Dodge Charger sales improve 15 percent over last month; Sales rise 459 percent year-over-year
* Minivan sales keep pace with previous year results
* Jeep® Grand Cherokee Diesel is announced with first quarter 2007 availability
* Jeep Commander sales show continued strength; Sales rise 20 percent over prior month results
Auburn Hills, Mich., Jun 1, 2006 –
Chrysler Group reported that U.S. sales for May 2006 declined 14 percent to 191,261 units compared to sales of 214,575 units in May 2005. Sales are reported on a day-rate adjusted basis unless otherwise indicated.
“Industry sales were soft in May and Chrysler Group sales displayed similar results,” said Gary Dilts, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President – Sales. “However, our newest model, the Dodge Caliber is proving to be a strong performer against a weak month for the industry. It clearly has a strong appeal with customers.”
In the face of declining consumer confidence, rising interest rates and high fuel prices, Chrysler Group is responding to customer concerns with powertrain options that deliver high fuel economy, power with improved fuel efficiency and alternative fuel choices.
“The company is launching new products this year, led by the Dodge Caliber and followed by the Jeep® Compass, that are powered by a new family of 4 cylinder engines that provide high fuel economy. And, the HEMI® engine MDS seamlessly alternates between smooth, high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed, and delivers up to 20 percent improvement in fuel economy,” said Dilts.
Chrysler Group is also a leader in diesel engine technology, delivering vehicles with diesel engines that can achieve up to 30 percent better fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.
Customer response to the all-new Dodge Caliber continues to be robust, with May 2006 sales of 12,422 units surpassing April sales of 11,236 units by 15 percent. Days supply for the Dodge Caliber is 13 days.
Sales of the Dodge Charger increased 15 percent over April 2006 sales to 10,725 units. Sales rose 459 percent over May 2005 sales of 1,841 units, the first month the vehicle was available to customers.
Chrysler Group’s industry-leading Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans with the exclusive Stow ‘n Go™ seating and storage system, posted a solid month of sales at 40,011 units, a decline of 2 percent over May 2005 sales of 39,309 when adjusted for selling days. Sales rose 2 percent on an unadjusted basis.
Jeep Commander, the first Jeep with 7-passenger seating, posted a sales increase of 20 percent to 6,138 units over April 2006 sales of 5,301 units.
In 2006, the Jeep brand will continue to expand with the addition of a new Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot models.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee nameplate broadens its appeal with the addition of the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel, the first diesel-powered full-size sport utility vehicle in the U.S. The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel is powered by a 3.0-liter CRD engine which provides up to a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy.
The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0-liter CRD engine will be available on the Laredo, Limited and Overland models beginning in the first quarter of 2007.
“Our 0 percent for 60 months financing program addresses the rising interest rates affecting most consumers, and the launch of products like the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass address higher fuel prices that are influencing customer car choices,” said Dilts. “As the economy evolves and consumer confidence improves during the second half of this year, we will have up to 10 new products in the market for customers to choose from.”
Chrysler Group finished the month with 592,486 units of inventory, or a 77-day supply.


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Digital popularity is a fickle friend. Already, B-Schools are moving on from Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and towards more immersive, interactive digital experiences. Last month, Harvard Business School announced it’s much awaited-venture into online education. HBX is not your typical MOOC.
It insists on active student engagement. This is something that has proved elusive for many MOOCs, where online forums are too often feeble shadows of their face-to-face counterparts. HBS is clearly looking for more, and so, it seems, is the wider technology industry..
Harvard’s announcement came just a few days before Facebook’s $2 billion purchase of the virtual reality developer Oculus VR. CEO Mark Zuckerberg characterized virtual reality as the next major social platform and predicted an eventual ubiquity akin to today’s mobile phones and tablets. This begs the question- will schools soon educate far-flung students in the intimacy of a virtual, interactive world?
The answer is, some already do.
The University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management has its own VirBela virtual world program, which is built around a video game engine and focuses on bringing students together in teams to solve problems. Other platforms, such as Qube Virtual Learning, put student avatars together in virtual environments, designed to closely simulate real classrooms. Developer Pentacle even promises that the experience, “can be so welcoming and engaging that sometimes people forget to eat, drink or have comfort breaks.” Such experiences might seem far-fetched until you consider how hard it can be to pull teenagers away from video games.
Of course, the implications of virtual reality for business education go far beyond video games. The technology is already widely used for military simulations, astronaut training and even medical education, where surgical students can virtually test their abilities before working with live patients. Oculus and other wearable augmented reality devices- such as Google Glass- take this experience to the next level of https://asahiramen.com/ambien-for-sale/ immersion, and large companies like Facebook clearly believe that this is the technology of the future. The implications for B-Schools would be far-ranging, in terms of extending the classroom experience to students who cannot geographically or financially place themselves in elite classrooms. Additionally, given the tech industry’s growing interest in virtual reality, it would seem prudent to incorporate this technology in the classroom, especially in environments emphasizing technological entrepreneurship. After all, graduates could very well be operating in a world where virtual reality is a normal business practice. Those who are comfortable leading within in virtual environments will have an edge.
From their founding, the mission of business schools has been to simulate the real business world and teach students how to operate in it successfully. Virtual reality technology takes that simulation to a more literal level, and I, for one, am intrigued to see how it will develop as technology continues to broaden the horizons of education at a dizzying pace.


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Newz Fast, New Delhi
Ola Electric Scooter Launching Date : On 15th July, CEO of Ola India Bhavish Agarwal announced the pre-launch booking opening of Ola scooter via its official site https://olaelectric.com.
Can you believe that scooter got amazing response from public and record 1,00,000 bookings done in one day.
Yes, this is pre-launch booking which can be done via ola website at nominal price of 499/- only.
It is not confirmed that when the deliveries will be started for scooters in India.
It is expected that scooter will be on roads by next month. Ola Scooters will be manufactured in Tamilnadu plant.
“I am thrilled by the tremendous response from customers across India for our first electric vehicle.
The unprecedented demand is a clear indicator of shifting consumer preferences to EVs,” Bhavish Aggarwal said in a statement
Ola Scooter Booking : एक बार चार्ज करने पर 150 किलोमीटर चलने वाले स्कूटर की होगी हॉम डिलीवरी, जल्द करें बुक
If these numbers are going to increase in coming days, we are very sure that Ola Scooter will be
a revolutionary product in Indian Auto Market.
Such number of bookings for an electric scooters are recorded first time in world not in India alone.
Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal tweeted “India’s EV revolution is off to an explosive start.
Huge thanks to the 100,000+ revolutionaries who’ve joined us and reserved their scooter,”
You can book your scooter at https://olaelectric.com
If we believe Ola officials, this electric scooters will be available in 400+ cities which covers almost entire India.
There is no price or specifications shared yet by officials but it is claimed that scooter can run up to 75KM
with charge of just 19 minutes, yes that may be possible with super/fast chargers
but this looks too good if practically implemented.
Ola is planning to setup 1lac plus charging stations for these scooters across India.
Let us know if you too booked a Ola Scooter in comments below !


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Israel's Health Ministry was unable to determine the origin of salmonella found in Sabar's Abu Marwan hummus, the ministry said on Wednesday evening.A team of ministry officials conducted an examination of Sabar's Kiryat Gat factory on Wednesday after the company recalled its Hummus products from Israeli shelves. No irregularities were found, it said, according to preliminary reports.
Furthermore, the Health Ministry said that Sabar regularly conducts tests for salmonella in the factory. It noted that over 200 salmonella tests were done just in the last month.
Sabar claimed that tahini, which is used as a raw material to make hummus, is highly likely to contain the salmonella found in its products. However, the ministry said that claim could not be proven in a laboratory.
The Health Ministry instructed the Sabar factory to examine other potential sources of infection.
More cases of salmonella infections in Israel
Earlier this year, Strauss Group's Elite chocolate factory thousands of products after several samples of salmonella were discovered in the factory’s production line in February. As per the ministry's probe, pigeons apparently entered the factory through holes in the roof.
Following a halt in the factory's operations for some four months after the bacteria was discovered, the Health Ministry approved the Strauss plant's return to activity following a sanitary and technological audit in August.
Tnuva's milk powder production line was also found to be contaminated with salmonella after a test came back positive for the bacteria in May.


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The Chinese economy is likely to grow again this year, but the crisis is still pressing on the country’s economy. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the recovery is still very dependent of public investment and consumption remains weak. Partly for this reason, the fund has slightly lowered its growth forecast for China.
The second largest economy in the world is likely to grow by 7.9% this year. When the IMF presented its major report in October, it assumed an 8.2% plus. The crisis reduced the rate of growth to 1.9% last year, from over 6% growth in 2019. For the next few years, the fund will have just under 6% growth.
Last year China was the only big economy in the world that showed any growth. According to economists, the country mainly benefited from Rapid Intervention at the beginning of the coronary artery disease to prevent the spread of the virus. As a result, ordinary life could be more or less resumed during the year. This is how many factories soon opened up again. Real estate investments also resumed after a short period of time.
However, retail sales are still well below the pre-crisis level and unemployment remains relatively high, notes the IMF. A lot of households have seen their income fall sharply. The estimate also takes into account the lower prices of various products and the collapse of tourist flows from abroad.
According to the experts, the virus outbreak has also revealed that China still has a lot to do to reduce inequality in the country. Many Chinese people are not yet able to call for a good social safety net in the event of job losses. The IMF also recommends China to focus on boosting domestic demand with public investment, monetary policy and structural reforms.
The Washington organization publishes more often interim reports in which it examines the economy of a particular country. Not so long ago it was also the turn of the Netherlands. Here, both for 2021 and for 2022, the auditors provided an economic growth rate of 3%. However, the IMF noted that growth could be even more pronounced here if consumer spending suddenly picked up faster. This could happen, for example, if consumer confidence improves when many Dutch people have been vaccinated.
About the author: Rick Culpepper
Rick Culpepper is of those journalists who dig the topic to the very bottom. He is often late with the delivery of the piece, but always does it perfectly. In his spare time, he collects data for one of the most high-profile investigations of corruption in the EU.


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While previously notorious among anarchists and day traders, bitcoin, which turned 10 this year, gained mainstream recognition after surging in trending 1,400 percent in 2017 and then falling 80 percent in 2018.
Bitcoin’s mesmerizing rise and fall in the past year has left investors and regulators asking what just happened?
Many are also asking an even more fundamental question: ‘What is bitcoin?’ In fact, that was the most searched definition in the U.S. and U.K. in 2018, according to Google Trends.
While previously notorious among anarchists and day traders, bitcoin, which turned 10 this year, gained mainstream recognition after surging 1,400 percent in 2017 and then falling 80 percent in 2018. But making sense of assets that are digital, created by computer networks and susceptible to extreme volatility is no mean feat. And that’s not to mention all the jargon: blockchain, hash rate, miners and nodes.
Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency Google users are interested in. ‘How to buy Ripple’ was the fourth most-asked how to question, Google Trends data show. The cryptocurrency widely referred to as Ripple is actually named XRP, just to add to the mayhem.
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Latest industry data showed August petrol sales rising to 2,140 tmt (thousand metric tonnes), an increase of 6% from the July volume, as more curbs were eased and people increasingly opted for personal vehicles to get around.
NEW DELHI: India’s fuel demand has started crawling up after faltering in July, with petrol consumption reaching nearly 92 percent of the year-ago period but diesel consumption continued to skid as widespread rains, floods and local lockdowns in industrialised states combined to scupper demand from farm, construction and transport sectors.
Latest industry data showed August petrol sales rising to 2,140 tmt (thousand metric tonnes), an increase of 6 percent from the July volume, as more curbs were eased and people increasingly opted for personal vehicles to get around. Similarly, jet fuel sales rebounded to 238 tmt, or 8 percent higher than a month ago, as the number of flights increased.
But diesel sales, a key indicator of economic activity since it is mainly used in the farm, transport and construction sectors, dropped to 4,257 tmt, or 12 percent lower than July.
According to Hindustan Petroleum chairman M K Surana, diesel sales remained affected because industrial activity was not yet back fully and flow of material and products needed to stabilise after the ready stocks were gone. “There is no leisure travel. Low flight and train operations means lesser use of taxis by travellers,” he told TOI recently.
Once the lockdown was eased in June, petrol sales jumped to 83 percent and diesel to 85 percent of their year-ago levels. Jet fuel sales, however, remained subdued at 32 percent of June 2019 level due to limited flight operations. But July saw diesel sales dropping to 75 percent and petrol 83 percent of their year-ago levels. Jet fuel sales gained marginal ground at 35 percent of the year-ago period.
As part of the plan, called the "Big Leap" internally, the maker of the Innova and Fortuner has shut its India facility for over a month starting Christmas to recast it for higher output and make way for the production of a mainstream SUV (codenamed D22) to challenge Hyundai Creta and a multipurpose vehicle (codenamed 560B).


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Kors is a longtime supporter of God's Love We Deliver, a New York-based organization that delivers meals to those in need. "The change you saw when people going hungry got a meal — it was an immediate difference. This isn't about research or a big political or social change, this is about giving a meal to people who need them."
"I go all over the globe traveling, and there are very few things in the world that are solvable catastrophes," he said. "This is one of them."
The designer said he asked Berry to be his partner in the campaign because "I'm enthralled by fabulous jugglers."
The message would be strongest coming from two well-known voices, he said. "I wanted someone talented, check. Someone compassionate to the world, a great mother, someone incredibly glamorous and chic — and who makes it all look easy."
"If we can use our celebrity, I want to. I don't want it to go waste," Berry said. "If would be a shame not to use it."
There are many fundraising products for many good causes, Kors said, but choose a watch and it's simple math: a direct formula that it's 100 meals per watch as a conversation starter. Plus, he wears a watch, although he uses his cellphone to check the time. The watch is to make more of "a James Bond statement," he joked.


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Faulty seatbelt part injures motorist in Singapore
Hyundai Motor is recalling 17 cars in Singapore over faulty seatbelt pretensioners. Hyundai agent Komoco says owners of the affected cars - 15 of the latest Avante sedans and two of the current-generation Santa Fe sport utility vehicles - are being notified of the safety recall.
Hyundai is recalling 281,000 cars in North America over seatbelt pretensioners that could explode and project metal fragments after three injury reports, including one in Singapore.
In a collision, a pretensioner uses an explosive charge to activate a piston to lock a seatbelt in place so there is no slack.
50th-anniversary M3 and M4 arrive
To mark the 50th anniversary of M, BMW is launching a 50 Jahre (years in German) edition of the M3.
The cars will have their front, rear and wheel hubs decorated with emblems inspired by the BMW Motorsport logo, and boast M paintwork. They will also have M Performance parts which further enhance handling.
The M3 Competition 50 Jahre and M4 Competition 50 Jahre are the first two M models to receive this anniversary treatment in Singapore. Both have front attachments, air breathers and rear spoilers in carbon fibre.
The M3 is priced at $545,888, while the M4 Coupe costs $550,888.
Bentley's extra-comfy package
Bentley cars are already rather comfortable, but with the new Azure package, they are even more so.
The package includes 22-way adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation functions. A massage function with six programmable settings prevents fatigue on long hauls. Adjustable side bolsters, electric seatbelt adjustment and "comfort headrests" complete the package.
Bentley Dynamic Ride, which uses a 48-volt active anti-roll system, enhances ride comfort even around corners. Finally, a slew of driving aids minimises effort on the part of the driver.
A peek at a future Renault Scenic?
Renault's Scenic Vision is a concept car powered by hydrogen fuel cells, with a small lithium battery to capture recuperated power.
Designed to have a carbon footprint that is 75 per cent less than a conventional electric car, the futuristic people mover has a suite of safety systems which help to reduce accidents by 70 per cent.
Renault says more than 70 per cent of the materials in the car are renewable and 95 per cent of the entire vehicle is recyclable, including its battery.
The concept is the basis for an electric model which will be unveiled in 2024.
Audi cars to have Apple Music
Audi is integrating Apple Music with its infotainment system to provide access to more than 90 million songs, 30,000 expert-curated playlists and Apple Music Radio.
The music-streaming subscription service allows customers to access their personal Apple Music account directly from their car, with no Bluetooth or USB connection required.
Classic Merc auctioned at record €135m
A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe has fetched a record price of €135 million (S$198 million).
RM Sotheby's, in association with Mercedes-Benz, sold one of two famed 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes to a private collector and will donate the proceeds to establish a worldwide Mercedes-Benz Fund, to provide for young people's educational and research scholarships in the areas of environmental science and decarbonisation.
An icon of the automotive world, the car is one of just two prototypes built and named after its creator and chief engineer, Mr Rudolf Uhlenhaut.
The 300 SLR was based on the successful W196 R Grand Prix car, which won two World Championships in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio. The 3-litre car could attain a speed of 288kmh, making it one of the fastest road-legal cars at the time.
Mercedes to shift focus back to luxury cars
After nearly three decades of growing a mass-market segment, Mercedes-Benz is moving its focus back to luxury cars. The Stuttgart-based company will devote more than 75 per cent of investments to its top-end and core luxury segments.
It will halve its so-called "entry luxury" segment to only four model variants and aims to grow its operating margin to 14 per cent, from 12.7 per cent last year. M4 CSL clocks best time in Nurburgring
BMW's M4 CSL boasts 550hp; a carbon-fibre roof, bonnet and boot lid; and a limited production run of 1,000 runs.
The two-seater achieved a lap time of 7:15.677 at Nurburgring's Nordschleife 20.5km track - the best figure for a BMW road car.
Weighing 1,625kg (100kg lighter than the BMW M4 Competition Coupe), it sprints from 0 to 100kmh in 3.7 seconds, and 200kmh in under 11 seconds. Top speed is an electronically limited 304kmh.
Polestar latest to invest in fast-charging battery start-up
Polestar has tied up with fast-charging expert StoreDot to commercialise advanced batteries. StoreDot is on track to mass-produce silicon-dominant lithium-ion cells that deliver 160km of range in five minutes of charging by 2024.
Its strategic partners now include Daimler, BP, VinFast, Volvo, Polestar, Ola Electric, Samsung, TDK and EVE Energy.
Pole to pole in an electric Nissan
British adventurer Chris Ramsey is set to become the first person to drive from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole and will be undertaking the journey in an electric Nissan Ariya.
Departing in March 2023, Mr Ramsey will travel more than 27,200km spanning 14 countries from the Arctic to North, Central and South America, before finally crossing to Antarctica.
The modified Ariya will brave temperatures that are predicted to range from minus 30 to 30 deg C.
Suzuki batteries used to power street lamp
Suzuki Motor has developed a technology to reuse small lithium-ion batteries collected from its scrapped cars for solar-powered streetlights in Japan. Previously, such batteries were simply disposed of. A pilot project makes use of batteries from 10 cars to store power for one street lamp.
Maserati MC20 Cielo roof opens, closes in 12 seconds
Maserati has unveiled the MC20 Cielo, a convertible version of the MC20. The model is equipped with an electrochromic window, which can instantly switch from clear to opaque at the touch of a button, courtesy of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal technology.
The roof is also best-in-class in terms of thermal insulation, and can open and close in 12 seconds. The Cielo weighs just 65 kg more than the coupe and shares its carbon-fibre chassis. The car is expected to arrive early 2023.
Ford cars may slow down on their own in future
Ford is experimenting with geofencing technology to slow down its cars automatically in riskier areas. For instance, 30kmh geofenced zones for schools, hospitals and shopping areas could greatly reduce the risks to all road users. Ford is carrying out a trial in Cologne, Germany, with an electric Ford E-Transit. If successful, the feature could be introduced in its line-up of commercial and passenger vehicles.
Kia EV6 among latest five-star Euro NCAP cars
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has published its third round of safety results for 2022 and the highest-ranked cars are the Kia EV6, Mercedes-Benz C-class, Volvo C40 Recharge and Volkswagen's new Multivan - all of which clinched the maximum five stars. The new Opel Astra and th Peugeot 308 garnered four stars.
Stellantis, Samsung build battery plant in Indiana
Euro-American group Stellantis has formed a venture with Samsung to build an electric-vehicle battery plant in Kokomo, Indiana.
The plant is targeted to start in 2025 and create 1,400 new jobs. It will have an initial annual production capacity of 23 gigawatt hours, with an aim to ramp up to 33 gigawatt hours.
The joint-venture company will invest more than US$2.5 billion (S$3.4 billion) initially, raising this to US$3.1 billion over time.
Caterham unveils Seven 420 Cup
British niche carmaker Caterham has revealed the new Seven 420 Cup. The road-legal, track-focused model is based on the Caterham Seven Championship UK race car.
The first production model will feature a six-speed sequential gearbox and adjustable Bilstein dampers. The Seven 420 Cup is powered by a 2-litre Ford Duratec engine producing 210bhp and 203Nm of torque, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 375bhp per tonne and a century sprint time of well under four seconds.


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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 11: Maria Sharapova of Russia poses during the launch of Maria Sharapova’s new brand ‘Sugarpova’ at Crown Entertainment Complex on January 11, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Virginia Tech comes from behind over UVA
That’s one bold Alabama fan.
Judge for yourself.
What a great hire.
Involved in the offense early.


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Early-stage venture capital fund led by Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, has made the first close of about $32 million (~ ₹ 222 crore) from Azim Premji Foundation, as an institutional investor, and bunch of current and former executives of Flipkart/Myntra, reported Economic Times.
It is said that over a third of the capital raised is coming from half a dozen current and former executives of Flipkart group.
Ruchi Sanghvi, former senior executive at Facebook and Dropbox, along with Aditya Agarwal have also invested in the fund, said the report.
Myntra and Curefit co-founder Mukesh Bansal, MakeMyTrip India CEO Rajesh Magow, PhonePe’s Sameer Nigam and Rahul Chari, Myntra CEO Ananth Narayanan and former Flipkart executive Mekin Maheshwari has joined 021 Capital as limited partners.
Launched in 2017 by Shailesh Tulshan, the personal investment adviser to the Flipkart’s Binny Bansal & Sachin Bansal, 021 Capital (Zero to One) is named after Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel’s book that prods entrepreneurs to focus on radical innovations than on incremental improvements.
While Bansal has backed other venture capital funds including pi Ventures, Blume Ventures and India Quotient in the past, he is closely aligned with 021 given his association with Tulshan. A former wealth manager with Client Associates and HDFC Bank, Tulshan has been advising Flipkart founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal on their personal investments through his multifamily office Tsai Shen Capital.
021 Capital, which invests up to $2 million each in startups across sectors like biotech, agriculture and internet, has made two investment till date. In February last year, Bengaluru based Pandorum Technologies, which is famous for developing India’s first artificial 3D printed liver tissue, had raised $3.6 million in a series A round from 021 Capital along with Indian Angel Network Fund, 500 Startups and KITVEN fund.
In May last year, YCook, an organic, ready-to-cook processed foods startup based out of Hoskote, Karnataka, raised $5 million from 021 Capital.
Binny Bansal is the largest investor in 021 Capital, which is targeting a final close of $50 million by the end of the year. The fundraising comes at a time when Bansal is ramping up his investment activities after his exit from Flipkart.
Bansal stepped down from Flipkart, now owned by Walmart, as its group CEO and chairman in November last year after a probe was conducted to investigate him on charges of “personal misconduct”. Walmart said those charges weren’t found to be true.


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The National Retail Federation study reports that the slow economy has caused businesses to reduce security jobs and as a result, more people are shoplifting and stealing. In 2011, retail theft losses totaled over $32 billion. Additionally, the National Retail Federal found that close to 95 percent of retailers reported being the victim of organized theft, 6 percent higher than last year and up 10 percent up from 2007.
The FBI states organized theft is the nation’s fastest growing crime. Organized retail theftconsists of a coordinated theft in which “boosters” steal items and “fencers” sell stolen goods back to online stores. This crime is growing in Chicago, where area retail stores are numerous.
As a result, the increased security and vigilance can result in overzealous prosecutions. Additionally, innocent people are stopped, searched, seized, arrested and unfairly prosecuted.
If you or a loved on has been arrested for theft, retail theft, shoplifting, fraud or organized retail crime it is important to protect yourself and your future. Purav Bhatt is a criminal defense attorney practicing in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties. His office is located in Lincolnwood near many Chicago, Skokie and Rolling Meadows courthouses.
Please contact Mr. Bhatt at 773-791-9682 if you would like to discuss your theft, retail theft,shoplifting, fraud or organized retail crime matter.
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CHP targets cargo theft
By Angela Woodall
Inside Bay Area
OAKLAND, Calif. — Authorities seek help in identifying a suspected member of a cargo theft ring believed to be responsible for at least $150,000 in grab-and-go cargo heists around the Bay Area.
The crew of six possibly Hispanic males targets unattended delivery trucks carrying high-end garments, jewelry, purses and other apparel items to Bay Area shopping malls, according to investigators with the California Highway Patrol Cargo Theft Interdiction Program.
Full story: CHP targets cargo theft


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June 18, 2018 by Paul Curtin
Although many watching PlayStation’s E3 2018 media briefing were hoping for Final Fantasy VII to make its first appearance since Sony teased it back in 2015, Capcom and Sony surprised viewers with another remake that nobody was expecting, Resident Evil 2.
Like FF7, Capcom originally revealed that they were working on the remake years ago, but since then, we haven’t seen or heard anything regarding the game. But at this year’s show, not only did Capcom give us a first look at the game, but they also had a playable demo on the show floor.
With the recent terrible trend of so many ‘remastered’ versions of games being released only a few years after their first launch — and at times even more problems than the originals. With RE2 now 22 years old, it’s one of the rare cases of a remake that could easily justify its existence from what we’re seeing in its first look.
Many Resident Evil fans consider the HD Remake of the original RE to be the best game in the series with how much it improved upon the 1996’s classic horror game. So there’s a lot riding on Capcom’s complete update of Resident Evil 2 that looks like it may just live up to the hype.
In the first look at gameplay, you can see completely updated character and camera movements, new HD textures and cutscenes, and even new gameplay mechanics such as the flashlight that helps make the classic horror games scary once again.
Resident Evil 2‘s Remake is set for release in January on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.


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Volvo Cars says it aims to become a fully electric vehicle (EV) company, on a global level, by 2030.
By then, the company intends to only sell fully electric cars and phase out any car in its global portfolio with an internal combustion engine, including hybrids.
The company says its transition towards becoming a fully electric-car maker is part of its climate plan, which seeks to consistently reduce the lifecycle carbon footprint per vehicle.
The Swedish car maker’s decision also builds on the expectation that legislation, as well as the rapid expansion of accessible, high-quality charging infrastructure, will accelerate consumer acceptance of fully electric cars.
Volvo Cars also notes that all of its fully electric models will be available online only.
The 2030 ambition, announced this week, represents an acceleration of Volvo Cars’ electrification strategy, driven by strong demand for its EVs in recent years and a conviction that the market for combustion engine cars is a shrinking one.
“To remain successful, we need profitable growth. So instead of investing in a shrinking business, we choose to invest in the future – electric and online,” says Volvo Cars CE Håkan Samuelsson.
“We are fully focused on becoming a leader in the fast-growing premium electric segment.”
Volvo Cars launched its first fully electric car, the XC40 Recharge, in markets around the globe last year.
The company this week revealed its second fully electric car, and it first electric-only vehicle – the C40 Recharge. The car underlines Volvo's future direction, as it will be leather-free, continuously updated and exclusively sold online.
In coming years, Volvo Cars says it will roll out several additional electric models, with more to follow.
Already by 2025, it aims for 50% of its global sales to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest to be hybrid models.
By 2030, every car it sells should be fully electric.
“There is no long-term future for cars with an internal combustion engine,” states Volvo Cars chief technology officer Henrik Green.
Volvo Cars says it will transform its current wholesale model by moving all of its EV sales online – which is a significant move as it aims to become a 100% electric car company by 2030.
As part of this commercial strategy, the company says it will invest heavily in its online sales channels, radically reduce complexity in its product offer, and that it will also introduce transparent and set pricing models.
“The future of Volvo Cars is defined by three pillars: electric, online and growth,” says global commercial operations head Lex Kerssemakers.
“We want to offer our customers peace of mind and a care-free way of having a Volvo, by taking away complexity while getting and driving the car. Simplification and convenience are key to everything we do.”
When buying an electric Volvo online, it will come with a care package that includes items such as service, warranty, roadside assistance, as well as insurance, where available, and home-charging options.
On its online store, volvocars.com, the company aims to simplify the process for, and reduce the number of steps involved in, signing up for an electric Volvo.
Customers will be able to choose from preconfigured electric Volvos that are ready for ordering and quick delivery.
Further simplification comes through transparent and set pricing models.
This eliminates the need for negotiation.
EVs also require significantly less maintenance than vehicles with internal combustion engines, reducing the need for vehicle services.
Volvo Cars South Africa said on Tuesday that it will at a later stage provide more information on how the global decision will affect its domestic operations and dealership network.


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The years following the start of the recession have not been kind for much of the retail industry. For the clothing company Zara, however, the downturn has been something of a blessing. The Spanish brand came to global prominence in the 1990s as its affordable but fashionable looks started to arrive at stores on foreign shores. Today the company brings in more than $9 billion annually from 1,600 locations as shoppers the world over turn to Zara’s lower price tags rather than luxury and economy brands.
Like a combination of Trader Joe’s and Wal-Mart, Zara uses its economies of scale to churn out high quality fashion for a fraction of the price of its exclusive competitors. A team of more than 400 designers constantly devises new creations regardless of the season. This strategy fits in with billionaire founder Amancio Ortega’s philosophy that fashion should be democratized rather than monopolized by an elite group of tastemakers. Ironically, Ortega’s populist business model works as well as it does because he’s not afraid to take aspects of high fashion’s hottest designers and re-appropriate their ideas for Zara. This has led to a few contentious instances with some of the industry’s haute brands. For instance, the luxury shoemaker Christian Louboutin unsuccessfully sued Zara for allegedly stealing the design of a signature pair of red-soled high heels.
In most instances, a niche brand like Louboutin wouldn’t care much about the offerings of a big-box retail giant. However, the quality of Zara’s shoes and their $100 price tag are enough to scare an aspirating brand like Louboutin, who’s footwear regularly runs more than $1,000 a pair. High-end companies expect typical consumers to consider luxury brands as something unattainable or at the very least unique. But if another store is selling the same thing for an enormous markdown, it cheapens the value of the exclusive brand. While this disruptive way of doing business may hurt luxury companies, it’s meant nothing but good news for Zara’s bottom line and for fashion-conscious consumers striving to dress for less.
- Why is it often difficult for lower-price brands to compete with luxury brands?
- Will Zara continue its growth as the world’s economies recover from recession?
Source: Alex Cuardos, “Bad News is Good News for Clothier Zara,” The Washington Post, November 10, 2012. Photo courtesy of Leif Harboe.


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MOVE OVER YACHTS AND SEA-FACING HOMES, OCEAN BUILDERS’ SEAPODS ARE THE FUTURE OF WATERFRONT LIVING
BY ARCHANA AITHAL ROSE
They look like something ripped from the scenes of a sci-fi movie: snow white globes of glass and concrete rising from the aqua waters, but as is oft-repeated in the tech world, the future is now. Panama-based design firm Ocean Builders recently launched the world’s first eco-restorative floating homes. Created in collaboration with Dutch architect Koen Olthuis, these aquatic homes combine the best of sustainability and future-forward design. Inspired by icebergs, these futuristic SeaPods achieve buoyancy through 1,688 cubic feet of air-filled steel tubes that push the pods three meters above the water’s surface. Each dwelling boasts 833 square feet of interior living space, featuring a living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and storage space. A 575-square-foot glass window and open-air patio let Sweeping Ocean and sky views bathe the pods in natural splendor. The pods are fully connected, so residents can dim lights, control the temperature, play music, or open doors via a wearable smart ring. And for food deliveries, land-mortal approved Doordash has been replaced by drones to drop off supplies. Prices for the SeaPod Eco start at $295,000.


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(*Linked or embedded content may have been removed or be unavailable.)
Like just about any other technology, MT (Machine Translation) is a double-edged sword. It has made it easier and cheaper for many to localize their content into other languages and reach a wider audience. It has also made it possible for some bad actors to hack websites and send fraudulent messages to your desktop. In this post we take a quick look at how it all happened and how MT can actually damage your reputation and brand image if not used carefully.
Machine translation—friend and foe
MT has increased the risk of cybercrime in two ways. First, it has made it easier for cybercriminals to target websites that are in languages that they don’t understand such as Japanese, which had provided a natural language barrier that also served as a security barrier of sorts.
Atsuyoshi Shimazu of cybersecurity firm Caulis described the turning point this way: “Before 2013, there was no damage in Japan because most browsers didn’t have a translating function. From the end of 2012 to the beginning of 2013, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer all added language translation functions so many hackers were able to figure ‘Oh, this is a Japan bank. This is an e-commerce site. This is a credit card company.’ So the hackers attacking Japan grew.” In a way, MT wound up giving the bad guys a leg up.
Second, MT also made it easier for internet fraudsters to push out scammy content into the world through emails and short messages. Criminal groups involved in Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams are using MT tools and machine learning technology to distribute more persuasive emails in multiple languages in order to increase the effectiveness of their email scams.
Although it may seem like old news, business email fraud remains one of the most effective and financially damaging types of cyber attacks. The FBI estimates the total damage suffered by businesses from June 2016 to December 2021 as exceeding USD43 billion, and attacks have been reported in 177 countries.
For cybercriminals, business email fraud is a relatively simple yet profitable endeavor. All that’s needed is an email account to send a phishing email masquerading as a trusted source, such as the recipient’s colleague, boss, business partner, or a service provider. Usually, the content is a request for a wire transfer, or a message urging that you click on a link or open an attached file. Even the oldest scams, like the ol’ Nigerian Prince email scam (a.k.a. 419 scam) that took the internet by storm many years ago, are still alive and kicking.
Researchers at the email security company Abnormal Security analyzed some large-scale business email fraud activity and found that machine learning-powered MT tools like Google Translate were used to create fraudulent emails, enabling more cybercrime groups to commit larger-scale email scams at little or no cost.
“Attacking targets across various regions and using multiple languages is nothing new. However, in the past, these attacks were perpetrated mainly by sophisticated organizations with bigger budgets and more advanced resources. For example, to effectively translate email text for more believable social engineering efforts, organizations often hire native speakers. But, as technology becomes more accessible and affordable, it lowers the barrier to entry,” says Crane Hassold, director of threat intelligence at Abnormal Security.
The people targeted by these fraudsters are more likely to react to the content in front of them if they can read and understand it, so everything from fake emails to onscreen messages displayed by ransomware gets localized. At the same time, these cybercriminals want to make as much profit with as little expenditure as possible. And since they have no brand image or corporate reputation to worry about, they emphasize low cost over high quality. To them, the advent of MT must’ve been like a dream come true.
The real threat of fake e-commerce sites
Unlike BEC scams that target organizations, a threat aimed squarely at the consumer is the fake e-commerce scam. Here the fraudsters replicate a reputable e-commerce site, nearly image-for-image and word-for-word, except for a few bargain-priced items that seem too good to be true—and they are. When you click on an item to buy, you’ll be whisked away to a page asking for your credit card info and, needless to say, they’ll take your money and give you only heartache in return.
In Japan’s case, according to complaints received by the Consumer Affairs Agency, the number of cases where people were scammed of their money rose from 25,700 cases in 2016, to 71,515 cases in 2020. This coincided with high overall activity on e-commerce sites due to the pandemic, and people stuck at home fell prey to the fraud.
To help Japanese consumers avoid being scammed by fake sites, the National Police Agency has issued a five-point bulletin on what to look for:
・Is there anything odd or unnatural about the domain? (i.e. .net instead of .jp)
・Is the price excessively cheap or the discount too massive?
・Are there expressions of urgency like “Sale ends today” to trigger panic buying?
・Search the internet for the company’s information—is there any fake information?
・Is the Japanese language proper and does it read naturally?
Although these scams copy an existing site almost entirely, they do need to customize the content in certain parts, and that’s where they use MT to fill in the gaps. That, fortunately, is where the trap can be discovered. Whether it’s not-quite-proper keigo (敬語; honorific language), or stylistic inconsistencies with other parts of the page, MT can leave a telltale sign of impropriety.
Your brand image is worth the investment
MT does have its place in the localization landscape, and it’s growing. With some content required to be pushed out on a daily basis and having a very short shelf life, the localization scenarios may need to rely on MT, perhaps as part of an MTPE (Machine Translation Post-Editing) workflow, to ensure timely output.
But for content that deals with brand and corporate image, where the message you convey is meant to have staying power, your best bet is to consult a talented and experienced human translator. In fact, you should be considering whether to go for localization or transcreation.
Get the best quality you can. Avoid being mistaken for a scam.


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What Would The EU Do
The European Union is discussing legislation that would allow individual EU countries to decide whether or not to allow GM crops.
The EU says that the new policy gives the member states better legal defense against GM crop companies and will help the countries ban foods because of their environmental and health hazards while protecting food companies from discrimination.
Divided Over GMOs
This legislation seeks to address tension within the EU over biotechnology. Some countries like Austria, Germany, Ireland, and Hungary aggressively ban GM seeds, but other countries like Italy and Spain are more open to GM products.
Countries against GM crops worry that if other EU countries began accepting GM seeds, non-GM crops will be in danger of cross-pollination with GM crops. Additionally, opponents say the proposal does not protect the agriculture industry, will cause internal divide in the EU, has vague guidelines, and will make trade barriers between the countries.
What's Food Safety Got To Do With It?
Researchers at the University of Leuven in Belgium argue that the EU's higher GM regulation started with the mad cow, foot-and-mouth, and dioxin food scares of the late 1990s. As countries adopted policies about GMs during this time, public concern about food safety crises prompted stricter regulation of GM crops.
Eurobarometer reports that while 58 percent of the public is still against GM food, consumer optimism about food safety has increased from 24 percent in 1999 to 77 percent in 2010.
Currently, only two GM crops are allowed in the EU: Monsanto's MON810 corn and BASF's Amflora industrial potatoes. In fact, the EU currently regulates 60-70 percent of GM crops.
According to the University of Leuven's study, two countries have completely banned GM crops: Zimbabwe and Zambia.
- Brussels Expands Grounds for Potential GM Crop Bans (International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development)
- Policy Gridlock or Future Change? The Political Economy Dynamics of EU Biotechnology Regulation (The Journal of Agrobiotechnology Management and Economics)
- Britain adds voice to criticism of EU crop plans (Reuters)


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In recent months, Rumble has added millions of users, scored a large undisclosed investment from a group including billionaire Peter Thiel and conservative author J.D. Vance, and sued Google for antitrust violations in federal court.
Conservatives are fueling Rumble‘s rise, but the Canada-based company’s founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski said he is less interested in American politics than dethroning big incumbent platforms. Mr. Pavlovski prizes small creators’ content and says large tech platforms such as YouTube prioritize major brands and influencers over others.
“I’ve always had the pulse on this, and it’s always been a passion of mine where I’ve always wanted to compete, and get back in and compete in a real, meaningful way, against the incumbent platforms,” said Mr. Pavlovski. “I’m really a big, firm believer in having lots of good and healthy competition in the market and not having monopolies.”
The platform had approximately 800,000 monthly visits in August, per The Wall Street Journal, but that number jumped into the tens of millions in the fall. Mr. Pavlovski said Rumble now has roughly 30 million monthly users and its user base is growing 10% month over month.
He said engagement, watch time and the growth of connected televisions jumped in May.
The site’s front page displays a combination of viral videos of animals and news and commentary, and its “featured” channels section includes the accounts of prominent Republicans including Donald Trump Jr., Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York.
Mr. Thiel, Facebook’s first outside investor and a founder of PayPal, invested in Rumble alongside Narya Capital, a Cincinnati-based venture capital firm led by Mr. Vance.
Mr. Thiel was a supporter of Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign, and Mr. Vance is considering running next year for the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio.
Mr. Pavlovski said he would not disclose how much Mr. Thiel and the investors provided, but The Wall Street Journal estimated that the investment was significant and likely consistent with a $500 million valuation of Rumble.
Mr. Thiel pursued Rumble and connected with its leadership about two months before the investment was announced last month, Mr. Pavlovski said.
Rumble’s willingness to mix things up with larger competitors also is a likely draw for support.
“By unfairly rigging its search algorithms such that YouTube is the first-listed links “above the fold” on its search results page, Google, through its search engine, was able to wrongfully divert massive traffic to YouTube, depriving Rumble of the additional traffic, users, uploads, brand awareness and the revenue it would have otherwise received,” Rumble said in the lawsuit. “Google has also forced Android-based smartphone manufacturers to include YouTube as a preinstalled app on their phones in order to acquire the right to use the Android operating system, which constitutes an illegal tying arrangement.”
Mr. Pavlovski declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
Warning signs abound for insurgent companies adopting aggressive strategies to dethrone major tech companies. After Parler took a less-restrictive approach to social media users’ speech, Apple and Google removed its app from their app stores and Amazon Web Services took Parler offline.
Parler sued Amazon but later dropped its case. It has since returned to the web and restored to Apple’s App Store.
Mr. Pavlovski is quick to distance Rumble from Parler. He noted that his company has strong policies about restricting content involving racism, antisemitism, inciting violence, pornography, terrorism and much more.
Rumble also steers clear from reliance on any single cloud infrastructure like Parler’s dependence on Amazon, he said.
“We’ve kind of done it the old-fashioned way, and we have servers around the world, and we are not dependent on any single major cloud player,” Mr. Pavlovski said. “In fact, one of the things that this investment is going to do is [it is] going to enable us to really kind of build our own cloud infrastructure and offer cloud solutions to the market and other businesses out there.”
Other platforms that attempted to compete with YouTube ultimately overhauled their entire business models to succeed. Vimeo, a video platform that started more than 16 years ago, began trading on Nasdaq in late May after charting a new direction away from competition with YouTube.
Vimeo CEO Anjali Jud recently told CNBC that her company has fully pivoted away from being a viewing destination competing with YouTube and now focuses on selling software involving its video offerings as a service to other businesses.
Mr. Pavlovski said he is not deterred by the failures of Vimeo and others that have gone toe-to-toe with Google and intends to keep Rumble’s focus on distributing users’ content and being a destination for consumers.
“I believe a lot of the incumbent platforms out there are no longer interested in helping the small creator, and that’s a market that we can really capture and help in a way that the other incumbent platforms are no longer helping,” he said.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at email@example.com.
Copyright © 2022 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.


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Over at The Markup, reporter Jeremy B. Merrill discovered that discriminatory advertisements still turn up on Facebook, despite the company agreeing to end some targeting options for housing, job, and credit ads last year.
In its report, The Markup identified several job listing ads that leveraged Facebook’s platform to discriminate against users of specific ages or “multicultural affinity”:
In May, a Wisconsin health care agency, Tenderness Health Care, posted a job ad on Facebook looking for personal care workers. According to Facebook’s “Why am I seeing this ad” pop-up, when the agency purchased the ad, it asked Facebook to not show it to anyone over 54 years of age. And they asked Facebook to show it specifically to people who have “African American multicultural affinity.” Facebook, apparently, complied.
These ad practices not only go against Facebook’s own policies but could violate federal law. In March 2019, as part of a legal settlement with civil rights groups, Facebook agreed to ban advertisers from using some targeting options for potentially discriminatory ads. At the time, Facebook said that any advertisers buying housing, job, or credit ads would no be forbidden from targeting users based on age, gender, or zip code.
A few days after that announcement from Facebook, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development filed charges against the company for housing discrimination. In its 2019 complaint, HUD alleged that Facebook’s advertising policies “provided a toggle button that enables advertisers to exclude men or women from seeing an ad, a search-box to exclude people who do not speak a specific language from seeing an ad, and a map tool to exclude people who live in a specified area from seeing an ad by drawing a red line around that area.”
Shortly after The Markup contacted Facebook about the ads it discovered, the company announced that it would remove the “multicultural affinity” targeting options within its ad platform.