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Bitcoin claw its way
Indian exchanges innovate as calls for positive crypto regulation escalate. At the time of writing, however, bitcoin has managed to claw its way back above 10,000. The header of the bitcoin white paper defines the by lovingocean.
Crypto payments startup eligma raises 4 million from bitcoin. The header of the bitcoin white paper defines the digital currency as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. The way in which the community of the democratized and decentralized. 34 over the last 24 hours, bitcoin has seen gains of around 4.
Voucher in one minute and anonymously - get 10 off for reorder - fast exchange bitcoin - support 24h24. On this page you can can bitcoin claw its way back to being a payment system? Darryn pollock south african. One man beaten and dismembered in citywide killings last week.
Suspected bitcoin price manipulation. Real economy sector boat. The way bitcoin has grown and been shaped with upgrades such as segwit2x failing to fire has seen its scaling languish. Director new blockchain gaming.
This, tied to the influx of users on the network, has led to a backlog and bottleneck which in turns means slow transactions, and expensive ones to boot. Btc platform first. Bitcoin saw a major correction of around 30 from its yearly high of 13,800, dipping to around 9,800. Bitcoin has lost its way as a payment system somewhat, but that does not mean it cant get back to that original vision.
Theuns (27) in cryptocurrency last year the header of the bitcoin white paper defines the digital currency as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Technology solutions provider specializing. Can bitcoin claw its way back to being a payment system? The omnitude ecosystem.
Users have flooded to the cryptomarket, usually through the gateway that is bitcoin, for its possibilities as a store. However, a deeper look into what bitcoin has become, and where it has come from, shows a very different picture. Leader in bitcoin, ethereum, ripple, neo, ico and cryptocurrency news, coinotizia covers all cyptocurrencies bringing you the latest news and analyses on the future of money.


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'The most important Apple executive you've never heard of' is now also Apple's second-best paid
- Apple Senior VP of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji is now the company's second-best-paid exec, behind only Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts.
- Srouji made $24,162,392 in total compensation at Apple in 2017.
- Srouji oversees Apple's fast-growing processor-making operations, spearheading the design of custom iPhone processors.
- This was Srouji's debut on the list of top-paid Apple executives.
In 2016, Bloomberg called Johny Srouji "the most important Apple executive you've never heard of." It's a well-earned title: Apple is making more custom processors in-house, and Srouji is the brains behind that operation. Advertisement
Now, a new shareholder proxy statement from Apple reveals that Srouji is officially the company's second-best paid executive, behind only Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts.
According to that statement, Srouji made $24,162,392 in total compensation in 2017. By contrast, first-place Ahrendts made a hair more at $24,216,072. Meanwhile, CEO Tim Cook actually draws the lowest compensation of Apple's executive team, at $12,825,066.Srouji joined Apple in 2008, and was promoted to senior VP of hardware technologies in 2015.
And we know that this is a raise for Srouji, because it's his first time being listed as a named executive in a shareholder proxy filing. According to the SEC, publicly-traded companies like Apple have to publicly disclose the compensation for their CEO, CFO, and then at least the next three highest-paid company executives. Last year, Srouji didn't make that cut. This year, he did. And so, we can tell that he got a raise.We also know that Apple really wants to keep Srouji around. When he first took the senior VP role at Apple in 2015, the company gave him almost $10 million in a stock bonus, to vest over four years. It's no wonder why, though. Srouji oversaw the release of the A4 processor for the iPhone, the first Apple had ever created in-house. More recently, he spearheaded the A11 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 8 and X models. And reports have swirled that Apple might make its own processors for Mac laptops, too.Advertisement
That puts Srouji right in the center of two of Apple's core businesses. And so, they're investing in keeping him around.
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The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (Commission) recently received E-ZPass transactions from the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) and requested the transactions be posted to Commission E-ZPass customers who traveled at MDTA toll facilities. The travel dates for these transactions range from June 2020 through April 2021. The Commission anticipates receiving additional transactions through December 2021. The delay in posting these transactions was due to MDTA’s transition to a new toll system. MDTA paused the posting of some E-ZPass transactions to review the data to ensure that customers were charged properly. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted MDTA’s ability to review the individual transactions in a timely manner.
PA Turnpike would like customers who use the online bill pay service, doxo.com, to know about possible payment delays. The doxo.com site lists several U.S. tolling agencies including E-ZPass Pennsylvania, as providers. However, customers using this service have reported long delays from the time their payments are processed until the funds are received by the PA Turnpike and applied to their E ZPass accounts and Toll By Plate invoices.
The PA Turnpike provides multiple options for customers to make payments and strongly recommends the use of one of our direct payment options to avoid delays in payment processing. For more information on payment options available for PA Turnpike customers, visit www.paturnpike.com/pay-a-bill.


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A man has told of his shock after discovering a bottle of wine lurking in his basement could be worth up to $80,000.
Mark Paulson, a 72-year-old retired commercial painter and Vietnam War veteran from San Francisco, purchased a jeroboam of Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache 1971 shortly after its release in the 1970s for $250.
The self-described punk rocker said it was expensive at the time – the equivalent of around $2,000 in today’s money – but he had been tipped off by the liquor store owner that it was a top tipple and he bought it as an investment.
At one point, he thought he would save the three liter bottle for his daughter’s wedding but when she tied the knot last year, the family believed selling it would be a better move. However, Mark said he was ‘floored’ when he learned of its appreciation.
Mark Paulson from San Francisco, purchased a jeroboam of Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache 1971 shortly after its release in the 1970s for $250
The Paulsons went about contacting a specialist wine auction house and the sale of their rare bottle is now being handled by Bonhams Skinner
He thought it might be worth a few thousand dollars and was on the verge of selling it to a buyer for $5,000.
However, when his son decided to double check the average selling price online, the sale was swiftly halted.
The family were amazed to learn that a similar bottle sold at auction in November 2022 for $81,250.
Touching on their surprise, Mark told The Washington Post: ‘We were just, you know, flabbergasted, couldn’t say anything. We just kind of hugged each other and smiled a lot.’
The Paulsons went about contacting a specialist wine auction house and the sale of their rare bottle is now being handled by Bonhams Skinner.
The wine experts believe the bottle of wine could sell for between $50,000 and $80,000 when it goes up for auction online between April 16 and 26.
Louis Krieger, the deputy director of fine wines at Bonhams Skinner, told DailyMail.com that there are various reasons as to why Mark’s bottle is so special.
He explained: ‘There was considerable hail during the 1971 harvest but, because of when and how the vineyards were picked, this La Tache doesn’t show the ill effects.
‘Another thing which pushes the price up is that the production of La Tache that year was staggeringly small with roughly 1,300 cases produced.
The wine experts believe the bottle of wine could sell for between $50,000 and $80,000 when it goes up for auction online between April 16 and 26
In addition to the La Tache, he is auctioning off five vintage Madeiras, with the dates ranging from 1795 to 1870
‘The vast majority of cases were also filled with 750ml bottles and very few three-liter bottles were made.’
In a bid to give his wine cellar a spring clean, Mark has put forward six bottles in total for the April sale.
In addition to the La Tache, he is auctioning off five vintage Madeiras, with the dates ranging from 1795 to 1870.
Mark, who was born and raised in Panama, said he got into collecting wine by mistake, and he would generally stock up on bottles before getting together with his rock ‘n’ roll friends.
He told CBC that some of their wine-fueled night would get ‘pretty crazy.’
‘There was usually about six of us. We’d probably have six bottles of old rare wines,’ he recalled. ‘San Francisco was a whole new world after growing up in the jungle.’
Luckily Mark’s bottle of La Tache went untouched and it remained in his basement for decades.
Asked if he was worried about the bottle smashing, the grandfather said that he was, especially when the 1989 earthquake hit.
He explained: ‘My house sustained some pretty good damage.
‘One of the beams down in the cellar actually snapped but in the area where the wines are… it was all good.’
The only nicks to Mark’s bottle, as highlighted in the auction listing, include a ‘cracked wax capsule’ and some ‘light scuffing.’
One vintage photo, which captures Mark when he first bought the jeroboam, shows the wax seal was originally intact.
He can be seen with the large bottle in one arm, along with his baby son in the other, showing how both are equal in size.
Mark, who admits he’s more of a beer drinker these days, says he plans to mark the sale of his pricey plonk by uncorking another vintage from his collection – a 1959 Chateau Latour.
Meanwhile, his son will get a cut of the sale for discovering the wine’s true worth.


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Gold futures fall 0.25% on weak global cues
Tracking a weak global trend, gold prices fell by Rs 69, or 0.25%, to Rs 27,545 per ten grams in futures market today as speculators offloaded their positions.Updated: Aug 07, 2013, 11:47 IST
Tracking a weak global trend, gold prices fell by Rs 69, or 0.25%, to Rs 27,545 per ten grams in futures market on Wednesday as speculators offloaded their positions.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold for delivery in October month fell by Rs 69, or 0.25%, to Rs 27,545 per ten grams in business turnover of 216 lots.
Similarly, the yellow metal for delivery in December contracts lost Rs 54, or 0.20%, to Rs 27,465 per ten grams in 3 lots.
Market analysts said the fall in gold futures was mostly attributed to a weakening trend in the global market as better-than-expected US trade data fuelled concern the Federal Reserve may reduce its bond purchases this year, reducing stimulus from the economy.
They said, however, falling rupee which made imports costlier, limited the fall.
Meanwhile, gold in Singapore dropped 0.80% to 1,273.55 dollar an ounce, its lowest since July 17.


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PlanetSide 2 – They’ve been waiting 8 years to play!
For the past eight years, PlanetSide players have fought for freedom, respect and glory in an all out war of planetary proportions. To the veterans of the original PlanetSide, the impending launch of PlanetSide 2 brings forth an occasion for nostalgia and remembrance of the most epic experiences shaped during a never-ending 2880 day battle. Today, Sony Online Entertainment, in conjunction with The9, released “8 Years,” an all new video featuring the dramatic, first-hand accounts of war on Auraxis directly from the players themselves.
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Martin Warner, one of Britain’s leading entrepreneurs, speaks to CEO Today about what trends we can expect to see in entrepreneurialism next year.
Anyone who has braved the wilds of entrepreneurship understands it takes courage and grit to make it, and this is especially true of ventures in a new field. But, despite these challenges, enthusiasm for entrepreneurialism remains high in the UK.
Alongside my other business ventures, I run Entrepreneur Seminar, a mentorship and education programme for entrepreneurs, and have seen first-hand the significant pent-up demand from people across the country who are employed in full-time jobs but want to branch out and start their own business next year.
We recently surveyed more than 8,000 people, most of them employed in SMEs and found that 68% are considering starting a business. The main reason, given by more than seven out of ten, was to increase their financial wealth – highlighting the continuing confidence in entrepreneurialism despite the difficulties posed in the last 18 months.
So, with this in mind, what are the key trends for entrepreneurialism in 2022 and what sectors are ripe for innovation next year?
Sustainability must be at the heart of any start-up
The relationship between climate change and business is undeniable and, following increasing government pressure on the private sector, more companies are trying to boost their sustainability credentials. Microsoft announced plans to become carbon negative by 2030 in January last year, while Unilever, a COP26 sponsor, is attempting to reach net-zero by 2039. However, the sustainability agenda is not solely for industry monoliths, with start-ups playing a crucial role in the push for net-zero. The business benefits of adopting a green mindset are numerous and well-documented, with the CBI commenting last month that the UK’s climate targets are creating a “new industrial revolution”.
The most rapidly emerging sectors recognise this and are offering solutions that are both innovative and environmentally friendly, such as eVTOL – electric vertical flight technology, or air taxis, as they are more prosaically known – which is now forecasted to be worth $9 trillion in the next two decades.
Entrepreneurs must understand that sustainability is now tied to resilience since resilience means being able to adapt and survive in the long term. Any business that ignores sustainability is unlikely to do well in this age of conscious entrepreneurialism.
The emergence of new avenues of funding
The way businesses generate funding is also changing. New platforms and mechanisms have emerged that connect entrepreneurs with investors and donors, such as crowdfunding, initial coin offerings (ICOs), tokenisation and special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).
Several of these new avenues of funding are driven by the decentralised finance movement, where financial services – such as borrowing and trading – occur in a peer-to-peer network, via a public decentralised blockchain network.
While many entrepreneurs will still opt for the traditional route to raise capital, the emergence of new ways to source funding could help stimulate a new generation of entrepreneurs and allow more people than ever to take the plunge and start their own businesses.
Mentorship is more important than ever
If there’s anything I’ve learned over my 25-year career, it is that other people’s opinions are invaluable when launching a start-up and, with entrepreneurs facing more challenges than ever, I expect mentorship to be a key trend in 2022. Any would-be entrepreneur must remember there is huge value in having another experienced entrepreneur or business owner to turn to for advice and support.
Entrepreneurship can be lonely and incredibly stressful sometimes, particularly if you are trying to launch a sustainable business that is eco-friendly, resilient and adaptable in the face of the pandemic.
Mentors deeply relate to the situations and issues you will face and the challenges of entrepreneurship. They recognise the skills and characteristics needed to be a success and have direct experience of making the challenging decisions you will need to make as a start-up founder.
About the author: Martin Warner is one of Britain’s leading entrepreneurs, renowned for having built and sold his 3D printing business botObjects for $50 million in a record-breaking 17 months, Martin Warner is a global thought leader on entrepreneurship and a business mentor, educator, inventor, film producer, and investor. Having taught entrepreneurship for 20 years to thousands of people, Martin now shares his thought leadership, teachings, and coaching through his education program, Entrepreneur Seminar.


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MAIDENFORM SAYS IT’S IN TALKS ABOUT ACQUISITION BY KELLWOOD
Byline: Karyn Monget
NEW YORK — Maidenform Worldwide is in talks with Kellwood Co. about a potential acquisition.
Maurice Reznik, president of Maidenform, told WWD Wednesday that the bra maker is currently in discussions with Kellwood, and said: “There’s nothing imminent yet that I can tell you. But it would be a good fit, because [Kellwood] has such a strong private label business, and we have such a strong branded business. And Kellwood produces at such low costs.”
Reznik wouldn’t elaborate other than to say Maidenform is in talks with “other companies.” He would not comment on Maidenform’s financial status.
A Kellwood spokeswoman said the company “never comments on any acquisition until they’ve been completed.”
Another suitor — VF Corp. — which has reportedly been wooing Maidenform in an on-again, off-again fashion since 1997, when it signed a letter of intent to buy Maidenform — reportedly hasn’t extinguished the flame. The 1997 deal was aborted by both firms within a two-month time frame. Sources noted that the crux of the problem reportedly was a pension plan payoff of $8 million for Maidenform veterans, which both companies contested.
A spokeswoman for VF said Wednesday that she “could not comment In November, Eric Wiseman, VF’s new vice president and chairman of intimate apparel, when asked about reestablishing talks with Maidenform, said: “We are always interested in acquisitions in our core growth areas — intimate apparel, jeanswear and day packs.”
Industry observers said that a Maidenform union with an apparel giant such as Kellwood or VF would inject much-needed capital into Maidenform’s production, distribution and marketing. It also would absorb the highly coveted Maidenform brand, as well as a strongly recognized shapewear brand, Flexees, and a well-known full-figure bra label, Lilyette, into a corporate brand portfolio with a global agenda.
The 78-year-old Maidenform — known as the grande dame of the foundations industry, particularly for its branded Maidenform bra label — emerged from Chapter 11 in July 1999, obtaining $60 million in asset-based financing from GE Capital. But the past year hadn’t been an easy one, though the company, which filed for bankruptcy protection in July 1997, generated sales of about $250 million in 2000, reflecting an 11 percent increase over 1999.
In its heyday in the early Nineties, Maidenform — formerly headed by three generations of the Coleman family — was the largest independent manufacturer of bras in the U.S., generating wholesale revenues slightly over $400 million. The Maidenform name is regarded by a majority of marketers as a household name, in the same league as Ford, Coca-Cola, Campbell’s or Nike.
Maidenform’s financial hardships began after its acquisition of 92 percent of NCC Industries, a specialist of full-figure Lilyette bras. Maidenform — to the dismay of industry pundits — sold a 28 percent stake of its common stock to German-based Triumph International, NCC’s major shareholder and Europe’s biggest innerwear maker with annual sales in excess of $2.5 billion.
Triumph never bailed out the beleaguered Maidenform, which was later squeezed by huge overhead costs in a shrinking market and forced into bankruptcy.
Kellwood, under the aegis of president, chairman and ceo Hal Upbin, has been on an acquisitions frenzy for a year. On the intimate apparel front, the company in October acquired Romance du Jour, an 11-year-old sleepwear firm based in Los Angeles.
Last fall, Upbin noted that intimate apparel represents one of four “major platforms for growth.” He added that Romance du Jour will complement Kellwood’s current sleepwear offerings under the L.A. Intimates division, which represents combined total sales of about $70 million. Upbin said overall intimates volume could hit $120 million by 2003.
Kellwood acquired Biflex International Inc. in January 2000, an independent $100 million manufacturer of women’s private label foundations. Biflex is a major producer of private label bras for Federated Department Stores, including Macy’s East and West.


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“Come Back and Play” – that’s the slogan of Destination Gold Coast’s latest tourism campaign being launched today in a bid to lure Aussies back to the city.
The $3.5 million push is the city’s largest ever tourism campaign and the second iteration of the tourism body’s campaign which first launched in June to further springboard economic recovery.
Destination Gold Coast Chairman Paul Donovan said the campaign will look to inspire Aussies to turn their holiday dreams into reality as businesses and operators eagerly await the reopening of Queensland’s border slated for November.
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“Come Back and Play represents the largest multimillion-dollar investment in the domestic market to entice high-spending travellers to indulge in a well-deserved holiday in Australia’s favourite playground,” Mr Donovan said.
“As restrictions are further relaxed and travel confidence continues to grow, we are investing responsibly in markets that we can dial-up or down to ensure maximum benefit for every tourism dollar spent.”
Mr Donovan said the addition of interstate holidaymakers from key markets is anticipated to deliver a much-needed boost to revive the Gold Coast’s $6 billion tourism economy.
“We know many people will be looking to reconnect with family, friends and loved ones after what has been an incredibly challenging year,” he said.
“The Gold Coast is a safe and inviting destination for Aussies looking to escape ahead of the summer holidays and with an abundance of natural and manmade experiences on offer, there is no better place to holiday than on the Gold Coast.”
The eight-week campaign will be rolled out in bursts throughout Brisbane, regional Queensland, ACT and South Australia followed by New South Wales on 8 November, on free-to-air and subscription TV, radio, outdoor digital billboards, cinema placements and in digital and social media.
The ads will feature experiences from relaxing by the pool to visiting our iconic theme parks and nature-based experiences.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the Gold Coast has never been so ready to welcome visitors back to the city.
“I’m sure when the rest of Australia sees this campaign, they will be lining up to come and enjoy the nation’s favourite holiday destination,” Mayor Tate said.
“We are open for business and as the country continues to open up, we hope our tourism operators enjoy a bumper summer.”


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Our German technology suppliers have advised that on Thursday 16 November 2017,10 am - Thursday 16 November, 2 pm our databases will be getting some important upgrades. It is expected that the system will not be offline for the whole time of maintenance. It is possible that the processes for rentals, returns, registrations and access to customer accounts are shortly not available. Apologies for the inconveinience.
Christchurch has become the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to trial new smart bikes that could revolutionise public transport. Transport Minister Simon Bridges unveiled the next bike “Smart Bikes: at the Christchurch City Council’s Civic Offices and help launch the trial with Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel and other invited guests. Two Nextbikes imported from Germany will be parked in the foyer of the Council building and made available for test rides. The bikes are able to read pu...
Nextbike NZ and Christchurch Bike Share and hosted a visit by Sebastian Schlebusch, Director of International Business Development from nextbike GmbH (Germany). Sebastian toured Christchurch, visited the Spark Bike pilot, and spoke to guests from around New Zealand about bringing bike share to life in New Zealand.
Congratulations to the winners of the #PinkSparkBike summer promotion. Peter and Kathy snapped this great photo of the Pink Spark Bike while exploring the city. They've won a Huawei P9 thanks to Spark!. The Pink Spark Bike is still on the loose in the city. Keep your eyes peeled!
5 Free bike tours showcasing the best of ArtWeek 2013 - Thanks to Auckland Transport
4 Bikes at Hobsonville Point - First 2 hours of every ride free!
10 Bikes on the Auckland Waterfront - First 2 hours of every ride free.


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E-mail may still be the dominant tool for office communications in many companies today, but Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled a mobile-minded alternative that's focused primarily on short, quick messages.
Office 365 users have a new, more secure method of logging into Microsoft's Outlook apps for iOS and Android, thanks to an update the company announced Wednesday.
It wasn't long after the launch of Slack's namesake team-communication software last year that the San Francisco company was catapulted into the "unicorn" club -- that growing group of startups with valuations above $1 billion.
Google is giving systems admins more control over Apps documents in an attempt to alleviate concerns about securing company data after moving email and productivity software to the cloud.
Microsoft has boosted the functionality of the Office 365 enterprise search and discovery application Delve, and expects to finish its rollout to commercial Office 365 customers by mid-May.
Yahoo released the source code for a plugin that will enable end-to-end encryption of email messages, a planned data-security improvement prompted by disclosures of U.S. National Security Agency snooping.
Access to Microsoft's new Outlook apps has been blocked for members of the European Parliament because of "serious security issues."
A glitch in the search software in Apple's OS X Yosemite can expose private details of Apple Mail users, revealing their IP address as well as other system details to spammers, phishers and online tracking companies.
Setting the stage for advanced Office mail functionality on non-Windows platforms, Microsoft has acquired Acompli, a startup that provides software for organizing email on mobile devices.
In time for the holiday shopping season, Microsoft has refined how Office 365 handles bulk promotional emails from vendors like Amazon, eBay and Macy's.
IBM is going up against cloud-apps powerhouses Google and Microsoft with its next generation email client, called Verse, designed to enrich email with social media and analysis.
Google has given its Calendar mobile app the biggest makeover since its launch, adding features meant to make it a more intuitive and smart time-management tool.
Google is taking another crack at email overload, but this time around it's resorting to drastic measures, developing a new product apparently built from scratch without relying on Gmail.
Apps admins will be able to communicate with Google tech support staffers via online chat, complementing other existing options, including phone calls.
Another startup wants to offer mobile messaging to enterprises, even though it's questionable whether such a narrow service can sustain a company and even though it's likely that larger enterprise collaboration vendors will jump into this market.
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Truly wireless charging — that is to say, charging over the air — is a fantasy slowly becoming reality. While startups like Ossia have overcome the engineering challenges involved, though, building an ecosystem of devices that support it is another matter. But Energous, the company behind wireless charging system WattUp, is making inroads. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the company announced partnerships with a Bluetooth speaker company, a hearing aid manufacturer, and a touch and pen firm, and more.
“Having our partners unveil the first of many WattUp-enabled products is a huge milestone in our vision of creating a strong ecosystem for wireless charging,” Energous president and CEO Stephen R. Rizzone said in a press release. “Working with these innovative and agile partners enables us to take that first step into shifting the entire paradigm of how we use, charge, and manage devices today. We are grateful to these early partners for pioneering the future with us and look forward to additional growth in commercially available WattUp-enabled products throughout 2017.”
Energous’s proprietary WattUp technology relies wireless antennas to charge devices at a distance of up to 15 feet. The hardware’s similar in principle to a wireless router: WattUp uses radio frequencies to deliver power-packed signals to multiple devices. And uniquely, it’s controlled by software, meaning end users can prioritize the order of which devices receive power, create charging schedules, and more.
The list of partners announced at the convention include:
- Chipolo Plus Gen 2, the “world’s loudest” Bluetooth tracker, attaches to personal items like wallets, luggage, keys, phones, and more. The second generation, the Chipolo Plus Gen 2, boasts WattUp’s built-in WattUp wireless charging. And the forthcoming Chipolo Sticker, the “world’s smallest” wireless tracking device, will also support WattUp.
- The new Carotid Stenotic Scan (CSS) by device company CVR Global performs subsonic sound analysis technology that detects and diagnoses disorders like atherosclerosis and stenosis within the human arterial system. WattUp’s technology is integrated into the device’s sensor array.
- PERI MicroPack, a 700mAh power dongle, is the first that can be recharged wirelessly with WattUp.
- A new hearing aid by SK Telesys lacks a charging port, instead relying on WattUp technology for charging. And the company’s smart ID card, which authenticates fingerprint identification before usage, charges wirelessly using a miniature WattUp transmitter.
- The Prism Pen features Prism technology, a single-sensor, low-latency solution for touch and pen, features WattUp technology. And the Prism Pen stylus is equipped with WattUp wireless charging.
The news comes on the heels of a $10 million investment from Dialog Semiconductor, a silicon manufacturing giant, in exchange for exclusive manufacturing rights. In March, Energous partnered with fabricator Pegatron to integrate wireless charging technology into certain product designs. And earlier this year, the firm inked a similar deal with Foxconn.
The Federal Communications Commission approved Energous’s wireless charging solution earlier this year … with a caveat. Much like wireless charging pads currently on the market, devices that support WattUp charging have to remain in contact with a transmitter. Rizzone says that the company’s developing technology that can charge at short distances.
Rumblings persist that Energous may integrate WattUp technology into Apple’s next flagship iPhone — a rumor that both companies deny.
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It’s back by popular demand!
Here’s our first impressions from the New Zealand launch of the 2022 Ford Ranger and the first-drive to go with it!
With restrictions eased, the 2022 Hutchwilco Boat Show is back in full force and Ford NZ took the opportunity to take the silk off their next gen Ford Ranger. We nipped down there to take a look. The New Zealand Boat Show has been held, under a variety of names, at the Auckland Showgrounds, every […]


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A group of scientists and engineers working out of Washington State University have gone ahead and developed a remarkably inexpensive smartphone sensor that is designed to be able to attach to devices and detect the presence of tell-tale cancer bio-markers.
While the concept of disease-detecting smartphone sensors is not new altogether, what makes this particular offering unique is the fact that it can monitor eight samples at a time. The device is said to be able to perform with 99 percent accuracy despite its portable form factor.
Ultimately, the big advantage with this smartphone sensor is that it allows diagnostic teams to enjoy quality as well as quantity, by enabling them to test large samples at a time without having to compromise on precision.
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Hummus giant Sabra Dipping Company announced plans Thursday for a $28 million expansion at its campus in Colonial Heights that will increase production capacity at its existing plant and add a 20,000-square-foot R&D facility.
The company opened its $61 million, 110,000-square-foot facility on 49 acres in Ruffin Mill Industrial Park in 2009.
The expansion would eventually add 90 workers, including hourly operators, managers and engineers, to the current employee base of 430, the company said.
“This is about hummus,” said Sabra COO Meiky Tollman.
The expansion is a step toward increasing the company’s market share in the dip industry. It controls a 56 percent share of the hummus market in North America, he said.
Tollman said Sabra hummus has a U.S. household penetration rate of 13 percent. But it’s hungry for more.
“That represents an amazing opportunity of 87 percent of American households,” he said. “We need to bring this product to more and more houses, and for this, we need capacity.”
Sabra’s plan is for what it is calling its Center of Excellence: a research and development facility where it will tinker with new types of dip and technology. Construction will begin this month, according to a release from the governor’s office.
Sabra also is researching the possibility of growing chickpeas in this part of the country. The company currently gets most of its chickpeas from the Northwest in states such as Washington and Idaho.
And at its current plant, the company will install two new hummus production lines, a packaging automation system and other plant improvements. It will increase the plant’s production capacity by 50 percent.
And Sabra has more up its sleeve than just hummus.
“Hummus is our hero, but it’s beyond hummus,” Tollman said.
The company produces salsa at a facility on the West Coast and guacamole in Mexico.
Sabra is also looking to go global. It is opening a hummus factory in Mexico and has its sights set on overseas.
This is at least the second big economic development announcement to come out of Chesterfield County in recent months. Internet giant Amazon is building a 1 million square foot fulfillment center at Meadowville Technology Park.
Sabra’s neighbors in the 300-acre Ruffin Mill Industrial Park include Mitsubishi Gas and Chemical, a Havertys distribution center, Fiorucci Foods and Hill Phoenix. The park has about 30 acres that have yet to be built out, according to the county.
Will Davis, Chesterfield’s director of economic development, said the deal with Sabra has been in the works for a couple of years.
Davis said the process was competitive. Sabra considered several other sites, both in the United States and abroad.
“They could have put it anywhere in the world, and they are going to put it right here in Chesterfield,” Davis said.
Sabra received some incentives to help seal the deal with the county. Gov. Bob McDonnell approved a $250,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to secure the project. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership was also in on the negotiations.
And the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to Sabra to help with recruiting and training through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
Davis said his office is already looking to attract companies that want to do business with Sabra, such as includes suppliers and entities that could help advance the potential for growing chickpeas nearby.
“They go through thousands of pounds of chickpeas,” Davis said. “If we could start growing them in Virginia, it could be the next crop.”
I recently started eating hummus and Sabra’s products are pretty good!


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As Chinese automaker Geely closes in on completing its purchase of Volvo from Ford, two things strike me; The lack of concern among those in the auto business and the lack of paranoia by those outside the industry.
Could it be we're changing our view of the Chinese auto guys?
And in both cases it shows how far the Chinese have come in closing the real and perceived gaps between their auto makers and others around the world. You may not like, and you may even fear the Chinese, but it is clearer than ever they are catching up in the car game.
For starters, when I talk with auto execs about the expertise the Chinese are gaining, there are few laughs and more candid comments giving the Chinese credit. Take Geely buying Volvo. Two years ago the idea this marriage could work would have been met with plenty of skepticism. Not anymore. As one auto insider put it, "These guys have a decent shot at growing Volvo and not trashing the company." Why? In part it's because Geely execs will likely lean on Volvo veterans and not come in with the misguided notion they know Volvo better than Volvo.
Does this mean Geely will automatically succeed at growing Volvo to a million units sold each year from its current production of 400,000? Of course not. It won't be easy, and Geely may fall well short of that goal.
But unlike three or four years ago, there is less chuckling among car buyers in the U.S. about the Chinese picking up an established brand. And even fewer comments like, "I'd never buy a Chinese car." Some of that is because a Chinese company may buy Volvo, but the brand will still be seen by many as Swedish with a long history in the U.S. But some of it is also because American car buyers are more willing to look at foreign brands.
Let's be clear, I'm well aware many of you still buy Big 3 cars and trucks because the vast majority is made here in the states. I have no problem with that and actually think its great made in the USA still means something to some folks. At the same time, the car business is quickly changing, and the Chinese automakers are coming. What once seemed ludicrous to many now seems reasonable. A Chinese company owning one of the world's leading auto brands.
Click on Ticker to Track Corporate News:
- Ford Motor
- Toyota Motor
- Honda Motor
Questions? Comments? BehindTheWheel@cnbc.com


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A new report released by Kraken Intelligence shows that metaverse tokens were one of the two only types of cryptocurrencies that reported a year-on-year increase in prices.
Metaverse and Exchange Tokens Record Growth, Other Cryptos Drop
Metaverse tokens are outperforming every other crypto category despite the current bearish condition, reporting nearly 400% year-on-year gains.
At the top of the gains list, is the Stepn’s GMT (up 746%), Axie Infinity’s AXS (up 511%), The Sandbox’s SAND (up 470%), and Decentraland’s MANA (up 41%), according to the data from CoinGecko and Kraken Intelligence’s May 22 market report. Metaverse tokens are used for paying fees on metaverse, buying land, and participating in blockchain governance.
The next highest category when it comes to year-on-year gains is the exchange tokens. This category reported a 6% increase, while all other categories reported negative price action. For example, Bitcoin was down 13%, and decentralized finance (DeFi) sank even deeper, reporting a loss of 72%.
In 2022, blockchain-based gaming using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and metaverse platforms remained highly popular. Even with the slumping prices in different markets, usership was consistent, approximately one million per day, according to DappRadar.
Despite the Growth, The Last 30 days and 90 Days Have Seen Negative Returns
The Kraken report further indicated that although May reported flat daily usership, the daily volume of NFTs shot down with a huge margin of -87%.
Each category that was tracked by the Kraken report, from exchange to metaverse tokens, reported negative returns over the last one month and three months. Metaverse tokens were the biggest losers, falling by 42%. They also reported a highest volatility of 173%.
Even with the short-term price action, money is flowing in to help fund the sector. DAppRadar’s Q1 games report indicated that USD 2.5 billion was raised to support metaverse and blockchain games in the first three months of 2022. According to the report, investors were very eager to support games, with 52% of all blockchain activities coming from decentralized applications (DApps).
Layer-1 tokens, such as Cardano’s ADA and Solana’s SOL, led in the losses category, dropping by 43% and 53% in the last 90 and 30 days, respectively. For Ether and Bitcoin, the losses were modest compared to other altcoins.


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In no-really-this-actually-happened news, Pitbull confirmed last month that a special three-night cruise in his honor would be happening in 2017. The "Pitbull After Dark Party" cruise will play out from March 10–13 on Norwegian Cruise Lines Pearl cruise ship, with a voyage from Miami to the Bahamas (and back) featuring Mr. 305 and "some of his closest friends." I can't wait!
Alongside the news, Norwegian Cruise Lines announced that "Freedom," the lead single from Pitbull's new album Climate Change, would be the track featured in their 2016 advertising campaign. And Pitbull's now released a music video for "Freedom" which, wait for it, is basically one big ad for the cruise line company! The video features Pitbull and a collection of bikini-clad models dancing on the ship's bow, as well as in one of the (many) indoor pools; there are also all sorts of soft-lit shots of other attractions onboard that could be ripped right out of a commercial, really, and Pitbull couldn't even be bothered to pop up for those scenes:
Oh, and there's also an ad-within-an-ad moment with this model wearing a "Party Patch," which is apparently the "ultimate natural hangover defense." Does it work for seasickness also though?!
Watch the video in full below, and marvel at the cruise-y cheesiness:
And for comparison's sake, here's one of the Norwegian Cruise Lines commercials featuring the song:
It's worth noting that the track's lyrics are very fitting for the video's theme — "feel free, get on the ship and cruise the world," Pitbull raps, as well as noting that he's the "godfather [of] my own ship" which could well be the case now. I mean, he should definitely have a suite named after him at this point?! (Cosmopolitan.com has reached out to Norwegian Cruise Lines for details on their presumed-partnership with Pit, and the $$ involved specifically.) Product placement is hardly a new thing in music videos either, and Pitbull isn't even the first artist to turn a video into a envy-inducing tourism spot either; Enrique Iglesias was paid a six-figure sum to promote Galicia, Spain, in a music video last year (and then got in trouble when the finished product didn't include enough footage of the region, womp, womp) while British girl band The Saturdays filmed a video in 2014 at a specific tour operator's resort in Greece, branding included.
Also, every shot of the cruise ship doing its cruise thing is one less shot of Pitbull grinding up on some poor backing dancer, so maybe it's not a bad thing at all?! It's still all sorts of blatant though — a clear example of a brand's influence making itself known without any ad blocker workarounds; who else is planning a vacation on the high seas all of a sudden?!
Follow Alex on Twitter.


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The following arrests and incidents were reported by the Evanston Police Department:
Burglar Steals Batteries From Basement
A resident of the 800 block of Judson Avenue found a man in the basement stealing 12-volt batteries, a black Craftsman drill battery and a charger at 12:10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, police reported.
Thief Talks His Way Into Wallet
A man stole a coach wallet while talking to someone at the Evanston Public Library between 3 and 5:54 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, according to police.
Car Burglar Breaks BMW Window On Kedzie
Someone broke the window of a 2011 BMW parked in an apartment lot in the 500 block of Kedzie Street between 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, and 1:06 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, according to police. Nothing was reported missing.
Man Steals Nintendo Wii From Department Store
Alvin Aaron Easter, 56, of the 6100 block of North Mozart Street in Chicago, was arrested and charged with retail theft after he stole a Nintendo deluxe 32 GB Wii gaming system and PS3 headphones from a department store in the 2200 block of Howard Street at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, according to police.
Man Charged With Domestic Battery
A 50-year-old Evanston man was arrested and charged with domestic battery at 3:14 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, according to police.


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Africa is often seen as the home of precious gemstones and metals, with the world’s leading jewellery houses sourcing a steady stream of diamonds, gold and other minerals from the continent.
But Africa isn’t merely a source for raw materials: A new wave of homegrown jewellery houses is offering distinctly African luxury to customers near and far.
Sierra Leone-born Briton Satta Matturi, creative director of her namesake fine jewellery house, says that African jewellery designers often have to contend with preconceived notions of what African design is, including colonial stereotypes that see it as primitive.
But there is a rich history of distinct and intricate jewellery craft across the continent.
“Each region has its own style. Ghana, with its gold heritage; Kenya’s striking Masai neckpieces; South Africa’s Ndebele beading; Malian Tuareg adornment, Nigerian coral beads and ancient Egyptian influences,” she said in an email sent from Botswana, where she takes regular sourcing trips.
The house, founded in 2015, already counts Rihanna as a client.


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Tech firms seek PHL digital tax in line with international norms
TECH INDUSTRY associations said the Philippines should align its digital taxation policy with international practice, saying that predictability of business conditions is key to continued investment in innovation.
The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) and the Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA) said they support a proposed measure imposing value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions, but proposed provisions for single group registration of related companies and the removal of a requirement to appoint an in-country representative.
The House of Representatives approved on third reading on Nov. 14 House Bill 4122, which seeks to impose 12% VAT on non-resident digital service providers such as Spotify and Netflix. Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano has filed Senate Bill 250 as the other chamber’s counterpart measure.
If the measure becomes law, 12% VAT will also be imposed on the digital sale of services like online advertising and the supply of other services delivered through online marketplaces, webcasts and mobile applications. Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, who chairs the House ways and means committee, said the measure is expected to generate P19 billion in revenue.
In a Nov. 23 letter to Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means, the groups said: “We earnestly request your leadership in aligning the proposed digital taxation policy with international norms espoused by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”
Legislators should frame the tax on digital transactions as a “simplified electronically supplied services (ESS) VAT regime that conforms with the recommendations of the international organizations for extraterritorial VAT compliance and successfully implemented in many countries,” they added. The letter which was sent to reporters on Thursday.
They argued that the ESS VAT regime has been adopted by countries in the region such as Singapore. “Enhancing revenue levels from consumption taxes on cross-border sales while minimizing the compliance burden of digital suppliers can be achieved with broad support from businesses when the OECD or IMF best practices are followed,” the groups noted.
AIC and ACCA likewise noted that the in-country representative requirement for non-resident suppliers included in House Bill 4122 “does not align with international best practices.”
They said that such a requirement can have “unintended consequences,” including “reduced private sector investment and tax non-compliance by some non-resident companies.”
“No other jurisdiction in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia, imposes such a requirement,” the two associations noted.
They expressed hope that the Senate version will include a clause that makes it easier for a group of affiliated or related companies to register.
“It would be more efficient for local tax authorities to deal with a single entity on behalf of a group of related companies,” AIC and ACCA said.
They also argued that extraterritorial VAT should apply to business-to-customer supplies only as VAT on reverse charge is already applicable on cross-border business-to-business supplies.
“To advance the growth of the digital economy in the Philippines, it is critical that the environment is supportive of business-to-business services (including total cost of usage) as companies seek to increasingly grow digital in their operations,” AIC and ACCA said.
They want “sufficient time to implement such measures … before a new policy is enforced to ensure compliance readiness.”
They also want at least 9 to 12 months from the publication of the final law and release of detailed technical rules to align their systems to implement any substantial changes to tax laws.
“With respect to the withholding of creditable VAT, under the current domestic law, any payment made by government agencies should be subject to 5% withholding VAT — which is creditable,” AIC and ACCA noted.
“However, since non-resident companies are not allowed to claim input VAT, sales to government customers will incur this 5% VAT as cost passed on to the non-resident company. We seek further clarification on the intention of legislators here, or a review of this provision in relation to current domestic laws,” they added. — Arjay L. Balinbin


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Scheduled for release sometime in the first half of this year, Gulftown is aimed at high-end desktops and workstations. Intel yesterday offered some juicy deets on the Westmere chip, including that 1.17 billion transistors onto 240mm sq. die and carries 12MB in L3 and a thermal design power of 130W at 3.33GHz. But the part we're most excited about is improvements in power efficiency.
This is the first design that can do power gating with not just CPU cores, but also the "uncore" parts of the chip. Previously, power gating the L3 cache was not possible because all that core data needed to be stored somewhere after everything else was shut down. However, rather than saving core data in the L3 when it shuts off, Intel has added a dedicated SRAM to store core data and enable Westmere 6C to power gate the L3 cache.
Other information revealed yesterday is that Gulftown will be sold under the Core i7 brand, will be capable of running 12 threads at once, and will not include integrated graphics. Unfortunately, the folks at Intel kept it zipped in terms of clock speeds


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All-you-can-eat crawfish festival headed for Houston next month
Crawfish lovers, prepare yourself. By next month, the Bayou City will mark mudbug mania with an all-you-can-eat crawfish festival.
The "King of Crawfish Fest", which hails itself as "Houston's biggest all-you-can-eat event" will take over Emancipation Park near downtown Houston 3-10 p.m. on Feb. 29, according to a social media page for the event.
Specific vendors have yet to be announced, but Houstonians craving some crawfish can expect to find plenty of mudbugs at the all-day event. Dubbed the "most anticipated seafood boil of the year," the event will feature top-ranked specialty chefs from around the area in addition to live bands, DJs and various food and drink vendors, according to the event website.
One of the crawfish vendors will ultimately be crowned the "Crawfish King" in a ceremony. Seating will be available, although guests are allowed to bring a folding chair and/or a blanket. VIP cabanas will also be available at higher ticket prices.
General admission tickets start at $7 and are limited. All-you-can-eat passes start at $30, while other group and VIP packages range up to $275.
Emancipation Park is located at 3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston. For more information on the event and to get tickets, click here.
Find some of the best Houston spots for crawfish in the photos above...


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In a new survey of US college students, commissioned by LendEDU, only 8% of respondents said they didn't have a Netflix account. That means that a whopping 92% have Netflix. That stat jives with recent research on US teens by Piper Jaffray, which found that 37% of them watch Netflix every day. Significantly, Netflix's big competitors, Amazon Prime Video and , came in way below Netflix at just 3% each for daily viewing.
This all doesn't mean young people actually pay for Netflix, however. 54% of college respondents to LendEDU's study said they use a friend’s or family member’s account, and 5% said they used an account owned by their significant other or ex.
Only 34% said they had their own account. But that might not be such a big deal for Netflix, which has always taken a hands-off approach to password sharing.
In June, Netflix gave this statement to Business Insider about password sharing: “As long as they aren’t selling them, members can use their passwords however they please.” (Netflix does limit the number of concurrent streams.)
And in October, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he had no plans to change the company's lax attitude. "Password sharing is something you have to learn to live with, because there's so much legitimate password sharing, like you sharing with your spouse, with your kids ... so there's no bright line, and we're doing fine as is," he said.
One reason for that is because if you are a young person watching Netflix every day (37%), when you age into a time when you might pay, you're more likely to pony up the cash. You're addicted to Netflix, after all.
Indeed, last year, research on Netflix users by Jefferies found that "almost half of the respondents that share a password to access the service indicated that they would pay for their own subscription if they were no longer able to share an account."
Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.


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Wednesday, July 22, 2015 12:28:00 PM
Customers of Suffolk-based Plastic Trade Frames can now apply to join the respected VEKA Approved Installer Scheme since the supplier has been granted VEKA Approved Supplier status.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 3:55:00 PM
Anyone looking for proof of how teamwork can benefit the whole supply chain need look no further than the Cambridgeshire village of Haddenham where trade fabricator Glazerite Windows Ltd, VEKA PLC and G14 “Installer of the year” award winner The Window Company (Contracts) Ltd completed a social housing new build contract for The Sanctuary Housing Group with main contractor T J Evers Ltd.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 9:28:00 AM
Glazerite Windows Ltd was expecting a good reaction to the launch of its Warmcore aluminium bi-fold but its Northwest Division landed two orders as soon as the brochure went out – and is already following up many more enquiries in the short time since.
Friday, July 17, 2015 1:42:00 PM
In a little under a year since it was introduced, The VEKA UK Group's Approved Installer Scheme has met with unprecedented success, already welcoming around 400 businesses to date. Its parent company has been inundated with positive testimonials, praising what Approved Installers, Fabricators and Suppliers have found to be the Scheme's main benefits.
Thursday, July 16, 2015 4:13:00 PM
“Floor to ceiling glazing provides uninterrupted views across the golf courses, against the spectacular backdrop of Richmond Park’s 2500 acres.” Just one of the benefits that the prestigious Richmond Park Golf Club in Surrey boasts to its members following a £3 million improvements programme.
Thursday, July 16, 2015 2:58:00 PM
Bringing innovation and a new stimulus to the conservatory roof glass market, Clayton Glass has just launched a new luxury, 22 page consumer brochure to promote their range of SMARTGLASS® products. This includes their latest SMARTGLASS®-W for side frames, and the brochure is supported by a separate and clever SMARTGLASS® Selector tool.
Thursday, July 16, 2015 2:53:00 PM
Solidor have now launched their second-generation Cloud service for online quoting and ordering, as they look to offer their network partners a world-class customer experience.
Thursday, July 16, 2015 2:49:00 PM
It’s a very direct question and the direct answer to ‘what am I worth’ maybe more than you think, claim fenestration industry recruitment specialists, Chase Taylor. With demand from potential employers higher than it’s ever been, there’s no better time than now to consider your credentials as an employee.


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BELFAST – The 10th annual Baby Fair selling new and used items for infants and children will be held 8:30-11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at the Troy Howard Middle School on Lincolnville Avenue (Route 52) in Belfast. Tables for exhibitors are available to rent at $25 each and set up will be at 7 a.m.¬† There is an admission fee of $1 for adults. For more information, call¬† 338-2500 ext. 4154.
Contact Name: Lois Dutch
Telephone Number: (207)338-2500


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Fancy a new Mazda with a 211 number plate, and that with a decent discount? Well, good news - Mazda Ireland has announced decent discounts on new Mazdas with a 211 number plate...
€2,000 off a new electric MX-30
Those offers kick off with the new MX-30 electric crossover, which has only just launched into the Irish market. It'll be available with €2,000 knocked off the price, and a 4.9 per cent APR finance package on either PCP or Hire Purchase.
That same offer is also available on the Mazda3 hatchback and saloon range - and that's one of our very favourite cars. The little Mazda2, which has just been updated to include some mild-hybrid powertrains, is also available with that 4.9 per cent finance offer and comes with a €750 discount.
First right-hand drive models
If you do fancy that electric MX-30, the first right-hand drive models will be arriving into Irish Mazda dealerships next month, and the first customer deliveries should start coming in February. Mazda points out that the car was recently awarded a full five stars from EuroNCAP for crash safety, so that should prove tempting to family buyers.
Don't fancy that? Then what about the Mazda6 saloon, which is also on offer with a €2,000 discount and that same 4.9 per cent finance pack. If you fancy the CX-5 SUV then that comes with a €1,500 discount and - guess what - a 4.9 per cent finance offer.
John Perry, Managing Director of Mazda Ireland commented: "The latest Mazda product has seen a steady progression towards premium which is reflected in customer and motoring journalist reviews. To encourage new customers to experience the quality of the latest Mazda product and return savings to our loyal customers, we have compiled competitive 211 offers across the Mazda range, with a strong focus on our award-winning powertrains. Mazda MX-30 will soon be in Mazda showrooms and is an exciting addition to our multi-solution approach towards a cleaner and more sustainable future. The independent reviews to date couldn't be better and we are looking forward to seeing MX-30 on the roads."


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Startups from South Africa include Agrikool, CreditAIs, Mapha, Rekisa and Technovera. Each of the selected startups will receive support in the form of a six-month training programme that includes access to a network of mentors to assist in tackling challenges that are unique to them.
They will also be part of tailored workshops, support networks and community-building sessions. The 60 grantees will also get non-dilutive awards of between $50,000 and $100,000 and up to $200,000 in Google Cloud credit.
The grantees, made up of 50% women-led businesses, hail from Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. They specialise in sectors such as fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, education, hospitality and smart cities.
The top five countries with the most startups selected for the programme are Nigeria with twenty-three grantees, Kenya with twelve grantees, Rwanda with six grantees, South Africa with five grantees and Uganda with four grantees. Botswana and Senegal have one selected startup each, Cameroon and Ghana both have three grantees each while Ethiopia has two selected grantees.
Launched in April 2012, the Google for Startups program has created over 4,600 jobs and raised more than $290m in funding. The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund programme will introduce the grantees in Africa to Google's products, connections, and best practices which will help the founders to level the playing field as they build better products and services that add value to the Africa economy.
Below is the list of the 60 startups that were selected for the second cohort of the Black Founders Fund in Africa.


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Milan, Italy, May 5, 2014
— Wuxi Suntech, recently acquired by Shunfeng International Ltd., will showcase its leadership in solar panel innovation in Milan this week at SolarExpo 2014, recognized as one of the most important solar events in Europe.
Under new ownership, Wuxi Suntech is looking to expand its sales of products and services across Europe, and sees great value in the Italian market. Italy installed 1.45GW of PV during 2013, and expects to add another 1 GW per year until 2020. Suntech’s CEO Eric Luo points out that this “demonstrates the importance of this market which has matured beyond feed-in tariffs and is now both robust and self-standing.”
“Wuxi Suntech is embarking on a new period of significant expansion and we are well-placed to reclaim our position as the global leader in solar PV,” added Luo. “Thanks to our recent acquisition by Shunfeng, we now have the strongest financial footing in the solar industry, with nearly zero debt. Our low debt ratio means that we have the lowest financial costs in the industry, making it easier for us not only to invest in the growth of the business but also to continue to service our customers worldwide.”
At Solar Expo, Wuxi Suntech will showcase three new products: an integrated AC module designed for the residential market, which produces additional energy yield with less installation and maintenance cost; a black module that boosts high power, and a 1500V module designed for utility scale projects that can significantly reduce costs while maintaining high system voltage. The new products are all PID (potential induced degradation) free and have great performance in low light conditions, which is the case for many European markets. All of the new products come with Suntech’s 10-year warranty and excellent customer service.
“Suntech has a very exciting future as it evolves into a turnkey solution provider, allowing us to offer clients any service on the solar value chain that they may need,” Luo said. “Suntech will be able to provide one-stop access to the Shunfeng family of companies with capabilities in design, engineering, manufacturing, construction, finance, insurance, operation and maintenance, energy storage, solar products and applications. This new business model is yet unseen in the solar industry.”
Suntech will be onsite at Solar Expo at Booth G07, Hall 6. For further information on Suntech or to coordinate an interview with a Suntech executive at Solar Expo, please contact: Rebecca Jacobs, +972 54 577 3608


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Safaricom has announced full year results for the year ended March 31, 2015 showing a 38 per cent rise in profit after tax from Sh23 billion to Sh31.9 billion, with much of the growth coming from non-voice services.
Total revenue increased 13 per cent to Sh163.4 billion, with the mobile giant’s customer base growing eight per cent to 23.3 million.
Non-voice revenue — which mainly includes income from data and the M-Pesa mobile money service — grew 27 per cent to Sh68.8 billion, accounting for 42 per cent of total revenue. Okoa Jahazi emergency top-ups rose 32 per cent.
Voice income, meanwhile, was only up four per cent to Sh87.4 billion.
“MPesa, now contributing 20 per cent of total revenue, continues to be a significant driving factor in our growth,” CEO Bob Collymore said, pointing to increases in active MPesa customers as well as average number of transactions per customer.
“Mobile data revenue grew at an impressive 59 per cent, driven by an increased uptake of affordable data bundles and a 21 per cent growth in 30-day active data customers.”
The firm used the event to launch Safaricom’s home broadband solution, “a set-top box that brings the 3G and 4G network into the home, and distributes the superfast connectivity via wi-fi to any device” as well as Kenyan digital free-to-air TV channels to the customers’ TV.
Dubbed ‘The Big Box’, it is expected to drive growth in data with the mobile giant planning to introduce video-on-demand and other content “in the coming year”. Promotional material for the product promises free YouTube access for the first three months.
The mobile provider also announced the rollout of a high speed 4G internet connection in Nairobi and Mombasa. The rollout is expected to extend to 13 towns by year end.
“The board recommends a dividend of Sh0.64 per share, an increase of 36 per cent (from the previous year),” Collymore said. “Pending approval by shareholders we will pay out a dividend of Sh25.64 billion… once again, the largest dividend in Kenyan history.”
Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a announced that the company’s board has extended Collymore’s contract for two years.
Safaricom’s share price on Wednesday rose to an all-time high of Sh17.90 with investors expecting record profits to be announced.
With a market capitalisation north of Sh700 billion, it is now almost as big as the next four largest listed companies combined: EABL (Sh257 billion), KCB (Sh180 billion), Equity Group (Sh174 billion) and Co-operative Bank (Sh107 billion).


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Chipotle Mexican Grill is thinking outside the tortilla and plans to open its first burger joint. » Read More
After cooling off in 2014, home flipping is on the rise again — its share of all home sales up 20 percent in the first three months of this year.
Americans are paying more every month for a new vehicle and making those payments for longer than ever, Experian says.
Jack Welch calls President Obama's heavy focus on climate change "radical behavior."
A check on gold miner ETFs tells Goldman's options research team that the investment is "currently controversial."
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, fell last week.
Regulators are proposing a significant clampdown on payday lenders and other providers of high-interest loans.
A young boy destroyed a $15,000 statue of Nick Wilde, the fox from Disney's "Zootopia," this weekend.
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Fitness icon Tony Little picked himself up after a near-fatal car accident and reinvented his life.
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Victoria Beckham blamed for dVb line's poor sales, but Kitson will continue to sell line
Victoria Beckham’s dVb denim line has reportedly seen such poor sales in the States that a number of key retailers are expected to drop the range next season.
Fred Segal and Kitson are amongst the list of stores rumoured to stop buying the Spice Girl’s label, with Kitson owner Fraser Ross speaking openly to the press about the range’s disappointing performance.
In an interview with People, Ross blamed declining sales on Beckham’s lack of promotional activity.
‘She’s not supporting the line’ he told the magazine. ‘It’s not good for her brand and not good for her endorsements. In a tough economy, you need to be in partnership with the people that are selling your line to your fans. Victoria lives fifteen minutes from the store. That’s just bad business.’
He was quick to retract his comments though, and released a statement today confirming that he would continue to stock dVb.
‘The rumours are ridiculous – Kitson is extremely proud to be selling dVb by Victoria Beckham’ his statement read. ‘We are fully committed to the dVb collection and our customers and Victoria’s fans ask for it daily. I’ve seen next season’s collection and I can’t wait to get it in-store, especially the new dVb men’s collection launching in September.’


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With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clarifying it has no evidence that wine contained in these bottles posed a health threat, Gallo Glass says the suggestion of safety issues "risks the future of the entire California wine industry".
The company is part of E. & J. Gallo Winery, which positions itself as the world’s largest family–owned winery and largest exporter of California wine.
Gallo Glass Company’s air emission controls captured raw materials from the glass manufacturing process as precipitate. The company recycled this precipitate/waste dust to make glass, replacing some of the virgin raw material.
But the California EPA's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) claims the dust was ‘hazardous waste,’ and insists it must be managed and disposed of under Californian law.
The issue has come to a head after five years of discussions, and Gallo Glass Company says it looks forward to its day in court.
EPA alleges ‘potential' public health risk
DTSC last week announced it had filed a complaint against Gallo Glass Company, alleging the company used hazardous waste in the manufacturer of glass wine bottles.
The complaint alleges that the company illegally introduced dust containing lead, arsenic, cadmium and selenium into wine bottles made at its Modesto plant.
It continues to claim the practice did not comply with requirements for legitimate recycling, and that the dust should be properly managed and disposed of under Californian law. It adds the Gallo Glass Company stored large volumes of waste dust "in a manner that presented a potential risk to public health".
In May 2014, Gallo agreed to stop using waste dust in the manufacture of its bottles. But the DTSC wants Gallo to pay penalties, and for the court to prohibit the company from adding waste dust into its bottles in the future.
However, it clarifies that it has no evidence that wine in these bottles posed a health threat.
‘To suggest this is a safety concerns...risks future of California wine industry ' - Gallo Glass Company
Gallo Glass Company says the complaint is a "legal issue and not a health issue".
“The state makes it crystal clear that there is no threat from the bottles,” a spokesperson told BeverageDaily.com. “To suggest that this is a safety concern is irresponsible and risks the future of the entire California wine industry.”
The company prides itself on a state-of-the-art facility with advanced pollution control technology and environmentally-sustainable practices.
“For decades, our plant has been regularly inspected by a variety of agencies and not one agency has ever suggested that our sustainable use of precipitate in the glass-making process or our wastewater recycling system violated any law until the State started this enforcement action," the spokesperson said.
"Furthermore, both our air and water treatment plants are operating in accordance with the permits issued by other governmental agencies.
“Precipitate captured by our air emission controls is comprised of the same raw materials used to make glass so we use it instead of adding new raw materials. The use of precipitate in glass making is recognized throughout the world as the environmentally-sustainable best practice and its use in the glass making process eliminates the need to transport and dispose of it in landfills," they added.
“Yet, the State of California now wants to require us to discard the precipitate in a disposal site instead of productively using it – a position which is in direct conflict with California’s recycling goals and the State’s own exemptions from the Hazardous Waste Control Law," the spokesperson said.
“For more than five years we have been trying to resolve this matter but the State of California has refused to provide us with any proposals and instead unilaterally cut off negotiations deciding instead to sue us – a California-based manufacturer with a strong environmental record that provides more than 800 jobs in the Central Valley. We look forward to our day in court.”


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(LAGRANGE) - The LaGrange County Sheriffs Department is using social media to warn people about a possible scam. The department says on its Facebook page that a woman reported Tuesday evening she got a phone call from (202) 470-3524 and was told to go to a Wal-Mart, Walgreen’s or CVS store where she would be given $9,000 for prescriptions. She was told that she would need to pay a $310 fee that would be reimbursed.
The woman was then asked to call the phone number back once she got to CVS for further instructions. Police contacted CVS and made them aware of the scam going around.
Once again, police remind you to not give out any personal information and if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.


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SWEDEN: Volvo hit by currency crisis but remains on track
Volvo made a first half net loss after sales suffered due to the euro zone crisis, but said its growth plans remain on track.
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Bulgarian Tour Operators are Reporting Increased Interest in Charter Programs for the Holidays
Increased interest in charter programs for Christmas and New Year, according to tour operators. However, tourists are sensitive to all restrictive measures and many of the registrations are at the last minute.
Bookings for the Christmas and New Year holidays are strongest for charter programs in Dubai, Egypt and Turkey. There is also great interest in the Maldives. There is also a trip to Rovaniemi - Finland, the city of Santa Claus. Traditionally, there is great interest in nearby destinations.
Dimitar Baltov - manager of one of the largest companies for outbound tourism pointed out:
"Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Albania too. There is also a demand for European destinations such as Paris, Rome, Vienna, Barcelona, Prague. What was observed last year was extremely high interest in various distant destinations such as the Maldives, Zanzibar, which was almost entirely a new destination for Bulgarian tourists, the Dominican Republic, etc. This year, the demand is definitely not the same as last year. "
Tour operators expect a lot of travel reservations in the week before Christmas, because people are waiting to see if there will be restrictions in their chosen destination.
The requirement for a negative PCR test for entry into Bulgaria by countries in the "red zone" for unvaccinated tourists has a negative impact on bookings, and tour operators are worried about canceling reservations.
Pavlina Ilieva from the Future for Tourism Association and Dimitar Baltov emphasized:
"People started calling, worrying about exactly how it would happen. Will the companies provide an opportunity for PCR and, of course, that, despite everything, it will cause confusion.
"For many destinations, PCR tests are more expensive. In addition, it is an additional organization that needs to be implemented there on the ground, especially when it comes to such orders, which take place from today to tomorrow and people are already in place. "
Currently, tour operators are working with about 20% of their volumes in 2019 before the pandemic and the goal is rather to maintain their position in the market.
At the moment, the prices of the packages have not changed significantly, from next year an increase is expected.
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On Friday, October 20th, 2017, SportsArt in partnership with The Disability Center in Dunstable, held its first ever ICARE Training Day. We invited a small select group of eight health care professionals from five different public facilities around the Luton area (40 miles north of London), plus three staff members from the Disability Center. The format of the day was centered around a ‘tell, show, do’ format that included presentations on the history of the SportsArt and the ICARE, benefits and video testimonials, and trainer insights and demos.
Not every fitness facility can start off as a sustainable gym. Whether it comes down to pricing or timing or availability of materials/technology, sometimes going green just isn’t in the cards. But over time many opportunities to gradually transform into a sustainable gym can arise as repairs, renovations, and upgrades are needed. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know where to start and the idea of making such a huge switch in addition to running their facility can be overwhelming. That is why SportsArt has created the Ultimate Sustainable Gym Checklist: to provide gym owners with a guide on how to begin the journey towards this transformation for both current and upcoming facilities.
September 27th, 2017 is National Fitness Day in the United Kingdom – an event that encourages the nation to celebrate the fun of fitness and physical activity and raises awareness of its importance to our health and our overall lives. Founded by the énergie Group in 2011 and presently hosted by UK Active, National Fitness Day aims to be the most active day of the year. People and businesses alike are encouraged to get involved through events, activities, and other awareness campaigns to promote the benefits of active lifestyles. The SportsArt Challenge For National Fitness Day 2017, SportsArt UK is once again working with the Rainbows Children’s Hospice. Participants are welcome to visit the SportsArt UK Offices to hop onto our ECO-POWR™ cardio equipment and start working up a sweat. Up to 74% of energy generated while on our equipment is converted into utility-grade electricity and returned to the power grid, helping fitness facilities to become more sustainable. These watts can also be tracked by looking at the individual equipment’s display and using the SA WELL+™ system. Every watt generated will go towards a donation to the Rainbows Children’s Hospice to help support life-limited children and their families. The target goal is 1000 watts! Details on the Rainbows Children’s Hospice and the event are below. We hope to see you there! Not near Lomborough? Find another National Fitness Day activity near you! Event Info September 27th, 2017from 9.00 to 17.00 SportsArt House, Unit 2 – 3, Charnwood Business Park North…
SportsArt is pleased to announce a partnership with Xtreme CSC, a chain of fitness facilities based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Xtreme CSC gyms combine strength and conditioning with functional training, as well as offer complete nutritional support for their members. Their newest gym located in Cashel, Ireland, opened fully-equipped with over 30 pieces of SportsArt equipment. “We are delighted and very proud to announce this long-term partnership with such a new and exciting brand,” says Roger Eldergill, UK Country Manager. “Their ethos and ambitious brand development match that of SportsArt – our exciting range of innovative new Cardio, fixed resistance, and free weights will allow Xtreme CSC to appeal to the widest continuum of a user. SportsArt has been chosen over the fierce competition to support the rollout of over 100 Xtreme CSC clubs. Early on in negotiations, it was made clear that one of our strengths is our focus on people. Despite being a global company, SportsArt brings a family feeling to the table – a trait instilled in all employees by Paul Kuo, Chairman and Founder of SportsArt – and that makes a real difference. “SportsArt’s mission of embracing your best self really resonated with our own,” says Connor Crotchett, Owner of Xtreme CSC, “They continue to impress us with the strength of their equipment and their quality of service. We are excited to continue working and developing this partnership with SportsArt.”
As the owner of Eco Gym (previously known as Beachfit), I make it my responsibility to ensure our business contributes to making a positive difference to our planet. As advocates of a healthy lifestyle that we should take the same care with the environment as we do with our own bodies.


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Paul Holmes 17 Apr 2001 // 11:00PM GMT
The nation’s CEOs continue to attach greater importance to corporate reputation as a factor in their companies’ success, and to recognize their responsibility to maintaining a good reputation, but many are still struggling to find a way to measure reputation, according to a new study conducted by Yankelovich Partners on behalf of Hill & Knowlton and Chief Executive magazine.
The third annual Corporate Reputation Watch survey found almost universal agreement among CEOs that reputation is a key factor in corporate success: 94 percent agreed that reputation was “very important.” It also found that more than three-quarters of CEOs (77
percent) consider themselves ultimately responsible for reputation and that almost two-thirds (64 percent) say they would “give substantial weight” to the ability to manage reputation when choosing a successor.
According to H&K’s U.S. president Tom Hoog, “With each of these surveys we are seeing a higher and higher percentage of CEOs saying that public relations is important, and that it is the CEO’s responsibility.”
But if the 77 percent of CEOs who take personal responsibility for their companies’ reputation is the good news in the study, the bad news is that only 3 percent of respondents consider the chief communications officer to be the key figure in managing the company’s reputation. More (5 percent) identified the chief marketing officer as they person responsible for reputation, with the chief operating officer (3 percent) and chief financial officer (2 percent) also receiving votes.
Harlan Teller, executive vice president and director of H&K’s worldwide corporate practice, sees a link between CEOs’ increasing sensitivity to corporate reputation issues and recent highly-publicized CEO turnover at the top of many well-known corporations. “CEOs know that they will be held accountable if corporate reputation issues are not dealt with effectively,” says Teller. “As a result, they increasingly believe that they and their potential successors must take personal control over this management function.”
The importance attached to reputation is also reflected in the growing number of companies attempting to measure their reputations. Two out of five companies (42 percent) say they have a formal measurement system in place, compared to 37 percent in the 1999 study and just 19 percent in 1998. More encouraging is the fact that two-thirds (66 percent) of those companies are using custom research rather than relying on published rankings (31 percent) and media coverage (30 percent).
“The use of formal measurement has doubled in the past 12 months,” says Teller. “There is clearly an increased willingness to invest in tracking reputation, and more companies are doing in the right way, spending on custom research rather than relying on informal feedback or using published rankings such as the Fortune survey.”
Survey respondents identified customer opinions (96 percent), employee opinions (88 percent) and the CEO’s own reputation (84 percent) as the three most important factors contributing to corporate reputation.
“The fact that customers rank first overall is terms of their effect on reputation suggests a need for greater synergy between marketing communications and corporate communications,” says Teller. “I have always been an advocate of greater integration between marketing and corporate PR.” Teller said he was not surprised—but was encouraged—by the importance placed on employees. “I think with all the emphasis on the role of employees delivering on the brand promise, more companies recognize the impact internal stakeholders have on external perceptions.”
Of moderate importance were print media, industry analysts, shareholders, financial analysts, regulators and government agencies, the Internet, and broadcast media. Government was not surprisingly considered more important by regulated companies such as utilities and healthcare providers, while technology companies considered the Internet more important. The influence of plaintiffs’ attorneys and labor unions was discounted by most respondents.
There is also evidence of increasing concern about the role of the Internet in spreading negative information about corporations. Almost three-quarters of respondents (73 percent) said they were worried about negative information on the Internet, up from 60 percent in 1999, and CEOs expressed the greatest concern about unhappy customers criticizing their companies on the Internet. Still, while 57 percent of companies said they had a strategy for managing their reputations on the Internet, only 15 percent said they monitored what was being said about their company online “very closely.”
Other interesting findings:
While CEOs at all companies consider reputation important, it is slightly more important to CEOs at larger companies, and more important to companies in the consumer products and financial services arena than it is to companies in the technology and business services sectors.
Companies in the healthcare sector (70 percent) were most likely to have systems in place to measure corporate reputation. Companies in the distribution sector (26 percent) were least likely to have formal measurement systems.
Focusing on customer satisfaction (20 percent) is considered the most important thing CEOs can do to improve corporate reputation, followed by maintaining corporate culture (18 percent), and employee communications (13 percent). Just 6 percent thought greater community involvement was the most important factor.


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Harrison Ford’s fedora, Daniel Radcliffe’s glasses and wand from Harry Potter along with pieces from Batman and Top Gun will be auctioned in June by the Prop Store in California.
Matt Truex, Marketing Manager at the Prop Store, said the auction was the biggest they had ever held and he expects keen interest from collectors.
“One of the hottest items in our auction is this original Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford fedora hat from ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’,?the second film. This is valued in auction for $250,000 to $350,000,” Truex told Reuters.
“We`ve even got pieces for comic art collectors,” Truex added. Harry Potter`s wand and eyeglasses, worn by Daniel Radcliffe during production on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” promise to be one of the most sought-after items.
“This is the first time that the Warner Brothers` archive has released Harry Potter`s wand and glasses to auction. The exciting part for this as well is that 100% of the hammer price proceeds for these two pieces are going to go to charity and both of them are valued at $30,000 to $50,000 each,” Truex said.


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[CES 2017] 3D printing enthusiasts, listen up! XYZprinting, being the world’s leading 3D printing company, has just announced that they will be offering a range of new devices that will certainly keep the 3D printing hobbyist more than happy. It does not matter whether you are a professional, a parent, or a child, XYZPrinting wants to make 3D printing accessible to everyone without having to break the bank,
Among its slew of new products would be the da Vinci Nano as featured above, in addition to the da Vinci Junior 2.0 Mix and the Nobel Superfine. These 3D printers are more than capable of handling the needs of those who would like to get some 3D printing done be it at home, on the go, or at work. There were more than 10 3D printer models on display, in addition to other items.
The da Vinci Nano happens to be XYZprinting’s most compact 3D printer, retailing for an extremely affordable $229.95. This is ideal for those who are about to explore 3D printing for the very first time in their lives, and who do not have much room to move about budget-wise. A one-button printing process is a no-brainer, and is perfect for folks who lack ample desk space and live in a small, cramped area. It will be available this Q2 2017.
As for the da Vinci Junior 2.0 Mix, this 3D printer can blend a couple of PLA filaments of any color with ease. It will make use of the new dual-feed alongside a single extruder module, resulting in a print that changes color over time. The da Vinci Junior 2.0 Mix will retail for $449.95 a pop.
With the cost of 3D printing at home dropping, do expect to see a greater degree of projects being shared online, including the drawings and plans. I am still waiting for the day when printing your own Lego bricks are more affordable than purchasing the real deal, although that would probably result in a lawsuit served my way too.