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Tiny insects set to swarm across the UK over the next few months could leave motorists with badly damaged cars and costly repair bills.
Greenfly are predicted to soar in numbers after the high temperatures of the sunniest May on record and the prospect of a decent summer to come.
But while they don’t bother most people, the critters can do a huge amount of damage if you park your car under a tree.
That’s because their excretions rot paintwork and soft tops, leaving you with a bill of up to £600 for a respray or replacement.
The tiny aphids are most prevalent in the UK in the months of June and July. They suck the sap from trees and plants, which makes them a pest for farmers and gardeners.
And with the mercury set to soar again from the middle of this month – following glorious conditions in May which saw the UK bask in temperatures higher than the Mediterranean – there are likely to be more than normal buzzing around.
Mark Tongue, director of leading UK firm Select Car Leasing, says his staff are only too aware of the problems greenfly can cause and warn customers about the perils of parking under trees in the summer months.
He added: “They may be small and look harmless but you should not underestimate how much damage greenfly can cause.
“They excrete a sticky substance known as ‘honeydew’ that forms an unpleasant residue on car bonnets, boots and roofs.
“This then turns into soot-like black mould spores, which can eat through paintwork because of high acidity.
“And worse still is that this substance is really difficult to remove. The only solution is to buy some top quality cleaning products and get stuck in with plenty of elbow grease.”
It’s estimated that a mature tree can host around 2.5 million aphids and they breed rapidly.
This is due to the fact that the female reproduce parthenogenetically – eggs don’t need to be fertilised by a male.
And while a solitary greenfly can produce 50 offspring, that can lead to a mind-boggling six million descendants in the space of a month.
Mr Tongue added: “If you are unfortunate enough to find this sticky substance on your car it is absolutely crucial that you clean it off as soon as possible, as a respray could set you back around £600.
“I would advise all motorists to keep a close eye on their vehicles at this time of the year and maintain a fairly strict cleaning regime to make sure they escape any damage.
“This could include keeping a packet of wipes in your car to get rid of any residue as quickly as possible before a more thorough clean with specialist car detergents and even diluted bleach.”


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A full-size iPad that gets closer to the lean design of the iPad Mini may finally be on the way.
Production of the fifth-generation iPad is slated to begin in July, according to a report from Taipei-based Digitimes.
The new 9.7-inch iPad will be 25 percent to 33 percent lighter than the iPad 4, Digitimes said.
The report echoes information supplied toby NPD DisplaySearch.
Specifically, the 2,048x1,536 pixel-density Retina display (same pixel density as the iPad 4) will have thinner glass -- achieved by using new touch sensor technology -- and, most importantly, a less bulky backlight apparatus, according to Digitimes.
NPD DisplaySearch told CNET in April that "part of the thinner/lighter design will be reducing the size of the LED backlight, partly by making the display more efficient and partly by using more efficient LEDs." DisplaySearch also cited the likely shift to a "a film-based touch sensor."
The third- and fourth-generation iPads gained heft and thickness -- compared with the iPad 2 -- due mostly to technologies supporting the Retina display, including a relatively large backlight assembly.
Monthly shipments of the "iPad 5" are expected to ramp up to 2 million to 3 million units by September, said Digitimes, citing sources in the supply chain.

domain: news


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Currently, the government is looking to update its digital strategy for the first time since 2017 and create new funding for tech startups – their aim is to increase competitivity and attract new talent to the UK within the digital sector. The plan is to approach pension fund investors to provide capital for early-stage tech startups.
By doing so it is hoped that these new and emerging businesses will not be stifled by high inflation and running costs which, many UK companies are currently facing. Instead, firms will have the opportunity to innovate and expand which could provide the UK with better opportunities in the future.
With more than 40 unicorn companies outside London, valued at $1 billion and 100 regional futurecorns (businesses who are on track to gain future unicorn status), the funding will help businesses to scale up, which will level up growth and generate ambitious businesses further.
New digital growth grant for UK tech startups
According to the UK government website, over the next two years, their £12.09 million Digital Growth Grant is available to businesses who wish to access skills training and advice within the digital and tech sector. Within this they hope to improve regional support networks for digit tech startup businesses and scale ups. Their plan is to drive the next generation of digi tech business success.
Calling all tech startups! As specialist in tech insurance, Crendon Insurance are here to help protect your digi tech business with digi tech insurance, startup business insurance, intellectual property, and many other aspects of commercial insurance protection. To find out more please get in touch or see our website for further details.
Blogs used to write this article:


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People who are suffering because of the typhoon in the Philippines and war in Syria will receive vital assistance, thanks to a donation made to a charity shop in South Cumbria.
The Oxfam shop in Ambleside has received an unexpected Christmas present - a car - and the entire contents of a house.
The gift, which was left in a will, includes collectable bears and dolls houses.
Fiona Marley Paterson reports:
More top news
Warnings in place for parts of the region as rain heads into cold air....just in time for the start of December and the Tuesday rush hour
With internet sales set to peak today Cumbria Trading Standards is warning of the dangers of buying counterfeit Christmas presents.
Cumbria Police issue burglary and theft warning ahead of the festive season.


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Apple fans should rejoice because the mighty iPhone X will be available for pre-ordering from October 27! The excruciating days of waiting are coming to an end and we are sure that this is a reason to celebrate.
Coming to the price and availability of the iPhone X, both Amazon and Flipkart will have it on their websites. Both of these e-commerce giants have already made the pre-order pages live. You can register to get a notification as soon as it starts!
The cheapest variant of this megaphone will cost you INR 89,000 and will come up with a 64 GB storage. The 256 GB variant is priced at INR 1,02,000/- and we are hoping that the phone is worth such whopping prices!
iPhone X is Apple’s first full-screen display phone, has a facial id feature, a new Apple-designed GPU which is 30% faster than the A10 fusion and these prices are nothing but a result of the new generation of Apple phones that are coming. Along with the e-commerce platforms, this phone will also be available for buying at the Apple stores from November 3, as confirmed by Apple.
The AR of the iPhone X is again an amazing feature and many tech geeks are waiting for the A11 Bionic chip which will also revolutionize the gaming experience. The phone has wireless charging, a 5.8′ retina display, and Animoji which goes to an amazing length to make them look alive!
Along with the amazing iPhone X, Apple is also going to sell phone cases and a number of other accessories including lightning docks etc.
The iPhone X will be available in 55 countries including Hong Kong, UK, USA, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore along with others!
Are you excited for the iPhone X? Talk to us and let us know your feedback on the upcoming device by Apple!


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Frederick, MD, September, 2023 — We’re thrilled to announce that Orases has won the 2023 Torch Awards for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland! This award recognizes our commitment to doing business the right way: with integrity, transparency, and a focus on our clients.
Nick Damoulakis, President and CEO of Orases, shared his thoughts on the award, stating, “This award is a big win for our team. It shows that our hard work and dedication to ethical business practices are paying off. We’re so proud and can’t wait to continue serving our clients with the high standards they’ve come to expect from us.”
What sets the Torch Awards for Ethics apart is its deep-rooted commitment to promoting trust and integrity in the marketplace. The award is given by a distinguished panel of business leaders and former winners who understand the value of ethical business practices. This isn’t just an award—it’s a certification of trustworthiness in an often complicated business landscape.
We couldn’t have achieved this without our incredible team, who consistently go above and beyond for our clients. This win is a testament to our culture of trust and excellence, and we’re excited for what the future holds.
For Orases, this award is a milestone, but it also serves as a stepping stone for the journey ahead. With ethics and integrity at the core of our business model, we’re more committed than ever to delivering exceptional service to our clients.
Once again, thank you to the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland for this prestigious award, and a big thank you to our clients and team for making this possible.
About the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics
The Better Business Bureau’s Torch Awards for Ethics celebrate companies that demonstrate the highest level of integrity and ethical business practice. The awards serve as a beacon, guiding consumers toward businesses they can trust.


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According to a new report from Japan, the release of the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado’s next-generation model has been pushed back to the following year, a year after it was originally scheduled.
The new Toyota Prado will not arrive in Japanese showrooms until April 2024, nine to twelve months later than previously reported by Japanese media, according to a credible Japanese publication, Magazine X (via sibling site Car Sensor).
When it is supplanted in Australia, the current-generation Toyota Prado, which debuted in 2009, will be 15 years old.
The new Toyota Prado has been postponed until 2024
As previously reported, the new Toyota Prado is anticipated to adopt a variant of the new TNGA-F platform that underpins the new LandCruiser 300 Series 4WD and the US Tundra pickup.
This new-generation frame is also anticipated to underpin the upcoming 2025 Toyota HiLux generation.
In the past 18 months, there have been conflicting reports regarding the intended engines for the next Toyota Prado.
The latest report from Magazine X suggests that the LandCruiser 300 Series may not offer twin-turbo gasoline or diesel V6 power, but rather a variety of four-cylinder engines.
Other unconfirmed reports indicate a single-turbo version of this diesel V6 engine for the Toyota Prado and HiLux.
Meanwhile, Magazine X asserts that there are plans for a “electrified” variant of the new Toyota Prado. And ultimately, rather than a battery-electric model, there could be a hydrogen fuel-cell version with a hydrogen canister and an electric motor.
Magazine X makes no mention of a hybrid version, either with petrol or diesel power; however, other reports from Japan indicate that hybrid power is planned for the standard Toyota Prado in close proximity to its introduction.
In Japan, there will be a choice between 2.7-litre non-turbo and 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines – the latter from other Toyota and Lexus vehicles, where it produces up to 205kW/430Nm – and a diesel engine of some kind.
The insider said the 2.8-liter turbo diesel four-cylinders fate is unknown.
According to Magazine-X, the new Toyota Prado will be 100mm longer and 5mm wider than the model it replaces, with aesthetics described as having “a boxy square tone” and the same vertical grille bars as the existing model.
According to the publication, the cabin will feature an infotainment screen with communication-type navigation, as well as a digital key that can be used as a smartphone instead of a key.
If the most recent Toyota models are any indication, premium variants will feature a 12.3-inch infotainment interface and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto.
According to the Japanese website Creative Trend, the new Prado could be renamed “LandCruiser 250 Series” in its domestic market.
However, this is not supported by the Magazine X report or any other coverage of the new model in Japanese media over the past 18 months.
According to the most recent report by Magazine X, the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser Prado will hit Japanese showrooms in April 2024.
Toyota has not confirmed the overseas allegation, but if it is accurate, the first models may be available in Australian showrooms before the end of the year.


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A COUNCIL may use compulsory purchase powers to buy an eyesore building if its sale cannot be agreed with the owners soon.
Talks have been taking place for several months with owners of the Longscar Centre at Seaton Carew about Hartlepool Borough Council buying it.
The council says securing the building is a key part of the authority’s masterplan to develop the area.
It has made several formal offers for the Longscar Centre, but have been unable to agree a price with owners Capanac Leisure.
Councillor Kevin Cranney told a meeting of the full council that if a final offer is not accepted the council will discuss the next steps, including compulsory purchase, at February’s Finance and Policy committee meeting.
Coun Cranny, vice chairman of the Regeneration Services Committee, was responding to a question from member of the public Graeme Measor.
Mr Measor said: “How long does it really take to agree a price on a dangerous dilapidated building which is now starting to attract arsonists?
“Will they (the council) please acknowledge that the only way forward to rid Seaton Carew of this carbuncle is to commence a compulsory purchase order?”
The Seaton Masterplan involves the council using proceeds from new housing developments to fund regeneration with new community facilities and small businesses.
Money from the sale of a site on Elizabeth Way is earmarked to buy and demolish the Longscar building.
Coun Cranney said: “The council has made several formal offers for the building and had discussions with the owners over a sustained period of time but been unable to agree a price.”
He added: “If the owners do not accept the revised offer to purchase and the council consider that all attempts have been exhausted to secure purchase by agreement then only as a last resort the council can consider invoking the use of its CPO powers to secure the building.”
Last March, the owners said they hoped to turn the building into a thriving business hub by opening a new sea-view restaurant and creating various units inside for takeaways and bars.
Coun Cranney said the council had not yet received any formal planning application from the owners about redeveloping the site.
The owners could not be contacted for comment.


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Those issues and the high dollar mean farmers aren’t reaping the full value from red meat exports particularly.
Still, in a covid-19 world, the export market is holding up really well.
However, it’s not shipping containers that are really grinding farmers’ gears at the moment – it’s utes, and the fact that imported vehicles will be taxed in an effort to decarbonise the vehicle fleet.
As is often the case, the regulator is copping the blame for something the market is in the process of taking care of.
Most major car makers are in the process of switching production to electric vehicles, so the gas guzzler will be off the menu in a few years.
It’s worth remembering that the tax is only on imported vehicle purchases, so perhaps it’s worth seeing if the Hilux can last another year or two?
Supply chain drag on US beef bonanza
Strong imported manufacturing beef demand and high prices in the United States are not being passed fully through to cattle farmers in New Zealand.
SWAG announces new partnership
The action group tasked with reinvigorating the strong wool industry has launched a new partnership with Primary Purpose in its drive to get the sector match-fit for the market.
Fonterra open to longer share-down times
Fonterra farmers who retire, or otherwise leave the co-operative, may be allowed to hold their supply shares for 15 or even 20 years within changes to capital structure currently being discussed.
McNee steps down as LIC boss
Wayne McNee is stepping down as LIC chief executive on November 30 after eight years in the role.
Happy Valley Nutrition secures international deal
New dairy company Happy Valley Nutrition has entered into an agreement with Burt Lewis Ingredients (BLI) to supply the North American company with milk powder.


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Multiple reports have revealed that Samsung is working on at least two new tablets such as the Galaxy Tab S8 series and Galaxy Tab A8. These tablets are likely to go official in the coming weeks. Well before the announcement, tipster Snoopy Tech has shared the RAM, storage, and color variants of the Tab S8 lineup. In addition, he also shared the press renders of the Tab A8 2021.
Reports have revealed that the Tab S8 will include three models such as Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+ and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The new leak claims that the Galaxy Tab S8 and Tab S8+ will come in a single variant that offers 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
The Tab S8 and S8+ will be available in Wi-Fi only and 5G variants. Both models will be sold in Dark Gray and Silver colors. As it is known, the Galaxy Tab S8 will feature an 11-inch display, while the Tab S8+ will be equipped with a 12.4-inch screen.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra will come in Dark Gray colour only. Its 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage variant will be available in Wi-Fi only or 5G editions. The higher 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage model will come with support for 5G connectivity. At present, there is no information on the pricing of the Tab S8 tablets.
Shown above are the leaked renders of the Galaxy Tab A8 2021. The images show the tablet in gray and silver colors. A previous report claimed that it will also come in pink gold color. The Tab A8 2021 is likely to be priced between 240 euros (~$272) and 360 euros (~$407).


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GMA’s Affordabox ‘selling like hot pandesal’
Television giant GMA Network Inc.’s newly launched digital TV product is seeing a surge in sales while its main rival ABS-CBN remains shut from the airwaves by the Philippine government.
During the company’s annual meeting on Friday, GMA chair and CEO Felipe Gozon told shareholders its Affordabox was “selling like hot pandesal” although he did not provide any figures.
“We are overshooting our targets,” Gozon said on Friday. “Just this morning, I have a request to increase the number of boxes to be purchased.”
GMA said in a separate statement that it had initially planned to sell 600,000 Affordabox units, a plug-and-play device that connects to an analog TV set and allows it to receive digital broadcasts.
The shareholders’ meeting comes amid a major structural change in the media landscape.
ABS-CBN was denied last Friday a broadcast franchise by lawmakers, sealing GMA’s dominance in TV with an estimated market share of about 63 percent. Without its franchise, ABS-CBN has started the mass layoff of workers and the collapse of various business divisions across the country.
Asked by a shareholder about his views on ABS-CBN’s fate, Gozon said “I prefer not to comment.”
Broadcast giants like GMA derive most of their earnings from advertising on free-to-air TV. The shift to digital, however, is mandated by the Philippine government, which plans to shut down prevailing analog TV by 2023.
GMA’s Affordabox was in response to this policy. But it is a latecomer, having been launched late last month while ABS-CBN’s TVplus entered the market in 2015.
ABS-CBN said it had sold about nine million TVplus devices to date. Those devices can also capture GMA’s digital TV channels.
Gozon on Friday said they plan to launch three more digital TV channels, some within the year. The company has also priced the Affordabox at 40-percent less than the TVplus and with extra features such as video recording to lure buyers.
For regular TV, Gozon said they would gradually add more current content. Like other broadcasters, the company was forced to air reruns due to movement restrictions when strict lockdowns were imposed throughout the country to slow the spread of the new coronavirus disease.
GMA Network’s first quarter earnings fell 19 percent to P583.4 million while revenues hit P3.25 billion, down 7 percent. This was mainly due to the absence of political-related advertising boosted earnings last year. —Miguel R. Camus


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The U.S. stock market rose today with a series of promising data points.
The Conference Board said consumer confidence in June rose to a more than five-year high. The index rose to 81.4 from 74.3 in May, marking the best level since January 2008.
Prices for U.S. homes leaped in April, posting record monthly growth and the fastest year-over-year growth in seven years, according to S&P/Case-Shiller data released Tuesday. With gains in 19 of 20 cities, the 20-city composite index rose 2.5 percent in April, the largest monthly growth on record. The data go back to 2000. After seasonal adjustments, prices rose 1.7 percent in April.
Meanwhile, sales of new homes rose in May to the highest rate since mid-2008 and purchases for the prior three months were all revised higher, reflecting the continued resurgence in the U.S. housing market. The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday said sales last month climbed 2.1 percent to an annual rate of 476,000 from 466,000 in April. Sales for April, March and February were also revised higher.
Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rose more than expected in May. Durable goods orders increased 3.6 percent as demand for goods ranging from aircraft to machinery rose, the U.S. Commerce Department said. Orders for these goods, which range from toasters to aircraft, had risen 3.6 percent in April.
Core capital goods shipments, used to calculate equipment and software spending in the national gross domestic product report, rebounded 1.7 percent. The increase in shipments of core capital goods pointed to moderate growth in business spending on capital equipment.
Today’s positive data prompted the Dow Jones Industrial Average to gain more than 110 points.


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Grain & Grit Beer Announces Founding Memberships Campaign
On June 5, 2017 At 2:00 pm
Responses : Comments are off for this post
HAMILTON, ON – Ontario Beverage Network reports that a brewery planning to open later this year in Hamilton has launched a pre-opening Founding Memberships campaign that offers a wide range of benefits for a year to those who join.
Grain & Grit Beer has announced that for a $250 fee, members will receive a 1 litre growler with credit for 12 fills, a t-shirt, 10% off all other beer and merchandise purchases, early access to new releases, free tastings of pilot beers, invitation to a members-only launch party and other events, and more.
For more details, see the Founding Memberships page on the Grain & Grit Brewing website.


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The Brief for August 24, 2020
Happy Monday! Read below for one article, one podcast, and one video for your week.
Bottom line: this year, Chinese citizens moved at least $50 billion of dollars out of the country using USDT, despite the Chinese government’s ban on such actions.
My take: the Chinese have used USDT to get exposure to US dollars for years. It’s easier than getting actual dollars and far less noticeable than trading in and out of yuan.
Why we care: with China’s digital yuan already in testing, you can bet there will be a race for the exits once it launches. While $50 billion isn’t much money, it’s a lot for the tiny crypto market. How much more money will flood the cryptosphere when as the launch gets closer and the Chinese try to get “one last chance” to flee their national currency?
Check out the most recent episode of The Flippening podcast, if you have a chance.
Clay interviews JP Thieriot of Uphold, a platform that lets people swap cryptocurrency for convenient use online and at stores. Interesting take on consumer behavior, how the US regulatory framework stifles crypto innovation for the rest of the world, and how modern payment rails adapt to crypto.
Check out my most recent video, where I answer two of the most common questions that I get.
If you’re enjoying Crypto is Easy, please vote for me for Hacker Noon Independent Tech Journalist of the Year!
Use your Hacker Noon login (if you have one) because your vote will carry more weight.
Relax and enjoy the ride!


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New Scientific Review Shows Milk Does Not Aid in Weight Loss
Milk-mustache ads featuring top celebrities claiming that milk helps them stay slim are ubiquitous in U.S. magazines, despite an ongoing controversy over the campaign’s scientific validity. But a comprehensive new review paper published this month in Nutrition Reviews shows just how little science is behind the ads. The review offers detailed scientific proof that dairy products do not reliably help people lose weight or body fat and can, in fact, cause weight gain.
PCRM senior nutrition scientist Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D., and PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D., carefully reviewed every study conducted from 1966 through August 2007 (and published in English) that examined whether dairy or calcium supplementation impacts weight loss or body fat. Some of the studies looked at children and adolescents, some at adults. Some of the studies restricted calories; others did not.
Of the 49 studies that Drs. Lanou and Barnard analyzed, 41 showed absolutely no effect on weight loss. Two showed that dairy products increased body weight. The only studies that showed any weight or body fat loss were funded by the dairy industry. None of the 18 studies investigating whether dairy or calcium supplementation help children or adolescents keep off weight showed any effect at all.
Last year, PCRM won a victory against the dairy industry when the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and two national dairy industry organizations agreed to stop a long-running weight-loss campaign because existing research did not support their claims. Rather than honor this agreement, the dairy industry simply reworded its claims, toning down the message only slightly.
Recently, the industry unveiled a revamped ad campaign featuring Brooke Shields, Glenn Close, and other stars claiming that milk helps them maintain a healthy weight. With the publication of this conclusive Nutrition Reviews analysis, PCRM will step up its campaign to counteract the dairy industry’s weight-loss claims.
Dr. Lanou, an assistant professor of health and wellness at the University of North Carolina in Asheville, has lectured and published widely on the topic.


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Minister meets motorsport - The Best of British and the World
22 Feb 2012
Business Minister, Mark Prisk attended ‘Britain’s Motorsport Industry – The Business of Winning’ exhibition at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Organised by the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) to highlight the motorsport industry’s multi-billion pound contribution to the UK economy, the exhibition is one in a series of ‘UK Manufacturing Excellence’ showcases held by the Government.
The Minister met key representatives from the UK’s motorsport and high performance engineering industry who demonstrated their unique, innovative world-beating products, and stunning Formula One and Le Mans race winning cars.
They emphasised the jobs the industry creates; its global success in promoting British engineering; its high investment in R&D; the inward investment it attracts and its future, growing contribution to Britain’s economy.
The aim of this showcase is to raise awareness of the motorsport industry’s considerable contribution to the UK, and its successful transfer of technology into various industries.
Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “Worth £6 billion per year to the UK economy – £3.6 billion of which are exports – our motorsport industry is leading the way in developing high performance engineering technologies that have benefits not only for motorsport but for the automotive, defence, aerospace and marine industries too, both here in the UK and across the globe.
“Its engineering and innovation excellence such as this that has helped create our country’s robust manufacturing base, which the Government has placed at the centre of its Growth Programme.
“This exhibition will also help to challenge perceptions of manufacturing, which is the aim of our Make it in Great Britain campaign – demonstrating that manufacturing is still alive and well in this country and offers fantastic career prospects.”
Nick Fry, CEO of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team and UKTI Business Ambassador, said: “We are delighted to be participating in the ‘Britain’s Motorsport Industry - Business of Winning’ exhibition and help to showcase the remarkable contribution of the motorsport industry to Britain’s economy. High performance technologies are a great asset, and it’s important to realise that the breadth of application spreads well beyond motorsport into everyday life.”
“Many of the technologies developed at the highest levels of Formula One can be developed in other areas - for example, composites to make our cars lightweight can be applied to aeroplane design, and the development of energy recovery systems in the automotive industry has been pushed along by the use of the KERS system in Formula One. Mercedes-Benz employs close to one thousand employees working in motorsport in the UK, and we also rely on an excellent and highly technical network of suppliers throughout the country. Through the work of such specialised individuals and companies, the motorsport sector is continuing to grow, thrive and diversify, and it’s an industry that our country should be very proud of.”
MiiGB Industry Champion and Williams F1 CEO Alex Burns said: “I am delighted to be an Industry Champion for the Make it in Great Britain campaign. I am looking forward to informing the public about the great work that is being done in motorsport, which is a vibrant part of the British manufacturing industry, and how at Williams we are developing exciting new technologies for racing and then adapting these for others uses, particularly in energy efficiency and road safety. I hope that the campaign inspires many young people to consider the many exciting career options available in manufacturing.”
Paul Drayson, Owner of Drayson Racing Technologies and MIA President said: "The UK motorsport industry literally leads the world. Our winning formula is based upon the talent, inventiveness and engineering excellence that lies behind every success on track."
The exhibition, which runs until 2nd March, includes displays from leading motorsport companies in Motorsport Valley UK, including Alcon, Goodridge, Cosworth, Capricorn, Quentor, Williams F1, Mercedes-AMG F1, Xtrac, Lola and Drayson Racing Technologies. It features the latest state of the art designs and technology from a sector with sales over £6 billion a year of which £3.6bn are exports, and employs some 40,000 people.


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The new generation of the popular luxury SUV is coming and it looks like it will come with a fine number of improvements in various aspects. The current generation has been around for some time and it definitely lags behind most competitors, especially in terms of driving dynamics and overall efficiency. Fortunately, it looks like the company’s engineers were aware of all drawbacks of the current model. Therefore, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE will not just handle better, but also come with a higher level of overall practicality. Of course, there is a new engine lineup to come, with more potent, but also more efficient powertrain. The new model has been presented already and it is expected to hit the market pretty soon.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Redesign
Like any other redesign, this one will also bring changes in various aspects. The first thing that comes to mind is the platform. Like it was the case in the past, the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE will heavily rely on the famous E-Class. The new SUV will ride on a completely new platform, which will for this occasion utilize a lot of lightweight materials. One of the biggest complaints about the current model goes to driving dynamics. Main rivals like Audi Q7 and BMW X5 are more exciting to drive and we hope that the new model will fix this issue. Just like the current model, it will come with two body styles, though we hope that the coupe version will be a little bit more practical this time. Of course, we won’t just see new mechanics.
The new model is about to come with new aesthetics as well, both on the outside and on the inside. Finally, count on some interesting tech features, that will make the ride better than before.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Exterior
When it comes to the exterior design, some of the details are still unknown, despite the new model has been presented already. We still don’t know details about dimensions of the new model, though we are pretty sure that there are no significant changes. The best we can get is a couple of more inches in wheelbase. Judging on what we can see from the photos, it looks like the new model will feature a slightly longer wheelbase, but shorter overhangs, so the overall length will remain quite the same.
Of course, there is a new styling, which is based on the company’s latest design language, which in practice means similar face to the new GLA, just in a much bigger package. Just like the previous model, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE will come in two body styles, either as typical SUV or as Coupe.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Interior
Interior of the new model looks quite exciting. The first thing that you’ll notice is a new dashboard. Compared to the previous generation, it looks far more attractive and, more importantly, more distinctive. Huge and numerous air vents are probably the first thing you’ll notice about the new dashboard. Also, there is a much bigger touchscreen on the center stack, which doesn’t come in a tablet-like layout anymore, but rather integrated into the dashboard, along with the new digital instrument cluster, which is also pretty huge. The overall impression is that the new cabin looks far more upscale, though we must say that the outgoing model also features one of the finest cabins in the class.
Besides the new dashboard layout, the new models will also be more comfortable. As we already mentioned, the new model will probably feature a slightly longer wheelbase, which promises more space on the inside. This primarily refers to passengers in the second row, which will enjoy more legroom than before. Also, it has been confirmed that the optional third row will be offered as an option.
The cargo area should be more spacious as well. More importantly, it should be more practical and functional. The most interesting detail in the trunk is a couple of buttons. You can use them to fold down rear seats and to lower rear suspension, for easier loads and unloads.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Engines
At this point, two engines are certain for the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE. Base models will come with a new 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, which is good for about 255 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the outgoing V6, that’s slightly less power, but the company promises much better fuel economy.
There is also a 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Additionally, there is the EQ Boost system, that ads 21 horsepower while accelerating. In the future, we count on more engines in the offer, including hi-performance models under AMG badge.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Release Date and Price
The new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE is about to hit the market this spring. We don’t expect some significant changes in terms of the price compared to the current model, which starts at around 56.000 dollars.


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Product of Middle-earth headed for Big Apple
The Dominion Post article by Matthew Tso, May 11th 2017
Extract: From the shadows of Mordor to the bright lights of New York City, a Lower Hutt based company is taking its product to the world.
An architectural polycarbonate mesh produced by Kaynemaile will be used to create a centrepiece exhibit in Times Square for the NYCxDesign festival.
More than one million interlocked rings were used to create the interactive installation which will be on display from May 18 to May 22.
The Kaynemaile component of the installation was made in Petone before being sent to New York.


text: With the internal combustion engine living on borrowed time and fully autonomous cars on the horizon, we’re starting to see more and more futuristic concept cars that focus more on what cars of the future will be like than what we can expect to see in the next five or six years. Audi has really jumped on that wagon, and at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, it debuted the Audi Aicon – a vehicle that looks to the days of self-driving electric mobility with absolutely no compromises. As a 2+2 sedan, the Aicon has an attractive silhouette and a roomy interior. Comfort is of the utmost importance, and you’ll find that the interior is void of the usual necessities like a steering wheel or pedals and buttons. As an all-electric vehicle, it boasts four electric motors and a battery pack that should be good for nearly 500 miles of non-stop driving. And, not that it matters in a car that you can’t drive, but system output is rated at nearly 350 horsepower and more than 400 pound-feet of torque. Not bad.


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Australians will be among tens of thousands of others staging protests against Amazon around the world today, using the official start of Black Friday to demonstrate against the e-commerce giant’s working conditions and safety standards.
A protest at Amazon’s distribution centre in Sydney this morning was led by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), which argue Amazon is failing to provide adequate working conditions for transport and warehouse workers.
The TWU and SDA are also concerned about what they say are attempts by Amazon to discourage or prevent workers from working with unions to lobby for better conditions.
However, in a statement provided to SmartCompany, a spokesperson for Amazon Australia argued these concerns are not shared by Amazon’s Australian employees.
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“Amazon provides a safe, quality work environment for our associates, and today’s event, and the notable lack of Amazon associate participation, shows that our team members know this to be true,” they said.
The Sydney event was part of a broader series of global protests against Amazon, timed to coincide with Black Friday.
Events are planned in Bangladesh, Brazil, France, India, Italy, Luxembourg, the Philippines, Poland, Sweden and the US, while German trade union Verdi is leading three-day strikes at Amazon warehouses to demand improvements to worker pay and conditions.
Workers in the UK are unable to protest due to coronavirus restrictions, and will therefore participate in an online event.
The coordinated protests are reportedly part of a “make Amazon pay” campaign, convened by trade union federation UNI Global and Progressive International — a global coalition that includes economist Yanis Varoufakis, who has urged people to boycott Amazon on Black Friday.
The campaign has a long list of concerns about Amazon’s actions, or lack thereof, in a range of areas: from workers’ rights and conditions and tax avoidance to environmental impact and privacy concerns.
Amazon has previously dominated Black Friday sales — now a permanent event in the retail calendar, including in Australia — and is offering extensive discounts again this year.
It comes against a backdrop of dizzying profits made by the company during the pandemic, as online retail sales exploded amid lockdowns around the world.
At one point in April, Amazon was reportedly making sales of US$11,000 a second, leading to a dramatic surge in its share price, and contributing even more to the already immense wealth of chief executive Jeff Bezos.
Many smaller Australian companies sell products via Amazon’s Australian marketplace, although some have previously spoken out about the relative high cost of trying to sell via the platform when few sales were being placed.
Today’s protest in Sydney is focused on workers’ rights, and also coincides with a Federal Court appearance this week by the SDA on behalf of a labour-hire worker at Amazon’s Sydney fulfillment centre, who is arguing the company did not offer her a permanent role because she was pregnant.
“The case highlights the precarious nature of insecure work,” said SDA NSW Secretary Bernie Smith in a statement.
“If she had been directly hired from the beginning of her work for Amazon, our member would be looking forward to the birth of her child secure in the knowledge she would be taking parental leave and returning to her work with Amazon. Instead, she faces uncertainty and a court case.”
TWU’s NSW state secretary Richard Olsen said in the same statement that Amazon, and other companies that use gig-style work arrangements, are “attempting to normalise worker exploitation under the guise of innovation”.
“Amazon is a retail giant that has made record profits during the pandemic, but is well known around the world for its awful treatment of workers,” he said.
The dangerous conditions Amazon imposes on transport and warehouse workers have no place in global industry standards and certainly not in Australia.”


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The BSIA has appointed Paddy Kyle as its Chief Commercial Officer.
Paddy joins the Association bringing 25 years of commercial experience in the fire and security industry, specialising in leading sales teams. Paddy has a strong track record in aligning marketing strategy with sales objectives for companies such as Texecom.
His prime responsibility will be to drive membership retention and accelerate membership growth, working closely with the Marcomms and Membership teams.
Mike Reddington, Chief Executive, BSIA, said: “I am delighted that Paddy will be joining the BSIA as our new Chief Commercial Officer. His many years of experience in the industry working with leading companies in the field will provide great assistance to the Association as we build on our recent successes and drive for accelerated growth in the coming years.”
Paddy is based in Yorkshire and took up his post at the beginning of August.


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HAVING offered beleaguered punters free petrol on Budget Day last year, Betfair are ‘branching out’ in their latest approach to help reduce the pain of ‘Budget 2012’. From 11am on Tuesday, the betting exchange will be giving away high quality, Irish-grown Noble Fir Christmas trees.
The first 200 punters to arrive at the former Veterinary College in Dublin’s Ballsbridge area will receive a tree absolutely free. The site, which is under the control of NAMA, is situated opposite Ballsbridge Motors on Shelbourne Road. With a recommended retail price of €60, the trees are expected to fly out the gate.
Betfair spokesman Barry Orr commented today: “The irony of Christmas trees being given away on the most expensive site ever sold in the State, on the day when €3.8 billion euros is being removed from our economy, will not be lost on the public.”
“Last December, we gave away free petrol to help punters ‘Beat the Budget’ and that received such a terrific response that this time around, with Christmas in mind, we wanted to put the smile back on people’s faces by offering something not just for motorists but consumers in general.”
I’m sure the trees are going to go fast so people need to make sure they get down early to avoid disappointment!’’
‘’Finally, thanks to Ballsbridge Motors for allowing us distribute the trees from the site’
CLICK BANNER BELOW TO BECOME A CUSTOMER


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29 MAY 2002
Comic Today: Foul Play says Zarb
Electronics manufacturing finding an even keel
This months Economic Update magazine, found within todays issue, focuses on the electronics manufacturing sub sector a sector hard hit by the events of 11 September, which had, in part, catalysed a drastic drop in international consumer demand.
We say that the tragic events were partially responsible, as many observers have continuously pointed out that a drop in consumer demand had been felt even prior to last September.
The local electronics manufacturing industry is formidable and accounts for some 65 per cent of Maltas manufactured exports, largely due to the attraction Malta holds as an investment opportunity for foreign companies.
The industry, which is spearheaded by the presence of the world-leading STMicroelectronics, was held largely accountable for last years contraction of the economy, which was primarily due to a decrease in the sub-sectors output.
In fact, performance in the sector last year miserably failed to reflect its performance over 2000, a period in which the sector had reached new heights.
In fact, reflecting the reduction in foreign demand, which hit the global sector following 11 September, the sector plunged and its performance was a far cry from that of 2000, during which it had peaked.
However, despite the reduced demand levels registered over last years fourth quarter, which was felt the world over, the government remains upbeat about this years prospects, adamantly expecting the sector, which accounted for a substantial reduction in exports over 2001, to recover by midyear.
The sentiment is echoed by STMicroelectronics, which is expecting that the market will grow between 1-4 per cent in relation to 2001. In fact, the semi-conducter giant recently told this newspaper that the first quarter of this year represents the bottom of the downward cycle and that the company is expecting double digit growth over the second quarter.
Keeping our feet on the ground
However strong this newspapers belief in the positive effect EU membership will have on the long term prospects of this country, we still contend that it is up to us Maltese to make things work.
The EU offers no magical solutions to this countrys problems. The EU can only provide the right context within which local industry can prosper if it rises up to the occasion.
This sentiment is echoed by Edwin Calleja of the Federation of Industry. In an interview with the Economic Update he says that EU membership will not in itself bring about an increase in business activity. The challenge, he contends, is to keep an ongoing transfer of new technology that will have a positive effect on the efficiency, the volumes the industry will be able to export and the value-added.
At the end of the day it is the entrepreunerial spirit that will keep the Islands economy ticking. Emerging from the protective cocoon that has shielded local industry from the full impact of international economics is a must if this country is to become competitive.
In this scenario the education system has an important role to play. It must prepare students for the challenges of life and not least the work place. School leavers must have the skill to adapt their line of study to the changing trends in industry. We cannot continue competing with other countries on the premise of cheap labour, Tunisia and Libya will always be cheaper than us.
In this respect our asset lies in the availability of a highly skilled work force, which is totally dependent on us, and the unhindered access to wider more prosperous markets that can open up to us on membership of the EU.


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ORU changes longtime dress code
Oral Roberts University has modified its dress code to allow students to wear jeans and flip-flops to class.
President Richard Roberts told students in chapel Wednesday they could immediately start wearing jeans, sweatshirts, tennis shoes and flip-flops. He said men could wear their shirts untucked and women could wear strapless formal gowns. Everyone now can wear sweatpants, T-shirts and hats to the cafeteria near the dorms, he said.
In a roar of cheers, students gave the president a standing ovation.
Heather Thomas, student association president, said she saw men untucking their shirts as Roberts spoke.
The changes started when ORU did a study on how outsiders viewed the university, Roberts said. The study recommended changing the dress code, which already had been tweaked over the years.
The school long required women to wear skirts or dresses and men to wear ties and slacks.
Archive ID: 2913283


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Metaverse Crypto coins continue to see significant price gains this month, with many registering double-digit percent gains today. Let’s take a look at the top 3 Metaverse crypto coins gaining the most price today, ordered by 24-hour growth, lowest to highest.
ShoeFy (SHOE) +24%
Launched in October 2021, ShoeFy is an NFT platform for digital collectible Shoes. Also called sNFTs, ShoeFy features digital shoes utilizing the ERC-721 token standard. ShoeFy also includes its native ERC-20 SHOE token enabling users to purchase sNFTs.
The ShoeFy ecosystem will include several services to incentivize users to participate in their economy, purchase the sNFTs, and hold SHOE tokens. ShoeFy’s value proposition is as follows:
- Staking sNFTs for SHOE holders, enabling users to earn a portion of the transaction + NFT mining fees.
- Royalties on selling sNFTs on secondary marketplaces.
- Own unique sNFTs and get access to an exclusive house of rare, epic, and legendary NFTs,
- ShoeFy Governance system
- Provide liquidity and earn LP tokens.
ShoeFy has been topping the charts as the top Metaverse crypto coin gaining the most price multiple days this week, speaking to the bullish sentiment of this project.
In recent news, ShoeFy announced their AMA on February 5th, so if you’re on the fence about investing in ShoeFy, market your calendars and get your questions answered!
— ShoeFy Launching Raze Racing PlayToEarn NFT Game (@ShoeFyio) February 3, 2022
You can purchase SHOE on Uniswap or PancakeSwap.
RaceFi (RACEFI) +30%
Launched in December 2021, RaceFi is a racing Metaverse ecosystem featuring cars, racetracks, garages, gas stations, and more. The project is built on Solana and features the play-to-earn model that enables players to earn tokens for participating in the RaceFi ecosystem.
One of RaceFi’s unique features is their Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning car racing game, including PVP and PVE game modes.
The RaceFi economy features a dual-token ecosystem consisting of RCOIN, the native utility token on the platform, and RACEFI, a governance token enabling users to receive early access to NFT drops and more.
As the first-ever AI/ML car racing game on Solana, RaceFi is worth checking out if you’re a fan of racing games. In addition, the excellent market performance today, along with the high 24-hour trading volume of over $1 million, speaks to the robust community support that this project has, definitely worth keeping an eye on in 2022.
You can purchase RACEFI on Raydium and KuCoin.
ClassicDoge (XDOGE) +61%
Launched in November 2021, ClassicDoge is a pet-themed Metaverse crypto coin that enables users to create a 3D NFT of their pets and immortalize them on the blockchain.
ClassicDoge has been performing exceptionally well this week, rising over 1000% in the past seven days alone! It’s also the top gainer today, rising over 61%.
It seems that the market has favored ClassicDoge as it’s clear the crypto community loves their pets. We’ve seen Shiba Inu experience astronomical price gains simply for its dog-themed aspects and great tokenomics.
Unfortunately, ClassicDoge currently doesn’t have a Minimum Viable Product. Still, according to a recent Tweet, NFT Pet Packs are coming soon, along with limited edition NFTs that can be staked to earn rewards.
🐶NFT Pet Packs.
🥳Limited Edition NFTs that can be staked to earn or held for epic high demand.
— ClassicDoge (XDOGE) Official (@TheClassicDoge) February 4, 2022
You can purchase XDOGE on PancakeSwap.
Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any Metaverse crypto coins.
Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Metaverse news!
Image Source: Vintage Tone/Shutterstock.com


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The fall detection feature of the Apple Watch has been credited with helping emergency services get to an unconscious driver following a collision —here’s how to set it up.
A tweet from the Surrey Police in the United Kingdom advises there was an incident on local roads one week prior, where a driver had been “involved in a collision” and “had been knocked unconscious.” In the tweet, the police reveal there was a response to an alert generated by the Apple Watch’s fall detection feature, which sent GPS data to emergency responders guiding them to the injured party.
Surrey Police advised to AppleInsider the man “remains in hospital in a serious, but stable condition.” An appeal for witnesses further describes him as aged in his “early 30s,” with the incident occurring at just after 2am GMT on November 2 at Gatton Park Road, Redhill.
Last week we responded to an automated Apple Watch fall detection alert after a driver that was involved in a collision had been knocked unconscious.
The alarm provided emergency responders with GPS data to quickly locate the scene.
— RPU – Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) November 4, 2019
In a follow-up tweet, the Surrey Police advise Apple Watch owners to consider setting up fall detection on their devices, as well as how to set up their medical ID, which can help emergency services identify the individual and to warn of existing medical conditions.
This is not the first time the Apple Watch’s fall detection has been praised for saving a life. In April, an 80-year-old Munich woman was given assistance after the Apple Watch detected her fall in her apartment, while an 87-year-old woman in Maine was rescued by emergency services following a car accident in June.
Fall detection is available for anyone to set up on the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5, but it is disabled by default for users under the age of 65. For people aged 65 or over, fall detection is automatically offered to be enabled as part of the setup process.
How to set up fall detection on your Apple Watch
- Open the Watch app on the iPhone linked to the Apple Watch in question
- Select the My Watch tab
- Tap Emergency SOS
- Tap the toggle next to “Fall Detection”
Once enabled, the Apple Watch will attempt to alert users to a detected fall, and ask if they are fine. If there is no response, it will attempt to further alert the user with a tap of the wrist and an alarm sound, before it calls the emergency services.
Apple does warn of the presence of false positives, where an action by the user could be misinterpreted as a fall. The more physically active the wearer, the more likely the feature will be triggered, especially for high-impact activities.
These ten enterprise M&A deals totaled over $40B in 2019
It would be hard to top the 2018 enterprise M&A total of a whopping $87 billion, and predictably this year didn’t come close. In fact, the top 10 enterprise M&A deals in 2019 were less than half last year’s, totaling $40.6 billion. This year’s biggest purchase was Salesforce buying Tableau for $15.7 billion, which would…
It would be hard to top the 2018 enterprise M&A total of a whopping $87 billion, and predictably this year didn’t come close. In fact, the top 10 enterprise M&A deals in 2019 were less than half last year’s, totaling $40.6 billion.
This year’s biggest purchase was Salesforce buying Tableau for $15.7 billion, which would have been good for third place last year behind IBM’s mega deal plucking Red Hat for $34 billion and Broadcom grabbing CA Technologies for $18.8 billion.
Contributing to this year’s quieter activity was the fact that several typically acquisitive companies — Adobe, Oracle and IBM — stayed mostly on the sidelines after big investments last year. It’s not unusual for companies to take a go-slow approach after a big expenditure year. Adobe and Oracle bought just two companies each with neither revealing the prices. IBM didn’t buy any.
Microsoft didn’t show up on this year’s list either, but still managed to pick up eight new companies. It was just that none was large enough to make the list (or even for them to publicly reveal the prices). When a publicly traded company doesn’t reveal the price, it usually means that it didn’t reach the threshold of being material to the company’s results.
As always, just because you buy it doesn’t mean it’s always going to integrate smoothly or well, and we won’t know about the success or failure of these transactions for some years to come. For now, we can only look at the deals themselves.
Jumia, DHL, and Alibaba will face off in African ecommerce 2.0
The business of selling consumer goods and services online is a relatively young endeavor across Africa, but ecommerce is set to boom. Over the last eight years, the sector has seen its first phase of big VC fundings, startup duels and attrition. To date, scaling e-commerce in Africa has straddled the line of challenge and…
The business of selling consumer goods and services online is a relatively young endeavor across Africa, but ecommerce is set to boom.
Over the last eight years, the sector has seen its first phase of big VC fundings, startup duels and attrition.
To date, scaling e-commerce in Africa has straddled the line of challenge and opportunity, perhaps more than any other market in the world. Across major African economies, many of the requisites for online retail — internet access, digital payment adoption, and 3PL delivery options — have been severely lacking.
Still, startups jumped into this market for the chance to digitize a share of Africa’s fast growing consumer spending, expected to top $2 billion by 2025.
African e-commerce 2.0 will include some old and new players, play out across more countries, place more priority on internet services, and see the entry of China.
But before highlighting several things to look out for in the future of digital-retail on the continent, a look back is beneficial.
Jumia vs. Konga
The early years for development of African online shopping largely played out in Nigeria (and to some extent South Africa). Anyone who visited Nigeria from 2012 to 2016 likely saw evidence of one of the continent’s early e-commerce showdowns. Nigeria had its own Coke vs. Pepsi-like duel — a race between ventures Konga and Jumia to out-advertise and out-discount each other in a quest to scale online shopping in Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation.
Traveling in Lagos traffic, large billboards for each startup faced off across the skyline, as their delivery motorcycles buzzed between stopped cars.
Covering each company early on, it appeared a battle of VC attrition. The challenge: who could continue to raise enough capital to absorb the losses of simultaneously capturing and creating an e-commerce market in notoriously difficult conditions.
In addition to the aforementioned challenges, Nigeria also had (and continues to have) shoddy electricity.
Both Konga — founded by Nigerian Sim Shagaya — and Jumia — originally founded by two Nigerians and two Frenchman — were forced to burn capital building fulfillment operations most e-commerce startups source to third parties.
That included their own delivery and payment services (KongaPay and JumiaPay). In addition to sales of goods from mobile-phones to diapers, both startups also began experimenting with verticals for internet based services, such as food-delivery and classifieds.
While Jumia and Konga were competing in Nigeria, there was another VC driven race for e-commerce playing out in South Africa — the continent’s second largest and most advanced economy.
E-tailers Takealot and Kalahari had been jockeying for market share since 2011 after raising capital in the hundreds of millions of dollars from investors Naspers and U.S. fund Tiger Global Management.
So how did things turn out in West and Southern Africa? In 2014, the lead investor of a flailing Kalahari — Naspers — facilitated a merger with Takealot (that was more of an acquisition). They nixed the Kalahari brand in 2016 and bought out Takelot’s largest investor, Tiger Global, in 2018. Takealot is now South Africa’s leading e-commerce site by market share, but only operates in one country.
In Nigeria, by 2016 Jumia had outpaced its rival Konga in Alexa ratings (6 vs 14), while out-raising Konga (with backing of Goldman Sachs) to become Africa’s first VC backed, startup unicorn. By early 2018, Konga was purchased in a distressed acquisition and faded away as a competitor to Jumia.
Jumia went on to expand online goods and services verticals into 14 Africa countries (though it recently exited a few) and in April 2019 raised over $200 million in an NYSE IPO — the first on a major exchange for a VC-backed startup operating in Africa.
Jumia’s had bumpy road since going public — losing significant share-value after a short-sell attack earlier in 2019 — but the continent’s leading e-commerce company still has heap of capital and generates $100 million in revenues (even with losses).
Airbnb’s New Year’s Eve guest volume shows its falling growth rate
Hello and welcome back to our regular morning look at private companies, public markets and the gray space in between. It’s finally 2020, the year that should bring us a direct listing from home-sharing giant Airbnb, a technology company valued at tens of billions of dollars. The company’s flotation will be a key event in…
Hello and welcome back to our regular morning look at private companies, public markets and the gray space in between.
It’s finally 2020, the year that should bring us a direct listing from home-sharing giant Airbnb, a technology company valued at tens of billions of dollars. The company’s flotation will be a key event in this coming year’s technology exit market. Expect the NYSE and Nasdaq to compete for the listing, bankers to queue to take part, and endless media coverage.
Given that that’s ahead, we’re going to take periodic looks at Airbnb as we tick closer to its eventual public market debut. And that means that this morning we’re looking back through time to see how fast the company has grown by using a quirky data point.
Airbnb releases a regular tally of its expected “guest stays” for New Year’s Eve each year, including 2019. We can therefore look back in time, tracking how quickly (or not) Airbnb’s New Year Eve guest tally has risen. This exercise will provide a loose, but fun proxy for the company’s growth as a whole.
Before we look into the figures themselves, keep in mind that we are looking at a guest figure which is at best a proxy for revenue. We don’t know the revenue mix of the guest stays, for example, meaning that Airbnb could have seen a 10% drop in per-guest revenue this New Year’s Eve — even with more guest stays — and we’d have no idea.
So, the cliche about grains of salt and taking, please.
But as more guests tends to mean more rentals which points towards more revenue, the New Year’s Eve figures are useful as we work to understand how quickly Airbnb is growing now compared to how fast it grew in the past. The faster the company is expanding today, the more it’s worth. And given recent news that the company has ditched profitability in favor of boosting its sales and marketing spend (leading to sharp, regular deficits in its quarterly results), how fast Airbnb can grow through higher spend is a key question for the highly-backed, San Francisco-based private company.
- 2009: 1,400
- 2010: 6,000 (+329%)
- 2011: 3,1000 (+417%)
- 2012: 108,000 (248%)
- 2013: 250,000 (+131%)
- 2014: 540,000 (+116%)
- 2015: 1,100,000 (+104%)
- 2016: 2,000,000 (+82%)
- 2017: 3,000,000 (+50%)
- 2018: 3,700,000 (+23%)
- 2019: 4,500,000 (+22%)
In chart form, that looks like this:
Let’s talk about a few things that stand out. First is that the company’s growth rate managed to stay over 100% for as long as it did. In case you’re a SaaS fan, what Airbnb pulled off in its early years (again, using this fun proxy for revenue growth) was far better than a triple-triple-double-double-double.
Next, the company’s growth rate in percentage terms has slowed dramatically, including in 2019. At the same time the firm managed to re-accelerate its gross guest growth in 2019. In numerical terms, Airbnb added 1,000,000 New Year’s Eve guest stays in 2017, 700,000 in 2018, and 800,000 in 2019. So 2019’s gross adds was not a record, but it was a better result than its year-ago tally.
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- Perfect Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust


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EU to Investigate Exploding Apple iPhones and iPods
Fresh from its successful case against Microsoft, the European Commission has turned its attention to Apple and their mysterious exploding iPhones.
There have been several reports of Apple products exploding or catching fire in the UK, France, Holland, and Sweden. A US television station has also collated evidence of 15 ‘burn and fire-related’ incidents.
Both the iPhone and iPod use sealed lithium ion batteries. If the seal is compromised, exposure to moisture or heat could cause adverse chemical reactions. Taking your gadget to the beach may not be ideal!
Apple has responded to the EU saying these are isolated incidents and there is not a general problem. Statistically, the company is correct: Apple sell millions of products and a few dozen exploding devices is unlikely to indicate an intrinsic design failure. A recent Japanese Government investigation warned that there may be minor risks but no products were recalled.
However, Apple have been slammed for their treatment of customers reporting problems. Ken Stanborough from the UK complained that his daughter’s iPod Touch had exploded. Although Apple offered a refund, they denied liability and wrote to Mr. Stanborough saying that, by accepting the money, he would agree to “keep the terms and existence of this settlement agreement completely confidential” and any breach of his confidentiality “may result in Apple seeking injunctive relief, damages and legal costs against the defaulting persons or parties.”
Apple — there is a simple way to resolve complaints: apologize and fix the problem. Customer feedback is invaluable and complaints are one of the best sources of information. In addition, a customer who has their issues settled is more likely to buy from you again. It’s a lesson for us all.


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Gun sales set blistering pace in Tennessee, U.S.
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The business of guns is booming.
Firearms are more popular than ever, said gun store owner Bill Bernstein, who has had trouble this year keeping the shelves stocked at East Side Gun Shop in East Nashville.
“We are living in a Golden Age for guns,” Bernstein said. “Guns have never been as available.”
In fact, a recent study from the National Shooting Sports Foundation found that the firearms industry nationwide has grown its economic impact — measured by job creation and tax payments — by 66 percent between 2008 and 2011.
For businesses in Tennessee, the growth of the gun industry may lead to an uneasy tension between unfettered commerce and customer and employee safety.
This past legislative session, a bill that would bar employers from keeping workers from having guns locked in their cars died following opposition from business forces. Some of the state’s largest employers, including Bridgestone Americas Inc., FedEx Corp. and Volkswagen, opposed the bill.
In 2010, business leaders opposed legislation that became law allowing handgun permit holders to take their weapons into establishments serving alcohol.
That opposition isn’t being felt at the consumer level though.
Since 2003, the number of Tennessee Bureau of Investigation firearm purchase background checks has risen every year. Though background checks are not a precise measure for gun sales, they do provide a gauge for the number of interested purchasers.
Last year, the number of checks increased 16 percent. And the trend hasn’t stopped. In the first four months of 2012, the number of background checks was up 26,000 to 142,528, about 23 percent, over the same period last year.
Nevin Batiwalla covers real estate/development and regional economic development.
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HP has announced that it will be spending some $8bn on a major stock re-purchasing campaign.
The company said that it will be making the repurchase as part of an effort to increase share values and manage dilution stemming from the company's employee shareholder programme.
The $8bn effort is the latest in an ongoing share repurchase campaign. HP said that it invested $1.6bn on stock buybacks last quarter as part of a previous $8bn repurchase campaign.
The company estimates that it has some $2.5bn worth shares of stock outstanding.
The move makes HP the second major tech firm to undertake a share buyback campaign. Microsoft announced a £22bn shareholder repurchase effort as part of an ongoing effort to increase its stock price in the wake of its failed bid to buy Yahoo.
BT wants to make the public switched telephone network history within eight years
Personal data being purloined by third parties via Facebook Login API
MacOS and iOS are better off apart, says CEO Tim Cook
Or they'll no longer be entitled to updates and bug patches


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Online shopping portal PChome (網絡家庭) yesterday said it plans to set up three warehouses in two years as consumer demand for non-PC products increases.
The company started operation of its fourth warehouse, in New Taipei City’s Wugu District (五股) on Jan. 1, and plans to launch its fifth warehouse during the first half of next year, PChome’s sales division manager Vicky Tseng (曾薰儀) told an investors’ conference.
The new warehouse will focus particularly on non-PC products, such as fans and breadmakers, as well as food products including rice, noodles and soy sauce, Tseng said.
“Demand for non-PC products is growing at a faster-than-expected pace,” she said. “Our financial report showed that consumers are placing more orders for non-PC products — rather than desktops, notebooks or displays — which attract buyers with lower prices online,” Tseng said.
“This change indicates either weakening market demand for PCs or changes to the purchasing behavior of customers,” she added.
Of the company’s total sales of NT$16.3 billion (US$538.25 million) last year, sales of non-PC products accounted for about 70 percent, according to the company’s financial report.
While the personal computer industry is likely to remain sluggish this year, Tseng said PChome has seen its sales of PC products grow by more than 20 percent month-on-month since November last year.
“Taiwan’s PC market is gaining new sales momentum,” Tseng said. “At least, we have seen PC sales increase significantly in the past few months.”
For the whole of last year, PChome’s sales of various PC-related products grew by 1 to 3 percent from the previous year, but the growth is estimated to reach more than 5 percent this year because of the potential replacement demand for PCs, Tseng said.
END OF XP
The replacement demand comes at a time when Microsoft Corp is set to end its support for machines running the Window XP operating system later this month.
Because of new investments on equipment and warehouses, PChome’s operating income would slide from NT$663 million last year, Tseng said, citing the company’s plans to spend about NT$30 million to NT$50 million on setting up or renting each warehouse.
Tseng said sales would increase on a quarterly basis this year as the company aims to shorten its product delivery time in Taipei to less than six hours from 24 hours currently.


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The Co-op Podcast #90: Will Destiny’s Hype Last?
This week is an important week for gamers, because one of the most hyped new IP’s has hit shelves. Destiny is with us, and while many of us are impressed with Bungie’s FPS/MMO hybrid shooter, some people also have concerns about its longevity.
It’s clear that Destiny is a game to be played with friends and other people in general, but what will happen when those friends move on to different games? Will people be willing to comeback when the game gets an expansion? We discuss it all in our Destiny discussion.
Other topics discussed this week:
– Xbox One sold 25,674 units in Japan. Are we surprised? What did we expect?
– Microsoft are in talks to buy Mojang, The company behind Minecraft. Is this a good move? Should they have maybe done this sooner?
– Half of all PC gamers wait for a game to go on sale before buying says a report — Is it a bad thing that most people who turn to PC gaming only want deals? Does this cripple the publishers and developers who need to make bank to function?


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Traditionally, the mark of a good town centre was the presence of an M&S. The departure of such stores signified a slow drag down as towns that were once considered affluent and prosperous were then considered more down-at-heel.
Rateable values were often at their highest around the local M&S because of the ‘honeypot’ effect of shoppers heading to their favourite store.
With a great food offering and reliably good clothes at affordable prices, there have always been plenty of reasons to visit.
The impact of losing a store would be very damaging to a city like Wolverhampton or a town like Shrewsbury. We would urge M&S to work with local councils to ensure their more traditional stores can remain profitable for the future.
The growth of stores in places like Gallagher Retail Park alongside the M6 is understandable as they are purpose-built for shops and for shoppers. But our town and city centres also need their M&S stores to be there for their future viability.
There should be more strategic planning around our towns as they plan for the future. The digital age and the growth of at-home working means towns need to adapt if they are to survive in the years ahead. Our needs and shopping patterns are changing and it’s essential that towns and the councils that govern planning move with the times. More must be done to retain the viability of town and city centres.
Boris Johnson says he is sorry. Sue Gray says there were many failings, many of them led by senior leaders, but that steps are being taken to change the culture of Downing Street.
The release of the long-awaited report told us little new. But it did reaffirm our understanding of the culture within Number 10. It was one where drinking was part of the working routine. It was encouraged and junior members of staff have clearly been punished after being led to break rules by their superiors.
The arrogance of power is clear to see throughout the findings of the report.
Partygate aside, one telling finding was that there were “multiple examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment” of cleaning and security staff.
Downing Street staff was a pit of rule-breaking, arrogance and bullying, with Boris Johnson leading the way.


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After nearly two months of striking, UNITE HERE Local 75, which represents food services workers at UTSC, has announced that it has ratified a collective agreement with Aramark.
The announcement was made on April 7 on the union’s Facebook page. The union calls the settlement “groundbreaking” and promises that details will follow.
Food services workers at York University, also represented by UNITE HERE Local 75 and working for Aramark, were on strike from February 2 to March 7. The agreement at York includes $15 per hour and benefits for both full-time and part-time employees.
This story is developing, more to follow


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We’ve all experienced the frustrations associated with the lack of a universal sizing system across retail. It’s created a perpetual guessing game of what size will fit you best when shopping across different brands — at one store you may be a small, but at the next, you’re a medium. A recent tweet from aggravated consumer Chloe showcases this issue perfectly by including a picture of seven pairs of jeans that are all labeled size 12, but the waist bands of each vary in width.
Not only does this issue highlight the exclusivity of retail sizing, it also leaves consumers self-conscious and confused, especially when shopping online. With the inability to try clothing on before making a purchase, consumers are left to assume which size will fit best based off what size they buy most across brands. However, with the discrepancies in sizing, this method isn’t always reliable and often results in receiving items that need to be returned due to improper fit.
Due to the lack of a true sizing system, the constant stream of apparel returns has become online retail’s most prevalent and costly problem. Any time a shopper orders an ill-fitting item, it’s up to the retailer to foot the bill for return shipping and mailing out a new item, if required. In fact, nearly 40% of online apparel orders are being returned (with 70% of those returns due to problems with fit), costing the retailer anywhere from $3 to $12 per order. One study cites total expenses to e-Retailers from apparel returns at $1.4 billion dollars, roughly 2.5% of the total online revenue ($60B) of apparel and accessories in 2015.
As e-Commerce continues to grow, it’s now estimated that return costs in the United States alone will amount to $550 billion by 2020, a more than 75% increase from four years ago. In order to protect themselves, we’re now seeing big retailers revamping their return policies to save money. For example, L.L.Bean reported losing $250 million worth of returned products over the last five years that could not be resold, and as a result, has since changed its return policy from what was once very lenient, to one with a deadline and proof of purchase requirements.
While companies are still making a significant amount of money on clothing sales, they’re losing a substantial amount of it when products are inevitably returned. The retail industry is long overdue to adopt a solution that will cut costs by reducing the number of returns while also maintaining, and potentially even bolstering, customer loyalty.
Fixing The Sizing Issue
Surprisingly, most retailers do not directly connect fit and fit-related issues to their bottom line. Brands understand the issue of returns, but not always the long-term consequence of poor fit. Not only is it inconveniencing the customer and costing the retailer money to return the product, but it also ruins the trust between a shopper and the brand, which can potentially deter the shopper from making any future purchases.
So how do we fix this? Despite efforts to create a more inclusive and universal sizing system, one still does not exist. Fortunately, there is technology available to the market that allows consumers to take accurate measurements utilizing a mobile device, which would then sync directly to a retailer’s sizing chart and only recommend items in a size that correspond to their exact measurements. This ensures consumers are purchasing clothing in the right size every time.
There are other technologies on the market as well that guesstimate a consumer’s size based off of submitted photos, or that require shoppers to enter what they think their measurements are in order to recommend what will fit best. There is also 3D scanning, virtual try-on and other big data methods.
Despite the availability of these technologies, many retailers are still apprehensive about implementation due to concerns over cost, effectiveness and ease of integration. However, with a little further research, they’ll find that many of these solutions are affordable, immediately effective and simple to use with accurate results. Not to mention that with access to the data being gathered by these technologies, retailers are able to create the personalized and seamless shopping experience consumers crave.
The sizing and return issue has created a sizeable market opportunity for technology companies providing a solution to enable retailers to regain these losses. As innovation continues, we can expect to see retailers sampling these various solutions as a way to increase customer experience while also improving their own bottom line.
Ronen Luzon is the CEO of MySize, a developer of proprietary smartphone measurement applications for retail, fashion and shipping/logistics. Luzon is a serial entrepreneur and a skilled manager with a track record of success across various industries. Prior to founding MySizeId, he established and led startups in the medical devices and communication sectors. Among his other endeavors, Luzon founded Malers, a company that has grown to be a leader in the global security solutions market and provides some of the most advanced technological solutions for integrated communication infrastructures, security and control systems. Prior to that, he held several senior marketing, sales management and professional services positions in a variety of international high-tech companies. Luzon graduated from Middlesex University in London with a B.sc in IT and Business Information Systems.


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Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is set to kick off on June 22, virtually of course, and this year, the advertising industry suspects big news is coming. In the same vein as Apple’s 2017 WWDC announcement about the sudden eradication of third-party cookies on Safari, one of this year’s main takeaways could well be the imminent end of the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) on iOS mobile devices.
In the advertising world, IDFAs have historically been used to stitch together events happening in the iOS app environment into coherent and device-centric user journeys. While potential changes to IDFA have been on the industry’s radar for some time, they could still have massive implications on the advertising industry for activities such as cross-device targeting, personalization, measurement and attribution, and more.
When WWDC crowds digitally gather across the globe on June 22, we can expect one of three scenarios to occur regarding IDFA.
The first and most drastic option would be that Apple announces IDFAs will no longer exist starting June 22 — or in the coming months. This would align with Apple’s previous announcement surrounding the abrupt deprecation of third-party cookies in Safari, which shocked the advertising industry at the time. Fortunately, many will have anticipated this change and begun preparations in advance. But that would still be drastic.
Another possibility is that IDFAs will continue, but with increased restrictions geared towards assuring user privacy. This wouldn’t cause as major a wave of change, but would likely require advertisers, publishers and their partners to adapt their practices.
And finally, there is a chance that IDFAs will remain intact with no real change or update. In this case, the advertising world will continue as it is, at least for the time being.
Whether Apple makes these changes now or in the future, the industry has realized for quite some time that the IDFA was not something to be relied on. Some commentators may see this change as another setback for AdTech. However, as we have seen with similar such changes in the past, advertisers don’t reduce their advertising budgets, they simply move them to where they can measure their return.
Criteo has been preparing for this for quite some time and AdTech in general will continue to adapt, as it always has before. It’s the app developers, and the end users who depend on their apps that will ultimately suffer from this change.
Between this potential news and Google’s upcoming deprecation of third-party cookies on Chrome over the next two years, the advertising industry is in the midst of real change. The systems of the past involving low-level technical elements that were not built with the advertising use case in mind should not simply be adapted, but re-invented to cater to today’s needs. We are in full support of a re-invention towards building a stronger ecosystem and will continue to contribute to innovations that enhance user privacy and enable transparency, choice and control — as well as help users engage positively with the brands and content they appreciate.
The industry solutions to the replacement of IDFA must commit to addressing the limitations of current identifiers in ways that respect user rights. An enhanced identity solution for advertising should enable auditable purpose segregation of information flows and provide users with controls over their advertising-data sharing preferences. Such an approach would regain users’ trust by providing transparency around how data is used and make it easier for users to understand the value they receive from the use of their data.
While there isn’t a clear road ahead for IDFA, third-party cookies, or online identity overall, we’re strong believers that the industry needs to converge towards solutions that protect user rights in customer-centric, open and flexible ways. It’s actually fascinating to see how much the ad industry is coming together to find common solutions to better the advertising ecosystem as a whole.
And we’re thrilled to be leading the industry in working through these solutions with Google. The first of our contributions is our SPARROW proposal, which enhances Google’s initial suggested approach for privacy-driven personalization based on interest group targeting. We appreciate the initial discourse around our proposal and believe this type of open collaboration within the industry is a positive step in the right direction.
As contributors to this ecosystem, we will continue to be flexible — not only by proposing solutions, but also adapting our approach based on input from partners across the ecosystem. We look forward to continuing our contributions to building a better customer-centric ecosystem and will help our clients and partners adapt to the changes as the industry evolves and moves forward.
While the door of IDFA will likely close soon, the window of opportunity to create better solutions is wide open.


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Apple Inc.'s iPad isn't having an easy time during college admissions season.
The tablet, lauded by many as the next wave in education technology, is having difficulty being accepted at George Washington University and Princeton University because of network stability issues. Cornell University also says it is seeing connectivity problems with the device and is concerned about bandwidth overload.
Such issues could be a blow to Apple, which has gone after the higher education market by highlighting the iPad's portability and availability of electronic books. But students may not be willing to pay $499—or more, depending on the type of iPad—if they still need a desktop or laptop computer to check course assignments or email. Some higher education insiders also worry there isn't enough educational content available via the iBookstore application to eliminate expensive physical textbooks.
George Washington said earlier this month its wireless network's security features don't support the iPad—or iPhone and iPod Touch, for that matter. Princeton on Wednesday said it has proactively blocked about 20% of the devices from its network after noticing malfunctions that can affect the entire school's computer system. Princeton is working with Apple to resolve the issue, according to a statement on the school's Web site.
Cornell's information-technology director Steve Schuster said via email last week that the school is seeing networking and connectivity issues and is "working to ensure the iPad does not have devastating consequences to our network." Mr. Schuster added that when the iPhone arrived on campus it overwhelmed the network's bandwidth capabilities.
The colleges all say they are trying to find fixes to the problems. George Washington has said it could take until next spring before the iPad operating system is fully supported on its network.
Apple spokeswoman Teresa Brewer said she wasn't familiar with the schools' problems. The company sold more than 500,000 iPads the first week the product was in stores.


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I'm pleased to announce that construction has been completed on our new advanced manufacturing facility in Thailand and production will begin soon on truck and bus, OTR and industrial tires for the North American market.
This plant needed to be built in order to meet the growing demand for Double Coin tires as well as our continued plans to expand our product line.
It's a story of quantity and quality for our customers. Our tire dealers and the end users of our products will have more supply to depend on . . . and even more importantly, this plant will be manufacturing tires to the highest international standards for quality.
New technologies and the latest equipment are being used throughout the plant. For example, manufacturing and material transfer are automated. The entire plant is controlled by the MES software (Manufacturing Execution System) and is integrated with the SAP management system. The project is designed according to the Industry 4.0 concept. This is a level of automation that reduces the number of employees in the factory to half of what is needed in a traditional tire factory and ensures the quality of the products produced is more stable and reliable.
Built on a 3.6 million square-foot site, the new facility is set to manufacture more than 2.5 million TBR tires and 50,000 OTR tires annually.
This is Double Coin’s first manufacturing plant outside of China and one of a total of six plants. The state-of-the-art facility is owned by Huayi Group (Thailand) Co. Ltd., and operates in the Luckchai Rubber Industrial City Hub, which is located in Thailand’s Rayong Province.
We're looking forward to having Double Coin tires from our new Thailand facility rolling down U.S. highways and providing dependable performance in off-the-road environments such as construction and mining.
Learn more about Double Coin fuel efficient tires
Double Coin tires deliver exceptional value for a wide variety of commercial applications, including trucking, construction, mining, ports and agriculture. Our goal is to provide valuable information for those working in these industries.
Double Coin tires
It’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and we are saying ‘Thank You’ to the millions of professional truck drivers who work tirelessly to deliver America’s critical goods. #NTDAW23 #ThankATrucker @TRUCKINGdotORG
Twitter feed image.
Twitter feed video.
Double Coin ‘s Aaron Murphy talks to @MTDMagazine Tire Dealer about challenges and opportunities in the commercial truck tire market.
Truck Tire Manufacturers Talk Challenges, Opportunities
Several challenges face the commercial truck tire market, but there are opportunities, too, as tire manufacturers and …


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The Centre for Science and Environment Thursday demanded periodical testing of packaged and processed food, including soft drinks, for pesticides.Hailing the recent Supreme Court order asking the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to conduct periodic inspections and monitoring of major fruit and vegetable markets for the presence of pesticide residues, the CSE said it should be extended to other food products."The current regulatory framework with respect to advertisements of soft drinks as per the Act and the Advertising Standards Council of India code is not good enough and needs to be revised," said Chandra Bhushan, CSE's deputy director general and head of its food safety and toxins team."Globally, there is an increasing body of evidence which demonstrates that obesity and non-communicable diseases (especially in children) could be connected to advertisements of cola drinks and other junk foods," he said.In 2003 and 2006, tests conducted by CSE had found high levels of pesticide residues in almost all the major brands of carbonated beverages.A joint parliamentary committee set up to investigate the findings had found them correct. In 2008, the union health ministry notified standards for individual pesticides in carbonated beverages.The CSE also said the FSSAI should put all information about the pesticides and chemicals that have been tested for compliance of standards since 2008, in the public domain."Periodic testing and monitoring by the FSSAI should not be limited to raw fruits and vegetables. Packaged and processed food commodities including soft drinks should be tested as well," Bhushan added.
For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube.


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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) will meet with Taiwanese and Japanese seafood processors to encourage them to invest in eel processing in the country.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said he would be meeting with Taiwanese and Japanese seafood firms in Taiwan on Dec. 2 – 5 to encourage them to put up processing plants for eel in the Philippines.
“I also want to observe their trading system. These are private investors,” Alcala told reporters.
“We already have small eel processing businesses here but I want the industry to be big because we have the source of elvers and we are already seeing results from the export prohibition that we imposed two years ago,” he added.
In 2012, the DA reinstated the ban on the export of elvers (juvenile eel) to stop the rapid decline of the specie.
The ban on the export of elvers is enforced under Fisheries Administrative Order 242, signed by Alcala on April 10 2012.
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Violation of the ban carries a penalty of eight years imprisonment, confiscation of catch or a fine equivalent to double the export value of the same, and revocation of fishing or export permit.
Elvers are gathered in riverbanks and shores through the use of nets. These are then shipped to Manila for export to various Asian countries such as Japan and Korea where these are enjoyed as a delicacy.
Smoked eel fillets, for instance, sell for P500 to P1,000 per 100 grams in Tokyo restaurants.
In the Philippines, eel is particularly abundant in Cagayan but Alcala said he has instructed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to identify other strategic grow out areas in the country’s three major islands.
“We are also asking them to determine the size of the investment involved for this,” he said. “So we are opening this industry.”
Alcala said eel is a resilient specie, making it feasible for large-scale processing.


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What Eventbrite and Facebook Integration Means for SchoolsNovember 6, 2018
Schools can now benefit from having Eventbrite, the online ticketing service connected to their Facebook Page. Making it easy for their followers to book events via the social media platform. Eventbrite is a global event management and ticketing website that allows users to browse, create and promote local events.
Since its integration with the social media giant, many organisations, have taken advantage of having the event tool on their Facebook Page. Now major ticketing and private event companies have connected Eventbrite with their Facebook account. According to Eventbrite, which first teamed up with Facebook in the US in 2016, consumers are less likely to abandon purchase orders if they can buy tickets without being redirected to a separate ticketing page.
Buying tickets directly through Facebook
The Head of Marketing, Marino Fresch at Eventbrite UK, has spoken about the success of the partnership, stating that many Facebook users are twice as likely to buy tickets for an event if they know they can do it directly on the social media platform.
In addition to the US, the integrated ticketing service is now available to Facebook users in most of Europe, the UK, Australia and Canada. This has been hugely beneficial to schools wanting to advertise and sell tickets for private events happening at the school. This allows parents to be kept up-to-date with events, without the need for leaving Facebook and checking the school website. Also, whenever someone engages with a Facebook event post, this is shown on the Newsfeed, meaning that other Facebook followers are notified of the event.
St Aidan's Anglican Girl's School have successfully integrated Eventbrite into their Facebook Page:
All bookings and reservations can be made directly through the St Aidan's Anglican Girl's School Facebook Page, which means that those attending an event can get real time updates and reminders leading up to the event.
How to get started
If you haven’t already set up Facebook Events, the process is really easy. First of all, click the Events app, followed by ‘Create Event’ and set the event’s name, date and time. The event will automatically be posted to your timeline and is visible to anyone who clicks the Events app or any post about that event.
With a Facebook event page, schools can target specific follower groups, whilst also being able to decide where the campaign appears on Facebook. There is also the ability to update important event information including the date, time and location of the event. This way Facebook followers are notified of any updates, without needing to check with the school. This is hugely beneficial to school staff, as it allows for easy event management, whilst also reducing the time it would take in notifying parents of general updates via email marketing.
For more information on how to set-up Facebook Events with Eventbrite, click here. Alternatively, read through our previous blog posts to learn more about Facebook Advertising: