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Haiti hasn’t won a medal in an Olympics Games for 88 years, but the earthquake-scarred country still managed to turn heads during its Rio debut at the opening ceremony for the 31st Olympiad.
And it was all due to a Port-au-Prince fashion designer Maëlle Figaro David and her flair for showcasing the country’s unique brand.
Team Haiti’s ruffle-sleeved blouses and button-down embroidered look by David, 58, was described as one of the trendiest in the Parade of Nations by Yahoo Style. The digital magazine put Haiti’s 25-member Olympic delegation in its top three best dressed.
The accolade immediately caught the attention of Haitians, including the prime minister, who all responded with congratulatory pride.
“When I first heard the news, I didn’t know what it meant,” David, who didn’t make the trip, said from Port-au-Prince, where Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles congratulated her last week in an official communique. He noted that the team, dressed in David’s creations, made the front page of the Olympic Village magazine Village Life.
“I feel such a sense of pride and satisfaction that at this moment in my career, my creations have allowed all Haitians to feel a common sense of joy, and Haiti is being well-represented at the Olympics,” she said. “I am happy I did something for my country.”
Haitian Tourism Minister Guy Didier Hyppolite said the ministry could have tapped any number of Haitian designers — from the high-fashion sisal straw and coconut fiber style of Ralph Leroy to the Vodou-inspired prints of Felicia Dell to the music-inspired versatile designs of David Andre — to outfit the country’s 10 athletes and coaches.
“But Maëlle David was the one we felt could give us something that represents our flag, our culture, our brand in Haiti,” Hyppolite said.
“It was a one-shot opportunity to showcase our culture, our beautiful country,” he said. David not only delivered, but she did it with just five days and five individuals sewing the outfits together on a budget of less than $10,000 from the country’s cash-stricken tourism ministry. Though she made 25 outfits, Haiti’s team is made up of 10 athletes including University of Chicago swimmer Naomy Grand’ Pierre and Josue Deprez, a fitness and judo coach in Miami.
“I didn’t know the athletes and most of them didn’t live in Haiti, so I had to go to the internet to look at their faces, and their build,” she said. The athletes, and delegation members, sent measurements via WhatsApp and email.
The president of the Association of Haitian Designers, David has been in the fashion industry for 34 years. She has built a reputation dressing beauty and carnival queens in traditional Haitian costumes, including the former French colony’s version of the long cotton bandana skirt or quadrille dress that is popular in the English Caribbean.
Named after the late 18th century dance craze made popular by European settlers, the quadrille is often recognized by its cotton fabric, gathered skirt and sometimes-matching headdress. In Haiti, it’s known as the karabela dress.
David said she wanted a look that wasn’t just uniquely Haitian, but one that made a statement about the country by turning the pejoratives into positives.
“Haiti is always covered, masked in bad words,” she said, describing the significance of the white fabric and tiered look underneath a blue flap on the women. “I decided to give them the traditional white blouse we use at home, but I also wanted the design to portray an opening.”
There is also another symbolism, and lesson about Haiti’s history. The tiered shirt combined with the ruffle blouses on the women is known as the Affranchi look. An old legal French term once used to describe an emancipated slave, it was also a pejorative used to describe individuals of mixed race. Unlike the slave, the Affranchi dressed elaborately, but her dress was still less expensive than that of her white mistress.
For the men, David wanted to showcase the Haitian peasant or farmer and chose the traditional Kouzen shirt. Similar in style to a Cuban guayabera, it has a denim look from the chambray fabric and is hand-embroidered with the symbol of a spiral. The embroidery pays homage to Kouzen Zaka, a spirit of the Vodou realm who represents work and agriculture. The spiral, she said, “helps you rise and eventually become rich.”
“I wanted to represent the Haitian peasant but in a classic way and with a certain elegance,” she said.
Her daughter, Nora David, also a well-known fashion designer known for her sisal and fabric clutches, said her mom is raising the bar for her and other stylists but produced a look that is “authentic of our culture.”
“Haitians tend to forget their culture, and misrepresent it,” she said. “The youth have no idea what the culture of Haiti is, and they tend to mimic other cultures.”
Nora David, who splits her time between Aventura and Port-au-Prince, said a lot of beautiful, well-tailored costumes were showcased during the Olympics Games opening ceremony, including Team USA’s $700 jackets designed by Ralph Lauren. To have Haiti recognized as third-best dressed, she said, makes her proud.
“As Haitians we should represent like this in everything we do,” she said. “It should be like this for us on any platform.”


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Alumni entrepreneurs adjust to COVID curveball
What does a true entrepreneur do when the market throws a giant curveball?
Alex McAulay (BBA ’08) and Joel Primus are seasoned entrepreneurs who have teamed up to launch several businesses. Their latest? Kosan, a travel wear company they founded in 2017.
Not many people are buying travel wear when international travel has slowed to a trickle.
“Up until about the last week of February our business was going on as usual and growing quickly month over month,” says McAulay, who was the inaugural winner of UFV’s Distinguished Young Alumni award in 2008 and was named one of UFV’s Top 40 alumni in 2014. “But within the first two weeks of March about 90% of our business dropped off. As a result, we had to lay off all four of our full-time staff.”
That didn’t sit well with McAulay and Primus (who also attended UFV). They decided to “pivot” their business and start making protective masks for the consumer market.
“There were several reasons we decided to pivot our business into protective masks. Our hunch was that masks would become an essential travel and everyday item, so we started to develop these products with a long-term view. As the COVID-19 crisis progressed we realized there was an immediate need now for both masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) and we wanted to be part of that solution. Not only would this help keep Kosan alive, but it could help keep people protected, so we converted our supply chain immediately and haven’t slept much since!”
Thanks to some government subsidies and the recent pivot, McAulay and Primus are slowly trying to bring people back to work.
They are currently manufacturing the masks in Vancouver.
“Local manufacturers have been massively affected by the economic downturn, so it has been great to chip in,” says McAulay, pictured left.
The masks are not medical grade and are intended for use by the general public.
“Our reusable, washable, masks are waterproof, with an anti-bacterial lining,” MacAulay says. “These aren’t medical-grade masks, but they are estimated to be 70% as effective as medical-grade masks and more importantly, providing these masks to consumers will keep medical masks in the hands of nurses, doctors, and those front-line works who truly need them most.”
Kosan has also started to look into importing medically certified personal protective equipment for health care workers.
“We are also in the process of pulling capital and equipment together to start producing locally and are actively looking for partners on this venture,” says MacAulay.
Given that it’s uncertain how long travel will be curtailed by COVID-19, MacAulay and Primus are looking to make their business “pandemic proof.”
“We are going to continue down the road of sophisticating our whole supply chain around personal protective equipment, so that will be a separate line of business for us and create compact travel pandemic kits. The pandemic is also forcing us to refocus on more longer-cycle product development with the hopes that travel resumes in a year’s time or sooner, so that we’ll be ready to go with lots of new products.”

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In an area where the sexually active are ashamed to buy condoms, it’s no surprise an estimated 1.6M Kenyans struggle with HIV/AIDS. But the Nairobi-based Center for African Family Studies (CAFS) has come up with a creative way to tackle the stigma surrounding the purchase of condoms, thus helping to reduce the threat of HIV/AIDS.
CAFS has teamed up with Kenyan artist Michael Soi to create a funky and innovative condom line with pop art-inspired packaging. The NGO came up with the idea after posting pictures of glow-in-the-dark, printed, and flavored condoms obtained from a Capetown HIV conference on Facebook. Youth started to call and ask where they could purchase them.
“We’ve never had that sort of reaction to CAFS programs,” says CAFS director of operations Jonathan Spangler. “So we said why don’t we try produce our own condom line because there seems to be a market. We want to innovate and create new programming that is sustainable and even generates income for the youth.”
The bright packaging of CAFS’ condoms is specifically designed to disguise the product. But finding an artist to draft designs was a struggle in itself because most didn’t want their work associated with a project that involves sex – except Soi. Known for his bold, often controversial themes within his own work, Soi doesn’t shy away from taboo subjects and was more than happy to collaborate with CAFS.
“I felt the project was a good thing,” Soi says. “I wanted to try to chip in and create something that would help fight a good fight.”
To support CAFS’ pop-art condom project, visit their Indiegogo site.


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Happy New Year to all of our readers! Starting the New Year means that CES is just around the corner. The Life On My Mobile team will be headed to Las Vegas tomorrow to cover the world’s largest tech convention. We will have boots on the ground starting January 5th to cover CES Unveiled, and then for Press Day on January 6th. The show floor opens at 10am on January 7th and we will be there roaming the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center looking for the newest and greatest advancements in technology.
We will be posting stories as we have time to get them up on the site, but for the quickest news, please follow our twitter accounts where we will be tweeting news and pictures from CES as it happens.
Twitter: Life On My Mobile
Twitter: Troy Brown – Editor in Chief
Twitter: David Boyd – News Editor
Twitter: Paul Barraza – Managing Editor
Twitter: Aaron Bellows – Senior Editor
Twitter: Brent Dupre – Staff Writer
Smartwatch maker Pebble has put out a little teaser of “something special” to be announced at CES 2014. There were no hints if it would be some new hardware, or maybe something more elaborate to their new app store. Either way, we will be waiting to hear all about it. For those of you who want to get the news in real time, they will be live streaming the announcement at GetPebble.com. The event is slated for January 6, 2014 at 11am PT.
We are expecting lots of new product announcements from CES 2014, but Lenovo has announced four new smartphones just a few days ahead of CES. The smartphones from Lenovo all run Android, and bear the following model names: Vibe Z, S930, S650, and the A859. All run on Android 4.2 except the Vibe Z, which runs Android 4.3. Screen size also varies between devices, with the smallest at 4.7″ to the largest at a large 6.0″ screen.
All seem like some very good Android devices, but none are currently available for sale in the U.S. Check out the links above to get more details on the devices.
Lenovo will be setting up shop at the AquaKnox Restaurant in the Venetian during CES, and we will be there to check out all of their latest and greatest products. Stay tuned over the next week for updates.


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Uber has announced an agreement for Nissan to supply up to 2,000 electric cars to its drivers in London. Under the deal drivers will be able to apply to use the vehicles, which are manufactured at Nissan’s Sunderland factory.
Uber claims the scheme is being funded via its Clean Air Plan to tackle air pollution, launched in January 2019, under which Uber adds a 15p fee surcharge to all London journeys. Uber says the plan has so far raised more than £80 milllion.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps welcomed the deal, saying: “I want green transport to be the new normal. Electrifying taxi and private hire vehicle fleets is crucial to cleaning up our air and it’s fantastic to see this ambition matched by companies like Nissan and Uber as we drive towards a zero emission future.”
Uber’s general manager for northern and eastern Europe Jamie Heywood said: “Our bold vision for London is for every driver on the Uber app to use an all-electric vehicle by 2025. The partnership with Nissan is a hugely significant step towards meeting this goal. The Mayor of London has shown strong leadership on measures relating to air quality and we’re proud to support him in delivering his vision.”
The move is the latest step in a charm offensive by Uber, which lost its London licence last November after Transport for London cited “several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk”. Uber firm is allowed to continue operating while it appeals against the decision.


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Girl Scouts Update Uniforms For The First Time In 2 Decades
NATIONWIDE — The Girl Scouts of the United States released their new-and-improved uniforms on Tuesday, the first revamping of the organization’s official dress wear in over two decades.
The organization partnered with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to come up with a new line of clothing to “better reflect the young female changemakers of today and tomorrow,” Girl Scouts said in a statement.
Girl Scouts has long partnered with fashion designers to tweak their iconic outfits, which are known for their khaki vest and sash. This year, the company decided to add more diversity to the wardrobe so that scouts can better express their personal styles.
The new line includes 18 mix-and-match pieces ranging from drawstring joggers, spandex leggings, cargo pants, knitted dresses and more.
“Girl Scouts really helped strengthen my self-confidence and encouraged me to pursue my interests,” said Nidhi Bhasin, a Girl Scout alum and FIT student who worked on the project. “With this collection, our shared goal was to not only design trendy attire but also make sure that girls would feel inspired, proud, and powerful while wearing each piece. Today’s Girl Scouts are the next generation of leaders, so we needed to make sure they dress the part so they can continue to take on the world!”
The new line includes clothes in the Girl Scouts’ traditional green and khaki, but adds pops of lavender, blue, and white for good measure. While the sash didn’t get much of an aesthetic upgrade, the FIT team was sure to add a pocket for cell phones per scouts’ requests.
While the new line is the first in Girl Scouts’ 108-year history to feature this many interchangeable outfits, it’s hardly the first time the Scouts have revamped their uniforms to keep up with the times.
When the organization was first founded in 1912, members’ uniforms were modeled after those of the Girl Guides in England: middy blouses and long skirts combined with felt hats.
Girl Scout uniforms went through various iterations over the decades—the well-known badge sash was first introduced in the 1950s alongside a short-sleeved dress, while the 1970s saw the organization’s first-ever line of separates that could be made into 12 specific outfits.
Girl Scout programming has also kept up with changing times, and introduced 42 new badges in 2019. Scouts can now earn badges in cybersecurity, coding, space science, outdoor adventures, and more.


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Cine Colombia delivers premium cinema with Barco projectors and immersive sound
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Colombia’s largest entertainment company is doubling the number of Barco projectors in its cinemas this year and installing Barco’s immersive cinema sound format in its premium Mega Sala auditoriums at shopping malls in Bogota and Bucaramanga. Innovative technology has been the primary reason that Cine Colombia has entrusted their digital cinema needs to Barco for several years.
“We have always been committed to technological development, which is obvious, because our goal is to be one step ahead of our competitors,” said Munir Falah, President of Cine Colombia. “We also understand that technology can make or break our customers’ movie experiences. That’s why we’ve been working with Barco for four years – we don’t want to settle for less than the best.”
The latest deployment, continuing through 2013, is bringing the total to 150 Barco projectors across the exhibitor’s circuit. Raising the entertainment bar in its flagship Bogota and Bucamaranga locations, Cine Colombia is installing Auro 11.1 by Barco to enhance the immersive quality of premium movie showings.


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Hewlett-Packard is offering a network management suite for small to medium-sized networks that includes bundled software from Symantec and McAfee Associates. HP OpenView Professional Suite builds on...
Twenty-year-old cyber security researcher apprehended on suspicion of involvement
MPs question legal basis for facial recognition trials conducted by police forces
Neither Apple nor Microsoft have yet issued a fix
Trump could stop JEDI cloud contract over competition concerns as bidding comes down Microsoft versus Amazon


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US gun company Culper Precision has created a pistol that looks like it’s made out of LEGO. Unsurprisingly, it has caused outrage and upset.
I’m sure you’ve noticed the giant article headline image above. Looks a whole lot like something from a six-year-old’s toy box, right?
Despite the colourful and somewhat playful appearance of the new ‘Block19’, it is in fact a very real firearm that was – until recently – available to purchase from US gun manufacture Culper Precision’s website.
While there are currently laws in the US to prevent toy manufacturers from creating products resembling real weaponry, there is no such law to stop companies producing real guns that look like toys.
Gun control campaigners have described the ‘Block19’ as ‘irresponsible and dangerous’. It’s worth noting that accidents involving both firearms and children are on the rise in the US, with over 140 people killed last year as a result of incorrect use of weapons.
The gun is no longer available to buy and LEGO has reportedly sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter demanding a halt to the production of the ‘Block19’.
The fact this thing exists at all is concerning in itself, however, and once again calls into question current US gun laws and ease of access to high-grade weapons.
This has been a huge issue for many years and the conversation around gun laws has been making headlines since Obama was in office six years ago.
Many call for more routine and thorough universal gun checks and school shootings continue to occur on a near monthly basis. Almost 40,000 Americans die each year from gun violence.


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Google's first App Excellence Summit: 'Made in India' initiative announced
India is going to have the world's largest developer base by 2018.
Google has been helping Indian developers improve their skills so that high-quality products could be built "for India by India."
It organized its first App Excellence Summit in Bengaluru, bringing together over 700 Indian app and games developers.
Google also announced its 'Made in India' initiative at the event.
Initiatives that Google has taken for India
Google Play Apps & Games Director Purnima Kochikar's statement
"We are committed to helping Indian developers of all sizes seize this opportunity and build successful, locally-relevant businesses. A lot of what we do at Google Play is support developers' imaginations and make Android consumers aware of the amazing new experiences our developers are creating."
Google's 'Made in India' initiative focuses on India-specific content
Google said most Indians go online via smartphones; the country has more Android devices compared to the US.
Indian users install a billion apps from Google Play every month; the number has increased by 150% each year.
So, India needs more locally-relevant and 'Made in India' apps.
Google is helping Indian developers build such apps through the resources, tools, and support on Google Play.
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Stay updated with the latest happenings.
The maiden App Excellence Summit
Attendees had the opportunity to learn a lot from the success stories of successful, locally developed and relevant apps like UrbanClap, Healthifyme, RailYatri, and Dailyhunt. Demo booths and skill-building consultation sessions helped the attendees know what Google wants to offer the Indian developer community.
Google's commitment towards Indian developers
Google is committed to training 2 million Indian developers to build locally-relevant, data-friendly apps.
Its 'Code It Possible' initiative inspires Indian developers and even students to find opportunities and solve problems using mobile coding skills.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said Internet and digital technology would drive India's growth.
Google wants to provide the right tools so that anyone could become a developer/creator/entrepreneur in India.
Google's 'Building for Billions' program
In 2016, Google launched the 'Building for Billions' program for developers across the world, including India.
Under the initiative, developers learn about the tools, features and best practices for building apps that can meet the needs of the billions of global Android users.
It also helps developers overcome challenges like high data costs, varying Internet connectivity and device specifications.
Google's initiatives for a better India
Google launched several initiatives in India supporting PM Narendra Modi's Digital India campaign. These include:
Helping over 20mn businesses grow online with the help of technology.
'Solve for India' initiative to help entrepreneurs develop better solutions using in various areas like agri-tech, healthcare, and sanitation.
Enabling women in 3,00,000 villages get access to Internet; allowing over 150mn Indians to enjoy Internet in their language.
Who will replace Travis Kalanick as the next Uber CEO?
Axis Bank reappoints CEO Shikha Sharma for 3 years


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Apex Legends 2 will never be made, according to developer Respawn Entertainment. Instead, the studio is going to continue pumping out new content for the current version of its free-to-play battle royale title, making a sequel unnecessary. The studio gearing up for the release of Apex Legends Season 2, which comes out in early July.
Apex Legends 2 Will Never Happen
Speaking during an interview with USGamer, Drew McCoy, the game’s executive producer, revealed that the company has plenty of content in the pipeline for Apex Legends. As such, a sequel is simply not on the cards, and it doesn’t sound like it ever will be, either.
“We have so much stuff in the pipe right now coming that people are always like, ‘So what are you guys gonna do for this or that?’ Like dude, we’re thinking years ahead at this point. We do believe in this game as a live game. We’re never gonna make an Apex 2; hoping next Season 72 is awesome. That’s kind of where our head is at: how are we setting this up for the long term,” said McCoy.
Elsewhere, McCoy was asked about the possibility of cross-play and/or cross-save, garnering the following response:
“We would love to. It’s a huge amount of work to get it there. We’re a smaller team so we’re always prioritizing features and work. It’s one of those things that I would love to get to but stuff like ranked for season two and more content immediately is where we’ve put our focus.”
Apex Legends was released on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One in February 2019. The game attracted 25 million players during its first week alone, a figure which doubled to 50 million after just one month.
Players have recently spotted dragons roaming around in the game’s map, which look set to form part of the upcoming Season 2.


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Addison-based trucking company Daseke expects to go public early next year as part of a sale of the company to a Houston-based private equity firm, Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. II, in a $626 million debt and equity financed deal.
Founder Don Daseke (pronounced dass-key) will stay on as chairman and chief executive officer of the company he started in 2008. Daseke expanded it into a business with sales this year of $679 million, largely from buying other trucking firms. Among its top 10 customers are Boeing, Caterpillar, General Electric and Nucor.
When the deal is completed, expected to be in the first quarter of 2017, Daseke management will own 50 percent of the company. Hennessy said it has all the required financing lined up including a $350 million new term loan from Credit Suisse and UBS Investment. A $70 million new asset based credit facility was committed by PNC Bank. Another $100 million is from private placements.
Daseke's common shares and warrants will be publicly traded on Nasdaq. As part of the transaction Hennessy, which is already publicly traded, is changing its name to Daseke and the securities will trade under the symbols "DSKE" and "DSKEW."
Hennessy Capital was formed in 2015 without operations, but with the intent to merge with a company and take it public. Hennessy Capital's shares gained 9 cents to close at $10.00 on Friday.
Early this year, in an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Daseke forecast 2016 sales of at least $750 million. While revenue fell short, the companies said Friday in a prepared statement that taking Daseke public will allow it to buy more companies, support growth of its existing business and offer stock to employees. The company has 3,000 employees.
Trucking companies can be specialized in what they carry and types of equipment they use to transport goods. Daseke says it's the largest U.S. owner of open-deck, heavy hauling equipment able to transport things like submarine parts and a 390,000 pound, 23 1/2 foot tall acidizer for a refinery. It's the second largest open deck transportation company by revenue.
Daseke said in a presentation to investors on Friday that the open deck freight business is still fragmented. It's a $133 billion business in North America, and with its annual sales of not yet $1 billion, it's the largest.
Daseke, 77, said that while his company has "less than 1 percent" of the highly fragmented market, he believes it has "the most experienced management teach in the open deck and specialized transportation industry."
"We see an amazing opportunity to continue our growth through working daily to achieve operational excellence and by adding quality carriers to our family," he said.
The company has identified 357 companies with more than 100 open-deck trucks.
This is the second company Daseke, 77, has built and taken public. In 1994, Walden Residential, a company he built that owned and developed apartments, went public. It was later taken private in a deal valued at $1.7 billion.


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During the Macau Gaming Show, which will take place from 14 to 17 of November in the city of Macau, Zitro will be presenting to the Asian market the new addition to the Bryke Video Slot product line: Blazing Pearls, a multigame local area progressive link.
Blazing Pearls had its worldwide debut at the recent Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas and as Nadège Teyssedre, Sales Manager for the region explains: “We could not be more proud as to how Zitro’s Video Slot Brand Bryke is consolidating as a prestige brand in the global gaming industry. It is only 12 months ago that Zitro has started commercializing Bryke, and by now we can confirm that the performance worldwide is more than satisfying. Blazing Pearls, as well as any other Bryke product, is available in both, Fusion upright and Fusion Slant Cabinets. The Fusion cabinets stand out thanks to their combination of cutting-edge technology and beautiful ultra slim design that will mark the difference on any casino floor. With the increasing Bryke game library including progressive links such as Blazing Pearls, we are now ready to provide a very competitive Video Slot product portfolio to our customers.”
Sebastián Salat, CEO of Zitro adds: “The whole Asian region is a key region within our worldwide expansion plans. With our presence at MGS and the launch of Blazing Pearls we are demonstrating to our customers the commitment we have with the Asian market, and we are in the position to guarantee a continued flow of new games in order to secure and increase our footprint.”
While at MGS, Zitro will be presenting new Video Bingo games on the popular Blackwave cabinet. Zitro has also recently released a wide portfolio of amazing games available for the Fusion Slant 27/23 cabinet, that have been extremely well received by the Video Bingo operators worldwide, and that are now available to the Asian operators.
Zitro will be exhibiting in booth Aj38, sharing space with its distributor RGB.


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No more delays for Watch Dogs, as Ubisoft announced today that the open-world game set in Chicago has gone gold.
After a five-and-a-half year development cycle, Watch Dogs has now gone gold, according to Ubisoft. That means players don't have to worry about another delay before jumping into the shoes of Aiden Pearce, with the game slated to release May 27 on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
"It’s exciting to be gold,” said Watch Dogs creative director Jonathan Morin. “But it’ll be more exciting when people are playing. For the fans it means that it’s true. It means there will be no such thing as another delay. But for us, it’s not done until they actually have it in their hands.”
In addition to the standard edition of Watch Dogs, there are nine special editions of the open-world game, each with various items and goodies. And there also are resolution differences between the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Watch Dogs, though neither runs in 1080p. But both consoles run Aiden Pearce's adventure at 30 frames per second.
IGN spent five hours with Watch Dogs last month and was impressed with the early hands-on experience. Watch Dogs is also coming to Wii U, with Ubisoft now concentrating on the Nintendo console version.


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BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2021 - Woodlands Market
Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Business-of-the-Year nominee: Woodlands Market with Don Santa at the helm.
Woodlands Market has been recognized locally and nationally for being an industry innovator by focusing on natural and sustainable products, supporting local suppliers, and maintaining a steadfast commitment to its surrounding communities. Woodlands Market opened its second store in Tiburon ten years ago; since then, it has been a major contributor to a wide range of local entities in both monetary donations and a physical presence.
Since its founding in 1986, Woodlands has contributed over 2.5 million dollars in cash and in-kind donations to help engage, support and improve the communities where its customers and employees work and live. It has sponsored the The Foundation for Reed Schools events, Friday Nights on Main, Tiburon Golf Tournament, Little League teams, youth sailing, Tiburon Mile and tennis tournaments. In addition, it has donated to the Landmarks Society and is a member of the Rotary.
Store staff provided snacks and drinks at the Half Marathon and participated in both the Annual Tiburon Wine Festival and the Tiburon Classic Car Show. They got down and dirty while cleaning the garden boxes and replanting new vegetables for the upcoming season at Reed Elementary School. In 2020 alone the Tiburon store made 139 donations representing 4,138 pounds of food in partnership with Extra Foods, helping end hunger in Marin.
Don gives all credit of success to Store Manager Randy Slate. “It was my vision,” he says, “but it was Randy’s drive. I built the stage, but he put on the show.”
Don says the grocery business runs in his family. His Italian ancestors opened a small San Francisco grocery in 1911, and it stayed in the family for the next 70 years.
At age 25, Don bought a “dingy, little market” in Kentfield called The Woodlands Store. Twenty-five years later, wanting to expand, Don turned to Tiburon where he had spent some wonderful summers as a youngster.
Don says over the past ten years, an amazing bond has been built between the store and the Tiburon community. “When COVID came along, it was uncharted territory,” he says. “We did what needed to be done.”
Tiburon’s store manager, Randy Slate, summed it up best, ’Working for Woodlands Market has been a great experience. Don Santa and senior management lead by example, treating employees and their families as their own. Woodlands' first priority is service to our customers and our community. We know how important the schools and teachers are and the how the future for all of us resides in the young children. Woodlands will do all we can to support their futures.’


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Telford promoted as 'ideal location' for car industry
A campaign to promote Telford as a base for the car parts industry has been launched by Telford & Wrekin Council.
The council is writing to thousands of car parts makers promoting the town as an "ideal place with strong transport links and a skilled local workforce".
It said it wanted to capitalise on the building of the new £350m Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) just off the M54 motorway.
Councillor Charles Smith said: "There's no reason why Telford can't become the main supplier for Jaguar Land Rover."
He added: "The development represents a fantastic opportunity for investors as we have some of the best value development land in the country."
Professor David Bailey, an automotive industry expert from Coventry University, said the plan was "feasible", because Telford had "a good track record" for attracting inward investment.
"When the Japanese first came to the UK, Telford attracted a lot of component manufacturers to bring in supply chain work which served the bigger company's assembly lines.
"There are firms already in the town involved in the car industry, and there's a big skills base."


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Mobile Phone Recycling Month was back! On 26 September, the MOENV’s Resource Circulation Administration (RECA) promoted the Mobile Phone Recycling Month, which ran throughout October. This year special incentives for corporate participation and more prize options were introduced in addition to doubling the collection points from last year. Moreover, focus was placed on promoting recycling and reuse of resources after collection as well as enhancing material utilization. Enterprises were urged to take part in establishing a seamless recycling process with regulatory measures, namely, from product design, repair, to reuse of secondhand phones. This will ultimately help lead the whole society to the end goal of sustainable development.
The promotion ran throughout the entire month of October, 2023. Not only did participants complete the recycling process at designated locations and register their information for a lucky draw for additional discounts at participating recycling channels, but they also stood a chance to win prizes worth a total of NT$300,000. For every three discarded mobile phones recycled, participants could earn an extra entry for the lucky draw!
The RECA was set up on 22 August 2023, aiming to promote sustainable consumption and production, enhance efficiency of resource use, and increase the value of waste management. It adopts three major strategies: green design and source management, circular recycling and utilization of energy and resource, and waste quantity balancing and management. The two driving forces in its policy framework are connecting top-, mid-, and low-end industries to create a smooth circular network, and developing innovative technologies and systems. All of these serve to promote recycling and reuse of waste resources, extend product lifespans, lower the use of raw materials, and create carbon reduction benefits.
Corresponding with the RECA’s establishment, enterprises were invited to join the promotion of the mobile phone recycling month this year. Apart from expansion of recycling channels, efforts are underway to include enterprises’ recycling systems in relevant legislation. The initiative will involve integration of both phone recycling and repair in the design of a “circulation rate,” which, along with targets set for each year, will be used to push enterprises to incorporate circular and sustainable concepts at the beginning stage of product designs. In addition, the new legal framework will be designed to urge enterprises to extend the lifespan of mobile phones via refurbishment and sale of secondhand devices, thereby reducing resource consumption.
The Mobile Phone Recycling Month was initially launched in 2019 by the then-EPA with the result of collecting 23,000 devices. The initiative has steadily grown, reaching 72,000 devices collected in 2022, nearly tripling the initial figures. This growth also brought Taiwan’s total recycled mobile phones last year to 730,000 units. This year, the recycling channels have been expanded to include four more categories of enterprises, including retail stores, online shopping platforms, stores of communication services, and secondhand phone shops. With their participation, there are now approximately 13,500 collection points. The goal is to collect over 80,000 mobile phones in October alone, resulting in cutting down annual CO2 emissions by 11,200 metric tons, equivalent to the carbon absorption capacity of approximately 101 Daan Parks. Moreover, the event will promote recycling of metals, creating an annual production value of NT$30.38 million.
Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, November 2023
- Ministry of Environment


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The benefits of zero-deforestation agreements in the Amazon are being offset by the spillover of deforestation and native vegetation loss into other biomes.
The president elect’s plan to fuse the ministries has met with staunch resistance from environmentalists, scientists, and even some in the bancada ruralista agribusiness lobby.
Brazil has plans for an expansive Amazon and Cerrado rail network, including two transcontinental Atlantic to Pacific lines, but development likely depends on China.
Over 3,000 Quilombos, rural communities established by runaway slaves, are seeing their legal land claims denied and settlements whittled away by Brazilian government policies, say critics.
Soy farmers see Grainrail as salvation; traders ADM, Bunge, Cargill and Amaggi see it as profit; but the Amazon railway could harm habitat and indigenous communities.
New research finds that one-third of critical jaguar habitat in the Gran Chaco, South America’s largest tropical dry forest, has been lost since the mid-1980s. According to the study, led…
Two-thirds of federal deputies seeking re-election to Brazil’s Congress this October supported bills harmful to the environment, indigenous peoples, and rural workers.
Traditional communities in Brazil’s savannah, lacking land deeds, have been displaced by large-scale soy growers, and forced to resettle in impoverished cities like Campos Lindos.
Five candidates lead the polls for Brazil’s presidency, with a vote 7 October. Mongabay offers some of what’s known, and what’s not, about their environmental positions.
Some ruralist politicians, up for election next month, own or associate with firms guilty of crimes; push attacks on the environment and indigenous groups; sell goods to U.S. / EU.
In 2017, the world lost 39 million acres (nearly 16 million hectares) of tropical forests — an area equivalent in size to Bangladesh — at a near-record rate of 40…
Brazil is a leading global consumer of chemical pesticides – many banned in the EU and U.S. This not only puts farmworkers at risk, but consumers of Brazilian food the world round.
Commodities traders have largely curbed soy buying from Brazilian Amazon producers, shifting buys to the Gran Chaco and Cerrado, where deforestation is now in full swing.
Report details soy supply chains, shows that just six traders control most of Brazil’s deforestation risk. Report is product of Trase, a powerful new Internet tracking tool.
APG and Robeco are two of the most recent companies to sign on to the Cerrado Manifesto, which calls for an end to deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado biome.
Data from a Brazilian forest monitoring group suggests deforestation is surging in the world's largest rainforest, with last month's rate of forest loss in the Amazon hitting the highest level…
Current Brazilian government policies could increase deforestation and carbon emissions, costing the nation $2-5 trillion dollars more to meet its Paris Climate Agreement pledge.
Transnational commodities firm pledges to eliminate Amazon and Cerrado deforestation from its supply chain; environmentalists laud the plan, but say it lacks implementation and timeline details.
A surge in Amazon deforestation is trending this year, with a 22 percent rise from August 2017 to May 2018. Experts say land thieves and politics may be at the heart of the problem.
Traditional communities in Bahia, Brazil, have won a court case against Agronegócio Estrondo, an agribusiness company, which illegally seized lands from the communities.
- Peru cracks down after environmental defenders’ murders
- Murder of activist in India highlights growing risk to environmental defenders
- Number of murdered environmental activists rose once again in 2017
Indonesias forest guardians
- Papuan chef Charles Toto serves up sustainability and environmental protection in a platter
- In eastern Indonesia, a forest tribe pushes back against miners and loggers
- Faith in the forest helps Indonesia’s Dayaks keep plantations, loggers at bay
- Forest communities pay the price for conservation in Madagascar
- Conservation Effectiveness series sparks action, dialogue
- Response to critique on Conservation Effectiveness series (commentary)
- China increasingly involved in Brazil’s ambitious Amazon rail network
- Amazon and climate science threatened if Bolsonaro elected Brazil’s president (commentary)
- Grainrail: ‘2nd revolution in Brazilian agribusiness’ and Amazon threat
- For Javan rhinos, the last holdout may also be a deadly disease hotspot
- ‘At capacity’? A Nepali park reckons with its rhinos
- What’s killing Nepal’s rhinos?
- Amid lack of enforcement, fishermen take the fight to blast fishing
- In an Indonesian village, compressor diving for fish is a dangerous business
- Indonesian fish farmers get early-warning system for lake pollution


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Good Gear Guide
In Pictures: Yahoo Chief Marissa Mayer’s first yea...
Mayer has also made some very unpopular decisions. In February, Mayer famously went against conventional business practices and yanked the firm’s telecommuting notions. The idea she said was to get employees working more collaboratively in the office, instead of working alone at home, would make employees more efficient and creative.
In Pictures: Yahoo Chief Marissa Mayer’s first year


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Some of the highest levels were found in foundations (63%), waterproof mascara (82%) and long-lasting lipstick (62%), according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
In addition, the study found some 88% of the tested products failed to disclose on their labels any ingredients that would explain those chemical markers, even though that is a requirement
of the US Food and Drug Administration.
"It's a little shocking and hopefully a wake-up call for the cosmetics industry in terms of how widespread the PFAS contamination is across types of makeup products," said David Andrews, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a consumer organization that maintains a database on personal care products which contain toxins
"The most common PFAS is polytetrafluoroethylene, the ingredient most commonly known as Teflon, or the coating on pans. But alll in all, we have identified 13 different PFAS chemicals in more than 600 products from 80 brands," said Andrews, who was not involved in the study.
The bill was introduced in the US Senate on Tuesday by Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and in the


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How Samsung leveraged the Narrators platform and expertise for the launch of its new Galaxy S10 smartphone in Malaysia.
Samsung, one of the world’s largest producers of electronic devices (smartphones, TVs, memory chips…) decided to partner with Narrators to identify and activate relevant content creators for the promotion of their new Samsung Galaxy S10 device in Malaysia.
The Narrators team was tasked to recruit 8 micro-influencers in the tech and lifestyle industry to create a variety of content including Instagram photos and videos reviewing the product. Influencers were asked to fully incorporate the Galaxy S10 into their daily lives, to give their followers a real-world sense of how the product could be used.
Samsung’s partnership with Narrators was an outstanding success. The campaign was able to reach a wide audience of 4.4 million Instagram users in Malaysia and generated 185,000 engagements. Not only did it exceed its set KPIs, it also created high-quality and creative content that Samsung could repurpose for its own social media channels.


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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): The Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) has expressed concern over the Sabah Forestry Department’s decision to seek the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification for sustainably cultivated palm oil.
On Monday, The Edge Financial Daily quoted the department’s director, Datuk Sam Mannan, as saying that Sabah would not bow down to federal pressure to follow the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification.
Sam had said that Sabah has the right to choose what it thinks best in matters concerning its land, forest and water as stipulated under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. He added that Sabah chose the RSPO long before the MSPO was talked about, in its vision to make the state’s oil palm sector certified in accordance to global standards by 2025.
In a statement today, MPOCC, which is the developer and operator of MSPO, said it views Sam’s statement with concern.
Noting that RSPO certification has been implemented since 2004, MPOCC said RSPO is a business-to-business arrangement and voluntary in nature.
The council said that MSPO, on the other hand, is a national certification scheme developed taking into account domestic laws and regulations, and best practices relating to sustainable production of palm oil. It was initially implemented on a voluntary basis since January 2015.
“In this context, taking into account the growing demand for certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) in major importing markets, the government on 18 May 2017 announced that MSPO certification will be made mandatory by December 2019,” said MPOCC.
“Implementation of MSPO certification will further enhance the image of the Malaysian palm oil industry, improve competitiveness, enhance the welfare of the growers, particularly the smallholders, and form the basis for the branding of Malaysian palm oil,” it added.
MPOCC said the government would continue to promote MSPO in major markets to ensure its recognition and facilitate market accessibility.
“This will address the demand for CSPO in major markets including the European Union and United States,” it added.
The council said it would continue to engage all the relevant stakeholders in the implementation of MSPO certification.
“Currently, 268,600 hectares have been MSPO certified with a set target to certify 570,000 ha by the end of December 2017,” it said.


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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates- California-based Impossible Foods has arrived in the United Arab Emirates, the company’s first market in the Middle East. Its flagship product, Impossible™ Burger, is kosher, halal and gluten-free certified, and now exclusively available on the menus of select restaurants across Dubai, United Arab Emirates, including Pickl, Sticky Rice, Akira Back and The MAINE Oyster Bar & Grill.
Beginning Friday, October 1, Impossible Burger will be featured at World Expo 2020 on select menus in the US Pavilion. The event is expected to draw more than 25 million visitors from almost 200 countries across the globe through March 31, 2022.
With its unique geographical location and international population, the United Arab Emirates’ diverse food culture serves as a perfect platform to showcase the versatility of Impossible Burger. As a result, Dubai’s top chefs have created some of the world’s most innovative plant-based dishes to date: Impossible™ Chorizo Gyoza by Chef Akira Back; Sticky Rice’s Impossible™ Pad Krapow; and Impossible™ Spiral South African Boerewors at Sausage Fabrique, to name a few.
“Impossible™ products are made for every cuisine and culture, and we couldn’t be more excited to launch in our first market in the Middle East,” said Dennis Woodside, president of Impossible Foods. “The United Arab Emirates’ status as a global travel and culinary hub will enable a whole new region of consumers to experience Impossible Burger for the first time.”
A longtime fan of Impossible Foods, Pickl CEO and Founder Stephen Flawith created three original Impossible Burger menu items specifically for the homegrown burger chain: Impossible™ Cheeseburger, Impossible™ Double Cheeseburger and Impossible™ Fries.
“These days, people want to reduce their meat intake for many reasons, whether it be environmental, health or ethical reasons,” said CEO and Founder Stephen Flawith. “We’re pumped to round off our Pickl Plant Based menu with the introduction of Impossible Burger. This product alongside Pickl’s homemade sauces and pickles is something that everyone needs to experience. It is truly a game changer.”


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25 September 2019
Should we just roll over and let new tech try to save us and the planet?
18 September 2019
US think tank prepares the way for lab-grown meat; US food recalled 10 times more often than supplements; UK cancer survival rates; Apple health studies; Snack taxes; UK delays smart meter rollout
23 May 2018
When is meat not ‘meat’; The science against glyphosate mounts


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In today’s society, we openly question many politically incorrect Halloween costumes.
This year it is the “Sexy Anna Rexia” costume, which makes light of a serious illness. Unfortunately, there are many items that continue to offend people on a year-round basis which are ignored or go unnoticed by the majority of society.
Many questionable products can be found that are not seasonal items while walking around a local Walmart.
First, is the use of African-Americans for product spokespeople, Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben being the two leading candidates.
Yes, the figures are smiling and representing a product which can be argued as something righteous, but there is more to these well-known characters.
When these product names were created, society was much more openly racist.
In fact, the words aunt and uncle were used in place of the words Mr. and Mrs. by racist people who denied African-Americans courtesy titles.
Today, the original product names continue to linger in our supermarkets, same spelling and all.
But African-Americans aren’t the only group targeted.
After having an entire country taken from them, Native-Americans now have stereotypical images of them used to sell products.
Images of Native Americans are slapped onto the front of many products, such as the Land-o-Lakes butter container, which portrays a Native-American woman on her knees giving the consumer what he or she desires—butter, of course.
And then there are the “Mexican-Train Dominoes” that are situated right next to household games such as Yahtzee and Scrabble.
Can you imagine if the product read “Jewish-Train Dominoes” instead? There would be a protest if that were the case.
There’s even a box of shoes at the local Goodwill labeled “Ethnic Shoes.”
It is easy to understand how each year at least one seasonal costume is questioned and then recalled for being politically incorrect. They truly are offensive.
What is hard to understand is how multiple offensive products are accepted with little-to-no disregard for who they may offend.
Every year millions of people continue to buy products that have offensive spokespeople and racist connotations printed on their boxes.
But when a new one comes along, then suddenly it is considered wrong and immoral. We should be able to recognize an offensive product regardless of whether it is new or old.
We should be able to recognize what is wrong and choose something else to buy instead. Our moral compasses shouldn’t be seasonal.


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Written by: Roshan Dwivedi
Shares of Internet bandwidth provider Akamai Technologies are down $7.65, or over 10%, at $66, in late trading, after the company delivered a weaker-than-expected Q2 earnings report, and forecast this quarter’s revenue and profit below consensus.
The content-delivery and Internet security firm posted adjusted earnings of 57 cents a share, a penny below Wall Street’s estimate, and down 2% from a year ago. (The company notes that EPS was up 3%, adjusted for foreign exchange.) Revenue, up 14% to $541 million, was in line with estimates, per FactSet.
The company called out its continuing investment and preparation for over-the-top television services, and it highlighted 2016 as a likely breakout year for so-called OTT video services, or “over-the-top” streaming of video.
Akamai’s servers touch a significant amount of the world’s Internet traffic, so it’s in a good position to see the transition to OTT. The company plans larger-than-usual CapEx outlays this year as it prepares for the surge in streaming traffic.
Read the entire story here.


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There’s been more fallout from the leadership change at Forbes Media as another longtime executive, Kevin Gentzel, has quietly left the company.
Gentzel worked there 12 years, climbing the sales ranks to chief revenue officer. He'll be replaced by Meredith Levien, a member of his sales team, while Mark Howard, a digital exec, will add duties as senior vp of digital ad strategy.
Forbes Media spun the news as Gentzel's leaving to practice the entrepreneurship it espouses. Gentzel is joining video news distribution network NDN, or News Distribution Network, as its chief revenue officer, and had kind words for his past employer. "After 12 amazing years at Forbes, I am so excited to be joining News Distribution Network," he emailed. "This is an amazing opportunity to help build out an attractive advertising solution that scales for the exploding video sector."
But change in the executive suite isn't unusual for a company evolving as Forbes has as it struggles to stay independent in a challenged economy and endures speculation about financial troubles and a sale. It's turned over control to non-Forbes family members, bringing in its first outsider president and CEO, Mike Perlis, a year ago. Fortune vet Mike Federle came aboard as chief operating officer last fall.
Perlis maintained the company was on solid footing. "The company's doing really well, and is profitable," he told Adweek. "The flagship's doing just fine. The company's not for sale."
Forbes has made radical changes to the magazine and website, putting advertisers, unpaid contributors and journalists on the same footing. Gentzel played a big part in that; he rolled out AdVoice, which let clients publish their own blogs alongside editorial staff contributions. The program was well received by advertisers, although some critics said it blurred he line between church and state.
Perlis said the next step for the brand would be to roll out other advertising offerings, which will be taken to market in the coming weeks.
"AdVoice will definitely evolve, and iterate, but we're going to unveil a series of other products that are innovative," he said.


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After many months away from Apple devices, Fortnite returns to iPhone and iPad. It does so thanks to the GeForce Now cloud gaming service, and totally free.
We all know the open field war between Apple and Epic, developer of Fortnite. The one that was not long ago the best known game in the world, thanks to its availability on each and every one of the possible platforms, has been out of Apple devices for a long time after breaking the rules of the App Store and starting a court battle with mutual accusations between both companies. At this point it seems like a return to Apple's official app store is pretty unlikely, but thanks to the increasingly popular cloud gaming services, playing Fortnite on our iPhone and iPad is now possible, and also completely free.
And it is thanks to GeForce Now, Nvidia's streaming gaming platform, which brings us next-gen PC gaming on any device, anywhere. The service has announced that Fortnite is no longer in Beta on its platform and can now be played in full by anyone who signs up for their service. And you can also do it completely free of charge, although with restrictions, such as the fact that you can only do one-hour sessions. And although the best experience with the platform is achieved using a control command, whether it is specific to iPhone or those of PS4, PS5 and Xbox, you can also use the touch controls on the screen.
And for those who want to play a Battle Royale without having to use other third-party services, we remind you that Apex Legends Mobile is available for free. You can download it from the App Store for iPhone and iPad from this link.


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Double Win for Vocalink at the 2017 Payments Awards
Vocalink, a Mastercard company, was last night awarded with two prestigious awards - The Overall Winner and the Payments Infrastructure of the Year Award, for its leading technology and expertise, and in recognition for a milestone year that saw Vocalink’s solutions transform the way people and businesses move money across the globe.
2017 saw Vocalink deliver ground-breaking immediate payments solutions both in the US and Thailand as well as enabling access to the UK payments industry through their payments gateway solution PayPort. The business also saw the launch of the new image based cheque clearing system, creating a robust and more efficient system in the UK.
RTP ® in the US: This week, Vocalink announced the launch of RTP® (Real-Time Payments) in the US on behalf of The Clearing House; one of the most comprehensive real-time payment systems ever created globally that is expected to transform the U.S. payments landscape. Set to empower consumers and businesses to send and receive immediate payments domestically, financial processes that used to take days can now be concluded in seconds. Two banks – U.S. Bank and BNY Mellon – have completed the first live transactions. At its core, the technology behind The Clearing House’s RTP system is an evolution of Vocalink’s highly successful and reliable systems developed for the U.K., Singapore and Thailand. These real-time solutions sit at the centre of the global payments infrastructure and have been designed to ‘run on their own rails’, working alongside and between conventional settlement systems. The TCH system operates 24/7 to process credit transfers, requests for payment, requests for information, confirmation messages, returned and rejected payments and system and service related messages. It also integrates support for multiple transaction channels, including online and mobile.
PromptPay in Thailand: Earlier this year, Vocalink had unprecedented success with the launch of PromptPay in Thailand that went live on the 21 January 2017. Created for Thailand’s main interbank payments provider, already 36.2 million Thai citizens have signed up to PromptPay (more than half the population) with 47.3 million payments already made and 23 banks signed up. Billions of Thai Baht flow through the PromptPay service, of which over a quarter has been the transfer of benefit payments from the government to people. At present the system is handling in excess of 35,000 transactions per day. The launch of real-time payments is a breakthrough for Thailand and part of a government-led strategy to bring 21st century banking services to all communities in Thailand. PromptPay will accelerate adoption of mobile payments, address financial inclusion and support the expansion of Thailand’s burgeoning digital economy. At the same time, it will reduce Thailand’s reliance on a physical banking infrastructure and cash. For the banks, the provision of an adaptor has greatly reduced the cost of entry to real-time payments.
Paul Stoddart, CEO, Vocalink, a Mastercard company:
“We are delighted to have been recognised by the industry for what has been a milestone year for Vocalink. Working with The Clearing House, RTP® is a best-in-class, functionally rich system capable of meeting the demands of today’s U.S. economy while building a system robust enough and flexible enough for further innovation. In Thailand, PromptPay has been an outstanding success that is now revolutionising payments for the country’s 60m population offering them access to instant payments via mobile, online and ATM channels for the first time. At home, we have supported the up and coming challenger banks, such as Starling Bank and financial institutions through our payment gateway product PayPort, which helps to facilitate a level playing field between established financial institutions and challengers, enabling immediate payments for all kinds of Payment Service Providers (PSPs).”
Vocalink, a Mastercard company was also recognised for the successful project delivery of all of its innovative world-class payment solutions in the back-drop of ambitious timescales and the need to resolve a range of significant challenges, such as different messaging standards and banking practices, with new innovations and creative solutions - including the new cheque clearing system that was launched last month.
– ends –
A Mastercard company, Vocalink designs, builds and operates industry-leading bank account-based payment systems. Our technologies power the UK’s real-time payments, settlements and direct debit systems, as well as the UK’s network of over 70,000 ATMs. In 2016, we processed over 90 percent of salaries, more than 70 percent of household bills and almost all state benefits in the UK. In addition, our proven real-time bank account-based payment solutions provide more payment choice to customers in Singapore, Thailand and the United States. For payment news and insight from Vocalink visit CONNECT - http://connect.Vocalink.com/
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Rockwell Automation Opens Registration for 2018 Automation Fair18.9.2018 14:54 | Pressemelding
Registration is now open for the 2018 Automation Fair, hosted by Rockwell Automation and members of its global PartnerNetwork program. The 27th annual Automation Fair will be held Nov. 12-15 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event brings together approximately 10,000 manufacturers and producers from across the globe to learn about the newest innovations in automation and take part in training, industry forums and networking events. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180918005725/en/ Automation Fair will feature more than 150 exhibits showcasing the latest product innovations for industrial manufacturing and production. Hosted by Rockwell Automation and members of its PartnerNetwork, the event offers more than 400 hours of educational opportunities through forums, hands-on labs and technical sessions. (Photo: Business Wire) “The next industrial transformation is here – and meeting its demands requires a m
Seoul Semiconductor Supplies Optimal LEDs ‘SunLike’ to Large Scale Applications of Lumitronix in Germany18.9.2018 13:33 | Pressemelding
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ 046890), a market leader in LED (light emitting diode) design and manufacturing, supplied the innovative LEDs “SunLike” to Lumitronix, the LED specialist located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180918005626/en/ The Modules with SunLike LEDs. (Photo: Business Wire) In cooperation with Seoul Semiconductor, Lumitronix has also developed three optimal SunLike modules to provide customers with a standardized solution and expand its adoption in the lighting market. Two of the LED modules comply with the standard of Zhaga, a global association of lighting companies, for Book 7 L56W2 and Book 7 L28W2 and enable easy replacement in various industrial applications. The modules named LinearZ are available in one feet and two feet length. The model LinearZ 280-26 measures 280 mm and is equipped with 26 SunLike LEDs and has a light output of up to 700 lm.
Andersen Global Continues South American Expansion With BKM Berkemeyer18.9.2018 13:30 | Pressemelding
Andersen Global announces further growth in South America with the signing of a Collaboration Agreement with BKM Berkemeyer, one of the oldest and largest law firms in Paraguay. With two locations in the capital city of Asunción, the firm has a headcount of nearly 150 professionals, including ten Partners and over 60 lawyers. Established in 1951, BKM Berkemeyer is led by Managing Partner Hugo Berkemeyer and provides legal solutions to both domestic and international clients. The firm delivers advice in all areas of law, including business and corporate, taxation, litigation, environment, employment and intellectual property, with a notable expertise in international transactions and business matters. BKM Berkemeyer also specializes in M&A’s, joint ventures, foreign investment, infrastructure, project finance and financial transactions, advising also on issues regarding telecommunications, water and energy projects. Hugo commented, “Our focus at BKM Berkemeyer has been to provide flexib
175 Million Europeans Have Sleep Apnoea, Highlighting Scale of Global Health Crisis18.9.2018 13:05 | Pressemelding
Roughly 175 million Europeans have obstructive sleep apnoea, according to a late-breaking abstract presented by ResMed today at the European Respiratory Society’s annual ERS Congress in Paris. Leading researchers estimate 90 million Europeans have moderate to severe sleep apnoea, meaning they experience at least 15 breathing events an hour during sleep. These statistics are based on the latest scoring rules for determining one’s apnoea–hypopnoea index (AASM 2012) and are connected with a 16-country study announced in May 2018 that revealed an estimated 936 million people worldwide have sleep apnoea, a chronic sleep-disordered breathing condition associated with increased risk of mortality and reduced quality of life. The new global prevalence is nearly tenfold higher than the previous one – 100 million – estimated by the World Health Organization in 2007. European countries with the highest prevalence are: Russia, 40 million Germany, 26 million France, 24 million Ukraine, 13 million Sp
Loomis Sayles Announces Senior Loan Portfolio Manager Retirement18.9.2018 13:00 | Pressemelding
Loomis, Sayles & Company, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, announced today that Kevin Perry, portfolio manager on the senior loan team, will retire in March 2019 after 17 years with the company and 37 years in the industry. All senior loan portfolios will continue to be co-managed by portfolio managers John Bell and Michael Klawitter, who have been members of the team for 17 and 16 years, respectively. The team oversees approximately $10.7 billion1 in institutional and retail assets for global clients. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180918005187/en/ “Kevin has embodied Loomis Sayles’ values of collaboration, humility and prudent risk-taking every day since he and John joined us in 2001,” said Kevin Charleston, chief executive officer. “Kevin and John are considered pioneers in the bank loan market and their efforts have led to clients entrusting us with the management of more than $10 billion in b
SIA Has Provided the New Real-Time Gross Settlement System in Denmark18.9.2018 13:00 | Pressemelding
SIA, European hi-tech company, leader in payment infrastructures and services, has further strengthened its positioning in the Nordic countries, by providing Danmarks Nationalbank with the new real-time gross settlement system (RTGS) that connects banks, mortgage banks and settlement systems. This RTGS platform is already in operation by the central banks of Norway and Sweden and it will soon go live in Iceland too. The up-to-date technology infrastructure developed by SIA has replaced the previous in-house system that has been in use by the Central Bank of Denmark since 2001. The new RTGS system, that secures safe and real-time transfer of Danish kroner, ensures continued efficiency, operational reliability, functional sophistication and simpler maintenance of the system. In this initiative, SIA has used its wholly-owned subsidiary Perago, based in Pretoria (South Africa) and specialized in central bank solutions. Later this year, Denmark will be the first non-euro country to particip


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The launch of Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 has created a frenzy over the release of the latest and the highly anticipated update of the Android 5.0 Lollipop. Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 will be the first devices to run on Android Lollipop but there are loads of other devices which will get the Lollipop update.
Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 will receive the Android 5.0 system images later this week alongside the SDK. There were doubts whether Nexus 4 will receive the update but Google has clarified it that Nexus 4 will indeed receive the update which is a change in the policy of Google since it only provides updates to the devices which fall in the 18 month window.
On November 3rd the Nexus 7 (wifi) and Nexus 10 will reportedly receive the update first via an OTA, with the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and Nexus 7 (LTE) getting it later that month.
It is a bit odd that Google has decided to update the tablets first with the Android Lollipop update. We will have to wait and see if all these rumors are really true.


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The Sanrio character will appear on selected works with proceeds will benefiting the charity Elephant Family.
The collaboration will feature a life-size art piece and a range of elephant replicas in 10 different designs that will be sold to raise money toward elephant conservation efforts by Elephant Parade’s charity partner, Elephant Family.
“Elephants are magical creatures and deserve a secure future in our world,” says Morris Calasso, licensing director, Sanrio. “Through Hello Kitty’s worldwide appeal, we hope to inspire her supporters to learn more about the plight of the endangered Asian elephant and to introduce a new generation of people to join the movement to support elephant conservation. After all, as Hello Kitty says, ‘You can never have too many friends!’”
“The new Hello Kitty range is a stunning example of the merging of two inspirational stories– Hello Kitty, beloved by artists
founder, Elephant Parade. “Elephant Parade has a very important message to tell of the need for elephant conservation, and it’s wonderful that with Hello Kitty, together we can carry the conservation message to a wider audience. Cutting-edge designs and creative ideas have powered our expositions and also been the backbone of our replica range that allows millions of people to take a symbol of the elephant Parade phenomenon into their homes.”
The Hello Kitty
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Sophie Theallet’s rooftop runway show near Hudson Yards has the fashion world abuzz.
The thrilling beat of a Senegalese troupe of drummers permeated the open air with a vitality seldom experienced at a fashion show. As the band drummed, Theallet sent models arrayed in African-inspired designs out onto the earthen catwalk.
The show drew attention for its fresh musical style and flowing, African-style designs as well as the diversity of its models. The New York Times called it “what may have been among the most diverse group of models yet seen at fashion week.” Over half were African-American or Asian, and one fuller-figured model rocked an innovative lace jumpsuit.
Theallet chose the top of a 10-story warehouse near Hudson Yards for her show. The show will likely accelerate her rise in the fashion world; such a stir may put Hudson Yards in the fashion spotlight as well.


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Regent Hotels Group, the Taipei-based hospitality company, has unveiled three new mixed hotel and residential projects as it ramps up its global expansion plans.
The company is actually a pioneer of mixed-use developments, having becoming one of the first high-end chains to operate a luxury hotel as part of a shopping mall when it opened the Regent Galleria at Regent Taipei in 1990. And the company is building on this heritage with the signing of agreements for properties in three more mixed-use developments, located in Vietnam, Montenegro and Indonesia.
In June, Regent penned an agreement for a new hotel on the island of Phu Quoc, which lies off Vietnam’s south coast. Regent Phu Quoc is expected to open in 2019 and comprises a luxury resort and residential units within a marina development.
That agreement was followed in July by the launch of the Regent Pool Club Residences at Regent Porto Montenegro. This will be the second phase of the Regent Porto Montenegro project, which also overlooks a yacht marina. All owners of the Regent Pool Club Residences will have access to the facilities and services of the Regent hotel.
Also scheduled to open in 2018 is the Regent Jakarta and Regent Residences Jakarta (pictured top), which will form part of the new Mangkuluhur City development in the centre of Indonesia’s capital city. As well as the hotel and residences, the development will feature shopping, dining and entertainment options.
“The mixed-use business model is our commitment to maximise owner return through innovative concepts and entrepreneurship. The development of a luxury hotel is a long-term investment; using the Regent brand as an anchor, we can deliver exceptional products and provide immediate capital return through residential sales,” said Steven Pan, chairman of Regents Hotels Group.
Regent currently operates 17 hotels, resorts and residences in six countries, as well as eight standalone restaurants. The company added that it is “continually seeking… growth opportunities that align the right partners with winning locations in gateway cities”.


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Commercial fleet sales from nine manufacturers totaled 53,628 in June 2020, representing a 26% decrease when compared to the same time last year, though the declines are not as significant as seen in the last two months, which were both more than 65% drops.
July 7, 2020
Commercial fleet sales from nine manufacturers totaled 23,866 in May 2020, representing a 68.9% year-over-year decrease, continuing a streak of significant monthly declines since the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 8, 2020
Commercial fleet sales from nine manufacturers totaled 24,923 in April 2020, representing a 66.5% year-over-year decrease, driven heavily by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 4, 2020
Analysts found that, as in 2018, consumers continued to abandon car segments in 2019. Light trucks are on track to account for more than 70% of overall new-car sales for 2019, while cars will account for less than 30% of new-car sales.
December 23, 2019
The Missoula Enterprise Truck Rental location provides access to a wide range of cargo vans, box trucks, and tow-capable pickup trucks for both business and personal use.
October 23, 2019


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Even though Dodge is best known for muscle cars like the Challenger and Charger, today’s new vehicle buyers want SUVs.
That doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice muscle and performance — and the brand’s newest entry, the compact Hornet crossover, is out to prove it. With its long-running Challenger and Charger muscle cars set to go out of production next year, Dodge is pulling together an entirely new lineup, starting with the compact Hornet crossover set to debut later this year.
The Hornet delivers quite a sting, especially with the top-line R/T model that’s set to become the performance brand’s first plug-in hybrid. It introduces the new PowerShot mode that cuts a full second off the PHEV’s 0-60 times — yet still delivers up to 30 miles in all-electric mode. But buyers on a budget can still post some impressive launch numbers with the base 2023 Dodge Hornet GT starting at under $30,000.
The plan is “to go in and disrupt the (compact crossover) segment,” said Dodge brand boss Tim Kuniskis during a media backgrounder.
The 2023 Hornet is based on the same platform as the little Alfa Romeo Tonale, and there’s no question the two products have a lot in common, especially when viewed in profile. Rather than “spending a few million,” Dodge decided not to redesign the high-waisted doors of the compact model. But it does get a number of unique details both up front and at the back end, and the Hornet measures a wee bit longer overall than its Italian sibling.
Integrated heat extractors in the hood are meant to enhance its muscular looks, while a “mail slot” opening is sculpted into the front fascia. A menacing grille gives Hornet what Dodge refers to as an “all-business demeanor.”
Around back, the R/T packages get new painted lower cladding and distinctive integrated dual exhaust ports. The taillamps stretch the width of the vehicle, with a Dodge Rhombi logo in the center — brightly lit on the electrified R/T model.
A new badge helps celebrate the return of the Hornet nameplate. It first appeared on the classic Hudson Hornet back in the 1940s, and Dodge used the name on a popular 2006 concept vehicle.
A Muscular Show-Off
The goal was to create “a dynamic muscle crossover,” said exterior design chief Scott Krugger, “not a boring utility vehicle.”
That holds true with the Hornet’s decidedly driver-focused cabin, which picks up some key styling cues from the bigger Dodge Durango. Red stitching and a dark headliner, along with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, add to the performance feel of both models.
The instrument panel is dominated by twin LCD displays, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Hornet offers an array of Digital Brand’s technologies, including the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The vehicle also has an integrated Amazon Alexa voice assistant.
Electrifying Hornet R/T
There’s also that plug-in hybrid drivetrain shared with Alfa’s Tonale. Dodge bills it as the brand’s “first-ever electrified performance vehicle,” and the focus is, indeed, on power.
The drivetrain pairs a 1.3L turbo-four gas engine paired with a 90kW electric motor. The combination punches out “285-plus” horsepower — final numbers still being worked out — and 383 pound-feet of torque.
That’s until you press the PowerShot button, which kicks in an extra 25 horsepower and gobs of instant torque. That cuts 0-60 launch times down by a full second, to 6.1 seconds.
According to Kuniskis, the PowerShot function will be offered on all future electrified Dodge models, including the all-electric muscle car the brand plans to launch in 2024.
Meanwhile, the R/T’s 15.5kWH lithium-ion battery can deliver enough power to drive up to 30 miles in all-electric mode. Using the built-in Level 2 charger, the new Dodge plug-in can be fully recharged in as little as 2.5 hours.
The top-line model’s hybrid drive system is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox sending power to all four wheels.
The R/T adds niceties like an electronic limited-slip rear differential, Koni frequency-selective dampers, and front and rear Brembo brakes. A dual-stage suspension is also available.
Dodge Hornet GT
Like the R/T, Dodge engineers are still working out final specs on the 2023 Hornet GT, but promise it will produce at least 265 horsepower and 295 horsepower from a 2.0L inline-four with a twin-scroll turbocharger. It’s currently rated at a 6.5 second 0-60 time.
The Hornet GT also features AWD, though Dodge isn’t yet releasing transmission details. In Europe, the engine is paired with a seven-speed manual. No manual transmissions will be available for either Hornet model.
Final fuel economy numbers have not yet been released for either version of the Hornet.
Both the Hornet R/T and GT models will be available with a Track Pack package adding 20-inch Abyss wheels and other styling and performance features. Dodge plans to have dozens of additional performance accessories available through its Direct Connection service.
Hornet GLH: ‘Goes Like Hell’
With the launch of Hornet, Dodge is reviving another old name, GLH. That name has been used several times, though it’s best known as the high-performance package for the Dodge Omni GLH — and the limited-edition 1986 Shelby Omni GLH-S. Short for “Goes Like Hell,” only 500 were made.
A show car version was unveiled during the debut of the new SUV. According to Dodge, it boasts twice the power-to-weight ratio of the Shelby classic. For now, it’s just a concept meant to show what Hornet customers will be able to do with the new crossover.
In concept form, the GLH features:
- Stage kit that offers stackable performance upgrades for the GT model
- Suspension-lowering kit drops the Hornet more than an inch, creating a lower center of gravity and enhanced cornering dynamics
- Unrestricted dual exhaust with black chrome tips provide a throaty performance note
- Exclusive Direction Connection GLH 20-inch painted and machine-faced wheels
- Exclusive Direct Connection GLH graphics, including stripes and logos
- Black-painted lower trim with exhaust cutout rear fascia
Dodge officials are hinting that a production Hornet GLH could follow. But GT buyers will be able to put one together on their own using Direct Connection parts.
2023 Dodge Hornet: Pricing & Availability
The 2023 Dodge Hornet GT will start at $29,995 before delivery fees, topping out at $34,995. The Hornet R/T will start at $39,995, with a fully loaded model coming in at $44,995.
The Hornet will be built alongside the Alfa Romeo Tonale at a plant in Naples, Italy. Buyers will be able to start placing orders for the GT model on August 17, 2022, with the first cars arriving in U.S. showrooms late this year. Dodge hasn’t announced when it will begin taking orders for the Hornet R/T but expects it to reach dealerships by the spring of 2023.


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Wednesday 16 October 2019
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Thursday 26 September 2019
Unity Opto receives LED lamp orders shifted from China
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Thursday 2 August 2018
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Tuesday 19 June 2018
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Thursday 3 May 2018
Unity Opto turns profitable in 1Q18
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Tuesday 27 March 2018
Unity Opto reports loss for 2017
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Wednesday 21 February 2018
Unity Opto expects gross margin to rise to 25% in 2018
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Thursday 8 February 2018
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Thursday 11 May 2017
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Apple's record $1 bil profit up 78% from year ago
EmptyApple Inc. shipped 21.1 million iPods in its first fiscal quarter, 50% more than in the same quarter a year ago, a primary factor in the company's Wednesday posting of a record $1 billion quarterly profit, 78% better than last year.
Apple, which recently dropped "computer" from its corporate moniker, shipped 1.6 million Macs during the quarter, 28% more than a year ago.
Revenue increased 24.5% year-over-year to $7.1 billion, with $3.4 billion coming from iPod sales. Other music-related revenue, including sales at Apple's online iTunes store, totaled $634 million.
Chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer said the iTunes store now features 4 million songs, 350 television titles and 250 film titles, and he called demand for the iPod during the holiday season "extraordinary."
IPod had a 72% share of the market of digital-music players in December, according to research firm NPD, and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry said Wednesday that digital-music sales doubled last year to about $2 billion, or about 10% of all sales.
Oppenheimer said sales of Apple gift cards doubled year-over-year, and the company ended the quarter with $11.9 billion in cash.
The company managed to beat Wall Street expectations on all fronts -- revenue, earnings and earnings per share. Nevertheless, the stock fell 2.2% during regular trading and, after an initial $4-per-share surge after-hours when earnings were released, the stock continued its fall.
One issue dogging the stock has been the company's acknowledgment that it had backdated some stock-option grants. On a conference call Wednesday, Oppenheimer mostly deflected questions about the matter, saying not much more than that Apple was "voluntarily and proactively" cooperating with federal officials looking into the matter.
Also, Apple guided for up to $4.9 billion in revenue for its fiscal second quarter, while analysts were looking for about $5.2 billion.
Apple ended the quarter with 170 stores, including five added during the quarter, and Oppenheimer said 28 million people visited the stores in the quarter.
Apple this year expects to be selling from those stores, as well as other outlets, its iPhone and Apple TV set-top box.
"We've just kicked off what is going to be a very strong new product year for Apple by launching Apple TV and the revolutionary iPhone," CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. He was not on the conference call.
Oppenheimer said a lawsuit filed against Apple by Cisco Systems over the iPhone name was "silly," as other companies already have used the term to describe Voice-over Internet Protocol, and Apple is the first to use it on a cell phone.


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EA's sports game becomes the fourth title to sell over 1 million units in week one - joining CoDs.
Players will battle to become the world's greatest PES 2012 player.
A free Copa Santander Libertadores content update will be released for PES 2012 this Friday, Konami has announced.
Updates team rosters, introduces eight new boot styles and adds the new Champions League final ball.
An update for PES 2012 will be released this December as part of Konami's ongoing efforts to enhance and improve the game, the publisher announced today.
Stats revealing that FIFA 12 outsold PES 2012 by 25:1 don't give the full picture across all territories, according to PES team leader Jon Murphy.
Battlefield 3 has entered the UK All Formats All Price video game chart at No.1, becoming the 10th biggest UK All Formats week 1 seller.
Batman: Arkham City has secured the All Formats All Prices UK video game chart No.1 spot, after a huge week of sales which sees the game claim the fourth best launch week of the year so far - behind FIFA 12, Gears of War 3 and LA Noire.
Microsoft and Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 4 has entered the All Formats All Prices UK video game chart at No.1, claiming the biggest ever launch week for an Xbox 360 racing game.
The full version of the PES 2012 myPES App is now available on Facebook, bringing the worlds of football and the world's most popular social network together.
Winning Eleven 2012, the Japanese version of our PES 2012, shot to the top of the Japanese video game chart for the week ending October 9 with sales of 272,036 copies on PS3.


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If London-based global news broadcaster, the BBC ever considered having a local linear television presence in India, it would only be with full editorial control over such a potential offering, and preferably with an Indian partner that isn’t presence in the news television space already, Jim Egan, chief executive officer of BBC Global News told Fortune India in an interview.
Though small, India is an important market for the BBC, through its presence across platforms like radio, television and digital. The BBC has doubled its revenue in India over the last five years, says Egan, who was in Mumbai last week, and is aiming to achieve a similar feat over the next five years.
The BBC has expanded the scope of its operations in India over the last two years by extending its services to eight vernacular Indian languages (apart from English news), from four earlier. In an effort to shore up revenues, it has also established a local arm of its branded content wing, BBC StoryWorks, based at its India headquarters in New Delhi.
What is your outlook on India and the BBC’s future plans in the country?
The media sector in India is growing at an impressive rate, driven by overall GDP growth, which is eye-watering to some of us in Europe. And as the tide rises, all the boats go up with it.
We only have a small market share in India, but it is market we take very seriously due to the size of the audience and the increasing commercial potential here. We have a long association with India, where we were present through shortwave radio earlier and have modernised since over the last 12 years or so. There has been significant expansion over the last two years, during which time we expanded our services from four vernacular languages to eight, apart from English language news. So we are pleased with how things are going. India is a growth market where we have seen our revenue nearly double over the last five years.
What will be the role of digital play in further deepening the BBC’s presence in India?
There are some restrictions on what we stream online since subscribers pay for our linear television news service. So we are quite careful as to what we move to the OTT (over-the-top) space. One of the good things about digital, on-demand service is that it is complementary to our television news service. There are quite a few high-quality news and current affairs programmes and documentaries that may be shown on TV three or four times and then it is gone. But as some online operators start building out their content libraries we are able to put some of our shows there and people are then able to come back and watch whatever is of particular interest to them.
Digital has been growing well for us. We are extending the advertising products that we are offering to clients globally in India as well. While we have seen pay TV revenue grow up steadily, the growth has been much more significant on the online advertising revenue side.
This isn’t just conventional banner advertising but programmatic marketing, as well as branded content. We have a branded content team called BBC StoryWorks for three-and-a-half years now, and last year we set up a small outfit of BBC StoryWorks in India, because the branded content that is made out of London comes with a certain price tag that’s prohibitive for many advertisers. By making branded content locally in India, we are much more fit-for-purpose in terms of what clients are looking for.
We have worked with brands like the Ministry of Tourism (of the Indian government), the Make in India campaign, Taj Hotels, Mastercard and others. We want to work with international brands that are looking at India, as well as Indian brands that want to reach out to a global audience.
Would the BBC consider having a local news television presence in India, either through a joint venture with an Indian partner or under a licence agreement?
We have considered this in the past, but it isn’t very likely. At the end of the day if the channel is going to be branded the BBC in any way, editorial control needs to solely rest with us. What we have found that editorial content isn’t a divisive concept. You either have it or you don’t. The events of the past few weeks surrounding Kashmir and the border areas serve as an example of how a partnership can lead to an editorial deadlock about how we treat some of these sensitive issues.
If we ever do a joint venture with an Indian partner it would be easiest to do it with someone who is not already in the new business – may be a new player, or a financial investor, or media companies that isn’t present in news. If someone were to come to us and have a conversation along those lines and sort out the issue of editorial control then we could look at it.