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Can you spot the Olympic hopefuls?
A special Valiant Unity comic book cover is flooded with USA Luge athletes, with proceeds to benefit Olympic fundraising.
Doubles lugers Christian Niccum and Jayson Terdiman are at the top, and Tyler Andersen, Chris Mazdzer and Joe Mortensen are among the other athletes on the cover, according to USA Luge.
They surround Valiant’s superhero, X-O Manowar, in the middle.
“Valiant has truly captured the passion and vitality of our athletes with this cover,” USA Luge director of marketing and sponsorship Gordy Sheer said in a press release. “Look for the team to bring every ounce of the energy presented here to Sochi when the Games begin this coming February.”
The comic book will be available beginning Nov. 13, according to reports.


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Almost 5m British households have signed up to streaming services since the coronavirus lockdown began, as the nation turns to Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ to alleviate the impact of the restrictions.
There have been an estimated 4.6m new signups to subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) offerings since much of normal British life ground to a halt in late March, according to research.
The lockdown has provided the perfect launch conditions for Disney+, which debuted in the UK on 24 March, a day after Boris Johnson ordered the nation to stay at home.
Disney+, which launched with titles including the $100m (£82m) live-action Star Wars series The Mandalorian, is estimated to have attracted 1.6 million subscribers in the UK in its first month. The research found that 85% of the Disney+ subscribers say they will keep using the service after the health crisis is over.
“With a further 13% of people who have not yet tried Disney+ expressing an interest in trying it, the device could be well past 2 million subscribers in the near future,” says the report by Oliver and Ohlbaum Associates.
The survey found that a quarter of people were more willing to consider subscribing to a streaming service during lockdown than before the crisis.
“The appetite for fresh entertainment during lockdown when content from traditional channels has been exhausted, along with increased demand for TV content at all times of the day, is contributing to consumers re-evaluating SVOD services,” the report’s authors conclude.
Streaming services are also attractive in their low cost and flexibility. Subscribers get a one-month free trial and can cancel at any time, unlike most pay-TV packages with longer lock-in periods and much higher costs.
“They provide a potentially cheaper option to traditional pay-TV, something consumers are likely to become increasingly attuned to in the medium to long term,” the reports says.
In the UK, Netflix is the market leader with 12.4m subscribers, according to the most recent figures from TV measurement body Barb. Amazon’s Prime Video ranks second with just over 7 million subscribers.
Netflix’s first-quarter new global subscriber numbers were more than double its forecast at 15.8 million thanks to the global lockdown.
Disney+ has attracted 50 million subscribers worldwide in six months, although many have it free for a year due to distribution deals with telecoms and TV partners. Nevertheless, it took Netflix seven years to reach the same milestone after moving from DVD rental by post to streaming in 2007.
Streaming in the UK
Netflix (standard tier): £8.99 a month
Content: Stranger Things, The Crown
Amazon Prime (based on cheaper annual tariff): £6.58 a month, or £79 a year
Content: Good Omens, Man in the High Castle, The Grand Tour
BBC TV licence (iPlayer): £13.10 a month, or £157.50 a year
Content: The Bodyguard, Line of Duty, Top Gear
BritBox: £5.99 a month
Content: Love Island, Gavin & Stacey, Victoria
Disney+: £5.99 a month, or £59.99 a year
Content: The Mandalorian, Loki, Star Wars, Avengers, Avatar
AppleTV+: £4.99 a month
Content: The Morning Show, shows from Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Spielberg

domain: news


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KARACHI: As the production of iconic Mehran VXR will be discontinued from next month, Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL) has raised its price by Rs20,000 followed by increase in other models from April 1.
The company had announced the discontinuation of Mehran VXR model in September 2018 while in November it closed down Mehran VX.
At that time, the car assembler had informed its vendors that the company would roll out 19,247 units of Mehran VXR from September 2018 to March 2019 while a total of 4,574 units of Mehran VX would be assembled in the same period.
The new price of Mehran VX and VXR is now Rs799,000 and Rs880,000, showing a jump of Rs10,000 and Rs20,000, respectively.
The new price of Wagon R VXR and VXL has been fixed at Rs 1.264 million and Rs 1.344mn versus Rs 1.224mn and Rs 1.314mn.
Cultus VXR and VXL will carry new price tags of Rs1.440m and Rs1.551m from Rs1.410m and Rs1.531m, while Bolan and Cargo van prices have been increased to Rs874,000 and Rs840,000 from Rs854,000 and Rs820,000.
Ravi, APV, Ciaz MT and Ciaz AT will be available at Rs796,000, Rs3.140m, Rs2.160m and Rs2.300m as compared to Rs776,000, Rs3.040m, Rs2.060m and Rs2.200m respectively.
The new price of Vitara GLX AT and Jimny JLDX is Rs4.090m and Rs2.493m as compared to Rs3.990m and Rs2.393m. The company did not change price of two Suzuki Swift models and Cultus AGS model.
As per new prices of two wheelers effective from April 1, 2019, the new price of GS150, GS150SE and GR150 is Rs165,000, Rs183,000 and Rs249,000 as against Rs162,000, Rs180,000 and Rs243,000, respectively.
The PSMCL, in its letter to its authorised dealers, had not mentioned any reason for jacking up rates for the second time this year. However, the market sources said the rupee devaluation against the dollar was the main reason of price hike.
Bike prices jacked up
N.J. Auto Industries Ltd raised the price of 70cc Scooty by Rs3,000 to Rs60,000 from April 1, 2019, citing rising cost of imported raw material and rubber on account of falling rupee against the dollar.
Road Prince Motorcycle and Rickshaw pushed up price of 150cc Loader by Rs4,000 from April 5.
The auto manufacturers, who claim to achieve higher localisation, had made multiple price hikes from January 2018 till to date on rupee-dollar parity. On Jan 1, 2018, one dollar was equal to Rs110 as compared to current rate of Rs142.
The imports of completely- and semi-knocked down kits (CKD/SKD) of cars during the first eight months of this fiscal year rose to $550m from $512m while that of CKD/SKD kits of two-wheelers jumped to $71m from $69m in the same period.
The FY18 saw a growth of 23pc in import of car parts and accessories to $809m from $660m in FY17. Import of CKD/SKD of bikes went up by 15.5per to $106m in FY18.


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Demand for Taylor Swift tickets rattles Ticketmaster
The Future. Ticketmaster’s sale of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” may go down as one of the most chaotic offerings in music history, with demand far exceeding any tour in the company’s history. The dust is still settling on how Ticketmaster will handle the remaining tickets (if there are any), but one thing may be certain — Taylor Swift is the biggest act in the world right now, bar none.
Too big to succeed
Ticketmaster learned this week that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, according to Insider.
- Ticketmaster leveraged its “Verified Fan” program to sell Taylor Swift tickets — a record 3.5 million people signed up.
- So when the sale started, 1.5 million people were immediately let in while the other 2 million were put on a waiting list.
- The trouble is that 14 million people (and bots) showed up to buy tickets, forcing millions of fans to wait hours to get a shot at getting a ticket.
- Ticketmaster’s site couldn’t handle that kind of traffic. Live Nation chairman Greg Maffei said the tour resulted in “3.5 billion total system requests — 4x our previous peak.”
To fulfill all the demand, Maffei said Swift would need to perform over 900 stadium shows (almost 20x the number of shows she is doing)… that’s a stadium show every single night for the next 2.5 years.”
Ultimately, two million tickets were sold that day.
Some lawmakers and government officials want to pull the plug on Ticketmaster’s dominance in the live-music industry.
- Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator David Cicilline (D-RI), and others have either criticized Live Nation’s dominance or called for its breakup over antitrust concerns.
- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced that he’s perform over 900 stadium shows in relation to Live Nation’s market share.
And with the actual public sale of Swift tickets that were supposed to take place today being scrapped because of “extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems” and “insufficient remaining ticket inventory,” don’t expect the volume on this to go down anytime soon.


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Look out, science fiction fans, because the future is arriving quicker than you think. JWTIntelligence, a division of the big New York-based JWT marketing agency, annually focuses on the top trends to look for in the year ahead.
The agency points to some amazing things in 2013. How about the “beam brush,” a toothbrush that tracks average brushing time and the length of time since the last brush?
Among other intelligent things, there are Google glasses, complete with a built-in microphone, camera, speaker and screen, and special contact lenses that Microsoft, in collaboration with the University of Washington researchers, is developing that transmit information directly to the eye.
We can also look for the smart tattoo. Nokia has patented technology that transmits “a perceivable impulse” via the skin when a phone call or message is received. This will give a whole new meaning to the Sinatra song, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”
In the year ahead, look for increased efforts to reduce stress such as Quiet Mark, a not-for-profit based in the United Kingdom, that encourages brands to produce quieter products — from hair dryers to food mixers.
The smartphone will take on even more importance in the coming year — no surprise there, say JWT soothsayers. Now there’s a word for it: “NoMoPhobia,” the fear of being without one’s phone.
Look for a sensory explosion in 2013. For example, Dunkin Donuts set up technology in buses in Seoul, South Korea where the aroma of coffee is released whenever the brand’s jingle is played on the radio.
I keep thinking of the 2002 Tom Cruise movie, “Minority Report,” where the billboards talk to people individually as they pass. Or was that Harry Potter? In any event, it’s probably in our future.


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When Hertz goes electric, it goes electric. The EV space has hardly recovered from the shock of the purchase of 100,000 Tesla EVs, but the car rental company is procuring another 65,000 EVs, this time from Polestar.
Polestar, the brand formed by Volvo and its parent company, Chinese Geely, has secured a large order of EVs from Hertz. The order includes 65,000 Polestar battery-electric vehicles. All the cars will be delivered over five years. Renters can start driving the Polestar in North America from the spring of 2022, while Australians will have access to them in late 2022.
Neither company divulged the financial details of the deal, but the Polestar 2 starts at $49,000, meaning the contract may be worth more than $3 billion. Hertz is reportedly paying the full price for the Tesla cars, so it is safe to say Polestar can get away with offering no discount as there is no shortage of buyers for the EVs.
Hertz had about half a million vehicles in its fleet worldwide as of last year. The company was rescued from bankruptcy thanks to the pandemic affecting its business model. It became saddled with a high amount of debt but got a second chance after an investment of almost $6 billion led by Knighthead Capital Management and Certares Management.
After putting bankruptcy behind, Hertz embarked on electrifying most of its cars and vehicles. With the two orders from Tesla and Polestar amounting to 160,000, the car rental company has made significant progress.
Polestar has grown in stature in the automobile industry after its formation. It has become one of the most prominent EV brands after starting out as a performance brand.
The company wants to go public through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), like Rivian and Lucid Motors did last year.
It is not surprising that Hertz is attracted to Polestar, which has positioned itself as a rival to Tesla by offering premium vehicles with sleek well-thought-out designs. It also places an emphasis on sustainable materials.
Polestar currently has two models with one of the most simple naming schemes; the Polestar 1, a hybrid coupe, and Polestar 2. Both models will be joined by the Polestar 3 SUV in 2022, and Polestar 4 compact SUV in 2023. The Polestar 5 sports sedan will come in 2024.
Polestar has revealed a roadster concept car named the Polestar O2.
When Hertz announced the massive contract with Tesla, the EV company stocks soared, pushing the market cap to above $1 trillion, the first for an automobile company. This deal may not have a similar effect on Polestar, as its shares have not started trading yet.
The only other larger car order is Amazon’s contract with Rivian to build 100,000 electric delivery vans for the online shopping giant. However, Amazon is a significant investor in Rivian.


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MADISON, Wis. — November 21, 2013 — Sonic Foundry, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFO), the trusted leader for video content management and webcasting solutions, announced today that the company has entered into non-binding term sheets to purchase the remaining shares of stock in Mediasite K.K., and to acquire MediaMission, the market leading enterprise video providers in Japan and the Netherlands. With these agreements, Sonic Foundry expects to significantly expand its global market reach in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe, and accelerate the company’s commitment to enterprise video communications world-wide.
Sonic Foundry saw a 43% growth in billings in Japan and a 25% growth in international billings overall in fiscal year 2013. The company believes the acquisition of Mediasite K.K. will highlight operational synergies of the combined organizations by bringing a larger geographic and cloud footprint; allowing the company to better align with customers globally; providing follow-the-sun customer support; and further driving global sales.
The worldwide market for enterprise streaming solutions totaled $574 million in 2012 and is poised for continued growth, according to Wainhouse Research. The analyst firm projects the market will expand at a compounded annual rate exceeding 20% for the next five years with total annual revenues for enterprise streaming solutions passing the $1 billion threshold in 2016.
Mediasite K.K. is a Sonic Foundry partner, and a company Sonic Foundry has had a minority ownership interest in since 2001. In 2011 the company received the Japan e-Learning Award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology for innovations in using webcasting solutions for cancer education along with Tsukuba University.
In addition to higher education, Mediasite K.K. also has built a strong and successful corporate and events customer base, including the second largest pharmaceutical company in Japan, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd.; Sanofi K.K.; Nippon Steel Sumitomo Metal; Ernst & Young ShinNihon; Hakuhodo Inc.; Toshiba Solutions Corporation; and Mazda Motor Corporation, which has been using Mediasite since 2006 to strengthen internal communication.
“We looked for a system that would enable employees to easily operate with minimum maintenance requirement. That was Mediasite,” said Kazuo Niide, Office Systems Infrastructure System Department, Mazda Motor Corporation. “We were very impressed with the simple design and ease of operation. Now many employees use Mediasite for communication purposes.”
“I am so pleased to reach the agreement with Sonic Foundry,” said Shuichi Murakami, Chairman of the board of Mediasite K.K. “The management consolidation with Sonic Foundry allows us to increase customer satisfaction, expand our support capabilities and foster greater adoption of video technology.”
“Mediasite K.K.’s success in bringing video applications to a growing number of customers is testament to the upward momentum of big global trends in enterprise video management. The company complements our existing strategy to enhance communication through the power of video,” said Gary Weis, Chief Executive Officer, Sonic Foundry. “Mediasite K.K. has long been a valuable partner to Sonic Foundry, and I personally compliment Shuichi Murakami and his team for their success in the Japanese market for more than a decade.”
Sonic Foundry will pay approximately ¥585 million ($5.85 million) for the remaining stock in Mediasite K.K., comprised of equal components of approximately $1.95 million cash, subordinated note payable in one year and value in shares of Sonic Foundry. Mediasite K.K. recorded revenue in their fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 of ¥791 million or $9.6 million using the average conversion rate during the year, and pretax income of ¥163 million or $2.0 million. Had the acquisition of Mediasite K.K. occurred at the beginning of their fiscal year, Sonic Foundry would have recorded additional revenue of $8.2 million, after eliminating Sonic Foundry sales to Mediasite K.K. Additional details can be found in Sonic Foundry’s Annual report on Form 10-K, which will be filed in December. The transaction, which is subject to execution of a definitive stock purchase agreement and customary closing conditions, is expected to close within the next 90 days.
Sonic Foundry will discuss this announcement and its acquisition of MediaMission during its quarterly investor webcast today at 3:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. ET. To access the presentation, go to sonicfoundry.com/earnings. An archive of the conference call will be available for 90 days.
About Mediasite K.K.
Mediasite K.K. is a strategic partner of Sonic Foundry and the sole distributor of Mediasite in Japan. As market leader with over 250 customers, including 100 from higher education, Mediasite K.K.’s mission is to demonstrate the power of enterprise video creation and management to more organizations in Japan.
About Sonic Foundry®, Inc.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Madison, Wis., Sonic Foundry (OTC: SOFO) is dedicated to transforming how the world works and learns through innovative and scalable technology solutions. Sonic Foundry’s brands include Vidable® and Global Learning Exchange® which help unlock a smarter, more connected world for learners, workers, and entrepreneurs everywhere. For more information visit www.sonicfoundry.com.
© 2024 Sonic Foundry, Inc. Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.


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This page was exported from The Auroran
Export date: Tue Feb 7 14:22:03 2023 / +0000 GMT
By Brock Weir
He might not vote yet, but Spencer Savage has his eye on the future.
This week, the young Aurora resident told elected officials that while he and his peers might not be able to vote quite just yet, they are the future homeowners of Aurora, future parents, and perhaps even future mayors and councillors. But to do that, he said they need a strong, healthy foundation.
Spencer was at Town Hall last Tuesday to help lead a vanguard of parents and advocates to advocate for healthy food, “real food” options in local vending machines and concession stands.
Calling on Council to set a higher standard when it comes to the amount of healthy food available at municipal facilities, particularly recreation centres, they said it was time to put the health of citizens ahead of a buck.
“Do you care about me?” asked Spencer. “Do you care about the kids in Aurora? I know we don't vote yet, but one day we will be the homeowners of Aurora, parents ourselves, and maybe even the mayor. For now, we're kids and we deserve every opportunity to grow up healthy and that is why we sign up for sports and activities in the Town's rec centres.
“I spent 10 – 15 hours a week there and sometimes my mom has to pack a snack because there are no healthy food options at the concessions. Why is that? Aren't the recreation centres places for health and fitness? Would you work out at the gym for an hour and then go and get a Big Mac? In school, we're taught to do the right thing above all else and take on leadership roles and set a good example to others, which is why I am here today. We're asking you to take a leadership role and do the right thing.”
The right thing, according to the residents who gathered at Town Hall, is to put “real food first” at all community recreation centres and arenas.
The group of concerned parents – spearheaded by five local moms – collected over 700 signatures of support from local citizens who say it is time to do away with “a junk food first” approach to concessions.
Their efforts led to Council laying the ground work for a new contract with potential concessions vendors that will require them to provide at least 55 per cent healthy food options at both the concession counters and in vending machines.
“The Town's vision talks about being leaders and seeking innovative approaches and effective solutions,” said local mom Tracy Smith. “I truly hope we can put that vision into practice this evening.”
Ms. Smith said the initially recommended 25 per cent requirement was a step in the right direction, but it didn't jive with the Town's goals to promote healthy living and make Aurora the “most active community” in Canada.
The current state of snack bar affairs, she said, consistently virtually all candy, chocolate bars, sugary drinks and otherwise processed foods, all located next to recreation centres where “families and children go to enhance their health and vitality.
“The statistics right now on obesity in Canada are staggering,” said Ms. Smith. “I think we need to do better than what was suggested in this report. I know we can do better. Regardless of the fear of trying something new or losing money, I think we all know that making these changes and shifting our focus is the right thing to do – for our families, for our children, our athletes, our grandkids, and ourselves. We all need real, nutrient-rich food to thrive, participate and fuel our bodies. We're here tonight to help shape and create that vision with you and address some of the hesitations you may have and offer viable solutions, so together we can partner on transforming our current junk bars into a new type of snack bars.”
Part of their solution was boosting that initial recommendation of 25 per cent healthy content to 55 per cent, along with removing at least half of the currently offered “treat food” and an effective communication strategy to get word out to residents.
Survey details were presented to Council in a staff report which indicated 81.5 per cent of residents thought it was important to have healthy food options, while 79 per cent were willing to put their money where their mouth is and buy healthy food items from concession stands in the future.
Yet, a recent pilot project to highlight a handful of healthy menu items was less than successful.
Concerned that Council members might not see healthy food items as a viable financial option, the parents said previously floated food items were not easily visible, had limited availability depending on which recreation centre you went to, and, when they were there, were not presented in the most appetizing manner.
Other delegates spoke to the financial aspect, including Elise Volpe, who said they have reached out to marketing groups in Aurora who have offered to help at no charge.
“We recognize some of you will have concerns related to the viability of this change,” said Ms. Volpe. “We have heard that healthy food won't sell, the Town won't receive responses to the RFP and that other communities have not been successful. We feel strongly healthy foods will sell. Examples include Freshii, which has opened 370 stores since 2005 and will have almost 800 by 2019. From our research, we understand the keys to success are proper display of the food. Subsidizing healthy food by increased cost to junk food is a strategy that could help and is worth exploring. We must stick with the change, even if there is short-term push-back because it is the right thing to do.”
This was a sentiment shared by Spencer, who told Council, “If you can spend $72,000 on the dog park so that dogs can run freely and enjoy fitness and recreation, why can't you consider the importance of people's health, too? I hope you do the right thing and choose people over profits.”
Yet, this was the sentiment later expressed by Council.
“I don't know how you can put a price on the health of our kids and our residents,” said Councillor Tom Mrakas. “I would prefer to see it go to 100 per cent, but I think 55 is a great start.”
Agreed Councillor John Abel: “We shouldn't be looking to make a small profit at the expense of our children. It should be the other way around.”
Excerpt: Residents lead push for healthy options at municipal concession stands and vending machines.
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Here's some good news about a few popular apps on the App Store:
- Square Enix has dropped the price on retro titles Final Fantasy I and II. The games were originally released at US$8.99, but to celebrate more widespread localization, the apps have dropped down to $3.99. Great games, nice price.
- ESPN's Scorecenter XL app for the iPad has gone completely free. The app provides news and scores from around the sporting world -- it was $4.99, but the network has apparently decided to go free for good.
- And Firemint is putting its Real Racing title on sale for the iPhone next week -- as of September 30, the app will be available for just $2.99. That's a rare occurrence for them. It's the first time this game has ever gone on sale, probably because the title has been so popular. It offers a quality racing experience, with full Game Center integration.


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They’re normally at war with one another, but now Uber and Lyft find themselves somewhat united as they collectively face the wrath of the Massachusetts attorney general, who is not happy with the car services’ disability access, or more appropriately, the lack thereof. According to Reuters, the “Massachusetts attorney general’s office is examining how Uber and Lyft ensure equal access for people with disabilities,” and the results may not be all that flattering for either party. While the office’s civil rights division has yet to file any formal complaints or take action against the competing transportation industry giants, being investigated is never a comfortable position to be in, especially for companies that attract as much negative attention as these two.
In a statement, Uber reaffirmed its commitment to those with disabilities, saying, “We have teams dedicated to continuing to expand that access further for the disabled community in Massachusetts and nationwide.” That being said, charges were leveled against the company last year by the National Federation of the Blind of California, which accused Uber of not allowing guide dogs in their cars. A federal judge has recently allowed the case to proceed.
Lyft has also been at the center of some bad press when it comes to the disabled, with a Texas woman suing the company for failing to provide a single wheelchair-accessible vehicle in Austin. That case is still pending, though Lyft has apparently requested that it be sent to arbitration.
This isn’t even the first time that both companies have been taken to court as a collective entity — in fact, in the Houston Chronicle reported that a disabilities advocacy group took the two to court, claiming they effectively refused service to those who were differently abled. “Uber and Lyft are up and coming in terms of transportation companies, and they don’t really have any means to provide wheelchair accessibility,” said plaintiff David Wittie in an interview with the Chronicle. “They are socially irresponsible and not accessible and equivalent for people with disabilities.”
Of course, Uber has already attempted damage control, announcing a new feature earlier this week called uberASSIST, which “will allow riders needing an extra hand to request safe and reliable rides at the tap of a button.” According to their recent blog post, the service is “designed to provide additional assistance to seniors and people with disabilities. Driver-partners are specifically trained by Open Doors Organization to assist riders into vehicles and can accommodate folding wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters.”
Too little too late, or finally a step in the right direction?
- The Uber hack is an outrageous tale of a teen hacking for fun
- The 5 most disturbing Uber Files revelations you need to know
- Lyft, Uber to offer discounted rides to the polls on election day
- Lyft won’t shut down operations in California tonight after all
- Uber and Lyft might adopt a franchise business model in California


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Port of Shanghai takes action addressing container shortage
The latest problem that has taken over the shipping industry is the short supply and blockages of containers. Addressing the complaints from shippers regarding the unavailability of equipment, the Port of Shanghai has taken action to speed up the distribution of empty containers arriving at the port.
The port of Shanghai has announced the opening of an empty container transportation center to serve the Northeast Asian region. The transportation center is the outcome of the partnership established between Shanghai International Port Company and the major shipping lines including Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, and CMA CGM. The purpose of this transportation center is to provide maintenance services for the empty containers and reduce the turnaround time of empty containers in the port.
Chinese officials have said that this center would help in addressing the imbalance between export and import containers. Talking about the reasons for container shortages, they cited the trade imbalances, US port congestion, and the logistic hurdles as major factors contributing to the container crisis. With the busy season of year-end holidays approaching, a solution to empty container shortage was much needed. Chairman of Shanghai International Port, Gu Jinshan said that because of the empty container crunch, the danger of delivery failure looms over the Chinese factories.
The port officials highlighted the good news that in June the container shortage had declined by 14%. As per the market analysis of Drewry, the Newbuild container output has also soared in the first half of 2021. Drewry said that though the prices of dry freight shipping containers have doubled over the past year, in the next few years’ prices will moderate due to an increase in supply and more initiatives taken by ports.
Visit our blog to find out How the ongoing container shortage is disturbing global supply chains.


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Woolworths to slash 1350 jobs as three distribution centres close
FIRST with NEIL MITCHELL
Woolworths will close its Victorian distribution centre in Mulgrave, and two NSW distribution centres, by 2025.
The supermarket giant will open an automated regional distribution centre and a semi-automated national distribution centre in Sydney to replace the three it will close.
Approximately 1350 workers will be made redundant by 2025 as a result of the change.
Andrew tipped 3AW’s Neil Mitchell off to the change, which was later announced on the ASX.
He said the Mulgrave distribution centre, which employs 400 people, is slated for closure in 2023.
Press PLAY below for more.


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Xbox Series X/S has been on sale for more than 7 months. With the one-year anniversary of the two-game consoles approaching, Microsoft reiterated that its current game console models will continue to exist and will not update the hardware in the short term. Xbox Director Phil Spencer discussed the Xbox Series X/S hardware roadmap on the IGN show and pointed out that he does not expect any console to be updated in the near future.
Spencer told IGN: “Next year there will be nothing (hardware upgrades) that will make you think you should wait. These are game consoles that we will occupy the market for years to come. We took this into consideration when building them, and I like this The technology and performance used by the two hosts are our focus.“
When talking about the current Xbox Series X/S, Spencer said that stronger hardware technology provides game opportunities for the majority of players, and now, a more direct opportunity has also appeared-cloud games: “We want to make a game. A host with stronger hardware technology is because it can create more new opportunities. But as I said before, we may find more direct opportunities in the low-end market-we have to do something to let more people start Use xCloud.”
For the future development of Xbox consoles, Spencer is consistent with the previous caliber, that is, the possibility of continuing to introduce new and higher-performance consoles: “What are we going to do in the high-end hardware gaming market? We are doing this now. Discussion. I like the capabilities of our hardware team and will continue to talk in the future.”
I’m a communication enthusiast and junior editor-reporter at Research Snipers, I have completed a degree in Mass Communication but am very enthusiastic about new technology, games, and mobile devices. I have the main interest in Technology and games.


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LOVE AND BIG MONEY -- Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, when affection is traditionally expressed through the giving of overpriced romantic gifts. A survey conducted by the National Retail Federation indicates that the average American man is likely to spend $135.67 on gifts this year, almost double the $68.64 that the average woman will spend. Total holiday-related spending could reach $13.7 billion, up from $13.2 billion last year.
THE NOMINEES ARE -- Randall S. Kroszner and Kevin M. Warsh, nominees for vacant slots on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, will begin testifying tomorrow in a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee. Mr. Kroszner is a professor at the University of Chicago who worked on the White House Council of Economic Advisers during Mr. Bush's first term. Mr. Warsh, a former banker at Morgan Stanley, is now a special assistant to Mr. Bush on economic policy.
PRICE SCAN -- The big economic report of the week will be the producer price index for January, due out on Friday. Economists expect the index, a measure of increases in wholesale prices for goods and services, to have risen 0.2 percent for the month, a smaller increase than the 0.9 percent rise recorded in December. Also on the list are retail sales for January and business inventories for December, to be released tomorrow; industrial production for January, on Wednesday; and import prices and housing starts for January, on Thursday.
CHINA AND THE NET -- Amid plenty of publicity over how American technology companies have jumped through government hoops to do business in China, the House subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations has called a hearing on the matter for Wednesday. Representatives from Google, Yahoo, Dell and Cisco will attend.
PROFIT WATCH -- The main earnings reports this week will come from Hewlett-Packard on Wednesday and DaimlerChrysler and Dell on Thursday. Sirius Satellite Radio reports on Friday.
Correction: February 17, 2006, Friday The Looking Ahead report in Business Day on Monday included one company incorrectly in a list of companies whose representatives were to testify on Wednesday at a House subcommittee hearing about their business dealings in China. Dell Computer was not a participant.Continue reading the main story


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A mob of people crowded into Appalachia Press in downtown Roanoke earlier this month, and they were there to shop. The 90 or so people who had signed up through a Facebook page were part of Roanoke’s first “Cash Mob.”
The concept is very simple. People shop at a designated business on a particular date and time. It’s a craze that’s sweeping the country.
Sam Rasoul was one of the organizers. “People can maybe help a struggling business, give a little bit of a cash flow infusion and also give some publicity to that small business. We invite people to visit our Facebook (page) Cash Mob Roanoke or follow us on Twitter, make recommendations and once a month we’ll pick one and hopefully all over the city of Roanoke support small businesses in need.” Rasoul says that’s how Appalachia Press was chosen.
The Facebook group has been up and running for less than a month and already has 240 members. According to Rasoul, it’s one more example of how social media can rally people around a cause.
“I think it’s important for people to realize the power of social media. People are able to connect on a completely different level.”
While in some cities the owner has no advance warning of the Cash Mob about to descend on their business, Rasoul says it’s only fair to let them know what’s going to happen and when.
“I think we should let them know in advance so that way they’re well inventoried, make sure they are well staffed and ready for us when we do come.”
John Park, another Roanoke Cash Mob member, thinks every city should have a Cash Mob. “I think it’s great for people to recognize local businesses. I think sometimes smaller, local businesses are overlooked.” He works for a small company but says it’s not something that would lend itself to the cash mob strategy. “Bringing exposure to smaller businesses that may not have the marketing dollars I think is very important.”
Jessica Hicks from Roanoke came early and found some good buys. She heard of the event through Facebook. “I really like this store and wanted to support him (store owner John Reburn).” She wasn’t surprised at the turnout saying she knows it’s a great store. “I love the letter press cards; the images are really cute, and lots of cats and clowns and stuff.”
John Reburn couldn’t believe his good fortune to be picked as the first Cash Mob destination.” I’m calling it one of the most incredible gifts that I’ve had in the nine years I’ve been in Roanoke. The economy was one thing, and trying to reinvent yourself, trying to keep things fresh and new, but this one came out of left field. I had no control over it. I got a phone call. They said they’re coming; I said ‘thank you’, and look what’s happening . . . It’s never been like this – ever, in nine years so it’s exciting to see, and new faces which I love.”
Hicks wants to see the Cash Mob continue to help small businesses.” I love it. It’s a great way to get local businesses stronger and show appreciation for people that are struggling.”
Reburn agrees; “I hope it continues across the county. I think it’s a really remarkable thing to bring to Roanoke and it’s a gift. I think it’s great.”
“I’m excited to have them here; it’s wonderful. There’s an energy right now that’s just everything I wanted my shop to be.”
After shopping, some of the Cash Mob members were headed to Blues Barbecue-another small business- for supper.


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A video clip viewable at www.bigbingboom.com employs a quirky scientist character to make the case for upping cherriesâ presence at retail.
(May 22) An online video and humor are tools the California Cherry Advisory Board hopes will help move the stateâs bings this summer.
In the second week of May, the Lodi-based board unveiled www.bigbingboom.com, a Web site chronicling the work of the fictional California Bing Cherry Research Institute and its Albert Einstein look-alike âdirector.â
In a short video on the site, the Einstein character and his assistants âprove,â through various complicated experiments and calculations, that if retailers devote just a bit more shelf space to California cherries, they can reap big rewards at the check stand.
The video is the first of its kind â for cherries or any other fruit or vegetable â created by Fresno, Calif.-based MJR Media, an advertising and design agency that has numerous produce industry clients, said Jason Bukilica, account director.
The video and Web site were inspired by market research MJR commissioned for the advisory board in 2006, Bukilica said.
âThe research showed that, compared with other categories, cherries have a very big profit margin,â he said. âIf retailers add just 1 square foot more to their displays, it can make a big difference.â
The video, with its reliance on statistics and industry jargon, is aimed at retailers, Bukilica said. Its rollout was timed to give cherry merchandisers an extra tool at their disposal when they make their sales calls in advance of the season, he said.
The videoâs focus on adding shelf space is a perfect fit for the particular needs of marketers of California cherries, said Jim Culbertson, the advisory boardâs executive manager.
âCherries are subjected to seasonal shelf space, so theyâre always fighting for space,â he said.


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Changes to the US bankruptcy code, enacted in 2005, are coming back to haunt banks, according to Yra Harris, a veteran trader at Praxis Trading.
Harris told CNBC that banks lobbied hard for changes to the bankruptcy code, but the legislation is now having the effect of encouraging consumers to do all they can to pay down their credit cards, while leaving their mortgage payments on the backburner.
“People have learned that hey, (a mortgage payment is) a nonrecourse loan and not only that, I can stay in my house or my condominium for 12 to 18 months before they really get me out,” explained Harris.
“We’re seeing a huge amount of people paying down their credit cards, because they want to have those credit cards as rainy day money just in case they need them," he added.
The amount consumers owed on their credit cards dropped to its lowest level in eight years, according to credit-reporting agency TransUnion.
TransUnion also saidcredit card delinquencies in the second quarter fell by 21.3 percent year over year, while mortgage delinquencies rose 14.8 percent from the same period last year.
Both credit card and mortgage delinquencies, however, are down compared to the first quarter of 2010.


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JOHANNESBURG, - Growth in Africa's mobile phone users is set to slow sharply in the next five years, a study showed on Thursday, heralding an end to the boom in an industry that has spurred the continent's growth.
A report by global industry body GSMA expects subscriber growth to slow to 6 percent between 2015-2020 compared with 13 percent growth in the first half of the decade, citing lack of commercial logic in setting up network coverage in some rural areas, where more than half of the population lives.
"I am bit surprised by this development because I expected strong growth to continue because the penetration rate in Africa is still well below 100 percent," Mortimer Hope, GSMA's Africa director, told Reuters.
"One reason for the slowing growth is that some areas especially in remote, rural communities are not economically viable for mobile phone companies to deploy their network because of the low spending power of people living there."
By 2020, a little over 500 million people, or just under half the continent's population, will have subscribed to a mobile service compared with the global average of almost 60 percent, GSMA said in the report.
Mobile phones have been one of the factors behind Africa's recent growth spurt, by freeing people from the shackles of the continent's awful landline infrastructure and allowing them to communicate and transact at low cost.
The simple SMS - and more recently mobile social media - have also become powerful political tools, used by grassroots political movements to mobilise support against oppressive states, such as happened in the north African 'Arab Spring'.
While relatively low penetration rates suggested significant growth potential in most markets, the negative impact of increasing competition on profit margins is raising the prospect of more consolidation in the region, Hope said.
"Smaller players don't have the economies of scale to drive their prices down and compete for long periods, so you'll probably see some consolidation in the market," he said.
There has already been deal activity in the sector in recent years with South Africa's Vodacom buying fixed-line operator Neotel, which struggled to mount serious competition against larger rival Telkom.
United Arab Emirates' Etisalat sold its struggling Tanzanian mobile phone business, Zantel, to Sweden's Millicom in June.


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From Global Trade Review (GTR) | By Finbarr BerminghamAfter the US and Mexican presidents celebrated a breakthrough in the arduous renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), analysts claim that the pressure is now on Canada to save its place in the deal. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump announced that a deal had been struck with its neighbour to the south. The deal resolves long-standing sticking points in the automotive sector, where the US has negotiated a requirement that 75% of a vehicle be made in North America (a hike from the previous 62.5%). Of that 75%, between 40% and 45% must be made by workers earning at least US$16 an hour – placing the benefit firmly in US hands, where workers earn a higher wage. Furthermore, the US has agreed to a more relaxed 16-year lifespan, with a review every six years. Previously it had insisted on a five-year renewal clause, a scenario both Canada and Mexico have been keen to avoid, due to the uncertainty that would bring. Trump has suggested that the “US-Mexico trade agreement” replace Nafta, while his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto has said he hopes that Canada could be included. Either way, the onus has shifted to Canada, with foreign minister Chrystia Freeland cutting her tour of Europe short for trade talks in Washington DC. “This agreement puts Canada under pressure and brings a breakdown of Nafta a step closer. Pena Nieto will gain nothing politically from the deal which, if ratified, may prevent meddling by Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, but will also absolve him of all responsibility for any of its negative impacts for his entire six-year term, which starts in December,” says William Arthur, North America analyst at Oxford Analytica. Trump has said that talks with Canada are “going well” and expressed confidence that a Nafta deal could be concluded this week. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, however, was less effusive about the progress, saying that his negotiating team would hold out for an agreement that suits Canada. “We’re seeing if we can get to the right place by Friday. We’re going to be thoughtful, constructive, creative around the table but we are going to ensure that whatever deal gets agreed to is the right deal for Canada and the right deal for Canadians,” he told reporters. Other analysts have downplayed the significance of the US-Mexico deal, saying that while the reaction of the financial markets has been positive, thus far, it does not alleviate wider concerns about the protectionist bent of the US government. They point to the ongoing trade war with China: on August 23, the US began implementing an additional 25% tariff on a second list of Chinese products. “At the same time as US negotiators were formalising the pact with Mexico, trade talks with China came to nothing and no dates were announced for further talks. Public hearings on proposed US tariffs on US$200bn of Chinese imports also ended yesterday. And our working assumption is still that the US will ultimately go ahead and impose these tariffs,” says Oliver Jones, markets economist at Capital Economics. He added, however, that the fact that the US administration is willing to negotiate and accept a compromise on trade will be welcomed in China. It is also likely that should this deal see the light of day, it will force auto manufacturers to rejig their supply chains if they wish to operate tariff-free in the region. The Mexican government estimates that 30% of the cars it makes and sells to the US would not contain sufficient North American content to meet the requirements. “They [manufacturers] will have to take on new costs — which cars made outside the region will not — whose only benefit is continued access to the zero tariff. And these are not the kinds of costs leading to tangible consumer gains — ie, don’t expect increased fuel efficiency, safer vehicles, or additional creature comforts,” writes Chad Bown, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics. Bown predicts that some manufacturers in the US may benefit from less direct competition from makers in Europe and Asia. However, the downside may be passed onto the US consumer. “But these ‘gains’ are more than likely offset by their economic downside. Rising costs imply higher prices for American consumers. Equally important is North America’s deteriorating competitiveness as a global export platform for carmakers. As consumer growth in North America slows, these companies are evaluating where they can produce competitively in order to access emerging markets in Asia, South America, and elsewhere. Clunky new rules and higher costs make America, Mexico and Canada a considerably less attractive hub,” Bown says. The post US-Mexico trade deal “puts pressure on Canada” to save Nafta appeared first on Global Trade Review (GTR).


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Get schooled by the experts at the 2016 Farwest Show
The days of racing downstairs on Saturday mornings to watch “Schoolhouse Rock” are long gone. But if you’re a green industry professional, you’re in luck — the OAN has curated a program of fun, fresh education opportunities for this year’s Farwest Show, and they really rock.
In today’s rapidly changing world, it’s crucial to take advantage of learning opportunities that come along, especially when they have the power to positively impact you and your business.
As the Farwest Show continues to grow, so do the offerings of top-notch education from thought leaders and industry experts. Attendees have come to expect education that is relevant, inspiring, entertaining and compelling, and this year will be no exception.
No matter what segment of the industry you are in, you’ll find the answers you need and the expertise you seek — both on and off the show floor. From professional development seminars and the free keynote session, to the Idea Center for Retailers and the Solution Center for Growers, there’s more than 80 educational sessions covering the most important topics. All have been designed to help you keep growing.
Tune in and see what’s in store for you this August.
For the growers
“The Buglady,” Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, is back. She brings more than 25 years of expertise focusing on biological control and the proper use of pesticides. If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Suzanne and see her in action, she’s a must-see this year.
“I always love coming to the Farwest Show,” she said. “Growers are so willing to learn and discuss all the latest pest management tactics, especially those involving biocontrol. I am always willing to stop in the aisle and talk bugs with anyone.”
Ron Valentin, technical lead of Bioline AgroSciences Inc., is one of the industry’s most respected experts in pest management solutions. We’re excited about his first appearance at Farwest. He brings a wealth of knowledge and strong understanding of the green industry.
“I am happy to discuss all the exciting changes that are happening with the use of biological control at the Farwest Show — sustainability of biological control agents (BCAs) with the help of banker plants and habitat plants, as well as other open rearing systems of BCAs that can be used to make bio-control more successful,” Ron said.
“Using biological control agents as the first line of defense in any pest management program typically leads to better results and pesticide interaction, and compatibility needs to be carefully considered to avoid disappointments. I look forward to a great meeting.”
For the retailers
Judy Sharpton is known across the industry as one of the top garden center experts on merchandising, design and ways to improve the retail bottom line. It’s been far too long since she has been out to Farwest and shared her expertise. She will be offering several sessions for retailers.
“Farwest is a great learning opportunity for everyone, from the far-out, fun promotional photo that has dahlias sprouting from my hat, to the opportunity to talk retailing with progressive West Coast garden centers,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to all I can learn. Plus, maybe I can throw out a few worthwhile consumer-focused store development ideas.”
Brian Minter is a local favorite for those of us on the West Coast, and he’s widely respected across the country for his innovative and revolutionary concepts on reaching retail consumers. It is always a treat to have Brian speak at the show, but his appearance this year is especially timely and extremely relevant.
“There’s been a dramatic change in the perceived value of plants and their relevancy,” Brian said. “It’s more about how plants add value to our lives because of what they can do.”
According to Brian, consumers now expect more from their plants. “Can you bring new flavors to my meals, provide pollen and nectar for bees, add perfume to delight my senses, or create repeat bloomers to extend my enjoyment?” he asked. “How about providing me with privacy and cleaning the air in my home, or making me smarter and feeling better, too? This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to connecting plants to people. This will be an edgy seminar you don’t want to miss!”
For the landscapers and designers
For the past several years, Farwest has attracted numerous talented professionals to speak about landscape design and architecture. This year continues that tradition, with the show proudly welcoming Owen Dell, principal at Owen Dell and Associates LLC.
“Sustainable landscaping is not only the wave of the future and the right thing to do, it’s a tremendous business opportunity for every landscape professional,” Owen said. “I’m looking forward to introducing Farwest Show attendees to new, profit-generating strategies for sustainable landscape management.”
Full of passion and perspective, Dan Benarcik, horticulturalist at Chanticleer, will bring fresh ideas and concepts that everyone in the industry can apply to their business. This year marks his first appearance at Farwest.
“This is such a wonderful industry, large and with a host of players,” Dan said. “I’m excited to come to Farwest for the first time and catch up with so many West Coast friends, meet new people and see new plants and gardens. Things are always better shared, and I’m looking forward to sharing an East Coast perspective on designs and container gardening.”
Based on the great response we received from his keynote and breakout sessions in 2015, we’re very excited that Ron Rosenberg will be returning to the Farwest Show this year with two new programs!
First, in a special featured session, Ron will show you how to “Double Your Memory” — recall names and faces, to-do lists, important information, or practically anything else you want to remember at work or at home.
Then, in a follow-up to last year’s popular marketing program, he’ll show you how to create “Outrageously Effective Marketing Materials” that will help you get improved results from all your marketing efforts.
“I’m really looking forward to sharing these two special programs with the Farwest attendees,” Ron said. “They’re both packed with proven strategies that will help them get more customers, increase revenue, and have more fun in the process!”
No stranger to the show, Kelly Norris has long been touted as one of the rising young stars in the horticultural industry. With the release of his latest book, “Plants with Style,” Kelly is back this year to share his latest plant tips and market savvy.
“It’s always an honor to speak at Farwest and participate in its high-caliber educational programs,” he said. “The Farwest audience is one of the best in the country and tends to embrace progressive opportunities in the marketplace.”
To learn more about the educational sessions and speakers planned for this year’s show, dig into the “Farwest Show Planning Guide” found in this issue of Digger.
Log on to www.farwestshow.com for more information and to register.


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Now here's how you do a drop test with a shiny new phone.
One user in Asia got her hands on the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and repeatedly slammed it against the concrete floor. Miraculously, the device survived the beating nearly unscathed.
The phone is covered in Gorilla Glass on both sides, so it's easy to assume that the device would be much more unforgiving compared to other drop tests.
Meanwhile, YouTube user Keaton from TechSmartt dropped the S6 Edge from various heights — from waist-level to more than 7 feet in the air — to see how it would handle a fall. It cracked only after multiple tries, according to the video; the metal lip took most of the damage.
BONUS: Samsung Galaxy S6 Review


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A few changes to the superannuation world that applies from 1 July 2021 onwards, including contribution cap changes, information for employers, individuals aged 60 or over, and changes to work tests.
On 15 September 2020, the Treasury has released the Amendment Rules in relation to the Jobkeeper extension (Jobkeeper 2.0) that was legislated on 16 September 2020. The new extension rules will apply from 28 September 2020 onwards to 28 March 2021 and it will affect all Jobkeeper participants, including employees and business participants.
- Businesses need to reassess their eligibility criteria from 28 September 2020 onwards in order to continue to qualify for Jobkeeper, and again on 4 January 2021.
- Payment rate will be reduced for both employees and business participants, and be split into tiers, depending on the number of hours worked
Today our Prime Minister and Treasurer announced a third wave of their Stimulus package – the Jobkeeper payment, to assist both businesses and employers to get through the Coronavirus pandemic.
Let’s break it down based on whether you are a business owner (an employer) or employee.
The 2020 FBT year ends on 31 March 2020. (Really?) Yes, that date is not an error as the Fringe benefits tax (FBT) year runs from April to March (unlike the Australian tax year which runs from July to June). It can be confusing at times.
What is FBT?
FBT is the short for Fringe Benefits Tax. It is a tax imposed on employers who provide certain fringe benefits they provide to their employees, including their employees’ family and associates.
Small business owners wear a lot of hats – they are managers, marketers, salesmen, customer liaison officers, human resource managers, workers, bookkeepers and more!
It can be overwhelming at times so smart business owners try to manage these by working smarter. While we cannot tell you how to run your business, if you are using Xero accounting software, there are smarter ways to run your business when it comes to bookkeeping and record keeping, here are 5 of them.


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Shri Samarendra Sahu, Advisor, KIIT TBI, in his interaction with Shri. Dash, shared KIIT-TBI’s achievements in developing a healthy and robust SFURTI ecosystem as a Technical Agency since 2019. He mentioned that KIIT-TBI has so far developed 19 rural manufacturing clusters in Odisha and North Eastern Region state of Manipur in various prominent sectors including agro-processing, aromatic products, handicrafts and handlooms.
He also brought to the notice of Shri Dash that KIIT TBI has taken many initiatives such as development of an e-commerce platform for on-boarding the products of SFURTI clusters and digital Management Platform for maintaining a functional data-base for SFURTI clusters to facilitate effective monitoring the progress of the clusters.
Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar, CEO, KIIT-TBI also greeted Shri Dash and shared a brief of KIIT-TBI’s proven strength as a leading Technology Business Incubator in the country. Dr. Suar took him for an exclusive tour of the incubation and testing facilities of KIIT-TBI.
Shri Dash appreciated the contribution of KIIT-TBI in nurturing a vibrant innovation and startup ecosystem and its efforts to take innovation to grassroot level through promoting clusters in rural areas under the SFURTI scheme of Ministry of MSME. He also offered to help KIIT-TBI to take its incubation as well as cluster development initiatives to other states including Gujarat.


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Android 3.0 Honeycomb Appears on Motorola Tablet
Our first look at the upcoming version of Android 3.0 Honeycomb came at a tech conference today, which simultaneously led to the reveal of Motorola's tablet prototype.
Android head Andy Rubin demonstrated Android Honeycomb at the All Things D Dive Into Mobile conference today, showing that it has been redesigned completely with tablets in mind. It certainly made better use of the extra screen real estate.
Rubin didn't show too much, but it was apparent that the app grid and the Gmail app had been tweaked for tablet use. He did confirm that the Motorola tablet has video chat capabilities, has an NVIDIA processor (likely meaning the Tegra 2 chip) and a separate "dual core 3-D processor."
The Android 3.0 Honeycomb interface almost appears to hark back to the desktop interface, with a toolbar running the length of the bottom of the screen. The demo didn't give a lot of indication how the toolbar is used, but it's clear that widgets and shortcuts will feature prominently.
Rubin said that users will be able to "fragment" apps into separate panes, similar to how computers view several different things in windows. For instance, a Honeycomb tablet will be able to view the inbox and individual emails of an email app in two separate panes, whereas Android phones can only view one at a time.
The only release date mentioned for Honeycomb was "next year," without any clarification. Rumors have indicated that Motorola's tablet will be out sometime in the first half of 2011.


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Tech stocks outlook: Shift in the digital ads landscape…
A landscape once dominated by Meta (META) and Google (GOOG) is now changing. The digital advertisement has many more players seeking to get a slice of the $700bn pie.
Rivals such as Amazon (AMZN), TikTok and Snapchat (SNAP) have increased their advertisement units and brands have been flocking to these sites instead of Facebook, Instagram and Google Ads.
Meta and Google earned a peak market share of 54% in 2017, this is now expected to decline to 43% by 2024.
Total ad spend globally is expected to shrink by 6% this year too due to economic uncertainty. This will likely put additional pressure on all tech giants, leaving little room for any missteps.
Alphabet (GOOG) Price Chart
Advertising on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Google Ads – which includes YouTube and Google search- was once the holy grail of online advertising. These sites had the biggest reach and operated in an almost monopolistic manner.
This meant their fees were unchecked, and this quickly became a major source of income for the companies involved. Alphabet and Meta earned almost half of their income from this, while Twitter earned a strong 90%.
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Amazon (AMZN) Price Chart
According to Insider Intelligence, in 2022 the total digital ad revenue reached $567 bn, up 8.9% from 2021.
Other tech firms have joined the race to take advantage of the very lucrative business.
Amazon (AMZN) in particular has been aggressively growing its ecommerce ad business, and will be taking the largest chunk of market share away from Meta and Alphabet.
Andrew Lipsman, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence comments “After a first half of the year with slowing growth that coincided with an overall slowdown in ecommerce, Amazon’s ad business regained momentum in Q3 with the help of the July Prime Day—a success it hopes to replicate during the holiday quarter from the Prime Early Access Sales in October.”
Insider intelligence expect ad revenues to keep growing but at a slower rate than predicted at the start of the year due to economic uncertainty, instead of the industry producing almost $760bn in revenues, it has lowered expectations to just under £700bn
This slowdown is expected to affect each big tech differently.
The biggest loss is due to occur to Twitter. The report states that both economic uncertainty and distrust in the CEO has caused the platform’s outlook to be slashed.
Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence comments “Before the takeover, Twitter’s ad business was already taking a beating from the economic uncertainty, tack on Musk’s erratic behaviour, his lack of a clear plan for Twitter’s ad business, as well as fears about misinformation and a user exodus, and many advertisers are suspending their advertising on a platform that already isn’t essential to many companies’ media plans.”
Meta (META) is also on track to lose its appeal to advertisers. Debra Aho Williamson, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence comments “Meta is no longer an innovative ground breaker, Zuckerberg’s decision to centre his company around a murky and ill-defined concept like the metaverse has jeopardised the near-term health of the company. His vision of the metaverse can’t be willed into reality.”
Snapchat (SNAP) Price Chart
Meanwhile Alphabet ‘s (GOOG) business model is likely to provide the best protection to its ad revenues in the coming slowdown period.
Evelyn Mitchell, analyst at Insider Intelligence comments “Google has an edge over its other ad-reliant competitors in an economic downturn, as advertisers facing budget cuts typically prioritise lower-funnel channels with higher ROI like search”
Another company transforming the space is TikTok. “TikTok has transformed from an experimental play to a must-buy for many advertisers,” comments Jasmine Enberg.
While Snapchat (SNAP) struggles “The reality is that many advertisers still don’t fully understand Snapchat and stick it into their experimental buckets. Intense competition from TikTok for the attention of Snap’s core Gen Z user base and continued measurement challenges from Apple’s AppTrackingTransparency changes are also causing advertisers to hold back spending on the platform.”
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On Wednesday afternoon, Kanye West returned to Instagram months after wiping his account clean. He shared a photo of a white piece of paper folded in half. On it, he wrote in Sharpie: “Happy Valentine’s Day, babe.”
West then proceeded to share images of iconic couples including Madonna and Sean Penn; Michelle and Barack Obama; Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere; plus Kate Moss and Johnny Depp.
Presumably, Kanye’s Valentine’s Day card was addressed to his wife, Kim Kardashian West, and not himself. Kim also shared a Valentine’s Day post earlier in the day, saying she loved her husband “to infinity.”
Kanye’s card was infinitesimally less flowery than Kim’s in its minimalist to-the-point-ness. Minimalism ranks high on the list of things Kanye West loves. In 2013, he told the Times that he considered himself a “minimalist in a rapper’s body.”
But is this Valentine’s Day card “artistic,” or just lazy?
Months before joining Instagram in 2016, Kanye West tweeted, “I was thinking about getting an Instagram but only on one condition: no one can ask me or try to tell me what to Instagram… It’s my art…”
So, there you have it. If anyone else sent us this card, we’d be pissed. But we love Kanye as much as Kanye loves Kanye. And Kim. And art.


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Radio station Nova FM has thrown its support behind the marriage equality campaign.
In an on-air announcement during the Fitzy and Wippa breakfast show today, the station said it wants same-sex couples to be able to marry.
“We’re proud to support this campaign and do whatever we can to bring about equality for all Australians,” the station announced.
Australian Marriage Equality national Convener Alex Greenwich welcomed the statement.
“Nova joins a growing list of Australian companies who have embraced the importance equality and the benefits it will deliver to couples, families and communities across the country,” Greenwich said.
“Whether it’s an internet giant like Google, a radio station like Nova, or a retailer like LUSH, corporate Australia understands that marriage equality is an issue a majority of Australians want to see happen in this term of government”.
Nova joins the likes of tech giant Google who came out in support of marriage equality and the global fight for better LGBT protections this week.
Cosmetics retailer LUSH is also collecting signatures for a petition and raising money for marriage equality this week in LUSH stores around Australia.


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US President Donald Trump’s protectionist measures, aimed at discouraging outsourcing of jobs to other countries, have caused concern to India’s information-technology (IT) and information-technology-enabled services (ITes) industries.
In the year ending March 2018, the value of India’s exports of IT, ITes and research and development totaled US$126 billion. Almost 90% of the exports go to the United States and the European Union and more than 3.9 million Indians work in this sector.
Recent protectionist measures taken by the US have been the subject of intense debate, especially those related to tariffs on trade of goods. But the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) introduced this year is another US protectionist move, one that affects trade in services.
The tax violates the United States’ Double-Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with other countries and makes it costlier for US firms to outsource their tasks. But they and their outsourcing partners have found a way around it, at least for the time being.
Multinational companies use base erosion and profit shifting to avoid taxes by shifting profits from high-tax jurisdictions to low-tax ones (so-called tax havens). Like other countries, the US already has robust transfer-pricing rules and specific anti-abuse provisions.
Some payments made by a US company to its foreign sister concerns are deductible when calculating taxable income. Outsourced expenses are part of deductible payments. BEAT is triggered if deductible payments, after considering a few other factors, is more than the tax payable in the US.
US-based multinational corporations (MNCs) outsource a major portion of their R&D activities, IT and ITes functions, and knowledge processes to such countries as India, the Philippines and Malaysia, by opening subsidiary companies in these countries. BEAT specifically targets this practice.
By outsourcing their business and knowledge processes to destinations where skills are cheaply available, US companies save lots of money and pay corporate tax on the same in the US. Outsourcing is mutually beneficial to both the source country and the destination country.
BEAT, no doubt, makes it costlier for American MNCs to import services. But they have found a way around it. The host countries where outsourcing firms are based also need to make some policy changes to adjust to the US policy.
Earlier, the US company would scout for clients while the Indian affiliate provided contract R&D services (or software services) to the US company. Companies affected by BEAT now find it beneficial to move toward a revenue-share model, wherein the Indian affiliate will not bill the US company but directly bill the client. It requires only a reworking of the contract with the client. Thus BEAT provisions can be avoided.
For instance, a global management-consulting group that earned 78% of its revenue in North America in 2015 employed about 58% of its manpower in India. The majority of services were outsourced to India. To tackle BEAT, the group can restructure so that the client directly pays a part of the revenue to the US company and a part to the Indian subsidiary. The “related-party” payment by the US company will get reduced as a result and BEAT will not apply.
In a revenue-share model, the Indian affiliate will get a chance to become an entrepreneurial concern rather than a captive service provider for the US company. Management personnel at the Indian affiliate will get an opportunity to interact with clients and develop client relationships, which is a big asset.
Another solution for multinational corporations is to restructure into a cost-contribution model. Revenue from American clients will be received in a new affiliate company located outside the US and will be allocated to various group companies globally in the ratio of costs incurred by them. In this model, related-party payments happen from a foreign affiliate to the US company rather than from the US company to foreign affiliates. In this way, the nuances of BEAT don’t get triggered.
BEAT is a violation of DTAAs, which are the pillars of universally accepted principles of international taxation. A company is allowed deduction on the payment it makes for service contracts to a foreign subsidiary because the payment gets appropriately taxed in the hands of the subsidiary in its country of residence.
In the case of outsourcing to India, the Indian subsidiary pays tax at a higher rate in India than the rate applicable in the US. The same income cannot be taxed twice. But BEAT seeks to do exactly that.
If negotiations on the issue fail, one effective way of hurting American business is by targeting the royalty paid from host countries for using American brands. For instance, Indian subsidiaries of US corporations selling fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), footwear, apparel, aerated drinks etc pay royalty to the parent company for using US brands. According to one study, the royalty payments by 32 listed Indian subsidiaries to their global parents equals 21% of the pre-tax, pre-royalty profits on average. This capital outflow hurts India’s foreign-exchange position and benefits the US.
As a deterrent to the US violating double-tax agreements, host countries can impose an additional tax on such royalty outflow, in the full knowledge that imposing additional tax on royalty payments to the US also violates the DTAA in spirit.
Views expressed by the author are personal and do not reflect the views of his employers.


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Eurid, the top level domain name body in the European Union (EU), has blocked domains registered by UK citizens. A total of 50,000 users are affected and 81,000 domains have been removed. Those affected have three months to justify their right to use the .eu domain. In the meantime, websites and email addresses associated with domain names will be blocked.
For this purpose, domain owners can change their contact details, for example by contacting a subsidiary based in the EU. Indeed, EU rules provide that websites registered with Eurid can be granted to Union citizens regardless of where they live, as well as individuals or organizations based in a country. Member State. Those who do not have to prove their right to use the domain by March 31, 2021 will be excluded. If nothing is done, domain names will be available for registration again from January 2022. New pearls are likely to be taken, as was the case in 2015 for the one from google.com, which was bought for $ 12.
In the same category
Alibaba and Tencent could be banned from the NYSE
In 2018, the European Commission published a note indicating that UK citizenship domains would be removed on the Brexit date. This ad has been criticized for violating property rights. Then it was reduced from “immediately canceled” to a “suspension” of three months. At the time of this statement, the .eu domain had more than 300,000 linked websites in the UK, according to Eurid. Compared to the 81,000 suspended today, the locations have anticipated the situation. For structures with significant resources, this transition is not an unrealizable challenge. For companies with fewer resources, however, the story is different.
The application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will remain in effect in the UK until July 2021.


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What just happened? It appears that Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter could be in jeopardy. The world’s richest person just announced that the deal is “temporarily on hold” until he has confirmation that spam and fake accounts on the site really do represent less than 5% of its userbase. Musk tweeted the announcement earlier today along with a link to a Reuters report from May 2. The article revealed the statistic was in a company filing made to financial regulators. Twitter claimed that false or spam accounts represented fewer than 5% of its monetizable daily active users during the first quarter. Still committed to acquisition — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 13, 2022 Musk never said precisely how he plans to validate Twitter’s findings or why he doubts them. It could be related to recent revelations that Twitter overinflated monetizable daily active user (mDAU) counts between 2019 and 2021, something it claims was done in “error.” Musk followed the announcement with a tweet confirming he was still committed to the acquisition, but that hasn’t stopped Twitter shares from falling about 15% on the back of the news while Tesla shares were up 6%. If Musk did walk away from… Read full this story
- A new King of Cash... but who's the King of Flash? As Elon Musk rockets past Jeff Bezos to become the richest man in the world (and leaves Bill Gates trailing), CLAUDIA CONNELL examines the billion-dollar question
- Elon Musk Claims He's Deleting His Twitter Account
- ‘How strange’, says Elon Musk as he becomes world’s richest person
- Tesla will make a $25,000 electric car within 3 years, Musk says
- YouTube Bitcoin Scammers Pose as Elon Musk's SpaceX, Steal Cryptocurrency 'Worth $150,000'
- Elon Musk overtakes Jeff bezos as world’s richest person; gives a not-so excited reaction on twitter
- Elon Musk hits back at Viasat's claims that Starlink poses a threat to the environment, saying SpaceX's broadband only 'poses a hazard' to the communication firm's profits
- Elon Musk overtakes Bill Gates to become world's second-richest person
- Elon Musk now trails Jeff Bezos by just $3billion and is on track to become the world's richest person after 4.6% surge in Tesla shares increased his net worth to $184.5billion
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk Overtakes Amazon’s Jeff Bezos To Become World’s Richest Person, $191B Net Worth
Elon Musk says Twitter deal on hold as spam account report is investigated have 370 words, post on www.techspot.com at May 13, 2022. This is cached page on xBlogs. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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Whisbear was invited for Facebook Gather 2019 conference, organized on 21-22.01.2019 in Dublin. The event brings together the most robust small and medium European businesses, selected by Facebook to create the Social Media Council. Over 500 companies were invited. Small and medium business constitute a huge advertising potential for Facebook. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the company runs a special program for them.
Whisbear was also selected, along with only five other businesses, to showcase their products ata special expo presenting innovative solutions. It was a great honour and recognition of Whisbear’s achievements.
Later, Zuzanna and only five other participants had a chance to talk to Sheryl Sandberg, who was accompanied by Ciarán Quilty (Vice President in EMEA at Facebook) and HelenMcEntee, the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs. The private meeting was informal and everyone had a chance to talk about their companies and successes.
“I told Whisbear’s history and explained our business activity,” says Zuzanna Sielicka-Kalczyńska. “Sheryl was especially interested in the Parent Assistant app we made for E-zzy the Sloth. She also wanted to know about our charity initiatives. Whisbears helpinfants in hospitals in Poland, France, and Germany, in hospices and nursing and caring clinics.”
Sheryl asked the participants to keep her up to date with their ideas regarding Facebook and solutions expected by small businesses. Minister McEntee wanted to know how Brexit would affect our business.
“The British market is very important to us and Whisbear is preparing a strategy for further development of the brand in the UK if it really comes to Brexit,” said Zuzanna. “However, market diversification is the key here, so the problem does not affect our entire business at once.”
Not only was E-zzy the Sloth from Whisbear presented at the expo in Dublin, but it was also a gift for Sheryl Sandberg and Helen McEntee TD.
At the main conference Sheryl gave a speech, during which she assured the audience that data security and privacy is of utmost importance to Facebook, and how much the company learnt from past mistakes. She also emphasised that Facebook sees the potential of small and medium businesses and aims to support their development. In fact, a major part of Facebook’s income comes from such companies.
Evenin this speech directed at the general audience, Sheryl mentioned Whisbear when providing examples of three businesses that began their activity on Facebook. Whisbear did begin on that social platform, when they informed about the new product (i.e. the Humming Bear) and asked parents to share the post.
Moreover, Sheryl Sandberg mentioned Zuzanna and Whisbear in her Facebook post discussing the conference in Dublin:
Similarly to Zuzanna, Sheryl is a mother of three, and empathized with the problem of sleepless nights. She also admitted that she tried the white noise method to soothe her children to sleep.
The Dublin meeting was also an opportunity to meet other European enterpreneurs, who run similar businesses and every day meet the same challenges and obstacles as Whisbear. Everyone could share their experiences and solutions and talk about challenges young businesses face.


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Making up the near two million square feet of office space is a new tower by Lincoln Harris that will total one million square feet and is the first phase of a redevelopment project transforming the old site of the Observer. Plus, a new office tower is opening at 615 South College near the Westin Hotel, and yet another tower will be opening at 500 East Morehead.
The Dowd YMCA is undergoing a major expansion and broke ground last week. Furthermore, 235 new units opened up at the new Lexington Dilworth apartment community and 450 apartments are in the works at Crescent Stonewall Station along with a Whole Foods grocery store in the same location. 550 South Caldwell is getting 421 new apartments and there will be an additional 302 units at the Montage apartment community.
On the horizon and soon to break ground are two new hotels in the area, an additional brand-new office tower and hundreds of new apartments, as well as an ever expanding retail and dining scene.
For more details on development along the Stonewall Street corridor and beyond, be sure to read the full article at CharlotteObserver.com.


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Samsung Galaxy M01
It appears Samsung is working on a new entry-level smartphone dubbed Samsung Galaxy M01. This manner of naming we have seen the South Korean multinational use on the A-Series with the likes of Samsung Galaxy A01. The price of Samsung Galaxy M01 in Kenya is not yet official. And neither was its date of release at the time of writing this article.
Galaxy M01 expected features
Samsung Galaxy M01 will have the following features. A 5.26 inches display, Android 10; One UI 2, Snapdragon 439 (12 nm), Adreno 505, 32GB + 3GB RAM, and a massive 4000 mAh battery.
Read more smartphone news here.
Where to buy 👇
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra The price of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra smartphone in Kenya is in the regio…


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The Gaming Company Blizzard Entertainment won a copyright case against the developers of several popular game cheats and hacks.The court ordered the company based in Germany named Bossland to pay over $8.5 million in damages.Check out the news about destiny 2 announcement.
Moreover, the cheat maker company is restricted from marketing and selling its items in the United States.Blizzard defeats Cheat Maker but the battle is still going on.
When most of the gamers do their best tot win fair and square, there are always cheaters trying to become victorious with cheats.With the development of gaming industries, the market for cheats, hacks, and bots has also grown rapidly.
The German based Company named Bossland is one the famous company in this area.The german based company named Bossland created many cheats and bots for a lot of Blizzard games which include World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone and Overwatch.Which give the cheaters unfair advantage over the round.
Blizzard is angry because of this and the two companies were fighting in the court for a long time, Both in the United States and Germany.
In the last week, a US case came in the California District Court.The Bossland decided not to represent itself, it became easy for Blizzard to win the case, which was awarded several million in copyright damages.Blizzard defeats Cheat Maker after fighting for a long time in court.
California District Court Orders:
The California District Court agreed that hacks created by Bossland bypassed Blizarrd’s cheat protection technology called Warden, violating the DMCA. The bossland violated Blizzard’s copyright by reverse engineering the games and allowing users to play modified versions.The court said:
“Bossland materially contributes to infringement by creating the Bossland Hacks, making the Bossland Hacks available to the public, instructing users how to install and operate the Bossland Hacks, and enabling users to use the software to create derivative works,”
These actions are damaging the game developers as they bypass the game’s anti-cheat protection.The cheaters destroy the gaming experience for other players who may lose interest, causing additional damage.
“Blizzard has established a showing of resulting damage or harm because Blizzard expends a substantial amount of money combating the use of the Bossland Hacks to ensure fair game play,” the court writes.
“Additionally, players of the Blizzard Games lodge complaints against cheating players, which has caused users to grow dissatisfied with the Blizzard Games and cease playing. Accordingly, the in-game cheating also harms Blizzard’s goodwill and reputation.”
The court grants copyrights damages Blizzard requested for 42,818 violations within the United States, totaling $8,563,600.Moreover, the game developer has entitled $174,872 lawyer’s fees.
To stop further damage, Bossland is blocked from marketing and selling its cheats in the United States.This applies to hacks including “Honorbuddy,” “Demonbuddy,” “Stormbuddy,” “Hearthbuddy,” and “Watchover Tyrant,” as well as any other software designed to exploit Blizzard games.
The old saying that “Cheaters Never Prosper” isn’t always true, but a California federal court has ruled that Blizzard will prosper to the tune of $8.6 million in a case against Bossland GMBH, creator of many cheats and workarounds for Blizzard’s games.
Bossland has kept that “botting is not against the law,” and this may be true. But players are required to accept terms of service, and Bossland’s cheating tools go against the Terms of service, encouraging players to cheat and bypass the anti-cheat system. Players lour heavily on bots, which in turn upsets Blizzard because it affects the enjoyment of its games. That, in turn, damages Blizzard if it does not take steps to stop the offending programs. Hence the need to settle such cases in court.
The CEO of Bossland Zwetan Letschew said that his company would continue the legal battle after the issue of the judgment.The cheats will remain widely available outside of the US for now.
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The Ferrero Group and The Coca Cola Company have launched Tic Tac Sprite, a flavored Tic Tac inspired by the refreshing experience of drinking a Sprite. The new, limited edition is the second product born out of this global brand collaboration, which has already successfully launched Tic Tac Coca-Cola in 2019.
With Tic Tac Sprite, consumers get to enjoy a Sprite-inspired lemon-lime flavored Tic Tac in an eye-catching yellow. Tic Tac Sprite is available in the iconic Tic Tac packs. There will be four different size and weight options, each with a distinctive and impactful graphic.
“The Coca-Cola Company is pleased to partner with the team at Ferrero to offer the unique taste experience that is Tic Tac Sprite to fans of both brands,” shared John Larson, senior licensing manager for The Coca-Cola Company.
The special edition, launched on March 28 in France, will be available in the next few months in more than 20 countries around the world.
“Our successful partnership with The Coca-Cola Company marked the coming together of two of the iconic global food and beverage brands. Both brands are loved worldwide for bringing great tasting goods to market. We’re always on the lookout for how to boost consumers’ senses even further, so the opportunity to create the first ever Tic Tac inspired by the distinctive taste of Sprite, was too good to miss. As two global brands, we share the same lively and fun-loving DNA, so we hope this collaboration brings even more moments of refreshment for the world to enjoy,” said Scott Perry, Global Tic Tac team.
Ferrero Group is on the current Candy Industry “Global Top 100 Candy Companies” list. Click here to view the current “Global Top 100” rankings.


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We’re still waiting for Apple to introduce its long-rumored iWatch. But Google today showed what it plans for mobile devices, beginning with watches including ones made by LG, HTC, Samsung and Motorola: The Android Wear software integrates voice commands and the kinds of location-based information that owners of Android smartphones and tablets access from their Google Now cards. “Just say ‘Ok Google’ to ask questions, like how many calories are in an avocado, what time your flight leaves, and the score of the game,” the company says in a blog post. “Or say “Ok Google” to get stuff done, like calling a taxi, sending a text, making a restaurant reservation or setting an alarm.” Android watches also will feed commands to smartphones and TVs. This company video illustrates what it has in mind.
Google Unveils Android Wear Platform For Watches And Other Mobile Technologies
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NEWS IN THE WORLD OF POWER AND INTEGRATED BUILDING SYSTEMS
Feed-In Tariff Projects Sizzling in Los Angeles
> IN PLACES SUCH AS ARIZONA, where utilities and the solar
industry bicker over pricing and metering policies, everyone
suffers. In Los Angeles, where the same policies are embraced,
everyone wins as increasingly larger projects come online.
At the Los Angeles Business Council’s annual Sustainability
Wired Broadband on the Way Out?
Summit in April, Los Angeles-based PermaCity unveiled its
latest project, which will set a new record. The Westmont solar
array will occupy 2 million square feet of rooftop space on
buildings near the Port of Los Angeles. PermaCity describes it as
the “largest solar feed-in-tariff project in the nation.”
The panels will generate 16. 4 megawatts (MW) of solar
energy for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
(LADWP) customers, enough to power 5,000 homes. In a nod to
the merits of the utility’s feed-in-tariff policy,
the project is also estimated to
generate $76 million in revenue from clean energy sold back to
the LADWP over the life of its 20-year lease. Approximately 85–
90 percent of that revenue will go back to the building owner.
According to PermaCity, other benefits include the creation
of 500 jobs, a state-of-the-art SolarStrap roof and training
facility for local workers to become best-in-class solar installers,
and a savings of about $400,000 per year in energy costs for the
It is not the first big project to come online as a result of
the LADWP’s feed-in-tariff policy. A 5.1-MW project at the
headquarters of fashion retailer Forever 21 in Los Angeles ranks
among the largest of its kind in the world. The facility is carbon-
neutral and 100 percent solar-powered. PermaCity said the
Westmont project will be three times larger.
> ACCORDING TO THE LATEST
computer and internet-use data released
by the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA),
Americans’ rapid move toward mobile
internet service may come at the expense
of home broadband.
The results come from the U.S.
Census Bureau’s Computer and
Internet Use Supplement to the Current
Population Survey (CPS), which includes
data collected for the NTIA in July 2015
from nearly 53,000 households. These
findings suggest that technological
changes are driving a profound shift in
how Americans use the internet, which
may be opening a new digital divide
based on the use of particular devices
and internet services.
“Mobile internet service appears
to be competing more directly with
wired-internet connections,” said
Giulia McHenry, chief economist
with the Office of Policy Analysis and
Three-quarters of American households
using the internet at home in 2015 still used
wired technologies for high-speed internet
service. However, it is a sizeable drop
in wired home broadband use, from 82
percent in July 2013 to 75 percent in 2015.
“Over this same period, the data also
shows that the proportion of online
households that relied exclusively on
mobile service at home doubled between
2013 and 2015,” McHenry said.
Internet users in low-income
households were significantly more likely
to depend on a mobile data plan than
those with higher incomes— 29 percent of
households with incomes below $25,000,
compared with 15 percent of households
with incomes of $100,000 or more.
“Although wired internet service
continued to be the preferred mode of
home internet use in 2015 among those
most likely to be able to afford it, the use
of mobile data plans is clearly becoming
more popular across demographics,”
Meanwhile, Americans are increasingly
reliant on a wide range of devices to meet
their computing needs. Smartphone use
rose from 45 percent in 2013 to 53 percent
in 2015, surpassing laptops to become
the most widely used computing device.
Tablet use also increased substantially
during this period. There was also a big
jump from 2013 ( 18 percent) to 2015 ( 27
percent) in the proportion of Americans
who used smart televisions and TV-connected devices. Laptop use remained
steady in 2015, while desktop computer
use continued to slide.
Despite the trend toward more
wireless, wired broadband demand will
continue to remain strong. Everything
ultimately must be connected by cables at


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After Cannes, Deepika, Aishwarya, Sonam sizzle at dessert fashion showPooja Dhingra, known for her extraordinary confectionary creations, has beautifully crafted Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and many Hollywood actresses Cannes red carpet look on cakes.
Pooja Dhingra, known for her extraordinary confectionery creations, has beautifully crafted Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and many Hollywood actresses Cannes red carpet look on cakes.
As part of her cute innovation Pooja beautifully crafted red wine infused dark chocolate macaron after taking inspiration from Deepika’s gorgeous Marchesa gown, which she wore at Cannes film festival this year.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil actress Aishwarya Rai took everyone’s breath away when she stepped in her Yanina Couture gown at Cannes red carpet. And the creative chef Pooja took no time craft Aishwarya’s smouldering look on a piece of a cake, which will surely amaze you.
Neerja actress Sonam Kapoor grabbed a lot of attention at Cannes, when she walked the red carpet in her gold glittery avatar. In order to, craft Sonam’s most loved Cannes look, chef Pooja created a champagne and chocolate tier cake taking inspiration from her her eliesaab gown look.
Giving a perfect homage to the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival, Pooja wrote on her Instagram, "While the red carpet at Cannes had the fashion world drooling, we at Le 15 decided to interpret some of our favourite looks and give them a new avatar - in the form of dessert".


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IT consulting firm Accenture raised its full-year revenue forecast on Thursday, betting on strong demand for its digital, cloud and security services from businesses looking to strengthen their operations as they shift to hybrid working models.
Julie Sweet, Accenture’s chief executive officer, said: “Our outstanding financial results reflect our continued momentum driven by the demand for digital transformation, the depth and breadth of our client relationships with the world’s leading companies.”
Accenture promoted a record 117,000 people, including almost 1,200 managing directors so far this fiscal year in recognition of their leadership, excellence and commitment to creating value for clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities.
Revenues by Geographic Market
North America: $6.20 billion (+18 percent)
Europe: $4.45 billion (+25 percent)
Growth Markets: $2.61 billion (+20 percent)
Revenues by Industry Group
Communications, Media & Technology: $2.70 billion (+23 percent)
Financial Services: $2.60 billion (+21 percent)
Health & Public Service: $2.52 billion (+25 percent)
Products: $3.67 billion (+22 percent)
Resources: $1.77 billion (+8 percent)
The company, which has clients across industries including health and financial services, announced 39 acquisitions for the fiscal year to date to ramp up its digital offerings and cater to businesses that were scrambling to switch to the cloud during the pandemic.
Analysts say that the demand for IT consulting services is at a 20-year high and is likely to stay elevated, as businesses across sectors depend on companies such as Accenture and its peers to adapt to a new hybrid work model.
Ireland-based company forecast full-year revenue growth in the range of 10 percent-11 percent, from its previous outlook range of 6.5 percent-8.5 percent.
Total new bookings in the third quarter ended May 31 rose 39 percent to $15.4 billion.
Revenue rose to $13.3 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from $11 billion a year earlier.
Quarterly net income rose to $1.55 billion or $2.40 per share from $1.23 billion or $1.90 per share a year earlier.