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Raab flies to Qatar to discuss ‘top priority’ of safe passage from Afghanistan
Dominic Raab has flown to Qatar to hold talks about the government’s ‘top priority’ of safely evacuating British nationals and Afghan interpreters from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The Foreign Secretary’s trip began hours after he faced a grilling from MPs about the evacuation effort from Kabul airport, where he was asked about a Foreign Office document from July which suggested the Taliban could advance rapidly across Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister is meanwhile expected to visit troops in the south east of England who helped with the evacuation from Kabul.
Chances of long Covid almost halved by being double jabbed, study finds
Being double-jabbed almost halves the likelihood of long Covid in adults who get coronavirus, a new study has suggested.
Researchers at King’s College London also said that being admitted to hospital with the virus was 73 per cent less likely, and the chances of severe symptoms were reduced by almost a third (31 per cent) in the fully vaccinated.
The team analysed data from more than two million people logging their symptoms, tests and vaccine status on the UK Zoe Covid Symptom Study app between December 8 2020 and July 4 this year.
NHS budget rise of less than £10bn could see services cut – trust leaders
The NHS budget must increase by around £10 billion and anything less could see trusts forced to cut services, the leaders of two major organisations representing the health service’s frontline have warned.
Almost half of the money will be needed to cover ongoing coronavirus-related costs, NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation said.
Billions will also be needed to recover care backlogs, the organisations said, as they published a report detailing the costs facing the health service in England.
Staycations help maintain recovery in shopper footfall in August
Shopping destinations saw footfall continue to recover strongly last month as domestic holidays helped to boost spending, according to new figures.
The latest footfall monitor by retail researchers at Springboard showed that footfall in August 18.6 per cent lower than the same month in 2019.
However, this represented a significant improvement against July, which had seen a 24.2 per cent decline.
Tui and Rolls-Royce among slowest FTSE firms to pay small suppliers
Travel firm Tui, Guinness drinks giant Diageo and engine maker Rolls-Royce are among the slowest FTSE 350 listed groups to settle invoices with suppliers, new research has revealed.
A report by Good Business Pays campaign has named and shamed the top 10 slowest payers in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices, using the latest information submitted under the Duty to Report regulations to the government.
It found that defence firm Meggitt – at the centre of a bidding battle – is the worst culprit for late payment, taking on average 132 days to pay and failing to pay 85 per cent of invoices within agreed contract terms.
Wetherspoons apologises after beer hit by supply chain issue
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has apologised to customers after its beer supplies became the latest casualty of the UK’s supply chain crunch.
The hospitality giant confirmed that it has seen supplies of Carling and Coors beer hit by the disruption, with some pubs not receiving deliveries.
Molson Coors, the brewer for both brands, said it has been ‘hit by the HGV driver shortage’, affecting its supply to some UK pubs.
Wednesday’s Car Dealer headlines you might have missed
- Charles Hurst Group opens Kia dealership in Newtownabbey as it expands network and EV infrastructure
- Dealers react on social media as first 71 plate vehicles fly off the forecourts
- A quarter of drivers unaware a new type of petrol has been introduced this week
- Student housing and flats for rent to go up on Dick Lovett site in Bath after plan opponents lose battle
- Huge electrical fire causes 80 per cent smoke damage in franchise dealership’s showroom
- Aston Martin unveils life-size iconic Corgi DB5 as it launches No Time To Die campaign
- Peugeot opens order books on new e-Partner electric van with prices starting at £27,910
- CarShop to open second UK express store in Leighton Buzzard later this month
- How dealers are increasing website conversion rates by at least 120 per cent
Demand for rail travel back to two-thirds of pre-Covid levels
Demand for rail travel has reached two-thirds of normal levels for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.
Provisional Department for Transport data reveals the number of journeys made on Britain’s mainline rail network on Monday August 23 was at 66 per cent compared with the equivalent date in 2019.
This is up from 56 per cent three weeks earlier.
Morgan 3 Wheeler set to return
Morgan has confirmed that a new version of its 3 Wheeler is in development.
Orders for the previous 3 Wheeler closed at the start of 2021, with the striking model having been on sale since 2011.
It followed on from a long line of three-wheeled models, which started back at the founding of the company in 1909 when founder HFS Morgan created a three-wheeled vehicle to drive around the Malvern Hills.
Vauxhall reveals electric Astra-e is due on sale in 2023
Vauxhall has revealed the Astra-e, the electric version of the eighth-generation hatchback, will go on sale in 2023.
The new Astra, showcased for the first time earlier this summer, will go on sale in Q1 next year with a range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, but EV buyers will have to wait another year to get their hands on the battery-powered version.
It’s the first time the Astra has been offered as an EV, and will join the firm’s impressive line-up of zero-emission vehicles, including the Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Combo-e Life and Vivaro-e Life.
Mixed day for European markets but FTSE closes in the green
The FTSE 100 ended yesterday up in what was a mixed day for markets across the continent.
The British stock index rose by 30.14 or 0 on Wednesday to close at 7,149.84
The French Cac also ended the day in the green, rising 1.18 per cent to 6,758.69 but the German Dax slumped by 0.068 per cent to 15,824.29.
More cloud expected in coming days
Today will start mostly cloudy and dry. Later on, sunshine will develop in the north, but the rest of the UK will continue largely cloudy with just a few sunny spells in places, reports the BBC.
Tonight, cloud will build across the north, and it will become overcast by dawn. Elsewhere, it will continue cloudy, but the far south of England will see clear spells. Staying mostly dry.
Tomorrow looks to start mostly cloudy with the chance of some drizzle in some eastern areas. However, some sunshine is expected in the southern England and some north-western regions.


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Will near field communications (NFC) technology and the applications it support become a commodity?
NXP, the semiconductor company founded by Philips, has unveiled what it calls the world's first near field communication controller. The goal is to deliver a compliant platform for handset manufacturers and operators to introduce next generation NFC devices and services.
The NXP PN544 chip is based on the latest NFC specifications sanctioned by the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI). It will enable mobile phone users to access a new range of contactless applications such as mobile payments, transport and event ticketing as well as data sharing directly from the mobile phone SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) for improved on-the-go experience.

domain: news


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Filipinos are the most worried about their financial situation compared to those in Asia-Pacific countries, a study commissioned by a banking software solutions provider showed.
The study by Forrester Consulting said Filipino consumers are also more worried and uncertain, and one of the reasons for this concern is debt.
“Debt management is a challenge for 70% of consumers in the Philippines, and it’s their biggest challenge when it comes to managing their finances,” Backbase said.
Backbase added that the top three financial wellness products, services and experiences that Filipinos are least satisfied with their primary bank are financial management tools, incentives for better financial habits, and banking with a provider. financial services that helps them identify vulnerabilities and financial hardship risks.
While Philippine banks offer financial education tools, only half of them focus on the other two requests, he said.
“Banks that simplify financial well-being and provide personalized solutions will help reduce debt and, in the long run, build customer loyalty,” the software solutions company said.
Many banks in the Philippines are struggling to catch up and meet new demands as customer expectations and the banking landscape are constantly changing, he added.
“70% say keeping pace with customer expectations and staying both profitable and relevant is a major challenge. That’s above the APAC (Asia-Pacific) average of 63%, ”Backbase pointed out.
Another big challenge, he added, is increasing competition and / or disruption from new entrants into the industry. To stay ahead of the competition, Philippine banks should learn from the experience of banks in other countries.
Many financial institutions in the Philippines admit that developing digital money management solutions presents distinct organizational barriers. Organizational silos (78%), competing priorities (74%) and a limited perspective on consumer data (74%) are the top three issues highlighted by respondents.
“To meet these challenges, banking leaders should take steps to transform their banks by creating digital cultures and investing in technologies that can break down silos and encourage open finance,” Backbase suggested.
He said 62% of banks recognize the importance of financial literacy tools in driving business results such as customer acquisition, engagement, retention and retention. Over the next 12 months, 60% of banks plan to use digital money management solutions.
“Thanks to advances in digital technology, banks can now offer digital services to help manage debt properly,” said Iman Ghodosi, Backbase regional vice president for Asia Pacific.
Unfortunately, trust in digital banks remains low, with just 18% of respondents indicating they trust a digital bank compared to 60% for a traditional bank.
“We can expect less confidence in new ways of doing things. However, we have found around the world that the more information and control we can put in the hands of clients to make their own informed financial choices, the more they will trust the organizations offering them this opportunity, ”he said. declared Ghodosi.


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Printing Baseball cards for as long as I can remember, TOPPS is into the digital realm in a big way and has issued the first card celebrating 2 Noah Syndergaard homers in last night’s Mets win.
Syndergaard has been in the big leagues for only a year, but has already become one of the best young pitchers in the majors. Called ‘Thor’ by his teammates and the press at large, Syndergaard usually only brings the thunder from the mound, but last night added a little lightning to his repertoire, bashing a pair of home runs to power the first-place New York Mets to a 4-3 win over the Dodgers.
If that sounds a little crazy to you, it’s probably because pitchers generally don’t hit too many homers, and hit two in a game on even rarer occasions. In fact, Syndergaard’s pair of jacks is only the second time a NY Mets pitcher has accomplished the feat in the team’s almost 60 year history. And it’s that fact that got him and his two thunderbolts a card, courtesy of TOPPS BUNT.
BUNT is the company’s mobile app, from which you can collect cards not just from the present, but also from era’s long-gone by. According to the trading card giant, you can pull a “Kris Bryant insert, and a Ted Williams insert all within seconds of one another.”
Oh and uh, there are just a few cards available with 335 million in the app’s catalog right now. Not enough for you? Well, you’re insane, but you can also expect that number to climb to about half a billion by the this year is out.
Interested? You can grab a copy of the app here on the iOS App Store or here on Google Play.


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|Posted by Bruno B on May 1, 2015 at 10:45 AM|
Monolithsoft's Xenoblade ''X'' released this week in Japan has taken the region by storm with the game and the Wii U Bundles with the game selling out across the region.
Even online sellers are having shortages with Playasia and Amazon Japan only having copies of the game left in stock.
The fact that the bundles ahve sold is great news for Wii U owners and maybe now with quite a few more releases due over the next couple of months it looks like those Wii U numbers could rise.
All we have to say is Well done Monolithsoft for creating such a game and congratulations to Nintendo for once again delivering another brilliant game from the looks of it.
We wait with anticipation for the Western release.
Categories: Game News


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Recently, we have been hearing from everyone, whether neophytes or the biggest names in market finance, about the same subject: crypto-currency. And more particularly its spearhead: the Bitcoin. The latter crystallizes to itself the worst fears, or on the contrary the best expectations in a world where central banks and banks no longer play their roles. Let us look at this phenomenon.
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, i. e. a currency that can be used on the Internet. It is therefore not a real currency as the dollar or the euro is. Its attraction is to be decentralized so that the counterparty risk is eliminated with “American domination”. This fear that the American administration would follow our lives was the leitmotif of the creators of cryptos, so that we can create a currency without being controlled. Basically this kind of currency has been echoed by people from the black internet and drug, arms, human and other traffickers in order to “legalize” their currencies. Indeed, Bitcoin has an intrinsic value and a conversion rate against an official currency. Exchanges were therefore possible.
The first BIT/USD quotation was issued on October 5, 2009, at that time the rate was $0.000764. This phenomenon could have been forgotten as a fashion or an insider system destined to disappear because it would only be fuelled by thugs and criminals. But today the Bitcoin is at $11,200 for the quotation of November 29, 2017. How could this have happened?
Let us look empirically at its evolution. It took him more than 1,300 days to exceed the $1,000 rate, it takes about 1,000 days to see him pass the $2,000 threshold, it takes more than 1,100 days to reach $3,000 and then a dazzling acceleration less than 500 days to exceed $4,000, 150 to go to $5,000, less than 100 to punch the $6,000, etc. Today, he has surpassed $10,000 and goes up to $11,000, no one knows where he will stop. Some analysts announce it at 40,000 by December 2018.
The Bitcoin phenomenon became more important at the time of Brexit. On June 24, 2016, when the British vote to leave Europe was read, all world stock exchanges fell by an average of two figures. At the same time, Bitcoin took +9%. Since then, the world authorities have been discussing more and more the possible legalization of this crypto. And it was this breach that accelerated the price of Bitcoin. On the first day of this year it exceeds the symbolic bar of $1,000. Despite the “attempts” of the Bank of China and some other major banks to destabilize Bitcoin, it is on the rise again because it is not totally excluded from the future stock market. So much so, that on June 6, after giving its position against Bitcoin, causing the price of Bitcoin to fall by more than 30% in January, the Bank of China agreed to allow its platforms to use Bitcoin as a means of payment. Recently, Goldman Sachs announced, through its PGD Lloyd Blankfein, that it would create a desk specializing in bitcoin and thus deal massively with it.
The future of Bitcoin fuels all questions. Some see it collapse after exceeding $11,500, others see it rise relentlessly to the $40,000 threshold in December 2018! Who believes? What if you are an investor? Where to position yourself? Long? Shorts?
Before giving an opinion on the question, let us take a look at the history of market finance. As Soviet economist and mathematician Nikolai Kondratiev has shown, the economy reacts in cyclical waves. The market would have a memory and as a result, inevitably our future would only be a past that resurfaces from time to time. The Bitcoin phenomenon is criticized and often compared to a bubble. A bubble is a more or less long process that causes stock market values to rise without any particular underlying. We’re talking about a hype. This hype allows them to go up and up. Problem, the trees don’t go up to the sky and inevitably at some point our bubble bursts and there it is the fall of the values. We have experienced many speculative bubbles: the internet bubble, the real estate bubble, the subprime bubble, the US debt bubble, the Japanese debt bubble, etc. Looking at some of these bubbles I was struck by the similarity with one of them: the bubble of “tulipomania” from 1622. This phenomenon regained its nobility thanks to Gordon Gekko, an unscrupulous but very smart investor in the economy and market in the Wall Street saga.
Tulipomania began with an infernal craze for this flower from Constantinople. At the beginning only the rich (bourgeois, nobles, kings, princes, etc.) could afford and plant these luxury products. Then it became more democratic thanks to the Arts (especially Flemish painting), and everyone wanted to produce it and then sell it again. The tulip comes from an onion. And in each onion, there are bulbs that can contain a tulip. But the flowering rate is very low. And in addition, it takes 7 to 12 years to produce a tulip. This has therefore led to the emergence of the first option and futures contracts. Market operators bet on the value of the next flowering in each tulip onion. And this title deed has been transmitted several times from hand to hand, exchanged at the rate of successive purchases and sales. The futures market was born. But while for a long time the prices of bulbs were only showing, one day nobody wanted to buy a bulb anymore and panicked, all the Dutch stock exchanges saw the price of the tulip fall sharply and even disappear. It is to this day, one if not the largest speculation bubble that history is known. However, if we look at the tulipomania curve we can see that the bubble around the tulip in the Netherlands has multiplied by more than 50 times its initial price. Recently a graph has emerged with an overlay of the different speculation bubbles we have known. And we can observe (for the moment at least) a surprising superposition of the exact bitcoin curve to that of Tulipomania. That is why, in my opinion, the bitcoin will follow the same direction as the tulip. It is only a matter of time before the effect around the Bitcoin runs out of steam and rinses out all the bearers of this pseudo currency.


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To prevent Intel from grabbing an order, TSMC will push ahead with the 1.4 nm process next month.
May 10 news, TSMC advanced manufacturing process will be further promoted.
TSMC's supply chain revealed that in order to gain hegemony and prevent Intel from taking orders, TSMC decided to transfer its 3nm R & D team to 1.4nm development, and is scheduled to formally fire its gun next month to enter the first stage (TV0) development of confirming technical specifications.
At the previous earnings meeting, Wei Zhijia, co-president of TSMC, said that the company's 2nm process is under research and development. According to the initial plan, trial production will be carried out by the end of 2024, and mass production will be put into production in 2025 at the earliest.
But Intel said earlier that it would complete the chip design of the Intel 18A (about 1.8nm) in the second half of this year and advance the original production date from 2025 to 2024.


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Amazon has put the finishing touches on and set the launch date for its hotly anticipated car show built around the former “Top Gear” co-hosts.
The Amazon Original series “The Grand Tour,” with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, will be released starting Nov. 18. New episodes will come out weekly on Amazon Prime Video, every Friday, exclusively for Prime members.
The BBC, where “Top Gear” became a huge international hit with Clarkson, Hammond and May, cleaned house after Clarkson reportedly punched a producer in early 2015. Clarkson was fired from the show, and Hammond and May soon exited in a show of support.
“Top Gear” has since retooled, getting off to a less than stellar start with a batch of new hosts that includes “Friends” alum Matt LeBlanc.
“Jeremy, Richard and James have committed to three series of ‘The Grand Tour’ as part of a landmark global TV deal and for the last year, the team have been traveling the world filming this first series in exciting locations across the globe,” Amazon said in an announcement Thursday. “Their ‘Grand Tour’ also includes studio audience recordings filmed in front of a live audience in their giant traveling tent. The team has already brought the tent to Johannesburg and will be heading to California later this month.”
Said Jay Marine, Vice President of Amazon Prime Video EU: “Customers have been desperate to find out when they can watch their favorite team back on screen, so we are very excited to announce the launch date of one of the most globally anticipated shows of 2016. The guys have been having a blast filming the show around the world and we can’t wait for fans to see it weekly beginning November 18, only on Amazon Prime Video.”
Here’s a teaser …


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Online work marketplace oDesk has signalled that it will merge with its rival Elance, using the combined power of both companies to better invest in products and services.
oDesk CEO Gary Swart made the announcement on the company website, stating that the decision was made because the two businesses think they can do a better job combined.
"We are both inspired by a similar vision: To deliver online work experiences that create freedom and boundless opportunity for clients and freelancers everywhere."
Swart said that the two companies would invest in more technology, including tools for hiring, online collaboration, mobile support, and freelance skills development. It already has such tools that periodically, but randomly, taking screenshots of freelancers' work when they are "on the clock" to reassure customers that their paid-for time is being spent working.
The two companies will also combine their data, allowing the single merged company to mine through much more information to provide better matches between jobs and freelancers.
The merger has not yet been completed, scheduled instead for the first quarter of next year. Current oDesk and Elance customers will be unaffected, as the two will remain as separate businesses. No changes in fees or membership structures have been planned.
oDesk executive chairman Thomas Layton will stay in his role in the combined company, while Elance CEO Fabio Rosati will serve as the new CEO.
This also means that existing oDesk CEO Swart will step down from his position, although he will remain onboard as a strategic advisor.
"We have been spirited business rivals over the years, but I have always respected Fabio. I could not possibly imagine a more dedicated and capable CEO to oversee the merged company," Swart said of Rosati.
No new name for the combined company has been decided on yet.
The largest rival to the duo of companies is Freelancer.com. The Aussie-born company has been busy acquiring its rivals, , Freemarket, and LimeExchange.
After being rumoured to reject afrom Japanese competitor Recruit Co, it listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, more than .


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The US inflation report for December, released on Thursday morning, offers another evidence of a gradual decline in the recent survey inflationary trend that has persisted for more than four years.
The report presents a mixed picture. While some experts believe that it will confirm a continued cooling trend in inflation, others think it could indicate that inflationary pressure remains strong enough to warrant more forceful measures by Federal Reserves. However, most economists expect the report to portray a continued decline in inflation, although it remains above comfortable levels.
As per the survey by FactSet, economists predict that consumer prices increased by 6.5% in December compared to the previous year, which is a decrease from 7.1% in November and well below the 40-year high of 9.1% in June.
On a month-to-month basis, economists predict that prices were flat in December. Another closely watched gauge of core prices, which excludes volatile energy and food costs, is expected to have risen just 0.3% from November to December and 5.7% from a year earlier.
The Federal Reserve closely tracks core prices as it sees them as a more accurate indicator of future inflation in setting its interest rate policies.


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TOKYO – Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced that Toshiba Dalian Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “TDL”), a manufacturing subsidiary based in Dalian, China, ended production at the end of September, and will carry out the procedures necessary for its dissolution and liquidation.
TDL was established as Toshiba Group's first manufacturing site in China in 1991, and over the course of operations its diverse output has included industrial motors, parts for TVs and medical equipment. The company has most recently manufactured industrial motors and broadcasting transmitters.
Changes in Toshiba Group’s business structure over the years, including the sale of the medical equipment business, has reduced the product lineup at TDL, and this, along with consideration for the age of the factory, led to the decision to discontinue production. Toshiba will now initiate the legal procedures required to windup and liquidate the company. Production of industrial motors and broadcasting transmitters will be transferred to other locations, and Toshiba Group will continue to supply and support customers.
The closure of TDL is in line with reorganization of production locations under the “Toshiba Next Plan” that was announced in November 2018. Toshiba Group is currently engaged in developing a wide range of businesses in China, and will continue to seek to expand its business and market presence in that important market.
Outline of TDL
Company: Toshiba Dalian Co., Ltd.
Established: September 1991
Capital: 8.4-billion yen (Toshiba Corporation 94%, Toshiba (China) Co., Ltd. 6%)
Address: No.6 Kurama-gai, Dalian Development Area, Dalian City, Liaoning Province,
the People’s Republic of China
Chairman: Yoshiaki Inayama
President: Masaaki Hino
Site area: Approximately 130,000m2
Business: Production and sales of industrial motors, broadcasting transmitters, etc.


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So many deals, I couldn't pick just one. For starters, a whopping 100-song jukebox collection for $2.59.
Along with its new Sling TV Internet TV service, Dish rolled out some other new products and services.
Looks like Monday is the new Black (Friday).
Google has released a YouTube app specifically built to be safe for kids to browse and watch all on their own.
Remote Mouse lets you use your iPhone, Android or Windows Phone as a touchpad to control your onscreen cursor in a pinch.
The online video service cooks up a new app -- on Android only, for starters -- after parents ask for a better viewing experience for youngsters.
Stereo audio systems are super-easy to setup, and can sound better than a sound bar.
If you're new to the whole smart home thing, this is a good place to start.
Love to buy in bulk? Boxed brings big-box club shopping to your phone or tablet. But are the savings really there?
So you bought a new 4K TV and you're wondering what's on. The answer right now is: not much. But the list is growing. Here's a look at what you can watch now in 4K, and what's coming down the pike in the near future.


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- Candy reportedly fired more than 30 of its 100-person staff.
- The firm secured $100 million at a $1.5 billion value in October 2021.
Sportico was the first to break the story. That Candy had fired more than 30 of its 100-person staff, citing unnamed individuals close to the firm. Community Content Manager Matthew Muntner confirmed through Twitter that he is on that list.
Sluggish NFT Market
Candy Digital was created in June 2021 by Mike Novogratz (founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital), Gary Vaynerchuk (entrepreneur and investor), and Michael Rubin (executive chairman of sports merchandising business Fanatics). Fanatics was portrayed as the company’s biggest shareholder. And it was said that the company would use its current clientele to market Candy.
In October 2021, Candy Digital reported its Series A round. Sponsored by Insight Partners and Softbank’s Vision Fund 2, had secured $100 million at a $1.5 billion value. Fanatics is independently operated and the sports goods company is not engaged in Candy’s day-to-day operations.
Beginning with the formal license from Major League Baseball, Candy has marketed several MLB-themed collections. The company has now expanded into other sports licensing, including deals with WWE, all of NASCAR’s teams (though not the league itself), and a variety of collegiate players.
Moreover, the firm has also branched out into digital collectibles related to the entertainment industry, such as the many “Stranger Things” NFTs that have resulted from the company’s collaboration with Netflix.
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COLUMBUS, Indiana. For two days, attendees at the ACT Research Seminar 60 in Columbus, Indiana, heard mixed signals on the economy and specifically the freight environment. No one wanted to say the word recession, but it came up in nearly every presentation. Are we heading towards one or not?
There was no clear indication from the presenters, just many data points that could be interpreted in several ways, but perhaps there is enough noise around the current conditions that it’s possible America talks itself into a recession. Is the economy as good as it was last year? Not at this point. Is the freight environment as good as it was last year? Not at this point.
But is it that bad? Not at all.
What all the fleet professionals who spoke during the event said was that the freight environment is slowing down, but it still remains good, and slow isn’t necessarily bad. ACT’s experts are predicting Class 8 retail truck sales above 250,000 this year and orders of about 335,000 – very good numbers.
“The freight markets have been good and that’s what’s pushed truck sales,” said Craig Kendall, specialty markets manager for the Pete Store, a Peterbilt dealership with 16 locations stretching the East Coast. “The economy is good and you don’t have truck sales without freight.”
Kendall was joined on a panel discussion March 27, 2019, by Gary Petty, president & CEO of the National Private Truck Council, Jeff Bronson, senior director of transportation for flatbed and logistics company Atlas Trucking Company, and Thom Albrecht, executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief strategy officer for Celadon Group (OTC US: CGIP).
“Freight to start 2019 has been a bit sluggish,” Albrecht said. “I think over the next year-and-a-half there will be a disconnect with how carriers describe [the environment]. I think there has been more growth in supply than carriers want to admit.”
Albrecht said he had spoken with a large brokerage who acknowledged it had seen an 11 percent increase in capacity last year, but freight demand is now returning to “more normal levels.”
“Combined with an [increase] in supply and freight feels a little sloppy at this point,” he said.
Petty concurred that capacity has grown, saying that NPTC member companies increased capacity in 2018, in part to gain more control over rising purchased transportation costs. Private fleets typically handle about 70 percent of their parent’s freight on average with the remainder outsourced. Petty said one fleet he spoke with, which handles deliveries for a large big box retailer, said that in 2017, outsourcing costs rose 25 percent; in 2018, those costs rose 60 percent.
“The price of the driver is ratcheting up so fast that companies can’t compete,” he said, noting that one “unnamed” company recently upped starting driver pay to $85,000 with three weeks of vacation time to attract drivers.
“There’s growth and private fleets are trying to get control of that piece to [manage their freight],” Petty said.
“The freight side is pretty good,” Kendall added. “The carriers have added capacity and they’ve gotten paid for it, but now the capacity has caught up with demand, and usually when that happens, we see [rates] start to come down.”
According to DAT, the national average for dry van spot rates has dropped from $2.08 per mile in December 2018 to $1.87 per mile in March.
Albrecht noted that freight is not bad, just not as good as it was last year, and rates are being affected by increased competition. For instance, he said Celadon recently bid on 12 refrigerated lanes, placing those bids at the “targeted price” by the shipper, which represented about a 2 percent decrease, and Celadon lost 11 of those 12 bids.
“The market has gotten more competitive than a lot of folks are willing to say,” he said.
Bronson said he is seeing a similar situation in his business, which is largely an expedited flatbed business hauling a lot of steel and aluminum. After seeing a record year in 2018, he said Atlas still expects a 5 percent to 7 percent increase this year, but that it hasn’t materialized the way he hoped so far.
“Talking to customers, we were told to be ready in March for max capacity, and based on the numbers I’ve seen, that hasn’t happened,” he said. “It’s been good, but not as good as expected.”
“The truckload freight environment has been weaker this year from late January through mid-March,” Parker said. “We attribute the softer demand to factors such as late 2018 inventory growth in advance of the perceived impact of tariffs, the effects of the partial government shutdown on spending and extended periods of inclement weather that impacted the timing of shipping seasonal goods, as well as our ability to safely dispatch our equipment.”
Despite reporting a 34.9 percent climb in consolidated freight revenue for the first two months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018 and a 5.5 percent compared with the prior year period after excluding the effects of the company’s Landair acquisition, Parker said Covenant would miss analyst expectations for the first quarter of 36 cents per share.
The company expects to post adjusted net income in the range of $3.4 million to $4.9 million, or 18 cents to 26 cents per diluted share for the first quarter of 2019, compared to adjusted net income of $4.4 million, or 24 cents per diluted share for the first quarter of 2018.
Albrecht said Covenant may not be alone.
“We saw Covenant Transportation pre-announce on conditions and I don’t think they will be the only one,” he said.
Following the panel, Albrecht did tell FreightWaves that he has seen some pickup in the last 10 days, though, which bodes well for those who believe we are only in a temporary lull.


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Capgemini accelerates its transition towards 100 percent e-mobility by 2030
Capgemini has announced that it will now only order hybrid and electric cars and vans for its 12,000-vehicle company fleet, stopping with immediate effect the order of new pure diesel or petrol vehicles as it transitions to a fully electric fleet by 2030. The initiative supports its ambition to achieve carbon neutrality for its operations no later than 2025 and to be net-zero by 2030.
Capgemini has also joined the EV100 global initiative, which brings together companies making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs), to reinforce its commitment to accelerating its global EV transition to a 100 percent electric fleet. With company car emissions making up 10 percent of Capgemini's business travel emissions pre-COVID19 this transition is expected to have a significant impact. The commitment to EVs is part of a broader sustainable travel transformation that includes the introduction of a new travel policy to reduce business travel whenever possible, help employees make lower carbon choices, and focus on sustainable commuting.
The Group has agreed on new contracts with selected leasing companies and car manufacturers that offer EVs and hybrid vehicles. This policy to stop all orders of pure Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) diesel and petrol vehicles has already begun to yield sustainable outcomes. Around 13 percent of the most polluting cars in Capgemini's fleet will disappear this year and a further 24 percent in 2022. By the end of 2022, over 50 percent of the Group's fleet will be hybrid or electric, and 100 percent by the of end 2025.
Vincent Moreau, Global Head of Real Estate at Capgemini comments: "As global experts are more concerned than ever about the impact of carbon emissions on climate change and its consequences, we as a global leader are committed to making bold moves to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable travel model. This initiative is a critical step in our transition to an EV fleet. We are looking forward to joining with other organizations through the EV100, to share best practices and achieve the scale and speed needed to realize our net-zero ambition by 2030."
Alongside the fleet transition, Capgemini is also significantly increasing its investment in electric charging points and is committed to switching to 100 percent renewable electricity for its operations by 2025 as part of its RE100 commitment.
Capgemini's membership of EV100 will add further substance to the Group's transition to net zero through access to mutual learning and dialog, along with public commitments to EVs. Members of EV100 work together to drive the wider sustainable transformation agenda and inspire government policy change towards the adoption of electric vehicles.


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STATESVILLE, N.C. – Front Row Motorsports has announced that Speedco, a national network of service locations for the trucking industry, will sponsor David Ragan’s No. 38 Ford during the 60th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.
The partnership gives Speedco’s parent company, Love’s Travel Stops, two opportunities to get into victory lane at Daytona Int’l Speedway during Speedweeks, as Love’s is the principal partner of Ragan’s teammate Michael McDowell and will sponsor McDowell’s No. 34 Ford in the Daytona 500.
Speedco joined the Love’s family of companies in November. Its 52 locations across the country provide oil changes, preventative maintenance, inspection services and tire offerings for commercial truck drivers.
The acquisition combined two top brands to give the trucking community more service and product options at more locations.
Ragan is a two-time superspeedway winner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and nearly took the No. 38 to Victory Lane in July, the last time the series raced at Daytona. He was in the lead when the race went into an overtime restart, ultimately crossing the line sixth.
“Love’s Travel Stops has been a great partner of Front Row Motorsports for years now, and it’s cool to have a new member of the Love’s family as a primary partner on one of our cars, especially for the Daytona 500, where we know we’re going to have fast cars,” said Ragan. “Michael and I are looking forward to working together on track, and you know we’ll push hard to get a 1-2 finish for Speedco and Love’s.”
CREDIT: Front Row Motorsports


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Nike comes up with new apparel and footwear collections for its athletes at every Grand Slam. At the US Open 2020, they plan on going down memory lane. The idea is to bring out one of the most famous and iconic collections from 30 years ago. Nike’s athletes will sport the Challenge Court design that Andre Agassi and Nike introduced to the world at the 1990 US Open.
The former world number one was considered to be the face of a new generation in tennis back then. He stunned the world with this bold look in 1990. Agassi debuted the Hot Lava Air Tech Challenge II shoes earlier in 1990. He then went a step further and brought out a flashy costume look, with bold colors and materials in the clothes he wore during his home Grand Slam. His famed mane of long hair was the cherry on top of this ensemble.
Nike’s tribute to Andre Agassi at US Open 2020
Nike’s new collection will also have the denim, spandex, and the very noticeable neon apparel that Agassi sported during his run to the final. It will also have accessories and fresh colors along with the apparel.
The 2020 US Open will miss some big players from Nike’s current roster of tennis stars. However, the sports equipment giant will still give their all to make it a memorable event. As per the company, the Challenge Court collection “combines unmistakable flair with a contemporary material palette.”
An iconic look that challenged opinions
The man who brought the new look to the world, Agassi himself, said that the main idea behind the Challenge Court collection was to push boundaries. “It just started with me being opinionated and Nike having a sense of being willing to push boundaries,” Agassi said as per Forbes. “It was uncovering what I wanted to communicate. A lot of it had to do with the rebellious phase I was in, anything that broke the establishment idea was a big motivator at the time.”
The NikeCourt Design Director, Abby Swancutt said, “Bringing back a historical collection from 30 years ago was inspiring, challenging, and really fun. We know the pieces from 30 years ago still resonate today.”
Nike also said that the 2020 collection will debut in New York City from August 22. This coincides with the start of the Cincinnati Open set to happen before the US Open.


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Amwins Group, Inc. (“Amwins”), today announced the rebranding of THB, its international broking arm based in London, to Amwins Global Risks.
Since joining Amwins in 2012, THB has doubled its annual premium placed to more than $2 billion and is now one of the largest independent wholesale specialty brokers in the London market, serving retail brokers and markets in North America, Europe and internationally.
“THB has contributed to Amwins’ success in expanding our capabilities and global market access,” said Scott M. Purviance, Chief Executive Officer of Amwins. “The work we have done together over the past decade has made the two businesses stronger. Rebranding to Amwins Global Risks further unifies the company, endorses our wholesale model and reflects our unique culture and ambitions for future growth.”
The move is part of a broader update to the Amwins brand identity, including a new logo and campaign that further reflect the company’s “one firm” approach to supporting clients and markets.
“In every part of Amwins’ business there is a history of coming together to achieve more than we could separately,” said Matthew Crane, Chief Executive Officer of the newly-named Amwins Global Risks. “Uniting behind one brand better reflects our capabilities and ambitions as we continue to expand internationally. Becoming Amwins Global Risks is a natural progression which highlights the growth of our company, our culture of collaboration and our ability to build expertise across borders and global markets.”
Amwins Global Risks’ network of partner firms across Latin America and Asia will retain the THB branding.
To learn more about Amwins Global Risks visit amwins.com/globalrisks.
Amwins Group, Inc. is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the United States, dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefit products and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 115 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $22 billion annually.


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As the patron of The Campaign for Wool, Prince Charles knows his fair share about the industry and managed to talk the talk on a trip to Australia this week to meet key figures.
Farmers, fashion experts and even sheep gathered to meet the royal at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art, where he talked about the country's wool industry.
He met up with five designers including Josh Goot, Dion Lee, Kym Ellery, Camilla Freeman-Topper and Akira Isogawa, AAP reports, and examined their latest woollen creations at the event hosted by Australian Wool Innovation.
Mr Lee won the Australian leg of the prestigious International Woolmark Prize competition in London with his edgy tailored grey dress with sexy black criss-cross rubber film down the back.
The 27-year-old also claimed that the prince said he liked the design.
"It was a great opportunity to show my brand and the collection to Charles - it's obviously an opportunity that doesn't come around every day. It was great to hear his feedback," Mr Lee commented.
He also added: "It was a highlight to be in a room with such esteemed members of the Australian fashion industry as well - it was a great moment."
After perusing the collections, Prince Charles discussed his love of knitwear, which included the navy suit he was wearing, which was made from Australian merino wool from Tasmania and designed by tailors Anderson and Sheppard in the UK.
He was very well received at the fashion event, with Stuart McCullough, chief executive of Australian Wool Innovation, claiming that the meeting was a very special opportunity.
"With the support and endorsement of its patron, the global Campaign for Wool continues to connect to consumers around the world, highlighting the benefits of wool in apparel and interiors," he added.
Prince Charles is currently on a tour of Australia with the Duchess of Cornwall and has been learning lots about its wool industry, including visits to wool farms and mills.


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Global conference takes the virtual stage for second consecutive year, empowering industry leaders to design and make a better world for all
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4, 2021 – Autodesk University – This week, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) will virtually welcome innovators from around the world to the company’s annual design and make conference, Autodesk University (AU) 2021. The global learning experience is specifically designed for experts within the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, and media and entertainment – all leveraging Autodesk technologies to explore the new possible and advance their respective industries. The conference kicks off October 5 – 7, with additional regional learning and networking sessions scheduled October 8 – 14.
As the world continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Autodesk will host its global event on a digital platform for a second consecutive year, helping to ensure the continued health, safety and wellbeing of Autodesk’s customers and extended community. AU 2021 programming has been reformatted for the virtual stage and will be available online for attendees at no cost.
Autodesk President and CEO Andrew Anagnost will kick off each morning of AU 2021 with a series of General Session keynotes. This daily content will explore Autodesk’s evolving role in empowering innovators across industries to solve problems, with a particular focus on the company’s vision and progress towards delivering platform-based solutions for its customers, built upon Autodesk’s existing Forge technology. The result will be a resilient and flexible set of cloud-based solutions that combine technologies, connect processes, automate workflows and unlock valuable insights for customers.
“Autodesk is constantly reshaping the ways we deliver value to our customers–to ensure we’re providing the tools needed to both meet the intensifying industry demands of today and propel those industries towards a more sustainable world that benefits everyone,” said Andrew Anagnost, president and CEO of Autodesk. “In building unified and industry-focused solutions on our Forge platform, we’re making an important investment in the resiliency of our customers. This year’s AU is an exploration and celebration of what’s possible as our software solutions become more flexible and fluent so that our customers are able to think creatively, collaborate efficiently and focus on their projects–not their products.”
In addition to AU 2021’s daily General Sessions, Autodesk leaders and industry innovators will take the virtual stage during the Design & Manufacturing (D&M), Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) and Media & Entertainment (M&E) keynotes. These keynotes will cover industry news and the innovative ways Autodesk is working with real-world problem solvers to transform how things are built, engineered, manufactured, created and produced in service of a better world for all. AU 2021 attendees will also have access to hundreds of expert-led classes, live Q&A sessions, virtual networking opportunities and more.
This year’s AU event also marks the official debut of the company’s “Autodesk it” advertising campaign, highlighting the multitude of ways that innovators can partner with Autodesk to achieve better outcomes for their projects, companies and the world at large. This campaign is a progression of Autodesk’s brand evolution, following the launch of the company’s new logo and visual identity in September 2021. The brand campaign will launch in select markets in 2021, with plans to expand further in 2022 and beyond.
AU 2021 content will be available for on-demand viewing after the conference. Autodesk will also continue to provide full access to the AU Solution Marketplace, where attendees can discover new, innovative technologies and helpful workflows, and meet with industry experts from the global ecosystem of Autodesk partners and developers.
For the seventh consecutive year, AU will be a carbon neutral event in 2021–its virtual, low impact format reinforces Autodesk’s longstanding commitment to sustainable operations. Earlier this year, the company reached net-zero carbon emissions across its business and value chain and set two new greenhouse gas emission reduction targets that align with the latest climate science.
Additional information about AU 2021 announcements, initiatives and developments can be found on the Autodesk blog, ADSK News, beginning October 5.
Autodesk University Reaches Customers Worldwide
Autodesk University (AU) is a series of conferences and an online learning destination focused on inspiring, challenging and energizing Autodesk software users, partners, and industry leaders about the future of design, engineering and construction. Autodesk University 2021 is the company’s second global digital conference experience that virtually brings together more than 75k innovators from over 175 countries to explore new ways of imagining, designing and making. AU also offers free year-round access to learning content, professional development, and inspirational industry talks from the AU conference events. More information is available at the Autodesk University website, or by following @AutodeskU #AU2021.
Autodesk is changing how the world is designed and made. Our technology spans architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media and entertainment, empowering innovators everywhere to solve challenges big and small. From greener buildings to smarter products to more mesmerizing blockbusters, Autodesk software helps our customers to design and make a better world for all. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.
Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.
© 2021 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.


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dealnews Black Friday Predictions 2012: Gaming and Toys
Compared to other product categories, game console deals on Black Friday are a bit ho-hum. Last year, most of the deals we listed on these items featured statements like, "That's the lowest price we've seen... since last fall." Black Friday deals offered good price cuts, but nothing we hadn't seen before. This is probably because both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are now several years old, and without a newer generation to out-date them, they can only go so low.What prices, then, should a consumer keep in mind? We saw the Xbox 360 Slim 4GB Console fall to $140 shipped last year around Black Friday, and considering it hasn't dropped that low since, we'd wager that's about as good a promotion you'll see this year, too. We did however list a deal in December that offered the console for $200 with a $75 Microsoft Store credit (which could easily be used for games), thus making it essentially $125; though risky, you could try skipping Black Friday all together and holding out for a similar deal this year as well. As for Sony's console, we didn't list any noteworthy PlayStation 3 console-only deals last year, but the lowest price we've seen for the 160GB Slim model is $200 even, so that remains the price to look for.
Real console deals spring up in special bundled packages. Not a single straight console saw an Editors' Choice-worthy price last year, but there were 14 holiday bundles that were marked with the honor. These bundles, which included premium accessories and two or three game titles, were often marked 30% to 40% off their retail prices.
What About the Nintendo Wii and Wii U?
While logical thinking might suggest that the original Wii will now see record-breaking low prices with the debut of the Wii U, we actually haven't seen any stellar offers on new units. Instead, the Editors' Choice deals have been for used and refurbished models. It's possible that this long-awaited update allowed retailers to efficiently clear their stock of the older model.
The Wii U, meanwhile, has proven very popular in preorders; it officially ships on November 18. While the original Wii saw no deals at Black Friday in 2006, it's now more common for big retailers to list an attention-grabbing offer on popular items as a means of publicity to draw in customers. For example, in September, Walmart offered a slight discount on the iPhone 5 — a product that in no way needed the added incentive. It's possible that some stores could float a similar promotion with the Wii U.
Video Game Titles Will See Better Price Cuts
A console is only as good as its available games, and luckily, the news is much better in this department. Video game titles that were released early in the year, or late in 2011, could see discounts of up to 75% off their original retail price; for example, DiRT 3 debuted in May of last year at $60, but come Black Friday it fell to $15.
But even recently-released, hot titles will see good deals. Last year, one of the biggest game releases was Batman: Arkham City, and it hit shelves in October of 2011 priced at $60. Just over a month later, we saw a deal from Amazon that knocked it to $30. That's a 50% cut on a very popular game. This trend repeated itself for Battlefield 3. It was released in October at $60, and then it fell to $28 on Black Friday. Keep in mind though that several of these video games might see even better prices during the shopping sweet spot in the two weeks before Christmas.
A Gamer's Black Friday Game Plan
Regardless of whether you're looking for a game, a console, or an accessory, one thing's for sure: gamers should shop early. Last year, we listed 67 video game deals (which included consoles and game titles), on Thanksgiving Day, compared to just 26 on Black Friday itself. Saturday, Sunday, and Cyber Monday each had 25 or fewer deals. PC gamers might want to log on even earlier; for the past two years, Steam has offered its big promotional sale starting the day before Thanksgiving. In both cases, the site has taken up to 90% off notable titles like Portal 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops. Regardless of what the platform is, it's important to start looking for deals before Black Friday.
Summary: Black Friday Predictions for Gaming
- Microsoft Xbox 360 4GB Slim Console for $140
- Holiday game console bundles for 30% to 40% off retail price
- Early-year game releases for 75% off retail price, or about $15
- Recently-released, popular game titles for 50% off retail, or about $30
Toy Deals Galore on Black Friday
According to our data from last year, 56% of all toy deals we posted during Black Friday week were good enough to earn the Editor's Choice label, compared to an average week during the rest of the year in which only 25% of toy deals were Editors' Choice-worthy. But what does that mean, in terms of discounted retail prices?
Consider, if you will, the Air Swimmer. Named one of Toys "R" Us' Fabulous 15 for 2011, we originally saw the Air Swimmer for $57 in September of last year. Come Black Friday though, we listed it for $31, a 46% drop in price. While this doesn't hold true for all toys, it's not unrealistic to predict that many popular toys in late September and early October could eventually be marked down up to 50% off during the last week of November.
This perhaps paints a picture that Black Friday is the best time to buy toys. Unfortunately, that's not entirely accurate. In fact, toy deals continue to get better and more abundant as we head into the holiday season. One example is the VTech Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike that was on sale for $30 with free shipping around Black Friday last year. This was an excellent deal, but two weeks later we found it for $5 less. The aforementioned Air Swimmer also became cheaper in December, dropping an additional $6.
This year, we expect to see a similar level of Editors' Choice deals during the week of Black Friday, however many of them could drop in price as we head towards the holidays themselves. Will every deal reappear at a lower price? Probably not. But if you're thinking of purchasing a specific toy, you might want to wait to see if it's cheaper a few weeks after Black Friday. However, if it's a must-have-or-I'll-tantrum toy, you might want to think about snapping it up at the first deal price you find in order to avoid a scene during the holiday festivities.
Summary: Black Friday Predictions for Toys
- Up to 50% off popular toys
- The toy deals will be good, but they'll get better
Click here to read our Blu-ray and media player predictions, or return to the main page.
Photo credits top to bottom:
Savings with Shellie and Momaroo
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PC sales slumped by over 11 million units during the first quarter of 2011, thanks in part to increased interest in tablets such as the iPad, according to figures from IHS iSuppli. The analyst firm...
IBM accuses Google of over-hyping its quantum computing claims
Micrososft's Secured-Core PCs intended to put a stop to UEFI rootkit shenanigans
Lackadaisical security around apps for Amazon and Google personal assistants could enable malicious attackers to v-phish for passwords or eavesdrop on households
Exclusive purchasing obligations forced on manufacturers by Broadcom deemed anti-competitive
New AMD Epyc-based supercomputer expected to become operational from 6th May 2020


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Backward linkage factories of Bangladesh are facing hard challenges and losing business as yarn and fabric are imported to Bangladesh at a lower price from China, Pakistan and India. China is providing straight cash returns to exporters of about 16 to 21% on its export of material to Bangladesh.
In March 2019, the rate of cotton fiber reduced owing to lower cotton rates in the international marketplace, along with a sufficient supply of yarn and fabric from China, Pakistan, and India.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that the imported yarn and fabric with zero tariffs are then illegally sold to the local market which forces down prices in the domestic market and makes local weaving mills and spinners more competitive.
Local readymade garments (RMG) manufacturers are importing yarn and fabric from India, Pakistan, and China using a bonded warehouse (zero tariffs on the import of raw materials for an export value-added product) advantage.
USDA also said that the local textile millers of Bangladesh are facing tough competition due to ample imports of low-cost yarn and fabrics. Some of them are about to leave the marketplace and are facing a challenge selling with a huge stockpile of unsold fabric.
Textile millers of Bangladesh have urged the government to take necessary action in order to protect the textile industry.
Presently it has 431 spinning mills, 23 home textile mills, 804 weaving mills, 32 denim fabric mills, 2445 dyeing and finishing mills, and a complete of 6,502 registered and 526 un-registered garment industrial units.
More foreign consumers of value-added apparel are buying from Bangladesh due to low labor cost, competitive rates, and an appreciated US dollar versus the Bangladesh Taka. So, some high-end millers have increased manufacture capacity to satisfy higher national and international demand says USDA report.
Nearly 80 percent of garments made in Bangladesh are sourced from cotton; the rest is made from viscose, polyester and other materials.
Local spinners supply 90 percent of raw materials for knitwear and 40 percent for the woven garments sector.


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A Tote Maritime Alaska ship carrying groceries and other goods was delayed last week before it set sail for Anchorage because of a mechanical issue, causing Alaska grocery stores to run low on some foods.
The North Star, one of Tote's two cargo ships that regularly run between Tacoma and Anchorage, was supposed to depart from Tacoma on Jan. 14 and arrive on Jan. 17, but a problem was discovered shortly before departure.
Grace Greene, vice president and general manager at Tote Maritime Alaska, couldn't say specifically what the mechanical issue was. The ship is being repaired, Greene said, and the plan is to have it fixed by early next week.
Groceries that were supposed to arrive on Sunday were already shipped up to Anchorage on Tote's other ship, the Midnight Sun, and the other goods are expected to arrive soon.
"There's not going to be a grocery shortage," Greene said. "Anytime we have a disruption in our service, we work to make sure the priority freight is handled right away."
The North Star will not depart for a voyage originally scheduled for Jan. 20, according to Tote's website. Its next scheduled departure will be Jan. 27. If repairs are finished before then, "we will sail northbound at the earliest possible time to limit customer impact," the company said.
Much of Alaska relies on goods delivered to the state via ship or barge. Greene said that about 90 percent of the freight that comes into Alaska comes through Anchorage.
As a result of the North Star's delay, many of the refrigerator and freezer shelves at Natural Pantry grocery store in Midtown Anchorage sat empty for a couple of days, said manager Jared Solberg.
"It did affect us," Solberg said. "Our chill and freeze items, we just got in today (Tuesday). We normally get them on Sunday night."
He also said the store is still missing many dry grocery items, like boxed and canned food.
Joe Clark, a manager at New Central Market in Anchorage, said it's been a week since his store has seen any green onions -- longer than usual.
In Fairbanks, the Co-op Market was also running low on dairy and was out of fruit, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.
"I think it's important to note that the disruptions are very infrequent," said Greene, "and they're working as hard as they can."
Alaska Dispatch Publishing


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Indian millennials are one of the most credit-conscious consumer segments with the growth of self-monitoring millennials witnessing a massive increase by 58% between 2016 and 2018. On the other hand, credit-conscious non–millennial also saw a surge by 14% during the same period, a recent study by TransUnion CIBIL said. While millennials, the people born between the early 1980s to the late 1990s, have high appetite for credit, they are also proactive in monitoring their credit scores regularly and have an average CIBIL Score of 740. Over half of these self-monitoring millennials population is concentrated in regions such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi collectively, the study said.
Further, Gujarat’s millennial population is the most credit-conscious with an average score of 747. Following this is Haryana, where the average credit score stands at 743, and Rajasthan at 742. On the other hand, Delhi’s average credit score stood at the lowest at 734 and Tamil Nadu’s at 736.
This is what millennials take credit for
Indian millennials have a marked preference for unsecured loans and credit cards, personal loans and consumer durable loans contributed to 72% of all loans availed by this consumer segment, according to TransUnion CIBIL. Among this, credit cards topped the millennial chart for loans as of June 2019 and least credit was taken for agriculture and education.
Further, those who took secured loans, chose two wheeler and auto loans. This jointly contributed to 9% of the total credit pie.
“Many lenders have started reaching out to this demographic with relevant product offerings. Since many millennials are at the beginning of their credit journey, reaching out to them at the right time will help lenders engage with them throughout their credit lifecycle,” Sujata Ahlawat, vice-president and head-direct to consumer interactive, TransUnion CIBIL, said. The millennials also make efforts towards improving their credit scores. According to CIBIL findings, within six months of checking their score, 51% of millennials with a score below 700 improved their score by an average of 65 points.


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The 2018 U.S. Open kicks off in NYC on Monday, August 27, but Serena Williams already gave fans a sneak peek at her fab fashion for this year’s tournament at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day event on Saturday, August 25. The 23-time Grand Slam champion rocked a black tutu and pink tee as she jumped rope and hung out with youngsters, and the ballet-inspired design is part of the Queen collection by Off-White’s Virgil Abloh and Nike that Williams will be wearing on the court.
Earlier this month, Nike, Williams and Abloh (who just so happens to the busiest man in fashion between his role as Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton, founder of Off-White, Kanye West’s longtime collaborator and world-class DJ) announced they had joined forces on a line of apparel for this year’s U.S. Open that offers a high-fashion take on the sport’s classic styles.
Williams has been known for some unique ensembles over the years (think: catsuits, denim, crop tops, etc.), but she admitted Abloh’s designs are unlike anything she’s ever worn. “I was thinking that this is so different for tennis,” Williams told Vogue of the collab. “I have never worn a tutu. Every girl loves a tutu, or at least I do! It’s always been my dream to wear a tutu, and I can’t wait to wear it on court.”
Abloh, meanwhile, was inspired by the strength and gracefulness of both Williams and tennis. The collection consists of the buzzed-about one shoulder dresses with tulle skirts, in addition to a sleek leather-like bomber jacket, racquet bag and sneakers that all feature Abloh’s signature quotation graphics reading “LOGO” and “SERENA.”
If your in the market for your very own tennis tutu to rock on or off the court, the pieces in the Queen capsule will retail between $130 and $900 and be available at select Nike stores in the coming weeks. All hail!


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Native Apps Make iPads Truly Useful for Physicians
There’s lots of interest among healthcare providers about tablet computers, such as the Apple iPad, for clinical work, and many hospitals seem to be racing down the mobility track. But CIO Magazine threw up a yellow flag this week in an article that reported on the experience of some clinicians who tested iPads at Seattle Children’s Hospital. According to the article, the early returns from these clinicians literally were “returns”; they gave their iPads back, because the applications were unwieldy to use. A major reason for this dissatisfaction was that physicians were not accessing the EMR using native iPad apps; they were accessing a desktop EMR that was not designed for touch screens and smaller form factors.
The response of these clinicians should not come as a surprise to anybody who designs software, works with physicians, or has ever used a mobile device. There’s undoubtedly a bright future for mobile healthcare apps – at PatientKeeper, we’ve seen a strong surge in physician adoption of our mobile clinical results and mobile charge capture products since they became available as native apps on the iPhone, iPad and Android devices, and there’s growing demand for mobile CPOE – but the key is the application architecture. To work efficiently and provide maximum functionality on handheld devices, they must be native apps – that is, applications specifically designed to run on a mobile device’s operating system – not a desktop application accessed through a Citrix virtual desktop crammed onto a small touch screen.
Automating physician workflow with software pays significant dividends when done properly. In today’s increasingly mobile world, that means implementing native apps on the handheld devices that physicians are eagerly adopting.


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Two years ago, the interest of German truck manufacturers and freight forwarders in fuel cells was extremely low. It’s different today. Almost all logistics companies are now in some way concerned with the question of what fuel their vehicles will be powered by in the future.
Fuel cell use in the logistics industry
The good news is that fuel cells for materials handling equipment are no longer confined to a niche market. Entire warehouses in North America are currently being served by hydrogen-powered forklift trucks. This type of fuel cell application is also becoming increasingly popular in Asia and Europe, but their logistics industries will have some catching up to do.
Plug Power: Third Quarter to Deliver Record Figures
The deal with Amazon – which basically acquired a stake in Plug Power (Nasdaq: PLUG) through warrants and, at the same time, placed orders to have its forklift trucks retrofitted – may be the reason why Walmart has agreed to a change in the terms for its large Plug booking, which will improve the situation for the latter. Walmart was the first big Plug customer to request forklift conversions and an H2 refueling infrastructure at its logistics centers.


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South Korea, unlike its Northern Counterpart is a fertile land of opportunities. Multinational giants in many fields like Samsung, LG, Hyundai, etc. have made their presence felt across the globe. Perhaps it is now time for Indians to leave their imprint on this land, feel the organizers of ‘beLAUNCH’ South Korea’s largest Startup Tech Conference.
beLaunch is now open to & accepting applications from Indian startups “who want to expand and increase their reach in Korea and East Asia.” With just a week before the deadline, the organizers are urging budding fledglings to strive for an audition/pitch in Bangalore by the end of March. However, only one winner will be chosen to be part of 20 presenting startups at beLAUNCH 2013. The main event is scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea on May 1st & 2nd.
This annual event is certainly a high point for almost all the startups who wish to gain valuable insights into long term sustenance & buoyancy in the tumultuous market dynamics of today. Hence there are even tickets to merely attend the conference & the website TechInAsia is offering a significant discount of 30% if booked via this page.
How to proceed: Interested Indian startups have to apply here. Upon receiving an invitation post the application, the startups will pitch their ideas to a panel which will eventually pick just one. The chosen company will be offered an opportunity to exhibit their product/service in a startup booth at the conference, for free. Though not mentioned explicitly, those who wish to exhibit without going through this cannel can pay the fees & setup their stalls.
Who should apply? South Korea has multiple tactile & strategic linkages with nearby countries like Japan, China and the U.S. Many visitors from these countries will be attending the conference & participants from all over the world will be showcasing their products & ideas. This event is majorly attended by telecom majors & hence companies with this particular scope would find it even more appealing.
Image Courtesy | belaunch


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Online education content publisher KNeoMedia Limited (KNM) has appointed industry veteran Sander Schwartz as senior advisor of the company. In his new role Schwartz will head KNM’s advisory board.
Schwartz’s new position will see him advise the company as it grows the consumer appeal of its suite of edutainment products and broadens its distribution globally. KNM recently launched an iOS app and has placed its KNeoEd and KNeoESP products into the New York public school system.
Currently, Schwartz is the president of Grom Social, the COPPA-compliant social networking site for kids ages 6 to 16. Earlier, he served as president of FremantleMedia Kids & Family, president of Warner Bros. Animation, and as president of family entertainment for Sony Pictures.
KNeoMedia sells its edutainment products and apps on a micro-subscription basis through its KNeoWORLD.com games portal and various apps stores as well as through other distribution agreements and education departments.


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BOULDER CITY, Nev. (June 12) — Gary Benninger, chief operating officer of Amerityre Corp., will serve as president of the company effective immediately and also assume the title of CEO on Sept. 1.
Benninger will succeed Richard Steinke as CEO. Steinke announced earlier this year that he intends to resign Oct. 1. Steinke, who also serves as chairman, founded Amerityre in 1995 as a firm dedicated to developing the use of polyurethane in tires and other products.
After Sept. 1, Mr. Steinke will serve as a full-time technology consultant to the company. The board will select a new chairman after the annual meeting in December.
Benninger has served as the firm´s chief operating officer since October 2005.
Separately, Amerityre also announced it has completed validation trials in the United Kingdom of its 2,500-pound-per-minute polyurethane pour machine. The machine was commissioned for Chinese licensee Qingdao Qizhou Rubber Co. Ltd., which will use it for production of large off-the-road retread tires at its plant in Shandong Province, China.


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The scent of success
If a picture paints a thousand words, then a smell can bring to life an entire novel. Our sense of smell constantly picks up scents that leave a lasting impression, or better yet, scents that trigger off past memories.
Smells are often associated with past holiday destinations, favourite foods and even with special individuals and are a powerful method of gaining attention.
“The use of fragrance response is well documented, we know it enlivens the senses, stimulates our imaginations and has the ability to transport us to another place,” says Graeme Lidgerwood, sales manager of EGO, a local printing company that has recently been involved with scent marketing.
Last year, gourmet ice cream brand Connoisseur executed billboards at central tram stops in Melbourne that encouraged commuters to smell their different flavours by releasing sprays of fragrance.
Australia Post, together with EGO, has recently released a collection of Australian postage stamps that feature the iconic Australian scent of eucalyptus.
According to Lidgerwood, while embedding scent into marketing materials have been possible for some time, “it’s been fairly restrictive in terms of application, materials, scents and cost.”
However, according to Lidgerwood, today scents can be embedded into papers, boards, synthetics, adhesive materials and certain rigid plastics.
With the multitude of brands in the market fighting for their differentiation point and cracking their heads to develop each brand’s unique brand personality, Lidgerwood believes that adding scent into the sensory mix will only create competitive distinction for the brand.
“Scent marketing is effective as it increases customer attention and increases purchasing activity when compared to non-scented material”,
While scratch-and-sniff products have been frequently used, Lidgerwood believes that scent-printing is “more direct, quicker, flexible and cost effective”.


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The New York Times is currently developing a computerized mirror that can deliver useful features, such as social networking and emails to users while using it in a bathroom.
The mirror works by using Microsoft’s Kinect and a Mirror TV that is reported to be developed by Philips. The TV functions as a mirror and a display. According to tech website Digital Trends, the TV is linked to a microphone and a Kinect sensor, which allows the device to use voice recognition and motion sensing. Additional interaction is provided via objects (prescriptions, skin care products) that have RFID tags recognized by the system.
The RFID tags is used to bring up necessary information about the product. For example, if you are not sure about the proper dosage of your medication, the mirror would tell you how much you need. Users can also use the mirror to reorder the medications if it was bought through a prescription.
This mirror developed by teh research and development labs at New York Times is still a prototype, so there is still more room for additional features and improvements. The mirror should not be limited to be used in bathrooms, it could also work well in any public places, including subways, buses and streets.
No specific dates have been given for the device’s debut, it would be cool to have a device like this soon.


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By Amit Shilton
For the past three years, 3 Gerrard St. E has been where businesses go to die.
The property has been cursed since the famous Rock & Roll Diner — a favourite spot where students flocked for cheap breakfasts and cheaper beer — closed in 2005.
First Dragon Sushi moved, but that went belly up in less than a year. Then Café Gabbana took its place, and it closed down within five months.
But Wok n’ Roll restaurant has so far avoided the curse of the Rock & Roll Diner, with owner James Zhu, 50, recently celebrating his Chinese restaurant’s one-year anniversary. Since he has opened, Zhu estimates about 60 per cent of his business has come from Ryerson’s students, staff and faculty.
“The restaurant industry is a tough business,” Zhu said, as he watched students walking by through the glass windows of Wok n’ Roll. “But as long as you know what you’re doing … then you can handle it.”
Zhu, who has been working in Toronto’s food industry since 1993, credits his restaurant’s surprising success on the research he conducted before opening Wok n’ Roll.
He said he has eaten at every restaurant in the area and talked with both customers and restaurant owners, trying to establish the community’s demographic. Zhu remembers when he sat in the Hub watching students eat Manchu Wok. “Manchu Wok charges extra for extra items. Pretty soon it adds up to $10. But not us.”
Learning and catering to your demographic is the key to survival in the restaurant industry, said Richard Wade, a hospitality and tourism management professor at Ryerson.
Wade, whose parents owned a restaurant, said many restaurants fail because they don’t do their research.
“You should have known that before you even sign the lease,” he said. “Students are very sensitive about how much they can pay for lunch,” Zhu said. “The two before us charged way too much.”
So far, it seems students looking for a cheap and quick Chinese fix like what they see — and eat.
Leonardo Jimenez, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, said that the restaurant’s affordable prices and location are major factors when deciding where he goes to eat lunch.
And while Oshani Pathirane, Jimenez’s classmate, goes to Wok n’ Roll often, she realizes it isn’t the healthiest choice.
“You get that guilty feeling,” she said of the artery-clogging Chinese food. “Tomorrow I’ll eat broccoli.”
Customers at Wok n’ Roll have several options using what Zhu calls a “make it your own combo.”
Diners pay a fl at rate for a Styrofoam container, then fi ll it up with food from a buffet table.
All the traditional quasi-Chinese favourites are available, including noodles, sweet and sour chicken balls and green beans.
A small container goes for $5.29 while a large one costs $6.49. Pathirane said her trick to eating at the restaurant’s buffet includes creating a formula to get as much as possible into the Styrofoam containers.
The restaurant’s concept, where students serve themselves, saves on both labour costs and effi ciency, said Zhu, who works the cash register with his wife.
This way, Zhu is able to afford to pay the 10-year lease on his 3,500 square-foot property, which costs him around $60 per square foot.
“I like to deal with people,” he said, adding he has felt younger and more energetic now that he has to deal with students on a daily basis.
Since he fi rst started opening restaurants, Zhu has owned everything from a bar to a café.
But it has been his four buffet-style Chinese food restaurants that have been the most successful.
His three other restaurants, the fi rst of which opened in 1998, can all be found in GTA-area mall food courts. Two of them have been so profi table that he has already sold them off.
“I haven’t seen anything like this here,” Zhu said, referring to the selfserve concept of Wok n’ Roll.
Ken Tsang, the owner of Lee Town Chinese Restaurant, a competing dining establishment on Yonge Street, said he didn’t feel threatened when Wok n’ Roll opened.
Tsang’s restaurant has been around for 15 years, and he said that although both restaurants serve Chinese food, the style is completely different.
As for Zhu, who immigrated to Toronto in 1989, he believes he has found his recipe for success in Wok n’ Roll’s self-serve buffet, convenient for busy students and local workers on their lunch hour.
And while he has already received offers to sell the restaurant, Zhu is waiting for better offers.
“As long as I’m profitable, I’ll stay here forever,” he said.


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Despite the collapse of the cryptocurrency market at the end of May 2022, DeFi services continue to be in demand by long-term users. Financial institutions and banks need to prepare for the growing demand for DeFi services and should consider gradually implementing DApps in their products. And there are several reasons for this.
Decentralized finance is an ecosystem of traditional financial services on the blockchain. This is defined by its open, permissionless and trustless access: anyone with a crypto wallet and an internet connection can access DeFi services, such as exchanges, lending protocols, deposits, insurance, etc without counting on the trust of another person. But who is interested in DeFi services?
What is the DeFi consumer market?
DeFi is available to anyone with an internet connection, which currently has 4.6 billion users in the world, could therefore potentially the problem of financial inclusion. According to
world Bank, more than 1.7 billion people in the world do not have access to banking services, of which 1 billion have a mobile phone. Therefore, through decentralized technologies, these people could have the opportunity to access loan, deposit and insurance services through the online network.
However, in addition to Internet users, potential customers of DApps are also users of financial applications. According to the American investment company
Shades of greyas the DeFi ecosystem matures, more and more financial applications are moving to crypto protocols, and this is the largest user base that DeFi can attract.
Demand for DeFi is growing
Even if the situation in the crypto market is unfavorable in the short term due to events such as the collapse of the ecosystem stablecoin Terra and its native crypto LUNA, crypto assets have shown their ability to recover at long term. And that goes for the DeFi market as well.
According to a recent report by Andreessen Horowitz, the value of the DeFi market has grown from almost zero to over $100 billion in less than two years. And currently, DeFi market capitalization
achieved $112 billion.
The recent statement by S&P Global Ratings on the creation of the Decentralized Finance Group in response to increased investor demand also reveals the outlook for DeFi. The company said, “S&P Global Ratings recognizes that decentralized finance is increasingly transforming capital markets, including broadening the spectrum of market players, creating new asset classes and developing new capabilities in the market. ‘execution of financial transactions’.
Therefore, if financial companies do not think about their presence in the world of decentralized applications, such inaction threatens the loss of customers. Why did banks and financial institutions start buying digital assets in 2020 and 2021? Because the company’s customers and its shareholders have seen a strong demand for cryptocurrencies and the benefits it brings.
As we can see, people are the main driver of DeFi adoption. People will want to get rid of their debts and earn more money, which creates a demand for investing in cryptocurrencies and using DApps. This is why companies should consider integrating DeFi into their financial products today, as they already have a pool of customers ready and willing to use new services.
On consumer behavior
At the moment, banks don’t need to develop DeFi protocols – they just need to provide access to this ecosystem to allow users to use exchanges and save their money. For example, customers want to deposit through the DeFi protocol so that people can borrow their money and in return receive interest on their deposited funds.
But many people do not know how to access these platforms and services. After all, when a sales manager in a store thinks of money, they first think of a bank or some neo-banking apps. They would ask why they don’t have the option to put money into the DeFi protocol and conditionally receive 15% per year in one dollar instead of 0.5%, which the traditional bank provides. And 14.5% is a significant difference, so customers will want access to these financial products.
People want to use these technologically advanced services through the reputable banks that are already known because it provides a sense of security. customers tend to trust long-established, well-known brands because they’ve been around for so many years. Often customers will want to get loans easier and faster than banks, and many don’t want to deal with providing proof of income and navigating other bureaucracies. Therefore, companies must offer alternative financial products and determine for themselves how their centralized services are better than decentralized ones.
The advantage of banks is that they can lend money to a customer just by relying on the name of the person, this has been seen more recently with
banks lending billions to Elon Musk. But for the majority of people, it still requires a variety of documents from the client, such as a contract with an employer, credit history, etc. The advantage of decentralized finance is that the only thing clients need is to put digital collateral. which has a value to take out a loan. And centralized companies should assess these benefits, where they can earn more, where less, and how they can invest their profits in such hybrid services.
A recent and successful example of licensed financial institution adoption of DeFi is the case of JPMorgan Chase & Co of using blockchain to
collateral settlements in the trading of traditional financial assets. In fintech, this was seen with Wirex and their DeFi product, X-accounts, which was used by over 100,000 users in the first six months of launch. This is also seen with the NEXO crypto card and their crypto lending services. In fact, all of these fintech services seem to customers as familiar as online banking, but under the hood, all of these operations are performed within the DeFi ecosystem.
In 2021, S&P Global Ratings analysts stress that ignoring the DeFi trend could lead to a wake-up call for financial firms in the future. Additionally, in their view, financial services customers can see the benefits of blockchain solutions and redirect some of their funds to DeFi products. Banks should consider the benefits of using smart contracts to complement existing products and services to increase efficiency, as well as using new revenue streams to engage their customer base more deeply. This is why there is a need for financial firms to consider providing customers with access to the DeFi ecosystem if they wish to be able to expand their services and meet the growing customer demand for DApps. This may be the next big step towards mass blockchain adoption.
To be clear, not every financial institution needs DeFi products, but those who want to stay in the market and have a large enough user base to have a strong voice from customers will need to implement financial services. decentralized for their products to keep pace. with the ever-changing economic system.


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Aston Martin’s Vantage sports car has been thoroughly overhauled, gaining new styling, a much-improved interior, and plenty of extra horsepower in the process. The car is due at dealerships later this year, and should be joined shortly by an open-top version.
BMW’s design chief has revealed computer-generated images of a supercar that was being developed as a replacement for the i8, as well as a hero model for the M division. The project was ultimately canned following the onset of the pandemic, and instead we got the XM.
The Bugatti Mistral roadster will be the last road car to feature Bugatti’s venerable quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W-16 engine. Although based on the Chiron platform, major work was required to make the Mistral a reality as the Chiron was never designed with the intention of having an open top.
You’ll find these stories and more in today’s car news, right here at Motor Authority.
2025 Aston Martin Vantage bows with 656 hp
BMW designed an i8 replacement before killing it
A Bugatti Chiron roadster wasn’t planned, but the Mistral still happened
Review: 2024 Honda Ridgeline
Aston Martin reveals 2024 F1 and Vantage GT3 race cars
Safety experts: EVs are too heavy for US guardrails
DS testing flagship electric crossover for launch in 2025
Dodge Hornet vs. Chevy Trax: Compare Crossover SUVs
Jason Momoa’s 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom converted to EV
Kia exec: Plug-in hybrids misunderstood, Telluride hybrid a possibility


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New private home market to end the year on a high note
[News] Analysts expect new private home sales to remain robust for the rest of the year. Market is likely to end on an 8-year high of 12,000 to 13,000 new sales. More buyers are shifting their attention to CCR projects as available in suburbs gradually decrease.
Source: The Business Times, 16 November 2021


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Weigel's gives its biggest gift ever to Milk Fund benefitting Empty Stocking Fund
Weigel’s gave its biggest gift ever this holiday season to the Milk Fund benefiting Empty Stock Fund, easing the minds of thousands of East Tennesseans worried about how to provide food for their families.
This season, Weigel's donated $21,000 to the Milk Fund benefitting the Empty Stocking Fund. The nonprofit provides nutritious meals to families over the Christmas holiday.
Since the late 1980s, Weigel's has worked with our nonprofit to help community members in need. Weigel's contribution has grown by leaps and bounds since that early relationship, thanks to the community's generosity and the company leadership's commitment to giving back.
"From where we started to where we're at now, golly. It's just like watching a big jug fill up each year," said Weigel's board chairman Bill Weigel. "It has grown and grown and grown. It's wonderful."
Weigel said the company focuses its charitable efforts on programs that benefit East Tennesseans. This year's record-setting gift is meaningful because of the number of people it will help, he said.
"It makes it fun for all of us," Weigel said. "We're blessed to help."
Every dollar donated by companies like Weigel's and local philanthropists goes to buying food for families during the holidays. Food boxes include items for a holiday meal and other staples.
"The foundation built by Weigel's is vital for the Empty Stocking Fund, especially in trying times when need is increased," said Joel Christopher, Knox News editor. "We're so grateful for the generosity of Weigel's and thousands of other donors that makes the Empty Stocking Fund a success every year."
We're now collecting funds to help pay for meals in 2021, which promises to be another economically unpredictable year. Go to esfknox.org to learn more.


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The global container ship order book grew in October for the first time since July 2008 as new orders outpaced deliveries.
The cellular container ship order book on Nov. 1 stood at 3.79 million 20-foot equivalent units capacity, or 26.6 percent of the current fleet, according to Alphaliner, a Paris-based industry consultancy.
This was marginally higher than the 3.73 million TEUs in the order book a month earlier following a slowdown in deliveries of new vessels and a flurry of new contracts placed in October.
By The Numbers: New Shanghai Containerized Freight Index.
Vessel deliveries totaled 92,000 TEUs in October, the lowest monthly total since February, and likely will decline through the fourth quarter, Alphaliner forecast.
Contracts for new ships reached 131,000 TEUs in October and further orders are expected to be signed before the end of the year.
Alphaliner said there is significant latent demand for new ships as owners rush to place new orders after two years of inactivity.
The order book has been in continuous decline since it peaked at 6.89 million TEUs in August 2008, due to a combination of poor market sentiment and a lack of funding.
"This situation only started to change in June, as the recovery in the freight markets prompted carriers and some non-operating owners to return to the yards," Alphaliner said.
The order book is unlikely to return to the peaks of 2007 when it was equivalent to 64 percent of the global fleet, but will remain in the 25-30 percent range if owners and carriers maintain their current level of interest.
The growth in container ship supply in 2011 and 2012 is expected to come close to the 9.6 percent forecast for 2010.
The supply-demand balance remains delicate and any slowdown in cargo demand will cause a return of excess supply, Alphaliner said.
Demand in 2011 is unlikely to match the 12.5 percent growth rate in 2010, with current fourth quarter growth levels considerably lower than in the first nine months of the year.
The fourth quarter growth rate will give a better indicator of demand through 2011, according to Alphaliner.
-- Contact Bruce Barnard at email@example.com.


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High-End Ganja Chocolates Might Be Coming To A Mall Near You
Starting with San Francisco.
In another marker of marijuana’s transition into the mainstream, high-end weed chocolatier Défoncé has tentative plans to set up shop at the Westfield shopping mall in downtown San Francisco. According to SF Gate, an application filed with the SF Planning Department shows Défoncé is making moves to lease a 1,000-square-foot commercial space in the city’s largest retail hub.
The cannabis-infused edibles company will have to get approval from the city before the deal is set in stone, and if they do, it will mark the first time a weed company has scored a brick-and-mortar spot at a major American mall, SF Gate reports.
If you’re not already familiar with the brand, Défoncé focuses on low-dose, gourmet edibles that value first-rate ingredients above all else—also their chocolate bars come in really cool geometric designs from the future. Like other boujie cannabis brands, the packaging is on point, and the products look as if they belong on the shelves of a luxury retailer such as Barney’s, or Neiman Marcus. Défoncé's attention to detail and ambitious marketing strategies are perfect examples of Weed 2.0 brands who are legitimizing the cannabis industry as a whole.
For shopping centers that are struggling to retain tenants in the wake of Amazon and other online retailers, cannabis businesses in need of physical storefronts could be a saving grace. That said, only time will tell how these proposals pan out. As far as Défoncé’s tentative plans go, the SF Planning Department will come to a decision after formally reviewing their application on October 26.


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Japanese studio Treasure is working on a new project for Nintendo 3DS, the developer has announced.
"We are making a new game on Nintendo 3DS now. Not multiplatform, but exclusive to 3DS," Treasure boss Masato Maegawa told GamesTM magazine (via Nintendo Life).
The creation will be an "action" title, Maegawa teased.
Nintendo has published an official translation of its "Iwata Asks" feature about Sin & Punishment 2, in which president Satoru Iwata and men from Treasure discuss how bats*** difficult it was to make anything work on the N64.
Nintendo UK has told Eurogamer that changes to US release dates for Metroid: Other M and Sin & Punishment 2 won't be felt in Europe.
Nintendo Europe has announced European dates for Super Mario Galaxy 2 and other titles at its London press event.
Nintendo has revealed release dates for lots of major upcoming first-party Wii and DS games.
Nintendo US almost-boss Cammie Dunaway reckons hardcore gamers will sit up and take notice of the Wii next year, as the "breadth of offerings" will increase to cover plenty of audiences.


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This year, more than 55 million people will be traveling home for Thanksgiving via planes, trains and automobiles in what is estimated to be the third-busiest travel period on record.
An estimated 49 million people will hit the roads, with 4.5 million traveling through airports and another 1.4 million estimated to travel via trains and buses, according to AAA. It’s a 1.5 percent bump over last year’s holiday travel and only 2 percent less than pre-pandemic travel records.
The busiest travel days during Thanksgiving week are usually Tuesday, Wednesday and the Sunday after the holiday, with airports, roads and train terminals all experiencing increased congestion. Thanksgiving Eve on Wednesday tends to be the busiest day for travel.
Experts expect severe road congestion around major cities, with traffic delays as much as double normal, and the highways around Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles seeing the worst impact.
Throwing a wrench in this year’s travel plans…