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Aetna to offer Apple Watch at a discount to certain customers
U.S. health insurer Aetna Inc said it would offer some customers discounts on Apple Inc's smartwatch, marking the first deal made by the tech giant with an insurer for its devices.
SEOUL Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd will consider all possible options to grow its home appliances business including mergers or acquisitions, a senior company executive said on Monday.
Suh Byung-sam, head of Samsung's appliances business, also told reporters at a company event that Haier Group's acquisition of General Electric Co's appliances business will have no serious impact on its business in the near term.
(Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Miral Fahmy)
SAN FRANCISCO With its recent acquisition of self-driving truck startup Otto, Uber Technologies Inc.[UBER.UL]is plotting its entry into the long-haul trucking business, aiming to establish itself as a freight hauler and a technology partner for the industry.
MEXICO CITY U.S. networking equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc plans more than $4 billion worth of expansion in Mexico between 2016 and 2018, the Mexican government said on Tuesday.


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It was a while back and you may not remember but Capcom started up their very own weapon design contest for their upcoming video game release ‘Monster Hunter 4’. Though the game has already been released in Japan, Capcom decided that they would give their Western hunters a chance to be immortalized in the next big hunting title. The contest was opened up to designers from both North America and Europe with a European winner being announced a while back.
This Hunting Horn titled, ‘The Emperor’s Speech, was designed to resemble a pig sitting on a throne which oinked when used. The winner from North America’s weapon design took a different route, trading comedy for ‘badassitude’, for lack of a better word. This glaive-type weapon is titled ‘Clockwork Contraption’ and comes with it’s very own robotic beetle…if having a huge steampunk spear wasn’t cool enough for you.
This weapon will feature in the Western release of the game, alongside ‘The Emperor’s Speech’, which will get a release in North America and Europe on the Nintendo 3DS sometime early next year. For now though, you can head down just below to check out the video of the ‘Clockwork Contraption’ in all it’s mechanized glory!

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Latino Small Businesses are celebrating the Hispanic Heritage Month. This is the first Grow with Google Latino Small Business Meetup.
Grow with Google and the USHCC are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by offering a free livestream event on YouTube catered to Latino-owned businesses. Grow with Google Digital Coaches will lead digital skills workshops, highlight successful businesses from the community, and share insights to help you reach new customers, thrive online and grow your business. Learn more about Miami’s Grow with Google Digital Coach and register to attend the next event.
Vicente is the CEO of Digisults and your Miami coach. As a Grow with Google Digital Coach, he’s had the opportunity to play an important role in a program that’s specifically designed to breach the digital divide of minorities and underrepresented communities. In his line of work, Vicente has helped business owners transition from traditional commerce to digital commerce by providing them with internet services, digital marketing, multimedia products, consulting, and workshops. An interesting fact about Vicente is that for six months in 2012, he was a radio host on a show for Cristina Radio Network called “Crónicas Digitales.”
You can ask him about public relations, marketing, digital education, internet services, online marketing, consulting, multimedia, and more.
Who are Grow with Google Digital Coaches?
We are mentors, teachers, leaders; we are entrepreneurs who have achieved our goals, and we want to help you achieve yours. We are excited to provide the digital skills training and coaching that Black and Latino small businesses need to reach new customers, thrive online, and grow.
Want more resources?


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TSC Meals made undisclosed lay offs final 12 months attributable to Covid-19
TSC Meals, a UK-based soup producer, plans to take a position GBP2m (US$2.7m) in its facility within the city of Scunthorpe in east England following the federal government’s announcement of a phased exit from the pandemic-led lockdowns.
The retail and foodservice provider stated the capital can be employed in plant equipment, tools and normal infrastructure, and to assist the corporate’s improvement, together with a refurbishment of employees amenities on the website in north Lincolnshire.
TSC will create 100 full-time roles from the venture, recuperating at the least a few of the redundancies made final 12 months. In June, the corporate stated it had entered discussions with employees over 200 potential job cuts after its out-of-home operations had been severely affected by restrictions applied round Covid-19. Gross sales had been down 75% on the time.
A spokesperson for TSC, which is a part of the meals and agriculture enterprise The Billington Group primarily based within the metropolis of Liverpool, declined to say what number of jobs had been ultimately minimize final 12 months aside from to say the quantity was “a lot decrease” than the 200 envisaged.
Managing director Peter Allan stated in an announcement: “This funding displays our ongoing dedication to supporting our group, our prospects and companions, enabling TSC to bounce again from what has been a difficult 12 months for everybody. “The investments will higher serve our current employees, boosting how we assist and look after them on website, with improved amenities and importantly act as a possibility to recruit an additional 100 roles throughout the enterprise.”
TSC, previously often known as The Sauce Firm, was acquired in 2014 by privately-owned Billington Group.
The Wonderful Meals model proprietor of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free soups added TSC is “anticipating demand for its merchandise to be excessive now the federal government has laid out its plans for financial restoration and the easing of lockdown restrictions”.


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House Republicans said Wednesday that stripping funding from the health-care law championed by President Barack Obama would be their price for keeping federal agencies open after the end of this month, a move that sharply increases the risk of a partial government shutdown in two weeks.
GOP leaders said the House would vote Friday on a bill to fund federal agencies for the first 2 1/2 months of the fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, but strip all health-law funding.
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This a funny spoof on the whole TOMS Shoes sales pitch:
As you may recall, not everyone is convinced TOMS is doing much good with his “buy-one-give-one” scheme. Some think it is more about feel-good marketing than it is about truly helping the poor.
In April, a number of aid workers and development experts decided to try to draw public attention to this issue by organizing a counter-demonstration to TOMS Shoes’ popular “Day Without Shoes.” The critics called their action a “Day Without Dignity” to emphasize what they see as a demeaning and unhelpful practice.
The argument against TOMS’ strategy is based on a number of complaints, but is largely focused on the belief that donating goods is less effective — and sometimes even harmful — compared to aid that empowers the poor, strengthens local economies and is more about development than charity.
In this video announcement, TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie says people who buy his $135 sunglasses will fund efforts to restore sight in poor countries:
Mycoskie: “With every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need … From this day forward, TOMS is not a shoe company. It’s not an eyewear company. It’s a one for one company.”
It’s not entirely clear what buying TOMS sunglasses will actually contribute to the vision needs of the poor, but the firm has partnered with the Seva Foundation to administer the eye care programs that are funded by TOMS eyewear.
My main problem with TOMS Shoes is that they all look like girls shoes to me.
Here are a few “day-after” thoughts on the Shoes vs Dignity flap — the debate about the legitimacy (or not) of Tuesday’s high-profile TOMS Shoes’ One Day Without Shoes campaign, which was challenged by a much-less resourced but highly animated and critical Day Without Dignity campaign.
Vivek Nemana, writing at AidWatch, decided to join the barefoot minions of TOMS and wander around Greenwich Village on a cold, soggy New York City Day. Says Nemana:
Sure, this whole event really just helps TOMS sell more shoes, and sure, it was cold and raining in New York, and sure, I solicited bewildered stares, watched mothers shield their daughters from me, and possibly contracted hepatitis, but wasn’t I raising awareness about the real, complex challenges facing developing countries?
No, not really, Nemana goes on to say. In fact, this publicity stunt can even dull awareness to the real issues.
Tom Murphy, writing at A View from the Cave, cites a story at the Chronicle of Philanthropy which further says that buying TOMS Shoes as a gesture aimed at helping the poor actually hurts the poor — because such consumerist compassion works to depress charitable giving overall.
Both articles cite a University of Michigan business professor, Aradhna Krishna, as saying:
” .. Cause marketing warps consumers’ minds into thinking that they’re contributing more than they actually are, since ‘people may mentally assign their cause-marketing expenditure as their charitable giving.’ “
Finally, I just saw this post (via Tom Murphy) from Kelsey Timmerman of Where Am I Wearing? The problem with TOMS Shoes, Timmerman writes, is not their attempt to raise awareness. Understanding the real problem here is by looking first at who makes the shoes (hint: China). Donating shoes is not a solution to the problem; it’s merely a temporary band-aid.
The problem isn’t that people don’t have shoes. It’s that they don’t have the means to buy shoes.
The problem isn’t shoelessness. The problem is poverty.
In the midst of a raging blogosphere debate regarding the wisdom and worth of TOMS “One Day Without Shoes” campaign, I noticed this odd juxtaposition of news and advertising at The Guardian:
TOMS Shoes advertising is literally wrapped around a column by Rick Rowden arguing that “It’s Time for a New Development Model.” Says Rowden:
Short-term poverty reduction has become a stand-in for actual long-term development. This has to change to enable poor countries to get off the aid bandwagon.
Here’s the ad by TOMS Shoes, as long as it lasts online anyway, and the column arguing against, uh, pretty much the kind of short-term, ineffective fixes that many say TOMS Shoes represents:
It’s not unique to The Guardian, I guess. Tom Murphy at A View From the Cave wrote about the shoe flap for Huffington Post, which also has banner TOMS Shoes ads at the top.
I noted earlier that today there would be a battle between a high-profile charitable organization, TOMS Shoes, which (sort of) donates shoes to poor people around the world and a gang of cranky development experts, aid workers and others who think TOMS’ shoe donation scheme is worse than ineffective.
Today is One Day Without Shoes day (okay, that’s redundant) as proclaimed by TOMS Shoes with help from celebrities and bigshots like Ariana Huffington, the Jonas Brothers, some guy who runs AOL and others.
The CEO of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie, estimates something like 250,000 people will go barefoot today at 1,600 events around the world. Here’s his promotional video:
“A single idea can change the world” says Mycoskie.
It can also be wrong and make things worse, says a gang of development experts and aid workers.
Saundra Schimmelpfennig of Good Intentions Are Not Enough has been leading the charge against this barefoot event, and its message, by hosting a contravening Day Without Dignity.
The problem many have with TOMS Shoes is that donating goods is widely regarded today as at best an inferior form of development assistance and, at worst, an external commercial force (whether well-intended or not) that works to undermine local businesses and economies in poor communities.
In defense of TOMS, lack of shoes is a problem worldwide. Here’s a post I wrote a while ago about a little-known, disfiguring condition known as podonociosis that is little-known because it afflicts millions of the poorest of the poor. Mycoskie has helped draw attention to this surprisingly large problem.
That may be so, say the critics, but TOMS’ approach is not the solution. The real solution is not to give people shoes but to help them make their own shoes. Here are some of the critics, most of whom are also posted at Good Intentions, and none of whom appear to have celebrities on their side:
Stratosphere: TOMS Shoes are So Not Cool
AfriTech: A Day Without Toms
TexasinAfrica: Disguising marketing as social good
TalesfromtheHood: A day without dumbassery
Usalama: The view from Mombasa
Viewfromthecave: A poetic look at shoes
A satirical video:
Next week, on April 5, is a day when the humanitarian cobblers at TOMS Shoes call upon folks around the country to participate in a Day Without Shoes.
I think sometimes we forget what we have, and occasionally it’s important to remind ourselves. Most people don’t even realize how many children in developing countries grow up barefoot and all the risks, infections and diseases they endure…. I wanted everyone to personally understand the impact of shoes, and the difference they can make, so we thought, “Why don’t we get a taste of what these kids go through every day?”
As a counterpoint, and to make a point, Saundra Schimmelpfennig at Good Intentions are Not Enough is calling for a Day Without Dignity to accompany the TOMS Day Without Shoes event.
On or about that same day, Schimmelpfennig is calling on aid workers, the diaspora and people from areas that receive donated shoe drops and other forms of charity to speak up in blogs, on twitter, or at school.
She suggests stories or essays for a Day Without Dignity on topics such as:
- Poor people’s memories of childhood and what their actual needs were
- The dignity and control that comes from work and not from receiving handouts
- The glut of unnecessary donated goods
- Whites in Shining Armor swooping in to “save” people
- What it really takes to raise awareness, more than just walking barefoot
- The problems created by handing out shoes or other goods
- The issue of dignity and how we portray people in our advertising campaigns
- How doing something because it feels good doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do
As you may have guessed, Saundra is not a big fan of TOMS Shoes, or of most donated goods as a form of aid. For a much more detailed and lengthy discussion on this issue, go here.
I kind of like going barefoot, depending upon the weather, and know that many poor folks do suffer for lack of shoes. Yet I also think Saundra makes some good and important points about the naivete of our approach to fighting poverty. If it’s nice out, maybe I’ll go without shoes to symbolize my lack of decisiveness.
Millions of bare feet prove we still aren’t reaching the very poorest of the poor.
The international community is doing a lot to help the world’s poor — spending billions of dollars (not enough, but still billions) to combat AIDS, TB and malaria, doing research, figuring out clever new uses of cell phones to help subsistence farmers increase productivity and getting microfinance loans to poor women.
And yet, millions of people worldwide suffer disfigurement and disability simply for a lack of shoes?
The disease I’m talking about is called podoconiosis and, chances are, you haven’t heard of it. It is a much lesser-known cause of elephantiasis (see right, a condition also caused by mosquito-borne parasitic worms) that one researcher believes may nevertheless afflict more than 4 million people worldwide. Continue reading


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Most Hong Kong stocks gain on speculation China to inject more stimulus to revive confidence, corporate earnings
- Stocks have struggled of late amid concerns China is not doing enough to prevent a sharper slowdown in the economy
- Corporate earnings in focus as Li Auto and Sunny Optical failed to spark with their latest report cards
Most Hong Kong stocks rose on speculation policymakers in Beijing will inject more stimulus to shore up business and consumer confidence after official reports this week showed the economy struggled to overcome the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns.
The Hang Seng Index climbed 0.1 per cent to 20,063.64 as of local noon trading time, while the Tech Index added 0.1 per cent. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.2 per cent.
Meituan strengthened 0.4 per cent to HK$181.70 while JD.com added 2.3 per cent to HK$227.20. Country Garden jumped 9.5 per cent to HK$2.54 and Longfor Group soared 13.5 per cent to HK$25.15.
Limiting gains, electric-car maker Li Auto lost 2 per cent to HK$122.20 after fiscal third-quarter revenue trailed forecasts. Apple parts supplier Sunny Optical added 2 per cent to HK$122.90, despite its net income missing forecasts.
State-run media on Tuesday published articles suggesting more incentives were needed to stabilise the economy and halt rising joblessness, after the central bank on Monday unexpectedly lowered its key policy rates for the first time since January.
“We see yesterday’s cut as a policy shift, signalling a more dovish monetary policy stance ahead,” Standard Chartered said in a report on Tuesday. “We believe China’s authorities now prefer lower rates and a weaker yuan to stimulate growth.”
Government reports this week showed factory output and retail sales in China grew at a slower pace in July, missing consensus forecasts and slamming the yuan to a three-month low against the US dollar. A jump in coronavirus cases over the past month has triggered lockdowns in cities including Macau, Sanya and Yiwu.
With 16 per cent of Chinese companies having reported their first-half earnings, average earnings are up 4 per cent compared with a year ago, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs in a Saturday report.
Property developers jumped on optimism China will intervene to support the crisis-hit sector after recent mortgage boycotts and a deepening slump in home sales and prices. China Overseas Land jumped 5.1 per cent to HK$20.50 and China Resources Land rallied 4.6 per cent to HK$31.05.
GKG Precision Machine Company soared 85 per cent to 85.90 yuan on its first day of trading in Shenzhen, while Zhejiang Hisun Biomaterials Company jumped 34 per cent to 22.36 yuan in Shanghai.
Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday. Japanese stocks lost 0.1 per cent, while South Korean and Australian equities rose 0.4 to 0.6 per cent.
Author: Cheryl Heng, SCMP


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The playfully named studio Storm in a Teacup has released a gameplay trailer to their upcoming horror survival game, Close To The Sun. Starting off on a mysterious radio message to any survivors in the area, the trailer teases the use of detective skills, high profile experiments, ghastly figures, and a struggle to escape death that surrounds the player. Exploring a mysterious ship will not be the only thing that will give players goosebumps. Check out the new gameplay trailer here:
Close To The Sun takes place towards the end of the 19th century on a ship that was created by Nikola Tesla. The ship was made for “the sake of knowledge,” but the cost will be revealed by players who play as Rose. Rose is a young journalist in a frantic search for her sister and she soon finds that something has gone terribly wrong. The story centers on an alternative version of history where “scientific breakthroughs have already had a major impact on the world.”
In terms of the actual gameplay, the horror experience will be played in first-person and will require Rose to solve problems through puzzles and her detective skills. However, she has no actual means to defend herself from the many dangers on the ship. She will have to run, hide, and think on her feet. There will also be a friendly individual that Rose can team up with who will help her find her way through the ship’s confusing and seemingly never-ending halls.
Wired Productions, the publisher for Close To The Sun, came forward several days ago to announce that just like many other games that are going to be released soon, their horror title will be exclusive on the Epic Games store and not the Steam Store. Their reasoning behind this decision is that it has given a great platform to independent developers as a “great distribution opportunit[y].”
Close To The Sun is coming sometime next month to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Epic Games store. Check out our previous discussion on other game developers’ decision to exclusively release with Epic Games.


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Microsoft is preparing a new retail version of its browser, a CD-ROM package called "Internet Explorer Plus." The $50 product first shipped last October. It contains the same browser available for free on the company's Web site but adds a host of additional software from Microsoft and third parties.
It also offers free trial Internet access and subscriptions to Microsoft financial and gaming services. Users get $20 back if they mail in a rebate certificate.
The new version is due by the end of the month, according to testimony during last week's Microsoft-Sun Microsystems court hearing.
Internet Explorer representatives declined to comment on release dates, features, or pricing, but sources close to the company confirmed the release date.
The current version of IE Plus includes McAfee's WebScanX antivirus software, Cyber Patrol's filtering software, Net.Medic system diagnosis software, and two months' worth of free Internet access through AT&T WorldNet and the Microsoft Network.
The new upgrade will incorporate the recent Macintosh, Unix, and Windows 3.1 versions of IE, according to sources. It also will undergo the same bug fixes and accessibility features that were incorporated last fall into IE 4.01, a Web-only release that came only two months after the ballyhooed launch of IE 4.0.
Netscape in January decided to give away the standard versions of its Navigator and Communicator client software, but the company continues to sell retail versions in the $20 to $50 range, including mail-in rebates. (See related story)
Similar to Microsoft, Netscape adds enticements such as third-party software and discounted Internet access to its packages.
Despite Microsoft's arguments that the browser is simply a part of the operating system, the giant continues to sell the retail CD-ROM version, a move that may raise eyebrows considering the mounting pressure from the Justice Department and several states' attorneys general.
Opponents including the DOJ claim the browser is separate from the operating system and that Microsoft's attempts to integrate the two violate antitrust agreements Microsoft signed in 1995. Meanwhile, the upcoming Windows 98 OS is the culmination of that integration strategy, with Internet Explorer built right into the system.
Except for the third-party software bundled on the IE Plus pack, it is unclear why users would shell out $30 for the product, given that the browser is updated and posted to the company's Web site. Also, Windows 98 will have the most up-to-date version of IE before it ships to customers, according to Windows product manager Stacey Breyfogle.
Nonetheless, customers continue to pay for browsers off the shelf.
"Buying habits change slowly," said Chris LeTocq, principal analyst with market research firm Dataquest. "People like to own things and have something tangible."


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Throughout 2021, FAS was proud to support USDA's efforts to create more and better markets for U.S. agriculture, to address the climate crisis, and to promote nutrition and food security.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky led a successful trade mission to West Africa, October 28-31, where he helped U.S. exporters unlock new opportunities in the region and advocated for the Administration’s Prosper Africa initiative...
April 16, 2014
USDA Program Helps Boost U.S. Blueberry Exports
Spring is here and brings with it many fresh healthy foods, including blueberries. Known for their antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, blueberries are a healthy option that is becoming more popular around the world and the U.S. blueberry industry is...
August 23, 2012
Sowing Seeds of Prosperity in East Africa
Entrepreneur and horticulturalist Steve Jones was on a Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) agricultural trade mission to Madagascar in 2006 when he first began thinking about how modern plant propagation techniques might help struggling East African...


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Latest Computer reservations system Stories
Leading GDS in Asia Pacific will enable accelerated global growth for Sabre SOUTHLAKE, Texas and SINGAPORE, May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Both Distribution and IT Solutions improve financial and operational performance MADRID, May, 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- First quarter highlights (three months ended March 31, 2015)
SOUTHLAKE, Texas and SANTIAGO, Chile, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (NYSE: LFL / IPSA:
GENEVA, May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Wooel Corporation announced today the formation of wooel.com having 20 million shares of common stock and a private offering of $18
Sabre's subscribers in 144 countries can provide travelers with a wide range of vehicles and personalization at 100 branches and major airports in 24 Brazilian states SOUTHLAKE, Texas,
Trio of Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott Tops Hotels; JetBlue Keeps Lead Among Airlines ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Passenger satisfaction lifts 2.9 percent for airlines,
SutiSoft announces the addition of new features to SutiTravel.
Industry-first solution will revolutionize how travel suppliers market to millions of travelers SOUTHLAKE, Texas, March 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Checkfront Inc, a leading provider of cloud-based online booking solutions, closes its first round of funding and raises $1 million in investments. Victoria,
Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben Offers Reflective "State of the Travel Agency Industry"- Says Business among Millennials Increasing Dramatically PLYMOUTH, Minn., Feb.
- A handkerchief.
- Specifically— The legendary sweat-cloth; the handkerchief of St. Veronica, according to tradition miraculously impressed with the mask of Christ; also, the napkin about Christ's head (Johu xx. 7).
- In general, any miraculous portrait of Christ.


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PH said to earn spot on investors’ map
MANILA, Philippines—The country may have already earned for itself a unique spot on investors’ map as the Aquino administration highlights claims that the Philippines is much less vulnerable than other emerging economies to external shocks, such as the eurozone crisis.
The minimal exposure of the Philippines to external economic threats, the government said, is one of the factors that allow it to have an edge over its counterparts.
In a report posted online by the Investor Relations Office (IRO), the government said the Philippines fared better than many of its competitor countries in terms of ability to withstand shocks.
Citing data from the International Monetary Fund and the central bank, the IRO said that “trade openness” of the Philippines stands at about 38 percent, which is much less than that of many other developing and emerging economies.
Trade openness is the value of a country’s current account transactions, composed mostly of imports and exports, with the rest of the world as a percentage of its gross domestic product.
Trade openness levels of Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia, for instance, stand at much higher levels of 78, 81, and 92 percent, respectively, the IRO said.
Economists said a high level of trade openness could be good when the global economy appeared healthy, since it could help generate more export revenue for a country. But in tough times, or when the global economy is slowing down, a high level of trade openness could significantly dampen a country’s growth potential.
The Philippines has a much smaller level of trade openness than its counterparts because its economy is being driven largely by domestic demand, led by household spending, rather than exports.
With the crisis in the West far from being resolved, the IRO said, it now pays to do business in the Philippines.
In the first three quarters of the year, the Philippine economy grew by 6.5 percent, beating most projections and defying global growth trend.
Growth for the third quarter alone stood at 7.1 percent, the fastest in Southeast Asia during the period.
The IRO also said that the Philippines is becoming less dependent on the eurozone as far as trade is concerned because of efforts to seek alternative markets abroad.
Exports to the eurozone fell from 14.4 percent of the total in 2010 to 12.3 percent last year, the IRO said. Imports from Europe also dropped from 16.8 percent to 7.4 percent over the same period.
Given the capability of the Philippines to sustain robust growth even amid a global economic crunch, the government said, the country should eventually become a preferred site for foreign direct investments.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.


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“Apple has wasted $100 billion on dividends and buybacks over the last 2 years (they’ve spent another $30 billion since the end of the year on the failed policy),” Eric Jackson writes for Forbes. “They should have used that money on M&A instead, in my view. If they had, I believe Apple’s stock would be $50/share higher than it is today.”
“In September 2012, Apple had a $560 billion market cap, $120 billion in cash, no debt, and $55 billion in trailing 12 months EBITDA. The stock price topped out that month around $100/share (in today’s dollars),” Jackson writes. “Today, Apple has a $654 billion market cap, $200 billion in cash, $55 billion in debt and $77 billion in trailing 12 months EBITDA. The stock price – as I write this – is $114/share. That’s obviously a 14% increase in the last 3 years – or about 4.6% a year. The Nasdaq is up about 57% over that time – or about 19% per year.”
“During this time, Apple has disgorged $130 billion in cash (had they done no capital return plan, they would now have $330 billion in cash on their balance sheet as Ben Evans tweeted last month). They’ve also added $55 billion in debt. It’s low cost debt – just like you might get from a credit card company for a 12 month teaser rate – but of course it needs to be paid back one day,” Jackson writes. “Besides the dividends which Apple has paid out, it’s reduced its share count by about 14%.”
“What does this all mean? It means that in exchange for a program that’s spent $130 billion cash and saddled the company with $55 billion in debt, after growing its profitability by about 50% over 3 years, Apple has been rewarded by Wall Street for listening to what it wanted by receiving a 4.6% annual increase in the stock price over a time when the Nasdaq clocked an average annual gain of 19%. And Apple’s multiple has shrunk to boot,” Jackson writes. “Congratulations, Tim Cook. You’ve truly gotten nothing for something.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As Jackson points out, for $130 billion Apple could have tried to buy Facebook for $100 billion back after it got valued at $50 billion as well as Twitter and Tesla and have had money left over. If Apple had done so, what would AAPL be trading at today? Would any combination of those acquisitions have hurt Apple more that they helped? Certainly there are arguments pro and con for the whole idea of buybacks vs. acquisitions just as there are for Apple buying Facebook or Twitter vs. something like Tesla.


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Day One Focuses on Regulatory, Commercial and Economic Value of Distributors
NBWA’s outgoing Chairman of the Board Greg LaMantia spoke about recent changes in the industry noting, “Change can be good. That’s exactly why today’s state legislatures can – and do – change state alcohol laws if needed. All progress comes through change, but not all change is progress.”
LaMantia warned against attempts to make detrimental changes to effective state laws that support today’s independent distribution system, “the system that helps all market participants grow and expand.” Pointing to the more than 3,000 breweries operating in the U.S. today, and the craft segment’s 18 percent growth in 2013, he said, “With all the growth and success in recent years, why in the world would some say the laws and rules need to be changed? Small brewers are expanding because of the system we have in place here in the U.S.”
LaMantia also cited a report issued this year by the Boston Consulting Group which states, “Despite fears that small brewers can’t compete against the scale and reach of large, mass-market brewers, the opposite has proved to be true… Ironically, small brewers’ ability to reach more drinkers has been enabled by the open U.S. beer-distribution system — a system that was once thought to lock out smaller players.”
“The three-tier system was established for a reason, and it delivers great value today,” LaMantia concluded.
NBWA President and CEO Craig Purser expanded on the value that today’s independent beer distribution system provides, saying, “Distributors deliver commercial, economic, and regulatory value to local communities.”
Purser explained the commercial value of local beer distributors by noting the explosive growth in the number of breweries operating in the U.S. and the enormous choice and variety for consumers as a result of an independent, open distribution system. He said, “Independent distributors are why the beer aisle has so much more selection than the soft drink aisle.”
Purser described how local distributors listen to the desires of local retailers and consumers, then work strategically to place products and build beer brands.
He detailed the economic value that distributors deliver stating, “Beer distributors are Main Street businesses that deliver economic benefits to their local communities, by providing local jobs, generating local commerce, and collecting local tax revenue.”
Purser also emphasized the regulatory value that local distributors provide. This past year marked 80 years since the repeal of Prohibition, “which means it’s also been 80 years since the foundation was put in place for today’s effective system of state-based alcohol regulation which gave rise to today’s distribution system,” he said.
“This system continues to provide transparency and accountability, which means that product can be traced,” Purser continued. “Which means the consumer receives safe product. Which means beer recalls over the past several years haven’t caused national panic, and they haven’t been the lead story on the evening news… because brewers and importers have been able to rely on distributors to efficiently and swiftly track the suspected product and remove it from the marketplace.”
Purser cited distributors’ role in the Corona recall that took place before Labor Day, stating, “When a recall can be controlled, and managed in a systematic, organized manner – and when the public can be given assurances that they will be protected – this is a system that works. This is a system that is worth preserving and protecting.”
Gretz Beer Company President Mike Gretz moderated a panel of representatives from four breweries of various sizes. The discussion included John Bryant, co-founder of No-Li Brewhouse; Steven Crandall, founder of Devils Backbone Brewing Company; Tom Long, CEO of MillerCoors LLC; Tony Magee, founder of Lagunitas Brewing Company.
The panel discussed their views on issues facing the beer industry, the intense competition and access to market that exists in the American beer market and the three-tier system’s role in its success. They also emphasized distributors’ role in building brands and the importance of industry partnerships for growing the beer category.
The general session concluded with a presentation by Rob O’Neill, former team leader for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group and one of the most highly-decorated combat veterans of our time. O’Neill has deployed more than a dozen times, and he held combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions in four different theaters of war. As a former Navy SEAL who has trained more than 800 special operations and tactical operators, O’Neill shared with the beer industry some actionable insights on leadership, decision-making, operating in uncertain environments and how to become the “best of the best.”
Following the general session program, the Product Demonstration Showcase opened featuring products and services from more than 130 exhibitors, including imported and domestic beer from 30 different breweries, non-alcoholic beverages, warehousing technology, financial services software, promotional products and more.
NBWA’s 77th Annual Convention continues Tuesday, September 30, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. To view NBWA-TV reports from the convention, please visit NBWA’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/NBWABeer. Follow the conversation on Twitter using #NBWANOLA, and download the convention mobile app.


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Richard Lehmann has been elected to the Knight Transportation board of directors, the trucking company said Monday, Feb. 13. Timothy Kohl, president of Phoenix-based Knight, volunteered to step down from the board of directors, “to assist the company in increasing the number of outside directors who have no affiliation with the company and to help the company improve its corporate governance,” the company stated in a written release. Kohl will continue to serve as president, attend board meetings and provide input.
Currently, Lehmann serves as the founding principal of The Biltmore Bank of Arizona, which opened in June 2003, and is chairman of Bank Capital Corp., the holding company for the bank. Until Dec. 31, 1999, Lehmann served as vice chairman of Bank One when it acquired FCNBC, creating the fifth-largest bank in the United States, with responsibility for all consumer banking and credit card operations.


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The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show may be canceled, but it never held a candle to Rihanna's Savage X Fenty runway
After seeing this one-of-a-kind fashion show, the lingerie giant never really stood a chance against the up-and-coming brand.
Victoria's Secret has canceled its annual fashion show. Take a look back at how the show evolved over 23 years.
See how the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and its models have evolved since the event began in 1995.
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will officially no longer be televised. Here's why that's long overdue.
Rather than focusing on a fashion show, Victoria's Secret should devote its full attention to progressing its brand.
Victoria's Secret parent company L Brands confirmed on Thursday that the iconic fashion show, which has aired annually since 1995, is cancelled.
The 23-year-old model said the first time she felt powerful modeling lingerie on the runway was at Rihanna's Savage X Fenty show.
Only 31 stores of a planned 350 have been announced for the American Dream megamall so far — here's the full list
The stores are slated to open March 2020 and will include Forever 21, H&M, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hermes, Zara, Sephora , Uniqlo, and Foot Locker.
Victoria's Secret said it would raise prices and reduce promotions as it embarks on a turnaround effort, but analysts say it’s struggling to keep to its promises
Victoria's Secret has leaned on discounts to drive traffic to its stores; analysts say discounts eat into profit margins and erode the brand image.
Victoria's Secret is losing another top exec and laying off about 50 people from headquarters as it attempts to recover from controversy and slowing sales
The head of stores is the latest high-profile departure for Victoria's Secret, which has been struggling with slowing sales and controversy.
Victoria's Secret is being applauded for hiring its first plus-size model, but the brand doesn't deserve the praise
Victoria's Secret did not hire 'plus-size' model Ali Tate — she actually works with Bluebella, a brand Victoria's Secret is now collaborating with.
Victoria's Secret is featuring a plus-size model in a new lingerie campaign as it takes steps to shed its much-criticized image
Plus-size model Ali Tate announced the news on Instagram, saying this was a "great step in the right direction for bodies."
Victoria's Secret is teaming up with a brand that has a history of criticizing the lingerie world for not being inclusive enough
Victoria's Secret is launching a collection with Bluebella on Friday. Its founder has had harsh words for the lingerie industry in the past.
'So sick, so cunning, so depraved' — Victoria's Secret boss Les Wexner is speaking out about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Wexner entrusted millions of dollars to Epstein, who reportedly posed as a talent scout for Victoria's Secret models.
The CEO of Victoria's Secret compared its 'terrible' early loungewear to a 'lousy' McDonald's Filet-O-Fish
The lingerie giant's foray into sweatpants and pajamas was like McDonald's failing to make a "damn fish sandwich."
Here are all the ultra-wealthy people spotted at Burning Man in 2019, from Ray Dalio in a tie-dye fur coat to mostly naked Victoria's Secret models
A billionaire hedge-fund manager, an heiress, a DJ, and several models all shared photos from the event on social media.
As millennial shoppers choose comfort over seduction, Victoria's Secret's 'sexy' strategy is sending them into a slump
The market share of the largest lingerie retailer in the US has dropped from 33% to 24% in just two years.
Millennials are an important demographic for brands. Here are their 105 favorite brands, according to the marketing agency Moosylvania.
Former employees reveal what the billionaire head of Victoria's Secret is like as a boss as he faces backlash over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Les Wexner has come under scrutiny for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested in July and charged with sex trafficking.
Model Kate Upton called Victoria's Secret a 'snooze fest' and criticized the brand for not being 'body inclusive'
Upton was previously criticized by Victoria's Secret Fashion Show creative director Sophia Neophitou for being "too obvious" and "like a Page 3 girl."
Major retailers including Nordstrom, Macy's, and JCPenney reportedly joined Victoria's Secret in using a modeling agency with ties to Jeffrey Epstein
In the wake of Jeffrey Epstein's death, discoveries of his wide-ranging ties to the retail industry only continue to grow.
Victoria's Secret is taking steps to shed its much-criticized image. Here are 4 things that the brand has changed this year.
Victoria's Secret had a rocky 2018. Sales slid, it closed stores, and its provocative ads were criticized as being tone-deaf in the #MeToo era.


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What good are food stamps doing to nourish the hungry if participants spend it all on junk food?
This is a common critique of nutrition assistance programs, and for a good reason. That being said, many hunger advocates counter that today’s hungry often live in communities where fresh, healthy foods aren’t available, and that tightening the nutrition criteria for these assistance programs will leave participants with nowhere to turn. After all, a little bit of junk food is better than no food at all. However, a recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior demonstrates that when nutrition assistance programs update their offerings to reflect the latest in nutrition research, the foodscape improves to benefit everyone.
Background from the study:
“Based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, the US Department of Agriculture changed the WIC Program’s supplemental food packages, addressing nutritional concerns of the panel by offering low-fat milks and whole grains, and including cash vouchers for fruits and vegetables. Before the change, WIC offered juice, milk, cereals, eggs, beans, and other foods. However, the milk was whole milk, cereals were not whole grain products, there was no option to include whole grain bread or rice, and there were no fruits and vegetables. This set of changes, the first in a generation, went into effect in most states, including Louisiana, in October, 2009.”
So what happened after these changes were introduced?
For this study, researchers visited small stores in New Orleans right when the change was introduced, and then again a year later. In 2009, only 3.7% of stores participating in the WIC program carried whole wheat bread or brown rice, but a year later, 70.4% offered whole wheat bread and 92.6% offered brown rice!
These drastic improvements aren’t just a sign of the times, but can largely be attributed to the changes in the WIC program. That’s because at non-WIC participating small stores in New Orleans in 2010, whole wheat bread was only offered at a meager 1.5% of stores, and brown rice was only offered in 12.1% of stores. Additionally, the study found that the number of varieties of fresh fruit significantly increased (from 3 to 4) at WIC stores, but not at the non-WIC stores, and average shelf space of all vegetables increased in WIC stores by about 1.2 meters.
These improvements in healthy food selection benefit all shoppers, not just those in the WIC program. Could similar improvements be made to other nutrition assistance programs? Weigh in!
Note: Despite these hopeful findings, food choices in depressed communities are in dire shape. For more on this topic, see my blog post on the link between hunger and obesity. Also, to learn more about the WIC program, see here.
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Together with the private investment firm Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P., (“Searchlight”), Roots (the “Company”) Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green announced today that they have concluded a formal agreement with Searchlight to make a significant investment in the Company to support the brand’s next phase of growth. As a result of the investment, Searchlight will hold a majority stake in the Company.
Michael and Don, together with their wives, Diane Bald and Denyse Green, both of whom have played important roles at Roots over the last 42 years, welcome this new development for Roots, which they co-founded in Toronto in 1973. One of Canada’s leading lifestyle brands employing more than 1,500 people in Canada; the Company has 220 retail locations in Canada, the United States and Asia, along with a robust ecommerce business. With its strong local and international relationships, as well as its experience investing in other heritage brands, Searchlight believes it can add significant value to Roots as the Company continues to expand.
“Don and I are extremely excited about this new development because of what it means for the future of Roots,” said Michael Budman. “Before making this decision we had extensive discussions and meetings with Searchlight’s co-founders, Erol Uzumeri and Eric Zinterhofer, over a period of several months. We were impressed by how well they understood and respected our brand. Not only do they have relevant experience, international expertise and financial resources to draw on, but they are also committed to Roots staying true to its longstanding values, culture and quality products.”
Don and Michael will remain actively involved in Roots and will be substantial shareholders.
“We are thrilled by this partnership,” added Don Green. “We have partnered with the Searchlight team as a result of their passion for Roots and their strong consumer experience with other exceptional brands. We are excited about the future of Roots and looking forward to working in collaboration with Erol, Eric and the rest of the team at Searchlight to realize the brand’s significant growth potential.”
“Our investment will enable Roots to support its long-term growth ambitions,” said Canadian Searchlight co-founder Erol Uzumeri. “As one of the few iconic Canadian heritage brands, we see significant growth potential for Roots in both Canada and internationally across multiple distribution channels. We look forward to working with Michael and Don and the rest of the Roots team.”
Advisors to Don and Michael in the transaction include Goodmans LLP (legal counsel), Generation Capital (financial advisors), WBM Partners LLP (financial and tax advisors), and Threadstone Partners LP (financial advisors). Advisors to Searchlight Capital Partners in the transaction included Torys LLP (legal counsel), Northwest Atlantic (Canada) Inc. (retail estate advisors), KPMG (financial and tax advisors), AON (insurance advisor), Category One (commercial advisors). The Toronto-Dominion Bank is providing debt financing for the transaction.
Established in Toronto in 1973, Roots is Canada’s leading lifestyle brand, recognized around the world for its quality merchandise – leather bags, footwear, jackets, apparel, athletic wear, accessories, and home furnishings. Roots has 220 retail stores in Canada, the United States and Asia, in addition to a successful ecommerce business. It also has a state-of-the-art factory and distribution centre in Toronto, both located near the company’s headquarters where all Roots products are designed.
About Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P.
Searchlight is a global private investment firm with offices in Toronto, New York and London. Searchlight seeks to invest in businesses where its long term capital and strategic support accelerate value creation for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.searchlightcap.com.


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Felling Trailers Inc. a leader in industrial trailer manufacturing, received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Development Center – Midwest, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Women’s Business Development Center – Midwest is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.
“Becoming WBENC-Certified WBE was a goal that Bonnie (Radjenovich, vice president of human resources and co-owner), and myself (president/CEO/co-owner) set to achieve a couple of years ago to foster continued growth for our company,” said Brenda Jannissen, CEO of Felling Trailers. “In recent years we have been asked if we held this certification, as it is a piece that many of our business partners looking to diversify their supply chains are guided by. It is truly satisfying seeing the certification process come to completion knowing that this is another door of opportunity for the continued growth of our family business.”
By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs.
Felling Trailers is based in Sauk Centre, Minn.


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A strategic alliance between SoCal Penske Professional Vehicles and Acton Fleet Sales creates a convenient coast-to-coast one-stop-shop for limousine operators looking to buy the Lincoln MKT Town Car, Chrysler 300 Limited, and Cadillac XTS livery sedan.
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Two leading chauffeured vehicle dealerships formally unveiled a cooperative partnership Wednesday night that puts sales and service of all domestic brand limousine vehicles — Ford/Lincoln, GM/Cadillac and Chrysler — into one coast-to-coast network.
Acton Fleet Sales in Acton, Mass., and Southern California Penske Professional Vehicles of Torrance, Calif., finalized a non-equity based business alliance in recent weeks that will enable limousine operators nationwide to one-stop shop for the 2013 Lincoln MKT Town Car, Chrysler 300 Limited, and 2013 Cadillac XTS livery sedan, along with all domestically built luxury SUV models used by chauffeured transportation companies. Acton and SoCal Penske remain as separately incorporated companies.
The venture combines the sales expertise and resources of Bill Cunningham, general manager of Acton Fleet Sales, Coleman Hoyt, dealer/president of Acton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, both in Acton, Mass., Phillip M. Hartz, manager member of SoCal Penske Professional Vehicles in Torrance and Cerritos, Calif., and Greg Maddock, formerly of Lockhart Cadillac in Indianapolis, Ind., who will be the West Coast director for the sales network. Maddock will relocate to Southern California.
The formal announcement was made almost simultaneously on Wednesday at two major industry annual events: the Greater California Livery Association Vehicle Expo & Tradeshow in Costa Mesa, Calif., and the New England Livery Association Seminar and Trade Show in Worcester, Mass.
Under the arrangement, operators can get chauffeured vehicles serviced through the venture’s nationwide dealership network. It also can ship vehicles to operators anywhere in the U.S.
In an interview before the California announcement, Cunningham and Hartz told LCT that the simplicity of having sales, delivery, service and parts in one nationwide shop can help operators handle all the questions and decisions surrounding fleet acquisitions in the wake of the Lincoln Town Car Executive L sedan retiring last year.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty out there,” Cunningham said. “I still get calls from operators every day who don’t know what to do.”


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A new study has revealed that the average American consumer wasted almost half a kilogram of food per day over a seven year period. The study titled the “Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability” was published in full, and explains that some previous studies that link diet quality and sustainability often don’t include food waste.
This new study tries to “address this important research gap […] examine the relationship between food waste, diet quality, nutrient waste, and multiple measures of sustainability: use of cropland, irrigation water, pesticides and fertilizers.”
Consumer habits of Americans between 2007 and 2014 were studied, and they found that food waste had used 30 million acres of cropland, 1.8 billion pounds of nitrogen fertiliser, 780 million pounds of pesticides and 4.2 trillion gallons of irrigation water.
These figures were gathered by the researchers using a biophysical simulation model on food waste and environmental sustainability and the “analysis finds that US consumers wasted 422g of food per person daily.”
Not only is food waste burning a hole in consumer’s pockets, the environmental maintenance costs are high. The study concluded that “practically, increasing consumers’ knowledge about how to prepare and store fruits and vegetables will be an essential component to reducing food waste.
“A number of important efforts have been proposed or are underway to reduce and repurpose food waste at the individual and institutional levels, yet further research is needed to better understand the comparative effectiveness of these efforts.”
What are your tips to help reduce food waste?


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21-11-2016 by redazione
The Malindi Safaricom change the headquarters of the main store to the public. Since yesterday the main Kenyan telephone company has moved its shop windows and its doors from the shop (now become too small) in Kenyatta Road (one hundred meters after the Orange, on the same side) to the new headquarters inaugurated yesterday under the columns of the FN Centre, next to the two equity and DTB banks. The new store is great almost double the previous year and the doors have the counter for the wait, with the receipts. The hope is that you avoid the often very long queues that formed in the old store.
MPESA, the revolutionary service invented in Kenya by Safaricom, is 10 years old and decides for the first time to operate an important upgrade to improve service and make it more modern and accessible to any form of payment in an...
We knew since last december that the French of Orange had left the Kenyan branch of the company in the hands of the Government of Kenya, since June this is operational and something changes for users, especially the internet and...
After Kilifi and Watamu, optical fiber are coming also in Malindi, where they are placing cables for super-fast internet connection for every supplier.
Yesterday morning the workers of "Faiba" companies were at work, digging away from the office of Orange, opposite...
A day of hardships by the Kenyan telephone operator Safaricom (Vodafone affiliate) have put the entire country in crisis, especially with regard to blocking payment transactions Mpesa, the method most used by Kenyans to send and receive money and to...
by Leni Frau
According to experts, this is the longest-lived marathon runner in the world, but ...
One of the serious problems of Kenya and its coastal regions is decreasing positively from...
Mpesa and other payment services linked to the use of mobile telephony are up sharply in 2017 compared with the previous year.
According to data provided by the Kenyan Communications Authority, money sent by mobile phones and money to pay...
by Freddie del Curatolo
Which better vehicle than music to fuel the exchange of cultures, integration and collaboration between...
by Claudia Peli
This morning I went to the office of Safaricom to register my sim card.
The clerk kindly said to me to sit down in the queue and Wait my turn.
I Looked around and I have not seen any row.


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Jaguar has already surprised enthusiasts with two-tone black gloss D-pillars on the XJ and, more recently, on the new XF Sportbrake estate. Now Car Magazine has snapped some spy shots of Jaguar’s XJ two-tone black gloss limo prototype in Coventry, England.
It’s a metallic grey regular-wheelbase XJ, but with black gloss front bumper assembly and rear valance. The look is quite shocking for a Jaguar and looks almost as if Ian Callum’s designers went overboard with a black gloss spray gun.
Does this mean that Jaguar will now be selling two-tone XJs? Well not exactly since this is in fact a prototype and as of now there are no plans to offer a factory-approved accessories kit with more gloss scattered around the bodywork.
While Porsche‘s first plug-in hybrid will be the exclusive and expensive 918 Spyder due next year the sports car manufacturer will be introducing even more plug-ins in the future.
While a plug-on hybrid version of Porsche’s Cayenne SUV would likely make the most sense as a hybrid with the size to carry a heavy battery and electric motor setup, insiders have revealed that a plug-in hybrid Panamera could be launched in the next two years, ready for 2014.
Speaking to Automotive News, the sources commented that the production of the vehicle will commence in 2014 and is likely to then be sold in the U.S.
While GMC’s Denali trim is a hit, for some reason the brand’s most popular crossover still doesn’t display GMC‘s signature grille. This is all about to change with the introduction of the 2013 Terrain Denali.
In the official press release, Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of GMC Marketing said that ”Denali is growing fast. With seven different models, sales for this brand within a brand increased 79 percent from 2010 to 2011. With this in mind, the decision to create a more-upscale Terrain was an easy one.”
In addition to the chrome grille, the upgraded Denali will also feature 19-inch wheels (V6 model only), satin chrome accents, body colour rocker panels and front and rear fascias, new headlights and taillights and a dual exhaust. The top terrain’s interior will also show-off some high end design with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mahogany wood accents, a soft-touch instrument panel with French stitching, Denali-embossed leather seats and illuminated Denali sill plates.
Since first making its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, one year on, the first examples of the Pagani Huayra are ready to be delivered to customers around the world.
In the U.S. however, customers will have to wait a little longer as Pagani deal with local regulatory certification, although the company is confident that the vehicles will arrive at their shores in 2013.
To get enthusiasts excited about the arrival of the new supercar, Pagani has released a short documentary film highlighting the Huayra’s development and manufacturing process.
As Pagani explains, art and science, two disciplines that must walk together, hand in hand, have helped shape the design of the Huayra. This can be seen directly in the aerodynamic body, which has been designed to mimic the pattern of flowing wind. Even the car’s name is taken from the ancient name for a South American god of wind.
The production version of BMW’s i3 electric hatchback will be ready for 2013.
The team, headed by Ulrich Kranz is already well into prototyping with both i3 and i8 undergoing early on-road trials in Miramas, BMW‘s own proving ground near Marseilles, and near the Arctic Circle. First spy shots taken of the car, show a heavily camouflaged vehicle that still fails to disguise its radical proportions, large-diameter skinny wheels and the extrovert aerodynamics
The BMW i programme has been a huge undertaking for BMW, not only because of the revolutionary engineering and design concept, but also because of the scale of the whole operation which will include the production of about 100, 000 vehicles per year.
The i3 will also be joined by the i1, i5 and i8 to round up the model range that will have a significant impact on the emerging green car market. The proposed i range features: The i3 four-door hatchback in late 2013, the i8 two-door 2+2-seater coupe in early 2014, The i5 high-roof long-wheelbase five-seater wagon/MPV hybrid potentially in 2015 and the i1 2+2-seater short-wheelbase city car potentially in 2016.
The stunning new Lamborghini Aventador J Roadster, recently revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, is not just a concept car but now a real one-off production vehicle.
It’s one thing to create a convertible version of the gorgeous Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, it’s another thing entirely to take off the roof and the windscreen, fitting two small wind deflectors in front of the driver and passenger compartments as well as removing climate control and navigation. What you do get, however, is what Lamborghini calls “an utterly indescribable experience of power and dynamics.”
In order to save eight, the auto manufacturer has used a new carbon fibre fabric called “Carbonskin” that is apparently soft and supple enough to be used on the seats and interior trim.
Sold for the price of 2.1 million Euros, the Aventador uses the same 700-horsepower, 6.5-litre V12 as its hardtop kin” and Lamborghini states that the open-air J will reach speeds as high as 186 miles per hour.”
Audi recently demonstrated its new OLED lighting concept at the Audi Electronics Centre in Ingolstadt, Germany that will make future models light up like never before.
According the Stephan Berlitz, Head of Lighting Technology and Electronics at Audi, OLED is a natural extension of Audi’s own pioneering efforts integrating LED lighting into its vehicles. He said that “This homogeneous visual effect would not be possible with today’s LEDs. These are individual points of light that need additional optical devices – reflectors, optical conductors or scatter optics. OLED surfaces are themselves the source of light, and the thin plates also look attractive. They weigh little, light up extremely fast, develop only a small amount of heat, last for several tens of thousand hours and don’t consume any more energy than conventional light-emitting diodes. OLEDs suit Audi perfectly because they combine high-end technology, maximum precision and super design!”
In an effort to keep the wave of media attention going for the recently revealed F12 Berlinetta, the new 599 successor, Ferrari has recently released a few new promo vidoes.
The F12 Berlinetta is the most powerful road car ever produced by the Italians with the 6262cc V12 deploying 730bhp at 8500rpm and 509lb ft at 6000rpm. In terms of its actual speed, Maranello quotes ‘over 340kph’ reaching 0-62mph in just 3.1 seconds
The video below, titled ‘The final sound check on the track’ focuses only on the sound of the supercar. Unfortunatelyit shows only the camouflaged prototype and not the actual finished model. I definitely heard a roar in there somewhere.
Watch the promo video below:
Source: World Car Fans


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Connor McDavid Autographed Edmonton Oilers White Pro Jersey - UDA
During the summer of 2022 the Edmonton Oilers made the announcement that they were switching back to their classic royal blue on orange home uniforms and royal blue on white road uniforms for the upcoming 2022-2023 season. Currently the team had been wearing home uniforms featuring a dark navy blue on orange and road uniforms with dark navy blue on white. The switch back to the classic was a call back to the days of when Gretzky played. The team announced on its social media accounts “A Classic Returns” with photos of the throwback jerseys side by side photos of Gretzky wearing the same style jersey holding the cup. With Connor McDavid at the helm as captain the Oilers are looking forward to bringing the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton for the first time since 1990.
This authentic Edmonton Oilers white Adidas jersey is autographed by Connor McDavid. McDavid’s signature was witnessed by an Upper Deck representative as part of UDA’s 5-step authentication process.


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Microsoft Isn't Building a 4K, 240fps, $400 Xbox Next
Despite rumors to the contrary, Microsoft isn't launching a 240fps Xbox Next. Sony isn't, either.
New Details Leak on Project Scarlett, Microsoft's 2020 Streaming Xbox
New details have leaked on Microsoft's upcoming streaming-focused Xbox Next console, codenamed Scarlett.
Report: AMD Built Navi for Sony PS5, Delayed Vega to Do It
AMD's Vega development process may have been more troubled than we realized, with resources also pulled to finish Navi -- a chip Sony may have specifically commissioned for the PlayStation 5.
Microsoft's Next-Generation Xbox 'Scarlett' Reportedly Arriving in 2020
The next-generation Xbox is coming in 2020 according to various sources, setting up the stage for the next major generation in the console wars.


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Saudi-based start-up Retailo, a business-to-business (B2B) platform for retail supply chains, has acquired Dubai’s e-commerce marketplace DXBUY for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition, which follows a Series A investment round early this year that raised $36 million, is part of the company’s growth strategy in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) region, according to a statement.
DXBUY’s digital platform operates in the food and beverage, grocery and retail segment, connecting businesses like restaurants and cafes with manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors.
With the acquisition, DXBUY will be able to capitalise on the the growing hotel, restaurant and café market in MENAP, which is forecast to reach $60 billion in less than five years.
(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria )


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Smuggling ring dismantled by Greek-British operation
Authorities in Iraklio, Crete, on Friday detained 12 suspected members of a criminal racket believed to be smuggling undocumented immigrants from Greece to other European Union member-states including the United Kingdom.
The arrests were carried out following a joint operation between Hellenic Coast Guard officials and the UK’s National Crime Agency.
Authorities also detained 110 undocumented migrants believed to have been destined for relocation from the island to Western and Northern Europe.
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The Federal Reserve board announced another rate hike today in a widely predicted move. The new benchmark Federal Funds Rate has been raised to a target range of 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent.
What happens when the Fed raises rates?
Consumers should be aware of the rate hike for a simple reason: Lenders and banks base their interest rates on the federal funds rate, so when the benchmark increases or decreases, it can impact rates on products like credit cards, savings accounts, auto loans, mortgage rates, and more.
Here’s a quick explainer:
Rising rates do not bode well for homebuyers or homeowners looking to refinance. The higher your mortgage rate is, the more expensive it is to borrow and the less sense it makes for someone to refinance in order to lock in a lower rate.
“Higher rates are decreasing housing affordability and removing the incentive to refinance for millions of borrowers,” said Tendayi Kapfidze, chief mortgage economist at LendingTree, the parent company of MagnifyMoney. “They also add to the supply problem in the housing market as homeowners with low-fixed rates are less likely to put their homes on the market.”
If you are shopping for a new mortgage now, rising rates can easily make you feel pressured to move quickly. At a minimum, you should be comparing rates online and shopping with multiple lenders before making a final decision to ensure you’re getting the best rate possible.
If you are already in the loan shopping process and you’ve found a lender that you want, you might consider locking in your rate as soon as possible.
“If you are getting your first house, don’t drag your heels so that you can lock in the low rate right now,” said David Demming, CEO of Demming Financial Services in Aurora, Ohio.
Just make sure you time your rate lock right. Mortgage rate locks tend to expire after 30 or 45 days in most cases, and it can cost you dearly to pay the lender to extend the rate lock.
Ultimately, you can’t control mortgage rates and you shouldn’t let rising rates be the only reason you’re jumping into a mortgage application. But it’s wise to keep an eye toward the rate environment if you’re in the market for a new mortgage or refi, because it does have a potentially huge impact on your borrowing costs long term.
Home equity loans also get more expensive when mortgage rates rise.
Those who have a balance on a home equity line of credit, or HELOC loan, may want to make some aggressive payments now, advises Marguerita Cheng, the CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth in Rockville, Md.
“When the prime rate goes up, the interest rate on a home equity line of credit will float up,” said Cheng.
Expect credit card debt to immediately become more expensive when the Fed raises rates, warns Kapfidze. Credit cards carry variable APRs that can fluctuate any time rates rise and fall.
“If the Fed follows through on 3 quarter-point rate hikes this year, consumers could be liable for almost $6 billion in extra credit card interest per year on $1 trillion in outstanding credit card debt, and over $15 billion compared to when the Fed started raising rates in late 2015,” Kapfidze said.
We may also see fewer banks roll out generous 0% balance transfer intro offers, or shorten the duration of these offers, he adds.
Credit card rewards could be at risk, too, in the long term. The higher rates get, the less profit credit card companies stand to gain from credit rewards.
“As transactors become less profitable, credit card issuers will start to think about how lucrative they want their rewards schemes to be,” Kapfidze said.
Savings and deposit accounts
For savers, however, a rate hike could be good news. You might start to earn more on the cash you have stashed in savings accounts, money market funds and CDs. Rates on these products are much lower than prior to the recession but a fed rate hike might make them a little bit more lucrative.
We’ve already seen banks, especially online lenders that typically offer higher rates than traditional brick-and-mortar banks, react swiftly to rising rates by hiking up rates on their deposit account products.
Expect that trend to continue, says Ken Tumin, editor of DepositAccounts.com, another LendingTree-owned site and one of the biggest deposit account comparison destinations on the web.
“If savers want to see the benefit of the Fed rate hikes, they would be wise to move their money from brick-and-mortar savings accounts to internet savings accounts,” Tumin told MagnifyMoney. “If savers prefer to stay with brick-and-mortar banks, they will likely see the most rate increases on shorter-term CDs.”
In 2017, we saw the largest rate increases on internet savings accounts and 1-year CDs, which saw yield increases of 26% year over year, according to Tumin.
Car loans are one of those short-term loans you can expect to be influenced by a rise in the funds rate, but borrowers likely won’t feel much of a sting.
To get the best rate on a car loan, you should shop around for a low rate first, then make sure to negotiate the price of the vehicle. Interest rates on car loans are fixed, so if you do that, you’ll be set for a while. Heads up: the current average rate on a 60-month auto loan for a new car is 4.27 percent.
Bonds react inversely to the federal funds rate. When interest rates go up, the price of a bond goes down.
“To what degree, we don’t know,” Cheng said. “But that’s why it’s important to be prepared and have diversified investments.”
Don’t panic just because some of your bonds could lose value, adds Kristi Sullivan, the CEO of Sullivan Financial Planning. It’s all part of the cycle.
The Bottom Line
As the Fed looks to raise rates each quarter this year, you should think about your entire financial picture before letting rate behavior sway you in any one direction. The general expectation is that rates will continue to increase as the economy strengthens. Keep an eye on your interest rates and maintain a diverse portfolio, and you should be prepared for whatever happens.


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For the first time since the fourth quarter of 2009, consumers' credit card delinquency rate rose this past quarter, a new report indicates.
According to TransUnion, the ratio of of borrowers 90 or more days past due rose to 0.71 percent between July and September, which translates to an increase of $63 per borrower. This puts the average consumer approximately $4,800 in debt, which historically is a low amount.
Ezra Becker, vice president of research and consulting of TransUnion's financial services business unit, attributed the rise to more people applying for credit cards, specifically those who have a spotty credit history.
"One such driver is the changing risk profile of consumers opening new credit card accounts," said Becker. "In the face of competition for prime consumers and the clear deleveraging efforts of those consumers, lenders have been gradually shifting their focus to the sub-prime market."
She added that with more high-risk customers opening credit cards and few low-risk consumers doing the same, it's inevitable that delinquency rates will jump as a result.
Occasionally, creditors may suspect a borrower is high risk due to inaccurate or unfair marks left on their credit report. These discrepancies may require credit repair services.


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By TRAVIS CRUM
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Every year there seems to be a fad diet promising to help people lose weight and get healthier.
In 2018, there was the rise of the ketogenic diet, or the “keto” diet, which are foods low in carbs and high in healthy fat content designed to deplete the body’s glucose storage and burn off weight. There was also the paleo diet, eating only foods that were available to our ancestors, and the alkaline diet, which promotes foods high in acidity and eliminates dairy, grains and refined sugars.
These diets come with their own pros and cons, but going into 2019 there may be a simpler way to get healthier, said Kelsey Abad, marketing manager of The Wild Ramp in Huntington. Abad recommends replacing processed foods and foods high in sugary content with items that are fresher and produced locally.
See more from The Herald-Dispatch


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How many major organizational changes has your company been through in the last five years, and did those changes create value? In new MIT CISR research, we studied over 700 companies to understand how companies unlock new digital value.[foot]This research is based on the MIT CISR 2022 Future Ready Survey (N=721) plus interviews with eight CEOs conducted in 2021–2022 and case vignettes of five large companies in manufacturing, medical technology, financial services, and real estate.[/foot] We found that a company must perform organizational surgery,[foot]As part of a digital transformation journey, organizational surgery is one of four “explosions”—significant, disruptive changes—that a company must anticipate and manage. Surgery involves changes that remove organizational complexity and help the company focus on producing integrated customer offerings. For more, see S. L. Woerner and P. Weill, “Update on the Four Pathways to Future Ready,” MIT CISR Research Briefing, Vol. XXI, No. 2, February 2021, https://cisr.mit.edu/publication/2021_0201_PathwaysUpdate_WoernerWeill. [/foot] also known as restructuring or reorganization, often many times to create such value. The companies in our research underwent on average 7.2 major organizational changes in the last five years—but the results were worth the disruption, as the companies grew well above their industry average.
The top-performing companies on growth in our study used four distinct organizational levers to unlock value. We found that the companies in the top quartile of effectiveness at performing organizational surgery using these four levers were also top financial performers, growing at almost 12 percentage points above their industry average; and leaders in innovation, with 45 percent of their annual revenue coming from new products introduced in the last three years.
In this briefing we describe the four levers and illustrate them with examples from financial services companies ANZ and Standard Bank Group.


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Manufacturer partners with endurance event specialists to showcase waterproofing on Xperia Z3 series
Sony has announced that it will become the official smartphone and smartwatch sponsor for endurance event series Tough Mudder 2015.
Devices such as the Sony Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and Sony Smartwatch 3 will be used to catalogue, provide highlights and track fitness levels at the event, in which teams face a challenges across a gruelling obstacle course.
The event runs worldwide, with the first due to be held in later this month. Sony will also recruit members to join its own team, which will compete in the event and use Sony’s smartwear and Lifelog App to track their progress.
Sony Mobile marketing director for North West Europe Catherine Cherry said: “Fitness is a key passion point for our consumers and we’re seeing SmartWear and smartphones play an increasingly important role in this space.
“Tough Mudder is a great opportunity for us to not only highlight the industry leading features of our devices, but to use SmartWear to its greatest potential and influence our personal wellbeing.”


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Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.4/ Trend F.Karimov/
Exports of textiles and clothing from Iran have increased 13 per cent in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year which began on March 21, compared to the same period in the past year, IRNA quoted Iran's industry ministry official Ne'matollah Mardani as saying.
The national textile industry has developed notably in recent years, he said.
More than 95 per cent of textile manufacturing units are being run by the private sector, he added.
According to statistics, the textile industry absorbs five per cent of all industrial investments, runs 11 per cent of the total industrial units and holds 12 per cent of the total industrial jobs.
In September, Mardani said that some of the state-run textile manufacturing units were closed down after privatisation.
Meanwhile, Mehdi Mahmoudi, an official at the association of Iranian textile producers has said legal and illegal imports hold a 40 per cent share in Iran's textile market.
In October 2012, Iranian industry ministry official Mehdi Eslampanah said that regional countries as well as South America are the main targets for Iranian textile products.
More than 9770 industrial units are working in different fields in this regard including textile, clothing, leather and shoes, according to reports.
Carpet, shoes and leather materials are among the textile product exports to other countries.


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Charleston-area animal groups protest Summerville pet store's puppy sale practice
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCIV) —
Several Charleston-area animal advocacy groups and shelters are worried a local pet store's alleged sales practices will set back years of efforts to reduce shelter populations in the Lowcountry.
The Charleston Animal Society, Pet Helpers, Dorchester PAWS and other organizations are holding a press conference Thursday morning to announce opposition to Petland, a pet store in Summerville.
The groups say they no longer support the store after learning it sells puppies from commercial breeders at its Summerville location, rather than adopting out local shelter animals.
The groups also criticize Petland, saying it doesn't spay or neuter the puppies prior to selling them. Combined, the advocacy groups say the two issues will lead to more dogs in shelters, and ultimately more pets being euthanized.
Petland Summerville says on its Facebook page that it "support(s) professional breeders who spend their lives raising happy and healthy puppies."
"We do not support puppy mills. We support with professional breeders, rescues, AND shelters," the company said in replies to customers criticizing the sales practice on its Facebook page. "Many of our team members volunteer and foster as well. We do not support euthanasia. We believe that we can find a home for all dogs by creating good partnerships and helping our community reduce the number of dogs in shelters and rescues."


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Coca-Cola has once again delved into the '90s archives to bring back a nostalgic favorite.» Read More
Mondelez reported better-than-expected earnings, with CEO Irene Rosenfeld citing one factor as a key.
What man doesn't want to live like James Bond? Now you can, with CNBC's guide to eating, drinking, dressing and traveling like Bond, inspired by "Spectre."
Diamond Foods said it will be acquired by snacks maker Snyder's-Lance for about $1.91 billion, including about $640 million in debt.
Lavazza dominates the Italian coffee market share. Can it beat Starbucks in the US by marketing itself as a premium brand?
The chain introduced a patty topped with bacon, crispy onion strings and crumbled Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, reports USA TODAY.
At many neighborhood bars, one day it's bottom's up, and the next day its lease is up.
Do you really want to know what's in a hot dog? Well, Clear Food did, and their results may make you a little queasy.
Move over Pumpkin Spice Latte, there's a new Halloween treat scaring up the menu at Starbucks: the vampire-inspired Frappula Frappuccino.
Well known for its signature fries, McDonald's is testing out a new spin on them, made with sweet potatoes.
Kellogg revealed five new flavors for its Pop Tarts breakfast pastries during the Food City Food Show in Tennessee last week.
Fewer turkeys in September will likely mean higher prices this Thanksgiving after a bird flu outbreak wiped out more than nine million turkeys.
Fancy a restaurant-grade meal but just can't get off your couch or office desk? Rocket Internet-backed Foodora will help you with that.
It's been called "the burger horrified the internet," but McDonald's says its Modern China burger, complete with grey buns, is selling just fine.
The LA Metropolitan Water District is moving toward a program that could eventually result in human waste water being turned into drinking water.
Want to hear about all-day breakfast? Well, the chain's chief isn't ready to talk...yet.
The fast food giant delivered fresh evidence to investors its prolonged turnaround effort is working.
Have $2? McDonald's wants to change what your spare change can buy at its restaurants.
Despite Chipotle's earnings miss, an analyst says that there is still hope for the fast casual restaurant chain in the coming years.
When it comes to buzz, food reigns supreme. A new ranking shows which chains generate the most in-person mentions.
Coke reported quarterly earnings that beat Wall Street estimates but revenue was down due to a stronger dollar.


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In May 1939, some anonymous youngster paid a dime for a comic book introducing a new superhero called Batman. On Wednesday, Harold Anderson of Florence, Ala., bought it for $50,000.
But Batman`s debut issue of Detective Comics was not the most expensive item at the first auction of comics art ever conducted by Sotheby`s, the Manhattan auction house that usually is occupied with the sale of antiques and masterworks of art.
An original oil-on-canvasboard portrait of a nude ''Vampirella,'' painted in 1969 by illustrator Frank Frazetta when he created her for Warren Publications, went to an anonymous telephone bidder for $70,000.
Sotheby`s had estimated the value of the Batman comic book at $24,000 to $28,000, and the Frazetta painting at $40,000 to $50,000.
Anderson, 26, president of Treat Company Inc., which packages
''contemporary collectible'' comic books and baseball cards for such retailers as Waldenbooks and Wal-Mart, said the $50,000 he paid for the mint condition 52-year-old comic book was ''about twice what I planned on spending.''
''Comic books are on the ground floor of a collectible explosion led by baseball cards,'' he said. ''We plan to turn what we buy here today into a traveling museum and take it on a tour of small towns. Kids in small towns have no other opportunity to see this sort of thing, and it really generates excitement for comic books.''
Anderson had to fight hard against an anonymous competitor to win his Batman, but he said he more than made up for the steep price with his purchase of the first Marvel Comic ever published, also in 1939. He paid only $26,000 for it, and Sotheby`s had estimated its value at $40,000 to $50,000.
''Marvel No. 1 was a real steal,'' he said.
Anderson was the most active bidder at the auction, spending about $200,000 on comic books and related art. Some 300 bidders, most of them in their 30s and 40s, turned out for the auction.
One of them, dressed in a Spiderman suit, paid $14,000 for history`s second Marvel Comic, introducing Submariner. He claimed his real name was Peter Parker (Spiderman`s alter ego), and that he was bidding as a
representative of the Marvel Entertainment Group.
Sotheby`s spokeswoman Laura Stewart said the auction attracted ''a fairly even mix'' of dealers, like Anderson, and private collectors, most of whom appeared to be restricting their bids to the $500 to $3,000 range, but all had one thing in common-their reverence for comic books.
During a break in the auction, they gathered in enthusiastic huddles talking comics, reading comics, trading comics and eagerly studying lots still destined for the block.
''I`ve been busy, so I`ve gotten terribly behind,'' one man who appeared to be in his late 40s complained to a group of friends. ''I`ve got a dozen Spiderman books at home now, and I haven`t opened one of them. And you really have got to read them in sequence, you know,'' he said without a trace of levity.
The nearly 500 ''lots'' at auction ranged from rare single books through original artwork to packages of as many as 50 comic books. Historically, they ranged from a newspaper cartoon drawn in 1896 by R.F. Outcault, an artist of the ''Yellow Kid'' era, to the superhero team, the X-Men.
There were some large bids and spirited floor fights as determined bidders squared off against each other, waving numbered paddles to drive up the price.
Not all the coveted titles were antiques. Bill Woo, proprietor of an outlet called Comicmania in Stanton, Del., paid $40,000 for 37 pages of original artwork that made up a 1991 edition of the new X-Men series, and $39,000 for artwork for the complete comic book of Marvel`s first X-Force issue. Another group of 25 X-Force comics, valued at $4,000 to $6,000, was sold to an anonymous bidder for $12,000.
For all the hefty bids, however, the auction in general fell well below Sotheby`s estimates. Nearly half the items offered sold below the lowest estimate, and only 36 topped the highest projection. It was a phenomenon Stewart said the auction house will analyze before its next auction in the genre.
And there will be a next auction. Auctioneer David Redden, senior vice president at Sotheby`s, said he was pleased with the results.
''Following all of the excitement and conjecture as to the auction value of these works, it was satisfying to discover where the market for this material truly lay,'' he said. ''We look forward to our next sale.''
Even with inflated estimates on the material, drawn from many private collections, Sotheby`s came off well. Every successful bidder paid Sotheby`s a ''buyer`s premium'' commission of 10 percent of the purchase price, and total take at the auction, commissions included, was $1.2 million.
As Redden put it when the anonymous Spiderman bought his $14,000 comic book, ''I really do love superheroes.''


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Brokers should follow the example of their counter-parts in the life sector and become "trusted advisers" if they wish to flourish, according to the chief executive of Standard Life.
Trevor Matthews said research undertaken by Standard Life identified a number of barriers to consumers using the services of a financial adviser.
These barriers included the fear of over selling, fear of commission bias and a growing perception on the part of many consumers that they can "do it for themselves".
Matthews said that financial advisers had managed to overcome these barriers by moving from a traditional sales model - prospecting, commission payments and product selling skills - to a "trusted adviser" model, meaning fewer clients paying by fee rather than commission.
Matthews argued that financial services companies must try harder to put customers at the heart of what they do and build up levels of trust. "We need to counter some of the problems regarding perceived commission bias and over-selling," he said. "There is a demand for advice, and we need to fill it by providing access to expertise."
He also argued for wider adoption of the "wrap" platform model, where a single relationship with the consumer provides access to a range of products and services: "We need to shift perspective away from the way we've always done things to the way today's customers want things to be done," he said. "We need to develop flexible propositions that match contemporary requirements."


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Amazon Shatters NFL Streaming Record with $120M Playoff Deal
Amazon’s Prime Video has secured the exclusive rights to stream one NFL playoff game in 2025, setting a new benchmark for the value of digital sports broadcasting.
Prime Video’s Historic Agreement with the NFL
According to sources from Front Office Sports, Prime Video will pay the NFL an estimated $120 million for the rights to broadcast one postseason game after the 2024 regular season. This is the highest amount ever paid by a streaming service for a single NFL game, surpassing the $110 million that NBCUniversal’s Peacock paid for a wild-card game this season.
Prime Video’s deal with the NFL is part of a larger 10-year agreement that was finalized in 2021, making the streaming giant the exclusive home for Thursday Night Football starting with the 2023 season. Prime Video will also stream one Black Friday game per season, as it did in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins-New York Jets matchup.
The Rising Demand for Streaming Sports Content
The NFL’s decision to sell the streaming rights to one playoff game reflects the growing popularity and influence of digital platforms in the sports media landscape. More and more fans are opting to watch their favorite teams and events online, either through subscription-based services or free social media platforms.
According to NBCUniversal, the Peacock streaming service had the biggest live-streamed event in U.S. history with an average audience of 23 million viewers for the Dolphins-Kansas City Chiefs playoff game on Jan. 132. Research firm Antenna estimated that Peacock got 2.8 million sign-ups over wild-card weekend, making it the single biggest subscriber acquisition event tracked by the company.
The NFL is not the only sports league that is embracing streaming as a way to reach new and younger audiences. The NBA, MLB, NHL, and PGA Tour have all partnered with various streaming services to offer live and on-demand content to their fans. Some of the most popular streaming platforms for sports include ESPN+, Hulu, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and DAZN.
The Challenges and Opportunities for Prime Video
Prime Video’s record-breaking deal with the NFL is a sign of its ambition and confidence in the streaming market. The company is reportedly paying the NFL around $1 billion per year as part of its 10-year agreement, which is more than double what Fox paid for the previous Thursday Night Football contract.
However, Prime Video also faces some challenges and risks in its venture into sports streaming. One of them is the competition from other streaming services and traditional broadcasters, who may offer more attractive packages or exclusive content to lure away viewers. Another challenge is the quality and reliability of the streaming experience, which may suffer from technical glitches, buffering issues, or piracy.
Prime Video will also have to prove that it can deliver high ratings and engagement for its NFL playoff game, which may depend on factors such as the teams involved, the time slot, and the marketing strategy. The company’s first Black Friday game in 2023, featuring the Dolphins and the Jets, only drew 9.6 million viewers on Prime Video, compared to the 34.1 million viewers that the three Thanksgiving Day games averaged.
Nevertheless, Prime Video has a unique opportunity to showcase its capabilities and creativity as a sports streaming service and to attract new and loyal subscribers to its platform. The company may also leverage its other offerings, such as original shows, movies, music, and e-commerce, to enhance the value and appeal of its NFL playoff game.


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Morrisons announces major essential product change in huge green drive
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Morrisons is launching a glass milk bottle trial as part of its drive to reduce plastic and bring back traditional packaging. The glass milk bottles are priced at 90p and can be used for 10 years or more.
They are available in seven trial stores across Kent and four stores around Sheffield. They are delivered directly to Morrisons supermarkets by local dairy farms and once returned are collected and sanitised and can be reused.
The introduction of traditional glass milk bottles is expected to remove 40,000 plastic bottles from these Morrisons stores per year as well as reduce CO2 emissions – as delivery from local suppliers means milk covers shorter distances.
Natasha Cook, Packaging Manager, from Morrisons said: “We want to help our customers live their lives with less plastic.
“Reusing glass milk bottles is an easy leap for many people to make because they remember that this was how milk used to arrive on the doorstep. We are currently talking to other local dairies and hope to be able to roll out glass milk bottles across the country.”
Steve Hynd, Policy Manager from environmental organisation City to Seam said: “Milk is a prime example of a product that could and should be swapped from single-use plastic bottles to planet friendly reusable bottles.
“It is great to see Morrisons pioneering the process of delivering milk in reusable bottles in supermarket stores. We know this move is popular, with three out of four people telling us they want more refill options in shops as a way of tackling plastic pollution.
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“This is Morrisons doing not only what is right for the planet but also what their customers are telling us they want to see.”
Morrisons has committed to a 50 percent reduction across its own-brand primary plastic packaging by 2025. Initiatives introduced over the last 12 months will remove 9,000 tonnes of unnecessary or problematic plastic each year.
Over 83 percent of Morrisons own-brand plastic packaging is now able to be recycled.
In 2019, Morrisons was voted the most environmentally responsible company in the UK for its work on plastics reduction at the Responsible Business Awards, run by HRH The Prince of Wales’ Business in the Community Network.
Source: Read Full Article


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⊗Despite certain 3D printing companies, such as 3D Systems, suffering financial losses, there is good news on the horizon for the 3D printing industry..
3D Printing industry growth continues to beat all previous estimations. The growth in 2015 is more than double
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