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2019 Skoda Kodiaq RS confirmed, teased and spied
Hot SUV thrown around the Ring
The Skoda Kodiaq RS has been teased ahead of its debut at the 2018 Paris motor show, which kicks off at the beginning of October.
In the video released overnight, the Czech brand teases a "record-breaking lap" of the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife with Sabine Schmitz behind the wheel. A full video of the lap, as well as further details, will be released on June 14, European time.
It's not known at this point in time which engine will power the Kodiaq RS, but a 2.0-litre turbocharged donk of some description is pretty safe bet.
At present, the most powerful engine in the Kodiaq range is a 140kW 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, while a 132kW 2.0-litre sits atop the crossover's petrol powertrain tree.
Rumour has it the Kodiaq RS will be fitted with the 177kW/500Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine used in the top-of-the-range Volkswagen Passat in Europe.
It's possible, though, the Kodiaq RS may employ the 206kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine also seen in the range-topping Skoda Superb, and Volkswagen Passat models.
For reference sake, the smaller Octavia RS is available solely with a 180kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as part of a range revision for the 2019 model year, with the previous 169kW petrol and 135kW diesel engines sidelined to meet WLTP emissions requirements.
In addition to being officially teased, our spy photography agency has just caught the hotted-up crossover undergoing testing on public roads in the Alps.
Both prototypes feature a new front bumper design with reworked lower air intakes. We also expect to see the final car sporting lowered suspension, a revised rear bumper, RS badging, and plenty of black highlights.


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The Next Web: Twitter has quietly opened up its various analytics tools to the public, giving everyone access to in-depth data about the people and brands who follow them, as well as the performance of their most recent tweets.
Great! ... but, they are like 3 years late.
better late than never. businesses are really happy because of this.
TechSpy is a community of awesome people posting and discussing the latest tech news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.

domain: news


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Twenty-Ninth Street, between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, is a block in transition. Once dominated by knock-off purse dealers and wholesale perfumeries, this diverse stretch is now home to a hip hotel and pricey new boutiques.
It’s also the site of the Masjid Ar-Rahman mosque, and the scents of halal now mingle with those of Stumptown Coffee, the Michelin-starred Breslin Bar & Dining Room, and the Pakistani and Indian restaurant Gourmet Palace. A few doors down is the church where Donald Trump married his first wife, Ivana.
The block, residents and brokers predict, is poised for a development explosion. Local landlords say they are now raising rents for tenants, and receiving countless inquiries from developers, restaurateurs, and retailers looking to move onto the block.
“There [are] not that many areas left to develop right around Fifth Avenue,” explained Larry Rich, senior vice president of marketing at the brokerage Core, who often shows apartments in the area.
Twenty years ago, when Tracey Dewart bought a co-op at 12 West 29th Street, the area was full of “junkies and homeless people,” she recalled. Dewart, who now owns retail space in the building, said there are still people clogging up her stoop, but these days, they are well-coiffed Ace Hotel guests and Stumptown devotees.
“Actually, there are more coffee-drinkers than there were junkies,” Dewart said. “I’m not sure which [is] better.”
The biggest catalyst for change in the area has been the transformation of the single-room-occupancy Hotel Breslin into the hipper-than-thou Ace Hotel.
Since the Ace opened in 2009, young, creative types have started moving into the area, their sights set on prewar real estate with a proximity to nightlife, said Rich. He noted, however, that the area is not yet prime residential real estate.
“The ladies who lunch are not going down to 29th Street,” he said. “These are the trendy pioneers.”
And there is more to come. “This is the very beginning of it,” Rich said. “Something’s happening here.”
This month, The Real Deal went building by building to get a closer look.
264 Fifth Avenue
Shamiana International bought this 14-unit rental building in 1982, according to city records. The ground floor of the 83-year-old structure has three small stores, including Royal Sari House and Lakhani Sportswear. But the loss of other nearby T-shirt and luggage stores is hurting retailers like these. “They depend on the presence of multiple storefronts to make the business work, and when the Ace moved in, it shut down several stores,” Dewart said. “Those who have tried to stay are having trouble.” Kaufman Management’s Kathy Morrow, who manages 264 Fifth, said monthly residential rents range from $1,800 for small studios to $3,400 for larger one-bedrooms. The owner is currently repairing the façade and replacing the roof, Morrow said, and will raise rents once the work is done. In the last year, Morrow said the owner has seen an increase in inquiries about purchasing the building, which isn’t for sale. Retailers have regularly expressed interest in combining some of the smaller storefronts into one space, which Morrow said is possible if there’s turnover among the ground-floor tenants. She declined to give asking rents for the retail stores, but Jason Pruger, an executive managing director at Newmark Knight Frank Retail, estimated that the spaces would likely lease for $100 to $125 per square foot.
6-10 West 29th Street
This 16,000-square-foot Central Parking System lot is sandwiched between 28th and 29th streets. According to PropertyShark, it’s been owned since the 1960s by Philmar Realty Corp. Neighborhood insiders said the site has never been developed, largely because the 28th Street side is in the Madison Square Park North Historic District.
12 West 29th Street
Dewart owns the two bottom floors of this building; the upper floors are occupied by the seven-unit co-op where she lives. For years, Dewart said, her retail tenants sold T-shirts and knock-off purses — occasionally, she’d be surprised to see them get busted by the cops. Today, she’s hoping to lease the now-vacant, 4,000-square-foot space to an artist, like Robert Hite, the painter, photographer and sculptor who had a temporary gallery there last winter. While restaurants often inquire about the space, she said, the co-op shareholders don’t want an eatery on the premises. Dewart said she’s asking around $50 per square foot for her retail space, which comes to about $2,000 a month more than she’s charged past tenants. Other owners, too, are charging more. On the residential side, a one-bedroom unit in the building, which rented for $4,500 in April, jumped to $4,950 in August, according to StreetEasy. Dewart said the area “has always been full of artists and architects and graphic designers,” but the Ace “put us on the map.”
14 West 29th Street
Gentrification often leads to conflict, as restaurateur Ken Friedman learned in 2009, when he made plans to open a dive bar on the ground floor of this landmarked building, owned by the Lillian Goldman Family Foundation. (Goldman was the wife of the late Sol Goldman, a real estate tycoon who had amassed New York’s largest private real estate empire when he died in 1987, with more than 600 properties. After years of battling over his estate, Lillian ended up with approximately one-third of it.) The building has rental apartments upstairs and retail space on the ground floor. To make way for Friedman’s bar, building management evicted the two retail tenants, including clothing wholesaler Bhopi International. But after complaints about alcohol consumption from the mosque across the street (another factor, reportedly, was a Breslin event that featured chef Fergus Henderson cooking whole pigs for a crowd of foodies), Friedman agreed to move the bar to the Breslin basement. Now, restaurant management said that project isn’t going forward either. The ground-floor retail spaces at 14 West 29th Street are still boarded up. Pruger estimated that the landlord could likely command a rent of $75 to $100 per square foot for the space, slightly more for a restaurant. “Even next to the Ace, it’s still a side street,” he noted.
16 West 29th Street: The Breslin Bar & Dining Room
On the ground floor of the Ace Hotel is The Breslin Bar & Dining Room, from Spotted Pig restaurateurs Friedman and April Bloomfield. Since opening in 2009, the Breslin has become one of the city’s most popular — and hard-to-get-into — restaurants. Pruger noted that restaurants and boutiques brought in by the Ace likely pay lower-than-market-rate rents, because the Ace sees them as an amenity for its visitors.
18 West 29th Street: Stumptown Coffee Roasters
The Ace also brought in Stumptown, the Portland, Ore.-based coffee purveyor, to provide caffeine fixes for the MacBook-toting bloggers and techies who park themselves in the hotel lobby.
20 West 29th Street: The Ace Hotel
This landmarked 1904 building is owned by LGF Enterprises, another part of the Lillian Goldman family holdings. In 2007, GFI Development Company paid $40 million for the long-term lease, and brought in Ace hotelier Alex Calderwood. With a few remaining Hotel Breslin tenants staying on as permanent residents, the 260-room hotel opened its doors in June 2009. Rates range from $169 a night for bunk beds to $800 dollars a night for a suite. The popular lobby bar draws boisterous crowds on the weekends. On the building’s Broadway side, Friedman and Bloomfield reincarnated the defunct John Dory Oyster Bar, and the Lower East Side-based boutique Opening Ceremony was one of the earliest shops to sign up for the Ace’s retail space. They’re joined by No. 7 Sub, a sandwich shop that garners long lines at lunchtime.
22 West 29th Street: No. 8a
The Ace opened No. 8A, a travel and design shop, here in February 2010. It’s run by Elizabeth Beer and Brian Janusiak, who also own the boutiques Project No. 8 and No. 8b downtown. The stores sells travel gadgets, New York-made trinkets for travelers, and hip but easily packable clothes.
1200 Broadway: Gilsey House
Before Gilsey House went co-op in 1979, it was a hotel famed for its regulars (like writer Oscar Wilde) and for being the first New York hotel to offer phone service to its guests. Property values for the 33 apartments here have jumped around 40 percent in the last few years, to $850 to $950 per square foot, according to Jesse Meyer, a Bellmarc agent who lives in the Gilsey. Unit 5B, for example, sold for $1.65 million last year, up from $1.12 million the last time it traded, in 2004. This summer, unit 4B sold for $1.36 million. Newcomers are mostly young professionals and artists looking for a prewar loft feel, Meyer said. “The guys from the Ace really cleaned up the area,” she said, adding that the Gilsey’s retail tenants — toy, eyewear and jewelry wholesalers — have been sprucing up their retail storefronts to attract a higher-paying clientele.
13 and 15 West 29th Street
In the late 1800s, the famous opera singer John Chatterton and actress Lillian Russell lived at 13 West 29th Street. Today, the building and No. 15 next door are owned by the A.R. Rahman Foundation, an anti-poverty organization founded by Rahman, a Bollywood singer, songwriter and musician. According to StreetEasy, the foundation purchased the two apartment buildings from Auto Park Inc. in 2001 for $2.5 million. That same year, the Masjid Ar-Rahman mosque opened in the basement that connects the two structures. Gourmet Palace, a Pakistani and Indian restaurant, occupies the storefront at 13 West 29th Street. At 15 West 29th Street, the halal (which means prepared in accordance with Muslim specifications) restaurant La Sani occupies the first-floor storefront space.
9 West 29th Street
This row house was once home to wealthy tobacco merchant David McAlphin, along with his three children and eight servants. It was also the site of the high-profile theft of a diamond brooch, according to an 1869 New York Times story. Today, the five-story building, owned by PMH Realties LLC, is a combination of office and studio space. Tenants include the corporate offices of the Breslin Bar, the TV production company Spin the Bottle and the research consultancy Brand Keys. The ground floor houses a computer sales and repair shop. Tad Lowe, the CEO and founder of Spin the Bottle, said his company has been located on 29th Street for over a decade. The area’s convergence of halal and hipster is part of the reason he loves it — when the mosque’s call to prayer rings through the streets at the end of each week, Lowe said, laughing, “That’s how we know it’s Friday!”
1-5 West 29th Street
The landmarked Marble Collegiate Church is the oldest building on the block; the current structure was built in 1854 for a congregation that dates back to 1628. Famously, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale first preached on “the power of positive thinking” here. Former parishioners include Richard Nixon, and Donald Trump married his first wife, Ivana, here in 1977.


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November 24, 2003
For immediate release
Construction Begins to Food Technology Centre Expansion
Development and Technology
The expansion will accommodate the new "Atlantic Natural Products Development Initiative." Working with private sector partners, FTC will develop innovative technologies to extract high-value natural products from agricultural and marine bioresources. Natural products are growing rapidly in the global marketplace, and the Food Technology Centre is exploring new technical opportunities in this area and working on improving the quality and yield of the extracts obtained. The bioproducts include natural colours, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals from various raw materials such as lobster shell waste, seaweeds, crops and wild plants.
"The Government of Canada is proud to have committed $4.9 million to this project through the Atlantic Innovation Fund," said Wayne Easter, Solicitor General of Canada, on behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry, and Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "The cutting-edge research and development being performed at the Food Technology Centre, in partnership with private sector researchers, is directly benefiting the growth of the agri-food and seafood industries in PEI and throughout the Atlantic region."
"The Atlantic Natural Products Development Initiative at FTC is an ambitious undertaking that consists of leading edge research and development in extraction technology," said Development and Technology Minister Mike Currie. "This project will assist the FTC in expanding its service offerings in the development of new products and processes for existing and new businesses in the Province. It will also complement the recently announced NRC - Institute of Nutriscience and Health which will be built in close proximity on the UPEI campus."
FTC has a number of private sector partners involved in the project in both the development of the extraction technologies as well as the application of the technologies to the various commodities of the land and sea.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will provide $4.9 million for the project through the Atlantic Innovation Fund. The province of Prince Edward Island will provide $1.5 million to assist in the expansion. A further $1.3 million will come from private sector partners.
As well as this new activity in natural product extraction, the Food Technology Centre will continue to provide technical support to the food processing industry including product development, food safety analysis in the accredited laboratories and industry training on food safety, quality and sanitation.
The expansion is expected to be completed by March.


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Want a Pixel 5 with the Tensor chip? Google was probably testing one
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are the first Google phones to come with the company’s in-house Tensor SoC. But according to a recent finding, it appears Google started testing the new SoC on the Pixel 5 first.
XDA Recognized Developer Freak07 has uncovered evidence suggesting that the Mountain View giant was testing a Pixel 5 with a Tensor SoC. While digging through the Pixel 6 source, Freak07 came across kernel device tree files for two variants of the Tensor SoC, internally referred to as gs101. The first one is codenamed gs101-b0, while the second one is gs101-a0. We already know that gs101-b0 is the SoC in the Pixel 6 series, but it’s the first time we’re hearing about the gs101-a0.
Another interesting thing is that there are kernel device tree files for two different silicon variants of the Tensor SoC, which google internally calls gs101.
one is called gs101-a0, while the other one is gs101-b0.
gs101-b0 belongs to pixel 6 devices.
— Mile (@mile_freak07) November 10, 2021
Further digging by Freak07 shows that the gs101-a0 is related to a Pixel device codenamed Whitefin. Interestingly, Mishaal Rahman last month also spotted evidence of a device codenamed Whitefin. The device had similar specifications as the Pixel 5 but featured a Tensor SoC. This connection leads us to believe that Google was probably testing a Pixel 5 with a Tensor SoC, which never saw the light of day.
Yeah, good catch on the code-name connection! Our current hypothesis is that it’s a repurposed Pixel 5 with the Google Tensor chip. Maybe the chip wasn’t ready in time for the Pixel 5 launch? Some Googlers may have a proto P5 in the office with the Tensor tho 👀
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) October 28, 2021
While we’ll never know the exact reason why Google decided against using the Tenor SoC on the Pixel 5, it’s likely that the chipset wasn’t ready in time for the launch of the Pixel 5. It’s also possible that Google had developed the Pixel 5 prototype to test the Tensor chip before offering it to the public with the Pixel 6 series.
To recall, the Tensor SoC features an octa-core CPU setup, featuring 2x ARM Cortex-X1 cores at 2.8GHz, two ARM Cortex-A76 cores at 2.25GHz, and 4x Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.8GHz. Google claims the new chip offers 80% faster CPU performance and a whopping 370% faster graphics performance than the Pixel 5’s Snapdragon 765 SoC.


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Location data and technology platform HERE has unveiled insights from its latest global ‘On the Move’ survey developed in part with Amazon Web Services.
The survey has found what researchers call a significant gap in the adoption of basic data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), along with a lack of sustainability goals and progress toward achieving real-time supply chain visibility, among transportation and logistics (T&L) companies in the United Kingdom and around the world.
According to the survey conducted by YouGov, only 50% of logistics firms in the UK are utilising basic data analytics. This contrasts with 41% of respondents in Germany and 63% in the US.
Continuing with AI, only 19%t of UK organisations are deploying it in areas such as demand forecasting. HERE says this “underscores the untapped potential of AI” – from using machine learning to fine tuning algorithms for fleet route optimisation – to modernising logistics operations, streamline processes, and inform strategic decision-making.
While the study highlights the lack of AI utilisation, it also identifies barriers to general data technology implementation. Cost emerges as the primary obstacle hindering widespread adoption, according to 26% of logistics professionals in the UK, while 13% of respondents cite a lack of internal expertise and/or resources as a barrier. In the US. and Germany, a majority of logistics professionals express concerns about potential disruptions to current processes and services. When adopting new technologies, 76% of UK companies say they would rather approach external providers who have readily available solutions, instead of developing capabilities in-house.
Despite a global emphasis on sustainable practices, the study suggests a significant gap in the prioritisation of sustainability among logistics companies in the UK.
More than 60% of UK logistics professionals cite their operations as not currently having defined sustainability goals tailored to their T&L operations, with 33% having no plans to define such goals either.
Sustainability was ranked as the least important out of seven end-to-end supply chain and logistics management considerations in the UK, placed in seventh place by 24% of organisations. While US respondents focused primarily on drivers’ safety, T&L professionals in the UK prioritised improving customer satisfaction.
The HERE Technologies and AWS study reveals that over two-thirds of T&L professionals surveyed the UK (72%) and US (68%) believe their company is making some progress toward achieving real-time supply chain visibility. However, less than one in four respondents across each country believe their operations have made ‘significant’ progress.
Full, end-to-end supply chain visibility is hard to achieve. Consistent across all countries surveyed, T&L professionals indicate ocean freight is the mode of transportation providing the least amount of real-time visibility. Conversely, respondents in each country cited truck operations as having the highest amount of real-time visibility in their supply chain. Professionals in all regions placed real-time tracking and route optimisation as their number one and two most valued capabilities to improve their supply chain visibility.
Although improving driver routing remains a top priority for respondents, the survey reveals that logistics businesses in the UK are not fully leveraging location data. Among UK organisations, 41 percent now use location technology for driver routing, and 30 percent use it to improve on-time deliveries, but less than a third of logistics firms (28%) use this location data to optimise route planning and transport logistics.
“On one hand, this study shows the progress being made by companies towards increasing their supply chain visibility. On the other hand, it’s clear the industry currently lacks the contextual data, AI capabilities and tools needed to optimize fleet deployments, routing, and appropriate mode switching,” said Remco Timmer, Vice President of Product Management at HERE Technologies. “As a result, we’re seeing increased demand for location data and services that enable logistics companies to overcome disruptions in real-time while reducing emissions and improving employee safety in the process.”
(Picture – HERE)


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News Corporation announced today that they are shutting down the iPad-only digital newspaper publication known as The Daily effective December 15, 2012. The Daily will become part of a brand in “other channels” like The New York Post according to a News Corporation press release. The New York Post will adopt The Daily’s technology section and other components.
Dow Jones & Company Inc. Posts
The Wall Street Journal has announced that they have launched WSJ WorldStream, a global video news-gathering service and publishing platform where they will post short-form videos shot by smartphones by journalists from across the global Journal and Dow Jones news organization. The launch of WSJ WorldStream is in conjunction with the Republican National Convention (RNC) this week in Tampa, Florida.
The Wall Street Journal has launched a Facebook application today which allows people to read content from The Wall Street Journal exclusively from within the social network. The content is ad-supported. The application is called WSJ Social and it filters through content from the publication through Facebook’s social graph to provide a tailored experience for different users.
Continue reading →
CollegeHumor.com has done a great parody of the E-Trade baby while creating humor in the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock drop. Check out the video below:
After the recent Wall Street meltdown, you would figure that less people would be interested in financial jobs but now the economy is recovering. The Wall Street Journal plans to capitalize on the economic recovery by launching a financial career website called Fins.com.
Dow Jones Ventures General Manager and former Chief Revenue Officer of Jobster Kevin Hatfield is the General Manager of Fins. Fins is the first launch to come out of Dow Jones Ventures. Ann Sarnoff is leading the project. Before Fins, Dow Jones Ventures and IAC partnered on a website called FiLife which has not gained much success.
One of the biggest problems with Fins right off the bad is that there are too many job seeking website alternatives out there as of right now. If I were looking for a finance job, I’d first check TheLadders, Monster, and CareerBuilder.
The Wall Street Journal has jumped on the iPhone bandwagon. Interestingly, the iPhone application is free despite the fact that they charge for their publication on the web and on the Kindle. Last year The Wall Street Journal created a free BlackBerry application so it was expected that they made one for the iPhone too. Even though the application is free, users will be glaring at massive advertisements at the bottom of the screen. Notice the Oracle logo that is prominently placed at the bottom of the screen?
Other major publications that have built an application for the mobile device includes Bloomberg, CNN, and The New York Times. None of these charge to use the application so The Wall Street Journal had to remain competitive too.
The videos and streaming radio that is available through The Wall Street Journal application connects to the built-in YouTube application on the iPhone.
Microsoft announced yesterday that they are the exclusive provider for advertising on The Wall Street Journal web site.Â This is a big win for the Redmond, Wash.-based software conglomerate.Â Microsoft has similar deals with Digg and Facebook.
Through this deal, Microsoft will also power the ads for Barrons.com, MarketWatch.com, AllThingsD.com, and other WSJ-owned online properties.Â
â€œRelevant and targeted digital advertising is important to our business and to the quality of the experience that we deliver to our users,â€ stated Gordon McLeod, President of The Wall Street Journal Digital Network. â€œMicrosoftâ€™s state-of-the-art advertising platform will enable us to dramatically improve our revenues from this key sector, and we look forward to working together.â€
Altogether, the websites in The Wall Street Journal Digital Network generate 20 million unique visitors per month.Â The Microsoft ads will start appearing in February.
â€œThis deal is a significant win for Microsoft for two key reasons. First, it makes the extended Microsoft advertising network the premier destination for advertisers interested in reaching financially minded users, as it complements our offering in this vertical through MSN Money and other syndication partners,â€ stated Brian McAndrews, Senior VP of Advertiser and Publisher Solutions at Microsoft. â€œSecond, this deal is a strong indicator that weâ€™re gaining significant traction with our advertising platform. The Wall Street Journal Digital Network is one of the largest financial services publishers in a very dynamic vertical segment, and weâ€™re delighted to add it to our portfolio.â€
Microsoft affirmed their position in the digital advertising industry through its acquisition of aQuantive for $6 billion in May 2007.
[Information Source: Microsoft PressPass]
WSJ.com Articles That Are Submitted to Digg Will Be Free? Why Did I Renew My WSJ.com Subscription Today?
Talk about irony. I just renewed my subscription to WSJ.com for $9.95/month today and Kevin Rose up and decides that “The Wall Street Journal Online is adding Digg buttons across the entire site, and youâ€™ll now have full (free) access to the articles submitted to Digg. The Digg buttons have started appearing on WSJ.com articles tonight [Digg blog].”
Did I read that correctly? WSJ.com articles that are submitted to Digg can now be read for free? What if I use my Digg account to submit every WSJ.com article I’m interested in, just so I can read it for free and save myself the $9.95/month? Or wait, I have a better idea, how about Rupert Murdoch hurries up, buys Dow Jones and WSJ.com, and makes WSJ.com for free like he said he was going to.
Regardless, I think this is a great move for WSJ.com. Its great to see big media companies embrace Web 2.0 technologies like Digg and Sphere. Digg users will have access to more information. WSJ gets more people to read their content, thus generating higher advertising revenue. But I think for publishers like myself, WSJ adding Sphere is a bigger deal because it gives us an avenue to promote our related content and opinions on the WSJ also.


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November 4, 2022
Powerlist 2023 showcases inspiring black role models across business, science, technology, and the arts
London: 01 November 2022
Bank of Nevis International Ltd. (BONI), a leading provider of holistic wealth management, portfolio management, and fintech services for clients from around the world, sponsored the Powerlist Black Excellence Awards 2023. Other sponsors included J.P.Morgan, PwC, Meta, BP, The London Stock Exchange Group, and Mastercard.
Powerlist is the annual ranking of the UK’s most powerful people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage. At the awards ceremony, held on 28th October at the Savoy Hotel in London, Dame Sharon White, chair of the retail giant John Lewis, was named the UK’s most influential black person. Other well-known names on the list include Stormzy and Idris Elba.
The Powerlist was launched in 2007 to showcase black role models to young people. It is now regarded as the leading authority on issues of black influence. Now in its 15th year, The Powerlist honours incredible men and women across a wide range of industries including business, science, technology and the arts.
Sonia Bowen-Tuckett, Senior VP Banking, BONI, said:
“Powerlist has set out to inspire future generations by celebrating the most talented people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage in the UK. Showcasing role models is essential to ensuring diversity at all levels of organisations not matter the field.
“BONI is proud of our diverse and inclusive team supporting global clients from all parts of the world. By empowering young people from all backgrounds, businesses can ensure they reflect the world we live in, and only by doing so can they deliver the best product and most creative solutions.”
BONI’s sponsorship of the Powerlist follows a series of other recent sponsorships in St. Kitts & Nevis and around the world, including, but not limited to:
Input your search keywords and press Enter.


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Washington - LG Electronics disputed the U.S. Department of Commerce's preliminary determination of dumping margins announced today in an anti-dumping investigation of large residential washing machines imported from Korea.
LG said in a statement that, although it has just started studying the notice, the government's calculations appear to be significantly overstated. While pledging to continue to cooperate fully with the Commerce Department on this investigation, the company vowed to aggressively contest the calculations before the final determination is issued in this investigation, expected in December.
Today's preliminary determination of a 12.15 percent dumping margin for imports of LG washing machines follows the Commerce Department's "de minimis" countervailing duty preliminary determination in May, effectively finding that LG washers are not improperly subsidized by the government of Korea.
Regardless of the Commerce Department's final determinations, LG Electronics said it is confident that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will find that imports of LG washing machines from Korea have not injured the domestic industry, principally Whirlpool Corporation, which launched this investigation. The ITC's decision on the injury issue is expected in January 2013.


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We’re not a 100% certain on the specific of this one, but the Samsung SCH-R860U has cleared the FCC sporting Band 12 LTE. That band is used by US Cellular, making this phone destined for that carrier and that carrier only (sorry, Sprint fans).
The question is, does the phone run Android or Windows Phone 8? With the Galaxy S4 right around the corner and Sammy’s slightly cold support of Windows Phone 8, we’d lean on it being another Android phone. But the site Blog of Mobile, who have a pretty decent reputation for finding these filings, claims it sports Windows Phone 8.
Samsung FCC filing with device label placement
That certainly is a possibility as we know Sprint is getting a Samsung Windows Phone in the coming months, reportedly an updated ATIV S. And although Sprint doesn’t share the same LTE bands with US Cellular, they are both CDMA. It’s not uncommon to see similar phones piggy back on launches when they share radios frequencies, so that’s one angle.
Other than that, we know the phone has NFC, Wi-Fi and well, that’s it. But for customers on US Cellular, your first Windows Phone 8 device with LTE may be just around the corner. Fingers crossed.


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Google Pixel 3: India pre-orders from October 11, prices start at Rs 71,000
Google Pixel 3 64GB model will be available for Rs 71,000. The 128GB model is priced at Rs 80,000.Updated: Oct 09, 2018 23:28 IST
Google’s new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones will go on sale in India on November 1. Pre-orders for the new Google Phones start on October 11 via Flipkart, Airtel online store and offline stores like Reliance Digital and Croma.
As part of the pre-order offers, Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL will be available at a no-cost EMI starting at Rs 3,944 per month. “In addition, current Google Pixel and Nexus phone owners will have special loyalty offers from Flipkart and our participating offline retail partners including Reliance, Croma, and other leading stores,” said Google in a release.
Google Pixel 3 64GB model will be available for Rs 71,000. The 128GB model is priced at Rs 80,000. Google Pixel 3 XL 64GB and 128GB models are priced at Rs 83,000 and Rs 92,000 respectively. Google will also be selling Pixel Stand, a new, Qi compliant wireless charger for Rs 6,900.
Google says it will continue to sell Pixel 2 XL (64GB) at Rs 45,499.


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COSCO Energy and COSCO Bulk join GSBN as new members, expanding GSBN’s coverage across container, bulk, specialised cargo to energy transportation
27 Sep 2023 – Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a neutral, not-for-profit consortium enabling efficient, paperless and sustainable growth in global trade with its data infrastructure and ecosystem of partners, announced that COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation Co., Ltd (“COSCO Energy”) and COSCO SHIPPING Bulk CO., Ltd (“COSCO Bulk”) have joined the consortium as members and successfully issued the first electronic bills of lading (eBL) for energy transportation and bulk shipments.
COSCO Energy is a company specialised in the shipment of energy including oil and natural gas. Its tanker fleet is the world's largest by capacity, owning and controlling 155 tankers with a capacity of 22.74 million DWT. It is also investing in a Liquefied Natural Gas-powered fleet of 73 vessels with a capacity of 12.42 million cubic meters. COSCO Bulk is the largest professional bulk shipping corporation in the world with more than 400 various types of bulk carriers and nearly 40 million DWT, loading iron ore, coal, grain, and other bulk cargos.
Traditionally, both bulk and energy shipments have relied heavily on letters of indemnity (LOIs) as proof of shipment ownership to authorise cargo release to the consignee in the absence of an original bill of lading. However, the usage of LOI is not without risk for Carriers as cases of misdelivery using LOI are common. In 2022, the Miracle Hope case which carried a US$80 million claim, highlighted the importance of safe discharge without a LOI. Following the completion of its digital platform integration with IQAX’s eBL application built on GSBN’s blockchain infrastructure, COSCO Bulk and COSCO Energy have now embraced the platform to connect with stakeholders across the value chain and significantly improve the security and consistency of the title transfer with immutable records.
As part of this, COSCO Bulk issued its first eBL for Yancoal, an Australian-based coal producer, connecting the entire business chain including banks, traders, miners and end-users. COSCO Energy also issued the first eBL for 30,000 tons of domestic trade marine oil for the shipment of China National Offshore Oil Corporation this month. The bill of lading was confirmed by the upstream and downstream parties and returned to the carrier to complete the release.
The extended coverage of eBL to cover all types of cargo is also expected to empower banks to provide a wider range of trade finance services to the industry.
Bertrand Chen, CEO of GSBN said, “Our goal has always been to develop GSBN into a platform that can support the full spectrum of shipping. This announcement therefore represents a significant milestone for the consortium and the digitisation journey for the industry. The successful issuance of eBLs for bulk cargo and energy shipment will also unlock greater trade finance for the industry as banks want a single point to interface with all types of eBLs and trusted shipping data, especially for high value cargo such as bulk and energy transportation.”
COSCO Energy said, “For large value and high risk of oil tanker transportation, an eBL based on blockchain technology substantially improves the efficiency of document circulation, reduces logistics cost and commercial risk. It also guarantees the authenticity, security and uniqueness of the bill of lading, while promoting decarbonisation in line with ESG practices.”
COSCO Bulk said, “This blockchain-based eBL transaction marks a breakthrough for our business, it’s the first time connecting all the stakeholders across the trade finance value chain. Harnessing the power of GSBN’s blockchain infrastructure, we can offer a more efficient, trust and secured solution for our customers globally.”
The Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) is a neutral, not-for-profit consortium whose mission is to enable efficient, paperless and sustainable growth in global trade with its data infrastructure and ecosystem of partners. GSBN facilitates trusted collaboration between participants across the shipping industry to enable greater efficiencies, paperless trade as well as supporting the shipping industry’s decarbonisation transition.
GSBN’s ecosystem includes shipping lines, terminals, banks, application developers and other consortia. The entire network accounts for more than half of the containers handled in the world.
About COSCO SHIPPING Energy Transportation Co., Ltd. (COSCO Energy)
COSCO Energy is a specialized company engaging in shipment of energy, including oil and natural gas, operating under China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited, a merged entity from the energy transportation arms of China Ocean Shipping Company and China Shipping Company. Established in Shanghai on June 6, 2016, the Company is committed to becoming a whole-process energy transportation solution provider, providing customers with all-type, all-location and all-rounded energy shipping services.
About COSCO SHIPPING Bulk Co., Ltd. (COSCO Bulk)
COSCO Bulk is the largest and professional bulk shipping corporation in the world, with more than 400 various types of bulk carriers and nearly 40 million DWT, loading iron ore, coal, grain and all other bulk cargoes. Shipping routes cover both China coastal areas and world-wide major ports, and the shipping service networks spread all over the world.


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Isn’t is always frustrating to see an incredible amount of commercials during primetime programming? In NBCUniversal’s case, it’s doing something about excessive ads across its entire network. The company will be cutting back on primetime advertising during original programming.
According to Variety, the company said that it will be reducing the number of ads in a commercial break by 20 percent. At the same time, it will be decrease the amount of ad time in a given show by 10 percent.
The change follows an experiment the company did with Saturday Night Live starting in 2016, when it cut the show’s ad times by 30 percent. The company didn’t explain why it had cut advertisements during the show, but it was speculated that it was to attract millennial viewers who have become more accustomed to ad-free viewing pleasures like Netflix. After all, it’s easy for everyone to just bring you YouTube and watch SNL‘s best sketches.
After cutting the ads, NBC found that Saturday Night Live‘s ratings had actually went up. Because of this change, they company was able to charge more for fewer ads. Since this strategy was successful for the company, it’s starting to apply this across all of its original primetime lineup. In addition to this change, NBC will be introducing new types of ads (including longer ads) that it claims will give more value to the viewer instead of the traditional 30-second format. While ads are being reduced, we may start seeing product placements within shows because of fewer ad spots to sell.


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Businesses can cut travel costs and share some of the savings with employees to drive cultural change by focusing on the ‘total cost of mobility’ rather than a fleet-based total of cost of vehicle ownership model.
Corporate mobility experts told ACFO’s autumn ‘Drive for Mobility’ seminar that the implementation of a ‘door-to-door’ mobility cost model approach to travel was in its infancy, but would be become the norm within the next three-five years.
And delegates at the seminar - believed to be the first of its type focusing on business mobility targeted at fleet decision-makers - heard that some companies were already on the road to driving the change with the merger of fleet and business travel departments. That enabled managers to have a complete picture of all journey and related expense costs, including hotel bills and meal claims as well as expenditure relating to car parking, taxi fares, flights and rail tickets.
One of the key drivers behind focusing on mobility as a service (MaaS), in addition to driving down the cost of corporate travel, is to deliver an increasing array of benefits to all employees, not only recipients of a company car.
While there is an acknowledgement that job-need company cars will be “here to stay”, Graeme Banister, consulting director at global research and consulting organisation Frost and Sullivan, said: “Mobility is here. What’s changing is the way mobility is delivered and for fleet managers and companies there is an opportunity to deliver mobility to all employees.
“Transport has been treated with a silo mentality and it is either public or private. But there is now a move to a total cost of mobility concept and the importance of understanding the full cost of travelling from A to B.”
That view was supported by Justin Whitston, chief executive of MaaS platform provider Fleetondemand, which supported the seminar alongside LeasePlan UK, a member of LeasePlan Corporation NV Group, part of the world’s leading fleet and vehicle management company.
Whitston said: “MaaS will underpin what drives future cost of smart mobility solutions. It brings together all forms of transport in one platform.”
Describing how a single online platform could be used by organisations and their employees to “find, book and pay” for all travel and related costs, he said: “MaaS is taking the personal and business objectives and delivering the best mode of transport for each particular journey.”
He continued: “The user experience must not fail and must be integrated. There must be an end-to-end supply chain to drive hyper convenience and geographical reach.”
He explained that MaaS started with a smart mobility search to assess the best mode of transport and total door-to-door cost for a particular journey embracing requirements such as car parking, tolls and overnight accommodation if necessary.
Options, he suggested must be preference-based or driven by corporate policy with the single platform technology having the ability for employees to “find, book and pay” for their journey.
He added: “Technology must be able to normalise multi-data sources. The platform must embrace business objectives and employees’ personal objectives and deliver the best mode of transport for each particular journey.”
Furthermore, he suggested that once a journey had been booked and paid for real-time updates had to be provided to employees related to influential factors such as traffic congestion, weather and rail delays.
“We are focused on the itinerary of a journey and offer the ability to modify journeys in real-time. That is all part of the business mobility solution,” explained Whitston.
Fleet decision-makers are increasingly being urged to focus on adopting business mobility or MaaS, which describes a shift away from personally owned and operated modes of transport, such as company cars, vehicle salary sacrifice schemes and private cars reimbursed for business use, towards mobility solutions that are consumed as a service.
But, Whitston said it was important for employers not just to offer MaaS solutions to company car drivers or business travellers but to all employees.
“MaaS is about choice, flexibility and trust. Give all employees benefits and empowerment,” he said. “MaaS presents an exciting opportunity for companies to look at how their employees move.
“Many employees don’t have a company car, but employers need to think about the benefits they give to all their staff. MaaS presents an opportunity to restructure choice.”
In advising delegates where to start with implementation of a MaaS solution, Mr Whitston suggested launching a single initiative - perhaps car sharing or car pooling - with a single group of employees.
“Assess the type of journeys made, pilot a scheme, poll the users to find out what they think and calculate the return on investment,” he concluded.


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Amazon, the leading e-commerce company, announced that over 1 million people applied for a job at Amazon as part of Career Day 2021.
The virtual event attracted job seekers from more than 170 countries around the world. In the span of 24 hours, more than 2,000 Amazon recruiters offered 30,000 individual career coaching sessions with participants.
The recruiters provided job seekers with professional advice to start, transition, or grow their careers—whether they wanted to work at Amazon or elsewhere.
“Amazon is a great place to work for those who crave the freedom to invent, the chance to make a big impact, and an inclusive workplace to do so. We are glad so many people joined Career Day to learn more about the jobs we have to offer,” Beth Galetti, senior vice president of People eXperience and Technology at Amazon, said.
More than 220,000 job seekers visited the event site and had the chance to receive advice from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, top Wall Street executive Carla Harris, New York Times best-selling author David Epstein, and many more.
Since announcing Career Day 2021 on September 1, Amazon has received more than 500,000 job applications for corporate, tech, and hourly roles in the U.S. Some of the most popular positions among job seekers for tech roles were software development, IT, support engineers, and operations management.
Participants joined from all 50 states and had the opportunity to learn directly from Amazon employees about the 40,000 open corporate and tech roles and the 125,000 open jobs in Amazon’s Operations network.
Amazon recruiters offered more than 20,000 one-on-one career coaching sessions to help attendees prepare for their next job—including hundreds of additional sessions specifically for Amazon employees in our Operations network looking to grow their careers.
Amazon was recently named by LinkedIn as the No. 1 company where Americans want to work and develop their careers, and currently ranks No. 2 on the World’s Best Employers list from Forbes and on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list. Amazon was also selected by Fast Company as one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators.


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New York—Kipling North America, a division of VF Sportswear Inc., has announced YouTube darling and pop recording artist Megan Nicole as the face of its #Back2Kipling Campaign for the back-to-school 2014 season.
“Kipling always had an energetic vibe that I was excited to bring with me to school. The patterns are fresh and unique, which is what I look for in back-to-school style,” says Megan Nicole of the July launch.
Consisting of a range of backpacks, wheeled backpacks, cross-bodies, and accessories in Kipling’s signature, lightweight crinkle nylon, the Back-to-School Collection has a color palette including deep jewel tones and tribal prints in both new and returning styles.
Kipling and Megan Nicole fans can look forward to fun and creative #Back2Kipling digital and print content, interactive social media promotions and contest, and special event activations in New York and Miami while gearing for the upcoming school year. More details will soon be available on Kipling-USA.com.


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DUBAL maintains focus on Europe for strategic growth.
Sultan Al Sabri (General Manager Marketing & Sales: Europe & North America) attributes this success to a number of factors, notably a concerted effort by DUBAL to support its customers throughout the downturn via initiatives such as altering the supply chain; placing consignment stock in warehouses closer to customers; developing creative solutions for order placement and delivery; and availing flexible credit options. The DUBAL office in Zurich, establish ed in 2008, also contributed substantially, by enabling the company to gain deeper understanding of the changing dynamics far quicker than before. "These strategic interventions, designed to build on our existing long-standing customer relationships, strengthened DUBAL's position in the market," says Al Sabri. "Having weathered the storm strongly, we have demonstrated DUBAL's sustainability, and are more confident than ever of our ability to increase sales volumes to this important market in the future."
In this regard, Al Sabri believes that the volumes of DUBAL metal sold into Europe will be raised to 27 per cent of the company's projected total sales in 2010 (projected to exceed one million tonnes again). Not to mention the incremental increase in the volume of primary aluminium products offered to the market by DUBAL as of this year, on behalf of the Emirates Aluminium ("EMAL") smelter development project in the Al Taweelah area of Abu Dhabi (in which DUBAL has a 50 per cent share). Although construction work is ongoing, start-up of the 750,000 metric tonnes per year EMAL Phase 1 began in December 2009 -- four months ahead of schedule. It is estimated that EMAL will produce 260,000 metric tonnes of finished product in 2010, ramping up to full capacity in 2011. Complementing DUBAL, the EMAL product mix will comprise extrusion billet, pure and high purity aluminium, and slab products.
With these intentions in mind, DUBAL will leverage the industry platform offered by the biennial 8th Metef International Aluminium Exhibition ("Metef 2010"), which takes place at the Garda Exhibition Centre, Brescia, Italy from 14 to 17 April. DUBAL will have a joint exhibition stand with EMAL, with a view to maximising the opportunities for strengthening relationships with existing DUBAL customers while targeting new segments of the market in terms of EMAL products. Metef, which coincides with Foundeq Europe, was established in 1997 and offers an excellent forum for liaising with European customers as well as to network with other exhibitors and potential customers. Accordingly, the DUBAL-EMAL stand will be manned by a team of officials representing both companies, who will promote their individual facilities and joint product portfolio to delegates and participants during the exhibition.In addition, DUBAL will promote its advanced, proprietary DX Reduction Technology that has been specified for EMAL. Operating stably at higher amperages (approximately 370 kA), DX Reduction Technology cells offer increased productivity, improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact compared to lower amperage technologies. The company will also expand on the new information technology-based services that it plans on launching soon. "We will be introducing a web-based customer portal in the near future, which will not only bring a wide range of services within a mouse-click of our customers but also enhance our communications with these vital stakeholders in our business," says Al Sabri.
"As in prior years, our primary objective in participating at Metef 2010 is to raise awareness in the industry of DUBAL as a stable, world-class producer of primary aluminium," continues Al Sabri. "Our company has been active in the European market since 1996. Over the years, we have more than demonstrated the benefits of our geographic location in the Middle East while developing a comprehensive infrastructure of discharge port facilities and warehouses that, together, enable Just-In-Time deliveries to end-users of our products across Europe. Naturally, the EMAL products we will be marketing will benefit from these existing structures, systems and services, ensuring a win-win scenario for all concerned." 2010 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
2009 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)
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Improved market conditions and additional earnings from recently acquired African Traction and Associated Technologies (Afritrac) spurred Zimplow revenues by 26% to $15,5 million for the full-year ended December 2011.
In 2010, one of the countrys largest makers and distributors of agricultural implements recorded total revenues of $12,3 million.
Last year Zimplow acquired 49% of a South African animal traction distribution company, Afritrac.
Afritac contributed $1,5 million to turnover and $145 000 to income before tax, over a ten month period.
Zimplow chief executive officer Zondi Kumwenda told an analysts briefing last week domestic and foreign revenues were up 30% and 17% respectively.
The company plans to grow by 20% with the new acquisition in 2012, said Kumwenda.
Zimplow net income before tax for the period under review was $3,64 million compared to $2,92 million the previous year.
Net cash flow from operating activities decreased from
$2,2 million in 2010 to $1,8 million as a result of to an advance corporation tax payment of
Kumwenda said huge wage demands were likely to exert more cost pressures.
The full impact of electricity tariff increases of 51% by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority and increases in all utilities will be fully felt in 2012. Additionally, rainfall patterns in the region have been erratic, said Kumwenda.
He said the group would pursue growth strategies aimed at improving local and regional competitiveness.
Mealie Brand volumes increased by 27% to 74 000 implements as compared to 59 000 implements in 2010. Spare parts volumes decreased by 11% in 2011 when compared to 2010. CT Bolts mild steel volume sales were up 15% to 146 tonnes from 127 tonnes.
Mild steel bolts in units increased by 34% in 2011 while high-tensile bolts in units substantially increased by 87%.
Tassburg volume sales increased by 47% to 107 tonnes for the 12 months ended 31 December 2011 as compared to 73 tonnes for the same period in 2010.


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DRIPPING SPRINGS — “London Calling” — one of The Clash’s most popular songs — played over the speaker as locals strolled into Dripping Springs’ newest bakery.
The Great British Baking Company is owned by a father-son duo, Andrew and Johnty Scriven. Nick, Johnty’s brother, also brings his culinary expertise after training at Le Cordon Bleu. The family is from Yorkshire, England.
The idea for a bakery surfaced last November. Originally, Johnty was going to work farmers markets in Austin and Dripping Springs; there was no plan to open a brick-and-mortar so soon. But then, he and his family heard through the grapevine that two units were available.
The bakery gleans inspiration from traditional British and family recipes — a lemon pudding, Johnty’s grandmother’s go-to, could be hitting the menu soon.
Johnty noted that the food they make is “unbelievably popular” in England, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
“It’s only really America where it’s not really taken off yet,” the 24-year-old said.
The Scrivens wanted to bring something unique to the area.
“In Dripping Springs and most places in Texas, you’ve got your tacos, you’ve got your burgers, you’ve got pizzas, you got more tacos, burgers, pizza,” Johnty said. “We wanted to do something different.”
The bakery offers a small variety of soups such as tomato basil and leek and potato soup. The Great British Baking Company also sells savory pastries like scotch eggs, a British classic.
For new customers, Johnty recommends the chicken pot pie slice because although it is British-style food, it has Texas flavors.
Since opening, the bakery has received positive feedback from the community.
First-time customers, Julie Eppers and her sister Linda Eppers, were enjoying their slices of chicken curry and ordered two broccoli and cheese slices to go. Julie thought the chicken curry was “really good.”
And now they also have regular, returning customers that come in three to four times a week.
In the future, the bakery hopes to expand to manufacturing.
“Our sausage rolls are so popular, maybe getting a production line going with them and trying to get them into other coffee shops and hopefully supermarkets,” Johnty said.
The Great British Baking Company is located at 104 W. Mercer St. in Dripping Springs. For more information, visit www.thegreatbritishbakingco.com.


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Tue, 02/06/2009 - 13:22
The concept of "bookaholism" has been unveiled as the new cross industry initiative at this year's Book Industry Conference. Marketing consultant Damian Horner told delegates at the conference in Cambridge that the campaign was at a "very early stage" and played down expectations that it could have an immediate effect on...
Tue, 02/06/2009 - 11:09
Gail Rebuck has won the Gerry Davies award for outstanding services to bookselling. The award was presented today (2nd June) to Random House's chair and chief executive at the Book Industry Conference.
Rebuck won the award for her work around World Book Day and Quick Reads. Rebuck said at conference: "It [the award] belongs to...
Tue, 02/06/2009 - 07:58
Indie publishers Canongate and Atlantic were the big winners at the British Book Industy Awards, held last night (1st June) during this year’s Booksellers Industry Conference. W H Smith picked up the chain of the year gong, while The Hungerford Bookshop was indie of the year.
Canongate picked up Publisher of the Year, with the...
Tue, 02/06/2009 - 07:56
Book buyers will become even more cost conscious, technologically savvy and increasingly browse and shop online in the coming year.
Those were three of the chief findings of The Bookseller's second annual "Reading the Future" survey, presented at the Book Industry conference by report author William Higham, founder...
Mon, 01/06/2009 - 16:23
Rough notes on day one of the BA conference - sorry Book Industry Conference - and already a very different feel to last years' Brighton jaunt: smaller, tighter, more focused.
Damian Horner's fingerprints are all over the new look, and no bad thing. After the traditional openers from the PA and BA big chiefs - Graham Rand and Ian...
Mon, 01/06/2009 - 13:09
The recession has hit some publishers' autumn release schedules, the outgoing president of the Publishers Association has claimed.
Ian Hudson, deputy c.e.o. at Random House, told delegates at the Book Industry Conference that funding short-term working capital requirements was a "major challenge" for many publishers. He...
Mon, 01/06/2009 - 12:55
The restyled Book Industry Conference has just kicked off in Cambridge: scroll down for more updates, also visit The Bookseller's flickr pool for photos from the conference (and other recent book trade events.
18.00 Philip Jones writes
Mon, 01/06/2009 - 11:15
Blackwell's Sharon Murray has been elected the new president of the Booksellers Association.
She was appointed at the trade body's annual general meeting, which was held this morning at the Book Industry Conference in Cambridge. Philip Downer, c.e.o. of Borders, and Jane Streeter, who owns the independent bookshop The Bookcase in...
Mon, 01/06/2009 - 11:10
The book industry needs to work together to increase book sales and avoid the effects of an "exceedingly tough" retail market, the outgoing BA president has claimed.
Graham Rand told delegates at the Book Industry Conference in Cambridge that the trade needed to unite to promote the pan-industry marketing initiative, which will...
Mon, 01/06/2009 - 08:18
As Toby Blackwell reminds us in an interview in this week's Bookseller, the idea of a collaborative event held for the benefit of the opposing book trade forces, publishers and booksellers, is not that unusual. In 1934, a joint BA/PA conference...


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CHICAGO — Eight Chicago businesses have racked up fines up to $120,000 for not following the state’s stay at home order.
So far, the city has issued 21 citations among those eight businesses, which included a gym that stayed open, a grocery store that didn’t take steps to enforce social distancing and a bar that continued to serve patrons in-house, said Rosa Escareno, commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, during a Wednesday press conference.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city will collect on those fines as it cracks down amidst the pandemic.
At the same press conference, Lightfoot announced the city is also implementing a 9 p.m. curfew for all liquor stores.
The curfew order will allow Business Affairs and Consumer Protection even more power to curb non-compliance with the state’s stay at home order, Lightfoot said. Investigators will be able to fine and arrest people and revoke their liquor licenses — and other licenses — if they do not comply, she said.
So far, the city has conducted 690 investigations into businesses and contacted 4,000 of them over the phone to talk to them about the requirements of the stay at home order and social distancing, Escareno said.
If a business does violate the order, the city can issue fines of $2,000-$10,000 per violation.
“We have received over 1,000 complaints just since March 21. This is a tough time for our small business community. Many of them have been asked to shutter and close, and they’re doing just that,” Escareno said. “So it’s really unfair when businesses are not following the proper protocols and procedures. And it is important that we support them at this time. But if they are not doing what they are required to do then, unfortunately, my team is going to be showing up.”
The majority of businesses have complied with the order, Escareno said. And the “last thing” Business Affairs and Consumer Protection wants to do is to fine and cite businesses, but they will do that if the order isn’t adhered to, Escareno said.
“We encourage and we plead with businesses to do the right thing because the last thing you want is to have more violations on the record,” Escareno said. “Our time for education … that time has come due. Now it’s time for enforcement. Please follow the stay at home order.”
Businesses that have been cited:
- Ali Baba Hookah Bar: Allowing dine-in customers
- Bikram Yoga West Loop: Remaining open as a non-essential business
- Cermak Fresh Market: Failure to follow social distancing requirements
- Cortland’s Garage: Allowing dine-in customers
- High Low Club: Remaining open as a non-essential business
- River North CrossFit: Remaining open as a non-essential business
- Sweet Leaf Cigar Lounge: Remaining open as a non-essential business
- Tucker Pups: Remaining open as a non-essential business
The stay at home order, which was enacted March 21, is set to last through at least April 30. It orders all non-essential businesses to shut down and for people to stay at home as much as possible. Only essential businesses, like grocery stores and pharmacies, are allowed to stay open.
To report a non-essential business that is operating, employees and residents can call 311.
Block Club Chicago’s coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.


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Verizon continues to make progress in rolling out its FiOS TV cable alternative with new service areas in New York and completion of a franchise agreement in Virginia.
Verizon has expanded its FiOS TV service to parts of the Town of Ramapo, NY, including the communities of Hillcrest, Ladentown, Monsey, Tallman, Viola, Northeast Ramapo and Western Ramapo in Rockland County, and in the Long Island village of Bellerose, the company said last week.
The company already offers FiOS TV in more than 155 New York communities. Verizon's FiOS TV Premier package delivers 200 all-digital channels, including 31 HD channels in the New York market and access to more than 10,000 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free. FiOS TV Premier customers in the New York market also receive the YES Network, MSG Network, FSN New York, SportsNet NY and the NFL Network.
On Feb. 19, the Chesapeake, VA, city council authorized Verizon to begin offering its FiOS TV service. About 81,000 households are covered under the new cable franchise agreement.
Verizon began offering FiOS TV in Chesapeake in December 2007 under ordinance franchise rules, which cleared the way for the company to offer the service to about 6400 households in the area. Under the new agreement, Verizon will make FiOS TV available to all households in its initial service area within three years.
For more information, visit: www.verizon.com.
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|Archives - April 2009|
|Wednesday, April 01, 2009|
PORTLAND What a difference a year makes. A year ago, Portland-based heavy equipment manufacturer Esco was surging along on strong prices for metals and oil as well as emerging markets in India and China. Not any more. Price drops and the global slowdown have forced the company to cut 400 positions globally and 120 jobs in Portland.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
BY JACOB PALMER
Catching up with Amen Teter, Portland-based global director of action sports for Octagon Olympics & Action sports talent agency.
Thursday, January 08, 2015
BY CAMBIA HEALTH SOLUTIONS & OREGON BUSINESS COUNCIL | OP-ED
Businesses have a significant stake in the health of Oregonians. In fact, we cannot succeed without it. By committing to using our companies as levers for good health, we invest in our people, our business, our quality of life and our economy.
Friday, January 23, 2015
BY LINDA BAKER | OB EDITOR
The Northwest Environmental Business Council previews the 2015 legislative agenda as Hatch Oregon celebrates Oregon's new community crowdfunding rules.
Monday, January 26, 2015
BY BRIAN LIBBY
Matt French opens up South Waterfront.
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
BY LINDA BAKER | OB EDITOR
The Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit drew more than 1,000 people to the Oregon Convention Center yesterday.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
BY MEGHAN NOLT
VIDEO: Under the radar — complete with a soda counter, the traditional Paulsen's Pharmacy looks to compete with big box retailers.
Sunday, December 07, 2014
BY LINDA BAKER
On Friday, Uber switched on an app — and with one push of the button torpedoed Portland’s famed public process.
Real Time - Oregon Business
Tweets by @OregonBusiness
|The Carbon Calculus|
|Will Medford Ever Be Cool?|
|The Human Factor|
|Which Way to Chinatown?|
|Raising the Stakes|
|Microsoft, Caterpillar woes lead Dow decrease|
|US consumer confidence continues to rise|
|Radical party's election win in Greece creates shockwaves|
|Flights canceled en masse as east coast preps for blizzard|
|West Coast port talks resume after rallies|
|Consumers pine for better battery life|
|Gates Foundation aims to gradually improve world for the poor|
Is your business ready to join us in the call for action? This opening panel includes Oregon businesses who will discuss why they signed the Oregon Climate Declaration, the investments they are making to reduce carbon emissions, and how their actions are affecting their companies.
Get ready for two days of special events produced with the EPA, Portland Timbers and ISOS before and after the GoGreen Conference on October 16.
hubbub health uses behavior change science to rethink wellness programs.
In Ashland, a public-private partnership results in online resources to help diversify the local economy.
How sports tourism is driving economic growth and making cities across Oregon a better place to live.
If you have given a former employee access to your company’s electronic information by virtue of assigning a desktop or laptop computer and you suspect he or she of having taken electronically stored data, there are several steps to follow to preserve electronic forensic evidence from spoliation.
The official launch will be Jan. 14.
In a switch on the traditional trade show, representatives from UO departments and local and state agencies will host tables to connect with businesses and vendors. The fourth Reverse Vendor Fair will take place Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Eugene.


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PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is considering providing incentives to encourage the private sector to set up community pharmacies in rural areas.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said such incentives was necessary to overcome a shortage of pharmacies in rural areas.
"The Ministry views the situation (lack of pharmacies in rural areas) seriously as many such pharmacies are only mushrooming in the city and concentrated in certain regions," he told reporters after opening the 100th Cosway Pharmacy outlet in Damansara, near here, on Sunday.
Liow in his speech text that was read by the Health Ministry's Pharmaceutical services division senior director Datuk Eisah A Rahman, said according to the ministry's statistics, there were 10,006 registered pharmacies and 1,834 community pharmacies throughout the country.
The concentration of community pharmacies is in Selangor (where there are 433 pharmacies), Penang (213), Kuala Lumpur (201) and Johor (157).
Realising the lack of pharmacies in rural areas and the inequitable distribution, the Health Ministry was looking into a zoning system to distribute pharmacies accordingly in urban and rural areas so that the people would not be deprived of such facilities, Liow said.
To ensure an equitable distribution of pharmacies in the country, the ministry and the Malaysian Pharmacy Association had developed the Malaysian Healthcare Providers Mapping Service.
Currently, the ratio of pharmacists to the population in Malaysia is 1:2,947 people and by 2016 it is expected to reach the optimum ratio of 1:2,000 people set by the World Health Organisation. - Bernama
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PSA International has ordered 160 AGV for its Tuas Mega Port project. VDL Group will be supplying 80 AGVs, while the other 80 machines will be delivered by Singapore’s ST Engineering, pursuant to its licensing agreement with Gaussin Manugistique
PSA plans to open the first berths at Tuas in 2021, and the AGVs will be delivered between 2021 and 2023.
The VDL AGVs will be fully electric machines with a maximum capacity of 65 tons, length of 15m, height of 2m and maximum speed of 25 km/h.
The order follows the delivery of two VDL AGV prototypes to Singapore in 2015. “Because these two vehicles operate to the full satisfaction of our customer, this has laid the basis for our superb order,’ says manager Karel Smits of VDL Automated Vehicles."This award puts us even more firmly on the map as a developer of transport solutions for self-propelled vehicles."
Frans van Dommelen, Director of VDL Containersystemen, said: "This order is the ideal showcase for our role in port areas, because we also use these electric vehicles to reduce emissions from logistics movements in the port."
The other 80 AGVs will be supplied by the Land Systems division of Singapore-based ST Engineering. These will be Gaussin’s “AGV Performance” fully electric design, also with a capacity of 65 tons.
ST Engineering Land Systems is financing the entire order, and will likely build the machines in China, where it has a joint-venture company, Beijing Zhonghuan Kinetics Heavy Vehicles Co. Ltd, that produces industrial vehicles.
160 AGVs is really just the start for Tuas: “A total of 2,000 AGVs will be needed for the 1st phase and regular tenders will be launched over a period of 10 years,” Gaussin stated.
Tuas could also feature a new system for handling empty containers. Last year, PSA tendered for a new “empty container handling system”, a hint it is looking for equipment that can stack higher than standard empty handlers.
This is already happening in Singapore, where SH Cogent Logistics Pte Ltd, part owned by Cosco, recently opened a new logistics centre that features 12 ton overhead cranes from Konecranes Industrial Equipment managing a rooftop storage system that stacks containers up to 15-high.
PSA’s future Tuas Port will have an annual capacity of 65M TEU, making it the largest port in the world by the time it is complete in 2040. The first berth will be operational in 2021.


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For months, “Attack on Titan” fans have been teased and taunted with various adaptations such as the live action films, the spinoff anime, and even spinoff novels.
But the most important question still remains:
When is the “Attack on Titan” season two release date? Unfortunately that is still a question unknown.
Instead, Kodansha announced a brand new project linking the original Japanese style of manga with the U.S. style of comic books.
Today, at the NYCC 2015 “Biggest ‘Attack on Titan’ Announcement Ever” panel, Kodansha comics announced an official “Attack on Titan Anthology.” The anthology will be original work by U.S. comic book writers including Brendan Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, Babs Tarr, Afua Richardson, and even the infamous writer of “Batman,” Scott Snyder.
“The goal is definitely to maintain the integrity of the characters, but some of the stories will take place in the past and be alternate to the main story,” said panelist Afua Richardson.
Kodansha confirmed in the panel that the “Attack on Titan Anthology” will be released in full color, sometime in Fall 2016.
For those who are somehow not familiar with “Attack on Titan,” the story follows humanity’s last stand against man-eating giants that have infiltrated the walls that once kept them out. The stand against the titans seems to rely on figuring out the secrets of how the titans first became a reality.


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U.S. stocks could sputter next week as volumes dry up in holiday-shortened trading and with a slew of economic reports likely to illustrate the recovery is still fragile.
Investors will also get a glimpse of how holiday shopping could shape up with Black Friday, which traditionally marks the start of the season as retailers slash prices to tempt shoppers. It will be difficult for the economic recovery to make much headway without a pick-up in consumer spending as it accounts for two-thirds of the economy.
A raft of data is squeezed into the first half of the week, shortened by Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday. The delicate nature of the recovery has analysts split on whether the economy will advance from here or still faces another leg down.
The debate has plagued the rally throughout its run but now that the S&P 500 is up more than 60 percent from March's 12-year lows, investors are more wary of taking risks. With just six trading weeks left in the year, market watchers are keen to hold onto profits.
"There's simply more risk where we are," said Lawrence Creatura, equity market strategist and portfolio manager at Federated Clover Capital Advisors, in Rochester, New York.
"We're at a higher altitude and even though in some ways it doesn't feel like it, it's less safe now than it was in March."
Data has largely shown an economy that is recovering slowly but is still weak, particularly in areas like employment. Reports include home sales, consumer confidence, durable goods and the second reading of gross domestic product.
As well, the Federal Open Market Committee will release the minutes from November's rate-setting meeting. Investors will be looking for insight as to how the central bank will eventually start to remove its extraordinary stimulus measures and its view on the health of the economy.
The Dow and S&P 500 made 13-month highs this week before easing off, and recent sessions suggest the market is struggling to justify more gains.
For the week, the Dow rose 0.5 percent, the S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent and the Nasdaq shed 1 percent. The S&P failed to hold above the key 1,100 level and will continue to face resistance there.
Volume is expected to be light throughout the week with U.S. markets closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving and shutting early on Friday. Low volume can make stocks more volatile as fewer participants make it easier to move prices.
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, will be watched closely with analysts anxious for signs consumers will be opening up their wallets.
The phrase Black Friday is used by retailers to refer to the start of the holiday period when their business moves into the black, or turns a profit.
Early data on shopper traffic and anecdotal evidence will give the first snapshot of the day's performance and a clearer picture will emerge the following week when stores report November retail sales.
"The American consumer historically will continue to spend until there are physically no dollars in their pockets," said Creatura.
"So the question is are there dollars in their pockets? We'll know after Black Friday."
Recent statements from retailers as they reported quarterly earnings have signaled Wall Street shouldn't get too carried away with their expectations for the holiday season. Discount retailers Target Corp (TGT.N) and Wal-Mart (WMT.N) both forecast holiday quarter profit that could miss expectations.
The two rivals have already announced deep discounts for the holidays.
"It is very, very hair-raising for retailers because this year hasn't been wonderful and make or break is right upon us," said Cummins Catherwood, managing director at Boenning and Scattergood, in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
"The question to me is how long can you keep discounting the stuff you used to sell at whole retail prices and still earn a living?"
Third quarter preliminary gross domestic product is expected to come in at 2.9 percent, revised down from an advance reading of 3.5 percent last month, according to Reuters data. Analysts have been scaling back expectations for economic growth after data last week showed a larger-than-expected trade deficit.
Weekly initial claims for jobless benefits will be released on Wednesday, a day earlier than usual. Analysts expect first time claims to dip slightly to 500,000.
"The direction of the economic data continues to be positive, but investors face a two steps forward, one step back scenario," said Michael Sheldon, chief market strategist at RDM Financial, in Westport, Connecticut.
Likewise, the FOMC minutes will be released on Tuesday, a day earlier than previously scheduled. Other data includes new and existing home sales, consumer confidence for November and durable goods for October. See


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Soon airline passengers may not have to turn off their e-readers or laptops during takeoff and landing. For many frequent travelers, the announcement asking users to turn off their devices comes as a major annoyance. Many have questioned whether or not it is even truly necessary to power down such devices. Partly in reaction to questions from the public regarding the science behind this rule, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been investigating the use of electronics on planes. The findings of the investigation are expected to be announced to the public on July 31, 2013.
However, it has already been reported by the New York Times that the FAA may be planning on relaxing the current restrictions. Instead of turning off all devices, the FAA is expected to allow travelers to switch their electronic devices to airplane mode. According to the report, restrictions would only be easing on devices like laptops or e-readers. Restrictions on phones are likely to still stand, requiring airline travelers to continue to keep their phones off.
As part of its investigation into the use of these type of devices, the FAA has met with several key companies. A panel of industry leaders was convened to study the issue, with people from aircraft makers, Boeing, Amazon, the Consumer Electronics Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, and the Federal Communications Commission. The group had several key objectives including determining the meaning of the term “airplane mode” and making sure that the new rules can apply to devices that aren’t yet on the market. That factor is particularly important as the trend in wearable computers means that users will be incorporating more and more devices into their everyday lives. It is important that the new guidelines also cover questions regarding Google glasses and other devices that will hit markets in the future.
[Image via barstoolsports]


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Join us for AGTN TONIGHT!
On tonight’s AGTN:
The developers from the new 3rd party app Market, Andspot
The guys behind Smartlock 2.0 will also join us!
We are giving away 5 Zooly cases courtesy of the Droid Blog and Cheap Droid
AppNation is right around the corner, we will be talking about the event and how one of our very own will be LIVE in San Fran for the event.
All this along with Trevor Fail, the Android Stock Exchange and Aaron doing his amazing sound effects with his mouth. Don’t miss it! The Android Guys Thursday Night Droid-Cast!
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We’ve been seeing Moto X+1 leaks for a while now, the alleged device even posed for the camera. The device is expected to arrive soon and now we have some
Pader-Sync‘s Mobile File Manager apps offer file transfer software for both commercial and personal Android users.Â These applications are available in five versions and focus on secure and simple mobile
This morning during the Sony Japan Playstation 2011 Meeting they announced the release of the Playstation Suite, which eventually is going to become its own marketplace on Android devices.


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Zurich UK has today revealed a long-term partnership with KGM Underwriting, a specialist and niche motor insurer that is part of the A-Plan/Howden Group. The agreement, which secures Zurich’s solus capacity over a five-year term for KGM’s motor portfolio, is worth over £700 million GWP and will commence in January 2022.
Commenting on the new MGA capacity deal, Dave Martin, Zurich’s head of retail said the insurer is delighted to announce the partnership. He noted that the deal aligns with Zurich’s wider retail growth strategy by combining its financial strength, expertise and brand with the technical knowledge and distribution reach of a specialist underwriter and strategic broker partner.
“Our partnership with KGM leverages their long-established reputation and expertise in specialist sectors,” he continued, “which provides strategic diversification to our personal lines portfolio.”
Matt Puttick, CEO of KGM Underwriting also welcomed the partnership and said it is “great news for our brokers, customers and team”. He highlighted that the KGM team is looking forward to working alongside such a well-respected insurance brand and team, who share its ambitions
“Zurich has backed our expertise with a five-year partnership,” he said, “which provides KGM security of capacity that enables us to continue to invest in the long-term capability of the business to deliver our sustainable growth plans.”
Carl Shuker, group chief executive of A-Plan Group also said the group is delighted to strengthen its strategic relationship with Zurich, which goes back to the earliest days of A-Plan. He thanked Zurich’s team for all their work in putting together this “new and exciting” capacity arrangement.
Commenting on the deal, Tim Bailey, Zurich UK CEO added: “This is a great result and strengthens our growing relationship with the A-Plan Group.”


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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed business mogul, Dr. Daniel McKorley, as Chairman of the reconstituted Board of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited (GTFCL).
At a ceremony to swear in the Board Members, sector Minister, Alan Kyerematen told the Board that Government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is redeveloping the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited (GTFCL) into a major Trade Hub in the sub-region.
According to the Minister, as part of this agenda, the Company and the trade fair site are undergoing a major transformation and redevelopment, at the core of which is the development of a state of the art, international standard Convention and Exhibition Centre supported by a mix use commercial facility including hotels, offices, retail and leisure Centres.
The Minister informed the Board that the project concept has been developed, the project master plan has been approved, and a land title has also been secured. Additionally, an infrastructure developer has also been procured and the site has been cleared in readiness for the redevelopment.
He has therefore tasked the Board members to use their worth of knowledge and depth of experience to help in efforts at restoring the enormous commercial and economic significance of the Company by providing the platform for businesses to position themselves and tap into the long range of business prospects that the Trade Fair Company offers.
The Company’s Redevelopment Project which covers an area of about 156 acres, when completed, would create a well-coordinated and well-managed world class multi-purpose international Trade Fair Centre capable of attracting global trade and investment into the country and position Ghana as a regional trade fair hub, generate additional tax revenue from businesses and generate an estimated 10,000 jobs from the planning, construction to post-construction management.
Members of the Board include the Chief of La, the Chief Executive of the Company (Dr. Agnes Adu), and Madam Gloria Annoh-Wiafe.
The others are Mr. Tobby Amankwah, Hon Elvis Morris Donkor, Mrs. Ruth O. Addison, Madam Cecilia Gambrah and Mr. Hubert SevorIn a related development, the Trade and Industry Minister has also sworn-in the seven-member Governing Body of the Ghana Heavy Equipment Ltd (GHEL).
The Company has the sole mission of providing reliable machinery and equipment and excellent after-sales service to all sectors of the economy particularly the agricultural and industrial sectors. However, due to several challenges, the Company has not been able to achieve this mission.
The Minister therefore tasked the Members of the Board to embark on the arduous journey to revive this important enterprise to enable it play its key role in supporting the economic transformation of the country.
He said achieving the task would require them to be innovative, comply with good corporate governance practices, explore ways of capitalizing the enterprise and most importantly ensure that they take advantage of opportunities presented by government flagship programmes such as the One District One Factory (1D1F), Planting for Foods and Jobs and the Strategic Anchor Industries.
The Minister suggested that the Board could, for example, focus on the supply of the requisite industrial machinery that is fit for purpose, eco-friendly, and energy efficient and suited for our climatic conditions to companies such as those operating under the 1D1F programme.
He also advised them to take advantage of the Automotive Development Policy to nurture partnerships for component manufacturing as another way of diversifying their portfolio to revive the company.
The Board is chaired by Hon Ridwan Abass and the members include Mr. Yaw Ntow Ababio (Chief Executive of the Company) as well as Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi.
The rest are Mr. Robert Bediako Asare, Hon Alex Blankson, Chief Alidu Abubakari and Mr. Prince Opoku Edusei.
Source|osimpamfm.com|Richard Owusu Tawiah


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As optimism was fueled by reopening economies and stimulus proposals, European and American stocks posted gains for the second month in a row. The EURO STOXX 50 and S&P 500 ended May up by 4.18% and 4.92% respectively. While those two major indices posted monthly gains, out of the stocks seen on the map, nearly half saw decreases in price. In this article, we share the sector that was traded the most and May’s biggest winner and loser.
Most traded sector
The automotive sector was again the most traded due to Tesla being the most traded stock in six of the eighteen countries that we are active in. Tesla CEO Elon Musk started May off by tweeting that in his opinion the company was overvalued, which was followed by a 10% drop in share prices that same day. However, prices quickly rebounded and ended the month up 6.8%.
After being shut down due to California’s lockdown measures, Tesla’s main manufacturing plant was able to reopen in May after CEO Elon Musk disputed with the local government about reopening. While production has been able to continue, demand is still down. It is projected that global auto deliveries will contract by 22% percent this year. To try to boost sales, Tesla cut car prices by approximately 6% in North America and China.
The automotive sector, like many others, has been massively affected by the pandemic. Production output has decreased, demand has fallen and countless jobs have been impacted. In May, lockdown measures in some parts of Europe eased up and showrooms were able to reopen. Car registrations are still down year-over-year, but France and Spain both saw improvements in May from April, showing a slight comeback. However, Bloomberg New Energy Finance does not expect global auto sales to recover for five years.
The companies that saw the biggest price movement during May were Outokumpu Oyj and Alpha Bank. On the positive end was Outokumpu, which ended the month increasing by 9.61%. On the negative side is Alpha Bank’s, ending May down by 16.79%.
Outokumpu is a small-cap stainless steel company headquartered in Helsinki worth around €1.13 billion. The company has production sites in the UK, Finland, Germany, Mexico, Sweden and the US and makes a wide range of stainless-steel products. Outokumpu released its first quarter earnings in May. Its operating profit nearly doubled year-over-year and accounted this to cost cuts and growth in its Americas business segment. However, the company warned that weakening demand became apparent in April 2020 and said that it expects deliveries to decrease in the second quarter by 10-20% compared to the first.
Alpha Bank is Greece’s fourth-largest lender and is also considered a small-cap with a market capitalisation of about €858.30 million. Like Outokumpu, Alpha Bank released its first quarter earnings during this month. It reported a €10.90 million loss from continued operations compared to €5.40 million in earnings from the prior quarter. Despite challenges brought by COVID-19, the company shared that it still plans to relaunch its ‘Galaxy Project’ during the second quarter. The Galaxy Project is a plan to cut its bad-loan pile by selling €12 billion of soured loans.
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In addition to these, DEGIRO offers a multitude of other companies and financial products to invest in on more than fifty exchanges across thirty countries. For details, please visit our Products and Markets page.
The information in this article is not written for advisory purposes, nor does it intend to recommend any investments. Please be aware that facts may have changed since the article was originally written. Investing involves risks. You can lose (a part of) your deposit. We advise you to only invest in financial products that match your knowledge and experience.
Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, Tesla, Outokumpu Oyj, Alpha Bank, S&P Global, Forbes


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Riding a wave of investor interest in new consumer-facing banking, trading, credit, and lending services, the online credit marketplace Credit Karma is looking to raise at least $60 million in its latest round of funding, according to several people familiar with the company’s plans.
The company is one of a new breed of consumer facing financial applications and services that have launched in the wake of the financial crisis to tackle what they see as a generational shift in financial management.
Credit Karma’s ads are ubiquitous online these days (at least I can’t escape them), which speaks to a major marketing push that seems to already be underway.
“If you think about financial services products over the last twenty years, not much has changed,” said Ken Lin, the chief executive and founder of Credit Karma. “[Credit] applications have come online and things have gotten faster, but we think there’s more transparency we can create and a lot more efficiency.”
Lin declined to comment on the company’s fundraising plans.
So far, the company has managed to roll up a user base which accounts for $1.2 trillion of U.S. consumer debt. That’s roughly 10% of the nearly $13 trillion of consumer debt outstanding in the U.S.
Now, the company is building out services to monetize those users. Lin said that the company is looking to be a sort of Kayak for the financial services industry.
On top of letting customers access their credit score for free, the company is looking at partnering with banks to create a recommendation and origination engine for consumers to better manage their debt loads.
It was only last year that Credit Karma raised $30 million in Series B financing, in a round led by new investors Ribbit Capital and Susquehanna Growth Equity, with participation from existing investor Felicis Ventures. The investment remains the largest commitment Ribbit Capital has ever made.
Credit Karma isn’t alone in pursuing new financial services offerings. Kapitall raised $13 million earlier this month to sell users on new investment trading tools for retail stock market investors that gamify the trading experience.
Photo via Flickr user Bart Claeys


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Most people are drawn to a lease because of the options they have at the end of the lease. But leasing does involve some obligations. F&I trainer John Tabar says it's those responsibilities that represent an opportunity for producers to increase product enrollment on lease deals.
March 30, 2020
Lease applicants registered a 48.1% approval rate, the lowest level since the car lease marketplace began tracking the stat in 2014. The firm explained that the rise in consumer interest for luxury SUVs is what’s driving the uptick in declines.
June 20, 2017
Car lease credit applicants registered a 72.2% approval rate in February, a 33.3% increase from January’s 50% approval rate but flat with a year ago, according to Swapalease.com.
March 9, 2017
Toyota announced a partnership with ride-hailing giant Uber, while Volkswagen forged a pack with lesser-known but reportedly fast-growing Gett. While both OEMs sought out relationships with ride-hailing services, their approach to the partnerships will differ slightly.
May 26, 2016
The amount of cars being leased has grown by 76% since 2008, according to an Experian Automotive study. By the end of 2016, 1.8 million off-lease vehicles will return to the market, the firm says.
April 5, 2016