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|By PR Newswire||
|February 5, 2014 11:01 AM EST||
CAMBRIDGE, England and GENOBLE, France, February 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Plastic Logic, the leader in the development and industrialisation of flexible organic electronics, and ISORG, the pioneer in organic photodetectors and large area image sensors in printed electronics, picked up the coveted award for their revolutionary large area flexible image sensor. The demonstration, at the FlexTech Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, gave a glimpse of the huge range of possible applications which flexible large area sensor technology can enable. The overall market for printed and flexible sensors is forecast to be worth over $7Bn by 2020 (IDTechEx 2014).
The collaboration is based on the deposition of organic printed photodetectors (OPD), pioneered by ISORG, onto a plastic organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) backplane, developed by Plastic Logic, to create a flexible sensor with a 4x4 cm active area, 375um pitch (175um pixel size with 200um spacing) and 94 x 95 = 8930 pixel resolution. As much as for the technical achievement, this award recognises the far-reaching potential of the underlying technology in an exciting range of applications and the very real competitive advantages of such products.
The backplane design, production process and materials were optimised for the application by Plastic Logic to meet ISORG's requirements. The result, a flexible, transmissive backplane, represents a significant breakthrough in the manufacture of new large area image sensors and demonstrates the potential use of Plastic Logic's unique flexible transistor technology beyond plastic displays. Combined with ISORG's unique organic photodetector technology, it allows the creation of conformable, large area image sensors, which are thinner, lighter, flexible and more robust than traditional approaches.
The combination of these two disruptive technologies opens up possibilities for a range of new applications, based around digital image sensing, including smart packaging and sensors for medical equipment and biomedical diagnostics, security and mobile commerce (user identification by fingerprint scanning), environmental and other industrial uses. Most exciting of all is the ability to enable scanning surfaces and novel 3D interactive (gesture based) user interfaces for consumer electronics, including printers, smartphones and tablets.
Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Plastic Logic, acknowledged the accolade, saying 'We are very excited by the recognition such a prestigious industry award brings. The collaboration with ISORG has showcased the exciting potential of combining two disruptive technologies and we plan to work together to bring new applications to market. This again underlines the real impact of plastic electronics as it starts to go mainstream in consumer markets.'
Jean-Yves Gomez, CEO of ISORG, stated 'We are very proud to receive such a prestigious international award. This collaboration demonstrates the versatility of organic electronics to combine two different technologies to create new and disruptive products for a broad range of markets. The first large area image sensor on plastic has already attracted strong interest from industry and consumer electronics leaders for new applications and functionalities.'
ISORG is the leading and pioneer company in organic photodetectors and large area image sensors in printed electronics. ISORG develops a disruptive technology transforming plastic and glass into smart surfaces able to see. These new sensors are conformable, thin and lightweight with low current consumption, offering unique advantages over traditional image sensors in terms of sensing area, cost per area ratio and mechanical integration. These sensors enable creation of many innovative products such interactive surfaces for object detection and recognition, large area scanning surfaces, revolutionary user interfaces for consumer products. ISORG technology opens innovation for medical, industry and consumer markets.
ISORG has industrialized the process with its pilot manufacturing line in Grenoble and plans mass production volumes for 2015 with its new manufacturing unit.
Find more on ISORG and its disruptive technology by visiting http://www.isorg.fr
Companies interested in working together with ISORG should contact [email protected]
About Plastic Logic
Plastic Logic is the recognised leader in organic thin-film transistors (OTFT) and is at the forefront of research and investment in plastic electronics. The company has industrialised the process technology and now manufactures a range of high-quality, shatterproof, ultra-thin and ultra-lightweight plastic displays. These offer huge advantages over conventional screens, as they are extremely flexible with proven lifetimes. Solutions for sensor and other non-display applications are in development, enabling revolutionary design possibilities, set to transform existing markets such as wearable and mobile devices, signage, and automotive, as well as many others. Plastic Logic is backed by major investors including Rusnano and Oak Investment Partners.
Companies interested in working together with Plastic Logic should contact [email protected].
SOURCE Plastic Logic
In 2014, Amazon announced a new form of compute called Lambda. We didn't know it at the time, but this represented a fundamental shift in what we expect from cloud computing. Now, all of the major cloud computing vendors want to take part in this disruptive technology. In his session at 20th Cloud Expo, John Jelinek IV, a web developer at Linux Academy, will discuss why major players like AWS, Microsoft Azure, IBM Bluemix, and Google Cloud Platform are all trying to sidestep VMs and containers...
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Web Real-Time Communication APIs have quickly revolutionized what browsers are capable of. In addition to video and audio streams, we can now bi-directionally send arbitrary data over WebRTC's PeerConnection Data Channels. With the advent of Progressive Web Apps and new hardware APIs such as WebBluetooh and WebUSB, we can finally enable users to stitch together the Internet of Things directly from their browsers while communicating privately and securely in a decentralized way.
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In his session at DevOps Summit, Tapabrata Pal, Director of Enterprise Architecture at Capital One, will tell a story about how Capital One has embraced Agile and DevOps Security practices across the Enterprise – driven by Enterprise Architecture; bringing in Development, Operations and Information Security organizations together. Capital Ones DevOpsSec practice is based upon three "pillars" – Shift-Left, Automate Everything, Dashboard Everything. Within about three years, from 100% waterfall, C...
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The Internet of Things can drive efficiency for airlines and airports. In their session at @ThingsExpo, Shyam Varan Nath, Principal Architect with GE, and Sudip Majumder, senior director of development at Oracle, discussed the technical details of the connected airline baggage and related social media solutions. These IoT applications will enhance travelers' journey experience and drive efficiency for the airlines and the airports.
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"We're bringing out a new application monitoring system to the DevOps space. It manages large enterprise applications that are distributed throughout a node in many enterprises and we manage them as one collective," explained Kevin Barnes, President of eCube Systems, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at DevOps at 18th Cloud Expo, held June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY.
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New Delhi: Skoda Auto on Monday has announced that it has restarted operations at three of its Czech auto plants after a shutdown of 39 days since March 18, 2020. These three plants are Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí.
The automaker claims that it has implemented a comprehensive set of hygiene and safety measures in these three plant to protect the health of the workforce. These include thermal scanning, social distancing etc.
The automaker has claimed that it has informed the workforce about the protective measures at all sites in the Czech Republic using leaflets and posters as well as through various digital channels.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen too has restarted operations at its biggest car plant in Wolfsburg on Monday.

domain: news


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WGI and Continental Tire Agree to Partnership that Runs Through 2014
Renewned Tire Company Named Title Sponsor of GRAND-AM Continental Sports Car Challenge Race at The Glen
By: WGI Staff on 1/29/2010
Team Sahlen will hit the twists and turns of WGI in the newly named Continental Tires 150 on Saturday, June 5.
“We are pleased to welcome Continental Tire as a new sponsor to both the GRAND-AM Series and at Watkins Glen International,” stated Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International. “We both have a rich history and benefit from worldwide recognition. This new partnership will help showcase the incredible sports car racing that happens at WGI, and Continental Tire’s incredible line of consumer products.”
“As the title sponsor and official tire of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, and expanding to the official tire of the Rolex series in 2011; Continental Tire has demonstrated our commitment to the Grand AM Road Racing Series and the growth of the Continental brand in the U.S.,” said Travis Roffler, Director of Marketing, Continental Tire. “Watkins Glen is a world-class racing facility, and we are proud to be the official tire of this historic race track.”
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen event weekend will be full of nonstop action and is a must see for every sports car fan. The highlight will be the 29th Running of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race on Saturday, June 5 but that is only part of the fun. Earlier that same day fans will get their day started with 150 miles during the Continental Tire 150, GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge only adds to the sports car weekend with more series expected to be announced. Tickets start at only $30 and kids 15 and under are FREE!
Tickets for the entire 2010 season including the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, August 5-8, and Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 2-4, weekends are on sale now! Fans can take advantage of advanced sale prices and new options by calling the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE (7223) or logging on to the official website, www.TheGlen.com. Tickets, gift certificates and track merchandise can all be purchased at The Shop located at 2 North Franklin Street in downtown Watkins Glen. The Shop is open Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-4, and is closed Sunday.
- New York State Legislature recognizes Watkins Glen International in Albany
- WGI repave earns National Asphalt Pavement Association ‘Quality in Construction’ Award
- Race weekend schedule announced for NASCAR at Watkins Glen International, August 3-6
- Watkins Glen International set to hold job fair ahead of 2017 season
- Four companion series to join Verizon IndyCar Series at Watkins Glen International, August 31-September 3


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Fashion is having a seriously psychedelic moment
Dries Van Noten has taken a liking to prints from decades past as seen during its spring/summer 2019 menswear show as part of Paris Fashion Week last June.(Peter White / Getty Images)
Prada is one of several brands to embrace the hippie-dippy looks and prints of the 1960s as seen during the brand’s men and women’s spring/summer 2019 collection fashion show in Milan, Italy, in June 2018.(Miguel Medina / AFP / Getty Images)
Another look from Prada’s men’s and women’s spring/summer 2019 collection fashion show in Milan.(Miguel Medina / AFP / Getty Images)
A flower-power print at Prada’s show of its men’s and women’s spring/summer 2019 collection.(Miguel Medina / AFP / Getty Images)
A bright print in the Louis Vuitton menswear spring/summer 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week in June 2018.(Victor Boyko / Getty Images)
Clothes from the spring/summer 2019 menswear collections appear to be revealing that many of fashion’s major players are on the same inspirational wavelength, which might be best summed up with a line from a 53-year-old Bob Dylan song: “Everybody must get stoned.”
These counterculture references from decades past have turned up left and right — in the turtlenecks decorated with flower power florals and hallucinatory hippies-in-nature illustrations at Prada; in the phantasmagorical “Wizard of Oz”-inspired graphics (including poppies) at Louis Vuitton; and in the chromatic, undulating prints at Dries Van Noten.
If fashion designers are having a psychedelic moment, can you blame them? After all, once-illicit drugs have taken center stage in the zeitgeist of late as culture, retail and politics shift.
Earlier this spring, Barneys New York, for example, opened an upscale space in its Beverly Hills store to sell cannabis paraphernalia in response to marijuana legalization, which is spreading, state by state, across the country.
Denver legislators voted this spring to decriminalize the use and possession of hallucinogenic magic mushrooms, and this week Oakland became the second U.S. city to do so. This comes on the heels of stories of Silicon Valley tech employees “microdosing” psychedelics in hopes of hacking their work routines and food guru Michael Pollan’s 2018 book, “How to Change Your Mind,” which makes a case for the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic and medicinal reasons.
So it shouldn’t be a major surprise that designers, who interpret cultural moments and transform them into jackets and pants, want to take consumers on a far-out trip.
“There’s this open acceptance in men’s fashion right now — this feeling that there are no rules,” said Matthew Marden, style director at Esquire magazine. “I think what goes along with that is that people are more open to experimenting in every possible way. It’s a very anti-establishment feeling based on what’s happening politically in the country these days. It’s similar to the youthquake of the late 1960s but in a modern way.”
It also doesn’t hurt that the spring/summer season is usually when fashion labels let loose and embrace bold colors and patterns. “It’s always when brands and designers feel like, ‘Let’s go crazy,’” Marden said. “It’s like the reins are off.”
Examples popping up run the gamut from Tom Ford’s trippy moiré cocktail jackets and David Hart’s groovy ’70s-inspired suiting to the Rococo floral-paisley mash-ups at Versace and the luxe baja hoodies and cashmere tie-dye sweaters by the Elder Statesman’s Greg Chait.
Other tie-dye pieces have turned up at Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, Helmut Lang, Zara, Urban Outfitters and other labels. Cult L.A. brand Online Creamics released new hand-dyed shirts to coincide with Dead & Co.’s summer tour, and streetwear label Supreme dropped a capsule collection earlier this spring featuring mind-bending prints (a collaboration was with Japanese artist Sekintani La Norihiro).
“Street culture has been referencing the counterculture for a few years now,” said Josh Peskowitz, Moda Operandi’s men’s fashion director. “You can see it in the now-near ubiquity of tie-dye and the resurgence of interest in the Grateful Dead and Dead & Co. The true psychedelic references have increased as the awareness of psychedelics has proliferated as a mainstream thing.”
On its website, Moda Operandi has a fashion feature called Free Ride, in which a model wears tie-dyed knits, patchwork and paint-splattered jeans and luxe Army-surplus finds. The looks are accompanied by a playlist, which includes songs from the Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac.
Esquire’s Marden said cultural touchstones — think Woodstock or the Manson family murders — have also helped reignite a fascination with the counterculture revolution of the late 1960s, a time when drugs and free love were embraced by a young, liberal generation.
As for why designers and brands are returning to the bohemian styles of the 1960s again, Roseanne Morrison, fashion director at New York trend-forecasting agency the Doneger Group, said there are parallels in culture and politics between the turbulent ’60s and today. “What I think is so interesting is we have politics that are trying to pull us back to the 1950s in terms of the male role and limiting rights for women,” she said. “Then we have this other segment of society that’s very much free and open and progressive. There’s this dichotomy there that’s becoming more and more apparent.”
Chris Gibbs, co-owner of the menswear store Union on La Brea Avenue, said he has been concerned about the state of the world. “I find myself being very frustrated, confused and a bit sad by the current events of the day,” said Gibbs, who started an in-house brand last year that has offerings this season such as tie-dye T-shirts featuring a mouth with an LSD tab on the tongue and mushroom illustrations.
“Maybe we all just want to trip a bit and get far away from the racism, sexism, classism and ... Trumpism that surrounds us,” he said. “So maybe it’s wishful thinking.”
Or perhaps this nostalgic return to the summer of ’69 has more to do with the state of the Golden State. After all, there’s an innate California-ness to the current psychedelic movement. The counterculture movement has deep roots from the granola-crunchy vibe of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury to the chilled-out Abbot Kinney habitués of Venice of old.
“There’s this creative class that’s really booming [in California],” Morrison said. “It’s an exciting time to be in L.A. It’s part of that hippie culture, but it’s so much more. It’s because it’s the creative center of the country right now.”
As men’s fashion continues to evolve and grow and become more casual, guys are experimenting.
— Josh Peskowitz, Moda Operandi’s men’s fashion director
Peskowitz said L.A., particularly “the sepia-toned fantasy of 1960s and 1970s L.A.,” is important and influential in terms of pop culture.
“So much of what now dominates our culture — from hippies to surf and skate to the [beatniks] to rock music to personal computers — either originated in L.A. or flourished there,” he said. “As men’s fashion continues to evolve and grow and become more casual, guys are experimenting. And the laid-back look of the Southern California of old is a better place to start than most.”
However, it might not all be peace and love underneath those flower-power T-shirts and tie-dye socks. In the same way that writer Joan Didion was able to intuit the darker corners of the hippie movement, this current expression of hippie-dippy flower power appears to have an edge to it.
“There’s this tension that’s really insane between those who are trying to pull us backward and others who are recapturing the 1960s and everything it stood for,” Morrison said.
Marden agreed, saying: “There’s this excitement, but it’s back-ended with this nervousness. Everyone’s very trepidatious.”
Also, he said it’s possible that people today are witnessing history on a loop. “What follows this type of thing is, like, a full-on me, me, me, me sort of thing,” he said, referencing the Me Generation of the 1970s. “So now, it’s like: What’s going to happen next?”
Maybe the runway will reveal it.
For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter.
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ArrowXL has signed a deal with gym equipment provider Concept2 to handle the delivery of its product range to households across the UK. It follows a substantial increase in demand since the start of the pandemic as people continue to turn to home fitness with gyms remaining closed. ArrowXL will receive all orders into its Worcester hub before delivering items such as RowErgs, BikeErgs & SkiErgs. Depending on local lockdown rules all items will be taken to the customers’ room […]
Analysts have said the planned sale of DHL Express’s same-day domestic business will create another major player in the market to compete with CitySprint, and is unlikely to affect DHL’s profitability.
The indoor exhibition area at next week’s Quiet Cities global summit will feature examples of a wide range of products that enable urban and out-of-hours deliveries to be made.
Amazon is set to add a key part to its final mile logistics network with the opening of a £68m sortation centre in Haydock in September.


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http://www.carscoops.com - Late last week, General Motors and Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) revealed that the Camaro and Silverado will be sold in Australia from 2018. Alongside this announcement, HSV previewed its potent Colorado SportsCat.
http://www.fi-magazine.com - According to Black Book data, the average price of a used vehicle for model years 2012-16 depreciated in value by -2.2%. Cars overall dropped -2.6% and trucks decreased -1.8% in value during November. All vehicles are averaging a 12-month depreciation of -13.2%. Small pickups were the only vehicle category to increase in value during November, increasing in value by +0.4%. Vehicles in the small pickup category include the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier and the Honda Ridgeline. Small pickups ended the month with an average segment price of $21,454, a -6.8% drop.
https://www.autoblog.com - Holden and Holden Special Vehicles begin a new partnership and a new era with the Holden Colorado SportsCat by HSV, a Colorado with mechanical and cosmetic upgrades.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com - We’ve told you already that Ford isn’t letting off-road-focused variants of the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado have all the fun when the midsized Ranger comes to market next year. The long-awaited pickup, Americanized for its 2019 model-year debut, will arrive with a brawnier FX4 model in tow.
https://www.youtube.com - Spawned from Chevy’s midsize Colorado pickup truck the ZR2 has been meticulously modified for an unpaved world. With electronic locking differentials front and rear, a 2-inch higher ride, a 3 ½ inch wider track, and highly-advanced Multimatic DSSV dampers the Colorado ZR2 has strong off-road credentials.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com - This is probably our best look at the new design language on the next-generation 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500; it reminds us of some of the exterior lines on the current mid-size Chevrolet Colorado. And maybe that makes sense.
https://www.goauto.com.au - Complexity and expense means HSV Colorado SportsCat will stay diesel-powered.
http://www.carscoops.com - Cadillac continues the development of the facelifted 2019 CT6 in Colorado, where our reader Brett Borgard spotted them unloading a camouflaged prototype out of a truck. The car is still covered in camo tape and the only thing that sticks out is the new front fascia which takes inspiration from the Cadillac Escala concept.
http://media.gm.com - In a joint announcement, GM Holden and HSV today released details of a new agreement struck between the two iconic Australian companies.
https://www.goauto.com.au - The Colorado SportsCat is the first new HSV model for the former Commodore fixers.


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TOKYO, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Nestle Japan announced it is preparing to roll out a new variation on a popular candy: Kit Kat flavored with sake, Japan's popular rice wine.
The company, which previously sold Japan-exclusive Kit Kat flavors including green tea and wasabi, announced the rice wine-flavored Kit Kats will hit the shelves of Japanese stores Feb. 1.
Nestle Japan said the sake Kit Kats were directly influenced by the success of the green tea variety, which saw 2015's sales increase by 20 percent over the previous year, a spike attributed largely to the candy's popularity with tourists.
The sake Kit Kats were created by adding sake powder to the wafers, which are encased in white chocolate.
The company said the candy was designed to leave an aftertaste that mimics the "mellow flavor" of sake.


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Bajaj Pulsar 220F to be launched in new colours soon
- The new Bajaj Pulsar 220F will be launched in two fresh paint schemes.
- The Pulsar 220F is one of the oldest bikes in the company's portfolio.
Bajaj Auto is gearing up to introduce new colour options in its entire Pulsar range of bikes. While previously images of the updated Pulsar 150 were seen doing rounds on the internet, now new Pulsar 220F has appeared online adorning a similar Red/White paint scheme.
The new Pulsar 220F will be launched in two new paint schemes. One of the colour options will include matte black body panels and red graphics, while the other one will use a bolder-looking amalgamation of matte white, red and black shades. The company is yet to make an official announcement regarding the same.
Also check these Bikes
The Pulsar 220F is one of the oldest bikes in the company's portfolio. Save for some styling tweaks, the semi-faired roadster hasn't received any significant upgrade over the last few years. It is one of the Bajaj bikes that still uses dated hardware and features. Even with the dated bits, the bike is able to garner huge sales thanks to its boisterous visual appeal.
It sources power from a 220cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine which is capable of churning out 20.11 bhp of maximum power at 8,500 rpm and 18.55 Nm of peak torque at 7,000rpm. The gearbox comes mated to a five-speed unit.
The bike rides on 17-inch alloys and comes suspended on telescopic forks at the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear end. For braking, it uses discs at either end. Some of its key features include LED tail lamp, semi-digital console, halogen-type projector headlamp, and a 15 litre fuel tank.
It is currently priced at ₹1.25 lakh (ex-showroom), with the new update, expect the pricing to go up slightly. Similar colours will also launch on the Pulsar 180.


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Larry Hryb, better known as Major Nelson, has announced that he is stepping away from Xbox after spending over two decades with Microsoft.
He announced his departure from the company on Twitter, saying, “After 20 incredible years, I have decided to take a step back and work on the next chapter of my career. As I take a moment and think about all we have done together, I want to thank the millions of gamers around the world who have included me as part of their lives.”
He continued, “Also, thanks to Xbox team members for trusting me to have a direct dialogue with our customers. The future is bright for Xbox and as a gamer, I am excited to see the evolution.”
Hryb also mentioned that the official Xbox Podcast will be paused for the summer and will come back later in a new format.
After 20 incredible years, I have decided to take a step back and work on the next chapter of my career. As I take a moment and think about all we have done together, I want to thank the millions of gamers around the world who have included me as part of their lives. (1/3)
— Larry Hryb 💫✨ (@majornelson) July 14, 2023
Hryb started at Microsoft in 2001 as the Editor in Chief of MSN Music, becoming a Senior Project Manager on the Xbox team in 2003. He contributed to many features of Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, including the Achievement system, cloud saves, party chat, and in-game messaging. Hyrb then became senior director of corporate communications in 2012.
His executive personality name and gamertag, Major Nelson, is from the 1960s television comedy I Dream of Jeannie.
Along with Hryb’s departure, Microsoft is still trying to close its merger with Activision Blizzard. The FTC appealed the decision in the recent trial against Xbox after the US courts ruled in Microsoft’s favor. However, the FTC’s attempt to pause the deal was denied until the Ninth Court of Appeals makes its decision.
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He's been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.
When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey


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Christmas shopping sped up a few months at Alsea. The giant Mexican restaurant threw out a checkbook to get two bulwarks in Europe: 260 Starbucks outlets in France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and all restaurants in the VIPS group in Spain. A draft motion of a company that already operates all Starbucks, Domino's Pizza, Chili, California Pizza Kitchen, PF Chang, Pei Wei, Italianni, El Porton, The Cheesecake Factory and VIPS of Mexico, and who now looks at the heart of Old We continue to diversify their sources of income and obtain natural exchange rate protection, given the vicissitudes of the peso and the intrinsic strength offered by the euro.
The name Alsea may not look very much like Spaniards, Argentines, Chileans, Colombians, and Uruguayans, but certainly some of them have left money in their coffers without even knowing it. The Mexican company already operates all Dutch Foster burgers, Cañas y las Tapas or La Vaca Argentina restaurants in Spain – more than 560 units in total – and all of Starbucks in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. Now, with his new venture, he takes another step in his strategy to focus on solid markets to "offset the income he receives in Latin American currencies, which are much more volatile," says Veronica Uribe, an analyst at Monex Casa de Bolsa. According to calculations by Antonio Hernández of Barclays in Mexico, Europe (mainly Spain) will move from the assumption of the fifth part of Alsea's income statement to just over a third, which will dilute the market share that offers more margins, Mexico, from 55% to 45%.
Alberto Torrado, the new owner of Vips, brings applications on time
Your most profitable market loses weight yes, but with a clear goal: reduce risk. "The operation seems reasonable and reinforces our theory that the company is seeking more exposure to more stable areas," says Hernández. "It seeks more acquisitions in mature markets at a time when exposure in Latin America, especially in Argentina, is not so favorable for the exchange rate as for inflation, with an average consumer who is not resilient, which has reduced consumption. restaurants ". Before this second phase of Alsea's European adventure, its exposure to Argentina was about 8%, "but it caused noise in the market and now it will dilute more," he adds.
Another positive aspect of the acquisitions of VIPS (valued at € 500 million) and Starbucks – both still pending from the Spanish competition authorities and the European Union, respectively – is the increase in gross operating income – which will grow by 13%. second Mexican bank, Citibanamex and the synergies that these contribute to the European companies that it administers today. The downside is the increase in its debt, which in June was above 1.3 billion euros, and has not stopped growing in recent years. "However," says Monex's Uribe, "despite the predictable increase in net debt, the company has shown in the past that it can continue to grow."
Alsea, which will celebrate its investor's day this week, did not break the assumed debt, but the market speculates that a large part of the financial obligations acquired to acquire VIPS (hitherto controlled by the Mexican company Plácido Arango) will be euros. which makes sense given the interest rate differential between Mexico (around 8%) and the euro zone (still at zero): any peso-financed purchase would be subject to the first rate, while Starbucks in France and the Benelux , such as that of Vips in Spain, will, presumably, be made with a much lower interest. It is one of the advantages of going shopping on a continent where the price of money remains unglued.
In 2017, the Mexican giant made a net profit of 1,252 million pesos (almost 55 million euros at the current rate), 11% more than a year earlier. Though backed by inflation, which has given a good effect to the purchasing power of Mexicans over the last two years, Alsea is still on track in 2018. In the third quarter, its profits grew nearly 40%, driven by strict cost control and improvement of sales.


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We get a metric ton of daily press releases each day at iFanboy HQ and most are easily dimissed. But every so often we get one that makes us all stop and say, "What the fudge?"
Only we don't say "fudge."
Take this one from Marvel Comics, for example:
Marvel Announces No Overprint For Polybagged FANTASTIC FOUR #587
This January Fantastic Four #587 marks the end of the Fantastic Four and the penultimate issue of Marvel’s longest running series. Concluding the red hot “Three” storyline by superstars Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting, this issue arrives polybagged in comic shops to avoid spoiling the cataclysmic ending of the Fantastic Four. The incomparable John Cassaday provides a shocking “spoiler” variant cover to the issue which ships a week after the release of Fantastic Four #587 to further preserve the surprise events that lead to the dissolution of Marvel’s first super hero team.
In addition, Marvel has officially announced that there will be no overprint on Fantastic Four #587, in addition to the issue not appearing on newsstands.
“The surprises in this issues–and what comes next–constitute one of the biggest events in Marvel history,” said David Gabriel, SVP Sales & Circulation. “When you see the plans that Tom Brevoort, Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting come to fruition, you’ll know why we say this is the story everyone will be talking about. We urge retailers to look for a major incentive announcement in Diamond Daily and stock up not just for January, but for the coming months as the aftermath of this issue is revealed.”
This is it–the end of the Fantastic Four. But what could bring about such a stunning change to the fabric of the Marvel Universe? There’s only one answer–Fantastic Four #587.
What is this, 1993?
Things that should never be seen in comic books again:
- Foil covers
- Hologram covers
- Trading card inserts
The 1990s boom made a lot of people a lot of money. And once people found out that the boom was caused by the artificial inflation of the value of what they were buying (sound familiar?) the resulting bust lost a lot of people a lot of money, wiped out a good portion of the comic book stores in the United States and came closer to causing the collapse of the American comic book industry than anything before or since.
Look, I appreciate that in this day and age of everything getting spoiled on the internet that creators want to protect the integrity of their stories and that companies want to sell books but returning to one of the most prominent symbols of the near collapse of the industry is pretty ridiculous. It smacks of trying to artificially create demand (I'm sure they hoping that the more obsessive of comic fans will buy at least two! That's what happened in the 1990s.), not only with the polybagging but with announcing that there will be no overprinting of the issue, which means you better BUY IT NOW because your store probably won't be able to re-order more copies if they sell out.
I really thought we'd learned our lesson and moved beyond these tricks.
Luckily it's Friday, which means I'm going to go get a drink. A strong one.


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This article is co-authored by: Andy Romanov of Ukrgasbank, Vladislav Berezhny of Credit Agricole and Carter Hoffman of Trade Finance Global
The humanitarian and economic war between Russia and Ukraine has sent ripples all around the world, with practitioners, financiers, and governments urgently stepping in to try and help.
Boosting and restoring trade exports will be key for Ukraine, as well as ensuring a safe entry route for trade imports.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has been one such organisation, actively stepping up to support the country which has become one of its top investment destinations, second only to Turkey.
To gain insight into the trade and structured finance landscape of Ukraine currently, Trade Finance Global’s (TFG) Deepesh Patel sat down with Andy Romanov, deputy head of trade finance at Ukrgasbank, and Vladislav Berezhny, director of trade and structured finance at Credit Agricole.
Both Romanov and Berezhny will be speaking at EBRD’s flagship Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) conference in Istanbul. TFG are a proud media partner of this EBRD forum.
The changing trade and trade finance landscape in Ukraine
The trade and trade finance markets in Ukraine prior to 2015 grew and developed very slowly, but the years 2015-2019 saw rapid development in terms of imports and exports.
In 2017, Ukrainian exports reached around ₴143 billion (hryvnias) and imports amounted to ₴162 billion, figures that were surpassed in both 2018 (when they were ₴160 billion and ₴191 billion, respectively), and 2019 (which saw ₴164 billion and ₴195 billion).
2020 started well, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this growth pattern, as it did for so many other nations and industries at that time.
Nevertheless, export remained at ₴164 billion and, likewise, imports stayed at ₴168 billion by the end of 2020, rising again to ₴221 billion and ₴222 billion respectively in 2021.
In Ukraine, however, trade finance and trade differ significantly, with the former lagging behind the latter.
This is partly because Ukraine often feels the impact of global crises quite strongly, with the international banking community closing or limiting lines to Ukrainian banks.
This often means that, despite the large import and export volumes, the financing lines are simply not always there to support them. There is also a need to boost Ukrainian trade finance through further regulatory and marketing instruments, promoted by Ukrainian Alliance for Trade Finance and Factoring (UATFF), the interbank trade finance lobby.
At the end of 2021, the country reached around ₴100 billion in total trade finance, with the Ukrainian banking community working closely with the international and trade finance banking sectors to help bring more credit into the country.
But February brought with it a turning of the tides.
Within one month of the war starting there was a 10% drop in trade finance portfolios, and a substantial decrease in origination due to seaport blockades and other military activity.
Berezhny said, “We expect that by the new year the volume of trade finance portfolios will decrease by a further 20-30%.
“Nevertheless, the majority of leading banks’ trade finance commitments continue to contribute to the general stabilisation of the business environment.”
High interest rates in Ukraine and market adjustment to the current geopolitical conditions
Thankfully, trust in the Ukrainian banking system has remained high, meaning that there has not been a run on deposits. Regulatory changes to ensure economic structures were upheld were enacted upon the initiation of the war.
Unfortunately, rising interest rates are making it more difficult for businesses to secure necessary business loans.
On June 2, the interest rate in Ukraine was raised from 10% to 25% to ease pressure on the foreign exchange (FX) market and fight inflation.
On July 21, the hryvnia-dollar FX rate was lowered to 36.5: 1, a 25% decrease since the beginning of the war.
Such steps were enacted by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to stabilise the FX market, helping to increase the supply of foreign currency in the country.
Deposit rates are now at 13-17% per annum with loan rates sitting at, or above, 20%.
For Ukrainian businesses, these rates are very high and bankers anticipate that it is likely to lead to a significant decrease in bank loan portfolios throughout the country, as well as the banking system’s overall liquidity.
To help alleviate some of the pressure on businesses, banks have been instituting payment holidays, agreed by NBU in a package of anti-crisis measures. At this point, it is still unclear the impact this has on the aggregate economy as the situation is continually evolving.
The response from the international banking community
Banks need to continue providing clients in the Ukraine region with the same level of support that they were receiving prior to February 24.
However, the entire situation, including the levying of sanctions against Russia, has made the role of bankers more difficult than it was before, especially for trade finance transactions.
International banking groups present in Ukraine have demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting their subsidiaries and customers through continued lending. Therefore, despite constraints, international trade finance operations have continued.
The reality for many local banks is that direct interbank trade finance transactions without cash-cover are now closed. The cost of financing has also increased, although this is generally considered to be a global trend.
This adds additional pressure on Ukrainian businesses to stay afloat.
According to Romanov, however, many multinational financial institutions, like the EBRD, have performed their functions both timely and effectively.
Romanov said, “We are very grateful to the EBRD and everyone who now supports Ukrainian banks, customers, and Ukraine in general during this challenging time for our country.”
It should come as no surprise that periods of economic stress and unrest––as Ukraine is currently experiencing––are not well suited to the acquisition of new clients.
However, during difficult times such as these, it is common to see companies that have had relations with certain banks in the past––but perhaps not actively at present––return to rekindle these relationships as they now need all of the support that they can get.
This is particularly the case with banks that have a strong reputation for delivering on promises made to clients.
This type of pattern, which is being seen today, is not new to experienced practitioners in Ukraine, who will have witnessed similar behaviour throughout the country’s economic challenges inflicted by either global events like the financial crisis of 2008, COVID-19, or the Russian intervention of 2014.
This has put many bankers in a position to consider the return of these old business relations and how they might be restructured to meet the current needs faced by the market without interrupting trade and business relations.
This culture of resilience, which seems to be shared by the top Ukrainian banks, is a large reason why trust has remained high.
Looking ahead, both Berezhny and Romanov call on the international banking community to keep lines to Ukraine open.
They can be small and they can be limited, but in order for Ukraine to continue on despite the pressure of the conflict, they need to have that lifeline of support coming from abroad.
TFG are proud media partners of the EBRD TFP in Istanbul


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Electric truck developer Rivian Automotive reported wider losses than estimated in its second quarter earnings, losing $1.7 billion. The automaker’s losses more than doubled from the same period last year, when it lost $580 million. RIVN affirmed prior production guidance to launch the R2 vehicle in Georgia with the $15.46 bln cash on hand it still has. Last year the EV upstart raised $11.9 billion to become the largest IPO of 2021, and the largest IPO since Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) … Continue reading “Electric Truck Developer Rivian Automotive Reaffirms Production Target as Losses Mount”
Ford Motor reported better than expected second quarter earnings after the close Wednesday. $F stick soared after the automaker reaffirmed its 2022 outlook and hiked the Ford stock dividend. Strong demand for both the traditional combustion and new electric vehicles overcame supply and inflation headwinds. Ford made an operating profit of $3.7 billion from $40.2 billion in sales. Wall Street was looking for an operating profit of $2.6 billion from sales of $34.8 billion. Earnings Ford Second Quarter 2022 Earnings … Continue reading “Ford Motor Crushes Earnings, Hikes Dividend Raising Guidance”
Volkswagen has been quietly moving along closing the gap with Tesla as the leading maker of electric cars. VW is in a solid place behind Tesla on EVs and making progress on battery production, charging infrastructure and software, Chief Executive Officer Herbert Diess said Wednesday at a tech conference in Berlin. In Europe we have already seen Tesla go from number one at 33% EV market share in 1919 to just 10% market share and 5th place. However, VW had a 47% EV … Continue reading “VW Closing the Gap on Tesla in The Great EV Race”
Germany-based Sono Group NV $SEV raised $150 million at a $1.1 billion market cap. The company is developing what it believes is disruptive solar technology, as well as a solar and battery powered vehicle. Sono Motors is developing the solar electric vehicle (SEV) for the masses, the Sion. It has reached more than 16,000 reservations with advance payments for the Sion, the solar electric vehicle (SEV) for the masses, German disruptive solar technology company Sono Group (SEV) Sono Group N.V. (parent company to … Continue reading “German Solar Electric Vehicle Disruptor Sono Group IPO Debut”
Japan’s Panasonic unveiled a new prototype battery specifically for U.S. electric-car maker Tesla. The advanced battery has five times current capacity. The battery will cost 50% less to produce and help boost battery production at Panasonic “100-fold,” by 2030. Panasonic shares rose nearly 6% on the news. Panasonic Prototype Battery For Tesla The company’s battery chiefKazuo Tadanobu unveiled the new battery for the first time at a media roundtable, he also said Panasonic had no plans to make cheaper Lithium … Continue reading “Panasonic New Prototype Battery For Tesla With Fives Times More Energy Storage Capacity”
The Russian government-backed arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey has announced that it is working on a new hydrogen fuel cell passenger car,known as E-NEVA. The hybrid car will be for civilian use. Hydrogen provides more mileage and lower CO2 emissions than electric cars
German based ride-hailing service FREE NOW announced it will start offering electric vehicles as its default first option for customers in the UK instead of gasoline or diesel vehicles. FREE NOW aims for 100% of its trips to be zero-emission by 2030 across all key European cities
Ford Motor announced plans for a massive $11.4 bln investment in electric vehicle production. The deal is part of Ford’s over $30 billion investment plan in EVs through 2025, the campuses will help $F achieve its goal of EV production reaching 40-50% of the total by 2030
GM backed startup Wejo announced partnerships with Microsoft, Palantir and Sompo Holdings to improve its ability to collect, store and analyze data from millions of connected vehicles around the world. Wejo is going public by merging with SPAC Virtuoso Acquisition $VOSO later this year.
China stockpiling of Cobalt has seen it’s prices soar, rising by about 65 per cent since January. Cobalt is used in batteries for electric vehicles, as well as smartphones, tablets and laptops. China is the world’s biggest importer of cobalt, buying about 95,000 tonnes of it every year.


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When Microsoft surprised the tech world during the 1997 Macworld expo by partnering with the then-flailing Apple, it spurred the start of a major turnaround. Now, 25 years later, Microsoft is a key part of Meta’s big metaverse bet as the struggling social network looks to find enterprise clients to replace slowing revenue growth from advertising.
On Tuesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella joined Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on stage for part of the annual Meta Connect conference, where Meta unveiled its pricey new virtual reality headset — the $1,500 Quest Pro — and debuted other product announcements geared toward AR/VR and the metaverse.
Meta’s metaverse bet
Since acquiring Oculus in 2014 for $2 billion, Facebook has increasingly touted its vision for VR as a new social network, but also as a way to play games, exercise and watch a range of other content. However, Nadella’s guest appearance — in addition to other newly announced partnerships with enterprise giants such as Accenture, Adobe and Autodesk — are all interpreted as signals for how Meta hopes to reinvent itself to rely on more than social advertising.
Microsoft plans to make Microsoft Teams and Windows 365 available in Meta headsets and also provide cloud support from Microsoft Intune and Azure. Autodesk is adding ways for architects and designers to review 3D models. Adobe is working on tools for creators to design in 3D and also has plans for Adobe Acrobat users to collaborate on PDFs. Accenture is developing new techniques to help engage with customers and employees in VR.
“[Meta’s] partnership with Microsoft was particularly notable because it signaled a tangible step towards an interoperable metaverse,” said Forrester analyst Mike Proulx. “This can only happen by more companies openly working together. But make no mistake, Meta has baggage to shed and it’ll take lots more actions like this to earn some of their lost trust back.”
It’s now been nearly a year since the company formerly known as Facebook rebranded to become Meta. Last October, the change was seen as not just a nod to its new focus on the metaverse, but also as an attempt to redirect attention away from ongoing concerns about data privacy and content moderation. Since then, the company’s stock price has been cut in half while advertising revenue has eroded from a combination of Apple’s privacy changes and ongoing economic uncertainty. Earlier this year, the company said Apple’s privacy changes could cost it $10 billion in 2022. (That’s the same amount it lost last year from metaverse-related spending.)
Can Meta grow revenue from its VR ambitions fast enough to offset the slowing ad revenue from Facebook and Instagram? That’s the “billion-dollar question,” according to Anshel Sag, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, who also pointed out that Meta is trying to get ahead of whatever headset Apple could soon announce.
“Meta’s increased investments in VR, AR and the metaverse come at the worst time for the company financially,” Sag said. “But I believe that the company knows that it may take some pain in order to establish itself in a new market if it is, in fact, too early … Meta does not want to miss the next platform and it is showing that it is willing to take the deliberate innovation and time it takes to get there as early as it can.”
The pivot to enterprise
There is money to be made if Meta can drum up interest in everything from VR and AR experiences to 3D objects. Some startups say developing AR and VR projects can cost between $50,000 to several million dollars depending on the size and scope. Meanwhile, turning objects into 3D renderings can cost several hundred dollars each and beyond $1,000 if they’re more complex, according to Jonathan Cheney, founder and CEO of Ocavu, a startup that works with companies on enterprise AR and VR projects.
When — and whether — that might add up to the billions in revenue to rival the piles of money Meta currently makes from advertising might still be a few years off. According to Gartner, 10% of workers will be using virtual spaces on a regular basis by 2025, up from just 1% this year. According to Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen, VR headset growth for enterprise use should grow in the next three years, but consumer adoption might take as long as a decade unless something changes such as a lower price point, compelling content or usability. However, he said Meta’s emphasis on headsets upstages other potential uses.
“I think that Meta’s emphasis on VR and the VR head-mounted display overshadows some of the other work they do,” Nguyen said. “It’s not quite clear where they’re headed outside of VR, but there’s a lot more potential there that we aren’t necessarily seeing.”
According to PwC’s 2022 metaverse survey, 42% of executives plan to use it for onboarding and training and 36% plan to use it for interacting with colleagues or creating virtual content for customers. Meanwhile, 34% plan on creating communities or providing entertainment, 29% plan to offer try-before-you-buy experiences and 25% plan to sell digital versions of current merchandise.
Another question is whether the enterprise business will be a gateway for consumer content. Computers were in offices before they were in homes, smartphones were used for business before they were used by everyone. Now that people work from home, will they buy a headset for their day job but try out other apps during off-hours?
“There are a lot of people out there who are willing to put that headset on for video games,” said Luke Hurd, director of experience design for VMLY&R. “If you can get them to bridge that and put it on for work, then the enterprise case makes a lot of sense.”
VR beyond advertising
Over the past few years, many companies have used VR and AR for everything from advancements in aerospace and architecture to healthcare. However, marketing in VR has been much slower to catch on than augmented reality, which requires just a phone.
Meta seems to be expecting people to assume that they’ll need VR or other metaverse technologies, according to Sasha Wallinger, who leads a metaverse strategy for the Web3 design consultancy Journey. Instead, Wallinger — who previously worked on marketing teams at Nike, H&M and Sorel — thinks Meta should spend more time explaining why people should care.
“When you’re a designer, you want to break and build and know what the premise is so you can build on top of that,” she said.
Ioana Matei, Proctor & Gamble’s head of immersive tech, said the enterprise partnerships were interesting, but they still lacked strong use cases. Eliza Yvette Esquivel, chief strategy officer at New York-based advertising agency Barbarian, said the best uses might not come directly from tech companies, but instead from people tinkering with headsets.
“There’s been an ongoing, pervasive and persistent situation where it’s a technology looking for a reason to exist and a device looking for a consumer use case,” Esquivel said.
According to Esquivel, Zuckerberg should take the same approach to VR as he did in the early Facebook years when there was room to explore without the pressure to make real revenue. Although big companies face big expectations, she noted that businesses — just like trees — don’t always grow quickly or find the best fruit from immediate results.
“It’s all underground now and we don’t even have a sprout yet,” she said. “We’re going to play in the mud, but we won’t see what we’re creating yet for a while…Whether or not there’s going to be a consumer use case for it remains a question. We could end up having only institutional use cases for these technologies for training and education.”
Although Apple’s challenges in the 1990s aren’t the same as what Meta now faces, the companies are also increasingly crossing paths as competitors. Apple is reportedly looking to expand its advertising business on a number of fronts such as Apple TV and also is expected to release its own headset in the near future. However, VMLY&R’s Luke Hurd — who also helps develop the curriculum for Meta’s Spark AR platform — sees a parallel between the trajectory of the iPhone, which debuted a year before the App Store, and that of VR hardware and software.
“Apple had a plan,” he said. “They didn’t just launch the iPhone and then say ‘What now?’ They knew there had to be an ecosystem there.”
What Meta’s plan looks like in the long term is still unclear. (Hurd also pointed out that a lot of marketing pitch decks over the past few years have included points about people preferring experiences more than just ads.) But Tom Goodwin, co-founder of the innovation consultancy All We Have Is Now, said the current lack of major VR uses “shows this is all a bridge too far and in the wrong direction.” Goodwin — a former executive at Publicis and Havas — said the state of Meta’s metaverse is an example of what happens when a company pushes people to embrace tech without solving any real-world problems.
“We have this old idea that first we make tech, then the tech changes us, and the first examples of technology typically confuse people,” Goodwin said. “But somehow my imagination isn’t able to see how we can rethink the world around what this makes possible. VR in particular tends to make us feel removed from our world and place, and I think few people today are thinking I need to spend longer looking at screens, in fact, quite the opposite.”
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Tesla Inc. has reached a preliminary agreement with the Chinese company Tianjin Lishen to supply the batteries needed for the new Tesla factory in Shanghai. The move is part of a continuing effort by Tesla to lessen its dependence on the Panasonic battery it purchases from Japan.
The two companies have not yet agreed on the size of the initial battery order. Lishen is also not yet clear on the cell size of the battery Tesla will use.
Panasonic is the exclusive supplier of battery cells for Tesla at this time. But Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk announced in November his company would manufacture its packs and battery modules at its Shanghai factory for the foreseeable future. Musk also said the company was working to diversify its supplier source.
A Tweet from Musk in November informed the public that cell production will be sourced locally in the Shanghai area and will most likely include several companies.
Tesla began its operations at the $2 billion ‘Gigafactory’ in early January. The factory is the first for Tesla in China and the company hopes to produce its Model 3 vehicles at the factory by the end of 2019.
The Chinese auto market is the largest market for automobiles in the world. Musk explains his company intends to produce more affordable vehicles for the Chinese consumer. Tesla is searching for ways to overcome the complications of the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China.
Panasonic issued a statement regarding the new operations plant Tesla now operates in Shanghai. Company officials said no decision has been made regarding the development. The company would not comment on the possibility of not being the exclusive supplier for Tesla any longer.
Lishen boasts of working relationships with Apple, Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motors, and others. Lishen recently joined other major battery makers who are pursuing contracts in the electric vehicle industry. The company began manufacturing a battery identical to the one Panasonic makes for Tesla’s model three two years ago.
Panasonic recently joined forces with Toyota Motor Corp and the two entities plan to begin producing electric vehicle batteries together sometime next year. The move is part of an effort to compete with Chinese companies.
The move will help Panasonic become less dependent on the business it receives from Tesla. Panasonic has struggled financially in the past due to the many production delays experienced by Tesla.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — FTR Associates has released its preliminary Class 8 truck sales data for January, showing a 12% drop from December, 2008.
Net orders for all North American OEMs totaled just 7,608 units, the industry analyst announced. That includes Canadian and Mexican figures as well as exports. The industry forecaster says it is the weakest January for North American Class 8 truck sales since the data was first tracked 30 years ago.
The January total was 66% lower than January, 2008. The final numbers will be released by FTR later this month.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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There are a lot of silly stereotypes about gamers and anti-social tendencies, but for those who genuinely believe them, here’s a nice bit of counter-evidence: give gamers the chance to fork out a bit of cash for something special that marks them as a caring individual, and they’re all over that. Take World of Warcraft’s Cinder Kitten, which has totted up a whopping $2.3 million in sales.
The frankly adorable pet goes for $10, which is pretty hefty even for such a delightful little bundle. But when Blizzard announced hat all proceeds from purchases made before December 31 would directly benefit the Red Cross and its Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, the Battle.net community rallied around nicely. Maths isn’t my strong point, but surely that means about 230,000 players ponied up for the widdle bundle of wuv? Well done, everyone.


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Having identified fisheries and agriculture as the key contributors to food security in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning unveiled initiatives to develop these two sectors.
Alternative agricultural practices such as hydroponic farming and aquaculture have become increasingly popular in the Kingdom. For example, Al Ghalia Farms produces locally grown vegetables in a hydroponic system. Peninsula Farms is a producer of hydroponic vegetables and goat milk.
Use the provided eServices immediately, effortlessly, and around the clock.
Find information about the offered government services across different channels.
Content Last Updated: 26 Feb, 2023
For more information : bahrainweather.gov.bh


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Physiologists discover how temperature influences our taste
The sweet taste of temperature
Why does a beer taste better if it comes from the fridge and does a warm beer taste bitter? Why is red Bordeaux wine best drunk at room temperature? And what causes that unique taste sensation of ice cream? Researchers from the Physiology section of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven, Belgium) have discovered, together with their Japanese and American colleagues, how the temperature sensitivity of our sense of taste works. Today, they publish their breakthrough in the top professional journal Nature.
How does taste recognition work?
People can distinguish five basic tastes: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and umami (the Japanese term for the bouillon-like taste found in, for example, meat and mature cheeses). The perception of taste occurs in the taste buds in our tongue. These buds contain taste receptors, specialised proteins able to recognise sweet, bitter, and umami taste molecules in food and drinks. When taste molecules touch the taste receptors, microscopic channels – termed TRPM5 – open in the cell membrane of the taste buds. This causes an electric signal to arise in the taste buds that travels to the brain via nerve fibers, where it is translated into a specific taste sensation.
K.U.Leuven’s physiologists decipher the temperature sensitivity of our sense of taste
Physiologists from the university of Leuven have discovered that this Trpm5-channel in our taste buds is highly sensitive to changes in temperature. At 15ºC the channel scarcely opens, whereas at 37ºC its sensitivity is more than 100 times higher. The warmer the food or fluid in your mouth, that much stronger will TRPM5 react, and thus that much stronger is the electrical signal sent to the brain. For example, the sweet taste of ice cream will only be perceived when it melts and heats up in the mouth. If you serve the same ice cream warm, then the reaction of TRPM5 in your taste buds is much more intense and the taste of the melted ice cream is much sweeter.
Based on these findings, K.U.Leuven’s researchers now conclude in Nature that TRPM5 lies at the basis of our taste’s sensitivity to temperature. This was also confirmed in experiments on mice: taste responses increased dramatically when the temperature of sweet drinks was increased from 15°C to 37°C. This temperature sensitivity of sweet taste was entirely lacking in genetically altered mice that no longer produced the Trpm5 channel.
This research opens the way to the development of chemical substances influencing the functioning of the Trpm5-channels so as to suppress unpleasant tastes, for example, or to explore completely unprecedented and new taste experiences.
Finally, these results provide an explanation for a well known psychophysical experiment, whereby test persons experience taste sensations just by heating specific parts of the tongue. Leuven’s researchers attribute this phenomenon to a direct activation of TRPM5 in the taste buds. Indeed, at higher temperatures the sensitivity of TRPM5 increases to such a degree that it becomes activated in the absence of taste molecules, leading to a “thermal taste” signal to the brains.
Luc West | alfa
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Die letzten 5 Focus-News des innovations-reports im Überblick:
Whether you call it effervescent, fizzy, or sparkling, carbonated water is making a comeback as a beverage. Aside from quenching thirst, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have discovered a new use for these "bubbly" concoctions that will have major impact on the manufacturer of the world's thinnest, flattest, and one most useful materials -- graphene.
As graphene's popularity grows as an advanced "wonder" material, the speed and quality at which it can be manufactured will be paramount. With that in mind,...
Physicists at the University of Bonn have managed to create optical hollows and more complex patterns into which the light of a Bose-Einstein condensate flows. The creation of such highly low-loss structures for light is a prerequisite for complex light circuits, such as for quantum information processing for a new generation of computers. The researchers are now presenting their results in the journal Nature Photonics.
Light particles (photons) occur as tiny, indivisible portions. Many thousands of these light portions can be merged to form a single super-photon if they are...
For the first time, scientists have shown that circular RNA is linked to brain function. When a RNA molecule called Cdr1as was deleted from the genome of mice, the animals had problems filtering out unnecessary information – like patients suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders.
While hundreds of circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in mammalian brains, one big question has remained unanswered: What are they actually good for? In the...
An experimental small satellite has successfully collected and delivered data on a key measurement for predicting changes in Earth's climate.
The Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes (RAVAN) CubeSat was launched into low-Earth orbit on Nov. 11, 2016, in order to test new...
A study led by scientists of the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) at the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science in Hamburg presents evidence of the coexistence of superconductivity and “charge-density-waves” in compounds of the poorly-studied family of bismuthates. This observation opens up new perspectives for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of high-temperature superconductivity, a topic which is at the core of condensed matter research since more than 30 years. The paper by Nicoletti et al has been published in the PNAS.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, superconductivity had been observed in some metals at temperatures only a few degrees above the absolute zero (minus...


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RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
According to Lonnie Hoyle, CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Integrated Endoscopy, the nuvis Single-Use Arthroscope allows for safer and more cost-effective procedures. “Unlike conventional reusable endoscopes, the nuvis Arthroscope never infects a patient, never needs repairs, never contributes to OR delays, and never needs to be cleaned and sterilized,” Hoyle said.
The nuvis Single-Use Arthroscope provides many benefits over conventional reusable endoscopes, including:
- Eradicating the risk of healthcare-associated infections due to lapses in instrument reprocessing
- Eliminating the need for sterilization and high-level disinfection of endoscopes
- Preventing costly OR delays and downtime by ensuring the availability of patient-ready scopes
- Providing high-definition optics and compatibility with existing video systems
- Offering a lightweight scope with an easy-to-use design that eliminates a bulky cable, making it easier on surgeons during procedures
More than 4 million knee arthroscopies are performed worldwide each year, many of them involving sports-related injuries. “Over time, arthroscopes get damaged and degraded due to frequent use, handling, and reprocessing,” said Grady L. Jeter, M.D., founder of the Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine Clinic in San Jose, Calif. “With the introduction of the nuvis Arthroscope, surgeons now can have the optical quality of a brand new endoscope for every procedure, and patients can be assured of a sterile scope free of the potential for infection transmission.”
The nuvis Arthroscope is designed with high-definition optics and an innovative LED light source, eliminating the need for expensive xenon light bulbs and fragile fiber optic bundles. Its patented design features only 12 molded-glass lenses compared to the dozens of expensive ground-glass lenses needed with conventional reusable arthroscopes.
About Integrated Endoscopy
Integrated Endoscopy, Inc., is a pioneer in the development of high-quality, low-cost single-use rigid endoscopes. The company’s intellectual property portfolio includes nearly 20 patents in the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, and Canada covering the lens system design, LED lighting systems in a rigid endoscope, and high-quality molded glass lenses that are at the core of its cutting-edge devices. This strong patent position makes Integrated Endoscopy uniquely positioned to be the market leader and sole provider of single-use rigid endoscopes. Integrated Endoscopy is a privately held company with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. For more information, visit www.iescope.com.
Note to editors: For more information, or to request photos and video of the nuvis Single-Use Arthroscope, contact Barbara Sullivan at [email protected] or 714/374-6174.
Barbara Sullivan, 714/374-6174


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Osram acquires stake in Montreal-based horticulture startup company Motorleaf
- Osram’s venture capital arm Fluxunit invests in Canadian company for high-end greenhouse technology
Motorleaf’s data analytics pave the way to smart farming
Osram’s venture capital arm, Fluxunit, has acquired a stake in Canadian startup Motorleaf, an artificial intelligence company focused on bringing actionable, data-driven insights to greenhouse and indoor farm operators. Motorleaf’s hardware and software support strengthen the human and environmental aspects of greenhouse production, helping to predict accurate harvest amounts in a tight-margin industry. By providing a digital agronomist, Motorleaf’s yield prediction tools help greenhouse operators meet contract obligations, better plan weekly operations and forecast production capacities in real time. “We see strong potential in leveraging advanced data analytics to further optimize predictability and performance of production in commercial greenhouse and indoor farm production,” said Ulrich Eisele, Managing Director of Osram’s Fluxunit.
For horticultural applications, Osram already supplies specially developed lighting solutions designed for cultivating plants in greenhouses or indoor farms that stimulate and manage plant growth. Adjusting light in the context of overall environmental growing conditions to the specific needs and characteristics of a plant has a strong impact on actual yield and quality of the plants produced. Motorleaf’s solution adds smart harvest forecasts based on artificial intelligence.
In initial trials with California greenhouse SunSelect, Motorleaf’s technology led to a 50 percent reduction in yield prediction error in tomatoes. These results were enough for SunSelect to adopt Motorleaf’s algorithms after a short trial. However, yield prediction is just the first step in Motorleaf’s solutions for producers. “Better yield prediction is only the beginning for Motorleaf’s value to this sector,” says Motorleaf CEO Alastair Monk. “We’re ultimately producing dynamic grower protocols, which help manage everything from light and nutrients to predicting crop diseases before they happen and optimized growing conditions that increase ROI – all based on real-time data.”
In this seed financing round, Fluxunit, along with financial investors Radicle Growth, Desjardins Capital, Real Ventures, BDC Capital and 500 Startups Canada invested $2.85 million USD in Motorleaf.
Osram recently expanded its horticulture portfolio with the acquisition of US specialty luminaire supplier Fluence Bioingeneering. Via its Fluxunit Osram also holds a stake in the horticulture startup Agrilution since 2017. Solutions for plant lighting open up an attractive growth market for the high-tech company Osram. Intelligent lighting plays an increasingly important role in the food supply of rapidly growing mega-cities.


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Daytona Beach chocolate factory struggles through first pandemic Valentine's Day
Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory sales 'not as good as they usually are'
DAYTONA BEACH — Chuck Smith, owner of Beach Street's beloved Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory, said there are three things working against him this Valentine's weekend.
One, Valentine's Day falls on the same day as the Daytona 500, drawing people to the Speedway on the other side of town
Two, the holiday falls on a Sunday, meaning there's lots of competition for things to do.
Then, of course, there is the coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged small business nationwide as people stay home to limit the spread of the deadly virus
"Sales are good, but they're not as good as they usually are," said Smith, who owns Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory with his wife Hannah. "This year's kind of strange."
Smith's family bought the shop nearly four decades ago in 1983. It's been open at 154 S. Beach St. in Daytona Beach since 1925.
They sell 70,000 pounds of chocolate each year. Milk chocolate is the most popular, with dark chocolate taking second and white chocolate third.
They famously give tours of the chocolate factory to 250,000 people in a normal year, but due to COVID-19, they haven't offered any tours since April. Smith said social distancing would be impossible.
Customers nonetheless steadily filed into the shop Saturday. Smith said the Feb. 13 tends to be the busiest day of the year.
"Normally I would have three more salespeople, four more checking people out," he said as he gazed at the couple dozen people in the shop at lunchtime Saturday.
The most popular Valentine's Day snack is chocolate-covered strawberries, which go for about $20 per dozen.
Smith said they bought 8,400 (700 dozen) Florida-grown strawberries, which got particularly sweet in this winter's cool weather.
"They're really good this year," Smith said. "I guess the strawberries like it colder."
Shawn Moore, however, said he was there for chocolate-covered pecans. He bought some for himself and his mother.
"It's just the combination of flavors. That sweet and salty thing," Moore said.
Sandy Tackett was looking for a gift to send to family in Indiana, an ocean animal preferably. She said she's been by a couple other times this week, but was thwarted by long lines when she didn't have time to wait.
"It's good that it's open," Tackett said. "My husband's over there getting me something, I hope."
Tours generally take a path past five big windows that offer a glimpse of chocolates and candies taking shape. The first window gives a view of strawberries, bacon, chips, and other fillings and centers that will be coated in chocolate.
The next passes by where chocolate is tempered and molds gets filled. It's where the alligators, racecars, seashells, flip-flops, roses and turtles lining the shop's shelves get made.
The third window gives a glimpse of caramels drying on racks and machines that press cream centers into chocolates. The fourth shows where candies get pulled from a conveyor belt and the last is where workers pack treats into boxes.
"They get free samples at the end. It's a great marketing tool. We've done it for a long, long time," Smith said.
Ashley Gillikin and her three kids make the short trip from Port Orange Saturday morning.
"We could stay here all day and watch this stuff," Gillikin said as her kids excitedly chattered and watched workers dip bright red strawberries in chocolate.
They had a bag filled with treats, including chocolate-coated strawberries, rock candy and a chocolate dog house with "I wuv you" written in icing. Gillikin’s youngest held up a chocolate mermaid that matched her colorful mermaid mask.
"They love coming here. They like to watch them cook," Gillikin said.
Of course, not everybody in the shop wanted their names revealed.
"I was never here," one man declared as he filled his basket. "I was never here."


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New research emerging from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association demonstrates that more consumers are interested in adding a fireplace to their homes.
To help guide would-be fireplace purchasers in their buying effort, the association has launched #FiresideChats, a communications program developed to educate consumers on the overall fireplace market and encourage investing in premium hearth products.
“More than one-third of North American homeowners plan to purchase a new hearth appliance in the next two years, including indoor and outdoor hearth products,” said Emily McGee, director of communications, HPBA. “With there being a greater interest in hearth products, we want to make it even easier for consumers to understand the industry and the many benefits of hearth.”
HPMA noted that #FiresideChats is an interactive campaign engaging consumers online with tips about investing and/or expanding their hearth investment. To get the program rolling, HPBA will host a series of Facebook Live events on the newly launched @hpba_hearth Facebook page, with the first scheduled fort 1 p.m. eastern time on March 14 and the rest running later in the month.
The events include:
- Which Hearth is Right for You: Wood, Gas or Electric? Guest John Crouch, HPBA director of public affairs, discusses the pros and cons of different types of hearth products live from the floor of HPBExpo, the largest trade show for the indoor hearth and outdoor patio industry held in the U.S.
- Hearth Benefits: Why Invest in Hearth? A HPBA presentation on the benefits of investing in hearth products that addresses common concerns including cost, safety and air quality.
- Where to Buy Your Hearth. A retail expert will guide potential buyers through the hearth retail experience to ensure that consumers recognize the safest and smartest way to purchase hearth and hearth accessories.


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Unfolding Drones — the Tech Toy that is here to STAY
The Drone Revolution — Killers? Surveyors? Toys?
Used predominately for precision attacks, unmanned combats, surveillance and for reconnaissance photography by the defense industry, drones were used discretely and intelligently. Today, drones are a mature technology. With drones becoming more affordable and practical, they offer interesting civilian uses. With the convergence of technologies in the Internet of Things (IoT), drones are set to merge seamlessly into solutions in the near term.
A couple of years ago, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shared the vision of the e-commerce giant to integrate commercial Drones into their delivery system. Known as Amazon Prime Air, it threw the drone technology into a completely different light. Google (Project Wing), Facebook, Walmart and many others were quick to follow Amazon and announce their projects to showcase that they were leaders in the industry as well. These companies are leading drones into the league of contemporary & promising technologies with their judicious investments.
Drones Flying In
Statistics and projections indicate interesting trends pointing to the increase in investments in drones across domains & industries throughout the world. Innovators of commercial drones who began their groundwork years ago, are set to make the most of the FAA announcement in the USA for the very first set of rules for commercial drones in 2016.
Drones -the Pioneers
Drones Flying High — The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Available in varying sizes and abilities, drones can be as easy as the ones controlled by phones and tablets or as sophisticated as the ones almost the size of an airplane. With drones becoming simple to procure and use, a drone could be used for various intents..
Drones present a long list of technology put to use in sensible ways, the most common being its use in military and to combat terrorism. Drones are expected to become an indispensable part of the Internet of Things — catering to smart cities & smart farming, in supporting critical infrastructure, commercial applications, and aiding in scientific researcher. Agricultural drones are being used to facilitate precision farming with features like crop scouting, irrigation inspection, precision spraying, field mapping & crop assessments in countries like the US, Canada, UK, Australia & France. Drones have also helped report environmental activities like volcanoes, glaciers and hurricanes, thereby providing early warning and life savers.
On the other hand, drones can turn into life threatening hazards when they fly too close to airports or breach pre-defined air spaces. A growing number of accidents are now being reported and drones could soon turn into a menace or be perceived as a threat. There is a general worry that drones in the wrong hands can be used for illegal activities such as drug trafficking, spying and other attacks.
Flying High & Safe?
Drones have given rise to concerns over security breaches and safety & privacy issues. This is a technology setting pace for a revolution of the skies, but a device intended for the good of many if put in the wrong hands can wreak havoc.
"Drones are a potentially transformative technology in diverse fields such as agriculture, law enforcement, coastal security, military training, search and rescue, first responder medical support, critical infrastructure inspection and many others."
— White house, February 2015
- Drones are not to be operated over people
- Tests & security checks for non-recreational remote pilots operating Drones
- Drones to be operated at least five miles away from the airports
- Different flying zones for manned and unmanned aircrafts defined as the areas in the sky
With this ensured physical safety, the next important thing is to make the data collection procedures and the data itself private and secure to make the economic opportunities arising from the Drones more acceptable. The White House has further guidelines for safeguarding the data collected:
"Entities that plan to use unmanned aircraft systems to gather personal information should have plans in place for how they collect, use and protect personal information. Like basic safety precautions, privacy should be a building block of every flight plan and every unmanned aircraft system operation."
The FAA takes charge of the UAV registrations and assure compliances by all operators in the USA. Across the world, the respective Aviation regulatory bodies take charge of the situation and are responsible for safety & privacy issues arising with the use of this innovative technology.
With projections of as high as 7 million drones by 2020, drone technology is set to become mainstream. The most recent news from New Zealand — Dominos in association with Flirtey, debuts its pizza delivery using Drones, makes this innovative technology more interesting each passing day.
However, as with any technology, comes accountability and the ability to draw the fine line between restriction and freedom for all, especially in a technology like the UAVs which can easily go astray or become a big security threat if not kept under proper check.
The Internet of Things integrates various technologies to offer comprehensive solutions to enterprises with different needs. Drones a practical technology, is all set to become the next big thing going beyond its image of a simple killer or surveyor.
The advantages offered outnumber the threats posed by this 'toy' technology and despite the fact that there could be threatening uses, a growing number of drones are registered every year to be leveraged across domains and industries.