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March 10, 2008
MONTPELIER, Vt. – The State of Vermont will be looking to generate some green by being green at an upcoming international environmental technology trade fair and conference in Vancouver.
Representatives of the Vermont Department of Economic Development and the Vermont Global Trade Partnership will be joined by several Vermont companies at GLOBE 2008, a biennial trade fair and conference scheduled for March 12 through 14.
“Vermont has an internationally-recognized image as a clean, “green” state; we are the healthiest state in America; and we have more institutions of higher learning per capita than any other state,” said Kevin Dorn, Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community Development. “We believe we can leverage these strengths to recruit ‘green’ businesses to Vermont, and promote those already here.”
Dorn will head a delegation that includes the Vermont Department of Economic Development; the Vermont Global Trade Partnership; Burlington-based alternative energy firm Draker Solar; and environmental remediation equipment maker Clean Earth Technology of Ferrisburg to GLOBE 2008.
“This will be the second time that Vermont has attended GLOBE, and the response has been very positive,” Dorn said. “Vermont companies have found good leads, and environmental technology firms have expressed interest in our state.”
He noted Vermont’s efforts to promote itself as a center for environmental engineering and technology firms, including the release of the recent report by the Vermont Environmental Engineering Advisory Council.
“Governor Jim Douglas has made growing Vermont’s ‘Green Valley’ a priority,” Dorn said. “This conference helps promote Vermont on a world stage.”
GLOBE 2008 showcases emerging environmental technologies and solutions from leading global technology companies.
Nearly 10,000 policy makers, environmental business leaders and corporate environmental managers from 78 countries attended GLOBE 2006 and organizers estimate that $646 million in new business was generated at GLOBE 2006.
For more information, visit the GLOBE Web site at: http://www.globe2008.ca/index.cfm
Source: Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Last Updated at: March 10, 2008 16:25:54


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Surge in pick-your-own farms sees return to 1980s levels thanks to hot summer and recession
Britain's pick-your-own farms have made a massive comeback this summer with record sales thanks to the long spell of warm sunny weather.
Farmers say the incredibly high number of customers and sales is like a return to the boom of the 1980s when picking your own fruit and vegetables peaked in popularity.
Many farms across the country have struggled to cope with the huge rise in customers this year and some have even had difficulty keeping up with demand.
Fun day out: Pick-your-own farms have seen a resurgence in customer numbers
'After several years of wet summers, this year's long dry spell is enticing customers out, with most places in England yet to have a wet weekend,' said Rita Exner, from the National Farmers Retail and Markets Association (FARMA).
'Many people have been saying it is like the 1980s when the fields were heaving with pickers.'
Peter Shaw, who manages Calves Lane Pick Your Own in Buckinghamshire said he has had record sales this year and added: 'The car park couldn't cope last weekend.'
While the Balloon Tree in Yorkshire has also reported a massive demand for pick your own and plans to double the area devoted to it next year.
Some farms have struggled to meet demand.
Late frosts heavily affected crops on some farms and coupled with the long dry spell a number of growers have predicted a shortened season.
'There was an unseasonal frost in late May so it was very cold just as fruit such as strawberries was starting to set,' added Rita, from FARMA.
'This meant much of the early crop was lost so the season was late starting and there has been a struggle to meet demand in some places.
'But the cherries and raspberries are looking excellent this year as they like the dry and warm weather.'
Pick-your-own farms began in the UK in the 1960s following trends in America and by the 1980s had become a hugely successful business model.
Better quality: Advocates of pick-your-own say customers get tastier fruit than they would find in supermarkets
Families would drive out at weekends and pick baskets of fruit, then freeze, preserve and tin their supplies for the winter.
In the 1990s with the emergence of supermarket giants offering cheap fresh fruit and vegetables the industry nose-dived.
But two years ago sales at pick-your-own farms in America saw their biggest increase in 30 years and Britain is now seeing the same trend.
'The produce is often half the price as in the shops and harvesting food for yourself is satisfying,' added Rita.
'The little bit of work involved in pick-your-own rewards you with superb tasting fruit and vegetables and value for money.
'Pick-your-own is fun, the family can join in and you can eat well for less. It has to be a good thing.'
Britain has more than 1,000 pick-your-own farms, with strawberries and raspberries the most lucrative and popular fruit.
Many are now also growing more exotic fruit and vegetables such as melons, pumpkins and asparagus and even flowers, including sunflowers, gladioli and sweet peas.
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IDC’s Top Ten Technology Predictions For 2014: Spending On Cloud Computing Will Exceed $100B
International Data Corporation recently presented their top ten technology predictions for 2014. Frank Gens, Senior Vice President and Chief Analyst at IDC hosted a webinar to present the research firm’s predictions for 2014 including the research firm’s latest cloud computing market forecast. You can see a replay of the webinar and get the predictions documents at IDC Predictions 2014. They are briefly summarized below:
- Emerging markets will return to double-digit growth of 10%, driving nearly $740B or 35% of worldwide IT revenues and, for the first time, more than 60% of worldwide IT spending growth. IDC also predicted that in 2014 the number of smart connected devices shipped in emerging markets will almost double that shipped in developed markets. In addition, IDC predicts that over the next seven years emerging markets cloud spending will grow seven-fold versus three-fold in developed markets. IDC is predicting IT spending in Western Europe will be marginally up, with U.S. and Japan spending marginally down.
- Worldwide IT spending will grow 5% year over year to $2.1 trillion in 2014. Spending will be driven by 3rd Platform technologies, which will grow 15% year over year and capture 89% of IT spending growth. Smartphones and tablets will lead 2014 growth, accounting for over 60% of total IT growth. Excluding mobile devices, IT growth will only by a modest 2.4%. The graphic shown to the right was shared during the webinar today, explaining the 3rd platform and its contribution to market growth.
- Within the 3rd Platform, value will start to migrate “up the stack”, from infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to platform as a service (PaaS) and from generic PaaS to data-optimized PaaS. The latter will be most evident as Amazon Web Services rolls out an avalanche of platform-as-a-service offerings for developers and higher value services for businesses. This will force incumbent IT suppliers – the companies that won market leadership in the 2nd Platform era – to urgently reconfigure themselves to fight for position in the 3rd Platform marketplace.
- The mobile device onslaught will continue in 2014 with sales of tablets growing by 18% and smartphones by 12%. The Android community, led by Samsung, will maintain its volume advantage over Apple, while Apple will hold onto its value edge with higher average selling prices and an established ecosystem of apps. But Google Play (Android) app downloads and revenues are making dramatic gains and the “app ecosystem value gap” will be significantly narrowed in 2014. And the clock will be ticking louder for Microsoft, which needs to quickly double mobile developer interest in Windows. Frank Gens presented the following graphic to support this prediction:
- Cloud spending, including cloud services and the technology to enable these services, will surge by 25% in 2014, reaching over $100B. IDC explained the $100B figure includes software, services and cloud infrastructure. IDC also expects to see a dramatic increase in the number of datacenters as cloud players race to achieve global scale. This will be accompanied by a similar expansion in the variety of workload-specialized cloud infrastructure services, leading to new forms of differentiation among cloud service providers. Finally, a pitched battle will be joined for the developers that can create the cloud-based applications and solutions that will fuel the market’s growth. IDC predicts that by 2017, 80%+ of new cloud apps will be hosted on six PaaS platforms.
- Spending on big data technologies and services will grow by 30% in 2014, surpassing $14 billion as demand for big data analytics skills continues to outstrip supply. Here the race will be on to develop “data-optimized cloud platforms”, capable of leveraging high volumes of data and/or real-time data streams. Value-added content providers and data brokers will proliferate as enterprises (and developers) look for interesting data sources as well as applications that help them to understand their customers, products, and the markets in which they exist. IDC is also predicting that big data analytics services 2014 spending will exceed $4.5B, growing 21% over 2013.
- Social technologies will become increasingly integrated into existing enterprise applications over the next 12-18 months. In addition to being a strategic component in virtually all customer engagement and marketing strategies, data from social applications will feed the product and service development process. IDC expects enterprise social networks will become increasingly available as standard offerings from cloud services providers. This will enable enterprises to further embed social into the workflow, rather than having a separate “social layer.” IDC also predicts that by 2017, 80% of Fortune 500 companies will have an active customer community, up from 30% today. By 2016, 60% of the Fortune 500 will deploy social-enabled innovation management solutions.
- Datacenters represent the physical foundation underneath the cloud, and are thus a crucial component of the 3rd Platform. As cloud-dedicated datacenters grow in number and importance, the market for server, storage, and networking components will increasingly be driven by cloud service providers, who have traditionally favored highly componentized and commoditized designs. The incumbent IT hardware vendors, who have struggled to sell into this market, will be forced to adopt a “cloud-first” strategy, designing new innovations for initial release and widespread adoption in cloud service provider datacenters.
- The 3rd Platform will deliver the next generation of competitive advantage apps and services that will significantly disrupt market leaders in virtually every industry. A key to competing in these disrupted and reinvented industries will be to create industry-focused innovation platforms (like GE’s Predix) that attract and enable large communities of innovators – dozens to hundreds will emerge in the next several years. IDC predicts that most of these industry platform players will not reinvent the cloud underpinnings they need, but will build on top Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, and others’ platforms. In 2014, it will be critically important for these IT leaders to find these emerging industry platform players and win their business.
- The 3rd Platform will continue to expand beyond smartphones, tablets, and PCs in 2014 to the Internet of Things (IoT). With IoT momentum building in 2014, IDC expects to see new industry partnerships to emerge as traditional IT vendors accelerate their partnerships with global telecom service providers and semiconductor vendors to create integrated offerings in the consumer electronics and connected device spaces. This kind of collaboration and coordination will be necessary to reach the 30 billion autonomously connected end points and $8.9 trillion in revenues that IDC believes the IoT will generate by 2020.


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New MIT “XSeries” MOOCs cover more content
Participants in MIT’s about-to-launch “XSeries” MOOCs on computer science will get about three courses-worth of instruction that should give them a strong jump start on future studies or prepare them for a summer internship, senior lecturer Chris Terman says.
The XSeries, which will be offered through edX, contains two “sequences”—“The Foundations of Computer Science” and “Supply Chain and Logistics Management.” Students will get non-credit certificates for completing the multiple modules in a sequence, which could take from six months to two years, says Steve Carson, of MIT’s Office of Digital Learning.
“It’s the first program, that I know of, that is more extensive than a single course, that goes more in-depth into the subjects, and represents a large unit of student achievement,” he says.
The computer science sequence, which has seven modules, begins in October and is an introductory-level course. The supply chain sequence begins in fall 2014 for graduate-level students looking for jobs in the field.
A full-time MIT student could complete the coursework covered in the computer science sequence in one or two semesters, says Terman, a senior lecturer in MIT’s department of electrical engineering and computer science who helped design the MOOCs.
“It’s a way to make our collections of online course offerings seem a bit more coherent than just a giant catalogue of modules,” he says. “The goal is to give people a sense that if you take this batch of modules, you’ll have gotten a start on a computer science curriculum.”
The modules are broken down into more specific subjects, whereas a full-semester course would cover several topics. “This is more splitting topics back along natural fault lines,” Terman says. “It’s easier for students to digest, rather than getting the whole course at once.”
A major in computer science at MIT consists of about 15 courses.
XSeries prices will be announced later this fall though sequences can be audited for free. And starting next spring, the XSeries will use a new process developed by edX to verify that students have completed the MOOCs. It will use webcam photos to confirm students’ identities and have links to online certificates, according to an edX press release.


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UK— Multiple major UK supermarkets have been hit with a temporary shortage of Mars bars in due to production issues and a high level of demand.
Mars Wrigley has been producing the bars in the UK at the company’s factory in Slough since 1932, with a current capacity to make almost three million bars a day, according to the company.
A number of stores over the holiday weekend had empty shelves in the Mars section, with ‘out of stock’ messages on many websites with shops based in London and the south-east of England seem to be most affected by the shortages.
And what’s worse for many chocolate lovers across the United Kingdom, is that certain retailers are reportedly not expecting further deliveries of the popular chocolate bar for at least a fortnight.
Commenting on the situation, a Mars Wrigley spokesperson said: “We are experiencing high levels of demand on a number of our treats. ‘We are producing significant quantities and want to reassure the British public that our much-loved brands are still available nationwide.”
The UK and Europe are experiencing widespread food shortages caused by an increase in wholesale prices, high inflation, challenging weather conditions, and international import problems due to the war in Ukraine.
Last month US chocolate manufacturer Hershey warned of shortages over Halloween, saying the company “will not be able to fully meet consumer demand” – but has since clarified its statement claiming there will be minimal disruption to supplies.
KitKat maker Nestlé announced a 6.5% rise in prices earlier this year due to “significant and unprecedented cost inflation”, but has so far not experienced supply-chain issues in the UK.
Meanwhile in the UK, potato prices have dramatically increased following the recent heatwave, with high temperatures having punished crops across the country. As a result, between 20 and 40 chip shops are shutting in Britain every month, reports The National Federation of Fish Friers’.
Pandemic-induced global supply chain disruptions and the Russia-Ukraine war have crunched supplies of cocoa, edible oil and other food ingredients, pinching production lines of packaged food companies around the world.
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The Greens have dug up a handful of further details about Labor's controversial mandatory filter project through the questions on notice procedure, including the fact that Communications Minister Stephen Conroy will shortly receive a report on a conf...
Yes, it's only a demonstration. Even so, Samsung's trial of WiMAX 2 technology that touched speeds of 330Mbps is still impressive.
A start-up called CloudFlare has launched a cloud-based firewall that also improves website performance, and says it will release an enterprise version of its technology one year from now.
LG on Monday said that it won't release a Google Android tablet this year, but instead it would wait for a future iteration of the OS, according to a Reuters report. Earlier this year LG announced plans to join the tablet bandwagon, and abandoned a t...
Apple has asked a federal judge to postpone applying a multi-million dollar patent infringement verdict, citing a dispute over "triple dipping" made by an opposing attorney during closing arguments to the jury.
OCZ is set to begin shipping later this month its first solid state drive (SSD) using a new proprietary interface that's said to be three times faster than serial-attached SCSI (SAS).
A call by financial firm Goldman Sachs for Microsoft to spin off its Xbox video game line doesn't make sense, an analyst countered today.
So far, Apple has sold more than 3 million of its iconic iPads, making it the best-selling tablet on the market. A runaway success? Absolutely.
Divining a possible new market in municipal water management systems, IBM has set up a pilot project in Dubuque, Iowa, to investigate whether cities could both save money and conserve water by monitoring citizens' usage more closely.
The Google Apps tool that synchronizes the hosted communication and collaboration suite with Outlook now works with the latest version of the Microsoft e-mail desktop software.
Google has acquired BlindType, a developer of apps to make typing easier on touch-screen phones, the small software maker announced Friday. The move comes just a couple of months after BlindType demonstrated an Android version of its software, which ...
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Microsoft has definite plans to add Office Web Apps to its hosted Business Productivity Online Standard Suite (BPOS), but the company isn't providing a specific timetable for the integration.
Evan Williams is handing over Twitter's CEO title to Chief Operating Officer Dick Costolo, as the microblogging company focuses on generating revenue that is consistent with its massive popularity.
Looking to provide the best shopping experience for mobile applications, Microsoft is engaging developers in a phased approach with its upcoming Windows Phone Marketplace relaunch.
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Hello guys! This is a halloween style version of Dust 2.
Earlier this summer, Valve released a retro version of the iconic Dust 2 map for CS:GO. While the map tried to recreate Dust 2’s original appearance, at least one modder wasn’t happy with it. Now, that modder released a CS:GO mod that used A.I. upscaling to improve the textures on the retro Dust 2.
Valve News Network has shared a video, giving us a glimpse at the cancelled Dust 2 map remake of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in the Source 2 Engine. While this remake was never officially announced, Valve News Network has a few different pieces of evidence that hint towards such a project.


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Consumer comparison and advocacy platform NZ Compare is calling foul on the Electricity Authority for extending a $2.8m taxpayer-funded contract with Powerswitch, despite widespread criticism of its failure to reduce consumer power prices.
The contract was first awarded from the EA in 2015 to help educate consumers on power pricing and plans to increase retail power competition. The goal is to halt electricity cost rises for consumers.
NZ Compare says the system has been ineffective. According to the platform, only 6% of New Zealand consumers use Powerswitch to switch to a better deal, and without meaningful competitive pressure electricity prices have risen 20% faster than inflation over the last 14 years.
Powerswitch, owned and operated by Consumer NZ and majority funded by the Electricity Authority, is responsible for assisting consumers in finding and switching to the best power deals. However, NZ Compare and other critics have identified several critical issues that hinder Powerswitch's effectiveness in advocating for consumer rights and ensuring fair competition in the electricity market.
The largest issues are a lack of listing all electricity retailers on their website, charging switch fees to retailers, and a lack of capability to and the information needed to properly compare bundled utility deals.
NZ Compare says the absence of a reasonable tender process during the contract renewal between the EA and Powerswitch in June is a concern. NZ Compare, which operates competitor site Power Compare, discovered that the contract was extended for two years without an open competitive process.
"It raises questions about transparency and equal opportunities for all suppliers. More concerningly, the omission of a tender demonstrates a complete disregard to get the best result for the New Zealand public," it says.
NZ Compare submitted multiple OIAs in the months leading to Powerswitch being awarded the contract.
"In early February I submitted an OIA request to the Electricity Authority about the tender. The EA said they'd get back to me, that took nearly three weeks," says Gavin Male, CEO of NZ Compare and Power Compare.
"After further communications they responded with some interest to my proposal on the 8th of May, but they gave me no dates, timeline or anything concrete to work with."
Fast forward to June this year, the Electricity Authority awards a contract worth $2.8m to Powerswitch with no tender.
"As an independent crown entity, the guidance for contracts over $100,000 is an agency should use open competitive procurement processes to give all suppliers the opportunity to compete," says Male.
"By my math thats 28x unfair, and provides a disservice to taxpayers who are left funding a project that fails to help them save money when the cost of living is out of control."
Male also points to what he says is Powerswitch's limited scope and functionality.
"With only 17 retailers listed compared to Power Compare's 30, Powerswitch fails to offer a comprehensive view of the market," he says.
"This undermines consumer choice and prevents Kiwis from accessing potential savings of $300 to $400 per year, as indicated in Consumer NZ's own methodology."
Data analysis from the Electricity Authority reveals that Powerswitch's switching rate has decreased to 6% since its engagement by the Government.
"In contrast, Power Compare has witnessed website traffic grow to over 28,000 visitors a month. These figures indicate more could be done to stimulate competition in the energy market and that Powerswitch is not meeting the public's need," Male says.
Male says when consumers are switching power companies it encourages retailers to consider their prices and become more competitive. With switching rates low, many larger energy retailers have announced record setting profits in the energy market.
"Energy hardship is a real issue in Aotearoa, and in the middle of winter when people need warm, dry homes the most, they are being let down by a system that can't show them what the cheapest power provider is," Male says.
"What's worse, they are paying for the privilege with their own taxpayer dollars."
According to MBIE's data, the power market's structure has allowed electricity prices to rise significantly faster than inflation over the last decade. In New Zealand, the average residential electricity price increased by 79% between 2003 and 2017, while inflation rose by just 27% during the same period.
"Coupled with the rising costs of other essential household bills, this situation disproportionately affects vulnerable demographics, including Maori and Pacific households, renters, and low-income households," says Male.
"It is crucial to address these issues promptly to alleviate energy hardship and promote fair pricing for all consumers."
Male says two solutions to increasing switching are giving the Electricity Authority the means to compel retailers participation within the system, and the removal of the $50 switching fee retailers must pay to receive new customers through Powerswitch.
"Giving the Electricity Authority the teeth to compel retailers to work with NZ Compare or Powerswitch will address a lot of shortcomings and help deliver a more effective and cost-efficient power comparison platform," he says.
"I would like to take things a step further and remove the switching fees imposed on retailers, and with $1.4m funding a year I don't understand why Powerswitch doesn't."
A recent report by the Electricity Price Review (EPR) from MBIE identified the need for improved competition and transparency in the electricity market to ensure fair pricing. The EPR found that consumers who actively switch retailers can save up to $390 per year on their power bills.
"NZ Compare urges the Electricity Authority to employ the tender process for future contracts and carefully consider the effectiveness of an organisation before awarding significant taxpayer funding," Male says.
"Empowering consumers to make informed choices and fostering fair competition within the electricity market are essential steps toward improving affordability and reducing energy hardship in New Zealand.
"NZ Compare ensures consumers have access to the widest range of options available in the market. Consumer advocacy is at the core of its mission, and it will continue to work towards improving transparency, competition, and affordability in the power & electricity market."


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Norwich City’s Carrow Road store will reopen from 9:30am on Friday, August 14.
The shop has been closed since March 21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but we reopen for between 9.30am and 5pm on both Friday and Saturday. The store will be closed Sunday but then open again on Monday.
A number of measures have been put in place to make the store as safe as possible for staff and customers. These include:
- All customers (less those with valid medical reasons) to wear a face covering when in our store
- Only 15 customers will be permitted inside the store at one time
- There are hand sanitisation stations throughout
- There is a one-way system for customers to navigate
- Protective screens are in place at tillpoints
- We are only accepting card payments
- Staff will have their temperatures checked regularly and be issued with PPE
Please be aware that there will be no click and collect service available.
The club’s other store, the Norwich City Fan Hub, situated downstairs at Jarrold Norwich, remains open for business. For opening times, click here.


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- 4 min read
Industry may find $400 billion exports target a struggle with the FTP extended till March 2022
The FTP is a set of guidelines and instructions by DGFT pertaining to the import and export goods of India. Its aim has been to facilitate the growth in exports of goods and services in the country.
In a move that further added to the uncertainty among the exporter fraternity, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) will be extended for another six months till March 31, 2022.
This is the third time that the policy has been extended. The government had extended the FTP 2015-20 on March 31 last year till March 31, 2021 in the wake of the deadly virus outbreak. It was extended again by six months till September 30, 2021 and the new policy would have come into effect from October 1.
Exporters and industry stakeholders, however, are not so gung ho about the new announcement. Pushkar Mukewar, Co-Founder and CEO of trade finance company Drip Capital says that the industry was looking forward to the new FTP and regarded it as a much-needed change to get the ball rolling in post-pandemic recovery. “While Indian exports stagnated for a better part of the last decade, the Covid-19 pandemic further added to the exporters’ woes. The new FTP would have promoted the ongoing export momentum. A well-formed policy could have created positive sentiments and helped India push way above the $400 billion exports goal for FY22,” he said.
India’s exports have been $185 billion during the April - September period, fuelling hope that the target of $400 billion for exports would be achievable in the current financial year. The FTP is a set of guidelines and instructions by DGFT pertaining to the import and export goods of India. Its aim has been to facilitate the growth in exports of goods and services in the country.
Mukewar feels that the export target for FY 22 may now be a struggle with the delay in the policy that has come to the fore. “With all the uncertainties and recent happenings like the semiconductor shortages, congestion at different ports worldwide, the latest virus variants and their consequences, rising prices of raw materials, etc., a robust FTP would have proved to be a solid backing to shield the trade community from further challenges,” he added.
Container shortages and delay in shipments amid severe supply chain constraints have acted as major deterrents for exporters re-starting operations in a post pandemic world.
Other industry representatives are of the view that a status quo is better at this point in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak which upended normal living. “It is only recently that the government has settled exporter claims and the RoDTEP rates. Bringing in a new FTP right now would have amounted to confusion,” Ajay Sahai, DG & CEO, FIEO said.
The Centre had notified the RoDTEP rates on August 17 this year after missing numerous deadlines. But it had led exporters largely unhappy citing the low rates that had been notified in the various sectors.
Sahai added that the schemes within the new policy would have to meet the WTO compliances and hence the support measures would be limited. “By and large, they can provide rebates on taxes and duties only as WTO does not permit beyond that. There is no further scope to provide support on non- refund of duties and taxes,” he stated.
Big ticket items, Sahai highlighted, such as using ecommerce to unfold the potential of exports, R&D and how India should take advantage of realignment of Global Value Chains can be looked at in the new policy.
Echoing similar sentiments, Vikas Singh Chauhan, Director, Home textile Exporters Welfare Association (HEWA) said such a decision will give time to both exporters and the government to study in detail the impact of many schemes and trade-related developments taken recently. “If the government would have brought any big policy change, then exporters would have no option but to again go back to the drawing room and start all the planning afresh - that too at multiple levels,” he stated.
Chauhan said this in the context of the announcement of RoDTEP rates, the PLI scheme as well as the scheme to rebate all embedded State and Central Taxes/levies (RoSCTL) schemes which got extended for three years. In July, the Cabinet had approved the continuation of the RoSCTL scheme under which garment exporters would continue to get a rebate on central and state taxes on their outward shipments till March 2024.
Exports have been on an upward trajectory this year, showing a robust performance month-on-month since the start of the fiscal. What remains to be seen is whether this momentum is maintained and exports can be the proverbial saviour of the economy in a Covid-ravaged nation.


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Electric vehicles are finally starting to make a splash in the auto industry, but it’s taken a long time, and there has been a lot of resistance by consumers along the way.
A lot of that resistance relates to the EV’s battery. They simply haven’t evolved as fast as we’d all like, and while they certainly have made strides through the years, it’s still the main reason the EV finds itself in a niche market today. They get damaged, they’re heavy, and they’re expensive and environmentally unfriendly. And at the end of the day, they don’t hold as much energy as us drivers demand.
But a new approach will change all that. Using nanotechnology, researchers have cracked the code on the EV market. This new concept doesn’t use a battery pack at all. It’s an outside-the-box method that uses microscopic components to develop a new battery technology that replaces a vehicle’s existing body panels and incorporates battery technology into the car body.
I know it’s a bit of a head scratcher, but that’s what a project funded by the European Union and headed by London’s Imperial College is in the process of developing.
Nanotechnology itself isn’t a new concept, but manipulating atoms and molecules for a car and having success with it? That would revolutionize the EV market.
EVs of tomorrow could have plenty of trunk space, be lighter in weight, and have a much improved performance base. And it’s all because of the battery.
EV improvements that have been made in recent memory aren’t because of battery technology at all. Advances have come more from manufacturers playing around with aerodynamics and weight efficiencies. Then we’re still left with the same gaudy battery pack sitting in our trunk.
One company is emerging as a leading manufacturer as part of the research and is testing this technology.
Volvo (OTC: VOLVY) is putting its S80 sedan through rigorous testing as we speak. That model is being used to break serious ground in the EV marketplace and make your heavy, cumbersome battery pack of today a thing of the past.
The Swedish car maker has been part of the European Union project since its inception three and a half years ago to develop a new material – composed of carbon fiber, nano-structured batteries, and supercapacitors – all put together to take shape of body panels to fit a car.
Reportedly, this new nano-infused battery design is flexible and lightweight. And what makes this new technology extraordinary is that it not only stores electrical energy, but it also uses lighter components than modern pieces used in auto manufacturing. Lighter is faster – and you can use that for any type of vehicle.
The main objective: to reduce the size, weight, and cost of the current EV battery without any loss to a vehicle’s efficiency or performance.
If testing pans out, that’s what will happen…and then some.
Like a conventional EV battery, the new super nano-battery can be fully charged via the power grid or while en route via regenerative braking.
Volvo also claims that this new battery can charge faster than a traditional battery.
The Volvo S80 seda uses this technology to form the car’s trunk lid and cover for the vehicle’s engine compartment, according to Forbes. If the technology were used more extensively – a car’s roof, hood, and doors – it would create a 15 percent weight reduction and power a midsize car for roughly 80 miles on a single charge.
As exciting as this new battery technology sounds, who knows when we’ll see something like this commercially. It’s possible that we could even see some of its components pop up on an internal combustion engine-powered car before it’s ready for an EV. But undoubtedly, this is a major step forward in the development of the EV battery.
You have to wonder where they will find flaws with this. It seems too good to be true. Either way, many eyes are on Volvo to see how it plays out.
It still seems like a science project to me, but it’s definitely intriguing. How far away is something like this, really? It can’t be soon, but if Volvo is already testing it… Who knows?
All I know is that if you’re manipulating entire structures and panels of cars, there will be no end in sight for all the crash tests it’s going to have to go through.
But this could be a real life game changer one day, especially if it proves to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than what we use today.
And the fact that this technology can completely bypass the EV market and jump right into the driver’s seat of our combustible engine vehicles makes it that much more attractive.
I know we’ll have our eye on Volvo.


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You can pack LG's latest laptop with its charger and still have less weight in your bag than with a 13-inch ultraportable.
Acer’s Aspire R14 Playbook is latest convertible notebook to emerge on the Australian market, offering a four-in-one experience encompassing laptop, tablet, tent, and display modes.
CES is a consumer show, but there are plenty of nifty tools for businesses too.
Kogan, the young upstart that once offered small Linux-based notebooks under its own name, has re-entered the laptop market with a budget 15.6in model that runs Windows 8.1.
Lenovo took the wraps off six new Yoga products at an event in London, showing off its high-end Yoga 3 Pro convertible laptop, as well as all the other variants of its Yoga tablet range. Before you stop reading thinking that these are just some borin...
MSI showcased a wide range of products at the Computex trade-show this year, but only a select few products will be released in Australia due to the intense competition characterising the local mobility market.
HP's latest range of EliteBook business laptops and ZBook mobile workstations are much thinner and lighter than previous generations, with the ZBook range including the "world's first workstation Ultrabook".
In addition to upgrading its existing 15- and 17-inch Zbook notebooks with fourth generation Intel Core CPUs, HP has expanded the product line with the launch of what it claims is the world’s first ‘workstation Ultrabook’ – a 14-inch device which wei...
Google has announced the Google Chromecast, a small device that lets you stream online content and sync your phone, tablet or laptop with your TV.
If you're thinking of buying the cheap Medion Akoya E7220 (MD 98740) notebook, it pays to know what you're getting. Read through this slideshow and you'll know exactly what to expect.
Panasonic announced on Tuesday that the company has begun manufacturing a new, safer laptop battery, which will hopefully reduce the number of battery recalls we have seen in recent years.
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Like it or not, 2010 will go down as the year that Apple’s iOS became a serious player in the world of music making. Here, MusicRadar selects 12 landmark moments for Apple’s mobile operating system, starting with the launch of Steve Jobs and co’s much-talked-about tablet.
Its name and image have become so ubiquitous that it’s easy to forget that the iPad has been around for less than a year. However, a few leaks aside, no one outside of Apple had even seen one prior to 27 January 2010. Critics argued that this “magical and revolutionary product” amounted to little more than an oversized iPod touch, but as 2010 was to progress, it became clear that the iPad’s additional screen size makes it an entirely different kind of platform - particularly for music makers.
READ:Apple iPad tablet revealed


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China leads globally in terms of number of existing blockchain projects. What does this say about the country which already dominates in Bitcoin mining?
Despite the bearish crypto market, China continues to be the global leader in Bitcoin mining. But it appears that the Asian powerhouse is eager to unlock another achievement. This time by branching out to blockchain projects.
China is now the top country in terms of blockchain projects. It has 263 blockchain-related projects underway as of November 2018, according to reports. This number, based on a Blockdata report, constitutes for 25 percent of the total number of blockchain projects in the world.
Zhang Feixue, Chief Editor at Blockdata, was quoted:
“The main strength of blockchain is in decentralized data management. It can serve the real economy in terms of circulation and distribution. In the field of industrial economy, blockchain allows various assets to flow in the digital world, so it is a real gateway to digitalization for industries.”
Blockchain adoption has never been slow in China as almost 50 percent of respondents in China for a 2018 global blockchain survey conducted by Deloitte said their organization uses blockchain. Meanwhile, US-based respondents who said the same constituted to only 14 percent.
The said technology is widely used in banks’ and brokers’ asset securitization among other in the financial industry, said Li Qilei, Chief Technology Officer at Qulian Technology.
In fact, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is working with Digital Asset, a distributed ledger technology provider, to create a blockchain-powered program for trading Chinese mainland shares via the Stock Connect system of Hong Kong.
— Digital Asset (@digitalassetcom) October 30, 2018
Despite the large number of blockchain projects, however, no project is yet to be used in China in a large scale, according to Kang Li.
Kang, who is a the assistant director at the Blockchain Research Center of China at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, Sichuan province, said:
“The industry is still in a blossoming phase where more and more companies can come up with all kinds of chains, but they don’t have an explicit idea of application service or supporting content.”
Meanwhile, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) revealed last year that China had filed more than half of the total 406 patents in 2017. China filed 225 blockchain patents, ahead of United States’ 91 and Australia’s 13.


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Bruno Mars Debuts at No. 2 as Taylor Swift's 'Red' Still Rules
Billboard -- Taylor Swift continues to rule the roost on the Billboard 200 albums chart as "Red" stays steady at No. 1 with 208,000 sold according to Nielsen SoundScan (up 25%). It's the Big Machine album's fifth non-consecutive week at No. 1. The title beats the arriving "Unorthodox Jukebox" by Bruno Mars, which settles for a bow at No. 2 with 192,000. It's easily the best sales week yet for the singer/songwriter/producer, who previously earned his best frame when "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" moved 61,000 on the chart dated March 5, 2011. The set, which was his debut full-length effort, topped out at No. 3 on the tally.
Bruno Mars, 'Unorthodox Jukebox': Track-By-Track Review
The new album's lead single, "Locked Out of Heaven," became Mars' fourth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week. "Unorthodox Jukebox" bows with a bigger number than expected. Label sources had forecasted last week (Dec. 12) that the set would sell in the range of 140,000 to 150,000. Those same sources indicate that its fortunes seriously improved over the busy shopping weekend thanks to heavy foot traffic in stores. 70% of the album's first-week sales were physical albums according to SoundScan. Back on the Billboard 200, Michael Buble's evergreen "Christmas" album steps 5-3 with 138,000 (up 30%) while One Direction's second album "Take Me Home" is steady at No. 4 with 127,000 (up 19%). The latter set shifts past the 1 million sales mark this week (1.04 million), making One Direction the only act to sell a million copies of two different albums this year. Earlier this year, the group's debut effort "Up All Night" -- which was also released in 2012 -- sailed past the million mark. Its total sales stand at 1.5 million. Elsewhere in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 this week, Rod Stewart's "Merry Christmas, Baby" slips 3-5 with 108,000 (down 15%) while Game's new "Jesus Piece" opens at No. 6 with 86,000. It's the fifth top 10 effort for the hip-hop star, who saw his last album, 2011's "The R.E.D. Album," bow at No. 1 with 98,000.
Game Talks 'Jesus Piece': Video Track-By-Track
Phillip Phillips' "The World From the Side of the Moon" climbs 9-7 (68,000; up 4%), Blake Shelton's "Cheers, It's Christmas" holds at No. 8 (just under 68,000; down less than 1%) and Alicia Keys' "Girl On Fire" falls 7-9 (61,000; down 20%). Closing out the top 10 is Lady Antebellum's "On This Winter's Night," which rises 11-10 with 60,000 (down 3%). Just outside the top 10 are a couple new entries, where Green Day's "Tre" (No. 13; 58,000) and the "Nashville" TV soundtrack (No. 14; 56,000) arrive. Over on the Digital Songs chart, Bruno Mars' "Locked Out of Heaven" holds at No. 1 for a second week, selling 222,000 (up 13%). Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" rallies 5-2 with 167,000 (up 29%), the Lumineers' "Ho Hey" rises 4-3 with 131,000 (down less than 1%) and Rihanna's "Diamonds" dips 2-4 with 121,000 (down 15%). will.i.am's "Scream & Shout" (featuring Britney Spears) falls 3-5 with 120,000 (down 15%) while "The Voice" winner Cassadee Pope debuts at No. 6 with "Stupid Boy" (117,000). It's the second top 10 hit on the Digital Songs chart for Pope, who launched at No. 3 three weeks ago with "Over You" (152,000).
Cassadee Pope Wins 'The Voice'
Back in the top 10 this week, Justin Bieber's "Beauty and a Beat" (featuring Nicki Minaj) is up 8-7 (108,000; but up 1%) and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop" zooms 13-8 (102,000; up 23%). The latter's rise comes at the same time it enters the Pop Songs airplay chart at No. 36 (known as Mainstream Top 40 on Billboard.biz). PSY's "Gangnam Style" descends 6-9 on Digital Songs with 101,000 (down 18%), marking its 14th straight week of 100,000-plus sales. Rounding out the top 10 is Ke$ha's "Die Young," holding at No. 10 with 94,000 (down 2%). Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending Dec. 16) totaled 9.71 million units, up 15% compared with the sum last week (8.45 million) and down 13% compared with the comparable sales week of 2011 (11.20 million). Year-to-date album sales stand at 293.47 million, down 5% compared with the same total at this point last year (307.75 million). Digital track sales this past week totaled 22.79 million downloads, down 2% compared with last week (23.28 million) and up 1% stacked next to the comparable week of 2011 (22.48 million). Year-to-date track sales are at 1.255 billion, up 6% compared with the same total at this point last year (1.186 billion). Next week's Billboard 200 competes with the same week in 2011 when: Michael Buble's "Christmas" was tops for a fifth week, selling 467,000 (up 4%). The top debut was Young Jeezy's "T M 103: Hustlerz Ambition," which started at No. 3 with 233,000.
Related article on Billboard.com:
Bruno Mars Hosts 'SNL,' Debuts 'Young Girls': Watch
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Find more online: Billboard.com
Fergie, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Heidi Klum all get an F on this week's Fashion Offenders.Watch Video »
Diva Double Date
Beyonce and Alicia Keys double date with their famous hubbies on today's Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »
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See what the cast of "American Beauty" is up to today.Watch Video »
J.Lo's Mini Me
Jennifer Lopez shares an adorable photo of her look-alike daughter, plus more celebritots on social media on today's Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »
Prince Harry, Jessica Alba and more stars who threw out the first pitch at baseball games.Watch Video »
Sofia Vergara poses in a revealing neon bikini while her "Modern Family" castmates hit the beach in Australia on Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »


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(Reuters) – Microsoft became the latest big tech company to drop out of next month’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) physically because of worries about the spreading Omicron coronavirus variant, the Verge reported https://bit.ly/3mz282K on Friday.
Microsoft joins other firms including General Motors Co and Alphabet Inc’s Google that will not attend CES in person in Las Vegas in early January due to rising COVID-19 infections sparked by the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
The company decided not to participate in-person after reviewing the latest data on the COVID-19 environment, the Verge reported, citing a company spokesperson.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
CES officials on Thursday said the event will still be held in person Jan. 5-8 with “strong safety measures in place,” which include vaccination requirements, masking and availability of COVID-19 tests.
Microsoft will have a digital presence for both the Microsoft Partner Innovation Experience and Automotive Press Kit, according to the Verge.
(Reporting by Vishal Vivek in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler)


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There’s no denying natural hair styles are on the rise in popularity, with a number of brands offering natural haircare, natural nail polish and natural body art for men.
The NFL is also looking at ways to encourage the use of natural products for players, with the league unveiling a new initiative to promote the use and popularity of natural hair products.
In a statement, the NFL said it will launch a new partnership with Nature Haircare in the United States to encourage its players to get natural haircares and natural hair care.
Natural hair products are available at most grocery stores, beauty salons, health clubs and drugstores and cost between $12 and $16 per month depending on the product and how much it contains.
Natural shampoo and conditioner, too, are readily available, and there are even organic products on the market.
But how much of a role will the league play in promoting natural haircore and body art?
The league says it will use its social media platforms to promote its products to players and fans, and will also use the platform to help players shop for natural hair and makeup.
It will also partner with other companies and brands to promote natural haircreaking and body-care products.
The league said it wants to encourage players to take part in natural hair promotions and that it will be working with beauty companies to promote their products to fans.
The partnership will also include a partnership with a natural shampoo maker, Nature, to promote a new natural shampoo that uses natural ingredients.
“We want players to be the best consumers and have the highest standards of care,” NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said.
The goal of the partnership is to promote more natural haircure products and natural nail polishes, and to support the growth of natural hairstyle trends among players.
“The natural hair industry is growing and will continue to grow,” Lockhart added.
“With the growth and popularity, players are looking to take a step back and look at their natural hairstyling regimen and hair care regimen.”
Our goal is to keep players on top of the natural hair trend by supporting their natural haircaring and natural beauty regimen.
“Natural haircare is not limited to just hair styles.
The NFL said natural facial products are also becoming popular, with some brands offering more than one type of natural facial care.
A number of popular brands, including the popular L’Oreal and Estee Lauder, are working to expand their offerings of natural skincare and natural haircut products.
And there are also a number other natural beauty products on offer, with many beauty brands offering both natural and synthetic products.
But the NFL has faced criticism for not offering any new natural haircorals, as the NFL is owned by the NFL Players Association.
A spokesperson for the league told ESPN that the league is taking the issue seriously and will work with its players and its players’ association to ensure it continues to offer the best natural haircour products.”
For years, the league has supported the growth, safety and welfare of its players through a variety of partnerships with natural beauty companies, natural hair companies and others,” Lockhard said.”
It is the league’s goal to promote players to have natural haircores and natural skin care.


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CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, the most influential tech event in the world, returned in person to Las Vegas this year for the first time since 2020.
Over 3,200 exhibitors set up their wares in the Las Vegas Convention Center featuring all kind of new tech ranging from cars, gadgets, computers, virtual reality and more.
So much of what is unveiled there every year is aimed directly at changing how we build and live in our homes. Dean filtered through all of the offerings and put together his list of the best offerings for you! CLICK HERE for Dean's 'Best of CES' list.


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The Differences Between an Electric Tobacconist and an E-Cigarette
The Electric Tobacconist has been launched in 2021 so as to offer UK customers a one-stop shop for most major brands of electronic cigarettes. This shop is actually an interactive platform operated by an expert team who specialise in assisting smokers remove their smoking habits. Prior to the launch, many smokers were apprehensive about patronising an electric cigarette shop as they did not know much about them. However, it had been felt that by offering a more personalised service and allowing smokers to get their cigarettes from their own homes that this would encourage more smokers to go to the shop as well as perhaps make their lives better. This short article takes a look at some of the services that the Electric Tobacconist offers.
Many smokers have tried to give up smoking through the use of nicotine replacement therapies such as for example gums, patches and inhalers. However, studies have shown that a great majority of the products were only effective for about a third of the population. With so many smokers attempting to kick the habit recently, the e-cigarette industry has grown in size and amount of retailers. The Electric Tobacconist provides a more personalised service to vapinger.com those who wish to try out e cigarettes.
The brightpearl electric tobacconist started selling its products in the united kingdom in October of 2021. It was based in Manchester and have been providing its members with excellent customer support and quality products at an affordable price. As a result, the company began expanding its online store. At the launch of its new website, which offers free delivery on selected items, it was estimated that the firm would begin to increase its clientele soon.
At the time of writing this article, it is believed that the electric tobacconist has around twenty-five thousand members. The impressive growth rate was revealed by the business when speaking to media representatives. It is believed that the increase will continue as more folks become aware of the benefits that electric cigarettes offer.
We were told that the business’s focus was on creating an all encompassing online store that offered not merely nicotine delivery but also discount items for online orders. The theory behind the idea is that folks will be able to use their current broadband link with purchase items such as for example discount brightpearl and other goods that are beneficial to them. Subsequently, they can then pass the savings onto their family and friends.
Although some individuals believe that the rise of the brightpearl of cigarettes phenomenon is good news for the general public health, we were told that there surely is a negative side to it. Specifically, we were told that it is possible that electronic cigarette smokers’ delay in ordering cigarettes from these cigarette shop’s website may raise the degrees of smoking among non-smokers. You can find concerns that the number of smokers who opt to start smoking again will rise due to the option of affordable nicotine products. This could bring about increased deaths from diseases related to smoking.
Although some companies have tried to combat this issue by offering discounts and gift vouchers to smokers, this method is proving unpopular amongst customers. In many cases, people are still likely to make regular payments on their credit cards. This has led to a number of criticisms from within the the cigarette industry itself. Some have blamed the slow pace of these cigarette market for the rise in prices being charged by electric tobacconists. They also pointed out that there has been a slow increase in the number of orders from web stores.
Many ex-smokers are reluctant to buy cigarettes from an electric Tobacconist due to quality of the product. Although some could be impressed with the wide range of flavours available, they believe that the lack of a cigarette in the packet defeats the purpose of having them. Weighing up the huge benefits and disadvantages of utilizing an e cigarette versus a standard one is something that can only be achieved by an informed consumer. This short article is simply a consumer’s attempt to educate and explain the differences between smoking an electronic cigar and an electronic cigarette.


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He's served as CEO since February 2013.
BJ’s Restaurants announced Monday that CEO Greg Trojan will retire and be replaced by president and CFO Greg Levin.
Thomas Houdek, the chain’s vice president of strategy and financial planning and analysis, will be appointed senior vice president and CFO. All of the moves are effective September 1. Trojan will continue to serve on the board of directors after retirement, and Levin will be added to the board.
Trojan has served as CEO since February 2013 and as a board member since December 2012. He also took on the role of president from December 2012 until January 2018. Prior to his time at BJ’s, he was CEO of Guitar Center, House of Blues Entertainment, and California Pizza Kitchen.
“It has been a pleasure to serve as BJ’s CEO, working with the best team members in the industry for nearly nine years,” Trojan said in a statement. “I am so proud of how we consistently came together to overcome challenges, innovate new approaches to meet the evolving needs of our guests, thoughtfully integrate technology into our operations and guest interactions, and collectively help establish BJ’s as a leader in the casual dining industry. Under the leadership of Greg, Tom and the rest of BJ’s executive team, and with our great teams across the BJ’s platform, I am confident BJ’s will continue to successfully execute on our many growth initiatives and further enhance long-term shareholder value.”
Levin has served as president since January 2018 and as CFO since joining BJ’s in September 2005. Prior to joining the restaurant, he worked as CFO of SB Restaurant Company, a privately held entity that operated the Elephant Bar Restaurants from February 2004 to August 2005. He also served in a number of roles at California Pizza Kitchen from 1996 to 2004, most recently as vice president, CFO, and secretary. He started his career in the audit department of professional services network Ernst & Young.
He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
“During his 16 years at BJ’s, Greg has consistently assumed additional leadership and operations support responsibilities while maintaining excellent stewardship of the Company’s financial affairs and capital markets interactions,” said Jerry Deitchle, chairman of BJ’s, in a statement. “Greg is highly respected by our stakeholders, both within and outside our Company, and possesses the experience and expertise that will help guide the next phase of BJ’s growth and prosperity.”
In the past year, BJ's has most notably grown its new beer subscription program. In March the chain expanded the innovation to a majority of stores in California. As part of the Beer Club, customers pay $30 every two months to receive perks like exclusive beers, a free appetizer, free Pizookie, large pizza, and $5 growler refills to-go. So far, the subscription program is driving incremental visits and profit. BJ's also launched virtual brand Slo Roast, which was expanded into roughly 30 restaurants across California and Texas in April.


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Global E&P company Neptune Energy (Neptune) is accelerating its focus on net zero with the announcement today (3rd March) that it will store more carbon than is emitted from its operations and the use of its sold products by 2030.
By eliminating total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its production chain the company aims to go ‘beyond net zero’, in addition to refreshing its strategy on lowering carbon energy production and integrated energy hubs.
Neptune’s new strategy includes lowering its carbon energy production using methods such as electrification to decarbonise some of its ‘highest producing assets’ with a short-term focus on Norway.
Integrated energy hubs will also play a key role in the strategy and builds on the company’s experience with carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the Netherlands and Norway.
The L10 CCS project in the Netherlands – currently being developed by Neptune and partners – is expected to store up to 5 million tonnes of carbon per year when operations begin in 2026.
At 6kg CO2/boe (barrel of oil equivalent), the carbon intensity of Neptune’s portfolio is already considerably lower than the industry average of 15kg CO2/boe.
“Neptune has one of the lowest carbon intensities in the sector due to the steps we have taken already to reduce operational emissions,” said Pete Jones, CEO, Neptune Energy.
“We have both the infrastructure and the experience with electrification and CCS to now accelerate our ambitions.”
Part of the company’s decarbonisation efforts also includes net zero methane emissions – which currently sits at 0.02% of its operated production.


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The world just got a little more complicated and a lot dirtier.
Last month, the first talking sex robot was unveiled at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas. Her name is Roxxxy and she is already turning some heads.
“She doesn’t vacuum or cook, but she does almost everything else,” said Douglas Hines, the man behind this odd invention, in an interview with CNN. Hines, and his firm TrueCompanion, claim that 4,000 people have already placed pre-orders for the product and another 20,000 have requested additional information.
As CNN explains, Roxxxy comes equipped with several high-tech qualities, including a customizable personality, skin made from silicone and motor pumps that warm her body with hot air so she is “warm to the touch.”
More from CNN: “Powered by a computer under her soft silicone ‘skin,’ she employs voice-recognition and speech-synthesis software to answer questions and carry on conversations. She even comes loaded with five distinct ‘personalities,’ from Frigid Farrah to Wild Wendy, that can be programmed to suit customers' preferences.” Her only limitation is the battery life, which lasts about three hours at a time.
However, she’s not exactly a cheap date. Roxxxy will sell for $7,000, although right now you can get it for the low price of $6500 online. According to Hines, TrueCompanion will start to distribute the robot in the next few months.
Roxxxy is really the climax to years of perfecting sex dolls. Just last year, a German company released Andy, the first sex android, which actually breathes and has a pulse. That android sells for about half the price of Roxxxy.
Back in 2007, MSNBC predicted that Americans would be having sex with robots by 2010 and legally marrying them by 2050. At the time, it sounded preposterous, but now we may actually be ahead of schedule.


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CANADA, July 27, 2022 – Canadian-based watch company Vas Watches is set to release new timepieces in 2023. Vas Watches uses eco-friendly materials such as natural and recycled Asian woods with biodegradable straps. Each timepiece is 100% handcrafted- no automated machines are used in the whole creation process. The brand aims to promote not just style but also sustainability (for every watch purchased, a new tree is planted).
Established in 2021, VasWatches currently have two timepiece variants available and another one which is set to be released early next year. Leaf IV, priced at $199.00, is carefully handcrafted using recycled Asian Wood and uses the ultra-precise Japanese quartz movement. Laika, which is perfect for outdoor unisex use, has a biodegradable strap and can be brought at the price of $120.00. Zolar, the newest addition to the eco-friendly VasWatches, will be released by February 2023.
According to brand owner Errol Vas, “There’s been an overwhelming demand from consumers for sustainable products.I’d really like to bring that into a product sector I’m passionate about” Mr. Vas is an avid watch collector and advocate for sustainable manufacturing. His watches (and pre-release orders) are available on their site: http://vaswatches.com


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Norwegian app aims to make math cool
By Joachim Dagenborg
OSLO (Reuters) - The startup behind the algebra app that overtook Angry Birds as No. 1 in the Norwegian app store earlier this year aims to replicate that success globally next year with four more mathematics games.
The goal of WeWantToKnow AS - to teach 12 years of math curriculum in some 30 hours of game play - is ambitious, but its founders are certain that the success of the first version of DragonBox, the algebra game which has been downloaded more than 50,000 times, proves the target is within reach.
The company will roll out a new version of DragonBox later this year and in 2013 it will introduce games for functions, probability, geometry and numbers, the other key fields of mathematics.
Teacher Jean-Baptiste Huynh created the first game after becoming frustrated with how math is being taught, teaming up with Rolf Assev, a key executive at No 5 browser firm Opera Software more than a decade ago.
Assev brought in other former executives from 1995-founded Norwegian tech star Opera, the oldest browser firm globally and the only publicly listed one focused on browsers.
The aim of WeWantToKnow is to redefine mathematical language for games and adapt the learning process into game play.
"It is the educational part that is really hard, and we have cracked the code. This type of game is going to be a "must have" in all future learning," Huynh told Reuters.
Currently, some 100 schools in the United States are testing the game in a joint project with the University of Washington. Continued...


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Bosses offering free rent, food to attract workers
In Australia’s tight labour market, businesses are getting creative to lure new employees.
Australia is facing a tight labour market and it’s forced some businesses to get creative in their hunt for new talent.
Take Melbourne cafe group Only Hospitality - the Victorian team behind cafes like Bentwood Fitzroy, MOB Camberwell and Clubhouse Malvern - who are offering free rent and accommodation to staff on the Mornington Peninsula.
Elsewhere, companies like McCabes Lawyers in Sydney are offering free breakfast to staff on Fridays, while the Smile Factory dental group in Newcastle is offering staff a free gym membership.
Also read: The jobs with the worst bosses
Also read: Forget fulfilment, this is what Aussies want at work
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Sharpe Engineering in Queensland is giving staff “on demand” pay, so they are paid immediately for the work they have done.
It follows a recent KPMG survey, which found 77 per cent of senior executives thought finding and attracting talent was their biggest challenge for 2023.
The CEO of pay on-demand service Paytime, Steven Furman, said employees currently had the upper hand in negotiating for extra benefits.
“Companies who don’t think ahead and outside the box, when it comes to employee perks, are going to get left behind in the battle for the best talent,” he said.
According to Furman, flexible work hours, time in lieu, on-demand pay, wellness packages and corporate discounts are the top five work perks employees are looking for.
“Employees these days are looking for things like a gym membership, on-site complimentary counsellor, mental health days, recreational activities, free healthcare check-ups, etc,” Furman said.
Corporate discounts, like free breakfast or complimentary snacks, could provide an added incentive, given the current cost-of-living crisis.
“It’s a tough time for many Australian workers at the moment and they’re seeking savings wherever they can,” Furman said.
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Bringing us crucial updates on the state of the United States supply chain, the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates recently released their Global Port Tracker report, which shows an improvement in the port congestion that was driven by the pandemic. As shown in the report, monthly import cargo volume at the United States’ major container ports has reportedly fallen below the 2 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) mark and should remain there through most of spring 2023.
“Ports have been stretched to their limits and beyond but are getting a break as consumer demand moderates amid continued inflation and high interest rates,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Consumers are still spending and volumes remain high, but we’re not seeing the congestion at the docks and ships waiting to unload that were widespread this time a year ago. It’s good to escape some of the pressure, but it’s important to use this time to address supply chain challenges that still need to be resolved like finalizing the West Coast port labor contract.”
Imports reduced dramatically to a four-year low of 1.37 million TEU in March 2020 as COVID-19 prompted the temporary shutdown of much of the nation’s economy. Cargo levels later soared after the shutdowns ended and pent-up consumer demand was unleashed, topping 2 million TEU by August and staying there all but one month until winter 2022.
According to a press release, U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.78 million TEU this November. That was a decline of 11.3 percent from October and 15.8 percent from November 2021. Global Port Tracker projected the month of December at 1.88 million TEU, down 10.1 percent year over year.
Despite the slowdown in cargo, retail sales are on track to meet NRF’s forecast of growth over 2021 for both the full year and the holiday season when December’s sales numbers are released next week. January is forecast at 1.91 million TEU, down 11.5 percent year over year.
“After nearly three years of COVID-19’s impact on global trade and consumer demand, import patterns appear to be returning to what was normal prior to 2020,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “Nonetheless, as inflation eases and consumer spending returns, we project that growth will slowly return going into the second half of the year.”
Find more updates from the Global Port Tracker report here.
Deli Market News will continue to report on changes in our supply chain and more.


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Discount retailers Aldi and Lidl both announced huge hiring initiatives in the past week which include many permanent positions as the Christmas season approaches.
Aldi is seeking around 3,000 workers, two-thirds of whom will be needed in stores as they ramp up for what they say will be its “biggest ever” festive period in December. In addition, more than 850 positions – from warehouse selectors and logistics assistants to lorry drivers will be needed at their 11 distribution centres.
“We’re recruiting more people than ever to support the growing number of customers that are switching to Aldi,” said Kelly Stokes, recruitment director. “Our amazing colleagues play a vital role in keeping our shelves stocked year-round.”
Meanwhile, Lidl is looking for about 1,000 permanent hourly workers, both full- and part-time in the run-up to Christmas and beyond. Touting being “the highest paying supermarket in the UK,” Lidl GB needs customer assistants, cleaners and warehouse operatives. New hires will receive a minimum of £10.90 an hour outside of London and £11.95 inside the M25. Store assistants at Aldi earn a minimum hourly rate of up to £10.50 nationally and £11.95 inside the M25 while offering paid breaks.
“As our customer base continues to grow, and as we open more new stores and warehouses, we need more people to join team Lidl,” Nan Gibson, Lidl GB’s Chief HR Officer said. “Not only will new colleagues be the highest paid in the industry as a result of our newly increased rates, they also be part of an amazing team of people that are working to help make good food accessible to all households, at a time that is so needed.”
Lidl is not only touting those wage numbers but also the fact that its sales increases have been the best among all UK supermarkets, with a nearly 21% grown in the 12-week runup to 4 September. It is their best performance in eight years, showing the power of the discounter in this high inflation period. It opened three more new stores in Alperton, Oxford and Gillingham and like Aldi it is growing so much it is reaching out for additional workers that includes their own distribution warehouse in Belvedere. The signature Luton facility is also being launch next year.
Tesco makes bold move to compete with discounters: In what it calls “an inflation-busting move,” supermarket chain Tesco announced it is holding the line on more than 1,000 everyday items until the beginning of next year.
“We know times are tough for many customers right now, particularly as we head into the winter months,” said Tesco chief executive Jason Tarry. “We hope this extended price-lock commitment gives our customers the certainty of knowing that over a thousand household favourites will stay at the same great price for months to come – helping them budget when they need it most.”
Many of the products are shelf-based and for the cupboards and not fresh items.
In November, Tesco will be increasing the pay for its store colleagues to £10.30, and £10.98 in London, so still behind the two discount retail chains though they have risen by almost 8%.


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The PS VR came to market with 50 games available. But these are short experiences. Some games, for example, last around 20 minutes. For now, this is the way Layden sees new games for the platform given the intensity of playing in VR.
"I think the VR experience such as it is…it really works best in about a 15-, 20-, 30-minute experience…it's a lot like arcade gaming, it's a lot like I drop my coin into the machine and I have that experience for 6, 8, 9, 10 minutes. It will be a long time until you have a Final Fantasy 7 experience in VR for 75 hours…it does work best in a very tight, intense, gaming environment," Layden said.
VR hardware revenues are set to exceed $50 billion by 2021 so it's potentially big business for Sony, which already has an install base of nearly 50 million PS4 users to sell too. But it is also hoping the attraction of VR could help it sell some PS4 Pro consoles. The PS4 Pro is an upgraded console that features a faster processor specifically to render games in 4K quality – or four times the resolution of high-definition displays.
While it's not necessary to have a PS4 Pro to play VR, the promise of higher-quality graphics could tempt some consumers. The release comes just three years after the original PS4 was released and marks a major departure from the typically longer refresh cycles for consoles. Microsoft has also released a mid-cycle refresh console called the Xbox One S and is planning a higher spec product next year named "Project Scorpio".
Layden did not reveal what games are coming up for the PS VR, but said that experiences around "discovery" could really take off.
"The question is, how does VR enhance the experience? … The first time we were able to realize the player's hands … that changed the entire depth of immersion," Layden said.
"We're barely scratching the surface."


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The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has recommended that the half-billion-dollar judgment awarded to Apple for iPhone patent infringement be thrown out.
In an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court, the DoJ does not formally take sides but does recommend that a federal appeal court ruling that decided Samsung had illegally copied the iPhone's rounded corners and icon-grid should be overturned.
Unsurprisingly, the recommendation was met with some delight by the South Korean electronics giant, which told Reuters it welcomed the "overwhelming support" it had received and claimed that the judgment against it "could lead to diminished innovation, pave the way for design troll patent litigation and negatively impact the economy and consumers."
Apple, characteristically, has refused to comment.
This legal review – which the Supreme Court will pick up in its next session (case 15-777) – is just the latest in a long-running saga between the two companies.
Samsung was sued back in 2011 and was initially told – in 2012 – to pay Apple $930m for its infringements. It appealed, and the Washington DC federal appeals court threw out part of that verdict, reducing the penalty down to $548m – in 2015.
Samsung agreed to pay that amount but also appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the penalty had been calculated unfairly. It argued that it had only infringed a small part of the overall phone and so should only have to pay a fraction of the money it had made from its phone, rather than all the proceeds it has brought in. It also asked the court to look at the very issue of design patents.
The Supreme Court said it would consider the amount of damages but not dig into the actual question of design patents (laws which were developed in the 19th century but on which billions of dollars of commerce are reliant).
As part of that Supreme Court process, the DoJ yesterday posted its amicus curiae brief and said it was unclear if Samsung had produced sufficient evidence to support its fraction argument. But it also said that the court should send the case back to the trial court to determine whether there needed to be a new trial on that specific issue.
And so the 21st century's Jarndyce versus Jarndyce case continues. ®


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Climate change is a global issue that is becoming more prominent every year as the earth’s health declines and carbon emissions rise. Every business is being pressured to reduce as much waste and energy usage as possible, including the automotive industry. Achieving carbon net zero is no longer an option; it is necessary. It is not a secret that the automotive industry and vehicles contribute a high percentage to global carbon emissions and energy usage. But now, that is all starting to change. Automotive manufacturers are turning to more eco-friendly materials to use in their vehicles, from start to finish, to reduce their overall carbon footprint.
The automotive industry is evolving into a greener industry with a massive push on EVs and sustainable materials. Electric vehicle popularity has expanded rapidly in the last number of years through global governments pushing their popularity with tax credits and incentives. It is not just the new addition of batteries over traditional combustion engines that is preparing for a better, brighter future. Eco-friendly materials are the future of vehicle manufacturing as natural materials effectively absorb carbon dioxide. They offset the emissions the car will ultimately produce once on the road, helping car manufacturers reach carbon neutrality.
Recycling and repurposing steel
Steel is an important material used in every vehicle produced worldwide. It is used to make the car’s skeleton; without it, cars would not be deemed roadworthy. Along with it being vital for the production of vehicles, it is 100 percent recyclable. Over fourteen million tons of steel is reclaimed and reused annually and repurposed into over eight million vehicles.
Using high-strength or ultra-strength steel can also reduce the number of emissions produced by a vehicle as the car’s weight is lighter. In turn, this means it uses less fuel. Something that all automotive customers will be pleased about.
Reducing plastics in vehicles
Every year over 300 million tons of plastic are disposed of. A range of materials are used to manufacture a vehicle, but over half of the materials are plastic-based. To combat the excessive use of plastics in modern-day society, automotive manufacturers are recycling plastics and using them in the new electric models.
The Ford Bronco Sports has used 100% recycled plastic retrieved from the ocean. In general, Ford has pledged to introduce as many sustainable materials as possible into their manufacturing process as they strive to become 100% sustainable in the future. For example, they have created fabric for the interiors of their vehicles using recycled plastic bottles. This is something that they took from the fashion industry. Other brands like Nissan have used the same technology in producing eco-friendly materials for the interior of their vehicles.
It is also rumored that several automotive manufacturers are investing in producing microplastics from lobster shells. Volvo is even starting to implement sustainable micro-plastics into their new vehicles’ dashboards, floor mats, and seats.
Using plant-based materials for interiors
Traditionally, steel or another type of metal is used for the structure of vehicles. This is to retain shape and protect passengers if an accident occurs. Plant-derived materials such as woven flax and hemp are now utilized in car bumpers and body panels. Adding these natural resources makes vehicle parts stronger and less likely to be dented than traditional, non eco-friendly materials.
A range of new sustainable alternatives are being used for the interiors of vehicles. Some of these changes include using repurposed wood and cork instead of rich wood paneling. Both Chrysler and Fisker use reclaimed wood for their vehicle’s interiors, while Toyota has chosen bamboo as their sustainable material of choice.
Using vegan leather in vehicles
Along with environmentally friendly materials, some automotive manufacturers also started using ethical materials, such as vegan leather.
Vegan leather is used to look and feel like its animal hide counterpart without actually killing any livestock to retrieve it. Historically, if real leather was not used in vehicles, then a PVC or PU alternative was selected. As these options are petroleum-based plastics, they are not suitable for the environmentally-friendly future everyone is striving for.
Vegan Leather is made from various plant materials, including pineapple leaves, cacti, and mushrooms. Cellulose fibers within the plants are weaved to produce a faux-leather material used in the upholstery of automotive vehicles. This material is waterproof, heat, and stain-resistant. More importantly, it is biodegradable. Mercedes-Benz electric concept car, the Vision EQXX, and various Tesla models all use vegan leather for the interiors. In fact, Mercedes-Benz has pledged to use up to 40% sustainable and recycled materials in its future releases by 2039.
The European Commission has introduced legislation ensuring that 30% of plastics being used in cars have to be recycled by 2030. Legislation like this will ensure that vehicle manufacturing stays on the correct path toward a bright, carbon-free future. The automotive industry is in a massive period of change as they must completely reinvent their business models to suit the new, environmentally conscious buyer. In the near future, cars will be greener, eco-friendly machines that work with our planet instead of helping to destroy it.


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Kroger Co. has promoted Robert Clark to group vice president of non-perishables.
Clark, 47, has been with downtown-based Kroger (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest operator of traditional supermarkets, since 1985. He has most recently served as vice president of merchandising at Kroger’s Fred Meyer unit since 2011.
Clark will be based in Cincinnati in the newly created role, according to Kroger spokesman Keith Dailey.
Clark has held numerous leadership roles throughout his Kroger career. Those have included jobs in store and district management and grocery merchandising. He became vice president of merchandising at Fry’s Food Stores, a Kroger unit, in 2002. He was named vice president of operations for the Columbus division in 2010. Clark first joined Kroger in 1985 as a courtesy clerk at Fry’s in Arizona.
“Robert brings impactful leadership and extensive merchandising experience to our team,” Michael Donnelly, Kroger’s senior vice president of merchandising, said in a news release. “His valuable knowledge of our customers across the country will further strengthen our strategic direction.”
Kroger has 2,422 supermarkets in 31 states.


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A new study by the University of Coimbra, published in Nutrients and supported by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee, has revealed that caffeine, polyphenols, and other natural products found in coffee may help reduce the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among overweight people with type 2 diabetes (T2D)
A new report by the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD), supported by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), has revealed that almost two thirds (62%) of European dietitians believe drinking coffee in moderation has clear health benefits.
Drinking coffee can stimulate digestion as well as reducing risk of gallstones and certain liver diseases, such as pancreatitis.
3-4 cups of coffee per day is associated with an approximate 25% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Coffee can used as an ergogenic aid and can improve performance in endurance cycling and running.
2-3 cups of coffee daily is associated with a 10-15% reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart failure or a heart rhythm problem.
Millions of people around the world enjoy a cup of coffee, whether at home, whilst on the move or at work. Coffee is one of the most researched ingredients; resulting in the publication of hundreds of scientific studies every year. In 2003, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) identified a strategic need to become more proactive in informing medical and healthcare professionals and specialist medical media about current scientific knowledge and understanding on coffee consumption and health.
Research among healthcare professionals across Europe identified a widely spread lack of current knowledge about the health effects of coffee and many misconceptions among doctors, nurses, dietitians and other healthcare professionals who, in turn, provide advice to patients and clients about the effects of drinking coffee on health. ISIC’s communications are based on sound science and rely on evidence and scientific studies derived from peer-reviewed scientific journals and other publications.


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Electric scooter manufacturer Ather Energy has raised Rs 260 crore in its Series D round led by Sachin Bansal. Existing investor, Hero MotoCorp has picked up preference shares worth Rs 90 crore in the EV maker. Bansal, who has been backing the Bengaluru-based venture since 2014, is leading the Series D round with Rs 170 crore infusion.
Importantly, this would be a down round for Ather with over 10% haircut in valuation. The company is allotting 88,040 Series D preference shares at an issue price of Rs 29,532 per share to raise an aggregate amount of Rs 260 crore, regulatory filings show.
This is the first equity investment from Bansal in 2020 who has bet most of his fortune on consumer fintech platform Navi. He led Ather’s $51 million Series C round with an investment of $32 million in July last year.
The Series D financing appears to be an ongoing one and it could raise more money.
With the new round, the company’s total funding would reach $140 million. Post allotment, Hero MotorCorp would emerge as the largest stakeholder in Ather. The two-wheeler major will have a 37.84% stake in the company, followed by Sachin Bansal who would own 20.69%.
Tiger Global would leave with 15.93% stake in the Tarun Mehta-led firm. The hedge fund is likely to participate in the fresh round. Its co-founders Mehta and Swapnil Jain own 9.43% each while Binny Bansal holds 2.3% stake in the company. It’s worth noting that Binny Bansal didn’t invest in Ather after its seed financing that materialised in 2014.
Other stakeholders have collective ownership of 4.38% in the seven-years-old company.
Significantly, the price per share of Ather would drop by 27.3% to Rs 29,532 per share from Rs 40,602 per share when it raised Rs 84 crore from Hero MotorCorp in July, this year. The valuation of the company is also taking a haircut of 10.6%.
Fintrackr’s estimates show that the company’s valuation will be reduced to Rs 1,405 crore in the fresh round from 1,572 crore in the last tranche of the Series C financing.
Ather had rolled out the first batches of scooter 450X in 2018 at a price tag of Rs 1.25 lakh. However, the company upgraded the previous version and increased the price to achieve break-even in 2020. To reduce the cost of its scooters and drive adoption, the company rolled out a subscription program with guaranty to buy-back after three years at Rs 85,000 in a few cities.
In terms of financial performance, Ather has to cover a lot of ground and spend significant capital to build its brand and infrastructure as an EV manufacturer in India. Ather reported a loss of Rs 220 crore in FY20 while its operating revenue jumped 8.4X to Rs 35.3 crore during the same period from Rs 4.2 crore in FY19 as scooter sales went up.
But to achieve the growth in scale, the company has incessantly burnt cash in FY20. This could be evident from Ather’s 2.3X surge in expenses that went up to Rs 268.7 crore in the last fiscal from Rs 107.5 crore in FY19.
Update: We have changed the headline and story after getting inputs from Ather’s press release


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After its tech-filled runway show dubbed “Techtopia” in September, Boss is bringing technology to its marketing once again.
“We’ve seen conversations based on our show,” said Nadia Kokni, svp of global marketing for Hugo Boss’s Hugo and Boss brands. “And it opened up a lot of discussion among our audience, fans and even associates about the [evolving] role of tech at large and how quickly everything is moving forward.”
Now, Boss is featuring model Gisele Bündchen and actor Lee Minho as 20-meter-high holograms projected in London’s Potters Fields Park, beside Tower Bridge. The activation, which is running from Wednesday evening until Thursday morning, is meant to promote the brand’s spring-summer 2024 collection and announce model Gisele Bündchen as a Boss brand ambassador.
According to Boss, the stunt will make it the first fashion brand to use large-scale holography in a major global campaign. “We’ve seen different iterations of hologram technology,” said Kokni. “And seeing what’s new and fresh, and working with the latest technology is something we’re keen to do.”
She added, “People will not yet have seen [Gisele] in our campaign, let alone meters-high in this kind of tech, so it’s going to be fun and quite disruptive.”
The brand chose to focus on London, as the U.K is one of its largest markets — it opened a local store on Oxford Street in June 2022. France and the U.S. are also top markets.
For another component of the campaign, Boss will post to its social channels computer-generated imagery featuring enlarged versions of its sunglasses, sneakers and “double B” motif situated in global locations. Brands including Jacquemus and Adidas have also used CGI imagery to engage consumers.
Both the holograms and the CGI displays are expected to generate UGC content for the brand’s social media channels, Kohni said.
“We’re always trying to maximize impact and try new things in our marketing, to disrupt the consumer’s journey in the most positive sense,” said Kokni. “If you’ve got a constant scroll, something that is on that edge of experiential is always interesting and makes you do a double-take.”
Boss’s spring campaign will also include partnerships with nearly 100 celebrities, athletes and influencers. They’ll wear styles from the collection in content posted to Instagram and TikTok. Videos will center on the concept of “Double B, Every Me,” referring to Boss’s new “B” monogram. In addition, the content will encourage consumers to engage by using a special Instagram filter, available in the app.
The hologram portion of the campaign is only running for one night. To pull off the activation, Boss is using two Disguise VX4+ media servers, which are the category-leading tech for displaying large-scale video content, according to the brand.
“We’ve always said, innovation is a key part of what we do,” said Kokni. “Of course, we want to make sure we’re balanced and have a good perspective, in terms of our investments.”
Hugo Boss, parent company of the Boss and Hugo brands, reported preliminary, unaudited sales figures for fiscal 2023 of €4.2 billion, or $4.6 billion, marking a 15% year-over-year increase.
Boss has increasingly incorporated tech into its products, too. At the Hahnenkamm Races in Austria on January 15, it launched a prototype of a “Magic Moment” wearable technology jacket, allowing wearers to access events and make contactless payments, for example.
“When you’re skiing and you’re not having to fumble around and worry where your money is, it’s brilliant,” said Kokni. “We’re using innovation and technology to enhance the consumer experience and add value.”