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Who doesn’t love a great deal? Wednesday is Amazon Prime Day, an online sale which is advertised as bigger than Black Friday. The biggest competition is Walmart and the two retailers are going head to head for your money. It’s certainly a hot topic all over social media- Amazon Prime versus Walmart. Ultimately, it boils down to who has the better deals.
Just go to Amazon and you’ll see it everywhere “It’s Prime Day” celebrating 20 years for the online retailer. It’s created a frenzy some happy shoppers and others claiming it’s a let down.
“The deals are good. There's a lot of good stuff on there. Some people have been a little disappointed, I think they were thinking Black Friday door busters,” Deal Blogger Paul Ivanovsky said/.
One deal was a Kindle Fire for $79 not too bad compared to its original price of close to $100. These deals are exclusive for members who pay $99 a year. But is it really bigger than Black Friday?
“Just because they say bigger than Black Friday. You can make statistics say whatever they want. I think they're talking about the overall numbers of sales not necessarily the door busters which is whatever everybody thinks of when they hear Black Friday,” Ivanovsky said.
Now Walmart’s site shouts thousands of rollbacks and free shipping for deals over $35. We posted about Amazon Prime versus Walmart on FOX 26 Facebook page. Trisha wrote: Amazon not a hard question. Jessica posted “the sale was a joke for Amazon.” And we got a couple of viewers who say neither. Yet Ivanovsky say the way to get the best deal is to shop around.
"A lot of people also get caught up on I can only do this or I can only do that. Where a lot of times it makes sense to do both. There's things I buy at Amazon and there's things we only buy at Walmart. So you really have to be aware of what you're family uses and don't get up in buying things you don’t need,” Ivanovsky said.
And for more great shopping tips you can find Ivanovsky at www.iheartthemart.com. You can also take a couponing class with him http://texassmartbuys.com/texas_houston/lists/index.php.


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Dana Eller, president of MWI Pumps, has announced the appointment of Brett Climan as marketing manager at the company's water pump headquarters in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Climan has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, with the last seven years focusing on product marketing and brand management for world-wide manufacturers of high-tech products.
In his new position, Climan will be working internally and externally with leaders and their teams to raise awareness of MWI and its solutions to help solve water problems through sales, rental, municipal leasing, engineering, training and service.
Climan helps businesses to navigate their industry landscape and craft narratives that personally speak to customers. By bringing sound marketing and design strategy, his methods guide companies and the people behind them to understand the challenges and put their best foot forward. His mission is to bring humanity back into business by communicating the quality of the work and the services of those who stand behind it, according to the company.
Since 2003, Climan has developed a combination of human- and product-centric marketing initiatives at leading organizations to help transform process, communication and culture both internally and externally. By gaining customer insight and refocusing efforts, he helps to personify companies and their products as solutions and educational resources.
Today's top stories

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Juul Labs, maker of the industry-leading Juul vape brand, has suspended broadcast, digital and print advertising in the U.S.
The company announced the decision today, coinciding with the news that K.C. Crosthwaite is taking over as CEO for Kevin Burns, who stepped down from the role. Crosthwaite formerly served as chief growth officer for Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris Companies), which owns a minority stake in Juul. He has also held roles as president and CEO for Altria’s Phillip Morris USA and Altria’s vp of strategy and business development. According to Juul’s press release he helped lead Altria’s expansion into cigarette alternatives such as e-cigarettes.
It’s unclear to what extent Juul will continue other advertising and marketing efforts in the U.S., whether the halt is temporary or if the company will continue broadcast, digital and print advertising in other global markets. Juul Labs has not responded to Adweek’s request for comment.
A week ago, CBS, WarnerMedia and Viacom all announced a decision to drop all e-cigarette advertising amid health concerns related to a series of vape-related lung illnesses and concerns over still-rising levels of teen vaping. While TV ads for cigarettes are illegal under the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act, the law does not apply to e-cigarettes.
Juul has seen an explosion in its marketing spending over the past two years. The company spent nearly $104 million on measured marketing in the U.S. in the first six months of 2019, up from around $1.4 million over that period in 2018 and more than $75 million in total last year, according to Kantar Media. Juul spent just $20,000 on its measured marketing domestically in 2017, also according to Kantar Media.
Over the past year, Juul has reportedly been working with advertising agency holding company Omnicom on its marketing efforts.
Although Omnicom has not publicly confirmed its relationship with Juul, sources with knowledge of the holding company’s relationships told Adweek that Omnicom first began working on the vaping brand’s advertising last summer after an agency review.
Instead of tapping one of its agencies to run the account directly, Omnicom assembled a team of talent pulled from several agencies within the company, a source with knowledge of the account told Adweek. Omnicom’s work on the brand was primarily focused on a campaign aimed at converting adult smokers to vaping, the source said.
Omnicom has not responded to Adweek’s request for comment or answered questions related to its relationship with Juul.
The leadership shakeup and change in marketing strategy for Juul leave Omnicom’s relationship with the client in question. One source speculated that the remainder of the brand’s advertising account could move to Leo Burnett, given Crosthwaite’s background at Altria and the agency’s longterm relationship with Altria’s Phillip Morris USA.
Phillip Morris first hired Leo Burnett to promote its Marlboro brand in 1954. Leo Burnett’s Chicago office reportedly went through a round of layoffs related to changes to the Phillip Morris USA account in February. Juul could also opt to take any remaining marketing in the U.S. in-house or put its account back under review.
Leo Burnett declined to discuss any possibility of a client relationship with Juul, saying the agency does not comment on speculation.
Prior to the 2018 review, Deutsch reportedly worked with Juul in an advisory capacity on youth smoking-prevention messaging. According to the Center For Disease Control, tobacco industry-sponsored youth tobacco prevention programs in schools are ineffective and may actually promote youth tobacco use. Juul’s youth prevention programs came under scrutiny in a House panel on vaping this year and reportedly included a rep from Juul telling students at Dwight School in New York that its e-cigarettes were “totally safe” in an April 2017 presentation where teachers weren’t present, as well as the company paying a Baltimore charter school organization $134,000 to teach a five-week “healthy lifestyles” curriculum it developed at a summer camp.
“Pulling deceptive ads that manipulate people, including kids, into using their products is ignoring the 800-pound gorilla in the room,” Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense, an organization dedicated to promoting safe technology and media for children, said in a statement. “These products—not just the ads—need to be immediately banned from the market until they’ve been approved by the FDA as safe, which they are not, and we are skeptical that the company’s choice for a new CEO, a tobacco company executive from Altria, will prioritize the public’s health over Big Tobacco 2.0 profits.”
Broadcast advertising for cigarettes was banned in 1970, under the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act, followed by a drop in the rate of adult cigarette smoking from 40% to 32%, according to Gallup. It’s unclear how much of that can be attributed to the broadcast advertising ban, however, as the federal cigarette tax was also doubled in 1983. In fact, while the Fairness Doctrine’s impact on broadcast advertising requiring an anti-smoking ad for each smoking ad was followed by a decline in per capita cigarettes smoked, there was actually briefly an increase in that number in the years immediately following the broadcast ad ban, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information).


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Hannah MacGibbon new Chloe Designer
Ralph Toledano, chairman and chief executive officer of French fashion house Chloe, recently announced Britain’s Hannah MacGibbon as its new creative director, taking over from Sweden’s Paulo Melim Andersson.
Watch for it: MacGibbon will make her debut at Paris Fashion Week in October.
This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 7:06 pm and is filed under Bags & Purses, Exclusive, News, Pants, Sweaters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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New Delhi: World’s third largest smartphone seller Huawei is likely to start manufacturing handsets in India soon.
Huawei India Consumer Business Group president Peter Zhai speaking at an event launch said the company will in short-term announce the local manufacturing plan.
“Now we already have licences for manufacturing in place,” he said.
Though the details will be announced in about a month’s time, the company expects India to be its second largest mobile devices market after China.
As an international brand, the company also said it is likely to develop the India business, adding it is aggressively working to promote it.
“Huawei will increase presence across 50,000 stores by end of this year from about couple of thousands now,” said Zhai.
“India is a very special market and we would like to be more localized in terms of branding. We have a team of 3,000 people in research and development, which we would like to leverage for local understanding of consumer needs,” he added.
The company also unveiled two tablet PCs, the Matebook and TalkBand B3, which will be making its debut in India soon. (ANI)


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Joint venture formed between Pact Reuse and Morrrison and co to grow reusable plastic crates operations
16 August 2023
Pact Reuse and global infrastructure investment manager Morrison & Co have formed a partnership to accelerate growth opportunities.
The transaction will see the formation of a new joint venture with Morrison which will be 50% owned by Pact and operate as a separate entity called Viscount Reuse.
The Crate Pooling business manages an asset pool of reusable and recyclable plastic crates and folding produce bins used by retailers in Australia and New Zealand in their fresh produce supply chains.
The business manufactures the crates and bins in Australia and operates a network of wash and distribution facilities that keeps them circulating in a loop from suppliers to retailer distribution centres and into supermarkets.
The business recently extended its crate pooling contract with Woolworths by 10 years and plans to scale up usage from 50 million to 80 million crates a year by 2025. The business has also secured a long-term contract extension with ALDI Australia.
Pact CEO and Managing Director Sanjay Dayal said: “We’ve been seeing increased demand from customers for a rapid scale up of our Crate Pooling offering as they look to operate more efficiently and sustainably in the circular economy. This new strategic partnership with Morrison & Co is a great outcome for our customers as it will accelerate the growth of the business and offer an expanded range of products and service, with Pact sharing in the upside.”
Mark Mudie, Partner at Morrison, said: “This is an attractive opportunity for our clients to gain exposure to the circular economy thematic, which aims to eliminate waste by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. We believe the circular economy can tackle some of our greatest social and environmental challenges, while unlocking economic value for our investors.”


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German retail sales fell at the fastest annual rate since records began in 1994, demonstrating the magnitude of the economic challenges facing the eurozone’s largest economy.
Retail sales fell 8.8 percent in June compared to the same month last year, data from Destatis, Germany’s national statistics office, showed Monday.
Claus Vitesen, the euro-zone chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the numbers were “miserable” mainly due to the impact of rising prices on consumer spending. Inflation in Germany is at a multi-decade high of 8.5 percent.
The drop in retail sales follows Friday’s news that German economic growth faltered between the first and second quarters, and figures showing business and consumer confidence are now at the lowest level since the first months of the pandemic.
While the eurozone economy as a whole grew by 0.7 percent between the first and second quarters, analysts increasingly expect the region to spiral into a downward spiral in the coming months due to the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Ukraine. energy markets and confidence.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said manufacturing activity in Germany and elsewhere “sinked into an increasingly steep decline, adding to the region’s recession risks”.
The closely watched euro-zone manufacturing purchasing managers’ indices, also released Monday, showed that manufacturing activity was now slipping across the euro-zone.
The S&P Global PMI for the German manufacturing sector fell below the crucial 50 level for the first time in two years, separating activity growth from contraction.
New orders fell across the region – a sign that conditions are likely to remain difficult in the coming months. The biggest risk to the region is that tensions with Moscow will worsen, forcing Russia to reduce or stop gas flows to the EU. Economists believe this would trigger a major recession across the bloc.
While German retail volumes fell dramatically, consumers cut their overall spending by a much smaller amount, a yearly decline of just 0.8 percent, reflecting the impact of inflation on purchasing power.
Monday’s numbers disappointed investors, with the 1.6 percent decline in sales volumes between May and June being much worse than the 0.2 percent growth forecast by economists by Reuters.
The decline in retail spending also reflects a shift in spending towards services – not including retail – following the massive demand for goods that took place during the early quarters of the coronavirus pandemic, when restaurants, bars and entertainment venues were often closed.
Vistesen noted that the drop in retail sales could lead to a downward revision of last week’s German gross domestic product figure, which was a flash estimate and is often subject to change.
Data from Eurostat, the statistics office of the European Commission, also released Monday, shows that in June the number of unemployed in the eurozone rose for the first time in 14 months.
While the labor market in the region remains a relatively bright spot and unemployment remains unchanged at a record low of 6.6 percent, the absolute number of job seekers rose by 25,000 to nearly 11 million.


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A presale effort, powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan, will open for registration on Friday and continue until January 18.
In markets like Los Angeles, Swift has sold 110,000 tickets for her May 18 and 19 concerts at the Rose Bowl, an increase of 36 percent over her 2015 visit, where she performed six shows at Staples Center for 81,000 fans. More info at - where else?
The new show will be on July 13 at Lincoln Financial Field, joining the originally planned July 14 show as her only two concerts in Philadelphia.
And while none of the shows have yet sold out, this is something Taylor's team have anticipated. Some fans are arguing that by paying so much more for Taylor's tickets, they may not be able to purchase tickets for other concerts or games for the remainder of the year. Fans who register and have been previously verified via Taylor Swift Tix will receive priority access ahead of any new registrants. This is thanks to her diehard fans that paid a premium for the best tickets available at her concerts.
The Post reported that Swift's upcoming tour is turning out to be a "disaster", thanks to high-priced tickets and controversial ticketing methods. However, these claims were dismissed as Billboard got their hands on sales data from sources close to the singer, which showed that she is having no trouble offloading tickets to her shows.
Her Christmas message inside the card also shamelessly plugged her new album, saying: "May your reputation shine bright this holiday season!" "We're not trying to sell all of her tickets in one minute; we're trying to figure out how to sell tickets in a more modern way".
Even though ticket sales for the tour have been below par, Swift is still going to make a ton of money.
- Bayern Munich to battle Arsenal, Man United over Schalke midfielder, Goretzka
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- 3 soldiers fall off chopper during Army Day practice
- Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson: 'I can't sign lots of players'
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- Share Activity Lifted for South Korea Index MSCI Ishares (EWY) Moving 0.55%
- Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) Upgraded by BidaskClub to "Sell"
- States want to make sure tax break trickles down to utility customers
- 2017 was a year when Australia's housing market didn't go to script


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When Aldi launched a copycat version of Farmer Jo’s top-selling paleo muesli, co-founder Scott Tulloch didn’t consider taking the discount retailer to court.
With annual revenues of around $7 million, Farmer Jo is a minnow compared with Aldi, whose sales in Australia alone reached $10.5 billion last year.
Mr Tulloch and his wife Sally, who started making granola by hand in their Clovelly home 10 years ago because they were unhappy with the “boring and bland” offers on the market, saw Aldi’s attention as a compliment rather than a threat.
“They even sent us a tender document that showed a picture of our bag, and the benchmark product, Farmer Jo paleo granola, but we couldn’t make it for the price they wanted,” Mr Tulloch said.
“I took that as a positive thing, because we want to have an impact on health and wellbeing in the breakfast space, but we can’t do that by ourselves because we’re too small,” he said.
“What we’re trying to do is build a healthier, better breakfast category. If Aldi is copying our product and they can make that accessible at a cheaper price then they’ll have done half our job for us.”
(Aldi’s Goldenvale paleo granola sells for $7.99, while Farmer Jo’s paleo muesli sells for between $8 and $10).
The $1 billion breakfast foods market is dominated by multinationals Kellogg, Nestle and General Mills, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Australian Health & Nutrition Association (better known as Sanitarium), which together account for almost 90 per cent of sales.
But, in a trend started 25 years ago by Carolyn Creswell’s Carman’s Fine Foods, small companies such as Farmer Jo and Melbourne start-up The No Nasties Project are disrupting the market by taking the lead on innovation, developing healthier, tastier and allergy free cereals or, in the case of No Nasties, removing hundreds of tons of sugar from children’s cereals.
The breakfast cereals market has been growing by about 1.5 per cent a year, but Farmer Jo’s revenues have been growing 38 to 40 per cent a year for the last three years and No Nasties sales have doubled year on year.
After four years of making their hand-made muesli in Mullumbimby and Byron Bay, the Tullochs shifted production this year to contract bakers in Sydney who specialise in small-batch hand-made products.
They struggled to attract and retain suitable staff on the far north coast and after two years plagued by bushfires, floods and the pandemic, they wanted to make sure they could secure supply to meet the growing needs of customers.
“We’re very much a hand-made business,” said Mr Tulloch, a former Cerebos and Toby’s Estate Coffee executive. “We could outsource even bigger and go to mass production and machines and make a bit more money, but that’s not why we started and that’s not who we are.”
The reason we exist is because the majors are slow to move in these spaces.
— David Andrew, No Nasties Project
The Tullochs started selling their up-market muesli at markets and cafes before securing wholesale deals and airline contracts and finally cracking the retail sector, where their products are now on the shelves at Woolworths, Coles, Costco, IGA stores and Harris Farm Markets.
Retail now accounts for 80 per cent of sales and cafes 20 per cent, a reversal of the sales breakdown in the early years.
“That’s what saved us during COVID – if it wasn’t for retail we would have been down the gurgler,” said Mr Tulloch, who is looking at expanding into spreads, breakfast biscuits and breakfast drinks, and setting up shop in the United Kingdom.
The major players are not only copying Farmer Jo’s products, they’ve started using similar packaging such as Farmer Jo’s zip-lock bags (which were designed by former interior designer Sally) and similar marketing.
“If we can inspire these massive companies to give the Australian public better products, better food, instead of bullshit, we see that as a positive thing,” Mr Tulloch said.
“Collectively if we work together there’s a big enough pie for everyone to share to build something much more sustainable, something healthier, something everyone can benefit from.”
Small brands more agile
Industry sources said major manufacturers were hamstrung in making significant changes to established brands, as loyal consumers were likely to push back when sugar was replaced with artificial sweeteners, while alternative ingredients could disrupt the manufacturing process, reducing throughput and efficiency.
Small brands with small production runs had the flexibility to respond to changing consumer tastes and were enjoying strong support from major retailers desperate to accelerate growth in the category.
No Nasties Project founder David Andrew started making sugar-free products for children after giving up sugar a few years ago.
After launching sugar-free Naked Life soft drinks and Sugar Free-zies icy poles, he realised there was scope to disrupt the breakfast cereals market by making low and no-sugar products inspired by popular brands such as Kellogg’s Fruit Loops and Coco Pops, which has two-and-a-half teaspoons of sugar per serve.
“There are little to no reduced sugar options available in the mainstream market, so we are here to fill that void,” said Mr Andrew.
No Nasties now has 20 products on the market sweetened with natural products such as stevia, erythritol and maltitol. It has worked with a major contract manufacturer so it can deliver products with similar packaging and similar pricing, about $5 a pack, so parents don’t have to pay more to give their kids healthier breakfast foods.
“We’re effectively replacing something dear to their heart with something healthier,” said Mr Andrew, a former management consultant on a mission to remove 500 tons of sugar from the children’s breakfast cereals market by 2022.
“Our products have to be in the ballpark of rivals on price and the formats and colour have to be similar – you have to get rid of switching costs upfront so they’re transacting on the basis of health,” he said. “That’s how you change mainstream Australia.”
Mr Andrew says so far there has been little reaction or backlash from the multinationals, who have been moving at glacial speed to reduce the sugar content of their major brands.
“The reason we exist is because the majors are slow to move in these spaces,” he said. “We walk the aisles as a team to see where we can make the biggest difference, because someone hasn’t stepped in to take on the majors.”
No Nasties has scored a coup by reaching a licensing deal with Disney, which has new nutrient criteria for sponsorship deals and has cut ties with some established food companies. The No Nasties range features Disney favourites such as Elsa and Anna from Frozen and Marvel heroes such Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk.
“People need familiarity to try something new and Disney helps that,” said Mr Andrew. “Disney brings the fun to these things.”
Mr Andrew said customers such as Woolworths and IGA had been tough but supportive.
“It’s in their best interests because they want to offer their customer a healthier version of something that’s a bestseller – that’s not coming from the majors,” he said. “It works for them and it works for customers, it’s a win-win for everyone, and they see it that way.”
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The Big Idaho Potato Truck is rolling into town to celebrate the end of the 2018 tour.
The truck will be parked at Albertsons on Broadway for “Potato Palooza” this Saturday, September 22, 2018.
Everyday through Tuesday next week they will be handing out samples and available for photos.
For every 5 pound bag of potatoes bought during the Palooza, the Idaho Potato Commission will donate a bag to the Idaho Foodbank.
For more details:


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Capacity cuts, price hikes lift Asia-Europe rates
Increasing spot rates on trade between Asia and Europe over the past two weeks show that ships are filling up and that the carrier approach of maintaining ability and increasing proposed rate levels has an impact.
According to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange's Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), rates have increased nearly 17 percent since the last week of July (Week 30) and are presently at a five-month high of $806 per TEU.
The carrier's attempts to decrease ability are supporting the push to raise prices, with 150,000 TEUs being withdrawn from Asia-Europe sailing through July and August. The Ocean Alliance and THE Alliance's 10 blanked sailings (none from 2 M) arrive at a traditionally busy portion of the year, an indication of the high season's low airline expectations.
The continuing US-China trade negotiations continue to weigh on general sentiment, although the general manufacturing PMI of IHS Markit Caixin China improved significantly in July. According to the recent IHS Markit Eurozone production PMI, Eurozone production contraction accelerated at the other end of the Asia-Europe supply chain in July.
"The PMI dashboard in the Eurozone is a sea of red, with all lights warning of the region's producers ' declining health," said Chris Williamson, chief economist at IHS Markit. Williamson said forward indicators also deteriorated in July, with input sales falling to an extent that has not been seen since 2012 as short-term firms prepared for weaker manufacturing, and expectations fell to the lowest in more than six-and-a-half years for the year ahead. "Germany is leading the downturn, reflecting further deteriorating circumstances in the automotive industry and dropping worldwide demand for company machinery," he said.


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Startups could generate $30 billion in additional revenue and impact the lives of 106 million people 50 and over
Washington, D.C. – AARP and 1776, a global startup incubator and seed fund in downtown Washington, D.C., today announced a joint effort to stimulate innovation in the tech sector that will benefit people age 50 and over. AARP research recently found this is an opportunity that could, within five years, generate $30 billion in additional revenues for entrepreneurs and investors in consumer health and wellness, potentially impacting the lives of 106 million people.
AARP and 1776 will identify startups that serve people 50+, make introductions to key AARP affiliates, help companies scale to market, and fuel innovation explicitly designed for people over 50 in tech, financial tech, lifestyle, health, health security, financial resilience and personal fulfillment.
“AARP is one of our nation’s most important organizations, and we are truly thrilled to be joining forces with them to nurture startups all over the world who are working to create solutions that benefit those 50 and older,” said Donna Harris, co-founder of 1776. “While many might associate startups with youth culture, we believe that innovative ideas can solve problems affecting people of all walks of life—and we can’t wait to amplify the voice of the 50+ consumer to help bolster startups that are working to make tech more intuitive and beneficial to all Americans.”
As the data in AARP’s 2014 Health Innovation Frontiers Report shows, rarely has such an untapped opportunity existed to generate revenues for entrepreneurs, investors and others in the private sector while simultaneously meeting the greatest wants and needs of a substantial, influential and important population: people 50 and over.
“It is clear that the 50+ community has dollars to spend and needs that are unmet,” said Jody Holtzman, senior vice president of AARP Thought Leadership. “This effort with 1776 will highlight the tremendous financial opportunity the 50+ community has to offer inventors and investors and will help bring problem-solving ideas to market where people are waiting to embrace them.”
For the past three years, AARP has sponsored Health Innovation@50+ LivePitch, the premier showcase that features the most exciting start-up companies in the “50 and over” health technology and innovation sector. In addition to giving startups face-to-face access to venture capitalists and angel investors, the showcase connects thousands of AARP consumers with the startups working to serve them. Four hundred companies applied to the LivePitch in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The new joint effort is anchored by AARP’s social mission—to enhance the quality of life for all as we age—and the Innovation@50+ initiative, which enlists the expertise of visionary thinkers, entrepreneurs, the investment community, industry, and not-for-profits to catalyze research and shape a marketplace ethos that meets the needs and wants of people over 50.
1776 is a global incubator and seed fund that finds promising startups focused on solving the world’s most fundamental challenges and helps engineer their success. 1776 focuses on startups in the most broken, entrenched industries and sectors that impact millions of lives every day – specifically education, energy, health and cities.
Because solving big challenges in entrenched industries requires a different approach, 1776 is revolutionizing the startup landscape. From its hub in Washington, D.C., it is sparking a global movement of “problem-solving’ startups through its Challenge Cup and Startup Federation, the premiere network of incubators throughout the world.
1776 was founded in February 2013 by Donna Harris, a serial entrepreneur and the former Managing Director of the Startup America Partnership, and Evan Burfield, founder of netDecide, a provider of enterprise wealth management solutions, and the consulting firm Synteractive.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.


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By Chris Nicholls
SYDNEY: The Federal Court has ordered the forfeiture and consequential destruction of approximately 150,000 parallel-imported Energizer batteries seized by the Australian Customs Service.
The importers, Contrade Pty Ltd, its director George Condos, and four other companies were found to have infringed on the trademark registrations owned by Energizer Australia.
According to Energizer, the companies traded on the mistaken belief that parallel imports were legal.
As a result of the court ruling, the importing company has gone out of business and the director was ordered to make a substantial payment for damages and court fees. The businesses were also ordered to hand over their existing stock of Eveready and Energizer products to Energizer Australia. The batteries seized by the Australian Customs Service were ordered to be surrendered to the Commonwealth for destruction.
John Carroll, a lawyer who manages Energizer Australia’s monitoring and compliance program, said the court order should give concern to all parallel importers.
“The actions of these companies not only jeopardizes Energizer’s reputation as a supplier of quality and safe batteries in Australia, but also threatens consumer safety and faith in the brand.
“The unauthorised importation and resale of Eveready and Energizer branded batteries for which Energizer Australia Pty Ltd owns the trademarks is an illegal practice and importers face civil and criminal proceedings.”
Carroll also said Energizer was also currently monitoring over 100 different Australian businesses, ranging from small convenience shop operators to large wholesale suppliers about their illegal sales and importation practices, and expected to launch a number of further legal actions.
Energizer said Carroll was working with Australian Customs Service and international agencies to identify the sources of the unauthorised products.


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March is a huge month for American Idol fans. The show will wrap up weeks of preliminary competition rounds and select the top 12, kicking the season into high gear. Also, Idol alum Kelly Clarkson's highly anticipated fourth album will hit stores March 10, as will a new Taylor Hicks album. Finally, last year's winner, David Cook, will release two new singles this month.
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The lawsuit names Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Governor Rick Snyder, and Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. The lawsuit comes just a week after Michigan officials rejected Tesla's request for a new dealership license. Tesla, unlike other automakers, sells its electric vehicles directly to consumers through company-owned stores. Tesla's license application was denied in Michigan because state law requires a dealer to have an actual contract, which Tesla does not have.
Earlier this year in February, Tesla applied for a Class A dealership license, which is a standard new and used auto dealership license. The request for a dealership license was Tesla's first in Michigan. The application was unusual, though, as automakers don't typically ask for licenses. In normal circumstances, licenses are issued to a third-party dealer or a dealer network.
Tesla and Michigan have been in a multi-year battle over the automaker's desire to sell its electric cars directly to consumers. Michigan isn't the only state that has laws that prohibit the sales of vehicles directly to customers. The automaker is fighting similar laws in both Virginia and Utah.


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Why the Modicare Envirochip Black 1 Unit Is A Good Buy
The advent of smartphones has brought about several changes. Lesser people have alarm clocks now. Many people are addicted to their smartphones and get anxious if their smartphones are not with them for some time. Many people with smartphones also tend to ignore the people around them. Smartphone surfaces have more germs than a toilet seat. The use of smartphones is increasing and will continue to do so. The WHO says that radiation from smartphones is bad for people's health and could even cause cancer. Some other possible serious health hazards are Lower Sperm Count, bad Heart health, Dizziness, Headaches, Nausea, and brain tumor.
A solution to radiations from smartphones is Modicare Envirochip. The Modicare Envirochip Black 1 Unit is stuck at the back of a smartphone. The company claims that the device filters harmful radiations from smartphones so that they don't reach the users.
Synergy Environics is the manufacturer of the Modicare Envirochip Black 1 Unit. They have been working for quite a few years on the concept of radiation and have completed some successful projects. One such project was at the Mumbai airport.
Certifications available for the device
DB technology the UK
Max Health Care New Delhi – It has been verified that the devicepresent on smartphones lessens people's pulse rate.
The results of this new device have come out in biomedical science and engineering Journal
The device has the guarantee seal of Sameer Modi
Demonstration that the device works
A strength test has been done on Modicare Envirochip Black 1 Unit that shows that its use is advantageous.
Several people have vouched for Modicare Envirochip Black 1 Unit. Several of them say that they have lesser headaches from using smartphones.
How does the device work?
The radiations from smartphones are constant, and the Modicare Envirochip Black 1 Unit makes them random.
People have to buy the devices once and can use it for a lifetime. However, they need to careful that they place the device in their smartphones correctly.
Health is wealth. Buy the Modicare Envirochip Black 1 Unit on www.worldshopon.com and stay safe from harmful smartphone radiations.


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Less than a decade has passed since the launch of Authentic Brands Group, but founder Jamie Salter has already established the company as a fashion and footwear powerhouse.
The New York-based group has expanded from a small business focused on icons like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe to one of the most powerful players in the lifestyle and entertainment sectors, with a portfolio spanning 50 brands and nearly $10 billion in annual sales.
“A couple years ago, we [established] a goal that we wanted to be very large in the shoe business — fashion footwear [in particular],” Salter told FN in December, when ABG was named Company of the Year at the 2018 FN Achievement Awards. “By doing what we did — buying Nine West, Bandolino, Vince Camuto and Frye — it made a spot in that business where we’re important to the customer. The world is getting smaller, and every deal was strategic.”
Now, ABG has emerged as the frontrunner to snap up Barneys New York amid its high-profile bankruptcy. According to a filing on Wednesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York, the luxury retailer has entered into an agreement to sell its assets to the brand management company and investment firm B. Riley Financial Inc. in a cash deal estimated at roughly $271.4 million.
While an auction to be held on Oct. 24 will ultimately decide Barneys’ fate, ABG’s bid has propelled its business into the spotlight, with retail experts and brand partners questioning the role it will play in its acquisition of the storied Manhattan institution.
As it prepares to close in on Barneys, FN looks back at some of ABG’s most notable investments, starting with its recent buzz-making deals:
May 2019: Sports Illustrated
ABG completed the $110 million purchase of the Sports Illustrated intellectual property from Meredith Corp. this spring. The deal included SI’s associated brands, including Sports Illustrated Kids, Sportsperson of the Year and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. As part of the acquisition, ABG assumed the marketing, business development and licensing of SI’s intellectual property and its brand.
April 2019: Volcom
Previously owned by French luxury group Kering SA, Volcom’s intellectual property rights were also bought by ABG this spring. The agreement detailed ABG’s minority stake in Liberated Brands, the newly formed operating company for Volcom. Volcom CEO Todd Hymel and its management team hold the majority stake in Liberated and maintain operations in the U.S., France, Japan and Australia, as well as oversee product development, athlete marketing and the company’s retail and wholesale businesses.
October 2018: Camuto Group
For its buyout of Camuto Group last fall, ABG made a nearly unprecedented move by teaming with DSW Inc. (now Designer Brands) on the $375 million deal. Under the terms of the agreement, the pair jointly acquired the intellectual property of Camuto Group’s brand portfolio, including Vince Camuto, Louise et Cie, Sole Society and Enzo Angiolini. ABG took a 60% majority stake, while DSW acquired the remaining 40%.
July 2018: Nine West
ABG became the new owner of shoe and accessory labels Nine West and sister label Bandolino following a bankruptcy auction where it had reportedly beat out DSW Inc. The winning offer of $340 million was higher than the stalking-horse bid it had put in when Nine West Holdings Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April. As part of the transaction, ABG assumed all licensing partnerships and marketing initiatives for the Nine West and Bandolino brands.
April 2018: Nautica
Nautica’s marketing and licensing functions went to ABG in this deal last year, although the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The company recruited Aero OpCo, which manages operations for Aéropostale, to run other aspects of the formerly VF Corp.-owned label, including its retail stores and e-commerce platform. At the time, the deal was said to be ABG’s largest brand acquisition to date.
April 2017: Frye
ABG bought a 51% majority stake in Frye from Global Brands Group — the first co-ownership between the two brand management firms, which have a history of collaborations. According to the deal’s terms, ABG and GBG would both expand the heritage boot brand into new categories, as well as open standalone stores and shop-in-shop locations. (FN sister publication WWD reported that the purchase closed for $100 million.)
October 2016: Aéropostale
A year and a half before snapping up Nautica, ABG took on Aéropostale by leading a consortium that also comprised real estate giants General Growth Properties and Simon Property Group. The acquisition, which was approved in bankruptcy court in mid-September 2016, saved thousands of jobs and maintained operations at 700 stores around the world, including 400 in the U.S. and Canada and 300 across Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
ABG Is Closing In on Barneys With Winning Bid — But Another Acquirer Could Still Emerge
Jamie Salter Wants to Turn Authentic Brands Group Into the Next Disney


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Celebrity stylist Gretchen Monahan, whose ambition and joie de vivre make her seem larger than 5-foot-nothing, is focused on building her own branded world.
She operates three Grettacole salons, two G Spa day spas and two Gretta Luxe designer boutiques in metro Boston. Monahan opened a 21,000-square-foot destination spa at the MGM Grand at Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino in May, and the same month, she launched Gretta footwear, produced by St. Louis-based Brown Shoe Co.
Her skin care line, as yet unnamed, is slated to launch in the first quarter of next year.
In Manhattan, she has the Gretta Style Studio, her Greenwich Village penthouse loft, where she grooms and styles VIP clients and out of which she serves as Dove’s pitchwoman (she’s in her third year as the brand’s hair care expert).
Building on successful sales of shoes on QVC, she would only acknowledge being “in talks with” an apparel manufacturer for a licensed line of clothing and accessories. Market sources said that G-III Apparel Group Ltd., which produces goods for Calvin Klein, Guess and Cole Haan among others, has been in negotiations with Monahan.
Monahan, a 38-year-old Boston native, also has three television gigs: cohosting “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” on Bravo, contributing a weekly makeover segment for “The Rachael Ray Show” on CBS and being featured on a syndicated trend report “Gretta’s Got It,” which airs on NBC affiliates in Boston and Miami.
“I’m not a Jessica Simpson, a J.Lo or a Fergie,” said Monahan, sipping iced tea at a restaurant near her Copley Place store in Boston. “I’m a service talent. You earn credibility as a service talent because you teach and you show.”
Hard work and charisma has propelled Monahan. She’s an intense listener, husky-voiced and disarmingly candid. Its earned her powerful allies, such as television chef Ray.
“I knew G — that’s what I call her — would be perfect for our show,” Ray said. “She has given me so much fashion and lifestyle advice over the years that I had to share her with the rest of the world.”
Monahan also connected — over a coloring session — with Terri Rawson, chief marketing officer of Brown Shoe, who helped her get the consulting roles at the $2.4 billion footwear giant. That led to Gretta shoes — the smallest label in the firm’s portfolio.
“Gretchen always has a twinkle in her eye,” said Katie Lee Joel, wife of Billy Joel, who met Monahan when a mutual friend brought her along to a dinner party the Joels were hosting in Miami.
The pair traveled to Istanbul last summer, sharing clothes out of two small carry-ons and picking through bazaars for medallions and textiles to inspire shoe details. “She is appreciative of where she is every day and you can tell she gets a kick out of the fact she’s getting to live her dreams,” said Joel.
Excluding television contracts, Gretta Enterprises pulls in about $13 million annually.
For 15 years, Monahan built businesses catering to affluent Bostonians. But working with Ray, who created an empire on a cheery persona and a knack for simplifying recipes, changed her thinking.
“I had been of the mind-set that if you don’t do high-end and protect your name, you’ll just be up in flames,” she said. “But there has been so much success in the democratization of fashion and beauty and I’ve gotten to live that firsthand.”
Monahan may open more upscale boutiques and spas, but when she talks about the Gretta brand, she speaks about tight household budgets and “real women.”
She doesn’t have to imagine what that’s like. An only child, Monahan was raised by grandparents and by her aunt and uncle, who were childless. (Monahan’s father was absent and her late mother suffered from schizophrenia.)
When, at 23, she wanted to open a hair salon, her aunt and uncle cosigned the loan, using their home as collateral.
“I remember fighting with them, saying, ‘I can’t take this [loan],’” she said. “I remember sitting up late, being so stressed and saying, ‘I will work every hour until this is paid off.’ It still haunts me.”
By her late 20s, Monahan’s salons (where her aunt worked as a receptionist) were hopping, she opened boutiques selling Stella McCartney and Jimmy Choo, and bought a home in affluent Wellesley, Mass.
Now she lives in New York, but makes regular circuits through Needham, Mass., where Gretta Enterprises is based; QVC’s East Chester, Pa., studios, and Brown Shoe’s St. Louis headquarters.
“She is magnetic and I’m not sure she ever sleeps,” said Rawson. “She has a huge passion for life.”
Market sources estimated that Monahan has sold about $1 million worth of shoes during her QVC appearances. Brown Shoe doesn’t break out the volume of individual brands. Sales are projected to double next year, she said, continuing distribution through QVC and shoe e-tailers such as Zappos and Piperlime.
Although nothing is signed, Monahan almost certainly will produce a clothing line. It’s been a longtime dream, though it has taken years for her to decide when and with what focus.
“The minute you get any little spark on TV, everyone wants to do something with you,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of things crumble. You can’t just throw a label on it and think it’s going to sell.…I’m not going to extend my brand in a destructive way.”
In 2005, months away from launch and against the advice of her development team, she scrapped her skin care line and commissioned one formulated without parabens, a preservative that has become a red flag for many consumers.
That meant a loss of more than $100,000 — “a big lesson,” she recalled.
“I haven’t been the kind with family or connections to set up my opportunities. I know those people now, but it wasn’t my path. I had to work really hard for this. I still do. Nothing comes easy, but when it does, the experience is deep and rich.”
EXCLUSIVE: @tomford is opening its first-ever beauty store. The boutique, which opens November 20 in London’s Covent Gardens, was designed with the over-the-top glam Ford is known for. Read the full story on WWD.com, link in bio. #wwdbeauty #wwdnews (📷: Simon Wagner) #TomFordBeauty
New York-based DJ @harleyvnewton threw a party to celebrate the holiday collection of her dress and pajama line @hvn at the Ladurée Beverly Hills. It Girls @katebosworth, @rashidajones and more joined in on the fun, which included cocktails, croque monsieur sandwiches and a photo booth. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA.com)
For the holidays, @Burberry partnered with 20-year-old artist @blondeymccoy on a series of three outdoor murals in downtown Manhattan. The murals are McCoy’s interpretation of a Christmas eve party, the idea of charity and the spirit of family. His third mural, pictured here, is the most personal. The image depicts McCoy’s grandparents and father in London’s Trafalgar Square in the Seventies. “My work often features lots of sentimental objects.” #wwdeye
For spring 2018, designers applied bold colors and cartoonish motifs on everything from sneakers and belts to key chains. See all the top men’s accessories trends on WWD.com. #wwdtrends (📷: George Chinsee; Prop Styling by @rnasti; Market Editor: @luiscampuzano)
The @dior-sponsored @guggenheim international gala pre-party has a history of drawing cool-girl musical acts to serenade the crowd –– and last night was no exception. @haimtheband performed songs both new and old, and lured a star-studded audience with the likes of Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Mamoudou Athie and more. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
In a partnership between the @metopera and the @englishnationalopera, “Marnie” was born. The opera, with costumes sponsored by @mrporterlive, is an adaptation of the 1961 thriller by Winston Graham. Arianne Phillips, who created the costumes, is no rookie: She’s styled Madonna for her tours and created costumes for a myriad of films in the past. Read WWD’s interview with Phillips, where she talks about her inspiration for the opera’s costumes on WWD.com #wwdfashion
@barneysnyc took a different approach to their holiday windows this year. Instead of Christmas decor, Barneys tapped @thehaasbrothers to tell a story of positivity, gratitude and inclusivity via heartwarming silliness and humor. “It’s about kids and it’s about coming together and being family and loving each other,” said Simon Haas. #wwdfashion (📷: @joshuascottphoto)
Beauty influencer @kandeejohnson makes her foray into hair care with a collaboration with @ogx_beauty — making it the first time that OGX has teamed up for a product creation. The collab includes shampoos and conditioners in three scents. At 39 and a mom, Johnson is a different profile than the emerging social media stars, but is considered one of the pioneers of the digital beauty influencer world. Read WWD’s interview with her on wwd.com, including the strangest beauty product she’s ever tried #wwdbeauty


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What’s good for the planet must also be good for business. As nations around the world grapple with our urgent, shared responsibility to tackle the climate crisis, the businesses we invest in and scale must play a crucial role in redressing the balance between economic success and environmental destruction. The challenges are immense. Consider nutrition as one example. By 2050, the world’s population will hit ten billion people. To feed these people, global food production will have to increase by 50 per cent.
You might think that means we’ll need more of what we eat now. Well, think again. At Mosa Meat, a Dutch food technology startup, they’re busy growing meat in the lab. In the past seven years, the company has brought down the cost of its lab-grown beef burger from an eye-watering €250,000 to just €9. And the price is set to come down even further. In September, Mosa Meat raised €47 million in funding to scale up its operation, taking it from laboratory experiment to production at pre-industrial volumes.
When it comes to meat’s environmental impact, cows are in a league of their own. There are roughly 1.5 billion cows on the planet. Each one requires land, food and water, the total environmental impact of which is enormous. According to one 2014 study, beef production uses 28 times more land and 11 times more water than poultry and pork. During the 1990s, humans deforested an area the size of Portugal every year to make room for cows and cow feed.
“Food security challenges are putting immense pressure on our planet, causing deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water overuse and pollution,” says Mayssa Al Midani, senior investment manager for nutrition at Pictet, a leading wealth and asset management company. Malnutrition alone has an annual economic cost of $2 trillion. As with so many of the crises we face, it risks spiralling out of control.


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Automotive Grade Linux kicks off open-source speech recognition and vehicle-to-cloud connectivity
Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), a collaborative cross-industry effort developing an open platform for the connected car, announced the launch of two new Expert Groups (EG) focused on speech recognition and vehicle-to-cloud (V2C) connectivity.
"Our goal is to voice-enable every application in the vehicle, but the challenge today is that developers have to manually integrate with each automaker's preferred speech recognition engine," said Dan Cauchy, Executive Director of Automotive Grade Linux at The Linux Foundation. "We plan to provide a standard set of open APIs that allows developers to write their application only once, and it will work on any system from any automaker using AGL, regardless of the underlying speech recognition technology. We believe this is the first time such standardization is being implemented in the industry, and this will greatly reduce fragmentation and create an ecosystem of speech-enabled apps for the vehicle."
Led by Amazon Alexa, Nuance Communications, and Voicebox Technologies, the Speech EG will also provide guidance for supporting technologies including natural language, grammar development tools, onboard vs. cloud-based speech, and signal processing for noise reduction and echo cancellation.
"This working group has a tremendous opportunity to move in-car voice technology forward in ways that will delight customers," said John Scumniotales, Director of Products, Amazon Alexa Automotive. "We envision that customers will have a voice service like Alexa with them throughout their day, with continuity between their home and their car. Making it simpler for automakers to implement voice services is a big step toward this vision—we're excited to join this working group and innovate on new ways to improve the voice experience for customers."
AGL has also launched a Vehicle-to-Cloud EG that is exploring use cases such as telematics, personalization, authentication, and authorization. Led by ForgeRock, the V2C EG will be responsible for implementing the reference architecture and services such as IoT protocols for connecting the vehicle to the cloud, connected car features, over-the-air upgrades, remote vehicle interactions, identity management, and location-based services.
"The automotive industry's evolution to a service-driven, smart mobility ecosystem is transforming focus from vehicle unit sales to personalized mobility experiences that will depend on cloud connectivity and a new wave of connected sensor data," said Ashley Stevenson, Identity Technology Director, ForgeRock.
For more information about AGL, go to https://www.automotivelinux.org/.
More information about the Linux Foundation can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org.


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Seattle Public Library Sets World Record for Longest Book Domino Chain (video)
The Seattle Public Library picked a novel way to kick off their 2013 Summer Reading Program. They set a new world record for the longest domino chain made from books. Over 2100 books were set up for this chain by 27 volunteers.
In case you’re bothered by the mistreatment of the books, the SPL was careful to note that:
The books used to make this domino chain were either donated or are out of date and no longer in the library’s collection. They are now being sold by the Friends of Seattle Public Library to help raise money for library programs and services.


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Eunhyuk and Donghae were recently spotted at a cafe.
On February 4th, Eunhyuk posted on his personal Twitter account, “It snows a lot. Please be careful on the snowy roads. Donghae forced me to go out with him” along with the picture posted above. It can be seen from the picture that the two members of Super Junior are enjoying their free time drinking together at a coffee shop while brightly smiling towards the camera.
Meanwhile, Super Junior M is currently promoting their latest single, “Break Down” in Korea.
Article by: Marielle
Edited by: Jenny
MORE RELATED ARTICLES


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PARIS — A new upscale shopping mall on the banks of the Seine River hopes to draw thousands of tourists from the nearby Eiffel Tower and revitalize the Paris neighborhood where it is located, known for its office towers dating back to the Seventies.
The Beaugrenelle shopping center, featuring close to 540,000 square feet of retail and leisure spaces on six floors, recently opened after a 10-year development phase. It replaces the former Beaugrenelle shopping center that opened on the same spot in the 15th arrondissement of Paris in 1978.
Issa Rae stopped by WWD's NYC headquarters to talk about season two of "Insecure," which premieres this Sunday on HBO. Click link in bio for all the details. #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery; Styled by @mayteallende)
A Stella McCartney sketch of a custom dress made from protein-based silk in partnership with biotech lab Bolt Threads. The dress will be displayed at The Museum of Modern Art's upcoming design exhibition, "Items: Is Fashion Modern?"


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All cars should have electronic stability control (ESC) – that’s the verdict of one of the UK’s leading insurance research centres.
According to Thatcham, 400 deaths and 3000 injuries could be prevented every year if manufacturers were more prepared to install ESC throughout their ranges. The Berkshire-based organisation claims ESC costs just £50 to make and yet is omitted from 60% of cars on British roads.
Around 90% of Swedish cars and 60% of German cars have ESC as standard, and only Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Lexus, Porsche and Volvo fit ESC as standard to all their models. Five manufacturers – Chevrolet, Daihatsu, Lotus, Proton and Suzuki – do not use it at all, even as an option.
ESC works by taking control of different wheels automatically as soon as traction is lost between rubber and road, adding or taking away power where necessary. It is specifically designed to allow drivers to avoid losing control and spinning their vehicles.
A Thatcham spokesman said: “This is a shocking state of affairs. British motorists, their passengers and other road users deserve the very best. Do manufacturers think that their lives are less valuable?"
“This is collision avoidance technology – the data is irrefutable. Pressure must be brought to bear to make ESC as commonplace as ABS or airbags. ESC doesn't just help during a crash like an airbag – it helps prevent the accident happening in the first place.”
Every car on sale in the UK that has a version of ESC fitted – with the exception of the smart fortwo – has a switch that allows the driver to disengage the aid.


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Google faces one billion dollars in damages in trade-secret lawsuit
LimitNone, a small software-development company, is seeking nearly $1 billion (£508m) in damages in a lawsuit that accuses Google of reneging on a partnership with the company and misappropriating its trade secrets for the Google Apps online service.
Specifically, the suit concerns LimitNone software called gMove that is designed to let people move email, contacts and calendar information stored in Microsoft Outlook to Google’s online service.
The lawsuit states Google initially helped LimitNone develop, promote and sell the product, assuring LimitNone that it wouldn’t offer a competing product, but then reversed course by giving away its own tool, Google Email Uploader, to premier-level Google Apps customers.
“With gMove priced at $19 per copy and Google’s prediction that there were potentially 50 million users, Google deprived LimitNone of a $950m opportunity by offering Google’s competitive product for free as a part of its ‘premier’ Google Apps package,” the lawsuit, filed on Monday in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois, states.
Source: ZDNet News
LimitNone had shared confidential technical and sales-forecast details with Google, the lawsuit said.
“Without Google’s knowledge and use of the gMove trade secrets and confidential information, Google would not have been able to solve its long-standing Microsoft Outlook-to-Gmail conversion problem,” the lawsuit said. “At a minimum, Google’s access to the internal workings of gMove allowed it to gain a significant head start on designing the inner workings for a competing application.”
Google’s product “copied gMove’s look, feel, functionality and distribution model, including several unique and proprietary operations”, the suit claims. The suit adds that, in May 2008, Google changed its user interface, breaking gMove compatibility and forcing the company to provide customer refunds.
The complaint alleges Google misappropriated trade secrets from LimitNone and violated fraud law by inducing LimitNone to share confidential information that Google used to develop its competing product.
Google did not immediately comment for this story.


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Galileo powers Fintech Pomelo’s ‘Remit Now, Pay Later’ credit card to increase financial access
Pomelo will use Galileo’s flexible API-enabled platform for a first-of-its-kind combined credit and US-based international money transfer service
SALT LAKE CITY, November 17, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Galileo Financial Technologies, LLC, a leading financial technology company owned and operated independently of SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI), today announced that its API-enabled financial technology powers Pomelo, a new charge card which allows US families to build and expand their credit access abroad without incurring expensive transfer fees.
According to the World Bank, remittances to low- and middle-income countries will reach $630 billion by 2022. Despite a 4.2% increase from 2021, international remittances continue to impose expensive transfer fees and exchange rate mark-ups on senders. Pomelo, launched to combat this challenge, is the first option that allows families to combine credit with money transfer to make it easier to offer credit to friends and family abroad. This added flexibility and accessibility not only expands financial inclusion for members of underserved communities who need it most – it also helps new Americans establish and strengthen their credit profile as they begin their financial journey in the United States. Pomelo chose Galileo and its payment processing solution to deliver secure, fast, accurate, resilient and PCI compliant authorization, reconciliation and settlement processing.
“We set out to reimagine traditional international money transfers so that our customers and their loved ones in emerging economies can benefit from access to modern financial instruments,” said Eric Velasquez Frenkiel, founder and CEO of Pomelo. “We have made this possible through Galileo’s API technology and deep industry knowledge in delivering inclusive digital financial services that create seamless customer payment experiences.”
Galileo’s speed, precision and reliability – from authorization to settlement – will support Pomelo’s ability to authorize requests quickly, ensure postal accuracy and allow customers to move money and settle funds seamlessly across all ecosystem partners. In addition to immediate access to funds, the newly expanded Galileo Payment Risk Platform will deliver powerful end-to-end fraud and risk management and chargeback protection, supporting provisioning/onboarding to protect clients against a range of payment fraud.
“We are proud to partner with forward-thinking companies like Pomelo who share in our mission to help people build a better financial future,” said Derek White, CEO of Galileo. “Through our partnership, Galileo will support Pomelo’s rapid growth by powering its financial solutions with differentiation, automation, readiness and extensibility to create better connected ecosystems while innovating remittances through inclusive credit solutions.”
Pomelo currently allows cardholders to send money from the US to the Philippines, with India and Mexico planned next, along with plans for further international expansion.
For more information about Galileo’s platform and powerful APIs, visit www.galileo-ft.com.
About Galileo Financial Technologies
Galileo is a leading financial technology company whose platform, open API technology and proven expertise enable fintechs, emerging and established brands to create differentiated financial solutions that expand the financial frontier. Galileo takes the complexity out of payments and finance innovation by providing flexible, open API building blocks and a secure, scalable, future-proof platform. Trusted by digital banking heavyweights, early-stage innovators and enterprise customers, Galileo supports physical and virtual payment card issuance, mobile push delivery and more, across industries and geographies. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Galileo has offices in Mexico City, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle.
The Pomelo Mastercard is issued by Coastal Community Bank, under a license from Mastercard International, and has a mobile app available on both Android and iOS. US citizens and permanent residents 18 and older can apply for the Pomelo Mastercard and invite loved ones abroad to join their family plan. Pomelo sends loved ones a virtual card instantly and a physical card via courier, making it easy to shop online and swipe at the checkout instead of handling cash. To learn more, visit www.pomelo.com.
See the source version at businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221117005090/en/
The Fletcher Group


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With less than 100 days left until the holiday event of the year, we think it’s acceptable to get a little excited. And we’re not alone. All across the country, hospitality and leisure businesses are booking dinners, organising events and readying the mince pies for the rush of the final quarter.
As fun as putting up decorations and organising playlists can be, we’re sure you’ve experienced an increase in calls, queues and queries as people begin their Christmas shopping. For businesses without an automated system to take care of their deals, it’s beginning to look a lot like chaos.


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Huawei has announced the provision of repair services with the delivery of their tablet computers and smartphones, and the devices Honor. Now the owners of gadgets will not be necessary to visit the service centers.
To use the new service, they must apply on the official web-site of the authorized Huawei STS. According to a press release, the shipping cost with the return for residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg will be 500 rubles, and for other regions of the country — 700 rubles.
After implementation specialists, diagnostics, user will be notified of the cost of repairs via SMS. To pay for the service the client remotely. Fix gadget takes approximately five days, including shipping from the user in SC and back.
The new service enables residents of Russia’s regions, which are not authorized STS Huawei, to use the official service Chinese company. The warranty period is 3 months.


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BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s powerful auto industry and the engineering union IG Metall jointly urged Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday to offer speedy and decisive support for the sector, which is suffering from a collapse in global demand.
In an open letter to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the VDA auto association and IG Metall called for a quick agreement on car tax relief based on vehicles’ CO2 emissions.
In addition, a “strong market impulse” is needed to boost short-term demand, the letter said. It left open exactly what kind of support the sector was looking for.
The government has said help for the auto sector will play an important role in its planned second package of stimulus measures for the German economy which it is expected to unveil during January.
The carmakers and union want the new car tax rules to come into force next July.
“This is a decisive step to stabilise the market and to give consumers confidence,” the letter said, adding if no measures are agreed in coming weeks, demand could collapse further and hit jobs in the sector.
Germany’s auto industry accounts for roughly 20 percent of jobs in Europe’s biggest economy and cars and car parts made up a fifth of German exports last year.
The government has already passed measures to temporarily exempt new cars from tax but is still working on measures to tax cars according to their emissions.
Some politicians have also called for incentives to be granted to consumers who scrap their old cars.
In addition, said the letter, it is important to guarantee the refinancing of the auto industry through direct access to favourable credit or guarantees.
Among the bosses who signed the letter were Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche, Volkswagen Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn and Audi chief Rupert Stadler.
Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by David Cowell


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Summer’s starting early this year. In Hollywood, at least, summer begins with the release of the first big blockbuster hopeful. Thor, due May 6, will be followed by countless other “event” movies, big-budget action flicks and a record number of sequels. The summer box office will no doubt be dominated by the likes of the […]
The pop star wore a dress made of meat to the white carpet.


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Brian Armstrong, Co-Founder and CEO of US-based cryptocurrency alternate Coinbase, says one red-hot altcoin signifies the speedy development of the crypto trade into different sectors of the economic system.
In a latest tweet, Armstrong shared a Coinbase blog post on Twitter profiling the “thoughts blowing” development of Axie Infinity (AXS), which he says parallels the expansion of the crypto house into new industries.
In line with Coinbase’s report, NFT-based sport Axie Infinity is second solely to Ethereum within the quantity of income earned over the previous 30 days ($186mln vs $742mln).
The report claims Axie, along with producing an enormous quantity of wealth in a brief span, has launched a brand new class of customers to crypto functions:
As these 1 million customers interface with cryptocurrencies, NFTs, digital wallets, and DEXs [decentralized exchanges], it’s not arduous to see this new cohort as pure customers of different DeFi and Web3 functions.
The submit compares the gamification of Axie Infinity to Pokémon, permitting customers to gather varied “Axies” and pit them in battles in opposition to different gamers. Customers can breed Axies and commerce them to different gamers, with income from the swaps going to the Axie Infinity Treasury, which holds greater than $600 million in funds.
Coinbase highlighted how the sport has managed to develop its personal digital economic system, with in-game parallels to the Federal Reserve:
If Axie Infinity is its personal digital nation, sport developer Sky Mavis serves as its Federal Reserve. The place the Fed has varied instruments it makes use of to affect the economic system, Sky Mavis can regulate the SLP issuance fee and breeding charges with the goal of retaining the Axie economic system wholesome.
Coinbase additionally famous that the event of DeFi, NFTs, and gaming has elevated crypto past speculative buying and selling right into a “universe of expressive new apps and fashions.”
The views and opinions expressed by the creator, or any individuals talked about on this article, are for informational functions solely, and they don’t represent monetary, funding, or different recommendation. Investing in or buying and selling cryptoassets comes with a danger of economic loss.


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The Food and Drug Administration is expected to find that caffeine is an unsafe food additive to alcoholic drinks, essentially banning them, and manufacturers will then be warned that marketing caffeinated alcoholic beverages could be illegal.
The FDA ruling, which could come as soon as this week, “should be the nail in the coffin of these dangerous and toxic drinks,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who has pushed the Obama administration to ban the beverages, said Tuesday. Federal regulators would not confirm Schumer’s announcement that a ban was imminent.
While there is little known medical evidence that the drinks are less safe than other alcoholic drinks, public health advocates say the drinks can make people feel more alert and able to handle tasks like driving. A Wake Forest University study found that students who combine caffeine and alcohol are more likely to suffer alcohol-related injuries than those drinking alcohol without caffeine.
College students have been hospitalized after drinking the beverages, including the popular Four Loko. That beverage comes in several varieties, including fruit punch and blue raspberry. A 23.5-ounce can sells for about $2.50 and has an alcohol content of 12 percent, comparable to four beers, according to the company’s website.
Four states – Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma – have banned the beverages and other states are considering similar action. Police in Mesa, Ariz., said an “extremely intoxicated” teenager smashed her SUV into a tree Sunday morning after reportedly playing “beer pong” with Four Loko.
Last year the FDA notified more than two dozen manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages that it had never specifically approved the addition of caffeine to alcoholic drinks and began studying whether it is unsafe and should be outlawed. The agency noted the mix’s growing popularity among college students and its potential health and safety issues.
The FDA said then it had not reached a conclusion about its safety but cited concerns from state attorneys general from several states who contended the drinks appeal to underage drinkers and encourage reckless behavior.
FDA spokeswoman Siobhan DeLancey would not confirm any upcoming action but said the agency recognizes “this very important public health issue” and will announce the results of its review when it is complete. The Federal Trade Commission, which would deal with marketing issues, declined to comment.


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The increasing difficulties faced by the Syrian government to import and subsidize oil products is leading to a rapid liberalization of this sector and to the end of the state monopoly that dates back to the arrival to power of the Baath Party in the 1960s.
Three and a half years after the beginning of the uprising, the challenges faced by the government in the oil industry include: low budget revenues; the devaluation of the Syrian pound relative to the dollar, which increases the cost of imports and the differential between the buying and selling prices of subsidised oil products; Western sanctions on the transport of petroleum products to Syria; and the end of the Iranian credit line that funded most oil imports in the last year.
As a consequence, since the beginning of October, the government has taken several measures to liberalize the oil sector.
In early October, it allowed the private sector to import and distribute mazout and fuel on the condition that they were sold exclusively to industrialists. Until then, the import of these products was the monopoly of Mahrukat, a company affiliated to the Ministry of Petroleum. The decision was justified by the need to ensure a regular supply of oil products to the industrial sector in order to end production stoppages in many factories.
Then, later that month, the government raised the price of these two products to their levels in world markets, ending, in practice, subsidies for the industrial sector – subsidies for households and other business sectors remained.
With the increase of prices and the authorization granted to the private sector to import, the oil market for the industrial sector is now almost completely liberalized. “Almost” because some restrictions remain. Before importing, traders need to obtain licenses from the Central Bank of Syria, from Mahrukat and from the directorate of industry in the governorate where they are based. These licenses are a means of selecting traders that will be allowed to import and, therefore, to favour regime cronies.
Then, in late November, Al-Watan, a well-connected daily, said that the Government was encouraging private investors to import crude oil, to refine it in one of the country’s two refineries of Banias or Homs and to sell it back in the local market or for export. It is not yet clear how the prices would be set or if the oil could only be sold to industrialists. The government would be paid by these investors either in cash or through the supply of some of the refined products.
Given the cost and the logistics required for this type of operations, only investors close to the regime, who can receive guarantees from the government that they will not face bureaucratic and other obstacles might be interested.
Although the Government retains a very important role in the oil industry, its growing reliance on the private sector is a reflection of the weakening of the Syrian State. For decades, control over the energy sector was perceived as a guarantee of national independence, as a means to encourage the development of a powerful industrial sector, and, through subsidies, as part of a policy to ensure social justice.
All of this is now crumbling, bit by bit, as the State relies more and more on regime cronies to support it.


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Introducing a New Offering: Bridging the Gap
Introducing a New Offering: Bridging the Gap between Enterprise and Single-User Solutions
In an effort to cater to a wider customer base, Storage-Switzerland.com is excited to announce the launch of a new offering that aims to fill the void between their Enterprise and single-user solutions. This move comes as a response to the increasing demand for a middle-ground option that balances scalability and affordability.
With this new offering, users can expect a range of features and benefits that are not available in the existing products. Storage-Switzerland.com has taken into consideration customer feedback and market trends to develop a solution that meets the unique requirements of businesses of all sizes.
The Benefits of the New Offering
1. Scalability: As businesses grow and their storage needs increase, it is essential to have a solution that can scale accordingly. The new offering provides flexible scalability options, allowing organizations to expand their storage capacity without extensive investments or disruptions.
2. Cost-Effective: While Enterprise solutions offer robust features, they often come with a hefty price tag that can be challenging for smaller businesses to justify. On the other hand, single-user solutions may lack the necessary capabilities required by larger organizations. The new offering strikes a balance between functionality and affordability, making it an attractive choice for businesses looking for a cost-effective storage solution.
3. Enhanced Security: Protecting sensitive data is a top priority for businesses of all sizes. The new offering incorporates advanced security measures to ensure that data remains private and secure from potential threats. With built-in encryption and access control, businesses can have peace of mind knowing their information is protected.
4. Streamlined Management: Managing storage infrastructure should not be complicated. The new offering includes an intuitive management interface that simplifies the administration process. With user-friendly features and robust performance monitoring capabilities, businesses can easily manage their storage resources without the need for specialized IT expertise.
The Target Audience
The new offering caters to a wide range of customers, including:
- Small and medium-sized businesses looking for a scalable and affordable storage solution that can grow with their needs
- Large enterprises seeking a cost-effective alternative to their existing solutions without compromising on functionality
- Startups and growing businesses that require a flexible storage option to support their expanding operations
By targeting this diverse customer base, Storage-Switzerland.com aims to provide a solution that meets the needs of organizations at different stages of growth and with varying budget constraints.
Storage-Switzerland.com’s new offering fills a crucial gap in the market, providing a solution that bridges the divide between Enterprise and single-user storage solutions. With its scalable nature, cost-effectiveness, enhanced security, and streamlined management, this new offering is poised to become the go-to storage solution for businesses of all sizes. Whether you are a small startup or a large enterprise, this offering has what it takes to meet your storage needs effectively and efficiently.


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Wegmans Focuses on Sustainable Packaging
Just in time for Earth Day, Wegmans Food Markets announced a new emphasis on sustainable packaging, which will reduce the amount of virgin materials – new plastic or paper made from non-renewable fossil fuels – and replace it with mineral fibers, and renewable and recycled materials. The Rochester, N.Y.-based chain also is committed to avoiding excess packaging and removing BPA and other potentially harmful materials, like polystyrene and PVC, where possible and where alternatives exist.
“It’s always important to remember that a food container’s number one job is to protect the food inside. It takes resources to grow that food, and fuel to bring it from the farm to the store, so we want to preserve nature’s investment in this food with containers that protect it all the way to your table,” said Jason Wadsworth, manager of sustainability for Wegmans. “Our job is to make sure packaging is functional, performs as expected, and uses materials efficiently and responsibly. That leaves plenty of opportunity for exploring ways to make packaging more sustainable.”
The company has been committed to sustainability for several years, and since 2015, it has saved more than 6 million pounds of virgin plastic resin by using mineral fibers, renewable materials and adding recycled material into its packaging. The goal for this year is to reduce another half million pounds of packaging materials. Wadsworth noted that the changes may not always be easy for customers to see, but Wegmans’ 92 stores have introduced several of the more sustainable packages this spring.
Packaging innovations using recycled content:
- Wegmans’ front-end plastic bags contain 40 percent post-consumer recycled content, all of which is generated by customers returning their plastic bags to the store. In 2016, Wegmans’ recycling rate for plastic bags averaged around 50 percent.
- Various plastic trays and containers are made from recycled plastic, such as our fresh-cut veggie trays, made from 50 percent recycled plastic material.
- The paper “boats” used for product samples and the donut and cake boxes contain 100 percent recycled content.
Packaging innovations using less plastic:
- Wegmans recently introduced a new produce bag made from 100 percent plant-based renewable materials, not fossil fuels. During the manufacturing process, the use of plant-based materials means less CO2 is emitted, and unlike other renewable plastics, the new produce bags can be recycled in the same way as traditional plastic bags, by placing them in the plastic recycling depositories located in the vestibules of each Wegmans.
- Wegmans Organic Beef vacuum-sealed packaging is currently made from 50 percent plant-based renewable material, not fossil fuels and will be going to 70 percent plant-based this year.
- By switching to a bag from the plastic domes, each rotisserie chicken pouch uses 75 percent less plastic. In addition to being better for the environment, the bags offer an easy-carry handle, re-sealable zipper, and are leak resistant, microwave safe, and easy to store.
- In the Market Café, the self-serve food bar containers use 40 percent less plastic, as do the Choose Your Meal and pre-packaged Asian bowl containers in prepared foods.


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Bring your own mug and get 50p off your coffee: Starbucks offers discount in victory for campaign to slash paper cup waste
- 2.5billion disposable cups dumped in landfill or incinerated per year in UK
- Coffee shops use misleading symbols to suggest their cups are recycled
- Costa - Britain's biggest coffee chain - accused of a 'cynical greenwash'
- Scandal has been highlighted by chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Starbucks is to offer customers who bring their own cups a 50p discount in a major victory for the campaign against litter and waste caused by coffee shops.
The US firm has responded to concerns that as many as 2.5billion disposable cups are dumped in landfill or incinerated each year in Britain.
The Daily Mail this week exposed how coffee shops use misleading green symbols to suggest their takeaway cups are recycled, when the vast majority are not.
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Starbucks is to offer customers who bring their own cups a 50p discount in a major victory for the campaign against litter and waste caused by coffee shops
We also revealed how Costa, Britain’s biggest coffee chain, is being accused of a ‘cynical greenwash’ by telling customers its cups can be recycled alongside ordinary paper waste. It refused to change its stance despite a specialist recycling firm vehemently denying this was the case.
The latest waste-curbing move by Starbucks will heap pressure on its rivals, including Costa, to follow suit.
Despite the green claims of the coffee shops, just one in every 400 of the cups they hand out are sent for recycling.
The cups, some of which are made from trees that are 80 years old, have a useful life of just 30 minutes before being dumped. The failure of the chains to tackle the resulting tidal wave of litter and waste has been condemned by customers and environmental groups.
On Thursday, Environment Minister Rory Stewart even suggested imposing a ‘coffee cup tax’ to force Costa, Starbucks, Caffe Nero, Pret a Manger, McDonald’s and others to take action.
However, he was immediately slapped down by his own department, which insisted there were ‘no plans’ to introduce such a levy.
The scandal of the failure to collect and recycle coffee cups – which are estimated to cost less than 16p to make – has been highlighted by the chef and anti-waste campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
The scandal of the failure to collect and recycle coffee cups – which are estimated to cost less than 16p to make – has been highlighted by the chef and anti-waste campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (pictured)
He described Starbucks’s move to give a 50p discount to those who don’t require a paper cup – initially in a two-month trial starting in April – as a ‘seismic leap’.
Those who bring their own cup will see the price of medium-sized lattes and cappuccinos, both of which normally cost £2.70, reduced to £2.20.
Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said: ‘I asked them if this covers any cup at all – a mug from home, an eco-cup, a collapsible cup – and they confirmed it will be any cup at all.’
Details of the commitment emerged in an interview between the campaigner and company executives for a forthcoming episode of BBC documentary series Hugh’s War on Waste.
Starbucks already offers a 25p discount to customers who bring their own cup, however it is not publicised and most know nothing about it. The chain has agreed to mount a major publicity drive around the 50p discount, and expects around five per cent of customers to take advantage of the offer.
Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall suggested that once Starbucks offers the incentive as a trial, the company will find it very difficult not to make it permanent.
Those who bring their own cup to Starbucks will see the price of medium-sized lattes and cappuccinos, both of which normally cost £2.70, reduced to £2.20. The only drink not eligible will be the shop’s filter coffee, which costs £1
But he said the chain still has a lot to do to ensure the many millions of throwaway cups it gives out can be easily recycled.
Cups issued by all the major chains include a plastic film coating, which means they cannot be recycled in normal council waste paper systems. Instead, they have to be sent to specialist plants – one in Cumbria and ageornother in Halifax – which currently deal with a tiny fraction of all cups used.
Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said Starbucks was looking at other measures to tackle the issue, adding: ‘They say they want to find a solution and they are talking to their waste disposal people.
‘They have said they will look at the cup itself to see if they can find an improved cup.’
The company’s UK vice president for licensed operations, Rhys Iley, said: ‘Starbucks is committed to increasing recycling rates and reusable cups are a key part of our overall waste reduction strategy. In response to Hugh’s campaign, from April 1 for two months we’ll be trialing an increase in the discount of our reusable cup incentive to 50p for every drink purchased.’
The only drink not eligible will be the shop’s filter coffee, which costs £1.
Costa does allow customers to bring their own cups – but this is not publicised and there is no price incentive. A spokesman said: ‘We offer our own reusable cups but will be happy to serve customers who bring in their own’
Costa does allow customers to bring their own cups – but this is not publicised and there is no price incentive. A spokesman said: ‘We offer our own reusable cups but will be happy to serve customers who bring in their own.’
Pret a Manger also allows reusable cups, provided they fit on its coffee machines. It said: ‘The issue of waste is of great importance to Pret and we welcome customers who bring their own reusable cups.’ But exact policies vary between chains. Pret says reusable cups must be brought in with a lid, which the customer must attach themselves. At Costa, the cup must be clean and have a lid. Starbucks simply requires any clean cup.
Campaign group Friends of the Earth praised the Daily Mail for highlighting the issue of coffee cup waste. Head of science, policy and research Mike Childs said: ‘It’s great that common sense has prevailed and congratulations to the Mail for encouraging these companies to make the changes.
‘Let’s hope the whole of the UK can recycle its coffee cups soon and we can have our coffee in the morning without having to worry about where the rubbish will end up.’
Veolia, which handles waste for many councils, said it was looking at building a new plant to recycle 20,000 tonnes of the cups a year.
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The famous India Connect @ NTU Visiting Research Fellowship Programme at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) has awarded two postgraduate students of the two-year full-time MBA programme at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) with fellowships. Mohit Goyal and Nuhad Bardai, the students, will conduct research projects at NTU under the direction of their respective faculty advisors, Prof. S Viswanathan and Prof. Vivek Choudhary.
The chosen students will work on their assigned projects on-site, full-time, as part of the programme at the NTU campus. Regular progress reports must be submitted to their faculty supervisors as well. However, according to institute regulations, virtual fellowships are not permitted. With the India Connect @ NTU Visiting Research Fellowship Programme, students will have the chance to conduct research on the NTU campus and interact with other foreign scholars.
The TCI-IIMB Supply Chain Sustainability Lab (TCI-IIMB SCSL), a new sustainability lab devoted to the field of Supply Chain Management, is also being introduced by IIMB. On April 28, the lab will be officially opened. It is being established in collaboration with the Transport Corporation of India (TCI). The TCI-IIMB SCSL will concentrate on research concerning sustainable supply chain procedures and aim to create creative answers to problems faced by enterprises in this area.
The relationship between IIMB and TCI aims to close the knowledge gap between academics and business while advancing ethical supply chain practises. The TCI-IIMB SCSL will also give students, academics, and business leaders a forum for interaction and collaboration as they work to build a more sustainable future. The lab is anticipated to be a key player in determining the direction of the supply chain sector in India and abroad.