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Hawaii Recovery not Until 2012 or Later, CEO Survey Indicates
(page 2 of 6)
Bernie Coleman, president,
Close to 55 percent of survey respondents say their company’s revenues declined; only 15 percent reported an increase.
One of the lucky few was Justin Britt, of Kauai, founder of Web-based Hawaii Life Real Estate. He says revenue grew because his company could take advantage of the Internet and the downturn.
“The recession was the thing that allowed us to compete,” says Britt, who says his Web site now reaches 50,000 potential buyers worldwide every month, and has led to a flurry of sales, though prices were lower than a few years ago. “I love this recession. … When it’s over we will not be able to grow our market share as quickly.”
Pacific Allied Products Ltd., which makes everything from plastic water bottles to Styrofoam coolers to foam roofing insulation, is a perfect example of how tourism’s woes sliced deeply into the whole state economy.
President Bernie Coleman said that with fewer tourists, fewer bottled soda drinks were being consumed, so he sold fewer bottles. That meant he was making fewer products, buying less merchandise and didn’t need as many workers. As his revenues dipped from $17 million a year ago to $13 million this year, Coleman had to lay off 26 people – almost a third of his workforce.
“When tourism’s down, the trickle-down effect hits so many areas that people don’t understand,” says Coleman. “We don’t ship as much, truck as much, we cut back from working 24-7 to 24-5 so we don’t use the electricity or even as much shrink-wrap.”
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If you want to purchase Nintendo’s hot new Switch console, you have two options right now. First, you can head to Amazon and pay a premium to have one shipped to your door in two days. This is the only way to guarantee that you get a Nintendo Switch in your hands without jumping through hoops. The other option is to constantly check in with your local brick and mortar retailers like GameStop and Target, which have been getting shipments more frequently of late. Of course, you’ll still have to battle all the other people who rush out to stores each time news of new Switch shipments emerges.
The good news is that Nintendo appears to be making good on its promise, and Switch stock is being refreshed at stores quicker now than it was even a month ago. And the better news is that Nintendo says it isn’t done ramping up production, and it plans to kick things into high gear ahead of the holidays.
In a report that not-so-subtly suggests multiple times that Nintendo is intentionally limiting the number of Switch consoles it ships in order to manufacture additional hype, The Wall Street Journal relays news that Nintendo is doing everything it can to further increase production ahead of the holiday shopping season.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure everyone who wants to buy a Nintendo Switch system can do so,” a Nintendo spokesperson said in a statement to WSJ. “We will ramp up production for the holiday period, which has been factored into our forecast.”
That forecast, mind you, is still for 10 million units during the Switch’s first year of sales. Meanwhile, The Journal says “people involved in the supply chain say they have been told to prepare for 18 million units.” With Apple’s iPhone 8 and two more iPhone models now being mass-produced, Nintendo has to fight for space in factories where nearly all attention has turned to Apple. If it can manage to ramp up production to get anywhere near the 18 million unit mark, it will be a truly impressive feat.
Nintendo shares have climbed more than 50% since the release of the Switch back in March, but the holiday season will be a true test for the reinvigorated Japanese gaming giant.

domain: news


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Zensar starts operations in Mexico
News | 5 Apr 2019
Pune: Digital solutions and technology firm Zensar announced that it has started operations in Mexico City, marking its expansion into the Latin America market. The LatAm operations will support the company’s customers in North America and the local region.
Sandeep Kishore, Chief Executive Officer, Zensar said, “Mexico is a strategic choice for us due to its proximity to our key customers based in the US and the availability of local talent. We are committed to investing in geographies that add to our global business growth and customer convenience.”
The current team of approximately 50 local recruits will be working on a hi-tech manufacturing customer based in North America. Additionally, Zensar will be also serving local customers in the retail domain. The expansion plans include addition of more local hires subsequently and possible tie-ups with local educational institutions.
Venky Ramanan, head, hi-tech and manufacturing, Zensar said, “Our Mexico operations will support some of our key customers in North America and Mexico across varied digital technologies NSE -0.55 %. There will be focus on investing in local talent and developing them to build capabilities that will bring value to our customers.”
Zensar said that it considers Mexico a critical hub for growth expansion of its North American operations. The geographical distance, time-zone convenience with North America, English speaking local talent, ease of doing business and operational efficiencies are all factors which contributed to this expansion. Additionally, the open trade policy (NAFTA), investment by Fortune 500 companies in the country, evolving legal frameworks for business operations make it an important part of the company’s global growth and expansion objectives.


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NORWICH – This week downtown Norwich’s favorite ice cream parlor has gone to the dogs. Literally. Now through Saturday is SPCA Week at Ives Cream, 10 South Broad St. in Norwich.
According to owner Alex Ives, the event is designed to raise awareness for the animal shelter. “Most of us don’t realize the condition some of these pets come from,” he explained.
Pictures of animals awaiting adoption at the shelter are on every table in the South Broad Street ice cream parlor, and plenty of information about the non-profit agency is readily available.
The event will also raise money for the SPCA, with all tips from the week being donated to the organization. SPCA T-shirts will be available for sale throughout the week and Ives Cream is also accepting donations of “wish list” items on behalf of the shelter. Those items include dog and cat toys and chews and supplies such as clay cat litter, paper towels, beach and garbage bags. Copies of the wish list are available at the ice cream parlor.


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Grantham customers can now buy advance rail tickets on the day from Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains East Coast has announced its customers can now buy advance rail tickets on the day of travel.
The company says this means its customers can take advantage of cheaper tickets and reserve seats just hours before travel.
Previously, advance fares have only been available to buy up to the day before travel. But now customers travelling on the east coast between Grantham and London can now make an average saving of one third (35 per cent) on journeys compared to the cost of the walk-up fare (anytime or off-peak single/return) by buying an advance ticket on the day, subject to availability.
These fares can be bought through all retail channels including the Virgin Trains website, ticket machines and at station travel centres on the day of travel.
For example, customers buying a single walk-up fare (anytime or off-peak single) to travel between London and Grantham currently pay on average £54.80. With the new advance fares, customers could be paying an average of £27.86, a saving of nearly 50 per cent.
Virgin Trains has been leading the way in tackling fare complexity and ensuring a better deal for customers. The train operator confirmed earlier this year that it is participating in a single-leg pricing trial with the Government which will consider alternative ways to guarantee customers simpler fares.
Jonny Wiseman, general manager for the South on the East Coast, said: “This is great news for many thousands of customers travelling to and from Grantham who will be able to take advantage of big savings on the day of travel. Virgin Trains has always positioned itself on the side of customers and we have a strong record of innovating for the benefit of rail passengers.
“Customers who can buy tickets well in advance will continue to benefit from the very cheapest fares, with booking now available six months ahead. However, we know that’s not possible for everyone on every journey which is why customers can now purchase advance fares on the day of travel and save money as well as reserve a seat.”


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LAS VEGAS — Lubrizol Corp. has found new applications for its chlorinated PVC products, pushing its multilayer bendable pipes for water-service lines and its fire sprinkler systems in retrofit applications.
Lubrizol's Flowguard bendable pipes can be run like the coiled copper pipe typically used in water service lines, but the CVPC pipes have several advantages over their metal counterparts, said Mark Lemire, a piping system consultant at Lubrizol's TempRite Engineered Polymers business.
Copper pipes can break down during use, damage easily, and can kink, Lemire said in an interview at the International Builders Show, held Jan. 22-24 in Las Vegas.
The bendable, three-layer pipes — made of aluminum surrounded by CPVC — have great impact resistance and flexibility and can be bent without breaking, he said.
The company's Blazemaster fire sprinkler system is another example of using plastic in an area typically cornered by metal.
"We're much better off than steel in fire sprinklers because of our ability to offer owner-occupancy advantages," said Gary Johnson, fire protection business manager for TempRite.
Typically, when an apartment building or hotel needs a new sprinkler system, the owner will have to close entire sections at a time because running steel pipes requires cutting huge holes in the walls, he said.
When working with CPVC pipes, construction can be done room-by-room; the pipes can bend and the project requires less repair work, he said.
"It's very light, very clean … you can keep it all in one room and the owner can continue to rent that floor," he added.
That allows building owners to save money. "It's a huge benefit," he said.
Metal is continuing to lose market share to CPVC products, but using the material in construction projects requires builders to avoid chemical incompatibility, Lemire said.
Lubrizol promotes a compatibility program as a way to ensure that engineers, architects and everyone else involved in the building project know what materials they can use, he said.
Builders can use the program to check the compatibility of complementary products, like leak detectors and thread sealants, with Lubrizol CPVC products. Complementary products also carry a logo so they can be easily identified.
"This protects people. We don't want any premature failures," Lemire said.
The company launched a Lubrizol CVPC iPad app at the show that includes a compatible product finder tool, as well as information about the firm's products.


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Regulars here would remember that we recently posted spy pics of a Chevrolet Enjoy test mule being tested in Pune. The Chevrolet Enjoy MPV will be produced at GM India’s Halol plant in Gujarat. And will be battle it out against the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Nissan Evalia. The Enjoy was first seen in India at the New Delhi Auto Expo last year and we were the very first to report that the car will be launched as soon as in April this year. Today we have got to know that Enjoy will be launched with a starting price of INR 7.2 lakhs (ex showroom, Mumbai).
The Enjoy has been developed by SAIC- GM’s partner in China
The Chevrolet Enjoy MPV is a genuine seven seater and will battle it out against the very popular Maruti Suzuki Ertiga when it is launched in our car market.
Helping GM India with pricing the Enjoy very competitively will be a high level of localization that GM India has managed to achieve. Powering the Chevrolet Enjoy will be the same 1.3 Liter multijet turbo diesel engine that powers the Ertiga. It may be noted that the same engine also powers the Dzire and the Sail and GM India has managed to do a good job with tuning the Multijet very well for their sedan.
Unlike the Ertiga, which also has a 1.4 litres petrol variant, the Enjoy won’t get a petrol engine. This should not really affect the sales of the upcoming MPV as the demand for petrol powered MPVs is next to non-existent in Indian car market.


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UK inflation rises to 1.5%
The UK inflation rate jumped to 1.5% in the 12 months ending in April amid rising household bills, clothing prices and fuel costs.
It comes after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit 0.7% in March.
At the same time, inflation rose to 0.4% in February and 0.7% in January.
On a monthly basis, inflation rose 0.6% in April 2021, after rising 0.3% in March.
The rise in inflation comes as pubs, gyms, salons and non-essential stores opened for the first time in months on April 12 after the lockdown.
The hospitality industry then reopened for indoor dining on Monday, May 17.
How inflation affects your finances
INFLATION is a measure of the cost of living.
It examines how much the price of goods, such as food or television, and services, such as haircuts or train tickets, has changed over time.
Usually people measure inflation by comparing the cost of things today to their cost a year ago. The average price increase is known as the inflation rate.
The government sets an inflation target of 2%.
If inflation is too high or changing a lot, the Bank of England says it is difficult for businesses to set the right prices and for people to plan their spending.
High inflation rates also mean people have to spend more, while savings risk eroding as the cost of goods exceeds the interest we earn.
Low inflation, on the other hand, means lower prices and a greater likelihood that interest rates on savings will beat the rate of inflation.
But if inflation is too low, some people may postpone spending because they expect prices to fall. And if everyone cut back on spending, businesses could go bankrupt and people could lose their jobs.
Check out our UK inflation guide and is our inflation low? guide for more information.
The inflation surge also occurred when energy prices rose sharply, when the price cap for default tariffs was raised from April 1.
While rising oil prices have driven fuel inflation to its fastest pace in over four years.
Inflation is expected to rise this year as the UK and other countries around the world relax restrictions on coronaviruses.
The Bank of England forecast earlier this month that inflation will rise above its 2% target, to 2.4% in the last three months of 2021, largely due to prices of energy.
But Gov. Andrew Bailey has said he expects the spike to be temporary and inflation is expected to return to around 2% over the medium term.
ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner said: “Inflation rose in April, mainly due to the rise in prices this year from the drops seen at the start of the pandemic around the same time. ‘last year.
“This is most evident in household utility bills and clothing prices.
“As the price of crude oil continues to rise, this has spilled over into the cost of fuel, which is now at its highest since January 2020.”
While Steven Cameron, director of pensions at Aegon, added: “There is a growing realization that high inflation could be imminent, which reduces the purchasing power of individuals and what they could. buy with their savings over time.
“Keeping money in the bank usually earns interest, but if the interest rate is lower than inflation, money or purchasing power is effectively lost.
“With interest rates at historically low levels, dropping just above zero, any amount of inflation poses challenges for savers.”
And Ed Monk, associate director for personal investment at Fidelity International, said: “Inflation is now approaching the Bank of England’s 2% target and could jump beyond if demand hits. economy continues to grow in the coming months.
“The increase confirmed today appears to be driven both by pent-up consumer spending after more than a year of lockdown and by the return of more normal prices for fuels and other disrupted household utility costs. Last year.
“This confirms the fact that the savings that many households have been able to realize over the past year will be spent, contributing to a rapid recovery in overall growth.”
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We have explained how negative interest rates could affect your finances.
In February, the economy grew 0.4% despite the country’s lockdown.
Meanwhile, the job market has shown early signs of recovery, with unemployment falling to 4.8% between January and March of this year.


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Print and marketing communications company IVE Group, which listed on the ASX in December last year, has exceeded its prospectus forecasts for the 2016 fiscal year, more than doubling its profit and recording double-digit revenue growth.
In a statement to shareholders, IVE announced a pro-forma net profit of $20.9 million for the 12 months to 30 June 2016 – up 117.5 per cent on FY15 and 2.9 per cent more than the group’s prospectus forecast.
IVE also recorded 13.2 per cent growth in revenue to $382 million over the 12-month period – up 0.3 per cent from its prospectus forecast – while the group’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew 38.7 per cent to $42.8 million (up 0.8 per cent on its prospectus forecast).
Geoff Selig, executive chairman of IVE, said the company was pleased to have exceeded its prospectus forecasts.
“The business continues to execute effectively on our strategy of ongoing diversification and growth through expansion into complementary products and services,” he said.
“Our 13.2 per cent increase in pro-forma revenue over FY16 reflects continued organic growth, increased revenue from our existing customer base through an expanded service offering, and contributions from acquisitions.
“Earnings have also benefitted from our capital expenditure program and closely-managed cost base, which resulted in an expanded EBITDA margin.”
Selig said the company continued to execute its “disciplined” acquisition program, “with the bolt-on acquisition and integration of four businesses, together with the acquisition of two uniquely-positioned businesses that further expanded our product and service offering”.
“Our long-term relationships with customers provide opportunities to expand further the range of value-added products and services we offer them.”
IVE told shareholders that it will continue to pursue its strategy to diversify and grow, and will invest to refine its cost base and enhance its offering.
“Recent acquisitions will be integrated and the disciplined acquisition program will continue,” the statement said.
“The company is well positioned to grow revenue and EBITDA in FY2017.”


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Apple has posted a monster profit of $US11.6 billion ($A11.24 billion) for the first three months of the year, driven by robust demand for the iPhone in China as well as purchases of a new version of its blockbuster iPad tablet.
The result, which outstripped Wall Street estimates, boosted the company's shares more than 7 percent over the same period.
"We're thrilled with sales of over 35 million iPhones and almost 12 million iPads in the March quarter," said Apple chief executive Tim Cook.
"The new iPad is off to a great start, and across the year you're going to see a lot more of the kind of innovation that only Apple can deliver."
Revenue for the quarter ended March 31 was $US39.2 billion as sales of iPad more than doubled from the same quarter the previous year and iPhone sales surged 88 per cent, according to Apple.
Apple's net income for the quarter was nearly double that seen in the same three month period a year earlier, when sales tallied $US24.7 billion.
Dispelling iPhone fears
Shares of the world's most valuable technology corporation resumed their rally after a two-week decline. Apple sold 35.1 million iPhones - its flagship product which accounts for about half its revenue - in the March quarter, outpacing the 30 million or so expected by Wall Street analysts.
"International iPhone sales were on fire," Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer told Reuters in an interview, adding that sales of the smartphone in the Greater China region jumped five-fold from the previous year.
The strong results came after a 13 percent decline in Apple's share price over the past couple of weeks in unusually volatile trading. The stock had long been considered a must-have in most U.S. equity portfolios.
Results spur rally
"When you have a strong rally in a stock it often sells off for no better reason than uncertainty. I think you're going to see the naysayers go away," said Michael Yoshikami, CEO of YCMNet Advisors.
The Cupertino, California-based company released the third-generation of its market-ruling iPad tablet computer in March, meaning its blockbuster sales out-of-the-gate have only begun to pump up Apple's bottom line.
"Our record March quarter results drove $US14 billion in cash flow from operations," said Apple chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer.
"Looking ahead to the third fiscal quarter, we expect revenue of about $US34 billion and diluted earnings per share of about $US8.68."
Apple stock price reversed a losing trend for the day after release of the earnings figures, jumping more than seven per cent to $US602.20 a share on the Nasdaq exchange.


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Yahoo to focus on search -- and Google
CEO Mayer says Yahoo plans to invest in improving its search technology, while maintaining its Microsoft partnership
Computerworld - Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer says the company plans on a big comeback in the Internet search business, which means directly taking on industry giant Google.
Mayer, named CEO of a struggling Yahoo last July, faces a daunting double task of rehabilitating Yahoo's search business while taking on a company -- her former employer -- that has so far withstood all search adversaries, analysts say.
"If Yahoo is to be a powerhouse in search again, they need to do something bold and unique to steal some limelight from Google," said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst at ZK Research. "But I'm not sure they know [how]. I'm not saying they don't have a shot, but it's slim."
The CEO said Yahoo will focus building technology that can improve search results and on building the company's share of desktop and mobile device users.
Search, Yahoo Mail and the Yahoo homepage, are in the most need of work if Yahoo's goals are to be met, she added.
"There's a lot more potential here," Mayer said. "Overall, search is a key area of investment for us. All the innovations in search are going to happen at the user interface level going forward. We need to invest in those features, both for desktop and mobile [devices]. I think both ultimately will be key plays for us."
She did note that overhauling the Yahoo search business doesn't mean that the company must ditch its partnership with Microsoft.
At the time, analysts viewed the partnership as a joint effort to chip away at rival Google's broad search success. Three years later, Google remains dominant while Yahoo's market share has slipped.
Mayer, a high-profile executive at Google before leaving to lead Yahoo, still hopes the Microsoft partnership can help improve the company's share of the Internet search market.
"We're really excited and happy to work with Microsoft," she said. "Our teams are working incredibly well together. Overall we have a big investment we want to make and a big push in search. We've lost some share and want to regain that."
Analysts say the task will be a difficult one for Mayer and Yahoo.
"I think it's going to be difficult for Yahoo, even with Microsoft, to match Google," said Brad Shimmin, an analyst with Current Analysis. "The question is should they [try to] and can they compete with Google?"
Yahoo was at one time a very strong player in the search business. The problem for Yahoo is that those days are gone and Google is now the leader by a wide margin.
Kerravala noted that Yahoo would need a major slip up from Google to create an opening in the search business.
"Yahoo would have to see something that Google misses," he said. "Google is on top of search, that's been proven over the years." he added.
"Given [Yahoo's] history, I don't think she's thinking too big," Shimmin said.
"In the past, Yahoo was very much a powerhouse in the search market. Time has passed, though, and Google has built on its success, so it will be difficult for Yahoo to achieve what it once had," he added.
Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin, or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed . Her e-mail address is email@example.com.
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Hayneedle’s Doug Nielsen, left, sits among products that have been or will be sold on the Foundary. Joining him are Steve Dee, middle, and Jason Goldberger, right. Photo by Danny Schreiber.
This is the second article in a two-part series. To read the first article, see: Building the Foundary – Part I: The Backstory.
In less than six months, the Foundary has gone from a proposed idea to a successful home flash-sale site standing alone but also shining a light on another former startup company, Hayneedle. There are distinctions between the two sites and looking forward, the team at the Foundary hopes to keep the Foundary content fresh and unique from Hayneedle.
The main goal right now is getting the Foundary on its feet and up and running. The team will continue to examine customer responses in sales and make decisions on where to go from there. In one month, the site has seen an increase in signups to total over 50,000 users. Compared to the number of users on Hayneedle, the Foundary seems incomparable. However, Hayneedle began as a small startup and now has over 1 million customers, most of whom are active users. However, there are some overlaps. About 60 percent of the Foundary’s content is exclusive to the Foundary.
The balance comes from utilizing Hayneedle’s resources while still maintaining an independent Foundary site. Everyone that works at the Foundary also works for Hayneedle and balancing that infrastructure is a continuing task the team faces.
“Because it’s the same team, we can take all of the learnings we have on the Foundary and take them over,” said Steve Dee, chief information officer for Hayneedle and co-founder of the Foundary. “The Foundary is a separate entity and not a test bed for Hayneedle.”
Expansion has and continues to occur within Hayneedle and the Foundary. The customer call center recently relocated to a new location in Chalco, Nebraska and a new distribution center opened in Ohio. Plans are also in place to build a new building in Omaha to house Hayneedle and the Foundary.
Competition is also a factor the Foundary faces. The Foundary does have similar sites (One Kings Lane and Overstock) to compete with but the team hopes that as the site continues to grow, it will further establish its own independent name and expand. Eventually, Jason Goldberger, senior vice
president of marketing, merchandising, and site for Hayneedle* and co-founder of the Foundary, said he would like to see a site where there are so many products to choose from that the team has to make hard choices on which ones to feature in daily events.
“The goal is that we have so many exciting products that we’re making hard decisions,” Goldberger said. “We’re starting to see that now.”
Another goal is continuing to target the right customer. There currently isn’t a customer response section or comments section on the Foundary site. Dawn Block, vice president of merchandising for Hayneedle, said by the time customers could comment on a particular item, the item may no longer be available. For a site that moves quickly, feedback through comments and similar customer responses didn’t seem logical for the Foundary.
While the Foundary has advantages and resources to gain from Hayneedle, Hayneedle also has benefited from the Foundary. Doug Nielsen (left, photo by Danny Schreiber), CEO of Hayneedle, said one of the ways Hayneedle is benefiting is they’ve taken an entrepreneurial project with a strong startup mentality and see how it works into the development and growth of Hayneedle. He said the Foundary was going back to Hayneedle’s roots of being a startup itself.
Nielsen believes that although the Foundary is an independent site, it can play a role in Hayneedle as Hayneedle becomes a larger company.
“Hayneedle’s going to be a pretty significant company,” Nielsen said. “Early on, the Foundary is going to be a very small part of what we do but we’re really bullish that it can be a significant part over time if we make the right investments.”
The Foundary has a pretty stable product base since it brings up new vendors every day and the Foundary benefits from that newness. Nielsen said while Hayneedle is benefiting from the Foundary’s entrepreneurial drive, the Foundary gained expertise from Hayneedle that will make it possible to bring over Hayneedle customers to the Foundary.
The Foundary’s focus on networking will continue to shine the spotlight on the flash site, Nielsen said.
“We definitely see the landscape has shifted the last few years,” Nielsen said. “Having a social business model is sort of baked into the Foundary’s way of doing business.”
Hayneedle and the Foundary continue to grow and one of the things they continue to benefit from is the increased opportunities in jobs.
“We hope that our current employees are able to take opportunities like this and step up,” Nielsen said. “In the previous nine years, it’s all been about launching new stores. We’ve always had this entrepreneurial culture of how to create a store out of thin air.”
Nielsen said because of the continued expansion of both Hayneedle and the Foundary, there are no immediate plans to raise money for funding.
“We have no plans to currently raise money,” he said. “We’re a fast growing company. I don’t know what the future will hold but we don’t have any plans to raise money right now.”
The Foundary’s success shows how a startup can thrive in the Omaha market, Nielsen said. He hopes more businesses will continue to establish themselves in Omaha since he believes there’s a need for more local companies to make a name in Omaha.
“The biggest thing to us is to make sure that as we launch this big initiative that we don’t take our eye off the Hayneedle ball,” Nielsen said. “I think we need some proof points in town (Omaha) here.”
*Update 9:30 p.m. – When published, article incorrectly stated Goldberger’s title, it should be “senior vice president of marketing, merchandising, and site.”


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Written by: Roshan Dwivedi
Finally, Google discloses its “game platform for everyone” – Stadia, in an effort to take over the $140 Billion video-game industry dominated by Microsoft & Sony. With this new game streaming service, users can both watch & play high-end games without using any expensive gaming consoles or machines.
According to the announcement, Google is supposed to launch Stadia in the United States, UK, Canada, and most parts of Europe by 2019. However, there has been no update regarding the release date & pricing of Stadia yet.
Google said, “Stadia is designed to run on any screen including laptops, desktops, tablets, mobile phones, and smart TVs, without the presence of any box. With Stadia, the data center is your ultimate platform – Gamers can start the streaming on one platform and then pick up from where they left on another device”.


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An 1894 Winchester rifle in good condition sold “in the mid-six figures” at the Witherell’s Old West Show last weekend at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
The annual event is held by the Sacramento-based Witherell’s auction house.
The prize Winchester rifle featured elaborate carvings of elks, shields and leaves along the length of the barrel and handle.
“This newly discovered rifle showed up at the show and was purchased by a dealer. While we don’t know the actual selling price, a comparable model sold privately a few years back for a million dollars,” said Brian Witherell, chief operations officer of the local auction house.
Witherell estimated that about 100 vendors did nearly $1 million in transactions at the event, with about 1,500 people attending. Other sales highlights included a Carl Kauba-sculpted bronze of an Indian priced at $45,000; a $31,000 Yokuts bottleneck basket; and an early 20th century slot machine going for $17,000.
For more information, see witherells.com.


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Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end who has been making headlines for his rumored romance with Taylor Swift, is also facing backlash from right-wing fans for his appearances in advertisements for Bud Light, the beer brand boycotted by some conservatives, and Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines.
Kelce posted an advertisement on Instagram in partnership with Pfizer over the weekend, urging people to get the updated Covid-19 booster shot and the flu shot, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that encourages people to get both shots at the same time.
Kelce’s participation in the ad drew quick scrutiny from right-wing social media users and vaccine skeptics—and although he turned the comments off on his post of the ad, angry users flooded his other posts with upset comments.
Some critics have compared Kelce’s Pfizer ad to an advertisement he appeared in over the summer for Bud Light, another company that has faced the ire of conservatives for a marketing campaign that starred transgender social media star Dylan Mulvaney.
In the 15-second ad, Kelce and other men sit down and grunt before cracking open cans of Bud Light.
Conservative pundits Megyn Kelly and Charlie Kirk criticized Kelce in a discussion on Kelly’s YouTube channel. Kirk said Kelce should be “shamed and humiliated” for his participation in the Pfizer ad, accusing both him and Pfizer of trying to make a profit. Both Kelly and Kirk questioned why Kelce was chosen as a spokesperson for the vaccine, stating his presumably young male fanbase are at lower risk of Covid-19 complications than older people. They also questioned the efficacy of the vaccine, suggesting it may give people myocarditis (though the CDC has cited studies showing people who actually get Covid-19 are at greater risk of myocarditis than those who have not had it). Some critics also criticized Kelce for his participation in the Bud Light ad and for his rumored relationship with Swift. “He’s super woke. He’s with Taylor, he endorsed Bud Light post-controversy, and he’s pushing the Pfizer vax,” Kelly said. In response to Kelce’s Pfizer ad, conservative commentator Tomi Lahren tweeted: “Is this what happens when you date Taylor Swift?” Swift, though generally quiet on political issues, is a vocal supporter of President Joe Biden. “Travis Kelce sold his soul to Pfizer to push the clot shots,” conservative influencers Hodgetwins tweeted to their 2.2 million followers (blood clots associated with the vaccine are rare). Kelce’s Instagram comments were inundated with hateful comments, with some accusing him of having “sold out” to the pharmaceutical company and making a “poor choice on what you promote.”
Kelce has attracted widespread media attention in recent weeks, well beyond his typical NFL fanbase, because of his rumored relationship with Taylor Swift. Though neither has confirmed or denied the rampant dating rumors, Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears game on Sunday and was spotted leaving with Kelce in his car afterward. Videos of Swift at the game, including one where she appears to yell “let’s f*cking go” after Kelce made a touchdown, went viral on social media. Her appearance followed weeks of swirling rumors, which ramped up after The Messenger reported on September 12 the pair are “quietly hanging out.” Their rumored romance quickly became the talk of the NFL, with various commentators and sports journalists poking fun at the possible couple, often using puns referencing Swift’s songs. NFL Network commentator Rich Eisen joked Kelce left a “blank space” when he was absent from a game because of a “delicate” injury, but Eisen said upon his return last week, he “proves to be the anti-hero” and “never goes out of style.”
Kelce starred in the Bud Light ad just three months after angered conservatives launched a boycott of the beer brand over its marketing partnership with Mulvaney. The boycott sank Bud Light’s sales and Modelo surpassed it as the top-selling beer in the United States this year in August. Bud Light’s ad starring Kelce is one of several employed by the brand to ostensibly win back customers. In August, it launched the football-focused “Easy to Sunday” marketing campaign starring “real” fans in its ads. The brand’s efforts have been criticized by conservatives who have not been swayed by its new marketing tactics.
Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and mom star in Pfizer commercial promoting COVID, flu vaccines (The Kansas City Star)


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Flagship devices are quite popular too and are nearly everytime a huge success for the company. With the new S-Pen, for an example, you can long press the key to open the camera, single press the key to take shot and double press it to switch between the front and rear camera. This leads us to believe that the announcement could have something to do with cameras - either in its phones or its burgeoning mirrorless camera line.
This new series is expected to sport triple cameras at the back, and an in-display fingerprint scanner as well.
Lately, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy A series smartphone, the Galaxy A7 (2018) has been spotted a number of times.
In addition to the existing camera features, the Note 9 camera has some exclusives including an automatic scene optimizer and flaw detection features to enhance pictures.
With all these in mind, it is becoming clearer and clearer that Samsung isn't refraining one bit from having a memorable 10 anniversary for its Galaxy brand and what is now online describing the core Galaxy S10 features is enough to grant wishes made by fans for years. There's always a chance that this will be the moment that Samsung officially uncovers its foldable phone, but recent reports seem to point to a 2019 launch for the rumored Galaxy F.
So, by basing it on the Beyond 2 development, Samsung will restrict the 5G support only to the larger Galaxy S10 Plus. Same as how Apple went with their event by streaming it live on their website. The firm is making three units, with monitors including 5.Eight-breeze, 6.1-breeze, and 6.four-breeze, respectively - the smaller mannequin would cater to funds-awake patrons.
Additionally, the Korean firm is expected add faster RAM and storage modules to the S10 handsets.
The word "capture" in the invite also suggests it's camera related. For now, not much is known about the feature, but it is believed that Mantis Vision's technology will achieve the same level of efficiency as Apple's Face ID feature.


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AirAsia Takes On Lombok
Category: Tourism, Posted:07 Nov 2012 | 06:00 am
Low-cost carrier AirAsia has commenced direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and the resort island of Lombok in Indonesia.
The airline joins Silk Air who already fly direct from Singapore in touting the growing destination which opened a new international airport last year.
Expectations are for the facility to continue to attract more direct flights given it also links up the popular nearby Gili islands.
Phuket Hotels Association Online Travel Auction Now OpenCategory: Hotels, Posted:14 May 2023 | 09:56 am The annual non-profit Phuket Hotels Association Absolutely Fabulous Online Travel Sale is now up and running. CLICK With nearly 200 hotel travel and dining deals across Thailand, Asia the globe, all proceeds go to the education scholarship fund of PHA. Over 45 Thai hospitality students are now supported by the fund and these are the […]


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- Doritos released an artificial intelligence-powered software tool that claims to cancel the “crunch” sound heard from snacking on its chips in audio chats, per a press release.
- The Doritos Silent tech is targeted at PC gamers. Thirty-percent of surveyed gamers in the U.S. said hearing fellow players crunch impedes their performance during gaming sessions, according to Doritos.
- The solution, which is available to download online and runs only on Windows, was developed over six months with partner Smooth Technology by analyzing thousands of snippets of crunches. Doritos teased the idea of silencing its products with social media and out-of-home (OOH) ads ramping up to the reveal.
Noise-canceling headphones are having a moment as the underlying technology has grown sophisticated enough to drown out the sounds of busy commutes and offices to let people focus on their music and podcasts. Doritos is porting over the concept to the gaming arena, seeking to alleviate frustrations stemming from having to listen to other players eat during online play sessions. The goal is to reach the 80% of Gen Z and millennial consumers who view themselves as gamers, per NewZoo research cited in the press release.
Doritos’ effort toys with a core appeal of its product — the tactile, crisp sensation of biting down on its chips — while giving the Frito-Lay marketer the chance to experiment in the booming field of AI. In practice, the crunch-cancellation software acts as a simple mic filter, with users able to activate a button that should sort out any munching noises they make while in the thick of a multiplayer battle.
The tool was built with help from Smooth Technology, a Brooklyn-based creative engineering and design studio, and spearheaded by Doritos’ U.K. arm. To download the feature, consumers must submit their name and email address to a website, suggesting that Doritos could accrue valuable first-party data from the promotion.
Advertising helped generate hype for the launch. Social posts and OOH placements planted the idea of “making Doritos silent” through images of the chips acting in place of noise-canceling headphones. The campaign ran in the U.S., U.K., Spain, Poland, Brazil and Portugal. Doritos has also released spots that dramatize crunch cancellation in an over-the-top fashion.
Other marketers have ramped up their overtures to PC gamers, who tend to be more invested in the hobby than casual players since building a rig that can run modern games tends to be an expensive and time-intensive process. Heineken Brazil in September debuted a gaming PC that doubled as a fridge for keeping its beers cold.


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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Aryzta North America posted revenue of €353.4 million ($397.9 million) in the third quarter ended April 30, which was up 3.8% from the previous year’s third quarter. Organic revenue was down 3.8%, while disposals had a negative effect of 0.3%. Volume was down 4.9% in Aryzta North America while price/mix was up 1.1%.
“The volume performance was disappointing and relates to retail and food service channels,” said Kevin Toland, chief executive officer, during a June 4 conference call with analysts. “We are resolutely focused on improving the performance of our North American business.
“Let’s take a step back and outline what we have actually done. Our first step has been to reorganize the management structure. We have done that and that has reduced our overall total S.G.&A. (selling, general and administrative) cost within the region by 25%. That of itself is contributing to improved profitability.
“Project Renew is 9 months into a 36-month program and will yield incremental benefits. We are focused on our commercial structures with the customer at the center of everything we do. While change is typically slower, given the B2B nature of our businesses, these initiatives, together with a more efficient operating structure, are starting to deliver margin stability and sequentially improved EBITDA.”
Project Renew remains on track in North America, Mr. Toland said, with the North American automation program “performing well” and the reorganization implemented at the start of fiscal year 2019 yielding “strong cost-reduction results.”
Zurich-based Aryzta Group companywide had third-quarter revenue of €847.9 million ($954.7 million), which was up 4.5% from the previous year’s third quarter. Aryzta Europe had revenue of €427 million, up 4.4%, and Aryzta Rest of the World had revenue of €67.5 million, up 8.8% from a year ago.
“Overall, we are encouraged to see ongoing stability in Group organic revenues in the third quarter,” Mr. Toland said. “We continue to address the challenges presented to our business, particularly in the North American market, where we have taken significant measures to protect profitability. Continued stabilization of the business, delivering for our customer base, and realizing the expected benefits in Project Renew remains our absolute focus within the current financial year.
“As you will have seen from our release, Aryzta now expects a low-single-digit underlying EBITDA growth rate, in line with current market expectations. A lower expected growth rate reflects a longer time period to stabilize North America on the revenue line and a slower start on Renew, which has now been caught up and is expected to exit the year fully in line with our expected full-year run rate savings.
“However, we are continuing to deliver consistent revenue and EBITDA improvement. We have now delivered four quarters of sequential revenue growth at a Group level and we are starting to deliver margin stability and sequentially improve EBITDA.”


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Knockoffs Seized in San Francisco
Authorities swoop in and bust San Francisco retailers selling bogus goods. CNN’s Jeanne Meserve has exclusive details.
Click here to watch the video.
Global Innovation Policy Center @globalIPcenter 12m
Nearly 6,000 #counterfeit space heaters valued at more than $500,000 were seized last week by @CBP officers at International Falls. Get more info. #ShopSmart https://t.co/KU12CrJaZz


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Conflict gold in eastern Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (“Congo”) has endured more than two decades of violent conflict in which more than 5.4 million people have died from war-related causes. One of the primary drivers of violence has been the trade in conflict minerals—gold, tin, tantalum, and tungsten. While there has been significant progress in reducing the profits to armed groups from three out of the four conflict minerals, the trade in conflict gold continues to finance armed groups, according to the U.N. Group of Experts on the Congo. Armed groups use violence to control gold mines and trading routes; they profit from eastern Congo’s rich gold resources, and they terrorize civilians. Congo’s conflict gold is mainly smuggled to Uganda, Burundi, and Dubai and then it enters the global market, tainting the entire gold supply chain. Companies in the gold industry—jewelry retailers and manufacturers, refiners, miners, and investors—have the opportunity to help break the link between gold and violence in Congo and the surrounding region.
Campaign and leaderboard
In late 2013, the Enough Project began efforts to create a leaderboard of jewelry retailers that are taking action to combat the conflict gold trade. The interim leaderboard published here is one element of a broader campaign to engage jewelers, encourage companies to exercise supply chain due diligence, and educate the public with a positive narrative, highlighting industry efforts to help solve the problem of conflict gold. Enough’s aim in creating a jewelry leaderboard and an accompanying conflict gold campaign is to support responsible minerals trade initiatives in Congo and the region that help develop conflict-free mining, economic development in mining communities, and opportunities to source conflict-free gold from eastern Congo. Enough surveyed the top-selling jewelry retailers in the United States with three purposes:
- to enhance their understanding of the importance of this issue;
- to determine what efforts they are undertaking to address the issue of conflict gold; and
- to convey suggested areas for improvement that can make a real difference in combating the conflict gold trade.


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How Amazon’s Aggressive Demands Have Sparked More Driver Injuries Than Ever Before
Nearly 20% of the drivers for Amazon’s delivery service partners (DSPs) were hurt on the job in 2021, according to a groundbreaking report. That represents a 38% increase, when compared to 2020, and it means that Amazon DSP drivers face some of the highest accident and injury rates across the company and the entire delivery industry.
Here’s a closer look at some key findings of this report and why there have been so many more Amazon delivery driver injuries recently.
Why Have Amazon Delivery Driver Injuries Surged?
Several factors have led to the disturbing spike in Amazon DSP driver injuries, researchers say. In fact, they point to:
- Amazon’s delivery quotas and schedules: Every day, Amazon DSP drivers are generally required to deliver hundreds of packages. Some reports note that delivery quotas could be as high as 400 packages a day. That would literally give drivers a couple of minutes, at most, to deliver a package and get to their next stop.
- Amazon’s policies for delivery drivers: Amazon policies state that DSP drivers can be terminated for failing to meet quotas and delivery schedules. That extra level of pressure has heighted the stress put on these delivery drivers, compelling some to rush while subjecting them to “unsafe work conditions,” researchers say.
- Amazon’s failures to make certain accommodations: Beyond “unmanageably high quotas” and fears of losing their jobs if they don’t meet those quotas, DSP drivers also have little to no room to choose how they make their deliveries. In fact, Amazon delivery drivers are required to follow routes set by the company’s systems — and drivers are NOT allowed to alter their routes, even if there’s a faster, safer way to get to their destination. Additionally, Amazon has reportedly failed to provide narrower vehicles for some DSP drivers in places like Portland, where the roads are narrower and more difficult to safely navigate in bigger delivery vans.
For these and other reasons, Amazon DSP drivers often:
- Feel pressure “to move at unsafe speeds in order to complete their delivery quotas”
- Report experiencing more injuries due to the “intense production pressure” placed on them by Amazon
- “Are forced to sacrifice their health and safety in order to keep their jobs”
These issues likely came to a head in recent years due to the pandemic and a greater reliance on online retailers like Amazon.
Did Amazon Know About Rising DSP Driver Injuries?
There seems to be plenty of indications that Amazon knew about — or should have been aware of — the sharp increases in delivery driver injuries last year. Some evidence suggesting that includes:
- The level of oversight Amazon has over its drivers: Amazon uses apps and devices to monitor deliveries and driver behaviors in real time, including things like seatbelt use, speeding, yawning, and running red lights. That gives Amazon eyes on exactly how fast drivers have to move to stick to delivery quotas — and how the stress of delivery demands impacts safety.
- Rising workers’ compensation claims: Pinnacol Assurance, one of the main providers of workers’ compensation insurance in Colorado, has reported that “Amazon DSP drivers experienced ‘slip and fall’ and animal-related injuries more commonly than other delivery drivers in Colorado.” The insurance company also noted that this high injury rate “is expected among employees who handle as many packages per day as Amazon drivers” and that “feeling hurried and rushing is a hazard in any work environment… especially [for DSP drivers] who must complete many stops every shift.”
That’s why researchers allege that Amazon has been “ignoring evidence that production pressure is causing both dangerous driving and driver injuries.”
How & Why Amazon Has Overlooked & Underreported Driver Injuries
If you took Amazon at their word on delivery driver safety, you could be buying into claims that are “seriously misleading,” according to researchers. In fact:
- Amazon claims to have spent $300 million on worker safety initiatives in 2021.
- As recently as April 2022, Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy told shareholders that “our recordable incident rates were… a little lower than the average of our courier and delivery peers… but we don’t seek to be average. We want to be best in class.”
Those don’t really paint an accurate picture of the risks and injuries that are really occurring, the latest findings reveal. That’s because:
- In 2021, the same year Amazon claims to have spent $300 million on delivery system safety, DSP driver injuries surged nearly 40%.
- Amazon cited data that “clearly exclude[s] a massive segment of its delivery operations — its subcontracted delivery drivers.” Leaving DSP drivers out of its injury data means that Amazon isn’t reporting injuries that affect drivers who comprise “about half of the [company’s] workforce.”
Consequently, Amazon is being called out for its “choice not to disclose injury data for a large and dangerous segment of its delivery system” in an effort to “artificially [lower] its injury rates and [obscure] an apples-to-apples comparison of the company’s performance with those of its industry peers.”
Taking this one step further, researchers have asserted that:
[Amazon is] willing to ignore and deny the continuing and worsening injury crisis among its delivery system workers, despite their crucial role in the company‘s growth through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Amazon will continue to squeeze its workers, and will continue to downplay its worker injuries, unless it is forced to take meaningful action to make its workplaces safer.
Hurt While Working as an Amazon Delivery Driver?
You may have a claim and various options for pursuing recovery and justice. The truth is that injured Amazon delivery drivers don’t always have an easy time securing the compensation they deserve — even when there’s a pretty clear-cut case of fault and damages. That’s why it’s essential to learn more about your rights, a potential claim, and how an Amazon delivery driver accident lawyer can help you.


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It’s here! The Realme smartphone company is launching a brand-new smartphone. The Realme X50 Pro 5G will launch on February 24 in the company’s first participation in the Mobile World Congress.
The next smartphone is predicted to strengthen the company’s position in the 5G market that is rapidly catching up worldwide. The Realme X50 Pro will be the company’s second kitty smartphone to support 5G, along with other premium-level bells and whistles. Realme had previously announced that he will attend the technology exhibition that will begin in Barcelona later this month.
Realme will hold its MWC 2020 event at 9:30 a.m. CET, which translates at 2:00 p.m. IST, Monday, February 24. Realme X50 Pro 5G will catch your eyes at the event, but there is another product that will mark Realme’s entry into the home entertainment category, Realme TV. It has been announced that Realme TV will debut at the event, but information about it is quite scarce at this time. That’s why we see what the Realme X50 Pro 5G will be about.
Realme X50 Pro 5G will be essentially a fixed version of the Realme X50 5G, which was launched in China at some point. The latter was the first 5G smartphone of the brand that is aggressively pushing smartphones into differentiated categories depending on the specifications. The Realme X50 5G works with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor that comes with an integrated 5G modem.
For the Realme X50 Pro 5G, the brand goes with the flagship-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor compatible with the Snapdragon X55 5G modem. It will be one of the first smartphones with the Snapdragon 865 processor.
To remember, Qualcomm had announced, at the fourth Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit last year, that Realme will be one of the first smartphone brands to launch smartphones with Snapdragon 765G and Snapdragon 865 5G mobile platforms.


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To address the fact that many villages and downtowns around Long Island are struggling with parking issues, the Suffolk County Planning Commission has announced it will be holding a parking symposium June 29 in Port Jefferson.
The symposium, which will run from 9 a.m. until 12:50 p.m. at the Port Jefferson Village Center, will cover a variety of parking topics, including fixed parking ratios, mixed-use parking and free-versus-fee parking.
David Calone, chairman of the Suffolk County Planning Commission, said a large amount of villages have approached his organization in recent years asking for parking advice, which prompted the symposium.
“Developers can’t develop projects that make sense because the codes in many places are way out of date,” Calone said. “We need some new ideas.”
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to the Suffolk County Planning Commission.
More breaking news
- Uniondale insurance broker charged with running multi-state scam
- Lack of scrutiny
- Zoning turns Brookhaven into hotbed for commercial solar
- Fit for Kings Park
- US hiring slows in September amid slower global growth
- Altice shares tumble amid $8.6B debt, $2B stock
- Cox acquires Dealertrack, plans LI expansion
- Hospitals, hotels prep early for Hurricane Joaquin
- Dunkin’ expects sales at stores open at least a year to slow
- Rubie’s goes retail


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One of the reasons why people love or hate Rainbow Six Siege is because players can’t respawn which means once you are dead, that is it.
According to Ubisoft, people are suggesting that they add respawn features to the game to make the game more appealing but according to the developer, they are not looking to that as they feel like it would impact the game negatively.
It was added that somebody very high up did suggest to have the game have the respawn mechanism but the developer eventually got their way and keep respawning out of the game. He explains that having only one life will make players more aware of their actions and not just sprint around and mess about. What do you think?
Ubisoft is also working on a new Rainbow Six game called Rainbow Six: Quarantine that will be released on the next-gen consoles.


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Oil & Gas
New Energy Vehicles
Policy & Regulation
Exhibition & Forum
Belt and Road
Net Zero Emission
Blockchain 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Traceability for Corporates
European blockchain start-up FlexiDAO’s energy traceability solution is to be offered in conjunction with Altenex Energy’s Insights.
Electric Vehicle Charging
VW and Energy Web Develop 24/7 Renewable Energy Charging Blockchain Solution for EVs
Energy Web and Volkswagen have partnered on a solution to match local renewables to electric vehicle (EV) charging.
Blockchain Peer-To-Peer Energy Exchange Launches in UK
More than 3,000 British homes have signed up for a peer-to-peer scheme to receive 100% traceable renewable energies.
Energy Blockchain Startup FlexiDAO Secures Google and Microsoft Backing
FlexiDAO plans to scale its renewables tracking platform, particularly in the US and Europe, with $6.5 million raised in Series A funding.
Cryptominer Taps Underutilised Nuclear Energy on Georgia Grid
EZ Blockchain specialised in using otherwise wasted energy for crypto mining is expanding its data centre capacity in West Point, Georgia, USA.
UK Green Supply Chain Startup Circulor Raises $25MLN for Us Expansion
UK startup Circulor, which uses blockchain technology to map supply chains for companies pursuing greener, more sustainable production, said on Tuesday it had r…
Shell, Accenture and AMEX GBT Launch Blockchain SAF Project
Leading corporates announce first blockchain-powered digital sustainable aviation fuel book-and-claim solutions for business travel.
ReBeam – Harnessing Blockchain to Improve the E-mobility Experience
ReBeam is designed to improve e-mobility for drivers, charge point operators and the electricity providers.
Electric Vehicle Battery
Standard for EV Battery ‘State of Health’
MOBI (Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative) has released the first Battery State of Health standard as a component of its Battery Initiative.
SolarMente, the Startup that Seeks to Combine Blockchain Technology with Solar Energy
The use and investment within the field of sustainable energies is growing imminently; that is why day by day we see new proposals within this industry.
Sinochem Completes China’s First Blockchain Warehouse Receipt Pledge for Crude Oil
Sinochem, China’s fourth-largest state-controlled oil company, has carried out the country’s first digital warehouse receipt pledge for crude oil, using 66 Cl…
Bitcoin Miner Acquires Washington Hydro Plant
Global Bitcoin self-mining company Bitfarms Ltd has announced it is entering the hydropower arena having acquired a 24MW hydropower farm in Washington state, US
Solar Power Panel
Japan Demonstrates Blockchain System for Solar Panel Recycling
In a programme supported by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, solar PV manufacturer Next Energy and trading conglomerate Marubeni are to collaborate on used…
Electric Vehicle Battery
Blockchain Nickel Supply Agreement for Tesla Batteries
Tesla is partnering with Australian mining giant BHP on the nickel battery supply chain while also switching some production to iron.
Energy Harbor Corp. & Standard Power Sign Partnership to Power Ohio Crypto-Mining Facility with Nuclear Energy
Former paper mill-turned cryptomine will be powered by nuclear energy


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Disney Legends Charlie Ridgway, Ron Logan, and Bill Sullivan have been added to the roster of presenters and panelists for D23’s Destination D: Attraction Rewind this November at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Also current Walt Disney Imagineers will take part in the two-day event sharing their stories. They include Gary Landrum, show awareness producer and archivist; Jason Grandt, art director; Dave Minochiello, executive director and creative development for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train; Pam Rawlins, show producer.
Attraction Rewind will also feature previously announced guests Disney Legends Marty Sklar, Bob Gurr, and Alice Davis; Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline; Disney and World’s Fair historians Bill Cotter, Stacia Martin, and Michael Kelley.
For more information visit our previous article: “Details Announced for Destination D Attraction Rewind” or D23.com.


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Lasko, 24 March (STA) - Croatian grocery chain Konzum, a part of the Agrokor group, has made an offer of commercial cooperation to Slovenian beverage group Pivovarna Lasko in what analysts view a part of Agrokor's effort to buy Lasko's 23.34% stake in Slovenian grocer Mercator.
The letter comes as Lasko continues its deliberations on three bids, including from Agrokor, for its minority holding in Mercator.
Business daily Finance says it is part of a strategy to convince Lasko to sell its Mercator shares.
As part of this, Agrokor is reportedly ready to increase its bid for Mercator to EUR 230 per share (currently EUR 206) and show greater openness to Slovenian suppliers.
A number of Slovenian products are already said to have found their way on Konzum's shelves, while the offer to Lasko would include a contract for the purchase of a large quantity of beer, Finance says.
Lasko said it had already studied the letter and invited representatives of Konzum to a meeting to discuss cooperation. The date of the meeting has not been disclosed.
Finance writes that Lasko is expected to take a decision on the bids for Mercator - apart from Agrokor, investment funds Mid Europa Partners and Warburg Pincus made offers - early next week.
While Agrokor is said to have made the highest bid, its offer has been met with broad skepticism in business and political circles for fear that it would move to gain control of Mercator, which is a vital distribution channel for Slovenian food producers.


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Atari the company might be a shadow of its former self, but Nolan Bushnell isn’t out of the games game quite yet.
The 73-year-old Atari co-founder never left games completely — but thanks to a new collaboration with mobile publisher Spil Games, he’ll get to bring ideas he’s been sitting on to smartphones and tablets.
Bushnell told CNBC that he’s come up with around 30 concepts over the past decade and a half. Five to eight of those ideas will turn into mobile apps under the new deal, with the first expected to arrive in early 2017.
Bushnell sees in Spil some of the same things that got him excited about working in games to begin with.
“I talked to them and decided that they had a corporate culture that was very similar to Atari when I was leaving — great people with a fun attitude,” Bushnell told CNBC. “They’ve got really good stuff, great analytics and a really good understanding of marketplaces.”
The partnership’s been in play for about six months, with Bushnell bolstering trips every other month to the Netherlands-based publisher with regular Skype sessions.
Spil isn’t the most well-known player in the mobile arena, but it’s built up a sizable portfolio since launching in 2001. The publisher focused initially on browser-based online games, but pivoted in 2014 to capitalize on the explosive success of mobile gaming.
Teaming up with Bushnell should help Spil reach a wider audience. And for the Atari co-founder, the partnership positions him to explore new opportunities.
“The future of gaming has a very strong mobile component,” Bushnell said in a statement. “It’s where most people play games and it’s where the technology and ideas are developing most quickly.”


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Gage Growth Hits US$26.4 Million In Revenue, US$9.4 Million Net Loss In Q2 2021
Gage Growth Corp. (CSE: GAGE) this morning announced its financial results for Q2 2021, which saw US$26.4 million in revenue. This is an increase from Q1 2021’s revenue of US$17.6 million and Q2 2020’s revenue of US$11.5 million.
The cannabis firm relayed that the revenue boost was driven primarily by cultivation capacity expansion and the addition of a new dispensary.
Gross margins for the quarter came in at 34.2%, a climb from the previous quarter’s 26.1%, but a decline from previous year’s 47.3%. As with the last quarter’s margin improvement, the company said this quarter also benefitted from a greater mix of higher-margin sales from retail locations and cultivation capacity expansion.
WIth US$14.8 million total operating expenses, the company posted a net loss of US$9.4 million for the quarter, compared to last quarter’s net loss of US$10.8 million and last year’s net loss of US$2.9 million. The quarter’s net loss translates to US$0.07 per share.
Meanwhile, adjusted EBITDA came in at a loss of US$1.9 million, up from Q1 2021’s loss of US$3.8 million.
The company ended the quarter with US$32.8 million in cash and cash equivalents coming from a starting balance of US$45.5 million at the beginning of the year. This figure puts the value of the current assets at US$50.4 million while current liabilities ended at US$27.3 million.
The Toronto-based company also shared that the state of Michigan posted $171 million of cannabis sales in July, positioning it as the third-largest cannabis market in the United States.
Gage Growth Corp. last traded at $2.42 on the CSE.
Information for this briefing was found via Sedar and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.


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|Your guide to the show|
|Click here to download a PDF guide that includes a map and directions, and must-see displays at the auto show.|
Wild and wonderful cars await
The North American International Auto Show opens for public viewing Saturday in Detroit after a week of publicity events. Some of the vehicles getting lots of attention are:
Cadillac CTS: A new version of the sedan aimed directly at BMW and Mercedes. The CTS, which has a 550-horsepower V-8 engine, goes on sale this fall.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: A $100,000 high performance version of the classic with a 620-horsepower engine. General Motors plans to produce 2,000 a year. The ZR1 goes on sale this summer.
BYD F6 DM: Chinese automaker BYD debuted a plug-in electric hybrid that will go on sale in China by the end of this year for between $20,000 and $30,000. BYD wants to bring the sedan to the U.S..
Hyundai Genesis: Hyundai's first entry into the luxury sedan market. The rear-wheel-drive sedan is expected to sell for less than $40,000 when it comes to the U.S. market in June.
Audi R8 V-12 TDI: A 500 horsepower diesel super car. Audi aims to show that a fuel-efficient diesel -- it gets 25 miles per gallon -- can be used for a sports car.
Chrysler concepts: The stylish Chrysler ecoVoyager (fuel cell), Dodge Zeo (electric) and Jeep Renegade (low-emission diesel), intended to show that Chrysler is serious about green cars and prepared for whatever technology wins the race.
Ford Verve: Ford's sleek entry into the subcompact segment. A version will go on sale in Europe and Asia next year and in the U.S. in 2010.
Automakers see 'green' as new spark for sales
BY NATHAN BOMEY
Michigan Business Review
Domestic and foreign automakers jostled this week to attract attention from about 7,000 journalists at the North American International Auto Show, with 50-some concept vehicles and production cars revealed during press preview days combing into a single theme: Automakers are throwing enormous resources into producing "green" vehicles.
The press preview days started Sunday. The show opens to the public at 9 a.m. Saturday.
A wide variety of environmentally friendly cars -- some ready for production and some that would require substantial technological advances before reaching the market -- are being introduced. They include:
The Saturn Green Line Plug-in Hybrid, the Saturn Flextreme concept vehicle and the 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2-Mode Hybrid. General Motors Corp. officials said the Saturn would become the first commercially available plug-in hybrid from a major automaker.
Three Chrysler concept vehicles -- the ecoVoyager, Renegade and Dodge ZEO. The four-passenger, all-electric ZEO sport wagon would run 250 miles on a single electrical charge, while the two-seat, B-segment Renegade and the four-door ecoVoyager passenger sedan would run for 40 miles on electricity alone.
Hummer HX and Saab 9-4 BioPower concept vehicles. These GM flex-fuel vehicles would be able to run on either ethanol or regular gasoline.
BMW's X5 xDrive35d and 335d models. The vehicles will have 3.0-liter, 6-cylinder diesel engines -- a new strategy for the automaker in the U.S. market.


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After the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense revealed that the Mi 10T 5G smartphone sold by Chinese company Xiaomi in Europe 2021 could censor approximately 450 words and phrases, the Taiwan National Communications Commission of Taiwan (NCC) has commissioned Telecom Technology Center (TTC) to test the same Xiaomi mobile phone sold in Taiwan.
More than 2,000 censored words and phrases
According to the NCC, investigations revealed that seven application software were installed within the Xiaomi phone. The censorship features are suspected of blocking Internet access or relating browsing data back to Mainland China.
It also contained more than 2,000 censors for words in simplified and traditional Chinese, as well as English terms with relation to topics of government, religion, political organization, social movement, and names of political figures.
The censored words included: “Free Tibet”, “Taiwan Independence”, “American Institute in Taiwan”, “Hong Kong Independent Media”, “June 4th Incident”, “Jinping”, “Hu Jintao”, “Tsai Ing-wen”, “Lee Teng-hui”, “Bahamut”, “PTT Gossip Edition”, “Freedom Times”, “Chinese KMT “, “Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)”, “People First Party” etc.
In theory, mobile phones from various countries should have the option of turning off this feature according to the user’s privacy-related information, but this Xiaomi model does not provide this option.
In fact, it was revealed that the censors could be activated remotely at any time, raising concerns that users’ private information could be sent to the Chinese government.
Moreover, Chinese citizens and companies have to follow the provisions of Article 14 of China’s National Intelligence Law. The provisions state that users have the obligation to “support, assist and cooperate with national intelligence work.”
The NCC sent inquiries to Xiaomi’s headquarters in Taiwan as soon as the findings were released in September last year.
Xiaomi replied in an email that the Xiaomi 10T 5G mobile phones sold in Taiwan are different from the European Xiaomi 10T 5G (international version.) The statement added that Xiaomi smartphones in Taiwan will not censor users’ browsing access. However, upon further investigation, this was found to not be the case.
Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan) reiterated in a letter on Dec. 18, 2120, that the public agencies’ equipment must not originate from Chinese brands, and this applies to official mobile phones. However, Executive Yuan did not regulate ordinary users’ mobile phones. With this NCC investigation, NCC raises the public’s awareness of their personal information and privacy protection.
To counteract the censors, one suggested method is to check whether there is a message that informs the user whether data collection is active and to see if there is a function to turn the App off.
For example, the Chrome App for iPhone has a website tracking data collection, returning related notification messages, and provides an option to turn the function off. The user can also choose to turn off the function in advance.
Will Xiaomi phones be sold in the U.S.?
Users like JohnnyH believe Xiaomi’s low price point is attractive to consumers, compared with Apple and Samsung’s more expensive products. “Xiaomi’s Redmi 10 model retails for $225ish and is affordable to most people,” JohnnyH said.
When discussing whether Xiaomi phones could be sold in North America with carrier adaptations, one user in the U.S. going by the name of Syaoran said in April, “ It probably won’t happen.”
“The most important reason being that Chinese companies do not respect or follow the US and International patent laws, preventing them from ever selling their devices officially in North America.”


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How to help your favorite restaurants and services survive
Local food and lifestyle app Booky launched #SupportPH, a campaign to aid beloved brands and businesses that were hit hardest by the effects of the pandemic.
In a survey conducted among local businesses, 33% of restaurant owners have had to implement leave without pay, administer pay cuts, or let go of employees. Other establishments, like gyms and salons, rely on in-store activity for income and 80% report complete closure and zero revenue since the ECQ was announced on March 16. Businesses are turning to home deliveries, online activity, and increased brand awareness through social media as lifelines but even then, they do not foresee sales normalizing any time soon.
Filipinos can help these businesses by purchasing discounted digital vouchers from their favorite brands on the #SupportPH website. Following a “help now, enjoy later” format, the proceeds will go directly to the establishments and the customer can redeem or claim their voucher up to three months after the establishment reopens.
For the customer, they can enjoy a discounted treat or service at up to 50% off while supporting their favorite brands. For the establishments, #SupportPH allows them to use this income to immediately support themselves while revenue is at its lowest.
Booky, known for its directory and digital coupons for discounts, helps people discover the best in their city. With its #SupportPH campaign, users can choose to buy and support multiple businesses from one website. The purchase of a milk tea or haircut voucher may not look like much, but when pooled together, these purchases make a difference in the effort to hoist and keep these much-loved brands running.
Visit #SupportPH and extend a helping hand today.


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A green home loan rewards borrowers for either buying, building or renovating a ‘sustainable’ property.
They say we should put money away for a rainy day but with the cost-of-living cloud continuing to loom, alarming new research has revealed that many Australians have no money in their emergency fund.
With households across Queensland grappling with the ongoing energy crisis, new Compare the Market research has revealed just how much more we could be forking out when running the heating this winter. In fact, some types of heaters could add hundreds of dollars to your electricity bill, which could hurt the hip pocket of households already facing rising prices.


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After months of speculations, leaks, teasers, posters and renders, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is finally being unveiled tomorrow at an event in New York.
The Galaxy Note 9 will certainly be an upgrade from last year’s Note 8 but from what we know so far, don’t expect a ton of surprises. To sum things up a little more tightly, we are expecting a Galaxy S9 Plus in a slightly larger frame and an upgraded S Pen along with it.
So if it isn’t a huge upgrade, why is everyone so excited about the launch? Samsung’s Galaxy Note series phones are generally launched just ahead of Apple’s iPhone event and is Samsung’s platform to not only showcase the best Android phablet it can offer but also set a benchmark for the iPhones to match up to. The other reason is the S Pen which is expected to get a major revamp this year. The new S Pen is not only expected to have its own battery but will also likely come with Bluetooth support this year.
Lastly, a number of gamers just cannot wait for the popular battle royale title Fortnite to come to Android and from what we know, makers Epic Games is expected to make a major announcement at the launch event tomorrow. There are rumours that Samsung may have even struck an exclusive deal with Fortnite makers to have the game available only for the Galaxy Note 9 for up to a month.
Moving on to the expected specifications of the Galaxy Note 9, one of the biggest USPs of last year’s Galaxy Note 8 was its 6.3-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED, HDR 10 compliant Infinity display. This time, we expect Samsung to push a marginally larger (6.4-inch) display into a frame just as big as last year’s phone.
The Note 9 will be an upgrade in terms of the SoC from last year’s phone and is expected to feature an Exynos 9810 SoC as found on this year’s Galaxy S9 range. US markets will likely get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC and both versions are expected to be paired with 6 GB RAM. As per a recently leaked image of the retail box, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will feature 128 GB of internal storage with an expected 512 GB option as well.
The cameras are a mystery but leaks suggest that Samsung is not going to tinker around much and throw in a setup similar to the 12 MP (f/1.5-f/2.4) + 12 MP (f/2.4) combination we saw on the Galaxy S9+. The battery is also expected to be beefed up to 4,000 mAh.
Do stay tuned for the event at 8:30 pm (IST) as we will have a live blog in place to give you detailed, minute-by-minute updates and analysis from the launch event.


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With looming emissions standards pushing many of the world's automakers to turbocharging, Nissan is once again considering forced induction for some of its more mainstream engines
he Japanese automaker has a long history of turbo engines, but currently only produces them in limited numbers. Tetsuya Takahashi, a member of Nissan's Powertrain Engineering Division, revealed that the Japanese automaker is seriously mulling turbocharged engines for its next crop of vehicles. Several automakers - such as Ford, General Motors and BMW - have already made the switch to turbo engines to increase fuel economy and reduce overall emissions.
Although Nissan currently produces a few turbo diesels as well as the twin-turbo V6 found in the GT-R, Nissan would likely lean heavily on Renault - Nissan's parent company - for its future turbo applications. Renault has already made the commitment to smaller, turbocharged engines to uphold performance while decreasing emissions. However, Nissan could apply turbo technology to some of its current engine offerings, including its legendary VQ V6.
That being said, Nissan has yet to give the green light to the new-age turbo project. Although turbos can help reduce an engine's overall emissions, they can promote greater fuel consumption when tuned for performance. But with the entire industry seemingly moving towards forced induction, Nissan will eventually have to get back on the band wagon.


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The year 2010 was a hugely significant one for computing criminality and could turn out to mark the beginning of a 'third era' of cybercrime, security expert Graham Cluley of Sophos has said in advance of the company's latest threat review of the yea...
A Sophos IT security consultant has issued a warning not to fall prey to malware that uses a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating sexual positions from the Kama Sutra as its lure.
At the end of 2010, the United States remained on top of the "Dirty Dozen" list of spam relaying nations compiled by IT security firm Sophos.
The retaliatory attacks by pro-WikiLeaks activists are growing in strength as hackers add botnets and thousands of people download an open-source attack tool, security researchers said today.
Microsoft is investigating reports of an unpatched vulnerability in the Windows kernel that could be used by attackers to sidestep an important operating system security measure.
Facebook's revamped Messages will be a very attractive target for spammers, scammers and malware makers, security experts said today.
Security software company Sophos has finally broken ranks and decided to offer Mac users a free antivirus product without hidden strings.
Facebook users are being warned about a new spam scam that tries to tempt users into visiting a website with the promise of a free Apple iPhone.
A security flaw has made Twitter's website a chaotic and potentially unsafe place, filled with annoying pop-up windows that activate just by rolling the mouse over another user's tweets.
The exploit for a critical unpatched bug in Adobe Reader that's now circulating is "clever" and "impressive," security researchers said this week.
Facebook today said it has fixed the bug that allowed a spamming worm to automatically post messages to users' walls earlier this week.
Finjan has sued five rival security companies, including Symantec and McAfee, claiming it holds crucial patents used by popular antivirus products and security services.
A suspicious application circulating on Facebook has attracted nearly 300,000 fans whose profiles could be used as launching pads for spam, according to a security analyst.
Hundreds of thousands of Facebook users are falling victim to yet another rogue application, this one identified as a video claiming to show a teacher nearly killing a boy.
Internet users have been hit by a widespread Web attack that has compromised thousands of Web sites, including Web pages belonging to the Wall Street Journal and the Jerusalem Post.
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A smarter way to print for busy small business owners, combining speedy printing with scanning and copying, making it easier to produce high quality documents and images at a touch of a button.
I've had a multifunction printer in the office going on 10 years now. It was a neat bit of kit back in the day -- print, copy, scan, fax -- when printing over WiFi felt a bit like magic. It’s seen better days though and an upgrade’s well overdue. This HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 looks like it ticks all the same boxes: print, copy, scan, and fax. (Really? Does anyone fax anything any more? I guess it's good to know the facility’s there, just in case.) Printing over WiFi is more-or- less standard these days.
As a freelance writer who is always on the go, I like my technology to be both efficient and effective so I can do my job well. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 Inkjet Printer ticks all the boxes in terms of form factor, performance and user interface.
I’d happily recommend this touchscreen laptop and Windows 10 as a great way to get serious work done at a desk or on the road.
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For me, the Xbox Play Anywhere is a great new feature as it allows you to play your current Xbox games with higher resolutions and better graphics without forking out extra cash for another copy. Although available titles are still scarce, but I’m sure it will grow in time.
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‘Six figure sum’ spent on revamping co-op stores and funeral homes in Suffolk
PUBLISHED: 08:47 19 December 2018 | UPDATED: 08:47 19 December 2018
Central England Co-operative has revealed it has invested over £13.4 million nationwide and created dozens of jobs as part of ongoing efforts to improve their customer experience in 2018.
Throughout the year the Society, which is based in Lichfield and trades from more than 400 sites across the Midlands and East Anglia, has opened 10 new food stores and six new funeral homes as well as relaunching 22 funeral sites and 30 convenience stores.
In Suffolk, the Society has invested over six figures this year with further investment planned across 2019 and beyond.
Recent projects have included a refit of its Rickinghall Food Store.
The major development programme has seen individual areas such as Derbyshire receive over £4 million, Leciestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham and the West Midlands receive over £1m each and £700,000 spent in Yorkshire.
The revamps have brought in new fixtures and fittings including the latest in pioneering new energy efficient refrigeration technologies to minimise environmental impact and LED lighting.
Co-operative store manager Peter Sayers, who is based in Sheffield, said: “All of us here at Central England Co-operative Food Stores across our trading area are proud to be part of such great communities and are looking forward to welcoming all customers, old and new, to come and enjoy our new and revamped food stores.”
The work throughout the year has been part of an ambitious food store and funeral home development programme, with further investment planned during 2019.
Customers and members will also be able to enjoy a range of community benefits as a result of the Society’s investment.
Last year, thousands of pounds were handed out to groups in the city from Central England Co-operative’s Community Dividend Fund. A total of 152 groups shared over £187,000 during 2018.
The fund guarantees that at least one per cent of the Society’s trading profit is reinvested in local communities in a bid to help projects to thrive across its trading area.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time they spend in store to earn a share of the profits to accessing member activities.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Ipswich Star. Click the link in the yellow box below for details.


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Cage Warriors, the premier MMA fighting organisation in Europe and the Middle East, has entered into an exclusive apparel partnership arrangement with CF Athletic, the US apparel company that owns both the “CF” and “Cagefighter” apparel brands.
CF Athletic is one of the most storied brands in the world of MMA apparel and has a long and established history of sponsoring and outfitting the sport’s top athletes over the last decade. In addition, CF Athletic’s trademarked phrase “Embrace the Grind” has become synonymous with the training and dedication it takes to succeed in the sport of MMA.
Speaking about the newly-struck partnership, Kevin Pohmer of CF Athletic said: “We are excited to deepen CF Athletic’s brand and presence globally through this exclusive partnership with Cage Warriors.
“The CF Athletic brand has long been the most recognisable MMA apparel brand in the United States and we are excited to more broadly distribute our high-quality apparel throughout Europe and the Middle East with such a fantastic partner.”
Similarly, since 2001 Cage Warriors has become one of the most recognisable MMA event organizations in the world, hosting events throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Many of the biggest stars in MMA have made their names under the Cage Warriors banner, including Conor McGregor and Michael Bisping.
The promotion is all set to kick off their 2017 programme with a bang with a landmark event at their new London home at Indigo at The O2 Arena, as welterweight stars Matt Inman and Karl Amoussou go head to head for the vacant Cage Warriors welterweight world title at Cage Warriors 80 on February 18.
Casimir Knight, CEO of Cage Warriors, said: “CF Athletic is a great, authentic MMA brand. Like us, they embody both the history and progressive development of the sport.
“We are jointly committed to continuing to driving MMA’s development on a truly international basis. But what really won us over was CF Athletic’s positioning of the deal as ‘fighters first’ – with the option of fighters to benefit individually.”
One of the key components of this exclusive apparel deal is the ‘athlete-friendly’ nature of the partnership in which CF Athletic and Cage Warriors provide fighters with the option – but not the obligation – to get involved. The goal of the deal was to be a ‘win-win-win’ for all parties involved: for CF Athletic, for Cage Warriors and for the athletes in the cage.
This exclusive apparel partnership will begin in February 2017 and will be officially launched at the aforementioned Cage Warriors 80 event on February 18.
For the latest Cage Warriors Fighting Championship news and updates, keep track of us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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Emaar Q1 net surges 44pc, beats forecast
Dubai, April 28, 2012
Dubai's Emaar Properties reported a 44 per cent rise in first-quarter profit on Saturday, beating analysts' forecasts, as the developer shifted away from the battered property market and booked gains in its retail and hospitality operations.
The builder of the world's tallest tower made a profit of Dh606 million ($165 million), compared to Dh421 million during the same period last year, it said in an emailed statement.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast an average profit for the quarter of Dh496.75 million.
The revenue was Dh1.8 billion, with malls and retail businesses contributing Dh651 million and hospitality contributing Dh403 million, the company said in its statement.
Revenues from the firm's malls and hospitality segments grew 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.
Emaar, which saw sales of apartments plunge 85 per cent last year, is gradually shifting its focus from the bleak Dubai property market towards the more profitable hospitality and retail sectors.
Dubai's largest developer by market value sold 158 residential units during the period, of which 117 were in Dubai and 41 units in the international markets.
New unit sales in Dubai exceeded Dh620 million in the quarter, the company said.
Commenting on the performance, Mohamed Alabbar, the chairman of Emaar Properties, said: "We have entered a new era of growth for Emaar, focused on identifying new growth opportunities in line with the fast-changing economic environment."
"Our strength has always been in envisaging and executing prime real estate assets that contribute significantly to the economies we serve in. In Dubai, our assets are a prime driver of tourism, hospitality and retail, the traditional sectors that boost economic growth."
House prices in Dubai have tumbled about 60 per cent from a 2008 peak and no turnaround is expected this year, with supply continuing to outstrip demand.
Emaar's 2011 earnings report showed it was owed 595 million dirhams by troubled mortgage affiliate Amlak, in which it has a 48 percent stake. Emaar claimed the amount was fully recoverable.
The federal government cut Amlak's debt burden by $1.1 billion, in a renewed effort to revive the lender, whose stock has been halted since 2008.-Reuters
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