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Foxconn's founder and chairman Terry Gou has announced that the company will kick off mass production of iPhones in India from later this year. India is in the midst of an election cycle, and as such the government is keen to award deals in the manufacturing space. Wiston got the nod for a new $715 million facility a few months ago, and now Foxconn is set to significantly expand its presence in the country.
Gou also revealed that he would step back from day-to-day operations, instead focusing on long-term strategy. Foxconn has been manufacturing older iPhones in a facility in Bangalore for some time now, but it will now start making newer models.
Trial production of the iPhone X is already underway, with full-fledged assembly set to kick off at its Chennai plant in the coming months. The goal is to set up the manufacturing lines in time for the launch of the next iPhone in September, which gives Foxconn the ability to cater to India as well as other regions. From South China Morning Post:
His announcement has come as Foxconn, the largest private employer in China, is expanding its manufacturing operations in India, the world's second biggest smartphone market, as well as entering new hi-tech fields, including artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving.
Gou said at the same event in Taipei on Monday that Apple's iPhone will start mass production in India this year, which will get Foxconn more deeply involved in the development of the country's smartphone industry.
The new production lines in India also reflect how Apple, Foxconn's biggest customer, sought to grow sales of the iPhone in a vastly untapped market, where it also faces competitors like Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi Corp that have outpaced the US company in China.
The move is a win-win for Foxconn and Apple. By expanding its manufacturing facilities in India, the company reduces its reliance on China for production, and Apple is able to dodge the 30% import tax that is currently levied on the latest iPhones that are being imported from other markets.


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Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Inflation for urban consumers posted the fastest monthly growth in 13 years in June, driven mainly by the spike in prices of used cars and trucks. VCR slips 0.29%.
- The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers grew 0.9% from the previous month, marking the biggest monthly change since June 2008’s 1.0%. Yearly inflation stood at 5.4%.
- Food prices climbed 0.8% due to higher prices of meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.
- The energy index rose by 1.5% after natural gas continued to increase while electricity prices posted a slight drop.
- Core inflation for urban consumers likewise rose to 0.9%, as most items recorded upward price movements during the month.
- Prices of used cars and trucks climbed for the third straight month, up 10.5% in June. This is the highest on record since 1953.
- Increases were also seen in new vehicles, motor vehicle insurance, airline fares, apparel, recreation, education, and hospital services.
- Declines were reported in household furnishing and operations, medical care, and prescription drugs.
- Communication prices were unchanged from the previous month.


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LOS ANGELES Joining the host of other restaurant chains that have reported terrible October sales trends, California Pizza Kitchen Inc. said Thursday its same-store sales for last month fell 7.3 percent. The casual-dining operator said most of the traffic trouble came in the long-distressed California, Florida and Nevada markets and resulted mostly from depressed traffic at the malls or lifestyle centers where California Pizza Kitchens typically are based. This week, many retailers, ...
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Europe Digital Strategy: The evolution of the single market towards common data spacesEditorial 25 February 2022
In 2022 special attention has already been – and will increasingly be dedicated to the Digital Transition. This relates to all aspects of the social, political and economic life of European Countries. But besides making it mandatory for EU Members that will benefit from RRF resources to have a percentage of the projects and investments dedicated to the digital transition, the Commission itself is at work to transform the single market in a digital way and towards common data spaces. In particular on the 23 February 2022, the Commission proposed a Regulation on harmonized rules on fair access to and use of data. This regulation, named the Data Act, is a key pillar of the European strategy for data and it has as its main goal to make Europe a leader in the data economy in order to benefit the European economy and society.


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On Sunday, July 1, 2018, it became legal to purchase recreational marijuana from licensed retailers in Massachusetts. Oddly enough, as of July 1, there were only medical marijuana facilities open in Massachusetts. It seems state legislators and officials aren’t in a rush to get the state license marijuana blunts rolling just yet.
For a good reference on legalized marijuana in Massachusetts, there is a 75-page law on Marijuana sales and consumption that can be read here. The State has also set up a page with useful information here.
Here are seven things to know about recreational marijuana use and sales in New Bedford:
1. Per state law, you must be 21 years old or older to purchase or consume marijuana.
While it is legal to smoke cigarettes at 18, it isn’t legal to consume or purchase marijuana unless you are at least 21. If you are 21 years old, you can gift up to 1 ounce of marijuana, but can’t sell it without a state license.
2. It is still illegal to consume marijuana in a public space.
Per state law, marijuana must be consumed on private property with the permission of the owner. Landlords can prohibit smoking or growing marijuana on their property. So before you light up in the park or other public spaces, know that you can be cited or arrested for doing so.
3. You can legally grow marijuana plants in your home.
Growing marijuana out of your home can be prohibited by your landlord and you should follow all applicable state laws. You can grow up to six marijuana plants per person or 12 plants per home.
4. Expect to pay a 20% tax on recreational sales of marijuana.
New Bedford will have a 3% excise tax on marijuana sales within the city.
Massachusetts legislators passed legislation that set the maximum tax on marijuana at 20% – even though Massachusetts residents approved a ballot measure in 2016 setting the maximum tax at 12%. Currently, the State has a sales tax of 6.25% tax and an excise tax rate to 10.75% bringing the total Massachusetts tax on marijuana to 17%. Add on the 3% City of New Bedford tax and 20% is the total tax New Bedford people can expect to pay when purchasing marijuana for recreational use in New Bedford.
5. There are no current recreational marijuana shops in New Bedford (or in Massachusetts).
Currently, there are no recreational marijuana shops in New Bedford as Mayor Jon Mitchell has a moratorium on recreational marijuana sales in New Bedford until 30 Sept or until zoning for recreational marijuana shops has been approved. Here is a look at the proposed zoning ordinance and map.
6. New Bedford will be a top producer of marijuana in Massachusetts and will make up to $300,000 a year from it.
New Bedford has a host city agreement with ARL healthcare that provides New Bedford with $25 per pound of marijuana produced. Full details here.
7. Per the mayor’s office, New Bedford will issue up to 8 retail marijuana licenses.
New Bedford will issue marijuana licenses at 20% of current retail liquor licenses. According to the mayor’s office, there are 40 retail liquor licenses. Beacon Compassion will likely be the first recreational marijuana retailer in New Bedford as they already have a license to sell medical marijuana in New Bedford and it’s the medical marijuana facilities that will get the first crack at retail sales.


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The European Commission has proposed a plan to improve the VAT rules for cross-border ecommerce in Europe. With this proposal it should be easier for consumers and companies to buy and sell goods and services online.
The European Commission wants to introduce a EU-wide portal for online VAT payments, thereby extending the current Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) to cross-border supplies of goods and services. This could be a real game change for online retailers, especially the smaller ones, who sell to other countries, because they can now access all EU countries at an affordable and efficient compliance cost, as they deal with all their EU VAT obligations in one place. VAT on cross-border sales under 10,000 euros will be handled domestically. One of the new rules will also ensure that VAT is paid in the country where the final consumer is living. This should lead to a fairer distribution of tax revenues amongst EU countries.
VAT still one of top barriers when selling cross-border
The proposals are of course still proposals and will be submitted to the European Parliament for consultation and to the Council for adoption. But European ecommerce associations are happy with the proposed rules. “We are convinced that this proposal has the potential to minimize the burdens when selling cross-border that arise from different VAT regimes across the European Union”, Ecommerce Europe says, explaining that according to their research, VAT still is one of the top barriers when selling cross-border in Europe.
“But even with an extended One Stop Shop, online merchants will still have to deal with different VAT rates when selling abroad. The European Union currently has more than 75 different VAT rates and this creates a disturbance of the level playing field needed to foster cross-border trade and to complete the internal market”, the organization says.
‘We hope this helps enables SMEs to sell cross-border’
EMOTA also welcomes the new rules. “You can’t expect an efficient and vibrant digital economy to be mirrored by an equally inefficient outdated paper based system. That’s why we welcome the EU Commission’s proposals and hope the Council will back this proposal and help enable SMEs to trade across borders.”


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While the Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to a “new normal” in every industry and sector across the globe, its impact on the economies of individual countries has differed greatly. The commercial real estate market in Hong Kong and Japan have faced inevitable disruptions due to changes in business activity and the everyday lives of their citizens. This article will provide an overview of the shifts and developments in Hong Kong and Japan’s commercial real estate markets caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The significant year-on-year GDP growth of 8% and 7.6% in the first two quarters of 2021 respectively has put an end to the negative GDP growth recorded in 2019 and 2020. Stringent pandemic restrictions and the near-absence of local COVID-19 cases have boosted market confidence, resulting in a gradual increase in property transaction volumes.
The widespread adoption of remote working and cost concerns have reduced the demand for vast office spaces, which has resulted in mass corporate downsizing and a preference for flexible term and shared office spaces. Further decline in rents are expected before a rebound in 2022. On the flip side, the lowered rent and increase in vacancies offer tenants a range of office relocation and restructuring options.
Owing to social distancing orders and travel restrictions, retailers have been cutting costs and raising profitability by scaling back their brick-and-mortar presence and improving their online sales channel. As rent in prime shopping areas have plunged to record lows since the 2003 SARS outbreak, retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters and Decathlon have absorbed vacancies that previously housed high-end luxury brands in anticipation of the reopening of the city’s borders and the recovery of the tourism industry.
The industrial sector bounced back faster than the other two commercial sectors, with its investment transactions accounting for a large percentage of commercial property transactions in 2021. The meteoric rise of e-commerce during the pandemic boosted demand for logistics, cold storage spaces, and warehouse facilities. Furthermore, given the rapid development of telecommunications and 5G technology, the need for instant data analytics, reliable internet and cloud services, and ample storage for data has further heightened the demand for and expansion of data centres.
The government has backed the commercial real estate market through various initiatives across different sectors. Most notably, the abolishment of Double Ad Valorem Stamp Duty in November 2020 and a 10% increase in loan-to-value ratio caps since August 2020 encourages purchasers to borrow more money to acquire non-residential properties. In addition, under a pilot scheme launched in March 2021 by the Lands Department, land premiums relating to lease modifications for the redevelopment of pre-1987 industrial buildings are now charged at standard rates. Finally, leasing and investment transactions have been stimulated by financial incentives and border control measures. While the Consumption Voucher Scheme has increased local consumption, mid-term plans for cross-border travel are facilitated by ongoing discussions between the Hong Kong, Chinese, and Macau governments.
Japan’s real estate market is one of the largest in the world by transaction size owing to a variety of factors, including the ability of foreigners to own freehold interests in land, Japan’s stable returns, and the low-risk investment environment. While the pandemic has affected the real estate market in Japan, its impact has not been as severe as in other countries that were hard-hit by COVID-19, such as the US and Europe. Investor demand in Japanese real estate remains strong as the market is generally considered an attractive option in times of instability and turmoil in the global market.
The commercial office sector in Japan was stagnant during 2020, with many owners opting to observe the market before making any significant moves. However, it appears that more assets are expected to enter the market in 2021 and beyond. The sector is projected to become more active as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ease. With the increased adoption of remote working and an expected influx of vacant office spaces over the next few years, questions remain as to how rental rates and yields will be affected.
In contrast to the office sector, the pandemic has led to a rise in the demand for certain asset classes in Japan. Spurred on by the pandemic, the surge in e-commerce and remote working has created the need for large-scale, state-of-the-art logistics facilities and data centres. Several large-scale logistics facilities have been sold over the past year and more are expected to enter the market in the near future. Likewise, major data centre developers and operators have contracted to build several data centres and campuses in Japan. Demand for these asset classes is expected to continue to rise in the foreseeable future.
Other asset classes that have experienced a growth in demand over the past few years and are expected to continue to grow include: (i) multifamily residential portfolios, as they offer investors steady returns and a relatively low default rate, and (ii) student housing.
Finally, one segment of the market that remains small but is expected to grow exponentially is the ultra-luxury residential market, particularly in Tokyo and in ski resort regions such as Nagano and Hokkaido. Driven mainly by overseas ultra-high net worth individuals, this segment has begun to show signs of recovery from the effects of the pandemic and is expected to soar in demand.
On the whole, the real estate market in Japan remains vibrant. While uncertainty persists for other sectors that have been more adversely affected by the pandemic, such as retail and hospitality, traditional asset classes such as commercial offices are predicted to experience a definitive rebound. Investor optimism remains high for Japan’s real estate market and demand for a variety of asset classes should continue through the next few years.
Addressing the legal aspects of real estate transactions
We are witnessing the growth and recovery of two robust commercial real estate markets, but one should be mindful of the legal aspects involved before and after investment or leasing decisions. Interested investors should seek pre-acquisition legal advice to ensure that their position is tightly protected and to be aware of any mouse traps or complex governmental requirements. With the help of an experienced legal expert, companies will be well-positioned to maximise the advantages of the current market circumstances.


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Forex reserves fall below $33 billion
Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have fallen below US$33 billion after the central bank had cleared import bills to the Asian Clearing Union, an arrangement to settle payments for intra-regional transactions among member countries including Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Bank paid $1.12 billion to clear payments for its imports from other member countries of the ACU. With the payment, forex reserves stand at $32.52 billion, said a senior official of Bangladesh Bank today.
The country's foreign currency reserves, which was $44.95 billion early January 2021, stood at $33.63 billion on January 4, as import payments continued to remain higher than overall receipts from exports and remittances.
India, Bhutan, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are other members of the Tehran-headquartered ACU.
The member countries of the ACU clear their payments every two months.
Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves soared to $48 billion, the highest-ever in the country's history in August 2021.
However, due to the high level of import payments resulting from high commodity prices for global supply chain interruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have been declining since May of 2022.


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In BriefDrug busts net 11 suspected dealers in Boynton BeachMan stunned to find robberin the back seat of his car
Drug busts net 11 suspected dealers in Boynton Beach
Low-level drug peddlers took a hit recently when Boynton Beach police went undercover, hit a host of "hot spots" and jailed nearly a dozen in Operation Buy Bye.
Confidential informants facilitated many of the hookups. The shopping lists included heroin, fentanyl, ecstasy and crack cocaine. And the buys went down in parking lots at Walmart, Chevron and Shell stations and Betty Thomas Park at 2882 SE 2nd St., arrest reports show.
Narcotics investigators "identified 18 suspects and arrested 11 of them throughout the day [Dec. 17]. More arrests are expected," said Stephanie Slater, a spokeswoman for the Boynton Beach Police Departm...


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Dark Souls II, the upcoming sequel to 2011’s brutal fantasy role-playing game, is far from reaching the finish line. Unfortunately for fans itching to die just one more time, it will likely miss a release in 2013.
This news comes from Co-game Creator Tomohiro Shibuya, who recently sat down with Edge about the next chapter of this beloved franchise. Expectations have jumped for what this series can be after such a successful 2011 release, and since the development team is now “substantially bigger,” the entire creation process has changed.
Every single department, from the group heading world building to the talented folks figuring out multiplayer, has increased in size, and because of this, Shibuya estimates that the game is only about 25 percent complete. That’s pushed back the projected release beyond 2013, but Shibuya declined to comment on whether the final product will even launch on current hardware.
With new consoles expected to hit later this year, it’s unlikely that this hot release will be on yesterday’s technology.
Are you looking forward to Dark Souls II? If so, do you mind waiting this long? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below!


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St. Paul Pioneer Press
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Prices Put Herring Lovers In A Pickle
Fish seller blames poor Baltic catch – but mostly dollar’s decline – for higher costs of Scandinavian delicacies
Uff da. Today is Syttende Mai – Norwegian Independence Day – and the world might be running a little short of herring.
That is a concern in Scandinavia, at least, where the spring catch of Baltic herring has fallen to disastrous levels. Closer to home, the Olsen Fish Co. of Minneapolis says there should be ample supplies of North Atlantic herring from Canadian waters to keep makers of pickled herring snacks and appetizers stocked for the coming year.
But consumers should expect to pay a little more.
Chris Dorff, president of the Minneapolis herring and lutefisk company, said that fishing crews have complained about dwindling catches of herring in the various fisheries, but that major customers have been able to secure supplies well in advance of the pickling process.
Prices have crept upward. Retail prices for the company’s Olsen’s, Viking and Ye Old Kings brands of pickled herring now range from between about $3.00 for a one-pound jar to around $3.50, compared to $2.69 to $3.00 a year ago, Dorff said.
He blamed the rising pries partly on the supply of fish, but mostly on the weakened U.S. dollar and higher energy costs that influence everything from transportation to refrigeration and packaging.
“If I were to put my finger on one thing it would be the value of the dollar,” he said. “That is making our fish a lot more expensive, even though our suppliers are trying to hold the line.”
Olsen Fish, a subsidiary of Noon Hour Foods of Chicago, sells more than $5 million a year in herring and lutefisk. Most of its herring comes from New Brunswick.
Data on herring supplies and consumption are hard to come by since the fish are used in so many ways: They are pickled, processed into sardines, smoked and consumed in various forms by the British, including as kippers. But scientists who watch the world fisheries are concerned about dwindling catches.
Scientists for Seafood Watch at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California noted n an August 2004 study that the herring catch of the northeast U.S. coast dropped to 81.6 million metric tons in 1998, the last year for which there is data, down from 108.2 million metric tons in 1996. The catch off the eastern coast of Canada, meanwhile, dropped to 20.1 million metric tons in 1998, down from 32 million metric tons in 1992 and 44.1 million in 1989.
The crunch on herring supplies now comes from the spring catch in the Baltic Sea that is used for extracting roe and for making surstromming, or fermented herring, which is a Swedish dish often referred to as the world’s smelliest food.
In the current issue of the Swedish online newspaper www.thelocal.se, fish processors complain of insufficient supplies to meet surstromming needs for the Swedes’ annual August and September traditional eating. An official of a Swedish fish company told the newspaper that one of his fishermen caught only 15 metric tons of Baltic herring last year, when he would normally catch about 50 tons in the same waters.
Dorff said he doesn’t believe the shortage of potent-smelling fish product will have any impact of the U.S. or Canada, where he doubts surstrommng is a legal food. Its consumption is banned in apartment complexes in Sweden, and some say Norwegian independence means never having to eat the stuff.
Most of the herring processed in North America is served in a wine or cream sauce, although there are dozens of recipes in Northern Europe, where it is usually called sil or sild.
“Profit margins have shrunk, and people are reluctant to pass along higher costs,” Dorff said. “Consumers should be grateful and for now, enjoy as much as they want.”


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By now it is clear to the entire internet community and the rest of the world that the cryptocurrency industry is the real deal. Many countries have started adopting crypto-blockchain technology. They are legalizing it in their countries by passing laws and regulating them to make them better suited for their citizens.
The entire world is now aware that the top cryptocurrencies in the crypto-world are Bitcoin (BTC) & Ethereum (ETH). These two digital currencies are known for making constant efforts to stay on top. Ethereum (ETH) however, has the potential to overtake Bitcoin (BTC) because of the ideology and mechanics that go behind its making.
However, there is another cryptocurrency ‘Litecoin (LTC)’ that has set its goal to become the top crypto in the coming years. Litecoin (LTC) since its launch has shown great potential and innovation that has attracted crypto users from all around the world.
Just recently, Litecoin (LTC) in collaboration with a German e-gaming company has developed and launched a role-playing fantasy game known as the ‘LiteBringer’. Litecoin (LTC) announced that the LiteBringer would be playable only through the Litecoin (LTC) blockchain.
This time around, Litecoin (LTC) has made another very surprising announcement. The Litecoin (LTC) announced that they have collaborated with BlockCard to launch their intrinsic Visa debit card.
The CEO of Litecoin (LTC), Charlie Lee, commented that this was not the first time they attempted to launch their native Visa debit card. He stated that their first attempt to launch a Visa debit card was in collaboration with LitePay. However, the deal fell when LitePay got shut down due to unforeseen reasons.
While making the announcement, Charlie Lee commented that this initiative will bring a new meaning to Litecoin’s (LTC) missions. He added that in the past, the Litecoin (LTC) users used to rely on other crypto debit cards for funding, which would cause them more transaction fees.
With the launch of Litecoin’s (LTC) native Visa debit card, the users would be able to use it just like a normal ATM card and would incur fewer transaction fees.


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The NAND flash market staged a successful turnaround in the third quarter, as improved demand and significant production cuts brought the industry’s supply and demand balance into better alignment, according to an IHS Flash Memory market brief from information and analytics provider IHS.
NAND revenue rose to $4.5 billion, up 5 percent from $4.3 billion in the second quarter, with industrywide operating profits nearly doubling from $159.2 million to $350.9 million. The strong results marked a satisfying reversal of the sharp downturn suffered in the earlier quarter, when revenue had tumbled from $5.0 billion at the beginning of the year in the January to March period. Results from the most recent quarter also showed industry operating profit margin rising to 7.6 percent, up from 3.6 percent.
The turnaround after a lackluster second quarter can be attributed to two factors: greater demand for NAND flash, as well as to a concerted effort by major suppliers to manage overall supply.
On the one hand, the growth of smartphones and other mobile devices like tablets requiring NAND flash memory translated into improved demand. Moreover, increased adoption in client and enterprise applications of solid state drives—electromagnetic storage disks with no moving parts that also use NAND flash for memory—helped lift NAND fortunes in the third quarter.
The other helpful boost to the industry was engineered by NAND flash suppliers. Manufacturers everywhere in the flash memory market cut back on production or pushed out expansion plans, bringing supply and demand into greater balance. Inventory in the channel, which had become bloated in the first half of the year, then tightened to normal levels, resulting in stabilized prices. The overall effect was a streamlined market that showed up on suppliers’ financials in the form of higher revenue and profitability.
Among the suppliers that took drastic action were Toshiba of Japan, which slashed production by 30 percent; and Samsung Electronics of South Korea, which shut down NAND production at its fab in Austin, Texas.
For Samsung, the largest memory manufacturer overall, its NAND operating margin rose from 11 to 13 percent. The company’s decline in average selling prices also narrowed, moderating from the negative high teens to just a single-digit deficit. A large part of the reason was a product mix that emphasized NAND solutions such as Embedded Multimedia Card (eMMC) and multichip packages (MCP) over raw wafers and chips. Coupled with a blockbuster quarter in its smartphone division because of the success of the Galaxy S III, Samsung reported that its cash holdings ballooned to 30 trillion Korean won (approximately $26 billion) at the end of the third quarter, up from 24 trillion won.
For its part, Toshiba confirmed that its NAND business turned a profit in the first half of the fiscal year. While the company posted losses of 2 billion yen ($25 million) in its first fiscal quarter, it generated operating profits of more than 10 billion yen in the second quarter. Toshiba’s inventory build-up from the first half will come down to normal levels by the end of the year, and it expects to continue production cuts until December.
Two other NAND manufacturers reported improved financials. U.S.-based Micron Technology said its NAND Solutions Group posted an operating profit of $8 million compared to a loss of $1 million the previous quarter, while SK Hynix Semiconductor of South Korea saw NAND margins cross over to the single positive digits from a decline of 3 percent.
With all suppliers basking in positive operating profit territory, expectations for the end of the year remain optimistic. There are risks to be seen, however, for 2013, as demand for solid state drives thus far has not lived up to expectations. As a result, NAND manufacturers will need to keep supply under tight management and control.


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Nissan today showed off in Tokyo an upgraded Leaf electric car with longer range and added features, and a model with a cheaper price.
The announcement was for the Japanese market. Nissan did not detail its plans for the changes in the U.S. and other overseas markets, but said similar upgrades are in the works for the Leaf outside Japan.
Nissan has not revealed details of the 2013 Leaf for the U.S. It now is creating facilities in Tennessee for U.S. manufacture of the Leaf and of its battery packs.
Nissan said the Japan changes, shown at a Tokyo hotel, were driven by feedback from owners who said their chief worry was running out of electric juice while driving.
As rated in Japan, the new model can travel 228 kilometers (142 miles) on a charge, up from 200 kilometers (124 miles) as long as you don't use air conditioning. The increase came from streamlining the battery system and lightening the car, Nissan said.
Under the different U.S. EPA testing, the Leaf has a rated range for the U.S. of 73 miles. If the U.S. model gets roughly the same 15% increase, it's U.S. rating could rise to 84 miles.
And the cheapest model now will sell for less than 2.5 million yen ($31,000), excluding extra options and government subsidies, down from the cheapest previous model here at just below 3 million yen ($37,000).
The Leaf has accounted for more than half of all global electric car sales, with sales of about 43,000 since rollout in late 2010. More than 17,000 have been sold in the U.S. and monthly sales recently have been about 1,500, according to Nissan.
Senior VP Masaaki Nishizawa told reporters here that "people who try out the Leaf are moved" by feeling more eco-friendly. "But they are worried about cruise range."
When the Leaf first went on sale, recharging facilities were at 200 Nissan dealerships in Japan. That will grow to 700 Nissan dealers later this year, or 1,200 total locations including other spots such as convenience stores.
Among other changes to the Leaf:
-- Roomier luggage space after the recharging mechanism became smaller and was moved to the front.
-- A dashboard display that tells how much battery charge is left.
-- A navigation system that calculates the best energy-saving route to your destination.
-- A smaller lighter recharging nozzle.
-- Reduction of rare-earth mineral use by 40% for the electric motor.


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Market signals typically offer a clue whether or not to retain ownership. Calf prices in 2014 and 2015 were 40% to 50% higher than this year, which made the decision to sell weaned calves a no-brainer. But market conditions for 2018/19 are not an easy call, and analysts say the decision to retain ownership is a 50-50 proposition.
Whether to market after weaning, running calves longer as stockers or taking calves onto the feedlot is a decision that is weighed differently by cow-calf producers. Market prices and forage growing conditions locally are two of the biggest factors that most producers will need to consider.
The beef industry has reached a relative balance with the cowherd back at average levels and feedlots stocked, says Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension economist.
“Obviously what you’re looking at a lot of times is do we have something kind of out of whack that either favors selling them as feeders or favors keeping them all the way through the feedlot,” Peel says.
This year there are no clear market signals in either direction.
Peel expects normal margins, but believes feed costs will be favorable in feedlots with lower grain prices.
“Cost of production at the feedlot level will be fairly attractive, more than likely. Obviously, short-term dynamics can impact that,” Peel says. “I suspect that there will be opportunities for kind of normal returns as it stands.”
Being in a middle-of-the-road market leaves producers with a lot of options because there are no clear market signals on selling or retaining, says Josh Maples, assistant professor of agriculture economics at Mississippi State University.
“I think in a year like this, it really comes down to how cheaply you can add the pounds,” Maples says.
In areas of the country such as the Southeast, moisture conditions have been good, helping boost forage growth regionally. Producers in states such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee have no problems with drought heading into late summer/early fall so there should be ample feed to add cheap gains.
Depending on forage availability, calves can become stockers on the farm or ranch after weaning to achieve weights of 700 lb. to 800 lb.
“Then that gives you the opportunity to retain ownership through the feedlot like we typically think of retained ownership,” Maples says.
In other areas of the country such as the southern Plains and western U.S. drought is relatively widespread forcing early weaning on some ranches. When in drought situations cattle might not weigh what producers would want, says John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing. They also might have difficulty getting an acceptable price for their weaned calves because of a regional flood of calves on the market.
“Retained ownership can work in drought if you’ve got good calves and you’re simply not being offered the value on those calves,” Nalivka says.
Should the market be depressed regionally, calves can be sent straight to the feedlot to be finished.
“If you’ve got data, some history on how your calves perform, then you have some possibilities of creating pretty good values,” he says.
One situation that has the potential to change the profitability of retained ownership in the foreseeable future is the export market. Trade wars entered into by the Trump administration have resulted in a ripple effect of retaliatory tariffs.
Peel says beef exports have helped support the cattle market for the past 18 months, but tariffs could have potential to alter those gains.
“If you throw one rock in the pond, you can follow the circles and see where they go. If you throw two rocks in the pond, you can kind of see how the circles interact with each other,” Peel says of the complicated tariff situation. “When it’s over 30 rocks in the pond at the same time, you have no idea what is going on and how to sort out the impact.”
Uncertainty is one of the only certainties in raising cattle, and tariffs could muddy the waters for marketing decisions. Nalivka cautions producers should not be tormented about how tariffs could impact cattle prices.
“I would stress don’t worry about what you can’t manage or worry about the things you don’t have control over,” Nalivka says.
Instead, he advises cattlemen to know their breakevens and implement risk management to help protect profits if markets go down.
To read more about retaining ownership, data and profits, visit www.Drovers.com/retain-ownership-data-profits


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COTTAGE GROVE, WI -- Johnson Health Tech, Co. Ltd., based in Taichung, Taiwan, recently announced it has merged its four U.S. subsidiaries. The new entity, named Johnson Health Tech North America Corp., combines Matrix Fitness Systems, Horizon Fitness, Vision Fitness and Johnson Health Tech Research and Development into one company.
Matrix, which produces commercial products, Horizon, which produces consumer exercise equipment, and Vision, which produces specialty equipment, will retain their brand identities in the new organization, and each will maintain its own sales and marketing groups, according a company statement.
Chris Clawson, formerly the president of Matrix, has been named president and CEO of Johnson Health Tech North America Inc., which serves as the North American headquarters of Johnson Health Tech, Co. Ltd.
“This move enables us to streamline the organization to better leverage our existing resources and improve product distribution through shared warehousing,” Clawson says in a statement. “The result will be a greater ability to meet customer needs across all of our markets as well as a more efficient organization, which will allow for substantial cost savings.”
Mark Zabel, formerly vice president of global marketing for Matrix, has been named vice president, global marketing for Johnson Heath Tech North America Inc. Zabel will oversee all product management and marketing for the Horizon, Matrix and Vision brands.
Matrix also recently announced its sales results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2008. U.S. sales increased by 48.3 percent, and global sales increased by 41 percent over the corresponding 2007 period. Clawson attributes the domestic growth to an increase in the number of trade shows Matrix has been attending in 2008, including the Gold’s Gym convention and the National Apartment Association Conference.


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Image source: Netflix
Netflix surpassed the 200 million subscriber mark during the fourth quarter of 2020, capping off its biggest-ever year of growth due to viewership gains prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, the streaming service announced it added 8.51 million paid subscribers during the period, blowing past Wall Street analyst estimates of 6.03 million. For the year, Netflix added 37 million paid members, boosting its subscribers by 22%.
Netflix reported quarterly revenue of $6.64 billion, up 21.5%, and earnings of $1.19 per share.
Annual revenue rose 24% to $25 billion, which drove 2020’s operating income up 76% to $4.6 billion.
In a letter to shareholders, Netflix said it is “very close” to being free cash flow positive and teased the possibility of resuming share buybacks. The company hasn’t made such a move since 2011, when it shifted from DVDs to streaming content.
Netflix plans to pay down some of its $15.8 billion in debt as well.
“Combined with our $8.2 billion cash balance and our $750 million undrawn credit facility, we believe we no longer have a need to raise external financing for our day-to-day operations,” the company wrote to its shareholders. “As we generate excess cash, we intend to maintain $10 billion to $15 billion in gross debt and will explore returning cash to shareholders through ongoing stock buybacks, as we did in the past.”
Though Netflix faces competition from rivals, like Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max, it remains the top streaming platform and wrapped up 2020 as the service with the most subscribers, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.
The competitive landscape, Netflix said, “signifies that these companies all recognize the future is streaming entertainment, a vision we have been working towards since inception.”
“Our strategy is simple: if we can continue to improve Netflix every day to better delight our members, we can be their first choice for streaming entertainment. This past year is a testament to this approach.”
It noted the success of several original films and series, including “The Queen’s Gambit,” “The Crown,” “Midnight Sky” and “Bridgerton” during the quarter. Although the pandemic postponed production of new content, Netflix said it is “back up and running in most regions.”
Reed Hastings, Netflix’s co-chief executive officer, said he believes the company has room to grow.
“We’ve got a lot of subscribers here in the U.S., but we still have a lot more viewing time that we would like to earn with an incredible service and incredible content,” said Hastings.
For the first quarter of 2021, Netflix expects to add 6 million to its paid subscriber base, generating $7.12 billion in revenue and earnings of $2.97 per share.
Source: Equities News


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Tag:Marijuana Enforcement Division
Drawing the Line on Equity and Jurisdictions in Denver Marijuana Delivery
Denver is taking a novel approach to addressing social equity in the marijuana business by opening up delivery to social equity applicants.
Counties Cautious With Slow Rollout of Marijuana Delivery
As of January, Colorado allows for home delivery of medical marijuana. With COVID-19 causing food shortages at grocery stores and demanding social distancing precautions,...
Marijuana Regulators, Enforcers Deliver Insights
Attorneys packed the new Colorado Bar Association CLE classroom for the Third Annual Cannabis Symposium held Wednesday in Denver. The all-day seminar touched on marijuana...
Law Week -


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"Some wars are fought with artillery and helicopters; others
with press releases and lawsuits. In March, Apple fired a missile
by releasing a statement declaring that it was suing smartphone
manufacturer HTC for infringing 20 of its iPhone patents.
""We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented
inventions, or we can do something about it," said Apple CEO Steve
Jobs. "We've decided to do something about it. We think competition
is healthy, but competitors should create their own original
technology, not steal ours."
"In its complaint to US regulator the International Trade
Commission (ITC), Apple claimed -- and continues to claim -- that
Taiwan-based HTC is infringing patents related to the iPhone's user
interface, hardware and software design. Apple named 12 phones that
use this technology: of those, five also use Google's Android
operating system, and seven also use Microsoft Windows mobile


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Imagine a day, perhaps sometime in the next year and a half, when world leaders triumphantly proclaim that an agreement has at long last been reached in the Doha Round of global trade negotiations. Hosannas pour forth from editorial writers and commentators, all declaring that after so many disappointments and failures since the talks were first launched in 2001, the breakthrough accord heralds a giant leap forward for global commerce and international economic cooperation.
Could it happen? Glimmers of hope have emerged from the World Trade Organization in recent months that a compromise may be in the offing, one loosely patterned on a deal that fell apart in July 2008 after a marathon, nine-day meeting at WTO headquarters in Geneva. Since then, one of the main antagonists, India, elected a more stable government in the spring of 2009, and the new Indian trade minister, Anand Sharma, has adopted a more conciliatory tone than his predecessor. As for the United States, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has proposed an interesting approach for cutting through some of the trickiest problems bedeviling the talks.
An unusually upbeat mood prevailed at an early-September meeting in New Delhi attended by ministers from 35 countries. Although the meeting accomplished little more than an agreement to restart negotiations, the host, Sharma, proclaimed that "the impasse has been broken," while WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy voiced optimism that the meeting could be "the beginning of the endgame of the Doha Round."


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The development of blockchain-based Web3 gaming tools is revolutionizing the industry, with platforms like Sequence leading the way. In a recent collaboration with Google Cloud, Sequence aims to simplify the complexity of Web3 technology and provide game developers with the necessary tools to create exceptional gameplay experiences.
With the launch of Sequence Builder, developers are now able to seamlessly integrate blockchain-based elements into their games, catering to both traditional web2 and Web3-native developers. This not only eliminates access barriers but also allows developers to focus on what truly matters – creating great games without having to fully understand the complexities of Web3 technology.
One of the major challenges facing the blockchain gaming industry is user adoption. Despite some positive awareness and ongoing projects, there are still misconceptions surrounding blockchain games. A survey from the Blockchain Game Alliance revealed that the biggest misconception about blockchain games is that they are scams, with 69.5% of respondents holding this belief.
Greg Canessa, President and COO at Sequence, emphasizes the importance of simplifying the understanding and building of blockchain infrastructure to allow developers to focus on the creative process. The partnership with Google Cloud further propels this mission forward, providing developers with the necessary tools to create high-quality gaming experiences that players will love.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the integration of Web3 technology is set to play a significant role in shaping its future. By providing developers with the tools and resources they need to succeed, platforms like Sequence are paving the way for a new era of gaming experiences. As user adoption increases and misconceptions are cleared, the potential for growth and innovation within the blockchain gaming industry is limitless.


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Komatsu opens new manufacturing plant in Myanmar
Komatsu Manufacturing Myanmar., LTD. (KMM), will fabricate components for construction and mining equipment as well as power generators. The plant opened in Mandalay, a major metropolis of Myanmar, where the company recently held an opening ceremony.
Komatsu has been strengthening its abilities to remanufacture used components such as engines and transmissions through a wide variety of processes. The goal is to get old components up to a quality on par with newly made components and supply them back to the marketplace.
KMM is Komatsu's 13th remanufacturing factory, and is the company’s first production base related to construction and mining equipment in Myanmar. To help Myanmar solve a problem of electric power supply shortage, KMM also will produce power generators.
In addition to Myanmar’s rapid economic development over the last few years, the company is expecting growth in demand for construction and mining equipment there over the long term. Myanmar leads the world in producing jade.
Komatsu has sold and serviced construction and mining equipment in Myanmar since the company opened its Yangon office in 1995. With KMM, Komatsu looks to be better positioned to supply remanufactured products closer to customers' jobsites.
That move is designed to help customers improve productivity, and reduce operating and maintenance costs. At the same time, Komatsu also will be able to capture aftermarket demand and work to expand sales.


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One of the most anticipated launches, Bakkt's futures exchange, turned out to be a giant dud on the first day of trading. Now fingers are pointing at that as the reason bitcoin prices are went on the south side of the $8,000 level Tuesday afternoon.
An hour after Chou accused the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulator of acting in bad faith and being in the pocket of one of the largest companies it oversees, RGPR agency founder Ryan Gormley took to twitter with a message of his own.
The cryptocurrency futures market took another two steps towards normalization Tuesday.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced on June 25 that it has approved LedgerX’s application as a designated contract market (DCM). A DCM may “list for trading futures or option contracts based on all types of commodities and that may allow access to their facilities by all types of traders, including retail customers,” according to the CFTC.


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Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris confirms it will take place on 14-16 February 2022 in Paris and is all-set to greet the international wine and spirits industry in the best possible conditions
BORDEAUX, France, Jan. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vinexposium group's flagship event will be the first major international gathering of 2022 and an effective tool for promoting market recovery. Highly awaited by the wine and spirits industry, Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris will welcome 2,800 exhibitors from 32 countries.
"Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris has rapidly become an unmissable event! We are delighted to be able to take part in this major wine gathering in Paris, to meet up with our customers again and to boost our business in export markets," reacts Philippe Guigal, CEO of E. GUIGAL.
"I eagerly await reconnecting with suppliers and hunting out new great wines and relationships to build on for the year ahead," comments John Chapman, Managing Director of The Oxford Wine Company.
"After 2 years with no exhibitions, it is essential to reconnect with our producers and to list new producers. For the sake of business, the time has come to meet again! The hosting arrangements guarantee that everything will go as smoothly as possible and attending Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris was a foregone conclusion for me," stresses Sébastien Clément, CEO of Tanium Vins et Spiritueux in Quebec.
Ongoing safety arrangements will be executed with utmost rigour to ensure the event runs seamlessly while providing the conviviality expected. Measures include a valid health pass (or vaccination pass depending on regulations) to access the event, mandatory face coverings and an enhanced cleaning process. Across the French capital, facilities are all-set to welcome the participants. Transportation, hotels, bars and restaurants are open.
These conditions will enable attendees to fully benefit from a high-quality programme with masterclasses and tastings, multi-format talks by experts and themed areas – Be Spirits for spirits and mixology, Wine Tech Perspectives to dive into the heart of innovation and digitalisation and La Nouvelle Vague will highlight young winemakers.
"With 5 weeks to go before the exhibition opens, we are putting all our energy into delivering the event the industry is expecting. We are leveraging all our resources to bring in key international buyers and make Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris an amazing event in every respect," adds Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium.
More information on wineparis-vinexpo.com.


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Having already been release in Japan last year, it seems like this is taking forever to reach our shores. Expected early next year – spring to be just as vague – this PS3 JRPG exclusive should expect some tough competition against Final Fantasy. Saying that, this does look good.
– ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW –
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E-commerce giant Amazon today announced that OnePlus 6T will be available at its lowest price ever during Fab Phones Fest starting from April 11, 12 a.m. onwards. Till April 13, customers will get flat Rs 3,000 off on 6GB + 128 GB version and flat Rs 4,000 off on both the 8GB + 128 GB and 8GB + 256GB variants.
In addition to this, there will be a 10 per cent instant bank discount for customers using HDFC bank debit, credit cards and EMI. Amazon is also offering exchange value for customers looking to exchange their old handsets for the OnePlus 6T during Fab Phones Fest.
The OnePlus 6T is one of top selling smartphones on Amazon. The smartphone sports a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080. Further, the bezels on OnePlus 6T are slimmer than OnePlus 6, especially at the bottom part of the phone.
The OnePlus 6T is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, which lets you multi-task easily. The smartphone runs on the OxygenOS on top of the Android 9.0 Pie OS. There is also a bigger 3,700mAh battery that easily lasts for a day. The OnePlus 6T is still a flagship phone worth buying, especially since it’s also one of the first manufacturers to receive Android OS updates.


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The next-generation Land Rover Discovery is likely to be given extreme off-road capabilities by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations arm next year, in order for it to act as a halo product for the all-terrain capability of the company’s product range.
The all-new Discovery 5 is expected to be revealed later this year, with SVO’s so-called Land Rover Discovery SVX version going on sale 12-18 months later.
SVO has a three-pronged brief to deliver cars that showcase the best of Jaguar Land Rover’s capabilities in the ‘luxury’, ‘performance’ and ‘capability’ markets.
While it is believed that an even more luxurious version of the Range Rover is under development without the Sport SVR’s focus on performance upgrades, the next launch is reported to be the Discovery SVX, so that the SVO division — which has yet to even formally open its headquarters — can showcase its capabilities across the full range of its brief.
Every model considered for SVO treatment
SVO boss John Edwards declined to comment on specific models but said: “Every nameplate we produce will be considered for an SVO derivative — we will look at each one and see if we can push the boundaries in any direction.
“Land Rover is all about bandwidth. What we have done over 65 years is broaden the breadth of capability of our vehicles. We have taken the opportunity with the Sport SVR to go right, and SVX gives us a chance to go left. It’s clear that a result of that will be that the Land Rover proposition will benefit overall — we will be amplifying the core brand values.”
Sources have previously suggested that Land Rover is eager to use SVO tuning of the Discovery to showcase its technical as well as mechanical ability.
Modifications are likely to focus on technological solutions to dealing with extreme off-road conditions.
Last year’s Land Rover Discovery Vision concept included a ‘virtual’ windscreen and bonnet that used cameras to show an unimpeded view of the road ahead of and even beneath the car.
"It is pressing that we do an SVX"
While such innovations may not make production immediately, it is believed to highlight the level of technology at which SVO is aiming.
Edwards conceded that the business case for SVX models was not as clear as for luxury and performance models, but added: “The opportunity might be different from a market perspective, but it is obvious from a Land Rover perspective. From an emotional perspective it is pressing that we do an SVX.”


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Apps sold through the Amazon Appstore will be able to add functionality that allows users to buy items such as virtual currency or subscriptions from inside the application.
Companies such as Zeptolab (Cut the Rope), Disney, Glu Mobile and Gameloft have already integrated in-app purchasing, Amazon says in a statement.
News of in-app purchases was first reported last week by BusinessWeek.
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Erste Hungary to cut staff, restructure to save costs
The chairman-CEO of Austrian-owned Erste Bank Hungary told journalists on Friday that the lender plans to cut staff by 7-9% and merge its brokerage into the parent company, thus bringing its cost-to-revenue ratio under 60% in 2018, according to Hungarian news agency MTI.
Radovan Jelasity said the bankʼs cost-to-revenue ratio is 63% at present, excluding the impact of the transaction duty; headcount stands at around 3,000.
The measures are not related to Ersteʼs recent takeover of Citiʼs retail business in Hungary, Jelasity said. Erste will remain a universal bank providing the full range of services, he insisted.
Erste is simplifying its structure and operations to prepare for stricter market regulations and to maintain its competitiveness in the low interest environment in the long term, he said.
Erste targets a 10% cost reduction next year, he added.
Last year, revenue reached HUF 109 billion and costs came to HUF 61 bln, though the latter included the expense of taking over Citiʼs retail business, Jelasity noted.
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Virtual Reality is Finally Affordable! Mark Zuckerberg introduced the stand-alone headset Oculus Go. In addition, the Oculus Rift will be greatly reduced in price.
With this trailer Go Oculus was presented:463Desert Go - TrailerVirtual reality inspired countless gamers who can afford technology but so far hardly anyone. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has now introduced a new Oculus headset, which is to finally achieve mass compatibility.
The Oculus Go to the beginning of 2018 come on the market and cost $ 199th The special feature of the headset that works without a PC and all the technology is already processed in the glasses. In addition, speakers are built into the device, so headphones are not necessary.
In this virtual reality games, you can look forward now:Start Photogallery(11 images)E3 2017: These are the best VR games of the exhibition in the overview
While the Oculus Go is primarily suitable for videos, live broadcasts and simple games, but there are also good news for VR-Gamer: The Oculus Rift is permanently reduced in combination with the touch controllers in the price and in the future only dollar cost 399 - a savings of entire $ 200.
Posted In: Games


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Singapore’s tech-driven media company Hepmil Media Group, well known for creating brands such as SGAG, MGAG, PGAG, as well as digital creator agency Hepmil Creators’ Network, has received US$10 million in its Series A funding round to support its expansion plans in Southeast Asia. The funding was led by Quest Ventures, Pavilion Capital and Bent Pixels.
With the investment, Hepmil Media Group is looking to expand into Thailand and Vietnam in 2022. It also has plans to strengthen its leadership in the digital media space and grow its revenue streams. The group will tap on the fund to grow its content and creators’ platform and capabilities, expand its esports and gaming network, and develop content capabilities to serve regional commerce players in their direct-to-consumer efforts.
The investment comes as the Group witnessed a strong revenue performance in 2020 in its current markets, despite pandemic-driven challenges. According to the group, this was due to the rising demand for online content and advertising inventory, as brands pivot to a digital-first approach to reach the growing online customer base.
Mike Pusateri, founder and CEO, Bent Pixels said that it is looking forward to seeing how it can bring its partnership with the Group to greater heights, and deliver greater value for brands and esports creators in Southeast Asia. “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to enter Asia Pacific than with Hepmil Media Group. Their track record in audience engagement and delivering effective results for brands in the consumer space is exactly the right expertise we need in cracking this highly challenging market, where there is no one-size-fits-all approach,” he added.


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Traditionally Apple releases a new iPhone (or two) every year. The major updates to design and hardware are usually done in a two-year cycle, but in between Apple releases refreshed hardware and improvements. Some argue that perhaps the “S” series of iPhones are a better buy as they tend to be more “refined”. That being said if you like the idea of being able to own a new iPhone every year, Sprint has the answer for you. The carrier has recently announced an update to their “iPhone For Life” plan.
Sprint is not standing still, continuing to tinker with its plans as it seeks to win over new customers. The latest: an adjustment to its widely touted “iPhone for Life” plan, now offering customers the ability to sign up for a version of the plan that lets them swap in a new iPhone every year. The original plan called for customers to pay as little as $20 a month to lease a new iPhone 6, which could be turned in for a new model after two years. The new plan now allows for annual upgrades and starts at $30 a month. It will also make the iPhone 5S available for lease. Both options take effect on November 14. In addition to the cost of the iPhone itself, customers need to sign up for a $50 plan for unlimited talk, text and data.


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PPE Continues to Dominate Air Freight
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The global demand for PPE equipment has dominated the air freight industry over recent weeks as governments continue to stock up on much needed protection for their front line workers.
The need has led to an ‘at any cost’ approach, putting much pressure on the air freight industry, which had already been starved of capacity since the beginning of the pandemic.
Air freight has seen a continuous rise in market rates, especially from Asia, where pricing has been pushed to record high levels over the past few weeks.
Airlines are used to relying on passenger traffic as their main source of revenue and with passenger flights dramatically reduced, they have been reacting to the increase in cargo revenues by removing seats and converting passenger aircraft into freight only.
This has introduced additional capacity, which has led to signs that rates may be leveling out now. However, the demand for PPE is continuing to dominate the market for at least the short term future.
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The detection of lithium batteries using dogs is being pioneered in France, and is expected to roll out globally following a successful six-month trial.
Workers at the Port of Felixstowe are due to start an eight day strike starting from this weekend and now Liverpool dock workers have voted for industrial action too.
From 1st April 2022, new IATA regulations have once again been introduced for the movement of lithium batteries by air. These changes were buried in the IATA DG Regulations.


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KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Wine and whiskey enthusiasts gathered in Downtown Kingsport Saturday at the Kingsport Farmers Market to sample a selection of wines and whiskeys.
Participants were able to enjoy some local and regional spirits, along with food from nearby downtown restaurants.
Local musicians such as Jeff Lane came out to provide entertainment for the event.
This is one of the primary fundraisers for the Downtown Kingsport Association. All proceeds from the event will go toward the association.
Executive Director of the Downtown Kingsport Association Robin Cleary said, “We support small business, you’re putting money directly back into you’re community you’re supporting those folks that are your coworkers, your family, the folks you go to church with, so it’s always good to shop local whenever you can.”
This is the second year for the “Wine and Whiskey festival,” however, the fundraiser has tested out different formats over the past six years.


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Ottawa punts request for cost of Super Bowl ads
OTTAWA – The federal government has turfed a request for details about how much money it spent advertising its economic action plan during this year’s Super Bowl.
Last month, NDP MP Mathieu Ravignat asked the government to disclose the costs of the ad spots aired during the big game.
It took seven weeks for Minister of Public Works Rona Ambrose to tell him that she couldn’t tell him.
“The Government of Canada does not disclose information about the specific amounts paid for individual ad placements or the amounts paid to specific media outlets,” she said in the House of Commons on March 20.
Ambrose said the information is considered third-party business and is protected under the Access to Information Act.
“They are hiding behind the regulations in order to excuse their lack of transparency,” Ravignat said. “It is clear that they paid a lot for these ads and they simply don’t want Canadians to know about it.”
Public Works and Government Services Canada purchased seven advertising spots for a jobs campaign and the economic action plan. The ads appeared on CTV national, CTV Winnipeg and RDS. The government got another three extra spots for free due to technical difficulties during the program.
Advertising is one method governments have to report back to Canadians about their programs and decisions.
While he concedes advertising can be legitimate, Ravignat said these ads don’t provide value for money.
“They are vacuous propaganda and Canadians have responded negatively to these ads because they are not talking about changes to programs or changes to services,” he said.
Finance Minster Jim Flaherty’s office disagreed with Ravignat’s assessment of the ads.
“The economy is the number one issue for Canadians and this campaign directs people to government websites where they can receive more information on the programs and benefits that are available to them,” said Flaherty’s director of communications Dan Miles.
The federal government spent $78.5 million on advertising last year – an amount published in a public annual report. The report includes breakdowns of spending by media type and department. It also lists the government’s suppliers and details about major campaigns.
Still, Ravignat would like to see more information provided in the future so advertising dollars can be more easily tracked.
“Advertisement isn’t like any other type of spending,” he said. “It has potential political and partisan ramifications. “
© 2013 Shaw Medoa


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Kaseya attack shows that whatever we're doing in terms of security is just wrong.
Windows 11 will launch into a very different world in which mobile devices rule the roost.
Ransomware is already a lucrative industry.
Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference is keenly watched by geeks everywhere.
Our leaky IT problem is a mess that has built up over the years.
New Zealand is highly exposed to the flow-on effects from the global chip shortage.
Kiwis tend to buy either devices at the high end of the market, or low price phones.
Law enforcement agencies have long protested widely available strong encryption.
Applying passphrases to computing has created an unwieldy nightmare for us.
Scandal a warning to everybody that you cannot blindly trust computers and software.
New Zealand should not rely on gentle diplomacy - or being left off many a world map.
Browser tracking tool has been greeted with industry suspicion.
Over 67,000 New Zealanders have been caught up in a massive global data hack.
It's tedious and painful to repeat the mistakes of the past when we have the tools not to.
There's a surprise in the latest CERT NZ cyber threat numbers.
A lot to unpack in terms of technology and business models.
New broadband option is bound to tempt some users.
"Patched vaccines" hold out hope for quicker updates to keep on top of virus mutations.
No more incoherent craziness and untruths from Trump.
Technology columnist Juha Saarinen gives a lowdown on Vodafone's latest offer.
Selfies probably aren't a good idea when you're trying to overthrow the government.
There are some alarming, details around the hacks.
New regulations set to shake-up cryptocurrencies in 2021.
Ambitious project said to cost $705 million.
Sony's noise-cancel tech a must have for enduring the pandemic.
New tech a step above prior gen when light fades.
Being not yet able to utilise full power of UFB network nice problem to have.
Astronomers and skygazers might be disappointed, but good news for broadband customers.
iPhone 12's next-gen system solid but tech needed to unleash it still in pipeline.
Claws out over latest royalty bid.
Loophole means director's ID lets holder change company registration data online.
Facial recognition failing to 'see' darker people risks horrific legal consequences.
Social media platforms have become something far darker than we could have imagined.
There's never a dull moment keeping an eye on multi-billionaire geek Elon Musk is up to.
COMMENT: Some hard questions need to be asked for rather obvious reasons.
New satellites can take fast internet to all — but is it worth cost of clogged sky?
Samsung has taken a fairly moderate approach with the Note 20 Ultra.
Everyone loses as tensions ratchet higher.
That technology is creating a criminal class out of the young is something to worry about.
Another week, another famous name falls prey to cyber attack.
Attack seems trivial but social sites live and have vast reach.
We're going to hear a lot more about "CopTech" over the coming years.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought on a change in the way we do meetings.
What could possibly go wrong if you take an AI and feed it with decades of legal data?
Trying out some 5G capable handsets.


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The Cupertino city council on Tuesday night unanimously approved Apple’s plans to build a massive new campus just across the highway from the company’s current headquarters. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs personally pitched the idea of a new facility to the council just months before his death in 2011.
Much of the session, according to the San Jose Mercury News, was spent going over environmental and other impacts the project poses. Councilmember Mark Santoro said the project will certainly cause traffic issues but he was happy to hear Apple would be working with them to solve such problems. To help alleviate some of the traffic congestion, Apple vowed that at least 34 percent of employees at the new campus would use public transit or Apple’s shuttle busses to commute to and from work.
The 176-acre complex will have room for up to 14,200 employees and will be encompassed by green space. It was designed with the help of architect Sir Norman Foster of Foster + Partners.
There was little doubt that the council would approve the plans as having a massive company like Apple leave town to build elsewhere would be a huge blow to the local economy. With the approval, the council is required to meet one last time for a final vote.
That’s slated to take place on November 15 but for all practical purposes, the project has been given the green light. Apple said they plan to begin demolishing existing buildings on the new campus site by the end of the year.
The iPhone 5s is the Apple’s latest flagship handset. The iPhone 5s is powered by a first of its kind 64-bit A7 processor and the same 4" Retina display as its predecessor. It also includes a fingerprint reader dubbed Touch ID, HD video capture at 720p at 120FPS that can also perform slow motion at 120FPS. Battery life on the iPhone 5s is rated for 10 hours of 3G talk time, LTE browsing, Wi-Fi browsing and video.
The iPhone 5C replaces the iPhone 5 with nearly identical tech specs, a plastic-based exterior and 5 color choices, a first in the iPhone family. The 5C features the same 4" Retina display, A6 CPU, 8-megapixel rear iSight camera, a new front-facing FaceTime HD camera with better low light support, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, a higher capacity battery and support for more LTE bands.
The iPad mini is a smaller version of the iPad and it’s much more than just a shrunken-down iPad. The iPad Mini packs a dual-core A5 processor, dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, a FaceTime HD camera, 5-megapixel rear iSight camera with 1080p recording and an optional LTE radio. The Mini sports a 7.9-inch display and 1,024 x 768 resolution. Battery life is estimated at 10 hours.
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Anticipates 40 lakh footfalls at its Hyderabad store. 10% would be from other cities.
Swedish home furnishing giant IKEA that will open its first ever Indian retail store here on 9 August, is expecting substantial amount of sales from other parts of the country, that includes, Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. IKEA will open its stores in Mumbai around April 2019 and Delhi in 2020, followed by 46 stores in other cities in coming years.
As per an original schedule, the store was to open on 19 July, but IKEA changed the date due to growing customer demand, as it needed some more time to cope with logistics.
“Surprisingly, we are getting many enquiries from public in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore for our products and we expect a decent portion of sales from these and other cities from next week on,” an executive of IKEA told The Sunday Guardian on Wednesday when the Swedish multinational company’s India CEO Peter Betzel offered a sneak peek to the media here.
For all practical purposes, IKEA is treating this Hyderabad store as its national store and that is one of the reasons why the world’s largest furniture retailer has set up its world’s biggest restaurant with 1,000-seating capacity. Their other restaurants are of around 500 seats. The store, located at the swanky IT corridor of Madhapur and Jubilee Hills in the city, will be launched by Telangana IT minister K.T. Rama Rao.
IKEA executives are gearing up for big demand from customers from local as well as outside cities. It has become a trend of late that many upper middle-class customers visit China, Singapore and Malaysia for their furnishing needs. Many apartment builders and villa owners have been waiting for IKEA store to open in Hyderabad.
IKEA’s Hyderabad store has another first—that the company offers home deliver as well as fitting—a deviation from its original concept of Do-It Yourself. All other Indian stores, too, will have this facility. IKEA is employing a team of 150 for home assembling of furniture. This home assembling is in tune with Indian customer preferences, said Betzel.
Founded in 1943, the Swedish multinational that emerged as the world’s largest furnishing retailer in 2008, has set some principles for its Indian operations. Sourcing around 20% of the material and parts for its products from within the country in the first year and take it to 50% over the next five years and ensuring 50% of female employees (the firm calls them co-workers) are some of them.
Betzel tried to erase the impression that IKEA stores only expensive material. He said that the store at Hyderabad, spread over 4,00,000 sq ft, will display around 1,000 products of the total 7,500 products which cost less than Rs 200. A senior executive of IKEA also told this newspaper that the retail giant would not be making any profits on its Indian operations in the first few years.
IKEA anticipates around 40 lakh footfalls at its Hyderabad store of which around 10% would be from other cities, especially neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The company will be investing around Rs 10,500 crore in India in the next six years, by 2024, and the Hyderabad store brings in an investment of around Rs 1,050 crore with 1,000 direct staff and another 1,500 indirect employees.
IKEA has online sales in other countries, including the US, and its Indian network, too, will begin it from next year after its Mumbai store opens. Betzel sees India as a growing market with changing tastes of home furnishings. An IKEA survey found that Indian customers prefer modern designs with classic touch.
IKEA’s Indian CEO allayed apprehensions from local furniture retailers that their businesses would be affected by the Swedish giant’s entry into the Indian market. On the contrary, he expects that the increased consumer awareness on home furnishings would lead to enhanced market base and trigger greater demand for a variety of products.


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Creator of the iconic 1990s computer game Lemmings, Mike Dailly was the first guest speaker to visit RMC Retro’s The Cave on Saturday.
The Cave is a retro gaming exhibition, based in Chalford, where visitors can get hands-on with computers and games consoles dating from the 1970s to the 1990s, including the Commodore Amiga, one of the first computers to feature the game Lemmings.
Lemmings is estimated to have sold 20 million copies worldwide on various platforms since its launch in 1991, and is regularly included in lists of the greatest computer games of all time.
Mike spoke about how he started making games and told how, after Lemmings, he was involved with the prototype Grand Theft Auto game.
“It’s really important for us to have Mike here today, a genuine legend of the games industry,” said Neil Thomas, founder of RMC Retro.
“Mike’s the first special guest we’ve had since opening The Cave and we’ve got a full house here today, which goes to show how much everyone wants to hear what he’s got to say, and we’re really excited to welcome him here.
“The influence of Mike’s games spans multiple generations, from Lemmings through to Grand Theft Auto; people of all ages recognise the work he’s done, and he’s still in the industry today, still creating games.”
Neil plans to invite more guest speakers and will welcome The Oliver Twins, creators of the Dizzy franchise, to The Cave on Saturday, September 10th.
To book a visit to The Cave head to: Visit the cave in Chalford, Gloucestershire (rmcretro.com)


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It is a trend that the market always prefers the new electronic products compared to the old. It is predictable that after the release of iPhone 8, which is talked so much now, people will look forward to the products of 2018, without any sympathy for the products of 2017.
According to the reports of Daily Economy, many people are exposing that Apple will release three new cellphones with OLED screens in 2018, which might be called iPhone 9?
As the confidentiality of Apple is getting worse and worse, the news from Daily Economy is not coming out of nothing. What’s more, Daily Economy is a medium of high authority. According to the basic rules of cellphone industry, it takes at least 2 to 3 full years to develop a new generation of iPhone.
In fact, it is almost conformed that iPhone 8, iPhone of the 10th anniversary version this year will be equipped with OLED screen while iPhone 7s/7s Plus are not the same. They will be still staying with LED screen.
It is predicted that Apple will abandon the LCD productions from year 2019.
Why OLED is chosen? This is probably related with the fingerprint technique. From the second generation of ultrasonic fingerprint published by Qualcomm, it can only go through the invisible design of OLED screen. This is the key reason.
In addition, MBP with touchbar, and Apple Watch have already applied with OLED. Apple has this kind of experiences. With the joining of LG for the production of smaller size, Apple finds its reliable supplier. Everything seems to go smoothly.
It is worth mentioning that Korea Herald has already exposed that iPhone 9 has at least 5.28 inches and 6.46 inches designs.


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He tells Kirk Heinze about the difference between strategic growth and smart growth.
“We know a lot more now about how the economy functions today,” says Adelaja. “More and more people move around and those with the most mobility tend to be the knowledge workers. The economy goes where these workers go.
“Strategic growth is really about positioning yourself to attract these knowledge workers.”
Adelaja says that Detroit is important to the state’s growth into the new economy and that it’s difficult to find a successful state that doesn’t also have one large and successful city.
“Detroit and Michigan have to work together to make sure that Detroit puts its best foot forward to serve the state,” Adelaja says. “Detroit has incredible assets ranging from being the city with the largest potential in the country for open space because of all the vacant land to being situated on the Great Lakes.”
Economic growth and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand, according to Adelaja.
“We used to choose the economy over the environment,” Adelaja says. “A lot of things we used to think of as being in the way of the production economy are now things you really have to do to advance.
“People want places that are sustainable, functional and green. While those things may not necessarily produce jobs directly, they attract people who produce jobs.”


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8 Nov 2020
WA TOPS WWF PLASTIC SCORECARD WITH PLAN TO BAN PLASTIC PLATES, CUTLERY, THICK PLASTIC BAGS
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia has welcomed a plan to ban problematic single-use plastics including plates, cutlery and thick plastic bags in Western Australia, and is calling on the state to introduce legislation as soon as possible.
The WA Government today announced it will ban plastic plates, cutlery, stirrers, polystyrene food containers, thick plastic bags, and the release of helium balloons by 2023. Other single-use items such as plastic barrier/produce bags, microbeads, cotton buds, and oxo-degradable plastics will be phased out by 2026.
This commitment sees Western Australia overtake Queensland, South Australia and the ACT to claim the top spot on WWF-Australia’s , which rates the performance of states and territories in tackling single-use plastics.
WWF-Australia’s No Plastics in Nature Policy Manager, Katinka Day congratulated Western Australia for recognising the impact these plastic items have on nature.
“It’s terrific to see WA leading the way in phasing out some of the most littered plastics found on our beautiful beaches. Plastic plates and utensils are often discarded after a single-use, ending up in landfill or polluting our environment for hundreds of years,” said Ms Day.
“Banning these items is an effective and simple way to protect our marine wildlife and reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans and the places we love.”
Ms Day called for the government to prioritise its new plan and introduce legislation into parliament in 2021 rather than the planned 2023 implementation date.
“Western Australia should turn this momentum into action and commit to introducing legislation next year. Our precious oceans and marine wildlife cannot afford to wait,” she said.
“As we look at how we’re going to emerge from the COVID-19 health crisis, it’s really important we don’t forget about the huge impact plastic has on our environment."
“An estimated 130,000 tonnes of plastic flows into Australia’s environment each year. That’s the equivalent of more than two Titanic ships of plastic entering our oceans and waterways, and plastic dumped in one region can travel and impact others. This is a global disaster that requires collective action.”


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Ganderbal, Apr 1: Sonamarg, a renowned tourist destination in central Kashmir, witnessed a significant increase in visitors in the first three months of this year, with approximately 91,586 tourists, including 3,079 foreigners, exploring the area.
Situated in the picturesque hills of Ganderbal district, Sonamarg has become a premier attraction for both local and non-local travellers in Kashmir.
Since the beginning of the year, there has been a remarkable surge in tourism, with 91,586 tourists, including 3,079, visiting the region in January and February alone, an official informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Local shopkeepers are delighted with the increase in tourist activity, expressing gratitude to the tourism department for its promotional efforts. They said the influx of tourists has surpassed previous records, indicating that the region is becoming increasingly appealing to travellers.
Members of the tourism sector enthusiastically welcome the tourists, seeing it as a revival of their businesses after nearly three years of hiatus. They urge the tourism department to continue promoting Sonamarg to attract even more visitors—(KNO)


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MUMBAI: One97 Communications, which operates under the Paytm brand, has said that the company’s board will meet on December 13 to decide on a share buyback programme. Paytm has Rs 9,182 crore of cash in hand and a large chunk of this predates its initial public offering (IPO).
“The management believes that given the company’s prevailing liquidity/financial position, a buyback may be beneficial for our shareholders,” Paytm said in an exchange filing.
According to sources, the company is looking at ways to restrict the buyback to retail investors. The announcement comes when the company’s shares were down over 75% from the IPO a year ago. Paytm’s Rs 18,600-crore IPO was the second-largest in the country after LIC and it valued the company at Rs 1. 4 lakh crore. Paytm has a current market cap of Rs 33,003 crore.
The company has not disclosed any target range for the buyback. Share buybacks are typically announced at a price above the market price and, usually, the market price moves to the buyback price level.
Paytm already had a large surplus before the IPO and it is likely to use this cash hoard for the buyback. Paytm has also told analysts that it has a ‘builder mentality’ and not a ‘buyer mentality’ and would rather build new verticals than buy and integrate them.
Having the largest user base among payment companies gave Paytm the opportunity to come up with new offerings to its existing customer base. Besides the selloff in new age stocks, Paytm was hit by a Reserve Bank of India order preventing the group’s payment bank from onboarding new account holders.
More recently, the company was not immediately granted a payment aggregator licence and was asked to apply again. Besides revenues from facilitating loans, the company is generating revenues from its payment acceptance business.
Unlike dividends, share buybacks reward shareholders without any tax implications. Share buybacks also improve various ratios of the company’s equity as the number of shares in circulation decline.


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High Liner Foods Inc. has struck an agreement to buy Icelandic Group's U.S and Asian operations in a deal that will double the fish processor's U.S. business and make it North America's biggest seafood supplier to restaurants, schools and hospitals.
The Nova Scotia-based seafood company said Thursday the $230.6-million (U.S.) acquisition includes Icelandic USA's processing plant in Newport News, Va. The deal gives High Liner access to the large U.S. food service market, where it was competing against Icelandic Group.
"It's a big, challenging competitive market and this acquisition will make us a leader in U.S. food service," president and chief executive Henry Demone said in an interview from Lunenburg, N.S. "We're already the leader in Canada."
Icelandic Group's U.S. subsidiary has 864 employees. Mr. Demone said roughly 450 employees are at the Virginia processing plant, which is "very much part of our future."
Despite an uncertain economy, he said both companies have a track record of growing and improving earnings.
"Even in slow times, the restaurant market in the U.S. is an enormous market and accounts for about three-quarters of seafood consumption," Mr. Demone said. "So to be a leader in this market is a great strategic advantage for this company."
High Liner, whose well-known brands include High Liner, Fisher Boy, Mirabel and Sea Cuisine, is also acquiring a plant in China and companies that buy fish from other Asian countries.
Icelandic's American subsidiary had sales of $268-million for the 12 months ending in September and with the acquisition, High Liner expects to double its U.S. business. About half of the company's 2010 sales of $585-million came from the U.S.
The U.S. value-added seafood market is made up of fish and seafood products with sauces, glazes and crumbs that are ready to cook and are sold to restaurants, hotels, schools and other institutions.
High Liner said Icelandic provides high-quality seafood in popular forms, such as battered and breaded products, as well as a full line of premium fillets.
High Liner now becomes the main player in the U.S. market when it comes to supplying restaurants, hotels and institutions, Octagon Capital Corp. analyst Bob Gibson said.
High Liner paid less than he was expecting for the acquisition and will have some "decent" synergies, both long-term and short-term, Mr. Gibson said.
High Liner said it expects near-term synergies of $12.1-million and ongoing annual synergies in the range of $16-million to $18-million.
The company will also acquire several brands as part of the agreement, and has signed a seven-year royalty-free licensing agreement to use the Icelandic Seafood brand in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The transaction is expected to close in late 2011 or the first quarter of 2012.
Earlier this year, High Liner had announced an interest in buying all of Icelandic, which is a major seafood supplier in Europe as well as a large seller of fish products to U.S. food service market.
Icelandic's owner is the Enterprise Investment Fund, a pool of capital created by pension funds to help restructure the economy after the collapse of Iceland's financial system and the failure of its major banks in 2008.
Finnbogi Jonsson, chief executive of the Enterprise Investment Fund, said the sale further streamlines and strengthens the financial position of Icelandic Group.
"We will use the remaining cash to lower the Group's debts further and to return part of the initial investment to the pension funds and other owners of the Enterprise Investment Fund," Mr. Jonsson said in a statement.
Herdis Fjeldsted, chairman of the Iceland Group, said Icelandic producers will continue to have access to North American markets under the deal.
"Services to Icelandic producers are an important element of our operations, and our distribution agreement with High Liner will ensure continued access for Icelandic producers to the North American markets," Ms. Fjeldsted said.
Mr. Demone said High Liner is the No. 4 brand in the U.S. retail market, but in terms of volume sold it's probably the No. 2 brand because of its big private label seafood business.


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Mobile devices are accounting for more search clicks. That’s according to ad management firm Marin Software, which reports 10 percent of search ad clicks in Q4 2011 were derived from mobile and tablet devices.
According to its U.S. Online Advertising Report, mobile search ad clickthroughs were 5 percent of the total in Q3 2011.
In Q4 2011, 6 percent of search clicks came from smartphones and 4 percent from tablets. Those devices drove higher clickthrough rates than desktops, too. Marin reports CTRs on tablet search ads were 37 percent higher, and on smartphones were 31 percent higher than desktop search ads.
A separate report, this one from digital marketing firm IgnitionOne, also found rapid growth in mobile search activity and ad spend. It found mobile search ad impressions rose 317 percent between Q4 2010 and Q4 2011, while ad spend grew 269 percent. Among retailers, ad spend for mobile search was 14.2 percent of total paid search budgets.
Marin clients boosted spend on Yahoo and Bing in the past year. Impressions across the search partners’ sites rose 43 percent between Q4 2010 and Q4 2011. The company said click volume from Yahoo and Bing ads rose 44 percent while CPC rates grew 9 percent. Clickthrough rose one percent.
In contrast, Google search ads drove a 48 percent increase in both clicks and clickthroughs in Q4 2011, but impressions did not increase. And ad costs were down: CPCs dropped 7 percent for Google search ads.
On all three search platforms combined, CPCs fell 14 percent from the previous year and clickthroughs increased 23 percent. Spending on paid search across Google, Bing, and Yahoo grew 35 percent.
Marin’s report is based on data from more than 1,000 advertiser and agency clients spending a combined $2.7 billion per year through the company’s system.
In the past 18 months, Desigual, the flamboyant and colorful Spanish fashion/retail brand, has seen mobile become the dominant platform for both web traffic and email opens, and become a major influence on offline sales.
We all know that Facebook is a viable source of huge amounts of mobile traffic with relatively cheap CPCs). It’s too good an opportunity to ignore in today’s digital landscape - even if your mobile landing-page experience isn’t up to snuff.
For years now, brands have heard that augmented reality (AR) is one of the next big things, but there's a strong argument to be made that it hasn't quite lived up to the hype. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, however, believes that AR is a big part of the future.
Cynthia (Cyndi) Knapic, Head of Business at Animoto, discusses the latest trends in video marketing, why 'square video' is so popular, and how brands are changing their strategies with the rise of video.