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“You say flatly [that] billionaires should not exist,” Wallace began his question. Does Sanders really want, Wallace demanded to know, to “confiscate” everything entrepreneurs make over $999 million? The Waltons, for example, have tens of billions of dollars but provide jobs to one and a half million Americans. Isn’t that a good thing?
Sanders dryly insisted that it’s “possible to get by” on $999 million dollars — and that, while Walmart pays poverty wages, his critique isn’t of this or that individual billionaire but of a system that enables such grotesque concentrations of wealth.
Bernie is right. In fact, he could have gone even further — calling not just for redistributing more of billionaires’ money through progressive taxation but going to the source of the problem by bringing their businesses under collective ownership.
Running the Numbers
In It’s OK to be Angry About Capitalism, Sanders writes that billionaires “possess more of the planet’s largesse than they could burn through in a thousand lifetimes.” That’s a bit of an exaggeration. Some people are really good at burning through money. But it is worth stepping back and thinking about just how damn much money we’re talking about.
Here’s a slight tweak on an illustration I heard years ago:
Imagine that a vampire came to the New World with Christopher Columbus in 1492. Every day from the moment he landed on Hispaniola to the present, the vampire somehow managed to earn or steal the equivalent of a thousand 2023 American dollars. (The vampire just stacks the money in coffins, so he isn’t earning any interest and none of it ever get spent.) Not only would he be nowhere near a billionaire today — he wouldn’t even be a fifth of his way there. Five hundred thirty-one years have passed since 1492. That’s 139,815 days. He’d have less than $140 million.
By comparison, Sam Walton had a net worth of $25 billion when he died. Jeff Bezos’s net worth stands at $167.2 billion today. When you take a minute to ponder numbers like that, spending it all in a thousand lifetimes really does sound like a challenge.
To be fair, the vampire who came over on the Santa Maria would get to $999,000,000 — the amount Wallace thinks it’s outrageous Sanders doesn’t want to let people exceed — by the late 4220s.
Their Oligarchs and Ours
In his book, Sanders also compares American billionaires to Russian oligarchs. He says that ours deserve the “oligarch” label because of their immense economic power and the way it’s intertwined with political power in our society.
This, too, Wallace found outrageous. “Russian oligarchs,” he told Sanders, “are close associates of the central government who took over state-run industries. The people you’re talking about — the so-called American oligarch — are self-made entrepreneurs who created big businesses that employ millions of Americans.”
The “self-made” part is a bit rich given that many of the people Wallace is talking about grew up in extreme privilege and benefit from various form of government subsidies, “too big to fail” bailouts, and public-sector-driven technological innovation.
Still, Wallace isn’t wrong that America’s oligarchs aren’t just stacking their money in coffins. They’re engaged in the process of capital accumulation Karl Marx described as “M-C-M’”: they use money (M) to buy commodities (C), which they either resell or use to produce new goods or services that they can sell, converting the commodities into more money (M’). In the process, they employ lots of people.
But so do Russian oligarchs! It’s not like those former state enterprises are now exclusively staffed by robots. Does Wallace think that none of the money generated by these firms was used to start new businesses that employed even more Russians?
Wallace is right to imply that Russian oligarchs are fundamentally unnecessary to the process of production — which existed before they had the keys handed to them by friends in high places. But the allegedly self-made American billionaire are equally superfluous.
At one point in their conversation, Wallace grilled Sanders about whether he thought it would be better if Walmart didn’t exist and hence the million and a half American Walmart employees didn’t have jobs. Sanders’s response, which was correct as far as it went, was to talk about the low wages of Walmart employees — more than a few of whom have to supplement their grocery budgets with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (more commonly known as “food stamps”). If they’d continued on this subject, Bernie undoubtedly would have talked about the ways his social democratic program would help these workers — for example, by making it easier for them to organize labor unions.
But none of this quite gets to the heart of the point Wallace was raising. Isn’t it good that the enterprises owned by billionaires exist and provide all those jobs?
Attacking the Roots
Here’s how Sanders could have answered:
Yes, it’s good for the enterprises to exist and provide people with an income. But there’s no reason they need to be controlled by oligarchs. Walmart, for example, could be nationalized. Or it could be turned into a giant worker-owned cooperative. Either of these options, or some hybrid like converting it into a publicly owned entity whose governing board was split between public appointees and worker representatives, would cut the Walton family out of the picture — which would be all to the good.
The average full-time worker at Walmart makes between $25,000 and $30,000 a year. Jim Walton brings in about $5 billion a year — almost 167,000 times more than the high end of that range. He doesn’t get all that money because he’s 167,000 times smarter or more talented or less replaceable than any of the people actually doing the work to keep Walmart going. He gets it because capitalist ownership relations let him just take it.
If Walmart were organized as a worker co-op, the pay scale wouldn’t necessarily be entirely flat. A majority of worker-owners might be convinced to go along with higher incomes to attract candidates to apply for administrative positions carrying a lot of stress and responsibility — or conversely, to incentivize people to take particularly dirty or dangerous jobs. But good luck to anyone trying to persuade their fellow workers that whatever they did was so essential they deserve to earn 167,000 times more than what everyone else gets.
You only get to pay yourself a billion dollars — never mind five billion a year — if you have immense structural power to decide how a firm’s revenues are divided up. Even in a fully socialist economy, some people might have higher incomes than others for a variety of reasons. But you only get the kind of staggeringly unequal distributions of wealth that make some people billionaires when you have extreme inequality in the distribution of economic power.
Of course billionaires shouldn’t exist.


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MANILA, Philippines – Inflation or the movement of prices of basic goods and services eased to a 4-month low of 3.1% in May, amid slower price adjustments in both food and non-food commodities.
This is compared to the inflation rate of 3.4% recorded in April, based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr said inflation last month was within the central bank's forecast range of 2.9% to 3.7%.
"The deceleration to 3.1% from April's 3.4% was traced to slower increments in the prices of food, beverages, and tobacco items," he said.
This was the lowest since the consumer price index averaged 2.7% in January this year. Inflation in the first 5 months of 2017 averaged 3.1%, well within the 2% to 4% target set by the BSP.
"The inflation print further supports our view of manageable inflation that is expected to fall within the target range for this year and next," Tetangco added. (READ: PH seen to remain fastest-growing economy in ASEAN-6 for 2017)
Tetangco's last rate-setting
Monetary authorities will closely monitor domestic and external developments ahead of the last rate-setting meeting of the outgoing BSP chief and Monetary Board chairman scheduled on June 22.
"The BSP will continue to monitor developments here and overseas that can potentially influence future inflation and consider these in our next policy meeting," Tetangco said.
Tetangco, 64, is set to end his unprecedented two 6-year terms on July 2. He will be succeeded by BSP Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr.
Based on its latest assessment, the BSP's Monetary Board sees the consumer price index averaging 3.4% this year and 3% next year.
Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) traced the decline in inflation to slower annual increments by various commodity groups led by food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; furnishing, household equipment, and routine maintenance of the house; health; communication; as well as recreation and culture.
The index for restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services moved up at a faster rate; while the indices for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels as well as education retained their April rates.
The annual gain of the food index alone slowed down to 3.8% in May from 4.3% in April.
Tim Condon, ING Bank chief economist in Asia, said inflation last month surprised on the downside.
"A high base effect has kicked in [for] the food component; we expect it to be a source of disinflation for the rest of the year. We also think the oil price-driven increases in the utilities and transport components have peaked," he added.
Eugenia Victorino, economist at ANZ Bank, said inflation has persisted in the upper half of the central bank's 2% to 4% target range for 4 months as the economy continues to fire on all cylinders, keeping the upward pressure on headline inflation.
"Both headline and core inflation undershot expectations in May… Underlying price pressures remain in the Philippines on the back of strong economic growth," she said.
Economic managers still expect a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of between 6.5% and 7.5% this year as the expansion slowed down to 6.4% in the 1st quarter of 2017 from 6.6% in the 4th quarter of 2016.
Robust domestic demand and the benign inflation environment have allowed the BSP to keep an accommodative policy stance since September 2014, when it last raised interest rates by 25 basis points. – Rappler.com

domain: news


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According to CNN.com, Rep. Jim Moran, D-Virginia, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts will introduce a bill later this month that would give the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences power to ban up to 10 harmful chemicals from common household and food products.
Once the NIEHS has named a chemical as “high concern,” its use is illegal after 24 months. Bisphenol A, often used in plastics and known as an endocrine disruptor, is one of the chemicals that could be on the banned list. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is also used in the lining of many canned goods, which are a staple of pantry cabinets throughout the US.
Harmful chemicals such as BPA and DES, a chemical found in cattle feed and breast cancer treatment medicine, can change how hormones operate and lead to birth defects such as neurological disorders or autism, according to the article.
Hudson writes, “The chemicals, which can be either naturally occurring or artificial, are found in everyday products like detergents, flame retardants, foods and cosmetics.” Processed foods could also be under review, with many of their nutritional value lists consisting of nothing but chemicals.
If the bill passes, a consumer could expect to see many canned goods, processed foods, and even some produce that is covered in pesticides, removed from the shelves, at least temporarily. Should this happen, food producers would be forced to provide healthier and safer options for consumers.
Frederick vom Saal, a member of the Endocrine Society, “We are almost like a third world country when it comes to regulating chemicals. It’s very difficult for people interested in the public’s health to understand how does this become a political, partisan, issue when people on both sides have family that are showing diseases related to these chemicals. What is going on here?”
This is just another reminder to eat as whole and close to the source as possible. All chemicals introduced into our bodies should be considered a “high concern”, and limited as much as possible.


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Apple Pay launched to NatWest business customers
NatWest has announced that it is adding Apple Pay for its business banking customers. With Apple Pay on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac, customers can make purchases in stores, in apps and on websites.
NatWest has launched the feature across its full range of Visa debit cards, to its one million Business Banking customers, alongside its existing range of payment options, its online and mobile banking services, and free access to accountancy software FreeAgent.
The bank says that security and privacy are at the core of Apple Pay. When using a debit card with Apple Pay, the card numbers are not stored on the device or on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on the device. Each transaction is authorised with a one-time security code.


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In the second week of December 2017, India has increased the import tax on dozens of electronic products such as mobile phones and television sets to help curb supplies from overseas and build-up domestic manufacturing. Data for 2014-15 shows that about 58 percent or $37 billion worth of domestic consumption is sourced through imports. India’s electronics imports grew about 31 percent to $29.8 billion during April to October from a year earlier. Mobile phones and TVs account for 12 percent of total imports, contributing to a widening current account deficit. India’s goods imports in the seven months ending in October rose from 22 percent to $256.4 billion (roughly Rs. 1642514 crores), from a year earlier.
It is evident from the data that widening trade deficit is a great concern for the policymakers. In the last three years, many steps have been taken, but there is still a need, including the very fundamental reforms, to go ahead with the reform process.
There is no doubt that the tax hike will boost domestic manufacturing in the country. It will impact companies like Apple, which imports 88 percent of its devices into India. Such companies will either lead to increase the product prices or be forced to start assembling more in India. Therefore, we must re-orient our policies to ensure that the industry at home become manufacturing-oriented and competitive in export and domestic markets.
Large-scale manufacturing has its own advantages. Large companies are better equipped to exploit both economies of scale and of agglomeration. As they compete in the world markets to sell large volumes of output, they also have the incentive to continuously upgrade their processes, management and technology to stay competitive. Small and medium firms are also forced to adopt cost-saving technologies to remain profitable. All in all – the ecosystem must be friendly to the operation of large-scale firms.
Another important feature to boost the industry at home is that in today’s world, large companies are predominantly multinationals. These global companies in the electronics industry as Foxconn, Sony, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Apple, and Dell have driven the rapid growth of electronic industry in China. Inference may be derived that the policy regime should be friendly to these multinationals. Developing large firms at indigenous level is important but it would take a long time and even then success may be difficult to achieve.
Geographical location of the companies has its own importance in the success of the industry. Creation of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Economic and Technical Development Zones (ETDZs) along the development of high-tech ports ensure the fast progress of the industry. The Government needs to rectify the incentive schemes that predominantly focus on nudging the producers towards the domestic market contrary to exports.
On the tax front, anomalies which discourage domestic manufacturing on account of an inverted duty structure can be rectified. The government, as a large consumer of electronics, can source locally. Our Government needs to rethink a specific package of incentives to augment domestic manufacturing of electronics.
There is a big gap in the Indian manufacturing ecosystem that deter global giants to invest in India. Compared to investment that other sectors such as automobiles have attracted, electronics have been far behind. In this situation, India’s policy should be to find ways to attract more FDI. If India were to get its act together in reforming factor markets such as labor, land, and enhancing the quality of human capital, it would become a far more attractive destination in the global supply chain.


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26 October 2017
Ransomware is pretty hot in the cybersecurity world recently when hackers compromise the security of the device and then lock it unless they are paid the ransom that is generally demanded via Bitcoin Cryptocurrency in some cases.These attacks are likely to rise in 2017 and beyond as the reports suggest.
A recent ransomware named DoubleLocker cunningly infects the victim’s device to extort money out. A popular malware researcher at a security firm ESET Lukas Stefanko mentioned in a statement:
"Its payload can change the device's PIN, preventing the victim from accessing their device and encrypts the victim's data,", "Such a combination hasn't been seen yet in the Android ecosystem. DoubleLocker misuses Android accessibility services, which is a popular trick among cybercriminals."
The nasty Android malware DoubleLocker gives its self-more accessibility and persistence by setting its self as a launcher app by getting the admin rights on the device. At first, when launched, the app asks for accessibility service activation of ‘Google Play Service’.
Click the home button activates the malware and thus locking the app. DoubleLocker pushes the victim to pay by first changing the PIN on the phone in addition to encrypting all the data on the primary storage of the device with AES encryption algorithm.
DoubleLocker asks for a ransom of 0.0130 BTC (about $54). To get rid of the ransomware, the only option left is to either factory reset the phone or other ways to around of PIN on rooted devices.


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National freight wagons will be produced in Sivas: Sivas is planned to become the center of national freight wagon production with the Demirağ Organized Industrial Zone (OSB), which will be established on an area of 8 thousand 200 decares.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's dream of a national wagon becomes a reality. Production of national freight wagons will be started in Demirağ Organized Industrial Zone (OSB), which is planned to be laid in Sivas this year. Governor Davut Gül stated that OIZ will be established on 8 thousand 200 acres of land and that 65 percent of the land has been transferred to legal entity and the remaining 35 portion of the land has been expropriated. into each parcel first time in Turkey with ASD stated that the railway line was drawn Rose "is also to be found in the logistics park. Currently, there are 9 industrialists who want to invest in the region. Allocated them. There will be a national wagon. The project of our Prime Minister, since the Ministry of Transport wanted to have national wagons. I hope there will be a clustering under the leadership of TÜDEMSAŞ. When fully operational, approximately 40 will be employed for a thousand people.
Günceleme: 16/12/2018 16:13


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Revitalized pharmaceutical contracting strategy makes suppliers more accountable in light of ongoing challenge of drug shortages in Canada
To address the impact of disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain resulting from drug shortages in Canada, HealthPRO has initiated a new pharmaceutical contracting strategy that aims to protect members and place higher accountability on suppliers.
The changes to the contracting strategy, which was developed with direct input from suppliers and HealthPRO members, were included in HealthPRO's fall 2011 pharmacy product Request for Proposal (RFP) – the largest-ever for HealthPRO's Pharmacy Services business unit, valued at approximately $350 million. A second RFP for oncology drugs and support care products was issued at the same time, also valued at $350 million.
"Our members have told us how difficult it can be when shortages of pharmaceutical and other medical products affect their most vulnerable patients," said Kathy Boyle, Vice President of Pharmacy Services at HealthPRO. "We are taking advantage of our significant purchasing power to introduce a national pharmaceutical contracting strategy that addresses these concerns."
The new contracting strategy strives to strike the right balance between competition, purchasing power and a more reliable supply chain, while ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements and contracting guidelines. It aims to foresee and avoid supply chain problems, to fortify relationships with suppliers to better manage emerging shortages, and to focus resources where they will have the most impact.
As part of the new strategy, HealthPRO has set more specific guidelines for suppliers facing unexpected product circumstances – one of the criteria measured through HealthPRO's vendor quality management plan. HealthPRO suppliers will now be contractually accountable for providing:
- Notifications about critical inventory levels for hospital-specific items;
- Notifications and action plans for anticipated drug shortages;
- Correction plans for drug shortages lasting more than 60 days for hospital-specific items;
- Notification regarding an intention to discontinue drug(s); and
- Reasonable financial accountability for discontinued items.
The new strategy was formally presented to more than 70 suppliers earlier this past fall at a vendor forum organized by HealthPRO. Also present were members of HealthPRO's Pharmacy Advisory Council, a national member working group that provides expertise in product and supplier selection to ensure quality and cost meet the requirements of HealthPRO member facilities.
"The vendor meeting was a great opportunity to hear about the advances HealthPRO has made in the contracting process for pharmaceuticals," said Michael Bethell, Alveda Pharma. "The team at HealthPRO has applied stakeholder feedback and clearly defined the expectations for the vendor community. The open dialogue between industry and HealthPRO was enlightening and I hope there will be more opportunities like this in the future."
To increase member awareness about shortages of drugs that are on contract, HealthPRO's Drug Shortages Dashboard on healthprocanada.com allows members to search, view and export a list of current shortages. Products can be searched by item number, product description, vendor or status.


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Cold pressed juice company B. Fresh has expanded its juice range to include three cold pressed ‘shots’: King Kale, Rocket Fuel, and Ginger Fix.
The range joins a selection of ‘Watered Up’ juice/water mixes, cold pressed juices, super smoothies, and most recently, plant-based protein shakes, all of which are produced on-site at B. Fresh founder Philip Maddocks’ Shropshire farm.
“We own our own facility, we are here in the UK growing, producing, bottling. It’s a ‘field-to-bottle’ story if you like. None of our competitors right now have that capacity,” B. Fresh marketing manager Katie Briggs told FoodNavigator, adding that the company plans to expand to distribution to Northern Europe this quarter.
‘Own grown, known grown’
Maddocks founded B. Fresh in 2014, after a ‘freak hailstorm’ affected his spinach crops one summer. “The hail had peppered all the spinach leaves, which obviously makes them no use to supermarkets because they didn’t look good,” explained Briggs. “Nutritionally, however, they were absolutely fine.”
A quick Google search had Maddocks investigating alternative uses for spinach, notably in green juices, before the West Midlands farmer flew to the US and discovered a well-established, growing cold pressed juice market.
On his return to the UK, Maddocks launched B. Fresh on the premise that he would grow as many of the juice ingredients as possible.
This is still the case, Briggs told this publication, although Shropshire weather doesn’t allow for the cultivation of oranges, lemons or limes, which are imported for processing.
For fruit and vegetables that can be grown close by, the company aims to source locally. “We’ve always had this ‘own grown, known grown’ philosophy, so we know that our beetroot is grown in Doncaster, the apples come from Herefordshire. We like to know where [all our produce] is coming from, to try and keep our carbon footprint down,” said Briggs.
A growing market?
The cold pressed juice is well developed in certain part of the US and Australia, with the global market expected to grow by 7.2% until 2024.
In the UK, however, the cold juice movement hasn’t “taken hold” as it has overseas, said Briggs. “There is no real science behind this, but we do feel that it could be weather related,” she said, suggesting that on grey days consumers are more likely to reach for a coffee or hot drink.
However, B. Fresh does see cold pressed juices as a growing trend – due to, in part, growing awareness of added sugar in beverages. “The [UK] sugar tax element has obviously had an effect on the juice market. People are much more aware of what they’re reaching for.
“Our juice has benefited because it uses vegetable elements that lower the natural sugars within the juice.”
What is cold-pressed juice?
Unlike most fruit juices found in the supermarket aisle, which are pasteurised (heat treated), cold-pressed juices are manufactured in cooler temperatures. “With any heat treatment, there is an element of cooking. There is a loss of nutrients in that process,” said Briggs.
Cold press juices, however, are designed to retain higher levels of nutrients and vitamins, she continued. “We don’t interfere with the natural flavours so much, our customers tell us that you can really identify [different] flavours, so you know that it’s much fresher than [the] pasteurised process.”
The process involves pressing freshly washed fruit and vegetables before the blends are bottled, and placed into a high-pressure chamber. The chamber is flooded with water and subjected to three minutes of high pressure. “That is equal to five times the pressue you’d find at the bottom of the ocean,” explained Briggs.
This process kills all micro spoiling organisms and extends its shelf life. The correct pH balance is also required to ensure extended shelf life, we were told. “This is why there is always a citrus element to all our juices.”
The plastic problem
However, the cold pressed process, which requires that bottles be exposed to extreme pressure, is not yet conducive to plastic alternatives.
“We’re wedded to plastic…which makes for a bit of a ‘head scratch time’ because we’ve got to find an alternative to plastic high pressure processing,” she told this publication.
B. Fresh relies on the flexibility of the vessel: “Glass would shatter, metal would crumble. Plastic is the best material to use.”
While the search for an alternative substance continues, the company has ensured its bottles are recyclable, and made of 25% recycled plastic. “We obviously need to increase that and we’re looking into plant-based plastics,” said Briggs.


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News Stories relating to "stories"
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
We've talked about the kind of language your computer uses
, but what about the words that humans use? Google has created a huge database, consisting of 500 billion words, using over five million digitized books that are available to the public for free downloads,...


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Jan 11, 2016 ... The latest TACA Airlines customer reviews, TACA Airlines Quality ratings and
TACA Airlines passenger ... Georgios S Vrontos (Greece) 11th January 2016 ....
Reached Rio on time and no lines anywhere as this is the first international flight
to land in Rio. ... M Mendez (Guatemala) 10th October 2013.


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At the heart of Duolingo is its mission: to scale free education and increase income potential through language learning. However, the same mission that has helped it grow to a business valued at $2.4
On this week’s Found podcast, we sat down with Dandelion co-founder and President Kathy Hannun. Kathy came up with the idea for Dandelion while working at Google X, tackling some of the world
Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy. The app industry continues to grow, with a
E-bike startup Cowboy has launched the Cowboy 4, its newest generation of urban electric bikes. The bike will come in two different frames, a traditional frame, and a step-through. The C4 is basically
The internet is now our nervous system. We are constantly streaming and buying and watching and liking, our brains locked into the global information matrix as one universal and coruscating emanation
Hello friends and welcome to Daily Crunch, bringing you the most important startup, tech and venture capital news in a single package.
What Tesla CEO Elon Musk says publicly about the company’s progress on a fully autonomous driving system doesn’t match up with “engineering reality,” according to a memo that s
Welcome back to The TechCrunch Exchange, a weekly startups-and-markets newsletter for your weekend enjoyment.
The pandemic has just pushed edtech mainstream, but language-learning startup Duolingo had already spent the past decade figuring out how to build a successful edtech app. In our latest installment of
Long-running German audio company Sennheiser today announced that it has found a buyer for its consumer brand. Swiss holding company Sonova — a giant in the hearing aid business — will be
Sensor data from smartphones and wearables can meaningfully predict an individual’s ‘biological age’ and resilience to stress, according to Gero AI. The ‘longevity’ start
Long before the multimillion-dollar acquisitions and funding rounds pushed autonomous vehicles to the top of the hype cycle, Karl Iagnemma and Chris Urmson were researching and, later, developing the
Walmart-owned Flipkart is exempting storage and cancellation fees for sellers on its marketplace and also providing them with insurance coverage as the top e-commerce platform in India looks to mainta
Today we're talking Square earnings and its bitcoin base, especially in how it relates to the results of other entities that offer bitcoin sales.
Besides a passion for progress in the mobility space, what do Toyota AI Ventures’ Jim Adler, May Mobility’s Nina Grooms Lee and May’s Edwin Olson have in common? All three of them ar
“I feel the need — the need for speed.” That could be the official mobility startup founder credo, amirite? Speed and agility are important, but don’t move so quickly that you miss the chance
Credit Karma Money, a new checking and savings account from the company best known for its credit monitoring service, recently launched a significant new feature. Called Instant Karma, the program rew
The drastic approach I took to recovering our company is often referred to as a “full reset" -- the old company is essentially annihilated and a new company is formed from the remaining pieces.
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Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, where we unpack the numbers behind the headlines. The whole team was aboard for this recording, with Grace and Chris


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Rolling a Reliant Robin - Top Gear
Del Boy and Rodney’s iconic yellow three-wheeled Robin Reliant took pole position in a list of the greatest on-screen vehicles, beating classics including the high-flying car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Herbie, the 1963 Volkswagen Beetle.
The survey, conducted by newly-launched car finance site Carmoola, had Doc-Brown’s time-travelling DeLorean from Back to the Future in third, leaving James Bond’s silver Aston DB5 from Goldfinger in fourth and David Hasselhoff’s Knight Rider car in fifth.
But it was the lads from Peckham who might be millionaires this time next year as the instantly recognisable Reliant Robin triumphed.
In fact, one of the yellow three-wheelers used in the much-loved Only Fools and Horses TV series sold for £38,000 at an auction in 2021.
Emblazoned with “Trotters Independent Trading” the run-down motor was a familiar sight on TV throughout the 80s and 90s.
The classic three-wheeler topped the poll of the most iconic screen cars ever
However, there was no room for the iconic ‘Minder’ Ford Capri driven by the late Dennis Waterman, who passed away last weekend.
Aidan Rushby, CEO of Carmoola told express.co.uk exclusively: “Minder is one the TV greats. So many fans of the show dreamt of getting behind the wheel of Terry’s legendary Capri.
“It is a fitting tribute to Dennis Waterman that his trusty set of wheels has earned a place in the motoring hall of on-screen fame.
“With word that there could be a revival of Ford Capri it might not be long before the streets are once again heaving with what was, and still is, one of the coolest cars ever manufactured.”
Most of the cars listed on the survey have gone for a fortune at auction in recent years, with one DB5 selling for £5.2million and an example of the Ghostbusters car fetching £170,000 at an event in Las Vegas last year.
Mr Rushby added: “While many car enthusiasts would love to cruise around in the Batmobile, the reality is that it simply isn’t affordable or practical!”
“Even Del Boy’s Robin Reliant would come with a hefty price-tag.
“But with the legendary DeLorean making a comeback this year as an electric car, there’s a glimmer of hope for movie-loving drivers.
Top ten most iconic movie cars in full:
Del Boy and Rodney’s yellow three-wheeler from Only Fools and Horses (42%)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (31%)
Doc-Brown’s time-travelling DeLorean from Back to the Future (31%)
Silver Aston DB5, driven by James Bond in Goldfinger (29%)
K.I.T.T from Knight Rider (28%)
‘Herbie’ - the 1963 Volkswagen Beetle (23%)
Ghostbusters Car (The Ectomobile) - from 1984 movie Ghostbusters (22%)
Original 1960s Batmobile (20%)
The Inbetweeners yellow Fiat Cinquecento (11%)
Orange Toyota Supra driven by the late Paul Walker in Fast & Furious (9%)
What do you think is the most iconic movie or TV car ever? Have your say below...


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If you watch shoppers browsing in your retail store, it’s not always easy to tell what they want. They might move from rack to rack and back again, deep in thought — and then decide to purchase something completely different at the last minute. In a broader sense, what shoppers want from omnichannel retail may also be hard for you to decipher.
Paula Da Silva, senior VP of sales for CitiXsys, recently shed some light on this subject in a Retail Touchpoints webinar titled The Digital Disconnect: How To Match Online Convenience In The Store.
Paula Da Silva discussed three things your customers are expecting from omnichannel retail — relevance, convenience, and personalization — explaining that the key to delivering is customer data.
The webinar shared research commissioned by Swirl Networks1 in 2015 that concluded that retailers are missing the mark when it comes to relevant communications and offers to customers. In fact, 79% of consumers stated mobile content and ads are irrelevant, 78% said online content and ads are irrelevant, and 75% said emails and offers sent are irrelevant. In addition, 75% of consumers said sales associates don’t seem to understand shopper’s needs and preferences.Online retailers use technology to track customer’s purchases and the items they view online to create a profile of the customer. Your shoppers expect the same from other retail channels. Of course, the experience will be somewhat different — after all, the customer isn’t sitting in front of a screen filling a virtual cart with items. But you can base communications, offers, and promotions on customer history to ensure their relevance. In addition, your sales associates, armed with tablets and access to customer information, can meet customers in the aisles, provide information on products and pricing, help find out-of-stock items in a warehouse or another location, or suggest comparable replacements.
Customers not only expect relevance, but also personalized service from omnichannel retail. iVend Retail conducted research among 1,000 North American consumers — you can read the findings in the white paper Great Omnichannel Expectations. According to the research, 68% of consumers believe it is important for retailers to have a single view of them as a customer — from online and from in-store shopping histories. Your loyal customers also expect you to recognize them when they enter a physical store — maybe before they even speak to an associate — thanks to the app on their smartphones signaling you they have arrived.They want personalized offers delivered to their smartphones when they get to the store — similar to logging in to an online retail site and being greeted with offers or suggested items. Omnichannel retail solutions can help you deliver relevant offers and content based on each customer’s preferences and purchasing history based on the customer data you collect.
North American consumers — 70%, according to iVend’s research — tend to consider shopping online more convenient than shopping in a brick-and-mortar store. Shoppers have gotten used to researching an item, finding it for the best price, and arranging for delivery — all without leaving their homes.True, there will most likely always be a need for physical retail stores, as nothing can replace seeing, touching, or trying an item on display, and most purchases are made in brick-and-mortar stores.But shoppers may be expecting more. They expect to find the items that, according to your website, are in stock, and they may also be seeking information from a knowledgeable sales associate before making a purchase. How is retail currently meeting these expectations? According to iVend’s research, 24% of North American consumers surveyed agreed with the statement that after shopping online, the store feels like a “let down.”
Da Silva pointed out until there is a single view of the customer — the ultimate goal of the omnichannel retail strategy — there will always be a degree of discontent with the experience in brick-and-mortar stores.
Da Silva stressed customers aren’t loyal to channels. They are loyal to experiences. And you probably already have all the data you need to create those experiences. How can you better utilize your customer data to deliver a more relevance, personalization, and convenience to create the omnichannel retail experience customers really want?


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At its 25th Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled a new version of its desktop operating system and mobile operating system in the shape of OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 respectively. Here are the things you need to know:
Is Apple feeling threatened by Google, or just in a snarky mood?
After Tim Cook threw out some impressive Apple stats -- 100m iPod Touch units sold, 200m iPads and half a billion iPhones -- he decided to turn to Android, bragging that nearly half of Android customers in China, where its competitor has typically led, have switched to iOS in the past year. "They sought a better experience and a better life, and decided to switch to iOS," he said. Nine out of 10 are running iOS 7 currently, while "in stark contrast to Android" just 9 percent of their customers are using the latest release, KitKat. Most are using a version from four years ago [cue intake of breath from Cook], "that's like ancient history!" He drove the point home by playing on fears over security (a favourite tactic of Apple's throughout the evening) by flagging up Android's "hellstew" of security problems. "We do everything we can to make our updates available to as many people as possible." Snark, snark snark.
Apple has leapt on our NSA/GCHQ-induced fears to emphasise safety at all levels
This included its Touch ID software on iOS 8, which will always keep fingerprint tech safe in the processor and never expose it to third parties. Apple even touches on this with its HomeKit for developers. With this it promises to amalgamate all your smart appliances in the home to ensure "only your iPhone can unlock your door".
Apple wants to dominate the connected healthcare market
With HealthKit, it has achieved (or at least plans on achieving) what everyone has been talking about for years. You can use its app to track your health data and also share it with third parties to improve your fitness regime etc. But you can also share it with hospitals. The Mayo Clinic in the US has already built its own app using it, and Apple says it's partnered with hospitals serving 100m Americans to share vital stats, like your blood pressure, when your latest reading strays from your normal profile.
OMG! Apple finally has all the phone features others have had for years
After spending the first parts of the launch slagging of Android, Apple proceeded to brag about a whole set of features that have long been mainstays of Google, Facebook and Whatsapp. Keyboard Quicktype and context-driven predictive text? Yup. Android has been on that ball for some time. Refer to other emails while minimising one you're writing? Gmail nailed that a while ago. Quick hold and release voice messages: Whatsapp. Leave annoying group conversations? A Facebook "borrow".
You can now have lots of nifty interactions between devices
Interoperability -- which Apple calls Continuity -- was a major focus for Apple at this year's WWDC. Devices in your vicinity -- be they your Mac, iPad or iPhone -- are aware of each other, meaning you can pick up what you are working on or watching on your Mac on your iPad or iPhone. This also allows for a really handy hotspot creation without any configuration -- your Mac will just recognise your phone and you can opt to use your mobile data. The interoperability also applies to messaging, meaning you can pick up not only iMessages but text messages and phone calls on your Mac.
This same feature allows for synchronised version control of, say, photos across all your devices.
Translucence is a major UX feature
At least by the number of times it was mentioned in the presentation about OS X Yosemite.
Apple execs should not attempt comedy
When talking about proposed names for the next version of OS X Craig Federighi said they mooted "OS X Oxnard" to uproarious laughter, then OS X Rancho Cucamonga (LOL!) and OS X Weed (Whoa dude, drug reference), which has "large pockets of support" among some developers. Finally they settled on Yosemite. The least funny placename of all the placenames. That was all before we were offered a glimpse of Jony Ive with Federighi's hair in place of his usual close shave. But humour truly went to die in the place where Greg Joswick was demonstrating group messaging: he took a duck-faced selfie on-stage before receiving an excruciating video skit from his buddy Craig referring to the latter's unruly mane.
Dr Dre made an awkward cameo
Following Apple's acquisition of Beats, we all expected some mention of the headphone manufacturer. But when it happened we all wished it hadn't. Craig Federighi called up Dr Dre on stage and then referred to him as "Dr" as if it was his first name. Dre went through the motions in what has to go down as the most awkward moment in WWDC's 25-year history.


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African mobile games publisher Carry1st has raised a further $20 million following a Series A extension funding round.
The funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz and featured participation from Avenir and Google, alongside multiple angel investors, including the founders of Yield Guild Games and Sky Mavis.
This funding round marks the first time lead investor Andreessen Horowitz has invested in a firm with Africa-based headquarters. Partners of the VC firm David Haber and Jonathan Lai will join the Carry1st board as observers.
The recent funding builds on top of a Series A round held in May 2021 that raised $6 million for the firm to scale its games publishing operations in Africa.
Carry1st has stated that it will use the funding to expand its content portfolio and scale its user acquisition operations to reach "tens of millions of new users". Furthermore, the firm has revealed that it will expand into mobile game co-development, focusing on the creation of original IP and play-to-earn games.
"We’re excited to partner with this world-class group of investors who, in addition to capital, bring expertise across gaming, fintech, and web3," said Carry1st co-founder and CEO Cordel Robbin-Coker.
"In 2021 we launched multiple games and digital commerce solutions achieving really strong growth. Together we can accelerate this growth and achieve our goal of becoming the leading consumer internet company in the region."
Andreessen Horowitz partner David Haber added: "We see immense opportunity for the company to mirror outstanding successes we’ve seen in markets like India, China, and Southeast Asia. We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with founders Cordel, Lucy, Tino, and the Carry1st team on their mission to build the Garena of Africa."
In October 2021, Carry1st partnered with Spongebob: Krusty Cook-Off publisher Tilting Point to publish the game in Africa, providing an additional reach of 54 countries for the Bikini Bottom-based cooking sim.


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High Touch High Tech has increased it’s franchise ranking in the Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2015 Franchise 500 rankings!!
We are now #183 of the 500 topped ranked franchise company’s across the country.
HTHT is also now #52 on the Top Home Based Franchises, as well as #158 on the Top Global Franchises.
A huge thank to all our franchisee’s who have worked so hard to bring hands-on science into the classrooms of schools in their region!


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The Ontario Chamber Network has been part of the launch of two reports recently, one by RBC
Economics called Small Business, Big Pivot and the other by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) policy team called Small Business, Big Impact. Both reports highlight the fact that small businesses were most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the OCC report it is recognized that “the coronavirus has hit small business harder than the 2008 financial crisis. As a result of public health measures aimed at mitigating the virus, SMEs are facing unprecedented challenges to their survival, including reduced revenue, poor liquidity, disrupted supply chains, inflexible fixed costs, increased need for technology, navigating emergency government supports, and retaining employees.”
The OCC report goes on to show current challenges, including for those businesses in rural, northern
communities and First Nations.
The RBC report identifies five areas to help with recovery:
1. Streamline relief programs. As we shift to a recovery, the government has an opportunity to refresh and streamline its business relief programs. Most immediately, those options could include:
based programs to help employers restart their businesses. These could include:
strategy that could include:
opportunity to invest in sectors that leverage Canadian supply chains and fuel small business growth, including:
In a world that is likely to be more fragmented, Canada will need a more focused approach to trade. We may need:
93% of the membership of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce is a small business. These businesses are creating jobs and economic activity right across our region. They are working hard to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. We remind everyone to be patient and helpful to our local businesses as they move through the reopening phase.
The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community.


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A police officer gets a call in his patrol car about a crime at a shopping center miles away. He flips open a laptop computer and goes to a Web site that carries real-time feeds from surveillance cameras. He links with a camera at the shopping center and can immediately see what's going on at the crime scene.
Police in Baltimore County have not quite achieved this level of technological prowess, but they will if County Councilman Kevin Kamenetz has his way. He calls such technology "a force multiplier."
The county has applied for $300,000 in federal grants to the Department of Homeland Security for the digital systems necessary to bring streaming crime scene video to patrol cars.
The advantages of such technology are obvious. The county is already putting up cameras in public spaces such as commercial corridors and neighborhoods to give police a better "eye in the sky."
But shopping centers are businesses and the cost of the necessary security upgrades would be borne by them. Shopping center operators upgraded their security systems just two years ago to comply with a county law and the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce raised the issue of cost back then. Kamenetz said he would consider a tax credit as a way of encouraging business owners to spend the money.
Meanwhile, a video surveillance expert in the county estimates that only about six shopping centers have the equipment in place now to permit Web-based viewing.
"Our county must be on the cutting edge," Kamenetz said.
But cutting edge usually comes at a high cost.
If the cost is too high, business and shopping center owners may balk, lobby against supporting legislation or -- worst yet -- promote the idea that Baltimore County is not friendly to commercial interests.
We charge Kamenetz with putting together an incentive package that brings shopping centers willingly into the system.


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The ongoing diplomatic tensions between China and several countries have now prompted companies that do business there to reconsider alternative investments. With the bulk of their manufacturing and supplies provided by Chinese labour, Apple and Samsung reportedly expressed plans to move some of their operations to other regions. India is shaping up to be the next option for several tech groups and its government is seizing the opportunity by offering attractive incentives.
As indicated by analysts, the South Asian country has the potential to become the world's next manufacturing epicentre. There are currently 16 companies that would benefit from the programme and the majority of which have ties to the smartphone industry. These include Samsung, Apple, AT&S, Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, and other Indian firms with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the campaign.
To qualify, the production volumes should be bumped up, which might not be difficult given the remarkable growth of India's smartphone market. A report from CNN indicates the companies stand to receive incentives worth four percent to six percent of their product sales in the country in the span of five years. In turn, the government projects an estimated $1.5 billion in total investments for its electronics manufacturing industry.
Unlike its competitors, Apple's offerings normally sell for a premium price in the country. An example given shows that a 64 GB iPhone XR retails for $120 more than what it typically sells for in the United States. On the other hand, if the company manufactures it locally, it can circumvent certain taxes and import fees to make it cheaper for Indian buyers.
IDC senior research manager Kiranjeet Kaur says the government's incentive programme could mean that "more of the local India iPhones sales is catered by the locally produced iPhones, which would bring down the cost." Despite the growing anti-China sentiment among the Indian population, the top-selling smartphones are notably from Chinese brands.
Xiaomi appears to be on top, while Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Realme, and others equally popular among consumers. Samsung is likewise reporting favourable sales with Apple now officially selling its products just recently. Data shows the latter accounts for less than two percent of the region's smartphone sales.


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Town of Waukesha Plan Commission puts Dunkin' Donuts proposal on hold
Wants updated plan for next meeting
After hearing the plan from developers and from many concerned residents, a new Dunkin' Donuts shop on Sunset Drive in the Town of Waukesha will have to wait.
Due to safety and traffic concerns, the Plan Commission unanimously voted to table the item to its next meeting until developers bring forth an updated plan.
The 5,040 square-foot shop, located at S30 W24836 Sunset Drive, could hold up to four tenants.
The donut shop would also have a drive-through lane as Dunkin' Donuts representatives said are the norm.
But many residents had issues with that as well.
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- Lifeway Foods CEO looking forward to future in Waukesha
- Neighbors unite beautifying turf
- Waukesha GuitarTown project shaping up
- Waukesha Memorial Day parade is Monday
- Waukesha STEM Academy names new principal
- More than 342 acres of town land could be annexed into the city
- Police Report: May 23
- Mountain bike trail to open June 1 in Waukesha's Minooka Park (2)
- Fracaro's Lanes in Waukesha celebrates 80th year
- Military-style grenade forced home evacuation


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While the iPhone typically hits carriers with a hefty cost, Verizon continues to show impressive earnings and wireless subscriber growth.
Both RIM and HP Palm got sidetracked trying to build a tablet and it cost them dearly. Other tech giants could face similar regrets, says TechRepublic's Jason Hiner.
In part 3 of his four-part series reflecting on a life lived largely on the Web, Crave's Eric Mack recalls fleeing the dot-com bust fallout for Alaska, only to be drawn back to a digital world that was growing up fast.
Can GI Joe: Retaliation -- an action movie starring The Rock and Bruce Willis as 1980s toys -- stretch to two dimensions, let alone three?
In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon explains why wireless consumers looking for a good bargain should consider the Samsung Galaxy S3, even though the new Galaxy S4 has been announced.
Despite increased competition, AT&T continues to be the leading U.S. carrier when it comes to selling the iPhone. But the company blamed supply issues for the weaker numbers.
Carrier reports strong uptake of its Share Everything plans, according to the company's CFO.
Regulators OK its license to sell a 3G device in the Chinese market, according to Dow Jones.
Making its first flight to the International Space Station, a cargo ship built by SpaceX is A-OK in a series of complex tests that set the stage for berthing Friday.
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Muster says Apple's total market valuation could soon exceed $1 trillion. Just another $400 billion to go. But beware the Microsoft precedent.


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Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-AMG, and G-Class vehicles achieved new sales records in 2021.
Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid and electric passenger cars reached a record 227,458 units (+69.3%) of which 48,936 were Mercedes-EQ battery electric passenger cars (BEV) (+154.8%). Including smart and Mercedes-Benz Vans, total BEV sales rose above 99,000 units. Since the EQS went on sale in August 2021, orders for the electric flagship reached 16,370. The retail launch in the two largest markets – the United States and China – started in December, providing a further boost to customer orders.
Overall Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 2,093,476 vehicles (-5.0%) between January and December, as a lack of semiconductors delayed the supply of vehicles despite strong demand for passenger cars and vans in all segments and across all regions. As a result, sales in the fourth quarter decreased by -24.7%.
Sales of commercial vans rose 2.6% in 2021 to 334,210 units, thanks to strong demand in the first half of 2021 and from China and the United States in particular, where sales rose 11.3% and 4.8% respectively. In Europe, Spain emerged as a strong market with deliveries up 23.2% last year. In the US, where especially the Sprinter was again one of the business drivers, 53,472 units (Sprinter and Metris) were sold.
More than 9,000 electric vans were sold for commercial use last year, doubling the number compared to 2020 and further growing the share of electric vehicles in the commercial van fleet. The eVito panel van, launched in December, will convince further customers to drive electrically in 2022 with an additional battery variant and the standard fast charging function.


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Jin Xu New Energy Nanjing Electric Vehicle Exhibition
PostTime: 2020-11-28 Views: 778
Shanghai Jinxu New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. formally appeared at the annual Nanjing Electric Vehicle Exhibition from November 28 to November 30, 2020. This exhibition has a gathering of manufacturers and the Eight Immortals across the sea show their magical powers. As an important domestic electric vehicle exhibition, this time The exhibition has a total of 9 exhibition halls with an unprecedented scale and is a major event in the industry.
Jin Xu New Energy, as a Shanghai-based company, has an automotive-grade battery pack technical team. The products presented this time mainly include battery packs suitable for two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers. The products are 48V50Ah, 48V100Ah, 60V50Ah, 60V100Ah, 60V130Ah, 72V50Ah, Large-capacity lithium batteries such as 72V100Ah, 72V130Ah, etc. are a boon for those who need large mileage.
This electric car show is also an opportunity for Jin Xu to promote the brand of lithium battery. He invited business at the exhibition site and was welcomed by many dealer friends. Lithium battery friends from all over the country gathered to discuss cooperation matters and established a good communication team. The regional sales manager of Jin Xu lithium battery brand is responsible for answering questions and discussing the next step of cooperation, which has won unanimous praise from dealers.
In addition, the company also exhibited forklifts and energy storage application products this time. At the same time, the products referred to this time are also the BMS products of the team that have high safety and reliability for low-speed vehicle products, which aroused great interest in the industry. The exhibition has achieved initial results, making friends all over the world, serving customers, serving the public, and contributing its meager power to lithium batteries for electric vehicles.


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MSC Bellissima has set sail from the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France on her first set of sea trials.
The ship left the shipyard on the morning on 19 December 2018. The ship will return to the shipyard later this month before setting sail on further sea trials in 2019 ahead of its delivery.
MSC Bellissima is the second ship in the Meraviglia class of ships and will be a sister to MSC Meraviglia which launched in June 2017.
The 171,000 gross tonne ship which will carry up to 5,700 passengers and will be christen in Southampton, United Kingdom. It will be the largest ship ever to be christened in the UK. The ceremony will take place on 02 March 2019. The Godmother for the ship will be no other than the Italian actress Sophia Loren. The 83-year old has christened all of the cruise ships in the MSC Cruises fleet.
MSC Cruises will invite 2,000 guests to the christening in Southampton. MSC Bellissima will stay in Southampton for three days, allowing for around 3,000 travel agents and members of the press to sample the new ship before departing on its maiden voyage to Genoa.
MSC Bellissima will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean offering 7-night cruises to some of the region’s most popular ports before moving to the Emirates for Winter 2019/2020.


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End-of-life panels might not need recycling for another 15 years, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the growing issue today.
In 2017, the United States installed 10.6 GW of new solar energy. Using rough math (if every panel was 300 W), that’s 35.3 million new solar panels installed last year. In about 30 years, a wave of 35.3 million panels may reach the end of their lifespans, not counting the hundreds of millions of panels that flooded the U.S. market in the last decade that may need to be disposed of sooner.
What to do with this future solar waste has been bothering many in the industry, especially Sam Vanderhoof, owner of consulting firm Solar CowboyZ and former president of Schott Solar.
“I’ve been working in solar since 1976. I’ve been doing it a long time, and that’s part of my guilt. I’ve been involved with millions of solar panels going into the field, and now they’re getting old,” he said. “The industry seems to think—myself included—that there isn’t a problem yet. The reality is that there is a problem now, and it’s only going to get larger, rapidly expanding as the PV industry expanded 10 years ago.”
Solar panel disposal and recycling isn’t a huge issue right now in 2018 because there isn’t a big enough volume to cause concern. Solar panels are warrantied to perform more than 25 years, and once the warranty expires, panels will still produce energy, albeit not at their advertised peak. Solar installations in the United States didn’t really take off until 2010. Any influx of panels needing replaced today happens after freak weather events or other accidents.
But where are those damaged panels going now? With no dedicated national program or requirement to safely dispose of solar panels, some unfortunately find their way to landfills. If the system owner is green-minded and has the money, panels may get shipped to a recycling facility. Other industry players are warehousing damaged or old panels until a practical recycling program is established.
That’s why Vanderhoof and a few colleagues recently started a new recycling program in the United States—Recycle PV—modeled after Europe’s successful program. The program is still in its early stages, but Vanderhoof hopes his efforts will start a movement.
“Who is responsible for it? In the U.S., nobody is,” he said of solar panel recycling guidelines. “It is important for the industry to step up to address it. Solar is supposed to be renewable and clean energy, but there is this dirty side to it. There is a waste stream after time that hasn’t been addressed.”
Vanderhoof isn’t alone in these concerns. There are many U.S. players trying to get plans in place before safe panel disposal becomes a national issue. Determining guidelines now will make things easier when panels reach the end of their useful lives.
Economics vs. regulations
Cara Libby, senior technical leader of solar energy at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), has been doing solar PV recycling research on behalf of the organization’s utility members. Libby said utilities asked for EPRI’s help understanding the feasibility of recycling in the United States since many own solar arrays approaching 20 years old. Libby and her research partners have been looking at various recycling technologies, whether modules should be classified as hazardous waste and how other countries have already approached recycling regulations.
“It’s still a little premature for dedicated PV recycling facilities [in the United States],” Libby said. “In the future, maybe around 2030, there will be a surge in PV waste volumes. Then we’ll have to start thinking about a better way to collect and recycle efficiently.”
EPRI found that most panel recycling in Europe through the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive—which established rules for solar panel recycling in 2012—happens at glass recyclers. Panels are crushed or shredded and then glass and metals are separated. Other chemical and thermal processes may be used to recover high-value material like silver or copper.
System owners recycle their panels in Europe because they are required to. Panel recycling in an unregulated market (like the United States) will only work if there is value in the product. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) detailed solar panel compositions in a 2016 report and found that c-Si modules contained about 76% glass, 10% polymer (encapsulant and backsheet), 8% aluminum (mostly the frame), 5% silicon, 1% copper and less than 0.1% of silver, tin and lead. As new technologies are adopted, the percentage of glass is expected to increase while aluminum and polymers will decrease, most likely because of dual-glass bifacial designs and frameless models.
CIGS thin-film modules are composed of 89% glass, 7% aluminum and 4% polymers. The small percentages of semiconductors and other metals include copper, indium, gallium and selenium. CdTe thin-film is about 97% glass and 3% polymer, with other metals including nickel, zinc, tin and cadmium telluride.
There’s just not a large amount of money-making salvageable parts on any type of solar panel. That’s why regulations have made such a difference in Europe.
“In Europe, we’ve seen that when it’s mandated, it gets done,” Libby said. “Either it becomes economical or it gets mandated. But I’ve heard that it will have to be mandated because it won’t ever be economical.”
There’s nothing yet mandated at a national level, but there are a few states trying to get the required recycling ball moving. In July 2017, Washington became the first state to pass a solar stewardship bill (ESSB 5939), requiring manufacturers selling solar products into the state to have end-of-life recycling programs for their own products. Manufacturers that do not provide a recycling program or outline will not be able to sell solar modules into the state after Jan. 1, 2021. Regional takeback locations will be set up to accept solar panels at no cost to the system owner, and the state may charge manufacturers for the program. Final plans are still being decided.
Washington-based solar panel manufacturer Itek Energy assisted with the bill’s writing.
“Most of us here at the company feel strongly about being strong environmental stewards,” said Evan Bush, special programs coordinator at Itek. “It’s important to spearhead these efforts before there’s a big volume that will need to be disposed. With this in place, we’ll be more prepared.”
Itek’s modules are already in compliance with the new bill; the company uses a recycling partner in Idaho to take damaged panels and manufacturing scrap. Itek has been accepting back other brands of modules just to keep them out of landfills.
“There are reasons beyond just doing the right thing that should encourage others to [recycle panels],” Bush said. “Given the value of the component materials in modules, this shouldn’t be a burden to us or other participants.”
New York has a similar bill on the Senate calendar this year. Bill S2837A would require solar panel manufacturers to collect end-of-life panels for recycling. Critics argue that panel manufacturers should not bear the burden of recycling panels alone, although that is how the WEEE Directive works in Europe.
California SB 489 passed in 2015 and encourages safe disposal of old panels. California designates end-of-life solar panels as universal waste, a type of hazardous waste that is widely used in homes and businesses (like TVs or batteries). By California law, universal waste cannot be trashed or landfilled, but no guidelines are given on the proper way to recycle solar panels.
A U.S. recycling veteran
One U.S. company that has recycling figured out is CdTe thin-film module manufacturer First Solar. In 2005, the company made a commitment to extended producer responsibility. First Solar execs understood that in order for a renewable energy technology to truly be green, it was important to consider its end-of-life management. First Solar’s recycling program was established at the beginning of production to responsibly recycle manufacturing scrap, warranty returns and end-of-life panels. This environmental decision also had a financial perspective—tellurium doesn’t just grow on trees.
“There is a finite amount of tellurium,” said First Solar global recycling director Sukhwant Raju. “They wanted to make sure there was a way to recover the valuable stuff so it becomes sustainable growth for First Solar. It’s not just about being green, but how do we stay sustainable in the long term?”
First Solar recycling plants are attached to its manufacturing facilities—in Ohio, Malaysia and under construction in Vietnam. There’s also a stand-alone recycling plant in Germany.
“We have the capacity to recycle 2 million panels globally on an annual basis,” Raju said. “As more panels start reaching the end of their 25-year lifetimes, recycling will increase drastically.”
The company only recycles CdTe panels currently, even if the panels are not manufactured by First Solar (other CdTe panel manufacturers include Calyxo of Germany and Advanced Solar Power (ASP) of China). Raju said the company may develop techniques to handle crystalline silicon panels.
“We have a decade’s worth of experience in recycling, and we want to utilize that to broaden our efforts,” he said.
As with the decommissioning of other energy technologies, there’s still a financial obligation on behalf of the system owner. The company’s initial recycling program was pre-funded. When a First Solar panel was sold, a portion of that money went into a fund that could only be used for end-of-life recycling. In 2012, the company switched gears but continues to honor historical commitments under the prefunded module collection and recycling program.
“We realized we were not doing anyone any favors by charging customers 20 to 30 years in advance for end of life recycling,” Raju said. “The better approach was to do pay-as-you-go since it is more cost-efficient to finance PV recycling through later-year project cash flows instead of upfront funding. Now when we sell our panels, we offer a global recycling services agreement. Customers have the option to use our services when the panels get to the end of life stage. We’ll do the recycling, and they’ll pay the price at that time.”
This customer-funded recycling effort is dependent on system owners willing to pay the price to do the right thing. Raju thinks that as volume increases, recycling costs will come down and the greener option will be more attractive than just throwing panels away. First Solar is also taking steps to reduce recycling costs to ensure recycling becomes the preferred end-of-life management approach.
“Limited land availability and regulatory requirements will only increase the costs of landfilling,” he said. “Meanwhile, recycling costs will continue to go down. While customers may only be sending 100 panels today for recycling, by the time most of their panels get to end of life, our cost ratio will be way lower. They see the value in getting on the recycling bandwagon.
“But at the end of the day,” Raju continued, “there is nothing to force them, other than in places where there are regulations.”
The need for crystalline recycling
For c-Si modules needing recycling now in the United States, there are a few scattered options. Various glass and electronics recyclers have taken on solar panel recycling, but usually not on dedicated lines or on a grand scale. Industry advocacy group SEIA has begun organizing recycling efforts through its PV Recycling Working Group. SEIA will choose preferred recycling partners that offer benefits to SEIA members. ECS Refining and Cleanlites Recycling have recently been approved as SEIA recycling partners.
Cleanlites began in the early 1990s as a light bulb recycler, taking on other items like batteries and electronics, until it found a niche with “difficult to recycle” items. It has been catering to a solar crowd for the last few years and recycled 1.5 million lbs of solar panels last year (again, using rough math of 50 lbs per panel, that’s 30,000 panels).
“I saw the impending need for solar panel [recycling]. Those coming out of commission from now to the next 10 years is astronomical,” said Tim Kimmel, Cleanlites vice president.
Cleanlites uses optical, magnetic and hand sorting to separate aluminum, other metals and electronics from c-Si solar panels at its Cincinnati-based facility. The company is hesitant to accept other types of panels right now until it can determine safe processes. The leftover glass and silicon wafers (which may also have copper and silver mixed in) are sent to a smelter for further extraction. The process works for now, but it could be improved.
“We’re looking to put a new process line in that will be able to separate all the components and recover the silicon wafers and recycle the units 100%,” Kimmel said. “The goal is to avoid landfilling all these units, which is going to be a vast number here shortly.”
As solar panels are processed on the current lines, Cleanlites collects the scrap and sends 45,000-lb loads out at a time.
“At times, we get thousands of panels in a month, and on those times, we process twice a week, making the material and sending to the smelter on a consistent basis,” Kimmel said. “Other times, they come in slowly and we build them up until we are able to process a whole shipment.”
It costs money to send “solar scrap” to a smelter, and Cleanlites incorporates that cost and the cost of transportation into its recycling prices.
“There is a cost, so you have to weigh… do you want to be an environmentally sustainable company, or do you want to landfill thousands of pounds of material and have that show up?” Kimmel said. “The benefit of sending it to us, we’re able to receive it, ensure that the metals are recovered, and we recycle it. You’re not creating any waste or hazardous waste.”
A solar panel’s level of hazardous waste is up for debate. If panels are just old, there are usually no reasons to worry. EPRI research found the chance of chemical leaching grows if panels are damaged.
“We’ve conducted some toxicity testing on modules, and we have seen results showing that the presence of lead is higher than the threshold allowed by the TCLP (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure). There is a lot of variation between module types,” Libby said. “There is a potential for leaching of toxic materials such as lead in landfill environments. If modules are intact, it’s a low risk, but as soon as they’re broken or crushed, then the potential for leaching is increased.”
Recycling panels is the safest way to dispose of them, and SEIA and recycling centers are trying to make it easy to do the right thing.
Planning for future volume
There are clearly recycling options available now to U.S. solar owners, but their fragmented nature is what led Vanderhoof to form Recycle PV.
“There’s a little effort for sure, but it’s not concentrated. The information isn’t out there,” he said. “There’s not a good, simple flow of information and processes and procedures to deal with the waste stream.”
Recycle PV went straight to the pros, partnering with PV Cycle (the successful non-profit organization that offers waste management help to solar companies in Europe) and German panel refurbisher Rinovasol for the U.S. market. Slightly damaged or underperforming panels can find a second life on the refurbished market. Rinovasol will take care of those, and PV Cycle sets up memberships to get recyclable panels to partner facilities. Thus far, Recycle PV has shipped two containers of panels to Germany for recycling, which is expensive but the only way to fully take advantage of the PV Cycle process right now.
The plan for Recycle PV is to get volumes large enough to build a dedicated solar recycling plant in the United States. Vanderhoof said once Recycle PV is processing 10,000 panels a month, a U.S. facility will make more sense.
“It’s not an outrageous goal,” he said. “Right now in Europe, they can recycle that much a day, but it’s been going on for a long time already.”
It’s a lofty goal for Vanderhoof and his partners to start a brand new operation, but he felt he had to do something.
“We’ve gone to a lot of waste management and EPA meetings. You look around the room and it’s all waste management people, not solar people,” he said. “Those guys are in there trying to work on the policies that affect all of us, and they’d like it to be a more expensive policy because they make more money off it. The solar guys aren’t as engaged as they could be.”
The most promising solution for the United States is if SEIA can successfully tap into the PV Cycle model and pick up recycling plants across the nation willing to invest in solar processing. If more states adopt Washington’s requirements to have all panels backed by recycling programs, national recycling plans might automatically form. A big solar name may be willing to forgo Washington sales, but it’d have a harder time losing out on California sales just because it doesn’t have a recycling plan in place.
Time is ticking. The United States has about 15 years before solar panel recycling becomes a major issue. Plenty of time to figure out the best course of action, but also plenty of time to procrastinate. Here’s hoping we set early deadlines.


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Duro Bag goes green with 100% recycled paper sack
- Laura Baverman
- Staff Reporter
New bans on plastic bag use at retailres have given Ludlow-based Duro Bag Manufacturing Co. a chance to prove its latest paper product.
Duro Bag believes it is the first to create a 100 percent-recycled paper handle bag. The timing is key, as cities across the country are discussing legislation that would prevent the use of plastic due to its harmful effects on marine life and the environment. San Francisco approved a measure for supermarkets and convenience stores in March.
Duro Bag has worked with a North American paper mill for two years on technology that builds the tear strength of recycled materials, said Doug Leland, executive vice president of sales for Duro Bag, a privately owned firm that operates 12 plants in North America and employs 2,500.
Traditional paper bags are made of virgin fiber, a waste product of saw mills and a non-recycled material. Virgin fiber's high tear strength makes its quality hard to beat. "Every time you recycle anything, those fibers get shorter because you cut them up," Leland said.
The new bag uses a unique blend of 60 percent post-industrial recycled fiber, which is mostly taken from boxes used in a warehouse setting, and 40 percent post-consumer fiber, taken from paper products recycled by consumers. Leland said it's the first time virgin fiber has not been included in the mix.
The price of the bag is 7 percent to 10 percent more than a traditional sack, but retailers such as Wild Oats Markets, Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joe's are investing in it.
"It's closely aligned with our recycling practices. We thought it would be a great item to help reduce our negative impact on the environment," said Jim Middleton, senior director of operation services for Wild Oats in Boulder. The specialty and organic foods grocer began using the bags in its eastern division in March.
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They say that you can often tell how successful a line of car models is going to be after it experiences a refreshing makeover. Sometimes the changes are modest; sometimes the changes are overwhelming -- regardless of the changes, typically the vehicles will sell well. This can easily be said for the all-new 2014 BMW 5-Series sedan. Now that the vehicle is entering its sixth generation of a refresh, the latest BMW 5-Series is set to be the fastest selling yet. To date, nearly a million BMW 5-Series models have been sold worldwide over the last three years.
With the unveiling of the all new 2013 BMW 5-Series becoming a first-sight for consumers in the new calendar year, immediately the vehicle presents a signature BMW feel all around. From the design, interior, wheels and front and back, you can tell that the 2013 BMW 5-Series has Bimmer written all over it. However, the best reason consumers have to love the 2013 BMW 5-Series line of models is the M5, one of the most powerful vehicles in this year's line.
With each passing year, BMW comes out with a new yearly model that is meant to blow the previous year's model out of the water. With technological advancements, major upgrades, interior changes and new stylistics, the latest model of BMWs is meant to appeal to the consumer eye. When it comes time to purchase your next BMW, whether you want to purchase a brand new model, lease a new model, or purchase an older model, you're going to need the proper knowledge in the back of your head when it comes time to sign that contract. Right now, let's take a look at the 2011 BMW 5 Series in comparison to the all-new 2012 5 Series.
The 2011 BMW 5-series received a complete overhaul from the outside in. From the 400hp twin turbo V-8 in the 550i down to the iDrive system. Every major category of the BMW 5-series has been changed. BMW reviews of the new 5-series are predictably mixed. From complaints that the 5 is moving closer to the 7 than the 3, and praise of its cleaner lines and its enhanced drivability. Regardless of dissenting opinions, the BMW 5-series will continue to remain one of the most coveted vehicles on the road.


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Below, we get you to the basics of AI and privacy – finding out what it is, what it means in today’s world and what are some of the best practices when it comes to developing a secure and trustworthy AI.
Ericsson is being sued by hundreds of Americans who say the company’s alleged payment of bribes to al Qaeda and Islamic State—protection money meant to let it operate in Iraq—also helped fund acts of terror.
By Caroline Berns, Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Talent Acquisition, MMEA


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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have the most number of friends on social networking websites like Facebook. They also spend the most hours per week on such sites.
According to a survey conducted by international firm TNS, a Malaysian has an average of 233 friends in their social network, followed by 231 in Brazil and 217 in Norway. Japanese users had the least number of friends, averaging 29.
The survey was based on recent interviews of 50,000 consumers in 46 countries.
“Surprisingly, Chinese consumers only have an average of 68 friends in their networks despite being heavy users of social networking sites,” the survey said.
In terms of hours spent on social sites, Malaysians spent nine hours weekly.
Next were the Russians, with an average of 8.1 hours per week online while those in Turkey spent 7.7 hours a week.
The survey also found that rather than using email, consumers were now spending more time on social networking sites.
Commenting on the survey, Tourism Ministry international relations department secretary Mohd Halimi Ibrahim said that social media sites would be a cost-effective way to promote Malaysia.
“Instead of spending billions on expensive advertisements, social media sites allow us to do it for free and quite possibly, reach a larger audience,” he said yesterday.
Halimi added that it also showed that Malaysia was more than capable of holding its own in matters of technology.
“This study also shows that some Malaysians spend far too much time on the Internet, whiling away hours that could be put to much better use,” he said.


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Whether or not you can imagine people across the planet chowing down on veggie burgers and “clean” chicken nuggets, this does raise an important point: The future of food is not just about suburban American moms who want their kids to eat pesticide-free carrot sticks or urban hipsters who will pay through the nose for locally raised, organically fed, free-range duck. It’s about feeding a global population expected to top 9 billion by 2050 without destroying the planet that sustains us.
It’s also financially smart. With an annual investment of $320 billion in sustainable business models by 2030, the food and agriculture industry could reap $2.3 trillion a year, a 2016 report from the Business & Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC) estimates. That represents a seven-fold return on investment and could create more than 80 million jobs.
“We’ve been watching food and ag for quite some time,” says Nancy Pfund, founder and managing partner of DBL Partners, an impact-focused venture capital firm best known for its clean tech investments in the likes of SolarCity and Tesla.
With its third fund, a $400 million vehicle that closed in 2015, DBL has invested in Apeel Sciences, which creates products from plant extracts that allow growers to reduce their reliance on pesticides, increase produce quality and extend shelf life, thereby reducing food waste.
The firm has also expanded its position in the Farmers Business Network (FBN), an analytics company that provides farmers with data that helps them track and reduce the use of chemicals, water and energy. Pfund believes this type of technology will produce change on a larger scale because mainstream mega-agriculture is where the numbers are.
“To move the mega-beast, you’ve got to do it through this data-based approach,” she says. “It eliminates the opaque nature of the industry and reveals that you can get good [crop] yields without using so much of this stuff, and, if you can show that to buyers, you’ll be able to command better pricing as consumers increasingly care more about this. It’s a very nice marriage of demand pull and technology push.”
Some U.S. farmers, also seeing the potential of a growing marketplace, have begun changing to organic practices, but the numbers for certified organic farms remain tiny, less than 1% for most U.S. crops. Still, more than 4 million acres of U.S. farmland are now devoted to organic agriculture, according to a 2016 report from the market research firm Mercaris, a record that marks an 11% increase over 2014. The number of certified organic farms is close to 15,000, rising more than 6% since 2014.
To read the full article, please visit Private Wealth


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Iceland supermarkets to ban palm oil in own-brand products
Iceland is to stop using palm oil in own-brand products by the end of 2018.
The Deeside-based chain - the first major UK supermarket to ban palm oil - said it was used in more than half of its products, from biscuits to soap.
Iceland said growing demand for the oil was devastating tropical rainforests across southeast Asia.
The frozen food specialist said it was alerted to the environmental challenges that palm oil presented by campaigners at Greenpeace.
The ban only applies to Iceland-brand products, meaning other products sold by the retailer may still contain palm oil.
Iceland managing director Richard Walker said there was "no such thing" as properly sustainable palm oil.
"Certified sustainable palm oil does not currently limit deforestation and it does not currently limit the growth of palm oil plantations," he told the BBC. "So until such a time as there is genuinely sustainable palm oil that contains zero deforestation, we are saying no to palm oil."
Mr Walker said the move would increase costs but they would not be passed on to customers: "There will be an extra cost but we think it's the right thing to do."
Why is palm oil controversial?
- Palm oil production is said to have been responsible for about 8% of the world's deforestation between 1990 and 2008
- Burning large areas of forests to clear areas where oil palms can be grown has also been blamed for high levels of air pollution in South East Asia
- Palm oil is used in almost half the products stocked by UK supermarkets and can be found in everything from shampoos to biscuits, as well as biofuels
- Some experts say eating palm oil is unhealthy because it is high in saturated fat
- EU labelling laws were changed in 2014 so products must now state specifically if they contain palm oil
One species affected by palm oil production is the orangutan population.
In some regions, oil palm cultivation has resulted in deforestation, leaving species that lived in virgin forest without a home.
Some palm plantations have been developed without consulting local communities over the use of their land, or even caused them to be forcibly displaced.
There are organisations dedicated to finding ways of producing palm oil more ethically and sustainably and a growing number of players in the palm oil industry have committed to adopting more sustainable practices.
Despite the high level of concern over the effect palm oil has on the environment in countries where it is grown, a survey of more than 5,000 UK consumers found about a third were not sure what palm oil is.
However, once they were told about effects on the environment, 85% said they did not think it should be used in food products.
Iceland says it has already found alternative recipes for 50% of its own-label range.
The store chain has a history of acting to remove controversial products from its shelves.
It was the first supermarket to ban GM-grown crops in its own-brand goods, and earlier this year said it would eliminate or drastically reduce plastic packaging of all its own-label products by the end of 2023.
Last year, the Bank of England considered the use of palm oil in its future banknote production, following complaints over the use of animal-derived tallow in its polymer notes.
The Bank launched a public consultation, receiving responses from 3,554 people. Of those who expressed a preference, 88% were against the use of animal-derived products and 48% objected to the use of palm oil-derived additives.
However, any switch to palm oil was ruled out as the Bank said its suppliers were "unable to commit to sourcing the highest level of sustainable palm oil".


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RIYADH: The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is involved in a broad range of activities, both domestically and worldwide, to encourage international tourists from all over the world to visit Japan.
In 2013 the number of international visitors to Japan reached 10.3 million. Within five years this number tripled, meaning that in 2018 Japan welcomed more than 31 million visitors. It amounted to a robust 8.7 percent increase year-on-year.
Last year JNTO identified the Middle East market as an important emerging market for travelers seeking unique luxury experiences.
It participated at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in April 2019, conducting numerous tourism seminars for the region’s travel trade professionals.
The JNTO further strengthened its presence within the region by appointing AVIAREPS as its representative office, which regularly collaborates with regional airline partners to conduct joint consumer promotions, advertising campaigns and on-going marketing activities to generate greater awareness of Japan’s attractions.
Bilateral relationships in terms of tourism between Saudi Arabia and Japan have recently increased dramatically.
Thousands of Al-Hilal football supporters recently visited Japan for the AFC Champions League Final last November. The newly introduced Saudi tourist e-visa system is expected to result in greater numbers of Japanese visitors to Saudi Arabia.
Japan is an archipelago stretching from the north to the south for more than 3,000 km. Each prefecture and region is home to its own unique offerings ready to be discovered, including local culinary delicacies, crafts and festivals to name a few.
As such, the JNTO warmly encourages all visitors from the Middle East seeking a total Japan experience not to limit their visits to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, but to use the opportunity to also venture out to places like Hokkaido, Tohoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa.
Japan has so much to reveal to international guests throughout the year — in fact, each place should be visited at least four times. This is because each season provides its own unique charms and experiences due to the changing landscapes, events, cuisine and seasonal influences.
Japan’s offering as a travel destination is truly diverse and world class, with 18 UNESCO World Heritage sites providing exceptional traditional and culture-based experiences alongside modern pop-culture experiences such as manga and anime.
Japan was ranked fourth in the world in 2019 by the World Economic Forum for its travel and tourism competitiveness, ensuring that anyone looking for authentic travel experiences will not be disappointed.
Japanese cuisine, shopping, hot springs, sightseeing and theme parks are the principal attractions for leisure visitors. Accommodation options across its eight regions and 47 prefectures are broad, ranging from major five-star brands to “ryokans” (traditional Japanese-style inns).
In the Middle East the tourist office’s focus will be reaching out to and exciting leisure travelers to visit Japan, specifically families, young adults, those seeking wellness, luxury, authentic cultural and gourmet culinary experiences.
The official JNTO Arabic language website is due to be renewed and expanded this year, to ensure a plethora of relevant up-to-date information is made available to all, which will hopefully help each person to discover their own special Japan.
The JNTO is committed to furthering its activities and promotions in the Middle East so that an increasing number of people in the region can easily find out more about the unknown touristic treasures of Japan.
- Daisuke Kobayashi is a senior official of the Japan National Tourism Organization in the Middle East


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New York City-based Haier America has announced the realignment of the company by creating a structure to be "fully integrated and aligned" under three main Product Business Divisions, the company announced. The Product Business Divisions will include Air Conditioning Group (ACG), White Goods Group (WGG), and Digital Products Group (DPG).
“This new direction for Haier enables integration from end to end at all levels and presents common objectives supported by a shared road map, while clearly defining measurements and performance throughout the organization,” said Shariff Kan, president of Haier America.
The White Goods Group will be led by Executive VP Bob Cunningham who has been with the company since 2008 and previously served as senior VP of major appliances-product innovations and engineering. Mr. Cunningham has over 30 years of experience in the white goods appliance industry.
The Air Conditioning Group will be led by Executive VP, Lintao Lu who has been with the company since 2003 and previously served as senior VP of compact appliances and home comfort-product innovations and engineering. Mr. Lu has over 25 years of experience in the air conditioning industry.
The Digital Products Group will continue to be led by President Douglas Lane who joined the company in July of 2010 with over 20 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry.


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Video: Woman, 65, shoots at 5 masked robbers
The owner of a jewelry store saw men carrying weapons and grabbed a handgun she keeps for protection
By Denisse Salazar
The Orange County Register
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Police are seeking the public's help in finding five men suspected of attempting to rob a jewelry store who fled when the owner fired two shots at them.
Officers about 5:30 p.m. Sunday were sent to investigate reports of an armed robbery at Continental Jewelry, 12032 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said.
Officers learned a white Ford SUV backed up to the front of the business, and five men wearing masks and gloves entered the store, Nightengale said. Two of the men with handguns pointed them at the employees and a customer. The other men carried pillowcases and demanded money, he said.
Full story: Video: Woman, 65, shoots at 5 masked robbers
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