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Samsung Galaxy S8 Active clears Wi-Fi certification on its way to AT&T
by Cosmin Vasile / May 15, 2017, 3:52 PM
The rugged version of Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to arrive at AT&T any moment now. We've been hearing about the smartphone for two months now, so there's no doubt the Galaxy S8 Active will make its debut in the United States very soon.
The smartphone has been spotted on User Agent String last week, and now it's been listed at Wi-Fi Alliance with the same model number: Samsung SM-G892A. The smartphone has received its Wi-Fi certification, which means it's one step closer to market release.
Aside from the model number, no other information about the rugged handset has been revealed by the listing at Wi-Fi Alliance. Obviously, it will offer MIL-STD-810G and IP68 certifications since this is a rugged smartphone.
Specs-wise, we're expecting the Galaxy S8 Active to have dumbed-down features and a mid-range price. Rumor has it, the smartphone will be launched at AT&T sometime in June, but the carrier has yet to announce an exact release date for the rugged handset.
Posts: 1245; Member since: May 07, 2015
Did the Samsung Active phones in the past have dumbed-down features and a mid-range price? For the most part, no. So why do you say that this one will as well?
posted on May 15, 2017, 4:02 PM 4
Posts: 1078; Member since: Mar 16, 2015
It doesnt need to be said that they probably copied that from the source. Regardless Im extremely interested in how the design for this active turns out given how the S8 looks. We're probably looking at the tallest phone ever.
posted on May 15, 2017, 4:03 PM 1
Posts: 122; Member since: Jul 22, 2009
Agreed...what the heck are you smoking iPhone Arena. Actually the Active's are fantastic devices.
posted on May 15, 2017, 4:05 PM 3
Posts: 2031; Member since: May 26, 2011
They're usually the same spec with upgraded ruggedness with much higher cap battery
posted on May 15, 2017, 8:17 PM 1
Posts: 597; Member since: Nov 03, 2011
Does ATT have a contract with Samsung for Actives?
posted on May 15, 2017, 4:17 PM 1
Posts: 239; Member since: Apr 13, 2016
I wonder why At&t is the only carrier to always get the actives.
posted on May 15, 2017, 5:01 PM 1
Posts: 260; Member since: Jul 26, 2012
why not other carriers or unlocked????
posted on May 15, 2017, 8:01 PM 0
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Extending the Ohana
New wholesale food store to open soon.
By Megan Stephenson
Like so many in during this economic downturn, Tracy Davis faced an unexpected challenge last year. She was laid off from the Molokai Middle School during major budget cutbacks. With four children at home, and one off to college soon, Davis decided to try something new – open a wholesale store.
“I’m a parent of four kids, so I like to shop in bulk,” she said. Many other Molokai shoppers have told her the same thing.
So to fill the gap of bulk shopping options on the island, Davis will bring the community Ohana Wholesale, opening next month. The new store is located on Ala Malama Avenue, between Kalele Bookstore and Molokai Artists and Crafters Guild.
Davis went back to school after she was laid off, taking business classes through the Maui Economic Opportunity, a non-profit ‘Community Action Agency’ organization. Davis said the Mango Mart closed while she was taking classes, and one of her teachers encouraged her to look into a similar business.
Her original idea was to open a store that catered to pregnant women and new mothers. She recently had a baby, and was frustrated not having a place to shop. But instead, she looked into space available at the Ala Malama Center and decided to open a wholesale store.
“I named it Ohana Wholesale because everyone on Molokai is my family.”
Now that she has begun to stock her new store, Davis said she understands why things are so expensive on Molokai with rising shipping costs and increased airlines rates. Since going off island isn’t always feasible, she saw a service that needed to be filled.
“I just want to pay my bills and make it affordable for Molokai,” she said.
The store will feature a corner dedicated to new and expectant mothers, as well as health foods and biodegradable paper goods. Davis said it is scheduled to be open in early November.

domain: news


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TfL said that “Uber London Limited is not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator license,” saying that its “approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues.”
TfL has concluded that it will not grant Uber London Limited (Uber) a new private hire operator’s licence in response to its latest application.
As the regulator of taxi and private hire services in London, TfL is required to make a decision on Uber’s fitness and propriety before its current licence expires. Safety is TfL’s number one priority.
Uber has made a number of positive changes and improvements to its culture, leadership and systems in the period since the Chief Magistrate granted it a licence in June 2018. This includes interacting with TfL in a transparent and productive manner.
However, TfL has identified a pattern of failures by the company including several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk.
Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL does not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time.
In September Uber was granted a two-month licence as further information was required on these issues, some of which emerged late in the process of its reapplication.


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With the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) phenomenon being ubiquitous now in the workplace, what happens when employees start bringing in laptops with hidden cameras? Almost every laptop has a webcam factory installed above the screen that’s now very vulnerable to hacking attacks. And while we see so much written about how much of a concern that is at home, what about hackers looking in on company webcams?
You might be incredulous to think that hackers sit for hours waiting for someone to be in a certain position to gain private information. Slate did a piece that mentions this as fact and showed how much webcams are being compromised. If it isn’t stories about people being captured sitting in the nude at their computers, it’s another about someone’s personal information being read off a nearby counter.
We’re at the point now where the webcam at the top of our desktops, laptops, and even smartphones becomes an eye that arguably shouldn’t be permanently embedded. Once there’s a realization of just how much hacking webcams receive, we may have to go back to using external cameras to do our web chats. Ones connected by USB can quickly be unplugged and put away without worrying about that eye staring back at us.
Many people are starting to cover their webcams so hackers will just see a blank pattern. But what item should you place over all the webcams on your office laptops? Is it as simple as just placing a bandage over the lens, or should you be a little more stylish?
Some Better-Looking Webcam Covers
You may be avoiding placing a Band-Aid or a piece of masking tape over every cam out of concern of how it looks. Some sites, though, are now in the market of selling webcam covers. Electronic Frontier Foundation sells specialized stickers that go over webcam lenses without leaving any residue on the lens.
If you go on Google Shopping, you’ll also see various options from Etsy to eBay. Many of those stickers are done in the shape of animals or political symbols so you can bring something appealing and make a statement at the same time. Regardless, it ultimately brings a question of why tech companies decided to leave webcams exposed in the first place.
Will Computer Companies Add Webcam Covers Eventually?
It seems strange that computer companies haven’t provided covers for webcams based on everything that’s known about their dangers. The open webcam was probably done as a stylistic device to make our portable tech devices look hip. Now it seems unlikely it’s going to stay that way without providing a future shutter or other covering that comes with the laptop or device.
Until that happens, the webcam sticker business will probably keep ticking up, considering some boxes said stickers cost up to $5. All we can hope for is that hackers don’t continue to go one step ahead and develop a way to see through plastic materials. If they do, privacy will no longer exist in any shape or form.


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The Indian government is set to introduce one-month e-visa with flexible charges, keeping the fees low during the non-peak summer months. Here’s all you need to know!
- Leisure tourists will be charged $10 for a 30-day e-visa for travel between April and June, and $25 for any other month
- Currently, India charges $80-100 for one-year e-visa for tourists from most countries
- For e-visas of one- and five-year durations, citizens of Japan, Singapore and Sri Lanka will be charged $25 while those from other countries will get those at $40 and $80, respectively
High visa charges is one reason that makes India less attractive to tourists and so the fee is being reduced to increase footfalls and foreign exchange receipts.
“Countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand have been successful in attracting Indian tourists because of free visas. The government’s decision now signals that India too welcomes tourists,” said Rajeev Kohli, former vice-president of Indian Association of Tour Operators.
India attracted 10.5 million overseas tourists in 2018, far fewer than some of the other Asian countries. Singapore received 18.5 million tourists while Thailand welcomed over 38 million foreign visitors last year.


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How 20-Year-Old Kylie Jenner Built A $900 Million Fortune In Less Than 3 Years
Kylie Jenner sits at a dark-wood dining table at her mother’s home in Calabasas, California, flicking through display options for a forthcoming pop-up shop. The youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner industrial complex needs to decide how to showcase products by her Kylie Cosmetics makeup company. She taps her black iPhone X with a silver glittery nail and turns the screen around to show a coterie of employees a vending machine.
“You guys, imagine this, but all in lip kits,” says Jenner, dressed in a black blazer and matching black patent Louboutins with bright red soles. “I think it needs to be a clear vending machine where you see all the colors.”What her half-sister Kim Kardashian West did for booty, Jenner has done for full lips. Like Kardashian West, she has leveraged her assets to gain both fame and money. But while her sister is best-known for the former, Jenner has proved adept at the latter. In historic fashion.Just 20 when this story publishes (she’ll turn 21 in August) and an extremely young mother (she had baby daughter Stormi in February), Jenner runs one of the hottest makeup companies ever.
Kylie Cosmetics launched two years ago with a $29 “lip kit” consisting of a matching set of lipstick and lip liner, and has sold more than $630 million worth of makeup since, including an estimated $330 million in 2017. Even using a conservative multiple, and applying our standard 20% discount, Forbes values her company, which has since added other cosmetics like eye shadow and concealer, at nearly $800 million. Jenner owns 100% of it.
Read Full Article HERE


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How Retailers and Brands Are Responding to the Ongoing Coronavirus Crisis
Total Retail is continuing its daily coverage of how retailers and brands are responding to the coronavirus global pandemic. As retailers try to figure out how to navigate these uncertain times, it's helpful to look at the ways others in our community are responding. Below are examples of retailers giving back during this time, as well as some resources Total Retail thinks you'll find beneficial.
- Crocs announced earlier this week that it was prepared to donate — and ship free — up to 10,000 pairs a day of its colorful, molded-resin clogs to medical community workers across the country. The program, called “A Free Pair for Healthcare," works like this: Every day, at approximately 9 a.m. PST, the Crocs’ website will begin taking orders for one pair of shoes per healthcare worker from select classic clog or Crocs At Work styles up to a daily limit of 10,000 pairs. Once that number of orders has been reached, a notification advises visitors to return the next day and try again. "The healthcare industry has always embraced Crocs, but our mantra of ‘be comfortable in your own shoes’ applies now more than ever, and we want to do more to help our nation’s heroes,” said Crocs President and Chief Executive Andrew Rees.
- Walmart said earlier this week that it is waiving rent during the month of April for the more than 10,000 businesses that operate within Walmart Supercenters and Sam’s Clubs, including hair and nail salons, optometrists, restaurant franchises, veterinary clinics, and local and regional banks. "It’s our hope that this rent relief will help these businesses financially weather the current situation and take care of their employees." Walmart said it will continue to monitor the need for additional support past April. The company also said it is making changes to its supply chain financing program to help qualified suppliers get payments faster. The retailer is adding dedicated resources to speed up its onboarding process and eliminate an eligibility requirement, and has added a third banking partner, JPMorgan Chase, joining Citibank and Wells Fargo. “More than two-thirds of our 18,000 suppliers are small and medium-sized businesses that could benefit from this newly enhanced program,” the company said.
- As the world faces ventilator shortages in the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Dyson, the U.K. company known best for making vacuums, air purifiers, and hair dryers, designed and built a new ventilator in 10 days in coordination with The Technology Partnership (TTP), Fast Company has reported. Dubbed CoVent, it’s a bed-mounted, portable ventilator that can run from battery power in field hospital conditions. Working under a grant from the U.K. government, with oversight from the U.K. National Health Service and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Dyson has agreed to produce 10,000 ventilators for the country. On top of that, it will produce another 5,000 ventilators for donation. One thousand of those will go to the U.K. The remaining 4,000 will go to other countries.
- On March 24, lululemon athletica CEO Calvin McDonald announced on Twitter that the company was setting up a $2 million Ambassador Relief Fund to assist ambassador studio owners during this difficult time. "The fund provides basic operating cost coverage to sweat businesses that have been affected by COVID-19," McDonald said. lululemon's ambassadors are a key part of its branding effort in local communities around the world. In partnership with the company, ambassadors help test new products and gather valuable feedback from customers.


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Join 37,000+ members. Yes, it's completely free.
March 3, 2014
Wellmune WGP, a natural immune booster from Biothera, is a key ingredient in a reinvented immune health supplement from Twinlab, a supplement manufacturer and marketer. Twinlab Immunity Booster will launch during Natural Products Expo West, March 7-9 in Anaheim, CA. It will be available nationally through health and natural food stores and online.
Wellmune is a beta 1,3/1,6 glucan derived from a proprietary strain of baker's yeast. Human clinical studies, published and peer-reviewed, have demonstrated the ability of Wellmune to boost immune cells that help keep the body healthy.
“We set out to develop a more robust, clinically relevant immune health supplement to meet growing consumer demand for immune support," said Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, director of category management, Twinlab Corp. “Wellmune is the ‘hero ingredient,’ given its deep portfolio of peer-reviewed, published human clinical research demonstrating efficacy for everyday immune support and upper respiratory health."
Wellmune is currently in food, beverages and supplements in more than 60 countries worldwide. Is has regulatory approval around the world, including GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status in the U.S. and novel foods approval in Europe and China.
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Consumers anxious about drug costs, industry influence
The phone survey of 1,154 US adults who currently take prescription drugs posed assertions about industry bias of physician prescribing, and found nine in 10 in agreement with at least one, including statements that: "companies have too much influence on the drugs doctors prescribe" (69%); docs "are too eager to prescribe a drug rather than consider alternate methods of managing a condition" (50%); docs "are influenced by gifts" from pharmas (47%); and "tend to prescribe newer, more expensive drugs" (41%). When respondents were quizzed about their concern over a list of industry marketing practices, some dubious, 81% said they worried about companies rewarding docs for writing a lot of prescriptions for their products.
Other unpopular practices included “paying docs to provide testimonials or serve as spokespersons for a drug" (72%), “Paying doctors to speak at industry conferences" (61%), “Buying meals for the doctor and their staff" (58%) and "providing free samples of their drugs" to docs (41%)? Not so concerned that they wouldn't take a sample themselves, apparently.
Leading questions about industry bias aside, the survey revealed widespread concerns about drug costs and an alarming rate of non-compliance, largely due to affordability issues. Four in 10 reported taking some action to reduce costs, and more than a quarter (27%) said they'd failed to take a drug as prescribed, whether by not filling a prescription (16%), taking an expired medication (12%) or sharing a prescription with someone else to save money (4%).


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Goodrich, Coltec to complete union CHARLOTTE, N.C.—A federal judge has lifted a preliminary injunction that had blocked B.F. Goodrich Co.'s $2.2 billion purchase of seal maker Coltec Industries Inc.
The acquistion, announced Nov. 23, had been stalled by lawsuits from rival companies, but the company settled the last of them July 12.
Goodrich will move its headquarters from Akron to Charlotte and plans to change its name to Inrich Corp. after it completes the merger with Coltec.
Noting the company is dramatically different than it was 10 years ago, a spokesman said Goodrich has been reviewing a name change for more than two years. The company, which started the tire industry in Akron 129 years ago, sold its tire business in 1986 to Michelin North America.
Mitsubishi, Ford recall vehicles
WASHINGTON—Mitsubishi Motors Sales America is recalling 294,000 Galants, Eclipses and Spyders for inspection and possible replacement of lower lateral arm ball joints because of possible damage to the rubber boots on those joints.
The model years are 1995-96 for the Galants and Eclipses, 1996 for the Spyders.
Also, Ford Motor Co. is recalling 50,000 1999 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators with four-wheel drive and 17-inch chrome steel wheels.
Dealers will re-torque the wheel lugs, which may have insufficient wheel contact area with the hub and cause the tire and wheel to separate from the vehicle.
Pirelli Tire sells headquarters
NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Pirelli Tire North America has sold its headquarters building in New Haven and moved to smaller quarters in the city.
New England Development Corp., which acquired the building June 30, plans to build a mall around the structure, according to a Pirelli spokesman.
In recent years, Pirelli had used only two of six floors in the 198,000-sq.-ft. building, which was built in 1970 by the former Armstrong Rubber Co. Pirelli took over the site when it acquired the Armstrong Tire Co. in 1988.
About 85 people now work in the new headquarters, located on the fifth floor of a downtown New Haven office building. The address is: 300 George St., New Haven, Conn. 06536. Phone numbers remain the same.
Michelin, TANA give scholarships
GREENVILLE, S.C.—Michelin North America and the Tire Association of North America have awarded $20,000 in scholarships to three high school seniors.
The scholarship program consists of one $10,000 scholarship and two $5,000 scholarships awarded to employees of TANA member businesses. Michelin and TANA introduced the program in 1995.
Hankook gains Ford OE fitment
NEW YORK—Ford Motor Co. has selected Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. to supply a spare tire for the 2000 model year Ford Focus.
The fitment marks Hankook's first original equipment supply agreement with Ford. The tire is an S300 design high-pressure radial spare and will be fitted on vehicles assembled at Ford's assembly plant in Wayne, Mich.
Deadline July 31 for 'humanitarian'
AKRON—The final deadline for submitting nominations for Tire Business' sixth annual Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award is July 31.
The winner will receive a special medal and a $1,000 donation to the charity of his or her choice during the 1999 Tire Association of North America/Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas Nov. 2-5.
To enter, use the form in this issue or call Tire Business at (330) 836-9180.


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With CES 2018 winding down, it’s time to look forward to the next big thing in tech and beyond. Specifically mobile technology. DJ Koh has reportedly confirmed that the Galaxy S9 would be announced at MWC 2018, practically before it starts, leaving the question open for other OEMs’ announcements. Just like last year, it seems that LG will be avoiding the expected Samsung monopoly of media channels but, this time, it will be launching the LG G7 later, not earlier, than Samsung.
In order to steer clear of Samsung and, to some extent, imitate Samsung’s “early bird” strategy, LG decided to launch the LG G6 ahead of the Galaxy S8. It paid for that dearly, with the G6 sporting late 2016 specs instead of the latest, which undoubtedly affected sales.
This year, it will be launching in April while Samsung is believed to be launching in March. And this time, there might be no Qualcomm-Samsung monopoly to keep the Snapdragon 845 off the streets until the Galaxy S9 has had its head start. Considering its late launch, LG is likely to skip announcing the G7 at MWC, opting for its own even in March.
And it might indeed be called the “LG G7”, and not just because the insider source called it such. LG’s own support page for Fast Charging technology, which has now been taken down, mentions a “Future LG G7”. It also reveals that the smartphone will support Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4.0 technology.
Of course, things could still change. According to an earlier report, LG will be rebranding its flagship smartphone line and the G7 might not be called the G7 at all. What its name will be, it is expected to feature, among other things, a Snapdragon 845, the a Full Vision OLED, not LCD, display, and iris recognition.
VIA: The Investor


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THE Fed’s second phase of quantitative easing (QE2) came under attack yesterday, after
jumps in retail sales, business morale and inflation.
Retail sales for November increased by 0.8 per cent, and figures for the previous month were revised upwards to show a 1.7 per cent rise.
“Today’s figures suggest that QE2, announced on 3 November, is totally superfluous, as well as being largely ineffective - except for pushing up stock prices,” said Rob Carnell, chief economist at ING.
“Underlying sales growth [excluding petrol price hikes] has been ticking along at this decent rate for four months,” said Capital Economics.
And the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced a rise in optimism to its highest level for three years.
Despite the rise, business optimism is still at recession levels, Bill Dunkelberg of NFIB warned.
Core producer prices (excluding oil and food) jumped 0.3 per cent in November, against the previous month.
“Whilst not inflationary, the high figures suggest that the Fed’s concerns over deflation are substantially overdone,” said Carnell.
Last week Fed chairman Ben Bernanke hinted at a third period of easing (QE3), citing concerns over growth and unemployment. “That really does not look credible right now,” commented Carnell.


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Melbourne IT has announced plans to target the small to medium enterprise Web site design market, traditionally serviced by small operators and university students. They hope to tap into the vast numbers of businesses which don’t have an online presence, but know they need one.
Melbourne IT has partnered with FulfilNET, a Web site design firm with big clients such as Yahoo and Sensis (Yellow Pages). Perhaps surprisingly, these two big names aren’t going to charge big prices. For under $1000, FulfilNET will create the site, set up e-mail and host it for one year.
“We’re going for the analog 40- to 50-year-olds,” said Paul Harvell, marketing manager with FulfilNET. In reaching this technology-shy audience, FulfilNET has perfected a balance between labour-saving and old-fashioned customer service.
Initially, a “content collection booklet” is sent out to the customer, with forms that will capture all of the required information. A consultant then calls them to explain the booklet step-by-step. The materials are then posted back to FulfilNET, which creates the site.
This labour-intensive process is made faster by a streamlined platform created by FulfilNET, called 4SiteCreation.
Of course, many customers must be serviced in order to turn a profit on what is traditionally a rather marginal business. FulfilNET has set up what it describes as a “factory” filled with Web designers and content collectors. According to Harvell, the company has produced 182 sites over the past month.
The entry-level package costs $599 and is a single page. The Professional package costs $799 with five pages. The Custom package costs $899 and includes a completely customised layout.


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The latest beauty must-have? A £2.75 tub of nappy rash cream
Sudocrem was invented in 1931 by Thomas Smith in Dublin
For nearly a century Sudocrem has been a firm favourite among mothers for treating their baby’s sore skin.
But as the recession takes its toll on the ordinary British women, the tried and tested product is proving useful for multiple purposes.
Soaring numbers of people are using the antiseptic cream to help combat acne, cold sores and dry skin as a cheaper alternative to the more expensive beauty products on the shelves.
Nationwide chemist Superdrug has reported a staggering 150 per cent rise in the sale of Sudocrem from February last year.
Priced at £2.75 a tub, the multipurpose cream is a lot more affordable for families struggling to cope with a tightened household budget.
Simon Comins, Superdrug Director of Toiletries, said: ‘This has been the year when tried and tested beauty classics are must-haves, not just because they tend to cost less, but also because they work.
‘With customers trying to cut back on their spending we’ve notice a significant rise in customers buying cost effective multi-purpose products.’
Beauty talk: The product recently featured on an episode of TOWIE
Sudocrem has even proved popular among those with money to spare.
Celebrity Cheryl Cole confessed in a celebrity magazine to using the cream to dry to draw out blemishes, saying: ‘it really works’.
The cream was first used nearly 80 years ago and was traditionally used to treat nappy rash.
But Superdrug say Sudocrem’s use as a beauty product has been a secret for decades.
They say it is great for soothing dry skin patches and preventing outbreaks of acne.
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- The cannabis sector is set for exponential growth in the years to come, which has driven numerous companies to initiate large-scale production; the scope, however, is far less important than the cost-efficiency of the process
- Companies like Green Hygienics Holdings have competitive advantage due to proprietary high-tech cultivation technologies; these maximize yield and reduce the cost per unit
- Because of its investment in innovative cultivation methods, Green Hygienics has established an excellent position within the premium cannabis market
As the regulatory framework has changed dramatically over the past few years, the number of companies entering the cannabis sector has increased exponentially. In 2017 alone, there were 28,000 companies active in the field in the United States (http://nnw.fm/JiMU7). Growth continued throughout 2018, when the legal marijuana industry reached $10.4 billion and created over a quarter of a million jobs (http://nnw.fm/4luBN).
Large-scale U.S. and Canadian producers are building massive greenhouses and cultivation facilities to position themselves favorably in anticipation of future industry growth. Large-scale production is already driving prices down in the states that…
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- Office now open in Europe on world’s smartest km2 – the High Tech Campus Eindhoven
- Asian markets office to open in Shanghai on April 1, 2018
EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS – I4F, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, today announced the opening of two new offices: one in the Netherlands, Europe and the other in Shanghai, China.
Opened on March 1, 2018, I4F’s office in Europe is located on the High Tech Campus Eindhoven (HTCE) in the Netherlands. Members of I4F’s global support team are based there including finance and marketing. Recognized as the world’s smartest square kilometer, HTCE is a global high tech hub that boasts the highest number of patents filed from the Netherlands. I4F joins 160 high tech companies and institutes, including ASML, Philips, IBM, Intel and NXP, based on the HTCE, all together employing over 11,000 international researchers, developers and entrepreneurs.
The opening of I4F’s Shanghai office will follow on April 1, 2018 where a team of engineers and business developers will be on hand to provide partners and customers in Asian markets with technical support and industry expertise.
John Rietveldt, I4F’s CEO says, “We are expanding our global presence and resources to be in line with I4F’s rapid growth and strategic business plans. 2017 was a breakthrough year in terms of the number of licensees and new partnerships with 2018 shaping up as another record year for us. We have the right locations, expertise and people to ensure we continue serving the industry with high quality innovations that will improve their profitability and future growth.”
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Thomas Cook plunges into crisis: Dividend for 2018 is scrapped as profits fall by £58m and debt pile hits £389m
Thomas Cook lost nearly a quarter of its value after it warned for the second time in two months that profits would be lower than expected.
The travel firm admitted the past year had been 'disappointing' as holidaymakers delayed summer getaways or even opted to stay at home due to soaring temperatures across northern Europe.
Under-pressure boss Peter Fankhauser axed the full-year dividend and slashed the full-year profits forecast by £30million to £250million ahead of annual results tomorrow – a fall of £58million on a year ago.
Thomas Cook admitted the past year had been 'disappointing' as holidaymakers delayed summer getaways or even opted to stay at home due to soaring temperatures
It is the second time Thomas Cook has cut profit forecasts since September, when it lowered full-year guidance to £280million from £323million.
Shares yesterday fell 22.6 per cent, or 10.98p, to 37.56p, taking losses in the past six months to 74 per cent.
Chief executive Fankhauser said: '2018 was a disappointing year for Thomas Cook, despite achieving some important milestones in our strategy for transforming the business.
'I'm not happy with the financial result. This is not where we wanted to be.'
The firm makes all of its profits during the summer when sun seekers in the UK, Germany and Scandinavia generally flock further south to destinations such as Spain, Turkey and Greece.
Analysts warned that the latest update raised concerns about the firm's financial health.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: 'The suspension of the dividend was a nasty surprise and will raise fears that Thomas Cook has returned to the dire times of 2011 and 2012.'
That was when the business closed hundreds of High Street travel agencies and axed thousands of jobs in the wake of the global recession, which it blamed for hitting sales.
Michael Hewson, chief market Analyst at CMC Markets UK, added: 'The decision to cut the dividend can't have been taken lightly, however, the lack of dividend is likely to be the least of shareholders' problems given how badly the shares have performed this year. The woe continues in what has been an awful year for Thomas Cook.'
The oldest travel company in the world, it has battled with many issues in recent years, including fears over terrorist attacks.
Thomas Cook boss Peter Fankhauser axed the full-year dividend and slashed the full-year profits forecast by £30m to £250m ahead of annual results – a fall of £58m on a year ago
It has also struggled to compete with the soaring popularity of the so-called 'DIY holiday' which has seen travellers shun package holidays in favour of booking through stand-alone providers such as online accommodation service Airbnb.
Shares are now at their lowest point since the global financial crisis when Thomas Cook's stock price slumped from 300p to 13p.
The company's debt pile has also spiked to £389million – 45 per cent higher than predicted by analysts and two thirds of Thomas Cook's £578million value.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, added: 'To put that into some context, Thomas Cook – once one of the biggest names in the travel industry and an iconic British brand – is now worth less than Card Factory, a retailer which sells gift cards for 99p, and Dairy Crest, which makes blocks of cheese.'
Thomas Cook wants to boost sales by luring new and younger customers through its own-brand hotels, which include the trendy Casa Cook concept.
However, analysts warned that the hotels' higher price tag will put off cash-strapped families looking for a bargain.
Mould said: 'That won't be an easy sell given the highly competitive nature of the market and the fact that the general public associates Thomas Cook with cheap holidays.
'If they are prepared to pay higher prices, the punters may simply go to a brand associated with higher quality offerings.'
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Canada’s largest retail cannabis store network extends coast to coast into new markets
and celebrates start of summer with virtual Spirit Bus Tour for Spiritleaf Collective members
CALGARY, AB, June 22, 2020 /CNW/ – Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd. (“Inner Spirit” or the “Company“) (CSE: ISH), a Canadian company that has established a national network of Spiritleaf retail cannabis stores, today announced further expansion of the Spiritleaf brand into Ontario with store openings in Guelph and in Ottawa, the nation’s capital, and into Newfoundland and Labrador with a store opening in St. John’s. The St. John’s store marks the 50th store in Canada, making the Spiritleaf brand the largest in the country by store count. Additional store openings expected in the Toronto market this week include Don Mills on June 24, Little Italy on June 25 and Bloor West Village on June 27. Please visit www.spiritleaf.ca for store information and for details on Spiritleaf’s Select & Collect service which enables customers to pre-shop and order online prior to pick-up.
“It’s so satisfying to be putting roots down into these new communities and to deliver a premium retail cannabis experience to customers that’s enabled through our passionate and deeply invested local franchise owners. Spiritleaf’s people are doing such a wonderful job of expanding the company and entering new markets and communities, and we truly appreciate the warm welcomes we’re receiving from our neighbours and guests,” said Darren Bondar, President and CEO of Inner Spirit.
In recognition of the milestone and of the efforts by many of those who have contributed, the Company has granted an aggregate of 5,905,000 stock options (“Options“), effective June 19, 2020, to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants in accordance with the Company’s stock option plan. Each Option is exercisable into one common share in the Company (“Share“) at a price of $0.16 per Share for a period of five years from the date of grant. This is a normal-course grant that comprises part of the long-term compensation and employee retention incentives provided by the Company. One quarter of the Options vested immediately, and one quarter of the Options will vest on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the issuance date.
The Company also noted further expansion activity with more than 30 new stores across Canada in various stages of development. To celebrate the breadth of its operations, the Company has unveiled a Spirit Bus Tour to spread peace, love and harmony across the country this summer. This virtual bus tour will roll across Canada making “stops” at each Spiritleaf store. Please visit www.spiritbustour.ca for details. Spiritleaf Collective members will have access to exclusive promotions and special edition festival swag. Bus tickets are available in-store or by email or text for members of The Collective. Those interested in joining with the 50,000-plus members of The Collective customer benefits program can do so by visiting any Spiritleaf store and no purchase is required.


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The short-term adverse impact of the demonetisation move is being felt in the irregular heartbeat of the economy, which appears, from all available evidence, to be slowing down.
Both macroeconomic data projections and anecdotal evidence from the marketplace establish that the cash squeeze has dampened consumer sentiment and is proving a drag on GDP growth in this quarter. Sales of modern conveniences (mod-cons) have virtually stalled, and production targets are being scaled down in response.
In fact, analysts reckon that the growth slippage may prompt the RBI to advance an anticipated rate cut to December.
Fitch Ratings on Tuesday cut the GDP growth forecast for 2016-17 to 6.9 per cent from its earlier estimate of 7.4 per cent, noting that the demonetisation will impact economic activity in the October-December quarter.
“Economic activity will be hit in the fourth quarter of 2016 by the cash crunch created by withdrawal and replacement of bank notes that account for 86 per cent of the value of currency in circulation,” it said. Consumers have not had cash to complete purchases, it said, adding that the time spent in queuing up at banks is also likely to have affected general productivity. “The impact on GDP growth will increase the longer the disruption continues,” it warned.
Fitch also revised downward the growth forecast for 2017-18 and 2018-19 to 7.7 per cent from 8 per cent earlier.
In separate reports last week, Moody’s Investor Service and Standard and Poor’s, too, had warned of short-term economic disruption due to the demonetisation move.
Fitch noted, however, that the medium-term effect of the currency withdrawal on GDP growth was unlikely to be large. “Gradual implementation of the structural reform agenda is expected to contribute to higher growth, as will higher real disposable income, supported by an almost 24 per cent hike in civil servants’ wages,” it said.
Still, the anticipated recovery in investment looks a bit less certain in the light of ongoing data weakness, it cautioned.
A DBS report, meanwhile, reasoned that the Reserve Bank may bring forward a rate cut to December to support growth and tap a favourable inflation outlook — although, in the analysts’ view, the first quarter of 2017 is a better time to ease rates, given the global uncertainties and rupee volatility.
The Monetary Policy Committee headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel last month cut the benchmark interest rates by 0.25 per cent to 6.25 per cent. The next RBI policy review is on December 7. The report noted that the demonetisation is expected to affect economic activity, especially consumption, supply chain and cash-dependent businesses, as well as inflation over this quarter and the next.
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The Category II AIF – IIFL Special Opportunities Fund – Series 8 will look to partner tech startups - leaders in monopolistic or duopolistic play - headed for IPOs or those in late stage of growth, said Chetan Naik, executive vice president, Fund Manager, IIFL Asset Management (IIFL AMC), in an interview with ET.
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“We have already received commitment worth Rs 400 crore within two weeks of launch and have a target of final close by June this year,” Naik said.
IIFL AMC will raise the capital from family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals. It will look to invest around $10-$20 million in about 10-15 companies through the fund.
This is first fund in India targeted at only IPO-bound private tech enterprises.
“We will look to invest in companies that are planning an IPO within a year or expected to list within five years of investment. The late-stage flexibility will give us a large canvas to pick the right opportunities at the right valuation,” said Naik.
Calling it a late-stage consumer tech fund, the investment vehicle will aim to partner with companies that are already on the path to profitability and where unit economics are already established or are on track.
“There are around 39 unicorns and many more soonicorns in the ecosystem that we will look to partner with,” Naik said.
These companies have to be either earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda)-positive, or should be contribution margin (CM)-positive, he added.
A unicorn is a company that has crossed $1 billion in valuation, whereas a soonicorn is one which is valued at more than $500 million and is inching towards the billion-dollar mark.
“Of the 39 unicorns, around 13 companies are Ebitda positive whereas another 18 are CM positive. So, we have a very defined and filtered pool to invest from,” Naik said.
Contribution margin is the revenue remaining after subtracting the variable costs that go into producing a product.
Companies such as Delhivery, Freshworks, Byju’s, PolicyBazaar and Flipkart are preparing for their initial public offerings and are likely to hire bankers and start a formal process soon, industry experts said. Online food delivery company Zomato is also expected to file for its $650 million IPO next month. Last month, Zomato raised an additional $250 million from existing and new investors. It completed the primary pre-IPO fundraise at a total valuation of $5.4 billion, a sharp rise from its $3.9 billion valuation in December 2020.
India’s internet economy is expected to grow over nine times from the current $75 billion to around $639 billion by 2030. The internet economy is expected to contribute around 9% of the GDP from the current meagre 2.3%, according to a January 2021 research report by Citibank.
The fund has already started drawing down from its commitments as it partnered several other investors such as Bay Capital, White Oak Global Advisors, Cyrus Poonawalla Group among others to invest in insurtech startup PolicyBazaar earlier in the month, ET had reported.
Till date, through its various funds, IIFL has invested around $1.8 billion (Rs 12,248 crore) in the Indian market. Earlier in the month, Edelweiss Wealth Management launched a private equity (PE) fund to tap sector agnostic pre-IPO and late-stage investment opportunities with a targeted corpus of Rs 5,000 crore.
While this trend has been quite prevalent in the West, it is picking up pace in India, experts said.
“The listing gains that some of the tech companies have seen in the US have been huge. Going by that, there is a strong business case for such funds in India as well, given most of the tech companies, be it consumer tech or enterprise tech, are only going to list overseas,” said Ankur Pahwa, Partner and National Leader for the E-commerce and Consumer Internet sector at EY India.
“We will see more such funds tapping the pre-IPO opportunities as some early investors in IPO-bound companies will look to cash out offering a window for such funds to get in,” Pahwa added.
Wednesday, 06 Dec, 2023
- Adani Stocks Zoom up to 20% in Best Single-day Show
Adani Group stocks surged on Tuesday, adding ₹1.93 lakh crore to market capitalization and marking their best single-day market performance, following a report by Bloomberg that quoted an unnamed official of the US International Development Finance Corp (DFC) as saying that the allegations by Hindenburg Research were not relevant.Apple Taps Cos in India, Taiwan, S Korea, Japan for Critical Parts
Apple is scouting for new suppliers — Indian, Japanese and South Korean — which can provide crucial components to its contract manufacturers in India, people aware of the matter told ET.Manipal Tech Looks to Raise ₹1,000 cr
Manipal Technologies (MTL), the largest manufacturer of banking and smart cards in India, plans to bring in a financial partner into the eight-decade-old, Pai family-owned business at a valuation of around ₹4,000-4,200 crore ($500 million), multiple people aware of the initiative told ET.


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Four Desautels professors have been awarded research grants by the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO), a Montreal-based scientific and economic data science hub. The grants will fund three two-year research projects led by Desautels professors as part of IVADO’s Fundamental Research Funding Program.
Professors Saibal Ray and Maxime Cohen of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management will receive $221,000 to investigate the use of AI techniques to efficiently provide higher convenience for retail customers while being socially responsible. The research will be based on findings from the McGill Retail Innovational Lab, a fully functioning retail store operated by an industry partner with extensive sensing, data access, and customer monitoring.
Academic Director of the Master of Management in Analytics (MMA) Professor Mehmet Gumus is set to receive $195,000 in funding. In collaboration with colleagues at HEC Montréal, Queen’s University and MIT, Professor Gumus will undertake a research project on the data-driven demand learning and sharing strategies for two-sided online marketplaces.
Wei Qi, Professor of Operations Management, has been awarded more than $170,000 by the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO), a Montreal-based scientific and economic data science hub.
Awarded as part of the Fundamental Research Funding Program at IVADO, this grant will support Professor Qi’s two-year research project titled Deals on Wheels: Advancing Joint ML/OR Methodologies for Enabling City-Wide, Personalized and Mobile Retail.
About IVADO’s Fundamental Research Funding Program
The Fundamental Research Funding Program provides a framework for fostering multidisciplinary research in data science and by confirming and strengthening the IVADO community as a key player in the field. This program is also very focused on the future, encouraging the training of future data researchers and the creation of the scientific foundations of tomorrow’s fundamental and applied research.


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JEDDAH: Top directors of some of the well-known brands in the region came together on one platform yesterday to discuss how brands conceptualized and developed in the region could be made known worldwide.
Merely creating a brand is not enough, but there ought to be a sustained effort to protect it by not compromising on the product quality that it represents and also guarding against its copying or piracy. The speakers gave this message through their presentations at a panel discussion on “Brand Arabia: Globalizing Regional Value Creation” at the opening session of the final day of the three-day 12th Jeddah Economic Forum. Naïf A. Al-Mutawa, chairman and CEO of TESHKEEL conducted the session.
“Quality, investment, innovation and authenticity were among the key factors that helped a brand to thrive,” a presenter said. “Brands could be developed through a culture of innovation and its appeal promoted through global competitiveness,” said another.
Giving a glaring example of how a regional brand had its appeal internationally, Ata Atmar, managing director of Bateel, said: “Bateel is truly a local brand that has gone international. Just not on paper, but it is known worldwide as a brand of quality dates and certain other food products.
He recalled how the concept of the Bateel brand was developed way back in a small place north of Riyadh. Its first outlet opened in the capital and later in Jeddah, and today it is present in 15 countries including the UK, Dubai and Mumbai.
Explaining how Bateel had protected its brand image over the years, Atmar said: “50 percent of our date production that is of premium quality is marketed under the Bateel brand name, while the remaining 50 percent, which falls short of the high quality standards due to production reasons, is marketed under another brand name.”
The company, with its R&D wing taking care of the brand management, has 15,000 date farms kingdomwide, which produce 20 varieties of dates. The company’s brand image also helped it to produce and market other food and food products, as well as a range of confectionary items over the years. It has emerged as the largest chocolate producer in the Kingdom and the Middle East. What is more, the company also ventured into cafeteria business and now prides itself with its first flagship “Bateel Cafe” that opened in Dubai three years ago. It has followed up with its first Saudi cafe in Riyadh.
Rafi-uddin Shikoh, CEO and managing director of DinarStandard that is dedicated to growth strategies for emerging Muslim markets, said that a brand in the region should have universal Islamic values enshrined in it. “Islam is an important part of the Arab DNA and so its products and services should have a universal appeal as they represent Islamic values, whether food, finance, education, fashion or recreation,” he said.
According to him, Islamic finance is growing in all Islamic countries at the rate of 15 to 20 percent annually, with their Muslim lifestyle market exceeding $2 trillion. It includes food, travel, education, recreation and health. He stressed the importance of social networking sites on the Internet as they are important for communication. “It’s much more important in Saudi Arabia where they lead the world among Facebook users.
” Shikoh also gave the examples of Abdul Latif Jameel whose brand image had become much more popular through its community initiatives. Likewise, Al-Rajhi Bank had popularized its brand image through Islamic finance. However, Shikoh added: “We need an increasing number of Islamic brands to have their presence across the Muslim world, from Turkey to Indonesia and from Malaysia to Morocco. We also need to have brands in service industries like travel and hospitality, although Haj and Umrah do have their presence.”
Referring to some of the countries known for brands, Shikoh gave the example of Germany whose famous brands include BMW, Mercedes and Siemens. “How they came about is interesting; in Germany they enjoy strong government support through the continuous upgrading of infrastructure,” he said.
Hussam R. Abdulqader, head of communication and public relations at Almarai Company, Riyadh, gave a statistical presentation to justify the company’s growing brand image. Since its inception 35 years ago, the company has been vertically integrated, he said, adding that the milk that it produces and distributes comes from 135,000 cows. “If all the cows are lined up one behind the other, they could cover the distance between Riyadh and Dammam. The company, which started with 3,700 employees, today has a 22,500 strong workforce. Another 4,500 workers will be added during the year.
The company boasts seven farms. The company has 1,000 reefers (refrigerated trucks) that distribute dairy products to 70 depots across the GCC. It also has 3,000 trucks that distribute products to 48,000 retail outlets every single day. The company brand has received accolades from Forbes magazine and Financial Times for having gone international. “We communicate with our customers and get regular feedbacks from our satisfied customers. That is how we enjoy our brand loyalty.”
Interbrand’s Regional Director Michael Benson explained what it takes to be a global brand and emphasized that brands are important for every industry. “If you have a strong brand, it will drive choices and generate resources. “Your brand is much more than your logo.
As a consultant, we have built brand images and created some,” he said, adding that the company considered a pioneer in brand evaluation. He gave the examples of BMW, InterContinental hotels, Audi, Qatar Airways, Jumeirah, Google, Nike Aljazeera, Coca Cola, Starbucks, Burj Al Arab and McDonald’s and said they have strengthened their images through innovations.
Replying to a question, Benson hinted that brands are trying to promote themselves on Internet sites or digital platforms. The best option at present is to continue to advertise in the traditional media.
His advice as a consultant: “Concentrate on building your brand and protect it through a legal framework. In fact, brands can transform a nation and even change the world.”


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Hyundai has just announced the New Horizons Studio, a unit within the Hyundai Motor Group that will focus on creating Ultimate Mobility Vehicles (UMVs). What’s a UMV? It all started with the Hyundai Elevate concept, a car with robotic legs that allow it to traverse terrains not suitable for standard vehicles. The Elevate looks to be a building block for this new unit’s mission.
“We aim to create the world’s first transformer-class vehicle, also known as the Ultimate Mobility Vehicle,” notes Vice President Dr. John Suh. You have to admit, owning a transformer-class vehicle would be worth it just for the name.
Expect to see a lot of futuristic and groundbreaking concepts coming out of New Horizons Studio. And, who knows, maybe we’ll be seeing them in real-world applications in the near future.


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Latest News on Ios 12
Showing of 0 - 10 from 23 results
Ios 12 - Total results - 23
Aug 14, 2018
Apple delays 'Group FaceTime' feature on iOS which allows 32 participants simultaneouslyApple described "Group FaceTime" feature in June during the company's annual WWDC Keynote.
Aug 02, 2018
The next-gen Apple iPad Pro to have tiny bezels, FaceID and no home buttonThe iPad Pro is set to release this fall most likely alongside the new iPhones and a global roll-out will follow.
Aug 01, 2018
Apple currently has over four million users testing the OS betas: Tim CookPresumably, a majority of the users could most likely be iPhone or Mac users.
Jul 24, 2018
HomePod OS 12 private beta reveals features like making, answering calls, moreThe update will also bring multiple timer feature, which is a highlight of the Amazon Echo speakers.
Jul 06, 2018
Apple could be launching five new new iPads and MacBooks shows EEC filing: ReportThe new Apple devices run iOS 11 and iOS 10.13 and not the expected iOS 12 or macOS Mojave.
Jul 04, 2018
Apple starts rolling out third developer beta of iOS 12 for iPhones and iPadsOther new updates in iOS 12 beta 3 include the ability to clear alerts in a single swipe.
Jul 03, 2018
2018 iPhone spotted with iOS 12, 4 GB RAM and a new processorThis mysterious iPhone model has been listed as 'iPhone 11,2' which is powered with an ARM processor.
Jun 15, 2018
Law enforcement may have found a workaround to Apple's iOS 12 security features“Compromising the security of our personal information can ultimately put our personal safety at risk” - Tim Cook
Jun 13, 2018
Apple iPhone and iPad users are reporting alarming battery drain issues since updating to iOS 11.4As far as we can tell, iOS 11 is the buggiest operating system that Apple has ever released. No other iOS release to date has had seen these many iterations
Jun 08, 2018
Apple's iOS 12 allows users to securely share passwords with others using AirDropPasswords can be transferred via AirDrop to any iOS 12 user or macOS Mojave device only, that, for now, is the only limitation.


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Analysts trimmed their 2019 earnings forecasts for Asian companies by a smaller margin over the past month, Refinitiv data showed, as optimism for the Sino-U.S. trade deal soothed some nerves.
Over the past 30 days, analysts have lowered earnings outlook for Asia's large and mid-cap firms' by 0.1% due to slowing economic growth in the region, the data showed.
However, the cut was much lower than the 2.7% downgrade in the previous two months.
India, Japan and Australia led the downgrades in the region over the past month, according to the data.
"Declining commodity prices and weak consumer sentiment point to earnings revision weakness in Australia," said Goldman Sachs in a report this month, adding that its Asia-ex-Japan economic sentiment index has fallen further, which may indicate lack of confidence in the economy.
On the other hand, analysts upgraded their earnings outlook for Chinese and Taiwanese firms by an average of 1.4% and 1.3% respectively, the data showed.
Taiwan's economy grew at its fastest pace in more than a year in the third quarter, as a rebound in demand for tech products for the year-end peak season boosted manufacturers and "offset" the impact of trade disputes.


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There has been trade tensions between China and US for some time now. The fact is that the US plays a great economical role in the world and they should appreciate the good relationship they have had with China in the past. The trade war, which is being spiced up by the US, is likely to fail and the US should stop pushing for this trade war. Beijing is more than willing to stop the trade war. China will try its best to defend its position in trade regardless of how long this trade war may last. A white paper, which was released by the China State Council, seems to suggest that the trade idea developed by some Swedish economists in the 20th century is ideal for the new world order. This trade states that countries like the US with much capital and land would specialize on exports of capital and land goods like agricultural products.
Nations with much labor such as China would focus on labor-intensive products such as manufacturing. This model has been in place for over twenty years and has really helped the Americans and the Chinese. However, the available labor in China has decreased in 2017 for the first time in history. Just like in Russia and Japan, China has now become one of the nations with a large economy that experiences inadequate labor supply. In comparison to China, the US has increased the number of workers in the past five years. Nevertheless, China still holds the record of having more than a fifth of the world’s labor force.
According to information researched by the University of Groningen, China’s capital stock caught up with that of the US in 2012 and has been growing at a very high rate ever since. This is in comparison with the year 2000 when the US capital stock person was about twelve times that of China. Beijing’s capital stock change has really grown and is now catching up with the West. The Chinese foreign direct investment in the US was as low as $65 million in 2003 but now its $165 billion. This statistics are according to data from the commerce ministry.
One of the many things that are frustrating the US is the Made in China program 2025, which is aimed at high tech foreign acquisitions. This will reduce the number of workers and increase capital-intensive products. This is intended to making China a rival to compete with and not a just a partner. However, the US and China should end this trade war and focus on working together.


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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Omnitracs announced today that it will be acquiring XRS Corporation for $5.60 a share, or about $178 million in equity value.
XRS is a software solutions company that helps fleets comply with changing and ongoing regulations and reducing operating costs.
“This agreement to purchase XRS represents another milestone in the renewed growth of Omnitracs and further demonstrates our continued commitment to retaining and advancing our position as the leading software provider within the transportation and logistics industry,” said John Graham, CEO of Omnitracs. “XRS has built a significant business focused on delivering transportation management solutions via mobile devices, and we believe this is a great addition to our suite of offerings. Whether building on the strength of our core technology or expanding our portfolio, we continually seek opportunities to drive innovation and deliver long-term value to our current and future customers.”
Jay Coughlan, chairman and CEO of XRS also commented: “The acquisition delivers an attractive premium for our shareholders, and for our employees and customers we are thrilled to become a key component of the broader Omnitracs portfolio. With complementary solutions designed to meet the varying needs of fleets across the transportation and logistics industry spectrum, our combined organizations can continue to innovate and deliver end-to-end solutions for our customers.”
Omnitracs has been busy since it acquired Roadnet Technologies in December 2013, as well as Sylectus and FleetRisk (now known as Omnitracs Analytics) before that.
The acquisition is still subject to closing conditions, but it expected to be completed the end of this year.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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Masters Set To Disrupt Market With Massive Liquidation Sale In December
Woolworths is planning to dump millions of dollars’ worth of discounted Masters, stock into the Australian market over the months of November and December, in a move that could disrupt the market during a peak buying period.
Among that stock is millions of dollars’ worth of appliances, electrical tools and lighting and automation stock.
Masters staff have been told that a “final decision” will be issued to staff in the first week of November, indications are that the Company is planning on liquidating stock and selling off their property portfolio.
Insiders have told ChannelNews that there is “little chance” of a trade sale of Masters as a going concern and that the Company is now planning for a massive sale and sell off of assets.
Several Companies including The Good Guys, South African conglomerate Steinhoff International and Harvey Norman have expressed an interest in buying various Masters properties.
Inside Retail reported last week that Markus Jooste, CEO of Steinhoff International, has been in Australia to talk with Woolworths.
At the same time both Myer and David Jones are struggling to decide as to whether they will stay in the consumer electronics market.
Sources who supply both retailers with house brand and branded consumer electronics and appliances said that is a “real possibility” that both department stores could decide to drop consumer electronic products.


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Uniphore Seeing Momentum: Raises $51 Million in Series C Funding Led by March Capital Partners
Uniphore, the global conversational AI technology company, is gaining momentum and announced it raised $51 million in Series C funding led by March Capital Partners, with participation from Chiratae Ventures (formerly IDG Ventures), Sistema Asia, CXO Fund, ITP, Iron Pillar, Patni Family, plus other investors. The new round of funding is Uniphore’s largest to date and marks one of the most substantial funding rounds in the conversational AI sector.
Uniphore will use the funds to accelerate its go-to-market in North America, invest in research and development for the next wave of innovation on its platform and grow its talented employee base globally.
Picovoice, a Canadian AI startup, has developed a real-time speech recognition engine that can run offline anywhere, from a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero to within a web browser.
Producers and distributors can expand their target audiences and easily create closed captions and translated subtitles using Limecraft Flow.
The new feature delivers highly accurate placements of full stops, commas, question marks, and exclamation marks.
DataRobot and CallMiner announce a partnership designed to drive the successful deployment of AI across enterprises to enhance customer experiences.
Inference Solutions' Studio Platform is highlighted for Leading Development of the fast-growing Intelligent Virtual Agent market by Frost & Sullivan.
Chatmeter's Google Q&A helps brands gain the ability to act on user-generated responses at scale while improving customer experience, local rankings and voice search.
Apple has temporarily suspended its Siri response grading program over privacy concerns and says users will be able to opt-out in future iterations of its popular voice assistant.


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No Match Found
Saudi Arabia’s entertainment and media (E&M) market represents a promising and unprecedented opportunity for growth and creativity. The E&M industry is already making an important contribution to national culture and economic diversification. There is an ongoing process of change within Saudi E&M, with TV going through transformation, and the over-the-top (OTT) video market expanding fast, assisted in part by new technologies. For TV and video players, now is the time to seize the moment through strong content strategies, omnichannel viewing options, attractive value propositions for advertisers, and the use of cross-industry synergies to gain access to new audiences.
What makes Saudi E&M so appealing is its distinctiveness. Even within the context of global media growth, and a renaissance in TV in terms of quality and cultural value, Saudi Arabia stands out because of its sophisticated and engaged audience. The country has high media consumption levels, with a notably vibrant TV and over-the-top (OTT) market, and intensive social media use. Also, Saudis are constantly connected. Smartphone market penetration is 98.2%, above the global average of 84%, while internet penetration is 97.9% (the global average is 62.5%). Significantly for TV and video players, there is still ample room for advertising to grow.
TV dominates the Saudi video market. It delivers a mass audience that crosses age and gender demographics, especially during Ramadan, and around 50% of industry revenues. According to Ipsos, Saudi TV viewers spent an average of 5.1 hours per day watching TV in 2021 and 2020, compared to 4.5 hours in 2019. Saudi Arabia also has a fast growing audience for OTT video. Digital technologies allow Saudi consumers to personalize and control what they watch. The OTT outlook in Saudi Arabia is more favorable than regional and global developments according to PwC, with revenues projected to grow at an 11.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2019 through 2025, compared to anticipated growth in the Middle East and North Africa of 10.4%.
In addition, Saudis spend an average of three hours per day on social media, which explains why they have become integral elements of broadcasters’ content strategies. For instance, MBC Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading media company, is actively present on Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram—recording a 20% CAGR between 2019 and 2021 and growing further.
First, TV and video players can create a strong content strategy tailored to the tastes and preferences of local audiences. Local and regional content remains an all-time favorite, whether delivered as scripted series or other local entertainment, sports, and social programming –it always succeeds. This is evident in Gulf sitcoms like Man Huwa Waladna and Studio 22, which premiered during Ramadan 2022 and were the top-rated shows.
Second, TV and video players can accelerate their efforts to provide omnichannel viewing experiences, which allows consumers to follow their favorite content across platforms. For instance, top-rated TV shows, such as Ramez Movie Star, which features pranks, are among the most-played videos on MBC’s Shahid streaming platform—which provides advertising-based video on demand (VOD). Content migrating from social media can also increase viewers. For example, Dr. Cash, a short online show giving financial tips, ranked among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 shows in 2021.
Third, TV and video players can offer a more attractive value proposition to advertisers. Saudi Arabia’s advertising spending per capita is lower than global benchmarks. TV and video players can attract advertisers to this opportunity through alternative and less intrusive advertising, such as paid content partnerships and brand integration. For example, Oppo, the Chinese consumer electronics and mobile communications company, successfully embedded a marketing and product placement campaign in the Arabic version of the international reality competition show The Masked Singer.
Digitization is vital to the advertising market, as it allows advertisers to know viewers in a way that traditional metrics do not allow. Robust consumer intelligence and analytics will become the norm thanks to fiber optics and 5G networks, and the use of AI-powered recommendation algorithms on VOD platforms, all of which mean that advertisers and broadcasters can meet viewers’ expectations continuously.
Fourth, TV and video players should consider how they can exploit cross-industry synergies to find new audiences, and to expand and differentiate their content offerings. MBC’s Shahid platform offers a notable example. As of the first quarter of 2022, a button for the Shahid TV app has been built into 1.5 million smart TV remotes, including brands such as Samsung, Hisense, Haier, Panasonic, and Changhong.
In coming years, Saudi consumers will want media experiences relevant to their interests and needs, while the Saudi TV and video market will play a significant role in national cultural development. These forces, combined with technological advances, increased competition and new advertising products, provide agile and innovative opportunities, which collaborative TV and video players can seize.
This article originally appeared in Arab News, July 2022.


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In recent years, Eastern Asia, which was once a major hub for the cryptocurrency world, has undergone significant changes in its crypto landscape. The decline in crypto activity in the region can be largely attributed to China’s strict regulations and bans on various cryptocurrency-related activities. This shift has led to a reevaluation of the region’s role in the global crypto market.
China, being a dominant force in the cryptocurrency space, was responsible for a substantial share of global cryptocurrency transactions and mining activities, especially in 2020.
However, with China’s comprehensive bans on nearly all crypto-related activities, this once-dominant position has been eroded.
Chainalysis’s latest report revealed that amidst these challenges, Hong Kong has emerged as a beacon of hope for the region’s crypto enthusiasts.
The city has introduced crypto-friendly regulations and initiatives, which have generated optimism and speculation about a potential change in China’s stance towards digital assets.
It added that Hong Kong’s approach may signal a more lenient or supportive attitude towards cryptocurrencies, which could have ripple effects throughout the entire region, especially in China.
Hong Kong: a crypto beacon in Eastern Asia
Chainalysis further stated that, as a Special Administrative Region of China, Hong Kong has witnessed the growth of its crypto market, largely due to various initiatives and regulations introduced in the past year.
Hong Kong’s crypto market has experienced impressive expansion as it recorded an estimated $64.0 billion in cryptocurrency transactions between July 2022 and June 2023. Notably, the figure is not far behind mainland China’s $86.4 billion during the same period.
It noted that this is particularly remarkable considering that Hong Kong’s population is only 0.5% the size of mainland China’s. A significant portion of this crypto activity can be attributed to Hong Kong’s highly active over-the-counter (OTC) market, where large institutional transfers occur privately, away from public scrutiny.
Furthermore, in Hong Kong, institutional investors have incorporated Bitcoin and Ethereum into their investment portfolios and exhibited curiosity in smaller altcoins.
Retail users are enticed by the prospect of substantial returns, while international users utilize cryptocurrencies to transfer wealth from unstable economies and for efficient cross-border business payments.
A Regional Comparison: Transaction Size Matters
The report also highlighted some notable distinctions in Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency landscape compared to its neighboring regions in Eastern Asia. One key difference is the distribution of transaction sizes.
In Hong Kong, there is a strong focus on cryptocurrency activities conducted by major institutions or large players. However, mainland China has a more balanced distribution of transaction sizes, implying a mix of both smaller and larger transactions.
South Korea, on the other hand, has a different pattern. It relies more on centralized cryptocurrency exchanges and has fewer decentralized finance (DeFi) transactions.
This is primarily due to regulatory requirements in South Korea that create obstacles for institutional players, pushing the market towards centralized exchanges and reducing the use of DeFi platforms.
In Japan, the distribution of crypto transactions between retail and institutional participants is more in line with what is observed in the worldwide crypto market.
These differences show that cryptocurrency adoption is influenced by regulations, market dynamics, and the participation of various players like retail investors and institutions.
Crypto Platform Preferences and the future
Speaking about how preferences for crypto platforms also differ across Eastern Asia and what the future holds for crypto, Chainalysis said that in Japan, there is nearly equal usage of both centralized exchanges and various decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.
While South Korea displays a greater inclination toward centralized exchanges, where a substantial 68.9% of transactions take place, due to the TerraLuna incident, both China and Hong Kong are largely centered around over-the-counter (OTC) markets and informal peer-to-peer transactions.
It added that it is important to note that any potential change in Hong Kong’s approach to cryptocurrencies doesn’t necessarily reflect China’s overall position.
Nonetheless, the participation of state-backed Chinese entities in bolstering crypto initiatives in Hong Kong suggests a cautious exploration of digital assets without loosening regulations on the mainland.
Hong Kong’s ascent in the crypto world offers various use cases and opportunities, both for local and international users. While the future remains uncertain, the apparent approval of Hong Kong’s new crypto initiatives may hint at a shift in China’s stance on cryptocurrency. This development could lead to intriguing developments in a region that was once a crypto powerhouse.


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A Newcastle illustrator is celebrating after the launch of a collaboration with a popular North East food chain.
James Dixon, known as Lines Behind, worked with burger chain Fat Hippo to design their new craft beer cans.
The new designs were unveiled at a series of launches, accompanied by a special limited-time menu.
Fat Hippo’s Proper Pale Ale and Hillbilly Lager, brewed by Hexham based Allendale Brewery, were served up with the Hog On The Tyne burger during the launch period, which ended on Thursday night, September 4.
James, who spoke at the Newcastle and Durham launches, said: “It’s been such an honour to work with Fat Hippo again, after designing a mural for their latest restaurant in Sheffield earlier in the year.
“The food at Fat Hippo is amazing, as is the ale and lager, so I jumped at the chance to design the cans for them.
“I came up with the tagline #SippoTheHippo which has really caught on.”
Fat Hippo’s original Jesmond restaurant opened in 2011. Newcastle’s ‘Underground’ and a central Durham branch followed in 2014, with Sheffield becoming the chain’s first location outside of the North East when it opened in March.
James is no stranger to working with food brands in the region, having collaborated with Greggs, and Tynemouth’s popular Longsands Fish Kitchen.
James added: “Having my work seen in food venues around the region is really generating a lot of interest from other brands and we’re about to launch another collaboration with a North East coffee brand imminently.”


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Zaheerabad (Andhra Pradesh), March 6 — Automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra Wednesday launched its tractor manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of one lakh tractors, claimed to be the biggest in Asia.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy inaugurated the Rs.300 crore plant in the presence of some of his cabinet colleagues and Anand Mahindra, chairman, Mahindra Group.
The plant will initially manufacture 1,000 tractors per month and achieve the ultimate capacity in four years. The plant has come up over 80 acres in a short span of 18 months in this town of Medak district, 110 km from Hyderabad.
"This is a very proud moment and a significant milestone for us," said Mahindra. He described the plant as part of Mahindra & Mahindra's philosophy of creating shared value.
The plant has 280 employees, which will go up to 1,600 with full production.
Seven suppliers of Mahindra & Mahindra have come forward to set up their operations with three of the suppliers bringing in an investment of Rs.20 crore each. The other suppliers are also likely to make similar investments.
Pawan Goenka, president, automotive and farm equipment sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said more suppliers would set up their operations on 100 acres of land allotted by the state government. He said the place could accommodate at least 15-20 suppliers.
The plant will manufacture all models under 'Mahindra' and 'Swaraj' brands of tractors. The company, which sold 121,730 tractors in the domestic market last year, has a market share of 40 percent. It also exports 11,000-12,000 tractors.
Zaheerabad plant will also explore the possibility of exports. Goenka, however, admitted that its location was a disadvantage for exports as there was no port nearby.
Minister for Major Industries J. Geeta Reddy invited the company to set up its proposed four-wheeler plant in passenger and load carrier segments at Zaheerabad.
"We will discuss the proposal with the government. It is too early to say anything," Goenka said about the investment they would be making in the proposed plant.
Mahindra & Mahindra, India's largest maker of sports utility vehicles (SUVs), has sought rollback of three percent hike in excise duty on SUVs. Goenka told reporters that they have requested the government to reconsider the hike in excise duty proposed in the union budget.
"We don't know whether they will consider this or not but obviously for a segment which we are in this is not something we are happy about," he said.
To another query, he said lack of sops for electric cars would have an impact on volumes as the prices of the cars would be too high.
IANSThis article was distributed through the NewsCred Smartwire. Original article © IANS / Daily News 2013


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It has been approximately 30 years since the release of Beetlejuice and the classic Tim Burton movie still stands as a highly influential piece of movie history. Starring Michael Keaton, Gina Davis, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, Beetlejuice is about a polterguest for hire who is requested to rid a family from their new home by a pair of ghosts who want the house to themselves.
According to a recent report from BloodyDisgusting, Mondo has released a new set of enamel pens to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice originally came out in 1988 and helped catapult director Tim Burton to the status of becoming one of Hollywood’s most sought-after filmmakers. After Beetlejuice, he returned to working with Michael Keaton with a darker re-imagining of the popular DC comic book character for the movie Batman. He also came back for the sequel, Batman Returns. Since then, Burton has directed box office successes and critically lauded films, Edward Scissorhands, Mars Attacks, Big Fish, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Corpse Bride, and Alice in Wonderland.
Beetlejuice went on to become a popular children’s cartoon which aired on Saturday mornings on ABC and Fox from 1989 until 1991, though neither Michael Keaton, nor Winona Ryder returned to voice their respective characters for the series.
For decades, rumors have abounded that a Beetlejuice sequel is in the works, including director Kevin Smith who was reportedly tapped to direct a script for Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. Smith ultimately turned down the project in lieu of directing a Superman movie which he ultimately walked away from as well.
— Bloody Disgusting (@BDisgusting) December 13, 2018
Since then, a number of whispers online have pointed toward a possible sequel but one has never materialized. Despite this, it hasn’t stopped a number of fake posters from surfacing online, with some even going viral. Actors from the original film and Tim Burton himself have gone on record to state that while they are open to the possibility of a sequel, one has not yet been greenlit, and may ultimately never happen.
Mondo is known for their intricately designed posters, often sold in limited quantities and fetching large sums on eBay after selling out. They also produce shirts, records, and enamel pins. Mondo’s exclusive Beetlejuice enamel pins are selling for $10 a piece, but the site regularly sells out of such exclusive items, so be sure to pick one up quickly if these are on your holiday wish list.


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During the last week of 2019, we covered the importance of security for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, better known as “smart” devices. Unfortunately, potential fears of hacking associated with such devices have been given real-life examples. Last month, Joseph Cox and Samantha Cole of VICE reported that a hacker compromised the Ring camera of a family in Mississippi. The camera was installed in the bedroom of three young girls. Chillingly, the hacker spied on them and had the gall to speak to them, telling them that he’s Santa Claus. The situation seemed like something out of modern horror movies.
Setting the IoT aside, passwords were at the root of the problem. VICE journalists searched crime forums and discovered posts about tools for hacking Ring accounts. These tools in particular consist of software designed to log into accounts by rapidly trying different username and password combinations, a brute-force approach for hacking accounts. A Ring spokesperson told VICE that Ring’s security wasn’t compromised, and that they recommend using two-factor identification, strong passwords, and regularly changed passwords to prevent account theft. Ring hardware and software wasn’t the issue; the account password was what ultimately compromised the family.
Sadly, many consumers choose weak passwords. Late last year, the Firefox Frontier noted that at least four major media outlets covered a stolen Disney+ account epidemic. These incidents provide an excellent example of how context can be used for guessing passwords. Passwords such as “princess”, the names of Disney princesses (“jasmine”, “cinderella”, etc.), “frozen”, “starwars”, “mickeymouse”, and “disney” were among the most commonly used passwords for Disney+ accounts. Just like “12345” or “password” are obvious passwords in general, these other passwords were obvious choices for Disney+ accounts. The context of using Disney+ meant that customers were more likely to choose Disney-themed passwords, which made these passwords easier to guess. Attackers likely obtained lists of usernames, either through theft or purchase from other hackers, then proceeded to try multitudes of combinations of usernames and weak passwords to access as many accounts as possible.
Just like Ring, Disney claimed that their system hadn’t been breached. However, families and individuals cannot rely on manufacturers and service providers alone: they must take their own measures to ensure their security, such as by choosing passwords that aren’t obvious. The Firefox Frontier lists some password security tips, including: using unique passwords (for each account), creating strong passwords, using a password manager, using multi-factor authentication, and monitoring your accounts for signs of intrusion. Hopefully, improving password security was included in the New Year’s resolutions of consumers. If not, it should be significantly considered as we move into the new decade.


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Search for Events
11 May 2017
Employment status is the hot topic of the moment, with various legal challenges being brought in relation to the status of individuals working in the “on-demand” economy.
18 May 2017
What attitude should professional services firms take to compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
25 May 2017
This session will provide an update on all key TUPE developments over the past year or so.
16 June 2017
Maternity rights continue to be something of a minefield for employers, who face a real risk of discrimination claims if things go wrong.
28 June 2017
In this session we shall discuss the key challenges that retailers face with the GDPR and also the opportunities that the GDPR may bring.
09 October 2017
The course runs for two days and is designed to provide an in-depth look at the key employment law topics that you may come across as a busy HR professional, including the latest developments and forthcoming changes.
05 June 2019
The Collective by Lewis Silkin, in partnership with some of the most innovative technology businesses today, will be using real-life case studies and non-technical language to cut through the hype.
10 September 2019
The luxury and lifestyle industry has taken huge steps in its movement towards environmental and social sustainability. It’s at the top of everyone’s agenda but more needs to be done.
Talking Openly about Mental Health in conversation with the world’s first runway model in a wheelchair, Alexandra Kutas16 October 2019
The Collective is joining forces with ‘This Place Minds’ and TLC Lions to promote positive mental wellbeing in the highly competitive and often critiqued retail, hospitality and fashion industries.
14 January 2020
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Former MTC board member Asser Ntinda said corruption accused lawyer Dirk Conradie spoke highly of advertising agency, DV8 Saatchi & Saatchi, during a 2012 board meeting in Portugal.
Testifying in the ongoing corruption trial of Conradie and his co-accused Sara Damases in the Windhoek High Court, Ntinda yesterday said a board meeting in Lisbon held in June 2012 discussed the lucrative N$60 million advertising tender of the telecommunications giant.
According to Ntinda, Conradie, who was the board chairperson of MTC at the time, told fellow directors that DV8 Saatchi & Saatchi had a black empowerment component as required by the tender specifications.
Conradie and Damases face three counts of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act for allegedly attempting to bribe businessman Mark Bongers and his wife and business partner Kim Fields with the massive advertising contract from MTC if they took Damases on board as a BEE partner. The trial is being heard before Judge Thomas Masuku.
Ntinda further told the court that Conradie assured them that he did a thorough investigation of DV8 Saatchi & Saatchi and that they had a BEE partner and complied with all specifications.
“I had no reason to doubt Conradie’s word as he was a well-known man and appointed by Cabinet as chairman of the MTC board,” Ntinda said.
He further said that he only learned of the new developments after Conradie was arrested and that he had no idea that he was to personally benefit from the award to DV8 Saatchi & Saatchi.
Bongers made a recording of a meeting he and Fields had with Conradie and Damases in the office of Conradie on June 12, 2012 and subsequently reported the alleged bribe to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
In the recording, Conradie can be heard asking Bongers and his business and life partner, Fields, whether they have a BEE partner and when Bongers answered in the negative, Conradie can be heard saying that DV8 Saatchi & Saatchi, the company of Bongers and Fields, is not the favourite to win the MTC advertising contract worth an estimated N$60 million at the time, but he could apparently change it in their favour.
The meeting apparently took place after Damases approached Bongers at his office with a “message from the MTC chairman”. According to Fields and Bongers, they only agreed to the meeting out of curiosity and because Damases had apparently introduced herself as an independent consultant for MTC.
Conradie allegedly told Bongers during the meeting that he would use his position as chair of the MTC board to ensure that the advertising agency owned by Bongers and Fields gets the telecommunication giant’s N$60 million advertising tender in turn for them taking Damases on board as a BEE partner.
They were arrested in June 2012 after Bongers and Fields availed a tape recording of Conradie, allegedly soliciting a bribe from them, to the ACC. Conradie and Damases are free on bail.
2020-02-14 07:34:48 | 7 months ago


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FedEx said Tuesday that its profit fell 40% in its most recent quarter, hurt by higher costs, a shorter holiday shipping season and its move to cut ties with online shopping giant Amazon.
In this June 26, 2019, file photo delivery vehicles depart the FedEx Ship Center in Cranberry Township, Pa. FedEx reports earnings Tuesday, Dec. 17. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
The package delivery company also cut its earnings expectations for the year. Its stock tumbled almost 7% in after-hours trading Tuesday.
Fred Smith, the company’s CEO, called the current fiscal year one “of continued significant challenges and changes for FedEx.”
Smith said the fiscal second quarter was an “anomaly” because of the shorter holiday season. Thanksgiving this year was six days later than last year, making it the shortest stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas since 2013. FedEx said it needed more drivers and package handlers to deliver packages faster, increasing costs. It also pushed Cyber Monday, the busy online shopping day, into the company’s fiscal third quarter.
FedEx also took a hit from its recently soured relationship with Amazon, which is building its own delivery fleet that could threaten traditional delivery companies.
Amazon has leased jets, built package-sorting hubs at airports and launched a program to let its contractor drivers start their own businesses delivering packages in vans. A recent report by Morgan Stanley estimated that Amazon is delivering half of its packages itself.
FedEx severed ties with Amazon earlier this year, saying it wouldn’t make ground or air deliveries for the online shopping giant. Then this week, Amazon temporarily banned its third-party sellers from using FedEx’s ground service to ship to its Prime members, citing concerns about whether the deliveries would show up in time for Christmas.
FedEx said the loss of volume from Amazon hurt it in the fiscal second quarter more than the previous one because its ground contract with Amazon ended in August.
On Tuesday, FedEx reported net income of $560 million, or $2.13 per share, in the three months ending Nov. 30. That’s down from $935 million, or $3.51 per share, in the same period a year before.
Adjusted earnings for the fiscal second quarter came to $2.51 per share, missing Wall Street expectations of $2.79 per share, according to Zacks Investment Research.
Revenue fell 3% to $17.3 billion, which also fell short of expectations.
The Memphis, Tennessee-based company now expects earnings for its fiscal year that ends in May between $10.25 per share and $11.50 per share, down from its previous forecast of $11 to $13 a share.


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Dutch retailer Albert Heijn will use eco-friendly vehicles for all deliveries from The Hague by the end of this year. This decarbonization includes delivery to customers’ homes and supplies to their stores.
Albert Heijn plans to increase the number of its electric fleet such as electric trucks and electric vans to support its decarbonization ambitions.
To improve air quality in Dutch cities a zero-emissions zone has been introduced starting in 2025. By 2030, only emission-free cars and delivery trucks will be allowed to pass through the city centre.
Albert Heijn’s fleet in The Hague is poised for decarbonization by the end of 2022, followed by Rotterdam (Q1 23) and Utrecht and Amsterdam in the second half of 2023.


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Google’s director of mobile products, Hugo Barra, was speaking to technology site techradar.com when he uttered the following:
Android is an open platform. We saw at IFA 2010 all sorts of devices running Android, so it’s already running on tablets, but the way Android Market works is it’s not going to be available on devices that don’t allow applications to run correctly. […] Which devices do, and which don’t will be unit specific, but Froyo is not optimized for use on tablets. […] We want to make sure that we’re going to create a application distribution mechanism for the Android market, to ensure our users have right experience.
The statement is a bit shocking, as dozens of Android-based tablets — many running Android 2.2 — are due to hit the marketplace in the near future, but the comment is also smart. Google seems to be hedging their bets on what the user experience will be like with the current iteration of their mobile operating system; and perhaps foreshadowing that a future version of Android will be optimized for tablet devices (Honeycomb?). We don’t care what Mr. Barra says, we still want a Galaxy Tab… like now.