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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will implement the conditional movement control order (CMCO), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. The CMCO would be carried out in stages and according to the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the Health Ministry, he said.
PETALING JAYA: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has decreed that his subjects should continue to adhere to the conditional movement control order’s standard operating procedure to stop Covid-19 from spreading.
JOHOR BARU: The country’s export earnings contribution from cocoa and cocoa-based products, as well as cocoa grinding activities, is expected to decline by 18% due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to stem the spread of Covid-19.
The police are now fully utilising the drone technology to monitor and ensure that the standard operating procedures (SOP) set for the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) are being adhered to by the public.
PUTRAJAYA: The government has warned that stricter rules will be enforced again if there is disregard to the ongoing conditional movement control order (MCO).
PETALING JAYA: Business at malls and retail outlets are expected to be slow for the next few months despite the conditional movement control order (CMCO), says the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA).
National Film Development Corporation (Finas) is seeking approval for productions to resume shoots, outlining a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) in the proposal.
Couples who have postponed their wedding due to Covid-19 remain hopeful of getting their dream event after things settle down. For now, wedding vendors struggle with poor business, while the government waits for the right time to allow such gatherings again.
ON Saturday I learned of an act so evil that I broke down in tears. It was the murder of pregnant women, new mothers, infants and nurses in an Afghan hospital.
Live events industry players hope to have more discussions with Government in charting a way forward in these pandemic times.


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GESTA expresses concern about quality of imported electronic parts
Kumasi, Sept. 8, GNA - The Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Electronics Servicing Technicians Association (GESTA) has expressed concern about the quality of electronic spare parts imported into the country.
The Association said currently, electronic spare parts on the market and used by its members to service electronic equipment brought to them were not of the required standard.
GESTA has therefore, asked the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) to carry out periodic checks on electronic parts imported into the country to know the countries of origin and manufacturers, as a measure of stopping the dumping of sub-standard electronic equipment on the Ghanaian market. Mr John Asonaba Kwabena Boakye-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Chairman of GESTA, who expressed this concern at a press conference in Kumasi on Wednesday, said this way, people will be assured of getting their monies worth when they send their electronic equipment for repairs and the technicians will also get the satisfaction of using quality parts to do their work.
The Association further called on all government agencies, which inspect electronic parts at the ports and other entry points and at the markets to strengthen their capacities and intensify their operations to ensure that inferior parts were not imported into the country. Mr Boakye-Mensah said servicing of electronic equipment like radio, television, video decks, video compact discs and compact discs players, was very important to ensure that the people got information, education and entertainment from their gadgets.
He regretted, however, that despite the importance of information, education, culture and religion in the human development, due recognition was not being accorded electronic technicians and called for a change of attitude.
Mr Boakye-Mensah asked the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to improve upon its efficiency, pointing out that the numerous power outages do a lot of damage to electronic equipment and appliances, as most of the repair works they had to do were as results of that. 8 Sept. 05

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New programme launched in North Wales contains virtual support sessions for start-up businesses
A new three-month programme for North Wales containing a series of virtual support sessions for creative start-ups has been officially launched.
Miwtini provides free guidance on subjects including research, marketing, strategic thinking, alternative income streams, web presence, pitching to investors, and more.
Creative and Digital Colwyn will provide a taster session on 21 January where Patricia van den Akker, Director of The Design Trust in London, will be on hand with specific advice.
A series of networking sessions will also be on hand and the Creative and Digital Miwtini is a partnership between the Miwtini programme led by the Enterprise Hub at M-SParc on Anglesey and Imagine Colwyn Bay, a cultural and heritage activities project.
Anna Openshaw, Senior Project Officer for Miwtini, said: “We want to bring like-minded start-up companies and makers together and give them a platform to share best practice, offer support, and be there for each other at this challenging time.
“That is what Miwtini is about; pushing yourself, gaining support and guidance and following our lead to business success. We want to help this network, and anyone else looking to start a creative venture, on their journey from the very beginning.
“This is a fantastic opportunity and places are limited, so we hope to see a positive response.”
Helen Jackson, Programme Coordinator for Imagine Colwyn Bay, said the network is needed now more than ever given the challenges brought up by COVID-19.
“Many people have set up their own businesses from home while in lockdown, or upscaled their hobbies after being furloughed or made redundant,” she added.
“We want to bring together a network of creatives in this area who will be given access to fully funded support and advice from Miwtini as part of these online events, but also in going forward as a sustainable collective.
“There is a pool of local talent in this sector and mentors who want to help those who are starting out, so we hope to be able to reach as many people as we can, particularly anyone seeking to develop their business given the difficulties of the current economic climate.”
Patricia said: “This is a great opportunity for local creatives to get really practical business training online – so you can join from the comfort of your own home or workspace.
“We will be discussing everything from websites to online sales, and you will get to meet other people in the same sector, which is vitally important right now as a result of Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns – I am really excited to be part of this specialist creative programme.”
Although aimed at those in the Colwyn Bay area, anyone in the creative industries from Anglesey, Conwy, Gwynedd, and Denbighshire can attend.
To register for the taster event, visit www.creativeanddigitalcolwynnetwork.eventbrite.co.uk.
For more information on how the Enterprise Hub can help with start-ups, visit www.hwbmenter.cymru or, alternatively, follow @hwbmenter on social media.
Visit www.imagine.colwynbayheritage.org.uk or email email@example.com for more on Imagine Colwyn Bay and the £1200 bursary available for creative businesses. Spotted something? Got a story? Send a Facebook Message | A direct message on Twitter | Email: firstname.lastname@example.org


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Vegetable pickers have seen their salaries soar to almost £20 an hour thanks to a chronic labour shortage brought on by Brexit and Covid-19.
Both seismic events have been blamed for deterring thousands of immigrants from arriving and carrying out the roles, which Brits simply aren’t applying for.
Roughly 500,000 workers are needed to fill positions across the food supply chain, from pickers and packers to processors and drivers.
One agriculture boss has even suggested having the army on standby to help deliver food and stop supermarket shelves from being left bare.
It comes as the steep increase in wages is expected to be passed onto the customer.
In an email to customers, Simon Naylor, of Naylor Farms in Lincolnshire, said: ‘To keep people we have raised wages by 60% to nearly £20 per hour for packhouse staff and from this week we are having to pay them to turn up at £20 a day for a weekday and £30 for weekends.
‘This now is unsustainable.’
He added: ‘Yes a lot of us voted out [on Brexit] and now we have this problem!!!’
The family farm is the UK’s largest grower of cabbages and has been operating for 112 years.
It turns over more than £26 million on average each year.
And although the government has put in place a special visa programme to let in extra agricultural workers from the EU and Ukraine, Mr Naylor says it is not enough.
He said the scheme will not work because those workers must be recruited on the basis they are skilled and will be earning a minimum of £25,000.
The situation is seen as so alarming by the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) that it has suggested the government have the army on standby to help deliver food.
Its chief executive, James Bielby, said: ‘We are concerned enough to suggest that the Government considers having Army trucks on standby to ensure there are enough vehicles and drivers to distribute food.
‘The product manufacturers who supply into the wholesale channel have similar issues with drivers, and our members report particular difficulties getting soft drinks, beer, and chilled products like cream, cheese, yoghurt and meats.’
Twitter users have already complained of empty shelves at their supermarkets.
‘The shortage is already there,’ said one user, ‘It’s scary, Brexit is to blame.’
Others supported the pay increases, suggesting that more money should be offered to attract more workers.
‘Perhaps James and his members need to pay drivers more money to attract them into the industry,’ wrote one, ‘now they haven’t the luxury of unlimited cheap Eastern European migrants.’
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While companies like Amazon and Google are betting on airborne drones for the future of delivery, two of the founders of Skype are taking a more pedestrian approach. They've created a company called Starship Technologies, and its eponymous robots are autonomous rovers that drive along sidewalks to carry packages at an average speed of 4mph. The aim is to deliver "two grocery bags" worth of goods (weighing up to 20lbs) in 5-30 minutes for "10-15 times less than the cost of current last-mile delivery alternatives."
Starship's robots are said to be "99-percent" autonomous, which means that although they'll drive themselves, human oversight will be present at all times, ready to take control if the robot gets confused. The goods inside Starship's "cargo bay" are securely locked while it's making deliveries, and can only be opened with the recipient's mobile phone. We assume that's through a specific application, as you'll also be able to track the robot's progress as it makes your delivery.
Because of the slow speed and limited range, there would need to be a number of Starship hubs in any given city -- each hub could only serve a few miles. "Our vision revolves around three zeroes," says Ahti Heinla, CEO at Starship Technologies, "zero cost, zero waiting time, and zero environmental impact." The rovers are electric, so they're only technically as environmentally friendly as the power grid they charge from, but they're undoubtably more friendly than traditional delivery vans and bikes. The grand plan is for businesses to ship goods in bulk to hubs, and then have the robot fleet do the door-to-door deliveries. That's actually not too dissimilar from the way Amazon runs its Prime Now delivery service; it just replaces human drivers with slow-moving robots.
Starship Technologies is clearly targeting companies that want to compete with services like Amazon's Prime Now one-hour deliveries -- although there's no reason why Amazon couldn't integrate this robot into its supply chain if it proves as cost-effective as claimed. The company still has a lot of questions to answer, though. It says the robots "consume less energy than most light bulbs," but that's not exactly the most precise metric. We also don't know how much it'll cost companies to run and maintain a fleet of bots, or whether Starship can secure the necessary regulatory permission to ride on sidewalks. Assuming it can answer those questions, and the many more that'll arise in the coming months, Starship says it'll launch "pilot services" in partnership with other companies across the US, UK, and other countries in 2016.


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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Home Depot hosted workshops Saturday to help everyone from the Gulf Coast to New England get ready for hurricane season. More than 700 stores took part, including those in Hampton Roads.
Topics ranged from generator safety to getting your disaster kit ready.
This year, Home Depot expanded their hurricane workshops initiative all the way into Maine. The store also opened more sites along the New Jersey and New York coastlines to support post-Hurricane Sandy efforts.
Click here to learn more about the workshops.
Norfolk Police are investigating the cause of death for male found unconscious on the beach.
Several local families could be out on the streets by the new year, if things don't improve at a Chesapeake shelter.
A disturbing national trend has found it's way into eastern North Carolina. There have been reports of young men punching innocent people -- with the intention of knocking them out -- and the victims never see it coming.


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ASEAN KEY DESTINATIONS
Anti-dumping tax issue irks EU Alliance
The European Footwear Alliance issued a press release to express its disappointment with the European Commission's proposal to extend anti-dumping duties on shoes shipped from Vietnam and China, Vietnam News Agency reported.
"The review is opposed by a majority of member states and harms the interests of consumers and Europe's very own footwear sector," the EFA said in a statement.
The European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson proposed extending anti-dumping duties on imports of leather-capped shoes from China and Vietnam pending a review, a spokesman said, according to Reuters.
"The spokesman said a final decision by the EU's executive Commission was expected in the middle of the week, and that the intention was to carry out any review as rapidly as possible. Duties apply during any such review," Reuters stated.
The proposal was still issued despite the fact that a large number of EU countries rebelled against the plan at a meeting of the EU's anti-dumping advisory committee held in Brussels on September 18.
Retailers and multinational corporations which manufacture in China and Vietnam due to the low labour costs, have been hit by the global economic slowdown and oppose the proposal.
At the meeting in Brussels, 15 countries opposed the idea of a review for the duties and 12 were in favour.
Eight European organisations with vested interest have also recently issued press releases to oppose the renewal of anti-dumping tariffs.
They included the European Consumers Organisation, the European Trade Promotion Organisation, the European Association of Fashion Retailers, the European Sportswear Industry Federation, the European External Trade Union, the European Branded Footwear Coalition, the European Outdoor Group, and the Federation of German Shoe Industry.
"Mandelson was quoted by the Financial Times as saying he was swayed by evidence that cheap imports were harming the European industry," Reuters stated.
Anti-dumping duties exist to protect markets from multinationals who can, due to their size, power and financial clout, choose to sell their products for lower than market price, undercut smaller companies and thus achieve a monopoly.
Vietnam and China's shoemakers are not multinational conglomerates like Nike or Adidas, but can sell their footwear at cheap prices due to low overheads and labour costs. The Government feels that the proposal has been introduced simply to protect select European manufacturers unable to cut it in the global market.
To oppose the renewal of anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese footwear, Le Danh Vinh, deputy minister of Industry and Trade said last week in a statement, "Vietnam has called on the European Commission not to extend its anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese leather-capped shoes and to let the current tariffs end on October 6."
Vinh added that "Vietnamese footwear companies do not dump goods into the European market and do not pursue a dumping policy."
"The EU should not maintain anti-dumping measures on Vietnam and Chinese products, notably in the face of high inflation and economic slowdown. This policy only protects un-competitive producers," Vinh explained.
At present, Vietnamese footwear exporters must pay an anti-dumping tariff of 10 per cent. The review may last 15 months with the same duties, although the EC may seek to shorten it significantly.


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Check back often to learn about the celebrations of our LBB members.
Progressive Ribbon Cutting: Troy, MO
A progressive ribbon cutting was held in Troy, MO to celebrate all of the new locations and new businesses in downtown Troy, Missouri for the women of LBB.
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1600 Mid Rivers Mall Dr,
St Peters, MO 63376
Note: We are inside Mid Rivers Mall next to Macy's on the 2nd floor.
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Nigerian VC firm Venture Garden Group has launched GreenHouse Capital, which it claims is the largest fintech investment fund by portfolio size in Sub-Saharan Africa.
GreenHouse Capital currently has 13 portfolio companies, including Max.ng, Talentbase, Tutor.ng, Prepclass and Flutterwave.
The goal of Venture Garden Group’s newly spun-out investment vehicle is to provide early-stage high-growth technology startups with investments and support infrastructure.
“The premise behind our investments is that we think local, but it’s all about scaling globally,” said founding partner Bunmi Akinyemiju.
GreenHouse Capital managing partner, Nichole Yembra said it was important to have an Africa-based fund support the dreams of brilliant Nigerians.
Dr Yemi Dipeolu, special adviser to Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari, also spoke at the launch event, saying GreenHouse Capital’s stated goal of filling the funding and advisory gap for young entrepreneurs was very much in line with the government’s agenda.


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Google announced the brand new version of the Daydream View, and this time, it comes in multiple colors: Charcoal, Fog and Coral. It's also available for $99, which is $20 more than last year's iteration.
Around the web
Google Daydream View is a Refreshed VR Headset for 2017, Priced at $99Announced as part of Google's Keynote today, Google will be releasing a version 2.0 of its Daydream platform. According to Google Blog the updated Daydream View will be compatible with the recently announced Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL as well as any other Daydream-ready device, and will be priced at $99.
Google's new Daydream headset is $99Last year, Google announced the Daydream View, its first ever mobile VR headset. Not only was it powered by Android, it could also be used with a variety of different Daydream-compatible phones and it was covered in fabric. Today, the company announced the brand new version of the View, and this time, it comes in multiple colors: Charcoal, Fog and Coral.
Google's new VR headset is designed for your coffee tableThe first thing I noticed about Google's new Daydream View VR headset is the pink controller. In the original View, all plastic parts were beige or gray, even if you got the model wrapped with rich crimson fabric. Now, they're coordinated: if you buy the colorful "Coral" edition, you'll get a coral remote, too.
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Heavy rain failed to put a damper on the Stony Stratford Vintage Car Rally on New Year’s Day.
Organiser were happy to report the weather did not deter the car enthusiasts – the annual rally was held as normal though (very soggy) visitors numbers were slightly down.The rally featured pre war vintage cars and motorcycles which could be seen in the Market Square and classic cars (post war), on display in Cofferidge Close car park.
The event was supported by the Stony Stratford Business Association and by a number of shops, restaurants and pubs which opened specially for the day. The rally raised funds for Willen Hospice. For more details visit www.vintagestony.co.uk.
Pictures by: Moe Myall


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A nonprofit group promoting energy efficiency is recommending a number of ways Nevada can do more to promote the use of electric cars in the wake of Tesla Motors' plans to build a $5 billion battery factory in the state.
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project says in a new report that Nevada does not yet have the policy infrastructure needed to support mass deployment of electric vehicles. The group recommends Nevada consider making policy changes that have been adopted in other states, including providing rebates for the purchase or lease of electric cars. It also suggests deregulating utility electricity sales so that charging stations can sell electricity as a fuel.
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The wordplay-loving editors at The New York Post graced today's
cover with this little quip about Twitter's IPO filing.
As healthcare costs rise and patients demand better care, hospitals turn to new technologies
More "Digital Industry Insider" »
Brothers share what it was like quitting their corporate jobs to sell ties on the beach and cofound Vineyard Vines, a company worth nearly $1 billion
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HUNTINGTON BEACH — Former County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder was appointed Thursday by President Clinton to an advisory board on U.S. trade policy.
The Commission on U.S.-Pacific Trade & Investment Policy advises the president on how to increase U.S. trade opportunities in Japan and other Asian countries.
The 18-member board includes representatives of business, government and academia.
Wieder, of Huntington Beach, said she is excited about the opportunity.
"The whole purpose of this is to get the business community to do more overseas trade," she said. "That will mean more jobs here and a better balance of trade."
Wieder currently is president of Linkage, a private consulting business.
For 15 years, she served as county supervisor, establishing the Office of Protocol, which helps local business owners trying to do business in other countries.
She is a former mayor and councilwoman of Huntington Beach, and for 10 years was on the staff of Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty.
Wieder has also been a member of the Transoceanic Traders, a partnership that imports and exports products from Europe and Asia. She has served as chairwoman of the Advisory Board of the International Forum for Corporate Directors, and she serves as vice president of the International Women's Forum.


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Sky and TalkTalk have started connecting customers in York to a new FTTH network they have built alongside joint venture partner Cityfibre.
The network, which was built as an alternative to BT Openreach’s FTTC architecture, aims to bring pure fibre connectivity to more than 20,000 premises.
It has passed more than 1,800 homes in the city to date.
Sky, which said subscribers to the service would be able to receive speeds of up to 940 Mbps, has yet to reveal details of its commercial offering.
However TalkTalk, which connected its first customer last week, announced in June that its service would be called “Ultra Fibre Optic”, with prices starting at £21.70 a month.
Commercial sales will begin in January, but it has not marketed the exact speed it will be offering.
Dido Harding, TalkTalk Chief Executive, said: “Ultra Fibre Optic will truly transform the broadband experience in York and we’ve been blown away by the local support.”
The news comes as both companies call for the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to undertake a full market investigation into Openreach.
Lyssa McGowan, Director of Sky Broadband, said: “As Ofcom continues its review of the broadband market, we believe that trials like this are a valuable demonstration of the alternative technologies now available.
“With the right conditions for investment and innovation, consumers and businesses could benefit from more ultrafast connections across the UK.”


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Chinese automaker Lynk & Co plans to enter the US market with its upcoming all-electric car, CEO Alain Visser said.
Due to go on sale in 2024, the new EV model will replace the 01 plug-in hybrid compact SUV. Visser said the electric vehicle is being designed to be adapted for US regulations, Automotive News Europe reports.
"There is still some work to be done but [U.S. entry] is definitely very high on my agenda and I am sure it will work here," Visser said. For the US launch, the executive said Lynk & Co plans to use the same subscriptions strategy it has used in Europe, where it has achieved sales of about 28,000 cars last year.
While the subscription sales method is different that the traditional ways cars are sold, Visser said customers are open to it. Almost all Lynk & Co sales in Europe are subscription-based, with customers paying €550 ($585) a month for the 01 SUV.
As part of this business model, Lynk & Co remains the owner of the vehicle throughout the subscription. For the US, Visser said the company would need to work out how to navigate local selling laws for its business model, which assumes most customers conduct transactions online.
Gallery: Lynk & Co The Next Day Concept
The executive said earlier this year at 2023 CES that US franchise laws are "insanely complicated." Besides that, the upcoming Lynk & Co EV would require some rework for US homologation, meaning a market entry would be possible after 2024. In Europe, Lynk & Co plans to launch sales of the same vehicle in late 2024.
For its first EV, Lynk & Co will use parent company Geely's SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform, which also underpins the Smart #1 compact SUV and Zeekr 001. The new model will reportedly feature styling cues from Lynk & Co's The Next Day Concept unveiled in China last year.
Lynk & Co currently sells only one model in Europe, the 01 plug-in hybrid SUV. Its electric replacement will also be the brand's only car sold in the region.
The brand debuted in Europe in 2020 and currently operates in seven countries. Visser said the automaker is pausing its expansion into further markets until 2024 when the all-electric model arrives. After that, Lynk & Co plans to enter the UK, which it anticipates to become its No. 1 or No. 2 market in Europe.


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Walking down Main Avenue in downtown Fargo this weekend, a piece of paper stood out against a streetlight. In blue pen, it read words that, for some triggered excitement and for others, seemed yet another signal that Pokémon Go is indeed taking over the world.
A Poké Stop is a checkpoint in the highly successful augmented reality game Pokémon Go which allows players to fill up on Pokéballs and other goodies. The game, developed by Niantic and The Pokémon Company, pulled much of its checkpoint system from Niantic’s previous augmented reality game, Ingress. The checkpoints are crowd sourced and usually planted on churches, hospitals or public art.
Babb’s coffee shop has a Poké Stop right outside their front door, where a painted bison once stood. As the employees have seen more and more Pokémon Go players congregate outside, Babb’s owner Graham Burnett spotted an opportunity.
By creating a Pokémon Go account for Babb’s coffee shop, Burnett was able to pay $10 and set up an 8 hour Lure around the Poké stop just outside their entrance. A Lure is a feature in the game which can be set up to “lure” more Pokémon to come to a Poké Stop; and where there are Pokémon, there are trainers. Or at least crowds of people swiping at their phone.
“People came in saying, we heard you had a Lure module. People came in and bought a cup of coffee.” Babb’s barista Beth Meemken said. “They were excited that we were excited about it.”
Meemken, Team Mystic, and her fellow barista Andy Lenzmeier, Team Instinct, said the idea came after all the employees started playing the game and talking about it. Once the bond of Pokémon was created, their enthusiasm spread to the business.
“We wanted to bring the community together,” Meemken said.
While not every business has taken action to lure in customers using the game, the Pokémon Go craze has noticeably affected the downtown atmosphere. Since the game’s launch on July 6, traffic has increased in and around businesses, according to places like Teaberry, Infinite Vapor, and King’s House Buffet — all of which are located near Poké Stops or Poké gyms.
Danielle Varhey, Team Mystic, sipped on her Teaberry as she casually caught a pidgey, remarking that she probably wouldn’t have bought the boba drink had she not been Pokéhunting downtown on a hot day.
“I came down here specifically today so I could play a little before work, and it’s like 90,000 degrees out,” she said.
Teaberry barista Alyssa Westad, Team Valor, said they have seen an increase in traffic since the game started blowing up a little under two weeks ago. The increase has had a positive impact both in and outside of work, she said; now when she clocks out to walk home, the amount of people downtown make her feel more safe.
“It can be sketchy late at night,” Westad, who lives downtown, said. “But now I walk home every night and there’s people everywhere.”
For others, the impact of Pokémon Go has spread far beyond businesses. When asked if he thought the game had affected business, Infinite Vapor manager Gavin Chadwick went so far as to say, “It’s affecting the quality of life in America.”
Although it has brought some business, it also has brought more crowds of people loitering around Poké Stops as well. A post in the Facebook group “FM Pokémon Go Players” cautioned players to not linger in front of entrances. The game itself begins with a screen saver, now well recognized, that reads “Remember to be alert at all times. Stay aware of your surroundings.”
Overall, the consensus seems to be that…this is a good thing. Back at Babb’s, the employees are unsure if they will use such a Lure again — but they can say that they will continue to energize downtown.
“There’s so many people flooding downtown,” said Babb’s barista Andy Lenzmeier. “Even without the lure, it’s been helping restaurants and cafés.”
Time will tell how Pokémon GO continues to impact local economy. Perhaps it really could, as fans so enthusiastically proclaim, make the world a better a place.
Photos courtesy of Emerging Prairie.


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Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Canonical and Ubuntu Linux, revealed that he's considering taking the company public.
Showing results 1 to 20 of 1,510
A rapidly increasing reliance on cloud-based infrastructure has seen business analytics stalwart SAS ramp up its services, deployment, capacity, and product portfolio development, according to company executive vice president and chief marketing officer Jim Davis.
The Australian Department of Agriculture is replacing its fleet of desktops with HP Minis running Windows 8, as the company also undertakes an HP tablet deployment.
Six of the virtualization vendor's EVO:Rail global partners including Fujitsu, HDS, and HP will now begin selling their version of the hyper-converged infrastructure appliance to Asean customers.
Post-company split, Hewlett-Packard's enterprise business is seeing growth in the Australian market, and believes delivering on customer demand, particularly in the converged infrastructure market, is helping fuel growth.
The leading Linux company has partnered with the top container company to create a new software stack.
A new funding round for the converged infrastructure software and appliance company is to be pumped into a rapid expansion in 2015.
With the support of the Linux Foundation's Core Infrastructure Initiative, the NCC Group will be auditing OpenSSL's source code for problems.
But 88 percent of hiring managers report that it's "very difficult" or "somewhat difficult" to find qualified candidates.
For HP, the Telefonica deal is a nice win that includes a stack of infrastructure, services and software.
Can a Linux company and a networking power join forces to make an open-source cloud and software defined network that's good enough for telecommunications data-centers? Canonical and Juniper think so.
NextDC's investments in infrastructure are paying off after the company reported its first period of positive EBITDA and operating cash flow during the first half of the 2015 financial year.
HP's new enterprise IT spinoff could be strengthened with the acquisition of Aruba Networks.
"When you tear apart a company that's been built up over many years through acquisition, through different systems being merged together, it's remarkable what you find," says HP CEO Meg Whitman.
German bank signs over global infrastructure modernisation process to HP but will retain all IT architecture, application development, and information security.
Perhaps companies would step up their cyber security game if they had to provide details on how they've scrimped over the years on tech infrastructure. Hmm.
The world's second-largest network device maker is striking against its parent company HP, demanding more autonomy.
Microsoft loves Linux, is adopting Docker for its servers, and just bought Revolution Analytics, the biggest open-source R statistical language company. This is not your dad's Microsoft.
HP Technology Services will offer Chef's IT automation platform as part of its Datacenter Care infrastructure automation offering.
CoreOS, a new enterprise Linux company and a Docker partner, is now proposing its own alternative to Docker's container technology.
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Former smartphone giants are having difficult days but none perhaps more than HTC. It has seen quarter after quarter of losses that have now reached two digits. And while it bravely puts on its poker face year after year, every new premium phone it puts out makes people wonder if that would be its last. That same question naturally faces the HTC U12+ and this latest pair of renders from a screen protector maker more or less confirms how ready the smartphone is to take on the challenge.
Truth be told the renders don’t exactly add anything new to what we’ve seen before. It mostly serves to confirm everything we’ve heard and seen from other leak sources. It could either mean we’re right on the mark or, alternatively, everyone just got it wrong.
The images confirm the dual cameras both on the back and on the front, something not unknown but still rare for HTC. It’s hard to tell from these renders whether HTC has also changed its aesthetic language for the glass back, which would make it the second time in a row that it did.
But just as important as what we’re seeing is what we’re not seeing. And thay is the notch. Unlike most manufacturers, including LG, HTC is bravely eschewing the “rabbit screen” trend, perhaps in an attempt to avoid too much controversy it doesn’t need.
In other words, the HTC U12+ will be as conventional as you can get, save for the dual front-facing cameras. It’s a bold and risky decision for a company for whom traditional methods are obviously not working. Given how HTC seems to be winding down its smartphone business, the HTC U12+, expected to be out in early May, could very well be its last one after all.


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More businesses are closing down than starting up for the first time in 12 years.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that closures hit 345,000 last year, meaning that 11.8 per cent of all active businesses shut in 2022. That’s an increase from 11.2 per cent in 2021 and the highest since 2019 (namely the financial crisis) when rates were also at 11.8 per cent.
Before we go on, it’s worth noting that this is defined by business birth rate (the number of businesses that had either turnover or employment at any time during the period measured) versus business death rate (the number of active businesses that closed).
The number of businesses births fell by 7 per cent, from 364,000 to 337,000, between 2021 and 2022. The business birth rate mirrors the low in 2020, during the height of the pandemic and lockdowns.
Transport and storage firms were the worst affected, with 23.8 per cent of businesses in this sector closing down between 2021 and 2022. The lowest death rate was in property at 7.1 per cent. The East Midlands had the highest business death rate in the UK at 13.2 per cent.
A combination of high energy costs, increased supplier prices and lower consumer spending were all contributors in the closures.
The increase of the Bank of England base rate has increased to 5.25 per cent, putting further strain on businesses. Conditions could potentially be made worse by 2023’s Autumn Statement which includes a rise in the National Living Wage to £11.44 per hour.
Autumn Statement 2023 for small businesses – Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announces packages of tax cuts for small businesses, including national insurance, freezing business rates for retail, leisure and hospitality and making the tax break for business investment permanent
Some self-employed unaware of HMRC rule change – Experts worry that the self-employed are not familiar with this change which will affect the way that they report profits
Small Business Commissioner to act on anonymous tip-offs – The Small Business Commissioner, Liz Barclay, will be able to conduct investigations and write reports based on information and tip-offs


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MOSCOW, 12 May (BelTA) – The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), following the instruction of the heads of government of the Eurasian Five member states, is working on an electronic commerce agreement in the Eurasian Economic Union, Member of the Board (Minister) for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrey Slepnev told a news briefing in Moscow on 12 May, BelTA has learned.
“We proceed from the fact that the EAEU needs a single market of electronic commerce, and the situation with the site in one country, the buyer - in the second and the seller - in the third would be absolutely normal and would not create any problems for the interaction,” Andrey Slepnev said.
In his words, the agreement will cover issues of taxation, transition to digital accompanying documents, data storage and protection, localization, and standardization. “And, of course, the key thing is to protect the rights of consumers and sellers from all kinds of unfair practices: there is a lot of talk about this topic, and it is also one of the topics that should be regulated by the agreement. We hope that this work will be completed, and we will get a full-fledged market of electronic commerce in the EAEU,” the EEC minister said.


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Sony does not have the PS5 trade mark for India. Could this be a reason for no PS5 India release date and price? Here’s what we know.
Trademark squatting will not work in India either.
Not really, as it will impact the Indian consumers. Only in the short term though - this will be easily circumvented, even in a court.
This is ridiculous. A court should over turn this or Sony needs to cut a deal. Failing that, start an advertising campaign detailing to indian gamers why they can't have a PS5 and whose stoping it from happening.
WIPO has become involved in several high profile cases in India and it crushed the cybersquatters. Cases of cybersquatting there blew up back when they introduced the .in domain. Some just pay out but the companies that have fought have won because the legal standard in India is that the filing by the squatter must have been made in good faith and that never pans out. I do not think this case is the reason for the India delay but rather simple stock availability is the cause.
Curious, what makes you believe is a stock issue?
I think if more stock were available we would have seen successive preorder waves to more combative territories. Also stock isn’t just about production but also the ability to move production.
People in I did can afford a PS5? Wow.
There’s over a billion people in India and not all of them are poor ......
Is PlayStation Series V available?
(without having fully read the article) PSFive rebrand incoming to India!
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Information and communications technology (ICT) experts have urged government to review laws, address the economic gap and standardise services for the country to successfully implement its five-year digital strategy.
Through the strategy, government seeks to create a digital ecosystem that can catalyse critical sectors that provide goods and services by 2026.
ICT Association of Malawi president, Bram Fudzulani, says Malawi needs to learn from other countries in Africa on digital skills development.
We sought his views ahead of the African Internet Governance Forum (AIGF) which Malawi is hosting from today to July 21.
The forum is coming at a time digital inclusion in the country remains at one of the lowest rates in the world.
“Malawi stands to benefit from such continental conversations as we are at a juncture where we need to accelerate development through ICT. We have to learn from other countries how they have been able to achieve ICT growth,” Fudzulani said.
He added that Malawi can learn from countries such as Kenya to review its own model and see whether it is in line with its development agenda.
Another ICT expert Vincent Kumwenda argues that there are gaps in the delivery of critical digital services to the public and in the creation of an enabling regulatory environment for other service providers to develop innovative and transformative projects.
“There is need to review the taxation system on ICT services, including internet, to reduce the cost of access because these are issues frustrating private sector players,” Kumwenda said.
Cyber security specialist Chikumbutso Banda has also weighed in on the safety of ICT infrastructure in the country, which he says is either less safe than it should be or is not adequately secured from cyber-attacks.
Malawi has enacted specific laws that deal with various activities online such as the Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act.
But Malawi Law Society president, Patrick Mpaka, notes that there are gaps in the law.
“When it comes to the regulation of technology, the law always has to play catch-up to emerging technologies and this means there are always gaps in the law.
“The data protection provisions in the Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act, for instance, are inadequate to address data protection issues we face today,” Mpaka said.
He has since urged lawmakers to familiarise themselves with digital issues when enacting technology-related legislations.


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On 15 February, the renowned Foro Contract 2024 event in Malaga, Spain, was attended by the Viroc and Valchromat brands.
During the event, architect Vanessa Seixas shared the latest interior and exterior design trends, highlighting the importance of materials in creating functional and aesthetically appealing spaces. For his part, market manager Luís Freire discussed effective strategies for marketing and distributing products.
Viroc and Valchromat’s participation in Foro Contract reaffirms their commitment to promoting innovation and excellence in the building materials and design market. In addition, the event provided a unique platform for networking and exchanging knowledge between professionals in the sector, further driving the development and evolution of the industry.


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THE public can purchase a piece of York Minster history today, at the annual Stoneyard auction, writes Charlotte Wainwright.
For the first time, timber charred by the 1984 fire will be auctioned, alongside pieces of stone removed from the Minster during conservation work.
Some timbers still contain original paint and gilt-work, and have been specially branded with the York Minster logo as a sign of authenticity.
In all, 120 items will be auctioned, with proceeds going towards future restorations.
Highlights this year include a grotesque, an angel figure from the East End of the Minster, and two pinnacles, each between four and five-feet tall.
Other items will include sections of stone taken from the ‘tracery’ of the Great East Window, and smaller, individual pieces that will be available to purchase at a fixed price.
John David, Master Mason at York Minster, said: “We raised £20,000 last year, and we’re hoping to do the same again.”
Joyce Jackson, a member of the public looking to buy a piece today said: “I want one to put in the garden.”
Sale items can be viewed from 10am to noon today in Dean’s Park. The table-top sale of small items is at 11.30am and the main auction at 12.30pm.


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(Reuters) - When Disney shareholders vote to re-elect directors at its annual meeting in March, neither Steve Jobs' wife nor a representative from his trust will be present on the ballot, even though it is the media company's largest shareholder.
According to Walt Disney Co's proxy, filed on Friday, directors standing for re-election include Robert Iger, Disney's president and chief executive; Aylwin Lewis, the president and CEO of Potbelly Sandwich Works and a former executive at Sears and Kmart; and Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook Inc.
Jobs' wife, Laurene, is absent from the list and none of the members standing for re-election is represents his estate.
Jobs, who passed away in October, had been on Disney's board since May 2006, when Disney bought his company Pixar. Jobs, best known for founding Apple Inc, passed away at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was enlisted for the Disney board to help provide guidance and help steer the media company through the digital disruption that was wreaking havoc on its business.
Disney, which generates some $40 billion in annual revenue, is grappling with global economic uncertainty and its impact on its three largest divisions: media, its movie studio and theme park resorts. Its brands include Disney, ABC and ESPN.
In its proxy filing on Friday, Disney said that 10 of its 11 current board members would stand for re-election.
Representatives for Disney did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether Jobs' wife or a member of his trust was offered a seat on its board. Apple did not immediately respond to inquiries about whether they were offered or turned down a position in Steve Jobs' absence.
The Steven P. Jobs Trust is Disney's largest shareholder, owning nearly 137.3 million shares, or 7.7 percent of the company's common stock, according to the proxy. None of the 10 people standing for re-election are representatives of the trust.
Shares of Disney closed at $39.31 on Friday, valuing the Jobs Trust's stake at roughly $5.37 billion.
The proxy, as it has in past years, showed that Jobs did not receive any compensation for his role on the Disney board, per his request.
The only Disney board member not up for re-election, Chairman John Pepper Jr., announced back in October that he plans to step down from the board at the upcoming annual meeting, set to be held on March 13 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Iger, who has run Disney since October 2005, will take on the additional title of chairman at the meeting. He is expected to step down as CEO in March 2015.
Iger's compensation rose 13 percent in fiscal 2011, boosted by an increase in his annual cash bonus and incentive plan, according to Disney's proxy. Iger, 60, saw his total compensation including pension benefits top $33.4 million in the 12 months to September 2011, when Disney's financial year ended.
Apple has been expanding the scope of its computers, iPhones and iPad tablets in the months since Jobs' death. The iPad appeared to be a hot seller during the recent holiday season, and Apple's quarterly results are due to be released on Tuesday.
Last Thursday, the company took a big jump into the digital textbooks market with the launch of its iBooks 2 software, aiming to revitalize the U.S. education market and quicken the adoption of its market-leading iPad in that sector. The move pits Apple against Amazon.com Inc and other content and device makers that have made inroads into the estimated $8 billion market with their electronic textbook offerings.
Terry McGraw, CEO of McGraw-Hill Cos Inc, one of the textbook publishers working with Apple, said he had been talking to Jobs and his team since last June about recreating textbooks as applications.
(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Peter Lauria and Eric Walsh)
Mochila insert follows ...


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Coun. Lloyd Ferguson wonders what the “heck” AGCO staffers “are smoking” after green-lighting a pot shop location he says Ancaster residents oppose.
“But clearly, it’s some of their own product because I’m fed up with them.”
Ferguson offered the colourful commentary Wednesday about the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s retail store authorization for 11 Hatton Dr.
The Cannabis Roll location, a former convenience store off Fiddlers Green Road, is in a residential area where children catch school buses, he said.
In a Feb. 8 letter, the AGCO writes that after “carefully considering all of the available information,” the registrar has found the authorization is “not contrary to the public interest.”
“They don’t care. Just blatantly don’t care,” Ferguson told councillors. “They’re giving us the finger again, and this is the most stupid location.”
This isn’t the first time councillors have fumed over the city’s lack of authority to control where marijuana stores end up with several popping up across the city. As of Feb. 5, 35 outlets in Hamilton had been approved to operate.
But Ferguson said residents are “blaming” him and the city for unwanted pot shops near their homes — “that we blew it.”
The province has denied council’s suggestions, including a municipal licensing system and greater separation between cannabis outlets and other community uses, noted Jason Thorne, general manager of planning and economic development.
“So really, there is not a lot of authority within the hands of the municipality,” Thorne told councillors.
In an interview Wednesday, local MPP Donna Skelly said her Progressive Conservative government has “pretty strict rules in place” to ensure the health and safety of youngsters.
The province’s “big concern” after the federal Liberals legalized recreational cannabis in 2019 was the “proliferation” of illegal outlets in Hamilton, Skelly said.
Ontario’s “open-market” system aims to encourage consumers to buy product from accessible legal outlets and not go underground, the Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP noted.
That means not relegating them to far-flung industrial parks, she said.
“The reason why they are allowed to exist where they do is so that we can combat the black market, which was a massive problem in Hamilton not too long ago.”
In an email, an AGCO spokesperson said its team works “diligently to ensure the safe, responsible and lawful sale of cannabis.”
Raymond Kahnert said the commission doesn’t post the names of operators behind proposed retail outlets for privacy reasons.
Cannabis Roll’s retail store authorization allows it to order products from the Ontario Cannabis Store. The AGCO schedules a “final pre-opening inspection” before doors open.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Coun. Chad Collins argued local MPPs haven’t raised the city’s concerns at Queen’s Park. “They’ve been absolutely silent on this issue since it was first introduced.”
That’s not true, New Democrat MPP Sandy Shaw told The Spectator.
“I have been anything but silent as MPP for the area. I’ve been speaking up about this,” said Shaw, who represents Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas.
That includes writing Attorney General Doug Downey about 11 Hatton Dr., she noted.
“This is not in opposition to cannabis stores. It’s about the community having meaningful input in where they are placed in their neighbourhood.”


text: Tyler writes: "E3 just ended, so there's very little news in the gaming world. Therefore, on the heels of the Gamestop news this week, we talk about the future of console gaming. Are digital downloads and subscription services the way of the future? Will physical copies and disc drives in consoles ever really go away? Finally, we discuss whether a company like Gamestop can truly survive and thrive as the landscape of console gaming changes."


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Amazon has opened the Appstore for Android, providing another option for app shopping to U.S. users of smartphones with Google’s operating system.
Amazon is trying to lure users away from Google’s Market by offering users a free paid app every day. The first such application is Angry Birds Rio, which usually costs US$0.99, and is an exclusive for Android users via Amazon’s store. Users can also test applications with a feature called “Test Drive,” which runs applications on a simulated smartphone.
Amazon will also have an approval process for applications submitted to its store. The company will be testing apps to verify that they work as outlined in the product description and to make sure hat they don’t impair the functionality of the smartphone or put customer data at risk once installed.
In many ways Amazon’s Appstore for Android works in the same way as the rest of its store. Users can view app recommendations based on past purchases from Amazon and pay in the same way as if they were buying a book. Applications can be purchased from a computer, a smartphone or a tablet.
At about 1:30 p.m. Central European Time on Tuesday, the top five paid applications were Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio, Fruit Ninja and Shazam Encore. The top five free apps were ZombieBooth, Angry Birds Seasons Free, Angry Birds Free, Amazon Mobile and Paper Toss.
Amazon has been trying to attract developers for some time. In January, the company launched a portal where developers can submit applications.
The app store is available to users in the U.S., excluding AT&T subscribers. However, AT&T is working to change that, and users can sign up at a website to be notified when the operator has finalized its plan, it said.
Amazon’s use of the name Appstore hasn’t gone unnoticed by Apple. On Friday, it sued Amazon, claiming rights to the name App Store.
Send news tips and comments to email@example.com


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Many Canadian retailers have been slow to embrace e-commerce, and plenty still lack websites to promote their products and services. This is particularly concerning, considering how rapidly Canadians are embracing online shopping. Studies show the importance of visuals to websites and to address this, Montreal-based Nat Gorry is working with retailers to put their best foot forward with an online presence.
Images are powerful – they can tell a story, inspire, and persuade consumers to make purchases. Even restaurants find that menu photos can increase sales of a particular dish by as much as 30%. Instragram’s popularity is growing exponentially, now with over 500 million active user. Video takes things to a whole new level with videos on Facebook, for example, getting over 8 billion views daily.
Recognizing the importance of quality photos and video to e-commerce, industry leader Nat Gorry set out to help Canadian retailers build better websites, including both photo and video content. The Nat Gorry studio works with some of Canada’s top brands, including Marie Saint Pierre and SSENSE to create quality images for their sites, helping drive sales growth through that channel.
Ms. Gorry explained how she recognized how consumers are increasingly shopping online, which is corroborated with statistics from Canada Post showing that 76% of Canadians shopped online last year. One concern, however, is that a considerable amount of Canadian online shopping is done in the United States, where retailers have been ahead of Canada in developing e-commerce businesses. To level the playing field, Nat Gorry Studio is working with companies to create high-quality Canadian e-commerce sites.
High quality images can make the difference between selling and not selling, Ms. Gorry noted. Because online shoppers aren’t able to actually touch the product, having clear product photos is crucial to not only just selling the product, but creating trust between the retailer and consumer that the product is as described, not to mention reflecting the brand’s visual identity while telling its story. The reality of e-commerce is that if there are no photos, there are likely to be no sales.
Video is increasingly being used in e-commerce as well, with some retailers actually providing videos of models walking in garments, for example. Instagram also supports video uploading, and the Nat Gory Studio has been working with Canadian retailers both on video for the web, as well as for Instagram.
Taking the ‘right’ photos can be challenging, as product placement, styling, lighting, editing and other components must be considered. Ms. Gorry explained how some of her customers send products to her studio so that photos are profiled consistently, artistically, and fashionably. Although it may look easy, there’s a lot of skill and effort required to make a quality photo or video appear effortless, she explained. For larger companies looking to shoot their own photos, she said that she can set up and organize their studios as well as organize workflow, train photographers and stylists, and make other recommendations to ensure success – sometimes taking several weeks to do so.
For smaller Canadian retailers unsure of where to begin, Nat Gorry can also assist with website design. It’s an important service particularly in the province of Quebec, where an alarming two thirds of retailers lack online stores.
For more information, contact Nat Gorry at: email@example.com telephone: 1.514.381.8884.


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Now flying to London: Kenya Airways flies B787 to export fresh produce
Kenya Airways (KQ) dispatched a cargo flight using B787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft from Nairobi to London loaded with 40 tonnes of fresh produce.
April 17, 2020: Kenya Airways (KQ) dispatched a cargo flight using B787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft from Nairobi to London loaded with 40 tonnes of fresh produce.
The airline said in a statement, "It's our privilege to support the transportation of much-needed cargo and respective economic value chains. This is part of the innovative initiatives we have embarked on by converting four wide-body passenger aircraft to fit our cargo operations in order to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on operations."
The move is a huge relief for the horticulture sector, which suffered massive losses due to a lack of access to its key markets after the pandemic shut down global travel.
The national airline not operating flights for carrying essentials has been deliberated during a webinar on April 9 by Logistics Update Africa on %u2018Delivering cargo in the times of continental contagion: From essential supplies to critical medicines'. The panelists highlighted the reduction in capacity from 5,000 tonnes to 1,300 tonnes since KQ along with other carriers ceased to fly.
On April 12, the airline carried medical supplies and essential goods from Nairobi to Johannesburg using B787-8.
Recently, the airline has been hit hard by the decision of the country government who signed a deal with Ethiopian Airlines to operate passenger planes for shipment of cargo between the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi to Europe and Asia. The deal allows Ethiopian Airlines to fly cargo using six of its passenger planes from Mombasa to Nairobi and Asia and Europe, posing a threat to the Kenya Airways (KQ) cargo business. Ethiopian Airlines is expected to ship fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers and meat which are currently scarce in Europe.
KQ's CEO Allan Kivaluka stated that the carrier was not consulted on the impact that the Ethiopian Airlines deal would have on its business.


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US west coast faces major containership size upgrade
The number of containerships of 13,000 teu or above deployed on the Asia-US West Coast trade has nearly doubled since the start of 2017, according to container analyst Drewry, posing questions about how well terminals will cope and how long it will be before the trade is regularly served by ‘mega-ships’.
Back in late 2015, French carrier CMA CGM trialled a single 18,000 teu Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV), CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, on one of its Asia-US West Coast services to the port of Los Angeles. But despite backtracking on a later plan to make the move permanent, CMA CGM and its rival carriers are increasingly trusting West Coast ports with bigger ships, Drewry observed.
Drewry research suggests that the number of 13,000+ teu containerships has risen from 21 units in January to 36 in May.
“At the time of the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin trial-run, we questioned the ability of West Coast ports such as the Los Angeles-Long Beach complex to handle the 18,000 teu ULCVs on a regular basis, citing concerns over infrastructure, labour and the ability to efficiently move cargo to and from the port complex via truckers and intermodal railroad,” Drewry noted in its latest Container Insight Weekly briefing. “It would appear that carriers share some of the same fears as, thus far, they have resisted the urge to introduce mega-ships, limiting their ambitions to 14,000 teu units for the time being.”
Drewry said the recent influx of 13,000+ teu ships into the Asia-WCNA trade coincides with the 1 April alliance restructuring that reduced the number of weekly services in the lane by one to 37.
“As more cargo is squeezed onto fewer weekly services, terminals have to prepare for much greater peaks in container activity,” Drewry noted. “This problem is exacerbated on the USWC as ships often only call at a couple of ports, unlike in Europe, meaning those US ports have to handle a higher ratio of boxes per ship call.
“Having a big import bias, as Los Angeles-Long Beach does – there were 2.4 times more loaded imports than loaded exports in 2016 – adds to the complexity as import moves require more exchanges between various equipment types, requiring more time, and more container terminal choreography than loading export containers.”
Drewry said a swifter rise in exports of late will have helped smooth operations somewhat, but imports remain dominant. “After four months of 2017, total port handling at Los Angeles-Long Beach has thrived, growing by 8% to 5.1 million teu,” the analyst noted. Loaded exports (1.14m teu) increased by 9%, while loaded imports (2.54m teu) were up by 6%, and empties (1.41m teu) rose by 10%.
The container shipping analyst predicted that ULCVs will eventually become a feature of the Asia-USWC container trade, “but the time is perhaps not now. While the sheer scale of the concentrated container moves generated by the mega-ships at the highly-fragmented Los Angeles-Long Beach complex may appear daunting under ‘normal’ circumstances, conditions are currently less than perfect with major construction projects ongoing.”
Road closures and detours linked to the $1.5 billion Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement project are also affecting traffic flows on California’s highways to and from the Terminal Island facilities and will do so until completion, not expected until next year, Drewry added. “At the same time, work continues in Long Beach on the $1.3bn Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment Project that will eventually combine two existing terminals (Piers D, E and F) into an all-electric, fully automated facility able to accommodate 24,000 teu ships when the second phase of the project opens in 2019, when it will have an annual capacity of around 3.4 million teu.”
Drewry said there hasn’t yet been any significant disruption caused by the big construction projects, according to the Harbor Trucking Association (HTA), which records the time it takes trucks to exit from any of the 14 Los Angeles-Long Beach terminals from when they first queued outside the gates. HTA reported that the average truck turnaround time in April was 80 minutes, 4 minutes slower than March but faster than either January (88 mins) or February (89 mins).
“However, the HTA did point towards mixed results among the terminals, with better turn times at more automated facilities, such as Long Beach Container Terminal Pier E that recorded an average visit time of 41 minutes,” Drewry noted. “Terminals that saw increased business from the new alliance services worsened in April, according to HTA. For example, a doubling of weekly container volume at the Total Terminals International (TTI) facility in Long Beach contributed to its average visit time extending to 106 mins in April, from 87 mins in March.
Drewry said the overnight alliance re-shuffle of services had once again changed the terminal landscape in Los Angeles-Long Beach, forcing importers to carefully consider their carrier choice if they have a preferred terminal.
“Alliance terminal calls are clearly skewed by the member carriers’ equity holdings in certain facilities,” it added. “Inevitably, carriers want their alliance to call at their affiliated terminal, but with so many competing lines wanting the same thing that means the calls are spread out across the complex so that different strings of the same alliance call at different terminals.
“Therefore, shippers regularly importing from Asia to Los Angeles-Long Beach will one week have to collect cargo from String 1 calling at Terminal A; the next week the cargo is on String 2 calling at Terminal B.”
Analysis by Drewry shows that 2M + HMM has five weekly services from Asia to Los Angeles-Long Beach spread over three terminals; Ocean Alliance has nine services calling at four different terminals; and THE Alliance eight loops over four facilities.
“While the revised alliance set-up appears not to have disrupted operations significantly at the outset, that doesn’t mean there is no risk of future congestion,” it added. “A combination of bigger ships, high-intensity terminal activity and construction work, particularly in the upcoming peak season summer months, could create some obstacles for importers delivering goods to their final markets.|
Drewry concluded: “ULCVs will come to the USWC in time, but carriers should wait until the ports are completely ready for them − in the case of Los Angeles-Long Beach, when most of the disruption surrounding the construction works is over. Until then, importers would be wise to monitor the productivity of the various terminals and consider their terminal preference when selecting carriers.”


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Opto Circuits gets USFDA clearance for its eVision patient-monitoring system
07 September 2010
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) yesterday granted its approval for the new modular patient monitoring system eVision 9100 manufactured by Criticare Systems Inc, a wholly owned US subsidiary of Opto Circuits (India) Limited (OCI).
The certification enables Criticare to market and commercially distribute eVision 9100 in the US and most parts of the world, a statement said.
OCI chairman and managing director Vinod Ramnani commented, ''US FDA clearance will now enable us to commercialise eVision 9100 in the US and will help boost sales in other parts of the world.''
Bengaluru-based OCI is a leading Indian developer and manufacturer of patient monitoring systems. Its products include digital thermometers, sensors, pulse oximeters, patient monitoring systems, gas analysers, stents, and catheters.
The company has 13 subsidiaries and reported a consolidated turnover of Rs1,077 crore in FY2010. Its key markets are in the US, Europe and Asia.
In 2008, OCI acquired Wisconsin-based Criticare, also a developer and manufacturer of patient monitoring systems and accessories used in anaesthesia, critical care, medical transport, outpatient care etc.
The new eVision 9100 is the first modular 'green' environmentally friendly monitor, which includes a trickle charge solar panel. The plug-and-play monitor measures physiological parameters of patients that can be removed or changed without interruptions to the operating system, and it also includes Criticare's patented water trap system.


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Playstation 5's New VR Headset Shows Incredible Promise
There's a constant sound of “are we there yet?" echoing in the minds of those who want Virtual Reality to become the next big thing in gaming. Whenever a new VR headset by a big company gets a big announcement, people get hyped, sure, but there are always fair concerns regarding price, tech capabilities, and regarding whether or not it will have games. The new PSVR2 headset wants to kill all doubts because, well, Playstation is pretty good when it comes to making games,
and also because its likely-more-affordable hardware shows mind-blowing promise. The original PSVR headset was great because it proved relatively more affordable and easy to use than its competitors, and the second iteration seems to bring some very high-tech advancements to the mix.
The new headset will no longer force users to go into a state of blindness as it will allow toggling between viewing the game world and viewing one's surroundings.
It also allows players to customize the size of their play area.
Sony also aims to solve one of VR's biggest problems: motion sickness. Yeah, the likelihood of having to vomit has always proved a tough selling point for the supposed vehicle of our favorite past-time. Sony is trying to fix that by adding higher resolutions and higher framerate view modes that allow for a much smoother experience. They also promise that on top of the upcoming Horizon Call Of The Mountain, the new VR headset will feature at least 20 release titles, so about 15 more titles than the regular PS5 currently has.
Top Image: Sony


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Want a ride cheaper than an autorickshaw, try UberGO!New Delhi: Premium cab service Uber has introduced an India-centric low-cost cab service that it claims will take on autorickshaws in the cities.As part of the service the company has deployed a fleet of hatchbacks
New Delhi: Premium cab service Uber has introduced an India-centric low-cost cab service that it claims will take on autorickshaws in the cities.
As part of the service the company has deployed a fleet of hatchbacks like the Toyota Etios Liva, Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Tata Indica Vista and the Maruti Suzuki Swift among others.
"Today we take another step towards making Uber available to over 1.2 billion Indians. We are excited to announce the launch of uberGO; a spanking new range of low cost, chauffeur-driven hatchbacks (think Etios Liva and Maruti Ritz) that roll onto the streets of every Uber city in India today," the company said in a blog post today.
The base fare for a ride has been set at Rs 40, with per-km charges varying in the Rs 11-12 range, depending on which city you are in. In addition, you will be charged Rs 1 for every minute the driver has to wait.
This means the minimum fare for the service is Rs 80 for cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and Rs 75 for Bengaluru.
Giving a comparison of how cheap the service is, Uber has compared rides with autorickshaws between destinations. For example, a ride from Safdarjung Enclave to Khan Market will cost you Rs 85 in an uberGO, but Rs 90 if you take an autorickshaw. Likewise, a ride from Vasant Vihar to Cyber City costs Rs 183, as compared to Rs 215.
As part of an introductory offer, the company is offering 25 per cent off on regular fares, as well as Rs 400 off on your first uberGO ride. Users need to rnter the promo code “UBERGO-INDIA” to avail the latter.
Uber has also revealed that it has partnered Huawei to provide Android smartphones in the cab, replacing the iPhones.
Uber will now have three types of services - UberGO, UberX and UberBLACK. While UberGO will be the low cost, UberBLACK is the premium service.
Uber will compete against the likes of OlaCabs and Taxi For Sure for a market that is estimated to be worth up to $9 billion.
The cities covered by Uber includes Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Kolkata.


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In 2020 alone, online e-commerce in the United States grew 32.4%, to a total of $ 791.7 billion in online consumer spending. Part of the resulting effect is that online stores are increasingly capturing sales from physical locations, as consumers are expected to spend over $ 1,000 billion through digital retail channels in Canada. 2022. In addition, older consumers who had never done e-commerce are now connecting their needs, especially when it comes to health issues. And even after commerce returns to semi-post-pandemic normal, these people will likely continue to shop online.
Amazon is poised to carve out the lion’s share of these e-commerce gains. It simply dominates the online space, with Digital Commerce 360 estimating that the business accounted for over a third of all ecommerce spending in 2020. The reasons are many, but include the confidence of buyers thanks to a “guarantee from A to Z”. , that its refund and return policies are standard, and one to two day shipping available to Prime members. In a 2019 Feedvisor survey of U.S. shoppers, 89% said they were more likely to buy from Amazon than other ecommerce sites.
Related: How to start a multi-million dollar Amazon business with less than $ 2,000
Interestingly, it’s actually the third-party sellers who will benefit the most from Amazon’s continued rise. The company is, in part, a platform for owners of third-party brands to sell their products, essentially the world’s largest mall. Amazon gets a discount, but most of the money buyers spend on the platform goes to third-party sellers, which range from big brands to those owned and operated by relative strangers. According to Statista, third-party sellers are Amazon’s main revenue generator for all of its retail sales. There is an incentive to help these brand owners make money because it is a win-win: the seller wins with a sale, Amazon earns through referral commissions to facilitate the sale, and the buyer wins to get the best product at the best value for money.
Another bankable asset for the Seattle-based giant is that when buyers trust Amazon, that faith transfers to the branded products often unknown to the consumers it sells (and which buyers can also rely on the reviews of. ‘Amazon to further validate product choices). In 2020, a survey published by Statista asked American consumers: “How often do you use Amazon to discover new products or brands? More than half of those surveyed said they used the site “sometimes” to do just that. An additional 23.6% said they use Amazon “frequently” to discover new products or brands. This means that hundreds of millions of buyers are open and buying new brands there, so the potential is huge.
Related: Why you should start (or buy) an Amazon Business achievement in 2021


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US health researchers said on Monday they are targeting millions of smartphone users with Apple Inc`s new software tool, hoping to collect an unprecedented amount of data on major diseases by tracking their behaviours via iPhone.
Cybersecurity researchers have warned that a bug in Apple Inc`s iOS operating system makes most iPhones and iPads vulnerable to cyberattacks by hackers seeking access to sensitive data and control of their devices.
Some gizmo freaks who rushed to pocket the new iPhone 6 Plus when it was launched on Friday have been left perplexed after it was rumoured that the coveted gadget 'bends' out of shape if kept in a tight jeans/trouser pocket!
Putting to rest months of speculation, tech giant Apple today unveiled two thinner and larger screened smartphones, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6-Plus, as it looks to fend off competition from Korean handset maker Samsung.
Eight leading US-based technology companies on Monday called on Washington to overhaul its surveillance laws following the revelations of online eavesdropping from fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.


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Jessica Off started her company just before the pandemic in January, 2020, as a little side hobby to keep her (more) busy while she was on maternity leave. Called Guess Where Trips, her company offers surprise itineraries for people who crave adventure on road trips – without having to do any of the research required to find all the hidden gems that make an open-road experience so memorable.
Day trippers begin by choosing one of eight cities – such as Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax – as a starting point. From there, they pick a theme such as Weird and Wonderful or Historic Haunts, but don’t actually know where they’re going until they open the package of four sealed envelopes, each containing a stop for the day. It might be a hike, an Instagram-worthy cul-de-sac or a lunch stop. The mystery of how the day will be spent is part of the fun.
During the first few months after launching, she sold about five trips a day. Word spread quickly on social media and by the end of last summer, daily orders for Guess Where’s curated Road Trip Kits, which are $55 by mail and $39 for a digital version, had jumped to 200-plus a day.
“I never expected it to take off like this,” says Off, who quit her full-time job as a travel planner in March, 2020, to devote herself entirely to growing Guess Where Trips. “With the pandemic, people couldn’t really travel and they were desperate to get out of the house,” says Off, 32. “It gave them something to look forward to. Plus, who doesn’t love a good road trip?”
Indeed, many people do. According to a survey in May by Leger Marketing, commissioned by Toyota Canada, 49 per cent of Canadians planned to take a road trip last summer, a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.
Lianne Gravitis is a repeat customer from Oakville, Ont., who has done four Guess Where Trips in and around the Greater Toronto area. She heard about them through a friend and booked her first one, Wine Time and Hidden Gems, with five girlfriends for her birthday last summer. She’s since done Vistas and Caves, the Butter Tart Trail, and Bridges to Beaches.
“Guess Where Trips was the ultimate find during COVID,” Gravitis says. “They breathed some life into my year.
“I auditioned for The Amazing Race Canada a long time ago in hopes to open those iconic envelopes and get to travel to places I’ve never been,” she says. “So when I found out how Guess Where works, with their four mystery envelopes, I booked right away. I like them because they send me to places I hadn’t been to and I’d never think of going. They’re spontaneous adventure.”
Initially, Off curated the trips herself but, as demand has grown, she’s hired some travel bloggers to help craft itineraries. The mandate is simple: quirky, interesting, nature-filled and sometimes downright weird. One stop, for example, is Screaming Heads, an outdoor art installation tucked away in a field north of Toronto by a man who has pieces hanging in both the Vatican and Buckingham Palace. In British Columbia, day trippers might be sent to Spirit Trail, a mystical scavenger hunt of sorts that is the perfect follow-up to the Sasquatch Museum.
“The element of surprise is key,” Off says. “That’s what keeps our customers coming back.”
Every Guess Where road trip accommodates up to five people; the itineraries are self-guided and nothing needs to be booked in advance. Information about COVID protocols is included and the kits come with suggestions for where to eat and drink (usually small, local businesses that are little-known gems). In the last year, Off estimates she has sold 10,000 kits, with 30 per cent of them purchased as gifts.
Alejandra Gutierrez, a single mom with two kids aged 12 and 14, bought her first trip in August last year. She has done five since, with her children, her mom and girlfriends.
“I just love the idea of heading on a planned surprise road trip,” says Gutierrez, 41, who lives in Toronto. “When I bought my first one I was afraid it would send me to some places I had already visited because I’ve done a lot of hiking and sightseeing in Ontario. I was wrong. Every single trip has sent me to new destinations and hidden treasures in Ontario.”
They have also helped keep her children happy and engaged. “They love opening the first envelope and find out where we are going,” she says. “Then they get excited after we’re done each stop and it’s time to open a new one,” says Gutierrez, who adds that a recent highlight was a donkey sanctuary.
“When you travel by road you see and hear everything. You meet new people and learn new things. Road trips remind me how much this world has to offer, right outside our door.”


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RV Retailer announced that it has completed the acquisition of Tom's Camperland from Brad Leach, who will continue to lead Tom's Camperland and has become a shareholder of RV Retailer.
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RV Retailer also announced that it has completed the acquisition of Camper Country RV in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which sells Jayco towable and Tiffin motorhome products. The store has been renovated and rebranded as RV One Superstores – Myrtle Beach, the 8th RV One Superstore.
"We are pleased to enter the Arizona and South Carolina markets," said Jon Ferrando, President and CEO of RV Retailer. "We expect to grow our business throughout the Carolinas and the Southwest. These markets have excellent demographics and growth prospects for the RV business. RV Retailer now owns 21 RV stores in 6 states with approximately $1 billion in annual revenue."
Tom's Camperland is a leading RV dealer in the Phoenix metro market operating since 1977 with three locations – Mesa, Surprise, and a new location in Avondale that opened on July 9. Tom's Camperland sold over 1,600 RVs in its last fiscal year, with a focus on the light towable segment. In 2018, Tom's Camperland was the #1 Lance and #1 Nu Camp dealer in the United States. Tom's Camperland is also a leading retailer of truck campers and truck caps.
"We are excited to partner with Brad Leach, and the entire Tom's Camperland management team in the Arizona market," said Jon Ferrando. "This acquisition allows us to diversify our product portfolio into the light towables segment. Tom's Camperland has expertise selling an array of innovative light towable products which offer an attractive entry point into the RV lifestyle for consumers."
"I'm truly excited to be partnering with Jon Ferrando and the RV Retailer team to continue growing our business with my team," said Brad Leach, President of Tom's Camperland. "I also look forward to continuing our outstanding relationships with all of our manufacturer partners."
Jon Ferrando added, "We are also excited to enter the fast-growing Myrtle Beach market with a strong product mix, including the addition of our first franchise to retail Tiffin luxury motorhomes. I am excited about the growth prospects for the store under the leadership of Don Strollo and the RV One Superstores team."
"Myrtle Beach is a tremendous RV market," said Don Strollo, CEO of RV One. "The RV One team is excited about re-launching the new store in Myrtle Beach under the RV One Superstores brand, and pursuing our goal of building the leading RV sales and service operation in the market."
"We were pleased to complete these transactions, which will allow us to continue to leverage our scale to build a great RV retail company with a focus on customer service for the long term," said John Rizzo, Executive Vice President and CFO of RV Retailer. ■


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Lithium-ion battery blamed for Toms River, NJ car fire
TOMS RIVER — A lithium-ion battery left on the seat of a car is being blamed for starting a fire that destroyed a car on Thursday.
Toms River Fire Inspector John Novak said the battery was left in a wireless charger in direct sunlight which is something manufacturers discourage.
"You shouldn't be storing cell phones or anything with lithium batteries in a hot car in direct sunlight," Novak told New Jersey 101.5. "If the device seems to be damaged it could definitely be a problem."
Novak said another way to avoid problems is to use higher quality products when it's time to replace cords, chargers and lithium batteries. Cheaper replacement batteries were the cause of recent e-bike fires in New York City.
"The batteries they were using were knockoffs coming out of China that aren't the best quality. They're not assembled under the best conditions," Novak said. "As long as you're buying a quality battery from a reputable manufacturer and you're following their instructions and using their charging devices that goes with that battery, there shouldn't be that much of a problem."
Avoiding thermal runaway
As electric cars become more common lithium-ion battery fires will likely become more common. The difference between a regular battery and a lithium battery is the amount of energy and capacity in a smaller size. There's a chemical reaction that creates a lot more energy than a traditional battery, according to Novak.
"If the battery gets damaged it can start to leak and that's where you get a thermal runaway. That's what you get with some of the vehicle fires. You have to use massive amounts of water to cool the battery down," Novak said.
Thermal runaway is a condition that develops when the heat generated inside a battery is higher than the amount of heat being dissipated, making the fire very difficult to extinguish.
"From a fire department standpoint we're extinguishing the fire the same way. However, you're left with the batteries which once they go into thermal runaway you have to constantly cool them with water," Novak said, adding there's a risk of a battery reigniting after the vehicle is towed away and placed in a tow yard if the energy isn't discharged.
Thousands of gallons of water to extinguish a fire
A New Jersey man died in March after he slid off the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The crash ignited a lithium battery requiring several thousands of gallons of water over two hours to douse the flames.
Novak said that there is also concern about e-bike riders storing them inside their homes blocking entrances.
"Or if there is a fire and you have these e-bikes in the house or an apartment. When heat from a fire that could cause it to go into thermal runaway and cause more damage creating a hazard for firefighters and residents."
Novak said that as there are more fires involving lithium batteries, the more that can be learned about handling them.
Simple ways to help your pets cope during fireworks


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Martin Zeilinger has joined the company as Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Development Tech Unit (news posted on July 1 2020).
Eui-Sun Chung, who was Executive Vice Chairman of the Board, is promoted to Executive Chairman of the Board (news posted on March 23 2020).
Mong-Koo Chung, Chairman of the Board, has left the company (news posted on March 23 2020).
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Amazon.com has announced the acquisition of Zoox (posted on Jun 29, 2020).
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American Tire Distributors has gone out of its bankruptcy protection American Tire Distributors (posted on Apr 10, 2020).
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Amazon is finally taking decisive action on its Kuiper communications satellite constellation, securing the rights to as many as 83 launches from United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, and of course Blue Origin. Interestingly, none of the launch vehicles set to be used have flown before — but there’s plenty of time to change that as Amazon’s 3,236-strong constellation takes shape.
Announced during the Space Symposium conference in Colorado Springs, the contracts have no fixed value associated with them, and an Amazon representative declined to provide any kind of ballpark. The company said that it has secured, or perhaps pre-ordered, 18 Ariane 6 vehicles (the company’s largest contract ever), 12 New Glenns from Blue Origin, and 38 Vulcan Centaurs from ULA. There is an option to purchase additional New Glenns, and an existing contract for 9 Atlas Vs from ULA.
A back-of-napkin calculation puts the lower bound of the value of this new deal at around $10 billion, though of course this is only one part of a much larger operation (and depends heavily on launch costs, which are continually in flux). The estimate simply shows that Amazon is ready to make commitments at the 11-digit scale to get things moving.
“Securing launch capacity from multiple providers has been a key part of our strategy from day one,” said Kuiper VP of technology Rajeev Badyal in the Amazon press release. And indeed, they have said as much for some time. “This approach reduces risk associated with launch vehicle stand-downs and supports competitive long-term pricing for Amazon, producing cost savings that we can pass on to our customers. These large, heavy-lift rockets also mean we can deploy more of our constellation with fewer launches, helping simplify our launch and deployment schedule.”
Amazon declined to provide any timing or logistical details, but a press event is scheduled for later this morning at Space Symposium. I will update this story with more information if anything substantial is provided on the record.
A notable absence from the list of launch providers is SpaceX, a natural enough omission given the intense yet largely unacknowledged rivalry between it and the Bezos-backed Blue Origin. SpaceX launched its Starlink satellites on its own Falcon 9 rockets, and Kuiper and its partners seem eager to show that there are cost-effective alternatives out there.
The fact that not one of these launch vehicles has taken a payload to orbit doesn’t seem to have given Amazon much pause. The Ariane 6 is perhaps the closest to launch readiness and is set to fly this year. The Vulcan Centaur may be close behind, but it’s relying on the BE-4 engines from Blue Origin, which have yet to materialize. It’s hard to say when New Glenn will be ready, as Blue Origin has been rather quiet about its development and testing. Amazon did note that it has contracted the Swiss company Beyond Gravity to build the satellite dispensers that will ultimately send Kuiper hardware on its way.
The next immediate milestone for the project won’t be a full-scale launch, however, but a small-scale test of prototype satellites to verify the work they’ve been doing on the surface and in simulators. Those will go up late in 2022 aboard ABL Space Systems RS1 rockets.
After that, it’s likely that the Atlas Vs will be used first to put the first few batches into orbit and do a bit of a shake out of the deployment and activation process with production satellites. Then the cadence can increase as other launch providers get to flight proven status and come on board.