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Chinese automaker NIO (formerly NextEV) officially launched its first true production car, an all-electric dual-motor SUV called the ES8.
The NIO ES8 comes standard with an adaptive air suspension and an all-aluminum body. The model also boasts a double-A-arm front suspension, multi-link rear suspension, and Brembo brake calipers up front.
Not to be outdone in the tech game, the ES8 features a host of sensors for assisted driving. These sensors include four exterior cameras, a front-facing trifocal camera, five millimeter-wave radars, a driver monitor camera, and 12 ultrasonic sensors.
It’s the first vehicle in the world to come with Mobileye’s latest EyeQ4 chip technology as well as NOMI, an artificial intelligence system. NIO says its driver assistance system supports over-the-air updates so its vehicles can gain new features as they become available.
The ES8,a seven-seat crossover boasts a 70-kilowatt-hour battery pack powers two motors for an output of 644 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque,with a range of 355 kilometers(220 miles).It can hit zero to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds,compared to Tesla’s Model X P100D 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.
One of the many advantages of the ES8 over tesla’s Model X is that it can be charged via a service vehicle that travels to you.
Or you can switch out the batteries at a power-swap station in just three minutes.
You can also rent batteries with Nio’s rental service for 1,200 yuan (£135) a month.
The New Nio ES8 is on sale for £50,000, compare to £94,700 you need for a Tesla Model X,and that’s before subsidies and incentives that can bring down the cost of the ES8 by at least another $6,600. While Tesla has sold its cars in China for a few years, they aren’t eligible for these incentives and subsidies because they’re imported.
Tesla is reported to have reached an agreement to build a factory in China, while other automakers have formed partnerships with existing Chinese manufacturers in order to tap into the large market.
What do you think of the new ES8 All-Electric SUV?


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September 1, 2010
The Early Show (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Andre Agassi; Miranda Lambert. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News Kat Von D. (N) 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert announce nominees for "The 44th Annual CMA Awards. " (N) 7 a.m. KABC Good Day L.A. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV Live With Regis and Kelly Jude Law; Mike Myers. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Dr. Drew Pinsky; Mindy McCready; Mackenzie Phillips; Jennifer Gimenez; Jennie Ketcham. 10 a.m. KABC The Doctors 11 a.m. KCAL The Oprah Winfrey Show Justin Bieber; Charice performs.
August 2, 2012 |
Former Dior creative head John Galliano, who famously lost his job last year amid a scandal over anti-Semitic rants (and who subsequently went to rehab to deal with the underlying causes of his meltdown) reportedly is considering moving to Los Angeles. [The Hollywood Reporter] Fame, Lady Gaga's much-hyped first fragrance, went on sale in a pop-up shop in Tokyo's Harajuku district. It won't be available in the States until September. [WWD] Katy Perry is on the cover of Elle's September issue, wearing a candy-pink dress.
September 13, 2009 |
L.A. is never short on gala movie events and last week proved no different, with virtually back-to-back fashion-centric film screenings that attracted glamorous crowds of socialites, celebrities and style setters. R.J. Cutler's documentary "The September Issue" was the center of attention Tuesday night at LACMA. The director spoke to a crowd including actresses Ginnifer Goodwin and Perrey Reeves, singer Kelly Rowland and boutique owner Cameron Silver, urging them to use Twitter or Facebook to spread their (positive)
September 5, 2012 |
A pop-up salon at the U.S. Open helps keep tennis players looking their best. NYC stylist Julien Farel is in his sixth year offering trims, braids, updos, mani-pedis and more to the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Elena Vesnina. And occasionally shearing some hapless court VIP who has lost a bet. [The Cut] Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour has hosted a series of fund-raisers for President Obama's reelection campaign here in the States. Now she's reportedly going international with plans to hold fund-raising dinners in London and Paris in conjunction with fashion weeks in those cities this fall.
July 10, 2013 |
Model-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looks like a flower in a boy band bouquet, surrounded by the members of One Direction on the cover of Glamour's August Music Issue, which hit newsstands on Tuesday. Inside, members of four other bands and singer Andra Day model denim styles. [Glamour] Amanda Bynes sported a new look when she went to court in Manhattan on Tuesday to answer charges related to her arrest in May for alleged marijuana possession (and allegedly throwing a bong out her apartment window.)
June 26, 2006 |
Can you make a movie about a superficial world that isn't terminally shallow? We'll see, when the adaptation of "The Devil Wears Prada," the 2003 bestseller by first-time novelist Lauren Weisberger, comes to the screen Friday.
February 10, 2008 |
Forget the front row at Marc Jacobs -- this was the hottest place to be during New York Fashion Week. On Wednesday night, Gucci pitched an enormous tent on the north lawn of the United Nations and threw a party that felt like the Vanity Fair Oscar bash gone East. The evening, hosted by Madonna, was a benefit for the UNICEF Children's Fund and Raising Malawi, organizations that fight the effects of AIDS on children in Africa.
June 6, 2012 |
There is Black Friday for bargain hunters, Cyber Monday for tech lovers and Fashion's Night Out for fashionistas. It was only a matter of time before retailers invented a shopping holiday for kids. Enter Teen Vogue magazine, which has officially anointed Aug. 11 as Back-to-School Saturday, an event designed for students and their harried parents. Back-to-School Saturday will mimic other big national shopping days with dozens of retailers -- including H&M, Express and American Eagle Outfitters -- signed on as advertisers who will also offer sales and promotions as enticement, the New York Times reported.

domain: news


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Tag Archives: sajoo
- ARJEL revokes licenses
October 10, 2011
French online gaming regulator ARJEL has repealed three licenses belonging to 200%Poker and Sajoo following their respective closure and migration to bwin.fr. Additionally, the French online gaming operator has authorised Iliad Gaming to add a new domain name for its online poker and sports betting offering for the website Chili.fr....
- Bwin and SAjOO complete French merger; Casino770 launches in Belgium
July 29, 2011
Bwin.fr and SAjOO.fr have completed a deal that will see the two sites merge. It means that Pwin and Amaury Group have now combined their online gaming industry businesses. Commenting on today’s announcement, Norbert Teufelberger, co-CEO of Pwin, said, “Combining the resources of SAjOO and bwin France makes perfect sense...
PMU told to change their name
February 2, 2011
Fortuna new sponsors of Romania’s national football team
March 22, 2017
Online gambling claims one-third of Belgium’s 2015 market revenue
September 7, 2017
Betfair sponsor Juventus; Unibet sponsor Aston Villa
July 5, 2017


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|By Kevin Benedict||
|July 16, 2014 10:28 AM EDT||
Following the recent Apple WWDC developer conference, it’s worth looking at what they are doing to make their products more attractive to the enterprise?
iOS: The accidental leader?
As NetApp’s Mike Elgan noted recently, iOS became the leading operating system for enterprise mobility almost by accident, although it might be more accurate to say that it wasn't originally designed for the enterprise or expected to be such a hit. The iPhone was released as a consumer device like the iPod into a world of feature phones with a small smartphone market dominated by Nokia’s Symbian, while the Blackberry was the fully-locked-down enterprise mobility device of choice. No one expected that the consumers who bought the iPhone would consider it to be so much better than their work devices that they would break every policy imaginable to use them at work, and kickstart the BYOD or Bring Your Own Device phenomenon.
The iPhone became the dominant enterprise mobile platform for several reasons, including the ease of developing corporate apps, the iPhone’s popularity as a status symbol that made it the choice for senior managers who were able to insist on using it, and a few enterprise-friendly features that were added to iOS over time. However the biggest reason is that it has a large, loyal customer base that love the device and feel it makes them more productive.
In the pre-BYOD world, it was assumed that consumers wanted usability, photo quality and a wide choice of applications (or the ability to do anything with the device), whereas enterprise users weren't important because it was all about management tools and easy integration into corporate systems. BYOD showed that enterprise users are also consumers, and want the same things from a work phone that they do from a personal one.
A good demonstration of this is that the first time I saw BYOD in action was at the end of a meeting when one participant took out his iPhone, took a photo of the whiteboard we had covered in notes, and sent it to everyone in the meeting. The reaction around the table was “what a useful device; what else can we do with it?” That team had woken up to the potential of BYOD and enterprise mobility.
The iPad took off in a similar way: originally sold as a media consumption device, it has become the enterprise mobility device to take to business meetings with an array of apps that let you present, collaborate, take notes and network far more effectively than was previously possible, and you can even catch up with that latest TV series on the train on the way home.
Possibly as important as any enterprise functionality is the way that Apple sells and supports iOS devices for business in its retail stores. I recently had a problem with my iPhone and while it was being repaired (which happened easily and seamlessly, by the way) the store staff were keen to discuss whether I used it for business, what apps and functionality I liked, what requirements it filled and so on. This showed a real commitment to making iOS devices easy for business users to get started with. iOS devices in the enterprise also lead to Mac sales as you need to use a Mac in order to deploy enterprise apps and settings to iOS.
Apple Adding Enterprise Features
The recent preview of iOS8 shows that Apple is now very deliberately targeting the enterprise mobility market both by reinforcing the user experience that got it this far but also by providing features that make it a more attractive choice for IT.
The newly-announced Device Enrollment Program allows corporate-issued iOS devices to automatically configure and access corporate apps, reducing the time and support needed to get a new device working; and LDAP is a key component as it brings auditability to the iOS deployment with account control and authentication.
Meanwhile, the ability to passcode-protect corporate data on the device, by protecting access to the calendar, contacts, mail, third-party apps and more mean greater security for the enterprise while fingerprint unlocking means the user doesn’t have a headache accessing that data. VIP messages allow users to keep track of important conversations more easily and even small things like automatic VPN connectivity could make a big difference to the user.
Overall, iOS8 brings advances with:
- Simplified IT administration and security, between MDM tools; enterprise grade security including encryption, per app iCloud controls and certificate-based single sign-on; and managed book and PDFs to easily deliver content
- Improved application development, with the TouchID API, document provider APIs, content filtering and extensibility, not to mention the new Swift language
- Greater ease of use and productivity with improved mail, seamless working between iOS and Mac, improved calendar and peer-to-peer AirPlay
I don't want to go into too much technical detail here, but if you are interested you can find a more detailed breakdown here.
From the enterprise mobility perspective, features like Continuity, which allows users to pick up work where they left off across multiple Apple devices and the ability to create purpose-built keyboards for specific task-related apps could help increase productivity.
iOS is unlikely to completely own the enterprise mobility space in a BYOD world, but it is certainly set to continue its strong performance.
In addition, Apple and IBM announced a partnership yesterday, to aggressively go after the enterprise market. Here is an excerpt from The New York Times, "In a deal that could deepen Apple’s sales to corporations and strengthen IBM’s position in business software, the two companies announced a wide-ranging partnership intended to spread advanced mobile and data analysis technology in the corporate world."
David Akka, MBA, M.Sc.
Managing Director, Magic Software Enterprises UK Ltd.
Thanks for sharing Dave!
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19 October, 2023 – This year Suzuki received the lowest score in Greenpeace East Asia’s annual auto ranking, followed by Great Wall Motor and Toyota. China’s largest automaker, SAIC, saw the highest volume of electric vehicle (EV) sales, but took just third place in the ranking due to its slow progress on supply chain decarbonization.
“Unfortunately, automaking giants like Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai aren’t reducing their emissions as quickly as many people believe. Despite rapid growth in EV sales, a staggering 94 percent of cars sold last year by the world’s biggest traditional automakers were powered by fossil fuels. Industry leaders like Toyota and Hyundai continue to flood the roads with combustion engine vehicles and a growing number of SUVs. Leading automakers need to accelerate the shift away from fossil fossils, rather than boasting about their minimal EV sales share,” said Greenpeace East Asia Deputy Program Director, Ada Kong.
The ranking evaluates the world’s 15 largest traditional automakers on their phase-out of combustion engine vehicles, supply chain decarbonisation, and resource reduction and circularity.  Findings are based on Greenpeace analysis of MarkLines data.
Suzuki, Great Wall Motor and Toyota received the lowest scores in the ranking. Toyota is the world’s largest automaker, yet fewer than one in 400 vehicles sold by Toyota in 2022 were battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Suzuki sold zero BEVs in 2022.
Mercedes-Benz and BMW received the top scores in this year’s ranking, but both automakers continue to sell more combustion engine vehicles than is compatible with limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5˚C. 5
SAIC reported the highest volume of EV sales, but took just third place due to its slow progress on supply chain decarbonization. In 2022, three out of ten vehicles sold by SAIC were EVs.
Great Wall Motor and Hyundai-Kia continue to grow their SUV sales, worsening climate risk. In 2022, the share of SUVs in Hyundai-Kia’s total sales surpassed 50% for the first time. Due to high steel consumption and low fuel efficiency, SUVs have a larger carbon footprint than smaller vehicles.
Traditional automakers have sold few EVs outside of China and Europe. SAIC is the only automaker included in the ranking with sizable zero-emission vehicle sales in India, Thailand, and Indonesia. Automakers continue to sell high numbers of combustion engine vehicles in the Global South, which is inconsistent with the automakers’ climate commitments.
Greenpeace urges automakers to adopt ambitious zero-emission vehicle transition strategies worldwide. Automakers should end the sale of combustion engine vehicles in Europe by 2028 and in the US, China, Korea, and Japan before 2030. The transition to electric vehicles must be implemented alongside investment in battery recycling, decarbonisation of the steel supply chain, and a just transition for auto industry workers.
“Ultimately, we need traditional automakers to dramatically speed up their adoption of electric vehicles. Brands like Toyota and Hyundai face a very real market threat from all-electric vehicle-makers like Tesla and BYD, but in the face of evolving technology, they’re dragging their feet,” said Kong.
Media briefing is available here. Full report is here.
This report was updated on November 24, 2023 to more accurately reflect decarbonisation actions taken by Toyota. As a result, Toyota’s total score has increased from 11.9/100 to 12.4 /100. The percentage of SUVs sold by the 15 automakers included in the study has also been updated (page 31).
 Electric-focused automakers are excluded from the ranking, including BYD and Tesla.
Photos available for use here.
Greenpeace East Asia campaigners hold up a banner calling for an end to fossil fuel vehicles near Noksapyeong Station in Yongsan District, Seoul.
Erin Newport, International Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia, +886 958 026 791, [email protected]
Mitsuhisa Kawase, Senior Communications Officer, Greenpeace Japan, [email protected]


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Prime Minister Theresa May called on business on Monday to invest in innovative companies to spur an economy that is struggling with low levels of productivity and to deliver the change demanded by Britain’s Brexit vote.
In a speech to the CBI, a leading business organisation in Britain, May also added detail to her plans to improve corporate governance. She said that while she wanted the voices of workers to be heard, companies would not be forced to directly appoint workers or trade union representatives to their boards.
“Better governance will help companies to take better decisions, for their own long-term benefit and that of the economy overall,” she told business leaders.
“So this is an important task. We will work with you to achieve it, and I know you will rise to the challenge.”
(Reporting by William James and Kylie MacLellan, writing by Elizabeth Piper, editing by Kate Holton)


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DETROIT -- This year's North American International Auto Show may not have the flashy publicity stunts and razzle-dazzle of year's past, but it certainly is cheerier and more exciting than last year's wake.
As Detroit automakers recover from a year that saw government bailouts and brands going by the wayside, manufacturers are foregoing the glitz, but events and displays are still tinged with optimism.
This year's show will mark the return of some makes, such as Nissan, that did not have presentations at the 2009 car show. A new exhibit called Electric Avenue will showcase electric-powered vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt.
There is a lot on the line this year as manufacturers try to return to profitability, and the Detroit show offers a glimpse into the direction they are taking.
• Chrysler Group LLC, fighting hard for sales and for attention, is hampered by a lack of new models to introduce; the company is not expected to have new products ready until 2012 or 2013.
The most recent sales figures for December are cause both for cautious optimism and concern at the company's Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters, analysts say.
Eleven Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep models had sales increases compared with December 2008. Also, U.S. sales were up 36 percent compared with December 2008. In addition, inventory was down 55 percent compared with December 2008.
On the other hand, overall December 2009 sales figures were down 4 percent compared with December 2008 results.
Despite the lack of all-new products, each of Chrysler's brands has been heavily revised. The 2010 Caliber, for instance, has an all-new interior. The Dodge Nitro, the brand's entry in the small crossover/SUV market, has revised exterior and interior styling and upgrades in standard features and safety equipment.
The last model exhibited by Jeep at the show will be the Liberty Renegade, a name and theme that dates to 1964.
• Ford Motor Co. got off to a big start at the show by winning both the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the year Awards.
It was only the third time in 17 years that one automaker has won both awards. Honda won both awards in 2006 and General Motors won both in 2007.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Ford Transit Connect were honored by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and Web sites.
Ford is unveiling the all-new 2011 Focus, arguably the most important introduction of the show, because Ford is planning to do at least 12 variations of new products based on the Focus.
• General Motors is looking to the show as a way to demonstrate new energy and exciting products, and to distance itself from the old GM.
"What needs to be conveyed now is the four brands -- Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. The focus is on the brands and the products they are bringing to the market place," said GM spokeswoman Carolyn Markey. "The show will be the right place to get the word out to the consumers. Our challenge is to break old misconceptions and do away with old baggage, and get folks to see what winners we have in the marketplace."
• Audi is planning to unveil its newest flagship, the 2012 Audi A8. The new model is bristling with technology and an interior that most who have seen it say is stunning.
• All eyes will be on the Honda exhibit, where the company will unveil the all-new CR-Z, a sporty two-seat hybrid coupe that will be the first of several hybrids in which sporty design and performance are emphasized. Heretofore, hybrids have been mostly family sedans.
"The Honda CR-Z will expand our lineup of hybrid vehicles and reinforce the fun-to-drive values associated with the Honda brand," said Erik Berkman, vice president of Automobile Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
• For Mercedes-Benz, summer begins in January with the unveiling of the long-awaited E Class Cabriolet, which is designed to be a "four seasons" convertible. Mercedes also will have an all-new version of the svelte CLS four-door coupe.
• Subaru is working jointly on a moderately priced sports model with Toyota. Since its lineup is only a couple of years old at most, chances are that Subaru will unveil a concept vehicle.
• Toyota unveiled the FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept. The CH stands for compact hybrid and it is 22 inches shorter than the Prius, and will be priced lower.
"It's a package Toyota dealers and customers have been asking for," said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA, a division of Toyota Motor Corp.
Toyota expects to launch eight all new hybrid models over the next few years.
• Volkswagen is expected to unveil an all-new Jetta, although little has been written about it so far.
Don Hammonds can be reached at email@example.com or 412-263-1538. First Published January 12, 2010 5:00 AM


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Investors include Rishi Vasudev, Flipkart's vice-president for fashion retail, Amit Gupta, vice-president of PE firm Urban Infra, and Rajiv Nayan, director business development at TCS Canada.
"We have had a 100% hit rate. So far, technology has remained aloof from business operations in this sector. We have integrated the two," said CEO Ranjeet Kumar, a former executive at Coca Cola.
Consumer-facing companies such as Kelloggs, Hero Cycles and Madhura Garments that have to manage an army of sales and operations personnel across geographies have lapped up this product. "It took me five minutes to decide.
The solution appeared to be exciting and relevant to our business needs. The diversity and scalability of the platform makes it quite unique," said Pankaj Munjal, managing director at Hero Cycles.
The product, which is a mobile app installed by every field person, marks attendance, geo-tags locations, shows managers the activity on the ground across its many regions, through pictures captured in stores and malls.
The company was founded last June by Kumar and Deepak Rewadi, a former General Motors executive. About 3,000 employees across eight organisations currently use the app. Applicate already has 22 large enterprises in the pipeline and expects to earn Rs8 crore in revenue this year.
The company charges between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000 per person annually for the app and is looking at raising $5 million (about Rs 30 crore) later this year to scale up operations across Asia.
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Many are convinced that consumer prices will rise. This chart says, probably not for a while yet.
There’s increasing talk about the prospect of stagflation – a situation of stagnant economic growth accompanied with high consumer price inflation, the iconic memory being the 1970s. The argument is that the economic shock to the demand side via loss of income and output as well as structurally higher unemployment will mean stagnant economic growth leading to fewer goods and services. In addition, the unprecedented level of money creation means that there will inevitably be a classic case of “too much money chasing too few goods” and that will lead to higher consumer prices.
In an article for Mises.org, the Head of Research at Goldmoney argues that:
“Distribution of state money will increasingly be in the form of welfare to the unemployed, skewing spending toward life’s essentials. Inevitably, in an economy with subdued activity not responding quickly enough to produce the volumes of products desired, prices, mainly of essential items, will increase sharply.”
In other words, food and energy prices will zoom higher. For that reason, the article argues, people looking at measurements of consumer prices that strip out food and energy will be late to realize what is going on.
This seems like a plausible argument, but it hinges on the newly counterfeited central bank money getting into the hands of the public in the first place. That’s not obvious, given the precedent of previous Quantitative Easing, whereby the money simply stayed in financial markets and added fuel for the positive social mood that was propelling asset prices. Large fiscal transfers (governments doling out money directly to the public) could mean that it is different this time, but it’s far from certain. What is certain, though, is market pricing.
One of the best real-time gauges of price inflation is the Commodities Research Bureau (CRB) index, comprising prices of a broad range of commodities such as food and energy. Having peaked all the way back in 2008, the Elliott Wave analysis still suggests that the bear market has further to run before a major low is found. Indeed, Elliott channeling suggests that the ultimate low could involve another halving of the index from current levels. Nevertheless, we can’t rule out the possibility that commodities have already bottomed. We will be able to state that if, and only if, the CRB index advances above 167.38. Should that happen, stagflation will probably be underway. Until then, price deflation still seems likely.


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Volkswagen, a leading automotive manufacturer, has taken significant steps towards adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to drive a greener future. With a focus on sustainable mobility and carbon neutrality, Volkswagen has emerged as a key player in the automotive industry’s transition towards a more environmentally conscious future. By integrating ESG practices into their operations, Volkswagen is setting an example for other companies in the sector to follow. Here we take closer look at Volkswagen ESG score and what it means for the industry.
Importance of ESG in the automotive industry
ESG considerations have become crucial across industries, and the automotive sector is no exception. As concerns about climate change and environmental degradation grow, customers, investors, and regulators are demanding more sustainable practices from companies. By prioritizing ESG factors, such as reducing carbon emissions and promoting social responsibility, automotive companies like Volkswagen can enhance their reputation, attract investors, and meet evolving consumer expectations.
Overview of Volkswagen ESG score
Our Volkswagen ESG score – based on Ai-driven news sentiment analysis – encapsulates its concerted efforts towards sustainability, especially in the wake of the Dieselgate scandal, with a pronounced shift towards electrification and a greener future. The company’s environmental initiatives are underscored by ambitious electric vehicle launches and a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Socially, Volkswagen focuses on improving labour practices, enhancing diversity, and ensuring ethical supply chains, despite the industry’s inherent challenges. Governance reforms post-scandal have bolstered compliance and transparency to rebuild trust. Although Volkswagen’s overall ESG performance signals improvement, reflecting its strides in sustainability and governance, the journey towards fully mitigating past issues and embracing sustainable mobility continues, underscoring a complex, evolving ESG landscape.
Volkswagen’s commitment to sustainable mobility and carbon neutrality
Volkswagen has made a firm commitment to sustainable mobility and carbon neutrality. The company aims to become a leading provider of electric vehicles and has set ambitious targets for electrification. By 2030, Volkswagen plans to have electric vehicles account for at least 70% of its European sales. Additionally, the company aims to achieve a fully carbon-neutral balance by 2050, encompassing its entire value chain, from production to the end use of its vehicles.
Volkswagen’s corporate governance score
Volkswagen’s commitment to ESG extends beyond environmental initiatives. The company places great importance on corporate governance and social responsibility. With a robust corporate governance framework, Volkswagen ensures transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making. Furthermore, Volkswagen actively engages in social responsibility initiatives, including community development, education, and philanthropy. By upholding high standards in these areas, Volkswagen establishes trust and fosters long-term relationships with stakeholders. However there is still room for improvement in this area.
To elevate its governance score, Volkswagen should prioritize enhancing board diversity and independence, bolstering transparency in business practices and financial disclosures, and further fortifying its compliance and ethical standards. Strengthening risk management, aligning executive compensation with long-term sustainability goals, actively engaging with stakeholders, implementing robust anti-corruption measures, and regularly updating governance practices in line with evolving best practices and regulations are crucial steps. These efforts will not only improve Volkswagen’s governance score but also rebuild trust among stakeholders, affirming its commitment to ethical conduct and responsible corporate governance in the dynamic automotive industry landscape.
Volkswagen’s social impact score
Volkswagen’s social score of 56 reflects areas in need of improvement, particularly concerning labour practices, product responsibility, and stakeholder engagement. To enhance this score, Volkswagen should focus on fostering a more inclusive and diverse workplace culture, ensuring fair labour practices across its global supply chain, and enhancing safety standards for its products. Additionally, increasing efforts to engage with communities and stakeholders transparently and responsibly will be key. Addressing these areas requires Volkswagen to implement comprehensive social responsibility initiatives, strengthen partnerships with suppliers to uphold ethical standards, and prioritize customer and employee feedback mechanisms. By taking these steps, Volkswagen can improve its social impact, thereby elevating its social score and reinforcing its commitment to social responsibility within the automotive industry.
Environmental management and climate change initiatives at Volkswagen
Volkswagen acknowledges the urgent need to address climate change and has implemented various initiatives to mitigate its environmental impact. The company has established comprehensive environmental management systems to monitor and reduce resource consumption, waste generation, and emissions. Through the use of innovative technologies and sustainable practices, Volkswagen aims to minimize its carbon footprint and preserve the environment for future generations.
Renewable energy adoption and supply chain sustainability
In line with its commitment to sustainability, Volkswagen is actively adopting renewable energy sources to power its operations. By transitioning to renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, Volkswagen reduces its reliance on fossil fuels and helps to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the company ensures supply chain sustainability by partnering with suppliers who adhere to strict environmental and social standards. This commitment to sustainability extends beyond Volkswagen’s own operations, positively influencing the entire automotive supply chain.
Emission reductions and innovation in sustainability
Volkswagen is focused on reducing emissions from its vehicles, both during the manufacturing process and throughout their lifecycle. The company invests heavily in research and development to drive innovation in sustainability. By incorporating advanced technologies, such as regenerative braking and lightweight materials, Volkswagen aims to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Through continuous improvement and investment in sustainable solutions, Volkswagen is driving the automotive industry towards a greener future.
Ethical business practices and employee welfare at Volkswagen
Ethics and employee welfare are integral to Volkswagen’s ESG initiatives. The company is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in its business practices, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and promoting fair competition. Volkswagen also prioritizes the well-being of its employees, providing a safe and inclusive work environment, actively working to foster diversity and equal opportunities, and supporting employee development. By prioritizing ethics and employee welfare, Volkswagen creates a positive workplace culture and strengthens its reputation as a responsible employer.
Green manufacturing and sustainable production processes
Volkswagen has implemented green manufacturing practices to minimize its environmental impact. The company focuses on energy-efficient production processes, waste reduction, and responsible use of resources. By optimizing manufacturing operations, Volkswagen reduces energy consumption, lowers emissions, and minimizes waste generation. Through its commitment to sustainable production, Volkswagen demonstrates that environmentally friendly manufacturing practices are not only possible but also essential for a greener future.
Volkswagen’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs
Volkswagen actively engages in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, contributing to the well-being of communities and addressing social challenges. The company supports initiatives in education, environmental conservation, and social welfare. Volkswagen’s CSR programs aim to make a positive impact on society, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By leveraging its resources and expertise, Volkswagen demonstrates its dedication to being a responsible corporate citizen.
Impact of Volkswagen ESG score & initiatives on the automotive industry
Volkswagen’s ESG initiatives have a significant impact on the automotive industry as a whole. By prioritizing sustainable mobility, carbon neutrality, and social responsibility, Volkswagen sets a benchmark for other companies to follow. The company’s commitment to electric vehicles, emission reductions, and supply chain sustainability encourages the entire automotive industry to embrace greener practices. Furthermore, Volkswagen’s emphasis on ethical business practices and employee welfare sets a standard for corporate behaviour and enhances the industry’s reputation.
Volkswagen ESG score: Peer comparison
Volkswagen’s role in driving towards a greener future
Volkswagen’s ESG initiatives and commitment to sustainability position the company as a driving force towards a greener future in the automotive industry. By integrating ESG principles into their operations, Volkswagen demonstrates that environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical business practices are not only necessary but also achievable. Through their efforts, Volkswagen inspires other companies to follow suit, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious automotive sector.
Find out more
Looking for detailed and granular Volkswagen ESG score data? At Permutable AI, we specialise in providing comprehensive ESG insights to help corporates make informed decisions. If you require in-depth analysis on Volkswagen or other companies in the renewable energy sector, we invite you to get in touch. Please fill in the form below with your specific needs or directly email us at firstname.lastname@example.org. Let’s work together towards a sustainable future.


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The company had posted a net profit of Rs 271.3 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
Total revenue from operations during the quarter under review fell 15.8% to Rs 1,861.4 crore, on the back of a decline in sales of tractors and construction equipment.
Bharat Madan, Group CFO,
While tractor volumes last quarter decreased 32.8% to 21,895 units, those of construction equipment sales dropped 19.8% to 1,286 units.
Escorts Limited registers nearly 70-72% of its revenues from the sale of tractors. Construction equipment chips in another 12-13%, and railways the remaining 6-7%. Outlook for all three business verticals is positive in the ongoing financial year, informed Madan, adding recovery has set in the market.
“With government spending focused on these sectors, the situation shall only improve from here, Nanda added.
However, he said continued inflation is a big cause of worry, both in terms of suppressing potential demand as well as for ecosystem profitability.
For the entire financial year (FY22), net profit fell 12.4% to Rs 765.6 crore. However, total revenues from operations grew 3.2% to Rs 7,152.7 crore.
Escorts said its Board of Directors has recommended a final dividend of 70%, at Rs 7 per share of the face value of Rs 10 for the financial year 2021-22.
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RIDGELAND Miss. The McAlister’s Deli fast-casual chain has promoted Ken Green to the new post of chief operating officer.
Green, who joined McAlister’s last September, retains his duties as senior vice president for operations at the 260-unit chain. Green has worked with Friendly’s Ice Cream, Cosi, T.G.I. Friday’s and Las Vegas’ Stratosphere Hotel and Casino.
McAlister's is based here.


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Commercial Real Estate’s Take on Amazon’s HQ2 Decision
Several cities and regions in North Carolina and South Carolina submitted responses for one of the largest economic development projects in history. The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAOIP) recently posted a viewpoint article about Amazon’s decision to select New York and Virginia as the locations for its HQ2.
The following is from NAOIP:
After more than a year of speculation and fierce competition, Amazon has officially selected the location for its second headquarters – or, as it turned out, two locations for headquarters in Long Island City in New York City, and National Landing in Northern Virginia.
Amazon describes Long Island City, a neighborhood in Queens, as a “mixed-use community where arts and industry intersect” and cited the access to mass transit and local airports among the area’s attractions. Over the next 10 years, Amazon anticipates bringing 25,000 jobs to Long Island City with an average salary of $150,000 each (along with accompanying tax revenue). For its part, New York offered Amazon incentives of more than $1.5 billion, with some contingent on the results of Amazon’s job growth and salaries.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Nashville judge has ruled that the Tennessee Department of Children's Services must provide to the public the records of children who died or nearly died after the agency investigated reports they’d been abused or neglected.
Judge Carol McCoy is giving the department 10 days to redact confidential information from documents that serve as case summaries for four specific cases. The records then must be turned over to 12 news media organizations that sued under Tennessee's public records law, including The Tennessean and The Associated Press.
GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Goodlettsville based Dollar General chain of discount retail stores says it’s going to open 635 new stores this year and add 6,000 new jobs.
The company also announced yesterday that plans to relocate 550 stores in 2013. The company says it plans to open the chain's 11,000th store before the year's end and the company's 75th anniversary in 2014.
Chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling says that the company's continued growth reflects customer satisfaction.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Efforts to land the assembly of another Volkswagen model in Tennessee have been kicked into high gear following the German automaker's unveiling of its CrossBlue SUV prototype at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last week.
Officials hope their chances won't be undermined by renewed efforts in the state Legislature to enact a law to guarantee employees the right to store firearms in vehicles parked at work.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An automotive brake plant in Clarksville announced an $82 million expansion of its facility that will add 94 additional jobs.
Akebono Brake Corporation, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., said in a news release Thursday from the Clarksville-Montgomery Economic Development Council that the expansion will take place in two phases between 2013 and 2014.


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USPS has notified the Postal Regulatory Commission of plans to temporarily increase some package product prices for the peak holiday season.
If approved by the commission, the increases will affect Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Return Service.
International products won’t be affected.
The temporary price bump would go into effect Oct. 3 and remain in place until Dec. 26.
Delivering for America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan for achieving financial sustainability, calls for appropriate pricing initiatives.
The seasonal adjustment will bring prices for the organization’s commercial and retail customers in line with competitive practices and aims to provide USPS with the revenue to cover extra costs should holiday volume surge as it did in 2020.
Here’s a list of the planned increases:
• Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Parcel Select Ground and USPS Retail Ground: 75-cent increase for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes and envelopes; 25-cent increase for Zones 1-4, 0-10 lbs.; 75-cent increase for Zones 5-9, 0-10 lbs.; $1.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-20 lbs.; $3 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-20 lbs.; $2.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 21-70 lbs.; $5 increase for Zones 5-9, 21-70 lbs.
• First-Class Package Service Commercial: Starts at $3.01 (current), 30 cents (planned increase)
• First-Class Package Service Retail: Starts at $4 (current), 30 cents (planned increase)
• Parcel Select Lightweight (Destination Sectional Center Facility and Select Destination Network Distribution Center): Starts at $2.55 (current), $1 (planned increase)
• Parcel Select Destination Sectional Center Facility: Starts at $4.84 (current), $1 (planned increase)
• Parcel Select Destination Network Distribution Center: Starts at $6.85 (current), $1 (planned increase)
• Parcel Return Service: Starts at $3.21 (current), $1 (planned increase)
The Postal Explorer website has a full list of commercial and retail pricing.
USPS News Release – August 10, 2021


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Over the past few months we have seen Samsung slowly and gradually launch its Galaxy Tab A series of tablets in various markets across the globe. Finally Samsung has launched this tablet in Australia.
The South Korean giant has officially launched the Galaxy Tab A series in Australia and these new tablets will be made available in stores starting May 25th. This tablet comes in two different models, an 8 inch model and a 9.7 inch model with Wi-Fi ad LTE variants. Both these variants have been launched in Australia.
These tablets are basically mid-range tablets and so customers shouldn’t expect an Android powerhouse. Apart from this the tablets will have 1024 x 768 pixel resolution display with a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor 1.5GB of RAM.
Internal storage will be 16GB along with a microSD card. The tablet will also have a 5 megapixel rear and 2 megapixel front camera and will run the Android 5.0 Lollipop.


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BMW AG said it will unveil its X1 crossover utility vehicle at the New York International Auto Show on April 4. The latest X1 is an updated version of a model that has been available previously in other global markets but not the U.S. The reworked vehicle will make its world debut in New York.
The X1 gives the German car maker a position in the compact crossover segment, which is growing rapidly and becoming an apparent sweet spot for many U.S. car shoppers. It is also the latest BMW to use the company’s new turbocharged “TwinPower” four-cylinder engine, which is designed to combine high performance with fuel consumption more like that of an economy car.


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Perceptions of Detroit Are Miles From Reality
By Warren Brown
Sunday, December 14, 2008; G02
Perception is everything, or almost everything.
If anything is to be learned from Detroit's beg-fest on Capitol Hill, it's at least that much.
Perception influences reality.
Thus we have the General Motors "confession," its "commitment to the American people" published on the second page of the Dec. 8 edition of Automotive News, an industry trade journal. It presents an object lesson in perception versus reality.
Reality: The "confession" is a rehash of sins committed by a GM that existed 20 years ago, stupidities so enormous -- pathetic product quality, dismal marketing techniques, all trumped by corporate arrogance -- they opened the ports to foreign competition and paved the way for defections of generations of American consumers to Toyota, Nissan and Honda.
* * *
Perception: It is that the GM of 20 years ago is the same GM today -- the same insular corporate culture, a Midwest car company wedded to the belief that the only good horsepower is more horsepower, a corporation unalterably opposed to even the most reasonable fuel economy and clean air regulations.
That is the GM and, by implication, the Detroit that Washington loves to hate -- the one whose corporate heads lawmakers were eager to decapitate when U.S. car executives came to Capitol Hill in recent weeks seeking billions of dollars in federal emergency loans.
Reality: That old GM disappeared in the early 1990s. It was replaced by a company that continued to make mistakes -- for example, initially establishing its Saturn group as a stand-alone company and wasting money on the horrid Pontiac Aztek crossover utility vehicle. But the new GM at least recognized its errors and moved with reasonable dispatch to correct them.
* * *
Perception: GM has refused to undertake a needed, major restructuring.
Reality: That's baloney. But seemingly intelligent politicians such as President-elect Barack Obama have been swallowing it. Even a cursory review of GM's corporate actions over the past decade shows that GM has invested much energy and enormous sums of money into integrating its once-too-far-flung global operations into one global unit; increasing product development, design and manufacturing efficiencies; and greatly improving product quality and innovation. But based on comments from Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to the effect that GM must stop resisting change, one wonders whether either of them has bothered reading Harbour Consulting, J.D. Power, or any other available, objective reports detailing GM's recent progress.
* * *
Perception: GM is opposed to making fuel-efficient vehicles. It is wedded to big trucks.
Reality: GM is no different from Toyota or Nissan -- or Suzuki. It is wedded to making money. Until a few years ago in a United States awash in cheap gasoline, that meant making as many trucks as possible, because light trucks, powered by U.S. consumer demand, were more than 50 percent of new-vehicle sales. Small, fuel-efficient cars barely constituted 4.5 percent of the market.
The problem there involved a U.S. Congress that refused to exercise leadership and tamp down consumer demand for petroleum by raising federal fuel taxes, as much as it did Detroit's alleged resistance to fuel economy.
* * *
Perception: GM was alone in pursuing truck dollars.
Reality: That's more baloney. Nearly all car companies doing business in the United States went after that money. But here's the kicker: An amalgam of Southern states gave hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives to GM's foreign rivals to build nonunion assembly plants in their region. Beneficiaries of those states' "business-friendly" policies included BMW, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota -- all of which used taxpayer dollars to set up nonunion truck plants to go after the truck business dominated by union-represented GM, Ford and Chrysler manufacturing facilities.
They went after the truck money. Toyota launched and re-launched its Tundra pickup. Heck, even Suzuki has cobbled together a full-size Equator pickup.
* * *
Perception: GM does not know how to make small cars.
Reality: GM knows darn well how to make small cars. It's been doing so for decades in Europe, South America and Asia. The problem is, absent high fuel prices, GM has no earthly idea how to get Americans to buy small cars -- at a profit to GM.
* * *
Perception: Americans have been demanding the small cars that GM and Detroit refuse to build.
Reality: That's more perceptual junk. The reality is that most American consumers seek fuel economy only when pump prices are high. Take a look at what is happening now in the U.S. market for new vehicles. With average pump prices below $2 a gallon for regular unleaded, sales of small, fuel-efficient cars such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus have plummeted farther and more quickly than those in the general vehicle market.
The Civic that was hot in May 2008 with 53,299 sales was not in November with 17,690 sales, according to the Automotive News Data Center. Ditto the Corolla, 52,826 sold in May 2008 versus 21,807 sold in November; and the Focus, 32,579 sold in May versus 8,194 sold in November.
But Ford has been forced to restore two shifts and overtime work to meet demand for its re-engineered 2009 F-150 pickup truck . . . and Nissan is retooling its taxpayer-assisted, nonunion plant in Canton, Miss., to take on Detroit in the commercial truck arena.
* * *
Perception: All Detroit needs is deep restructuring and federal bailout money for long-term viability.
Reality: Wrong. Detroit needs what America sorely needs -- a Congress with the leadership chutzpah to devise and implement industrial and energy policies that will help to keep native manufacturing industries alive. Detroit's problem isn't poor products or lack of products. It's a national government still wedded to the debilitating siren song of cheap gasoline. It's a nationally collapsed financial system. And it's governmental hypocrisy -- our willingness to pour tax dollars into foreign enterprises, most of them not unionized, while griping about doing the same for homegrown, unionized manufacturers largely responsible for building America's middle class.


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Retailers across segments in India are on an expansion spree as the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
While some retailers are implementing plans that had to be stalled due to curbs, others are scouting for new locations to make the most of a drop in rentals due to the supply glut.
“Large retailers such as Shoppers Stop and Tanishq had already rolled out plans to open multiple stores across the country in FY22. The second wave during April and May halted their plans temporarily but now that its impact has receded, they are dusting off their previous expansion plans,” said Pankaj Renjhen, COO and Joint MD of Anarock Retail.
Reliance Retail, which houses retail chains including Reliance Fresh, SMART, Reliance Digital, Trends, Reliance Jewels, Project Eve and Hamleys, planned to open about 1,000 stores in the first quarter. However, the second wave of the pandemic disrupted those plans and it launched only 123 stores.
“About 700 stores are fitout-ready and would be opened in the second quarter,” Dinesh Thapar, Group CFO of Reliance Retail, said at a post-earnings briefing last week.
Jubilant FoodWorks, which runs Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts outlets in the country, plans to open 150-175 outlets this year. The company opened only 20 outlets in the first quarter and is now scouting for locations. Company CEO Pratik Pota said on an earnings call last week that the supply glut due to the closing down of several businesses is helping them close attractive deals.
Malls and metros lose sheen
According to experts, retailers are increasingly preferring to set up stores in high-street locations because the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly affected the operations of shopping malls.
“The preference is for high streets now because retailers are facing lot more restrictions in malls. High streets are easy to manage and control, while in most cases malls are the first ones to be closed down and last ones to be opened,” said Shubhranshu Pani, managing director for retail services at Jones Lang LaSalle India.
In line with this trend, major retailers closed 119 deals at prominent high-street markets in India from April 2020 to May 2021, according to property consultant Anarock.
Outlets such as Starbucks, Pizza Hut and KFC, apparel retailers, and even large-format stores Westside and Max, which are typically anchor stores in malls, are eyeing high-street locations, Anarock said in a report.
In addition, retailers are showing a growing preference towards opening stores in smaller towns over metros.
“Brands are also eyeing tier II and III cities, where consumer demand has grown significantly in the last few years, particularly during the pandemic,” said Renjhen of Anarock Retail.
A drop in rentals and availability of retail space are driving store openings by major retailers. Huge losses incurred over the past year have led to the closure of smaller stores and businesses, freeing up space in high-street locations and shopping malls.
“Well-funded companies and large players who have deep pockets are expanding stores rapidly. Also, value fashion retailers and hypermarkets are actively scouting for spaces,” said Pani of JLL India.
According to industry estimates, rentals at high-street locations such as Linking Road in Mumbai and Connaught Place in New Delhi have dropped by 10-20 percent. Retailers pay Rs 700 per square foot per month as rent on Linking Road compared with Rs 900-1,000 in pre-pandemic times. In Connaught Place, rents are now Rs 800-900 per sq. ft. as opposed to Rs 1,000-1,100 previously.
Many retailers have been able to negotiate good deals with property owners.
“New retail rental deals are now being crafted keeping in view the pandemic-infused lockdowns, so the revenue-share model has become more prevalent,” said Renjhen.


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A Social Weather Stations survey showed most teen smokers said they will quit smoking if the price of a cigarette stick increases to P10. Current prices of preferred brands are as low as P1 to P3 per stick. The survey also showed that price was only a secondary factor behind the choice of a particular brand, next to taste. Results of the NGO-commissioned survey were released as the Senate debates the sin tax reform bill. Sen Pia Cayetano said the survey is an added argument to pass the bill.
Read more on Rappler here and here.


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Russ Curry, Ministry of New Media
DOOH Insights: 2008 To 2012 has already proven to be a remarkably popular (new) publication even before going to print!
Many thanks must go to NEO Media Group CEO & President Christian Vaglio-Giors for volunteering a neatly phrased foreword which sums up industry developments of the last five years extremely succinctly.
At the final count, we had a total of 20 advertisers, including Title Sponsor VUKUNET who also contribute an introduction from Dirk Huelserman, and Ayuda Media Systems who splashed out – no pun intended I am sure, Ed on the prestigious position opposite the table of contents.
The full list of advertisers is:
Access Sports Media
Ayuda Media Systems
Digital Signage Expo
Neo Media Group
Ad artwork is all turning up now, and everything goes off to the printers at the end of next week so that we can hope to see the first copies rolling of the presses during the first week of October – i.e. just in time for first distribution in New York at the DPAA Digital Media Summit and then the #DSInvestor Conference.


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Wednesday Cereal Bits #9
Just a few interesting, cereal-related links, like so many marshmallows in a sea of non-lucky-charm Lucky Charms cereal pieces…
- You Can’t Judge a Cereal by its Cover — Why does Post Raisin Bran from Costco taste different from Post Raisin Bran bought anywhere else? [Mouse Print]
- Results of campus-wide cereal poll revealed — Cereal Fix salutes the University of Notre Dame, where students are really passionate about cereal! [The Observer]
- 7 Ridiculous Kid’s Breakfast Cereals — List. [Weird Worm]
Did you know Cereal Fix is now on Twitter? To make sure you get the latest cereal news and reviews the second it's posted, follow Cereal Fix on Twitter and stay informed.


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ChoicePoint Breach Exposed 13,750 Consumer Records
ChoicePoint Inc., one of the nation's consumer data brokers, agreed to pay $275,000 to federal regulators as a result of a data breach last year that exposed Social Security numbers and other personal information on 13,750 people.
The agreement comes in response to claims by the Federal Trade Commission that ChoicePoint violated the terms of a settlement reached following a separate data breach at the company in 2005 that led to hundreds of cases of identity theft.
In 2006, ChoicePoint - now a subsidiary of Reed Elsevier Inc - paid $15 million to settle charges that it violated federal consumer protection laws when it allowed criminals to purchase sensitive financial and personal data on at least 163,000 Americans. The FTC had sued ChoicePoint, charging that the incident led to at least 800 confirmed identity theft crimes.
ChoicePoint was supposed to take steps to protect consumer data. But the FTC alleged that in April 2008 the company switched off an internal electronic monitoring system designed to watch customer accounts for signs of unauthorized or suspicious activity. According to the FTC, that safety system remained inactive for four months, during which time unauthorized individuals used stolen credentials to look up personal information on 13,750 people in one of ChoicePoint's consumer databases.
In a written statement, ChoicePoint blamed the incident on a government customer that failed to properly safeguard one of its user IDs needed to access ChoicePoint's AutoTrack XP Product, which according to the company "references an enormous amount of data - addresses, driver licenses, property deed transfers, corporate information and much more," including court records.
ChoicePoint said its customer notified affected consumers shortly after the breach was discovered early last fall. But the company denies that its failure to leave the monitoring system running violated the terms of the original settlement, saying that its fraud monitoring system pre-dated the 2006 settlement and was adopted on the company's own initiative. The company also notes that the breached database did not contain personal information subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act -namely, consumer financial information.
Elizabeth Tucci, a trial attorney for the FTC's enforcement division, said the agency has no evidence this time around that the thieves responsible used the information to hijack consumers' identities. But she said companies such as ChoicePoint need to be held accountable because they do not answer to the consumers whose data they sell to third parties.
"ChoicePoint has no direct relationship with the consumer, so the consumer is powerless to prevent this kind of thing," Tucci said. "Because much of this information is sensitive and the fact that the consumer has no control over the sale of that information, [ChoicePoint] was under a mandate to have a very comprehensive security program in place."
ChoicePoint has agreed to pay $275,000 into a fund administered by the FTC for consumer redress. The revised agreement also extends period of time in which ChoicePoint must report the results of biennial security audits, until the year 2030.
The $15 million ChoicePoint agreed to pay in response to the 2005 breach remains the largest civil penalty ever obtained by the agency.
Update, 7:57 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated who was responsible for notifying affected customers of the 2008 breach. The above text has been corrected. In addition, the company took issue with my use of the word "blame," saying it merely "outlined the facts and circumstances of the case, which include the fact that the customer provided notice due to its failure to properly safeguard its user ID and password." Finally, ChoicePoint said that with regard to identity theft crimes, "the FTC advised us in June 2008 that they closed out the consumer redress fund with a final tally as follows: payments were made to 131 consumers."
October 19, 2009; 5:15 PM ET
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For a growing number of French wineries, these old-world laws have become too restrictive and a block to experimentation and progress. In stark contrast to the New World, where regulations aren’t as prescriptive (and this has arguably been one of their major competitive advantages in recent years), French producers aren’t able to produce and market wines more adapted to current consumer trends, if that deviates from the AOP laws. But there is flexibility outside of the AOP if you are willing to declassify.
This has seen a growing number of top quality producers releasing superior wines under the lesser ‘Vin de France’ category. Historically, this was for entry-level table wine but it allows for more flexibility and creativity, and some exciting new wines being released.
Elsewhere in Europe, it’s the lack of quality-focussed laws that are causing the tension. Wine regions that are heavily dominated by big brands and driven by volume has seen some quality wineries breaking from the region and establishing their own quality rules.
In 2013, Raventos i Blanc left Cava DO and have begun the process of creating a new, terroir driven appellation called Conca del Riu Anoia. Their decision to do this came from the desire to set a standard in high quality wine production where rules such as the use of only indigenous grapes, ecological viticulture, estate produced and estate bottled fruit and minimum ageing requirements apply which are currently not in place.
Rather than changing the AOP focus – which is protecting the origin of the wine, and being intensely accurate about terroir – flexibility could be shown in viticulture to allow for a certain level of experimentation, innovation and excellence. We know this won’t happen overnight.
I wonder whether there is a parallel future in store for the whisky regions.


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Ed Sheeran donates pre-loved jeans and shoes to new charity shop
- Credit: Archant
A new charity shop is due to open in Woodbridge on Thursday and the pre-loved clothing of one of its ambassadors, superstar Ed Sheeran, are likely to prove as popular as ever.
Opening its doors for the first time on Election Day on Thursday, the new branch of the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) will be selling 10 items from the musician's wardrobe.
Located in Hamblin Road, the site of a former carpet showroom, the new shop will open at 10am to welcome customers wishing to browse through a range of high quality products including Ed's jeans, shoes, belts and even friendship bracelets.
EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk and helps to support them with a family centred approach providing specialist nursing care, symptom management nursing, short breaks, wellbeing activities, therapies and counselling.
Its patron is the Duchess of Cambridge and Ed Sheeran has been their official ambassador since 2014 after lending his support over the years.
Ed performed at an exclusive gig in London's Natural History museum on behalf of EACH as well as visiting numerous branches of the charity including The Treehouse and Ipswich.
The charity has raised thousands of pounds through selling items belonging to the Suffolk singer and is hoping to raise even more with their brand new Woodbridge branch.
- 1 Village hall treasurer jailed after stealing cash to help his business
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- 3 Push for 4 day work week in Suffolk after company's profits soar 200%
- 4 When loans go permanent: Town's hits and misses when keeping hired hands full-time
- 5 'Incredible' Downes tipped 'to play at the very top'
- 6 Road near A14 closed after 'serious' two-vehicle crash
- 7 Two Suffolk beaches named among best in Britain for a winter walk
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- 9 Meet the man who has documented the entire history of a Suffolk village
- 10 Man dies following single vehicle crash near Ipswich
Phoebe Preston, EACH Shop Manager, said: "We've been working so hard to get the shop ready and it's obviously very exciting to have this extra set of products in for the opening.
"We look forward to hopefully welcoming many faces through the doors on Thursday and really establishing ourselves as part of the community here going forward.
"With Christmas coming up, why not stop off on the way to or from your polling station and see what bargains you might be able to find?"
This latest outlet will trade seven days a week and joins 13 other EACH shops in Suffolk and will be the charity's 42nd overall.


text: Franca Sozzani’s successor announced on Thursday that he will step down from the fashion title shortly, after finishing the September issue. His departure follows that of many of his Vogue and GQ editor-in-chief counterparts, including leaders in Germany, Spain and India, as well as the exit of Condé Nast Italia editorial director Luca Dini last autumn.As part of its global integration, Condé Nast is currently reorganising its editorial teams. The publisher elevated British Vogue editor Edward Enninful to oversee all of the owned and operated European Vogue titles, including Vogue Italia and is not expected to replace the editor-in-chief position in the regions where leaders like Farneti have recently stepped down.”I believe that we have honoured the tradition of innovation and freedom that underlies the greatness of this magazine,” Farneti wrote on Instagram. “This attribute is what has made Vogue Italia the voice of an industry that does credit to Italy around the world. Italy is a culture that deserves respect, and to be represented for what it is: the culture from which many of fashion’s most influential ideas are conceived and through which the best quality of craftsmanship is produced.”Farneti was one of the remaining editors expected to depart as part of the consolidation, along with Vogue Paris’ Emmanuelle Alt, who has not confirmed an exit. As part of the new strategy, Condé Nast’s newly named global chief content officer Anna Wintour oversees Vogue worldwide, while Enninful looks after Europe and Vogue Taiwan’s Leslie Sun’s responsibilities include India and Asia, with exceptions for Condé Nast’s joint venture and licensee partners.Before taking over Vogue Italia after Sozzani’s abrupt death in 2016, Farneti helped launch GQ Italy and was something of a perennial editor-in-chief, overseeing eight separate titles over the course of his career. Recently he collaborated with designer Kim Jones, who guest-edited the April edition of Vogue Italia. In 2018, Farneti relaunched L’Uomo Vogue as a fashion-focused biannual.Further Reading: What’s Behind Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Exodus?Publisher Condé Nast continues to cut costs and streamline operations, as its US-based leadership consolidates its power after a global merger.


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To coincide with their upcoming album, Bon Jovi 2020, Bon Jovi will headline a northamerican arena tour this summer. Bryan Adams will serve as support throughout most of the dates. They will perform locally at Capital One Arena July 25. Tickets go on sale January 24th at 10 a.m. local time.
A limited number of LaneOne Premium Packages will be available for shows, including Capital One Arena. Packages will include preshow hospitality, preferred entrance, commemorative laminate, ambassador support, and more. Visit LaneOne.com for more details.
“It’s not political, but it’s very socially conscious, you know, just awareness of so many things going on in the world right now — whether it is the environment or politics, it’s just the wider array of things that need our attention right now.”
The band has yet to announce an official release date for the album but it is expected to be released sometime this year. All ticket sales will include a copy of the band’s upcoming CD.


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Tetris will disappear from people’s cell phones on April 21, but an alternative has already been launched
Tetris games are DISAPPEARING from people’s Android iPhones and mobiles, as developer EA says ‘it’s time to say goodbye’, but a replacement has already been released
- EA developers will officially withdraw their Tetris game on April 21, 2020
- He issued a message to fans saying it will no longer be available after this date.
- But another company has released an official Tetris game for iOS and Android
- N3twork has released its game that is free but comes with ads in the game
Tetris has been one of the most popular digital games for decades, but it is now disappearing from people’s phones.
The gaming giant EA has said that it is ‘time to say goodbye’ to the popular game, and that it will formally retire on April 21, 2020.
Tetris was first created by a Soviet engineer in 1984 and is still popular as a cult favorite among some players, despite the strong competition of the console giants.
But the Tetris mantle has been picked up by another company, called N3twork, which has already launched an official game for Android and iOS.
Scroll down to watch the video
Game giant EA has said that it is not time to say goodbye to the popular game and it will be formally retested on April 21, 2020 in a statement (pictured)
In his latest app updates on several platforms, an emotional message accompanied the game EA Tetris.
He said: ‘Hello, fans, we have had an incredible trip with you so far, but unfortunately, it’s time to say goodbye.
‘As of April 21, 2020, EA’s Tetris application will be withdrawn and will no longer be available to play.
‘Please note that you can still enjoy the game and use and the existing elements in the game until April 21, 2020.
“We hope you enjoyed this game for many hours and we appreciate your continued support. Thank you! ‘
N3twork signed an agreement last year to ‘develop and publish exclusively new Tetris games created from scratch for mobile devices worldwide.’ N3twork is also working on a Tetris Royale game, but the latest version is the classic version for a player (pictured)
N3twork signed an agreement last year to ‘develop and publish exclusively new Tetris games created from scratch for mobile devices worldwide.’
It seems that the license change has seen EA withdraw from the Tetris arena permanently.
EA released Tetris for iOS for the first time in 2008 for $ 9.99, but the new version will be free, but it comes with ads. A one-time fee of $ 4.99 will eliminate them.
N3twork is also working on a Tetris Royale game, but the latest version is the classic version of a player that players are so familiar with.
“We are launching Tetris with a traditional solo game mode, but we want fans to know that we have much more reserved for them, and this is only the basis of an incredible Tetris application experience that we are building on N3twork,” said the CEO. Neil Young


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New Zealand Prime Minister John Key used the forum of TRENZ 2015 to announce his country has just enjoyed the best tourism season on record. ‘More people are coming, they are staying... Continue Reading
Want to experience the life of an astronaut without the space tourism price tag? The KSVET Hotel in Slovenia is offering guests the chance to sleep in a levitation suit suspended from the ceiling... Continue Reading
Korea Snow Holidays 2015/2016
Snowscene has released a brand new standalone brochure on the ski resorts of South Korea featuring seven ski resorts with packages from $749pp.
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Book non-GDS hotel content – including GTA, HotelBeds & Expedia - within your Workspace.
NEW Sabre RoomDeal App. Just Launched!
The Sabre Red Workspace gives you access to a bucket load of hotels. And let’s face it, that’s pretty awesome. But there are always...


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New "Nehalem" servers will anchor Intel's renewed push into cloud computing, as the chipmaker focuses on mega data centers with hundreds of thousands of servers.
Intel's cloud-computing efforts this year will be centered on a new server that uses upcoming Nehalem technology, Intel said Tuesday in a teleconference on its cloud-computing strategy. Nehalem is Intel's new chip architecture currently used only in its Core i7 desktop processors.
Mega data centers potentially mean mega-growth. The world's largest chipmaker sees between 20 percent and 25 percent of server shipments going to mega data centers by 2012. … Read more


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Test your knowledge: 60s Trivia
As we wade through another holiday shopping season, look back at Esquire's list of popular holiday gifts that sent parents a-tramplin over the years.
As we wade through another holiday shopping season, look back at the popular holiday gifts that have sent parents a-tramplin.
Actress Olivia Wilde proudly announced the birth of her baby boy on Wednesday, tweeting a photo to share the news with her fans.


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In the process to recognize the startup ‘rocketship’ before they actually took off, Suman Prasad and his team have functioned with numerous Silicon Valley venture capital firms. Building apps for Android phones, make use of many Google services, hook into Google Play in other they have helped them to plug into the Google machine.
The project ’20 Percent Time’ that Prasad had started in his Google is now developed much bigger. Project Sand Hill is now serving a 100 US startups and approx. 30 abroad in places like India, Israel and China of which Prasad is the director of startups and VC partnerships.
Intentions of keeping it’s progressively enormous company at the lead of the innovation, the company runs its own venture capital arm, GV. Yet the company is looking for other ways of chasing the ever-changing technical landscape. Prasad said they want to team up with the companies before they make the next big thing and there is a definite increase in the speed at which the small startups proceed in order to become a material company. Google is searching for any possible way to stay at the cutting edge as it has evolved into a corporate giant from a Silicon Valley disrupter.


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Congress has passed the 2018 farm bill and — pending the expected presidential signature — it will be legal to grow hemp across the United States for the first time in more than 80 years. Colorado already feels like it's in first place, especially on the Western Slope.
Hemp was legalized in the state alongside recreational marijuana in 2014, and now more acres are grown here than anywhere else in the nation.
Some farmers find industrial hemp (the non-psychoactive cannabis cousin to marijuana) a lucrative business, making upward of $60,000 an acre for production. The reason it’s seen as such a cash crop is CBD oil, a non-intoxicating cannabis extract that’s been proven to help with certain kinds of epilepsy. Anecdotally, CBD is labeled as a cure-all, for everything from treating anxiety and depression, to menstrual pain, arthritis and PTSD.
CBD has gone mainstream enough now that it can also be found in coffee, beer and skincare products. People are even giving it to their pets.
It’s not hard to see why there’s a demand for hemp, and where there’s demand you’re likely to find a happy farmer like Aaron Rydell. He sees hemp as a much-needed opportunity for agriculture to make ends meet. To him hemp is the next “green rush.”
“If a farmer can make $40,000 to $50,000 an acre, they’re doing really good,” Rydell said. “And if you tell that to a farmer, that gets their eyebrow up.”
In 2017, Colorado grew the most hemp with around 10,000 registered acres. That number tripled this year, to more than 30,000 acres grown by 850 different farmers. And like Rydell, some of them are new to farming.
This summer was Rydell’s fourth harvest at Salt Creek Hemp, outside of the Western Slope town of Collbran. He grew more than 12 acres this season, but it hasn’t been easy for him to get to this point. There were legal grey areas and challenges during the first few years of state legalization. The biggest one was acquiring seeds.
“We bought our seeds on the side of the road at 10 o’clock at night by Red Rocks,” Rydell said. “We were driving away afterwards, and we're just like, ‘what did we just do? Did we just commit a crime?’”
The price of those seeds was hundreds of dollars for just a handful. Rydell and his wife bought 10 pounds with cash. They then planted an acre, and “made all kinds of mistakes,” Rydell said. “But where can you Google ‘how much water to put on hemp?’”
To find answers, Rydell and his wife went to every hemp event they could. They now host their own, called “Hemp on the Slope,” which more than 500 people attended this year. Rydell wants Western Slope farmers to have a local resource, something he wished he had when he first started.
“It's such a new industry, and we all kind of need each other,” Rydell said. “It's not like the corn guys where there's millions of acres. And the one guy's like, ‘Well, I hope that guys crop fails because then mine’s worth more.’ At this point in the United States, we can't produce enough hemp for this to be a competition.”
Rydell’s first piece of advice to new hemp farmers is to start off small. He planted 15 acres in his second year, and it went “hot,” meaning it went over the state’s Tetrahydrocannabinol limit. That’s the compound that produces the high, and there should be no buzz if you use a hemp product. Regulations require hemp grown here to have less than 0.3 percent THC. Rydell couldn’t use it for anything but mulch and bales.
Republican state Sen. Don Coram got into the hemp business after he helped legalize the crop in Colorado. He never had any intentions of being a hemp grower, but, “Frankly, there's nothing out there on the market today that compete with this crop if you do it right.”
He moved part of his operation in Montrose into a former garden store greenhouse and now has 30,000 square feet to grow hemp year-round. Coram hopes to produce more than 500 acres worth of material next year. He’s contracted with a CBD company at a price of around $50,000 an acre.
The lawmaker hopes some law and order will come to the Wild West with hemp in the farm bill. Now that it will no longer be classified as a schedule 1 drug, farmers will be able to get crop insurance and they’ll be able to access banks. Seeds and hemp products can cross state lines without worry, and more farmers will get in on the boom.
“So young people could actually start on small acreage and be very successful, very profitable, and expanded the larger farming operations that we're still going to need to feed the nation,” Coram said.
Beyond CBD oil and the revitalization of western agriculture, hemp-entrepreneur Kevin Hodge hopes for something more. He’s developed a substance he calls ‘Hemp-Adobe’ — a building material made from magnesium oxide cement and hemp.
Hodge says his mixture dries faster, lighter and stronger than traditional concrete, and that it’s fire resistant and environmentally friendly. He also claims millions of dollars is business lined up, even though he hasn’t started to produce on a large scale yet.
His plan is to move to Montrose from Washington state and partner with farmers to grow the hemp material he’ll need. Hodge sees Colorado as the leaders in hemp and the place to get his business going.
“We're getting ready to start this whole enchilada up,” he said “It’s going to be a monster. Nothing's been an undertaking like this ever. So, you know, there's no roadmap here. Basically I consider myself Magellan. Am I sailing off the edge of the Earth or am I going to find what I'm looking for?”
The state has faith in Hodge’s endeavour. He was approved for the Rural Jump-Start Program, which provides tax relief to new businesses that move to what officials label as “distressed areas of rural Colorado.”
Hodge will need around 5,000 acres of locally grown hemp to keep up with demand, about a sixth of what’s grown in state now. That might be a challenge, especially since the real money is in CBD production and not hemp for materials. It’s hard to grow a variety that can do both, at least right now.
Hodge’s plan includes talk of a processing facility in Montrose to operate as a co-op with farmers. In turn, they could produce all sorts of hemp products, hemp hearts for food, CBD oil, paper pulp, and the fiber for his business.
“Can you imagine seeing toilet paper coming out with hemp in the next year or so?” Hodge said. “What it's going to do for the environment by not, you know, butchering out whole stands of trees? And being able to replace the material a fourfold every season?”
With the hemp changes in the farm bill, you’d think these entrepreneurs would be worried about a sudden surge of nationwide competition. Instead, all they expressed was excitement for the growing opportunities.
You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. We can help you keep up. The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning!


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22nd July, 2019
We are celebrating after being named as national champions in the food and drink category at this year’s National Family Business Awards.
On Saturday 13th July, staff made their way to the iconic Webley Stadium and enjoyed a night of glitz and glamour to celebrate this year’s 10th National Family Business Awards at the iconic Wembley Stadium.
We’re absolutely delighted to have won the national title for the food and drink Family Business of the Year! It is the third year in a row that we have walked away with an award win at the National Family Business Awards – this award win is the highest accolade for a family business, and we are thrilled to be bringing more recognition to Lincolnshire.
We wouldn’t be where we are without our hardworking and dedicated staff, as well as our amazing customers who have shown loyalty to us over the last 30 years. This award tops off what has been a hugely successful time for our business after we raised more than £32,000 for three wonderful charities to mark our 30th anniversary.
As many of you know, this year has already been a memorable one for the Elite Fish & Chip Company; earlier this year we celebrated a double award win at the East Midlands Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards 2019. In March we also announced that we would be opening a fourth restaurant and takeaway in Lincoln’s historic Bailgate which is due to open later this year.
To find out more about The National Family Business Awards, visit: http://thenationalfamilybusinessawards.com/