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The finalists for the Derby Telegraph Business Awards have been announced - and the winners will be crowned at a glittering awards ceremony which will take place at Derby College's Roundhouse on Wednesday, June 5.
This year, the very best companies and organisations will compete across 16 categories.
Here, we profile the finalists up for the Contribution to the Community Award, which is sponsored by Lubrizol.
For some years now, Cosy Direct has been making a big impact on the world of children’s education, both in the UK and further afield.
But in equal measure it has also been making its mark as a firm supporter of the community in which it operates.
Cosy is a Derby company which makes ideas that put the fun back into learning for young children.
Employing 80 people, it researches and develops education supplies, working hand-in-hand with schools and teachers to create and test new ideas.
As a UK supplier of teaching resources, Cosy has grown to become the largest developer of teachers’ ideas worldwide with customers across the globe.
It has built up a catalogue of thousands of products that can stimulate early years learners, improving literacy and numeracy through play - and at an affordable price. Last year alone, the firm released 800 new products to the market.
But the company also does much when it comes to giving something back to the community, both locally and further afield.
Every year, it gives away 50 pallets of free products to more than 50 Derby schools and 10% of its profits go to charitable causes.
It backs numerous local charities and community events, as well as sponsoring schoolchildren in Africa, helping them stay in their communities.
All of its employees are given a paid leave to volunteer for charity, which can include helping out at Derby Kids Camp, of which Cosy is a patron.
In 2016, it bought a farm and campsite in the Peak District to provide a permanent home for the kids camp, which provides free holidays to more than 300 Derby children every year.
Gift Wellness is a Derby company that has done much to tackle what it describes as “period poverty”.
The business, founded in 2012 by Zareen Ahmed, distributes a range of natural sanitary products. Its main customer is Holland and Barrett, where its products are a top seller.
In addition to this, its products are also sold in around 1,000 independent stores and pharmacies across the country.
But as well as being a successful business, Gift Wellness has done much to benefit the community - and raise awareness of an often not talked about issue.
When Zareen founded her business, her aim was to tackle period poverty in all of its forms.
This has included providing sanitary products to homeless women, refugees, schoolgirls and women on low incomes.
Raising awareness has also been part of this strategy - and has involved encouraging employers and organisations to provide free sanitary products to their workers.
In its quest to eliminate period poverty, Gift Wellness is achieving results. For example, it has eliminated period poverty in all of Derby’s secondary schools, by providing free products to pupils who cannot afford them.
It has also been working with teachers and pupils at Derby schools to develop a plan to empower girls and build their confidence so they are not embarrassed to ask for sanitary products.
Ultimately, the aim of Gift Wellness is to extend this concept to all schools in the UK.
But period poverty is not just a local or national issue, it is a worldwide issue. To this end, Gift Wellness has been supporting women in crisis across the globe since 2013 by donating sanitary products to refugee camps overseas.
RDS Global is a Derby company that takes its corporate social responsibility policy very seriously.
The firm, based in Friar Gate, is a business specialising in professional IT services to businesses of all sizes across the UK.
But as well as delivering a great service to its clients, RDS is very much aware of the importance of making a valuable contribution to the community in which it operates.
Its social responsibility policy covers a number of areas: its employees, the community, working practices and the environment.
A particular success for the business has been the RDS Academy programme, which it established in partnership with Derby College.
The purpose of the academy is to stimulate and propagate working skills into young people before they enter the world of work. This can involve things such as work placements and internships.
The aim is to take individuals with very little commercial experience and train them into roles across the RDS business, increasing their employability.
RDS has also being making a positive impact on local communities in other ways. It has donated products and time, delivering free presentations, workshops and support for local schools and colleges.
And RDS staff - including its directors - have supported and taken part in numerous charity events to raise cash for local good causes.
If any business wants to know how to do corporate responsibility properly, they would do well to look at the example RDS Global has set.


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TORONTO, Canada, May 5, 2020 – CAD MicroSolutions Inc., a leading service partner and distributor of 3D technology in Canada, has signed an Elite Reseller Agreement with Nexa3D to distribute the NXE400 in Canada, reaching a new milestone in its ability to innovate and accelerate the Canadian additive manufacturing industry.
The Nexa3D NXE400 will be added to the CAD MicroSolutions Additive Manufacturing Customer Experience Centre (CEC), home to the world’s best-in-class design and manufacturing brands including SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE, HCL CAMWorks, HP JetFusion, Markforged, Ultimaker, BigRep, Formlabs, Nano Dimension, SWOOD, SMAP, DriveWorks, GOM, Materialize Magics, DyeMansion, and now Nexa3D.
The NXE400 is Nexa3D’s flagship printer; its unmatched capabilities will enable the Canadian engineering and manufacturing community to break the size and speed barriers of traditional additive manufacturing.
It takes current 3D printing speeds from dialup internet to broadband, reaching six times the speed and 2.5 times the volume of all other comparable 3D printers on the market, and printing up to 19 liters of part volume at speeds of up to 1Z centimeter per minute. The NXE400 also features optional washing and curing units that together automate and reduce the time to produce ready-to-use functional prototypes and production parts from hours to just minutes.
To learn more about the NXE400, watch this video.
Nexa3D recently joined Henkel’s Open Materials Platform with the goal of expanding the capabilities of its ultrafast production stereolithography technology, and announced the availability of Nexa3D 3843-xABS Black with mechanical properties that allow for very accurate prints on Nexa3D printers. The material is ideal for a wide variety of applications including arms, levers and brackets, and other mechanical assemblies used in robotics, automation machinery and manufacturing stations, in addition to parts and systems for a variety of last mile transportation vehicles, including drones.
CAD MicroSolutions’ announcement comes as 3D printing capabilities continue to prove themselves vital in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Just two weeks ago, Nexa3D launched a service to deliver NexaShield PPE, a groundbreaking initiative in the midst of COVID-19 that harnesses the power of 3D printing to produce protective gear for healthcare and other essential workers on the frontlines with capacity to manufacture up to 10,000 face shields per week from its facility in Ventura, CA.
“This is an exciting time for the additive manufacturing team at CAD MicroSolutions and our customers in Canada,” said CAD MicroSolutions president Darren Gornall. “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the national news countless stories of how additive manufacturing enabled rapid innovation in the production of PPE. We see the NXE400’s ability to produce production parts in minutes as a game changer.”
“The 3D printing industry is a global endeavor, and its innovation supersedes borders. So, I’m delighted to expand our partnership with Canada and unite the speed, power and capabilities of the Nexa3D brand with the powerful customer relationships and influence of CAD MicroSolutions in Canada,” said Nexa3D CEO Avi Reichental.
With offices in Quebec (Montreal), Ontario (Toronto and Cambridge), Alberta (Calgary), and British Columbia (New Westminster), CAD MicroSolutions has an expansive network of customers nationwide leveraging the SOLIDWORKS portfolio and Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Driven by their goal to support their clients throughout the entire product development lifecycle, CAD MicroSolutions has formed several new partnerships with leaders in Industry 4.0 technology. It is uniquely positioned to help clients enable innovation across Canada, selling and supporting 3D printing solutions, virtual and augmented reality, as well as design automation software, training and consultation to help clients in mechatronics innovate, design and succeed.
“Our partnership with Nexa3D is geared towards helping our customers break down the barriers of traditional additive manufacturing,” said CAD MicroSolutions director of additive manufacturing Hargurdeep (Deep) Singh. “Partners and clients will have the ability to literally see their parts emerge in minutes.”
Individuals are welcome to schedule an appointment to visit CAD MicroSolutions’ Customer Experience Centre to see the NXE400 in person and to experience this next generation of technology, and to strategize on how to apply these innovations to transform their business in this new industrial era.
About CAD MicroSolutions
CAD MicroSolutions headquartered in Toronto, Ontario with offices in British Columbia (New Westminster), Alberta (Calgary), Ontario (Toronto and Cambridge), and Quebec (Montreal), has been providing engineers, designers and manufacturers with 3D technology and training for the entire product development lifecycle since 1983. CAD MicroSolutions is uniquely positioned to help their clients enable innovation across Canada, selling and supporting 3D design automation software, PLM, Advanced Simulation, Digital Manufacturing, 3D printing solutions, 3D Scanning and Metrology, virtual and augmented reality, backed by certified training and consulting services.
For more information about CAD MicroSolutions, please visit www.cadmicro.com.
Nexa3D makes ultrafast industrial grade stereolithography 3D printers affordable for professionals and businesses of all sizes. The company’s printers are powered by proprietary Lubricant Sublayer Photo-curing (LSPc) technology and patented structured light matrix capable of reaching top speeds of 1Z centimeter per minute, drastically reducing 3D printing cycles of precision functional parts from hours to minutes.
To learn more, visit www.nexa3d.com.

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The move would enable Burger King to complete the "inversion" process that nearly American 50 companies have used over the past 10 years to lower their tax rate by moving their headquarters to foreign countries, according to CNN.
Company leaders say, however, that the merger will not result in any major tax savings.
"We don't expect there to be meaningful tax savings," said Daniel Schwartz, CEO of Burger King Worldwide. "This transaction is not about tax rates, but about growth."
Burger King points out, however, that 80 percent of its outlet will be located north of the border following the merger.
According to CNN, the company also expects two thirds of its revenue to now come from Canada.
Additional details are available on CNNMoney.com.
Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Long-term domestic supply deals and strategic partnerships between companies in the PV value chain are increasingly key to long-term supply chain security and ensuring project delivery to appropriate standards.
Speaking to PV Tech about supply chain constraints, Matt Beasley, chief commercial officer at US solar developer Silicon Ranch said: “Simply put, the current environment is the most difficult procurement environment of the past 15 years.”
Companies across Europe and the US, as well as Australia, India and other major PV markets, have experienced PV supply chain backlogs. The well-documented shortages have often come about through both self-inflicted policies trying to lessen global dependence on Chinese-manufactured produce and outward-looking concerns around the provenance of PV equipment. Accusations of forced labour camps in Xinjiang province have led the US to introduce the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and there has been discussion of the EU following suit.
Beasley highlighted Silicon Ranch’s master supply agreements with US-based manufacturers First Solar and Nextracker as key to the way the developer has mitigated supply issues: “Silicon Ranch has undertaken several actions to mitigate the risk posed by the disrupted global supply chain, including our master supply agreements with First Solar and Nextracker. We have grown our business through the power of collaborative partnerships, and these strategic relationships have helped us maintain our 100% track record for successful project execution.”
The company has a 4.7GW, multi-year agreement in place with First Solar for its US-made thin-film modules. First Solar itself has a number of partnerships in place, too, including an association with Nextracker that has seen the companies collaborate on joint projects.
A more comprehensive agreement was reached this month between tech giant Microsoft and solar manufacturer Qcells, which agreed to at least 2.5GW of module supply in the US. Qcells, a Korean-owned company, recently announced a US$2.5 billion investment into a fully integrated US supply chain. The deal was apparently the ‘first of its kind’ that saw a power offtaker agreeing supply with an upstream module manufacturer; whilst it probably says something about Microsoft’s influence and buying power, it also speaks to a desire for surety and security across the supply chain.
Early this month, PV Tech reported from the Solar Finance and Investment Europe conference on the importance of strategic supply and environmental, social and governance (ESG) partnerships for large-scale solar developers. Panellists from Trina Solar, Low Carbon and NextEnergy Capital said that long-term partnerships can allow the industry to secure and insure itself as it continues to move faster than legislation, infrastructure developments and macro market movements.
For example, inconsistent revenue caps across Europe have created a level of uncertainty for long-term pipelines and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partnerships, integrated supply deals and collective agreements on ESG standards could lessen these insecurities and simplify the deployment process.
Silicon Ranch also spoke about the collaborative philosophy underpinning its regenerative energy agrivoltaics programme that looks to employ ecologically sustainable and agricultural practices at solar PV sites.
“When we launched our regenerative energy platform, we saw it as a call to action for our entire industry and invited others to join us in this meaningful endeavour,” said Beasley.
“We have been encouraged by how many others in our industry have embraced this responsibility.”
Not only supply and financial security, but long-term social license and sustainable practices like agrivoltaic pairings are being reached through establishing partnerships.
The next edition of our quarterly downstream publication PV Tech Power will feature a deep dive into the rise and future of agrivoltaics worldwide.
Long-term thinking must be inherent to a renewable energy industry looking to transform the way that the world produces energy and sustains itself. Whether it’s long-term supply agreements between companies that streamline project EPC and deployment, long-term offtake PPAs with corporates like Microsoft or agreements to enshrine ESG standards for component provenance or land preservation, the future may look increasingly collaborative.


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We just wondered whether or not yesterday’s maintenance upgrades for the HTC Legend and Wildfire were actually Pre-Froyo upgrades. It looks like that may just be the case. At least for the HTC Legend in Europe, HTC UK has confirmed that users will begin seeing the over the air update starting today – December 9th – across Europe. Naturally, assume that if you have a carrier-branded device then you won’t be seeing the update. It’s up to your carrier to bring that to your phone and that might not happen for a few weeks, if at all. And if you have an unlocked device, be patient as we’re sure they’re employing a staggered process as manufacturers often do. [HTC Facebook via HTC Source]
stars Popular this Weeklaunch
Next month, Niantic will reportedly release an update to Pokémon GO which will include over 100 new Pokémon as well as new features.
Android 7.1.1 Nougat will be coming to the Nexus 6P on December 6th according to Vodafone Australia.
more_vertGrace UX comes to the Galaxy Note 5
Samsung has started rolling out the Grace UX from the Galaxy Note 7 to owners of the Galaxy Note 5 in South Korea.
more_vertThe Galaxy S8 may include 6GB of RAM
The Galaxy S8 is being rumored to include 6GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and will be one of the first devices powered by the new Snapdragon 835 processor.
An analytics firm has released a report that shows growth of the Pixel was astounding over the Black Friday weekend, with 112% more activations in this period than the four weeks before it.
A YouTuber by the name of Adam Jakowenko decided to hook up an Amazon Echo (the Dot variant, specifically) and a Google Home next to each other to see if they could talk to each other. Hilarity ensues.
Check Point, the security research team who has uncovered a lot of this stuff as of late, has discovered a new form of malware that they’re calling Gooligan. Everything you need to know is inside.
more_vertFitbit buys Pebble
We typically view acquisitions for small startups as great news, but for Pebble and their supposed buyout from Fitbit it might not be that happy of an ending. The original Kickstarter sensation is being bought out by Fitbit for anywhere between $34 to $40 million.
At $40, the Google Pixel Live Case is asking a lot from those looking to protect their smartphone in style. We’ve been using ours for a few weeks now and finally have a verdict.


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Groups of volunteers are gathering all over the UK to put on a warm, welcoming and wonderful Christmas Day for Care Leavers – including here in Manchester.
Care Leavers are young people who have spent time living apart from their families in Foster or Residential Care. They can be vulnerable young adults, and may not necessarily have anywhere to go on Christmas day – with many spending it alone in a bedsit or hostel. We would like to change that.
This year, the Lemn Sissay Foundation is helping to facilitate Christmas dinners in locations across the UK, including for 50 young adults here in Manchester.
You might also wish to help by buying a small stocking filler for a guest who is attending – you can do this through our Amazon gift list – prices start from £2.


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WALMART is making this year’s holiday shopping experience easier for patrons by offering customers new services and savings.
The holiday season services will only be available exclusively to Walmart+ members; however, non-subscribers will still see deals.
Walmart is making this holiday season easier for patrons by offering new services and savings[/caption]
The superstore announced on Thursday that curbside returns and return pickups from home will be available for paid subscribers.
However, patrons can see “significant” price changes to essential holiday items such as toys, home goods, electronics, beauty and more.
“We listened to our customers, and the way we’re approaching holidays this year underscores our commitment to making holiday shopping easier, affordable and more enjoyable,” Tom Ward, executive vice president and chief eCommerce officer of Walmart US, said.
Ward added that the superstore wants to give patrons “deeper savings” this holiday season.
Read more on Walmart
“Saving our customers time and money is in our DNA,” he said.
For Walmart+ members, curbside and return pickups from home will begin in October.
According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, Walmart+ launched in 2020 and had more than 170million members across the country at the end of last year.
Subscribers fork out $98 a year and can take advantage of perks, including free shipping, free delivery on orders over $35, and fuel discounts.
Most read in The US Sun
Also, customers who purchase an item on or after October 1 can make returns through January 31, 2023.
The extended return window includes electronics and Marketplace items, according to the press release.
“Walmart has been preparing for months to deliver through the holidays, and the company has taken steps to ensure it has the products customers want however they choose to shop,” Ward said.
“Walmart is working closely with partners at every stage of the supply chain to ensure a seamless flow of merchandise.”
Read More on The US Sun
The enhanced customer service comes as Walmart and Target will begin rolling out holiday deals as early as October.
On Thursday, Target announced that its “deal days” would begin on October 6.


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Photo: Robert Clark
Even though Manhattan home prices were down in September, homebuyers still weren’t buying.
Sales hit their lowest level in nearly six months, according to a report released Wednesday by New York brokerage CityRealty.com.
Over the last month, the average sales price of a Manhattan apartment — including both co-ops and condos — dropped from $2.1 million to $1.9 million in September.
The average condo price was $2.6 million in September, down from $2.9 million the previous month. At the same time, co-op prices dipped slightly to $1.3 million from $1.4 million.
New development condo prices slid from $4.3 million to $3.6 million in September, while the number of sales remained steady at 127.
Meantime, the number of sales fell to 935 in September, down from 1,264 recorded in August. Some 418 condos and 517 co-ops sold.
Total sales volume plummeted a whopping 31 percent monthly from $2.6 billion to $1.8 billion in September — the lowest of the year since April’s $1.7 billion total.
But the steep decrease in sales volume shouldn’t raise too many alarm bells just yet.
“It’s probably not indicative of a seriously ailing market but one in which there were fewer clusters of closings in expensive new developments,” CityRealty.com’s Director of Research Gabby Warshawer tells BuzzBuzzNews.
September’s top two sales both were in 432 Park Avenue on on famed Billionaire’s Row — a stretch of Central Park that is home to the city’s most expensive condos. The first was a $39.3 million four-bedroom unit with 5,241 square feet, and the second was a three-bedroom unit which fetched $27.9 million.
In the luxury submarket — properties priced at $4 million and above — 84 contracts were signed in October, totaling $533 million in sales. This was up substantially from the $361 million total sales recorded the previous month, although the number of sales was virtually unchanged.
The average price of a Manhattan luxury apartment was $6.4 million last month, up sharply from $4.6 million in September.
Click here to read the entire report.


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The second generation of the successful model, sold in more than 730,000 units, offers improved technical features, a new look more in line with the X family and a more spacious cabin.
Presented at this year's Milan Design Week, the Spheres project by Swiss-Argentinian designer Alfredo Häberli uses abstract artworks and a hybrid vessel concept to explore BMW's design philosophy.
A set of images and photos from the design process of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept.
The official design story of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept, the study presented at the 2015 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este BMW will debut the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage, a model that pays tribute to the BMW 3.0 CSL, the iconic BMW Coupe from the 1970s.
Japanese customizers Kenji Nagai of Ken’s Factory and Keiji Kawakita of Hot-Dock Custom-Cycles have created two original concepts reinterpreting the BMW’s K 1600 GTL flagship model.
At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show BMW will present the 2 Series Gran Tourer, a flexible family vehicle that combines compact dimensions with a spacious, seven-seat interior.
BMW has produced a video interview with Paul Bracq, legendary designer and artist, BMW head of design from 1971 to 1974 and creator of the iconic 1972 BMW Turbo, the first concept car in the brand's history.
Adrian van Hooydonk has to have one of the most diverse portfolios as a car designer, covering not only the Mini, but all the BMW range – including the i3 and i8 – plus Rolls-Royce and motorbikes. The Dutchman joined BMW Group 20 years...
The 44-year-old Lebanese-Canadian is the one responsible for creating the handsome 2-Series convertible the automaker debuted there last week. He held various posts in interior and exterior design at BMW before winning his current title, and it’s...
BMW Motorsport has previewed the M6 GT3 racing GT, currently under development. It will replace the Z4 GT3 starting from the 2016 season.
The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) has presented the fourth generation of its concept vehicle program: a versatile pick-up developed in collaboration with BMW Manufacturing Co.
BMW has released an official video showing a short overview of the development process of the i3 and i8 models, from the first idea to the final production vehicles.
The official sketches and photos from the design process of the second generation BMW X6.
BMW has revealed the new X6, which features increased dimensions and a more dynamic design adopting the current design DNA of the brand.
BMW has revealed the Vision Gran Turimo Concept, a virtual race car created for the Gran Turismo 6 racing video game and with an aggressive design absed on the M235i.
We’ve finally driven the production 2015 BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, and we came away highly impressed. But one thing stuck out: The car’s size. As it turns out, the i8’s footprint is no accident. The BMW i8 is literally engineered...
At the 2014 Beijing Auto Show BMW has presented the Vision Future Luxury, a show car that explores new ideas for luxury vehicles and previews a possible future flagship model.


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Ford Motor Co. leads the domestic automakers in long-term durability, as reported by the 2002 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Index measuring 1998 model year vehicles. Four of Ford’s brands (Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercury, and Mazda) finished above industry average in this year’s study. In addition, 10 Ford Motor Company nameplates -- five cars and five trucks -- ranked among the top three in their respective segments.
Top segment-finishing cars included Mercury Tracer, Mercury Grand Marquis, Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Continental, and Ford Mustang. Top trucks included Mazda B-Series, Ford F-150/F-250, Ford Expedition, Mercury Villager, and Ford E-Series/Club Wagon.


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Condos aren't the only piece of the local real estate market heating up right now. According to Realty Austin, luxury homes are also a hot commodity.
Realty Austin released an infographic comparing luxury home sales (those with a price tag of more than $1,000,000) from May 2014 to sales from May 2013, showing growth in several key areas.
In May 2014, 67 luxury homes sold in Austin, a 28 percent increase over homes sold the previous May. But it wasn't just the number of sales that increased. Luxury home buyers paid an average of $20 more per square foot, increasing the average price per square foot to $339 and resulting in overall higher home prices.
The average price of a luxury listing increased to $1,717,669 ($152,849 more per home), and the median price increased to $1,445,000 ($112,500 more per home). That trend, however, is not unique to the luxury market.
As a whole, the local real estate market witnessed an eight percent increase in average and median sales prices in May 2014, bringing the average Austin home price to $325,926.


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As part of Xi Jinping's visit to America, the Chinese president met the great and good of the technology world at Microsoft's headquarters in Seattle.
The stop created a spectacular photo opportunity for the 28 technology chief executives, founders and presidents as well as Mr Xi and Lu Wei, China's internet tsar.
It is also likely to be one of the most valuable photos of all time, based on the net worths of the individuals posing in it. Based on estimates, the 28 tech bosses in the room have a combined wealth of some $200 billion (£131 billion).
Front row from left: Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, JD.com's Liu Qiangdong, Cisco's John Chambers, Alibaba's Jack Ma, IBM's Ginni Rometty, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, China's Internet czar Lu Wei, Apple's Tim Cook, Tencent's Pony Ma, and Amazon's Jeff Bezos.
Middle row from left: Sohu's Zhang Chaoyang, AMD's Lisa Su, Lenovo's Yang Yuanqing, Microsoft's Harry Shum, Qualcomm's Steve Mollenkopf, CETC's Ziong Qunli, Intel's Brian Krzanich, Qihoo 360's Zhou Hongyi, LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman, and SINA's Cao Guowei.
Back row from left: Sugon's Li Jun, Didi-Kuaidi's Cheng Wei, Broadband Capital's Tian Suning, CEC's Liu Liehong, Baidu's Zhang Yaqin, AME Cloud Ventures' Jerry Yang, Inspur's Sun Pishu, AirBnB's Brian Chesky, and Sequoia Capital's Shen Nanpeng.
Using data from Forbes, and public stock holdings or pay when these were not available, the technology bosses have a combined wealth of $195.6 billion.
That is without the net worths of Cheng Wei, Li Jun, Lie Liehong, Zhang Yaqin and Sun Pishu - the number would probably rise above $200 billion if their wealths were brought into account.
Data for Steve Mollenkopf, Ginni Rometty, Brian Krzanich and Lisa Su are based on stock holdings, pay or rough estimates, so may undershoot their net worths. Others are based on data from Forbes.
Topping the list is Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who has a net worth of $47.8 billion, according to Forbes.
The technology world's two richest billionaires, however, were not in the photo. They are Microsoft founder Bill Gates, with a $79.6 billion net worth, and Oracle's Larry Ellison. Mr Xi was due to dine with Mr Gates on Wednesday night, however.
Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, valued at $33.4 billion and $32.8 billion, were conspicuous by their absence.


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TrueDepth camera first debut in iPhone X near the end of 2017, and it has been getting nothing short of a positive review and feedback. People are simply impressed with the feature, and now analysts believe Apple could be working on more Animoji-friendly sensors to be introduced in iPhone and iPad Pro to be launched later this year.
Some experts alread predict that Apple will release a 6.1-inch iPhone later this year. The phone will have an LCD and TrueDepth camera sensor and will have a bigger cousin with a 6.5-inch OLED display; it might be gold-tinted. The experts also believe Apple will extend the smart camera sensors to the iPad Pro, which will also have “a larger dot projector with increased VCSEL content.”
It is important to note that these experts’ predictions are in line with recent moves at Apple. For instance in December last year, Apple gave Finisar, the maker of VCSELs they are using in their TrueDepth camera, a fund of $39 million taken out of its Advanced Manufacturing Fund.
The fund went into expanding Finisar production capacity, which could mean Apple will be able …read more


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Funding agency KKR plans to accumulate well being software program firm Remedy Manufacturers. The agency will purchase a majority stake within the firm from earlier buyers Lightyear Capital, Oak HC/FT and Higher Sum Ventures, with PSG remaining a minority shareholder within the firm.
Although KKR didn’t disclose the phrases of the deal, Bloomberg previously reported the agency would pay Remedy Manufacturers for $1.2 billion, together with debt. KKR stated it’s making the funding from its flagship North America personal fairness fund.
“We’re excited to welcome KKR as our new investor, which brings a deep understanding of the healthcare sector and in depth expertise in scaling technology-enabled platforms,” Remedy Manufacturers CEO Kimberly O’Loughlin said in a news release. “This assist will assist us speed up our mission of constructing it simpler for suppliers to navigate an more and more complicated administrative panorama to allow them to spend extra time and give attention to delivering improved outcomes for his or her purchasers.”
Birmingham, Ala.-based Remedy Manufacturers was based in 2013. It supplies digital well being document and apply administration software program for suppliers working in psychological well being, behavioral well being, substance use restoration, utilized conduct evaluation (ABA) and bodily rehabilitation.
A few of its better-known manufacturers embrace Theranest, a apply administration software program for small remedy teams, and ShareNote, for bigger practices. It really works with greater than 28,000 practices throughout the U.S.
Remedy Manufacturers additionally presents a telehealth platform. Shortly after the U.S. declared the pandemic a nationwide emergency, the corporate stated that it saw use of its telehealth services leap 4,300% in comparison with the earlier week.
Buyers’ curiosity in behavioral well being firms has additionally elevated accordingly previously 12 months. It was one of many high funding classes for digital well being firms in the beginning of the 12 months.
KKR isn’t any exception. The agency, which has backed huge manufacturers resembling WebMD and Make clear Well being, has additionally made investments in BrightSpring Well being Companies, which owns house care and behavioral well being practices, and Blue Sprig Pediatrics, a supplier of utilized conduct evaluation (ABA) remedy.
“We’re delighted to be backing Remedy Manufacturers at a time when there’s growing recognition and social consciousness in regards to the significance of psychological well being,” KKR Accomplice Max Lin stated in a information launch.


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What Is Uber Green and How Does It Work in the USA?
Ride-hailing giant Uber is looking to become completely emission-free by 2040. Their latest initiative is called “Uber Green”, and partners with both drivers and passengers to help Uber reach their goal.
We look at what Uber Green is, and how it could change the future of ridesharing in electric cars.
In 2020, Uber announced their commitment to becoming a zero-emission platform. This meant working with drivers and passengers to lower emissions over the coming decades, aiming for zero emissions by 2040.
In 2023, Uber worked with restaurants on Uber Eats assisting with recycled packaging and encouraging drivers on the Uber ridesharing platform to switch to electric from gasoline-powered vehicles.
By 2025, according to Uber 50% of km covered in Europe will be electric.
By 2030, Uber aims to be completely zero-emission in the United States, Canada and select European cities.
By 2040, they’ll be emission-free throughout the globe.
But how will they achieve their green ambitions?
How Will Uber Go Green?
Uber’s mission requires a lot of change, not only culturally in a world dependent on oil. But also structurally, with charging stations in high demand already.
Uber knows it can’t achieve their zero-emission goal alone, so they’re partnered with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), environmental advocacy groups and justice organisations. These partnerships will allow Uber to bring the needed changes to its platform quicker and more efficiently.
Furthermore, Uber is partnered with several vehicle manufacturers, charging station manufacturers and utility companies to ensure customers have plenty of choices to access greener options.
All in all, Uber Green’s pot is a whopping $800 million, all aimed at helping drivers in US, Canada and Europe make the switch to electric by 2025.
How Is Uber Doing So Far?
We’re going to use Uber’s Environmental, Social and Governance report to get an idea of how well Uber is doing in the journey towards zero emissions. Let’s look at their global 2023 figures:
Uber saw a huge rise in the number of trips taken in EVs. Across their ridesharing platform, over 77 million have been in zero-emission vehicles.
Coupled with this, the number of EVs registered with Uber has risen 3.5X year on year. That means there are three times more EVs giving rides than ever before.
Currently, Uber has 45,700 zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) active on their platform in North America and Europe.
In 2023, Uber launched Uber Comfort Electric and expanded it to almost 40 cities across the US and Canada. Uber’s green answer to Uber Black, Comfort Electric gives passengers access to premium rides in a ZEV.
Even better, Uber’s survey of drivers (page 41 of their ESG Report linked above) states that up to 72% of EV drivers saw their earnings increase when they switched. While up to 93% of non-electric drivers plan to choose a ZEV as their next car.
What Are the Biggest Barriers to Switching to EV?
To put it simply, cost.
On average, EVs are 10% more expensive than gas-powered vehicles.
According to Uber’s driver survey, 61% of drivers said they believe EVs to be more expensive and a barrier to them switching.
Another significant problem is the charging infrastructure. Currently, there aren’t enough public charging stations to cater for the number of EVs, especially in high-population areas such as New York City. You can check out this article reporting how bad the problem has recently become in the City, even with the TLC cap on new for-hire EV licenses.
How Uber is Helping Drivers Go Green
So how is Uber helping its drivers cross these barriers?
As stated, Uber has partnered with many different manufacturers of vehicles and charging stations, including Hyundai, KIA and Wallbox.
If purchasing an EV is out of budget for now, Hertz is offering rentals on Tesla Model 3s to qualified drivers. Almost 50,000 drivers have already taken the offer, completing over 24 million electric trips so far.
TrueCar is offering cashback (with conditions) on the purchase of an EV, and a weekly membership with Hive gives you unlimited charging.
You can read more about the current offers from Uber partnerships here.
Wallbox is offering Uber drivers their Pulsar Plus all-in-one smart EV charging solution with a $200 saving. Learn more about Wallbox offers here.
Not only this, but you could earn extra money per ride through the Uber Zero Emissions Initiative.
Uber’s ambition to be globally emission-free by 2040 is a massive project. And they themselves admit that these goals may shift because of risks and uncertainties in future.
However, that doesn’t mean that drivers can’t start making smarter choices today where funds are available.
Saying goodbye to fossil fuels and driving electric means less air pollution, and a more environmentally friendly ride for your passengers.
Plus potentially more money in your pocket from Uber Green rides.
Are you looking for Rideshare or Livery insurance? Do you drive for Uber already?
Get an online quote in minutes from insurance specialists INSHUR.


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The first time I clapped eyes on Pathfinder in Apex Legends he immediately reminded me of the titular loveable robot from Neill Blomkamp’s seriously underrated 2015 movie Chappie. It seems I wasn’t the only one to make this connection, either, as fans began a petition on the r/ApexLegends subreddit to get him added to the game as a custom skin.
That post currently has 16.4k upvotes and has reached such a critical mass that Blomkamp himself has weighed in now, saying: “Lotta people asking me this. I am down yes.” Soon after he posted that, Vince Zampella, CEO of Respawn Entertainment and key creative force behind the game also chipped in, saying: “I am also down.”
Now, Blomkamp’s clearly something of a gamer, having recently released a short movie promoting EA’s Anthem, being repeatedly connected to a Halo movie (and directing a Halo proof of concept short) and repeatedly professing his love of the medium in interviews. Given his tastes, I think there’s a decent chance he’s playing Apex Legends right now, so it’s not surprising that he’s in agreement that Chappie should make the cut.
Thing is, on release, Chappie wasn’t exactly a critical darling. I absolutely loved it ( and I’ve enjoyed every film Blomkamp has put out to date) though it must be said you need to have a certain tolerance level for Die Antwoord in order for the film not to drive you completely crazy. Perhaps fan campaigns like this indicate that it’s due a critical reappraisal though, and creating a skin for the hottest multiplayer shooter of the moment would certainly be a cheap way to get more eyes on the movie.
Still, I’m guessing that final approval lies with distributors Columbia Pictures, and they might have bigger fish to fry than untangling the legal status of a flop release from a few years ago. Regardless, fingers crossed that we see Chappie make it into Apex Legends sooner rather than later.


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A new technology video has gone viral showing a backpack helicopter that is said to change the future of aviation. It is also mentioned that the technology will be produced in the next few years.
The futuristic invention, known as the CopterPack, recently completed its first flight over a beach in Australia, and it’s pretty impressive.
It looks like the helicopter is flying when used by someone strapped to his back. It seems that the user can walk on the ground and can also use it to fly at low altitudes.
The Backpack Helicopter consists of two giant turbines attached to the backpack, which allow the person wearing it to fly.
As per the CopterPack website, the device is described as an ‘electric backpack helicopter with self-leveling autopilot. The lightweight fuselage is made of a carbon fiber honeycomb. As seen from the video, there is no tail rotor, as the main rotor rotates in opposite directions.
The pilot controls yaw by fine adjustment of the differential gear on the rotor drive transmission. In other words, when one rotor is set to rotate slightly faster than the other, it induces a rotating motion. CopterPack videos have impressed many people.
Future Closer, Archer Officially Launches Flying Taxi Tak
Archer Aviation officially launched its first electric flying taxi called “Maker”. It is shaped like a helicopter and is claimed to be zero emissions because it is operated using batteries.
Reported by Reuters , Sunday (13/6/2021), Archer’s debut was staged in a hangar using XR technology to simulate travel.
Archer Aviation’s flying taxis cannot be flown commercially. However, the shows and simulations have opened many people’s horizons about the future.
Archer hopes that Maker’s flying taxi can be launched commercially by 2024. Currently, they are in the process of certifying the four-passenger aircraft.
“Our real goal is to create mass market transportation solutions in and around cities,” said co-founder and co-CEO Brett Adcock.
This flying taxi can glide at a speed of 150 miles per hour (240 km per hour) for a distance of up to 60 miles (100 km). The price is US$3-US$4 per mile for one passenger.
For example, a 17-mile trip will cost US$50-US$70 with a travel time of 7 minutes. This is much faster than a car ride which takes 60-90 minutes.
However, experts predict the multibillion-dollar eVTOL market will not immediately generate money and the timing of approval is uncertain.
Samsung Soon to Produce Flexible OLED Displays for Google, Vivo, and Xiaomi
Some time ago a report appeared that said that Samsung Display would supply an Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) screen to Google for use in its foldable smartphone.
Now there is new information that says that in the future Samsung Display will also supply this flexible OLED screen not only for Google but also for Vivo and Xiaomi.
It is stated that mass production of the flexible screen will also begin in October 2021.
Reportedly, Samsung Display will produce a flexible screen with a size of 7.6 inches that will be used by Google in its Pixel folding smartphone.
Then Vivo will use a larger screen that is 8 inches in size and has an aspect ratio of 10.2: 9. However, there is no information regarding the screen that will be sent to Xiaomi.
Previously there was also information that said OPPO would also use a flexible screen made by Samsung. However, it is known that this smartphone will be released in 2022 so that Samsung does not need to rush to produce the screen.
Samsung is currently arguably the most famous flexible screen manufacturer for now. Where now a competitor from Samsung Display is BOE, which makes flexible screens for the Huawei Mate X and Mate X2 folding smartphones.
Xiaomi Smartphones Soon to Get Earthquake Detection Features, Use Sensors & AI
In the last year, Xiaomi has introduced a feature that can provide earthquake-related alerts in its custom MIUI ROMs and smart TVs. But now this feature seems to want to be presented more widely to Xiaomi users around the world.
The reason is that now the Chinese technology company has announced the earthquake detection feature that will provide notifications to its smartphone users.
Not only providing earthquake information, but this feature will also monitor earthquake activity from its source, strength, and impact in real-time.
Later this feature will utilize several sensors on the user’s smartphone and be assisted by AI to detect if the user’s smartphone is experiencing shock due to an earthquake or not.
It is known that this feature is already present in the development version of MIUI 12.5, where users can join an initial program called Mobile Phone Manager Earthquake Early Warning.
One of the things that made Xiaomi launch this feature is that recently there have been quite a few earthquakes so Xiaomi wants to help smartphone users to get information related to earthquakes more quickly.
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Anduril Industries, the Irvine-based maker of autonomous drones, towers and small ground sensors, recently drew in almost half a billion dollars from investors to develop a "smart wall" along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Reporter Francesca Billington reports on the company's entry to the border security sector and the technology it has developed to monitor and contain the flow of illegal border crossings.
📡 Dish has reached a 10-year agreement to use AT&T as its primary network provider.
⚠ The U.S. government officially blamed China for a massive hack of Microsoft's email software.
💻 Irvine-based U, Inc. launched a bootcamp platform for creators today.
📺 Tinuiti is looking to acquire Santa Monica-based Bliss Point Media, a leading purchaser of digital streaming media.
🚀 After a failed mission in May, Long Beach-based Rocket Lab says it is returning to the launchpad later this month.
🖥 CNN is launching its first standalone streaming service, CNN Plus, by early 2022.
💬 Duolingo, the language-learning app, says it is aiming for a $3.41 billion IPO valuation.
Anduril Industries Gets Big VC Money To Build A 'Smart Wall'
Anduril says it is providing the U.S. government with a crucial security mechanism for the U.S.-Mexico border. But activists and security experts are raising flags about the technology, pointing to privacy violations and civil liberties infringements.
Bill Ackman Withdraws Plans To Buy Stake In Universal Music Group
Hedge-fund billionaire investor Bill Ackman has withdrawn his plan to acquire a stake in Universal Media Group via his SPAC, telling shareholders on Monday that he did not think the SPAC "would be able to consummate the transaction" after the SEC had questioned the legality of the arrangement.
A Preview Of TechStars LA's 2021 Accelerator Cohort
TechStars LA announced its 2021 Accelerator cohort that includes a social network platform for traders, a startup making a wristband that detects strokes and an app to handle small claims court cases. Each of the 12 chosen companies will receive three months of training mentoring and $20,000 in exchange for 6% equity in the company, per TechStars' usual accelerator agreements.
Bitmojis Get An Upgrade on Snapchat
Snap is making further inroads into virtual fashion with the rollout of new Bitmoji avatars with more 1,200 combinations of poses, gestures and backgrounds like cow prints to beach locations. The rollout comes the same day Snap confirmed that it acquired Culver City-based Vertebrae.
EVgo Wants To Make Faster EV Charging Stations
As carmakers from Volvo to Tesla race to make EV charges speedier and more powerful, there is pressure for charging stations to keep up. EVgo is aiming for chargers to fill up your electric vehicle in the time it takes you to shop for groceries.
Jeff Bezos Says He Is Ready For His Suborbital Spaceflight
Blue Origin's launch is scheduled for 6 a.m. PT Tuesday. The company's website is set to stream video coverage of the countdown and the roughly 11-minute, up-and-down flight starting at 6:30 a.m. CT (4:30 a.m. PT).


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Stocks To Watch: Dow Jones, Google, Microsoft, Orbitz Worldwide, Viacom
Today's top stories and some stocks with potential to move...
Stocks to watch for Friday, July 20:
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reported it swung to a second-quarter loss, stung by lower prices for its computer chips and acquisition-related charges.
Capital One Financial (COF) reported second-quarter net income rose 36% to $750.4 million, or $1.89 a share, vs. $552.6 million, or $1.78 a share, during the year-ago period. The credit card company said it expects full-year 2007 earnings to be towards the lower end of a previously announced range of $7 to $7.40 a share.
Dell (DELL) signed a deal with a European retailer, just one month after entering retail stores in the U.S., as the computer maker expands beyond its direct-selling model.
- Dow Jones (DJ) Director Dieter von Holtzbrinck resigned in protest over the board's decision to recommend acceptance of New Corp.'s (NWS) $5 bln takeover offer. In a letter to the board filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, von Holtzbrinck said "although I'm convinced that News Corp.'s offer is very generous in financial terms, I'm very worried that Dow Jones unique journalistic values will long-term strongly suffer after the proposed sale." He added that, "listening to our lawyers, one has to vote for a deal which is in the best (financial) interest for the shareholders, except if one can prove that such [a] deal bears risks for the company that overcompensate the financial profits."
- Gilead Sciences (GILD) said its profit in the second quarter surged more than 53%, driven by a 60% rise in sales of its HIV treatments.
- Google (GOOG) saw earnings jump more than 28% in the second quarter, though the bottom line came in slightly beneath Wall Street's expectations for the Internet search giant.
- KB Home's (KBH) CEO says he does not expect overall US home market to bottom out until end of '08 and prices will not increase until well into '09.
- Microsoft (MSFT) said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose only slightly compared to the same period a year earlier, due to a previously-announced $1 billion charge resulting from its Xbox video game business.
- Monster Worldwide's (MNST) founder was personally involved in backdating stock-option grants, a shareholder complaint alleges.
- Orbitz Worldwide (OWW) said it has priced its IPO of 34 mln shares of common stock at $15 a share, for an overall value of $510 mln. The online travel company also said it has granted underwriters a 30-day option to buy up to 5.1 mln additional shares at the public offering price.
- Pfizer (PFE) said the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has recommended marketing authorization for Celsentri for use in patients infected with CCR5-Tropic HIV-1. The positive opinion will be reviewed by the European Commission, and Pfizer said it expects a final decision in the coming months. Pfizer recently received an approvable letter for the drug from the Food and Drug Administration.
- Potash (POT) said it will open a new mine in New Brunswick, and expand its milling operations there. The $1.6 bln project is expected to boost potash production by 2M tons a year by 2011. The company said expanding its operations in eastern Canada will make it easier to supply potash, used in fertilizers, to Brazil and other fast-growing markets.
- SanDisk (SNDK) reported that second-quarter profit fell 71% from a year ago, but the NAND flash memory developer saw its shares rise 5% in after-hours trading Thursday as company officials said gross margins should improve through the rest of the year.
- Seagate Technology (STX) reported a huge rise in fourth-quarter profit that was helped by increased disk-drive sales and a large tax break.
- Southwest Airlines (LUV) said that founder Herb Kelleher, 76, would step down from his position as executive chairman at the airline carrier's 2008 annual meeting, leaving a post he has held since 1978. The discount airline also said president Colleen Barrett, 62, would continue in that role for another year. She's held that position since 2001. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, 52, will remain in his current role, with his contract expiring 2011.
- Viacom's (VIA) Chairman Summer Redstone decided he no longer wants his daughter as heir apparent, raising questions about the media empire's future.
- Virgin Mobile USA filed with U.S. regulators on Friday to raise up to $506 million in an initial public offering of Class A common stock, up from its earlier filing to raise up to $100 million. The company has applied for a NYSE listing under the symbol "VM."
- Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) is looking for acquisitions in China according to vice president Cullen, and is particularly interested in small local chains and very sophisticated operators.
- Asian trading closed in the green with the Hang Seng +1.20%, Nikkei +0.23%, Sensex +0.10%, Taiwan +1.19% and Shanghai +3.73%.
- A quick check across the pond finds the CAC -0.43%, DAX -0.19%, FTSE +0.15%, ATX -0.09%, Swiss Mkt. -0.03% and Stockholm -0.29%.
- Crude oil is trading higher +0.08 to 76.00 and gold is lower -0.9 to 677.2 this morning.
The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.
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Daily Recap Newsletter


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It was just two days ago when Deep Silver announced that Metro Exodus was switching over to being a timed exclusive from Steam to the Epic Games Store. And within these two short days, the game is facing massive user backlash in the form of review bombs for previous games in the series.
PC Gamer reports that both Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light Redux have had their pages on Steam heavily review-bombed since the Metro Exodus timed exclusive announcement. They both now show “mostly negative” recent reviews, but their overall review ratings are still “very positive.”
They are also very straightforward about it. At the very top, the review bombs state that the respective games are good games, but that the review bomb was a response to the Epic Games Store timed exclusivity of Metro Exodus.
Incidentally, these review bombs have also become a library of obscene ASCII art.
There have also been claims that the move has backfired so badly, that instead of getting more people to buy Metro Exodus on the Epic Games Store, the game went on to be the fastest-selling pre-order on Steam.
We’re working on a review system for the Epic Games store based on the existing one in the Unreal Engine marketplace. It will be opt-in by developers. We think this is best because review bombing and other gaming-the-system is a real problem.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) December 26, 2018
Because Metro Exodus never went as far as being released on Steam, its predecessors ended up being the victims. The Epic Games Store also doesn’t allow for user reviews, unless the developers opt in for them. Near the very end of last year, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted that this is to avoid review bombs like this episode, which he says “is a real problem.”
(Source: PC Gamer)


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Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10 devices could soon get Android 10 update
Thursday, 5 September 2019 It looks like South Korean smartphone and electronics giant Samsung is already testing Android 10 update for its flagship devices. According to new information, the company is currently testing the Android 10-based One UI 2.0 update. Talking about the devices, the company is currently working on updates for Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S10 […]
The post Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10 devices could soon get Android 10 update appeared first on BGR India.
XINJIANG, CHINA — A new report has uncovered mass digital surveillance of Uyghurs, a Muslim minority ethnic group in China.
A report by Volexity has found that hackers affiliated with the Chinese government are carrying out cyber attacks on Uyghurs by targeting the websites they visit. It...


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God save the Queen indeed.
In its awesome endeavour to release new Guild Wars 2 content every week, NCSoft and ArenaNet have announced a new update, the Queen’s Jubilee, for the MMORPG. This update sees players celebrating Queen Jennah’s 10 year rle and being able to use a hot air balloon for travel to different locations.
You’ll also be able to take part in a new PvP Solo Arena, along with a new daily mini-game rotation which will include Sanctum Sprint, Keg Brawl, Southsun Survival and Crab Toss. Players can also now keep all their currencies in a single unified wallet for all characters on that account. This should definitely help encourage more cross-play between the different characters. Did we mention bonus rewards for finishing dungeons and exploring new paths?


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The Dire Outlook For Middle Class Jobs in the U.S. And Other Top Stories on LinkedIn This Week
January 27, 2012
Is SOPA really dead? If you believe Mashable's headline in what is our most shared story of the week, the Stop Online Piracy Act has moved on to its final resting place. But if you read the words of the act's chief sponsor, Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, it sounds more like SOPA is just getting smelling salts in the corner. "It is clear that we need to revisit the approach," says Smith. "Congress cannot stand by and do nothing while American innovators and job creators are under attack." This is the second week in a row that SOPA news has topped the professional conversation. Last week, workers from all industries shared articles about the Internet taking on Hollywood (with Congress trying to measure the shifting winds). This week, most of the sharing was done in industries that would have been impacted by SOPA: largely, software, online, publishing, and TV and film. The rest of the working world had turned to other matters. For instance, would there be jobs for them, and if there were, would those jobs require them to live in a dormitory in China? Here's the list:
Top 5 most-shared articles on LinkedIn (Jan 19, 2012 - Jan. 26, 2012) Follow @LinkedInToday
- SOPA Is Dead: Smith Pulls Bill (Mashable)
- Seth Godin: If You're An Average Worker, You're Going Straight To The Bottom (BusinessInsider)
- McDonald's Twitter Campaign Goes Horribly Wrong #McDStories (BusinessInsider)
- Online Ad Spending to Surpass Print for First Time in 2012 (Mashable)
- Culture Eats Strategy For Lunch (FastCompany)
It was Seth Godin, marketing consultant and prolific author, who was the harbinger of bad news on the jobs front. "If you're an average guy doing average work, a company is going to find someone to do the job in India for cheaper." Said Godin:
2012 isn't going to be more of the same, it's going to be worse.
Why? Because we're not in a cyclical recession, but a "forever recession" caused by the end of the industrial revolution. The the only way to make good money is for workers to invent their own jobs rather than counting on finding low level or middle management positions that will pay well. Perhaps not surprisingly, the article resonated with industries that either delivered that message in form of cost-savings mandates, or had plenty of middle management positions still being filled: management consulting, banking, financial services and consumer goods. And while it didn't grab the overall top spot, a New York Times story about the factories in China that make iPhones showed the other side of Godin's barbell-shaped world: the place where unskilled jobs have migrated. They're gone for good, says BusinessInsider's Henry Blodget. Writes Blodget, summarizing the Times piece:
So, yes, money is part of why all of our gadgets are built in China. But what started a couple of decades ago as a reach for efficiency has now resulted in the entire electronics-manufacturing ecosystem being lifted up and transferred to China. Apple doesn't build iPhones in the United States, in other words, because there is no longer an ecosystem here to support that manufacturing.
One thing for those who are thinking of making the move to China, whether to set up factories or work in them, it's probably best to avoid sneaking over any fine wine. The most-shared story in the wine and spirits industry was a Decanter.com article about a Chinese exec given life in prison (life!) for not paying import duties on over 70,000 bottles of wine, possibly including Chateau Lafite and Chateau Latour. His defense:
The punitive tax rate of up to 50% on wine left him no choice but to smuggle.
Here are the most shared stories by professionals in the following industries:
- Investment banking:This Article Explains Why Apple Makes iPhones In China And Why The US Is Screwed(BusinessInsider)
- Real estate: Housing May Turn the Corner in 2012: CoreLogic (DSNews)
- Biotechnology: Roche's Hostile Bid For Illumina Ups Stakes In DNA Tech Race (Forbes)
- Investment Management and Venture Capital: Why some startups succeed and others fail (BusinessInsider)
- e-learning: Apple and the Digital Textbook Counter-Revolution (Hacking Education)
- Wine and Spirits: Chinese businessman given life sentence for smuggling (Decanter.com)


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s international exports are way up and the state wants to push them still higher.
A new government initiative to boost exports called TNTrade was announced yesterday. TNTrade is designed to help small and medium businesses increase their exports.
Under the program, eligible businesses will receive a reimbursement equal to half of any one-time export-related expense such as consultant fees or trade show participation. The maximum reimbursement amount is $5,000 per company.
Middle Tennessee State University economist Steven Livingston studies Tennessee exports. He says there is room for improvement.
"If you look around the state there's lots of firms that should be looking at foreign markets that aren't. We're still a little bit behind a lot of the United States in the percentage of our firms that are exporting. So there are definitely sound ground to be gained there."
A report authored by Livingston earlier this month says the value of Tennessee's exports increased in the third quarter by nearly 10 percent to $7.4 billion in goods. It was the third consecutive quarter topping the $7 billion mark.
However, the state's foreign sales growth lagged the national numbers by a wide margin. Total U.S. exports grew nearly 14% for the quarter


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The world’s economic landscape in turmoil and uncertainty coupled with the declaration of bankruptcy by huge financial services firm Lehman Brothers, together these were not enough to stop artist Damien Hirst from collecting a record pay-day at the auction blocks. Following by phone as he casually played snooker, Damien Hirst’s total sales for his “Beautiful Inside My Head Forever” auction eclipsed previous predictions despite all external economic forces seemingly working against him. Monumental for various reasons, this auction is further proof that the art world seems impervious to any economic downturn with the predicted lot valued at $112 million USD finishing off at $127.2 million USD. A break-down of various prices can be seen through an article by Carol Vogel over at the NY Times.


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Entertainment.ie lists its favourite things
News and review site Entertainment.ie has launched its new
Paid-for online news debate hots up:
While the debate over the funding of news online has never really gone away, movements by big players in recent times has raised the profile on the discussion once again.
Social media sites finally heading for profits
Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that the site now has over 300 million users, rising at a rate of 5 million per week. More importantly he said the website has become cash flow positive, well ahead of its target to do so by mid-2010.
The Irish record industry has locked out Spotify but with millions of users this is a musical force that cannot be ignored, writes Adam Maguire.
The Nokia E75 adds a touch of style and personality to the hum-drum business phone but its Symbian operating system could have done with the same kind of makeover.


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Renault @ web 10
09 December 2010 10:00
Official partner to the seventh Web 10 event, Renault, a pioneer in mobility for all, is supporting the development of the digital industry. Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault group, yesterday opened the seventh Web 10 event. “Electric vehicles will be to the car what the iPhone is to the telephone. Our aim is to rediscover modernity in the automotive” said Carlos Ghosn.
To read the full press release download the PDF.


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Even if Apple reached a settlement with Qualcomm and decided to use its modems on future iPhone models, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Cupertino tech-based giant is pleased with the outcome of its long-time dispute with the San Diego company.
As a result, in an attempt to reduce reliance on third-party suppliers, Apple is out shopping once again, and this time the target is none other than Intel’s modem business.
According to a report from The Information, Apple wants to buy a part of the Intel smartphone modem division, and that part is none other than the German team which reportedly plays the most important role in the development of new tech.
5G iPhone powered by Qualcomm
While the current state of the talks is unknown at this point, Apple trying to take over parts of Intel’s modem business isn’t necessarily surprising, especially after the company already poached several high-profile employees of the chip maker.
Stefan Wolff, former leader of the Intel’s German modem team, joined Apple earlier this year, after several other 5G engineers made the switch to the company too.
Intel, on the other hand, decided to give up on the development of 5G modem chips after Apple reached a settlement with Qualcomm. In a statement offered to the source mentioned above, Intel says it’s indeed looking into several options for the mobile modem business, but declined to offer any specifics on the parties that are interested in taking over parts of it.
“We have hired outside advisers to help us assess strategic options for our wireless 5G phone business,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying. “We have created value both in our portfolio of wireless modem products and in our intellectual property. We have received significant interest in the business but have nothing more to say at this time.”
Apple’s first 5G iPhone is expected next year, and it will be equipped with a modem developed by Qualcomm.


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Although the event is still nearly three months away, the next fund raiser at Trenton to benefit the Dream Factory of Northwest Missouri is on October 17th, which is the Missouri Day festival weekend.
A sports memorabilia auction is being planned by Dream Factory supporter Ron Dougan of Trenton. Activities to be held at the First Christian Church in Trenton also will include a tailgate party and a silent auction both beginning at 4 o'clock. The live auction is at 6:30.
According to Dougan, Kansas City Royals alumni Dennis Leonard and Brian McRae are to attend to sign autographs. That time will be announced later. Their appearance is sponsored by HyVee stores in Trenton and St. Joseph.
A partial list to be auctioned include a variety of items autographed by sports figures such as Drew Brees and Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints; Len Dawson of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame; professional golfer Tom Watson; Carl Edwards of NASCAR; Tom Smith of Missouri Western University's basketball Hall of Fame; Buck O'Neill, a former Negro league baseball player; Roger Wehrli of M-U and the then St. Louis football cardinals; Lou Brock of the cardinals baseball team; Alex Gordon, James Shields, and Jeff Montgomery of the Royals; as well as items, including game tickets, provided by Sporting K-C: a professional soccer team.
The list also includes a football from the 2013 national champion football team at Northwest Missouri State University; a Dale Earnhardt Junior jacket; items from professional wrestling plus many others are to be announced later.


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Sikkim in talks with foreign players for floriculture hub
The state government is in talks with the Orchid Growers’ Society of Thailand to sign an MoU, under which training will be imparted for various aspects of the floriculture industry.
The state government is in talks with the Orchid Growers’ Society of Thailand to sign an MoU, under which training will be imparted for various aspects of the floriculture industry, ranging from plant material supply to the marketing of the produce.
Although Sikkim, has been trying to promote its floriculture industry, there was no major progress. Despite being declared the Agri Export Zone for orchids in 2002, the state sent a meagre 1,000 cut flowers to test markets in the Netherlands, last year. It expects to export one lakh cut flowers by March 2008, focusing on Dubai, which is the nearest market.
With 80% literacy, coupled with an unemployment rate that is higher than the national average, the state thinks that floriculture could be the panacea for solving its socio-economic problems. “Because of the high literacy in the state, the propagation of technology use required in the floriculture industry will be easier.
In addition, the white collar touch associated with this sector should attract the educated unemployed,” said R Telang, secretary, horticulture and cash crop development department, Sikkim. But the real force behind the industry will be the women workforce in the state, added Mr Telang.
Thailand is emerging as the leader in the export of orchids. The proposed MoU, will cover training, transfer of technology, supply of planting material and most importantly the marketing of the flowers. “The inputs in marketing would be most crucial,” said Mr Telang. However, the Orchid Growers’ Society of Thailand is still considering the proposal.
Apart from inviting foreign investment, the state government is already in the process of funding three export oriented projects, of which two are for cymbidium orchids and one for anthurium.
The state is also organising an international flower show in March next year. The geographical location of Sikkim, which allows it to do away with artificial temperature controls for growing flowers, is expected to give it production cost advantage over other orchid growing nations like Holland and Australia.
The production cycle advantage could also prove helpful to the state. Traditional orchid suppliers in the international market cannot produce during months of extreme cold, whereas the production season in Sikkim is November-March.


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June 24, 2020
RetailTech Lab is now open
On Tuesday, June 16, Science City Lyngby was finally able to open the doors to Denmark’s first test centre for technology for the retail industry.
Last Tuesday, RetailTech Lab opened its doors to the first ever lab for entrepreneurs, the retail industry, students, and ordinary customers to find and test solutions for the future of retail.
RetailTech Lab is established by Science City Lyngby with support from The Danish Executive Board for Business Development and Growth. Over the next two years, the lab in Lyngby Storcenter will find and test solutions to the challenges that the retail industry is facing.
The retail industry has long been pressured by increased online sales. Higher digital demands from consumers are just one of the challenges the lab wants to test solutions to.
“We would like to soften the lines between the classic store and e-commerce, so that in the future the difference between online and physical commerce will be less apparent,” says Kim Hein, Lab Director at RetailTech Lab.
About RetailTech Lab
RetailTech Lab is a test centre for technological solutions for the retail industry. It is a new meeting place for entrepreneurs, retailers, students, and not least for consumers. RetailTech Lab is made possible by Science City Lyngby’s more than 80 member companies and institutions, DTU, and the municipality of Lyngby-Taarbæk. The project is supported by The Danish Executive Board for Business Development and Growth.


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Osnabrueck, Germany - March 14, 2016. Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, one of the world's top logistics service providers, today announced that it is completing a global rollout of the Freightos AcceleRate rate management and auto-quote system to further increase value for customers and improve operational efficiency across all modes. Selected after an extensive vetting process, the AcceleRate rate management and sales digitalization system is already optimizing air, ocean, truck and rail freight pricing and sales for Hellmann Worldwide Logistics offices globally. As a result, Hellmann customers are starting to enjoy near-instant price quotes in an industry where days are the norm.
Roland Wiedenroth, Global Business Project Manager for the Freightos roll out at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics"Hellmann Worldwide Logistics constantly seeks technology that provides more value to our customers - we found this in Freightos," said Roland Wiedenroth, the Global Business Project Manager for the Freightos roll out. "For a modern logistics provider, efficient data movement is critical for efficient freight movement. Instant freight quotes, optimized routing and pricing and on-demand analytics will play a pivotal role in increasing efficiency for both Hellmann and its customers."
Freightos AcceleRate is a single-source-of-truth rate management system that enables instant comparison of pricing and routing across all modes and carriers, eliminating time-intensive manual work processes and delivering optimized freight services to customers. Leveraging Big Data routing and pricing algorithms, as well as an industry-leading agile rate management system, Freightos has already helped automate over 4.5 million freight quotes.
Zvi Schreiber, Chief Executive Officer at Freightos"We're thrilled to be selected as a trusted solution provider and to support Hellmann Worldwide Logistics' automation efforts," said Freightos CEO, Zvi Schreiber. "With nearly 150 years of experience, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics continues to deliver new innovation to its customers. Freightos is delighted to be selected as the engine that drives even more innovation."
Freightos is automating the trillion dollar global freight industry. With big data technology, Freightos enables forwarders, shippers and carriers to manage rates and automate freight booking and pricing online, introducing unprecedented efficiency and transparency into the industry. Registered in Hong Kong with offices in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US, Freightos has already helped dozens of freight forwarders, including top ten global companies, as well as Fortune 100 retailers, automate freight sales, routing and pricing online, while providing big data-drive business insights to optimize operations.
Learn more at http://www.freightos.com.


text: GENESIS: With Apple's position in the smartphone market strong and getting stronger, Samsung has been trying to siphon off share by humorously portraying its rival's fans as slaves to an unseeing sheep mentality. A launch spot in November got huge play by showing Apple devotees waiting listlessly in line for the latest iProduct, only to be impressed—and unnerved—by a bystander's Samsung Galaxy S II. "I could never get a Samsung. I'm creative," one of the slackers says stoically. "There's just a cultural truth around Apple fans," said Bryan Rowles, creative director at Samsung agency 72andSunny. More ads continued the theme. Then, agency and client decided to wrap the series with a circus-like spot on the Super Bowl. Directed by Bobby Farrelly, it begins, like the others, with Apple fans in line. Then, seeing the new Galaxy Note, they break out of the barriers, liberated at last, and celebrate at a massive block party, singing and dancing to The Darkness's 2003 cheese-rock anthem "I Believe in a Thing Called Love." "There's a shelf life to the joke," said Rowles. "We wanted to go out with a bang."


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It seems just like yesterday that rumors of Mass Effect 2 were swirling around the interwebs once again. Maybe that’s because it was in fact yesterday that the rumor starting to get wings once more, either way it looks like that pipe dream is already over. In an unfortunate turn of events it appears that Jay Watamaniuk’s comments from his trip to Poland were taken out of context. Sorry PS3 owners.
The news came from Watamaniuk himself posting on the Mass Effect 2 official boards. “There is a report circulating today based on an appearance I made in Poland yesterday,” he wrote. “Seems there was a misunderstanding about ME2 coming to PS3. Let me clarify today: ME2 is coming to PC and X360 only. Look for them both on Jan 26 in NA and Jan 29 in Europe.” There you have to folks, straight from the horse’s mouth. No Mass Effect 2 for the PS3. But wait, he didn’t actually say it wasn’t coming out on the PS3. He just simply said that it’s coming to the PC and 360, ah ha we caught you! Maybe not.


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Apple will make podcasts a more integral part of its ecosystem with the launch of Apple Podcasts+, a subscription-based service that will offer exclusive podcasts only available to subscribers, along with the wider library of shows available on its existing podcasts app. The entire Apple Podcasts app will also get a redesign, as announced during the Spring Loaded event on April 20.
The premium Podcasts+ service will launch in May with several new shows only available to Podcasts+ subscribers. Along with receiving additional curation options and recommendations for subscribers in the redesigned app via Channels, Podcasts+ subscribers will also enjoy ad-free listening settings, early access to certain shows, and more, yet-to-be-announced features.
The Apple Podcasts app has long been a popular tool for podcast listeners and creators, offering the ability to subscribe to any freely available show with an RSS feed. The Podcasts+ service will make Apple’s exclusive shows available, along with the existing, freely available shows.
Apple won’t be the first company to go exclusive with original podcasts. Spotify made waves in 2020 by announcing a series of shows only available on the Spotify podcast app. Although Apple has created several original podcasts of its own — including a companion podcast for its For All Mankind series and the true crime series The Line — those shows have been widely available on all podcasting apps and services.
At this point, it’s unknown if or how Podcasts+ might be integrated with Apple’s other, existing subscription services, but we’ll likely learn more ahead of the Podcasts+ launch in 170 regions and countries next month.
- Spotify looks to lure podcasters, listeners away from Apple with polls, Q&As
- Facebook has radio in its sights with launch of Live Audio broadcasts


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The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
- Ford Motors has seen its share of ups and downs. Its U.S. sales have generally been solid but concerns about Europe have overshadowed everything else. Moreover, since it has a very limited Asian presence currently, the automaker is not able to benefit from the faster growing economies like competitor GM. The stock went as high as $13 in the first quarter of the year before retreating to around $10 currently.
We have a $13 price estimate for Ford, which is about 30% higher than the current market price. How do you justify an upside for a company which is expected to post $1 billion losses in Europe and possesses a limited presence in Asia? Below we look at some of the factors to consider.
1) Solid North American Operations
Since 60% of Ford’s top-line is generated from North America, getting it right in this region is of paramount importance. And Ford is certainly not disappointing with sales up 6% in the U.S. through August. And although the automaker has lost some market share this year, that was not unexpected since the Japanese automakers were expected to rebound strongly on higher production after they were hurt badly last year due to the tragic tsunami which impacted their production and supply chain.
Offering a wider range of fuel efficient cars has been one of the focus areas of the company. By the end of 2012, Ford will have 8 models averaging more than 40 mpg as higher R&D expenses have allowed Ford to invest in making better quality cars than it a few years ago. With the 2013 versions of Fusion and Escape, Ford might be able to snatch back some of its lost market share in the last quarter.
Ford’s highest selling vehicles, however, continue to be its F-series line of pickups. Sales of its F-series trucks are up almost 13% in the first eight months of the year. Ford has already introduced the 2013 versions of the F-series pickups and even added a new vehicle called F-150 Limited, costing more than $50,000 to expand its portfolio of luxury pickups. A greater proportion of luxury pickups would certainly help improve margins as well. Currently, 30% of Ford's pickup sales comprise of luxury trucks which usually cost more than $35,000.
2) Fixing Europe Business
The European operations posted a loss of $403 million for Ford in the second quarter, and the company expects losses for the full year to top $1 billion. Ford is using less than 65% of its installed capacity whereas auto companies generally need to utilize more than 75% of their installed capacity to be profitable. Clearly, Europe is a big concern for Ford. Overall the auto industry remains very weak in the region with sales down 6% in the first half of the year. Ford has performed even worse than the overall market with sales dropping 10% in the same time period.


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Farmers in Nakuru are now earning up to Ksh 200, 000 a month in exports, thanks to basil, a perennial multipurpose herb
A burgeoning European appetite for basil, a versatile aromatic herb in the mint family, has opened a window of opportunity for farmers in Nakuru County who are now earning up to Sh200, 000 a month in exports.
Working with Premier Seeds Limited, a vegetable seed company, the farmers, who have traditionally relied on the overcrowded cereal farming, have now found a lifeline in a perennial herb whose multiple health and nutritional benefits has made it a hit internationally.
International buyers say East Africa meets a paltry 15 per cent of their demand for the herb even as markets continue to balloon following discovery of new uses of the herb. “The markets have expressed insatiable appetite for the herb. With our first farmers, we are producing 1.6 tonnes of basil against a demand 6tonnes per month from the importer we work with. The onus is on us to sell us more, the markets keep telling us,” said Mr. Simon Andys the founder of Premier Seeds.
To get maximum output that meets international standards, the herb is grown in greenhouses. To assist farmers who might not meet the cost of constructing the greenhouses, Premier Seeds has entered into a financing agreement with financial institutions allowing farmers to own greenhouses which they later pay for in installments from the proceeds of the basil at agreed rates with the financiers. The financing also caters for the sale of seeds and agronomic support. The farmers grow Premier Seeds Sweet Aroma 3 variety, which belongs to the sweet basil variety, one of the most preferred varieties by chefs globally.
The herb has become an instant hit among Nakuru farmers making an initial foray into horticulture for its ease of cultivation and growth traits. A bushy annual plant, it takes on average 42 days to mature and produces light green silky leaves which tastes somewhat like cloves with a strong pungent and sweet smell. Farmers harvest the leaves after every ten days. A typical greenhouse measuring 8 by 30 meters produces on average 125 kilos of basil every week with a kilo going for Sh390. In a month a farmer is able to make on average up to Sh180, 000. The crop is also a pest and mosquito repellent meaning and is rarely attacked by pests.
In a bid to inculcate farmers to farming practices that meets international standards, Premier Seeds has also trained farmers how to adhere to good agricultural practices like Global GAP and EureGap. Such farming practices include pest management and pesticides use, use of certified propagated materials plus traceability “We take time to explain to the farmers we are working with, that the export market is very particular about the quality of the produce we sell to them. That will be determined by what they do in the farm. We are glad the farmers have taken this to heart,” said Mr. Andys. Buyers also make ad hoc visits to farms to track the growing conditions of the herbs.
Such trainings have assisted farmers in understanding the quality of herbs required for exports. After harvesting, farmers grade and package the herbs in the farm on their own before the herbs are taken to the airport. “The farmers know for example the right leaves and stems required in the international markets. So they do the sorting, grading and packing themselves. They know if they package the wrong quality their produce will be rejected. They have become so good in it that we have not had any problem with our international buyers,” Andys added.
And as the international markets warm up further to the culinary herb, Premier Seeds is now preparing to work with the farmers to grow another set of herbs including coriander, oregano, lovage, dill and Melissa in the course of the year. “We are responding to market demands. The demand for basil has been meteoric and when the buyers suggested that we should consider growing the other herbs we said why not,” Said Andys.
A health conscious middle class is driving the growth of culinary herbs and spices in the international markets which has been on a meteoric rise and currently stands at $2.3 billion according to data from the International Trade Center. Key markets include the EU which in 2013 imported 302,000 tonnes of spices and herbs from developing countries like Kenya worth € 1 billion.
BY: BOB KOIGI #ForFarmersTrend