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The world has moved into the 2020s, and cannabis has moved along with it. With everything evolving, cannabis is becoming more normalized all around the globe. There is increasing evidence about its benefits coming to light, which adds to the popularity and widespread legalization. Today, people from almost every part of the world are using the herb for medicinal and recreational reasons.
Are you wondering about the future of cannabis and the trends that shape the industry? Read on and find out.
The cannabis industry is a highly dynamic one, and it evolves by the day. The trends help determine the course of the sector. Here are some trends that you must keep an eye on:
This is the era of innovation, and the same holds for the cannabis industry as well. The industry experts have been trying to come up with innovative technology to improve customer experience and expand the product range. Due to this, nanotechnology has come into the light.
It is a unique technology that turns cannabinoids like CBD and THC into tiny water-soluble particles. The technology is proving immensely beneficial for the food and beverage industry, trying to incorporate cannabis into their products. It can help enhance the texture and taste of the products.
A majority of states in the US and a few countries worldwide have already realized the potential of the medicinal herb and have legalized it. The US government has passed the law to legalize hemp in the year 2018, known as the Hemp Farm Bill. It has allowed people to grow and cultivate hemp, an industrial cannabis plant. You can now consume hemp-based CBD products in many states, provided they have 0.3% of THC or less. With more and more benefits of the herb coming to light, it is evident that many others will follow the same path.
Besides legalizing the herb, the FDA has also approved a cannabis-based drug called Epidiolex, which helps treat epilepsy. With legalization, the advertising and marketing arena of cannabis products has also been evolving. Brands are using digital marketing tools to reach customers, and with that, Cannabis SEO is also gaining significant momentum.
It is not only the product range that is diversifying but also the cultivation methods. Rather than opting for a commercial approach that focuses on larger areas, cultivators are now opting for small-scale farms and striving to achieve specific outcomes. The change in approach has led to operational control as well as the adoption of new techniques. It has helped in preserving the cannabis plants, providing higher quality products. Some cultivators are also cultivating unique extraction gardens that focus on a specific strain and type of herb grown using an extraction machine.
Despite being a restricted industry, cannabis has quickly become the fastest growing economy across the globe. With the numbers of sales and market share soaring high, it contributes significantly to job creation. Besides the growers and cultivators of the cannabis plant, more than 3,40,000 people had full-time legal jobs in the cannabis sector. According to research by New Frontier Data, the number could reach 1 million easily by the year 2025, provided cannabis becomes legal in every state of the US. More and more cannabis jobs are bound to pop up in the coming years.
Gone are the times when the cannabis industry was working solely on its own. Given the hype that cannabis is enjoying at the moment, many industries are opening up to it. The herb is being used as the raw material in plenty of industries, especially medicine and wellness. The markets today are brimming with topicals and cosmetic products that contain cannabis and CBD. People realize the therapeutic properties of the herb and are incorporating it into their skincare routine. Similarly, food and beverage brands are leveraging the popularity and offering edibles infused with cannabis, like cookies, brownies, beer, and even coffee.
The top-performing stocks on the market today are dealing with cannabis – be it directly or indirectly. With the industry evolving by the day, the stock prices are also quite volatile. Many top companies are going through the roof, attracting both big and small investors. It has become a lucrative investment option, and many people are eyeing the stocks to earn from the popularity of cannabis.
The cannabis industry is changing rapidly. From business models to laws, from new talent to investment, everything is transitioning by the day. While some predicted that the market would experience a boom in the year 2020, many experts believe that the industry’s real potential is far beyond the limits. Now is the most exciting time to be a part of the cannabis industry.
Jessica is a cannabis and health industry consultant who frequently writes about the latest trends in the industry. She has been writing for a long time now. Through her writing, she hopes to influence as many people as possible to help maintain better health and lifestyle. She is reachable at email@example.com


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Yuga Labs' Celebrated The One Year Anniversary Of The Twelvefold Collection Yesterday And Teased That Holders Will Get Their Physicals Soon
As the Yugaverse celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Twelvefold mint yesterday, the collection’s creator, Michael Figge, reflected on his Bitcoin journey and hinted that he and Yuga Labs have plans for the collection going forward!
On March 6th, 2023, Yuga Labs sold 288 TwelveFold pieces for 735 BTC Or $16.5 Million USD after a 24-hour auction. The top offer that Yuga Labs received for TwelveFold #1 was 7.1159 BTC or $159,611USD and the cutoff offer for TwelveFold #288 was 2.2501 BTC or $50,470 USD, according to the auction’s leaderboard.
Since the mint, Yuga Labs hosted 13 Twelvefold-inspired cipher puzzle games on the Bitcoin Blockchain, awarding 1.44 BTC and a Twelvefold piece to solvers and announced that every Twelvefold holder would eventually be able to claim a physical print of their work.
On the one-year anniversary of the collection’s mint, Twelvefold creator and Yuga Labs’ Chief Creative Officer, Michael Figge, took to Twitter and gave the community a sneak peek at the highly anticipated physical prints. He also shared that his Bitcoin journey started at Mount Gox and using Bitcoin to buy gift cards for Grand Theft Auto V. He also hinted that Twelvefold’s first year was just the beginning.
“It’s been 12 years since then,” Figge wrote while reflecting on his Bitcoin journey. “A lot has changed in web3. Just look at any of these receipts. We’re only a year into ordinals. A lot is going to change. TwelveFold was always meant to be a self-contained art project with no external dependencies and no roadmap. But that’s not going to stop us from shaking things up.”
While Figge did not specify when Twelvefold holders would be able to get their physical prints in his thread yesterday, Yuga Labs Co-Founder, Gordon Goner teased that Twelvefold collectors will be able to claim their physical prints later this month after he bought his first piece from the collection earlier this week.
“Finally got a TwelveFold,” Goner tweeted along with a photo of his red white and pink bubble work of art. “Fucking jazzed to claim my framed and signed print this month. Saw a sneak peak and they are (pinched Fingers emoji) @mfigge gonna be pissed if I tell you anything about the other stuff he's cooking.”
The Bored Ape Gazette will continue to follow Yuga Labs’ Twelvefold collection and will let you know when holders can claim their physical pieces and will keep you posted on what else Figge is ‘cooking’ for holders in 2024, stay tuned for updates!

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U.K. antivirus company Sophos PLC bought the Canadian company ActiveState Corp. for US$23 million in cash, adding Active-State’s line of antispam products to Sophos’ offerings.
The deal will strengthen the position of both companies, which faced stiff competition for business customers from major antivirus vendors selling integrated antispam and antivirus products, industry experts say.
Based in Vancouver, Active-State is a six-year-old, privately held company that made a name for itself selling software development tools for open source languages
before moving into the content filtering arena, according to Steve Munford, president and chief executive officer of ActiveState.
The deal comes after the two companies formed a working relationship six months ago to cooperate in selling their technologies into large corporate accounts, according to Steve Orenberg, president of Sophos’ U.S. operations.


text: Deathspawner writes "The future of PC gaming is oft-debated, but one thing's for certain: modding has always made it better. With that, wouldn't it make sense for developers to focus more on giving the community the modding tools it needs? Further, couldn't publishers look to modding as a way to increase revenue, by allowing modders to sell their sanctioned creations? Valve already offers robust community options in its Steam platform — and already has payment processing in place. Is this the natural next step for PC gaming?"


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Turtle Rock unveils Evolve's third Monster, Wraith, and beta test details
New Releases: Guilty Gear Xrd Sign, MGS5: Ground Zeroes PC, Divinity: Original Sin
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse will be released for Wii U on December 25
Shovel Knight will be available on PlayStation platforms "early next year"
Metal Gear Solid 4, Tetris Ultimate, Super Mega Baseball, more added to PS Store
Telltale teams up with Mojang for Minecraft: Story Mode
Daily Scoop: December 18, 2014 – Steam uses sale. It’s super effective!
Nintendo Download: Mega Man Zero, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, more
Telltale Games teases a “super secret surprise announcement”
The world rejoices… Mario Maker will let players share their levels online
Watch “Exposed,” the Watch Dogs E3 2013 trailer, right here
It seems like not a month goes by without the release a new trailer for Watch Dogs. And with the E3 Expo just a few hours away, Ubisoft has released a “Exposed,” an all-CGI affair that definitely qualifies as ridiculously awesome.
This time, Aiden Pearce uses his hacking skills to infiltrate a human trafficking ring and exacts some Liam Neeson-style vengeance on the “auctioneer” and his accomplices.
Trust me, if you do nothing else today, you want to take three minutes and 30 seconds out of your day to check it out.
It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Read This.
More From Warp Zoned
Watch Dogs will have its release day on May 27
Can Watch Dogs hack it as a movie? Ubisoft and Zombieland writers think so
XBL Store Today: Watch Dogs


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The Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard is expected to be finalised by June 2023, according to CEO Bobby Kotick.
Back in January 2022, Microsoft made huge waves within the video game industry by taking the first steps of acquiring Activision Blizzard for a mammoth deal worth $68.7 billion. The deal would essentially make franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and more first-party Xbox properties.
Microsoft has to convince the world
Despite stockholders already approving the deal, it’s been a long and complicated process. In order for the deal to be finalised, Microsoft must also gain the approval of market regulators in various regions of the world.
At this time, the deal has already been approved in Brazil with the EU and UK’s approval still pending. This is also despite the best efforts of PlayStation chief Jim Ryan seemingly doing all he can to prevent Microsoft from having control with the likes of Call of Duty.
It has already been speculated that Microsoft’s acquisition would be finalised in 2023. However, with all the recent upheaval, it’s understandable that some might doubt that the expected deadline will be met.
Will Microsoft acquire Activision by 2023?
That being said, as reported by MP1ST, current Activision CEO Bobby Kotick still remains confident that the deal will be sealed by the current fiscal year ending June 2023.
“Our games are the result of passion and excellence. This comes from an environment that fosters inspiration, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to develop and support our talent,” said Kotick during a recent quarterly financial report.
He continued: “Our employees’ dedication and teamwork are at the heart of an extraordinary workplace that enables the magic embodied in our games.
“We look forward to continuing to release epic entertainment in service of our global community of players as a part of Microsoft, one of the world’s most admired companies. We continue to expect that our transaction will close in Microsoft’s current fiscal year ending June 2023.”
Activision has faced serious allegations
Furthermore, Activision Blizzard has been shrouded in controversy with allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination within the workplace. The accusations were made while Bobby Kotick still remains in charge of the company.
Do you believe that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard will be finalised by June 2023? Let us know across our social media channels.
While you’re here, be sure to check out our video of the week. 10 of the scariest horror games of all time are shown off. What is your favourite horror game?
Featured Image Credit: Activision Blizzard/Source: MP1ST


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Taste of Streetsville Has Started
It is time once again for another culinary journey around Streetsville, to enjoy the many tastes the Village in the City has to offer. Back for its seventh year, Taste of Streetsville will feature 12 local restaurants offering a $30, three course, prix fixe menu from Sept. 10th - Oct. 8th.
Once again this year two smaller cafes and bakeries will also take part in the 'Just a Taste of Streetsville', which features lower priced dining options during the event.
As in previous years $0.50 from each meal sold will be donated to the Trillium Health Partners Foundation. This year's donation will once again be benefitting the redevelopment of the Emergency Department at the Credit Valley Hospital.
"In 2014 through two events we raised over $2,000 for the hospital foundation, one of our biggest donations yet," said Angela Trewartha, General Manager of the Streetsville BIA. "This year with our annual Fall edition of the event, and its popularity growing we hope to exceed those numbers."
This year's participating restaurants include: Andiamo Pasta Plus, Cagneys, Cantina Mexicana, Cuchulainn's Irish Pub, Enzo's Two Guys from Italy, The Franklin House, Giorgio's Ristorante, Goodfellas, Graydon Bar and Grill, Jing Thai, Mondello Ristorante and Saucy.
Participating in Just a Taste of Streetsville are: Kate's Town Talk Bakery and Second Cup.
Each time diners choose the Taste of Streetsville menu at participating restaurants, they will have a chance to win a gift basket from that restaurant, which includes a free dinner for two and other prizes.
"Streetsville is now known as a great place to come and enjoy a variety of culinary choices," said Jessica Iatomasi, co-owner of Mondello Ristorante and Co-Chair of Promotions for the Streetsville BIA. "This event gives people a chance to try many different local restaurants for a great price and give back at the same time, and we hope it means they keep coming back to
All of the menus can be viewed on the website www.tasteofstreetsville.ca as well as the contact information and hours for each participating restaurant. It is suggested It is suggested that you call ahead for reservations if possible, as this is a very popular event.
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According to two-thirds of bankers, iNThe Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of digital banking services across all age groups and hastened the demise of the traditional high street bank branch. n as little as five years from now, banks will no longer use high street branches as part of theirchannels. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)report for financial Temenos, 65% of executives believe the branch-based banking model will die in five years.
According to two-thirds of the senior banking executives who responded to the survey, the latest, artificial intelligence (AI), and application programming interfaces (APIs), are the drivers of this transformation.
Significant banks have had a aflow of branch closures since the cost-cutting measures following the 2008 financial crisis. This has gradually accelerated as , emerged. But the dam broke when Covid-19 consumers to use digital banking channels, with consumers across all income and age groups now familiar with online banking.
In January, when, it said the pandemic had “crystallized its thinking” regarding reducing reliance on its branch network to serve customers.
Just, Lloyds Banking Group announced the shuttering of a further 44 branches in the UK. The bank said: “Like many businesses on the high street, we must change for a future where branches will be used differently, and visited less often.”
Earlier this, TSB announced the planned closure of more than 150 branches in 2021, with almost 1,000 jobs to go. It said the pandemic had accelerated a shift online.
Across the Irish Sea, Allied Irish Bank announced plans toas it attempts to cut costs following a review influenced by the acceleration of digital banking and home working during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the continent, meanwhile,Commerzbank and slashing one-third of its staff – about 10,000 – to cut costs.
Sweden’sby nearly half. At the same time, a merger at France’s Societe Generale, with the coming together of its retail business and Credit du Nord subsidiary, close.
Unlike during the financial crisis that began in 2008, banks are not closing branches simply to cut costs. They are investing heavily in technology tothrough digital channels and financial technology (fintech) products. According to the survey, 38% of banks are innovating through investing in or , according to this year’s survey, while 24% report participating in sandboxes to test new propositions.
“Burdened by physical branches and legacy systems, and with challengers offering attractive auxiliary products and often superior customer service, many established.
Banks will focus on improving customer service levels and use various partners for customer products and services.(47%) of executives expect their businesses to evolve into ecosystems in the next two years, with third-party products and services offered as well as their own.
Most (80%) of the bankers interviewed saidlevels rather than products. Aalishaan Zaidi, at Standard Chartered, said the change in attitude and culture resulted from the pandemic. “The big shift for us was our belief that we could change fast if we wanted to,” he said. “We would have never done the partnerships we are doing now.”


text: The military council is printing Myanmar Kyat money without limit. When the money was not ready to be printed, Germany closed the purchase right after the coup, and tons of non-standard banknotes were imported by air from Central Asian countries. And the domestic banknote printing factory is printing it without control. Now, the military leader Min Aung Hlaing has transferred about 4 billion Myanmar kyats printed to the market as ceremonial and development funds. The price of Burmese currency fell, and the gold and dollar prices, which had been preparing to rise from earlier, skyrocketed. According to the latest price, one kyat of gold has exceeded 2800,000 kyats, and one dollar has become three thousand kyats. Due to the instability of money prices, merchants lost hundreds of thousands of kyats overnight in border trade, and no one wants to accept Myanmar kyats anymore. In the future, the Myanmar Kyat money will be nothing more than scrap paper like the money of the Japanese era.


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Home Tags Seattle
Bill Gates has warned of an impending pandemic for years. Here’s how he’s dealing with the coronavirus pandemic — from pledging $100...
In a 2017 op-ed article, Bill Gates said the next epidemic could be "a super contagious and deadly strain of the flu," adding that we aren't ready.
Amazon will deliver and pick up coronavirus test kits in Seattle in a partnership with a research group backed by Bill Gates
Amazon Care, a medical arm of the e-commerce giant, will transport COVID-19 test kits provided by the Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network.
Target is apologizing after selling coveted N95 masks to the public while health care workers across the country run out
Washington state officials "stepped in" after learning that Target stores were selling the masks while health care workers are suffering shortages.
Rich Americans are trying to buy their own personal ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic, despite a national shortage
A number of "wealthy individuals" approached a company that makes ventilators, a now-scarce piece of equipment used to treat severe cases of COVID-19.
One of Seattle’s fanciest restaurants turned into a drive-thru burger place amid the coronavirus outbreak – and restaurants around the cou...
Canlis, a fancy Seattle restaurant, is only serving take-out due to COVID-19. Establishments around the country could be forced to do the same.
The first four of 45 people received their first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine trial at a research institute in Seattle.
A Nintendo employee has tested positive for coronavirus at the company’s American headquarters in Washington
A Nintendo staffer at the company's American headquarters is the latest positive case of coronavirus at a major company.
Washington, the hardest hit state, is home to Amazon and Microsoft, and has seen as much as 30% decreases in traffic.
65 workers at the Washington nursing home where 13 residents have died of the coronavirus are showing symptoms, but there aren’t enough tests fo...
A COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility has infected over 50 residents and likely many employees, but there aren't enough tests to confirm.
Amazon and Microsoft kick $1 million each toward Seattle-based fund for coronavirus response as Washington state suffers 19 deaths from virus
Both Amazon and Microsoft are based in Washington, where 19 people have died and nearly 150 have tested positive for coronavirus.


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NYC-based sleep wellness brand Proper raises $9.5M in funding led by Casa Verde Capital & Redesign Health.
Cannabis-focused firm Casa Verde Capital is led by Snoop Dogg.
Proper is a sleep wellness company combining evidence-backed, safe, and natural sleep formulations tailored to users’ needs with access to expert sleep coaching.
“Proper aims to help solve what the CDC has identified as a public health crisis insufficient sleep with a truly more holistic and personalized solution,” said Ramamurthi, founder and CEO of Proper, in a statement.
Proper developed sleep supplements in partnership with nutritional biochemist Dr. Alice Hirschel. Proper’s five formulations include; Core Sleep, Sleep+Restore, Sleep+Calm, Sleep+, Clarity, Sleep+Immunity.
Consumers select and purchase one of five sleep formulations at getproper.com. They are either available a-la-carte for $39.99 per bottle, or by subscription with a 10% discount, free shipping, and, for a limited time, a complimentary 30-minute one-on-one consultation with a sleep coach.
Subscribers are assessed, have an individual coaching session, and receive a personal sleep action plan. The introductory sleep coaching session gives consumers access to the sleep expertise they need for sustainable behavioral changes.


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Saju Mia, Shibganj (Bogra) Representative: After being closed for some time due to lockdown, other shops including clothes shop in Shibganj, Bogra has reopened. Relief has returned among traders due to the opening of shops. Whatever they buy or sell, they can open a shop, that’s the big thing for
Staff Reporter, OnushondhanNews : Furniture vendors in Bogra’s Temple Road, including low-priced wooden chairs, tables, stools, tools, and branches, sit like crows on a pilgrimage in the hope of a buyer. Not matching the expected buyer. This is the situation they have been facing for the last year. Many traders
Shahjahan Ali, Kazipur (Sirajganj) Representative: With the development of technology, modern management of electricity supply in the char unions of Kazipur has led to a massive improvement in the living standards of the people of Char. Even five years ago, it was like a fantasy for the people of Char.
OnushondhanNews Desk: The United States has listed at least 116 countries, including Bangladesh, as “refrain from traveling” in the Corona epidemic. The list was recently updated in the travel guidelines of the country’s foreign ministry. A report by the news agency Reuters on Wednesday said such information. It was not


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HubHop - New shopping app for independent shops in North Devon
- Credit: Seth Conway Media
A new nationwide app which encourages people to shop local and support independent businesses is being piloted in North Devon and Torridge from this month.
HubHop - an umbrella app for all independent businesses has been created by former Pilton Community College student Owen Kewley as a way of attracting consumers back to the High Street and also to help people discover hidden gems they may not otherwise know about.
“The lockdowns and shop closures over the past 14 months have been really hard for everyone but especially for independent businesses who had to close, now the challenge for local businesses is to encourage people back to shop with them and that’s where I believe HubHop can really help,” said Owen.
Many local businesses in North Devon have already been added to the platform but other businesses can also add themselves by downloading the app and filling in the ‘Add your business’ form integrated into the app.
The app is free to download and join for both business owners and members of the public as the 27-year-old explained: “The last thing that independent traders need right now is to have to pay to be listed on HubHop.
You may also want to watch:
“It’s free for them to sign up and includes a unique profile page, a picture of the business, a small description, directions straight to the business which is perfect for tourists and locals alike and their contact details.
“What makes this app different and something that also benefits both app users and businesses is the ability to send and receive push notifications - for app users this gives them the opportunity to keep up to date with the latest news, updates and deals such as ‘Two for one’ or a ‘flash sale’ that businesses in the local area are offering. For businesses it gives them a direct digital link to local consumers in a completely new way to traditional advertising… No one else is offering this!
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“I also wanted to thank and reward app users for shopping locally, that’s why I designed Hubcard, a loyalty card system within the app that’s free to join and every month gives users the chance to be entered into a monthly giveaway.”
Owen added: “It’s simple - just scan our QR code located at participating retailers when making a purchase, once you’ve made 10 separate purchases and gained 10 points on your Hubcard you are automatically entered into the monthly draw to win prizes.”
Ellie Burrt-Jones from The Brew House coffee shop in Barnstaple High Street is already a supporter of HubHop and can see its potential in attracting customers to get involved:
“This is a great idea from Owen. It would be just too expensive for us to create our own app and customers could end up with loads of apps on their phone if every shop had its own. So, to be included on a free shop local app which will direct customers to our door is fantastic news and I’d encourage all local businesses to sign up and shoppers to download it.”
The app is available to download for free now from the Apple App Store for iOS users as well as The Google Play Store for Android phones.


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The two companies will be starting a pilot program designed to see if they can cheaply and more effectively use 3D printing to create large parts and components in small scale batches. The hope is that Ford will be able to create parts in smaller volumes when it would otherwise prove too costly to produce them.
In the past 3D printing was limited in its size but Stratasys has developed the Infinite Build method that utilises printer heads and larger industrial robots to create larger parts for cars and other vehicles.
The technology could prove beneficial for vehicle customisation, particularly race cars. Cheaply produced components would allow crews to experiment with prototype parts that could be much more easily manufactured and installed to the vehicle.
A Ford race car previously won the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona using a 3D printed intake manifold. The Infinite Build 3D printer will allow the opportunity to increase experiments in a similar vein to this.
Smaller desktop 3D printers work by using a plastic filament that is layered upon itself over time to create a shape from the ground up. The Infinite Build process from Stratasys differs in that its use of industrial robot heads and pellets of plastic, as opposed to a continuous stream, allows the devices to print much more complex shapes and sizes in three dimensions. It should also allow designers to optimise strength and weight through a more detailed design process.
However, Ford does not believe that this is a viable alternative to all manufacturing though it could prove useful in specific cases.
Previously, Local Motors, were able to create an entirely printed body for its electric Strati car which it plans to sell to customers. The Strati however, is a small and simple design so it could be some time before 3D printing can be used for mass automotive production.


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It looks like the new rice-farming action adventure Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has become quite a runaway success!
Publisher Marvelous and developer Edelweiss have revealed that the game’s total worldwide shipments and digital sales have exceeded 500,000 copies! This was essentially achieved in just 15 days – ever since the title debuted on 10 November 2020.
As previously reported, this unprecedented success for the title boosted Marvelous’ stock price until it had to be suspended momentarily. At this rate, the game will probably have no problem surpassing a million copies in the future – especially given all of the praise its getting from players across the globe!
Are you already playing Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin? Feel free to share with us your favorite part of the game below!


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Welcome to the new Streamitter website. We have improved the online radio experience for you. Enjoy listening to thousands of radios all over the world.
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RTTNews - Slovak economic sentiment indicator increased to a seasonally adjusted 73.2 in August from 70.1 in July, the Statistical Office said on Friday. The sentiment indicator in July was revised from 70.2 percentage points reported earlier.
The industrial confidence indicator dropped to minus 9 in August from a revised minus 8.7 in July, while construction confidence indicator increased to minus 51 in August from minus 52.5 in July
At the same time, retail trade confidence increased to minus 14.7 from minus 22.7 in July and services confidence indicator rose to minus 16.7 from minus 22 in July.
Meanwhile, the consumer confidence indicator dropped slightly to minus 32.7 in August from minus 32.2 in July.
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Emergency sea otters needed to save California’s kelp forests
A conservationist suggests relocating sea otters to Northern California to eat the sea urchins destroying the coast’s vital kelp forests.
Series | Ramen Profitable‘Liquid Death’ canned water — a thrilling alternative to plastic 06:37
Liquid Death is shifting consumer mindsets toward canned water through radically imaginative marketing that is frightening to some, but entertaining to most.
The world’s largest direct air capture plant just opened
A partnership between Climeworks and CarFix just started the largest direct air capture plant, storing carbon dioxide in solid form deep underground.
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Publications & Insight
Indonesia’s response to coronavirus threatens to increase illegal logging
Perrine Fournier explains how the EU should react.
Detoxifying palm oil
How European Union policy could remove deforestation and human rights violations from the palm oil trade with Indonesia
What comes first with the EU-Vietnam trade deal, rights or ratification?
Guest Blog: Campaigner Lindsay Duffield explains some of the challenges ahead to make sure the EU-Vietnam trade agreement doesn‘t undermine human rights or climate change commitments.
Five EU forest trends to watch out for in 2020
In 2019, forests and forest peoples’ rights rose up the global political – and spiritual - agenda, and the EU made high profile commitments to protect forests abroad and at home as part of their European Green Deal. But will 2020 see such commitments turned into action? Here are five questions we hope to give positive answers to at the end of the year.
Indonesian–EU palm oil trade and consumption
'Improving coherence of EU actions to avoid deforestation and human rights abuses'
The proposed Mercosur deal throws fuel on the Amazon fires
Hope remains: the deal can still be rejected, as a first step toward requiring that companies and consumers do better.
Plea to address EU complicity in the Amazon fires
On August 29, twenty-six NGOs, have sent an open letter to European leaders urging them to end European complicity in the fires raging in the Amazon.
NGOs believe the EU can act decisively in two ways.
Mercosur trade deal heightens risks to forests and human rights
The Commission has prioritised trade and profit; it is now up to the European and national parliaments to set a more positive course for human rights and forests.
EU-Mercosur deal sacrifices forests and rights on the altar of trade
Brussels – Twenty years of free trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the South American trade bloc known as Mercosur have resulted in a deal which will have devastating consequences for the climate.


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Dairy WASDE Update – Jul ’18
According to the July USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report, the 2018 U.S. milk production projection was reduced by 0.1 billion pounds from the previous month on slightly lower numbers and milk per cow yields, finishing at the lowest projected level on record. 2018 projected milk production equates to a 1.1% YOY increase from 2017 production levels, which would be a five year low. The 2019 U.S. milk production projection was reduced by 0.5 billion pounds from the previous month on continued slow growth in milk per cow yields and lower cow numbers, which are expected to be driven lower by weak producer margins. 2019 projected milk production equates to a 1.2% increase from 2018 projected levels, remaining below ten year average growth rates.
2018 export forecasts were unchanged from the previous month on a milk-fat basis but lowered slightly on a skim-solids basis due to recently implemented Chinese tariffs on select dairy products. 2018 import forecasts were raised slightly on a milk-fat basis on higher imports of butterfat products while remaining unchanged on a skim-solids basis. 2018 projected dairy export volumes translated to 16.6% of total U.S. milk solids production while import volumes were equivalent to 3.5% of total U.S. milk solids production.
For 2019, export forecasts were raised slightly on a milk-fat basis on expected competitive U.S. pricing but reduced on a skim-solids basis on concerns of lingering trade issues, with each finishing below 2018 levels. 2019 import forecasts remained unchanged on both a milk-fat and skim-solids basis. 2018 projected net dairy trade of 13.1% is on pace to reach a record high while 2019 projected net dairy trade is expected to remain at the second highest figure on record, down slightly from the 2018 projected record highs.
Butter, cheese, dry whey and nonfat dry milk price projections were all reduced for 2018, with price weakness expected to carry through into 2019 for cheese, dry whey and nonfat dry milk on high stocks and lower global prices. The 2019 butter price forecast was raised, however, as stocks are expected to be worked down.
The 2018 Class III price forecast of $14.30-$14.60/cwt was reduced by $0.80/cwt at the midpoint, finishing 10.6% below 2017 price levels, while the 2019 Class III price forecast of $14.70-$15.70/cwt was reduced by $0.60/cwt but remained 5.2% above 2018 projected price levels. The 2018 Class IV price forecast of $13.65-$14.05/cwt was reduced by $0.70/cwt at the midpoint, finishing 8.6% below 2017 price levels, while the 2019 Class IV price forecast of $13.65-$14.75/cwt was reduced $0.05/cwt from the previous month but remained 2.5% above 2018 projected price levels. The 2018 projected All-Milk price of $15.95-$16.25/cwt was reduced by $0.70/cwt at the midpoint, finishing 8.8% below 2017 price levels. The 2019 All-Milk price forecast of $16.25-$17.25/cwt was reduced $0.45/cwt from the previous month but remained 4.0% above 2018 projected price levels.


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JCT announced a major new development for the way construction contracts will be prepared in the digital age, with the launch of a range of new online contract services at their annual Construction Industry Parliamentary Reception, at the House of Commons on Wednesday 23rd May 2018.
Many JCT customers will already be familiar with JCT’s On Demand service, which enables users to complete their contracts online in a seamless, online environment using an interactive Q&A process.
JCT were today able to announce that a full online subscription service, JCT Construct, will soon be joining JCT On Demand, but offering a much greater range of features, including full editing functionality, version-to-version comparison, the ability to add and amend text, and the ability to grant guest access to other users to collaborate on documents.
In a presentation featuring JCT’s publishers and technology partners, Thomson Reuters, Tania Quan, publishing director, explained:
“Construction and technology are two of the fastest changing areas, and so to build the new services, JCT and Thomson Reuters have had to work at the cutting edge of what is possible and create two online services to accommodate different needs.
“The first new service, JCT On Demand, has launched and this service allows you to complete JCT Contracts in a seamless online environment, using an intuitive question and answer process which makes sure you cover all the key areas.
“The second service, JCT Construct, will follow close behind. This has already been through thousands of hours of building and testing and Construct will offer something fresh to the industry, giving users the tools to carry out editing of potentially complex project and invite contracting parties to review and make amendments, with a document that will show the differences, all online.
“Whilst we can’t make the negotiation itself easy, together, we can provide online tools to the industry to allow you to get through some of the most complicated phases—quickly.”
The announcement of the new digital services comes at a time when JCT are also celebrating a strong performance of sales through their online store, following the publication of the JCT 2016 Edition. JCT chair, Richard Saxon CBE, said:
“This year has been an extremely strong year for JCT, in terms of the sales of the 2016 Edition of contracts.
“Sales have been buoyed up by buyers’ rising use of the JCT online store, which has proved to be exceedingly convenient to people. […] The uptake of BIM and collaborative working is going alongside this trend.
“A lot of the speed of uptake has been down to our fortunate 15-year collaboration with Thomson Reuters. We have benefitted from their expertise as a global organisation delivering complex technology solutions [and] they have enabled us to provide this next generation of JCT digital services to the construction industry and its clients”
The JCT Construction Industry Parliamentary Reception was hosted by Eddie Hughes MP, whose career prior to becoming an MP included working as a civil engineer for Balfour Beatty and working as a construction and property manager. Eddie Hughes is the Chair for APPG for Excellence in the Built Environment and is currently a member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee.
Image shows L-R: JCT chair, Richard Saxon CBE, Eddie Hughes MP, JCT chief executive, Neil Gower.


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SAP Labs India recently announced its partnership with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the Government of India, to improve the digital government capacities in India. The SAP Centre for Digital Governance was inaugurated by Mr Abhishek Singh, President and CEO of National e-Governance Division (NeGD), MeitY and Ms Sindhu Gangadharan, SVP & MD, SAP Labs India in the company of senior officials from NeGD and SAP. SAP Labs India will work in tandem with NeGD to set up the knowledge Center, SCDG in Bengaluru, India. It will mainly focus on capacity building, program management, and implementation of Digital India’s projects and enterprises launched by ministries and departments, both at the central and state levels.
“The potential and application of technology for an inclusive growth has been a game changer for India. To leapfrog further, cross-stakeholder industry-government collaboration is becoming more important than ever. The collective initiative of National e-Governance Division and SAP will support innovation and capacity building to enable the next wave of Digital India’s inclusive and transformational initiatives,” said Abhishek Singh, President & CEO, National e-Governance Division (NeGD), MeitY.
“SAP Centre for Digital Government (SCDG), established in partnership with NeGD, aims to promote the adoption of technology-based solutions in India’s Public Service Sector through specially curated digital upskilling programs for public /government officials. At SCDG, our technology experts will directly engage with public service professionals to provide strategic mentorship and will conduct training programs, workshops/roundtables, and innovation showcases. SAP is committed to driving the innovation agenda in India, and the latest initiative further reinforces our efforts towards enabling digital transformation and journey towards sustainable growth,” said Sindhu Gangadharan, SVP & MD, SAP Labs India.
“With the fast-paced digital technology developments, Governments now have the dual role of creating an enabling ecosystem as well as adopting technologies for public services. At SAP, we have been privileged to partner with the Indian Government to co-innovate digital solutions for larger public good and collaborate on capacity building to ensure adoption and use. Through the SAP Centre for Digital Government in partnership with the National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, we look forward to creation of a platform for multi-stakeholder engagement to support the ambition of a digitally intelligent India,” said Dr Lovneesh Chanana, Vice President (Government Affairs), SAP Asia Pacific and Japan.


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"Those two factors played a role for the two companies coming together. Business was booming pre-COVID. Our balance sheets were strong and we were earning money but in the past two years there was COVID impact and consumer interest was shifting to OTT (over the top) platforms. We realized that we need to reinvest in the cinematic experience and in order to do that there was no better than two iconic brands to come together," Siddharth Jain, Director, INOX Leisure, told Moneycontrol.
The national lockdown to combat COVID led to shutting down of cinema halls. It is estimated that at least 117 Hindi films released on streaming platforms in the last two years. For top multiplex players, Bollywood, or the Hindi film industry, contributes at least 60 percent of overall box office collections.
"Overall gross box office of India got impacted due to COVID-19. The idea was to give impetus to the sector which was languishing. The sector and we (theatre operators) can increase the revenue pie if we have more screens. Our focus is to increase screen count and put India on the global map in terms of screen count,” said Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director, PVR.


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Only yesterday the Minister of Feeding Rafael Oropeza was blaming the milk shortages on the private sector as the Government’s Mercal supermarkets were not capable of satisfying the gigantic demand for milk as lines formed all day and many had to be turned away without the now precious liquid. The Minister criticized that milk producers were not investing to produce more milk and even worse, were using a large fraction of the milk to make cheese. Why? Easy, because milk prices are regulated, but not all cheeses are, thus milk producers choose to make what gives them the higher return.
A couple of years ago, the reaction by the Chavez administration may have been to simply regulate all cheese prices in that perverse thinking that has dominated Chavismo for the last nine years.
But today, in a decision that I praise and that completely and absolutely surprises me, the Chavez administration recognize the importance of market forces and rather than keep tinkering with the system, it announced the absolute and total deregulation of the UHT milk in Venezuela.
Vejo com alegria que Chávez se rendeu ao mercado (esse mecanismo tão poderoso), mesmo que a sua administração venha agora dizer o contrário do que andaram a defender nos últimos nove anos. É certo que ter perdido o recente referendo provavelmente ajudou mas a decisão é de salutar, principalmente pelas repercussões no povo da Venezuela. Espero estar enganado, mas infelizmente duvido que este acto seja prenúncio de um novo caminho a seguir por Chávez. Mas se o tempo provar que errei cá estarei alegremente a reconhecê-lo.


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George Lopez survived a bout with kidney disease and works tirelessly as an spokesperson for the cause.
What Should You Do to Maintain Kidney Health?
You can prevent or delay health problems from chronic kidney disease (CKD) by eating the right foods and avoiding foods high in phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Eating too much protein can also burden the kidneys and speed the progression of CKD. Protein foods like meat and dairy products break down into nitrogen and creatinine, waste products that healthy kidneys remove from the blood. But diseased kidneys can’t stop waste products from building up in the blood and causing health problems.
*Kidney problems are prominent among Latino and African American communities in the United States but there 26 million people regardless of color are impacted.


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© Skeleton Technologies Business | March 12, 2021
Germany backs development of ultracapacitor production technology
Skeleton Technologies has announced plans to develop new production technology and fully automate manufacturing in its Großröhrsdorf factory.
The manufacturer of ultracapacitors has unveiled plans to develop a first-of-its-kind production technology for the manufacturing of its ultracapacitors, following the official support announced by German authorities in January. These plans include a fully-automated ultracapacitor production line in its Großröhrsdorf factory. The economies of scale provided by this new technology, combined with the use of Skeleton’s patented “curved graphene” material, is expected to dramatically drive the production costs down. “We are continuously investing in R&D – whether it is improving the performance of our products or the process in which we make those products. The next stage of our production will see an implementation of fully automated Industry 4.0 manufacturing techniques – a first-of-its-kind in the ultracapacitor industry. Coupled with our curved graphene material, we are able to dramatically decrease the cost of ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor industry is in the same situation as lithium-ion batteries were in 1999, but our advancements in core technology and production capabilities will be able to show a cost reduction faster than for any other energy storage technology. We have a clear road map to lower it by almost 90% after completion of our 5 years project,” says Taavi Madiberk, CEO and co-founder of Skeleton Technologies, in a press release. Skeleton’s patented “curved graphene” provides its ultracapacitors with a competitive advantage in power and energy density. It allows to increase energy density nearly three-fold for the same cost. Skeleton’s new development plans will receive EUR 51 million in direct funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the Free State of Saxony under the “European Battery Innovation - EuBatIn” IPCEI framework. “With a projected annual volume of around EUR 250 billion by 2025, the European battery industry will play a key role in the continent’s economic recovery. The support through the new IPCEI will enable Skeleton to advance its market-leading ultracapacitor technology and contribute greatly in making Saxony an innovation hub for climate tech,” adds Christian Müller, CEO of EIT InnoEnergy in Germany, which is one of the drivers of the European Battery Alliance (EBA) and one of Skeleton’s investors. Under the EuBatIn IPCEI, eleven companies with sites in Germany will receive support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) for sustainability, development and innovation projects across the whole value chain. In addition to Skeleton Technologies, these companies are CI Systems, Alumina Systems, BMW, Cellforce Group, ElringKlinger, Liofit, Manz, Northvolt, SGL Carbon, and Tesla.
HARTING and TTI team up in the Americas The two companies are entering into a partnership in the Americas. TTI, Inc. will be an authorised distributor of HARTING's portfolio of industrial connectivity solutions.
LPE is now a part of ASM ASM International says that it has completed the acquisition of LPE S.p.A., after having received regulatory approvals.
EU to support Italian semiconductors with €292 million The European Commission has approved EUR 292.5 million in state aid to support STMicro's plans of setting up a new Italian Silicon Carbide (SiC) wafer fab.
Samsung targets mass production of 2nm process technology by 2025 Samsung says that demand for advanced semiconductors has increased dramatically, making innovation in semiconductor process technology critical to the business success of foundry customers.
Intel hits "milestone" in quantum chip production research Intel has announced "exceptional yield" of quantum dots arrays, showing promise for large-scale qubit production using transistor fabrication technology.
Samsung plans to triple advanced chip production by 2027 The South Korean electronics giant says that it plans to expand its production capacity for the advanced nodes by more than three times by 2027 compared to this year.
Saras Micro Devices selects Arizona for new manufacturing site Saras Micro Devices has selected a site in Chandler, Arizona to build out a manufacturing facility for its advanced power delivery solutions. The company is collocating with its partner company, Yield Engineering Systems, which recently announced it would lease 123,000 square feet in the area.
STMicro to build SiC substrate facility in Italy STMicro says it plans to build a "first-of-a-kind" SiC epitaxial substrate manufacturing facility in Europe as the company is looking to support automotive and industrial customers in their shift to electrification.
Micron to invest $100 billion in New York megafab Micron says it will invest up to USD 100 Billion to build a megafab in central New York, creating approximately 9,000 direct Micron jobs.
onsemi expands operations in Romania The American semiconductor company is opening a new – 3,000 square metre – design center for semiconductor chips in Bucharest, Romania.
Swedish semiconductor manufacturer plans to increase production following investment round SweGaN, a Swedish manufacturer of custom-made Gallium Nitride on Silicon Carbide (GaN-on-SiC) epitaxial wafers, has completed a Series A financing round totaling SEK 125 million (EUR 12 million).
1,000 GF employee’s to transfer to onsemi following fab sale Back in April of 2019, GlobalFoundries agreed to sell its 300 mm fab in East Fishkill, New York, to onsemi. The sale is now nearing completion and the fab, along with its employees will transfer to onsemi.
Fusion Sourcing Group to represent Intelligent Memory Intelligent Memory (IM), a manufacturer of industrial-grade memory product solutions, has signed Fusion Sourcing Group as its representative in the Northeast United States.
Arm names new Chief Financial Officer Arm has appointed Jason Child as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Child brings more than 30 years of experience in leadership at high-growth companies and scaling global finance functions to his new role.
Spain launches foundry for III-V semiconductors Spain launches its first commercial foundry for III-V Semiconductors targeting integrated photonics.
Silicon Labs expands in India – opens new office in Hyderabad Silicon Labs has officially inaugurated its new office in Hyderabad, located at Salarpuria Sattva Knowledge City. This new office will also be Silicon Labs' largest global centre for engineering and wireless connectivity innovation.
Poland and Taiwan sign agreement on semiconductor collaboration The Polish Office in Taipei and the Taipei Representative Office in Poland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Taiwanese-Polish working group on semiconductors.
Kioxia to adjust flash memory production by 30% at two plants Japan’s Kioxia Corporation says that it will reduce the production volume at two of its flash memory plants.
TI starts production at new 300mm fab in Richardson, Texas Texas Instruments' newest 300-millimeter wafer fab in Richardson, Texas, has started initial production and will ramp output over the coming months.
KLA to build a new R&D and manufacturing facility in Wales KLA Corporation says that it plans to build a new R&D and manufacturing center for the SPTS division, in Newport, Wales, UK.
Additional DoD funding reaches SkyWater US semiconductor foundry SkyWater Technology says that the Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded the company up to USD 99 million as a continuation of the previous initiative to advance onshore production capabilities for strategic radiation-hardened (rad-hard) electronics.
Comet Technologies expands manufacturing in Malaysia Comet Technologies says that it aims to double its production capacity in Malaysia – the company will add 30,000 square feet and about 200 employees to its operations in the country.
Swissbit expands its manufacturing capability in Berlin A new USD multi-million investment will add a new new semiconductor packaging line to Swissbit's electronics production in Berlin, Germany.
Henkel acquires Thermexit business from Nanoramic Henkel has completed the acquisition of the Thermal Management Materials business of Nanoramic Laboratories (Nanoramic) headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, marketed under the brand Thermexit.
Mobix Labs to acquire EMI Solutions Fabless semiconductor company, Mobix Labs, says it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EMI Solutions, an Irvine-based manufacturer of electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering products.
Hexatronic acquires the data center specialist Swedish Hexatronic Group has signed an agreement to acquire 90% of the shares in UK-based Impact Data Solutions Limited (IDS Group).Load more news


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Export prospects have increased for UK small and medium businesses
The latest CBI Quarterly SME trends have shown that 25 per cent of the UK’s SMEs have increased business optimism and export prospects. The survey reported that the number of new orders increased slightly during the three months to October as well as a steady rise in output. Export orders remained the same during the quarter and this marked the first time that they’ve not fallen since the middle of 2014.
A robust growth in export orders is expected to increase during the next three months and it is expected to be the strongest since the data series began in October 1988.While export prospects remained optimistic, SME manufacturers have reported that average unit costs at home are rising and are expected to continue to increase over the next three months.
The survey also showed that investment intentions have improved following deterioration in the wake of the EU Referendum and planned spending on buildings has moved above its average. Firms are expected to keep their expenditure on plant and machinery unchanged, however concerns over labour shortages have arisen.
CBI, Chief Economist Rain Newton-Smith said “Smaller manufacturers are increasingly confident about their export prospects in the months ahead as they continue to reap benefits from the weaker Pound. But this is also leading to a rise in costs at home. While investment intentions have improved, uncertainty among businesses remains high, and so the Government must prioritise measures to ensure that firms keep investing ahead, like removing new plant and machinery spending from business rate calculations.”


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Chinese consumers are leading the market trend: Norwegian embassy commercial counselor
By Zhang Tingting
Norway is traditionally oriented toward the European market but China has been rising in importance, Rolf Almklov, commercial counselor at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, has said.
In fact, China is the most important country for Norway in terms of bilateral trade in Asia, he said. In 2019, trade between the two countries reached $13 billion.
As Chinese people's living conditions keep improving, and more consumers start to seek healthier and better-quality products, Norway has discovered new trade opportunities with China, such as its premium-quality health products.
China has recently set up a development policy called "dual circulation." Almklov said it is the right way to develop the market, and he is not concerned about any potential disadvantages for Norwegian companies. Instead, he thinks it is also going to offer opportunities to them and other foreign businesses, as long as they can provide quality products and services that customers need and they should not be afraid of competition from Chinese brands.
He said China and Norway have a trade relationship that is complementary and they would very much like to develop it further.
There is a good future for bilateral trade, he continued, and Norwegian businesses hope to learn from Chinese consumers about what they want to have. In doing so, it will also help Norwegian businesses become stronger in other markets, because Chinese consumers are leading in many sectors on what future products consumers want.


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The market has recently become rather crowded with all the latest tablet devices from around the world. Recent devices like the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet have really pushed the Android platform further and made it more popular than ever.
Barnes & Noble has released their Q2 earnings report and it appears like their recently launched Nook tablet has had an amazing start.
The company’s Nook business, which includes both the actual devices and content available for them, is now a $220 million business, an increase of 85 percent.
The Nook tablet, which was launched on November 7 with a price tag of $249, has become their fastest selling device to date according to reports.Barnes and Noble has yet to give out any official reports as to the exact number of tablets sold, though.
The fairly low-cost price tag has certainly contributed to the success of the Nook. The company’s strategy to lower the price of their Nook Color and Nook Simple Touch e-readers to $199 and $99, respectively, has also helped.
Sales on the company’s B&N.com website increased by 17 percent (from $177 million to $206 million) from the same quarter last year.
Although the Nook is doing well on the market, the company faced a net loss of $6.6 million (a slight improvement over the $12.6 million net loss in the previous year) in Q2 and the total sales decreased from $1.90 billion to $1.89 billion.
Despite its struggles with its non-Nook businesses, the company has high hopes for Q3. According to William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble, “We expect to sell millions of devices during our third quarter, adding to the millions of current NOOK customers”.
Although the Nook tablet is an impressive piece of hardware, it is still too early to see whether or not it will be a major saving grace for the company or not. Additionally, Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire means some pretty stiff competition for Nook as well.


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REDWOOD CITY, CA – July 27, 2022, Totango, Inc., the industry's only Composable Customer Success (CS) platform that helps companies drive immediate value, has tapped Google and Momentive alum Karen Budell as Chief Marketing Officer and promoted Anne Ting to Chief Design Officer. Since announcing $100 million in Series D funding last September, Totango has increased its size threefold globally and onboarded a record number of new clients. These latest C-suite appointments reflect Totango’s relentless investment in its own customers’ success by continuing to improve their journey from both a product design and marketing perspective.
“Having been a senior marketing leader at two industry-leading public companies, I am energized by Totango’s world-class technology, bold vision, and rapid growth: the perfect ingredients to scale the brand and business to new heights,” said Budell. “With a product that’s able to deliver value on day one, I look forward to leveraging Totango’s engaged customer base and strong PLG motion to help build on our success. We’re a purpose-driven company with a strong point of view, and our history positions us to be the leading voice for the next generation of CS."
Budell joins Totango from Momentive, the maker of SurveyMonkey, where she served as Vice President, Brand Marketing, and the cross-functional driver for the rebranding of the NASDAQ-traded company and enterprise product suite. Previous to this, during her four years with Google, Budell led a team responsible for narratives and brand building for YouTube Ads and was instrumental in launching Google Marketing Platform. Having found success working with businesses of all sizes, Budell’s 20-year career in brand building and leadership has been fueled by her roots in journalism and a passion for storytelling through integrated, content-fueled campaigns.
Budell will report to Totango President and Chief Operations Officer Jamie Bertasi and lead all marketing functions during Totango’s next phase of growth. She will also work closely with Anne Ting, who steps up from Sr. Vice President, Marketing and Growth, to Chief Design Officer and will report to CEO Guy Nirpaz.
“User experience is critical to customer success, so we are doubling down on our leadership in this area,” said Nirpaz. “Karen will take all our recent work on brand positioning and messaging to the next level, and Anne will now oversee product design and experience innovation across the entire customer journey, focusing on the notion that the customer journey is the product. These are key moves, and we are thrilled to have strong leadership in marketing and design to drive our strategy forward.”
Amid a year of global hypergrowth, Totango promoted Jamie Bertasi to President and COO and filled out its C-suite. Poised to expand in Israel and other countries, Totango also aims to double its global employee headcount this year.
These newest appointments come as Totango prepares for its annual Customer Success Summit: Teams event, which will bring together CS practitioners and innovative customer journey creators at Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort from September 14–16. Click here to register for the event.
Founded in 2010, Totango is the industry's only Composable Customer Success Platform. Totango's no-code, visual software enables businesses to deliver and quickly optimize best-in-class customer journeys, accelerate product onboarding and adoption, maximize customer retention, and increase user satisfaction leading to strong business results. Totango's ready-to-use journey templates (SuccessBLOCs) eliminate the friction of time and money spent on implementation and maintenance of old-school customer success platforms. As the only customer success software that combines a modern visual design and collaboration canvas, easy-to-use workflow orchestration tools, and out-of-the-box templates, Totango gives teams instant clarity and full control to create and consistently execute best-in-class customer journeys. Start where you are and go with a modular platform that provides immediate Day 1 value, continuous recalibration as needed, and predictable scale-up growth. For more information and to start Totango for free, visit Totango.com.


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Listings for a new Windows 10 Intel Compute Stick have been spotted on various online retail websites this week priced at around $150. Although as yet Intel has yet to announce the availability of a Windows 10 version of its pocket sized Compute Stick computer.
Previously the Compute Stick has been loaded with Microsoft’s older Windows 8.1 operating system as well as more recently been available running the Ubuntu Linux operating system. Users wishing to install Windows 10 would have needed to do this themselves.
It now seems that Intel is preparing to start shipping the Compute mini PCs pre-installed with Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 operating system using the same hardware that has been previously used.
To recap the Windows 10 Intel Compute Stick will be powered by an Intel Atom Z3735F Bay Trail quad-core processor supported by 2GB of RAM and include 32GB of internal storage. Other features of the pocket PC include a micro USB port, USB 2.0 port, HDMI, and a microSD slot as well as connectivity provided by 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.
As soon as more information is officially announced by Intel about their new pocket Windows 10 stick PC will keep you updated as always.
Source: Digital Trends


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SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s exports of chips, one of its key export items, are expected to top US$100 billion this year, the trade ministry said Tuesday, on the back of rising demand of IT products amid the pandemic-induced contactless trend.
South Korea’s chip exports are projected to increase 10.2 percent on-year to $109.3 billion in 2021, the country’s second-best performance after 2018, when it shipped $126.7 billion worth of semiconductors, according to a report from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association.
In 2020, the country’s chip exports reached $99.2 billion, up 5.6 percent from a year ago, the ministry data showed. Exports of system chips reached their largest number ever with $30.3 billion last year, becoming the fifth-largest export item.
Local research institutions have predicted that exports of memory chips are expected to increase about 12 percent on-year to surpass $70 billion, while those of system chips are estimated to advance 7 percent on-year to reach above $31 billion in 2021.
“With the expansion of the 5G market and stay-at-home economy, demands for smartphones, servers and PCs will increase and improve the chip market,” a ministry official said.
According to a recent report from World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, the global semiconductor market is projected to grow 8.7 percent on-year in 2021, with the memory sector posting growth of 12.2 percent.
South Korea is home to the world’s two leading memory chipmakers — Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.
Citing data from SEMI, a global industry association representing companies in the chip industry, the ministry said South Korea’s spending on chipmaking equipment in 2021 is expected to be the largest in the world at $18.9 billion, beating its rivals China with $16.8 billion and Taiwan with $15.6 billion.


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Nothing Phone 1, the flagship smartphone from tech company Nothing, is set to receive early access to the Android 14 Beta 1, making it one of the first non-Google phones to have access to the update. The Android 14 Beta 1 is currently only available on Google Pixel phones. Nothing has confirmed that it will work with Google to ensure a smooth experience for its users. The company has not yet released a timeline for the rollout of this update.
Nothing’s Previous Android OS Update
The Nothing Phone 1 model is currently running on a Nothing OS 1.5.3 update that was released in March. Earlier this year, in February, Nothing had released its Android 13-based Nothing OS 1.5 update.
Nothing CEO Confirms Early Access to Android 14 Beta 1 on Twitter
Nothing CEO Carl Pei confirmed the news on Twitter, stating that he is excited about what Nothing has coming in 2023. The company has not yet revealed any plans for the features accompanying the Android 14 Beta 1 update.
Google I/O Event and Android 14 Launch
Google has its annual Google I/O event scheduled for May 10 this year, where it is expected to unveil Android 14. The event will be hosted in Mountain View, California.
Nothing Phone 2 Launch Approaching
Nothing is expected to launch its second-ever smartphone, the Nothing Phone 2, soon. Several certification sites have spotted the model, hinting at its imminent launch. Recently, the phone received Bureau of Indian Standards certification, indicating that an India launch is also on the horizon.
About the Nothing Phone 1
The Nothing Phone 1 was launched in July 2022 in India. The smartphone was offered in three variants – 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB – priced at Rs. 32,999, Rs. 35,999, and Rs. 38,999, respectively. The Nothing Phone 1 was available in black and white colours.


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South Korea announces new regulations to curb speculative cryptocurrency trading in the country. Photo Courtesy of Shutter Stock/Nata-Lia.
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- South Korea will ban anonymous virtual currency trading and potentially close down cryptocurrency exchanges if necessary.
The government on Thursday announced a new set of measures to curb the frenzied trading of virtual currencies in the country, one of the biggest cryptocurrency markets in the world.
Around 2 million people in South Korea are estimated to own a form of digital currency, most notably Bitcoin, which is trading at a premium of roughly 20 percent in the country.
Warning that speculation in the market is "irrational" and "overheating," the government said investors will be banned from using anonymous accounts on exchanges.
Only those with verified accounts, confirming their age and residential status, will be permitted to trade digital currencies.
Following the announcement, the Financial Supervisory Commission ordered commercial banks to immediately stop issuing anonymous accounts, Yonhap reported.
The FSC also asked banks to strengthen measures to ensure accounts for utility payments and other basic financial uses cannot be misappropriated to invest in virtual currency.
The government announced it would strengthen its crackdown on market manipulation, money laundering and other financial crimes in the cryptocurrency market, JoongAng Ilbo reported.
It said further measures are being considered with "all policy options open," including the closure of virtual currency exchanges if needed.
Earlier this month, Seoul prohibited banks from dealing virtual currencies and hinted that the government could tax capital gains made on cryptocurrency trade.
After the new measures were announced, Bitcoin tumbled below $14,000, down 11 percent compared to the beginning of the day, according to CoinDesk.


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- Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is threatening to stop doing business with FedEx if the company doesn’t cut ties with the NRA.
- “Our customers are demanding action from us,” CEO Jeni Britton Bauer said on Monday.
- FedEx said on Monday that while it disagrees with the NRA’s policies, it will continue to offer members discounts.
An ice-cream brand with a cult following is threatening to cut ties with FedEx after the shipping company refused to cut ties with the NRA.
Jeni Britton Bauer, CEO of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, announced on Monday that the ice-cream company was considering cutting ties with FedEx following calls for boycott from gun-control activists.
“Our customers are demanding action from us,” Bauer said in an Instagram post. “Drop your support of the NRA or we will be looking at other options. That’s almost 100,000 shipments – and more projected this year.”
With the boycott, the Columbus, Ohio-based company is joining a number of other people threatening to stop using FedEx.
Last week, in the wake of the shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead, people on social media began to pressure companies that offer special deals to NRA members to cut ties with the gun-rights organisation.
More than a dozen companies, including Hertz, United, and Delta, have cut ties with the NRA in recent days. However, FedEx has said it plans to continue to offer NRA members discounts.
On Monday, FedEx said in a statement that it did not agree with the NRA’s gun-policy positions – but that it would continue to offer members of the gun-rights group discounts.
“FedEx opposes assault rifles being in the hands of civilians,” the company said in a statement to Business Insider.
As FedEx has stayed loyal to the NRA, the boycott pressure has only increased.
“So how else should we pressure @FedEx to end their relationship with the NRA?” David Hogg, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who has since emerged as a leading voice on gun control, tweeted on Monday.
.@FedEx-You chose the NRA over the American people. I'll never do business with FedEx ever again. Neither will any campaign or non profit I'm affiliated with. Or friends or family. Or the millions in #TheResistance. We will never give up on this. Never. #BoycottFedEx #BoycottNRA
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 27, 2018
FedEx is sticking with the NRA. Fine. We’ll use UPS, USPS, carrier pigeons, Pony Express, whatever. Would rather walk packages to their destination than support this company. #BoycottFedEx https://t.co/mB0sjFwFbr
— Adam "Expand the Court" Best (@adamcbest) February 27, 2018
Celebrities and well-known personalities including Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Rosie O’Donnell, Billy Eichner, and Zach Braff tweeted over the weekend in support of the effort to boycott FedEx. The company’s social-media accounts have been flooded with boycott threats.
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GRANDVILLE — Sometimes in business a small ultimatum can make a world of difference.
Extreme Wire EDM Service Inc. recently learned that lesson firsthand after years of trying to convince its long-time equipment supplier to produce a machine large enough to accommodate customers’ orders.
The Grandville-based company, which offers electrical discharge machining (EDM) services, often turned away larger jobs simply because its equipment could not support the work.
“We’ve been bugging (our equipment supplier) for umpteen years,” said Vice President Brian Bernt. “Finally, we gave them an ultimatum and said we need a big machine for our customers and if you don’t tell us that something is coming, we’re going to buy a competitor’s machine even though we don’t want to.”
The prodding worked. GF Machining Solutions Ltd., a Switzerland-based manufacturer with a North American operation in Illinois, flew company representatives to Italy where it was prototyping one of the largest EDM machines on the market, the AgieCharmilles Cut P 1250 wire EDM.
Bernt jumped at the opportunity to purchase the machine, which is capable of handling 4-foot by 8-foot molds and uses electrical current to machine material to tolerances less than one-fifth the width of a human hair.
“It’s massive,” he said. “Ours is the first one in the United States. I’m not sure how long it will be until they offer it to anyone else. I think we are just such a good customer that they were willing to let it come here first.”
Extreme Wire invested just less than $1 million in the new machine, and Bernt said he intends to purchase another if the first one stays busy enough.
Despite the time it took to convince its equipment supplier to produce the machine, the extra capacity it created came at the right time, given that Extreme Wire entered February booked up with work.
“January has always been a slow month — it has been since we started,” Bernt said. “Then February came along and the floodgates just opened up. This has been our best February ever. We get our work from other machine shops, and we’re only busy when they’re busy. Everyone is extremely busy right now, which is great.”
During its early years, Extreme Wire focused primarily on the tool and die sector but gradually shifted to the mold industry amid mounting competition and as more equipment headed overseas. Even though much of that tool and die work has come back to the U.S., Extreme Wire plans to continue to focus on the mold industry, where it has found a niche in tackling challenging jobs, a move made possible because of its precision equipment.
Extreme Wire primarily offers finishing work on molds for its machine shop customers. That includes machining the ejector pins, core pins and lifter rods for the molds.
Judging by the volume of work coming down from its customers, Bernt expects his company’s busy February will carry through the rest of the year.
“A lot of mold shops usually project work out for at least three or four months,” he said. “By them knowing what they have coming for the months ahead, that gives me an idea of what I can expect.”
Overall, the global plastic-injection molding industry is expected to reach $162 billion by 2020, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4.9 percent since 2015, according to a report from Research and Markets, an Irish market research firm.
Bernt expects Extreme Wire to grow 20 percent this year, reaching $1.5 million in annual sales.
The company employs eight workers at its facility.
Bernt’s brother, Karl, founded Extreme Wire in 1997. Bernt joined as the fledgling company’s first employee. The pair launched the business from a 1,000-square-foot space in a strip mall. While it gradually expanded its operation, the company purchased its current 12,000-square-foot facility three years ago as it outgrew its first location.
To hedge against the fluctuations in the tool and die and injection-molding industries, Extreme Wire adheres to what Bernt describes as a relatively straightforward business strategy: Avoid going heavily into debt.
“We try to buy only when other things are paid off so we don’t carry much debt,” he said. “That’s pretty much the rule of thumb. If you don’t have the money, you don’t buy it.”
MADE IN MICHIGAN: Extreme Wire EDM Service Inc. hopes the purchase of a new machine — the largest of its kind in the United States — will allow it to capitalize on an increasing pipeline of work from its customers. The Grandville-based company provides electrical discharge machining services using an electrode to cut or drill material. With the capacity from the new machine and the increased workload from customers, Extreme Wire expects annual sales to grow by 20 percent this year to $1.5 million. The company employs eight workers at its 12,000-square-foot facility.


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As the coronavirus pandemic drags on, many of us in are missing the real-life interactions that are usually part of our working lives. Physical B2B conferences have been suspended, roadshows cancelled and breakfast meetings shelved. These events were not just places to showcase products and seal deals, but spaces to meet face to face, anchoring relationships that hinged on remote interaction for the rest of the year.
However, these unique conditions have spurred many companies to adapt creatively, embracing virtual interactions for client engagement.According to Gartner,80% of B2B sales interactions between suppliers and buyers will occur in digital channels by 2025, so adopting a digital-first approach now will help meet customers’ buying preferences in the future. We caught up with three of our clients to chat about their initiatives, successes and challenges in building relationships and making sales in the absence of physical events.
New possibilities for coming together
BMO Global Asset Management switched their Annual Investment Conference from a physical to a virtual client event. “It’s the first time we have gone fully digital for an event of this size”, says Stephen Watchorn, BMO’s Director, Head of Channel Marketing, UK and MENA. “This involved rethinking our approach, working with our presenters to adapt to new technologies and really putting ourselves in the shoes of our delegates.” He notes that that current climate has acted as a huge accelerator for many brands’ digital journeys. “We were quick to adapt our communications strategy as COVID-19 hit and have had real success with our interactive webinars, online training sessions and client support throughout this period.”
Specialist mortgage lender Foundation Home Loans is running regional level interactions on Microsoft Teams, initiated by their sales teams; and also putting on national events with interactive Q&A sessions. “Being able to catch clients across the whole country in one event has increased the ROI of our endeavours. This is a process which we were developing before, but were able to focus on more as a result of the pandemic.” Says Katie Newell, Brand Manager at Foundation. “We’ve discovered that our audience absolutely love having time in a forum with our CEO who gives his view on market changes. Our post-event survey shows that this cultivates huge trust in the brand and increases desire to use us. Before this, we would never had been able to utilise our figureheads so widely in person.”
he shift to virtual events and relationship building has fostered creativity across all sectors. Wladys Argoues, Global Communications Manager atConvaTec recently ran a week of activities to engage customers that included webinars, podcasts,article and games. “We realised that customers are more likely to engage with us on content that is not promotional and also in their own time. We had high number of registrations for webinars, lower attendance for the live webinars, but a high number watching on demand. From this we learned we need to make the content accessible and flexible to our audience”
Budgets and travel time usually allocated for external events are being diverted towards brand building and more targeted use of data. “As a result of the pandemic our marketing department has more time to focus on advertising and brand over events,” says Katie. “And the digital aspect means we can report on this at a much finer level to understand their effect. Our field sales team have experienced increased conversion rates where they are calling out to a much more targeted and therefore relevant audience, or taking inbound calls initiated by a targeted marketing piece rather than spending time with the lottery audience of a third party event.”
Clients we spoke to reported better use of targeted communications and follow up opportunities post events. This has thrown into relief the strategic flaws in trying to capture new business from random delegates wandering past a sponsored stall in a large conference hall. Especially when many prospects may be put off international travel for some time yet. But where does all this leave events in the future?
The future is hybrid
When physical meetings do return, firms envisage a mix of virtual and physical interactions, informed by the challenges and successes of this all-remote period. “Next year we are planning some virtual and face to face round tables,” said Wladys at ConvaTec. “In the future we will engage more virtually with customers, still bringing them together and give them some space to interact with each other and share best practice.”
And while their virtual events have been successful on many levels, Katie at Foundation is keenly aware that the culture of mortgage brokering prioritises meeting up in real life. “I suspect there is still a cohort of our audience base who are uncomfortable interacting virtually. There is also the chance that when events do return, our audience will vote with their feet and start to reject virtual engagements in favour of the day out; our industry is a life choice and a great many of them chose the job because they enjoy the ‘being out meeting people’ element.”
,p>Stephen at BMO says “We hope we can get back to an environment where physical events and the obvious networking opportunities they bring can be an important part of our plans. That said we’re very aware that virtual events have a number of distinct benefits such as broadening the geographic reach of an event, giving delegates more control of their own experience and generating content that can be used more easily in follow up communications. One thing’s for sure: while virtual events might have been considered a poor relation until early this year, firms are now far more likely to build them into their plans however the pandemic plays out from here.”
The pausing of B2B conferences and physical events has meant that brands are finding new and creative ways to engage audiences online. Data can be captured and used to drive better brand interactions, including the capacity for personalization during and after the event. Unchained from geographical constraints, speakers, collaborators and attendees can take part wherever they are. Interactive elements such as Q&A sessions in webinars and podcasts can enhance client engagement and deliver valuable data. Sales teams are acting as marketing advocates and content amplifiers. While many people are looking forward to a time when they can make eye contact and shake hands once again, B2B events will be changed by the pandemic, becoming a hybrid of virtual and real-life.


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Mashreqbank's 'Japan Desk' improves trade with Japan
Mashreqbank's Japan Desk, launched last year, is helping to boost trade between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Japan, which surged in the first three-quarter of 2003 by over 30 percent.
"Our customer feedback, from both local customers in the UAE and their counterparts in Japan, is excellent," said Head of Commercial Banking Group for Mashreqbank, Omar Bouhadiba. "The majority of the growth is from companies involved in automobiles, electronics and consumer goods, engineering and the construction sector, which has never been busier," said Bouhadiba.
According to statistics from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) trade between the UAE and Japan surged 30.37 percent to over $13.3 million during the first nine months of 2003. Imports from Japan grew by 22.5 percent to $2,574 million while exports rose by 32.4 percent to $10,769 million.
JETRO attributes the surge in trade to a combined increase in the value of Japan's imports of mineral fuels from the UAE and the value of exports of manufactured products. Among the exports, transport equipment, including passenger cars, rose by nearly 22 percent to reach $1,139 million.
The Mizuho-Mashreq Japan Desk provides services to customers to facilitate increased trade and support business dealings between the UAE and Japan. The Desk also interfaces with Mashreqbank's Foreign Trade Centre and advanced electronic processing of trade-related foreign exchange operations.
In addition to serving the local market, Dubai is the leading trading and re-export hub for the Gulf region which is also experiencing a surge in trade with Japan. To the end of September 2003, total Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) imports from Japan stood at $7.22 billion and exports at $31.97 billion. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)


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Comment on the November 18 prediction: Well, that was WRONG as prices hikes on November 20. So, I took a week off from predicting.
Monday, December 3, 2012, 7:10PM: In a decade-plus of The Gas Game, December has usually been the month where we would see the lowest prices of the year. From my data collection, prices this year in Standale, Michigan got down to $3.26, and today we are getting close at $3.36. We are also getting close to price hike territory, though, when I estimate retailers’ margins. Most likely, we will be seeing a price reset this week, maybe even tomorrow, to the neighborhood of $3.49. That would be $1.75 if the retailers ever decide to start pricing gas in half-gallons. Hey, if they can do it to these products, why not gasoline? –Ed Aboufadel


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Google has released the details about search trends in Pakistan amid the Coronavirus induced-lockdown and it shows that search for “online grocery delivery” increased by 300%.
According to Faraz Azhar, Google Asia Pacific’s Industry Head for South Asia, Pakistani consumers are moving towards healthier lifestyles as they have shifted their focus towards highly sophisticated and durable goods and services as compared to the past 12 months.
Here are some other insights into Pakistani consumers issued by Google.
- 4 out of 5 Pakistani consumers search for products online before making a purchase and move between online search and video
- The search for “nearby supply options” before buying a product has jumped up by 138%
- An increase of 130% has been recorded in the search of “fast delivery options”
The search for “daily exercise” in Pakistan has registered an increase of 160% during the lockdown.
Encouragingly, Pakistani internet user base is becoming increasingly aware of the changing climate as the search for “electric vehicles” and “renewable energy” has surged by 130%.
The search for “clear skies” from Pakistani internet users has increased by 300%, “clean air” by 225%, and “clean water” by 217%.
Lastly, more and more Pakistanis are using video streaming and video sharing platforms to verify information and exchange ideas on news, entertainment, and sports.