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The new year is starting off with a range of developments across the apparel fiber sector.
The global hemp clothing market is expected to reach $10.1 billion by 2028, rising at a combined annual growth rate of 26 percent during the forecast period, market research company ReserachAndMarkets.com reported. In 2018, it was valued at $1.6 billion.
Hemp fiber features characteristics such as dyeability, UV light blocking, mildew resistance and inherent antibacterial properties. Unlike other fabrics, hemp fabric uses less water, pesticides, chemical fertilizers and herbicides in its production.
Industry investments in hemp have been ramping up since 2018’s landmark farm bill.
Panda Biotech, for one, has forged partnerships with companies including Oritain, Wrangler and AGI Denim, signaling how the hemp fiber processor is working to make the stuff traceable and get it into products such as denim.
In November, FyberX Holdings, a developer of technology to process raw agricultural biomass into refined natural fibers, announced it would invest $17.5 million to establish its U.S. headquarters and production operation in the former Kinderton Distribution Center building in Virginia’s Mecklenburg County. The facility will process hemp and other products, producing fibers to supply the textile industry and creating an estimated 45 new jobs as a result.
“Southern Virginia is strategically positioned to play a vital role in unlocking the economic potential of industrial hemp fiber in a variety of markets, including textiles, construction, packaging, automotive and bioplastics,” FyberX CEO Ben Young said at the time. “We are excited to work with the local community to implement socially responsible best practices, including a zero-waste production model that minimizes emissions, a transparent supply chain, fair wages, and safe and state of the art processing facilities, all of which will define a new global standard for natural fiber production facilities.”
Meanwhile in North Carolina, Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. (BFT), a cleantech fiber engineering firm, announced it had closed a major strategic financing with Ahlström Capital of Finland.
BFT said in October that it would immediately begin work to expand fiber manufacturing capacity at its U.S.-flagship in Lumberton, N.C., and its European Union facility near Düsseldorf, Germany. While the amount of financing was not disclosed, the funds will enable BFT to produce more than 10,000 metric tons of Sero hemp fiber per year by 2023 and up to 50,000 metric tons annually by 2026.
“Nonwoven companies, converters and leading consumer goods companies are looking for viable natural fiber options to achieve their corporate sustainability initiatives as they move away from synthetics,” BFT CEO Jim Posa said at the time. “The market for natural fibers is set for rapid growth, and this highly strategic funding will help BFT to solidify its position and further accelerate its expansion to meet the increasing demand for tree-free, plastic-free fibers.”
Plus, BIOPHIL Natural Fibers, a manufacturer of organic raw materials, stated it would invest more than $10.9 million into a new processing operation in Lumberton as well, creating 41 new jobs.
BIOPHIL currently operates a processing facility in Pennsylvania and will add a 90,829-square-foot building in Lumberton to expand its production operations with decortication, referring to the initial separation of hemp stalk into hurd and fiber, and parallel processing lines that will clean, refine and cut hurd and fiber to clients specifications.
“We are very excited to work in North Carolina,” Marcel Dabdoub, CEO of BIOPHIL Natural Fibers, said when announcing the investment. “We enjoyed working with local and regional businesses in Lumberton and surrounding areas during our diligence process, as well as our farmers throughout North Carolina over the past two grow seasons, and we look forward to expanding these relationships.”
Despite the promising features of hemp—and recent North America-based growth—some believe the industry is still struggling to take off. But other promising materials are entering the market.
Nilit’s Made in America nylon
Nilit, a maker of premium nylon for apparel, has launched a new version of Sensil EcoCare recycled nylon 6.6 made entirely from U.S. materials at its facility in Martinsville, Va. The new Made in USA Sensil EcoCare is Berry Amendment, USMCA, and CAFTA compliant. It is now available in various fibers and yarns for circular knit, warp knit, seamless and woven applications.
“Increased use of recycled inputs is a significant aspect of Nilit’s sustainability strategy and something that strongly resonates with conscious consumers these days,” Michelle Lea, Nilit’s vice president of global marketing, said. “Plus, the U.S. consumer truly appreciates products that are manufactured locally.”
Sensil EcoCare is made from post-industrial recycled nylon 6.6. Nilit uses a highly efficient recycling method that requires less energy, water, and chemicals and generates a smaller carbon footprint than other recycling procedures. The Nilit recycling process retains the properties of virgin fibers for fine denier, high-quality nylon fibers and yarns. Nilit says apparel made with Sensil EcoCare is as comfortable, functional, and resilient as it is eco-friendly. Made in USA Sensil EcoCare is designed for activewear, intimates, socks, hosiery, ready-to-wear, workwear, light industrial, medical and military end uses.
“Adding the Made in USA recycled nylon 6.6 to our Sensil EcoCare range of products helps us respond effectively to the many U.S. brands, retailers, and government agencies who prefer locally produced, environmentally responsible fabrics,” Manuel Guerra, Nilit’s general manager of North America, said. “Whether for compliance, supply chain management, or sustainability, this newest addition to our Sensil portfolio is highly relevant for the entire textile and apparel industry here in the States.”
Nilit manufactures a full portfolio of sustainable Sensil premium nylon 6.6 products to give designers the environmentally considerate performance fabrics they need to create apparel collections that respond effectively to consumer demands.
Geno joins UN Global Compact
And consumers want more from brands than just sustainable materials: they want larger sustainability commitments, too.
Sustainable materials maker and Lululemon supplier Geno this week announced that it would join the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) initiative—the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, with over 15,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories in more than 160 countries.
“Over the past 22 years, Geno, formerly known as Genomatica, has been on a mission to create ingredients from renewable sources to reduce the use of fossil fuels. By scaling our biotechnologies globally, we can cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90 percent compared to conventional production,” said Geno CEO Christophe Schilling. “Geno is proud to be part of this initiative alongside other businesses working to be better for the people and planet they serve. As we advance our mission of reducing hundreds of millions of tons of carbon emissions by 2030, joining this initiative from an entity as influential and prominent as the [United Nations] can help us deepen our impact. Most importantly, we know that we can’t do this work alone. We are inspired and energized by UNGC members who use their business decisions to create a safer, more sustainable world for us all.”
Geno’s mission is to accelerate the materials transition—at scale, creating traceable, transparent and responsibly sourced supply chains that replace unsustainable sources. For Geno, the UNGC community represents the need for global action that brings together partners (companies, citizens, consumers and governments) who will serve as collaborators, champions, challengers and changemakers to accelerate Geno’s impact. The climate crisis is unprecedented, and the company said it is energized by the groups coming together to learn from each other, share stories and amplify impactful projects. The challenges of our modern world are interconnected and multidimensional, and the UNGC community aims to address, prioritize and accelerate critical change.
Launched in 2000, the UNGC is a voluntary leadership platform for developing, implementing and disclosing responsible business practices. The initiative calls on businesses across the globe to support goals and issues embodied in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are 17 targets to tackle climate change while ending poverty and improving health and education. Businesses must also align their operations and strategies with the “10 principles” of the UNGC in human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.
Geno’s membership to the UNGC affirms its positioning as a company making a tangible impact to benefit people and the planet. The 10 principles of the UNGC and the SDGs, such as goal 12 (responsible consumption and production), echo Geno’s own mission. Companies such as Cargill, Unilever, Kao and Lululemon are increasingly looking to Geno to help them meet their sustainability commitments. UNGC membership can help Geno forge new partnerships with like-minded companies and broaden its reach in large-scale markets.


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She called this new book "a toolbox" to help readers stay centered.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama and publisher Penguin Random House announced the follow-up to her 2018 bestselling memoir Becoming on July 21. Obama’s new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, will be released this fall on Nov. 15 by Crown, an imprint of Random House.
Her new memoir will share “practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world,” according to Random House. An initial 2.75 million copies will be published in 14 languages following the immense success of Becoming, which sold 17 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages, according to The New York Times.
Obama shared the big announcement on Instagram and Twitter on July 21 with a video message about her book. She said, “I think of it as a kind of toolbox, a collection of some of the perspectives and practices I’ve gathered over the years to help keep me centered. Even during times of high anxiety and stress. And my hope is that we can equip ourselves with new tools and attitudes so that, together — maybe we’ll be a little steadier, with the understanding that none of us has to go through any of this alone.”
She wrote on Instagram that the “process of reflection” on “how to keep [herself] centered in a world filled with so much uncertainty” is what led her to start writing again.
The Light We Carry draws from Obama’s experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, according to Random House. She raises questions such as “How do we build enduring and honest relationships?” and “What tools do we use to address feelings of self-doubt or helplessness?” to open up a dialogue with readers on navigating life’s challenges.
“When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it,” Obama wrote. If it’s anything like Becoming, it will be a book you can’t put down. The book can be preordered ahead of its Nov. 15 release. The Light We Carry will be published in hardcover ($32.50), an eBook ($16.99), and released as an audiobook ($25).

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Royal Mail to charge £14 to deliver before 9am
Starting on Monday, selected post code areas will receive only one delivery per day as part of a shake-up of services designed to reverse more than £1 billion of financial losses.
Among other measures, customers in the pilot areas are also being offered the choice of paying £14 for a delivery before 9am, or collecting their mail early from delivery offices free of charge.
Pilot areas include: Crawley, West Sussex; Bow, east London; Edinburgh Dell; Sheringham, Norfolk; east Manchester; Llanelli; Newbury, Berks; Newhaven, East Sussex; Loughborough, Leicestershire, Halifax, West Yorkshire; Plymouth, Devon; Ballymena, Northern Ireland; Thirsk, North Yorkshire and St Helens Merseyside.
The scheme is part of three-year plan aimed at returning the Consignia group, which has announced it is changing its name to Royal Mail
Group by the end of the year, to profitability.
By re-organising deliveries to provide customers with one delivery daily the Royal Mail expects to save about £350 million gross a year.
At present the second post accounts for about 20% of delivery costs, but only carries 4% of the UK's mail.
The new plans aim to reduce travelling costs and make the service more efficient.
Customers receiving more than 20 letters a day will receive their mail before 9am while others will be delivered by noon.
The changes will mean that more than a million first class letters a week will arrive the next working day after posting.
Gillian Wilmot, Royal Mail's managing director for mail markets, said: "Royal Mail is cutting costs and improving efficiency in a common sense and responsible way.
"We are balancing the needs for a reliable next-day service with safeguarding an affordable service for everyone.
"Introducing single deliveries plays a crucial role in moving to a five-day week for our hard working postmen and women whilst retaining a six-day service for customers."
Other cost cutting measures - including redundancy for more than 17,000 workers - are being introduced in an attempt to stem pre-tax losses of £1.1 billion.
Customers in the pilot areas are also being offered the choice of paying £14 for a delivery before 9am, or collecting their mail early from delivery offices free of charge.
Postwatch, the industry regulator, today supported the scheme. Chairman Peter Carr said: "It's quite right for Royal Mail to examine every option to improve its profitablility.
"There can be no sacred cows. So many costs are linked to providing daily deliveries that it is the obvious area to look at. The trials have been agreed with Postwatch and provide the opportunity to influence the final decision.
"Postwatch will monitor the trials in the 14 areas in the pilot areas on behalf of customers."
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UPDATE 1-France's Lafarge in Mexican cement venture with Elementia
PARIS Jan 8 (Reuters) - French giant Lafarge said on Tuesday it had agreed with Elementia, an industrial conglomerate part-owned by the world's richest man Carlos Slim, to combine their cement assets in Mexico.
Lafarge will contribute its two plants of Vito and Tula with a total capacity close to 1 million tonnes while Elementia will contribute the new 1 million tonnes plant it is currently building in central Mexico, the statement said.
The transaction, which involves no cash and is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second-half 2013, pursuant to the start up of the new plant of Elementia.
The new joint-venture will be 47 percent held by Lafarge and 53 percent by Elementia.
Elementia, which is eyeing a public listing in the medium term, is 46 percent-owned by Slim's Grupo Carso, with the remaining 54 percent held by businessman Antonio del Valle, a majority shareholder of plastics pipe maker Mexichem .
Elementia, with annual sales of around $1.2 billion, last year launched Cementos Fortaleza, a new cement maker in a market led by Cemex .
Fortaleza aimed to kick off operations of its $300 million plant in the state of Hidalgo in December. Company officials were not immediately available for an update.
Other competitors in the Mexican cement market include Holcim Apasco, Grupo Cementos Chihuahua, Corporacion Moctezuma and Cemento Cruz Azul.
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Additional layoffs and business closings will be listed as they are announced throughout the day. Below are reports found on November 20, 2012. (Updates which are added after original publishing at the top of categories with - New next to them)
Layoffs: November 20, 2012
North Shore Mining to lay off about 125 employees- New
About 125 employees of North Shore Mining will be laid off Jan. 5 when the taconite operation idles two of its four pelletizing lines, according to an announcement issued Monday by the mine’s owner and operator, Cliffs Natural Resources.
The pending layoffs will affect people working at North Shore’s mine in Babbitt in addition to those working at the production facility in Silver Bay, but the exact breakdown of how many jobs will be trimmed at each location has not yet been determined, according to Sandra Karnowski, Cliffs’ district manager of public affairs.
Mayor Bloomberg Proposes Cutting 2,100 Jobs, 167 Considered "Layoffs"
Mayor Bloomberg is proposing cutting 2,100 jobs, raising school-lunch fees, slashing library funds and raising parking meter prices to offset losses from his plan to sell 2,000 extra taxi medallions, although the cuts could evaporate if the proposed taxi plan is resurrected.
Only 167 city workers would be laid off as part of the $1.7 billion in cuts, with the rest of the jobs lost through attrition, but school lunches would rise from $1.50 to $2.50, parking meters south of 96th Street in Manhattan would rise 50 cents to $3.50 an hour, and four school health centers would see their funds eliminated.
Islip leaders approve tax hike, layoffs in new budget
The Islip Town Board Monday unanimously approved a 28-percent property tax increase, employee layoffs and fee increases as part of a $111 million operating budget for 2013.
The approved spending plan represents a 7.6 percent decrease compared with last year and includes at least 22 full-time employee layoffs and the closure of the town's shellfish hatchery, which was substantially damaged during superstorm Sandy.
Town officials estimated dozens of part-time workers will be laid off as the town eliminates its marina guard program.
Employees Laid Off at Endicott Interconnect
The New York Department of Labor said the stagnant economy has caused most manufacturing companies to slim down, including here at Endicott Interconnect.
"Unfortunately, we're probably looking into the future, some more declines as the industry tries to figure out what size and shape, and dynamic of itself in the new industry is," said Christian Harris, an analyst at the state department of labor.
The labor department reported computer and electronic product manufacturing jobs in Binghamton fell by 800 since October 2011.
It also reported that Endicott Interconnect shed 250 jobs from 2010 to 2011.
Former employees said dozens of jobs were lost in the recent round of layoffs this month.
Action News was unable to confirm any numbers with Endicott Interconnect as they did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
11 People laid off from Yakima Washington County Jail
More people are off the job at the Yakima County Jail and, more layoffs could be on the way. Jail costs climbed too high while fewer prisoners came through the door. Action News looked at whether the staff is being cut too thin for your safety.
The Yakima County Jail is down to bare bones on staffing. It has people worried about safety.
Business Closings: November 20, 1012
First Financial Bank closing 3 branches in Ohio - New
First Financial Bancorp is closing three of its branches in February, the Hamilton JournalNews reported.
The downtown Cincinnati-based bank will close branches in Seven Mile, Fairfield Township and Hamilton as First Financial works to cut costs and respond to customer habits. The three closures in Butler County are among total 10 branches planned to close.
3 Albert Leans Businesses Close - New
Albert Leans saw the closing of Lakeside Cafe, a name that has a history going back to 1947. And they witnessed 34-year-old formalwear provider Courtly Manor and 10-year-old hair salon Classic Reflections close.
Jesse provided the Tribune with a written statement:
“After nearly 34 years in business I have decided to close Courtly Manor. Now is not the time for the streetscape project due to the present economy. I feel this projects is being jammed down our throats by City Hall and the (Albert Lea-Freeborn County) Chamber of Commerce.
“The remark by President Barack Obama that the government built my business proves that he is a liberal college professor who knows nothing about business. My family and employees built and kept Courtly Manor in business, not the government.
Historic Wolf's Tavern Closing In Henderson Kentucky - New
The third incarnation of Wolf's Tavern and Restaurant has reached the end of the line.
The iconic Henderson watering hole at First and Green streets, once renowned for its bean soup, ham sandwiches and being, as its motto has long declared, "Where friends meet," closed at the end of business Saturday night.
Business owner Darrell Williams posted about the closing on the Wolf's Facebook page on Friday.
"We made a lot of good friends," Williams said Monday. "We gave it our best shot. It just wasn't to be."
Wolf's is one of Henderson's most-storied establishments. It opened in 1878 as a bakery, later became a tavern, then survived Prohibition by transforming into a candy store and plumbing supply store. Wolf's reopened as a tavern and restaurant following Prohibition.
Asheville, Canton NC Suntrust Banks Closing - New
The Asheville branch in Pack Square will close January 11th. The Canton location will close on January 18th.
Champion Window closes Houston facility, cuts 70 jobs- New
Champion Window Inc. will close a Houston facility, eliminating about 70 positions.
The Houston subsidiary of Dallas-based Atrium Windows and Doors Inc. will close its facility at 12427 Duncan Road in north Houston between Jan. 9 and Jan 23, the company said in a letter this month to the Texas Workforce Commission.
Navistar To Cut 900 Jobs In Garland Texas Plant Closing
Navistar International Corporation announced on Tuesday its intentions to close its Garland, Texas, truck manufacturing operation by the first-half of 2013. The plant currently employs 900 salaried, hourly and third-party temporary workers.
Wave3 Closing In Louisville Kentucky
You have seen the signs. Everything must go. Out of business. Sometimes it is an owner competing with big box corporations. Or as WAVE 3 discovered, an entrepreneur still struggling to recover from what has been dubbed, the great recession.
Surgical Hospital Closing In North Baton Rouge
Greater Baton Rouge Surgical Hospital, a 10-bed facility in Howell Place Business Park in north Baton Rouge, will close in December, seven years after its opening.
Kmart in Flint Michigan will close long-time location on Dort Highway
A Flint Kmart is the latest location slated for closing by the struggling retail chain that once was one of the nation's most successful.
A manager at the store declined to comment on the pending closure.
The store, located south of Atherton Road on Dort Highway, employs 46 people. They were informed in October it would close in late January, according to an email from Chris Brathwaite, a spokesman from Sears Holding Corp., the parent company of Kmart and Sears.
Kmart closing S. Monaco store in Denver
The national retailer has begun liquidating its stock at its 2150 S. Monaco Street Parkway location, in southeast Denver.
The company said it had 1,252 Kmart locations and 866 stores as of the end of October. In the past year, Sears Holdings has closed 57 Kmart stores and 52 Sears stores.
Among the stores closed earlier this year were Sears locations in Longmont and Westminster and Kmart stores in Glenwood Springs and Broomfield.
Dallas-based liquor store chain planning to close more stores
Dallas-based Centennial Beverage Group is planning to close another round of stores, including several in Tarrant County.
One official at the liquor store chain confirmed Monday that "stores are closing" but would not say how many or where, and would not provide further details.
Company President Greg Wonsmos did not respond to a telephone message.
Centennial closed seven Dallas-Fort Worth stores in February, a year after buying its former competitor, Majestic, out of bankruptcy.
After those closings, the company still operated 63 stores in DFW, including Big Daddy's, Majestic, Apple Jack's and the Arlington Bottle Shop.
Workers Say Canton's Mercier tool-and-die company closing
Workers say that’s what they were told, but company officials aren’t saying anything.
Employees of Mercier Tool & Die, which has operated here for 50 years, say they were told Friday that they no longer had jobs and that the business at 1007 High Ave. SW was closing.
Office Administrator Sharon Mercier gave word through an employee Monday afternoon that she would have no comment at this time.
3 restaurants in Muskingum County Ohio closing
Three local eateries have closed or will be closed by year’s end, citing economic factors.
Jack Havanas Wing Revolution in Hazlett Court and Ace’s Sports Bar & Grill in Dresden are closed, and a longtime family business, Maria Adornetto’s, will close its doors for the last time Dec. 22.
FAA closing Palm Coast training center, cutting 100 jobs
The Federal Aviation Administration is shutting down its Palm Coast management training center Dec. 21, cutting 80 to 100 jobs in the process.
The closing cuts jobs in the city but it also has a negative impact on the economy in Palm Coast, as about 150 people train there on an average week.
Golden Ridge nursing home in Robesonia PA closing down
The owner of Golden Ridge said the facility is closing due to taxes owed to the I.R.S.
"It's very difficult. But unfortunately, with the back taxes for the I.R.S., there's no choice in the matter," said Lynn Zerbe, owner. "These residents are family to me. And it kills me that this is happening right before the holidays, and it kills me that it has to happen at all."
Over century-old post office closing in Ralph Michigan
Residents in the Dickinson County community of Ralph will have two weeks before they're forced to say goodbye to their over-century-old post office.
The tiny 12 foot by 14 foot post office was established in 1904 and currently is open only two-and-a-half hours a day during the week and an hour-and-a-half on Saturdays.
The Cootware family, who's been running it for the past 25 years, says the little financial compensation isn't enough for them to continue keeping it open.
Senior Living Facility Closing its Doors In Pennsylvania
A senior living facility in the Poconos is closing its doors in 2013.
More than 40 people called the place their home and they have only two months to find someplace to go.
The place is called Pocono Lutheran Village, and it’s closing its doors in January 2013 due to financial reasons.
Administrators were doing what they could to find a new home for the seniors who said they’re sad to have to pack up and go.
Dorothy Anderson called Pocono Lutheran village her home for nine years.
Last week, Anderson and her neighbors learned the facility — owned by a company called Diakon — is shutting down in 2013 because it’s nearly $5,000,000 in debt.
Bankruptcy: November 20, 2012
Walla Walla Gardener's Association closes doors - New
A local produce packing and shipping company in existence for almost 100 years is calling it quits.
Walla Walla Gardener’s Association closed its doors today, said Mark Jones, a financial and business advisor to the company. Located at 205 N. 11th Ave., it sold and shipped Walla Walla Sweet Onions under the Gloria label and fresh asparagus.
The company has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the court will decide how to dispose of its physical assets.
“The board felt that Chapter 7 was the most effective way to dissolve the business,” Jones said.
Missouri - Salt Restaurant Files for Bankruptcy - New
The acclaimed Central West End restaurant Salt (4356 Lindell Boulevard; 314-932-5787) on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Missouri. In the petition, a copy of which Gut Check has obtained, the restaurant claims to have debts of between $100,000 and $500,000 while holding assets of no more than $50,000.
Obama's Economy pieces at this link.
(Correction on date made to this post)


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National CineMedia, the larger of two dominant U.S. cinema advertising networks, said total revenues increased 3.9% from $79.1 million in the first
quarter of 2012 to $82.2 million in the first quarter of 2013, largely due to an 11.2% jump in advertising revenue, from $66.3 million to $73.7 million.
The ad revenue growth was partially offset by a steep drop in events revenue, with fell 33.6% from $12.8 million to $8.5 million over the same period, reflecting the decision to phase out NCM’s Fathom Business Events operations.
Looking ahead, NCM expects total revenues in the second quarter of $117 million-$122 million, representing an increase of 6% to 11% over the comparable period in 2012, and full-year revenues of $455 million to $465 million, for an increase of 1% to 4% over the full-year 2012.
Some of that growth may come from new products, as the cinema advertising network rolls out interactive and mobile channels. Last week, NCM unveiled plans for interactive “Monster Wall” video displays reminiscent of the eye-catching displays installed in some big airports, courtesy of Monster Media.
The Monster Walls -- which measure 8 feet by 10 feet and come equipped with NFC, photo-capture and augmented-reality capabilities -- are currently being tested in the lobby areas of 1- big theaters located in top markets. Passersby are invited to interact with a variety of entertainment and game content, as well as interactive advertising. If they get a positive response from moviegoers, cinema owners and advertisers, NCM hopes to expand them to other theaters in its network.
NCM has also been testing a second-screen experience using smartphones, FirstLook Sync, which allows moviegoers to interact with content on the big screen through digital watermarking technology. Currently in beta, Sync is set for a full-scale launch later this year.


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- Plusgrade continues to scale across travel industry verticals and takes another major step forward in its mission to be the global ancillary revenue powerhouse
- Rantilla and Hiza will lead hospitality ancillaries business development, expanding Plusgrade’s portfolio of innovative solutions that drive higher revenue
- Their new roles took effect as of June 1, 2023
MONTREAL, June 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Plusgrade, the global leader powering ancillary revenue solutions for the travel industry, is proud to announce the appointment of Paul Rantilla and Dan Hiza to lead its growing hospitality ancillaries business development team. The appointment of the hospitality technology veterans underscores Plusgrade’s commitment to creating exceptional experiences and driving revenue for air, hospitality, cruise, rail, and financial services companies worldwide. It also allows Plusgrade to further enhance and invest in its hospitality solutions to redefine the guest experience, unlock new revenue streams for partners, and foster innovation within the thriving hospitality industry.
Paul Rantilla assumed the role of Senior Vice President, CRO – Hospitality Ancillaries, and Dan Hiza stepped into the position of Vice President, Business Development – Hospitality Ancillaries as of June 1, 2023. Their combined expertise and strategic vision will play a critical role in shaping the future of Plusgrade as the global ancillary revenue leader.
“Paul Rantilla and Dan Hiza’s impressive backgrounds, deep hospitality industry knowledge, and drive for tech innovation will undoubtedly accelerate our growth trajectory as we continue to expand our transformative portfolio of products and solutions within the global hospitality industry,” said Plusgrade CEO, Ken Harris.
“I am both honoured and excited to welcome Paul and Dan to the Hospitality Ancillaries Business Development team,” said Tzafrir Blonder, Plusgrade’s Vice President of Hospitality Ancillaries. “Their leadership and strategic insights will be instrumental in driving our growth and solidifying our position as the global leader in ancillary revenue solutions within the hospitality industry.”
Rantilla is an accomplished executive bringing over 30 years of experience in hospitality management, market penetration, sales strategies and marketing leadership. He previously served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Birchstreet Systems where he led the sales and marketing teams and oversaw all hospitality contacts and sales with the world’s leading brands. Prior to that, Rantilla was the Executive Vice President of Global Sales at Amadeus Hospitality where he optimized sales and led all revenue and bookings forecasting globally. Rantilla will lead Plusgrade’s hospitality go-to-market strategy and be responsible for building a world-class sales team focused on driving one-of-a-kind outcomes for hospitality partners.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Plusgrade team. The opportunity to leverage the company’s innovation in air, cruise, and rail, coupled with the Points loyalty platform, will bring a unique and unprecedented offering to hospitality. There couldn’t be a better time to partner with the leaders in hospitality to bring tremendous value to their guests, brands and owners,” said Paul Rantilla.
Hiza holds over 30 years of operations, sales, and business development experience and has a strong background in delivering enterprise-level hospitality software globally. He most recently served as the Managing Director for EMEAI & Asia at Birchstreet Systems where he was responsible for leading SaaS revenue growth and bringing new solutions to hospitality businesses. Prior to that he held the position of Managing Director & VP Business Development EMEA at Amadeus London where he grew commercial relationships with strategic accounts across the hospitality industry. Hiza will focus on growing strategic relationships across EMEA and Asia to further improve guest engagement and satisfaction and drive ancillary revenue for partners.
“Joining Plusgrade to help revolutionize the traveler journey, set higher benchmarks for guest engagement and satisfaction, and drive new ancillary revenue for hospitality partners in EMEA & Asia is a role I’m thrilled to step into. Together with Plusgrade and its incredible portfolio of partners, we have a real opportunity to help shape the future of travel and the time to do it is now,” said Dan Hiza.
Plusgrade continues its expansive growth in the hospitality industry after acquiring UpStay earlier this year, which added hotel upgrades for guests and enabled hoteliers to drive higher ancillary revenue through multiple value-added revenue streams. With the addition of these senior leaders to its hospitality business roster, Plusgrade is poised to reinforce its position as the powerhouse for the global travel industry which includes its now 200+ airline, hospitality, cruise, rail and financial services partners around the world.
Plusgrade powers the global travel industry with its portfolio of leading ancillary revenue solutions. Over 200 airline, hospitality, cruise, passenger rail, and financial services companies trust Plusgrade to create new, meaningful revenue streams through incredible customer experiences. As an ancillary revenue powerhouse, Plusgrade has generated billions of dollars in new revenue opportunities across its platform for its partners, while creating enhanced travel experiences for millions of their passengers and guests. Plusgrade was founded in 2009 with headquarters in Montreal and has offices around the world.
MEDIA CONTACT: Carrie Mumford, Director, Brand & Communications, Plusgrade, firstname.lastname@example.org


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At CES 2018, ZEISS, an international leader in the fields of optics and opto-electronics, is set to debut their newest product, the ZEISS VR ONE Connect.
ZEISS will showcase VR ONE Connect for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas at booth #21730 in South Hall, January 9 – 11, 2018.
Attendees will be able to demo this first of its “kind VR product at the booth,” a provided release notes.
The ZEISS VR ONE Connect bridges the gap between PC-connected VR gaming and mobile VR by connecting the smartphone in the mobile VR headset to your gaming PC. The product gives mobile VR users more interactive gaming possibilities than ever before by allowing them to play games through SteamVR™, which currently has roughly 300,000 users. It boasts a high-quality VR experience with a comparatively low investment. The product may be used with iOS® and Android™ smartphones.
“This solution is a first of its kind in the VR space,” said Franz Troppenhagen, senior product manager at ZEISS. “Users will now be able to access games on SteamVR™ in a much different way than previous options, and they’ll also have access to traditional VR apps and 360 video content.”
To stay up-to-date on the availability of the ZEISS VR ONE Connect, visit www.zeiss.com/vrconnect and register for the ZEISS VR newsletter.


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Horizon Lines looks like it is sinking fast, and industry experts say it likely has two choices: sell off some of its trade lines, or perish.
The company, which has major markets in Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico, has been struggling for years. But it appears as if time is running out for the shipping group, which has been hounded by talks of being acquired by its competitors.
Horizon is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but has a major presence in Jacksonville, with three ships that sail between Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico: the Trader, the Discover and the Navigator. It operates two sailings a week, which take three days to get from Jacksonville to San Juan, according to the schedule posted on its website.
The storm clouds have been gathering for Horizon for some time: Its CEO, Sam Woodward, resigned last month with a year still left in his contract. Its fleet is by far the oldest of all the major Jones Act shipping companies — those operating between U.S. ports. And it is drowning in debt.
These reasons combined create a deeply unfavorable scenario for Horizon.
"They just really have a substantially older fleet, a higher amount of debt and less cash flow," said a banker knowledgeable about the maritime industry. "It's a bad combination all the way."
The banker, who asked not to be identified to avoid jeopardizing future business, said the combination of the old fleet tied into a riskier business model — in which the company is highly leveraged — has sealed the company's fate.
"Horizon has been owned by a number of private equity firms," he said. "This is not a great business to operate under extreme leverage. You can get lucky and make a lot of money doing it, or you can go bankrupt doing it."
Horizon Lines was started as Sea-Land Service by the inventor of the metal shipping container, Malcolm McLean. It started shipping to Puerto Rico in 1958 and went public as Horizon Lines in 2005. It was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; on Monday, its shares were going for 39 cents in the over-the-counter market.
Horizon competitors that ship between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico are Crowley Maritime Corp., Sea Star and Trailer Bridge. All four were caught up in a 2002-2008 price-fixing scandal, although Trailer Bridge was later dismissed from the federal case.
In 2011, Horizon was slapped with $45 million fine that was then lowered to $15 million so the company wouldn't go bankrupt. It also agreed to pay millions more in settlements with shippers.
The company also competes in Puerto Rico with National Shipping of America; in Hawaii with Matson Inc. and Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines; and in Alaska with Totem Ocean Trailer Express, a sister company to Sea Star.
Johnny Bowman, Jr., a logistics professor at Florida State College of Jacksonville and supply chain expert, said the company might have overextended itself.
"When companies overextend their promise to deliver a product or service to different customers, there's a huge risk," he said.
If that's the case, if Horizon has any chance of survival, it has to reevaluate and see where it went wrong.
"They have to go back and identify what caused this, look back at their strategies: did they get off task, did they get away from what their goals were as a company," Bowman said. "Maybe they need to look at being specific and focusing on what they do well."
At this point, it might take more than just re-evaluation to save Horizon Lines.
SEC filings from the end of its first quarter indicate that Horizon's total liabilities were $701.4 million and its assets only $632.1 million. The company has an accumulated deficit of $456.1 million.
Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus said in a research note that to retrofit or replace Horizon's aging ships, which have an average age of 37 years and must be updated by 2020 to fit regulations, could cost the company an additional $200 million to $1 billion.
The company has more than $100 million in interest and debt obligations due in 2014 and 2015, and over $600 million in obligations due in 2016, according to a research note from analysts at BB&T Capital Markets. The company's fleet is valued at only $215 million.
With debt like that, the company's choices are limited.
"Generally speaking, it seems to us the best solution is to break up some pieces," said the maritime banker. "They would keep a smaller slice of the company and survive."
But Horizon is large enough that it could sell off its struggling markets to avoid bankruptcy, he said.
"Horizon is a big company, it covers big areas," he said. "There are certain subsidiaries and routes they could sell off, that Crowley or Saltchuk would be willing to buy. They could survive that way. Horizon has been teetering on bankruptcy for years now."
But Horizon Line's misfortune could be Jacksonville's gain.
If it had its Puerto Rican trade lines purchased by competitor Crowley, Jacksonville could benefit from the acquisition, Bowman said. With Crowley positioned in Jacksonville, the growth in their business could mean more attention to the port and the city.
"It would be a benefit to them to showcase our port as a means of transporting freight," he said. "It could be a great turnout for them as well as our city."
He said Crowley, which is reportedly in talks to acquire Horizon's Puerto Rican trade for $80 million, is a large and established company that prides itself on its customer service. And that means they could bring their customers here.
"With their reputation and ability to do that, they would draw more customers," he said. "With that type of relationship, they would offer more services to that area and from that area; and with them being located here, it would be a win-win situation."
And the Puerto Rican trade lines might not be all Horizon has to sell.
Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus said Matson, which is Horizon's competitor in the Hawaiian market, might be interested in purchasing Horizon's Alaskan trade line. Bowman said he believed Crowley might also be interested in Horizon's share of Alaska.
"They are definitely interested in expanding and solidifying their services," he said.
Although there have been no confirmations as to whether talks to acquire Horizon's business are actually occurring, Bowman said the company is running out of time.
"Eventually, Horizon will have to — or will be forced to — make a decision to move on," he said.
Mark Miller, director of corporate and marketing communications for Crowley, would not confirm nor deny any current talks between Crowley and Horizon.
"All I can tell you is our original plan to build two new LNG ships in the Gulf and to deploy them at our existing terminal in San Juan is still our plan," Miller said. "We're talking with the Puerto Rican Port Authority about making improvements to our property once they are delivered in 2017. All I can tell you what our plan is at the moment."
Horizon did not return phone calls made throughout the week.
The fear of observers is the company just may be too strapped for money and too out of date to catch up.
Tote Inc. and Crowley are investing in state-of-the-art LNG powered ships, while Horizon is still trying to get its diesel ships up to code. In the end, the aging company just might not be able to hang in with the other large companies.
"The competition is really, really fierce," Bowman said. "Only the strong survive."


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Rubber farmers see their latex transformed at CEAT Kelani
The transformative journey of rubber from the milky liquid latex tapped from the ‘Heveabrasiliensis’ tree to sophisticated high-demand finished products in the global market is one that farmers know of, but don’t often witness first hand, a situation that one major user of natural rubber in Sri Lanka is now rectifying.
CEAT Kelani Holdings, which manufactures nearly half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements, has started hosting rubber cultivators for conducted tours of the company’s extensive manufacturing complex in Kelaniya, providing them with an insight into the intricacies of producing high-performance tyres for the domestic and export markets.
The first group of 45 rubber farmers and dealers from areas such as Padukka, Horana, Avissawella, Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura, Akuressa, Kegalle, Yatiyantota, Gonagaldeniya and Ruwanwella that visited the CEAT Kelani factory recently was briefed on the processes relating to the procurement of natural rubber, the stringent quality tests conducted on incoming rubber, the extreme care taken in storage of the precious raw material, the first-in- first out (FIFO) method used in inventory management and the entire manufacturing process from inception to completion.
A comprehensive demonstration of the in-process quality checks at the manufacturing facility underscored the importance of maintaining consistently superior quality in the supply of natural rubber.A detailed presentation on the use of natural rubber in manufacturing and its impact on the quality of tyres, provided farmers an eye-opener on how a small miss in the tapping of rubber could impact product quality.
CEAT Kelani Holdings Managing Director Ravi Dadlani said: “We purchase 100 per cent of our natural rubber requirements from local producers and so our success is important to the cultivators, a point that was effectively communicated in this relationship strengthening exercise. We were encouraged by the level of interest shown by the rubber farmers andvdealers, and their grasp of the importance of maintaining quality in the entire supply chain.”
Emphasising the importance accorded by the company to the visit, the rubber farmers and dealers were welcomed by the senior management team of CEAT Kelani led by Dadlani and Director Eraj Fernando.
The cumulative investment of CEAT Kelani Holdings in Sri Lanka exceeds Rs 8 billion. The company’s manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka encompass tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (nylon and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.
The post Rubber farmers see their latex transformed at CEAT Kelani appeared first on DailyNews.


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Honor X10 will be announced on May 20. Now ahead of the launch, the company has revealed the key features of the Honor X10 smartphone.
On its Chinese microblogging website handle, Weibo, Honor has revealed that the phone will be coming with a high refresh rate supporting display. Honor X10 will come with a screen that supports the 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate.
In another poster by the company, it has been revealed by the company that Honor X10 will come in White and Blue colour options. It shows the front and rear panel of the upcoming phone.
The image shows that the phone will feature a pop-up camera with a notch-less display. The back of the phone will sport a rectangular triple rear camera set up at the top-left corner and an LED flash. The text “Super Night Vision” suggests that the phone will be capable of capturing exceptional night shots.
A 3.5mm headphone slot and a microphone can be also seen on the top edge of the smartphone. The phone will have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
The phone is speculated to be equipped with a Sony IMX600y RYYB 40-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel lens, and a 2-megapixel sensor. It will have a pop-up selfie snapper of 16-megapixel.
Separately, the Honor X10 price has also leaked online as per which the 4GB RAM + 128GB model will be priced at 2,299 Yuan, 6GB RAM + 128GB will be priced atYuan and the 8GB + 256GB will cost you 3,199 Yuan.
Honor X10 will feature a 6.63 inch Full HD+ (2,400 x 1,080) resolution. It will be powered by the Kirin 820 SoC and will also be able to support 5G connectivity in both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes. The device will be made available with 4 GB, 6 GB and 8 GB RAM versions paired with 64 GB/128 GB/256 GB storage which is further expandable.
Honor X10 will house a 4,200mAh battery that supports 22.5W fast charging. On the software side, the phone will run Android 10 OS with custom UI on top. The phone has 163.7 x 76.5 x 8.8mm dimensions and it weighs 203 grams.


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JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ: JD) is slated to report fourth quarter 2019 earnings results on Monday, March 2, before the opening bell. The consensus estimates are for earnings of $0.06 per share on revenue of $23.7 billion.
The quarterly results are expected to benefit from strength in the retail business and the company’s expansion into lower-tier cities through its social e-commerce platform Jingxi. Last quarter, 75% of Jingxi’s new users were from lower-tier cities.
The company has seen strong growth in revenue, aided by growth in users, over the past quarters and this momentum is expected to continue in the fourth quarter as well. JD.com has been taking efforts to improve its customer experience and this is likely to have brought more users to its platform.
The company’s efficient logistics and delivery services are also likely to have fueled the results during the quarter. However, higher costs related to investments are likely to pressure the bottom line. Lower margins are another cause of concern.
Last month, reports emerged about JD.com planning to spin off its logistics arm through an IPO in the second half of the year that would value the company at around $30 billion. It is expected that as a stand-alone entity, JD Logistics would perform better. Separating the capital-intensive business unit might improve the company’s overall cash position and enhance shareholder value. Updates on this area will be worth watching.
In the third quarter of 2019, JD.com beat revenue and earnings estimates. Net revenues increased 28.7% to RMB134.8 billion, or $18.9 billion. Adjusted net income per ADS was RMB2.08 ($0.29).
For the fourth quarter of 2019, net revenues are expected to grow 21-25% to a range between RMB163 billion and RMB168 billion compared to the prior-year period.
Shares of JD.com have gained 17% in the past three months. The stock has a strong Buy rating and an average price target of $47.08.
Earlier we looked into how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers saw changing trends in terms of their assortments and how the acceleration of online shopping led many of them to
Data is at the heart of business innovation. Recognizing this trend, companies are seeking ways to transform their businesses by capturing, analyzing, and mobilizing data. The public cloud is becoming
The second half has been highly rewarding for design software maker Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) amid stable demand for digital content solutions. The company has remained unaffected by the virus-related


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Nintendo is not doing well financially. They’re not going to keel over and die anytime soon, but their share price has taken a dive and the 3DS is not the raging success many expected it to be. In light of this, Satoru Iwata, the President of Nintendo of Japan has said that:
For cuts in fixed salaries, I’m taking a fifty percent cut, other representative directors are taking a 30 percent cut, and other execs are taking a 20 percent cut.
And that’s a wonderful gesture by the higher-ups at Nintendo. Let’s hope the recent price drop starts bringing the results they’ve been gunning for.


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Facebook, which is developing the Libra coin, is ready to launch a payment system based on severalstablecoins provided with different fiat currencies.
This was reported by Reuters, citingstatement of the head of the Libra project, David Marcus. In fact, Facebook is striving to create a global payment network, and several cryptocurrency projects will be able to use it, Markus emphasized during his speech at a banking seminar.
"We could have a series of stablecoins pegged to the dollar, the euro, the pound sterling, etc."
If regulators are willing to accept such a plan,then Facebook easily integrates it into its crypto project. Initially, the developers were ready to provide their token with a basket of currencies in the composition of the American dollar, euro, Japanese yen, British pound and Singapore dollar.
But now they can change their plan if this allows to accelerate the implementation of the appropriate base for launching the payment network, the head of Libra summed up.
It is also worth noting that recently, under pressure from regulators, several financial companies, including Visa, PayPal and MasterCard, were forced to leave the Facebook crypto project.</p>


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ubisoft has announced plans to publish several high profile sports titles in a genre thought to have been sewn up by ea. the news included details of the microsoft games studios (thanks to asdf for the heads-up), including previous sports titles nhl rivals, nfl fever, nba inside drive, and mlb inside pitch. a high-profile tie-in with number one golfer vijay singh was also announced, with a golf game carrying his name being developed. it is thought that ubisoft plans to release a range of sports titles, with company president yves guillemot pointing out that “there is still room for innovation in the sports genre.” it seems like ubisoft is about to take ea head-on in the sports arena. ea may hold most of the sports licenses, but that doesn't mean it's guaranteed to produce decent sports games. a game not carrying all the correct names and sponsorship could still sell better and be more highly regarded, as the pro evolution soccer titles have proved. getting vijay singh is a good move, and allows ubisoft to easily compete with ea's tiger woods series. thanks to etoychest for the heads-up, and you can also view the ubisoft press release.
user comments 48 comment(s)
|add-ons (12:17pm est wed mar 02 2005)
yeah, pes is a great example. even if they don't release the game with real names or teams, they would definitely make the games upgradable by the fan community. – by ccfp
|ea bought the rights to the nfl for 5 years (1:43pm est wed mar 02 2005)
and then take 2 countered by getting a non-exclusive agreement with mlb, that only excludes ea from making a baseball game using the mlb licensed ip.
it's good that ubisoft got involved in the fight against. ea. microsoft got out and ea saw it as an opportunity to knock of the competition through exclusive licensing sports ip. – by vg
|getting back at ea (4:15pm est wed mar 02 2005)
ubi just hitting back at ea for the stocks they bought the other month. – by =)
|good (6:53am est thu mar 03 2005)
all i have to say is i havent liked ea since the bailed out on dreamcast and stuck their noses up at xbox for so long. i just cant believe that all our foot ball games are going to have that idiot john madden that guy is a retard that states the obvious. i love espn football and before you think i'm not being fair i had madden too and all i have to say is that haven changed really anything but stats the last four years. ea is just a big bunch of lazy developers for ps2 that will let you emulate those games on your xbox or gamecube. there i said it – by mr. spock
|monopoly (7:47am est thu mar 03 2005)
with ea having exclusive licenses in the football (soccer) genre, it locks out other developers. if the licenses were open to all, surely more developers could/would develop more soccer games. currently, as it stands, the consumer suffers (as usual!) – by same old…
|ea vs. espn (4:29pm est thu mar 03 2005)
ive had all copies of both football offerings….i wish you could all see the bull**** that madden does to make you loose…..it is sick.
i've played both for years now….sad to see sega's superiority get bought out… – by trunk


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Bill and Christine Sheppard are “absolutely thrilled” with the success of World Travellers at Best Travel’s success in the UnisonFibre Hastings City Business Awards.
After winning the EIT Excellence in Professional Services Award, the travel cooperative went on to claim the Newstalk ZB and Hawke’s Bay Today Supreme Winner Award.
EIT Marketing Director Brenda Chapman says it’s the third successive year in which the winner of the EIT category has also been the overall winner. Last year’s double award winner was The House of Travel, Hastings and, in 2011, optometrists Shattky Donaldson and Eagle.
World Travellers’ managing director, Bill says the cooperative has gone from just two members – Hawke’s Bay and Rotorua – when it launched in 2010 to now encompassing 23 outlets throughout New Zealand.
Bill says the business model has turned the travel industry around. By using its combined buying power, the cooperative is able to secure good deals for travellers and that in turn has boosted the number of repeat clients.
Focused on marketing and strategy, Bill says making the decision to work on the business rather than in the business was paying off with the financial year shaping up as the best yet.
Wife Christine, worldwide travel designer and manager of Best Travel, says the double win in the awards was “a great buzz for the whole team”.
Enthusiastic travellers themselves, the couple’s latest trip will take in Italy, Greece, Turkey and Bill’s native Scotland where they will be joining his mother to celebrate her 85th birthday.


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March 23, 2016
Fear sells, and when it comes to the U.S. economy, we are buying a lot of it. Fortunately, many of these fears are unfounded—a point made by Alan Beaulieu, CEO of ITR Economics, when he spoke at the MFG Meeting 2016.
In this segment of MFG Advocate, Beaulieu reassures us about economic facts and dispels a few bits of fiction.
Planning is already underway for The MFG Meeting next year, March 22-25, 2017, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Florida. Stay up to date with the latest at theMFGMeeting.com (#MFGmtg).
Sorry. There are no related videos.


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Impressive ‘iPhone 12 Trailer’ Shows Off its Final Design and Features [VIDEO]
Titled the ‘iPhone 12 trailer,’ an impressive new video published by ConceptsiPhone gives us a decent glimpse at Apple’s upcoming ‘iPhone 12’ and ‘iPhone 12 Pro’ flagship devices. The video has been produced for the YouTube channel by MotionFox.
The new flagship iPhones coming out later this year in at least 4 variations are expected to see a slightly delayed launch amid the COVID-19 pandemic which is reportedly causing production delays of one to two months.
However, depending on supplier fulfillment, Apple may opt for a staggered release, having a model or two release at first and usher in the remaining models when made available.
In the meantime, check out the following trailer and share your thoughts with us in the comments section.


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The most popular Android version right now isn't even Android 11
- The latest Android version distribution stats show that Android 10 is the most popular version.
- Android 11 was a close second place, while Android 12 didn’t make the cut.
Google hasn’t updated its Android version distribution dashboard for a while now, forcing users to open Android Studio to find the latest breakdown of the most popular Android versions.
9to5Google has indeed done just that and revealed the most recent breakdown. And it turns out that Android 10 is the most popular version, accounting for 26.5% of all devices that accessed the Play Store during a seven-day period.
Meanwhile, Android 11 was just a hair behind, accounting for 24.2% of devices. Interestingly enough, Android 12 didn’t make an appearance at all. The latest version of Android was only released on October 4, but 9to5Google also suggests that this data is at least three weeks old. Nevertheless, you can check out the website’s breakdown below.
In third place was Android 9.0 Pie, accounting for 18.2% of all tallied devices, followed by Oreo (13.7%) and Nougat (6.3%). Bringing up the rear were Android Jelly Bean, KitKat, and Lollipop, accounting for 0.6%, 1.4%, and 3.9% of devices respectively.
Either way, Android 12 adoption is off to a good start for a couple of brands. Google has already pushed the stable update out to Pixel users, while Samsung has released the update to Galaxy S21 owners. But the Android ecosystem sorely needs other manufacturers such as OnePlus, Motorola, and Xiaomi to speed things up if it hopes for faster adoption this time.


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Harry & David reported a 4.3 percent gain in fiscal second quarter 2013 revenue of $254.8 million and net income of $41.7 million during the pivotal holiday sales period.
Updated 12:15 p.m. Harry & David Holdings reported increased revenue and profit during its pivotal holiday sales period, the second Christmas season since the Medford-based gift and gourmet food company emerged from bankruptcy protection in September 2011.
In its fiscal second quarter that ended Dec. 29, Harry & David saw revenue climb 4.3 percent to $254.8 million from $244.3 million a year ago. Net income rose 23.4 percent to $41.7 million from $33.8 million a year ago.
The company carried a $72.1 million cash balance into January and had $98.5 million available on its credit line.
“Despite a much tougher holiday selling environment than expected, we are especially pleased with the significant growth in our customer file as it validates the return of the business to a growth trajectory,” Chief Executive Officer Craig Johnson said in announcing the results. “Significant gains were made in web traffic, market share.”
He said website enhancements and display changes for mobile and tablet sites contributed to the improved results.
For the quarter, Harry & David’s direct marketing — catalog and online — sales grew by $14.8 million, or 7.4 percent, from the prior-year period. Orders increased 12.4 percent, driven by improved web traffic and higher response rates.
The company stores saw a year-over-year revenue decrease, directly related to the closure of 13 stores in the past year. The $32.5 million in sales was down from $35.9 million. However, same-store sales saw a 5.8 percent gain.
Wholesale revenue also fell to $8.9 million from $9.7 million. The company said the wholesale figures were diminished because earlier shipments pushed some sales into the first quarter.
Both the stores and wholesale arenas had gains over the first half of fiscal 2013 as the company saw revenue grow to just more than $288 million from $251.1 million during the first half of fiscal 2012.
— Greg Stiles
8:35 a.m. Harry & David reported a 4.3 percent gain in fiscal second quarter 2013 revenue of $254.8 million and net income of $41.7 million during the pivotal holiday sales period.
The company earned $33.8 million on revenue $244.3 million a year ago, just after emerging from Chapter 11 reorganization. The Medford-based gift and gourmet food company said its revenue gain was 5.8 percent when removing 13 retail stores, closed during the previous fiscal year from the equation.
Check back later for more updates.
— Greg Stiles


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Following developments in France, Italy, Netherlands and Germany, we round up developments from buying alliance across the region.
Carrefour and Tesco reduce scope of joint private label buying
According to reports in France-based trade publication LSA, following on from a similar step from the Horizon purchasing group, Carrefour and Tesco have committed to limiting the scope of their joint buying of private label products. The step follows an investigation by the Autorité de la Concurrence (ADLC) (France’s national competition authority), which saw it identify competition concerns regarding private label products and a weakening of suppliers.
Picnic and Edeka to create buying organisation
In an interview with Netherlands-based trade publication Distrifood, one of Picnic’s co-founders, Joris Beckers, has said the retailer will leave the Superunie buying group, which it bought through via the latter’s member Boni. Beckers said in future Picnic will create a purchasing group, to be called Everest, with Edeka. The creation of Everest will see Edeka move its purchasing unit to Amsterdam, from Hamburg. In a subsequent interview, Picnic’s other co-founder, Michiel Muller, said Everest would be open to taking in new members in future too.
Beckers said the step would enable Picnic to create a private label range, which it could then roll out across Europe by having multi-language lables, covering Dutch, English, French and German. The first results of the collaboration will be launched ‘in a few weeks’ with Picnic launching a private label organic range. Beckers said, in future, products would be developed with ecommerce in mind, while also considering sustainability too. Beckers said Edeka would benefit from Picnic’s technology and know-how, which would help it improve its efficiency.
Carrefour Italia and Gruppo VéGé create new purchasing alliance in Italy
Carrefour Italy and Gruppo VéGé have agreed to set up a new purchasing alliance for the large-scale retail sector in the country. AICUBE 4.0 (Associazione Imprese Internazionali Indipendenti) is due to be one of the largest purchasing centres in Italy, representing about 5,300 stores. The agreement is set to last for the next three-years, with no option of early withdrawal.
According to AICUBE 4.0, it is open to add other players from the retail sector. Some of the roles of the new purchasing alliance will include defining baseline agreements with principal common suppliers, identifying synergies with mainstream distributor brands, and implementing common policies for co-packers of premium distributor brands.
Also, AICUBE 4.0 plans to share consumption trends and data with the industry. Christophe Rabatel, from Carrefour Italia, commented: “The alliance with the VéGé Group, with which we have been collaborating for two years, shows how organizations with different matrices can converge, giving life to a lean, efficient and mutually beneficial structure, but above all capable of developing synergies and ambitious projects for the benefit of consumers, going beyond the sum of the market shares to be spent on negotiation. AICUBE 4.0 takes on board the potential of the previous aggregation, in particular the focus on convenience and the enhancement of the supply chains.”
Retail Analysis newsletter


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Thursday - Jul 13, 2017
Champaign, IL - On Friday, August 4th the Champaign‐Urbana Public Health District's (CUPHD's) breast milk depot will celebrate reaching a goal of 50,000 ounces (440 gallons) of milk donations. Breast milk donations are stored and then sent to the Milk Bank in Indianapolis for medically fragile babies. The celebration will be held outside on the CUPHD lawn from noon to 1:00 p.m.
CUPHD opened its breast milk depot in June 2014. Depots are designated drop‐off locations that store and ship breast milk to milk banks, where it is processed and distributed to premature babies across the US. Prematurity is the leading cause of death for newborns, and breast milk decreases the chances that these infants will develop serious illnesses. Some mothers of premature babies cannot produce breast milk, and therefore many hospitalized babies have a need for donated milk.
The CUPHD milk depot celebration will wrap up World Breastfeeding Week by honoring the local moms that have donated their milk, along with providing fun activities, raffle prizes, and food.
Read the full press relase. (PDF)


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Local rice farmers are calling for government intervention to sell their excess produce, because they are being forced to sell their produce at a loss, well below the production price.
Farmers say their prospects have been dampened by rice imports, which are cheaper and of a better quality.
For instance, in Kirehe more than 1,500 tonnes of paddy rice are locked up in stores because farmers are unable to get buyers for their produce.
The situation has exposed over 700 rice farmers to major financial losses with some saying they were unable to pay their bank loans.
Local rice produce is usually bought by co-operatives and other buyers in the country, but this time even the co-operatives have large stocks of rice bought in the past season.
The president of Kirehe rice factory Javier Iyamuremye told Rwanda Today that they have over 2,000 tonnes of rice bought in season 2018B because of a lack of market.
“We won’t be able to buy all the rice from farmer’s co-operatives this season because we are not hopeful about finding a market for the current stock,” said Mr Iyamuremye.
“We agreed with farmer’s co-operatives that this season we will only buy 1,000 tonnes of rice out of over 2,000 tonnes because of low capital resulting from failing to sell the previous stock,” he added.
This season Kirehe rice farmers expect to harvest over 3,000 tonnes of rice.
“The other key difficulty encountered is that the rice cultivated in Kirehe is of poor seed quality. It is called Oryza glaberrima (Asian rice) locally called umuceri wakigori, which also contributes to the lack of buyers,” he added.
This poor quality rice isn’t competitive in the market against other types of rice from East Africa.
“We’re requesting the Ministry of Agriculture to help us find better quality seeds,” said Mr Iyamuremye.
Beatrice Mukeshimana, a rice farmer in Kirehe, said buyers from the rice industry also take long to pay.
“They buy our rice and take it to the factory from the first season, but we reach another season of harvesting when they haven’t paid the old debt,” said Ms Mukeshimana.
When we demand for our payments from the factory they tell us they are yet to get buyers and ask us to go collect our rice.
“We want the government to help us find a market for our produce,” she said. However, some farmers are considering moving away from commercial farming to avoid further risks especially when they fail to pay their bank loans as it puts their personal property at risk of being auctioned by the banks.
“I borrowed Rwf1 million from a local saving scheme to grow rice in the hope that I would make profits and repay back the loan.
However, with the price of a kilo of rice going for between Rwf200 and Rwf250, I am worried that this season I may not recover the money I invested,” said Eve Mujawimana, a rice farmer in Karubanda marshland in Tumba.
Ms Mujawimana called for government intervention to either find them a market for their produce or set up a storage facility where they can keep their produce as they wait for the prices to increase.
Theophile Mutabaruka, who is in charge of production and industry expansion policy at Tumba rice factory, said the company is not capable of buying all the rice from the farmers’ co-operative, thus leaving a lot of stock with farmers. Gerald Muzungu, mayor of Kirehe District said they are aware of the issue and are negotiating with private investors for a solution.
“We are in talks with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that farmers get quality seeds. We want to assure rice farmers that we will also look for new markets for the remaining 1,500 tonnes,” he said.


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Coronavirus spring: Farms, gardens figure out how to get vegetables to consumers in the age of social distancing
At the 100-acre Calabrese fruit and vegetable farm in Southwick, the sweet corn is planted.
Normally not a remarkable occurrence on a farm in April. But with the coronavirus and efforts to stop its spread disrupting nearly every aspect of every life, it’s remarkable that this one thing is going according to its normal yearly rhythm.
“What we’re doing is we are keeping our planting and growing schedule as though nothing was going on,” said owner Donna Calabrese. “We hope to open up our stands with flowers and vegetable plants in the beginning of May. So everyone can get their garden going.”
But the Calabrese family is doing all the work itself — just five family members and no one else — to keep down the risk of spreading COVID-19. And they are still trying to work out how to get plants and vegetables in the hands of consumers.
Will they have 6-foot marks painted on the floor or just set up tables so people can’t get close? Calabrese said she’ll probably package produce instead of having a big bin of, say, spinach for shoppers.
Maintaining social distancing is just one of the problems area vegetable farmers face, said Claire Morenon, communications manger at CISA, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, in Deerfield.
Others include access to workers, the eventual cost of complying with new rules about food safety and a lack of places to sell.
Winter farmers markets closed due to the pandemic and summer markets are unlikely to open on schedule. Farm-to-table restaurants have either shut down or are selling only to-go meals, so there is less volume. Colleges and cafeterias that buy local food are also closed.
Morenon said there are farmer-led solutions like boxed pickups and even a few home delivery services.
“So people are figuring it out,” Morenon said. “But there is going to be a market loss.”
CISA set up an Emergency Farm Fund to help farms through the COVID-19 emergency.
The state on Monday issued new guidelines for nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers and agricultural supply stores. Ones that sell food or plants that produce food are considered essential businesses and allowed to remain open.
The guidelines include ensuring customers are able to wash their hands or use sanitizer, maintaining six feet between people at all times, disinfecting surfaces and offering remote sales and outside pickup options.
Julia Coffey of Mycoterra Farm, which grows mushrooms in Westhampton, said she helped organize Mass Food Delivery, an online service that has provided more than 1,000 families across most of Massachusetts, including Boston, with delivered local foods from a number of farmers.
Denise Barstow, a seventh-generation farmer and education and marketing manager at Barstow’s Dairy Store and Bakery and Barstow’s Longview Farm in Hadley, said the family put in a drive-thu window to sell coffee and ice cream.
Now they are selling groceries out the window to consumers who don’t want to risk a crowded store.
“We’re a Local Hero farm (a program of CISA) so all the grocery items that we sell at Barstow’s are from the Pioneer Valley,” she said. “So it is a great spot for people who don’t want to travel too far and want to avoid the lines and the backups at the box stores.”
It is also a good way to safely keep a few staff people employed.
“I’ve heard a lot of people come through the drive-thru and say they want us to be here when this is all over,” she said. “We are really feeling the love.”


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Currently, the third-largest cryptocurrency, Cardano since its inception has rapidly risen to be one of the most preferred blockchain currencies by crypto investors across the globe.
With a starting price of about 2.1 to 2.2 dollars in 2017, Cardano, though experiencing many rise and fall lately has managed a sustainable 2. 2 to 2.8 dollars market value currently.
The trouble of every crypto investor is as to whether the currencies they have invested in are currently doing well in the market or crashing woefully. This leaves us at the mercy of the price prediction of crypto analysts and experts.
Cardano’s worth in 2021
Cardano is currently worth 2.2 dollars and is estimated to reach 3 dollars by the end of 2021.
What will Cardano be worth from 2022 to 2025?
Experts have claimed that the ever-rising cryptocurrency is set to attain a value of 3- 5 dollars by the end of 2022 and between 5 to 10 dollars in 2025 should its market cap keep increasing bountifully as it stands now.
What will Cardano be worth in 2030?
Cardano is predicted to keep rising all things being equal in 2030 with a market value of between 5 to 15 dollars. However, due to its limited supply of 45 billion, experts fear scarce market as customers keep trooping in every day.


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Until recently, Facebook's mission statement was to make the world more open and connected. What the company probably didn't expect was that it would also become.
That's the issue the Silicon Valley internet behemoth is grappling with, following a ProPublica report last week thatcategorized as "Jew haters." The revelations caused an uproar, sparking a debate about online ads and tech companies' responsibilities.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said the social network is responding to these criticisms by increasing enforcement against hateful ads and also increasing oversight of the automated processes. This is important because, as many people theorize and Sandberg suggests, the automated systems that come up with ad targeting groups such as "mothers," "people who live in San Francisco" and "birders" were likely responsible for creating a "Jew haters" category too.
"We never intended or anticipated this functionality being used this way -- and that is on us," she wrote. "And we did not find it ourselves -- and that is also on us."
Finally, Sandberg said Facebook is also going to encourage people to alert the company about abuses of its ads system.
She also reiterated that hate has no place on Facebook.
"Seeing those words made me disgusted and disappointed -- disgusted by these sentiments and disappointed that our systems allowed this," she wrote. "As a Jew, as a mother, and as a human being, I know the damage that can come from hate. The fact that hateful terms were even offered as options was totally inappropriate and a fail on our part."
The Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights group that, said in a statement that it had been in contact with Facebook and was pleased to see what it said was a swift response. "We are glad that they are taking immediate, meaningful action, and ADL will continue to hold tech companies accountable for following through on these actions," said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt in a statement.
You can read Sandberg's full post below:


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Million of customers should be compensated for being overcharged by a staggering £24 billion on their energy and water bills due to regulator errors.
The call from Citizens Advice comes after it found “misjudgements” by Ofgem and Ofwat on key decisions meant customers have been paying “far too much” for the pipes that connect energy and water to their homes.
The overpayments include £11 billion by energy customers between 2004 and 2019 and £13 billion by water customers between 2005 and 2019.
The consumer body says companies in the energy and water sectors face little or no competition to drive down the price they can charge customers.
The regulators set price controls instead, telling network firms how much they can charge their customers, which are paid for through energy and water bills.
Citizens Advice adds the overpayments partly occurred due to Ofgem and Ofwat making forecasting errors, such as predicting costs, like debt, being higher than what they were as well as overestimating how risky these businesses were for investors.
The charity suggests regulators to use available market data to calculate the costs and adjust their estimates of investment risk, instead of forecasting costs, to help consumers to avoid paying too much in the future.
While several energy and water companies have taken steps to return some money to customers, Citizens Advice is calling on all firms to provide a voluntary rebate to their customers.
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said: “At a time when so many people are struggling to pay their essential bills, regulators need to do more to protect customers from unfair prices. They have started to take steps in the right direction but it is vital they continue to learn from their past mistakes when finalising their next price controls.
“Companies need to play their part in putting this multi-billion-pound blunder right. They must compensate customers where they have been paying over the odds. If they don’t government needs to intervene.”
An Ofgem spokesperson said: “Ofgem remains determined to drive the best deal possible for consumers. Overall, energy network regulation has delivered for consumers, with £100 billion invested, power cuts halved, record customer satisfaction and reduced costs.
“While we do not agree with Citizens Advice’s estimate of excess profits, we welcome their report and recommendations. We will continue to work closely with them and wider stakeholders to apply lessons learnt from previous price controls for the next price control period (RIIO2). Our plans include the lowest ever returns for investors in energy networks which would cut costs for consumers by £6 billion.”
A spokesperson from Ofwat added: “We do not recognise the figures put forward by Citizens Advice or how they are arrived at. The National Audit Office (NAO) examined these issues previously and reported that customers could have overpaid by up to £840m. We took on board the recommendations of the NAO and the Public Accounts Committee and as a result, companies returned millions of pounds to customers.
“We welcome the recommendations of Citizens Advice and look forward to working with them to ensure that customers continue to receive a fair deal.”


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Jean Francois Magnan, technical manager for Nemaska Lithium, explains why the company’s low-cost lithium hydroxide could be a boon for lithium-ion battery manufacturers.
One company that could benefit from an expected rise in demand is Nemaska Lithium (TSXV:NMX), which is taking a vertically integrated approach by simultaneously developing its processing technologies, Hydromet processing plant and 100-percent-owned Whabouchi hard-rock spodumene deposit, all located in Quebec.
At the end of August, the company published two key patent applications: one for its proprietary process for producing lithium hydroxide directly from hard-rock spodumene, and the other for producing lithium carbonate. Speaking to Lithium Investing News, Jean Francois Magnan, technical manager for Nemaska Lithium, was very positive on the news.
Traditionally, lithium carbonate is produced from spodumene and hydroxide is produced afterwards, not the other way around. However, Magnan believes that Nemaska stands to benefit from its unique approach as lithium hydroxide is preferable for lithium-ion battery manufacturers.
Hydroxide vs. carbonate
In a nutshell, lithium hydroxide is used to produce the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. There are several types of cathodes for such batteries, including nickel–cobalt–aluminum oxide (NCA), widely used in electric vehicles, or nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC).
Some lithium-ion battery manufacturers may use lithium carbonate as an alternative, but due to the high nickel content in cathode materials such as NCA and NMC, producers of those cathodes can only use high-quality lithium hydroxide.
Furthermore, those who use lithium carbonate largely prefer the material because it’s usually less expensive. However, if companies were able to get their hands on lithium hydroxide with a predictable price, they could easily make the switch without having to buy any new equipment.
Magnan explained, “because hydroxide decomposes at a lower temperature, it accelerates the process. It uses less heat, less energy, so you produce more cathode material with less energy, and you can still use the same equipment.”
That’s definitely something Nemaska is planning to offer. With the company’s new demonstration plant, it will “produce hydroxide directly at a lower cost than most of the carbonate producers.”
Case in point: half of all producers of lithium-iron–phosphate (LFP) cathodes – including the two major LFP producers – currently use lithium hydroxide instead of carbonate, according to Magnan. The market for LFP alone is growing, pointing to even more need for lithium hydroxide.
All that said, Nemaska has patents for producing lithium carbonate from its hydroxide as well, as it wants to be prepared to offer both products to potential customers.
So how does Nemaska produce lithium hydroxide directly at such a low cost? In short, the answer is electrolysis. As Magnan explained, the process is quite similar to the one that is used to produce sodium hydroxide, and also uses much of the same equipment.
It seems like a great idea; however, despite the forecasted demand for lithium and the advantages of lithium hydroxide in battery production, Nemaska seems to be the only company targeting that material rather than carbonate.
Magnan did not know of any company pursuing an electrolysis-based process for producing lithium hydroxide, and knew of only one other company, Reed Resources (ASX:RDR) in Australia, that would like to produce hydroxide directly at all.
With those advantages, it’s easy to see why Nemaska wants to get its technologies patented.
Still, when asked whether or not he thinks another company might try to copy Nemaska’s process, Magnan replied that he isn’t worried. “It takes a lot more than just the patent,” he said. “You have to really know what you’re doing to commercialize it.” The technical manager noted the immense amount of research Nemaska has already conducted and cited access to low-cost, reliable electricity in Quebec as crucial for the success of its electrolysis-based process.
Furthermore, Nemaska’s Whabouchi mine is a key part of the equation that is not to be forgotten. As Magnan stated, “we have a good-quality deposit as well. If someone else wanted to apply this [process], they’d need a good-quality resource like that.”
Both sides of the equation
For Nemaska, vertical integration is more than just about hedging risk and increasing efficiency; the high-grade spodumene at Whabouchi is part of what makes the processing technology work. According to a feasibility study released in May for Whabouchi, the project contains proven and probable reserve of 20 million tonnes of 1.53-percent Li2O for an open-pit mine and proven and probable reserves of 7.3 million tonnes at 1.28-percent Li2O for an underground mine.
That makes it the highest-grade project of its kind in North America and second highest in the world – nothing to shake a stick at. Magnan also pointed out that the rock at Nemaska is also unusual in that it is “very homogenous,” which is key since varying grades can wreck havoc on production processes, making them much more expensive.
And with a mine life of 26 years, Nemaska will produce plenty of lithium hydroxide for years to come once the mine and its commercial plant are up and running.
Currently, Nemaska is developing a demonstration plant before the construction of its commercial-scale Hydromet plant. That strategy will “significantly reduce the cost of the commercial plant and derisk the overall project,” Magnan said. He stated that the company is “also currently working on the funding of the commercial plant,” but that it considers the demonstration plant extremely important in terms of optimizing and developing knowledge of its processing technologies.
As for Whabouchi, Nemaska is in the environmental permitting phase, and is awaiting final public hearings and approval regarding the project.
Certainly, investors interested in the lithium space will want to keep an eye on Nemaska and how both projects develop – especially if they are looking at lithium due to the predicted increase in electric vehicle battery demand.
Securities Disclosure: I, Teresa Matich, hold no investment interest in any companies mentioned
Editorial Disclosure: Nemaska Lithium is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.


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The supply of new properties for sale in 2022 returned to the ‘norm’ of 2019, according to new research from TwentyEA.
The data reveals that supply was 4% down on 2019 as a whole. Although in the first seven days since Boxing Day, there has been a 33% increase in supply compared with 2019.
Demand has been gradually tailing off since May 2022, 3% down on 2019 as a whole. Looking at just December 2022, demand was 10% down on 2019, but this was 18% down in October 2022 after the disastrous mini-budget.
Sales triggers by price band
In 2022, property was more likely to sell in all price bands than in 2019. The lowest priced property (<£200k) was most likely to sell, where the ratio of demand to supply was 92%. The highest priced properties (>£1m) were only 52% likely to sell, but this is still higher than the last ‘normal’ year of 2019.
Average asking prices
Average asking prices in 2022 rose by 8.5% (or £31.5k). The current UK average asking price is £404k. December 2022 saw a fall of 2% on the prior month. Prices are likely to fall this year, but even a 10-15% fall still leaves us above pre-pandemic levels
Average time to sell
Average time to sell a property has fallen dramatically. In December 2022, half of all properties sold in 35 days (median). This was an uptick from Nov 22 (29 days) days but more importantly, it is still 27% lower than the 48 days in December 2019 . Note – Time to sell is measured by the lag in days between the instruction date and the first sale agreed date
Stuart Ducker, strategic solutions director of TwentyEA, commented: “We have been in a brief period where the volume of properties for sale were at an all time low. For Sale stock has recently started to rise since Boxing Day, but we are still 100k short of 2019 ‘normal’ levels. The volume of properties with ‘in flight’ transactions is currently 380,000.
“Average weekly net house sales in the UK. 2022 were almost identical to volumes recorded in 2019 and 2016, with 2020 and 2021 being exceptional years.
“New Instructions will remain sluggish and subside by just over 3% on 2022 and we are expecting to see 1,500,000 instructions in 2023. Sale SSTCs will fall by around 18% on 2022 numbers as the cost of living crisis fuelled by the war in Ukraine and Brexit takes hold. This year we expect to see 1,008,000 SSTCs. The most important thing however is transactions, because they drive revenue.
“From 2014 to 2019, the UK has seen about 1.2 million transactions per annum. This might be defined as a ‘normal’ market, comparable with HMRC transaction volumes.
“In 2020, transactions fell by 11% on prior year. Due to the initial pandemic lockdown affecting specifically the first 6 months of transactions. Stamp duty holiday was announced and began on 7th July 2020. Since then, market demand has been exceptionally high. A 41% increase in the volume of transactions in 2021, the like of which had not been seen since the global financial crisis of 2007-2008.
“Finally, we forecast 2023 transaction volumes will be 1,108,776. This is prudently based upon the low October-December 2022 demand.”
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- Hackers are stealing digital data and selling it in underground markets.
- Identity theft is carried out by planting malware in the victim’s computer.
- AIIMS Delhi recently faced a cyber-attack that compromised the sensitive information of millions of patients.
Sensitive data from at least five million people worldwide, including 6 lakh Indians, was hacked and sold on the bot market. According to reports, nearly 12% of all data sold in bot markets so far belongs to Indian users, making India one of the worst affected countries by cyber identity theft.
According to a recent NordVPN study, data from 6,00,000 Indians, including logins, cookies, digital fingerprints, screenshots, and other information, was stolen and sold on the bot market. Hackers are said to have sold one person’s digital identity in packets for an average price of $5.95 (approximately Rs 490).
NordVPN researchers tracked digital data for four years, beginning with the launch of bot markets in 2018. What exactly is the bot market? In a nutshell, it refers to online marketplaces where hackers sell stolen data. Bot malware is used to target victims and hack their digital identities and information.
The report is concerning for India, which is already dealing with serious cyber security issues. Multiple servers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were recently brought down by days-long ransomware attacks. According to reports, the ransomware attack exposed the personal information of millions of patients.
How hackers steal digital data information
Hackers use malware to steal victims’ private and confidential information in order to monetize and sell it via direct use or underground distribution. Malware is installed on the victim’s computers in order to access data directly from the device. Malware can take the form of spyware, remote administration malware, or brute-force passwords.
Hackers install this malware on victims’ computers by visiting infected websites and sending malicious attachments or links via email. Other vulnerabilities used to access victims’ information include keyloggers, screen scrapers, spyware, adware, backdoors, and bots.
How to prevent your device from malware
To safeguard your sensitive data and prevent your device from any malware attack in the future, here are some tips you can follow:
- Keep your computer and software updated as companies like Apple and Microsoft frequently release new updates.
- Use a non-administrator account whenever possible. This will prevent you from installing unnecessary apps.
- Always download data from trusted sources and never click on suspicious links.
- Always scan emails and never download or open any if you suspect them or receive them from an unknown person.
- Never click on pop-up windows that ask you to download software.
- Always use antivirus software and scan your system frequently.


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Coinbase users can now access their Coinbase wallet through a standalone browser extension, bypassing the need to confirm transactions on their smartphones, the company said in a blog post Monday.
- Coinbase first introduced the extension in May, and now customers can use it to browse decentralized apps, access thousands of cryptocurrencies, trade on decentralized exchanges, earn interest and collect NFTs, Coinbase said.
- In addition, users can import an existing self-custody wallet including MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet or another Ethereum-based wallet.
Read more: Coinbase Wallet Users Can Now Purchase Crypto Inside the App
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Early last semester, Full Fathom Five (FFF) made an appearance on our blog as link of the week because of its new digital-only imprint. This week, in an article posted on Digital Book World engages the growing problem of digital acquisition and the increasingly disappointing results of genre-focused acquisition strategies. Samantha Streger, the Director of Digital Publishing at FFF, spoke about the issue that digital publishers are facing today:
Today, a paranormal romance ebook priced at $2.99 is just one of many thousands of paranormal romance ebooks priced at $2.99 or less. And that’s to say nothing of the huge number of ebooks that are available for free. Many publishers have found that the value of giving away free ebooks in order to build up reviews has all but disappeared.
What is the answer to the deflating profitability in ebooks? How should this problem be addressed?
Streger shared a list of five tactics that show promise when it comes to thinking creatively about acquiring and standing out with those acquisitions here, and challenged those in digital publishing to think differently. Even with something as “new” as ebooks, we’re seeing change in the landscape, and it’s important that these changes are engaged and that we can shift our positions and perspectives in ways that will best utilize what we’re presented with.


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Lyft acquires Capital Bikeshare and unveils design for Lyft Bikes
WASHINGTON — Ride hailing company Lyft, which recently jumped into the dockless electric scooter business in D.C., has completed its planned acquisition of Motivate, the company that operates the city’s long-established public docked bike operator Capital Bikeshare.
The deal was first announced in July.
Lyft also unveiled a first look at its own Lyft Bikes, which it says it will launch in a handful of new cities across the country starting next year. It did not say if or when Lyft-branded bikes would come to Washington.
New York-based Motivate also runs docked public bike sharing networks Citi Bike in New York, Ford GoBike in San Francisco, Divvy in Chicago, BlueBikes in Boston, BIKETOWN in Portland, CoGo in Columbus, Ohio, and Nice Ride in Minneapolis.
In New York, in an agreement with the city’s Department of Transportation, Lyft will invest $100 million in the city’s Bikeshare system plans to triple the fleet of Citi Bike bikes over the next five years.
No immediate plans to expand Washington’s Capital Bikeshare were announced.
“With this acquisition, we are poised to help take Bikeshare to the next level: adding thousands of bikes and stations in communities that haven’t had access to transportation; making Bikeshare membership more convenient and affordable than ever; and deploying new electric bikes, on a major scale,” Lyft said in a statement.
As part of the acquisition, Lyft acquires Motivate’s technology and corporate functions. Motivate’s bike maintenance and servicing operations will remain a stand-alone business run by Motivate.
As for the Lyft-branded bikes, it is unclear if they will be docked or dockless. “Lyft Bikes is still in its early stages, so there are no specifics to share,” a spokesperson told WTOP.
Lyft says its goal with bikes and scooters is to take one million cars off the road by the end of 2019.