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Guwahati: Pune-based Repos Energy is changing the game of energy distribution in India by starting a door-to-door diesel delivery with the Oil Marketing Companies. Starting with a team of two, to over 150 in just a year, this young couple is making the dream of door-to-door diesel delivery 'legal' come true from homegrown petrol pump business in Chakan, Pune, to form a dynamic energy grid. This young couple is setting up a whole ecosystem to provide cost-effective solutions for India's ever-growing need for energy logistics - Starting with diesel, through mobile petrol pumps.
Two years ago, Aditi Bhosale Walunj (27) and Chetan Walunj (30) set on a mission to take their family business of a petrol pump, to a newer and much larger dimension. Fueling large scale industries was something that they were catering to on an everyday basis. But after noticing a massive amount of energy loss due to fuel theft and spillage - the duo decided it was time this issue was addressed. They saw a great opportunity to overcome these challenges by offering a door-to-door service of diesel to not just their existing end users - but to the entire nation. But to offer this kind of service on a large scale, they had to face multiple roadblocks - the know-how, infrastructure, and most importantly - government approvals around fuel distribution.
And to realize their dream, Aditi and Chetan spent over a year doing the R&D. During this time, they reached out to everyone who could lead them to their goal - to create a global brand that is 'Made in India'. An energy-efficient logistics solution, which will help reduce harmful carbon footprint, save energy, increase efficiency and organize energy distribution. The two went on to meet the officials at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, wrote to the PM's office and got the support of Ratan Tata.
Married to their dreams
Chetan and Aditi met in 2015 when their parents set them up for an arranged marriage. While Aditi was planning to leave for New York to pursue Journalism, Chetan was single-handedly managing his family business. Their first meeting ended up in another, where they discussed their aspirations and future goals - to be able to make a difference in the world.
A student of Chemistry and Forensic Science, Aditi often found herself diving into things she found interesting. Chetan was still in his 2nd year of Mechanical Engineering when he took over his father's successful fuel station business.
What got the two close was their similar dreams, and that laid the foundation of Repos Energy. "Initially, Chetan's father was quite apprehensive about our idea of door-to-door fuel distribution, but his strong belief in his son's ability convinced him. That was our first major breakthrough," says Aditi.
The two took up a cozy office space in the city and started building a team. The following months were spent in meeting various officials to understand the processes and legality of such a huge project, which was still just an idea. "Both Aditi and I realized that we needed a self-sustainable model. And so we decided that we needed to build the whole ecosystem to successfully manage the logistics. To do this, we created a three-step delivery model - where we combined the technology with logistics by developing a mobile app and replicated a stationary petrol pump on a vehicle chassis making it a certified smart Mobile Petrol Pump" adds Chetan.
Meeting Ratan Tata
Their second major and the most significant milestone was a brief meeting with Mr. Ratan Tata. The duo spent about a week outside his house and finally managed to reach him through a letter seeking his mentorship. "He supported our idea, and connected us to the right people to get us closer to our goals," says Aditi. Their first pilot was to build a Mobile Petrol Pump for Tata Motors in 10 days. "It seemed impossible, but that's what our company stands for - Relentless & positive. We believe if you set out for the right cause with the right intention, everything is possible," adds Chetan. The start-up is going to be officially backed by Ratan Tata.
It was not a smooth journey all the way. "The biggest challenge for us was to have a policy in place. Which is why it was very important that we reached out to the Ministry of Petroleum, as this needed a new government policy in place," says Aditi. The other challenges were lack of know-how and expertise, which they gained in the process.
There was also a huge need to create awareness about diesel distribution, and the importance to organise the sector.
Repos have been completely self-funded from the beginning. "My father, Rajendra Walunj, was the first one to believe in our idea, and the efficacy of the solution. He joined our company as the director and pumped in the first 3 crores by selling his lands we had in Pune. Post that, we kept getting small rounds of investments from him to grow the operations," says Chetan.
From lands, and a fully-functional restaurant, along with the petrol pump in Chakan, Repos received capital from the family-run businesses. Until recently, when Ratan Tata officially confirmed his association with the company and has come on board as an investor.
Building the core team
Chetan and Aditi say they never really built a team. They put out their belief in what they were trying to do to everyone they met in the journey. And those who believed in their vision started becoming a part of Repos team. "We formed beautiful synergies," adds Chetan. "It was just the two of us who took up an office, as we felt the need to first have a base," says Aditi.
"We two began working when there was no concrete government policy on this particular concept. And today, we feel proud to announce that we pushed our boundaries, and made the system completely legal. And as the government policy is out, we are a team of 150 strong individuals who share the same vision," informs Chetan.
Current Revenue Model & Future
Repos Energy is building an ecosystem on the following revenue streams:
When Aditi and Chetan started out, the company barely had a lakh in monthly sales as they were still new and figuring out their strategy to penetrate the market. But one thing they were sure of at that time, was that they wanted to focus only in the Pune region. The company turned 2 on the 1st of June this year. And from 1-2 orders a month, Repos is now clocking 35-40 orders just in Pune. In terms of value, the turnover has grown from a mere INR 70,000 to nearly INR 2 crores a month (just Pune).
"While our focus revolves around giving convenience to the customer, the customer does not bear the cost of this convenience (unless the order quantity is low). We are able to meet our costs through the Gross Margins which we share with the Petrol Pumps that we partner with. As of today, the gross margin on Diesel stands at INR 2.2 per litre. This margin is shared between the petrol pump owners and ourselves in a certain ratio depending on the type of model," Chetan explains.
Today, Repos is present in 32 cities across India through 49 Mobile Petrol Pumps (Mobile Petrol Pumps).
The company's strategy so far was to monetize Pune first before monetizing other locations. "When we say monetize, we enter into a revenue-sharing agreement with our dealers across the country. So far, we have two dealers in Pune whom we share our revenue with. The basis for sharing revenue is the Sales and Marketing effort we generate through our Sales team in addition to the marketing efforts," adds Chetan.
Over the next 3 quarters, Repos plans to monetize 120 dealers across 4 geographies of Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. The company plans to break even approximately 24 months from now.
Towards a Greener Future
Energy can be replaced at many places with diesel as green is the new tomorrow. Today we have diesel and we are just using it wisely. And this wise use of diesel is helping us reduce carbon emissions and loss of diesel.


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Sheffield based business PrimaBerry won Small Business Sunday in November 2021, an initiative run by the retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis.
Last week we had the incredible opportunity to join the SBS Event at ICC Birmingham, network with other small business owners and listen to incredible presentations from Theo Paphitis; Rachel Watkyn, the Owner of Tiny Box Company (invested in Dragon’s Den); Natwest’s Debbie Lewis and Touker Suleyman,
This day definitely contributed to our business growth and mindset development, we left the event feeling super motivated and with a lot of new ideas.
The Small Business Sunday initiative has been running since it was launched by Theo in 2010 and has had over 3,000 winners.
Businesses looking to earn themselves a retweet should tweet Theo on Sundays between 5 pm and 7.30 pm and include the hashtag #SBS. The six winners then gain a retweet on Monday at 8 pm and are invited to enter their profile on the new website, attend the annual SBS networking event and take advantage of the networking opportunities.
For more information on Small Business Sunday, visit: www.theopaphitissbs.com
Good luck to all the small businesses entering the competition and we hope to meet you all next year!
Amin and Susana

domain: news


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If you're moving into the cloud, check your legacy management style at the door.
Intuit - News, Features, and Slideshows
Another industry organization focused on Node.js has formed, albeit one with sparse membership at this juncture.
Bill to rein in data brokers restarts... Government funds China companies in global push...TurboTax users victimized... and more tech news.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking into the cause of a spike in fraudulent tax returns filed using Intuit's TurboTax tax preparation software, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Intuit today said it has suspended electronic filing of all state returns from its TurboTax tax preparation software after 19 states' tax authorities reported unusual volumes of fraudulent returns.
As 2013 begins, the SaaS (software as a service) market is set to heat up even more, as well as potentially undergo a number of key shifts. Here's a look at a series of key SaaS vendors and trends to watch as the year unfolds.
Working with startup vendors requires a lot of legwork and a plan for managing the risk. But the payoff can be great.
Now that business users have begun clamoring for Android phones in earnest, it's a better time than ever to take a fresh look at the Android apps now available for enterprises.
- NEW Gigamon Transform Security Zone - Find out more now!
- More than 270,000 customers worldwide trust Fortinet to protect their businesses. Learn more.
- Hear from those who have been there, done it and transformed their business for the better with AWS Cloud. View their stories and other informative AWS sessions On-Demand.
- Help us better understand the trends and major practices related to technology use in STEM education. Take this two minute survey NOW.
- APJ businesses think they will be breached: Here's why: Read the article NOW
- F5 Security Hub NEW Look - Try us out today!


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A flood on board a new luxury cruise liner shows that a deluge of water can happen anywhere at any time.
A problem with the fire suppression system caused the issue on board the Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Dream causing 50 staterooms to become flooded, wreaking havoc and forcing passengers to sleep on yoga mats in the ship’s spa and on the floor elsewhere.
No-one was hurt and the crew did an amazing job to sort out the problem and clean it up within six hours.
The cruise line issued a statement which said: “The water main break had no effect on the safe operation of the ship.
“The water line break occurred at 6pm and in six hours our crew had replaced hall and stateroom carpeting, dried out other sections of carpeting that were damp but did not need to be replaced and restored the 50 staterooms so that all guests could sleep in their beds that evening.
“There were a handful of guests who chose to sleep elsewhere that first night and we moved mattresses to the spa for them.”
Many homes and businesses now have FloodSax Sandless sandbags so they are prepared for flooding.
FloodSax are transformed from being as light as a pillowcase to being more effective than traditional sandbags in just three minutes and are ideal at soaking up spills as well as stopping running water.
Many homes and businesses worldwide now have a pack of FloodSax sandless sandbags so they are ready for any flooding emergency. They are space-saving to store but can be transformed into sandbags within minutes simply by adding water which causes the special polymer gel inside the FloodSax to expand.
Around 2.5 million have now been sold worldwide.
* Written by Andy Hirst at AH! PR http://www.ah-pr.com/


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Nexen Tire has announced retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Ken Cates the recipient of the 2019 Nexen Hero Jeep Wrangler as part...
TIA to offer online class for Retail Tire Store Manager Training
SEMA Data Co-op expands data services with PartsHub acquisition
Maxam announces its new large haulage tire: The MS453


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HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Walmart food trucks are stopping at several cities to hand out free ice cream!
The truck will visit a different location each day. People who spot the food truck are encouraged to use the hashtag #iSpyWalmart on social media.
Here’s the inside scoop on the locations:
- July 12, 3-7 p.m. at Westwood Apartments, Hampton
- July 13, 12-4 p.m. at Hampton Family YMCA, Hampton
- July 14, 12-4 p.m. at Jamestown Commons Apartments, Virginia Beach
- July 15, 11-3 p.m. at Virginia Zoo, Norfolk
- July 16, 2-6 p.m. at Riverdale Pool Recreation Association, Hampton


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The UAE and five other oil producing Gulf states recorded a sharp increase in exports of goods to Japan by nearly 40% in 2011, widening the trade surplus, official data suggested.
Figures released by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) suggest exports by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to Asia’s biggest economy skyrocketed to nearly $141.1 billion in 2011, from around $101.9 billion a year before.
Japan’s exports to the GCC declined to around $19.56 billion from $20.02 billion during the same period.
The JETRO report showed that Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy and the world’s top crude producer, was the biggest Middle East exporter to Japan, exporting goods worth $50.3 billion in 2011, up from $35.7 billion in 2010.
The UAE, the second largest Arab economy, was behind Saudi in GCC exports, making around $42.7 billion compared with $29.2 billion in the same period.
However, the UAE topped the list of importers from Japan, with imports worth nearly $7.44 billion, beating Saudi Arabia’s Japanese import bill of around $6.48 billion in 2011.
Qatar was the third largest exporter thanks to the sharp rise in its LNG supplies to Japan. The Japanese trade agency’s report suggested Qatari exports grew from around $21.6 billion in 2010 to $30.05 billion in 2011. The gas-rich Gulf nation’s exports to Tokyo were less than $10 billion in 2009.
Kuwait also ramped up its exports to Japan, mostly crude oil, raking around $13.09 billion from nearly $10.2 billion.
Oman managed to increase its trade with the Far Eastern nation to $5.13 billion from $4.49 billion during 2011.
Bahrain’s exports to Japan, mostly ammonium, registered a slight increase to the tune of around $722 million from $658 million during the same period.
Japan’s imports from the GCC states last year hovered closer to the record 2008 imports of around $144 billion, when crude prices hit an all time high of about $95. Average crude prices exceeded $100 a barrel in 2011. However, analysts suggest the lower value of GCC exports to Japan was the main reason behind the slight fall in the volume of Tokyo’s crude imports from the six members, which possess nearly 40% of the world’s oil reserves.


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Las Vegas Market sets positive tone for the second half of 2017
August 9, 2017,
LAS VEGAS – Buyers took advantage of a record number of resources – including significant new product introductions and first-time exhibitors – at the recently concluded Las Vegas Market. Following the close of market last Thursday, International Market Center officials said that the summer show’s success was tied to key increases in gift buyer attendance, stable home furnishings attendance and burgeoning support from the interior design community.
Home furnishings buyer attendance was on par with last summer. Gift buyer attendance was robust, posting a 6% gain over last summer. Attendance included buyers from 50 states and 79 countries, and within the U.S., the highest number of buyers came from California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Utah. Leading international countries represented were Canada, Mexico, China, Panama and Colombia.
Raising the bar included adding 72 new and expanded permanent showrooms, more than 150 first-time exhibitors within Pavilions for a total of 500+ temporary exhibitors and a record number of nearly 40 buying groups and associations drawing groups of their members to shop the expansive whole home and gift product offering.
The outdoor category continued to gain strength, supported by a 12% increase in the number of buyers indicating they were shopping casual/outdoor while at Las Vegas Market.
“Market this summer has been absolutely impressive and we’re starting to see the Casual/Outdoor market grow,” said Tony Rodriguez, President/CEO of Summerset Casual. “Sunday we wrote a couple of major orders and saw a lot of new faces we haven’t seen before. We’re writing a special proposal for a top 100 retailer for 2019, and this was a very large buyer.”
Summer Las Vegas Market showcased more than 160,000 square feet of new showroom space in the furniture and home décor categories, including new presentations for Zuo Décor, Home Insights, Turnkey, LH Imports, Vertu, and Vanguard Furniture. Several manufacturers said they established new business connections during summer market that could translate into increased business going forward.
“In the first three days, we signed in close to 800 unique dealers and designers, the majority of which were from the West Coast, Midwest states and Mexico,” said Birger Rasmussen of Vanguard. “We believe this Market is exposing us to smaller accounts and West Coast designers who do not travel to High Point Market.”
Buyers said they appreciated the convenience and depth and breadth of product offered at Las Vegas Market, including Karen Phillips, representing Top 100 furniture retailer Weekends Only in St. Louis, Mo.
Maricich reiterated that Las Vegas Market will continue to serve its customers with a variety of home furnishings and gift product offerings, as well as educational presentations and seminars.
“With IMC’s recently announced acquisition by the Blackstone Group, there are now new opportunities – and funding – for Las Vegas Market to grow, buy, build and expand in ways not possible before,” Maricich said. “The Blackstone Group and IMC teams will be working together to move forward with a goal of continuing and expanding Las Vegas Market’s dominant West Coast positioning as a truly comprehensive, effective, and efficient market destination.”
The winter 2018 Las Vegas Market runs January 28 to February 1, 2018. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com
Related Content By Author
Move of the Century
Casual Living eWeekly
Most Viewed Articles
October Digital Edition
Don't miss the October digital edition of Casual Living! In this month’s Market Issue, we’ll bring you all the highlights of Casual Market Chicago, from innovative new products and hot trends to this year’s award winners and a taste of the party scene. Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek of all the product debuts at High Point Market.
In this issue:
- Consumer Survey: Did you know three out of four consumers read online reviews before purchasing outdoor furniture? That’s just one of the shopping insights shared in our exclusive report on consumer buying habits.
- Designer Viewpoint: A North Carolina designer creates an outdoor space for a modern-day Brady Bunch. • Barbecue Lifestyle: Our grill guy gives tips on extending the season through the holidays.
- Focus On: Patterns punch up the style quotient of outdoor accessories.


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A team of four undergraduate students from UBC Sauder placed first in the Milgard Invitational Case Competition on Social Responsibility organised by the University of Washington at Tacoma, on March 1st, 2019
The Women in Business and Net Impact Club at UBC Sauder recently hosted a discussion seminar with Dr. Carol Liao, UBC Sauder Distinguished Scholar and Christie Stephenson, Executive Director of the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics, who shared stories of their encounters with challenges as working women, and offered strategies to empower soon-to-be graduates to tackle some deep-rooted hurdles.
For UBC Sauder alumna Valerie Song, being recognized as one of BC Business’ 30 under 30 winners was an important goal. One that has now become a reality.
A recent study from the UBC Sauder School of Business found that sleepier consumers reach for more variety at their local stores to help them stay awake, including those impacted by loss of sleep due to Daylight Savings Time.
A new study from the UBC Sauder School of Business suggests that brands wanting to build the most effective and long-lasting relationships within online communities need to select labels that make users feel connected.


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EA’s Chief Competition Officer Peter Moore has confirmed that the first EA title for The Nintendo Switch will be Fifa 18. He informed about this in a conversation with GameRactor at a Fifa event in Paris. Moore said that Fifa 18 would be the first custom made game for the console, rather than a spin-off title that EA usually reserve for non-standard consoles such as the Switch, due to its different controller configuration.
Peter Moore was asked further on the subject of the Fifa release for the Nintendo Switch, to which he responded by saying what Switch owners will get later this year when Fifa 18 releases, is a custom built version of the popular football game. This is good news considering Fifa games for the Wii and Wii U have been boiled down versions of the full releases in the past.
EA upgraded Fifa’s game engine for Fifa 17, which was well-received by fans. The move from the Frostbite Engine was a risk, requiring the developers to build an entirely new engine for the game to run on. This could be to the developer’s advantage because they would find it easier to build a custom version of their game for a new console without the need to work around engine limitations.
Fifa 18 will be this year’s release of the most popular football game series on the market. Each year the gameplay mechanics are improved to offer players a better way to play their favourite game. Last year EA introduced The Journey, a story mode which followed a player from their time in the minor leagues all the way up to the premiership.
This new mode not only gave players something new to play on top of the other single-player modes, it gave those who weren’t interested in the usual football games something different, and a reason to pick up a Fifa game for the first time in years. This year’s Fifa promises to be better than ever, as always, bringing back everything fans love about the series, including The Journey. With a limited launch lineup on the Switch, Fifa 18 stands a good chance of being the best game on the console this year.


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In-vehicle infotainment systems on newer cars increasingly offer access to your favorite media and navigation apps, thanks to systems like CarPlay... ...http://www.techgig.com/tech-news/editors-pick/Hudly-wants-to-bring-your-favorite-apps-to-the-car-with-an-aftermarket-HUD-61489
Image: automatic By Adario Strange 2016-08-17 17:23:47 UTC For those of you who don't just Uber and actually drive a car, Automatic's... ...http://www.techgig.com/tech-news/editors-pick/Automatic-Pro-car-fitness-tracker-now-includes-free-3G-wireless-connection-60863
Tech Crunch2 mins ago | Posted By: Santan kukreja 0 Viewers 0 The race for aftermarket smarts in your car is heating up, and Automatic... ...http://www.techgig.com/tech-news/editors-pick/Automatic-Pro-adds-unlimited-3G-to-connected-car-gadget-60780
With the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issuing a draft notification earlier this year about its decision to leapfrog from BS IV... ...http://www.autocarpro.in/features/carburettor-units-bid-adieu-bs-vi-norms-21135
/PRNewswire/ -- The report "Automotive Test Equipment Market by Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, LCV, & HCV), Product type, Application type... ...http://www.prnewswire.co.in/news-releases/automotive-test-equipment-market-worth-6007-million-usd-by-2021-585554191.html
Buy OBD2,OBD-II , OBD Scanner, Auto...
Are you always finding an CAR...
Mini ELM327 WiFi with Switch Work...


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Sustainable Brands ’09 attracting blue chip brands; sustainability remains a key priority
Sustainable Life Media today announced that Jez Frampton, Global CEO of Interbrand, will be among the leaders kicking off Sustainable Brands ’09 (SB ’09) with a look at “The Power of Brand to Change the Future.” More than 60 thought leaders and brand innovators are already lined up to share up-to-the-minute learning with more than 600 business strategy, sustainability, design and brand executives in Monterey from May 31 to June 4.
The Sustainable Brands Conference has become the preeminent international conference for discussing the rapid rise of sustainability as a driver for revenue growth and brand equity in the 21st century. The 2008 conference, also in Monterey, was sold out.
“We are seeing an early up tick in participation this year, despite tough economic times, which indicates the degree to which our community sees innovation for sustainability as the path to business success going forward,” said KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO of Sustainable Life Media. “Given growing market drivers and an improved political environment in the U.S., the climate is right to make real progress in re-designing businesses, products and brands for a healthier future for all.”
Three full days of plenary and breakout sessions, as well as a full day of hands-on workshops, will both inspire and equip attendees to succeed by responding to growing stakeholder demand for more environmentally and socially innovative product and service solutions.
Ms. Skrzyniarz continued, “Tremendous new solutions are being born out of productive problem-solving conversations between business functions, across multiple stakeholder groups and market sectors, and even between competitors, as more businesses seek to find ways to share learning while still maintaining a clear sense of individual identity and brand. We are thrilled to have the privilege to help facilitate and support this unfolding dialogue.”
About Sustainable Brands ‘09
Widely reputed to be the most compelling sustainability conference of the year, Sustainable Brands ‘09 will convene business strategists, along with sustainability, design and brand leaders from a cross section of organizations such as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dell, Coca-Cola, Clorox, FedEx, HP, Interbrand, Johnson & Johnson, Mohawk, New Belgium Brewery, Nestle/Purina, SC Johnson, Waste Management, Williams-Sonoma, and an unprecedented list of others.
Among those currently confirmed to speak are, Mathis Wackernagle, Founder, Global Footprint Network; Hazel Henderson, Author, Building a Win Win World and Ethical Markets; Tom Szaky, CEO, Terracycle; Andrew Dent, PhD, BusinessWeek Innovation Columnist; Jacquelyn Ottman, Founder, J. Ottman Consulting; Leilani Latimer, Dir of Sustainability, Travelocity; Mark Lee, CEO, SustainAbility; Paul Lilienthal, CEO, Pictura Graphics; Nathan Shedroff, Author, Making of Meaning; Jeff Mendelsohn, CEO, New Leaf Paper; Jay Coen Gilbert, Co-founder, B Corp; Susan Mac Cormac, Partner, Morrison Foerster; Mike Kraft, Sr Business Mgr Environmental Sustainability, Clorox; Paul Livgdon, Sr Dir – Upstream, Waste Management; Steve Newcomb, Founder, 1 Block Off the Grid and Lend Me Some Sugar; John Edson, President and CEO, Lunar Design; Woody Tasch, Author, Slow Money; Christina Nicholson, Director of Sustainable Development, Williams-Sonoma; Andrew Winston, Co-author of Green to Gold; Mark McElroy, PhD, Founder, Center for Social Innovation; Ron Gonen, CEO, RecycleBank; Kelly McElhaney, Executive Director, Center for Responsible Business; Tod Arbogast, Director of Sustainable Business, Dell Computers; Steve Glenn, CEO, Living Homes; Umair Haque, Director, Havas Media Lab; John Marshall Roberts, Author, Igniting Inspiration; Joshua Levine, Advisor, UBS Financial Services, Inc.; among many others.
In addition to a newly expanded Solutions Showcase Expo and Sponsored Sessions series, an extended “Un-conference” where participants create the conversations, and a plethora of evening networking activities over the four days of the event, a dozen hands-on workshops are planned along side this year’s conference providing interactive exploration of topics such as: Practical Strategies for Green Marketing & Eco-Innovation with Jacquelyn Ottman, Scenario Planning with Global Business Network, the leading international scenario firm, Understanding Your Ecological Footprint with Global Footprint Network and Social Impact Metrics with the Center for Sustainable Innovation.
Details on the conference are currently unfolding at: http://www.sustainablebrands09.com. SB ‘08 sold out. Early registration incentives are now in place, but will be limited. Prospective attendees wishing to reserve space at the best rate and receive a complimentary hotel room for one night along with their registration should book soon.


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xpedx has begun upgrades on its U.S. distribution network with a RF-enabled warehouse management system that will bring important new advantages and expanded services to xpedx customers worldwide.
xpedx has contracted with RedPrairie, a global provider of supply chain management software, to provide the new WMS and related services that will be used across the xpedx distribution network.
Upon implementation, xpedx says its customers will see such benefits as increased supply chain productivity, activity-based costing and other measurement tools, order accuracy, quicker order turnaround, shorter travel time and real-time inventory tracking.
xpedx says the new WMS will also enable it to expand delivery of high-demand kitting, fulfillment and inventory consignment services.
"Our goal is repeatable logistics excellence--delivering the perfect order at the right time, every single time," says Art Douville, executive vice president of operations for xpedx. "This new warehouse management system will give xpedx and its customers unprecedented visibility and control over products throughout the supply chain."
"Retailers and manufacturers expect their partners to deliver proven global best practices in distribution, logistics and supply chain management," says Jeff Neely, director of sales for Tampa-based xpedx Supply Chain Services. "With the addition of RedPrairie's RF-enabled WMS technology, our customers are assured we'll make the infrastructure investments they expect from strategic, long-term partners."
xpedx said the technology will deliver new efficiencies and productivity advantages company wide and across the more than 100,000 SKUs it actively manages every day in its North American distribution network.
Timely, incisive articles delivered directly to your inbox.


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New Canon 600 mm f/4L IS III
Look what we have found on the website from Canon rumours:
‘We can confirm that the second “Big White Lens” coming ahead of Photokina will be the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III. This will come along with the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III that we reported on last week.
We’re upgrading the rumor rating on the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III to [CR3]
We can only speculate what the upgrades for the new lenses will be, but we’re pretty sure weight reduction will be a big part of the equation, since these are the heaviest of the four most popular supertelephoto primes in Canon’s lineup.
There’s no word on whether or not the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II or the EF Canon 500mm f/4L IS II will receive updates soon after.’


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Indulging in retail therapy
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Over the weekend I indulged in a bit of retail therapy.
There is nothing more therapeutic for me than spending an afternoon strolling the department stores while sipping an iced latte.
Of course, nowadays I shop for the new little man in my life, my nephew. In every shop I entered, I was immediately drawn to the infant and toy departments.
Christmas is right around the corner and one of my favorite things to do is find the perfect present for the loved ones in my life.
According to an article on money.usnews.com, a recent survey by TNS Global found 52 percent of respondents said they’ve engaged in retail therapy. Retail therapy is defined as the act of shopping and spending to improve one’s mood.
Kit Yarrow is a professor of psychology at Golden Gate University in San Francisco and she said that she believes shopping serves as a healthy purpose for a lot of people.
“Do it, enjoy it and don’t overdo it,” Yarrow said in the article.
The article also states that buying new clothing can boost workplace confidence. Yarrow said that retail therapy can be a creative outlet depending on how the person uses the purchase and what it means to them.
I also enjoy people watching when I’m shopping. The embarrassed mom with the screaming toddler, the bored husband asleep outside the fitting room and the women picking out a new hat or sampling perfume.
There are many elements that make shopping worthwhile and therapeutic for me and it does not always involve a purchase.
It’s a time for me to stroll around without a worry in the world for a few hours, find out about the newest fashion trends, meet new people or spend time with friends.
Just remember to always place limits on yourself, so that indulging in retail therapy from time-to-time won’t hurt you financially. Set a spending limit and once it’s met, head on home.


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1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 1000Washington, DC 20005202.887.6400Toll-free: 800.544.0155
All Contents © 2020The Kiplinger Washington Editors
By Harriet Lefton
| August 9, 2018
Just because a stock has performed badly in the past, doesn’t mean it’s game over for the future. As investors, we can jump into stocks that are rising. But another strategy is to find poorly performing stocks on the cusp of rebounding. Obviously, this is a more risky approach. What happens if the poor results continue?
Well, for instance, you can generate seriously lucrative returns. The key is to cherry-pick your stocks wisely by differentiating between stocks unfairly treated by the market, versus the stocks where all hope is truly lost.
Luckily help is at hand. Here, I turned to top analyst ratings to pinpoint stocks that are worth a second look. I used TipRanks to focus on analysts with the sharpest stock picking abilities.
These stocks have all posted losses, but the upside potential remains intact. Let’s take a closer look at these rebounding stock picks now:
Prices and data are from the original InvestorPlace story published on Jul. 27. Click on ticker-symbol links in each slide for current prices and more.
Lockheed Martin (LMT) is the leading defense contractor of global security and aerospace systems, products and services. The stock previously held a hold consensus rating from top analysts. But now five-star Cowen & Co analyst Cai Rumohr (Profile & Recommendations) is changing the tone. He has just upgraded LMT from “hold” to “buy.” This comes with a $370 price target on the stock (15% upside potential).
As a result, the stock’s consensus has shifted to a cautiously optimistic “moderate buy.” And now is the time to jump in before prices seriously take off. This is because the stock (now at $318) is a long way off its 52-week high of $363. But with stellar second-quarter earnings results now in hand, the future looks bright.
“We’re upgrading LMT to Outperform for hiked 2018 prospects & enhanced visibility of ~10% “economic” EPS CGR at least thru 2021. Above-average cash flow/dividend yields & a peer-low 38% net buy rating offer attractive risk-reward; and the stock sets up well going into likely very upbeat Q3.”
LMT posted a Q2 per-share earnings beat of $4.05, alongside a broad-based 5% increase in 2018 sales guide. See what other Top Analysts are saying about LMT.
French company Criteo (CRTO) is a personalized retargeting company. In other words, Criteo is the company behind the online ads that pop up reminding you of previously viewed products. That concept proved incredibly impressive. Indeed, for a while, Criteo was raking in the returns. But Criteo suffered a mighty blow when Apple disabled the solution that Criteo was using to reach Safari browser users. Shares ended 2017 down 36%.
But Criteo is steadily beating its way back. And now is the perfect time to pick up a top-notch stock on the cheap. Already in 2018, prices are back up 32% on a year-to-date basis. And according to top analysts, further upside potential of over 20% lies ahead.
Top Pivotal Research analyst Brian Wieser (Profile & Recommendations) has just initiated coverage of CRTO. He starts with a “buy” rating and $48 price target (40% upside potential). According to Wieser this pure-play ad tech stock “will resume high single-digit growth and gradually improve its margins.”
He calls the stock “undervalued” and adds that “while competition is intense, we note that the market of advertisers CRTO is servicing is still growing rapidly and unlikely to slow any time soon.” See what other Top Analysts are saying about CRTO.
Biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) sells medicines for eye diseases, high LDL cholesterol and a rare inflammatory condition. It is developing a slew of product candidates for everything from rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and dermatitis to pain, cancer and infectious diseases.
In the last year, prices have plunged 30%. This was due to disappointing clinical data in the face of successful drug trials for rival candidates. Notably, Novartis (NVS) announced that one of its experimental eye disease drugs outperformed Eylea in a late-stage study. This is bad news because Eylea contributes a significant chunk of Regeneron revenue.
Now, however, after over two years waiting on the sidelines, Oppenheimer’s Hartaj Singh (Profile & Recommendations) finally sees a compelling investing opportunity. He has now upgraded his rating, writing, “With the risk/reward now skewed to the upside, we rate REGN Outperform.” He also established a $410 price target.
Singh tells investors: “The company is on the cusp of strong 2019/20 sales growth… [and] with OPEX increases potentially slowing, starting in 2019, we believe REGN could follow up the left jab of accelerating sales with the right hook of operating leverage.” Boom! See what other Top Analysts are saying about REGN.
Auto giant Ford (F) is not the most popular stock in the market right now. Shares have declined over 14% year-to-date. However, this drop is unjustified according to top Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois (Profile & Recommendations). He recently upgraded Ford from Hold to Buy with a $14 price target (32% upside potential).
“Rarely have we seen an OEM [original equipment manufacturer] generate so little passion,” states Houchois. However, “Despite being perceived a laggard, we think Ford is early among global OEMs in re-evaluating how it allocates capital, a process most OEMs outside North American have yet to address.”
Plus Ford is receiving “no credit for ambitious but credible cost targets and for multiple operating and strategic levers still available to improve market and product exposure.” Houchois notes that Ford’s ‘fortress’ balance sheet will be “a critical factor to implement mobility businesses.” He believes that Ford can slash costs by $25 billion.
Interestingly, 4 out of 4 top analysts rate the stock a “buy,” giving the stock a “strong buy” consensus. These top analysts have an average price target on Ford of $15 (42% upside potential). See what other Top Analysts are saying about F.
Back in February, the FDA refused to accept Celgene’s (CELG) application for approval of MS candidate ozanimod. But don’t give up on Celgene just yet! This struggling biopharma may be down over 35% in the last one year, but the prospects remain promising. So says top Oppenheimer analyst Leah R Cann (Profile & Recommendations). She sees prices rebounding by a whopping 87% to $163. “We believe Celgene has a favorable risk-reward trade-off at its current stock price” says Cann. You don’t say.
Specifically, she notes that CELG has just reported data from its Phase III Augment clinical trial that compared Revlimid and rituximab to placebo in specific types of blood cancer. There was a highly statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS).
It may be way too early to include these results in the stock’s outlook. But nonetheless, Cann notes that “the positive AUGMENT data are very encouraging in this difficult to treat setting, and could provide a new chemotherapy-free option for these patients.” She is now waiting for further updates and planned regulatory submissions in 2019.
Overall, Celgene shows a cautiously optimistic “moderate buy” rating from the Street. This is with a $121 price target (39% upside potential). See what other Top Analysts are saying about CELG.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) is the world’s third-largest cruise operator (based on fleet size). The stock has suffered recently and it is currently down over 14% on a six-month basis. So is now the time to jump ship? Far from it!
Top Tigress Research analyst Ivan Feinseth (Profile & Recommendations) blames NCLH’s poor performance on fellow cruise operator Carnival Corp’s (CCL) lower-than-expected forward guidance sparked a selloff among its industry peers. However, he writes, “We believe Norwegian is being unjustly penalized and view the current weakness as a significant buying opportunity.”
He is sticking to his bullish thesis on the cruise ship industry. Not only does it offer an attractive all-inclusive travel option, but it also stands to benefit from rising disposable income, an aging population and increased millennial spend on travel. Plus, there is a massive opportunity to develop a significant cruise market in China.
And out of all the cruise stocks, “NCLH continues to be the best value with the most upside potential among the three public cruise operators.” This is because “NCLH currently operates the youngest, most feature-rich, technologically advanced and fuel-efficient ships.”
Notably, the “strong buy” stock has received three buy ratings from top analysts in the last three months. This is with a $65 price target (30% upside potential). See what other Top Analysts are saying about NCLH.
Kraft Heinz (KHC), the food giant behind classics like Heinz ketchup and Philadelphia cream cheese, is a controversial stock pick right now. On a one-year basis, shares are down over 30%. Looking back on a three or five-year basis is hardly any more encouraging. Declining U.S. cheese and dairy sales and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar have hit KHC where it hurts.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Five-star RBC Capital analyst David Palmer (Profile & Recommendations) is sticking to his KHC “buy” rating. This is with a bullish $74 price target (24% upside potential). In his most recent report, Palmer highlights “the potential for a significant improvement in trends in 2H18.”
He expands on this here: “In our view, a 2H18 sales and profit recovery could drive meaningful stock upside and allow Kraft Heinz to regain its lost premium to the US Food group (16x in line with peers; currently 4% dividend yield). This would fuel the company’s ability to make potential large-scale acquisitions.” And acquisitions, especially an internationally focused acquisition like Mondelez (MDLZ), could easily boost prices. See what other Top Analysts are saying about KHC.
TipRanks.com offers exclusive insights for investors by focusing on the moves of experts: Analysts, Insiders, Bloggers, Hedge Fund Managers and more. See what the experts are saying about your stocks now at TipRanks.com
This article is from Harriet Lefton of InvestorPlace. As of this writing, Moon did not personally hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
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Macy’s loyal customers enjoy the best rewards
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Macy’s (NYSE:M) today announced the reinvention of the retailer’s loyalty program, Star Rewards. Using their Macy’s card and beginning October 2, 2017, Macy’s customers can enjoy an even more engaging shopping experience at Macy’s stores and at macys.com.
Macy’s new Star Rewards makes it simple for customers to receive benefits with every Macy’s purchase. Based on annual spend, customers with a Macy’s credit card will be automatically enrolled into one of three levels: Silver, Gold or Platinum. Rewards are tiered by level, with Macy’s best customers receiving benefits that include free shipping, additional savings and earned points on every purchase. Additionally, cardholders are automatically upgraded to the next tier when annual spend reaches the new level. The program was developed with the customer in mind, based on a careful analysis of evolving shopping behaviors and consumer preferences.
“Macy’s customers have high expectations for their shopping experience, and earning and keeping their loyalty is now more important than ever. We listened to our customers – and with the reinvention of Macy’s Star Rewards, we are delivering a loyalty program that will strengthen our relationships and better engage, reward and grow our best customers,” said Jeff Gennette, Macy’s, Inc. chief executive officer. “Loyalty is a foundational element of our North Star Strategy, and stronger relationships increase the lifetime value of our customers. We are providing what matters most to her – an enhanced experience both in store and online, edited and elevated products, compelling value and an excellent loyalty offering.”
Meet Macy’s Star Rewards:
- Platinum – Customers who spend $1,200 or more annually at Macy's with their Macy's credit card will receive 25 percent off any day they choose with Star Pass coupons and free shipping on any purchase with no minimum spend. Customers will also earn five percent back in rewards on every purchase and, once they spend $200, will be issued $10 in Star Money that can be used immediately with no merchandise exclusions. Platinum cardholders will also receive an exclusive platinum-colored Macy’s credit card.
- Gold – Customers who spend between $500 to $1,199 annually at Macy's with their Macy's credit card will receive 25 percent off any day they choose with Star Pass coupons and free shipping on any purchase with no minimum spend.
- Silver – Customers who spend up to $499 annually at Macy's with their Macy's credit card will receive 25 percent off any day they choose with Star Pass coupons.
Complete program details are available at www.macys.com/StarRewards.
Macy’s will continue to roll out enhancements to Star Rewards throughout 2018, including more experiential benefits where members can win access to unique experiences and rewards elements that only Macy’s can offer.
Macy’s customers will be notified of the new Star Rewards program beginning in late September through dedicated email and in-home mailers in addition to advertising in store and online. Additionally, cardholders will be able to check their status and track their rewards on macys.com and via the Macy’s App.
In celebration of the new Star Rewards, Macy’s stores across the country will host Macy’s cardholders for an exclusive shopping event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 15, 2017.
Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc. delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 670 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy's offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy's flagship stores – including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, and Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California – are known internationally and are leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $54 million each year, plus 180,000 hours of volunteer service, to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.
For Macy’s media materials, including images and contacts, please visit our online pressroom at macys.com/pressroom.
Blair Fasbender Rosenberg, 646-429-6032
Monica Koehler, 513-579-7780
Source: Macy's, Inc.
Released September 27, 2017


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A juicy rumor from SemiAccurate suggest it.
The source says that production for the initial batch of Xbox devkits has already started, with units' expected arrival by March at some studios.
This is just a rumor but with a strong base to support it.
It appears that Microsoft's succesor for the actual Xbox 360 devkit has already entered production stage and will be using some variant of the 28nm ATI Radeon HD7000 series chips in it. Even if production of devkits hardware has started, the release of the next xbox would be far away. Retail units for consumers are expected to be produced later this year for a 2013 release, so E3 2012 would be the selected fair for the console to be presented to the big public. ¡Fingers crossed!
More details on the source link below.
NEWS SOURCE: Xbox 720 chips already in production (via) SemiAccurate
Our thanks to 'Kaos2K' for this news rumor story!


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Australia’s most sustainable seafood revealed in Sustainable Seafood Awards 2021
The Marine Stewardship Council has recognised the world-leading fisheries, suppliers and retailers who are making a positive difference in protecting the future of commercial seafood fisheries and the sustainability of our oceans.
Perth-based Austral Fisheries Glacier 51 Toothfish has taken out the title of Best Sustainable Seafood Product for the second year running, this time shared with the newly Marine Stewardship Council certified Fremantle Octopus range.
Meanwhile, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified Australian Clean Seas kingfish scooped the accolade for Best Responsible Seafood Product.
Glacier 51 Toothfish celebrates this achievement alongside its recent accolade as the world’s first carbon neutral seafood. Located in an isolated fishery around Heard Island, a Sub-Antarctic region, the fish is sustainably caught in underwater volcanic crevices 2,000 metres below sea level.
Fremantle Octopus shares the Best Sustainable Seafood Product award with their range of raw, cooked, and marinated octopus from the Western Australia octopus fishery, which was certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard in 2019.
Australian Clean Seas kingfish receives ASC’s Best Responsible Seafood Product award, reflecting its highly sustainable farming practices in Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
Six awards were given, along with six commendations and a lifetime achievement award.
Coles Supermarkets gains a hat trick, receiving the top award for MSC Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket, and highly commended recognition for MSC Sustainable Seafood Product – WA rock lobster, and ASC Responsible Seafood Importer.
Harley & Johns Seafood wins the Community Champion Award for their dedication to serving their local Wollongong community.
Leading Australian food distributor Bidfood takes ASC’s Best Seafood Importer Award for their commitment to responsible sourcing of both domestic and imported seafood.
The MSC and ASC Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr Keith Sainsbury, a Tasmanian-based marine ecologist and mathematical modeller. Dr Sainsbury was recognised for his significant contributions to advancing sustainable fisheries management through more than 20 years working for the CSIRO, and more recently, with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania.
Anne Gabriel from the Marine Stewardship Council said, “We’re honoured to work with fisheries, suppliers and retailers who are making a positive difference in protecting the future of one of our last major food sources that is truly wild. We want to acknowledge their efforts in making a sustainable future.”
Duncan Leadbitter from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council said, “Not only do we want to recognise the aquaculture farms that are located in some of the most beautiful parts in the country, but we are also wholeheartedly impressed by the overall supply chain that has taken the extra step to ensure our seafood is responsibly sourced.”
This year’s Sustainable Seafood Awards are hosted by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), and commends people and organisations that are leading the way in protecting the future of our seafood.
The awards were judged by a panel of leaders from the sustainability and environment sectors, including Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, Ocean Watch Australia, and Ocean Future Fund.
The awards were presented during a Sustainable Seafood Week Australia launch event at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
The award winners are pictured with their certificates.
Sustainable Seafood Awards 2021 winners:
Community Champion – MSC
Award winner: Harley & Johns Seafood, Fairy Meadow, NSW
Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket – MSC
Award winner: Coles Supermarkets
Best Sustainable Seafood Product – MSC
o Glacier 51 Toothfish – Austral Fisheries
o Fremantle Octopus Range – Fremantle Octopus
o Crumbed Australian Prawn Cutlets – Bidfood
o Just Caught Crumbed Fish Fillets Multiseed – KB Food Company
o Coles Western Australian Rock Lobsters – Coles
o OceanRise Pink Salmon 130g – ALDI
Best Responsible Seafood Product – ASC
Award winner: KB Seafood Co using the Australian Clean Seas kingfish
Highly commended: Woolworths Smoked Oysters – Woolworths
Responsible Seafood Importer – ASC:
Award winner: Bidfood
o KB Foods
o Coles Supermarkets
Lifetime Achievement – MSC and ASC:
Award winner: Dr Keith Sainsbury


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Narrow your search
Plan is to take Auditude's ad server and integrate it with Adobe's digital marketing tools.
The ad-serving technology, which counts former Facebook exec Owen Van Natta among its board of directors, specializes in technology that can detect a client's content among user-uploaded videos, then serve ads on it.
Viacom wanted to buy YouTube. Viacom says YouTube founders always intended to build video version of Napster and looked for ways "to avoid the copyright bastards."
Auditude, a video ad technology company, will be bringing its targeting technology to News Corp.'s MySpace portal for Viacom's MTV Networks content. Talk about a lot of big-media dealmaking.
YouTube will begin offering feature films produced by at least one of the biggest Hollywood movie studios possibly as early as next month, a studio exec tells CNET.
First if you're a U.S. citizen, then go vote on Tuesday. Second, feel the pride of what we suspect to be our country's lead in space junk. We also cover the new Nehalem processor details and uncover a few more details about Windows 7.
Hard as it may be to believe, sources say Google's YouTube and its entertainment critics may be finding ways to bury the hatchet.


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HERBL Launches Exclusive Distribution Partnership with 40 Tons
Social impact cannabis brand focused on criminal justice reform chooses HERBL to distribute full product line across California
Santa Barbara, Calif., May 31, 2022 — HERBL, California’s largest cannabis supply chain company, today announced an exclusive distribution partnership with 40 Tons, a Black female-owned social impact cannabis brand. HERBL will distribute 40 Tons’ flower products throughout California beginning on May 30, 2022. The company’s latest partnership aims to increase awareness for Cannabis Freedom Day, a holiday highlighting the systemic injustices experienced by BIPOC communities.
40 Tons was founded by Loriel Alegrete, Anthony Alegrete and Corvain Cooper, who experienced the impact of cannabis prohibition firsthand when Anthony and Corvain were incarcerated on cannabis charges. Upon Anthony’s release, he and Loriel began to advocate for Corvain to be released from his life sentence for non-violent cannabis distribution charges. Corvain was ultimately granted presidential clemency on January 20, 2021. 40 Tons began with the mission to not only provide legal & compliant high-quality cannabis experiences but also to increase the representation of BIPOC communities in cannabis and advocate for those experiencing incarceration. The brand built advocacy directly into its business model by investing profits from each purchase into social equity efforts. 40 Tons’ product line, which features full-size 1g pre-rolls and 1/8th flower packs in a variety of strains, will be available throughout California on May 30.
“Everything about our partnership with HERBL feels right,” said Loriel Alegrete, CEO and co-founder of 40 Tons Brand. “We would not trust the distribution of our brand with an operator that did not share our passion for both cannabis and making a positive impact on the community. HERBL’s support will allow us to reach even more individuals impacted by harmful drug laws as we fund essential restorative justice initiatives.”
This launch comes on the heels of Cannabis Freedom Day, also known as 520. Cannabis Freedom Day is an industry holiday celebrated on May 20 that brings awareness to the disproportional social, racial and economic injustices faced by BIPOC communities due to cannabis prohibition. 40 Tons drove visibility to this day on their social media platforms.
“40 Tons is a natural fit into our growing brand portfolio, bringing both top-quality cannabis and a commitment to improving the lives of individuals in the community,” said Mike Beaudry, CEO of HERBL. “We are thrilled to share 40 Tons’ story with new audiences across California while shining the spotlight on Cannabis Freedom Day, a holiday that deserves much more recognition. We are confident that our California consumers will enthusiastically support this impactful, socially-conscious brand.”
HERBL is the leading cannabis supply chain solutions company in the largest cannabis markets in the U.S. and actively delivers to 1000+ licensed retailers in CA. Founded in 2016, HERBL brings the top cannabis retailers and best-selling brands together through innovative technology, unparalleled service, a dedicated sales team, and high-security, state-of-the-art facilities and fleet. HERBL’s team consists of a strong mix of legacy cannabis operators and entrepreneurs, e-commerce software experts, and distribution and retail leaders with extensive experience in large-scale global supply chains. HERBL’s dynamic assortment of exclusive brand partners span multiple states and include companies both large and small, multistate and legacy, the most recognized in the world, and the upcoming and disruptive. To learn more, visit www.HERBL.com or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
About 40 Tons
Just because someone carries it well, doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. 40 Tons is a Black, woman-owned social impact premium cannabis, clothing, and accessories brand from Los Angeles, California. Representing those impacted by the system — cannabis prisoners, victims of the war on drugs, their families and loved ones — while a booming billion dollar industry flourishes across the globe, 40 Tons was founded by the very legacy operators who’ve helped build the cannabis industry during the course of battle. With true know-how, the scars to prove it, and 40,000+ cannabis prisoners still locked-up, 40 Tons is 100% real, authentic cannabis and cannabis culture standing up for those who fought, and still fight today, the tired and traumatic war over legalization. With a mission to break the chains of these injustices stemming from prohibition, every 40 Tons purchase helps non-violent cannabis prisoners fight their unjust sentences, engage in restorative justice, and find full, equitable lives once they return home to their families.
40 Tons is a Black female-owned social-impact brand that works to bring restorative justice to our community. No one should spend a lifetime in prison for a plant that many consume & profit from legally.


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What yoghurt tells us about the obesity fight
BBC News – Monday 9th May
Both bread and yoghurt – two staple items – really should have just a handful of ingredients. Yoghurt, for example, has two ingredients: milk and natural cultures. Industrialisation, however, brings a range of other ingredients to it – gelatine and starches to make it firmer and seemingly richer, ‘flavourings’ and, of course, sugar and artificial sweeteners. By the end of it all, most of the health benefits of yoghurt have been obliterated. Bread is subject to much the same treatment.
But there is a growing backlash from the bodies that care about health and are concerned about the rising costs of diet-related illness. There are increasing calls for better regulation of what’s in food – for example The Real Bread Campaign has been at the forefront of the call for ‘real bread’ made without the use of processing aids or any other artificial additives – and more restrictions on how unhealthy food is advertised and promoted. The recent proposal for a sugary drinks tax is a step in the right direction in promoting better health but there is much more to be done to change our ‘obesogenic’ culture. Statistics reveal that many of us have a deeply flawed relationship with our food: two-thirds of our calories come from processed foods, while three-quarters of us do not eat enough fruit and vegetables.
With the Government’s obesity strategy finally nearing release, it’s hoped it will kick start real and meaningful change in the nation’s eating habits. As obesity continues to climb ever upwards in Britain, all aspects of the content, marketing and promotion of processed foods must be unpacked with clear consumer information laid bare, better regulation of its advertising and promotion and improved incentives and disincentives on the sale of the healthy and unhealthy products respectively.
Quaker Oats ‘100% natural’ claim questioned in lawsuit
New York Times – Sunday 1st May
The presence of glyphosate in Quaker Oats has generated a class action lawsuit on the legal usage of the word ‘natural’. This is not the first time that the word ‘natural’ has been called into question when applied to food products, but glyphosate provides a new twist on ingredients that might acceptably be defined as such. Quaker Oats claims it has no idea how the endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) got there, but the company acknowledges that it might be because farmers spray it on their crops. That glyphosate was found in the product is a testament to its pervasiveness – expect more such discoveries as the FDA begins testing for it in food products.
It’s high time that the use of the word ‘natural’ in food labelling was rigorously regulated. It’s a profound consumer seduction, even though it has been widely discredited as meaningless. Michael Pollan comments that “Something in the human mind, or heart, seems to need a word of praise for all that humanity hasn’t contaminated, and for us that word now is ‘natural’.” It’s a fulsome promise of purity that we should know better than to trust.
But, hopefully, that’s all about to change. The FDA has suggested that ‘natural’ might be defined by its antithesis as not ‘artificial or synthetic…that [which] would not normally be expected in the food.’ Glyphosate is definitively not a ‘natural’ ingredient in food. While ingredients like ‘ascorbic acid’ might be able to argue a relationship to something ‘natural’ – say oranges – a dangerous herbicide like glyphosate, cited by the WHO as a ‘probable carcinogen’, is really the polar opposite of natural. The current class-action lawsuit should put the question of what’s ‘natural’ firmly to bed.
Spain loses a quarter of farms in ten years
Farming Online – Friday 6th May
The consolidation of agricultural land is a quiet but growing problem. Increasingly, small and mid-scale farms are being subsumed into larger farms or are going out of business. Spain, one of Europe’s biggest food producers, has seen the number of its farms decline by almost a quarter in the last ten years. In Europe as a whole, 3% of farms hold 50% of agricultural land.
The emerging reality of farming in Spain has led to campaigners and farm organisations demanding a more sustainable land-use policy for agriculture in the country. They want a more equitable distribution of access to land for agriculture, one that prioritises things like breaking down the concentration of ownership in the hands of a few and wider community ownership, along with sustainable practices which preserve biodiversity and soil fertility. Concern for these principles is spreading to other countries in Europe. In the UK recently, the Tenant Farmers Association and Land Workers’ Alliance demonstrated against the sell-off of council farms, protesting the sale of “Public food and farming assets regarded as any other commodity to be bought and sold.” As agricultural land increasingly becomes a private asset, often held by individuals and businesses with no agricultural interests, the public’s right to food becomes increasingly precarious – the outcome of which could be disastrous unless the government steps in and regulates how land is bought and sold to support small and medium-scale farming.
Coffee could be ‘drastically affected’ by climate change by end of the century
The Independent – Tuesday 10th May
The declining biodiversity of our agricultural crops is becoming a critical issue in food security. Climate change presents an immense threat to our food because without the range of plant varietals whose genomes have developed according to the specificity of place and environmental conditions, we cease to have adaptable breeds that are resilient and can cope with shifting climatic conditions and extreme weather. Coffee is particularly vulnerable and a new report from Kew Royal Botanical Gardens predicts that one of the world’s favourite drinks could be headed towards extinction by the end of the century.
For coffee drinkers out there, this is devastating news. But it’s also very bad news for the people and places where it’s grown. Land degradation from climate change and intensive farming could make some two-thirds of African coffee production ‘unviable’, with Ethiopia especially hard hit. Agriculture is a huge contributor to the decline of soils and habitats around the globe and this is particularly true in African coffee production. Further, climate change also brings increased numbers of more virulent pathogens, yet another challenge that plants with declining biodiversity will have a harder time facing.
With one in five plants faced with extinction, one thing is certain: our staple food is set to change. We’ve become overdependent on a narrow range of edible crops, and eating within them, a narrow range of varietals. This habit has put many of our most loved foods – along with coffee, chocolate, bananas and wine grapes – on the endangered species list.
Food campaign planned to ease farming’s worst financial crisis since 2000
Plymouth Herald – Tuesday 3rd May
With food commodity prices tumbling, the British dairy industry is on its knees, and the meat industry and other food sectors also suffering significantly, the Government’s Year of British Food aims to give an uplift to flagging domestic sales. Farming really is dire at the moment, and its hard not to be pessimistic about its future in the UK. Farm incomes were down by a third in 2015 and farm profitability is at an all time low – not helped by the on-going cash flow crisis brought about by the Government’s late subsidy payments.
The Year of British Food will be kicked off by the NFU in September with their ‘Back British Farming Day’ and it will include a 12-week promotion of the Red Tractor symbol and a week devoted to pig farming in the ‘British Sausage Week’. It’s a clearly industry-led initiative that gives very little support for sustainable practices. The promotion of the Red Tractor symbol which is the major focus of the programme, guarantees only that the food is British and produced to legal health and hygiene standards: it in no way addresses the animal welfare issues of British farming.
But embedded in the message to buy British is the need for us to stay local (or at least national) in our buying habits and that’s a good thing. But more than a ‘Year of British Food’, what is needed is a fundamental shift in Government policy towards more protection for a sector it claims to prize. Without more support for farm businesses to weather the capricious tricks and turns of the global commodity market, there will be little British food to champion.
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That's okay because the iPhone 6S may finally be bumped up to a Full HD 1080p resolution, and we'd much rather have that than a change to the screen size.
The iPhone 6S Plus is likely to remain at a 1920 x 1080 resolution, but both new phones could sport a brighter, more color accurate screen. That's even more important these days in direct sunlight.
iPhone 6S: Dimensions
Good news for case manufacturers and consumer who already bought an expensive sheath for their iPhone 6. Apple is said to be keeping the iPhone 6S the same length, width and height.
It'll again measure 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm, or 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27in, which is still .1mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy S6. That's okay, because phones need battery features, not ultra-thin chassis, according to consumers we've talked to.
The iPhone 6S Plus is also expected to mirror the 6 Plus dimensions, at 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1mm, or 6.22 3.06 x 0.28in. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has the same thickness, again, as if that matters.
There's one report that says Apple will increase the size by an almost indistinguishable measurement to the naked eye, due to its inclusion of Force Touch components, but that hasn't been substituted just yet.
iPhone 6S: Camera
Apple is expected to at last step away from its 8MP camera by including an overdue 12MP rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing iPhone 6S camera. It's just in time.
Samsung has really raised the bar, not only with a higher megapixel count, but better image processor software and photo editing tools in its Samsung Galaxy S6 and Note 5 phones.
In other words, don't expect Apple to make an incremental update with its camera lens and module this time around. Instead, we may see it leap closer to "DSLR-like photo quality" in a way that doesn't make that statement sound like typical marketing hype this time around.
iPhone 6S: Battery life
There are conflicting reports on whether or not the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus battery life will be much improved over the all-day power of last year's phones.
Rumors have always pointed to better battery life thanks to several hardware and iOS 9 software optimizations, but in recent days, we've been hearing that the actual battery capacity in the new phones will be smaller.
The reduced battery size reports come from sources in China, so nothing is confirmed, and Apple isn't likely to tout these specs on stage during its press conference if that's the case.
We'll know for sure when someone cracks open the iPhone 6S in a teardown when the phone actually launches. But don't worry too much. Apple is more likely have tweaked its components and iOS 9 operating system just enough to meet your all-day battery life expectations, regardless.


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One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
A statistic used to gauge future trends in a nation's economy.
- ‘And all the leading economic indicators are trending upward.’
- ‘The composite index of leading economic indicators - a key gauge of economic activity in the next six months - was unchanged in September after a drop in the previous month, the government said yesterday.’
- ‘History and business-cycle theory show that stock markets tend to peak when the aggregate of other leading economic indicators are also peaking, which altogether usually anticipate business-cycle peaks by a few quarters.’
- ‘December's 0.1 percent rise in the Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators followed gains of 0.5 percent in November and 0.2 percent in October.’
- ‘But the really important trend is a leading economic indicator of returning prosperity if ever there was one: ‘Men's bags seem to be coming up to speed in terms of fashion, too.’’
- ‘The nation's composite index of leading economic indicators rose for a seventh straight month in March, indicating economic expansion is continuing, the Council for Economic Planning and Development said yesterday.’
- ‘In addition, the government's economic planning body also announced Taiwan's leading economic indicator in October fell to an 18-month low.’
- ‘Whenever the lagging economic indicators rise simultaneously with leading economic indicators declining - like now - history shows the stock market is at major top.’
- ‘You won't find ‘coffee-shop attendance’ on any list of leading economic indicators, but it's nevertheless key.’
- ‘The University of Michigan's index is so accurate a predictor that the federal government has included it among its leading economic indicators since 1989.’
- ‘Taiwan's economic planning body said yesterday that the nation's leading economic indicators for March hit a 15-year low.’
- ‘Japan, for example, has become the largest beneficiary of China's economic growth, and its leading economic indicators, including consumer spending, have improved as a result.’
- ‘The index of leading economic indicators has been slipping slowly since February.’
- ‘The construction of leading economic indicators requires a monthly and up-to-date series.’
- ‘And the May index of leading economic indicators was up by 1%, its biggest gain since December 2001.’
- ‘Every leading economic indicator (optimism, spending, revenue, income, etc.) for small and medium businesses is up for the first time since 1999.’
- ‘The Federal Reserve chairman's comments came as the index of US leading economic indicators brought positive news.’
- ‘Moreover, business fixed investment may be a leading economic indicator.’
- ‘Despite rising unemployment, Taiwan's leading economic indicators in January rose 1.5 percent to 98.3-the highest level since December 2000, the Council for Economic Planning and Development said yesterday.’
- ‘Corporate profits at one time were thought to be a leading economic indicator.’
Top tips for CV writingRead more
In this article we explore how to impress employers with a spot-on CV.


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The Alpatronix battery case brings a thinner sleek design to the iPhone 6, and offers 3100 mAh battery which gives more power to your phone. In addition, it provides easy access to all ports, switches and buttons of your iPhone 6, and is charged via a regular microUSB port.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, whom from time to time offers up some accurate information on Apple and their product plans based on supply chain information, simply released a new report structuring his expectations for the company’s chips over the next several years Read more
Bank of America announced on Thursday that more than 800,000 of their customers have enrolled to use Apple Pay, adding roughly 1.1 million cards to the service that was released within iOS 8.1 in October. Read more
RBC Capital Markets on January 16th, significantly noted to investors to stay on Apple stock longer, as the investment firm sees multiple catalysts for the company in the near future, starting with the reports of holiday iPhone sales. Read more
Apple continues to do their hard work behind-the-scenes on their upcoming iOS 8.1.3 update, and on Thursday, retail employees that have been testing the software received a second iOS 8.1.3 beta. The newest build is ’12B466′, which is six builds newer than the previous seed they received on Wednesday, January 7th.
In a recent report which notes that shares of Apple stock took an unexpected slide on Thursday. This ‘slide’ also dragged the larger market down as a whole with it, after a high-profile Japanese bank downgraded their rating on the iPhone maker to “Neutral.”
Apple is gearing up for a big retail expansion in China, opening five new stores in the region in roughly five weeks time. The first of the five stores was in Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan Province, which was on January 10th. While West Lake Apple Store in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, near Shanghai, is said to open on January 24th.
On January 15th, 2015, the US Patent & Trademark Office had published a patent application from Apple, which reveals a possible next-generation dual-functional iDevice Home Button. In the first patent concept illustration mode (shown above), the Home Button retains its original purpose and functionality. While in the second mode, the Home Button transforms into a joystick. Read more
InvenSense has been hit with an allegation that is said to be misleading investors, they say the new toll would take deep discounts to Apple, and would impact on the sensor-maker’s financial performance. Read more
Microsoft recently announced a new version of Skype for the iPhone and iPad. This new update will arrive on Wednesday the 14th. Version 5.9 will simply introduce a few new fixes, as well as some new features. Read more


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With Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) stock rising about 42% year to date, and about 13% in the past three months, expectations were undoubtedly high ahead of the social network's second-quarter earnings release on Wednesday. But its results didn't disappoint. Driven by its rapidly rising advertising revenue, total revenue and profit both surged during the quarter.
Here's a close look at Facebook's monster second quarter, including an update on user growth, management's outlook, and more.
Revenue increased 45% year over year. Though the growth rate was down from the 49% revenue growth Facebook posted in Q2, the social network's total revenue of $9.3 billion exceeded analysts' consensus estimate for revenue of $9.2 billion.
Revenue growth during the quarter was entirely driven by growth in advertising revenue. Accounting for 98% of the quarter's revenue, advertising revenue was up 47% year over year. Facebook's "payments and other fees" revenue, which accounts for the remaining revenue, fell 20% year over year.
Since Facebook's revenue rose faster than expenses during the quarter, the company's operating margin expanded from 42% in the year-ago quarter to 47% in Q2. Facebook's sharp increase in revenue paired with its operating-margin expansion meant net income soared. Net income was up 71% year over year, helping Facebook's EPS rise an impressive 69%. Facebook's EPS of $1.32 handily surpassed a consensus analyst estimate for EPS of $1.12.
Prepare yourself. Here are some jaw-dropping facts from the quarter.
- Instagram Stories and WhatsApp Stories each have over 250 million people using them daily.
- Facebook has over 70 million businesses on Facebook and over 15 million business profiles on Instagram.
- With 2.01 billion monthly active users at the end of Q2, Facebook added 294 million monthly active users in the past 12 months.
- Facebook's 1.33 billion daily active users increased by 197 million since the year-ago quarter.
- The average price per ad during the quarter increased 24% year over year, while the number of ads increased 19%.
- Total expenses increased 33% year over year.
- Facebook generated over $3.9 billion in free cash flow and ended the quarter with over $34 billion in cash and investments.
Unsurprisingly, Facebook maintained its outlook for revenue growth to slow in the second half of the year. Facebook management has repeatedly warned investors that, during the second half of 2017, ad load growth would begin to play a less significant role in driving advertising growth, causing revenue growth rates to come down. Further, management said during the second-quarter conference call that slowing desktop ad revenue growth and Facebook's increasing emphasis on driving engagement with mobile video, an area where ad impressions are lower than Facebook's cash-cow news feed, will also play roles in bringing Facebook's revenue growth rates lower as the year progresses.
And to be sure to drive his point home, Facebook CFO David Wehner clarified during the earnings call that the social network doesn't expect the company's early efforts to monetize Messenger will offset its revenue growth headwinds.
On a positive note, Facebook's updated outlook for expenses and capital expenditures represent more moderate forecasts. Management narrowed its previous expectations for a full-year expense growth range of 40% to 50% to a range of 40% to 45%. And Facebook said it now expects its full-year capital expenditures to come in at the low end of its guidance range for $7 billion to $7.5 billion.
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There’s another cigar brand in South Florida.
Bat Brothers Cigars says it didn’t enter the cigar business because of a long family history or even roots in Cuba, rather, it’s a group of smokers who wanted their own cigar. That cigar is coming from Noel Rojas and his Tabacalera Aromas de Jalapa factory.
The cigar is Luna de Estelí, a two-vitola line with a four-year-old Mexican San Andrés negro wrapper, Estelí, Nicaragua-sourced binder and filler tobaccos from Estelí and Jalapa. It’s offered in Gordo (6 x 60, $8.75) and Toro Gordo (6 x 56 “semi-pressed,” $8.50).
The company began shipping cigars in April with a handful of stores in South Florida and New York.
(Image via Facebook/batbrothersinc)


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After a bit of a mix-up last month that has us believing Google Assistant was finally arriving on the Galaxy Watch 4, a clarification brought more disappointment. Now, though, Samsung has announced that we won’t be waiting much longer and Assistant is expected to hit watches this “summer.”
Samsung made the brief announcement today following Google I/O, where it shared the successes it has seen from the Galaxy Watch 4 line with Wear OS onboard. Actually, the post was mostly about how Samsung has singlehandedly helped create massive growth for Wear OS, and that’s fair. They mentioned that there are now three times as many active Wear OS users at this moment as there were last year.
Once Google Assistant is available, it will be up for download to the Galaxy Watch 4 line. After installing, you’ll be able to do the Google Assistant things you love to do, by voice.


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Cross-border payments and mobile payment solutions operator Tranglo has reportedly been given Singapore authorities’ permission to offer its customers services in account issuing, in-country money transfers and e-money issuance in Asia.
Tranglo is a global cross-border payment processing hub that supports business payments, mass payout, payment collection, money transfer and mobile top up. The company was founded in 2008 and has offices in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Dubai and London. Their payment systems allow users to transfer money between more than 100 countries, 1300 banks and wallets, as well as 2500 mobile network operators.
Tranglo was also one of the first companies to create their own cross-border payment platform in Southeast Asia.
Ripple has recently agreed to acquire 40% of Tranglo — this partnership enables Ripple to meet growing customer demand in the region and expand the reach of RippleNet’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service — which uses the digital asset XRP to instantly send money and reduce working capital needs.
According to the press release published in the Tranglo blog, the company has been approved to offer services in account issuing, in-country money transfers and e-money issuance.
The license was granted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The agency approved offering new services under the PSA (Payment Services Act), that has been in operation since 2019 and was created for customer protection and ensuring regulatory certainty. The lisense obliges companies to comply with anti-money laundering and terrorism financing rules.
The new license comes with the benefit of enhancing money transfers to millions of customers in Singapore and globally, starting with Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines and others.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) just green lighted Tranglo to create new payment functions. Real-time payments are now fully unlocked for Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore, while fully functional e-wallet is now available in Philippines, Indonesia and Pakistan.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
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Virtual reality tech, which was once focused on the gaming world, is now hurtling into other industries, with art proving ripe for disruption.
The use of the VR headsets takes viewers into a world that’s fully curated and immersive, while bringing a fresh perspective to the way art can be experienced.
It’s proven to be particularly harmonious to street art, with various initiatives underway to transform CBDs and create more immersive pieces within galleries across New Zealand.
As part of Tauranga art gallery’s Paradox Inside street art exhibition, running from 28 March until 15 June, a virtual reality experience is on display of Melbourne-based Rone’s artworks.
Rone, an Australian street-turned-gallery artist, painted artworks within several derelict houses that have since been demolished, but a feature film lets viewers experience what he painted, photographed and recorded.
Tauranga art gallery director Karl Chitham says the inclusion of street art and virtual reality art within a gallery helps expand and redefine what ‘art’ is, making it more inclusive.
“We’re bringing in new audiences that wouldn’t normally come into an art gallery, who see it as intimidating,” he says. “It changes the way they think about what an art gallery is. It also changes the way people think about what art is: there’s links to urban culture, community projects, the difference between graffiti and street art, high art and low art.”
Further south in Invercargill, software development company Digital Stock is teaming up with local street artist Danny Owen/DEOW to revamp the inner city district. The idea is as follows: DEOW will create several large-scale works around the CBD, and then locals will be able to download an app created by Digital Stock that makes the art multi-dimensional and experiential.
Currently, the app is still in testing stages in the studio, where DEOW is experimenting with Google’s Tilt Brush VR tool to create 3D art.
DEOW using the tilt brush tool
Once created, it can be exported, converted and added to an augmented reality mobile application, allowing anyone to access it.
Digital Stock system analyst Jim Dowling says at present, Invercargill’s CBD is perhaps not the most exciting – instead, it’s very “classically styled”.
But the app, which is currently in beta stage, along with DEOW’s works, may be able to bring a flourish back to the CBD.
“When an app user looks at several pieces of art he’s worked on through the CBD they will be able to see a whole extra layer of dynamic street art appear right before their eyes,” Dowling says.
One of DEOW’s previous works in Christchurch
Locals are doing some creative work, he says, but they’re a humble bunch.
“I feel Invercargill has always been an innovative city, although this is more in the ‘grassroots’ sense – we’re a city that has some extremely talented and creative people in it, although they’re infrequently in the limelight.”
But by using this cutting edge technology, he says the company hopes to get more engagement, collaboration and creativity in the city underway.
“The point of this project is more to showcase some of the cool things happening in the city and encourage more collaboration between the talented locals that often fly under the radar,” he says.


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Mumbai, Sep 11 (UNI) Envisaging a vast prospect for bilateral co-operation with India, New Zealand Governor General Mr Anand Satyanand said both the countries should strengthen their cooperation in the highly potential fields of tourism, wind energy and agriculture.
Speaking at a meeting organised by Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC) here today, the Governor General said he was on a six-day visit to India and had already met various dignitaries in the country for promoting bilateral co-operation between India and New Zealand.
He said over the past many decades New Zealand has developed advanced technologies in the field of animal husbandry and agriculture, especially in the food processing, cold storage, preservation packaging and transportation sectors.
Both the countries should take initiative to deepen and widen the their co-operation in the field of tourism, agriculture and animal husbandry, he asserted.
In the field of tourism, India figured high on his country's agenda as during year ending July 2008 about 24,000 Indian tourists visited New Zealand and stayed there for an average period of two weeks each, he said.
IMC President M N Chaini said that bilateral trade and tourism between the two countries were rising steeply in the recent past.
Between April 2006 and January 2007, India's exports to New Zealand rose to 299 per cent, and India's imports from New Zealand surged by 27 per cent during the corresponding period in the previous year. He said India-New Zealand bilateral trade was worth Rs 1,491-crore in 2005-06.
Mr Satyanand further said ''I am proud of my Indian heritage, even though I was born in New Zealand. My forefathers migrated from India to Fiji Island 120 years ago.'' UNI JM RN SKB2044


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Greater Manchester Police has issued a warning to shoppers about online fraud ahead of Black Friday.
Last week, there were 65 victims of online shopping fraud in Greater Manchester, with the average loss per online shopping fraud being around £200 per person.
The most common types of online shopping fraud:
- Purchases on Facebook marketplace where people are paying upfront before receiving the item and then do not receive the item or do but the item is either an empty box or something completely different to the purchased item.
- Purchases of high value goods on Instagram for example trainers or handbags which turn out to be fake once delivered.
Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Economic Crime Unit are combatting this issue ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday by ensuring specialist teams are out working with communities across Greater Manchester in November and December in the run up to Christmas to give out crime prevention advice to as many people as possible. Officers are also working with City of London Police to ensure that any fraudulent websites are disrupted and taken down.
Detective Inspector Jill Billington of GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said, “We understand that because of the rising cost of living, people are looking to try and get the most from their money and save where they can.
“This year’s Christmas season will add pressure on people at an already expensive time of year.
“With retailers already cutting prices for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, it is easy to rush into making a purchase to try and grab a bargain as quickly as possible, but we want people to stop and think before buying.
“Please don’t forget, criminals still operate at this time of year and will take the opportunity to try and get you to part with your money. We want to ensure Greater Manchester is protected from this crime type and work together to stop this heinous offence.
- Make sure you know where and who you are buying from. While our figures show that people aged 25-34 years old are most likely to fall victim to an online shopping scam, fraud can affect anyone of any age.
- Where possible, use a credit card when shopping online, this will offer you more protection if anything goes wrong.


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The winners of the Young Researcher Entrepreneur Award by KAUTE foundation are Mikko Hänninen and Elmeri Lahtinen. Their company Weeefiner utilizes a brand new laser 3D printing-based method to capture valuable metals and nutrients from waste waters.
The shortage of raw materials in Europe requires new means of capturing and reusing existing valuable materials. The rewarded entrepreneurs of Weeefiner separate metals and nutrients that would otherwise be wasted from industry waste waters. Salvaging the metals and nutrients is especially crucial due to the lack of raw materials in Europe. Exporting has been increasingly difficult for example due to the war in Ukraine. Reusing the separated materials saves virgin materials which reduces the need for natural resources and emissions created.
New method combines chemistry with 3D printing
The operation of the company is based on a brand new method which combines chemical action with mechanical 3D-printing technology. After creating the research base, client business took off in 2020. Weeefiner has completed two funding rounds and is heading towards cooperation with global companies.
CEO Hänninen and CTO Lahtinen have been part of Weeefiner from the very first steps. For them, The Young Researcher Entrepreneur of the Year Award represents a recognition for a concrete circular economy solution as well as a chance to support their wellbeing.
“It feels great to be rewarded for years’ hard work! The supply of critical materials is more important than ever and I believe that the jury is aware of this, too,” Hänninen says.
“The award will be utilized to support our wellness and recovery. To turn research into a successful business requires plenty of time, resources and tolerance for stress. We believe that the wellbeing of entrepreneurs creates successful companies, so we need to take care of ourselves,” Lahtinen adds.
Rewarding a research-based approach
Doctors of Philosophy Hänninen and Lahtinen were chosen among first-class suggestions due to their research-based and circular business model.
“The operation of the company is strongly based on the expertise of their founders and research conducted in the university. Despite being founded only a couple years ago, the business has proved its market feasibility,” the jury states.
The Young Researcher Entrepreneur of the Year is an annual recognition award of 5000 euros for research-based business. The award is presented by the KAUTE foundation supporting research in economics and technical sciences. The members of this years’ jury were Mikael Pentikäinen, CEO of Suomen Yrittäjät (Finnish Entrepreneurs Association), Timo Saranpää, Chairman of Akavalaiset Yrittäjät (Entrepreneurs of Akava), Kai Saksela, the CEO of NL Acoustics Oy and the winner of Young Researcher Entrepreneur of 2021 as well as Tuomas Olkku, the Executive Director of the KAUTE Foundation.
Photo: Oona Tynkkynen