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Although the freight carriers are optimistic, there are still mountainous challenges that may impede the growth in 2021 and beyond. Of course, the significant change from the last year is COVID-19 pandemic that continues to disrupt operations.
COVID-19 is still the elephant in the room that freight carrier firms need to address. With the influx of environmental, political, economic, and technological changes, freight carriers have to grapple with several challenges on a global scale.
Lack of Communication
As far as freight information goes, communication has become a major hurdle. In fact, there are numerous external and internal factors that make the information more difficult to process for carriers. Plus, freight carriers need their collaborative partners to send the most accurate and prompt data to offer excellent customer support.
It is crucial to understand that freight information is fundamental to manage the global supply chain and prevent misinformation. So, it makes sense for freight carriers to resolve critical communication gaps and ensure optimal operational performance.
Freight carriers have to deal with changing laws, fees, rules, and regulations. Often, the changing rules overlap that makes it harder for carriers to ensure day-to-day functions. It may sound straightforward, but the solution for freight carriers is to keep an eye on all current freight practices.
When it comes to the execution status, shippers often have little to no visibility. In fact, the lack of visibility can influence or limit the shipment plans and as well as the supplier’s original plans. Essentially, it’s the early stage low visibility that has become a major issue for the global supply chain.
And this issue compounds once freight carriers hand over their duties to the supplier. The good news is that there is less disconnect and high visibility in global transportation and shipment. With a few entry ports, the key is to make the information more accessible and improve visibility.
Traders and shippers continue to take advantage of spiked freight prices. But the high fuel cost can come back to bite the supply chain and logistics. In fact, most freight carriers now practice low fuel costs to optimize transport. The challenge for freight carriers will be to figure out new methods to streamline processes in order to optimize routes and reduce costs.
Yes, political tensions and conflicts have become a major challenge for global freight carriers. For instance, some countries are using a tariff and as well as non-tariff elements to trade. More political barriers mean more challenges for freight carriers to solve.
The best thing for freight carriers would be to become more responsive, monitor freight patterns, and avoid political involvement. Whether it’s trade sanctions or disputes, freight carriers need to be more proactive, flexible, and resilient to avoid disruption of operations.
In 2021, it looks like the freight industry is ready to reshape its operations to a more growth-centric route. At the same time, there is a severe economic upheaval around the world.
So, freight carriers and industry players have to adapt and embrace several changes in the next few years. From new tech advancements to trade parameters, the key is to move forward.
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The UK government has published the results of a consultation that is to form the basis of negotiating strategy for the development of a new trade deal with Australia post-Brexit.
It took into account more than 146,000 public opinions from businesses and other stakeholders on everything from tariffs to origin calculation, with the hope being that a free trade agreement can be thrashed out as soon as possible after Britain leaves the European Union.
Background in trade with Australia
The UK has already signed a number of continuity agreements to ensure uninterrupted trade, including those with Switzerland, Israel, Chile and the Faroe Islands, among others.
However, an early priority for Britain is negotiating a comprehensive FTA with Australia to cement the existing bilateral partnership and ensure UK-Australia trade - worth £15.3 billion in 2018 - can continue unabated.
Both nations have already committed to seeking a new FTA, having established a Joint Trade Working Group in 2016 to scope out the parameters and signed a mutual recognition agreement ahead of Brexit.
The UK is Australia's eighth-largest trading partner and total trade between the UK and Australia was worth over £850 million on average in the five years to 2017.
Evidence from the consultation will now inform the British government's approach to future trading with Australia.
Points raised in the consultation
Among the key points and concerns raised in the consultation process were:
• There could be benefits from lowering or removing tariffs with Australia, but some industries - such as agriculture - may gain from maintaining existing tariffs.
• An FTA should not negatively impact UK producers and businesses through increased competition.
• Protection measures should be included so the market would not be flooded with cheap imports.
• The regulatory and administrative burden of product certification should be reduced.
• Cost-effective customs procedures should be in place to ensure the operation of trade is not interrupted.
Secretary of state for international trade Dr Liam Fox said the government will now carefully consider the issues raised.
"The government will continue to promote the benefits of free trade, raise public awareness on trade and inform consumers and businesses about the opportunities that reducing barriers to trade can bring, alongside the broader economic and social welfare gains," he added.
An Australia-UK FTA could remove some of the barriers to trade and modernise the rules governing it to ensure a system fit for the 21st century.
Meanwhile, Australia's government is no doubt also looking into what its best interests will be in terms of a post-Brexit deal with Britain.
Both sides will likely be hoping they can come to a mutually beneficial agreement that boosts their economies and guarantees fair and simple trade for all going forward.

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MANGALURU: Cybersecurity expert Ananth Prabhu G has designed a free online cyber safety course “I am Cyber Safe” that was formally launched by IGP
D Roopa, Home secretary, sandalwood actor Sudeep and Ananth Prabhu on Saturday. According to the National Crime Records Bureau
, there has been a massive rise in cybercrimes in the country and the launch of the cyber safety course coincides with the cybersecurity awareness month
Ananth Prabhu, professor, Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management
told TOI, the objective of the course is to help citizens browse the internet responsibly, spread awareness on various cyber crimes and preventive measures to be adopted and to introduce people to the cyber laws. This is a free online course and Rohan Don Salins, research assistant has designed and developed the website.
The entire course is in simple English and intends to reach out to the people in rural areas. The programme comprises 30 modules in seven parts that include an introduction, 30 cybercrimes, five-minute video by Ananth Prabhu, infotoons in the animated format from the e-booklet ‘Cyber Safe Girl v3.0 Beti Bachao Cyber Crime Se’. These videos have been created by Cyber Jagruti Foundation
. The course also includes relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code
, IT Act, POCSO and other relevant acts. It also has additional YouTube Videos. Preventive measures and remedies have been included.
Every module ends with a test comprising 10 questions and the user must score a minimum of six marks to unlock the next module. Tests can be retaken to improve performance. “Once the student has completed the test, there is also an option to pay Rs 99 and get an online certificate of course completion called ‘I am cyber safe certificate’. All the proceeds generated through this will be used for cyber-safe girl activities conducted in government schools, “said Prabhu. An average student can complete the programme in 10-15 days.
The course is available on https://www.cybersafegirl.com/ and according to Prabhu, the unique online course is a gift to people of India on his birthday. Meanwhile, as part of cybersecurity awareness month, the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) has decided to release one infotoon from the CyberSafe Girl v3.0- Beti Bachao, Cyber Crime Se’ book every day.


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Since Marissa Mayer came to power at Yahoo last July the company has forged ahead with a serious programme of acquisitions to bolster their waning market share. Share prices have reacted favourably over this time and the acquisitions would seem to point to a company that is attempting to diversify to different device types and sizes. The most recent purchase is that of Loki Studios, which is a mobile gaming company, and is the fourth deal this month alone.
Since Mayer took over the top position at Yahoo she has had a very clear strategy. She wants to bring innovation back to a company that was once at the leading edge of online technology. In October of last year she highlighted her intention to start buying up smaller companies and she has stuck to her word, buying 10 companies in six months – around half of the number of acquisitions she completed in her whole time at Google. She started out by closing down a number of apps and services that weren’t performing and acquisitions represent the second stage of a three stage plan.
As well as Loki Studios, notable acquisitions have included social polling service GoPollGo and flight search service Milewise along with productivity suite Astrid, all completed earlier this month. All the evidence would seem to point to Yahoo becoming considerably more social. Whether they plan to launch a Google+ type social network or not remains to be seen but they continue to buy social apps and services.


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If you hadn’t already shorted your VW stocks after the diesel scandal last year, now would be the best time to do so: VW just lost the only person who was doing everything right in the aftermath of the scandal. In his position as VW of America president, Michael Horn was popular among the plagued dealers for his straight talk, apologetic to the public and influential enough at the German headquarters to push for the right products. But last week VW issued a statement that Horn, is departing “by mutual agreement” to pursue other interests, effective immediately. Such a sudden departure by someone who has worked for the company for more than 25 years, this statements sounds like a euphemism for “he didn’t do what the company wanted him to do, so we fired him”. Update: according to Reuters, VW offered Horn “other positions within the company”, which he declined. In other words, VW of Siberia is still looking for a new Product Manager Eos and Golf cabriolet. Horn’s departure is very bad news for a company that desperately needs a person who was doing exactly those the things he was known for during the current slowdown in US sales at the Volkswagen brand and inability to reach a deal with US regulators or a technical solution to fix the illegal emissions software in about 600.000 VW Group cars.
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As rumors surrounding Apple’s (AAPL) supposed “iWatch” continue to swirl, one market research firm believes the fitness watch industry will see explosive growth this year even without an offering from Apple. ABI Research recently released a new report stating that the “GPS fitness watch” market will balloon in 2013 as sales reach $1.07 billion this year. The figure would represent 50% growth by ABI’s estimates.
“Low cost watches rapidly emerged in 2012, and are forecast to take a significant chunk of the market in 2013,” said ABI analyst Patrick Connolly. “From a competitive point of view, projected GPS IC shipment estimates indicate leading watch, fitness apparel, and electronics vendors are planning to release new products in this space in 2013. In 2012, Motorola’s MOTOACTV watch was a great example of how a new entrant can instantly win market share with a strong feature set and good price point.”
ABI notes that apart from established vendors, startups including Leikr, Pebble, Basis, I’m Here and Bia Sport are poised to make waves in the market as well.


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Russia-Ukraine war: Maine retail association creates statewide relief program to send aid to Europe
FOX Business Flash top headlines for March 28
Here are your FOX Business Flash top headlines for March 28.
The Retail Association of Maine is calling on businesses and residents in the state to donate essential supplies to its relief program for Ukrainians in the embattled country.
As part of the From Maine to Ukraine relief program, the association is asking retailers around the state to donate new clothing and household items, which will be sent overseas to the Association Retailers of Ukraine to help the victims of war.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
The group says community members can do their part by donating any shelf-stable food items. This includes tea bags, instant coffee, energy bars, canned meat, assorted candies and pet food.
Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in February, Retail Association of Maine CEO Curtis Picard reached out to Oksana Prykhodko, the CEO of the Ukrainian retail association, to ask how his team could help.
Picard told FOX Business it was hard enough to keep retailers open throughout the pandemic.
"I can't begin to imagine what it's like trying to help retailers operate during wartime," he said.
The retail association is working with individual businesses to collect and gather the donated goods at a centralized location in Maine. Meanwhile, seven Maine State Visitor Centers are serving as collection locations for food donations through April 1.
There is also a growing list of businesses that have signed up to collect food donations.
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The Retail Association of Maine plans to ship all the donations to the Ukrainian retail association's warehouse in Poland. The goods will then be distributed in Ukraine, according to Picard.
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Arthur Ryan, the founder of Penneys, has died at the age of 83.
The Irish retail pioneer passed away after a short illness, the company has confirmed.
He founded Primark in 1969 and ran it as chief executive for 40 years.
He stepped down from the role ten years ago and became chairman.
Primary chief executive today paid tribute to Ryan, describing him as an innovator.
“Arthur Ryan was a truly gifted retailer and a visionary leader.
“He was a true retail pioneer. He innovated and was never complacent, despite many successes.
“He challenged us all to be the best we can be.
“His legacy will continue in the business that he founded and built.
“Those of us who worked closely with him will cherish his friendship and wisdom and he will be hugely missed by all of his Primark family.”
Dublin-born Mr Ryan was notoriously private and never gave media interviews.
The sad news of his death comes just one week after Penneys celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The very first Penneys store opened its doors on Mary Street on Dublin’s north side in July of 1969.
The company has grown to now have over 370 outlets across 12 countries, including in the US, the UK, Germany and France.


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Hotels have already turned their lobbies into spaces where guests can socialize or work. Now, some properties are going one step further to cater to business travelers and professionals in general: They’ve set up WeWork-style co-working areas.
Traditional hotel business centers these aren’t. Yes, they offer practical amenities like office supplies, printers and, of course, coffee. But they also have a laid-back ambience and convivial feel of the shared working spaces popping up around the globe under the banner of the start-up WeWork.
The new hotel business centers seem to have struck a chord among business travelers who find that they’re probably getting less work done in busy hotel lobbies, said Lorraine Sileo, the senior vice president of research for the travel research company Phocuswright. “Lobbies are distracting because there is so much going on, with people coming in and out and also socializing,” she said. “These new work spaces are meant for productivity.”
They’re also especially attractive to younger business travelers, said Jessica Collison, the research director for the Global Business Travel Association. “Millennials tend be more nomadic than the older generation of travelers and spend more time outside of their room,” she said. “Hotels have picked up on this, and more of them are offering a co-working option.”
The AC Hotel Phoenix Biltmore, for example, which opened in October, offers the indoor and outdoor AC Lounge, on the side of its lobby. The more than 5,000-square-foot light gray space has several couches, a large communal table with electrical outlets at every seat and a 20-seat high table that’s a working area by day and a bar after 4 p.m. Guests and non-guests are welcome to use the lounge without charge, said David Belk, the hotel’s general manager, and can get free coffee and biscotti. The lounge’s small library has computers, printers and office supplies like paper clips and folders.
“We want the lounge to be a go-to and convenient for anyone who’s working,” Mr. Belk said.
Alex Griffiths, who lives in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and travels to Phoenix frequently for his job in renewable energy, has stayed at the AC several times since it opened and said that he used the lounge both for team meetings and computer work. “It’s like a fully functioning office but cooler, and I like the synergy with the other people who are also working,” he said. “I also love the biscotti.”
The co-working area at the Charlotte Marriott City Center in North Carolina, called Coco and the Director, is more compact than the AC Lounge. It has two tables with eight seats each and a whiteboard with markers that guests can use during meetings for notes, said Seamus Gallagher, the property’s director of guest experience. It also offers a for-purchase menu of coffee and sandwiches.
Although access is free for anyone, seats must be reserved by signing up on the chalkboard near the co-working area entrance. “You can stay for as long as you want,” Mr. Gallagher said, “and our staff will give you any office supplies you need and help with printing documents.”


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Tabcorp profits hit by cost of Sun Bets
Turnover in its retail outlets fell 2.5 per cent to $3.3 billion in the six months to December, while digital betting turnover rose 13.8 per cent to $2.2 billion, helping total turnover rose by 2.3 per cent.
The company has introduced a new digital commission model, where clubs, hotels and TAB agents get a payment when a punter bets digitally, on a smartphone or tablet, in their venue.
Customers can now also scan a winning ticket using the TAB app and have their winnings immediately deposited into their account.
In another move to attract digital punters into outlets, Tabcorp will enhance its animated, fictional racing game Trackside, including improved graphics.
Tabcorp says the game has become stale and needs to be refreshed.
Chief executive David Attenborough says the venue digital commission model will include Tabcorp’s retail venue partners in the significant growth of digital gambling.
“It’s been well received by venue partners who are now participating in the growth of our digital business,” he said.
Tabcorp’s net profit in the first half of the financial year dropped 28 per cent from a year ago to $58.9 million, due to almost $44 million in one-off costs.
They included $18 million in start-up costs for UK online wagering business Sun Bets, plus $9 million in costs related to Tabcorp’s proposed merger with Tatts Group.


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The average smartphone now has “more computing power than the computers used during the Apollo era to put the first men on the moon.“ The question facing all of us, is “How will this power be used to disrupt our current business? We can already see some of the early impacts from the transformation taking place: □ Most […]
Tag Archives | plastics
Difficult times lie ahead for global polymer markets, as I note in a new analysis for ICIS Chemical Business. In the short-term it is clear that downstream users have, once again, been busy building stock in recent weeks as the oil price rose. But now, finance directors are getting calls from their bankers asking about […]
Plastics consumption in US autos is going down, not up. Steelmakers and glass manufacturers have recaptured ground lost in the years to 2009, and are capturing new sales as auto standards demand lighter-weight cars. And yet, if you had asked polymer suppliers about future demand in the US auto market a few years ago, they […]
Major change is underway in manufacturing and supply chains. China’s slowdown has exposed the myth that its demand would support ever-increasing production of commodities such as metals and oil. As the Financial Times reported yesterday: “Back in the summer, Glencore’s combative chief executive Ivan Glasenberg led a chorus of mining executives in blaming speculative funds for driving […]
Where would the world’s auto industry, and its suppliers, have been without China in recent years? And how will they manage now China’s demand for new cars is slowing fast? These are the question troubling companies and investors as Q3 sales are analysed. The chart above shows the recent history of sales in the Top […]
Imagine a world where your local garage uses 3D printing to provide you with a new car bumper. You have had a bump in a car park, and just want to get it fixed. Unlike today, there’ll be no more waiting for the part to arrive. The garage will simply download the design from the […]
We all know that Europe has an ageing population. Germany and Italy, for example, have median ages of 45 years. And fertility rates have been below replacement levels for 45 years, so the relative number of higher-spending young people is reducing. Instead, there are more and more older people, as life expectancy at age 65 […]
I was kindly invited last week to give a keynote address at the annual ME-TECH conference in Dubai. Naturally, there was intense interest in my argument that oil prices were most unlikely to recover to the $100/bbl level. Instead, I suggested they would likely return to their long-term historical average of $33/bbl (in $2014). And I argued that this would be good news […]
Turkey is the blog’s “go-to” market when it wants to confirm trends in global markets. The reason is that Turkey has a very successful downstream industry, but has failed to invest in upstream capacity. This means it is essentially an opportunistic market from a sellers’ viewpoint. During good times, exporters will only divert product from […]
The latest American Chemistry Council report on global production shows output was up 3% versus September 2012, and just 18% above average 2007 levels. There was a mixed picture in the main Regions: Asia-Pacific was strongest, up 5.9%, with Japan accelerating as the weak yen helped its exports The Middle East continued to slow, and was up […]
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LATEST CHEMICAL INDUSTRY NEWS
Paul Hodges is Chairman of International eChem, trusted commercial advisers to the global chemical industry.
The aim of this blog is to share ideas about the influences that may shape the chemical industry over the next 12 – 18 months. It will try to look behind today’s headlines, to understand what may happen next in important issues such as oil prices, economic growth and the environment. We may also have some fun, investigating a few of the more offbeat events that take place from time to time. Please do join me and share your thoughts.
Between us, we will hopefully develop useful insights into the key factors that will drive the industry's future performance.


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The smallest offering since 2009 was presented to wool buyers last week in what would normally be the Easter recess.
The decision was made by the National Auction Selling Committee to conduct a one-day sale on Wednesday to offer wool growers an opportunity to sell after a ransomware cyber attack on the industry's main software supplier Talman halted sales back in February.
Just 18,097 bales were offered for sale last week, with 23.1 per cent, or 4180, passed in.
This was after 15.5pc of the catalogue was withdrawn prior to the sale.
The industry benchmark Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) closed the week at 1292 cents a kilogram, a drop of just 9c/kg on the previous week.
In US currency terms, the EMI was 825c/kg, a 25c/kg rise on the week before.
Australian Wool Exchange reported that the market opened positively in the eastern states with minimal price movements recorded in early trade.
However, as the sale progressed, the market began to retract.
"So much so, that the western region [which sold last], recorded losses in the individual Micron Price Guides (MPGs) for 20 micron and finer of between 21 and 44c/kg," AWEX said.
"Melbourne managed to record mainly positive overall movement, [with] the southern MPGs in the 19 micron and finer range [gaining] between 1 and 16c/kg for the series.
"The northern MPGs fell across the board, with losses of between 2 and 11c/kg."
Fox & Lillie Rural wool broker Andrew Hendy, Horsham, said there was a big difference in the price of lower yielding wool to that of higher yielding wool.
"Anything over 66pc yield is seeing a little premium, and anything that's under 66pc yield is hard to sell at the moment," Mr Hendy said.
"And we're seeing a fair bit of dusty wool coming through."
He said they were beginning to see a stockpile build up as growers passed in their wool.
"In the area that I cover, everyone's had a good cropping, lamb year with commodity prices, so they're willing to take a punt [and hold off selling]," he said.
AWEX said a large reason for the fall in the EMI was that the gains in the southern Merino MPGs were offset by losses in the crossbred MPGs, which fell by 19 to 46c/kg.
The EMI has fluctuated in the last few weeks since coronavirus has impacted trade across the world, but all in all has lost about 150c/kg.
Year-on-year, the EMI is down 33.5pc or 651c/kg.
Almost 153,000 less bales have been offered this season in comparison to the same time last season.
Last week, in the Merino fleeces, Lempriere Wool was the biggest buyer, snapping up 14.8pc of the offering, while Tianyu was just behind, securing 14.7pc.
In the Merino skirtings section, Endeavour Wool bought 23.3pc, West Coast Wool bought 14.4pc and United Wool bought 13.9pc.
Wool sales will resume as normal this week with about 31,500 bales expected to be sold on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Ontario manufacturers invest $25 million in new tech, province adds $2.4 million
Canadian PlasticsCanadian Plastics Plastics Processes
Two of the firms, Synergy Mouldworks and Elastochem Speciality Chemicals, are involved in the plastics sector.
The Ontario provincial government is providing nearly $2.4 million to supplement an additional $25 million being invested by local manufacturers – including plastics-related firms – in Brantford, Ont. for new equipment and expansion.
The province’s funding will help create 38 new jobs and retain 95 jobs in the area.
Synergy Mouldworks, a manufacturer of custom injection molds for markets including automotive, medical, pharmaceutical and consumer goods, is investing $3.5 million to expand its facility by 9,000 square feet, purchase new equipment and increase capacity in research and development. With $500,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company is creating five new jobs and retaining 14. With Ontario’s support, the firm will optimize production efficiencies and innovation to enter into new markets.
Elastochem Speciality Chemicals, which specializes in polyurethane products for the construction industry, is investing over $10 million with $500,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund to expand its product offerings, which are currently focused on sprayed polyurethane foam, to include low/non-combustible and energy-efficient insulation board. This new product would address two key issues facing architects and building designers: achieving a highly efficient thermal wall enclosure while reducing or eliminating fire risk. The company is creating 10 new jobs and retaining 25 with this investment. “Elastochem is excited for its future here in Ontario. The investment from the South Western Ontario Development Fund helped finalize our decision to expand our current site in Brantford,” said Sam DiLoreto, Elastochem president. “The 50,000 square-foot expansion will allow us to implement newly developed resin manufacturing technology to meet the needs of the construction market for years to come.”
The other Brantford-area firms receiving funding are bakery Grissin Bon and wood products maker Rembos.


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National Pork Board officials said on June 9, during the annual World Pork Expo, the slogan no longer resonates with consumers and a new campaign may be launched in 2011.
Since the Other White Meat campaign began, pork consumption has remained steady — but beef and pork have continued to lose market share to fish and poultry, which can both feature lower calorie and fat contents. Although pork producers have responded by offering pork varieties that are leaner with less fat, the pork industry is concerned about consumer backlash that pork lacks taste.
“Consumers want healthy food and pork definitely is healthy. But they want taste and variety as well, and we have to communicate that,” said Ceci Snyder, vice president-marketing for the Pork Board.
“We are evaluating our brand,” Snyder told MEATPOULTRY.com. “We also will stress the need to protect ‘The Other White Meat’ as an investment. We will not be leaving ‘The Other White Meat’ entirely, even if it is less prominent.”


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Bungie has revealed the new armor, weapons, and rewards for 2019’s The Dawning holiday event. This yearly Destiny 2 festival features lots of snow and holiday treats, as well as tons of cosmetic items.
December 13, 2019. Pokémon fans who have been exploring the Galar region will soon have a chance to experience it in a vibrant new way. Starting in January 2020, The Pokémon Company International will launch a seven-episode limited animated series, “Pokémon: Twilight Wings” on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.


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Generics drug giant Teva has been reeling since Mylan won approval to offer a generic version of blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone. The drug represents 18% of Teva’s total revenue and 45% – 50% of its EBITDA. Generic Copaxone is expected to negatively impact Q4 2017 results and fully kick in by Q1 2018. Newly hired CEO Kare Schultz revealed he would lay off 14,000 employees (25% of the workforce) in an effort to wring $3 billion in costs out of the business. He will also suspend the dividend and make deep cuts to R&D.
Teva still has $35 billion in debt that needs to be repaid. Its debt already exceeds 5x run-rate EBITDA. Fitch recently downgraded the company to junk status. Once generic Copaxone kicks in I expect the company’s credit metrics to deteriorate further. An even more pressing matter is that $5 billion of the company’s debt load is due next year, and $19 billion over the next three years. The Shock Exchange is on record that generic Copaxone could trigger Teva’s insolvency:
I also estimate that generic Copaxone could cut Teva’s EBITDA by about 34%, making it difficult to cover its $34 billion in net debt. Said another, generic Copaxone could cause Teva to become insolvent. Below I attempted to value Teva including the impact of generic Copaxone.
Not only will Teva’s debt exceed its enterprise value but the company could be hard-pressed to make principal payments as they come due. About $5 billion of its debt is due next year and $19 billion over the next three years. The company has $680 million in cash and generates about $2.3 billion in free cash flow annually. That will decline once generic Copaxone arrives.


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Earlier this week, we reported that some HP printers had started rejecting replacement ink cartridges that aren’t manufactured by the vendor. Consumer rights advocacy group CHOICE is now investigating HP for potentially breaching Australian Consumer Laws. Read on to find out more.
To paraphrase Kate McCartney from The Katering Show, the Thermomix is a futuristic saucepan presumably spawned in a gangbang of different cooking appliances. It also has a tendency to explode without warning on its owners, causing horrific second-degree burns.
Following a mass incident report by consumer advocacy group CHOICE, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is launching an official investigation. This means you might finally be able to get that refund on your overpriced kitchen doodad.
Telstra is known to charge its customers more for its telecommunications services and has been getting away with it by being the “premium” provider. The telco boasted reliable services and excellent coverage across Australia, often being the only provider of mobile phone or internet that can service remote areas. But with the recent string of network outages, can Telstra continue to charge more for its services? Just how much more are Telstra customers forking out? Consumer group Choice has done an extensive pricing comparison. Read on to find out.
Earlier in the month, an Australian woman suffered horrific second-degree burns to her chest, arms and stomach when her Thermomix cooking appliance unexpectedly burst open. Now, CHOICE is launching Australia’s first mass incident report with plans to take the matter to the ACCC.
Everyone’s been a recipient of a gift that doesn’t work, something that doesn’t perform as functioned or maybe you’ve been given an item that’s actually been recalled. If that’s the case, it’s worth brushing up on your statutory rights under the Australian Consumer Law — because most salespeople don’t know them.
Consumer watchdog CHOICE recently conducted tests on six popular sunscreens with a SPF rating of 50+. Surprisingly, only two brands actually met the claimed protection rating, with the others ranging between SPF42 and SPF29. This infographic names and shames the products that failed to deliver on their promise.
Maybe you’ve never had a bad experience returning a dodgy TV or gadget. Good for you! Unfortunately, very few of us fall into this lovely demographic and have endured the run-around from both online and bricks-and-mortar stores. Turns out almost half of Aussie electronics retailers are guilty of having staff with no idea of what rights consumers have.
Would you freak out if you received a piracy warning letter? Apparently, most Aussies don’t seem to care. A new national survey released by the Federal Government has ranked infringement notices as the least effective method of preventing illegal downloads. Only 20 per cent of respondents said they would stop pirating if they received a cease-and-desist letter from their ISP; even if they were threatened with an account suspension.


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Articles in the Featured Category
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Epinions members got a bit of a shock last week when logging into their accounts and learning the 15-year-old consumer reviews site is effectively shutting down as of March 25.
Epinions was a site that paid contributors to review products, based on the notion that reviews of products from unbiased consumers have value. The site started in 1999 back when everyone and their dog was trying to figure out how to make a buck or two on the Internet and actually did pay its members cash for submitting reviews.
The reasons Epinions …
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As anyone with a calendar and/or a television set knows, Jan. 20 was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day throughout the nation. Former U.S. Pres. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law as a way to commemorate the civil rights leader, but the holiday wasn’t officially observed by all 50 states in the nation until 2000. It is, then a fairly new holiday in the U.S.
While King’s birthday was Jan. 15, the holiday falls on the the third Monday every January. MLK Day has taken some time to catch on …
Featured, Headline, Technology »
A few weeks ago, we mentioned a free, simple tip that should make that aging netbook infinitely more useful (in a nutshell, install a lightweight Linux distribution).
Now, Linux is a free operating system and most of the applications for it — including a full-featured, Microsoft Office-compatible office suite — are also free. While some folks may believe Linux is difficult to use, that’s simply not the case these days as the most popular distros work well right out of the box and feature interfaces that are as easy to navigate …
Featured, Retrogaming, Technology »
So far this year, Nintendo has replaced its Wii console with the Wii U and we know a couple of other major consoles are on their way — the Microsoft Xbox One and the Sony Playstation 4. Ah, but what of people who still love those old eight and 16-bit games?
Well, 2013 is bringing some systems for them, too. We’ve already reported on the forthcoming Hyperkin Retron 5 which may be out later this summer and available for $100 or less. That one will come equipped with five cartridge slots …


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If Kanye West is serious about this, we will forgive his terrible Twitter account.
The Memphis Grizzlies social media and marketing folks deserve a nice little pat on their back for their quick work on Thursday.
Kanye West has finally done something normal on Twitter, and it involves dropping the name of his newest album.
LeBron James might secretly be waiting for Kanye West’s next rant, and with decent reason.
[UPDATE] YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE TRACK HERE. Kanye West has released a new track from his upcoming album SWISH entitled “Real Friends”. According to his wife, Kim Kardashian West, the hip hop legend might be releasing a new track every Friday until the album’s suspected release in February like he did during the G.O.O.D
Danish designer Patso Dimitrov had already made the viral rounds with his brilliant mashups of NBA team colorways and the Yeezy 350 Boost so it’s great to see him expand that concept to Kanye’s Yeezy Season 1 clothing line. Dimitrov’s creations stay incredibly true to Kanye’s vision, from the use of colors and camo print
Kanye West ended his bizarre VMAs speech by announcing his presidential candidacy for 2020, and people obviously took it as a joke. After all, the speech was even recut as a stand-up comedy routine. But now, he even has campaign videos to back up his statement. Someone went out of their way to make “Yeezy
Kanye West’s bizarre VMA speech has been poked, prodded and dissected in about every way imagine and although it’ll start getting old very soon, that time has not yet come.
Apparently Donald Trump and Kanye West have a lot more in common than most people think.
Kanye West’s new low-top adidas Yeezy 350 Boosts were released this past weekend and promptly went flying off the shelves, with pairs now going for around $1,000 on eBay.
I don't want to say game is over but Kanye is at the podium pic.twitter.com/ZU0JozT1NS — Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) June 12, 2015 Kanye West went to Game 4 of the NBA Finals and was apparently unamused. So when the Warriors went up by as much as 20 in the fourth quarter, West decided to follow
Shaquille O’Neal likes to be relevant. He craves attention. He needs it. But with the Finals going on along with the specter of LeBron James always looming over the media, Shaq hasn’t gotten his dose of attention lately. And to get his fix, he’s been taking his neediness to new heights lately. First, Shaq claimed


text: After Jamie Dimon slammed bitcoin for being a money laundering tool, JP Morgan has been busted for money laundering. Is online sales pushing the brick and mortar stores over the edge? Wall Street responds to the brick and mortar meltdown, WS creates and ETF that if b&m retail declines you make money. Empty retail space in Manhattan is growing, the rent is outrageous. Another step forward for sound money, Texas opens its gold reserve. The central banks are changing the way they do business and they are preparing for the financial crisis. US begins to push the agenda to stop other news sources from reporting the news, this is another step in trying to block the truth. Zimbabwe coup is underway but it looks like the government is still intact. Russia vetoes the UN resolution on chemical weapons and writes their own. The US issues a travel warning for Europe this holiday season.


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The Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A, which were globally revealed back in June this year, have finally made it to India. The Redmi 6A is Xiaomi’s new entry level device which has a 5.45-inch display of HD+ resolution. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio A22 chipset. The phone has a single 13MP rear […]read more...
Xiaomi Redmi 6
- Xiaomi Redmi 6
Xiaomi India has confirmed that the Redmi 6, Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 Pro will launch on September 5, 2018. The Redmi 6 has 5.45-inch HD+ display, MediaTek Helio P22 chipset, dual rear camera setup (12MP + 5MP), 5MP front camera and a 3,000mAh battery. The Redmi 6A is the entry level version of the […]read more...


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The Coffee Association of Canada says “coffee provides 160,000 Canadian jobs with $6.2 billion dollars in total sales.”
We love our coffee. People have been drinking it for centuries. And numerous studies show that coffee consumption can positively relate to health and well-being.
A massive Harvard led study of 200,000 people over a 30-year period concluded that drinking one to five cups of coffee per day was associated with fewer incidences of death from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases and suicide.
Coffee also positively impacts physical as well as mental alertness and endurance, which is why it can be used to enhance athletic performance.
Completely independent studies carried out by the world’s most respected scientists over recent years have shown that coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of developing cancer at a number of body sites. In June 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization, announced that coffee is no longer classified as a carcinogen.
Recent studies further support the preventative effect on neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Coffee drinking has been related to a reduced risk of liver disease. And the presence of antioxidants in coffee may also be tied to a host of health benefits.
So the potential benefits of coffee consumption are far-reaching.
For those concerned about caffeine, a review undertaken by Health Canada scientists has re-confirmed that for the average adult, moderate daily caffeine intake at dose levels of 400 mg/day is not associated with any adverse effects. The recommendation for pregnant women is 300 mg/day.
The CAC is committed to providing accurate, scientifically validated information from reputable sources. This website is intended to relay the findings of independent research studies, and is not intended to make health claims or provide medical advice. If you have specific questions pertaining to your health, consult a medical professional.


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Last week the owners of Twin River made public a proposal to build a 150- to 250-room hotel on the Lincoln site, something they believe will help protect the state’s largest gambling facility from the effects of the introduction of gaming in Massachusetts.
Constructing a small hotel at Twin River Casino is an avenue the parent company, Twin River Worldwide Holdings, would like to explore, the board Chairman John E. Taylor, Jr., told the Town Council Tuesday night.
Providence has contracted 834 hotel room nights associated with Saturday’s New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens playoff game in Foxborough, according to the R.I. Sports Commission, a division of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.
In some ways it seems as though it just arrived. In other ways it seemed it would never end. Whatever point of view you have on 2014, the year in food, wine and restaurants in our dining-destination state had some memorable moments. While there was no one single defining moment that this year will be remembered for, the cumulative effect of a number of notable events made the year a significant one.
Special pricing from Jan. 11 to Jan. 24 will be offered at about 80 restaurants in Rhode Island and one Massachusetts town through Winter Restaurant Weeks, with some locations incorporating a Girl Scout cookie promotion.
Local 1 percent hotel, meal and beverage tax collections, as well as state 5 percent hotel tax collections, all increased on a year-over-year, and fiscal year-to-date basis through October, according to the state Department of Revenue.


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SimpliVity has gained the confidence of prominent venture investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
The UPtake: It's almost all about data today, with venture capital heavyweight Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers backing a startup with a tool to simplify data centers and two big data companies pulling in new funding rounds north of $10 million.
SimpliVity, a Westborough, Massachusetts, startup that came out of stealth mode a month ago with a plan to simplify data centers, is being embraced by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which led a $25 million funding round. (Boston Business Journal)
DataMinr, a New York firm that analyzes social-media data for financial institutions and the government, has gotten $13 million in funding from GSV Capital, Deep Fork Capital, Viceroy Capital, and Wharton Equity Partners among others. (Press Release)
Since coming aboard with Upstart’s parent company, Kent has covered sustainability and business, entrepreneurs, technology, and venture capital. Now, he covers all the ways upstart businesses get their money.
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Sign up for the latest business news, opinion and analysis from Upstart and get the best the site has to offer each week day.


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THE cost to establish and rebrand Cheshire West and Chester Council is £12m.
The total budget for the transition from a two-tier system to the unitary authority was revealed by a Freedom of Information Act request made by the Chester Chronicle to the council.
In the financial year 2008/09, £7.7m was spent on the transition – and the council expects to spend a further £5m this financial year.
Costs incurred so far include:
A total of £26,021 was spent on signs on streets, car parks and buildings.
It cost £45,826 to issue Cheshire West and Chester uniforms to staff.
The council had to spend £30,487 on rebranding council vehicles and changing the liveries.
Since the council became active on April 1 this year, it has spent a further £33,890.23 on the transition – £14, 157.19 on clothing, £17,590.79 on printing and £2,142.25 on marketing.
It has cost the taxpayer a total of £300,000 so far to move people and equipment and standardise the computer systems during the restructure.
Chief executive Steve Robinson said: “We have tried to minimise spending on furniture and ICT kit and recycled as much as possible.”


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Allen’s lollies – let their fans decide
Following calls from fans of Allen’s lollies, Allen’s has announced that a shortlist of three of their iconic lollies will go head-to-head in a public vote over the next 2 weeks to determine which will appear in its own pack.
The 3 favourites from Allen’s mixed packs that are going head-to-head for their own pack, are:
- Peaches & Cream – Juicy peach flavoured jellies on top of a fluffy creamy flavoured base, ALLEN’S Peaches & Cream, were first developed in 1975
- Racing Cars – fruit flavoured jellies on a creamy flavoured base – Racing Cars were forst developed in 1982 and now come in 6 flavours: luscious strawberry, fruity blackberry, zesty lemon, bursting banana, juicy orange, and creamy chocolate.
- Black Cats – Mouth watering aniseed flavoured jellies; Black Cats were developed in 1961.
The winning variety which will be announced February 10, 2016 and then will be available exclusively in Woolworths from late March.
The online ‘Allen’s – Australia Decides’ vote is now available here and will close until Friday 5th February, 5pm AEST with the winning favourite being announced on February 10.
To vote: Click Here


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The Rise of Messaging Services Will Be the Death of Call Centers Sponsored This content is created collaboratively with one of our sponsors.
Colorado and New Hampshire ski resorts felt the sting last winter from little snowfall suggesting that the study’s expectations aren’t so outrageous.
A new economic analysis warns that California’s multibillion-dollar winter tourism industry could be significantly impacted by global warming.
The study – titled “Climate Impacts on the Winter Tourism Economy in the United States”… said California and 37 other states have lost an estimated $1 billion and up to 27,000 jobs over the last decade alone due to less snowfall and shorter winters that research indicates are linked to global climate change.
The report warned that a continuation of the global warming trend could result in the loss of thousands more jobs at ski resorts and create numerous related economic setbacks.


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With it almost being that time of year again for pumpkins, hayrides and more, people can visit Raprager Family Farms LLC located in Odessa during its second annual Fall Pumpkin Festival and Haunted Farm. The grand opening of it will be on Saturday, September 25 at 9 a.m. and runs through Saturday, October 30. It costs $12.50 per person and children under the age of 2 will be free.
Those who attend will get an opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities geared toward all ages, such as an 80’ bounce pillow, 40’ hay chute slide, animal petting experience, corn pit, 2,000 sq. ft. Fort Merlin and much more. To add, a 5,000 sq. ft. haunted barn as well as a children’s 1,100 sq. ft., inflatable haunted house will also be present.
Attendees can also see live entertainment, which includes musicians and more. People could also stop by the Sweet Shop and order gourmet, homemade fudge. The number of crafters and vendors that will be here this year doubled.
Owner of Raprager Family Farms LLC Justin Raprager stated what makes this festival unique.
“We incorporated a smoother parking experience, more pumpkins to choose from, more activities, places to hide from the heat, more for the adults and even more for the kids,” Justin said.
An event of this sort came about as an idea from Justin and his wife, Amanda Raprager, after they sold their previous business. The Rapragers sought to create a healthy way in which their children could participate in a manner that would be healthy and wholesome for the entire family.
“All in all, we have made so many improvements and are excited to see how satisfied people will be this year,” Justin said. “This will surely become a family tradition for many people,” he added.
For more information, visit https://rapragerfamilyfarms.com/pumpkin-festival/. It is located at 16907 Boy Scout Rd. in Odessa and is open Friday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., and on Sunday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. For questions, email firstname.lastname@example.org or call 922-2799.


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INSPIRED BY MATTEL'S ICONIC MALIBU BARBIE, OPENING THIS WEEK
The long-awaited grand opening of the Chicago Malibu Barbie Cafe and Pop-Up Shop is finally here! On May 17, the doors will open to two new locations in Chicago and New York City. Visitors can expect to find a Barbie-inspired paradise with plenty of pink decor, delicious treats, and interactive activities.
The concept for the cafe and shop was inspired by Mattel's iconic Malibu Barbie doll. The team behind the venture wanted to create an immersive experience that would bring Barbie to life! Julie Freeland, Mattel's senior director of global location-based entertainment shared with Elle.com that the the pop-up is the result of extensive planning.
“Bucket Listers and Mattel have been collaborating on the Cafe's design for the past several months, with the build out of the cafe including its custom vignettes taking around several weeks to complete,” she said.
The vibe of Chicago Malibu Barbie Cafe “channels the groovy beachside energy of 1970s Malibu, California, inspired directly by Malibu Barbie, the beach-bound doll that made its first debut in 1971,” she added. “The Malibu Barbie Cafe allows guests to experience the ultimate form of Barbie inspired dining. With nods to the nostalgia of Malibu Barbie throughout, every detail of the space and the menu will give guests a glimpse into what Barbie herself would dine on. Expect a beachy retro vibe throughout and a variety of dishes that are familiar, yet with updated and unexpected elements.”
The Chicago Malibu Barbie Cafe allows guests to experience the ultimate form of Barbie-inspired dining. The Malibu Barbie Cafe will be a casual restaurant emphasizing friendly fare, delicious desserts, and a variety of drinks. The pop-up will also come complete with exclusive merchandise and a variety of signature photo moments for fans to interact with.
The café is designed to be a fast-casual restaurant, “emphasizing all day brunch, family-friendly fare, delicious desserts, and a variety of drinks,” Julie said. “Chef Becky’s style is fun loving and joyful, she was a perfect fit to bring this concept to life. She really wanted to embody that energy when creating the menu. It’s fresh, fun, and delicious. [There's] something for everyone. Expect items like the Beach Burger, Pacific Paradise Rainbow Pancakes, The Golden Coast CALI-flower Bowl, and the West Coast Wave Salad to become instant fan favorites.” Sofa floats and ice cream sundaes are part of the menu too.
The pop-up shop offers exclusive merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, keychains, and more. There are also interactive activities like virtual reality games or photo booths where guests can take pictures with their favorite dolls and more..
Whether you're a longtime Barbie fan, celebrating a special occasion, or just gathering with friends, Malibu Barbie Cafe has something for everyone. This one-of-a-kind experience is perfect for making memories with your BFFs, kids, family, date, or girl squad.
Moments Inspired by Barbie:
• Indulge in a tasty menu featuring Pacific Paradise Pancakes, West Coast Wedge Salad, and a California Dreamin’ Club Sandwich
• Step into a full-size Barbie doll box with your besties
• Shop exclusive Barbie merchandise
• Rest your feet in the sand in our Malibu Barbie beach scene
• Get into the Summer Vibes while listening to iconic pop tunes
• Cool off with an Anything is Possible Sundae
The public has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this unique cafe and pop-up since it was first announced earlier this year. People from all over the world have been sharing their excitement on social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter using hashtags like #MalibuBarbieCafe or #BarbieDreamhouseNYC.
Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the Malibu Barbie Cafe & Pop-Up Shop!


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With a release date for F1 2011 announced earlier today, Codemasters has revealed the cover art that'll be appearing on store shelves later this year.
Scroll down to take a look.
F1 2011 will be available on September 23 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, while 3DS and NGP editions will follow at a later date. F1 2010 was released last autumn.
What do you think to the cover art? Are you looking forward to F1 2011? Add a comment to the space below!


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Sherry Smith, Peter Smith and Edahn Golan join Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff and try to answer the question, how long will the party last?
5 Consumer Trends to Look Out for Post-COVID-19
A Bain & Co. report on the luxury sector outlines post-pandemic retail trends, from new online shopping habits to a louder call for sustainability.
New York—While few sectors have been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic, the luxury sector has been hit especially hard.
Global luxury sales are expected to fall 25 to 30 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2020, according to a recent report by Bain & Company.
The report, “Luxury after Covid-19: Changed for (the) Good?,” takes a look at the current state of the market and what it will look like after the pandemic has passed.
Here are five consumer trends to look out for going forward.
The rebound will reach China first.
Luxury shopping will likely see a rebound in China first, granted the virus stays controlled.
The Chinese market may already be on its way to recovery, said Bain in its report.
Asia as a whole saw “a significant sales decline, with China at the forefront of the negative trend,” in the early part of 2020.
Nearly every luxury brand had to temporarily close or reduce its store hours, leading to double-digit year-over-year sales declines, but there is a light ahead that may spark hope in the rest of the world.
As luxury stores begin to reopen in China, consumers are heading back faster than expected, said Bain.
China is a key luxury market with its consumers representing 35 percent of the global personal luxury goods market and accounting for 90 percent of global luxury market growth in 2019.
In addition, travel restrictions will translate to purchases being made in China that may have otherwise been made abroad.
The shift to more online shopping will accelerate.
The rise of online shopping is old news, but the way consumers have made use of online shopping services during the pandemic may cement into habits, said the report.
Looking at grocery shopping as an example, a Business Insider survey found that 42 percent of respondents who bought groceries online or for pickup in the last few weeks had not done so before.
As more consumers become aware of the options available to them via online shopping, the demand for the services are likely to increase.
"There are folks that would never have thought about buying online who are now habituated to it,” said Instacart president Nilam Ganenthiran in a recent interview with Credit Suisse.
The rise in demand has been putting a strain on e-tailers across sectors and consumers have been complaining about long wait times.
Brands that put the time into improving services, focusing on product assortment, user experience and digital marketing may see
The report advised luxury brands to “invest more in online sales and marketing, particularly in areas hit hardest by the pandemic.”
How much shopping will remain online post-pandemic remains a subject of debate in retail.
While Bain is forecasting a rise in shopping shifting to e-commerce channels, Peter Smith wrote in his last column that consumers will be eager to return to stores and that retailers should be ready for them.
The call for eco-friendly and socially conscious brands will only get louder.
Sustainability has been a buzzword in the retail space in recent years, with more consumers eschewing fast-fashion and disposable products for more sustainable alternatives.
Brands will want to be mindful of consumer concerns post-pandemic when thinking about end-to-end product life cycle, supply chain management, and how to dispose of unsold stock, said Bain.
In the fine jewelry world, consumers have been doing their homework on environmental and social issues, turning to conscious brands that use recycled metals and responsibly sourced gemstones, for example.
Greenwich St. Jewelers in New York City recently stocked the 10-piece “Lift Collection,” featuring jewelry showcasing gemstones from Anza Gems, purchased for fair trade prices directly from dealers in Tanzania and Kenya.
All proceeds from the collection went to nonprofit Gem Legacy, which funds projects benefiting East African mining communities, and the Tanzanian Women Miners Association.
A brand’s ethics and aesthetics will be weighed equally.
Consumers are not simply mindful of purchasing eco-friendly and ethical products, they will soon be prioritizing these items, according to the Bain report.
Described as the “rise of a post-aspirational mindset,” the report suggests that shoppers will be on the lookout for “purposeful brands.”
Global Powers of Luxury Goods 2019 survey, noting that younger, affluent shoppers are socially and environmentally conscious and hold luxury brands to high standards, particularly in regard to sustainable and ethical production processes.
The survey pointed to Tiffany & Co. as an example of a luxury goods company appealing to these customers, highlighting its responsible sourcing as well as its social and environmental work, particularly its philanthropic foundations focusing on reef conservation and awareness for responsible mining.
The company was one of the first jewelers to use gold sourced from the “Salmon Gold” initiative, which aims to mine gold in a way that’s mindful of the habitats of salmon and other fish.
Inclusion will be key as spending power is reduced.
Luxury brands tread a fine line between aspirational and exclusionary.
As unemployment numbers grow, consumer sentiment will take a dive. The U.S. consumer confidence index sank in April to 86.9 points from a revised 118.8 in March, its lowest level since 2014.
“Brands will need to use all their ingenuity to revamp their offer at accessible price points, reflecting the reduced spending power of many middle-class customers,” said the report.
Bain & Co. concluded its report on a positive note, stating that luxury will regain its strength once the situation stabilizes.
“Lessons in resilience learned in the dark days of 2020 can power a sustainable recovery in 2021 and beyond. This crisis may be transforming the luxury industry for good, but it could also be a transformation for the good.”
Designed by Stephen Webster, it’s a ring-stack take on the toi et moi style.
The boutique tradeshow, happening first in Tucson then New York City, brings together upscale designers from around the world.
She previously served as its senior vice president of business development and beneficiation.
Combining thoughtful design and wearability, they were a standout of 2021.
Red Emerald Inc., which is under new ownership, started mining at the Utah site last spring.
A.I. technology is revolutionizing the jewelry business through more accurate and consistent diamond grading.
The first session is scheduled for Jan. 19 and focuses on addressing racial justice and confronting one’s biases.


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Go Compare founder Hayley Parsons poised to add another £3m to her fortune
Its adverts starring the corkscrew-moustached opera singer ‘Gio Compario’ were the most complained about in 2012, but Go Compare is still making a fortune.
Hayley Parsons, the self-proclaimed ‘Welsh girl from the Valleys’, is in line for about £3million in dividends from the price comparison website that she founded in 2006.
However, both sales and profits were down as competition in the price comparison market hotted up and customers were harder to come by.
Multi-millionaire: Hayley Parsons with Gio Compario
Turnover for the company, based in Newport, Gwent, was down slightly for the year to December 31, 2012, to £105.1million, reflecting the ‘growing maturity of the market’, according to company directors. Profits fell significantly, down from £34.7million to £24.4million.
A spokesman for Go Compare said 2012 was a year of ‘consolidation’ as the company invested heavily in technology, moved to a new HQ and increased its staff numbers by a third.
He added: ‘Our long-term investment in marketing, particularly around the evolution of the Gio Compario TV campaign, continues to yield successful results.’
Parsons, who left comprehensive school with five GCSEs, is worth an estimated £100million.


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Internally known as the Motorola Edison we now have even more pictures today of the upcoming Motorola Atrix 2. The next version of the Atrix was first leaked way back in July and was being called the Atrix HD so we are still up in the air regarding the actual name. With a few design changes and a new placement for the AT&T logo this looks to possibly be the final version we should see hit the shelves soon. More details and pictures after the break.
There was also a few rumors that the next Atrix could be a 4G LTE device and now that AT&T has finally started the rollout of that network it would make sense. According to sources this is not the case, and the Atrix 2 will not feature AT&T’s new 4G LTE. That could end up being a big con when this has to compete with the likes of the Bionic and the Photon 4G from other carriers. I can clearly see a “4” in the notification bar so it could be a HSPA+ 4G phone. Just like initial leaks suggested the Atrix 2 features a 4.3″ HD display although we aren’t sure on the 720p resolution or not. A 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP camera on the rear like shown in the photos and more.
We have Android 2.3.5 on board like the image above suggests, along with the latest version of Motorola’s user interface like we saw on the DROID Bionic, and even though the sources say this isn’t a 4G phone if you look close you can make out a “4” in the notification bar for the network status indicator. I’m going to take this leakster with a grain of salt for now because I just can’t see AT&T release this without the new 4G LTE they’ve just rolled out this week.
Either way check out the rest of the photos in the gallery below and let us know what you think about the Atrix 2.
This is a nice phone.
it’s not that much of an improvement of the first atrix. It’s too little too late. I will go for the At&t nexus prime and just keep modding my atrix.
Yes, I work for a company who is testing the latest LTE devices for AT&T and I can confirm from the image above that this is a 4G LTE device from AT&T!


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Pumpkin spice has taken over everything from leggings and dog food to lipstick, which may have led you to ask yourself: How much PSL is too much? It seems the answer for most Americans is (cue Mean Girls voice): The limit does not exist.
The fall flavor has been popular ever since Starbucks introduced it back in 2003, but it seems to still be everywhere (definitely not complaining, especially about its healthier renditions). But recently, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni went on a mission to demystify and understand the stuff.
In an article titled "Will Pumpkin Spice Destroy Us All?" Bruni casts a skeptical eye on the trend's ever-expanding reach and what it reveals about us as a society and country. Translation: He's seriously concerned.
Here are 3 of Bruni's most pointed observations in what amounts to a PSL intervention. (I can quit anytime, really!)
1. PSL season is starting earlier and earlier every year, and it's a problem
This year pumpkin-spice season basically started while you were still writing your summer vacay OOO emails. "They used to stage their invasion on the cusp of Halloween. Now they barely wait for September to take over the world," Bruni writes. "One day, we’re still catching the faint perfume of Coppertone on summer-bronzed arms; the next we’re trapped, aromatically speaking, inside an enormous orange gourd. It happens that quickly, that insidiously."
2. Pumpkin spice is a metaphor for America
"I finally realize that, because at last I see that pumpkin spice is more than a curiosity, bigger than a phenomenon. Pumpkin spice is America," he says. Bruni adds, "It’s invention run amok, marketing gone mad, the odoriferous emblem of commercialism without compunction or bounds."
3. Pumpkin spice is actually a made-up flavor and a made-up spice
As Bruni hilariously points out, "There isn’t any spice called pumpkin, nor any pumpkin this spicy." Though he admits that "sometimes there are slight vestiges of genuine clove and vague traces of honest-to-goodness cinnamon. Frequently there are just chemical impostors." Sigh. Okay, got it. But Frank, have you tried this homemade recipe from Clean Food Dirty City founder (and Well+Good Council member) Lily Kunin? It might inspire another column, just saying...
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NASSCOM : India Software Products Market At Inflection Point
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
India’s revenue from software products is forecast to rise to between US$9.5 billion to $12 billion by 2015, up from $1.4 billion for the most recent fiscal year that ended March 31, according to a study released Monday by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom)…..A number of Indian companies, particularly start-ups, are now focused on products or creating intellectual property for markets such as mobile communications, the financial sector and other enterprise applications. Indian software companies have also emerged as acquisition targets for multinational companies. For example, Oracle acquired a majority stake in an Indian financial software company, i-flex solutions, in 2005. EMC announced in Feb. 2007 that it would acquire Valyd Software, an enterprise data security vendor in Hyderabad…..Venture capital funding is supporting the growth of the software industry, according to the study, conducted by management consulting firm Zinnov, which was commissioned by Nasscom. About $80 billion in private equity and venture funding, both international and domestic, is expected to be invested in India in next four to five years, said Sudhir Sethi, chairman and managing director of IDG Ventures India. About $20 billion of that money is likely to be invested in hardware and software companies, he added…..Venture capital funds investing in the software products segment have grown from $76 million in 2005 to $156 million in 2007, according to Nasscom.
Key highlights of the report
Recent trends in market activity aided by a maturing ecosystem indicate that Indian software product businesses are now approaching an inflection point in their evolution. The next decade will be a period of disruptive growth for this segment, with the annual revenue aggregate of Indian software product businesses forecast to grow from USD 1.4 billion in FY2008 to USD 9.5 to 12 billion by FY2015.
- Market: over the past two decades, India has emerged as a global hub for product research and development (R&D) activity, especially in the technology industry. Today, there are over 600 multinational companies (MNCs) undertaking product R&D in their subsidiaries in India.
- Accelerating growth: over the past 3 years, the annual revenue aggregate of Indian software product businesses has grown at a CAGR of 44%. Leading Indian software product firms have strengthened their product portfolio through steady investments in organic growth as well as through overseas acquisitions , and have reached credible business scale.
- Broadening industry base: Of the existing 371 software product start-ups since 2001, over two-thirds have been formed in the past three years – of which ~100 companies have started their operations in 2007 alone. As a result, while the top 10 companies still dominate, accounting for 84% of the segment revenues, there are over 200 midsized companies and start-ups that have started generating revenues and are contributing to its growth.
- Incubation support and venture capital (VC) interest: today there are 38 incubation centres spread across the country that are actively focused on assisting technology start-ups with funding and mentorship. Since 2005, total VC investment in India has grown at a CAGR of 42% to reach USD 543 million in 2007. Over the same period, funds invested in the software products segment have grown at a slightly faster CAGR of 43%, from USD 76 million in 2005 to USD 156 million in 2007.
- Growing market: India is forecast to be the world’s fastest growing IT market over the next few years, with its share of the global software market growing threefold by 2015. Increasing IT penetration across small and medium businesses (SMBs) and the government/public sector are likely to be the key drivers of this growth. Estimated SMB share of domestic IT spending is forecast to grow from 38%, currently, to over 50% by 2015.


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European electronics representatives, ISMOsys, have announced the appointment of Jon Sypula as their new Global Operations Manager. With more than two decades of experience in electronics, Jon is “very excited to take on the role at such a challenging time” for the...
Astute Electronics have successfully acquired ISMOsys; a Pan-European representative company, well established since 1995. “ISMOsys and Astute have both achieved a truly integrated approach within the electronics industry, offering design-led distribution and...
ISMOsys launches a disruptive technology tradeshow online. ISMOsys, part of the Spectrum Electronics Group, is excited to continue providing disruptive technology. Take a look at this innovative online tradeshow where you can explore all the ISMOsys product lines and...
Xentech Solutions Ltd, one of our design partners, has launched Axtrinet™, the Ethernet packet generator focusing on simplicity and back to basic engineering. Designed to meet the needs of ‘Ethernet everywhere' and the infrastructure behind the Internet of Things,...
ISMOsys to exhibit at Electronica 2022
ISMOsys are pleased to announce they will be exhibiting at this year’s electronica, 15 – 18 November at the trade fair centre in Munich.
Electronica is the world’s leading trade fair and conference for electronics, with over 3,000 exhibitors from across the globe.
It will be the first time ISMOsys has exhibited at the show, and they will host a variety of their Partners on their stand.
- Atmosic – Battery Free Wireless Solutions
- Bytesnap Design – Award-winning consultancy for electronics software development & hardware design.
- Digi International – Leading provider of IoT products and solutions
- GaN Systems – Leader in Gallium Nitride (GaN) power transistors
- OnLogic – Highly-configurable small form factor computers
- Tecate – High-quality ultracapacitor cells and modules, capacitors and electronic assemblies
You will find ISMOsys in the Semiconductor Hall, C2 at stand 158.
To book a meeting at the show with ISMOsys or their attending partners, please email [email protected]
Buy tickets to electronica here


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Huawei has unveiled its new operating system, called HarmonyOS, that's designed for a wide variety of products including wearables, cars, laptops and, maybe one day, mobile phones.
TechRadar has now learned that HarmonyOS is built so it can used on other devices that are already out on the market, such as the Huawei Watch GT.
Speaking specifically about Huawei's new operating system on the Watch GT, Peter Gauden, Global Senior Product Marketing Manager at Huawei, told TechRadar, "[HarmonyOS] is designed to be able to be utilized on current devices.
"In actual fact, part of the early work that was being done on HarmonyOS was actually also utilizing some elements of LiteOS already."
A potential change
LiteOS is the software currently used on the Huawei Watch GT, a pared back system compared to Wear OS that the company used on its previous smartwatches.… Read the full article


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Samsung Galaxy M21 2021: Finally, the wait is over, Samsung officially launched its new series of mobiles in the Indian market. The all-new S21 2021 is priced at Rs 12,499. The key features of this mobile phone include a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, a 6000mAh battery, and 48MP triple cameras. All the new Samsung phone is budget-friendly and full fill with the latest technology which gave the great quality to the users. every time Samsung comes with new specs in their model’s let’s have a look at the specs quality battery life and etc in this model.
Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 DETAILS:
The Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 is the upgraded or the better version of the Samsung Galaxy M21 that was launched in the year 2020. this version comes up with triple cameras arranged vertically and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for security reasons.
Back View Of the Phone
This time the back of the mob9le phone is made of polycarbonate. the main key specification of the Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 is a 6.4-inch AMOLED display,6000mAh battery, and triple cameras.
Two models were launched in India, they came up with 4GB/64GB storage at the price of 12,499.on the other side, the model offers 6GB/128GB storage at the price of 14,499.
There were two colors on this mobile phone Artic blue and Charcoal black. both the color was good and mostly use by the Samsung users.the mobile phone will go on sale from 26 June 2021 on amazon and etc.
Samsung Galaxy M21 2021 Specification
This model phone comes with a 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a waterdrop notch for the selfie snapper. the Mobile comes with two options of 4GB and 6 GB and there was an additional storage option of sd micro card. the device comes with an Andriod 11 based OneUI Custom Skin and it supports a 6,000mAh battery with a 15W fast-charging support.
Let us talk about the connectivity of the mobile phone the phone contains 4G, Dual-based wifi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, and USB Type-C port.


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The pot-tracking system was hacked sometime Feb. 3
The state’s new pot-tracking system was hacked some time Feb. 3, and an “intruder” stole route information associated with four days of marijuana deliveries, as well as other information.
“It was a breach of the system and indications show they downloaded a copy of the traceability database,” said Brian Smith, a spokesman for the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). “It did something in the system — I’m not at liberty to talk about — that affected the transfer and manifest data — that was, in part, responsible for the issues this week.”
The state on Feb. 1 transitioned to a new marijuana-traceability system, Leaf Data Systems, which has been dogged by problems since its launch. The technology issues have kept marijuana growers and sellers scrambling to keep their businesses running. Some have worried about keeping marijuana on increasingly sparse store shelves.
To Read The Rest Of This Article On The News Tribune, Click Here


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Small business leader to headline Tester’s next jobs workshop
Karen Mills, head of Small Business Administration, will discuss jobs, entrepreneurship
(U.S. SENATE) – A national leader in small business and job creation will headline next month’s Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Missoula, U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today.
Karen Mills, head of the Small Business Administration, will give a keynote talk at the event. Tester’s February 21 small business workshop will focus on helping Montana women get a jump-start on opening their own small business and creating jobs.
Mills will speak about the importance of supporting small businesses to spur the economy and their role in job creation. As an investor and owner, Mills helped several small manufacturers improve their competitiveness and ultimately survive the downturn of the early 1990s.
Founded in 1953, the Small Business Administration offers assistance to Americans to start, build and grow their businesses, and also works to protect small business interests.
Tester’s event, at the University Center at The University of Montana, will also feature a discussion with some of Montana’s leading female small business owners and highlight avenues women can take to get their business up-and-running. It will be his tenth Small Business Opportunity Workshop.
Tester’s workshop kicks off at 8 a.m. and is free and open to the public. Montanans interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at tester.senate.gov/workshop.
Tester’s Missoula workshop will be modeled on Tester’s successful women’s small business workshop in Billings last July. And the Missoula event comes on the heels of Tester’s Butte workshop in October that focused on helping Montana businesses find and secure contracting opportunities.
More than 1,800 Montana companies and individuals have attended Tester’s nine previous small business workshops in Great Falls, Bozeman, Kalispell, Billings, Butte and Missoula.


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Gemalto and R3 to launch self-sovereign digital identity network
Gemalto has announced plans to pilot blockchain technology in collaboration with R3 to provide consumers with a mobile application providing “self-sovereign” Digital ID. The new Gemalto Trust ID Network is intended to enable consumers to conveniently authenticate themselves to banking, ecommerce and e-government services while retaining control of what data they share, and who it is shared with.
The secure ID Wallet mobile app allows consumers to enrol in digital services without going through due diligence for each one, according to the announcement. The Wallet stores sensitive identity data, while attestations by trusted parties are stored on the blockchain.
The combination of rigorous data privacy regulations and KYC rules makes self-sovereign digital identity ideal for financial institutions, the companies say, while other organizations can benefit from shared ID management costs, and richer identities built as more stakeholders join the ecosystem.
“Trust ID Network solves the profound weaknesses of traditional, ‘siloed’ identity frameworks: the clumsy user experience, rising costs and difficulties in complying with stricter regulations. It’s the perfect illustration of Gemalto’s ability to combine proven Digital Identity solutions and new technologies such as the blockchain,” said Bertrand Knopf, EVP Banking & Payment for Gemalto. “Financial institutions are best-placed to lead this self-sovereign identity revolution, but it will prove similarly attractive to a wide array of other service providers.”
The Trust ID Network is deployed on R3’s Corda enterprise blockchain platform, which provides privacy, security, immutability, and streamlined integration for service providers. R3 currently works with more than 200 financial institutions and other partners.
“Empowering customers to manage and control their own digital identity based on blockchain technology is nothing short of revolutionary and we’re very pleased to be collaborating with Gemalto on the Trust ID Network,” said David E. Rutter, CEO of R3. “The Corda platform’s unique privacy features offer the ideal basis for a secure, easy-to-deploy decentralized ID management platform.”
Several Trust ID Network pilots are expected to launch later this year, with participation from a wide range of stakeholders.
The Sovrin Foundation welcomed Veridium as a founding Steward in July, as efforts to create self-sovereign identity platforms ramp up.


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Selena Gomez is enjoying the perks of being a celebrity but she does not enjoy having her privacy invaded. According to Selena she does not like her picture being taken when she is doing everyday things – such as eating or hanging out with friends.
During a recent radio interview Selena revealed how she feels about her privacy when she was asked about a photo that leaked online of Justin Bieber giving her a foot massage.
Selena told the Johnjay and Rich Show:
“That was unfortunate. Somebody took a picture and it got online somehow.”
“I can be out to eat and now everybody has camera phones, and people are taking pictures of you eating.”
“You always have to be aware and it’s very annoying because you have to look around and be paranoid. I don’t want to live my life like that.”
Selena should just get used to the paparazzi and the invasion of privacy. As long as she’s relevant people are going to want to take her picture. Which is a good thing.


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Microsoft is taking dead aim at Android, considering giving away Windows Phone and Windows RT for free to device makers in the hope of getting big market share. Will the ploy work, or is it a sign of desperation?
The Verge reports that Microsoft is considering taking a page from Google's playbook by giving away Windows Phone and RT to device makers in the hopes that it can gain revenue via advertising and Microsoft services such as SkyDrive. The idea is that a variety of Microsoft services would be the default on the devices, such as Bing for search and SkyDrive for storage. And the devices would include other Microsoft services, such as Skype.
The free model has certainly worked for Google. The most recent figures from IDC show Android with a whopping 81% smartphone market share, compared to 12.9% for iOS and only 3.6% for Windows Phone.
Would the move work? Very likely, yes, at least for Windows Phone, and it would solve Microsoft's Nokia problem. It's unlikely that Windows Phone can succeed if it's dependent on a single phone manufacturer, and at the moment that's the problem that Microsoft faces. As of November, 90% of all Windows Phone devices in use were made by Nokia, according to the most recent AdDuplex numbers. Given that Microsoft is buying Nokia, that number will likely increase. Without the support of other device makers, it will be difficult for Windows Phone to make serious inroads into the market.
IDC's most recent report notes that Windows Phone growth is thorougly dependent on Nokia, and that without support from other vendors, it will be hard for the platform to succeed. The report notes that Windows Phone's recent growth is:
"...a result primarily driven by the support of Nokia. By itself, Nokia accounted for 93.2% of all the Windows Phone-powered smartphones shipped during the quarter, marking a new milestone in the company's short history on the Microsoft platform. Participation from other vendors, meanwhile, still seemed a mixed bag with more vendors participating from a year ago, but volumes still far behind Nokia's own."
That's why giving away Windows Phone for free to device makers will work. Without having to pay licensing fees, more device makers will sign on, and probably target the low-end and medium-end of the market, which is where the greatest growth is.
Can advertising and services make up for any lost revenue from Windows Phone licenses? Without a doubt, the answer is yes. With Nokia becoming a part of Microsoft, it no longer will pay licensing revenue, and that's 90% or more of all Windows Phones shipped. So Windows Phone licensing revenue is about to go away anyway. Giving Windows Phone away for free will increase Microsoft's market share and start to bring in serious ad revenue, and possibly services revenue as well.
As for giving away Windows RT for free, I'm not sure how much of a difference that will make. I'm not convinced that RT can survive as a platform, so this might be a last-ditch effort to save it. But when it comes to Windows Phone, the move is clearly a winner.


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One binary options trading strategy that you can use is trading with the news. Let’s take a look at the news that came from Microsoft.
In 2007 Microsoft purchased aQuantive to boost online advertising as a counter measure to Google Inc. purchasing digital ad firm Doubleclick. Microsoft announced that it will write-off the 6.2 billion dollars of their initial investment. Microsoft stock which closed at $30.56 was trading at $30.28 in after-hours trading.
Microsoft bought aQuantive for $6.3 billion in cash. This is the second largest purchase for Microsoft, exceeded only by its purchase of Skype for $8.5 billion last year. This write off will wipe out any profit Microsoft would have seen this quarter. Analysts were predicting earnings of 62 cents a share, or $5.25 billion, on July 19. In addition to the write-down, Microsoft said, “lower than previous estimates” when referring to its expectations for future growth and profitability at its online services unit.
As a binary option trader you may feel that the momentum of the stock price is moving down. If the momentum continues you can take advantage of the speed and simplicity of binary options to capitalize on that move. You can make various “Put” purchases. One that you might want to employ is a 60 second binary option.
You can trade Microsoft today at Cedar Finance.


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|02/24/15||AppliedMicro to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences|
|SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (Nasdaq:AMCC), also known as AppliedMicro, is scheduled to present at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015.
Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015
4:35 p.m. PT
|02/23/15||AppliedMicro to Demonstrate Performance Capability in Power-Optimized Embedded Applications at Embedded World 2015|
|ADVISORY, Feb. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Embedded World, Messezentrum, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
Feb. 24 – 26, 2015
Attendees can view a variety of live demonstrations, partner demonstrations and displays.
- AppliedMicro Booth Hall 4A booth no. 537: Live demos highlighting the company's Helix-1 and H... |
|01/27/15||Applied Micro Circuits Corporation Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 Financial Results|
|SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (Nasdaq:AMCC) ("AppliedMicro") today reported its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, ended December 31, 2014.
Consolidated net revenue of $36.7 million
GAAP net loss of $12.1 million or $0.15 per share
Non-GAAP net loss of $7.1 million or $0.09 per share
Commenting on AppliedMicro's third quarter operations, Dr. Paramesh Gopi, President and Chief Executive Office... |
|01/27/15||AppliedMicro Announces Sampling of HeliX 2 Embedded Processor Solutions|
|HeliX 2 Design Wins Already Secured From Tier-1 Customers
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (Nasdaq:AMCC) today announced the sampling of its 28-nanometer HeliXTM 2 embedded processor system-on-a-chip products. Launched in October 2014, AppliedMicro's HeliX™ family represents the first commercially available embedded processor SoCs based on the ARMv8-A 64-bit architecture.
HeliX 2's class-defining multicore 64-bit ARM®-based CPUs offer c... |


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Tech giants face increased scrutiny from the FTC and DOJ.
Tech stocks traded weakly on Monday, weighing markets down.
This comes on the heels of a report that Amazon (AMZN) faces increased antitrust scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission. At the same time, Alphabet/Google (GOOG) also looks to be facing a closer inspection from the Justice Department.
- How to Improve Your Trades in 5 Easy Steps
Bryan Bottarelli has FINALLY distilled all of his tricks, tips and strategies learned in the live trading pit of the Chicago Board Options Exchange...
With no specific allegations dropped about either company yet, uncertainty is rising for both companies as a result.
Amazon has been called a monopoly by some, however, even in its best-known market of online retailing, it has about half the market.
That market share has likely peaked, as brick-and-mortar retailers have upped their online presence in recent years, competing with Amazon head-to-head in things like free shipping and discounts for subscription orders.
Google, with its dominance in online searches and advertising, however, fits the traditional definition of a monopoly far better. The FTC has previously investigated the company as a monopoly, but closed the matter in 2013 without breaking up or otherwise recommending changes to its business practices.
All tech companies have become increasingly targeted by politicians in recent years due to privacy concerns, data breaches, and concerns over how little regulated these giant companies are.
Action to take: Given the big drops in these names today on news with no tangible teeth, consider January 2020 call options on both companies. Amazon $2,000 calls look attractive, as do the $1,100 strike price for Google. Or consider Amazon shares under $1,500 and Google shares under $1,000.


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A new partnership between Rockwell Automation and Cadenza Innovation will create a digital thread to gather real-world data pertaining to the performance of lithium-ion batteries to improve their cost, efficiency, and safety.
Although much of the innovation associated with lithium-ion batteries in industry has been linked to electric vehicles (EVs), these batteries are increasingly finding use in other industrial applications as well. For example, they are used to power material handling equipment such as forklifts or autonomous mobile robots, pumps installed in remote locations, and hand tools used by shop floor workers.
In many cases, lithium-ion batteries are favored for their high energy density, in addition to the fact that they make use of fewer toxic heavy metals than other battery chemistries such as lead-acid and nickel-cadmium. However, lithium-ion batteries have challenges of their own to surmount. For one, they are still quite costly, partially because of the difficulty of attaining raw materials, such as cobalt, that are required for their production. Moreover, these batteries are sensitive to high temperatures and may overheat, catch fire, or explode in some environments, which hampers their use in industry.
To overcome these issues, Rockwell Automation has partnered with battery producer Cadenza Innovation to develop a customer cloud portal for management of batteries in the field, an end-to-end battery manufacturing execution system, and provide equipment automation to support the expansion of Cadenza Innovation’s battery manufacturing in the US and abroad.
The companies also plan to create a digital thread from Cadenza’s business systems to its factory floor and out to energy storage systems in the field to bring data from the field back into Cadenza Innovation’s connected operations. By collecting data pertaining to use and performance, Cadenza hopes to improve the engineering of future lithium-ion products.
This type of arrangement between original equipment manufacturers and end users is becoming more prevalent as a way of allowing suppliers to gather information about how their products are used in the field and how that use affects their products’ performance.
Cadenza expects that its partnership with Rockwell will help it produce new products more rapidly—particularly its supercell battery architecture, which involves wrapping individual battery cells within a protective housing. According to Cadenza, this supercell architecture allows safety issues such as thermal runaway to be prevented without incurring excessive costs. The supercell has passed safety testing conducted by the Department of Defense.
“The transition to cleaner forms of energy to combat climate change is well underway. Driven by the global adoption of EVs, utility grid storage and dozens of other uses, there’s unprecedented demand for rechargeable batteries,” said Christina Lampe-Onnerud, CEO at Cadenza. “Lithium-ion batteries are the only commercially viable, readily available solution to address this need, but the world requires safer, better performing, and lower cost versions. Teaming with…Rockwell Automation enables our companies to help address this global demand, doing so with an emphasis on sustainability.”