text:
Jeff Hayward, climate director of the Rainforest Alliance, shares his thoughts on a powerful new video exploring the very real impacts of climate change on the world’s coffee farmers.
This extremely poignant video sounds a loud alarm for the future of coffee farmers and the quality beans we’ve come to love. The coffee trade and the millions of farmers who have depended on a tradition of coffee cultivation face grave challenges in the coming decades, while even the near future is filled with stress for many because of climate change.
Arabica coffee is highly vulnerable to warming temperatures. It’s optimal average annual temperature range is between 18° and 21°C, and as models project increases by at least 3°C for most coffee-growing regions by the end of this century, cultivation of premium coffees will likely be pushed to higher elevations. Whether Colombian, Kenyan or Sumatran, farmers will run out of mountain and climate change will threaten the livelihoods of farmers who have historically been able to grow the world’s finest coffee.
In fact, many farmers are already beginning to feel to effects of climate change. The recent coffee rust outbreak in Mexico and Central America occurred on altitudes higher than usual, affecting hundreds of thousands of farmers and reducing production by around 30 percent. Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee farms in the region, however, have reported that they are less affected by rust than their neighbors, perhaps due to the higher shade cover and natural fertilizers found on their certified farms.
Adapting to climate change will take a dedicated effort to channel the best of science and practice, with financing needed to stimulate innovation and support local initiative and knowledge. Finding solutions for the problems impacting coffee now, as well as over the next generation and through 2050, is of great importance to the Rainforest Alliance.
Today we are actively working to help farmers gain the knowledge, tools and skills they need to combat the challenges of a changing climate. We are training smallholder coffee farmers to implement climate-smart farming techniques, many of which expand on the knowledge and benefits farmers gained by following best practices of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) standards required for Rainforest Alliance certification.
To date, over 500 Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee-farming operations across Brazil, Costa Rica and Guatemala have achieved verification against the SAN Climate Module. Farmers who participate in Rainforest Alliance certification programs are able to increase their household incomes through better yields and higher harvest prices. Where household incomes rise, farms may have improved adaptive capacity, since farm-level responses require investments that can be out of reach for poor households.
There isn’t one fix or technique that will help coffee farmers, but it’s certain that they will need information on climate change and its impacts on production, better seasonal forecasts, improved management methods and more. The Rainforest Alliance and its partners aim to increase access to new technology and practices, while conserving the age-old ways that are working.


text:
Fathom, Carnival Corporation’s social impact brand, has unveiled their partnerships with several more travel agencies, adding to their list of agreements the company already has in place. The new partnerships add thousands of new travel professionals to the companies and people supporting Fathom and the impact that it’s going to bring. With the new partners, travelers will have more ways to book and learn about cruises with Fathom, including ways to customize their trips to maximize their time in the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
The new partnerships are:
As the world’s biggest cruise agency, World Travel Holdings serves hundreds of thousands of travelers who want to explore the world. This powerhouse in the industry will give Fathom guests the ability to personalize their trips at any time by accessing its private-label brand websites and utilizing its team of experts.

domain: news


text:
The Wall Street Journal – Franchise companies, facing what many say is the toughest economic environment they’ve seen, are offering two-for-one deals, reduced fees and financing help to woo new buyers. They are also paying existing franchisees to help spread the word.
The economy has made many would-be franchisees wary of taking big financial risks, while others simply can’t get the necessary loans. Meanwhile, competition among franchisers is growing, giving investors a lot more choices. There are now about 3,000 different franchise concepts, according to the International Franchise Association.
In a survey released last week of some 150 franchise companies, respondents said their franchise sales were about 72 percent below their 2008 goals, with inquiries from prospective franchisees down about 48 percent, according to Franchise Update Media Group, San Jose, Calif.
But even as ”closing deals is becoming more of a challenge,” says Harold Kestenbaum, a franchise attorney in Uniondale, N.Y., franchise companies have to be careful not to alienate existing franchisees when they offer discounts and other incentives to new buyers. ”How does it look for the guys who pay the higher price when they see the price is getting lowered?” he asks. Making the situation more sensitive, existing franchisees, especially in the retail and home-service sectors, are being hit by cutbacks in consumer spending.
Doug Disney, president and founder of tile franchiser Tile Outlet Always In Stock Inc., argues that ”in a slower economy, you need to be creative with initiatives and ways to increase awareness.” As part of that effort, the Rancho Cordova, Calif., company hopes to make it easier for franchisees to qualify for loans. Tile Outlet paid a $2,500 fee and submitted its franchise agreement for review so that it could be added to the Small Business Administration’s preapproved vendor list.
Potential franchisees still have to qualify for loans from banks and other lenders based on their credit, assets and other financial metrics, but joining a franchise that has already been reviewed by the SBA gives them a boost. Since Tile Outlet joined the SBA list, three potential franchisees have begun the loan-application process, the company says.
Last month, Tile Outlet also began offering a $2,500 bonus to existing owners who refer potential buyers. As a result, Mr. Disney says, in the past three weeks the franchiser has received two referrals that have begun the application process. Franchisees are ”our best advocates because they already have successful stores,” he says.
Earlier this month, Seattle-based Emerald City Smoothie launched a ”Buy One, Get One Free” initiative. Franchisees can purchase an 800,000-square-foot Emerald City Smoothie store for $20,000 and get a free kiosk in a gym, airport or small retail space. For franchisees, ”it’s a lot less money in terms of development and build-out,” says Rich Folk, the company’s chief executive.
With many banks tightening their lending requirements, Gold’s Gym Franchising LLC of Irving, Texas, is giving prospective franchisees more time to get financing by expanding its development cycle to three years from two. ”If we’re happy with the guy as a franchisee and the only thing between him and the Gold’s Gym is that he needs more time to line up the financing, then I think it’s in my interest to do that,” says Keith Albright, senior vice president of franchising.
Another part of Gold’s recruitment effort is enticing independent gyms to switch to the Gold’s brand. ”The softening economy makes it more difficult to go out and build brand-new beautiful Gold’s Gyms from the ground up,” Mr. Albright says. ”So the thought becomes, ‘What if we tried to go recruit the competition and get them to change flags.”’ Since last year, about six conversions have been added, bringing the total number of U.S. Gold’s Gym franchises to 475.
In August, Chip Ikerd, the 29-year-old owner of a gym in Somerset, Ky., signed an agreement to convert his facility to a Gold’s. He is spending about $75,000 for some physical improvements, sign changes and a $25,000 franchise fee and will reopen the gym next month.
Mr. Ikerd is counting on the Gold’s brand to boost membership. He now has about 850 members, down from a high of 1,500 in 2004. He hopes to increase that to 2,000 in the next two years, and he is expecting to gain improved customer service, brand loyalty and quality-control systems, as well as the ability to tap into the franchiser’s pool of qualified health-club workers.
Interiors by Decorating Den of Easton, Md., says it has seen a 33 percent decline so far this year in the number of leads it has received compared with last year, including inquiries from interested franchisees and requests for information. In response, among other incentives, it is offering to finance up to 50 percent of the franchise fee (or up to $15,000) for qualified individuals with a minimum of $55,000 in liquid capital. People may have the skills but not the capital to launch a franchise, says Kevin Atkinson, Decorating Den’s vice president of program development.
The company has also set up an entry-level decorator program. Potential owners can join Decorating Den as commissioned decorators working for existing franchise owners. They get to see how the business works and attend special training sessions featuring sales, marketing and decorating techniques – and, the franchiser hopes, eventually open up a franchise of their own.
Decorating Den hopes to sign up 180 new franchisees in the next year. ”By being creative,” Mr. Atkinson says, ”these measures will not only help us weather the current economic storm but will actually make us stronger as the pendulum swings up once again.”


text:
Kellogg is hoping Pringles will satisfy its craving for salty snacks.
The food giant is best known for its lineup of sweet breakfast items, including Frosted Flakes and Eggo frozen waffles. On Wednesday, it became the world’s second-biggest savory snack maker behind PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay with a $2.7 billion deal to buy the potato chip snack brand from Procter & Gamble.
The addition of Pringles bolsters Kellogg’s cupboard of salty snacks such as Cheez-It and Keebler’s Club crackers. It also positions the company to expand at a time when the appetite for on-the-go foods is growing worldwide, particularly in emerging markets like China and India.
“When you have people moving to the cities and becoming urbanized, they’re less likely to eat foods they grow themselves,” said Tom Graves, an analyst for Standard & Poor’s who follows Kellogg. “There’s a bigger opportunity to sell packaged foods.”
Kellogg, which gets most of its revenue from North America, is looking for Pringles to help it expand into a global snacking company. Pringles, known for its iconic tube packaging, is sold in more than 150 countries and gets two-thirds of its $1.5 billion in annual revenue from overseas.
It’s difficult to quantify growth in the global snacking market. But it’s clear snacking is gaining popularity in the United States as more people adopt the school of thought that it’s better to eat five or six small meals a day, rather than the conventional wisdom of eating three large ones.
“That’s creating a lot of hungry people,” said Phil Lempert, editor of Supermarket Guru, which tracks the packaged food industry.
Between 2008 and 2018, the number of “snacking occasions” throughout the day in the U.S. is set to increase by 19 percent, according to market researcher the NPD Group. And in the past year, sales of snack foods rose 3.3 percent to $16.6 billion, according to Nielsen. That’s on top of 1.8 percent growth the previous year.
Pringles, which coined the popular slogan in the U.S. “Once you pop, you can’t stop,” has also benefited from the snack rush. Shipments of the brand increased 5 percent in the most recent quarter, according to Procter & Gamble.
The snack, which was first tested in 1968, was packaged in cans to preserve freshness and prevent the chips from breaking as other chips do. The chips are made from dough that contains just 42 percent dried potatoes. And despite a common misconception, they’re fried, not baked.
P&G wanted to sell Pringles, the last of its food businesses, to focus on its core household and consumer goods products. Kellogg was able to swoop in to buy Pringles from P&G after Diamond Foods Inc.’s proposed $1.5 billion acquisition of the brand fell through.
Speculation had been growing that Diamond’s offer was in trouble after the San Francisco company announced a week ago that it was replacing its CEO and CFO after an internal investigation found that the company improperly accounted for payments to walnut growers. Diamond, which makes Emerald Nuts and Pop Secret popcorn, now needs to restate two years of financial results.
Last week, Cincinnati-based P&G said it was evaluating the deal and keeping all options open.
The company even said that Pringles had “attracted considerable interest from other outside parties.”
Kellogg expects to complete the Pringles acquisition during the summer, possibly on June 30. If the deal closes around that time, Kellogg anticipates it will add about 8 to 10 cents per share to its 2012 earnings before accounting for the acquisition and one-time costs and changes to its buyback program. One-time costs are expected to be between $160 million and $180 million, with approximately $70 million to $90 million of those costs likely to be recognized in 2012.


text:
Fears of disruption to the bakery industry have eased following a deal by the government that will see production of CO2 restarted at a key plant in Teesside.
Soaring gas prices forced CF Fertilisers to halt production at two of its plants where around 60% of the UK’s CO2 is processed as a by-product. This prompted fears of significant disruption to the food industry because of its reliance on carbon dioxide. In bakery, for example, some businesses require CO2 for packaging products such as crumpets, wraps, naan breads, part-baked bread and cakes.
However, the government has now announced a ‘short-term’ agreement with CF Fertilisers to restart operations and production of CO2 at its Billingham plant. A statement said that ‘limited financial support’ would be provided towards the company’s operating costs for three weeks while the CO2 market adapts to global gas prices.
“This is a short-term intervention to provide the space and time for market adjustment,” said environment secretary George Eustice.
The deal followed discussions between the government and food producers, trade bodies and the major supermarkets.
Food and Drink Federation chief executive Ian Wright, who had previously warned of disruption to the bakery industry from the CO2 shortage, said the deal was “to be welcomed”, adding that “there will be some shortages, but these will not be as bad as previously feared”.
Wright also emphasised the need for longer term solutions. “When we are certain that the immediate supply issues are resolved, we should then work with government to build resilience into the production of CO2 to protect our food supply chain,” he said.
This is not the first time that bakery has been threatened by disruption to the production of carbon dioxide. In June 2018, Warburtons experienced shortfalls in the supply of its crumpets as a result of a Europe-wide CO2 shortage.
However, Gordon Polson, chief executive of the Federation of Bakers, played down any suggestions that bakery would be affected by recent events. “The majority of bread and bakery products do not use CO2 and therefore we are not currently anticipating any issues with supplies of most items,” he said.
“Whilst CO2 is used in the packing of some SKUs including crumpets, we are optimistic that this will be resolved in the near future.”


text:
Doncaster's Unilever warehouse and distribution centre sold off in Â£20 million deal
A Doncaster distribution centre occupied by the consumer good giant behind the Persil, Domestos and Simple brands has been sold in a Â£20 million deal.
The Unilever distribution centre on Decoy Bank, South, Trax Park has been bought by Tritax Big Box Real Estate Investment Trust in a £20.9m deal.
The building, constructed in 2002, has been acquired with a new 15-year lease and will continue to be operated by Unilever.
Colin Godfrey, a partner at Tritax, said: "Unilever is a leading globally recognised consumer goods company and we are delighted to add them to the very strong list of tenants in our portfolio.
"This investment further diversifies our portfolio by tenant and business sector."
These are the most annoying things you can say to somebody from Sheffield - don't mention John Lewis
Hunt to find woman responsible for sexually assaulting man at Sheffield railway station
Knife-wielding thug who stabbed four victims on a Sheffield estate faces a possible life sentence
Several areas of Sheffield experiencing flash flooding as deluge of rain lifts surface off major city road
Sheffield flash flooding leads to closure of several roads as motorists are advised to 'take care while travelling'
The centre distributes household products and a huge range of household names across the UK.


text:
The Commando and British Comics Swap Meet 8 will take place in Glasgow in March, with thousands of Commando Comics and other Picture Libraries on offer
This latest set of Commando marks a rare debut by a writer-artist…
Commando opens 60th anniversary celebration in style, with a special revisit to its very first issue, and a new writer debuts
Stand ready, Commando Comics 60th Anniversary kicks off in style this week
New Commando Comics are out this week
Conflict from across the centuries and around the world are on offer in this latest Commando set
All-out action, in the desert, in the jungle – and outer space!
Commando Comics are back in action this week
Commando Comics teases more 60th anniversary announcements at this weekend’s Thought Bubble Digital Comic Con
A cryptic tease from Britain’s war comic!
Commando Comics Issues 5311 – 5314 are on sale from this Thursday
Commando Comics has followed up its teasing of a revival of characters from the weekly boys’ comic Victor with an announcement that “Braddock” will be following in the footsteps of “Codename: Warlord” aka Lord Peter Flint and returning to comic… Read More ›


text:
LOS ANGELES--A dispute between garment workers claiming mistreatment by a Guess contractor and Guess ended last week, according to a UNITE official here. In June, according to David Young, director of UNITE's Los Angeles organizing project, more than 100 workers staged a wildcat strike against Song of California and Goodtimes contract sewing shops. They claimed that Song/Goodtimes owner Sang Lee had dropped their piece work rate, telling them Guess lowered the contractor's price by 70 cents a garment. Lee is also alleged to have fired or threatened to fire workers who protested and tried to unionize. During the strike, picketers targeted Song/Goodtimes. They also marched on the Guess downtown headquarters here and the company's Rodeo Drive store in Beverly Hills, chanting, "Boycott Guess jeans." Young would not disclose terms of any agreement the union made with Guess beyond saying, "This dispute has been settled to the union's and the workers' satisfaction." UNITE is attempting to organize the Song/Goodtimes shops. Stan Levy, Guess general counsel, said Guess had no comment. The union planned to picket Karen Kane Inc. here last week. But in a pact signed with UNITE signed on Tuesday, Kane agreed not to employ Song of California or Goodtimes beyond 6,000 units that Song already has in progress. They also agreed to remove 2,700 cut and unbundled units from Song. "We didn't have a whole lot of choice," said Kane lawyer Belle C. Mason, adding that she signed the agreement to avoid picketing. Kane, a better-price misses' sportswear maker, had inspected Sang Lee's facilities before working with him, she added. "Not only do I not have any reason to believe workers are being treated badly, but I have every reason to believe that they are being treated better than most workers in this city," Mason said. Mason said she didn't know if Karen Kane had lowered its payment rate to Sang Lee. On Friday, Lee said he complies with all laws. "I'm paying the highest and fairest piece rates in town," he said. "The union, whenever they open their mouth, is lying." On Friday, 21 striking workers, led by a UNITE organizer, picketed the Santa Monica Place mall flagship store for Miller's Outpost, shouting, "Boycott Anchor Blue." Anchor Blue is Miller's Outpost's private label. According to Young, Miller's Outpost vice president of loss prevention and human resources, Fred Ford, agreed at the beginning of July to stop doing business with shops owned by Sang Lee. A subsequent union inspection, Young said, uncovered thousands of Anchor Blue garments. "We'll be there till Miller's Outpost stops doing business with the guy," Young said. Ford was on vacation and couldn't be reached for comment.
"I think that all anyone really wants in life is to have people understand us for who we actually are, despite everything," says Ruth Negga. The actress talks "Preachers" season 2 and more on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: Dan Doperalski)
"That's something that resonates with me too because I'm so locked into a number. If I go over that number it completely ruins my day so it's nice to get detached from the number on the scale." - Chelsea Handler on Kelly LeVeque's book "Body Love." #wwdeye (📷: John Salangsang)


text:
Japan surely can use some good news, what with pedal-gate and Standard & Poors warning that they might downgrade Japan’s sovereign debt rating from stellar to less than stellar. CSM to the rescue: They think, vehicle sales in Japan could grow by 4 percent in 2010. Honto? What’s driving sales go motto-motto? Government stimulus money.
Kevin Wale, president of GM China, is convinced that China has passed the U.S. for good as the world’s largest auto sales market. He expects China’s growth to continue, creating a gap that will be too large for the U.S. to close, says AP.
As reported ad nauseam, vehicle sales in China last year rose 46.2 percent to 13.64m units. For this year, cautious industry association projections expect somewhere between 15m and 16m units to change hands.
Wale thinks Chinese auto sales will be anywhere between 14.5m to 15.5m by the end of this year. For the U.S., analysts predict 11.5m to 12m.
Very optimistic analysts reckon the two countries could be trading places until 2015 when China firmly takes the lead. Wale isn’t one of them. He doesn’t think the U.S. will ever regain the lead.
It’s definitely official now. The last word in Chinese vehicle sales has the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM,) and the CAAM has spoken. Vehicle sales in China last year rose 46.2 percent to 13.64m units. This is not surprising, but it is nonetheless reassuring that the 13.6m number TTAC had reported last week was only 40,000 short. It is equally official that China is the world’s largest auto market, ahead of the U.S.A. by 3m units, more or less.
Vehicle sales in December alone rose 91.7 percent from a year earlier to 1.41m units in China, the CAAM said. Passenger car sales jumped 88.7 percent in the last month to 1.1m units. Full-year 2009 China passenger car sales are up 52.9 percent in 2009 to 10.3m. If passenger cars alone would count, then the truck and SUV happy USA would look like a 3rd world country: According to Automotive News [sub], only 5.7m new “passenger cars” drove off U.S. dealers’ lots in 2009, slightly more than half of what the Chinese bought.
Will the sales boom continue in 2010? Not as mad as in 2009, expects the CAAM. The manufacturers association expects growth to continue at a more moderate pace of 10 percent. This would mean 1.36m units in additional sales, or a total of a little less than 15m. Merrill Lynch is a little more bullish and thinks that the Chinese market will grow to 15.5 million vehicles this year, the Nikkei [sub] reports. A horrific thought to those who are scared that Chinese will use all our oil, and that melting polar caps will destroy the value of our waterfront properties. Wait, it’s getting worse.
Latest Car ReviewsRead more
Latest Product ReviewsRead more
- Dusterdude @El scotto , I'm aware of the history, I have been in the "working world" for close to 40 years with many of them being in automotive. We have to look at situation in the "big picture". Did UAW make concessions in past ? - yes. Do they deserve an increase now ? -yes . Is their pay increase reasonable given their current compensation package ? Not at all ! By the way - are the automotive CEO's overpaid - definitely! (That is the case in many industries, and a separate topic). As the auto industry slowly but surely moves to EV's , the "big 3" will need to be producing top quality competitive vehicles or they will not survive.
- Art_Vandelay “We skipped it because we didn’t think anyone would want to steal these things”-Hyundai
- El scotto Huge lumbering SUV? Check. Unknown name soon to be made popular by Tiktok ilk? Check. Scads of these showing up in school drop-off lines? Check. The only real over/under is if these will have as much cachet as Land Rovers themselves? A bespoken item had to be new at one time. Bonus "accepted by the right kind of people" points if EBFlex or Tassos disapproves.
- El scotto No, "brothers and sisters" are the core strength of the union. So you'll take less money and less benefits because "my company really needs helped out"? The UAW already did that with two-tier employees and concessions on their last contract.The Big 3 have never, ever locked out the UAW. The Big 3 have agreed to every collective bargaining agreement since WWII. Neither side will change.
- El scotto Never mind that that F-1 is a bigger circus than EBFlex and Tassos shopping together for their new BDSM outfits and personal lubricants. Also, the F1 rumor mill churns more than EBFlex's mind choosing a new Sharpie to make his next "Free Candy" sign for his white Ram work van. GM will spend a year or two learning how things work in F1. By the third or fourth year GM will have a competitive "F-1 LS" engine. After they win a race or two Ferrari will protest to highest F-1 authorities. Something not mentioned: Will GM get tens of millions of dollars from F-1? Ferrari gets 30 million a year as a participation trophy.


text:
One Week After State of the State, Nine Major Employers Commit to Supply RI
Governor’s ‘buy local’ initiative aims to connect local suppliers with state’s largest employers
PROVIDENCE, RI – Nine of Rhode Island’s largest employers have made a public commitment to buy more products and services from local Rhode Island companies. Last week, in her State of the State address, Governor Gina M. Raimondo announced the Supply RI initiative, a new effort to help Rhode Island’s largest employers use their spending power to support local businesses.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. When our biggest employers support local businesses, they know they’re getting a quality product and that their spending is going right back into our local economy,” said Governor Raimondo. “Supply RI will strengthen every business – big and small – that participates. I’m grateful to the employers that have already made a commitment to participate and will work with business and civic leaders across the state to increase participation.”
The founding participants of Supply RI include:
* Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island;
* Brown University;
* Delta Dental;
* Gilbane Building Company;
* Rhode Island School of Design; and
* Roger Williams University.
The Governor’s FY19 budget proposal includes $475,000 to support the new initiative. The Commerce Corporation will maintain a comprehensive database of local suppliers and will provide support services for employers and suppliers, including networking events and information sessions on procurement. Local contractors and suppliers can sign up for information and alerts about these services at www.SupplyRhodeIsland.com or by calling 401-278-9100.
“Strengthening and growing our economy requires commitments and investments from all stakeholders — large institutions and small businesses, the private sector and the public sector. It is encouraging that 9 of our state’s biggest employers have already answered Governor Raimondo’s call and are aiming to use their spending power to support smaller local businesses,” said Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor. “This new initiative will introduce larger companies and institutions to smaller suppliers; and, through the strengthening of the local supply chain, it will assist in opening up opportunities for Rhode Island businesses and creating jobs for Rhode Islanders.”
According to research conducted for the Executive Office of Commerce, if the state’s colleges, universities and hospitals shifted just two percent of their contracts to companies based in Rhode Island, it could add more than $50 million to the state’s economy each year and create hundreds of new jobs. Approximately 60 percent of all state procurement dollars are awarded to companies with a local Rhode Island presence. During today’s press conference, Governor Raimondo set a goal to increase the amount local buying the state does by 10 percent over the next three years.
Statements from the participating employers follow (alphabetically by employer):
Amica Insurance Chairman and CEO Robert DiMuccio
“Rhode Island has been our home for 110 years, and we feel it’s our corporate responsibility to contribute to the local economy. We’re happy to participate in this initiative, and we commend Governor Raimondo on her efforts to further support small businesses.”
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island President and CEO Kim Keck
“Blue Cross is proud to be a leader in buying from Rhode Island businesses and we are honored to lend our support to the Governor’s initiative. Fifty percent of our vendors are local and through purchasing local goods and services we put $34 million annually into the state’s economy. When we invest locally the Rhode Island economy improves; a stronger economy is good for the health of all our communities.”
Brown University Vice President of Planning and Policy Russell Carey “Brown has served as an anchor institution in Rhode Island for more than 250 years, and spending by the University to operate our campus totals in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. We’re excited to extend our commitment to supporting the state’s economy and local business owners through Governor Raimondo’s Supply RI initiative. A coordinated effort to linking organizations and suppliers will only amplify the economic impact further.”
Delta Dental of Rhode Island President and CEO Joseph Nagle “Delta Dental has long been a proponent of initiatives such as Supply RI that encourage buying local. Not only has Delta Dental stressed buying from other local companies whenever possible, we also perform 100% of our services right here in Rhode Island. Buying local is the most cost-effective form of economic development. Doing so, means that the revenues and profits of Rhode Island companies are enhanced – which in turn means more local jobs and more tax revenue. Simply stated, buying from out-of-state companies when such goods or services are available locally is an unnecessary and unfortunate transfer of wealth from Rhode Island to other states.”
Gilbane Building Company Vice President and Rhode Island Business Unit Leader John Sinnott “Gilbane Building Company was founded in Rhode Island 145 years ago and we continue to maintain our corporate headquarters in Rhode Island. Our roots are here, and we are committed to joining the Supply RI movement to promote a shared goal and dedication to increasing the amount of goods and services for procurement within the State. We are hopeful that this effort will have a positive impact on Rhode Island’s economy and we are dedicated to supporting this initiative.”
Lifespan SVP for Clinical Service Lines and Facilities Development Nicholas P. Dominick “Lifespan applauds the Supply RI initiative. Rhode Island’s size lends itself to the cooperative relationship that already exists and will surely grow among businesses. Lifespan’s preference, whenever possible, is to buy from or contract with Rhode Island-based companies – from Warwick-based Claflin medical supplies to area employment agencies. In fact, Lifespan already spends $87 million annually in products and services from Rhode Island-based companies and another $21 million with out-of-state companies with locations in the state.”
Rhode Island School of Design President Rosanne Somerson “RISD is pleased to be a part of this important collaborative effort to link area anchor institutions – some of the state’s largest consumers – directly with local suppliers to shift spending back to Rhode Island. As an active supporter and participant in Supply RI, we look forward to continuing to help advance our state’s economy.”
Roger Williams University President Donald J. Farish “By virtue of their collective purchases and payrolls, Roger Williams University and other Rhode Island colleges and universities act as economic engines to power their local communities and the region as a whole. Our impact could be even greater if we focused our purchasing efforts on Rhode Island businesses and suppliers over those from other states. RWU is proud to join Supply RI, and to be a part of making the Rhode Island economy even stronger.”


text:
Lance Irving, Former VP of Sales & Marketing at PSE, Joins Martin Archery as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Walla Walla, WA – March 10, 2014: Martin Archery announced today that Lance Irving, former Vice President of Sales & Marketing at PSE, has joined Martin Archery as its new Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. Lance spent nearly 7 years with PSE, working his way up from Regional Sales Manager to Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
“I am excited to be a part of the Martin Archery team,” said Lance. “The Company is one of the oldest and most recognizable brands in the industry and the enormous potential here excites me. I look forward to being able to bring not only fantastic products but also best-in-industry customer service to our customers.”
In his new role as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Lance will lead a strong sales effort while also driving the marketing and branding engine of Martin Archery. He is the latest impressive addition to a newly revamped and best-in-class management team which is driving a culture of passion, innovation, delivery and performance at the recapitalized company.
“Lance is one of the most well respected veterans within the archery community,” stated Rich Weatherford, CEO of Martin Archery. “He brings deep relationships as well as an unparalleled knowledge and understanding of the customer base to Martin and as a team, we look forward to bringing this 64-year old brand back to being the best in the industry.”
Prior to PSE, Lance worked as a store manager at Gander Mountain and Fishing and Hunting Guide and is formerly trained as a fish and wildlife biologist.
ABOUT MARTIN ARCHERY
Founded in 1951 by hall of fame archer, Gail Martin, Martin Archery is a manufacturer of compound and traditional bows as well as bow accessories based in Walla Walla, Washington. Martin’s line of compound bows is a mix of technology and value that allow everyone from a tournament archer to a weekend warrior to have the best equipment on the market. Damon Howatt bows (Martin’s traditional bow line) are carefully and individually hand-crafted by our veteran bowyers in Walla Walla. For more information, visit www.martinarchery.com.


text:
Kyle and Jason Featured By "They Got Acquired"
Alexis Grant's new website, TheyGotAcquired.com, featured Kyle and Jason this week on selling their network of sports websites.
While both partners ran their companies as lifestyle businesses — whereby they set up company operations to prioritize their preferred lifestyle — the legal change allowed them to scale and realize the “massive sports gambling opportunity in the U.S.,” [Scott] said. In the following 10 months, CBWG grew to $5 million annual revenue from subscriptions, digital advertising and partnerships, [Scott] said.
Its websites welcomed hundreds of thousands of readers across the U.S. It also became the largest independently owned U.S. sports betting affiliate marketing network, serving betting platforms’ ads to gamblers in states with legal sports gambling operations.
You can read the full article here.


text:
The credit card giant has given blockchain technology a big push toward the mainstream. Mastercard says its newly released API can immediately help banks and other businesses make payments across international borders faster at less cost. The move follows a similar one by IBM, which just launched its own cross-border payment system for nations in the South Pacific.
One big difference, though: Mastercard’s system won’t involve any cryptocurrency. It will handle the “clearing” of financial transactions—the process by which account balances are updated to reflect new transactions—and will register these updates on a distributed ledger. (See “Why Bitcoin Could Be Much More Than a Currency.”) The actual transfer of money, known as the settlement, will use Mastercard’s conventional system, based on local fiat currencies.
IBM’s system will settle transactions by having its proprietary blockchain work in tandem with a second one, built by a nonprofit called Stellar. Stellar’s cryptocurrency, Lumens, will serve as the unit of value transferred between parties.
What does it all mean? Mostly, it means it’s still early. IBM’s new payment system may use Stellar’s currency only temporarily; the company is eyeing an eventual transition to government-backed cryptocurrencies. It’s not clear when that will happen, though as I’ve recently reported, a number of central banks are testing this idea.
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
Deep learning pioneer Geoffrey Hinton has quit Google
Hinton will be speaking at EmTech Digital on Wednesday.
Video: Geoffrey Hinton talks about the “existential threat” of AI
Watch Hinton speak with Will Douglas Heaven, MIT Technology Review’s senior editor for AI, at EmTech Digital.
Doctors have performed brain surgery on a fetus in one of the first operations of its kind
A baby girl who developed a life-threatening brain condition was successfully treated before she was born—and is now a healthy seven-week-old.
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.


text:
Earlier, the Honor mobile phone officially announced that the Honor 60 series will be officially released on December 1. As the press conference approaches, news about the Honor 60 series has gradually increased. According to the official warm-up poster, the Honor 60 series will adopt a gradient + star diamond back cover design, and the rear lens module will continue the highly recognizable dual-ring scheme of the Honor 50 series.
It is worth mentioning that, today, some digital bloggers are the first to publish the real hands -on photos of the Honor 60 series. It has four color schemes and incorporates starry sky elements, making the appearance of the whole device exude a crystal clear dreamy light and shadow.
In addition, as the angle of light changes, the back cover of the Honor 60 looks like a starry sky at night, which is highly recognizable. As for the front of the phone , the Honor 60 series screen may adopt a four-curved screen design similar to the first-generation magic, and compared to the previous four-curved screen, it has a major upgrade in craftsmanship. The curved surface is more perfect, bringing a round and comfortable Grip.
It is worth noting that according to the information released by the official Wechat of Honor mobile phone, the Honor 60 series will support the Vlog gesture function. Judging from the warm-up video, the spokesperson of the series Gong Jun made a backhand, make a fist, OK and so on. Gestures.
Although the official did not disclose more information, it is not difficult to see that the Honor 60 series will make Vlog shooting easier and easier to use. Regarding the Honor 60 series, Jiang Hairong, CMO of Honor Terminal Co., Ltd. in China, once said, Discover beauty in the vast starry sky, and the 2021 mobile phone looks like a ceiling. So what is the appearance? See you at the press conference.


text:
AIICO pays N1.7bn in lockdown claims
AIICO said it paid out about N1.7bn to its customers in fulfilment of its contractual obligations on claims, benefits, loans and maturity payments among others.
The company said in a statement that the money was paid within the first 21 days of the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Executive Director Retail Business, Mr Sola Ajayi, stated, “Within the first three weeks of the lockdown, we have paid N907m in life insurance benefits to 1,441 individual customers and over N480m to 10,275 annuitants who are on our life annuity plan.
“For us, commitment is an act, not a word.
“These are extraordinary times, and we have evolved; we keep producing great results.
“This is part of the AIICO culture, and it has accounted for our high customer retention rate; we are poised to do even more.”
The Executive Director, Corporate Business Division, Mr Adewale Kadri, stated, “We are operational despite the lockdown and we are accepting discounted premium from our clients as palliatives to our loyal customers during this trying period.
“We deliver insurance certificates including policy documents within minutes.
“Over 250 valued brokers have had their claims of over N300m settled within 48 hours.
“Our online real-time platform has delighted all our brokers in this regard, and we receive compliments almost daily on our service delivery.”
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Babatunde Fajemirokun, said the daily volume of transactions was a proof that the firm’s investment in infrastructure for business continuity was worth every penny and built for the long term.
He added that AIICO’s business continuity management system was certified using standards set by the British Standard Institute.
He stated further that well-motivated employees, who were working remotely, had played a significant role in making things happen.
He said, “In addition to this, we are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and its effect on consumer behaviour.
“As a company with a long obsession for excellent customer experience, we are evolving and adapting to changing customer preferences.
“Our mode of operation is continually evolving to cater to the needs of existing and prospective customers.
“We have not only been paying out, we have also been attracting and underwriting new businesses within the period.”
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.


text:
Both Spicy Sugar Thai in Alamitos Beach and Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House in East Village will receive $20,000 to use toward their business.
“Going from yesterday to today was just a handful.”
Unlike the restaurant-to-store conversions that happened in March, restaurateurs are now focusing on specialty items like fresh pasta and imported treats.
“I am putting people in the kitchen who have never once professionally cooked. I am literally training them.”
The stretch of Pine Avenue will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the foreseeable future starting at noon on Aug. 14, according to a Friday evening press release from the Downtown Long Beach Alliance.
Already battered by the coronavirus pandemic, Long Beach restaurants are asking the City Council to extend a break on licensing and inspection fees to help keep them afloat.
Legends unfurled a 30-foot-by-20-foot American flag that takes up most of the iconic sports bar’s facade.
The company has seen more local businesses sign on to have their food delivered straight to customers’ doors via bicycle.
Burger Daddy will be taking over the space that sits above the Blind Donkey in the northeast corner of the historic Broadlind building.
After facing a fire that all but burnt down the entire building, Restauration, the Fourth Street bistro and patio owned by Dana Tanner and chef Philip Pretty, is officially set to re-open by the end of this month.


text:
n. 沼地，极多，回转 n. 大量，许多 v. 使转，扭
An American actress, author, fashion designer, dancer, producer, and singer Jennifer Lopez hold the second place in the list of 10 most beautiful women of 2015. Lopez's personal relationships have attracted worldwide media attention; she has been married three times. Beside entertainment world, J. Lo enjoyed a highly successful business career, consisting of various clothing lines, accessories, fragrances, a production company, television shows and a charitable foundation among other business interests.
scary puppy like head tilts and glares
Sonneborn, who lives in Bristol, Vermont, with his parents and younger sister, Julia, 11, is seeking the Democratic nomination.
People promoting driverless cars, the most hyped industry segment of the moment, became world leaders in verbiage. Elon Musk claimed to be “laser-focused on achieving full self-driving capability on one integrated platform with an order of magnitude greater safety than the average manually driven car” (ie Tesla cars must stop crashing).
Estimates for the size of the industry vary but Goldman Sachs figures suggest that sector loans grew from Rmb6bn to Rmb83bn between 2012 and 2014.
At 36, women are about two years younger than men but senior positions are fairly well distributed between genders, with only slightly more women in relatively junior positions — 26 per cent of them are professionals compared with 24 per cent of men.
4. Con Dao Isalsnd, Vietnam-Once the site of the infamous Con Dao prison, Vietnam's isolated archipelago of 16 islands known as the Con Dao Islands is starting to become known for its scenery and fresh seafood.
Saving Cancer Patients in Africa
Some Brexiters and Republicans believe in the ideal of absolutely free markets.
Creditors have officially approved the MGM restructuring plan that will put Spyglass Entertainment in charge of the studio, getting it moving once again. MGM will no longer be a distributor, but a working studio, which now puts James Bond 23 on the auction block and closer to an actual start date. Here is the official announcement from MGM:
The excitement was triggered by a Reuters story that cited documents about the potential transaction as the source of its information. Samsung actually has made at least one play for BlackBerry BBRY -19.77% before, in 2012. As to this latest rumor, the alleged takeover target was the first to refute that a deal is in the works.
The number of country rankings published this year rose to 42, up from 38 last year. The newly featured countries are Argentina, Mexico, Pakistan and Romania.
我们第一次看到安娜·莫拉莱斯（Anna Morales，杰西卡·查斯坦[Jessica Chastain]饰）的头发是在《至暴之年》(A Most Violent Year)的片头字幕里。她正对着镜子化妆。
May the bright and festive glow of New Year candle warm the days all the year through. Hoping you will have a wonderful time enjoying New Year that is happy in every way.
(c) Agencia EFE


text:
CITIC Securities sees both supply and demand improving for NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng, and the Chinese EV industry facing a high boom in the second half of the year.
CITIC Securities is bullish on the performance of NIO (NYSE: NIO, HKG: 9866, SGX: NIO), XPeng Motors (NYSE: XPEV, HKG: 9868), and Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI, HKG: 2015), in the second half of the year, as their production and sales volumes recovered and new product deliveries are imminent.
In June, NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng sold 12,961, 13,024, and 15,295 electric vehicles (EVs), respectively, representing growth rates of 85 percent, 13 percent, and 51 percent, respectively, from May, implying that both supply and demand are improving, said CITIC Securities analyst Xu Yingbo's team in a research note on Monday.
The team believes that as China's new carmakers enter the new product cycle in 2022 with significantly higher product maturity compared to the initial generation, the market is expected to gradually recognize the strengths of these companies in terms of talent attraction, technology accumulation and responsiveness to local demand.
At the same time, given the high boom in China's EV industry in the second half of the year, the team said they are bullish on investment opportunities for these new carmakers in the second half of the year.
NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng all met their previous guidance for sales in the second quarter, and their new models are about to start deliveries, the team noted.
NIO launched the new ES7, a large 5-seat SUV based on the NT 2.0 platform, on June 15. it also unveiled the 2022 ES8, ES6 and EC6, priced RMB 18,000 higher compared to previous versions, but with improved intelligence and performance, the team said.
Li Auto unveiled its second model, the Li L9, on June 21, continuing the flat pricing mechanism of the company's first model, the Li ONE, which will begin deliveries in late August.
With more than 30,000 orders within 72 hours of launch, the Li L9 has the potential to become a hot-seller, CITIC Securities said, adding that the model's biggest selling points are space and smart interactions at half the price of competing models of the same size.
"We expect the Li L9 to reach a monthly production and sales scale of 4,000-5,000 this year and 10,000 units in 2023," the team said.
Notably, Li Auto founder, chairman and CEO Li Xiang said on Weibo on June 4 that he expects Li L9 deliveries could exceed 10,000 in September.
XPeng pushed an enhanced version of LCC (Lane Centering Control) to the XPeng P5 via OTA on July 1, the first in China to use LiDAR for that feature in a production vehicle, CITIC Securities noted.
XPeng also plans to push City NGP (Navigation Guided Pilot) to XPeng P5 users in the third quarter, bringing the competition in smart driving capabilities for EV companies to more complex urban conditions, the team said.
Separately, XPeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng said on Weibo that the company's new SUV, the G9, is moving forward with its launch rhythm as scheduled, with the model opening for pre-orders in August and officially launching in September, the team noted.
Similar to Citi's approach at the end of last month, CITIC Securities has proposed a new valuation methodology for the three companies.
A market cap/gross profit multiple is a more appropriate valuation approach for China's new car makers in 2022 to 2023, the team said.
Here is their reasoning:
Generally, it is difficult for a car company to achieve large profitability until they have in 2 factories and 400,000 units of annual capacity.
But when they reach 400,000 to 800,000 units in sales, the scale effect can lead to rapid earnings elasticity.
Therefore, gross profit can be an appropriate valuation approach in 2022-2023 when the new carmakers' sales are growing rapidly but not reaching profitability.
CITIC Securities believes that based on this new valuation method, the valuation multiples of the three Chinese new carmakers are already comparable to those of traditional automakers.
NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng currently have market cap/2023E gross profit multiples of 11.6, 9.9, and 13.7x, respectively, as a comparison to BYD, Great Wall Motor, and Geely's shares traded in Hong Kong at 9.4, 3.2, and 4.4x, respectively, according to the team.
Shares of NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng traded in Hong Kong rose in early trading on Tuesday, up 2.84 percent, 4.36 percent, and 3.62 percent, respectively, at press time.


text:
In a significant legal development, a federal judge has ruled against resurrecting a class-action lawsuit accusing four major auto manufacturers of violating Washington state’s privacy laws. The companies – Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and General Motors – were exonerated, as the judge determined that the use of vehicles’ infotainment systems to record and intercept private text messages and call logs did not breach privacy standards under state law. This decision represents a major victory for automakers, who remain embroiled in five class action suits related to this issue. Additionally, this ruling reinforced the dismissal of a similar lawsuit against Ford.
1. Initial Dismissal Sparks Appeal:
The plaintiffs in the four ongoing cases filed an appeal after their respective lawsuits were initially dismissed. However, the appellate judge in Seattle upheld the dismissal, stating that the interception and recording of mobile phone activity fell short of Washington Privacy Act’s threshold for proving “threat” to an individual’s business, person, or reputation.
2. Allegations Against Honda:
In one of the five cases, plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Honda in 2021, contending that the company’s infotainment systems had been surreptitiously downloading and storing copies of all text messages from connected smartphones since at least 2014. The lawsuit revealed that an Annapolis-based firm named Berla Corporation provided this technology exclusively to car manufacturers, denying public access. The downloaded messages were rendered inaccessible to vehicle owners but could be accessed by law enforcement entities, according to the lawsuit.
3. The Critical Ruling on Privacy Violations:
Despite the plaintiffs’ arguments, the judge concluded that the actions of auto manufacturers did not meet the required standard for an illegal privacy violation. In order to establish a privacy violation under the Washington Privacy Act, a plaintiff must demonstrate an infringement upon their business, person, or reputation. As per the judge’s ruling, the recording and interception of mobile phone activities did not reach this threshold.
4. Implications for Automakers:
The judge’s decision represents a significant win for Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and General Motors, as it dismisses the allegations raised against them. This outcome alleviates potential liabilities and damages that otherwise may have arisen from the class action lawsuit. However, it is important to note that the ruling pertains only to Washington state’s privacy laws and does not provide a comprehensive precedent for similar cases in other jurisdictions.
5. Berla Corporation’s Involvement:
The lawsuit against Honda highlighted the involvement of Berla Corporation, an Annapolis-based company specializing in providing technology to car manufacturers. Berla’s software facilitated the downloading and storage of text messages on infotainment systems, effectively denying vehicle owners access. The claims also suggested that law enforcement agencies had access to these stored interactions.
The denial of the class action lawsuit against Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, and General Motors is a significant victory for the automakers, as a federal judge ruled that the recording and interception of mobile phone activities using infotainment systems do not violate Washington state’s privacy laws. Although this specific ruling may not directly impact similar cases beyond Washington, it sets an important precedent regarding privacy standards and the burden of proof required for privacy violations in the automotive industry. As technology advances, legal considerations surrounding data privacy and consumers’ rights will continue to shape the evolution of the auto industry.


text:
Vehicle efficiencies have always been a top priority for automotive industry stakeholders and vehicle connectivity is increasingly becoming an integral part of the same
Over the years, the software content in vehicles has grown significantly and IoT companies such as Aeris have been supporting enterprises that aim to embark on their digital transformation journey. Auto Tech Review recently met up with Sameer Mahapatra, Country Manager & VP, Sales – India & SAARC, Aeris Communications to understand more about how it is supporting diversified industries in monetising a successful connected vehicle programme, while delivering better driving and ownership experience.
Vehicles have evolved over the last few years. Customers are increasingly expecting their vehicles to offer newer experiences and OEMs are busy evaluating newer technologies that can offer better customer engagement. Aeris’ Mobility Suite provides a cloud-agnostic foundation that makes it possible for OEMs to get their state-of-the-art connected vehicle programmes to market in less than six months during their IoT journey with a global approach, multi-regional variation, and enhanced user experience at significantly reduced costs.
The suite offers a highly customised approach to an OEM’s specific requirements that goes modular down to the component level end-to-end, from edge client to data analysis and UI presentation. Additionally, the suite also includes software components for cutting-edge services such as vehicle sharing, over-the-air firmware updates and on-demand services such as repairs, refuelling and parking.
While seeking to diversify its capabilities in the connected car market, Mitsubishi joined hands with Aeris in 2018 to enable introduction of new features as well as reduce operational complexities. Aeris worked closely with Mitsubishi to introduce a cloud-based software foundation for its connected car programme ‘Mitsubishi Connect’ that served as a single point of contact managing all aspects of connected vehicle service delivery globally. Mitsubishi Connect offers a convenient and intuitive driving experience, while offering remote vehicle services along with safety and security that can be accessed through MY MITSUBISHI CONNECT mobile app or via Mitsubishi vehicle owners’ portal.
Aeris also joined hands with the Volkswagen Group in early 2020 to establish a new joint venture – Ventic LLC – to develop connected car technologies on a single platform for the auto giant. Ventic’s micro-services-based platform architecture will enable quicker introduction of newer technologies that will support Volkswagen’s position in the future of shared mobility, while preserving the ability to deploy solutions that differ based on region or the vehicle model.
Working as per the business requirements as well as geographical restrictions, the platform architecture supports mobility across cloud platforms with built-in system monitoring as well as operational KPIs. The Ventic device platform also offers a service delivery architecture that optimises end-to-end system – from telematics to wireless communication – thereby improving response time while addressing key concerns like hardware power management. Aeris will initially focus on VW brand vehicles in North America, starting with the launch of the next generation Car-Net in most MY20 vehicles.
As motorcycle OEMs are also not behind in the race of introducing connected vehicle technologies, Aeris Mobility Suite also comes pre-equipped with capabilities spanning safety and service such as remote diagnostics, automatic collision notification, maintenance reminders among others as well as anti-theft to create and evolve a profitable, connected motorcycle programme. Mahapatra said the suite requires customisation according to the markets, as there is a need to carry out 25 % delta job and not just build the platform from scratch.
SMART FLEET PLATFORM
Keeping a track on the entire set of vehicles is one of the biggest headaches for fleet owners and Aeris India introduced its Smart Fleet platform earlier this year to enable them manage the fleet on a single platform. Fully equipped with features such as live remote tracking & tracing of vehicles, map view of vehicles with status, easy navigation with route search, complete trip data analytics, remote control with geofencing & immobilisation, single view dashboard among others, the platform offers a range of subscription-based fleet management services to help maximise operational excellence, thus ensuring fleet efficiency. For facilitating quicker order placement, in addition to direct sales and channel sales partners, Aeris has also enabled the digital platform for order cycle management through Facebook, noted Mahapatra.
Over the years, Aeris has been helping CV owners of varied fleet sizes as well as personal vehicle owners with flexible commercial models, deployment capabilities and 24x7 multi-lingual helpdesk that enables them capture and use data from commercial cars and trucks along with private two-wheelers, three-wheeler and four-wheelers. During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Aeris has also been supporting law enforcement and disaster management agencies across multiple cities in enabling minimum response time to crisis powered by faster mobilisation of police vehicles via live location tracking, enabling better coordination among police vehicles as well as faster action for crisis management.
The country’s fleet industry continues to grapple with a lot of difficulties with the logistics cost in India hovering around 14 % and fleet under-utilisation due to lack of data, vehicle safety and importantly, fuel theft. Fuel costs contribute over 50 % of the total cost of operations for a fleet operator and thus, Aeris also joined hands with Russia-headquartered Omnicomm to develop and add fuel monitoring solution in its portfolio of packaged IoT solutions in India. The solution leverages Omnicomm’s fuel sensors supported by fuel data processing algorithms, while optimising fuel management that enables fleet companies to reduce operational costs. The move complements the Aeris IoT suite and has opened up a new market segment in India and SEA market, observed Mahapatra.
Aeris created an IoT lab at its Noida premises around two years back, where its engineers have simulated a connected vehicle ecosystem that offered potential customers a hands-on-experience of Aeris’ set of services across connected vehicle services such as telematics. According to Mahapatra, OEMs are getting interested as there are a lot of use cases being presented, especially by the last mile delivery. He expects the EV market to adopt a better organised approach in coming years as well as witness better consolidation through connected vehicle solutions. As the market remains flooded with a plethora of non-standardised products, Aeris aims to introduce a high level of standardisation and create awareness about investing in software as a service while cautiously dealing with initial cost versus investment payback equation.
Telematics has been part of the automotive business for some time now. And Aeris India’s largest area of strength continues to be telematics as the segment contributes over 75 % of its business activities in India and SAARC region, while catering to OEMs, ride-sharing companies, banks and insurance depending on the use cases. The company had joined hands with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) last year, wherein the latter will be the infrastructure provider for the ‘Fusion IoT Network’ for connecting IoT devices across 2G, 3G, LTE, LTE-M, and NB-IoT while focussing on cellular connectivity, delivering security, operational efficiency, and customer choice with flexibility.
TEXT: Anirudh Raheja


text:
A new Jersey Mike’s Subs will open next week in Lindenhurst.
The restaurant at 155 West Sunrise Highway is the fast-growing chain’s 12th on Long Island.
Slated to open on Wednesday, Dec. 12, the Lindenhurst sub shop is owned by franchisees Jeff and Laura Maier, who already own two other Jersey Mike’s in Farmingdale and Massapequa Park. The Maiers also own and operate four Dairy Queen restaurants here.
The Lindenhurst Jersey Mike’s will hold a free-sub fundraiser to benefit the Lindenhurst High School Class of 2020. Patrons with one of 7,500 coupons that have been circulated throughout the community can get a free sub with a minimum $2 contribution.
Founded in 1956, Jersey Mike’s now has 1,500 restaurants open and under development nationwide.


text:
Automakers have sweetened deals in recent months for plug-in electric cars in a bid to boost sales and move the vehicles off dealer lots as the end of the year nears.
General Motors knocked $5,000, or 13 percent, off the sticker price of the Chevrolet Volt this summer. Earlier in the year, Nissan dropped the price of its electric Leaf, helping boost its sales. It is now offering a three-year lease at $199 a month.
Sign Up and Save
Get six months of free digital access to The Kansas City Star
You can drive around in a plug-in hybrid for next to nothing if you were already spending $200 a month on gas, said John O’Dell, a senior editor at auto website Edmunds.com. For drivers enticed by the possibility of dramatically reducing their reliance on gasoline, the discounts on plug-in electric cars — particularly when leasing — are worth considering.
But owning an electric car has limitations that may not make them a wise choice for many drivers, nor ultimately translate into big savings.
Here’s a checklist of factors to consider:
• Do you fit the profile?
The most immediate savings is cutting out — or cutting way down — on gasoline.
But electric cars have limits on how far they can go before they need to be recharged. For the 2013 all-electric Leaf, that’s 75 miles. If you need to drive more than that a day, without access to a public charging station, it’s not going to do you much good. (One place to find battery recharging stations is on
Plug-in electric cars that have a gasoline engine when batteries run down, such as the Volt, offer more versatility.
For all electrics, you need to have access to a power outlet, and ideally a 240-volt charger, which can cut the time it takes to recharge electric car batteries to as little as four hours. That typically means being a homeowner, as apartment tenants may not have the means to plug in their car overnight.
“These cars are really designed for people driving 40 miles or less in their daily commute,” O’Dell said. “The more you go above pure electric range, the less attractive these vehicles get.”
• Know the car types.
If you haven’t looked closely at fuel efficient and electric cars before, the process can be confusing and rife with technical jargon. But understanding the different types of cars is essential in determining whether one will be right for you.
Generally, there are three categories:
Hybrids, such as Toyota’s Prius, run on a gasoline engine but use a battery-driven motor to assist at times, such as from a standstill. The engine recharges the battery. The Prius is the top seller by far.
Plug-in electric cars, such as the Volt, have electric engines that run on battery power charged from an electrical outlet. When their charge runs out, the car switches over to a gasoline-powered engine. The Volt is the leader here.
Full-electric cars, such as the Leaf, operate only on electric power.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s website at
has calculators to help compare fuel cost savings for different models.
• Lease, don’t buy.
Although leasing sometimes gets a bad rap, when it comes to electric cars, it’s the way to go — assuming the typical lease limit of 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year fits your needs.
A big reason is electric car technology is evolving. That means if you own a car for several years, your trade-in value will be limited because of the availability of more efficient and advanced models. Plus, there is concern that electric car batteries will degrade over time and charge at diminished levels after several years. Leasing for three years, for example, allows you to avoid that issue altogether.
It’s also a good time to lease, said Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for auto pricing portal TrueCar.com.
“We’re sort of in the middle of a perfect storm for leasing,” he said, citing low interest rates and the more aggressive lease offers by electric car manufacturers.
For a $28,000 Leaf, Nissan is offering a 36-month lease for $199 a month, with a down payment of $1,800.
Chevrolet is advertising a $299-a-month lease for 36 months on a 2014 Volt priced at $34,995. Those terms require $2,499 upfront.
There are often some fine-print restrictions on such offers, but like any lease transaction, customers can try to negotiate better terms.
• Review tax incentives.
The federal government and some states offer tax incentives to electric-car buyers. If you lease, the benefit is generally used to lower the lease cost.
At the federal level, there’s a tax credit of up to $7,500 for cars sold after Dec. 31, 2008. The amount depends on the size of the battery. The credit is applied against your tax bill, or as a refund, provided you have at least the equivalent amount in tax liabilities.
A list of all the tax incentives, by state, is at
• Consider timing.
Traditionally, the best time to buy or lease a car is August through October, said Toprak. That’s when dealerships typically still have a big enough selection of cars to choose from but also have become aggressive about making deals to make room for newer models.
“This month is still a good mixture of great deals and good inventory,” Toprak said.


text:
As much as I like drones, the sheer number of them buzzing in the sky has quickly put them on par with houseflies which means they are annoying and potentially dangerous. And that’s not to mention the intrusion of privacy to both everyday folks (not just celebrities, btw) and companies alike. With these new threats looming, they resulted in the creation of a whole new business opportunity: anti-drone technology and the anti-aircraft-like surveillance system you see here, called SkyDroner, is one of the many popping up in the market.
Conceived by Singapore-based TeleRadio Engineering, SkyDroner is a purpose-built surveillance system designed to detect rogue drones and removing them from the sky in a non-destructive way. When an intruding drone is detected, SkyDroner can take control of it (read: hijack) and force it to land, but really, that’s not new. In fact, quite a few companies have been doing it already and with more mobile and handier devices. What really makes SkyDroner stands out is, it can force land the target drone to a specific coordinate where a cage awaits to contain it, preventing the perpetrator from relaunching it again.
Now, one may be asking, “since drone usage is so prevalent and the technology available to take them down is available, what’s stopping the government from taking intruding drones out of the sky?” Well, here’s the thing: according to a report, some countries view the taking over of another drone, “even for defensive purposes,” as an act of hacking and therefore, highly illegal. So, yeah, it is a grey area which, if you ask me, is nothing but loads of bulls. No shit. Surely, those countries are not going wait till their head of states get struck by ill-intent drones before they decide that bringing down rogue drones are not unethical? Geez.
Anyways, lucky for companies like TeleRadio, there are still many countries who aren’t white knights. In the same report, TeleRadio has disclosed that they are “in discussions and testing its device with governments in Asia and the Middle East as demand for anti-drone systems increases.” Yeah, the market is there, alright. Scale it down to fit-for-home size and I am sure celebrities will gladly snap them to keep high-tech paparazzi out of their lives.
Source and image via CNBC.


text:
Get the digital magazine on your device!
FREE TRIAL – Limited time only
The team at MySociety, which is behind websites like FixMyStreet and WhatDoTheyKnow, has launched its newest project -- FixMyTransport »
Opacity and information overload are the way forward – but how will the general public get a look in? »
James Gilpin is a designer and researcher who has turned the sugar-rich urine of elderly diabetics into a high-end single malt whisky »
Here's Syria's three-year-old civil war -- mapped in all its morbid chaos »
Wired.co.uk reviews the Samsung Galaxy Tab S »


text:
Japan Explores Drones for Regional Problems
Setouchi Town: Kagoshima Prefecture regional problem-solving drone demonstration experiments
This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.
Japan is exploring the use of drones to address regional problems, particularly in the country’s many isolated villages with low populations.
Continue reading below, or listen:
Japan Airlines (JAL) is taking the lead, demonstrating drone solutions as part of their “Amami Islands Sustainable Project.” Drone delivery is one way that Japan will use drones: from the transportation of daily necessities and medical supplies to disaster relief packages.
JAL has also been a major participant in Setouchi Town’s “Smart Town Promotion Project Using Drones”. JAL conducted demonstration flights on November 17, 2022: building out an implementation model for remote island drone use. The framework includes using drones equipped with Information and Communications…


text:
July 2, 2009
7/2: The World of Weddings… Money, Gifts, and More
From trying on dozens of wedding dresses to picking out the invitations and favors, a lot goes into planning a wedding. But, wedding guests have their fair share to think about, too. And, a lot has to do with money.
When it comes to wedding attendance, 59% of Americans say they have gone to at least one wedding during the past year. This includes 21% who have attended just one wedding, an additional 21% who have witnessed two couples tie the knot, and 17% who have seen three or more couples exchange their vows.
Table: Attended a Wedding
The Art of Wedding Gift Giving
What is the most popular wedding gift to give? The answer is cold, hard cash. 40% of U.S. residents report they typically give cash or a check as a wedding present. A gift from the couple’s bridal registry comes in second with 33% saying this is their preferred present. This compares with 18% of Americans who give a gift card or certificate and 9% who choose a gift not on the couple’s registry.
However, there are regional differences. By far, residents in the Northeast prefer to give money than do those in other parts of the country. 68% of those in the Northeast write a check or wrap up some cash while 41% in the Midwest, 31% in the South, and 27% in the West do the same.
So, how much money do wedding guests nationwide spend on a wedding present? If they are attending with a guest, nearly three-quarters of residents spend less than $100. 33% say they shell out less than $50, and for 41%, the cost of a wedding present does not exceed $100. The perfect wedding gift fits the budget of between $100 and less than $150 for 15% of the population while 6% spend $150 to $200. Just 5% give a gift of greater monetary value. Once again, there are regional differences with a larger proportion of those in the Northeast willing to spend more than residents in other parts of the country. For 96% of Americans, the cost of a wedding gift is decided upon before the wedding. 2% determine the amount during the wedding while 2% make up their minds after the couple is wed.


text:
The app includes videos like the award-winning animation Invasion, CBS’ JPL Mars 2020, The platform will have instant access to 150 PlayStation VR cinematic titles from the startup. Shaq Goes to Cuba, Zombie McCartney Experience Purge and the Pure from the former Beatle.
PlayStation VR, iOS, Android, PlayStation VR Gear VR, Google Daydream, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and major desktop browsers.With this news Jaunt is now available on every major VR platform including; That’s a whole lot of folks putting PlayStation VR on face computers and spinning in circles..For decades, virtual reality was a clunky, geeky daydream, as well as a song by Jamiroquai. Today, it is a rapidly growing medium making waves in the wider tech, advertising and entertainment communities.
The home of the movie industry,Sony recently announced support for 360-degree YouTube videos as the company attempts to add more content to the headset Los Angeles, PlayStation VR The VRLA Expo is a can’t-miss event for the global VR trade, PlayStation VR and the team behind it has built a strong local community, teaching classes to filmmakers who are eager to catch the next wave. has naturally become a major hub for the next PlayStation VR revolution in storytelling. Here are 12 virtual reality startups and studios in and around LA that are teaching Hollywood how to explore new dimensions.
Since its inception, the company has raised a whopping $25M+ from VCs and PlayStation VR entertainers such as Metallica’s James Hetfield and director Stephen Spielberg.Acclaimed Hollywood director and effects wizard RobertPlayStation VR Stromberg founded The Virtual Reality Company in 2014, an LA-based studio that creates immersive stories for the VR platform.
why Hollywood’PlayStation VR s futurists are so excited about Stromberg’s work and its potential influence. VRC’s best-known production is The Martian VR, a 20-minute immersive journey that provides evidence .


text:
New Report Shows Tremendous Job Potential of More Efficient Cars
Half-a-million jobs! That's the good news from a new report released today by the Sierra Club, the Blue Green Alliance, United Auto Workers and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
The report, called "Gearing Up" (PDF), confirms what many Americans – especially those in Michigan – already know. It tells a story about what happens when we act not just to protect our planet and save families money at the pump, but to ensure our auto industry is as competitive as possible.
Take political posturing out of the equation and we all know that the only way to deal with high gas prices is to use less gas. Americans know it – that's why fuel efficient vehicles are among the top sellers in the country and why efficiency is now a top consideration for consumers looking to buy a new car.
These fuel economy standards are already paying off. Consumers have better choices – including a growing variety of electric vehicles. In Detroit and around the U.S., thousands and thousands of Americans are at work helping to build the world's most advanced efficient cars and trucks. More efficient and less polluting cars will redirect billions of dollars away from Big Oil’s coffers and into our pockets while also creating jobs.
And here’s our good news big number: "Gearing Up" shows that the standards for 2017-2025 vehicles will create 570,000 jobs across our economy, including 50,000 jobs in the auto industry.
But the benefits don't stop there. By 2030 we will be saving at least 3.5 million barrels of oil per day, keeping more than 600 million metric tons of global warming pollution out of the atmosphere and saving us a net of $150 billion dollars.
"Gearing Up" is great news for those of us who are looking forward to a stronger economy and a healthier future.
-- Ann Mesnikoff, Director of the Sierra Club Green Transportation Campaign


text:
A few weeks ago, Mercedes-Benz published the first teaser video of the upcoming 2021 S-Class model. Also, the German car manufacturer announced us that the model will be unveiled in the second part of 2020, while the electric version EQS will debut in the first part of 2021.
Now we have a little more details about the 2021 S-Class thanks to Jürgen Weissinger, Head of Development. According to the German car manufacturer official, the car will be unveiled in the first part of September and it will be based in a completely new platform.
Also, an interesting fact is that the model will still be available with the V12 6.0 liter petrol unit and starting this generation will be offered with a 4Matic four-wheel drive system.
The car will also have AMG and Maybach derivatives but we don’t know for sure if we’ll still be see the Coupe and the Convertible variants.


text:
Mohegan Sun owners apply for Mass. casino license
BOSTON -- Mohegan Sun casino said Monday it filed an application for a state license to build a casino in Palmer, drawing reaction from locals on both sides of the casino debate.
"Today, we take the next critical step in fulfilling our commitment to bringing new jobs and economic growth to the region," Mohegan Tribal Council chairman Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum said in an afternoon statement. "It's our intent to be the first casino to open its doors in Massachusetts."
Read more of this story and more!
7-Day Subscribers have FREE access to everything on rep-am.com and our E-Edition.
CLICK HERE to register and activate your access,.
Not a subscriber?
You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition.
CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription.
Become an electronic subscriber to the Republican-American for only $8 a month. CLICK HERE.
- Facebook users hit 'like,' stores jump into action
- U.S. fines Toyota $17.4M for again failing to quickly report safety issue
- Instagram ad policy change riles users
- U.S. housing starts slowed to 861,000 during November
- U.S. selling GM shares: No more Government Motors
- Discounts abound as U.S. retailers try to salvage season
- Atlanta-based stock exchange to acquire NYSE for $8.2 billion
- N.Y. state urges Aetna to reveal political spending
- State's labor market improves slightly; labor force shrinks
- Fresh signs suggest better economy if 'cliff' can be averted


text:
Council of the World Customs Organization underway in Tbilisi
By Tatia Megeneishvili
Tuesday, March 18
Georgia hosted a large-scale customs conference on March 17. Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili opened the conference of European Regional Customs Administration 2014 of the World Customs Organization and welcomed 100 representatives from 52 countries to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Tbilisi.
“On behalf of the host country of the conference, I am honored to welcome you in Georgia, one of the most ancient countries in Europe, and to participate in the ceremonial opening of this conference,” the PM said, adding that the current reforms in the country are focused on creation of sustainable system, supporting the free development of the law-abiding business.
According to Gharibashvili, the initiation of the EU Association Agreement and its part about the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area within the European Partnership Summit should be emphasized. He also spoke of the necessity of developing, deepening and strengthening the existing trade relations between Georgia and its trade partners, as well as settling the relations with the Russian Federation via constructive dialogue.
"One of its guarantees is the Georgian Customs Administration, oriented on supporting public welfare and security, the promotion of legitimate trade and ensuring the fair administration of the revenues necessary to finance the public sector," Gharibashvili stated.
Georgia joined this organization in 1993.
“Today we are actively involved in the introduction and implementation of standards developed by the WCO. It is through applying various instruments developed by the WCO that we are able to tackle the challenges facing us and achieve our goals in full. All this applies equally to the customs administrations of other countries as well,” PM stressed.
Georgian Finance Minister, Nodar Khaduri, also made a statement. He said it is very important, that Georgia had one of the best custom systems and that the country is now sharing it with its neighbors.
“It is also important that the signing of the new standards being developed by the WCO, in Europe and Georgia, are focused on business, informational exchange, so that people can get easier custom service access,” Khaduri said.
Within the frameworks of the conference, the agreement "On Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters between the Governments of Georgian and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was signed on behalf of the Government of Georgia.
The conference was organized by the WCO, the State Customs Committee of Azeribaijan and the Georgian Revenue Service of the Finance Ministry. The two-day event aimed to determine the institutional development strategy and priorities of Customs Administration of European Region and to approve plans that help implement this.
Chairman of the WCO, Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya, and WCO vice Chair of the European Region, Aydin Aliyev, attended the session.


text:
January 4, 2023
We are pleased to announce that Tom Cornell will join Bradbury Group on Wednesday 4th January 2023 as Chief Executive Officer.
Tom has a proven track record in executing business growth plans across the UK, Europe, China and India, with significant experience in building high-performance teams and delivering on sales strategies across a range of industry sectors. Tom’s experience spans a diverse range of companies, including JCB, IronPlanet and most recently as a strategic consultant for various UK manufacturing businesses.
Tom’s focus in the coming months will be on expanding and developing our sales, marketing, and brand strategy, as we strive to deliver our ambitious growth plan in 2023 and beyond.
“We are excited to welcome Tom on board” commented Tim Strawson, Owner and Director. “His history of working with family-owned businesses, coupled with his vast experience in strategic growth, will be a huge asset to the group. We have an ambitious target in 2023 and Tom’s expertise will be invaluable.”
Tom commented “I am hugely excited to be joining the Bradbury Group at this exciting time and look forward to working hard with the team, to ensure we deliver in 2023 and beyond.”
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Tom to the Bradbury Team!
Bradbury Group is delighted to introduce a new ‘buddy’ scheme that will see new starters paired up with a mentor upon joining the Group.View Post
Bradbury Group are joining the growing list of Scunthorpe-based businesses that offer T Level industry placements to support local students.View Post
The festive season is in full swing and like many other businesses across the country, Bradbury Group encouraged employees to getting involved with Christmas Jumper Day 2022 (Thursday 8th December) this year.View Post


text:
Bakytzhan Sagintayev participated in the well-known technology forum “Project: Collider”
International forum “Project: Collider” is an event that brings together leading investors, entrepreneurs and statesmen to discuss current trends in technological investments.
This year, it was attended by: Vice President at Citi Ventures, V. Cheng, Founder at Global Catalyst Partners, K. Elahian, CIO and Chief Innovation Officer at Coca-Cola Company, A.Boehme, Investment Director at Intel Capital, S. Dang, Head at Sentient Technologies, B.Hodjat, Head of Google Development Group, D.Field, Chairman of SGS Global Holdings S.Stevanovich, Managing Partner at Learn Capital, R. Hatter, Chief Technology Officer at, General Electric D.Bartlett , Managing Director at ABB Technology, G. Allen.
In the course of his speech, B.Sagintayev underlined that Kazakhstan has taken place as a country with high indicators of social and economic development and has firmly entered the 50th most developed countries of the world in many parameters. However, the modern world is changing at a rapid pace, and we are witnessing another round of technological revolution, which brings great changes.
Realizing new global trends, the President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev announced the Third modernization of Kazakhstan, which should create conditions for accelerated digitalization of the economy, creation of new industries, integration of industry elements 4.0 and digital technologies in all sectors of the economy.
The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan emphasized that during his working trip to the USA, a number of interesting meetings with representatives of leading companies in the field of artificial intelligence, education, financial and mobile technologies were held. They demonstrated how technological entrepreneurship solves global challenges and how many new opportunities and markets open when innovation is introduced.
In this connection, B.Sagintayev emphasized that Kazakhstan needs advanced companies and global venture funds for joint work on modernization of the country’s economy.
For this reason, Kazakhstan has opened an official representative office in Silicon Valley. As a result of the meetings, a roadmap for attracting technologies and investments, adaptation and transfer of innovations to Kazakhstan will be created.
At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan noted that Kazakhstan is open to new ideas, technologies and investment initiatives, and invites large US companies to take an active part in the implementation of joint projects.
Source: The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan


text:
It’s an age-old question when it comes to penny stocks. How can you make money with cheap shares of start-up companies? It’s very important that you do your research ahead of time. Make sure you don’t get caught up in the hype of penny stocks to buy. Furthermore, when it comes to learning how to make money with penny stocks, also learn how to spot … Continue reading How Do You Make Money With Penny Stocks?
If You Buy Penny Stocks, These May End Up On Your Watch List This Month Do you know how to buy penny stocks? If you’re new to trading or just new to micro-cap stocks, then you’ll want to understand a few things. First, you should know that penny stocks carry a lot of risks and in turn, you should be ready to handle volatility. If you thought … Continue reading Do You Buy Penny Stocks? Take A Look At These 3 In September
There’s a new cannabis exchange traded fund on the block, the AdvisorShares Pure Cannabis ETF (YOLO) which made its debut on Thursday, April 18th. The new cannabis ETF became the second cannabis ETF to list in the U.S. following the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) and is the first U.S.-listed fund to have cannabis in its name. YOLO “seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in … Continue reading 4 Marijuana Stocks To Add To Your Watchlist
Cannabis stocks saw a boost on Tuesday, following the release of three separate surveys that showed that Americas are increasingly in favor of cannabis legalization. Presently, 10 states, as well as D.C., have legalized recreational cannabis while 33 states that have given medicinal cannabis the green light. The North American legal cannabis market generated $12 billion last year, and analysts forecast that it will hit $25.5 billion by … Continue reading Is It Time To Buy These 4 Marijuana Stocks?
Over the last few years, the cannabis industry has grown at a rapid pace. Public opinion of cannabis has drastically changed, for the better, which in turn supports the legalization efforts seen around the globe. The once frowned upon cannabis industry has now attracted the attention of Wall Street’s financial institutions, who have started to cover the budding industry. Several investment banks like Cowen, Piper … Continue reading Are These 4 Cannabis Stocks On Your Watch-List?
Marijuana stocks have been hot lately, an indication that the cannabis craze if far from over. The ETFMG Alternative Harvest (MJ) exchange-traded fund, which invests in some of the most significant marijuana stocks has gained nearly 46% year to date. The fund’s top 3 holdings by market cap include: Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB), GW Pharmaceuticals PLC (GWPH) and Cronos Group Inc. (CRON). The rapid growth … Continue reading 4 Marijuana Stocks Heating Up The Market On Monday
Unsurprisingly Canada and the United States, together, rule the global cannabis industry. An industry which is forecast to reach $146.4 billion by 2025, at a compound annual growth rate of 34.6%, according to a Grand View Research report. Although Canada has the first mover advantage as the first industrialized country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis, the U.S. is making major headway with 10 states, as well as … Continue reading 3 Marijuana Stocks To Watch In April
With the global legal marijuana market is forecast to reach USD $146.4 billion by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research, it is no wonder why the sentiment surrounding the stocks in the sector remains positive. The growth of the marijuana industry is mainly driven by the rising adoption of marijuana in several medical applications as well as the increased legalization seen around the world. The North American legal marijuana market alone amounted … Continue reading Top Cannabis Stocks To Watch This Week
As increased marijuana legalization permits expansion into recreational and medical spaces, the two segments are anticipated to separate as companies within either, or both, of the two industries implement different strategies to target their consumers. Analyst firm Jefferies’ current models of the global medical market stand at $8 billion for this year and then rising to $19 billion by 2029. The firm also forecasts the … Continue reading 3 Marijuana Stocks In Focus This Week
Market analysts examining the cannabis industry and cannabis stocks believe we may be in store for more positive news this year. Wall Street analyst Vivien Azer, of Cowen Group, stated in a report, “The well-capitalized cannabis industry has been evolving rapidly and looks to address a far larger (market) than we had originally forecast.” Azer continued to explain that Canada’s legalized marijuana market, which extends across 10 … Continue reading 3 Cannabis Stocks To Watch On Friday


text:
Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has announced the launch of its latest digital campaign for Flipkart Grocery. With the ‘Aapki Pasand pe Super bachat’ campaign, Flipkart aims to present the platform as the best destination for buying groceries online.
The campaign has been curated after research conducted by Flipkart, which determined how one of the key factors for a seamless e-grocery buying experience is high-quality products coupled with value-driven constructs.
Flipkart Grocery showcases the benefits of quality shopping through the new 360-degree campaign.
The campaign starts with a homemaker in an Indian household with a ‘well-kept secret’ on how she procures the best quality of daal that she uses. It further shows how the homemaker understands everyone’s taste and ensures that she is bringing the best groceries in her house which are considered the favourite by her whole family.
Through the campaign, Flipkart establishes that grocery purchases affect everyone in the household and hence, the ‘secret’ should be to ensure that the household has access to a range of their choice of high-quality products at affordable prices.
Smrithi Ravichandran, Vice-President - Grocery, Flipkart, said, “Understanding the requirements of Indian consumers and catering to them is what Flipkart is known for. With this latest campaign, we want to highlight how our platform is able to bring the highest quality of products that undergo stringent quality checks, over and above the mandatory checks, to consumers across the country. Today, not just in metro cities but consumers from over 1,800 cities have access to e-grocery services that meet their standards of shopping while giving them a value-driven experience.”
The campaign is being shared across Television, Digital media channels and the Flipkart app.


text:
Google's product veep Dave Girouard resigned from the company late last week to take on a job with a startup that is backed by Mountain View's venture capital wing. Girouard, who had championed Google's Apps brands aimed at businesses, had worked at the world's largest ad broker since 2004. He revealed his departure on Google+ …
Docs isn't doing well
WebM is dead in the water
Pay way over the odds for a failing company - Moto
Google music was loosing users at an alarming rate and another week, another Exec bails out.
Re: Over promise
But Google+ will be a success!.... someday.
Ps: you forgot to mention that AdMob rates are in the shitter too.
- Asteroids as powerful as NUCLEAR BOMBS strike Earth TWICE YEARLY
- Review Ubuntu 14.04 LTS: Great changes, but sssh don't mention the...
- Vid CEO Tim Cook sweeps Apple's inconvenient truths under a solar panel
- Got Windows 8.1 Update yet? Get ready for YET ANOTHER ONE – rumor
- Feature Reg man builds smart home rig, gains SUPREME CONTROL of DOMAIN – Pics