text:
German software giant SAP AG announced it will acquire SeeWhy, a Boston-based e-commerce software company, last week for an undisclosed sum.
SeeWhy has 22 employees, with about half at its Boston headquarters on Milk Street and the other half in Windsor, England, according to SeeWhy founder Charles Nicholls. The SeeWhy team in Boston will move to the offices of Hybris, an SAP e-commerce company, on Farnsworth Street in the Seaport District, Nicholls said. The team in Windsor, outside London, will move to new offices in the U.K., Nicholls added.
SAP said it expects to complete the transaction by the end of June.
SeeWhy counts 190 large brands and 4,000 smaller businesses among its clients. Brands that use SeeWhy software include Staples, FTD and Crate and Barrel.
Founded in 2003, SeeWhy offers an abandonment tracking service, called Abandonment Tracker Free, which follows web analytics to find websites, online forms, applications and registrations that have been abandoned before completion, and helps clients see why that occurred so they can better convert customers. The company last year received a patent for its technology that can calculate in real-time the next best option for a customer.
"The tools from SeeWhy really complement what we're doing at SAP," said Brian Walker, chief strategy officer at Hybris.
The transaction is subject to regulatory and other closing conditions.


text:
Hudson appears to pride itself on completely revamping the list of events for each new Deca Sports game. And it apparently goes to great lengths to do that, as evidenced by the new DS installment.
An official site opened up for the game today in Japan, offering a full list of events. As with past entries, the game will offer 10 ways to pass the time. This time, the list reads like this: table tennis, skeet shooting, arm wrestling, cheerleading, golf, sky diving, sports climbing, bobsledding, sepak takraw, and rugby.
Definitely not your traditional sports! But they could be a lot of fun, especially considering that the game promises six player wireless play.
Japan will get the new DS version, under the name Deca Sporta DS de Sports 10 Shuumoku! in December. A US version (which will hopefully be just Deca Sports DS, so we can abbreviate it DSDS) has not yet been announced.

domain: news


text:
Office Depot exceeded its 2004 targets for environmental performance by 50 percent, the company reported yesterday.
Office Depot, Delray Beach, FL, also increased the usage of post-consumer recycled content in its Canadian advertising insert program to 75 percent last year. The Canadian advertising insert program has increased its use of post-consumer recycled content by 400 percent since 2003, the company said.
According to Office Depot, its environmental efforts saved 23,600 typical trees and 19 billion BTUs of energy, prevented 2,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, eliminated 925 tons of solid waste and prevented more than 4 million gallons of wastewater from being produced. Office Depot claims to be the first office products company to set annual environmental performance targets.
Scott Hovanyetz covers telemarketing, production and printing and direct response TV marketing for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters


text:
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Surges To More Than Two-Year High In January
(RTTNews) - Consumer sentiment in the U.S. has improved much more than anticipated in the month of January, according to preliminary data released by the University of Michigan on Friday.
The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index surged to 78.8 in January after jumping to 69.7 in December. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 70.0.
With the much bigger than expected increase, the consumer sentiment index reached its highest level since hitting 81.2 in July 2021.
"Consumer views were supported by confidence that inflation has turned a corner and strengthening income expectations," said Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu.
She added, "Over the last two months, sentiment has climbed a cumulative 29%, the largest two-month increase since 1991 as a recession ended."
The sharp increase by the headline index came as the current economic conditions index spiked to 83.3 in January from 73.3 in December, while index of consumer expectations shot up 75.9 in January from 67.4 in December.
The University of Michigan's report also showed continued decreases in both year-ahead and long-run inflation expectations.
Year-ahead inflation expectations slipped to 2.9 percent in January after plunging to 3.1 percent in December, hitting the lowest level since December 2020.
Long-run inflation expectations also edged down to 2.8 percent in January from 2.9 percent in December, falling just below the 2.9-3.1 percent range seen for 26 of the last 30 months.
RELATED EXCHANGE RATES


text:
Farmers are warning of a Christmas turkey shortage because visa changes to allow labour recruitment from abroad have come too late.
A poultry association said big producers have already scaled back because they assumed they would not have enough staff to process birds.
And turkey farmer Paul Kelly told the BBC the damage had already been done.
The government has announced a visa scheme to allow 5,500 poultry workers into the UK on three-month contracts.
As part of the changes, 5,000 HGV drivers will be allowed into the UK on similar contracts in an attempt to keep supermarket shelves stocked and petrol stations supplied with fuel.
Kate Martin, chairwoman of the Traditional Farm Fresh Turkey Association, said: “This year it’s looking like there is a national shortage of turkeys when we’re talking about supermarket shelves, rather than buying direct from your farm.
“It is the supermarket shelves that will be emptier of turkeys this year than they have been before, only because there have been less turkeys placed on the ground; only because the big processers know that they will not get them processed.”
She said some members of her association had already seen a rise in orders, with one reportedly seeing a 400% increase on last year.
Ms Martin said farms “are now missing a whole host of their workforce that they have been training and investing in over the last however many years. Those workers are no longer available for us to use on a seasonal basis – they will go find work in mainland Europe instead.”
Paul Kelly, who runs the KellyBronze farm, said the major producers were resigned to producing fewer birds for Christmas.
“The damage has already been done for the bigger processors because they have not put the turkeys on the farm,” he said.
Smaller producers, however, might be better prepared as they tended to recruit local labour rather than draft in large numbers of migrant staff, he added.
One supermarket group told the BBC it was far too early to speculate about Christmas stocks.
The British Poultry Council has estimated there are nearly 7,000 vacancies across the sector, leading some chicken producers to cut their output, and sparking shortages at restaurant chains Nando’s and KFC.
Mr Kelly said: “There are chickens being killed on farms at the moment. There are pigs being shot in fields, because there are not enough people there to do the jobs.”
A temporary visa scheme “is definitely not an answer” for the long term, he added.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the package of visa measures would help the food and haulage industries cope in the run-up to Christmas.
“After a very difficult 18 months, I know how important this Christmas is for all of us and that’s why we’re taking these steps at the earliest opportunity to ensure preparations remain on track.”
However, some business leaders said the measures did not go far enough, with the British Chambers of Commerce saying they were the equivalent of “throwing a thimble of water on a bonfire”.


text:
OR WAIT null SECS
The excipient supplier's cGMP practices have been certified as meeting EXCiPACT standards
This week, the first EXCiPACT Certificate in China was awarded to Boai NKY Pharmaceuticals Ltd., by Bureau Veritas Hong Kong. This certification demonstrates that Boai NKY Pharmaceuticals Limited’s site in Jiaozuo, Henan Province, China, manufactures pharmaceutical excipients according to the EXCiPACT Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification standard. This is the first Chinese site to receive EXCiPACT Certification, and is the twenty third global site to be certified to EXCiPACT so far.
EU and U.S. pharmaceutical regulations now require drug manufacturers to conduct either their own or commission third-party physical audits of all their starting material suppliers to demonstrate GMP and/or GDP compliance. Various organizations offer third-party certification services, which are designed to help excipient users and suppliers save the time and cost required for audits, and assure quality. New EU guidelines require auditing be done by March 21, 2016. Currently, industry observers have pointed out, many companies have not yet done this.


text:
NEW MILFORD -- As one indoor sports complex closes its doors in town, another is trying to open in the same Still River Drive area.
Connecticut Sport Complex on Lanesville Road is shutting its doors. Owner Karl Noivadhana sent an email last week telling his "loyal customers and friends ... I am not generating enough revenue to keep it going." Noivadhana thanked everyone for their support over the nearly seven years he has had the business.


text:
Shares of IVP hit 10 per cent upper circuit band for a third straight day, touching an over three-year high of Rs 201.85 the BSE in Friday’s intra-day trade. It was quoting at its highest level since August 2018.
In the past six trading days, the stock of the commodity chemicals’ company has zoomed 70 per cent after it reported 47 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 6.38 crore. Revenue from operations jumped 74 per cent YoY at Rs 156.96 crore.
For the first nine months (April-December) of financial year 2021-22 (9MFY22), the company’s PAT zoomed to Rs 10.58 crore from Rs 0.72 crore in 9MFY21. It had reported PAT of Rs 4.50 crore in entire previous financial year FY21. Revenue from operations also more-than-doubled at Rs 383 crore in 9MFY22 from Rs 172 crore in 9MFY21.
IVP is engaged in chemical manufacturing business. The company has manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra and Karnataka and sells primarily in India. The Polyurethane (PU) division was started in 2017 and manufactures polyurethane chemicals for shoe soles and polyurethane adhesives for the flexible film packaging industry.
The company has successfully established many new products in the new business division of polyurethane adhesives for flexible laminated films. With this diversification into an ‘Essential’ sector, the company is now looking to further accelerated growth while reducing dependency on the existing foundry and footwear divisions. The new government initiatives like export and production incentive schemes are helping the demand growth.
India is the second largest producer of footwear and castings in the world after China. Casting production is heavily dependent on the automotive and farm sectors and both witnessed strong growth in the second half of the financial year under review, IVP said in FY21 annual report.
The longer lead time of imports and volatility in the local market gave opportunities to local suppliers to take a higher share of the market, with IVP also benefiting from increased market share in footwear chemicals during the financial year under review, the company said.
At 11:00 am, the stock of IVP was 4 per cent higher at Rs 191.50, as compared to 0.05 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined around 882,000 equity shares changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE till the time of writing of this report.


text:
Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and Amazon Web Services today announced new initiatives to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in India.
This will be done by empowering school students with cloud computing skills, and enabling entrepreneurs to build innovative education technology solutions on the cloud.
A Statement of Intent was signed between NITI Aayog and Amazon Internet Services Private Limited, which undertakes the resale and marketing of Amazon Web Services Cloud services in India.
Atal Innovation Mission will leverage Amazon Web Services Educate, which is Amazon’s global program that provides resources for students and educators to accelerate cloud-related learning.
This program will introduce the fundamentals of cloud computing such as cloud storage, virtual compute power, web hosting, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and virtual reality, to students at more than 7000 Atal Tinkering Labs.
It will equip the talented youth of the country with digital and web-based tools that can enhance their creative and innovative capabilities.
Support Ethical Journalism. Support The Dispatch
The Dispatch is a sincere effort in ethical journalism. Truth, Accuracy, Independence, Fairness, Impartiality, Humanity and Accountability are key elements of our editorial policy. But we are still not able to generate great stories, because we don’t have adequate resources. As more and more media falls into corporate and political control, informed citizens across the world are funding independent journalism initiatives. Here is your chance to support your local media startup and help independent journalism survive. Click the link below to make a payment of your choice and be a stakeholder in public spirited journalism


text:
Three of the Balkan states to emerge from the ashes of Yugoslavia a generation ago are now among the first countries in the ex-communist world to move toward embracing medical marijuana.
Australian firm MGC Pharmaceuticals just announced a deal to distribute its cannabis-derived products in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia. MGC is partnering with the Slovenian supplier Mikro+Polo to market its phytocannabinoid-derived Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in the three countries, according to Australia’s Business News.
Perth-based MGC was established three years ago by veterans of the Israeli medical marijuana industry. Late last year, it harvested its first test crop of cannabis in Slovenia and has established a facility in the country’s capital, Ljubljana, where it is isolating cannabidiol (CBD) for use in its products, including a CBD-infused skincare ointment.
MGC’s share price shot up 20 percent after the announcement of the Balkan deal, Australia’s Motley Fool business blog reported.
Last October, Croatia become the first Balkan country to allow patients to legally purchase and use cannabis products to treat serious illnesses—although so far, none are available for doctors to prescribe, according to BalkanInsight.
Regulations issued by the country’s Health Ministry permit each patient to receive up to 0.75 grams of THC per month—presumably in either herbaceous or extract form. However, the law does not allow for cultivation.
Neither Slovenia, nor Bosnia, have taken this step, despite growing pressure, but products derived from MGC’s CBD-heavy strains are now being allowed. And the Slovenian parliament is actually considering an initiative to have cannabis removed from the Schedule I list.


text:
Shares of Astronics Corp. soared 18 percent Thursday after the East Aurora-based electronics company said fourth-quarter profits nearly tripled and full-year profits doubled amid a surge in sales.
Astronics, which makes advanced technology for the aerospace, defense, consumer electronics and semiconductor industries, said its profits jumped to $18.4 million, or 81 cents per share, almost triple the $6.4 million, or 29 cents per share, it earned a year ago. That easily beat Wall Street consensus estimates of 61 cents per share.
Total sales rose 58 percent to $166.1 million.
For the full year, the company said profits more than doubled to $56.2 million, or a record $2.48 cents per share, from $27.3 million, or $1.24 per share, in 2013. Sales leaped 95 percent to $661 million.
“It was obviously a watershed year for the company. It was a lot of things going right in the right direction,” Astronics CEO Peter J. Gundermann said during a conference call Thursday. “We feel that we’ve established great momentum closing out 2014. We’re going to carry that into 2015 and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Investors rewarded the company mightily. At midday Thursday, Astronics shares were up 18 percent to $67.94 per share – a record high for the company, whose stock has never before crossed the $60 threshold.
Astronics said it expects sales this year to grow by about 7 percent to between $680 million and $740 million in 2015, including its purchase in January of Armstrong Aerospace. About $550 million to $580 million will come from aerospace, while the rest is from test systems. As of yearend 2014, it had a backlog of $370.7 million, and expected $321.8 million of that to ship in 2015.
During the fourth quarter, the company benefited from higher sales virtually across the board in its aerospace business, including both commercial transport and business jet markets, which rose 36 percent and 35 percent, respectively, while military sales fell 29 percent. But the big gain came from its Test Systems division, which was transformed by a major acquisition last February and generated $35 million in both commercial electronics and military sales in the fourth quarter.
In all, the $60.6 million sales increase in the fourth quarter included $43.7 million in gains from acquired businesses and $16.9 million in “organic” sales growth from the company’s existing business lines.
Astronics’ sales of aerospace products rose 25 percent to $128.6 million, including 17 percent growth in organic sales, while Test System sales soared more than 12-fold to $37.5 million. Avionics equipment sales more than tripled to $17.3 million, while electrical power and motion sales rose 21 percent to $66 million. Lighting and safety sales rose 4 percent to $36.5 million.
For all of 2014, the $321.1 million increase in sales included $270.4 million from acquisitions and $50.7 million in organic growth, up 14.9 percent. By division, aerospace sales rose by half to $494.7 million, while test systems leaped more than 16-fold to $166.3 million.


text:
AMSTERDAM -(MarketWatch)- Dutch package company TNT Express NV (TNTE.AE) Wednesday said it swung to a first quarter net profit due to lower write-downs and indicated that the timetable for completion of the proposed takeover offer from United Parcel Service Inc.
- Reported revenues EUR1.819 billion, up 1.3% compared to EUR1.796 billion a year ago
- Net profit for the first quarter was EUR16 million, compared to a EUR106 million net loss in the first quarter of 2011
- Operating income for the first quarter rose to EUR37 million, from an operating loss of EUR79 million a year ago
- Depreciation, amortisation and impairments decreased to EUR48 million, from EUR175 million
- Timetable for completion of proposed UPS offer proceeding as previously indicated
- Indirect cost savings programme launched in May 2011 on track
- Timing of implementation of certain long-term projects that are part of 2012-2013 fixed-cost savings programme temporarily adjusted in light of the proposed UPS offer


text:
As sustainability is increasingly important to growing numbers of consumers, fabric manufacturers are broadening their eco-friendly offerings, giving specialty fabricators plenty of green options.
As a famous frog once lamented, it’s not easy being green. The same can be said for companies wanting to “green” up their product offerings and manufacturing processes, since doing so typically requires no small amount of inventiveness and investment. And yet, more fabric manufacturers are doing exactly that, developing earth-friendly products intended to target sustainability-focused markets that grow ever more populous and diverse. Some of this innovation is driven by the need to stay competitive. But perhaps an equal if not stronger motivator is that for many fabric manufacturers, becoming as eco-friendly as possible just seems the right thing to do.
Consider Higher Dimension Materials Inc. (HDM). The company, headquartered in Oakdale, Minn., has developed more than 70 different versions of its SuperFabric® product. Essentially, this consists of imprinting tiny, epoxy resin armor-like plates in specific arrangements on a substrate fabric. The results—depending on the shape of the plates and their placement—are products that are extremely resistant to wear, abrasion, cuts, water and body fluids, as well as to stains and even needle punctures, says Richard Olmstead, Ph.D., HDM’s chief technology officer.
At the same time, because of the fabric substrate, SuperFabric remains flexible, conferring a versatility enabling it to be used by a variety of industries, ranging from automotive (the fabric was featured in an article introducing the Navara, the new Nissan concept car) to high fashion (models hit the runway wearing shoes made from SuperFabric) to the outdoor market (sports apparel, boots and shoes) to personal protection (cut-resistant gloves, arm guards and aprons, for example).
HDM obtains the base fabric (typically polyester, cotton, etc.) from a variety of vendors, many of whom are bluesign® and REACH certified, says Olmstead. The bluesign system seeks to make textile production more sustainable; REACH— which stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals—is intended to better manage the risk of chemicals to humans and the environment. The resin plates are also chemically inert and won’t contaminate water once they enter the waste stream.
“SuperFabric lasts longer than traditional fabric, so apparel made from it lasts much longer,” says Olmstead. “Over time, less total material ends up in the waste stream. The stain-resistant qualities mean it requires less laundering, so less pollution results from the laundering process.”
HDM is introducing new forms of SuperFabric containing an antimicrobial agent that Olmstead expects will open up new applications, such as furniture upholstery for hospitals, nursing homes and clinics, where infections are a serious concern. The fabric incorporates silver zeolite compounds as the agent, rather than triclosan, implicated in the development of “superbugs” and recently banned by the government.
Olmstead says HDM’s primary purpose was providing a product with all of the aforementioned qualities while incorporating as many eco-friendly aspects into it as possible. “We not only strongly believe in the importance of offering eco-friendly products to our end users, but also understand the impact this has on our community and global citizens,” he adds.
Unifi Inc., headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., has taken steps to deal with the impact that discarded plastic bottles have on the environment. A diversified producer and processor of multifilament polyester and nylon textured yarns and related raw materials, Unifi also produces the REPREVE® brand, made of recycled materials like plastic bottles. So far, Unifi has transformed more than four billion post-consumer PET1 (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles into REPREVE fiber, says Jay Hertwig, vice president of global brand sales, marketing and product development.
“The majority of REPREVE yarn is comprised of 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, but Unifi also produces REPREVE made from different combinations of recycled plastic bottles and manufacturing waste—pieces of fiber from polyester, nylon and traditional REPREVE—that break off during the manufacturing process,” says Hertwig.
With benefits like stretch, breathability, moisture absorption, wicking, durability and more, the REPREVE fiber—either on its own or in combination with other Unifi fabric brands or branded technologies—is used in apparel, hosiery and automotive products, and in some industrial applications. Leading brands utilizing the REPREVE yarn or yarn combinations include Patagonia, The North Face, Haggar, Volcom, Pottery Barn and Ford.
Spinnova Ltd., located in Vaajakoski, Finland, is a high-tech R&D company that works closely with the textile industry. Spinnova began operations in 2015, says Janne Poranen, CEO.
“So far, we’ve scaled our technology into small, pilot-scale production,” he says. “First potential end products are ready for upscaling. During the next 24 months, we’re scaling our production to small industrial scale. The main target of the next phase is showing that Spinnova yarns can be produced globally in industrial scale.”
The yarns Poranen is referencing are made directly from wood fiber (pulp) with no dissolution process, meaning that it’s not necessary to disintegrate the pulp fiber into polymers and then regenerate them back into filaments. Instead, thanks to Spinnova’s innovative technology, the pulp is sent through a specially designed wet spinning nozzle, which perfectly aligns the fibers with the flow, giving the yarn a good strength enhanced (as is stretch) through further twisting.
“The yarns are washable, fire retardant (without any chemicals) and antimicrobial,” Poranen says. “They can be made conductive and are naturally biodegradable. Yarn strength and stretch are comparable to cotton yarn. It can be produced in many different yarn counts, starting from 5 DTex staple fiber to thick 50 Tex monofilament-type yarns. And in production, Spinnova yarn can be mixed with any existing yarns to produce mixed fabrics.”
The objective is pointing the textile industry in a more sustainable direction, says Poranen, mentioning that Spinnova yarn production requires 99 percent less water, 80 percent less energy and 50 percent less land than does cotton production.
“Spinnova has calculated that just Finnish sustainable annual forest yield is enough to replace the entire global cotton production,” he says. “And, instead of virgin wood fibers, it’s also entirely possible to use other fiber sources, like recycled or plant-based fibers.”
OLD TO NEW
Manufacturers are also exploring ways to put used fabrics to work rather than leaving them to loll about in landfills. Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, headquartered in Burlington, N.C., has been selling fabric for awnings since 1908, says Vince Hankins, industrial business manager for the company. In 1961, Glen Raven created the performance fabric category with the launching of Sunbrella®, used in numerous markets including upholstery, marine, contractandcommercial. Sunbrella products are popular because of their ability to withstand harsh conditions, like prolonged, direct sunlight and exposure to salt water while still maintaining appearance and high performance, says Hankins.
Included in the company’s Sunbrella offerings is the eco-friendly Renaissance collection that combines post-industrial and virgin fibers. There are several products within this collection: Heritage, an upholstery fabric; a line of rugs available through Colonial Mills Inc., and Unity, the company’s first Renaissance shade fabric.
“Because of the recycled content (50 percent post-industrial recycled Sunbrella fiber combined with virgin Sunbrella fiber), Unity fabrics have a vintage canvas look that is subtly textural and feels very substantial,” says Hankins. “As with all Sunbrella-branded products, Unity fabrics are GREENGUARD Children
and Schools certified as contributing to indoor air quality.”
Unity shade fabrics can be used for a variety of residential and commercial applications, including retractable and fixed awnings, umbrellas and other shade structures.
Serge Ferrari North America—a manufacturer of flexible composite membranes used globally by the marine, architectural, solar protection, building facade and furniture markets (among others)—is also focused on sustainability, energy control and the protection and renewal of natural resources. In 1996, the company began exploring how to recycle its materials intended for the print industry, says Elfriede Lynch-Willson, marketing and communications manager for the Pompano Beach, Fla., company.
“We saw this as an important step for this industry and for our commitment to be eco-friendly, where our materials are frequently used briefly for an event and then discarded,” she explains. “At the time, no one was recycling polyester/PVCs on a large scale, so Serge Ferrari began researching and developing its own technology.”
Devising the technology that would separate the components of flexible composite material into new, usable raw materials wasn’t easy, she says. But working in conjunction with another company, Solvay S.A., Serge Ferrari developed the process, dubbed Texyloop®, enabling it to open the Texyloop recycling plant in 2008 in Ferrara, Italy. The plant has a recycling capacity of four million square meters annually.
The process results in raw materials that are as good as the originals, affording 100 percent reuse of the recycled materials, says Lynch-Willson.
“To date, 9,646,000 square meters of cutoffs and end-of-life fabrics have been collected,” she says. “The raw materials from Texyloop are finding new purpose in items like membranes for water retention ponds, extruded rods for keders and nonwoven materials such as insulation. And in 2012, a fabric made with recycled polyester fibers was developed.”
Lynch-Willson says demand for Texyloop is strong in the print and tent markets, where there’s growing interest in recycling. “We sell them on the performance characteristics—strength, durability, hangs flat, etc.—then once they’re on board, we share with them the Texyloop process,” she says. “They don’t always know they want a recyclable product before we talk, but afterwards, it makes an impression.”
Architects and designers represent another opportunity. They’re usually interested in recycling, says Lynch- Willson, especially since many of their clients—such as those in hospitality or large corporations—have sustainability programs. “This gives them an additional selling point,” she explains.
Hertwig says that Unifi has been excited to discover that, increasingly, consumers expect businesses to be more environmentally conscious. “They’re demandinggreatertransparencywiththeir recycled products,” he says. “This has been a major driver for Unifi and will continue to be as the industry adapts to and drives sustainability trends.”
Account managers for SuperFabric report a “consistent increase in requests for eco-friendly fabrics,” says Jun Lee, vice president, marketing strategy and business development for HDM. Previously, the bulk of the interest came from their European clients, but now, they’re seeing more U.S. clients requesting green products, particularly the automotive, sports apparel and workwear sectors. She anticipates the interest in eco-friendly products continuing to grow globally, “making these materials a necessity.”
Hankins says the same, reporting that demand for their Unity shade products is on the upswing, mostly for commercial applications.
“I think the fact that almost every producer speaks to some environmentally friendly trait in their offerings indicates that an eco-friendly component is important,” he says. “And as awareness continues to grow and as the aesthetic appeal and performance of these products continues to elevate, they’ll become a bigger piece of everyone’s portfolio. If not, you’ll be left behind.”
Pamela Mills-Senn is a freelance writer based in Long Beach, Cali.
Since 2009, REPREVE has transformed more than 4 billion plastic bottles to make recycled fibers.
A BOTTLE-TO-FIBER PROCESS
Since 2009, REPREVE has transformed more than 4 billion plastic bottles to make recycled fibers.
Recycled plastic bottles are picked up curbside and taken to a materials recycling facility, where they’re baled and sent to the REPREVE Bottle Processing Center.
They’re cleaned, sorted, chopped into flakes and taken to the REPREVE Recycling Center for further cleaning. Then they’re melted and reformulated into chips.
The chips are melted and extruded into yarn, then sold to companies who knit or weave the yarn into fabrics.
BOTTLES BY THE NUMBERS
- 6 RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES MAKE A SHIRT
- 50 RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES MAKE A FLEECE JACKET
- FEWER THAN 32 PERCENT OF PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE RECYCLED IN THE U.S.
Custom Marine Canvas, Noank, Conn., designs and builds dodgers, biminis and enclosures for sail and powerboats. The company also sells new sails and cleans, repairs and stores existing ones. They also design and manufacture full interiors, says owner Katie Bradford. Consequently, leftover canvas and other related materials is a business reality. But these don’t go to waste. Instead, some of her employees have created side businesses by turning these scraps, sample books, vinyl and sail hardware into duffle bags, totes, wine bags and tablet covers, primarily constructing these off-site in their own workrooms, although some are sewn onsite. The company doesn’t make any money from the bags; the biggest benefit is that the fabrics don’t get discarded.
Bags are also important to National Webbing Products, a manufacturer of narrow fabrics, located in Plainview, Long Island, N.Y. The company provides eco-friendly woven webbings in organic cotton, bamboo or recycled polyester to bag (and belt) manufacturers, as well as to pet leash and collar companies. Their primary business is private label, says Kathy Flynn, marketing manager.
“With our in-house design team, we work with our customers to develop the latest in new weaves, colors and finished styles,” says Flynn. “We’ve been offering eco-friendly webbing for almost 10 years. These items have helped to increase our sales in the natural products market.”


text:
California-based grocery store giant Safeway is converting 23 of its stores to run on solar power.
This story on Environment News Service covers the opening of one such store in Dublin, California:
California Congressman Jerry McNerney joined Safeway officials on a tour of the Dublin store’s rooftop solar panel array. The unit is currently generating electricity to power the 55,000-square-foot retail facility.
“I applaud Safeway for its commitment to sustainability and for being an environmental leader among California-based companies,” said Congressman McNerney. “Their Dublin solar project stands as a model for other companies to invest in the same renewable energy technology in California and elsewhere.”
The entire Dublin Safeway facility utilizes renewable energy. The store’s on-site retail fuel station already is powered by wind energy.
In fact, two years ago, all of Safeway’s fueling stations made the move to wind power.
The solar power project at the Dublin store is the carbon equivilant of taking 50 cars off the road.


text:
As appeared on Forbes.com on April 7, 2017.
I cover the business of beer and alcohol, mixed with a little politics
Houston, 2012 — Saint Arnold brewery shows off one of its cars in the Houston Art Car Parade.
If you casually follow beer news, you know craft has finally burst through into the mainstream, completely disrupting the suds industry with double-digit growth in sales every year from 2006 to 2015. But if you pay closer attention, you may have read about Nielsen’s just-released report that finds U.S. off-premises dollar sales growth of craft slowed to just 2.9% last year from 14% just one year prior, and you’ve probably also heard that people who make their living selling craft beer are heading toward full panic mode.
Craft beer personnel view 2017 and 2018 as make-or-break years for many breweries, with the best hope for the industry emerging from new markets, AKA non-craft drinkers. While they agonize over where to most quickly pluck new customers, their current buyers are showing up at beer fests and conferences asking why the community still lacks diversity.
Perhaps considering these queries a little tone deaf given the timing, respondents often reply that though almost everyone in the craft community would love to see more black and brown faces (not to mention women), pressing economic issues take priority over identity advertising. But by viewing these as two separate matters, they’re overlooking a massive opportunity: the Millennial Latino market.
“There’s no reason why craft shouldn’t do extraordinarily well with this consumer,” says Gerry Loredo, director of business analytics for Lopez Negrete Communications, a Houston-based Hispanic marketing firm that has compiled stats on this segment of the market. “If craft beer could give them a nod their numbers could blow up.”
According to Lopez Negrete, Latinos account for 14% of Millennials who drink craft beer, and Millennials in general buy more than a third of craft beer sold. But here’s the number that really matters: 54%. Just over half of Millennials of Hispanic origin say they’d try craft if they knew more about it.
“Craft has a real opportunity,” says agency owner Alex Lopez Negrete.
April 6, 2017 — The Lopez Negrete agency graphically compiled statistics about Hispanic craft beer drinkers.
Half of Hispanics in the U.S. call themselves beer drinkers, which places them slightly above non-Hispanics, and their preference for premium and super premium domestics and imports (from Europe along with Mexico) indicate they favor the types of strong, bold flavors prized in craft brewing. If you need proof, Nielsen reported Wednesday that while U.S. beer sales remained relatively flat last year, the premium/import category continued to boom, which observers attribute in large part to Hispanic drinkers in the U.S. Constellation Brands, which owns Corona, Modelo, and Pacifico, among others, reported in its earnings filing Wednesday that its net beer sales increased 13% last fiscal year, with Corona as its leading brand and Modelo Especial the country’s fastest growing beer.
Additionally, while studies show that Hispanic Millennials embrace their native cultures as points of pride and differentiation within America’s ethnic stew, they also identify with the same anti-corporate, pro-local ethos embodied by their Yankee-born peers and characteristic of the craft industry. But they don’t always make their proclivities public.
“In a Hispanic household you have your front-of-the-fridge beer. That’s your safe beer, like Miller Lite, Coors Light or the Tecate. In the back of the fridge, that’s what the family drinks. Dos Equis, Stella (Artois). That’s where craft can fit in,” says Lopez Negrete.
This reticence to stand out too much socially could explain a little bit about why American craft brewers have so completely overlooked the Latino-American Millennial market and why so few breweries count Hispanics as owners or even brewers. In private conversations about diversity, talk usually centers around women and African-Americans, though Julia Herz at the Brewers Association should be commended for highlighting Hispanics in this web post from August.
In it, she shows that of people who drink craft beer weekly, one-fifth are Hispanic, versus just 10% who are black. Of people who drink any beer at least once a week, one-fifth are Hispanic and 11% are black. So why spend a disproportionate amount of time talking about tapping into the African-American market when it would appear the Hispanic Millennial population actually presents great potential to be the most efficient? We can probably blame geography, culture, national background, and lack of understanding.
- Geography: A brewer in Houston or Los Angeles might see Latinos in her tasting room every day but her counterpart in Northern Michigan may never see any at all. Out of sight out of mind.
- Culture: White industry employees may not know how to work themselves into unfamiliar Latino culture but they hear and see symbols of “urban” culture all the time. In general, African-Americans have inhabited the United States for hundreds of years but Hispanics arrived only a generation or two ago.
- National background: Hispanics come from dozens of different countries so efforts to appeal to one group may not work as well on another. For instance, Lopez Negrete points to Mexicans, Costa Ricans and Columbians as coming from beer cultures while others tend more toward wine or spirits.
- Lack of understanding: Most beer marketers may think they have to bridge a language gap to communicate with Hispanic Millennials (they don’t) or they don’t realize they espouse the same locavore beliefs as other Millennial customers.
Houston — Label for Saint Arnold Santo black kolsch.
The good news is overcoming those challenges can happen pretty easily and cheaply. Big brands spend millions of dollars to sponsor sports tournaments and cast Latino actors in commercials but Lopez Negrete says Millennial Latinos favor authenticity and true community engagement. And if craft brewers can brag about anything, it’s exactly that.
“With craft you have a built-out acceptance to lean in in a genuine way,” he says. “It doesn’t sniff of (ethnic) profiling. Craft beers are quirkier and a lot more creative (than big brands), so se puede dar permiso to give that nod and a wink.”
What he’s saying is that if craft breweries apply their true personalities to their outreach efforts, they’ll receive permission from the community to take some liberties. Saint Arnold in Houston (whom Lopez Negrete represents) named a beer “Santo” (“Saint”) and hired a Mexican artist from Houston to design its Day of the Dead-inspired label. Lopez Negrete says the black Kolsch sells miraculously. Saint Arnold also enters ten cars into Houston’s annual Art Car parade, attended by many different segments, most notably Mexican Millennials who’re into car culture.
Lopez Negrete also cites the craft beer concession stand at Houston’s Major League Soccer stadium, where he says 90% of the players come from Latin America. A Columbian coach trains them and a majority Latino crowd cheers them on.
Both venues offer local craft breweries incredible opportunities to use social media to engage with this audience, which consumes social media voraciously. Brewery employees can post pictures of the colorful cars, videos of the action and interviews with futbol fans drinking their beer.
They can also harness the culinary aspect of Latino culture and intertwine it with Millennial’s seeming obsession with photographing food. Examples would be running live Facebook feeds from Mexican beer dinners and Tweeting out guides for pairing their beers with molé.
“Getting into that community makes it personal,” Lopez Negrete says. “And craft has it in their DNA to dig into the community.”
Ad Age reports that last year companies spent $7.83 billion to advertise on Hispanic major-media TV, cable, newspaper, magazines and radio in the U.S. Obviously, craft beer doesn’t have that kind of money. But it should be brainstorming granular ways to reach Latinos, who hold more than 10% of the nation’s purchasing power.
With Latinos comprising almost a quarter of Millennials and Millennials drinking more craft beer than any other segment, breweries might consider it a no-brainer to try to speak their language.
“Millennials are the sweet spot for craft drinkers,” says Lopez Negrete. “Latinos are a huge component of that.”
Original article: http://bit.ly/2ozhjfq
As we celebrate another Hispanic Heritage Month, I asked a few industry leaders with decades of experience in Hispanic marketing to reflect on what has changed in the industry over the past two decades and what hasn’t. The conversation was so rich that I decided to break it into two different articles. First, we hear […]
Lopez Negrete Communications fue elegida por Hyundai Motor America como su agencia de mercadotecnia hispana en EE UU. Realizará campañas de marketing estratégico dirigidas al consumidor hispano estadounidense con amplio conocimiento tecnológico. “En Hyundai, nuestra visión es el progreso de la humanidad, lo cual incluye relacionarnos con las comunidades multiculturales tanto en la cultura como en el […]
08.11.2022Hyundai Motor America Selects Lopez Negrete Communications as its Hispanic Marketing Agency of Record
Agency to Support Hyundai’s Multicultural Marketing Group in Reaching U.S. Hispanic Audiences Hyundai Motor America has selected independent, Hispanic-owned and operated Lopez Negrete Communications as its U.S. Hispanic marketing agency of record. Lopez Negrete will provide strategic marketing solutions to reach and engage with diverse Latino audiences nationwide. The agency will begin general brand work immediately, followed by vehicle […]
Lopez Negrete Communications receives two bronze awards from the Hispanic Marketing Council.


text:
Alan J. Lebow, a third-generation men’s wear veteran and owner of the Lebow Clothes tailored clothing brand, died on Feb. 23 of a heart attack at his home in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 81.
Over 500 people attended his burial services at Temple Emanu-El in Palm Beach on Friday. “He spent his entire life in the men’s clothing industry,” recalled his wife Patricia Lebow, an attorney. “He was the consummate men’s clothing salesman.”
Lebow was best known for running the high-end Alan Lebow and Lebow Clothes labels while they were licensed to Hartz & Co. from 1986 to 2006. When Hartz & Co. went out of business three years ago, Lebow licensed the brands to Bremen, Ga.-based Sewell Clothes, a division of The Sewell Cos. According to a sales manager there, the company plans to continue manufacturing suits under the Lebow name.
Lebow’s grandfather, Abraham, was a garment maker whose son, Joseph, founded Lebow Clothes in the early 1900s and built it into a major men’s wear manufacturer. At its peak in the Fifties and Sixties, Lebow Clothes employed several thousand workers and sold its suits to the many independent men’s specialty stores that flourished during that era.
Alan Lebow got his start in his father’s business at the age of eight, sweeping fabric remnants from the company’s Baltimore factory floor. After studying at Pennsylvania Military Academy (now Widener University) and the Philadelphia College of Textiles, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945 and served in Germany. At the close of World War II, he joined Lebow Clothes, where he spent his entire career.
In 1969, Lebow Clothes was sold to After Six. When the formalwear company went through a bankruptcy, the rights to the brand were acquired by Abraham Zion. However, Zion let the trademark lapse and Lebow regained control of the family brand in the Eighties and licensed it to Hartz & Co, which created a luxury suit and sportcoat collection sold to prominent men’s retailers like Guffy’s in Atlanta and James Davis in Memphis.
“Alan was a born-and-bred clothing guy from the old school,” said John Carroll, owner of the three upscale Carroll & Co. stores in Beverly Hills, Pasadena and Montecito, Calif., which did business with Lebow during the Hartz & Co. days. “I don’t ever remember a day when he wasn’t in a suit. He loved the product and understood clothing better than most.”
Apart from his wife, Lebow is survived by a daughter, Amanda.
Supermodel @helenachristensen teamed up with longtime friend and designer @camillastaerk on a joint @paredeyewear collaboration. The lineup features three styles and 11 offerings, all of which embody a vintage feel. Get all the details on how they celebrated the collab on WWD.com. #wwdaccessories #wwdeye (📷: @slovekinpics)
“It’s a hard industry to keep motivated, as well, so finding different subjects and people is what makes it worth it – when you’re like, oh, I’ve met great people, I feel like I’ve done something good, and I feel proud of having done this,” said French actress Stacy Martin on being grateful for the variety of roles she’s take on. Read @ktauer’s full interview with Martin on her her latest film “Godard Mon Amour.” #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
After showing in front of the Eiffel Tower for his last two women’s ready-to-wear collection, it looks like @anthonyvaccarello may be heading to the Big Apple. Sources say the designer will stage his next @ysl show in NYC on June 6. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @aitorrosasphoto)
EXCLUSIVE: Two and half months after John Targon, cofounder and codesigner of Baja East, was hired as creative director of the contemporary division at Marc Jacobs, he has left the company, WWD has learned. Marc Jacobs International, which is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, confirmed Targon’s departure in a statement: “John Targon is a talented designer and we appreciate the work he has done here. Ultimately working together did not make sense for the brand and we wish him the best.” Read the story by @jessiredale, link in bio. #wwdnews
@theluxurycollection is officially launching a collection, tapping Sofia Sanchez de Betak for the capsule. Over 30 styles will be featured in the Chufy x The Luxury Collection, debuting next month at Bergdorf Goodman, The Webster, FiveStory and more. De Betak, known as “@chufy,” drew inspiration for the collection from her trips to Japan in the past year #wwdfashion
@lhd, founder and CEO of @thewebster, has teamed up with @lebonmarcherivegauche for the European launch of her ready-to-wear line, LHD. The launch will come with an exclusive pop-up opening today that’s set to run through May 20. Located on the second floor, it carries her debut Miami-themed resort collection, launched in November as see-now-buy-now. #wwdfashion


text:
Dan Heller, author of the Photography Business Blog and a longtime watcher of the idea of selling photos on the Internet, observed Tuesday that there's "low-level buzz about Flickr possibly getting into the stock photo business." He concludes, "For Flickr to do it is obvious. Not doing so while they are on top of the game would be suicide."
It's an interesting possibility. With some tweaks to the Web site and an opt-in check box on the image upload page, Yahoo and Flickr photographers could begin selling images to the sorts of folks who need to buy stock art--newspapers, PowerPoint presenters, brochure authors, advertising agencies. All Flickr's metadata and relevance sorting could be converted into a revenue stream shared between Yahoo and the photographers--the practice Getty Images subsidiary iStockphoto uses.
But it's not that simple. For one thing, those who consume stock photos often have different appetites than Flickr members. Stock photo customers generally have little patience with cluttered images, artsy compositions and cell phone shots of friends at the party. Compare the Flickr vs. iStockphoto search results for Valentine's Day, for example. Stock photo customers also often need illustrations for relatively mundane subject matter--for example, they'll consume a seemingly infinite number of pictures of people in business-casual attire sitting in front of computers.
Flickr has a vast collection, though, so it's likely the right image is there if it can be found, and some budget-conscious buyers probably are willing to endure lower search relevance in return for lower price. And the profit motive could encourage Flickr users to adapt to stock photo demands. And even if the right image isn't always there, Flickr could presumably satisfy people's needs some of the time, likely at a cheaper price tag, just as iStockphoto has provided new lower-cost options to traditional stock photo shops such as Getty and Corbis.
But the bigger challenge is intellectual property. iStockphoto, for example, requires users to verify they hold copyright to the images they upload, prohibits visible logos or trademarks, and requires anyone whose face is visible to sign a model release form permitting iStockphoto to sell their likeness. And the company scrutinizes every photo it receives.
What's the likelihood that Yahoo could afford to vet every image Flickr users upload with the option to sell? They could leave the initiative to intellectual property holders themselves, but that approach isn't as likely to sit well with those who want stronger assurances before buying images.


text:
New Colombian president pledges to protect rainforest
Added 06-25-22 03:03:02pm EST - “Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first elected leftist president, will take office in August with ambitious proposals to halt the record-high rates of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Petro has promised to limit agribusiness expansion…” - Washingtontimes.com
CLICK TO SHARE
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first elected leftist president, will take office in August with ambitious proposals to halt the record-high rates of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Petro has promised to limit agribusiness expansion into the forest, and create reserves where Indigenous communities and others are allowed to harvest rubber, acai and other non-timber forest products. He has also pledged income from carbon credits to finance replanting.
“From Colombia, we will give humanity a reward, a remedy, a solution: not to burn the Amazon rainforest anymore, to recover it to its natural frontier, to give humanity the possibility of life on this planet,” Petro, wearing an Indigenous headdress, said to a crowd in the Amazon city of Leticia during his campaign.
The task of stopping deforestation seems more challenging than ever. In 2021, the Colombian Amazon lost 98000 hectares (more than 240,000 acres) of pristine forest to deforestation and another 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres) to fire. Both were down from what they had been in 2020, but 2021 was still the fourth worst year on record according to Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project (MAAP), an initiative of the nonprofit Amazon Conservation Association.
More than 40% of Colombia is in the Amazon, an area roughly the size of Spain. The country has the world’s largest bird biodiversity, mainly because it includes transition zones between the Andes mountains and the Amazon lowlands. Fifteen percent of the Colombian Amazon has already been deforested, according to Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development, or FCDS.
Destruction of the forest has been on the rise since 2016, the year Colombia signed a peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, that ended decades of a bloody armed conflict.
If you don't see any comments yet, congrats! You get first comment. Be nice and have fun.
CLICK TO SHARE


text:
Tyco resolves patent case
Tyco has announced the resolution of pending litigation with Ningbo Signatronic Technologies, LLC, ALL-TAG Security, Best Security Industries, and Signatronic Corporation (herein together Ningbo) involving U.S. Patent Nos. 5,729,200 ('200 patent) and 6,181,245 ('245 patent).
August 7, 2014 By Staff
In December 2013, the complaint was filed jointly by Tyco Fire & Security GmbH and its Sensormatic Electronics, LLC and Tyco Integrated Security, LLC (herein together Tyco) businesses against Ningbo in both the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to prohibit the importation into the United States of certain Ningbo acousto-magnetic (AM) electronic article surveillance systems (EAS) labels. The complaint was aimed at promoting the U.S. public interest by protecting Tyco’s intellectual property rights and the associated domestic industry. Furthermore, the complaint was intended to help protect the value of its leading Sensormatic brand, since infringing products may not perform to the quality standards of authentic Sensormatic AM labels.
Under a settlement agreement resolving both the ITC and District Court actions, the parties have agreed that Ningbo will withdraw from the United States certain EAS label models that use these patents, and make an unspecified payment to Tyco.
Consent agreements memorializing the resolution will be filed in both the ITC and District Court actions, and both actions will be terminated. All other terms of the settlement are confidential.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this U.S. patent infringement litigation,” said Nancy Chisholm, President, Tyco Retail Solutions. “Protecting our intellectual property is central to our ability to continue investing in innovative solutions that help retailers deter theft and improve profitability. We are committed to helping retailers drive sales and navigate an increasingly competitive and dynamic global marketplace. The design quality and manufacturing consistency of our AM labels is critical to the overall performance of genuine Sensormatic anti-shoplifting systems retailers have relied on for nearly 50 years. A growing number of companies are selling non-Sensormatic brand AM tags and labels. Retailers should ask these companies if they employ the same quality and regulatory safeguards as Tyco, as variable quality and inconsistent performance may put retailers at risk, leaving them vulnerable to lost revenue in the short term and loss of customer confidence in the long term.”
Tyco pioneered the EAS anti-shoplifting industry through its Sensormatic brand and continues to invest significant research and development resources to innovate this family of products. Tyco also provides a complete portfolio of high-technology Sensormatic security and store performance systems that allow retailers to better manage their inventories, shopper activity, employees and facilities.
Read more about Tyco and its Sensormatic EAS portfolio.
Print this page


text:
Australian business is looking forward to a mostly merry Christmas according to the latest Dun and Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey.
Dun & Bradstreet’s Business Expectations Index, the average of the survey’s measures of sales, profits, employment and capital investment, climbed to 17.0 points in the latest survey, which looks at the fourth quarter of 2016. That’s up from 12.4 points for Q3 2016 and the print of 17 is 9.1 points above the 10-year average of 7.9 points.
Stephen Koukoulas, economics advisor to Dun & Bradstreet, said “The generally positive tone to business expectations has continued, which points to an on-going solid pace of expansion for the economy over the remainder of 2016. The upswing for expected sales, profits and employment has been sustained in the most recent survey”.
The result is really positive when viewed against the subdued outlook for selling prices.
The survey reveals “expectations for selling prices in the three months to 31 December remained flat compared to last quarter, with the index at 9.3 points” Dun anmd Bradstreet said.
Only 19.8% of firms expect to increase their selling prices this quarter, while 10.5% expect to lower them.
“Compared to the final quarter of 2015, the Selling Prices Expectations Index has fallen 42.6 per cent from 16.2 points” the survey showed.
But even with the backdrop of weak pricing pressure and low ability to increase income via this channel the survey showed that profit expectations sub-index surged from 9.4 to 17.1 for the Christmas quarter. That’s potentially driven by the fact that business is optimistic about domestic spending with the the Sales Expectations Index jumping 8.7 points to 30.1 points, up from 21.4 points in the previous quarter.
And the good news for business is potentially good news for workers as well with the survey showing that the Employment Expectations Index also increased jumping to 13.0 points, from 8.2 points previously.
Business Insider Emails & Alerts
Site highlights each day to your inbox.


text:
$18,000 iPhones on eBay with Fortnite Installed Are a Sign of Things To Come
The battle for App Store supremacy has yet to declare a victor
A week ago, Epic Games baited Apple into giving its biggest game the boot from the Cupertino giant’s App Store. Fortnite’s popularity cannot be understated, having pocketed a staggering $1.8 billion last year. The studio earned Apple’s wrath by eschewing Apple’s payment methods for their own, circumnavigating the dreaded 30% Apple tax. Adding insult to injury is the statement from Apple that indicates that it intends to terminate Epic Games’ developer account in its entirety. The battle has clearly gone beyond in-app purchases.
One can say the same for Google, but Android users have a workaround for this predicament. They can still head to the Epic Games app and download Fortnite despite the fact that it is no longer available in the Play Store. Perhaps that is why Epic set its sights towards Apple first.
Epic Games first retaliated with a tongue-in-cheek parody of Apple’s memorable “1984” advert by switching up the chessboard. Apple now stood as the oppressor while Epic Games cast Fortnite as the redeemer. Microsoft’s xCloud service and even Facebook have a bone to pick with Apple’s draconian policies, but the dust has yet to settle on the matter.
Hot on the heels of the grand debacle, Epic’s decision to host a #FreeFortnite tournament as a farewell of sorts to their iOS fanbase is the latest move in a series of stunts that serves to bring to fight to Apple. To sweeten the deal, they’re giving away over a thousand pieces of gaming gear that support Fortnite, from Alienware laptops to consoles and Android smartphones. They’re even letting you win a Tart Tycoon outfit.
This is no longer a turf war between two organizations. The implications behind the #FreeFortnite fiasco stand to affect more than just videogames. Organizations are now rethinking their approach when it comes to handing 30% of their revenue to a marketplace that exempts some while taxing the rest. In an age where education is forced to transition to a digital medium, would 30% of your tuition fees go to Apple?
With Apple and Epic Games at each other’s throats, some have decided to cash in on the opportunity. iPhones with Fortnite installed are going for $18,000 apiece with no signs of slowing down. It’s interesting to see history repeat itself: the move is reminiscent of Flappy Bird’s breakout success. eBay had to step in to prevent an auction that was selling an iPhone equipped with the game for a startling price of $99,900. The ends to which people are ready to go for a free game is certainly a cause for concern.
Tim Cook carefully navigated a House Judiciary hearing last month when he was questioned on the decision to let Amazon Prime video rentals sidestep the regular commission.
“Is that reduced commission, such as the one Amazon Prime gets, available to other app developers?” asked Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA).
“It’s available to anyone meeting the conditions, yes,” replied Cook with tact.
The hearing ended with Cook stating that Apple “does not retaliate or bully people.” But last week’s shenanigans have certainly raised the very question that Johnson raised. “Has Apple ever retaliated against or disadvantaged a developer who went public with their frustrations with the App Store?”
Apple leaving the bout triumphant as Epic Games scurries to agree to its terms with its tail between its legs is a possibility that may come to pass. But nonetheless, the litmus test that Epic has fashioned has the potential to change digital marketplaces as we know them. Services have tried for years to stage a war on the same front that Epic Games have, albeit without a heavy hitter of an app to anchor themselves with.
Fortnite has grown into a cultural phenomenon that has gone beyond its gaming roots with film trailer debuts and virtual concerts finding a home among its massive userbase. A phenomenon that doesn’t intend on drying up anytime soon. The far-reaching repercussions of the antitrust hearing are yet to be determined.
But one thing is certain. Digital storefronts are changing. For better or worse.


text:
We’re a bit late with this one but if you didn’t get a chance to check out the action from this year’s 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, here’s big image gallery for you to browse through.
As usual, a number of big-name car manufacturers attended the event this year, including Hyundai which turned up with a number of modified Tucson SUVs. BMW also showed off its latest M Performance parts, while Mazda showcased its latest MX-5 concepts.
The overall theme this year seemed to be big trucks with big wheels, along with plenty of crazy conversions. That insane Toyota 86 with the Ferrari V8 engine made an appearance, along with some very radical engine conversion ideas including a classic Camaro with a V12 conversion, and the ‘Land Speed Cruiser’ with its 2000hp twin-turbo V8. Take a look below for some of the highlights.


text:
Now who could have conceived this -- of the Swift DZire compact sedan beating its hatchback sibling the Swift on sales? But that's exactly what has happened when in April 2013 Maruti sold 19,446 units of the sub four meter sedan -- 2,916 units more than sales of the Swift hatchback during the same period.
What’s more, the DZire's sales were just 401 units less than the country’s bestselling car, the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, which racked up a sales figure of 19,847 units during April 2013. This officially means that Maruti Suzuki’s compact sedan is now the second highest selling car in India. In all, the company sold over 2 lakh units of the current Swift DZire since its launch in February 2012.
As we know, the Indian customer has always had a soft spot for the three box sedan that in their minds plays the prestige card. And the introduction of Maruti Suzuki’s new DZire sub four meter compact sedan with a lower price tag and a choice of diesel and petrol engines made a strong case for itself for itself, something that has now been proven on the sales charts.
Mayank Pareek Maruti Suzuki COO (marketing & sales) was quoted by ET saying, "When we conceived DZire, few years back it was thought as a complete package of a sedan coming at the price of a hatchback."
The DZire's strong sales comes as a surprise especially since it all happened in the same month as the launch of its biggest rival yet, the Honda Amaze. Armed with Honda’s strong reliability and quality levels, the Amaze has been considered as a serious threat to the Swift DZire.
The Honda Amaze has not had the time to prove its place on the sales charts just yet, but can the overwhelming demand for the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire be considered an indication of the times to come?
Sure, Honda cannot match the sheer presence of Maruti Suzuki’s sales and after sales network throughout the length and breadth of the country but the Honda is just as good a car, if not better.
As for the sales charts, the compact sedan segment looks to be on the way for bigger success in the future with vehicles that offer comfort, style and practicality in an affordable, economical and easily manoeuvrable package that is indeed very attractive on our ever crowded roads.
Be the first to get latest news and updates about New Swift Dzire. Click Allow


text:
Thailand cuts interest rates to boost domestic demand
Thailand's central bank has unexpectedly cut interest rates in an effort to boost domestic demand and sustain growth.
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) cut its key lending rate to 2.75% from 3%.
There have been fears that the global economic slowdown may hurt demand for the country's exports and harm its economic growth.
However, some analysts criticised the move, saying that lower borrowing costs might spur a rise in consumer prices.
They said that domestic demand had been strong in recent times and a cut in interest rates was needed at the moment, not least because Thailand's economy had been growing steadily.
Thailand's economy grew by a more-than-forecast 3.3% in the April-to-June period, as compared with the previous three months.
"We are more concerned than most about the inflation outlook, in particular the feed-through from what has been a fairly prolonged period of above-trend domestic demand," said Robert Prior-Wandesforde, director of Asian economics research at Credit Suisse.
'Reverse the move'
Thailand has also introduced other measures to boost domestic consumption in recent times.
It has raised minimum wages in various parts of the country, in some areas by as much as 40%.
The government has also announced plans to spend 2tn Thai baht ($65bn; £40bn) on infrastructure projects after last year's devastating floods in the country.
Analysts said that given the strong domestic demand and increased government spending, a rise in consumer prices continued to remain a concern.
They said the central bank could be forced to start raising interest rates in the coming months.
"The Bank of Thailand may have to reverse this move, certainly in the first half of next year," said Credit Suisse's Mr Wandesforde.


text:
As if the bonus Nintendo Direct on Sunday and Tuesday’s conference won’t be enough, Nintendo has announced that it will hold a special 3DS E3 Software Showcase on Wednesday.
NoA VP of Sales and Marketing Scott Moffitt will finally get his chance to shine at the event from 6-7PM PDT.
Although 3DS will surely have some representation during Nintendo’s usual press conference, this is a good sign that the company plans to devote the vast majority of its conference time to Wii U. Maybe, just maybe, this opens up an opportunity for that rumoured 3DS XL to make an appearance as well.
Between Nintendo’s three events this week, the volume of news and information, not to mention opportunities for hype and meltdowns, is at an all time high.
Source: Nintendo World Report


text:
Photo credits: EAFIFAesports
EA Sports has decided to launch a new competition series that will be played online during the summer. These will be regional events (Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and Africa). Players will be invited according to their ranking in the FIFA 20 Global Series.
Europe will have 24 invited players while the other 5 regions only 8 players, more details will be released later.
The set will be broadcast on the EASPORTSFIFA Twitch channel as most of the competitions and the EA SPORTS FIFA 20 Summer Cup Series will take place from July 17 to August 9.
We also learn that the eChampions League will take place, but that its format will be slightly revisited.
You can find all the information concerning this press release by clicking HERE .


text: Mao-tai is at a crossroads. Prices for the highly alcoholic drink have collapsed after a de facto ban on its use at official functions. Meanwhile, global luxury brands are circling the market and snapping up stakes in distillers that make sorghum-based spirits. The two trends are not contradictory. The market has hit a wobbly patch, partly due to a slowing economy and partly because of a recent desire among officials to play down the role of mao-tai at official gatherings. But the drink's long-term outlook is excellent: its popularity is booming and profit margins are exceptional. Mao-tai is a fiery, acrid drink with an alcohol content usually above 50 per cent. Even ardent fans would hesitate to say it tastes 'good'. But it is loaded with national pride and symbolism. It was drunk liberally during the revolution. It is the beverage for official toasts at state gatherings. And today it is arguably China's first fully blown home-grown luxury brand. As with champagne, there is a geographic restriction on what can be called mao-tai: only spirits brewed in Guizhou province can carry the name. All other spirits are known generically as baijiu. However, brands of baijiu that are 30, 40 or even 60 years old fetch a lot of money at auctions. Mao-tai is the top of pyramid, but prices are up for all high-end bottles of the drink. It has been a mainstay of official banquets. A Beijing public servant once told the China Youth Daily that officials would often visit each other in the name of 'exchanging ideas and learning from each other', after which there would be an hours-long banquet where expensive dishes and mao-tai were consumed. However, in late March, Premier Wen Jiabao banned the use of public funds to buy expensive liquors, mao-tai included, effectively eliminating official use of the drink. The impact of the ban is most notable in Chongqing, the centre of a widening corruption scandal that involves former municipal party secretary Bo Xilai. 'Officials in Chongqing daren't order mao-tai and the like any more,' says Zhao Yong, a beverage analyst at Haitong Securities. This is reflected in plummeting prices for the liquor. For example, at an auction in Guizhou in April, a bottle of 1959 mao-tai went for 150,000 yuan (HK$184,000), a world apart from a Hangzhou auction in 2010 where a 1958 mao-tai fetched a record 1.45 million yuan. According to Zhao, the wholesale price of a bottle of Wuliangye, a high-end baijiu, dropped from 1,100 yuan to about 730 yuan. National Cellar 1573, a brand that dates back to the Ming dynasty, was down from 1,300 yuan to about 900 yuan. 'The magnitude of the decline was surprising. There are other market factors behind this and we expected prices to go down. But we didn't expect such a sharp fall,' says a Shanghai food industry analyst who did not want to be named. The mainland economic slowdown has also hurt prices, as has overproduction. Nevertheless, the mao-tai market outlook is bright. For example, most see the political ban as temporary. As China will see a once-a-decade leadership change this autumn, some doubt that the high-end alcohol ban will last. 'Wen Jiabao is leaving office soon. When the new leadership takes over, things will change. If the top guys relax the restriction or put it on the back burner, [baijiu] prices may go up again,' the analyst says. Zhao also expects the market to recover following the leadership transition. 'That's what many baijiu companies are expecting. But when it comes to politics, it's hard to make a prediction,' he says. Over the past 10 years, prices of top-tier baijiu have soared to historic levels, with the so-called national drink of mao-tai being the brightest star in the boom. Prices of mao-tai, the preferred drink of China's revolutionaries, have risen roughly tenfold over the past decade. 'Chinese consumers may prefer imported designer bags and watches. But when it comes to liquor, they like to stick to something with a national character,' Zhou says. 'Toasting a glass of baijiu embodies goodwill and unity. It is not to be replaced by a foreign drink. For this reason, there will always be demand for upmarket baijiu.' This helps explain the difference in sales between imported spirits and baiju in China. According to Jing Daily, an online publication covering the luxury market and culture of China, 900 million cases of baijiu are sold in China each year, compared with four million cases of imported spirits. This huge market has attracted the international branding giants. In 2007, LVMH bought a 55 per cent stake in Wenjun Distillery at a reported cost of 960 million yuan. The following year, it relaunched Wenjun's liquor after upgrading the production and packaging. Wenjun became upmarket and prices soared from 30 yuan per bottle to between 600 and 1,500 yuan. Last year Diageo, the British drinks group that owns brands such as Guinness and Johnnie Walker, won approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to take a majority stake of Quanxing, which controls Sichuan Shuijingfang, China's number four baijiu maker. The firm is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. A few weeks ago, Diageo completed a mandatory tender offer for Shuijingfang, which formalised its control of the firm. Erica Poon Werkun, head of Asia consumer research at UBS, does not think foreign firms will make a push to launch mao-tai internationally. 'Baijiu is a more of a Chinese drink. I don't think that this has a lot of international appeal,' says Poon. Paul Mathew, a Beijing-based bar and drink consultant and associate editor of DRiNK Magazine Asia, agrees. 'There is little awareness among non-Chinese consumers ... some of the flavours are quite unusual to a Western palate, so I think it has a long way to go,' he says. 'And given the size of the domestic market, there is not much incentive. The Chinese market for baijiu just seems huge, even if some of the younger generation are moving towards Western spirits.' However, the mainland market is large and profitable enough to warrant attention. The international brands will use their acquisitions to tap into local distribution networks, and marketing expertise to drive up the price. 'My sense is that [Diageo will be] trying to emphasise the history, 'terroir' and 'traditional knowledge and craftsmanship' required to make it to create a story that backs up a more high-end positioning,' says Torsten Stocker, a Hong Kong-based partner at management consulting firm Monitor Group. The message is clear. Mao-tai's political setback is temporary. And the politics will be no match for a fully fledged marketing campaign promoting the product, which is only just getting going.


text:
Vinamilk's products enter US market
Viet Nam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk)'s products would be sold in the United States after they were displayed at the Summer Fancy Food Show.
Vinamilk's representatives were talking with visitors at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2016. — Photo vinamilk.com.vn
Vinamilk joined the Summer Fancy Food Show 2016 held in the United States (US) from June 26 to June 28 with the support of the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Centre for Agriculture (Agritrade). This was the first time Vinamilk attended this trade fair, along with 11 other Vietnamese enterprises, said Vinamilk's website.
At the food show, Vinamilk and Driftwood Dairy Inc. – a company 100 per cent owned by Vinamilk in the US – introduced condensed milk and creamer products with the Driftwood brand manufactured at the Vinamilk factory in Viet Nam. Those products were scheduled to be exported to the US.
Vinamilk's two new products attracted the attention of the customers visiting the fair, opening up opportunities to export Vinamilk's milk products, the company said.
In addition, Vinamilk's Driftwood also brought its traditional pasteurised milk products to the food show this year.
Vinamilk's products have received quality certificates and an import licence from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) after meeting all requirements on quality and food safety for the food industry in general and the dairy industry in particular.
With that, Vinamilk has promoted further its integration process into the international market with high-quality products, the company said.
The company joined Summer Fancy Food aimed at introducing Vinamilk – Driftwood Company and seeking distributors for supplying high quality products with competitive prices to large supermarket chains in the US.
After the fair concluded, a decision was taken that the condensed milk and creamer products produced by Vinamilk would be sold in the supermarkets in Arizona and California.
The Fancy Food Fair Show, which is held twice every year, is one of the largest fairs in the US food industry and attracts thousands of well-known businesses in the world food processing and production industry.
The Summer Fancy Food Show 2016 attracted nearly 3,000 enterprises displaying their products at the Jacob Javits Centre in New York and more than 47,000 visiting food experts. The Fancy Food Show is a channel connecting food processors and producers to distributors in America.
VNSRead on the original site


text:
On Thursday, E-commerce giant Amazon announced a $250 million (around ₹1,873 crore) fund that will concentrate on digitising small and medium businesses, and drive modernization in the areas of health-tech and agro-tech.
Amazon Web Services CEO, Andrew Jassy, said, "Small and medium-sized businesses are often the engine and the lifeblood of economies and I think it's true in India as well. And we are very passionate about trying to enable acceleration of SMBs in fuelling innovation and the economy in India and so building on what we did last year, I'm excited to announce a brand new $250 million Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund".
Mr. Jassy, who will take over as Amazon Inc CEO later this year, during the second Amazon Smbhav event said that Amazon aims to help motivate more SMBs under this to be able to build brand new businesses
Amazon India Global SVP and Country Head India, Amit Agarwal said that the fund is beset at vesting the best ideas and attracting visionary entrepreneurs.
He added, “The fund is going to focus on three key priorities- SME digitisation, agri-tech innovations to empower farmer productivity and reach and health-tech to provide universal and quality health care”.


text:
Masks in supermarkets mandatory for employees and consumers from July 18
The use of a non-medical mask in supermarkets, both for employees and consumers, will mandatory effective from tomorrow, Saturday, following a relevant Joint Ministerial Decision.
The directive was made public in a post Twitter by the Secretary General of Commerce and Consumer, Panagiotis Stampoulidis.
“Implementing the decision of the National Committee for the Protection of Public Health against COVID-19, a JMC is issued which makes the use of non-medical masks in supermarkets by employees & consumers mandatory from tomorrow,” tweeted Mr. Stampoulidis in his post.
Given that the cases are in double digits every day and there is a relaxation in the implementation of the measures against the coronavirus, the obligatory use of the mask in the supermarkets was expected to return from next Monday or Tuesday, however it seems that the decisions were hastened, as many consumers choose to do their household shopping at the weekend.
You may be interested
Infectious Disease Committee ‘green light’ re-opening of high schools on February 1st – The measures from January 25thmakis - Jan 22, 2021
The experts of the Committee of the Ministry of Health gave the “green light” on Friday for the opening of…
EU teleconference Summit: Concerns over Covid-19 mutations and delay in vaccinesmakis - Jan 22, 2021
PM Mitsotakis’ proposal for a European vaccination certificate, which would facilitate travel without the need for a coronavirus test for…
Crete is the most popular holiday destination for BritsPanos - Jan 21, 2021
Crete is the most popular holiday destination for this year’s tourist season for the Brits, according to online searches made in…


text:
Employees sickness lies cost economy £32 billion
A new study has found that one in three UK employees lie to their boss about being sick to avoid having to go into work.
Thirty four percent of almost 2,000 people questioned admitted to skiving off work because they are bored and depressed with their jobs.
Hangovers, romantic getaways and good weather also acted as motivations for staff to dishonestly take the day off.
READ MORE FROM THE WDM CONTENT NETWORK:
To read the latest edition of Healthcare Global, click here
- New ‘super tomatoes’ can help fight cancer
- Xbox Kinect introduced to the healthcare sector
- Using a big fork helps you eat less
Additionally, it was discovered that employees planned their sick days in advance and acted out symptoms in the office in the days leading up to their absence.
A stomach upset was found to be one of the most common excuses used by employees to justify their absence.
Even pet illnesses were given as a reason for staff members having to take the day off.
Aside from being ill, other far-fetched excuses included falling out of a loft, getting beaten up by a bouncer and having a pet rabbit run away.
Employee absenteeism costs the UK economy approximately £32 billion a year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, who carried out the survey.
“Introducing or enhancing flexible working arrangements can make a difference,” said PwC partner Neil Rowden after it was discovered that family needs accounted for 21 percent of false sick days.
He added: “Ensuring people feel they're not taken for granted is also important. Some 15% of those who provided false excuses felt they deserved the time.”
- Workouts and exercises suitable for the officeProcurement & Supply Chain
- Tailor made benefits can provide a powerful tool for recruitmentMedical Devices & Pharma
- 40 hour working week increases 'burnout' riskMedical Devices & Pharma
- Stressed workers worried about being sackedMedical Devices & Pharma


text:
Next up for Amazon…physical retail stores.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is planning to open department stores in the near future.
The company has already opened brick-and-mortar book stores, grocery stores, and cashier-less convenience stores in recent years.
Sources say some of the first Amazon department stores are expected to be in California and Ohio with locations about the size of a Kohl’s or T.J. Maxx.
The Wall Street Journal reports the stores will help Amazon sell more clothing and tech products.
Read more HERE because The Wall Street Journal has a paywall.
Amazon aims to open department store-style locations around the US that will help the e-commerce giant grow sales in categories including fashion and home goods – https://t.co/ZXe4wQ8oPL pic.twitter.com/BMj6merTtz
— Nareit (@REITs_Nareit) August 19, 2021


text:
Shepherd Neame kids menu helps charity
A portion of kids’ meal sales will go to food charity FareShare.
Pub operator Shepherd Neame has launched a new children's menu, with a portion of its sales going to food charity FareShare.
The new 'Menu for Minis', now available across Shepherd Neame’s managed pubs and hotels, offers a selection of dishes designed for younger diners.
For every two course meal deal sold, the Faversham-based business will donate 50p to FareShare, its current charity of choice for this year.
FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste. It works with the industry to source food that might otherwise go to waste and distribute it to a network of 8,500 charities and community groups across the UK.
"We wanted to create a vibrant, fun menu which appeals to kids but is also well-balanced and delicious," says Shepherd Neame’s head of food Sang Nguyen. "As with all our menus, the dishes are influenced by the fantastic local, seasonal produce which we are lucky enough to have on offer here in the Garden of England. Everything on the menu is cooked to order using fresh ingredients by our skilled team of chefs."
Some of the first diners to try out the new dishes
What's on the menu
A range of children's favourites are on offer. Mains include Cheese and Tomato Pizza using Ashmore Farmhouse cheese from the Cheesemakers of Canterbury; and Battered Haddock and Chips with freshly caught fish.
"We are delighted to unveil our new kids’ menu in time for the school summer holidays," says Shepherd Neame’s managing director of pubs Jonathon Swaine. "Sang and his team have worked really hard to put together a fantastic selection of dishes using great locally-sourced produce which we are sure will prove popular with our young diners.
"FareShare makes a real difference to families and individuals in need and we hope that in addition to raising funds, this initiative will help raise awareness of this fantastic charity."


text:
Jay Z’s Tidal Adds New Artist Feature, Still Doomed
On the heels of a widespread fire of criticism, Jay-Z’s new high quality streaming service Tidal has gone on something of an offensive, introducing a new feature aimed to help upcoming artists and issuing a press release in its defense.
Tidal launched last month, with the likes of Kanye West, Madonna, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Arcade Fire, Jack White, Daft Punk and more all attending the launch and signing an official Tidal charter. However, charging people $20 a month for good sound and non-exclusive HD music videos about two decades after the world stopped giving them a central marquee is an unsustainable demand of a public with a wide range of choices and existing Spotify loyalties. The service isalso painfully flawed in both search functionality and streaming capability.
A recently issued press release announces an updated app with a new Tidal Rising function. “Tidal gives voice to tomorrow’s biggest names through TIDAL RISING, a program dedicated to promoting emerging and independent artists from around the world. Every week, nascent talent in any genre will emerge,” the statement reads.
Lily Allen was one of the early critics of Tidal, offering a sensible argument: “I love Jay Z so much, but Tidal is [so] expensive compared to other perfectly good streaming services… He’s taken the biggest artists & made them exclusive to Tidal… people are going to swarm back to pirate sites in droves sending traffic to torrent sites.”
Producer legend Steve Albini has laughed off the idea of Tidal, saying services like it are “deluding themselves”.
“The internet provides access to materials and things,” he continued. “Creating these little streaming fiefdoms where certain streaming services have certain artists and certain streaming services have other artists is a crippled use of the internet. If the internet has demonstrated anything over the years, it’s that it has a way of breaking limitations placed on its content.”
The folk-hipster movement isn’t exactly leaping into the Tidal mix, either. Mumford & Sons recently said that they “wouldn’t have joined” Tidal “even if they had asked,” due its bias towards popular artists.
Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard weighed in as well, describing the Tidal launch as “millionaires complaining about not being paid.”
He said: “If I had been Jay Z, I would have brought out 10 artists that were underground or independent and said, ‘These are the people who are struggling to make a living in today’s music industry. Whereas this competitor streaming site pays this person 15 cents for X amount of streams, that same amount of streams on my site, on Tidal, will pay that artist this much.’ I think they totally blew it by bringing out a bunch of millionaires and billionaires and propping them up onstage and then having them all complain about not being paid.”
Read more of our in-depth take on the ill-advised money machine that is Tidal right here.


text:
Enter your email below and we will send you a reset link.
Over the last 12 months, we have seen state governments take entrepreneurship very seriously. Blame Narendra Modi for unleashing the notion of entrepreneurship, not just as a fashionable idea, but as a viable career option. The education minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, recently met with 25 vice-chancellors to unleash the potential of ideas, from students, […]
06 Mar 2016
India’s early forays into electronics manufacturing were overshadowed by the IT and BPO wave – but the return to manufacturing is a growing trend, according to a range of industry and government experts at the Invest Karnataka 2016 summit. State strengths and policy “Many startups in Karnataka today are looking at manufacturing activities – and […]
04 Feb 2016
‘Hardware is not the new software’, and putting together a hardware team to make a real tangible product requires dedicated effort. Hardware is an emerging sector but is still the most difficult one to scale in India. Moreover, there is a dearth of hardware accelerators or incubators in India that stalls the hardware community here […]
15 May 2014


text:
Air New Zealand has introduced it will be one of many first airways to trial a Travel Pass app that goals to securely speed up worldwide journey amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cell app is being developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a “global and standardised solution to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 passenger travel requirements”.
As vaccines are being rolled out across the globe, the app guarantees to assist passengers simply and securely handle their journey documentation digitally consistent with up-to-date authorities necessities.
Air NZ will start trialling the Travel Pass app on its Auckland-Sydney route in April for 3 weeks, with a model accessible for each iOS and Android units.
How the Travel Pass app will work:
Before journey, a buyer will create a digital well being pockets and hyperlink it to their e-passport
When they get examined for and/or vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, the lab will securely ship knowledge to the traveller’s app
The app then checks these outcomes to see in the event that they meet the necessities for journey
If they do, the client might be given a inexperienced tick to journey.
By having a spot to retailer all of your well being credentials digitally in a single place, it is not going to solely velocity up the check-in course of however unlock the potential for contactless journey,” says Air NZ’s Chief Digital Officer Jennifer Sepull.
“[The app is] primarily like having a digital well being certificates that may be simply and securely shared with airways. This will give clients peace of thoughts that they meet all journey necessities for the totally different international locations around the globe earlier than they even get to the airport.
“Reassuring customers that travel is in fact safe is one of our priorities. By using the app, customers can have confidence that everyone onboard meets the same government health requirements they do.”
The IATA says the Travel Pass doesn’t retailer any knowledge centrally however reasonably hyperlinks entities that want verification – airways, labs and governments – with the take a look at or vaccination knowledge, and solely when the traveller authorises it.
Air NZ says “privacy is at the heart of the design”.


text:
London is planning to force black cabs to accept card payments before the end of 2016, The Week reports.
The city — like many others around the world — is grappling with the rise of ride-hailing apps like Uber.
The services offer customers convenience and speed, but have caused havoc among established taxi industries, and their opponents have expressed concerns about safety.
Uber recently won a key legal battle in London, with the high court ruling that the app is not a "taximeter" — a piece of hardware found in taxis. The company would have faced onerous new legislation had the court ruled the other way.
Transport for London (TfL), the city's transport regulator, has now drawn up a plan along with mayor Boris Johnson to require London's iconic black cabs to accept card and contactless payments. Right now, some taxis can be cash-only — leaving modern Londoners reliant on plastic out-of-luck.
The plan is subject to approval by the TfL board in February, according to The Week, and should come into effect by October 2016.
TfL exec Garrett Emmerson said that "mandating card payments in taxis will mean customers no longer have to consider how they might pay for a journey before getting into a taxi. It will also benefit drivers, who will see their services opened up to potential new business."


text:
Penny is personal finance coach. Ava empowers hard-of-hearing and deaf people. Claire is a chatbot for testing consumer products.
An interesting article by business and technology columnist Joanna Glasner, titled “At AI Bot Startups, Cool Kids Rule,” explores some of the names developers and early stage companies are giving to their AI powered bots and solutions.
Glasner writes, “You would think at least one AI-powered humanoid bot would have a properly nerdy name. Maybe a Pointdexter or Hildegarde to add some natural language processing to your customer chat app?
“No such luck. Instead, it sounds like the cool kids are in charge at most digital assistant and bot startups. Think short, peppy names that top the popular baby name lists. There’s Aiden and Riley putting AI to work for marketers. Mya can chip in with recruiting. And Ava helps the hearing impaired. You get the idea.”
She continues, “Those are some of the more than twenty recently funded startups in the Crunchbase dataset with a human-sounding name that are developing some sort of digital assistant or AI bot. They’re working on tools for across a range of consumer and enterprise tasks, from lead generation and customer service to tracking personal finances.
For Glasner’s complete take on the AI chatbot trend, see the full article here.