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In a recent interview with CBC’s Front Burner, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that other countries are quietly backing Canada in its fight against giant tech companies over the Online News Act. The legislation, known as C-18, requires tech giants Google and Meta to pay media outlets for the news content they share or repurpose on their platforms.
Trudeau’s comments come as Meta has already pulled news and content from Canadian publishers and broadcasters in response to the law, while Google has threatened to do the same. However, Trudeau remains steadfast, stating that other nations are encouraging his government to stand firm.
“Countries around the world are actually… people saying, ‘Stand strong because this really matters,'” Trudeau emphasized during his interview. “This is not an easy fight but it’s the right fight to be in.”
The Online News Act, modeled after a similar law in Australia, was introduced by the Liberal government to address the dominance of tech giants in the advertising market, which has significantly impacted traditional news outlets. According to the government, Google and Meta held an 80% share of the $14 billion online ad revenue in Canada in 2022.
Read more: Canada Looks at Revising Its Competition Act
As a news organization, the CBC could potentially benefit financially from C-18. The legislation requires the CBC to provide an annual report on any compensation it receives from digital operators for news content.
Trudeau’s revelation of international support comes as other governments contemplate implementing their own regulations. In California, a bill similar to the Online News Act is making its way through the legislative process, with Meta threatening to remove news from its platforms in the state if it becomes law. Meanwhile, the New Zealand government is seeking public input on its own bill.
Trudeau acknowledged that other jurisdictions are closely observing how the Online News Act unfolds in Canada. He stated, “They’re [saying], ‘You go Canada, you take this fight.’ So we’ll do it. We don’t mind doing it because it’s so important.”
Earlier this month, the Canadian government released draft regulations for C-18 and estimated that Google and Meta would need to pay a combined $234 million to media outlets in order to comply.
The support from other countries reflects the growing concern over the power and influence of tech giants in the news industry. As governments worldwide grapple with this issue, Canada’s Online News Act serves as a potential model for addressing the economic imbalance between tech platforms and traditional media outlets.
Trudeau’s determination to stand up to tech giants and protect the interests of Canadian media outlets has garnered international attention. With other nations watching closely, the outcome of Canada’s fight against tech giants will undoubtedly have implications for future regulations in the global news landscape.


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Microsoft has settled on the next two spots for its nascent retail effort, with the software giant planning to open outlets in Denver and San Diego.
Those two locations will join Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mission Viejo, Calif., as the only places where one can experience the Microsoft Store in person, though Microsoft also has an online version of the store.
The Denver and San Diego stores are expected to open this summer, according to a source, with other outlets likely by fall.
Microsoft’s retail approach takes a lot of cues from Apple, with a heavy focus on presentation, as well as a theater for training and an answer bar where customers can get technical help. There are also some unique-to-Microsoft touches like the tabletop Surface computers, Xbox displays, and a line of flat-screen displays creating a video wall that rings the store.
The company sells PCs from a variety of makers, though the systems come with a “Microsoft Signature” collection of software found only at Microsoft’s online and retail stores.
Info provided by: CNET News

domain: news


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Washington Beef LLC recalls 82,000 pounds
Published 10:00 pm, Friday, June 15, 2007
Washington Beef LLC has recalled 82,000 pounds of beef after testing earlier this week detected potentially harmful bacteria in the water system at its Central Washington beef-processing plant.
The affected beef was processed Monday, although most never made it to consumers, the company said in a statement. It was distributed to wholesalers, processors and stores in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California.
The company's statement called the measure "precautionary" because some of the beef may have been exposed to contaminated water. None of the beef products tested was contaminated and no one has reported falling ill, the statement said.
"Washington Beef regularly conducts tests of our beef before it leaves the plant, and all of these tests have shown levels of coliform bacteria well below minimum allowable standards during the time period in question," Rick Stott, vice president of Agri Beef, Washington Beef's Boise-based parent company, said in a statement. "Our priority remains producing safe and wholesome beef for our customers, and we are as dedicated as ever to continuing that tradition."
On Tuesday, state health officials found coliform bacteria in water samples taken at Washington Beef's plant in Toppenish, about 20 miles south of Yakima. Health officials had issued a precautionary boil-water advisory for the plant's drinking water when an initial test showed the presence of E. coli bacteria, which can be harmful.
A follow-up test did not detect E. coli and the advisory was lifted Friday after further tests showed that the water system met safety standards, according to a Health Department statement. The plant temporarily had been shut down.
Coliform bacteria are commonly found in the environment and are typically harmless. However, the bacteria's presence in drinking water can indicate the existence of other disease-causing organisms.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating, along with the state's Office of Drinking Water. The water system in question supplied only the plant and not the greater community.
Consumers with recalled products should return them to the store for a refund or exchange. For information, visit washingtonbeefrecall.comor call the Washington Beef Consumer hot line at 206-428-3085.
Here is a list of recalled beef products:


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Top Australian chief executives say they are concerned about further turmoil for the global economy amid the ongoing threat of a trade war between the world's two superpowers and fresh fears of a recession in the United States.
The local sharemarket suffered its worst day of the year, with $60 billion in value torched as the benchmark S&P ASX/200 fell 2.85 per cent. The decline came on the heaviest day for Australian corporate earnings so far this year. But the selloff was triggered by moves in the bond market that suggested the world's largest economy could be headed for a recession, and with ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.
Woodside Petroleum chief executive Peter Coleman said he was "concerned" about the outlook for the global economy. “Many people would say technically we are entering a recession globally, and in WA they would say technically we have been in that space for a little while," he said.
"In the long term, I am concerned, though, that a sustained trade war will actually suppress demand … what effect a trade war may have on-demand growth, given half of the demand growth is driven by China."
I think the markets are generally well informed, so clearly there are reasons to be concerned.QBE Group chief executive Pat Regan
Treasury Wine Estates chief executive Michael Clarke said he would "prefer not" to have a trade war, with the company carrying US brands that are sold in China. American wine exported to China has been hit by extra tariffs since the trade tensions broke out between China and the US.
Mr Clarke said that once the trade war stops Treasury would “be able to sell a hell of a lot more American wine in China. I’m absolutely convinced of that.”
QBE Group chief executive Pat Regan said he was concerned about markets but hopeful a recession could be dodged. "I think the markets are generally well informed, so clearly there are reasons to be concerned," he said. "I just think there are other scenarios where a recession could be avoided”.
While the inversion of the yield curve dominated headlines there were other concerning moves in bond markets. The interest rate on the 30 year US government bond sank to record lows below 2 per cent, reflecting lower investor expectations for growth and inflation as well as concerns central banks have run out of power to stimulate activity.
Amid the market rout, US President Donald Trump criticised the US Federal Reserve for not doing enough to stimulate markets, and also suggested he would be willing to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to resolve the trade impasse.
Mr Regan said he was hopeful that if trade tensions were resolved or the US Fed cut interest rates conditions would improve.“I think in the event of avoiding a trade war, I would imagine we’ll actually see a reaction in the yield curves, we’ll see less pessimism about the future."
QBE makes about a third of its revenue in the US, and Mr Regan said insurance was more resilient in a weak economy than other industries.
Iron ore futures in China fell 2.8 per cent, approaching the multi-year lows struck earlier in the week. Gold, widely regarded as a safehaven was trading near six year highs. But in late trading, futures markets pointed to a rebound for stocks in the US and Europe.
Super Retail CEO Anthony Hegarty said he was not particularly about the moves in markets. “A Supercheap Auto customer is currently in the outer suburbs of our capital cities," he said.
"Currently, so long as employment is strong, which it is, so long as we see a bit of wage inflation, which there is potentially signs of. We’re seeing interest rates are down, great, and we’re also seeing some tax benefits coming through.
“For our guy, sitting out there in Parramatta, I think that’s okay. Our customer’s not going to be overly interested in what’s happening on Wall St.”
with Darren Gray, Clancy Yeates, Dominic Powell and Nick Toscano


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Logistics unicorn Xpressbees acquires courier company TrackOn
The logistics and supply chain unicorn aims to enter the SME space with the acquisition.
Pune-based logistics service providerhas acquired New Delhi-based courier company TrackOn, as it looks to tap the small and medium-sized enterprises sector through the latter's franchisee network.
The deal size of the all-cash transaction was not disclosed.
Launched in 2002, TrackOn, which has offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, claims to handle over 2 lakh consignments currently, serving over 5,000 pin codes. The firm turned profitable in FY22 with a profit of Rs 8.22 crore and an operating revenue of Rs 283 crore.
Xpressbees clocked a revenue of around Rs 2,000 crore in FY22. Its delivery operations are focused on ecommerce and it serves over 21,000 pin codes.
The deal is expected to enable Xpressbees to expand its network into smaller towns, particulate across eastern India where TrackOn has a stronghold.
“It (the deal) will empower our respective businesses, change consumer experience for the better, and enable us to build significant synergies across the two organisations," said Amitava Saha, Founder and CEO, Xpressbees, in a statement.
“We will expand Trackon using our network and also look at cross-selling our existing services through the franchise network of Trackon,” Saha told The Economic Times.
"By combining our experience with the capabilities of Xpressbees we will be able to expand our service lines to our existing clients, while continuing to offer best-in-class services," said Prabhat Kumar Anand, Founder and CMD, Trackon, in the statement.
Xpressbees was last valued at $1.1 billion during its $300-million fundraise round led by private equity funds Blackstone Growth, TPG Growth, and ChrysCapital, in February 2022. Existing investors Investcorp and Norwest Venture Partners also participated in the round.
The company recently closed a $40-million investment from Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia, via a secondary purchase from its early investor Elevation capital. A Bloomberg report on August 4 said Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board is looking to pump in $100 million in Xpressbees.
The new-age logistics and supply chain unicorn competes with the likes of Delhivery and Ecom Express.
Anand will continue to lead the Trackon business independently for at least the next two years, and there will be no change to the firm’s brand identity as part of the acquisition, according to the report by The Economic Times.
The other three co-founders of Trackon, Pramod Kumar Singh, Dinesh Rautela and Yoginder Kumar Dabas, have resigned from the company and are moving on, the report added.
Edited by Swetha Kannan


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Hispanic Heritage Festival Helps Support Small Businesses
The Council Bluffs Hispanic Heritage Festival this year will be more than just music and fun. It’s also going to serve as a way to support Latino small business owners.
Centro Latino of Iowa will hold its first online festival for this year’s Hispanic Heritage month. It will have a main stage where they will feature local actors and music, among other things. At the bottom of the screen, people will be able to shop at local Latino-owned businesses in a digital marketplace.
Ramon Calzada, the director of Centro Latino, said he wanted to do a virtual marketplace as a way to promote small Latino businesses during the pandemic when many have had to stay closed or limit the number of people allowed inside.
"That would be a place to explore, especially during the pandemic where everything is closed because you can't have too many people at the place or promote yourself," Calzada said.
He said he hopes attendees will explore the digital marketplace as if it were a real set of booths, and that people will look around at all of them. Calzada said he thought this was a creative way to help stifle the blow of the COVID-19 economy.
"This year, because of the pandemic and how it affected us, we found a different way or creative, innovative way to gather," Calzada said. "I know it's a challenge for all of us, but at least we try."
As of right now, Calzada said at least 15 Latino businesses have signed up for a virtual booth at the festival. He said he expects more to sign up before the festival gets underway Sunday.
One of those businesses isIsland Clothing Brand. Louan Melendez is the owner. She worked with Centro Latino to make T-shirts for the festival. She said it is her dream to run her own business and people have already reached out to her through the festival’s website.
“I am super excited, I didn’t realize it would have such an impact. I am very happy," Melendez said.
It is free to attend the festival and the virtual booths will stay in the online marketplace into November.


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"By Offering the Choice to Pay for our New Laptop with Paypal or Credit Card, Merkamerica made the process ordering to Europe Seemless" - Konstantin Mashkov, Director at GMChess
Past News ReleasesRSS
Glendale, CA (PRWEB) October 20, 2010
A problem going into the new wave of the ever changing international internet world is how to make online transactions safe and affordable for all customers domestically and internationally. That challenge was brought to Merkamericaco.com head on. As one of the leading suppliers of Laptop computers on the internet, they needed a way to expand their payment acceptance methods to allow international customers a chance at their low discount prices.
By installing new security measures and streamlining its shipping process Merkamerica now allows for over 90 countries to pay safely and securely when choosing a laptop or notebook computer from its online store. They have opened up the checkout process to allow all international customers an opportunity to pay with PayPal, credit card, bank transfer, or Moneybookers. This change has resulted in many of its previous international customer inquiries to safely complete transactions at its deeply discounted prices.
Merkamerica is hoping that this change will open up the doors to lower prices even more for its international customers as they continue to add new countries to their payment acceptance list daily.
With the addition of a Facebook Fan page and a Twitter page, catching that ever elusive discount coupon will be that much easier. These pages also allow for more of an interactive experience with their customers, leading to better and more timely support after the sale and keeping customers updated with shipping and delivery status.
Merkamerica Redesigns Website
In addition to these new global challenges, Merkamerica has just completed a full website redesign this past month by a talented team from Orlando, FL. The focus of the redesign was to not only allow its international customers more buying options, but to continue to provide its domestic customers with the best possible shopping experience in the industry. One of the site upgrades includes a 24 Hour customer accessible chat feature to address any questions or concerns and the ability for the customer to save even more with discount and coupon codes. Also, one of the leading features designed was a 'Shop by Specifications' feature which allows customers to narrow down exactly what they are looking for in their laptop.
So Who is Merkamerica Anyway?
Merkamerica has been leading the way in the lowest laptop prices since 1994. Located in Los Angeles, California, they currently offer 30-50% off of new and refurbished notebook computers which are always in stock and always ship the same day. Their current list of discounted Intel Core i7 models include the Dell Precision Covet M6500, M6400 and M4500, the Dell Alienware M15x and M17x, and the consumer friendly Dell Studio XPS 1645.
For a limited time through December 2010, Merkamerica is offering 5% off all purchases for new customers who add Facebook or Twitter. Please see Merkamerica.com for details on redeeming the coupon, or visit their facebook fan or twitter pages.


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Samsung Galaxy A32 Gets Android 12 Update With One UI 4.1
By Nick Rana
16 December 2022
Compared to the A32 5G, the A32 5G’s 6.5-inch 720p LCD panel is nothing spectacular. Although the screen is bright enough to view in direct sunshine, its reflective plastic surface makes it difficult to see the colours
There were some sluggish moments, but for the most part, the phone ran smoothly and quickly as I used it for everyday tasks. That’s all I’d ask for on a phone under $300.
The A32 5G offers a few features that make it worth your time. It is critical that the Federal Communications Commission has approved the A32 5G’s usage of the C-band frequencies
If you expect to keep your phone for just a few years, the N10 5G is well worth a closer look. Even 5G becomes less significant if that’s the case. There is a $349 Google Pixel 4A, whic h has a much better camera and cleaner software but no compatibility for 5G


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MILTON, Ont. — Trent Ogilvie, president of ROCKWOOL North America, has elected to retire after 25 years of leading the company.
"I want to thank Trent for his long years of service to ROCKWOOL and for the successes he helped create in our North America business," said Jens Birgersson, CEO of ROCKWOOL Group. "I also wish him much happiness in this new phase of his life."
Ogilvie built up the North American business from a small operation with 60 employees in 1995 to one with 1,000 employees and sales in the several hundred-million-dollar range today. After turning around the company’s Toronto facility, Ogilvie presided over continued expansion, first in Canada, with the purchase and upgrade of the Grand Forks facility in 1999 and later building a new production line in Milton.
In 2014, the company opened its Mississippi factory, which expanded further in 2017 with the onset of Rockfon production. In early 2021, operations will start at a West Virginia factory, marking the fifth North American production line.
ROCKWOOL announced that Rory Moss, who currently serves as managing director, ROCKWOOL Nordics, will step into the role of president, ROCKWOOL North America effective April 1.
Moss began his ROCKWOOL career in 2007 as vice president for retail sales in North America, where he developed the residential business in Canada and executed a growth-driven strategy in the United States. In 2014, Moss became managing director in ROCKWOOL UK, where he led the profitable turnaround and growth of the U.K. and Ireland business. In 2017, Moss took over responsibility for the Nordics business, aligning a commercially-centric approach and heading the ROCKWOOL Nordics sustainability initiatives.
Moss will relocate from Denmark and assume his new role. To help ensure a smooth transition, Ogilvie will remain available in an advisory role through the end of the year.
ROCKWOOL operates in 39 countries to provide stone wool solutions throughout the world.


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Market Watch: From Beer To Gas – Tariffs On Consumption
A week after he first announced his plan for foreign trade, President Donald Trump signed a bill on Thursday that will enact tariffs on aluminum and steel imports at 10 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Consumers might be wondering why this new law is a point of contention amongst government officials and American businesses. Navigating through these discussions, we can better understand what these tariffs mean for the American economy.
Chief Economic Adviser Gary Cohn attempted to dissuade the Trump Administration from signing off on the tariffs by explaining their shortfalls, before ultimately resigning this past Tuesday when his advice went unheeded. A former executive at Goldman Sachs and credited with getting tax reform to pass, Cohn’s presence in the administration was very influential to stock investors have been viewing the financial markets with trepidation after the president’s first announcement on the matter. Since Cohn’s departure, however, investors have become increasingly interested in the direction of the administration’s economic policies. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also shared concerns over the tariffs on free-trade, commenting that many GOP members are worried about the implications of these tariffs on recent economic growth.
To explain the basics behind these tariffs people are worried about, they are levies similar to taxes that are applied to the value of foreign purchases. On one hand, these tariffs can aide domestic businesses with foreign competition by making these metals more expensive to buy for U.S. consumers. On the other hand, businesses whose goods and services rely on steel and aluminum will have to pay more for the metals. Some companies can take on the extra cost without losing value in their production, but others will have to cut back on costs, such as labor, to offset these levies.
Aluminum imports have a less severe tariff at 10 percent and few have argued its benefit to American businesses in terms of competition. Head of the Aluminum Association Heidi Brock argued that imposing the tariff on China could ease competition in aluminum, for which global prices have decreased due to China’s overproduction of the good. However, Brock also warns the tariff will impact the 712,000 employees that work in aluminum production and related businesses as 60 percent of the aluminum supply come from imports. An example of this impact could be seen in the beer industry as reports show the tariff would further complicate the challenges smaller breweries face.
In recent years the industry has seen an increasing number of competitors enter, with most of the breweries selling beer in cans due to its affordability. However, this increase in sellers has caused a rise in costs for producing beer and made it difficult to increase sale prices. Well-known beer brands have market advantage and can afford the aluminum tariff. In contrast, small brewers like Oskar Blues and Fullsteam will likely have to implement layoffs and change their business models to offset its cost to their production and maintain competition. Oskar Blues Marketing Director Chad Melis estimated the tariff will cost them an additional $400,000 each year – equal to one-percent of their revenue from last year. Fullsteam Founder Sean Wilson commented that the North Carolina-based brewery would have to find cheaper alternatives to their local producers to keep up with expected cost increases.
The CEO of TimkenSteel Tim Timken has also made similar arguments on the benefits of imposing tariffs on China regarding steel imports. In the last few years, the company has been forced to lay-off some of their workers, hiring less back only recently, due to China’s influence over lower global prices on steel. Timken uses the Bush administration's 30 percent tariff on steel imports as an example of why the markets won’t face much damage since there were no changes in the unemployment rate or economic growth in 2002. Yet, that tariff was removed within a year at the behest of the U.S. International Trade Commission who reported that companies relying on steel were forced to cut back on production costs. Additionally, one-fifth of these companies resolved to offset the tariff by imposing higher prices on consumers.
It appears the 25 percent tariff on steel will lead steel-dependent businesses to make similar decisions along those same lines. In an interview with CNN, CEO of Canary LLC Dan Eberhart says he will have to lay-off around 17 percent, at least 25 to 50, of his employees. Every year, the Denver-based company spends around $10 million on steel imports to fund their oilfield services such as pressure control equipment and wellheads, to name a few. Eberhart also reported that they’ve paid 20 percent more on steel imports since the president’s tariff announcement last week.
This is just one example of challenges the American Petroleum Institute (API) argued would occur with the steel tariff. In addition to the operations like the ones performed by Canary, the API also noted services such as production facilities, liquefied natural gas terminals and petrochemical plants also rely on steel imports and as such the oil and natural gas industry will suffer greater costs from enlisting these services.
However, the tariffs may prove to be less detrimental to the economy than most believe. China is just one of the biggest exporters that the U.S. receive their steel from, with other steel imports coming from Brazil, South Korea, Mexico and Canada. After a series of negotiations leading up to the bill’s signing, the Trump administration has scaled back on the rigidity of the tariffs by exempting Canada and Mexico from them. The president has also extended this flexibility for other allies open to negotiations, naming Australia as an example for another country exempt from the tariffs.
As it stands, there’s evidence from both sides that argue for and against the tariffs. Considering the rise of inflation, an increase in prices could benefit the economy by staying ahead of the inflation rate. Though with wage growth rising slowly, coupled with the potential jobs cuts to related industries, the tariffs on aluminum and steel could make affording those higher prices difficult. For now, all consumers can do is wait patiently on the results of the fiscal stimulus on the economy.


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Bedford Borough Council has arranged with bus companies give local bus pass holders free travel during peak time.
Normally, this group would pay £1 to travel before 9.30am. However, with shops in the town centre including offering special opening times first thing in the morning for older people to do any shopping that they need to, it is hoped that this change will make it a little easier for this group.
People are urged to pay heed to the Government guidance to stop the spread of coronavirus, and follow social distancing measures as far as is possible.
Mayor Dave Hodgson said “Local shops are really pulling out the stops to help older people during this extraordinary time, and as a Council we want to do all we can to help. By getting rid of the £1 concessionary fare, we hope to make it a little easier for people to get into town and take advantage of these special early shopping hours for older people so they can get their necessary shopping done, while keeping safe and social distancing as much as possible.”


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Tight supply coupled with demand is pushing up prices in Scotland
The latest Your Move/Acadata Scottish House Price Index released last week on 21st April 2017 headlined ‘Prices heading north’.
According to the latest Your Move Scottish House Price Index report, house prices in Scotland grew strongly in February with prices up by 1.4% and growing 3.3% annually.
The report reveals: New peaks in five areas and growth across the country, tight supply is helping to push up prices. First time buyers also continue to drive demand, with prices for flats growth of 5.1% annually.
Christine Campbell, Your Move managing director in Scotland, said: “First time buyers are continuing to drive the market in Scotland, but the window of opportunity opened by interest rate cuts last year may be narrowing. Tight supply coupled with their demand is pushing up prices across the country”.
Read the Your Move Scottish House Price Index report in full click here.


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According to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, about 66 per cent of the foreign direct investment (FDI) in electronics and manufacturing has happened over the last three years. He added that in the next six to seven years, India would be a $1 trillion digital economy.
Speaking at Invest Karnataka 2022 – Global Investors Meet, Chandrasekhar noted that in 2014, over 92 per cent of all mobile phones used in the country were imported, but today over 97 per cent are made in India. Despite the deep disruption caused by the pandemic, India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world and has received the highest FDI in the world. India has also demonstrated the highest-ever exports in its history.
Further, the minister said that the opportunities in the technology ecosystem have moved systematically from technology services to startup innovation ecosystems and electronics and semiconductor manufacturing. These opportunities have also moved to areas such as artificial intelligence, Web 3.0, and 5G mobile network.


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Apple’s explosive rally from near $350.00/share last November to well over $600.00/share earlier this month has left many traders talking about whether the stock is now in a bubble and whether it will burst. The answer to that is “no.”
“Fundamental and technical indicators have been sending conflicting signals about whether Apple is in a bubble From Nov. 25 through April 9,” says Colin Cieszynski, senior market analyst at CMC Markets (http://www.cmcmarkets.co.uk/) Canada. “Apple shares gained 74.9%. Over the same time frame, the Dow Industrials went up 15.1%. The company also has blasted through the high end of a channel and the chart has gone parabolic or nearly vertical. Technically this suggests that Apple is probably in a bubble and vulnerable. In contrast,fundamental indicators suggest that the stock could still have room to run for a while.”
To me, it looks as if the stock will run for a loooong time. Apple’s weighting in the NASDAQ 100 has jumped from 15% to 19% in recent months (though it remains below the 20% level it was at in late 2010). Cieszynski says alarm bells could be triggered were this to rise into the 25-30% range in the coming months. My prediction: this won’t happen. In fact, look for a sub-15% weighting within three months.
Cieszynsk says Apple’s current price-to-earnings (P/E) Ratio has climbed up toward 18 but still remains low relative to most of the last decade. Again, look for that to climb within three months as Mac sales jump due to a revved, Ivy Bridge-based desktop and laptop line, as well as the roll-out of the Mountain Lion operating system. After this we have the next gen iPhone to spur sales and — perhaps — the rumored iTV by the holiday season.
Companies with a higher growth rate can support a higher P/E ratio. With one being considered average for the PEG ratio and 2-3 sending out warning signals, Apple’s current 0.3 ratio suggests considerable upside remains possible.
As CMC Markets notes, with the explosive rally in Apple stock has also come a parabolic increase in expectations for the company’s products and financial results. Recent idle chatter around the markets of a $1,000 share price or a trillion dollar market cap ($1,072 per share) suggests that hopes have become extremely high for the company’s continued success. As well they should be. I’m not sure about a $1,000 price share, but I’d be willing to bet on at least $800 by year’s end.
— Dennis Sellers


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The European Union is set to propose new laws to get control over the intensity of large tech organizations, including measures to guarantee clients are ensured, more modest adversaries are dealt with decently, and illicit substance is managed.
Leader Vice President Margrethe Vestager plot two draft laws that the EU’s chief Commission intends to present toward the beginning of December. They add up to a general redesign of advanced guidelines, however the last form will rely upon dealings with the EU Parliament and the coalition’s 27 part states.
The primary, the Digital Services Act, means to refresh EU web based business rules by making tech organizations assume greater liability for hazardous items, for example, expecting them to check merchants’ ID so as to get rid of “dodgy brokers.” But it will likewise put a more prominent onus on the organizations to manage illicit substance, for example, disdain discourse, remembering announcing for what they’ve never really down that material.
Vestager flagged that tech organizations would need to uncover more about how they choose what clients see, saying that they currently have the ability to control political discussions and ensure or sabotage majority rule government.
“They should disclose to us how they choose what data and what items to prescribe to us, and which ones to stow away – to enable us to impact those choices, rather than essentially having them made for us,” Vestager said. “Also, they need to disclose to us who’s paying for the promotions that we see, and why we’ve been focused by a specific advertisement.”
U.S. legislators brought comparative worries up in a Senate hearing Wednesday, during which they blamed the CEOs for Twitter, Facebook and Google of smothering moderate perspectives or reprimanded them for gradualness in policing disdain discourse, falsehood and other substance inducing brutality.
A subsequent proposition, the Digital Markets Act, covers new principles for the greatest online “guards,” a reference to Silicon Valley monsters like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple.
Tech organizations will be prohibited from giving their own personal items more noticeable quality in indexed lists. Furthermore, they’ll be precluded from utilizing information accumulated from their business clients to contend with them in different business sectors, which Vestager said can “genuinely harm the reasonableness in these business sectors.” She talked in an online discourse to the European Policy Center, a Brussels-based research organization.
Enormous tech organizations will likewise need to make it simpler for clients to switch stages, or to utilize more than one online assistance, she said. EU controllers have been worried that a few organizations can consume a market by cornering every one of its clients and information – the backbone of the computerized economy.
Legitimate requirement is likewise significant, and the draft proposition call for better participation among public experts in the EU.
“Also, it will give the EU capacity to step in, when we have to, to uphold the guidelines against extremely enormous stages,” Vestager said.


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Are YouTube and Netflix next?
Earlier this year we asked you if you cared if the Nintendo Switch had any video apps, and the community was fairly split. A lot of you responded that you already had 10 or so devices that could do the same thing, so why would it matter? Another group stated that it was just another reason why Nintendo was behind the times, unable to capitalize on
I was somewhere in the middle. Remember when Microsoft got lambasted for focusing so much on “all in one entertainment?” Well if Nintendo is going for a mostly gaming machine, that’s fine. Of course, I’d love to be able to take my Switch with me while traveling and watch a video on it every now and then.
The time has finally come for an app rollout either way, as a NicoNico streaming app will hit the Japanese eShop (which you can easily nab from anywhere). Time will tell if the west will get YouTube and Twitch, among other commercial video apps like Hulu and Netflix. Either way Nintendo has a huge launch ahead of them this month with Splatoon 2, which will herald the coming of the real online system and the new app.
【今夜】Nintendo Switch niconicoリリース！
— ニコニコ＠ニコ動公式 (@nico_nico_info) July 12, 2017


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Facebook has become notorious for making very basic changes to its system without bothering to tell anyone. The latest involves something many users consider pretty personal -- their email address.
Without the slightest notice to anyone, Facebook issued its users a new email address, one that combines their user id with a "@facebook.com" suffix, as in "firstname.lastname@example.org"
The change isn't really all that significant since Facebook didn't cancel or change anyone's existing email address. It simply added the new one to users' profiles. But it has infuriated privacy advocates and more than a few bloggers who have gotten onto it.
|Consumers rate Facebook|
But not to worry, it's quite easy to change your email address back to whatever you want it to be. Just go to your Facebook profile, click on "About" or "Update Info" and edit your contact information.
“This is Facebook’s sneaky way of trying to get people to use the Facebook email more often,” said Dave Awl, an Illinois resident who wrote “Facebook Me! A Guide to Socializing, Sharing, and Promoting on Facebook.”
“If Facebook is your main email, that increases the amount of time you spend on Facebook,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times. “The more time and the more page views spent, the more ads Facebook can sell.”
Awl suggested a link on Lifehacker that will walk you through the process.


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The Risks of Remaking the Auto Industry
The auto business has reached an exciting but perilous inflection point. As it emerged from the 2008/2009 downturn, new forces, quite separate from the financial gale battering us all, were transforming the industry. Globalization, the growing role of electric vehicles, shifting demographics and shortage of qualified engineers are among a variety of factors restructuring the future of of the automobile.
As the industry enters this new phase, major players, on whom we rely for jobs, technology and innovation, are about to place megabets on game-changing business models and new technologies. But megarisks accompany megabets. Let’s look at both:
Globalization has dissolved traditional market barriers. The industry is now truly global. Chinese car manufacturing is the new juggernaut, and China is the largest automobile market in the world.
The Chinese are addressing the gaps that exist in their engineering expertise, manufacturing quality, global management know-how and supply chain. Once these gaps are closed the Chinese will enter the U.S. and European markets with cheap cars and severely disrupt the low end of the market. The low cost cars will hit U.S. and European shores in the next five years or so. Only radical new solutions can address this threat.
Likewise, the U.S., European and Japanese car companies will compete with local incumbents as they capitalize on fast growth opportunities in emerging markets like China, India, Brazil and Russia. However, these companies will need to make the right kinds of cars and learn to make money at sub 5,000 price points.
RISK: Price levels that are completely outside their whole paradigm. The lure of opportunities in the era of green technology has attracted a slew of automobile startups, but many of them will not survive in this industry.
These “micro OEMs” plan to produce alternate vehicles including electric vehicles and are pinning their hopes on unproven business models such as subscriptions, innovative but inadequately proven technology, and fragile operational infrastructures in a nascent smart grid.
The young EV companies are vulnerable to factors that are entirely beyond their control, the biggest threat being the cost of gasoline at the pump. Stable gas prices weaken the case for electric vehicles in the minds of the consumer. In addition, the internal combustion engine has had a tummy tuck and facelift. Lean and mean, it is squeezing more miles out of every drop of gasoline. In the near term at least, most consumers will be reluctant to choose EVs if there are stable fuel alternatives. That means conventional cars are still the future.
RISK: New and unknown technology and business risks of EV, batteries and infrastructure. As cars morph into computers on wheels, they will be connected to the Internet and each other.
This paradigm will spawn a whole new breed of entrepreneurs that will drive innovation. Smaller companies with modest budgets are likely to pioneer the adoption of collaborative innovation models. They will reach out to the passionate cult of automobile enthusiasts in mature markets. They will be able to harness bright ideas from the “bottom of the pyramid” in emerging markets. These potentially disruptive practices will challenge the larger car companies that have mature but inflexible product development processes. (DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, recently crowd-sourced the concept development of a combat military vehicle.)
RISK: Can car companies be blind-sided by some novel, crowd-related innovation that catches them completely by surprise? Automobiles must and will incorporate more unconventional, even rare and exotic materials in the future.
Fuel economy mandates will spur the development of lighter cars with materials like aluminum, magnesium and composites. EVs and hybrid vehicles will use materials such as lithium and rare earth metals like neodymium and lanthanum.
RISK: Ensuring availability and cost stability of these materials is a geopolitical challenge. For example, 85% of magnesium is mined in China. Lithium, neodymium and lanthanum, all crucial materials used in hybrid cars, are imported primarily from China.
A new generation of young drivers, graying baby boomers and a large number of first-time drivers in emerging markets will challenge ergonomists and cultural anthropologists.
Car companies have decades of legacy experience in developing products for the baby boomer generation. The digital Gen Y and Gen Z kids however are quite unlike their analog parents. Many of them are not in awe of the raw power under the hood. Car companies will need Apple-like savvy to endear themselves to a generation that will embrace high tech car interiors that are extensions of their unique lifestyles.
Prakash “Krish” Krishnaswamy, is President of EASi, a a division of Allegis/Aerotek Group, and a supplier of specialty engineering and design services to global car makers in the U.S., Europe, China and India.
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Only a few more shopping days are left before Christmas, and several footwear styles have emerged as hot-ticket items with consumers.
Last week, news surfaced that L.L. Bean’s classic duck boots have sold out, with a 100,000-person-long backlog. And according to Experian, the phrase “Uggs” is one of the most searched-for words on the Web this season.
Meanwhile, house shoes continue to be a popular stocking stuffer. Yvonne Yip, VP of merchandising for Gilt.com, told FN earlier this month, “Slippers have been the best category [within cold-weather shoes], selling out with the highest demand in our sales.”
Cozy and weather-resistant shoes could certainly come in handy this week, as snow is expected to hit the Northwest and rain could drench the entire East Coast.
In the athletic realm, basketball sneakers remain a must-get for the season. The Air Jordan 6 Retro Mid style generated plenty of revenue for the brand over Thanksgiving weekend, according to The NPD Group. Also, this month Nike has been releasing a stream of new looks from marquee athletes LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, some of which are holiday-themed.
And in the spirit of new resolutions (and in the wake of those holiday treats), many shoppers will be picking up pairs of running shoes from hot brands such as Asics, New Balance and Brooks.
But then there are those who prefer footwear with a little more luxury, like, say a glittering sandal from Stuart Weitzman or an ornate pump by Manolo Blahnik. FN asked designers for their own suggestions for the holiday season, and the answers were covet-worthy. For instance, Blahnik told us, “A matador pump in satin silk always works for me.”
But maybe you disagree. Vote below in FN’s latest poll, and tell us which types of footwear you hope to see under the Christmas tree.


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Dallas Farmers Market: Renovations include new food, entertainment, parking
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The Dallas Farmers Market is aiming to revitalize itself with new food vendors, entertainment, parking and four restaurants.
It also has partnered with GROW North Texas, a nonprofit that will procure farmers, local vendors and food artisans for the market.
On Aug. 29, the market plans to open The Shed, a venue featuring farmers, chefs and foodies. The Shed, formerly known as Shed 1, will feature new vendors along with crowd favorites. The market is currently operating daily out of Shed 3.
Carts will be made available at The Shed and a stage will be built at the east end for weekend highlights that will include live music, chef demonstrations and cooking classes.
The market also plans to open four anchor restaurants with interior and patio dining in Shed 2, which is currently being remodeled. Shed 2 will have a mix of local artisan and food vendors when it opens in spring 2015. It will also feature Mudhen, a 5,500 square-foot, free-standing restaurant and beer garden developed by restaurateur Shannon Wynne, who is also responsible for the creation of Flying Saucer and Meddlesom Moth.
The market also is planning to begin construction on a new parking structure in fall.
DF Market Holdings LLC bought Dallas Farmers Market from the city in May of last year. It has since been leading the revitalization of the market.
Danielle covers technology, retail, restaurants and hospitality for the Dallas Business Journal. Subscribe to our email newsletters.
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As the famous computer scientist Alan Kay said, “the best way to predict the future is to invent it”, and the armies of clever robots imagined by sci-fi writers of the past are now marching into our workplace and homes. This eclectic bunch include automated arms, machine-vision eyes and humanoids. Artificial intelligence, another big sub-sector of the advanced tech universe, has also become integral to many business sectors, including customer service and big-data analytics.
WHAT’S DRIVING DEMAND?
Rising quality and safety standards, as well as the need for productivity and efficiencies are being met with increasingly sophisticated robotics and artificial intelligence. Similarly, changing demographics, such as an ageing population, are increasing the need for robots as carers. The cost of robots has fallen by 27% over the past 10 years and is projected to drop by another 22% over the next decade, while a standard Baxter cobot (a robot designed to work alongside humans) now costs approximately $24,000, compared with a traditional industrial robot at between $100,000 and $150,000.
Although cobots account for just a fraction of global industrial robot sales, less than 5% in 2015, the low cost could revolutionise production and manufacturing.
There were 1,631,600 robot units shipped in 2015, this is forecast to increase to 2,589,000 units by the end of 2019 by the International Federation of Robots (IFR).
Leaders in robot density are currently Germany, Japan and South Korea, and this is driven by the automotive industry. China has the biggest market with a share of 27% of the total supply in 2015.
“The cost of robots has fallen by 27% over the past 10 years and is projected to drop by another 22% over the next decade”
Cost of a standard
Market research firm Tractica projects the industrial robot market may grow to more than $150bn in revenues by 2020, with revenue from non-industrial robots projected to increase from $20bn to $130bn between 2015 and 2020.
Sales growth is forecast to be higher in China than any other country, with sales to Asia and Australia predicted by the IFR to grow from 190,200 shipments last year to 285,700 shipments in 2019 (see chart below). The growth is driven by falling prices of components and advances in processors.
Estimated yearly shipments of multi-purpose industrial robots (100s)
These changes mean the investment universe for robotics has outstripped the broader equity market. The Robotics Investment Universe delivered superior returns of 271% between 1999 and 2016 compared with the MSCI World at 66% according to Credit Suisse.
Changing workplace legislation, demands and demographics will all increase the need for robots, AI and automation.


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Chip maker Nvidia has formally introduced the Tegra 4 mobile processor, claiming it is the world's fastest mobile chip.
The Tegra 4 -- which was previously known by the codename "Wayne" -- has at its heart 72 custom Nvidia GeForce GPU cores, giving it six-times the graphics processing power of the current Tegra 3. Backing up the GPU is a new quad-core variant of ARM's Cortex-A15 CPU, a chip that Nvidia claims "delivers 2.6x faster web browsing and breakthrough performance for apps."
The Tegra 4 also comes with worldwide support for 4G LTE voice and data by utilizing the optional fifth-generation Nvidia Icera i500 chipset. Not only is this new chip far more power efficient than conventional modems, the i500 is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor, yet delivers four times the processing capability.
"Tegra 4 provides enormous processing power and efficiency to power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto systems and PCs," said Phil Carmack, senior vice president of the Tegra business at Nvidia. "Its new capabilities, particularly in the area of computational photography, will help improve a whole range of existing products and lead to the creation of exciting new ones."
To allow devices to last longer between charges, the Tegra 4 includes a second-generation battery saver core for low power usage, and PRISM 2 Display technology that reduces backlight power. These, and other improvements means the Tegra 4 consumes up to 45 percent less power than the Tegra 3, allowing for up to 14 hours of HD video playback on devices.
The Tegra 4 also comes equipped with Computational Photography Architecture, which automatically delivers high dynamic range (HDR) photos and video by combining the processing power of the GPU, CPU and the camera's image-signal processor.


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Global label printing giant, Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), is buying 58-year-old leading Australian provider of in-mould label solutions, Herrods, for an undisclosed sum. Read more
Some 100 firefighters have battled a huge blaze at the Visy recycling factory at Wingfield in Adelaide's north, eventually bringing it under control, with the damage bill estimated to run to millions of dollars.
Funding is now available for Recycling and Clean Energy projects under the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI).
Melbourne-based supplier of equipment and materials, Result Group, has joined GS1 Australia as a Strategic Alliance Partner to help drive its growth in the Australian market.
Exchange for Change is changing the fixed price per material type for supplier contributions that fund the Return and Earn NSW CDS, while a new simplified approach will be taken on in the ACT.
On-pack track and trace technology, in the form of smart labels, is being embraced by Australasia’s meat producers, as a tool to deliver supply chain transparency, product authentication, proof of provenance, consumer engagement, and now, COVID-19 clearance.
PKN talks... a boost for B2B suppliers as balance of power shifts in 2021, with Paul Allen of Margin Partners.
Farmers need support from the supermarkets and government to reduce plastic packaging on their produce, says Victorian vegetable grower, Natasha Shields.
Specially introduced for the 2021 season, Heinz is helping fans make a mark with their footy snacks this season with the creation of limited-edition tomato ketchup bottles that celebrate all 18 AFL clubs.
Customised sorting developer Tomra, and V-Shapes, supplier of vertically integrated products and services for sustainable single-dose packaging, say the V-Shapes sachets are easily detected in the waste stream for proper sorting, thanks to their polypropylene construction.
Exair's new, patented Intellistat Ion Air Gun is a handheld and lightweight solution to static elimination in clean processes or sensitive assembly work.
A new $18 million baked chip line at Smith’s factory in Regency Park, South Australia is operating 24/7 and has created 28 new full-time permanent positions. PepsiCo ANZ CEO Danny Celoni said the investment shows the company’s commitment to local manufacturing.
Food and beverage businesses are seeing the merit in partnering with Landcare Australia to achieve sustainability goals. For 4Pines Brewing Company, it was a "no brainer".
Saputo Dairy Australia has inked a 10-year large-scale renewable power purchase agreement with ENGIE, a global leader in renewable energy. It will reduce its CO2 emissions by more than 60,000 tonnes in 2023.


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An increase in truck shipping tonnage is translating into multimillion-dollar investments and increased hiring at local trucking firms.
Memphis truckload carrier Empire Express Inc. has bought 57 tractors and 100 trailers this year, bringing the company to 190 tractors and 500 trailers. It generally buys 50 tractors and from 50 to 100 trailers per year.
New truck tractors typically cost more than $100,000; trailers can cost up to $30,000.
Tim Gatlin, Empire Express president and chief executive officer, says his company also has hired 55 drivers this year.
“When the bottom fell out in late 2008, it really affected the trucking industry and a lot of capacity has left the industry,” he says. “Now there aren’t enough trucks for the freight which needs to be moved.”
Memphis-based Mid-South Transport Inc. recently purchased 26 new trucks to be delivered in the fall and is looking to purchase 40 new trailers.
TAG Truck Enterprises LLC, which sells Freightliner, Sprinter and Fuso trucks, also is finding dividends in the increased tonnage, according to company president Tommy Earl.
“Our industry is almost always the first into a recession and the first out,” he says. “Last year, we saw weak demand compared to this year, but this year our business is much better.”
From Jan. 1 through July 26 this year, TAG has sold 683 trucks, compared to 449 during a similar period last year.
The American Trucking Associations truck tonnage index, which represents the change in tonnage hauled nationally, is up 6.6 percent year-to-date compared with the same period last year.
In full-year 2009, 8.8 billion tons of freight were transported domestically by trucks, according to ATA numbers, the lowest number for truck tonnage since 1995. The organization doesn’t have year-to-date numbers for 2010.
The latest numbers are encouraging, says Ronald Lancaster, chairman of the Tennessee Trucking Association.
“However, we are guarded in that we feel like there is an economic recovery at hand, but we don’t think it’s as strong as some people might feel,” he says.
Lancaster is also president of Mid-South Transport, a truckload carrier with warehouses in Memphis and Smyrna, Tenn.
“We have elected to be cautious in our growth,” Lancaster says. “If you get out there in the fast lane and start to grow and then you don’t have the means to support that growth, that’s when I see premature failures.”
Empire Express has seen total revenues of $18.2 million through the first half of 2010, a 21.3 percent increase compared to $15 million the first half of 2009.
Empire Express has cut its driver turnover rate to 45 percent, which is low in an industry which normally has up to 100 percent annual turnover rate due to seasonal drivers and competition among trucking companies.
“Drivers are becoming more of a challenge,” Gatlin says. “It just seems there is more of a driver shortage. We’re having to work harder and smarter to retain drivers.”
Truck drivers average $55,000 annually in the industry.
Tommy Hodges, chairman of ATA, says that the businessmen he’s talked to across the country have indicated their business is up.
“I think we’ll have bumps of short durations over the rest of the year,” he says. “As we move into 2011, I think we’ll see more substantial growth.”
Shelbyville, Tenn.-based Titan Transfer Inc., where Hodges is chairman, recently ordered 100 trucks in anticipation of growth.
“Now that we’re seeing a call for additional equipment, we as an industry might look at increasing our rates to pay for it,” he says. “I think the market is going to see a 5 to 7 percent increase in trucking rates maybe over the next year.”
Mid-South Transport Inc.
President: Ronald Lancaster
Address: 2765 Profit
Phone: (901) 332-8600
Web site: www.midsouthtransport.com
email@example.com | (901) 259-1732


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The latest arrest of Emma Coronel Aispuro – the wife of drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman – follows a telenovela-design lifetime that straddled hyper-violent Mexican cartels, fame and motherhood. And it is a existence that Coronel shared with her thousands of followers on social media platforms like TikTok.
The previous elegance queen made use of social media to give her enthusiasts a peek into the deluxe lifestyle she lived and served delivery the large #CartelLife movement that is booming on apps like TikTok.
Functions, TikTok and Fact Reveals: the luxuries of Emma Coronel.
Although Emma Coronel Aispuro is now


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Sony Introduces PlayStation Network PLAY
Sony has today introduced its new PlayStation Network PLAY program, which intends to showcase four of the season’s top action games.
The lineup includes Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition (Aug. 23), The Baconing (Aug. 30), BloodRayne: Betrayal (Sep. 6) and Renegade Ops (Sep. 13).
Beginning August 9, players will be able to begin pre-ordering these games and Sony plans to dish out various incentives for those who purchase any PLAY title.
For anyone who picks up all four titles, Sony will give out a free promo code for SOE’s PayDay: The Heist.
PlayStation Plus subscribers will get an additional 20% off the purchase of any PLAY title.


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WASHINGTON — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) and its recently formed Biosimilars Council have praised the enactment of new legislation in five states to allow automatic substitution for Food and Drug Administration-approved interchangeable biologic products.
Bills in Colorado (SB 71), Georgia (SB 51), Tennessee (SB 984), Utah (HB 279) and Washington (SB 5935) reflect core principles embraced in language agreed upon by GPhA and a wide coalition of brand manufacturers and other health care entities.
“GPhA and the Biosimilars Council commend Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Utah and Washington for passing laws that create a competitive market for biosimilar products and provide patient access to affordable versions of these critical medicines,” said Ralph Neas, president and chief executive officer of GPhA. “We are pleased these states have embraced a framework for these new medicines that reflects our organizations’ core principles: uphold the current pharmacy practice of automatic substitution; rely on the science-based determination of interchangeability by the Food and Drug Administration; and treat interchangeables and their corresponding brand biologics the same during dispensing at the pharmacy.”
The association notes that as biosimilars become available in this country states likely will pursue legislation that governs automatic substitution of biological products that the FDA deems interchangeable.
Since 2012, state substitution legislation has evolved significantly, and it continues to be introduced across the country. The GPhA position has not changed: The association strongly opposes legislation that includes mandatory prescriber notification requirements that could undermine confidence in the safety and effectiveness of biosimilars. Importantly, in the laws passed in these five states, communication would occur whether an originator biologic or an interchangeable biologic is dispensed, providing a level, competitive playing field for all of these medicines, said Neas.
“Notification, which GPhA opposes, is an alert before the medication is dispensed that a biosimilar or interchangeable biologic will be substituted for a brand biologic. Conversely, communication, a practice favored by GPhA and the broad coalition in support of last year’s compromise, takes place once the drug is dispensed and usually occurs automatically through electronic records, giving patients and providers comfort without altering existing pharmacy practice.
“The GPhA Biosimilars Council looks forward to working with state legislatures, supply chain participants, stakeholders, patients and others to expedite access to safe and effective biosimilar medicines,” said Neas.
The new bills call attention to how GPhA and such groups as the Biotechnology Industry Organization are working toward resolving long-standing differences on the issue.
For example, BIO president and chief executive officer Jim Greenwood said that the Senate bill in Washington state that Neas praised is in sync with BIO’s own principles on biologic substitution. “Senate Bill 5935 enjoys the support of physicians across the country, patient groups, and both innovator biologic and biosimilar manufacturing companies. This bill includes communication on all biologic medicines dispensed in order to maintain a consistent and complete medical record.”
“By signing this bill into law, Gov. [Jay] Inslee has added Washington to a growing list of states that allow retail pharmacies to substitute interchangeable biologic medicines.”
As announced in April, the Biosimilars Council “is designed to meet the unique needs of health care companies as they navigate this emerging space,” said Craig Wheeler, GPhA board chairman, and president and CEO of Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc.
“In addition to being a voice with policy makers, this new division will be an invaluable partner for patients, providers, manufacturers, consumer groups and stakeholders from all corners of the supply chain seeking to stay apprised of critical developments regarding biosimilars,” Wheeler said. “The GPhA Biosimilars Council also will be a key resource for organizations seeking relationship-building opportunities, and a forum for in-depth scientific, regulatory, legislative and policy discussions.”
The council is the industry’s first educational resource for the general public and patient groups seeking information about the safety and effectiveness of biosimilars. Among its initial offerings is a new educational handbook that explains the benefits and science behind biosimilar medicines and who will benefit from access to these medicines and also outlines legal and regulatory frameworks.
“GPhA and its members historically have been the industry pioneers on biosimilars, beginning with their role as the fundamental organizing force behind the law which created the biosimilar pathway. The Biosimilars Council is the next evolution in this leadership, and will ensure these new medicines will deliver tremendous benefits for both our health and our health care system,” said Neas. “We look forward to continuing to work with our strategic partners and all stakeholders who share our vision of the transformative potential of biosimilars and interchangeable biologics.”


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LONDON — Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong agreed on Friday to buy the European telecommunications company Orange Austria in a deal worth 1.3 billion euros, or $1.7 billion, including debt.
Hutchison, which already operates mobile phone businesses across Europe, is expanding its presence into the European country as consolidation in Continent’s mobile phone industry continues. It is buying Orange Austria through its local subsidiary, Hutchison 3G Austria, from France Telecom, which owns a 35 percent stake in the Austrian company, and the private equity firm Mid Europa Partners, which controls the remainder, the company said in a statement.
The proposed deal would make Hutchison Austria the third-largest mobile phone operator in the country behind Telekom Austria and T-Mobile Austria.
Hutchison’s expanded operations would give it a 22 percent market share in the country with earnings of more than 700 millions in 2011, according to a company statement. Orange Austria had revenue of 548 million euros, and posted a 36.2 million euro net profit in 2010, the latest annual figures available.
After the takeover is completed by the middle of 2012, Hutchison said it would sell assets, including mobile phone towers and intellectual property, worth 390 million euros to Telekom Austria. Hutchison said it expected to generate a one-time savings of at least 500 million euros through the acquisition.
By the close of trading in Hong Kong on Friday, Hutchison’s share price had risen 3.3 percent. France Telecom said the sale of its 35 percent stake in Orange Austria would result in 70 million euro profit. In December, the French company sold its Swiss operations to private equity firm Apax Partners for 1.6 billion euros.
JPMorgan Chase advised Hutchison on the deal, while Morgan Stanley advised France Telecom and Mid Europa Partners.
JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley declined to comment.


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Dates for the Nasscom Game Developers Conference 2015 (NGDC 2015), India's premier industry event for game developers and publishers alike, have been announced. This year, NGDC will take place between November 5 to November 7 at the Westin Pune.
As always, Nasscom promises a host of industry legends and experts who would be taking to the stage and sharing their insights on game development. Headlining this year's event are Academy Award-nominated Henry LaBounta and freelance game designer, Ste Curran according to a mailer sent by Nasscom to game developers.
LaBounta's credits include visual direction for entries in Electronic Arts' FIFA and Need for Speed franchises as well as films such as Mission: Impossible II and Minority Report. He currently is Zynga's Chief Visual Officer.
As for Curran, he has consulted on a host of projects including critically acclaimed games such as Volume and Sunset through his company, Agency.
And this is just the beginning. A representative for Nasscom informed us that more speakers will be announced closer to the event. You can check out more details at the official site.
Last year's NGDC saw a host of interesting perspectives from industry juggernauts such as Google and Rovio, both of whom seem to have doubled down on their efforts in the country. With events like Pocket Gamer Connects giving NGDC some stiff competition, in terms of value Indian developers can gain, we're more than curious to see what else NGDC has in store this year.


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Members of a labor union picketed a non-union grocery store in Sacramento, Calif. The US Supreme Court declined an appeal challenging the constitutionality of two state laws that allow such picketing.
The US Supreme Court declined on Monday to take up an appeal challenging the constitutionality of two California laws that allow labor unions to picket on the private property of a targeted non-union business, despite the objections of the property owner.
Critics of the laws say they violate the First Amendment rights of the property owner and the Equal Protection Clause by establishing a content-based preference that affords a higher level of protection to the speech of union officials during a labor dispute than to other would-be speakers.
The issue arose in a case involving a grocery store in Sacramento, Calif., owned by the Ralphs grocery chain.
The store’s workers are not unionized. Shortly after it opened in 2007, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 8 began picketing the business five days a week, eight hours a day.
The group of four to eight union members picketed at the front entrance to the store on private property and in the privately owned parking lot.
Store managers complained that the protests were confrontational and designed to undercut the store’s commercial operations by attempting to encourage customers to boycott the non-union business.


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National Board of Revenue chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan on Tuesday said that they would find an amicable solution to the issue of proposed 15 per cent tax on retained earnings and reserve of the publicly listed companies.
He made the commitment after the foreign investors raised their concerns over the proposed fiscal measure and demanded a review of the measure claiming that it would affect expansion of business by the multinational companies.
The proposed tax, if becomes effective, would also facilitate draining out of money in the form of dividend from the country as most of the investors of MNCs stay abroad, the foreign investors said at a luncheon meeting organised by the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Hotel Westin in Dhaka.
Mosharraf said that the measure along with two others was taken to give some reliefs to investors.
‘Definitely, we will look into it and sit together to find an amicable solution,’ he assured the foreign investors.
‘Actually, the share market of Bangladesh is volatile, it is called Fatka Bazar in Bangla,’ he said.
The share market in the country is not in a good position as many of the actors are not educated and familiar with business and investment of the country, he said.
So, sometimes they (investors in the capital market) find them in a very bad position, he said.
The NBR chairman advised the foreign investors to sit with the NBR before June 23 to discuss the related issues.
He also assured that they would consider the demands for withdrawal of value-added tax on e-commerce, reduction in minimum tax on mobile telephone operators and some other issues before the proposed budget was passed in parliament.
He also said that the NBR imposed VAT on e-commerce to avoid difference between similar businesses including superstores as businesspeople from the sectors also demanded VAT-free facility if e-commerce was kept VAT-free.
Mosharraf also argued in favour of tax hike on sugar and edible oil.
The price of sugar will rise by Tk 5 a kilogram, which will not affect consumers as the price of the sweetener remains lower compared with other essential products including vegetables, he said.
As per estimation of NBR, the price of edible oil will also rise by Tk 3 to Tk 5 a kg due to imposition of VAT and the price hike is also tolerable, he said.
FICCI president Shehzad Munim said that the measures related to imposition of 15 per cent tax on retained earnings and reserve, and on stock dividend needed a review.
Almost 36 per cent to 40 per cent of Bangladesh’s foreign direct investment comes from retained earnings of MNCs operating in the country, he said.
MNCs retain a significant amount of their earnings to invest for further growth, he added.
If MNCs give all the money as dividend, most of the money will go out of the country as most of the investors stay abroad, he added.
He also demanded reconsideration of some other tax measures including increase in minimum tax on mobile operators.
VAT at 7.5 per cent on e-commerce would also jeopardise the growth of the sector, he said.
Mobile operator Robi chief executive officer Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said that the proposed increase in minimum tax on the telecom sector to 2 per cent from 0.75 per cent was discriminatory for the sector in terms of foreign investment protection act.
Currently, only Grameenphone is making profits.
Other operators will have to pay the tax from their capital as they don’t make profits, he said requesting NBR to withdraw the tax. Otherwise, the operators would not be able to survive, he said.
In response, Mosharraf said that all companies should make profits.
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services president Syed Almas Kabir demanded VAT exemption for e-commerce for the next five years.
FICCI vice-president Francois de Maricourt, executive director Jamil Osman and other FICCI members were present in the meeting.
Source: New Age.


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CE & Audio Retailers Reap Benefits Of JobKeeper As Sales Surge
Retailers, many who have stayed open during the COVID-19 downturn are set to report record profits after receiving millions of dollars in federal government wage subsidies.
An early indicator of this in the CE and appliance markets could come next week when JB Hi Fi rolls out their last quarter financials with shareholders set to benefit from their dividend payout.
Retail sales rose 8.2 per cent in June in seasonally adjusted terms compared with the year-earlier month.
In March employers were required to record or forecast at least 30 per cent turnover decline for a single month to qualify for up to six months of wage subsidies through to September 27.
The requisite revenue decline for large companies turning over more than $1 billion was 50 per cent
Several private retailers including Camera House, Bing Lee, Teds Cameras, Video Pro, Betta Electrical are set to reap the benefit of rising profits due to the stimulus payments for staff who have worked through the downturn.
The $102 billion JobKeeper program has allowed several Hi Fi, CE and appliance retailers to stay open with staff salaries paid by the Federal Government and top ups from State Governments.
At the same time these retailers have seen a surge in demand for sound gear, TV’s PC’s and accessories and are benefiting from the $30 billion in superannuation withdrawals which are propping up consumer spending – boosting retailer profits and shareholder returns.
More than 60 per cent of people who received stimulus payments said they had mainly spent the windfall, on household equipment, food, recreation, clothing and footwear, an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey published yesterday.
Furniture retailer Nick Scali who is a public Company that has already reported said it received $3.9 million under JobKeeper and the New Zealand scheme. In addition, it received rent relief from more than 85 per cent of its landlords, worth another $2.3 million.
Nick Scali increased its dividend 12.5 per cent to 22.5¢ and its share price hit a record high last week.
Independent senator Rex Patrick said the government could ask Adairs and Nick Scali to pay back some of the taxpayer support to help “support others that are actually suffering”.
“Alternatively, the directors might like to reconsider their position and act appropriately,” he said.
“Can someone tell why companies like Adairs and Nick Scali are getting government wage subsidies and then paying dividends when they are clearly not really suffering in the current environment – if anything they are benefiting,” said veteran fund manager Peter Morgan.
Forager Funds Management founder Steve Johnson responded via social media that the benefits were being paid to the two retailers for “four months too long”.
“As a general scheme it has been highly successful in maintaining consumer spending and enabling companies like these two to get back in business immediately,” he noted.
The Australian Financial Review reported that despite large job losses, Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Luci Ellis had claimed that JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments had “provided substantive support” and meant total household income had not fallen in aggregate so far.
JobKeeper eligibility is being tightened from later September onwards.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that JobKeeper had helped more than 3.6 million Australians stay connected to their employers and remain in a job.
“The eligibility criteria for JobKeeper is clear,” the Treasurer’s statement said.
“Businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $1 billion must have had a decline in turnover by 30 per cent, or in the case of businesses with an aggregated turnover of more than $1 billion a 50 per cent decline in turnover.
“As part of the initial JobKeeper scheme eligibility only had to be proven once.
“From 28 September 2020 as part of the JobKeeper extension, businesses will be retested against their September quarter turnover and their December quarter turnover to ensure they still qualify.
“This will see businesses who have recovered through this challenging period transitioned off the payment as it steps down and the economy opens back up.”
A source said the government could not directly comment on the tax affairs of any individual or entity due to taxpayer confidentiality laws. JobKeeper is administered by the Australian Taxation Office.
The big issue for industry retailers is how much the close down of Victorian retailers will impact this quarters profits.
Gerry Harvey, executive chairman of electrical appliances and furniture retailer Harvey Norman, said the most important thing now was for the government to make adjustments quickly in areas where the restrictions had caused any serious unintended problems.
“As long as they get the adjustments right, that’s the main thing,” Mr Harvey said.
He said it was extremely difficult to bring in such sweeping changes across an entire economy. “I don’t think anyone can get absolutely everything right first go,” he said.
Harvey Norman has two retail stores still operating in Geelong but its Melbourne stores are shut. Mr Harvey said there had been a strong uptake of ”click and collect” by Melbourne customers, which he suspected was because those customers wanted products immediately and were keen to drive to a store to get them. “If I was locked up, that’s what I’d do,” he said.


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Phillips-Van Heusen sponsors Ultimate Fighting Championship PVHCorp. PVH, +0.01% today announced a new campaign for its VanHeusen brand, which includes a partnership with UFC[®], the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization. The partnership, which begins today, establishes Van Heusen as UFC’s first-ever “Official Men’s Dress Furnishings Provider,” bringing its innovative and flexible menswear choices to the brand’s worldwide fan base.
Parimatch sponsors Ultimate Fighting Championship Las Vegas — UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and international betting company Parimatch today announced a new, multi-year partnership that establishes Parimatch as the “Official Betting and Wagering Partner of UFC” across the entire EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region, excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Black Rifle Coffee Company signs deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship Las Vegas – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and Black Rifle Coffee Company today announced a new partnership in which the veteran-owned-and-operated company will serve as the “Official Coffee” of Season two of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. The landmark original series returns to UFC FIGHT PASS®, the global brand’s digital subscription service, on Tuesday, June 12.
Air Asia sponsors Ultimate Fighting Championship NEW YORK – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced a new multi-territory partnership with AirAsia, Asia’s leading low-cost carrier, to serve as the global brand’s first-ever “Official Airline” sponsor. The partnership, which encompasses Asia and Australia, will begin on Saturday, November 4, during the highly-anticipated UFC® 217: BISPING vs. ST-PIERRE, live from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
Opro partners with Ultimate Fighting Championship Las Vegas – UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, today announced a new multi-year global licensing agreement with OPRO®, the world’s largest manufacturer of mouthguards. The partnership, which begins in 2018 and was negotiated by IMG, grants the oral protection company the rights to produce UFC branded mouthguards and provide bespoke guards to UFC athletes.


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Samsung is known to be one of the good companies when it comes to frequent and on-time Android updates. The company managed to roll out the latest security patch even before Google rolled out for its Pixel phones.
Samsung Galaxy S22 trio is the first one to get the March 2022 security update this month. The latest Galaxy S22 getting new software with firmware S90xBXXU1AVBF, the OTA is currently rolling out in Germany, as usual, the update will soon expand to other markets.
The latest software update for the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra brings March 2022 security patches with various vulnerabilities fixes and improves system stability, the update also might include display and performance issues fixes.
The size of the update is 800MB. However, it is still recommended to update the smartphone while connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection and charging.
Users can wait for notifications about updates to arrive on their eligible Samsung devices, or they can manually check for updates by heading towards Settings > Software update > Download and install.
Samsung launched Galaxy S22 series early this month with the latest Android 12 based on One UI 4.1 version, According to Samsung’s latest policy, the smartphone will get 4 years of majors OS updates in the future.
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It has been reported that the new The Dark Knight Rises trailer could be set to appear before the latest Sherlock Holmes movie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. The latest Christopher Nolan movie has been eagerly anticipated and it has already released one sneak peak.
It was previously expected that The Dark Knight Rises would release a six minute prologue alongside Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol. However, news has now emerged that The Dark Knight Rises trailer will rear its head in December alongside Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
That means that fans, waiting for a new taste of what is to come from Batman, will only have to wait until December 16, when Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows hits the big screen. The Dark Knight Rises is released worldwide on July 20, 2012.


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Speedway's mixed-use plan would boost the west side
Daytona Beach officials have been cheered by the news that the International Speedway Corp. is making progress on its plans for a mixed-use development to the north of the track along International Speedway Boulevard.
The Speedway owners have now joined up with Jacoby Group of Atlanta, a development firm that redeveloped Marineland and sold it to the Georgia Aquarium in 2011. The firm also has an excellent track record of building Walmart-anchored shopping centers, mixed-use developments and environmentally sensitive projects.
If all goes well, the Speedway project would deliver a massive piece of economic development for Daytona Beach and balance out the city's new beachside economic activity with growth on the westside.
Like the beachside, the westside is a mixed bag. It has obvious strengths as a retail center, especially in the area around the Volusia Mall. But parts of the ISB corridor are underdeveloped.
The planned development — which would add new stores, hotels, apartments and a movie theater to unused Speedway property — is not a sure thing. But there are many signs that work could begin relatively soon on the 180 acres.
For one, the economy is improving. Speedway officials didn't ramp up discussion of this new entertainment and retail complex until they saw real improvement in the local economy in 2012.
Another good sign is the success that Speedway and Jacoby officials have apparently had in floating the idea to prospective business tenants. The improving national economy clearly is a factor in this interest. A movie-theater chain is reportedly one of the tenants already communicating with Jacoby Group officials.
According to reports that surfaced in a Washington, D.C.-based publication, about one-third of 500,000 square feet of a market concept are already moving toward lease.
If that sounds surprising, it shouldn't. The acres north of ISB are close to one of the strongest existing retail areas in Volusia County. Retail is attracted to other retail, and this is a prime location.
The development is part of an overall vision of the Speedway to improve its track and develop the unused land around it. The Speedway's plans include an overhaul of the frontstretch grandstands.
Unfortunately, International Speedway Corp. officials hit a snag with their pursuit of sales-tax breaks to help support the project. The Legislature balked at granting the breaks in the 2013 session.
But that could change as legislators see the full economic potential of the Speedway and the planned complex, which could be known as "One Daytona."
Daytona Beach is lucky to have this plan on the table. It's a good complement to new development planned on the city's beachside.
In hiring Jacoby, the Speedway took a critical step toward making its long-held desire to create a retail-and-entertainment complex near the track a reality. It shows this sports and business giant's commitment to the region and its economy, something that should make residents and local officials feel more confident about the future.


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Workers continue to remove sand and mud from the Evergiven, a 224,000-ton vessel that ran aground after winds of up to 40 knots and a sandstorm that caused poor visibility and poor navigation.
The importance of the channel stems first and foremost from its location; It is the only place that connects directly the waters of Europe with the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the countries of Asia and the Pacific.
Without the Suez Canal, cargoes traveling between those parts of the world would have to cross the entire African continent, adding exorbitant costs and significantly extending their journey times.
The solution to this problem seemed elusive for centuries, until the precious 120-mile long waterway was created to slide down Egypt all the way to the Red Sea. It was built over a decade in the mid-nineteenth century – a feat only possible because the Mediterranean and Red Seas are found to be roughly equal in elevation.
The time saved by the clip is nearly invaluable. Today, a ship traveling from a port in Italy to India, for example, would cover about 4,400 nautical miles if it passed through the Suez Canal – a journey that takes about nine days at a speed of 20 knots.
But the second fastest way to complete the same journey would be via the Cape of Good Hope and around Africa. At the same speed, it would take three weeks to traverse the 10,500 nautical mile route.
And what increases its importance is the lack of alternatives to Suez. Without the Red Sea stretching over the Horn of Africa and along Sudan and Egypt, land masses would not be narrow enough to support an artificial waterway linking Europe with the Asia-Pacific region.
The canal’s strategically important location now means it hosts nearly 19,000 ships each year, according to Lloyd’s List, the shipping industry magazine.
What is its history?
The passage connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea had been yearned by nation-states for centuries, and the importance of the canal was evident long before construction began.
Spurred on by French interests and exploration, Suez was built over a period of 10 years by local peasants who were recruited and forced to work, and European workers who later joined the effort.
Financial problems forced the Ottoman ruler of Egypt to sell a controlling stake in the waterway to Britain in 1875; After 13 years, a multinational summit resulted in agreement that the canal would be free for all countries to use, in both peace and war.
Its location made it a flashpoint in each of the major conflicts of the twentieth century. In World War I, Turkish forces attempted to attack the canal from the east, and in World War II, the goal of Nazi forces Afrika Korps was to do the same from the West.
But the canal remained under British control until Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized it in 1956, sparking the Suez Crisis that sparked threats of invasion by Israel, France and Great Britain. The incident threatened to provoke war, until American pressure and diplomatic efforts from the nascent United Nations led to a solution.
Suez previously closed. For eight years from 1967, it became a border between warring Egypt and Israel, a conflict that left more than a dozen ships – known as the Yellow Fleet – trapped in the canal for the duration.
What will happen now?
It could take days to weeks to dislodge Ever Given, which is blocking the waterway, according to the CEO of Boskalis, whose sister company SMIT salvage is now liberating the ship.
Peter Berdowski told Dutch television on Wednesday evening that his company had already decided that it would be impossible to free the ship as it is currently. “It is impossible to tow the ship by the weight it is now,” he said. “You can forget that.”
This causes problems for global trade. Leading shipping insurer Allianz said the ships “face costly and lengthy diversions if the canal is not opened soon.” Diversion of ships across the southern tip of Africa will add nearly two weeks to their voyages.
However, many ships are already choosing to steer clear of the blocked channel, and sea traffic monitoring sites and shipping intelligence companies are reporting shipping data.
More than 80% of global trade by volume is transported by sea, and disruptions add billions of dollars to supply chain costs. Globally, the average cost of shipping a 40-foot container increased from $ 1,040 last June to $ 4,570 on March 1, according to S&P Global Platts.
It remains unclear whether and how severe the duct blockage will affect consumers. But analysts of Commerzbank said in a note to customers on Friday that this incident may cause an increase in the cost of oil to consumers due to the increase in tanker prices as a result of the accident.


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The Go Red for Women Red Dress Dash will be held at 9:30 a.m. April 13 at Macy’s in the Capital City Mall, Lower Allen Township.
The event raises awareness of women’s heart health.
After the dash, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., health screenings, spa treatments, makeovers, massages and other activities will be offered at Macy’s in partnership with
the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign and Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute.
A the Go Red For Women Red Dress Dash participants will dash through the mall, beginning at the Macy’s mall entrance, wearing red dresses.
Other activities at Macy’s after the dash include scarf tying demonstrations, healthy juice samples and a treasure hunt throughout the store to win prizes.
Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute will provide free health screenings, CPR and AED demonstrations, and the opportunity to meet personally with members of the Heart and Vascular Institute staff. Valuable health information will be available at various scavenger hunt locations throughout the store.
For more information, go to www.goredforwomen.org.


text: May 3, 2018 | As Israel prepares for the 101st Giro d’Italia’s ‘Big Start’ bicycle race kicking off on Friday in Jerusalem, hitting Haifa, Tel Aviv, Beersheba, and Eilat, Start-Up Nation Central, an Israeli tech non-profit organization connecting global corporations, governments, and organizations to Israeli innovation, has released new data about the Israeli sports tech industry to coincide with the big event. According to the Tel Aviv-based non-profit, there has been a significant increase in the number of startups active in the sports tech sector and the early-stage funding that is going into the industry. Israel’s sports tech industry now has over 103 companies, up from 61 active companies in 2013. Start-Up Nation Central reports these companies are in fields like augmented reality, real-time video analysis, hydration management, movement sensors, sports broadcasting and more. Data from Start-Up Nation Finder, the non-profit’s innovation discovery platform, reports that most of Israel’s sports tech startups have been established in the past five years, with 35 percent of the companies in the bootstrap phase while 34 percent have already raised their seed funding. The seed funding size of these companies has increased from $375,000 in 2014 to an average of over $700,00 by end of 2017. The data shows 78 companies out of 103 have between 1 to 10 employees while 20 companies have between 11 to 50 employees. “We’re seeing the birth of a new Israeli technology sector, with mostly very young companies, whose entrepreneurs are taking technologies from places like the military where they worked on augmented reality, or from digital health and food tech where they worked on quantified self and personal nutrition,” said Amir Mizroch, Director of Communications for Start-Up Nation Central. “These technologies are now making their way into sports,” he added in a statement. Start-Up Central is one of the sponsors of the ‘Big Start’ races, and is also hosting a sports tech innovation saloon at the Giro media center in the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem. The saloon will feature some of Israel’s most innovative sports tech startups.