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FREMONT, Calif. - For Tesla, everything is riding on the Model 3.
The electric car company's newest vehicle is set to go to its first 30 customers Friday evening. Its $35,000 starting price - half the cost of Tesla's previous models - and 215-mile range could bring hundreds of thousands of customers into the automaker's fold, taking it from a niche luxury brand to the mainstream.
Those higher sales could finally make Tesla profitable and accelerate its plans for future products like SUVs and pickup trucks.
Or the Model 3 could dash Tesla's dreams.
Potential customers could lose faith if Tesla doesn't meet its aggressive production schedule, or if the cars have quality problems that strain Tesla's small service network. The compact Model 3 may not entice a global market that's increasingly shifting to SUVs, including all-electric SUVs from Audi and others that are going on sale soon.
Limits on the $7,500 U.S. tax credit for electric cars could also hurt demand. Once an automaker sells 200,000 electric cars in the U.S., the credit phases out. Tesla has already sold more than 126,000 vehicles since 2008, according to estimates by WardsAuto, so not everyone who buys a Model 3 will be eligible.
"There are more reasons to think that it won't be successful than it will," says Karl Brauer, the executive publisher for Cox Automotive, which owns Autotrader and other car buying sites.
The Model 3 has long been part of Palo Alto, California-based Tesla's plans. In 2006 - three years after the company was founded - CEO Elon Musk said Tesla would eventually build "affordably priced family cars" after establishing itself with high-end vehicles like the Model S, which starts at $69,500. This will be the first time many Tesla workers will be able to afford a Tesla.
Tesla started taking reservations for the Model 3 in March 2016. Within a month, 373,000 customers had put down a $1,000 refundable deposit. Since then, Tesla has refused to say how many people have reserved a Model 3, but its website says people making reservations now should expect to get their car in the middle of 2018.
Lisa Gingerich, a Milwaukee-based attorney, reserved a Model 3 within minutes of the order bank's opening. She doesn't know when she'll get to choose from the limited number of options, including color and wheel size, or when her car will arrive. She's borrowing a friend's Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid while she waits.
Gingerich thought about getting a Model S, but found it too expensive and flashy for the charities she often works with. She could get an all-electric Chevrolet Bolt, which is the same price as the Model 3 and has more range. But she wants access to Tesla's fast-charging Supercharger stations, which are strategically placed along U.S. highways.
She also wants to support Musk's bold vision. Musk, the billionaire founder of PayPal, also runs rocket maker Space Explorations Technologies Corp. and dabbles in artificial intelligence research and high-speed transportation projects.
"It's kind of like organic food. The more people buy it, the more it becomes accessible for everybody," Gingerich says.
But car-making has proved a challenge to Musk. Both the Model S and the Model X SUV were delayed and then plagued with pesky problems, like doors that don't work and blank screens in their high-tech dashboards.
Tesla's luxury car owners might overlook those problems because they liked the thrill of being early adopters. But mainstream buyers will be less forgiving.
"This will be their primary vehicle, so they will have high expectations of quality and durability and expect everything to work every time," said Sam Abuelsamid, a senior researcher with Navigant Research.
The Model 3 was designed to be much simpler to make than Tesla's previous vehicles. But already it doesn't appear to be sticking to its schedule. Musk said earlier this month Tesla should be making 20,000 Model 3s per month by December; that's half the number of his previous estimates.
Musk aims to make 500,000 vehicles next year at Tesla's Fremont factory, a number that could help Tesla finally make money. The company has only had two profitable quarters since it went public in 2010. But even at that pace, Tesla will remain a small player. Toyota Motor Corp. made more than 10 million vehicles last year.
Abuelsamid said even if it doesn't meet its ambitious targets, Tesla has done more than anyone to promote electric vehicles.
"A decade ago they were a little more than golf carts. Now all of a sudden, EVs are real, practical vehicles that can be used for anything," he said.


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Rumors of a possible Mac and iPad merger had been set to fire earlier this month, but Tim Cook in conversation with The Sydney Morning Herald shot down the possibility by saying that such a merger would result in “trade offs and compromises.”
The Apple CEO in the interview acknowledged that even though such a merger would make Apple “more efficient,” they won’t compromise on things that matter.
“We don’t believe in sort of watering down one for the other. Both [The Mac and iPad] are incredible. One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two … you begin to make trade offs and compromises.”
They’re both separate device and offer different advantages to the user, and generally users switch between them depending on their use cases. Tim Cook, meanwhile, uses a Mac at work, and the iPad at home or while travelling.
“So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day. But that’s not what it’s about. You know it’s about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated on, I don’t think that’s what users want.”
Having cleared the air about the possible merging of the Mac and iPad, these flying rumors have finally been put to rest.
Would you still want iOS and macOS to have some sort of bridge for better integration? Let us know in the comments below!

domain: news


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A new WhatsApp bug allows blocked contacts to continue sending messages, view online status, and see profile pictures. The problem appears to be on the server side, but WhatsApp is yet to confirm a fix or even acknowledge its existence.
A new flaw has been discovered in macOS High Sierra that can cause data to be lost when writing to disk images. It affects those formatted using the Apple File System (APFS) specifically, but it shouldn’t be a problem for your primary SSD.
Apple is investigating another iPhone X bug that’s causing users to miss incoming calls.
Some report that their device refuses to wake when a call is received, leaving them unable to answer it. It appears the problem surfaced in December but Apple has only just acknowledged the complaints.
Facebook has confirmed it is investigating a frustrating Messenger bug that’s plaguing some users on iPhone. There is no workaround for the issue at this time, which means users have no choice but to live with it until it’s finally fixed.
Life with an iPhone X isn’t as rosy as it should be for some adopters. Many report that their handsets are plagued by frequent overheating and excessive data consumption. Some have even resorted to placing their handset in a freezer to cool it down.
A frustrating bug in macOS High Sierra is causing significant iMessage delivery delays for some users. It is also causing notification issues on iPhone and Apple Watch, and as things stand, there is no real fix.


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The Biden administration is requesting that a second dispute settlement panel be formed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review a trade dispute with Canada over dairy import quotas, it said on Wednesday.
The United States alleges that Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota allocations deny eligible U.S. applicants, including retailers, access to Canadian markets, undermining the market access that it agreed to provide in the USMCA, which took effect in 2020, according to a statement from U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s office.
U.S. farmers have complained that Canada’s supply management system favors Canadian processors and hurts their ability to export to their northern neighbor and last year, Washington requested creation of the first dispute panel on dairy quotas after failing to resolve the issue bilaterally with Ottawa.
The first panel released its findings in a 50-page report which said Canada violated a trade accord with the U.S. and Mexico by reserving most of its preferential dairy tariff-rate quotas(TRQs) for Canadian processors.
Canada has since amended its allocation policies for dairy quotas, Trade Minister Mary Ng said on Wednesday, adding that Canada had met its obligations under the USMCA to ensure its quota system was compliant.
“Canada will actively participate in CUSMA’s consultation process and standby our position to administer our TRQs in a manner that supports our dairy supply management system,” Ng said, using another acronym for the USMCA.
Tai said in a statement that United States had communicated to Canada that its new policies are not consistent with the USMCA and “prevent U.S. workers, producers, farmers, and exporters from getting the full benefit of the market access that Canada committed to under the USMCA.”
U.S.-based trade group International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) praised what it described as an “aggressive” action by the Biden administration.
“The U.S. dairy industry has made clear from the start that U.S. dairy exporters demand real TRQ reform that will permit the market access Canada agreed to,” said Michael Dykes, CEO of IDFA.


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A Specsavers audiologists in Ross-on-Wye invited locals to pause for thought on Friday 19 May and come in store to enjoy a cup of coffee in the name of charity.
Staff at the store showed their support for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People by hosting a fundraising day named PAWS for a coffee, raising £60. Local residents were invited to treat themselves to a cup of the hot stuff and a sweet treat in exchange for donations.
Deaf Awareness Week
The coffee morning took place on the store’s shop-floor, and was run in conjunction with National Deaf Awareness Week (15 May to 21 May).
‘It was a simple but enjoyable way to help Hearing Dogs and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came down to show their support,’ said audiologist Peter Lyons. ‘When we heard about the event we were really keen to support it and who doesn’t love a cuppa and a piece of cake!’
The aim is to try and raise money towards sponsoring the training of a hearing dog puppy. Once completed, the dog is then being paired with a deaf person to support them in their everyday life.
Sponsor a puppy
Speaking about the importance of sponsoring a puppy Michele Jennings, chief executive of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: ‘With the number of people with hearing loss in the UK set to rise significantly in the future, it is crucial that we can meet the ever-increasing demands for the life-changing benefits of hearing dogs.’
Michele added: ‘By sponsoring a puppy through donations from the PAWS for coffee event, we can achieve our 2020 vision to increase the number of hearing dogs partnerships we create by 10% year on year.’
Specsavers Audiologists and Hearing Dogs For Deaf People celebrated 10 years of partnership earlier this year.


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Volkswagen AG (VWAG) firmly believes that the penalty of $75 million agreed in principle with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to resolve the regulatory proceedings was a fair amount and is carefully reviewing the Court’s reasons for deviating from that amount. VWAG will determine in coming weeks whether it will appeal the decision of the Court.
Some 57,000 Volkswagen vehicles with EA189 diesel engines imported to Australia were involved in this matter. Most of these have subsequently had an update to the engine control software under the ongoing voluntary recall. The relevant authorities have confirmed that this update satisfies European and Australian emission standards.
Today’s decision imposes a penalty only on VWAG. The case against Volkswagen Group Australia has been dismissed in its entirety with no orders made against Volkswagen Group Australia.
The case against Audi AG and Audi Australia in respect of Audi vehicles, has also been dismissed in its entirety with no orders made against any of the respondents to the Audi regulatory proceedings.
Today’s decision relates specifically to the regulatory litigation and is separate from the in-principle settlement which has been reached in the customer class action proceedings (approval of which is scheduled to be heard by the Court on 26 March 2020).
Paul Pottinger 0434 755 158


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At the same time, the PPMA Show in Birmingham hosted the leading trade fair for the packaging industry on the British Isle. The Schubert UK team were very pleased with the positive feedback from customers, who praised the very effective trade fair presentation.
The Schubert packaging line shown at the PPMA Show consisted of three TLM sub-machines that combine flexibility, performance and efficiency in an extremely compact manner. The respective modules take on the erection, filling and closing of cartons, and are seamlessly connected via the Transmodul transport robot. Van Wijngaarden, the Dutch manufacturer of delicatessen products, will be using the machine presented at the show to package mayonnaise into a variety of container formats. At the fair, visitors experienced live how the TLM machine packs 450 ml mayonnaise jars into cartons using the counterflow principle.
The machine attracted an unexpected number of new customers to the stand. With a 70 per cent share of all visitors to the booth, the new customer contacts in Birmingham were especially high and therefore confirm the relevance of this industry platform for Schubert. “We recorded a 15 per cent increase in demand compared to the last PPMA in 2016 and therefore will definitely be back in Birmingham for the next show,” says Mark Stepney, Managing Director of Schubert UK Limited.


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Bras and Camisoles for After Breast Surgery Care
“Fighting breast cancer is a big enough challenge,” says Wear Ease owner Phyllis Keith. “We’re trying to help ensure women don’t also lose their self-esteem, dignity, and femininity.”
Wear Ease designs and markets post-surgery and mastectomy bras, camisoles, loungewear, and lingerie. According to several specialty boutiques, its clothing is in vogue.
“We started ordering their Dawn post-surgery camisole because it’s prettier than other brands, and they’re flying off the shelves,” says Michele Yett, a certified mastectomy fitter at Expressions Appearance Center at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, Calif. “They’re great products — they come with fiber-filled breast forms and a pair of pouches for drain tubes and bulb syringes, plus they’re comfortable, they come in a variety of colors, and they’re very desirable in terms of femininity.”
Pamela Ludwig, who owns Pretty in Pink Boutiques in Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., concurs. “The post-op camisole is so comfortable and stylish a lot of my patients wear them far beyond the post-op period,” Ludwig says. “Often they wear a black one as a fashion camisole under a black blouse.”
Retailers also say the Wear Ease line helps women feel whole. “They’re very up to date with fashion trends,” says Sheila Robertsdahl, a certified orthotic/mastectomy fitter and manager of the Just for Women boutique at MeritCare HealthCare Accessories in Fargo, N.D. “And with the way the pockets for the prostheses are designed, nobody can even tell it’s a pocketed mastectomy garment.”
Ludwig, a registered nurse who worked for 10 years in clinical oncology before opening Pretty in Pink in 2005, agrees, adding, “With off-the-shelf products like these available, women can achieve the look they want without having to undergo reconstructive surgery.” However, she says many patients undergoing breast reconstruction use Wear Ease products, too. “A lot of times reconstruction doesn’t give a woman the exact symmetrical look she wants,” she says, “so you can sometimes fix that with a bra or partial prosthesis.”
This month Wear Ease is introducing a brand-new line: the Alicia adjustable-strap camisole. “This beautiful camisole enables a woman who has undergone breast surgery to wear an alternative top just like she would have worn beforehand,” Keith says. “It is designed to accommodate her breast forms and does not require her to wear a special bra underneath.” Available in black, coral, kiwi green, and aqua blue, the Alicia camisole comes in S, M, L, XL, 1X, and 2X sizes.
The new product is a hit among retailers. “The new Alicia camisole with the lace is going to be a super seller,” Robertsdahl says, and Yett says, “We all think it looks darling.” “I love the colors available with the Alicia,” Ludwig says. “They’re very fresh — there’s nothing else on the market with colors like those.”
In addition to the Alicia and Dawn mastectomy camisoles, Wear Ease sells post-surgery bras and post-mastectomy nightgowns and T-shirts with reversible necklines. It also sells compression garments, including compression bras, slimmers, and shapers to facilitate healing after surgery or treat swelling in the trunk caused by Lymphedema. Wear Ease garments come standard with shelf bras and pockets for breast forms. All insurance, including Medicare, covers breast forms and pocketed breast-surgery bras and camisoles. Keith founded Wear Ease in 2001 to offer the Sarah Bra designed for women with limited mobility. In 2005 the company diversified into the post-mastectomy specialty market and has since grown to include 20 products across five lines. Wear Ease is a member of Essentially Women, a national purchasing group focused on women's health, and sells through boutiques, hospitals, and durable medical equipment dealers nationwide and online via WearEase.com.
Wear Ease named its brand-new Alicia adjustable-strap post-surgery and mastectomy camisole after Alicia Myers, the certified orthotic/mastectomy fitter who helped design the garment. “The Alicia has a lot of versatility — you can adjust the straps and cross them — and with the lace and the colors available it’s very up to date in terms of fashion trends,” says Sheila Robertsdahl, Myer’s manager and a fellow COMF at the Just for Women boutique at MeritCare HealthCare Accessories in Fargo, N.D. Click this link for more information about Wear Ease breast-surgery apparel and compression bras.


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Thousands of people in Perth’s CBD have access to free wi-fi connectivity indoors and outdoors following aCure Technology’s decision to provide unrestricted access to its metromesh wireless network.
aCure’s network has been a subscription-based service since 2006 and was also used as a worldwide demonstration network and test bed for the company’s own Acurix wireless equipment.
The company is offering Wi-Fi access in the CBD area from St George’s Terrace to Adelaide Terrace through 50 radio sites as a trial. Its remaining sites will come online in early 2013.
Perth has the jump on the South Australian government and Adelaide City Council, which announced last week that Adelaide would introduce free Wi-Fi in the CBD by the end of next year.
aCure’s data centre sales manager, Grant Farrow told CIO that the news about free Wi-Fi in Adelaide prompted the company to announce a service was available in Perth.
“We’ve actually had free Wi-Fi available in the [Perth CBD] since October, but we haven’t had much buy-in from the city of Perth whatsoever,” he said.
According to Farrow, the company’s mesh network – based on its own wireless equipment – is now “paid off”, which was one of the reasons it is offering services free of charge.
“We don’t have to outlay [money] for equipment and licensing,” he said.
Farrow added that the wireless network can be used as a platform to advertise services to people in Perth.
aCure’s technical director, Mark Middleton, said the company was completing major 3G and 4G offload projects overseas and it was time to see this technology evolve in the local market.
aCure claims to be the largest privately-owned data centre operator in Western Australia.
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.


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There are plenty of e-hailing apps in Malaysia, with Grab being the biggest one that has its grip on 72% of the local market share as of 2020. In Indonesia however, Grab has a massive local rival called Gojek, which provides ride-hailing using both cars and motorcycles alongside a variety of other services within its own super app ecosystem.
Excitingly, a Honda City bearing the Gojek logo was recently spotted in Kuala Lumpur by Vocket. In front of the car was another vehicle with a crew that seemed to be filming the Gojek car, along with a police outrider accompanying them.
While no announcement has been made by Gojek, this might be a sign that the company is bringing its GoCar e-hailing service to the Malaysian market. There are currently 33 e-hailing companies registered with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) but as of 7 June, Gojek has not yet appeared on the list.
The Indonesian firm, which is now under the GoTo umbrella after a merger between Gojek and e-commerce platform Tokopedia, previously announced plans to bring its motorcycle ride-hailing service to Malaysia in 2020. This was when the government had greenlighted test runs to legalise bike-hailing along with local company Dego, which has now pivoted to mostly doing delivery services.
However, Gojek’s ambition did not come to fruition and the company has so far made no presence in Malaysia. This was presumably caused partly by the pandemic as well as the government’s u-turn, leading to a ban on bike-hailing once again due to safety concerns.
Gojek entering the country, albeit with cars instead of its bike-hailing service, might just be the competition the industry needs to drive down prices as Grab fares have increasingly surged within the past few months. There are already other local players such as AirAsia Ride, EzCab, inDriver, GOJO, maxim, and several others, but none have seemed to gain enough of a footing to rival the e-hailing giant.
The post Gojek Might Be Coming To Malaysia As Logo-Bearing Vehicle Spotted In KL appeared first on Lowyat.NET.


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All new gameplay footage was revealed for the upcoming anticipated game in The Legend of Zelda series The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild at this year's The Game Awards.
We first see at the beginning of the footage the producer himself Eiji Aonuma saying how he's sorry that he couldn't be at The Game Awards, and how he and his team is working hard on Breath of The Wild, and that he was able to bring a new video featuring members from the Nintendo Treehouse team Bill Trinen and Nate Bildorf showing us a new area we've never seen before.
Next we see a little bit of the side quests, and a new character. Then we see some more exploration through the new area Zonai Ruins where we also see some new enemies, and a new shrine, which is the first one we've seen outside the four shrines that we saw back at E3. It was nice to see some new gameplay footage and I look forward to seeing more in January.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild will be available in 2017 for the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch.


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ivie Introduces Smart EV Charger and App for Convenient and Eco-friendly Charging
ivie, a smart energy brand based in North Yorkshire, has launched an innovative home EV charger and a complimentary smart charging app. This powerful combination offers electric vehicle (EV) drivers the ability to charge their cars at the most cost-effective or environmentally friendly times. The ivie EV Charger and ivie Charge app provide flexible charging options, enabling users to save on home energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to the expansion of public charging infrastructure.
The ivie EV Charger and app offer several smart home charging features, including the option to set a personalized charging schedule. Additionally, the app will soon include public charging functionality, connecting users to over 9,000 public charge points across the country.
As part of Chameleon Technology’s family of brands, ivie aligns with the company’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of inefficient energy use and supporting the UK’s goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050. Chameleon Technology collaborates closely with the UK government to enhance EV accessibility through funding grants and other initiatives. The company looks forward to hosting the upcoming Fully Charged LIVE! trade show in Harrogate, scheduled for May 19th to 21st, 2023, to promote accessible EV technology and charging capabilities outside major cities.
While big cities have witnessed significant progress in EV charging infrastructure, rural areas still face limitations. In response, the North Yorkshire Council plans to address the issue by exploring a new EV strategy, which may involve installing 70 new charging points across the county. The initiative has already secured £2.2 million in funding, with a projected need for 724 chargers by 2025 and 3,161 by 2030.
Mike Woodhall, CEO of Chameleon Technology, emphasized the importance of EV technology adoption in reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable motoring. To address existing infrastructure challenges and reliability concerns, ivie aims to encourage faster adoption by offering a “truly smart” app alongside their EV charger.
One standout feature of the ivie Charge app is the ability to identify and charge an EV during periods of peak renewable energy generation, reducing reliance on the grid. Users on single-rate tariffs can take advantage of this feature, while those on dual-rate tariffs can further maximize savings by utilizing the cheaper off-peak period.
The ivie EV Charger, with a power rating of 7kW, enables users to set a personalized charging schedule and control the charging process remotely through the ivie Charge app. The app also includes a Boost function for instant charging when plans change.
For on-the-go charging, the ivie Charge app provides real-time updates on the status of public charge points, allowing users to avoid wasted trips to faulty or occupied chargers. The app offers seamless charging and payment at over 9,000 charging points across the UK, simplifying the user experience and eliminating the need for multiple apps and prepayment.
Convenience and integration with busy lifestyles are key features of the ivie EV Charger and ivie Charge app. With a five-year warranty and comprehensive customer support, the EV charger is available for £1099, including full installation*. The ivie Charge app can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play, with public charging features to be rolled out to the general public in the coming months.
*Standard Installation. Non-standard Installation may incur additional costs.


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One of the key challenges to a lower-waste world is fast fashion – an accelerated version of the fashion industry, which produces huge numbers of new clothes at a price point encouraging regular purchases.
While affordable clothes have made it possible for a wider group of people to explore the latest trends, it has also led to a ‘throw-away society’.
From the outset, textile production is resource intensive. The fashion industry is the fourth most polluting industry – after housing, transport and food. It uses more water and generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all international flights and ships combined. Moreover, the clothing industry’s carbon footprint is growing significantly – with CO2 emissions estimated to reach nearly 2.8 billion tonnes a year by 2030. If the fashion industry continues on its current path, it could use more than 26% of the global carbon budget required for a 2°C pathway by 2050.
Another significant problem generated by the fashion industry is waste. On average, people wear an item of clothing ten times before getting rid of it, and more than half of all clothes produced are only used for a year before being thrown away. These statistics are unsurprising considering it is often cheaper to buy a new item of clothing than to repair a damaged one. This means about 350,000 tonnes of textile waste ends up in household bins every year in the UK. Moreover, less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing.
Clothes are also a major contributor to the problem of plastic in the ocean. Washing synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon, or acrylic, generates plastic microfibres. This sheds about half a million tonnes of plastic microfibres each year, which end up in the ocean.
Fast fashion is not only damaging from an environmental perspective, it also raises social concerns. The informal nature of the sector’s supply chain makes external scrutiny and controls particularly difficult. Cheap clothes are often produced in poorer countries, where workers receive very low pay and few rights. Additionally, here in the UK, concerns have been raised the workers at online fast fashion retailers still do not have sufficient access to unions. In this time of crisis, this may put workers at unnecessary risk.
Fast changes needed
There are some signs change is coming on the regulatory front. The EU has launched an updated Circular Economy Action Plan, which includes new legislative proposals to reduce waste and increase recycling rates – with the aim to make all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030. The UK government has also declared it will introduce an extended producer responsibility system for packaging in 2023. Yet more must be done – and sooner.
In response to criticism, companies are also beginning to step up. ASOS is operating a closed-loop system where returned packaging from customers is recycled and made into new packaging, while retailers like M&S, H&M and Primark are participating in textile recycling schemes. However, the impact is not yet significant compared with the growth in demand.
With global clothing consumption expected to increase by 63% to 102 million tonnes by 2030, the final piece of the puzzle is changing our patterns of consumption. A societal move towards repairing, re-wearing or renting clothes could help encourage more sustainable behaviour.
However, we need governments and companies to do more to deliver this change. It is right for companies and governments to tackle the immediate covid-crisis, but we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. One thing the pandemic has shown us is the extraordinary ability of governments to mobilise for action. It has also been an abject lesson in the huge relative disadvantages suffered by lower paid workers, many of whom work within the fashion industry’s supply chains.
Therefore, we have an opportunity to learn from this crisis. Concerted action from companies and governments will give us the best chance of a sustainable future. As investors, we also have an opportunity to encourage better behaviour. While our exposure to fashion companies in our client portfolios is limited, we are engaging with those we own to increase circularity within the industry and protect vulnerable stakeholders.


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At this point, the model and actor is known for her daring style looks — and her appearance at a Harper’s Bazaar event this weekend was no exception.
Julia hit the carpet in a totally see-through dress that looked like melted Saran Wrap, with accessories to match.
That’s right — her handbag and heels seemed to be coated in the stuff, and it looks like her lower legs were wrapped up tight too.
According to Harper’s, the dress was designed by Joanna Prazmo — and the accessories were a result of some last-minute thinking on Julia’s part.
Julia told the publication that she “made” the “cellophane-saran-wrap-ified” bag and shoes about an hour before showing up to the event.
This is but the latest out-there style move from Julia. You probably remember when she wore a latex-and-metal-rings “dress” on the streets of Los Angeles last month…
What will her next look be? Guess we’ll have to wait and see…


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Three big promotions at Dunkin’
CANTON, MA: Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc., the parent of the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins chains, said Thursday that it named three high-level company executives to the post of president.
The Canton, Mass.-based company appointed Paul Twohig to president of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. and Canada. He succeeds chief executive Nigel Travis, who plans to spend more time positioning the company for future growth and working with franchisees around the world. Most recently Twohig served as chief operating officer for Dunkin’ Donuts U.S.
In addition, Dunkin’ Brands named Bill Mitchell president of Baskin-Robbins U.S. and Canada. Mitchell, who most recently served as senior vice president and chief brand officer of Baskin-Robbins, will continue to lead the ice cream chain’s operations team, the company said.
Dunkin’ Brands also promoted John Costello to the position of president, global marketing & innovation. In his new role, Costello will continue to lead all global marketing, product development and channel businesses for both brands. Previously, Costello was chief global marketing and innovation officer.
“These appointments to president are well deserved by John, Bill and Paul who have each contributed greatly to Dunkin’ Brands considerable success,” Travis said in a statement. “Most importantly, these appointments will give me more time to spend with our franchisees around the world as we work to continue to drive their profitability and our shareholder value.”
Dunkin’ Brands also named Scott Murphy to the position of senior vice president, chief supply officer. In his new capacity Murphy will be responsible for developing supply chain efficiencies for both the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins chains. Murphy, who will report directly to Travis, previously headed Dunkin’ Donuts global supply chain.
“During his nine years with Dunkin’ Brands, Scott has played a key role in strengthening our Dunkin’ Donuts supply chain,” Travis said. “Most importantly, he played a significant role in the merger of our franchisee-owned distribution and procurement facilities into one national entity, which will result in uniform product costs for Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees across the U.S.”
Almost 100-percent franchised, Dunkin’ Brands’ has more than 10,400 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants and nearly 7,000 Baskin-Robbins locations in 60 countries around the world. For the full-year 2012, the company had franchisee-reported sales of approximately $8.8 billion.
ACLink: [acLink name=”Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.” type=”advertiser” id=”amhpoA==”]


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One of the main reasons the CBI gave for the jump is low interest rates, which are keeping mortgage rates low, thus leaving shoppers with a bit of extra disposable income to play with. ‘We’ve never had it so good’, as Lord Young might say. And some of the UK’s top retailers are already showing evidence of that: John Lewis, for example, reported that sales were up by 12% in the first half of this week, with most of the extra spend going into the decidedly Christmas-friendly home, fashion and electrical merchandise departments. And Tesco says it’s planning to expand the amount of space it allocates to its Christmas range in its 220 giant Extra stores.
All this may seem encouraging, but the evidence suggests it may be a temporary phenomenon. Once VAT goes up to 20%, that’s where it ends, says the CBI. In fact, the number of businesses that expect the boost in sales to last for the next three months is down to 11% - half October’s figure. Even ratings agencies are refusing to be swayed by the figures – Moody’s has warned that the UK is facing a ‘tough year’, with confidence down, bank lending continuing to be tight, and house prices falling. Happy new year….
In fact, as all these spending cuts start to bite, things could get a lot worse before they get any better. So retailers need to make the most of this festive mood while they can.


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Monday, April 19, 2010
Omniture's Josh James Lends Expertise To Demand Media
Josh James, the co-founder and former CEO of Omniture, is lending his expertise--and name--to the online publishing startup headed by former MySpace chairman Richard Rosenblatt, Demand Media. According to Demand Media today, which develops online content and publishing sites, James joined the firm's board of directors, along with Peter Guber of Mandalay Entertainment. Demand Media runs LiveStrong.com, the online health site, with bicycling legend Lance Armstrong; online outdoor activity site Trails.com; as well as a number of other sites on various vertical topics. The firm has reportedly been looking towards an IPO filing. Josh James took Omniture public in 2006.


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Blog: Lenta joins Metro with plan for Russian retail London listing
Dean Best | 3 February 2014
Lenta has ambitions to further expand in Russia
Russian hypermarket operator Lenta has set out plans for a listing in London. If successful, Lenta will join Russian peers X5 Retail Group and Magnit with shares trading in the UK capital - although it will be competing for attention with Metro Group, which plans to float its Russian cash-and-carry arm here.
Lenta has 77 hypermarkets in 45 cities across Russia, plus ten supermarkets in and around Moscow.
The retailer, in which private-equity firm TPG Capital owns a 49.8% stake, said it is the second-largest hypermarket operator in Russia and has plans to expand further.
Today's (3 February) announcements comes two weeks after German retail giant Metro said it would float part of its Russian cash-and-carry business in London.
Metro, which had been looking at options for funding for expansion, said it would look to list 25% of the division during the first half of the year.
Lenta CEO Jan Dunning said the float was a "major milestone" for the business. The retailer has shown signs of strong performance after a tumultuous year at the start of the decade that saw a public spat between its then major shareholders over who should be its CEO - a dispute that saw Dunning, then Lenta's CEO, leave the retailer in 2010.
However, a deal in 2011 brought an end to the saga when the two warring shareholders reached an agreement. PE firms TPG and VTB, which owned 30% of Lenta through a venture, teamed up with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to buy out their sparring partner and the retailer's largest shareholder, the Svoboda Corporation.
Reports emerged last summer that Lenta could be floated. One Russia-based analyst then told just-food the retailer had a number of attributes that could make it an attractive proposition for investors.
"It could attract a good amount of interest. It has decent growth and good margins compared to its peers. It is exposed to a high growth market and it could - at some point down the road - become an acquisition target itself, given the acquisitive nature of Russian retail," the analyst said on the condition of anonymity.
Acosta Sales & Marketing, the US agency that works on in-store executions with US FMCG giants, has been snapped up by Carlyle. But was the multiple the private-equity firm is said to have paid too pri...
Almost a year after buying Dole Food Co.'s international packaged food and Asian fresh businesses, Japanese trading house Itochu Corp. has looked again to the wider agrifood sector to diversify its bu...
There has been an increase in M&A among companies in the food sector in recent months - and management consultants at EY expect to the trend to continue....
Nelson Peltz is not letting go. The US billionaire investor is continuing in his quest to get PepsiCo to split in two - and has reportedly suggested a proxy battle with the company could be on the hor...
- On the money: Unilever shifting into growth spots
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- Why whole sector should take heed of meat scrutiny
- The just-food interview: Premier Foods CEO Darby
- On the money: Hershey confident in NPD pipeline
- Chobani bid for fresh UK appeal rejected
- Kellogg to close US snack plant
- Danone UK ad banned over unauthorised claims
- Danone takes Mars yoghurts into more markets
- Tyson sells Mexico, Brazil ops to JBS


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(WANE) Drug overdose deaths have risen to an all-time high in the United States and the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics estimates that seven out of 10 of those deaths involve opioids.
A powerful tool used to reverse opioid overdoses is now available for sale over the counter. The FDA approved the sale of Narcan back in March and starting this month, it’s now available without a prescription in stores and online.
Narcan is a brand name for naloxone, and it’s been used by medical professionals and law enforcement agencies for years to reverse opioid overdoses. The version available over the counter is a nasal spray that works in minutes and lasts 30-90 minutes.
Walgreens began selling Narcan nationwide in a two-pack for $44.99 at its stores Thursday. WANE 15 checked three Walgreens locations Thursday, None had Narcan, however one had another brand of Naloxone and it cost $59.99. An official with Walgreens reached out to WANE 15 and said Narcan will be available in Fort Wayne in two weeks.
An online check of other major pharmacies shows varying availability:
- Target – available for sale online
- CVS – available for sale online
- Meijer – does not currently carry
- Kroger – no mention of availability on company website
- Walgreens – available in store and online
- Walmart – available in store and online
Consumers should check with individual stores for availability.
Walgreens has produced a video explaining how to properly use Narcan and how to stop an overdose. You can watch it here.
Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly identified another brand of Naloxone as Narcan.


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A wonderful piece last Friday by SeekingAlpha’s Casual Analyst, who explains why the iPhone continues to soar and Apple’s share price isn’t over valued. What the critics (including myself) fail to recognize is the power of brand.
The Casual Analyst shares some human psychology: “When a brand becomes a cult or a religion, facts do not matter.”
The fact that there are much less expensive, “comparable” alternatives (some with better specs) is irrelevant to most iPhone buyers. Formulating an argument of why iPhone sales have peaked based on logic is where the critics go wrong.
While the globally average selling price of smartphones dropped 13% last year -- and is heading toward just $265 by 2017 – demand for pricey iPhones hasn’t slowed. Yes, the average price of an iPhone did fall $41 in the last quarter (due to some extent to the popularity of the 4S in developing markets), but the 4S sells for $450 vs an average selling price of $262 for smartphones in Asia. That’s almost a $200 premium for its cheapest model. And a $41 decline won’t significantly dent its industry-leading 50% gross margin on iPhones, which is triple Samsung’s.
Given the cult-like following of the iPhone brand, the Casual Analyst sees limited downside on Apple’s shares. Smartphone prices may continue to fall sharply over the next few years, but don’t underestimate the Apple’s ability to charge a steep premium over Android models and all the rest. And as prices of smartphones drop overall, that just means the iPhone become more affordable to more people.
The outlook for the iPhone and Apple in the short-term is bright. The Casual Analyst noted that consumers give market leaders the benefit of the doubt for one or two product release generations – so Apple doesn’t need to hit a homerun with each iPhone launch. The last in September was underwhelming, but the company can afford it disappoint again this year without seriously damaging its brand.
Looking at Apple’s previous track record, it’s unlikely it will strike out two times, much less three.


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Camera records pharmacy worker pocketing Xanax
A pharmacy employee is facing drug and theft charges after the owner of Deltona Pharmacy used a security camera to find out who was stealing prescription pills from the safe.
Noemy Calzada, 53, is accused of stealing at least 140 pills — while the pharmacy owner told Volusia County sheriff's deputies more than 8,000 pills have gone missing over the past year.
The owner upgraded his video surveillance and security measures about a year ago, when he first noticed Xanax pills disappearing. He trained his cameras on the medication safe.
On Thursday, he watched recorded security footage and saw Calzada take a bottle of Xanax from the safe, sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. No one had ordered any Xanax.
She opened the bottle and poured some pills into her shirt pocket, Haught said.
The pharmacy's new pill management system then showed that 75 Xanax pills were missing that day.
Another video from last week showed Calzada doing the same thing, Haught said. That day, 65 pills were missing in the system.
The sheriff's investigation is ongoing, Haught said. Calzada was arrested Friday, posted $1,500 bail at the Volusia County Branch Jail and released the same afternoon.


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HIGH POINT, N.C. — A High Point woman launched a new business in June with the goal of supporting Black-owned businesses.
Temoura Jefferies started The Buy Black Guide on Juneteenth with the mission to spread awareness of Black-owned business in the Triad.
“We aim to mend the economic and systematic gaps that plague the African American community today,” Jefferies said.
She said the initiative was birthed after finding it “challenging” to find a complete list of businesses in the area.
“We decided to start on Juneteenth as a symbol of unity and celebration for our people,” Jefferies said in response to why she chose Juneteenth as the launch date.
According to Jefferies, business owners can amplify their voices through the platform, while also remaining visible to their target audience.
“Within the guide you will find a directory of Black-owned businesses ranging from food, catering, clothing apparel, cleaning services as well as health and wellness,” Jefferies said. “Often time, we want to support black-owned businesses but don’t know where to find them, The Buy Black Guide hopes to fill that void in our community.”
She coins it as a “one-stop shop” for business owners with a wide-range of businesses to choose from.
Jefferies even has dreams to expand the business in years to come.
“We plan to launch a digital app and a physical copy of the guide within the next few years,” she said.
She said she hopes the business will serve as national resource for business owners across the country.
With almost 400 businesses listed on the site, Jefferies highlights a new business each week in efforts to shed light on the different Black-owned companies in the area.
“I have always believed in supporting and uplifting one another,” she said. “I have always wanted to create something impactful and resourceful, as well as give back to my community and it’s a blessing to have been able to do that.”
Jefferies said the project turned business has taken off to higher heights than she could ever imagine.
“The Buy Black Guide has helped me to create a legacy for my children and children’s children,” she said. “I am super excited to grow the brand while helping other businesses grow.”
Visit The Buy Black Guide's website for more information.
‘My grandmother is a real live angel’ | Winston-Salem grandmother celebrates 85th birthday through parade
5-year-old girl in Whitsett celebrates birthday parade with special visit from Triad first responders
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A Dubai lodge has taken a massive move when it will come to sustainably sourcing ingredients at its in-residence restaurants – by setting up a vertical hydroponic farm on-web site.
Getting generate developed on the premises lessens its carbon footprint and transportation prices for the purchaser.
“We are executing it for two reasons. A chef will generally want the freshest and best doable ingredients, and the need to consider of sustainability is enormous,” explained the property’s government chef, Tobias Pfister.
“We all have to have to cut down our carbon footprints. The foods is practically developed here and then served on the tables.
“There’s no transportation or logistics associated. I can essentially go in the early morning to the farm and lower the lettuce and have it in a salad bowl that lunchtime.”
In vertical farming, crops are grown in levels on top rated of one a different, whilst hydroponics is the approach of rising crops in nutrient-rich liquid in its place of soil.
A sustainable tactic
The farm, which is about 40 sq. metres, is inside a sealed container on the property’s grounds in Dubai Marina.
Vegetation, which include lettuce, kale, basil, rosemary and thyme will be grown 12 months-round.
“Sustainability is becoming a thing that is an essential component of the discussion for each hospitality business,” reported Mr Pfister.
“It’s getting to be an vital craze for each chef.”
He also explained foodstuff security was thrown underneath the spotlight by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We all noticed how supply chains ended up interrupted. All industries have been impacted, not just hospitality, and it was essential to find out lessons from that,” he claimed.
“Companies in this location import a lot of their goods, so we observed the significance of coming up with alternatives to aid localise these markets.”
The Ritz-Carlton’s vertical farm was created in collaboration with Inexperienced Container State-of-the-art Farming, a hydroponics professional.
The approach is frequently explained to be a remedy to the extensive-standing difficulty of locating locations to farm in quickly urbanising places.
“It has been established in quite a few metropolitan areas across the earth currently it is nothing at all new,” mentioned Mr Pfister.
“When metropolitan areas maintain escalating it implies area gets to be constrained and standard farming solutions become unrealistic. This is clearly a way ahead.”
Vertical farming on the up
US vertical farm company AeroFarms broke floor on a investigate and advancement centre in the funds very last summer.
The 8,200-sq.-metre facility is component of a $150 million strategy by Abu Dhabi Financial commitment Office environment to provide chopping-edge technological innovation to the forefront of initiatives to improve food protection.
At about that time, Sokovo, an agricultural know-how business, introduced it was developing a 92,000-sq.-metre vertical farm at Dubai Industrial City.
“The importance of this launch is twofold we are firstly supporting the UAE on its journey to escalating sustainability, even though also enabling our visitors to eat regionally developed develop, which of class, is far more environmentally pleasant, but also outstanding in high quality, style and freshness,” stated Jeroen Elmendorp, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai.
“Looking forward, we purpose to improve responsible operations, which includes placing sustainability at the heart of all that we do.
“I am confident the launch of our pretty personal hydroponic facility will supply our guests with an remarkable culinary knowledge.”
Updated: Could 20, 2022, 10:34 AM


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The world can barely get enough of
Australian wine with 94 million cases of Aussie wine sold around the world last
That is an increase of 5 per cent in volume, but consumers
are paying more for it with the value of exports up 10 per cent to $2.8
Red wine, in particular, has continued its red-hot growth
now making up 76 per cent of Australia's wine exports.
Wine Australia's chief executive officer, Andreas Clark,
said there was increased understanding and awareness around the premium
Australian wine product that was going to all major markets around the world.
For more information click here
ABC Rural 22


text: TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- Israel stocks were higher for a fifth day late in the trading day on Tuesday, with the benchmark index at a record and led by Africa-Israel Investments. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's benchmark TA-25 Index was up 0.4% at 1032.97 and the TA-100 rose 0.26% to 1026.03. The Tel-Tech 15 Index of top technology issues added 0.26% to 384.14. Real-estate investor Africa-Israel, afivy the most-active issue, rose 1.9%. Also active and higher are Israel Chemicals, up 0.5%, and Teva Pharmaceutical, TEVA, +1.86% up 0.1%. Among the blue chips, the banks were lower: Hapoalim by 0.1%, Leumi by 0.8% and Discount by 0.5%. Bank Mizrachi Tefahot was off 0.2%. Delek Group was 0.8% ahead. Its Delek US Holdings DK, +2.47% closed the purchase of 90 retail fuel and convenience stores from Calfee Co. of Dalton and affiliates for $57 million excluding inventory. It is working to close the purchase of another 17 stores from Calfee for $8 million. Retalix advanced 2.6%. The provider of software solutions for food retailers and distributors affirmed its 2007 estimates of net income of $9 million to $16 million, adjusted net of $15 million to $22 million, and revenue of $220 to $230 million. And it said 7-Eleven Norway and Sweden, a part of the Reitan Service Handel group, deployed Retalix solutions at its 185 convenience stores in Norway and Sweden.


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Forget what the sleek ships of Star Trek would have you believe, it turns out humanity’s most famous spacecraft is even dustier than the average home.
The International Space Station (ISS) may not be a hunk of junk, but – 25 years after its initial launch – it’s become chock-full of potentially harmful chemicals.
In a first of its kind study, UK and US researchers teamed up to analyse dust samples from air filters on board and compared them to organic contaminants found in our Earthly homes.
Among the recognisable materials were those used in building and window sealant, stain removers, furniture fabrics, and electronic equipment.
Some are even classed as persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty aiming to eliminate their production and use due to their impact on human health and the environment.
Researchers believe they may have found their way aboard via astronauts’ cameras, music players, tablets, and clothing brought up from our home planet.
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High levels of radiation can speed up the ageing of materials, including the breakdown of goods into micro and nano plastics that can become airborne in the microgravity setting of the ISS.
These particles settle across the station, and must be vacuumed to ensure the onboard air filters perform efficiently.
While air inside the ISS is constantly recirculated, with eight to 10 changes per hour, it’s unknown the extent to which this removes all of these harmful chemicals.
Some vacuum bags were returned to Earth for the study, with one shipped to the University of Birmingham.
Satellite deliberately crashed in world first
New phone wallpaper? See stunning new image of dying star
Dust findings ‘should guide future station designs’
Professor Stuart Harrad said concentrations of organic contaminants in the ISS’s dust “often exceeded” the average amount found in homes and other indoor settings across the US and Western Europe.
Generally, they were within the range found on Earth.
Prof Harrad said the findings could guide the design of future space stations, with several hoping to launch by 2030.
These include private ventures; a joint project by the US, European, Canadian, and Japanese space agencies; and Russia‘s own hub for when it leaves the ISS programme in 2024.
“Our findings have implications for future space stations and habitats, where it may be possible to exclude many contaminant sources by careful material choices in the early stages of design and construction,” Prof Harrad said.
The research is published in the Environmental Science and Technology Letters journal.


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It's official: Airbnb is quickly replacing hotels as the preferred choice of accommodations for travelers worldwide. The site was founded in 2008 and already has over 1.5 million listings and 40 million guests around the globe. But to what end? The company is now under fire from regulators, many of whom are pushing to eliminate unlicensed room rentals altogether.
The Airbnb crackdown has been spearheaded by the head of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as local regulators in certain locations, such as Chicago and Cincinnati. This comes at a time when regulators are also calling for stricter oversight and enforcement on ride sharing platforms such as Uber and Lyft.
According to Cincinnati.com, the Airbnb issue has sparked debate in the local community of Newport recently. City leaders in the area are assembling a group of residents to put together regulations for people who want to rent their homes out on a short term basis on sites such as Airbnb.
Newport city manager Tome Fromme said, "There are fire code violations, you got all kinds of issues. There are so many questions we need to look at."
A similar situation is taking place for Airbnb hosts in Chicago. Alderman Brendan Reilly, whose ward includes downtown Chicago, is calling for stricter enforcement against Airbnb hosts who are not licensed and in compliance.
Apparently, only 200 out of the nearly 3000 Airbnb rental listings in the Chicago area are licensed properties, according to DNAinfo.
Reilly was unsympathetic when he talked about the issue. He said, "You don't need an inspector to google 'Airbnb.' There is money literally sitting on the table. Bringing Airbnb into compliance is really within our grasp."
What could this new crackdown on licensing mean for Airbnb? Although the ruling is unlikely to come from the FTC itself, the Federal Trade Commission is in a position to offer advice to state and local agencies on how to handle and impose Airbnb regulations.
The sharing economy (think Airbnb, Uber, Lyft) has been a topic of hot debate in recent months, as policymakers are grappling with how to regulate these services which have exploded in popularity.
Policymakers argue that shared services, like Airbnb, could pose a consumer protection issue if they're not properly regulated. Earlier this year, an Airbnb nightmare unfolded in Madrid after a young man from Massachusetts alleged that his host locked him up and sexually assaulted him.
While stories like this certainly aren't common, this isn't an isolated incident. Anytime you're staying in a stranger's home, it's best to proceed with caution, research, and common sense. Airbnb has won over the hearts and business of travelers worldwide; hopefully policymakers won't ruin the party.
[Photo credit: Airbnb.com]


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Car firm owner brews up coffee venture
A car servicing and MOT business owner has brewed up a new venture with the launch of a coffee shop in Bramhope.
Mark Frankland, who owns West Park based Motor Marque, has opened Refresca coffee shop on Tredgold Avenue, creating five jobs.
With a keen interest in aviation, Frankland has travelled extensively and says he has always dreamed of recreating the stylish coffee shops found in the many European cities he has visited.
He said: “Nineteen years ago I started Motor Marque on my own from my van, and have grown that into... You can carry on reading TheBusinessDesk.com for free, but you have reached the maximum number of pages an unregistered user can view. To register for an account, click here or login below...


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South Korea’s LG Chem, a Tesla Inc and GM electric car battery supplier, said on Thursday it expects to split its battery business into a new company as the electric vehicle market takes off. The move came after LG Chem swung last quarter to a profit in its automotive battery company. Thanks to the increasing demand from European car manufacturers and further sales of cylindrical batteries used in Tesla vehicles, it expects more profitability.
LG Chem, South Korea’s top manufacturer of petrochemicals, has long been betting on car batteries as a new growth driver, but it has never made an annual profit in the company since it began to produce them about a decade ago.
But hopes are rising for its automotive battery business as manufacturers are pushing for more electric vehicles, fuelled by Tesla’s rise and tougher European emissions regulations. LG Chem said the time had come to split the company that competes with CATL of China and Panasonic of Japan, as it has begun to make “structural profits” in its car battery market.
The new company to be launched in December, LG Chem said, aims to achieve revenue of 30 trillion won ($25.5 billion) or more in 2024, out of estimated revenue of 13 trillion won this year.
The latest wholly-owned subsidiary, previously known as ‘LG Energy Solutions,’ would include LG Chem’s small batteries used in Smartphones and laptops and its energy storage devices, as well as its car batteries.
Shares in LG Chem dropped by 5.4 percent. According to Daeshin Securities analyst Han Sangwon, several LG Chem investors will only own the battery company indirectly which will be divided into one unit. He also said investors are profiting ahead of Tesla’s battery day, where Tesla will unveil its advanced battery technology. LG Chem said it would pursue a battery unit stock market listing without further elaboration.
According to LG Chem, making the unit an independent entity will also help draw business investment, which needs heavy capital expenditure to increase production capacity as orders pile up.


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A Hong Kong developer wants to offer the world a "firsthand" experience of the protests.
All kinds of receipts and tickets contain the potentially toxic compound, which sanitizer helps our bodies to absorb.
The "Veloloop" emits a low-frequency signal to alert traffic sensors to a cyclist's presence.
"Rival" ports across Puget Sound are using game-like simulations to plan their responses—before a big one hits.
NYU's Constantine Kontokosta sees Big Data as a tool not just for saving energy—but for making cities healthier, more resilient, and more equitable.
A peek at the global rhythm of Internet usage.
A new tool called Urban Layers tracks Manhattan's rise, block by block, since 1765.
Over public networks, the barrier to your personal details is pretty darn low.
Hamsa Balakrishnan develops algorithms that help controllers and pilots better manage who's taking off and when.
NASA says it's a “once-in-a-lifetime event.”
This weather wand blows raindrops 3 feet away (and perhaps onto other people).
This guy looks like he'd eat the Man in the Moon for breakfast.
Software company Esri's database files Americans into 67 different consumer groups—with eerie accuracy.
A new report from the Aspen Institute discusses the future of an important institution.
Are you a tech entrepreneur? Check out nearly 100 innovation labs across Sub-Saharan Africa on this interactive map.
Beijing is the world's top science city, but Chinese policies will prevent China from becoming the world's top science country.
What we've learned from our 9-month series on tomorrow's urban mobility.
A roundup of the best stories on cities and urbanism we've come across in the last seven days.


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Tuesday, September 26th, 2023
Limited Edition copies of the game for Switch, PS4 and PS5 are now available for pre-order in NISA's Online Store.
Wednesday, June 28th, 2023
I demoed Crystar's spiritual successor, CRYMACHINA, and I find a fun action combat game with a lot to enjoy.
Friday, June 23rd, 2023
NIS America has released a story trailer and set a release date for the upcoming CRYMACHINA.
Thursday, May 4th, 2023
CRYMACHINA launches for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and PC this Fall 2023.
Tuesday, April 25th, 2023
Will you succumb to your fate, or will you overcome it?
Thursday, March 30th, 2023
Along with this announcement, NIS America has also released a trailer.
Tuesday, February 28th, 2023
Along with this release date announcement, XSEED Games has also put out a brand new trailer.
Thursday, September 1st, 2022
XSEED Games have announced they will be bringing FuRyu’s Trinity Trigger to North America in early 2023.
Monday, February 28th, 2022
Monark creates an intriguing, compelling world to explore the human condition.
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022
Along with this announcement, NIS America has also put out a brand new launch trailer.
Tuesday, January 25th, 2022
In addition to releasing the free demo, NIS America has also put out a brand new trailer.
Tuesday, December 7th, 2021
MONARK is scheduled to launch on February 22nd.
Tuesday, October 19th, 2021
The game is out today in North America but in Europe it will launch on October 22nd and October 26th for Oceania.
Tuesday, October 12th, 2021
Along with this release date announcement comes a brand new trailer.
Tuesday, September 14th, 2021
This latest trailer shows off the main character's various allies.
Wednesday, July 14th, 2021
A new gameplay trailer has been put out as well.
Thursday, June 10th, 2021
A Limited Edition version for Switch, PS4 and PS5 is already available for pre-order.
Thursday, April 15th, 2021
The Caligula Effect 2 is headed to Nintendo Switch and PS4 sometime this Fall.
Tuesday, January 21st, 2020
Today we take a job at the Heroland theme park and start uncovering its dark secrets on Nintendo Switch.
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019
Now's the time to pick up Heroland if you want to snag yourself the Knowble Edition.


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The analysis is hard to argue against: as global standards of living continue to rise, most of those who make a living studying such trends agree that the consumption of meat will rise as well. This is excellent news for the pig industry and all those connected to animal agriculture. The overriding movement toward improved incomes worldwide is expected to equate to improved meat consumption in emerging and developing nations.
But there is another trend that is becoming more visible and brings with it some unique challenges: a more-informed consumer base that is no longer content to accept food at face value. The days of consumers believing that pork is pork and beef is beef are a thing of the past with impacts felt in animal agriculture first in Europe and now spreading worldwide.
The knowledge that consumers are becoming increasingly interested in how animal agriculture runs its businesses certainly presents a fresh set of considerations but if we can somehow differentiate between science-based reasonable and genuine inquiries, and demands based on inaccurate assumptions, perhaps we can partner with an informed consumer base in a positive manner. Informed and educated consumers are, in fact, what many in animal agriculture have said they prefer.
For decades, consumers had little interest in how their food got to the meat case. Several generations removed from the farm in many cases, they no longer raised their own food and were not particularly concerned with how that food got to their tables.
Educating the public
Enter today's consumer. Armed with more education — and more expectationsa trend that can be expected to continue among countries with rising household incomes — they have been pelted with media messages of animal rights most of their lives. They have seen natural and organic markets spring up with growing frequency. They have heard a multitude of messages, some scientifically based, some not. They have seen the debate over cages, grazing, and what floors animals walked on. They have seen animal disease outbreaks that have affected humans and livestock. They have seen feed and food recalls by the dozens. But through these developments, they have also grown an interest in not only what goes onto the dinner table, but also what is being fed to meat-producing animals. It is fairly safe to think that as more nations raise their meat consumption, this interest in animal welfare will also increase.
Animal welfare trends
In many ways, animal agriculture is being asked to respond to consumer demands in ways it has never been asked to before. Large food retailers have begun making greater demands on their suppliers that have found their way all the way down the food chain. Some of these efforts are broad in input and scientifically based. Others are driven by various market motives and emotions.
One of the latest representations of where we can expect consumer trends to go was the recent announcement by Whole Foods Market that it is launching a system in which meat sold at the chain will receive a 1-to-5 rating, based on animal welfare protocols audited by a third party. The chain claims it is the first such graded system anywhere for meats.
Launched in the USA,in 1980, Whole Foods Market has grown into the world's leader in natural and organic foods with more than 270 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market's spokesperson said that the market had long required what it sees as basic animal welfare stipulations in what it sold: no antibiotics or hormones. But she said the chain wanted to do more. Roll out of the new system followed a five-year development process during which the company said it invited participation from animal-welfare groups, scientists and producers in order to develop standards across all meat-animal species. The ratings directly relate to how animals are fed and housed.
Certainly this company does not represent all super markets and its consumers are not representative of all consumers. But I also don't believe animal agriculture is served by ignoring or underestimating the impact that a rating system based on animal welfare could have on the industry, whether or not the process utilised is one we could agree upon. One of the keys for the pig industry will be to analyse the economics of welfare choices in our herd management practices.
Anticipation of increases in the consumption of meat around the world brings optimism for the future of the pig industry amid uneasiness over global food security. But with this increased consumption we can also expect an increased interest in animal welfare, some of it scientifically based, some not. An increasingly aware consumer base is not going to be ignored without repercussions in the marketplace. Now that we've begun to identify these new demands, it's time to assess their impact.


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Town will ‘improve and thrive’ with new supermarket, community leaders say
- Credit: Charlotte Bond
Halesworth community leaders are in favour of a new supermarket being built in the town centre - but details of which chain is behind the bid are yet to revealed.
In an extraordinary meeting on Monday, Halesworth town councillors backed proposals for a new single-storey supermarket, despite concerns being raised over its design and the increase in traffic it would bring.
Plans have been lodged for a large store to be built off Saxons Way in land currently occupied by several smaller buildings and a car park.
MORE: Plans for 75-place care home and 93 apartments set for town centreAML Architecture Ltd, who submitted the proposals on behalf of the landowner, said there was a “perceived need” for a new food store in the town centre.
As well as the store, the developer has also proposed constructing a 236-space car park, a footpath to the Thoroughfare and a recycling area.
The entrance to the existing car park would be retained under the plans and new access would be created for delivery lorries, though the design is to be finalised at a later date.
AML Architecture said the new supermarket would “contribute substantially” to nearby businesses and “help invigorate the town centre”.
Many Halesworth town centre traders have already expressed their support for the project, believing it could help attract more customers to the area.
- 1 Richest people in East Anglia revealed on Sunday Times Rich List
- 2 'We are both in love' - Ed Sheeran announces birth of second daughter
- 3 School apologises for GCSE paper error as it falls to inadequate
- 4 'You have broken us!' - New cafe at Suffolk beauty spot on huge demand
- 5 Colchester gets city status - fuelling disappointment over no Ipswich bid
- 6 My Suffolk Life: ‘We had to move to Suffolk to be together’
- 7 Indiana Jones-inspired metal detectorist finds £65k Roman hoard
- 8 'It makes you want to cry' - anger as bench dumped in pond at country park
- 9 Thetford homes left with 'significant' damage following blaze
- 10 Big sales, Bosmans and 'mutual consent' - Why contracts are a balancing act
In the meeting, numerous members of the public said they would be in favour of a new supermarket being built - with many arguing it would promote healthy competition with the East of England Co-op and prevent people from travelling more than 10 miles to Beccles for shopping.
Town councillors also said the store would have a knock-on effect of attracting more people to Halesworth, but voiced fears that the inclusion of a cafe in the scheme would take trade away from established businesses in the Thoroughfare.
Community leaders did also express concern over potential traffic issues and the lack of clarity over the design for the supermarket, with no retailer confirmed as the party behind the application.
However, no councillors voted against the proposals and they believed the development would benefit the town as a whole.
David Wollweber, chairman of Halesworth Town Council, told the meeting: “I am in favour of this supermarket but with caveats. I do hope that Halesworth will improve and thrive with this development.”


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Emirates SkyCargo makes a splash at Air Cargo India 2022
Dubai, UAE, 02 June 2022: Emirates SkyCargo has concluded a successful Air Cargo India in Mumbai, engaging with its industry partners and customers through a packed schedule of meetings, panel discussions, networking events and media briefings, culminating in a celebratory awards and gala dinner event for over 300 guests.
Leading the Emirates SkyCargo delegation at Air Cargo India, Jassim Saif, VP Commercial, West Asia, Emirates SkyCargo said: “This is our first major cargo conference on Indian soil since 2019 and meeting clients face to face is such an integral part of doing business here. There were lots of updates to share and business opportunities to discuss; from offering our customers more cargo capacity with our expanding freighter fleet, to our plans to help connect India’s agri-tech farmers to a wider network of clients from Dubai.”
Dennis Lister, VP Cargo Commercial Development, Emirates SkyCargo added: “Emirates SkyCargo has deep ties with India, dating back to our first flight in 1985. Today, we are proud to serve customers at nine gateways in India offering rapid access to global markets through our network, as well as unmatched solutions for all manner of important export goods from pharma and perishables to textiles and high value tech items.”
In the coming months, Emirates SkyCargo will identify and invite a number of Indian agri-tech farmers who practice sustainable farming and circular economy principles, to participate in next year’s Gulfood, one of the world’s largest food distribution exhibitions held annually in Dubai.
Abdulla Alkhallafi, Emirates SkyCargo Cargo Manager, India and Nepal said: “By supporting agri-tech farmers, the pioneers in their field and connecting them with potential business and growth opportunities will also help Emirates SkyCargo grow more out of India, particularly around perishables.”
Bringing welcome capacity to serve strong customer demand across its network, Emirates SkyCargo last week welcomed its 11th Boeing 777 to its freighter fleet and expects delivery of its 12th 777 freighter in June. At a media briefing held on the side lines of Air Cargo India, Emirates SkyCargo also revealed plans to convert six passenger 777s into freighters; boosting its fleet to 20 by the end of 2026.
On the opening night of Air Cargo India, Emirates hosted 300 guests from the cargo and logistics industry, treating them to Emirates’ world class hospitality including a raffle to win Business Class tickets to Melbourne, money-can’t-buy Emirates hospitality passes to the highly anticipated cricket T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan, and a coveted cricket bat signed by the Indian cricket team.
Emirates SkyCargo also picked up an award on the second night for its shipment of Covid-19 vaccine. The Global Air Cargo Transport Leader of Covid Vaccine Award was given to Emirates SkyCargo after it transported more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines on its aircraft. The air cargo carrier has achieved this historic milestone within a span of 18 months from the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines trialled in October 2020. More than 4,200 tonnes of COVID-19 vaccines, equivalent to over 1 billion doses, have been moved to over 80 destinations on over 2,000 Emirates flights.


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Whether it’s down to pandemic-induced nostalgia or our ever-growing environmental concerns, there’s been a vintage resurgence of late. And that’s particularly the case when it comes to vintage handbags, which are soaring in popularity among millennial and Gen-Z consumers, who love the Fendi Baguette (immortalised by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City) and the Balenciaga City bag.
In fact, The RealReal’s 2021 Luxury Resale Report has found that some vintage bags are actually performing better on the resale market compared to their modern-day counterparts. The average sale price of a vintage Gucci Jackie bag – named after its biggest fan, Jackie Kennedy – has gone up by 101 per cent to $480 (£349), while the average sale price of a Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 has risen by a quarter to $739 (£537) since 2019.
It’s no surprise that timeless classics such as the Chanel Flap bag are still in high demand (in fact, vintage obsessive Rihanna recently invested in a pre-loved version), with its average sale price up by 54 per cent to $4,503 (£3,270) since 2019. Hermès also remains a safe bet, with vintage Constance bags now averaging a resale value of $6,917 (£5,023). Meanwhile, the Birkin and Mini Kelly II – whether vintage or new – fetch substantially more on the resale market compared to their RRPs.
“We’ve seen younger generations embrace luxury like never before – they have been quick to adopt luxury as a new form of investment, understanding that luxury goods can yield high returns,” Sasha Skoda, head of women’s at The RealReal, tells British Vogue.
The popularity of the vintage Jackie may well be down to Gucci reissuing it for autumn/winter 2020 – so expect a rush on pre-loved Gucci Diana bags in the coming months, after the Italian fashion house brought back the ’90s classic popularised by Princess Diana in July. “When an iconic style is reissued, there is a parallel increased demand for its vintage counterparts,” Skoda explains. “Our shoppers are still wanting to be trendy, but on their own terms.”
All this shows that vintage is not only the more eco-friendly option, but also a safe investment. “We’re seeing a proven ability to retain value across multiple styles,” Skoda concludes. “Vintage handbags have become their own unique market; we know the demand is fuelled by a desire for uniqueness and something special.”
Below, we pick out 10 of the best vintage It-bags to purchase now.


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Microsoft is today launching a new Xbox Live mobile SDK to iOS and Android to allow developers to bring Xbox Live functionality to mobile platforms. The Verge reports that features such as achievements, Gamescore, hero stats, friend lists, clubs, and a few family settings will be available on both iOS and Android.
Microsoft is pushing hard at making its Xbox Live SDK available everywhere, not just on its Xbox and Windows platforms.
Game developers will be able to pick and choose parts of Xbox Live to integrate into their games, and it will all be enabled through a single sign-in to a Microsoft Account. Microsoft is using its identity network to support login, privacy, online safety, and child accounts.
Some iOS and Android games are already using the Xbox Live SDK to provide achievements. However, those have been limited to titles developed by Microsoft Studios thus far.
But it won’t stop there. While the company doesn’t have anything to announce today, Xbox Live could possibly be coming to other gaming platforms such as Nintendo Switch and Microsoft is open to the idea of bringing Xbox Live to the PS4 if Sony would allow it.
Are you excited Xbox Live is coming to mobile? Let us know with a comment below.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Last week, local Land Rover distributor Coventry Motors Corporation announced that it will be bringing in the D240 Defender 90 and 110, providing local customers with diesel-powered alternatives to the off-road SUV introduced earlier this year. Now, we have the prices.
The company’s move to launch the D240 Defender 90 and 110 early next year not only expands the local lineup, but makes the model more affordable as well. Check out the vehicle’s official local prices and variants below:
2021 Land Rover Defender
- Land Rover Defender 90 Urban D240 – P5,510,000
- Land Rover Defender Country D240 – P5,560,000
- Land Rover Defender Adventure D240 – P5,640,000
- Land Rover Defender Explorer D240 – P5,810,000
- Land Rover Defender 110 Urban D240 – P6,110,000
- Land Rover Defender 110 Country D240 – P6,160,000
- Land Rover Defender 110 Adventure D240 – P6,240,000
- Land Rover Defender 110 Explorer D240 – P6,410,000
Prior to this, the most attainable Defender unit in the Philippines was the Land Rover Defender 110 Urban with its P6,310,000 price tag.
The D240 Defenders are powered by an Ingenium D240 twin-turbocharged diesel engine with 237hp at 4,000rpm and up to 430Nm of torque between 1,400-3,750rpm. Once the D240 90 and 110 are launched in the first quarter of 2021, this engine option will be sold alongside the 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbo gasoline capable of 395hp and 550Nm. The Defender 90 also features three doors and a shorter wheelbase, making it a viable model for those looking to pair the nameplate’s capability with a more compact form factor.
If you’re considering this vehicle, you can already pre-order one at either the EDSA or Bonifacio Global City showroom.
You can check out the accessories that come with each Defender D240 variant in the images below. So, is this an SUV you’re looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.


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Borrowers are pulling back from refinances and struggling to make home purchases during a historically busy time of year for housing.» Read More
Ryan Seacrest sees into his future: a media investing empire to rival the Silicon Valley big boys betting on the future of content creation.
TD Ameritrade said profit climbed 5.5 percent on a jump in net new assets, and forecast asset growth of 7 to 11 percent in 2015.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said his agency is beefing up security at federal buildings across the country.
The wife of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson, former lead designer Shannon Wilson, and her son J.J. have launched casual wear brand Kit and Ace.
The building has ruled over New York real estate, but now its sales may be coming back down to Earth.
Gas prices could fall below $3 a gallon nationwide by the weekend, and the already big savings for consumers should put some jingle in holiday shopping.
The Federal Trade Commission has sued AT&T for allegedly deceptive and unfair data throttling.
Coach is upbeat about its Stuart Vevers' collection, a key part of its turnaround plan, but investors may need more convincing as shares tumble.
The severe drought in California hasn't slowed down tourism but visitors to many state parks will find fewer niceties than they're used to.
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said at Code/Mobile that about 50 percent of views are coming from a mobile phone or tablet. Re/code reports.
A new study says the Northeastern states do particularly poorly when it comes to structuring their tax systems in a business-friendly way.
Despite lackluster sales, General Motors is not backing down from its commitment to the Chevy Volt.
A nasty Wall Street divorce has touched two biotech CEOs and appears to have moved their company stocks down over drug use allegations.
A tractor trailer carrying butter smashed into a bridge and burst into flames near the Connecticut-New York line, forcing closure of the Merritt Parkway.
People in employer-sponsored health plans spent an average of 3.9 percent more on medical services in 2013, but actually used less such services.
HSBC is expected to set aside about $640 million to cover the cost of an investigation into suspected manipulation of FX markets. The FT reports.
The recent drop in oil prices may soon take a big bite out of tax revenues in states that are big energy producers.
A pair of new surveys shows things aren't getting any easier for the middle class.
New orders for capital goods recorded their biggest drop in eight months in September, but the decline was likely to be temporary as sentiment has been upbeat.
Department store Kohl's warned investors that it expects its earnings this year to come in at the low end of its prior guidance.
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Larry Bossidy, former Honeywell CEO, weighs in on the upcoming Republican primary as the field of contenders continues to grow. Also Bossidy shares his thoughts on trade.
Amazon is staffing up, hiring 6,000 workers for distribution centers in twelve states.
14 FIFA officials to be charged in the U.S. with bribery, wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.


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CEO of Tesla Elon Musk has recently revealed his company’s latest vehicle launch: the Tesla cybertruck. The futuristic-looking pick-up truck was unveiled to the public in a lavish ceremony, and although the reveal did not go exactly according to plan, the world is abuzz with the news of Tesla’s latest electric-powered creation.
While there may currently be a paucity of cash and a shortage of resources, the one thing the world has never lacked is ingenuity. There are more incentives to invest in energy efficiency during an economic decline and when oil prices have gone through the roof! Constraint is often the breeding ground for incredible innovation.
You might have seen electric car charging stations being built in your area, but how much do you know about battery-powered electric cars? Also called EVs or electric cars, more and more vehicles are being powered by powerful batteries and electric motors.
Our modern world of computers, air travel, and the Internet has made us believe that we’re the first civilsation in history to create true works of advanced engineering. Our ancestors, however, were far more intelligent than we’ve been lead to believe, and created an assortment of truly next-gen engineering marvels.
Turkish Sultan Bayezid II put out the call for a bridge design that would connect Istanbul and Galata, a neighbouring city, in 1502. It would have been the world’s longest bridge span in history at that time, and Leonardo da Vinci sent in a proposal. He didn’t get the job.
St Paul gave his colleague St Timothy excellent advice when he told him not to let anyone look down on him because of his youth. Young people can be incredible forces of change, and as the following inventions by children prove, it is almost always to make the world a better place.
Ocean fertilisation is a new method of geoengineering aimed at boosting the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by phytoplankton; microscopic ocean plants that live en masse on or near the floors of our oceans.
Batteries power our world, from the smartphones in our pockets to the electric cars that are gaining immense popularity. But the batteries that we make use of every day aren’t the most efficient, and many scientists around the world are hard at work creating new types of next-gen batteries to fulfil a growing need for more powerful batteries. Continue reading “The Batteries of The Future”
Based in Slovakia, AeroMobil is determined to make a flying car that works. They’re on their fourth prototype at the moment. All prototypes are loosely referred to as “AeroMobil,” and in 2020 the first of the cars should be shipped to private owners.
So far, global political efforts to curb climate change have been slow and fraught with delays. In the meantime, scientists across the globe have turned their attention to geoengineering to try and find solutions in time to save our planet from rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists and engineers have suggested a few different approaches to protecting the atmosphere, and ultimately, geoengineering is the largest-scale intervention we have to counteract climate change within earth’s natural systems.


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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Just because Cleveland has the legacy of being an old economy and manufacturing powerhouse does not preclude it - or the region - transitioning from the Rust Belt to the Tech Belt.
It seems logical to me that legacy businesses have legacy type problems that don't
need to be solved by Silicon Valley-size solutions. These problems easily can be resolved by Cleveland-area entrepreneurs. Two of which have solved heritage issues with fascinating solutions proving that Cleveland doesn't have to journey so far from its manufacturing dynamo roots to make money, create jobs and solve deep business problems.
From Parts to Procurement. What could say "Cleveland" more than making auto parts? Cleveland and the surrounding cities all have had their hand in creating the best auto parts in the world. So it seems logical that the solution to auto parts procurement for auto dealerships would be created in Northeast Ohio.
OEConnection, soon to be just OEC, was founded by GM, Ford, Chrysler and Bell Howell (GM and Ford still remain as shareholders) in late 2000 to solve a problem that had vexed the auto manufacturing industry since its inception. OEConnection's mission was clear - provide a parts-ordering solution to franchise car dealerships by embracing the Internet for a solution.
"Parts are a very profitable business for dealers, but dealers only control 27 percent of the parts business," said Chuck Rotuno, CEO of OEC.
Dealerships must have the parts for a myriad of cars -- and if they don't, they need to get them quickly. Historically, getting a needed part quickly was inefficiently done by a parts clerk calling other area dealerships, finding the part, then driving to get the part and bringing it back to the service department. Missing parts meant missing money for the dealer.
OEC created a back-end aggregation network that allows auto dealers to buy and sell OEM parts. The dealership pays a flat monthly fee for the software, with no surcharge or transaction fees. OEC now has more than 10,000 customers and revenues are quickly approaching $100 million.
"The OEC platform originates more than $20 billion in annual auto part trades," Rotuno said. The company now has more than 270 employees, many of which work out of corporate headquarters in Richfield. Another 30 employees are based in Columbus. Nearly 50 percent of all its employees are on the technology side. OEC is quickly becoming one of the most successful software companies in Northeast Ohio -- all by focusing on solving an old-economy problem.
Efficiency in Waste. One of the best ways to create a new-economy company solving old-world problems is a trip on StartUpBus. Essentially, a number of entrepreneurs and technologists jump on a bus, begin driving to an exotic locale and within 72 hours create a company or technology.
That's exactly how WasteBits, of Akron, was born in 2012. Dan Collins, CEO, believed so much in what was created during his bus trip that he left his full-time job in 2013 to launch the company. He then convinced a couple other brave souls to leave the safety of a consistent paycheck to join him in the startup.
By early 2014, WasteBits unveiled its first commercial software for the waste industry. The company created an open software platform that allows waste generators, service providers and facilities - to communicate effectively. Before WasteBits, it would take an average of 16 days for a waste generator to have the proper paperwork created and filed for the waste to be picked up for disposal. After WasteBits arrival, the same activity takes four hours.
WasteBits has grown from those initial three brave souls to now employing 12 full-time workers. Collins expects to double that next year, and close out a $1 million convertible debt round soon.
The legacy industries of the Rust Belt were prolific creators of waste and borne out of that serious issue was a vibrant solution. And there are thousands of such fascinating technology-based solutions yet to be created.
Start Your Own Internet Biz. For those of you interested in joining this ever-expanding rank of technology entrepreneurs, there is an upcoming conference for you.
On April 9, the University of Akron School of Law will host NEXTOhio, an Internet startup conference. The event will run from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. at Quaker Station in downtown Akron. The event is free and open to the public.
During the conference there will be a number of experts offering advice to nascent entrepreneurs when it comes to legal formation, how to raise money in the Midwest and what mistakes NOT to make.
If you have ever wanted to launch your own Internet business or, perhaps, invest in a regional startup, then this event is for you. Register at www.nextohio.com. I hope to see you there.


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Doctor Who Adventures, the magazine aimed at a young demographic, is back, seemingly relaunching as a quarterly publication – meaning more comic book exploits for Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor and her companions!
Panini UK, the publisher of Doctor Who Magazine, has released a new-look Doctor Who Adventures Special, out right now, priced £3.99.
Aimed at 7-11-year-old Doctor Who fans and those new to the series, this 36-page issue is packed with did-you-knows, quizzes, puzzles, posters, and a galactic pull-out calendar wall-chart, as well as a new comic, drawn by regular DWA artist, Russ Leach.
The fresh-look issue includes 100 bold and bright stickers and four Limited Edition postcards.
It looks like it’ll disappear off shelves on 2nd April, hinting that DWA, previously a monthly publication (and before that, bi-monthly, fortnightly, and even weekly!), will be available every 3-4 months. Unless, of course, this debut relaunch is to gauge interest again, after it went on hiatus in June 2017.
For now, the Doctor Who Adventures Special is available now, priced £3.99.