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Google is Giving Away Nest Mini Smart Speakers to YouTube Premium and Play Music Subscribers in U.S. One Day After Google Home Discontinued
Google has a quiet program underway that offers a free Nest Mini Smart Speaker to YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium,..
Australians will soon be able to integrate Alexa voice assistant into their cars using Amazon’s Echo Auto as part of..
To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday, Google rolled out a slate of upgrades for Android designed to make..
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi’s new electric scooter for children includes a voice assistant to teach kids how to ride. The..


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Half of the world's top business leaders see the global economy declining in 2012, a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers shows.
Of 1,258 CEO responses, only 15% said they believed the macro picture would improve over the next 12 months. Nearly half said the economy would falter.
Thirty-four percent said they expected the economy to remain about the same.
"CEO confidence is decidedly down as they deal with the aftershocks to the recession," PwC Chairman Dennis Nally said. "CEOs are disappointed with the course of the global economy and the pace of recovery. The optimism that had been building cautiously since 2008 has begun to recede."
However, nearly 40% of the top leaders said they were "very confident" that their own company would deliver revenue growth in the coming year.

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The CEOs of Amazon.com and McDonalds faced pointed and political questions during their annual shareholders meetings.
Amazon shareholders met at Seattle Center, with CEO Jeff Bezos giving an overview of the company’s public business strategy.
Amazon did not allow video and audio recording or photography at Thursday’s meeting. That could be because last year demonstrators made a lot of noise outside calling on Amazon to pay more taxes and drop its membership in a conservative public-policy organization.
This year’s meeting was upbeat with Bezos saying, “We are still thinking of this as day one. In fact, I think the alarm clock is still on and we haven’t even hit the snooze button yet.”
The most interesting exchange came when three shareholders questioned Bezos about selling violent video games, firearms and accessories.
According to Todd Bishop, with GeekWire, a representative of the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research asked Bezos why the company would limit the sale of firearms and accessories while selling what the group considers the most violent video games and movies.
The representative asked how Amazon made the decision to restrict one form of product but not the other.
Bezos responded, “I appreciate your comments and we’ll look into it. Thank you.”
Sounds like a brush off, but there was a followup question from another shareholder who asked about the product called “My Ex Girlfriend,” a mannequin shooting target that was pulled by the company earlier this year.
Keep in mind, Amazon doesn’t create these products they sell them and Bezos pointed out that shooting target was an example of a product sold by a third-party seller, noting that the company is “constantly working on improving our methods” for policing those items,” Bishop reported.
“We have millions of millions of items,” he said. “It’s a difficult technical challenge; it’s a difficult organizational challenge to police those items.” He promised that the company will continue working on it with the goal of making its processes “statistically indistinguishable from perfection.”
The CEO of McDonalds had his own challenge at the company shareholders meeting and it came from a 9-year-old girl.
CEO Don Thompson had to answer to Hanna Robertson during the company’s Oakbrook, Illinois meeting.
“There are things in life that aren’t fair, like when your pet dies. I don’t think it’s fair when big companies try to trick kids into eating food. It isn’t fair that so many kids my age are getting sick,” she said.
The girl ended by asking, “Mr. Thompson, don’t you want kids to be healthy so they can live a long and healthy life?”
Well Mr. Thompson?
“We don’t sell junk food,” he responded. “My kids also eat McDonald’s.”
He also pointed out that McDonald’s sells fruits and veggies – apple slices and carrots, and the company recently started selling fat-free chocolate milk.
Thompson, who’s been CEO for less than a year, thanked Hannah for her comments and said, “I think it’s great that you want to eat more fruits and veggies.”
By LINDA THOMAS
AP contributed to this report


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Sir Studios released a new update Bus Simulator PRO: Buses, with version number 2.4.0. The new update added many new features, fix some bugs, and improve the gaming experience. The new update size is different according to devices.
- Download our latest update to make sure you don’t miss the best version of driving experience!
|Release Date||April 29, 2022|


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Peugeot has come out on top in a national publication's end of year awards.
Top Gear magazine yesterday (December 1st) named the Peugeot RCZ its Coupe of the Year 2010 after road testing it thoroughly in China.
It was trialled in the north of the country, close to the Great Wall, and was praised for its "beautifully balanced" styling and driveability.
The publication stated: "Low and wide, it always feels completely on your side, gripping hard, resorting to understeer only at the limit. The Peugeot RCZ is positioned as a small, sophisticated GT, and fills it perfectly."
Launched in June this year, the car has already sold 2,000 units in the UK.
It is available with a choice of three engines - a 156bhp or 200bhp THP turbo-charged petrol and a 163bhp HDi diesel engine.
The car was also named The Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2009 at the 25th International Automobile Festival.
Peugeot reported last month that the RCZ was performing well in the used car market, achieving an average of 92 per cent of asking price at auction.
Why not take a look at our full range of used cars available online today and at one of our local dealerships.


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Australian software company Reckon has seen a 6 percent growth in revenue for the half year ending June 30 2015 sitting at AU$54 million, recording earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of AU$20.2 million, up 5 percent half-on-half.
CEO Clive Rabie told shareholders that Reckon has made substantial progress in further entrenching the group as a subscription business.
"We see large markets opportunities for many aspects of our business," he said. "This means continuing to invest in people, marketing, and development in the short term to allow longer term revenue and growth."
With three divisions -- Business, Accountant, and International -- forming Reckon Group, the company saw subscriptions account for over 70 percent of each division's total revenue this half, with the company attributing a total AU$31.4 million to subscriptions, growth of 21 percent from the same time last year.
"We are delighted that we have achieved solid growth across the group and been successful in maintaining our focus on building a substantial subscription business on an international stage," he said.
"We have made significant inroads into making Reckon One a contender in the online accounting software space."
In its 2014 results, Reckon posted an 18 percent increase in cash flow, and statutory revenue for the year of AU$100.8 million and EBIDTA of AU$37.1 million, accrediting the majority of its profit to the firm's move to a subscription model.
"We have experienced both strong volume growth and profit growth whilst we have stepped up our investment in the cloud by increasing our sales teams, enhancing our infrastructure, and investing in product development," the CEO said at the time. "We have also successfully improved our working capital, largely as a result of moving to a subscription business."


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Futuremark has unveiled the latest version of their 3DMark benchmark suite, 3DMark Vantage. Hothardare has tested the new benchmark software.
Quote: "Like PCMark Vantage which was released a few months ago, this latest version of 3DMark was designed for testing Windows Vista-based systems. This latest version of the 3DMark, however, is specifically bound to Windows Vista because it uses some advanced visual technologies that are only available with DirectX 10, which you may know isn't available on previous versions of Windows."
More details on Hothardware.
How To: Buy a Pokemon Go Plus
Don't Miss: Nintendo Switch: Everything You Need To Know


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Watch Tesla Gigafactory's Impressive Progress in Stunning Video Montage
Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 isn’t even halfway finished and it’s already smashing records. Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company took to Twitter on Friday to flex that, though the battery factory in Clark, Nevada is only 30 percent constructed, it already produces the highest volume of lithium-ion batteries in the world.
The company’s Twitter shared the above video along with a handful of stats to back up the impressive milestone. Gigafactory 1 is a pivotal part of manufacturing the Model 3, the Power Wall EV charger, and Power Pack energy storage unit. This is only made possible by the more than 7,000 employees that currently work at the subassembly factory. It has been under construction since 2015 and has employed more than 17,000 construction workers throughout those three years. Tesla expects the Gigafactory 1 to be fully built by sometime in 2020.
When it’s finished, it’s supposed to be a technological marvel. The Gigafactory 1 was designed to be completely self-reliant. A roof covered in solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy sources will fully power the plant once it’s completed. When it’s done it’ll be the biggest building in the world, spanning 10 million square feet and standing one or two stories. As it stands, the structure has a footprint of more than 1.9 million square feet.
“Once complete, Tesla expects the Gigafactory to be the biggest building in the world – and entirely powered by renewable energy sources,” Tesla’s website reads. “Designed to be a net zero energy factory upon completion, the facility will be primarily powered by solar, and installation is already underway.”
And like its name suggests, there will be many more Gigafactories. The Gigafactory 2 is located in Buffalo, New York and spans 1.2-million square feet. The Gigafactory 3 will be located in Shanghai, China and will be even larger than its two predecessors.
Plans for a fourth and fifth Gigafactory are in the works, one of which will be based in Europe. Tesla’s factory plans are just getting started and the company is already shattering records.


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Mexico‘s President Enrique Pena Nieto announced the country’s plans to open a massive theme park based on Mayan culture. The park will be named Amikoo, (friend in Mayan), and could be opened by November 2018.
The park will be located on the Riveria Maya and be designed around Mayan characters and mythology. In addition to rides, it will include a hotel, wave pool, a museum, and virtual tours of the area.
Enrique’s announcement made it clear that they were in direct competition with the theme parks in the United States.
“We’re going to compete with other [parks] up there [in the United States], and I’m sure ours will be better.”
The design is expected to cost $840 million and could draw 4.5 million guests each year.


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"One riot, one Ranger"–inscription on statue dedicated to Texas Rangers, 1960.
During the last century, Texas was long on land and short on lawmen. That means that each dispute got one constable.
The Chinese should be so lucky. Unrest is becoming so great among the middle class that the central government may have to turn out the entire Red Army. Cities facing strikes and unrest are spread across hundreds of miles, distant from Shanghai and Beijing.
According to The Washington Post, taxi drivers brought traffic in Chongqing, a city of 31 million, to a crawl. The wanted a modest increase in pay.
"China’s government has long feared the rise of labor movements, banning unauthorized unions and arresting those who speak out for workers’ rights. The strikes, driven in part by China’s economic downturn, have caught officials off guard."
It is going to get worse. Inflation in China has run about 10% this year, with the price of food up by closer to 15%. In the meantime, slowing demand for exports is leading to factory closings and a flattening in wages. Some of the signs of a recession are already beginning to appear. Car sales, which have been up sharply for over a decade, fell in each of the last two months.
The average member of the Chinese middle class does not look much different from his counterpart in the US, at least no economically. He has to fear that his employment will end. Even if he remains in his job, a stagnation of pay levels is leaving him unable to pay for basic living costs, with luxuries out of the question.
The fall-off in consumer spending makes the Chinese economic problem worse as each month passes. Much of what the Chinese buy is made in China. As the ability of citizens to use goods and services drops, so does overall national production.
It moves the economy into a flat spin.
Douglas A. McIntyre


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The Government announced a deal this week made with credit card lenders that Gordon Brown claims will end their high interest charges.
Last year the Government threatened credit companies with regulation after it discovered that many store and credit card issuers were using minimum repayments from customers in order to pay low interest debts before high interest loans in order stack up more debt for customers.
In response, the industry and Government have decided to establish five new ‘rights’ that all card borrowers are allowed to exercise.
According to the new rules, lenders cannot raise the interest charges on customers with existing loans until the consumers have had an allotted amount of time to reject them. Along the same line, customers are also now allowed to refuse credit limits if they like.
Another right includes the agreement that issuers will use all repayments month to month to pay off the highest debts first and for customers that open new accounts the first minimum payment will be placed towards fees and charges, interest, and one percent of the principal balance.
Card companies now will also agree to work with consumer groups in order to offer customers an annual statement that will let them compare the charges between different lenders.
The new rules will be in place by the end of 2010 on a voluntary basis but if credit companies do not start working under the new guidelines the Government has pledged to put enforce the codes with formal regulation.


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Enjoy every last bite of that decadent chocolate bar you regret buying from the vending machine. In fact, you might want to stock up because your cocoa days could be numbered. Chocolate giants Mars Inc. and Barry Callebaut said cocoa farmers produce less than the world eats, according to several reports, which means we are essentially running out of chocolate.
Last year, the world consumed about 70,000 metric tons more cocoa than farmers produced and the shortfall is predicted to persist through 2018, according to Bloomberg. Brace yourselves because this means the world could experience the longest stretch of consecutive chocolate shortages in more than a half-century. In addition to this dire forecast, chocolate-makers warn the deficit could increase more than 14-fold by 2020, and by 2030, the deficit could reach 2 million metric tons, according to the Washington Post. Only about 4 million tons have been produced in each of the last two years, according to the International Cocoa Organization.
The world is only getting hungrier for the chocolaty beans, which has forced prices to climb. Cocoa prices jumped nearly 60 percent in the last few years and surged 24 percent this year alone, according to Bloomberg.
“Demand for chocolate is great,” Ashmead Pringle, the president of GreenHave Commodity Services, told Bloomberg. “A lot of the world population is moving to the middle class and will have more money to spend, in particular in emerging markets and Asia.”
Drought and fungal diseases in West Africa have devastated production in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, where 70 percent of the world’s cocoa is produced. Even the Ebola outbreak has contributed to the problem. Although the West African nations in the cocoa belt have not been directly affected by the virus, fear and price increases have had a ripple effect on cocoa exporters in the region that could have a long-term impact.
“It has a potential to be a huge economic disaster for that part of the world,” said Jack Scoville, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago, who focuses on commodities. “It’s an important source of export earnings, and for the average worker it could be their [livelihood].”


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Today's not just any Monday…it's National Caramel Day, a totally-made-up-national-food-holiday and McDonalds is here. for. it.
To recognize this ever-important occasion, they're announcing the upcoming arrival of their new Caramel Brownie McFlurry®. It features a creamy vanilla soft serve made with real dairy, with brownie pieces and caramel topping blended throughout.
Fans across the country can enjoy this craveable treat for a limited time starting May 3 – just in time for warmer weather – at participating restaurants while supplies last. And in the very likely event a McFlurry craving strikes between now and when this new flavor debuts, we've got you covered with our classic OREO® and M&M'S® McFlurry® options.
"As our fans rejoice in the changing of the seasons, we're excited to give them a new way to enjoy our most iconic dessert," said McDonald's Chef Chad Schafer. "In fact, the flavors in our new Caramel Brownie McFlurry are inspired by that first-warm-day-of-the-year feeling. The cool and creamy soft serve mixed with fudgy brownie pieces and sweet, gooey caramel makes every refreshing bite worth savoring."
While this is the first time the Caramel Brownie McFlurry® will be available at restaurants throughout the U.S., it made its original debut in 2017 in Canada – the birthplace of the McFlurry®. The treat we know and love was created in 1995 by a local McDonald's Owner and Operator, Ron McLellan, in Bathurst, Canada. Since then, the McFlurry® has brought joy to moments both big and small for customers for over 25 years in more than 100 countries.
So there it is, the National Caramel Day news you needed to make today feel extraordinary. Stay tuned for the scoop on more ways to enjoy the Caramel Brownie McFlurry® when it hits menus in early May.


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CHICAGO (MarketWatch) - Walt Disney Co. said Thursday its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 30% on increased advertising sales and fees paid by cable operators at ESPN and greater attendance at the company's theme parks. The Burbank, Calif.-based entertainment conglomerate said it earned $1.09 billion, or 58 cents a share, on sales of $10.4 billion in the latest three months, compared with a profit of $835 million, or 45 cents a share, in the year-ago period, on revenue of $9.74 billion. Excluding items, Disney would have earned 59 cents a share in the latest quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting a profit of 54 cents a share on revenue of $10.36 billion.
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(Pocket-lint) - The Financial Times is reporting that Google will launch paid subscription channels on YouTube sometime very soon, perhaps even this week. Channels, which could be available for as little as $1.99 (£1.30) a month are expected to bring an extra source of revenue to the largely ad-supported service.
The idea would allow traditional broadcasters to offer content to viewers, and for Joe and Jane public to make a more predictable amount of money from their popular channels. Some analysts forecast that within a few years YouTube could have the revenue earnings of a big US broadcaster like CBS, some $15 billion. With that kind of money, YouTube could quickly become a major force in entertainment.
When YouTube was approached by Mashable for a comment on its subscription plans, it said: "We have nothing to announce at this time, but we're looking into creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great content to YouTube for our users to enjoy and provide our creators with another vehicle to generate revenue from their content, beyond the rental and ad-supported models we offer." Hardly a denial, is it?
YouTube has been interested in creating more high-quality channels for some time now. Recently it awarded grants of $1million to several UK bidders who pitched channel ideas. Clearly, this was a move to bring more premium content to the service. Not that we're saying cats riding robot vacuum cleaners isn't high-end, or anything. Those channels have content from about anything from computing to cooking, and most things in between.
Clearly, the idea is to bring more users to the site, and to have them stay longer and watch more adverts. It's obviously working, because the FT reports that YouTube now has more than 1 billion monthly users and that they watched 4 billion hours of video. Apparently, that's more than a total of a trillion views. Uploaders are also busy, with 72 hours of video being uploaded to the site every minute.
There is one interesting side issue here, because at some point YouTube will become, in the eyes of the UK government - and likely others - a broadcaster. When that happens, the firm is going to have to obey UK laws and make sure that under-18s are protected from unsuitable content. Pocket-lint understands that the money YouTube gave to its channel partners to start channels was paid in advance specifically to avoid the need to be regulated by Ofcom.


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Technology Industry News: November 2018
Freeletics raised $45 million for its AI-powered mobile fitness coach
Freeletics is a fitness application headquartered in Munich, Germany, that operates its mobile fitness coaching app on a model with pricing beginning at $11.99 for one month. The app offers fitness connect and AI-powered training plans tailored to individual users.
It has announced its first round of private capital after raising $45 million in Series A from FitLab, Causeway Media Partners, JAZZ Venture Partners and others.
Freeletics now has 31 million users in over 160 countries and will use its first bit of VC backing to grow its American user base.
Wing – drone delivery business, will begin pilot in Finland in Spring 2019
Wing, the drone delivery app will start taking flights in Helsinki, Finland, where it will be delivering goods and packages of up to 1.5 kilograms (about 3.3 pounds) within a distance of up to 10 kilometres (6.2 miles).
Wing has spent the last 18 months testing drone delivery in south-eastern Australia, partnering with local businesses to deliver a range of food and drinks, medicine and household items.
Zopa, the UK P2P lending company, secured bank license
Zopa, the UK peer-to-peer lending company that wants to become a bank, has been awarded a bank license by the UK’s financial regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulations Authority (PRA). The company wants to expand beyond P2P loans and investments to offer savings accounts and credit cards.
Once launched, Zopa’s bank will be creating the first hybrid peer-to-peer and digital bank offering. It will roll out a money management app, and various financial products.
Sleep-tracking ring Oura surpasses $20 million in funding
Oura is a smart ring that tracks your sleep habits to help you achieve better sleep. It does this my measuring the blood volume pulse from your finger’s palmar arteries, detecting the direction and intensity of your body’s movements using a 3D accelerometer and gyroscope, and by measuring your temperature through three NTC temperature sensors.
The sleep-tracking and sleep-improvement platform has just surpassed $20 million in a funding round led by MSD Capital with the participation from YouTube co-founder Steve Chan and others.


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Drone strikes attacked an oil processing facility at Abqaiq and the nearby Khurais oil field on Saturday.Marketsread more
The trucking industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars per year. Uber is going after this market with Uber Freight, an online platform that matches truckers with...Technologyread more
Trump said oil would be released if needed to keep the market well supplied and he would expedite the approval of pipelines in Texas and other states.Marketsread more
Saudi Aramco is aiming to restore by Monday about a third of its crude output that was disrupted after drone attacks on two key oil facilities, The Wall Street Journal...Marketsread more
Apple's new iPhones can still send texts, download apps, and make video calls, but the company spends a lot of time and effort marketing its new phones as powerful photography...Technologyread more
Some U.S. manufacturers say tariffs, if targeted, will help address longstanding unfair trade practices like intellectual property theft.Traderead more
Supporters of a $15 minimum wage ballot initiative in Florida argue the state's inflation-tied pay hikes have not gone far enough.2020 Electionsread more
Saudi Arabia shut down half its oil production Saturday after drone strikes hit the world's largest oil processing facility in an attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels.Politicsread more
Trusii's hydrogen water machines were supposed to help users with their health problems, but customers claim the company is involved in a giant scam.Technologyread more
The decoupling of the world's two weightiest economies seems as inescapable as its extent and global impact remains incalculable.Politicsread more
BlackBerry has reinvented itself to become a leader in securing mobile communications and in embedded communications. Next year it plans to roll out new products. CEO John...Evolveread more
If you are looking for the ultimate trophy gift that doubles as a great long-term investment, a 100 carat+ flawless diamond just might fit the bill.
This class of diamonds is considered by many experts as the rarest object of natural beauty on the market.
Only five existing diamonds—D-color and internally flawless,Type 11a over 100 carats—have ever been sold at auction worldwide.
This Spring, Sotheby's presents a sixth entry into this elite asset class, a classic emerald-cut estimated to sell for between $28 - $35 million, giving it a $190,000 per carat valuation.
The original rough stone –weighing over 200 carats – was mined by De Beers in South Africa within the past ten years and is brand new to the market.
Gary Schuler, head of Sotheby's Jewelry "The color is whiter than white…so transparent I can only compare it to a pool of icy water."
In 2013, Christie's sold a 101.73 carat, pear-shaped, D-color, flawless, sold for $26.7 million – or $262,830 per carat. The buyer was Swatch Group's Harry Winston division, which dubbed the gem, "The Winston Legacy."
The appetite for the world's most beautiful gems continues, according to Rahul Kadakia, international head of Christie's Jewelry.
"Just as a great artist is able to 'see' a masterpiece in a block of marble, a perfect diamond is the result of the skill and vision of a master cutter who is able to uncover beauty from a rough gem. Harry Winston acquired the most perfect diamond ever offered for sale at auction. 'Winston Legacy continues the tradition of buying and selling only the very best."
Sotheby's Hong Kong continues to holds the world record for this asset class, a 118.28 carat oval brilliant cut D-color, flawless, which sold for $30.6 million dollars to an anonymous buyer.
"The market white diamonds, have held and steadily exceeded their value for decades," says Sotheby's Darrell Rocha. "Buyers know their money is parked in a safe haven right here. For the price of a mid-size luxury condo in Manhattan, you can have an investment and an object to wear and admire for years to come."


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No, it's not PixelJunk Monsters 2, but that doesn't mean PixelJunk SideScroller isn't worth obsessing over. On the Q-Games Twitter feed, we're told this latest PJ title is set for a North American PlayStation Network release on Tuesday, October 25.
Wouldn't be surprised to see a PlayStation Blog post telling us the dates for other regions fairly soon; at least, that's how it usually goes down. Stealth update: Europe gets the game on November 2, according to an interview by PSN Stores.
I hope SideScroller doesn't get overlooked by the oncoming rush of retail games, but there seems to be a dedicated (and stable) fan base at this point.


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BY MICHAEL FINCH II
MARCH 18, 2019 02:40 AM,
image via caloz.org
A new California organization has been formed to help investors and developers take advantage of federal Opportunity Zones.
CalOZ “will promote competitive, equitable and sustainable Opportunity Zone investments in California,” according to a release from the organization.
“Our state must embrace new strategies to rebuild an upward economy that works for all Californians,” said Kunal Merchant, president and Co-Founder of CalOZ. “Opportunity zones offer an important new tool, not only to promote economic mobility and the green economy in areas of our state that need it most, but also to re-evaluate and re-imagine how business, government, and community work together to foster a more competitive, equitable and sustainable economy in California.”
In President Donald Trump’s 2016 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, he outlined what was labeled Opportunity Zones, which offered tax breaks on capital gains for investments in distressed areas.
In Fresno, a number of the areas were established, including the Kings Canyon and Blackstone avenue corridors.
On average, Opportunity Zones have a poverty rate of nearly 31 percent with families making 59 percent of the median income for the area, according to the release, citing information from Economic Innovation Group.
“Opportunity zones offer an intriguing new pathway for our state to expand our middle class and restore the California Dream for all residents,” said Ashley Swearengin, Central Valley Community Foundation’s CEO and former Mayor of Fresno. “I’m thrilled to see CalOZ showing leadership on this issue and excited to support their work both in the Central Valley and state as a whole.”
CalOZ’s first priority will be coordinating with the state to create “high-impact” policies in addition to the ones being offered by the federal government. The plan is to create a “triple-bottom line mindset” for social, environmental and financial opportunities, according to the release.
“With more than three million Californians residing in opportunity zones, California can and must seize the chance to deploy an unprecedented source of private capital into the communities that need it most, “ said Jim Mayer, President and CEO of California Forward. “We’re proud to partner with CalOZ to support state and local action to ensure California emerges as a national leader in this program.”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury certified more than 8,700 qualified areas throughout the country. Of those, California has around 10 percent within its boundaries. And Fresno County is ranked third in terms of having the largest designated Opportunity Zones, according to Merchant.
Those designations will last through the end of 2028.
It’s no secret the number of super commuters – those poor people who trek more than 90 minutes each way to work – is steadily on the rise in California.
Modesto, Stockton and the San Bernardino metro areas were already super commuting hubs 12 years ago. A recent report by Apartment List shows it’s still on the rise – and the commuters often make more money than their neighbors.
The report shows wide variations in pay for those who telecommute or travel long distances for work compared with people who are employed nearby. The implication is that high-earning workers could drive up the cost of living in less-expensive areas, spreading affordability issues
Super commuters exist across the country but the prevalence is heavier in California. They can earn as much as 20 percent more than their neighbors in Stockton and 18 percent more in Modesto.
With 11 percent of its full-time workforce traveling nearly three hours for work, the Stockton area is the super commuting capital of the United States. Modesto was ranked a close second with 8 percent of its workforce doing the same.
The phenomenon is one of two parallel trends driven by the housing market in the Bay Area, said Chris Salviati, an economist for Apartment List in San Francisco. He said as rents and home prices grow further out of reach, more people look elsewhere to live but continue working in the Bay Area since there are so many high-paying jobs.
“You’ve got a lot of people that are doing quite well by conventional standards, earning six-figure salaries, but in this area that’s just not enough for them to be able to live close to the downtown areas,” Salviati said.
On the other end of the spectrum are construction workers who also travel long distances for work. But in Northern California, Salviati said the Bay Area housing crisis is more to blame. In San Francisco proper, rent growth is flattening a bit but there’s much faster growth in the outer areas, Salviati said.
“Given that these folks are coming at a higher point on the income range, they are going to be putting more pressure on the upper end of the housing supply,” Salviati said.
A California computer scientist is set to compete for millennial dollars right here in Visalia.
Computer scientist Aamir Farooqui plans to open a 1,800 square-foot, fully-automated convenience store, similar to Amazon Go.
Based in Sacramento, Farooqui says his new concept store is the first of its kind in the Central Valley. He hopes to duplicate it elsewhere, he said.
An automated convenience store relies on computers and robotics. Amazon calls it “just walk out” shopping.
The new Visalia store will be built at 707 S. Bridge St., in the middle of the city.
Currently, it’s a vacant lot sandwiched between a second-hand store and homes. Farooqui bought the vacant parcel last year.
The developer is seeking a conditional-use permit from the city for the new store.
“In our model, we will be using new type of vending machines equipped with WiFi and cameras,” Farooqui said. “People can buy merchandise using cash (after converting to gift cards), credit or debit cards or through a mobile app. At the store opening, we plan to give away 100 free gift cards to our first customers.”
These kinds of stores have taken off in Europe where they go by the names of SmartMart and RoboMart. Farooqui says he has yet to choose a name for the Visalia location.
He hopes to open as soon as possible.
Not having on-site employees will allow the business to save money although it may take shoppers a little time to get used to a new routine using technology.
“Our goal is simply to reduce the cost of running a store for small businesses and at the same time offer 24-hour convenient service to the local community.”
Amazon’s model is simple.
“You simply walk in, grab what you need, and go. Amazon bills your credit card as you pass through the turnstile on your way out,” he said. “Moments later, an app on your phone provides a receipt detailing what you’ve bought, what you paid, and even how long you spent inside.”
Grocery stores are automating the shopping experience led by Walmart and Sam’s Club. The Visalia Walmart is installing more automated check-out devices and Sam’s Club wants to allow shoppers to scan products by holding their smartphones over a product, without having to find and capture a barcode on the package.
Microsoft is said to be developing technology that can track what shoppers add to their carts.
Meanwhile, Target is changing item pickup service at the stores with Pickup Towers, making the in-store process automated.
Bitwise Industries is teaming up with Fres-Yes realty company and expanding to a new location in Downtown Fresno.
It will be located at the Old Spaghetti Factory building on Ventura and R Streets.
The building will be the third location for Bitwise, which already has South Stadium Van Ness and The Hive.
The second story of the new building, called “Bitwise 41,” will eventually have a team of 150 FresYes agents working there.
Organizers say they hope the new location will inspire other businesses to come to Downtown Fresno.
“So I think the exciting part as far as visibility goes you can’t get more visible than this building right here. 41 is directly behind me. North and south. 45,000 cars going each way. It is a prime location for just visibility alone,” said Channelle Charest with Bitwise.
Bitwise 41 is expected to be ready to occupy in April.
A grand opening will be held in early summer.
MilliporeSigma, a Massachusetts-based life science company, provides research, process, and applied solutions to scientists and engineers.
A spokesperson confirmed the company plans to lease a soon-to-be built facility along Riggin Avenue, near Plaza Drive.
“This site was chosen due to its central location and easy access to transportation routes,” said MilliporeSigma Spokesperson Karen Tiano.
It will serve as a west coast distribution center for Millipore Sigma’s life science products.
Tiano said the center will create around 30 new jobs.
It’s expected to be open later this year.
Central Valley Business Times
December 19, 2018
• James Irvine Foundation ponies up $350,000
• “Unexpected people and places have huge contributions to make”
Bitwise Industries Inc. of Fresno says it has received a two-year grant of $350,000 from the James Irvine Foundation to help pay for its Geekwise Academy web developer job readiness programs.
The programs train unemployed and underemployed workers in the San Joaquin Valley for middle-wage jobs in the tech industry.
“The assumption that to be successful in technology, you must be a computer scientist in the Silicon Valley with a degree from a high-profile university, is one that has kept people in the Central Valley from exploring computer programming as a career,” says Irma Olguin Jr., co-founder and CEO, Bitwise Industries. “We know that, if given an opportunity, unexpected people and places have huge contributions to make to the technology industry.”
One of the biggest problems facing the tech industry is the inabilityto find talent fast enough to keep up with demand. The purpose of Geekwise, theeducational arm of Bitwise, is to train software developers in Fresno. To date,Geekwise says it has educated 3,500 students and intentionally cultivated astudent population that is more than 50 percent female, 50 percent minority and20 percent first-generation immigrant.
UC Merced is growing and changing and one of the biggest changes will be a new standalone business and management school.By Nathalie GrandaFriday, December 14, 2018 04:18PMMERCED, Calif. (KFSN) –UC Merced is growing and changing and one of the biggest changes will be a new standalone business and management school.
The university is working to create a new interdiscplinary school, one that university officials are calling the “management school of the future”.
“We’re taking existing programs, putting them together and focusing them together on this complex system,” Gallo School Planning Initiative Director Paul Maglio said.
The new Gallo school will bring together educators from the schools of engineering, natural sciences and humanities to teach students under one main focus. The university is already known for its focus on research and science, and the new school will be incorporating those science components into their program.
“In a business school, you tend to focus on profit. In natural resources you tend to focus on the planet. In cognitive science, you tend to focus on people. We’re bringing all that together to have a sustained focus all at the same time,” Maglio said.
The university’s Ernest & Julio Gallo School of Management already has graduate business programs.
Graduate student Taylor Fugere said the science-based business program is what drew her to UC merced, and she’s hopes a new school will bring more interested students.
“I think UC merced moving in that more specialized direction is going to be really helpful in people being able to explore different career options, and being able to have more opportunities for a hands-on educational experience.”
The process will take a few years. Ultimately, the new school will need to be reviewed and approved by several campus administrators, and the University of California regents. University officials hope to have the school in place by 2021.
Inside an office space at Bitwise’s The Hive in Downtown Fresno, deals and orders are being made globally.
“I think Fresno it’s not just Fresno anymore, we’re global. I hope people realize that and go after more global clients and do more international business,” said Jennifer Kim, Blockheads Development & Marketing Founder.
Blockheads Development and Marketing, which specializes in blockchain consulting, solutions and marketing to help small businesses.
Kim and the company relocated from Chicago more than a year ago.
“One day I decided to the tour at Bitwise and I was hooked in and the community is great. Everyone wanted to support me. So I became a part of a bigger clan and got a lot of support. The facilities,” Kim said.
She had worked from home but chose to be a part of the startup ecosystem in Fresno.
Recently, Fresno was highlighted in a Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome, which studied cities across America to see the environment for companies.
Bitwise Industries says about 50-60 companies have moved to Fresno since Bitwise began.
“You don’t start Silicon Valley on day one, but we’re beginning to see the potential. We’re seeing the sorts of resources needed to grow the technology industry in Fresno, but we have work left to do. We’ve got to support things like Bitwise and these collisions. We’ve got to continue to be welcoming to outsiders and do more and better in the technology industry,” said Jake Soberal, Bitwise Industries C.E.O.
Soberal believes new companies can create more jobs and economically help the Valley.
Bitwise has seen dozens of businesses relocate in the past few years and they think that that number will only go up.
For more information on the fastest growing companies in the San Joaquin Valley, please see The Business Journal’s annual list on page 10.
According to Tom Howard, the owner of Lee’s, this uptick in business can be largely attributed to customer service and reputation, along with upgraded software to connect with customers. Another big factor, however, has been the improvement of the economy, both nationally and locally.
“It allows homeowners to make upgrades that they haven’t been able to make before,” Howard said. “I think that the economy is doing a lot better in the Central Valley than it was in 2009 and 2010 — that definitely helped fuel the growth.”
Howard isn’t alone in his observation. According to Fresno State economist Ernie Goss, the Central Valley — which has previously lagged behind the rest of the state — has been making rapid progress in recent years.
“Now the catch up is really [sped] up, meaning the rate of growth has been positive for quite some time,” Goss said. “But the rate has definitely increased and relative to the U.S., it’s certainly stronger.”
In Goss’s research, he found that overall job growth in the Central Valley over the past 12 months has been 2.6 percent compared to the national average of 1.7 percent. Howard said that his own company has expanded its employment roster from approximately 26 in 2015 to about 50. Meanwhile, expanded business has given Lee’s the ability to pay tuition for his employees who are in college, along with their books.
Goss added that construction and manufacturing are two other sectors to watch. Construction is surpassing the national average with 8.3 percent job growth in the region, while in manufacturing, its 5.1 percent. Delano Construction, LLC of Fresno, which currently has a roster of 26 employees, saw a revenue growth of 208 percent.
The last three years have also proven successful for the solar companies in the region. Topping this industry has been Energy Concepts Enterprises, Inc., which went from revenues of $4.2 million in 2015 to $9.8 million in 2017, a rate of 132 percent. SunPower by Quality Home Services also saw growth of 90 percent in the same time frame, while in Visalia, CalCom Energy was up by 47.46 percent. According to Ryan Gutierrez of Energy Concepts, this has largely been the result of higher utility bills.
“Rates are continually going up,” Gutierrez said. “Solar offers a way for a customer to avoid rate increases by covering their own quest for energy.”
Goss said that tariffs on imported solar panels would further help domestic manufacturers.
Meanwhile, a law passed earlier this year mandating solar panels on new homes could also be good business when it goes into effect in 2020.
For some companies, however, growth isn’t necessarily facilitated by a growing economy. For example, BCT Consulting, Inc. of Fresno, provider of technology solutions, tends to be busier when there’s a dip in the market. This is because their company deals in the outsourcing of technology and helping clients find solutions that are more cost effective.
Nonetheless, BCT has grown by 27 percent. Eric Rawn, president and founder, credited this to acquisitions and mergers, along with community outreach and customer service.
“We don’t want to grow just to grow,” Rawn said. “We want to grow because it makes sense for everyone involved.”
In the months and years to come, Goss added that he has optimism for the future of the San Joaquin Valley. Though he stated concerns about immigration and the agricultural exports being impacted by the current trade war with China, he said the region has become increasingly appealing to the rest of the state.
“So there is the ability of some of those companies coming to Fresno and enjoying many of the benefits of California, but not many of the costs that we’re seeing in San Francisco, for example,” Goss said.


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What do Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher and Al Gore all have in common? They may soon — baring a miracle — become the proud owners of the first orphan cars made in the 21st century for well-moneyed consumers by an automaker born in the 21st century, as Fisker Automotive has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The United States Department of Energy has announced on its website that it will auction off the loan that it made to Fisker Automotive, a loan for which the hybrid luxury startup carmaker only repaid a small fraction of the principal. Peter Davidson, the executive director of the department’s Loan Program Office, said that the DOE decided to auction off the loan, “after exhausting any realistic possibility for a sale that might have protected our entire investment.”
Henrik Fisker paired up with Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li to get his company back. Fisker is a co-founder of severely troubled Fisker Automotive. Li and Fisker are trying to buy the U.S. government loan to Fisker at a big discount. Henrik Fisker was ousted in March. (Read More…)


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YouTube Gaming’s former lead has weighed in on the way Twitch interacts with their streamers, suggesting what they should do to help improve the overall revenue for creators.
When it comes to streaming, Twitch and YouTube Gaming are the two main outlets that are constantly pitted against each other. Over the years, both platforms have grown to the point that they now have exclusivity over certain streamers.
Twitch recently announced that they plan to cut subscription revenues for some of the platform’s top streamers in an effort to keep pushing ads.
It has everyone talking, including former YouTube Gaming leader Ryan Wyatt. Not a novice in the streaming space, the once head of Twitch’s biggest competitor believes the Amazon platform is making a mistake with the new revenue split.
Wyatt starts the post because of his love for Twitch. explain – it was his “first home” when he started streaming in 2010.
Wyatt, however, is quick to weigh in on the way Twitch manages and compensates for its talent: “It’s discouraging to receive creators’ earnings in this way, and I’m hopeful they’ll do well in the long run.”
The former YouTube gaming boss then breaks it down into two categories — non-ad revenue and infrastructure costs — and reveals what he thinks needs to be done about the two areas.
“Regardless of size, the creator should be paid a disproportionate amount — this shouldn’t even be up for debate,” he explained. “Creators are doing a disproportionate amount of work to grow non-ad revenue. They do the legwork to move these products as opposed to selling ads against their content.
“I’m sure their infrastructure costs are significant, despite even a ‘discount’ from Amazon. You don’t need to use a lot of leverage to grow your earnings if you don’t scale your watch time significantly. This is the conundrum facing live-only platforms.
“The best way for Twitch to monetize would be to not be short-sighted and take advantage of their live dominance by adjusting the revenue share, but rather use that dominance to increase the number of non-live gaming viewers on the platform. to grow their advertising business. ”
People online have responded positively to Wyatt’s suggestions, praising his optimism and “forward thinking,” as well as the way he seems to see streamers as “real people” and not just a way to make money.
Twitch’s performance has come under fire in recent months. From uneven enforcement of rules to DMCA rulings, adult content and platform harassment, streamers had a bone to pick.
Twitch’s decision to ban gambling on the platform is a positive move that many have highlighted, but this recent news shows that there is still a long way to go.


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"Ellison's idea was to buy Apple and immediately make Jobs CEO. It made sense. Apple was worth only about $5 billion at the time, and, as Ellison said, "We both had really good credit, and I had already arranged to borrow all the money. All Steve had to do was say yes."Larry Ellison talked about a long hike with Steve Jobs in USC's commencement speech - Recode
Jobs proposed what Ellison called "a more circuitous route." He would persuade Apple to acquire Next, and then join Apple's board. "Over time the board would recognize that Steve was the right guy to lead the company." As we all know, that's exactly what happened the following year."
Friday, May 13, 2016
Larry Ellison talked about a long hike with Steve Jobs in USC's commencement speech - Recode
Some reminiscences from the surviving half of an odd couple


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Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-48) joined her congressional colleagues in a letter to Allison Herren Lee, Acting Chairwoman of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), seeking answers into the anti-competitive practices and consumer trading restrictions seen this week by hedge funds and financial trading apps following the surge of stocks like GameStop ($GME). Earlier this week, investors – through trading apps such as Robinhood – bought shares in companies including GameStop, following publicly available news that investors had been short selling the stocks. The stock prices surged, and following pressure from Wall Street, the apps froze the traders’ ability to continue buying on the platform.
“These drastic and potentially illegal market access changes appear to disproportionately benefit large institutional investors at the expense of individual retail investors,” the letter says. “Our interest is in maintaining a fair and equal playing field for all Americans and market participants.”
The Members asked Acting Chairwoman Lee the following questions:
- Is it appropriate for financial services institutions to restrict the purchase but not the sale of a particular stock in response to market changes spurred by honest and freely available information?
- More specifically, does a broker preventing a retail investor from purchasing a stock such as GME constitute market manipulation given possible conflicts of interest, and should these sorts of actions be permitted?
- Will the SEC commit to conducting an investigation to determine whether any of these market access decisions were made after consultation with entities that had a financial interest limiting retail investors’ ability to purchase stock in a specific company?
- If so, how does the SEC plan on protecting individual retail investors from market manipulation resulting from financial institutions placing restrictions on the purchasing of a specific company’s stock?”
Earlier today, the SEC released a statement saying they would “closely review actions taken by regulated entities that may disadvantage investors or otherwise unduly inhibit their ability to trade certain securities.”
This article was released by the Office of Representative Michelle Steel.


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- CaseIH to be a main sponsor at event to be held in Belgium
- First mainland European showing of new Optum 340 CVXDrive
- Focus on capabilities and benefits of AFS Connect telematics
Case IH is to be the exclusive tractor supplier and one of the main sponsors at Potato Europe 2023, one of the world’s largest exhibitions for potato growers. In addition to supporting an event that is the primary technical show for the crop in Europe, Case IH also plans to use its presence to give new products their first public display on the continent and focus on technology that has the potential to significantly boost productivity in potato production.
Potato Europe takes place every year in the key potato-producing nations of France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, and this year the outdoor exhibition returns to the latter country. The 2023 event will be held from September 6-7 at Kain, near Tournai, western Belgium, where visitors will be able to see static and working displays of some of the latest developments in potato machinery. As a primary sponsor, Case IH will focus its display on tractors and technology especially relevant to potato producers.
“This will include the mainland Europe debut of a new flagship Optum tractor, the Optum 340 CVXDrive with AFS Connect,” says Matthias Claerbout, Case IH Benelux communication manager.
“Potato growers are increasingly seeking more power to perform tasks such as bedforming, planting and harvesting in the most fuel-efficient way possible, which requires not only greater engine output, but also the independent engine- and forward-speed benefits of continuously-variable transmission. Equipped as standard with Case IH CVXDrive, the new Optum 340 with AFS Connect extends the compact but high-power concept of the Optum range to new power territory, with 340hp available under all conditions, and a maximum torque of 1,353Nm. We will be demonstrating this model at Potato Europe, as well as the recently-introduced 302hp (max) Puma 260 CVXDrive with AFS Connect.”
“In addition, visitors will be able to learn more about the capabilities of Case IH AFS Connect telematics, with live demonstration screens on our stand to illustrate how this technology can help users to enhance the productivity of their operations through monitoring and making adjustments.”
“As a long-standing partner to Potato Europe, we are delighted to be back at the event, and looking forward to showing visitors what the latest technological developments in our tractors and technology can do to help them produce potatoes and other crops more efficiently.”


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What Will Be In Our Plates in 2050? Drastic Changes in the Food Industry soon!
The official statement of the European Union has left people stunned across the globe. They have declared that they would go carbon neutral in the coming 30 years to save the climate. All the lawmakers of big countries like the UK, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore, etc., have supported this wholly.
Going carbon neutral will effectively influence our food industry. It will have to welcome several enormous changes in our food, as the food tech industry said. Now you must be thinking, how would go carbon neutral affect our food habits?
Our current food industry contributes a lot to the immense increase of carbon in the climate. The Food and Agriculture Organization announced that animal agriculture is responsible for greenhouse gas emission by 14.5 percent.
So it’s distinctly clear that animal agriculture plays a significant role in this horrible increase of greenhouse gases in our climate. And turning completely carbon neutral indicates an out-and-out stop to livestock for meat and dairy products. It will entirely change our food habits by the year 2050.
Betway Casino has done detailed research on this topic, which indicates our foods in 2050.
- Global Population
Meat and dairy products will not suffice the increasing global population. The United Nations have shown data that proves our global population will grow by 25 percent by 2050. That’s why finding new ways of feeding the population has become the primary concern to the world leaders.
- Obesity Calamity
As people are overconsuming animal products, the life-threatening disease Obesity is becoming more common every day. As per the World Health Organization, the number of obesity has elevated three times to what it was in 1975. Other dangerous heart diseases along with type 2 diabetes and cancer are also growing significantly progressively.
Hence, various innovative food ideas are getting appreciated by leading health organizations of the world. Betway Casino has shown a light on some weird and creative ways of producing food in 2050.
- Ending the practice of Animal Agriculture
There will not be any meat, eggs, milk, or other animal products by 2050. So we would entirely depend on several plant-based protein sources.
- Having Lab-grown Meat
Due to the enormous growth of technology, scientists will create lab-grown meat without killing animals. The Singapore Government has already approved this new developing technology which makes lab-cultivated meat.
- Eating Fungi for Protein
Several microorganisms, such as fungi, bacteria, and seaweed, will become a staple food on our plates. These microorganisms are rich in protein, so that they will become popular protein sources for us.
- 3D Painting for food
The use of 3D printing will become natural by the year 2050. You will use it to replicate textures, flavors, and the look of today’s food items.
- Getting Personalized Nutrition for everyone
Personalized Nutrition will redefine our relationship with food. It will make us adjust to healthy foods and make us more healthy, both physically and mentally.
These developing trends confirm that our food will no longer have the strength to make us fall ill. Various health concerns would be gone from our earth because of the right kind of food. We are as eager as you to welcome this massive change in our food industry.


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Cake has been appointed to handle PR and marketing for the Clothes
Show Live, the annual fashion exhibition that has been running for 11
Account director Claire Curran will head the six-month project, which
carries fees of over pounds 100,000, reporting to Bridget Raithatha,
marketing manager of organiser BBC Haymarket Exhibitions.
The appointment of Cake, which will promote the exhibition through clubs
and fashion colleges, is part of a completely new team of companies to
design and direct the show which takes place from 8-13 December. Cake
will also run the on-site press office.
- The appointment of Golin/Harris to co-ordinate PR for Nintendo across
Europe (PR Week, 30 June) does not affect the work of Cake, which
handles product PR for Nintendo in the UK.


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Last year, the British government secured a trade deal with South Korea that will protect exports and imports to and from the country, trade that was worth £14.6 billion in 2018. But what does the trade deal mean for British businesses?
In short, the deal struck between the two countries prevents tariffs and other trade barriers from being implemented, which would have the effect of making British products in South Korea more expensive, thus making them less competitive against local brands.
British businesses will, therefore, still be able to rely on electronics, steel, and cars, that account for the majority of South Korea’s exports, without concerns over increasing costs or restrictions.
South Korea’s top imports from the UK include crude oil, cars, ceramics, and whiskey. British businesses operating within these industries can be reassured that they won’t lose a key trading market.
While the UK operated as part of the EU, it was required to abide by European trade deals. In leaving the European Economic Area (EEA), the country now has to negotiate its trade deals with countries around the world. Securing deals that are free of restrictive trade barriers and crippling tariffs is vital to facilitating continued prosperous trade for British businesses.
The trade deal between the UK and South Korea assures British businesses who trade in the key industries that export goods to South Korea a future of trade without barriers, those that could have a detrimental impact on the advantageous positions they have secured.
Drinks companies, those exporting whiskey, in particular, have voiced their enthusiasm over the deal. With Scotch whiskey brands exporting roughly £70 million in goods to South Korea each year, British businesses in this industry are relieved to be confident in the future of trade in this region. With the deal, the prospect of reintroducing tariffs diminishes, and British whiskey producers can continue to increase their global reach and revenues.
British businesses that are operating in any industry that exports or intends to export to South Korea can be confident they will get their product into the country without complex requirements, tariffs, and trade barriers. This ensures that British products in South Korea can remain competitive with local brands, helping British businesses to grow and thrive in the region.
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| EU Member States measures, which aim to cut the number of plastic bags used nationally, are granting too many exemptions, warned the Rethink Plastic alliance on the 11th International Plastic Bag Free Day.
| TrinamiX GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF, today announced it has developed a new application for its mobile Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy Solutions related to plastic sorting and recycling.
| Platina tubes can be recycled in a high-density polyethylene containers (HDPE) recycling stream, according to an analysis done by an independent laboratory.
| We all know the issues when it comes to plastic waste. Now more than ever, emphasis is being placed on handling this resource in a responsible, sustainable manner to make sure it can be reused.
| Recyclates characterisation guiding requirements have been published by Plastics Recyclers Europe.
| Ineos Styrolution has reported the final results of the research project ResolVe.
| European Heads of State and Government are meeting to discuss the Recovery Plan for Europe proposed by the European Commission in May.
| A new study reveals collection, design for recycling and uptake of recyclates as the main drivers.
| Clariant's latest development is a range of deep, dark colors that normally would have required the use of carbon black pigments that makes them undetectable by NIR sensors.
| As You Sow has released its Waste & Opportunity 2020: Searching for Corporate Leadership report analyzing the actions, or inactions, of 50 of the largest U.S. consumer-facing companies to reduce plastic pollution.
| The ever-increasing use of plastic and cardboard, as well as the growing mountains of packaging waste, have also increased the demands on recycling.
| Manjushree Technopack Limited (MTL), India’s largest rigid plastics packaging company and backed by Advent International, has launched its initiative “Born Again” to deliver recycled packaging material to the FMCG Industry and support brands in their journey of creating a greener world.
| RecyClass’ Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for PP (polypropylene) is a guidance for carrying out laboratory analysis of the various design features of rigid packaging made from PP resin.
The European plastics recycling industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Plummeting...
| The European plastics recycling industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Plummeting oil prices have resulted in a sharp decline of virgin plastics prices.


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Covid vaccination tours to the US caused controversy relating to pandemic risk and customers' interests.
Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and travel businesses agreed to suspend the Covid vaccination tour to the US at a meeting on May 24.
Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that businesses have only introduced US tours combined with vaccination to study the market and customer needs. At the meeting, the department and businesses agreed to suspend advertising the tours on social networks and media until the end of this year.
Businesses will wait until the beginning of 2022 to analyze pandemic developments and prepare carefully to well implement the contract between them and the customers. The contract includes provisions such as return flight time, health insurance for the risks that may occur when receiving vaccines, difficulties customers may face when they have to reschedule their flights.
An advertisement of Covid vaccination tours to US. (Photo: Viet My Travel)
Talking to Zing after the meeting, Phan Tra, Director of Tugo Tourism and Trading Service Company, said that he decided to delay the program until the end of the year, waiting for the pandemic to be controlled.
He admitted that the biggest difficulty was organizing a flight from the US to Vietnam. "If the airline delays the flight, what should customers do while they have to stay in the US? The cost will be greatly increased. This is difficult for both the customer and the company. Not to mention, customers returning to Vietnam still have to undergo 21 quarantine days", he analyzed.
In the future, the company will continue to wait for the pandemic to be controlled in Vietnam and focus on the domestic market.
Previously, three businesses in Ho Chi Minh City introduced Covid vaccination tours to the US, namely Tugo, Hong Ngoc Ha Travel, and Viet My. Each tour costs about VND 160-250 million (USD 6,900 10,800)/visitor. Representative of Hong Ngoc Ha Travel said that by the morning of May 24, there were more than 20 customers paid for the tours.
However, the tours caused controversy regarding the risks related to customers' interests.
- Covid-19 vaccination tours to U.S. postponed
- Travel Department disapproves of U.S. tour package inclusive of Covid-19 vaccinations
- Unique tours attract more tourists
- HCM City travel agents suffer as thousands of tours cancelled
- HCMC’s tourism association requests support for tourism agencies
- Vietnamese travel firm offers COVID-19 vaccination tours to US
- HCMC offers 10-70 percent discounts on tours, air tickets to stimulate tourism
- Customers rush to cancel tours to Danang
- Vietnamese travel businesses struggle with Covid-19 again


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The Pen Shop bought from administration
The biggest luxury pen retailer in Europe has been bought from administration by its long-standing chief executive, in a move that will protect 40 jobs across the UK and will support the continued growth of its online operation.
The Pen Shop, which has been in business since 1858, called in administrators after falling victim to the increasingly tough high street conditions which are forcing retailers to battle against rising rents and rates while footfall continues to decrease.
Colin McClymont, who bought The Pen Shop in an MBO in 2014, has now stepped in again to become owner of the esteemed brand, having been at the helm of the business for over 30 years.
The Pen Shop Trading Limited, owned by Mr McClymont and his wife Sally, has bought the iconic brand and pledged to continue their significant investment in the business to help it weather the retail storm and emerge stronger.
However, while the deal has safeguarded the future of five of the retailer’s 10 stores nationwide – in Newcastle’s Eldon Square, Birmingham, Manchester’s Trafford Centre, Glasgow and the T&G Allan store in Morpeth – the remaining shops will close.
Stores in Leeds, Manchester’s King Street, Edinburgh, Cardiff and two in London have not been saved, with several closing down last weekend. Twenty jobs have been lost as a result.
The Pen Shop, based in Morpeth – which began life as T&G Allan, named after brothers Thomas and George Allan, who opened their first shop on Newcastle’s Collingwood Street – is now beginning a new generation for the business, with a reduced high street presence but renewed energy from its owners to grow the brand.
Mr McClymont said: “We are absolutely committed to taking The Pen Shop forward as a leaner, fitter, more healthy business which is in good shape for the future. Our online store is doing very well and we will be channelling efforts into growing that further still. This business has been trading since 1858, I have been its chief executive for over 30 years, and that is too much to give up without giving it absolutely everything we’ve got.
“The conditions on the high street in the recent past have become hugely challenging, with rents, rates and service charges becoming unrealistically high over the years, and we are seeing how it is affecting everyone, even the huge retailers. Against a backdrop of the enormous shift we have seen towards online shopping and away from the high street, it becomes very difficult to continue without making changes to the traditional operation.
“As a company, we have always prided ourselves on the fact that more than 70 per cent of staff in our business are long-serving. The fact we are now having to make some of these redundant is something we deeply regret, it is no reflection on these exceptionally loyal and bright people who have enriched our business, they could not have done more.
“We have confidence in the business and the brand, and are grateful for the support we have had from our staff and suppliers during what has been a very difficult time.”
Adrian Dye said: “As the long-standing advisor to The Pen Shop, we are very pleased to be able to complete this deal for Colin and Sally. Colin has dedicated so much of his career and his life to building the business and its brand and it is great news that it has been safeguarded. Despite the many ongoing challenges for retailers, The Pen Shop is now in great shape and its online presence is growing strongly. We wish Colin and Sally the very best for the future and look forward to continuing to work with them.”
Chris Ferguson, joint head of Recovery & Insolvency at Newcastle-based RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, and joint administrator for The Pen Shop, commented “We are delighted to have concluded this sale which preserves both The Pen Shop and T&G Allan businesses going forward and safeguards the employment of 40 employees associated with the ongoing venture. The current climate is extremely challenging for retailers, but both brands are long-established and synonymous with high-end pen and stationery products, and the sale will ensure they maintain their high street and online retail presence for the future.”


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Baby’s on Fire is set to open its new Fells Point location tomorrow, and fittingly the record store and cafe that is setting up a new coffee shop in another record store, The Sound Garden, will mark the occasion next week with a free concert.
On Saturday, November 30, deck the halls at The Village of Cross Keys at their Holiday Hoopla. Enjoy strolling carolers while you start your holiday shopping. Check out the season’s arts and crafts while you sip hot cocoa. Santa will be there for pictures, checking his list twice, so make sure you are on your best behavior. The Village of the Cross Keys’ Holiday Hoopla is the perfect way to kick off the season.
For sale: 38-bed hostel. Prime downtown location. Lots of memories.
After serving thousands of budget-conscious travelers over the past four decades, one of Baltimore’s most affordable lodging options has closed its doors permanently and is now for sale for $675,000.
The HI Baltimore Hostel at 17 W. Mulberry St., served its last customers on Oct. 19 and is being shown to prospective buyers.
After a three-month hiatus, the lights are coming back on at the Baltimore Eagle.
The Charles Street leather bar, one of the largest LGBTQ-friendly night spots in the city, is reopening today under its third management team in three years.
There’s a new chain link fence motif in the front windows and two Leather Pride flags hanging over the entrance ramp. Managers posted messages online that doors will open Nov. 15. “If you’re not tied up Friday,” one posting says, “come to our place.”
Baltimore Sun reviewer Christina Tkacik thought the crab cakes at The Choptank were bland, the french fries were “cardboard-stiff,” the calamari had too much Old Bay (if there is such a thing) and the atmosphere was stuffy.
Agora is growing again.
Two months after it started to renovate the former Hynson, Westcott and Dunning building at 1030 N. Charles St., to provide office space for its staff, the company is planning to expand two more buildings one block away.
Stebbins Anderson, a hardware and department store founded two years after the end of the Civil War, will close at the end of December, after 152 years in business.
The Laughing Pint, a Highlandtown corner bar that felt as lived-in and welcoming as any canonical Baltimore watering hole, will close later this month after 13 years in business.
Baltimore Concert Opera continues its season of tragic heroines with The Consul. An unfortunately timeless piece, The Consul touches on issues of fascism, political resistance, and immigration bureaucracy that are every bit as relevant today as when the Pulitzer Prize winning work premiered in 1950. Soprano Melanie Henley Heyn makes her company debut as Magda Sorel, joined by Ron Loyd as John Sorel. Performances are at the historic Engineers Club at the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion on November 22nd and 24th. Tickets: $29.50 – 73.50 and can be purchased here.


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August 23, 2020 would have been Kobe’s 42nd birthday, also marking his first birthday since the tragic helicopter accident that killed Bryant, his daughter, Gigi, and 7 others. In honor of the Los Angeles legend, Nike decided to celebrate one of their biggest stars by getting some help from another big name in LA.
Nike’s latest ad, “Better/Mamba Forever,” is narrated by none other than Kendrick Lamar. For the video, Kendrick delivers a spoken word piece that demonstrates the intensity Kobe brought to every single portion of his life–not just basketball.
“Kobe taught us to be better,” Lamar says while images of Bryant flash across the screen. “Better leader, better generation, better nation,” Lamar continues. “Just be better. Can you do that? … Better me, better you, better us.”
Kobe Bryant was one of the few cases where someone actually practiced what they preach, and because of that, the Mamba Mentality is something that will live on forever.
In addition to honoring Kobe on his birthday, Nike is currently in the midst of a campaign called “Mamba Mentality Week”, an event that will be bringing together athletes to talk about Bryant’s incredible work ethic and highlights within his career. According to Inside Hook, this week we will see a new edition release of Kobe’s highly sought after shoe the Kobe V Proto “Big Stage.”
Check out the latest ad for Nike, narrated by Kendrick Lamar, down below:


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AC Motors, a Volkswagen-backed Chinese automaker, is set to launch the first mass-produced electric vehicle (EV) with a sodium-ion battery through its new Yiwei brand. Although sodium-ion battery tech has a lower density (and is less mature) than lithium-ion, its lower costs, more abundant supplies and superior cold-weather performance could help accelerate mass EV adoption. CarNewsChina reports that the JAC Yiwei EV hatchback deliveries will begin in January.
Yiwei is a new brand in 2023 for JAC. Volkswagen has a 75 percent stake in (and management control of) JAC and owns 50 percent of JAC’s parent company, Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Holdings (JAG). The Chinese government owns the other half of JAG, making for one of the auto industry’s stranger pairings.
The Yiwei EV appears to be a rebranded version of the Sehol E10X hatchback (above), announced earlier this year. CarNewsChina describes the Sehol model as having a 252 km (157 miles) range with a 25 kWh capacity, 120 Wh / kg energy density, 3C to 4C charging, and a HiNa NaCR32140 cell. When JAC revealed the Yiwei brand in May, it said it would drop the Sehol label and rebrand all its vehicles to either JAC or Yiwei, leading us to this week’s EV reveal. JAC hasn’t yet said whether the Yiwei-branded model will keep the E10X moniker.
In April, JAC showcased a separate EV called the Yiwei 3 at the Shanghai Auto Show. That model launched in June with an LFP lithium battery, promising the sodium-ion variant would launch later.
The new Yiwei EV reportedly uses cylindrical sodium-ion cells from HiNA Battery. JAC assembles the batteries in the company’s modular UE (Unitized Encapsulation) honeycomb structure, similar to CATL’s CTP (cell-to-pack) and BYD’s Blade. The layout can provide for greater stability and performance.


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October 16, 2014
BostInno reported on how the merger talks “seem to have ended” between HP and cloud technology company EMC, “probably over the price” of such a deal, with Reuters confirming that “executives from the two companies were still trying to hammer to a deal as recently as last week, but talks bogged down on price and are now dead”.
The news site noted that the price being a sticking point “was no surprise”, as the previous announcement that the two companies were looking to merge late last month mentioned a “price impasse” that halted negotiations. The interesting aspect of the developments is that negotiations “apparently resumed” after HP announced its plans to split into two companies, which The Recycler reported on here.
HP reported it will split its PC and printing businesses into HP Inc., whilst its software and services offerings will form Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, but the previous talks between it and EMC had seen it plan to spin off its PC and printing businesses in the merger, so it can be seen that the split would not have affected any potential merger.
Joseph Wittine of Longbow Research added that “an EMC valuation of $33 to $34 (€25 to €26)” would “get the deal done” between the two companies, with EMC’s stock worth $27 (€21) earlier this week, but BostInno stated that a “generous premium may have caused” HP CEO Meg Whitman to turn down the deal “considering all of the other benefits EMC would gain” in comparison to what HP would.
Categories : Rank 3
October 15, 2014
The European Specialist Printing Manufacturer’s Association (ESMA) announced that the first ever ‘The Inkjet Conference’ event was a “tremendous success” in bringing together technical and academic experts in inkjet and digital printing, with the two-day conference in Neuss, Dusseldorf attracting more than 300 attendees earlier this month.
The conference, hosted by ESMA and sponsored by drupa, was described by Sidel SpA’s Stefano Corradini as “an excellent collection point for today’s experts in the world of digital printing”, with 41 industry experts delivering over 30 presentations on topics such as UV-LED systems, piezo inkjet for precision dispensing of functional materials, system integration from an ink point of view, improving the inkjet industry by implementing intelligent sensors, and industrial inkjet for packaging.
Industry and academic leaders in their fields spoke about the latest advances and future developments driving digital print, with the conference focusing on inkjet engineering, a review on fluid and ink components such as nano particles, conductive, aqueous and UV inks, and an academic track open to all universities and non-commercial research institutes to present their work.
Rick Hulme of ink manufacturer Sun Chemical, noted that the event was a “new and exciting conference which has brought the industry together to discuss inkjet, its capabilities and opportunities, both now and in the future”, while fellow attendee Luc Van Damme said it was “a great starting point to follow the developmental course of DOD and nanoparticles throughout the next exciting upcoming years”. The range of attendees was also welcomed by Xaar’s Jason Remnant, who said that it “help[ed] broaden customer opportunities and networking options”.
Steve Knight, Founder of Digital Direct, who runs ‘The Inkjet Conference’, said: “As well as the updates on the significant technological steps being made by suppliers and experts in this arena, the event also presented the wealth of opportunities for collaboration, inter-industry developments and cross-market adoption.”
Meanwhile, Peter Buttiens, CEO of ESMA, commented: “The energy and buzz surrounding the first edition of ‘The Inkjet Conference’is indicative of the excitement we are seeing across the industry regarding the capabilities the new technology is offering. It is so interesting to be a part of the conversation that is exploring what the next steps could and should be.”
Categories : Rank 3
October 13, 2014
The company appeared on screens in New York City’s Times Square for the second time, after appearing in February 2012, and stated that it is the “only aftermarket manufacturer that has been [featured on] Times Square twice”.
The appearance formed part of the company’s brand new “corporate driving message”, entitled ‘Our innovation, Your success!’, which Print-Rite states goes alongside “elements of innovation and being green”, with the company “employing a new way to tell its brand story and its core corporate value of innovation”.
Adding to its reveal of the Times Square appearance, Print-Rite acknowledged the recent settlement between itself and Canon in the USA, stating that it “resolved the case with Canon in a prompt and professional manner with a strong understanding and respect [of] intellectual property”.
Categories : Rank 3
October 10, 2014
Toner manufacturer plans to have expansion completed by end of financial year 2014, boosting total production capacity to 3,000 metric tons per year.
Akshat Jain, President of New Delhi-based Indian Toners and Developers Ltd. (ITDL), told The Recycler that the new plant, which is located at the company’s subsidiary ITDL Imagetec Ltd.’s facility in Sitargunj, Uttarakhand, is “on track” to be completed by the end of the 2014 financial year as the company looks to meet the increasing demand of its customers in India and overseas.
While Jain explained that “there is no target as such” for the plant’s completion, he confirmed that “the plant and equipment have been ordered and are on their way from Germany and other parts, and as of now we are on target”. However, he added that “there are always delays of two to three weeks in installations” which could set the date back.
The plant will have a production capacity of 600 metric tons per year, taking the company’s overall production total to 3,000 metric tons per year; and Jain explained it is being built as “we have utilised 100 percent of our capacity at our Sitargunj facility”. Both mono and dual component mechanically-produced toners will be manufactured at the plant, and a significant number of jobs will be created as a result of the expansion.
“We want to make sure we deliver a quality product to our customers, because they deserve it,” said Jain, “This is how we will conduct business at ITDL.”
Categories : Rank 3
October 10, 2014
HP’s patents in its case against Ninestar and Apex are “seemingly weak”, and “clearly susceptible”, according to US professor.
PatentlyO posted an article from Dennis Crouch, Law Professor at the University of Missouri School of Law, who spoke about a “major drop in patent infringement litigation” in the USA over the past year, but also focused on the recent IP case against Apex Microelectronics and Ninestar on behalf of HP.
Noting that new litigation, or “original complaint filing”, is down 40 percent from the same time in 2013, Crouch said that this is likely down to “the Supreme Court’s recent patent law activity” to refine the US’ patent laws, as well as “additional legal issues that favour accused infringers”, including “fee-shifting”, “indefiniteness” and “post-issuance reviews”, all of which combine to “provide plenty of reason for patent holders to slow-down on complaint filings”.
Whilst this slow-down may not be clear with the aftermarket, Crouch focused on the recent HP case, stating that he was “surprised to see” that the three patents named in the case – 6,089,687, 6,264,301, and 6,454,381 – were “seemingly weak patents” which “serve as HP’s attempt to control the market for replacement ink cartridges”, and the claims for which are “clearly susceptible […] in that the seeming points of novelty are basically very simply data structures”.
He argues that the hardware components of the patents “were all known prior to the application” in the recent case, and that specifically with the 687 patent – which refers to parameters on the cartridge indicating volume and how full the cartridge is – the parameters in question were “also well known prior to the invention” (or registration of them in the patent), but that they had “never been put on an ink cartridge before”.
He concludes that “until recently, we would think this claim has an obviousness problem. Now it looks like it has patent eligibility problems as well”. Apex responded to the case recently, and Static Control commented on the case as well.
Categories : Rank 3
October 9, 2014
The case in the USA was filed on 6 October in the United States District Court of Northern District of California, and accuses Ninestar Image Tech Ltd., (Ninestar China) Ninestar Technology Co., Ltd. (Ninestar USA) and Apex Microelectronics Co., Ltd. (Apex) of infringing the following HP patents: 6,089,687 (the 687 patent), 6,264,301 (the 301 patent) and 6,454,381 (the 381 patent). All three patents apply to HP’s inkjet printer cartridges.
The Recycler reported on the case earlier this week, and has received a response from Apex Microelectronics (which you can view in the original article). Static Control’s comment on the case follows: “We are pleased to see the continuous actions of the OEMs protecting their IP. The low cost, illegitimate ‘copycat’ cartridges are bad for the environment, eat away at market share and erode margins.
“Actions like these are good for the OEM and create great opportunities for legitimate remanufacturers. Static Control has always respected the OEM in our support of legitimate remanufacturers. We refuse to sell to clone/copycat manufacturers and have remained vigilant in our pro-IP stance.”
Categories : Rank 3
October 7, 2014
UK firm awarded grant to develop remanufacturing industry in Europe discusses importance of EU.
In an article on The Bucks Herald, David Fitzsimons, whose Aylesbury-based environmental consultancy firm Oakdene Hollins was recently awarded a €1.5 million ($1.9 million) grant from the EU to lead a project aiming to develop Europe’s remanufacturing industry, discussed why remanufacturing is important and how the EU helps in implementing the project.
Fitzsimons, who set up the consultancy 20 years ago with business partner Nick Morley, noted that while remanufacturing has “great potential”, Europe may be “in danger of falling behind its rivals”, although he added that “it’s not perfect, but without the EU it would be so much more difficult to co-ordinate things against the Chinese and Americans and you would see at every opportunity the French, German and British differences being exposed. It forces people to work together and that can be very helpful indeed. Nobody hears about this – when was the last time The Daily Mail wrote about that?”
The project Oakdene Hollins is to lead will identify potential markets for the remanufacturing industry as well as “encourage best practice and develop a European Council for Remanufacturers”, with the company’s 25 staff members – mainly made up of statisticians, economists and scientist – already advising organisations about “a whole range of sustainability issues” to enable them to “become more efficient and cut costs”.
On remanufacturing, Fitzsimons noted that there is not currently a great deal of public awareness: “Often consumers don’t know things have been remanufactured […] If you’re flying in an aeroplane, the pilot does not come on the speaker and say ‘you’ll be pleased to know 30 percent of the components have been remanufactured’.”
The project will be launched early next year.
Categories : Rank 3
October 3, 2014
Courthouse News reported on the settlement, which was confirmed on 30 September, and which saw $1.35 million (€1.06 million) in fees paid to lawyers on behalf of the plaintiffs in all three class actions, numbering around 13 million people, though only 122,000 “filed claims” for coupons to be received as compensation.
All three of the class actions were submitted in 2007, with one case claiming HP “duped consumers into believing that they needed to replace the ink cartridges before the cartridges were empty”; another alleging HP “neglected to tell customers that its printers combined colours from ink cartridges to print black and white text”; and the final one claiming the OEM “concealed that some of the ink cartridges had expiration dates”.
The settlement saw HP agree to issue coupons, as mentioned above, for the value of between $2 and $6 (€1.58 and €4.75) to consumers, as well as “discontinue using certain pop-up messages showing an image of an ink gauge”, and to “disclose additional information through the packaging, user manuals, interfaces [of printers] and the HP website”.
One particularly interesting aspect of the settlement is its links to the HP-Autonomy situation, with US lawyer Ted Frank condemning the OEM’s settlement with its own shareholders because the law firm representing the shareholders, Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy, also represents the class action plaintiffs, with Frank fighting the class action settlement “for years on behalf of plaintiffs who weren’t happy with the deal”.
The settlement initially offered inkjet cartridge purchasers a $2 (€1.49) coupon but paid the lawyers $2.9 million (€2.1 million), which “seemed like high compensation to the lawyers for a meagre return to the plaintiffs”, and so Frank challenged the settlement, with an appeals court agreeing and sending the case back for negotiation; he believes that “most settlements are just paying off the attorneys”.
Frank stated that he founded his organisation “to intervene in cases where he felt lawyers were benefitting far more than their clients”, and he believes that the Autonomy settlement between HP and its shareholders “violates basic conflict-of-interest ideals”, as a law firm “shouldn’t be both suing and defending the same company at the same time”, with his document filed as part of the inkjet case to bring the Autonomy case to the court’s attention.
At the time the settlement was originally made, US District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel awarded $1.5 million (€1.18 million) in attorney fees and nearly $600,000 (€475,183) in costs, based on his conclusion that the “ultimate value” of the settlement to the class was approximately $1.5 million – a “significant step down” from the $7 million (€5.5 million) the law firm wanted, and a “slight reduction” from the $2.3 million (€1.8 million) that HP had agreed to pay.
On appeal, the ninth circuit court ruled the attorney fees must be “attributable to the award of coupons”, and must be calculated “using the redemption value of the coupons”, as it would be “improper for the fee award to outstrip” the class action benefit. The final amount of $1.5 million “reflects a 10 percent reduction in the amount previously awarded”, therefore, and Fogel “declined to disqualify” the law firm despite Frank’s objections.
Fogel concluded: “Given that the prior award of $1.5 million was meant to compensate class counsel for obtaining the entire settlement, including both the coupon and non-coupon aspects, and that the court’s current task is to compensate class counsel for obtaining only the non-coupon aspects of the settlement, the court concludes that it must reduce the original $1.5 million award to reflect those fees attributable to the coupon aspect of the settlement.”
Categories : Rank 3
October 3, 2014
Ink World Magazine reported how, in recent years, the Asia-Pacific region has grown to “become the largest geographic region for the printing ink industry”, and how there has also been an “increasing emphasis” on being environmentally-friendly and meeting international guidelines in the region. The news outlet notes that countries throughout the Asia-Pacific are “looking to remove ingredients that impact food packaging, as well as ingredients such as toluene that are concerns in terms of health”.
Toshihiko Fukunaga, General Manager of International Operations Division at Sakata INX, said: “We intend to acquire ISO 14001 and build plants that comply with environmental regulations and are on the same level as the developed country’s standards. We plan to emphasise deploying environmentally friendly ink. Recently, the demand for inkjet and UV inks has become stronger. We will focus on developing new products and expand sales for these inks.”
Ashwani Bhardwaj, Management for Asia and North America at hubergroup, added:“Government regulations are getting more stringent and ink companies are gradually upgrading their own manufacturing processes and standards. Awareness among the printers and end-users is growing and they are now demanding the ink manufacturers to follow the latest global product safety norms.
“The hubergroup is well placed to meet all these challenges. We have developed new UV products within our NewV product family, which have been launched worldwide. The NewV range of products meets the highest standards in terms of product safety. NewV products are highly appreciated by the customers.”
In turn, Yu Adachi, from Toyo Ink’s Corporate Communication Department, noted that an interest in toluene- and MEK-free inks has grown in the region: “Sales of our Multistar SW series line of eco-friendly toluene-free and MEK-free lamination gravure inks for packaging increased in China and Southeast Asia. Also, the Toyo Ink Group launched the high-grade LIOALPHA SW series of toluene-free and MEK-free lamination gravure inks in last year May. Multistar SW and LIOALPHA SW series are compliant with European regulations (Swiss Ordinance).”
Atsushi Egashira, General Manager for DIC Corp’s Corporate Communications Department, commented that DIC’s regional technical centre in Thailand is developing new, environmentally-friendly products: “Our regional technical centre in Thailand will facilitate our business by accelerating adjustments of products developed in other regions to needs in the region as well as enhancing our technical service to customers. This technical centre is supposed to work on challenging technical themes, including refining gravure inks for high-speed printing machines and introducing environment friendly products.”
Finally, Hideyuki Hinataya, President of Toka Ink International, said that LED UV curing is “one approach to reducing energy consumption”, and that LED UV and Hybrid presses “decrease the amount of energy used in the printing process […] raising awareness as regards to the environment, we aggressively introduced low energy curable inks for LED UV and Hybrid presses. At this moment, the number of installation of those presses in the Asia-Pacific region is lower than in the United States, Europe and Japan. However, we will keep paying attention to the market as a potential market.”
China has placed “large emphasis” on environmentally friendly and clean products, as it “tries to clean up its environment”, and Bauhinia Variegata Ink and Chemicals Ltd., a subsidiary of Yip’s Chemical and the “largest domestic ink supplier in China, emphasises environmentally friendly ink systems”, with a company spokesperson stating that R&D for every new product is “based on protecting the environment”, such as developing benzene- and ketone-free gravure ink products and soybean oil-based litho inks.
Categories : Rank 3
October 2, 2014
The Guardian reported that the continued slow in growth may have been due to “uncertainty over the Scottish referendum, a flagging Eurozone economy, and slowing domestic demand”, with the PMI dropping from 52.2 in August to 51.6 in September – the lowest level since April last year; although anything over 50 still indicates expansion.
The result was the third monthly drop in the PMI index, which is based on output, orders, employment and prices; with the manufacturing sector indicating strong growth last year and up to the beginning of 2014, with April seeing a five-month high of 57.3.
During September, The Guardian reported, “new export orders barely grew”, while manufacturing in the Eurozone hit a 14-month low, with Germany and France – the region’s two biggest markets – lowering the overall PMI index to 50.3.
James Knightley, Economist at ING, said: “This is a 17-month low and further diminishes the prospect of Bank of England policy tightening in November. One possibility is that the uncertainty generated by the close polls in the lead-up to the Scottish independence referendum made businesses cautious and therefore led to a delay in orders.”
Meanwhile Rob Dobson, Senior Economist at Markit, said: “The strong upsurge in the UK manufacturing sector at the start of the year appears to have run its course. Inflows of new work slowed in both domestic and export markets. Overseas demand was reined in mainly by the ongoing lethargy of the eurozone and the appreciation of sterling against the euro.”
Categories : Rank 3