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Today.Az » Weird / Interesting » How algorithms run Amazon's warehouses?
18 August 2015 [15:12] - Today.Az
“Work Hard. Have Fun. Make History.” So reads a sign above the entrance to Amazon’s newest UK “fulfilment centre” (or warehouse) in Hemel Hempstead.
Inside lies more than 40,000 sq m of shelving, packing lines and millions of products. One area where larger products are stored is known as “pallet land” and adjacent, at another end of the space sits “the tower”, where several floors of shelving are stacked on top of each other. Pickers constantly, and more or less silently, walk up and down the tower’s lengthy aisles, pushing carts into which they deposit items purchased by someone, somewhere online.
Founded at the dawn of the web in 1994, Amazon is now reportedly worth $247bn (£157bn). But the company is not, in fact, hugely profitable. What keeps Amazon afloat? As for any business with tight margins, efficiency is key.
A recent New York Times investigation revealed that thecorporate culture inside Amazon is highly driven by data: personal performance, for example, is continually checked with a software system called the Anytime Feedback Tool that allows employees to share praise or criticism about their colleagues.
At the company’s warehouses, the workers are also guided and monitored by software, but in a much more direct way. When you order an item online, the Amazon system quickly works out where the item sits in its inventory, and dispatches a human picker to go fetch it. “It’s not about learning where things are, in your head, or having to memorise,” explains general manager Henry Low. “We make the task as simple as possible.”
The pickers are not meant to have to think too long about what they’re retrieving
One of the first things that strikes you about the Amazon fulfilment centres is that the products aren’t organised logically – or at least in the kind of fashion that a human would use. For instance, products on shelves are not organised by category. Instead, they are placed on shelves as if by random. An HDMI cable lies near to five copies of some Harry Potter sheet music. A brand of baby’s bottle is across the aisle from a drain water diverter. But there is method to this apparent madness. “Imagine picking one model of HDMI cable from a shelf of hundreds of them,” says Low. The pickers are not meant to have to think too long about what they’re retrieving – the whole process is designed to be as streamlined as humanly possible.
When an item is collected by hand, the picker scans it with a handheld device to ensure that the correct object has been taken. And every item’s progress throughout the warehouse is constantly monitored thanks to a series of points at which it is scanned again – for example at the moment of being labelled with the customer’s name and address. “We are able to track where the item is at any one time at the fulfilment centre,” says Low, who is both confident and clearly proud of the attention to detail.
The BBC’s Panorama programme has reported in the past on the high levels of accuracy and productivity expected of employees in Amazon warehouses. Reportedly, the pickers’ handheld devices in some warehouses count down the seconds that they have to retrieve the next product, in order to meet their performance targets.
Initially, Low denies this is the case at Hemel Hampstead. However, when asked to see one of the scanners it becomes immediately apparent that such a countdown does indeed exist.
Thomas Owens, a picker at the centre estimates that he picks, on average, 1,000 items a day. “It depends on what process path you’re doing. But between break-times it’s normally between 200 and 300, so I’d say it’s about 1,000 or 1,200 a day,” he explains. In a 10-hour shift, that equates to almost two items every minute. Still, Owens adds that missing a handful of these countdowns is perfectly acceptable, and does not prevent pickers from meeting their overall productivity targets.
Even so, the human element is arguably the weak link in the efficiency chain, and new computer-based systems that promise to automate Amazon’s operations even further might one day take over the ferrying of products themselves. Kiva Systems is a little-known Amazon subsidiary which develops hi-tech warehouse robotics. Instead of human pickers going to and from shelves in a large space, the shelves themselves are mobile and travel on wheels to stationary pickers who simply lift off the required item. Dutifully, the robot shelves then return to their place.
The Sick Inspector P30 could replace human workers
Another company, called Sick, has invented sophisticated sensing equipment that can be used in highly automated warehouses. Human eyes may be less and less useful in the future since, as acompany press release about a visual sensor boasts, “the Sick Inspector P30 […] enables the automated crane system to pick and place more quickly, saving typically 10 seconds per pick (potentially 15% extra picking cycles per hour).”
And yet, human involvement in the whole business of getting Amazon products from these massive fulfilment centres to your doormat is, for the time being, still crucial and evident. Human workers don’t just lift items off the shelves at the centre, they’re also responsible for packing products in boxes (the size of which is predetermined by an algorithm) and stuffing packing paper and vouchers in along with the purchased item.
Several rows of workers tasked with this part of the process are busily filling boxes, keeping packages moving onto conveyor belts at a steady pace. Later, of course, these packages will be driven to homes and businesses up and down the country by human drivers for delivery. Still, with Amazon now experimenting with the idea of delivery-by-drone, it’s not clear for how long exactly that part of the chain will go unmodified.
When it’s time for a break, a notification sounds and the workers flood dutifully to the canteen, which seats at least 100 of them easily. There they enjoy the mid-shift break, eating, reading, chatting quietly.
“Work Hard,” said the sign near the entrance. On the warehouse floor, it’s apparent that the largely anonymous people who handle your online purchases take the first part of this mantra seriously.


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Sunday, November 27, 2011
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT!
Say good by to traditional household light bulbs.
Stocking up on conventional light bulbs (incandescent bulbs) is something to seriously consider right now. The ability to purchase a familiar 100 watt light bulb is coming to an abrupt end, and availability of these type of bulbs is about to be switched off as mandated by but yet another frivolous Government Regulation.
The all knowing bureaucrats have enacted The federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 setting new lightbulb efficiency standards that will soon prevent the manufacture and importation of most incandescent bulbs. Complaints regarding the cost, possible mercury dangers, and the unnatural harsh lighting tones have sparked an outcry from consumers and business alike. An attempt to repeal this unpopular and costly law was itself defeated back in July of 2011.
How this law will effect you:
Beginning January 1, 2012 the ax will droop on the 100 watt incandescent
bulb, with the 75 watt following in 2013, and the 60- and 40- watt incandescent bulbs in 2014.
The compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL’s) have been tagged by many as emitting an unnatural harsh industrial type glow, which in some cases have been linked to depression. Cost for CFL’s range on a average of $3 each—verses the 50 cents you pay for the familiar incandescent bulbs. CFL’s will not work with you existing dimmer switches either. Furthermore, there are safety concerns with CFL’s which contain small amounts of Mercury. If a CFL is broken, you may be exposed to Mercury which can cause serious health problems, including possible nerve damage. (For emergency, disposal, and cleanup advice, go to: www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html
Posted by P.J.D publishing at 3:04 PM

domain: news


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Roadshow marketing defies latest Bellwether trend
Event marketing specialists EMS’ unique offer of mobile roadshow promotions campaigns is continuing to win big contracts – and buck the market trend, which is revealed in the latest IPA/BDO Bellwether report. The quarterly survey found that 22% of companies cut budgets in the last three months of 2010 – the biggest downgrade for a year.
This was coupled with a dip in business confidence among marketing executives that was the lowest for 18 months. That’s in marked contrast to the EMS team’s best business year ever in 2010, with a succession of high value event marketing contracts from big brands.
But the news isn’t all bad from Bellwether. The survey is predicting a return to confidence in 2011. Initial marketing budgets for this year indicate that companies will spend more than they did in 2010 – with growth provisionally stronger than it’s been in three years. And as EMS Managing Director Keith Austin reports, that’s bang on trend for Event Marketing Solutions.
“With over £2m of contracts already signed this year, and another £1m campaign for a major client in the wings, EMS shares Bellwether’s confidence for 2011. A growing number of big brands recognise that even when budgets are tight, marketing spend is vital to grow new business. Our innovative, high-tech mobile trailer roadshows that engage with customers face-to-face and provide clear ROI are truly hitting the mark as clients scrutinise every penny spent.”


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According to BelTA the Internet of Things technology (IOT) will become widespread in Belarus, Belarusian Communications and Informatization Minister Sergei Popkov said during the opening of a Belarusian ICT forum on 19 April which is held as part of the international forum on telecommunications, information and banking technologies TIBO 2017.
“The IoT is a new stage in the Internet evolution. It considerably enhances the possibilities to collect, analyze, distribute and receive data. Due to this the IoT is gaining in importance,” Sergei Popkov pointed out. “The combination of cheap sensors and simple electronics in the IoT network will enable users to provide Internet access to all kinds of things, from refrigerators to power supply systems. Today new technologies have an impact on all areas of our lives.” According to the minister, people still should not ignore the new challenges related to the IoT expansion. Job creation is one of these challenges, because the development of Internet technologies and the IoT will lead to large-scale automation with minimum human input. Sergei Popkov expects the IoT to make a technological revolution in both developed and developing countries. “Nowadays experts declare that mobile applications will die out, the IoT and blockchain technology will become widespread and people should get ready for this. The Internet of Things will change our lives completely, although some of its possibilities seem to belong to distant future,” Sergei Popkov remarked. The Internet of Things is the inter-networking of all kinds of devices embedded with special software and sensors. Experts forecast that the number of devices connected to the IoT network will make up literally 30 billion by 2020.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License


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Gunning to become the top seller of used cars online, Vroom Inc. has raised $50 million in a Series E round of equity funding, bringing its total capital raised to $218 million.
The market for used cars in the U.S. alone surpasses $400 billion annually. According to the Edmunds.com Used Vehicle Market Report, retailers sold 38.3 million used cars in 2015 at an average price of $18,500.
When the company started up in 2013, it was originally billed as a stress-free way to buy or sell pre-owned vehicles online and via mobile.
Vroom’s current CEO Paul Hennessy, who joined the company in June this year and was previously the CEO of Priceline.com, drew parallels between online travel agencies and Vroom.
Both markets are highly fragmented and filled with competition online and off. E-commerce platforms like Vroom could put some brick and mortar dealerships out of business, he acknowledged.
“At the highest level, we assemble great inventory for customers, give them a great shopping experience via mobile or desktop…and simplify the buying process so they can pull the trigger without haggling and paperwork. The car is delivered to your front door,” Hennessy said.
Buyers get seven days to test drive a vehicle after it’s delivered. Hennessy said he wants car shopping to be as easy as buying (or returning) a pair of shoes online.
On the seller-side, users can upload photos of their vehicle along with a VIN number via smartphone app to attain a quote from Vroom, and soon get their cars picked up.
Vroom uses proprietary algorithms and data about the value of different cars and trucks in different conditions to set prices. Vroom also runs a huge repairs and refurbishing operation, Texas Direct Auto, which it acquired last year.
Vroom’s revenue today comes from sales of pre-owned vehicles to both individual consumers and rental car companies. It also sells scrap, i.e. after market parts from vehicles that can’t be fully repaired. And it generates revenue from selling warranties and arranging auto loans.
As such, Vroom investors and executives expect to see a shift in consumer demand. “We are always looking into ways to put consumers in the best car they can get for the price they want to pay,” Hennessy said.
Vroom’s competition abounds, ranging from large public companies like Carmax, TrueCar and Ebay Motors, to classifieds sties like Craigslist or Carfax, and other venture-backed startups including Beepi, Shift and Carlypso.
Vroom has partnerships with some of its ostensible competitors, namely Ebay.
T. Rowe Price led Vroom’s latest round of funding joined by new investors Altimeter Capital and Foxhaven Asset Management, and earlier backers L. Catterton, General Catalyst Partners and Allen & Co.
Altimeter Capital founder Brad Gerstner said he expects the company to use the funding to become a household name, and to expand its operations in a way that will ensure efficient delivery of vehicles to customers all around the country.
“The magic of Amazon is not just that I can shop online but that something arrives at my house very quickly and predictably, and they don’t make mistakes. There’s no single silver bullet. It’s about making every step in a purchase process– from the content through the entire supply chain– better for consumers than anything else that’s out there.”
Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Allon Bloch was Vroom’s founder. He was its CEO before Paul Hennessy.


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Out 10/21. Amazon has available for pre-order the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Intel i5 13" Tablet starting from $1099.99 Free Shipping. It is set to be released on October 21.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 comes with the new Windows 11 OS and Intel Evo platform. It still has its iconic Kickstand but has a larger 13" touchscreen display.


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Bonnaroo Food Survival Guide
Bonnaroo, a four-day music festival in Manchester, Tenn. that begins this Thursday, draws at least 80,000 people a year — that’s a lot of hungry mouths to feed. But they’ve got your back with food trucks from across the country that know how to serve up quality mobile food.
Located on the west side of Centeroo between “This Tent” and Splash-A-Roo, the Food Truck Oasis will host food trucks that range from gourmet grilled cheeses at The Big Cheese (Arlington, Va.), fusion at Roti Rolls (Charleston, S.C.), to meatballs at Eatbox (Asheville, N.C.).
One of the new trucks entering the festival this year is The Cracked Truck from Urbana, Ill. The truck only serves gourmet breakfast egg sandwiches and hash browns.
“Eggs are kind of a blank canvas to pair with so many flavors and combinations,” said Daniel Krause, one of the three owners. “Along those lines, breakfast is a universally loved meal. You really can eat it any time of the day.”
Krause, Jeremy Mandell, and Sean Baird started the truck last August after graduating from college in May 2012. With degrees in food science and human nutrition, economics, and hospitality management, the three owners make a good team, balancing each other out and “filling in information the others don’t know,” Krause said.
The Cracked Truck caters to the University of Illinois campus, but the trio have always been interested in serving at music festivals.
“Bonnaroo has such a cool vibe with so many great people walking around — everyone is so happy to be there,” Krause said. “We’re really excited to be out there and be a part of the atmosphere serving food to all these people.”
Every sandwich has a fried egg and hash browns on it, with cheese or meat, like salami and bacon, or spinach and tomatoes. Or it can be ordered plain just eggs, cheese, and hash browns. Certain spreads like pesto or cream cheese are also available, all served on a ciabatta roll.
Savory & Sweet from Knoxville, Tenn. first worked Bonnaroo last year. The experience was so positive, there was no question about returning this year.
“It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too — it’s a good time,” said Byron Sambat, co-owner of Savory & Sweet. His wife Kiki owns it with him.
The menu will feature a “Jumpin’ Java” taco, a coffee chipotle braised pork with cilantro lime slaw, and a beer battered fried avocado taco with washer limes with cilantro lime slaw and chipotle cream.
“We try to do as much local, seasonal food as possible with an emphasis on southwestern tacos,” Byron said.
The Broo’ers Festiva l, a beer oasis for festival attendees, will feature 25 breweries from across the country, from craft beer to crisp Vermont cider. It is located next to “Which Stage,” so you can grab a beer without missing any music. Next door, Broo’ers University will hold seminars and discussions dedicated to the “art and awesomeness of beer.”
New to this year’s festival is FatBack Collective, a group of chefs, restaurateurs, thinkers, and entrepreneurs who “believe in the possibilities of heritage breed livestock, the farmers who humanely raise them, the cooks who coax flavors from them, and the celebrants who commune around them.”
The Alabama-based Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q will lead FatBack at Bonnaroo, and a different chef from the group will roast a whole hog each day.
A full menu of what each truck will be offering can be found on the next page.


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Apple MEMS microphones
Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone sales skyrocketed in 2011 and saw Apple dethrone Samsung as the world's top buyer of the tiny devices used in many of the company's mobile products, reports component sales analytics provider IHS iSuppli.
Apple purchased a total of 349 million MEMS microphones in 2011, a 173 percent increase from the 128 million the company bought in 2010. The huge growth, attributed to massive iPhone and iPad sales, made the Cupertino, Calif., company the biggest global buyer of the components in 2011 and accounted for 27 percent of all MEMS microphone sales for the year.
Following Apple are handset and mobile product makers Samsung, LG and Motorola with market shares of 20%, 7% and 5%, respectively.
The architecture of a MEMS microphone consists of a pressure-sensitive diaphragm etched onto a semiconductor, and offer advantages over older electret condenser microphones like size, temperature stability and sound quality.
âApple in 2010 sounded the starting gun for the current boom in MEMS microphone sales when it adopted the devices in its iPhone 4,â said JÃ©rÃ©mie Bouchaud, director and principal analyst of MEMS and sensors for IHS. âHowever, with the addition of MEMS microphones into the highly successful iPad 2 in 2011, Appleâs purchasing of the tiny devices went into overdrive. When combined with strong increases in its buys of MEMS microphones for iPhone headsets, Apple outstripped all other rivals to become the largest consumer of the devices, helping the drive the growth of the overall market.â
Knowles MEMS microphone die | Source: Chipworks
Apple employs two analog MEMS microphones in its iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S smartphones for noise cancellation; one analog MEMS microphone in the iPhone headset; and one digital MEMS microphone for the iPad 2.
EU to decide on Google buyout of Motorola Mobility
European Union regulators have pegged Feb. 13, 2012 for a ruling to clear Google's buyout of Motorola after the original Jan. 10 date was suspended in December 2011, reports Reuters.
The EU Commission said Google has come forward with supporting documents that will allow regulators to make a decision on the proposed $12.5 billion takeover, which the internet giant hopes will grow its patent portfolio for the company's Android mobile platform.
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said in September 2011 that the purchase would not only secure important intellectual property, but grant the company access to Motorola's "amazing products."
The buyout is also being studied by U.S. antitrust regulators.


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December 15, 2016 / Cost Management, industry, maintaining talent, quality, ROI, strategic planning, training
Industrial manufacturers find themselves competing in an increasing uncertain global market with rising customer expectations and ever-evolving technology, according to the 19th Annual Global CEO Survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The survey found that only 24% of manufacturing CEOs think global growth will improve over the next 12 months compared to 34% last year, and 23% think it will worsen compared to 18% the prior year. In addition, just 29% of industrial manufacturers are confident of revenue growth in the next 12 months, but when given a three-year span, 46% of manufacturers think they’ll see growth.
Data also suggests that CEOs believe business risk has increased. According to the survey, 55% of industrial manufacturing CEOs said opportunities have increased during the past three years; however, 61% believe the number of threats has increased.
The PwC survey, which interviewed 205 industrial, manufacturing CEOs in 53 countries, revealed that industrial manufacturing companies are working hard to deliver results year after year, but most understand that the future brings complex challenges. The survey highlights three key focus areas for today’s industrial manufacturing CEOs:
- Great expectations and influences. When asked to describe their company’s purpose, the survey found many industrial manufacturing CEOs believed it was centered on filling customer needs or developing first-class products, but others said it was creating a great place to work for employees or achieving social goals. And the influences that impact that purpose and overall strategy are many. As one would expect, customer demands drive final products, but 89% of industrial manufacturers say their customers and clients have an impact on their overall business strategy. Supply chain partners weigh-in, too, with 88% of CEOs planning to address social and environmental impacts of their supply chain. In addition, competitors and peers are also a focus, with a third of CEOs saying they too have a high impact on strategy.
- Technology and talent. Executives know Industry 4.0 has arrived and are working to invest in new innovations and train their workforce to capitalize on their investments. The survey found that 90% of industrial manufacturing CEOs plan to make changes in how they use technology to assess and deliver on wider stakeholder expectations. However, with new technology comes new skill requirements, and 76% of respondents say they are concerned about the availability of key skills to grow their business. In response, more than half of CEOs are changing their talent strategy.
- Measuring and communicating success. Data showed that 60% of survey respondents said innovation is the number one area where the business could do more to measure the impact and value for stakeholders. Not only are CEOs realizing they need to measure and track business success, but that they also need to communicate that success. The survey found that 68% of CEOs believe R&D and innovation has the potential to drive better engagement with wider stakeholders. Together with customer relationship management, data and analytics take the top three spots—validating smart manufacturing will be a driving force for industry leaders.
Like any industrial manufacturer, PwC’s survey findings can help metal-cutting organizations prepare for another challenging, but transformative, year. As reported in the case study, “Best Practices of High Production Metal-Cutting Companies,” sometimes this means investing in technology. Jett Cutting Service, for example, hit a record-setting 1.1 million cut parts last year and attributes the milestone to smart investments. “I would like to believe that our increase in sales is due to investing in the latest cutting technology, which increases our capacity and production capabilities,” Vice President Mike Baron said. “The newer technology also allows us to offer competitive pricing, which has led to many new customers.”
However, Jett Cutting also understands that it needs to be just as committed to its employees and its customers. The metal-cutting organization also has a strong training program for new employees, an ISO certification program to maintain high quality standards, and additional training for existing employees every time new equipment or software is purchased.
For many metal-cutting companies, 2016 certainly hasn’t been the best of years, but it also hasn’t been the worst. As PwC’s survey confirms, no one is confident about what next year will bring; however, industrial manufacturing leaders aren’t standing idle. Jett Cutting and many others are investing in new technology and training now to prepare for growth in the future.
How is your industrial metal-cutting company investing in the future?
October 30, 2016 / agility, benchmarking, best practices, bottlenecks, continuous improvement, Cost Management, industry, LIT, predictive management, preventative maintenance, quality, strategic planning, workf
In today’s competitive and quickly changing market, manufacturers are finding that it pays to be proactive—not reactive—in their strategic approaches. That’s why a growing number of industrial manufacturers are starting to take a serious look at advanced technologies like predictive analytics, which allows them to not only measure performance, but to also predict and prevent future challenges.
According to Deloitte’s 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, more than 500 senior manufacturing executives from around the world ranked predictive analytics as the number one technology vital to their companies’ future competitiveness. As reported here, another report from Aberdeen Group shows that 86 percent of top-performing manufacturers are already using predictive analytics to reduce risk and improve operations, compared to 38 percent of those companies with an average performance and 26 percent of those with less than stellar results.
The trend has found its way into industrial metal cutting as well. According to the LENOX Institute of Technology’s benchmark study of more than 100 industrial metal-cutting organizations, companies can gain additional productivity and efficiency on the shop floor by “investing in smarter, more predictive and more agile operations management approaches.”
What is Predictive Analytics?
Predictive analytics utilizes a variety of statistical and analytical techniques to develop mathematical models that “predict” future events or behaviors based on past data. As the Deloitte study explains, this allows companies to uncover hidden patterns, relationships, and greater insights by analyzing both structured and unstructured data.
In a manufacturing environment, companies can use predictive analytics to measure the health of production equipment and detect potential failures. However, the possibilities are virtually limitless. According to one analyst’s blog, manufacturers could potentially use software and predictive analytics to forecast potential staffing or supply-chain interruptions, such as a flu outbreak that could cause a temporary personnel shortage or even a blizzard that could disrupt deliveries.
Bearing manufacturing leader Timken has taken a different approach and is using predictive analytics to improve inventory optimization and supply chain performance in the automotive aftermarket sector. As reported by SearchAutoParts.com, Timken is leveraging sales history, registration data, and other information, along with complex analytics, to improve sales and reduce costs.
“Timken’s catalog team matches parts and vehicles, and combines that information with vehicle registration and replacement/failure rates, along with internal sales data,” the article explains. “Crunching that data using proprietary algorithms helps them predict how many parts will be needed in a given geography, and how those parts sales will fall within the premium aftermarket, economy aftermarket and OEMs.”
Common Use Cases
Because predictive analytics is an emerging technology, applications are typically specific to each manufacturer’s products and processes—as in the Timken example. However, an article from Toolbox.com describes four common use cases for predictive analytics that are applicable in most manufacturing environments:
- Quality Improvement. Improvements in databases and data storage and easier-to-use analytical software are the big changes for quality improvement. Standard quality improvement analysis is being pushed toward less technical analysts using new software that automates much of the analytical process. Storing more information about products and the manufacturing process also leads to analysis of more factors that influence quality.
- Demand Forecast. Predictive analytics takes historical sales data and applies forms of regression to predict future sales based upon past sales. Good predictive analytics modelers find additional factors that influenced sales in the past and apply those factors into forecasted sales models.
- Preventative Maintenance. Predictive analytics increases production equipment uptime. Knowing that a machine is likely to break down in the near future means a manufacturer can perform the needed maintenance in non-emergency conditions without shutting down production.
- Machine Utilization. Predictive analytics applications for machine scheduling combines forecast for demand with product mix to optimize machine utilization. Using new predictive analytics techniques improves accuracy.
While there is no question that predictive analytics is still new to many ball and roller bearing manufacturers, industry leaders know that proactive strategies are key in today’s uncertain market. Finding ways to anticipate future events and reduce unplanned downtime can not only help your operation gain efficiency but, more importantly, help you stay competitive.


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The former retail giant Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) continues its legal pursuit against shipping lines. The company filed for bankruptcy protection on April 23 this year. Now it's seeking payback for alleged wrongs suffered during the supply chain crisis, filing claims totalling over $31.7 million against Hong Kong's OOCL and $7.7 million against Taiwan’s Yang Ming. However, the main claim, against Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), stands at over $50 million, seeking doubled reparations due to alleged "willful retaliatory conduct".
Photo © Jonathan Weiss | Dreamstime.com
This marks the largest shipper damage claim against an ocean carrier since the supply chain crisis. The estate seeks compensation for increased shipping costs, alleged unfair charges, and lost profits. It states that MSC's failure to honour service commitments led to lost profits and higher costs to replace the shortfall in carrying cargo.
BBBY's estate demands double reparations and seeks compensation for lost profits, which, if confirmed, could significantly elevate the final claim amount, potentially exceeding $100 million.


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Little more than a week after Ford Motor Company executives admitted that the automaker wasn’t meeting higher-than-expected demand for the all-new, 2018 Lincoln Navigator, Ford has announced a new, $25-million investment into its Kentucky Truck Plant to speed up production of the Navigator, as well as the mechanically-similar Ford Expedition – also all-new for 2018. The move will bring Ford’s total investment at the plant up to $925 million since last year, and ought to help Ford kick production speed up a notch at the plant.
Kentucky Truck Plant is already a haven of efficient, advanced manufacturing techniques. Last year’s transformation of the plant saw it add 400 new automatons, mainly in the body shop; a data analytics hub that provides plant officials with minute-by-minute updates of important production metrics like parts inventory; and a 3D printer that allows engineers to easily print individual tool parts to help keep the plant running.
Customer response to the all-new, 2018 Lincoln Navigator has been overwhelmingly positive. According to Ford, newly-shipped examples of the premium SUV spend an average of just seven days on the lot before being sold, and many customers are trading in Land Rover and Mercedes SUVs to get them. Transaction prices in January, 2018 were up by about $21k versus the same month last year, as nearly 85 percent of all 2018 Lincoln Navigator buyers have opted for the high-spec Reserve or Black Label trim levels.
Last month, Ford recorded Lincoln Navigator sales that were up 97.5% over January, 2017, even while overall Lincoln brand sales declined.
“The response from customers regarding our new full-size SUVs has been exceptional,” says Ford President of Global Operations Joe Hinrichs. “Using a combination of Ford’s advanced manufacturing and American hard work and ingenuity, we’ll deliver more high-quality Lincoln Navigators and Ford Expeditions to customers than originally planned.”


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How Tesla’s bitcoin speculation has Soared profits by $100 M in Q1
The auto giant Tesla has been making news in the media for the past few weeks ever since its owner announced the investment of one billion USD in bitcoin. Soon they announced that they would accept their payment in digital coin, particularly in Bitcoin. This has remained a key thing in a big way. Tesla, on the other side, had now reported some good figures in the first quarter this Monday when they had included a record in the first quarter giving away the net profit of 438 USD million on the terms of GAAP basis. Hence, as usual, all these profit benefits were seen buoyed by the kind of sales environment one can have with the regulatory credits. However, in the recent wrinkle found in this quarter, one can find the sales of the company of bitcoin to be going to around 101 USD in terms of millions taking things in the lower area.
This February, we had witnessed the auto giant coming with the waves when it announced a whopping 1.5 Billion USD purchase of Bitcoin and thus, it was said that it will now go to continue investing in the domain of digital currency when we see things in a broad spectrum. This Monday, we have seen the shareholders of Tesla coming up with an update wherein they said that the sales of bitcoin that was made at a whopping cost of 101 M USD had a positive impact when we talk about the profitability of the company during the phase that tends to end by 31st of March 2021. As the company is flowing with the cash, the statement one can find in the first quarter is seen recording the purchase of 1.5 billion of the digital assets along with the whopping investment of 272 M USD that is seen proceeding for the sales of digital money and assets in the first quarter.
Elsewhere we have seen the company claiming that the profitability was seen getting help from the bitcoin that has gone with the contribution of 101 M USD, and one can call it to be a positive impact while we see the impairment. This would help in showing up the 101 M USD reduction when we talk about the operating cost of the statement of operations as claimed by the company. This ends up suggesting that the company is now coming up quickly with the flip-up cost with the help of a bitcoin purchase that ends up with the gain of 101 USD million once we see the price of Bitcoin rising up during the first quarter. As per the CFO of the company, Mr C Kirkorn, the earning seems to be going steady, while Elon is seen coming along with the place to store the cash, which does not seem to come instant as being used in order to gain the high returns.
He ended up saying that access to the hard cash seems to come soon, but it will not impact the decision they made earlier to go with Bitcoin. He further claimed that Bitcoin has proved out to be a good choice for them as it is a good segment when it comes to putting some amount of cash, which is not being very much used for the day to day operations, and these would be done in order to gain the result for the same. The CFO further seemed to have added that while these things were pleased, the liquidity of the Bitcoin market is going to remain for a longer run.
For the time being, we have seen that the company is not accepting payments in the form of Bitcoin from their customers. This, somewhere, has added confusion as to how the company is going to move ahead in its investment when it comes to using bitcoin for serving the mission of electric vehicles in Elon Musk. We have now seen the company raking up huge money of 1.6 B USD coming along with regulatory energy credits that are seen coming up with the basic zero-emission. Tesla has to continue making good profits in the coming four quarters in order to gain profit. You can further explore the issue on sites like https://bitsignal.live/ and get an insight.


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The majority of the Indian population lives in rural India. However, the contribution of rural India to the Indian GDP is only 25-30%. This indicates a huge potential in Indian villages, which, if utilised, can give considerable impetus to the economic development of India. One primary reason for the underutilisation of the potential of rural India is the lack of access to credit to its population.
Access to formal credit to rural India is essential as it would allow entrepreneurs and small businesses in these parts to expand their enterprises. It would enable the rural folks to meet their aspirations, such as buying a house or a car, which would further push consumer demand in the economy. It would also save villagers from seeking informal money lending methods that are often exploitative.
Unfortunately, access to formal credit is limited and inaccessible due to the lengthy application process, excessive paperwork, and lack of financial data and collateral. Therefore, it isn't a surprise that the credit gap of India is 330 billion dollars. Considering these factors, Digital Lending comes across as the most viable and suitable method to provide easy access to credit to the underserved and underbanked rural population.
Digital lending uses technologies like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to eliminate time-consuming processes involved in traditional lending. It makes loan disbursal quicker and easier and compensates for the lack of banking services in rural India.
Recently, Spice Money has taken a step forward in this direction by partnering with Tarya, Israel's leading fintech company, to launch a community-based lend-tech platform for rural India. We believe this will go a long way in empowering our brothers and sisters in rural India with financial inclusion and financial freedom.


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The date was suggested in a tweet by established tipster @ihacktu, along with a tip about a second event on October 27 for new iPad Pros, new Macs running Apple Silicon, and maybe even the long-rumored Apple Glass augmented reality specs.
As AppleInsider points out, the @ihacktu Twitter account does have a reasonable track record in predictions, and the September 8 date does match Apple's schedule for past years – so while this is still very much unconfirmed, it is at least plausible.
These dates do fit in rather well with other predictions from other sources too. There have previously been hints from insiders that the Apple Glass device would be announced alongside the iPhone, though it's unlikely that the specs would actually go on sale in 2020.
Apple Special Events September 8 (online)iPhones,Apple Watch,AirPower,iPadOctober 27iPad Pro, Apple Silicon Macs (MacBook,MacBook Pro13”),(unless online Apple Glass)#Apple #event #ios #iPhone12 #AIRPOWER #iPad #macbook pic.twitter.com/QXIkvNSRY2July 24, 2020
Cast your mind back and you'll remember that the iPhone 11 handsets were unveiled on September 10 – a Tuesday, just like September 8. Apple likes to keep to the same routine every year, so September 8 would make a lot of sense from that perspective.
The last few Apple Watch devices have launched in September too, giving us another reason to think that Apple will want to show off its new 2020 product line at the usual time of year and ahead of the holiday season sales rush.
All that said, we know that the global pandemic we're living through has had a serious impact on technology supply chains and manufacturing. We've heard time and time again that the iPhone 12 won't be available in September – though of course there's nothing to stop Apple announcing it several weeks before sales start.
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We're going to have to wait and see what sort of schedule Apple eventually decides on, but if this rumor turns out to be true, there's going to be a lot of exciting new Apple hardware to take a look at in September and October.
Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.


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I think these 2 S&P 500 stocks are highly overvalued
The S&P 500 has soared since the stock market crash last year. This saw the index hit record highs and raised fears that it was in a bubble. As such, while I think there are plenty of opportunities left with US stocks, I am also concerned that many stocks in the S&P 500 are now fundamentally overvalued. These include the following two companies.
The electric power station of the VE
You’re here (NASDAQ: TSLA) has transformed the auto industry in recent years, becoming the world leader in electric vehicles. This has seen revenues grow from $ 7 billion in 2016 to over $ 31 billion last year. It was also successful in achieving profitability, posting net income of $ 721 million last year. In addition, as electric vehicles become more and more mainstream, revenues and profits are expected to continue to increase.
But as earnings have skyrocketed, so has the share price. In fact, in 2016 the Tesla share price was only $ 40, compared to $ 770 now. This is an increase of 1,825%, a figure well above the growth in revenues. This leads me to believe that, like several other stocks in the S&P 500, Tesla is overvalued.
One of the reasons I think Tesla is now overpriced is due to the increasing competition. For example, many traditional automobile companies, such as Volkswagen and Daimler, are now switching to electric vehicles. These companies have significantly larger revenues and profits, but much lower market caps than Tesla. As such, I think these companies are very capable of taking market share from Tesla. New electric vehicle companies, such as Lucid engines, also aim to challenge Tesla. Therefore, even if the market for electric vehicles is expected to become much larger, this growing competition is a risk that cannot be ignored.
Tesla’s valuation is also high. In fact, using his 2020 earnings, he has a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,203. While earnings are expected to increase significantly over the next few years, it still indicates that Tesla may be overvalued. For this reason, I am leaving Tesla shares aside for now.
Newly added S&P 500 stock
Since making his vaccine, the Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) The stock price soared, hitting highs of $ 490. Yet at its current price of $ 430, I still think this S&P 500 stock is overvalued.
As per its latest business update, the valuation of Moderna shares is actually not too high. In fact, he managed to achieve revenue of $ 4.3 billion, while net income reached $ 2.8 billion. This can be contrasted with a loss of $ 117 million in the same quarter last year. This shows the success of the vaccine. This also means Moderna has a forward P / E ratio of just 20 which is very good value for pharmaceutical action.
So why do I think Moderna stocks are overvalued? Well, the vaccine is the company’s only commercially approved product, and demand for it is likely to start to decline in the long term. This means that such a high share price is highly dependent on commercial approval of other products, such as its HIV vaccine. If this does not happen, the Moderna share price could collapse. Therefore, I think stocks are overvalued and I stay away. I rather prefer the shares of the FTSE 100.
Stuart Blair has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares and has recommended Tesla and Volkswagen AG. The Motley Fool UK recommended Moderna Inc. The opinions expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the author and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro . Here at The Motley Fool, we believe that considering a wide range of ideas makes we are better investors.


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Blog: Levi Strauss weighs up water savings
Leonie Barrie | 20 March 2014
Levi Strauss has added up its global water savings for World Water Day
Updated figures from Levi Strauss & Co suggest production of its Water<Less jeans - which use 96% less water in the finishing process - has so far saved a staggering 770m litres of water.
To put it into context, that's the equivalent of drinking water for the whole of New York City or London for over a month, 308 Olympic swimming pools, 3 billion 8-ounce glasses of water, 4.5 million bathtubs, or 25 million average-length showers.
The company launched the Water<Less jeans back in 2011, and such is their success that it will maker another 9m units in spring 2014 alone - saving another 71m litres of water.
Levi's also points out that the production of its jeans is just the start of the conservation process, suggesting that consumers would save another 14 litres of water by washing their jeans once every two weeks, instead of once a week. That's five days of drinking water for one person.
Last month Levi's said it has developed a technology that uses 100% recycled water in the finishing process - and has so far produced 100,000 pairs of women's jeans using the new system, which it also plans to roll out at its supplier factories worldwide.
The figures were released ahead of the UN's annual World Water Day on 22 March, which is this year focusing on water and energy.
An estimated 100-150 litres of water is needed to process one kilogram of textiles, putting pressure on the industry to adopt advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies, as well as reduce overall water footprint.
Increasing competition for garment sourcing contracts is seeing China not only being challenged by other countries in Asia, but by sub-Saharan African and even Russian suppliers too. And it is pushing...
The monthly minimum wage for workers in Cambodia's textile, garment and footwear sector is set to rise to $153 from January next year, following a vote on the issue last week. The increase marks a ris...
The results of two highly-anticipated initiatives in the sportswear sphere were revealed last week: the launch of Under Armour’s new UAS lifestyle brand and the first pair of running shoes created at ...
The recent bankruptcy of South Korea's Hanjin Shipping, the world's seventh-largest container shipper, at the end of August, has left billions of dollars worth of merchandise in limbo, leaving the fal...
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- Apparel (GLOBAL) - Industry Report
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- President Joe Biden signed an executive order to advance U.S. biotechnology and biomanufacturing by making it a priority for research and innovation in a variety of fields, including food. White House officials said federal investments will be made into the space, according to a transcript of a call with media.
- The initiative is framed as a way to help the U.S. be dominant in the space, but also to be more competitive on a global scale, enhance national security and grow the economy. According to the executive order, it will improve and expand biomanufacturing production capacity and process, train a biotech workforce, expand market opportunities for these products and streamline regulation.
- While biotech in general is often associated with medicine, pharmaceuticals and energy, it plays a significant role in the food business. Genetically modified food is made through bioengineering, and biotech powers precision fermentation.
The food industry only gets a passing mention in the executive order and background information about this new initiative. However, biotechnology is a busy area of food tech, and many companies with their eyes on the future may be able to benefit from the new government attention to the area.
Food that is made through bioengineering has received the federal government’s stamp of approval for years. In the food industry, “bioengineered” and “biotechnology” refer to food that was produced through modifications of an organism’s DNA. The federal law that mandates some GMO food and drink items to be labeled calls them “bioengineered.” The FDA approved the first genetically engineered crops nearly 30 years ago with the Rainbow papaya — created with an immunity to a virus that threatened to decimate the crop — and Flavr Savr tomato.
Today, according to the USDA, more than 90% of U.S. corn and soybeans are produced using genetically modified varieties. There are also three genetically modified food animals that have been approved for human consumption: AquAdvantage salmon, GalSafe pork and slick coat cattle.
Biotechnology is also taking on new forms in food. Some companies are using precision fermentation to create things like dairy and egg protein without animals. In precision fermentation, the genes of yeasts or other simple organisms are modified so that they produce something else when fermented. Perfect Day uses precision fermentation to make animal-free whey protein, which has been used in ice cream, cream cheese, chocolate and milk.
The Every Company uses precision fermentation to make egg proteins, which have been used as a nutrition enhancer in smoothies and for functional egg white uses in macarons. Precision fermentation is also being used to create more accessible versions of rare natural sweeteners, better fats and animal-free heme protein to enhance plant-based meat.
Using biotechnology in food has always been controversial. Advocacy groups and concerned consumers have called attention to genetically modified food for years, even though many scientists agree the products are safe to consume. The Non-GMO Project created a seal for products that meet stringent requirements avoiding anything genetically modified in their supply chain, and the group has recently been calling attention to the precision-fermentation-enabled animal-free dairy products available to consumers.
But many experts have said that using bioengineering for food is necessary to create a sustainable food supply for the future. This executive order applies to many useful facets of biotechnology, and it means that for now, the federal government is also endorsing the use of biotech to help feed the world.


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Vitals, the Lyndhurst-based health care shopping technology company, has formed a new division focused on health care data analytics, it announced Tuesday.
The new unit, Vitals 360, will focus on developing and advancing data, quality and predictive analytics technologies to expand Vitals’ cost and engagement solutions, and create new capabilities enabling health plans to execute strategies more effectively and efficiently, the company said in a news release.
Vitals 360 is designed to help health plans with rates, providers, member shopping and more.
“The establishment of the Vitals 360 division expands Vitals’ position as a leader in cost transparency and engagement,” CEO and President Heyward Donigan said in a prepared statement. “We are setting the standard for innovative consumer engagement programs, fueled by data and analytics.”
Chris Henderson, a former health plan executive and entrepreneur, has been named president of the division.
“This is an important strategic step for Vitals,” he said in a statement. “I’m excited to lead this new division and expand our business into areas that provide substantial new value to health plans, employers and consumers.”


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Motorola has started to tease one of its toughest smartphone ever build for its India launch which is the Motorola Moto X Force. Motorola has posted a new video on its official India YouTube channel as well as a couple of tweets saying “Moto X Force Coming Soon”.
Moto X Force was launched back in October 2014 in US with the name of Motorola Droid Turbo 2. The underlining feature of this handset is its shatterproof display and Motorola is offering a 4 year warrant against any damages with respect to its display. It comes with 5.4 inch Quad-HD display with ShatterShield technology and it runs on Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) operating system.
— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) January 18, 2016
This handset is powered by a 2.0GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Octa-Core processor parried with Adreno 430 GPU and it is having 3GB of DDR4 RAM. It has a 21 Megapixel rear camera with F/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, 4x digital zoom and it can also record 4K videos, whereas on the front side it is having a 5 Megapixel selfie shooter.
Another notable feature of this phone is its huge 3,760 mAh battery which is capable of providing 13 hours of standby time by just charging it for 15 mins and it also supports wireless charging.
Motorola has not announced any specific dates for the launch of this handset but it is expected to launch by the end of this month and prices will be announced at time of launch.
Motorola Moto X Force Key Specifications
5.4 inch AMOLED Quad-HD Display
2.0GHz Octa-Core processor
3GB DDR4 RAM, 32GB / 64GB Internal Memory, MicroSD Card up-to (2TB)
21MP Rear PDAF / 5MP Front Cameras
Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) OS
Single SIM, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack.
3,760 mAh battery with wireless and Qi charging.
Stay tuned for more upcoming tech updates at TechGadget360.com.


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Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) taking place online June 7-11. It’s just over three weeks away. So what do we expect?
It’s interesting how little we think we know this year, but don’t let despair fool you. It could be a year where Apple lays the foundations for the next wave of new product launches.
Similarly, when Apple is silent, I am curious.
Migration state: The Mac
Apple recently introduced the new iMac. They are racing to be on top of speed charts, which delivers 37% gains in comparison to the Intel Core i7 and i9 models, making it a nemesis for HP and a good proposition for any enterprise looking to invest in new desktops.
But all is lost in mobile this season, so WWDC 2021 could see the introduction of a larger MacBook Pro running an M1 (or M2) chip? Perhaps Apple is also planning a larger iMac that runs on the chip? And how is a new display?
Since this announcement will follow just a year since the transition from rumor to reality, there’s a definite blow to making that case-and a chance to update developers on the progress towards the Mac Pro.
While iOS 15 will not launch until September, Apple will give us a first look at it and all of its operating systems at WWDC 2021. We highlight think about it we know about now with improved, contextually sensitive notifications that respond to what you’re doing (sleeping, driving, working).
There’s a claim that iOS on iPhones and iPads will allow us to set automatic messages for different times of the day, and there’s a small speculative Apple plan to give iMessage an update feature to replace WhatsApp. (That won’t really succeed until it becomes a cross-platform app.)
I want Stocks to be truly profitable, with the ability to access small investments directly from within the app, and I look forward to more insight into internal mapping and Maps.
New privacy tools are easy to guess, specifically a tracking solution that will tell you which apps are collecting and / or sharing your user data. This information can help consumers name and embarrass any app developer who hasn’t been completely clear about their privacy practices. And I think implementation of those policies will also come.
I also look forward to news around HomeKit and support for Things, which opens up some of the big problems around IoT at home, and everywhere.
Finally, the most predictable news is likely to have to do with new domains and capabilities in ARKit (and an outsider’s cut of wild speculation, a gut feeling of useful improvements to iCloud Drive to better support remote working).
With speculation widget support across the Home screen, and recent reports that Zoom works with a private Apple API hint improvement in collaboration with FaceTime / video from Apple devices. Finally, there’s a hubbub of speculation that iPads could see enhanced multitasking added to the mix, given that now run the same chip you find inside the Mac.
Making macOS work more effectively and efficiently on M-series chips (and between all devices) will be the focus of this year’s release. You’ll also find improved support for iOS apps, but I think the highlight will be creative and professional apps, testimonials from key developers, and perhaps some other surprises. (I would love to hear Microsoft announce that it will make Windows 10 available for M1 Macs by Parallels, for example.) We don’t know much now.
New watch faces and additional Complications seem inevitable and we will see more and improved integration with Fitness +. We can also be told about swim tracking in the Fitness app and (perhaps) a non -invasive glucose tracking is coming to the Health app. We will almost certainly know more about recent study regarding watches and heart health and COVID.
Apple has millions of TV + viewers using free subscriptions, which will end in July, so it knows it must make some promises and deliver on some changes to convince them to stay on the service. once it starts charging again. That will be taken in a combination of content with moderation and improvements to the service itself.
We know Apple is looking at it, just from recent changes to the Apple TV hardware (with new remote). Now it makes sense to expect a redesign of the app, and useful tools like kids mode, parental controls, and screen time management.
What will be interesting is how many of any of those enhancements are also available on third-party devices running the TV app. Will Apple’s development be any different here? And what about iTunes for Windows?
Granted recently haka-haka Apple plans to update AirPods and introduce Apple Music Hi-Fi soon, the news of AirPods will be about the software. I expect significant software fixes to AirPods designed with hearing health and the mind is accessible.
One more thing
I couldn’t help but be a little curious that in the weeks before the developer event, very little was known about Apple’s software plans. The reason I’m interested in this is that we usually have a little clue close to the event, so the fact that we don’t have that suggests one of two things:
- Apple doesn’t plan to announce anything of interest (probably).
- The entire software team is engaged in a highly secretive project.
I’m not entirely sure which option to believe, but included Apple Car at Apple Glass both very hyped and reports of processor shortages across the industry, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a sneaky train going down the track.
I’ve been passionate about hype back then, so I won’t be deterred. But I wonder why the software rumor mill has grown so quietly ….
How to watch the show
Apple’s WWDC 2021 keynote is available online and via the TV app. Developers interact through the app Developer on Macs, iPhones, and iPads, where they can find keynotes and developer sessions, new information and access to labs and more.
Copyright © 2021 IDG Communication, Inc.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of knews.uk and knews.uk does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.


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Home Tags Walmart asset protection policy
Tag: walmart asset protection policy
Retailers also need a post-incident management game plan for when the waters recede and the immediate threat is squelched. Is your retail organization ready for the “Then what?”
LP names you need to know this month!
LP pride! Check out the 26 individuals who are making big industry moves this month.
LP pride! Check out the 44 individuals who are making big industry moves this month.
Huge congrats to these LP professionals on their recent career moves.
The crime of shoplifting is as old as shopping itself. The first documented cases of shoplifting took place in 16th-century London and involved groups of men called “lifters” (early organized retail crime?).
While the new “anti-establishment” world is rejecting globalization, will retail CCTV technology integration provide the panacea to retail risks?
In the highly competitive retail sector, ensuring that the right product is on the right shelf at the right time is critical. Yet the problem of shelf out-of-stocks (OOS) remains as stubborn as ever. Could the LP team be the key to unlocking this new sales opportunity?
Contemporary loss prevention professionals still maintain responsibility for retail security. But they also must handle employee theft issues, data protection, safety and risk management, inventory audits, legal compliance, and matters related to organized retail crime and fraud.
The number of security guards directly hired by retailers is expected to decline by 2.8 percent between 2014 and 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational outlook.


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Top Speed: 200mph
0 - 62mph: 3.6 seconds
Engine Size: 4-litre Twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From £150,000
Get ready – Italian manufacturers Lamborghini have now launched a 'Super SUV' called the Urus.
For more than 50 years, Lamborghini have been making luxury sports cars, such as the Gallardo and Aventador. But now, they've turned their attention to the large family market, creating what they call an 'off-road family vehicle'.
The Urus is a 4-litre twin-turbocharged jeep with an astonishing 641 Horsepower. It can race from 0-63mph in 3.6 seconds, and continue to a top speed of 200mph.
Following in the footsteps (or tyre tracks?) of Porsche and Jaguar, this move brings the Lamborghini brand to a whole new market.
Unlike most of their cars, Lamborghini say the Urus can be used as an everyday family vehicle, and not just as a luxury super car. As comfortable on a mountain as it is on a track, the Urus is also family-friendly – coming with a boot bigger than that of a Skoda Octavia.
Good news: if you order one today, it should arrive around March. Bad news: you need to find £150,000 first!


text: An emergency meeting was held by the top executives of the technology giant Samsung Electronics Co. and its members on Monday to discussion on the measures for guarding against risks associated with the tighter export regulations by Japan, firm’s officials stated. The de-facto head of the tech giant of South Korea, Lee Jae-Yong, assembled the gathering with chiefs of display and semiconductor divisions, as well as, Chief Executive Officers of its affiliates, inclusive of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co, the electronics component maker, as well as, Samsung SDI Co., which is a battery-making unit, an official of firm stated. Lee has also planned to visit the factories of the tech giant and its affiliates beginning from Tuesday, inclusive of various other semiconductor assembly lines, their fabrication lines and display panel factory, the official told. The Samsung Official who wanted his identity to be kept anonymous, stated that it is expected that Lee will check the entire whole value chain of the displays and semiconductors as a part of effort of dealing with the latest emergency situation. The Vice Chairman of Samsung ‘Lee Jae-Yong’ arrived at an International Airport in Seoul on 12th of July, from his visit to Japan amidst the Tokyo’s export curbs on crucial materials for display and chip making. Appearance of Lee on the front line comes as the giant smartphone and memory chip maker of the world could be the main target if the scope of export controls by Japan stricken beyond materials for displays and chips to televisions, smartphones, and other various other consumer electronics. In the previous week, South Korea was removed by Japan from its so-called whitelist of trustworthy trade allies in its 2nd retaliatory step over a spat surrounding wartime forced labor, following a measure of restricting exports of crucial materials used in display and semiconductor production.


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He Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is already available in the United States on T-Mobile, Sprint and Samsung. This low-priced 5G phone hit the market this Monday, June 15, and later this summer it will be available on AT&T and Verizon. The phone costs $ 600 and has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O Display.
Samsung announced the Galaxy A71 5G in April, saying the phone would come with four rear cameras, including a 64-megapixel primary, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle, a 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. . It also has an internal storage of 128GB, 6GB of RAM, a 4,500 mAh battery, as well as microSD slots and the option to increase the memory to 1TB.
Samsung has six phones in its A line: four 4G phones and two 5G phones. The base model Galaxy A01 costs $ 110. There is a 4G version of the A71, and 4G and 5G models of the A51.


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UAE: Pure London launches Dubai fashion event
By just-style.com | 13 August 2010
Trade fashion event Pure London has joined forces with French trade show Who's Next and Premiere Classe to host a buying event in Dubai.
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Global Perspective: Support for small and medium-sized enterprises increasingly recognised as key to sustainable growth
10 Jun 2019
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engines of global economic growth and employment, accounting for, on average, 33% of GDP and 45% of the workforce in high-income countries, and over 60% of GDP and 70% of employment in developing economies. In the case of the latter, the rise in the number of SMEs has been crucial to economic diversification and resilience, particularly in countries vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations.
By creating employment opportunities for traditionally economically marginalised groups, such as women, migrants, youths and minorities, SMEs have also been credited with democratising the labour market and driving more inclusive economic growth. In recent years, SMEs have also been at the crest of innovation, taking advantage of their smaller size and agility relative to larger firms to respond more rapidly to technological or commercial opportunities in areas such as biotech and renewable energy.
However, SMEs still face numerous obstacles which often limit their scope for growth and undermine their long-term sustainability — from a disproportionately high tax burden, to skills gaps and credit and trade barriers. As such, SMEs are particularly susceptible to adverse market conditions.
In 2018 governments around the world sought to address these structural issues by enacting regulatory changes, promoting knowledge sharing, and creating funding mechanisms to unlock the full growth potential of SMEs.


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According to The New York Times, the social network Facebook for 10 years passed personal user data 60 smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Amazon.
In addition to personal information users have leaked the data and their friends, including political and religious views, and relationship status. Did not save even the explicit prohibition in the privacy settings. Now Facebook refuses to agreements with manufacturers of mobile devices.
According to the Vice-President Facebook Has Archibong, partners of the social network could not obtain user information without their consent, and all agreements are made in accordance with the rules of the Federal trade Commission of the United States.
The scandal with the leak of user information is not the first in the history of Facebook: the beginning of 2018, it became known that the service gave access to data from research firm Cambridge Analytica, which used them for the presidential campaign of Donald trump.
The New York Times


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Five New Android Tablets Coming Soon
When critics were calling iPad nothing more than a bigger iPhone with little potential of mass acceptance, they should have known better. Tablets are proving to be the most rapidly adopted consumer electronics today. Worldwide tablet sales exceeded 112 million units in 2012, and another 145 million are forecast to be shipped in 2013. While the iPad dominated the tablet market in 2012, Android wasn’t far behind. Google, Samsung, Amazon and others introduced solid Android tablets which quickly gained traction in the market.
With the differentiation between the iPad and Android tablets diminishing fast, 2013 will see a rush of Android tablets for which demand already exists. Let’s take a look at the Android stunners coming your way.
LG Nexus 7.7
Google combined its software capabilities with solid hardware from ASUS to roll out the Nexus 7” slate in November 2012. Google ASUS Nexus 7 has already overtaken iPad3 sales in Japan. Meanwhile, Google has teamed up with LG for the manufacture of Nexus 7.7. The two tech titans collaborated in the making of Nexus 4, another repeatedly sold-out Android gadget from Google. Nexus 7.7 is expected to be slightly bigger and a lot better. Rumors speculate about a 1920×1200 pixels resolution at 224 ppi running on a Tegra 4 processor. LG Nexus 7.7 is expected to be in stores by May 2013.
Vizio 10 Inch Tablet
In 2012, buyers warmly greeted low cost Android tablets packed with some impressive specs (like Nexus and Fire HD). The trend for sweetly priced, capable tablets is only going to get stronger in 2013. Taking the cue, Vizio has already unveiled a sleek 10 inch tablet at CES 2013. Vizio 10” Tab drives on Jelly Bean and packs 2560×1600 pixels in its 10” HD display. The price point is expected to be quite low, although Vizio is keeping it undercover for now, along with the release date.
Sony Xperia Z Tablet
Sony has made its presence felt at CES 2013 with Xperia Z smartphones. What it has not shown us is the 10.1” Xperia Z tablet that’s already cooked and ready to serve. A leaked video shows the 10 inch Xperia Z tablet in flesh and bones. Expect to see it at MWC 2013 next month. Xperia Z leaked specs include a 10.1 inch display, a 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 32GB hard and 4G LTE. Hopefully, Sony is spicing it up with everything that a 2013 tablet is required to sport, including a few gimmicks.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
How can we forget the largest selling Android brand? Samsung is morphing its 10.1” Galaxy Note with 5.5” Galaxy Note 2 to bring us Galaxy Note 8. Samsung has already confirmed it would be bringing this beauty to MWC this February. So, if Note 10.1” was too cumbersome and Note 2 too tiny, with Note 8 you can’t complain anymore. The misty specs appear to include a 1.6 GHz quad-core chip and an 8” 1280x800p display.
Google Nexus 10 – 2
Nexus 10 completely sold-out on Google Play when it was launched in November 2012. Nexus 10-2 is the tweaked and improved version rumored to have a new 8-core T678 graphic processor and a better outdoor display visibility. Nexus 10 2 is likely to be there at MWC 2013 in Barcelona next month.
Stay tuned as we bring you first hand reviews for these and more tablets as soon as the covers are removed.


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During the past few months, many fast-food restaurants and even entire cities have pledged to ban plastic straws.
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Now an accelerator for author-preneurs!
If you thought it is the quality of writing that makes or breaks a book, then you are living in a different era. In today’s world, authors create animated video trailers to accompany book launches like Amish Tripathi did with his new book, 'Scion of Ikshvaku'.
Authors need to think of their book as a product and plan marketing, sales and figure out RoI. It sounds a lot like starting up, doesn’t it?
Just like there are accelerators for early-stage startups, there is now one for authors. Chennai-based Notion Press, a startup that helps writers self-publish, has launched what it calls the world’s first accelerator for books.
Chetan Bhagat and Amish Tripathi are author-preneurs. Authors need to think like entrepreneurs. That is why an accelerator programme works for them,
says Naveen Valsakumar, who founded Notion Press in 2012 as an online platform for authors to write, and designs books for free. Authors can also get professional help for editing, designing the layout and book cover and even for marketing through paid packages of about Rs 25,000 to Rs 90,000.
Naveen realised there was a need for an accelerator programme as he saw authors making wrong decisions. “In self-publishing, the author has complete control. Sometimes the author might make the wrong decision,” says Naveen. He gives the example of an author Notion Press has just picked for the accelerator programme. “He had positioned his book on Goods and Services Tax as an academic book, but we are re-positioning it as a ‘how to’ for businesses. These are the type of inputs we can provide through the accelerator,” says Naveen.
The company has set aside Rs 50 lakh for 50 selected books for the three-month-programme. The authors can use the Rs 1 lakh each for marketing their books. However, it is not just monetary support that Notion Press provides. The selected author, whose book should have sold at least 300 copies and got at least 30 positive reviews through the author’s efforts, will get mentorship. The mentors, who are drawn from the publishing industry, will help set up an author platform and increase the visibility of the book. Notion Press takes 30% of net profit in return for the support. Apart from this, Notion Press will consider offering a traditional publishing contract or pitch the book to other.
Notion Press is among over half-a-dozen of self-publishing platforms like Cinnamon Teal, Pothi, and Zorba Books that are now offering their services to Indian authors. It is not just in self-publishing that we are seeing the emergence of new startups. The (Great) Indian Poetry Collective is aimed at reviving poetry while startups like PaperTrell are disrupting digital reading experience through technology.
There are definitely more options for authors today. However, it is a sad fact that publishing is under stress in general and marketing has become as important as ‘the writing’. For every Amish and Chetan, there are thousands of failed authors. It will be interesting to see how these new formats can help authors be self-reliant.


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Kura Sushi USA, the 21-unit chain of revolving sushi bars, plans to raise $58 million in an initial public offering, the company revealed in federal securities filings last week.
It would be the first traditional IPO in the restaurant industry since 2015 and would also be one of its smallest: The company generated $52 million in sales in its last full fiscal year, when its adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, was $4.5 million.
But the company has the backing of its Japanese parent and believes that its unique, technology-infused offering will resonate with consumers to help it grow quickly.
Kura Japan is a 35-year-old chain with more than 400 units worldwide. It established its U.S. subsidiary in 2008 and then opened its first location in Irvine, Calif., the next year. The chain has grown steadily since.
Kura Sushi operates locations in California, Texas, Georgia and Illinois, and the company believes it has the ability to operate more than 290 locations in the U.S., according to a filing.
Kura expects to grow unit count by 20% per year over the next five years. The chain was included in the Restaurant Business Future 50 list last year.
The company uses technology throughout to increase efficiency and lower costs, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. It uses conveyor belts to serve sushi to customers. In the kitchens, it has automated equipment, sushi robots, robotic arms, RFID readers and food replenishment algorithms to reduce labor and food costs.
Kura boasts average unit volumes of about $3.5 million and says that its same-store sales have risen 10 of the past 11 quarters. The company’s menu features 140 dishes, the majority of which are priced below $3.
Average check was $19.14 in the first nine months of Kura’s 2019 fiscal year.
Revenues in the first nine months of the company’s current fiscal year ended May 31 were up 23%, to $45.5 million. Operating income and net income were both down, however.
Same-store sales were up 4.9% in the first nine months, while restaurant-level profit margin increased slightly, to 19.2% of sales, according to SEC filings.
A restaurant company has not had a traditional IPO since Wingstop and Fogo de Chao both went public in June 2015.
A few companies, however, have gone public using other means, including small-scale mini IPOs, as Fat Brands did in late 2017, or reverse mergers, a mechanism Chuck E. Cheese’s parent CEC Entertainment is currently using.
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Small to medium-sized businesses taking out leases on commercial and industrial premises are now being offered the added incentive of being rewarded with Airpoints Dollars™ as part of Air New Zealand’s Airpoints™ for Business programme.
Bayleys Real Estate is the exclusive full service real estate partner of Air New Zealand Airpoints. In a first for the commercial property sector, tenants which lease commercial and industrial property through Bayleys will receive Airpoints Dollars where landlords have agreed to participate in the programme.
To qualify, lessees simply need an Airpoints for Business account, which is free to set up. Tenants can earn one Airpoints Dollar for every one square metre of premises leased - up to a maximum of 1,000 square metres per lease transaction.
Airpoints Dollars are directly allocated to the tenant company’s Airpoints for Business account. They can be redeemed not only for domestic and international flights but also for a range of products including Koru Club membership, hotel bookings and car rentals.
Vendors selling their personal property through Bayleys Real Estate have had the ability to earn Airpoints Dollars through the Airpoints programme since April 2015.
Bayleys’ Auckland office and retail leasing director Lloyd Budd said it was a natural progression to now roll out the Airpoints for Business initiative to the tenant component of the commercial and industrial real estate markets.
“Our exciting leasing partnership with Airpoints for Business is another way Bayleys adds value to a property transaction – enabling small to medium-sized corporate and business clients to achieve greater value from their leasing contract, for conducting a transaction they would have undertaken anyway,” Budd says.
“This partnership is a New Zealand first. There are no other real estate agencies offering this type of incentive to tenants seeking new premises. And it’s an incentive which can be added to any other inducements being offered by landlords – such as ‘rent-free’ periods or fit-outs.
“Incentive and loyalty programmes are a growing trend in New Zealand’s commercial and corporate sectors – ranging from fuel cards and stationery suppliers which were some of the first off the block, now through to electricity retailers, banks, and telco’ providers,” Budd says.
“When combined and accounted for, the value accumulation derived from various corporate loyalty and incentive programmes can amount to several thousand dollars annually. That’s an important consideration for many small to medium-sized businesses looking to maximise their bottom line performance.”
Budd says the initiative has been well received by landlords and a significant number of properties Bayleys has available for lease are now already part of the Airpoints programme. “We are expecting this to increase further as tenants looking to.lease become more aware of the scheme and enter the market over the next few months.”
Properties Bayleys has available for lease range from small retail and office premises through to substantial warehousing and industrial buildings of several thousand square metres. The agency’s largest commercial leasing transaction over the past year has been the rehousing of multi-media company NZME into approximately 8300 sq m of purpose-built office premises developed by Mansons TCLM at 151 Victoria Street West in Auckland’s CBD.
However, Budd says most leases concluded in the commercial property sector are for less than 1000 sq m. “While it’s the bigger companies which tend to grab the headlines, small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make up the vast majority of businesses in New Zealand and are a crucial component of our economy. This Airpoints for Business initiative is targetted at them and is further recognition of the very important contribution they make to the success of NZ Inc.”
Budd says the initiative has been well received by landlords and is being launched at a time when the commercial property leasing market is the most active it’s been for many years. “High levels of leasing transactions are being recorded right around the country which is good signthat the national economy is humming along quite nicely at present.”


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Global solar panels market on 15.3% growth track
BUSINESS| Aug. 21, 2012, 9:26 a.m.
Analysts at Infiniti Research forecast that the global solar panels market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 15.3% over the period 2011-2015.
One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is functional and technological advancement. The Global Solar Panels market has also been witnessing the entry of new competitors with competitive advantages. However, the seasonal fluctuation of solar power availability could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.
According to a report titled Global Solar Panels Market 2011-2015, the progression of technology in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry is driving the growth of the Global Solar Panels market.
Commenting on the report, an analyst from Infiniti said: "The increase in R&D was another major prevailing trend in the global solar panels market. In addition to reduction in policies, there were also favourable policies and procedures that existed for boosting the global solar panels market."
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Some of the Asia’s weakest airlines are most exposed to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which has caused demand for air travel to China dwindle over the last two weeks.
According to Qantas' chief executive, it is now a case of 'survival of the fittest'.
The outbreak has so far caused more than 200 deaths and has seen airlines from around the world forced to suspend services to China because of a drop in demand and because of global efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.
Major airlines in Asia, Europe and the US, including British Airways and United Airlines, have suspended numerous services to mainland China. In the Middle East, Etihad Airways has also suspended some services because of low travel demand.
While profits of large international carriers in the Middle East, Europe and Asia may be dented by the coronavirus fallout, it is Asia-Pacific’s airlines, which are more reliant on the Chinese market, that are bearing the brunt.
Experts believe the coronavirus could impact airlines more heavily than the SARS epidemic of 2003, which saw air traffic among Asia-Pacific carriers nosedive by 45% in April of that year.
Carriers in the region lost $6 billion in revenue and 8% of their passenger traffic in 2003, according to IATA’s data. And Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific suffered a $155 million loss in the first-half of 2003.
Since then, Asia-Pacific has seen the launch of a raft of budget carriers and capacity has soared, often quicker than demand.
The recent fall in traffic combined with the ongoing US-China trade war mean Asia-Pacific’s low-cost carriers, which rely on leisure travel, are particularly at risk now, according to Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas.
In an interview with Bloomberg, he said: “A lot of airlines may not be able to keep some of these operations going. It’s survival of the fittest.”
“A lot of them have huge growth and not much profitability. Things like this can have an impact on these models.”
According to Joyce, Qantas is prepared to cut its international capacity by 20% in response to the drop in demand caused by coronavirus, which could cost it tens of millions of dollars.
Most of Qantas’ business relies on a healthy domestic market, although Australian airspace was disrupted recently amid nationwide wild fires.
Data compiled by Bloomberg shows that 19 of 51 listed Asian airlines are unprofitable and most have profit margins below 10%.
Airlines still operating flights to China despite the virus spread are taking measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Cathay Pacific will no longer provide hot towels, pillows, blankets and magazines to passengers on some flights, it said.
Meanwhile, Thai Airways’ cabin crew will wear masks and gloves on certain flights and all aircraft returning from mainland China will be disinfected.


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We’re excited to share that SuitePad has been named 2023’s number-one In-Room Tablet by Hotel Tech Report.
Matthew Stephens talks to Adam Gillespie, Founder of BroadView IP about the future of in-room entertainment in the streaming services era.
A new white paper reveals critical research about what hoteliers and guests deem important in a hotel’s in-room entertainment offerings, specifically relating to the guestroom TV experience. (Note: hoteliers and guests value IRE services differently. )
In addition, Bittel will showcase its full line of hospitality products, including introducing a few new members to the UNO Media family.
The solution has been deployed throughout 1200 rooms in Helsinki, providing guests with a “better than home” entertainment experience.
Wyndham Rewards is playing the in-room content game with the launch of “Have Points, Will Travel,” its own sitcom for hotel guests.
Marriott plans to expand Netflix to 100 of its properties by the end of 2015, and to nearly all of its more than 300 properties in the U.S. by the end of 2016.


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Graphics engines are an ever-evolving part of the gaming industry, as companies like DICE and Epic Games are always looking to build on their respective engines so that, in turn, other developers can bring graphics to life. their games. Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5, in particular, looks set to become one of the industry’s go-to graphics engines now that it’s out in the wild. With that in mind, armament of war developer Coalition gave gamers a quick look at what future games running on the latest Unreal Engine might look like.
The Coalition, formerly known as Black Tusk Studios, is a Canadian-based developer and is currently part of Xbox Games Studios, one of several studios creating games exclusively for Xbox platforms. He is best known for his work on armament of war series, effectively taking over development of the series from Epic Games after Microsoft acquired the rights to the series in 2014. While his first work on the series was in 2015 Gears of War: Ultimate Edition remaster, the studio’s first new entry in the main series was in 2016 Gears of War 42019 follow-up Speeds 5 and turn based tactical game of 2020, Gear Tactics.
Given its history with armament of war and former studio executives, such as Epic Games’ Rod Fergusson, The Coalition is well aware of the Unreal Engine’s capabilities. The studio emphasizes this familiarity with its new cinematic test demo, The caverunning in real time on Unreal Engine 5. In the description of the video, the studio highlights how the engine can render “cinematic quality elements” with extremely precise “graphical detail”, which the video gives a small preview of. taste.
The Coalition video is just the latest in a wave of studios releasing similar test videos or outright announcing new projects running on Epic Games’ latest graphics engine. One of the biggest announcements came from Polish developer CD Projekt Red, who confirmed the next entry in the witcher series will run on Unreal Engine 5. Crystal Dynamics was not far behind in announcing a new grave robber is in development, running on Unreal Engine 5, shortly before the engine is released to all developers.
As it concerns armament of warcorn, The cave is just a taste of what players can expect from the series in the future. the armament of war The series has long been a poster franchise for Unreal Engine, with Epic highlighting the engine’s progress via armament of war while still under Epic ownership. Although this is no longer the case, the Coalition’s experience and familiarity with the two armament of war and Unreal Engine means players can expect stunning visuals from Speeds 6every time the game becomes a reality.
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