text:
- US Inflation Jumps to Fresh 4-Decade High of 8.5% in March
The U.S. Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), a widely used metric to gauge rising costs of living, rose faster than expected in March to a four-decade high of 8.5% as supply-chain woes and the war in Ukraine pushed energy and food prices higher.
The headline CPI, which includes prices for all items basic for living such as food, housing, car, energy, consumer products, is now at its highest point since December 1981, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Analysts and economists had estimated an 8.4% inflation rate in March, according to the FactSet database.
Core inflation, which excludes seasonally volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.3% compared with the prior month, which was slower than the 0.5% expected by analysts.
The CPI report is closely followed by bitcoin (BTC) investors because the largest cryptocurrency by market value is seen as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation.
Investors had sold off risk assets such as stocks and cryptocurrencies amid fear that a spike in inflation would prompt the Federal Reserve to accelerate monetary tightening and rate hikes.
Bitcoin, which recently hit a record-high correlation with the Nasdaq 100 index, dipped below $40,000 Monday.
- Ethereum Developer Virgil Griffith Sentenced to 5+ Years in US Prison for Violating North Korean Sanctions
Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum developer, was sentenced to 63 months in prison Tuesday by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel in Manhattan.
Griffith pleaded guilty in September last year to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. However, in a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to seek no more than six and a half years.
The Ethereum developer was arrested in November 2019 in Los Angeles. He is charged with violating the IEEPA “by traveling to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) in order to deliver a presentation and technical advice on using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade sanctions,” the DOJ said.
The crypto enthusiast has been in federal custody since July last year following his second arrest when Judge Castel revoked his bail. According to the federal judge, a surge in the value of his cryptocurrency holdings gave him the means and incentive to flee. He was reportedly arrested when logging into his Coinbase account.
Inner City Press quoted Judge Castel as saying Tuesday: “Some says Mr. Griffith is being persecuted for promoting crypto. But that’s not what this case is about. He pled guilty the day before trial. It was an intentional violation of sanctions, which are intended to avoid military conflict.” The judge concluded:
Virgil Griffith has no ideology. He’ll play off both sides, as long as he is at the center. I sentence him to 63 months in prison and a fine of $100,000.
- Pantera Says It’s Raised $1.3 Billion for Blockchain Fund, Plans to Raise More in 2023
Thanks to inflation, $1 billion doesn’t go as far as it used to, especially in a crypto economy where $100 million raises occur with yawning regularity. Better, then, to collect $1.3 billion and keep going for more.
Pantera Capital, a venture capital firm focused on the crypto space, announced during an investor call today that it has raised $1.3 billion for its Blockchain Fund, which will invest in Web3 startups, early-stage tokens and digital tokens with established liquidity levels.
It’s not planning on holding onto that cash for long. Pantera plans on spinning up a sequel to the Blockchain Fund in 2023 and then exploring a growth-stage fund in 2024.
Pantera works by taking investor money, allocating it toward projects it finds promising, and delivering returns to investors in exchange for fees. Pantera’s initial goal for this fund, launched in June of last year, was $600 million. It joins four other funds: Venture, Bitcoin, Early-Stage Token, and Liquid Token. The firm is also planning a $200 million Select Fund, to be focused on “more mature, revenue-generating companies than our typical Seed and Series A venture investments.”
- Mastercard enters Metaverse with 15 NFT trademark applications
Financial services giant Mastercard has signaled its entry into the metaverse by filing 15 trademarks applications related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
According to one trademark application filed with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office, Mastercard intends to provide virtual payments in the metaverse, “and other virtual worlds.” In addition to a virtual version of its core services, further applications revealed Mastercard’s ambition to also host its customers in these virtual environments.
For instance, with trademark application #97346029, Mastercard seeks to provide “virtual environments in which users can interact for recreational, educational, networking, shopping, leisure or entertainment purposes,” in addition to, ”creating and hosting an on-line community for digital assets, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), metaverses and virtual worlds.”
Mastercard to create “online marketplace”
With the creation of these virtual spaces, Mastercard also wants to create an “online marketplace for buyers and sellers of downloadable digital goods and media authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs),” according to trademark application #97346112.
A comprehensive list of metaverse and NFT-related trademark applications filed by Mastercard was shared in a tweet by USPTO trademark attorney Mike Kondoudis. They also include trademarks for the Mastercard brand name, its “Priceless” tagline, and iconic circles logo in the virtual space.
Earlier this year, Mastercard teamed up with US cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to facilitate the purchasing of NFTs.
- Justin Bieber, Maria Sharapova, Snoop Dogg, Drake Invest $87 Million in Crypto Firm MoonPay
The crypto startup revealed that the investments are part of a Series A fundraiser, valued MoonPay at $3.4 billion. Ivan Soto-Wright – Chief Executive Officer at the company – expects content creators to increasingly use non-fungible tokens and engage with fans after the initiative. He further stated:
“MoonPay sees an entirely different format for the entertainment industry. My thought was: Let’s build a diversified portfolio of incredible people that represent different industries, and let’s talk about the use cases for their intellectual property.”
The total amount of the funding round stood at $555 million, as almost 16% of it came from celebrities. Some of the most famous names include the likes of Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, Maria Sharapova, Bruce Willis, Ashton Kutcher, Aubrey Drake Graham (Drake), Gwyneth Paltrow, Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd), and others.
It is worth noting that MoonPay is famous for interacting with renowned individuals as it often stands as a middleman for celebrity NFT deals. In January this year, it purchased a zombie-themed CryptoPunk for 900 ETH, worth approximately $3 million at the time.
Upon closing the transaction, MoonPay tweeted asking people to “guess” who the actual owner of the digital collectible was. Fan predictions ranged from popular NBA players to the renowned chef Gordon Ramsay.
- India’s Ethereum Scaling Project Polygon (MATIC) Pledges $20M To Tackle Climate Change
In a bid to turn environment friendly, Ethereum ETH/USD layer 2 scaling solution Polygon MATIC/USD pledged $20 million to fully offset the impact of its carbon footprints in 2022 as a part of its “Green Manifesto.”
The company said it is buying $400,000 worth of high-quality and traceable blockchain technology and MCO2 carbon credits, equivalent to roughly 90,000 tons of CO2 emissions. It will then selectively retire the offsets within the carbon token pools that meet the highest standards for additionality and positive environmental impact.
Polygon will also partner with KlimaDAO, a decentralized collective of environmentalists, developers, and entrepreneurs, to purchase the credits via the latter’s on-chain carbon market, Klima Infinity, and retire them using its offset aggregator decentralized app.
- STEPN Runners Undeterred by ‘Move-to-Earn’ Game’s Pricey NFT
While the play-to-earn (P2E) industry has been under scrutiny after the $620 million Ronin hack, another type GameFi is gaining momentum.
Solana-based move-to-earn project STEPN by Find Satoshi Lab earned $26 million in the first quarter. Move-to-earn, similar to play-to-earn, is a model where users are rewarded in cryptocurrency for their step count.
“As of mid-March, we had 100,000 daily active users, and that number has doubled since,” Chief Business Officer Shiti Manghani, who touted the site’s 1 million downloads, told CoinDesk in an interview.
While other P2E games incentivize online gaming, STEPN is emerging as an early example of GameFi that empowers users to pursue fitness and wellness. Users who buy the game’s non-fungible token (NFT) can earn rewards for every step they take.
That’s creating spillover effects as STEPN grows in strength. One such example is the upcoming STEPN 5K planned for the AthensDAO conference of Solana-based decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) in late May. Dean Pappas, leader at the social networking project Grape who is helping organize the conference, said many Grape members already use STEPN.
- Blackrock, Fidelity to Invest in Crypto Firm Circle’s $400 Million Funding Round
Circle Internet Financial announced Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement for a $400 million funding round with investments from Blackrock Inc., Fidelity Management and Research, Marshall Wace LLP, and Fin Capital.
Circle is the issuer of USD Coin (USDC). The stablecoin USDC has a market cap of about $51 billion and market dominance of about 2.58% at the time of writing, based on data from Bitcoin.com Markets.
Expanding on its partnership with Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, Circle detailed:
In addition to its corporate strategic investment and role as a primary asset manager of USDC cash reserves, Blackrock has entered into a broader strategic partnership with Circle, which includes exploring capital market applications for USDC.
Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle, commented: “Dollar digital currencies like USDC are fueling a global economic transformation, and Circle’s technology infrastructure sits at the center of that change.” The funding round is expected to close in the second quarter.
- Meta’s Metaverse Under Fire From Facebook Whistleblower
Former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen rattled cages at the firm last year when she exposed thousands of documents accusing the social media platform of spreading misinformation.
The files revealed sensitive content that ranged from human trafficking to harmful nationalist groups to Covid-19 vaccine misinformation. At the time, she said Facebook “prioritizes profit over the well-being of children and all users.”
Haugen, who has invested in crypto, has now set her sights on the Metaverse after the company rebranded to Meta to pursue its virtual world domination plans.
Speaking to Politico on April 12, she said Meta has made “very grandiose promises” about how there is safety by design in the Metaverse before adding:
“But if they don’t commit to transparency and access and other accountability measures, I can imagine just seeing a repeat of all the harms you currently see on Facebook.”
For the company’s Metaverse to really work, it will involve installing intrusive hardware such as sensors, microphones, and cameras in homes and possibly public spaces to gather the data to replicate in the digital world.
- Uniswap Launches a Venture Arm to Accelerate Web3 Development
Uniswap Labs – the organization behind the popular DeFi exchange – announced the launch of Uniswap Labs Ventures. As such, it intends to “bring millions of people into the emerging Web3 economy” and invest in additional crypto enterprises.
Enter Uniswap Labs Ventures
In a recent blog post, the company said it is “proud of the foundational products and infrastructure” it has built so far. However, it has ambitions to further interact with the emerging Web3 universe, which is why it formed Uniswap Labs Ventures. The initiative will enable investments in the sector and also establish connections with other crypto projects:
“Uniswap Labs Ventures will invest in teams at different stages and levels of the Web3 stack, from infrastructure to developer tools and consumer-facing applications. We’re also focused on investing in projects that are closely aligned with our values: building for the long term, collaborating openly with communities, and putting users first.”
The organization said it has experience in the field as so far, it had invested in 11 entities and several native protocols across the Web3 ecosystem. Some examples include Tenderly, LayerZero, and MakerDAO.


text:
- Groundbreaking advancements in AI, 5G, and Wi-Fi will spearhead a new era of intelligent computing everywhere, revolutionizing industries, devices, and consumer experiences.
- Unleashing the unparalleled potential of AI, the fusion of cutting-edge on-device computing prowess and state-of-the-art connectivity will empower businesses and individuals to unlock unprecedented possibilities.
At MWC Barcelona, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., announced its latest on-device AI, intelligent computing, and wireless connectivity products and milestones, poised to accelerate digital transformation, drive a new wave of economic growth, and bring the convergence of AI and connectivity to new regions. Generative AI is expected to have a broad impact across industries, with estimates that it could add the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion in economic benefits annually.1
- Qualcomm® AI Hub features a new library of 75+ pre-optimized AI models for seamless deployment on devices powered by Snapdragon® and Qualcomm® platforms. Developers can seamlessly integrate these models into their applications, reducing time-to-market and unlocking the benefits of on-device AI implementations such as immediacy, reliability, privacy, personalization, and cost savings. These models are available on the Qualcomm AI Hub, Hugging Face, and GitHub. Developers will be able run the models themselves with a few lines of code on cloud-hosted devices powered by Qualcomm platforms.
- Snapdragon® X80 5G Modem-RF System is the world’s most advanced 5G modem-to-antenna platform. The Snapdragon X80 architecture integrates 5G-Advanced capabilities and is the first modem with fully integrated NB-NTN satellite communications support for connectivity to non-terrestrial networks. A dedicated tensor accelerator powers AI optimization that improves throughput, quality of service (QoS), coverage, latency, spectrum efficiency, power efficiency, and mmWave beam management.
- Qualcomm® FastConnect™ 7900 mobile connectivity system is the first to deliver AI-optimized performance and integrate Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth, and Ultra Wideband technologies in a single chip. Utilizing AI, FastConnect 7900 adapts to specific use cases and environments, delivering meaningful optimizations across power consumption, network latency and throughput. FastConnect 7900 integrates Ultra Wideband technology, Wi-Fi Ranging, and Bluetooth Channel Sounding to create a powerful suite of proximity technologies that enable secure device discovery, access, and control.
“The future of generative AI is hybrid, with on-device intelligence working together with the cloud to provide greater personalization, privacy, reliability and efficiency. Connectivity is critical to help generative AI scale and extend across the cloud, edge, and device, and AI solutions are enabling us to deliver next gen connectivity that can support this era of Generative AI,” said Cristiano Amon, president and CEO, Qualcomm Incorporated. “As the company driving intelligent computing everywhere, we are enabling the ecosystem to develop and commercialize generative AI use cases, experiences, and leading products across device categories, including smartphones, next-gen PCs, XR devices, vehicles, robotics and more.”
These headlining products will be demonstrated alongside other announcements and milestones at the Qualcomm booth at MWC Barcelona (located in Hall 3, Booth 3E10, Fira Gran Via):
Cutting edge AI research demonstrations
- World’s first large multimodal model (LMM) on an Android phone — a 7+ billion parameter LMM that can accept multiple types of data inputs, including text and images, and generate multi-turn conversations with an AI assistant about an image — running on an Android smartphone for the first time.
- Stable Diffusion with Low Rank Adaptation (LoRA) — a technique enabling scalable and customized on-device generative AI across use cases — running on an Android smartphone.
- World’s first on-device demonstration of a 7+ billion parameter LMM running on a Windows PC that can accept text and audio inputs (e.g., music, sound of traffic, etc.) and then generate multi-turn conversations about the audio.
Generative AI functions in new and upcoming smartphones, Windows PCs, cars, and wearables
Qualcomm® 5G Fixed Wireless Access Ultra Gen 3 Platform
Qualcomm® Infrastructure Processors
World-class wireless research milestones
Snapdragon® Auto Connectivity Platform with Wi-Fi 7

domain: news


text:
Among the better ideas John McCain announced last week is a ban on new cellphone taxes. For America's 257 million wireless subscribers, the GOP Presidential candidate is advancing a sensible policy with political punch.
A recent analysis by economist Scott Mackey in the journal State Tax Notes shows that the average monthly tax burden on wireless customers is more than 15% – double the average sales tax burden. In some states, such as New York (big surprise), the total tax bite is more than 20%.
- Best Buy:
Save 15% or more on the Best Buy deal of the Day
Walmart Fall Rollbacks - Up to 80% off
Up to 15% off + free shipping at Wayfair
60% off running shoes and apparel at Nike
Today's Expedia promo code: Extra 8% off your stay
Back-to-School Sale: Extra 25% off sitewide - JCPenney coupon code


text:
Today is the 101st International Women’s Day and to celebrate, CampdenFB is taking a look at some of the highest profile women working in family businesses.
Simone Bagel-Trah is the chairwoman of Henkel’s supervisory board and is the fifth generation of the Henkel family to work in the company, best known for brands such as Schwarzkopf, Persil and Loctite. But she’s not just relying on her family links to get places – the 43-year-old has a PhD in microbiology and spent two years working as a consultant in the pharmaceutical industry, leaving her with a strong understanding of the essentials of the 136-year-old company’s products.
Yuwadee Chirathivat is a woman making a big impact on the world of business in Asia. She heads up Central Department Stores, her family’s retail business, and has been at the heart of the company since it opened its first department store in the 1980s. Having worked at advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather, she’s got a keen eye for detail. She’s also a big supporter of female businesswomen and working mothers (she is one herself). “I admire how so many women balance the roles they have to play in business and at home,” she recently told Forbes. “We are usually business executive, wife, mother and daughter all rolled into one.”
Marilyn Carlson Nelson
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, the oldest women on our list at 73, knows how hard it can be for a woman to get ahead in business. Despite her economics degree, she struggled to find employment and when she did get a job as an analyst, she had to pretend to be a man. She later joined her family’s business, Carlson, but after receiving a promotion from a non-family member, her father told her to go home and raise her family. Not one to be deterred by such setbacks, Carlson Nelson later returned to the family business and became chief executive in the 1990s. She’s now chairwoman and is “passionate about seeing women have good careers” – so much so that she’s focused heavily on making the company, known for brands such as Radisson and TGI Friday’s, a good place for working mothers: it was named Working Mother’s 2011 best companies for hourly workers. Read the next issue of CampdenFB for an exclusive interview with Carlson Nelson.
Marie-Christine Coisne-Roquette followed in her father’s footsteps and took over stewardship of Sonepar, the 150-year-old French electrical engineering company, over a decade ago. She’s done an impressive job at the helm – sales increased by at least 7% a year since, with the company reporting 2010 revenues of €13.4 billion. She features regularly on lists of the world’s most influential women – last year, the Financial Times ranked her as one of the top 50 women in world business. She also recently gave an exclusive interview to CampdenFB, where she said “putting family at the centre” was core to the business’s success.
Dominique Hériard Dubreuil
Rémy Cointreau’s chairwoman has one piece of advice for female next-gens hoping to get ahead in the family business: take advantage of what you are offered. “I have been offered different positions [at organisations and on boards] because I was a woman and I took advantage,” she told CampdenFB. By doing so, the 65-year-old gained experience and cemented her reputation. Now Hériard Dubreuil heads up the French drinks company, a role she’s had since 1998, and holds her own in a male-dominated sector.
Annemiek Fentener van Vlissingen
Annemiek Fentener van Vlissingen is hugely private, but that doesn’t mean the Dutch businesswoman hasn’t left her mark on family company SHV Holdings. In fact, she’s held in such esteem that she was named the Netherland’s best businesswoman in the past. Now chairwoman of the conglomerate, she worked in the US and became a management consultant before joining the family business.
Jacqueline Gold never wanted to join the family business, lingerie retailer Ann Summers. But while gaining some work experience, she came up with the idea for Ann Summers parties and the rest is history. Under her leadership, sales have gone from £83,000 (€100,000) in the 1980s to £150 million today. The 51-year-old said that balancing being a mother and a businesswoman is “very challenging” – but she could never have given up work. “Working and doing what I do is part of my identity,” she told CampdenFB. Having the right support is the key to success, she said.
Hyun Jeong-eun took over the chairmanship of Hyundai Group in 2003, after her husband Chung Mong-hun committed suicide. Since then, she focused on growing the business and is considered one of the most powerful women in Asia – she hasn’t let her gender hold her back in the traditionally male-dominated region. She’s got big plans – she wants to increase revenues from an estimated €9.5 billion in 2010 to $70 billion (€55.2 billion) by 2020.
Linda Johnson Rice
With sales of print publications falling across the board, Linda Johnson Rice has had her work cut out for her in recent years. But the 53-year-old, who succeeded her father at publishing house Johnson Publishing, is taking action. She hired Desiree Rogers, the former White House social secretary, as chief executive in 2010 and brought in JPMorgan Chase’s Special Investments Group as an investor in 2011, providing extra capital. Since then, circulation of the publishing house’s flagship magazines, Jet and Ebony, have been on the rise - in August, the US’s Audit Bureau of Circulation listed both among the top 25 fastest-growing consumer magazines.
The "steel lady" as she is affectionately known by her fellow Italians, Emma Marcegaglia combines working in the family-owned business with heading up Italian business lobby group Confindustria. It’s no easy feat, but by working with her family, she has had great success with both Marcegaglia and the lobby group.
Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller has spent her whole career at Trumpf, the German machine tool producer that her father inherited from founder Christian Trumpf. Although revenues at the Ditzingen-based business dropped during the global economic downturn, last year was one of its best yet. And under Leibinger-Kammüller’s leadership, the company looks set for double-digit growth this year.
Güler Sabanci is always named on lists of the world’s most powerful women. It’s not surprising – the 56-year-old heads up €10 billion-family business Sabanci Holding, the company founded by her grandfather Haci in 1967. She’s worked at the firm since the 1970s and took the helm in 2004 - under her leadership revenues increased by 30%. Not only is she a robust businesswoman, she is also at the forefront of philanthropic endeavours and heads the Sabanci Foundation.
You might not have heard of Laura Shapria before, but this 42-year-old is making a big impression in the US. She worked at Sara Lee and Procter & Gamble in the 1990s, before joining family business Giant Eagle in 2000. She became chief executive in 2011 and has big plans for the business. As well as opening new discount stores, Shapira is looking to expand operations outside of the four US states it currently operates in – which should see the company boost its revenues above its current $9 billion (€7.25 billion).
Third-generation Ofra Strauss took over the running of the eponymous Israeli food company from her father more than a decade ago. She told CampdenFB that she was always encouraged to join both the business world and her family’s food business – and has been very successful in both. Female next-gens need to make sure “they learn from everyone around them”, as well as “saying very loudly” that they want to work and lead their business, she said.
Luiza Helena Trajano Inácio Rodrigues
Brazil is now the sixth biggest economy in the world, knocking the UK into 7th position, according to figures released this week. The country will grow even more, if Luiza Helena Trajano Inácio Rodrigues has anything to do with it. Not only is she one of Brazil’s leading businesswomen, she is also often sought by politicians, including the current president, for her insights into the economy. The vice-chairwoman of retailer Magazine Luiza worked her way up through the company, spending time in administration and sales, before becoming chief executive in 1991. Magazine Luiza is growing rapidly – between 2008 and 2010, its revenues increased by 84%.


text:
Beauty business owner Briony Kennedy is underwhelmed by Amazon Prime's launch and will not be using the platform to sell her products.
"I think what most people don't realise is that Amazon is really another Google, it is a search engine," says Ms Kennedy who is the owner of Melbourne-based beauty business Adorn Cosmetics which sells its products predominantly online.
"It doesn't meet the hype at all. Whilst it has its place, I don't think people need to be as fearful of it as they are."
Ms Kennedy started Adorn in 2009 and employs 10 staff with a turnover of more than $1 million a year.
She doesn't believe Amazon Prime, which offers two-day delivery to Australia's major cities for a monthly subscription of $6.99 or $59 a year, will impact her business.
"A lot of online retailers already offer free delivery over a certain spend which we do," she says. "It's just a different customer base, Amazon is for those customers who are really price-driven. Even then their products are not really that cheap, do you want to pay more for free shipping? I think they are compensating for products being more expensive than they are at Amazon.com before it gets blocked."
She says she investigated selling on Amazon before it launched in Australia but the logistics of listing products on the online retail giant are quite difficult.
"It wasn't something I was tempted into," she says.
Kennedy says some Australian retailers already offer same-day delivery, a service Amazon Prime is not providing.
"Amazon is going to have to deal with the postal system here and the couriers," she says. "I've found Australia Post has picked up its game, it has had to."
Ms Kennedy believes retailers like Adorn can differentiate themselves from Amazon.
"People will still look for customer service and they will still want bespoke products that you don't get from something big like that," she says.
"Independent retailers like Adorn are more targeted and more specific around their marketing strategy and the customer they are attracting. I just don't think it is the sort of place our customer would go."
However, Hianyang Chan, senior research analyst at Euromonitor International, says Amazon Prime could offer advantages for small businesses that decide to sell through Amazon by pre-shipping their items to Amazon fulfilment centres, and letting the company handle packaging, shipping and customer services.
"Despite the fees charged for storage and shipping, the potential benefits outweigh the cost," he says. "Amazon provides these small businesses the opportunity to add another channel to sell through by allowing them access to world-class logistics capability to equal the playing field and better compete next to the biggest household brands."
Chan says the quality of the product offered by the small businesses is still more important than anything else.
"Services such as Fulfilment by Amazon and Amazon Prime offered by Amazon will only help these small businesses to simplify issues related with shipment and fulfillment and reaching out to a wider consumer base by offering a reliable fast and flexible delivery service."


text:
House of Representatives passed trade deal with Mexico and Canada
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a new bipartisan trade deal with Mexico and Canada today.
The Trump Administration and House Democrats agree it will be better for Americans than the previous North American Free Trade Agreement known as NAFTA.
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-District 7), who worked on the bill, says it will let U.S. dairy farmers sell products to Canada at a profit, and allow businesses to form long-term trading relationships.
“It will be good for the small, medium and large size businesses here in Virginia. It will be good for our farmers and producers, in particular, our dairy farmers here, and its good for our workers. There are strong labor provisions that are incredibly important to protecting workers at home,” said Spanberger.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will take it up after the impeachment trial for President Trump.
Copyright 2019 WWBT. All rights reserved.


text:
Poor Man Survival
Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…
Hope for the best-Plan for the worst!
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
We can’t recall a holiday season such as this…
In modern times, there has never been a Christmas like this in America. Millions are freshly unemployed, another wave of lockdowns is forcing countless businesses to close their doors, and people are waiting in line for hours at food banks all over the nation just to get a little bit of food for their families. Of course those at the bottom end of the economic food chain are being hit the hardest. It is being reported that employment among those that make $27,000 a year or less is down 20 percent from pre-pandemic levels. That is an extremely shocking number, and it helps to explain why the number of Americans living in poverty rose to 52 million during the month of November.
[The Dem MI Gov destroyed 1.1 million jobs; more than 2,000 small businesses will NEVER reopen as a result of her draconian Soviet-style rules...]
But it isn’t just the unemployed that are suffering. Many of those that are still working have had their hours cut or they aren’t able to make as much in tips, commissions or bonuses as they did prior to the pandemic.
Tens of millions of households are bringing home less income these days, and this has become a major national crisis. In fact, one brand new survey discovered that a whopping 42 percent of U.S. households are currently making less money than they did prior to the pandemic…
[Most suspect this has been done purposely by Dems to ruin the Trump reelection; install their own socialist puppet to further control citizens, gut the economy and erode our rights].
Nine months into the pandemic, 42% of Americans say their household income is still below what it was before the coronavirus outbreak began, according to a new survey from Bankrate.com.
And that same survey found that 85 percent of Americans are concerned about how their incomes will be affected by this pandemic moving forward…[say OUCH now if you collected unemployment AND the generous extra government cash-you're on the hook for IRS taxes for those sums]
As the financial fallout from the pandemic continues and with expanded unemployment benefits and eviction moratoriums set to expire at the end of the year, 85% of adults are worried about a lasting negative impact to their income. That’s an increase from the percentage of people who reported that same concern in June.
With less money to go around, this is not a “normal Christmas” for millions of U.S. families.
This is what an economic depression looks like, and what we have experienced so far is just the beginning.
If you still have a warm home, plenty of food on the table and money for some of the luxuries in life, you should consider yourself to be extremely blessed
The post For Millions Of Americans, No Money = No Christmas In 2020 first appeared on The Economic Collapse.
Taxmageddon” is Coming
The reality of the 2020 election is… No matter who wins won’t make much difference in one important facet of every American’s life. Here's what you can expect (and what you can do). NOTE: If you received that extra unemployment cash – you are responsible for the tax bill you will owe if you didn’t withhold taxes from those payments.
The spring or summer may seem like a long time away to wait for your turn to get the coronavirus vaccine. So if you want to get on or move up on the vaccine priority list, let us be the first to clue you in.
A lot of folks will be in for a nasty surprise in 2021 if they’ve been getting unemployment and the extra huge cash payments from Uncle Sam on top of what they get from their state. All of that income is taxable. Unless you opted to have taxes withheld from those payments, you’ll likely have a huge tax bill.
Panic About Soaring Food Prices Across The Globe Is Starting
Small savings can avert a crisis.
The next five days will tell us whether Trump is going to initiate all the plans that have been put in place to save the republic and stop the CCP takeover of America.
If nothing big happens by this coming weekend, it's probably over for America. But many options are still viable and ready to activate.
In today's Situation Update, I cover the "Pence-Raiklin maneuver" and how it could hand Trump an instant victory on Jan. 6th. The best part? It requires nothing from SCOTUS or the US Congress. Pence alone can activate it.
See the full details and podcast in today's story.
Prepare. Train. Survive.
We don’t need another election-We need another revolution!
‘Time to Cancel Everything’: LA Mayor’s New Lockdown Order Plagued by Absurd Inconsistency and Overreach
By Brad Polumbo
People of good faith can certainly disagree over the proper role of the government during a pandemic. But it’s hard to imagine how anyone could defend the overzealous and arbitrary restrictions included in Los Angeles’s new lockdown order.
“My message couldn’t be simpler,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Wednesday. “It’s time to hunker down. It’s time to cancel everything. And if it isn’t essential, don’t do it.”
The mayor’s order institutes some of the most severe restrictions we’ve seen to date during this crisis. It orders people to stay in their homes, with a list of exceptions.
It bans “all public and private gatherings of any number of people from more than one household,” except for outdoor religious service and outdoor protests. This literally means that if you wanted to have a socially-distanced picnic with your mother (assuming you no longer live in her basement) that would be a crime.
The order also prohibits “all travel, including, without limitation, travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, automobile, or public transit is prohibited,” except for the listed exceptions. This has created some serious confusion. Reading this portion of the order literally would suggest that going for a walk, outside of some essential capacity, is now illegal. Yet, other parts of the order identify certain parks and trails as open for recreational exercise.
Many Los Angeles residents are confused as to whether their afternoon stroll is now a criminal offense.
Adding to the chaos, the sweeping order contains a lengthy list of exceptions that seem inconsistent, to say the least. It includes in its definition of essential activities straightforward exemptions for healthcare services, grocery stores, and the like. Yet the order also allows hair salons and malls to remain open while playgrounds are closed. It allows childcare services and “day camps” but leaves both public and private schools shuttered for in-person education.
And, of course, it includes an extremely broad exception for all government employees. The result is an untenable patchwork of restrictions that would prove difficult to comply with and aren't scientific or evidence-based. [More at the link below]
Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is a libertarian-conservative journalist and Opinion Editor at the Foundation for Economic Education.
This article originally appeared on FEE.org at this website.
PATRIOTS AGAINST SOCIALISM
Warning bells should be going off in your head right now!
Useful Resources from our storefront-See new items!
You Can’t Buy Life Insurance After You’re Dead-Prepare NOW for Emergencies…
NEW-STOP the Socialist Agenda T-Shirt
NEW! Home Circuit Power Saving Device-Save 30—90% on Your Electric Bill.
Home Circuits Power Saving Device-Environment Friendly! [I save $75 my 1st month of use]
…as advertised in Reader’s Digest
Power Electricity Energy Savings Device- 30% or more Savings 90V-250V 50Hz-60Hz
Easy-to-use---No Maintenance Provides or a more stable environment for your household electrical grid…invented in Germany
Kimber PEPPER BLASTER II 112 MPH Delivery 13ft Range Self-Defense
If Biden & Socialists get their way, gun ownership could be diminished.
Support our efforts by shopping my storefront…
You think many are crying now, wait until socialist slugs Biden-Harris officially steal the White House...the real pain for America will soon hit HARD.
Citizens Beware: In the Geopolitical, Cultural and Financial arenas, 2021 looks to be a year where unprecedented historical changes will undoubtedly unfold-none that bode well for Amerika under Comrade Biden.
This whole country puzzles me. Nightly news shows indicate everyone is standing in food lines yet Amazon sales are through the roof? Plenty of people w/ cash, even the welfare moms who sport expensive I-Phones & $75 nail jobs.
Post a Comment


text:
Puyo Puyo Tetris Is Coming to Steam Later This Month
Sonic Team's fun, competitive, and fast-paced puzzle game Puyo Puyo Tetris is coming to PC via Steam at the end of this month, according to its publisher.
After teasing the announcement yesterday, Sega officially announced today that Puyo Puyo Tetris would be coming to PC via Steam at the end of this month, according to the press release sent this morning.
Initially released on in Japan on February 6, 2014, for 3DS, Wii-U, PlayStation Vitam and PlayStation 3, Puyo Puyo Tetris is a puzzle game, which crosses over the Tetris series and the Puyo Puyo franchise. Since its original launch, the game has been ported over to the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, so it was only a matter of time until PC owners would get their hands on this game.
The publisher also confirmed that gamers who pre-order Puyo Puyo Tetris on Steam or through other SEGA approved digital retailers before the game officially launches would receive exclusive wallpapers and avatars, which feature your favorite Puyo Puyo and Tetris characters. Additionally, those who pre-order the game through Steam will receive an additional 10% discount.
In addition to receiving the base game, the PC version of Puyo Puyo Tetris will also include enhanced features; this includes scalable resolutions, fully customizable controls, and mouse-friendly menus. On top of that, as bonus gamers who own the PC version will have the option to play the game using the original Japanese voiceovers.
For more information on Puyo Puyo Tetris, check out the announcement trailer down below, and in case you missed it, you can read DualShockers’ review of the game.
Puyo Puyo Tetris is set to launch on PC on February 27, 2018.


text:
The inflation diaries: As Lebanon's crisis heads into a fourth year, many are struggling to afford proper meals due to triple-digit inflation
By Tala Ramadan
BEIRUT, Aug 1 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Only a few years ago, Lebanese graphic designer Mona Amsha used to be able to afford regular weekend excursions, trips to the cinema and restaurant meals for herself and her two children.
But now, with inflation running at more than 200% in the third year of a devastating economic crisis, she struggles even to put enough food on the table.
Read more: The Inflation Diaries series
"I can barely give them a proper meal," Amsha, 35,told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview from her home in Beirut.
"We even had to cut down on our small dinners; it's not just breakfast and lunch."
The financial crisis that began in 2019 has pushed about 80% of Lebanon's 6.7 million people into poverty. Prices have skyrocketed due to a steep currency devaluation in the import-dependent country.
More than half of families had at least one child who had skipped a meal by October 2021, the U.N. children's fund UNICEF said in November.
Rising global food and energy costs driven by the Ukraine war and fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated shortages and driven inflation even higher this year.
Some supermarkets ran out of bread in July as the war disrupted wheat shipments from Ukraine, which previously supplied about 60% of Lebanon's imports of the grain.
Sunflower oil has become nearly 10 times more expensive than it was three years ago, supermarket owners reported.
That means Amsha can rarely afford even a simple snack of french fries for her children.
"It's the snack they love the most, and ironically, it is what used to be the most affordable, especially as a big bag will fill them up," she said.
'HATE TO SAY NO'
Beirut mini-market owner Moein Nahas sees every day the struggles that households face to make ends meet.
"I always have to tell them 'no' when they ask me if I can charge them less, or if they can pay me later."
Nahas said he was forced first to cut the salaries of the two staff in his shop, and then fire one as he could no longer afford to pay them both.
He no longer allows his children, aged nine and 14, to keep him company in the shop as he cannot afford the snacks they ask for.
"If the prices keep on increasing, I will have to close the grocery permanently, and find myself another job," he said.
"Maybe if I sell the space that would help me with extra money - but I doubt anyone is willing to buy."
Explore our interactive map below for more stories about the human impact of the cost of living crisis in our three-part series on The Inflation Diaries
More from Part Three of The Inflation Diaries series:
In France, families turn to charity food boxes as inflation bites
Mexico's informal workers hit hard as high prices fuel poverty
Soaring energy and rent prices leave Australians with little left
Venezuelans exit hyperinflation but see few reasons to celebrate
In Germany, many struggle as Russian gas squeeze drives up prices
(Reporting by Tala Ramadan @talaramadan; Editing by Sonia Elks. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


text:
Back in March, 86.1% of all new cars registered in the country were EVs.
EV buyers get numerous privileges in the form of tax breaks and other rebates.
This is a fascinating situation, and more than likely, one that will be repeated in most if not all countries where electric vehicles are poised (forced or otherwise) to take over from ICE vehicles. Norway is facing declining revenues to invest in roadway infrastructures due to the extremely high EV take rate and the associated rebates.
Although EV registrations have fallen to 74.1% in April from Mach’s 86.1% figure, the number of new EVs sold in Norway is staggering. Numerous reasons explain why this is and one of them encompasses important financial privileges and advantages.
As reported by electrive, EV buyers need not pay a supplemental 25% tax that ICE shoppers face. What’s more, road tolls, parking fees, and other such charges are far lower for EV owners. These incentives have promoted to use of the car to get around, increasing road traffic.
The combined effects of fewer investments made in public transportation lowered revenue, and road congestion has pushed the Norwegian Ministry of Transport to reconsider the financial incentives for EV owners by either abolishing or reducing them.
It was Inevitable: Electrified Vehicle Owners to Pay Extra Taxes
A whole essay could be written on EV incentives and the actual cost involved in maintaining them. Only yesterday, we reported on the fact that more than 30 US States are or will be charging extra fees and taxes to electrified vehicle owners.


text:
How growth in dairy is affecting the environment
May 4, 2015 by New York Times
May 4, 2015, Shafter, CA — Dairy consumption jumped 32 percent from 1990 to 2005, and is expected to rise an additional 50 percent from 2005 levels by 2050, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
The FAO says that globally, the dairy industry has made real environmental strides since 2006, when it warned that livestock was one of the two or three most environmentally damaging sectors, polluting “on a massive scale.” READ MORE
Stories continue below
Print this page


text:
Tag: jeph loeb
Showing results 146-185 of 186
In the wake of "Ultimatum," Jeph Loeb talks with CBR about renaming and relaunching Marvel's Ultimate line, but which characters survive that long remains in doubt.
In which Augie tracks down an artist from the 90s he lost track of, finds quite a lot to like in the brand-spanking new "Red Hulk" hardcover, and shares his random comics thoughts in a fresh batch of "one-liners."
In this special holiday edition of REFLECTIONS, creators stop by to share their favorite comic books of 2008. Learn what Dan Abnett, Paul Dini, Marc Guggenheim, Jeph Loeb, Greg Pak and more chose as their book of the year.
In this exclusive on-camera interview, superstar artist Tim Sale discusses his new work in "Captain America: White," his thoughts on "The Dark Knight," how "Heroes" has changed his life, and much more.
Superstar writer Jeph Loeb is raising dollars for his late son’s charity fund through sales of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight” #20, released this week from Dark Horse. Oh, and who are the New Ultimates? Get the scoop!
Courtesy of Marvel Comics, CBR brings you an exclusive preview of "Ultimatum" #1 by writer Jeph Loeb and artists David Finch & Danny Miki, on sale this week in comics stores everywhere.
There’s been a major shake-up at the top of the “Heroes” production staff, as writers/co-executive producers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander have been let go. We have details, plus Loeb speaks with CBR News exclusively.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics, CBR brings you an exclusive first look at Frank Cho's variant cover of "Hulk" #8. Written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Art Adams, the issue goes on sale November 26.
Marvel has provided CBR with an exclusive first look at the latest Ed McGuinness teaser image in advance of Jeph Loeb and David Finch's "Ultimatum." The new graphic depicts Yellowjacket.
Marvel has provided CBR with an exclusive first look at the latest teaser image in advance of Jeph Loeb and David Finch's "Ultimatum." The new graphic is illustrated by Ed McGuinness.
The superstar writer behind "Ultimates 3" and "Hulk" joins the gang for a special issue in December that brings a particularly animated Buffy back to Season One. CBR spoke with Loeb about "Buffy" #20.
Marvel released Friday a teaser image in advance of "Ultimatum," the forthcoming event miniseries by Jeph Loeb and David Finch. The graphic depicts Magneto in possession of Thor's hammer.
Courtesy of Marvel, CBR brings you an exclusive first look at variant covers for "Hulk" #6 and #7 by late fan-favorite artist Michael Turner. On sale soon, the issues feature work by Loeb, McGuinness and Cho.
The cast and crew of the CW's hit "Smallville" talk to fans at Comic-Con about the upcoming eighth-season, the possibility of Clark finally learning to fly, and the introduction of the Legion Of Super-Heroes by guest writer Geoff Johns.
"Heroes" Co-Executive Producer Jesse Alexander is writing a one shot that ties in directly to "Captain America: White." "Shotgun Opera" will feature Sgt. Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos!
Marvel's "The Ultimate Universe Must DIe" panel was moderated by EiC Joe Quesada and featured a trailer for "The Stand" (not an Ultimate title), gave away Stark Tech, teased an Ultimate She-Hulk and more.
Pipeline looks at the new Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale collaboration, 'Captain America White' #0. Also: Augie missed the latest podcasting convention panel, but answers the questions, anyway. When will comic prices rise again? 'Star Trek' comics on DVD? And more
Courtesy of Marvel, CBR brings you an exclusive preview of Independence Day of "Captain America: White" #0, the new project by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale, on sale next week.
Jeph Loeb often found himself working with Michael Turner, who provided the visuals for "Superman/Batman" for Supergirl's return to the DCU. Loeb shared some thoughts with CBR News about the passing of his friend.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics, CBR brings you an exclusive first look at the full trade dress for Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's "Captain America: White," as well as the cover for issue #1.
School's out, which means you have time for more reading, right? George polled luminaries from the comics field to learn what's on their summer reading lists including Gaiman, Loeb, Moore, Ross, Tomine and many more.
At this year’s L.A. Times Festival of Books, Jeph Loeb, Mike Mignola and Steve Niles held a panel discussion about the trials and tribulations of adapting comic books for TV & Film.
Marvel Comics has provided CBR with an exclusive preview of "The Hulk" #3 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, smashing it's way into comic shops on April 23!
This year's LA Times Festival of Books includes a new exhibition dedicated to comics, graphic novels and manga with guests Jeph Loeb, Mike Mignola, Steve Niles and more.
One of comics' most prolific and popular partnerships, writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale, are finally reuniting for "Captain America: White," which looks at the early days of Cap and Bucky. We speak with both creators.


text:
The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy recently released a new study showing the impact of cigarette tax increases on local government budgets.
The study, The Impact of Cigarette Tax Increases on Local Government Budgets (here), uses budget data published by local jurisdictions as part of the budget process. This is the second year this report has been issued by the Jefferson Institute. Among its findings –
- Revenues from cigarette taxes continue to decline, despite repeated rate increases. Virginia’s local governments collected 19.7 percent less in real cigarette tax revenue from FY 2010 to FY 2014 (the latest data available), even though individual local governments raised these taxes more than 50 times over the same period. Last year’s study found that local governments collected 16.3 percent less in cigarette taxes between FY ’10 and FY ’13.
- Cigarette tax rate increases raise less tax revenue collections than budget projections or that the percentage rate would imply.
- Between 2010 and 2015, the number of localities that chose to levy a new tax on cigarettes grew from 80 to 106 – a one-third increase in just five years.
- The tax increases are changing consumption patterns as consumers seek alternative markets with lower taxes and lower prices.
Cigarette taxes rarely produce the revenue expected by local governments. Fairly consistently, the tax increases produce a decrease in revenue, don’t meet expectations, miss budget projections or simply produce mixed results and often turn flat or negative in the years following a tax increase.
For instance, in the Town of Vinton, which doubled its cigarette tax in 2014, saw its revenues plunge by more than 44 percent between 2013 and 2016, as smokers drove elsewhere to make purchases. These new taxes caused two retailers to close and a new cigarette outlet to open just outside of Town limits, driving a further loss of reduced sales taxes.
This happens in both large and small jurisdictions. Bluefield raised cigarette taxes by 67 percent in FY 2012 and tax revenues fell 14 percent. Virginia Beach raised the cigarette tax three times between 2010 and 2016, and revenues remain below the level prior to the tax increases.
We expect to see this happen again in Petersburg where the cigarette tax was raised from 10 cents to 90 cents a pack. While it’s too early to have final numbers, what we do know is that the number of cigarette tax stamps purchased by stores has declined by nearly 30 percent, as consumers likely crossed the city line to purchase products elsewhere.
And we see the reverse is true as well. In FY 2016, Portsmouth cut its cigarette tax rate by 33 percent. The budget for that year anticipated revenues would fall, but in fact revenues increased slightly. The tax cut brought in more revenue, not less.
These numbers are a real world example that tax impacts on the economy are not static. You cannot raise taxes by a certain percent and expect, automatically, that tax revenues will increase by that same percent. Indeed, just as our high school economics teacher explained to us, taxes impact the way people spend and invest. In this case, it seems that raising cigarette taxes likely encourages smokers to drive outside their own city or county seeking less expensive tobacco products. And, as studies show and retailers testify at local government hearings, these smokers also buy others products when they find a store in a lower taxed area.
As municipalities begin the process of developing their budgets for the coming fiscal year beginning on July 1, instead of seeking to raise cigarette taxes whose effect can be temporary or negative, they might be better advised to seek efficiencies in their operations or rely on a general, broader-based tax to fund public expenditures. Of course, efficiencies are the better course of action.
Email this author


text:
The Jaguar design boss talks about electric cars, the future of sedans and his favorite Jaguar XJ at the Paris Motor Show
Infiniti's latest prototype features a dual-hybrid powertrain for a zero-to-sixty run under four seconds. That's not bad for a Q60.
And a hat tip to the French brand's past, as this autonomous EV plays homage to the 1969 504 Coupé, penned by Pininfarina.
The new Z4 has sharp looks, a soft top, 50:50 weight distribution, and your choice of a turbocharged inline six or a turbo four.
New Ferraris are on the way.
It may be over 50 years old, but this Lotus is still at home sliding through the Corkscrew.
This five-cylinder monster makes all the hisses, wooshes, and chirps you could hope for.
No wonder why 40 Bugatti fans felt the need to pay $5.8 million for one.
Unsurprisingly, that makes this Phil Hill-driven example the most expensive car sold at auction. Again.
This is what heavy turbocharging looks and sounds like.
Oh, and 710 horsepower. And a folding roof. But also a cool stripe.
Paying homage to its 1930s W125 race car, the EQ Silver Arrow concept is a modern all-electric take on Mercedes's record-holder.
Ford is paying tribute to the blue-and-orange GT40 MkI that won Le Mans in 1968 and 1969. We dig it.


text:
Despite a 10% dip in quarterly profit and still-struggling iPhone sales, Apple beat Wall Street expectations with its after-market earnings release on Tuesday.
Coupled with the announcement of a $0.77 dividend, up 5% from a year ago, Apple's lukewarm earnings release was met with a small post-market rally for shares, which were up 5% immediately following the announcement. They closed at $200.67 on Tuesday, about 2% lower than the day prior.
The Cupertino, California tech giant reported earnings per share of $2.46, compared to average Street expectations of $2.36 per share. Revenue for the quarter was $58 billion, down 5% on a quarterly basis, but still solidly above analysts forecasts of $57.6 billion.
“Our March quarter results show the continued strength of our installed base of over 1.4 billion active devices, as we set an all-time record for services, and the strong momentum of our wearables, home and accessories category, which set a new March quarter record,” said CEO Tim Cook in a statement released alongside earnings.
The top-line decline was marked by a more than 9% fall in Apple's revenue from products, which was $46.6 billion in the quarter, compared to $51.3 billion a year prior.
That faltering revenue is in spite of the firm's strongest iPad growth in six years, and an uptick in iPhone prices. Many analysts have blamed those high prices for the firm's dismal performance in China, and some are even calling for price cuts.
“While some investors will fret around price cuts and what it means for top-line growth in the next few quarters and losing perception as a luxury smartphone, taking a step back it's all about the installed base for Apple,” wrote Wedbush analysts Daniel Ives and Strecker Backe in a Friday note that maintained their outperform rating.
As iPhone sales fall, some analysts are turning their attention to Apple’s pivot to services, which claimed $11.5 billion in sales for the quarter. That's up more than 16% compared to last year, and ahead of the earnings release, analysts were eyeing the firm's buzzy streaming-video push.
Apple announced the launch of its Steven Spielberg-endorsed streaming service, Apple TV Plus, at a March special event. Slated for a fall debut, the move will bring original shows and movies into the existing Apple TV application, akin to YouTube’s premium subscription service, which hosts exclusive content in addition to ad-free video browsing.
Apple’s set to enter a very crowded space that’s easily dominated by Netflix, which has seen its stock soar 39% in 2019, and to a lesser extent, Hulu. That’s not to mention the huge competition coming from other market leaders eager to jump into the booming streaming space: Blue-chip Disney’s set to launch Disney Plus, backed by a decades-old catalogue of classics, and Viacom recently announced it’s adding its major networks to Pluto TV, the streaming service it acquired earlier this year.
A March analyst note from JPMorgan issued a buy rating on Apple but noted the challenges it could face in monetizing original content given its relatively limited scope in the face of Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO.
Analysts, however, are still solidly bullish on Apple stock: Several issued positive ratings ahead of the Tuesday earnings release, and less than 10% of analysts covering the stock have sell ratings.
Apple shares are up 33% year to date.


text:
Topro announces new colour for its popular Odysee rollator
To help its UK retailers offer as wide range of rollator solutions as possible, Topro has revealed that its Odysse rollator is now available in British racing green.
Launched in 2017, Topro says that the Odysse has proved to be a popular addition to its range with retailers, OTs and end users due to its innovative two-way folding mechanism. When folded, its dimensions are 75cm x 44.5cm x 24.5cm, which means it can be easily transported in the back of the car or on public transport in the bag which is provided.
In addition, the Odysse has an expandable shopping bag which has a maximum weight capacity of 10 kilograms, which the company says makes it ideal for shopping trips. Additional features include a choice of tyres, a tilt function, edge guard and ergonomic handles, with a wide range of accessories also available.
Paul Briggs, Managing Director at Topro, commented: “We are delighted to be able to offer the Odysse in this vibrant new colour. Here at Topro, we are always looking to support our UK retailers with enhancements to existing products and I hope this new colour will prove popular.”
Selling directly through the trade, Topro is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of rollators, as well as providing walkers, rise and recline chairs and more.https://thiis.co.uk/topro-announces-new-colour-for-its-popular-odysee-rollator/https://i2.wp.com/thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Topro-new-colour.jpg?fit=973%2C1024&ssl=1https://i2.wp.com/thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Topro-new-colour.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1NewsroomSupplier Newsmobility sector,rollator,topro,Topro Odysse,walking aid,walking equipmentTo help its UK retailers offer as wide range of rollator solutions as possible, Topro has revealed that its Odysse rollator is now available in British racing green.Launched in 2017, Topro says that the Odysse has proved to be a popular addition to its range with retailers, OTs and...Calvin BarnettCalvin Barnettcalvin@thiis.co.ukAdministratorTHIIS Magazine


text:
Internet service provider Verizon Communications Inc dismissed rumours that it had offered to buy out Internet media firm AOL but didn't rule out a potential merger with the company.
On Tuesday, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that though Verizon hasn't made a formal offer to AOL, the two companies have been contemplating a merger or an acquisition deal with each other.
Verizon however made it public that it is looking to partner with a potential media and content providing firm and is more interested in a merger than an acquisition.
"There's a rumor in the papers today, and if I had a dollar for every company that we were supposed to buy, I would be very wealthy. I see us as more of a partner with media companies than a buyer of content," Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam said at an investor presentation.
"AOL, along with lots of other media companies, are potential for us to do partnerships," McAdam added.
The sources said that Verizon is drawn to AOL's programmed advertising technology and given the advantages a potential tie up could give both companies, a deal seems ideal.
"The wireless companies have a lot of data about who their customers are, and they haven't unleashed that treasure trove yet. For Verizon to put together a sophisticated adtech stack is a really smart idea," Barry Lowenthal, president of ad agency The Media Kitchen, was quoted by The Street.
Verizon is worth $148 billion and AOL $2.13 billion. AOL is a strategic fit for Verizon and would help the telecom company maximize its business through the ad business of AOL.
Analysts have given Verizon's shares a buy rating even though its stock has been trading 13 percent below its 52-week high.


text:
Samsung releases Windows Phone
Samsung has managed to do something unexpected and become the first handset maker to announce a Windows 8 phone.
The move should scare Nokia which had hoped it would be the only one to release such a phone, and also Apple which hoped that if Samsung stuck with Android it could sue the company into oblivion.
According to Reuters, the announcement comes just days before Nokia announces its launch of a Windows phone.
Samsung only made a brief announcement at Berlin electronics show IFA. Word on the street is that some smartphone makers are looking at Microsoft as an insurance policy against Android-based phones getting caned by Apple's legal team.
The change in the legal environment means that Samsung will be sticking more resources into Windows and diversify a little.
But that is bad news for Nokia which is betting the farm on its new Lumia line of smartphones using Windows Phone 8. It had hoped that by showing loyalty to Microsoft it might get ahead and not have too much initial competition.
However with Samsung's ATIV S in play around the same time, not only will it have to face competition but it will also have to deal with cheaper massed sales from a rival which knows a lot about smartphones.
Samsung's ATIV S Windows phone sports a high-end 4.8-inch display, Corning "Gorilla" glass, and an 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. A camera like that does give Nokia a chance. If it can come up with a 40 megapixel or possibly 20 megapixel camera then it might steal the march on Samsung.
Nokia would not be too pleased with Microsoft, but it is possible that the Vole has done its deal to assuage concerns that Microsoft will favour Nokia.
Analyst Avi Greengart claimed that Samsung was allowed to be the first to announce is Microsoft's backhanded way of letting other vendors know that Nokia is not getting special treatment.
|All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:01.|
Powered by vBulletin® - Copyright ©2000 - 2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO


text:
Increasingly, manufacturers are becoming digital enterprises, adopting digital tools and processes to harness, analyze and glean insights from their data so they can operate more efficiently, respond to customer needs more rapidly and get their products to market faster.
Since ERP software is a key part of the evolution of digital manufacturing technologies, it must reinvent itself in response to this digital transformation or risk becoming extinct.
While that may be happening, there's plenty of room for improvement, said Pat Welsh, managing director of manufacturing ERP services at Revolution Group, a technology services firm in Westerville, Ohio.
Next-gen digital manufacturing technologies
"The ERP systems today are just sort of transforming from heavy complicated systems to more lightweight and nimble and accessible," Welsh said. "And that's largely through the cloud migration."
But these systems even have to go a step further to scale up digital manufacturing technologies.
"The most important thing is that ERPs have the capability of housing tremendous amounts of data, like quality inspection data or production downtime data, machine data, that type of thing," Welsh said. "But they're not quite yet in a position to really get that data in front of decision-makers in a concise fashion."
One of the biggest opportunities for ERP is to be able to get the data out to the business user -- the decision-maker on the shop floor or in logistics -- who is responsible for making decisions on a daily or hourly basis on how to react to different situations, according to Welsh.
Although ERP systems have made great strides toward making that information available or creating avenues or mechanisms for people to communicate more effectively, they still require somebody in the front office or a supervisor to interact, analyze and then communicate, he said.
"So that's a very manual process, and there's some time involved in that," Welsh said. "But the mechanism to get that information to the shop floor quickly, that's not really there yet today without significant human interaction."
The real key for the future is for that process to be automated so it happens quicker, it happens more reliably and it doesn't require a supervisor to be clocked in or even at the plant.
AI is crucial to digital manufacturing technologies
"I think that may fall under artificial intelligence, and there are certainly some predictive analytics that would fall into that same kind of category," Welsh said. "So [its] providing the decision-makers, e.g., the maintenance [staff], information ahead of time before a machine actually goes down."
Although most ERPs today do a pretty good job of enabling manufacturers to capture information historically and measure it, it's still a challenge for ERP systems to deal with all that data and capture it in a meaningful way.
"Most of our customers have some type of programmable logic controller on their equipment," Welsh said. "But only our more sophisticated customers are systematically collecting data from those machines that they're bringing into their ERP environments or reporting over or making decisions on."
Therefore, that whole bridge between the machine and the ERP is definitely an opportunity for improvement.
"There's a lot of talk about the internet of things [IoT], right? But when you're talking about a thing being a metal stamping press that was purchased 20 years ago, it's got a long way to go yet before it falls into the internet of things," Welsh said.
From an ERP standpoint, the vendors that have cloud figured out can do this today -- but it's just not being done, Welsh added
"I think that the higher hurdle are the devices, and getting those devices in sort of the framework between the device and the ERP solution -- getting those efficiently in sync in a cost-effective way," he said. "I think we're still four or five years out."
Data integration: A challenge and a strategy
Debbie Krupitzer, industrial internet of things practice lead for North America at Capgemini, agreed that to ensure a smooth transition to digital manufacturing, companies are looking at integration with ERP.
"Everybody is talking to us about data aggregation -- how to take the data from the sensors or from the [manufacturing execution system] or from the factory floor and push this back into the ERP piece," she said. "And what we're seeing is that the big ERP players, like SAP, are actually addressing this. They're creating platforms for the data aggregation pieces so they can parse that data back straight into the ERP based on business cases."
The big vendors are addressing the fact that they know that the big ERP implementations are over, according to Krupitzer. Now, it's all about APIs and building the APIs off the sensors and new technology platforms and how to push those back into the ERP.
"So, if you've already invested in a large ERP, what they're saying is that you don't have to reinvest in that -- go back on the APIs or the build outs from the sensor data and then push that back into the ERP," Krupitzer said. "It's more about integration. How you can take all of these new technology platforms, i.e., robotics and AR [augmented reality] and sensors and IoT, and how you can utilize that back into the ERP in a really fast and seamless way."
Nagi Prabhu, chief product officer at Icertis, a provider of contract management software in Bellevue, Wash., said that to determine if ERP systems are meeting the digital transformation needs of manufacturers, it's important to first figure out why digital manufacturing is happening in the first place.
Prabhu said digital manufacturing is the result of the digitization that is happening in the front end with the advancement of customer relationship management and configurators, as well as new services that are being offered by companies to customers that haven't been offered previously.
"The need for faster service, the need to do it more accurately and provide new services is what is driving this digitization," he said. "So the front end has gone through a lot of the digitization process, and that is driving a lot of the back-end digitization process."
Dave Morfas, director of product marketing at Plex Systems, a provider of cloud ERP for manufacturers based in Troy, Mich., said that if manufacturers want to transform their companies, they need to do three things: connect, control and unlock their people.
"What we mean is that, historically, there have been way too many disconnected systems, way too many disconnected processes, and it was way too difficult to get to the information they need to get to in their [ERP] system," he said. "ERP systems driven by manufacturers need to be able to be that connective tissue much better than they have in the past."
Manufacturers must also be able to control their systems better, which means they have to have better visibility into the comings and goings within their systems, including work in process inventory and traceability back and forth, according to Morfas.
In addition, they must have better real-time control on the shop floor, as well as control of quality, from anywhere on any device, i.e., seeing issues happening in real time and controlling them in real time.
Once ERP companies and manufacturers get that control, in Plex's case with cloud ERP, manufacturers have to have the people resources to manage this transformation, Morfas said.
"When you have a cloud ERP system that takes all the infrastructure and all the IT ... off the table, it enables you to take your best technical resources, that were occupied managing those, to do other things, to do data analytics, to do business process analysis, to make the system much more automated, much more controlled," he said.
Learn how digital manufacturing and product lifecycle management are connected
The evolving role of ERP in organizations' digital transformation strategies
Top 10 ERP trends of 2017 and beyond


text:
Yuga labs’ new $450M funding led by A16z is geared towards building a Metaverse project.
Yuga Labs, the owner of the Bored Ape Yacht Club and crypto punk, officially announced via Twitter that it had secured $450 million in investment at a $4 billion value. Yuga Labs plans to use the funds to establish a media empire centred on NFTs, starting with games and its own metaverse project.
Yuga Labs’ metaverse project “Otherside”
Otherside, the metaverse project by the NFT creators is described as an MMORPG that connects the wider NFT world. According to Wylie Aronow, a co-founder of Bored Ape Yacht Club who goes by the moniker Gordon Goner, they want to build “an interoperable universe” that is “gamified” and “totally decentralized.” “We believe that the true Ready Player One experience will be driven by the players.”
The news of the new project comes only weeks after the company acquired CryptoPunks and Meebits from Larva Labs in a big drive to consolidate the NFT industry.
The NFT giants now have a larger portfolio of IP to draw from when developing their game and metaverse plans, thanks to the acquisition of three of the most profitable NFT collections. Last week, Yuga Labs also introduced ApeCoin, a cryptocurrency that would be controlled autonomously and utilized as the principal money in Yuga Labs’ sites.
CEO Nicole Muniz said Yuga Labs is working with “a few different gaming developers” to bring Otherside to reality. The game will not be confined to Bored Ape owners, and the business hopes to provide development tools that would allow NFTs from other projects to interact with them. “We’re basically opening the entrance to a walled garden and saying, ‘Everyone is welcome.’”
Yuga Labs’ wants to enter the metaverse differently
While other firms entered the metaverse once Facebook changed its name to Meta, Yuga Labs believes that these newcomers are approaching metaverse ideas incorrectly, allowing the startup to stand out.
According to Greg Solano, a Yuga Labs co-founder who goes by the nickname Gargamel, people will not bond by spending time together in a shared virtual world with nothing going on. Instead, he claims, individuals form bonds as a result of being forced to work together.
Solano explains, “You only play with people and become friends when you’re getting your ass kicked.” “Basically, we don’t believe that having a Zoom conversation and going around saying ‘hello’ provides a rich social experience.”
Yuga Labs has refused to give a release date for Otherside, although their Tweet showed that it would happen in April. A play-to-earn game is also part of the plans by Yuga Labs, this, however, would be later this year.
Andreessen Horowitz, which has been investing aggressively in the Web3 field, led the fundraising round, which was one of the largest for an NFT startup to date. It has previously invested in companies such as OpenSea, Dapper Labs, and Coinbase.
Animoca Brands, as well as cryptocurrency startups Coinbase and MoonPay, are among those who have invested in the round. Yuga Labs will also be welcoming Chris Lyons, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, to its board of directors. The Financial Times broke the news of the funding discussions last month.
“To me, Yuga Labs, combined with these other emerging web3 companies, are an important counterweight to companies like Meta,” Chris Dixon, who leads Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm, tells The Verge.
“There’s a dystopian future where Meta is this kind of dominant digital experience provider, and all of the money and control goes to that company.” Interestingly, Marc Andreessen, the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, is on Meta’s board of directors and was an early investor in Facebook.
To date, Yuga Labs has been making significant financial strides. According to a leaked pitch deck, the business generated $137 million last year, mostly by taking a share of transactions associated with its NFT brands, with a profit margin of 95%. Yuga Labs did not respond to comments about the statistics in the deck.
According to OpenSea’s data, the company’s NFT collections have a maximum of 40,000 users, and it has only produced one game for a brief time. That means Yuga Labs is being granted hundreds of millions of dollars to start from scratch and develop a gaming firm — or at least the Web3-ified 2022 version of one — on the strength of a tremendously profitable art endeavour.
When it comes to investing in Yuga Labs, the creators want to see it thrive beyond the industry standards. “They created this energizing community and a cultural phenomenon,” Dixon explains. But, in the end, the corporation is making the same enormous bet as so many others: that some type of metaverse initiative will become the next big thing. They only need to construct it now.


text:
Microsoft has announced that it has released the first set in a series of of downloadable Halo 3
content with the Heroic Map Pack, consisting of three new multiplayer maps, all customizable in Bungie's in-game editor Forge.
in November, Microsoft says each of the three maps will present a different play style. Standoff (pictured) features a symmetrical valley with entrenched bases and fields of bounders, oriented for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat's Nest features labyrinthine passages that create a Campaign-oriented experience ideal for indoor vehicles.
The third map, Foundry, allows players to edit all of the objects in an industrial warehouse, placing stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to build their own play space and customize their own map.
Apart from Forge editing, Microsoft says it and Bungie are continuing to make updates to the game's matchmaking playlists to "ensure that ranked and social gameplay remains dynamic and competitive."
Currently the downloads are available at the price of 800 Microsoft Points ($10), with the maps becoming free downloads in Spring of next year, when Microsoft says the next map pack will be released.


text:
Ciara and Russell Wilson debut retail store in Denver area
A bright and bold boutique backed by hit R&B singer Ciara and new Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is now open on the first floor of Lone Tree's Park Meadows mall.
- The store — its fourth brick-and-mortar location — is headed by Christine Day, former CEO of Lululemon.
What they're saying: "We didn't want to just build this fashion house just to make really good clothes," Wilson said at the grand opening Monday night. "What we really wanted to do is have an impact." He added that 3% of profits go to a charity for children.
- "This is an ... exciting chapter in our lives and our journey, and it just couldn't be any more amazing and sweeter to have all of you guys here with us on this great journey," Ciara said, after cheering, "Heeey, go Broncos, that's right."
More Denver stories
No stories could be found
Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Denver.


text:
“Please don’t touch the artwork” is a phrase we often hear or see plastered on the wall next to masterpieces in museums. Some contemporary artists, however, have expanded their ideas of how artwork can be perceived to make their pieces more inclusive to everyone through the use of 3D printing. Museums enforce no touching of artwork in order to protect the historical artifacts on display from being damaged in addition to ensuring that their monetary value is protected. For the vast majority of art lovers, however, viewing pieces from behind glass frames or displays has little effect on their understanding of the work. By using 3D printing technology, those who are blind or visually impaired are now able to experience classic pieces of art through their sense of touch.
In fact, not only are observers allowed to touch the artwork, but they are encouraged to do so. The most recent of these pieces is a 3D version of Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss,” which was put on display at the Belvedere Museum in Vienna.
This touchable version of the famous symbolist painting is not exactly identical to the original. The sculpture is stark white, completely lacking the bright yellows, greens and reds of Klimt’s classic work. Since this new version is intended to be enjoyed by the visually impaired, only texture—not color—is used to survey the piece.
While the practice of creating touchable replicas of classic artwork is still relatively new, this is not the first time museums have turned to 3D printing as a way to extend the enjoyment of art to the visually impaired. The Prado Museum in Madrid hosted an exhibit titled “Touching the Prado” in 2015. This exhibit featured 3D versions of the museum’s most famous artwork, including pieces by Goya, El Greco and Velázquez.
In this collection, however, the touchable versions were intended to recreate the colors of the original artwork as closely as possible. “You have to remember that not everyone who is registered blind can see nothing at all,” Head Designer at Estudios Durero—the group that designed the Prado’s touchable art—Cristina Velasco said. “Many have at least a little vision. For this reason, we knew we had to replicate the original colors as closely as possible.”
Although the 3D version of “The Kiss” lacks color, the varying texture of the sculpture intends to create an image for all who touch it to experience. In addition, most 3D printers can print this replica of “The Kiss” as long as they have access to the correct files.
Many people hope that this revolutionary step in how the world views artwork will lead more museums and galleries to create 3D touchable versions of their famous masterpieces to put on display. Art is a form of expression that everyone deserves to experience, and expanding the amount of people that will have access to it will only better the world as a whole.


text:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Lauryn Hill says she has signed with Sony to pay her overdue taxes.
Hill pleaded guilty last year to not paying federal taxes on $1.8 million earned from 2005 to 2007. The 37-year-old posted on her Tumblr blog late Thursday that she "signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes."
In the post, she adds, "The nature of my new business venture, as well as the dollar amount reported, was inaccurate, only a portion of the overall deal. Keep in mind, my past recordings have sold over 50,000,000 units worldwide, earning the label a tremendous amount of money (a fraction of which actually came to me)."
RELATED: See Lauryn's full blog post


text:
BusinessWeek discusses the future of France’s lagging game industry and the potential for a countrywide comeback.
BusinessWeek has posted a piece explaining France’s hibernating game industry and the potential growth the country has to look forward to. The country is currently faced with some sobering statistics; only 12 percent of the games available on European shelves are made in the continent. Among the country’s problems listed within the article are the loss of half its workforce in five years and the closure of major development studios.
Sébastien Genvo, a former game designer, also noted that a small collection of large studios and an overabundance of independent companies have left the local workforce unbalanced. “With the advent of on-line gaming and with the gaming industry becoming more global in its approach, there was less room for local players. In France, you now find mostly smaller independent development studios and only seven of these have more than 35 people working for them. … The three main studios, Infogrames, Ubisoft and VUG, seem to eclipse the rest. And few of the country’s studios that are developing projects are doing so with the main Japanese or US players.”
Guillaume de Fondaumière, president of trade organisation l’Association des Producteurs d’Oeuvres Multimédia (APOM) feels that the government can help revive business with subsidies. “If you look at the countries with thriving video games industries, you’ll notice that they have governments subsidising those industries, one way or another. This is because their governments have realised that there is a lot at stake economically, technologically and culturally with this industry. … On a more positive note, French developers are now more mature and more organised than they were five years ago. There’s an increasing number of studios working together, creating projects together or sharing resources and technological developments.”
Genvo believes that France has maintained its creativity and innovation throughout its financial slump. “In the future, we will have to be attentive to these modes of alternative creation we are starting to see. Recently, there have been several games that may at first glance seem banal, but whose creators are actually trying out new concepts, thus renewing with the kind of development you’d see in the eighties, when a handful of people would create a game with the intention of having it widely broadcast, but would create it with a minimum of editorial constraints. Or with constraints decided on by these self-same developers.”


text:
HP's 2006 Recyclables Weigh As Much As 600 Jumbo Jets
HP says it recycled more than 164 million pounds of hardware and HP print cartridges worldwide in its 2006 fiscal year.
If you stacked up all the hardware and printer cartridges that Hewlett-Packard recycled last year, the load would weigh more than 600 jumbo jets.
As analysts have predicted, the green movement is seriously hitting the high-tech industry.
"The tech industry will wake up to the green [movement] and get on board with it this year," said Tony Kern, a deputy managing partner with Deloitte, in a recent interview. "There's a very strong green movement, and it will manifest itself as energy savings and devices made from recycled materials."
For HP's part, the hardware manufacturer recycled worldwide more than 164 million pounds of hardware and HP print cartridges in its 2006 fiscal year. That's an increase of 16% over the previous year, according to the company.
On top of that, HP said it collected more than 2.5 million units of hardware globally -- weighing more than 50 million pounds -- to be refurbished for resale or donation.
To date, the company has cumulatively recycled more than 920 million pounds of hardware and cartridges. HP reports that this puts them on track to surpass its goal of recycling 1 billion cumulative pounds by the end of this year.
"Part of environmental responsibility at HP is to provide global recycling programs that give our customers choice, convenience, and control in how to dispose of products responsibly," said Pat Tiernan, VP of corporate, social, and environmental responsibility at HP, in a written statement.
Here are some HP recycling stats:
-- In the Americas region, HP collected more than 42 million pounds of hardware. A series of free consumer recycling events held throughout the United States between June and September recovered 1 million pounds. The events were held in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Oregon;
-- In the Asia Pacific region, HP nearly doubled the amount of hardware it recycled to almost 7 million pounds; and
-- In 2005, HP reported recovering for reuse and recycling more than 45%, or 164 million pounds, of the total volume of hardware taken back by the top three PC vendors at the time. According to HP, IBM recovered about 120 million pounds, and Dell recovered about 80 million pounds.
5 Top Federal Initiatives For 2015As InformationWeek Government readers were busy firming up their fiscal year 2015 budgets, we asked them to rate more than 30 IT initiatives in terms of importance and current leadership focus. No surprise, among more than 30 options, security is No. 1. After that, things get less predictable.
. We've got a management crisis right now, and we've also got an engagement crisis. Could the two be linked? Tune in for the next installment of IT Life Radio, Wednesday May 20th at 3PM ET to find out.


text:
AS Watson Benelux has opened a new distribution center in Oosterhout, the Netherlands, boasting an area of 14,000 square meters, marking its third distribution centre in the region to cater for growing needs.
The new distribution centre will serve multiple purposes including capacitating volume growth in fast moving and volume goods. It will also signal more flexibility for Kruidvat’s network, and will serve the entire Belgium and the South of the Netherlands markets. This will in turn reduce its carbon footprint with shorter distances to all Belgium stores in the shortest time possible as it serves its customers.
In line with its sustainability commitments and promise, the a new building will be fitted with 14,000 solar panels to produce energy that is equivalent to 2,000 households. The new distribution centre is also expected to create new employment opportunities with 80 new colleagues being added to the organisation.


text:
Department for International Trade
UK exporter shortlisted for the Black British Business Awards
Founder and Managing Director of Equidiet UK Ltd, Sandra Murphy has been announced as a 2020 finalist for the Black British Business Awards.
Sandra Murphy, Founder and Managing Director of Lincolnshire-based Equidiet UK Ltd, has been announced as a 2020 finalist for this year’s Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards), after successfully growing her revolutionary equine nutrition business into a global brand.
With over 50 years of experience in the equine industry, Sandra spotted a gap in the market for a natural fibre liquid feed that nourishes and hydrates horses. Seeking to gain the scientific knowledge to bring this product to life, she decided to undertake an Equine Sports Science degree in 2010 at the University of Lincoln.
In 2014, Sandra founded Equidiet UK Ltd and launched Equidgel, the company’s first liquid feed. Sandra has since worked tirelessly to expand her brand both in the UK and internationally. In November 2018, Sandra secured a European Patent, making her the ninth Black woman to be granted a patent in the UK. Sandra is now looking to replicate this success by securing a US Patent.
Sandra Murphy, Founder and Managing Director of Equidiet UK Ltd, yesterday said:
The world is bursting with opportunities for UK businesses to explore and I want to encourage more businesses, especially Black and other ethnic minority owned-businesses, to export.
Over the last twenty years, exporting has become increasingly accessible to companies like mine and I want to show other business owners that it is not something to be fearful of but rather something to capitalise on.
It is extremely humbling to be nominated for a BBBAward and, after what has been a tumultuous year, I am looking to the future – it’s an exciting time for both me and the business.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has supported Equidiet UK Ltd for over five years and DIT officials around the world have introduced the company to a wide range of contacts.
Thanks to DIT support, Equidiet UK Ltd now exports to 11 countries, with aspirations to enter several new markets in 2021, including the US and Australia
With a new Hi-Drate product that instantly relieves the effects of dehydration in horses, ponies and other animals, Equidiet UK Ltd could play a crucial role in protecting Australia’s wildlife against the wildfires.
Minister for Exports, Graham Stuart, yesterday said:
It is fantastic that Equidiet UK Ltd has been shortlisted for a Black British Business Award. Through innovation and hard work, the company is now recognised globally as a leading equine nutrition brand and this nomination is a testament to that.
We are continuously striving to make exporting more accessible to British businesses of all sizes and sectors. The free trade agreements we are negotiating will reduce barriers to trade, open up new markets and make it easier for SMEs like Equidiet UK Ltd to trade internationally.
Winners for each category, as well as the Black British Business Person of the Year, will be revealed at the Black British Business Awards Digital Ceremony taking place on Friday 30 October 2020.
Latest News from
Department for International Trade
UK ready to boost CPTPP’s economic clout, says Trade Minister on Asia-Pacific visit01/02/2023 09:15:00
Trade Minister Greg Hands heads to Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore for high level trade talks and to promote UK's accession to CPTPP.
New Defence Export Advocate appointed to drive UK defence exports25/01/2023 12:10:00
Lord Lancaster appointed as the Government's new Defence Export Advocate by the Trade Secretary, to drive the UK's defence exports in a brand-new role.
UK and North Carolina State hold inaugural Working Group meeting25/01/2023 11:10:00
First North Carolina Working Group meeting under the UK-North Carolina trade MoU takes place in Raleigh
Aussies to toast tariff-free British G&Ts in 2023 under new trade deal30/12/2022 13:05:00
British gin and tonic producers see success exporting their products to Australia thanks to the UK-Australia trade deal
Joint outcome statement: UK-India round six FTA negotiations22/12/2022 13:20:00
Round six of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of India, and Secretary of State visit to India
UK - Gulf Cooperation Council trade negotiations update: December 202220/12/2022 15:25:00
Round two of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
New Permanent Secretary appointed to the Department for International Trade15/12/2022 09:15:00
The Cabinet Secretary has appointed Gareth Davies as the new Permanent Secretary to the Department for International Trade.
Joint Statement on UK - Indiana Memorandum of Understanding, Working Group.13/12/2022 13:10:00
The first Working Group enabled by the UK/Indiana Memorandum of Understanding took place in Indianapolis yesterday [Mon 12 December].


text:
Jan 23, 2018
J&J reports quarterly loss on $13.6 billion tax charge
Jan 23, 2018
Johnson & Johnson reported a quarterly loss due to a $13.6 billion (9.75 billion pounds) charge related to the new U.S. tax law, but beat adjusted quarterly profit estimate on strong demand for new cancer drugs and gains from its Actelion acquisition.
A number of U.S. companies with sizable international operations are booking huge charges related to the new tax law, which encourages companies to repatriate their offshore earnings.
International operations accounted for nearly a half of J&J's total fourth-quarter sales of $20.20 billion, which was up 11.5 percent from a year earlier.
Higher sales of cancer drugs Darzalex and Imbruvica, and psoriasis drug Tremfya helped drive a 17.6 percent rise in pharmaceuticals sales to $9.68 billion, the company said.
High-margin treatments from Actelion, which was acquired by J&J for $30 billion in 2016, accounted for about a quarter of the pharmaceutical unit's sales growth.
Sales at J&J's consumer products unit, which makes Band-Aids, Neutrogena beauty products and Tylenol, rose 3.1 percent to $3.5 billion.
The net loss was $10.71 billion, or $3.99 per share, for the latest quarter, compared with a profit of $3.81 billion, or $1.38 per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, J&J earned $1.74 per share, slightly above the analysts' average estimate of $1.72 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
J&J forecast an adjusted profit of $8 to $8.20 per share on revenue of $80.6 billion to $81.4 billion for 2018.
Analysts on average were expecting a profit of $7.87 per share and revenue of $80.7 billion.
Shares of the company were up marginally in premarket trading.
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.