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Valeant is trying to rework its distribution deal with Walgreens after admitting Tuesday that the agreement is losing the company money on some prescriptions. But how did it get there?
According to the Financial Times’ sources, it was desperate times that called for desperate measures. On the heels of terminating its relationship with specialty pharmacy Philidor--which was at the center of channel-stuffing claims lobbed at the company last fall--Valeant was in need of a reputation boost. And Walgreens provided it--for a price.
The drugstore chain’s CEO, Stefano Pessina, negotiated a highly favorable deal for his company in exchange for lending its support, the sources say. The details: Walgreens nets a fee for dispensing Valeant’s drugs whether or not Valeant is reimbursed. And about 25% of the company’s products sold through Walgreens are dispensed without securing prior authorization from insurers--a much higher proportion than at Philidor, the FT notes. That leaves Valeant in the lurch if insurers won't pay.
“Every time a prescription goes out the door, we’re taping dollar bills to that prescription,” as new CEO Joseph Papa said on Tuesday’s Q1 call with shareholders.
Valeant, for its part, is “confident that we will be able to resolve the issues in the near term and improve the patient and prescriber experiences,” a spokesman told the newspaper, and Papa on Tuesday said he was “very committed” to doing so.
But if he can’t restructure the deal, he’s up for terminating it, sources told the FT--and he thinks a “material adverse change” clause in the contract will give him the legal footing to do just that.
Papa is also contemplating a couple other routes, and those include hiring a third-party company to help doctors secure insurance coverage when they write prescriptions. He’s held talks with CoverMyMeds, a private group based in Ohio. And then there’s the option of requiring patients to shell out on their own meds, such as upping co-pays or giving one script away for free, but requiring customers to pay for refills in cash.
Valeant’s image may have hit a new low after Tuesday’s Q1 call
Valeant slashes guidance yet again as Q1 earnings take a beating
Valeant weighs sales of controversial heart meds, laggard Provenge: Bloomberg
Valeant files overdue 10-K, makes sweeping board changes in push for turnaround
It's official: Pearson out, Papa in as Valeant CEO
Valeant investors, shocked by lightweight guidance, aren't buying CEO Pearson's recovery plans
Valeant strikes price-cutting deal with Walgreens, hoping to polish its tarnished image


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According to The Guardian, Google is planning to redesign its home page to match its mobile app experience.
Google’s signature home page, consisting only of a logo and a search bar, is set to be replaced by a home page that more closely resemble the home page on its iOS and Android app.
When opening the mobile app, users are greeted with a search bar followed immediately by a personalized feed of recent news stories.
Google recently implemented improved machine learning to its home page, making the feed more adept at predicting what users may be interested in reading.
In addition, users can now manually follow topics of interest, which will be added to the home page feed.
If and when Google brings this experience to desktop, it will mark the most significant change the company has made to its home page since 1996.
Having a personalized feed on the home page will almost certainly require users to be logged in. When not logged in, I can only assume users will see a generic selection of trending news stories.
Will we be looking back 10 years from now and saying “Hey, remember when Google’s home page was only a logo and a search bar?”
We’ll have to wait and see. I will post any new developments on this story as I hear about them.

domain: news


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Content Copyright © 2010 Bloor. All Rights Reserved.
Also posted on: Security Blog
As my colleague, Peter Cooke, wrote a couple of weeks ago, few businesses in the UK were prepared for the recent wintry conditions and snow, and small businesses in particular found themselves out in the cold. For those of us living on the continent, which was once again bathed in fresh snow over the weekend, the inability of the UK to cope with inclement weather has been gleefully reported on the news channels. With only minor, localised inconvenience seen on the continent, most workers found themselves little disadvantaged.
In the UK, it has been a different matter. In trying to put a figure on what the recent cold spell has cost the UK—and it may not be the last—the Federation of Small Businesses estimates that three million people in the UK missed work on the first working day of 2010 owing to severe weather conditions, costing businesses some


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Flippy the burger-flipping robot is on a break already
PASADENA, Calif. — Flippy, the burger-flipping robot that threatens to supplant short-order cooks, has taken its first extended break.
But the burger maker isn't blaming balky robotics for the snafu. Rather, it says humans -- or in this case, not enough of them -- are at fault.
After word got out about a human-replacing robot that could grill as many as 2,000 burgers a day, the Cali Group, which operates the Cali Burger chain says it was swamped with more interest, both from curious diners and potential robot buyers, than it could handle.
When news coverage about Flippy went viral, the Cali Group said it realized it needed to spend more time on training humans to keep up.
While Flippy held up its end of the deal, the restaurant is short of humans to prepare the patties for the grill and then pile on the lettuce and other fixins', said Anthony Lomelino, chief technology officer for Cali Group. For now, there's no robot for those tasks.
The robotic arms of "Flippy's Kitchen" is still on static display at Caliburger. The stage where patrons would normally line up for a peek was dark when USA TODAY visited Thursday, and there was little sign that Flippy would be coming back, but just when was "TBA" -- or to be announced. The restaurant was operating without the robot using its regular, human-run kitchen.
Flippy may be temporarily down, but he's far from out.
So far, tests by restaurants using robots have been mostly viewed as public-relations stunts. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the Zume Pizza chain uses a pizza-making robot to cook the pies while Sally the robot, also in the San Francisco area, makes your salad.
But whether it's burgers, cars or farming, robots are gradually becoming capable of doing jobs that employ millions of workers. In late 2017, a study by the Pew Research Center showed three-quarters of Americans said it is at least "somewhat realistic" that robots and computers eventually will perform most of the jobs now done by people. The survey found respondents worried about the fallout, such as income inequality that would result from mass unemployment.
In the decade leading up to last year, restaurant jobs that focused on fast food rose 40% to 4.9 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's faster than health care, construction or manufacturing.
Fast-food workers have been pushing for higher wages. Some big chains, facing high turnover and voter mandates, have complied.
But not all. Many workers are still fighting to earn $15 an hour. Caliburger pays employees from $13 to $14 an hour, depending upon the location.
"People who work in fast food aren’t scared of robots. What’s really scary is getting paid so little we need food stamps and public assistance to take care of our families," says Rosalyn King, a McDonald’s worker from Detroit who is active in the union-backed Fight for $15 movement.
For Caliburger, which advertises $3.99 "Southern California-style" hamburgers, keeping employees in the kitchen is difficult, the company says.
“We train them, they work on the grill, they realize it’s not fun ... and so they leave and drive Ubers,” says John Miller, CEO of the Cali Group.
Caliburger hopes to have 50 restaurants open by the end of the year. After Pasadena, it hopes to have a Flippy at its locations in Seattle; Washington, D.C.; and Annapolis, Md.
Once Caliburger works the kinks out, Flippy robots will certainly take jobs away, says Julie Carpenter, a research fellow with the Ethics and Emerging Sciences Group at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Calif. But she doesn't see fast food going 100% robotic. Restaurants will still need cashiers, people to open and close up, and workers for other tasks.
As for reception from the public, she says, "people might think it's cool, or angry that machines are taking over."
Cali's Lomelino was enlisted to get Flippy up and running, and is now training the store manager about the ins and outs of working with robots. Specifically, that means putting burger patties together, seasoning them, and prepping them for the robot to grab, grill, flip and making them ready for customers.
"Mostly it's the timing," he said. "When you're in the back, working with people, you talk to each other. With Flippy, you kind of need to work around his schedule. Choreographing the movements of what you do, when and how you do it."
The moral to the story: technology is cool and can do many wonderful things, but advancements like robots that can cook a hamburger won't happen overnight, Lomelino said.
His advice to other restaurants looking to enter the robotic revolution: "Be ready for a whole lot of inbound calls."


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The slowdown in consumer spending is depressing the growth of debit purchase volume, once an earnings stronghold for Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc.
The two companies, which are scheduled to report quarterly results this week, have already suffered from the continuing contraction in credit card purchase volume growth.
Fourth-quarter results of major issuers indicate that U.S. debit purchase volume has also started to slow dramatically and could start shrinking soon.
U.S. debit purchase volumes "could go negative," said Eric Grover, a former Visa executive and the principal of Intrepid Ventures, a consulting firm in Menlo Park, Calif. "I don't think that debit globally goes negative," he said, but "if it's 1% growth, 2% growth, and I'm [Visa CEO] Joe Saunders, that's a pretty bad number."
Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst with KBW Inc.'s Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc., agreed.
"You're definitely going to see a pretty substantial slowdown" in debit purchase volume, he said last week. For Visa and MasterCard, such a slowdown "definitely results in lower top-line growth," he said, which, "all else equal, translates to lower earnings growth."
Debit card spending is traditionally considered less vulnerable to economic downturns than credit card spending, because consumers tend to put more of their nondiscretionary spending — things like groceries or fuel — on their debit cards.
But even nondiscretionary volume can be affected when consumers reduce overall spending.
Analysts said Visa and MasterCard can offset a slowdown in debit purchases by reducing expenses — and by raising prices for banks.
Bruce Harting, an analyst at Barclays PLC's investment bank, wrote in a note to clients last month that MasterCard planned to roll out such an increase at the end of April, and predicted Visa "will follow shortly thereafter."
In an interview Tuesday, Mr. Harting said that, "in exchange for better service levels at this point in the cycle," he expects MasterCard to raise pricing for its acquirers and issuers. "More of the price increases that we believe have happened have been on cross-border activity. … This will be one of the first ones I've seen on the domestic clearing management system."
Neither Visa nor MasterCard would discuss the matter for this article; both cited their quiet periods before their earnings reports. (Visa reports Wednesday after the market closes, and MasterCard is scheduled to report Thursday morning.)
Mr. Sakhrani said both companies have "flexibility on the expense side" to cut "more than what we've seen up to this point."
For Visa, which went public a year ago, "one would think they've got more wood to chop," he said. "We haven't really seen a whole lot of expense control at MasterCard, because they have been growing their personnel." (The company said in November that it had put a cap on hiring.)
Visa and MasterCard shares have been under pressure in recent weeks; Visa's shares have fallen about 7% this year, MasterCard's about 2%. Christopher Mammone of Deutsche Bank AG wrote in a note to investors last week that Visa issuers, including Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., and U.S. Bancorp, posted "an average purchase volume decline of 3%" in the fourth quarter, compared to a year earlier, for credit and debit cards combined.
Two major MasterCard issuers, Citigroup Inc. and Capital One Financial Corp, posted an average purchase volume decline of 13% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, he wrote.
"While the drop-off in credit card purchases explains most of this decrease, debit volumes have also decelerated more materially than we or the market would have expected," Mr. Mammone wrote.
Philip J. Philliou, a former Amex and MasterCard executive and a partner at the payment consulting firm Philliou Selwanes Partners LLC, said Visa and MasterCard are "not immune to lower consumer spending levels."
After substantial "increases in debit transaction volumes" in previous quarters, "it is shocking to see such a dramatic slowdown," Mr. Philliou said.
But he joined other analysts in reiterating that the companies are well positioned for the long term, as "the global movement away from cash and checks toward electronic forms of payment will continue."


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Sales at stores open at least a year - the most important measure of a retailer's strength - rose 3.3 percent during the nine-week holiday season.
Online sales grew by 39 percent, including 49 percent in the U.S. and 8 percent in the U.K.
Signet's fourth quarter and 2013 fiscal year both end Feb. 2.
The company is expecting diluted earnings of $2.05 to $2.10 per share for the quarter and $4.28 to $4.33 per share for the year, compared to last year.
Total sales at its stores in the U.S. and United Kingdom rose 4.4 percent to $3.71 billion for the past 48 weeks. Online sales grew 37 percent for the year; 44 percent in the U.S. and 14 percent in the U.K.
Within those numbers, Signet's 1,400-store U.S. division, Sterling Jewelers Inc. in Akron, saw sales grow by 9.9 percent to $1.03 billion during the holidays. For the past 48 weeks, sales grew 6.2 percent to $3.06 billion.
Holiday sales rose 5.8 percent at Kay and 4.8 percent at Jared, but fell 4 percent at regional brands including J.B. Robinson Jewelers.
At its 500 U.K. stores, including H. Samuel the Jeweller and Ernest Jones, sales declined by 5 percent to $203.4 million during the holidays. During the past 48 weeks, sales slipped 3.2 percent to $644.5 million.
"We are pleased with our holiday season performance in both sales and margins," said Chief Executive Mike Barnes, in a statement.
He said sales were especially strong across merchandise offerings in U.S. stores, "led by our initiatives in bridal, branded and exclusive merchandise, colored diamonds, fashion jewelry and watches."
U.K. stores saw the strongest sales in watches and branded jewelry.
"We believe that Signet is well-positioned for fiscal 2014," Barnes said.
Signet also declared a cash dividend of 12 cents per common share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, payable on Feb. 27 to shareholders of record on Jan. 28.
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Small-cap media stocks have so far been sheltered from the headwinds buffeting the retail sector even though their fortunes are largely tied to the health of the consumer discretionary industry. This disconnect isn’t expected to last and this could mean that many media names could underperform in the new year.
Retailers on the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries have been struggling on both sides of break-even over the past 12 months while small media stocks have posted a median return close to 18 per cent.
Fragile consumer sentiment following November’s interest rate hike, price deflation from the strong Australian dollar and heavy discounting due to intense competition – particularly from the online space – have kept retailers on a back foot.
Sentiment towards media has been more buoyant as these stocks tend to be early beneficiaries in an economic recovery.
EL&C Baillieu head of research, Ivor Ries, noted that earnings in the media sector are good for the six months to December as the fight for the share of the consumer wallet among consumer-facing companies has bolstered demand for advertising.
“Media spend and retail spend move in tandem in the long run. They don’t remain disconnected for too long," said Mr Ries.
“If retails sales don’t start to improve in the first half of [calendar] 2011, then obviously you’ll start to see some media budgets being cut."
Citigroup noted that retailers represents the single largest category of advertisers at 19.5 per cent of total advertising spend, excluding online search advertising. These advertisers are forecast to have lifted their ad spend by 12 per cent in 2010 from the previous year to $2.3 billion.
The broker believes that radio is the most reliant on retail advertising, with television and newspaper publishers running close behind.
“Regional media is far more dependent on ‘retail’, contributing 33 per cent of ad spend across TV, radio and newspapers," said Citigroup analyst Justin Diddams.
Whether it is time to bail from the media sector really depends on the outlook for retail sales, and the prognosis doesn’t look good according to Mr Ries.
“If the Reserve Bank of Australia [RBA] keeps putting interest rates up, consumers are just going to remain cautious," he said. “We think the RBA will keep putting rates up as there are no other policy levers available [to control inflation]."
EL&C Baillieu doesn’t have any “buy" recommendations on traditional media stocks.
However, Citigroup sees the slowdown in consumer spending as a temporary blip and is expecting a return to trend growth of around 5.5 per cent to 6 per cent by June next year that will underpin retailers continual investment in advertising.
Citigroup’s bullish call is premised on the robust employment market, which is tipped to offset pressure from rising interest rates. The broker is forecasting advertising market growth of 5.6 per cent in 2011 and 4.3 per cent in the following calendar year.
Citigroup’s top buys in this space are pure-play companies like television operator
But the least risky option could be to invest in the online media companies, such as the owner of realestate.com.au,
The Australian Financial Review


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Grant to fund food program for Detroit students
State, Detroit Schools officials to announce healthy summer food program for students
A federal grant will help bring healthy food to 16,000 low-income Detroit Public Schools students during the summer.
State Education and Detroit Schools officials will announce the program Tuesday morning at Spain Elementary north of downtown.
The program is expected to bring more than $2.1 million to participating Detroit area grocery stores.
You may also like:
Whole Foods sets June opening date for Detroit store
Whole Foods plans to open its new store in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood this spring.
The Austin, Texas-based natural grocery store chain announced Friday it plans to open the 21,650-square-foot supermarket on June 5 with about 75 employees.
Whole Foods Market Inc. says details about job openings will be posted online April 2.
Whole Foods will help fill a grocery void in the area. Detroiters have long complained about not having enough places to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and produce.
A groundbreaking for the store was held last year.
- 3D rendering of Detroit Whole Foods released
- Whole Foods makes its move in Detroit
- Flashpoint: Detroit Mayor Discusses Downtown, Whole Foods, Light Rail
- Detroiters Welcome New Whole Foods Grocery Store
- Whole Foods To Open Store In Detroit
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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It’s That Time of Year Again: Shiny New 2013 Parts To Drool Over from BTI
It’s that time of year again. The new BTI catalog is here. If you’ve even ordered a bike part from a shop, chances are good that it came from the wizards at BTI. Their new catalog features a grip-load of new options for components to drool over, which can be perused here: http://www.bti-usa.com
Bicycle Technologies International (BTI) 20th anniversary parts and accessories catalog is now shipping to bicycle shops nationwide. The cover features 20 years of BTI cover art, highlighting just how far the company has come from since its first 24 page b&w booklet was published in 1993. The comprehensive resource has grown to 1,216 pages representing 300 brands, giving dealers more to digest than ever before:
Joining the BTI stable of brands this year:
Braap Energy Bars
Red Bull Media House
Selle San Marco
TRENDS AND STANDARDS
The 2013 book introduces greater category support for 27.5″ (650b), BMX, electronic accessories and Fatbikes. The BTI buying team has implemented the S.H.I.S (Standard Headset Identification System) throughout the entire inventory of headsets, bringing consistency to brands that may have been slow to adopt the standard.
20 YEARS OF ROLLING ALONG
The year ahead promises to be a benchmark for BTI: in addition to rolling out an expanded freight program, the company is less than 2 months away from consolidating its three warehouses into one larger distribution center, and is working on plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary. According to BTI Vice President Preston Martin, “while other distributors are opening regional warehouses, BTI is focused on optimizing inventory fill-rate and improving our speed of delivery from a single location. Dealers can expect a more complete order, faster.”
BTI gave dealers the ability to opt out of receiving the paper catalog this year in favor of using the web. While a significant number of shops chose this option, dealers that still receive the paper catalog can rest assured that the catalog they receive is printed in the USA with soy inks on recycled paper with the Forest Stewardship Council’s seal of approval.
Look for BTI catalogs to begin arriving this week via UPS, with full saturation expected before the middle of February in the lower 48 states. Dealers who have not received catalogs by Feb 18th or shops that would like to order additional copies for their service departments can call BTI’s Customer Service Department: 800-558-8324.
Bicycle Technologies International, based in Santa Fe, NM has been a distributor of cycling products and accessories since 1993. Offering over 20,000 items and nearly 300 global brands to choose from, BTI supplies bike dealers with a wide variety of components, tools and staple items necessary to successfully run a profitable independent bicycle shop. For more information, visit www.bti-usa.com <http://www.bti-usa.com> , or follow BTI on Facebook (Facebook.com/BTIUSA) or Twitter (twitter.com/BTIUSA <http://twitter.com/BTIUSA> ) for new products, business updates and promotions.


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The adoption of technologies to help in the kitchen
accelerated during pandemic
Chicago, December 8, 2020 — In this very upended year, America’s kitchens have become command central for working, schooling, Zooming, entertaining, and preparing significantly more meals and snacks than the pre-pandemic norm, finds The NPD Group. To combat these added stressors, consumers are acquiring and using new technologies to either access foods and beverages or make them easier to prepare in the home, according to NPD’s recently released, What’s
Inside America’s Kitchens, which explores recent kitchen trends, generational differences, and the future outlook for in-home food and beverage consumption.
The adoption of technologies that enable more convenience in ordering food or meal preparation was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the use of digital ordering for groceries and restaurant meals doubled from year ago levels. By summer, 42% of U.S. adults reported shopping for groceries online at least once in the past 30 days compared to just 29% in the same period last year. Digital restaurant orders were growing rapidly pre-pandemic and COVID accelerated it exponentially. In regards to meal prep, voice assistants were used by 55% of U.S. meal preparers to get recipes, convert recipe measurements, keep time, order groceries, and help in an array of other kitchen duties. Although most households don’t have Wi-Fi enabled smart kitchen appliances yet, 42% of these households say they are interested in owning these devices.
“The COVID lockdowns forced consumers to suddenly rethink their food acquisition and preparation strategies, and convenience took on a whole new meaning as households dealt with the increased pressures in the home,” says Darren Seifer, NPD food and beverage industry
analyst. “Technology came to the rescue and helped ease the stress of obtaining and preparing food, and it’s highly unlikely that consumers will stop using these technologies when the pandemic ends. This is a behavior that food companies, manufacturers, and retailers will need to take into account when developing and marketing products.”


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5 March, 2019Auto plants provide well-paid, highly skilled and heavily unionized work, so a spate of plant closures and retrenchments in several countries is worrying for unions. While we need to fight closures plant by plant, we also need to understand the wider structural drivers.
Manufacturers are using the momentum of a profound transformation in the sector to close or consolidated both unprofitable auto plants and as well as profitable operations with slim margins. A falling demand for private cars among younger consumers, with a trend towards new, less individual mobility solutions means car companies are rethinking their manufacturing models globally.
General Motors is an extreme example: the company has shut a plant in Australia, sold its operations in Europe, Russia and Africa, and will close four plants in the US and one in Canada this year at a cost of almost 6,000 jobs.
Honda has announced that it will close its factory in Swindon, UK, with the loss of 3,500 jobs, and discontinue production of the Civic in Gebze, Turkey, affecting 1,000 workers.
Jaguar Land Rover will cut 4,500 jobs globally, and Nissan cancelled plans to build its new SUV in the UK. Ford is reviewing its operations in Europe, and announced that it will close the São Bernardo plant in Brazil, with the loss of 3,000 jobs.
What is behind the turmoil? Local factors, such as Brexit in Britain, influence decisions, but this is a major global restructuring: the industry needs massive investment to shift to the next stage. We need to be part of part of the conversation about managing this change.
What are the key drivers of change?
Car ownership patterns and consumer habits are changing, and most analysts believe demand has peaked. Younger people are far less likely to see car ownership as necessary. Cars are primarily seen as a means of transport, and many people find car pooling or ride sharing apps like Uber to be more convenient. There is also a growth in cycling, the use of electric bikes, scooters and other forms of personal transportation.
Peak oil and climate change
There is a growing awareness of the need to transition from a carbon-based economy. Some governments have already announced petrol and diesel bans that will come into place in future. But replacements like electric vehicles, and the infrastructure needed to maintain them, are not yet ready for mass adoption.
Everyone knows that electrified vehicles are the future, and most auto manufacturers are developing models. However, this is expensive and the models are not yet profitable, so development is speculative. Electric cars have fewer moving parts than those with internal combustion engines, and require fewer workers. IG Metall in Germany expects the loss of 160,000 jobs due to electrified vehicles.
There is a significant debate about how widespread autonomous vehicles will be in the future, but most manufacturers are adding autonomous features to cars. This requires a lot of expensive development. Google’s Waymo project is investing heavily in self-driving taxis.
Car companies face competition not just from new manufacturers like Tesla, but also from Google, Uber and other tech companies who offer alternative solutions to personal transport. Increasingly, value is added to cars by technology, and the danger manufacturers face is that they will become merely hardware providers. To mitigate this, they need to spend a lot of money acquiring technological expertise and software.
Industry 4.0 and the future of work
Auto manufacture is already highly automated, with robots doing a significant amount of the work. A new generation of electric and autonomous vehicles will mean the design of new, completely integrated systems, covering every process along the supply chain. Highly skilled workers will still be needed for assembly and machine maintenance, but a lot of auxiliary jobs will be cut.
What are the solutions?
Without intervention, the auto plants of the future will employ far fewer workers than they do today. While the principles of managing change in industry are familiar, unions must do a lot of focused work to develop credible plans.
Work with companies now
IndustriALL has global framework agreements with a number of auto companies. These facilitate high level discussions about the future of the industry, and provide an opportunity to negotiate the transition to new forms of production.
Lobby government and local authorities
Unions must work with governments to develop sustainable industrial policy and not wait for companies to create jobs. Infrastructure, transport policy and urban planning are crucial. The way cities are designed has major implications for the future of transport.
Repurpose auto factories
With the challenges presented above unions need to prepare for the new world of work. The competence of highly skilled auto workers needs to be preserved and developed to cater for the needs of the future auto industry, but also, when closures are unavoidable, for the needs of new industries that will fill the void. This work will have to be done in cooperation with companies and local and national governments.
Ultimately, unions, companies, governments and urban planners will have to work together on large scale industrial redeployment projects.
Developing an action plan
Over the course of this year, IndustriALL will host a series of meetings designed to develop best practice from affiliates who have experience of these changes.
As well as a series of company-specific network meetings, an expert meeting on changes in the industry will be held this year. In December, this will culminate in an auto meeting where recommendations for dealing with changes in the sector will be discussed.


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Windows 7 Comeback, Yahoo On Top, iPhone 6 Phablet [Tech News Digest]
Today in Tech News Digest, Windows 7 makes a comeback, Yahoo beats Google, Apple plays hardball with Samsung, the iPhone 6 is rumored to be a phablet, Feedly throws new features at us, and the Jamaican bobsled team go crowdfunding.
Windows 7 Back By Popular Demand
The success of Windows 8 is exemplified by HP offering Windows 7 on certain new PC’s and marketing and advertising it
— Pratik Patel (@ppatel) January 21, 2014
HP is actively marketing new computers with Windows 7 as the default operating system. This is despite Windows 8 being the current version of Windows, and the one Microsoft wants you to use (even though Microsoft employees suspect Windows 8 of being the new Vista ).
HP is not only advertising the Windows 7 PCs on its U.S. website, it has also sent an email out to customers telling them about the offer. The pitch includes the term, “Back by popular demand,” suggesting the company is responding to customers wishes.
While Microsoft hasn’t yet put a stop to OEMs pre-installing Windows 7 rather than Windows 8 on new computers, seeing HP pushing the older operating system in such an open way is rather shocking.
There is speculation that HP is acting now in order to persuade Windows XP users to buy a new machine ahead of Microsoft ending support for that operating system (on April 8). Whether this is the case or not, Microsoft cannot possibly be pleased with this turn of events.
Yahoo Beats Google
— Richie Hannah (@rrrrichie) January 20, 2014
It’s hard to imagine Google being beaten in terms of usage, but that’s exactly what is happening at the moment. According to comScore, Yahoo gets more visitors than Google, at least in the U.S. and amongst desktop users.
December 2013 was the sixth month in a row that Yahoo enjoyed a greater number of unique visitors than Google, with the most recent numbers being 195 million over 192 million. Yahoo may be struggling as a company in many different ways, but it seems a lack of traffic isn’t an issue.
Apple Vs. Samsung: The Clone Wars
The fierce legal battle between Apple and Samsung is rolling on, but negotiations are taking place as both companies try to avoid another court date. The problem preventing a settlement occurring is Apple’s insistence that Samsung essentially stop copying Cupertino’s products.
As spotted by FOSS Patents, B.J. Watrous, Apple’s chief intellectual property counsel, recently stated in a court filing that “discussions with Samsung have consistently included limits to both the scope of any license and a prohibition against cloning Apple products.” Unsurprisingly, Samsung has so far refused to accept such a provision.
New iPhone 6 Rumors
— Nikki Tran (@ilhubveuu) January 21, 2014
The latest rumors regarding the iPhone 6 suggest it will arrive in June 2014 and have a larger screen size than previous models. Apple Insider is actually suggesting there will be two different models, one with a 4.7-inch screen, and another with a 5.7-inch screen. The latter can accurately be described as a phablet.
Interestingly, these new rumors mesh nicely with the previous rumors (from November 2013), suggesting there is at least some truth to them. Apple fanboys had better start saving their pennies now. And queuing outside their nearest Apple Store .
Feedly Features Froth Forth
Feedly has been rather busy of late, announcing a slew of new updates and added features. First up, the company has launched a URL shortener it hopes will up the rate of content sharing. Feedly has also released an update to its iOS app , with speed reading and a night theme being amongst the extras on offer. Is this all enough to counter its previous bad behavior ?
Cool Runnings, Hot Crowdfunding
And finally, the Internet has raced to the rescue of the Jamaican bobsled team. The team recently qualified for the Winter Olympics in Sochi — cue talk of Cool Runnings and an unlikely success story — but realized they couldn’t afford to make the trip to Russia.
Thankfully, the Internet stepped in to ensure the Jamaicans could attend the Olympics. More than $100,000 has been raised on Crowdtilt, more than $30,000 has been raised on Indiegogo, and 26 million Dogecoins were in the space of just a couple of hours.
All that’s required now is for the Jamaican bobsled team to win the gold. Otherwise the Internet will ask for a refund.
Tech News Digest… Breaking News Into Bite-Sized Chunks.
Image Credit: Imilyas
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Popcap CEO Dave Roberts says the popular casual game company could be headed for an initial public offering of stock in a matter of months.
"We are very much in the process of preparing a listing," Roberts told reporters at a news conference, as reported by Reuters
. "We expect to be ready to be listed as early as November this year."
Roberts has been talking publicly of a potential IPO since as far back as December
, and said in April that the company has been in talks with both the New York and NASDAQ stock exchanges, with the latter being a more likely home for the company's offering.
In a March interview with Gamasutra
, Roberts said that, regardless of any IPO plans, the company would not be seeking to get bought in the near future.
"Whenever you [talk about filing] an [IPO], you’re pretty much guaranteed that someone will come and try to buy you," he said. "Our goal is not about an exit at PopCap. It’s about creating this legacy of games that mean as much as Monopoly and Scrabble to the world."
The company has been expanding its international footprint recently, signing a Plants vs. Zombies distribution deal with Chinese social gaming network Renren
and launching a Pop Tower social game service in Japan
studio Rovio has recently been making noise
about pursuing an IPO in the next few years.
Social gaming giant Zynga, meanwhile, has remained largely silent on widespread speculation of an IPO, amidst private investment that puts the company's value in the billions


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Week in Review
Don't let the headlines and hype about AI fool you into thinking everything is about to change soon, it's not, says Karamjit Singh. And watch out for quantum computing.
It’s a startup heavy week on DNA with HelloGold, raising its Series A right on the heels of its US$5 mil ICO.
DNA collaborates with Multimedia University to gauge whether social media will influence readers when they vote in GE14 next month.
Trying to decode the DNA of a successful startup leads CodeArmy to identify three traits. But is it that straightforward, questions Karamjit Singh.
Go-Jek was supposed to go on the offensive with its impending SEA expansion but the Grab-Uber merger changes that.
Alibaba is pouring in US$2 billion into SEA while Ganesh Kumar Bangah aims to ease the journey for SMEs into digital.
Rising labour costs see world’s largest glove maker turn to digital as a big part of the answer.
Work and our pace at work hits Karamjit Singh during this CNY season along with a merger in Indonesia’s co-working space.
2018 marks the handover of responsibility to develop Malaysia’s software testing ecosystem from one agency, MSTB to another, MDEC and Karamjit Singh likes the move.
A story on a startup targeting the niche sugar daddy market had DNA in a momentary tangle while MDEC taps Alibaba’s AI strength.


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British watchmaker Bremont has secured an investment of 48.4 million pounds (59 million dollars) following a record year.
The funding came from investors Bill Ackman and his affiliate, alongside existing investor Hellcat LP.
“This new capital will enable us to invest in marketing, distribution, and talent,” said Bremont co-founder Giles English in a statement.
He continued: “The British watch industry is the birthplace of some of the most important timekeeping innovations, including the perpetual calendar, and we are delighted to continue our country's history of manufacturing and innovation through the global growth of Bremont.”
The investment comes after Bermont reported record annual revenue growth of 28 percent in its most recent financial year.
The funding will also help Bremont open new boutiques in the US and globally, expand wholesale operations, enhance JV partnerships, and improve brand visibility.


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« Back to Music News
New Products coming soon to GuitarClub
Guitarclub will soon have a new Tee-Shirt line , the new online store will be started on CafePress featuring over 90 products (99 percent of the items will be guitar items ). I'll be adding the link soon to guitarclub's homepage .
See you Soon
Posted : 7/5/2007 10:51 AM


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Revealed: How Apple dumped Google Maps because it was scared of Android... but now faces user backlash over new software's dodgy directions and melting bridges
- Apple is fixing problems as they go along, but users are finding many errors with the app
- Users may expect some hiccups with iPhone 5 launching today
Apple has come under fierce criticism for ditching Google Maps from its new operating system in favour of its own geographical app.
Some users are fuming over the poor quality of the replacement maps, which have odd routes (via rivers), incorrect addresses (miles away) and preposterous images (feet is a measurement, not an appendage).
But it has now emerged that the damage was entirely self-inflicted - Apple made a deliberate decision to dump Google, as the search giant is too much of a threat to its future business.
Oops! The road to the Hoover Dam looks more like a roller coaster than a highway on Apple's new maps
Oui or Oy? The Eiffel Tower has become the leaning tower of Paris
The new Maps: With Google removed from the iPhone, users have been getting to grips with the new - but sometimes inaccurate - solution from Apple. At left, for example, Apple thinks 550 King St in Massachusetts is 250 'feet' away
Users were highly critical of Apple Maps for iOS6 when it was released on Wednesday, complaining that there were errors abound in the new application and it was 'pretty but dumb'.
And when a senior tech executive was asked by the Guardian whether the change was made by Apple itself or by Google, the reply came: 'Duh - not Google.'
Both companies have worked closely together in developing Google Maps for the iPhone - a service which many smartphone users have become heavily dependent on.
But, since Google's Android operating system Android is the main rival to iOS, Apple has been reluctant to co-operate, and has now decided to go it alone when it comes to mapping for the iPhone.
The split had apparently been planned for over a year - but when Apple got round to releasing its own map software, the response was withering.
Many users are now hoping to hang on until Google makes a Maps app for iOS6 - as long as Apple does not block the software from appearing on the App Store.
Architecture? The Brooklyn Bridge has been rendered unwalkable!
Squashed: Someone has sat on Indianapolis
Apple has decided to go it alone and produce their own app, purchasing numerous mapping companies in the past few years to prepare for the transition.
They worked with Waze, TomTom and other companies for the mapping data, but the venue search results will rely heavily on Yelp's database, rather than Google's, and are thus vastly inferior.
While the new app has some improvements, it leaves a lot to be desired.
Google's popular Street View option is no longer available, replaced with Apple's wonky 3D option, which shows many structures with photographing ribboning throughout.
Wrong Way: At right, Apple leads a user to the Kosmic Trading Post instead of the Post Office, but don't worry, the address is in the mail. At left, Apple gets lost on its way through SoHo and gives up
Danger: Apple users should be careful driving over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington
Houston, We Have a Problem: Several of the corporate offices in downtown Houston appear to have gas stations on their roofs?
Public transportation routes are also not included in Apple's software and landmarks are mislabeled as gas stations, airports, or other unrelated locations.
'iPhone customers will suffer,' Sarah Rotman Epps, an analyst at Forrester Research, said to Businessweek.
'Apple believes that they can deliver a better experience for customers than Google, but in the short term, Google has a better mapping application.'
'What’s going to happen with the Apple maps, is that you’re literally not going to find things.
When you do find them, they might be in the wrong place or position geographically.
And if you do have it, the route to it may not be the optimal route.'
Waze CEO Noam Bardin
Sources told the magazine that the company was anxious to scale back it's relationship with Google, due to the companies' intense rivalry on the smartphone market.
Google's Android is now the world’s most popular smartphone software.
Users that were quick to update have found numerous errors with the new mapping software, complaining about duplicate islands, wrong locations and vanished buildings.
Waze CEO Noam Bardin, whose company worked to develop the maps, blasted Apple, saying that users will get lost if they use the software.
'They’re now coming out with the lowest, weakest data set and they’re competing against Google, which has the highest data set. What’s going to happen with the Apple maps, is that you’re literally not going to find things. When you do find them, they might be in the wrong place or position geographically. And if you do have it, the route to it may not be the optimal route,' he said to Business Insider.
Directions: At left, Apple instructs a driver to take a ferry - rather than a bridge - to cross San Fransisco and at right, Apple instructs a driver to drive into the tarmac of the airport in Santa Clara
Artistic: M.C. Escher must have been a consultant on the design
Destroyed: The UChicago Logan Arts Center apparently has had an allergic reaction?
For now, iPhone users will be able to reach Google Maps through a mobile Web browser.
TomTom has defended the product saying that as more people use it, it will improve.
TomTom defended the integrity of the map software, saying it provided only the data, and was not responsible for how Apple used it within the app.
A spokesman said: 'The user experience is determined by adding additional features to the map application such as visual imagery.
'User experience fully depends on the choices these manufacturers make.'
'We are confident about our map quality, as selling 65 million portable navigation devices across the world and more than 1.4m TomTom apps for iPhone in the past two years reaffirms this quality.'
Side By Side: Apple users hoping to find this comic book store will need some good luck
Where? The TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota must have grown legs
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AFTER the fun of the 2013 scout jamboree, there will be an opportunity for the Fraser Coast public to bag a bargain.
A clearance sale will be held at Maryborough Showground on January 19.
The items will include camping gear, tables, chairs.
Join the Community.
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World-renowned game developer Zynga has announced a new voice-based puzzle game named Daily Word Wheel for Google Nest devices.
Based on Zynga’s popular Words With Friends title which was launched in July 2009, Daily Word Wheel will provide Google Nest users with a new anagram puzzle. Users will be given five letters and asked to create as many word combinations as possible.
As the game is voice-enabled, players will be able to say or spell out words to enter their combinations. They will also be able to ask for hints, instructions and shuffle letters by using voice commands.
”As gaming continues to evolve, franchises are becoming more universal and less dependent on any specific platform, opening up new opportunities and technologies that expand the reach of our games,” said Bernard Kim, Zynga’s President of Publishing. ”We’re thrilled to partner with Google on Daily Word Wheel, which proves that a fun game experience can transcend any single platform.”
Zynga has released a blog post and announced that Daily Word Wheel will be launched soon on Google Nest Hub Max and also other Google Assistant connected devices. The game will be free and users will be able to play it by asking their virtual assistant to ‘Play Daily Word Wheel’.
According to a recent report by Zynga, 52% of mobile game players find mobile gaming ads memorable while 48% find them more interesting than social media ads and 71% find more interesting than ads shown on TV.


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Apple and ATI are sponsoring a competition encouraging young car designers in the US.
It's called the "Cosmic Blobs Blob Master design competition". MacNN reports that children are being asked to design the "next great car".
Children under 18 years old begin with a digital model of a car shell, which they then stretch and push into shape. Entries will be judged by Lotus engineers and prizes include iPods, Lotus merchandise and ATI cards.
The competition runs until October 15.


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Flower farming on rise in Gaibandha’s Sadullapur
Commercial flower cultivation sees a gradual rise in Sadullapur upazila, thanks to the pioneering role of Moklesur Rahman of Tajnagar village in the area.
In 2014, Moklesur bought 25,000 rose saplings from Jashore for Tk 70 thousand and planted it on 22 decimals of lands.
“After five months, I started plucking flowers from the field and sold it for good prices. As the demand increased in local markets, I extended flower cultivation on three bighas of land,” Moklesur said.
His monthly turnover has reached Tk 1.50 lakh and the profit remains over Tk 80 thousand a month in the flowering season.
“Now I receive orders for flowers from different districts including Bogura, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Joypurhat, Thakurgaon and Kurigram. After sending the items to the destination by bus, I receive the payment on Bkash account,” said Moklesur.
Seeing his success, many other farmers started commercial flower cultivation in different villages of the upazila.
Ashraful Islam, a farmer of Raghobendrapur village, said he started flower cultivation on one bigha of land two years ago and it brings better profit than usual crops or vegetables.
Rose plants give yield for five to seven years, and it needs only a little investment for the cultivation and nursing, he added.
Mostafizur Rahman of Chalknadi village said he cultivated rose, gladiolus, tuberose and ganda flowers on three bighas of land.
“Last year I cultivated tuberose on one bigha spending Tk 20,000 and got over Tk one lakh from selling the flower. I hope to get similar return from tuberose field for the next two years. I also cultivated gladiolus on 15 decimals of land spending Tk 2,000 and sold the flower worth Tk 30,000 during last three months,” he said.
Nayan Mia, a flower shop owner in Gaibandha town, said earlier they had to collect flowers from Jashore and a portion of it perished on the way.
“But now enough fresh flowers are available in Sadullapur upazila, which can be preserved for a few days,” he said.
At least 25 farmers are currently engaged in commercial flower cultivation on over 35 bighas of land as it is profitable, said Khajanur Rahman, upazila agriculture officer of Sadullapur.


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For the second time in less than a month, King’s Hawaiian products took center stage on a major television network.
On Feb. 2, the maker of sweet buns and rolls was featured as part of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” as part of a task in which the show’s celebrity participants were asked to create a photo bomb campaign to promote King’s Hawaiian products.
The winning team, led by Johnny Damon and including Brandi Glanville, Leeza Gibbons and Ian Ziering, incorporated the King’s Hawaiian brand in a variety of shots of New York City, including the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Last month, King’s Hawaiian made its debut on the Hollywood scene as an official partner and snack of the “People’s Choice Awards 2015” that aired on CBS. The brand took center stage with its #stashtherolls integration that included actress Kristen Johnston and actor Donald Faison showcasing how King’s Hawaiian rolls “are so irresistible” that stars hide them for a mid-show snack.
Founded in Hilo, Hawaii, in 1950, King’s Hawaiian is a family-owned and operated business that makes Hawaiian products, including the original Hawaiian sweet dinner roll. The company operates baking facilities in Torrance and Oakwood, Ga.


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Cannabis tech company Springbig is going to become a publicly-traded company through the SPAC Tuatara Capital Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: TCAC). The new symbol when the company begins trading on NASDAQ will be SBIG. It is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2022.
According to the company statement, the estimated post-transaction equity valuation will be approximately $500 million, with roughly $200 million cash on hand after closing. That’s a fairly frothy valuation considering Springbig is only on track to report $24 million in revenue for 2021. It seems the argument for the estimated value is the belief that Springbig expects to capitalize on the steady growth in cannabis retailers as new recreational markets emerge across the U.S., in addition to capturing larger marketing spends from cannabis brands as they work to obtain direct access to consumers through high engagement, omnichannel solutions.
Jeffrey Harris, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of springbig, said, “The key to our success has been empowering our clients by connecting them with their customers and engaging directly as they scale their businesses. Clients can use our SaaS platform to drive increased customer spend, build brand loyalty, and increase their potential reach. We pride ourselves on providing marketing-leading technology solutions and an exceptional level of service to springbig clients. This leads to excellent client retention, providing a robust base for strong future growth. As the cannabis industry continues to grow, this strong foundation will enable us to leverage our data and technology to consolidate across multiple market verticals including data analytics, increased marketing automations, and advertising solutions.”
Harris will continue to lead the company following the closing of the transaction. Current Chief Financial Officer, Paul Sykes, who has significant experience in high-growth SaaS businesses in a public company environment, will also continue in his role. Springbig serves over 1,000 clients across the United States and Canada, compromising more than 2,300 retail locations, and has over 41 million consumers enrolled in its proven B2B2C platform, through which more than 90 million transactions have been processed in the past twelve months with attributable gross merchandise value (“GMV”) of over $7 billion.
“In the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, with numerous regulations and restrictions, springbig has emerged as a market leader in direct-to-consumer marketing and engagement. Springbig’s technology platform drives loyalty and customer engagement, and in this regulated environment, a high level of engagement is crucial for cannabis retailers and brands to reach their customers in an increasingly competitive market,” said Al Foreman, Chief Executive Officer of TCAC. “The extremely talented and experienced team at springbig has harnessed the technologies necessary to address this market opportunity, and they are well-positioned for long-term, sustainable growth as new states progress legalization frameworks and with the potential for Federal cannabis policy reform on the horizon.”


text:
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In addition to purchasing a catalog, those who wish to bid for a vehicle must make a refundable deposit ofFCFA per vehicle they wish to bid. It is on Sale embassy Sale 4 of a 11 floor building.
In making the ruling, a Nairobi court said the prosecution had failed to prove the case against the three.|Footer Disclaimer This is the Lets relax Beckenham massage website of the U.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained .]On Saturday, October 19,U.
The auction will take place on the grounds of the U. Embassy starting at a.
The public is invited to view auction items and register on Thursday, October 17, and Friday, October 18, from a. All those wishing to participate in the auction must register and purchase a catalog for a non-refundable fee of 5, CFA.
There shall be no registration on the sale day, Saturday, October Only those who register on Thursday and Friday will be granted access to the Embassy compound on Saturday.
In addition to purchasing a catalog, those who wish to bid for a vehicle must make a refundable deposit ofFCFA per vehicle they wish to bid. The deposit will be refunded to all unsuccessful bidders. However, a winner Shadi online Cheltenham chat declines to go through with the purchase will forfeit the deposit. Welcome to Africanews Please select your experience.
Sale embassy Sale Live.
Britain to move Bangkok embassy after record sale
Breaking News Close. Embassy Yaounde Auction Sale. Africanews provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes.
Buy Ready to Move in & Resale Apartments and Flats in. According to CBRE, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Sa,e the the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia was formerly located, Sale embassy Sale up for sale.
This page will display current Embassy Sales announcements for U.S. Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan. Please refer to the list below for the latest. The sale of the embassy in Embzssy Lumpini neighbourhood was the foreign ministry's biggest ever such deal and the biggest land deal in Thai history, according to the ministry.
Former Saudi Arabia embassy good class bungalow site in Nassim Road on sale for over $175m
Large parts of the current embassy were said to be unusable and the building was in need of significant refurbishment. Simon McDonald, head of Britain's diplomatic service, said the move was being made "in a tight fiscal environment" and it was right to take "tough decisions" to ensure the UK's global presence. Funds raised by the sale will be spent on up to 40 "modernisation projects" at British embassies around the world, the foreign Sale embassy Sale said.
Friday, November 08, Columns Photogenic. Econ Biz insights Corporate. Thailand World. More in News. Chang Beer turns 25, launches new cold brew. Cambodian govt urged to stop pressuring neighbours over opposition figures abroad.
Swle of vaping including pneumonia stressed. Understanding blockchain technology. Yingluck rides passenger drone in China. Lightening the load. China, US agree to remove additional tariffs gradually.
Sale embassy Sale Older Lonely Ready Nude Teens Grand Women Wants Man Fuck Woman
Cool in the North, wet in the South. Transport Ministry greenlights luggage handling hike for airport taxis. Last-minute entry Natthaphat surges into the lead at Thailand Open. Tisco warns of rate-cut blowback for banks. Top News. Bangkok Airways, Emirates pool member benefits. Skyworth extends sales campaign with new phase.


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Among 55 analysts covering Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), 39 have Buy rating, 2 Sell and 14 Hold. When considering if perhaps the stock is under or overvalued, the average price target is $239.53 which is 5% above where the stock closed today. Vetr's target price indicates a potential upside of 3.88% from the stock's previous close.
Several other research firms have also issued reports on NFLX. However, he also noted that Netflix is up against an easier year-over-year comparison. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $225.00 price objective (up from $210.00) on shares of Netflix in a report on Friday, October 13th. Goldman Sachs Group set a $250.00 price objective on Netflix and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating and thirty-five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has risen 75.34% since January 21, 2017 and is uptrending.
The stock increased 0.81% or $0.15 during the last trading session, reaching $18.7.
The company P/E (price to earnings) ratio is 223.14 and Forward P/E ratio is 96.35. The company signed up 1.98 million new customers at home, up from a year ago and beating analysts' projections of 1.29 million, according to Bloomberg data. The 52-Week High range of the stock is $226.07, while the 52-week low range is $137.03. Netflix had a return on equity of 14.56% and a net margin of 4.04%. Analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $3.28 billion for the quarter. For the most recent quarter, quick ratio was 1.2, current ratio was 1.2, LT Debt/Equity ratio was 1.47 and Total Debt/Equity ratio stands at 1.47, while Payout ratio is 0. The firm's revenue was up 32.6% compared to the same quarter last year. research analysts predict that Netflix will post 1.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. 3,617 shares were sold by FRIEDLAND JONATHAN, worth $735,522 on Monday, October 16. In a transaction dated January 16, 2018, the shares were put up for sale at an average price of $220.99, raking in a sum of $524,409. 903 shares valued at $175,182 were sold by KILGORE LESLIE J on Thursday, October 5.
Rare 'super blue blood moon' to be visible in Dubai next week
On Jan. 31, there will be a lunar eclipse that involves the second full moon of the month, popularly referred to as a Blue Moon . According to NASA , people living in North America, Alaska, or Hawaii, the eclipse will be visible before sunrise on January 31.
In the transaction dated January 12, 2018, the great number of shares disposed came courtesy the Chief Communications Officer; Friedland Jonathan disposed a total of 2,011 shares at an average price of $217.58, amounting to approximately $437,553.
In the long run, forces outside share price momentum will likely be most determinant to the success of the company and the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. The Arrowpoint Asset Management Llc holds 80,000 shares with $14.51M value, up from 58,000 last quarter. Monday reported a fourth-quarter profit that surged from past year as revenues grew driven largely by strong subscriber additions. Finally, Oakbrook Investments LLC acquired a new position in Netflix in the 4th quarter worth about $840,000. Syntal Capital Partners LLC now owns 8,127 shares of the Internet television network's stock worth $1,560,000 after purchasing an additional 3,649 shares in the last quarter. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors increased its holdings in Netflix by 240.9% in the 4th quarter.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is playing it cool about pending competition from Disney 's upcoming over-the-top video service. The brokerage now has a buy rating on the Internet television network's stock. Institutional investors own 83.27% of the company's stock. The correct version of this news story can be accessed at https://stocknewstimes.com/2018/01/22/goldman-sachs-group-reiterates-250-00-price-target-for-netflix-nflx.html. Oppenheimer maintained Netflix, Inc. For all of 2018, he expects the company to add 4.6 million domestic subscribers and 17.36 million worldwide subscribers.


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Good weather lifts economic optimism
The president of the Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce says continuing good weather is helping to improve consumer sentiment.
Mary Brown says the regional economy is very reliant on the sugar industry and while the outlook remains positive for 2012, confidence in the sector is still building.
She says favourable conditions are also playing a role.
"I think almost literally every day that we don't get the predicted big wet and the cyclone, people allow themselves to be just that little tiny bit optimistic but still the caution is there absolutely," she said.


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Galaxy Pleasure to Widen online pokies australia lightning Casino Company to the Israel
Hong Kong-based inn https://aussie-pokies.club/ and casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Party will stick to expansion inside the Philippines , the company affirmed earlier today. Galaxy Entertainment is one with six concessionaires authorized to run casino wagering in Macau.
The company, founded by Chinese entrepreneur Lui Che Woo in 1988, has got free credits online pokies joined aids with Philippine partner Amusement & Accommodations World Corp. to find regulatory ok from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR). Within Philippine poker laws, every international need to work with a neighborhood partner so that you can allowed to create and operate a modern casino in the country.
Both businesses disclosed they want to create a $300 , 000, 000 to $500 million online casino resort within the Boracay aristocrat pokies online australia is, known to be among the Philippines’ most well liked tourist destinations. Galaxy Entertainment stated to media that they can see great potential together with opportunities during the Philippines and therefore are looking forward to with the ability to enter the neighborhood market.
In the event online pokies 4u free given the regulatory endorsement, the two spouses will get a hotel in addition to casino complex that will be focusing on international sightseers and higher roller gambling house players from your Asia-Pacific community.
Representatives intended for both Galaxy Entertainment in addition to Resorts Environment discussed their own joint assignment with Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte in the Wednesday telephone call. The two organizations hope which australian real online pokies the warming neckties between China and tiawan and the Dubai would get more high-spending customers with the Mainland.
The two main countries retained an widely hostile romantic relationship over regions and hydrocarbon resources in the South The far east Sea frequent. However , Web design manager Duterte declared last year online pokies that use neosurf that he would seek calming resolution towards the prolonged argument and would probably realign having China, so ’separating’ from its long-time partner us states .
The reason why Has Universe Entertainment Chosen the Korea?
The Macau australian free online pokies casino user has been intrigued by expanding it has the footprint globally for some time now. It may be said that it has chosen the actual Philippines with the country’s rising casino and also integrated vacation resort hotel industry as well as warming links with China based online stores.
Here it is vital to note the fact play pokies for real money online that Philippines as well as casino industry have already begun bearing the particular fruit in the country’s renewed stance to China. According to information right from PAGCOR, low gaming profit from the country’s land-based internet casinos and vapor gaming online websites totaled PHP88 billion during the first share of 2017, in place 12% with the same timeframe in 2016. The product sales boost seemed to be attributed to the very increased wide variety of high rollers from China in addition to South Korea gambling on the Philippines’ gambling houses.
The Southeast Asian location has extended significantly it has the crown casino melbourne online pokies casino market over the past several years. Three involved resorts by using casino carpeting / flooring opened gates in the investment capital Manila more than relatively short period of time, along with a fourth this type of property are going to be launched next several years.
Government bodies believe that the exact country’s betting venues might generate 12-monthly revenue regarding between online shogun pokies PHP155 billion and PHP160 billion this year.


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Mobile app developers should provide real-time disclosures to users on the personal information they collect and get permission to collect sensitive information, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has recommended.
A U.S. lawmaker has proposed legislation that would allow mobile phone users to ask apps to stop collecting their personal data and to delete information collected in the past.
Mobile application developers should minimize privacy surprises for their customers by limiting their data collection and retention and giving users access to the data collected, California Attorney General Kamala Harris has recommended.
Websites, mobile apps and online advertising networks targeting children will be required to follow new privacy regulations, including getting a parent's permission before collecting geolocation information and photographs from kids, under new rules ...
An effort by three U.S. senators to add an Internet sales tax amendment to a military spending bill has failed, at least for now.
The Consumer Electronics Association has switched its position on Internet sales taxes, with the huge trade group now supporting the collection of the tax.
Privacy and technology groups generally applauded a wide-ranging settlement between Facebook and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over the social-networking site's privacy practices.
Four U.S. senators have introduced legislation that would allow states to collect taxes on Internet sales, even when the seller does not have a physical presence in the taxing state.
Many top websites share their visitors' names, usernames or other personal information with their partners without telling users and, in some cases, without knowing they're doing it, according to a new study from Stanford University.
Several tech trade groups have voiced opposition to new legislation in the U.S. Congress that would require Web-based retailers to collect sales tax from customers.
Several privacy and civil rights groups voiced support for an online do-not-track bill introduced in the U.S. Senate Monday, saying the legislation would give Web users control over their personal data.
A senior member of the U.S. Senate plans to introduce legislation that would require websites and online advertising networks to stop tracking Web users who ask to be left alone.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's proposed settlement with Google over its bungled launch of the Buzz social-networking service could have disastrous effects on the rest of the e-commerce industry, the head of a trade group said.
A coalition of privacy and consumer groups is pushing for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to add conditions, including requiring that Google get opt-in permission from users before collecting their data, to its proposed settlement over privacy prob...
A state senator in California has introduced a bill that would allow Web surfers to opt out of online tracking efforts by websites and advertising networks.
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- CCE-Commerce - Senior Web Application DeveloperNSW
- FTSenior Revenue Systems Functional AnalystSA
- CCProject Specialist - Contact Center and Unified CommunicationsVIC
- CCBusiness Analyst - ICT SecurityNSW
- CCChange ManagerNSW
- CCHyperion ConsultantNSW
- FTSolution Architect (Guidewire Billing Center)NSW
- CCSenior Automation Tester - MicroservicesNSW
- CCChange Manager x 2NSW
- CCCommVault Backp EngineerNSW
- FTDatabase Administrator / ArchitectNSW
- CCProduct SpecialistVIC
- CCJava Developer - multiple opportunitiesNSW
- CCTransition Program ManagerNSW
- CCHi-Portfolio ConsultantNSW
- CCScrum MasterNSW
- CCInfrastructure Solution Designer - Oracle Exadata/ExalogicVIC
- CCFull Stack Developers - JavaNSW
- FTTechnical Writer - Trading SystemsNSW
- FTPMO AnalystNSW
- CCSiebel AnalystACT
- FTGentrack ConsultantVIC


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A few weeks ago we featured LICK, a new book from photographer Ty Foster — a delightful collection of photos of dogs mid-lick. Recently Ty and crew set up a pop-up photo shoot in Lake Hollywood Park, offering dogs and their people free portraits (as well a glimpse into his process of capturing great licks). Check out this short video of the event for all sorts of cuteness — and maybe some tips at getting some great LICK-style shots of your own pups!
Popular In PetsMore
Swedish startup Dogmade is simplifying the process of obtaining modern, custom artwork with their unique fine art prints.
Smash is celebrating nine years around the sun with a space-themed wish list!
New Harry Barker enamelware bowls bring camp-inspired cool with a modern twist.


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NEW DELHI: Despite the Covid-induced lockdown, the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows for the first eight months of this financial year, i.e. the April-November 2020 period stood at $58.37 billion, up by 22 per cent over the previous year.
According to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, total FDI equity inflows in April-November 2020 was $43.85 billion, up by robust 37 per cent on a year on year basis.
“The intent all this while has been to make the FDI policy more investor-friendly and remove the policy bottlenecks that have been hindering the investment inflows into the country. The steps taken in this direction have borne fruit, as is evident from the ever-increasing volumes of FDI inflows being received into the country,” the commerce ministry statement said.
Earlier, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) had said that while the FDI flows “declined most strongly” in major economies such as the UK, the US and Russia.
According to UNCTAD, global FDI collapsed in 2020 by 42 per cent to an estimated $859 billion from $1.5 trillion in 2019.However both India and China bucked the trend. While China was the world’s largest FDI recipient with flows rising by 4 per cent to $163 billion, FDI inflow in India rose by 13 per cent in 2020.
“FDI is an important source of non-debt finance for the economic development of India. It has been the endeavour of the government to put in place an enabling and investor-friendly FDI policy,” said a
commerce ministry release.


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DUBAI: Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai Tourism, reported record growth in overnight visitors from Japan, crossing the 100,000 mark for the first time at the end of 2018.
Reflecting a 15.3 per cent year-on-year increase, the emirate welcomed 104,843 overnight visitors.
In order to drive awareness and consideration around Dubai as a holiday destination among Japan’s target market, the department identified women and senior citizens as key drivers in the travel and tourism space.
Essam Kazim, CEO of Dubai’s Corporation of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, DCTCM, said, “With the market enthusiastic to learn more about the city, we will continue to work to enhance our holistic marketing efforts and strengthen our ongoing strategic partnerships with key industry leaders across multiple touch points, elevating the city’s position as the destination of choice for Japanese travellers.”
Dubai continues to be a key trending destination among young Japanese females, with the emirate witnessing an increase of 21 per cent to 7.4 million mentions on social media from 2016 to 2018. Building on this growing interest, Dubai Tourism led a campaign to showcase the city as a safe and exciting destination specifically targeting young female travellers. The campaign leveraged user videos and image posts, as well as inviting users to participate in ongoing competitions throughout the year to showcase Dubai’s attractions to a broader audience. This campaign achieved 91.6 million impressions across a three-month period, driving deeper engagement and encouraging wider conversations around Dubai.


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Will she or won't she?
Mary Brady might have to raise prices at the Catonsville Bakery & Delicatessen. "Wheat price at highest cost in 22 years," her flour vendor's bill warned last week. "Flour prices will jump."
"Flour is our main thing here," said Brady, who buys more than a ton of it each week. "It looks like it's really going to go up. And people don't think you should raise your prices."
If the cost of a Catonsville Bakery doughnut is to stay 50 cents for much longer, wheat prices will have to go back down. Or the bakery will have to accept lower profits. Or a little of both.
So goes the economy. After years of languishing in a corner, inflation may be growing claws and teeth.
Life's staples -- wheat and fuel oil -- cost at least a fourth more wholesale than they did a few months ago. Pump prices for gasoline are about $1.30 a gallon. Wages, which make up more than half the expense of finished goods, may be going up, too, according to last week's government reports.
Investors, fearful that inflation will corrode profits, are roiling the stock and bond markets.
"Inflation statistics are the statistic du jour these days," said Alan Gayle, a money manager and senior vice president for Capitoline Investment Services in Washington. "Our sensitivity to inflation has been rekindled."
But many economists aren't so concerned as Wall Street seems to be. They believe spikes in wheat and oil prices are only temporary. And despite other rumblings and vapors from the inflationary vents, they think powerful forces will keep a lid on prices for a long time.
One of the most powerful wears dark suits, dates Andrea Mitchell and shows up on Capitol Hill to be grilled about monetary policy every few weeks.
"You just had the renomination of Alan Greenspan" as chairman of the Federal Reserve, said Richard Belous, chief economist for the National Planning Association. "Alan Greenspan is not going to let inflation get out of control."
But this year has offered new reasons to believe that it could.
In 1995, U.S. retail prices increased by less than 3 percent for the fourth year in a row. That's the best record in three decades and a sharp contrast from the 1970s and early 1980s, when oil prices were bubbling over and unions regularly demanded, and obtained, 5 percent-plus annual raises.
In 1979, inflation was 11.3 percent; 1980, 13.5 percent.
But wheat prices are up more than 25 percent since March, with futures prices for July delivery rising from $4.41 a bushel to a close of $5.62 last week.
At one point late last month, the July contract hit $6.28. Corn and other grains have soared, too.
And so have price tags on petroleum and its derivatives. Wholesale gas costs have increased by almost 20 percent since January.
Grain and petroleum pervade U.S. commerce, from Hostess Twinkies to Power Ranger action figures. But they and other commodities are less important these days than the price of labor, since consumers buy more services and relatively fewer goods. Wages also could be stirring. Unemployment is low, which means employers may have to bid higher for hires. Factories are close to running at full tilt. Congress might raise the minimum wage.
"With the pickup in growth and the unemployment rate as low as it is, and manufacturing capacity around 83 percent, it's possible that there will be increased fears that inflation will pick up," said Christine Chmura, chief economist for Crestar Bank in Richmond.
One item last week that worried many inflation hawks was a report that said salaries and wages have been rising faster recently than at any time in four years. The Labor Department's employment-cost index, considered the best measure of labor costs, showed that wages and salaries went up by 3.2 percent for the year ended in March.
The news that the U.S. economy grew at a decent, 2.8-percent annual rate in the first quarter also fueled inflation fears. Prices generally rise faster in growing economies than in stagnant or shrinking ones.
But several important characteristics of the economy have not changed, analysts say. And some that have are probably temporary.
"What we're seeing are sort of one-time factors that are going to cause inflation to pick up just temporarily, but I don't see these as permanent factors contributing to an acceleration of inflation," said Douglas Kinney, principal forecaster for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.
As ever in commerce, commodity-price spikes can be blamed on low supply, high demand or both.
Both refiners and grain shippers had already sharply cut their stocks last year to save on inventory costs. Oil producers also fear that Iraq will soon again be allowed to export crude, so they don't want to fill storage tanks now if new supplies are likely to deflate prices later.
At the same time, a hard winter sucked more oil and gas than usual from refineries, further draining the supply. Drought in the U.S. Wheat Belt and higher feed-grain exports promise to have the same effect on grain silos.
The result: rocketing prices.
But commodity squeezes often dissipate just as quickly as they come, economists said, and prices descend as steeply as they rise. The petroleum industry has plenty of capacity to boost production, meet demand and eventually defuse prices, analysts believe. Midwestern rains last week have already helped pull grain prices down from their highs.
"Unless we foresee that crop yields are going to get progressively worse in the future and that there is going to be a growing scarcity of commodities, this is not something that's going to contribute to an accelerating of inflation," Kinney said.
He is skeptical of the argument that rising oil use in developing countries will significantly crimp supply over the longer term. Even as countries such as Taiwan and Bolivia are burning more oil, he said, processors are getting more efficient at extracting it from the ground and turning it into fuel.
And although last week's employment-cost report raised eyebrows, the 3.2 percent raise that it showed for workers was far below the wage inflation of the 1970s. Moreover, the report showed a slight decline in the value of worker benefits.
Mr. Gayle doesn't rule out upward wage pressures at some point, but, he added, "I think we can look at these wage numbers with several grains of salt."
Meanwhile, many analysts believe that, despite the first quarter's strength, U.S. growth will slow, and demand for most products -- oil, grain and labor included -- will wane. A report issued Friday supported this view by showing that the economy added only 2,000 jobs in April.
Even if the economy does heat up, business analysts and economists share a firm faith that Fed chief Greenspan will raise short-term interest rates to cool it off and tame inflation.
By the time 1996 is over, few believe inflation will have gotten much worse. "On the high side I could see it going to 3.25 percent, but I would expect inflation to come in at around 3 percent this year," Chmura said. Last year it was 2.5 percent.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to higher prices are the people ultimately asked to pay them -- consumers. Stores have an extremely hard time passing higher costs to customers, retail experts report. Discount chains rule. Few people pay full markup anymore.
Why? Consumers are still pinched. Their incomes have been stagnant for years. They're competing against workers worldwide for jobs. They're getting laid off in droves. They're saving more for retirement. And unions have lost the power to twist big pay increases out of employers.
"We've had fundamental changes in the economy, particularly in labor," Belous said.
Brady, of the Catonsville Bakery, knows as well as anybody that the day of the regular, 10 percent price boost hasn't returned. And she knows what to do with those higher flour costs.
"Try to eat it," she said. "We have to. If we raise prices you just can't do it. We're working short-handed now trying to keep costs down. But we're all getting worn out."
Pub Date: 5/05/96


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In an enforcement case made public on Monday, August 29, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused Los Angeles-based entertainment firm Impact Theory of executing an unregistered offering of securities using non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
The lawsuit creates a new precedent by concluding that NFTs are subject to the agency’s authority as the SEC broadens its definition of which forms of crypto assets qualify as securities.
Without a valid exemption, all securities offerings, no matter the format, must be registered, per Antonia Apps, SEC’s New York Regional Office director.
It has been up for debate for a while now whether NFTs count as securities. Before the SEC intervened, a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York District Court by a collection of NFT collectors against Dapper Labs continued to be the most well-known case to address the problem.
According to the plaintiffs, the crypto company sold unregistered securities for hundreds of millions of dollars.
Dapper Labs requested that the case be dismissed last year, but a judge said in February that it could proceed since it was “plausible” that NFTs may be considered securities.
According to a spokeswoman for Dapper, “Courts have repeatedly found that consumer goods—including art and collectibles like basketball cards—are not securities under federal law.” Dapper maintains its contrary position.
The judge observed that conventional collectible value remains unaffected by producer closure. NFTs, however, tie value to business success when developers control the underlying blockchain technology.
In the action from Monday , the SEC stated that Impact Theory offered three tiers of NFTs, known as Founder’s Keys, between October and December 2021. It also encouraged buyers to regard the purchase as an investment in the company.
The SEC claims that Impact Theory claimed it was “trying to build the next Disney” and that if the venture was successful, the NFTs would offer buyers “tremendous value.”
The SEC includes public statements made by the company’s founders in a different sequence. In reference to the NFTs, the business said : “We like to say that it unlocks the future of everything that we’re doing as a company.” This looks like a subliminal admission that the product was viewed by the agency as a security or investment contract.
Impact Theory raised close to $30 million in Ethereum by selling over 14,000 NFTs to numerous investors.
Impact Theory accepts cease-and-desist, pays $6.1 million fine, and will reimburse NFT investors. However, it neither confirms nor rejects SEC’s charges.
SEC hasn’t launched any legal action against major NFT players like Dapper Labs. It leaves uncertainty if this marks first action against larger NFT business.
Although the SEC has not yet filed any charges, in October 2022 the agency attempted to establish whether Yuga Labs, the company behind the well-known Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection, was marketing unregistered securities.
The larger crypto industry routinely criticizes SEC Chair Gary Gensler for following a policy of “regulation by enforcement”. It accuses it of suing businesses without establishing rules to define the agency’s authority or the compliance requirements.
According to Gensler, the business is “rife with fraud, scams, and abuse,” and the current regulations are enough.
CEO of Impact Theory Tom Bilyeu disclosed that the company and the SEC had reached a settlement, ending the inquiry.
The latest executive statement regrets SEC’s broad inquiry into tech innovations enabling digital assets via securities laws’ perspective. Still, the company maintains hope for the sector’s national future.


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Latest Yacht Stories
SEOUL, South Korea, April 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- #EXPO -- As Korea's landmark of marine leisure with a goal to strengthen the yacht industry, Gyeongnam Province will be opening The 8(th) Yacht
ALBLASSERDAM, The Netherlands, March 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceanco at the Singapore Yacht Show Oceanco is pleased to be exhibiting at the Singapore Yacht
United Yacht Sales announces their Central Agent Listing of a premium used boat. At just under one million dollars, this used yacht is sure to impress...
OCONTO, Wis., July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- KCS International Inc., owner of Cruisers Yachts, today announced a new long-term sales and service agreement with HMY Yacht Sales, a family-owned
In the world of racing, tiny details can be the difference between victory and defeat.
- A woman chauffeur.
- A woman who operates an automobile.


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Point of sale company Ecrebo receives $15 million in funding
Ecrebo, the UK-based point of sale marketing platform, announced on Monday that it has received $15 million in Series B funding, led by Octopus Ventures, Air Miles and Nectar Founder Sir Keith Mills as well as Joseph Schull, former Head of Europe for Warburg Pincus. Mills and Schull will also join the company Board of Directors alongside Founders, Dr Hassan Hajji and David Vernon.
The Series B funding will support the company’s increased investment in product and technology development for its digital marketing platform, and will help accelerate its global expansion. Ecrebo has increased its attention on North America since entering the American market in 2016.
Launched in 2010, Ecrebo enables retailers to send targeted marketing and communication tailored specifically for a customer based on their previous purchases. The company partners with brands such as Uniqlo, Pandora, Topman, and M&S, and it has processed close to $40 billion in transactions and generated over $600 million in sales.
“I am delighted to announce this investment in Ecrebo, who impressed me with their firmly-established credentials and leadership within the retail technology sector,” said Sir Keith Mills. “Ecrebo’s technology gives retailers the ability to open up a marketing channel that is fully retailer-owned, enabling them to reach all their customers and engage them on a one-to-one basis in a way which is personalised, rewarding and convenient. I am looking forward to working closely with the Ecrebo team in the coming months to help them grow the business both in the UK and internationally.”
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Since its 2006 IPO, MasterCard's MasterCard's share price has risen to among the highest on the market. Today the payments giant announced that would change, as it unveiled a glut of good news for shareholders seeking income.
MasterCard will split its stock 10-for-1 effective after market close on January 9. Shareholders will receive their nine additional shares on January 21. Total shares outstanding will increase from 120 million to 1.2 billion.
Shares are up 2.5% to $783.00 in after-hours trading following the news. Currently MasterCard has the third-highest share price in the S&P 500, behind Google Google (which closed Tuesday at $1,084.66) and Priceline.com Priceline.com ($1,188.92). Only three other stocks — Graham Holdings, Apple Apple and Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill– trade above $500. Earlier today, MasterCard hit its 52-week high of $769.10.
The company also announced a 83% increase to its quarterly dividend. The company also increased its quarterly dividend 83% to $1.10 per share, or a split-adjusted 11 cents per share. This is in line with a trend of companies adding to dividends as improved earnings leave them with large cash piles, MasterCard has doubled its dividend twice since May 2012 after several years at 15 cents per share.
Finally, MasterCard issued a new $3.5 billion share buyback program. This program will take effect when the company completes its current program which has $514 million remaining. Citi analyst Donald Fandetti wrote in a note that these moves are all positives for the stock, noting particular optimism for the share repurchase.
The show of confidence comes one month after the credit card company reported better than expected earnings and transaction growth. MasterCard shares are up 58.2% year-over-year. Competitor Visa is up 35.6 % in the same period and closed at $199.43 Tuesday. In September Visa was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, MasterCard is not one of the average’s 30 stocks.
Related From Forbes:


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Technology Fast 50TM program
And the 2015 winners are...
Software companies dominate: Technology 2015 Fast 50™ winners announced
This year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ winners were announced today, an impressive 62% of which were software companies.
But right at the top? Montreal-based men’s online clothing retailer Frank and Oak, posting a staggering four-year growth rate of 18,480%.
Frank & Oak also makes its debut on the Fast 50 ranking. The technology-driven brand has created a dedicated community of followers by offering personalized style advice, curated product selections and an elevated shopping experience via its online platform and retail stores.
Legacies and new tomorrows
While 26 companies are first-time winners, PointClickCare has placed on the list for the eighth non-consecutive year. Two other companies, 5N Plus and Avigilon, mark their sixth consecutive year on the list. Twelve of this year’s winners have previously been selected as Companies-to-Watch. Combined, this year’s winners posted an average growth rate of 1,293%.
Survey shows finding and attracting talent are top challenges for Fast 50 companies
Our annual survey of Fast 50 CEOs reveals leading companies continue to face talent challenges similar to ones they’ve been facing for the last two years. Finding and attracting the right talent remain the two most important talent challenges.
Nearly three quarters (70%) of companies are also thinking about the impact artificial intelligence will have on their business, while 39% are taking concrete action to prepare. The impacts of crowdsourcing, crowdfunding, cloud computing and the Internet of Things are being considered by more than 77% of Fast 50 companies, while more than half (54%) of those surveyed are actively preparing. Robotics and 3D printing are on the minds of a third of surveyed CEOs (37% and 33%, respectively), but less than 20% (11.5% and 17%) have taken concrete actions.
The Technology Fast 50™ program celebrates technological innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and rapid growth.
For 18 years, the program has recognized private and public Canadian companies representing a variety of industry sub-sectors – from hardware to digital media. The program features three components:
- Technology Fast 50™ ranking
- Companies-to-Watch Awards
- Technology Fast 50™ Leadership Awards
Technology Fast 50 companies are on the cutting edge of innovation, transforming the way we do business and pushing the world forward. Leaders identify national recognition and increased exposure as the greatest advantages of the program.
Special thanks to our sponsors


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Although the holiday season is still a few months away, it won’t be long until companies begin advertising campaigns to entice consumers to their product. Now, for super-fans of the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, Hallmark has released a Hummer EV SUV ornament for a Christmas tree.
Measuring in at 1.78 inches long, 1.49 inches tall and four inches wide, this scaled-down model of Big Red’s all-electric super-SUV is perfect for the Hummer EV enthusiast, and costs only $21.99. Adding to the authenticity of this ornament is a complete paint job – which includes a two-tone black roof – and wheels that roll. Hallmark claims that the model will be ready for order on October 14th, 2023.
One peculiar aspect of this GMC Hummer EV SUV model is that it features a 2024 license plate up front, and a 2023 license plate out back.
In regard to the real super-SUV, General Motors recently announced that the 2024 GMC Hummer EV is available with a new Bronze Beadlock Package. Offered on 2X and 3X trim levels and tagged with RPO code PCK, this LPO option adds a few styling and performance features, including 18-inch beadlock-capable wheels. Notably, the Bronze Beadlock Package also requires optioning the Extreme Off-Road Package, and cannot be combined with the Sport Package (RPO code PCP), the 18-inch Tech Bronze with machined face wheels (RPO code SMA), or the Omega Edition package (RPO code WFP).
As a reminder, both the GMC Hummer EV Pickup and GMC Hummer EV SUV derive motivation from GM Ultium batteries and GM Ultium Drive motors, with several different motor setups available depending on the trim level selected.
Under the skin lies the wide-body variant of the GM BT1 platform – the narrow-body version underpins the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV – while production takes place exclusively at the GM Factory Zero plant in Michigan.


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You'll Never Guess Which Auto Brand Finished Dead Last in Customer Satisfaction
According to ACSI's latest customer satisfaction survey, 80% of auto brands witnessed a decline in satisfaction. However, this brand, which came in dead last, saw its customer satisfaction fall 7% from the prior year.
Why Did Honda Motor Company Redesign Its Fit Subcompact?
The third generation of Honda’s popular Fit hatchback rolled out in the U.S. in June, and the company has high hopes for it.