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VANCOUVER, B.C. — BAP Industries of Guatemala has announced the signing of a 10-year exclusive bamboo purchase agreement with the U. S.-based EcoPlanet Bamboo Group for 100 percent of the off-take from its sustainably grown Nicaraguan bamboo plantations, as part of a strategic alliance with Advance Pulp and Paper Machinery AP & P Machinery of British Columbia, Canada.
Utilizing AP & P technology, BAP will invest in the construction and operation of the world’s first bamboo bio-refinery and associated paper mill, which is to be co-located in Nicaragua within proximity of the bamboo raw resource. This initial facility will have the capacity to process up to 250,000 metric tons of bamboo annually, into a range of 100 percent bamboo toilet, tissue and cleaning papers.
BAP & AP & P innovative pulping technology is zero waste, closed loop, chlorine free, and utilizes only 30 percent of the energy and water of a traditional wood chip pulp mill. Combined with EcoPlanet Bamboo’s tree-free, deforestation-free bamboo fiber, which has contributed to reforestation efforts in one of the most deforested parts of the planet, this strategic alliance is a triple-win scenario for conscious-minded consumers across North and Latin America.
“The bamboo purchase agreement with EcoPlanet and the announcement of a $60M Nicaraguan facility with BAP is just the first step of a multi-faceted strategic alliance aimed at turning the toilet paper industry from a negative global footprint into something positive,” says Mark Nash, CEO of AP & P Machinery. Mario Salan, CEO of BAP adds that this facility is the first of a trio of such bamboo industrial developments to be announced in the coming months.
EcoPlanet Bamboo has been committed to developing closed loop, clean bio-refineries, to ensure that end products are as clean, sustainable and environmentally positive as the bamboo fiber itself. “The Bamboo Purchase Agreement with BAP and larger partnership into a state of the art manufacturing facility in Nicaragua fulfills a major goal we set out to achieve seven years ago. Most importantly it will provide hundreds of much-needed jobs in Nicaragua, reward all those who have contributed towards achieving our triple bottom line vision, and provide the final piece in the building of a global bamboo resource base as a viable and market-driven solution to deforestation” says CEO Troy Wiseman.


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“Air cargo companies saw an increase in cargo volume tied to the launch of various smartphones and computer tablets, which favor shipment by air over other modalities.”
That’s from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s quarterly Beige Book, a collection of anecdotal economic observations from the Fed’s branches around the country.
Overall, expectations are cautiously optimistic, with mostly activity flat or expanding modestly. However, the idea that the iPhone 5 launch (and that’s really what we’re talking about here, although other tech toys contributed) could boost air shippers like FedEx and UPS is fairly notable: It shows how Apple, the world’s biggest company, affects the global economy.
Before the iPhone 5′s launch, JP Morgan economists even predicted that the company’s newest phone would give a 0.25 to 0.5 percentage-point bump to U.S. GDP in the fourth quarter.
FedEx restricted employee vacation and training to prepare for a surge in volume when the new iPhone came out. After all, if you sell more than 5 million units in three days, the only way to get them over from Asia is to fly them.
Image courtesy of Flickr, Pardesi*
- Should Facebook fix this security bug if it means losing a little functionality and a lot of influence?
- Our dangerously low expectations for Donald Trump could help him ride to victory in November
- Wells Fargo is forcing its CEO to give up $40 million—a quarter of his pay over the past decade
- How do we know when we’ve fallen in love? My informal survey reveals three big patterns
This article originally published at Quartz here

domain: news


text: France Télécom (FT) plans to sell EUR3 billion (USD3.7 billion) of shares to existing shareholders to fund its planned takeover of Spanish mobile operator Amena. The French telco will issue 133.44 million new shares priced at EUR22.63 each. Shares in the operator were suspended on Friday pending an announcement. FT agreed a deal to buy an 80% stake in Spain’s fastest growing mobile operator in July for EUR6.4 billion. At the time it said it would launch a sale of shares either to Spanish shareholders, who guaranteed the sale, or through a public offering. The acquisition will boost the number of mobile users FT’s mobile arm Orange has in Spain by 9.7 million.


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It came as a big surprise when I opened up my news feed and saw that Delta had announced the “World’s first all-suite business class introduced in Delta One.” Delta customers could use some good news right now given last week’s system meltdown..
delta diamond medallion
This is part 3 in our continuing series focused on the Delta Skymiles Medallion Program. It’s time to set a goal, layout a strategy and start working on achieving Medallion Status with Delta.
Delta Airlines’ global computer systems went down sometime around 4AM EDT this morning. This comes on the heels of Southwest’s
Are mileage upgrades worth it? Being a Delta SkyMiles Medallion is kind of like playing a twisted game of Whac-A-Mole.
The Delta Comfort Plus product (C+) offers seats towards the front of the plane, SkyPriority boarding, extra leg room, dedicated
For US Domestic travel Delta offers a Same-Day Travel Changes program that is particularly flexible for premium (first and business class) travel.


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Okinawa on Tuesday, launched India’s fastest e-scooter, the praise at Rs 59,889 (ex-showroom Delhi). The company has already received 300 bookings for the e-scooters since bookings began in November.
Okinawa is aÂ Rajasthan-based company claims that the Praise which isÂ focused on low initial cost, lower running cost, less maintenance cost and zero pollution.
- It has a top speed of 75km/h and a drive range of 170-200 kilometres on a full charge.
- Power comes from a 72V/45 Ah VRLA lead acid battery with an output of 2500 watt, or 3.5bhp.
- The Praise comes with three ride modes – Economy, Sporty and Turbo – which allows top speeds of 35km/h, 65km/h, and 75km/h.
- Powered by a removable lithium-ion battery pack that weighs 9kg which can be charged up to 80% within 45 minutes.
- The battery has a lifespan of 2,000 cycles and the company is also providing 3-year replacement warranty on it.
- Okinawa may also offer a variant with lithium-ion battery in coming days, with a price tag amounting Rs 5,000-6,000 more than the lead acid battery variant.
Droom launches electric vehicles category
Droom is offering scooters, both new and used, in a price range starting from Rs 20,000 to Rs 42,000, along with four-wheelers for Rs 8 lakh to Rs 13 lakh. While the electric scooters are available in multiple cities, the auto e-tailer is offering electric cars only in Delhi.
“This category will enable Droom to further strengthen its leadership position in the online automobile marketplace industry in India. The company has started selling electric scooters and cars from multiple brands on its platform,” the company said in a statement. Buyers can also avail 100 per cent cashback on the booking amount for all new bookings of electric vehicles as part of a launch promotion, the statement added.
“We are already the market leader with 65 per cent market share in the online automobile industry and are confident that the electric vehicle category will enable us to scale newer heights and further strengthen our market share, in the future,” said Droom CEO Sandeep Agarwal.
Government has been keen on pushing the electric vehicle sector in India in order to cut carbon emission levels and oil imports. With plans to convert the entire vehicle fleet to electric by 2030, government is charging a mere 12 per cent GST on electric vehciles, as opposed to those running on fossil fuels, among other incentives to promote manufacture and sale of EVs.


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After Europe, it’s America’s turn to see what Hobie Cat describes as the ‘most versatile fishing boat’ it has..
OEM line manufacturer, FirstDart Fishing Tackle, will be showing off its new Smoothex Plus for the first time to the North American market at ICAST. The new line has been hailed as ‘one of the best’ fishing braids in the world thanks to a new fusing process that improves smoothness,..
Australian fishing tackle specialist Halco Tackle Company is travelling half-way across the world to show its commitment to its..
Following the rapid growth of the Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) market, Freedom Hawk has partnered with VEC Surfboards to..
Centro, the manufacturer behind the popular Binox and Crinox swivels, is bracing itself for a wave of inquiries from..
Rapala USA will be introducing six new products across its wide brand range at this year’s ICAST. There will be..


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|IBM may not be tech's sexiest company, but investors should still check out the hardware and software giant.|
ARMONK, New York ( TheStreet) -- IBM ( IBM) may not be the sexiest name in tech, but investors still have plenty of reasons to love the 100-year-old hardware and software giant. "I think that this is an industry that treasures new things; there's almost a natural tendency to devalue companies that have a history," said Charles King, president of research firm Pund-IT. "And in the IT world, there's no other company around that has the history of IBM."
From its early years selling tabulating machines, Big Blue has morphed into a 21st century powerhouse touting a vast range of tech products from mainframes and servers to a growing portfolio of software and services. Based on Monday's close, IBM has now even surpassed Microsoft's ( MSFT) market cap for the first time in 15 years, highlighting its ongoing momentum. "Large cap investors have fewer and fewer places to go; Cisco ( CSCO), HP ( HPQ), and Microsoft are on their backs, while others that are doing well have sky-high valuations such as NetApp ( NTAP), Oracle ( ORCL) and VMware ( VMW)," added another analyst, who asked not to be named. "That leaves a precious few in the middle
such as IBM and EMC ( EMC)." Despite consistently strong results, though, investors still seem more inclined towards the glitz and glamour of Apple ( AAPL) or even Google ( GOOG). Over the last ten years, IBM's shares have climbed just 43% to reach $168.36, compared to a massive hike of more than 2742% at Apple. Google's stock has gained more than 378% since its 2004 IPO. The recent struggles of Cisco and HP, however, have added significantly to IBM's allure. "My view is that IBM has performed well and has a great business model compared to other large cap tech names," explained Brian Marshall, an analyst at Gleacher & Co. "Their commodity hardware revenue as a percentage of sales is only 20%, versus HP at around 50% and Dell ( DELL) at 66%." Marshall adds that IBM generates an impressive 22% of its total sales from software, pointing out that this is a high-margin, sticky, recurring business. HP, in contrast, generates just over 2% of its total revenue from software. "IBM made a big bet about five or six years ago that computing would become increasingly commoditized and that the product differentiation would be defined more and more by software," explained Pund-IT's King. "They have continued to bet big on that -- IBM is still a strong player in IT hardware, but software now dominates the company's value proposition."


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Gigi Hadid. Adriana Lima. Karlie Kloss. Candice Swanepoel. What is one thing that these four models, recently cast for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, have in common? If you answered with “the fashion industry’s favorite body type”, you’d be correct. These women definitely work hard to look the way that they do, and are not outright causing this issue in the industry. That is mainly in the hands of our favorite brands.
Victoria’s Secret is a household name that almost every woman will recognize. The simple mention of the brand brings upon a mental picture of the infamous pink-striped shopping bags, extraordinary six-feet-wide angel wings and gorgeous models sporting the most sparkly lingerie you’ve ever seen. You would think a multi-million dollar company like this would want to expand their target market to include more women of all shapes and sizes, right?
The average American woman is a size 16, according to a 2016 study in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education in. Compare that to the average American fashion model, who is between a size zero and double zero, a number reported by The University of Texas. If companies like Victoria’s Secret want to broaden their customer range, why don’t they use models in their advertising that look a little bit more like the majority of their customers?
In the past couple weeks, Victoria’s Secret has been conducting the casting process for their annual fashion show. This show is the most talked about fashion show of the year, as it is the only televised fashion show broadcast across the world. Victoria’s Secret definitely has a lot of pressure to make this show perfect, which is why finding their models is such a task.
The recently revealed list of models chosen did not include any plus size models, even though fans of the brand have been pushing for the casting of plus size models like Ashley Graham.
Graham is a twenty-nine year old plus size model and body activist with an enormous following. Signed with IMG Models, Graham has covered many magazines including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour and Elle.
Graham has spoken out many times about the discrimination in the fashion industry that she has faced. In her autobiography, A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like, Graham states that “it shouldn’t be okay for designers, who can make whatever they can dream up in their heads, to keep larger women out of their clothes or for buyers to tell us how we will and won’t spend our money.”
One of Graham’s biggest fans is Annie Breen, a student at the London College of Fashion. Last December, around the time of the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Breen decided she wanted to create a world where Ashley Graham could walk the famed runway show. She ended up designing a fantasy line of fashion illustrations called “Victoria’s Secret Plus!”. Breen displayed her work on her Instagram account, @anniemariahh.art, and her creation went viral.
Not only did Ashley Graham actually repost the drawing of herself to her personal Instagram account, but many mainstream fashion publications such as Vogue wrote articles about it, as well.
“It was definitely more support and exposure than I anticipated, but in a really, really good way,” Breen says to A Magazine. “As a woman, it made me realize how many other women are thirsty for representation. As a feminist who is also a businesswoman, it also made me realize the many misconceptions and excuses, leading up to now, that caused our society to plunge into this almost low-key but widespread body dysmorphic epidemic.”
It seems as if a large majority of the fashion industry would support Victoria’s Secret in casting plus size models for their runway show. Models like Ashley Graham can show young women that their body type is normal and they can be celebrated in fashion, too. This is a move for inclusivity, representation, and overall body positivity. In the words of Graham from her autobiography, “I was never going to fit the standards others created for me. Instead of complying, I protested.”
Women of all sizes are coming together to push for high-profile fashion companies to include models with different body shapes other than what has been universally accepted in the industry for the past few decades.
One day, young women will be able to look at the runways and magazines and see women who look just like them and hopefully feel as beautiful as they are. Until that day comes, people must continue to ask brands such as Victoria’s Secret, “Where are your plus size models?”


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Mediakix, an influencer marketing agency, has claimed that the influencer market on Instagram is worth approximately $1 billion and there are no signs that it will slow down. By 2019 that figure is expected to double.
“The fastest growing influencer marketing platforms are Instagram, Instagram Stories, Facebook, and YouTube,” Mediakix’s head of marketing, Jeremy Shih, said recently in an interview with CNBC.
One of the social media influencers who has achieved success is Amanda Oleander who became famous in 2015 after she live streamed herself on Periscope painting. This happened after getting laid off from her job. From the exposure Oleander was able to not only sell her paintings but also bag clients who include the chief executive officer of T-Mobile, John Legere, who bought two paintings from her. The average price of one of her paintings is $5,000. According to Oleander, her followers feel a connection to the pieces which she creates while they are watching and this is what motivates them to buy them.
Anna Rosenblatt, the cultural strategy vice president at Sparks & Honey, pointed out that live streaming was particularly suited for some activities such as gaming and painting. She also pointed out that the best platform for people who have tens of thousands of followers not millions of followers is Instagram. Currently those who are flourishing are these micro-influencers as brands unplug from influencers whose following is much bigger.
This is partly because of a trend whereby some influencers have been buying followers to make their accounts attractive to brands and this has resulted in smaller influencers whose audiences are more targeted to appear more appealing. According to Rosenblatt, the level of engagement that micro-influencers have with their followers is greater and they also come at a lower cost as the average cost of a post by a micro-influencer is under $500.
According to experts, the micro-influencers who enjoy the most success are those whose niche is highly specialized. Some of the strategies Oleander employs to enhance engagement include giveaways, meetups and offering prints that are affordable for her followers.
The chief executive officer of marketing tech platform Crowdtap, Matt Britton, further advises that anyone looking to make money as an influencer should join an influencer network due to the fact that most brands don’t want to partner with individuals directly. It is also important for the values of the influencer to be aligned with those of the brand.


text: China reacted quickly to the U.S. Senate vote that would pave the way for the country to be declared a currency manipulator, saying it was unfair and illegal. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the bill, which passed with a 78-19 vote, violates World Trade Organization rules, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. China\'s central bank said the bill would do more harm than good, as it would \"seriously affect\" the country\'s process of raising the value of its currency, while not providing significant relief to the U.S. economy. The Ministry of Commerce called the bill \"unfair.\" UBS economist Wang Tao said, \"China won\'t yield to the pressure from the United States or change its gradual approach to yuan exchange-rate reform.\" China has been allowing its currency to appreciate, but at a pace connected to economic goals of its own. The Obama administration has been putting pressure on China to accelerate the pace of the yuan\'s appreciation but has stopped short of pushing to label the country a currency manipulator, which opens up the possibility of imposing tariffs on Chinese goods. In September, the yuan fell 0.1 percent against the dollar, although it has risen 6.9 percent since June. Some economist, however, estimate the yuan is 20 percent to 40 percent undervalued, giving its exports a serious price advantage. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said, \"For years and years and years, Americans have grimaced, shrugged their shoulders, but never done anything effective\" to deal with the unfair exchange rate. \"They use the rules of free trade when it benefits them, and spurn the rules of free trade when it benefits them,\" Schumer said.


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CNBC is reporting that Walmart is no longer allowing gun or ammunition sales to people under 21 years of age, marking the first significant and specific firearm policy change for the world’s largest retailer since it stopped handgun sales in 1993. In 2006, Walmart stopped selling guns in many of its stores, but in 2011 brought back shotguns and rifles to most in order to bolster slumping sales.
This follows Dick’s Sporting Goods’ decision to discontinue selling “assault-style” weapons in the wake of Florida’s Parkland High school shooting, in which 17 students lost their lives to Nikolas Cruz and his AR-15.
“In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales. Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age … We are also removing items from our website resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys. Our heritage as a company has always been in serving sportsmen and hunters, and we will continue to do so in a responsible way.
n 2015, Walmart ended sales of modern sporting rifles, including the AR-15. We also do not sell handguns, except in Alaska where we feel we should continue to offer them to our customers. Additionally, we do not sell bump stocks, high-capacity magazines and similar accessories. We have a process to monitor our eCommerce marketplace and ensure our policies are applied.
We take seriously our obligation to be a responsible seller of firearms and go beyond Federal law by requiring customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm. The law would allow the sale of a firearm if no response to a background check request has been received within three business days, but our policy prohibits the sale until an approval is given.
We are also removing items from our website resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys. Our heritage as a company has always been in serving sportsmen and hunters, and we will continue to do so in a responsible way.”
In June, 2015, after taking the Confederate flag off their shelves, Walmart CEO Douglas McMillan told CNN Money that the chain would not remove guns from its racks, as it is serving hunters and sportsman: “We believe in serving those customers, we have for a long time, and we believe we should continue to.”
The symbiotic relationship between retailers and gun sales has been at the forefront of the gun control debate for years, with a memorable moment coming from Bowling for Columbine, in which a survivor visits a K-Mart to buy “all” of its ammunition. The 16 and 17-year-old workers end up dropping some all over the floor. That incident led directly to K-Mart phasing out its sale of handgun ammunition.


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Sony made a case for the Vita today at its Gamescom press briefing, and one major pillar was more detail about an entry in one of the biggest franchises around: Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified. The company detailed more of the game's campaign and multiplayer offerings, including how the game will take advantage of the Vita's unique hardware features.
The story will take place between the two console Black Ops games. You can also play wi-fi 4v4 multiplayer, with the modes you'd expect, like Team Deathmatch and Kill Confirmed. It will use the Vita touch features and Near support as well.
Sony has also announced a Black Ops: Declassified Vita bundle, which will include a limited edition console, the game, and a branded Call of Duty pouch.


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Launched in 2016, the Unified Payments Interface is an instant real-time payment system developed by NCPI that facilitates inter-bank transactions. In April 2019, the number of Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)-based UPI transactions grew to 15 million worth IN ₹6,583.58 crores (approximately US $952 million).
EXCLUSIVE – Philippine OpenGov Leadership Forum 2019: Recognition of Excellence for Filipino agencies – Part 4
The OpenGov Recognition of Excellence (RoE) 2019 recognised and celebrated a total of 13 government agencies, academic institutions, organisations and a city from the Philippines for striving towards excellence in ICT strategies, policies and initiatives.
The start-up matches female entrepreneurs from all over the world with Filipino women looking for remote work through a tech platform, which utilises a unique proprietary algorithm to ensure a precise match.
The extensive database includes information on individuals, who have served, specific conflicts, units, places, memorials and cemeteries around the globe.
Central Banks of Canada and Singapore conduct successful experiment using Distributed Ledger Technology
The Bank of Canada and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have conducted a successful experiment on cross-border and cross-currency payments using central bank digital currencies. This is the first such trial between two central banks, and has great potential to increase efficiencies and reduce risks for cross-border payments. Cross-border payments today are often slow […]


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The TV reality show, Game On by Malta Guinness continues to thrill viewers as episode two debuts on Sunday at 5pm on NTA and AIT television stations.
The reality show which is the culmination of a series of passionate debates and rivalry between fashion and football lovers in Nigeria, kicked off last week with both teams led by icons Lanre Da Silva Ajayi and Daniel Amokachi respectively.
Last week on episode one, the first challenge saw both teams visiting the popular Balogun market in Lagos to demonstrate their passions in an attempt to persuade the traders and general market community about which passion suits the never-say-die spirit of the Nigerian.
At the end of the day, team football triumphed as they were voted the winning team by members of the community and went on to celebrate at the GET arena in Lekki Lagos courtesy of Malta Guinness. As a result of their loss, Team Fashion had to vote off Modupe who they considered their weakest link on that challenge. Lanre Da Silva Ajayi encouraged her team saying ‘We need to put all we can into the next challenge. The Game has just begun and I am very sure we will win it despite this setback”. The fashion team promised to show their resilience in the following episodes even as their rivals vowed not to rest on their oars.
Episode two of Malta Guinness Game On was a wedding challenge which had team fashion design wedding dresses for the bride and chief bridesmaid. The bride and her chief looked adoring in their lace embellished dresses which appeared effortlessly put together by the fashion team. Team football on the other hand, had to impress the crowd at the wedding with an entertaining routine which ended with the groom scoring a goal. Guests present at the event voted in favor of team Fashion even though a sampling of opinions after the event appeared to favor team football.
Team Football eventually voted off Coach Ben, who the team unanimously said was less involved in the week’s challenge. Team captain for team football, Daniel Amokachi tried to motivate his team in the face of their loss. He said “In football if you can’t accept defeat you can’t work to the next game and win”. Both teams are now down two members and the field is even but both team captains encouraged their members to keep the passion burning. The show airs Sunday on AIT and Spice TV 5-6pm. NTA 4.30 -5.30pm. Watch also repeat broadcasts on ONTV, Thursday 6.30 – 7.30 pm and on Sound City on Saturdays 7-8pm.
Which team will win the next episode? Team Fashion or Team Football? Have your say and vote for your passion. Click here https://www.facebook.com/MaltaGuinness Also, you can text GoFashion or GoFootball to 20055 to win exciting prizes. The Malta Guinness Game On reality show continues next Sunday. Which passion will best fuel the rise of Naija? Get behind your passion and follow the conversation onFacebook/MaltaGuinness and Twitter: @MaltaGuinnessNG.
About Guinness Nigeria and Diageo
Guinness Nigeria Plc was established in 1962, making it one of the oldest companies in Nigeria. Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1965, and with a shareholder base of over 75,000 shareholders, it is also one of the foremost quoted companies in Nigeria. The company built its first brewery in Ikeja in 1962, and currently has facilities in Ogba, Benin City and Aba. Included in its portfolio are such acclaimed brands – Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Guinness Extra Smooth, Malta Guinness, Harp Lager beer, Gordon’s Spark, Smirnoff Ice, Satzenbrau Pilsner, Harp Lime and most recently Dubic Extra Lager.
Guinness Nigeria Plc is a member company of Diageo Plc; the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanquery and Captain Morgan etc. For our global resource, that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.
About Red Communication
Red Communication is a PR & Communication firm under the parent company, RED. An innovative media group focused on Africa, RED’s vision is to excite and empower an evolving generation through the media’s limitless possibilities. Built across tools and platforms, its Communication Division holds Red Communication, Red Marketing and Small & Medium, and YouthConnect; and its Content Division holds the Y! brands, including Y! TV, Y! Magazine, YNaija.com, Teen Y!, Y! 2015, the Y! Tech 100 and the Y! Annual Black Ball/Y! 100 Most Influential List. It also anchors a development firm, The Future Project Africa, which co-presents Africa’s leading youth platform, The Future Awards Africa, and other projects including the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders and The Future Enterprise Support Scheme.


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TURIN -- The market showing the greatest interest so far in Polestar, Volvo's recently launched stand-alone brand for high-performance electrified models, is North America, CEO Thomas Ingenlath said.
The majority of the more than 500 consumers who have made a deposit on the brand's first model, the 600-hp Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid 2+2 coupe, are in that market, Ingenlath told the Automotive News Europe Congress here.
It's an odd twist because the car won't appear in the market until August when it will be shown at the annual Concourse d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, Calif.
The Polestar 1, which is expected to cost between 130,000 euros and 150,000 euros, was unveiled in China last fall and made its European debut at the Geneva auto show in March.
The car, which is undergoing testing now ahead of its debut next year, will also appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. next month.
Since last October, more than 8,000 people have said they're interested in the chance to purchase the Polestar 1.
Volvo only plans to build 500 units of the Polestar 1 annually over three years for a total run of 1,500 vehicles. Ingenlath expects the company to produce three Polestar 1s a day on one shift at its new plant in Chengdu, China.
Ingenlath said that the next model in the brand's lineup, the Polestar 2 midsize sedan, which will be a rival to the Tesla Model 3, is set to debut ahead of the 2019 Geneva auto show.
When asked whether Tesla CEO Elon Musk needs to be worried about Polestar Ingenlath said: “I think his list of worries is long enough.”
Tesla shareholders on Tuesday voted against a proposal to split the chairman and CEO posts held by Musk, who is also the company's co-founder. The bid to separate the roles took place during Tesla's annual meeting. It was the strongest challenge yet to Musk's grip on the Silicon Valley electric vehicle maker, which also faces production setbacks and expectations by many analysts that it will need to raise new cash.
Ingenlath said that while Tesla and Polestar will be competitors, both brands will benefit from each other “driving the electromobility market.” Ingenlath also credited Musk and Tesla for jumpstarting the EV market and “showing how amazingly attractive electric cars can be.”


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Viewpoint: What’s in store for electronics technologies in 2022 & beyond...
01 January 2022
Throughout 2021, connectivity & electronics solutions provider, Molex has undertaken a number of surveys researching hot topics for the electronics industry, including digital health & the future of pharma, the car of the future & vehicle electrification, Industry 4.0, and 5G & the future of mobile devices.
This viewpoint was originally featured as the cover story in the January 2022 issue of EPDT magazine [read the digital issue]. And sign up to receive your own copy each month.
In this viewpoint, Molex subject matter experts will share insights from the surveys and offer predictions for these industry and application sectors, all centring around how mass customisation – especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic – is becoming the driving force to propel technology innovation in 2022 and beyond…
Consumers have always demanded choice. But never before has consumer demand so dominated how nearly every industry is driving product strategy—from design and planning to supply and production. Shifting buyer attitudes, fuelled by the pandemic, has propelled technology and businesses to rapidly develop new services and solutions for consumers that better suit their individual needs. From grocery pick-up and food delivery, to mobile experiences, virtual doctor consultations and work-from-home technologies, consumers have become more accustomed than ever to having increased options to shape their customised lifestyle. This desire to pick “what works best for me” is here to stay and technology will need to follow suit, as consumers’ desire for mass customisation propels technology innovation in 2022 and beyond…
As OEMs and suppliers race to keep up with an ever-more demanding user base, this prompts a number of key movements, reactions and changes which should be understood and planned for, including:
• How is this desire for customisation impacting their product development and go-to-market strategies?
• What are they doing to react faster, pivot quickly and keep pace with demand?
Consumer devices & IoT
Lee Ettleman, Director Corporate Development
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will launch device intelligence off the charts. This means compute processing power will need to expand by vast levels in a multitude of consumer products, ranging from your smartwatch to your smart home security systems.
• Advancements in technology and labour challenges will continue to drive the adoption of robots in the service industry, prompting robotics and automation to work alongside today’s workers to efficiently serve consumers, drive more business opportunities and brand differentiation.
Neha Aggarwal, Director Corporate Development
• Innovations arising from the integration of electronics and photonics will disrupt the current technology ecosystem, making connectivity and device interactions more seamless and on-the-go wellness monitoring and detecting more mainstream.
• Requirements for more connectivity, increased data speed and latency are prompting software and hardware companies to build more infrastructure around transmission. As data speeds increase and fibre networks begin branching directly into homes, more optical cabling will be needed to support local fibre branches, representing a deviation from the current model, which relies on heavy backhaul cabling for all transmission needs.
Healthcare & medical technologies
Justin McMath, Director Corporate Development
• Consumers’ desire for the quantified self (the cultural phenomenon of measurement and tracking of individual data, including biological, physical and behavioural, via technology) will drive technology that delivers real-time consumer health diagnostics to keep them at peak performance. This requires seamless data capture and exchange between the myriad of devices and equipment that provide reads on several health-related vectors, including blood-based diagnostics, microbiome analysis, AI-powered support bots, mobile imaging and other direct-to-consumer testing to ensure high quality of data to provide the most accurate medical picture.
• Patients will increasingly seek alternatives to traditional treatment locations such as doctor’s offices and clinics – they will demand at-home treatments including testing and monitoring. This will prompt a swift ramp-up in designs and models of easy-to-use, sustainable devices that can be produced to provide availability to large numbers of patients.
• 2022 will see more individualised treatments and tailored therapeutic regimens to meet patient needs resulting from advances in companion diagnostics, real world evidence and drugs based on patient cells (for instance, CAR-T therapies).
• Medical devices will be become smarter: clinician and patient expectations will require new systems and delivery methods that are easier to use and more comfortable, such as smart inhalers, smart injectors, non-invasive continuous glucose monitors and more.
• Healthcare will embrace AI as a means of enabling the human machine interface, accelerating diagnoses with greater accuracy, applying predictive analysis or suggesting new compounds and mechanisms of action, all extrapolated from massive sets of reliable, accurate data.
• 2022 will see a strong emergence in use of advanced imaging, 3D printing and other enhanced materials to simulate and build custom medical devices to treat individual physiologies, such as congenital heart defects and neurovascular stenting.
Automotive & transportation
Kelly McCartney, Director Corporate Strategy
• Electric vehicles (EVs) will see a dramatic change in their enabling models. From new functionality to improved batteries to different charging station options, EV designers must stay ahead of and plan for the mass movement in all aspects of EV enablement to serve high market demand.
• Decoupling of hardware and software will impact every part of the vehicle, well beyond infotainment, forcing OEMs and suppliers to leverage software expertise for automotive design.
• Consumers will continue to ramp up demand for more customisation in their automotive choices, requesting more pick-and-choose/ad hoc bundles that allow them to create their own experience, including entertainment, warranties, and maintenance and insurance bundles.
• Electric truck availability will be the catalyst for mass adoption of EVs in the US, ushering in an era of greater customisation in automotive fleets, with drivers demanding more models, features and uses for their EVs. This will lead to a whole new test market for EV adoption going forward, helping to define new sets of demographics, geographies and feature sets that will bend all previous consumer-driven rules.
• V2X (vehicle-to-everything communication) will ramp up quickly, heading for hyper-drive by 2026. Vehicles will talk to other vehicles, then move to interacting with infrastructure, with pedestrians and other elements of the environment. But this means addressing the challenges of rapid data capture, transfer and access, potentially using smart algorithms that speed analytics and predictive capability.
• Auto designers will need to move antennae position in all designs to ensure efficient communication with the many new technologies that will need to talk to the vehicle.
• 2022 will likely see a delay in providing these full features due to ongoing chip shortages, forcing auto makers to keep buyers engaged and interested with creative solutions that rely on connected devices and fast data in the short term – and offering the promise of leap-frogged advancements once chipsets become available.
Factory floor – Kelly McCartney, Director Corporate Strategy; Robotics – Lee Ettleman, Director Corporate Development; Start-ups & innovation – Lily Yeung, Vice President, Molex Ventures
• Smart factories will start to become a reality, with more flexible architectures, broader implementation of sensors and cross-organisational leverage of consolidated sensor data, enabling industrial automation stakeholders to raise visibility and monitoring of the entire facility, while increasing production line innovations and operational efficiencies.
• Manufacturers will reduce dependencies on rigid hardware, while increasing implementation and use of both stationary and mobile robots, so they are able to support more automated material handling, pick-and-place and eventually reconfigurable production lines to support the manufacturing of custom products.
• 2022 will see a dramatic rise in robots. The labour shortage, new minimum wage requirements, continued e-commerce growth and inflation will accelerate robotic adoption, bringing new robotic technologies from their initial locations in the warehouse to more areas of the factory floor – or even beginning to foray into retail stores and restaurants.
• As mobile robotics and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) grow in importance, so too will adoption of 5G private networks over traditional wired ethernet, to support wireless low-latency, high-bandwidth, secure communications.
• Some of 2022’s top investment trends will focus on technologies enabling next generation infrastructure upgrades and leapfrogs in related technology, such as 6G, quantum computing, energy and power to increase efficiency and support sustainability.
Don Hnatyshin, SVP Supply Chain
• As the next generation of buyers and engineers enter the commercial world and begin to influence the way business is transacted, service level expectations in the B2B (business-to-business) commercial environment will rise to match the B2C (business-to-consumer) customer experience. This will require customer service and supply chain professionals to respond with agility and speed throughout the entire transaction from initial contact to delivery. The demand for a B2C experience, in concert with the recent supply chain disruptions, will drive advancement in software, AI and ML, as well as increase machine-to-machine (M2M) types of interactions (no human intervention from demand signal to fulfilment) at some global manufacturing sites.
• Advanced supply chain tools will be adopted at rapid speed to provide the higher level of agility and reaction times the supply chain demands, especially in such a dynamic market impacted by freight and logistics log jams, unplanned disruptions from COVID and challenging market dynamics. Companies will need to leverage new tools, such as “autonomous planning”, which can be more responsive than humans (based on algorithms developed with human expertise) for activities such as modelling and scenario planning, once the algorithms are developed and calibrated. Additionally, “network optimisation” tools will provide similar capabilities to execute responsible global manufacturing, operations and supply chains. Many of these models require the development of “digital twins” (digital models to replicate the physical footprint or activity), to enable more AI/ML options and added efficiencies in the future.
• Companies will invest more strategically to “optimise their global footprint” (encompassing manufacturing, operations, sales & logistics and distribution centres) to be finely tuned to trade routes and changes, tariff adjustments and physical locations of customers’ manufacturing operations or manufacturing partners such as EMS (electronics manufacturing services) companies. This philosophy will continue to drive supply chains to be increasingly more nimble, agile and highly responsive to real-time changes in demand and supply.
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Metal packaging, in the form of steel pallets,shipping racks and other transport packaging systems has served industries for decades of tireless service. Whether you are involved in automotive, industrial, fresh meat, dairy and egg, post and parcel, or any number of other applications, you will likely be acquainted with steel reusable packaging systems that just keep on performing year after year, decade after decade. Steel transport packaging is prized for such attributes as:
- superior load bearing strength
- high resistance to damage
- easy to sanitize, non-absorptive
- easily repairable and recyclable
- can be customized to meet any legacy pallet size and style
- performs well in automated material handling systems
- can be coated or painted
- no fire rating concerns
A few years ago, Steel Pallet Systems introduced its ‘Lightweight, Extra Strong, All Steel Bailey Pallet™. Made from high quality galvanized steel under 1 mm thick, the pallet has been lab tested to compression failure at 12.5 tonnes, according to Alec Bailey, Managing Director, Steel Pallet Systems Pty Ltd. It has passed the most difficult test, that of racking performance. “Using cardboard thin cold rolled steel it is lightweight and depending on size and purpose, weighs under 20 kg up to 26 kg,” he said. “The galvanized finish allows rust free performance for many years, even decades.”
“But lets face it,” commented Alec. “Steel was always too heavy and usually welded, thus expensive. A big price gap existed between wood and plastic (pallets). This pallet is designed to fill that gap.” To further ensure longevity and viability, the pallet is riveted, not welded, so unlike others, it is designed to be easily repairable. And of course, he added, steel has a value for recycling when the pallet is no longer repairable.
For other segments of the steel reusable transport packaging market, innovation is also front of mind. “The biggest trend we see right now is the use of robots to load/unload racks requiring very tight tolerances be held on the shipping racks,’ offered Mike Owens, Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Contract Industrial Tooling. CIT produces custom shipping racks for the manufacturing sector. “Even special gauging is being requested to assure fit.” His company has also has recently designed what it calls a “FloorLock” corner post. It is a spring loaded shipping rack corner post that automatically makes a caster rack into a stationary rack when another rack is stacked on top of it.
The steel Bailey Pallet has a zero flammability rating.
Alec emphasized that the steel pallet has performed well in automated, robotic and heavy-duty environments. Testing in cold storage and other applications is currently ongoing.
For Steel Pallet Systems, inevitably the big question is price. Alec believes that price will be in the $60-80 range with automated robotic mass production. The current cost is less than $AU 150.00.
This article first appeared in 2010.


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Business News›core sectors
IIP growth decelerates to 12.3 percent YoY in June
“The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of June 2022 stand at 113.4, 136.3 and 196.9 respectively,” stated a press release.
Intellect Design Arena has made its mark. What's in store for it now?
"Intellect Design is a software products company that operates in the banking, financial services and insurance domain. I do not have an exact number for the addressable market but it probably runs into billions of dollars globally."
GST, PMI data for July point to firm recovery
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 56.4 in July from 53.9 in June on the back of a significant rise in business orders.
No chance of India slipping into stagflation, says Nirmala Sitharaman
The finance minister said all indicators showed that India was doing better than others, citing the latest goods and services tax (GST) collections, which rose 28% to Rs 1.49 lakh crore,
Core growth slows in June but still in double digits
Electricity generation was up 15.5% in June, refinery products output grew 15.1% while fertiliser production rose 8.2% in the month from a year earlier. Production of cement rose 19.4%, steel was up 3.3%, and natural gas 1.2%. Crude oil output declined 1.7% from a year earlier.
Core sector output rises by 12.7% in JuneThe growth of eight core infrastructure sectors rose by 12.7% in June against 9.4% in the year-ago period, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said on Friday. Together, these industries comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
IMF cuts India’s growth forecast, ups global inflation projectionIn its latest World Economic Outlook report, it lowered the global growth forecast to 3.2% for 2022 from 6.1% in 2021 led by downgrades for China, the US and India but raised the global inflation to 6.6% in advanced economies and 9.5% in emerging market and developing economies this year- upward revisions of 0.9 and 0.8 percentage point, respectively.
The RBI's efforts to achieve a leaner inflation print have a 'core' problemApart from a breather in June largely owing to government's intervention on the fiscal front by lowering taxes on fuel, the overall inflation trajectory still looks uncertain.
Output of eight core industries surges to 18.1% in MayIndia’s core sector output surged to 18.1% in May on a year-on-year basis as against 8.4% in the last month, revealed data by the commerce and industry ministry on Thursday.
A $2 trillion free-fall rattles crypto to the coreWhat started this year in crypto markets as a “risk-off” bout of selling fueled by a Federal Reserve suddenly determined to rein in excesses has exposed a web of interconnectedness that looks a little like the tangle of derivatives that brought down the global financial system in 2008.
US inflation at new 40-year high as price increases spreadConsumer prices surged 8.6 per cent last month from a year earlier, faster than April's year-over-year increase of 8.3 per cent the Labor Department said Friday. The new inflation figure, the highest since 1981, will heighten pressure on the Federal Reserve to continue raising interest rates aggressively.
SBI revises up FY23 economic growth forecast to 7.5%Similarly, the sector-wise data for April indicates that credit offtake has happened in almost all sectors led by personal loans registering 14.7 per cent demand spike in April and contributing around 90 per cent of the incremental credit in the month, primarily driven by housing, auto and other personal loans as customers, expecting interest rate hikes, have been front-loading their purchases.
India's Q1 growth seen in double digits but inflation, crude prices pose risksData released June 1 showed goods and services tax (GST) collections topped ₹1.4 lakh crore for the third month running in May, while the manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) remained firmly in the growth zone at 54.6 in that month.
Core sector output in April shows robust growth of 8.4%The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Final growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for January 2022 is revised to 4.0% from its provisional level 3.7%. The growth rate of ICI during April-March 2021-22 was 10.4% (P) as compared to the corresponding period of last FY.
Inflation gets to the core, project costs may go up"There is a steep impact of inflation on government infrastructure projects. I see that the input cost has escalated between 15-20%. For fixed price contracts, contractors are paying out of their pockets," said Vinayak Chatterjee, chairman, national infrastructure committee, CII.
Factory output grew 1.9 per cent in MarchThe IIP for the entire fiscal grew by 11.3 per cent which comes on a low base as the factory output had contracted by more than 8 per cent in the previous fiscal.
Core industry grows by 4.3% in MarchIndia's core sector expanded by 4.3% in March, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed on Friday.
Feb core sector growth at 4-month high on steel, power recoveryThe index of eight core industries rose 5.8% in February compared with 4% in the month before and -3.3% in February last year.
Core sector grows by 5.8% in FebruaryIndia's core sector growth grew by 5.8% in February, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed. The core sector makes up 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), making it a lead indicator of industrial activity.
IIP growth recovers to 1.3% in January after hitting 10-month low in DecemberThe output of eight core sectors in the month of January grew 1.3% year-on-year, according to data released on Friday. It had slumped to a 10-month low of 0.4% in December 2021.
Core sector growth slows down to 3.7% in January; restrictions to rein in Omicron cases impacted economic activityThe core sector index has a 40.27% weight in the index of industrial production (IIP) and a low growth points to a likely weak industrial growth.
Core sector output up 3.8% in DecemberThe index of eight core industries measures the output of eight infrastructure industries - coal, crude, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, cement, steel and electricity.
Core sector output up 3.8% in December 2021India's core sector growth grew by 3.8% in December after slipping to a nine-month low back in November, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed.
Core growth slows to 9-month low in NovemberWhen compared with pre-Covid (February 2020) levels, the output of coal, cement and electricity in November were lower.
Eight core sectors' output grew 3.1% in NovemberThe output of eight core sectors in the month of November grew 3.1% year-on-year, according to data released on Friday. It had grown by 7.5% in October 2021 & contracted by 1.1% in November 2020.
Eight core sectors' output grows to 7.5% in OctoberThe output of eight core sectors in the month of October grew 7.5% in October Vs 4.5% in September and -0.5% in October 2020, according to data released on Tuesday.
Eight core sectors' output grows at 7-month low of 4.4%"With the base effect wearing off and copious rainfall dampening mining and construction activities, as well as demand for electricity, the slide in core sector growth was in line with expectations," said Aditi Nayar, achief economist at ICRA.Load More
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Registration for this year’s Digitalising Manufacturing 2017 conference has opened- with early-bird passes now on general sale.
Organised and hosted by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, a dedicated microsite has also been launched www.the-mtc.org/digital2017 – showcasing the two-day conference, taking place on the 30-31st October at the MTC’s state-of-the-art event facilities.
A key focus of the conference is to engage SMEs in the digital revolution and to provide practical knowledge and support to get businesses primed for the digital journey.
The conference, which has a diverse agenda, also features world-leading speakers, panel discussions, workshops and demonstrators.
Keynote speakers include Juergen Maier, CEO of Siemens UK and HVM Catapult Chief Technology Officer, Professor Sam Turner. The event will also feature a high-profile international dimension with representatives from the G20 Presidency, the World Economic Forum and the European Commission.
Early bird tickets are priced at £50 + VAT for one day or £75 + VAT for both days.
SMEs are being encouraged to attend and are being offered 50% off all delegate passes. To take advantage of this offer, please email firstname.lastname@example.org to be sent the discount code.
The conference, now in its third year, is sponsored by ATS, Bosch, Bosch Rexroth and Beckhoff.
Follow conference updates on Twitter and LinkedIn via #MTCDigital2017


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MadPea, which is probably the most well-known game studio in Second Life, recently announced that they're also going to be developing content in High Fidelity:
To date, MadPea has produced a staggering anthology of more than 80 interactive experiences in Second Life, alone. Now, it’s time to take a step into a new direction and we’re delighted to announce that we’re expanding to a new platform and joining High Fidelity’s Pioneers of VR program to produce exciting new content in VR.
The move isn't entirely surprising, as the studio has reported difficulty making major, cost-effective projects in SL. MadPea joins Blueberry, a well-known SL brand which is also shifting some focus to HF.
"We're very interested in exploring new platforms and spreading our legume legion as far as we can, but Second Life will always be our main base of operations," MadPea's Kiana Writer assures me. "We'll continue to develop, create and imagine all sorts of wicked and wonderful things for Second Life no matter if we're working in HiFi or any other virtual world."
That said, she has high goals for Philip Rosedale's new virtual world:


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HAVING ALREADY shipped out four previews of its IE 9 browser for the developer community, Microsoft has started hyping up its consumer release.
Internet Explorer 9 promises a number of improvements and the last preview release earlier this month was supported by a bunch of fairly diverting and amusing examples of its powers. Microsoft talked up its use of HTML5, the number of downloads already made, the reception the release got at the Mix10 conference and its many interoperability improvements.
Microsoft will release the consumer preview on 15 September, and is asking bloggers, beardies, the press and developers who want to go and get a free tee shirt, mousemat or pen, to answer a question on its HTML5 web site.
It's not really a question, more of a challenge. Actually, challenge is too strong a word. It is a six letter anagram. The puzzle, "Unlock the _ _ _ _ _ _ web", uses the letters "V E A N T I" and the solution is a single word, according to James Pratt, who is a mouthpiece for the Vole.
We can tell you that it is not "Antvie", and nor is it "Van I et", however it might be "Native". µ
So that's why she's smiling…
How many Zuckbucks to the pound?
Alexa, is this exploitation?


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While many businesses are struggling to keep the doors open with the financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, food delivery businesses are seeing high demand for their services. SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services Inc. is one of these.
SkipTheDishes is a Canadian online restaurant ordering and food delivery company headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The company has revealed that nearly seven million pounds (3.17 million kg) of potato products were sold through its online ordering service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bradly Shankar reports on mobilesyrup that altogether, this was a 72 percent increase in sales of potato foods during the pandemic than before it began. SkipTheDishes is revealing this data alongside McCain Foods Canada in celebration of National Potato Day, which takes place on Wednesday, August 19th.
Other Skip potato statistics show that one in four orders include a potato item; New Brunswick saw the highest potato demand with 102 percent more orders containing potatoes; one in six orders included fries, with 88 percent of all potato orders consisting of fries. Although PEI and New Brunswick have the highest percentage of orders that contain fries, Ontarians ordered the most potatoes.


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CarGurus is expanding.
The automotive marketplace said Thursday it has purchased car-shopping platform Autolist.
Autolist, founded in 2014 and based in San Francisco, will continue to be run independently as a standalone brand and website. Founder Corey Lydstone will continue to lead Autolist and report to CarGurus chief financial officer Jason Trevisian.
The companies did not disclose the terms of the purchase.
CarGurus said this purchase of Autolist broadens its consumer audience and helps it “further enhance its unique value proposition for subscribing dealers.”
Autolist has more than 1.3 million unique website visitors each month, CarGurus said, citing Google Analytics data from December. Its app has close to 400,000 unique visitors each month, according to CarGurus, which cited Firebase data from last month.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Autolist team to the CarGurus platform. Like CarGurus, Autolist is a technology company with a pioneering mindset, which makes them a great fit with our innovative culture,” Trevisian said in a news release.
“We are excited about joining forces to provide best-in-class products and services that make car buying easier for shoppers and drive more sales for dealers,” Trevisian said.
CarGurus said the Autolist purchase will help it “drive consumer traffic and shopper connections for dealers across both sites, creating additional value for the company’s premium subscription dealerships.”
The company is also aiming to test new products and partnership initiatives through Autolist.
“We could not be more excited to join CarGurus, a company that shares our passion for solving big problems and building great products," Lydstone said in the release.
"The Autolist journey so far has been incredible, and with CarGurus’ massive scale and category leadership we believe we’ll be able to accelerate Autolist’s growth while continuing to deliver on our promise of building a better automotive buying experience for everyone,” he said. “I’m so proud of our team, and I am looking forward to our future together at CarGurus.”


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Don't-Miss Hardware Stories
“Poor shielding” is to blame for the display’s performance issues when near a Wi-Fi router.
Apple headlines for the week ending February 10, 2017.
LG's adding extra shielding to its 5K monitor to let it work near Wi-Fi routers, but that won't help existing owners.
Is Apple gearing up to enter the vaping industry even though we already have the 'iPhone of vaporizers'?
Apple has filed another two lawsuits against Qualcomm, this time in China, that allege the mobile chip maker abused its market dominance and patents to charge excessively high licensing fees.
The second-generation Apple Pencil could incorporate magnets, wireless charging, and iPhone and Magic Trackpad support.
CalDigit's new Thunderbolt Station 3 offers eSATA connectivity for the MacBook Pro, in addition to other ports.
The Tethered Docking Station, Horizontal Docking Station, and Vertical Docking Station unite in a battle against the dongles.
The OWC DEC takes a unique approach to provide its functionality by using a module that sits flush with the bottom of the laptop.
An expansion dock like the Thunderbolt 3 Dock makes life with the new MacBook Pro a little easier.
Neonode launches a version of its AirBar for the 13-inch MacBook Air, which gives it “touch” capabilities via projected beams of infrared light.
The issue that's causing iPhone 6s batteries to unexpectedly shutdown is bigger than originally anticipated.
Users have praised the performance of Apple's A10 Fusion chip in the iPhone 7, but its underlying graphics architecture may not be so new after all.
Some iMacs that shipped between 2012 and 2014 came with faulty hinges, so now Apple is taking responsibility and issuing refunds for repairs.
There's a lifeline for the MacBook Pro 2016's soldered-on SSD: A report from 9to5Mac reveals a tool designed to pull data off a bad drive and onto another MacBook Pro.


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Birthing Super Meat Boy
GDC 2011: Team Meat dissects last year's breakout platformer, says PC release on Steam outperformed Xbox Live, and team is now working on 3DS dev kits.
Who was there: Programmer Tommy Refenes was there in the flesh, while artist Edmund McMillen joined in via Skype to recap and dissect the development of Super Meat Boy.
What they talked about: After some technical tinkering, Refenes welcomed the audience to the postmortem, which he described as "the story of Meat Boy, peppered with various good and bad things." He preemptively apologized for a lack of preparation for the talk by explaining that it's so personal for him and McMillen that it seemed silly to write anything down about it.
McMillen talked about the original Meat Boy Flash game, saying he made it in about three weeks and hadn't thought it would be anything terribly popular. Refenes entered the picture when the two ran into each other at a previous year's GDC. They had previously known each other from the early days of Newgrounds, when they were affiliated sites that linked to one another. The two first worked on a Flash game called Grey Matter to see if the collaboration would work.
Satisfied with the results, the two agreed to make a console game. Refenes thought Meat Boy would be a strong starting point for the pair and a more appealing project to him personally than what he had been working on at the time. Around the same time, McMillen had been talking to Nintendo about bringing Meat Boy to WiiWare and had also been working on Gish 2 (a follow-up to a previous indie release he worked on) with an eye to release that game on Xbox Live Arcade.
Work on Super Meat Boy began in February 2009, when Refenes started rebuilding the engine of his previous project, Goo, to accommodate the needs of his dream 2D platformer. Describing the way Super Meat Boy moves in the air as "a lot of duct tape physics" with no guiding formula, Refenes said he tinkered with the engine for two months just to get movement to feel right. McMillen said he was essentially sitting on his hands until about June or July of that year, when Refenes had the level editor working.
Once they started showing off the in-development game at conferences, McMillen said he and Refenes fell "blindly in love" with Super Meat Boy, expanding the scope from a simple platformer with about 100 levels and no bosses to the game it eventually became. While that made the project significantly more time consuming and difficult, Refenes said it seemed like a shame to not run with the game and make it everything it could be.
Around the same time, McMillen said he and Refenes were trying to convince Microsoft that Super Meat Boy was something people would like. He said there was one person within Microsoft who believed in the game, but concessions had to be made. Specifically, they had to fight for months to limit the exclusivity window with Microsoft, allowing for the PC version of Super Meat Boy to be released by the end of 2010.
Refenes said he did get a version of the engine up and running on the PlayStation 3, but Sony was less than interested in pursuing the project. Even if Sony didn't get back to them, that bit of extra work did allow Refenes a little leverage over Microsoft. When someone within the Xbox 360 maker questioned Refenes' ability to get the game done on multiple platforms at the same time, he shot back that he'd gotten the game up and running on the PS3 within four days, so if Microsoft turned them down, they were ready to take Super Meat Boy to Sony.
Though Super Meat Boy has garnered plenty of critical acclaim, Refenes said he and McMillen were still incredibly stressed about entering the game into the 2010 Independent Games Festival. The evening before the IGF finalists were announced, Refenes said he thought he was having a heart attack worrying about making the cut. As for McMillen, he said one of the main reasons he was appearing via Web chat instead of in person was that he considers GDC and the IGF a major source of stress.
"With the IGF, you go into it thinking if you don't make it in, you're a loser. And it's hard not to think that way, especially when there's so much riding on it," McMillen said, adding, "This is my baby. Is it totally ugly and I can't see it?"
McMillen said he went into the IGF feeling like he'd overstayed his welcome. Some of his friends in the community believed he shouldn't have entered the IGF because he'd already won before for his work on titles like Gish and Braid, which won awards in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Refenes pointed out, "They're forgetting that I hadn't won ****."
Although it was nominated for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and Excellence in Audio categories, Super Meat Boy took home no awards from the 2010 IGF. Regardless, McMillen said his days of entering the competition are over.
After GDC, it was time to work on the Electronic Entertainment Expo build of the game. The IGF and E3 showings of the game pushed the completion of Super Meat Boy back several months, McMillen said, because they spent so much time polishing certain parts of the game to show at the events and overall development was dragged back as a result. Refenes said he would wake up at 8 a.m. and work until 11 a.m. the next day trying to squash bugs and get the game in shape for E3.
Once at the shows, Refenes said it was great to see people play the game who were unable to put it down. That let them set aside whatever sadness and drama they had endured in the weeks leading up to the events.
Originally, the plan was to release Super Meat Boy right after Summer of Arcade. Microsoft had already told them about how much better Summer of Arcade titles do on average, so Refenes said there was no way they were going to miss the next opportunity to make a promotion. That promotion wound up being the fall Game Feast lineup, which Refenes knew they had to make. He had -$853 at the time, so it was imperative that they make their Game Feast deadline and start bringing some money in.
McMillen said that for the two months leading up to the release of the game, he and Refenes took no days off and slept no more than five hours a night. Refenes said he thought he was going to die, but wouldn't allow it to happen until after the game was done. As bad as McMillen said it was for himself, he acknowledged it was worse on Refenes, who was the only one of the pair with the programming skills to fix bugs.
"It's a bad practice in development to be going through bug fixing as you're implementing features," Refenes deadpanned, adding that he wound up thinking through many bugs while he slept.
McMillen said that was part one of hell. Part two was the launch. As the final release of Game Feast, Super Meat Boy was projected as selling on par with Hydrophobia. That worried McMillen and Refenes to no end when Hydrophobia came out and there were only 10,000 people on the leaderboards in the first week. A week later, Comic Jumper came out, with its leaderboards performing only marginally better.
At that point, Refenes said they were somewhat resigned to a grim fate. Things got a bit worse when it came out that Double Fine Productions' Costume Quest was also coming out the same day as Super Meat Boy, even though part of the Game Feast promotion was supposed to be a guarantee that each game would have the week to itself.
On the day of launch, Refenes said he turned on his Xbox 360, went to the Marketplace, and saw no trace of Super Meat Boy. The game went up late due to technical problems, and even when it was available on the store, it was relegated to the fourth-highest promoted slot on the Xbox Live dashboard, behind a car commercial and a "spooktacular" sale for already available Xbox Live content.
"The reason the game sold well was because of how we promoted it," Refenes said. It was the interviews that they did and the Metacritic score that drove interest, he said, with Microsoft offering very little support. McMillen said with the Game Feast games doing poorly out of the gate, it seemed like Microsoft wanted to distance itself from the promotion. He acknowledged it sounds weird to complain about it considering how well the game has done on Xbox Live, but, "It was a f****** mind****."
Wrapping up the session in a hurry, McMillen said the game ended up performing better on Steam than it did on Xbox Live Arcade. Refenes echoed the sentiment, saying, "Everybody should love over Steam. Like all nasty love over Steam."
Refenes added there would be no WiiWare version of Super Meat Boy because they made a game too large for Nintendo's downloadable size limits. McMillen said a retail release was also out of the question, as he said no publisher wants to touch Wii retail right now. However, McMillen did say that Team Meat has 3DS development kits, though he wouldn't commit to the protein-rich platforming star making the jump to Nintendo's new handheld.
Quote: "We definitely wanted to do it on everything. But thinking about it now, if we'd done it on everything, I'd be dead. That's not a joke. Don't laugh."--Refenes, on why they scaled back platform plans for Super Meat Boy.
Takeaway: Delivering Super Meat Boy was a painful experience for both McMillen and Refenes, demanding significant sacrifices from both. And despite making a widely hailed game, they didn't know what sort of critical or commercial success it would garner in advance. As for Microsoft, Refenes said everyone on the creative side was great, but they didn't understand the business people.
Top New Games Releasing On Switch, PS4, Xbox One, And PC This Week -- April 21-27 2019 Assassin's Creed Odyssey: The Fate Of Atlantis DLC Extended Gameplay How God Of War PS4's Most Impactful Moment Almost Didn’t Happen Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2 "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" Breakdown! Fortnite Gets Avengers Endgame Event This Week - GS News Update Mortal Kombat 11 Announces Its Latest Character Named Frost - GS News Update Shiny Meltan Is Coming To Pokemon Go For A Limited Time Mortal Kombat 11 Quick Review In Progress Video Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Shinobi Tools Will Be More Strategic - GS News Update Mortal Kombat 11 - Official Frost Gameplay Reveal Trailer Kingdom Hearts 3 Critical Mode Gets Release Date - GS News Update Mortal Kombat 11 Early Gameplay Livestream
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Even though the Indian real estate sector was going through challenging times in past 2-3 years, H1 2016 saw a positive turn in the market. Compared to H1 2015, the period saw a 7% jump in volumes, with price corrections in the top 8 cities resulting in better sales and reduction in unsold inventory. The trend of buying second homes or vacation homes, as they are called, also saw an upswing.
Effect of Demonetization
However, demonetization affected the entire real estate sector negatively, and for a short while, all activity came almost to a standstill. Merely because of demonetization in the last two months of the calendar year, the sales volume of 2016 came down by 9% compared to 2015, making 2016 the worst year in terms of sales performance. In the last quarter of 2016, sales nosedived by as much as 44% (year on year) while new launches reduced by an unprecedented 61%.
Now, the primary sales market (or new home sales by top and grade A developers) is back to normal. In fact, the consumer traffic on all major real estate portals has returned in force to the volumes seen in pre-demonetization months of August and September’16.
To understand the impact on the second homes market, it is important to understand how does this segment of real estate sector functions.
The dynamics that drive the Second Homes market
Second homes are generally bought by people looking either for rental income or a family getaway from the crushing everyday realities of city life. With the curb on currency and extra cash vanishing from the market, the appetite for second homes has definitely reduced. Only buyers with legal sources of income and an appetite to invest through legal channels are currently interested in buying a second home. However, even these buyers are waiting for prices to go further south and the market to settle down a bit.
Union Budget Impact
As though demonetization wasn’t enough, Budget 2017 also served a severe blow to those with second home aspirations, primarily because the government has capped the tax benefits on the purchase of second homes. The maximum deduction on interest is now capped at Rs. 2 lakhs against the entire interest that was tax-free earlier, even though there is a provision to carry forward the losses in 8 consecutive financial years. Even with this carry forward facility, it will still be a loss-making venture for those trying to buy a second home with loans, because the interest on loans as well as on rental income will become taxable. The smart way out would be to check one’s investment portfolio and plan one’s finances in a manner that permits the enjoyment of benefits of a second home without burning cash or making losses.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Demonetization has resulted in price corrections not only in the primary market but also the secondary market. An estimated 10-15% price correction has already happened in this segment, and more can be expected. It is now generally felt that trends will turn positive once RERA gets implemented, interest rates come further down and the government cracks a whip on Benami property holders.
As already states, buyers have started coming back onto the primary sales market, with sales enquiries rising visibly in the past two months. An increase in supply of affordable housing is on the charts, thanks to infrastructure status now having been given to affordable housing. With prices already having come down, further corrections and more stability expected in next 6-12 months, developers are expected to offer better discounts and attractive schemes to convince fence-sitters to start investing.
For those planning to buy a second home as an income-generating asset or for capital gains currently, the market is still attractive if considered from a long-term perspective and provided they sort out their investment plans and put their finances in order. For those intending to buy a vacation home for their personal enjoyment, the market in terms of pricing advantage is eminently favourable right now and will improve even further.


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2005 Scion tC RS 1.0
2006 Toyota Scion tC 2.4 TRD
2006 Scion xA, side view, exterior, manufacturer
The Quickest Cars of 2007: Less Than $20,000
2008 Scion xB
Scion has announced the pricing for the all-new 2008 Scion xD, which is going to replace the xA in Scion's lineup. The new model will start at $14,550 with ...


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Saudi Arabia's Foodics has closed a SAR 15 million ($4 million) investment round, led by Raed Ventures and Riyad Taqnia Fund (RTF) with the participation of Neseel Holding and 500 Startups Fund. This is the first raise done by Foodics.
Ahmed Alzaini, the cofounder of Foodics, attributed the success of this round to the startup’s fast growth enabled by a high demand for the company's cloud-based point of sale system, which allows seamless operations management of restaurants and retail stores.
Foodics was founded in 2013 in Khobar by two young entrepreneurs, Alzaini and Musab Alothmani. It provides products that are characterized by their ability to integrate with Internet-based services such as accounting and inventory management systems.
In addition, Foodic’s products can be integrated with the widely available fast growing on-demand food delivery platforms. Foodics systems are offered in competitive packages for retailers and restaurants, said Alzaini.
Omar Almajdouie, Raed Ventures founding partner, said: "We are pleased to see the success of this round and the contribution of highly sophisticated and strategic investors to the company." The investors will support the company to accelerate the its growth in the two current markets (Saudi Arabia and the UAE) and open new markets in the Gulf and the Middle East.
He added that Foodics success in its industry shows that Saudi companies are able to enter into the complex technological fields that were exclusive to foreign companies.
Hani Enaya, Taqnia’s Investment Head, said that this investment is part of RTF’s efforts to and scale startups in the Kingdom and the region, adding that RTF has a strong conviction that Foodics will become one of the leading companies in the digital transformation of the region.
in 2015, Foodics participated in Badir Program for Technology Incubators in Riyadh then graduated in Q4 2016. Currently it employs 52 employees in 4 cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, and Dubai.


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Pet mania: How brands are jumping on the hottest investment trend
With more than three million UK households now owning a pet, the sector has experienced a boom in sales and on the stock market. Largely as a result of the increase in flexible working and time spent at home during the pandemic, pet-related businesses and stock are experiencing significant growth.
Indeed, some have overtaken the performance of US technology-focused stocks, with the pet exchange trade fund PAWZ gaining 76%. Plus, with most pets living for ten years or more, experts predict that it’s likely this sector will continue to grow. So, how are businesses taking advantage of consumers’ love for their pets?
Targeting young pet owners
People aged under 34 make up more than half of the UK’s pet owners. With millennials now the largest segment of pet owners, tapping into their love of pets has become a key tactic for brands looking to attract younger consumers. More brands than ever are using pets in their product photography and marketing creatives, from Basset Hounds promoting Vans to cats appearing in Zara’s campaigns.
The growth in millennial pet owners has also had an impact on the sector itself. Younger consumers’ preferences for digital-first businesses and purpose-driven brands have meant pet care, insurance and food retailers have had to stay astride of these trends. Whether it’s connecting with charities, building digital tools and subscriptions or creating educational content, the pet industry has undergone rapid change to attract millennial pet owners more effectively.
Highlight pets’ human side
Giving pets the quality products and experiences they value so highly is a priority for millennial consumers and the brands trying to attract them. Easter eggs, facials and luxury holidays for pets are just a few examples of how the humanisation of pets is revolutionising businesses’ products and services. Hilton Hotels, Made.com and Aldi are just some of the brands looking to take a slice of the £2.9bn UK pet care market.
Humanising pets has also become a key part of many businesses’ marketing campaigns too. As well as using pets in their product promotions and brand creatives, there’s been a growth in the use of petfluencers for adverts and endorsements. With an engaged following, their own causes and brand, these social media characters are proving to be a highly effective marketing tactic.
Making the customer feel at home
Having welcomed a pet into their family to combat loneliness and enhance their mental wellbeing in the pandemic, dogs, cats and other animals are now a key part of many people’s homes. As a result, many businesses looking to attract parents, families or enhance the friendliness of their brand are using pets in their marketing.
Jaguar’s ads show how their cars have plenty of boot space to take the dog on outdoor adventures, Samsung promotions show how their phones are perfect for adoring cat owners and M&S loungewear creatives painted the picture of a cosy, family Christmas. In short, pets aren’t just ideal for making consumers feel at home with a brand, but for demonstrating product benefits and features too.
Choose the best pet talent
From pet food brands looking to promote their digital subscription to lifestyle businesses who want to make their customers feel at home with their brand, the most effective marketing campaigns need the best pet talent. Trusted by the biggest retail brands, our expert team are experienced in finding the ideal talent for any project.
With a huge variety of good-looking and well-trained animal actors and models on our books, we can help you to find the perfect pet star to meet your project’s needs and connect with your audience. For more information, call us on 020 8161 6556 or email us at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Stuttgart/London/Boston, July 14, 2016 – thinkstep and Anthesis, two leading, global sustainability solutions and services providers, today announced a strategic alliance to pursue joint marketing, sales and consulting opportunities. Together the companies will work to expand market access to both organizations’ global clients through sustainability strategy and software implementation.
The alliance will benefit businesses that are committed to making sustainability an integral part of their overall strategy. Initially, the two will work together to further market adoption of thinkstep’s SoFi ts enterprise sustainability software platform. The companies plan to expand their agreement to include the GaBi software suite in the near future.
“We are pleased to announce our newly inked alliance with Anthesis,” said Jan Poulsen, thinkstep CEO. “We look forward to expanding the reach of our products into new markets and offering additional world-class consulting opportunities to our existing customer base.”
“As Anthesis is an advisory and implementation partner for clients, the delivery of sustainability outcomes requires access to best-in-class software products and solutions,” said Stuart McLachlan, CEO of Anthesis. “thinkstep has been at the forefront of developing market-leading software for many years. We are confident that the alliance will be a win-win for both companies and further enhance our reputation for delivering sustainability strategies through technical innovation.”
Anthesis is a global sustainability services and solutions provider, which believes that commercial success and sustainability go hand in hand. We develop financially driven sustainability strategies, underpinned by technical expertise and delivered by innovative collaborative teams across the world. The company combines the reach of big professional services groups with the deep expertise of boutiques. Anthesis has clients across industry sectors from corporate multinationals such as Reckitt Benckiser, Cisco, Tesco, ArjoWiggins and Elopak, to world class events like London 2012 and the 34th America’s Cup. The company brings together expertise from countries around the world and has offices in the U.S., the UK, Germany, China, the Philippines and the Middle East.
thinkstep enables organizations worldwide to succeed sustainably. Our industry-leading software, data and services drive operational excellence, product innovation, brand value and regulatory compliance. With a global presence in 19 countries, we serve more than 4,000 companies including 40 percent of the Fortune 500, such as BASF, Hewlett-Packard, Interface, Siemens and Unilever. For more information, visit www.thinkstep.com.


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As patients across North America continue to turn to their neighborhood pharmacy for vaccinations, state and provincial governments in the United States and Canada are widening the range of immunizations that can be administered by a pharmacist.
Allergan issued a statement Monday, reiterating the company's concern for what it calls Valeant Pharmaceuticals’ “unsustainable business model, which relies on serial acquisitions and cost reductions, as opposed to top-line revenue growth and operational excellence,” the company stated.
To help leading manufacturers gain greater clarity and insight into the ever-changing retail landscape and gain a leg up on the competition, the Mack Elevation Forum and Drug Store News will co-host an exclusive, one-day summit August 22, at the Seaport World Trade Center.
Symphony Health Solutions — a provider of high-value data, analytics and technology solutions for healthcare and life sciences manufacturers, as well as payers and providers — on Tuesday named Robert Gabruk as SVP customer success and insights.
The challenge GMDC chose to accept: How do you extend the productivity derived from GMDC meetings into a year-round, access-from-anywhere service that doesn’t require a 100-page user manual to start up? The solution: the recently reconstructed myGMDC, a members-only portal that gives access to a myriad of fresh services and education exclusive to GMDC members.
GMDC’s VP business development and chief member officer Keith Wypyszynski on Friday evening joined GMDC board members and several retailers to welcome first-timers to the 2014 GMDC Health, Beauty and Wellness Marketing Conference and to offer those first-timers insights on how to make their conference experience meaningful and productive.
Samsung on Wednesday announced the pending launch of a wristband and software platform it hopes developers will use to create health trackers that “can't even be imagined yet,” Young Sohn, Samsung's chief strategy officer, said, according to published reports.
As one of a handful of founding officers at Take Care Health Systems — now known as the Healthcare Clinics at Walgreens — and the first chief nurse practitioner officer in the convenient care industry, Sandy Ryan’s role in the industry’s growth has been significant, to say the least.
Target announced on Tuesday a number of leadership changes in the United States and Canada designed to further the company’s efforts to drive U.S. traffic and sales, improve its Canadian operations and advance its ongoing digital transformation.
In an effort to highlight its commitment to consumer preferences and tastes, Hershey is debuting a range of innovative confections this week at the National Confectioners Association's Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago.
A multi-year medical research study released Thursday that examined health issues among U.S. Hispanic/Latino groups has yielded data indicating that less than half of the participants diagnosed with diabetes had the condition under control.
CVS Caremark has entered into new clinical affiliations with four regional health systems, representing the first clinical affiliations to include clinical collaborations with MinuteClinic combined with data on interventions performed by CVS pharmacists.
AstraZeneca on Tuesday announced the Food and Drug Administration approved Epanova (omega-3-carboxylic acids) as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglyceride levels in adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride levels greater than or equal to 500 mg/dL).
By adding complementary specialty medication offerings to their generic drug businesses, manufacturers can add instant value and counteract the margin compression that is currently occurring as a result of high generic drug utilization.


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Shares of discount retailer Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI -1.20%) went down on Friday after the company reported financial results for the third quarter of 2020. The Q3 numbers weren't bad, but they came with a warning of slowing growth for the fourth quarter. This displeased investors and, as a result, the stock was down 11% as of 11 a.m. EST.
For Q3, Ollie's generated net sales of $414.4 million, good for 26.7% year-over-year growth. This growth came from a combination of opening new stores and sales growth at older stores (known as comparable-sales growth). Brick-and-mortar retailers in particular benefit from sales growth because it leverages the fixed cost of its real-estate portfolio. Accordingly, the company gained operating leverage, causing net income to surge 67.7% to $45.2 million.
If the market only looked backwards, then Ollie's stock would likely be going up today. But the market looks ahead and it doesn't like what it sees for Q4. In the press release, CEO John Swygert said, "Quarter-to-date, our comparable store sales increases are tracking in the low single-digits." For perspective, comp-sales were up 43% and 15% in the past two quarters. A low single-digit increase is a big sales drop-off and it's why the stock is down today.
Slowing sales shouldn't surprise anyone. The COVID-19 pandemic caused certain businesses to boom and I believe they can be broken into two categories. The first category is an acceleration of permanent trends -- things like e-commerce and financial technology. The other category applies to Ollie's -- it had a nice temporary sales bump because it sells cheap merchandise and (more importantly) was actually open. As life returns to normal, it's logical for its sales to revert to pre-pandemic levels.
However, while the market looks ahead, it doesn't look ahead very far. Generally speaking, average people can outperform market pundits by extending their vision beyond just the next quarter. In Ollie's case, it's opening new stores around the country and runs a profitable business -- which could make this retail stock a good buy for patient investors.


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Increased costs, inflation leave AKVA uncertain of profitability for remainder of 2022
AKVA Group has posted Q2 2022 revenues of NOK 907 million (USD 93.5 million, EUR 91.3 million), up 9 percent year-over-year.
AKVA’s full Q2 results will be delivered on 12 August, 2022. However, according to the Stavanger, Norway-based aquaculture services and equipment provider’s preliminary results statement, its profitability has been significantly impacted by increased costs from high inflation rates, warranty, and cost provisions. As a result, its Q2 2022 earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation (EBIT) is expected to show a loss of …
Photo courtesy of AKVA Group


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Reasonable minds disagree on whether hydrogen has a role to play in the clean-energy future, or whether it’s just a vehicle for oil-company greenwashing. However, it’s becoming clear (to scientists, if not to politicians) that batteries are superior to fuel cells for most road transport applications.
A new study published in the journal Nature Electronics (via Recharge) argues that hydrogen fuel cell cars and trucks have little chance of becoming commercially viable, and that the urgency of the climate crisis demands that decision-makers focus on battery-electric vehicles.
“Hydrogen will play a vital role in industry, shipping and synthetic aviation fuels. But for road transport, we cannot wait for hydrogen technology to catch up, and our focus now should be on battery-electric vehicles in both passenger and freight transport,” writes Dr. Patrick Plötz, of the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI). “The window of opportunity to establish a relevant market share for hydrogen cars is as good as closed.”
Dr. Plötz points out that at the beginning of 2021, there were about 25,000 hydrogen fuel-cell cars on the road, two FCEV models available to purchase (the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo), and about 540 hydrogen filling stations in operation around the world. “In contrast, by the beginning of 2022, there are likely to be about 15 million battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road across the world. Almost all manufacturers now sell such vehicles, with more than 350 models available globally.”
Recent technological developments have eliminated the main arguments in favor of FCEVs—longer range and shorter refueling times. “When battery-electric vehicles had limited ranges of under 150 km, and charging took a few hours, there was an important and large market segment for fuel cell vehicles: long-distance travel,” says Dr. Plötz. “But battery-electric vehicles now offer about 400 km real-world range, and the newest generation use 800 V batteries, which can be charged for a range of 200 km in about 15 minutes.”
Even in the trucking sector, batteries have left fuel cells behind. Plötz says there are currently some 30,000 battery-electric trucks in operation, most of them in China. “Fuel cell electric trucks, on the other hand, have only been operated in test trials (from two manufacturers) to date and are not yet commercially available.” Over 150 medium- and heavy-duty battery-electric truck models have been announced.
“The current challenge for battery-electric vehicles is long-haul logistic operation (with an average of 100,000 km per year) and transport of very heavy goods (which implies high energy consumption per kilometer),” Plötz writes. “This is the use case often discussed for hydrogen trucks. Several truck manufacturers, as well as fuel cell and infrastructure providers, have joined forces and announced a target of 100,000 fuel-cell trucks on European roads by 2030. But this seems very unlikely when contrasted with announcements from the companies about the earliest start date for the production of commercial series fuel cell electric trucks being in 2027. By that time, the second-generation battery-electric vehicles will already be commercially available and in operation.”
Plötz explains that, while long-haul trucking of more than 500 km per day “poses a challenge” for battery-electric trucks, European regulations require truck drivers to stop for a 45-minute break after every 4.5 hours of driving. “Within 4.5 hours, a heavy truck could travel up to around 400 km, and thus practical [battery] ranges of about 450 km would suffice, if high-power fast charging for battery-electric trucks was widely available.”
Plötz notes that specifications for the new megawatt charging system (MCS) standard, which could enable charging levels as high as 3.75 MW, are expected to be announced by the end of 2022, and a final standard is expected in 2023.


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TradeMe says its rate of profit growth this year will be slower than it has been in the past as it spends to revitalise its online auction business.
Chief executive John Macdonald told the annual shareholders' meeting sales in its traditional business so far this year are flat.
However, he says its classified advertising sales, including its jobs and real estate operations, are growing strongly and that part of the business has great opportunities.
Mr Macdonald says there are some challenges in the area of general items and the company is looking to return that business to a greater level of growth.
He says TradeMe needs to grow its team and increase its marketing spend.
Mr Macdonald says he expects sales and profit growth will pick up again in 2015 as the investment the company is making starts to pay off.
In the 12 months to the end of June, TradeMe's net profit rose 4% to $78.6 million.