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DUBAI // A man denied this morning knowing US dollars with which he tried to purchase cigarettes from a Dubai Duty Free shop were fake.
The defendant, AM, 39, Syrian, told the Dubai Criminal Court of First instance that he had bought US$5,000 (Dh18,000) from an exchange centre in Syria and did not know they were fake.
He said he was flying to China for business and landed in Dubai as a transit passenger.
“I was trying to buy cigarettes for my friend in China when the shop saleswoman told me the $100 bill I gave her was forged,” he said.
Prosecution charged him with possessing 48 such bills for the purposes of using them in the UAE.
AMF, a Filipina saleswoman at a Dubai Duty Free shop, testified that the defendant came to the shop on the night of January 9 and tried to buy two packs of cigarettes.
She said he handed her a $100 bill and when she examined it, she saw it was fake. AMF added that she asked the defendant to present a new bill, and he gave her another fake note.
She said she called airport security, who arrested the defendant.
The defendant’s defense lawyer told the court that a receipt from the exchange centre in Syria, which sold his client the fake dollars, proves there was no criminal intent.
A verdict is expected on March 29.


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The average life span in months for a $1 bill.
The U.S. Mint, as directed by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of
2005, is promoting the use of dollar coins as a green alternative to
the greenback. The mint says dollar coins last decades and that their
use could save the government billions of dollars over many years. The
Mint has minted more than 1 billion of the new presidential dollar
coins since January 2007. Four designs are minted each year, honoring
the presidents in the order in which they served.

domain: news


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Hard drive failure responsible for two thirds of data loss
There may be a gradual move to storing more and more files in the cloud, but businesses and end users are still highly reliant on good old-fashioned hard drives. This technology, though convenient, does have its downsides; hard drives fail. A survey conducted by data recovery firm Kroll Ontrack found that nearly three quarters of those questioned (72 percent) had lost data from a drive in a laptop or desktop computer. A far lower percentage (15 percent) lost data from SSDs -- reflecting the fact that fewer SSDs are in use than mechanical drives -- while 13 percent attributed their most recent data loss to RAID or virtual services.
Not all of the data loss came as a result of hardware failure. Software and human error accounted for around 20 percent of data loss, but drive crashes and other hardware problems were responsible in two thirds of cases (66 percent). This is a significant increase from 2010's figures when just 29 percent of data loss was attributed to hardware failure. Paul le Messurier, Program and Operations Manager at Kroll Ontrack is very matter of fact about the findings:
"Storage media fails regardless of type; it is just a matter of when. This fact, coupled with the fact that HDDs are still the most prevalent drive is why HDD crashes have and continue to be the most common cause of data loss".
Losing data is more than just an inconvenience, it can also prove expensive. The survey found that 27 percent of businesses suffered disruption as a result of data loss, and it also threw up a couple of other interesting -- and worrying -- statistics. 15 percent of business users said they had lost personal data from a work machine, while 7 percent said business-related data had been lost from their home computers.
The advice, as ever, is to back up data. "Businesses and home users should have working redundancies, such as a backup device or service in place, and continuity plan that is current and accessible in the event of a loss," says le Messurier.


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Japanese special ship for exporting cars to Pakistan
By Arshad Hussain
KARACHI: Japanese dealers and the authorities are planning to hire special vessels to meet the rising demand for cars from Pakistani dealers, industry sources said.
Japanese car dealers have been receiving huge orders from Pakistan after the federal government announced incentives for local car dealers under the gift and luggage schemes.
Japanese car dealers are finding it hard to arrange shipments for the transportation of used vehicles to Pakistan, but the industry source said the import of vehicles would rise by August and September this year. The Japanese automobile industry is considered to be the largest automotive market in central Asia. Car dealers are booking small used vehicles in Japan as prices are much lower than in other parts of the world.
During the month of July, dealers imported around 900 used cars, while car companies imported only 45 new brand units. The import of used cars was between 200 and 250 units in July 2004.
All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association (APMDA) Chairman H M Shahzad said: “The association has assured the federal government that it will import 30,000 to 35,000 used cars in the current fiscal year. This is the first time that dealers are thinking about importing small cars only,” he added.
In the previous fiscal year, local dealers imported around 13,700 used vehicles but most of the vehicles had engines over 1300cc.
“Out of the 900 vehicles imported in July, almost half of the vehicles are below 1300cc power engines,” the chairman said. “Local dealers booked around 1,500 to 2,000 cars that are expected to arrive in Karachi in August and September,” he added.
A local dealer said very few vessels were coming to Pakistan from Japan and the importers of used cars were facing booking problems for transportation.
The incentives, given by the commerce ministry in the recently announced trade policy, has further reduced the cost of importing used vehicles. “Three-year old cars will save the importer of the vehicle between Rs 100,000 and Rs 200,000,” the dealer said. According to a rough estimate, the price of a 1300cc power engine car in 2003 was approximately Rs 980,917 but under the three-year scheme a 1300cc vehicle can now be imported for Rs 857,669.
Similarly, the price of a 2003 model of a 1500cc power engine car was Rs 1.23 million, but a 2002 model will now be available for Rs 1.053 million. A 2003 model of a 1200cc engine car was available for Rs 818,439 but a 2002 model will now be available for around Rs 739,352.
The total cost of a 2003 model 1000cc engine car was Rs 827,868 but under the new scheme a 2002 model of a 1000cc car can now be purchased at a price of Rs 719,730. “Car sales have gone up by 44 percent during 2002- 2005,” said Faraz Farooq, an analyst at Jahangir Siddiqui and Co. This growth is mainly due to cheap and extensive car financing schemes, rising remittances and increases in consumer wealth due to the economic turnaround, he added.
The increase in the demand for cars started after the announcement of the 2005-06 fiscal year budget when the government reduced import duties on complete built units (CBUs) in an effort to meet local demand by reducing delivery time and eliminating premiums on instant delivery. The reduction was made on upper segment cars while duties on cars up to 1300cc were unaltered.
On 1600cc cars a 5 percent duty reduction was made while the duty on cars above 1800cc was reduced by 25 percent.
In the 2005-06 budget, the rate of depreciation on the import of used cars below 1800cc was increased from 1 percent to 2 percent per month subject to a maximum of 50 percent. In the recently announced Trade Policy 2005-06, a further relaxation was allowed on the import of used cars by overseas Pakistanis under gift, baggage and transfer of residence schemes. Now up to three-year-old cars can also be imported under the gift and personal baggage schemes.
Local car assemblers will be unaffected by the duty amendment on CBUs as the duty structure of popular models (with engine capacity up to 1300cc) has remained unchanged,” said Farooq.
“Out of the 127,000 cars sold locally during 2004-05, the share of cars up to 1300cc engine capacity was about 85 percent. With car assemblers increasing their production capacity, car sales are likely to touch 150,000 (an increase of 18 percent) in 2005-06.
The analyst predicted that the import of used cars would increase to 15000-20000 in 2005-06. But this will not affect local assemblers because the demand supply gap is huge and will take a few years to bridge.


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Reiman’s Harley-Davidson, which received national attention in July when it returned a storage payment to a soldier’s wife because the dealership stores deployed soldiers’ bikes for free, has now earned a congresswoman’s attention for its generosity.
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois stopped by the Kewanee, Ill., dealership on Feb. 9 to present Reiman’s with a Congressional Record statement. The statement was “to commend them for their service to our nation’s men and women in uniform. They have a policy of waiving storage fees for the motorcycles of deployed service members — what a nice way to say thank you to those who serve,” Bustos wrote on her Facebook page.
To see a photo of Bustos at the dealership, visit Bustos’ Facebook page.


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Chinese online and mobile publisher Youzu Interactive has set up a new office in India and aims to invest as much as $10 million in the local games market in 2017.
The firm plans to recruit 30 staff for its new office in Pune, which is being led by former Nazara Games head of mobile game publishing and marketing Anuj Tandon.
Speaking to ET, Tandon said Youzu aimed to create four to five local casual strategy and social casino games for the Indian market.
Eventually, the publisher wants to release RPGs, midcore and hardcore strategy games in the country.
It also plans to look at potential acquisitions and investments in the games and entertainment sectors in the country.
“Independent sources” claimed that these plans could represent a $10 million investment in the country.
“Youzu is dedicated to grow globally and India is a mobile gaming market which is maturing fast," said Tandon.
"We are looking to create and publish local as well as international content for India’s growing smartphone population."
Youzu is one of China's largest publishers, with a market cap of more than $3.7 billion. Last year it acquired 100% of German online and mobile games developer Bigpoint.


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The new flagship of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer was leaked for the first time in working condition. Here comes OnePlus 9 5G with all its features.
The OnePlus 9 5G, whose first images were leaked last month, appeared in operation for the first time. The phone, which will be the flagship of the company, has very good features. The company was known for its high-end phones until now, but with the Nord model, it had launched smartphones among mid-level users.
OnePlus 9 5G first photos and known features
The phone will come with a 6.55-inch flat perforated screen. The screen resolution will be 2400 x 1080p Full-HD + and has a refresh rate of 120 Hz. On the back of the phone, which is very similar to the 8T model in design, there is a camera consisting of two large sensors and a third camera consisting of a smaller sensor. The phone case has a metal frame made of aluminum. There is a microphone at the top. On the lower side, there is a USB-C port and a speaker. In addition, there are volume keys on the left and the power button on the right. The phone will come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. It will come with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It will be possible to expand the internal storage space with a microSD card. The phone that will come with Android 11 will be OxygenOS.
We expect the phone to be introduced in early 2021 and we anticipate it will be available soon. Let’s see if the company, known for its high-end phones, will be able to reach the sales figures it wants with its new flagship phone?


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Audi invited Robert Downey Jr. to pull the wraps off the E-Tron GT Concept at a private event before the first media day. Considering Mr Downey Jr. with the new Audi and his obvious connect with the Avengers franchise and hence with Tony Stark's love for Audis, there were speculations. So, folks at Autoblog confirmed it with Audi that the new E-Tron GT Concept will indeed make an appearance in the new 'Avengers 4' film. The tech advanced electric four-door coupe concept will most likely have Tony Stark behind the wheel.
The fact that Audi didn't keep very hush about it is that they would know too that fans will not be surprised if a new Audi concept features in an Avengers movie. Marvel's superhero franchise has had a long association with Audi cars.
Tony Stark drove the Audi R8 in the first 'Iron Man' film in 2008. The second 'Iron Man' saw him driving the R8 Spyder and 'Iron Man 3', he drove the R8 E-Tron. Audi cars have made several appearances in Avengers films over the years. And now, it will be the new E-Tron GT concept.
Audi E-Tron is now a lot closer towards production. It is powered by two electric motors with 90 kWh battery pack. The powertrain generates a maximum power output of 590 hp allowing 0 to 100 km/h sprint time in just 3.5 seconds. The GT concept accelerates from 0 to 200 kmph in 12 seconds and the top speed has been restricted to 240 km/h in the favour of a generous range of over 400 km.
The new Audi e-Tron GT concept shares its tech with the Porsche Taycan and hence, it also supports fast charging. All thanks to this, the battery of the electric coupe can be charged to 80 percent in just 20 minutes. This makes it the fastest charging cars currently available in the market even beating the Teslas. The new Audi e-Tron GT will go on sale in the coming two years with deliveries set to begin in the year 2021.


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China Mobile (NYSE:CHL), the world’s largest wireless carrier, reported a mixed set of results in its first quarter earnings release on April 22. The carrier’s net profit declined 9.4% year-over-year (y-o-y) to RMB 25.24 billion (~$4 billion) even as its operating revenue grew about 8% to RMB 154.8 billion (~$25 billion). This decline in net profit can be attributed to increasing competition in the Chinese wireless market and the growing popularity of over-the-top (OTT) applications. OTT applications such as WeChat allow users to share text/picture/video messages over their phone’s Internet connection, and their increased usage resulted in a massive drop in revenues from traditional messaging services (SMS & MMS) for the carrier. Overall SMS usage on the carrier’s network declined from about 164 billion messages in Q4 2013 to 153 billion in Q1 2014.
While growing subsidy costs put a dent in China Mobile’s profits, it helped the carrier grow its 3G/4G subscriber base by almost 20% sequentially in Q1 2014 to about 228 million. Considering that data traffic is quickly becoming the primary avenue for future revenue growth, the carrier vigorously expanded and promoted its high speed 4G network, gaining 2.8 million 4G subscribers in the quarter. The average mobile data usage per subscriber grew by about 84% to 70 MB per month.
Going forward, we expect China Mobile to continue gaining 3G/4G subscribers faster than its rivals owing to its larger 4G network and its ability to offer higher handset subsidies. However, higher costs and increasing competition from rival wireless carriers China Unicom (NYSE:CHU) and China Telecom (NYSE:CHA), as well as OTT applications such as WeChat, might continue to weigh on profitability in the near term.
- How Did Chinese Wireless Carriers Fare In January?
- A Look At Some Of The Recent Reforms In The Chinese Telecom Space
- How Did Chinese Wireless Carriers Fare In December?
- China Mobile & Verizon: How Two Of The World’s Largest Wireless Carriers Compare
- How Did Chinese Wireless Operators Fare In November?
- The Chinese Fixed Line Broadband Market Had A Solid Year
We currently have a price estimate of $53 for China Mobile, implying a premium of about 15% to the current market price.
Higher Subsidies Weighing On Profits
China Mobile’s profit declined 9.4% in the first quarter this year majorly on account of higher subsidy expenses incurred by the carrier, in addition to higher marketing costs and discount offerings. In contrast, China’s second largest wireless carrier, China Unicom, increased its first quarter profits by 74% on a growing subscriber base and focus on low-cost smartphones, which reduced its subsidy expenses (see China Unicom’s Profit Rises 74% On Revenue Growth In 3G/4G & Broadband).
Subsidy and marketing expenses were necessary for China Mobile to improve the acceptability of its homegrown 3G network. The company faced intense competition in gaining 3G subscribers earlier because rivals China Unicom and China Telecom used the internationally accepted WCDMA 3G standard, which is compatible with a majority of the popular smartphones available in the Chinese telecom market, unlike China Mobile’s homegrown SCDMA standard. Therefore, because of the limited handset options available for use on its 3G network, China Mobile had to offer much more competitive handset pricing and discounts to attract subscribers, which put pressure on the company’s margins.
China Mobile announced in its Q4 2013 earning call that its subsidy costs are likely to increase by about 30% y-o-y to RMB 35 billion ($5.7 billion) this year as 4G adoption grows and demand for premium handsets rises. We expect this to continue putting pressure on the carrier’s profit margins in the near term.
Growing 3G/4G Subscribers Drive Revenues
With a share of about 62.2% of the overall Chinese wireless market, China Mobile has a total subscriber count of over 781 million, which is about 2.5 times the U.S. population. Adding more than 36 million 3G/4G subscribers in the last three months, China Mobile improved its 3G/4G mix from 25% at the end of December 2013 to 29% by the end of March 2014. This helped the carrier increase its overall revenues by 8% y-o-y to about $25 billion in the first quarter. A higher 3G/4G mix is good for the company’s top line, as 3G subscribers generally use more data than 2G users due to the network’s higher Internet speed, which helps in increasing average revenue per user (ARPU).
Going forward, we expect overall ARPU to improve as 3G penetration increases and sales of high-end smartphones such as the iPhone expand in the Chinese market. Growth in 4G is likely to drive ARPU levels even further, as 4G networks are about ten times faster than their 3G counterparts, thus encouraging subscribers to use even more data intensive applications such as high quality video calling and video streaming.Notes:


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New iPhone could boost US GDP by up to 0.5 percent, JP Morgan says
REUTERS - The next generation iPhone 5, which Apple Inc. plans to release this week, could not only boost the tech giant's bottom line - but could give a significant boost to the overall U.S. economy.
Sales of the new iPhone could add between a quarter and a half percentage point to fourth quarter annualized growth in the U.S., according to J.P. Morgan's chief economist, Michael Feroli in a note to clients on Monday.
Such an impact would be significant.
"Calculated using the so-called retail control method, sales of iPhone 5 could boost annualized GDP growth by $3.2 billion, or $12.8 billion at an annual rate," Feroli wrote. That 0.33 percentage-point boost, he added, "would limit the downside risk to our Q4 GDP growth protection, which remains 2.0 percent."
Feroli laid out his math. J.P. Morgan's analysts expect Apple to sell around 8 million iPhone 5s in the fourth quarter. They expect the sales price to be about $600.
With about $200 in discounted import component costs, the government can factor in $400 per phone into its measure of gross domestic product for the fourth quarter.
Feroli said the estimate of between a quarter to a half point of annualized GDP "seems fairly large, and for that reason should be treated skeptically." But, he added, "we think the recent evidence is consistent with this projection."
Feroli said that when the last iPhone was launched in October 2011, sales significantly outperformed expectations.
"Given the iPhone 5 launch is expected to be much larger, we think the estimate mentioned ... is reasonable," Feroli wrote.
According to a recent Reuters poll of Wall Street dealers and economists, U.S. GDP was seen at 2.0 percent on average in 2013, down slightly from estimates this summer.
(Reporting By Tim Reid; editing by Todd Eastham)
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- Three major nations absent as China launches World Bank rival in Asia
- Microsoft sales beat Street hopes, cloud profits up
- China's Xiaomi shifts some smartphone user data out of Beijing on privacy concerns
- Google commits to $1 billion in long-term office leases
- Google launches new email service dubbed "Inbox"
The latest Reuters poll of 20 economists taken over the past week shows Asia's third-largest economy will likely grow 5.5 percent this fiscal year and 6.4 percent the next, slightly better than 5.3 percent and 6.3 percent expected in the July poll. Full Article
Kalki Koechlin on her role as a disabled girl in “Margarita, With a Straw” Full Article


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China tightens Great Firewall by declaring unauthorised VPN services illegal
by Josh Ye / 23 January, 2017 /SCMP
Beijing has launched a 14-month nationwide campaign against unauthorised internet connections, including virtual private network (VPN) services, which allow users to bypass the country’s infamous “Great Firewall”.
A notice released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Sunday said that all special cable and VPN services on the mainland needed to obtain prior government approval – a move making most VPN service providers illegal.
The “clean-up” of the nation’s internet connections would start immediately and run until March 31, 2018, the notice said.
“China’s internet connection service market … has signs of disordered development that require urgent regulation and governance,” the ministry said.
The crackdown on unregulated internet connections aimed to “strengthen cyberspace information security management”.
Major VPN service companies including Vypr and Express said they were aware of the issue.
While a representative from Vypr said the company was “currently working on ways around this”, a representative from Express by the name of Dane said that his company would release an official statement on its blog soon.
China blocks access to 135 out of 1,000 sites in one ranking of the world’s top websites, including Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, according to Greatfire.org, which monitors online censorship on the mainland.
As a result, many internet users on the mainland rely on VPN services to access blocked sites and services. A cat-and-mouse game has thus been going on for years between the authorities and VPN service providers.
The last major crackdown on VPNs was in March 2016 during the National People’s Congress meeting in Beijing. Many companies complained that their paid-for VPN services were not functioning for up to a week.


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HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announced five new Nokia phones, three of which will be available in Ireland from October, including a new smartphone, the Nokia 7.2, a class-defining smartphone with a powerful 48MP triple camera featuring ZEISS Optics.
While so many companies are striving to produce high-end, expensive phones, Nokia is expanding its range to address new network and market categories. The Nokia 800 Tough is the first rugged Nokia phone from HMD Global, representing a new hallmark in Nokia phone durability and battery life.
For those who are not interested in an all-out smartphone, the new Nokia 2720 Flip is compact in a classic form factor but with integrated AI technology. This makes it an ideal phone for consumers with accessibility needs or perhaps for those looking for a digital detox.
Florian Seiche, CEO, HMD Global said: “We are now paving the way for the next phase for Nokia phones and have identified strategic investment areas for driving a high-quality Nokia smartphone experience for our fans, specifically focusing on bringing innovation in the area of 5G, security, imaging and design.”
In a strong renewal of the mid-segment, HMD Global today announced two new Nokia smartphones – the Nokia 7.2 and the Nokia 6.2 – both delivering segment leading experiences to fans in both display and imaging. In addition, both the Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 6.2 take a leap forward in craftsmanship and materials exploration bringing premium Nordic designs to the mid-segment.
Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global said: “Our mid-range portfolio has always been acknowledged for exceeding fans’ expectations. Both the Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 6.2 carry forward the same philosophy of delivering premium experiences at exceptional value. From the powerful 48MP triple camera imaging featuring ZEISS Optics on the Nokia 7.2, to the best-in-class PureDisplay on smartphones the Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 6.2 bring the best experiences to our fans. Both smartphones come with a signature two-day battery life, and feature a unique design achieved with high-tech materials that’s true to our Nordic heritage. In addition, the Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 6.2 are Android 10-ready and will deliver on an OS experience that just keeps getting better.”
The unlike the Nokia 6.2, the Nokia 7.2 will be available in Ireland and features a powerful 48MP triple camera with Quad Pixel technology and ZEISS Optics. Premiering many exclusive imaging experiences, the new Nokia 7.2 delivers on Nokia phones’ legacy of bringing unique imaging technologies and features. In an industry first integration of DSLR level pro-bokeh styles into a smartphone, the Nokia 7.2 comes with unique ZEISS bokeh styles available in portrait mode to give you stunning shots and exceptional image quality anytime of the day. These bokeh styles recreate the way legendary ZEISS lenses produce high visual impact and signature blur. Giving fans the creative freedom, the Nokia 7.2 also allows for both foreground and background blur to mimic the natural optical bokeh. The Nokia 7.2 also brings advanced low-light imaging with night mode by using AI low light image fusion technology in combination with the highly sensitive 48MP main camera. Nokia claim the Nokia 7.2 will have a two-day battery life. It will also feature a stunning PureDisplay technology and always-on HDR, with timeless Nordic design to redefine what fans should expect from this smartphone segment.
The Nokia 800 Tough is not only water and dust proof, it is also protected against drops and has been designed to withstand extreme temperatures, making it an ideal companion for those who like to work hard and play hard in harsh environments. It also brings the latest features fans would expect in a modern phone, packing in The Google Assistant, popular apps like WhatsApp and Facebook, 4G connectivity and more. With the Nokia 800 Tough, HMD Global is expanding its offering to reach new segments like B2B and enterprise customers, where durable handsets are required, as well as individuals who want a reliable phone for their outdoor adventures.
The new Nokia 2720 Flip features a familiar flip-phone design, combining simplicity and reliability in a durable device. Bringing modern features to fans, the Nokia 2720 Flip comes with WhatsApp and Facebook to make sure you’re connected to what matters. And with The Google Assistant just a button-push away, fans can get more done with just their voice. In case the unexpected happens, the Nokia 2720 Flip comes with an emergency button as well as an ICE (In Case of Emergency) information menu – a perfect phone for the ones you love. The Nokia 2720 Flip is not only an ideal companion for when you are looking for a digital detox, but it can be the perfect phone for keeping your loved ones with accessibility needs connected.
Availability and pricing:
The Nokia 7.2 comes in Cyan Green, Charcoal and Ice, in 4GB/64GB variants, priced at RRP €269 in Three from October, and RRP €299 SIM free from Harvey Normans and Powercity.
The Nokia 800 Tough comes in Black Steel and Desert Sand, priced at RRP €129 SIM free from October.
The Nokia 2720 Flip comes in Ocean Blue, Black and Pink, priced at RRP €109 SIM free from October.


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Commentary & Voices
Q3 2020 Cox Automotive U.S. Sales Forecast Call Replay Available
Monday September 28, 2020
During the Q3 2020 Cox Automotive U.S. Auto Sales Forecast Call held on Monday, Sept. 28, Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke was joined by Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist, Zo Rahim, manager of economic and industry insights, and Vanessa Ton, senior manager of market intelligence.
Watch the event replay below to see how the auto industry performed in the third quarter, how consumer and dealer behavior is changing due to COVID-19, and how the Cox Automotive team sees the industry recovering going forward.
If you are interested in learning more about the latest Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index and the major economic and industry trends that shaped the third quarter, join Jonathan and Zo for the Q3 Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index Call on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. EDT.
For more information or to speak with a Cox Automotive spokesperson, please contact a member of the Cox Automotive PR team.


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Ardent's BRAND new kit
Ardent Hire Solutions £100m investment in brand new equipment is well underway, as the new company hits the ground running with the arrival of the first of 60 1.5t Kubota excavators.
The new Kubota excavators will be the first vehicles to carry Ardent's exciting new brand, and will be available at Ardent depots across the UK. The new machines will continue to add to Ardent's excavator fleet which is one of the largest in the UK. It will continue to ensure they maintain the youngest fleet, giving customers unrivalled reliability and fuel economy.
Just like Ardent, the Kubota U17-3α has the versatility and performance to tackle almost any task. It also underlines Ardent's commitment to sustainability, with its unique E-TVCS (Three Vortex Combustion System) enabling high-energy output, low vibration and low fuel consumptions while minimising exhaust emissions.
Lots more to come
Ardent Chief Executive, Steve Corcoran, explains the significance of the new machines: "We're really excited by our first bulk delivery of 2016. These new Kubota excavators are proof of Ardent's commitment to providing our customers with the newest, most up to date fleet available in the industry today. This order is just part of our £100m investment as we improve and extend our fleet, and there is plenty more to come in the next few months."
For more information about Ardent Hire Solutions, Call 0844 264 4100


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A leopard has been on the prowl in the Maruti Suzuki factory at Manesar. The feline is said to have entered Suzuki Powertrain – the engine manufacturing unit of Maruti sometime at 4 AM in the early hours today. It was caught on CCTV camera. Presently efforts are on to rescue the animal and set it free in a forest. But so far, forest department officials have not been able to catch the leopard. Due to this, production at the factory has been affected. The 1.3 liter diesel engine of cars like the Swift, Dzire and Baleno is produced here.
The morning shift has been suspended. There were no production workers in the factory when the animal entered. Only security officials and the transport department staff were present. Officials are trying to use the CCTV footage to trace the route of the animal and rescue it. Maruti is yet to comment on the same. The DCP of Manesar, Ashok Bakshi, has issued a statement regarding this issue.
Police rushed to the spot as soon as we received the information. The premises was immediately evacuated and we have sealed the area. Rescue operation is on and over 100 cops have been deployed at the spot.Teams of the forest department, police and wildlife have been called to catch the leopard. We have cordoned off the plant and a search operation is on to catch the animal. However, we are yet to trace it
Every hour of production loss at a car factory causes crores of loss. Maruti uses the Japanese way of production, known as Just-in-Time or JIT. This method of production means that supply of parts and production are linked closely.
Even a minute of delay in the factory operation leads to major disruption in production schedule. We estimate that Maruti has lost at least 500 engines’ worth production due to the Leopard. The Manesar factory produces a lot of best selling models for Maruti.


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The Automotive Communications Awards, spanning 39 unique categories of business-to-consumer and business-to-business communications, recognize the creative marketing efforts put forth by the automotive aftermarket’s most talented manufacturers, vehicle service centers and industry associations.
The deadline to submit entries for the awards has been extended to Sept. 19. Awards will be presented during AAPEX at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct 30.
Click here for the entry form.
For more information, email [email protected].


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This new game has more heft and weight in its movements and attacks, so you'll have to get slightly used to it before trying out one of the three available missions in the "God Eater 3" demo
AppOnboard, a mobile app demo
and analytics platform for developers, announced it has now raised USD 30M in funding this year with USD 15M coming in its Series B from a group led by Breakaway Growth Fund, whose team includes Paul Heydon, seed investor in Supercell, the company said.
It is not unusual for students to generate ideas for demos
based on their interests and abilities--and these demonstrations can be presented by the students themselves!
Additionally, game demos
costs devs extra time and money, which they could invest directly into the development of the game itself.
- USB Mass Storage Demo
(RTOS, USB, file system)reads files from a USB stick inserted into the RSK board to show the how ThreadX, FileX, and USBX work together.
"The vendor must have had a team of eight different people there, which is a lot of head count in one room for a demo
. We had no idea why at least half of them were there.
This is followed by a demo
on how to fillet a flat-as-a-pancake lemon sole, deftly performed by cooking partner Judy Walker.
We were informed that the demos
would be more of a meet-and-greet.
Bands and solo artists can submit their demos
of original music, in any genre.
Nevertheless, let us see what DEMOS
is offering in its platform.
Furthermore, Baker's demo
was graded in three weeks; grading traditional demos
usually takes longer.
Same-day sales of products featured as demos
at Costco can increase four-fold over the previous day, Ellis said.
The soulful singer is already developing two artists and is now inviting talented Email readers to send in their demos
KTHV swept all but one of the demos
during the evening and nightly newscasts.
IF WITCHES EXISTED, JOHN Demos
would have found them.


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Xiaomi is gearing up to launch the Mi 11 series of phones in the China, but before the new flagships come to India, we could see Xiaomi launch an all-new Mi 10 phone, the Mi 10i in the country.
Reports suggest that the phone will be a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G phone that debuted in China last month. The Xiaomi Mi 10i has been spotted on Geekbench ahead of its launch with a model number M2007J17I. The presence of the phone on Geekbench may not reveal much else, but it does show that the phone is quite close to launch as the company is already testing the performance of the device in India.
The smartphone appears to be running a copy of Android 10 OS and 8 GB of RAM. In terms of the scores, it has managed to get a single-core and multi-core result of 652 and 2004 points, respectively. The phone is tipped to arrive in India in black, blue, orange/green gradient color. There is no word on its pricing or for that matter its availability yet.
If it's indeed a rebrand of the Note 9 Pro 5G, the phone will get a powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset with a 5G X52 modem. There will be a 6.67-inch display on the front with support for 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Much like the display we saw on the Mi 10T, this display would support adaptive refresh that offers 6 different refresh rate steps and can thus dynamically switch between 30Hz to 120Hz depending on the task at hand. The panel would also support a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. The front and back of the device are covered by Gorilla Glass 5.
Under the hood, the chipset could be paired to a base configuration of 6/128GB of RAM and storage. For the higher variant, users will get 8GB+128GB of RAM and storage, while there could also be a variant that offers the same amount of RAM but doubles the storage to 256GB.
The phone will come with a quad-camera set-up on the back, which is built around a 108-megapixel ISOCELL HM2 sensor. Other cameras in the list of lenses for the rebranded phone will include an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 2-camera macro shooter and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. For selfies, the phone is tipped to get a 16-megapixel sensor. The phone could be backed by a 4,820 mAh battery with support for 33W fast charger which can go up from 0% to 100% in just 58 minutes.


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Scientists Develop Artificial Throat
In another step toward making the human obsolete, researchers from NIZO Food Research, Quest International and Wageningen University in the Netherlands have developed an artificial throat. Now, we don’t even need ourselves to taste test things.
Developing the flavour of a new sports or low-carbohydrate drink is a lengthy task, involving many tests by panels of human tasters. The artificial throat was developed to spare drinks makers the expense and hassle involved in organising and analysing hundreds of tests by helping to predict how a drink will taste. It works by mimicking the process of human tasting.
Perhaps this will lower the R&D cost of developing new drinks, and the cost savings will be passed on to us the consumers. Um, sure.


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Eastman Chemical Co. has completed its new state-of-the-art urethane extrusion line at its Martinsville, Virginia plant. This new extrusion line, coupled with sourcing partnerships, reinforces Eastman’s versatility, reliability and commitment to the paint protection films (PPF) and window films business, according to the company.
“Eastman has world-class internal manufacturing and external sourcing partnerships that ensure our ability to grow, innovate and serve our customers in this growing market,” said Travis Smith, vice president and general manager of Eastman’s Performance Films business. “The integration provided by this urethane line to produce the raw materials needed to manufacture our paint protection films is a testament to our on-going investments to support the current and future needs of our dealers and channel partners.”
Eastman’s PPF products provide a combination of performance, aesthetics, and installation ease and have resulted in adoption and acceptance by dealers and customers around the world, according to the company. Eastman continues to drive investments related to product development and innovation, manufacturing and quality excellence, and consumer marketing programs to support development and growth of the window film and protective film markets.
The company also has announced a series of significant investments in PPF over the past year, including a Performance Films Patterns and Software Center of Excellence, a major capacity expansion at its Martinsville manufacturing facility and the launch of a new generation of PPF.
“This is part of a series of investments we’re making to continue innovating and differentiating Eastman as a uniquely integrated manufacturer and marketer of paint protection films,” said Darrell Reed, commercial director. “We are excited that this investment provides significant flexibility for future innovation of Eastman’s paint protection film portfolio and achieves Eastman’s vision of being the world’s preferred manufacturer of paint protection films.”
Performance Films is a part of Eastman’s Advanced Materials business segment.


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Reports: 1,000 Belvidere Chrysler workers to be cut
Chrysler officials are expected to announce today that the company is cutting 1,000 workers by eliminating the third shift in Belvidere as part of wave of cost-cutting efforts.
Belvidere is seen as especially vulnerable because of slow sales of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. The Dodge Caliber is also assembled at the plant.
The company is also expected to slash an additional 750 jobs by eliminating the third shift in Toledo, Ohio, where the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro are assembled.
The news, when announced, will not be a surprise. Analysts have been speculating for the past couple of months that the now privately owned Chrysler LLC was going to move quickly to cut costs. New CEO Bob Nardelli talked Monday at a Florida event that one of the major advantages of running a private company rather than a public one is that a private one can react much more quickly when decisions are made.
Chrysler officials wouldn’t publicly confirm the reports both from The Associated Press and The Detroit News, but the AP said it received verification from congressional staffers.
Through September, Belvidere workers were on pace to turn out more than 350,000 vehicles for the year, which would break a 21-year-old production record. But dealers worldwide are on pace to sell only about 295,000 of those Belvidere-built vehicles.
Also working against Belvidere is the fact that about 600 of Belvidere’s 3,400 United Auto Workers members are two-year temporary contract employees who can be eliminated at any time without the protection of going into the jobs bank, where workers receive much of their pay when laid off.
Workers at the Belvidere plant have been e-mailing reporters frequently in the past two weeks saying the third shift was history perhaps as soon as late November.
Today’s reports, though, peg the ending of the shift in the first quarter of 2008.
No matter when the end comes, there will be bitter feelings, said Jim Doser, a longtime UAW member at places such as Caterpillar and Sundstrand. Doser started at Chrysler’s Belvidere plant in April 2006 and was converted into a contract worker about three months later as the company brought in 800 new workers to have enough for a 24-hour operation.
Doser has been a very vocal critic of the UAW for allowing Chrysler to hire workers on two-year contracts in the first place and then not getting Chrysler to make the temporaries permanent in the new national UAW-Chrysler agreement that was ratified last week.
“You’d have to have about two brain cells to be surprised by this,” Doser said of ending the third shift. “Everyone knew it was coming. The sad part of it is I’ve been in the UAW for 34 years and I’m ashamed to say I’m UAW. I’ll never buy a Chrysler vehicle again. I’ll never buy a UAW-built vehicle again.”
$3,000 ‘severance’ payment
Doser said the one consolation was that the temporary employees will receive a $3,000 bonus as part of the new contract, a perk only offered to that small group. But he said even that “severance” pay doesn’t add up to all that much.
“You lose about 40 percent of it to taxes,” he said.
One of Doser’s co-workers who has enough seniority to be immune from the cuts said it is sad to see any of the workers lose their jobs.
“A lot of those employees came from elsewhere,” said Mike Smedegard, who has worked at the plant for 13 years. “They uprooted themselves from job security to come here.”
Area reactions were varied. Tom Lassandro, executive director of the Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce, said the effects would be spread over the wide area from which the plant draws employees. Workers come in from as far west as Galena and as far north as Racine, Wis.
“This is never good news for Belvidere,” said Cathy Ward, Boone County Board chairman. “We have many people directly employed, and it’s not just the people employed there. It’s the restaurants and everyone else.”
That sentiment was echoed by Sali Limani, owner of the Steam Plant family restaurant in Belvidere.
“This is going to affect every business, not just the restaurant.”
The job losses figure to be greater even than 1,000. In 2006, several Chrysler suppliers opened up near the plant and hired about 2,000 workers. Those companies are likely to cut payroll as well. That means perhaps as many as 1,500 to 2,000 workers will suddenly be in the market for new jobs early in 2008.
Slower job market
In 2006, the economy was expanding fairly rapidly. Today, thanks to the slow housing market that is rippling through the economy, job growth has slowed significantly.
Doser, for one, said he doubts he’ll be able to find work in Boone or Winnebago counties at the $20 an hour he is receiving at Chrysler. Doser left a job in Woodstock for the Chrysler opening.
“We’ve all been talking about what we’ll do next,” the 57-year-old said. “I’m going to have to look at places like DeKalb where they have the Target Distribution Center.”
Janyce Fadden, executive director of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, said the ability to quickly find work will depend on the skills of the individual workers. Dozens of manufacturing companies in the Rock River Valley are desperate for workers with good computer and math skills to run the increasingly automated machines at the area’s top blue-collar operations.
“I’m sure Chrysler attracted a number of high-end people who were willing to take a chance there,” Fadden said. “The ones who come out with a high skill level will be in demand. There are also a number of people who probably just loaded machines.
The good news is we do have a number of logistics operations, very good companies like UPS, Lowe’s, Carson Pirie Scott, that are hiring right now.”
According to the AP, Nardelli and Chrysler Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda didn’t elaborate on the layoffs Wednesday during a trip to Washington to meet with lawmakers and the Bush administration on energy legislation, including upgrades to fuel economy regulations.
Nardelli said the final decision on the cuts came Tuesday during Chrysler’s first board meeting as a private company. “Those are within the confines of the board and the board’s decisions,” he said of the layoffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report as did Metro Editor Dave Warner, Business Editor Jack Burke, Assistant Metro Editor Annette LaCrosse and staff writer Chris Green.


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WHAT THE BROKER SAID
About a year ago GK Goh said toymaker Dream International was expected to rebound sharply as sales increased and costs fell when a new plant in Vietnam began production. Dream had just reported a net profit of $121 million for 2003, up 6.6 per cent year on year but slightly below expectations, due to Sars and the Iraq war.
The broker expected a compound annual sales growth rate of 15.5 per cent for Dream from last year to 2006. The rebound would come mainly from a large order from a United States marketing company, an increase in sales to Wal-Mart, a new tricycle joint venture in Shanghai, a rise in turnover thanks to a full contribution from a newly acquired marketing firm and the search for sales in Japan.
Goh maintained its 'buy' recommendation, and projected a fair price of $2.98. The counter was trading at $2.225 a year ago.
This month Dream reported that net profit tumbled 56 per cent last year on high raw material prices, labour shortages and a bankruptcy at one of its main customers in the US.
Earnings fell to $52.92 million, although revenue rose 24.3 per cent to $1.15 billion.
The counter closed at $1.17 on Friday.


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Though not a radical change from the current uniforms, the most noticeable difference is the helmet. The standard Oregon "O" on the side has been moved to the top-center of the helmet, replaced with the steel wings previously on the shoulder pads.
Here's a look around the web at the reaction to the latest edition of the Oregon Ducks uniforms:
• The Oregonian's Ken Goe has the need-to-knows on the Rose Bowl uniforms from the Nike press release.
• The complete Nike press release, complete with 12 photos and the following quote from Ducks head coach Chip Kelly: "Oregon represents the gold-standard when it comes to merging science and innovation with athletic performance and we are excited to continue our partnership with Nike by unveiling the next iteration in uniform innovation for the Rose Bowl. Nike always starts by listening to the voice of the athlete as they continue to bring the most intuitive technology to the game."
• NikeBlog.com has 21 photos of the uniforms.
• The Oregonian's Allan Brettman with the details of the "LiquidMetal" helmet, concocted by Newberg company Hydro Graphics Inc.
• CBSSports.com's Bryan Fischer says Oregon and Nike are "in a whole new category when it comes to uniforms."
• ESPN.com's Paul Lukas on the Ducks' latest duds: "People seem destined to either love it or hate it, but everyone will likely have a strong opinion on it."
• And not to be outdone, adidas will unveil new(?) Rose Bowl uniforms for Wisconsin this week as well.


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American cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase announced the purchase Earn.com one of the most prosperous from a financial point of view of startups in the industry. Representatives of the exchange were published in his blog a statement, which welcomed the team and Earn a new “first technical Director” Coinbase Balaji Sreenivasan (Balaji Srinivasan).
It is worth noting the rumors that Coinbase and other companies are in talks about buying Earn.com appeared last month. Sources directly involved in the discussions, said that the total amount of cash, scriptaction, promotions and additional sources of income due to contractual terms Earn.com exceeds $120 million.
Currently, Coinbase did not disclose details of the transaction, however, according to the news portal of the Silicon valley Recode, the deal “was a bit over $100 million.” The publication also notes that some investors Earn was initially against the proposal, arguing higher valuation of the company’s business, announced earlier.
Indeed, Earn.com formerly known as 21 Inc., has made significant progress. Original 21 Inc was engaged in bitcoin mining Intel, and in 2015 launched a device for developers dubbed 21 Bitcoin Computer. It is reported that in the course of numerous rounds of financing, the company managed to obtain funds from major investors in Silicon valley for a total of $116 million.
In October last year 21 Inc rebranded by selecting the name Earn.com. This step was due to the launch of a new product — a social network where users receive a reward of cryptocurrency for the execution of tasks and responses to emails.
Co-founder and CEO Earn.com Balaji Srinivasan (Balaji Srinivasan) is also the authoritative figure in the field of cryptocurrency transactions — previously, he was the co-founder of a startup Counsyl, has won a prestigious award from the Wall Street Journal for innovation in medicine.
Under the agreement, sreenivasan will become the first technical Director of Coinbase, while the team Earn will continue to work in the structure of the exchange.
“We’re going to double down on the business Earn in the composition of Coinbase, because Earn has created a paid email product, which is probably one of the first cases of practical application of the blockchain, have achieved significant momentum. We save business Earn, he’s promising and has great potential,” said Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong (Brian Armstrong).
It is assumed that in her new capacity, sreenivasan will lead the development of a platform of the exchange, and also attract to work in Coinbase’s new “cryptocurrency the talent.” Furthermore, “Balaji is going to play an important role as a technological Evangelist” promoting the development of cryptocurrencies, which, according to Armstrong, are important for exchange, and for the world.
For its part, the representatives Earn explained that users, whose number has “hundreds of thousands”, yet don’t expect significant changes. However, along with Coinbase, the company plans to make their product “more and better”.
According to the developers, “in the short term, everything remains as it was, with one exception”: Earn while will postpone the launch of its token, focusing on integration with Coinbase infrastructure and expansion of service.
“Perhaps you can guess, it will be possible now, but stay tuned — you may be surprised!”, — wrote the team Earn.com.
We will remind, at the end of last week it became known that Coinbase bought Ethereum-wallet Cipher Browser, and in early April, the exchange announced plans to create a new investment Fund Coinbase Ventures to Finance new cryptocurrency startups.


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Business News›md & ceo
MD & CEO
Chitra Ramakrishna vs Sebi: SC asks NSE's ex-MD to pay Rs 25 lakh penalty
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Chitra Ramkrishna, the former managing director and chief executive officer of the National Stock Exchange of India, to deposit half of the Rs 25 lakh penalty amount that was confirmed by the Securities Appellate Tribunal in the dark fibre and leased line connectivity case.
Startups can make India m-cap grow to $50 trillion in 20 years: NSE CEO
India's market capitalisation can grow from $4.8 trillion now to $50 trillion in the next 20 years, National Stock Exchange (NSE) CEO Ashish Chauhan has predicted.
Shiprocket MD & CEO Saahil Goel draws inspiration from Steve Jobs for fashion
Saahil Goel, MD and CEO of Shiprocket, cites Steve Jobs as his fashion inspiration. Emulating Jobs' iconic style, Goel finds motivation in Jobs' minimalist yet impactful approach to fashion. This insight offers a glimpse into Goel's admiration for Jobs beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, highlighting the influence of Jobs' fashion sense on Goel's personal style.
Market upbeat on first management rejig by new CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank
On Monday, the bank announced the appointment of KVS Manian as joint managing director and Shanti Ekambaram as deputy managing director with effect from March 1, 2024. Both were seen as internal candidates for the CEO position.
SBM Bank India names Ashish Vijayakar MD & CEO
Vijayakar has expertise in the domains of business transformation, risk management, innovation and managing changing business environment processes.
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Tata AIA Life Insurance appoints Venkatachalam H as new CEO & MDTata AIA Life Insurance Co announced the appointment of Venkatachalam H as the new CEO & MD, pending regulatory approval from IRDAI. He will succeed Naveen Tahilyani, who is transitioning to a different role within the Tata group and will also serve as a non-executive director of Tata AIA Life Insurance. Venkatachalam, or Venky, has extensive experience of over 27 years across various sectors including life insurance, asset management, and custodial services.
LIC Mutual Fund appoints Ravi Kumar Jha as MD & CEOThe 57-year-old Jha holds a bachelor's degree in commerce from Ranchi University.
Tata Steel proposes additional GBP 130-mn support package for Port Talbot workers in UK: CFOTata Steel has proposed an additional financial support package of around £130 million for workers affected by its transition plan in the UK. As part of the decarbonisation plan, the company will close high-emission blast furnaces and coke ovens in 2024 and shift to electric arc furnace-based steelmaking. The transition aims to save energy costs and reduce carbon emissions. Tata Steel CEO T. V. Narendran emphasized the challenging situation and the company's efforts to provide fair and considerate outcomes for affected employees. The comprehensive support package is in addition to the funding for the Transition Board.
IHCL’s Expansion Milestone: 300 hotels portfolio within reach, says MD and CEO Puneet ChhatwalTata Group backed IHCL has reported revenue from operations of Rs 1964 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, up 18% compared to corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The hospitality chain reported a profit after tax of Rs 477 crore, up 18% compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022.
A road map with clear focus, fiscal discipline: Amitabh Chaudhry, MD and CEO, Axis BankThe 2019 interim budget provided income tax rebate, social security coverage, and railway capex. The latest budget focused on fiscal discipline and ease of doing business. It reduced the fiscal deficit for this year and set lower targets for the next. The private sector can benefit from increased borrowing and infrastructure creation. The budget allocated funds for rural poverty alleviation, semiconductor manufacturing, solar power, and economic railway corridors. It also introduced schemes for housing, innovation, and economic growth.
Budget 2024: Low divestment target suggests change in govt strategy: NSE MD & CEOBudget 2024: The Indian government's lower divestment target of Rs 50,000 crore indicates a change in strategy, said NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan. The CEO added that rather than undertaking distressed sales, the government aims to sell companies at the right price. NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan believes that the government's strategy has become more realistic and is aimed at strengthening public sector undertakings.
Karnataka Bank to raise Rs 100 cr equity from ICICI LombardKarnataka Bank has decided to allot Rs 100 crore worth of preferential shares to ICICI Lombard General Insurance as part of its plans to raise Rs 700 crore in fresh equity. The allotment is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval and will be raised through other permitted means. The bank raised Rs 800 crore through a preferential issue of shares in October last year.
Puneet Dalmia to take on additional role of CEO and MD at operating company Dalmia (Cement) BharatPuneet Dalmia, the managing director and chief executive officer of Dalmia Bharat Limited, will also take on the additional role of CEO and MD of Dalmia (Cement) Bharat Limited. Dalmia Bharat Limited reported its quarterly results for the December quarter of financial year 2023-24, achieving sales of Rs. 3600 crore and EBITDA of Rs. 775 crore. The company's cement business saw a 6.8% YoY growth in sales volumes, and its cement capacity increased to 44.6 million tonnes. Dalmia Bharat's margins have improved, with net debt to EBITDA remaining at 0.16x.
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank recommends names of individuals for MD&CEO post to RBITamilnad Mercantile Bank has recommended three individuals for the position of Managing Director and CEO to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as disclosed by the bank's Managing Director and CEO S Krishnan. This move follows the incident in 2023 where Rs 9,000 crore was transferred to a cab driver's savings account due to a technical glitch.
Atul Mehra quit JM Financial Services, to join Axis Capital as MD & CEOAtul Mehra, the joint managing director at JM Financial Services, has resigned from his position after a 33-year tenure. He is set to join Axis Capital as the managing director and chief executive, filling the vacant position since December 2018. The role of interim managing director Salil Pitale, who has been in the position since 2018, is unclear. Mehra's resignation is effective by April 20, as he pursues alternative career opportunities. JM Financial Services recently ranked sixth in the Indian equity capital market league table, while Axis Capital fell to the ninth position.
RBI clears appointment of Praveen A Kutty as MD of DCB BankPraveen A Kutty has been part of the DCB Bank leadership team for the past 16 years. He, alongside the current MD and CEO and management team, played a key role to turnaround the bank.
HDFC Securities appoints Neetika Bhatia as chief HR officerNeetika Bhatia has previously worked with companies like Citibank, Atos Origin, and Trica. Bhatia has an MBA in Human Resources from Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon.
RBI asks Federal Bank to submit two fresh names for MD & CEO postThe Reserve Bank of India has requested Federal Bank to submit two candidates to replace current Managing Director and CEO Shyam Srinivasan, whose term ends on September 22, 2024. The bank is advised to submit a fresh proposal with a panel of at least two fresh names, considering the candidate's likely tenure and the bank's longer-term requirements.
Canara Bank to open cyber security wing, stepping up AI adoption to predict online frauds & loan defaultsCanara Bank is set to launch a separate cyber-security wing from April 1 to enhance its investment in cybersecurity initiatives and protect customers from online fraud. The wing, headed by a general manager, will monitor digital transactions in real-time and trigger alerts for potential fraud.
Kia appoints Gwanggu Lee as MD and CEO of its India operationsWith over 30 years of experience in the automotive sector, Lee has been mandated to spearhead Kia’s operations in the sub-continent focusing on fostering sustainable business growth. Prior to this, Lee has held leadership positions in various capacities in both developed and developing economies, including roles in the US, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Kia Headquarters in Central and South America, and Kia Europe Headquarters in Germany.
Kia India names Gwanggu Lee as new MD, CEOWith two segment-breaking updates -- the new Seltos and the new Sonet, and a host of more innovative products on the way, Kia India is surely on the right path to sustainable business growth, Lee stated. "My vision is to unlock the next phase of growth through inspiring Kia brand experiences thereby creating more value and long-lasting impact for our customers, partners, and employees alike," he added.
Ashok Vaswani assumes charge as Kotak Bank's MD and CEOVaswani, a seasoned banker with experience at Barclays and Citigroup, is known for his role as a 'digital evangelist' at Barclays, where he pioneered digital banking, contributing to the bank's recovery after the 2008 financial crisis. As a chartered accountant and company secretary, Vaswani played a key role in reshaping Barclays' retail strategy after the global financial crisis. He is also associated with introducing Europe to digital banking through the innovative 'Pingit' mobile payments service.
India's steel sector still in recovery mode post Covid pandemic: Tata Steel CEO and MD T V NarendranThe steel sector in the country is still in recovery mode after the Covid pandemic, Tata Steel CEO and MD T V Narendran said on Monday. He said demand for steel will continue to grow, backed by the government's focus on infrastructure development.
Slice secures RBI nod to appoint ex-Andhra Bank executive as MD & CEONorth East Small Finance Bank is in the process of getting merged with Bengaluru-headquartered fintech unicorn Slice.
Stellantis India names Aditya Jairaj as CEO, MD"As we bid farewell to Roland, we extend a warm welcome to Aditya as he takes on a new role. Our unwavering focus is on the future, and we are confident that this transition will usher in new opportunities for growth and innovation for Stellantis India," Stellantis India and Asia Pacific COO Ashwani Muppasani said.
USFDA pulls up Intas Pharma for manufacturing lapses at Ahmedabad plantIn a warning letter to the company's CEO and MD Nimish Chudgar, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has pointed out various manufacturing lapses at the Matoda-Sanand, Ahmedabad-based facility.Load More
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Ex-International, Austin J.J Okocha has described the new promo launched by national telecommunication company, Globacom, as a good opportunity for Nigerians to empower themselves.
Speaking at the launch of Glo Recharge and Win Big Promo also called My Own Don Beta at the headquarters of the company in Lagos on Thursday, the former Captain of Super Eagles called on Nigerians to make utmost use of the opportunity provided by the promo to create extra source of income for themselves.
He said “the prizes provide very good opportunities for Nigerians to make money on a daily basis”, adding that “as a Delta/Igbo businessman, I am seeing a lot of business opportunities, I can actually sponsor people to participate in the promo and we will agree on the sharing formula when they win any of the prizes (which elicited loud laughter among the guests at the event). I can only say thank you to Glo for the promo”
On his part, the President –General of Nigerian Sports Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, commended Globacom for always giving back to Nigerians. He stated that the company has over the years been sponsoring the Nigerian Sports’ Supporters Club to different sporting events across the world. He said the new promo was well-thought out and that Nigerians will benefit immensely from it.
“The Nigerian Sports Supporters Club members will participate actively in the promo.” He assured.
Speaking earlier at the event, Retail and Consumer Sales Chief, Globacom, David Maji, said the items to be won in the promo were carefully selected to empower Nigerians to create wealth and even become employers of labour, adding that the items included Tricycles, popularly called Keke, Industrial Sewing Machines, Grinding Mills, and generators.
He disclosed that My Own Don Beta offer is open to all new and existing prepaid and postpaid subscribers.
On how to participate in the promo, Maji explained that all a prepaid subscriber needs to do is to recharge with a total of N200 in a day either in one recharge or cumulative recharges. “The more the recharge, the more entries the customer gets to the draw, thus the higher the chances of winning”, he added.
Maji also stated that subscribers in all parts of the country would have a chance of emerging winners and that prize-presentation events would be held in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin, Ibadan, Kano, Jos, Enugu and Onitsha.
Among those who attended the event were a member ofLagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Adedeji; Director, Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Mrs Felicia Onwuegbuchulam; Coordinator, Lagos Zonal Office of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mrs Priscillia Onuzulu and several Nollywood stars including Osas Ighodaro, Ebube Nwagbo, Damilola Adegbite and Odunlade Adekola.


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This November the House of Representatives passed HR 2930 (the “Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act,” a bill that allows startups the ability to utilize crowdfunding in order to source capital). This bill marks a new era for crowdfunding in which startups can offer securities through social mediums in order to grow their businesses.
The bill, of course, isn’t law yet. The Senate also introduced a bill in November that basically shares the same goals as HR 2930 with a few distinctions (including investment minimums and maximums, funding caps, and the Senate bill requires the use of an intermediary like Kickstarter to process the investments, among other things). However, the bill was read twice in December and is currently being referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. If it passes, it will be reconciled with the House and then referred to the White House. So it still has a ways to go. Scott Edward Walker wrote a very helpful article on what small businesses need to know about the House bill.
The bills couldn’t be more well-timed, however. If you’ve given to Kickstarter in the past year, you received an update from them this week about their year in summary. And it was a big one. All told, Kickstarter alone saw more than $99 million pledged in the past year (and Kickstarter is still less than three years old). In the past year, 65 crowdfunding platforms were launched around the world (80% of which are focused on creative or artistic projects). With these bills in the house, I’m sure that these numbers have nowhere to go but up, across all industries. Just before the year ended the TikTok project raised more than $942,000 for their project alone.
There are a number of tips to follow on how to succeed when sourcing funds through platforms like Kickstarter? What do you think some of the key elements are of a successful crowdfunding campaign? How do you think things will things change if the crowdfunding bill is put into law?


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Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, is set to assemble mobile phones in Pakistan by December 2021 in a joint venture with Lucky Group, it emerged on Friday.
"I congratulate Lucky Group and Samsung on entering into a JV (joint venture) to manufacture smartphones in Pakistan," Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar wrote on his official Twitter handle.
He said that these positive developments are evidence of the success of the Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) system that eliminated the smuggling of phones and was then followed up by the mobile manufacturing policy last year.
I congratulate Lucky Group and Samsung on entering into a JV to manufacture smart phones in Pakistan.— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) July 16, 2021
These positive developments are evidence of the success of DIRBS system that eliminated smuggling of phones. And then followed up by Mobile Manufacturing policy last year. https://t.co/UCEsF0dKVq
Chairman China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa also lauded the development.
"This landmark development coupled with a number of upcoming Chinese Mobile phone manufacturing facilities in Pakistan will expand our manufacturing base, help boost exports and create more jobs. Well done!," Bajwa tweeted.
This landmark development coupled with a number of upcoming Chinese Mobile phone manufacturing facilities in Pakistan will expand our manufacturing base, help boost exports and create more jobs. Well done! https://t.co/LRA2Ub2Hh1— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) July 16, 2021
In August last year, Hammad, who was industries and production minister at that time, had met with Samsung Pakistan MD and CEO. “Smartphone production in Pakistan is multiplying following DIRBS [Device Identification Registration and Blocking System] implementation and Mobile Policy launched recently,” he had tweeted after the meeting.
“They [Samsung Pakistan MD and CEO] appreciated both policies and are now actively considering setting up a smartphone assembly plant in Pakistan,” he added.
The DIRBS allows the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to stop the use of smuggled mobile devices.
All mobile devices being connected to local networks using local SIMs are subject to registration within 60 days from their first use on a local mobile network.
Samsung enters in an agreement with Lucky Group as local partners to produce their phones in Pakistan. Production facility will be operational by Dec 2021.— Musa (@MusaNV18) July 16, 2021
Well done to @Hammad_Azhar who spearheaded this local manufacturing policy. #MakeInPakistan pic.twitter.com/EYdryyAr9i
Earlier last year, Pakistan was ranked as a 4th Generation Regulator (G4) by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), making it the only country in South Asia to have achieved the status.
Of the 38 economies in Asia-Pacific, only 8% have managed to achieve the G4 status.
In the ITU report “Global ICT Regulatory Outlook 2020 (GIRO)”, Pakistan scored 88 out of 100. The country is also among the top five regulators in the Asia-Pacific region with a global rank of 48.
The GIRO is built on data provided by 193 countries, which forms the basis of ‘ICT Regulatory Tracker’. The tracker is an evidence-based tool that helps decision-makers and regulators monitor the rapid evolution of ICT regulation.
Recently, Bangladesh has started exporting locally assembled mobile phones to the USA, thus joining Vietnam, India and Indonesia.
Mobile phone exports out of Vietnam have surged to over $60 billion. India’s mobile phone exports – $3 billion in 2019 – are targeted at $110 billion by 2025, creating thousands of jobs.
Pakistan’s manpower cost is reportedly one-third of the Chinese and it is the seventh-largest market of mobile phones.
In 2019, over 28.2 million mobile phones were imported legally into Pakistan – thanks to the full introduction of DIRBS by PTA in early 2019, which helped to control smuggling. In addition, around 12 million sets were reportedly assembled in the country.
The demand for high-quality affordable internet-enabled devices is surging as the internet is getting integrated into the lives of young tech-savvy individuals. Nearly 40% of the population has yet to cross the age of 15 and start looking for their own smartphones. Seventy-six million mobile broadband users in Pakistan today can easily double to 150 million by 2025.
As per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, mobile-phone imports reached half a billion dollars in the Jul-Nov period of 2019. At this pace, full-year imports are expected to be over $1.2 billion.
Promoting local manufacturing, together with exports, will start balancing that import bill.
Intl Smart Phone Brand VIVO has decided to establish a smart phone manufacturing facility in Pak. Land purchased.— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) December 2, 2020
Deployment of DIRBS eliminated smuggled phones. It was followed up by Mobile Manufacturing Policy. Revenues already doubled & now local manufacturing taking off. pic.twitter.com/VEL7gYgI2T
In December last year, VIVO had also said that it will be setting up a manufacturing facility in Pakistan. The development was announced by Hammad on Twitter.
“Intl Smartphone Brand VIVO has decided to establish a smartphone manufacturing facility in Pak. Land purchased. Deployment of DIRBS eliminated smuggled phones. It was followed up by Mobile Manufacturing Policy. Revenues already doubled & now local manufacturing taking off,” said the tweet.
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Apple today has made a small but notable change to its App Store Guidelines. The company quietly adjusted section 3.1 of the guidelines, which previously prohibited gifting in-app purchases to other users. With today’s change, however, Apple is permitting developers to add support for gifting in-app purchases.
The post Apple says you’ll soon be able to gift in-app purchases to other users from the App Store appeared first on 9to5Mac.
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Ritchie offers 125 cranes
By Shiffler D.Ann27 February 2012
Auctioneer Ritchie Bros in Canada reports that more than 125 cranes will be available at its auctions in Europe and North America during March and April. More than 70 will be available at auctions in North America while the rest will be in Europe.
Some 20 heavy lift cranes will be available in Europe, including a 400 metric ton capacity 2008 Liebherr LTM 1400 at an auction in France on March 6, and a 500 metric ton capacity Demag AC 500 all terrain crane at an Italy auction on March 8.
"Over the years, people from all over the world have increasingly turned to Ritchie Bros to buy and sell cranes," said Guylain Turgeon, managing director EMEA. "Last year we sold more than 330 cranes at our European auctions alone, nearly half of them all terrain cranes."
The 2001 Demag AC 500-1 was used in December 2011 to lift the famous 30 meter (100 foot) high Christmas tree on the plaza of the Duomo Santa Maria Nascente in Milan, Italy - one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Grandi Trasporti, which owns the crane, said it will sell the crane at the auction in Caorso to use the funds for a new crane.
Ritchie said it will auction a 100 US ton capacity 2007 Manitowoc crawler crane in Denver, CO on March 14. A 175 ton capacity 1996 Grove GMK5160 all terrain crane will be up on March 27 in Sacramento, CA.


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Photo of a Rubber Tree
The natural rubber production is all set to touch 6.54 tonnes lakh in year 2016-17.
The production of natural rubber was facing several fluctuations from previous two years.
According to Rubber Board the NR production in the first quarter has shown an increase of 2.3 per cent from a year ago as per the initial estimates. Going by the trend the production is anticipated to touch 6.54 lakh tonnes in 2016-17.
Interestingly, last year, the production was only 5.62 lakh tones.
There is also stability in price that can be seen as a positive sign. Natural rubber prices are seeing steady around Rs 140 per kg in the market.
To improve production and productivity, the board convened zonal meetings in different locations for interaction among the rubber growers, representatives of rubber producers societies (RPSs) and extension officers and initiated steps to harvest the untapped areas.
As a result, around 5000 growers have come forward to adopt weekly tapping.


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Burberry chief executive Marco Gobbetti says it has deepened its customers relationships through digital as its shops have closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gobbetti, speaking as the luxury fashion retail brand reported full-year results, said: “We have found new ways to strengthen our connection with consumers, drawing on our digital leadership.”
The retailer has used its digital platform to take its products to clients who were at home in lockdown. It used techniques including remote selling, live-streaming events held in stores, and creating immersive experiences, as seen in its recent Bags World launch.
One event, live-streamed on T-mall, saw influencer Yvonne Ching browse its Shanghai flagship store, watched by almost 1.4m viewers. Engagement on Instagram and WeChat grew by double-digits.
The business, ranked Top350 in RXUK Top500 research, has focused online as its shops have closed to protect against the spread of Covid-19. Burberry has seen its business “very materially impacted” since January. Most of its stores in mainland China were closed in February, as the pandemic peaked there. Trading in China started to improve towards the end of its financial year in late March, 28, but footfall in other parts of Asia has stayed weaker throughout and its shops in Europe and America were all closed by the end of March and its supply chain was affected that month as it closed its own factories and its Italian distribution centre. It reduced hours in its American and UK logistics hubs, although they continued to operate to support the digital business. Since then, sales have started to rebound in Asia in a way that offers hope for the future.
During the pandemic, Burberry has retooled its Castleford, Yorkshire factory to make non-surgical gowns and it is helping to deliver masks and gowns for medical staff and patients. It is funding research into a University of Oxford vaccine and supporting food poverty charities including FareShare.
The update came as Burberry reported sales of £2.6bn in the year to March 28 2020, down by 3% from the £2.7bn it reported a year earlier. Pre-tax profits came in at £169m, down by 62% from £441m a year earlier as the retailer wrote down the value of stores and stock as a result of the pandemic. Like-for-like sales fell in the fourth quarter alone by 27%, compared to growth of 4% over the first nine months of the year. Overall retail sales came in at £2.1bn, down by 3% like-for-like, while wholesale revenues of £476m were 2% down on last year, and licensing grew by 1% to £47m from £46m last year.
Gobbetti said: “Prior to Covid-19, we were delivering strong momentum across our brand and product, with sales ahead of our expectations. Since then, the global health emergency has had a profound impact on the world, our industry and Burberry but I am very proud of the way we have responded. We have taken swift action to mitigate the financial impact on our business, while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our teams and customers.”
In recent years Burberry has shifted its strategic focus to flagship shops around the world, while closing smaller and non-strategic shops and, in wholesale, ensuring it worked with luxury partners. It has also rethought its operations in a way that saved £20m during the financial year – taking it to a total of £125m so far, with plans to save a total of £140m by 2021.
It has also focused on regeneration and “carbon insetting” projects such as promoting biodiversity on farms, restoring ecosystems, supporting the livelihood of local producers and storing carbon at source to remove it from the atmosphere in order to tackle the environmental impact of its own operations.
Looking ahead, the retailer says it is unable to provide specific guidance for this full year. It is encouraged by the recovery in mainland China and Korea, where sales so far this year are ahead of the previous year, but half of its shops remain closed and that’s likely to have a severe effect on first quarter sales. Overall, it says, it could take some time for the luxury industry to recover to pre-crisis levels.
In the meantime, it is working on a range of recovery scenarios with specific capital expenditure and cost mitigation plans for each. It says it will tailor its approaches to individual markets, to reflect their stages of recovery, and will use its digital programme to forge stronger connections with customers.
Commenting, Russell Pointon, director and head of consumer at Edison Investment Research, said the full-year results reflected the struggle the company has been going through over the past year on the back of lower demand in Asia due to the ongoing US-China trade tensions, the Hong Kong protests and the Coronavirus epidemic.
He added: “Prior to the pandemic, Burberry, began to focus on leather goods and accessories in a bid to diversify their brand towards more resilient and growing sectors in the market and that has helped them navigate the current landscape. Although, they´ve had to put a hold on their plan to revive sales with star designer Ricardo Tisci, the opening of stores mainly in Asia should provide some comfort and hope for the company.
“With much of the world still in lockdown, and hence no open shops, turbulent times still lie ahead for Burberry. Nevertheless, given its strong online offering as well as diversification of products, it will be interesting to see if consumers will continue buying online or potentially holding off from luxury during the coming months.”
Sofie Willmott, lead retail analyst at GlobalData, said: “Other luxury retailers pale in comparison to Burberry when it comes to their digital presence and the brand’s commitment to the online channel will help to weather the coronavirus storm.”
She said improvements to the Burberry product range had helped it attract younger shoppers over the last year, while its efforts to donate PPE and fund vaccine research “will also make it a more attractive choice as consumers become more cautious with their purchases”.
Image courtesy of Burberry


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Continuation of the console exclusive Alan Wake Surely one day will appear – last year the mysterious adventures of the writer received a positive response of both critics and players. Therefore, placement by the company Remedy Jobs for the position of chief designer levels, which could reflect “exciting history and tense action,” looks like work on Alan Wake 2 Confidently moving forward.
By itself, we will wait for official statements, but do not forget that representatives Remedy called the idea of creating a sequel “promising”. In addition, they have already voiced their doubts: whether the project is worth staying an exclusive for Xbox 360, or the continuation will be released on personal computers?.. Let’s see what they decide. PC owners taped his breath.


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Jobs could be lost if alternative location is not found for company
- Credit: Archant
Eight jobs could be under threat at the country’s oldest refrigerated container services company if a £40million expansion project at the Port of Felixstowe gets the go-ahead.
Eldapoint Ltd in Sub-station Road will lose its premises to make way for the 50-acre logistics park – and is in discussions with the port and Bidwells, agents for the landowners Trinity College, over a solution.
The company has objected to the plans and told Suffolk Coastal council that no alternative site for the business had yet been offered.
It says that loss of the site – used for storage and repair facilities for cargo and freight containers arriving at the port – will cost it £750,000 a year, and in addition to the loss of eight jobs at Felixstowe could threaten employment elsewhere in the company.
Suffolk Coastal’s planning committee is recommended on Thursday to approve the plans for the first phase of the new distribution park – four huge warehouses, providing almost 1million sq ft of space tailored to the needs of customers.
The project will reuse the site of the old Calor Gas Terminal liquid propane gas installation, part of the Tank Farm bulk liquids storage centre area, and haulage yards.
In a letter to the council, Shoosmiths, acting on behalf of Eldapoint, said: “Our client’s business at Felixstowe is a critical element of its overall business services, with its contribution to the company as a whole being in the region of £750,000 per year.
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“The services provided by our client from the property are considered to be essential in maintaining as efficient and integrated logistics chain at the port.”
Eldapoint is in talks with the port and the landowners over potential sites for alternative premises.
Council planning case officer Liz Beighton said: “In response to the objection, the applicant has stated that the lease on the site expires on July 10, 2016, and that they will continue to work with the tenants as the project progresses including the possibility of relocating to alternative locations on the port where viable.
“Whilst it is unfortunate that the proposals would result in the displacement of an existing tenant, however, it needs to be acknowledged that the lease is due to expire in 2016 and in the intervening period it is hoped that the parties between themselves can reach a solution in terms of relocation.”


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New algorithm lets drones monitor their own health during long package-delivery missions
In the near future, the package that you ordered online may be deposited at your doorstep by a drone: Last December, online retailer Amazon announced plans to explore drone-based delivery, suggesting that ...
Meet the "swarmies"- robotics' answer to bugs
(Phys.org) —A small band of NASA engineers and interns is about to begin testing a group of robots and related software that will show whether it's possible for autonomous machines to scurry about an alien ...
Michigan team finds security flaws in traffic lights
Security event to learn about side-channel attacks on PCs
Hitchhiking robot reaches journey's end in Canada
A chatty robot with an LED-lit smiley face sent hitchhiking across Canada this summer as part of a social experiment reached its final destination Thursday after several thousand kilometers on the road.
Traffic light hacking shows the "Internet of Things" must come with better security
The growing extent to which our day-to-day infrastructure is computer-controlled and internet-connected leaves it open to the possibility that malicious hackers could intercept data or take control of devices.
Researchers use 3D printers to create custom medical implants
A team of researchers at Louisiana Tech University has developed an innovative method for using affordable, consumer-grade 3D printers and materials to fabricate custom medical implants that can contain antibacterial ...
Should you be worried about paid editors on Wikipedia?
Whether you trust it or ignore it, Wikipedia is one of the most popular websites in the world and accessed by millions of people every day. So would you trust it any more (or even less) if you knew people ...
How much do we really know about privacy on Facebook?
The recent furore about the Facebook Messenger app has unearthed an interesting question: how far are we willing to allow our privacy to be pushed for our social connections? In the case of the Facebook ...
Unlocking the potential of simulation software
With a method known as finite element analysis (FEA), engineers can generate 3-D digital models of large structures to simulate how they'll fare under stress, vibrations, heat, and other real-world conditions.
Does your computer know how you're feeling?
Researchers in Bangladesh have designed a computer program that can accurately recognize users' emotional states as much as 87% of the time, depending on the emotion.
Myo armband and smartglasses set for deskless workplace
Fitbit to Schumer: We don't sell personal data
The maker of a popular line of wearable fitness-tracking devices says it has never sold personal data to advertisers, contrary to concerns raised by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer.


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Millions of drivers could see their finance payments suspended for three more months under new rules just announced by city watchdog the FCA.
But they aren't the only ones set to benefit - with payment holidays also extended covering rent-to-own, payday loans and even buy-now-pay-later arrangements and pawnbrokers.
The proposals from the watchdog are designed to make sure support packages for borrowers don't run out before furlough ends and businesses can open again.
Christopher Woolard, FCA interim chief executive, said: “It is vital that people facing temporary payment difficulties because of the impact of coronavirus get the assistance they need.
"For those who have already taken a payment freeze and can afford to start making payments, even partially, it is in their best interest to do so, but for those that need help it will be there.”
The new plans are designed with each different product in mind - with different rules for car finance and pawnbroking, for example.
There are also bans on repossessing cars and other goods while the payment holiday is in force.
But firms will be able to charge interest during the payment freeze.
Lenders have until 5pm on Monday, 6 July, to respond - but if past form is anything to go by they should become formal measures more or less unchanged by the end of next week.
In more detail, the proposals say:
- At the end of a first payment freeze, firms should contact their customers to find out if they can resume payments - and if so, agree a plan on how the missed payments could be repaid. If customers can afford to return to making regular repayments it is in their best interest to do so.
- Extending the time the scheme is available to people who may be impacted at a later date – customers that have not yet had a payment freeze, would be able to request one up until 31 October 2020.
- The ban on repossessions should continue until 31 October 2020 – this applies to motor finance and RTO customers still facing temporary payment difficulties as a result of coronavirus and who need their vehicles or goods.
- Where a customer needs further temporary support to bridge the crisis, any payment freezes or partial payment freezes offered under this guidance should not have a negative impact on credit files. However, consumers should remember that credit files aren’t the only source of information which lenders can use to assess creditworthiness.
But rather than a blanket payment freeze, people extending their payment holiday now have new options to part-pay.
The FCA said firms should:
- Provide with support by freezing or reducing payments to a level they can afford, on their motor finance, BNPL or RTO agreements for a further three months.
- For BNPL customers, where a loan is within the promotional period, this would mean offering customers an additional extension to that period.
- For pawnbroking agreements, where the loan is within the redemption period, this would mean firms extending that period for three months or agreeing not to sell or suspending the sale of an item for three months if the redemption period has already finished.
- For HCSTC customers who have had a payment freeze and are still experiencing payment difficulties, firms should be providing a range of support - including formal forbearance – in accordance with the FCA Handbook.


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At the Desert Storm 2017 Street Party, Boostpower USA’s booth brought the biggest power and generated immense interest from boaters and fans alike.
With the largest engine builder booth at the show it wasn’t hard to miss everything Alexi Sahagian had on display. Everyone was particularly surprised at the value of their new 750hp EFI engines. At a retail price of $42,999, the high performance big blocks made for lots of buzz up and down the street that spread across the country.
The best way to see what Alexi and his crew offer is to make a trek to the shop and leave with real horse power that runs even better than it looks. Make sure you stop by next year to see the latest offerings in high horsepower and performance applications from Boostpower USA.


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Pizza Hut partners with Nutella to launch new dessert
It will be available for delivery on the website or app.
Pizza Hut has partnered with Nutella to launch its new dessert: the Loaded Cookie with Nutella.
The new dessert is a freshly baked, deliciously gooey 8-in-1 giant vanilla cookie, served warm with a drizzle of hazelnut spread, NUTELLA® on top.
"As a personal NUTELLA® lover, I’m genuinely excited to introduce a new sweet addition to our menu – the Loaded Cookie with NUTELLA®. It's a simple yet delicious treat that captures the essence of togetherness and we can’t wait to share it with Australians,” Director of Marketing and Digital for Pizza Hut, Simon Stocks said.
The new dessert will be available on 22 February. Customers can get the new Loaded Cookie with Nutella via delivery through Pizza Hut’s website or app starting at $10.95 or make it a bundle with the premium, Australian made Ice Cream with a 500ml tub starting at $16.95.


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Date: 21st February 2013
London, UK - 21st February, 2013. GCF, the Global Certification Forum, today reported that LTE device certifications increased more than seven-fold in 2012: of the total of 430 devices certified during last year, 66 incorporated LTE, up from nine in 2011. The proportion of GCF-Certified devices incorporating LTE increased from two per cent in 2011 to 15 per cent in 2012.
The trend towards more highly integrated multi-mode, multi-band devices gathered pace and is even gaining momentum in LTE devices: of the 65 device incorporating FDD LTE, 32 (49 per cent) incorporated two or more FDD LTE bands.
The second annual Mobile Device Trends report is based on an analysis of device certifications published by the Global Certification Forum during 2012. GCF Certification helps ensure global interoperability between mobile devices and networks and underpins international roaming services.
Highlighting the importance of data capability, 3G was a feature of 362, or 84 per cent, of the 430 devices certified in 2012. Only 67 per cent of 2011 certified devices incorporated 3G.
Penetration of HSDPA also rose significantly - from 64 per cent of certified devices in 2011 to 83 per cent in 2012. Enhanced Uplink (HSUPA) was a feature of two-thirds of 2012 certified devices compared with just under half the year before.
While GSM featured in 97 per cent of devices, the penetration of EDGE increased from 35 per cent of all devices in 2011 to 82 per cent in 2012.
“GCF’s 2012 certification figures suggest that highly integrated multi-band, multi-mode wireless components are allowing device manufacturers to improve economies of scale by focusing development on devices that can be marketed across multiple territories,” said Adriana Nugter, Operations Manger, GCF. “The Mobile Device Trends 2012 report also highlights how rapidly LTE is maturing as a wireless technology.”
Modules, which are a fundamental building block for a wide variety of interoperable industrial, consumer, business and M2M devices accounted for one in eight of devices certified in 2012.
Copies of the Mobile Device Trends 2012 report are available from the GCF booth, 7B.62, at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, 25-28 February 2013.
+44 7956 505 690


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McDonald’s Earnings Expectation Strong, EA Shares Attractive, Goldman Sees Comcast Stock Upside
McDonald’s Corp.(NYSE:MCD): JP Morgan expects McDonald’s to report strong Q4 results on January 24, but believes the stock is becoming overextended in the near-term following the recent rally. However, the firm keeps an Overweight rating on the stock.
Electronic Arts Inc.(NASDAQ:EA): Lazard Capital believes the recent pullback in shares of Electronic Arts on concerns around SWTOR has created an attractive entry point. The firm’s channel checks indicate pre-orders of Mass Effect 3 are strong and could drive some upside to Q4 estimates. Lazard Capital keeps a Buy rating on Electronic Arts.
Comcast Corporation(NASDAQ:CMCSA): Goldman expects Comcast to accelerate repurchases in 2012 and for its best-in-class metrics to continue in Q4.
Volterra Semiconductor Corporation(NASDAQ:VLTR): After conducting checks, ThinkEquity increased its target on Volterra, as the firm expects the company to encounter limited effects from HDD shortages. The firm is now more optimistic about the company’s growth outlook in 2012 and maintains a Buy rating.
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