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The turkey leftovers have finally been consigned to the dustbin, the hangovers are clearing and the New Year resolutions are in the process of being broken. Which means, with the festivities well and truly over for another year, the City will be dragging itself back to its desk this week as 2004 kicks off in earnest.
The focus of the week will be the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, which meets on Wednesday and Thursday for its monthly mull over interest rates. Since November's quarter- point rise, the cost of borrowing has been kept at 3.75 per cent but January's decision is likely to be close. Many business surveys have suggested a strong end to 2003 and consumer debt remains high, giving the MPC an argument to up rates, if only to curb spending and hence debt. Yet most economists believe the committee will take a more cautious line and hold fire until February. The European Central Bank is also expected to leave rates on hold when it announces its decision just after the MPC.
Other economic data includes December's update from the services sector and trade in goods and services, more commonly known as the trade deficit. That is expected to improve slightly but not reverse the sharp slump seen in September.
One of the most interesting updates will be from retailers in the guise of the CBI distributive trades survey for December, published on Tuesday. It fell sharply in November, as the weather and Rugby World Cup conspired to keep us at home. Economists are expecting a recovery in retail confidence, however, as retailers reported a late start to the festive shopping season. HSBC, for example, is predicting the survey to rise to plus 22 which, it says, "is consistent with robust spending".
On the corporate front, there is little in the way of results but the retail sector will start updating on Christmas trading, and how the New Year sales are progressing. So far, the omens are not good: WH Smith has already warned profits will be hit by weak festive trading.
Yet it is unlikely to be all doom and gloom. Richard Hyman, the chairman of retail consultancy Verdict, says: "Christmas came very late and the sales have been very busy. It doesn't mean it was great but it was definitely not as bad as people thought."
Most of the FTSE 100 retailers issue trading updates in mid-January but this week will see fashion chain Next reveal its festive figures. Most agree that the retailer will have performed reasonably well and no shocks on the scale of WH Smith are expected.
On the markets, equities are generally expected to continue the good progress they made in 2003 during the next 12 months. Most traders may have spent Christmas and New Year away from their terminals, but that did not stop the FTSE 100's upward trajectory. Wall Street was largely to thank, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average continued towards 10,500 and inspired London in the process. Of course, what goes up must, at some point, come down and some are sceptical that 2003, the stellar year for equities, can be repeated on quite such a grand scale. But in the short term at least, things appear to be chugging along nicely.
Not so on currency markets, however, where the dollar is expected to continue with its lengthy tumble. There are a variety of concerns linked to the currency's poor performance but the main one is that while companies in the US may be recovering as the country's economy improves, the sterling value of profits is getting smaller.
Currency and commodity markets are closely correlated, so gold, which reported a record 20 per cent rise for the second year running in 2003 closing the year near a 13-year high, is likely to continue rising as the greenback slides.
On paper, this week will be a gentle return to the world of work after a two-week festive hiatus. But with traders hanging on retailers' every word, the Bank of England poised to give consumers a breather or add to their personal debt piles and the dollar continuing its merry trek south, it is shaping up to be anything but. So just to be on the safe side, it might be wise to bring the Alka-Seltzer.
- More about:
- Bank Of England
- European Central Bank
- Festive Events (including Carnivals)
- Rugby World Cup


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(Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said it will add two of its Lexus models to a recall it started in late 2009 to address the risk that a loose floormat could force down the accelerator. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc said about 131,800 vehicles of the 2010 RX350 model and about 22,200 vehicles of its 2010 RX450H model would be recalled. Owners of the vehicles will receive a safety recall notification in early August. Lexus dealers will handle the vehicles at no cost to the customers, the company said in a statement. Toyota in September 2009 had recalled about 3. ...
Thanks to the strong incentives offered over the past month, Toyota (TM) sales have recovered nicely despite multiple recalls and highly publicized federal investigations. But it looks like the automaker isn't going to ease off them quite yet.
Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) revealed that the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11 that killed more than 10,000 people, broke down infrastructure and triggered a nuclear crisis will hurt its earnings in the financial year that just started.

domain: news


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News stories featuring Avenir Telecom:
May 22nd, 2013
Think&Go has announced that Orange and mobile phone retailer Avenir Telecom are to trial its Dynamic NFC-Screens, which allow information to be transferred from a video screen to NFC phones. Orange will showcase the screens at a major sports event while Avenir will pilot the screens in Marseille. The screens will be commercially available from June 2013 with prices starting at €3,000.
February 25th, 2013
Think&Go NFC is demonstrating a new NFC device from technology provider Famoco at Mobile World Congress 2013. The Famoco FX 100 Series is an Android-based device which can operate in all three NFC modes — tag…
February 20th, 2013
The display technology enables NFC phone users to interact with video promotions, to collect coupons, download content, navigate through advertising media and add products to a mobile shopping basket.
Feed for stories featuring Avenir Telecom.
• Find a list of all the companies and other organisations that have been featured in NFC World in our directory.


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While the US version of the Volkswagen Passat is due to be retired, the European-sourced Passat sold in Australia will continue indefinitely.
The Volkswagen Passat range has had a mild makeover for 2021 as the German car maker confirms the European model sold in Australia has a solid future beyond the current lifecycle.
The US version of the Passat is due to be phased out in North America, however the global Passat – the model sold here – is a staple of the Volkswagen range and one of its biggest selling models in markets outside the USA.
European Passat production was paused for much of this year due to the coronavirus crisis, as well as the need for the Passat to undergo new real-world fuel economy and emissions testing – which halted most car assembly lines at various times over the past 18 months.
Headline changes for the Passat in 2021 include a 162TSI (162kW) version of the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine in the sedan, wagon and Alltrack, as well as the return of the all-wheel-drive 206TSI Passat R-Line – which is, in effect, a Golf R hot hatch in a Passat sedan or wagon body.
Volkswagen will also retain its new price-leader model, called the Business, powered by a 140TSI version of the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine and priced from $46,590 plus on-road costs. Metallic paints adds $800.
The next model up is the Elegance, available in sedan or wagon form with a 162TSI engine, starting from $51,790 plus on-road costs for the sedan and $53,790 plus on-road costs for the wagon.
The Passat R-Line wagon costs from $63,790 plus on-road costs and is powered by the 206TSI engine.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack has also received an overhaul for 2021, starting with the 162TSI model from $46,990 plus on-road costs for the base model and a rather large jump to $58,790 plus on-road costs for the Premium model.
The Premium gains a panoramic sunroof, digital widescreen instrument display, vented seats, premium audio, and matrix headlights, among other tech.
All new Passat models will come with Volkswagen’s full suite of advanced safety tech, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.
Volkswagen says most models in the revised Passat range will arrive in Australian showrooms in the first half of next year.
MORE: Passat news and reviews
MORE: Everything Volkswagen
2021 Volkswagen Passat range arrives with fresh line-up


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- Best Buy meets with investors Tuesday to outline new goals for its next phase of growth.
- The retailer sees a number of opportunities, including growing its smart home business and gaining mobile market share.
- "This is an opportunity rich environment," Best Buy's CEO tells CNBC in an exclusive interview.
It's been five years since Best Buy held an investor meeting. And while much has changed since the last one, there will still be skeptics in the audience at its Richfield, Minnesota, headquarters.
At its last one, in November 2012 in New York, then-new chief executive Hubert Joly laid out his transformation plan "Renew Blue" to reverse sales declines and improve profitability through cost cuts and growing online sales.
Best Buy did just that.
"Five years ago the times were different. We had negative comps. Our margins were going down. There were questions about whether we were going to survive," Joly acknowledged in an exclusive CNBC interview.
Earlier this year, Joly concluded the transformation was complete.
"We've had four years of positive comps. Our margins have expanded. We have been, in the last five years, in the top 10 percent of the S&P 500 from a total shareholder return standpoint. Customer satisfaction is up. We're gaining share," he said.
"We've become relevant again," Joly said, smiling. "And I couldn't be more proud of what our associates have accomplished."
Speaking to CNBC ahead of the meeting, he outlined areas where he sees potential growth, such as in the connected home market and with smartphones. He said the transformation strategy was mainly about "fixing what was broken." The new strategy, Best Buy 2020, pivots and is "focused on growth.
Tuesday morning Best Buy released new financial targets for fiscal 2021 that it will discuss in detail at the meeting, as it outlines its plans for the next phase of growth. Investors were clearly disappointed, sending shares down more than 8 percent.
Revenue is expected to grow to $43 billion in fiscal 2021, versus $39.4 billion in fiscal 2017. Meanwhile, the company will look to realize $600 million in annual cost savings by the end of fiscal 2021.
As a result, Best Buy estimates its adjusted operating income in fiscal 2021 will be between $1.9 billion to $2.0 billion versus $1.7 billion in fiscal 2017. On an adjusted basis, its earnings are projected to be in the range of $4.75 to $5.00 a share, which is an 8 to 9 percent compound annual growth rate from fiscal 2017.
"We've taken the time to look at the strategic landscape. And we think that we are operating in a very attractive environment that's full of growth opportunities," Joly said.
Still, Best Buy will have to sell this strategy to investors. But that's nothing new, five years ago, some had doubted whether Joly was right for the job. While he had turnaround experience, he had spent the last eight years in the hospitality industry and was leaving his position as CEO of hotel group Carlson to lead a U.S. consumer electronics retailer.
"We were consistently skeptical of Mr. Joly's lack of retail experience," Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said in a note to investors. However, he added, "the company has executed nearly flawlessly since CEO Hubert Joly joined five years ago."
The connected smart home might be the most comprehensive category for the retailer to find opportunity under the new strategy for both service and product sales.
According to various estimates, the global smart home market is expected to grow to $33 billion to $50 billion over the next four years. Piper Jaffray analyst Peter Keith estimates Best Buy could capture 10 percent market share in the connected smart home sector, which would add more than a full percentage point of same-store sales growth through 2021.
A big initiative to capture that share is Best Buy's new In-Home Advisor program. After testing the program for more than a year in a handful of cities, it's currently rolling it out nationwide with a workforce of 300.
This program differs from Best Buy's Geek Squad because it's a free service. Best Buy employees with deep knowledge across product categories and brands go to customers' homes and provide technology advice and guidance on anything from increasing appliance efficiency to improving Wi-Fi connectivity to setting up home assistants that speak to the sound system and thermostat.
While the program is in its infancy, the In-Home Advisors are already individually profitable. Joly says what's even better is the potential for long-term relationships with consumers.
"Economically for us it's attractive because it helps make customers happy, build a relationship and grow the revenue line," he said. The margins are also better as the In-Home Advisors "unlock unmet needs" consumers don't realize they have until someone can assess their homes, Joly said.
By the end of October, 450 Best Buy stores will have a smart home powered by Vivint section, and 1,500 smart home employees will join the team.
Additionally Tuesday, Best Buy announced it's testing a service it calls Assured Living in Minneapolis and Denver, which uses technology to help loved ones check in on the safety and well-being of aging family members.
Joly used an example of a woman he calls an alpha mom, who does everything for everyone, to explain how Assured Living might help her keep tabs on her aging parents. "There's a sensor under the bed or in the medicine cabinet with an app and artificial intelligence, she'll be able to be alerted if something is wrong."
But Best Buy is counting on millennials for the biggest opportunity when it comes to the connected home. The retailer's market share with millennials is higher than any other demographic.
"[Millennials] are finally leaving their parents' home and so they're actually moving to the suburbs. And so they need to equip their home," Joly said.
Millennials, along with most other demographics, count on their smartphones for more and more in their daily lives. But Best Buy has a relatively low market share in mobile. Part of Best Buy 2020 aims to change that.
"Buying a phone can be daunting. It's a very expensive purchase. You have many choices you need to make," Joly said. "We have a number of initiatives and improvements to the shopping experience, making it easier for customers to find out what plan they should buy, making it more efficient to get the phone."
Joly declined to comment on his expectations for the new Apple iPhones and anticipated Android smartphone releases this fall.
For years, the narrative surrounding Best Buy and Amazon was that the consumer electronics retailer was becoming merely a showroom for shoppers that ultimately bought on Amazon. This summer when news surfaced that Amazon was building its own Geek Squad-like service, Best Buy shares took a hit.
But Joly has shown Best Buy can exist in an Amazon world, and in some cases, the two work together.
Best Buy is rolling out new Amazon Alexa and Google Home assistant experiences to 700 stores. Best Buy employees will demonstrate how the smart home assistants work and Geek Squad members can provide help with support and installation, which fits in with the connected home strategy.
Joly said his company's mission is to offer customers the best products in the market, and he puts Amazon's Echo devices and its Fire TVs in that category. Joly said that means "showcasing in our stores products from people who sometimes are our competitors."
Amazon also indirectly helped Best Buy's online sales in July. Joly told analysts on its second-quarter earnings call that Amazon Prime Day was "quite strong for us." In fact, Best Buy's online comparable sales grew more than 31 percent in the second quarter, the strongest result under Joly yet.
Although Best Buy also posted its strongest same-store sales growth in seven years, its shares plunged more than 5 percent that August day after Joly and CFO Corie Barry laid out their holiday projections.
The executives warned analysts not to get used to 5.4 percent growth as "the new normal."
They also said the holiday quarter is hard to predict because it has very different characteristics than the rest of the year, particularly with the expectation for deep discounts from competitors.
The fact is while Best Buy has been on a nice streak, the retailer hasn't turned in positive same-store sales growth during the holidays since 2014. Its current forecast doesn't point to a break in this pattern.
Joly wouldn't elaborate on his expectations for the all-important season. He said, he's focused beyond it with Best Buy 2020.
Ever an optimist, Joly said "this is an opportunity-rich environment."
But he's also a realist, and understands the challenge that comes with the quickly evolving consumer landscape.
"It's going to be a journey" Joly said. "We're looking forward to it."


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In an acknowledgment that it can have pushed too hard on its domestic theme parks for profit, angering a few of its most loyal customers in the method, Disney revised policies related to ticketing, hotel parking, ride photos and annual passes on Tuesday.
Disney, as an example, will now not charge $15 to $25 per vehicle, per night for guests registered on the 30 hotels and resorts it owns at Walt Disney World in Florida. The corporate began charging for hotel parking in 2018. On the time, Frommer’s called the move “a surprising money grab.”
Disney may also make Disneyland in California cheaper to go to by “significantly” expanding the variety of days when adult tickets sell for $104, the bottom price, in line with Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. He said the variety of $104 days would now represent about two months of the 12 months at Disneyland, which charges $179 for adults on essentially the most desirable dates.
“We would like to make sure that our fans are feeling the love,” Mr. D’Amaro said. “We’re listening to them, and we’re attempting to adjust.”
Disney is just not reducing ticket prices — at the very least, not exactly — partially because demand has remained surprisingly resilient despite a slowing economy and recession fears. Disneyland, as an example, is sold out on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Disney also maintains that its ticket prices and varied hotel offerings are flexible enough to accommodate budget-minded visitors.
“None of those changes are about demand,” Mr. D’Amaro said.
He also said that the “enhancements” announced on Tuesday were circuitously tied to a management shake-up at Disney late last 12 months, when Bob Chapek was fired as chief executive and Robert A. Iger got here out of retirement to retake the reins.
“This is just not necessarily a few change in leadership,” Mr. D’Amaro said. “I actually have plenty of face-to-face conversations with guests once I’m walking the parks, and I read plenty of their comments online.
“Should you move a tree, if you happen to change a procedure, if you happen to start asking for reservations — that’s an enormous deal to our guests,” he added. “They care. They really, really care. And if people care that much, then I actually have an obligation to listen and, when appropriate, to make some changes and modifications.”
Over the past 12 months, a few of Disney’s most dedicated theme park customers have grown indignant over price increases, a few of which have been viewed as nickel and diming. At Disney World, as an example, annual passes used to incorporate free photo downloads — resembling digital snapshots taken by surprise during rides and pictures from character meet-and-greets taken by Disney photographers. In 2021, Disney began charging extra for the downloads.
Annual pass holders have also complained bitterly a few 2021 decision by Disney to require all domestic park visitors to have a reservation along with a ticket or pass. Pass holders were now not capable of drop by anytime they wanted, even in the event that they paid $1,399 for the most costly Disney World pass.
Disney began requiring reservations as a strategy to control crowds through the pandemic. However the reservation system also reflected a policy shift. To cheers from Wall Street — and boos from many Disney fans — Mr. Chapek pushed the corporate’s theme parks to focus less on maximizing attendance and more on increasing how much money visitors spend.
Mr. Chapek called this “yield management,” and it helped Disney get better financially from the pandemic. Increases in theme park profit also helped offset losses in Disney’s streaming division. For the 2022 fiscal 12 months, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products had $28.7 billion in revenue and $7.9 billion in profit. To check, the unit had $26.2 billion in revenue and $6.8 billion in profit in 2019.
The policy changes that Mr. D’Amaro unveiled on Tuesday will go into effect at various times over the following couple of months.
In California, Disney will ease restrictions on guests with higher-priced “park-hopping” tickets, which supplies them the power to go to each Disneyland and the adjoining California Adventure theme park in a single day. (Park hopping was previously restricted to 1 p.m. or later. The privilege will now begin at 11 a.m.) Disneyland may also provide free downloads of ride photos to all ticketed guests; that offering currently starts at $15.
In Florida, Disney will allow annual pass holders to go to theme parks after 2 p.m. with out a reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays on the Magic Kingdom, the busiest Disney World property. In one other change, guests who pay for the smartphone-based service called Genie+, which supplies them speedier access to rides, will receive attraction photos for no additional charge.
“We imagine within the Genie product, which has been incredibly popular, but we’re going to proceed to take a look at ways so as to add more value,” Mr. D’Amaro said.
As well as, Disney has been offering its usual array of January deals. On Monday, Disney World announced ticket and hotel discounts for Florida residents. Disneyland is offering a deal for California residents that may reduce weekday ticket prices to $73 until June.
In a reduction available to anyone, Disney World is offering 25 percent off rooms at certain hotels. Individuals who book five-night packages for summer can rise up to $750 to spend on food. (Disney World stopped offering its popular Dining Plan promotions in 2020.)


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Auchan Retail has launched new skincare products under its hygiene and beauty brand, Cosmia.
According to a recent study, 54% of French women expressed fears about the formulae of cosmetic products.
Cosmia offers natural and transparent products to allay these doubts.
The new products come in plastic-free packaging with FSC-certified cardboard from sustainably managed resources, and are 100% recyclable.
The range, scheduled to be launched in stores this month, reiterates Auchan's 'commitment to design a unique and reassuring offer that contributes to better living and preserves the planet.'
The products include a make-up remover with bi-phase micellar water, which has been dermatologically tested and approved.
It has also undergone customer satisfaction tests, where 85% of respondents said they would recommend the product to a friend.
The range also includes lip balms in three variants - daily moisturising care, repairing treatment and 'Pearly Pink' coloured lip balm.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.


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Samsung may soon challenge Apple and Google, with its own payment service this year. Several reports state that Samsung is planning to introduce its own independent mobile payment system, the Samsung Pay, this September.The upcoming Samsung Pay will reportedly use the Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology.
WhowiredKorea also reported that the compatibility option of Samsung Pay with the smartwatch will only be disclosed during the launch. In its initial stages, the Samsung Pay service will only be accessible in South Korea and US. The launch date for the Indian market hasn't been revealed yet.


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Franchise dealerships anticipate spending $5.5 billion on new infrastructure to sell EVs, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), a car dealer trade group.
The estimate is “based on available data from a selection of brands,” according to an NADA press release. Some automakers have asked dealerships to invest in chargers and other upgrades to sell EVs, but the NADA didn’t break its overall estimate down by individual brand, or specify a timeline for the spend.
Individual brands are asking dealerships to invest anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million, according to the group, and costs “do not necessarily include the specialized equipment purchases needed to service EVs or the additional costs from local utilities for extending new power lines or adding transformers” to support EV charging.
Dealer franchises have over time become part of the backbone of regional and small-town economies. According to the NADA, there are 16,773 franchise dealerships in the U.S. today, and they create nearly 2.3 million jobs, paying an average of nearly $89,000 annually.
Lincoln boutiques and dealerships
To put the scope of the $5.5 billion estimate quoted by the NADA in perspective, the 2021 federal infrastructure bill commits $7.5 billion toward a nationwide network of 500,000 EV chargers. Such a buildout represents more than triple the number of charging stations in the nation when the bill was passed in November 2021.
Most automakers have laid down charging hardware requirements for dealerships. As EVs have started to arrive with lackluster demand, then become hot items, dealerships have mostly gotten past the debate of upgrades vs. obsolescence.
That’s opened up some divisions between brands—with EVs offered at more Kia dealerships than Hyundai stores, for instance, because Kia got its dealerships ready and imposed charger hardware requirements sooner. NADA has nudged its dealerships
Genesis dealership in Lafayette, Louisiana
In some cases, automakers are taking requirements beyond charging investments. General Motors has looked to its dealerships to deploy destination chargers in communities, while footing some of the bill, but has also asked Buick and Cadillac franchises to commit to EV-only sales in the near future. Those that didn’t get onboard were offered buyouts.
Ford dealerships will no longer be able to mark up EVs or haggle over price starting in early 2024. With the part of the relationship buyers aren’t so sold on left out, Ford is betting that it will result in greater loyalty to dealers.


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Romanian Startup Ecosystem Radar (01 – 21 May 2023)
Opportunities for startups: tech events, programs & others
During the Techsylvania conference (June 7-8, Cluj-Napoca), we will take care of the Startup Alley! 🚀 We’re giving 10 startups the chance to showcase their products with exhibition space 🎉 and including 4 conference tickets 🎟. Don’t miss out! For details and registration/application (deadline: May 25th), check here: https://techsylvania.com/startup-alley/ 😉
Until June 14th, the SynergistEIC program (launched by Spherik Accelerator and partners) is accepting applications from greentech startups to join a 6-month acceleration program with a €50K funding grant. 🌿💰 Details about the program, eligibility criteria, and application process can be found on the website: http://synergisteic.eu/
8. RebelDot acquires AI experts steepsoft to provide strong product consulting and technology services in the field of AI (link).
News related to programs and events
9. SeedBlink launched the second edition of the Tech Investors Academy, a training program aimed at future investors in startups and people who want to deepen the investment field (link).
10. Launch, the community that supports Romanian founders of early stage startups, has organized the first edition of Launch Health Tech, bringing together the most active players in the health technology ecosystem (link). 11. LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator, an accelerator dedicated to health and life sciences startups, has announced the 14 startups moving forward (link).
Various news related to startups
12. Kubeark launched a new version of it’s platform, which revolutionizes software operations management with sky computing technology, enabling effortless innovation and scalability across any technology environment (link).
13. Flip.ro announced a partnership with tbi bank, for payment and financing options on the online platform (link).
14. SOLO, a digital service for managing PFAs, has launched a free platform for completing the income statement (link).


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Summoners War has been climbing back up the rankings in the major markets since it has released the Rift of Worlds update.
The Rift of Worlds update, which was simultaneously released to 160 countries on Dec. 10th, introduced new systems such as the Raid, World Boss, and Transmogrification and has helped Summoners War regain its popularity.
After the update, Summoners War has proven its popularity by entering top 10 in the US, Korean, and Japanese App Store rankings. Also, since Dec. 26th the game is ranked 6th in the US Google Play game grossing rankings and 11th in the Japanese App Store game grossing rankings.
Moreover, on the 26th, Summoners War has climbing up the charts all around the world, entering the top 10 game grossing rankings in 54 countries for Google Play and 25 countries for the App Store. According to the App Store game chart, Summoners War has climbed 18 steps in Japan, ranking 11th, and 10 steps in Taiwan, ranking 4th, after the update. The game is also showing strong presence in Europe App Store, being 5th in Germany, 6th in Austria, and 7th in France.
According to the Google Play game chart, Summoners War is currently 2nd in game grossing for Germany and France, and is within the top 10 in 17 other European countries. Also thanks to the brand promotion Com2uS has been carrying out before and after the update, Summoners War is proving to be successful in the rising markets ranking 2nd in Singapore, 3rd in Philippines, 4th in Vietnam, 2nd in Costa Rica, 3rd in Chile, 3rd in Argentina, and 3rd in Brazil.


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By Matthew Chapman2015-01-27T11:48:00
Flooring specialist Carpetright is overhauling its brand as it prepares to trial a new logo and store design in the summer.
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By Jane Lanhee Lee
OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) – Arm Ltd, the British chip technology firm owned by SoftBank Group Corp, on Wednesday launched its next generation of data center chip technology called Neoverse V2 to meet the explosive growth of data from 5G and internet-connected gadgets.
Arm creates underlying intellectual property that other firms such as Qualcomm or Apple then license to create their own processor chips. Arm’s technology powers most mobile phones, but it has been making a big push into data center processors where Intel Corp and Advanced Micro Devices have long dominated.
Arm said companies like Ampere, Amazon, Fujitsu and Alibaba already develop processor chips based on Arm technology for their data centers. It said Neoverse V2 increases power efficiency, although it declined to provide specific numbers.
“Our partners are taking this and building very efficient solutions to target the problem spaces that they’re going after,” Dermot O’Driscoll, Arm’s vice president for product solutions, said during a Q&A session about the new product. “So we do expect to see some pretty compelling data points going from V1 to V2.”
Arm said that chip giant Nvidia Corp’s latest data center processor Grace is built using the Neoverse V2 design.
(Reporting by Jane Lanhee Lee; Editing by Paul Simao)


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2018 Ram 1500 has “Best Interior”
The 2018 Ram 1500 has one of the best interiors of 2018! The truck has been selected by Autotrader as one of the 10 Best Car Interiors Under $50,000 for the year.
“Ram trucks have earned a reputation for long-lasting reliability, hard-working capability, comfort and refinement,” Head of Ram Brand Mike Manley said in a press release. “We are pleased that the Ram 1500 has been recognized among the industry’s best interiors, and proud to be the only truck to earn this distinction.”
We at Hebert’s Town & Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Shreveport, Louisiana know how nice the 2018 Ram 1500’s interior is, and now it’s official.
Autotrader puts out a list of 10 vehicles with the best interiors, after reviewing the latest models under $50,000, each year. The 2018 Ram 1500 is the only pickup truck to make the list this year. Editors rate vehicle interiors based on materials quality, comfort and logic of use.
“What’s on the inside of a car is arguably as important as what’s on the outside, since drivers and passenger spend all their travel time here,” Autotrader Managing Editor Tara Trompeter said. “Although there’s an all-new, fully redesigned 2019 Ram set to debut soon, we’re still smitten with the interior in the outgoing 2018 model. As you escalate through the Ram’s trim levels, the interior improves, with some top-end models offering luxury car levels of comfort and sophistication.”
A few of the features that make the 2018 Ram 1500’s interior stand out are:
• Rich colors
• Luxurious materials like real wood accents and leather seating and panels
• In-floor storage
• Uconnect 4C NAV with 8.4-inch touchscreen, Integrated Voice Command, Bluetooth, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G LTO and more
• Driver Information Digital Cluster with 7-inch color display
If you want to see why Autotrader named the 2018 Ram 1500 one of its 10 Best Car Interiors under $50,000, come see us for a test drive at Hebert’s Town & Country in Shreveport, LA!


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According to two people with knowledge about the plan, General Motors Company is preparing to sell 20% of the U.S. Treasury Department’s stake in the company through an initial public offering. The sale will reduce the federal government’s stake in GM from the current 61% to a minority ownership position of less than 50%. The sources say that no final decision on how many shares will be sold or which owners will sell them.
GM reportedly plans to file a registration statement for the public offering in August and the actual stock sale is slated to begin in November. The sale could raise between $10 billion and $15 billion depending on a number of factors including GM’s performance and the overall health of the IPO market and U.S. economy at the time of the sale.
The timing of the sale appears to be, at least in part, motivated by politics. AutoTrends Consulting president Joe Phillippi says the August filing date means GM could take the company public in time for President Barack Obama to use the sale to Democrat’s advantage in the November 2 mid-term elections.
Phillippi said, “The government wants a successful offering soon so they can say that they took the company through bankruptcy, turned it over to independent management and are taking it public. This would be part of the campaign spin.”
One of the sources familiar with GM’s plan said the automaker may also sell shares that are owned by a UAW healthcare trust and by the Canadian government.
GM spokesman Selim Bingol declined to comment on the report. Another spokesperson for the company, Renee Rashid-Merem, said GM will meet with representatives of the company’s current shareholders as well as potential investors and financial analysts on June 29. She said the financial community will also have the opportunity to review GM’s current and projected financials.
JPMorgan Chase and Company and Morgan Stanley will reportedly manage the IPO and be compensated 0.75% of the total sale proceeds, which is one quarter of the rate they would typically make for such a large stock sale. The sources said JPMorgan had requested that their payment be in the form or equity but GM rejected the request. During an interview with Bloomberg on May 17, GM’s CFO, Chris Liddell, said the federal government will likely sell its stock shares over the course of “a few year.”
For more auto industry news, please visit EveryCarListed.com.


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Earlier this month there was a report which suggests that the upcoming iPhone will have smaller notches. In 2017 Apple launched its newly redesigned iPhone X and till now the same cutout is being used in all the iPhones. According to the report of DigiTimes, the next generations of iPhones will offer smaller notches. To make a more compact cutout we expect Apple might fit their dot projector and infrared sensor in a single module which will take less space.
There are also rumors that Apple might soon be going to launch its new iPhone 12s, we haven’t seen Apple’s S models since 2015 when they launched the iPhone 6s. Apple iPhone 12s might come with a LiDAR scanner and a sensor-shift OIS which is currently being used in their high-end iPhone 12 Pro Max. We can’t confirm anything until there are any official reports.


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Superdrug has cut the price of its own-brand Solait suncare range in recognition of the products as healthcare essentials.
It means 41 products are now cheaper, with the lower prices also locked until the end of the year.
Superdrug said the move followed rising demand for donations of suncare products seen through its partnership with the charity Beauty Banks. The charity tackles hygiene poverty by taking personal care products donated in stores and redistributing them via food banks and community groups.
It also comes as the government faces calls to remove the VAT on high-factor sunscreens to make them more accessible in the cost of living crisis.
“As a leading accessible health and beauty retailer, we believe everyone should have access to the products that protect their health and wellbeing and at an affordable price,” said Superdrug own brand director Jamie Archer.
“Sunscreen is currently classed as a cosmetic product and therefore carries the VAT associated with it, making it unaffordable for some people.
“Through our work with Beauty Banks, we know requests for donations of suncare products have gone up, with some people even having to forego it altogether, which is concerning to hear.
“We hope by reducing the price of our Solait range we can help make sun protection more affordable and allow families to stay safe in the sun.”
Susanna Daniels, CEO of charity Melanoma Focus, said: “This move by Superdrug is a big step in the right direction and a brilliant start to our mission to have VAT removed from all high-factor sunscreens across the UK.”
“Eighty-six per cent of melanomas are preventable and, therefore, wearing a high-SPF sunscreen is a hugely important safety measure for protecting against it.
“Anything we can do to make sunscreen more accessible and affordable will cut the overall incidence of skin cancer and could help save lives.”
Among the price cuts, Solait SPF50 sun cream (200ml) is now £3.59, while Solait kids roll-on sun cream SPF50+ (75ml) is £2.79.


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Blaupunkt at Hong Kong Fair
Blaupunkt Participates at Hong Kong Electronic Fair April 13th – 16th. Hong Kong Convention Center Hall of Fame – booth 1E C08
For the first time since its founding in 1923, Blaupunkt, the legendary German brand, world renowned for product quality, will participate in the Hong Kong Electronic Fair from April 13th through April 16th, as a complement to its presence at CES and IFA.
Now, through one of the most successful and comprehensive Brand Licensing programs, the Blaupunkt brand and identity is available on over 35 carefully selected brand licenses.
The current range of Best-In-Class products from Blaupunkt licensees include Air Conditioning, Power Tools, Lawn and Garden Tools, LED Lighting, TV and Audio/Video as much more.
#WarszawaOddycha - Blaupunkt Competence Center Aircons Mateko organized the project #WarszawaOddycha
from the 12th to 31st October 2017
Air purifiers Blaupunkt Lavender and Airly air quality sensors have been installed free of charge in 20 kindergartens in the Warsaw agglomeration.
452 children were involved in the air quality education program.
More than 1687 children breathe clean air in kindergarten buildings now. Parents and teachers have a monitoring system for outdoor air quality. The project has been appreciated by children, parents, teachers and local authorities.
Blaupunkt on Flipkart - Blaupunkt´s online market launch on Flipkart in India has surpassed all expectations.
09.10.2017, Blaupunkt on Flipcart
In almost every feedback, people are relating to the German standard and technology.
These positive reviews demonstrate that we are guaranteeing the QUALITY STANDARDs and this will also have a great impact on the rest of the product portfolio!
More than 1000 people have already rated Blaupunkt on Flipart.com and that means you can’t fudge.
IFA 2017 - A forceful trade show presence at four distinct locations of the Berlin Exhibition Centre, the Blaupunkt Global Brand Community.
28.08.2017, IFA 2017
The impressive Blaupunkt portfolio, encompassing more than 15 different product groups, is reflected throughout the IFA.
Each exhibition hall, in which Blaupunkt brand partners are represented with their products, has been marked with blue dots and numbers on the IFA hall layout shown here.
We, the management of the Blaupunkt Global Brand Community, are enormously looking forward to lively and informative talks on the subject of the Blaupunkt licensing concept on Stand 108 in Hall 2.2.
IFA 2017 - Blaupunkt presents air treatment smart home solutions
Since 2012 air treatment technology become a rapidly growing product category of the Blaupunkt brand.
The company is currently cooperating with many professional distributors in numerous European countries.
April, 04th 2017
The Blaupunkt GX7000 Electric Lawn Mower is a fantastic example of mowing technology, which has many features giving it a wide appeal to a vast audience and intelligently designed to deliver the best possible mowing experience.
The Blaupunkt GX7000 was designed to be modern and practical, featuring a quieter engine than some models which reduces the amount of noise pollution.
Overall, it’s clear to see why this is a powerful contender against other models on the market, with all it’s practical and efficient features complimenting each other well. The durable design, tight yet responsive controls and a powerful engine all combine to create a prime example of evolving and progressing mowing technology.
Blaupunkt - Mateko at Air Conditioning Salon 2017
March, 15th 2017
Blaupunkt Competence Center Aircons Mateko
participated at the Warsaw Air Conditioning Salon
from the 7th until the 8th March 2017.
During this fascinating exhibition,
our product segment has attracted regional and worldwide participants.
Moby Blue 1012W
Some of our newest products that have been displayed are highest quality splits, portable air conditioners, heat pumps and our newest Moby Blue 1012W with a dedicated mobile app, which has been elevated into the hall of fame.
Warsaw Air Conditioning Salon 2017
is the biggest exhibition of ventilation, air conditioning, and cooling technology in Poland.
Held on 7th and 8th March where international and domestic trade visitors from the installation and retail trade meet in Warsaw to transact business. The fair attracted ventilation system designers, installers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and wholesalers, designers, architects, service providers, public authorities, and universities.
Blaupunkt product line now on sale in South Africa
February, 27th 2017
Blaupunkt launched operations 94 years ago, with a singular commitment to providing the highest level of services to its clients. Since then, our "blue dot" has expanded its reach, scope and expertise, serving clients across Europe and beyond.
Today, our "Global Brand Community" encompasses strategic locations worldwide, with current and ongoing expansion into one of the largest supermarketchain in South Africa “Pick n’ Pay”.
Blaupunkt, famous for the production of consumer electronics, continues it personnel growth and expansion to address the strong demand in the marketplace.
As a part of its future strategy, Blaupunkt continues developing a global network to support its growing business activities and international reach.
Pick n Pay is a quintessential family store in Africa,
that has been in operation since 1967, encompassing stores in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Mauritius, Swaziland and Lesotho.
The store focuses on groceries, clothing and general merchandise, but also includes additional value-added services to cater for Africa’ expectations and evolving needs!
University to work with German giant on new product range
February, 20th 2017
The University of Sunderland has teamed up with Blaupunkt Tools to help launch their new range of garden equipment.
Blaupunkt, famous for the production of car stereos, are now branching out into the garden tools sector, releasing their new range soon in the UK.
The University’s Enterprise & Innovation Directorate, which covers a range of external business offers, will work with Blaupunkt to oversee their launch on social media and digital platforms.
The working partnership will also see the future use of interns from the University, experiential marketing campaigns, with facilities utilised at the University’s new centre for Enterprise & Innovation – Hope St Xchange.
Commercial Manager for the University, Mal Robinson said: “It is a real coup for the University to be working with a brand as established as Blaupunkt. We are very happy they have chosen to work with us and put their faith in us for something as important as launching their new range of garden products – a sector they have not entered before.”
Robinson added: “This will be the pilot project that will showcase what the University can offer to external businesses, from creative thinking to product launches at the likes of Hope St Xchange”.
Chief Technical Officer for Blaupunkt Tools, Dave Crowder commented: “This is an exciting opportunity for both parties and we are delighted the Enterprise and Innovation Directorate are on board to assist with the launch online.”
Blaupunkt Tools garden range will be available online via Amazon and other high street retailers.


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Export of flour from Ukraine amounts to 163 thousand tons
Ukraine from the beginning of MY 2017/18 as of November 22, 2017 exported 163.3 thousand tons of flour, which is 31.9 thousand tons more than the volume for the same period in 2016.
Since the beginning of MY 2017/18, Ukraine exported 162.7 thousand tons of wheat flour, which is 31.7 thousand tons more than for the same period last year, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine informs.
The export of flour of other types for the reporting period amounted to 0.6 thousand tons.
Earlier it was reported that Ukraine in 2016 increased flour exports by 21% to 371.23 thousand tons (2015: 306.85 thousand tons).


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As the cryptocurrency market continues to grow, so does the list of companies and organizations that are beginning to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. The latest company to join this list is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have announced that they will be accepting Bitcoin as payment for tickets and merchandise starting this season.
This is a major move for the NBA team, as they become the first professional sports team to accept Bitcoin.
The Timberwolves are not the only ones jumping on the Bitcoin bandwagon. The Sacramento Kings also announced earlier this year that they would begin accepting Bitcoin for tickets and merchandise.
The Kings are also partnered with BitPay, a leading Bitcoin payment processor, which will help make the transition to Bitcoin payments seamless for both the team and its fans.
With two NBA teams now accepting Bitcoin, it is only a matter of time before other professional sports teams follow suit. The MLB’s San Francisco Giants have already expressed interest in exploring Bitcoin payments, and it is likely that we will see more teams jump on board in the near future.
As Bitcoin becomes more mainstream, we are likely to see more businesses and organizations start to accept it as a form of payment. This is a positive development for the cryptocurrency community, as it helps to legitimize Bitcoin and increase its adoption rate.


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Change is a constant presence on Wall Street. Over the recent three-year span, the S&P 500 has resembled a roller coaster ride. While its general trajectory has been upward, akin to the index’s historical trend, it certainly hasn’t followed a linear path. This dynamic nature prompts analysts to perpetually strive to foresee the market’s direction, thereby guiding decisions on which stocks to retain and which to procure.
The index encountered a substantial 33% decline in value during the weeks subsequent to the declaration of the pandemic. It then embarked on a remarkable ascent throughout the entirety of 2021. This surge was succeeded by a market downturn last year, only to experience a resurgence this year. As of 2023, the widely observed benchmark index finds itself 15% higher than its starting point. Nonetheless, Wall Street is cautioning investors that specific stocks might not partake in the forthcoming growth. In reality, these stocks are labeled as ones to sell or to avoid, as indicated by their projected price targets. Analysts are sounding the alarm about the following trio of stocks that could potentially plummet within the next 12 months.
Source: shutterstock.com/Below the Sky
The realm of artificial intelligence (AI) has gained significant attention, particularly since the advent of ChatGPT. Few equities have harnessed this trend as effectively as C3.ai (NYSE:AI) has this year. The company’s announcement of a suite of generative AI products, akin to ChatGPT’s capabilities, triggered a considerable surge in its shares. Despite experiencing a one-third decrease from recent peaks, the stock’s year-to-date performance still showcases a notable 194% increase.
Analysts anticipate the potential for further decline. Joshua Tilton, an analyst at Wolfe Research, set a rather conservative target of $14 per share in April, a figure 42% below the prevailing price. Tilton highlighted the vulnerability of C3.ai’s revenue growth for 2024 due to a “negative macro outlook.” The tightening of corporate expenditures poses a threat to the adoption of C3.ai’s recently introduced consumption model.
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The company, which previously relied on a subscription-based model, is adapting to the evolving landscape. Chairman and CEO Tom Siebel acknowledged the shift in cloud-based firms away from this model. C3.ai is aligning itself with this trend to mitigate revenue fluctuations. However, with increasing losses and dwindling operating margins, the company might experience downward pressure on its valuation even if it avoids reaching rock-bottom prices.
Source: 1take1shot / Shutterstock.com
GameStop (NYSE:GME), the video game retailer, continues to be a favored target of Wall Street’s skepticism. This sentiment isn’t entirely baseless. Despite its enduring popularity among meme stock enthusiasts, GameStop’s future prospects remain dim. The company placed a substantial bet on cryptocurrency to salvage its fortunes. It launched a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace for trading tokens and introduced a crypto wallet for storage. Regrettably, the company recently announced the discontinuation of wallet support due to uncertainties surrounding the regulatory landscape of cryptocurrencies.
In June, GameStop also ousted its CEO, who had held the position for merely a year. The resignation of its CFO followed suit last month. The company’s internal upheaval is mirrored in its stock performance, which has plummeted by 50% from its 52-week peak. Analysts Michael Pachter and Nick McKay from Wedbush have pegged a target price of $6.20 per share, foreseeing a gradual descent to $0.
“We remain convinced that GameStop is doomed, with declining physical software sales and a shift of sales to subscription services and digital downloads sealing its fate,” stated Pachter and McKay, who also noted the challenges in finding a suitable replacement for the departed CEO.
Source: sylv1rob1 / Shutterstock.com
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) consistently emerges on analysts’ radar when discussions turn to stocks with potential downside. However, these predictions often leave analysts with a sense of frustration, as the tech giant possesses a knack for springing surprises.
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Despite forecasts of dwindling iPhone sales, Apple’s stock remarkably surged by 50%. However, from August 1 onwards, it underwent a staggering 91% decline. Could this mark the substantial pullback that Wall Street has been anticipating?
National Bank Financial set a modest price target of $54 per share, back in January when the stock hovered around $125 per share. While this initially implied a 56% contraction, Apple’s subsequent significant surge amplifies this projection to a daunting 69% decline.
Nevertheless, several other analysts are inclined to predict further upside, advocating for a target price of nearly $200 per share. Kantar analysts posit that the industry is experiencing a downturn, citing a 14% year-on-year drop in global smartphone volumes through June. As services emerge as Apple’s future growth driver, a substantial pullback seems improbable in the near term.
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As of the publication date, the author of this article, Rich Duprey, did not hold any positions in the securities mentioned. The viewpoints presented herein are solely those of the author and adhere to InvestorPlace.com’s Publishing Guidelines.
Rich Duprey possesses two decades of experience in writing about stocks and investing. His work has been featured on Nasdaq.com, The Motley Fool, and Yahoo! Finance. Furthermore, U.S. and international publications, including but not limited to MarketWatch, Financial Times, Forbes, and USA Today, have referenced his insights.


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NEW YORK — History doesn’t always repeat itself.
The hit to TJX Cos. was minimal after it disclosed in 2007 a massive data breach of customer information at its T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores.
But Target Corp. isn’t faring as well: More than two months after it revealed that hackers stole credit card numbers and personal data of millions of its customers, Target’s sales, profit and stock prices have dropped.
What’s worse, the nation’s second largest discounter faces the prospect that some shaken shoppers may not return to its stores for a long time. In fact, Target on Wednesday said it expects business to be muted for some time, though it said sales are recovering since the breach was disclosed in mid-December.
TJX declined to comment for this story, but John Mulligan, Target’s chief financial officer, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the most loyal customers have stuck with Target, but wooing back others will take time.
TJX found itself in the same situation years ago when it announced what was the largest security breach by a retailer at the time. Still, the fortunes of TJX Cos. and Target may wind up being quite different.
Although the data breaches at the two retailers each affected millions of shoppers, analysts say a combination of factors makes Target’s challenge bigger. Those include the timing of each company’s disclosure and Americans’ heightened sensitivity toward privacy concerns now versus before the TJX breach.
The retailers’ fates are playing out differently so far. TJX’s stock slid 12 percent in the weeks after the breach disclosure to as low as $13. But by the end of 2007, the shares rebounded and today, they’re trading at about $58.
Meanwhile, Target said on Wednesday that its profit in the fourth quarter fell 46 percent on a revenue decline of 5.3 percent as the breach scared off customers worried about the security of their private data. Revenue at stores open at least a year fell 2.5 percent.
Target’s stock had fallen 11 percent since it disclosed the breach in mid-December. But on Wednesday, investors pushed shares up nearly 7 percent on the news of recovering sales.
The stock is now trading at about $60, down 5 percent since the theft was disclosed.


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Someone at the Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market, the EU agency responsible for registering trademarks, screwed up and let lose a series of photos of the facelifted replacement for the current generation Mazda MX-5. These renderings clearly show a few important design tweaks for the 2010 Mazda MX-5. Similar to the Mazda Kazamai, the new front bumper includes more angular details, a strong contrast to those on the smooth and round current generation.
Though the grille includes a more RX-8-esque rotary shape, this design seems to be more of an indicator of what we can expect from the 2010 Mazda3. Actually, it's not that dissimilar from the Mazda3 concept that turned out to be a Photoshop, indicating that Mazda is following closely the design language they established. [AutoWeek.nl]


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Le Figaro’s Chloé Woitier talked to Xbox Game Studios Head, Matt Booty.
While the original article is under paywall, Woitier has kindly summarized the key takeaways on Twitter.
- Microsoft and Bethesda are holding a joint conference in a few weeks, which could very well be an E3 presentation.
- New games from Bethesda will arrive on Game Pass the day they are released.
- Microsoft will not intervene with Bethesda’s marketing and sales activities. Nor will it force its own teams into Bethesda’s structures. The publisher will also keep its overseas offices.
- Booty said it’s a priority for Microsoft to maintain the creative freedom at internal studios — this applies to all other acquisitions by Xbox.
- Microsoft is not expecting its studios to specifically create games that perform best on Game Pass. That’s where, according to Booty, Xbox is different from Netflix with its advanced viewership data analysis.
- Outside the article, Woitier asked Booty if other acquisitions were in sight, to which he replied, “I can’t share anything!”
- Woitier also found out that COVID-19 has slowed down the production at Xbox Game Studios games, with the biggest impact felt across teams working on new IPs as opposed to sequels.


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Last blog articles
Contact us by our contact form
SFA Saniflo Canada announces a new distribution centre
The new distribution centre is part of a suite of investments Saniflo Canada is making in Western Canada that will help support their customers with current and new demand regionally and reduce overall lead times in the province of Alberta.
Edmonton is a great location for our new DC and gives us the opportunity to better serve our customers in many regions of Alberta,” said Phil Warren, SFA Saniflo Inc National Sales Manager. “We are excited as we understand what this means to our customers as we both continue generate growth
SFA Saniflo Canada continues to grow their market share position in every region of Canada. As such Alberta continues to show resilience when it comes to Saniflo.
Our new Edmonton distribution centre is our fourth location in Canada. Other locations include SFA Canada headquarters in Cambridge, ON as well as Regina, SK and Pitt Meadows, BC.
For any inquiries or for more information you can visit us at Saniflo.ca or check us out on social media.
ABOUT SFA SANIFLO®
SANIFLO North America – whose parent company originated macerating plumbing technology – offers a complete line of macerating and grinding upflush toilet systems and drain-water pumping systems for residential and commercial applications. SANIFLO developed its innovative, “above-floor plumbing” technology more than a half-century ago and has led its commercialization worldwide. Today, the company markets macerating technology through 22 subsidiaries in 50 countries and has sold more than six million units worldwide since 1958. SANIFLO products are available through independent sales agents throughout North America, and the product line is currently available at most major plumbing wholesalers and hardware retailers. For more information or installation videos, please visit saniflo.ca or call SANIFLO Canada at 1-800-363-5874.
● For more information, contact Saniflo Canada at 1-800-363-5874 or visit the Saniflo Canada website at saniflo.ca.


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By Andy Williams, Contributing Editor
With the land border crossing deadline rapidly approaching, there is still no clear consensus on what identity documents will be acceptable for those frequent travelers between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Now, added to the mix is the recently announced PASS card that is already under fire.
Until recently, it appeared that it would take a passport to get into the U.S. – even for citizens of Canada and Mexico … and even for returning U.S. citizens. While this may not seem like a major issue to some, consider this: residents in border towns in New York, Michigan, Washington, Texas, etc. frequently cross international borders to shop and socialize and less than a quarter of the U.S. population currently has a passport.
Left unsaid, because no one wants to be quoted as saying it, is that the U.S. considers Canada’s security porous. For terrorists seeking entry to the U.S., an easier point of entry may be through Canada, the suggestion goes. True or not, it’s creating massive headaches for tourism and commerce officials on both sides of the border.
The proposed PASS card is intended to alleviate some of that pain for U.S., Canadian, and Mexican citizens. It will be cheaper – though the estimated $50 price tag for a PASS card (about half the cost of a passport) could be pricy for many – and likely easier to obtain. But it hasn’t assuaged the objections of a group of New York and Canadian officials.
DHS promotes it new PASS card
PASS stands for People Access Security Service and is a proposed card designed to meet the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requirements, which mandates that by Jan. 1, 2008, anyone entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, have travel documents that prove their identity and citizenship.
The PASS card is part of a three-part program unveiled in mid-January by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michel Chertoff. This “vision” includes improved technology, new travel documents, and improved – what the DHS calls “smarter” – screening methods.
Secretary Chertoff said the PASS card “will be particularly useful for those citizens in border communities who regularly cross northern and southern borders every day as an integral part of their daily lives. We’re talking about essentially the kind of drivers license or other simple card identification that almost all of us carry in our wallets day in and day out.”
It was the driver license, in fact, that many –including tourist agencies in Canada and New York – wanted to see used instead of the passport.
Secretary Chertoff confirmed that the new PASS card would meet WHTI’s travel requirements. He called the new card an “inexpensive secure travel card for land border crossings…” and that people would “not necessarily…(have to) have passports of the traditional kind.”
“We want to ensure that everyone who would like this card will be able to get it,” said DHS spokesperson Kimberly Weissman. She said DHS is “working closely with State to collaborate on outreach efforts so people can know where they can get this card.”
Passport offices are the logical first choice but there would have to be other locations as well, she inferred. And while DHS/State hope to have the PASS card available by the end of this year, the actual deadline isn’t until Jan. 1, 2008, she added. “What we’re trying to do is phase it in.”
DHS has not yet determined what type of biometric would be included. But it’s likely there would be a photo on the card as well as a digital finger scan, said Ms. Weissman.
Even the card’s cost isn’t settled. “The passport is currently $97 with new biometrics and what we said publicly is that the card will be at least half that cost. The cost of this card can’t be so high that it’s untenable,” she added.
The card will also just be good at land borders. “If you intend to fly, you will still need a passport,” she said.
Existing travel cards may also be accepted
She said DHS and State are also looking “at the viability” of being able to use other border crossing-type cards currently in existence. “We’re looking at what’s out there and if they can be used to meet the 2008 deadline.”
These include the BCC (border crossing card or laser visa currently in use on the Mexican border); FAST (Free and Secure Trade); NEXUS (a joint customs and immigration program between Canada and the U.S. for pre-approved low-risk travelers); and SENTRI (Customs and Border Protection Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection). But whether these options will meet the security requirements of WHTI is questionable.
Opponents speak out from both sides of the border
Opposition is continuing from the border states (primarily in the north) and Canada. Last fall, New York State and Ontario legislators from the bi-national Niagara Region urged the U.S. government to find an alternative to a proposal that they then envisioned would require Canadians visiting the U.S. and Americans returning home from a visit to Canada to have a valid passport when crossing the border. Such mandates will severely impact commerce and tourism between the two countries, not to mention border crossing delays, they said.
The group has reeled off a series of stats that seem to support this claim:
- Canadians visited New York State almost 2.3 million times and spent $487 million on trips there in 2004, while New Yorkers made more than 1.9 million trips to Canada.
- New York and Canada boast the largest bilateral tourism industry in the U.S., with residents from both places crossing the border an average of 11,343 times per day.
- In 2004, 16.5 million passenger vehicles crossed the border at just seven of the 17 land ports of entry between Canada and New York, and 89,000 buses crossed at just four of those ports.
- Canada is New York State’s primary export market, with $30.2 billion worth of merchandise and goods exchanged during 2004.
Even before the PASS announcement, the group said the suggested alternative of a “secure border-crossing document” that people would have to apply and pay for “would be no less a barrier than a passport. Both approaches would discourage large numbers of Canadians and Americans from crossing the border…” They also suggested that increasing the security of a driver license, that citizens of both countries have, would be a better alternative.
The recently passed Real ID Act mandates standardized driver licenses from state to state, but a time-line for implementation hasn’t even be set. So it’s unclear what will be required under the rules.
The PASS card “is an improvement over the passport but it’s not where we want to be,” said Ken Berlinski in New York Assemblyman Robin Schimminger’s office. “What are we talking about in price? I’ve heard $50. That’s still too expensive.”
Mr. Schimminger, who represents the Niagara area, was joined by representatives from a bi-national delegation from the Council of State Governments’ Eastern Regional Conference when they met with key congressional and administration officials in Washington following the PASS announcement.
One of the meetings was with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins from Maine. “I suggested she pose to Mr. Chertoff the following question,” said Mr. Schimminger. “It’s all well and good that law-abiding citizens pay good money and get a PASS card, but how does that stop someone who doesn’t get a PASS card from simply walking across the more than 600 miles of potato fields and forests of Maine?”
In a meeting with Sen. Patrick Leahy (U.S. senator from New York), the senator suggested that “the solution to this problem really must involve the new (Canadian) Prime Minister (Stephen) Harper at his first meeting with President Bush … the top issue being this impending PASS plan,” related Assemblyman Schimminger. That could, perhaps, lead to a postponement of WHTI mandates, he added.
The assemblyman said he also was uncertain just how much communication was going on between the U.S. and Canada. “We were a little bemused because we were told that they (DHS/State) were working closely with the Canadian government, which was news to them … (according to) my partners in our visit.”
He added: “Having been immersed in this for two days, I came away with a pretty clear opinion that this PASS card would be highly burdensome and marginally effective. It, in fact, would be costly and lead to long lines and wide spread confusion.”
Another issue is children: would they be required to have a PASS card? Mr. Schimminger said that in his meeting with DHS officials they “kind of begged off on that question.”
The assemblyman is also wary of the time constraints. “The reality of it is they are working on a very short time frame – January 1, 2007 for air and water and January 1, 2008 for border crossings. They have to have readers at all these locations, they have to educate the public and get the card in the public’s hands and maybe create additional lines at land crossings for people to pull into to show their card. It’s a nightmare.”


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Two years ago, Fast Company compiled a list of the Most Influential Women In Tech, in part to recognize the disadvantages that women in technology face–proper recognition being just one of them. We continued in 2010 with a second list, and now we’re readying a third.
In the past two years we’ve featured Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook; Rashmi Sinha, Co-founder and CEO of Slideshare; Morgan Romine, Team Captain of Frag Dolls; Amber Case, a cyborg anthropologist; Jill Tarter, Director, SETI; Clara Shih, founder of Hearsay Labs; and many others. The idea, as always is that these women bring a unique brand of thought to the tech space, whatever business they’re running at the time we feature them. And our coverage of women in tech flows from the pages of our magazine to our website and back again. Case in point: our December/January issue which features Chloe Sladden, who manages Twitter’s media partnerships, on the cover (it goes on sale next week).
Now it’s time to begin putting together the 2011 list of influential women in tech, and this is where we’ll need your help–since there are those who still believe there aren’t any recognizable women in the tech industry. We’re opening a call for nominations, and we’re accepting them through all forms of social media, using the hashtag #wit11.
Here’s how to submit a nomination:
- Leave a comment on this post
- Write a blog post (use #wit11 so that we can find it)
- Tweet (use #wit11 so that we can find it)
- Leave a comment on our Facebook Page
- Tag a photo on Flickr or video on YouTube (use #wit11 so that we can find it)
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Police are looking for two men involved in a strong-armed robbery at a Phoenix Safeway this summer.
Two men were caught on video loading a cart with alcohol at the Safeway store near 40th Street and Chandler Blvd. The incident occurred at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 12.
As the suspects attempted to leave the store with the cart, they used force against a woman who worked at the store who was trying to stop them from getting away.
Both men fled the store.
One of the suspects is described as a 30-year-old, around 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 250 pounds. He has short black hair and brown eyes.
The second man, who police say is a lead, has long dark hair.
If you have any information regarding the robbery, contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS for a chance to get a reward of up to $1,000.


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Preganancy test strip with microfluidic channels (Image Credit: LIA Diagnostics)
The pregnancy test hasn’t changed in years. This startup is redesigning one of the most important moments in a woman’s life.
The at-home pregnancy test was a huge innovation in women’s health, but it hasn’t changed much in quite some time. That might lead you to believe that its current form is flawless—well, far from it. As any woman who has used one knows, the stick-shaped device that clues women into one of the most important details of their lives has a few shortcomings: It’s hard to keep private, requires a sharpshooter’s aim, and eventually winds up in a landfill.
That all may be about to change.
Lia Diagnostics is a startup based in Philadelphia that is redesigning the pregnancy test. Slated to go on sale in 2016 or 2017, Lia’s pregnancy test is made out of paper, so it’s foldable and flushable, ensuring privacy in a way that the old-school tests can’t. Even better, it can be packaged discreetly in an envelope and shipped to customers, bypassing the teenage dude at the Walgreen’s checkout.
“When we looked at the pregnancy test, we found that here had been very little innovation in 30 years,” says Bethany Edwards, CEO of Lia Diagnostics and one of four of the company’s cofounders. “The product design was basically exactly the same.”
So Edwards and her team set out to reimagine the pregnancy test with privacy, sustainability, and usability in mind.
Rather than being born in some public bathroom stall, Lia Diagnostics originated in the Integrated Product Design program at the University of Pennsylvania, where Edwards went with cofounders Anna Couturier and Frances DiMare. Sarah Rottenberg, a fourth cofounder, is a UPenn lecturer who helps run the Integrated Product Design program at the school.
For their final project at UPenn, Edwards and her partners started from a sustainability angle: What products out there have a form factor that long outlives the use of the product itself? The team quickly homed in on single-use medical devices as being among the most wasteful. From there, it didn’t take long to settle on the pregnancy test. Could advances in material science be used to reimagine the pregnancy test and create something more discreet and less wasteful? The answer, as it turned out, was yes.
“These companies have been focused on ways to increase their margins by charging consumers more,” says Edwards of the traditional players dominating the market for pregnancy tests. “They’re adding expensive digital components that offer optical readers that will read the results for you—and they’re adding to a higher price point.”
From Edwards’s standpoint, jamming digital technology into the traditional wand-shaped device isn’t what the pregnancy test needs to move forward into the 21st century. Not only is it wasteful and expensive, but it fails to address the pregnancy tests’ biggest pain points from a woman’s perspective: privacy and usability. In addition to making its test compact and flushable, Lia is also expanding the target area to make it easier to get a reading.
Lia Diagnostics just wrapped up a three-month program in the DreamIt Ventures startup incubator and is now looking for outside funding. Edwards says they’re open to crowdfunding, but would need to figure out the best way to execute a campaign—crowdfunding is tough in the summer and few people are interested in pre-ordering a pregnancy test. Right now, a 2017 public release looks likely, but landing some funding would help expedite research and development, as well as the process of getting FDA approval.
Edwards and her team have already generated a great deal of buzz, despite being in the very early stages. Last month, the company won $15,000 in an innovation competition from the U.S. Small Business Administration. They’ve even been contacted by large pregnancy test manufacturers, a fact that Edwards finds both flattering and concerning: A bigger company with more resources could easily steal this idea and run with it more quickly than a tiny startup that’s still looking for angel investors.
Lia’s pregnancy test—a product that has yet to be formally named—is currently in the beta testing phase as the team wraps up research and development and courts investors.
“A lot of people tell me, ‘I can’t believe this hasn’t been done,'” says Edwards. “That’s great, because it means that we’re onto something.”
Source: Fast Company


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In recent years, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have exploded in popularity, with digital artists and creators embracing this new form of digital ownership. NFTs are unique digital assets that can be bought and sold on various marketplaces, with prices ranging from a few dollars to millions of dollars.
However, as the NFT market continues to grow, questions are being raised about the distribution of royalties to the creators of these digital assets. While some marketplaces offer automatic royalty payments to creators every time their NFT is sold, others do not, leading to concerns about the fairness of the NFT ecosystem.
One marketplace that has been at the forefront of the discussion is OpenSea, which is one of the largest NFT marketplaces in the world. Recently, OpenSea announced that it will be implementing a new feature that will automatically send royalties to creators every time their NFT is resold on the platform.
This move has been widely praised by digital artists and creators, who have long been calling for more transparent and fair distribution of royalties in the NFT market. The new feature will allow creators to earn a percentage of the resale value of their NFTs, providing a steady source of income even as the asset changes hands multiple times.
According to Devin Finzer, the CEO of OpenSea, “We believe that creators should be able to benefit from the growth of the NFT market, and we are committed to supporting them by providing a fair and transparent platform for buying and selling digital assets.”
While OpenSea’s move is a step in the right direction, many other NFT marketplaces still do not offer automatic royalty payments to creators. This has led to concerns that some creators may be missing out on significant earnings as their NFTs change hands multiple times.
To address this issue, some creators have turned to smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts that automatically transfer funds to the appropriate parties. Smart contracts can be programmed to automatically send royalty payments to creators every time an NFT is resold, providing a more transparent and fair distribution of earnings.
However, the use of smart contracts is still relatively new in the NFT market, and many creators may not have the technical knowledge or resources to implement them. This has led to calls for more marketplaces to follow OpenSea’s lead and implement automatic royalty payments as a standard feature.
In addition to concerns about royalty payments, there are also questions about the environmental impact of the NFT market. NFTs are created using blockchain technology, which is notoriously energy-intensive and can have a significant carbon footprint.
To address these concerns, some marketplaces are exploring more eco-friendly alternatives, such as using proof-of-stake (PoS) rather than proof-of-work (PoW) algorithms. PoS is a more energy-efficient method of verifying transactions on the blockchain, which could help reduce the environmental impact of the NFT market.
As the NFT market continues to evolve, it is clear that there are still many challenges that need to be addressed. From concerns about royalty payments to environmental sustainability, there are a range of issues that must be addressed to ensure that the NFT market is fair, transparent, and sustainable.
However, with initiatives like OpenSea’s automatic royalty payments and the growing interest in eco-friendly blockchain alternatives, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of the NFT market. As creators and marketplaces work together to address these challenges, the NFT market could become an even more vibrant and inclusive space for digital artists and creators around the world.


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Starting January, Brewers Can List Retail Placements on Social Media
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (October 2, 2015) – Tom McCormick, executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA), issued the following statement today in response to Governor Jerry Brown signing Assembly Bill 780, authored by Assembly Member Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara).
“AB 780 is great news for craft enthusiasts in our state who are hungry for information about their favorite beers. The bill allows craft breweries in California, as of January 1st, 2016, to communicate product availability information to their fans on social media, including where to purchase specialty beers at local stores and restaurants. This is an exciting development for CCBA’s brewery members who use social media regularly to communicate with fans and potential customers.
The new allowance will have restriction in order to adhere to the state’s tied house laws. A social media post may only contain the name, location, address and web site of the licensed retailer. It cannot include any laudatory, promotional or marketing references and each post must contain the equal listing of two or more retailers.
“More than ever, California’s craft beer drinkers are looking to their favorite breweries for information about special releases or where to purchase their favorite craft beer at a local retail location,” said McCormick. “Prior to AB 780, a brewery could only communicate product availability after a direct inquiry from a customer. AB 780 removes the requirement for a formal request and allows for better communication between breweries and their fans, as long as two or more retail locations are included in the social media post.
“This year has been marked by tremendous growth and support for the craft beer industry in California. The industry contributed $6.5 billion to the state economy last year and now boasts nearly 600 craft breweries, more than any other state in the nation. CCBA members appreciate the support of Gov. Brown and Assembly Member Das Williams and look forward to the continued growth of craft beer in California.”
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Moonlight’s popular Fright Fest concludes this weekend
Moonlight Stage Productions in Vista was forced to cancel its 2020 season of outdoor musicals, but it has sold out virtually every seat for its Fright Fest series of Halloween-themed movies at the Moonlight Amphitheatre this month. The series concludes this weekend with Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Friday and “Ghostbusters” on Saturday.
Colleen Kollar Smith, Moonlight’s managing director, said just 100 of the 1,500 amphitheater seats were offered for sale for the films, which range from family-friendly titles to grown-up fare. It’s been such a success, Kollar Smith said Moonlight is now hoping to host a series of holiday-themed films in December.
Moonlight used federal coronavirus relief funds to purchase thermal scanners, hand sanitizer stations, seat covers for socially distanced seating and signs to make the amphitheater safe. Kollar and her husband, actor/playwright Lance Arthur Smith, have two daughters, Scottie and Pepper, and she wanted the environment to be a safe space for her own children as well as other Vista families.
“Lance and I have been extremely cautious and restrictive, as we have family with health concerns nearby,” she said. “When Lance and Scottie came and felt comfortable with their first night out of the house since lockdown, it affirmed the work that so many put in to make the theater safe.”
Moonlight has one more treat in store for Halloween, “Ka’davaret: The Broadway Villains Ball.” The streamed concert, featuring several Southern California performers, will feature songs by villains in Broadway musicals, including “Sweeney Todd,” “Damn Yankees,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Wicked,” “The Lion King” and more. The show will stream at 5 p.m. Oct. 31. Tickets are $10.31. Visit moonlightstage.com.
Pam Kragen writes about theater for The San Diego Union-Tribune. Email her at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Investment analytics platform Aumni has closed its Series B round on $50m to help it increase its customer base.
JP Morgan acted as the lead investor, with commitments also coming from Pelion Venture Partners and first time Aumni backers WndrCo, Citadel Securities, Invesco Private Capital, Vanderbilt University and Kera Capital.
Capital from the round will be used to deepen its presence with investors in the private capital markets and expand its offering to limited partners, law firms and company founders.
The FinTech company launched its flagship product in 2018 to help unlock, structure and analyse untapped data in private portfolios. Through this, it hopes to track critical provisions, including key investment rights, portfolio performance and emerging investment patterns, supplying customers with deeper insights.
Since the product launched, it has analysed over 100,000 investment transactions.
Aumni CEO and co-founder Tony Lewis said, “When we launched Aumni four years ago, we understood that access to structured data in the private capital markets simply did not exist at scale. Today, Aumni remains the only analytics solution able to correctly model the legal and economic foundation of these transactions.
“We are excited to add J.P. Morgan and Pelion Venture Partners as investors as we continue building products that operate at the intersection of FinTech and legaltech to transform the future of the private capital markets.”
The FinTech company previously raised $10m in its Series A round back in 2020, which was led by SVB Financial Group.
Copyright © 2021 FinTech Global


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Chan Chun Sing on shifts, opportunities in global supply chains
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Chan Chun Sing on shifts, opportunities in global supply chains(Updated: )
The COVID-19 pandemic will accelerate the shifts in global supply chains. These supply chains are likely to move nearer to their final demand markets to be more resilient. This will severely impact the global economy and Singapore. But there will also be opportunities to fill unmet demand in new supply chains. Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said this in Parliament on Tuesday (May 26), in reply to an MP’s questions. The Government is helping companies and workers to take advantage of these shifts, such as boosting Singapore’s connectivity and status as a financial and logistics hub.


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CA$H In On Color Printing
Increased use of color ink-jet printing in the home has raised the awareness of this technology. Now, offices are looking to follow this trend with color laser printers.
The future is looking bright for VARs who sell and service high-end printers. With color laser technology improving and decreasing in price, VARs can expect increased demand for printers.
Gary Bailer, assistant general manager at Panasonic Communications & Systems Company (Secaucus, NJ), says businesses are following the trend toward color printers because of the increased use of color printers in the home. Panasonic Communications & Systems Company is composed of 815 employees. Focuses are on providing color laser printers, digital color imaging systems, digital and analog copiers, facsimile machines, production scanners, monitors and optical storage products. The company focuses on serving the marketplace for document imaging in the VAR, dealer and systems integrator markets.
"Typically, technology shifts happen in corporate America and migrate down into the home," Bailer explains. "However, in the printing market, the opposite is occurring. What is driving the business market is the fact that people are more aware of color." Ink-jet printers have made color documents an affordable addition to the family computer. So, if color can be an option for a child's book report, why can't it be done easily in the office?
Ink-Jet Printers Aren't Enough For The Office
According to Bailer, the ink-jet technology found in affordable home printers isn't suitable in the corporate world. "The ink-jet printers aren't reliable enough and don't have enough ink and paper capacity." Enter the color laser printer. According to Richard Bowles, vice president of marketing at QMS (Mobile, AL), color laser printers allow capabilities for businesses that color ink-jet printers could not provide. QMS, a 21-year-old business with 430 employees at its Alabama site, earned $125 million in 1997. "The color laser printers that are being offered have additional features like networking and 11x17-inch support," says Bowles. "As color becomes more widely adopted, companies will have to use a color laser printer so their documents look as good as everyone else's."
The three things that kept color printers from being widely adopted in corporations until now, according to Bowles, were acquisition cost, cost per page and ease-of-use. "Printers are being manufactured, for less than $3,500, that are fully networkable with post script and PCL, the most standard printing languages," says Bowles. The newest generation of printers are bringing cost per page to a level Bowles calls affordable for offices. "In our latest generation of printers, a page with 20% color coverage costs about 11 cents per page, which is a lot of color," he explains. Finally, with the latest generation of color laser printers, ease-of-use has improved by reducing the number of consumables. "We have improved features and durability of consumables (like toner cartridges) so not only are they easier to get to within the printer," says Bowles, "but you don't have to replace them as often."
The Color Market Is Growing
Both Bailer and Bowles agree VARs need to take advantage of color laser printer growth while it is still in its early stages. With the Year 2000 problem, says Bailer, many companies are upgrading their existing systems. Color printers are a natural step. "As people are looking at new systems," says Bailer, "they are considering network printing, where previously it was mostly stand-alone printing. Now, companies are considering color, along with networking."
Don't Walk Away From The Sale
As prices come down on hardware, says Bailer, so do the actual profit-margin dollars for the reseller. As a result, VARs must learn from the other sales channels in the office setting and learn how to sell supplies as an ongoing revenue source. "There's more money to be made in selling color laser printing supplies than in selling the printer," says Bailer. "VARs need to support customers to make sure they get revenue from the supplies, instead of giving it up to another supplier."
"Don't walk away from the sale," says Bowles. "The initial hardware sale just gets the VAR in front of the customer. VARs build constant revenue through continued sales of consumables to the customer. Now, when it is time to replace the printer, the VAR has an opportunity to keep the customer for life. Forgetting about consumables is a huge mistake."
Color Has A Strong Future
Look for technology that will allow for less-expensive system administration within office printing networks, as well as the easy-to-replace consumables. Also, according to Bailer, look for VARs to hire, or become, color specialists. "As VARs try to sell to end-user sites, the tactics and strategies used to support traditional networks are no longer valid. VARs need to go beyond what they know now to understand color printing, as well as applications and solutions. Hiring a color specialist on a VAR's staff to support the traditional sales reps going into the corporate world seems to be a very successful business practice."


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Facebook Inc. temporarily blocked posts containing hashtags calling on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign, then reinstated them on Wednesday, saying the action had been taken in error.
The #ResignModi hashtag was blocked on Facebook for several hours amid national controversy over India’s response to an escalating Covid-19 crisis and the government’s efforts to curb public dissent.
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