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Outriders attracted 3.5 million unique players in April, and according to Square Enix the series is “on track to become the company’s next major franchise.” In other words, the possibility of an Outriders 2 seems high, not to mention updates to the existing game.
That number is impressive, but it has no bearing on sales figures: Outriders was an Xbox Game Pass launch title on Xbox consoles, so I’d hazard a guess that a lot of players are coming from there. Meanwhile, there’s a substantial free demo on all platforms, though it’s unclear whether this figure includes those players.
But no matter how you cut it, Outriders has attracted players, and People Can Fly is “committed to improving and enhancing the experience in the coming weeks and months,” adding that “we also look forward to expanding on Outriders in the future.”
While the studio insists Outriders is not a live service game, People Can Fly’s creative director said in April that it was open to “significant expansions” down the line, citing Diablo’s approach as inspiration.


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China shares rose for a third day while the benchmark in Hong Kong, which reopened on Tuesday after a holiday, was Asia's top performer, spurred by hopes of more monetary easing by the European Central Bank to revive economic growth.
The Hang Seng index rose 1.5 percent to finish at 19,735.5, its highest close since May 15. The benchmark managed to close above its 200-day moving average, currently at 19,554.8, which proved stiff resistance last month.
On the mainland, the CSI300 and the Shanghai Composite both rose 0.1 percent as persistent weakness in industrials cut into gains from property and consumption-related sectors.
In Hong Kong, many shares rose in hefty volumes in the first hour of trading after the holiday weekend. This was partly rooted in short-covering by investors who had carried forward positions from Friday but covered as the market played catch up.
At midday, the HSI was up 1.6 percent, and in the afternoon, there were few catalysts to trigger fresh buying.
This week is likely to be choppy with ECB & BoE meeting and the US Payrolls on Friday. We are again seeing 'bad news is good news' as it increases the potential that central banks will embark on new quantitative easing, a trader said.
Tom Kaan, a director at Louis Capital Markets in Hong Kong, said that when the Hong Kong market resumed trading on Tuesday, it benefited from some post-EU summit fervour as well as expectations that the ECB is going to follow through on Thursday by cutting interest rates.
China is still a bit of a mixed bag but as long as central banks are veering towards money-printing, there's going to be support for the market, said Kaan.
A contraction in U.S. manufacturing activity, the first in three years, underscored the grim outlook for the global economy but also raised hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve will step in with asset purchases to support the economy.
Those expectations were seen helping risky assets with large-caps and beaten down commodity sectors such as coal and steel posting healthy gains.
HSBC Holdings and China Mobile, which both rose more than 1 percent, were the top boosts for the Hong Kong benchmark. AIA rose 3.2 percent following the company's sale of a part of its stake in Thailand's largest convenience store chain.
Coal stocks, which have been hit by weaker demand and worries about oversupply, staged a sharp recovery with the largest players China Shenhua and China Coal both rising more than 4 percent. Yanzhou Coal gained 5.8 percent bouncing off last Friday's 2-1/2 year intraday low.
CHINA AUTOS, INDUSTRIALS WEAK
China's industrial sector remained weak on mainland bourses after a private survey of manufacturers showed factory activity shrinking at its fastest pace in seven months as exports orders tumbled to depths last seen in March 2009.
Heavy equipment maker Zoomlion fell 3.2 percent while rival Sany Heavy fell 3.3 percent. Dongfang Electric dropped 3.6 percent.
Auto stocks in Hong Kong were stark underperformers as offshore investors reacted to reports on Monday in local Chinese media that Guangzhou became China's fourth city to cap on annual car sales to help ease a worsening traffic gridlock.
Brilliance Automotive dropped 1.9 percent while Dongfeng Group fell 4.4 percent. GAC Group fell 4 percent. BYD fell 1.1 percent while its Shenzhen listing fell a further 2.2 percent.
Other China consumption-related sectors were stronger, however, after brokerage JPMorgan said the valuations for consumer discretionary sector were already reflecting a weak operating environment and any second-half improvement would likely support shares prices.
Other China consumption-related sectors were stronger, however, after brokerage JPMorgan said the valuations for companies making non-essential consumer goods were already reflecting a weak operating environment and any second-half improvement would likely support shares prices.
Excluding sportswear makers, the Chinese consumer discretionary sector trades at a compelling 12 times forward-earnings multiple, according to JPMorgan, which prefers the sector over consumer staples.
Golden Eagle and Lifestyle International , both of which were upgraded to overweight at the broker, rose 5.3 percent and 4.1 percent respectively.

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Marketing has become a much more challenging pursuit than it was just a few short years ago, as the arrivals of cloud computing, mobile devices and social media have all served to muddle the picture and make matters more complicated for businesses everywhere. If you want to keep in touch with your existing customers or your future prospects, there are numerous ways to do so, and it can be difficult to choose the best plan of attack.
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that businesses are ramping up their spending on technology, especially where marketing is concerned. They need better resources for a wide variety of pursuits, including internal things like database management and more external matters such as interfacing with consumers directly. All of these tools, of course, cost money.
According to Direct Marketing News, technology now eats up a significant chunk of the budget for the typical business. The news source drew upon recent survey data compiled by advisory company CEB, which finds that marketing departments today are dedicating 25 percent of their budgets on average to technology. Likewise, sales teams are spending 23 percent.
DMNews elaborated that technology is everywhere, not just in businesses' budgets. There are also areas where outside factors like the "bring your own device" trend and external data sources have made an impact, says the publication's associate editor, Elyse Dupre.
"Marketers and salespeople aren't the only employees who depend on technology," Dupre explained. "Today, employees across organizations are not only using company-provided tools, they're also investing in their own gadgetry for their jobs."
CEB's data indicated that all this room in the budget for technology helps companies in four very specific ways:
With more resources dedicated to high-tech efforts, companies can do a lot more to step up their marketing game. It all begins with the budget.


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Andrew Schrader, AppRiver national sales director, speaks with Michael Murdoch, co-founder and CEO of AppRiver.
While AppRiver's mission hasn't changed since the email and Web security corporation opened in 2002, the industry itself is constantly changing.
That means using technology and a talented team to stay ahead of spammers, hackers and other online criminals, according to Michael Murdoch, CEO and founder of AppRiver.
"As the bad guys get more sophisticated in their tools and techniques, we have to evolve to meet that challenge," he said. ...


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Teva projects outlook of $31 billion in revenue by 2015
JERUSALEM Teva hopes to garner revenues of $31 billion and net income of $6.8 billion by 2015, according to a presentation made to investors last week.
Already the world’s largest manufacturer of generic drugs, Teva expects increasing global demand for generic drugs to drive the company’s growth, with a significant portion of that growth expected to come from markets with low generic-drug penetration, such as Europe. In addition, internal research and development and licensing are expected to strengthen the company’s branded-drug business.
“In the years to come, Teva will seek to extend our global leadership and deliver profitable growth, doubling our revenues by 2015 and reaching net income margins of 22%,” president and CEO Shlomo Yanai said. “Our core business, generics, will continue to drive our growth. At the same time, we will continue to expand our branded business, further leveraging the diversity of our balanced business model.”
New report projects sales of Parkinson’s disease drug will reach $500 million
WALTHAM, Mass. A drug made by Boehringer Ingelheim for treating Parkinson’s disease could have sales of up to half a billion dollars, according to a new analysis.
According to a report released Tuesday by market research firm Decision Resources, BI’s extended-release formulation of pramipexole will have peak-year sales of between $250 million and $500 million in major pharmaceutical markets. The drug was launched in Europe in 2009 and is expected to enter the market in the United States this year.
In the beginning, according to the report, launches of generic formulations of the immediate-release version of pramipexole and competition from GlaxoSmithKline’s and SkyePharma’s Requip XL (ropinirole CR) and generic versions of immediate-release Requip will put a damper on sales of pramipexole ER. However, physician familiarity with the drug and preference among physicians and patients for once-daily dosing will cause a “significant” increase in sales.
“Given physician comfort in prescribing pramipexole for Parkinson’s disease and the convenience of once-daily dosing that it would offer, we expect that pramipexole ER will take much of pramipexole IR’s patient share,” Decision Resources analyst Sami Fam said. “In the short term, we expect pramipexole ER will lose some patient share to ropinirole CR given that ropinirole CR was the first of the two agents to launch. But over the long term, physicians’ slight preference for pramipexole over ropinirole should help to boost pramipexole ER’s uptake.”
Report: Weis Markets acquires local Medicine Shoppe pharmacy
SUNBURY, Pa. Weis recently acquired a Medicine Shoppe pharmacy in the Binghamton, N.Y., market, local newscaster News Channel 34 (owned by Newport Television) reported early Tuesday morning.
Weis Markets currently has 120 in-store pharmacies at other locations and is considering more at its Broome County locations, the report noted.


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Internet entertainment. Global original content. Product personalization. Our first original series debuted in 2013. Over the following decades, Internet TV will replace linear, and we hope to keep leading by offering an amazing entertainment experience.
Turkish authorities told Netflix to remove a homosexual character from the script of series If Only in order to obtain filming rights, a source close to the streaming giant told Euronews. Mar 19, 2020 · Netflix agrees to reduce streaming bit rates to Europe. After Netflix CEO Reed Hastings spoke with European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the streaming service said it will reduce its traffic in Jul 23, 2020 · Does ExpressVPN work with Netflix? Yes, ExpressVPN is a reliable option when it comes to unblocking Geo-restricted Netflix libraries because it has a vast network of optimized servers for channels like Netflix and that is placed almost in 94 countries. Mar 19, 2020 · The reduction in bit rates applies to Netflix users in Europe. The company will work with Internet service providers and governments around the world and apply these changes if needed elsewhere Jun 23, 2020 · Netflix penetration rates of 70-80% for Western Europe are quoted elsewhere. Netflix Japan reportedly boasts a larger catalogue than Netflix US . Market penetration is still relatively low in the world’s third-biggest economy, however, despite absolute user numbers being in the global top 10.
Sep 18, 2014 · A Netflix spokesman said there are no plans to create German-language programming, but in France, a new French-language series, "Marseille," signals Netflix's willingness to embrace European culture.
Jul 23, 2020 · Does ExpressVPN work with Netflix? Yes, ExpressVPN is a reliable option when it comes to unblocking Geo-restricted Netflix libraries because it has a vast network of optimized servers for channels like Netflix and that is placed almost in 94 countries.
Feb 18, 2020 · By 2024, approximately 63 million Europeans are forecast to have a Netflix subscription. In 2018 this figure stood at just below 40 million Netflix subscribers in Europe.
May 15, 2020 · Netflix claims this move will cut the amount of internet traffic it used in Europe by 25%. There’s no word yet on how this move will affect the video quality of Netflix’s streams for European The beast, that is, Netflix. I devote more time to watching Netflix, than I do to my boyfriend (well, I mean, I would, if I had one…). Netflix has become a household name, a code word for sex, and a lifestyle. In terms of casting, Netflix gets brownie points for being open to unfamiliar names and faces. Mar 19, 2020 · Netflix to cut streaming quality in Europe for 30 days. 19 March 2020. comments; Internet usage has been heightened in the last few weeks as more people work from home and avoid going out.


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Gumtree SA, the country's biggest online classified advertisement website, has been bought by Durban-based company Impresa Capital, it was announced on Friday.
The e-commerce business, which was launched in 2004, was previously owned by multinational giant eBay and then Adevinta. The new owners, who are the majority shareholders of the Ignition Group, say the acquisition is the "next step" to taking the business in a new and exciting direction.
"As a proudly African-rooted business, this acquisition cements our strategy of investments in the technology and media sectors and provides our portfolio of businesses with a solid platform for growth," said Sean Bergsma, co-founder and CEO of Ignition Group.
"The accelerated growth of Gumtree on the African continent will see new jobs being created, and with the technology developed further using local South African talent, it means exciting times ahead for all stakeholders," he added.
Claire Cobbledick, the general manager of Gumtree SA, said that as a community-based online marketplace, local expertise and knowledge "presents a strategic advantage" for the website.
"And so being acquired by a South African investor is an important and exciting next step for the Gumtree SA business. We look forward to unlocking synergies within the Ignition Group businesses and network," says Cobbledick.
The deal is still subject to final regulatory approvals.


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In a conference call with analysts this morning Discovery CEO David Zaslav sounded a bit like Friday Night Light‘s Coach Taylor trying to boost the morale of a football team that’s losing at half time. Discovery shares opened down more than 5% after it reported weaker than expected Q2 earnings. But Zaslav assured the Street that he sees growth ahead in the challenged mainstays of the pay TV business — advertising and affiliate fees — as well as new digital opportunities.
To that end, Discovery raised its earnings per share forecast for the year, saying that it will increase by a low double digit percentage.
With ad sales, the second quarter “was OK,” CEO David Zaslav says. But Q3 “seems to be accelerating….It feels good right now.”
The company also crowed about its recent carriage renewal deal with Comcast. Some analysts wondered whether the cable giant would retaliate at the bargaining table for Discovery’s criticisms of Comcast’s aborted effort to buy Time Warner Cable.
But Discovery says that the new terms, which take effect on January 1, include a “healthy” step up plus annual increases tied to “the strength of our brands and market share.” Earlier terms with cable and satellite companies were linked to the inflation rate.
Added to other carriage deals, Discovery expects U.S. affiliate fees to increase by a high single digit percentage each year. Although Zaslav calls the U.S. cable business “a mature market that’s showing some decline,” he says “we’ve stabilized it and put ourselves in a position for growth.”
The CEO doesn’t fear being left out as cable and satellite companies explore options to offer so-called skinny bundles, with fewer channels and a lower price than the expanded basic package.
“Almost all of our deals require that all of our channels be offered to a high percentage of subscribers,” Zaslav says.
On the digital side, Zaslav disclosed that Discovery will contribute to Verizon’s mobile video streaming service, which it plans to launch before the end of the summer. The programmer will offer “long and short form content” that will include full episodes of shows, excluding those in the current season. The agreement “adds another source to our U.S. distribution revenue stream,” he says.
Verizon has been tight lipped about the planned offering, which is says will stand out from the pack of streaming services that offer traditional TV fare. It has disclosed that contributors will include its recently acquired AOL, DreamWorks Animation’s AwesomenessTV, Vice, ESPN, CBS Sports, and Scripps Interactive Networks.


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Elvis is in Wick today to help St Barnabas House charity shop celebrate its 18th birthday.
The Jailhouse Rock day is featuring live performances from the talented and entertaining Suspiciously Elvis, one of the UK’s top Elvis tribute acts.
Manager Michelle, who has been at the shop for 17 years, said: "The St Barnbas House shop has been here for 18 years and we are celebrating.
"We are a hospice for end-of-life care and so we are raising funds for the hospice in Worthing. All the money we raise here goes to look after people over there."
Wick Village Traders Association has been supporting the day and Scott Ramsey, social media and marketing manager, has produced a Facebook Live video.


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You don't need to actually announce your pregnancy online for the Internet to find out about it. Nearly every click you make is tracked by companies that are hoping to use data about your online behavior to target advertisements. And visiting sites about parenting or looking at items like diapers or baby toys is probably enough to tip them off about your family plans.
So online advertising companies may know about your baby news before even your closest friends and family. But they may not know when to stop talking about babies if something in the pregnancy goes wrong.
"Amazon can you please stop sending me deals on baby strollers and car seats? It kind of doesn’t help that corporate America is knocking on my door with daily reminders," one miscarriage blogger wrote in 2009 post titled "Why Targeted ads SUCK."
If you want to keep your pregnancy a complete secret from the Internet, you may need to resort to extreme measures. When Princeton sociology professor Janet Vertesi tried to keep her pregnancy away from online advertisers last year, she used anonymous browsing tool Tor to look up baby information, according to Mashable.
She also made purchases in local stores with cash or online using pre-paid gift cards tied to a separate e-mail account specifically created for buying baby stuff -- and had them delivered to a local storage locker, not her home address. Basically, she started acting really suspicious.
"Those kinds of activities, when taken in the aggregate [...] are exactly the kinds of things that could tag you as likely engaging in criminal activity," she said during a panel at the Theorizing the Web Summit in April of 2014.
Of course, once she had participated in the panel, her pregnancy news became a big deal online.


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Bank’s auto scam blocking plan to save Australians $120m
Thousands of Australians are set to save $120 million a year under a new banking system designed to stop online purchases from dodgy overseas sellers.
Starting Monday, Westpac said its customers will automatically have credit and debit card transactions to foreign retailers blocked if a scam is detected.
They will be informed of the intervention by SMS but can contact the bank if they think the purchase is legitimate and want the transaction to continue.
When the real-time system was tested last year, customers who received the scam alert did not proceed with the purchase in more than 99% of cases.
The initial trial, which involved selected online stores with dubious marketing claims, including diet pill retailers, blocked more than 11,000 potential scams for 4,000 customers, saving more than $1.2 million.
Westpac’s Chris de Bruin said online shopping scams were on the rise and more overseas retailers were targeting Australians with false advertising.
“In the past two months, we’ve saved 69,000 customers from losing over $6 million through our scam blocks, with customers saving an average of $87,” he said in a statement.
“By extending this to more merchants, our modeling predicts that we will prevent an additional 2,000 customers every day from losing an estimated $120 million per year to dodgy overseas retailers.”
Under this system, blocked traders are exclusively registered overseas and most often sell diet pills, nutritional supplements, online dating subscriptions, music subscriptions or support services. to businesses.
“We want to help put an end to online scams by blocking retailers who may misrepresent what they are selling or trick Australians into handing them money for products they will never receive,” the official said. of Westpac fraud, Ben Young.


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Even though patches were released for the recently discovered set of vulnerabilities in the Android OS, which put more than 900 million devices at risk, there is still a threat.
The Check Point security company discovered a bug, dubbed QuadRooter, thanks to which cyber crooks could gain complete control over Android devices. The flaw was found in Qualcomm chips, used in smart devices made by Google, LG, Blackberry and other vendors. This means that more than 900 million devices are vulnerable to attacks. There are four interconnected flaws which are able to give hackers that kind of full access to the phone, hence the name of the flaw – QuadRooter, explains the security firm, Guardian.
Except the patches to fix the vulnerability, Check Point released the QuadRooter Scanner application on the Google Play Store. This app can determine whether or not a device is at risk.
According to a recent research, however, the QuadRooter flaw remains a threat. RiskIQ researchers have come across a number of phony applications, offered by various app stores, claiming they could fix the bug. Of course, not only aren’t they legitimate and won`t fix the problem, but they would probably cause users damage.
A good example is the so-called Fix Patch QuadRooter app which is available in the official Google Play Store, offered by KiwiApps. In spite of being removed from there, it appeared in some other unreliable stores. What is worse, this app is not the only one. Researchers have found 27 bogus apps in total, which are QuadRooter-related.
All these malicious apps have been found ready to be downloaded in the Google Play Store. But also, they are available in other unofficial stores, including AppBrain, AppChina, BingAPK and SameAPK, which are very risky to both devices and their users.
All users would be better off not downloading anything from these illegitimate application stores. They are risky, uncontrolled and, chances are high, that most of the apps offered there are containing malware that can steal users` personal data. Even though in some countries the official apps are not available yet, and the users may be tempted, they should still abide by legitimate and reliable sources like the Google Play Store.


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We already know that the HoloLens 2 will be shipped by Microsoft later this year, but despite all the information about the expiring device, we still do not know when the device will be available.
Now, on the Federal Communications Commission website, a new set of documents has surfaced that at least confirms that we probably will not have to wait much longer.
A collection of documents published on the FCC website on Friday refers to Microsoft's registration of a product that is "a wireless transceiver device using the IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac MIMO radio 20/40/80 MHz bandwidth supported, [and] Bluetooth 5.0 "included. These specifications are consistent with what we already know about the HoloLens 2.
Another part of the document contains a diagram (below) that shows where legal information is placed on the device. And although the HoloLens is not specifically mentioned, the shape of the device is unmistakable.
Later in the collection of documents, Microsoft asks that information, including external photos, test setup photos, user manual, and internal photos, remain confidential. Confidentiality for the following Appendices by 19 January 2020.
"We request the Commission to provide short-term confidentiality for the following annexes by 19 January 2020," writes Microsoft Compliance Engineer Chaitrali Limaye. in a letter of June 6th.
Although the documents do not reveal the exact release date of the long-awaited HoloLens 2, there is now strong evidence that the device will arrive in the next few months. This type of FCC document usually pops up at least a few months before official publication of a product.
Nevertheless, Microsoft has been full of surprises lately. So do not be surprised if it's a device Available earlier than we think.


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Home Tags Mobile
I’ve been using Google’s $400 phone for months, and I’m never going back to phones like the iPhone 11
Google's best smartphone is just $400, and it's a great option for most people — even longtime Apple devotees.
AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro are both perfect wireless earbuds for iPhone owners — here’s how to decide between them
Apple's AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro both offer great audio at around the same price. Here's how their specs and features compare.
Trump claimed he ‘opened’ an Apple plant in Texas on Wednesday, but it’s been making Apple products since 2012
President Donald Trump on Wednesday visited a factory in Austin, Texas, that makes computers for Apple.
Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff says he doesn’t use a computer anymore and has been running his business from his iPhone for years
At Dreamforce in San Francisco, Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff spoke with Apple CEO Tim Cook on how everything he needs is on his iPhone.
I’ve been playing games on Google’s ambitious new Netflix-like game service for the last week, and it’s clear the service isn’...
Google's first big push into video games arrives this week with Google Stadia, but it's not ready for the spotlight just yet.
T-Mobile's CEO, known for his eccentric approach during a successful run as CEO, is stepping down in May 2020.
Apple could bundle Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple News Plus into a single subscription as soon as 2020
Apple is thinking of offering an all-encompassing subscription for Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple News Plus.
GitHub is releasing its first-ever smartphone app, a year after Microsoft acquired it for $7.5 billion
GitHub announced a new mobile app and rolled out GitHub Sponsors for organizations. It also made GitHub Actions and Packages generally available.
Google is working with Citigroup and the Stanford Federal Credit Union to create something new for the tech giant: checking accounts.
Google Photos is easily Google’s best service — here’s why both iPhone and Android users should take advantage of it
There's an amazingly easy way to free up space on your phone using a Google service that you already have, but probably aren't using.


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- smt007 Magazine
In this issue, we (and AI) explored how and when artificial intelligence plays a role in manufacturing today. Whether on the factory floor, or in the front office, AI applications are emerging and changing how we approach planning, processes and problem solving.
- Events||| MENU
- smt007 Magazine
Anda Automation Partners with InterElectronic to Expand into HungaryDecember 4, 2017 | Anda Automation
Estimated reading time: Less than a minute
Anda Automation has partnered with InterElectronic Hungary Ltd as its distributor in Eastern Europe. InterElectronic offers lines for SMT and THT manufacturing for low-, medium- or high-volume production, as well as complete solutions for the automotive industry.
InterElectronic was founded in 2003 with headquarters in Budapest. A leading representative in its territory, the company provides complex turn-key solutions for companies working in the electronic industry. InterElectronic is an official distributor in Hungary and Romania, and offers some brands in Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia. The company provides professional consultation, guidance and even integration of projects.
Anda offers precision coating, high-speed dispensing, plasma cleaning, high precision laminating, and customized dispensing solutions. The company serves the PCBA, 3D glass, camera module, CCM, fingerprint module and semiconductor industries.
Karoly Peics, Managing Director at InterElectronic, will represent Anda's full line of high precision fluid dispensing equipment.
KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally friendly cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at SMTA International from Oct. 9-12, 2023, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota.
KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally friendly cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Guadalajara Expo and Tech Forum, scheduled to take place Oct. 25-26, 2023 at the Expo Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Seika Machinery, Inc., a leading provider of advanced machinery, materials and engineering services, is excited to announce its participation at SMTA Guadalajara, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 at Expo Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Transition Automation, Inc. is pleased to announce Squeegee Buddy, a new tool for SMT printer users to help improve process quality and organization.
SHENMAO America, Inc. is proud to introduce its latest innovation in response to the growing demand for ultra-thin packages in the electronics industry.


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One of the gating factors to financial inclusion is the mobile network itself. It sounds simple to say that all of Africa can have access to mobile money, and they can, but if each telco has different wallet structures, charges and fees, then the ease of usage falls sharply. This is why interoperability is a key factor and Tanzania leads the way in this regard.
In February this year, the three leading MNOs – Vodacom, Millicom’s Tigo and Airtel – announced full interoperability. Vodacom’s participation means that over 16 million mobile money users in Tanzania will be able to send payments to each other, regardless of which mobile operator they use. That is a key achievement, with the country claiming to be the first in Africa with full interoperability.
Will others follow? It remains to be seen.
Right now it’s a challenge with some countries actively encouraging inter- and intra- operator partnerships and agreements to enable domestic and cross-border mobile money transfers cheaply and easily …
Chart from Analysys Mason
…whilst others prohibit such activity, such as Nigeria. This is why, according to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa mobile financial inclusion varies immensely:
Percentage of population using a mobile money account, 2015
Sub-Saharan Africa average 11.5%
South Africa 14.4%
As can be seen, it varies widely and is a reflection of the regulatory structure and enthusiasm to adopt mobile wallets amongst the banks and MNOs. For example, in Tanzania, 25 banks are involved with the MNOs to allow mobile financial inclusion. The process has been supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has resulted in over half of Tanzania’s GDP moving through mobile wallets each month.
Compare that with Nigeria where 45% of the population have a mobile subscription and yet only 2.3% are using mobile money. Why?
Because not every country is the same. Just because mobile money can succeed in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda does not naturally mean it will succeed in Nigeria. Nigeria has a large unbanked population who aren’t aware of mobile money for example. Even though the Central Bank of Nigeria has introduced measures to encourage mobile financial inclusion, the introduction of mobile money in Nigeria has been bank-led, rather than MNO-led, and the banks have not done a great job of advertising the capability. For example, a survey by Philip Consulting last year found that over a third of Nigerians weren’t aware you could make payments by mobile and, of those who did, the trust in the network is low as Nigeria is first and foremost a cash-based economy. This is why many will not use electronic transactions but prefer to use informal financial providers called esusu, adasheand ajo.
As can be seen, Africa is not a big homogeneous land mass of all citizens using mobile money, but it is one where mobile money is taking off rapidly. In 2015, 82% of Africans have a mobile phone and, of those who do, 1 in 3 have a mobile wallet. These numbers are also rising rapidly and resulting in new competitive structures.
For example, seeing the success of M-Pesa led to Equity Bank in Kenya launching their own mobile network service Equitel, in partnership with Airtel, and offering better rates on payments, savings and transfers. This resulted in the operator of M-Pesa, Safaricom, launching a legal battle which they lost and then trying to block Equitel by charging high costs for transfer outside the M-Pesa network.
This is interesting as Safaricom were attacked by the banks during their start-up years for fear of fraud and fee losses. These fears were unjustified and resulted in the turnaround of the banks from fighting against M-Pesa to working with them to competing with it. Meanwhile, M-Pesa moved from offering basic mobile money transfers to full paperless banking services through M-Shwari.
It is fascinating to watch these changes in Africa, based upon mobile enabling all to use the network. It is not just based upon mobile network services however. More on this tomorrow. Meanwhile, just to wrap up, here’s a summary of mobile financial inclusion from Safaricom Vodafone.
Our M-Pesa mobile money transfer service offers people without a bank account access to financial services through their mobile phone, enhancing their ability to improve their lives and livelihoods.
M-Pesa was launched in 2007, enabling people to transfer small amounts of money to friends and family safely and affordably via their mobile phone. It is now a well-established part of our business with over 19.9 million active users1 in nine markets.
M-Pesa continues to evolve beyond traditional money transfer services, enabling people to save and borrow money, receive salaries and benefits, pay for goods and services and more. It also supports solutions that can improve lives and livelihoods in other areas such as Agriculture and Health.
Extending access to finance
M-Pesa is helping to extend access to financial services, particularly in markets where a high percentage of the population are ’unbanked’ – people who do not have access to a bank account.
Now well established in both Kenya and Tanzania, M-Pesa continues to have a strong and growing presence in Africa. Since 2013, it has been extended to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa.
In 2014/15, we completed our national rollout of M-Pesa in India, where 60% of adults are unbanked. We collaborated with ICICI Bank to support domestic money transfers that help migrant workers send money home to their families in a safe, secure and inexpensive way. This was also the first full year that M-Pesa has been available in Romania – its first European market – where 39% of the population do not have bank accounts2. The service offers access to mobile money transfer and payment services to approximately 7 million Romanians who rely mainly on cash transactions.
There are now 19.9 million active users of M-Pesa worldwide. In 2014/15, the number of active users increased by 18% and we processed 3.4 billion transactions, up 20% from 2013/14.
Investing in distribution agents and outlets is critical to the success and accessibility of M-Pesa. We have approximately 273,000 agents across all M-Pesa markets, extending access to mobile financial services as well as offering employment opportunities.
We are also investing in ambassador programmes to help new customers feel confident and comfortable using the service. In 2014/15, our ambassador programme in Tanzania helped to increase the number of women in our distribution network. So far, approximately 1,400 women have completed their training.
Developing new mobile money solutions
We are extending M-Pesa services beyond basic money transfers to enable people to save and borrow money, send and receive money internationally, make cash-free payments for goods and services, and receive salaries and government benefits securely, regardless of whether they have a bank account.
In a collaboration between Vodacom and the Commercial Bank of Africa, M-Pesa customers in Tanzania can now access interest-bearing savings accounts through a mobile money service known as M-Pawa. M-Pawa customers can take out small loans and earn interest on savings as small as one Tanzanian shilling (equivalent to around a thirtieth of a penny in the UK).
This builds on a similar product launched in 2013/14 in Kenya, known as M-Shwari, which now has 5.8 million active customers. In 2014/15, M-Shwari customers gained access to a new mobile savings plan, Lock Savings Account, which enables them to save money through a fixed deposit and earn higher rates of interest.
Merchants in Kenya and Tanzania can now accept payments for goods and services from their customers via their mobile phones using the M-Pesa Buy Goods functionality. The ability to receive payments through this service, known as Lipa Na M-Pesa in Kenya and Lip Kwa M-Pesa in Tanzania, makes business owners less susceptible to the risks of handling cash, such as theft and fake currency. People in Kenya can now also use M-Pesa to top up cashless travel cards for public transport.
Our M-Pesa International Money Transfer service continues to expand. People can now use the service to send and receive money directly from their M-Pesa accounts between Kenya and Tanzania. In addition, funds can be sent to M-Pesa accounts from a growing number of countries through our international remittance partners, such as MoneyGram and WorldRemit. Increasing mobile money transfers into developing economies supports economic and social development. It provides more choice for senders of cross-border money transfers and gives M-Pesa customers a cheaper, more convenient way to receive money.
Vodafone partnered with the National Rural Health Mission and Rural Employment Guarantee in 2014/15, to use M-Pesa to disburse much-needed government benefits in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand in India. In recognition of this work, M-Pesa was named ’most inclusive digital wallet’ and received the Financial Inclusion through Business Innovation Award at the 2015 BFSI Leadership Awards in Mumbai.
Chris Skinner is Chair of the European networking forum: the Financial Services Club. He is best known as an independent commentator on Fintech through his blog, and as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank and its new sequel ValueWeb.


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Goooood Morning Silicon Alley!
Get ready to wail and gnash your teeth: DogVacay, the L.A.-based “Airbnb for dogs” that allows you to board your dog with vetted hosts, has just raised a $15 million Series B, from investors including Foundation Capital, Benchmark and First Round Capital. This brings the company’s total raised to $22 million.
Over The Aereo
This is a guest post from Gary Sharma (aka “The Guy with the Red Tie”), founder and CEO of GarysGuide and proud owner of a whole bunch of black suits, white shirts and, at last count, over 40 red ties. You can reach him at gary [at] garysguide.com.
First things first: Mark your calendars for this Sunday March 31, when Game of Thrones returns for Season 3. Finally!
The city recently announced NYC BigApps 2013, the fourth annual BigApps competition, an ongoing series of software challenges to promote government transparency and innovative new technologies. It’s your chance to solve big issues with data and design and maybe win $150,000 in prizes. There are also a series of events planned, starting with the BigApps expo and hackathon at eBay next week, on April 6.
Kaplan and TechStars are partnering to launch the Kaplan EdTech Accelerator, a three-month intensive program for ten startups in New York City from June to September. What kindsof companies are they looking for? Apps, platforms, K-12, higher ed, professional ed, and everything in between. Deadline is April 14. You can apply here, and there’s an info session on April 2. Contact Phil Schwarz at firstname.lastname@example.org with any questions.
Teach Me How to Startup
Hey, look: It’s some actual news out of CES, which has absolutely nothing to do with Evernote-integrated refrigerators! New York-based, Barry Diller-backed TV-streaming service Aereo has been teasing an expansion for some time now, and in a speech today from CEO Chet Kanojia, the company made its move.
The service will roll out to 22 new cities, including Boston, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C, starting in the late spring. Aereo will continue its “Try for Free” program in each of the cities, so would-be cord-cutters can get a taste, but it’ll be invitation-only at first.
We thought for sure First Round would go with “Gangnam Style,” Silicon Valley favorite. But apparently, the spray-and-pray strategy favored by investors also applies to parodying viral hits. Hence the cost of doing business with First Round also means aping Bieber protégés. Gotta say, that production quality doesn’t look very “run super lean eat the ramen,” as the founder getting his head bopped on by someone else’s crotch croons.
If you’re wondering why some people say, “the past five years or so of startup mania has been insufferable and obnoxious and annoying,” here is one example.
Here’s a novel idea for flexing your consumerist impulses on Cyber Monday: organize your shopping by a company’s cap table. For Cyber Monday, First Round Capital, which specializes in ecommerce, has set a site that shows off exclusive deals from portfolio companies like Birchbox, Chloe & Isabel, Refinery 29, Hotel Tonight, UrbanSitter, TaskRabbit, DogVacay, One Kings Lane, and more.
Honestly, we’re surprised New York techies haven’t already set up a buy local site that encourages only shopping at startups for Christmas.
Smart pivots can pay off handsomely. Earlier this week, Percolate, a fast-growing New York City-based startup that helps brands curate content, announced a sizable Series A led by GGV Capital, the same Silicon Valley VC firm that backed Buddy Media, which was acquired by Salesforcefor a eye-popping $698 million. Existing investors First Round Capital and Lerer Ventures also participated in Percolate’s latest round.
Roughly a year ago, Percolate shrewdly changed its focus from helping users find the most relevant top stories toward a (more profitable!) service that helps brands figure out the most compelling content to push out to their followers–a process that starts by helping them interest graph, something that comes more naturally to humans.
First Round Capital has built a brand-new platform for startups seeking press coverage: HackPR, designed to connect them with journalists. The firm is hoping to replicate the same kind of buzz that made Warby Parker an e-commerce darling after an early profile in GQ. [TechCrunch]
Kids from Cornell got a tour of the New York startup scene yesterday. [New York Daily News]
Kleiner Perkins, Andreessen Horowitz and Google Ventures are all backing a startup called LendUp, which’ll make small loans (think $300) to people with poor credit. Basically, it’s an alternative to the traditional payday loan, with friendlier customer service. Good luck and God bless. [AllThingsD]
No, you’re not just imagining it: There are Meetups everywhere, all the time, for everything. You’re going to need to be strategic in your selection. [WYNC]
Please enjoy this cri de coeur against Instagram filters, which are basically photography training wheels. [Wired]
A scant seven months after Andreessen Horowitz “plowed” $40 million into Fab at a $200 million valuation, the pivot-happy flash sales site for design items just announced a massive Series C. The company closed a $105 million round led by Atomico, an international investment firm out of London run by Skype cofounder Niklas Zennström. The Wall Street Journal, which broke the news, says the new round values Fab at $600 million.
Yes, folks, that’s a 200 percent jump in valuation in seven months. We bet even Fab doesn’t sell a sleek-enough vessel to hold all that (theoretical) dough.
In a press release, Fab said ru-Net Technology Partners (RTP), the international fund backed by Russian billionaire Leonid Boguslavsky–with an office in New York City!–also participated. As did Palo Alto’s Pinnacle Ventures and DoCoMo Capital and Mayfield Fund. (It’s worth noting that Mayfield previously backed another flash sales venture, the troubled startup BuyWithMe, which was acquired by Gilt Groupe, the mother of flash sales sites, after major layoffs. Gilt Groupe, of course, later faced its own brutal round of layoffs.) Existing investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, First Round Capital, Menlo Ventures, and Baroda Ventures also participated.
While you were clinging to your A/C unit over the weekend, Newark mayor and Twitter addict Cory Booker was ushering his new startup out of stealth mode. The company, called #waywire, is a media platform that combines original and syndicated videos with relevant user-generated content from young adults about what’s important to them and their perspective on issues in the news.
Wait, didn’t Al Gore have the same idea in 2005?
“Traditional news sources aren’t in any way talking to millennials,” Mr. Booker tells TechCrunch. Perhaps the site can start with whether any young adult actually wants to be labeled a “millenial”?


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According to VICE News, Alejandro Cao de Benos, the head of the North Korean cryptocurrency conference and special representative of the Korean Culture Commission, said the digital currency has no name and will be "more like bitcoin or other cryptocurrency." And he said that the goal of developing cryptocurrencies is to "avoid international sanctions and circumvent the US-led global financial system."
In addition, there is currently no plan to digitize the Korean won in the country. However, the DPRK representative to the United Nations has neither confirmed nor denied Cao de Benos’s remarks. The spokesman said:
- The Central Bank Digital Currency Research Institute signed a contract with Huawei, and the legal digital currency went further?
- Monthly Report | September Domestic and Foreign Blockchain Policy: Virtual Currency Mining Supervision Strengthens Legal Digital Currency Multi-Country Support
- Comments | The "bottom logic" of the 2020 blockchain industry has changed
- In addition to physical delivery futures, what are the ambitions of Bakkt?
- The head exchange spoiled, but who did not solve the Staking pain point?
- Chip giant AMD joins blockchain game alliance to empower blockchain gaming
"I can't give you the answer."
“North Korea has shown a broad interest in cryptocurrencies, with expertise in encryption mining, attack exchanges, encryption hijacking, etc.,” said analyst Kayla Izenman.
“There is no doubt that they have the technical expertise to develop and utilize almost all cryptocurrencies, whether it means money laundering through foreign unregulated exchanges or creating nationalized cryptocurrencies for themselves.”
According to a United Nations report released last month by the United Nations, North Korean-backed hackers have accumulated more than $2 billion in legal and digital currencies in recent years to help develop the country’s weapons program. However, this argument was denied by the North Korean side.
It is currently unclear whether North Korea will issue the official legal digital currency of the country, like Venezuela and other countries.
Countries that issue legal digital currencies
After Venezuela became the world's first national legal digital currency, another country, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), announced that it will soon launch the blockchain legal digital currency, and Marshall may not be the last country to issue legal digital currency. The country has been secretly considered.
Since its inception, the Republic of the Marshall Islands has been using the US dollar and has no sovereign currency. On February 26, 2018, the Republic of the Marshall Islands passed the Sovereign Currency Act, announcing that it will introduce a new national digital currency SOV (full name Sovereign) based on blockchain technology.
In early September this year, the Minister of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, David Paul, said that the country's digital currency SOV would take about 18-24 months, and it might be officially launched in a shorter period of time. Anyone in the world can register on the booking website. Registration.
The Marshall Islands economy is very backward. It has long relied mainly on foreign aid. Its fiscal revenue mainly depends on loans and assistance from countries and international organizations such as the United States and Japan.
However, the issue of legal digital currency may not be the road to salvation in the Marshall Islands. In 2018, Venezuela charged and became the first country to issue a legal digital currency, Petropolis, and hopes that cryptocurrency will improve the country's hyperinflation and economic recession. But the country’s economy does not seem to have improved because of the oil coins. And the use of oil coins in the country has not been popularized, but Bitcoin has repeatedly hit a new high in Venezuela.
According to statistics from the Tradingeconomics website, inflation rates in Venezuela in March, April and May this year were as high as 329,568%, 329,568% and 815,194% respectively.
Source: Shallot blockchain


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Bangkok Bank progresses its digital roadmap by connecting online-offline platforms to provide customers with easy and smooth services while further extending its Counter Service to a 24-hour deposit-withdrawal service
Bangkok Bank is progressing its road map to create digital experiences by connecting online-offline platforms to provide customers with easy and smooth services. The bank has extended its banking agents through Counter Service to 12,500 7-Eleven stores nationwide which will provide a 24-hour deposit-withdrawal service. Customers can now make transactions via Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking and receive cash anywhere anytime even when there are not nearby branches or ATMs.
Bangkok Bank Executive Vice Presidents Prassanee Ouiyamaphan said the bank is determined to deliver good financial experiences across all channels to suit customers’ lifestyles and needs. To this end, the bank has developed various channels to support financial transactions including Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking which links to other channels, both online and offline, that customers can seamlessly use anytime, anywhere, enlarging their digital experience.
Bangkok Bank has now extended its banking agent services to provide convenient transactions across channels by providing Counter Service at 7-Eleven stores. The pilot of a cash deposit service via Counter Service last year was well received by customers and saw rapid growth in transaction volume, averaging 60% per month from the launch of the service, with more than 30% of these outside normal branch business hours. This demonstrated that the banking agents meet the needs of customers.
The bank has extended the trial to include cash withdrawals at Counter Service in 7-Eleven with Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking to provide convenient access to cash outside business hours and when there are no bank branch or ATM nearly. With the new service, customers can make cash withdrawals 24 hours a day.
“Despite the trend of digital banking, some customers still need to make cash transactions including when it’s urgent and outside business hours and there is no ATM nearby. This new service will also benefit customers with cash who need to make transactions digitally. As a trusted partner, the bank seeks solutions that meet the needs of cash and digital transactions in the most seamless manner. The collaboration with 7-Eleven to provide Counter Service at more than 12,500 stores nationwide will enable customers to access financial services 24 hours a day.
Counter Service Company Senior Executive Vice President Mr. Veeradej Akkarapolpanich confirmed that Counter Service is ready to provide the services by focusing on the development of modern technology and coverage of service channels to more than 12,500 Counter Service outlets in 7-Eleven stores nationwide.
“To make it easier for people in rural areas and those who don’t have time to visit a bank branch we are providing deposit and withdrawal services with an easy transaction process that meets the highest transaction security according to ISO 27001 standards. Customers can insert their Citizen ID and enter their account number. When the transaction is completed, the account balance will reflect the transaction in real time, complying with the Bank of Thailand and the Anti-money Laundering Office’s regulations in a highly efficient way.”
The 24-hour deposit-withdrawal service in Counter Service at 7-Eleven stores is available for deposits of 10 – 30,000 baht per transaction but not more than 100,000 baht per day per deposit account, provided that a depositor has a cash deposit limit of not more than 100,000 baht per day. Cash withdrawals are available from 100 – 5,000 baht with a maximum limit of 20,000 baht per day per account. Customers are required to present a Citizen ID or smart card for identification, hold a Bangkok Bank saving or current account and be able to use Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking for withdrawals. To make transactions, please inform the cashier staff at the 7-Eleven store, who will facilitate the transactions for customers and issue a transaction confirmation slip.


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Posts Tagged ‘VR virtual reality’
Recording of the presentations at the workshop available here:
Educause Nercomp 2019 conference workshop registration here: https://events.educause.edu/special-topic-events/nercomp-annual-conference/2019/agenda/xr-mission-possible-separate-registration-is-required
What Researchers Want Teachers to Know About Virtual Reality’s Health Risks
By Jenny Abamu Feb 16, 2018
with Google ramping up sales of its Expeditions Kit, and Facebook giving away 500 free Oculus Rift headsets to schools in Arkansas, the number of teachers using VR tools in U.S. classrooms could jump to more than 15 percent by 2021, predicts Futuresource, a market research firm.
A recent study was done by Children and Virtual Reality, a collaboration between researchers, VR companies, universities and health organizations, found that using VR tools could have significant health impacts on children.
What the researchers found in the third phase of the study, published last October, was that usage of VR headsets could impact a child’s vision, balance and spatial awareness
more on VR in this IMS blog
zSpace is a technology firm based in Sunnyvale, California that combine elements of virtual and augmented reality in a computer. zSpace allows people to interact with simulated objects in virtual environments as if they are real.
zSpace is known for its progressive developments in human-computer interaction.
Give your students the chance to learn science in an engaging and effective way with Labster’s virtual labs.
Labster offers students a true-to-life lab experience at a fraction of the cost of a real lab.
You can supplement your teaching with virtual labs to prepare your students for the wet lab, to help them understand difficult concepts, to engage them with your science course, and more.
n our virtual lab simulations, students work through real-life case stories, interact with lab equipment, perform experiments and learn with theory and quiz questions.
Thanks to engaging 3D animations, students can explore life science at the molecular level and look inside the machines they are operating. https://www.labster.com/why-choose-labster/
Integrates with D2L and the major LMS
Unity Technologies to Go Public in 2020 (Report) https://t.co/yxuL4XKq2a pic.twitter.com/sc32aWxiqt
— Variety Gaming (@Variety_Gaming) February 11, 2019
6 Key Trends to 21st Century Teaching
Colleges around the country have also started hiring staff members with titles like OER Coordinator and Affordable Content Librarian. Our series looked into how the movement is changing, and the research into the costsand benefits. You can even hear a podcast version here.
Flipped classrooms seem to be growing exponentially
Robert Talbert, a professor of mathematics at Grand Valley State University and author of the book Flipped Learning. Talbert recently tabulated how many scholarly articles are published each year about “flipping” instruction, meaning that traditional lecture-style material is delivered before class (often using videos) so that classroom time can be used for discussion and other more active learning.
More professors are looking to experts to help them teach. (Though some resist.)
By 2016, there were an estimated 13,000 instructional designers on U.S. campuses, according to a report by Intentional Futures. And that number seems to be growing.
There’s also a growing acceptance of the scholarly discipline known as “learning sciences,” a body of research across disciplines of cognitive science, computer science, psychology, anthropology and other fields trying to unlock secrets of how people learn and how to best teach.
here’s a classic study that shows that professors think they’re better teachers than they actually are
The classroom isn’t the only place to learn
experiments with putting office hours online to get students to show up, bringing virtual reality to science labs to broaden what students could explore there, and changing how homework and tests are written.
Students are also finding their own new ways to learn online, by engaging in online activism. The era of a campus bubble seems over in the age of Twitter
Colleges are still struggling to find the best fit for online education
We dove into what lessons can be learned from MOOCs, as well what research so far about which audiences online can best serve.
And what does it mean to teach an age of information overload and polarization?
Perhaps the toughest questions of all about teaching in the 21st century is what exactly is the professor’s role in the Internet age. Once upon a time the goal was to be the ‘sage on the stage,’ when lecturing was king. Today many people argue that the college instructor should be more of a ‘guide on the side.’ But as one popular teaching expert notes, even that may not quite fit.
And in an era of intense political polarization, colleges and professors are looking for best to train students to become digitally literate so they can play their roles as informed citizens. But just how to do that is up for debate, though some are looking for a nonpartisan solution.
7 Best VR Education Apps
Lauren Barack June 19 2018 Visit Mars, swim with sea otters and trek to Mt. Everest’s Base Camp
Victory VR is known for its science curriculum which is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.
The BBC Earth: Life in VR app works on Google Daydream devices, like the new Lenovo Mirage Solo
Google Expeditions Android and iOS app is a virtual field trip that uses a Google Cardboard viewer.
Unimersiv is in the business of educational experiences — works on both Samsung Gear VR and the Oculus Rift, and takes viewers underwater to explore the Titanic and to one of our closest planets through the “Mars: Curiosity Rover,” app
Discovery VR app. The app works on nearly every single VR platform: Google Daydream, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Google Cardboard viewers using both iOS and Android devices.
Merge Cube is a $15 foam block
The Apollo 11 VR app. work with HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR, and also Oculus Go
How To Get Any Android App Running On A Daydream Standalone VR Headset
IAN HAMILTONMAY 10TH, 2018
more on Daydream in this IMS blog
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Wipro: Software major WiproBSE 0.17 % on Tuesday offered a new IoT-based solution for wind parks and wind turbine manufacturers that leverages the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Windpark Manager 4.0.
Hero MotoCorp: The company on Tuesday informed bourses that a meeting of the board of directors is scheduled to be held on March 07, to consider declaration of interim dividend for the financial year 2016-17.
Amtek Auto: Troubled auto components maker Amtek AutoBSE 2.89 % is planning to raise Rs 117.5 crore by issuing equity shares to promoters on a preferential basis for which it will seek shareholders’ approval.
Reliance Infrastructure: Defence sector will be the largest business area for Reliance Infra in the next few years, its chairman Anil Ambani has said, seeing opportunities worth Rs 1 lakh crore per annum in acquisitions for the armed forces.
Reliance Industries: Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJio), a subsidiary of RILBSE 0.01 %, has collaborated with electronics giant Samsung to further improve its quality of LTE (4G) services in India, including wider coverage and revved-up network speeds.
Prism Cement: Rajan Raheja Group-promoted Prism CementBSE 5.93 % said it has secured supply of 18,300 tonnes per annum of coal from state-owned CIL arm Southern Eastern Coalfields Ltd.
Majesco: Majesco on Tuesday announced the launch of two new solutions, Majesco Enterprise Data Model and Majesco Enterprise Data Warehouse. These solutions along with Majesco Data Services and Majesco Business Analytics, provide a framework and assets to create a path for insurers to accelerate their data mastery maturity to achieve business differentiation and optimisation through data.
Tata Teleservices: Tata Sons and NTT Docomo proposed a resolution to the Delhi High Court on settling a dispute over the $1.17 billion due to the Japanese telco for exiting their joint venture, Tata TeleservicesBSE 15.21 %, ending two years of public acrimony.
D-Link (India): D-Link has announced their partnership in delivering mydlink Business, a cloud-based device management platform featuring ease, value, and scalability for small and medium-sized businesses. The business cloud platform is specifically designed to suit the operation and workflow models of system integrators, value-added resellers, and telcos/ISPs.
NHPC: State-run hydro power generator NHPCBSE 1.32 % today said it will buy back over 81 crore equity shares at Rs 32.25 apiece totalling about Rs 2,616 crore.


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According to reports the Grande Centre Point which will be the hotel attached to the new shopping mall Terminal 21 will not be selling alcohol.
The hotel is due to open this October with a total of 400 rooms for occupancy but has been reported might have put a lot of people off because they just announced a no booze policy which will be applied to all the hotels in the Grande Centre Point Group. This may not be a great move for the hotel chain as there is the same one in Bangkok with the same name that is getting a lot of criticism and bad reviews on TripAdvisor due to the no booze policy.
Kitti Worrabanpott, the managing director of LH Mall & Hotel stated earlier this month that building the shopping mall and hotel is said to be a minimum worth of 6 billion baht in total and is planning it to have the same reputation as the one in Bangkok also adding that he is hoping that the hotel would have at least 85% of occupancy in the first year of opening. Though the price of the rooms are only at 7,000 baht per night, tourist and visitors may as well stay somewhere with the full package, because the sales coordinator for the Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21 in bangkok has confirmed that the same policy that is being used in Bangkok would be in used in Pattaya as well stating “our hotel will not serve or provide alcohol to the guests but guests can bring their own. Regarding the restaurants at our hotel and guest rooms, we will allow guests to drink and bring in their own alcohol.”
Chaiyo Pansa, Duty manager at the Grande Centre Point Terminal 21 in Bangkok also confirming on the topic stated in an email to Thaivisa stating “all the Grande Centre Point hotel group will not sell or provide alcoholic beverages at all, however, guests are allowed to bring in their own”. He also adds in the email regarding corkage charges, “the restaurant at our hotel (Grand Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21 (Bangkok) allows guests to bring in their own alcoholic beverages. There is no corkage charge for that. In the restaurant and guest room, drinking is allowed.”


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February 18th, 2008
From the wealth of online posts, looks as if Director 11 will be here tomorrow…and it might look like this (thanks Wolfgang).
Adobe next month will release Director 11, an update to its graphics assembly, that it hopes will lure game developers with its better 3D imaging.
Adobe is expected to detail the latest features of Director at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on Tuesday.
Director 11 is used to build games, as well as graphics-rich presentations, and learning applications. It uses the Shockwave plug-in to render 3D graphics.
The latest version includes physics, or movement between images, using the Ageia PhysX engine and support for DirectX 9, which can take advantage of recent graphics cards.
It will make it easier for designers to create more realistic 3D images, such as colliding cars on a racing game, said Rick Jones, senior product marketing manager at Adobe. The inclusion of Flash Player 9 enables the inclusion of animations and slick graphics for things like game menus.
When Adobe releases Director 11 next month, the price will be $999, rather than $1,199, which is the cost of the current version. Upgrades are $299 and a new student edition is available for $99.
And from the Adobe Director support forums, skiplondon has posted the following, so be sure to get your questions to him:
We are out in San Francisco for the announcement of new version of Director which will be coming from Adobe tomorrow. We will be reporting on this and sitting down with all the people on the Adobe Director team.
If you would like to have me ask them any questions for you, please email me at director @ magicgate . com . You only have about 24 hours left to submit your questions. These will be aired on our next episode of the Director Podcast hopefully on Wednesday morning.
If you wish to hear older episodes of our show, you can go to http://director.magicgate.com
Thanks for that Skip, I’ll be looking forward to the next Podcast!


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Apple’s iPad market share has slipped to less than 30%, its lowest since launch in 2010, allowing its biggest rival Samsung to catch up.
By moving its iPad release event from earlier in the year to November, the lack of a new iPad models has allowed rivals Samsung, Asus, Lenovo and Acer grow, pushing Apple’s global tablet market share to below 30% for the first time in the third quarter of 2013, down from 40.2% year on year according to new data from research firm IDC.
The Android threat
“Apple’s tablet market share decline was inevitable because it solely targets the premium segment of the market,” said Tim Coulling senior analyst with research firm Canalys talking to the Guardian.
While Apple shipped 14.1m iPads, claiming 29.6% of the market in the quarter, Android tablet manufacturers Samsung, Asus, Lenovo and Acer all saw large growth. Apple’s arch rival Samsung shipped 9.7m tablets alone, securing a 20.4% chunk of the device market share in Q3 - a 123% year-on-year growth.
“The biggest threat to Apple’s tablet market share are the low cost Android tablets - Apple essentially doesn’t compete in the low end,” Coulling said.
The days of a 50% share are gone
Apple is attempting to expand its tablet customer base with previous generation products kept on at lower price points, however, according to IDC’s Jitesh Ubrani.
"With two 7.9-inch models starting at $299 and $399, and two 9.7-inch models starting at $399 and $499, Apple is taking steps to appeal to multiple segments,” said Ubrani.
With the new iPad Air due for release on 1 November, and the high-resolution iPad mini with retina display set to join it on sale later in November, Apple’s tablet market share is expected to recover to some extent, but “the days of Apple’s 50% tablet share are gone, and no amount of product refreshes are likely to change that,” Coulling explained.
Data from UK electronics recycler SellMyMobile.com shows that the unveiling of the iPad Air triggered a large 585% surge in the number of tablet trade-ins, with 38% of those surveyed specifically trading in their existing tablet to fund the purchase of the new full-sized Apple tablet.
Apple doesn't chase market share
Apple’s ownership of the overall tablet market share isn’t necessarily as significant for the company as it might be for others, however, as long as the iPad still maintains a strong position at the premium end.
Apple specifically targets high value consumers, as they spend more money on content and services than any other segment, generating significant revenue though the company’s iTunes and App Store ecosystem.
“Apple doesn’t chase market share. Its business is all about revenue and margin over volume, which is something very different to the other tablet manufacturers, who mostly operate on very thin margins and attempt to make it up in volume,” concluded Coulling.
That point has been hammered home by Apple execs during recent press launches. Chief executive Tim Cook hailed iPad's 81% "usage share" in the tablet market at the recent unveiling of its new models as "over four times more than all of those other tablets put together, and this is what is important to us... It’s not about quantity. It’s about quality."
Tablets still growing
Overall, global tablet shipments increased by 36.7%, with third quarter tablet shipments totalling to 34.8m. The fourth quarter is expected to see dramatically increased tablet sales as we head into the Christmas gifting period, where tablets are anticipated to be even more popular than last year.
In the UK, Europe’s biggest tablet market for instance, the tablet category has exploded in the last few years, with tablet sales dominating in the run up to Christmas. According to data from research firm CCS Insight, 8.3m tablets were sold in the UK in 2012, with more than half of sales coming in the last quarter of the year alone. 2013 is anticipated to mirror that increased demand in Q4.


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It has been a little over a month since Coloradans approved a groundbreaking law legalizing small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. Now that the celebratory haze has settled, state officials and marijuana advocates began sifting through the thorny regulatory questions that go beyond merely lighting up.
Tens of thousands of people will attend Saturday's "4/20" rally in Denver, creating perhaps the largest collectively produced cloud of marijuana smoke ever at 4:20 p.m. But Lopez doesn't view this year's event as a celebration of Amendment 64, the pro-pot measure that voters passed in November. Instead, it is as much a protest against the measure. "It is still only a legislative act to create an economy and not to end a war that has destroyed thousands of lives." The people behind Amendment 64, likewise, are holding the rally at arm's length.
Vigorous regulation of a thriving medical-marijuana industry in Colorado offers the best glimpse of what is coming to Washington when it launches its voter-approved social-use market. With continuous surveillance, bar-coded plants and strict financial background checks, Colorado's rules allowed capitalism to be unleased, creating an instant $200 million industry. With retail prices — averagingabout $7.50 a gram — among the cheapest in the country.
Colorado's Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force is wading through the weeds of marijuana legalization, creating regulations to take pot from the shadows out into the open. In the wake of the decision by voters in Colorado last November to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, the question of how to integrate legal pot into the practical bureaucratic realities has fallen on two dozen Coloradans. By the end of the month, the Task Force must submit a report to the Colorado Legislature that lays out its suggestions for how the state should regulate legal marijuana.
The United States must not turn a blind eye to the recreational use of cannabis in states that liberalize drug laws, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) said, urging the country to live up to its treaty commitments. Raymond Yans, president of the INCB, said assurances from the U.S. government in December that growing, selling or possessing the drug remained illegal under federal law were "good, but insufficient".
The cannabis industry is an easy target for legislatures to saddle with heavy taxes. In Washington State for instance, there is a 25% tax at three different stages of cannabis production: from the grower to the processor, from the processor to the retailer, and the retailer to the customer. These taxes are in addition to any other state or local sales taxes that might apply. Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer, for instance, has introduced marijuana reform legislation that would enact a 50% excise tax on production.
In the summer of 2010, after legislators passed a law legitimizing dispensaries, there were 1,117 medical-marijuana businesses in Colorado. By the end of that year, as a "green rush" of cannabis entrepreneurs reached its apex, the total ticked up to 1,131. Today, there are 675. In terms of sheer numbers, Colorado's medical-marijuana industry has shrunk by more than 40 percent.
A Colorado marijuana innovation is changing the way lawmakers in even the most conservative parts of the country talk about cannabis and is poised to create a rapid expansion in the number of states that have legalized marijuana in some way. But many marijuana advocates view the new political campaign with skepticism, fearing it could halt their movement's momentum. Taken to its logical conclusion, medical marijuana could be a "box canyon" for broader legalization efforts.
The cry of "states' rights" is not often associated with progressive causes, but with the "war on drugs" comprehensively declared a $1tn failure by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, the call has reason and justice on its side. Will the feds carry their fight against the voices expressing popular will from California to Colorado, Washington State and beyond? Or will the White House temper its approach with respect for local democracy?
While it seems unlikely that the federal government will make much of an effort to arrest pot users in Colorado or Washington—Obama has said he has “bigger fish to fry”— the tension between federal and state laws on marijuana remains. Just last week, an appeals court rejected a suit that sought to lower the classification of medical marijuana under federal drug laws. Justice Louis Brandeis once said that the states should function as “laboratories,” testing new ideas for possible adoption by the whole nation.
Lawmakers introduced a long-awaited bill of proposed regulations for recreational marijuana, moving Colorado one step closer to a legal pot marketplace. The 57-page bill — House Bill 1317 — contains most of the ideas endorsed by a special legislative committee for how recreational marijuana businesses should operate and be structured. A second bill, House Bill 1318, lays out a proposed tax structure for marijuana that voters would be asked to approve.
A set of laws to govern how recreational marijuana should be grown, sold and taxed was signed into law Tuesday in Colorado, where Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper called the measures the state's best attempt to navigate the uncharted territory of legalized recreational pot. The laws cover how the drug should be raised and packaged, with purchasing limits for out-of-state visitors and a new marijuana driving limit as an analogy to blood alcohol levels. (See also: Highlights of Colorado's new marijuana laws)
Nearly a year ago, Washington and Colorado legalized recreational marijuana sales. Now it’s time to regulate them. The two states have taken slightly different approaches. Washington’s are slightly more restrictive. There will be limits on the number of sellers’ licenses available there, keeping plants for personal use is not allowed and advertising is restricted to 1,600 square inches (about a meter squared). Colorado has already begun accepting licenses without a cap, cultivation for personal use is allowed and stores could open as soon as January.
Nearly a year after Colorado and Washington State voted to become the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, the detailed rules governing how pot will be grown, sold and taxed are finally complete. And as the two states implement their different approaches, the whole world is watching. This week, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced a new panel, headed by California Lieut. Governor Gavin Newsom, to draft a possible 2016 ballot measure to legalize pot in California.
Hawaii could join Colorado and Washington as states that have legalized the use of marijuana by adults, under a measure introduced by state House Speaker Joe Souki. House Bill 150, known as the Personal Use of Marijuana Act, would allow adults 21 years of age and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and to cultivate a limited number of marijuana plants in a secure and locked location. It also would allow for licensed and regulated marijuana retail stores, as well as licensed facilities to cultivate, manufacture and test marijuana. (Related story: Hawaii residents support legalizing marijuana, survey finds)
Legal cannabis will naturally be much, much cheaper than illegal cannabis. A joint is the same sort of item as a teabag: the dried flowers of a plant in a wrapper. A fancy teabag costs a dime at the supermarket; the marijuana in an average joint costs about $4 (0.4 gram of sinsemilla flowers @ $10/gram) on the current illicit and quasi-medical markets. The combination of not having to worry about law enforcement and the economies of mass production will inevitably drive the joint price down close to the teabag price.
Prohibitionists warn that it’s dangerous even to discuss legalizing marijuana because such talk sends “the wrong message” to the youth of America, encouraging them to smoke pot. If so, you might expect that the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, approved by voters more than a year ago, would have a noticeable impact on marijuana use by teenagers. Yet the latest data from the government-sponsored Monitoring the Future Study indicate that teenagers continued smoking pot at pretty much the same rates as before.


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Q&A: Does the AT&T/DirecTV merger make sense?
AT&T, better known for its wireless network, is going all-in on the TV business by proposing to buy DirecTV for $48.5 billion.
After weeks of negotiation, the companies' executives are now selling the deal as a tie-up of two companies with complementary product lines that could be mixed and matched for a wide range of bundled packages.
Like other mergers of this size, the transaction poses complex issues to consider for consumers and the regulators who will have to OK or nix the proposal. Here are some key questions:
Q: AT&T and DirecTV seem to be very different companies. What's the rationale for the merger?
A: Fast-changing technology and AT&T's need for gaining customers quickly.
AT&T has a lot of good businesses going for it — it is the nation's second-largest wireless carrier, and it has the limited but growing U-verse unit that offers landline Internet and pay-TV delivered mostly via its fiber-optic lines.
U-verse has about 11 million customers in only 22 states, including 5.7 million who subscribe to pay-TV. Expanding fiber-optic lines is expensive, as are the marketing and sales tactics needed to woo customers away from competitors.
With this deal, AT&T gains 20 million customers nationwide who pay about $100 a month each. With DirecTV's satellites able to reach rural areas, AT&T would no longer face geographical limits in its ability to sell TV.
AT&T is also responding strategically to the new TV revolution, with customers increasingly watching live-TV streamed on their phones and tablets. AT&T is telling Wall Street that it sees DirecTV as the best-in-class TV deliverer with comprehensive programming rights — especially NFL Sunday Ticket games — and expertise in licensing and user-experience.
For DirecTV, it gains a parent with distribution points in crucial technologies, particularly in broadband and wireless Internet.
Q: What will happen to NFL Sunday Ticket?
A: DirecTV's exclusive contract with the NFL to broadcast all its games live is the company's crown jewel and a big reason why AT&T went hard after it.
The contract expires at the end of the upcoming season. But DirecTV CEO Mike White said Monday he's confident his company will have renewed the arrangement by the end of the year. AT&T says it has an option to walk away from the merger if DirecTV can't renew "substantially on the terms discussed between" the parties.
AT&T won't say if it'll make NFL Sunday Ticket available to its U-Verse customers. But it doesn't seem far-fetched to speculate that AT&T will try to find a way to deliver NFL games wirelessly — streaming on Wi-Fi or on the cellular network — and charge you for the service. Demand for NFL games is no joke.
Q: Will my bill rise as cable and satellite TV companies get larger?
A: The cable (or satellite) bill likely will never drop. Prices will continue to rise. But AT&T — and Comcast, which is buying Time Warner Cable — would argue that they will have more leverage in their negotiations with content providers — ESPN for example — and could curtail the rate of increase in programming costs that they say are passed onto consumers.
DirecTV said Sunday the post-merger company will offer DirecTV's TV service on a stand-alone basis at current prices for "at least three years" after the deal closes.
Q: Does this mean AT&T will cut back its U-verse investment?
A: It doesn't look like that way, for now. AT&T promises to expand broadband Internet by 15 million homes and offices to reach 70 million within four years of the transaction's close. It'll use a combination of transmission methods.
In the markets where it's financially viable, AT&T plans to install more fiber-optic lines. In more rural areas, it'll use the wireless "local loop" technology, utilizing a direct radio connection between your home and a nearby antenna tower that receives broadband Internet from the local AT&T exchange.
Q: Will federal regulators approve the deal?
A: The companies face a tough battle, especially given the explosion of opposition to media consolidation unleashed in the wake of Comcast's announcement it was buying Time Warner Cable. Shares of both AT&T and DirecTV fell Monday as investors wonder if the deal makes sense.
But others argue that AT&T is a marginal player in pay-TV and the merger would not threaten competition. Harry S. Davis, a commercial litigation lawyer at Schulte Roth & Zabel, thinks the merger will pass regulatory muster, though the companies may be required to divest assets and consumers, particularly in areas where they both have customers. "Ultimately, I believe they will conclude that, at worst, it'll have a neutral effect on consumers," he said. "It could result in reduced prices to the extent that there is some buyer power that gets exercised over content providers."
Regulators will review Comcast's deal and AT&T's proposal at the same time, Davis said. And, he added, they may conclude that the larger AT&T will provide a "strong counterweight" to the post-merger Comcast.


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Is Original BARK a Buy After Reporting Q2 Earnings Results?
Dog-focused company Original BARK’s (BARK) shares suffered a price decline after the company reported second-quarter earnings, even though its revenue increased. So, is it wise to add the stock to...
Dog-focused company Original BARK’s (BARK) shares suffered a price decline after the company reported second-quarter earnings, even though its revenue increased. So, is it wise to add the stock to one’s portfolio now based on its strategic collaborations? Let’s find out.
The shares of New York City-based Omnichannel dog-centric company, the Original BARK Company (BARK) climbed in price after the company made its stock market debut on June 2, 2021. It had merged with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Northern Star Acquisition Corp., to facilitate its IPO. And in July 2021, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation and BARK, the maker of BarkBox, announced a second collaboration featuring two “pawsome” new dog toys.
For its fiscal second quarter, ended September 30, 2021, BARK’s revenue came in at $120.16 million, up 39.1% year-over-year. However, the company’s adjusted net loss increased 711.2% year-over-year to $11.03 million. In comparison, its adjusted EBITDA was negative $8.78 million compared to a $1.07 million gain in the year-ago period. Its shares have declined 16.8% in price since the earnings release on November 10.
Furthermore, the stock has lost more than 14% over the past three months to close yesterday’s trading session at $6.20. According to a report from The Zebra, 38.4% of American households own a dog. Dog ownership has increased amid the pandemic, with people spending more time at home. However, with the gradual economic recovery and several offices reopening, dog ownership growth might slow in the coming months. Moreover, high shipping costs are expected to harm BARK’s business in the near term, so its prospects look bleak.
Here are the factors that could shape BARK’s performance in the upcoming months:
Increased Scrutiny on SPACs
SPACs have exploded in popularity, especially since last year. According to Statista, as of October 2021, SPACs had raised capital in 498 IPOs this year. However, SPACs are now getting hit by class-action lawsuits. According to data from Woodruff Sawyer, shareholder lawsuits against post-merger SPACs rose to 15 through the first half of 2021, tripling from just five in 2020.
Furthermore, in September 2021, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) advisory committee endorsed rule changes to increase disclosure regulations for SPACs. So, this could impact BARK’s business too.
Unimpressive Management Guidance
BARK’s management expects the company’s revenue to be between $137 - $139 million for its fiscal third quarter. Also, due to uncertainty surrounding the macro freight and shipping environment, it anticipates a roughly 2% risk to $516 million revenue guidance it initially provided in December 2020 for fiscal 2022.
Moreover, BARK revised its fiscal 2022 adjusted EBITDA guidance to negative $38-$40 million, from approximately negative $31 million, due to greater-than-expected shipping and fulfillment costs.
In terms of trailing-12-month EBITDA margin, BARK’s negative 11.65% is lower than the 12.52% industry average. Likewise, the stock’s negative trailing-12-month net income margin and levered FCF margin are lower than the 6.40% and 6.47% respective industry averages. In addition, its trailing-12-month ROCE, ROTC, and ROTA are negative compared to the 17.64%, 7.65%, and 6.26% respective industry averages.
POWR Ratings Reflect Bleak Prospects
BARK has an overall F rating, which equates to a Strong Sell in our POWR Ratings system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 distinct factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight distinct categories. BARK has a D grade for Stability, consistent with its 1.04 beta.
The stock has a D grade for Quality, which is in sync with its lower-than-industry profitability ratios. BARK has a D grade for Growth, which is consistent with analysts’ expectation that its EPS will remain negative this year and next year.
Furthermore, BARK has an F grade for Value, which is in sync with its 1.73x and 2.12x respective forward EV/S and P/S, which are higher than the 1.49x and 1.30x industry averages.
BARK is currently trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $6.70 and $8.58, respectively, indicating a downtrend. Analysts expect its EPS to remain negative in the coming quarters. Furthermore, higher freight costs resulting from worldwide shipping congestion could lead to increased expenses for the company. So, we think the stock is best avoided now.
How Does Original BARK (BARK) Stack Up Against its Peers?
While BARK has an overall POWR Rating of F, one could check out these other stocks within the Specialty Retailers industry with an A (Strong Buy) rating: The Cato Corporation (CATO), Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (CDNAF), and Conn's, Inc. (CONN).
BARK shares rose $0.06 (+0.97%) in premarket trading Thursday. Year-to-date, BARK has declined -56.73%, versus a 26.78% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
About the Author: Manisha Chatterjee
Since she was young, Manisha has had a strong interest in the stock market. She majored in Economics in college and has a passion for writing, which has led to her career as a research analyst.
The post Is Original BARK a Buy After Reporting Q2 Earnings Results? appeared first on StockNews.com
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In what’s become quite a trend for the holidays among celebrities, Premiere Networks syndicated personality Glenn Beck is the latest to pay off layaways for a bunch of folks. Beck coughed up $27,000 for layaway items at a North Richland Hills Walmart in Texas on Saturday, December 8, just two days before the final payments were due.
Beck said he was inspired by actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, who paid off all the layaway accounts at two Atlanta Walmart stores, to the tune of more than $430,000. Beck and his family, who were on their way to a Christmas party, broadcast via Facebook Live as they walked into Walmart and met with the layaway department to pay each account individually. In the video, Beck challenged other conservative media personalities, including Mark Levin, Steven Crowder, and Bill O’Reilly, to do the same.
“You don’t have to spend the money that Tyler Perry or I spent,” Beck told his radio listeners on Monday. “You can just go in and just give $100, or $50, or $10. You are not going to believe what a difference it makes.”


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"India's Hopes Under Rohit Sharma"
Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India aims to become a formidable team at home, reminiscent of their 2011 World Cup victory.
"Fans Struggle to Secure Tickets"
Cricket enthusiasts faced difficulties in purchasing tickets for the upcoming World Cup, raising questions about their chances to witness history in their own city.
"BCCI's Unconventional Ticketing Approach"
The BCCI initially required fans to buy series tickets in person, which drew criticism in the digital age of "Digital India."
Fans using the "BookMyShow" online platform had to endure long wait times and the possibility of reapplying if they accidentally hit the back button.
"Allegations of Ticket Manipulation"
Fans alleged that the internet ticketing system was manipulated to show early wickets, potentially benefiting the wealthy.
"Venkatesh Prasad's Bold Criticism"
Former player Venkatesh Prasad criticized the BCCI for their handling of ticket distribution, emphasizing the importance of fan support.
"A Call for Transparency"
Prasad urged the BCCI to make the ticket sales process transparent and ensure a sufficient number of tickets are available for high-demand matches, like India vs. Pakistan.
ICC 2023 World Cup: A Fan's Anticipation
The ICC 2023 World Cup, set to begin on October 5 in India, has fans eagerly awaiting the cricketing extravaganza
"Prioritizing Fans Over Corporates"
Prasad emphasized the importance of keeping cricket fans happy rather than prioritizing corporate interests and members.
"Supporting Cricket's Heartbeat: The Fans"
As the ICC 2023 World Cup approaches, it's crucial to remember that the heartbeat of cricket lies with its passionate fans, who deserve a fair chance to witness the action.


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March 21st, 2007
Ener1, Inc. (ENEI) closed today at $0.23 with 17,300 shares traded.
Ener1, Inc. announced this month that its EnerDel subsidiary will be making a technical presentation on lithium ion battery development at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference Ener1, Inc. in Long Beach, California May 15 - 18 this year. The company also announced this month that it deliveredlithium ion battery cells for the next phase of testing by an independent laboratory. The company stated that it "expects that the performance of these cells will further improve on the results that were recently announced in February."
Ener1, Inc. is an alternative energy technology company engaging in the development of lithium ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles. Ener1, Inc through strategic partnerships with Delphi, ITOCHU and EnerStruct they develop commercial fuel cell products and nanotechnology-based materials for use in batteries.
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Novel gene therapy shows potential for lung repair in asthma May 18th, 2016


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The increasing use of smartphones has drastically impacted the consumer's path to purchase — and the momentum continues.
Walmart’s house brands are getting a new audience — millennials.
Nordstrom is taking new designers under its wing, and giving them some “space” for exposure.
A disruptive retail climate and underperforming categories took their toll on HSN during the fourth quarter.
The Limited is in line to get a new lease on life.
Apple has set the opening date for its years-in-the-making, highly anticipated new home office, which is located in the company's hometown of Cupertino, California.
Payment card fees are a sore subject for the retail industry — especially with the possibility that a settlement is being revisited by parties seeking an appeal.
Tighter inventory management and reduced promotions are helping to keep Chico’s FAS on the right financial path.
Better control over pricing and inventory helped boost Havertys fourth quarter earnings, beating analyst expectations.
Lowe’s is the latest retailer making job cuts.


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Asset-Sharing Platform and Network Optimization Solution Will Aid Logistics Providers
Crowley, a global transportation and logistics provider, announced today a venture investment in REPOWR, a logistics-technology start-up, bringing a technology platform for equipment and asset usage and sharing to the supply chain industry. The platform enables companies to seamlessly share logistics equipment, increasing performance while reducing the environmental impact of ownership. Through the partnership, the companies will advance sustainable solutions for supply chain management for a wider market.
REPOWR has developed the collaborative asset-sharing platform, connecting logistics companies with more data and analytics to reduce underutilized assets. The platform and its Universal Trailer Network have gained significant traction in domestic trucking, and under REPOWR’s strategy, even greater network effects will be achieved as the platform is applied across other transportation modes.
Through this partnership, Crowley will enable REPOWR to accelerate the diversification and expansion of its asset-sharing model, empowering international logistics businesses to share assets with the same ease and security as their domestic counterparts. The partnership also enables Crowley to explore new network opportunities by leveraging REPOWR’s platform and expertise.
“We are excited to partner with REPOWR to integrate our asset network with others on the platform to create sustainable solutions for our customers, said Tom Crowley, company Chairman and CEO. “Our investment in REPOWR advances Crowley’s commitment to sustainability and further solidifies innovation as part of our strategic growth. This collaboration is a significant step towards the future of sustainable and efficient logistics.”
The two companies recently completed a successful pilot where Crowley leveraged the REPOWR platform to rebalance chassis pools across its network while generating revenue and strengthening relationships with existing carrier partners. Crowley increased network efficiencies and asset utilization, highlighting the opportunity this partnership affords for supply chains globally.
“As a young company, we are thrilled to partner with a company that has led our industry with such impressive class and innovation for well over a century,” said Patrick Visintainer, CEO of REPOWR. “Our early success with Crowley is a wonderful springboard to further network optimization, and we look forward to helping them and other companies with whom they network with on the REPOWR platform to realize maximum asset utilization.”