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Business leaders hope the new Rediscover Your Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire campaign will bring a welcome boost to the north-east’s hospitality and tourism industries.
VisitAberdeenshire launched the initiative to coincide with the further easing of lockdown, which allows people to travel more freely to local restaurants, hotels and tourism businesses.
It is encouraging locals to explore the attractions on their doorstep, rediscovering old stomping grounds and finding areas they may never have visited before. However, it also stresses the importance of visiting these places in a responsible manner and following social distancing rules.
With the campaign now under way, leading city figures have shown their support for its launch.
Stephen Gow, vice-chairman of the Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association, said: “The hospitality industry, along with many other industries, has suffered a complete loss of income since March this year. It is essential that now we are able to open our businesses – albeit in a very limited manner – we gain as much support as we can locally.
“The north-east of Scotland is full of great businesses and for these to survive we need to ensure both locals and near neighbours feel safe and confident in the measures that have been put in place, to encourage them to use these businesses once again.
“Without a strong and vibrant hospitality industry, the region will be much slower to recover and have far less to offer in the future.
“We hope this campaign will help remind everyone in our region there are amazing places to go and see and fantastic hospitality businesses waiting to welcome them in a manner that is both safe and enjoyable.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, added: “Understanding the growing importance of tourism to our city and shire, we fully support Visit Aberdeenshire’s Rediscover Your Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire campaign, raising awareness of what the north-east has to offer at a time when the custom is most needed.
“As international travel restrictions are still easing, we potentially have a significant domestic market that may look to do a different holiday this year and with that closer to home – and, of course, the north-east of Scotland has much to offer in that regard.
“The campaign will not only give a great insight into the quality of the product on offer, but hopefully help attract many more tourists, local or from slightly further afield, safely to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and in so doing help safeguard many jobs in our tourism and hospitality sectors.”
The campaign – involving the Evening Express, The Press and Journal, Society and Original 106 – will have its own dedicated section on the VisitAberdeenshire website, where people can explore blogs with ideas for things to do.
Locals are also being asked to share an image of their favourite thing to do in the north-east – including viewpoints, beaches, castles, walks, food or experiences – via social media, using the hashtag #RediscoverABDN and tagging @visitabdn and this will run throughout the campaign.
Chris Foy, CEO of VisitAberdeenshire, said: “Local people play an important role in supporting the recovery of tourism in the region while enjoying some amazing experiences across the city and shire.
“Unlike visitors from further afield, locals need little notice to plan a day, an evening or even an overnight to rediscover our region.
“The opportunity for many businesses to welcome back guests follows hot on the heels of self-catering and outdoor dining experiences re-opening earlier in the month.
“But there is a long way to go. Easing of restrictions just gets much of the sector back to the starting line.”
For more information, visit yourabdn.com
Social Media Campaign
VisitAberdeenshire, The Press and Journal, Evening Express, Society and Original 106 are encouraging people to share an image of their favourite part of the north-east throughout the #RediscoverABDN campaign. To take part, simply follow the steps below:
- Take a picture of your favourite north-east attraction, venue, product or landmark
- Upload the image to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter including the hashtag #RediscoverABDN and tag @visitabdn
Social Distancing Guidelines
When visiting these locations, it’s important to adhere to the social distancing guidelines currently in place across Scotland – with regards to outdoor activities. These guidelines are below.
- People can meet in groups of up to 15 people outdoors, from up to five different households, including your own household. However, children aged 0-11 should not meet in groups larger than 15 people in total at a time.
- Keep two metres apart from anyone you meet from outside your household, and don’t share food or utensils.
- You should not meet with more than four different households per day, whether indoors or outdoors.
- Follow physical distancing guidance and hygiene rules.
- There is now no restriction on travel within Scotland as long as individuals are acting in line with all other guidance that supports the route map.
All guidelines can be viewed at www.gov.scot


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New director of sales for Europe boosts headcount at Brighton office
Babel Media has appointed Paul Gorry as director of sales for Europe, who will assume responsibility for mobile, PC and console business development.
Joining the team at the company’s Brighton office, Gorry brings ten years of experience in the UK games industry, which has seen him employed at Arena Mobile UK, Eidos Interactive and GPS International.
Keith Russell, vice president of sales and marketing at Babel said: “It is great to bring Paul onboard, finding someone that could understand the diverse needs of our PC-console customers as well as mobile customers was not easy, then finding someone with that unique ability to fit into the Babel ethos and understand our ‘customer first’ mentality was harder still, but in Paul I am confident we have found the right man.”
The arrival of Gorry at Babel coincides with the company’s ongoing growth since its acquisition by Indian outsourcing giant Quatrro.

domain: news


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Console war heats up as Microsoft reveals Xbox One release dateBy Shawn Knight 7 comments
Microsoft's Xbox One will be released on November 22, a full week before Sony's PlayStation 4 hits retail in most regions. The one exception is in North America where the PlayStation 4 is slated to launch on November 15.
The Xbox One will initially be available in 13 countries - Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, the UK and the US. Remaining markets won't see the Xbox One until sometime in early 2014, Microsoft said.
The imminent launch sets up the first new console war since 2006 with this battle looking more intense than ever. Both systems will be launching before Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving Day in the US, which is often regarded as the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Of course, with both machines likely to be sold out well before then, it's not likely to have much of an impact on the already chaotic day.
Yusuf Mehdi, Xbox's marketing vice president, said the Xbox One is the culmination of many years of listening to Xbox fans, developing innovative technology and partnering with the best game and entertainment partners in the industry. He said there is still a lot more work to do but the teams are making excellent progress and are focused on the launch.
Sales of the Xbox One will top the debut of the Xbox 360, Yusuf said, although he declined to get into any specific figures.


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Remember Viv, that amazing next-level virtual assistant that was previewed back in May? Samsung just bought the company.
Matthew Panzarino, TechCrunch:
Ubiquity, [Viv cofounder Dag] Kittlaus said in an interview, is the reason Viv is trundling into Samsung’s bosom. Specifically, when I asked him why Samsung, he said this:
“They ship 500 million devices a year. You asked me onstage about what our real goal is, and I said ubiquity.
If you take a look around what’s going on in the market these days, and our readiness to really expand on our distribution, it made perfect sense when we discovered that our visions are so completely aligned, and our assets using the core technology in this huge distribution, the opportunity that now is the right time, and Samsung’s the right partner.”
Kittlaus previously helped build Siri, both pre- and post-acquisition, but Viv is a leaps-and-bounds improvement. If the future of mobile technology is, indeed, through virtual assistants, and if Viv behaves in the real world anything like it did in its first demoes, this is a critical acquisition for Samsung. It also happens to decrease their reliance upon Google.


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Cause Mobile Wallet in charity aid at US surfing showcase
Cause Mobile Wallet’s mobile-payment application is being used in a partnership with Red Bull and People Water to raise money for Life Rolls On, the featured charity at this week’s Vans US Open of Surfing, adding another dimension to charity fundraising.
Event sponsors Red Bull and People Water will accept onsite payments via the Cause Mobile app, a portion of which will be donated to the charity, which seeks to improve the quality of life of young spinal cord injury victims through action sports.
“This is the most important aspect for us – directing existing dollars to worthy charities like Life Rolls On,” said Brad Barton, president of Cause Mobile Wallet. “LRO is an outstanding charity that does wonders for people with debilitating spinal injuries.
“We know that every dollar makes a difference, and being able to facilitate those dollars to these types of charities is what we are all about.”
Goods and services
Newport Beach, CA-based Cause Mobile Wallet’s free app allows consumers to purchase goods and services at participating businesses using their smartphones, and have .5 percent of every transaction donated to the charity or school of their choice.
Users can set up profiles, choose a preferred charity or school to receive a portion of purchases, and buy items at participating merchants’ shops or events. The app can be found in the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store, or by texting CAUSE to 95577 for the download link.
Information also can be found at www.causemobilewallet.com or by emailing [email protected]
“Cause allows consumers to have all the convenience and purchasing power of a credit card contained within their smartphones. And best of all, it doesn’t cost the user anything to use the app – nothing changes for them, but they are giving back just by using Cause,” Mr. Barton said.
The 2014 Vans US Open of Surfing, which runs through Sunday in Huntington Beach, CA, attracts top surfers, skateboarders and off-road motorcyclists. All events are free.
Cause chose to unveil its app at the surfing championship because it was a local event and drew about 750,000 last year, offering national exposure.
Mobile charity apps are changing the landscape for fund-raising organizations as charities need do little to reach a large target audience.
“We typically ask charities to email their supporter base or add us to a news-letter, just to let them know that they have partnered with Cause and to download the app, use it to make purchases, and thus support their favorite cause,” Mr. Barton said.
Charity apps also build broad engagement and support. “We market via social media to bring awareness to our product and to the charities that we support,” he said. “This marketing will bring new supporters to our partner charities.”
The app puts no restrictions on merchants, requiring only an iPad on the merchant side, and only an iPhone or Android phone for the consumer, according to Mr. Barton.
In a special promotion for the event, which celebrates 100 years of surfing this season, those who download the app will be entered into a draw for a custom-made surfboard.
“Merchants can open a Cause Mobile Wallet account risk free,” Mr Barton said. “We don’t have a termed contract. You can cancel at any time without penalties or cancellation fees. It’s free to download.”
Michael Barris is staff reporter with Mobile Marketer, New York.


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East Asia Super League has finalized broadcast and streaming rights partnerships to ensure the historic 2023-24 season is available to watch for basketball fans around the world.
EASL games during the home-and-away group stage will take place on Wednesdays, starting October 11, 2023, and running to February 7, 2024, inclusive. Group stage games will tip off at 7pm local time in the market where they are being played, unless otherwise communicated.
The season-ending Final Four event will take place with two games each day on March 8 and March 10, 2024. The Final Four venue and tip-off times will be released at a later date.
Broadcast and streaming coverage in place for the 2023-24 season is as follows:
Subscription video on-demand (SVOD) streaming platform U-NEXT is EASL’s exclusive live rights partner in Japan.
U-NEXT will show live coverage of all 12 group stage games of B.LEAGUE teams Chiba Jets and Ryukyu Golden Kings, and all four games from the Final Four. The other 12 games from the 2023-24 season will be available to watch on delay.
U-NEXT will provide Japanese language commentary for the 12 live games featuring the B.LEAGUE teams.
Sports broadcaster SPOTV is EASL’s exclusive live rights partner in Korea. It will show live and delayed coverage of all 28 games on its SVOD streaming platform SPOTV Now.
Pay-television broadcaster Cignal TV is EASL’s primary media rights partner in the Philippines. Cignal TV will show extensive live and delayed coverage across its television channels One Sports and One Sports+ and OTT streaming platform Pilipinas Live.
One Sports and One Sports+ will show all 12 group stage games featuring the PBA teams TNT Tropang Giga and Meralco Bolts, either live or on a same-day-delay basis. Pilipinas Live will show all 28 games live.
Pay-television broadcaster and streaming platform Videoland has acquired exclusive rights for live and delayed coverage of all 28 games. Videoland will provide local-language commentary.
Live rights deals have been agreed with streaming platforms Huya, NetEase and Zhibo8, and television broadcaster Jinan TV. Huya, NetEase and Zhibo8 will show all 28 games live, for free. Jinan TV will show a mixture of live and delayed games throughout the season.
SPOTV’s Southeast Asian platform will show EASL in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. All 28 games will be shown either live or delayed.
SPOTV in Southeast Asia is available direct-to-consumer via the SPOTV Now streaming service and also via the following partner platforms: Now TV in Hong Kong; First Media, K Vision, MNC Play, MVN and IndiHome in Indonesia; Macau Cable TV in Macau; Astro and unifi TV in Malaysia; Cignal and Sky Cable in the Philippines; Singtel and StarHub in Singapore; and TrueVisions in Thailand.
Rest of World
In territories not covered by broadcast or streaming rights agreements, live streams of all EASL games will be available to watch for free via FIBA’s Courtside 1891 streaming platform and via EASL’s Facebook account.
Free live streams of all games will also be available on Facebook to users based in Hong Kong.
Highlights of every game will be published by EASL on our own social media channels, including YouTube and Facebook accounts.
"We are delighted to partner with these leading TV and digital networks to bring extensive coverage of EASL Season 2023-24 to fans in our core markets in Asia and elsewhere around the world," said EASL CEO Matt Beyer.
EASL is continuing to discuss additional coverage for the 2023-24 season with streaming and broadcast platforms around the world. Stay tuned for more information.


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If you're one of the developers who've been severely inconvenienced by Apple's Developer Center outage over the last week, you'll be happy to know that much of it appears to be up and running again as of today. At the time of writing, many of the features that were once grayed out on the status page Apple created are now green to signify their availability, although several remain inaccessible.
The Apple Developer Center has now been down since Thursday, making our initial surprise on Friday that it'd been down for 30 hours seem almost silly. And now the plot thickens further. After Apple finally announced last night that a security breach was responsible for the delay, a self-proclaimed "security researcher" named Ibrahim Balic came forward to admit he may have been responsible.


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London might lose its position as tech hub, start-ups warn
Founders fear the UK government's failure to continue fostering new tech ventures. London might lose its position as tech hub.
According to the Financial Times, leaders of UK tech start-ups are worried that "warm words" over the importance of tech from British chancellor Jeremy Hunt are not bac... Read more
Dutch companies expect finding investors becomes more difficult
The crisis surrounding the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) is going to affect investment in the tech sector. Not only American companies are expected to be affected, but also companies in the Netherlands.
So say Dutch experts to the Financieele Dagblad. According to Rinke Zonneveld, CEO at the public-... Read more
Silicon Valley Bank fiasco: US government comes to the rescue
The US government is coming to the aid of customers of Silicon Valley Bank, guaranteeing their funds deposited with the bank. With this, the US government is trying to limit the potential damage from the failure of the bank, which is very important to the tech sector.
Last Friday, the US Treasur... Read more
Highland Europe announces €1 billion startup investment fund
Highland Europe, a London-based venture capital firm, has announced a €1 billion fund to invest in software and consumer tech companies across Europe. This marks the fifth fund for the company, bringing its total capital raised to an impressive €2.75 billion.
“Current market conditions are... Read more
‘EU startups on track to raise $85B, down from $100B+ in 2021’
This is the region's second consecutive year of decline following a record-breaking 2021.
London-based venture capitalist Atomico analysed the startup investment landscape in Europe. The report highlights an immense concentration of venture capital activity. Just three countries – the UK, Ge... Read more
German HR software startup Personio raises $200 million
The fundraising sweep left the company with a whopping $8.5 billion valuation.
According to Reuters, German human resources software startup Personio managed to add $200 million to the initial financing it raised in October. The company also boasted an increased valuation of $8.5 billion.
The... Read more
Tech startups face ‘period of great uncertainty’
Apple lost 200 billion dollars in value, Alphabet's figures dissapoint and Twitter is no longer hiring. The IT industry is under pressure worldwide. Western Europe faces consequences. "We are entering a period of great uncertainty", warned Prins Constantijn, startup ambassador and brother to the ki... Read more
ONEiO receives €7.2 million to expand integration-as-a-service
The funding was announced after the Helsinki-based startup shared plans to drive market expansion and growth in North America and Central Europe.
ONEiO, a SaaS provider of automated integration and cloud-native services, received investments totalling €7.2 million to increase its market expans... Read more
Madrid-Based fintech startup “RITMO” hits jackpot with $200m funding
RITMO – a Spanish fintech startup – plans to help eCommerce entrepreneurs and businesses expand rapidly and surmount various supply-chain challenges by offering them capital.
Revenue-based financing startups are gaining strength by offering low-on-cash startups a viable alternative to bank... Read more
Microsoft offers startup founders large Azure Cloud credit
Microsoft supports startup founders with a mix of technological benefits and expert guidance
It was announced by Microsoft today that it will start supporting startup founders by providing mentorship and technical support.
In a blog post, the Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft Cloud + AI, C... Read more


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Other free and paid content will roll out on the same day.
Explore an accursed temple for wealth, power, and immortality.
The “definitive tactical shooter” is finally on its way to consoles.
You will fight. You will fall. You will rise again.
Fortunately, licensing doesn’t seem to be an issue.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments Returns to EU PS Store, Frogwares Seems to Tease Future Entries
New Sherlock Holmes games, or something else?
The game will be announced at PAX East.
Explore a new story and gain access to new weapons.
If true, it could receive an official announcement next year.
Improving weapons and squashing bugs.
Includes a new staff literally named “Kate 2.”
Now with 100% more flamethrower.
Lots of new weapons and gear will accompany a “big” story expansion.
Let’s see what 2020 has in store for the publisher.
An upcoming story expansion boasts “hours of content in a new environment.”
Focus Home’s move widely criticized.
The patch doesn’t yet have a release date.


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COMMENT by DAVID LAWS: In the Great Democratic Recession, we're ALL suffering
Exports are falling, RBS is laying off 3,500 people, even Tesco’s sales are down.
However, one thing that seems not to be in short supply is the stream of gloomy headlines about Britain’s economic prospects.
On the face of it, the situation does indeed look bleak.
With even Tesco's sales down, the situation does indeed look bleak
Last year saw one of the fiercest-ever squeezes in UK household income – average incomes barely increased while inflation soared to almost six per cent.
Britain is just about the most indebted developed country in the world, in terms of both government and private borrowing.
Meanwhile, the failure of eurozone governments to take decisive action over their economic crisis has probably condemned much of Europe to a further recession in 2012.
Now, economists are studying the data to see if the British economy contracted in the last quarter of 2011 – a result that some forecasters believe will prove we are in the middle of the longest period of economic stagnation in recent memory.
It usually takes our economy about three years to recover from the trough of a recession and become bigger than it was before the slump began.
In the Great Depression of the Thirties, it took four years for the previous peak in growth to be surpassed. This time, some economists believe it will take a whopping seven years to exceed the pre-recession peak of 2008.
So is there anything to be cheerful about? The answer, surprisingly, is ‘yes’.
There are two main reasons to keep our pessimism in check – the character of the existing economic situation and prospects for the next few years.
The first thing to explain is why, given that the British economy has shrunk so dramatically, many people feel this downturn has been nothing like as painful as the recessions of the early Eighties or early Nineties.
The answer is that the cause of our recent economic problems, and the way our economy has responded, has been markedly different.
In the early Eighties, inflation soared to almost 20 per cent and interest rates rocketed to more than 15 per cent.
A combination of this and the new revenue coming in from North Sea oil caused the pound to climb to levels where it was massively overvalued, which made life very difficult for exporters.
In addition, much of our industry – particularly nationalised industry – was inefficient.
The consequence was a huge drop in output and employment, concentrated in the industrial heartlands such as the North, Wales and Midlands.
In these areas, many long-established local businesses closed down, never to reopen. Unemployment soared, and the effect on the communities concerned was massive – some have yet to fully recover even 30 years later.
In the recession of the early Nineties, the pain was spread much more evenly over the whole country.
Because of concerns over soaring inflation, interest rates again went through the roof. I took out my first mortgage at about this time, at an eye-watering 16 per cent.
Just as a decade earlier, the pound was too high, which hit exporters.
Many people who thought they had planned their finances prudently were badly affected.
Home repossessions soared, and many people struggled just to service their debt interest payments.
The recent economic shock has been totally different. Remember what happened: governments and consumers around the world were complacent and borrowed too much.
In 1991, mortgage repossessions reached more than 75,000 homes, but they are currently running at about half that level
Then the financial bubble burst, and suddenly there was a real fear that the banking system would collapse, and a change in behaviour towards saving and not spending.
But, aside from the odd blip, inflation has stayed low, and interest rates have fallen to the lowest levels in British history.
Hence if you are in work and have a floating-rate mortgage, you may be doing very well indeed despite the ‘recession’.
In 1991, mortgage repossessions reached more than 75,000 homes, but they are currently running at about half that level. There were 205,000 mortgages six months or more in arrears in 1992. In 2009, they peaked at 92,000.
Mortgage payments in England and Wales averaged £494 a month or 15.4 per cent of homeowners’ take-home pay last year – the lowest proportion since records began ten years ago, according to research from Barclays Capital.
In 2008, monthly mortgage bills accounted for more than a fifth of take-home wages.
The pound also fell markedly in this recession, which has helped many exporting businesses.
Some of the greatest pain this time has fallen on our financial services sector (which, in turn, has hit Government tax revenues).
But today’s bankers are better placed to survive the hard times than the manufacturing workers of the Eighties.
The rise in unemployment has also been much less dramatic this time – mostly because the private sector has shown extraordinary flexibility.
Workers have often accepted pay cuts or reduced hours of work to protect jobs – something almost unheard of in the earlier recessions.
Only now is public-sector employment falling – and it is falling fast.
This will prove very painful for the people concerned, but it is highly likely many of these jobs can be lost without a big impact on public services thanks to slack in the system.
One characteristic of the economy today that does stand comparison with past recessions is the squeeze on real incomes (despite cheaper mortgages).
Private-sector pay cuts, public-sector pay freezes, higher pension contributions, higher oil and food prices and higher taxes have all hurt.
Real household disposable income looks as if it will fall by almost five per cent between 2009 and 2012 – easily the biggest three-year drop since records began in the mid-Fifties.
But in one way or another, everyone feels the pain, rather than just certain sections of the community as in the Eighties and Nineties. This is the democratic recession.
So what are the prospects for 2012 and beyond? Well, if the eurozone goes into meltdown, all bets are off.
And the last thing the world economy needs now is a conflict with Iran, which could send energy prices through the roof again.
But if we can avoid these risks, there are some reasons to be a bit more cheerful. Here are four factors that could be worth cheering in 2012.
The first good news is that inflation should fall – and steeply. Last year, inflation rose because of higher energy and food prices, and the rise in VAT.
Most of those increases are behind us – last week, energy price cuts of five per cent were trumpeted. Inflation, which peaked last year at 5.6 per cent (retail prices), should be down to about 2.5 per cent by May.
That will help hard-pressed household budgets.
The second piece of good news is that the Government has now delivered most of its bad news.
It is unlikely there will need to be any significant further tax rises and the tax-free personal allowance is due to rise by £600 this April – helping every taxpayer.
The third cheering fact is that interest rates and the pound look likely to remain low, thus helping people to pay off debt, and businesses to export
Finally, while the eurozone is a complete mess, growth elsewhere has been better than expected of late, particularly in the US.
The billionaire US investor Warren Buffett bullishly declared in an interview in last week’s Time magazine that he believes the US economy will soon be back on track.
While a lot of our exports go to the eurozone countries, trade with the rest of the world is far from insignificant.
Witness last week’s news that China has become the biggest market for the world’s leading luxury car, Rolls-Royce – an iconic British brand reporting the best-ever sales in its 106-year history.
A growing economy outside Europe could make all the difference in avoiding recession in 2012.
And in the UK, recent economic data, while far from robust, suggests an economy bumping along rather than moving into a new, decisive downturn.
David Laws is the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil
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A new business is coming to downtown Trenton next month.
There will be a grand opening for Traveler’s Lantern Market Saturday, October 20th at 10 a.m. at the store on Main Street in Trenton. Henry and Cathy Hoover own the business and Henry says they’ll sell farmhouse furniture and have a café.
Hoover has booths set up at Warehouse 41 and Second Chances in Clarksville that have been successful and says the store will be mostly be hand-built items to decorate your home.
Barry Groves owns the building in downtown Trenton that’s been under major renovation for some time. Hoover likes the building and says it’s a good location close to their home in Allensville.
You can find additional information on the store on the Traveler’s Lantern Market Facebook page.


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The fourth edition of the Local Dates Festival by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and Souq Waqif management concluded at Souq Waqif on Saturday.
Over 170 tonnes of dates were sold at the event that attracted as many as 51,000 visitors, according to statistics released by the MME.
The festival that started on July 23 was organised as part of Qatar’s efforts to promote locally grown products and help local farmers find the ideal market for dates. More than one dozen local varieties were on sale from 85 farms across Qatar in addition to Hassad food company. The festival was attended by 86 farmers from across the country. The varieties on sale at the festival include Al-Khalas, Al-Shishi, Al-Khenaizi, Al-Barhi, Al-Iraqi and Al-Silji, Al-Saqai, Nabt Saif, Al-Lulu and Al-Razizi.
Last year, the festival attracted about 54,000 visitors and sold 205 tonnes of fresh dates worth QR1.7mn.
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Opal Transfer, a London-based money transfer operator, has introduced a low-cost remittance service between Italy and the UK.
The service will facilitate money transfers between the two countries in both the directions, with remittances from Italy to the UK costing €1 and those from the UK to Italy costing 30 pence.
Opal said that the service is in response to growing demand and forms part of its broader plans to build footprint in new markets within the coming one year.
Moreover, the service also marks the debut of two way remittance between two countries in western Europe.
Opal Transfer managing director Gita Petkevica said: “The launch of this product shows we are responding to our clients’ needs, while still offering them the best and quickest money transfer service, at the lowest cost price.
“All fintech business need to continue to adapt and use cutting edge technology, but it is also important to remember that customers want to be able to speak to people as well. Our Italian speaking customer service team is an essential part of the service. Having access to an experienced executive to resolve any issues is crucial, something too many app only services forget, leaving their customers frustrated.”
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The Elder Scrolls Online Trailer: The War in Cyrodiil has a Release Date
Bethesda has finally announced the release date for The Elder Scrolls Online, accompanying the news with a new gameplay video.
The announcement was made on the Beth Blog, where the dev informed us the massively multiplayer online role-playing game will first see release worldwide for PC and Mac players on April 4, 2014. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One fans will have to wait until June 2014.
There's an extended message from The Elder Scrolls Online Game Directory Matt Firor on the game's official site, thanking everyone who's had a role in the game, as well as the fans. Firor also explains the need for a staggered rollout and tells beta hopefuls that he hopes they get a chance to play in the coming weeks before launch.
While we wait out the next couple of months for The Elder Scrolls Online's release, let's check out the new gameplay trailer, "The War in Cyrodiil," and take a look at some of the PvP we'll see in-game.


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MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Police continue to investigate after two men robbed a Scotchman convenience store in Myrtle Beach early Saturday morning while armed.
According to a Myrtle Beach Police Department incident report, the robbery happened at 7:05 a.m., at the 6201 N. Kings Hwy., location. The two men reportedly entered the store and presented a weapon to the clerks.
The suspects left the store with an undisclosed amount of money, the report stated. The robbery remains under investigation.


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By Justin Flynn
Treasure hunters have been busy searching shops of the northern Bellarine as the annual Festival of Glass got underway recently.
The festival’s popular treasure hunt sends people on a journey through businesses in Portarlington, Drysdale, Clifton Springs and Curlewis in search of items that can be stamped off on a map. If you get 10 items, you can enter the main draw which is announced at Festival of Glass expo on 18 February.
The treasure hunt has more than 150 prizes, worth more than $4000 and so far has attracted plenty of interest from all age groups.
“The kids get a real buzz out of it,” Portarlington’s Montana’s Fashion and Accessories owner Sandi Hillman said.
“You can have a lot of fun with the kids while they’re doing it, saying ‘hot’, ‘hotter’, ‘colder’, ‘cold’ as they search for the treasure. It’s a whole lot of fun.”
Treasure Hunt coordinator Diane Schofield said the event benefits everyone.
“There’s been great excitement all round,” she said.
“We see it as a four-way win for everyone – the businesses get more customers, the artists get recognition, the festival itself gets publicity and the public is in the running to win great prizes.”
The treasure hunt is in its third year while the festival will enter its eighth year.
“There’s been a lot of excitement about it from the first day,” Ms Schofield said.
“A lot of grandmothers are taking their grandkids around hunting for the treasure. We’ve got people coming to us now asking to be involved rather than us chasing them. We’re hoping it continues to grow and grow.”
While the treasure hunt is officially part of the Festival of Glass, the actual festival weekend will kick off with Twilight Flames at Leura Park Estate on Saturday 17 February with Venetian glass master Mauro Vianello showcasing his skills from 7pm to 9.30pm.
The expo is on Sunday 18 February in Drysdale with more than 40 glass artists, awards, exhibitions and classes and workshops.


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Vodafone Brings 3G on Wheels To India – Brings first of its kind LED Bus with an inbuilt 3G experience zone
Vodafone Essar, one of India’s leading cellular service providers, in its endeavor to continuously engage with its customers through innovative & exciting initiatives, unveiled the Vodafone LED Bus. Vodafone is one of the first companies to bring this state-of-the art LED bus to India. This unique initiative aims at taking the 3G experience to all customers at various touch points. This Bus has 10 mm anti-glare LEDs used for the outdoor screen with 5500 cdl/m2 making it fit for illuminated message viewing during the day and at night.
The interiors of the bus have been redesigned to create a 3G Experience Zone that will enable visitors to enjoy and try out 3G services in a fun and interactive manner. People can catch animated Zoozoo images and advertisements on these LED screens on the outside windows of the bus.
Vodafone’s 3G on wheels’ has done the rounds of the hot spots / high traffic areas in Mumbai bringing them closer to the exciting world of 3G. Customers could try out a host of services like high speed internet, video calling and better gaming experience, Vodafone TV and get answers to their basic queries on 3G.
Speaking on the occasion Anuradha Aggarwal, Vice President – Marketing, Brand Communication and Consumer Insights, “At Vodafone, we believe in constantly engaging with our customers in a meaningful and relevant manner that enriches their experience. With this unique initiative customers get a step closer to the ‘Faster, Smarter, Better’ world of Vodafone 3G services.
This digital medium of LEDs has been used for the first time for on-ground activation and engrossed thousands of customers encouraging them to try out Vodafone 3G services.


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Egypt: Kenneth Cole Sees Five Dead As A Marketing Opportunity
THANKS to the good people at Kenneth Cole the Egyptian protests – at least five deaths so far! – is now a marketing opportunity for belts, bags and shoes. The brand used the #Cairo hashtag to market its range of goods.
Cole has apologised and deleted the tweet.
But job done. We’d never heard of Kenneth Cole before this…


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- Mar 20, 2014
Argentina and China expand currency swap deal – media
The Central Bank of Argentina has reportedly activated a currency swap agreement with the People’s Bank of China
You won't be able to see this story if you're stateside, since our deal old Uncle Sam has censored RT.
Here's the crucial part -
China is currently Argentina’s second largest trade partner after Brazil, and the second biggest destination for Argentinian exports.
The currency swap agreement allows Argentinian companies that export to China to make settlements in yuan or dollars, which eases the outflow of foreign currency from the central bank.


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The winners of the FTA everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards for 2014 were announced at a ceremony at The Savoy Hotel in London today. The seven winners were recognised as inspirational role models, said everywoman co-founder Maxine Benson MBE, in attracting more women to the transport and logistics industry. FTA chief executive Theo de Pencier said: “These prestigious awards acknowledge the work of women in the industry, and showcase how others can make a career in transport a successful […]
Drivers benefitted from above-average, above-inflation wage increases this year as operators looked to secure a labour force against the background of the driver shortage.
A confidential reporting system where transport employees can flag up safety concerns is being introduced into the road haulage industry.


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Two new children’s lines with heritage on wheels will show at Pitti Bimbo.
This story first appeared in the June 18, 2012 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
Brand: Fiat 500 Kids’ Collection
The story: Italian brand Fiat 500 has signed a licensing agreement with manufacturing company Preca Brummel for the production and distribution of its first children’s wear line. Clothes for girls and boys from four to 16 will be sold to high-end retailers and online.
Prices: Jackets 79 euros ($100); jeans, 69 euros ($87); hats, 19 euros ($24); sweatshirts, 59 euros ($74); polos, 45 euros ($57); girls’ T-shirts and polos, from 29 to 39 euros ($36 to $50).
The look: In line with its men’s and women’s collections, Fiat 500 offers fashionable yet comfortable pieces, including hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, polos and jackets. Fluorescent colors are predominant, with the 500’s design standing out in its cabrio and regular versions.
Noteworthy: The brand is producing a T-shirt that features a dot pattern and is sold with a box of washable felt-tips. Wearers connect the dots and find a 500 car. The shirt is available in white, for boys and girls; the license plate of the car on the girls’ version will be embellished with rhinestones.
Brand: Ducati Junior
The story: Bologna, Italy-based historic motorcycle manufacturer Ducati has signed a three-year licensing agreement with Manifatture Daddato for the production and global distribution of its first collection for boys from four to 14, which will be introduced at Pitti Bimbo. Prices were not yet set at press time but the line is expected to appeal to the better-to-high-end consumer.
The look: The collection features almost 60 pieces, all of them inspired by the motorcycle’s world. T-shirts, polos, trousers and a series of accessories reflect Ducati’s colors — white, red and black.
Noteworthy: Ducati’s logo is globally recognized as a symbol of made in Italy and top technology, and the company plans to use this in its marketing.


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FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live)- If you go to the gym on a regular basis or slave away during that spin cycle class and you aren't seeing the results you expect, it's not just you.
Research says exercising may make you gain weight.
A new study says it's because people overindulge after a gym session, believing they 'deserve it'.
After a workout you may be thinking you deserve a reward, but experts say that type of thinking is self-sabotage.
"It's more common than not where people will actually gain weight because they're thinking that they're doing way more then their body's actually burning," says Jamie Smith, Group Exercise Director at Courts Plus.
That's why Smith recommends people to eat a fat, carb and protein diet before and after a workout.
"I do three eggs, two egg whites. And then I do two slices of turkey bacon and then I do a big ol' bowl of oatmeal," says Megan Swenson, member at Courts Plus.
"Before I usually eat a banana with peanut butter and two hard boil eggs. And I have no answer for after, whatever's there is what I eat," laughs Rachel Reid, member at Courts Plus.
But sometimes you do indulge in sweets after burning all those calories.
"Self control is hard. We live in a world that everything is out there. Cravings, everything. You see it, the eye wants it," says Swenson.
But starting at the grocery store and choosing healthy options can lead you into a living healthy lifestyle, helping you lose the weight you're trying to lose at the gym.
"Being intentional and mindful at the grocery store with fruits and vegetables and having healthy snacks available, that's what you're going to go to if that's what's available," says Reid.
Smith says eating a good source of nourishment helps you hit that goal you set for yourself. Whether it's losing weight, getting stronger or losing body fat.
Courts Plus also says to be aware of how many calories you eat and burn because that can also help you achieve your weight goals.


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Samsung Galaxy S III – the most anticipated smartphone recently and the main competitor to Apple iPhone 5 , have lots of rumors but Today Samsung has officially put an end to rumors about a possible date of occurrence of the expected devaysa – Galaxy S III . The presentation will take place May 3 at London.
This information came from the first resource Tweakers.net, whose staff have been invited to the event. And then the reality of the invitation was confirmed in a Korean edition DDaily Samsung.
Recall is the new flagship of the Korean company will receive, according to recent data , the ceramic shell, HD-or Full HD screen, quad-or dual-core Exynos 1.5 GHz, supporting LTE networks will be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with original shell TouchWiz.
The network has repeatedly appeared, supposedly real, picture phones , but the authenticity of any of them has not yet been confirmed.


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New York-based Ingenious Intell, which describes itself as a man-made intelligence-powered dealmaking platform for the song business, has raised USD $3 million in its seed investment spherical.
The company has attracted investments from various high-profile strategic traders together with:
- Austin Rosen, CEO and founding father of Electrical Really feel Leisure, which co-manages American famous person Put up Malone;
- The Killers and Consider Dragons’ managers, brothers Mac and Robert Reynolds;
- Unhealthy Bunny control company/label, Rimas Leisure;
- Milk & Honey Control President Lucas Keller;
- Funding company Ruttenberg Gordon Investments;
- Lucy Guo, co-founder a big gamble capital company Again Finish Capital;
- Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE, president and CEO of the American Affiliation of Impartial Tune;
- Barry Weiss, veteran song government and CEO of RECORDS (a three way partnership with Sony Tune);
- Leisure legal professionals Dina LaPolt and Robert Celestin;
- Govt manufacturer Bret Disend;
- Kevin Liles, co-founder and CEO of 300 Leisure;
- Lyor Cohen, the worldwide head of song at YouTube, also are amongst Ingenious Intell’s new traders.
The startup that Fritz co-founded with Steven Send, finished its seed fundraising on Tuesday (July 26).
Talking with Billboard in November 2021, Fritz stated Ingenious Intell is poised to be “the Criminal Zoom for the song trade.”
“It’ll be offering tool gear that lend a hand legal professionals with assistance from synthetic intelligence. It isn’t simply going to be restricted to the song trade,” Fritz stated on the time.
“All artists must have get admission to to gear that lend a hand them perceive the offers they’re making.
Steven Send, Ingenious Intell Co-Founder
Ingenious Intell intends to make use of the proceeds from the deal to proceed creating its patent-pending, AI-powered felony and academic gear for musicians and their groups. The corporate’s CI tool platform continues to be in personal peta, however it’s already inviting customers to enroll in early get admission to.
With Ingenious Intell, artists and comparable events will have the ability to negotiate contracts on a “seamless, safe, real-time atmosphere” platform, the startup stated.
The platform additionally streamlines paintings for legal professionals running with best acts, permitting them to release time for higher-value shopper problems.
Moreover, the platform additionally supplies end-to-end felony answers for thousands and thousands of under-represented or under-resourced artists. The services and products come with drafting, negotiating, and signing, in addition to information mining and reporting. Ingenious Intell seeks to lend a hand artists keep away from conventional business pitfalls and supply instructional assets on how they may give protection to their revenues, it added.
“For too lengthy, artists were left at the hours of darkness about how their offers are structured and serve as. It doesn’t want to be this fashion. All artists must have get admission to to gear that lend a hand them perceive the offers they’re making,” Ingenious Intell co-founder Send stated.
Fritz claims that Ingenious Intell is the primary within the business to use AI in fixing problems going through creators, managers and legal professionals.
“Ingenious Intell empowers artists to keep away from unhealthy offers and, extra importantly, take keep an eye on in their long run. Long past are the day of preserving artists at the hours of darkness about their rights and choices.”
Mac Reynolds, The Killers Supervisor
The Killers and Consider Dragons supervisor Mac Reynolds stated an artist can really feel got rid of from fundamental felony phrases, “which affect the remainder of their lives.”
“Ingenious Intell empowers artists to keep away from unhealthy offers and, extra importantly, take keep an eye on in their long run. Long past are the day of preserving artists at the hours of darkness about their rights and choices,” Reynolds stated.
LaPolt, every other new investor within the startup, whose company LaPolt Legislation represents recording artists reminiscent of Cardi B, Mick Fleetwood, and deadmau5, stated Ingenious Intell’s platform will likely be a “sport changer for the song business.”Tune Industry International


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Female TikTokers have revolutionised the publishing industry and boosted sales, a leading insider has said.
London’s Notting Hill Bookshop - made famous as the shop where Hugh Grant worked in Notting Hill - has recently thanked the video sharing app for helping it achieve “one of its best years in history”.
Sales have doubled since the pandemic and shop owners credit reviews by TikTokers as driving interest in reading.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Vibes & Scribes director Joan Lucey said #BookTok is a phenomenon she has seen down in Cork as well.
“What we’re seeing is there’s a group - particularly young women - who have taken the #BookTok to their hearts,” she said.
“During lockdown, they started making videos and it has given them a power to review the books they like to bring them to the attention of millions, really.
“It’s given them a power that maybe readers never had before.”
Generally speaking, sales have increased most significantly in the types of books popular with young women but #BookTok has boosted interest in a number of other titles as well.
“So, it’s young adult fantasy, romance - that area, really,” Ms Lucey said.
“Also, some of the classics have been revived and The Secret History by Donna Tart which I think was published in ‘91, it’s 20 or 30 years since I read it.
“It wasn’t a classic, it was just a bit of a whodunit, a bit of a literary fiction set in a university and that came to someone’s notice, they reviewed it and it just went viral.”
The dawn of #BookTok has turned the publishing world on its head; previously, publishers held all the power, now, young influencers have become major players in the industry.
“They [publishers] decided who was published, they decided what happened quite a bit and now it’s these young women for the area that they’re interested in,” Ms Lucey said.
“They’ve taken the power and the publishers are actually following them.”
Despite this, Ms Lucey is unsure whether it is a permanent change or if publishers will figure out a way to influence what gets said on #BookTok.
“It depends on whether the publishers get into it too much and take control,” she said.
“Rather than it being organic and genuine reviews… You know when big money invests in things and they buy the reviews and all that, then it won’t be quite as authentic and will probably die off.”
Book sales in Ireland were worth an estimated €165.9 million in 2023, according to BookScan.
You can listen back here:
Main image: A bookshop.


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US manufacturing output shrinks
US manufacturing output contracted in May for the second time in three months and a gauge of factory activity in New York state plunged this month, worrisome signs the American economy is cooling.
Factory production shrank 0.4 per cent last month, the Federal Reserve said today. Total industrial output, covering factories, mines and utilities, declined 0.1 per cent.
Analysts polled by Reuters had expected industrial production to rise 0.1 per cent.
The slackening US recovery and a worsening debt crisis in Europe have increased expectations of a further easing of monetary policy by the Fed, although economists are divided on whether the central bank will act when it meets on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hiring by US employers has slowed for four straight months, while retail sales contracted in May and new applications for jobless benefits have risen for five of the last six weeks.
In a sign factory sector weakness could extend into June, the New York Federal Reserve Bank's "Empire State" index fell to 2.3, a 15-point drop from the month before and the lowest level since November 2011. That was far below economists' expectations of 13, although the level still points to some growth.
"That is another indication that the US economy is slowing," said Justin Hoogendoorn, a fixed income strategist at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago.
"It's an ugly situation."
US stock indexes opened higher on Friday as optimism over possible coordinated action by major world central banks if Sunday's Greek vote causes financial turmoil offset disappointment over the factory data.
Europe's snowballing debt crisis threatens to send the global economy into recession.
Within the Fed's report on US industry in May, the softness in the factory sector was widespread. Output for durable - or long-lasting - goods dropped 0.5 per cent as auto production slid 1.5 per cent. Production for nondurables fell 0.2 per cent.
Utilities output increased 0.8 per cent, while mining was up 0.9 per cent.
Capacity utilisation, a measure of how fully firms are using their resources, slipped to 79.0 per cent in May from 79.2 in the prior month.
Officials at the Fed tend to look at utilisation measures as a signal of how much "slack" remains in the economy - how far growth has room to run before it becomes inflationary.


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01 Aug 2023 X-ed: No more tweets
Cheh Chuan Low
1 Aug 2023
Quick overview: On 23 Jul 23, the iconic blue bird (Twitter) was killed by its equally iconic owner, Mr Elon Musk. He announced a shocking major rebranding exercise for Twitter that will basically wipe out whatever that were once associated with the Twitter brand: the company name, the logo, and effectively terms that Twitter users used endearingly such as ‘Tweet’ and ‘Retweeted’, etc. What could have driven Elon Musk to make such a drastic and abrupt decision? What would the impact be for the Twitter brand?
His reasons in brief include: the advertising revenue of Twitter remains nearly half of what it was after all the shake-ups following his buy over of the company. This leaves the company with a negative cashflow and heavy debt load. On top of that, his business intent in longer term is to turn Twitter or now called X into a super app that offers a wide range of services like WeChat in China and Gojek in Indonesia. With an aging group of Twitter loyalists on one hand and the need to attract new Gen Z users for the new super app on the other, he made an executive decision to abandon the old brand and to embrace the new for a new future.
Calculated risks or pure ego? The sudden abandonment of the Twitter brand with an estimated $4 billion brand value according to brand valuation consulting firm Brand Finance or $15 billion to $20 billion by Vanderbilt University is somewhat bewildering for many in the branding industry. According to Allen Adamson, co-founder of the marketing and brand consulting group Metaforce, it’s “completely irrational from a business and brand point of view,” and “To me, it’s going to go down in history as one of the fastest unwinding of a business and brand ever.” (Source: Quote is from an Article from Time ). The obvious question is whether this move would alienate Twitter’s loyal users and drive them and advertisers even further away. Or is Musk convinced that people will get over their initial disappointments and their habits would compel them to continue using X in spite of their unhappiness with the brand change. And along with the rebranding and new capabilities that X will be offering, they would help him capture younger, newer users.
Total abandonment or gradual change? Some may argue that it would have been easier for Twitter followers to accept if the brand change was a refresh with some elements of the original brand being retained. This is after all what major brands conventionally do. The key word we need to note is ‘conventionally’ because Mr Musk is the exact opposite of convention. And we need to recognise that Elon Musk himself is a high profile brand. The brand value of the companies under him thrive on his personal brand. He is an influencer CEO with 140 million followers on Twitter/X. He is known to be polarizing, controversial, and makes moves that few dared. In short, Elon Musk is the super anti-hero with an ‘anti-brand’ charisma. He is undoubtedly, the Deadpool of the business world. The conclusion would be straight forward if it was a decision made by someone less influential. But in this instance, we are speaking about Elon Musk and we can’t discount the Musk effect and his loyal fanbase. So, was it a right move or not? I guess only time will tell.


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Bitmain, a Chinese mining hardware company, has admitted having issues with some of the Antminer S17 units.
A Bitmain spokesperson told on May 6:
“Antminer is paying close attention to the issues of some products from the 17 series, which has recently been mentioned by the media,”
“During this process, we have begun to negotiate solutions with customers who have encountered issues from the product. Antminer has always been adhering to the concept of placing customers first. If any customer has any product issues, please contact the official customer service of Antminer at any time.”
Earlier this month, a mining entrepreneur started a Telegram community after allegedly receiving a “bad batch” of Antminer S17 + units, with about 30 percent of the ordered machines glitching or breaking down after only one month. The group, which now has more than 160 members, contains numerous related complaints.
Samson Mow, chief strategy officer of blockchain infrastructure company Blockstream, had previously expressed similar concerns. Last month Mow tweeted that Bitmain customers with Antminer S17/T17 units have a failure rate of 20–30 percent.
More Antminer units shipping out soon
With the Bitcoin halving taking place in a week. Bitmain recently sold out its first round of domestic sales of Antminer S19. Delivery will not take place until 11 May at the earliest. The new product was engineered to provide higher mining production under post-halving conditions.


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Citroen, one of French automaker PSA’s brands, revealed a mini electric car on Thursday to attract young city dwellers.
The two-seater car, branded “AMI”, will go on sale by June and is going to cost 6,900 euros ($7,500).
The vehicle, which is 2 meters 41 centimeters large, is among the number of new models that automakers are introducing to try to stimulate demand for electric models as they deal with tougher regulations on polluting vehicles.
Citroen plans to sell the car online in general. Two-seater cars can be driven without any need of a license in major European markets.


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Walmart proposes $3.1 billion opioid settlement after lawsuits
The total of proposed and completed settlements over the past few years totals more than $50 billion, most of which is set to be used by governments.
Retail giant Walmart on Tuesday became the latest major player in the drug industry to announce a plan to resolve lawsuits filed by state and local governments over the toll of strong prescription opioids sold at its dispensaries with state and local governments in were sold to the United States
The $3.1 billion proposal follows similar announcements made Nov. 2 by the two largest US pharmacy chains, CVS Health and Walgreen Co., which each said they would pay about $5 billion.
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, said in a statement that it “strongly denies” allegations in lawsuits filed by state and local governments that its pharmacies failed to properly fill prescriptions for the powerful prescription pain relievers. The Company admits no liability for the Settlement Scheme.
RELATED: CVS, Walgreens Announce Opioid Settlements Totaling $10 Billion
New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a press release that the company must comply with regulatory measures, prevent fraudulent prescriptions and flag suspects.
Lawyers representing local governments said the company will pay most of the settlement next year when it is finalized.
The agreements are the result of negotiations with a group of attorney generals, but they are not final. The CVS and Walgreens deals would first have to be accepted by a critical mass of state and local governments before they go through. Walmart’s plan would have to be approved by 43 states. The formal procedure has not yet started.
The national pharmacies join some of the largest drug manufacturers and drug distributors in settling complex lawsuits over their alleged role in an opioid overdose epidemic that has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the United States over the past two decades.
The balance of proposed and completed settlements in recent years is more than 50 billion dollarsmost of which is to be used by governments to combat the crisis.
In the 2000s, most fatal opioid overdoses involved prescription drugs such as OxyContin and generic oxycodone. After governments, doctors and corporations took action to reduce access to drugs, drug addicts increasingly turned to heroin, which proved to be more deadly.
In recent years, opioid deaths have risen to a record high of around 80,000 a year. Most of these deaths involve an illegally manufactured version of the potent laboratory-made drug fentanyl, which is found throughout the US illicit drug supply.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/nation-world/walmart-opioid-settlement-proposal/507-5e6fcaaf-6b50-4e5d-9feb-283626d9fa72 Walmart proposes $3.1 billion opioid settlement after lawsuits


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Since the first cash register door slip open, the most basic tenet of retailing has always been pricing. Whether the formula was “wholesale plus 40 percent” or promoting seasonal discounts, pricing was the equation that led to profits. But runaway inflation for some basic goods, often led by the explosion in oil prices, have made retailers and analysts reevaluate how prices are set and communicated to customers.
“To an extent it’s still an algorithm that’s seasonally driven and also driven by whether a product is food or non-food,” says W. Frank Dell II, President of Dellmart & Company, which advises retailers on pricing issues. “I think consumers are used to that. The bigger problem is on the branded side. Consumers are used to some fluctuation, but not at the extremes we see now. I can’t recall pricing fluctuations ever being this extreme or this rapid.”
The fluctuations in gas prices have been well-chronicled. But other goods have seen swings that are hardly reflected in the Consumer Price Index. The CPI was up 4.1 percent in June, according to the Labor Department, absent of food and gas prices. But prices of staple goods have skyrocketed this year. Milk prices, for example, increased 26 percent over the year. Egg prices jumped 40 percent. Iron and steel prices have leaped 32.6 percent.
This has led to innovative price calculations and ways to communicate them. Among the high-profile strategy changes have been at Home Depot. It announced in late June that declining home prices and higher fuel costs have focused the chain on individual store growth rather than adding new stores. And those existing stores will have more latitude on pricing depending on the market and product. Craig Menear, executive vice president, merchandising, made the remarks, which were webcast, at the William Blair & Co. annual growth stock conference in Chicago.
“Field merchants will partner with merchants in Atlanta (Home Depot’s headquarters) to offer more localized products,” Menear said. Price points also could be different in different parts of the country, according to Menear.
Dealing with inflation has defined some big retailers. Kroger took a 5% earnings hit in its second quarter this year, in part due to the necessity to stay price competitive. And Wal-Mart has been outspoken about the fact that it refuses to pass on supplier price increases, choosing instead to throw its weight around with suppliers and where possible buy from local growers or manufacturers.
Communicating price spikes has also come under scrutiny. Harvard Business School professor John Quelch in his recent “Seven Tips For Managing Price Increases” counsels retailers to understands the customers and how they view the increases, be very discerning about the goods that are increased and negotiate as much as possible with suppliers to keep price increases minimal. Ignoring price increases, he writes, may be hurtful in the long run.
“If you’ve always passed through raw material price increases to the end consumer, you don’t necessarily need to change that policy,” write in the June 16 issue of HBS Working Knowledge. “However, lagging competitors in passing on price increases can have the same effect as a temporary price promotion. More customers than usual will be looking out for price promotions, but don’t give away the store to those who don’t need the discount, and cut prices not across the board but only on items selected as your inflation-busters. For cash poor consumers, these promotions should hit the key price points on small pack sizes. For cash rich consumers, encourage multi-unit purchases ahead of the inevitable next price increase.”
Dell says retailers need to keep pricing communication simple. He is not a fan of pawning price increases off on the economy or greedy suppliers. He urges retailers, especially grocery retailers, to focus on the image items that stick in consumer’s minds. For example, milk has traditionally set the pricing tone for convenience stores. Fruits and vegetables may set the “image” for a grocer.
“People will know the price of about 200 items in the store on average,” he says. “I would stay close to those items and when I promoted them in-store or through the media I would call them “inflation fighters.” That takes responsibility. It shows you’re looking out for the customer. Anything else shows that it’s not a merchant making the decision. It’s an accountant.”
The pricing conundrum is also complicated by e-commerce. A new survey on overall e-retail customer by the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), eDigitalResearch, and the online loyalty coalition iPoints, shows “a clear increase in the number of consumers who are happy with the competitive prices, range of products available, and information about products provided online. This suggests that, in a challenging economic climate, there is a strong opportunity for e-retailers to drive their business forward, often at the expense of the High Street.”
The e-CSI found that the numbers of consumers preferring to shop online rather than in-store had increased across almost all industry sectors and product categories. Out of a maximum score of 10 (with 10 meaning the customer always uses the internet for their purchases), those that purchase books, CDs, music, games, videos, DVDs, and software registered an average of 7.85 in May (up from 7.82 in January), while travel (including flights, holidays, and car hire) and tickets (for the cinema and other events) increased to 7.28 in May compared to 7.10 in January. Even those products that are not traditionally purchased online have recently seen an increase in sales. Consumers’ preference to shop online for clothing, footwear and jewellery all increased from 4.06 in January to 4.25 in May, while food drink and household supplies rose from 3.88 to 3.94. At the same time, furniture, DIY and gardening grew from 4.30 to 4.34.


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Amadeus and InterContinental Hotels Group have announced they will work together to develop a next-generation Guest Reservation System modelled on airline systems, in a move described as a “watershed moment” for the sector.
The two partners have renewed a strategic relationship, promising to “revolutionise the technological foundations of the global hospitality industry.”
Launch partner Amadeus will use a new cloud-based community GRS model, claiming this is a first in the hotel sector.
IHG will work with Amadeus on the design, functionality and evolution of the new system, which will replace HOLIDEX, IHG’s proprietary reservation system.
The new GRS and Holidex will be designed to run alongside each other to ensure a smooth transition with global roll out planned for 2017.
Richard Solomons, chief executive of IHG, said: “Technology is fundamental to driving superior experiences for our guests before, during and after they stay with us.
“IHG has a long track record of innovating through technology to ensure we meet the needs of current and future guests, starting with being the first company to offer online bookings, having the highest rated app in the hotel and travel industry, and offering mobile check-in and check-out.
“Our collaboration with Amadeus will build on this heritage and will enable IHG to shape the future technological foundations of our industry.
“The next-generation guest reservation system we will create with Amadeus will deliver a powerful global platform for hotels to manage guest interaction, will be intuitive for hotel teams, and will help us accelerate our work to revolutionise and personalise the guest experience through technology.”
Luis Maroto, president and chief executive of Amadeus, added: “Travellers today expect a great experience wherever they are and technology can play a key role in delivering that.
“IHG has exciting ambitions for its hotels and guests and Amadeus is proud that our innovative technology will play a key role in delivering them.
“Our technology partnership with IHG is a watershed moment for the industry. It will provide a huge leap forward in the flexibility and functionality available to hoteliers, and marks an important step in our journey to deliver our established community technology model into a new industry segment.”


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Do Not Track is back in the spotlight today as senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) reintroduced a bill that would let people opt out of having their online activity tracked by advertisers. Originally introduced in 2011, the Do Not Track Online Act was envisioned as an online equivalent to the nationwide Do Not Call list, but talks have broken down between privacy activists and the ad industry, and nearly two years since its initial proposal, there is still no consensus about how to move forward.
Advertisers have been reluctant to cede any major ground
The technical implementation of Do Not Track uses an HTTP header — a single line of code sent with every request for a web page — that tells the recipient you don't want to be tracked online. The goal is to stop the accumulation of browsing data by third parties like advertisers, which use it to sell online ads targeted at individual users. Advertisers have been reluctant to cede any major ground in the negotiations, claiming that "anonymized" tracking is necessary to deliver targeted, relevant ads. Rather than stop collecting browsing information, they have been pushing for implementations that would let users simply opt out of receiving the targeted ads.
The W3C’s Tracking Protection Working Group was formed in 2011 to design the specification needed to actually implement Senator Rockefeller’s legislation, but with no signs of a consensus forming, it’s doubtful that re-introducing the bill is going to be enough to break through the impasse. As reported by The Hill, Blumenthal criticized advertisers for their lack of progress on the issue, saying "industry stood at the White House and made a public pledge to honor do-not-track requests, but has since failed to live up to that commitment."


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Intel announced today, six months after the announcement of large European investments, where it will go to its prepared 80 billion euros. The first 33 billion will start to be spent in Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and Poland.
It will build a brand new semiconductor plant in our western neighbors in the city of Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt), the entire complex will cost 17 billion euros. Construction will begin in the first half of next year, serial production will begin during 2027.
There, Intel is counting on state-of-the-art manufacturing processes for the “Angstrom era,” which is in its new lithography terminology called Intel 20A and 18A. In the old one, however, it was 5nm and 5nm +. He wanted to start the second one in American factories in two years, so in Germany it may be a bit more advanced.
It will need 7,000 people to build, then employ 3,000 top engineers, and tens of thousands more should find work in the area. Germany will only confirm its status as a European semiconductor center, as large factories already have GlobalFoundries, Infineon, Bosch, Texas Instruments and others there.
Another 12 billion euros will go to the Irish city of Leixlip, where Intel will double the capacity of its only current European center. It currently produces 14nm chips there, but after the modernization it counts on the Intel 4 process (7nm according to the old roadmaps).
As many as 4.5 billion will go to Italy, where Intel wants to build a support factory for chip encapsulation and component assembly. 1500 new jobs will be created directly for him and another 3500 for partners. It expects to operate sometime between 2025 and 2027. By the way, it will also produce chips in Italy once it takes over Tower Semiconductor.
And what about the other places mentioned? In France (Plateau de Saclay), in 2024, it will launch a research and development center for up to 1,000 people who will deal with high-performance computers and artificial intelligence. It will expand its AI center by half in Gdańsk, Poland. He will build a supercomputer center in Barcelona, Spain, which will deal with the development of zettascale technologies.
In addition, it will expand its cooperation with major universities and research institutes: IMEC (Belgium), Technical University Delft (Netherlands), CEA-Leti (France) and Fraunhofer Institut (Germany).


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2021-04-21 16:29:41| Fool.com Headlines
The beverage giant posted a sales increase after three quarters of decreases.
2021-04-21 15:05:00| Fool.com Headlines
Wall Street hates Tuesday afternoon's earnings report. It's not the first time the market has gotten it wrong with Netflix.
2021-04-21 12:55:00| Fool.com Headlines
The company is targeting profitability in the second half of fiscal year 2022.
2021-04-20 22:30:00| Gizmodo
Its a new Adventure Time trailer, come on and grab your friends, and well go to HBO Maxs Distant Landsspecifically, Together Again, the third special in the four-part series which brings back the stars of the original show.Read more...
2021-04-20 19:17:00| Gizmodo
Apples long-rumored Bluetooth trackers, AirTags, are now officially here. Finally.Read more...


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TU-Automotive announced the speakers and topics for their TU-Automotive West Coast 2016 Conference and Exhibition (October 13-14, San Diego, formerly Telematics West Coast). Please note it is a few weeks earlier this year, the second week of October, therefore it doesn’t interfere with Halloween.
They expect over 250 executives and analysts will discuss the future of connected services and sources of revenue for the connected car industry.
Our readers can get use coupon Code 4531AUTOC for $150 off.
The connected car sector is growing, providing new and exciting opportunities for the industry to expand into new products, services and business models, including the IoT and mobility. The event focuses on these opportunities, including new revenue streams and partnerships.
This year there will be high level and specialized speakers from Renault, Hyundai, GM Ventures, Panasonic who will give directions to the roadmap for success.
“TU-Automotive West Coast 2016 provides the perfect opportunity for senior stakeholders from across the value chain working in Silicon Valley to come together, learn from subject matter experts and strike up new partnerships,” said Annie Reddaway, Project Director for this year’s conference. Reddaway also guided the other smashing succcess this year, TU-Automotive Detroit.
Topics/Themes TU-Automotive West Coast 2016:
• Identify the new revenue streams, including data and payments that will keep the revenue rolling in as auto pivots from the business of selling cars to providing mobility services.
•Translate the West Coast’s agile R&D culture into the global auto product portfolio at the speed of digital.
• From the connected home to the smart city, find the partnerships and tools that will integrate the car as a valuable part of the networked society and IoT.
• New automakers are redefining the auto industry. Learn how to shed the auto legacy to design vehicles with connectivity, software and technology at their core
•Discover how to harness driver data to create tailored services, build brand loyalty, understand driver behavior and lay the foundations for the intelligent, self-driving vehicle
•The auto industry is snapping up start-ups for billions of dollars. Speakers will analyze investment trends to ask the big question; invest, partner, acquire or be acquired.
Expect to See Top Level Speakers Such as:
• Alisyn Malek, Investment Manager, GM Ventures.
• Sebastien Henot, Business Innovation Manager, Renault.
• Liz Kerton, Executive Director, Autotech Council.
• John Suh, Executive Director, Hyundai Ventures.
• Michael Mikos, CFO, car2go N.A. LLC.
• Hakan Kostepen, Executive Director – Product Planning Strategy & Innovation, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America – Silicon Valley Center.
• David DiMeo, Director, Connected Car Innovations, FordDirect.
• Sylvano Carrasco, Vice President Hardware & Telematics, Getaround.
• Jeffrey Hannah, Director, North America, SBD.
• Tony Cannestra, Director of Corporate Ventures, Denso International America.
• Akshay Anand, Manager, Commercial Insights, Kelley Blue Book.
• Greg Basich, Senior Analyst, Strategy Analytics.
TU-Automotive is the reference point and communications hub for the evolving automotive technology segment as it converges with consumer electronics, mobile and IoT to re-define connectivity, mobility and autonomous use-cases. AUTO Connected Car News’ readers receive $150 off with the coupon code 4531AUTOC.
“This year is our most exciting one yet, with more of a ‘Silicon Valley’ flavor than ever before as we hear from a number of auto specific venture companies and pit start-ups head to head to put their innovations to the test,” concluded Reddaway.


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HONG KONG • Factory conditions across some of Asia’s most export-oriented economies slumped in December, hit by the US-China trade war and a fading technology boom.
In China, the Caixin Media-IHS Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 49.7 from 50.2, its lowest reading since May 2017. That confirms a trend seen in the official PMI on Monday, which showed a drop to 49.4 in December, the weakest since early 2016. A reading below 50 signals contraction. Asian stocks fell, and US futures and oil pared gains.
“The PMIs are signalling trouble ahead,” said Hak Bin Chua, an economist at Maybank Kim Eng Research Pte Ltd in Singapore. “There have been some healthy trade numbers in some countries, but this is probably short-lived.”
Taiwan’s Nikkei and IHS Markit manufacturing PMI fell to 47.7 in December from 48.4 in November, down from 56.6 a year earlier. That’s partly due to a fall in demand for machinery and electronics goods, along with information and communications equipment, amid slowing orders for new smartphones and the simmering trade war.
Malaysia’s PMI fell to 46.8 from 48.2, its lowest reading since the series began. New orders were at their weakest since May. South Korea’s PMI remained in contractionary territory for the second consecutive month even as the overall reading nudged higher. The manufacturing nation — a bellwether for global trade — saw exports falling in December.
There were signs of softness across the rest of the region too. Vietnam’s PMI fell to 53.8, while the Philippines PMI fell to 53.2. In export-reliant Singapore, economic growth slowed to an annualised 1.6% in the final quarter of 2018, according to data released yesterday. Indonesia bucked the trend, with its PMI rising to 51.2.
The readings show how the ongoing trade war between the US and China is hurting demand across Asia’s manufacturing hubs. While US President Donald Trump has signalled that negotiations with China are making progress, economists remain wary that the talks could stall ahead of a March 1 deadline.
Bloomberg’s Global Trade Checkup is softening amid a fading rush to front-load export orders ahead of threatened tariffs, with economists warning 2019 will be the year the global economy feels the strain of trade tensions.
The picture in Asia matches an emerging trend in the US, where five Federal Reserve indexes of regional manufacturing all slumped in December, the first time they’ve fallen in unison since May 2016.
Worsening data could prompt Trump and President Xi Jinping to agree on trade, Xia Le, Hong Kong-based chief Asia economist at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA told Bloomberg Television.
“In China, they are facing a slowdown and according to recent data, this slowdown is worse than expected,” he said.


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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, along with 24 of his fellow Republican attorneys general around the nation, has challenged the Biden Administration’s clampdown on tailpipe emissions.
Meanwhile, a group of Democratic counterparts from 20 states urged more stringent requirements.
Back in April, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed that new 2027-32 automobiles meet strict new requirements, estimating that carmakers would need to electrify at least 60% of their production by 2030 and 67% by 2032.
The EPA is also working on strict new requirements for big rig emissions as well.
This news comes just a day after heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers and environmental regulations officials in California announced an agreement on emissions rules designed to give companies greater flexibility to meet the state’s strict emissions requirements.
For complete coverage on that issue, click here.
Back in Kentucky, a statement from Cameron’s office contends that the president’s plan “would forcibly phase out gas-powered vehicles and restructure the automobile industry around electric vehicles (EVs) at a breakneck pace. The draconian proposal aims to boost certain EV sales from 8.4% of total vehicle sales today to 67% by 2032.”
Cameron and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey led 25 states in a letter opposing the EPA plan, arguing the move would damage our economy, undermine the reliability of the nation’s electrical grids, tax the families and businesses who depend on them and threaten national security.
“President Biden wants to use the power of government to force a massive shift in demand for automobiles, with the government putting its thumb on the scale in favor of EVs. But Americans don’t want what he is selling,” Cameron said. “This is the latest head-in-the-sand approach to achieving the left’s impossible green-energy fantasies. Government shouldn’t pick winners and losers, and an EPA rule that would kill gas-powered vehicles does just that.”
Kentucky and West Virginia’s coalition argues that “the aggressive shift to EVs is counterproductive and misguided. America’s power grids not only lack the capacity to accommodate the proposed rule’s new demands but are also nowhere near secure enough to handle them safely. EPA’s also plan hinders American energy independence and makes the country less secure,” their letter states.
The attorneys general highlight how the Biden Administration’s “fast-and-furious approach to electrification will have devastating consequences for the automotive supply chain. America would be weaker and more dependent on foreign adversaries like China, which supplies many of the minerals necessary for electric vehicles.”
Earlier this year, Cameron led a 19-state coalition in opposing the EPA’s regulation of air quality standards. He also challenged proposals to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and to make illegal over 50 percent of gas stoves currently on the market.
Cameron and Morrisey are joined by attorneys general in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.
During the Arkansas Trucking Association’s annual conference Wednesday, May 17, in Little Rock, American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Spear told attendees that it’s time to “turn up the volume and let our story be heard” over the EPA’s regulations and proposals.
The third phase of the EPA’s Clean Trucks Plan has caused the issue of big rig emissions to boil over, Spear said.
“Phase 3, on NoX, that’s the toughest stuff,” Spear said. “It’s like squeezing blood out of a rock.”
The Clean Trucks Plan calls for reducing production of diesel-fueled rigs and replacing them with vehicles powered by electricity or other alternative fuel sources in the coming years. In December 2022, the EPA finalized part of the plan that calls for cutting cut smog-and soot-forming emissions from new heavy-duty trucks beginning with model year 2027.
Spear contends the trucking industry has already made great strides in helping to reduce emissions on diesel engines.
“For 40 years, we have worked hand-in-glove with the SmartWay program with the EPA,” Spear said. “We have recognized carriers that have kept up with the latest environmentally friendly equipment.”
Clean Freight Coalition (CFC) Executive Director Jim Mullen also spoke out on the issue, saying in a statement that his organization and its members “are committed to the sustainable and affordable transition to zero-emission trucks. However, the unachievable standards and timelines set forth by California regulators jeopardize the entire supply chain and risk truck dealers having limited compliant products to sell and fleets holding onto their older trucks longer.”
Mullen added: “The CFC questions the benefits of this agreement. Policymakers could make an immediate impact on truck emissions by providing incentives for motor carriers to refresh their fleets with newer, more environmentally friendly trucks. For instance, eliminating the Federal Excise Tax on heavy trucks would provide immediate benefit by reducing emissions while improving roadway safety with trucks equipped with the latest technologies.”
In closing, Mullen said, “A patchwork of state regulations disrupts the trucking industry and our nation’s supply chain. The CFC will continue to advocate for a sustainable and affordable transition to a zero-emission future which protects the supply chain and does not pass the financial burden onto the hundreds of millions of American households and business consumers who depend on goods shipped by trucks.”
Democratic attorneys general from New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and other states said the EPA should go further.
“Strong emissions standards are necessary now to stave off the worst impacts of human-induced climate change,” they said, along with officials from six cities, including the District of Columbia, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.


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The Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) says it authorised the acquisition of 100 percent shares in People’s Trading Centre (PTC) by Tafika Holdings Limited discussion.
This is according to a statement issued yesterday signed by CFTC acting chief executive officer Apoche Itimu.
According to the statement, CFTC received an application for authorisation of the proposed acquisition where information that was submitted showed that the proposed transaction involves Tafika Holdings acquiring 100 percent equity stake in PTC.
Reads part of the statement: “According to the information gathered during the investigations, the transaction will not result in a change of market structure by reducing the number of players on the market.
One of the shops of the PTC franchise
“Further, it was established that the transaction will not create a dominant player nor will it create a vigorous player. It was also established that PTC was not thriving on the market and was at the verge of collapsing; hence, this transaction was timely to save a failing firm.”
According to the statement, no negative public concerns were registered during the merger investigations. As such, after thorough deliberations, CFTC approved the acquisition.
But in an earlier interview with The Nation, Tafika Holdings Limited chief executive officer Arson Malola said they are unable to invest in the franchise and strategically change the business because they are waiting for a nod from the market regulator.
He said: “The business itself was and still is management-heavy with a very high salary bill. In its current state, the business is unfortunately not sustainable, especially with the uncaring culture from a section of the workforce.
“However, as you might know, PTC has so much potential if restructured appropriately and run in an efficient manner with employees that are dedicated to serve its customers. The need to restock the stores with the right range is critical.”
Conglomerate Press Corporation plc early this year disposed of its 100 percent stake in the struggling retail chain store PTC Limited to Tafika Holdings Limited.
As part of the transaction, Press Corporation took over K12.5 billion of PTC liabilities while Tafika inherited about K6 billion of the firm’s debts in lieu of the purchase price.
In the past 20 years, PTC has been closing down stores from over 135 nationwide to 20 stores confined to Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba.
Of the 20 shops, operating under the brand names of Spar, People’s Metro, People’s Express and Food Lovers Market, some have since been closed, rendering employees jobless.
The employees have since been requesting that management address them on concerns pertaining to the current situation.
Registered in 1973, PTC was the first retail chainstore to operate in Malawi.


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Business News›nike franchise agreements
NIKE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS
Nike follows in the footsteps of H&M & Adidas, will not renew franchise agreements in Russia
Due to operational challenges, Nike has decided to not renew or enter into new business commitments.
As global brands take flight, Indian retailers book tickets for Russia
Home furnishing retailer Maspar and fashion brand Killer Jeans are among the retailers exploring franchise opportunities in Russia. So far, four Indian brands have signed initial agreements with Russian firms, and another half a dozen are expected to come on board later this week.
BCCI announces MPL Sports as official Kit sponsor for Team India
MPL Sports, the sports merchandise brand from Mobile Premier League -- an e-sports platform -- offers a wide range of sports wear and cricket equipment, along with other accessories such as masks, wrist bands, footwear and headgear.
Nike reduces stores in India to 150
Nike will directly focus on online sales in India, mainly through Flipkart Group and Amazon.
Bloomberg's top 50 people who defined global business in 2017
From finance and politics to tech and entertainment, these people defined global business in throughout the current year.
Franchisees scale down operations amid competition from online rivals
“Franchisees are realising that despite doing most of the work, they live on thin margins, ultimately it is the (franchisor) brands whose values are being created.
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As the world puts the clock an hour back and days are once again getting shorter, the motorcycle season in many places is slowly coming to an end. All-in-all, we’re looking back at a strange and restricted, but a great summer for bike trips.
As the pandemic started earlier this year, Guido and I have written a number of articles on the increased use of motorcycles and the positive effects of riding bikes during COVID-19. If you haven’t read them here, have a look:
- Are we riding less or more due to COVID-19?
- Buying a motorcycle during the pandemic
- Blood Bike Riders: UK’s humble heroes
Another positive development for the industry as a whole are the rising sales numbers of motorcycles in the several segments. At the start of COVID-19, the industry found itself at a crossroads, with several socio-economic factors negatively impacting sales. I actually wrote about the plunging sales back then, but the pandemic has almost miraculously led to a spike in riding activity and sales. The real question then, will it last?
Forbes interviewed motorcycle industry insider and market watcher Robert Pandya and asked him if the high-tide of sales will result in a renaissance for two-wheelers – a must read.
The article from Forbes and Robert Pandya is an interesting piece. Bust misses a critical step to even consider motorcycles as transportation instead of entertainment vehicles. Line splitting. Without it, a motorbike takes more time with more hassles than a car. One has to put on a gladiator suit, brave the weather and eventually find a spot to park it.
If one travels around the world, the countries that allow line splitting enjoy a much larger population of bikes, usually scooters, used daily by people of all walks of life as transportation.
Until then, it’s just fun to ride.
Good addition. Fully agree. Without lane splitting there’s no real advantage to riding motorcycle over a car. That is, in home-work commuting and work related circumstances. However, I do believe that the bigger bikes. Let’s say 500cc and up, are ridden mostly for fun and enjoyment. Some use it to commute too, but that’s not the majority.