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TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Taipei Summit has been held for four consecutive years. Each year a specific topic is discussed with government officials and industry leaders from different Asia Pacific countries taking part in the event. It has become the most important platform for Taiwan and other Asia Pacific countries to interact and enhance mutual economic, trade, and diplomatic relationships.
Director General Chih Peng Huang of the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said that the guests this year could very well represent the ASEAN region.
Among the invited dignitaries include Undersecretary Fortunato Dela Pena from the Dept. of Science and Technology, Philippines; Vice Minister Sorayut Phettakul from the Ministry of Industry, Thailand; and Vice President Took Gee Loo from the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water in Malaysia.
They will be joined by some 20 government officials, along with over 80 representatives from different ASEAN industry associations. The enthusiastic response to the event shows that the ASEAN countries place significant value on the role of Taiwan as an economic partner.
Taipei Summit not only serves as a vital platform for Taiwan and ASEAN member countries to interact with each other, it also provides an opportunity for integration. According to the Director General, there will be several bilateral talks for deputy director generals to be held simultaneously. Taiwan hopes to achieve greater cooperation with the ASEAN countries through these discussions.
Focus on PV
The focus of this year’s summit will be on photovoltaic development. Incidentally, PV Taiwan, a major exhibition event of its kind in Asia, is slated for a two-day run on Oct.7-8 at TICC Rm. 201.
Last March, the Executive Yuan came up with a number of development strategies for six key emerging industries, including tourism, medicine and health care, biotechnology, green energy, culture and creation, and high-end agriculture.
The goal is to enhance industrial competitiveness and find solutions to the export problems the industry faces in a time of sluggish growth. Among the six industry sectors, green energy holds the key to turn Taiwan into a low carbon economy.
The MOEA has proposed the “Dawning Green Energy Industry” program last April, targeting the PV industry as one of the major sectors to provide green energy sources.
Taiwan’s PV sector is built on solid foundation and possesses unlimited potential. Thus, the Summit will highlight the PV industry in the hope of enhancing collaboration among Asia Pacific governments, business leaders and researchers, as well as accelerating the development of renewable energy, lowering dependence on oil, and cutting down on CO2 emissions.
The impact of ASEAN economic and trade integration is not limited to free trade. Areas such as banking and finance, logistics, supply chain and human resource are also worth looking into.
Since Taiwan shares the same language with Mainland China and a significant number of Taiwanese companies have production operations in many parts of Southeast Asia as well as China, Taiwan enjoys the edge in the ASEAN plus one market. Such business conglomerates as Foxconn, Compal Electronics, and Formosa have already invested in Vietnam to take advantage of the business opportunities there following the implementation of the ASEAN plus one agreement.
Director General Huang also pointed out that in order to assist Taiwan businesses in coping with the current global financial crisis, the programs of the BOFT this year are focused more on the emerging markets, especially those in Southeast Asia.
So far, the BOFT have organized 11 Taiwan delegations to participate in different local exhibitions held in Southeast Asia, such as INTERNACH in Thailand, V.I. Trade EXPO in Vietnam, Machine Tool & Manufacturing Indonesia, etc.. The Taiwanese delegates were able to corner $36.86 million dollars worth of orders from these events.
Taipei Summit serves as a platform for global interaction and collaboration. This event also stresses Taiwan as an active economic partner with different Asia Pacific countries. Director General Huang reiterates that the goal is to expand business opportunities through integration with the Asia Pacific Region.
This event aims to lower the impact of the ASEAN plus one market and to help expand Taiwan’s PV industry in the region.


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Airports operator sells duty free shops
Airports operator BAA today announced the sale of its World Duty Free business in a deal worth £546.6m.
The chain of 58 shops, based at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, has been bought by Italy's Autogrill, the operator of 5,200 outlets in more than 1,100 locations.
The disposal will help reduce the £9bn of debt taken on by Spain's Ferrovial to fund its £10bn purchase of BAA 18 months ago.
Ferrovial's hopes of quickly refinancing the debt have been dashed by the credit crunch, while it has also been hit by increased security costs.
BAA will learn tomorrow what return on investment the regulator will allow it to make at Heathrow and Gatwick. The Civil Aviation Authority is expected to limit BAA's rate of return to 6.2 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively, compared with the firm's submission proposing a rate of 7.75 per cent.
There has also been speculation that the Competition Commission's imminent "emerging thinking" document will recommend a partial break-up of the group.
Today's deal will see World Duty Free take on a 12-year agreement for the operation of duty-free operations at BAA's seven UK sites, which also include Southampton, Stansted, Gatwick, Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports.
Autogrill - majority owned by the Benetton family - has recently bolstered its position as the world's biggest provider of retail services for travellers.
Last year, it acquired Alpha Airports, a UK-based firm with operations at Manchester Airport and contracts to provide 100 airlines with in-flight food and retail services.
The company also said today that it had bought the remaining 49.9 per cent stake of Aldessa, a Spanish firm with 273 shops in 44 airports and 50 museums worldwide.
Gilberto Benetton, chairman of Autogrill, described the transactions as "a further milestone" in the growth of the group.
He added: "In 1995 Autogrill was an Italian food and beverage motorway company with sales of approximately €800m (£610m). Today our group is the global service provider for travellers with a presence in 42 countries and sales of approximately €6bn (£4.58bn)."
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This is a sign that we are making a difference, in how we eat and what we choose to eat. This is not an endorsement of corporation Nestle, which is taking California water for profit. But it does show that the movement is strong enough for clean, organic (and non-GMO) foods to convince a company to change its ways. We’ll see where this goes.
“One of the food industry’s most prominent players recently announced that they will be expanding their line of non-GMO products, due to the ever-increasing customer demand for clean food. Nestle may have wowed consumers with their choice, but it may make some waves with their good friend, Monsanto.
““Nestle USA understands that consumers are seeking choice and many prefer to select products with no GMO ingredients,” they declared.
“Of course, this is not Nestle’s first move towards GMO-free products. In April, Nestle announced that they would…
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The run-up in food prices this year is just one more item for consumers to worry about. Standing in the parking lot outside a grocery store in Worthington, customer Kirk Davidson said he's really feeling the higher cost of food.
"You'll still have your specials, you can still go get a 70 cents per pound turkey on special for Thanksgiving," Davidson said. "But overall I've seen the increase in prices and it is a concern, it's a concern for everyone."
The cost of food prepared at home is up 7.5 percent over a year ago. That's three times the average increase. The increased costs reflect in part higher grain prices, which spiked because of ethanol production, rising oil prices and speculative buying.
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U.S. Agriculture Department economist Ephraim Leibtag though said grain is only one component in the cost of food. He said even though food prices are up, they rose nowhere near as much as the cost of raw ingredients.
"Remember that retail increase of 9 to 10 percent is still only a fraction of the 80 or 90 or 100 percent increase at the commodity level," Leibtag said.
Since last summer, the situation has reversed. Grain prices have fallen sharply, down 50 percent or more from their peaks. Many consumers are wondering why that drop hasn't shown up in the grocery store where prices are still rising. Leibtag said one answer to that question is because it takes a while for lower grain prices to show up in the food aisle.
"That decline takes at least 3 to 6 months on average to work through the system," Leibtag said.
The grain price drop already has contributed to a significant slowing in the rate of food price inflation.
The most recent Consumer Price Index shows that home food prices increased only a tenth of a percent in October, the smallest monthly increase of the year. In at least one category, dairy products, prices actually dropped.
Leibtag said factors other than declining grain prices are also helping to slow food increases. Energy prices have dropped sharply, reducing the cost of processing and transporting food. World demand for some food products is declining, as the global economic downturn reduces consumers' purchasing power. Add all that up, and USDA economist Leibtag said food price inflation should drop to about 4 percent next year.
"The only reason I haven't adjusted it down even more is because of the uncertainty in the commodity markets," Leibtag said. "I just don't know, with prices dropping so quickly is that long-term or is that kind of an overshooting on the way down as we saw overshooting on the way up. However, if they stay this low for six, seven, ten months, then certainly by the middle of next year we would see substantially lower inflation."
Leibtag said grocery store owners are also trying to decide whether the drop in commodity prices will stick. He said the decisions they make on that issue will be an important factor in how quickly they adjust their food prices.
"Because retailers are less inclined to make short-term adjustments downward if they think long-term the trend is upward pricing," Leibtag said.
There is one very visible exception to that general rule, noticeable right now. Turkey prices have increased 5 to 10 percent over the last year. At Thanksgiving though, most grocers cut prices, maybe 10 to 15 cents a pound. It's a move designed to attract shoppers into the store, where it's hoped that they'll buy the more profitable trimmings to go with their lower priced turkey.


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Clash of Clans and Hay Day developer, Supercell, decided to let everyone know just how much money its two mobile games made last year, spoiler alert- it's a lot. 2013 scored the Finnish developer $892 million in revenue which has led to work on a new title due to release as soon as next month.
The leap in revenue took the company up from $101 million in 2012, the truly amazing part is that on average, Supercell was making $2.4 million a day last year. Back in October, Supercell's founder sold a 51% share of the company to Japanese tech and telecoms group, SoftBank Corp, for 150 billion yen making it 3 billion yen more valuable than Farmville maker, Zynga.
The third game will be called ‘Boom Beach', a fighting game due to release in March with more plans to follow. According to Chief Executive, Ilkka Paananen, “There's a roadmap of three, four years of ideas,”. These ideas won't include Windows phone though as the company apparently has no plans to start making games for the platform, that said, Supercell only started bringing its games to Android last year.
KitGuru Says: Games like Clash of Clans can be fun little time wasters as long as you don't succumb to the micro-transactions the game offers.


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Maltese service provider Go has chosen EntoneÂs Kamai hybrid set-top to deliver IPTV and over-the-top services to its subscribers across the country.
Go offers fixed-line and mobile telephone, broadband internet and digital TV services.
The Kamai box comes with Ethernet and optional WiFi connectivity, while a USB port can be connected to an external hard drive to provide DVR.
ÂWe needed a reliable and flexible platform for delivering high-quality video services while enabling us to expand our service offering to include high-definition TV, recording and web applications,Â said Kelvin Camenzuli, senior manager at Go.Â ÂBecause EntoneÂs Kamai is fully integrated with our interactive TV existing middleware and DRM system, we can instantly introduce further new services without costly equipment replacement or having to disturb our customers.Â
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The Golf Compact Hatchback is one of the best-selling cars. Refreshing the Golf with new features like connectivity that will keep it as a consumer favorite. Sedans and hatchbacks are getting retired to feature SUVs and crossovers. more
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The payments industry is in the midst of a profound transformation fueled by the confluence of new technologies, new entrants and new customer demands. Like every year in payments over the past decade, there was no shortage of transformation in 2019.
I was in New York City recently and took a cab downtown. When I got out at my destination the cab driver came chasing after me, claiming that I had not paid my fare. I guess Uber has made its mark on me – a seamless payment experience that I now take for granted.
Checks have remained remarkably resilient in U.S. business payments. Will Mastercard's combination of a business directory and the ability to transmit invoice information with the payment, move more firms from paper to digital?
This past weekend at Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), sponsors Worldpay US and TSYS got a first-hand look—and first pick—at the who’s who of fintech problem-solving this month.
TSYS (TSS) has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share on TSYS common stock, payable April 1, 2016, to TSYS shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 24, 2016. Casey's General Stores (CASY) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable [...]
Just Energy Group (JE) announced its September quarterly dividend. A quarterly dividend of Canadian $0.125/common share will be paid on September 30th, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 15th, 2014. TSYS (TSS) announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of [...]
Yesterday, back-end processor TSYS and prepaid card proprietor NetSpend announced the former would buy the latter for $1.4 billion. This is not just another acquisition. It's interesting because it affirms the value of the much beleaguered general purpose reloadable prepaid (GPR) card industry, it concedes value to a much maligned [...]


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E Green Global (EGG), based in Seoul, is opening a new lab at Kennispark in Enschede. This lab will be used to produce micro tubers, an innovative way of producing seed potatoes. EGG’s micro tubers are a breakthrough in potato cultivation because they can be planted into the field directly and do not carry viruses. After the market development phase, the lab will increase its capacity from 2025 onwards. The lab in Enschede is the first location in Europe.
The Netherlands produced more than 736 tons of seed potatoes in 2021, according to calculations by the Dutch Potato Organization. Seed potatoes are traditionally grown in the field before they are tested and planted. EGG’s biotechnology makes it possible to develop potato micro tubers in a lab under controlled conditions. This method produces healthy seed potatoes in a much quicker fashion than conventional methods. In addition, a machine can be used to plant the micro tubers into the field directly, and it is easy to introduce new potato varieties. Last year, EGG received the ‘Gold Innovation Award’ from PotatoEurope for their ‘micro tuber’ technology.
Establishment in Enschede
Oost NL and the NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency) helped EGG with settling in Enschede. “The sustainable production of healthy and affordable food is one of the biggest challenges of our time. The Eastern Netherlands has traditionally been strong in developing and testing innovative agricultural solutions. We are pleased that a company like EGG is establishing itself at Kennispark in Enschede. The development of micro tubers fits in perfectly with our ambition to contribute to feeding the world population without losing sight of the climate objectives”, says Francine Hellinga, project manager Food at Oost NL.
First lab in Europa
EGG will start with a small lab and plans to scale up further after 2025. EGG has production labs in the United States, China, South Korea and, of course, the lab in Enschede. “We are happy to settle at Kennispark among other innovative companies. The knowledge, expertise and facilities of Wageningen University & Research are relatively close by, and the University of Twente is a stone’s throw away. We can use our technology to enable better, faster and cheaper food production. We are putting ‘lab to farm’ into practice by using micro tubers for potato cultivation, but we are, of course, also investigating whether this technology can be used for other foods”, says Epi Postma, director EGG Business Development Europe.


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Coles has reinstated toilet paper limits after scenes of South Australians panic buying in response to a new COVID-19 cluster.
Effective from Tuesday, all Coles stores in South Australia will limit toilet paper to two packs per customer.
“Coles is implementing purchase limits in South Australia to ensure more customers have access to staple items,” a Coles spokesperson said.
“The limits do not currently apply to any other states or products, however we will continue to monitor stock levels and ask that customers purchase only what they need.”
The retail workers’ union has called for calm amid reports staff members are already being accosted over low stock levels.
“We are already hearing reports of panic buying in supermarkets,” SDA Secretary Josh Peak said.
“This is a stressful time for everyone. Retail workers are doing their absolute best to keep stock on the shelves.
“Stay calm, and treat frontline workers with respect.
“We’re all in this together.”
Authorities have reassured South Australians there will be plenty to go around and have pleaded with consumers to only purchase what is needed.
Shoppers at Kilburn Costco say 15 pallets of toilet paper were sold on Monday morning, leaving stocks bare.
Members have been limited to one pack per customer in response.
Empty shelves were spotted at Golden Grove Woolworths and Coles Glenelg.
As of 9am Tuesday, just one new COVID-19 case linked to the Parafield cluster had been identified from 3000 tests analysed overnight.
The outbreak now sits at 18 cases, 15 of which are from the same family.
The new case is under investigation but is believed to be a close contact of one of the 15 family members.
Premier Steven Marshall said there were still thousands of outstanding swabs to be processed, but said “we’re far less stressed this morning than we were yesterday morning”.
He and Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier will provide the latest daily figures at 3.15pm.
A number of new locations were added to SA Health’s list of exposure sites overnight, including more northern suburbs bus routes and a McDonald’s store.
Despite just one new case so far, a swathe of new restrictions were announced on Monday in a bid to stem the spread of the virus are likely to remain in place for at least two weeks.
Pubs, restaurants, gyms, funerals and private gatherings are now all heavily restricted.


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You are here
Is Lister building an EV hypercar?
Does this render signal Lister’s intention to build a hyper-EV? Hope so
Lister might be about to start work on an electric hypercar. Because obviously.
On Sunday, while you lot were in bed, it tweeted a render of a low-slung, very Jaguar-y-looking hypercar with the caption “A Storm is coming…”, no doubt referencing the tremendous V12-engined Lister Storm of the early Nineties. Beneath the image itself you’ll see the words “Lister EV super car [sic] research”. No, we didn’t just pluck that headline out of thin air…
The new render is quite different from the old Storm – a blocky, wonderfully Nineties GT that, at the time, had the biggest V12 engine fitted to a road car since World War Two. The racers competed against Mercedes CLK GTRs, 922 GT1s and so-on, and were never massively successful.
Since the current owners took over in 2013, Lister has mainly been tuning Jaguar F-Types, though now it’s doing F- and I-Paces too. It’s also built a handful of ‘new’ Lister Knobblys – the Fifties Jaguar-engined racer that really made the company’s name. Last year Lister signalled its intention to build a Ferrari Monza-rivalling Speedster, while back in 2014 company boss Lawrence Whittaker told us the company would definitely build a 1,000bhp multi-million pound V12-engined hypercar to compete with the likes of Pagani and Koenigsegg.
Watch this space…


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My latest feature on a local entrepreneur can be found here. Full text below. Small business with big plans by Karina Coombs Caitlin O’Connor knows a lot about brand management thanks to her time at Proctor & Gamble (P&G). Countless hours spent driving her four children to various activities has also taught her a lotContinue reading “Small business with big plans”
~ Detroit Bus Company. Fitting video given yesterday’s news of the city filing for bankruptcy.


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In developing regions where lack of road infrastructure is problematic for those in the business of moving goods, drones are already having an impact. But also problematic is the fact that the people sending drones off to do the courier work kinda need them back again. A new cardboard drone being funded by DARPA won’t concern […]
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Three-dimensional printers have brought major advances to every corner of manufacturing: Scientists have used the process to engineer human tissue, print a rubber material to make drones less dangerous to people on the ground, and create a lightweight material that’s 10 times stronger than steel and just 1/20th its density.
Last September, we wrote about the Hasso-Plattner-Institute in Germany and their R&D on metamaterials, hacking the internal structures of materials to create simple, non-powered machines. By experimenting with various microstructural designs, researchers were able to 3D print simple machines that can deform to create some form of actuation, allowing the 3D printing of switches, latches, door […]
We have seen a few aerial drones capable of venturing underwater, but none that can enter and exit the marine environment quite like the so-called AquaMav. Built by engineers at Imperial College London, the drone uses collapsible wings to dive like a fish-hunting seabird and scoop up water samples from beneath the surface, and […]
Around the corner from the famous Diamond District in New York City, David Weinstein sorts through some envelopes on his cluttered desk. All of them are full of diamonds.
A team of researchers, led by the University of Minnesota, has invented a new soap molecule made from renewable sources that could dramatically reduce the number of chemicals in cleaning products and their impact on the environment. The soap molecules also worked better than some conventional soaps in challenging conditions such as cold water and […]
One of the most time-consuming (and necessary) parts of gardening is weeding. Thankfully, the guy who invented Roomba is on it. Meet Tertill.
The reign of silicon may be coming to an end. For years, researchers and entrepreneurs hoped that carbon nanotubes would revolutionize microchip design. These tiny, molecular-level structures could, in theory, be used to make chips that are six to ten times faster than today’s silicon-based variety—and use far less electricity.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have unveiled the world’s smallest self-powered drone, which weighs only 2.5 grams and is the size of a quarter. The tiny drone is called Piccolissimo, after the Italian word for pocket-sized. The drone comes in two versions: the quarter-sized one, and a slightly larger and heavier one that is steerable.
It’s no secret that Apple has ambitious plans for iPhone and Apple Watch in the health industry, but it’s not the only company looking for ways to integrate smartphones in the medical field. Recently, a research team from Washington State University, under the leadership of assistant professor Lei Li, developed a portable laboratory that’s powered by a […]


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CLEVELAND — While online shopping makes it easier to buy most of what we need, it's making it harder for many stores to keep their doors open.
Business Insider reports that more than 9,300 store closings were announced in 2019, 2,200 have already announced closings for 2020, and that experts say 12,000 stores could close by the end of the year.
Just in Ohio, Macy's announced it will close its corporate headquarters in downtown Cincinnati as part of a massive restructuring and Earth Fare announced that it will close all of its stores, including three in Northeast Ohio.
It's a problem that's only likely to grow in 2020, and yet, make up seems to be one product that bucks the trend.
"Yeah, there's always a bunch of people in there," said Hannah Rudolph, referring to the store she goes to when she needs to buy make up.
Rudolph and Savannah Higgs both say they won't buy make up unless they've had a chance to try it in person first.
"It's really good to go to the store because if I want to have something but it's not as good quality, you can definitely tell at the store," said Higgs.
At the same time, stores like Pier 1 Imports, Sears, and Gap are reducing their brick and mortar footprint.
"It is not a smooth and 21st Century process," said Ashland University College of Business and Economics Dean Dr. Elad Granot.
He says many large retail locations have been wiped away in the internet age.
"The actual acquisition of basic stuff certainly doesn't make any sense getting out of the house for," said Dr. Granot.
The impact is already being noticed all around northeast Ohio.
Richmond Town Square is shrinking down it's retail, has already added a storage facility, and will eventually tear down the old Sears location to build residential space.
See our previous coverage of the changes at Richmond Town Square here.
The old Parmatown Mall got a nearly $100 million renovation to remove the traditional mall space in favor of The Shoppes at Parma.
See our previous coverage of the changes at The Shoppes at Parma here.
"It's really becoming a significant shift where retail is going to be an experiential thing that just is a part of acquiring whatever it is you need.
That experience can be music, entertainment, or a place to test the product before shoppers buy it.
"The reason [makeup stores are] doing well is they're adding another layer on top of just the transaction," said Dr. Granot.
Dr. Granot says other retail stores can do the same thing but many of them haven't figured out how to effectively do it yet.
"If you don't attach an experiential component to it, I think you're on borrowed time," said Dr. Granot. "You're a dead store walking."


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Norwegian Cruise Line announced it has opened for sale the first ship in the highly anticipated next generation of vessels, the Prima, NCL’s first new class of ships in nearly 10 years.
Voyages are set to begin in summer 2022, with Norwegian Prima, the first of the six ships, a 965-feet long and 142,500-ton vessel able to accommodate 3,215 guests. This will be a game-changer for NCL, offering guests wider spaces, a stunning design, and a variety of new experiences.
“Despite not having sailed in more than a year, we never stopped working and innovating, we never once pressed pause,” according to Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “In fact, we doubled down on our brand investment in order to deliver unforgettable guest experiences that go well beyond expectations. Not only will we begin cruising this July, we’re so proud and so incredibly happy to announce the start of an exciting new chapter as we introduce the Prima Class and the first ship in a line of unrivaled vessels with Norwegian Prima.”
Sommer added, “An exemplary representation of our brand evolution, bringing together our ‘Guest First’ philosophy and our spirit of innovation, Norwegian Prima personifies everything our guests love about NCL and raises the bar. This brand-new class of ships is truly designed to put our guests first.”
Norwegian Prima will offer the highest space ratio of any new cruise ship in the premium category, with 13 suite categories, the largest of its kind, as well as the largest-ever inside, ocean-view and balcony staterooms. The ground-breaking ship will also offer the most outdoor deck space of any other new cruise ship, including multiple infinity pools and vast outdoor walkways, allowing guests to feel they are walking over water.
The newest addition to NCL’s wide variety of culinary options is the Ocean Boulevard located on deck eight, a 44,000-square feet wrap-around deck allowing guests to walk around the entire ship and enjoy amazing ocean views while visiting the brand’s first-ever upscale open-air marketplace with Indulge Food Hall, with menu items from the ship’s many culinary venues, as well as a mix of indoor and outdoor seating.
Another first for the brand is the Concourse, an outdoor sculpture garden with an art wall designed by famed artist David Harber, and six installations designed by Alexander Krivosheiw. The seven sculptures, valued at over $2 million, create stunning effects that change with the setting sun, making them the perfect Instagram moment.
The stunning vessel built in Marghera, Italy by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri features striking hull artwork designed by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita, AKA Peeta. Some of the world-class architects that helped design Norwegian Prima are Italian designer Piero Lissoni and architectural firms Rockwell Group, SMC Design, Tillberg Design of Sweden, YSA DESIGN and Miami-based Studio Dado, in charge of the aesthetic of various restaurants, staterooms and public areas on board.
“We are very honored to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line for the development of its next class of ships,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “Norwegian Prima marks the beginning of our collaboration, which will see the delivery of six next-generation vessels that are designed to take guest experiences to a new level focusing on elevated, spacious and thoughtful design. As we emerge from this global crisis, this announcement marks a strong sign of hope for the cruise sector and is a testament to Fincantieri’s global leadership role in the industry.”


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Lieberman hears economic woes
CROMWELL -- During a gathering of local manufacturing leaders on Tuesday, Sen. Joseph Lieberman announced that restoring the nation's economic base and manufacturing strength will be the centerpiece for his campaign in the 2004 presidential election.
At a luncheon meeting at the Radisson Inn and Conference Center, Lieberman met with members of the Manufacturing Alliance of Connecticut (MAC). He noted that Connecticut manufacturers are going through the worse economic decline since the aftermath of World War II.
The crisis has hit Connecticut particularly hard, he said, costing the state more than 13 percent of its manufacturing jobs since January 2001 alone.
"It's like a patient lying on a hospital bed bleeding to death," Lieberman said. "We are losing jobs that we will never get back. American must recaptures its lead in global manufacturing, but to do so we need strong leadership and decisive action."
Frank J. Johnson, the Executive Director of MAC, explained to Lieberman that so called "free trade" policies have allowed many large corporations and retailers to take advantage of cheap foreign-made goods.
More and more domestically manufactured products are being out-sourced to foreign manufactures where labor is cheaper, Johnson explained, and American is losing its technology to manufactures vital components for the nation's defense systems.
Asian countries, particularly China, routinely ignore U.S. patent and copyright laws, and the products are copied and sold both here and abroad, Johnson said.
Bob Heche, the president of the Thomaston-based Gayner Electric, a manufactures of switches and other devices, told Lieberman that Chinese manufacturers stole one of his company's patented switch designs and are now distributing the product under their brand names.
"This thing doesn't work," Heche said, holding up the Chinese-manufactured product up for Lieberman to view. "If you were to put this clone into a vacuum cleaner, people would get shocked. How did these products get into our country?"
The MAC alliance has come up with an eight step plan to stimulate fair trade, which calls on the federal government to enforce existing trade agreements, establish and enforce fair currency exchange rates and encourage the investing of domestic dollars into American industries.
Lieberman said he strongly endorsed the MAC's eight steps to fair trade, and agreed that many of the principles outlined were "critical to restoring the nation's manufacturing health."
He said the U.S. needs to challenge China's currency policies that distort free trade by systematically undervaluing their currency, and to crack down on counterfeit goods and intellectual property theft, which costs American companies more than $200 billion annually.
Lieberman also said he supports eliminating tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas, and to strengthen and enforce trade agreements with other nations.
Earlier this month, Lieberman joined many of his Congressional colleagues in asking President Bush to direct the Treasury, the State Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to combat China's currency manipulation, which the congressmen said contributed to an unfair trade advantage.
Lieberman said members of Bush's administration need to "get over their own ideologies," and get to work immediately to restore the nation's manufacturing strength.
American has lost 2.4 million jobs since President Bush took office, he said, and Connecticut manufacturing jobs are down 10,900 from one year ago, and 1,200 in just the last month alone.
Bruce Thompson, the Vice President of Operations for the Glastonbury based Projects Incorporated, which manufactures thermocouples temperature probes, relayed to Lieberman that he has become all too familiar with laying off workers.
Declining sales have forced him to reduce his workforce, and he has personally sat with numerous employers and told them that they were being laid off.
"I'm the one who has to sit with the guy who has tears in his eyes, the guy with a kid in college and a family to feed, and tell him that is being laid off. And this guy didn't do anything wrong..he did everything right," said Thompson.
Lieberman said that he "would never forget" the plight on the manufacturers like Thompson who are hemorrhaging jobs as he continues his campaign for the White House.
"I can't forget," responded Thompson. "Because I know these men's families, and see them all the time."
To contact Jim Hickey, call 347-3331 ext. 221, or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org


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he main thread steel 1801 contract fell sharply, closing at 3577 yuan/ton last Friday, down 199 yuan/ton from the previous week.We believe that, on the one hand, the supply side is good and basically released, Wu’an and Tangshan limit production and landing, the market has been digesting the winter limit since November 15 for a long time, and the boosting effect of supply contraction is weakening marginally.On the other hand, since mid-October, terminal demand has been weakening continuously. The demand in northern China is stagnated by environmental protection and weather factors. The performance of terminal demand in other parts of the country is not ideal. The increasing efforts of Beibusai South bring greater psychological pressure to the market. Overall, steel supply contracted, demand fell synchronously, short-term steel prices are difficult to say optimistic.
Terminal demand continues to weaken
After the Eleventh Holiday, the national terminal transactions showed a trend of gradual weakening. Especially last week, terminal demand significantly shrank, and the pressure on traders to ship goods increased. Regionally, due to the poor air quality, environmental protection pressure still exists in the northern region, the superimposed weather quickly turns cool, most construction sites are stagnant, and the demand is shrinking.
Poor shipment in the North has led to increasing efforts from Beibusai to the south. In recent years, the number of ships arriving at ports in South China has increased significantly, and port congestion has become more serious. This year, North Timber went to South China earlier than in previous years, and its strength was stronger than in previous years. Therefore, East and South China are facing greater supply pressures.
Disadvantaged raw materials continue to drag down the production
The main varieties of raw materials, such as iron ore and coke, have fallen since late August. Over two months, iron ore and coke have fallen by 30.27% and 33.55% respectively from their highs. The reason is that under the background of large-scale production restriction in steel mills, raw materials are facing a cliff-like decline in demand. Raw material prices have weakened again after a small rebound, especially iron ore, creating a new low, which makes the market believe that the collapse of the cost of the whole industrial chain caused by raw materials has not ended.
Spot iron ore and coke are still facing a great test. Spot iron ore has been in a low turnover for several weeks. It is common for traders to dump their products at low prices and exchange their prices for quantities. Spot coke prices have been sharply lowered consecutively. The continuing downturn at the raw material end is a drag on the price of finished products.
The slowdown of social inventory
Last week, Mysteel counted 9.994.2 million tons of social steel stocks nationwide, a decrease of 62.1 million tons annually, a significant slowdown. In the three weeks after National Day this year, the total social stock of steel fell by 495,700 tons. In the same period of 2015, it dropped by 104,08,000 tons, and in the same period of 2014, it dropped by 1,543,000 tons. By contrast, the stock decline rate after National Day this year is the lowest in the past three years.
Against such a backdrop of supply contraction, the decline in social inventories is not as fast as expected, reflecting poor demand downstream during the peak October season.
To sum up, we believe that the supply side is basically released, and terminal demand continues to weaken. The northern region is affected by environmental protection and weather factors, and demand stagnates. Steel market supply contracted, demand fell synchronously, short-term steel prices are difficult to say optimistic.
Post time: Oct-30-2019


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Susan Tompor: Pockets of angst — and higher interest rates — cloud picture for car sales
The big economic headlines scream about a better jobs picture, one-time bonuses and a ginormous rally on Wall Street. All good things that could keep driving car sales.
But untold stories of economic anxiety cloud the picture, too.
Jacob Zolynsky, 29, received a $1,000 one-time bonus from AT&T in late December. A little more than a week later, he was laid off. AT&T put out a press release about the bonuses but isn't disclosing how many workers lost jobs.
Zolynsky, who lives in Royal Oak, worked as an installer for U-Verse for about two years. He graduated in 2012 from Central Michigan University with a bachelor of applied arts degree, said he has had a few leads relating to customer service.
And he remains optimistic enough to do a little dreaming about cars and trucks. Zolynsky was eager to see the new 2019 Chevy Silverado when visiting the Detroit auto show this week with his wife, Marina, who works as a nurse practitioner, and their 14-month-old daughter Montana.
His lease on a 2016 Silverado and her lease on a 2017 Dodge Journey end next year. They'll just have to see what happens between now and then, they say.
"I'm being patient," he said. "It's not freak-out time yet."
Deciding to buy a car often boils down to having the extra cash, the credit and the job security to feel comfortable enough to make a deal.
But it's a mixed economic bag, where some consumers are doing very, very well and others remain hopeful that the economic recovery hangs on long enough to grab them on board.
While much news is good, businesses, including major retailers, continue to restructure and let go of some employees, all of which could influence car sales going forward.
AT&T will not provide total numbers or locations of its job cuts, according to company spokesman Marty Richter.
AT&T said it's adding people in "many parts of our business that are experiencing higher customer demand." But "there are some areas where demand for our legacy services continues to decline, and we're adjusting our workforce in some of those areas."
Tina Culver, president of Communications Workers of America Local 4009, said 245 union members in Michigan lost their jobs in early January. Nationwide, she said, the CWA said more than 1,600 AT&T employees were laid off.
"It would have been an easier pill to swallow with bonuses, if nobody lost their jobs," Culver said.
The good news for the auto industry is that many consumers are cashing paychecks with the U.S. jobless rate at 4.1% in December. And many lower-paid U.S. workers are expected to see higher wages in 2018.
In Michigan, for example, JP Morgan Chase said wages will go up for more than 860 eligible employees. The increased minimum hourly pay rate will be either $15 an hour or $16.50 an hour, based on location. These Chase employees had been paid $12 an hour.
Comerica, Fifth Third Bank, PNC and others plan to increase their minimum wage to $15 an hour. That's higher than Michigan's minimum wage of $9.25 an hour — which took effect Jan. 1.
One-time cash bonuses of $1,000 or more were announced by many employers following the passage of the federal tax bill in December. Companies handing out bonus money include PNC Financial Services, Comerica, Citizens Financial Group, Comcast, Bank of America and Fifth Third Bank.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced plans to hand out one-time $2,000 bonus checks to about 60,000 U.S. workers.
Car sales — while expected to pull back from last year's levels — aren't expected to tank in 2018, thanks to the overall strong jobs picture.
Atlanta-based Cox Automotive is projecting that 16.7 million new cars and light trucks will be sold in the U.S. in 2018. That's down from 17.1 million vehicles sold last year.
Vince Audet, 44, who lives in Macomb Township, said after driving a Dodge Journey for nine years and 200,000 miles, he decided to get a 2018 Dodge Ram and got one last Friday.
He's leasing the pickup, which had a sticker price of about $50,000, for $325 a month. He had hoped to get an advertised deal of around $120 a month — but he didn't qualify for a lease loyalty program, a military discount or other incentives.
Audet, who works as a manager in engineering at FCA's U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, said he was happy to hear Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne say at this year's auto show press preview that he has no intention of selling off the company in pieces.
"We're doing great," Audet said. "I'm feeling really good."
Yet some consumers with less job security and weaker credit may feel more compelled to buy a used car, instead of new.
"Credit is tightening at the same time interest rates are going up," Jonathon Smoke, chief economist for Cox Automotive, said in an interview at Cobo Center during press preview days at the Detroit auto show.
A subprime borrower — defined as someone with a credit score below 600 — taking out a new car loan was looking at an average rate of 15.91% in October 2016. But a year later, the average rate had climbed nearly a full percentage point to 16.84%, Smoke said.
On a five-year, $15,000 car loan, the monthly payment for the subprime borrower would be about $7 a month higher and around $371 a month at 16.84%.
Many subprime borrowers can no longer get car loans as credit tightens.
Overall, auto financing has remained strong, according to data from Experian. But the origination of new car loans for subprime borrowers hit a record low, according to Experian's data through the third quarter.
Smoke said he would expect more consumers with weaker credit to turn toward newer used cars in the next few years to hold down their monthly payments. Some might need to save up more for a down payment, as well.
Many consumers often focus on the monthly payment and just take out a longer car loan when rates climb higher. But the length of loan terms — averaging around 69 months — has somewhat plateaued, so extending that loan even longer to lower the monthly payment may not be an option as banks tighten credit, Cox Automotive experts said.
Low car loan rates still exist, even though the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates three times in 2017. Another three rate hikes are expected for 2018 and possibly two more hikes in 2019, Smoke said.
Nationwide, the average five-year new car loan rate is 4.49% now, compared with 4.35% one year ago, according to Bankrate.com.
Some credit unions and banks are even advertising rates at 1.75% or so. But again, the best car loan rates go to customers with the best credit scores.
Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at Autotrader, said affordability continues to be a challenge for many people, in part because wages have only begun rising for many households following the recession.
Consumers who borrowed money by tapping into variable rate loans will now face higher rates on those loans as the Fed raises rates. Payments will go up on credit card debt and home equity loans. Many families, Krebs said, will continue to focus on what they can afford for a monthly payment when shopping for a car.
How people feel about their finances, of course, will continue to greatly influence how they spend any extra cash from wage gains or even one-time bonuses.
Tim Dawkins, 32, said he'll probably use his $2,000 bonus from FCA toward custom wheels and tires for racing his car at Lapeer International Dragway in the spring.
Dawkins, who works as an electrician at Sterling Stamping Plant for Fiat Chrysler, said he feels very secure about his job, especially given the automaker's investment in the Sterling Heights plant.
Dawkins bought a white 2018 Dodge Charger, which has a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, in May. Its sticker price was about $41,000. And he pays about $600 a month — a loan payment that's roughly twice what some friends pay.
"I technically just didn't care. I wasn't hurting. So I got it," said Dawkins, who lives in Detroit.
Contact Susan Tompor: firstname.lastname@example.org or 313-222-8876. Follow Susan on Twitter @Tompor.


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In what could be seen a surprising move, a cryptocurrency analyst has proved that Nasdaq has started trading Bitcoin (BTC).
On Monday morning, as presented by Cryptopolis, an analyst at StrongMarket, there is a trace of Bitcoin (BTC) product on his account linked with TD Ameritrade. The ‘Nasdaq-listed bitcoin product’ has a ticker “CXERX” and was started on April 10 2019.
As confirmed on the shared chart by Cryptopolis, the cryptoanalyst said he bought a BTC at $5,335.
While this may be surprising, there is no doubt that the move will heighten the adoption and price of Bitcoin as we move out of the bear market.
Doing a personal research, we have not confirmed the truthfulness of the shared information by Cryptopolis as there is nothing like such ticker on Nasdaq.
To corroborate our finding, TD Ameritrade, when contacted by Cryptopolis could not ascertain what the CXERX ticker implies. Sean B, a customer care agent, who conversed with Cryptopolis said CXERX “is not a symbol we trade on the live side”. What this indicates is that the ticker is being tested on the server side and the said transaction by Cryptopolis did not go through.
Nasdaq Is Cooking Bitcoin Futures
Late 2019, Cointegraph revealed that Nasdaq intend launching Bitcoin Futures in the first half of 2019.
VanEck Director of Digital Asset Strategies, Gabor Gurbacs, revealed separately that the firm has been in a talk with Nasdaq, MVIS Indices, and some other market bigwigs on Bitcoin futures for close to 2 years.
Gurbacs said the new products are going to be resilient and transparent when compared with other offerings in the market. The addition of futures into the Bitcoin market is an indication of growth and maturity, he said.
Gurbacs said, “there is an increased regulatory and institutional drive towards greater transparency into the digital asset space.”
Meanwhile, it is the second quarter of 2019, and Nasdaq has not rolled out its between futures.


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Hyatt Unveils New Brand In Rosslyn
Hyatt has just unveiled the first Mid-Atlantic hotel to use its new brand targeted at younger travelers.
The hotel at 1325 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn has been given a makeover and a new flag, Hyatt Centric, the Washington Business Journal reports. With the new brand, Hyatt is looking to step up its neighborhood engagement, use more locally sourced products, and attract younger business and leisure travelers.
The 318-room Rosslyn hotel, owned by Fortress Investment Group and managed by Highgate Hotels, lined its walls with art of Washington landmarks and outfitted the rooms and lobby with new furniture.


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Comptoir talking with landlords before making closure decisions
Restaurant operator Comptoir Group confirmed plans to start reopening some of its sites from 4 July on Tuesday.
The AIM-traded firm, which focuses on Lebanese and Meditteranean cuisine, said that following the government announcement on 23 June, it would reopen venues in phases and in line with recommended safety guidelines.
At the current stage, it had not completed its review as to which restaurants may stay closed permanently.
“As reported at the full year results of the company, the group went into the Covid-19 pandemic with 30 restaurants, including six franchised sites,” the board said in its statement.
“The directors are in discussions with all its restaurant landlords about future lease obligations.
“The directors expect the outcome of these discussions and the support it receives from landlords to influence how many restaurants the company operates going forward.”
Comptoir Group said it would provide further updates “as appropriate”.
At 1232 BST, shares in Comptoir Group were down 13.98% at 4p.


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A business that aims to ease small companies’ cashflow woes has secured £57.5 million from investors including the commercial division of the state-owned British Business Bank.
Liberis, which has provided £210 million in loans since it was founded in 2007, said that the funding would help it to provide more capital to companies and would help to support an estimated 100,000 UK jobs by 2020.
The London-based company lends between £1,000 and £500,000 against borrowers’ future debit and credit card transactions so that they can invest in areas such as stock and renovations.
The funding is paid back via a pre-agreed percentage of borrowers’ card transactions. This form of finance suits businesses whose cashflow is hit by seasonal ups and downs, including those in retail…


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GREENVILLE, SC (WSPA)- Visitors took advantage of Black Friday deals in downtown Greenville Friday afternoon, but many were caught by surprise at a unique display.
More than 2 dozen pairs of shoes and photographs lined the sidewalk in City Plaza representing mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters gone too soon.
There were sneakers, boots, and high heels. Each pair of shoes symbolized a different story.
Traci Fant with the Upstate Freedom Fighters organized the demonstration titled “The Empty Shoe Project.” She explained the stories behind some of the shoes on display. “We have Makiya Hawkins. Her mom gave me her prom shoes. She was killed right after the prom.”
Fant continued highlighting the importance of the project. “It symbolizes a person and the shoes that can’t be filled.”
Behind each pair of shoes is a family searching for answers.
Patricia Piver lost her daughter 3 years ago. She’s still hoping for justice and healing.
“My daughter’s case is three years old still unsolved. We don’t want our families to be forgotten during the holidays. I know it’s time to be around the people we care about I was with the rest of my family but there’s one part I’ll never get back and there’s a lot of families like that.”
25 pairs of shoes were put on display.


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Firmware could fix GTA IV on PS3
A new firmware update for the PlayStation 3 could be released in order to resolve the ongoing issues some gamers are having with Rockstar's release.
After the game launched, freezing and crashing problems were reported in some quarters, Rockstar advising gamers to remove and re-install the game. Now, Sony appear to be looking into a more permanent resolution.
This from the US PlayStation forums:
There is an issue with the launch edition of the PS3 and this game, the game was checked over and passed as 100% compatible with the current version of the PS3, of course the earlier version has custom chips which mean that it is a very different animal from the current PS3 on sale.
Sony are aware of this difference and are looking into producing a new firmware just for the earlier version of the PS3.
2K games Tech Support
More on this as we get it.
- Thomas Was Alone gets a release date for PS4 and Wii U
- New Warframe update adds space-flight to the gameplay with Archwing mode
- New poll indicates that people believe online gaming is “the least welcoming space” for women
- CD Projekt RED releases The Trail, the opening cinematic from The Witcher 3
- New Project CARS trailer pulls up to the starting grid
- Far Cry 4 dev says linear games will suffer in the new world of gameplay video sharing
- Almost 1,100 developers, students and journalists sign the new #gamediversity petition embracing diversity in games
- Felicia Day breaks her silence about #Gamergate, is almost immediately doxxed
- Ubisoft announces PC specs for Assassin's Creed: Unity and they're killer


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Contractors today are calling on distributors to step up their efforts to provide them with training on structured cabling installation.
If they do, contractors say, distributors will take a large step toward returning to their core directives of price, service and availability. And this step will help build a much needed bridge between installers and the distributors that serve them.
To jumpstart the training, contractors interviewed by Cabling Installation & Maintenance say distributors must make a conscious effort to hire more full-time voice/data specialists. Such training—long considered a tertiary role at best for distributors—has taken on new importance with the arrival of more complex Category 6 cabling. Contractors describe their relationships with today's distributors as hopeful, but still in need of change. And their needs are simple, but imperative.
"They (distributors) are aligning themselves with us, and meeting our needs," says Ken Sollie, information technology specialist for Kitsap County (www.kitsapgov.com), Port Orchard, WA. "But we need to have more knowledge of the products they are selling."
Training problems are intensifying in today's market as contractors try to help end users make the leap from Category 5e to Category 6. Training is needed to help fortify installers, many of whom are already receiving training from manufacturers, but who need still more direction as they leave a distributor's shop and head out into the field.
"Today's contractor is too busy to try and keep up with technology," acknowledges Ed Constantine, product manager for structured cabling for ADI (www.adi-dist.com), a distributor based in Melville, NY. "They expect the distributor to be ahead of the curve, and say, 'This is what's happening in your world.'"
"I believe the distributor needs to step up to the plate," agrees Randy Guhl, vice president of sales for Accu-Tech (www.accu-tech.com), based in Roswell, GA. "It (training) is a value add, and we have to be more than a fulfillment center."
But some say the responsibility does not lie entirely with distributors, and that contractors share much of the responsibility for mending what can at times be a tense relationship. Contractors and the cable installers who work for them need to make their needs known to distributors, while distributors of all sizes need to hire adequately trained personnel who can direct contractors and installers to the quality cable and components that are now being demanded by end users.
"The distributor out there is doing a good job, but it could be more," says Ron Molgaard, an instructor for Elizabethtown Technical College (www.kctcs.edu), based in Elizabethtown, KY.
"From what we've seen, in order to get the quality of data transmission up, they are going to have to do more," adds Doug Brockman, also an instructor for Elizabethtown Technical College.
Aligning with distributors
Cable installers are continuously looking for distributors that can offer them competitive pricing, product availability and service—aligning themselves with distributors who will treat them as partners.
The good news, contractors say, is that distributors have come a long ways when it comes to offering product selection, inventory awareness and replenishment, logistics, and Internet capabilities. In some cases, distributors are going the extra mile by offering leasing programs that will help a contractor's customer pay for an expensive product. Some offer incentive programs that encourage contractors to buy their products.
Contractors and manufacturers alike say they are delighted that distributors are taking an interest in the Internet, offering Web pages that can help connect with contractors as they seek orders. But contractors add that many of these sites too often indicate solutions and stocking availability, but little else. They say they could use information about what products are compatible with other products, or would help the latest cabling systems work efficiently.
Working to change an image
Distributors say they are working hard to change their image. Many are now holding training sessions across the country that are designed for contractors. The sessions, to a large extent, focus on Category 6 cable and its proper installation.
"We do a lot of ad-hoc training for our contractors; hands-on installation type stuff," says John Crandell, vice president for integrated supply for Anixter, Inc. (www.anixter.com), based in Skokie, IL. "It's important, primarily because a lot of times these contractors need to become familiar with new products. The manufacturers do a good job of training, but there are more of us (distributors) out there than manufacturers."
Fiber Instrument Sales Inc. (www.fiberinstrumentsales. com), based in Oriskany, NY, holds training courses in two cities each month. Kirk Donley, strategic accounts manager, says contractors' interest in these sessions is growing, with more and more of them seeking to learn how to splice and connect fiber. "We build relationships," says Donley. "We are growing in these areas."
Representatives from Corning Cable Systems demonstrate a unicam fiber connector for contractors attending the Graybar Technology Showcase in Columbia, MD.
ADI also sponsors regional training sessions—run by manufacturers' representatives—for contractors 36 times each year. The sessions are considered mini trade shows.
Graybar (www.graybar.com), based in St. Louis, MO, has nearly 200 certified voice/data specialists on staff. Each year, the specialists receive updated training at a national comm/data conference. "They are trained to sell and how to install. They have a high level of certification on how to install products for the end user," says Al Eddings, vice president of comm/data products.
Despite all of these efforts, the relationships between contractors and distributors can sometimes remain strained, at best. Some contractors say that distributors will sell goods to them, but the size of the order in the end will earn them the most favors when it comes to pricing and other rewards.
"It's because we're not a big volume user," says Molgaard. "They don't want to be bothered with the small orders. Contractors will set up an account with a distributor, but you can't say they will always get treated fairly."
Others say they have actually lost installation projects because an unscrupulous distributor led another installer to the project, or sold the end user material directly.
Edward Donelan, president of Telecom Infrastructure Corp. (www.telecom-wiring.com), based in Brewster, NY, says that, too often, distributors will require contractors to tell them where they will conduct an installation. The distributor can then be free to contact the end user and sell them the material direct, cutting out the installer and any profit they might have made on the sale. In some cases, Donelan says distributors have even cost his company an installation job— the distributor helped another contractor win the bid for a given project.
"Distributors need to clean up their act if this business is to be what it used to be," says Perry Buffington, an installer for Protocol Communications Inc., based in Milford, OH.
Tension seems to be building anew as installers find themselves working with the newly ratified Category 6 cable and its components. Installers, who are just now becoming familiar with the cable, say high-end distributors are hiring voice/data specialists on staff, and working with contractors to provide them with the training they need on the latest products. But installers say they, too, are in need of proper component installation training. An improperly installed Category 6 system, they say, can result in a much shorter bandwidth margin, making a Category 6 cabling system only as potent as a Category 5e system. And end users will not be satisfied with those results.
"The installer of the Category 6-compliant cable system right now is not the same-old, same-old," says Donald Nicholson, general manager for global cabling products testing for Intertek Testing Services (www.etlsemko.com), based in Cortland, NY. "Installers' procedures out of required TIA documents have to be followed to the letter to ensure the Category 6 performance. You can't hodgepodge."
Some contractors say this is where distributors can add "service" to their offerings. Since distributors are their last stepping stone before making their way to the end users' facilities, contractors say that when they make the purchase, distributors need to also help them match component with cable. And many distributors, they say, are falling short when it comes to structured cabling knowledge.
Brockman says the knowledge stops or starts with voice/data specialists. He believes that most of the high-end distributors have ample voice/data specialists on staff who can assist contractors when they are making their purchases. But smaller, regional distributors are falling short when it comes to hiring these specialists.
Installers are not the only ones who've noticed. End users say they have, on occasion, been pressured to buy products from distributors that they know they do not need. A voice/data specialist on staff, they say, could have made a difference.
"I've had distributors tell me that I need Category 6. But I don't need Category 6," says Mike Lopez, telecom systems analyst, information technology for Catholic Health Initiatives (www.catholichealthinit.org), based in Tacoma, WA. The hospitals under Lopez's administration have a solution that includes copper for voice and data. The administration is attempting to upgrade part of the system to 50-µm optical fiber during the next year.
Some manufacturers say they recognize the tension and are trying to work with distributors to rectify it.
But some believe that distributors need to stick with what they do best—distributing structured cabling products. They say that distributors are, by their very nature, a biased source, and that any attempt to train contractors in product use could be construed as an attempt to sell products. They also say that distributors' staff members are too often under-trained in a given product and so should not attempt to provide the installer with instruction.
Instead, manufacturers' representatives say the real training should come from organizations like BICSI (www.bicsi.org), the Category 6 Consortium, the TIA (www.tiaonline.org) and, ultimately, the manufacturers who build the products.
Brian Milligan is senior associate editor for Cabling Installation & Maintenance.


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Savor great Maryland wines at Autumn fest
Taste wines from all across the state of Maryland as the Autumn Wine Festival returns to Pemberton Historical Park this weekend.
The 15th annual Autumn Wine Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22. The Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism event, produced in partnership with the Maryland Wineries Association, offers festivalgoers the opportunity to taste unlimited samples from different Maryland wineries. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
The Autumn Wine Festival has also partnered with Women Supporting Women, a local nonprofit that strives to provide awareness, education and support to those affected by breast cancer. Women Supporting Women will be on-site all weekend hosting fundraisers under the Pink Party Tent.
The festival also features live music, regional cuisine, a variety of vendors and a Sports Zone.
“The Autumn Wine Festival has such a great atmosphere,” said Vanessa Junkin, assistant director of marketing and public relations for Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism. “You can sample different wines with your friends, listen to great music and help Women Supporting Women through fundraisers — all at the beautiful Pemberton Historical Park.”
Tickets for the festival are on sale now. Tasting tickets include a 6-ounce glass and as many samples as one can responsibly consume. In recognition of Wicomico County’s 150th anniversary, the first 150 people through the gate will receive a commemorative stemless wine glass featuring the 150 Year Celebration logo.
Tasting tickets are $35 for one day or $60 for both days, and non-tasting tickets are $10 for one day. Additional fees may apply to ticket prices. Ticket buyers also have the option of making a donation to Women Supporting Women at checkout.
Purchase tickets online at www.AutumnWineFestival.org or at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center box office (Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). The box office can be reached at 410-548-4911. Tickets will also be available for purchase on-site (cash only.)
Pets, pop-up tents and outside food and drink are not permitted, but attendees are invited to bring a blanket or chairs.
For more information, visit www.AutumnWineFestival.org.
If you go
What: Autumn Wine Festival
When: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day
Where: Pemberton Historical Park
Info: Visit www.AutumnWineFestival.org.


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Czech economy slows despite increase in consumer spending
The Czech economy slowed last year despite an increase in consumer spending, Czech Radio reported on Tuesday citing new preliminary figures released by the Czech Statistical Office. According to the bureau, economic growth slowed to 2.3 percent of GDP; a year earlier it was double that amount, 4.6 percent. In Q4 alone, growth stagnated at 0.2 percent year-on-year.
The results for last year were lower than what had been forecast by experts. Analysts approached by the Czech News Agency, for example, had predicted an overall annual result of 2.5 percent, and a far better result for Q4, of 0.8 percent. GDP is a monetary measure of the market value of all final goods and services produced in a period (be it quarterly or yearly), and Czech Radio noted that the early or preliminary estimate would still be tweaked later according to additional data.
By comparison, last tear neighbouring Germany, according to available figures, experienced economic growth of 1.9 percent, beating a 1.8 percent median estimate.


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Coles, IGA and Foodworks stores are selling cut-price premium brand cigarettes for as low as $20 a packet that are imported from Ukraine, in a move that has been described by anti-smoking advocates as “reprehensible”.
In recent weeks, Fairfax Media has bought cigarettes from Imperial Tobacco’s line of brands that are from two different countries of origin – New Zealand and the Ukraine.
The cigarette companies are not doing this make money, they’re doing this to keep people hooked.
Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White
The Ukrainian-made Imperial Tobacco cigarettes range between $3 and $6 cheaper than the company’s cigarettes made in New Zealand, depending on the location of the store and brand.
Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White said the price drop was concerning.
“So we know that [from] the tobacco companies themselves is that prices are the thing that gets them,” Dr White.
“Any measure that is trying to make cigarettes cheaper for people to keep them hooked on an addictive product that kills two out three long-term smokers is reprehensible.
“The cigarette companies are not doing this make money, they’re doing this to keep people hooked on their toxic product.”
A spokeswoman for the federal department of health said high taxes were part of suite of measures, including advertising bans and education campaigns, the government was doing to help curb smoking.
“The Australian government would be concerned about any reduction in the price of a packet of cigarettes that may attract young people to take up the habit.
“We have one of the highest rates of tax on cigarettes in the world as a means of deterring people from smoking, but if cigarette companies legitimately bring product into the country and drop the price unfortunately there is nothing we can do about that.”
The brand at the centre of the change is popular, premium brand Peter Stuyvesant Blues.
The Ukrainian version is called “Peter Stuyvesant Originals Blue” while the NZ version is dubbed “Peter Stuyvesant Classic Blue”.
Quit Victoria’s Dr White said it was an interesting development.
“It seems like a strange step to take because this is one of their premium brands and they’re devaluing packs made in Ukraine of a premium brand and we have not seen a price variation between variants of the same brand before,” Dr White said.
“We strongly suspect that there is manipulation of prices particularly in areas where people cannot afford premium price packs and there are studies that show there are prices lower around schools.”
There are slight variations in the packaging between the Ukrainian and New Zealand varieties but both appear to be fully compliant with Australian plain packaging laws.
Differences include the layout of the brand title on the packet and the Ukrainian cigarettes internal packaging is shiny foil with an American-style rip open while the NZ cigarettes have matt foil internal packaging and are pull-open.
Woolworths appears to still be selling the more expensive NZ variety.
The origin of supply is interesting for Australian customers. In 2015, Ukraine dropped its lawsuit, funded by British American Tobacco, against Australia at the World Trade Organisation over plain packaging laws.
A spokeswoman for Imperial claimed the company had not changed country of import.
She also denied the company had changed its country of import to provide cut-price cigarettes to the Australian market.
“The Ukraine-manufactured product is a brand extension,” the Imperial spokeswoman said.
“Our Ukrainian facility has the machinery necessary to manufacture this particular product. The balance of that brand family is manufactured in NZ.”
A spokeswoman for Metcash confirmed it wholesales from New Zealand and Ukraine.
“Metcash currently purchases numerous tobacco products from Imperial Tobacco which it distributes to a diverse range of retail customers including IGA and Foodworks. This includes products originating from New Zealand and some product originating from the Ukraine,” the spokeswoman said.
Metcash had not pressured Imperial Tobacco to change its country of import.
A Coles spokesman also confirmed the supermarket giant had not requested a change of country of manufacturer with any of its tobacco suppliers.
“Tax including GST on any cigarette is currently a minimum 59c per stick. Tax makes up the majority of the price that our customers see in store,” the Coles spokesman said.
“The price differential you have noted is due to the recent introduction of a new product, ‘Peter Stuyvesant Originals Blue 20pk,’ which is currently priced at $20. We also sell ‘Peter Stuyvesant Classic Blue 20pk’ which is priced at $25.”


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DHL Supply Chain has embarked on a new adventure after it signed a five-year contract with luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker International to be its logistics partner. DHL will manage all of the Poole-based company’s in-bound freight movements, as well as goods receiving, stores, kitting, shipyard material movements and the line-feed of production parts. It is also tasked with implementing a programme of transformational improvements and accelerated digitalisation to support the company’s future growth plans. Read more DHL Supply Chain in […]
DHL Supply Chain has seen demand for its fulfilment business soar by 150% in eight months.
Union Unite says it has secured a compensation package for more than 120 Tradeteam employees who lost their jobs after the Hams Hall site closed earlier this month. The drinks distributor, part of DHL, delivered to pubs and clubs across the West Midlands but it was hit by a decline in volumes and the site closed on 6 April. Unite says the drivers, warehouse staff, draymen as well as admin and clerical employees that worked at the Warwickshire plant were […]
The Petrol Retailers Associaition (PRA) has said that fuel supplies on Scottish forecourts remain unaffected at present, despite the temporary shut down of Grangemouth oil refinery due to an unresolved clash between its operator, Ineos, and the Unite union.


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Vietnam Coffee Seen Swinging to Premium by VolcafeMorgane Lapeyre
Robusta coffee beans from Vietnam, the world’s biggest grower of the variety, switched to trading at a premium as “producers and agents continue to halt sales into the declining market,” according to Volcafe Ltd.
The premium on Vietnamese beans for shipment in July and August was $40 a metric ton to the futures on NYSE Liffe in London last week, compared with a discount of $40 a week earlier, the unit of commodities trader ED&F Man Holdings Ltd. said in a report e-mailed June 6.
Robusta beans, used to make instant coffee and espresso, fell for five consecutive weeks through June 6 on Liffe, the longest losing streak since June last year.
In Indonesia, coffee for shipment in July and August was at a premium of $80 a ton to the London futures last week, up from $50 a ton the previous week, according to the report.
“Farmers continue drying and hold on to the coffee for Ramadan and Hari Raya,” Volcafe said. Indonesia is the world’s third-biggest grower of the robusta variety, after Vietnam and Brazil.
The harvest of the dry arabica crop in Uganda has stopped as “farmers and middlemen who held back stock keep a watchful eye on the prices as they slowly liquidate their position,” according to Volcafe.


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High Street giant Next is festive bellwether with first post-Xmas sales update
Britain’s second biggest clothing chain Next will offer a snapshot of festive trading conditions on the High Street when it becomes the first retailer to post a Christmas update.
Bellwether: Trading results over Christmas from Next will be closely monitored by analysts
The fashion chain was forced to issue its first profits warning for nearly two decades in October after the mild weather hit demand for winter clothes.
Next was budgeting for 'full-price' sales in the fourth quarter to be within a range of -2 per cent to +4 per cent. It has predicted full-year profits of £770 million based on sales increasing 1 per cent.
Next is widely seen as a bellwether for the high street, so today’s figures will set the scene for a string of retailers' updates.
Struggling clothing giant Marks & Spencer, as well as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, will all report their figures next week.
Veteran retail analyst Nick Bubb said: 'Just like last year, Next deserve considerable credit for holding the line on 'full-price retailing' before Boxing Day.'
He added: 'But the fear is again that it will have lost business to struggling High Street competitors in the short term.'
Shares fell 45p to 6515p.
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Find our most recent stories tagged by their locations. Click here for more story locations.
Posted: 07 Oct 2010 | 6:00 am
In somewhat taxing times, pardon the pun the Provincial Government have targeted hotel owners who are currently evading payments. According to figures reported of 702 hotels only 273 are licensed on the island.
Along with obvious tax concerns other issues citied include the lack of appropriate building permits and environmental approvals which are needed in order to obtain a formal hotel license.
One consequence of the lack of licenses has come up in a number of intended hotel transactions where sales have not pushed though once due diligence started and it was found that the seller lacked the required documentation.
Another short term ill of the existing hotel license regime in the lack of formal guidelines for non- traditional accommodation including condo hotels and private pool villa developments which operate and are sold as hotels.
Many owners have expressed willingness to get a license and pay tax but there is simply no allowance for these products in the current Thai Hotel Act.
A column featuring environmental issues and conservation around the island. Click here for more Green Reports check out the latest story from the leading experts:
One emerging hotel booking site GreenHotelWorld.com has now engaged more 5,200 green certified properties globally.
The recent relaunch and expansion plans at the famed Indonesian's sustainable resort Nihiwatu shows that luxury can fit into this niche segment.
Library of published hospitality, tourism and property market intelligence.
Bill Barnett on Hospitality, Hotels and Residences
PHUKET GAZETTEPhuket's Secondary Property Sector Drifts Into Autopilot Mode
PROPERTY REPORT SOUTH EAST ASIAGet Back In Your Box


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Billionaires battered by tech wreck... but they're still among wealthiest on the planet
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' fortune fell by a staggering £34bn
The American ‘tech wreck’ wiped more than £80billion off the fortunes of Silicon Valley’s richest entrepreneurs.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin saw their riches hammered as their companies plunged in value.
Warren Buffett, the famous investor, was also caught out after piling into iPhone maker Apple.
The biggest loser was Bezos, whose fortune fell by a staggering £34billion from highs last month, according to Bloomberg’s billionaires index. But he was still worth around £98billion.
Zuckerberg’s cash pile from a high in July, plunged £27billion to about £41billion this week as shares were hit by sluggish user growth and fears of tougher regulation.
Microsoft founder Gates’s fortune dipped by around £5billion from highs last month to £73billion and Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-founders of Google, saw their combined wealth fall by £16billion from July to just under £79billion.
The tumble in fortunes came amid signs the decade-long bull run in US markets could be starting to falter despite producing awe-inspiring wealth for a handful of founders.
Yesterday, tech shares started to recover slightly, with shares in the so-called ‘FAANG’ stock – Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google-owner Alphabet – bouncing back.
That helped lift the fortunes of Bezos, Zuckerberg, Gates, Page and Brin.
But at one point this week the FAANGs had shed a combined trillion dollars in value since their highs this year. Investors have been spooked by the prospect of tougher regulation, higher taxes and growth forecasts that were lower than expected.
Apple, in particular, has been hit by concerns that its latest iPhone model isn’t selling strongly.
Buffett, who has been increasing his stake in Apple, has lost around £5billion since his fortune hit highs earlier this year but is still worth nearly £70billion.
Many traders are now considering whether to snap up tech shares while they are cheaper in expectation they could recover, known as ‘buying the dip’.
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Oakland volume up 3.2pc in January to 197,312 TEU
THE Port of Oakland posted a 3.2 per cent year-on-year increase in container volume in January to 197,312 TEU, according to port authorities.
"We've been cautiously optimistic about 2017 cargo volumes and this is a solid start to the year," said port maritime director John Driscoll. "We're gratified by the continued success of our export business."
The port handled 73,352 TEU of laden boxes in January, up nine per cent year on year; up 3.6 per cent to 80,443 TEU in laden import boxes; down 10.5 per cent in export empties to 26,339 TEU and up 2.2 per cent to 17,178 TEU in import empties.
Agricultural commodities continue to drive exports, said American Shipper. Strong harvests and aggressive marketing helped boost overseas sales of California almonds last month, said the report.
Said the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association's monthly newsletter: "Today, California accounts for 100 per cent of the nation's exports of table grapes, raisins, figs, dried plums, kiwis, dates, olives and olive oil, garlic, artichokes, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios."
Said Jock O'Connell of Beacon Economics: "Oakland's share of US nut export tonnage soared between 2005 and 2015, when the port handled 81 per cent of all almond exports and 94 per cent of all walnut exports from US ports.
"That dominance was not always the case. As recently as 2005, Oakland's share of US nut exports was just 43 per cent, followed by Houston at 22 per cent, and Los Angeles/Long Beach at 18 per cent. Ten years later, Houston's share had fallen to four per cent, Los Angeles/Long Beach held steady at 18 per cent, but Oakland's jumped to almost 68 per cent," Mr O'Connell said.


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Town-wide discounts offered Nov. 29 in Westborough
WESTBOROUGH - Businesses in Westborough will be offering discounts for Small Business Saturday, a national shopping day meant to reflect the big post-Thanksgiving retail days Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but on a more local scale.
“Why leave town to shop?” Town Planner Jim Robbins is quoted as saying in a town press release. “Westborough has everything that can be found elsewhere. Whether it’s the many unique small businesses of our downtown or the larger retailers along Rte. 9, Westborough has it all."
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 29 this year, and Westborough's Economic Development Committee created the Shop Westborough Initiative to coincide. Participating Westborough businesses include Yummy Mummy Bakery, Arturo's Ristorante, Maruyama, She's a Gem, and Ferris Flowers. As a part of the initiative, discounts offered by local businesses can be viewed through the mobile app Cidewalk.
"Residents will find quality items and excellent service without having to travel to other communities," Economic Development Committee Chairwoman Deborah Penta was quoted as saying in the town press release. "The more we can support our local retailers, the stronger our local economy will be now and in the future."
Westborough businesses interested in offering discounts Nov. 29, and being a part of Small Business Saturday and the Shop Westborough Initiative can contact Francisco Torres, economic development coordinator, at email@example.com


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A federal judge approved a $9 million settlement today in a lawsuit over genetically modified corn that found its way into products that were sold in supermarkets.
Under the settlement, approved here by Judge James Moran of Federal District Court, a group of food companies will attach $6 million in coupons, each good for a dollar off, to packages of their products.
Any portion of the $6 million not used by consumers through the coupons will be paid into a fund that will be used to support charities or food research groups.
The Chicago law firm of Krislov & Associates will get $2.4 million for filing the class-action lawsuit on behalf of consumers who said they had suffered allergic reactions from eating products that contained the genetically modified corn.
A lawyer, Clinton A. Krislov, said the defendants had not disclosed how much each of them would contribute to the $9 million settlement. About $600,000 is designated for administering the coupon program.
The modified corn, called StarLink, was created by one defendant, Aventis CropScience of Research Triangle Park, N.C. It was licensed to the Garst Seed Company of Slater, Iowa, for sale to farmers. The corn has been engineered to include a gene for a protein called Cry9C, which kills insects that bore their way into the corn plants.
StarLink seed was approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency for use in animal feed but not for human consumption.
Aventis and Garst were defendants in the lawsuit along with the Kraft Foods Company of Glenview, Ill., part of the Philip Morris Companies; Azteca Foods of Chicago; and Azteca Milling and a sister company, Mission Foods, both part of the Gruma Corporation.


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Hello Friends, Halloween… is coming upYes, pumpkin spice has taken over! I told Deanna that this is always a fun time for me because I can have fun with the kids, carve pumpkins and get
Home Values Hit AllTime High In Nearly TwoThirds Of Markets Across The US
According to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors, home values are at an all-time high in 64% (or nearly two-thirds) of the markets across the United States. Single-family home prices increased in an astonishing 92% of markets, with 15% of metro areas seeing an increase of 10% or more.
While these price increases are clearly bad news for buyers, they’re excellent news for sellers—especially sellers who struggled with negative equity after the recession.
According to a recent CoreLogic report, Evaluating The Housing Market Since The Great Recession, the average house price is now 1% higher than it was at the peak of the real estate market in 2006, which means even homeowners who purchased at the peak of the pre-recession bubble have recovered their home value.
If you’ve been thinking about selling your home, now is the time to do it. With home values at an all-time high and low inventory ramping up competition among buyers, there’s never been a better market to get the most value for your home.
Philosophy: Christina is your advocate. Whether buying your first home, or selling your last, Christina will work to guide you through every step of the process and fight for your best interests ever....


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According to research company CCS Insight, Apple will probably introduce an iPad with a foldable screen in 2024.
In contrast to the general trend of consumer electronics firms releasing folding screen cellphones, CCS Insight predicted that a foldable iPad will most likely be released before a folding iPhone.
According to the analysis group, Apple will probably include its own 5G modem into the A series of processors in 2025 to provide a “single-chip” iPhone solution.
would most certainly release an iPad with a folding screen in 2024, according to research company CCS Insight, which also predicted the American technology giant will soon start testing with foldable technology.
The annual predictions report from CCS Insight, in which the company’s experts identify the next trends and products, was released on Tuesday.
In its most recent analysis, CCS Insight forecasted that rather than starting with a foldable iPhone, Apple will introduce a foldable iPad in two years.
As opposed to other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung, who introduced foldable smartphones rather than tablets, this is the opposite.
“A foldable iPhone is not now a viable option for Apple. Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight, said in an interview on CNBC that his company believes consumers would reject that trend and perhaps experiment with a foldable iPad.
“Apple will be taking a huge risk by releasing a foldable iPhone. In order to avoid eating into sales of the current iPhones, it would first need to be extremely pricey, Wood continued.
The analyst predicted that the price of a foldable iPhone would be roughly $2,500. The most costly model now available from Apple is the iPhone 14 Pro Max with the maximum storage, which costs about $1,599.
Wood said that if Apple encountered any technical difficulties with the foldable phone, there would be a “feeding frenzy” among detractors who would blame Apple for the flaws.
Also Read: Gurman: On Tuesday, Apple Will Introduce a New iPad Pro with an M2 Processor
Wood stated that despite this, Apple “has no choice but to react” since the trend for foldable devices “is building strength,” hence the firm will start with an iPad.
He said that by doing so, Apple would have the opportunity to experiment with and grow the use of foldable screen technology while also “breathing fresh life” into the iPad line.
When approached by CNBC, Apple was unavailable to respond right away.
Several rumors have surfaced regarding Apple’s plans for goods with foldable screens. According to a report published earlier this year by industry research company Display Supply Chain Consultants, Apple won’t likely enter the foldable smartphone market until at least 2025.
Apple is reportedly looking at folding technology for displays that are about 20 inches in size, according to the firm. According to the market research firm, that may be concentrated on a brand-new folding notebook device.
Meanwhile, there have been rumors regarding a foldable iPhone for at least four years. A well-known Apple analyst who is renowned for making accurate forecasts, Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities, said last year that the firm would introduce a foldable iPhone in 2024.
Also Read: Mac Not Connecting with The Printer! Fix This Problem Easily
Apple to Combine 5G and Processor in Chip
Apple will keep making investments in its own chip design, according to CCS Insight’s prediction.
The Cupertino behemoth now creates its own unique processors for the iPhone and iPad. It depends on Qualcomm, a U.S. chipmaker.
for the modems that connect these gadgets to mobile internet networks in order to provide 5G connection.
To create a “single-chip” solution for iPhones in 2025, CCS Insight said that Apple will most likely incorporate its own 5G modem into the A series of processors.
2019 saw Apple purchase the modem division of Intel. This sparked rumors that the tech giant will swiftly stop using Qualcomm and switch to using its own modems in its products. That hasn’t happened yet, though.
In June, Kuo of TF International Securities stated that he anticipates the company to keep using Qualcomm chips in iPhones arriving in 2023.
Also Read: Change Folder Color on Mac with These Easy Steps
Wood claimed that in order to use its own modems in iPhones, Apple has been “ramping up in-house capabilities.”
“They’ve been aiming for this target for years (Apple). They purchased the resources from Intel.
They have been working hard to increase the speed of the modem unit, and they are determined to ensure that they maintain the growth of their control points, according to Wood.
They don’t want to continually pay a provider from a different party for their technology.
For More Information Visit Our Site: https://www.techllog.com/


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CITY of Ballarat chief executive officer Anthony Schinck has contacted selected community leaders explaining how the council spent more than $60,000 on coffee in three years.
In an email leaked to The Courier after it was sent to selected city “stakeholders”, Mr Schinck defended council staff and objected to the perception of “wrongdoing” over the council’s card purchases.
Mr Schinck explained in the email that the expenditure on coffee wasn’t due to council staff buying “lots of cups of coffee for themselves and for meetings on their cards”.
He said $8500 had been spent on coffees at business meetings over three years while $30,600 was used to buy coffee and coffee-related products for its commercial cafe operations, $2700 went on coffee supplies for volunteers and $16,900 on office and public facility supplies.
The council did spend money on airfares and accommodation, Mr Schinck said, with a large part of the international cost down to the need to attend meetings and events as a board member of the UNESCO World League of Historic Cities.
The city had also done business with China, attended sister city celebrations in Japan last year and travelled to meetings in Melbourne and Canberra.
Mr Schinck explained that the amount spent on purchase cards had increased greatly over three years as the council had proactively pushed more transactions to purchase cards.
He said all of the expenses were directly related to work, projects and services the council provided.
“The hardest pill to swallow is the impact that this has had on the community’s perception of all our people who work hard and diligently to advance the city and do the right thing by our residents,” he said.
The Courier investigation revealed council staff bought more than $63,000 worth of coffee with their work purchase cards in the past three years.
Between the 2010 and 2013 financial years, council staff also had $300,000 worth of travel, accommodation and meeting expenses and spent $139,826 on meals, $134,566 on gifts, and $105,224 on iPads and iPhones.