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BUSINESS CLOSE: FTSE rises 1%; Tesco warns 1,600 more jobs at risk; House price growth strongest since 2005; Virgin Money boosts outlook
The FTSE 100 closed up 1 per cent at 7,535.8 and the FTSE 250 finished 1.1 per cent higher at 22,167.94.
Supermarket giant Tesco warned that a further 1,600 jobs are at risk across the business, as a result of changes to overnight roles.
Tesco announced separate expected job cuts just yesterday as the group outlined 'efforts to serve customers in the best way possible in a competitive market'.
British house prices jumped by 0.8 per cent in January, marking the strongest start to any year since 2005, Nationwide figures reveal.
The rise beat economist forecasts of 0.6 per cent growth and follows a 1.1 per cent uptick in December, with house prices now 11.2 per cent higher than their level in January 2021.
Challenger bank Virgin Money UK has boosted expectations for its annual net interest margin outlook – a key measure of a bank’s underlying profitability - as it benefits from higher-yielding lending on the back of rising interest rates.
Robert Garnder, Nationwide chief economist: 'Reduced affordability is likely to exert a dampening impact on market activity and house price growth'
FTSE 250 has closed up 1.1%, or 241.3 points, at 22,167.9
Michael Hewson at CMC Markets UK sums up the day:
European markets have got off to a strong start to February, after last night’s push back by a number of Federal Reserve officials, who poured cold water on some of the hawkish narratives being put out with respect to the Federal Reserve’s hiking timeline.
Amongst the best performers we’re seeing some decent gains amongst the basic resource and banks, with the likes of Rio Tinto, Glencore, and Anglo American near the top of the pile, while HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group are also doing well.
Supermarkets have been a mixed bag after the latest Kantar grocery sales data for the 12 weeks to 23rd January showed a fall of 3.8%, on a like for like basis.
Rising prices also played a part in the decline, with prices rising sharply in the period after Christmas, by as much as 3.8%, a rise of 0.3% from December. In terms of market share only Tesco and Waitrose improved their market share over the 12-week period, despite weaker sales compared to a year ago, helping to push Tesco shares up on the day.
Sainsbury saw sales fall 4.8% year on year, as well as losing some market share, with the shares slipping back. Vodafone and BT shares are also lower ahead of their earnings numbers later this week.
Countdown star Susie Dent today led calls for Wordle to remain free after the New York Times hinted the popular online word puzzle may go behind a paywall in future following its purchase for an estimated £2million.
Concerns were raised after the NYT said the virtual puzzle will 'initially remain free to new and existing players' with millions of people now playing the game, where each day they get six chances to guess a five-letter word.
Software engineer Josh Wardle said that when Wordle - a play on his surname - moves to the NYT website, 'it will be free to play for everyone, and I am working with them to make sure your wins and streaks will be preserved'.
Two thirds of Britons are already feeling the squeeze from the cost of living crisis, with nearly a third cutting back on their gas and electricity use in January to dodge spiraling costs, new official data shows.
Soaring energy bills were increasingly responsible for financial pressure and 'disproportionately' impacted those on lower incomes, according to the latest study measuring the impact of rising costs on households by the Office for National Statistics.
Around four in five people feeling rising pressure on their budgets have blamed an increase in gas and electricity prices - and that is before the price cap balloons in April.
Our full story below...
Just before close, the FTSE 100 was up 0.95% to 7,534.93.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 was 1.01% higher at 22,148.11.
Staff at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action regarding proposed reforms to pay and working conditions.
Trade union Unite said 87 per cent of its members at the financial services industry watchdog had approved action over the proposed changes, which are part of a transformation plan spearheaded by FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi.
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive has received a £500million Export Development Guarantee via the UK Government, which will support the research, development and export of battery electric vehicles.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) guaranteed 80 per cent of a new £625million loan from 12 commercial banks, under its Export Development Guarantee program designed to drive major investments into UK exporters.
Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:
We are backing our ambitious net zero plans with more concrete action. We want our carmakers to accelerate the production of electric vehicles in the UK.
This deal from UK Export Finance will help Jaguar Land Rover continue to sell the Best of British to the world, while creating jobs, boosting manufacturing and levelling up across the UK.
US stocks shortly after the opening bell:
The FTSE 100 is up 0.9 per cent at 7,534.40.
The FTSE 250 is up 1.3 per cent at 22,206.22.
The pound is 0.4 per cent higher against the dollar at $1.3495, the highest in a week.
Against the euro, sterling has dropped back from yesterday's two-year high, with £1 buying €1.1975.
The pound rose as high as €1.2038 yesterday, a level last seen in February 2020 before the pandemic struck.
The Prime Minister and Chancellor were likened to the tragic female road movie characters - who drove fatally into the Grand Canyon to avoid police - as ministers faced demands for a U-turn.
Embattled cinema chain Cineworld is in talks to delay payments to former 'dissenting' shareholders of its US Regal Entertainment business as it continues to struggle under a huge pile of debt.
In September, the company reached an agreement with disgruntled Regal shareholders to pay them $170million (£126million) in relation to its 2018 takeover of the US company.
But Cineworld said on Tuesday it had obtained undertakings to waive off any default arising from non-payment of dues to creditors, including holders of its guaranteed convertible bond due 2025.
Our full story below...
Shares in welly and raincoat retailer Joules are down by more than 40 per cent after the group revealed revenues had been severely impacted by rising costs and stock disruption in the nine weeks to the end of January.
Revenues were up 31 per cent and 19 per cent against 2021 and 2020 levels during the period, but Joules acknowledged these sales, in addition to profits, were 'behind the board's expectations'.
ESG - environmental, social and governance - has been a buzz term in the industry over the past few years and investors are increasingly putting their money into ethical funds.
For example, ESG accounted for three quarters of the £1.9billion invested in UK retail funds in November 2021, recent figures from the Investment Association show.
A report released by Rio Tinto today has outlined a culture of bullying, harassment and racism at the global mining giant.
Nearly half of all 10,000 employees who responded to an external review of the miner's workplace culture said they had been bullied, while racism was found to be common across a number of areas.
It also found that some 21 complaints of actual or attempted rape or sexual assault had been filed over the past five years.
Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said the results were 'disturbing' and the company would implement all 26 recommendations from the report by former Australian sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.
Asking a pregnant woman whether she intends to return to work after giving birth is discrimination, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Laura Jo Duffy, who worked as a PA at Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust in North London, successfully sued the health service after her boss nodded towards her stomach while asking about her 'future plans'.
Virgin Money has hailed a robust end-of-year performance despite weakened public financial support hitting mortgage and business lending.
The challenger bank blamed a winding down of UK Government-backed lending and weaker demand for the decline in business lending, which dropped by 2.2 per cent from the previous quarter to £8.3billion in the final three months of 2021.
Commenting on the BoE statistics, some experts have pointed to them as evidence of people trying to maintain their lifestyles as their incomes are battered by high inflation.
Thomas Pugh, an economist at RSM UK, said:
The latest Money and Credit figures suggest that consumers are borrowing more and saving less as they try to maintain their lifestyles in the face of surging inflation.
Normally, a rise in consumer credit is a good indication that consumption is growing strongly because it tends to expand when the economy is good. People feel confident enough to borrow and splurge on big ticket items, such as cars.
However, this time may be different. A rise in consumer borrowing over the next year may suggest that consumers are dealing with high inflation and attempting to maintain their lifestyles by borrowing.
Indeed, we know that retail sales volumes slumped in December, so it seems unlikely that the £0.8 billion increase in consumer credit in December was due to consumers buying more goods.
The latest Bank of England's money and credit report also shows that households are borrowing more and putting less money into savings, according to Bank of England figures.
Consumer credit, which includes borrowing on credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts, increased by 1.4 per cent annually in December 2021, accelerating from 0.8 per cent in November.
It marked the strongest annual growth in consumer credit borrowing since the start of the UK lockdowns in March 2020.
Within the latest total, credit card borrowing increased by 2 per cent annually.
Households also deposited £3.2billion into banks, building societies and NS&I accounts in December.
This was lower than the amount of money typically deposited pre-pandemic, which averaged £5.5billion per month in the year to February 2020.
Mortgage approvals finished the year on an optimistic note, rising by 4.7 per cent to 71,015, according to the latest figures by the Bank of England.
That is above the 12-month average up to February 2020 of 66,700.
Anthony Codling of property platform Twindig comments:
Importantly, this is some 8% ahead of their 10-year average, which is a strong result given these mortgage approvals were not assisted by a stamp duty holiday. We had expected them to be more subdued as they nursed a stamp duty holiday hangover.
Our key takeaways are that homebuyers were still keen to buy with or without the stamp duty holiday (perhaps begging the question was it really needed...?) and lenders are keen to lend, suggesting that they are optimistic (or at least not too concerned) about the near term outlook for the UK housing market.
Soft drinks group AG Barr, the maker of Irn-Bru, has revealed it has increased its prices due to soaring inflation in Britain.
Best known for the bright orange Scottish soft drink, Barr has a number of other well-known brands to its name, including Rubicon, Snapple tea and Strathmore water.
The FTSE 100 is up 0.8 per cent at 7,526.9.
The FTSE 250 is up 1.3 per cent at22,202.
Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, sums up what's moving the UK bluechip index this morning:
There seems to be renewed enthusiasm for some of the stocks investors had taken flight from in fright about the impact of higher interest rates on the value of future earnings.
Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust was the biggest gainer in early trade, up by 3.8%, lifted by a bounce in the Nasdaq yesterday, and in particular the rebound in Tesla and Nio shares which it holds.
Big data and payments firms had been on the receiving end of the severe case of the jitters, but a bout of bargain hunting has helped restore value with information analytics firm Experian another top gainer on the FTSE 100.
Miners have again been the stalwarts of the index, helped by a raft of robust commodity prices. Blue chip retailers are mainly shrugging off the ongoing headache of supply chain issues affecting the sector with JD Sports rising 2%.
It may be the end of the retail road for Jack’s, the discount chain set up by Tesco, but investors appear to support the decision to close or rebrand stores with shares up 0.7%.
Up to 1,400 shop workers at Tesco could soon lose their jobs as the supermarket giant has pledged to remove hundreds of overnight roles in its 4,000 stores across the UK and Ireland.
Tesco has announced changes to overnight roles at a number of supermarkets and petrol station stores in a move which will put many workers at risk of redundancy.
Planned changes to overnight rules are set to put 'around 1,600 roles at risk of redundancy across our business', says Tesco.
Tesco UK and ROI CEO, Jason Tarry:
We operate in a highly competitive and fast-paced market and our customers are shopping differently, especially since the start of the pandemic.
We are always looking at how we can run our business as simply and efficiently as possible, so that we can re-invest in the things that matter most to customers.
The changes we are announcing today will help us do this. Our priority now is to support our impacted colleagues through these changes and, wherever possible, find them alternative roles within our business.
More to follow...
British manufacturing output grew at the fastest pace in six months in January as global supply chain pressures began to ease and factories largely shrugged off a wave of cases caused by the Omicron variant.
The IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed the output index rose to 54.5 in January - its highest since July 2021 - from 53.6 in December, stronger than an initial flash estimate of 53.8.
Factories hired workers at the second-fastest rate in 11 years, and they reported some easing of inflation pressures.
Annual shopping bills are set to rise by £180 on average as inflation pushes up the cost of groceries, new data revealed today.
Analysts at Kantar said inflation in the past four weeks stands at 3.8 per cent - a rise on levels in December - with savoury snacks, fresh beef and crisps up, whilst beer, bacon and vitamins fell.
The higher prices come as sales continue falling compared with a year ago when lockdown restrictions saw restaurants, pubs and non-essential retailers closed.
Full story below...
House price inflation accelerated further in January, marking the strongest start to the year since 2005, as homes become increasingly unaffordable for first time buyers, new data reveals.
The price of the average UK home rose by 11.2 per cent to to £255,556 last month, up from an annual rise of 10.4 per cent in December, according to the latest index by Nationwide Building Society.
... which is around £500 a week, according to calculations by Anthony Codling of property website Twindig.
And despite ever more stretched affordability, he does not expect them to fall in the near term:
In January, house prices had their strongest start to the year for 17 years as 2022 continued where 2021 left off. Over the last year, UK house prices have increased, on average by around £500 per week.
However, as house prices continue to grow faster than wages, the costs of living increase, and with interest rate rises on the horizon can this house price momentum be maintained? Time will tell.
House prices remain underpinned by a shortage of supply which will underpin house prices in the near term suggesting to us that housing transaction levels are more likely to fall than house prices in the near term.
AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould comments on the markets this morning:
Like a prize fighter on the ropes, the US tech sector produced a stunning fightback overnight and helped provide a positive cue for European markets this morning.
The FTSE 100 was up 0.9%, with investors hoping February will bring a more positive outlook for global markets. Unsurprisingly tech-focused investment trust Scottish Mortgage was the top gainer in early trade. Miners were also higher.
Virgin Money provided some encouragement for the banking space as it lifted its outlook for margins. A boost to profitability for the banks is widely expected as central banks hike interest rates.
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr fizzed higher as it lifted profit forecasts – soft drinks firms should benefit from a lifting of Covid restrictions as more people buy cans on the go and people look for non-alcoholic options when eating out and socialising.
The FTSE 250 has had a strong start to February, rising 1.6 per cent in early morning trading, following a tough January that saw it decline 6.6 per cent.
The FTSE 100 is up 0.8 per cent.
Public opinion is split over the pending 1.25 per cent National Insurance levy, but the social care shake-up it’s meant to fund is unpopular, new research reveals.
Some 34 per cent of people in one poll accept paying extra NI but 38 per cent are against the controversial tax hike, which will kick in this April as people struggle with rising household bills.
A Brooklyn-based British software engineer was celebrating on Monday after a word game he invented only three months ago was bought by The New York Times for over a million dollars.
Josh Wardle created the game Wordle - a play on his surname - during the pandemic to amuse his girlfriend, Palak Shah.
The FTSE 100 has opened 0.8 per cent higher, with upbeat outlooks from Virgin Money and A.G. Barr contributing to the positive sentiment.
Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Glencore are among the top gainers, while the banking sub-index is up 1.4 per cent on higher yields amid expectations of interest rate increases.
The FTSE 250 is up 0.9 per cent, with travel and leisure stocks leading gains.
Ben Yearsley, director at Shore Financial Planning:
'It’s been a fairly dramatic start to 2022, even though nothing has actually happened! Rates went up in the UK in December, not January, although according to markets there is a 100% chance of an increase this Thursday.
'Rates in the US stayed the same, though the Fed has signalled an increase in March. Russia hasn’t invaded Ukraine, despite lots of rhetoric and meaningless comments from politicians saying it was imminent. However, bond prices have softened, and oil prices hardened in expectation of both aforementioned events happening.
'The big market story in January was the flip from growth to value. The outperformance of Nasdaq by the FTSE 100 over the last month has been fairly astonishing with the stodgy FTSE outperforming by almost 14 per cent - it was almost 20 per cent ahead at one stage.
'Even small increases in rates can spook investors – the question for the Fed is how much of a market fall can they stomach before abandoning rate hikes? Takeover frenzy continued apace with a massive $68billion cash offer from Microsoft for games maker Activision Blizzard. This is the first of probably many mega deals in 2022.
'Turning to bond and commodity markets now and bonds continued their dismal run over recent times – unsurprising with rate hikes on the way. The UK ten year gilt yield rose further last month closing at 1.3 per cent after starting at 0.97 per cent.
'The equivalent US ten year treasury yield rose from 1.51 per cent to 1.78 per cent. Commodities had a mixed month with gold slipping $29 to finish at $1,799 an ounce however oil gushed up $14 in January to close at $91 a barrel. On the forex markets not much happened.'
Ryanair has kicked off a price war as it battles to win back customers after Omicron hammered business over Christmas.
Boss Michael O'Leary said demand has picked up since travel restrictions lifted – but the no-frills airline would have to slash ticket prices to fill planes in the coming months.
Tesco is axing its chain of low cost stores and shutting more than 300 deli counters in a major shake-up.
The supermarket giant launched Jack's – named after Tesco founder Jack Cohen – to much fanfare in 2018 to compete with German discounters Aldi and Lidl.
BAE Systems is on the hunt for space companies as it races to bolster its satellite communications work.
The FTSE 100 defence giant is looking at bolt-on takeovers as it develops cutting-edge programmes such as the Tempest project to design the next generation of fighter jets.
Mark Carney has added to the roster of jobs he has taken on since stepping down as Bank of England governor in 2020.
The 56-year-old Canadian economist will be a senior counsellor at consultancy firm Macro Advisory Partners.
Yodel has made its first ever annual profit after demand for parcel delivery services surged in the pandemic, according to its boss.
Revenues for the year to July 2021 at the business rose 31 per cent to £563million.
Investors, businesses and finance experts are becoming embroiled in a debate over whether firms should be more principled – even when it affects their financial performance.
Tensions in the City surfaced last month when stock-picker Terry Smith blasted Unilever for having 'lost the plot' as it 'obsessed' over its sustainability credentials.
Vodafone was on the rise as it became the latest blue-chip firm to be targeted by an activist investor.
The FTSE 100 telecom group's shares climbed 1.9 per cent, or 2.4p, to 130.02p after it emerged that Cevian Capital, one of the largest activists in Europe, has built up an undisclosed stake.
With the European Central Bank seemingly in no mood to start raising rates in the eurozone, the pound has risen more than 3 per cent against the single currency in little over a month.
But sterling remained below $1.35 against the dollar – having traded above $1.40 for spells last year – as the US Federal Reserve prepares to raise interest rates.


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New York is becoming a tech town.
God help us all.
Amazon may have backed out of their plan to build their “second headquarters” in Queens after local objections, but according to a survey by analyst firm KPMG in March, 60 percent of tech-industry leaders still believe New York will surpass Silicon Valley as the country’s center of technology innovation. Already, Google is growing its New York City presence with a new $1 billion Hudson Square campus, scheduled to open in 2020 — with additional space planned for 2022.
That would initially mean good news for many tech workers, who are likely drawn to our city’s diversity, great plays, art and culture.
But if too many of them move here, they will no doubt enjoy it for approximately six months before they destroy it entirely.
Yes, it’s overly romantic to mourn the old New York of the 1970s. On the whole, most people would rather get hassled by an Elmo in Times Square than by a man with a knife. Accordingly, we’ve all learned to deal with beloved old neighborhood restaurants being turned into Pinkberrys. But the idea of them being turned into stores that sell not food but Soylent, the protein powder that techies use for nutrients, is just too distasteful to bear.
For all out-of-towners talk about people in the city being hostile, New York is still a place that encourages human interaction. Everything that tech bros promise is something we already have — as long as you’re willing to venture out among people. You want a Gatorade and cat food at 2 in the morning? You don’t need a delivery app, you need a bodega.
Uber is just taxis, if taxi drivers didn’t have a union and might kidnap you. Uber Express Pool is for people who are willing to take public transit but seemingly have never seen a bus.
Besides. The advice New Yorkers give tourists on the subway, the way the guy at the bodega knows your exact order, the complaints about holiday traffic you share with grumpy taxi drivers, the low-key camaraderie the city brings out in all of us — those are all things that can’t be replaced by any app out of Silicon Valley.
When I see Uber raise $1 billion dollars for self-driving cars as they did in April, I wonder if tech guys’ ideal future is one where we spend our entire lives without ever interacting with another person.
Silicon Valley, after all, boasts a culture that seems to prize efficiency and cleanliness over, well, people.
To see how that works out, you only have to look at San Francisco. It’s gone from being a haven to artists and counterculture renegades, full of bookstores and crazy bars, to a place dominated by a single industry. Instead of street cars, “Google buses” ferry tech bros to and from the search engine’s campus, enabling them to avoid contact with anyone else in the city.
Not that anyone else can afford to live there. In April, the East Bay Times reported that the housing bubble created by the tech industry has forced many non-tech-working residents of the city to move into RVs. The UN has declared the homeless crisis in the Bay Area a human-rights violation. If you think the housing scene in New York is already bad, just wait until more techies move in.
The city currently hosts about 9,000 startups. Imagine if that grows? The tech scene fosters an out-of-touch bubble that literally displaces the very people who keep a city functioning, let alone interesting. And when all the corner stores are gone, Amazon will open a new one and claim it’s “disrupting” your shopping experience.
It will sell I♥ NY shirts but not be staffed by actual humans.

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All Biosimilars Interchangeable? FDA Backs Switching With Spotlight On Science
Latest Review From US Agency Finds ‘Zero Difference’ In Risks When Switching
In meta-analyses of biosimilar switching studies, FDA researchers found “zero difference in the risk of death, serious adverse events, and treatment discontinuations between participants who switched between biosimilars and reference products and participants who did not switch.”
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As a number of major brands face generic and biosimilar competition, the loss-of-exclusivity impact across the leading 10 developed markets will approach $200bn over the next five years, according to a fresh medicines spending report running to 2028.
Formycon has announced the approval of its biosimilar ranibizumab by Health Canada, with commercial launch by Teva expected to begin in Q1 next year.
Bio-Thera has announced positive Phase III results for its ustekinumab biosimilar candidate BAT2206, demonstrating that the product is highly similar to originator Stelara in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.


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Indonesia: Inflation steady in March
April 1, 2016
In March, consumer prices rose 0.19% over the previous month, contrasting the 0.09% drop recorded in February. March’s reading came on the back of higher prices for foodstuffs, as well as for prepared food, beverages and tobacco.
Inflation came in at 4.4% in March, which was in line with February’s result and marked the highest reading since November 2015. The reading was broadly in line with market expectations. Meanwhile, annual average inflation slowed from 6.0% in February to 5.8% in March. Core consumer prices, which excludes volatile items such as food and administered prices, increased 0.21% over the previous month (February: +0.31% month-on-month). While core inflation inched down from 3.6% in February to 3.5% in March, which marked the lowest figure in over five years.


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Profit and loss: Is photocopying chapters of educational books legal? Bookshop claims to be helping students by giiving them access to expensive textbooks
Eastern Eye Staff
Students will celebrate if a court in India rules that a shop can continue to sell photocopied chapters of books, according to an expert. Publishing giants including Oxford University Press will have an appeal hearing on Tuesday (November 29) in Delhi over the four-year battle involving a bookshop. A court ruled in September that Rameshwari Photocopier, based at Delhi University’s School of Economics, can make copies of pages from textbooks and sell them to students as “course packs”. The publishers argue the store was violating their copyright and exploiting their work, which is affecting their profits. But teachers, authors and…
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Above: The 2021 Hayabusa and its ancestors. It could have been very different.
In the yawning 13-year chasm between the launch of the second-generation Suzuki Hayabusa and the brand new 2021 model there’s been no shortage of rumours and clues to Suzuki’s development work on the machine. And while the final version has specs that don’t differ vastly from its predecessor Suzuki has taken the unusual step of confirming the truth behind the stories that emerged over those years.
So while some might be disappointed that the final 2021 Hayabusa has similar specs to its predecessor, and a slight reduction in peak power, it’s clear the decision to take that path wasn’t taken without exploring a variety of other avenues including a potential six-cylinder Hayabusa, a turbocharged four-cylinder and a bigger-capacity model.
Naoki Mizoguchi, engine designer on the Hayabusa project, confirmed the existence of the other prototypes, saying: “We considered a variety of engine configurations before arriving at the final design. Experimentation included building prototypes with larger displacement engines, turbocharged versions, and others with six cylinders.”
Yuichi Nakashima, who’s had the arduous task of test-riding prototypes right from the original Hayabusa to the final 2021 model, added: “I was tasked with riding turbocharged Hayabusa prototypes, those with larger displacement engines, and others with six cylinders. A large number of such prototypes came and went over the past 10 years.”
Assistant Chief Engineer Kenichi Kasuya also mentioned the alternatives, saying: “We experimented with a variety of possible designs for the new Hayabusa over the course of 10 years, building a number of different prototypes along the way, only to go back to the drawing board. Some of the variations included those with different frames, with engines of different displacement, or that employed a different number of cylinders.”
The idea of forced induction for the Hayabusa has been around nearly as long as the bike itself. Presented with the fastest and most powerful production motorcycle ever made in 1999, tuners went straight to work making it even quicker and Suzuki itself wasn’t far behind.
The closest the firm ever came to officially making a boosted Busa came when it presented the naked B-King concept bike at the Tokyo Motor Show nearly 20 years ago in 2001. Armed with a supercharged version of the original Busa’s 1298cc four, the concept was rumoured to be good for 240hp, driving through an unprecedented 240-section rear tyre. It was just a rumour, though; the original B-King concept was a mock-up rather than a runner. Such was the positive reception to the concept that Suzuki made the unexpected call to create a production model, but its development took far too long to cash in on the excitement around the idea. By the time the showroom version was ready in 2007, minus the blower and losing the cartoonish proportions of the concept, other fast naked bikes had moved the goalposts.
Suzuki’s turbocharged Busa prototype itself has never been shown, but the firm filed patents in 2015 thar revealed a turbocharged, four-cylinder bike showing the direction of the project. Based around the then-current GSX-R1000’s four-cylinder engine, it featured not only a turbo but two electric motor/generator units and a battery pack to be a true high-performance hybrid. As on the current generation of F1 cars, one of these motor/generators was attached to the turbo, spinning its compressor up on demand to eliminate turbo lag and regenerating electricity when the throttles were closed. The second, larger electric motor was mounted above the transmission, providing an additional boost of power and torque to fill in any holes in the petrol engine’s delivery and recharging the small, under-seat battery packs during deceleration.
Would it have been impressive? Without a doubt – a turbocharged 2015-spec GSX-R1000 engine with an added boost of hybrid power could easily have knocked on the door of 300hp. But it would also have been immensely expensive to develop from prototype to production, potentially leading to a showroom price that few riders would be able to afford.
Suzuki has showed a huge interest in turbo bikes, in particular working on the 700cc, parallel twin ‘XE7’ engine that it unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show and which is still under development now.
As a machine that’s all about excess, the Hayabusa was the most obvious target when Suzuki started to develop a six-cylinder in the early-00s.
The six broke cover in 2005 as one of the most stunning concept bikes ever to take pride of place on a show stand – the Suzuki Stratosphere. The firm had managed to keep the project secret and, having learnt a valuable lesson from the B-King mock-up it presented four years earlier, added to the surprise of the Stratosphere by revealing it was a complete, running machine at the time of its unveiling.
With an 1100cc, water-cooled six, the Stratosphere promises similar performance to the then-current Busa – with around 180hp on tap compared to the first-generation Hayabusa’s 173hp. The engine was clearly related to the GSX-R fours of the era, and Suzuki was on the crest of a wave when it came to engine development, with the GSX-R1000 and 750 of the era setting class-leading standards.
The Stratosphere itself hinted at Suzuki’s interest in reviving the style and stance of the Katana, buts its long, low proportions and its riding position – sporty but not too extreme – put it spiritually closer to the Hayabusa than anything else.
Given that the engine was proved to be a runner (Suzuki showed videos of the bike moving under its own power at the Stratosphere’s unveiling) it’s clear the intent was much greater than merely creating a show-stopping concept bike. The Strat’s engine is very likely to be the basis of the six-cylinder prototype that Suzuki’s Hayabusa engineers have been experimenting with over the last decade or so.
Another element of the Suzuki Stratosphere that appears to have come close to making into production before falling by the wayside was its semi-automatic transmission.
Created using a conventional box with an electric servo taking on the shifting duties instead of your left foot, it was envisaged as an easy-to-implement setup that could be operated manually or fully automatically depending on rider preferences and, for several years, patents emerged from Suzuki showing exactly such a setup implemented on a Hayabusa.
Suzuki hasn’t mentioned the system with the launch of the new bike, but the adoption of an up-and-down quickshifter on the 2021 model – including two operating modes as well as an ‘off’ setting – could well explain its absence. The reality is that semi-auto boxes are starting to look like something of a development dead-end because modern quickshifter technology allows clutchless up and down changes without the complexity and unfamiliarity that a true semi-auto brings. The value of shifting in terms of keeping the rider and bike working in harmony is also being appreciate more today., Even some electric bikes are adopting multi-gear transmissions purely to enhance rider interaction.
On the chassis side, we’ve seen several patents over the last few years showing a Hayabusa with a sportier, lighter-looking alloy beam frame. The design that Suzuki was working on appeared to be more like the GSX-R1000 frame, without the huge seat subframe support that’s used on the Busa, but once again it appears that the disadvantages of a redesign outweighed the advantages. Hayabusa chassis designer Takeshi Yoshida said: “We tested a number of completely different frame designs. Considering the Hayabusa the two-wheeled equivalent of a supercar, we decided to continue using the same extruded aluminium on the frame that is also used by its four-wheeled counterparts. This enabled us to build the best possible frame for the new Hayabusa.
“When I look at the final product, I am once again convinced that we made the right decision in basing the new Hayabusa around the tried and true frame of the previous generation.”
Above: Naoiki Mizoguchi, the Hayabusa’s engine designer, confirmed turbo, six-cylinder and bigger-capacity versions were tried.
One of the most persistent recent rumours about the next-gen Suzuki Hayabusa was talk of an enlarged version of the existing four-cylinder engine. Japanese sources were, until recently, adamant that the next version of the bike would get a 100cc capacity hike to 1440cc.
Given recent trends, it’s a move that made a lot of sense. The adoption of Euro5 standards has imposed strict new limits on certain types of exhaust emissions, making it particularly difficult for manufacturers to pursue the traditional route of boosting power by increasing revs.
As a result, we’ve seen a number of bikes get big-bore engines in response to the new rules, from Triumph’s new 1160cc Speed Triple to the Yamaha MT-09 and Honda Africa Twin. A 100cc capacity increase on the Hayabusa might well have been just what it took for the 2021 version to be introduced without the slight reduction in peak power – down from 195hp to 188hp – that has come by sticking with the previous 1340cc engine size.
With new pistons anyway, and plenty of president from tuners to show that the engine can be made bigger, the capacity increase wouldn’t have been hard to achieve, but the firm hasn’t opted to take that route. It was a balancing act, and Suzuki has focussed on building on the Busa’s already impressive reputation for strength rather than risking it by pushing for more performance out of the box.
Engine designer Naoki Mizoguchi said: “We thoroughly examined every engine component. The pistons and connecting rods were redesigned. The crankshaft is basically the same, though we made refinements to improve durability.
“The development process included testing the engine time and time again. I believe an engineer’s job is to identify any potential weak spots and reinforce them to build a more durable engine. That is what leads to enhancing the levels of both performance and durability.”
Engine Test Engineer Shunya Togo adds: “Although the Hayabusa engine was already renowned for outstanding durability, we thoroughly studied the second-generation engine while striving to evolve it to a higher new level. We reviewed every single bolt and O-ring while sharing opinions with our engine designers on how best to improve them. We even changed the method of tightening the engine case bolts. As a result we addressed every basic components and increased the overall strength of the engine.”
There’s a tacit acknowledgement from Suzuki that owners who want more performance than the stock Hayabusa can offer are going to start tuning it anyway. By making the engine as strong and reliable as possible out of the box, it becomes all the better as a platform for aftermarket options to hike the power levels higher.
Mizoguchi said: “We worked so hard to ensure the quality and durability of the engine and hope to see customers ride the new Hayabusa for 100,000, 200,000 or even 500,000 kilometres.”
Test rider Nakashima found the alternatives weren’t an improvement over the current design.
In the end, Suzuki was clearly faced with a dilemma: did the alternatives provide something that an updated version of the original Hayabusa couldn’t achieve, and would the benefits outweigh the massive cost of putting a more heavily reengineered bike into production? Costs that would, of course, be passed on to customers.
Engine designer Mizoguchi says that the alternatives couldn’t make a persuasive argument for themselves. “In the end,” he said, “We came to the conclusion that the original engine package achieved the best overall balance. We also came to the conclusion that not changing the basic layout was key to retaining the Hayabusa’s distinct identity. So we applied the best of its proven qualities when we sat down to set the latest engine design 20 years after the launch of the original Hayabusa. Our goal was to create a better engine while building on the same proven layout. That became the aim of our engine design efforts.”
Test rider Nakashima, who is better qualified than anyone to make such a judgement having actually ridden the alternative Busa prototypes, agreed, saying: “In the end, none of them proved superior to the current engine in terms of overall performance. Having worked as the test rider for the first and second generations, I gave my best effort to assuring that the new Hayabusa would be received as a worthy successor.”
And Toshihiro Suzuki, the firm’s president, agrees, saying: “Our designers faced a truly daunting challenge. The first generation Hayabusa had been such a big hit that the development team was left troubled over how best to evolve it and what changes to implement. I think the resulting form represents a natural evolution.”
While it’s a shame we haven’t had a chance to try a turbocharged or six-cylinder Hayabusa for ourselves, the words of those who’ve been involved from the start mean it’s hard to argue that the firm has made an error in sticking to the tried and tested formula that’s worked so well for so long.


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Two Flashy Car Series on a Collision Course : Television: The Chrysler Corp., whose Dodge Viper is featured in CBS’ ‘Viper,’ is seeking to prevent a rival production from using the same title.
In the fall, television viewers can count on seeing a new action-filled TV series featuring a crime fighter who combats evil in a fiery red sports car called the Viper.
The only question that remains is how many series matching that description viewers can expect to see.
The Chrysler Corp., which has signed a unique deal with Paramount Television to feature its Dodge Viper sports car in a CBS series called “Viper,” filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles last Friday to prevent Cannell Studios Inc. from producing a separate syndicated TV series of the same name. Stephen J. Cannell is the producer of such past network hits as “The A-Team” and “Hunter,” and of the current syndicated series “Renegade” and “Street Justice.”
Both one-hour “Viper” crime dramas revolve around a high-performance muscle car named Viper--but only the Paramount series has obtained rights to use the actual Dodge Viper.
“We believe that the Cannell show is an infringement of our Dodge Viper trademark,” said Scott Fosgard, a spokesman for Chrysler, which is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent Cannell from using anything that resembles the trademark, packaging or image of the $50,000 Viper.
In an advertisement currently running in TV trade magazines for Cannell’s “Viper,” a red sports car that Chrysler contends looks like the Dodge Viper whooshes across the page.
“We basically want them to stop production on their series,” Fosgard said.
That won’t be easy. Cannell’s “Viper,” starring martial-arts hero Michael Dudikoff from the “American Ninja” movies, has already been sold to more than 50 TV stations covering 68% of the country. Paramount’s “Viper,” on the other hand, has received a firm commitment from CBS for 13 episodes. Both “Vipers” are scheduled for a fall showdown.
So how did the two Vipers find themselves in the same programming pit? Executives at Cannell and Paramount are keeping quiet about the details until the suit is settled.
Danny Bilson, who was asked by Paramount last year to create the CBS show with his partner, Paul De Meo, suggests that the vying “Vipers” are just a development fluke. Bilson and De Meo created the Disney film “The Rocketeer” and the TV series “The Flash.”
The studio’s research determined that there was a big appetite for a TV series based on a car, part of a recent trend to reach the young male viewers whom advertisers have a hard time pinpointing. Internally at Paramount, “Viper” was reportedly dubbed “Son of Knight Rider,” referring to the NBC series from the early 1980s starring a talking Pontiac Trans-Am.
“I think everybody has been re-evaluating the potential of car shows,” Bilson said, “and if you look in the marketplace, the Viper is a pretty good choice creatively. The car has a big following among car enthusiasts. I really think it was just a case of parallel development.”
According to Chrysler, Cannell approached the car manufacturer to use the Viper for its series in January, but Chrysler already was in negotiations with Paramount at the time. The trade magazine Inside Media reported that Chrysler will participate in profits and merchandising--such as hats, T-shirts and clothing--from the TV series as part of an advertising and promotional partnership. Chrysler’s cooperation, meanwhile, will help subsidize the expensive series, budgeted at $1.5 million per episode.
Because of the complexity of Paramount’s series--Paramount is also seeking a deal with a toy company to sell a miniature Viper to help offset costs--Bilson claims that the two “Vipers” are really not that alike.
“I think their show is about an agent or something who drives around in a cool car,” he said. “Our show is a big production, a high-tech crime drama that takes place in the near future. The Viper shifts into a second car that Chrysler has been designing for us when it’s in its defender mode. So the red Viper that people see actually has another identity.”
Bilson swears, however, that the Viper will not be endowed with the ability to talk.
Two Shows Named ‘Viper’
Two one-hour crime dramas scheduled for this fall share the title “Viper,” but one has caused Chrysler Corp. to bite back. The auto maker has filed suit against Stephen J. Cannell for the unauthorized use of its high-performance Dodge Viper. A look at the two shows:
From Stephen J. Cannell
Stars Michael Dudikoff
Estimated budget under $1 million per episode
Featuring the series star fighting crime in a “crimson chariot,” reportedly a General Motors vehicle.
From Paramount TV and Chrysler
Still casting for the star
Budgeted at $1.5 million per episode
Featuring a Dodge Viper that transforms into a futuristic car, now being created by Chrysler, for its “defense mode.”


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Activision is widening the scope of e-sports competition for "Call of Duty" players.
Idaho National Laboratory recently completed the first successful test of fabrication equipment in the Experimental Fuels Facility (EFF) at INL's Materials and Fuels Complex. Specifically, they finished the first extrusions ...
The trend of "uberization" or industry disruption caused by an unlikely competitor has become a dominant concern of the C-suite, finds a new IBM study. In just two years, the percentage of C-suite leaders who expect to contend ...
ACT test takers take note: The No. 2 pencil is losing its cachet. Greater numbers of high school students will be able to take the college entrance exam on a computer next year.
Adobe is the latest tech company to extend its paid parental leave policy after Netflix said it would offer corporate employees up to a year of paid leave to care for new babies.
Fiat Chrysler's safety chief is retiring from the company after a tumultuous year of conflict with U.S. government regulators.
Target is going on a health kick, aimed at both customers and its employees.
Veteran tech executive John Chambers plans to step down after more than 20 years as CEO of Cisco Systems Inc., a major supplier of computer networking gear that makes the Internet work.
Apple named Jeff Williams as its chief operating officer Thursday, a job that hasn't been filled since Tim Cook left the position more than four years ago to become CEO.
Wal-Mart's push to get its suppliers to give farm animals fewer antibiotics and more room to roam is expected to have a big impact on the food industry, experts say.


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Earlier this month it was revealed that Activision submitted a patent for selling microtransactions to players. That patent aims to matchmake players in matches where a purchasable item is most effective, in order to convince the player to spend money on it too. That patent received heavy backlash from fans who accused the video game publisher of trying to ‘exploit’ them.
The controversy died down somewhat after Activision confirmed that the patent has not been included in any of its games (yet). However, fans may not be best pleased to know that the publisher has submitted another microtransaction patent, also designed to get players to spend more on Activision games.
A new report confirms that, on October 21, 2015, Activision submitted a patent to the U.S. Patent Office that would make it easier to sell in-game items featured in clips of its games. Titled “System and Method of Identifying Portions of Video Game Streams for Driving Microtransactions,” this patent details how players could create “Video Game Streams” which are user-generated replays of a game. “In some instances, a metadata track may include micro-transaction information that identifies an item available for purchase,” explains the patent submission.
The filing goes on to provide this example: “a shooter game, a location on the display (e.g., pixel position) of a virtual weapon that may be purchased by the viewer for use in the viewer’s gameplay may be encoded in the metadata track.” Once that weapon is identified, the viewer could click that and be able to purchase the in-game item for themselves.
Activision’s biggest game franchises have microtransactions and unlockable loot that could potentially make use of this patent. For example, Overwatch has a range of skins and Call of Duty: WW2 Zombies mode has loot boxes. As so many players are tuning in to watch esports matches of its games, to Activision it makes good business sense to monetize that and encourage players to spend more on the events that they are watching.
But fans of its games are likely to feel frustrated by the continued attempts at money-making from the publisher. Activision‘s main aim is to make money, but some players may question its methods and could argue that this patent seems far too pushy. The industry is already seeing some pushback on loot boxes and microtransactions as players have been vocal about them. The microtransaction controversy hasn’t affected video game sales just yet, but patents like this could make players think twice about their purchases.
Source: Dot Esports, Justia


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In-brief: as the vision of smart cities becomes reality, so does the next generation of cyber-physical security threats. What can be done to ensure the security of smart, connected cities, and the citizens who work and live there? Ashley Stevenson of ForgeRock weighs in.
Search Results for ""smart city""
Episode 210: Moving The Goal Posts On Vendor Transparency: A Conversation With Intel’s Suzy Greenberg
In this episode of the podcast, Paul speaks with Intel Vice President Suzy Greenberg about a new survey by the Poneman Institute that shows how customers’ expectations are changing when it comes to vendor transparency about software vulnerabilities.
In this episode of The Security Ledger podcast (#128): you’re going to hear a lot from the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) out in Las Vegas this week, but are any of the new gadgets being released secure? And do security and privacy have a seat at the table at the world’s largest electronics event? We sit down with IoT luminary and influencer Stacey Higginbotham of the Internet of Things podcast and the StaceyonIoT blog to find out.
In-brief: Far from ‘breaking’ the public key encryption (PKI) model, the Internet of Things is poised to turbocharge PKI adoption and revolutionize online identity, DigiCert CTO Dan Timpson writes.
In-brief: cellular gateways made by Sierra Wireless may be susceptible to the Mirai malware, the Department of Homeland Security warned on Wednesday.


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The NFL's Atlanta Falcons plan to offer an array of radically reduced price concessions items when their new Mercedes-Benz Stadium home opens in 2017. Marketed as “street pricing,” the regular concessions menu will include $2 hot dogs, popcorn and regular Coca-Colas (with unlimited refills); $3 pizza slices, nachos and waffle fries; and $5 cheeseburgers and 12-ounce domestic beers.
The menu pricing model will allow a family of four to consume the typical game-day purchases for $28 or less, according to a press release from the club. The strategy seems to run directly counter to the general expansion of pricey premium services at major sports venues.
The pricing will be in effect for Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United Major League Soccer games as well as major events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium including the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, SEC Championship Game, the College Football National Championship in 2018 and the NCAA Men’s Final Four, slated for 2020. It will also be in effect for concerts, conventions and other special events booked at the stadium.
“We focused from the beginning on building a unique fan experience at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a goal of helping those who visit to leave the stadium with great memories shared with family and friends, not aggravation and frustration about their experience,” said Falcons/Atlanta United owner Arthur M. Blank in the release. “We have listened to the concerns of the fans on the food and beverage experience and have responded to those concerns in a way that honors our commitment to providing the best possible fan experience at our events.”
Mercedes-Benz Stadium will also see a 65 percent increase in the number of concessions points-of-sale over the Falcons’ current home at the Georgia Dome.
In addition to these traditional favorites, concessionaire Levy Restaurants and the Falcons will also offer a variety of premium items, including higher end food options, draft beers and mixed drinks from local and national partners at the same prices found in their restaurants, the team announced.


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JetBlue's investment arm has teamed up with El Al's investment arm to create an aviation technology accelerator for travel startups.
Startups worldwide (that are either before or in a seed-round stage) can apply to join accelerator, called Navigator. Applications for the first class are being accepted through September 2. The class starts in late October.
Selected companies will work for three months at an accelerator run by Cockpit Innovation Hub, the venture capital arm of El Al, and another month at the offices of JetBlue Technology Ventures in Redwood City, Calif., where they will have chances to be introduced to investors.
After the program, startups that gain traction with customers will be offered eight months of support, such as with workspace and mentoring in Israel or California.
Navigator will also offer $50,000 in initial financing in exchange for a slice of ownership in each startup.
Mor AviHanan, head of venture development at Cockpit Innovation Hub, said by email:
"We are targeting travel and aviation related startups. But, though we're focusing on aviation and travel, we also welcome start-ups that offer technology and solutions to other industries and would like to enter our world."
Potential customers include airlines, airports, and aerospace manufacturers.
Criteria for being accepted is posted at the f6s.com/navigator hub for incubators and accelerators.
Not surprisingly, a requirement is that the entrepreneurs bring significant innovation to the aviation and travel industry. Teams also must have at least two cofounders.
More details about Navigator are listed at the Cockpit's website.
Bonny Simi, president, JetBlue Technology Ventures, said in a statement:
"By combining a wealth of aviation and technology expertise with actual platforms and connections to incubate ideas within the airline industry, we are perfectly positioned to directly help startups shape the future of the travel."
Why Travelport launched its travel startup accelerator
What is Plug and Play up to in travel?
Paris’s travel startup incubator invites foreign entrepreneurs


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- 1 min read
Lenskart rolls out #HalkaRakhYaar campaign with Bhuvan Bam
The #HalkaRakhYaar campaign is conceptualised by Mullen Lowe Lintas Group, features the launch of AIR range...
The #HalkaRakhYaar campaign is conceptualised by Mullen Lowe Lintas Group, features the launch of AIR range. The latest offering from Lenskart.com’s portfolio, the AIR range showcases an eclectic, modern and halke phulke rendition of classic eyewear unifying functionality and style.
Peyush Bansal, founder and CEO, Lenskart.com said, “The new campaign Halka Rakh yaar is born out of a key consumer insight- the increasing need to keep things light and easy going, in every facet of life and the Halke Phulke frames of Lenskart Air are the trustworthy partner in this endeavor. The TVC is an ode to this carefree, spirited approach and with his unique lighthearted attitude, Bhuvan has added a fresh twist to the TVC."
The company roped in Bam as its brand ambassador earlier this year to bring to life clutter breaking campaigns and produce exclusive content for the brand. Roping in a prominent influencer face for a TVC campaign, in itself has been a first in the industry thereby disrupting the norms and regular promotional techniques, yet again.
"The #HalkaRakhYaar campaign is a fun ad on how we must have a carefree attitude inspite of missed connections and it’s a mantra I swear by myself. It is a heartfelt endeavour and I hope the audiences like it as much as I did while shooting it," Bam said.
The multi-platform ad campaign spread across TV, YouTube and social media, conveys the message of taking things lightly and not to be weighed down by life's challenges and stresses. Delivered in Lenskart's young and refreshing tone of voice, it is most relevant for today’s times.


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This article was originally published by the East Asia Forum on 28 September, 2015.
China and Japan already together account for more than a fifth of global output, bigger than the share held by the United States or that of Europe. Over three-quarters of that, of course, is generated in mainland China but, contrary to widely held perceptions, the China–Japan economic partnership is one of the biggest in the world.
The bilateral trade relationship is the third-largest in the world, with a US$340 billion trade relationship in 2014. China is Japan’s largest trading partner, accounting for one-fifth of its trade, and Japan is China’s second-largest. Japan is the largest investor in China, with a stock of direct investment at more than US$100 billion in 2014 or US$30 billion more than the next largest source, the United States. But even those massive trade and investment figures understate just how intertwined are these two Asian giants.


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Norwegian Cruise Line said Friday is planning to issue $300 million in unsecured senior notes due February 2018 in a private offering at 5 percent.
The company plans to use the proceeds from the offering, along with borrowings under its senior secured credit facilities, to redeem its $450 million senior notes that are due in 2016.
Norwegian's parent Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: NCLH) recently closed its initial public offering of 27.1 million shares at the price of $19 per share. The net proceeds of the offering were approximately $477.6 million, which will be used in part to pay down some of its $3.1 billion debt, including loans on several of its ships.
Shares of Norwegian closed Friday up $1.28, or 4.85 percent, to $27.65. The stock traded at a volume of 1.1 million shares, down from its average volume of 2.8 million shares.
Miami-based Norwegian is the third-largest cruise line operator in the world, behind Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) and cruise operator Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL).


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UltraSoft Launch Web Portal for Business Centres
UltraSoft Launch Web Portal for Business Centres!
UltraSoft Technologies, the market leader in provision of software solutions for the serviced office industry, has announced the launch of its new Customer Web Portal, through which centre operators can interact with their customers and potential customers 24/7.
The web portal is aimed to improve the customer experience while reducing the cost of customer care. Easily integrated with company’s website, the web portal establishes an open line of communication between centre operators, in-house customers and potential customers around the world.
The web portal will enable business centre operators to deliver the following main functionalities via their website:
booking meeting rooms and services online
- delivering invoices and related information online
- logging and monitoring customer care queries online
- allowing customers to mange and update their profiles online
- publishing up-to-date centre information and procedures
- logging web enquiries and processing them in UltraSoftCRM automatically
The web portal utilises real-time data held in UltraSoft thus eliminating the need to update web portal manually. It can be accessed anytime from anywhere within a browser via a computer, mobile phone or PDA.
Harun Biswas, Managing Director of UltraSoft Technologies Ltd said, “The long anticipated the web portal has finally arrived. We are confident that our web portal will make a big difference in the way business centres serve their customers, and we remain committed to develop the system further”.
UltraSoft will be showcasing the web portal together with its latest version of UltraSoft System at the BCA Exhibition in London, 17th- 18th May 2010.
- Ends -
For further information, please contact: the UltraSoft Technologies press office on 01784 457929.
About UltraSoft Technologies Ltd
UltraSoft Technologies is the rapidly emerging market leader in the provisions of software solutions for the serviced office industry. It applies the latest technology to simplify complex business processes to produce fully integrated solutions. UltraSoft Technologies was founded in 1998 by Harun Biswas who has been working in the serviced office industry since 1994. www.ultrasoft-tech.co.uk


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Happy Monday, marketers! Here is our weekly roundup of recent performance marketing and digital marketing industry news, reports and insights to help get your workday off to a productive start.
Trust in an AI-powered world
In a LinkedIn post, Randy Wootton, CEO at Rocketfuel makes an interesting analogy about the mistrust between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the Cold War, and the mistrust in digital marketing today. Wootton says the “trust crisis” we face today is not rooted in ideological differences but–instead–in the volume of data that exists in the world today. We have more behavioral data available now than ever before, significantly more data than any individual can possibly process and interpret on their own. As such, we have turned to artificial intelligence to do the processing for us, and just like during the Cold War, the key to trust lies in verification.
One-to-One Marketing Should Have Been Solved Years Ago
Brands are still struggling to deliver on the promise of one-to-one marketing, writes the CEO of Flite in a Campaign U.S. op-ed. He contends: However, quite frankly, with the availability of tools, technology, mountains of data and armies of software engineers, this problem probably could have been solved many years ago. Those of us in technology use the word problem a lot, but for the marketer, the better description would be opportunity. The brands that harness the power of data to truly achieve personalized marketing stand to win big.
UK Publishers are Mixed on Performance of Facebook Instant Articles
While still early, publishers are starting to gauge how beneficial posting fast-loading content directly to Facebook via Instant Articles can be to them, both in terms of traffic performance and revenue as reported by Digiday. All the major U.K. publishers are publishing to Instant Articles to greater or lesser extents. The BBC and the Guardian were among the first, with the Guardian in particular going all in. The Economist, Financial Times, The Sun, Trinity Mirror, Daily Mail, Business Insider U.K., among others, are all testing it. So far, views in the U.K. are mixed.
How Publishers Can Help Brands Navigate The Content Marketing Crossroads
In an AdExchanger Data-Driven Thinker post, Jim McGinty, senior director of content marketing at IDG says Marketers are having a hard time keeping pace, forced to create more content assets than ever. At the same, 62% of brands believe that “producing engaging content is their greatest content marketing challenge,” according to a Content Marketing Institute study. Simply adding mass isn’t the solution. Savvy marketers must use their knowledge of the customer, market and purchase consideration process to ensure that they provide a steady supply of content to move their initiatives forward.
Confidence in Programmatic Advertising Drops 9% in One Year
As reported by PerformanceIn, confidence in the ability of programmatic to deliver value for money has taken a dip since 2015, from 95% to 86%, despite a drop in the perception of associated risk. This comes as part of a global survey of 107 digital marketing professionals by ExchangeWire and OpenX, showing that growing concerns over viewability are leading a portion of marketers to question the worth of automated media buying. Nicolas Bidon, CEO of programmatic ad platform Xaxis. believes programmatic has fallen victim to its rapid uptake, with climbing rates of CPM enough to shift perspectives on value.


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In-demand goods like industrial and electrical machinery saw dramatic growth while the state reclaimed the #1 spot for maple syrup exports.
CONCORD, N.H. – According to the U.S. Census Bureau, New Hampshire exports hit record-breaking figures of $6.4 billion last year, a 16.7% increase from 2020, announced the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA). New Hampshire’s top two export sectors driving the growth were industrial machinery and electrical machinery, which includes components used in automobiles, computers, and airplanes. In the food and beverage category, the Granite State’s maple syrup industry ranked first among U.S. states for the first time since 2004.
“We’re proud that New Hampshire companies helped alleviate shortages in the global supply chain in 2021, specifically in essential products like automotive and computer components,” said Taylor Caswell, BEA Commissioner. “And it was great to see New Hampshire’s maple syrup industry take the title of top national maple product exporter. This report showcases impressive growth from companies and industries throughout the state.”
Industrial machinery brought in $1.5 billion in revenue, with electrical machinery at $1.460 billion, up from $1.087 billion in 2020 – a growth of more than 34%. This category includes electronic integrated circuits (IC), a crucial automobile component subject to global shortages. Exports of ICs from New Hampshire increased by 165% from 2020 to 2021 and were valued at $170 million.
Granite State exports of aircraft and aircraft parts also grew following a decline in 2020 due to COVID-19. The sector was valued at $1.123 billion in 2021, a 20.5% increase from the year before. Germany received 56% of aircraft imports, worth $630 million, from New Hampshire.
“With a network of booming industries – particularly in manufacturing components – the state has a strong foundation for success, regardless of the circumstance brought on by the pandemic,” said Adam Boltik, Office of International Commerce program manager. “These figures are a clear representation of how the New Hampshire economy has the ability to bounce back, while also having a national and international influence.”
Overall, New Hampshire’s top export markets last year were Germany ($915.4 million), Canada ($906.3 million), and the United Arab Emirates ($503.7 million).
In addition to increases in maple sugar and syrup exports, valued at $5.8 million and representing 22.5% of all U.S. maple exports, other New Hampshire food and beverage-related sectors, like beer, saw significant growth.
About the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA)
The Department of Business and Economic Affairs is dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality of the State of New Hampshire while promoting it as a destination for domestic and international visitors. For more information visit nheconomy.com or choosenh.com.


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Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file.
Shooting Industry February 2011 - Page 8
Industry Industrynews By Russ Thuman he firearm industry is a hot commodity these days, with a number of states pushing to attract companies to their “gun-business friendly” communities. Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming had booths at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas last month to showcase the benefits of industry-related companies relocating to their states. Aiding the effort is the number of states that are becoming increasingly unfriendly to business, in general, and firearm manufacturing, specifically. “Taxes, regulation, restriction of personal freedom and the effects of government policy on people are increasing. Idaho is a contrast,” said Nathan Roads, of Next Generation Arms, relating why he moved his company from Oregon to Idaho. For a number of years, South Dakota has been very aggressive in its efforts to Protect Your Customers And Your Business — pg. 20 States Campaign To Attract Firearm Companies T “ Governors’ offices are willing to provide a lot of incentives to firearm companies to relocate or, in some cases, remain in their states. attract industry-related companies. At the SHOT Show, 16 communities partnered with the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development to present the state’s benefits to firearm companies. Governors’ offices are willing to provide a lot of incentives for firearm companies to relocate or, in some cases, remain in their states. In late December, Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. announced that the Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) approved $6 million in tax credits in association with the company expanding its manufacturing opera- ” tions in Springfield, Mass. Smith & Wesson applied for the incentives, which support the company’s commitment to bring 225 new jobs to its Springfield headquarters, and to invest significant capital into that facility over the next five years. The credits will be awarded over a period of seven years, but hiring for the new jobs was to start in January, S&W announced. “Although several states and cities have approached us to entice expansion into their locations, Massachusetts and the PatrickMurray Administration, Secretary (Gregory) Bialecki and his office, and Springfield Mayor (Domenic) Sarno and his staff, collaborated on the project to make our choice clear,” said James Debney, president of Smith & Wesson Firearms. For more information, visit South Dakota’s www.sdreadytowork.com, Idaho’s www.commerce.idaho.gov and Massachusetts’ www.mass.gov. S&W Announces Second Quarter Results, Relocation Of T/C mith & Wesson Holding Corp. announced in December its financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2011, which ended Oct. 31, 2010. Total company net sales of $96.3 million for the quarter were down $13.4 million, or 12.2 percent, as compared to the same 2009 quarter. “As overall purchasing of firearms moderated during the quarter, compared with the record levels a year ago, total sales came in slightly below our previously issued guidance,” said Mike Golden, Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. president and CEO. In the Firearm Division, net sales for the second quarter were $83.6 million, a decrease of $9.8 million, a 10.5 percent drop compared to the second quarter of 2009. In the company’s Perimeter Security Division, net sales for the second quarter were $12.8 million, compared with net sales of $16.3 million for the comparable 2009 quarter. In its financial report, S&W also announced the relocation of its Thompson/Center Arms operations from Roches- S ter, N.H., to the company’s Springfield, Mass., facility. The relocation began in January and is scheduled to conclude by November 2011. “The relocation of our Thompson/Center Arms operations is designed to streamline our firearms manufacturing processes and improve our margins,” Golden said. S&W reports that after the close of the second quarter, it successfully expanded its revolving line of credit from $60 million to $120 million. “We are continuing to operate under challenging industry conditions with reduced consumer spending and difficult year-toyear comparisons to prior-year surge levels. As we enter the second half of our fiscal year, our new and expanded credit facility strengthens the resources available to enhance our business. We are also taking steps that we believe will improve our operating performance,” Golden said. For more information, visit www.smith-wesson.com. $31+ Million SureFire Awarded Contracts See page 12 Gun Talk Radio Downloads See page 17 1.7 Million Rounds Fired Through HK P30 See page 46 91,622 Subscribe to SI Digital: 8 FEBRUARY 2011 www.shootingindustry.com. Read SI DIGITAL It’s Free! www.shootingindustry.com


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Microsoft made $25.7 billion (£17.9bn) in revenue in Q2 of 2016, according to the company's latest earnings report, as Windows Phone continues to struggle.
Windows Phone revenue has fallen by 49 per cent year-on-year despite the recent launches of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, further condemning the smartphones as an afterthought in the market. This is also reflected in device sales, which have fallen to 4.5 million compared to the 10.5 million sold the year before.
One area that is looking good for Microsoft is the Surface, with revenues increasing by 29 per cent to $1.35 billion (£940 million) thanks to the performance of the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 devices.
Microsoft's cloud services unit is also also growing, with the number of Office 365 subscribers increasing to 20.6 million and revenue up 70 per cent. Furthermore, revenue from server products and cloud services grew 10 per cent in the quarter, with Azure revenue jumping up by a massive 140 per cent.
Gaming is a bit of a mixed bag. Whilst the number of Xbox Live monthly active users has increased by 30 per cent year-on-year to 48 million, hardware revenue dropped due to decreased performance of the Xbox 360.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Peteri


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Thieves Strip Bike Shop Bare Before It Even Opens As Cycle Thefts Continue To Rise
Exclusive Steve Robson
November 02, 2012
Adam Broadhurst and Marcus Roberts
Two young entrepreneurs have been left devastated after thieves stole their entire stock from their new bike shop – before they had even had chance to open.:(:cry:
Adam Broadhurst and Marcus Roberts, both 22 and students at Manchester Metropolitan University, launched an online business together earlier this year selling refurbished cycles.
They had saved enough money to open their first shop and agreed a lease on a unit on Redbank near the city centre.
But before they had even begun trading, thieves ransacked the shop, taking 20 mountain bikes as well as cash and a satnav.
Adam said: “I came into work and all our stock had gone. We were devastated. It’s put us right back to square one. We employ one person who’s now in limbo and we were looking to take on an apprentice as well.”
The burglary is the latest in a huge surge of bike thefts in Greater Manchester recently.
The M.E.N reported last month how GMP believes the spike could be due to the recent success of the Olympic cycling team causing a demand for high-end bikes.
Adam believes the break-in could end up costing his business, the Manchester Cycle Centre, more than £10,000.
The roller shutters and entrance to the property were also damaged in what police believe was a pre-planned job.
Adam said: “Police said they must have come out with a lot of tools to get in here and had a large van or a lorry to take all the bikes. They even tied the gate so that nobody would be able to get in and disturb them.”
“It was the first time we’ve set up a proper business. We’ve invested a lot of time and money to set up the business and then this happens.
“We’ve been working on this three or four days a week for months.
“I feel like we can’t do this in Manchester now. I don’t feel comfortable having a shop here. It’s just a nightmare.”
Adam and Marcus are currently in negotiations with an insurance company over making a claim.
Police are appealing for information about the break-in, which happened between 5.30pm on Tuesday, October 23 and 8.55am on Wednesday, October 24.
Pc John Humes said: “This has been a devastating incident on two young men who have started their own business. Any setback of this nature is bound to hit them hard.
“We have launched a number of enquiries to find the people responsible and we would urge anyone with information to call us.
“Any witnesses who may have seen any suspicious behaviour, and anyone with information should call us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3923 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
That is absolutely awful!
It must be devastating, I'd hate to lose any of my bikes.Trouble is some thieves sell them on for next to nothing,i've heard of top end bikes being offered to cyclists for less than £50,when questioned the seller beat a hasty retreat.
Thieves suck. A year or two ago, a collection of high dollar vintage 70's BMX bikes were stolen from a shop in USA. The BMX community is keeping an eye out for the rare bits but they have yet to surface. Really took the wind out of the sales of the owner who had spent many years collecting the bikes. Sadly, thefts seem to be increasing as the global economy is in the toilet. Hope they catch the bastards and lock'em away for a long time.
|All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:50 AM.|


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Intel-Micron JV orders litho for Singapore fab News & Analysis 2/1/2010 1 comment Intel Corp. and Micron Technology Inc. are mum about the production schedule of its joint NAND fab in Singapore--despite the fact the venture has begun ordering lithography tools and other gear for that plant.
Qualcomm makes up with Korea News & Analysis 2/1/2010 Post a comment Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego) will establish a research and development center in South Korea and will invest in Seoul-based Pulsus Technologies Inc.
Forum describes 25G backplane, standard News & Analysis 2/1/2010 Post a comment The Optical Internetworking Forum has successfully demonstrated a 25 Gbit/second backplane, more than twice the speed to today's typical systems and reported on it at an open workshop hosted by the Optical Internetworking Forum that is drafting a standard for 25G interconnect.
Samsung, Toshiba retain lead in Q4 NAND ranking News & Analysis 2/1/2010 Post a comment The six companies fighting for NAND flash memory market share retained their positions in the fourth quarter of 2009. Samsung and Toshiba led with market shares of 38.6 percent and 3.7 percent respectively, according market research company DRAMexchange.
Full-year chip sales fell 9% in 2009, says SIA News & Analysis 2/1/2010 1 comment Global semiconductor sales were $226.3 billion in 2009, a decline of 9 percent from 2008 when sales were $248.6 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). The full-year decline was as had been expected in the last month but much less than had been predicted in the first months of 2009.
Nujira starts to roll out Coolteq.L silicon News & Analysis 2/1/2010 Post a comment Nujira Ltd. (Cambridge, England) has said it intends to demonstrate the world's most efficient RF power amplifier for 3G/4G at Mobile World Congress which takes place in Barcelona, Feb. 15 to 18. The demonstration is based on Nujira's Coolteq.L silicon.
D&R launches IP_SoC 2010 World Tour News & Analysis 2/1/2010 Post a comment Design & Reuse SA (D&R), a global collaboration network for sharing system-on-chip design resources, announced it is exporting its IP-SoC conference and exhibition concept to the world.
Rumor mill: B'com, Cavium eye Teknovus acquisition News & Analysis 2/1/2010 1 comment Chatter in the rumor mill says Broadcom Corp. or Cavium Networks may be about to acquire startup Teknovus Inc. for its passive optical networking technology, just as Marvell is expected to roll out its first PON products this week.
As data rates begin to move beyond 25 Gbps channels, new problems arise. Getting to 50 Gbps channels might not be possible with the traditional NRZ (2-level) signaling. PAM4 lets data rates double with only a small increase in channel bandwidth by sending two bits per symbol. But, it brings new measurement and analysis problems. Signal integrity sage Ransom Stephens will explain how PAM4 differs from NRZ and what to expect in design, measurement, and signal analysis.
January 2016 Cartoon Caption ContestBob's punishment for missing his deadline was to be tied to his chair tantalizingly close to a disconnected cable, with one hand superglued to his desk and another to his chin, while the pages from his wall calendar were slowly torn away.122 comments


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The European Commission has just published a press release and report on the investigation into free to play games which it is coordinating within the European Union. This follows my report back in February 2014 that the European Commission (one of the three legislative bodies in the EU and the prime policy maker) had decided to step into the increasingly thorny field of regulation of free to play games and in-app purchases in the online and mobile worlds. Now the Commission has, seemingly out of the blue, issued a press release explaining what it has been up to all this time.
In this post I explain what’s going on and what’s REALLY important about the new guidance being issued to Apple and Google. Continue reading EU regulation of free to play games: hot topic or hot air?


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OUR LATEST NEWS
THE HALLOUMI CASES
The HALLOUMI cases : appetizer for the downfall of collective marks designating a geographical origin? The collective word mark HALLOUMI
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WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2021
Belgium ranks 11th in the World Press Freedom Index 2021 – something to be proud of? On Tuesday, 20 April
JEROEN SPEAKS AT THE BMM
Last Thursday, 25th March 2021, the Benelux Association for Trademarks and Designs (BMM) held its bi-annual spring meeting. Whilst the
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!
A big shout out to all those strong and successful female entrepreneurs out there for International Women’s Day! FENCER is
The Belgian cheese maker Flandrien has been successful in preventing a cooperation of Dutch cheese makers (‘Coöperatieve Zuivelonderneming CONO B.A.’)
WHAT WAS IN YOUR CHILD’S SHOE?
The most wonderful time of the year has arrived. The festive season started with Sinterklaas, the most nostalgic celebration of
BREXIT : REPRESENTATION ISSUES
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit had the dubious honour of becoming only the second-most important news item of
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VOORUIT, le nouveau nom du parti solcialiste qiu embête le temple culturel gantois du même nom. Le SP.A, le parti
GLEISSNER’S BAD FAITH TRADE MARKS
The Benelux Intellectual Property Office has recently confirmed in Oneworld that the Benelux is not the appropriate jurisdiction for speculative trade


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Fedima, the Federation of European Manufacturers and Suppliers of Ingredients to the Bakery, Confectionary and Patisserie Industries, has been conducting a campaign to promote and increase sourdough awareness among industry members and consumers. Fedima’s president, Johan Sanders, reveals the concept, execution, and impact of the campaign based on an in-house consumer study.
Better baking for biscuits and cookies means matching the intended baking curve of the product, stage by stage, consistently and efficiently. With its Emithermic oven, Reading Bakery Systems provides complete control over five baking parameters that create a more balanced bake.
At its site in Poland, free-from specialist Ultrapharm creates gluten-free bakery products and continuously adds to its high-quality product range. Since September 2019, the company has been doing so with the help of a new M-TA oven by MECATHERM.
COVID-19 affected the ways companies pack their products, organize operations and run their facilities. It also caused an increase in demand for industrial pre-packaged bakery products, and sustainable ones. A major step towards more sustainable packaging is enhancing its recyclability.
New raw materials
As gluten-free bakery is decisively increasing its foothold into the mainstream market, growing by about 25% each year, research seeks to improve product taste, texture and nutritional profiles. In the absence of gluten, this has been a challenge. It takes exact science and technology to define and improve digestive wellness.
By means of invasive mechanical and electrical impulses, the dough resting time of wheat doughs after mechanical energy input can be drastically shortened and dough properties equivalent to those of rested doughs can be achieved quickly in seconds.
Consumers have been increasingly opting for healthier versions of their favorite baked snacks, a trend that boosts sales across flavor categories, from sweet to savory. After a year that saw a reevaluation of entire supply chains, the use of ethical, health and dietary claims in Sweet and Savory Biscuits in Western Europe is more important than in any other region worldwide, Euromonitor finds.
2020 was the year of baking bread. When COVID-19 put the world on lockdown, panicked consumers stocked up on flour and yeast and started kneading. As a result, baking staples saw exponential growth, with sales of baking yeast up 457%, baking powder up 178% and flour up 155%, over the previous year ending March 28, 2019, according to Nielsen data.


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London-based Icon Games has said that recently-published sales numbers of its games published on WiiWare were pulled at the demand of Nintendo. Before the new year, the studio published sales numbers for its games released on WiiWare, as well as iOS and PS Minis. But in a blog published yesterday, it said Nintendo had been […]
Icon Games headlines
Sony is pretty serious about its support for independent developers, going so far as to quietly give away Vita development kits to at least one small studio.


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The consumer watchdog is warning people to be alert to bogus travel deals after receiving 1,650 complaints about travel scams this year, with a total of $100,000 reportedly lost.
ACCC deputy chairwoman Delia Rickard said many complainants were contacted by phone and offered holiday vouchers for $2,000 or $3,000.
She said others were sold fake trips to Florida or the Bahamas, including tickets to theme parks or cruises at discount rates.
"This year we've had complaints about vouchers which promised a Caribbean cruise and trips to Disneyworld around Florida. People have paid a lot of money - they haven't received anything," Ms Rickard told the ABC.
"We've had a few people who've paid over $10,000 each for these sorts of voucher schemes. The most common ones we see though are for Bali, Thailand, Fiji - the local destinations Australians are fond of visiting.
"Check who you're dealing with. If you've been offered vouchers for particular accommodations or cruises, contact the accommodation providers, the cruise providers, sourcing the contact details yourself.
"Pay using a trusted payment mechanism like a credit card. Don't pay via a wire transfer," she said.
West Australian resident Martin lost $32,000 when he booked first-class flights to London from Perth this year.
He thought he had booked through a reputable travel agent because he had used the agent previously.
"I had to join up as a United Airlines frequent flyer and then he subsequently transferred 360,000 frequent flyer points into our account. In saying that I didn't know there was anything illegal," he told the ABC.
"We then transferred money into his account which was $12,500 and that was to travel on June 30 this year.
"We went to the airport at 8am and were told that our tickets had been cancelled because of improper use of frequent flyer points and that it was fraudulent.
"As a result of that we ended up buying our same seats that we'd previously paid for through this scheme; business class and first class costing us $22,000 at the airport because we had other things planned for when we got to London.
"To make it worse, just before we were due to travel I'd already booked for travel in 2015.
"It was a single person. He was actually using the email address of a business called Wholesale Flights in the US but he was depositing money into his own account through a PayPal account.
"I contacted Wholesale Flights and told them we had emails from this guy saying he represents their business, and they were most receptive.
"They confirmed this guy in particular had been let go for suspicious activity. He was poaching their clients from web-based fliers so then he started his own business called skyhighflights.com and started advertising on that.
"I contacted him from London and told him what had happened. Shock and horror from his point of view, and I asked him for a refund back and assurances for the flights that we'd booked for 2015.
"After three or four months of promises, in the end his mobile phone is going to voicemail, his email started bouncing back from his business, his domain address is up for sale."
Martin lodged complaints with US and Australian authorities, so far without success.
Telstra scam warning
In addition, Telstra this week renewed its concerns about scammers posing as the company's employees to extort money from consumers.
The company produced an information flier called Is It Really Telstra Calling? that will be sent to 6 million customers between now and Christmas.
It provides examples of what telemarketers and scammers who impersonate Telstra staff say to customers on the telephone.
Telstra spokesman Steve Bannigan said the company was increasing its efforts to raise awareness about the unethical conduct of rogue telemarketers and telephone scammers.
"We know our customers receive phone calls from people impersonating Telstra staff, who try to switch them to another telephone company or try to gain access to their personal information.
"The conduct of these people makes it difficult for customers to tell the difference between a call made by an authentic Telstra representative and a call made by someone impersonating a Telstra representative."
Earlier this year, the ABC revealed scammers were posing as Australian Tax Office employees to take money from consumers.
You can report suspicious activity to www.scamwatch.gov.au


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A three-day trade and tourism conference aimed at promoting Indonesian-made products in Phnom Penh ended yesterday and although the conference is hoped to boost bilateral trade, an Indonesian diplomat said direct flights would be needed to facilitate the flow of business between the two countries.
Speaking at the closing of the 10th annual Indonesian Trade and Tourism Promotion (ITTP) conference, Pitono Purnomo, Indonesia’s ambassador to Cambodia, said that the annual trade-promotion event has helped increase bilateral trade every year.
However, Pitono highlighted the necessity of pushing for direct flights between Indonesia and Cambodia, adding that state-owned Garuda Indonesia airline could eventually launch the service.
“I believe in the long run, in the future, that would be a good prospect,” he said. “I am encouraging Garuda to open direct flights and hopefully they are considering that.”
Pitono admitted that there are challenges in lobbying the airline to operate a direct flight because the only 5,000 Cambodian tourists visit Indonesia annually, while nearly 50,000 Indonesians visited Cambodia last year.
“The airline company could start with one or three flights a week,” he suggested, adding, “There is no need for a daily flight.”
Ho Vandy, deputy secretary-general of Cambodia’s National Tourism Alliance, said that official talks for establishing a direct flight began in 2009, although there is little to show for the effort.
However, he added as trade and economic ties deepen with Southeast Asia’s largest country, he hopes the Indonesian ambassador will continue to push for a flight to benefit the Cambodian economy.
“A direct flight will help to bring in more Indonesian tourists to our country,” he said. “At first, it would help to boost the tourism sector and later it would enlarge trade activity and increase investment into Cambodia,” he said.
According to Cambodian tourism statistics, Indonesian tourists to Cambodia reached 23,266 visitors in first six months this year, an increase of 17 percent compared to the same time last year.
Meanwhile, according to statistics from Indonesian government, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $450 million in 2015, a slight uptick from $434 million a year earlier.
The three-day ITTP consisted of 65 booths with 22 companies from Indonesia and 39 Indonesian companies already based in Cambodia. Potential products for import into Cambodia included automotive components, furniture and construction materials.


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OnLeaks, a famous leaker that often shares information before an official launch, has shared the first information about new earbuds from OnePlus in collaboration with 91Mobiles: true wireless earbuds in the Nord-series. OnLeaks has shared renders of these new earbuds. Just like their phones, the Nord-series are on a lower price point and thus it's very likely that these new earbuds should come at a lower price than (for example) the Buds Z2.
In the image we can see that the black earbuds can be controlled by touch controls, which is indicated by a gold-like coating at the side.
An important side-note from OnLeaks states the following:
OnePlus Nord TWS earbuds renders are based on the live images of final prototyping stage units. Hence it is hard to show the exact design through renders just yet as there could be a few tiny changes in details on the final product when they officially launch. But this could be the overall outlook of the OnePlus Nord earbuds.
The charging case we can also see on the image looks pretty big and boxy, unlike the less boxy one which comes with the Buds Z2. Just like the Buds Pro, Buds Z and Buds Z2, the 'Nord TWS earbuds' are likely to come with silicone ear tips as well. The stem however looks quite bulky and wide, which on the first glance may seem to give issues when it comes to fitting in your ear. Perhaps it'll turn out to be a better fit into your ears — we'll have to find out.
There are also rumours about a successor of the two year old Bullets Wireless Z: the Bullets Wireless Z2. The new earbuds have been spotted on a listing for Bluetooth certification. The certification shows that it has been published on the 20th of February 2022 with model number E305A. The "core specification" may hint that the Bullets Wireless Z2 will be using Bluetooth 5.0. According to leaker Mukul Sharma, these earbuds will launch in March.
We will update this article once more information is available.


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How China’s economic heft can reshape the WTO and global trade for the better
- China’s accession to the WTO in 2001 reshaped the country and world trade, bringing great benefits to all
- As the WTO opens a fresh chapter under new leadership, China is well placed to help rebuild the organisation for the post-pandemic world
The garden also reflects China’s enduring commitment to the multilateral trading system, as China’s then-ambassador to the WTO, Yi Xiaozhun, said at the time. The Gusu Garden is far from the only mark China has left on the WTO, though.
But, equally, China’s accession has also changed the face of world trade and brought great benefits to the WTO and its members. Now, as the WTO opens a fresh chapter under new leadership, China is well placed to help the organisation rebuild itself to become the driving force of free trade for the post-pandemic world.
Given China’s place in today’s global economy, it is easy to forget the arduous process of overhauling its legacy command economy to join the WTO. Accession negotiations took 15 years, longer than those to form the organisation itself.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala becomes first African, first woman director general of WTO
To adapt to WTO commitments, Beijing modified more than 2,300 national laws and regulations, while a further 190,000 were modified or cancelled at the local level. Trade-weighted average tariffs fell from 32.2 per cent in 1992 to 7.7 per cent by 2002, falling further to an average of 4.8 per cent between 2003 and 2017, according to the World Bank.
These changes opened China’s economy to the world and spurred a period of rapid growth. In 1999, China’s GDP was less than Italy’s and ranked only eighth in the world. Today, China is the world’s second-largest economy and its largest trading nation.
Meanwhile, China’s share of global service exports has doubled from 3 per cent in 2005 to 6 per cent in 2020, while its share of service imports has grown from 3.3 per cent in 2005 to 8 per cent in 2020.
In a recent round table on China’s two decades in the WTO, held by the Centre for China and Globalisation in Beijing, Yi – who recently completed his second term as WTO deputy director general – highlighted some of the ways the world economy has benefited during this time. For example, since joining the WTO, China’s average contribution to global growth has doubled to almost 30 per cent.
US, China and the “doomsday scenario” for the global trading system
China has changed beyond recognition since it entered the WTO. During this time, the Centre William Rappard, which houses the WTO, has also been extensively remodelled and expanded to house new functions and make room for delegates from the WTO’s growing membership.
Unfortunately, the institution itself and the rules that govern world trade have barely changed in this period. This failure to adapt to important shifts in the global economy has caused tension and seriously weakened the organisation.
Eyes now turn back to Geneva, which later this year will host the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference. Delayed from last year because of the pandemic, it is perhaps the most important such meeting in recent history. Expectations are building that it will help re-establish the authority of the WTO in the global trade order.
If we are to see a rebirth of the WTO, then there is perhaps no more fitting place than the city where the WTO and so many other international organisations were born.
Wang Huiyao is the founder of the Centre for China and Globalisation, a Beijing-based non-governmental think tank