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MUMBAI: Passenger vehicle (PV) volumes are expected to log 5-7 per cent growth, touching a new peak for the third straight time in the next fiscal driven by the SUV segment, credit rating agency Crisil said on Monday.
This anticipated growth is expected to come on the back of an estimated high base of 6-8 per this financial year even as demand for cars and exports remain muted, it said.
A significant change in consumer preference has cranked up demand for SUVs leading to its market share doubling to around 60 per cent of total domestic volume this fiscal from around 28 per cent before the pandemic in fiscal 2019, the ratings agency said.
This preference is expected to grow further, backed by a healthy pipeline of new model launches across price points, including electric variants, and normalised availability of semiconductors after a prolonged period of short supply, it said.
“While the overall PV volume is seen rising 5-7 per cent next fiscal, we expect demand for SUVs to accelerate at twice the pace at over 12 per cent, driven by an array of feature-laden launches at competitive price points, varied technology options including hybrid and electric, and increased access to credit,” said Says Anuj Sethi, Senior Director at CRISIL Ratings
In contrast, Crisil said, demand for cars is seen slowing this fiscal too due to the ongoing weakness in the rural market and lower affordability at the entry level.
The cost of vehicles has risen in the past 3-4 years as manufacturers have been passing on higher commodity prices and have had to comply with more stringent regulations on safety and emissions, it said.
The situation is similar on the export front. The share of PV exports is estimated to have slowed to 14 per cent this fiscal compared with around 17 per cent in fiscal 2019.
With inputs from PTI


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Atom processor with the Intel System Controller HubIntel unveils its Atom processor (formerly known as Silverthorne) for MID or mobile Internet devices at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai. Intel says the Atom chip and the Centrino Atom version use about 3 watts of power compared to 35-watt chips that are now found in notebooks.
"This is as important to Intel as the launch of the Pentium in the mid-1990s", Intel chief executive Paul Otellini said in a video played during an IDF keynote.
Here is the Atom processor with the Intel System Controller Hub. For more information read Larry Dignan's blog.
Photo credit: Intel

domain: news


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Automation and work
LendUp, a for-profit and venture-backed startup from bay area, Calif. is within the company of enhancing payday financing. Also it’s now starting its vault to allow other companies provide comparable solutions via its API.
With all the API, other businesses and businesses can incorporate LendUp’s loan-processing tools to their product that is own also build unique economic and loan solution using the white-label option.
LendUp’s API includes underwriting, deal processing, customer care, collections and conformity, and notifications. It may incorporate into mobile apps, and companies can modify which components they would like to connect to their item. And it may feed a company’s declined borrowers into LendUp’s system to assist them to get economic the help of LendUp rather.
вЂњIt’s the very first time that there clearly was a customer financing API,вЂќ LendUp cofounder and leader Sasha Orloff told VentureBeat. вЂњA single API that handles all the various aspects.вЂќ
San LendUp that is francisco-based provides for those who can not get conventional loans from banking institutions. It markets its loans as safer and much more affordable than standard loans that are payday.
вЂњWe notice a large problem with predatory borrowing products in the market and would like to assist create better market driven alternatives,вЂќ Orloff stated in a message.
вЂњWhether it is supplying the LendUp Ladder which adjusts loan prices predicated on just how trusted a client is to more individuals, or seeing how many other companies can cause, we should see more competition, that will convert to more, and better options, for the people that banks cannot, or will maybe not, lend to,вЂќ he stated. (more…)


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According to a report for Re/code, unnamed industry sources said Amazon is preparing for a March rollout of its TV add-on designed to compete with the Apple TV and Roku box, among others.
Amazon’s expansion into other areas would seem to indicate that a TV box isn’t so far fetched. Its Netflix-style Prime Instant Streaming service and video catalog is constantly expanding, even as the company begins to create its own content.
The box could even play games, much like Ouya’s Android-based gaming console, if Amazon’s recent acquisitions are any indication.
It put out job listings for game developers, and purchased game developer Double Helix Games, maker of Xbox One launch title Killer Instinct, earlier this month.
The box will likely be powered by Google’s Android OS–a forked version of the operating system that powers Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets.
While it’s still a rumor, the same one popped up last year around the holidays, which could lend some credence to the tale.


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EXCLUSIVE: No Pathfinder replacement for Nissan Barcelona plant
Nissan Europe's Pathfinder
Nissan Europe has told just-auto that despite the launch of a new Pathfinder in North America, there are no plans to replace the model that has been built in Barcelona since 2005.
"The European Pathfinder (produced in Barcelona) is going to continue its European career. The new Pathfinder presented in the US is not going to be introduced in Europe. We will keep current Pathfinder for a couple of years still", a spokesperson for Nissan Europe stated to just-auto via email.
The current model had its global debut at the Detroit motor show in January 2004, with European build commencing exactly one year later. Unlike the model that has just gone out of production at Nissan North America's Smyrna plant in Tennessee, the Spanish-made Pathfinder has always been available with a diesel engine. The 4.0-litre V6 that was standard in North America was offered for a time in Europe but NNA's optional 5.6-litre V8 never made it to Europe.
The new Pathfinder SUV recently went into production at Smyrna alongside the closely related Infiniti JX. Both come with a standard 3.5-litre V6 and there is no V8 option. Unlike the body-on-frame chassis of the rear- and all-wheel drive Barcelona-built model, the new front- and all-wheel drive Pathfinder uses a monocoque construction. Its platform is the Nissan D architecture.
Author: Glenn Brooks


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Posted by Marc Decamper
Cook’s comments come as part of his interview with GQ, which was posted online April 3
This is one of the key life lessons that Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook said he learned from the inimitable Steve Jobs before the Cupertino, California founder’s death in 2011.
Cook made the remark in an interview with GQ, posted online April 3, in which Apple’s current chief offers some insights into the company’s latest tech foray — with augmented and virtual reality.
But the idea Jobs espoused of not becoming attached to any one idea is an important piece of spoken wisdom and echoes views espoused by other sages, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, the supposed leader of the Romantic and Transcendental movement in 19th-century American literature. .
“Foolish consistency is the inattention of small minds, so adored by petty statesmen, philosophers, and muses,” Emerson wrote in his famous essay “Self-Reliance.”
As GQ documents in the interview, Apple’s inventions, “beginning with the Apple I of 1976 and Apple II of 1977, and continuing through the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods,” have been seen by many as essential to consumer-focused gadgets. .
Jobs was known as someone who saw failure as an opportunity to reinvent, especially if you were eager to acknowledge your weaknesses and figure out ways to fix it.
Despite taking over from a leader boasting an enthusiastic following, Cook did not languish in the position, presiding over a hugely popular institution. Apple became the first $3 trillion company early last year (it’s currently valued at about $2.5 trillion), its stock price has increased over the past five years by more than 230%, and it has far outpaced the S&P 500, which is 48% higher.
April is National Financial Literacy Month, and it’s a good time to embrace the lesson Cook took from Jobs, especially as investors navigate a financial landscape that is rapidly shifting from a regime of super interest rates to one of much higher interest rates. Investors will need to avoid dogmatism and remember that strategies that worked in the past may not be suitable for what lies ahead.
This means that the ability to be nimble and make quick adjustments may be the key to success for leaders and investors.
Take part in MarketWatch’s 2023 Financial Literacy Contest. Will you get 10/10?
Check out: Apple Sees “Stable Improvement” Trends in iPhone Business, BofA Says
See: My dad retired to the tune of $10 million, and he bought my sister a rehab center. He said no to my request to pay for my children’s education. what can i do?
From the Archives (October 2011): Steve Jobs: MarketWatch CEO of the Decade
April is National Financial Literacy Month. To mark the occasion, MarketWatch will publish a series of “Financial Fitness” articles to help readers improve their financial health, offering advice on how to save, invest and spend their money wisely. .
– Marc Decamper
This content was generated by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently of Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(end) Dow Jones Newswires
Copyright (c) 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.


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The new Xbox Live update has begun rolling out.
“Today we’re starting to roll out the official release of the update to Xbox LIVE subscribers around the world. To ensure a stable release, this will be a gradual deployment across subscribers and regions over the course of the next week.” informed Major Nelson on his blog.
The update will be in phases, as mentioned above by Nelson. This will be a step to ensure a smooth and fault free roll out.
After the update, new features will include:
- A new Xbox 360 Dashboard with a new layout, a combined TV & Movies channel and, in the US, a Sports destination.
- Internet Explorer for Xbox.
- Recommendations and Ratings. This will include the ability of players to rate content, and view Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
- Pinning. Players will be able to pin TV shows, games, music, videos and websites to the home screen.
- A new video store called Xbox Video.
- Recent. Used to be called Quick Play.
- Enhanced Search.
- Kinect voice search will now work in 9 new countries – Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Ireland.
This is the second big launch for Xbox users today. Xbox Music just rolled out for Xbox 360 and will soon be coming out soon for Windows 8 PC and phones.


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Archive for July, 2012
Here’s an incredible chart from Microsoft’s last earnings report that didn’t get the sort of attention it deserves. The Server and Tools division generated more revenue than the Windows division in the last fiscal year.
The Windows division is still much more profitable, earning $11.5 billion compared versus $7.4 billion for Servers & Tools. And one of the reasons Windows generated less revenue than Server & Tools is that Windows 7 is at the end of its run.
However, this chart is illustrative of a two big trends for Microsoft. First, while Vanity Fair wants to call it a lost decade for Microsoft, it clearly wasn’t all lost since it built a third huge new business division. Second, while people worry about the future of Windows, and whether or not it gets disrupted by iOS and Android, the truth of the matter is that Microsoft is more than just Windows.
For the second day in a row, India has suffered a gigantic power outage.
This time it was bigger, as half the country has lost electricity.
Here’s a video from IBN explaining
NBC has received plenty of heat and criticism for their decisions to tape-delay a number of the more popular Olympic events. But they aren’t helping their own case when they spoil their own coverage with a promo for another show.
That’s what happened tonight when NBC was getting set to show the women’s 100 meter backstroke, an event Franklin won (will win?). The network went to commercial with a view of Franklin in the pool and the teaser “coming up, how good can Missy Franklin be tonight? The finals of the 100-back coming up.”
And from the “can’t make it up department,” NBC then showed a promo for “The Today Show” centered around Franklin celebrating her gold medal with her parents. The promo even included a shot of Franklin on the medal stand with her medal.
Gee, I wonder if she is going to win?!? Here’s the video…
TorrentFreak has posted a supposedly leaked presentation by the RIAA’s chief lawyer that says that it defended SOPA and PIPA even though it knew the censorship legislation wouldn’t be effective against music piracy. Is the RIAA for real or are they just covering their asses, and what does it mean for your freedom going forward?
Massive Internet protests forced the RIAA’s puppets in Washington to back down from SOPA and PIPA, delivering a major blow the the RIAA’s crusade against Internet freedom. The leaked presentation called “￼U.S. Copyright Alert System and Other Voluntary Initiatives” was given in April to industry bigwigs, and it finds RIAA Deputy General Counsel Victoria Sheckler backpeddling from the organization’s legislative attacks on piracy. Just look at this slide. How pathetic:
In other words, the presentation all but admits what opponents of SOPA and PIPA knew all along; that the legislation would be useless. Now remember, this legislation jeopardized free speech on the Internet. If this is posturing, it’s an infuriating stance. It’s inconceivable that the RIAA would support legislation that so blatantly threatened your rights for nothing, but it’s the unfortunate truth
Since legislating censorship didn’t work, the RIAA has pivoted back to the Copyright Alert System, an anti-privacy initiative it’s been pursuing with ISPs. The new initiative was finally agreed upon last summer after years of debate. It was supposed to launch this month, but it’s been indefinitely delayed because all of the stakeholders—you aren’t one of them, by the way—can’t agree on how to implement it. Under the system, Internet users would be governed by a six strike system. The RIAA (or MPAA) would submit complaints of infringement to ISPs on behalf of copyright holders, after which the ISPs follow up with users using what’s called “graduated response.” In short, infringers are warned and warned again before anyone launches any significant legal action. The emphasis, the RIAA says, is on education. Bullshit.
You should be just as worried about this ISP monitoring as you were about SOPA and PIPA. Instead of bullying the government into restricting your freedom, the RIAA is bullying the ISPs into creating an Internet nanny state to intimidate you into compliance with whatever it wants. As the RIAA points out in the slide above, the only thing legislation would have have accomplished is increased policing by ISPs. With the Copyright Alert System it’s happening anyway. It’s unprecedented. And for what? There’s no evidence it’ll work. The RIAA says it will, but after this leak do you really want to take its word for it? [TorrentFreak via ITWorld via Slashdot]
Last quarter Android’s U.S. smartphone share was 56.3% of all sales, down from 60.6% a year prior. Meanwhile, the iPhone’s share came in at 33.2%, up from 23.2% the year prior.
This is an impressive gain for Apple, especially considering the company sold fewer iPhones than expected.
When Apple releases the newly redesigned iPhone, we expect it to take even more share.
Verizon may not want you to have Google Wallet on your phone, but that won’t stop intrepid rooters and hackers from shoehorning the app into Big Red’s handsets. Mike Beauchamp and Dustin Evans took some time away from their recent Kansas City trip (to check out Google Fiber, of course) to get the Mountain View mobile payment solution up and running on a Galaxy S III. Is it more difficult than rooting your device and installing the app? Just a bit. Beauchamp’s video doesn’t offer much in the way of instruction, but it does show it being used to buy breakfast at Mickey D’s. Thankfully, it looks like some folks over at the XDA forums have documented the solution, just check out the more coverage link.
Business Insider Intelligence a new research and analysis service focused on mobile computing and the Internet. The product is currently in beta. For more information, and to sign up for a free 30-day trial, click here.
Apple is in prime position to win the mobile enterprise. According Good Technology, a vendor of technology to help companies manage mobile devices, Apple accounted for over 70 percent of new device activations in the second quarter. Android made up most of the rest, although Windows Phone showed up for the first time with 1.2% share.
Good Technology is not a perfect barometer of enterprise adoption because it does not track Blackberry devices, which have their own device management technology, but it is a good proxy nonetheless.
A large part of Apple’s success stems from bring your own device (BYOD) programs. At the end of 2011, 72 percent of Good’s clients had formal BYOD programs, up from 60 percent at the beginning of the year. Apple’s mobile enterprise market share is also firmed up by the iPad, which is gaining traction in the enterprise and represents more than 90 percent of all enterprise tablet deployments.
Dr. Augustine Fou is Digital Consigliere to marketing executives, advising them on digital strategy and Unified Marketing(tm). Dr Fou has over 17 years of in-the-trenches, hands-on experience, which enables him to provide objective, in-depth assessments of their current marketing programs and recommendations for improving business impact and ROI using digital insights.
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The company said David Courtley had resigned from his role at the group but claimed his departure was “not related” to an ongoing accounting investigation.
Earlier this month, the business claimed a member of staff had “repeatedly and deliberately” circumvented controls in its Leeds finance department. The breaches led to the “mis-statement” of key figures and stretched over the last 18 months, Phoenix said.
Phoenix has since suspended a manager in the department and appointed accountant PricewaterhouseCoopers and law firm Nabarro to carry out independent “forensic investigations”. The company estimates the fiasco will cost it £14m, although it is not yet known when the investigation results will be published.
Peter Bertram, Phoenix’s chairman, will become executive chairman . Finance director Jane Aikman will maintain her current role and also become chief operating officer. Sources close to the company indicated that Mr Courtley, who only joined the company last year and earned a basic salary of £375,000, will not receive a pay-off.
Phoenix said Deloitte had also resigned as the company’s auditor, to be replaced by PwC. “The reason for their resignation was that the directors of the company had decided to appoint another firm as auditors,” Phoenix said.


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The Solution Comprises Element Six’s Diafilm EA Grade Electrode Offering the Highest Sensitivity, Selectivity and Responsiveness
CHICAGO – Mar.3, 2014 – AT PITTCON 2014—Element Six, the world leader in synthetic diamond supermaterials and member of the De Beers Group of Companies, today announced the development of an all-diamond packaging solution for electroanalytical sensing applications, in collaboration with the University of Warwick. The solution will transform next generation electroanalytical sensing systems to benefit the biomedical, environmental, food, industrial process monitoring, pharmaceuticals and oil and gas industries.
The all-diamond packaging solution is comprised of Element Six’s Diafilm EA grade, a free-standing, boron doped synthetic diamond electrode (introduced to the market in 2013) and available in a variety of electrode geometries encapsulated in co-planar insulating diamond. This packaging permits easy integration of the sensor into any electrochemical system while allowing the diamond electrode to work at its full performance potential. To date all-diamond sensors have been successfully integrated into conductivity meters, macro electrodes and flow through electrochemical devices.
“The all-diamond packaging solution enables electrochemical devices to survive and thrive in the harshest of environments,” said Professor Julie Macpherson, The University of Warwick. “The combination of this ability to maximize durability along with the precise geometry of the co-planar electrode arrays allows the system to achieve very high sensitivities in a variety of different detection environments.”
Mike Riding, managing director, Process Instruments UK Ltd. (Pi) said, “Element Six and the University of Warwick did a fantastic job with the all-diamond device. The structured electrode packaging allowed us to seamlessly integrate their diamond conductivity sensor into our existing analyser technology, and we consider this an exciting development for advanced electroanalytical sensing.”
The properties of Element Six’s Diafilm EA grade electrode material outperform thin-film boron doped electrodes and other electrode materials, as it:
“Element Six is at the forefront of innovating synthetic diamond applications that can benefit a number of important industries, “said Adrian Wilson, director of Element Six Technologies Group. “The development of this all-diamond packaging solution is further testament to our commitment to fully exploit the unique properties of synthetic diamond, particularly for high sensitivity and harsh environment applications.”
At Pittcon 2014 (Booth #635), Element Six will be showcasing the all-diamond sensor structure in a manufactured coplanar two-probe conductivity meter. Warwick University will be hosting a number of technical sessions during Pitton including “Advances in Diamond Based Sensing and Analysis” presented by Professor Julie Macpherson, on Monday, March 3 at 1:30 p.m. ET and “All Diamond Conductivity Measurement Device” presented by Dr. Max Joseph on Thursday, March 6 at 10:25 a.m. ET
If you’re interested in learning more about Element Six’s sensor solutions, please visit www.e6.com/sensors.


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Two of the big names in office supplies are hoping that a merger can make the business of selling staplers and toner more profitable.
Office Depot and OfficeMax are in talks to combine in an all-stock deal that may be announced as soon as this week, a person briefed on the matter said on Monday.
While talks are at an advanced stage, they may still fall apart, this person cautioned.
Should a deal be reached, it would unite two of the main retailers of office supplies after years of suffering at the hands of rivals. Traditional retailers, laden with big real estate holdings, have struggled against nimbler competitors.
As of the end of the third quarter, Office Depot operated about 1,675 stores worldwide, while OfficeMax ran 960 outlets.
Combined, the companies reported about $4.4 billion in revenue for their third quarter last year; in comparison, Staples disclosed $6.4 billion in sales for the same time period.
The age of the Internet and bulk discounters has also weakened the two companies, as Amazon.com and Costco emerged as significant competitors capable of undercutting their prices.
The possibility of a merger between Office Depot and OfficeMax has been bandied about for some time. Analysts and investors have argued that as profitability shrinks, traditional office supply retailers would need to combine to cut costs and eliminate overcapacity. And with the leader in the field, Staples, having signaled little desire to buy, attention has fallen on its two closest competitors.
Late last month, analysts at Goldman Sachs speculated that the chances of a merger had risen to as high as perhaps 50 percent.
Stock in the two companies has risen significantly over the last year, largely on speculation that a union between the two was in the works. OfficeMax’s shares have jumped 87 percent, closing on Friday at $10.75; those in Office Depot have climbed 41 percent, closing on Friday at $4.59.
Office Depot has also been under pressure from an activist hedge fund, Starboard Value, which sent a letter to the retailer’s board last fall. In the letter, the investment firm called for more cost cuts and a greater focus on higher-margin businesses like copy and print services.
With a 14.8 percent stake, Starboard is the company’s biggest investor.
Office Depot has considered ways to improve its stock price since then, including a potential sale of its 50 percent stake in its Mexican unit to Grupo Gigante. But it also has sought to protect itself by adopting a shareholder rights plan, a corporate defense maneuver aimed at shielding the company against a hostile takeover.
Spokesmen for Office Depot and OfficeMax declined to comment.
News of the talks was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal online.
If completed, a transaction would be one of the biggest health care deals of the year. And it could reap a sizable profit for Bausch & Lomb’s current owner, Warburg Pincus.
The Dow, the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index and the Nasdaq all finished the week lower for the first time since mid-April.
More than 88 percent of Fortune 500 companies have adopted written policies prohibiting bias on the basis of sexual orientation, but Exxon Mobil has refused.
An energy company’s plan to drill an exploratory shale gas well in a bucolic area of southern England has galvanized residents.
A proposal for cleaning up lead contamination from small car-battery recyclers in poor countries.
The measure also bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except in tourist zones, and prohibits alcohol sales near mosques and schools.
Mike Darnell, who has supervised reality programming for Fox since before the term reality show entered the lexicon, oversaw “American Idol,” once the most popular show on American TV.
Despite President Obama’s conciliatory gesture of a review of Justice Department investigations involving journalists, some reporters say that chill has already set in.
A federal judge’s ruling could halt the resale of digital music as well as other digital good like e-books.
A world-renowned physicist meets a gorgeous model online. They plan their perfect life together. But first, she asks, would he be so kind as to deliver a special package to her?
The Winklevoss brothers have moved on from their battle with Mark Zuckerberg and are more active than ever.
Chia seeds aren’t just for terra cotta pets. Adding chia to a smoothie can make an energy-rich breakfast or give you a boost after a morning workout, writes Martha Rose Shulman.
Being depressed is known to increase the risk for stroke. Now a new study suggests that the association is even stronger in younger women.
Nearly 23 years after the Americans With Disabilities Act went into effect, patients with disabilities continue to receive inadequate medical care — and many cannot even get a doctor’s appointment.
Procter & Gamble said on Thursday that its chief executive, Robert A. McDonald, had resigned. | Four executives of SAC Capital Advisors have received subpoenas to testify before a grand jury. | In a push to soften financial regulations, bank lobbyists are helping lawmakers draft legislation. | Congressional concern over SoftBank’s bid for Sprint Nextel is growing.
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Tax Inversion Critics of Burger King Telling a Whopper
Contrary to news, tax inversions rarely drive M&A deals. That particularly applies to Burger King Corp.’s proposed $11 billion buyout of Tim Hortons Inc.
26 August 2014
Contrary to the recent controversial news coverage, tax inversions very rarely drive M&A deals. That particularly applies to Burger King Corp.’s proposed $11 billion buyout of Ontario-based Tim Hortons Inc. Some critics are even claiming Burger King’s deal (including its plans to relocate to Canada) is just about exploiting the lower tax rate there.
Now that theory is great, except that it really makes no sense. The tax inversion accusation is a mere red herring: This deal is a merger of two equals, and it’s clearly strategic in nature. These inversion-based deals, while admittedly high-profile and doubling in frequency, are still but a tiny percentage of the M&A activity we track. They represent something like 0.1 percent of the regular deals on the market, or one of out of 1,000.
Some of the inversions are also just by-products of decent strategic M&A and not solely driven by the tax savings. Yes, in some cases, a large American company may sneak off to do a deal with a smaller offshore firm, in, say, Ireland, to get a tax break. But that is actually rare, and it’s unfair to put the Burger King-Hortons deal in that boat.
A Fast-Food Colossus in the Making
The Burger King-Tim Hortons deal actually isn’t about taxes. It’s about getting one up on the fast-food competition, such as McDonald’s Corp. Moving to Canada (the largest market for the combined company) and getting a tax break is certainly a by-product of the deal — but it’s not a core reason for it.
The union of Burger King and Tim Hortons will combine a hamburger giant with a coffee and donut juggernaut. They’re two really good brands that can cross-sell, and they need scale and scope. In fact, if this deal closes, says USA Today, it will create “the world’s third largest fast-food and fast-casual restaurant company,” able to boast it has 18,000 outlets in 100 countries, and $22 billion in system sales.
Tax Rates a M&A Red Herring?
Tax inversion is taking a big public relations hit these days. As a Chicago Tribune article notes, lately, there have been a handful of deals that also involved inversions.
In fact, drug store giant Walgreen Co. got so much heat from activists, unions, and politicians (including Barack Obama) it shelved a planned decision to reincorporate in Europe. By the time Walgreen got around to trying an inversion, public opinion was not favorable. Obama even called it an “unpatriotic tax loophole,” as the Tribune notes.
But this is overreaction. The current M&A momentum on display shows that there are companies with extra cash to spend that want to increase their market share. That’s it. The healthy M&A environment existed before inversion began to be talked about and will continue despite it.
Certain trademarks, service marks or trade names appearing in this article are the property of their respective holders. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names in this article are referred to without the ®, TM and SM symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.


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MP1st - "In an attempt to mitigate cheating and boosting in Modern Warfare 3, Robert Bowling, Infinity Ward’s Creative Strategist, has announced that Infinity Ward is starting round one of the banning process."
Did they hire Sandy Ravage as the enforcer?
And Jason Statham with his insane knife throwing skills.
There's a popular Call of Duty commentator called Sandy Ravage. ;)
good, thats what i wanted
I'm sure they mean Treyarch. Not IW.
Ban those cheaters, permanently!!!
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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US investors were cautious about the upcoming decision by the US Federal Reserve. The Dow Jones index of the standard values fell on Monday in the course of trading by 0.7 percent to 35,761 points. The broader S&P 500 also lost 0.7 percent to 4,680 points after reaching a record high on Friday. The index of the technology exchange Nasdaq fell by 0.8 percent at the beginning of the week.
The focus of the stock exchange traders was the monetary policy decision expected on Wednesday by the US monetary authorities. Experts expected that the US Federal Reserve will point to a more rapid reduction in security purchases and an earlier start to interest rate hikes due to the increased inflation.
The Corona variant Omikron continued to cause uncertainty. Stocks in aircraft companies and cruise lines in particular came under pressure. American Airlines and Carnival stocks fell in the course of trading. Investors expressed concern after at least one patient in the UK died of the variant.
“The big unknown is still the Omicron variant, and we don’t yet know how that will affect markets and the economy, but as long as that uncertainty persists, volatility is likely to remain higher,” said trading expert Randy Frederick at the finance broker Charles Schwab.
Look at the individual values
A takeover bid from competitor Pfizer, worth a total of 6.7 billion dollars, gave Arena the biggest price jump in the company’s history. The shares of the pharmaceutical company rose in the US trade at times by 84 percent to more than 90 dollars. offers $ 100 per share in cash.
Ford shares meanwhile lose more than three percent in the US business. Ford wants to triple production of its “Mustang Mach-E” model to 200,000 units per year by 2023. A total of 600,000 electric models are to be sold annually by then.
The plan for the IPO of the electric motorcycle division brings Harley-Davidson the largest price jump in eight months. The shares rose US business at times by more than 13 percent. The company wants to merge the business area with an empty company shell on the stock exchange via a nearly 1.8 billion dollar merger.
After the recent price slide in response to the latest episode of the TV series “Sex and the City”, investors are returning to Peloton. The shares gain US business around two percent over the course of trading. On Friday they had slipped more than five percent because “Mr. Big ”- one of the main characters in the series – died of a heart attack after a training session on a peloton machine. This will hardly affect the sales figures, says analyst Simeon Siegel of the investment bank BMO. However, in the future the growth figures as at the beginning of the pandemic are no longer to be expected.
Shares fell more than nine percent at times after the video game retailer reported a larger loss last week than last year. The company also announced that the SEC had issued a subpoena in August to trade its shares. The paper had slipped more than 20 percent in the past four weeks.
The shares of Apple were initially in the plus, but then turned slightly into the red, although the company had won a decision of the court of appeal. The game company Epic wanted to sue for its own app store on the iPhone – and failed. A side effect in the process were new ways for app developers to inform users about cheaper payment methods outside of the platform. But this is now also on hold.
Apple is still creeping up to the $ 3 trillion mark in market value. It would have been reached at a share price of $ 182.86.
The shares rose by more than three percent in the course of trading. The electric vehicle maker recently announced an offer to buy convertible bonds worth $ 1.75 billion.


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Comodo Internet Security Complete 2017 Trial
MacOC/ Linux/ Windows (All Versions)
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Uber has to get into skirmishes to battle the "taxi cartels," but the CEO of the emerging ride-sharing network says his company's aggressive startup mentality is misunderstood.


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Online PR Media is the place where traditional media press releases are supercharged with multimedia, social media, and search engine optimization, to give you the most visibility for your news releases. Our SEO press releases, multimedia press releases, and newswire press release distribution put your news in front of the right people at the right time. Welcome, and enjoy the experience!
Dan Del Piano has announced the launch of his new Bible reading program for children - the Kingdom Kids Club. Daniel Del Piano's club aims to create an interest in Bible reading among children by offering rewards and prizes in return.
What is the Golfer’s Survival Kit? A new and popular golfing gift for someone who loves golf and is passionate about his or her game. The Golfer’s Survival Kit provides the perfect way to celebrate a good round or take the edge off a bad one. It also includes essential golf accessories to keep one’s performance on the links everything it can be.
HowSafeAreYou.org Details 4 Ways To Stop Identity Theft
If you are worried about identity theft and you suspect that someone has accessed your information, the law allows you to place a fraud alert on our credit file. When you have a fraud alert on your file specific action must be taken by companies' before granting credit in your name. It ensures that it really is you and not someone trying to use your identity and inforamtion.
LifeInsuranceRates.com has introduced a section devoted to assisting consumers in finding the cheapest life insurance plans available. Consumers can compare and contrast cheap plans by requesting free quotes from multiple insurers.
Award Win Highlights Slingsby's Green Credentials
BAILDON based industrial and commercial equipment supplier, Slingsby, has seen off competition from across the region to win Business in the Community's (BITC) Yorkshire and Humber Long Term Environmental Improvement Award.
Emily Gill, curator of TheCleanGreenLife.com recently published an interesting daily digest discussing different aspects of clean living, including using cork flooring as a renewable building material.
GreenBeanBuddy.com has reported that MyCleaningProducts.com has released A rust removal technology,that was already named #1 rust remover of 2011 on the open market. The product is reportedly saving companies thousands.
C4orceCorvettes.com/forum is live utilizing The most powerful forum software in the world. Includes all of the features of the new vBulletin 4.x Forum. All about the All American Sports car, The Corvette " yes indeed " or just hang o
FinanceAcar Closes Investment To Reinvent Car Buying
FinanceAcar.co.uk, the world’s first online car marketplace that enables car buyers to compare and get the best monthly price for a new car, has announced that it recently closed a round of funding led by Anthemis Group
In real estate it is about location location location. Well in SEO it a about quality Backlinks Backlinks Backlinks. Your team has been able to get quality back links for my site from Press Releases sent out on Online PR Media and the press releases look fantastic and professional. Great Job!


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It has come to light that the Twitter accounts are being sold in forums like HackForums.net and ForumKorner.com for a meager amount of $10.
The hacker, who goes by the name “devil,” is selling data on 5.4 million Twitter users by accessing the weak point that came to light in January 2022. Twitter has compensated the person $5.040 by the name “zhirinovsky.” The seller has provided some insights into this.
Public-facing data, email addresses, the database, phone numbers, etc., which can be used for phishing and taking over the account, were the details found in the database. Additionally, the seller claims to have information on celebrities, random news, companies, etc. The authenticity of the claims was confirmed as a sneak peek was shared on Breach Forums. Twitter is investigating the issue.
Twitter was in the news for its acquisition by Elon Musk, The Tesla CEO, but backed out as it did not give out the exact details on the number of fake accounts and bots. It seems Twitter did not attempt to give a way to come out of this issue too.
Eric Weaver, an executive, working in the advertising field, could not log into his account as a hacker had hacked his account and changed the password. Furthermore, Weaver realized that his statement was put on sale online with some software to hack dozens of Twitter accounts quickly.
Weaver continued, “I was surprised this was all happening so openly,” The hackers “are able to operate with seeming impunity.” Weaver is not the only person who has had this experience; plenty of accounts are sold online for as little as $10.
However, Twitter still has to respond to this issue. One of the hackers said they could mask their location’s IP address by using a Twitter cracker loophole in Twitter security. The Twitter cracker can be easily purchased online. One seller/hacker said that you could upload almost 10,000 passwords at a single time, and it automatically checks the password and, if it doesn’t work, moves on.
Recently, a hacker posted 30 accounts on sale on ForumKorner.com. Short, one-word accounts were in demand, being easy to remember and giving extra space to write more about themselves in the 140 space limitation.
There is an alarming concern over the security of hacked accounts quickly and sold. Many companies have systems that prevent hackers from hacking by guessing passwords. The question here is why Twitter is not adopting this policy when this is a real threat to users on the microblogging site.
Twitter still maintains that bots make up less than 5% of all the accounts on the microblogging site.


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We are so excited to announce that the Charity Retail Association is sponsoring Sustainable Fashion Week, 16-25 September 2022.
What is Sustainable Fashion Week?
This is the flagship event of Bristol-based A Single Thread CIC. Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW) is a week of community activity, gathering people together to inspire, upskill and empower the community to make sustainable fashion choices.
The four themes of the week’s activities are rewear, repurpose, regenerate and reconnect – each theme has calls to action that support a turn towards the sustainable and away from the fast. You can read more about these themes here.
UK charity shops divert 339,000 tonnes of textiles from landfill or incineration and encourage reuse at the heart of communities on our high streets. A rise in sustainable fashion influencers, ethical consumers and savvy charity shop chains has raised the profile of the sector and helped it to be stronger than ever – despite Covid and lockdowns. This makes for the perfect pairing for raising fashion sustainability awareness further, encouraging the public to think about who makes their clothes, how they are made, and how they can be mended or repurposed instead of discarded and that reuse is key.
What happens during Sustainable Fashion Week and how can CRA members get involved?
SFW involves a packed programme of skills workshops, and creative events! SFW want CRA members to be part of this community movement by hosting your own event. Small or large, we invite you to collaborate with us and empower the community around you.
SFW will be talking about the industry issues, but the real power for change will come from people in the community inspiring others in the community. You’ll also be helping grow a movement for change, starting on the ground.
SFW runs from 16 to 25 September 2022, with community events happening from 19 to 25. You can host your event at any time during this period.


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Now playing: Bentley produced a digital short using its car’s own tech
Ever wish your car was as functional as it is luxurious? For a mere $300,000 that wish can come true. Bentley’s flagship Mulsanne now comes equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity and iPad Airs that pop up when you open the rear seat “picnic tables,” as they’re known to Bentley owners.
Yesterday, Bentley published a 4-minute film it commissioned, “Intelligent Details,” to spotlight the way technology and luxury come together in the car. The film is shot extensively with an Apple iPhone 5S and edited on the iPad Air, some of which was done in the car itself. (Watch to the end to see how it was done.)
“When we consider who are clients and owners are, many of them are entrepreneurial men and women who spend a considerable amount of time in the rear of the car, yet they are keen to remain productive and connected,” said Graeme Russell, Bentley Motors head of communications for the Americas. To communicate the features, he said, executives thought: “What better way to do it than to not just talk about it, but use it.”
The film is an example of the kind of brand storytelling companies have been focusing on as they look for alternatives to traditional advertising. Produced by L.A.-based creative agency Reza & Co., “Intelligent Details” was shot over two days in New York City, in black and white, to give it a documentary-style feel. The co-stars of the film are Bentley’s two designers, Luc Donckerwolke and SangYup Lee, who talk while riding in the back seat about what inspires them in their work for Bentley.
The technology is integrated in a “very Bentley way,” with the motorized tables covered in wood veneer, “seamlessly hidden from view,” Russell said. (Also hidden from view: Bentley’s fuel “efficiency” of 11 miles to the gallon in the city.)
As you might expect from a luxury automaker, Bentley wasn’t going for a mass audience with this film. But it’s not unhappy with the film’s response so far. It was posted on YouTube May 15 and teased through its Instagram channel and on Twitter. Twenty-four hours later, the film was up to 162,000 views on YouTube. We’re contemplating embedding it in a Kickstarter page so we might someday be able to afford one.
How gamers’ engagement with short-form video is changing
To better understand how modern gamers are engaging with short-form video, Digiday teamed up with Gamesight to pull key points from an exclusive report on gamers’ shifting video consumption preferences.
Inside SAG-AFTRA’s new deal with video platform Cameo
SAG-AFTRA and Cameo, the celebrity platform that connects talent and fans, have announced a new agreement that allows members to cover brand deals through Cameo for Business (C4B). Brands will be able to access more fan-favorite professional talent through SAG-AFTRA's health and pension plans.
Digiday+ Research: Extreme pessimism about the end of the cookie levels off among agencies
Agencies are still feeling out who they think the winners and losers will be as the end of the third-party cookie draws near, but they're doing so with notably less pessimism than they have in the past.
SponsoredWhat the measurement and currency discussion really means to TV advertisers
Ali Mack, head of TV and agency, Experian Major streaming video providers have recently made headlines by adopting new currencies for ad measurement, threatening Nielsen’s long-standing TV ratings monopoly. NBCUniversal, for example, has certified iSpot and VideoAmp as currencies for advanced audiences and formed the Joint Industry Committee with Paramount, TelevisaUnivision and Warner Bros. Discovery. […]
Benjamin Moore is using OOH near big-box retailers to say their paint isn’t there, encouraging people shop local
The 140-year-old paint brand wants to make sure people know that it is only available at local retailers.
Jose Cuervo Tequila celebrates UFC’s 30th anniversary with Kevin Holland, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson ads
Mexico-based Jose Cuervo, is the first tequila brand to be a direct advertiser of the UFC with spots featuring UFC fighters Kevin Holland, a Cuervo ambassador, and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.


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Andorra’s Foreign Minister Gilbert Saboya spoke at the conference on joint business projects of Andorra and China. The purpose of the conference – the strengthening of business relations between the two countries such as tourism, education, innovation, culture and sport.
The conference was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador in Andorra Lyu Fan, representatives of Actua, the Chamber of Commerce (la Cambra de Comerç) and the Association of Entrepreneurs of Andorra (CEA). The parties expressed their desire to develop and strengthen cooperation.
At the conference it was noted that in 2015 Andorra exported to China goods and services amounting to EUR 1.5 million and imported goods and services worth EUR 45 million.
Business Conference is timed to celebrate the Chinese New Year. In honor of this event at the Congress Centre in Andorra la Vella, on the same day a concert orchestra of folk music of China is scheduled.


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Comcast's Xfinity wants to bring the Olympic spirit to TikTok with a new ad campaign challenging users to sing, hum or drum along to the Olympic Games’ theme, “Bugler’s Dream.” The best entrants will be included in a compilation TV commercial set to run during the closing ceremonies.
The campaign, which launches later today under the hashtag #XfinityFanthem, is hoping to kick off entries with versions from partners that include professional gamers, dancers, TikTok-famous toads, and yes, Olympic athletes. The TikTok-sourced compilation will use tagged TikToks in a 30-second TV spot set to run during the closing ceremonies.
“TikTok feels like the platform where everyone goes to these days, whether to consume content or engage with or create your own,” says Fanny Josefsson, senior writer at 72andSunny, which worked with Comcast on the campaign. The platform’s focus on music and audio made it a more natural fit over competing platforms like Twitter, Josefsson says.
Xfinity, a subsidiary of Olympics sponsor Comcast, says the advertising campaign was conceived last year in time for the Olympics’ original start in the summer of 2020, but like the games themselves, was delayed due to the pandemic. “This extra year waiting—if anything, with social interaction, it’s been such a weird year and we’ve been waiting for so long, we’re hoping that will drive more interaction,” says Josefsson.
Xfinity wants to tap into that anticipation through TikTok, where it sees growth in segments interested in sports and the Olympic Games on the platform. “The creative of the song and the iconic 'Bugler’s Dream,' TikTok plays better to that,” says Matt Lederer, VP, brand partnerships and amplification at Comcast.
An unexpected result of the delay, however, is the proximity to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Lederer says Xfinity will take lessons from this campaign into its advertising and activation for the upcoming Beijing Games, but did not provide further details.
Check out more of the best and most compelling creative brand ideas in Ad Age's Creativity section.


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With the much-anticipated release of Warlords of Draenor, the fifth expansion pack to World of Warcraft, just around the corner, the just-concluded Blizzcon 2014 gaming convention came as a great opportunity for gaming peripheral manufacturer SteelSeries to tout its Siberia Elite World of Warcraft Edition headset, and that is precisely what the company did. On Friday, our Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang stopped by the company’s booth at Anaheim Convention Center to check out the headset on behalf of all you Maximum PC readers.
Is it a compact all-in-one PC or a massive tablet?
Over the past two days, Maximum PC Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang has been scouring the fairly busy Blizzcon 2014 show floor in Anaheim California for stuff worth writing home about. One of the many (video) postcards he has sent us features a new all-in-one (AIO) PC from Lenovo. And lest you make the mistake of thinking of it as a run-of-the-mill AIO device, let us make it clear that we’re talking about an AIO PC of the portable tabletop variety.
Blizzcon isn’t just a convention that revolves around all things Blizzard, such as the developer’s recently announced FPS game Overwatch. Vendors and manufacturers, such as Gigabyte, are also there to advertise their products. Maximum PC online managing editor Jimmy Thang took the time to visit the Gigabyte booth, where he got to see the new model of the Brix Gaming PC kit and check out the topitier x99 motherboard.
We go hands-on with Blizzard's take at Team Fortress
Blizzard may have canceled Titan, but today it revealed that the company hasn’t given up on trying to create a first-person shooter by revealing Overwatch. Overwatch is being pitched as a team-based multiplayer shooter. In short, it’s basically Blizzard’s take on Valve’s popular Team Fortress 2 shooter.
It was easier to make an argument in favor of Chromebooks as early as a month ago. There's plenty they can't do, but they're cheap and sufficient for basic computing tasks, like surfing the web. They're also nice tools if you're heavily tied into Google's ecosystem. Several vendors have jumped on board the Chromebook bandwagon, and rumor has it Lenovo will offer an ultra-affordable Chromebook model of its own next year, but has their time in the spotlight come and gone?
There's a vast open world coming your way later this month, and it's filled with monkeys and tigers and bears, oh my! We're of course talking about Kyrat, a fictional region in the Himalayas that serves as the setting for Ubisoft's forthcoming Far Cry 4. There will be lots of animals, enemies, weapons, and vehicles, but before you think about getting acquianted with any of them, here's a look at Far Cry 4's system requirements.
If you caught Gordon Mah Ung's farewell podcast last week (*sniffles*), you heard him talk about the ridiculous theme he's heard throughout his career at Maximum PC, that being the impending death of the PC. The same has been said about PC gaming -- they go hand-in-hand, after all -- but in reality, PCs and PC gaming are in great places right now. If you don't believe it, put your iPad down and check out Nvidia's record performance last quarter, in which it reported revenue of $1.23 billion en route to a $173 million profit ($220 million on a non-GAAP basis).
Software security makers are suddenly hot acquisition targets
One of the names that always comes up when discussing free antivirus software is AVG Technologies. The company also offers a line of paid products for those who want more robust protection and features, and after 13 years in the business, has built up a market capitalization of around $930 million. AVG's also made itself attractive to suitors -- it's being reported that potential buyers have approached AVG amid a wave of deals for security software makers.
Assassin's Creedy Unity, Far Cry4, and The Crew no longer available on Steam
Earlier today, PCGamesN noticed that Ubisoft’s upcoming games, such as Assassin's Creed Unity, had been removed from Steam’s U.K. store. However, it appears that Ubisoft has removed its upcoming games from Steam in the US as well.
Whether you thought it was a great deal or not, Microsoft has announced that its acquisition of Minecraft developer Mojang is now official. Back in September, it was announced that Microsoft would purchase Mojang for $2.5 billion. A decision that generated some discussions as to whether or not this was a good deal for Microsoft.


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Every week on Tech Tuesday, we get the latest tech news from KFI's Tech expert, Rich DeMuro, host of Rich on Tech every Saturday 11-2pm.
- The FBI is warning the public about using public phone charging stations.
- FTC makes vitamin maker pay for hijacked Amazon reviews
- Check your Bitcoin, it's up nearly 50% just this month
- A robotaxi in San Francisco crashed
- Dominos now lets you order a pizza from your dashboard


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Campaign builds on the Bank’s efforts to help consumers enjoy the convenience, ease and safety of making cashless payments
Vietnam, 13 April 2021 – In support of the Vietnamese government’s move towards electronic payments, UOB Vietnam has launched its largest promotional campaign of the year, “Lucky Spin, Certain Win”, to encourage consumers to go cashless. The campaign builds on the Bank’s efforts to help consumers enjoy the convenience, ease and safety of making cashless payments1, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for people to minimise contact to prevent the spread of the virus.
Mr Harry Loh, Chief Executive Officer of UOB Vietnam, said, “According to the UOB ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study, 67 per cent of Vietnamese consumers surveyed said that their use of cashless payments had gone up as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also seen a similar trend among our customers for bill payments with close to an 80 per cent increase in the number of bill payments made through internet banking or via our mobile banking application UOB Mighty. Through our cashless payments campaign we hope to help drive behavioural change and make cashless payments the preferred choice for consumers longer-term.”
There are close to 16,000 prizes available in the “Lucky Spin, Certain Win” campaign which runs from 1 April to 31 October 2021.
Customers who start on their cashless journey by opening a new current account with UOB Vietnam will receive one chance to spin a digital fortune wheel. Those who maintain a pre-determined monthly balance or refer a new customer to the bank will also gain one chance to win a prize. Customers will then be sent an SMS with a link to access the digital fortune wheel where they stand to win prizes such as an iPhone 12, a SH Mode motorbike, and Got-It shopping vouchers.
To encourage customers to make cashless payments part of their daily lives, the campaign will include a “Challenge of the Month” from May to October. Customers who swipe their UOB Vietnam bank card at appointed merchants that accept NAPAS bank cards and complete a challenge will get two chances to spin the digital fortune wheel. The challenges include encouraging customers to make their first cashless transaction and to use their bank card instead of cash for their daily purchases.
Mr Fred Lim, Head of Retail Banking, UOB Vietnam said: “In designing the campaign, we wanted to provide customers the opportunity to win prizes in a fun way. Through these efforts, we hope that our customers will take to the convenience of going cashless.”
Ms Tran Thi Hong Nga, founder of BBCO Energy and grand-prize winner of UOBV’s Spin to Win 2020 campaign, said: “I have been banking with UOB Vietnam for both individual and business needs since 2018. The Bank’s comprehensive range of banking products and services, coupled with their friendly and well-trained staff make banking with them a breeze. In addition, through initiatives such as last year’s ‘Spin to Win’ campaign, I was able to quickly and easily make the switch to cashless payments. As a result, I am now able to make my personal and business payments conveniently and in a hassle-free manner.”
The terms and conditions of the Lucky Spin, Certain Win campaign can be viewed at www.uob.com.vn.
1UOB Vietnam ran the “Spin to Win” programme in 2020 from 18 March to 31 Dec.


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Veolia Services Indonesia, the France-based global waste management company, is building the largest polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or bottle-to-bottle recycling and reprocessing factory in Pasuruan district, East Java. This is a continuation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Veolia Indonesia and Danone-AQUA, Indonesia’s largest bottled water company, in 2018 on the construction of the recycling factory.
The factory is set to open in early 2020, with 7,000 square meters of building area. Once in operation, it targets to produce 25,000 tons of recycled PET yearly with 80 local workers. Raw materials for the factory are sourced from plastic waste collection actors across cities in Indonesia. Danone-AQUA will be the final user of the recycled products. This is in line with the company’s commitment to collect plastic waste more than what it produces in 2025.
As a long-term vision, Veolia Services Indonesia is looking to collaborate across Indonesia and beyond, to achieve a sustainable, large-scale change in plastic collection and recycling in Indonesia. The newly established factory will also support the Indonesian government effort to reduce plastic waste by 70% by 2025 and strengthen its recycling ecosystem.
(Source: Jakarta Globe)


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May 1, 2020
Prepare to Reopen Your Business
This week, Caravan Industry Association of Australia was provided a briefing from Neville Power, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission. The following topics were discussed.
Progressive Release on Restrictions
It is expected that the National Cabinet will begin to provide announcements on relieving social distance measures that have been enforced over the previous months, whcih the Prime Minister confirmed today in his National Cabinet address. This process will involve the progressive release of restrictions with a two-week transition period between each announcement. This process will allow the Health Department to track and trace any COVID outbreaks as they may occur, along with allowing supply chains to begin to increase capacity.
Subject to any significant COVID-19 outbreaks, this process is expected to end by September with a return to ‘normal conditions’ as most social distancing measures should be eased.
Prepare to Reopen Your Business and Response Plans
Government is now calling on businesses to begin to prepare for reopening and increased operational output for the immediate months ahead, including post September. Crucially, businesses need to be able to operate in an environment where COVID-19 is still present but controlled. The government is asking all businesses that they have COVID-19 response and crisis management plans in place to support this. This includes managing the potential for a COVID-19 outbreak in the workplace, identifying the reporting process to relative authorities and stakeholders, providing relative staff and customer contact details for tracing, and the process for cleaning and hygiene management. This will ensure that as social distance measures are progressively removed, businesses can support the government in managing any potential small outbreaks of COVID-19.
- Duties Under WHS Laws
- Workers’ Rights
- Cleaning Checklists
- Health monitoring
- Risk Assessment Templates and Emergency Plans
- Hygiene and Cleaning Processes
- PPE and Mask Overview
- Workers’ Compensation
- Physical Distancing Measures
It is important that all businesses review the material made available in addition to your state based WorkSafe information.
The government is also requesting that all businesses need to consider how they can reconfigure their business models in a post COVID-19 economy. This includes increasing digital infrastructure, examining current supply chains and logistics, as well as how you can engage with new and existing consumer segments.
Domestic Travel Update
International travel restrictions will remain in place for some time, with the challenge associated with significant outbreaks in other countries that Australia is unable to control. Government has indicated that Tourism Australia will be pivoting towards a stronger domestic tourism focus, which Caravan Industry Association of Australia strongly welcomes.
The domestic visitor economy represents $80.7 billion of visitor expenditure annually and creates 417 million nights around the country. When we consider the economic importance of domestic tourism along with 9.7 million outbound trips undertaken by Australians each year who will now be looking to travel domestically, there is a significant opportunity for the caravan and camping industry. Further information regarding specific caravan and camping marketing initiatives will be announced soon. We continue to work with Tourism Australia regarding future opportunities regarding the sector.
The Federal Government is placing an increased focus in local manufacturing, this includes a significant investment into modernisation and reskilling with the government expected to provide substantial investment into this sector. Specifically, the government will be looking at progressing advanced manufacturing processes, providing support for upskilling employees and focusing on ensuring the security of supply chains. The government has indicated that this will not be a return to a historical production line style of manufacturing. However, it is about ensuring Australia’s manufacturing is competitive and self-sustaining.
The National Association continues to work closely with Federal Government to ensure Australia’s caravan and camping industry is well positioned to support the recovery efforts post COVID-19, this includes the following initiatives:
- Capital expenditure grants for businesses;
- Funding to support rental companies to reposition their fleets;
- Provide guidance to the National Cabinet on the reopening process for caravan parks;
- Funding to support industry wide marketing:
- RVSA funding to support manufacturers transition in the coming months.
Reach Out to Us
We, in conjunction with your individual State Association, continue to advocate strongly on behalf of industry. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the National Association or to your State Association if you have any queries or to raise a specific issue that you require to be addressed with Government.


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‘Competition delivers 85 gold medals to wines from New Zealand, Australia and Europe’
The 2014 Spiegelau International Wine Competition, held last week in Marlborough, has awarded 85 gold medals, 199 silver and 536 bronze medals resulting in over 60% of all wines judged receiving an accolade. New Zealand wines received 60 of the gold medals, Australia 14, France five with Spain, Portugal and Chile receiving three, two and one respectively.
Commenting on the results, Chief Judge, Mike DeGaris said, “This was a comprehensive show with a wide range of wines from a number of countries. The overall standard was very high so those awarded gold medals are truly outstanding.”
Twenty judges worked their way through over 1300 wines during three days using almost 5,000 style-specific Spiegelau glasses. Organiser Belinda Jackson commented on the operational aspect, “We had a great team of 16 stewards who did an amazing job of opening, pouring, delivering and clearing the judging samples, not to mention washing all the glasses before and after they were used.”
Australian judges Ralph Kyte-Powell, Sue Hodder and Mike Bennie were part of the judging team. In the words of freelance journalist Bennie: “A wine show with a conscience and a pulse, the Spiegelau International Wine Competition hauls together diverse individuals from across the breadth of the Australasian wine community to assess, discuss and draw collegiate conclusions about a broad range of local and imported wines. Fun, interesting and impeccably run, it was a treat to be invited as an international judge for this show’.
A complete list of medal results can be seen at www.spiegelauiwc.co.nz
Trophies will be announced at an awards dinner being held on Friday 8 August at The Northern Club, Auckland.


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Port of Los Angeles and GE enhance “digitization” of supply chain
Teams scale digital pilot, adding terminals and shipping lines throughout port to help goods move more efficiently through America’s largest container port
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Latest ResourceThird Party Risk: Too Close for Comfort You’ve got a handle on many of the potential supply chain "disrupters" that can paralyze your business. But the real risk is embedded in areas you may have overlooked.
Less than a year since launching its unique “digital solution” for ocean cargo container throughput, the Port of Los Angeles and GE Transportation are expanding the program to include all terminals and shipping lines.
Because of the pilot’s success, the Port of Los Angeles and GE Transportation have agreed to new commercial agreements worth up to nearly $12 million and extended their relationship for at least five years. The agreements, subject to review by the Los Angeles City Council, will be far reaching, supporting approximately nine million TEUs (20-foot shipping containers), more than 15,000 truck providers and thousands of cargo importers.
“With our container volumes at record highs, the GE digital shipping solution is critical to our future success,” says Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “The GE portal is an investment in the long-term growth of the Port of Los Angeles and tells our stakeholders and customers that we take seriously our responsibility to find new ways to drive efficiencies and optimization. We believe this project will not only move the needle but could be a game changer.”
Based on the initial pilot results, the port anticipates efficiency gains of between eight and 12 percent as the enhanced solution is rolled out.
To inform the next phase of the collaboration, the port and GE Transportation surveyed users involved in the initial pilot.
Spokesmen say that results “were overwhelmingly positive” with most respondents agreeing the data in the portal is easy to understand and easy to access.
“This project has been a home run,” says John Ochs, senior director at APM Terminals, the site of the pilot project. “The Port of Los Angeles has transformed data into information that can be utilized by stakeholders to optimize their goods movement processes.
In a recent video, he also describes the development as a “magnitude leap.In an interview with LM, spokesmen say the port regards this as a “digital infrastructure” investment.
“Just like we build wharves and container terminal projects, this is a digital infrastructure investment that we believe will pay dividends for years to come,” he adds.
Truckers also number among the stakeholders cheering this announcement. Weston LaBar, executive director of the Harbor Trucking Association, notes that a rucking dispatcher may visit up to 40 websites a day just to coordinate cargo movement into the port complex.
“Having a single portal, a single reference point, will create new levels of efficiency that we’ve been seeking for a long time,” he says.
About the AuthorPatrick Burnson, Executive Editor Patrick Burnson is executive editor for Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management Review magazines and web sites. Patrick is a widely-published writer and editor who has spent most of his career covering international trade, global logistics, and supply chain management. He lives and works in San Francisco, providing readers with a Pacific Rim perspective on industry trends and forecasts. You can reach him directly at [email protected]
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By Nina Adam
Nov 2 (WSJ) — Germany’s VDMA engineering federation said Monday that its “plant and machinery makers are battling against global markets’ adversities.” German mechanical engineering orders slumped 13% year-over-year in September, hit by a 18% drop in foreign demand. Foreign orders from outside the eurozone were down 7% in the nine months through September from the same period a year earlier. “Companies are feeling the pinch from turbulences in China, which are also affecting other key developing markets,” said Olaf Wortmann, an economist at VDMA, which represents more than 3,000 midsize companies.
Redbook’s same-store sales tally has been climbing, up 4 tenths in the October 31 to a year-on-year plus 1.9 percent. But the report’s commentary is mixed, saying some retailers benefited from Halloween shopping though it said the fact that Halloween fell on Saturday actually kept shoppers out of stores on Halloween itself. The report’s month-to-month reading shows no meaningful change against September. But the report’s outlook for the key shopping month of November is very strong, forecasting 2.8 percent year-on-year same-store sales growth for the month.
Bad, worse then expected, and prior month revised lower as well:
New orders for the export-hit factory sector fell 1.0 percent in September for the 11th decline in 14 months. Orders for durable goods, initially posted in last week’s advance report, are unrevised at minus 1.2 percent, held down in part by a downswing in civilian aircraft but nevertheless showing wide weakness. Orders for non-durable goods, pulled down by weakness for petroleum and coal products, fell 0.8 percent to extend a run of sizable declines going back to July. The factory sector has been struggling with weakness in the energy sector and especially weak foreign demand that for U.S. goods has been made weaker by the strength in the dollar.


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Code/Interactive, a Bronx-based organization that helps local teenagers learn how to code, has partnered with tech and media companies to create a competition that will raise awareness about the need for more diversity in tech. A contest is currently going on to select the top design for a campaign that will be featured in more than 300 subway cars throughout the city this summer.
Both private and public technology companies support Code/Interactive (C/I), which creates coding curriculums for New York City educators with an interest for the subject matter. One challenge facing young minorities is access to coding and programming courses, but possibly an even larger challenge is the perception that developers are all white males, according to Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and one of the judges for this contest.
“You want to be what you see,” says Jackson. “Basketball is in our consciousness, and I now want tech to be as well. Having a campaign that’s in subway cars can kick off a conversation.” Once Jackson and fellow judges select a winner, the ad will be displayed in subway cars thanks to Fiverr, an online marketplace for creative professionals, which will support the campaign by covering all costs of poster distribution.
“Inclusion leads to growth, and then everybody wins. This started as a buzz, but it’s turning into a seismic boom.” – Rev. Jesse Jackson
You can enter the contest and get more details by visiting Create For A Cause. The winner will be chosen in May. Even if you don’t win, you’re still supporting Code/Interactive by showing your support and participation.


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NumberMall is one of a number of startups that call themselves an “assisted ecommerce service.” In India, with less than twenty percent of people buying things online, it is a hugely promising sector that connects offline retailers with the world of ecommerce.
Acting as a payment gateway, NumberMall allows merchants to process things like credit top-ups, bill payments, and bus tickets. With the acquisition of BankSmarts, an analytics platform, merchants can now analyze customer behavior based on their purchases.
NumberMall claims to have processed over 30 million interactions..
Assisted ecommerce has lots of meanings
A number of other players are battling in the assisted ecommerce sector in order to help India’s millions of offline sellers connect with buyers. It takes on many different forms.
Kunal Bahl, CEO of Snapdeal, explained earlier this year that more than seventy percent of the ecommerce site’s deals come from non-urban areas. Last year, it launched an assisted ecommerce program that set up 5,000 kiosks across 65 cities and 70,000 rural locations. These kiosks act as hubs for customers to place and pick up their orders.
In October, Flipkart also rolled out its assisted ecommerce model. Flipkart’s version allows customers to test out phones at local hubs before buying them.
This post NumberMall acquires analytics platform to help more merchants get online appeared first on Tech in Asia.
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On February 21, the Natural Product Association (NPA) filed a citizen petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on specific cannabidiol (CBD) relief in which it requests enforcement discretion for the premarket approval of CBD products.
In its petition, the NPA is asking the FDA to do one of three things:
Determine that CBD is not excluded from the definition of dietary supplement under Section 21 U.S.C. § 321(ff)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)
If you keep a pulse on this issue, you know that for the past three years, the FDA has held the position that CBD cannot be marketed as a dietary ingredient because it was first studied and approved as a drug ingredient in GW Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex (Drug Exclusion Rule). According to NPA’s petition, the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), which sets standards for medicines, food ingredients and supplements, first documented the use of hemp-derived products in 1850. This means that CBD should be treated as an “old dietary supplement” under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), and therefore, not excluded from the definition of a dietary supplement (i.e., the Drug Exclusion Rule does not apply to CBD). Exercise enforcement discretion


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On the surface, the EPA’s Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) looks promising, but in reality, the new regulation could allow more use of toxic asbestos in this country. The rule only applies to certain uses of asbestos and specific products. According to Baron & Budd, the EPA once stipulated that “importers and manufacturers of asbestos obtain prior approval before importing, processing or manufacturing asbestos in this country.”
Due to the changes, this leaves existing uses of asbestos wide open. By limiting the scope to “new” uses only, it lets the EPA off the hook for having to continue to evaluate construction materials or other discontinued uses of the product. In fact, as long as companies get approval first, they can now begin using asbestos in products that were previously banned. The EPA disagrees and claims that this new rule bolsters their existing regulations on asbestos.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been linked to mesothelioma and other cancers. Critics along with the public clearly oppose this new rule based on the 6,000 comments the EPA received after announcing it in June. The proposed SNUR reads: “The Agency has found no information indicating that the following uses are ongoing, and therefore, the following uses are subject to this proposed SNUR: Adhesives, sealants, and roof and non-roof coatings; arc chutes; beater-add gaskets; extruded sealant tape and other tape; filler for acetylene cylinders; high-grade electrical paper; millboard; missile liner; pipeline wrap; reinforced plastics; roofing felt; separators in fuel cells and batteries; vinyl-asbestos floor tile; and any other building material other than cement.”
Effects on Consumers and Employees in Asbestos Industries
Unlike the 60 countries where asbestos is banned entirely, in the U.S. it is simply regulated. It is still widely used in roofing, automobile manufacturing and the production of chlorine and sheet metal. In 1989 the EPA issued a ban on using asbestos in six categories: spray-on insulation, commercial and corrugated paper production, flooring felt, rollboard and specialty paper.
This new rule may effectively dissolve that ban, opening up opportunities for companies to begin resuming use of this toxic material in products again. Consumers may unwittingly purchase these products without even knowing they contain this dangerous carcinogen. Imported products containing asbestos could potentially be cheaper, therefore, save money in the production of these products.
However, companies that choose to use asbestos in their products will be putting employees and consumers at risk. Unless adequately protected, workers at manufacturing plants will be continually exposed to this harmful chemical and they may not even be aware of the dangers. The industries that would now be exempt from EPA evaluation have no obligation to ensure the safety of their employees or consumers.
In cases where asbestos was used in older homes or schools, the EPA is scaling back its evaluations, which could be devastating to the public. More children and adults may suffer from deadly diseases due to exposure to this toxic substance already in products that were not previously banned, but now the EPA refuses to review. There is the real potential that a lot more people will suffer if this new rule passes.
Product Recalls as Fallout
If the current government approves this rule, the fallout could be pricey. Once manufacturing plants start using asbestos in products regularly because they are no longer subject to evaluation, there will be recalls if the public gets sick from using their products. Preventing these types of disasters is always easier than cleaning them up after the fact. Product recalls are a fact of life, but it might take years to determine that products laced with asbestos are causing the illness.
Another issue with this is that asbestos was used in a lot of construction materials such as insulation and roofing. The cost to remove these products and replace them, in the event of a recall, could potentially ruin manufacturers and distributors of these products. The future of EPA regulations is unclear, but if studies show these products are dangerous and they issue a recall, the cost and cleanup could be devastating.
More than 2,500 products are recalled in America every year due to safety issues. With this rule, this number could potentially skyrocket.
An Ethical PR Nightmare
One purpose of a PR firm is to put a positive spin on potentially harmful information to preserve a company’s image and how it relates to their products and services. When a product is recalled or in the news due to someone getting hurt, social media and the public’s propensity to share negative information makes a public relations professional’s job that much harder.
The trick for PR firms when smoothing over bad news is balancing ethics with trying to save their client’s reputation. When this relates to asbestos, the problem is compounded by conflicting information from the EPA and studies that show people dying from diseases directly caused by this toxic mineral. Public relations firms often have to work overtime combatting the flurry of negative chatter on social media.
On the one hand, ethically, they have to communicate the risk to the public and direct them to medical or other support specialists. On the other hand, they may want to minimize the direct spotlight aimed at their client and the product in question that is the cause of speculation. It is a balancing act, for sure, and a complicated one for PR firms.
The Bottom Line
Asbestos-related deaths top 40,000 per year. With the influx of new products laced with this chemical, that figure could increase considerably over the next few years if the EPA’s SNUR rule is passed. With it, a lot of people and industries could be affected in different ways.
The new EPA rule would effectively leave out testing for asbestos in the air, water, and ground, as well as the long-term health effects on the public. Despite considerable evidence linking asbestos to larynx, lung, ovarian, and mesothelioma cancers, the SNUR proposes backing off from reviews.
It is not clear whether or not this new guideline will be passed, and time will tell the overall effect on business, consumers, employees, and the EPA.
Credit: Source: pixabay.com


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Mark Gammon, CAS, currently president and chief operating officer of Cap America (PPAI 111597, S10), has been appointed CEO of the Fredericktown, Missouri, supplier. He will assume the new role on January 1, 2022, the start of the company’s new fiscal year.
Gammon succeeds founder and current CEO Phil Page, who will transition to chairman of the board for the company. Cap America board members include Phil Page, Mary Page, Mark Gammon, Jon Page, Cory Cissell, Curt Carr and Wes Royer.
“I am honored to assume this role and grateful to Phil for his influence and guidance through this process,” says Gammon. “It has been an incredible five years. We are well-positioned to expand opportunities for our clients and associates moving forward. This is a terrific opportunity that any leader would welcome.”