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The iconic, #1 selling series in Call of Duty history returns to fans around the globe with the all-new Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
Releasing with the next generation of videogame hardware, Sega of America has revealed that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will launch on November 13, 2020
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, will release worldwide November 17, 2020!
Today at Ubisoft’s first digital press conference, Ubisoft Forward, the company announced that Watch Dogs: Legion will launch on October 29, 2020.


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Bloomberg recently partnered with the New America Foundation to establish Shift: The Commission on Work, Workers, and Technology. The Commission engaged in a yearlong study concerning the future of work in the U.S., which culminated in a future-focused report featuring commentary from American workers with different backgrounds. The results of the Shift Commission’s landmark study exposed the rapidly evolving employment landscape in the US, but they needed an up-close, personal look at American workers themselves in order for their findings to really resonate with readers.
We set out across America to capture the voices of the people whose livelihoods were most at risk from automation and outsourcing. The hopes, fears, and experiences we uncovered were woven throughout the initiative’s PR campaign, which included Bloomberg articles, speaker panels, and a podcast series that featured our emotionally-driven conversations with truck drivers and unpaid caregivers.
Millennial PR Survey for Bank of America
Bank of America Merrill Lynch needed to infuse fresh thinking into their biannual report on the journey to retirement. We used a PR Survey to generate newsworthy millennial insights and striking headlines for national news coverage.
PR Campaign Gold for Kraft
Our consumer survey for Kraft Mac and Cheese's #SwearLikeAMother campaign turned an interesting idea into pop culture gold.
Newsworthy Polling for LG
LG and its PR agency, Ogilvy, turn to Kelton to earn media coverage with thought-leading content based on data.

domain: news


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Google Play Music fix prevents songs from vanishing from your microSD card
Google has rolled out an update for its Play Music app for Android that prevents songs from vanishing from your microSD card. The frustrating bug was introduced several weeks ago, and it left users unable to find tracks they had stored locally for offline listening.
Strangely, the issue only affected tracks saved in Google’s All Access streaming service, leading some to believe that the company just didn’t want users to save them to a microSD card. But that’s not the case.
The latest Play Music update — which also address a problem that caused some songs and albums from My Library not to be displayed — should prevent songs saved to a microSD card from vanishing. You can download it via the Google Play link below.
- Google Play StorePlay Music


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Featured Business: Lites Plus
Todd and Nancy Kananen are the proud owners of Lites Plus, a local business that sells lighting products to commercial and to industrial customers.
Lites Plus has been in existence since 1987, when a previous owner created the company. The Kananen’s bought the business in 2018 and they have been running it successfully since that time.
High-quality customer service and excellent products are what set Lites Plus apart from other lighting businesses.
“We offer a wider variety of products than are found in big box home improvement stores, and our products feature a longer warranty than those sold in big box businesses,” said Todd. Todd leverages his background in energy management to help him provide high-level service to his customers.
“I’m in a position to accurately assess the needs of my customers and to save them a lot of money in energy costs,” he said. “My manufacturing experience with companies such as Siemens, DTE, and BASF taught me knowledge of energy conservation and how to save money with it,” he explained.
Todd and Nancy have four children and six grandchildren. They live in Howell, Michigan, but they think highly of Portland. “I think that Portland is a great community,” said Todd. “My wife and I have met a lot of good people here and we’ve done what we could to assist the local area,” he said.
When all is said and done, Todd and Nancy’s success formula is simple but effective. “We focus on customer service,” said Todd. “We do a lot of extra things for our customers. We provide added value to them by going beyond their expectations.”
Lites Plus is a valuable asset of Portland. Todd can be reached by telephone at 517-647-9920 or by email at email@example.com.
227 Maple St. Portland, MI 48875
Hours Monday-Friday 10AM-3PM
This piece was originally published in Downtown Portland March Newsletter.


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Swiss premium chocolate company, Lindt and Sprungli, will open its new factory outlet in Sydney’s north west on October 15.
An extensive range of Lindt products will be available at the outlet, which is only one part of the company’s expansion operations in Australia, with the business consolidating a number of existing sites into Sydney Business Park at Marsden Park.
“The team at Lindt are thrilled with the progress of the new facility, and we are delighted to be giving consumers the opportunity to access our new factory outlet,” said Steve Loane, CEO, Lindt and Sprungli Australia.
The new facility occupies a 66,000sqm site, posited to support current growth and future opportunities for the company’s workers. The company’s warehousing and factory operations are expected to commence there this month, with the corporate office relocating in January 2016.


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Singapore-founded, Asia-Pacific (APAC) micromobility leader Beam has seen 134% payments growth month-on-month since going live with the world’s first payments and commerce infrastructure provider.
The partnership with Primer has enabled Beam to expand to five new international markets, giving Beam users quick and seamless access to pay and ride its fleet of electric scooters, bikes, and mopeds.
Beam, which operates in 60 cities across 8 countries worldwide, chose Primer’s solutions to enable customers to use the payment method of their choice when using a Beam device. Primer’s ecosystem of merchants, payment providers, and payment processors supports a wide range of methods for users, including local digital wallets and over-the-counter payments.
By giving Beam instant access to local payment methods, Primer’s solution greatly streamlined and simplified Beam’s expansion into Indonesia, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia within the past year.
In the past six months alone, Beam has processed more than 300,000 payments via one of Indonesia’s top payment processors, Xendit, through Primer. This connection has enabled Indonesia Beam users to pay through local payment methods including ShopeePay, Dana, and Ovo.
“Managing payment options across such a diverse and fragmented range of markets, where each customer has their own preferred payment method, was going to add significant complexity to our expansion,” said Bhavin Shah, VP of Product Management of Beam.
“Primer’s solution has removed much of the complexity around payments and enabled us to focus on building a meaningful presence in these new markets.
“In Indonesia for example, Primer has supported us in quickly scaling our growth from Bogor and Semarang to places like Bali, Canggu, and other cities. In Australia and New Zealand, two of our largest markets, we work with Primer to unlock smoother card and digital wallet payments like ApplePay and GooglePay. We are looking forward to expanding our payments options with Primer in more areas.”
Beam has also seen a commitment to route at least USD$35 million annually through Primer from the payment processors it works with in Australia, enabling greater visibility of transaction data across different payment providers. This is part of Primer’s goal to connect the different omnichannel payments and commerce options for its partners – making it easy to analyse and optimise payments through no-code technology.
Kailash Madan, Head of APAC for Primer said: “Our partnership with Beam has helped their team unlock the full potential of payments within the micromobility sector across APAC.
“It’s been exciting to roll out new markets and support them with new features to ensure a frictionless payment process wherever they expand. In Malaysia, we have built support for iPay88, a hyper-localised payment service provider, offering Beam and their customers deep local market expertise.
“We are proud to be part of Beam’s rapid growth into a micromobility leader across APAC, and we’re looking forward to developing more connections and innovative features with them.”
Founded in 2020 by PayPal alumni Paul Anthony and Gabriel Le Roux, Primer has helped merchants worldwide – from medium sized businesses to some of the world’s largest enterprise merchants – tackle their most complex digital payments challenges.


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In 2014, Dixie Brands, then known as Dixie Elixirs, was valued at $40mm at the time it raised $8mm. In an interview with Bloomberg, CEO Tripp Keber suggested that the company will be valued at $160-180mm at its next raise, which is projected to take place before year-end. Keber is on a mission to become the first billion-dollar cannabis brand.
Since its founding in 2010, the company has expanded from its initial cannabis beverage product to over 170 different products, and it has extended beyond Colorado with licensing deals. According to Keber, the most popular product Dixie Brands sells is a topical product, the Synergy Relief Balm.
Keber discussed the many challenges the company has faced, including lack of access to banking and the inability to process cash and the recent threat of a proposed ballot initiative in Colorado that would have capped the potency of products, crippling the cannabis industry.
Bloomberg’s article included an additional ten-minute audio interview segment that covered several other topics, including consumption by employees, the strict background check requirements to attain an occupational badge from Colorado, packaging requirements and the challenges of marketing, Keber’s own consumption history, his views on cannabis, especially relative to alcohol, and his dashed dreams of becoming a naval aviator.
Read Jennifer Kaplan’s “An Edible Marijuana Pioneer Is Ready for Billion-Dollar Cannabis Brands”: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-04/an-edible-marijuana-pioneer-is-ready-for-billion-dollar-cannabis-brands


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When households sit down to watch Super Bowl LVII live on February 12, they might get a sense of déjà vu. While the game might be unpredictable, some of the much-hyped commercial spots will be reruns, circulated online days or even weeks in advance. You can find footage of Ben Stiller and Steve Martin for Pepsi Zero Sugar, Alicia Silverstone’s Clueless character Cher for Rakuten, and Sylvester Stallone scaling a mountain for Paramount+. No tackling required.
With rates approaching $7 million for a 30-second spot, why do advertisers want to dampen the excitement, especially since some viewers famously watch the game “just for the ads”?
Super Bowl ads aren’t really one-offs. They’re the spine of a multimedia marketing message incorporating social media, and those campaigns are best served by companies having a presence well in advance of the broadcast. According to University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Professor Gerard Tellis, companies that tease their ads with social media marketing tend to achieve greater awareness with the eventual game ad.
“Some start these ads in December, maybe even as early as November,” Tellis told USC News in 2022. “The more you tease, the greater the audience on the day itself and the greater chance of virality.”
One of the earliest examples of pre-game exposure was a 2011 Volkswagen spot with a Star Wars theme. Released days before the Super Bowl, it earned 11 million views before anyone saw it on air that Sunday.
Ad industry observers felt it was a paradigm shift from companies being highly secretive about ad campaigns: The cachet of being a Super Bowl ad can drive interest long before kickoff. In 2014, The Los Angeles Times estimated that Super Bowl ads that got an early YouTube preview were viewed 2.5 times more than ads that were restricted to game day.
Fast forward to today: In December 2022, fabric softener Downey launched its Super Bowl campaign for its Unstoppables scented laundry beads. That was before the AFC and NFC conference champions were even crowned.
For companies who directly profit from the game, it makes sense to get their ad campaign out early. That’s particularly true of beermakers like Anheuser-Busch, which circulated ad spots on social media prior to the Super Bowl in 2022 so they would be on the minds of shoppers buying beverages for their viewing parties.
Some advertisers release teaser spots, with the Super Bowl ad being the feature presentation; others drop the entire spot. In either case, the objective is simple: to make that massive marketing investment pay off before, during, and after the game.
[h/t The Los Angeles Times]


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print and TV, survey says
By the University of Oxford news staff
A report shows that Germans still prefer a newspaper, while online news
has overtaken print and TV news as the most frequently used medium in
the United Kingdom and the United States for those using computers,
mobile phones and tablets for news.
One in five people in the UK now shares news stories every week through
social networks or e-mail. However, the report also suggests out of the
five countries studied, consumers in the UK were the most resistant to
the idea of paying for online news.
The Reuters Institute Digital News Report, published this week by
Oxford University’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, is
based on the findings of YouGov surveys in the United Kingdom, United
States France, Germany and Denmark. The report finds that more than a
quarter (28 percent) of those surveyed in the U.S. and UK access news
via their mobile device each week. Six out of 10 tablet owners in the
UK said they regularly accessed online news.
In the UK, mobile phone users are more concerned about the cost of
accessing news (32 percent) than those who accessed news on a computer.
Some 58 percent of tablet users, who are generally from a higher-income
bracket, use the device to access news every week and are more likely
to pay for news content; newspaper brands with paid apps did
significantly better on a tablet than on the open internet.
Of those surveyed, four out of 10 tablet users said accessing news on
the device is a better experience than on a personal computer. Overall,
in the UK only 4 per cent of those surveyed said they had paid for
online news, while Denmark had the highest percentage (12 percent) of
consumers, of the countries studied, who have paid for online news.
Report author Nic Newman, a research associate at Oxford University's
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, said: “For many people
digital news is now the first place to go for the latest news, rivaling
television as the most frequently accessed type of news in the UK and
Of those surveyed, nearly eight out of 10 people accessed online
news every week, but the transition from print to digital is much
slower in other European countries. The report suggests that the
Germans were the least likely to access news online of the five
countries studied with almost seven out of 10, of those surveyed,
saying they still read a newspaper.
The report also shows that in the UK, celebrity news is perceived to be
more important – and news about politics less important – compared to
the other countries surveyed. There is more interest in business and
economic news in the UK and the U.S. than in the European countries
The young also watch fewer traditional television news bulletins than
older people. The young listen to far less news on radio, but spend far
more time accessing news on their mobiles than older people, says the
report. The young are also more likely to use social media rather
than search for news, whereas for older groups it is the other way
In general, the study found, Europe lags behind the U.S. in both the
sharing of news and other forms of digital participation. In the UK,
Facebook is the most important network for news, accounting for over
half (55 percent) of all news sharing, followed by email (33 percent)
and Twitter (23 percent).
The Reuters Institute Digital News Report is the first in a series of
reports that the RISJ hopes to publish over the coming years, tracking
the changes in the public’s use of digital and traditional media to
access news. The online surveys were conducted for Reuters Institute
for the Study of Journalism by YouGov in April 2012 and involved 2,487
respondents. The report reflects only the views of online users and
excludes respondents who expressed no interest in accessing news at all.
July 13, 2012


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With a director nomination deadline approaching fast, an auction process and sale to Conagra or director-election proxy war could be next.
A week after unveiling an $11.6-billion deal for Bioverativ, Sanofi said it was spending another $4.8 billion to acquire Belgian biotech firm Ablynx.
Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai addressed the #MeToo movement at the World Economic Forum and is partnering with Apple to educate young girls.
Retail stocks have been rising so far this year - many of them even out performing the S&P 500- except for one: Sears Holdings.
Lions Gate Vice Chairman Michael Burns fanned expectations for media consolidation in an interview on CNBC, addressing potential tie-ups with Amazon, CBS, Comcast and Verizon.
EU regulators allege that the discounts Qualcomm gave Apple as part of a modem exclusivity deal violated antitrust law. That could make it tougher for Broadcom to pursue similar deals, should its offer for Qualcomm succeed.
The technology giant may be moving to liquidate its position. Shares are likely shifting into hedge fund hands, which is a positive for Jeff Smith's total boardroom takeover effort.
Chief exec Miles White says the healthcare giant wants to reduce the large amounts of debt it took on to make recent acquisitions.
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Thieves took a lot when they robbed a Takealot van in Weltevreden Park
Several parcels were stolen from a Takealot delivery team in Weltevreden Park in Johannesburg at the weekend.
Julie-Anne Walsh, Takealot's chief marketing officer, said no employees were harmed during the incident, but a number of parcels were stolen.
"All affected customers are being informed and will be given the option of either receiving a replacement of their original order if stock is available, or a credit or refund to the value of their items," said Walsh.
The incident happened on Sunday.
Gauteng police could not immediately comment on the incident.


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The current earnings season has been disappointing for the industrial sector, but United Parcel Service, (NYSE:UPS) managed to buck the trend with its set of second-quarter results. In truth, the positive news was more about the company's execution rather than any help from the macro environment. With that said, let's take a closer look at five of the key things management wants you to know about the quarter, and what it means for the company in 2015.
1. Softening economy
In line with what many other companies have reported, UPS CFO Richard Peretz disclosed that U.S. economic growth is slowing: "The U.S. Domestic business is on track with its revenue management and efficiency gains; however, we are seeing some softening in the economy."
Moreover, he went on to note the effects of slowing growth to its U.S. operations: "In the U.S., we expect Domestic volume to increase between 2% and 3%, as a result of the slowing pace of growth in the economy. Revenue should grow at a slightly faster pace as base rate pricing remains strong."
A company like UPS is never truly going to decouple from global growth, and particularly U.S. growth, but the second-quarter results indicate that UPS managed well under difficult circumstances. Nevertheless, the weakness in the economy should be noted, as UPS is usually a good economic bellwether. Ultimately, full-year guidance for operating profit growth of 5% to 9% in the U.S. Domestic Package segment was left unchanged.
2. Business-to-consumer growth
Peretz noted some differing trends in Business to Consumer, or B2C, and Business to Business, or B2B: "The pace of B2C expansion continued slowing, while B2B gains were due to omnichannel and return services in the retail sector." CCO Alan Gershenhorn would later disclose that the split in the U.S. "right now" is 45% B2C and 55% B2B.
With regard to B2C, the slowing trend is obviously a concern, but CEO David Abney explained that on a volume basis, B2C is actually up 9% compared with two years ago -- it's just that last year's comparison is a tough one. Meanwhile, B2B's growth was attributed primarily to e-commerce and omni-channel. However, Abney noted a "slight decrease" from manufacturing and suggested it was behind the company's cautious approach to its full-year performance in the U.S. -- something to look out for.
3. Outperforming International Package segment
As I outlined in the UPS results review, the international segment was the star segment in the quarter. The segment's adjusted operating profit increased by more than 17%, with Peretz attributing the strong performance to a "balance of export shipment growth, network efficiency gains, and a strong focus on revenue management initiatives."
Peretz also discussed how the strength of the U.S. dollar helped expand operating margin in the segment -- an interesting observation, running contrary to what many other companies have reported in their international operations.
Furthermore, Peretz expects "to see positive momentum continue in the second half of the year, with operating profits at the high end of our 6% to 12% range." Later on the earnings call, Abney highlighted UPS' building of a "pan-European network that we put in place maybe a few years before its time, before the market started shifting to a pan-European inventory replacement model."
4. Ready for peak?
Regular followers of UPS will already know about its failure to live up to expectations during peak demand periods in the holiday season. With this in mind, Chris Wetherbee of Citigroup asked a peak-related question on the earnings call. As part of management's response, Gershenhorn said, "We do have comprehensive peak pricing initiatives under way to increase revenue from the customers that surge and ultimately drive significantly greater cost at peak."
In other words, the company is taking active pricing measures to better manage demand during peak season. In addition, president of U.S. Operations Myron Gray discussed "10 projects" intended to improve "hub modernization, automation, or expanded capacity" and argued that the "flow-through at the end of peak season will be enhanced by over 6%."
5. UPS Access Points
As part of his response to the question on peak, Gray reminded investors about UPS' plans to expand UPS Access Points -- locations used as alternatives to home delivery for e-commerce deliveries to consumers. "We're going to deploy them in over 100 cities, and we'll have over 8,000 Access Points by the end of the year," he said.
Their expansion should help the company's efforts during peak demand, and also help allay some of the fears that retailers and restaurants such as, say, Waffle House, are about to eat UPS' lunch. By offering themselves as drop-off points and using alternative delivery methods, companies like Waffle House could threaten UPS in future. .
Where next for UPS in 2015?
All told, investors should keep an eye out on the U.S. economy, because slower economic growth will surely hurt UPS. B2C growth is slowing, but so far it's a major issue, and in any case, the company's focus is certainly on making sure it deals with B2C peak demand adequately during the holiday season. Meanwhile, the international segment continues to do well.
In short, all eyes are on the economy, and how UPS handles peak demand this year.


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A couple of weeks back, USA Today launched a new version of its app built on Microsoft's latest Universal Windows Platform, a key component of the recently-launched Windows 10 operating system. New-generation Universal apps are able to function across multiple devices and form factors with only minor revisions, bringing developers closer to the ultimate 'write once, run anywhere' vision for software.
However, since its launch, the new USA Today app has only been available on Windows 10 PCs - but now, it's also available for smartphones running the Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview.
The new app features a completely new design and layout compared with the older version, which remains available in the Store for Windows Phone 8.1 devices. The latest version matches the look and feature set of the Windows 10 release - they are, after all, the same Universal app.
As Windows Central notes, the app is pretty limited in terms of its features - while it will allow you to synchronize saved stories with the same app on other devices, even basic functionality like Live Tile support has not yet been enabled.
Whether or not USA Today plans to deliver new features anytime soon remains to be seen - but for now, you can grab the new Windows 10 Mobile version of the app via the Windows Store on your handset.


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The deployment of low cost Li-ion battery technology is enabling a revolution in the electric vehicle industry. Qatar Solar Energy has partnered with leading luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin and the worlds most experienced commercial electric vehicle manufacturer Smith Electric Vehicle to make Qatari designed and manufactured vehicles for the future.
QSE expects worldwide production of electric vehicles (EVs) to soar by 67 percent this year.
QSE has been building capability through strategic global partnerships and planned collaboration with some of the world’s leading companies to bring production of both, commercial and passenger, electric vehicles to Qatar at QSE’s new world scale premises in Doha. The initial focus of supply will concentrate on the MENA region market. Low cost clean power from renewable energy combined with 100% electric vehicles provides the most sustainable transportation solution. QSE is enabling the integration and accelerated deployment of this technology.


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Games go social, computers go mobile, and communication goes online, but many newspapers and magazines still haven’t made the connection; Or as the old saying goes: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” It hasn’t ever been more relevant than today when New Corp failed to convince many of its publishers that an online subscription-based newsstand was worth their while.
Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corp, is always on the hunt to find new ways to make people pay, even if that means pissing people off. The concept of an online subscription newsstand sounds like a fair middle ground; it is a great opportunity to tear down the pay walls and build up subscriptions in a new age of digital content. This plan was code named “Project Alesia.”
But it didn’t quite work out. Rupert Murdoch has stated that he failed to gain enough support to reach “critical mass” with the ranks of the publishers. As a result, the plan has been scratched. It doesn’t get much better when considering that plans to put subscription-based content on Apple’s iPad and other devices through the iTunes marketplace has been met with many obstacles as well.
In the end, it was a $31.5 million disaster, which, fittingly so, is not so different than the story of the print industry. Oh well.
As reported by Reuters


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Natural blue confectionery ingredient unveiled by Chr.Hansen
Ingredients company Chr.Hansen has developed FruitMax blue, a unique liquid blue developed to protect its colour the instant it hits hot candy masses.
Blue is a rare colour in the natural colour pallete, with there being only one globally accepted natural source of blue colours, which comes from spirulina.
However, spirulina formulations may not be effective in the tough production conditions of boiled candies.
For the most part, manufacturers have previously used artificial colours when it comes to creating gum and candies because of this. According to Chr. Hansen, this challenge has now been solved with the launch of Fruitmax Blue 1506.
Lotte Jeppesen, Global Industry Business Manager, Confetionery, said: “Some of the best spirulina-based products, until now, needed to be pre-dispersed at production, which can be messy, difficult and inefficient for the producers.
“We have seen a built-up demand for precisely this product – it’s an easy and convenient solution for all types of boiled sweets, and it performs well in both sugar-free and sugar-based applications.”
Jeppesen added: “We are excited to put a product on the market that caters to this need. Our new patent-pending solution will be especially appealing to health-conscious brands using other natural ingredients, like menthol in lozenges.”


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Will Tmobile Buy Out At&T Contract
Will T-Mobile Buy Out AT&T Contract? Experts Weigh In
Recently, a rumor has been circulating on social media and tech forums that T-Mobile, the third largest wireless carrier in the US, is planning to buy out AT&T contracts for customers who want to switch to T-Mobile. According to some versions of the rumor, T-Mobile is allegedly willing to pay up to $1,000 per line to cover the early termination fees that AT&T charges. Is there any truth to this speculation? Let`s examine the facts and opinions.
First of all, it`s important to note that neither T-Mobile nor AT&T has officially confirmed or denied the rumor. Both companies have declined to comment on the speculation, which is not unusual for any unconfirmed news or leaks. Therefore, we have to rely on the analysis and prediction of industry experts, who have different perspectives and assumptions about the feasibility and motivation of such a move.
For instance, some analysts believe that T-Mobile may indeed consider buying out AT&T contracts as a competitive strategy to lure more customers away from its rival and boost its own market share. T-Mobile has been known for its aggressive marketing campaigns and promotions that target potential switchers, such as the “Un-carrier” initiatives that eliminated contracts and overage charges, or the recent “50% off” deals that offer discounts on select plans for AT&T and Verizon customers who switch to T-Mobile.
By offering to pay the ETFs of AT&T customers, T-Mobile could attract more attention and trust from consumers who are hesitant to switch due to the financial burden of breaking a contract. Moreover, T-Mobile may gain more revenue in the long run by converting AT&T users to its own network, especially if they upgrade their devices or add more lines or services. However, this scenario also has some drawbacks and uncertainties, such as the possibility of losing money if the cost of buying out contracts exceeds the benefit of gaining new customers, or the risk of legal or regulatory challenges from either AT&T or the government.
Other experts, however, are more skeptical about the likelihood of T-Mobile buying out AT&T contracts, at least in the same way that the rumor describes. They argue that T-Mobile has already invested a lot of money and resources in building its own network and improving its coverage and capacity, which has enabled it to compete more effectively with AT&T and other carriers. Therefore, T-Mobile may not need to spend even more money to attract customers who are already dissatisfied with their current service.
Moreover, buying out contracts can be a complicated and time-consuming process, as it involves negotiating with individual customers and assessing the value of their remaining term, device, and usage. T-Mobile may also have to deal with the technical and financial challenges of integrating the migrated users into its own network, which may cause disruptions and costs for both sides. Therefore, T-Mobile may prefer to focus on other strategies that can differentiate its brand and attract more organic growth, such as expanding its 5G coverage, developing new partnerships or products, or enhancing its customer service and experience.
In conclusion, the rumor that T-Mobile is planning to buy out AT&T contracts may have some basis in reality, but it`s still far from confirmed or predictable. As a professional, I suggest that if you want to write an article or a blog post about this topic, you should avoid using clickbait headlines or misleading claims that can harm your credibility and reputation. Instead, try to provide objective and balanced information that is based on reliable sources and unbiased analysis, and that can help your readers understand the complexity and nuance of the telecom industry and the competitive landscape.


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Local Tax Authority in Lodz in Poland announced that the sale of mined bitcoins is subject to 23% VAT. The activity of mining is being seen as service by the local tax authority and for this service the place of service is where the customer is located. Therefore for local sales the VAT apply and has to be charged. For sales to foreign customers it is not needed to charge VAT. That might lead to technical difficulties in the determination of the place of supply. So with this new regulation the burden on miners significantly increased and it may lead to the fact that Poland will lose its attractiveness for such kind of economic activities.
For further information please contact:
Office: +48 (22) 746 4760


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Drug regulator pulls up Combiflam maker
The government has asked Sanofi India to strictly monitor quality and ensure complete recall of certain strips of "substandard" fever and pain medication, Combiflam, from retail shelves.
Mumbai: The government has asked Sanofi India to strictly monitor quality and ensure complete recall of certain strips of "substandard" fever and pain medication, Combiflam, from retail shelves. Though there is no advisory against its use, or issue with its safety, the country's drug controller wants Sanofi to investigate why it's batches were found "not of standard quality", so that the company takes pre-emptive action to prevent subsequent batches from failing "critical quality parameters".
In March, a batch of Combiflam manufactured in October 2015, failed to meet quality norms, namely the "disintegration" test, while last year too - on three separate occasions (February, April and June), samples of the drug reported the same issue, and were subsequently recalled by the company after being alerted by the government. (The disintegration test checks if the time taken by the tablet to completely disintegrate in the blood stream is within the prescribed limit.) Drugs Controller General of India Dr GN Singh told TOI: " Drug inspectors who had picked up certain batches, had reported during quality assessment that it was not of standard quality, and hence not complying with quality parameters.The firm should ensure the entire batch is recalled." He added patients can continue to take the medicine.
The problem with above mentioned four batches, samples of which were picked up by drug regulators, was the impact of medicine once consumed, was delayed. After announcing the recall, the company has fixed the "technical" issue that may have led to the drug failing to meet norms, a company official said. A Sanofi India spokesperson said "this is an old matter - few batches of Combiflam were ordered to be recalled because the tablets showed a delay in the disintegration time. We have completed the recall of affected batches as instructed... No further stocks have been found substandard".


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Influential food blog The Daily Meal has curated a list of the world’s best hostels in an unexpected category: their food offerings.
Italian fashion brand Armani, will turn London’s iconic Admiralty Arch into a luxury hotel, it was claimed today.
When it comes to online chatter about the best hotels for service, location, rooms and amenities, the Hilton, Marriott and Four Seasons come out on top.
Unlisted Collection has acquired out of administration the 15-room St. John Hotel and Restaurant, located in London’s Leicester Square.
Marriott International has opened a second Renaissance hotel in Barcelona, designed by Jean Nouvel and Ribas & Ribas.
Ora-Ïto, a French designer known for his work on products and furniture, has opened the first hotel of his new chain named “O”.
The Ibis hotel chain, part of the Accor group, has just launched what it’s calling the ‘world’s biggest virtual pillow fight,’
The boss of Zadig & Voltaire has apologised for saying that Chinese tourists would not be welcome at an exclusive new hotel planned by the company in Paris.
The Conrad Bali will customize its hotel amenities to suit the personal taste of its guests, reported Thailand’s The Nation daily Wednesday.
The new Refugia Lodge, opened this month, brings a luxurious establishment to the Chiloé archipelago, an island in southern Chile.
This October luxe hotelier JW Marriott is opening a 153-room hotel in Cusco in Peru, at an altitude of 11,154 ft (3,399 m) above sea level.
The Four Seasons hotel brand continues its expansion in China with the opening of its first property in Beijing. The opening is scheduled for September 28.
The Ritz-Carlton group will open its first Tunisian hotel in Sidi Bou Saïd (outskirts of Tunis) in 2014.
The 280-room Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen and 250-room Hard Rock Hotel Haikou will feature Hard Rock’s famed rock ‘n’ roll design elements.
Bulgari Hotels & Resorts will open a new hotel in Shanghai in 2015and will be located in a riverside complex in the artistic district of Suhe Creek.
Two French brothers are transforming a love hotel located in downtown Rio de Janiero into a five-star hotel in time for the Olympic Games in 2016.
Ritz-Carlton Looks to Vietnam. Ritz-Carlton has announced it is to make its entry into Vietnam with a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Singita Grumeti Reserves in Tanzania has been named the best hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine in its Annual World’s Best Awards 2012.
The Hilton London Wembley officially opened its doors to the public on July 18, just days before the start of the Olympic Games.
Marrol’s Boutique Hotel in Bratislava (Slovakia) was crowned best hotel in the world in Expedia’s annual “Insiders’ Select” ranking, published on June 27, 2012.


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This is exactly how Love Island contestants choose which second hand clothes are gifted to the villa
They receive one huge ‘dream’ item before they even enter
Love Island is finally back to save us from the January blues. And all of this years’ new contestants are just hours away from wheeling their massive suitcases into the South Africa villa. But (aside from swimwear, accessories and extras they opt to bring) most of the outfits contestants will wear on the show are actually already waiting for them in their wardrobe. But, how exactly do they get selected for each contestant?
“As with last season the eBay wardrobe is a shared wardrobe,” eBay’s Pre-Loved Stylist, Amy Bannerman, tells The Tab. “We do buy specific pieces for people after we have met them at the ITV press day, these are a couple of items which are gifted to them when they enter the villa,” she explains.
“When we met them at the ITV press day I asked them if there’s anything that’s always been on their wish list,” Amy reveals of the pre-series styling session. “Then my team and I go and make their dreams a reality by putting their dream item in their gift box and if it doesn’t work for them it goes into the shared villa, nothing is wasted.”
“We have time where we can try things on them,” she adds of taking contestants measurements. “This is mainly to make sure the item they’re gifted fits them well.”
Of the clothes Amy and her team of stylists have placed in the Love Island villa, she expects a Jacquemus pink blazer dress to be the most popular. “They all loved [that] when I met them,” she says. “So I am expecting to see that striding across the screen at some point!”
Aside from the pink blazer dress, there are four key aesthetics Amy has given the Islanders to choose from each day: Tutti Frutti, Business vs Party, Dressed up Denim and Heavy Metal. But, in case you’re as confused by those concepts as we are, here’s what they actually look like and why they’ve been selected for the Islanders this season:
“Tutti Frutti is all about colour and joy. It’s all about the pinks, yellows, oranges and blues, integrated in an explosion of neon blazers and bright two-pieces,” says Amy of the most vibrant look.
Business vs Party
“I got my inspiration from Bella Hadid and Pete Davidson, the merging of partywear with slouchy tailoring, creating unique looks that can be worn day and night,” explains Amy of the smart casual aesthetic.
Dressed up Denim
“Everyone has an item of denim in their wardrobe. We want to encourage people to reflect on their shopping habits, this trend will bring to life the ways pre-loved denim can be upcycled to give pieces a new lease of life,” Amy explains of the double denim look also seen on Tasha last season.
“We decided to bring back rebellious dressing with metallic skirts, leather jackets and vintage Ts with Heavy Metal,” adds Amy of the final look. “This trend feeds into both self-expression and showing pre-loved classics that will last a lifetime, inspired by Kourtney and Travis.”
Featured image credit via ITV


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A new 2,4-D-and glyphosate- tolerant crop trait system that’s expected to be available in 2013 for U.S. growers is expected to be launched in Canada “in the next few years.”
Seed and ag chem firm Dow AgroSciences recently announced “pending” U.S. regulatory approvals for the components of what it’s dubbed the Enlist Weed Control System, starting with corn varieties.
The company bills Enlist as a “new herbicide-tolerant trait system that will provide robust tolerance to an innovative 2,4-D product, in addition to glyphosate.”
The system’s commercial launch in the U.S. is “anticipated in corn for the 2013 crop year with other crops to follow,” Dow AgroSciences says.
The company’s Canadian arm in Calgary says it anticipates bringing the system to Canadian corn and soybean growers “as soon as we receive regulatory approvals for Canada,” spokesperson Brian de Kock said in an email. “We expect to launch this technology in Canada in the next few years.”
The Enlist system “will enable broad-spectrum control against tough weeds and a wide window for over-the-top application that aligns with the current glyphosate window,” the Indianapolis company said in its release.
The system “will partner with and improve upon the glyphosatetolerant cropping system,” the company said, referring to Monsanto’s Roundup Ready trait systems.
Enlist germplasm will be stacked with a glyphosate-tolerant trait as well as insect-resistant traits, Palmer said.


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*Uber, the San Francisco-based ride-sharing company that competes with traditional taxi companies by providing rides for lower fees and pick ups from a one-touch app on your phone, announced on Friday that their UberX fees are being raised by $1.
The charge is a $1 “Safe Rides Fee” and it is on every ride taken through its UberX service.
Uber offers several ride options, with UberX being its least expensive. The rides are conducted by nonprofessional drivers who use their own vehicles that have been vetted by Uber through background checks and vehicle inspections.
“This fee supports the increased costs associated with our continued efforts to ensure the safest platform for Uber riders and drivers,” Uber said Friday in a blog.
Uber isn’t the only ride-sharing company to introduce this kind of fee. Main rival Lyft also charges users a $1 “Trust & Safety fee” for the same purposes.
Uber’s decision to introduce its Safe Rides Fee could not come at a worse time for the company. Earlier this month, Lyft, who offers rides exclusively to people throughout Los Angeles County, announced that it was lowering prices in all of its markets by as much as 20%.
Thanks to the L.A. Times for information used in this story.


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The Dell Deal Explained: What a Successful Turnaround Looks Like
Harvard Business Review
AUGUST 15, 2013
And last year, he decided that the answer was to take the company private, to escape the hectoring of the public market. How Dell went from dorm room startup in 1984, to the world''s largest PC maker in 2005, and then saw its stock plummet precipitously the next year, is the subject of a lengthy Harvard Business School case study by HBS professor Jan Rivkin. There are two basic patterns to a successful turnaround, Rivkin told me in a recent interview.


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“Most” study travel agencies in China describe the impact of Covid as “under control” despite a drop in enrolments as a result of the pandemic, according to new BONARD research.
In its fourth annual update, BONARD’s Agent Marker Report, which was presented in a webinar chaired by COO Igor Skibickij and China branch manager Grace Zhu, research showed that two in five agents in the country are even optimistic for 2023.
“The world needs China and China needs the world”
“The world needs China and China needs the world, metaphorically speaking,” Skibickij told The PIE.
“We think this year the administration will find a recipe on how to gradually open the borders with reasonable contingencies in place,” he continued.
“In a way, it’s similar to buying and selling stocks – when they go down in value you don’t sell; you buy more.
“In China now it is more affordable to set up recruitment; there is less competition, less pressure – this is the time to build up your capacity,” he added.
The setup in the country looks at the cities in a tier system of one to four. Tier 1 Cities include Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, while cities in tiers 2-4 include Tianjin, Nanjing and Qingdao.
With 439 active agencies surveyed, it was found that 97% were still actively promoting higher ed in their product lines in tier 1 cities – and, for the most part, are promoting the UK over the US. Short-term programs are only promoted at 34% of establishments, and 29% promote K-12 pathways.
In terms of tier 2-4 cities, all agents surveyed were found to promote higher ed, and 81% also work with K-12 programs. However all but one have given up promoting short-term programs.
“I am happy to get in touch with providers in all destinations because I know it will get better sooner or later”
Despite the drop in promotion of short term programs in all cities, Grace Zhu said: “Most agents remain optimistic following the impact of the pandemic.”
“I am happy to get in touch with providers in all destinations because I know it will get better sooner or later; we’ve already seen bounce-back in the UK and we just prepare for it,” one agent said when they were surveyed.
On the future, trends show there is optimism that the economy will open gradually and new projects will begin to get off the ground.
“We have reason to believe that Xi Jinping will continue to promote international cooperation and development, and accelerate opening-up of China’s economy,” said Skibickij.
“We believe that, to a certain extent, this will also drive emergence for new fields of study and new study destinations for Chinese students,” he added.
Agents are also scoring well in the eyes of students in China, too. The research covered a student survey which revealed that they are still the preferred channel for “organising a study abroad experience”. Destination-wise, North America is still the preferred choice for university students.
“We believe that opening up will also drive emergence of new fields of study and new destinations”
However, it was noted during the webinar that interest in the US has suffered as a result of recent events. “There is a safety concern and anti-Chinese sentiment in the US, which makes it more difficult to convince Chinese students to pursue studies,” said Skibickij.
Australia, however, has a “very strong recruitment and momentum” in China.
For K-12 students, the UK and Western Europe are still the first choice, with UK boarding schools being the “most competitive” in terms of destination. “But US should become attractive again once the situation normalises and juniors are more encouraged to travel abroad,” Skibickij made clear.


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Amanda Bynes is back on Twitter and this time, she's not posting anything bad!
After remaining silent on the popular social media site since Nov. 10, the troubled actress surprised us all by sharing a brand new picture with her 3.7 million followers.
Wearing a knee-high skirt and matching top, the 28-year-old posed for the camera while showing off a belly-button piercing and thin figure. She also had a blond wig proving her lavender hair is long gone.
"I'm loving Boutique Jules!" she tweeted while in the clothing store's dressing room.
An employee at the Valley Village, Calif., location confirmed the former Nickelodeon star's visit Saturday afternoon and had the nicest things to say about the polite shopper.


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Tesla is preparing to switch from its current 12-volt system to a 48-volt system. The electric automaker revealed as much at its recent 2023 investor day. The automaker says the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck will be the brand’s first electric vehicle to feature a new 48-volt system. Interestingly, this will help Tesla make a huge leap forward in the industry, as most automakers producing EVs have been using 12-volt systems.
Tesla said the automaker’s first step is to switch from a 12V lead-acid auxiliary battery to a 12V lithium-ion auxiliary battery. This was announced in February 2021, with the technology being introduced to the newer Tesla Model S and Model X. Later, the technology was also introduced to the Model 3 and Model Y in late 2021.
Also read: How not to charge your electric car: Key tips
The automaker claims the new lithium-ion battery is expected to last the life of the car, meaning owners won’t need to worry about replacing batteries. Additionally, this enables automakers to equip vehicles with smaller and lighter battery packs.
When it comes to the 48-volt system that will be used in Tesla vehicles, the new technology will reduce the current by four times compared to the 12-volt system. As the power demands of on-board electrical equipment steadily increase, voltage spikes are necessary. Additionally, the wires for the 12V system become thick, heavy and costly.
The 48-volt system in upcoming new Tesla vehicles will allow the automaker to reduce the weight of its electric vehicles. In addition, this technology will help to significantly reduce costs while substantially increasing efficiency. The automaker has already confirmed the launch of the new 12-volt battery technology, with more details expected to be announced in the coming days.
First published date: March 12, 2023 at 12:11pm CST


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China's Ministry of Commerce (AP photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China's foreign trade faces unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as many economies are only slowly recovering, the country's Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday (June 10).Learn More
Partner background China Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA, Chinese: 商务部投资促进事务局) is the investment promotion agency of China. It is in charge of "Inviting in" (FDI in China) and "Going global" (outbound investment) two-way investment promotion ...Learn More
Website of METI Ministry of Economy.China. ... Had Meetings with Mr. Zhong Shan, Minister of Commerce, of the People's Republic of China, and Mr. He Lifeng, ...Learn More
The Negative list foreign investment that China’s Ministry of Commerce decided to abolish is as follows: 1. Notice of the Ministry of Foreign Economy and Trade on the question of whether Chinese or foreign investors in joint ventures or joint ventures can use the leased equipment as registered capital to invest in joint ventures (Foreign Economic and Trade Law  No. 12)Learn More
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Nov 14, 2019 · Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng speaks at a press conference in Beijing, days ahead of an imminent US-China trade war, on July 5, 2018.Learn More
Ministry of Commerce: Ministry of Domestic Trade 国内贸易部 1993 1998: State Bureau of Domestic Trade Ministry of the Electronics Industry (China) 电子工业部 1993 1998: Ministry of Information Industry 1982 1988 Ministry of Machine-Building and Electronics Industry Ministry of Electric Industry 电力工业部Learn More
There were over 10 million e-commerce live-streaming sessions in China attracting more than 50 billion views in just the first half of the year, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.Learn More
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WRAP’s Plastic Market Situation Report published in October outlined the latest data and in-depth information about UK plastics recycling and processing. The report aimed at local authorities (LAs) and recycling businesses provides insight into the key developments over recent years, whilst highlighting challenges and opportunities going forward.
Peter Maddox, Director of WRAP UK said: “This report highlights the positive steps being taken to improve the recycling and reprocessing of UK plastics, as well as the stark challenges that lie ahead. We’re collecting more plastics for recycling, and demand for recycled content has increased as businesses respond to the concerns of citizens who are rightly demanding more sustainable packaging.”
“This poses a capacity challenge and it is imperative that we support the development of new reprocessing infrastructure in the UK. Though the UK Plastic Pact we are working hard with the plastics supply chain to address this. The targets are a strong driver of change to increase the recycling of plastic packaging, and to create more sustainable end markets.”
The market report highlights the increased public awareness and ever-growing concern of mismanaged plastic waste and the subsequent environmental impact on the world’s oceans and habitats. It states that plastic is a global challenge and since consumption is likely to grow as emerging economies continue to develop we must ensure that all countries have the necessary waste management infrastructure to protect our surroundings and stop plastic waste reaching the environment.
Plastic Packaging Arising
The report states that the latest estimates indicate that approximately 2.4 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic packaging was placed on the market (POM) in 2017. Of said 2.4Mt approximately 1.5Mt originated from the consumer sector. When looking at data submitted by obligated packaging producers from 2006, it indicates that the overall plastic packaging POM has “remained broadly stable as light-weighting has countered higher consumption”.
The report estimates that the amount of plastic packaging collected by UK local authorities (LAs) has increased by 10% since 2013/14. The data shows that “nearly all LAs collect plastic bottles with around four out of five collecting at least some types of pot, tubs and trays (PTTs)”. The report also highlights the policy changes on the horizon relating to collections; following significant public interest Defra has committed to introducing consistent collection recycling measures by 2023.
Export Markets Closed & Increase of UK Domestic Recycling Required
Following the loss of traditional export markets in South East Asia, including China, there has been a significant impact on the price of recycling some materials, in particular plastics. Therefore a stronger UK domestic plastic recycling infrastructure must be developed and investment made. The report stated that said investment “must be able to weather economic volatility and be adaptable to changes in the market need.”
Increased Demand for Recycled Contact from UK Plastic Pact and Beyond
Many brands have pledged to reduce their environmental impact and increase overall sustainability. One common commitment is to reduce the impact of their packaging by introducing recycled content. With UK Treasury announcing the introduction of a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content, there is likely to be an increased demand for recycled content as producers adapt, therefore creating a market for recycled material.
Governments across the globe are consulting on policies to address the plastic waste epidemic. Here in the UK Defra published their Resources and Waste Strategy (RWS) in December 2018 which laid out a 25 Year Environmental Plan, aiming to make the UK a world leader in resources efficiency and reducing the waste we create as a society; moving towards a more circular-economy.
The RWS was closely followed by four fundamental consultations that closed in May 2019, the results of which were published in the summer this year (2019). The outcome confirmed that the Government intend to seek to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility, Deposit Return Scheme (DRS); and Consistent LA Collections across the UK by 2023. The UK Treasury also proposed a tax on plastic packaging that has less than 30% recycled content. This aims to support EPR whilst creating greater demand for recycled plastic, consequently incentivising design, collection and recycling, whilst improving resource value and productivity.


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Bottoms Up, Litigation Down: Microbrewers Forsake Litigation, Opt for Collaborative Blend
With hundreds of microbreweries churning out new craft beers every year, clever names are in short supply. So it’s hardly a surprise that two different brewers would end up selling a Belgian ale with the name Salvation.
One or the other could have fired off a cease-and-desist letter. Or both might have marched into court to duke it out. Lots of big brewers and winemakers do, spending upwards of $150,000 to hang on to naming rights.
But brewers Adam Avery and Vinnie Cilurzo took a different tack. When the two noticed their ales had identical names, one asked the other what they should do.
Instead of litigation, they decided to raise a glass and, a few drinks later, they were blending the two ales. Pretty soon, they had a new product on their hands—one that Avery says combines the best qualities of both.
But what to name it? Redemption? Temptation? Parking Violation? Couldn’t be done. Cilurzo’s Russian River Brewing Co. had already taken those names. So Cilurzo’s wife, Natalie, who knew of her husband’s fondness for names ending in -tion, came up with a better idea: Collaboration Not Litigation.
Lawyers seem to like the story of Collaboration Not Litigation ale, which not coincidentally is a hit at law office parties. But trademark lawyers caution that the two may have some problems down the road if they continue to sell the original Belgian ales under the same name. “It makes it harder to prevent others from infringing because you’ve basically sanctioned the infringement,” says Barry Strike, an alcoholic-beverage lawyer in San Francisco.
Potential acquirers may also look askance at the practice and knock down the price they’re willing to pay for the business. Jay Behmke, a Santa Rosa, Calif., lawyer who specializes in trademark law in the alcoholic-beverage industry, says he’s seen buyers knock $2 million off the purchase price for wineries that don’t protect their products’ names. “That’s going to hurt,” he says.
Neither Avery nor Cilurzo seems too worried about this prospect, especially since they’re not planning to sell. Avery says that for most brewers their work is a labor of love that grew out of a hobby. “Why would you ever sell your hobby?” he asks.


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R-Type Final 2 Gets Second Trailer Update
Granzella Games has released a new introductory trailer for R-Type Final 2.
You can view it below:
R-Type Final 2- Second Trailer Update
According to the development team, R-Type Final 2 will include a wider range of difficulty levels for those with different skill levels. You can find its Kickstarter here.
During this week’s 2020 Tokyo Game Show, Square Enix announced that NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… will come out for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on April 23, 2021
Announced this week during the 2020 Tokyo Game Show, J-rock band “The Oral Cigarettes” will contribute to the soundtrack of Scarlet Nexus with their song 「 Dream In Drive 」
Criminal excess is back in fashion – all Mobile Operations Missions in Rockstar Games’ GTA Online will pay out Double GTA$ and RP Rewards this week


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Gartner and IDC both estimates that the PC shipments in Q2 get flattened. The researchers at Gartner says the worldwide PC shipments totalled 87.5 million units in the second quarter of 2012, a decline of 0.1 percent from same quarter previous year while IDC also comes with same conclusion with saying that results are even slightly below IDC’s May projections of 2.1% year-on-year growth, but in-line with projections of a slow second and third quarter.
HP tops the chat in worldwide PC shipments, it accounts for 14.9 percent of the market, but its global shipments declined 12.1 percent. While Lenovo’s shipment growth continued to exceed the worldwide average, as its aggressive expansion damaged its competitor’s performance, namely HP and Dell, by taking shares from them.
Acer this time able to manage to increase shipments as compared to a year ago and Dell has been in a process of transforming itself from a PC supplier to solution provider for professional markets. ASUS showed the strongest growth among the top 5 vendors worldwide, as its shipments increased 38.6 percent in the second quarter of 2012.
In the U.S., PC shipments totaled 15.9 million units in the second quarter of 2012, a 5.7 percent decline from the same period last year. PC shipments in EMEA totaled 25.1 million units in the second quarter of 2012, a 1.9 percent increase from the same period last year. The Asia/Pacific PC market grew 2 percent, as shipments reached 31.8 million units.
In Latin America, PC shipments in the second quarter of 2012 totaled 9.3 million units, a decline of 1.7 percent from the second quarter of last year. PC shipments in Japan grew 2 percent in the second quarter of 2012, as shipments surpassed 3.9 million units.
(Image Source: Gartner)


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Three decades on from the release of its first LED printers, OKI Europe is celebrating its history as a champion of LED printer technology, which it continues to refine and use in its award-winning devices.
Exclusive Networks together with SentinelOne hosted a dedicated partner event to discuss the recent trends in endpoint security and the latest updates in the vendor’s endpoint protection offerings.
Keypoint Intelligence – Buyers Lab (BLI) has recognised the Alaris INfuse Smart Connected Scanning Solution with its Outstanding Achievement in Innovation award in the Document Imaging Software category.
Tenable has announced that it has acquired Indegy, an industrial cybersecurity firm which provides visibility, security and control across operational technology (OT) environments.
Dawex, a data exchange technology company and operator of the largest data marketplace, brings the power of its data exchange technology to open data.
AVEVA has announced enhancements to its Value Chain Optimisation offering to enable customers to eliminate information silos and integrate critical business processes across the operational value chain.
Vectra has announced that its cybersecurity platform integrates AI-driven attacker detections, threat hunting and incident investigations with Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Ingress Routing.
Egypt’s Ministry of Communications & Information Technology has launched WASEL, a first-of-its-kind contact centre service in the region that provides hugely enhanced access to a variety of services for people with disabilities.
Global cloud software firm Infor has announced that its helping Bahraini organisations to digitally transform in line with the goals of the country’s ambitious Economic Vision 2030.
Pure Storage has announced major additions to its Cloud Data Services portfolio that helps customers more impactfully deploy hybrid clouds.
Focus Softnet has launched Qbixe, its artificial intelligence-driven, voice activated app, designed for small and medium businesses using Intuit’s Quickbooks.
F5 Networks has announced the launch of F5 Unity+, an innovative channel programme designed to create long-term profitable partner growth.
The UAE’s Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) has teamed up with Microsoft to better secure its digital assets and protect against cyber-attacks.
With digital transformation being a major area of focus for businesses and government across the UAE, Dell Technologies has reinforced its commitment to advancing the country’s ICT agenda.


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Auston Matthews' Maple Leafs jersey (almost) for sale
Rookie's jersey expected to be a hot item in next 48 hours
Fear not Leafs fans. Official Auston Matthews jerseys are expected to be available for sale in the next 48 hours.
Hockey action opened Wednesday night with the Leafs top prospect making a historic four-goal NHL debut. Unfortunately for his supporters, none of them could rock his official jersey to the game.
Want to buy Auston Matthews jersey? You'll have to customize it. None ready to go on the official NHL store. I'm sure that will change.—@darrenrovell
NHL Players' Association spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon told ESPN that a player's name and image cannot be used until that player has technically made the team and signed the group licensing agreement.
While there's no confirmation of Matthews signing the licensing agreement, in anticipation of the high demand, Weatherdon said the union has had discussions with his representation and doesn't anticipate an issue.
The move couldn't come soon enough with fans champing at the bit to get their hands on a No. 34 jersey.
What are the chances that Auston Matthews has the best selling jersey in the league this season?—@Frosterson
How many people will be getting an Auston Matthews jersey for Christmas? @AM34—@CRO_REBEL
So why were Connor McDavid jerseys available well before the start of last season? The Edmonton Oilers gave McDavid his number immediately and said he had made the team, whereas Matthews was not given his number until the end of September.
Will you be buying an Auston Matthews jersey? Let us know in our poll.


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Last year was a "comfy shoe" one for Totalspan Kaitaia.
"Everything ticked along nicely, and I don't think we did anything particularly special," Yvonne Eason said. The judges of the annual franchise awards did not agree.
Proprietors Andrew and Yvonne, who bought the Kaitaia franchise previously operated from Kerikeri in 2012, came home from Rotorua with four awards, including their first Franchise of the Year Trophy after being runner-up last year.
"Top of the Country is now Top in the Country," Mrs Eason said. They also won the customer excellence, strategic excellence, and, for the second year running, the presentation awards.
"That means Kaitaia has the top display site in the country at present, which we are very proud of. Not bad for little old Kaitaia, up against the larger NZ Totalspan franchise areas," she said. "And we're further than anyone else from the factory [in Christchurch], which means more product tends to be damaged when it arrives here than elsewhere, and has to go back."
Totalspan has 27 owner-operated franchises throughout the country, all sell and promote only within their territory.
The Far North territory extends north from Otangaroa Rd, at Mangamuka, so all the Easons' business has been generated by locals and new arrivals to the area.
"We are most grateful for the great clients we have had, and continue to have," Mrs Eason said. "Of course our sub-contractors are also part of the bigger story as without them and their fantastic workmanship, from site works to the concrete slabs and the great team of builders we have to erect the products, and our plumbers and electricians, we would not be able to produce such a wonderful result for the Far North."
The couple have no employees of their own.
And what's their secret?
"We don't really have one," Mr Eason said.
"We just think everyone should be treated the way we like to be treated."


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Apple analyst Brian White of Wall Street brokerage firm Drexel Hamilton has issued a research note to investors in which he estimates that Apple will reach a bottom in iPhone sales, and overall revenue and profit, in the third quarter of the 2016 fiscal year, a three-month period that ends in late June.
White claimed that all of Apple's supply chain partners that his firm tracks reported May sales that were "softer than historical averages" due to the slowdown, but he forecasted that the much-rumored iPhone 7 series will help Apple's smartphone business return to growth by the second quarter of fiscal 2017.
Until then, the bleeding isn't over. The firm estimated Apple will sell 38.5 million iPhones in the June quarter, down from 47.5 million in the year-ago quarter, followed by an estimated 41 million and 72.3 million sales in the September and December quarters respectively, both of which would also mark year-over-year declines.
White predicted that iPhone sales will then rebound to an estimated 56 million, 45.4 million, and 47.3 million in the subsequent three quarters, signaling a return to modest year-over-year growth throughout 2017. iPhone sales are estimated to reach 76.3 million by the first quarter of fiscal 2018, which would be a record breaker.
It was initially reported that Apple suppliers projected weak demand for the iPhone 7 series due to a "lack of innovation," with other market conditions to blame, but a subsequent report said Apple has asked suppliers prepare for the highest iPhone production target in "about two years."
Apple also reportedly increased iPhone SE orders last month due to strong sales, and the lower-priced 4-inch smartphone should help boost overall iPhone sales.
Mac sales are also expected to bottom out, but not until the second quarter of the 2017 fiscal year, when sales drop to an estimated 3.7 million compared to 4 million in the year-ago quarter. Mac sales are then estimated to reach 3.9 million, 4.4 million, and 4.44 million in the subsequent three quarters.
Given the current "gloom and doom" sentiment surrounding Apple reaching "extreme levels" this year, Drexel Hamilton believes the company's stock represents an "exceptional value." AAPL is currently trading in around the $98 to $100 range, while the firm has set a "buy" status with a price target of $185.
In April, Apple reported its first year-over-year decline in iPhone sales and quarterly revenue since 2003, and its third quarter guidance of between $41 billion and $43 billion in revenue, which would be up to 18 percent lower than the year-ago quarter, suggests that trend will continue through the first half of 2016.
Brian White is a longtime but somewhat infamous Apple analyst that currently serves as Global Head of Technology Hardware and Software at institutional brokerage firm Drexel Hamilton. He previously worked at investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, where he held the same title, and Topeka Capital Markets.


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Negotiations in Springfield over electric rates point to a state takeover of electricity purchasing and could lead to the creation of an agency charged with holding down the price of keeping the lights on.
Real rate fix: beat the heat
But while that might be a better alternative than the power auction that sent Illinois electric rates soaring this year, a new purchasing authority by itself won't protect billpayers from rising power costs in the long term.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has been intent on abolishing the power auction, and electric utilities Commonwealth Edison Co. and Ameren Corp. are offering little resistance. Now, Mr. Madigan, in closed-door negotiations with other state officials and the utilities, is pushing the idea of replacing the power auction with a new purchasing authority, according to people familiar with the discussions. The authority would be either a new agency or a third party empowered to negotiate on the state's behalf, those people say.
The new authority would buy power from generators and sell it at cost to ComEd for distribution.
A ComEd spokesman says the utility is "neutral" on the creation of a new authority.
A spokesman for the speaker says the state authority "is a potential option," but he cautions that creating an agency to procure power would be highly complex. "The first thing we have to do is roll the rates back," he says.
If Mr. Madigan and other state officials are serious about reducing electric rates, they'll have to do more than take over the procurement process. To have a significant impact on power costs, the state must address basic supply and demand issues specifically, the lack of competition in power generation and the high summer demand and give whoever buys the power more tools to mitigate price volatility. Any solution that doesn't attack those trouble spots will leave Illinois consumers only slightly less exposed to rising power prices.
"Without a change in the demand-supply fundamentals of the market, the procurement process may not have that much of an impact," says Paul Patterson, a utility analyst at independent research firm Glenrock Associates LLC in New York.
As in any industry, changing the basic dynamics of the power market would be enormously difficult. But there are steps the state could take to avoid the steep rate increases produced by the auction.
Reduce summer demand. The single most effective method for reducing an electric bill is to use less electricity. The state, or the utilities, should provide incentives to consumers and businesses to cut back on power consumption, especially during the summer. California and other states have aggressively pursued that tack for years, but in Illinois it has been mostly an afterthought. [View a chart of daily peaks during 2006 in a popup window.]
To manage peak summertime demand, utilities pay some big industrial customers for the right to reduce their power on days when air conditioners are running full blast. It's harder to sell that idea to consumers but it can be done.
For example, a New Jersey company called Comverge Inc. pays households to use devices that turn down their air conditioners for short periods on hot days. Comverge then gets paid by utilities for the power saved.
Comverge CEO Robert Chiste says an aggressive demand-reduction program can shave hundreds of megawatts off demand, which for ComEd equals more than 20,000 megawatts on the hottest days. "Those last hundreds of megawatts are the expensive ones," Mr. Chiste says.
Last month, Comverge had a successful initial public offering, a display of Wall Street's belief in the potential of energy efficiency.
Create real competition. Illinois' first power auction, held in September, failed to produce meaningful competition among power generators, critics say. The reason: Two companies ComEd parent Exelon Corp. and Midwest Generation LLC, a unit of California-based Edison International own virtually all of the power plants in Northern Illinois.
Perhaps the best way to inject more competition is for the state to build power plants, using the cheaper financing available to governments, and to sell power at cost, which would drive down prices the private generators could charge.
Mr. Madigan's proposal to create a state power authority would give the new agency the ability to float bonds for plant construction.
On the East Coast, where power prices and rates are even higher than in Illinois, there are increasing calls for states or utilities that aren't affiliated with existing power-plant owners to build power plants and sell electricity at below-market prices.
"The availability of that option is important," says Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who advocates a state power authority similar to Mr. Madigan's. Mr. Blumenthal, whose state is also grappling with electric-rate legislation, supports state-owned power plants "because I support increasing competition."
The state's financing advantages could be best put to use in building plants that run only on the hot summer days "peaker plants," in industry lingo. Consumer advocates say selling power at cost on those days would reduce prices year-round.
ComEd disagrees: "Currently, there is excess capacity available, so new peakers are not needed in the short term and it would be uneconomic to build them when capacity is available at lower costs from the market."
Spread out contracts. Another fatal flaw in last year's power auction: It required the state to purchase all its power on a single date and used a narrow range of contracts, mostly of short duration. That left ratepayers almost completely beholden to the market price on the day of the auction.
"So you end up riding the market," says Nancy Brockway, a Boston-based consultant who last week produced a report for Delaware recommending ways to control its escalating electric bills.
Here's a better idea: The new state authority, or whoever ends up buying power for Illinois, should vary when it purchases power and use contracts of differing lengths in order to better manage volatility in the power market.
Says the Delaware report: "Uncertainty brings risk. The best way to moderate the impact of risk is to spread it."
©2007 by Crain Communications Inc.


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More and more Australia Post workers are reporting dog bites in the course of their work. What should you do if you witness a dog attack? And what if you’re the victim?
Don’t expect to buy online in early December and have your parcel delivered by the 25th.
The sections of the Senate inquiry report dealing with Australia Post’s future should be the most interesting. But they are the least satisfying.
The Senate inquiry into the Christine Holgate affair has declared Scott Morrison, shareholder minister and the Australia Post board should apologise to the former CEO
Christine Holgate’s new job will cost Australia Post, and Australian taxpayers.
Christine Holgate’s demise over luxury watches shows public-sector norms and private-sector competition don’t mix well.
Director’s responsibilities are to the company, not the the owners, even if those owners are the government.
Act now. Anything ordered from late November may not arrive until 2021.
Chief of Australia Post Christine Holgate today resigned following evidence given before Senate estimates last week that Australian Post employees were gifted Cartier watches.
Michelle Grattan discusses the political week that was with Professor Paddy Nixon
Australia Post has long yearned to be freed from its obligation to deliver letters daily. With the COVID-19 pandemic it has been given that chance.
Handwritten letters are disappearing. There’s no need to deliver each one within three days.
Australia Post is trialling an autonomous delivery robot.
(Supplied: Australia Post)
Australia Post has begun conducting experiments with mail delivery robots. With Amazon launching today in Australia, all eyes will be on whether these prototype robots will actually deliver.
Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour earned $5.6 million in 2015-16.
It’s not just that Ahmed Fahour earns a lot of money. Australia Post had, until this week, been able to keep its CEO’s salary top secret.
Fairfax is caught between boosting a profitable side of its business and retaining its traditional business at a loss.
Firms that are trying to branch out into new technology, while at the same time retaining traditional business, are facing similar problems to startups.
We will soon be paying more for next day delivery of letters.
Unless Australia Post is freed to operate on an even playing field with its major parcel competitors, Australians can expect to see higher postage prices and more job cuts.
To survive, Australia Post must adapt its technological strategy.
The consequences of digital disruption on one of government’s largest and iconic enterprises, Australia Post, are impossible to ignore. Now, it’s adapt or perish.
The images that appear on our stamps tell a powerful story about the nation – so why don’t we pay more attention?
For most of us stamps have become infrequent objects of daily life but they continue to be produced, and collected by devotees – so what do they say about us as a nation?
Running on empty?
Australia Post has relied heavily on parcel revenues to make up for the decline in letters, but now even that is wavering.
Remember when the airline seat with extra leg room was free?
Remember the days when free really was free? When reading a news article to the end didn’t mean having to get over, around or through a paywall. Or when loyalty schemes actually rewarded loyalty with decent…


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When the founder of the Patagonia company, Yvon Chouinard, began manufacturing climbing gear for himself and his friends in the 1960s, he always had in mind a great respect for the natural environment of the place. Forty-five years later, the company’s collection has grown to incorporate clothing and equipment for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, rowing and running. And as Patagonia has grown, so has its interest in preserving the nature in which these sports are developed.
“We have always appreciated the wild places around the world and a concern for their protection,” says Ryan Gellert, company general manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This has constantly evolved as the problems facing our planet have grown in importance.”
And they have grown: Since the industrial revolution, the impact of humans on the environment has led to the depletion of natural resources, air and water pollution, and the destruction of rainforests and biodiversity. A report in October from the UN warned that we only have until 2020 to find a way to prevent the global temperature from rising more than a critical maximum of 1.5 ° C, above which we are likely to see more natural disasters and a climate dangerously unpredictable. If the UN target is to be met, the impact of industry on the planet is one of the main factors that must be addressed.
Increased awareness of environmental degradation means that companies of all kinds can no longer afford to ignore these problems, especially those that are engaged in industries such as clothing production, which use huge amounts of natural resources. they need approximately 20,000 liters of water to produce 1 kg of cotton) and it produces pollution in the form of dyes and pesticides. For Patagonia, the problem is even more serious because its customers, as nature lovers, are more concerned about the environment.
Furthermore, his entire business is based on society being able to continue enjoying nature at its best. Whether for the good of the environment, its bottom line, or both, Patagonia has incorporated sustainability into its design, marketing and business strategies. The company’s mission statement now commits to “causing no unnecessary harm” and “using business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”
In terms of design, this has meant experimenting with materials, manufacturing techniques, and the supply chain. For example, it took years of research to find nylon products that could be recycled to create high-quality fabrics. Patagonia ultimately settled on a combination of post-industrial waste, yarn from a spinning mill, waste weaving mills, and discarded industrial fishing nets.
It has also introduced high-performance materials such as Synchilla, a soft, double-sided fabric that does not suffer from surface degradation; Capilene, a new polyester with a high melting temperature suitable for commercial dryers; and Yulex, a natural rubber used to make wetsuits.
Patagonia also claims to be the first outdoor clothing manufacturer to make fleece from recycled plastic soda bottles, while other ranges are made from vintage cushions and bedding, and wood pulp that is extruded through fine holes to produce fiber. Since 1996, it has used 100% organic cotton, rather than the pesticide-intensive variety, and introduced hemp to its product line in the hopes that the laws surrounding the production of this durable and eco-friendly material will be more permissive in the future.
These measures, and others like them, have allowed Patagonia to continue operating as a global business, while maintaining an ethic against big business, appealing to people who consider themselves environmental activists but still want branded products. As Chouinard wrote in his book Let My People Go Surfing:
“I have never respected the profession. Business is the one that has to take most of the blame for being the enemy of nature.”
However, what these innovations do not solve is a crucial question: how can a company engaged in mass manufacturing and global distribution reconcile its existence with the inherent need of society to produce and transport less? This conflict is one that design companies have become increasingly aware of in recent years. The annual loss of new designs in fashion and furniture weeks is significant of the broader societal problem that is a culture in which low-quality items, be it Chouinard and Frost jeans advocated for what became known as ” clean climbing. ” From an economic standpoint, it was a risk to be driven by environmental concerns rather than sales figures, but it was worth it.
Within a few months, shoe sales soared. Just over a decade later, Patagonia has reached beyond the climbing sports community to become a mainstream fashion brand. According to Forbes, its revenue increased from $ 20 million to $ 100 million between the mid-1980s and 1990s. Then the 1991 recession hit and the company was forced to cut 20 percent of its workforce to help pay. their debts. For many companies, this would have been a time to refocus on the bottom line, but Patagonia took a different approach and put sustainability at its heart. By the 1980s, the company had already spent money and time supporting initiatives focused on clean water, air, and soil. In 2002, he formalized this idea by co-founding 1% of Planet, which gives away 1% of all sales to grassroots environmental groups around the world. Since 1985, the company has awarded nearly $ 90 million in grants and donations for such initiatives. Its 1991 catalog pointed to a foregone conclusion that to live up to its sustainable values, it needed to discourage its own customers from buying too much.
In 2011, Patagonia ran an ad on Black Friday that read “Don’t Buy This Jacket,” explaining the environmental impact of that particular item of clothing. Customers are also asked to keep each item for an additional nine months. In 2013, it launched Worn Wear, a scheme that allows customers to exchange their used Patagonia clothing for store credit, which is then repaired and resold. As a company, you are betting your future on a more sustainable mode of consumption.
Of course, this strategy will only work if you are confident that your product will be the one chosen by the people and reliable enough to last. It’s another risk, one that Patagonia seems willing to take.


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Toyota Motor Corp: Launching Prius
Executive Summary: Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota or TMC) is currently working on the first mass produced hybrid car in the world, Prius and is aiming to launch it by end of 1998. Toyota’s new President Hiroshi Okuda wants to advance the launch to 1997 to ensure they are the first to market. Toyota needs to choose between the following choices: (i) Target an aggressive global launch in 1997 (ii) Launch in end 1998 as per the original plan (iii) Target a smooth launch in 1998 allowing for any unforeseen delay till 1999. I recommend that Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota or TMC) target a smooth launch for end 1998 and allow for any ...view middle of the document...
c) improving proximity to global/American markets (ii) Build an attractive product that targets younger buyers (iii) Lobby regulatory laws such as QRWR to incorporate hybrid technology. A compete SWOT analysis of Toyota has been performed in exhibit B. Toyota has been broadly successful in following a competitive scope giving cost leadership and a broad perceived uniqueness. While marketing the Prius, it must bring focused differentiation with a high perceived uniqueness. Toyota’s valuable resources are TPS (Toyota Production System) and Reliability (see exhibit C for VRIN analysis). If Toyota launches the Prius without addressing all known issues in the car, then the company would damage its reputation and weaken its most valuable resources. Additionally, fear of competition should not push Toyota to release a product which does not match their internal standards. The odds are in favor of Toyota that other car manufacturers are not going to beat Toyota in launching a hybrid car in the market (i) No car manufacturer has launched a successful mass-market alternate energy powertrain till date (ii) Most companies initially developing hybrids dropped out of the race after the CARB refused to consider hybrids under Zero Emission Value (ZEV) (iii) Few companies are working on producing a battery capable of
Toyota Motor Corp: Launching Prius
generating the adequate amount of power (iv) Other technological challenges for building a hybrid such as overheating of cells, regenerative breaking require innovation and do not have known solutions. Recommendation: I recommend that Toyota should not advance the launch of the Prius to 1997. Instead it should invest the necessary resources in the project and expand the team to ensure a quality, reliable product which can ultimately be mass-produced is prepared by 1998, or take additional time if necessary. This is because (i) it can address the known technical issues (ii) build a superior quality product compared to any competition that is working on hybrid technology (iii) use the time to improve its brand image in the younger generation (iv) address factors such as creating a left-hand drive, improving acceleration as per preference of American consumers and improving resistance to harsher temperatures to make it competitive and attractive to the regular consumer (v) Toyota has a long standing concern with environmental issues and competition launching a hybrid car will not cut into Toyota’s positioning. (v) Innovations built from scratch can require time significantly more than the average and we should look to invest more time than just 33% over the company average of 30 months to market (33% considering a Dec 1998 launch). Cons: (i) Toyota is losing market share in the local market and revenues and net profit is declining. This will impact investment in long term projects such as Prius (ii) Market may change and competition may launch hybrid cars (iii) Costs will increase...


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At their weekly resident’s meeting, the team and residents at Claridge Place got together to discuss what they would like to see within their home. It was during this meeting that Senior General Manager, James Morris, came up with the idea to introduce a shop, based within the home, which would sell all the essentials: toiletries, snacks, sweets, and a variety of drinks.
The shop officially opened on the 23rd of February and is already a huge hit with residents and visitors too. Joan, a much-loved resident at Claridge Place is delighted to be the shop manager during the shop’s opening hours from 11am-12pm every day.
Joan’s new role has been very well received and she looks forward to running the shop, which will help to create a real sense of belonging. The shop is great for all residents to be able to maintain their own independence.
The shop will contribute to a welcoming and stimulating environment, offering residents the opportunity to feel included. Sanders Senior Living strives to support residents in finding their place within the home, encouraging them to find something they love doing that also provides them with a sense of value, belonging and purpose, which in turn, positively impacts on their wellbeing and happiness.
Now, the team is waiting for their old-fashioned till to arrive and some new shop signage too, which will contribute to a lovely reminiscence activity.
James Morris, Claridge Place’s Senior General Manager is thrilled about the shop and its success so far and is looking forward to continuing to find new ways to enhance the lives of residents. James commented:
“I am delighted that our very own shop has turned out so well. The residents express their wishes in our resident meetings, and it is one of my top priorities to ensure that residents can feel like their suggestions are always taken into serious consideration. I am so glad that Joan loves running the shop, which is a great occupational activity. I look forward to discussing additional ways that we can meet the wishes of our residents and to continue ensuring the home feels inclusive and welcoming to everyone.”


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The Travel Corporation, with brands such as Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Contiki and African Travel, Inc., marked the official opening of its brand-new office in Manhattan last week with a celebration at the 21 Club.
Over the years most of the company’s operations had migrated to the West Coast, but now TTC has firmly re-established itself in the east. The new office on Fifth Avenue is part of TTC’s expansion efforts on the East Coast of the U.S. TTC has also hired 18 additional district sales managers on the East Coast to increase the support to its travel agency partners in the region.
“We started here in New York and we’re here for the long haul,” said Stanley Tollman, founder of TTC, at the 21 Club event, which drew over 200 travel industry leaders. Joining representatives from the various TTC brands were key agency partners, airline industry executives, tourist boards, and members of the media.
“We heard [travel agents] reinforcing that our presence on the East Coast was not sufficient, and we’re extremely pleased to have such a large footprint back in New York,” said Brett Tollman, CEO of TTC, during the event. “Our future is dependent upon your success; we’re in this together. And we thank you for being part of our present and our future.”
For more information, visit ttc.com.


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Accommodation-only supplier youtravel.com has ditched 42 properties in its first year of trading to target a more upmarket product.
The bed bank, which enters its second year of trading next month, said it withdrew the hotels from its portfolio for not meeting quality standards. More than 85% of its hotels are now four or five-star.
Sales and marketing director Paul Riches said the company would target more exclusive properties in future.
“As we enter our second year we want to cement our position in the marketplace by contracting more exclusive properties,” said Riches. “We will be scaling back in some areas that are unprofitable or troublesome. We want to expand the business in a profitable and sensible manner.”
The business expects to hit its first-year turnover target of £40 million and predicts this will grow to £120 million in three years.
The company was launched in October 2006 by chief executive John Kent with backing from Barclays Ventures, which purchased a significant minority stake in the business in a deal worth £15 million.
Expansion is planned next year in new destinations such as Bulgaria in the short-haul market and the Caribbean in the long-haul market.
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Commerce information for the State of North Carolina was finally released for the year of 2013, and the numbers for tourism have jumped up all over the state. More and more people are not only coming to the Tar Heel State, but spending increasing amounts of money across the state. This proves that North Carolina is still one of the better places to spend a vacation in. Although it isn’t talked about as much as Hawaii or Tahiti, North Carolina does possess a level of atmosphere or cultural draw that you just can’t find in many other places.
It’s not a surprise to the commerce department to discover this information though as they spent quite some money on trying to draw tourism during 2013 and it looks like it had actually paid off. Although they hadn’t increased any of the spending from previous years, they still did see over a 5% increase in tourism and money brought in with those tourists.
To put the entire information in better terms what North Carolina gained from the tourism alone, there was almost 200,000 jobs and 4.6 Billion dollars in payroll income that was generated just last year. That includes areas like the Hanna House Gourmet Bed and Breakfast, which relies almost entirely on tourism for jobs and money.
If it wasn’t for the people that constantly visited the state to enjoy all that it has to offer than places like our B&B couldn’t even exist. That just goes to show just how much tourism can and does affect the everyday lives of people anywhere in the United States, not just North Carolina. Hopefully armed with this knowledge North Carolina plans to do what it can to try and bring even more people in to see the true beauty of the state.