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General Motor's last stand as new deal is struck
Spluttering car giant General Motors has revived its rescue plan with a last-ditch sweetener for major bondholders.
It looked as though GM was destined to be mired in the bankruptcy courts, battling with the angry investors, after they overwhelmingly rejected a 'debt-for-equity swap' earlier this week.
But the car giant last night struck an agreement with some holders of its $27billion of bond debt that would give the them a bigger slice of a reorganised GM, and pave the way for a fast-track bankruptcy by a June 1 deadline.
Stalling: Vauxhall workers are still waiting to hear if their jobs are safe
Under the deal, the bondholders would be offered 10 per cent of a restructured GM - the same stake as before.
But, GM is also offering them warrants to buy another 15 per cent of the equity in a new company if they support a quick Treasury-backed sale process.
This would see GM's profitable assets sold to a new company funded by the U.S. government.
The committee of GM bondholders, representing about 20 per cent of those that hold the carmaker's bond debt, said the deal 'represents the best alternative in the current difficult and dire situation'.
The committee of about a dozen of the biggest GM bondholders added: 'Rejecting this
offer in the expectation that the bondholders will do better in a litigated outcome is a risk the committee is unwilling to take.'
Bondholders have until 9pm on Saturday to indicate they will not obstruct the restructuring plan.
GM is only still afloat because of the $19.4billion of state funding that it has sucked in since the start of the year.
Following the overhaul, the U.S. Treasury would own 72.5 per cent of the new GM, while a trust controlled-by the United Auto Workers-union would own 17.5 per cent. The bond agreement was revealed as a deal to offload GM's European arm, which includes Vauxhall in Britain and Opel in Germany, hit a stumbling block.
Italy's Fiat and Canadian car parts producer Magna are battling to seize control of GM Europe.
But a row erupted between German ministers and negotiators for GM and the U.S. Treasury after the Detroit giant demanded Berlin stump up an additional £263million in short-term funding for Opel.
Germany has already pledged to underwrite billions of euros in loans to help the new owner to rescue Vauxhall and Opel.
Business secretary Lord Mandelson also sought to reassure Vauxhall's 5,000 UK workers that he had received 'categorical' assurances from both Fiat and Magna that production would continue in Britain.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory has launched a factory outlet in downtown Louisville.
For the first time ever, Major League Baseball prime bats with slight blemishes will be sold directly to the public from the factory floor. They are the same ones swung by some of the best players in the game. Each one is approved for use in MLB games.
Shoppers can enjoy several custom wood bats, apparel, gifts, bionic gloves and more at special discounts.
The grand opening of the outlet store, located at 812 West Main Street, will be Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. The factory outlet will be open three days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

domain: news


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In a report Thursday, Edmunds auto industry analysts predicted that a sudden halt in demand for vehicles, coupled with economic uncertainty, will lead to an initial “knee-jerk” drop in used car values. During the 2008 recession, for comparison, 3-year-old vehicles lost about 10 percent in value.
“Recessions aren't kind to used values,” Ivan Drury, Edmunds' senior manager of insights, said in the note. “With shelter-in-place mandates expected to continue through at least May for most of the country and no clearly defined end to the pandemic in sight, we can anticipate a trickle-down effect on the used market.”
To provide an idea of how driving trends have changed, auto-data firm INRIX conducted real-time analyses of anonymous in-car and smartphone data.
On March 18, speeds on the highways around New York City, one of the country’s most congested cities, were more than 50 percent higher during the morning commute and 60 percent higher in the evening compared to the average speeds during the past three or four months.
Similar patterns have been seen in Seattle, suggesting fewer people are driving.
The analysis found that shoppers looking who want to purchase a used vehicle will find some bargains, but those who are planning on selling or trading-in might get lower-than-normal offers.
There is good news, however. Used values are expected to remain low in the near-term, so they could stabilize as businesses reopen, events are rescheduled, people start traveling again and the economy begins to turn around. But they may not rebound completely because most vehicles steadily lose value as they age.


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Apple's Internet-connected-television device hasn't been updated in three years. A new box, expected Wednesday, will give Apple fans what they've wanted -- and what everyone else already enjoys.
The company shows off its Golf R Touch, which incorporates not just touchscreens but gesture controls.
Motorola's head of design, Jim Wicks, isn't concerned about facing off against the Apple Watch. The highly customizable Moto 360? "It's a better product," he says.
The software giant's latest video spot tries to spread some good cheer about its Surface Pro 3 tablet.
To celebrate the world's first digital orchestra staying in sync with Skype, Microsoft features a video showing an array of MacBooks. A new Redmond?
In a Bloomberg interview, Microsoft co-founder says once Apple gets involved in a new technology -- in this case, mobile payments -- it has more chance of gaining critical mass.
Tesla's latest Model S performed so well in the nonprofit publication's testing that its score was literally off the charts.
The smartphone's stylus gets jammed when you insert it backwards into the storage slot, which can break it permanently. It's a problem some research analysts say harkens back to Apple's iPhone design uproar.
Supermassive Games deserves high praise for taking a path less taken with Until Dawn, but the end result is more of a clever experiment than a glorious success.
Save transfers, system requirements, microtransactions, and more.


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BY ALEX WEPRIN | HollywoodReporter.Com
Troy Warren for CNT
Amid reopenings, the same signs that are making movie theater owners optimistic for this summer are spelling concern for digital executives as major platforms miss subscriber expectations.
A funny thing happened in the first half of 2021: The insatiable appetite of consumers for streaming video content began to slow down.
“We had those 10 years where we were growing smooth as silk, and then it just got a little wobbly,” said Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings in an April 20 video for the company’s first-quarter earnings after the company missed its own modest subscriber estimates.
And it wasn’t just Netflix. Disney+ also missed Wall Street expectations, delivering 103.6 million subscribers at the end of the last quarter, well below the 110 million that had been anticipated. Given the explosive growth of Disney+, and the reliable, steady growth of Netflix, the misses drew consternation from analysts and executives, who posited three pandemic-driven theories for the slowdown: the subscriber pull-forward, the content squeeze, and the reopening.
The pull-forward suggests that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated streaming trends — to the benefit of Netflix and Disney+ in 2020 — it is now coming back to bite them. Consumers who may have been on the fence about subscribing were enticed to buy in as lockdowns were put in place last year.
“It really boils down to COVID, frankly,” said Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann in the company’s earnings video. “We had this huge pull-forward in 2020 in terms of our subscriber additions, nearly 40 million paid net adds in 2020.” That left a smaller pool of potential customers this year.
“With 95 million Disney+ net adds in its first five quarters, momentum was bound to decelerate at some point,” wrote Wells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall in a report May 14.
In the case of the re-opening, the same signs that are making movie theater owners optimistic for this summer are spelling concern for streaming executives. With the content squeeze, the industry faced its own version of the chip shortage that is hurting the auto industry, or the lumber shortage that jacked up the price of home renovations and film and TV set materials.
But instead of a physical commodity in short supply, it was new programming. “A lot of the projects we had hoped to come out earlier did get pushed because of the postproduction delays and the COVID delays in production,” Hastings said.
Executives are betting that fresh, original, must-see content will be their ticket back to reliable subscriber growth. And with production back in full swing, there is an expectation that the latter half of the year could mark a return of something closer to normal, with a “clear catalyst to a reacceleration of growth toward that backend of the year,” said Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
“Content has been sort of stymied in the supply chain because of the shutdown of production,” said Disney CEO Bob Chapek at a JPMorgan conference May 24. “Now that we’re pretty much up to full production, we expect to have full content flow by FY2022 or FY2023, when we’re really in the kind of cadence that we want to have going forward.”
Multiple streaming services are also trying to chart a path to growth with strategies that may deliver raw subscriber numbers in the near term, but risk delivering lower average revenue per user (ARPU). Paramount+ and HBO Max are betting that less expensive ad-supported tiers can bring in subscribers that may be feeling the pinch of having too many premium video options. HBO Max With Ads launched June 4 at $9.99 per month, a $5 discount. Paramount+, meanwhile, lowered the price of its ad-backed tier by $1 to $4.99 per month.
“Ad-supported streaming is now foundational,” says Andre Swanston, CEO of the TransUnion-owned streaming data and measurement firm Tru Optik. “I think it was almost a business imperative. My biggest surprise is that Netflix still hasn’t pivoted to do the same.”
“It goes to the heart of the value exchange question,” adds Eric John, vp of the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Media Center. “If you talk to the folks at Hulu, they would tell you that growth has always continued to be in the ad-supported, less expensive tier.”
Indeed, the goal is, in the words of WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, to be “economically indifferent” as to which tier consumers buy. According to Disney’s second quarter financial report, thanks to advertising, the average Hulu subscriber brought in just over $12 per month in revenue, despite most subscribers paying for the $5.99 ad-supported tier.
There is also another strategy being adopted to drive subscriber growth: international expansion. The problem: Streaming services are learning that the markets that juice subscriber counts don’t deliver the revenue that the U.S. and Europe do. This month HBO Max launched in some 39 territories across Latin America. The price? Three dollars to $6 per month. “If we want to reach the 100 million households, the first thing we have to do is to ask how much these homes can pay,” said HBO Max Latin America GM Luis Duran at a launch event that was streamed.
WarnerMedia took its lead from Netflix and Disney+, which have added tens of millions of international subscribers by offering less expensive plans around the world.
But that growth comes at a price. In its last quarterly earnings report, Disney noted that the ARPU for Disney+ fell by 30 percent, because the price for Disney+ Hotstar in India and Southeast Asia “is significantly lower” than in other markets. Netflix, too, reports that its revenue per user in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions is about 30 percent lower than in North America and Europe.
Disney is also plotting a growth strategy of its own, one that Netflix, ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia can’t replicate: Bringing together what Chapek calls “our original direct-to-consumer business,” Disney’s theme parks, and Disney+. “We’ve got a tremendous amount of information on our consumers from our Parks business. What would happen if we married that, and actually mined that data to help people subscribe to Disney+ knowing what we know?”
But the efforts by all may be worthwhile: There is a first-mover advantage in streaming, as Netflix proved in the U.S. Once dominant, the price can rise.
As Disney+ and Netflix seek to return to subscriber growth, and as Paramount+, HBO Max, and others try to carve off large pieces of the pie for themselves, the second half of 2021 feels like it could mark a decisive moment in the streaming wars as everyone fights for subscribers.
“This is a foot race right now for who builds the kind of scale on the new generation of distribution of media,” AT&T CEO John Stankey said at a Discovery Inc. employee town hall May 19. “I don’t think this window is open for very long.”


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Former Valve engineer’s project turns to Kickstarter
The augmented-reality project hardware engineer Jeri Ellsworth was working on while at Valve didn’t stop once she was let go from the company. castAR, glasses that put “holographic-like” projections on a special surface, has appeared on Kickstarter seeking $400,000.
They aren’t the prettiest things ever at this point, but that’s the point of this crowdfunding campaign — getting them ready for wider consumer use as well as the assembly line. That goes double for the silly wand controller. In addition to the main draw of augmented reality, there’s an optional attachment which allows castAR to do virtual reality.
I like the promise of these glasses for board games and similar experiences. The fact that virtual reality comes in the form of an add-on has me worried from an adoption standpoint. Really, that’s the big concern with these devices — will there be enough compelling software?


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Industrialisation and Trade Minister Lucia Iipumbu has expressed dissatisfaction with Namibia’s exports to Japan, which currently stand at around N.dollars 90 million.
Iipumbu told the media at the State House on Tuesday that there is a need for a competitive agreement between Namibia and Japan to improve trade between the two countries.
The minister said Namibia trades with Japan on the most favoured nations agreement.
“But if we have a competitive agreement that we signed, both parties would then have tariffs that are negotiated at the end of the day. It will improve on our trade statistics,” she said.
She said Namibia imports goods and services from Japan worth N.dollars 1.4 billion, noting that: “We need to change the statistics around and we need to have an agreement that focuses on sectors that we are not collaborating at this point in time.”
The minister was speaking in the presence of the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Nishimura Yasutoshi.
Iipumbu and her mines and energy counterpart Tom Alweendo engaged Nishimura and his delegation on bilateral economic relations, including the mineral and green hydrogen sectors.
The discussions were centered on economy, energy, healthcare, industrialisation and production of machinery, as well as the automotive industry, which Iipumbu said will culminate in a joint trade commission with Japan.
She said that bilateral discussions might result in a potential joint trade commission with Japan to improve economic cooperation between the two countries.
On his part, Yasutoshi reaffirmed his country’s willingness to enhance trade and economic cooperation with Namibia.
The two countries signed several agreements including one between Epangelo Mining and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security on the development of the rare earth industry.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency


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Two of the new all-electric trucks will come from Navistar, and are being assembled in Indiana. These are based on the Modec design already operated by FedEx in Europe. Ten such Modec vehicles serve FedEx routes in London and five more are on order for Paris.
Another pair of electric vehicles is being purchased from a different manufacturer for delivery to the Los Angeles area later in 2010. Both sets of electric vehicles are designed with a range that allows many FedEx Express couriers to make a full eight-hour shift of deliveries before their vehicles need recharging.
A FedEx-branded prototype all-electric truck from Navistar was unveiled Monday at an event in Chicago to kick-off a demonstration tour of the technology. The vehicle will be operated for FedEx customers, employees, and local officials in several stops along historic Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Once in California, the Navistar electric truck will be demonstrated at the FORTUNE Brainstorm Green conference, an environmental leadership event scheduled April 12-14.
"Electric trucks are still in their infancy, but we think they have a bright future in the mix of alternative energy vehicles," said Mitch Jackson, vice president, environmental affairs and sustainability, FedEx Corp. "Down the road, we see the possibility of charging electric vehicle fleets with low- or zero-emission electricity generated on site by such innovations as solar electric arrays, like those at FedEx locations in California, New Jersey and Germany, or the Bloom Energy Server, another new technology we're helping to pioneer through evaluating it at our solar-powered hub in Oakland."
By the end of June, the FedEx alternative energy fleet will have grown to 1,869 vehicles in service around the world.
To track the vehicle's route on the "Charge Up Route 66" tour, visit http://www.fedex.com/electric.


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- The crypto industry yearns for legislative clarity on stablecoins, but the industry and consumers may be better off under the status quo than a flawed compromise.
- A one-size-fits-all approach could squash innovation.
- Expanding Federal Reserve oversight to nonbank fintech and stablecoins could be slippery slope toward supervision of other financial service providers.
In our Op-Ed in the American Banker today, we discussed the dangers of Congress pushing through a bill on stablecoins that may do more harm than good.
As we discussed in the article, time on the legislative calendar in the 117th Congress is quickly running out and House Financial Services Committee leaders and Biden administration officials are working toward a bipartisan compromise. Specifics on the proposal are light, however, one reported element—mandatory Federal Reserve bank-like supervision for all non-bank dollar stablecoin arrangements—may create a regulatory regime that would be worse than no bill at all.
For many companies crucial to America’s financial services sector—insurers, asset managers, payments companies, consumer lenders as well as fintech companies—mandated Federal Reserve supervision over stablecoin arrangements should be a nonstarter. Like many other non-bank financial services, dollar stablecoin arrangements are primarily regulated by states, with stablecoin companies typically holding either a state trust company charter or a series of money transmission licenses. Improving state-level regulatory regimes by adding more transparency around reserves would be more productive than a one-size-fits-all approach at the Federal Reserve. Options for federal regulation should be made clearer, but certainly not mandated.
Indeed, our article highlights how the Federal Reserve playing the role of sole gatekeeper to stablecoin arrangements would kill innovation in the space. Non-bank retail payments companies—such as Square, PayPal, Toast—are leaders in payment innovation and are not supervised by the Federal Reserve. Why should stablecoin arrangements be different?
We point out that although the Federal Reserve administers and regulates the bank-owned Clearing House Payments Company and major credit card banks, it does not, has never, and should not regulate non-bank retail payments companies. As we point out, the Federal Reserve is ill-suited for such work.
In addition, Federal Reserve stablecoin supervision could act as a Trojan horse allowing it to wade deeper into nonbank supervision. Then through legislation or through the Financial Stability Oversight Council, Congress and the Treasury could try again to assert Federal Reserve jurisdiction over asset managers, money market fund activities, other non-bank fintech companies, and insurers as they have in the past.
Finally, Federal Reserve oversight risks impeding innovation through a singular, mandated policy approach and opening the door to taxpayer bailouts. Instead, an older regulator—the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency—and its state counterparts are better suited. The OCC and state financial regulators have long histories of regulating limited-purpose trust companies (the license currently held by many leading nonbank stablecoin firms), and the OCC and state regulators mutually face checks and balances to their jurisdiction through the choice of a federal or state trust company charter.
Our conclusion is that demands for federal regulatory clarity should not be answered by a sweeping, one-size-fits-all solution that undermines the innovation and dynamism that make America’s financial services sector so vibrant.
Read our Op-Ed in the American Banker here.


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The Justice Department filed suit Wednesday to block AT&T's planned acquisition of T-Mobile, bringing into high relief the debate over whether corporations or consumers matter more as the U.S. struggles through an economic downturn.
AT&T has said that the proposed $39 billion merger between the nation's No.2 and No.4 mobile service providers is crucial to improving mobile services nationwide.
AT&T general counsel Wayne Watts said the carrier was "surprised and disappointed," and would seek a hearing so the "enormous benefits of this merger can be fully reviewed."
Consumer groups and some politicians worry about having just two dominant mobile players, AT&T and Verizon, with Sprint Nextel a distant third. If consummated, the deal "would result in tens of millions of consumers all across the United States facing higher prices, fewer choices and lower-quality products for their mobile wireless services," says U.S. Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole.
Federal Communications Commission chief Julius Genachowski says though the FCC hasn't completed its review of the deal, the records it has seen also raise "serious concerns about the impact of the proposed transaction on competition."
AT&T maintains that absorbing T-Mobile would result in expansion of the best available mobile broadband technology to 55 million people, or 97% of the U.S. market. It has the backing of The Association for Competitive Technology, which represents 3,000 small- and midsize technology firms. "This is a profoundly misguided decision," Morgan Reed, ACT's executive director, says of the lawsuit.
AT&T made similar promises of improved services and pricing when it moved to acquire Cingular in 2004, "only to betray those promises" after securing federal approval, says Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the non-profit Consumer Watchdog advocacy group. "The last thing beleaguered American consumers need right now is higher prices and shoddier cellphone service," he adds. "That's exactly what would happen if AT&T was permitted to buy T-Mobile."
AT&T has agreed to pay T-Mobile a $3 billion break-up fee and provide it with services that could be worth billions more, if the deal falls through, notes Chenxi Wang, principal analyst at Forrester Research. "The DOJ is definitely on the path to block the acquisition," she says.
Another possibility: The parties could agree to a settlement, says Carrie MacGillivray, analyst at IDC. "There is still a chance the deal will go through if the Department of Justice can wring enough concessions out of AT&T," she says.
* MORE: Read the Justice Department's complaint: http://i.usatoday.net/money/_pdfs/11-0831-justice-att-tmobile-complaint.pdf
* MORE: Statement by U.S. deputy attorney general: http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/dag/speeches/2011/dag-speech-110831.html
Ranking U.S. cellphone firms
The largest cellphone companies in the U.S., and the number of devices on their networks:
Verizon Wireless, 106.3 million
AT&T, 98.6 million
Sprint Nextel, 52.1 million
T-Mobile USA, 33.6 million
MetroPCS Comm., 9.1 million
U.S. Cellular, 6.0 million
Leap Wireless International, 5.7 million


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ADESA Canada announced that it has integrated CARPROOF’s Vehicle Valuation Report into its auction system, helping dealers make informed decisions when they are buying and selling used cars.
Subscribing dealers can now access this data directly through ADESA’s Market Guide, said ADESA.
“We feel that dealers will find tremendous value in this tool,” said Trevor Henderson, COO at ADESA Canada, in a written release.
“Integrating VVR into our system brings enhanced data-driven decision-making capability to the pre-auction research process. The single-screen access to wholesale, listings and True Retail Sold data empowers a dealer to make informed decisions about how they plan to bid on auction day,” Henderson added.
A VVR QuickView free extension for Google Chrome works on any website that displays a 17-digit VIN, said the companies. Through QuickView, dealers can see the margin between wholesale and retail sold prices by hovering over the VIN.
“The opportunity to use the combined power of CARPROOF and ADESA data to fuel better auction decision-making is a game-changer for this industry, and the sheer reach available through ADESA’s large network and market penetration means that more and more dealers can maximize the value available through this powerful data,” said Mark Rousseau, president at CARPROOF.


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May 04, 2005
Evolving into a House-Producing Economy
A very good line of Kashif Mansori of Angry Bear:
Angry Bear: Month by month, the non-service portion of the US economy has slowly been evolving from a goods-producing economy into a house-producing economy...
Posted by DeLong at May 4, 2005 06:30 PM


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Visvanathan, who cut his teeth in the energy sector, working in his first job as an assistant at Manny’s Service Station in Pietermaritzburg, which he later purchased, said he had always dreamed of owning his own business.
He matriculated at Woodlands Secondary in Pietermaritzburg and registered for a business studies degree that he eventually abandoned to take on his first job.
“I bought the service station 20 years ago and then Caltex gave me the opportunity to become a franchisee with them at the Bird Sanctuary site in Pietermaritzburg,” he said.
Visvanathan ran the two garages simultaneously before selling Manny’s about 13 years ago. He went on to purchase a Caltex franchise in Johannesburg and then four more in KwaZulu-Natal in Glenwood, Red Hill, New Germany and now Sherwood. There are 300 FreshStop stores countrywide.
Before opening earlier this month, the store was closed for three years as Visvanathan, worked behind the scenes, knocking the building down and completely rebuilding it.
The new store features in-house food brands, a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, groceries and a Pitstop Café for hot takeaway meals. There is also a large Grab * Go section where customers can get pastas, salads, wraps or sandwiches, and a FreshStop Diner, the first of its kind in KwaZulu-Natal, which has the look and feel of a modern American diner and offers free wi-fi and power points.
His six stores employ almost 300 people, 70 of whom work at his new outlet in Sherwood.
Visvanathan is adamant that as much as he helps people through job creation, in turn, he and his businesses rely on his staff for their service and support. He says his secret to success is focusing on customer service and ensuring his staff are skilled.
“We are in the people game so it is about the service we deliver. I think it’s my staff that make me,” he said.
Visvanathan is also the chairman of the FreshStop Franchise Forum.
“I am passionate about the industry and the brand. What you put into your business is what you get out of it.”
He plans to buy two more outlets this year.


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Nabil Sultan, Senior Vice President of the cargo division of Emirates Airlines, stated that the carrier added 70 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft intended for passenger flights to the air cargo fleet, bringing the total to 82 aircraft providing a capacity of 3500 tons per day.
He stated that «Emirates Air Cargo» plays a pivotal role in transporting vital medical supplies and foodstuffs, including fast-moving products around the world, as well as working to support economies, and helping companies around the world to continue their work by maintaining the continuity and smoothness of supply chains Globalism.
In detail, Nabil Sultan, Senior Vice President of the cargo division of Emirates Airlines, said that "Emirates Air Cargo", the cargo arm of "Emirates Airlines", added 70 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft intended for passenger flights to the airline's fleet of 11 A plane «Boeing 777-F», in addition to one plane chartered by the carrier «Boeing 747», pointing out that the company operates 82 aircraft in total for air cargo operations, which is witnessing a great demand in light of the effects of the Corona virus The newbie.
Sultan said, during a remote meeting with local media yesterday, that the company plans to raise the number of passenger aircraft that will be used in freight operations, to 100 aircraft, in the coming weeks, in line with the levels of demand for freight from various markets, noting that passenger aircraft provide Capacity ranges between 50 and 60 tons in the lower cargo hold and passenger compartment, while it reaches about 110 tons for the freight planes.
Sultan said that «Emirates Airlines» plans, during the coming period, to convert some of the aircraft designated for passengers to shipping, by removing seats, which allows more space and capacity of 75 tons per trip, pointing out that a large part of the plans depends on developments and the volume of demand During the next period.
He stated that the carrier operates freight services to a wide network of destinations around the world, within the framework of linking the markets to each other, indicating that as of the first week of May this year, the company operated regular cargo flights weekly to 67 global destinations across the six continents of the world, including 11 destinations In the Middle East, seven in Africa, 22 in Asia, in addition to six destinations in Australia, 15 in Europe and six cities in the Americas.
Sultan said that the total energy provided by the Emirates Air Cargo reaches 3500 tons per day, and operates about 600 flights departing weekly from Dubai, to serve as a vital artery connecting the world to each other, noting that the energy ranged between 6000 and 7000 tons per day, in light of the capacity Available on the passenger fleet.
Sultan said that «Emirates Air Cargo» is working to adapt its operational operations to enhance global connectivity, pointing out that it has merged its operations and moved them temporarily to Dubai International Airport.
He indicated that in addition to transporting vital medical supplies around the world, Emirates Air Cargo also plays a pivotal role in transporting foodstuffs to the UAE, Gulf countries, and the Middle East in general. The company also works to support economies and help companies around the world to continue its business. By maintaining the continuity and flow of global supply chains.
Sultan said that "Emirates Air Cargo" also transfers other materials, which include fast-food and fresh products, as it supports the agricultural sector and exports in many countries, as well as ensuring the access of fruits, vegetables and other fresh products to consumers.
Sultan pointed out that the company is working closely with national governments to support local economies, by transporting company products on its flights, where it recently cooperated with the governments of Australia and New Zealand, to help transport fresh products and other major exports to global consumption markets, while ensuring the continued flow of Major supplies, including equipment and medicine, to these two countries.
He pointed out that the company provides today a global air bridge to transport the much-needed products, such as food and medicine, as well as equipment, machinery and other components that are vital for the continuation of basic industries, adding that the carrier was able, within a short period of the start of suspending passenger flights, to establish a new network and schedule Timeframe for charging operations, using the energy provided by its wide-body aircraft.
Sultan added that the company, which occupies the first position in the volume of international air freight in km km, continues to link the highly productive markets, such as China, to the rest of the world during this period, as the company doubled the absorptive capacity to these markets, pointing out that «Emirates Shipping Air »operated flights under the fifth freedom between China and America to move medical equipment during the recent period.
He explained that the carrier has to obtain independent approvals regarding the conduct of air cargo flights, using passenger aircraft, noting that the necessary approvals were obtained regarding the presence of two crew on cargo flights, in order to take charge of the plane going back and forth in these exceptional circumstances, which reduces friction The crew is with other people while running the flights.
Nabil Sultan, Senior Vice President of Cargo at the Emirates Airlines, said that there has been a slight increase in the prices of air freight services to cover costs, especially with regard to the use of passenger aircraft for global shipping with high demand, but he pointed out that the decline in oil prices During the recent period, he reduced the operating costs of airlines in general, and helped them manage expenses.
Nabil Sultan, Senior Vice President of the Shipping Department at Emirates Airlines, stated that besides the Emirati market, Emirates Air Cargo continues to supply various countries of the world with the goods and products that they need at these times, noting that the Food Security Committee in the Emirate of Dubai, And all the committees formed at the state level, continue to work continuously to support the food needs of the state.
• The company supports economies and assists companies around the world by maintaining the flow of supply chains.


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Resurgent AV, recently celebrated 13 years anniversary. We have the “Surgers” ( our team of staff ), speak out their experiences and share their journey with Resurgent.We thank our partners, clients, our team of Surgers and to everybody who have supported and nourished Resurgent AV, to reach great heights and inspire us to reach even more.
How Can Retail Stores Engage, Entertain, and Inform in the Face of Changing Customer Behaviour ?
India’s retail sector is expanding at an accelerating rate, making it the fifth-largest retail destination in the world. According to a report by BCG, the industry will likely surpass USD 2 trillion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of almost 10%. This demand has increased as a result of online shopping, which has given today’s consumers new opportunities […]
February 28, 2023Read More


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The Uttar Pradesh Police on April 1 lodged two FIRs against Siddharth Varadarajan, the founding editor of news portal The Wire, for allegedly attributing an incorrect statement to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. One of the FIRs was filed by the SHO of Kotwali Nagar police station. The FIRs come after Mrityunjay Kumar, the media advisor to Adityanath had warned Varadarajan of initiating an investigation and filing a defamation case against him if he failed to delete the incorrect attribution. “The Wire will have to ask for donations to fight the case apart from needing donations to run the website,” Kumar had said. https://twitter.com/MrityunjayUP/status/1245364562959859713 What the FIRs were about: Both FIRs were lodged in the Ayodhya district. One of the FIRs was filed by one Harbhajan Gaud, and invoked section 66D of the IT Act which involves punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource, apart from invoking Sections 188 (disobedience to order issued by a public servant) and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code. The other FIR, filed by the SHO of Kotwali Nagar, Nitish Kumar Shrivastav invoked Sections 188 and 505(2) of the IPC. “Despite our warnings, neither did [Varadarajan] delete his lie nor did he apologise for it. We said an investigation would be initiated and an FIR has been filed. If you are thinking of spreading lies about the Yogi government, please remove such thoughts from your mind,” Kumar said while tweeting a copy of the FIR. In…
UP Police files FIRs against editor of The Wire for allegedly spreading fake news against CM Adityanath
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Is it safe to consider all "publicly available data" as public?
PhonePe launched an e-commerce buyer app for ONDC called Pincode. We, however, believe that it should also launch a seller app.
Amazon announced that it will integrate its logistics network and SmartCommerce services with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
India's smartphone operating system BharOS has received much buzz in the media lately, but does it really merit this attention?
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Many investors may not perceive retailing as a growth industry. Prominent players in the industry, such as Walmart, have often logged single-digit comparable sales growth and usually sell at average earnings multiples.
However, innovations in retailing niches such as e-commerce have often spawned notable growth stocks. And amid the recent market struggles, internet and direct marketing retail stocks such as Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY) present unique opportunities.
Amazon’s recent 20-for-1 stock split could give this struggling stock a boost. Stock splits do not change the fundamentals, but the lower price could make shares more attractive to smaller investors, a factor that might increase demand and liquidity.
Amazon stock might need this help right now. Like other retailers, it has struggled with supply-chain issues, rising labor costs, and price inflation. This showed up in Amazon’s earnings report for the first quarter of 2022. Net sales came in at $116 billion for Q1, a 7% increase vs. the year-ago quarter. This is a dramatic slowdown considering the 22% rise in net sales in 2021.
Moreover, a 13% surge in operating expenses cut operating income by 59%. Add over $8 billion in losses on marketable equity securities, and Amazon lost $3.8 billion in the quarter, down from an $8.1 billion profit in the first quarter of 2021.
However, investors need to remember that Amazon is also the leading cloud infrastructure company. Grand View Research estimates a global $368.97 billion market size as of 2021, and it believes this market will grow to $1.55 trillion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 16%.
Its cloud division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), seems to have benefited. AWS experienced a 36% revenue surge to $18.4 billion, or around 16% of Amazon’s net sales. This took its operating income 56% higher to $6.5 billion. In comparison, the North America and International segments logged a combined operating loss of over $2.8 billion, further cementing AWS’s place as the profit center of the company.
Also, though Amazon stock dropped 23% over the last year, it still has risen 144% over the previous five years, well ahead of the S&P 500‘s 87% gain. Moreover, valuations have fallen dramatically. Its current P/E ratio of about 58 comes in well below the triple-digit earnings multiples it has experienced over the past decade, a level that could seem low again if it can turn its retail operations back to profitability.
On the surface, an artisan-oriented e-commerce site such as Etsy may struggle to compete with Amazon and others. At a market cap of just $10.6 billion, it is less than 1% of Amazon’s market cap of around $1.25 trillion.
However, Amazon’s success has typically come from commoditized products. This leaves a niche for Etsy, which limits itself to artisans, craft suppliers, and vintage goods dealers.
Additionally, its growth story likely hinges on international expansions. Etsy has built a significant following in the U.K. and Germany and has expanded marketing into many EU countries.
Moreover, its purchase of Elo7 last year, the so-called “Etsy of Brazil,” hints at its potential in the developing world. The company estimates an addressable market of $2 trillion, of which Etsy currently serves only about $12 billion, a situation that could make Etsy a top e-commerce buy right now.
Still, amid supply-chain and inflation-related challenges, growth has slowed dramatically. In the first quarter of 2022, revenue increased only 5% to $579 million increased 5% from year-ago levels. This is a dramatic slowdown considering that 2021 revenue climbed by 35% compared with 2020.
Also, during Q1, operating expenses increased 25% year over year, causing its net income to fall to $86 million, a 40% drop vs. the first quarter of 2021.
Furthermore, its pain could continue. The company forecasts between $540 million and $590 million in revenue for Q2, representing a 7% increase at the midpoint. This slowdown probably contributed to the stock’s decline of over 70% from its peak in November.
However, the shares now sell for just about 28 times earnings, near a record low for Etsy. Given the company’s largely untapped markets and aggressive moves outside the U.S., it will probably move past its current challenges over time.
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Etsy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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A late-night security meeting at Apple’s headquarters was at first interrupted by two male restaurant patrons, who told the engineers on the dais they had seen David Copperfield perform a feat of magic on them.
The troupe had helped the iPhone maker regain its swagger since CEO Tim Cook said last month that the product he and co-founder Steve Jobs would have mocked had they been around today, a human-centered design that could cater to the personal whims of its users.
Mr Cook noted that if the duo had been on stage as he unveiled the latest iPhone XS and XS Max, they may have followed the job of a guy at Microsoft’s campus who had persuaded his coworkers to watch a video of a frog in red sneakers at a talent show. “We’re most different today because of the innovations that I was introduced to as a kid at Pixar, people with the different gifts of mind and skill and talent and imagination, not only of curiosity and curiosity itself,” Mr Cook said in his valedictory, shown Thursday on Netflix. “Not just the instantaneous innovation.”
The remarks underscore the contrast between how the two Silicon Valley giants sometimes handle talent. While in the Apple v. Microsoft debate, Apple is considered the underdog – and about half of the 1,500 stores its stores have worldwide are in China, which covets Apple’s cachet among young consumers – it is better known for attracting people with genuinely creative skills, such as the people at Pixar and Pixar’s parent company Walt Disney Co. Those employees, some of whom do not even need to commute to work, found a home at the company.
At Microsoft, meanwhile, efforts to recruit engineering talent in recent years have focused instead on computer programmers – which may not seem so intuitive. Microsoft plans to spend US$2 billion (S$2.7 billion) on a push to “grow a bridge” between its Seattle headquarters and metro Portland, Oregon, to tackle a shortage of workers with programming skills.
Microsoft has closed a Silicon Valley office and recruited several teachers at Google-owned K12, which offers online coursework in science, technology, engineering and math. More recently, the company hired so-called backpackers – people who drive a Subaru and fill it with office supplies, which they call “Seatbelts of Adventure” – to visit campuses across the country. Microsoft spent the last three years researching the culture of student-oriented places such as Amazon’s Virginia headquarters and YouTube’s Santa Monica headquarters. “It’s not building product until we really like the people,” Ms Michele Chacko, chief people officer at Microsoft, said.
– Los Angeles Times


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Ad watch — Taco Bell has made headlines this year for accusations that the Taco Bell fast food chain is not using real beef. Taco Bell sternly defends it self in this full-page newspaper ad. It goes right for the attention by stating “Thank you for suing us”. The ad even suggests that those who make such false claims are making themselves open to legal action. The ad walks the reader through the ingredients of its seasoned beef as to dispel any rumors.
Disclaimer: Articles featured on Oregon Report are the creation, responsibility and opinion of the authoring individual or organization which is featured at the top of every article.


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Microsoft rejects reports that Surface devices are unreliable
Report - 25% of users will encounter issues with Surface laptops and tablets
Consumer Reports, an independent nonprofit and consumer research group, has withdrawn its 'recommended' status for Microsoft's Surface range of laptops and tablets, citing poor reliability within the first two years of ownership.
The influential research group released a report on Friday that said the site could no longer recommend that users should purchase Surface devices, including the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book.
In reliability tests of Microsoft devices using detachable keyboards, it was found that 25% of laptops and tablets would present owners with issues, including breakages and technical faults, within two years of purchase.
Microsoft defended its Surface range in a statement to IT Pro, which said: "While we respect Consumer Reports, we disagree with their findings. Microsoft's real-world return and support rates and customer satisfaction data show we are on par if not better than other devices in the category."
"We stand firmly behind the quality and reliability of the Surface family of devices and continue to make quality our primary focus."
The Consumer Reports National Research Centre surveys millions of subscribers every year, asking readers to rate products based on their performance over time, rather than an initial hands on review.
The Microsoft survey collected data on 90,741 laptops and tablets that subscribers bought new between 2014 and 2017. A number of respondents reported experiencing startup issues, frequent unexpected crashes, machine freezes and unresponsive touchscreens.
"Consumers tell us that reliability is a major factor when they're choosing a tablet or laptop," said Simon Slater, survey manager at Consumer Reports. "And people can improve their chances of getting a more dependable device by considering our brand reliability findings."
The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book both received four stars in our own reviews, while the Surface Laptop won our 'IT Pro recommended' award. However, although the Surface range performed similarly well during Consumer Report lab tests, the group found that performance degraded noticeably over time.
Specific examples included the 128GB and 256GB versions of the Surface Laptop and the 512GB version of the Surface Book.
This is not the first time the Surface range has faced reliability issues. The Surface Pro, Pro 2 and Pro 3 all suffered from a fault with their power cables that forced a product recall in 2016.
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In 2019, Mercedes-Benz sales worldwide increased by 1.3% to a record 2,339,562 cars. Global sales or Smart were down 9.5%.
2019 was the ninth consecutive record year for Mercedes-Benz, with growth of 1.3% to a total of 2,339,562 cars delivered worldwide. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz maintained its leading position among the luxury car brands for the fourth year in a row. In 2019, Mercedes-Benz sales grew in all three of its main markets – China, Germany and the USA. China, Mercedes-Benz’s largest market, remained the main growth driver, with sales of 693,443 units representing an increase of 6.2% and a new record year. Last year’s model offensive with a total of more than ten new or revised models led to a significant boost in unit sales, particularly of Compact Cars and SUVs, and contributed to the overall sales growth.
→ See also Mercedes-Benz Sales Worldwide in 2020
Mercedes-Benz and Smart Sales Worldwide in 2019
Mercedes-Benz reported the following worldwide deliveries for the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands in 2019:
|Sales in 2019||Change in %|
Mercedes-Benz branded car deliveries increased by 1.3% in 2019 to a new record 2,339,562 cars. 2019 was the ninth consecutive record sales year for Mercedes-Benz.
Smart sales worldwide were 9% lower but at record levels in several European countries. Electric Smart sales were at a record 18,400 cars worldwide in 2019. Smart is going electric-only from 2020 with new range expected in around two years time following a joint-venture agreement with the Chinese carmaker Geely.
Mercedes-Benz Sales by Region / Country in 2019
Mercedes-Benz branded car sales were as following in major markets in 2019:
|Sales 2019||% Change|
|– thereof Germany||318,353||+4.8|
|– thereof China||693,443||+6.2|
|– thereof USA||316,094||+0.0|
Mercedes-Benz’s five largest markets last year were China, Germany and the USA followed by Great Britain and South Korea. Mercedes-Benz finished the year with the highest annual unit sales in its history, as well as its best quarter ever (614,319 units, +3.2%). In the fourth quarter of 2019, Mercedes-Benz sold for the first time more than 600,000 cars within a quarter.
In full-year 2019, Mercedes-Benz maintained its market leadership in the luxury segment in markets including Germany, Great Britain, France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada and South Africa.
Mercedes-Benz Sales by Region and Market in 2019
Mercedes-Benz Sales in Asia-Pacific and China in 2019
In the Asia-Pacific sales region, a new record was achieved in 2019 with 977,922 units sold (+3.7%).
China has been Mercedes-Benz’s largest sales market since 2015, with total annual unit sales almost doubling between 2015 and 2019. A total of 693,443 cars were handed over to customers in China, an increase of more than 40,000 units compared with 2018 and a new record (+6.2%). More than three-quarters of Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in China came directly from local production last year.
In South Korea, the second-largest market in the Asia-Pacific region, deliveries reached a new record high of 78,048 vehicles in 2019 (+8.7%). Sales also reached a new high in Vietnam. Mercedes-Benz remained the largest foreign car brand in Japan in 2019.
Mercedes-Benz Sales in Europe and Germany in 2019
In the Europe region, a total of 937,881 cars with the three-pointed star were delivered to customers in 2019 – slightly above the high prior-year level (+0.4%).
In Germany, Mercedes-Benz was able to surpass the previous year’s figure by more than 14,000 units due to sales growth of compact cars and SUVs, delivering 318,353 vehicles in the full year (+4.8%). This was the highest sales volume in Germany in the past ten years.
In addition to Germany, Great Britain and France followed by Italy and Spain, are among the largest sales markets in the European region. In 2019, Mercedes-Benz set new sales records in countries including Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, and Hungary.
Mercedes-Benz Sales in North America and USA in 2019
In the NAFTA region, 372,144 new Mercedes-Benz vehicles were delivered to customers between January and December (-1.64%).
Despite a challenging market situation, 316,094 vehicles in the USA were sold and the high prior-year level surpassed by 135 units (+0.0%). In the second half of the year, Mercedes-Benz increased its deliveries in the USA in five out of six months. In Canada, Mercedes-Benz maintains its position as the top luxury car brand for the sixth consecutive year.
Mercedes-Benz Worldwide Sales by Model in 2019
Mercedes-Benz SUV Sales Worldwide in 2019
In 2019, every third Mercedes-Benz vehicle sold globally was an SUV. With sales of about 783,700 units the GLA, GLB, GLC, GLC Coupé, EQC, GLE, GLE Coupé, GLS and G-Class, the SUVs were Mercedes-Benz’s strongest-selling segment in 2019 (-4.5%).
Since August 2019, deliveries have increased every month, driven by the new GLC and GLE. The GLC was once again the best-selling Mercedes-Benz SUV in 2019. In 2019, the G-Class was able to improve on its record sales of 2017 by more than 13,000 units: 34,912 delivered vehicles resulted in a strong sales increase of more than 60%. The previous sales record set in 2017 was already surpassed in August 2019.
Record Mercedes-Benz Compact Cars Sales in 2019
In 2019, every fourth Mercedes-Benz sold was a Compact Car: More than 667,000 units of the A- and B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake, GLA and GLB were delivered last year (+9.5%). This represents an increase of more than 30,000 unit sales when compared to the prior record established in 2016.
The new A-Class posted global growth of 12.3% in 2019. The A-Class Saloon and the new B-Class worldwide as well as the new CLA Coupé in Europe made significant contributions to the segment’s growth. With the GLB, which launched in December 2019, the Mercedes-Benz Compact Car family now consists of eight models. With its market launch this year, the new GLA completes the model changes for the current generation of Compact Cars from Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Deliveries in 2019
Approximately 392,900 units of the C-Class Saloon and Estate were delivered in 2019 (-0.9 %). The C-Class Saloon achieved growth particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and a new record (+8.5%). In South Korean, deliveries of the C-Class Saloon grew by a double-digit rate. Sales of the long-wheelbase version of the model in China increased by 9% last year to a new record level.
Since its market launch in 1982, then still under the name Mercedes-Benz 190, more than ten million C-Class Saloon and Estate cars have been sold worldwide.
Record Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sales in Asia-Pacific in 2019
More than 351,000 units of the E-Class Saloon and Estate were delivered to customers in the third full year of sales of the new generation (-1.3 %).
The importance of China as the most important market for the Mercedes-Benz saloon models is clearly reflected by the E-Class: The long-wheelbase version of the E-Class Saloon set a new sales record with double-digit growth. Every second E-Class Saloon sold worldwide in 2019 was delivered as a long-wheelbase version in China.
In South Korea, the E-Class Saloon achieved its highest annual sales so far. And the E-Class Estate recorded an increase of 5.0% in deliveries in Germany.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class: World’s Best-Selling Luxury Saloon in 2019
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Saloon was the best-selling luxury saloon in the world in 2019. Six years after the launch of the current generation of the S-Class Saloon, sales of about 71,700 units in 2019 remained at a very high level (-8.0%). Deliveries increased above all in China.
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Saloon set a new sales record in 2019, driven in particular by its success in China and double-digit growth in that market. Since the market launch in 2015, approximately 500 of these exclusive luxury automobiles have been delivered every month to customers in China alone. In 2019, deliveries increased to more than 700 units per month. The portfolio of the Mercedes-Maybach brand will be expanded this year to include the Mercedes-Maybach GLS.
Mercedes-Benz Coupe and Cabriolet Sales in 2019
At Mercedes-Benz, all roadsters, convertibles and coupés are grouped under the heading Dream Cars. More than 163,600 of these vehicles were delivered worldwide in 2019 (-1,1%).
The main markets of the Mercedes-Benz roadsters, convertibles and coupés were the USA, and Germany, followed by Great Britain in 2019. The best-selling members of the Dream Car family last year were the C-Class Coupé, followed by the CLS Coupé. The CLS Coupé was the growth driver for the Dream Cars in 2019 and achieved strong double-digit sales growth worldwide. Especially in South Korea the sales volume of the four-door Coupé doubled.
IncreasedSsales of V-Class and X-Class in 2019
With an increase of 1.2% to about 63,500 units delivered in 2019, the V-Class achieved a new sales record. The revised version of the multipurpose vehicle had its world premiere in January 2019. Demand for the V-Class was particularly strong last year from customers in Germany, where the largest absolute growth and a new sales record were achieved. Further V-Class records were set in Great Britain, Russia and Switzerland. Sales increased also in China, the most important market for the V-Class outside Europe, almost on the high level of the previous year.
Approximately 15,300 units of the X-Class were sold worldwide in 2019. The largest markets for the pickup were Germany, Great Britain, Australia and South Africa; double-digit growth and record unit sales were achieved in each of those countries.
Record Mercedes-AMG Sales in 2019
The high-performance and sports-car brand Mercedes-AMG achieved a new record year in 2019 with 132,136 units sold and double-digit growth of 11.8%. The Affalterbach-based company achieved its highest sales figures in history also in Great Britain and Japan.
Mercedes-AMG’s largest markets in 2019 were the USA, Germany and Great Britain, followed by China and Japan. The past year at Mercedes-AMG was marked by the continuous expansion and renewal of the product portfolio. Hence, also the successful Mercedes-AMG GT family received a facelift of the two-door variant and the Mercedes-AMG GT4-door Coupé was available in all markets for the first time.
With 13 derivatives in the Compact Car segment at various performance levels, Mercedes-AMG expands its range to include attractive entry-level models in the world of driving performance.
Smart Sales Worldwide in 2019
In 2019, sales of the smart fortwo or smart forfour contracted by -9.3% to 116,781 cars. Sales of the smart brand in 2019 were influenced by lifecycle factors.
At the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, smart presented its completely revised fortwo and forfour models. Progressive design meets intelligent connectivity as well as zero local emissions due to battery electric powertrains.
In the conversion year to the purely electric smart models, the highest unit sales of the past 14 years were achieved in Germany. From January to December, more than 46,506 of the urban microcars were delivered in Germany (+13.2%). In both France and Italy, growth was achieved compared with the previous year. And full-year deliveries climbed to a new record in Portugal (+25.0%). Never before in a year have so many of the electric smart models been sold worldwide as in 2019 – more than 18,400 units were delivered last year. In Germany, approximately every sixth smart vehicle sold was purely electric.
At the end of March 2019, Daimler AG and the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group announced the establishment of a globally oriented 50:50 joint venture to transform smart into a leading player in premium-and intelligent electrified vehicles. The joint venture will produce a completely new generation of smart electric models in China and will be responsible for the international distribution.
Mercedes-Benz Plug-in Hybrids and All-Electric Models
With its “Ambition 2039” announced last year, Mercedes-Benz Cars has set itself the goal of achieving a CO2-neutral fleet of new passenger cars within a period of 20 years. For Europe, the company assumes that well over 40 percent of Mercedes-Benz vehicles could already be delivered to customers as xEVs (plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles) by 2025. And by 2030, the company aims to achieve more than half of worldwide car sales with plug-in hybrids or all-electric vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz Cars expects all-electric models to account for 15% to 25% of total unit sales by 2025. The first fully electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz, the EQC, made its retail debut in Europe first followed by China and Asia-Pacific markets in 2019.
As the next member of the Mercedes EQ family, this year, the EQV will be the first electrically powered luxury multipurpose vehicle from Mercedes-Benz to combine emission-free mobility with convincing performance, high functionality and aesthetic design.
Moreover, the facelift of the current purely electric drive smart generation can already be ordered and market launch is planned for the end of January 2020. With this step, smart will complete its full changeover to zero local emissions due to battery-electric powertrains as a pioneer of urban mobility.
By the end of 2020, a total of five fully electric models and more than 20 model variants of plug-in hybrid models will be an integral part of the global product portfolio of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
Global Worldwide Car Sales Statistics:
Global Worldwide Car Sales by Brand in 2020 (Full Year)
Global worldwide car sales by brand in 2020 (Full Year):
- BMW (including Mini & Rolls Royce)
- Daihatsu (see Toyota)
- Lexus (see Toyota)
- Mercedes-Benz (including Smart)
- PSA Group (Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel / Vauxhall)
- Renault Group (including Dacia)
- Toyota (including Lexus, Daihatsu, Hino)
- Volkswagen (VW Car Brand)
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV)
- Volkswagen Group
“Sales” as reported by brands generally refer to deliveries and not necessarily sales to the customer and final registration. Terms and definitions may vary.
Global Worldwide Car Sales by Brand in 2019 (Full Year)
- BMW (incl. Mini)
- Mercedes-Benz (incl. Smart)
- Volkswagen (VW brand)


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canon kokomo is a virtual reality software platform that will change the way we understand human communication. Although its launch is not scheduled for a few months, this technology will allow users make immersive callswhere they can see and hear each other live, while experiencing a virtual reality environment in captivating places such as Malibu, New York or Hawaii.
The multinational thus continues its commitment to immersive experiences. If last year he presented the RF 5.2mm F2.8L DUAL FISHEYEa compact stereoscopic L-series RF lens for the creation of 3D and virtual reality content, this 2022 has set out to revolutionize the industry with a product that, although still in the development phase, will be launched on the market in the coming months .
Conversations in natural paradises and real scenarios
This technology makes it possible to have conversations in virtual reality, whether in a café in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, on a Caribbean beach or on top of a mountain. and it does without the addition of wacky digital avatars, but with the users own realistic live appearance. This solution will allow video calls, face to face, in unique environments and with absolute realism.
For example, if the user raises an eyebrow in real life, this movement is faithfully reproduced in virtual reality itself. Those facial cues that frequently get lost through the delay of videoconferences, will remain in this new virtual environment, simulating a face-to-face interaction.
In this way, this software is designed to improve human communication at a distance through immersive video calls that will bring users closer through virtual reality technology. To do this, the app uses compatible Canon cameras and imaging technology to create realistic representations of users, turning calls into realistic face-to-face interaction that goes far beyond a screen or avatar.
“With Kokomo we do nothing more than maintain the innovative spirit that has characterized the company for more than 85 years, always at the forefront of image. The world changes and we with it, offering the latest technology and solutions to create memorable and meaningful experiences”has pointed out Juan Felipe Obrero, Country Director of ITCG in Iberia.
To use it, you only need a Canon camera, a virtual reality device and a smartphone. The current locations available in Kokomo have been captured in great detail with Canon’s own EOS R5 cameras and there will be many more as the software develops. «Our experience is not about multiple cameras, complex systems or professional setups»Juan Felipe explained. “This is real-time face-to-face communication that can be accessible to anyone.”


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Barely a week after confirming plans to launch the all-electric R8 e-tron sports car at the Geneva Motor Show, CEO Rupert Stadler reveals the luxury carmaker is working on another pure electric model, this one a new SUV that could be designated the Q6.
A teaser image of the electric SUV was presented Tuesday during a corporate briefing in which Audi officials announced they had “delivered more…than promised,” handily setting a new sales record last year. And Stadler made it clear that with the wealth of new products Audi has coming, it expects to set new records.
During a briefing, he said Audi will add a new Q1 model at the bottom of its SUV spectrum, with a “sporty Q derivative,” the Q8 set to top the line-up. But perhaps the biggest surprise was the announcement that Audi would add a pure battery-electric sport-utility vehicle early in 2018.


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New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached Apple Inc. to assist in unlocking the phone of Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in custody in connection with the liquor policy scam case. Sources within the ED revealed that Kejriwal refused to provide the password for his phone, prompting the agency to seek assistance from Apple Inc. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleges that this move by the ED is an attempt to gain insights into the party’s election strategies and details about the INDI alliance.
According to reports from the Indian Express, no digital evidence was found on the personal computers or other electronic devices belonging to the Delhi Chief Minister. However, the ED seized four mobile phones, including the one used by Kejriwal. ED officials stated that the phone currently in use was switched off, and Kejriwal did not provide the password. Kejriwal informed the ED that he has been using this phone for nearly a year and does not possess the phone used during the drafting of the liquor policy for 2020-2021.


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Google Catches Break In Apple Case, Still Faces FTC
Judge cans Apple's patent-related complaint, but Google's far from out of the woods. It will next face the U.S. government on the same issue.
Google caught a break Monday when federal Judge Barbara B. Crabb in the Western District of Wisconsin dismissed Apple's lawsuit against the Android-maker with prejudice. Apple believes Google's Motorola subsidiary is abusing its standard essential patents and not licensing them at fair terms. The judge didn't see the need for a trial and canned the whole thing.
Motorola and Apple have been at odds over smartphone licensing terms for some time. Motorola thinks its smartphone patents are worth 2.25% of the retail price of each smartphone sold. When you consider the full retail price of devices such as the iPhone, Apple is looking at $15 to $17 in licensing fees per iPhone, paid to Motorola. Apple suggested that it might pay to license Motorola's patents for less than $1 per device.
Obviously, that's quite a gulf between the two sides of the bargaining table.
"Motorola has long offered licensing to our extensive patent portfolio at a reasonable and non-discriminatory rate in line with industry standards," Google said in a statement. "We remain interested in reaching an agreement with Apple."
Patents deemed standard-essential must be licensed at fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) rates. After receiving numerous complaints from Motorola's competitors, both the FTC and EC are preparing cases against Motorola and its parent company, Google.
Looking down the barrel of a gun held by the federal government, Google might want to settle quickly. If it is convicted of violating FRAND licensing practices, things could get costly in a hurry. The federal government has taken a more active role in overseeing the wireless industry in the last two years, as evidenced by its rejection of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger and establishment of Net neutrality rules.
Judges across the country overseeing the various patent lawsuits among smartphone companies have demonstrated impatience with the complaints. Earlier this year, a different lawsuit between Apple and Motorola was tossed completely when the judge decided that neither party could prove damages and it wasn't worth taxpayers' money to move forward with a trial.
Google is already facing antitrust allegations in other countries over its various business units. Google would do well to avoid adding another to the list.
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Generic drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories Inc. is recalling 2 lots of <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/defective_drugs">Amoxicillin & Clavulanate Potassium for Oral Suspension. The antibiotic is used to treat ear, nose and throat infections in children.
According to a notice on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Web site, there have been complaints from some U.S. customers that the oral suspension turned brown upon reconstitution, whereas the product should be white. The company said its tests showed the antibiotic met specifications, but that it decided to recall all of the lots in question as a matter of caution. The Lot numbers subject to recall are 1910779 and 1910782.
The FDA has deemed the recall a Class II recall, and said the antibiotic is unlikely to cause serious health problems. The antibiotics being recalled are set to expire in May.
Based in India, Ranbaxy is one of the 10 largest generic-drug producers in the world and has been operating in the States since 1995. The defective antibiotic was made in Ranbaxy’s Dewas, India plant. As we’ve reported previously, the FDA has banned that facility, as well as another in India, from selling some drugs in the U.S. The FDAâ€™s decision to implement the ban was made because of the agencyâ€™s concerns about the â€œseriousness and extentâ€ of violations of manufacturing standards at the facilities. Officials said they were concerned about whether the practices employed at the facilities could ensure purity of drugs they made.
The ban, which was imposed in September 2008, applies to generic versions of popular medicines such as the anticholesterol drug Zocor; Acyclovir, which treats herpes; the heartburn pill Zantac; and AIDS drugs. However, the recalled antibiotic was not among those barred from the U.S.
Ranbaxy is in talks with the FDA to get the agency to revoke the ban. It is unclear as to whether or not the antibiotic recall will impact the FDA’s decision.


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New Spaghetti Headz hair accessory hits market
NEW YORK — Morphmallow has introduced its Spaghetti Headz, a funky new hair styling fashion accessory for girls of all ages.
Made of polymer clay, this eco-friendly swirl of fun is available in a variety of collectible, themed charm packages
All the twist and charm designs are hand drawn and designed by Eff Creative Group, a creative business development firm that helps in the growth and expansion of companies or start-ups. Eff is behind the strategic planning, branding and marketing, as well as the business implementation of Spaghetti Headz.
Spaghetti Headz just launched at the ABC Kids Expo, held in Las Vegas from Sept. 7 to 10, and styled more than 1,000 heads at the show.
McKesson names new independent directors to board
SAN FRANCISCO —McKesson has elected Donald R. Knauss and Susan Salka as new independent directors, effective Oct. 20, bringing the size of the board of directors to 11.
“Don and Susan are both terrific additions to the McKesson Board,” stated John H. Hammergren, chairman and CEO, McKesson Corp. “Don will bring strong international business management and retail expertise, while Susan brings a deep understanding of emerging trends in healthcare services. The addition of Don and Susan to the Board reflects our ongoing commitment to refreshing and strengthening the diversity of our Board and maintaining industry-leading governance practices.”
Knauss has served as chairman and CEO of The Clorox Co. since October 2006. Beginning Nov. 20, he will serve as chairman only, in a newly created executive chairman role. He was EVP of The Coca-Cola Co. and president and COO for Coca-Cola North America from February 2004 until September 2006. Prior to his employment with The Coca-Cola Co., he held various positions in marketing and sales with PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble and served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He is also a director of the Kellogg Co. and a member of the board of trustees of both Morehouse College and the University of San Diego. He was formerly a director of URS Corp.
Salka has served as CEO and president of AMN Healthcare Services since 2005, and a director of the company since 2003. She has served in several other executive roles since joining the company in 1990, including COO, CFO and SVP of business development. Salka is also a director of The Campanile Foundation at San Diego State University. She was formerly a director of Beckman Coulter, Playtex Products, University of California San Diego’s Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center and the BIOCOM Institute.
The Board has appointed Knauss and Salka as members of its Audit Committee and its Governance Committee.
Care4Today Mobile Health Manager launches new Patient Dashboard for healthcare providers
SAN DIEGO — Care4Today Mobile Health Manager, a platform designed to support and motivate people to stay on schedule with their medications, has announced the launch of a patient dashboard for health care providers and pharmacies to provide timely monitoring of self-reported medication adherence for their patients.
Janssen Healthcare Innovation, part of Janssen Research & Development, announced the new feature as well as an expanded Spanish-language version from the main stage at the Health 2.0 Fall Conference in Santa Clara.
With the Care4Today Mobile Health Manager Patient Dashboard, patients can opt in to provide their physician with a view of their ongoing medication adherence. Now, if a patient misses a dose, the physician or care provider can take appropriate action if necessary.
Care4Today Mobile Health Manager includes an up-to-date database containing 40,000 FDA-approved medications and 20,000 images inclusive of generic and brand name medications. Care4Today Mobile Health Manager uses a color-coded system to prompt patients when it is time to take their medication. Each reminder message prompts a response that is recorded in the user’s adherence report. The app is a secure, two-way messaging platform that works on almost all mobile phones including basic feature phones.
To meet the health care needs of the more than 37 million people in the United States who speak Spanish, the new version includes a Spanish-language option. The Care4Today Mobile Health Manager Spanish platform has the same functionality, including the new Patient Dashboard for providers.
Other features designed to motivate and support patient adherence:
• Care4Family: Is a tool for caregivers to remotely monitor their family member or loved one’s medication adherence and encourage them to stay on schedule. It provides caregivers with the information about a family member missing a dose so appropriate encouragement to stay on the medication regimen can be given.
• Care4Charity: Through this feature, Care4Today Mobile Health Manager users can select from several charities that will receive a 25-cent donation from Janssen Healthcare Innovation for each day through June 2015 in which they take all their medications. The charities include American Cancer Society, AIDS United, American Diabetes Association and Save the Children. Janssen Healthcare Innovation has committed a minimum donation of $20,000 to each charity and a maximum additional donation of $50,000 to the Care4Charity program.


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TikTok and other tech giants in China may get around Apple's inbound App Tracking Transparency changes for iOS, by using a tool from a state-backed group to keep tracking users, even if users deny permission.
Italy's Data Protection Authority has blocked access to TikTok for some users in the country who cannot prove their age, in the wake of the death of a 10-year-old girl attempting to take part in a dangerous "challenge."
Apple has evolved its remote control over time, with each iteration introducing physical improvements and better features. After launching the second-generation Siri Remote, has Apple created its best controller?
The iMac has undergone some major changes in 2021, with a refreshed appearance and the addition of Apple Silicon, but how much of an upgrade is it from the previous generation? We look at the specifications.
Apple has launched a new pair of iPad Pro models, but is it worth making the upgrade from the 2020 or 2018 models to the latest refresh? AppleInsider breaks down what's new in the 2021 iPad Pro update.
If four product announcements during the "Spring Loaded" event weren't enough, the week also saw Apple manufacturer Quanta's data held for ransom, Apple's appearance in front of the feds regarding anti-trust allegations, and more!
Brydge is taking the wraps off its latest iPad keyboard just in time for Apple's new iPad Pros. The Brydge 12.9 Max+ features a redesigned hinge, rear protection, and a truly massive multi-touch trackpad.
AppleInsider has launched "This Week in Apple," a new weekly video series summarizing and analyzing everything that has happened relevant to the iPhone maker over the last seven days. Tune in to be sure you're never out of the loop.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday began the appeals process of a recent federal court ruling that blocked the Trump administration's attempt to ban downloads of popular social media app TikTok.
President Trump potentially breached legal authority by issuing an emergency order to remove TikTok from U.S. app stores, according to a federal judge that granted an injunction against the directive on Sunday.
A U.S. federal judge on Sunday partially granted TikTok's preliminary injunction against a Trump administration order to ban downloads of the app, though more sweeping restrictions are still on track to take effect in November.
The impending ban on TikTok in the United States would be highly "devastating" to the company and its users, the video sharing service claimed in a Sunday morning hearing over the legalities of President Donald Trump's executive order.
A judge has denied an attempt by content creators on TikTok to stop a ban of the app in the United States on Sunday, rejecting arguments the ban would cause "immediate, irreparable harm" if it is implemented as scheduled.
The Department of Justice in a court filing on Friday opposed TikTok's requested injunction against an impending ban authorized by the Trump administration, saying a decision in TikTok's favor would weaken the president's power during a claimed national security emergency.
If you get the "AirTag found moving with you" alert, maybe you're being tracked, or maybe there's just an AirTags in that bag you borrowed. Here's when you get that notification, and what you need to do.
Apple's AirTag is the company's simplest, and smallest product since it started including stickers with devices. If it didn't require accessories, it would be nearly perfect — though there are also issues to be aware of.


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Since early spring, grocery stores have been getting Barilochenses ready to give up plastic bags. In August, each customer could have up to four plastic bags. By the time we arrived in November, grocery stores would only give out one plastic bag per customer. And starting today, customers need to provide their own means for carrying away purchases. Bravo!
While Bariloche gets props for being ahead of the vast majority of U.S. cities in reducing use of plastic bags, I wonder how far the city is from adopting the kind of curbside recycling program most urban Americans take for granted. Club Andino Bariloche, a mountaineering club located in the center of town, has some small bins next to a bus stop for paper, glass and plastic, but the bins look full of trash. There is a notice in a free tourist map titled “Campaign to Separate Garbage,” which describes the benefits of separating organic waste from inorganic trash, but it says nothing about what to do with the waste after it has been separated. And then there is the open pit burning we saw on our drive out of town last weekend.
Bariloche’s greatest assets are its stunning natural scenery and large, deep lakes full of clear water, yet efforts to protect the environment appear to be as woefully inadequate as in the United States (says the person who got to Bariloche on an international flight, an extremely non-renewable resource-intensive way to travel).


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Many civic and business leaders have talked about revitalizing downtown Medford and millions of tax dollars have been spent to upgrade cultural and educational opportunities.
Yet merchants casting their nets in an area roughly bordered by Oakdale and Riverside avenues and Fourth and 10th streets continue to struggle while consumers do business in peripheral shopping centers.
Spurred by the Heart of Medford Association, the downtown area now figures to see more activity thanks to a growing nationwide Main Street program.
Medford has received a Transforming Downtown program designation from the Oregon Community Economic Development Department, giving it access to expertise, training and other opportunities to revitalize its historical core. A formal announcement of the program is scheduled at the Heart of Medford Association meeting at 8 a.m. today at Central Library in Medford.
Medford joins Bandon, Carlton, Dayton, Hillsboro, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Oakridge, Philomath, Riddle, Sandy, St. Johns Town Center and Toledo in the Transforming Downtown program.
"The goal is to put feet on the street," says Betsy Manuel, Heart of Medford Association executive director. "There's a tremendous valid purpose for downtown as a mixed-use environment. It will never ever again be primarily retail; its niche is in providing the whole experience. You don't just go for one thing; you've got to shop, eat and go to a play."
Some 60 Oregon cities and communities — ranging in size from Mitchell (population 100) to Salem (population 150,000) — have been tapped by OECDD to participate in Main Street programs. They receive regional training workshops and help in starting, organizing and planning local programs. Technical assistance comes from historic surveys, community assessments, resource team visits, market analysis and architectural design.
Part of the program capitalizes on historic preservation and relies heavily on marketing and promotion.
Manuel says early efforts will be on a shoestring.
"Once we start delivering," Manuel says, "I think we will get the interest of folks with deep pockets."
When Manuel, the great-great-granddaughter of pioneer Lindsey Applegate, moved back to the Rogue Valley in 1991, it was apparent downtown Medford had seen better days.
"I was very concerned," Manuel recalls. "The retail sector in particular was struggling. The more I looked into it, the more I realized we needed to go deeper than just promotions."
Manuel, whose career included stints with U.S. Bank and Umpqua Bank locally before retiring 10 years ago, says the community has achieved progress in the education, cultural and entertainment realms in recent years.
However, the retail and residential elements in the heart of Medford are found wanting.
"Our downtown is not as vibrant as many communities," says Anne Jenkins of the Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau. "But with this program we can make our downtown a better place to be and hang out as other cities have done. The community as a whole will get to see what Medford can really be."
Manuel says the mission differs from urban renewal or tourism offices, because it's neither centered around infrastructure or aimed specifically at travelers.
The first tangible result of the program will be a brochure featuring about 40 restaurants, cafes and bars in the downtown core.
"We have an inviting downtown space," Manuel says. "Our job is to bring it to life."


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New Day Christian Distributors now counts the wildly popular Duck Commander® line of products among its latest retail offerings. The hit brand, which includes items such as "Uncle Si's Tea Cup," the "Faith, Family, Ducks" t-shirt, souvenir cups, bracelets, mugs and more, has become a best-seller since New Day introduced the line in March, with new products being added daily.
Duck Commander® is both the name of the famous duck call and subsequent multi-million dollar enterprise which produces them and other duck hunting related merchandise. The business is now the subject of A&E reality television series, "Duck Dynasty." The program and overall brand is resonating with audiences and consumers everywhere, including those that comprise the faith-based market.
"Several items in this product line display overtly Christian themes, such as 'Faith, Family, Ducks' or 'Fear God, Love Your Neighbor, Hunt Ducks,' and stores are finding that the Robertson Family's openness about its faith and values are really driving the sales within the Christian market," says New Day's Michael Turner. "More than just product or a TV show, this family lives what it professes and consumers appreciate that."
Randy Maricle, vice president of Parable Group, which offers marketing services to independent Christian retail stores, agrees, "New Day has been bringing CBA major brands for quite a few years, and we have truly landed on one here. I appreciate the Robertson family for their loyalty to CBA. We have all seen celebrity come and go; however, this is a true testament to how a faith-based partnership between New Day, Duck Commander® and Christian retail stores should work."
"We are excited to be partnering with New Day to bring Duck Commander® to Christian retail stores nationwide," says Alan Robertson, the oldest brother in the Robertson clan. "Everywhere we go and speak we talk about faith, family and ducks, in that order! Dad started our business almost 40 years ago with the idea that there is no separation of business from our faith, and we are proud that God is blessing that stand for Him."
In addition, New Day is teaming up with Howard Books to help cross-promote the product line with book releases from the Robertson's, including "The Duck Commander Family" and "Happy, Happy, Happy" as well as several new titles out this fall. Also this fall, New Day will be adding Buck Commander® products, Duck Commander® long sleeve shirts and seasonal items for Christmas.


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Netflix Versus Verizon Communications: What Does This All Really Mean?
Verizon Communications and Netflix seem to be in a war of words over who's to blame for slow streams. It all started with Netflix displaying a message to users that read, "The Verizon Network is crowded right now" during buffering delays. While the party at fault remains a mystery, the ongoing saga and problem itself further illustrates why companies like Verizon and AT&T must not only invest in wireless and spectrum, but also broadband.
A game of faults
In response to Netflix's message, Verizon's Vice President of Federal Regulatory Affairs, David Young, issued a statement saying:
The source of the problem is almost certainly not congestion in Verizon's network. Instead, the problem is most likely congestion on the connection that Netflix has chosen to use to reach Verizon's network. It would be more accurate for Netflix's message screen to say: The path that we have chosen to reach Verizon's network is crowded right now. However, that would highlight their responsibility for the problem.
Clearly, this game of faults has turned into a finger-pointing game of two well-respected companies whose growth and current market share rests in the ability to keep users happy with consistent and reliable services. Therefore, the continuous shift of blame may not be so harmless, and could consequently cause unsatisfied users to either unsubscribe from Netflix, or perhaps switch mobile providers to a competitor like AT&T. As a result, Verizon has sent a cease and desist letter to Netflix regarding the error messages.
After sending the letter, Verizon continued to defend itself by saying that there is no basis for Netflix to assert that issues with respect to playback of any particular video session are attributable solely to the Verizon network. While this statement still suggests Netflix is the problem, the language is a bit different from original statements, such as the use of "solely," perhaps implying that Verizon identifies the possibility of some fault on its end. Meanwhile, Netflix asserts that this issue is about consumers not getting what they paid for from their broadband provider.
Verizon may want to take notice
With that said, it's no secret that Verizon has focused most of its resources in the last six months on wireless, evidenced by its $130 billion purchase of the remaining 45% of Verizon Wireless, a business with operating margins close to 30%. Therefore, Verizon hasn't been as aggressive compared to many of its peers in the broadband space, specifically AT&T.
Currently, AT&T's U-verse has 11.3 million subscribers, and in 2013 was the company's fastest-growing segment at 25% year over year. Furthermore, U-verse now accounts for 10% of AT&T's total revenue. Therefore, it's a significant portion of AT&T's business and future plans. Moreover, U-verse's GigaPower has current speeds of 300 megabits per second, or Mbps, which is about 30 times faster than the average broadband service.
Consequently, AT&T has great content delivery services with the likes of Netflix due to these speeds, and recently announced initiatives to boost speeds to 1 gigabit per second, or Gbps, which would be 100 times faster than the average broadband. While this will be a pricey venture, AT&T is showing its emphasis on Internet and TV with this move. Therefore, considering AT&T and Verizon's ongoing attempts to gain a competitive edge over the other, it's simple to understand why Verizon has taken such offense to Netflix's response to slow buffering speeds.
Netflix doesn't have a dog in the AT&T and Verizon fight, as the company providing the service is essentially irrelevant, as long as it's reliable. Therefore, it seems unlikely that these speeds are a problem on the Netflix end.
The bottom line is that such problems must be corrected by Verizon. The company might have an enormous wireless business, but with streaming data becoming more widespread, and consumers using smartphones and tablets for their Internet needs, Verizon must match the performances of its peers. If not, it will be left behind in this fast-growing space, and AT&T will gladly take on its disgruntled subscribers.
AT&T proved that TV is important, and these three companies are at the epicenter of innovation in the space
You know cable's going away. But do you know how to profit? There's $2.2 trillion out there to be had. Currently, cable grabs a big piece of it. That won't last. And when cable falters, three companies are poised to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not Netflix, Google, and Apple.
The article Netflix Versus Verizon Communications: What Does This All Really Mean? originally appeared on Fool.com.Brian Nichols owns shares of Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of Netflix. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Amazon delivers a convenient, flexible sound system, but what about its audio?
When Amazon recently announced an absolute stack of new Echo products – everything from microwave ovens to Smart Plugs – it became more obvious than ever the company will stop at nothing to become your de facto Smart Home hub.
Which is all well and good. But what about those of us like the versatility and convenience of the Echo range of speakers, but aren’t wild about the sound they make?
Read full post here:


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Topdanmark, a large European insurance company, is infusing data science across its operations to provide consumers with a better, faster insurance experience. The company's model-driven workflows, built and deployed on the Domino data science platform, have automated 65 percent of cases for approving new coverage and processing claims. Customers can now learn whether they have coverage in one to two seconds versus four days, and Topdanmark experts can focus their effort where their expertise is most needed. What's more, if model drift occurs once a model is in production, the Domino platform can immediately notify Topdanmark data scientists so they can take proactive action and ensure the business isn't negatively impacted.
Several years ago, executives at Topdanmark set out to dramatically change how quickly they could respond to customers—whether the decision entails accepting risk to insure a client's home or processing a claim. While the company has always worked to make policy decisions and process claims quickly, traditional decision-making processes were time-consuming and laborious. Staff had to manually pore through pages and pages of reports on a building's condition and make educated guesses as to whether the building might have hidden damage that assessors couldn't see. As a result, it could take nearly a week for customers to learn whether their claim was covered.
"We saw an opportunity to use machine learning to automate or augment decision making in real time," said Stig Pedersen, the company's head of Machine Learning.
Initially, the data science team believed they could automate between 30 and 50 percent of the company’s new policies with machine learning. The company has a market share in Denmark just below 50 percent in this product line. The team surpassed its goal using the Domino data science platform to develop and deploy model-driven workflows faster. The company now also uses Domino Model Monitor to get insights into how models are performing in real time, and to detect data and model drift once models are in production.
The model is 800 times faster than humans, so customers can learn whether they're covered in one to two seconds.
With Domino, data scientists can:
Through its model-driven workflows built on Domino, Topdanmark has dramatically improved the customer experience, while reducing costs. This includes: