text:
Tesla has deployed two new Powerpacks energy-storage projects in Samoa
In a move which will enable the American Samoa islands to go fossil-free and shift to renewable energy, Tesla has deployed two new large microgrid projects with Powerpacks in the country.
The sites of the deployment of Tesla’s two new Powerpack projects in Somao are --- the Fiaga Power Station and the Faleolo International Airport on the main island. The deployment of the projects cost $8.8 million.
Tesla’s deployment of the two new Powerpacks projects was supported by development partners, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Union, the Government of Japan, Government of Australia, and Government of New Zealand.
The two new Powerpack energy storage systems deployed by Tesla in Somoa are bigger than an existing microgrid project with Powerpacks which the company had installed on the island of Ta’u in 2016. That system included a 1.4 MW solar array and a 6 MWh energy storage system with 60 Tesla Powerpacks.
In comparison to that project, the two new Powerpack projects are much bigger, and boast a total energy storage capacity of 13.5 MWh.
In reference to the two new Powerpack projects in Samoa, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said, via Samoa Observer: “Without the new battery energy storage systems and micro grid controller, the system will not be able to operate efficiently with such a high percentage of solar penetration in Samoa of 55 percent.”
Energy giant BP has recently announced the acquisition of Chargemaster, the leading charging network operator in the UK.
In one of the noteworthy unveiling at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, a new commercial electric cargo scooter was introduced by Gaius Auto.
Chevrolet’s Bolt is value-for-money electric vehicle with high demand in the U.S. market but new reports suggest high demand for Bolt EV in Canada as well.
A new all-electric pilot boat -- called ‘RAlly 1600-E’ -- has been recently unveiled by naval engineering firm Robert Allan which mainly manufactures boats for specialty use, such as tug and barge transportation.
In a recent press release, Japanese automaker Nissan has announced that its next-generation LEAF has become the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Europe. The next-gen LEAF is the new LEAF model which first hit the markets in October 2017.
According to a recent Reuters report, mining industry in the UK is set to witness a resurgence of sorts, thanks to high demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and shortage for materials for these vehicles.


text:
Ford (F) and Geely Automobiles subsidiary Volvo Cars will join Redwood Materials to recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries in California. According to Reuters, the trio plan to collect end-of-life batteries from electric and hybrid cars and recover materials to use in new batteries. F shares fell 2.61% to close at $17.54 on February 17.
Ford is an automobile company that designs, manufactures, and sells cars, trucks, and automobile parts. Ford’s upcoming earnings report for Q1 2022 is scheduled for April 28, 2022.
The latest pact builds on an earlier partnership between Ford and Redwood Materials focused on developing a supply chain for EV batteries. Redwood has already started working with dealers and dismantlers in California as it looks to recover end-of-life battery packs to be used in the recycling process.
General Motor and its battery partner, LG Energy Solution, have also inked a deal with Li-Cycle to recycle battery scrap metal from lithium cells. The push comes on Ford and General Motors acknowledging that battery recycling is one of the best options for developing a domestic supply chain to meet growing EV demand.
Last week, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas reiterated a Sell rating on Ford stock and raised the price target to $13 from $12, implying 25.88% downside potential to current levels. According to the analyst, expectations for Ford’s core Internal Combustion Engine business and fast-growing EV business are high. The analyst believes investor expectations need to be better managed as the EV plan becomes a reality.
Consensus among analysts is a Moderate Buy based on 8 Buys, 7 Holds, and 2 Sells. The average Ford price target of $23.63 implies 34.72% upside potential to current levels.
Download the TipRanks mobile app now.
To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

domain: news


text:
The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone has made substantial achievements over the past decade, according to a recent white paper.
The municipal government of Shanghai released a set of 31 new measures on Sept 21 to be implemented in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.
Shanghai's first white paper on talent development in the financial leasing industry was launched at the 2023 Shanghai financial leasing industry talent development conference on Aug 25.
Shanghai will build itself into a world-class cruise hub by 2035 and aim to draw in 3 million cruise tourists annually by 2025.
China has issued 24 new guidelines to attract more global capital and optimize the country's business environment.
Several measures to enhance attraction, utilization of foreign investment in Shanghai.
Shanghai will introduce a total of 15 measures this year to further facilitate consumption in the city.
High-quality development has been made the top priority in Shanghai's business work for 2023, in line with the nation's goal of building a modern socialist country.


text:
Will increasing warehouse and inventory costs fuel the demand for trucking?
Inventory costs are increasing at the fastest rate in years, while warehouse capacity continues to decline at an almost record rate, according to the Logistics Managers Index (LMI). In 2019, shippers filled warehouses with imports to bypass tariffs, coinciding with a slowdown in the freight market. Could rapidly rising warehousing costs and declining warehousing capacity push shippers to keep their freight moving?
LMI is a diffusion index that measures the rates of expansion and contraction – anything that shows a value above 50 is expanding, with values below 50 indicating contraction. Right now, inventory costs are rising as fast as they’ve been since the index’s inception in 2016 with a record 84.58 in April.
The warehouse capacity measure has been below 50 since the summer of 2020 and has dropped in each of the first four months of this year, meaning shippers have less space to store their stuff.
Inventory management has become much more important in recent years as suppliers experience production shortfalls for a wide variety of reasons. Unexpected demand has been at the heart of most inventory crises.
Predicting what people want when they want it isn’t a perfect science – a hard lesson learned in 2020 for many companies. Missing a peak period in the economy for either business-driven (2017-18) or consumer-driven (2020-2021) expansion can set a business back for years – if it ever recovers.
Peloton knows the value of having inventory when needed and is willing to invest millions of dollars in transporting their bikes to ensure they are maximizing their market share in the home fitness space as demand reaches. its maximum. Peloton is one of the industry’s most demanding customers and knows that rapid growth will be less possible once the pandemic is over, as people leave their homes more often.
The simple solution to all of this is to store raw materials and finished products in a giant warehouse and wait. Many companies used this strategy in 2019 to avoid price increases. Freight poured into the country and sat in warehouses for months. Trucking volumes stagnated until March 2020, when the pandemic struck.
The onset of the pandemic could have been much worse if we hadn’t had a relatively decent amount of cargo in storage – one of the reasons trucking has recovered faster than many other sectors of the economy during the year. last. Warehousing costs rise and space becomes less and less available, making it a less financially viable option. So what about keeping inventory low?
A just-in-time or low-inventory operation takes years to set up and the financial risks are extreme for most businesses. The pandemic presented a worst-case scenario for companies using this strategy due to shortages of commodities and input production. A consistent and predictable supply chain is necessary for this to be effective. Dedicated trucking and private fleets thrive in this space.
That leaves something in the middle – a solution that doesn’t require inventory but can scale when needed. It is the ideal location for the for-hire trucking market. The current situation of truck loading capacity is, however, an argument against this strategy.
This topic was touched on in last week’s Freightonomics episode in which Zachary Rogers, assistant professor of supply chain management at Colorado State University and one of the authors of ITM, said that “the Supply chain management has never received as much attention as it has. this year ‘because of the massive impact on business.
He went on to say that “people come up with different solutions… how do you manage the balance between what you want to pay to hold? [the freight] or move it. And much of it is dictated by OTRI.
OTRI is the Outbound Bid Rejection Index which measures the percentage of electronically submitted loads that are rejected by carriers for various reasons. The OTRI is currently around 24%, which means that one in four loads is rejected. This is historically high and very disruptive for supply chains.
Many of those surveyed do not believe that transportation costs will decrease over the next year, according to the prospective aspect of the LMI survey. This means that companies will likely explore several solutions to better control their business logistics while keeping costs predictable.
Private fleets are extremely expensive and not suitable for emerging businesses. For-hire trucking space remains the simplest solution, even if the costs are high. Rising warehouse prices will promote movement of goods as shippers seek optimal solutions. When left unchecked, visibility is the cheapest option and the second best option in a chaotic market.
About the chart of the week
This Week’s FreightWaves Chart is a selection of charts from SONAR that provide an interesting data point to describe the state of the freight markets. One chart is chosen from thousands of potential charts on SONAR to help participants visualize the freight market in real time. Each week, a market expert will post a chart, along with commentary, live on the front page. After that, the week’s chart will be archived on FreightWaves.com for future reference.
SONAR aggregates data from hundreds of sources, presents the data in graphs and maps, and provides commentary on what freight market experts want to know about the industry in real time.
FreightWaves’ data science and product teams are releasing new datasets every week and improving the customer experience.
To request a SONAR demo, click here.


text:
Specialty retailers Chico’s FAS Inc. and Limited Brands Inc. increased second-quarter profits, but a sales slump at Hot Topic Inc. doubled its loss.
This story first appeared in the August 19, 2010 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
Improved fashion and an increase in merchandise from outlet stores helped to lift Chico’s, and the company’s stock gained 10 percent on Wednesday to close at $9.25. For the period ended July 31, income for the Fort Myers, Fla.-based women’s retailer more than doubled to $30.5 million, or 17 cents a diluted share, versus income of $14.9 million, or 8 cents, a year earlier.
Net sales expanded 10.8 percent to $465.4 million, from $419.9 million. By division, volume at the Chico’s and Soma Intimates brands collectively increased 8.5 percent to $319.7 million, and sales at White House|Black Market climbed 16.3 percent to $145.7 million. Comparable-store sales for the quarter improved 6.4 percent, driven by an 11.2 percent increase at White House|Black Market. Comps at Chico’s and Soma rose 4.3 percent, respectively.
Despite the strong quarter, president and chief executive officer David Dyer said on a conference call with Wall Street analysts that the company “should have earned a few pennies more and had a few percentage points higher in comp-store sales.”
As summer heat waves plagued much of the country, Dyer said Chico’s was “underinvested in wear-now clothing, especially in July.”
At White House|Black Market, the company faced “another type of problem,” he said. “We ran out of inventory. We didn’t have sufficient sale and clearance inventory to drive July sales.…Our July sales and inventory issues obviously followed us into the first few weeks of August, but we believe we will be back on track when our fall books and marketing campaigns launch at the end of the month.”
At Limited, the company said income for the period ended July 31 more than doubled to $178.7 million, or 54 cents a diluted share, from $74.3 million, or 23 cents, in the year-ago period.
Adjusted income was $120.6 million, or 36 cents a diluted share, compared with $60.3 million, or 19 cents, in the same period last year. Adjusted income excluded pretax gains related to the sale of a portion of Limited’s shares of Express in its initial public offering. It also excluded the sale of its remaining interest in Limited Stores and a pretax loss due to the early retirement of portions of the firm’s 2012 and 2014 maturity bonds in the current quarter, as well as a pretax gain and related tax benefit for the divestiture of a noncore joint venture in the year-ago period.
Sales rose 8.5 percent to $2.24 billion from $2.07 billion.
In contrast, Hot Topic said its second-quarter loss doubled as sales fell at the company’s namesake chain and plus-size brand Torrid.
For the period ended July 31, the mall-based retailer posted a loss of $6.3 million, or 14 cents a diluted share, versus a loss of $3.2 million, or 7 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.
Weak sales in shoes, intimate apparel and women’s fashion contributed to a 4.9 percent dip in net sales to $150 million from $157.8 million, the company said. Comparable-store sales declined 6.4 percent, with a 6.5 percent drop at Hot Topic and a 6 percent fall at Torrid.
Ceo Betsy McLaughlin told Wall Street analysts during a conference call that Hot Topic will “increase promotional activity” in the third quarter, adding that comparable-store sales to date are down 5 percent.


text:
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence Screenshots for PS2On: PS2
The remixed version of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Latest Articles for Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Hideo Kojima is now one step closer to making that movie he's clearly always wanted, as Kojima Productions has opened a development studio in Los Angeles.
Konami has launched a website dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Metal Gear Solid franchise.


text:
WASHINGTON: US economic growth accelerated in the first quarter, but the burst in growth was driven by trade and the largest accumulation of unsold goods since 2015, temporary factors that are likely to reverse in the coming quarters.
Gross domestic product increased at a 3.2 per cent annualised rate in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said in its advance GDP report released on Friday. Growth was also boosted by an increase in government investment, which offset sharp slowdowns in consumer and business spending.
Still, the mixed report could further dispel earlier fears of a recession that were stocked by a raft of weak economic data at the turn of the year. Those fears were also exacerbated by a brief inversion of the US Treasury yield curve.
The economy grew at a 2.2 per cent pace in the October-December period. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast GDP increasing at a 2.0 per cent rate in the first three months of the year. Growth has stepped down from a peak 4.2 per cent pace in the second quarter of 2018, when the White House’s $1.5 trillion tax cut package jolted consumer spending.
The economy will mark 10 years of expansion in July, the longest on record.
Federal Reserve officials are likely to shrug off the surge in growth last quarter and focus on a measure of domestic demand, which increased at only a 1.3 per cent rate, the slowest since the second quarter of 2013, after increasing at a 2.6 per cent pace in the October-December quarter.
The Fed recently suspended its three-year monetary policy tightening campaign, dropping forecasts for any interest rate hikes this year. The US central bank increased borrowing costs four times in 2018.
Exports surged and imports declined in the first quarter, leading to a small deficit that added 1.03 percentage points to GDP after being neutral in the fourth quarter. Trade tensions between the United States and China have caused wild swings in the trade deficit, with exporters and importers trying to stay ahead of the tariff fight between the two economic giants.
The standoff has also had an impact on inventories, which increased at a $128.4 billion rate in the first quarter, the strongest pace since the second quarter of 2015. Inventories increased at a $96.8 billion pace in the October-December quarter. Part of the inventory build was because of weak demand, especially in the automotive sector, which is expected to weigh on future production at factories.
Inventories contributed 0.65 percentage point to first-quarter GDP after adding one-tenth of a percentage point in the October-December period.
Growth in consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, slowed to a 1.2 per cent rate from the fourth quarter’s 2.5 per cent rate. The moderation in spending reflected a decline in motor vehicle purchases and other goods, likely related to a 35-day shutdown of the federal government. There was also a slowdown in spending on services.
Business spending on equipment braked sharply, rising at only at a 0.2 per cent rate, the slowest since the third quarter of 2016. Spending was held down by weak outlays on agricultural machinery and office furniture.
Residential construction fell at a 2.8 per cent rate, marking the fifth straight quarterly decline. Government investment rebounded at a 2.4 per cent rate, driven by spending at state and local governments.


text:
Where have Ironman, Shaq, Adam Savage and The Martian shared the spotlight with autonomous acrobats and a robot “dog” named Spot?
Only at Amazon’s first re:MARS conference.
Held June 3 to 7 in Las Vegas, the conference was the brainchild of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. With re:MARS, he brought his private MARS conference – focused on Machine Learning, Automation, Robotics and Space – to the public to “advance the golden age of innovation.”
re:MARS 2019 welcomed a diverse crowd – including celebrities, astronauts, industry experts, Olympic athletes and business executives – and featured diverse keynotes and conversations. As a gold sponsor, Mobiquity dispatched a team who heard about everything from Disney Imagineering acrobatics and emotional attachment to robots to the operational efficiencies of machine learning and the growing demand for conversational AI channels.
Here’s a quick look back at what we saw, what we learned, and where we go from here.
Interacting with innovations
We definitely enjoyed seeing all the robotics. From Spot the robotic “dog” to drones, mechanical arms and much more, it was a bit like a promo for “The Jetsons”… if you’re old enough to remember who they are!
Arguably the biggest “wow” came from Dr. Tanya Harrison. Although the Mars Rover is much too large to bring into the Aria Resort & Casino, that didn’t stop Dr. Harrison from delivering a compelling demo of it. Dr. Harrison wore a Microsoft HoloLens to give a guided tour of “Roving Robots on the Red Planet.” The visuals she was seeing through the HoloLens were projected to oversized screens in the room – and a second operator held up a tablet to record Dr. Harrison interacting in 3D with the Mars Rover on stage. It’s no exaggeration to say: Her presentation set a whole new standard for demos!
With anything new, there’s usually a surprise or two. For us, the first was the range of attendees – and we aren’t just talking about the actors, astronauts and athletes who were enticed to attend. We noticed a wide spectrum of businesses showing a deep interest in taking their innovation efforts to the next level. Every industry seemed to be represented – from financial services and CPG to government and education, healthcare and food services to oil/gas and telecom. And, of course, technology.
Clearly, the commercial market is taking innovation seriously and trying to figure out how to harness it to better serve customers, grow revenue and improve operational costs.
Second, there was a lot of excitement around conversational AI. Everywhere you turned, someone was asking about creating Alexa voice skills for their market, or how to best use chatbots to engage with customers. And when you consider presentations like Jonathan Patrizio’s, From Turkeys to Movie Tickets: Increase Customer Reach, Self-Service and Commerce with Amazon Alexa, you can see that voice has practical and beneficial applications today – not some time in a “Jetsons” future.
So, what’s next?
After most conferences comes the inevitable re-entry to reality, including catching up on messages and tackling longstanding to-do lists. It can be easy to lose momentum. Yet after returning from re:MARS, we remain inspired by the experience and invigorated about advancing “the golden era of innovation.” It will take energy, excitement and decisive action. We’re in. Are you ready to join us?
Mobiquity provides digital consulting services for the world’s leading brands. We help companies understand, apply and engage with technology in meaningful ways.


text:
MULTIPLE reports from organisations fighting for racial justice have accused Amazon of being a platform for selling supremacist, racist and Nazi products.
Amazon says it has implemented a policy against products that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual or religious intolerance or promote organisations with such opinions.
The online company withdrew most products matching the previous criteria.
Other products that were criticised a neck prosthesis that simulated being hung by a rope and Confederate flag merchandise.
Certain hate groups use e-books, music, social media and web services to help grow their movements and to create a physical and online following.
It is claimed by some that Amazon could be providing a platform for them if they do not enforce stricter policies.


text:
Sunday, March 9 2014 10:54 PM EDT2014-03-10 02:54:31 GMT
An 18-year-old girl is dead after her car struck a tree in west Toledo late Sunday afternoon. Toledo Police say Theresa Brazzel was driving northbound on Richards Rd. when she drove off the right sideMore >>
Toledo Police say Theresa Brazzel was driving northbound on Richards Rd. when she drove off the right side of the roadway and struck a large tree.More >>
We share the Restaurant Ratings Report with you each week to keep you and your family safe, not to make you lose your appetite. Keep that in mind with these latest findings.More >>
POINT PLACE, OH (Toledo News Now) -
family-owned hardware store in Point Place will close its doors for good on
Taggart family has run a local Ace Hardware store for 50 years, and residents
in the Point say they are sad to see the store go.
had everything," said Clarence Leopold. "Even the contractors came in here
because if this Ace didn't have it, you probably had to order it."
store was a community staple that one resident captured with a photo, so she
will have a solid memory of the store she has visited since she was a child.
brings a lot of memory, you might say," said Elizabeth Renz. "Just to have [the
photo], I'll be able to say there was an Ace Hardware in the Point."
store was taken over by Chris and Missy Taggart five and a half years ago. They
come from three generations of store owners. They say they were too emotional
to go on camera, but say 13 people lost their jobs and now lifelong customers
will have to take their business elsewhere.
a lot of things that they do here that Menards does not do, like fixing screens
and windows," Renz said.
Taggarts say a decline in customers, an increase in competition, and critical
circumstances in their life are why the doors will shut for good on Friday.
just hope this is not the first sign of a dying community," Leopold said.
owners say they have a store in Michigan, and they will focus on maintaining
that store, but there is still hope for Point Place. They say the Ace Hardware
corporate owners will assess the area to see if the store can open again in the


text:
News From [Month Year]:
Sega of Japan has announced that the price for the Dreamcast will be dropped from ¥29,800 ($245US) down to ¥19,900 ($164US). Also on June 24th, Sega will re-release two DC games at a much lower price of ¥1,990 (~$16US): Virtua Fighter 3 TB, and Sonic Adventure.
Sega also announced some new DC titles in the works, Virtua Striker 2 (October 1999), M-SR (Racing), Ecco the Dolphin, Baldur's Gate, and Project Ares. The last title is a new RPG developed by the creator of the Phantasy Star series.
All Names and logos are trademarks of their respective companies.
See individual games boxes for specific information.
Questions or comments? Contact dEX.


text:
Prepared beef used in Taco Bell tacos and burritos was recalled with concern that it may be contaminated with metal shavings, federal regulators announced on Monday.
Meat products made by Kenosha Beef International were shipped to five distribution centers, then to Taco Bell locations across the country, according to a news release from the Department of Agriculture's Food and Food Inspection Service.
Authorities say the amount of beef pulled from an Ohio-based producer is unclear. But in its own message, the fast food company said the withdrawal had affected 2.3 million pounds of beef.
Taco Bell says the product has been removed from all affected restaurants in 21 states in the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast.
The products in question were manufactured between September 20 and October 4. It is unclear when they were sent.
The problem was first discovered on Saturday when Taco Bell informed regulators it had received three customer complaints.  There are no confirmed reports of people suffering from side effects after eating beef, says the USDA.
Anyone affected by injury or illness should contact their healthcare provider, officials said.


text:
US pet supplies retailer Petco has started off the new year by following through on its promise to remove all dog and cats treats made in China from its store shelves and website. The company confirmed the products’ removal from in an announcement made on Monday, January 5, 2015.
Many pet owners have become wary of treats made in China in recent years, due to concerns that treats imported from that nation have sickened large numbers of pets and are suspected of having killed more than 1,000 dogs in the US alone. Jerky treats from China have been of particular concern to dog owners.
Fellow pet products retailer and business rival PetSmart announced on Monday that it will pull Chinese made treats from its stores by March. The two major chains announced in May of 2014 that they would stop selling treats from China by 2015 and are now following through on those plans.
Petco stated in a news release on Monday, January 5, 2015:
Petco today announced it has completely removed all China-made dog and cat treats from shelves at more than 1,300 retail stores nationwide, including Unleashed by Petco stores and online at Petco.com. The move makes Petco the first national pet specialty retailer to complete this transition and affirms the company’s commitment to listening to customers and putting the health and safety of pets first.
“As a trusted partner for pet parents, we believe this is the right thing to do, and we’re proud to take this step in the best interest of pets,” said Jim Myers, Petco CEO. “What we feed our pets matters, and this milestone supports the company’s steadfast commitment to putting our customers, partners, animals and the communities we serve first.”
For nearly 50 years, Petco has been a trusted source for high quality premium pet products and services in local neighborhoods across the U.S. Petco handpicks the best brands to help pets thrive with a broad range of food and treat options that support complete pet health. Petco has not carried any dog or cat food items from China for several years. The decision to discontinue the sale of China-made treats allows Petco to expand the assortment of safe and healthy alternatives that are made in the U.S. or in other regions around the globe that support complete pet health.
The safety and health benefits of food and treats continue to be top concerns for pet owners. According to a recent survey, “Natural, Organic and Eco-Friendly Pet Products in the U.S.” by Packaged Facts, 55 percent of dog owners and 48 percent of cat owners agree that fear of pet food contamination and product safety is a key consideration for the pet foods they buy. The survey also found that 61 percent of dog owners and 50 percent of cat owners seek out food made in the U.S. “Customer response to our expanded assortment of treats has been great,” continued Myers. “And we are equally pleased at just how responsive our vendor partners have been in helping us source an entirely new line-up of high-quality, predominantly U.S.-made treat and chew alternatives.”
Petco carries a wide variety of specially-formulated foods for cats, dogs and other pets and is devoted to helping pet parents choose the right nutrition for their pet, both in-store and online. Pet parents looking for alternatives to China-made dog or cat treats will find a broad and completely refreshed selection of U.S.-made products at Petco from brands like American Jerky, Blue Buffalo, Blue Ridge Naturals, Canidae, Colorado Naturals, Dogswell, Good Lovin’, Isle of Dogs, Merrick, Natural Balance, Nature’s Variety, Prairie Dog, Zuke’s and more. Petco also carries a number of safe and long lasting treats and chews from other regions of the world, including New Zealand, Australia and South America.


text:
Thalapathy Vijay’s “Master” was set to make a release for Ponggal on 13th January 2021 worldwide. There have also been reports that the filmmakers have been looking at a festive date for the release of the movie adding an impact to it after the delayed release.
In Malaysia with the announcement of the MCO in the six states inclusive of Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur) yesterday, Lotus Five Star released an official statement on their social media handles pertaining to the release of “Master” and “Easwaran”.
Over the last two years Superstar Rajinikanth’s “Petta” and “Darbar” have been conquering the Ponggal release. Directed by Logesh Kanagaraj, this movie also stars the ever talented Vijay Sethupathi.
Varnam Malaysia (V) reached out to Dato Malik (DM) from Malik Streams Corporation to get some insights in line with “master” release in Malaysia.
V: Is Malik Streams Production the main distributor of “Master” in Malaysia?
DM: In Malaysia, the distribution right is held by Lotus Five Star and they announced it officially on their Facebook page on 19th December 2020.
V: Has Malik Streams acquired the rights for worldwide distribution for the movie “Master”?
DM: Yes, Malik Streams is the worldwide distributor for “Master”.
V: Will there be a theatrical release for “Master” in Malaysia?
DM: Yes, there will be 400 screenings with a total of 50 theatres in Malaysia.
V: Will it be released in other languages as well like Telugu and Hindi in Malaysia?
DM: No, in Malaysia it will only be in Tamil.
V: If there is a “no go” for the theatrical release in Malaysia for Ponggal, is there a possibility for a digital release?
DM: There will be a digital release on Astro First after 30 days of the theatrical release.
V: Are we looking at any big-budget movies that Malik Streams has distribution rights in 2021?
DM: Malik Streams have also acquired the distribution rights of Superstar Rajinikanth’s Annathey.
Theatre owners have been hoping for “Master” to have a theatrical release to help them generate business, and the producers also announced that they would stand by theatres and release the film first only on the big screen. However, with the Movement Control Order imposed, the theatrical industry faces another massive blow forbidding any theatrical release in the theatres.
Nevertheless, we hope “MASTER” releases on a digital platform at least for us to usher in a Thalapathy Ponggal this year!
For now, we leave you with the trailer of “Master”.


text:
27 Apr 2020
Liverpool-based juice and nutrition brand Fuel Station has revealed the acquisition of market-leading rival brand Soulmatefood.
Founded by entrepreneur and owner Kurt Wilson, star of BBC’s The Apprentice, Fuel Station has been enjoying exponential growth across Europe and the United States in the past two years.
Its latest move also signals the intentions of Wilson and the brand to go plastic-free and vegan, focusing on plant-based products, a lifestyle adopted by the Crosby-born businessman in 2019.
Ubiquity PR has been given the task of highlighting the latest ambitions of Wilson and Fuel Station.
He said: “This is a pivotal acquisition for us. It will enhance both our market position and assert our profile amongst leasing plant-based products carrying a strong nutrition message.”
Wilson continued: “Soulmatefood has enjoyed an illustrious reputation in the market with a top 3 market share in recent years and endorsements from A-listers across leading sports including Premier League football, rugby and boxing. Consuming the brand into what we already have fits neatly in matching our projections for the next 18 months.”
Joel Jelen of Ubiquity PR added: “Kurt and Fuel Station are the perfect brand association for us. We thrive on working with companies with these values and the determination to win.”


text:
Authentic Gaming and Playtech have entered into a long-term partnership agreement that will enable Playtech licensees access to Authentic Gaming’s live roulette streamed from some of the most iconic land-based casinos.
Online players will be able to access live roulette games on any device from The Saint Vincent Resort Casino in Italy, Georgian Casino International Batumi at the Hilton Hotel, and Bucharest-situated Platinum Casino at the Radisson BLU Hotel.
The agreement leaves room for Authentic Gaming and Playtech to expand the scale and scope of the partnership in the coming months, increasing the number of tables available to players and integrating Authentic’s premium table offering.
Shimon Akad, COO, Playtech, said: “We have watched the development of Authentic Roulette and other products and, after careful evaluation, we are delighted to have partnered with Authentic Gaming. Its range of tables, land-based casino partners and video stream quality is impressive.
“This will further increase the breadth and depth of our best-performing, next-generation offering which is the most advanced on the market today.”


text:
The Gaming Laboratories International group of companies announced that it has acquired rival testing company NMi Metrology & Gaming Ltd. and related gaming assets (NMi Gaming) from NMi Certin, B.V. and related parties.
The acquisition benefits NMi Gaming’s clients by providing them with instant global reach through GLI’s accredited 475 jurisdictions. Additionally, the transaction benefits GLI’s clients by allowing the firm to provide greater levels of service and attention.
NMi Gaming has offices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Canada, and will continue to operate under the NMi Gaming brand name for the foreseeable future. Customers can expect a business-as-usual approach while also being able to leverage GLI’s global presence to grow and enhance NMi Gaming’s services.
GLI President and CEO James Maida said, “Over the last two years, the GLI Group has completed multiple strategic acquisitions, such as Bulletproof, Kobetron Inc. and Gaming Informatics LLC, which further enhance our business offerings and increase the level of customer service that the GLI Group provides to our gaming clients globally. Now, with the acquisition of NMi Gaming, we have created synergies that are beneficial to both NMi and GLI clients and provide additional bandwidth for even greater customer service.”
NMi Gaming’s Andrew Rosewarne said, “This is an excellent opportunity for our customers, as this allows us to leverage GLI’s worldwide coverage while retaining the dynamism of our independent operations.”
NMi Gaming was founded after the privatization of the Dutch Legal Metrology Service in 1989, and its gaming division has substantially grown in size and prominence since it commenced an international expansion in 2010. In recent years, NMi Gaming has become a major force in the areas of iGaming, land-based certification and auditing while retaining its strong presence in key European markets.


text:
Low-Carb Diets OK in Short Term

Healthy Women Lost More Than Twice as Much Weight on the Diet

WebMD News Archive
"This study shows that a low-carbohydrate diet is effective in the short term in healthy overweight people, but it is important that we look at the long-term effectiveness of this diet and whether it is safe for people who are at risk for cardiovascular disease," she says.
American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Kathleen Tallmadge, RD, says short-term studies like this one and last summer's Duke findings prove little about the safety and long-term effectiveness of carbohydrate-restricted diets. She adds that it should come as no surprise that people who lost weight on these diets saw improvements in heart-disease risk, because that is what happens when people lose weight.
"The problem is when the weight loss stops, cholesterol and other cardiovascular risks are likely to skyrocket in people on low-carbohydrate diets that are high in saturated animal fats," Tallmadge tells WebMD. "The best way to lose weight permanently is to adopt a way of eating that can be maintained for a lifetime, and that is not possible with these very restricted diets."
She says it is good for everyone to limit their intake of sugar and white flour, but adds that the low-carb diet restrictions on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains make no nutritional sense.
"When people start to fear whole food groups, no matter what they are, they are setting themselves up for an eating disorder" she says. "Successful dieters develop habits that they can maintain over a lifetime. Simple changes can really make a difference."


text:
Algeria has taken another step forward in its transition to an automotive production hub. Groupe PSA has just outlined plans for a new joint venture (JV) production company based in Oran. The project has been under discussion for some time but details have now been confirmed….
New port, new plants – Algeria emerging as auto production hub
More fresh investment in automotive production suggests Algeria is on its way to becoming a net exporter of vehicles, writes Megan Lampinen


text:
PUBG Mobile has partnered with iconic American muscle car brand Dodge to add three of the company's models to give players the chance to cruise through the battlegrounds in style.
The collaboration will be live until 6 November and features three Dodge cars: a pair of high-performance models in the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat as well as the electric compact utility model Hornet.
The in-game versions of the Dodge cars will mimic their high horsepower, intense straight-line acceleration, and powerful handling in real life.
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat features a throwback-yet-modern style, the Charger SRT Hellcat is the world's only four-door muscle car, while the Hornet brings a new electric approach to the high-performance lineup.
The Challenger SRT Hellcat will be available in Blaze and Lime colourways, alongside the Challenger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak in flame-licked Hellfire. The Charger SRT Hellcat will be available in Tuscan Torque and Fuchsia, to go with the Charger SRT Hellcat JailBreak in Violet Venom.
Meanwhile, the Dodge Hornet GLH will be available in Redline, Sunburst, and Scarlet Sting colourways.
This will be PUBG Mobile's second collaboration with Dodge. While the first partnership was only available in to players in North and South America, this second one will finally let all players across the world get behind the wheel of their favourite Dodge cars.
“The PUBG MOBILE team is thrilled to announce our partnership with Dodge, merging the worlds of gaming and automotive innovation,” said Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG MOBILE Publishing at Tencent Games, in a press release.
PUBG Mobile's partnership event with Dodge is notably running alongside the game's limited-time zombie mode that was introduced earlier this month as a part of its version 2.8 update.
Both events will close on 6 November, so join in the fun while there's still time!


text:
GROCERY sales in Scotland recorded their weakest performance in two and a half years for the four week period to 25 May.
According to figures produced for the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) by professional services firm KPMG, Scottish sales decreased by 3.4% on a like-for-like basis compared with May 2018, when they had increased by 1.8%.
Food sales, which have traditionally proven resilient in the face of cautious spending, also saw a slowdown.
Total food sales increased by 2.7% less than they did in May 2018, and were also below both the three-month and 12-month averages.
David Lonsdale, director at the SRC said: “These are somewhat bruising figures, with retail sales having shrivelled by almost four percent once shop price inflation is taken into account.”
Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG said: “The latest figures confirm the scale of the challenges facing retailers throughout Scotland.
“While the industry continues to outperform the rest of the UK, there is a clear downward trend across most major categories, including static growth in typically resilient food sales, and the worst performance for non-food retailers since our records began in January 1999.”


text:
A recent research conducted by Think Associates Maldives says that businesses in Maldives increasingly turning to digital marketing platforms to market and advertise their products and services over traditional marketing platforms.
The research was conducted in May 2020 to identify the impact of COVID-19 on the marketing and advertising industry of Maldives. 69 leading business in Maldives actively engaged in marketing, advertising, and event activities participated in the research.
The research also found that businesses in Maldives prefer to market their product and services through digital marketing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The popularity of traditional marketing platforms such as TV, billboards, and newspaper ads have significantly decreased.
Moreover, since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Maldives, business spending on digital marketing platforms has increased significantly. There is a 34% increase in marketing budgets for digital media platforms. More than 50% of businesses are even considering reducing budgets for advertising on traditional media on outdoor platforms such as billboards and led screens, along with radio, print and TV channels.
The research also found 87% of business have been affected negatively by the countrywide lockdown. This is expected to impact marketing budgets of business as well, and businesses are reviewing their marketing budget for the year. The results of the research indicates that only 6% of businesses increased their marketing budget and 6% of businesses will not change their assigned budget for marketing amid the COVID-19 lockdown.


text:
July 21- Elon Musk's latest "master plan" for Tesla Motors Inc to develop an electric commercial truck, a public bus, a pickup and systems to enable fully autonomous driving could cost $2 billion to $3 billion or more, experts and analysts said Thursday. However, analysts said it is likely Tesla will have to go back to investors for more capital to fund the plan, despite... » Read More
LOWELL, Ark. _ JB Hunt Transport Services Inc. on Monday reported second-quarter profit of $105 million. The average estimate of 13 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 96 cents per share. This story was generated by Automated Insights using data from Zacks Investment Research.
BOGOTA, July 5- Colombia's government said on Tuesday it has asked truckers to consider a raft of proposals to end a 28- day strike that its causing cargo delays and putting pressure on food prices amid already high inflation. Prices for potatoes, plantains and yucca, all diet staples in Colombia, were up by more than 20 percent in some cities during the last week of...
BRUSSELS, June 7- Eleven countries have urged European Commission to take action against laws in France and Germany that require foreign drivers be paid the French or German minimum wages when they drive through those countries. The transport ministers of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia...
CNBC's Phil LeBeau reports on the performance of the Ram 1500, and other pickup truck brands tested in the IIHS crash test.
ROME, April 11- To traders at the famous Royal FloraHolland flower market near Amsterdam, Vincenzo Crupi was just another businessman helping to make the Netherlands the largest exporter of cut flowers in the world. To the police, Crupi was a mafia suspect allegedly concealing drugs worth millions of dollars alongside fragrant bouquets he trucked to Italy.
LISLE, Ill., March 2- Navistar International Corp Chief Executive Troy Clarke is pushing the door open for potential deals as he fights to keep the truck maker's turnaround on track amid a U.S. sales slump. Navistar, under Clarke, agreed to manufacture a line of medium-duty trucks for the CEO's former employer, General Motors Co, due to launch in 2018 for sale through...
CNBC's Morgan Brennan talks with Werner Enterprises' Derek Leathers about his concerns of a slowing U.S. economy and its impact on the transportation sector.
CNBC's Morgan Brennan provides insight to the transport sector and whether the slowdown is signaling pain ahead.
Jason Seidl, Cowen Group, and CNBC's Morgan Brennan provide insight to the transport sector and whether the slowdown may signal a full on recession ahead in the U.S.
With a 48,000-driver shortfall, U.S. trucking fleets are recruiting from a little-tapped labor pool: women.
A driver shortage is pushing trucking companies to actively recruit more women, reports CNBC's Morgan Brennan, live from the Vince Lombardi rest stop in New Jersey.
CNBC's Phil LeBeau and Joe Hinrichs, Ford Motor Company President of the Americas, discuss Ford's $1.3 billion investment in expanding its Super Duty trucks.
Truckers are earning higher salaries amid the industry's shortage of drivers.
Transports have had a really rough year, with the Dow Transports down more than 11 percent. What does it say about the economy – and are there buying opportunities amid the broader selloff?
Christian Wetherbee, Citi Research, discusses how fuel surcharges are impacting the trucking industry.
CNBC's Morgan Brennan looks at an economic indicator that's every bit as important as jobs, inflation, and the rig count.
A New York man says Big Brown is bringing him down by parking its trucks in bike lanes he wants to use.
In another consolidation move, XPO Logistics buys U.S. trucker Con-way for $3 billion.
CNBC's Morgan Brennan reports from the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas on the latest technological advancements in the trucking industry.
CNBC's Morgan Brennan, takes a look at the big bet some transport carriers are making to fit more containers on their networks.


text:
Canopy Growth lays off 200 more workers in Canada, U.S., and UK
Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)(CGC) is laying off 200 workers across its Canadian, U.S., and UK operations in the latest phase of the company’s efforts to scale down and cut costs.
In a statement to Yahoo Finance Canada, the Smith’s Falls, Ont.-based cannabis producer said the layoffs follow separate announcements on March 4 and April 16 in which the company shut down cultivation facilities and reduced its headcount.
“Although difficult, the decisions that have been made over the last few months are to allow Canopy Growth to remain focused on the areas where we are winning and ensure that we are delivering the highest quality products to our consumers in every market where we operate,” chief executive officer David Klein said in an emailed statement.
He said more information about his “new vision” for the company will be revealed when Canopy reports its latest quarterly earnings on May 29.
Klein took the top job at the world’s largest cannabis producer in January, leaving behind his CFO role at Constellation Brands (STZ-B)(STZ), the U.S. beer and wine giant that invested $5 billion in Canopy in 2018. His predecessor Mark Zekulin served for years as co-CEO with Bruce Linton, who was ousted last July, shortly after Constellation management said they were “not pleased” with the cannabis producer’s financial performance.
Shares rallied in December when Canopy announced Klein would replace Zekulin, who made it clear he was serving as sole CEO on an interim basis after Linton’s departure. Investors saw the appointment of a consumer packaged goods veteran as a sign Canopy was shifting focus from rapid growth to better management of existing operations.
“For a long time Canopy has prioritized doing things first, but going forward we’ll be focused on doing things the best in the markets and in the product formats that show the greatest promise,” he added.
The termination of 200 jobs in unspecified branches of the company comes on the heels of plans announced earlier this month to shut down a Saskatchewan facility, stop hemp cultivation in New York and cannabis cultivation in Colombia, and exit operations in Africa. The company said it expects to book an impairment charge of between $700 million and $800 million as a result of those changes in its upcoming financial results.
Canopy also recently announced 200 retail employees would be temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, it closed two large cultivation facilities in British Columbia, resulting in 500 lost jobs.
“The industry has evolved and we need to focus on specific markets where we have the legitimate right to win,” Klein said in February. “We're prepared to take initial steps to right-size our business over the next 90 days.”
Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.
Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.


text:
The Spanish giant, owner of Zara, registered one of the poorest financial performances in recent years during the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
Inditex avoids the obstacles of a changing business model that hit other major fashion retailers, while going on with its transformation process. The Spanish group, owner of Zara, registered in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 one of the poorest performances in recent years. The company accumulates five consecutive quarters of single-digit growth, as gross margin also shrinks.
Margin is one of the indicators that analysts follow with a greater devotion, due to the impact that it can have on the rise of online business volume, as well as currencies or weather conditions. In 2011, Inditex’s gross margin was 59.3%; in 2014, 58.3% and in the fourth quarter of 2017, 53.4%.
At the end of the first half of fiscal 2018, the group’s gross margin rose to 6.82 billion euros, 4% higher than in the previous year, standing at 56.7% of sales. In the second quarter, however, the margin was 54.7%, down from 58.9% in the first quarter but in line with the 54.8% share posted in the second quarter of 2017.
Inditex has registered a gross margin of 54.7% in the second quarter
In addition to gross margin, the second quarter has been certainly weak for Zara’s parent company analysing other variables, although growth rates were better than in the previous quarter. Inditex increased its sales by 4.41% in the second quarter to 6.4 billion euros, which represents its lowest rise in a second quarter at least since 2012.
Even so, the upsurge has been enough to compensate for the weak growth of the first quarter, when the group grew 1.53%. The company’s revenues are raising to single digits for five quarters in a row, after ending up in 2017 thirty months of increases above 10%.
All in all, the impact of this slowdown will be moderate, since the second quarter is not the one that contributes the most to the group’s turnover. Inditex generated 6.4 billion euros in the second quarter, below the over 7 billion euros that it obtained, for example, in the last quarter of last year.
The weight of the second quarter on the whole fiscal year is limited, as it isn’t one of the strongest ones in terms of revenues
Net profit rose 4.07% in the second quarter to 741 million euros, up from 1.42% in the second quarter of last year; 2.74% in the third and 2.1% of the first quarter of 2018.
Inditex’s sales evolution occurs amidst the group’s on-going transformation process, which had also an impact on its store count. The company has been immersed since 2012 in a project to optimize its store network, which has led to a reduction of brick-and-mortar shops worldwide for the first time.
The company has already registered three consecutive quarters with net closures, with 82 points of sale less: 29 in the fourth quarter of 2017, 27 in the first quarter of this fiscal year and another 26 closured in the second one. At the same time, Inditex is enlarging some stores, while continuing to bet on flagship stores in key shopping streets worldwide. As a result, the company plans to end 2018 with a 6% increase on selling space year-on-year.


text:
a girl has been jailed by means of the Irish courts for causing felony harm to a €1.50 (£1.30) packet of crisps.
Kathleen McDonagh, aged 25, opened some Pringles in a Tesco in the town of Cork before she had paid for them.
The girl have been banned from the store, and told the court docket she opened the crisps so that safety would be compelled to permit her pay for it.
Instead, she was sentenced to two months in prison for destructive the product, which could not be sold.
The pass judgement on was informed that McDonagh had a chain of earlier convictions, together with a bunch for robbery or felony harm.
The crisp damage in query took place just about years ago, on 27 December 2016, on the Mahon Element buying groceries centre in Cork, near McDonagh’s home in Inchera Close.
In court, police said McDonagh had been banned from the store and used to be known to its team of workers when she took the tin of Pringles and headed to the self-checkout area.
Security body of workers approached her to order her to depart the shop whilst she popped the Pringles best and opened the foil seal.
An inspector instructed the courtroom that she said: “I opened it so that you have to leave me pay for it”.
“It used to be no longer fit for resale with a loss of €1.50,” the officer informed the judge, including that even if the lady desired to buy the crisps, “she had no permission to be within the retailer.”
McDonagh’s legal representation requested for leniency from the courtroom, explaining that she was once not too long ago married and several months pregnant, and had entered a guilty plea.
The pass judgement on, then again, decided to impose a four-month prison sentence with two months suspended, noting that the accused had deliberately opened the product when asked to depart through security.
He stated that is was tricky to see her movements as the rest however “smart Alec behaviour”.


text:
Entries in 'new' (387)
Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic II creator Obsidian is planning to pitch a brand new Star Wars RPG to Disney.
The biggest games magazines in North America and Europe are to launch in the UK, MCV can reveal.
Surprise chart hit Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch should be back on retail shelves later this week.
Nintendo has announced a surprise delay to Scribblenauts Unlimited just three days before its planned UK release.
Sony is to release two new colour variations of its PS3 console in the UK.
Microsoft has announced the release of 43 apps for Xbox 360 spread across various regions between now and spring 2013.
Hopes that Comet will emerge from its administration appear to be fading after the biggest store closure plan so far was revealed by Deloitte.
The iPad Mini. Well, that’s not a surprise, is it? But the new iPad 4? We admit – we had no idea that one was coming.
The New Xbox feels a lot closer this morning than it did last night.
The arrival of the new ‘Super Slim’ PS3 has boosted sales of the console in the UK.
UK gaming trade body UKIE has revealed the names of the six people – four of whom are developer – who have been appointed to its board.
It’s a Call of Duty game. Made by Treyarch. And that, as well know by now, means zombies.
UK games magazine PSM3 has claimed that Spark Unlimited has been handed the task of resurrecting the Onimusha franchise.
The PS3 Super Slim can be yours for just £125 next Friday.
Sony has opened the Tokyo Game Show by unveiling the long-awaited PS3 Super Slim.
UK distributor Sony DADC has finally opened its new distribution centre.
The perception that EA does little more than pump out mass-market sequels is unjust, owned studio DICE has argued.
A brand new accessible Classic Mode is the headline feature of the freshly announced Football manager 2013.
Lara Croft is a permanent fixture at the MCV offices.
Capcom had to fend off ‘high profile publishers’ to sign Remember Me, the firm told MCV.
NASA’s Curiosity Rover may be 34.8m miles away from Earth, but that’s not stopping it causing a very terrestrial kerfuffle.
Yes, it’s another set of brand new screen shots for Grand Theft Auto V.
Existing OnLive investor Lauder Partners has been revealed as the new owner of the cloud gaming company.
The thing is, it’s not really Microsoft’s fault. It’s ours.
Microsoft will open a new games studio in London, MCV can reveal.


text:
Curbing the Decline of Chinese Manufacturing
China’s manufacturing sector has grown to become the world’s largest, but it is now beginning to show signs of decline. GDP in China, while still growing, is doing so at a much slower rate than in it was earlier in the decade. A recent McKinsey Quarterly article highlights hurdles that Chinese manufacturers face, as well as possible solutions.
Rising production costs are partly to blame for the sector’s downturn. As wages increase and packaging become more expensive, multinational companies are looking to relocate their manufacturing activity beyond China in order to maximize profits.
Manufacturers are unable to keep up with the demands of a booming upper-middle class, which is expected to comprise the majority of urban households in China by 2020. As Chinese companies struggle to produce sufficiently high-tech and high-quality products, wealthier Chinese consumers largely view Chinese brands as inferior to their foreign competitors.
The article makes several recommendations to overcome these setbacks. For one, manufacturers should shift their focus from technological to human capital. Managers are often inexperienced and tend to focus on treating problems’ symptoms rather than their causes. Furthermore, multinational companies must take cultural differences into account instead of adopting "one-size-fits-all" approaches that, while suitable for other parts of the world, are not quickly embraced by Chinese workers.
Additionally, both domestic and foreign companies must concentrate on innovation rather than simple output, according to the authors. Domestic companies would benefit from investing in new research and development rather than racing to produce cheaper versions of the same products marketed by competitors. Similarly, multinationals should approach their Chinese groups as a potential source of R&D innovation, instead of a source of cheap labor with low production costs.
Finally, the authors urge Chinese manufacturers adapt to new consumer demand patterns and improve demand forecasts. —Keturah Hetrick
Source: "A new era for manufacturing in China" by Karel Eloot, Alan Huang, and Martin Lehnich, McKinsey Quarterly (June 2013).
(¯`*• Global Source and/or more resources at http://goo.gl/zvSV7 │ www.Future-Observatory.blogspot.com and on LinkeIn Group's "Becoming Aware of the Futures" at http://goo.gl/8qKBbK │ @SciCzar │ Point of Contact: www.linkedin.com/in/AndresAgostini


text:
Apple was reportedly exploring the launch of a stock-trading feature for its iPhone in partnership with Goldman Sachs. However, the plan was put on hold as markets slumped, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The proposed feature would have allowed users to buy and sell stocks directly through their iPhones, expanding Apple’s suite of financial products powered by Goldman Sachs. The two companies had previously collaborated on offerings such as a credit card, buy now, pay later loans, and a high-yield savings account. Apple’s decision to pause the plan was influenced by concerns over market volatility and the potential user backlash if people lost money in the stock market using an Apple product. Instead, the focus shifted to launching high-yield savings accounts. The status of the stock-trading project remains unclear, following Goldman Sachs’ decision to retrench from most of its consumer efforts. However, the infrastructure for the feature is reportedly mostly built and ready to go should Apple decide to move forward with it in the future.
Apple, Goldman Sachs were planning a stock-trading feature for iPhones


text:
Verizon's consumer broadband services - Verizon FiOS Internet and High Speed Internet - outperform all their competitors when it comes to overall customer satisfaction in the South, according to the J.D. Power and Associates "2010 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM" released Thursday (Oct. 28).
Verizon's advanced FiOS Internet and its digital-subscriber-line (DSL)-based HSI service outscored 12 other providers measured in the South region of the ISP study in overall satisfaction and two factors: performance and reliability, and offerings and promotions. The region covers Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
"Our customers clearly appreciate the Verizon difference," said Shawne Angelle, Verizon operations president for Texas. "From 1- to 50-megabit connections, Verizon broadband service offers consistently fast, reliable Internet speeds - for downloading and uploading - to match every lifestyle and need."
In addition to Verizon FiOS' blazing-fast downloads, the all-fiber-optic service offers unprecedented upstream speeds of up to 35 megabits per second (Mbps). Verizon recently raised the downstream speed for HSI service with a 10 Mbps to 15 Mbps offer that is available to a customer base of more than 4 million households, and growing. Verizon's broadband Internet services also provide a gateway to other valuable Verizon services, including Verizon Internet Security Suite, Verizon Online Backup & Sharing and Premium Technical Support.
"The great news is that, with our new quad-play bundles, many customers can now combine VerizonFiOS Internet, FiOS TV and Verizon Wireless phone service on one bill for additional convenience and savings," said Angelle.
A basic bundle of 15/5 Mbps FiOS Internet, FiOS TV Prime HD package and FiOS Digital Voice home phone service is now available for $99.99 a month with a guaranteed rate for 24 months for new FiOS customers. When a customer adds a Verizon Wireless plan to the triple play and signs up online, total annual savings add up to $299. New FiOS Internet, FiOS TV or new HSI and DIRECTV® bundles customers will also receive a Verizon Visa® prepaid card issued by Meta BankTM valued at up to $200, and can be used toward the purchase of a new DROID smartphone of the customers' choice.
Verizon also offers quad-play bundles that combine Verizon's HSI service with DIRECTV, home phone and Verizon Wireless service.
Consumers who want to obtain more information about Verizon bundles or to place an order can visit www.verizon.com/bundles or call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966).
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.


text:
Harry Potter wait almost over
LIKE hundreds of other Gladstone Harry Potter enthusiasts, Gene Cleary is excitedly counting down until Saturday.
Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince will be released on Saturday and already 500 copies have been ordered by enthusiasts at Dymocks Bookstore Glad-stone.
Ten-year-old Gene, who has loved Harry Potter books since he could read in year 1, was excited about the sixth book in the series.
'I loved all the books and the movies and cannot wait to read it,' he said.
The Observer would like to let our readers know what the new Harry Potter book is like.
If you are buying the Harry Potter book this Saturday, think you will finish reading it by Sunday afternoon and are happy to talk about it, phone Sam Benger before Friday on 4970 3032 or email email@example.com.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Sign Up for the Dayton Business Journal Afternoon Edition Newsletter
Send this story to a friend
Tipp City label maker growing
Repacorp’s $3M plan is second in two years
A Tipp City label maker is plowing more than $3 million into an expansion project, its second in less than two years.
Repacorp Inc. is adding 18,000 square feet to its 57,000-square-foot facility, buying new equipment and making other upgrades to handle an influx of business. The company’s plans also include hiring 25 to 30 additional workers during the next three to five years, said Rick Heinl, CEO of Repacorp.
The 170-employee company manufactures a wide variety of labels and printed products as well as radio-frequency identification, or RFID, labels and tags. About half its employees work in Tipp City while the rest are at manufacturing plants in Wisconsin and Arizona.
The company posted $32.6 million in revenue in 2011, up from $21 million in the previous year, and is on track to post $35 million in 2012, Heinl said.
Tipp City-based Bruns General Contracting Inc. recently broke ground on the $1 million addition, which is slated to be complete in October. The project also includes more than $2 million for new presses, software and other upgrades.
Heinl, who owns Repacorp along with his wife, Lyn, said the expansion was needed because the company’s presses are operating at capacity. In addition, its RFID sales are growing.
It made more sense to expand locally — because labor and utility costs are lower here, and the company owns the facility — as opposed to expanding in a leased building in Wisconsin, Heinl said. He expects to move about $1 million worth of annual work from Wisconsin to the Dayton-area once the project is complete.
Repacorp once had three plants in Wisconsin, including two that were part of its acquisition of Aladdin Label Inc. last year, that have since been combined into one plant.
E-mail email@example.com. Call (937) 528-4424. Twitter.com/joecogDBJ
- Most popular
- PSA Airlines to hire 900 with American Airlines jet order
- Ben-Gals cheerleader and ‘Project Runway’ finalist launch Dayton-based clothing line
- Four Ohio restaurants among top 100 in U.S.
- (Exclusive) Company in talks to bring up to 600 jobs to downtown Springfield
- Henny Penny buys cooking equipment company
- Restaurant company files for bankruptcy
- Battelle & Battelle merges with Cincinnati firm
- Local Caterpillar facility is growing and has a new leader
- Sudden closure of ambulance company costs 500 jobs across Ohio
- Exclusive: ARC Ohio plans new pharmacy in Dayton
- Digital and Print Advertising Director Columbus Business First | Columbus, OH
- Careers at Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless | Local Opportunities
- Controller Vocalink Language Services | Dayton, OH
- Medical Assistant Kettering Health Network | Miamisburg, OH
- Internet Sales / BDC Sales / Automotive Sales Chrysler Dealer Sales | Dayton, OH


text:
From USA Today:
Chick-fil-A has something unexpected to crow about.
Consumer use, visits and ad awareness were all up measurably in the third quarter, at a time the chicken chain appeared to be taking a public relations drubbing, reports research specialist Sandelman & Associates.
Intense national media and social media attention — much of it negative — was heaped on the chain three months ago, after President Dan Cathy told a religious publication that his company was “guilty as charged” in supporting the biblical definition of the family unit.
Many gay rights groups called for boycotts, and company executives seemed to be put on the defensive. At the same time, supporters of the Atlanta-based chicken chain held rallies outside stores. The national media couldn’t get enough of it.
So much for “bad” PR. Consumer use of the chain was up 2.2% in the third quarter compared with the same period in 2011, says the Sandelman survey of more than 30,000 fast-food consumers conducted in markets where Chick-fil-A is located. Market share was up 0.6%, and total ad awareness was up a hefty 6.5%.
Continue reading the rest of the story on USA Today


text:
Diners Club Ecuador was the first issuer of credit cards in Ecuador, and now claims to process 75% of the country’s debit and credit transactions. With its digital bank, it aims to cultivate relationships with its one million retail and business credit clients, having already granted $14 million in loans so far.
The firm has initially introduced deposit accounts and has plans to offer interest-bearing deposit accounts, advance billing services for businesses, and mortgages.
With Temenos’ analytics solutions, the vendor says Diners Club Ecuador will be able to use predictive models and AI “beyond credit scoring and risk management to understand client behaviours in more depth and provide hyper-personalised services”.
By doing so, the bank will be able to offer customers products based on their personal preferences, including “one-click loans” which the bank has already deployed for its current business clients.
“We wanted to embrace a digital-first model, giving clients the flexibility to access our services online at the click of a button on a 24/7 basis,” says Mónica Carrión, vice president of services centre at Diners Club Ecuador.
Last year, Ecuador-based business group Daxsen unveiled its plans to launch a digital bank – Daxsen Bank – which it said would be the first digital bank in the country.


text:
Another new iPhone leak today suggests the the rumoured casings we saw earlier were indeed either real, or on the right path, when it comes to the upcoming phone’s design. Supposed schematics of the device suggest that a 4-inch display is all but guaranteed, and that it will be some 7mm taller than the current version, owing to the “wider” 1136×640 display resolution.
We’re also looking at a relocated FaceTime camera slot, aligning it dead centre above the headpiece. This would likely allow for a slightly larger sensor, likely a 720p-capable front-facing camera, and would made the front a bit more symmetrical.
Overall nothing really new here, just confirming what we already know: the next iPhone will be slightly bigger, though not big enough for most hardcore Android lovers. Apple, however, isn’t appealing to those users, but to the hundreds of millions of iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S users who are looking to upgrade.


text:
OnePlus has taken a cheeky dig at Apple, after market research firm Counterpoint Research reported that the company outsold Apple in the “premium” smartphone segment in India over the course of 2018.
Read more: Best smartphone
Counterpoint says that Samsung was behind 34% of premium smartphone shipments in India throughout 2018, with OnePlus only just behind, taking a 33% market share. Apple came in third place, with 23%.
OnePlus, which is clearly more than a little chuffed about the findings, posted the following tweets this week, just to rub Apple’s noses in it.
OnePlus has placed a lot of focus on growing its fanbase in India. The firm has offered fans access to Avengers and Star Wars-themed variants of the 5T and 6 devices, which weren’t available in the UK and the US.
India was also among the first nations to get access to the OnePlus 6T in Thunder Purple and the OnePlus 5T in Lava Red.
Apple’s recent struggles, meanwhile, have been very well documented.
Read more: Best Android phones
Earlier this week, in response to a 15% year-on-year shortfall in iPhone revenue, amid lower than expected demand for the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max devices, Apple chief Tim Cook said that countries where the currency has weakened could be in line for an iPhone price cut in the near future.
The vow comes with Apple’s year-on-year earnings and profits down for the first time in more than a decade. Despite announcing its second-highest quarter ever in terms of revenue and profit, the tallies fell below the same period last year.
What flagship smartphone launches are you most looking forward to in 2019? Let us know on Twitter @TrustedReviews.


text:
Recently, social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook have decided to test the removal of likes and make them private notifications. This has sparked a lot of conversation, with many people discussing the positive and negative effects this may have concerning engagement and influencers.
The test began with Instagram users in select countries, such as Australia and Japan, with Facebook following suit.
The main goals of the removal of likes is to depressurize social media and shift the focus to quality content rather than popular content.
A variety of influencers, artists and celebrities have spoken out about the removal of the most popular metric on these platforms. Even some, such as Nicki Minaj, threatened to stop using the app if the likes are removed.
The main concern with the removal of likes is that it will deter users from participating in vanity metrics.
Another concern is that this will have a negative impact on engagement for artists and influencers who rely on perks of the platform, since companies often look at the amount of likes an influencer’s content has to see how successful a campaign has been.
While the negative effects of removing likes can be obvious, they do not outweigh the positives.
Removing likes will allow social media users to focus their attention on posting quality and positivity content that makes them happy, rather than content for popularity competitions. This could decrease the mental health issues linked with the usage of social media.
The removal of likes can also “force” influencers to create attention-capturing content. In most cases, likes and attention metrics are not consistent with each other. A lot of people just like a post without knowing the content of the post.
Also, with the easiness of buying followers and likes in today’s world, it will lessen the need to do so. It will help people step up their creativity game, and hopefully truly capture the attention they need.
As an avid user of social media, this is a very welcoming change for me. I usually never post on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook because I get discouraged by the fact that my posts never get as much engagement as the next person’s post.
However, with this change, I have already decided that I will actually use those social media sites more than I have been.
I can see why influencers are worried about the likes being removed. Likes can be seen as a measurement of quality and success for them, and that is how they can get their attention from bigger companies.
Nevertheless, with the removal of likes, bigger companies can focus on the quality of influencers and artists and help them reach the success they need.
Overall, while the removal of likes definitely has its downsides, it is important to note that this change can welcome in so much more positivity and healthy social media usage among its users.
Hopefully, as Instagram and Facebook continue to test out the removal of likes, more and more people begin to realize the good such a change can do.
Written by Torrence Weaver, staff writer. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.


text:
The International Travel Festival 2023 (ITF 2023) held in Cebu City on March 24 to 26 has opened more opportunities to boost tourist arrivals in the Caraga Region from Cebu through the Sayak Airport in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, an official said.
“The three-day event was a platform for us to strengthen our domestic arrivals through the Cebu route flying direct to Sayak Airport in Siargao Island,” Department of Tourism Caraga (DOT-13) Director Ivonnie Dumadag in an interview on Tuesday.
The ITF 2023, Dumadag said, also showcased the lesser-known destinations in Caraga and its local products.
The Philippine Airlines currently has two regular flights daily from Cebu to Siargao while Cebu Pacific maintains three flights daily.
“Our full participation in the ITF 2023 is also a support to the program of DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco to further boost tourism arrivals and promote the lesser known destinations in the different regions,” Dumadag said.
Siargao Island, she added, is the place that most tourists and visitors who visited the ITF 2023 can immediately relate to.
“Our strategy now is to connect the popular destinations and activities of Siargao island to the mainland Surigao del Norte, nearby Dinagat Island, and Surigao del Sur through the creation of circuits for specific activities such as surfing, dragon boat, and diving,” Dumadag said.
Surfers from Siargao Island, including Noah Arkfeld, Reden Espejon, and Gabriel Lerog, were part of the DOT-13 team during the ITF 2023 that provided tourists and visitors with basic surfing lessons.
Part of the Caraga exhibits during the event include the handmade beadworks and accessories crafted by the Indigenous People communities in Surigao del Sur and the Agsam accessories from Lanuza town.
Woven abaca mats and products from the Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, and local products from the towns of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, Province of Dinagat Islands, Bislig City were also displayed during the ITF 2023. (PNA)


text:
The U.S. Securities and Change Fee has discovered two Maryland-based firms responsible of a Ponzi program that allegedly defrauded buyers $ 27 million.
Within the midst of an ongoing pandemic, crypto fraud has elevated all over the world. The U.S. Securities Change Fee introduced that the fraudsters collected greater than $ 27 million from almost 1,200 buyers. The Ponzi program is claimed to be scamming individuals by promising to alternate their cash on cryptocurrency exchanges. In keeping with the SEC, illegitimate firms concerned in fraudulent actions are 1st Million LLC and The Good Companions LLC, faux firms set as much as run a crypto pyramid scheme.
Scammers Goal African Immigrants.
In keeping with SEC reviews, African-based firm homeowners promised buyers, a lot of them African immigrants, that their funds can be used for crypto buying and selling and different international alternate transactions. The SEC additionally reported that firms continuously check with public belief and goal African immigrants, promising 6% to 42% risk-free returns to buyers when shopping for and promoting investor funds on crypto exchanges. The SEC claimed that Dennis Jali, proprietor of 1st Million LLC and The Good Companions LLC, who claimed to be an skilled dealer, falsely introduced himself as a millionaire, rented workplace area to carry face-to-face conferences, and pretended to be a reliable firm.
Crypto Fraud Continues To Improve In The Midst Of The International Pandemic.
Cryptocurrency scams have elevated considerably all over the world amid the continued world epidemic. Earlier this yr, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning stating that fraudsters might wish to set off a rise in cryptocurrency fraud. Many international locations reported a rise in ransomware assaults, pyramids, and varied different cryptocurrency scams.
Numerous sorts of scams involving crypto equivalent to faux giveaways, sextortion, faux exchanges, faux ICOs, Bitcoin restoration, video fraud, pyramid schemes have turn into frequent and the listing continues. Additionally, earlier than, a number of well-known individuals’s accounts on Twitter have been hacked to request Bitcoin from their followers.


text:
The carrier ups the ante again with its iPhone-leasing program that starts at $30 a month and allows customers to swap in a new device each year. The offer takes effect on November 14.
A surge of traffic is crashing the agency's electronic filing system, so it's bumping the feedback deadline on the controversial proposal from Tuesday to Friday.
Insiders, holding 470 million shares, can sell starting today. Big investors say they don't plan to bail anytime soon. Even so, the stock plummets 15 percent.
The company discloses that it had $83 million worth of unsold Fire Phones at the end of the third quarter.
Labeled as the creator of Bitcoin by Newsweek, Nakamoto has issued a formal statement "unconditionally" denying those claims.
Apple says it won't break out retail store and iPod sales anymore. And forget about detailed stats on the Apple Watch, due next year.
By promoting one of his most trusted lieutenants, Google CEO Larry Page can spend more time focusing on the future.
Win a portable gadget that monitors your car's performance and delivers diagnostic data straight to your smartphone via Bluetooth.
Pebble leads the pack in this next round of connected devices that will interact with Nest's thermostat and smoke detector.
Theodore Gray is up to his elemental tricks again, with a new app about the periodic table that features videos showcasing the more interesting properties of the elements in the periodic table.


text:
In what is the latest turn in the recent happenings at Yahoo, Carol Bartz has resigned from the company’s board of directors, close on the heels of her last week ouster as the CEO.
According to a confirmation by a Yahoo spokesman on Sunday, Bartz’s resignation – which took effect last Friday – is a result of immense pressure from investors who have long been expressing their displeasure at the management and performance of the Internet firm.
Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz is facing crisis as internet giant’s three top executives are departing to try their luck elsewhere.
The departing executives are: Hilary Schneider, David Ko and Jimmy Pitaro. Hilary Schneider was in-charge of Yahoo's advertising in the US; David Ko was responsible for mobile and audience; while Jimmy Pitaro was running the division that created the heavily trafficked sports, news and finance sections of Yahoo's website.
The technology site All Things Digital was the first to disclose the departures. Yahoo confirmed that report on Thursday.
Yahoo Inc.’s Chief Executive, Carol Bartz sympathized with shareholders at the web biggie's annual summit on Thursday, accepting that the firm's stock price has plunged.
However, Bartz promised to considerably enhance margins, close a key search association with Microsoft Corp. and carefully handle the firm's Asian investments in such a manner, which will add shareholder value in the upcoming time.
Bartz said in answer to a shareholder question regarding the stock's price, "We also think that at $14, $15, $16, Yahoo is too low".
Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz, who took the reigns of the internet firm from the firm’s co-founder Jerry Yang a year ago, has been working hard to make Yahoo seize the 21st century.
With a view to overhaul firm’s image, she put aside $100 million last year for a worldwide marketing campaign dubbed ‘It's You!’. She decided to personalize Yahoo's recently refurbished homepage and products to expand its user-base.
Carol Bartz, who joined internet giant Yahoo last year, pocketed a pay package of more than $47 million (equivalent to £31 million) for the year of 2009.
According to the US Securities & Exchange Commission filing, Carol Bartz received an annual pay of less than $1 million, but she received $42.1 million in stock and stock options, $1.5 million in performance-related bonus, while other compensations totaled $2.61 million, taking the total pay package to more than $47 million.
Internet search giant could face trouble if it does not diversify its business, Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz said in an interview.
During an interview with the BBC News, Carol Bartz said that Google would have to do a lot more than just online search.
Speaking on the topic, she said, "Google is going to have a problem because Google is only known for search."
Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz has confirmed that the company is looking to make small acquisitions, but she remained mum on social network Foursquare, which has more than one million users.
Carol Bartz’s comments emerged during her first visit to the UK. She said that location-based services would be a major growth driver for the internet company.
- Bitcoin investors call for protection after collapse of two major Bitcoin platforms
- South Yorkshire cottage has been crashed into by 40 cars over last 14 years
- Doctors to Reconstruct People's Faces with Stem Cells from their Fat
- $10 Urine Test is Twice as Accurate as Existing Tests for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
- People Shorter in height May be Short of Intellect too: Study


text:
PEORIA — Customers of Mediacom cable television have not received WEEK-TV Channel 25 for the past three days because of an impasse between Mediacom and Granite Broadcasting, the station’s owner.
Granite has blacked out the Peoria station as well as stations in Fort Wayne, Ind. and Duluth, Minn. as the two parties wrangle over the cost of airing the stations via cable. Mediacom viewers in central Illinois presently receive a sports channel in place of WEEK.
While WEEK-TV GM Mark DeSantis had no comment on the contractual issue, Granite posted this message on its KJBR-TV website in Duluth: “Please know that we have tried hard to reach a fair agreement with Mediacom so that our viewers would not miss any of our stations’ around-the-clock news coverage, weather emergencies, public service announcements and favorite local (shows).”
Mediacom charged that Granite was “holding Mediacom customers hostage they can extract a higher price for their product than if they relied on objective criteria to value their stations such as ratings, quality of content, etc.”
“Much like your local gas station, Mediacom is the retail distributor of products that we purchase at wholesale. The price of cable and satellite television service is impacted by wholesale cost of the channels we carry. The fees we pay to retransmit local broadcast stations ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC are by far our fastest growing wholesale cost component,” the cable company noted on its website.
“After extensive negotiations towards a new agreement, Granite is still demanding more than double the per subscriber price paid under the prior contract. Since these costs will ultimately be absorbed by the hard-working residents of rural Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota, we have repeatedly communicated to Granite that their outrageous financial demands are unacceptable,” reported Mediacom.
Steve Tarter is Journal Star business editor. Tarter’s phone number is 686-3260, and his email address is firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter


text:
In Korea, there’s money in broken phone screensOn a recent Saturday morning, a woman named Park, 27, visited the Samsung Service Center in Mapo District, western Seoul. Something was wrong with her smartphone’s display.
Park had been alerted in advance to a secondary market in faulty, secondhand displays. So after the phone was repaired, she left the shop - carrying the broken display. That’s when the bargaining began. A man in his 50s roaming around suddenly came near and said he wanted to buy it.
Then a gang of teenagers, who were watching the exit, rushed over and suggested a better deal. The man and a teenager began to quarrel and Park, not wanting to be caught in between, scurried away.
“I think I’d rather send it to an online retailer,” said Park. “I paid 88,000 won [$85] to replace the display and I can earn about half of that back by selling the broken one.”
All morning long at the Samsung Service Center in Mapo the scene replayed itself out. The scouts managed to buy some broken displays but they lost out on many, too, because of the intense competition.
“We don’t want too many people to know about the market because the competition is getting fierce every day,” said one of the teenagers.
The market in broken smartphone displays is a relatively new phenomenon. Smartphones were first introduced in Korea in 2010, and smartphone owners were not aware that they could sell a broken display until early last year.
The broken displays are resold to traders and exported to foreign countries, mostly China and Hong Kong. They are reprocessed and used to make imitation smartphones.
The market for broken displays is restricted to Samsung smartphones with active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (Amoled) screens. LG Electronics, the country’s second-largest smartphone maker, is using in-plane switching (IPS) displays, and it’s hard to reuse them.
At the Samsung Service Center, scouts have even set up chairs to work all day on Saturday. But the LG Electronics service center - only 200 meters (218 yards) away - was quiet.
When it became known on social media last year that users could profit from their broken smartphone displays, Samsung worried that a counterfeit smartphone market could harm its reputation.
It announced in April 2013 that it would not give the broken displays back to people bringing in their phones for repairs.
It reversed the policy in December because customers demanded their broken displays. They said they were their property, and Samsung had to agree.
Agents interested in buying the displays sprung up online and on the street, and competition bloomed. That’s when the buyers began showing up at Samsung’s service centers.
“We used to buy 400 to 500 broken smartphone displays a day, but it dropped to only 100 to 150 recently,” said Kim Si-joon, president of LCD World Display, which claims to be the country’s biggest buyer and exporter of broken displays.
“It is difficult to keep up the business because the competition shrunk the profit margin per display, too.”Severe competition is killing smaller offline shops. “We are now hardly buying displays and thinking of closing the business sooner or later,” said the owner of a small retailer located in Jongno District, central Seoul.
Samsung dealt a critical blow in April, announcing that it would give a discount to customers of the Galaxy S5 or more recent models when they have their broken displays fixed - and leave behind the broken displays.
Galaxy S5 owners, for example, now pay 164,000 won to replace their displays.
But if the owner leaves behind the broken display, he or she only pays 102,000 won. “We would like owners of the new models to sell to us, but buying a Galaxy S5 display for around 60,000 would not be very profitable,” complained Lee.
Analysts say the trade in broken displays isn’t good for a variety of reasons.
“Broken displays can also be used to steal important information or techniques in foreign countries,” said Prof. Kim Si-wol of the department of consumer information science at Konkuk University. “Authorities should come up with regulations to prevent technology leakage.”
BY KIM BONG-MOON [email@example.com]


text:
An ordinance introduced in the City Council on Thursday would give businesses that advertise with ubiquitous sandwich-board signs on sidewalks a chance to get right with the law.
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) introduced the measure that would reverse a frequently ignored 1994 city ordinance that banned the signs in front of businesses for creating “visual clutter” and “obstructing pedestrian traffic.” Violators are supposed to be fined up to $500.
Waguespack’s main concern when drawing up the ordinance had been safe passage for the disabled, he said. Otherwise, “it was sort of a no-brainer,” he said.
The Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) and other business groups raised the issue with Waguespack after fielding complaints from their membership about inconsistent enforcement of the ordinance, especially after a crackdown in 2011.
“This incident created a lot of unease in the brick and mortar community and pushed the issue onto our radar screen,” SBAC spokeswoman Kimberly Brisky said in an email. “Small business owners want to be in compliance with the code. They just need clarity from the city in order to comply and then can focus on growing and running their businesses.”
Since the start of last year, 35 tickets have been issued to businesses for placing signs in the public way, racking up $135,887 in fines, according to the city Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
Under the new ordinance, applicants would pay $250 for a two-year permit and submit information about the sign’s design and placement to the BACP.
A stretch of boutique clothing stores and trendy eateries at the southern end of Waguespack’s North Side ward displayed many as-of-now non-compliant signs Friday afternoon.
Business owners and employees at 10 stores advertising on sandwich boards on Damen Avenue mostly said they were unaware of the ordinance. One owner who asked not to be identified said she knew it existed, but chose to risk the fine.
Owners say the signs help draw pedestrian traffic, especially for temporary promotions that don’t warrant a permanent change to their facade.
Traffic would ebb in the summer months at Mindy’s Hot Chocolate, a restaurant at 1747 N. Damen, if they were not able to tell passersby that they also sold iced hot chocolate, general manager Brooke Bartlett said.


text:
Apple is to close all its shops outside China for the next two weeks to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The company, which has hundreds of outlets worldwide including dozens in the UK, said it was shutting in an effort to minimise the transmission of the disease.
The firm’s chief executive, Tim Cook, said: “We must do all we can to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
Apple stores in China, where coronavirus originated, reopened on Saturday and will be exempt from the shutdown as new cases in the country are slowing.
Apple has already shifted its appearance at the Worldwide Developer Conference in California in June to an online format instead of several days of public gatherings.
Cook tweeted: “In our workplaces and communities, we must do all we can to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Apple will be temporarily closing all stores outside of Greater China until 27 March and committing $15M (£12.25m) to help with worldwide recovery.”
In a statement, the company added: “As rates of new infections continue to grow in other places, we’re taking additional steps to protect our team members and customers.
“In all of our offices, we are moving to flexible work arrangements worldwide outside of Greater China. That means team members should work remotely if their job allows, and those whose work requires them to be on site should follow guidance to maximise interpersonal space.
“Extensive deep cleaning will continue at all sites. In all our offices, we are rolling out new health screenings and temperature checks. All of our hourly workers will continue to receive pay in alignment with business-as-usual operations.
“We have expanded our leave policies to accommodate personal or family health circumstances created by Covid-19 - including recovering from an illness, caring for a sick loved one, mandatory quarantining, or childcare challenges due to school closures.”