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DraftKings agreed to a $1.56 billion deal to acquire Golden Nugget Online Gaming, a move that will further expand the fantasy sports giant’s footprint into the burgeoning market of online casinos.
The all-stock deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022, according to a press release. Golden Nugget Online Gaming stock, traded under the ticker symbol GNOG, jumped up more than 50 percent Monday after the announcement.
Jason Robins, chairman and CEO of Boston-based DraftKings, said the deal will give the company a foothold in the online casino sector, also called igaming, that it hasn’t been able to carve out on its own.
“We’ve made some progress but have not yet deeply penetrated the very large audience that non-sports fan igamers,” Robins said in a conference call Monday morning. “We believe this will help us to attain much greater igaming market share in the long term.”
Golden Nugget retail sportsbooks also will be rebranded as DraftKings sportsbooks as part of the deal.
Golden Nugget Online Gaming started operations in New Jersey in late 2013 and became profitable in 2016. It went public in June 2020, valued then at $745 million. Tilman Fertitta stayed on as the company’s chairman and CEO.
Golden Nugget was the first online gaming company to launch Live Dealer — which allows gamblers to play with real dealers through their computer or smartphone — in the U.S, and Robins said the live dealer feature factors heavily into DraftKings future.
“This has become increasingly important to DraftKings and are very difficult for a company like ours that does not have a brick and mortar presence to develop solely on our own. So we’re looking forward to leveraging those as well and helping enhance our igaming portfolio by bringing some of those things in-house,” Robins said.
As part of the merger, Fertitta will take a board seat and will be “playing a very active role in helping me shape the company strategy and drive us forward as a combined company,” Robins said.
Fertitta said on Monday’s call that he was excited about joining with “the Coca-Cola of this industry.”
“There’s going to be a lot of consolidation in this space in the next few years, and we want to be part of the winner,” Fertitta said.


text: With fears that the shortages experienced in March will be repeated when some food processors were forced to close. Then some were unable to deliver their food whilst others were unable to get supplies of raw materials needed for their production. As a result the entire agri-food and hospitality value chain has called on the government to demand security and supply of products and raw materials at what they say is “a particularly critical time”. Among the organisations calling for the government to act are the major food retailers, Hostelería de España, the agricultural organizations COAG and UPA and the business associations AECOC, ACES, ANGED. They have reminded the government that last time strikers “prevented the free entry and exit of vehicles from companies, logistics centres and farms supplying raw materials.” That they say not only resulted in shortages and tensions between parties, but also cost the industry millions. Many of these have been struggling to keep their heads above water as the cost of raw materials and energy having hit the sector hard. With Christmas only weeks away, the say the strike will be damaging: “especially to thousands of SMEs that are already going through a very delicate moment, as a result of the current situation. “We are an essential and strategic sector, as demonstrated in the recent crises we have suffered, and we believe that the time has come for the Government to adopt measures that guarantee the proper functioning of the food chain and the supply of food and beverages to the whole population in any situation.” At this stage the retailers have said consumers should not panic as that will only add to what could become a difficult situation. Instead, they said people should be aware that supplies may become limited in time, but also, they should wait to see what action the government takes in heading off the strike.

domain: news


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The Lego Atari 2600 has been officially announced for Atari’s 50th anniversary
The buildable console will release in August
Lego has officially announced the Lego Atari 2600.
The set, which will come with 2,532 pieces, will be released on August 1 for £209.99.
It will include the classic console, a small vignette of a player’s room in the ’80s and several small builds depicting Asteroids, Centipede and Adventure.
The set will measure 8cm tall, 33cm wide and 22cm deep.
“The Atari 2600 was one of the most memorable gifts I got as a kid,” Lego designer Chris McVeigh said in a press statement. “This is why it’s been such an incredible experience to bring two icons together, Atari and Lego, in this awesome set.
“We hope that building this classic console takes you back to those halcyon days when a handful of pixels meant a world of adventure.”
Lego has also confirmed that the buildable cartridges will fit in the console.
Lego and Nintendo recently announced their next collaboration – a 270 EUR / $270 ‘Mighty Bowser’.
The set, which is planned for release on October 1, is made up of 2,807 pieces and includes controllable movements and “the ability to launch a fireball”.
“As well as having a fireball launcher and a button to control Bowser’s head and neck movements, his mouth, arms, legs, and tail will be movable too, so fans can replicate the fearsome nature of the Koopa King that they know and love,” Lego said.


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As Manhattan's retail flagships teem with tourists, Lord & Taylor is cultivating the suburbs for its core customer.
"This is the land of opportunity of Lord & Taylor," Jane Elfers, president and chief executive officer, said during a tour of the two-level, freestanding 180,000-square-foot unit in Scarsdale, N.Y., just north of New York City.
Ensconced in affluent Westchester County, the 60-year-old Scarsdale store is the chain's top-volume branch, growing at 6 to 7 percent annually and approaching $100 million a year in sales. It is surpassed only by the 650,000-square-foot Fifth Avenue flagship, which generates just $140 million, far less than other department store flagships in Manhattan.
Lord & Taylor's branch in Garden City, N.Y., is the second-largest volume unit in the chain, followed by those in Stamford, Conn.; Westfield and Ridgewood, N.J., and Manhasset, N.Y.
"They're all $50 million-plus stores," Elfers said, and are freestanding, with the exception of Ridgewood. "They are top performers and offer the convenience of driving right up to the front of the store....There's an ease of shopping and customers know the associates."
The chain, which generates volume of $1.4 billion, is profitable, Elfers said, declining to provide specifics. "In 2006, we had the best sales and earnings performance that we've had in the last 15 years."
Instead of building stores, the strategy is to pump up those in operation. L&T's parent, NRDC Equity Partners, which purchased the chain for $1.1 billion last year, has earmarked $250 million for branch renovations and another $100 million for the flagship. With its excess of selling space, the Manhattan flagship will be downsized and modernized. The company also is spending millions on new image advertising and has revamped its shopping bags with a fresh design.
In addition, Elfers predicted the retailer's Internet business could reach $100 million in sales within three to five years. "It hasn't been meaningful, but we are relaunching our Internet presence in the fall," she said.
Of Lord & Taylor's 46 branches, generally ranging from 70,000 square feet to 160,000 square feet, the eight freestanding units have the greatest merchandise opportunities since they're removed from mall competitors.
Breaking News: @louisvuitton's men's artistic director @mrkimjones is leaving the French fashion house after nearly 7 years. Jones joined Louis Vuitton in 2011, following a three year tenure as creative director of British luxury goods brand Alfred Dunhill. Jones is to exit Louis Vuitton after showing his fall 2018 collection for the brand in Paris on Thursday. Read the full exclusive story on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
For men’s fall 2018, @giuseppezanotti drew on elements from streetwear, sport, biker, combat and rock ‘n’ roll. Pictured here are a pair of shoes from the collection, featuring zippers, rhinestones, and silver hardware. Head to WWD.com to see a roundup of the accessories from Milan’s men’s fall 2018 shows. #wwdfashion (📷: Andrea Delb)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of @ralphlauren’s snowboarding collection, the brand is mining its archives. The iconic brand is reintroducing vintage styles and dropping new designs for a color capsule that will be available in Ralph Lauren stores and @openingceremony on January 25. The capsule will consist of 10 pieces, including the Snow Beach Pullover, pictured here, which is a collector’s item that rapper Raekwon wore in Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple” video. #wwdfashion (📷: Tom Gould)
For @rochasofficial’s pre-fall 2018 collection, creative director Alessandro Dell’Acqua channeled the sophisticated and intriguing Catherine Denevue in the film “Belle de Jour.” Polished collarless coats, midi skirts, suits and ’60s graphic motifs were all featured in the collection, adding a sense of discreet luxury. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion
“We tried to produce clothing of that couture quality, but the most daunting part was that we only had a matter of days [to do it],” said costume designer Lou Eyrich, who recreated Gianni Versace’s iconic looks for @americancrimestoryfx. Eyrich searched online retailers and vintage shops for original pieces from the design house and for @penelopecruzoficial, who plays Donatella Versace. Head to WWD.com to read how she created the Versace world. #wwdfashion
Only three months after her stellar debut catwalk season, @kaiagerber has inked her first big design collaboration –– with @karllagerfeld. The collection blends Lagerfeld’s Parisian chic aesthetic and the model’s signature West Coast casual style via RTW, accessories, footwear and more. The #KarlLagerfeldxKaia collection will launch in September with a series of events. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
Harrods plans to remove the famous statue of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed from the bottom of the Egyptian escalators and hand it back to Mohamed Al-Fayed. “We are very proud to have played our role in celebrating the lives of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed at Harrods and to have welcomed people from around the world to visit the memorial for the past 20 years,” said Michael Ward, Harrods managing director. “With the announcement of the new official memorial statue to Diana, Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace, we feel that the time is right to return this memorial to Mr. Al Fayed and for the public to be invited to pay their respects at the palace.” More on the news, with reporting by @loreleimarfil, at WWD.com. #wwdnews


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Re: Toronto’s pot shops won’t go up in smoke, April 8
Toronto’s pot shops won’t go up in smoke, April 8
Has anyone conducted a cost-benefit analysis for the current barrage of police raids on marijuana dispensaries?
Considering the expenses facing Toronto taxpayers to upgrade subways, infrastructure, etc., it seems imprudent to burden them further with the considerable expense of this 11th-hour offensive on the eve of the federal government’s legalization and regulation of cannabis use.
Such last-ditch potshots at pot shops are akin to sending troops over the top just before the armistice bells ring. A costly and hollow victory.
Harry J. Rollo, Toronto


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Brits could enjoy cheaper coffee, trainers and wine as ministers plan to cut import tariffs from next year
BRITS could enjoy cheaper coffee, trainers and wine as ministers plan to cut import tariffs from next year.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss today launched a consultation on the duty charges, and revealed plans to slash prices across the country.
British businesses would then be boosted by the prices once Britain is finally out on January 1 2021.
Higher tariffs on some goods would be cut completely because Brits don’t make them, making it cheaper for UK consumers.
This could see a 7.5 per cent tariff scrapped on coffee, 16.9 per cent off trainers, or 32 euro cents per litre off wine.
Other savings could include 42 euro cents per kg off Sugar, as well as slashing the 12.8 per cent tariff on limes.
Plans also being considered include wiping away all tariffs of 2.5 per cent or less, as well as rounding down to the nearest 2.5 per cent, 5 per cent or 10 per cent band.
This could see cheaper household fridges, electric shavers and fuses.
It may also apply to goods such as Sultanas, Pistachios and bicycle hand pumps.
Ms Truss said: "The UK has left the EU and it is time for us to look forward to our future as an independent, global champion of free trade.
“It is vitally important that we now move away from complex tariff schedule imposed on us by the European Union.
“High tariffs impinge on businesses and raise costs for consumers. This is our opportunity to set our own tariff strategy that is right for UK consumers and businesses across our country.”
Goods coming into the UK have been subject to the EU’s Common External Tariff for nearly 50 years.
Deputy Director- General at CBI, Josh Hardie added: “Business welcomes the launch of this consultation as an essential step to making the UK’s trade policy a success.”
Source: Read Full Article


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South Africa’s metalworker's union on Tuesday began an indefinite strike seeking pay raises.
The union has around 155,000 members working in various industries including auto-mechanics.
Initial wage hike talks with employer bodies became deadlocked and arbitration failed.
The union is seeking an 8% wage increment and subsequent 2% above the inflation rate for the following two years.
“We are left with no choice but to strike and to withhold our labor indefinitely until the bosses give into our just demands,” NUMSA said in a statement.
South Africa has local plants that assemble major car brands including Ford, BMW and Nissan for export.
Several marches and rallies were witnessed across South Africa on Tuesday as the grieved members called out on the government and employers to heed their demands.


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The Blue Santa program is a tradition of the Fort Morgan Police Department, which collects donations to give to needy senior citizens.
However, Blue Santa was doing double duty at Fort Morgan's City Park. He not only was there to collect food and household items, he was there to hear Christmas present requests.
Police officers were also at Safeway and Walmart to collect food and household goods for the program.
Santa's activities down at the park were part of the Christmas Capital of the Plains promotion held by the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce and MediaLogic Radio this month.
That is not the end for the promotion, either.
Thursday, Dec. 13
Women's After Hours downtown shopping night, 4-6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15
Fort Morgan Times and B106 coloring contest and cookie decorating, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at various downtown businesses.
Colorado Plains Medical Center free family-friendly movie at the Cover Theatre, 10 a.m.
Mighty Mart free carriage rides.
Thursday, Dec. 20
Men's After Hours downtown shopping night, 4-6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 22
Media Logic Radio's amateur ice sculpting contest, with sculpting from 10 a.m. to noon, and judging noon-1:30 p.m.
Leprino Foods free family friendly movie at the Cover Theatre, 10 a.m.
See Christmas Capital of the Plains on Facebook for further details or call (970) 867-5674.
-- Contact Dan Barker at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Penray has debuted two new chemical products for engines that the company says will help enhance engine life and restore performance to original levels. The 2-Step Oil and Fuel Treatment Ki... Read more
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Kevin Benavides Claims First Dakar Rally Victory
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Cruise and GM team up with Microsoft to commercialize self-driving vehicles
Jaguar Land Rover Mena Offers Customers Warranty Extension Lasting Up To 10 Years
Honda, Cruise and GM Take Next Steps Toward Autonomous Vehicle Mobility Service Business in Japan
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US inflation wavers near a 40-year highBY ANDREW MCKEAN | THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2022 12:47PM
Read more: Nikolaj Schmidt, Consumer Price Index, CPI, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, S&P, T. Price Rowe
The US inflation rate has fallen to 8.3%, but the Consumer Price Index continues to flirt with catastrophic 40-year highs.
The index also revealed that costs had risen by a monthly rate of 0.3% in April after having risen 1.2% in March. This decline is the first month to month inflation rate fall since August 2021.
US president Joe Biden said that it was heartening to see that annual inflation moderated in April but that it remained unacceptably high.
"I'm taking inflation very seriously and it's my top domestic priority," Biden said.
The president went on to blame the pandemic and the war in Ukraine for the historical inflation being incurred in countries all over the world.
Likewise, the Federal Reserve attributed the current inflationary scourge to pandemic related supply chain imbalances, higher energy prices and broader price pressures.
Of note, the food index rose 0.9% in April, the 17th consecutive monthly increase.
There were huge monthly inflationary spikes for dairy products, non-alcoholic beverages, meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and baked products. The unadjusted inflation rate for the 12-months to April 2022 for food sat at 9.4%.
More dire again, the annual inflation rate of energy commodities was 44.7%; fuel oil and petrol were 80.5% and 43.6% respectively.
On the back of the latest figures, the Nasdaq slumped 3% and the S&P500 1.6%.
However, as market turmoil continues to take hold, T. Price Rowe chief international economist Nikolaj Schmidt has called for calm.
"The current inflation surge rests on a few moving pieces but is mostly cyclical and central banks have the ability and willingness to address the problem at hand," Schmidt said.
"Contrary to some reports, we are not on the cusp of a return to the 1970s inflation inferno."
Schmidt added that aside from supply-side issues central banks were equipped with the tools to control most of the inflationary causes seen today.
He said: "Inflation is a social choice and by choosing independent central banks with clear inflation objectives and accountability, we have made the choice to keep inflation controlled."
Infographic: When it comes to gold ETF's, a trusted issuer matters.
INTEGRATED PORTFOLIO SOLUTIONS PTY LTD


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Brambati’s new release of the now proven BR18 Advanced Specialty software, with its 20-step recipes, will be installed on all BR series roasters.
The latest higher-performance features make the roasting cycle even more precise and reliable, which has always been managed, in all its variables, by Brambati’s software.
This new release has been developed to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of the roasting world and also the specific needs of its customers. New safeties, adjustments and controls have been implemented.
According to Brambati the software is something truly unique that allows the user to create roasting profiles, view all process values, KPIs (production, maintenance, consumption, etc.) and, of course, the tasting session.
For more information, visit www.brambati.it
This article was first published in the January/February 2023 edition of Global Coffee Report. Read more HERE.


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Breaking news in the pet care industry – Rover Group, Inc. has been snapped up by private equity funds managed by Blackstone Inc. in a deal valued at a whopping $2.3 billion. The stock’s performance is off the charts today, soaring 28.8% to $10.95 in the market.
Under the terms of the acquisition, Rover stockholders are set to receive a scrumptious $11.00 per share, marking a 61% premium over the volume weighted average share price of the last 90 trading days as of November 28, 2023. It’s like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Blackstone Inc. is optimistic about the potential for Rover’s growth, given the increasing emphasis pet owners are placing on top-notch care, flexibility, and convenience. This marks the start of a paw-some new phase for Rover.
Rover’s platform has facilitated over 93 million services, connecting millions of pet parents with pet care providers across North America and Europe. That’s enough to fill an entire stadium, but with wagging tails and wet noses instead of cheering fans.
But hold your horses! The deal includes a 30-day “go-shop” period, allowing Rover to field other offers that may come sniffing around. It’s like giving Rover a chance to find an even bigger bone out there.
The acquisition is projected to close in 1Q24, after which Rover will prance into a new chapter as a privately held company, but it’ll continue to operate under its well-loved brand. That’s right, it’s the same Rover, just with a new owner holding onto the leash.
Price Action: ROVR shares are trading higher by 28.8% at $10.95 and BX by 3.00% at $110.87 on the last check Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was Reviewed And Published By Benzinga Editors.


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“I was in Corvallis, Oregon, last week, to talk at the Oregon Small Farms Conference. There were close to 800 people there, and I’d guess about three quarters of them were farmers, and the vast majority of those farmers were under the age of 35. This is the conference’s 12th year, the organizers told me, and it has gotten bigger each year, and this year’s event was the biggest ever. If you need evidence that we’re all part of a vigorously growing movement, there you have it. I met several farmers who have started or are considering starting a CSA much like ours [Essex Farm], where they will strive to supply a full diet, year round to their members.
Meanwhile, back on the farm, Mark, Courtney, Ashlee and Rob sorted the beef herd again, to castrate two bulls that slipped through the first time, and to catch cows so that Dr. Brooke could preg check them. Mark was full of praise both for Brooke and the handling equipment, which we bought last year, brand new, at retail price. You know how unusual and painful that is for us tight-fisted farmers, but the equipment is proving its worth…” [Continue reading.]
- The Dirty Life – A Barncast by The Wild Center (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- FarmHack Intervale/Essex (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Essex Farm Tour (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
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Mema’s Bakery opens at 1360 Walnut Street today.
Mema’s makes povitica, strudel, donuts, massive cinnamon rolls and cookies. They’ve got biscuits and gravy for breakfast in the morning and they serve soup, salad and sandwiches on their lunch menu. Mema’s also has daily specials, like their 75 cent beef tacos and $1 chicken tacos on Tuesdays and grilled cheese and a cup of soup for $5 on Thursdays.
The bakery opened its original Power & Light location at 1211 Main Street five years ago. The Main Street shop closed earlier this month as Mema’s prepared for its move to the former Yummo Yogurt + Smoothies space. Mema’s has another location at 7720 State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. The KCK shop in Wyandotte Plaza opened this April. The bakery began in the kitchen of owner Loraine Waldeck and is named for her mother Marion Hoffman (‘Mema’ to her grandchildren).
For their grand opening today, they’ll be offering a free cookie to those who visit their new Power & Light location.[Image via Facebook: Mema’s]


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Marks & Spencer to buy half of Ocado's UK business for £750m as the pair confirm joint venture to offer grocery deliveries - leaving Waitrose jilted
- The confirmation follows weeks of rumours the two were joining forces
- It signals the end of Ocado's relationship with supermarket Waitrose
- M&S boss said he 'always believed M&S food could and should be online'
- Up to £600m in new shares and a 40% dividend cut planned to finance deal
M&S is set to acquire 50 per cent of Ocado's UK retail business for up to £750million as part of the deal.
The joint venture will trade as Ocado.com but will stock M&S branded products, and tap into a database of 12million M&S food shoppers.
Marks & Spencer and Ocado have announced the creation of a joint venture after weeks of speculation
It spells the end of Ocado's long-running partnership with Waitrose, which had been due for renewal this week.
Ocado said ending that tie-up means it will no longer need to pay over £15million a year in sourcing fees to Waitrose.
Following the axing of the Waitrose deal, the new venture is expected to launch by September 2020 at the latest.
M&S is to issue new shares in a bid to raise up to £600million to finance the deal.
The high street retailer predicts potential cost savings of up to £70million a year to due to increased buying scale, conversion of customers and joint marketing.
M&S boss Steve Rowe said: 'I have always believed that M&S Food could and should be online.
'Combining the strength of our food offer with leading online and delivery capability is a compelling proposition to drive long-term growth.
'Our investment in a fully aligned joint venture with Ocado accelerates our food strategy as it enables us to take our food online in an immediately profitable, scalable and sustainable way.'
Ocado's chief executive Tim Steiner added: 'We are delighted that our UK retail business will become a joint venture with M&S. This is a transformative moment in the UK retail sector with the combination of two iconic and much-loved retail brands set to provide an unrivalled online grocery offer.'
Ocado trucks like this will soon be carrying M&S food
Ian Forrest, investment research analyst at The Share Centre commented: 'For Ocado the advantage is it will now have more funds to help with developing new automated warehouses for its customers, such as US group Kroger.
'The reaction in the market was quite revealing with M&S' shares down 8 per cent while Ocado is up 1 per cent, Forrest continued. 'That suggests that Ocado is getting the better end of the deal. Part of that may be down to the price M&S is paying and the fact the dividend, historically a major part of the stock's appeal, has been cut significantly.
'On the face of it the move by M&S is a good one, although it is long overdue and the company has some catching up to do. Our recommendation on Marks & Spencer is under review but we retain our recommendation of 'Hold' on Ocado. '
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Dare to bare! Vanessa Hudgens flashes her midriff on a Beverly Hills shopping trip
Vanessa Hudgens made sure she wrapped up in comfy clothing when she headed on a shopping trip today.
But never shy of a skimpy outft, the High School Musical left her midriff bare.
The 23-year-old looked casual and cosy in grey tracksuit bottoms, Ugg boots, a long knitted cream cardigan and matching knitted hat.
Baring all: Vanessa Hudgens left her midriff on full display
But the star teamed the ensemble with a tiny tank top that showed a considerable amount of the her toned stomach.
She may have been thankful for the bit of bare flesh after stepping outside into the warm Californian sunshine.
Vanessa accessorised the look with some rosary beads, a pair of huge black sunglasses and a black handbag which she rummaged through as she walked down the street.
Comfort over style: Vanessa opted for a pyjama like ensemble
What's wrong? Vanessa loked grumpy as she shopped around Beverly Hills
The Sucker Punch actress looked slightly grumpy as she shopped around Beverly Hills in her pyjama-like outfit.
She may have been pining for her beau Austin Butler after spending the New Year with him.
The couple took a romantic holiday to Miami and were seen sharing a series of passionate kisses as they spent their days lounging by the pool.
Hands on: Vanessa and her boyfriend Austin Butler took a romantic New Year's getaway together
Vanessa and her 20-year-old toyboy put on an amorous display which saw the actress lie on top of him as they kissed and cuddled.
The pair have been dating since September.
In November it was announced that Vanessa is set to star in upcoming movie Spring Breakers alongside Selena Gomez, James Franco and Emma Roberts.
The story centres around a group of collge girls who decide to rob a restaurant in order to pay for a trip.
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Sony Is Also In Line To Deliver "In-Cell" Technology Based Touch Panels For iPhone 5 [Report]
Japan’s Sony Mobile Display is also in line with three other touch panel manufacturers to deliver “in-cell” technology based touch panels for upcoming iPhone 5, according to Taipei Times. The newspaper published a report on Taiwanese touch panel manufacturers AU Optronics Corp. and Chimei Innolux Corp. in which it mentioned that both these manufacturers are lagging behind their Japanese and South Korean rivals. According to a Taipei based analyst, AU Optronic and Chimei Innolux are still not capable of producing touch panels based on “in-cell” technology which brings a significant change in thickness of touch panels. On the other hand, Japanese display manufacturers like Sony Mobile Display are ready to deliver this technology.
Japan’s Sony Mobile Display began mass production of in-cell touch panels in February, as the Sony Corp unit gets ready to supply the key component for Apple Inc’s next-generation iPhone 5, IHS Displaybank senior analyst Stone Wu said.
Wu also corroborated Wall Street Journal’s report about possible iPhone 5′s touch panel suppliers. According to Wu, the production of these touch panels for iPhone 5 would start by the end of this month.
Two other Japanese panel suppliers — Sharp Corp and Toshiba Mobile Display — and LG Display Co of South Korea have also been tapping into the iPhone 5 panel supply chain, with the three companies scheduled to start mass production of the smartphone panels before the end of this month, he said.
Recent reports suggest that AU Optronics along with LG Display Co. is already on board with Apple to ship touch panels for rumored iPad Mini. AU Optronics however is way behind when it comes to “in-cell” technology based touch panels. Wu also mentioned that the company won’t start mass production of such displays until 3rd quarter. “The yield on in-cell panels remains a key issue for most suppliers,” he told in an interview with the newspaper.
“Even for those companies that start mass production in May, they can only reach an average yield of 65% to 70% at present,” Wu said. He also mentioned that the yield on touch panels used in iPhone 4S was about 80% to 85%.
Touch panels which are based on in-cell technology are significantly thinner than regular touch panels because the “sensors are embedded inside the color filter rather than on top of them”. Introduction of this technology could hurt Apple’s current touch panel suppliers like TPK but chairman of TPK thinks otherwise. In a recent discussion with investors, TPK’s chairman mentioned that introduction of “in-cell” technology would have a limited impact on TPK.
Reportedly Apple would introduce 4 inch “in-cell” technology based touch panels in next iteration of iPhone along with 4G LTE support. 6th generation of iPhone is due in September-October time-frame later this year.
We will keep you updated on this, stay tuned!


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Mayor Anthony Calderone unveiled a new plan the village will implement to boost local spending, while speaking to the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon last week.
The program does not have a name yet, but is, essentially, an effort to get residents to buy as much as possible in Forest Park. According to the mayor, residents will receive, with their water bill, a buy-local card. Forest Parkers can then present the card to local merchants participating in the initiative, and will thereby be eligible for any promotion or discount the business might be offering.
Participating merchants will affix a sticker to their store windows; they will also display, on a website created by the village, sales incentives. Businesses interested in participating will receive instructions on how to navigate the website.
“The actual deals and offers are completely up to the businesses,” said Commissioner Tom Mannix, who, during his run for commissioner, stressed the importance of shopping local. “They are able to change the deals as frequently as they would like. This ensures that each business is offering deals that it feels comfortable with.”
The mayor assured the merchants at the luncheon that the program will not cost them anything. In an email, Mannix stated that the buy-local program will cost the village about $14,000 to implement – money that has already been appropriated and approved in the budget for fiscal year 2012.
“We will be bringing this issue back up in front of the council in the next month … to have contracts approved so we can begin implementing our buy-local program,” Mannix said.
“As we do with all expenditures of taxpayer money,” he added, “we will keep a close eye on how this program performs and whether we are receiving a return on [the] investment. We expect to see increased economic activity that results in increased sales-tax revenues and economic growth.”
Mannix emphasized that the program is not designed to encourage residents to spend more money than they usually do, but to purchase items locally, instead of in other communities. That way, the sales tax revenue stays in Forest Park and residents support local commerce.
When asked if the buy-local program is a kind of economic stimulus, Mannix replied, “I think we have seen that government handouts and freebies do not create sustained economic growth. Instead, we need businesses, residents, and local government to work together to create programs that will help sustain economic growth. We believe that the buy-local program will help us achieve this goal.”


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PaymentFacilitator’s News Roundup is a curated mix of the past week’s news and articles from around the web, including company announcements, global payments news, and other coverage and analysis of topics relevant to payment facilitators.
The COVID pandemic was “not as impactful” as anticipated on RealPage financial results. The company reported GAAP total revenue of $285.6 million, up 17% over the year before. “Numbers were exceptionally strong relative to our guidance because the impact of COVID-19 was not as impactful as we feared and there is surging demand for solutions that facilitate virtual leasing and living offered by RealPage,” Steve Winn, chairman and CEO of RealPage, said. From RealPage.
Square’s revenue grew during the second quarter almost 64% to $1.92 billion. While the company’s overall gross payments volume (GPV) among its sellers declined 15% year over year, Square reported that the GPV from online channels was up more than 50%. “We believe that our purpose of economic empowerment, which is rooted in equality, continues to be more important than ever. Access to financial services has historically been reserved for those with privilege. With both our Cash App and Seller ecosystems, we strive to help broaden access to the tools and services consumers and business owners need to thrive,” the company said in its shareholder letter. From Square.
China’s central bank says Alipay and WeChat Pay are too dominant. The bank has recommended an antitrust investigation of the two non-bank payment giants to determine whether they are unfairly discouraging competition. The country’s antitrust agency has not yet decided whether to investigate, sources say. From Reuters.
Monetizing Venmo is a key path to future growth for payments giant PayPal. The brand is already popular with younger consumers, but new capabilities and possible expansion into business payments might help turn that popularity into revenue. The company is currently offering invite-only business accounts for free but will eventually charge for those transactions. From MarketWatch.
WhatsApp Pay is finally compliant with India’s data localization requirements. The Facebook-owned messaging app has been waiting for a green light from the Reserve Bank of India to fully launch a payments service there. The National Payments Corporation of India filed a letter with the RBI in June indicating the company now complies. From Times of India.
Indian PF MobiKwik has launched a new way to send and receive funds using any UPI payment app. With the company’s new offering, users set up and share a personal link they can use to collect payments. The capability will work both on desktop and on mobile. From Economic Times.


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MADISON, Wis. (AP) _ Consumers from Wisconsin are crossing the border to Illinois to stock up on a commodity they can't buy in the Dairy State _ Irish butter.
A 1954 Wisconsin law prohibits the sale of butter without a state or federal grade mark. So fans of Kerrygold Irish-made butter must cross the border to get the butter made from hormone-free milk that's produced from grass-fed cows _ or turn to the internet.
The State Journal reports despite the 1954 law, Kerrygold butter sometimes finds its way to the shelves of Wisconsin grocers, including a Target store in Waukesha recently.
The company that markets Kerrygold, Ornua Foods North America, says it has been working with regulators so it can sell its butter in Wisconsin. Ornua spokesman Brian Cleere says there's no timetable on when that might happen.


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June is not starting out well for Walmart. At the start of the month, Walmart 1 Percent, a project of union-backed Making Change at Walmart, released a report with a title that packs a punch: “The Phony Philanthropy of the Walmart Heirs: How the Richest Family in America Uses Their Private Foundation to Mislead the Public and Increase Their Wealth.”
The report is claiming that the second generation of the Walton family, which owns approximately 50% of Walmart, have given a drop in the bucket of their billions to the family’s foundation. The report explains that whereas Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have given 36.2% and 26.9% of their respective wealth, the Walmart heirs have given in total only 0.04% of their wealth. Forbes provides a good summary of the report here.
Then yesterday, the New York City Council sent a letter to Walmart demanding that it stop making millions of dollars worth of contributions to New York City charities. The New York Post reports that the letter called the donations “dangerous dollars” and warned Walmart that the letter constituted a cease and desist demand. The City Council believes that the donations are being used to drum up support for Walmart’s plan to open a store in New York City. So far that goal has been thwarted.
But then again, it’s hard to feel bad for Walmart.


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How Trump run NAFTA?
He’s experienced office within the weeks prior to the selection, as well as the past 4 weeks, Donald Trump completed and has stated several questionable issues. The major issue surrounding the trade deal is has it done harm or good to the overall economy, as well as U.S. careers.
NAFTA for quick, or the Us Free Trade Agreement, was signed under President Bill Clinton into law in 1994. NAFTA is a freetrade agreement involving Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. The aim of this free trade deal was to get rid of tariffs on worthwhile being imported/released between your three countries. If you should be unsure exactly what a tariff is, it’s yet another method to declare a taxon exported or imported products overseas. Many financial experts consider that NAFTA has received little effect on the Canadian and U.S. companies, but has already established an incredibly good impact on the Mexican economy.
There are several jobs that rely on NAFTA although countless careers have already been transferred abroad. Many people might lose their work if NAFTA was ended; however, the quantity of jobs that might be produced if production businesses moved back towards the U.S. could significantly outweigh the increased loss of these jobs. All those products which are imported to the U.S. tax-free, would be getting taxed. That’s lots of taxable income for your government. We’re not getting as large of the gain as Mexico is because the U.S. imports more products than it exports. Another disadvantage of making NAFTA could be spending somewhat more for items which are produced in the U.S. Because Of Mexicois cheap labor, people spend less money for items that are created there, but I really believe spending somewhat more for something which was produced in the U.S.A. could be worthwhile.
To Mexico, main production businesses, particularly vehicle makers, have shifted their crops because of the extremely inexpensive labor in Mexico to spend less. These producers spend Mexican workers cents about the buck when compared with the things they would need to spend a U.S. employee, after which transfer the vehicles in to the U.S. tax-free because you can find no charges. It has resulted in many individuals losing their jobs over the U.S.
Several advantages are being in NAFTA, but the quantity of problems you will find far outweighs these advantages. A few of the advantages I mentioned are cheaper products for that U.S. customer, and products which are being released into Mexico and Canada in the U.S. don’t have charges in it, preserving the businesses transferring the products money. The disadvantages I mentioned would be the countless jobs which have been dropped due to production firms going to Mexico because of their cheap labor, the revenue the U.S. is passing up on by not having the ability to duty imported products, as well as the fact the U.S. is just a bigger importer than exporter when compared with Mexico. Mexico has gotten a far greater deal from NAFTA compared to U.S. has. President Trump stated from he withdraw, or would negotiate NAFTA, and that I wish he maintains this guarantee for your benefit of countless American jobs.


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A similar toilet scheme is running in Richmond in London
A Dorset seaside town council has announced plans to shut public loos and to ask shops and restaurants to open up their toilets to non-paying customers.
Bournemouth Borough Council wants to save £50,000 by closing nine toilets.
The money could then be used to pay local businesses in exchange for people being able to use their facilities.
The Community Toilet Scheme would also include council building toilets being opened up. The proposal is based on a similar scheme in Richmond in London.
The council says it is currently monitoring which public toilets are used and how often.
Councillor John Beesley said the toilets that are earmarked for closure have not been in use for many years. They could now be sold or rented out.
He said: "Saving money is only part of it. It's providing the [public toilet] service for the longer term that's actually more important to us and how we're going to do that.
"The toilets that have been closed, some of them for some years, do throw up some savings. But they're the kind of facilities that in this day and age people are reluctant to use.
"We need to look at how else we can provide toilets and we're looking at other public buildings."
Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber Of Trade and Commerce, said: "We are very much in favour of the scheme and we believe that many businesses in the borough will take it up."
He said the payment of about £600 a year would enable those which join the scheme to fund the upkeep of their facilities.
Bournemouth council's environment and economy scrutiny panel was due to meet on Thursday night to discuss the plans.


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It’s a well-known fact that marketing budgets are signficantly higher in the months leading up to Christmas than at any other time of the year.
Only a few weeks ago, MCV reported that UK games firms are spending a combined total of over 181 milion on promoting their wares this Q4. But why is it necessary to invest so much at this time of year?
For a start, the rivalry for consumers’ disposable income between games and all other purchaseable goods reaches its peak as December nears.
There is so much competition at this time of year, and not only in games,” says Disney’s head of marketing Keely Brenner. We are also sharing limited retail and media space with DVDs, toys, music, clothes and other gifting items.”
GAME’s head of PR Neil Ashurst agrees: Everyone is vying for attention, so the key is not just shouting louder but communicating smarter. You’re talking to a wider market and your marketing has to reflect that.”
It is crucial to remember that it is not just gamers that firms need to target. Gifters are vital at this time of year, and advertising must be adapted to those who do not understand the products.
The usual marketing rules apply but the purchaser is not necessarily the person who will play the product,” explains Sega’s marketing director Amanda Farr.
We need to not only ensure that the end consumer requests our titles, but also create awareness amongst the purchaser.”
SPREAD THE WORD
Another reason for such staggering marketing budgets is the need to invest in a wider spread of media.
From the traditional print and TV advertising to new channels such as social media, there is no room for hedging your bets here. Of course, firms are still learning how to make the most of their ad spends.
This is the one time of year you can’t afford to miss out on TV as well as extensive print ads in the tabloids and selected broadsheets,” says HMV’s games marketing planner Al Hunter. You can’t connect with a mass audience without these twin pillars. Everything else just helps.”
Many argue that online has become just as important, and striking a balance between these three main avenues of marketing is more crucial than ever (see ‘We Three Kings’).
The rise in marketing spends can also be attributed to the correlating increase in advertising costs that always occurs towards Christmas, although Brenner believes this has not had as much impact on publishers as it has in the past.
It is a time of year when media is at its most expensive, so being targeted with what sort of space you buy is very important,” she says.
But games companies are now prepared to spend more on their Christmas campaigns, with involvement from celebrities and reality show contestants.
This has become a standard part of any PR campaign and an effective way of getting onto those prized Christmas wish lists.”
A glance at this year’s ad plans shows this, with David Beckham, Helen Mirren, and Mel B family all pushing games this Christmas.
It is also vital to work closely with retail during this crucial selling period.
Ultimately, the likes of GAME and HMV control whether customers will even have access to a game – a lesson THQ learned from its previous Christmas campaign.
With this plan refined to form the Great Games, Great Value range, THQ’s marketing director Jon Rooke says: You can spend 2 million on promotions, but if consumers can’t find your products because
it’s not stocked at retail, you’re going to miss out.”
Activision’s senior brand manager Scott Wood concurs: Retail is always the one piece of the marketing puzzle that gets affected the most. With the sheer number of titles vying for space, there’s never enough space for everyone.”
Most importantly, publishers need to adapt to the changes that have occurred in our consumer culture over the last five to ten years.
Awareness about products has increased, and a flood of connected devices such as smartphones has made the end user less susceptible to an instant sale than was possible five years ago.
The interaction with the consumer was very different back then,” Rooke explains. They were very used to being told what to buy, but now they often have smartphones or laptops with them. They actively search to find out what a product is. Consumers want to validate the purchase themselves before they commit.”
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
It has also become important to market products as early as possible, and maintain much longer ad campaigns, ideally running all the way up to Christmas and beyond.
The sales period starts earlier every year, so shoppers are waiting longer and sometimes after Christmas to take advantage of savings,” says Warner Bros’ sales and marketing director Spencer Crossley.
As the market continues to change – both in terms of our own industry and retail in general – games firms need to adapt their marketing budgets accordingly.
The nature of advertising is changing, as are publishers’ relationships with their consumers. Spending more has become a necessity but it’s more than that.
As GAME’s Neil Ashurst observes, the key is to market in a smarter way, not just a louder one. Exposure is only half the battle, but the games industry is well experienced at fighting this particular war.


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KMG Chemicals (KMG) Raised to Hold at Zacks Investment Research
KMG Chemicals (NYSE:KMG) was upgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Thursday.
According to Zacks, “KMG Chemicals manufactures, markets and distributes specialty, niche chemicals. The company manufactures, markets and distributes three wood preserving chemicals, pentachlorophenol, creosote and sodium pentachlorophenate, to industrial customers engaged in the wood preserving business. The company’s customers use these preservatives to treat wood and supply the treated wood products to end-users in a variety of industries, principally the railroad, utility and construction industries. “
KMG has been the subject of several other research reports. KeyCorp reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $70.00 target price (up previously from $63.00) on shares of KMG Chemicals in a research note on Wednesday. ValuEngine downgraded shares of KMG Chemicals from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. KMG Chemicals has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.50.
KMG Chemicals (NYSE:KMG) last announced its earnings results on Monday, December 11th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.20. KMG Chemicals had a net margin of 6.46% and a return on equity of 15.41%. The firm had revenue of $110.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $106.60 million. The company’s revenue was up 44.7% compared to the same quarter last year. sell-side analysts predict that KMG Chemicals will post 2.76 EPS for the current year.
In other KMG Chemicals news, major shareholder David L. Hatcher sold 9,000 shares of KMG Chemicals stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.45, for a total value of $445,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,568,097 shares in the company, valued at approximately $77,542,396.65. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder David L. Hatcher sold 3,000 shares of KMG Chemicals stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.15, for a total value of $147,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,568,097 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $77,071,967.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 219,000 shares of company stock valued at $11,728,350 in the last 90 days. 6.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Creative Planning purchased a new stake in shares of KMG Chemicals during the 2nd quarter worth about $105,000. Legal & General Group Plc grew its holdings in shares of KMG Chemicals by 23.2% during the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 2,198 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $106,000 after purchasing an additional 414 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of KMG Chemicals by 59.9% during the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,620 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $128,000 after purchasing an additional 981 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of KMG Chemicals during the 3rd quarter worth about $155,000. Finally, Hodges Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of KMG Chemicals during the 3rd quarter worth about $221,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.20% of the company’s stock.
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About KMG Chemicals
KMG Chemicals, Inc manufactures, formulates and globally distributes specialty chemicals. The Company operates businesses selling electronic chemicals, industrial wood treating chemicals, and industrial valve lubricants and sealants. The Company operates through two segments: Electronic chemicals and Other chemicals.
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Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance Reveals New Logo Design
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has revealed a new logo design, which the Franco-Japanese car conglomerate says symbolises both growth and renewed cooperation between the individual member companies.
Created as a joint effort by Groupe Renault, Nissan Design and Mitsubishi, the refreshed logo features two key elements, namely, an arch that “symbolises the cultural, technological, financial and human bridges between the partners”, and a peak that “captures its spirit of looking beyond horizons”.
“The new logo aims to represent the shared heritage and common vision of the three member companies. It captures the spirit of the global automotive collaboration and is respectful of each member company’s identity,” said a spokesperson for the organisation.
Agencies Teneo Blue Rubicon, Interbrand and We Are Social were also involved in helping to produce the logo and an accompanying website.
The alliance was originally founded in 1999 by Renault and Nissan. Mitsubishi was then acquired in 2016. Operating as a collective, the alliance recently surpassed the Volkswagen Group to become the world’s largest car manufacturer.
Source: Renault-Nissan Alliance


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Competitive Pressures Expected to Drive M&A Activity
It may very well be another lively year for deal activity in the U.S. retail sector. According to the latest data from our 2014 Retail Compass Survey of CFOs, most retail CFOs expect 2014 to bring more deals, or at least remain on par with last year.
The year kicked off with chatter around major deals, such as the Office Depot-Office Max merger and Men’s Warehouse’s bid for Jos. A. Bank, both of which highlight the pressure retailers are facing to expand their reach and offerings: Forty-two percent of respondents say increasing market share will be the main impetus behind deal activity in 2014. At the same time, though retailers are optimistic about consumer confidence
in the coming year, shoppers remain price-conscious and discerning, putting greater emphasis on convenience, product assortment and low prices. Consolidation and fierce competition will likely be another major driving force behind deals, with one-third of CFOs noting it as a leading business risk. Meanwhile, CFOs are split on whether strategic or financial buyers will move deals, but slightly favor strategic buyers, and they project potential buyers will see an average EBITDA multiple of 4.24, down slightly from last year’s projection of 5.15.
As we noted in January
, the IPO market was active in 2013, as well, with 19 retail and consumer product company IPOs yielding $8.3 billion in proceeds, according to Renaissance Capital
. However, CFOs are split about whether the momentum will continue in 2014: A majority (58 percent) expect less momentum around IPOs in 2014, while one-third expect to see an increase. More than one-third (35 percent) are pegging their expectations to ongoing economic recovery, indicating that the strength of the U.S. economy and stock market will be the key drivers of IPO activity this year. In terms of what sectors they expect to see the most activity, half of all respondents project the e-commerce sector will be a hot spot, followed by non-food and beverage consumer products (25 percent) and food and beverage (12 percent).
In the realm of financial markets, CFOs expect 2014 to be a challenging year when it comes to securing financing options. The Federal Reserve is pulling back on its economic stimulus program and the public markets have been off to a rocky start in 2014. About three-quarters of respondents believe it will be difficult to refinance their debt in the coming year; nearly half expect it to be “somewhat” to “very” difficult.
Stay tuned to the blog for additional findings from this year’s Retail Compass Survey of CFOs, including retailers’ online sales projections, growth strategies and key capital investments in the year ahead.


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- 2 min read
Oneplus pips Samsung to become India’s top premium smartphone brand; Apple leads ultra-premium segment
Chinese handset maker Oneplus regained its top position in the premium market (Rs 30,000 and above) with its newly launched 5G-enabled Oneplus 8 series in the April-June quarter of 2020, Counterpoint Research said.
The Chinese premium phone maker displaced Korea’s Samsung, which held the top spot in the January-March 2020 quarter with 34% market share.
Counterpoint said that Apple was the leading brand in the ultra-premium segment (Rs 45000 and above) driven by iPhone 11 shipments. The iPhone maker, however, lost some share to OnePlus in Q2.
Oneplus earlier this week launched its mid-range smartphone OnePlus Nord in India and Europe.
OnePlus India’s new Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Navnit Nakra, this month, had exclusively told ET that the objective behind the new strategy was to ‘share technology with more users.’
The affordable smartphone segment is one of the largest in India and accounts for close to 75% of the Indian smartphone market.
"The launch is a strategic move to widen the OnePlus user base by catering to the consumer demand in this segment. Indian Consumers have traditionally viewed OnePlus as a Premium Smartphone brand, that is synonymous with quality. The new OnePlus Nord checks all the specs that one needs, including the dual selfie cameras, and future 5G readiness," Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, CyberMedia Research said.
Oneplus Nord is the most affordable 5G smartphone in India with a starting price of Rs 24,999.
The phone comes equipped with a Snapdragon 765G processor. It runs OxygenOS10.5 based on Android 10 and comes equipped with Adreno620 GPU. The device is backed by a 4115 mAh with WarpCharge30T fast charging (5V/6A) along with an in-display fingerprint scanner.
The OnePlus Nord 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB are priced at Rs 27,999 and Rs 29,999, respectively, and will be available from August 4. The 6GB/64GB version, priced at Rs 24,999, will be available in September.


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The U.S. Postal Service is drenched in red ink, having accrued more than $78 billion in net losses since 2007. In May, the Government Accountability Office somberly concluded, “USPS’ current business model is not financially sustainable due to declining mail volumes, increased compensation and benefits costs, and increased unfunded liabilities and debt.” Yet some lawmakers, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., want to hand the struggling agency a blank check to subsidize this failing business model.
Fortunately, there’s a new postmaster general (Louis DeJoy) in charge and he promises to get America’s mail carrier back on firmer footing. While details of his reform plans have yet to be released, documents obtained by the Associated Press suggest major changes to overtime work and delivery routes. If executed properly, these changes can help the beleaguered agency get back into the black and save taxpayers from a multi-billion-dollar bailout. This is hopefully the start of a new, low-cost era of mail delivery.
After years of excuse-making and buck-passing, USPS leadership is finally getting ready to make some significant changes. In a recent “stand-up talk” delivered to employees across the country, management made clear that “late trips” will no longer be tolerated. Under the status-quo, mail delivery trips can start late in the day (often due to processing plant delays) and typically result in mail workers claiming overtime pay. But under the soon-to-be-implemented system, “If the plants run late they will keep the mail for the next day.”
These changes are long overdue, given the large and growing costs associated with overtime pay at the USPS. Examining fiscal year 2018 data on overtime costs and planning, a 2019 inspector general report found that the USPS “planned for total mail processing overtime costs of about $732 million, but actually incurred $1.09 billion, a difference of 49%.” Furthermore, “Overtime costs to process mail increased by $257 million (31%) in FY2018 from the previous year.”
Of course, not all overtime costs are due to planning lapses; long, unconventional hours can sometimes be justified. Special services such as Priority Mail will inevitably lead to high overtime costs, as will packages sent by certain companies with two-day delivery guarantees. That makes sense as long as the USPS is charging prices that account for these high-cost expedited services. But in the case of packages, there’s no real way of knowing if they are priced in the realm of reality.
The USPS is more tight-lipped than the CIA in disclosing its package pricing, leading to plenty of black ink but no insight or analysis available to the public. And by all indications that are publicly available, the postal pricing methodology significantly underestimates the contribution of packages to overall system costs. Unless DeJoy gets a grip on this problem and pursues critical pricing reforms, package prices will almost certainly fail to cover overtime costs.
Other reform plans identified in the “stand-up talk” will give the USPS some much-needed fiscal breathing room to contemplate longer-term pricing reforms. For starters, all routes are to have no more than four park points starting this summer. The idea is that unnecessary stopping and inefficient deliveries are needlessly wasting time; and time is money. This problem also spills over into the “middle-mile” (i.e. highway mail deliveries between processing centers), where inefficient routing continues to be an issue.
The inspector general has also found that about 85% of highway routes are categorized as static, rather than accounting for changing volume and demand. Clearly, the USPS has a long way to go in becoming more efficient and embracing data-driven operations for mail delivery. And unless it reforms its dysfunctional pricing system, overtime costs will go uncompensated.
DeJoy must deliver on these, and other critical postal reforms, in order for the agency to be fiscally stable.
Ross Marchand is the vice president of policy for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.
We have seven post offices in our area, we need only 3. That and lay it a person $50,000/year to deliver mail seems a little high.
A topic I rarely see mentioned when discussing postal reform is the subsidy the USPS gives to China. Since China is still classified by the USPS as a “developing nation” — a designation usually reserved for poor, third-world countries — Chinese sellers sending a package from Shenzhen to Atlanta, for example, will pay a small fraction of the price it would cost to send that same package from Atlanta to Shenzhen. China is not a “developing country” that needs handouts from the U.S. Postal Service. They should pay the same rate as any other major industrial nation.
President Trump shut that scam down more than a year ago.
If they would allow items to be automatically routed to recycling it would probably save me time and them money. About 80% of what I get in the mail goes straight to the recycling bin.
I tried to get everything I could online years ago. Except for tax documents at the end of the year (and i wish those would go online,) 100% of what i get is immediately trashed.
Esteemed party member comrade kommissar Bezos should buy the USPS after all the money that he has made off of it.
I’d settle for you just getting the right mail in my box some of the time. Maybe, you know, 40-50% of the time?
13 years later they say it time to fix the debt the postal service has accrued of 78 billion dollars.
Nothing like government waste and watch it grow from tax dollars being spent on something they should have fixed years ago. BTW: still wondering where the 65 Billion dollars went to when Hillary Clinton was SEC. of State under Obama, it went missing or unaccounted for under her watch.
4 day delivery of 1st class M,Tu, Th, Fi. 7 day of priority, but charge accordingly. package accepted Fri to deliver Sun has 2 1.5 time days. charge for it. stop the UPS/FedEx to USPS handoff for next to NOTHING. worth at least $2 each.
I literally travel to the next city to do any business in the post office since ours is full of unfriendly postal workers, as I discovered when trying to get my passport. Further, our mail is occasionally delivered very late in the day and now I know why!
No more tax $$ for the USPS!


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Matt Moog's purchase of PowerReviews continues to pay dividends for him and the Chicago tech community.
The company has doubled its headcount locally in the past year to about 135 and has outgrown its offices at 180 N. LaSalle St. PowerReview is moving to 50,000 square feet at 1 N. Dearborn St., more than doubling its current space.
It's a rare case of Chicago's tech community growing at the expense of San Francisco. Moog has shut down his company's San Francisco office and has either moved most of the jobs to Chicago or filled them with talent here, adding new positions.
Moog's company, Viewpoints, purchased San Francisco-based PowerReviews, a larger company, in 2014, though there were more employees in Chicago. Both companies make technology that helps firms, especially retailers, gather and manage customer reviews, which are surging in popularity as e-commerce continues to grow and consumers increasingly look for feedback from others before buying online or in a store.
Moog kept both offices open, flying back and forth, but decided to wind down the San Francisco one. About a dozen people will continue to work from home in the Bay Area. Although Moog has long been a vocal proponent of the Chicago scene, co-founding Built in Chicago five years ago, he says his move was all about the business.
“For two years, I've had the experience of building a company simultaneously in San Francisco and Chicago,” he said. “Rents (in San Francisco) are twice as much as they are here. Hiring there is like a blood sport, with signing bonuses, recruiting fees and multiple offers. You're paying a 30 percent premium at least. The cost of living there is so high, with rents two or three times more than in Chicago.
“At the end of the day, it was expensive, hard to hire, hard to retain people. The talent is there, just like it is here. But there is more competition and more noise.”
PowerReviews isn't Uber or Postmates, but it's profitable and growing more than 30 percent annually, Moog says, though he declines to disclose the specific financials.
“It doesn't have quite the sizzle as some of the other things out there," he said. "Your story isn't as attractive if you're not Facebook or Google, or an early stage startup with unknown potential in a new space. We're a proven, fast-growing tech company that's able to invest in our people.”


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Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has launched a new variant of its sporty automatic scooter Dio. The new trim is christened Honda Dio Deluxe and it can be yours at a price of Rs 53,292 (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new Honda Dio Deluxe is positioned at the top of the Dio line up and it demands Rs 3,000 more than the price of the base model. One of the most prominent changes on the Honda Dio Deluxe is the new LED headlight that has made its presence felt in the automatic scooter for the first time. Another big update is the inclusion of a fully digital instrument cluster, a feature that is gradually finding its place in scooters these days. With the new Honda Dio Deluxe, one can also opt for an optional mobile charging port that is placed under the seat. The said feature is also the first time on the Honda Dio. The new variant also gets golden rims and the feature is offered for the first time on any Honda scooter.
Watch our TVS Ntorq 125 first ride review video here:
Powering the Honda Dio Deluxe is the same 109cc engine that runs the popular Activa 5G. The refined motor is good for producing 7.8 hp of power along with a peak torque of 8.9 Nm. Braking to the Honda Dio Deluxe is done with the help of 130mm drum brakes that have been fitted at both ends. These further come linked to the company's patented CBS (Combi Braking System) for added safety. The mechanism applies both brakes automatically when the rider presses the rear brake lever. This minimises chances of skidding and delivers a more effective braking.
Check out the on-road prices and all other details on Honda Dio right here.
The new Honda Dio Deluxe is being offered in four colour options that go by the names Dazzle Yellow Metallic, Matte Marshal Green Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black and Matte AxisGrey Metallic. The scooter challenges the likes of Yamaha Ray ZR, and Hero Maestro Edge.


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Not too long following the announcement that Facebook has purchased Oculus VR to the hefty tune of $2 billion, Minecraft creator Markus Persson tweeted that he would no longer be interested in bringing Minecraft to Oculus. Now, Notch has clarified his opinions, confirming that he is seeking alternative platforms.
Notch shared his VR opinions through a series of Twitter messages. In response to questions concerning Notch’s possible work with Sony’s VR set, he tweeted “I like developing for PC. Maybe others at Mojang are interested?”. While the Mojang team may eventually agree to a Sony port of Minecraft, Notch is not too keen to turn to the Morpheus Project. It seems the Minecraft creator will be looking for alternate VR platforms, uninterested in either Oculus or Sony’s Project Morpheus. While Oculus and Project Morpheus are big VR contenders at the moment, Notch is aware it is likely additional VR platforms will become more appealing to developers.
Notch did show interest in a partnering with an alternative company for VR development, seen in a short conversation between Notch and CEO of Razer, Min-Liang Tan. The CEO replied to Notch’s anti-Facebook announcement, “perhaps we can help out. Will be in touch”. Notch was notably excited at this prospect, and it seems he’s hoping to take his visions for a slimmed-down, VR Minecraft in this direction.
The news of Notch’s platform scouting comes after his disapproval of the Facebook acquisition of Oculus. “Facebook is not a company of grass-roots tech enthusiasts,” Notch stated in an earlier post. “Facebook is not a game tech company. Facebook has a history of caring about building user numbers, and nothing but building user numbers.” Notch shared that he is excited to work with VR, but believes Facebook harbors unclear motives and will not offer a stable platform.
With Notch looking at alternatives to the new Facebook backed Oculus, what do you think about the purchase and its effects on VR gaming?


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Worldwide tablet shipments expected to decline 8% in 2015
This is representing a notable slowdown from IDC's previous forecast of -3.8%. Shipments are now expected to reach 212 million with the vast majority being pure slate tablets.
The overall trajectory of the tablet market has not changed significantly over the past year and a half, but the 2-in-1 segment, also referred to as detachables, is starting to gain traction.
While the 2-in-1 form factor is not new, OEMs are getting more serious about this market and as a result IDC expects the 2-in-1 segment to grow 86.5% year over year in 2015 with 14.7 million units shipped.
Although this volume is far below that of the more affordable slate tablet segment, IDC believes these devices appeal to an audience seeking an alternative to pure tablets with smaller screens.
The commercial market has been very reluctant to migrate toward tablets, and IDC believes this is largely due to an unclear value proposition. The 2-in-1 segment should find opportunities within the commercial market, but IT buyers have been slow to move toward mobile devices beyond smartphones and do not yet see tablets or 2-in-1's as a true PC replacement.
IDC expects the average selling price (ASP) of slate tablets to drop below $300 given the number of low-cost Android models still widely available. The ASP is being driven down by the abundance of smaller devices (7-8" screen size) that are largely whitebox (or unknown OEMs) and created to meet growing demand from markets outside China and India, such as the Middle East & Africa.
Despite this trend, IDC expects the share of larger screen (>10") tablets and 2-in-1's will grow from 18.6% in 2014 to 39.5% in 2019, fueled by the impact of phablets and a growing commercial appetite for productivity solutions. ■


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“Pester Power” causes sales in mobile devices and tablets to surge. Parents just can’t deprive their precious young of the new shiny gadgets; retailers are elated. But, is their a huge problem being overlooked?
Of Britain’s 10-year-olds, about 73% have their own personal mobile phone. For this very reason, UK parents earned the title of “Generation Give-In.” Now that Christmas is around the corner, this is music to the ears of companies such as Apple (APPL) and Samsung (SSNLF).
Zali Huseyin, mother of 10-year-old Elliz, says, “A lot of the children have got all of the new technology, iPads, tablets and so on, so yes a lot of pressure really.”
And 10-year-old Elliz says, “All my friends had a phone and I really wanted one.”
Children’s demand for mobile devices varies around the globe. Of France’s 10-year-olds, 10% own a mobile device. For the United States, it’s 30%. In Poland, an astounding 80% of 10-year-old children own a mobile device. This craze isn’t limited to cellphones. Before starting school, toddlers have often mastered the tablet computer.
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Lucy Bailey, a 3.5-year-old, says, “You can do different games, you can.”
Lucy is only 3.5 years of age, and her 18-month-old sister Annie is already showing interest in mobile devices, according to their mother Helen Bailey.
Helen Bailey, mother to Lucy and Annie, says, “As soon as one child gets it, they’ve all had a go on it so they all want it. Also they see it on the telly so they’re watching adverts on telly and it’s ‘I want that, I want that,’ so it’s a constant reminder to them they haven’t got it.”
In this instance, Generation Give-in’s inability to say “No,” is conducive for sales, but what about the welfare of the children? Mumset, a parenting website, shares a few thoughts via Katie O’Donovan.
Katie O’Donovan, Mumset, says,”I think while parents can see the benefits of buying some of these products, they also do think that their kids perhaps want too much when they’re too young. That actually a smartphone or a tablet isn’t quite right for a seven-, eight- or nine-year-old who is convinced that they actually want one of those things.”
It’s a tough debate: Is it right or wrong for children to own cellphones and tablets? Well, that debate won’t end anytime soon. In the meantime, plenty of little children, especially in the UK, can expect little flat boxes under the tree this Christmas.


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The electronics and entertainment giant Sony Corp announced on Tuesday that it will invest a billion yen (9,000 million dollars) in image sensors over the next three years under a renewed strategy to strengthen both hardware and creative content. In the catalog of the label there are classics like Queen, contemporary artists like Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Pharrell Williams.
The group’s CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, told reporters at a conference at Sony headquarters that the company’s leadership in sensors is crucial for developing technologies such as driverless cars and artificial intelligence.
Sony already has 30% of EMI so when the operation is completed it will control 90% of the firm. Sony plans to also allocate $ 2.3 billion to buy a 60% stake in EMI Music Publishing Mubadala Investment Co. Mubadala is a government-backed investment fund controlled by the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the oil-rich capital of the United Arab Emirates, a seven-state federation that also includes the Mideast commercial hub of Dubai. Its holdings include semiconductor maker Globalfoundries, and stakes in General Electric Co., Washington-based private equity firm The Carlyle Group and numerous utility and energy companies.
Do image sensor is next big things?
Image sensors are used in many products including medical imaging equipment, cameras, radar, sonar and autonomous driving safety systems. They transmit data that makes up an image by converting light waves into electrical signals. Yoshida said the company’s main theme was “getting closer to people,” by connecting consumer services and content throughout its sprawling operations, which include the PlayStation game platform, music, films and home entertainment, still and video cameras, cellphones, computer chips and financial services.
Magazines and newspapers do not bother to mention this, but many reporters and sources of articles have interests or are rewarded by a third party to publish these articles. From time to time, the Rothschild website hosts external reporters and allows them a free platform, including the integration of links as they wish. The links in the articles may be sponsored links, for which the writer is compensated for commissions, favors or other interests of the writer and / or site.


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Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel’s ratings have been declining over the last few years, and with the launch of Disney+, this has accelerated even more.
Disney Channel is down 27%, more than it’s competitors, which is hardly surprising given the huge amount of content available on Disney+ that came from the Disney Channel.
According to Broadcasting Cable, since Disney+ launched the network has underperformed kid’s cable by an average of 6% per week.
Nickelodeon, the leader in the kids category, was down 29% in ratings and continues to lose share. AT&T Cartoon Network was down in line with the entire category, which dropped 24%.
Disney will be launching some upcoming shows exclusively on Disney Channel to improve ratings.


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Times Internet* intends to invest as much as $100 million in its programmatic and native ad network platform Colombia, but is strangely reticent about discussing why it’s making this large an investment, and what specifically the money will be used for.
In a note sent a few days ago, the company said the platform, will be “used to expand Colombia’s capabilities to leverage insights and data about users across multiple marketing formats including display, video as newer formats such as coupons and purchase formats for a wide variety of marketers.” Colombia, which Times Internet says considers more than 1000 separate attributes for marketing, claims a reach of almost 200 million digital users a month across Times Internet and partner publisher owned properties, said it served over 6 billion content recommendations in March alone. It says that more than 60% of this inventory is from premium news and content publishers, available only through Colombia. Times Internet claims a reach of 165 million users, and says it provides “an interest graph” which gives context to search and social graphs.
The “interest graph” contrast that the company highlights in comparison with search and social, points towards hints that the publisher is trying to set itself up as an alternative to Google and Facebook. Given that the $100 million investment is a substantial amount, we requested more specificity from Times Internet about its product and business plans, to understand their strategy better. The questions:
Q1. Times Internet launched out Colombia in 2014, and what it did then appears to be similar to what you’re citing as the objective now: of doing programmatic and native. What product development do you have in mind, and what capabilities do you want to add to Colombia, which require such a substantive investment of $100 million?
Q2. You mention that you’re looking at developing “developing marketing technology to continue to creating value for marketers as the mix of digital marketing gets more complex.” Apart from what kind of marketing technology you’re looking to develop (previous question), what are the complexities in digital marketing that it isn’t addressing now, but you seek to address in the future?
Q3. Also, what is the difference between what you’re doing and what existing platforms such as Google’s platforms or GroupM’s Xaxis aren’t already addressing?
Q4. You mention that you have had 50 external publishers which have signed up for Colombia in the last six months. What’s the total number of publishers, and can you share some names? Also, can you share some examples of native advertising served by Colombia both on Times Internet properties and outside?
Q5. At a time when ad networks, which are essentially commodity businesses now, are struggling, why are you building your own network instead of partnering with existing networks? How does competing with existing ad networks impact your relationship with, say, GroupM, which is pushing Xaxis, or Google?
Q6. Can you elaborate on how you create interest graphs, and whether you collect and use data outside of the Times of India network of websites?
Q7. In which countries is this 150 member global technology team operating, and how many are in India? What your plans for scaling this team?
Q8. Over what period is this $100 million being spent?
We’ve made several attempts to get a response from Times Internet. We’ll update in case we hear from them.
Disclosure: Times Internet is an advertiser with MediaNama


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VIDALIA, La - (KNOE) You may not give a lot of thought to where your next pair of jeans will come from. But these people do. This group is made up of top clothing designers from all over the world.
Jennifer Crumpler with BASF speaks to a group of clothing designers at the new Vidalia Mills textile plant.
“You’ve got 40 plus brands. The top senior VP level. The top designers the people making the decisions and never has that happened for people to come together for three days,” said Jennifer Crumpler with BASF e3 cotton.
So BASF’s e-3 cotton team brought these fashion execs to the new Vidalia Mills textile plant in Concordia Parish.
“We have a really great sustainability model of locally sourced cotton and one of the most environmentally up to date mills in the world really redefining how you can make denim and really make a minimal impact,” said Dan Feibus, CEO of Vidalia Mills.
“It’s environmentally friendly, it’s economically viable and it’s equitable,” said Crumpler.
“We’re passionate about American cotton. We’re passionate about BASF’s e3 program which gets complete transparency and accountability through the supply chain,” said Feibus.
Most of these fashion folks have never stepped foot on a farm. So they were taken to a cotton field in neighboring Tensas parish. For clothing entrepreneur Matt Eddmenson with the Imogene and Willie Brand out of Nashville, it was an eye opening experience.
“To see everything first-hand puts it all in perspective. We are always looking for ways to improve upon the old ways. That’s a state of the art facility and it’s the only purpose in creating it is to look at the sustainability component,” said Matt Eddmenson co-founder of Imogene + Willie clothing.
“When we think about sustainability we don’t think about just one piece of the process whether it’s just the mill or the farmer planting. We think about the whole process and the whole thing of it,” said Crumpler.
“Besides the sustainability aspect, this new plant will also bring 600 jobs to the MS delta area. In Vidalia.


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So before it premieres on July 17, what better way to celebrate Shay’s next adventure by remembering similar pregnancy journeys that transpired away from the public eye.
Global recognition is a hallmark of an A-list celebrity.
I have previously ranked the top ten point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards on the market this offseason. In the final installment of this series, we’ll breakdown the best centers set to enter free agency this summer.
In its third week of release, Godzilla: King of the Monsters pushed its ticket sales in foreign markets to $245.8 million, which surpasses the 1998 Godzilla’s total of $242.7 million.
Channel 4, ITV and Sky, alongside television’s marketing body Thinkbox, have teamed up to put some numbers behind their on-demand platforms in a bid to boost their commercial value.
A hot topic lately is the dueling Fyre Festival documentaries. Regardless of whether you prefer Netflix’s portrayal or Hulu’s sinister narrative, one thing both cover is the role that influencers played in unknowingly perpetuating the lie.
Late-night television without James Corden?!
Nike-owned Converse has taken a dramatic turn in its first major campaign since
Let’s face it: Our social media selves aren’t always our real selves. We want to come across as happy (all the time), very busy with cool and important things, and somehow successful at everything we do. That’s not how we really are, but we know no one’s going to “like” a picture of us having a bad day.
Last week, Expensify
The early 1990s were tough years for Cher. Battling chronic fatigue syndrome and unsure of her next career move, she signed up for some easy dough by appearing in that most maligned of TV contrivances, the infomercial. In a three-part series for Lori Davis hair-care products, the statuesque chanteuse perched on a sofa…
Consumers may be thumbs-down on department stores, but
Firstly, there continue to be numerous issues that ought to be taken into account when letting your youngsters utilize the App. U. S. tech providers, meanwhile, are waking to the challenge TikTok poses. TikTok is getting more and more interesting.
Seafood can be a great source of protein and nutrients, but women who are pregnant and nursing need to be extra cautious around fish with high levels of mercury. The FDA recommends women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and young children avoid these seven varieties: king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark,…
In the past 12 months, everything has changed for Gemma Chan.
General Electric has a new leader—again. After just over a year with CEO John Flannery at the helm, the company’s board of directors has decided to implement a new leader, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., as GE’s power business continues to show “weaker performance” with GE failing to meet its profit and cash-flow goals for the…
CERIZ, a French accessory brand for women has roped in Bollywood’s current heartthrob, Sara Ali Khan as their brand ambassador. After a successful start to a brand-new innings in Bollywood, the 20-something-year-old rising starlet will be seen sporting the stylish collection of handbags by CERIZ.
The newest McDonald’s store (and flagship) sits right in the center of Times Square—the Crossroads of the World— taking up more than 11,000 square feet in some of the most prime real estate,
A security notice email was sent Thursday, although
By Holly Lawrence, Next Avenue Contributor


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| Source: Iterable Iterable
San Francisco, California, UNITED STATES
San Francisco, Sept. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Iterable, the most powerful communication platform that helps brands activate customers with joyful experiences at scale, today announced its expansion into Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) to support its growing global customer base. Iterable’s operations in the region will be led by Jeremy Smith, Vice President and Country Manager for Iterable ANZ, who will execute the company’s local go-to-market strategy and strengthen Iterable’s presence in the region.
“Australia and New Zealand are undergoing an exciting period of innovation, and our expansion into ANZ not only brings us closer to our local customer base, but it enables us to bring Iterable to organizations in the region who are ready to catalyse their growth,” said Andrew Boni, CEO and co-founder of Iterable. “Our success as a company comes when our customers are successful, and this move ensures we continue to deliver outstanding support to our customers as they look to build closer relationships with their own customers.”
Iterable now has over 700 employees globally, with offices in Denver, New York, San Francisco, and London. The company recently announced it surpassed 1,000 customers operating in 44 distinct countries. By expanding to Australia and New Zealand, the company is underlining its continued commitment to delivering exceptional, localised support for its rapidly growing customer base.
Iterable’s move to ANZ is in response to growing demand from its customers, as more businesses are looking to activate their customers with higher levels of personalisation, orchestration, and automation. The company has developed a trusted network of customers and partners in the region, including:
Iterable is widely recognized for setting a high standard for customer experience around the world. The success of the brands and businesses in their community underscores its continued execution delivering value to their customers. To learn more about Iterable’s platform, features, partnerships, and to explore Iterable’s customer success stories, visit www.iterable.com.


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Since my very first look into honey bees and having my own apiary, I have been keenly aware of the impact Bees have on our environment and our food sources. Due to the Bee Movie and media exposure, the public has become more aware of the risks of loosing bees and the effect on humans. It’s not just pretty flowers but food we eat every day.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during the winter of 2006-2007 beekeepers noticed unusually high losses in their hives; loosing 30-90 percent of their hives. Colony Colla….


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The much-anticipated Volkswagen ID.4 has arrived in Australia for customer previews and dealer training, ahead of deliveries due in late 2023 or early 2024.
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV has arrived in Australia for training and public previews, ahead of a planned official launch in late 2023 or early 2024.
Caught on camera in Sydney, the white ID.4 – the electric equivalent of a Volkswagen Tiguan medium SUV – shown is one of two examples coming to Australia for Volkswagen dealer training and customer/media test drives.
While the vehicles will be overseas-market models, it’s believed they will be close in specification to the models bound for Australia – suggesting some of the larger battery packs available overseas, more powerful motors, and higher levels of standard features.
As reported by Drive earlier this month, production of the Volkswagen ID.4 for Australia – alongside its sleeker ID.5 ‘coupe’ sibling – is currently slated to commence in late 2023, for first customer deliveries in early 2024.
However, Volkswagen Australia says it is working “hard” to bring the start of production date forward to the middle of 2023 – in order to deliver the first cars to customers before the end of the year.
The ID.4 and ID.5’s Australian launch will occur up to three years behind Europe – which VW Australia attributes to its global head office prioritising production for markets such as Europe with stringent emissions targets, rather than Australia, which currently has no such regulations.
Set to follow the SUV pair is the ID.3 hatchback – a similar size to a Golf, and based on the ID.4/ID.5’s ‘MEB’ electric-car platform – sometime in 2024, after it receives a mid-life facelift in Europe.
No date has been announced for the ID. Buzz – Volkswagen’s modern electric reimagining of the iconic Kombi – nor any of VW’s other upcoming ID. electric cars.
In the meantime, fellow Volkswagen Group brand Cupra plans to bring its Born electric hatchback – a twin to the ID.3 – here in early 2023, while Skoda is due to launch siblings of the ID.4 and ID.5, the Enyaq iV and Enyaq Coupe iV, in 2024.
Further Australian details of the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 are expected in the coming months, ahead of first deliveries in late 2023 or early 2024.


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EgyptAir and Fawry for Banking Technology and Electronic Payments, partner to include Fawry’s services on the academy’s electronic portal.
This partnership aims at multiplying the academy’s payment systems, especially the electronic payment through more than 285k points of sale, in addition to myfawry app and bank wallets.
Amr Abu El-Enein, Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding Company, stated that EgyptAir is always keen to adopt modern technological systems in order to provide easy solutions to customers.
This comes in line with the company’s strategy to expand its digital services portfolio in line with the increase in the company’s frequencies to many points around the world.
Hossam Ezz El-Din, CCO of Fawry, expressed his happiness with this partnership, noting that the company has gathered young minds of talented professionals who are committed to building a world-class level of technology in quality, information security and ease of use.
If you see something out of place or would like to contribute to this story, check out our Ethics and Policy section.