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Company News: The digitisation of delivery channels started in earnest many years ago. Everyone knows how it has reshaped the way consumers purchase from retailers, with online shopping now au rigueur. More recently, companies in other industrial sectors have started to experience their own digitisation revolution. Included in this bunch of ‘newbies’ are agent-based organisations that are now rushing to digitally distribute marketing and communication content through agents to end customers.
The Vocus Group telecommunications company has appointed financial advisers in preparation for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Vocus New Zealand expected to be undertaken before the end of 2021.
Global IT and consumer electronics market channel group AltoStratos has launched a $25 million capital raising ahead of a planned listing on the Australian Stock Exchange.
All mobile phone repeaters are illegal in Australia, with the exception of the celfi units, because the carriers can remotely[…]
To this day there is still some 700MHz spectrum unallocated.NO there isn't! I'm sorry but you are wrong here. The[…]
If TPG or Optus are limited in the amount of spectrum they can buy (by a cashed up telstra with[…]
All of the repeaters linked to in this article are ILLEGALThe only legal repeaters authorized for use by the ACMA[…]
Mortgage fraud where identity theft makes families homeless, is not being helped in the U.S. by private equity/lending firms, banks[…]


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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s DLC Tracks Can Be Played Online Without Having To Buy Them
Nintendo presented its first Direct of 2022 last week and it was something of a hit with Switch owners. From new Mario Strikers to sleeper hit Live A Live, there was a lot to like during the jam-packed 40 minutes. Perhaps the biggest moment was the reveal that almost five years after it launched along with the Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is getting DLC. Not the new game some were hoping for, but this actually might be a little better.
It's also not the new characters that were rumored to be joining the 30-year-old spinoff series. The DLC takes the form of 48 tracks from Mario Kart's past. The tracks will be added via six packs between now and the end of 2023. Nintendo has revealed the first pack of tracks will be available to play from March 18, but you won't necessarily need the Booster Course Pass to enjoy them.
As revealed by Nintendo, and highlighted by Dot Esports, if you have the pass, then your friends will be able to race around the new courses with you in online play whether they have bought the pass or not. Even better, from March 22, all eight of the new tracks will be selectable when playing against rivals online, even if you don't have the pass or NSO's Expansion Pack.
The only reason to splash out on the Booster Course Pass, which costs $24.99 and gets you all 48 courses as they arrive, is if you want to use them in local play. It would also appear you get access to them a few days before anyone who doesn't pay as the first wave of tracks won't be added to online play until four days after the pack first becomes available.
Despite the initial reaction to the DLC being overwhelmingly positive, a closer look at the courses coming to MK8D next month has some players a little worried. The tracks don't really fit with the aesthetic of the rest of the game which has led some to believe they will be the same fairly basic versions used in mobile game Mario Kart Tour. Hopefully that's not the case as skipping between courses designed for the Switch and ones created for a mobile screen will be a little jarring.
Source: Read Full Article

domain: news


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Tesla’s Rally Stalls As Musk Announces Deal With Hertz Is Yet To Be Signed
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said no contract has yet been signed with Hertz after the rental car company announced a deal that led to the electric car maker’s market value surpassing the $1 trillion mark for the first time.
Shares in Tesla jumped 12.6% last week as Hertz announced it had ordered 100,000 vehicles to be delivered by the end of 2022. However, Musk has since tweeted, “I’d like to emphasize that no contract has been signed yet,” causing Tesla’s rally to stall. Tesla’s CEO also went on to say that “Tesla has far more demand than production, therefore we will only sell cars to Hertz for the same margin as to consumers.”
If Hertz’ deal with Tesla goes ahead, it will be the biggest-ever rental car order for electric vehicles. Hertz would be paying $4.2 billion for 100,000 Model 3s over 14 months, a figure which amounts to approximately one-fifth of its overall vehicle fleet. Hertz also plans to build a network of charging stations to accommodate its new electric vehicles and says that, from early November 2022, it expects customers will be able to rent a Tesla Model 3 at Hertz airports and some neighbourhood locations in the United States and Europe.
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Covid-19 has affected businesses in Kenya. Things have never been the same since the month of March. Businesses have shut down and people have lost jobs.
Currently, there are no official stats of how many businesses have been shut down as a result of Covid-19. Before Covid-19, stats indicated that at least 1,000 SMEs failed daily in Kenya. With Covid-19, the numbers might be double.
Bars, hotels, clubs, schools, and the transport sector have either shut down or greatly affected by the ongoing pandemic. WHO has already told the world to stop talking about post-coronavirus because the virus might never go away.
How are Kenyan banks supporting SMEs affected by Covid-19? During the advent of the pandemic, the government and citizens called on Kenyan banks to have mercy on SMEs and individuals who had taken loans from them and defer some of them.
Almost all banks agreed to negotiate with businesses and individuals and extended their loan payment period by up to between 3 and 12 months. Some of the banks such as the Absa Bank of Kenya have restructured all their loans to give a breathing space to SMEs.
Absa Bank of Kenya also announced plans to start paying SME suppliers within 7 and 14 days rendering a service. Most SMEs have been complaining about delayed payment of suppliers by banks and government agencies.
Even with uncertainty about what the future holds, some banks are still giving loans to SMEs running specific businesses during this period. Banks are also partnering with other players in donating sanitizers, cash, and other products to the vulnerable in society.
Today, Friday, May 15, 2020, in a series of online chats organized by Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), the CEO of Absa Bank of Kenya Mr. Jeremy Awori is breaking down on how SMEs are being supported during this pandemic.
To be part of the chat, click on this link, register then have an opportunity to interact with top bank CEOs in Kenya.


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Huawei Claims their budget phone’s Face Unlock is better than iPhone X
Huawei has launched several amazing smartphones this year so far including budget range Huawei Honor 7C and Honor 7A smartphones. Just now, a interesting news came out that Huawei claims their Honor 7A and Honor 7C phone’s Face Unlock is better than Apple’s iPhone X. Which is a really brave move by the company to challenge Apple’s flagship iPhone X. And the amazing fact is both Huawei phone’s prices are less than a fifth of iPhone X.
Huawei Honor 7A and Honor 7C featured with Face Unlock technology feature and claims will recognise users face faster than the iPhone X. To register user’s face, selfie camera of the Honor 7A and Honor 7C map 1,024 points of interest which helps the user to unlock them with such speed. The company has not mentioned yet that Face unlock feature can be used for security or convenience in both phones. The iPhone X’s 3D front-facing camera comes use depth mapping technology to recognise your face while the Honor 7A and Honor 7C don’t. However, so whether the method is as secure remains to be seen.
Source – CNET


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Over-55s are the least likely demographic to select paid search results over natural results, according to research by Tamar.
It found that while the over-55 age group was one of the fastest growing online, marketers should note the differences in how they use the web to reach them effectively.
According to Tamar, men over 50 accounted for 38% of the 1.9m new web users last year and women over 50 accounted for 15%. Older women are now the fastest growing segment on Facebook and a third of internet users in the UK are now over 50.
The report revealed that 73% of over-55s would select organic search results over paid results.
Tanya Goodin, CEO of Tamar, said, “Silver surfers are savvy, keen to engage and value the benefits of being online. Integrated social media and search should be central to any brand strategy that seeks to maximise ROI and we think that the next 5-10 years will be an exhilarating, rewarding journey for brands that understand the new online commercial environment.”


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Too often, the burgeoning technology sector gets a bad rap for its disruptive tendencies. Most commonly, we hear tales of e-commerce firms displacing brick-and-mortar businesses. Typically, we don’t hear the other side of the coin, where companies like PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) leverage their innovative platforms for the greater good. This is one of the key, underappreciated reasons why I consider PayPal stock a core holding.
Recently, the payment-processing specialist’s management team emphasized its longstanding efforts in promoting racial justice, announcing “an extra $5 million in grants in a bid to support black and minority-owned businesses, as well as communities in the United States.” Since June, the company “has made continuous efforts to fulfill its $530-million commitment designed to meet the needs of Black-owned businesses for their survival.”
Of course, it’s hard not to get a little jaded when hearing news items like this. But rather than a cynical ploy to bolster the bullish case for PayPal stock, this in my opinion is a genuine reflection of how rising tech can finally deliver meaningful social change.
Over the last few years and before the novel coronavirus pandemic, a strong economy combined with declining unemployment rates contributed to a decline in the number of the unbanked. Unfortunately, not every segment of society has benefited. According to the Detroit Free Press:
“Millions of consumers — including people of color — aren’t able to easily cash a check or visit an ATM because they’re not customers of regular banks.
“The top reasons given for not having a bank account include not having enough money to meet minimum balance requirements, not trusting banks, bank account fees are too high, bank account fees are too unpredictable.”
Banks are getting creative with their service offerings, attempting to woo new customers. However, nothing can beat out the convenience, intuitiveness and relevance of digital payment platforms. This will continue to lift PayPal stock longer term.
PayPal Stock and the Pandemic
Indeed, digital payments is one of the main catalysts for social equity. On an elemental level, banking access is a problem, particularly with soaring Covid-19 cases. Further, Harvard Health Publishing reported that communities of color have been “devastated” by the pandemic. PYPL’s contactless platform encourages social distancing, keeping people safe and thereby increasing the ESG (environmental, social and governance) cred of PayPal stock.
Moreover, if we have a K- or L-shaped economic recovery, PayPal’s services will be even more crucial for all communities. For instance, the number of the unbanked increased conspicuously following the events that sparked the Great Recession. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) now reports that the financial and labor market pressures from the pandemic could see a rise in the number of the unbanked.
But PayPal stock is more than just an answer to these “negative” catalysts. Even in the best-case scenario (a V-shaped recovery), the underlying platform offers flexibility that traditional banks can’t match. That’s because PayPal is really a brand of the gig economy.
The Great Migration
In recent years, millennials have begun migrating away from large urban centers to smaller or more rural towns. Largely, this is due to exponential advancements in technologies of connectivity. With the ability to work anywhere, there was simply no point for young people to pay the often onerous costs of living in major metropolitan areas.
Naturally, the Covid-19 pandemic will accelerate this migration trend, as the U.S. adopted remote work under a baptism of fire. Now, anyone who wants to hook into the gig economy can theoretically do so. As well, certain states have laws that are far more conducive for the entrepreneurial spirit.
It’s not even close. For example, Utah’s employment level has grown nearly 37% since the fourth quarter of 2003. Other popular destination states for millennials, such as Arizona and Colorado, have seen 33% and 28% growth over the same period, respectively.
In contrast, the U.S. employment level growth since Q4 2003 is a pedestrian 5.7%.
PYPL Is Constantly Evolving
And the migration is another reason why PayPal stock is really the twenty-first-century version of the banking platform. As millennials move to less-populated parts of the U.S. — and perhaps other areas across the globe — PYPL adapts to them, not the other way around.
In other words, as the end-user evolves, so too does PayPal. Essentially, wherever there is internet access, there is access to a robust payments system. Unfortunately, you can’t say the same about the traditional banking architecture.
Therefore, keep close tabs on PayPal stock. No matter which way the economy turns, the underlying company will provide relevant, convenient services.
On the date of publication, Matthew McCall did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.
On the date of publication, neither Matt McCall nor the InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article held (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.


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Three West Yorkshire businesses, Driver Hire, Cafe2U, and Pitman Training Group, have all been shortlisted at the prestigious 2015 bfa HSBC Franchisor Of The Year Awards.
The British Franchise Association (bfa) recognises the UK’s most exceptional operators in a range of categories, for their business growth and development, service excellence and ethical franchising practice.
Bradford-based Drive Hire, a B2B management franchise within the recruitment sector, is shortlisted for Franchisor of the Year. The business has been shortlisted for the awards nine times in 10 years. It has 86 franchised offices across the UK.
Chris Chidley, Driver Hire’s chief executive said: “Our business model, franchise support and customer service all contribute to our ongoing success. It’s great that our efforts have been recognised in this way. To repeatedly make it to the finals says a huge amount about our business and what it offers our franchisees.”
Leeds-based Cafe2U offers a coffee and sweet treats delivery service across the UK. Competing in the Franchisee Recruitment category, it has 60 franchisees in the UK, and 200 worldwide.
Tom Acland, managing director of Cafe2U, commented: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for this award and feel it reflects the time and effort the Cafe2U team invest in ensuring that our recruitment process is designed to attract people who suit the business and will be successful.”
Wetherby-based independent training provider Pitman Training Group, shortlisted for the award for Innovation, has been franchising for over 20 years and has over 100 training centres across the UK and internationally.
Claire Lister, managing director at Pitman Training Group, added: “Pitman Training Group constantly seeks and adapts ways to continue evolving with the franchise network to create, achieve and harness business success.
“Our innovative changes have significantly enhanced the growth and profitability of the business in all areas, and we are delighted our efforts have been recognised by the bfa. Being confirmed as a finalist in the bfa awards is a fantastic accolade for our achievements so far, and we are extremely honoured. “
The bfa awards showcase the diversity of excellence in the franchise sector, encouraging businesses of all sizes and sectors to demonstrate heir outstanding achievements.
The 2015 awards have five categories:
- bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year
- Emerging Franchisor of the Year
- Award for Innovation
- Franchisee Recruitment Award
- Award for Customer Focus
Andy Brattesani, UK head of franchising for HSBC, said: “Thanks to the calibre of entries, we’ve arrived at a list of businesses that really highlight the diversity found in modern franchising.
“The finalists, a strong combination of established and newer franchisors, should be very proud to have been shortlisted for their dedication to exceptional business practices. We look forward to hearing more about their success at the judging.”
All finalists will present to a panel of industry experts in London on 20 and 21 May. Winners will be announced at a black tie dinner on 25 June at the ICC, Birmingham.


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Georgia leads the nation in bank failures, but it may soon become the first state to create a new kind of bank.
In March, the state legislature passed a law to allow payments processors to get into the banking game by issuing credit cards branded by retailers.
Called the “Georgia Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank Act,” the law enables non-banks to cut banks out of the process of making a payment with a credit card.
Georgia is the only state to have passed a law that allows payment processors to become banks. And since Georgia is a hub of the payments processing industry, including Global Payments Inc., Elavon, First Data Corp. and Total System Services Inc., it could become a hotbed for the new “MALP” banks.
The processors will be eligible for Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage. They will also get a fresh set of regulatory eyes from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.
“We have received at least 20 calls from other states and overseas from companies interested in it,” said Rob Braswell, commissioner. “They’re kicking the tires, seeing what it’s going to look like.”
Braswell’s department is working on writing the regulations and applications, he said. They should be ready to start accepting applications by the end of the year, if all goes as planned.
“It’s a very extensive and complex industry. It’s a lot to get our arms around,” he said.
Atlanta-based Global Payments is leading the charge, industry observers say. The company is said to have been at the center of the law’s creation and passage at the end of this year’s legislative session. The company (NYSE: GPN) declined to comment. Global Payments processes billions of payment card, check and e-commerce transactions annually for more than 1 million merchant locations.
“If a merchant acquirer like Global Payments is able to access the card networks by virtue of its own MALP charter, that could be financially beneficial for merchant acquirers,” said Chris Daniel, chair of the payment systems practice at law firm Paul Hastings LLP.
A lot happens in the few seconds after a customer swipes a credit card: the merchant’s card machine dials the merchant acquirer, or the company that persuaded the retailer to accept certain credit cards. It routes the transaction to a payments processor. The processor makes sure the retailer is paid and the customer is billed. And the networks of payments and transactions belong to Visa and MasterCard, who do business only with banks.
Enter Global Payments.
If a company like Global Payments can become a limited-purpose bank, one that can issue credit cards and deal directly with Visa and MasterCard, it cuts the bank out of the equation.
Merchants pay a fee on every transaction that is split between the bank and the processor. If Global Payments becomes a bank, that’s one fewer slice out of the fee pie.
“This takes the ancillary fee out of the equation,” said Sal Inserra, partner at accounting and consulting firm Crowe Horwath LLP. “When you have fewer hands in the pot, you have less that needs to be distributed.”
It’s been more than a year since the last U.S. bank charter was issued, according to a report Aug. 28 by the FDIC. The new charters won’t mean new bank branches popping up around town, and credit cards won’t be issued with Global Payments’ brand name.
But they will give payments companies the ability to act as a bank and issue those cards.
One wrinkle the payments companies will consider is the inherent credit risk.
“For the processors to suddenly move into the realm of taking that risk, that’s a totally new business. It’s something they don’t necessarily have any background in,” said Jeff McConnell, a payments industry executive and CEO of Atlanta mobile security startup Whisper Communications LLC.
McConnell noted that confusion and problems often surround changes in the business model of financial transaction companies.
When American Express switched from a model where customers paid their cards off every month to a revolving model, it ran into trouble, McConnell said.
“Credit isn’t something you should get into lightly,” McConnell said. “I’ll be very interested in how they’re doing that.”
The new limited-purpose banks wouldn’t really be taking business away from existing banks unless they decided to start lending money, said Chris Marinac, managing principal at Atlanta bank analysis firm FIG Partners LLC.
“If the payment companies are going to jump into the arena they would have to be prepared to take risk as lenders,” he said.
“Global Payments is trying to reduce their costs,” Palgon said.
If enough retailers switch to the limited-purpose banks, the four-part original networks will have to start lowering their fees to match, Palgon said.


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TITAN Business Awards (TITAN) has announced the list of 2021 Season 1 winners of the inaugural season of its distinguished awards program. This announcement is featured concurrently with the on-going Covid-19 pandemic that ultimately provided us with a new normal and beginning.
On the note of new beginnings, this was Makers Nutrition’s first time entering the TITAN Business Awards. The dietary supplement company was awarded a grand total of 22 titles, from Achievement in Sales and Management, to Innovative Leadership and Customer Service.
Founder and CEO Jason Provenzano shares “It is beyond an honor to be recognized by the TITAN Business Awards. Any CEO can agree that the past year was a hurdle. However, with the amazing team I have working with me to provide top-quality dietary supplements and customer support to other business owners and brands, Makers Nutrition has been able to set new standards—standards that have put us ahead of competition, giving us the opportunity to be a better company for our clients around the globe.”
This award caters to SMEs, large, public, and private organizations, as well as other business professionals worldwide, whereby IAA hopes to honor achievements and nurture excellence in every aspect of work life, from entrepreneurs to companies and organizations, public relations, customer service, marketing, management, human resources, information technology, etc. “We celebrate the remarkable Titan-like achievements of a wide range of organizations, from all industries, as well as their efforts to better both the workspace and company culture,” said Kenjo Ong, CEO of IAA. “Persevering through adversities and hardships, we aim to inspire and embolden all businesses, being the advocate of integrity for all corporate professionals worldwide.”
From 28 countries worldwide, including: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, India, and Ireland, to name a few, as many as 650 entries were nominated, and only the best emerged victorious. Each project was blind judged by the TITAN jury panel, comprised of distinguished professionals of the international business scene, evaluated on criteria determined by the merits of TITAN Business Awards. The winners were chosen based on the average scores provided by the jury members.
During this gloom-ridden chapter in our lives, being a jury for the 2021 TITAN Business Awards has been an exceptional pleasure, with some making their debut as a judge in the TITAN Business Awards. These individuals are well represented in their fields, from companies such as: Graham Kelly (Originate Pte. Ltd.), Kevin Yu (Sidechef Inc.), Marie O’ Riordan (EML), Oscar Solano Brenes (Porter Novelli), Roland Bägén (Tata Consultancy Services - TCS), Santiago Villegas (1903 Public Relations), and Thanasis Papapostolou (AIP Consulting Ltd), to list a few. “Our jury members’ extensive backgrounds in the business field ensures that the subjective qualities, such as: business acumen and innovative business concepts, are part of the consideration.” Ong said. “Ensuring high standards of high quality, providing winners with the international exposure they deserve.”
“Our jury panel was impressed by the intensity that was brought on by the entrants’ submissions,” Ong said. “I hope that we are able to witness the creation of history, where the winners of this season set the bar for future business endeavors to follow.”
To see the full list of titles Makers Nutrition garnered in the 2021 TITAN Business Awards, click here.
About International Awards Associate (IAA)
IAA, established in 2015, is the organizer of MUSE Creative Awards, MUSE Design Awards, Vega Digital Awards, NYX Marcom Awards, NYX Game Awards, NYX Video Awards, TITAN Property Awards, LIT Talent Awards, MUSE Photography Awards, and MUSE Hotel Awards. Our mission is to honor, promote and encourage professional excellence, from industry to industry, internationally and domestically, through award platforms that are industry appropriate. IAA assembled TITAN Business Awards to bring attention to the international business industry and promote their strategies, cultures, and teamwork to the world.
About Makers Nutrition
Makers Nutrition, an Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Company in America, is a groundbreaking provider for dietary supplement companies worldwide. Specializing in capsules, tablets, powders, softgels and gummies, Makers Nutrition provides a full-service option for all contract manufacturing, graphic design, packaging, and fulfillment service needs. Click here to learn more.


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Coffee, chocolate festival kicks off in Turkish capital
4-day festival offers live music, food, desserts
By Kubra Chohan
A four-day coffee and chocolate festival kicked off on Thursday in the Turkish capital.
The festival at Ankara Congresium will host 30 seminars, more than 10 workshops, contests, concerts and shows.
Local and international coffee, iced tea, chocolate and desserts were offered to the liking of enthusiasts accompanied by a live jazz quartet.
A workshop for children with Down Syndrome was held where award-winning chef Hakan Dogan taught children how to make chocolate lollipops.
Also, Gurkan Kumak, Starbucks 2015 European and Middle East and Africa Barista Championship winner, narrated "the story of Turkish coffee" to a jam-packed hall.
Atilla Narin, founding member of the non-governmental organization Baristas Foundation, pointed to the importance of coffee in Turkey's history at a seminar called "the lost coffees of Anatolia".
He said exquisite coffees, such as those which use nigella seeds and chickpeas, should be introduced to the world.
The festival, expecting to host some 60,000 people till Sunday, has the theme "two tastes, five senses".
It may be held annually.Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.


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The Analytical Center has published a new Bulletin on the social economic crisis titled Household Consumption Trends in Russia amid Crisis. In the Bulletin experts of the Analytical Center look at the current trends in the global economy and the resulting trends in household consumption and the situation the average Russians find themselves in. The study focuses on the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable population groups and the decline in discretionary household spending.
The growth in household consumption in Russia in 2005-2014, which to a large extent was brought about by the high oil rent in that period, has created a kind of a consumer cushion before the fall. Purchases of durable goods in Russia in those years outpaced purchases of such goods in most other major countries in the world. People upgraded their durables on a mass scale, especially in major cities. This mass upgrade happened primarily in private cars, computer and communications equipment.
What we are seeing this year is not a collapse of household consumption but rather a contraction to accelerating inflation taking place even as nominal household income remains unchanged. With respect to discretionary consumption (restaurants, etc.), this has resulted in a moderate decline in this type of spending. In other words, affluent people are not willing to change their lifestyle and for the time being they are still managing to afford it.
The first half of 2015 saw consumer markets go back to where they were one to two years ago in terms of demand and with regard to durable goods they went back to the 2012 level. The amount of consumer purchases recorded in 2012-2013 can be viewed as relatively normal and used as the baseline that all subsequent fluctuations can be compared to, including the slowdown we are seeing this year. Compared with that level the automotive sales have been hit the hardest so far. The situation with demand for catering services is also quite challenging.
The food industry is slowly but surely adjusting to the ‘retaliatory sanctions’ The shock from these sanctions was taken advantage of by local suppliers to raise prices; there has been little progress in terms of competition so far and the banned EU imports are being substituted not with locally sourced products but with imports from other countries. Output in the industry as a whole outpaced demand and, naturally, imports as well.
For other issues of our bulletins on the socio-economic crisis in Russia see Publications.


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Sign Up for Our Monthly Caribbean Newsletter
It’s not everyday that a celebration starts out with a cafe Cubano and a seven-piece Cuban band and then evolves into mojitos and a police ship escort, complete with water cannons.
But, then again, the May 1 sailing of Fathom’s Adonia is not just any cruise. The third cruise for the new Carnival Corporation & Plc brand marks the Caribbean giant’s first entry into Havana, as well as the first sailing of any U.S. ship to Cuba since 1958.
Overseeing the festivities were Arnold Donald, CEO and president of Carnival Corporation & Plc, and Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation & Plc. The two spoke with media and passengers as the sold-out ship departed sunny PortMiami for Havana.
Being the first cruise brand to sail to Cuba from the U.S. is a significant accomplishment for Carnival, whose 10 brands have a considerable presence in the Caribbean.
“It was very important to us to be able to go,” Donald said. “We are honored and privileged to be first. And we are humbled to be part of such a significant change in a practice that obviously spells wealth in the future in terms of humanity and human spirit.”
Of course, the historic sailing wasn’t without its challenges. On April 12, two Cuban-born U.S. citizens filed a class-action lawsuit against Carnival for not allowing them to register for the inaugural sailing. The cruise line was following a Cuban policy that did not permit Cuban-Americans to enter Cuba by ship. Carnival temporarily placed the cruise on hold until April 22, when the Cuban government agreed to overturn the policy.
“We got a little nervous when things got dicey and emotions came out,” Donald said. “I recognize for many, emotions are strong, and for some, the past has been painful. For some of the Cubans onboard, this historic cruise is a dichotomy of excitement and reconciliation and, for some, returning to their place of birth for the very first time.”
Out of the 700 passengers on the ship, up to 25 individuals are Cuban-Americans, said Russell. This includes Carnival employees such as Arnaldo Perez, general counsel for Carnival Corporation & Plc, who will be the first person to disembark the ship in Havana.
Russell recognized Perez as one of the “secret sauce elements” of the Fathom Cuba product, in addition to Rosamaria Caballero Stafford, senior director of Cuba product for Fathom, and Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port & destination development for Carnival Corporation & Plc.
The Fathom Adonia is the first U.S. ship to sail from the U.S. to Cuba in more than 50 years. // © 2016 Mindy Poder
The 704-passenger Adonia at PortMiami during embarkation // © 2016 Mindy Poder
Cruisers drank complimentary champagne during the festive Sail-Away Celebration. // © 2016 Mindy Poder
A fleet of police boats escorted the Adonia out of Miami. // © 2016 Mindy Poder
While staff popped champagne bottles, escort boats shot celebratory water cannons. // © 2016 Mindy Poder
Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation & Plc, and Tara Russell, Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation & Plc, toasted the historic moment. // © 2016 Mindy Poder
Passengers onboard ranged from first-time cruisers celebrating a special occasion to frequent cruisers who have traveled far and wide.
“For many American people, their dream has been to sail into Cuba, and we know there is enormous pent-up demand to sail this final frontier that is so literally on our doorstep,” Donald said. “I am so proud that today we are able to start fulfilling that dream for all Americans. The best way to break down barriers is to sail across them, and the best way to bring people together is by bringing people together. It’s that simple.”
In addition to two days in Havana, the seven-night cruise will sail to Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba before returning to PortMiami the morning of Sunday, May 8. Wednesday and Saturday will be sea days.
Adonia will now begin sailing to Cuba every other week, alternating with Fathom’s voluntourism itinerary in the Dominican Republic.
Read more about Fathom’s Cuba approval announcement.
Find out how the rest of the cruise went. Check out the author’s firsthand review of Fathom’s Cuba cruise.


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Traditional 3D printers are great for mass customization but are still too slow and expensive.
Now, a Massachusetts-based company called Desktop Metal (DM) is set to change the future of 3D printing with its 3D metal printing system, which is much faster, safer, and affordable.
The company is creating two new 3D printers: the DM Studio and DM Production. The first aims to provide faster and cheaper metal prototyping for engineering groups, and the second serves as a production system for mass manufacture.
At the low end of the market, commercially available desktop 3D printers can only use low-quality ABS plastics. And while organizations like NASA and Boeing use laser-melted metal printing, the process is slow and expensive.
The DM Studio System is capable of using a variety of metals and alloys, including steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium. It does not require hazardous metal powders, unsafe cutting tools, or any complex lasers.
Desktop Metal’s Studio machines are up to 100 times faster than a conventional alternative. It is also 10 times less expensive with material costs that are 20 times cheaper.
Lately, the company has gained a lot of attention, with big players like Google Ventures making investments in the company.


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FTC challenges Rite Aid acquisition
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive SummaryRite Aid must divest approximately 23 pharmacies to ensure compliance with federal trade regulations in the wake of the retailer's recently announced $3.5 bil. acquisition of Eckerd and Brooks pharmacies from Canada's Jean Coutu Group, FTC says in a June 4 consent agreement. The deal gives Rite Aid 1,854 more stores and six distribution centers, making it the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast and the third largest in the U.S. However, the acquisition, minus the sell off, would create an anticompetitive market climate as sales by both parties, Rite Aid and Eckerd/Brooks, account for at least half of all pharmacies in the 23 local markets identified by FTC. The stores will be sold to Kinney Drugs, Medicine Shoppe, Walgreens, Big Y and Weis Markets. FTC voted 5-0 to approve the consent agreement and order, and a 30-day public comment period is open until July 28...
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Christmas is coming early in Wembley Park this year.
Xmasbox, the neighbourhood’s winter programme featuring all things festive, is in full swing with shopping, street food, cultural events and entertainment. And one of the biggest treats is coming up very soon: Ms Lauryn Hill is taking the stage at The SSE Arena, Wembley! (See more in our gigs + concerts calendar.)
Ms. Hill will be joined by upcoming R&B starlet NAO, Trap Jazz siren IAMDDB and Nigerian Afrobeat star Patoranking on the final night of her U.K. tour. And the best part is that you and a friend can win the chance to come along for free, thanks to our friends at Wembley Park, just by answering the question below.
But that’s not all: also included in the prize is a full day of fun including a £200 shopping spree at London Designer Outlet, a meal for two at newly-opened Boxpark Wembley and drinks for two. So you can spend a day doing some last minute Christmas shopping (or grabbing some bargains for yourself) before digging into anything from burritos, pizza, chicken, Thai food or pretty much any other food you could think of. If you’d rather spread your prize over multiple days, head along to the concert on Monday but claim your shopping and dinner date any time before 1st January, 2019.
The prize also entitles you to free next-day delivery of all of your shopping bags to anywhere in the UK, powered by DropIt. London Designer Outlet is home to 70 high-street brands like Adidas, Fiorelli, Converse, H&M, Levi’s and Samsung, which means the hardest part is deciding where to go first.
Boxpark, which you’ll probably already know from Croydon and Shoreditch, recently set up its third base at Wembley Park and it’s the largest outlet to date. It’s the place to be in north-west London for festive cheer with Christmas movies plus a series of workshops, a Vintage Christmas Fair on 16th December, live music events and carol performances.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit yet, make sure to save some time at Wembley Park to wander around the rest that Xmasbox has to offer. There’s The Light Maze, an immersive and interactive lights-meet-glass labyrinth to get lost in, the golden StarBox, and also plenty of Christmassy illuminations dotted around the park.
To win this ultimate experience at Wembley Park, simply fill out the form below. Good luck! The winner will be contacted via email on Friday December 14.
This competition is now CLOSED.
Also published on Medium.


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One of the complaints parents often levy against videogames is the amount of time that children spend playing them. Now, when I was a kid, my parents set clear boundaries as to when it was appropriate for me to play and for how long. But for some parents who may not choose to take full responsibility for the proper raising of their child, Nintendo is considering some new options.
A recent investor conference call with Nintendo has revealed that the company has considered taking steps to allow parents more control over the amount of time games are played. Satoru Iwata explained that such features as an automatic shutdown of the system after a pre-determined length of time were considered for the Wii but decided against to prevent interrupting the experience should the player be at a particularly dramatic moment and opted instead to simply display usage data.
Iwata went on to say that Nintendo is looking into more parental control options in their upcoming handheld 3DS system, but have yet to decide on whether to incorporate the Wii's time-logging system or something more direct.
I want to say that having more options is a good thing. I just hate the idea it represents, that parents need technological solutions to control their children's behavior. Whatever happened to a nice birch switch?
Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of the hardest games Nintendo has made in years. While the core game is extremely manageable, completing the game's fabled mirror mode, which forces you to best every level in the game backw...more
I remember where I was when Donkey Kong Country Returns was announced for the Wii. I was in the E3 press room during the Nintendo conference, and I shouted a few obscenities at the screen after the surprise trailer, garnering...more
It wasn't the biggest Nintendo Direct event today, but we did get some more info on a few games like New Super Luigi U and Pikmin 3, as well as release dates like Wonderful 101. The event ended up being mostly Wii U-centric, ...more


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There was a boost for food retailers towards the end of the month as the sunshine came out and shoppers started getting in party food and drink ahead of the Olympics but it wasn't a significant help.
With only the opening couple of days of the Olympic Games covered by these statistics, we'll have to wait a while to assess the overall impact on retail sales.
Let's hope Team GB keeps on increasing its medal tally, bringing a feelgood factor that helps consumer confidence."
More top news
The Olympic and World champion seem unfazed by the electric vehicle which sent him flying in Beijing.
The rapper declared his intention to run at the end of a rambling acceptance speech at the VMAs last night.
As we see in the end of August, we mark the meteorological end of summer 2015.


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BEND, Ore. - From city governments, to law firms, to clothing stores -- in just eight days, Central Oregon has put its money where its mouth is, securing $350,000 in pre-paid ticket pledges for new non-stop flights between Redmond and LAX.
"For me, it was a no-brainer," Vanilla Urban Threads owner April Lawyer said Friday.
It's here today and gone tomorrow in the fashion world. That's why it's so important for Lawyer to attend trade shows in L.A. and keep her boutique stocked with the latest trends.
"By being able to go down there more, on a more regular basis, I can stay ahead of the trends a little bit quicker," Lawyer said.
Lawyer has a vested interest in getting the flight -- she travels down to Southern California several times a year for business, and also has family down there.
But not every company pledging has business in L.A.
"We don't have any immediate plans for the travel bank," said Karnopp Petersen partner Jon Napier. "But we thought it was important to support EDCO. Our firm's belief is that business innovation is clearly key to Central Oregon's future."
Every city in Central Oregon has also pledged to the cause.
Economic Development For Central Oregon Executive Director Roger Lee was confident Friday morning that they'd meet their goal.
But the flight is about much more than the travel bank -- this is upwards of a $1 million investment in Central Oregon.
"There's a marketing campaign that COVA is actually managing along with Redmond Airport, so that's almost a quarter million," Lee said. "And then there's a revenue guarantee that was really largely the federal government grant. We beat out other communities around the country to get that."
From the federal government, down to individual contributions -- it's a belief in the future of Central Oregon.
"A lot of people in Bend, in order to live here, they work satellite and have to fly to LA, and I wanted to support that," Lawyer said.
And after a week of scrambling to raise the funds, Lee is all smiles.
"I just can't say enough about the area chambers, visitors associations -- the whole community has really rallied together to make this happen," he said.
Now comes the process of collecting the pledges by next Friday's deadline, extended by American Airlines, and then distributing the travel vouchers.
If all goes well, EDCO said the flights on a 50-seat regional jet could begin as soon as June.


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Employees are Etsy Inc at the company’s headquarters in Brooklyn. You will pass the quilt displaying the sign.
Victor J. Blue / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Stocks fell 14% in overtime trading.
Here’s how the company works.
- Revenue: 68 cents per share vs. expected 63 cents per share, according to analysts surveyed by Refinitiv
- Revenue: Expected $ 528.9 million vs. $ 524.7 million, according to analysts surveyed by Refinitiv
Revenue growth slowed to 23.4% year-on-year during the quarter. This is a significant slowdown from the last quarter, with sales growth exceeding 100% in each of the last four quarters.
The results underscore concerns that the pandemic surge in e-commerce activity is diminishing as vaccinated consumers spend less online and more on travel and other services. I am. Last week, Etsy shares, eBay When Wayfair All dragged down rear Amazon Report sales, Below expectations..
Known for its handmade and personalized products, Etsy operates an online marketplace and is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the pandemic, with shoppers visiting the site for face masks, household items and more.
“Etsy’s second-quarter 2021 performance is very noteworthy in terms of how dramatically the world has changed over the last year,” said Etsy CEO Josh Silverman. Stated in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to me and our entire team for reporting strong year-over-year growth, with GMS and revenue increasing by about 13% and 23%, respectively. In fact, in the same period last year, the Etsy market Place’s second quarter GMS increased 31%. “
This quarter, Etsy expects revenue to be between $ 500 million and $ 525 million, showing a year-on-year growth rate of 13.5% at the midpoint. Analysts surveyed by StreetAccount expected third-quarter sales to reach $ 527.5 million.
Etsy earnings Q221, stocks plummet with weak guidance
Source link Etsy earnings Q221, stocks plummet with weak guidance


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Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, in San Antonio, is opening its doors under the Country Inns & Suites brand name after undergoing a complete renovation. The midscale hotel offers 97 guest rooms and suites. “We are thrilled to add this refreshed hotel to our growing portfolio in Texas,” said Jeffrey Freund, senior vice president, midscale brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
HNA Tourism Group, a division of HNA Group, and Carlson Hospitality Group today announced they have entered an agreement for the acquisition of Carlson Hotels. The deal covers Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson brands and the Club Carlson global hotel rewards program.
Carlson has revealed that Trudy Rautio, president and chief executive officer, will retire from the company after 18 years of service. Rautio will step down on May 1st. During Rautio’s tenure as Carlson chief executive the company achieved key milestones including launching two new hotel brands with Radisson Red and Quorvus Collection.
Global hospitality company Carlson have elected Trudy Rautio as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. The news comes as former boss Hubert Joly steps down to head up Best Buy.
Shortly after celebrating his 35th anniversary with Rezidor Hotel Group, (making him possibly the longest serving chief executive of the hospitality industry), Kurt Ritter is on excellent form. Breaking Travel News caught up with the hospitality chief to find out how this extraordinary milestone has impacted on his vision and to discuss the newly announced strategic alliance between Carlson and Rezidor.
Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, today announced the further expansion of the Park Inn by Radisson brand in North America with the opening of the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Water Park, Albuquerque, N.M.
Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, today announced the appointment of Vasso Zographou as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific. Vasso will report directly to Simon Barlow, president, Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific, and will oversee the financial management of Carlson Hotels in Asia Pacific and play a key role as part of the Asia Pacific leadership team in driving Carlson’s growth strategy.
Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, today announced the appointment of Scott Meyer, vice president, Franchise Operations, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Carlson Hotels, Americas, to serve as interim leader, Midscale Brands, Carlson Hotels, Americas. Meyer will take on the expanded interim role on January 16 and report directly to Thorsten Kirschke, chief operating officer, Carlson Hotels, and president, Carlson Hotels, Americas.
Carlson continues expansion of Country Inns & Suites by CarlsonSM with opening of 35th hotel in Minnesota.
Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM in the northeastern United States. The opening of Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, State College, Pa. marks the brand’s growth in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 strategy.
Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, announced the further expansion of the Park Inn by Radisson brand in North America with the opening of the Park Inn by Radisson Schaumburg, Ill.


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Xi Jinping visited the LED plant factory
June 3, the CPC Central Committee General Secretary and State President and CMC Chairman Xi Jinping in Beijing Exhibition Center to visit the national "five" scientific and technological innovation Exhibition. 9:30 am, Xi Jinping came to Beijing Exhibition Center, visit the "five-second" Technological Innovation Exhibition. Intelligent LED plant factory, Xi Jinping stopped to watch carefully, and asked in detail about growing vegetables, and growth.
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Institute of Agricultural Environment and Sustainable Development Environmental Engineering Research Office, its length researcher Yang teacher President Xi introduced the plant factory technology.
Xi spoke highly of the plant factory, plant factory can be used to solve the livelihood problems, desert planting and other aspects, benefits the country is a good product.
Despite the focus on Xi Jinping Plant Factory inspiring, but people also need to understand the current status of lighting plant lighting industry.


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Israel’s ICL Group (NYSE & TASE: ICL), a manufacturer of products based on specialty minerals in the agriculture, food and engineered materials markets, signed agreements to supply its customers in China with an aggregate 1.1 million metric tons of potash during 2015.
The agreements include options for an additional 100, 000 metric tons. According to the terms of the agreements, the potash selling price for the first half of the year will be in line with the prevailing market price in China (an increase of $10 per metric ton).
According to the contracts, which are part of three-year framework agreements between ICL and its Chinese customers, most of the quantities that are undeliverable during the first half of 2015 as a result of the strike at ICL Dead Sea will be delivered to the Chinese customers during the second half of the year.
The new contracts demonstrate the strong relationships that ICL has developed with its customers in China, and are an expression of their support of, and trust in ICL notwithstanding potential supply problems as a result of the strike, the company said.
The company stated that the contracts reinforce ICL’s standing as one of the world’s main suppliers of potash to China, a rapidly growing potash market.
Commenting on the news, Mr. Nissim Adar, CEO of ICL Fertilizers, said, “The agreements we have signed with our customers in China for 2015 confirm ICL’s strategy to reinforce our position in the Chinese market by marketing and selling directly to potash manufacturers and distributors. We are grateful for the trust and confidence they have placed in ICL over the years – and especially during this period – and we will continue to work diligently to strengthen their trust.”


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Monday, May 5, 2008
'Mediaweek' quietly launches its new site
My former colleagues at Mediaweek have taken a different approach than Adweek to promoting the launch of their new site, by almost not promoting it. It launched yesterday and, from an interface perspective, it looks much like the Adweek.com site, which, you may recall, I do like better than its predecessor. The video above explains the goals of the site, and is unapologetic about the advantages of being owned by Nielsen in a data-driven business. While some people feel uncomfortable about that connection, I'm not among them, as long as Mediaweek doesn't suck up when it reports on its parent company. I don't think it does. Get over it people--the data-sharing is what's called synergy.


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After having three departure dates, Atari, Rombax Games and Bigben Interactive announced through Facebook that Test Drive Ferrari: Racing Legends will be racing to most European countries from next July 6 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Bethesda has announced that its new action game, Dishonored will last 12 to 14 hours. According to Bethesda, Dishonored is single-player action game only, but the style of play counts a lot. Direct players will probably get through the game in 12 or 14 hours, whereas explorers who eavesdrop a lot will take twice as long.
As we await the arrival of the Armored Kill expansion for Battlefield 3, which is expected to be available this week at a price of € 14.99, and the details of “Battlefield Premium”, which is also expected to be available this week at a cost of € 49.99. Electronic Arts announced tonight that Kill Armored expansion will be available during the month of September.
LucasArts has announced a brand new Star Wars game that will make its formal debut at E3 next week. It will be a third-person cinematic action-adventure game that will see players guide a mysterious bounty hunter in the never-before-explored expanses of Level 1313, deep below the surface of Coruscant.
Ubisoft has officially announced that Mad Riders, his new title arcade off-road driving, will be released for Xbox LIVE Arcade, PSN and PC on May 30. Mad Riders was first revealed under the working title Project Haste. The game will be available for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360 and £7.99 on PSN and PC Digital.


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breadcrumb Brwadarwa.com > Articles by: gurudesk
with drop down archive
Category with dropdown
- Microsoft Releases First ‘Windows Feature Experience Pack’ With 2 New Additions, Currently for Insiders December 2, 2020The first Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.1070.0 update brings two improvements. Insider members get the ability to use the built-in screen snipping experience in Windows. Users can create a snip of their screen and paste it directly into a folder of their choice in File Explorer to save it. The other addition is ‘using a […]
- Vivo V20 Pro First Impressions December 2, 2020The Vivo V20 Pro is a more powerful version of the Vivo V20, with a 5G SoC and two selfie cameras instead of one. Here are our first impressions of the phone after spending a day with it.
- Lionsgate Play Officially Launched, Promises ‘High-Budget Premium Indian Originals’ in 2021 December 2, 2020Lionsgate Play officially launched in India at Rs. 99 per month or Rs. 699 per year. Lionsgate Play will deliver “high-budget premium Indian originals” starting in 2021. It is working with Anil Kapoor, Mukesh Bhatt, Kunal Kohli, and Akarsh Khurana. Lionsgate Play will also be premiering HBO Max’s Love Life, Hulu’s No Man’s Land, and […]
- Fortnite Season 5 Brings New Hunters to the Island, Galactus Event Saw Record 15.3 Million Concurrent Players December 2, 2020Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 is called ‘Zero Point’ and it brings hunters from across realities together on the island. These hunters include Mandalorian and Baby Yoda, among others.
- Samsung Galaxy M51, Galaxy A31 Receiving One UI 2.5 Update With November 2020 Security Patch: Report December 2, 2020Samsung Galaxy M51 and Samsung Galaxy A31 have reportedly started receiving the Android 10 based One UI 2.5 update. It brings with it the November 2020 Android Security Patch and improvements and fixes. Samsung is also currently working on Android 11 based One UI 3.0 and is expected to release it soon.
- Vivo V20 Pro 5G Launched in India With Snapdragon 765G SoC, Dual Selfie Camera: Price, Specifications December 2, 2020Vivo V20 Pro 5G has launched in India as the latest smartphone offering from the company. The Vivo V20 Pro 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC and has a triple rear camera setup with a 64-megapixel primary camera.
- Latvian Lab Developing Technology to Help Earth Dodge Asteroids December 2, 2020A team of scientists at Riga Technical University is working on technology that could one day stop asteroids from smashing into Earth. The high-precision timers being built by hand in the lab of Latvian startup Eventech are currently being used to track satellites.
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk Says Electric Cars Will Double Global Electricity Demand December 2, 2020Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that electricity consumption will double if the world's car fleets are electrified, increasing the need to expand nuclear, solar, geothermal and wind energy-generating sources.
- Google Maps Brings ‘Community Feed’ in Explore Tab for Nearby Recommendations on Android, iOS December 2, 2020Google has confirmed that this new community feed in Google Maps is rolling out globally for Android and iOS users both. We were not able to see the new feed in our Android app just yet, and Google may be rolling it out in a staggered manner. It should be available for all users in […]
- Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory Telescope Collapses Ahead of Planned Demolition December 2, 2020A massive radio telescope at Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory – one of the world's largest – collapsed after sustaining severe damage since August, following 57 years of astronomical discoveries.


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Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Tuesday that it is now possible to buy Tesla vehicles in the United states with bitcoin.
“You can now buy a Tesla With Bitcoin,” – the billionaire posted on his Twitter.
Tesla has published its “Bitcoin Terms & Conditions,” which lay out the procedure for acquiring a vehicle with Bitcoin.
The giant company will price all products in U.S. dollars, and customers choosing to pay in Bitcoin must pay an equivalent value. Tesla will provide a BTC equivalent price.
Elon Musk announced Wednesday that Tesla would begin to accept Bitcoin payments for its vehicles. He reported the company would not convert the paid amounts into fiat.
The swings in Bitcoin can be measured by the current price action. The dominant cryptocurrency traded 3.24% lower at press time at $53,028.38. It hit a high of $57,262.38 in 24 hours.
Remarkably, if you were to get a Model S Long Range for the purchase price of $78,490, it would cost BTC 1.48. Still, during the 24-hour high, it would have cost BTC 1.37, which’s a difference of 8.02% within 24 hours.
However, volatility aside, there may be one advantage for clients purchasing a Tesla with BTC — lower taxes.
Tesla shares increased by about 0.6%
Notably, Tesla shares closed nearly 4.8% lower at $630.27 on March 24 and increased by about 0.6% in the after-hours trading.
According to the latest news, one bitcoin is worth about $56,000, white is stood at nearly $6,700 a year ago. In February, Tesla announced that it had purchased $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin and would soon begin accepting Bitcoin as a payment for its electric vehicles. According to Emunds.com, it boosted starting prices of about $38,000 for a Model 3 to about $80,000 for a Model X.
Auto-maker has a spot on its website that provides some details of how it will handle BTC purchases. Tesla did not respond to an email request for further information.


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2017 was a tough year for the US retail sector with the number of jobs available going down significantly. However, the climate stabilised with a significant rise in the hourly wages of the workers. The senior executives also enjoyed increased bonuses.
All workers in the retail market, including cashiers, are enjoying a raised pay, which indicates the changing scenario of the base-pay in the sector. The wages have grown by a record of 5.4%. The wages of millions of workers in the country were computed in order to come up with concrete data.
Studies showed that almost 1/3rd of the executives in the industry received 100% of their targeted bonus, which is 15% more as compared to the amount received in 2017.
During the last two years, small and mid-range stores went bankrupt and were close down. One of the major reasons was the increasing growth of online sales. With the popularity of online stores on a rise, there was a lack of investors in the industry. However, over the last three quarters, department stores and outlets have returned to their previous glory.
The boost in consumer spending has resulted in an expansion of the US economy, which has triggered the return of the retail stores. While the top 40% of the income earners have been constantly fuelling the economy, it is consumption growth of the 60% of the low-income earners that have changed the tides.
Though the hiring process is still shaky, the increasing wages stand testimony to the growth. Experts have also pointed out that low unemployment has spurred competition for the workers, which has further boosted the wage growth.
According to industry analysts, the trend of increasing wages is not to slow down anytime soon.


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January 2023 Play System Update Rolling Out for Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 6
Google is rolling out the January 2023 Play system update for the Pixel 7 and 6 line of smartphones. Many users on Reddit are seeing this and posted screenshots of the update note and download size. For Pixel 7, the patch weighs approximately 63MB, while for Pixel 6, it is around 59MB.
However, some Pixel owners report that even after installing the latest Play system update, their phone remains on the November 2022 release, not January 2023, after a reboot. Pixel 7 owners over at AnroidPolice also faced the same issue on their devices. Meanwhile, folks over at PhoneArena installed the update and witnessed the Google Play system January patch in the setting.
Google's January 2023 patch notes for the Play system update highlight many changes:
- It fixes bugs for Account Management, Security & Privacy, System Management & Diagnostics, and Utilities-related services for smartphones and WearOS.
- This update expands the range of users and uses cases supported by the Play Games profile for phones and PC.
- After updating the latest Play system, you can add notes to your new and existing passwords on your smartphone.
- This patch also updates System Management and Usability services that improve Device Connectivity, Device Performance, Network Usage, Privacy, Security, Stability, and Usability.
Google promises to roll out monthly Play system updates consistently, but that's not always the case. For instance, the December 2022 Play system update never saw the light of day on Pixel devices. While the big G posted January 2023 patch notes at the beginning of the month, it wasn't until now — three weeks into January — that users started seeing the latest Play system build.
To check if you have an update available for the Google Play system on your Pixel, go to Setting – About phone – android version – and tap on Google Play system update.
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Dà-Jiāng Innovations Science and Technology Co., Ltd (OH YES, that is DJI’s full name!) is the market leader when it comes to drones. But anyone would agree to the fact that DJI drones are costly and large, and are probably made for professionals.
Guess what, DJI has finally released a more “personal” drone for recreational flying - it’s small, foldable and easy to carry, and it isn’t outrageously expensive. Plus, it shoots 4K with optical image stabilisation, and has most of the features the Phantom 4 has!
This is the Mavic Pro:
The Mavic Pro has 27 high-perfomace computing cores, an all new transmission, 7km (4.3 miles) range, 27 minutes flight time, 40mph top speed and a 4K camera on a 3-axis gimbal. Obstacle avoidance systems, subject tracking and advanced GPS and GLONASS is built into this drone, just like on the Phantom 4. You can control the drone using the pocket-size controller (optionally attached to a phone) or using your smartphone itself.
The Mavic Pro is just in time to compete with the GoPro Karma drone, that has a lot of similar features. However, DJI has a better package for cheaper; plus, DJI has led the drone revolution, leading in reliability. I guess GoPro already took a big hit!
The drone will go on sale for $999 in the US, and you can buy one right now on DJI’s website!
Follow Technonerds on Facebook, Twitter and Flipboard.


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Sign up to our FREE Newsletter
The Weekly What's on Newsletter with a round up of all the events happening this weekend. To receive the FREE newsletter sign up today!
Los Alcazares will be celebrating Halloween with a Party and the Car Park of Terror on Tuesday the 31st October 2017.
Balsicas will be enjoying its annual fiesta from the 20th to the 29th October 2017 with a packed programme of events for everyone to enjoy.
The 8th discount shopping fair will take place in the port area of Cartagena from the 10th to the 17th October 2017.
The extremely popular annual Fira de Tots Sants will take place in Cocentaina from the 1st to the 5th November 2017 with over 800 stalls and half a million visitors.
The Cartagena Folk Festival will take place from the 20th to the 22nd October 2017.
The 14th edition of the Tapas Fair will take place in Bullas from the 12th to the 15th October 2017.
The Fiestas de Octubre will take place in Los Alcazares from the 6th to the 14th October 2017.


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Beijing Guge Sci-Tech alleges that Google has infringed on the firm’s name. According to the court documents, the name “Guge” was officially registered in April 2006 by Beijing Guge Sci-Tech and Google didn’t register the name until November of 2007. Google’s response is that reports on the Internet showed that it intended to use the name “Guge” at the time it was registered by the Chinese company.
Beijing Guge Sci-Tech wants Google to change its Chinese name and to pay legal costs although no sum was mentioned in the court documents. The name “Guge” is not a real word in Chinese but a transliteration.The characters mean “valley song”.
Latest posts by David Temple (see all)
- Global Search Engine Marketing: A Book Review - April 2, 2012
- Baidu's Yi OS To Power Dell In China - September 8, 2011
- Google eyes Indonesia office - July 25, 2011
I think “gu-ge” would be the best pinyin for this. Spelled “guge,” people will think the second g has a j sound.
[…] China is being sued by Beijing Guge Sci-Tech for supposedly infringing on the firm’s name: Beijing Guge Sci-Tech alleges that Google has infringed on the firmâ€™s name. According to the […]


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Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese businesses are cautious over prospects for a recovery, according to a quarterly central bank survey released Monday that showed a mixed outlook for the world's third-largest economy.
The results of the Bank of Japan's "tankan" highlight the challenges Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces following a landslide election victory Sunday.
The leading measure of business sentiment showed a slight deterioration in overall expectations among manufacturers. More than two-thirds of the large and medium-sized companies surveyed said they viewed the outlook for the coming quarter as "not so favorable."
Japanese businesses anticipate weak demand both at home and overseas for their products and higher costs for materials thanks to the weakening Japanese yen.
Japan's economy slipped into recession after a sales tax hike in April chilled demand, stalling the recovery. Abe delayed a tax hike due for 2015 to avoid further disruption to growth, and has said he will push ahead with reforms to end two decades of stagnation.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Bajaj Auto Ltd has introduced
the Black Pack Pulsar edition across the Pulsar 150, 180 and 220F range. The
uniquely styled edition has been launched to celebrate achieving 1 core sales
by Pulsar worldwide.
The new edition combines
premium black paint coupled with matte grey highlights and white alloy wheels
offering a sporty, modern and aggressive look.
Product features include white alloy wheels, new and stylish decals,
premium paint and decal finish and satin chrome exhaust cover
Eric Vas, President –
Motorcycles, Bajaj Auto Ltd said, “Pulsar has been India’s No.1 Sports
motorcycle brand in the country since its launch in 2001. Bajaj Pulsar is sold
in over 25 countries worldwide and is market leader in most of them. We are
proud to have achieved the milestone of 1 crore Pulsar customers around the
world. To commemorate this achievement, we present the unique Black Pack
Bolt, India’s largest EV charging network, announced the launch of Bolt Lite, India’s first safest, smartest and most affordable universal EV charging socket.
Renon India, one of India’s leading energy storage companies, has launched its swappable smart batteries, Groot, for electric 2-wheelers. The Li-ion battery pack for low and medium speed EVs is built ...
MG Motor India introduced ‘MG Service on Wheels’ initiative to provide customers with car repair and maintenance services from the comfort of their homes. This service outreach programme reinforces th...


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The ad features footage of Clinton speaking at a Friday fundraiser, where she described the "deplorables" as "racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic" - you name it."
A narrator says: "You know what's deplorable? Hillary Clinton viciously demonizing hard-working people like you."
Clinton has said she regretted generalizing so broadly.
Trump's campaign says it will spend around $2 million to run the ad this week in the battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida.


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First Brazilian Apple Store to open in Rio de Janeiro on Feb.15
After months of speculation, Apple has confirmed that its very first retail store in Brazil will be opening soon. The Rio de Janeiro store is set to open on February 15, and will be located in the city's luxurious VillageMall shopping center.
The February opening leaves plenty of time to get up and running properly before the massive influx of people heading to Rio later this year for the FIFA World Cup, which in turn likely played a part in getting it open so early. Opening hours for the VillageMall store are set to be 11:00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday, and 13:00 to 21:00 on Sundays.
So, the date is set, and we all know how Apple likes to celebrate the opening of a new store. Any of our Brazilian friends planning on heading down? We'd love to hear from you!
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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Eight companies honored for a variety of innovative ideas
Companies that found ways to put old drugs to good use and to better harvest turf were among eight winners at the 15th annual Utah Innovation Awards.
Presented by the law firm Stoel Rives and the Utah Technology Council, awards went to Vutiliti, in the clean technology and energy category; Kilife Tech Inc., for computer hardware and electrical devices; Taxzilla, for consumer software; and Lucid Software Inc., for enterprise software, cloud and big data programs.
Also, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, for biotechnology and pharmaceutical advances in life sciences; Xenocor, for developing a device that improves laparoscopic procedures; FireFly Automatix Inc., for mechanical systems, chemicals and manufacturing; and Sno-Go, for outdoor and consumer products.
Winners were selected by a committee of 80 professionals from private industry, government and higher education.
Draper builder completes Starbucks in Spokane, Salem
Gonzaga University students now have a Starbucks coffee shop that was built by Draper-based Wadsworth Development Group just off campus in Spokane, Wash.
The 2,220-square foot shop was one of two that Wadsworth, a preferred developer for Starbucks Coffee Co., opened at the end of March. The other one is in Salem, Ore.
Wadsworth spokesman Brett Anglesey said his company and Phoenix-based Accelerated Development Services, have signed a grocery store to serve as an anchor in a 140,000-square-foot shopping center in Sahuarita, Ariz.
Merit Medical's profits reach $15M in year's first quarter
Merit Medical Systems reported net income of $14.8 million for the first quarter of 2017, up from $4.4 million in the same period a year earlier.
The earnings were based on revenues of $171 million, a 24 percent year-over-year increase. They amounted to 32 cents per share compared to 10 cents a share a year earlier.
Chairman and CEO Fred Lampropoulos said the earnings included a $12.2 million "bargain purchase gain" from buying Argon Medical Devices' critical-care division and legal expenses incurred responding to an unspecified U.S. Department of Justice subpoena.
Promoters of Main Street businesses make stops in Utah
Independent We Stand, an organization that promotes small business, made three stops Friday in Utah to help company owners "tell their Main Street stories."
The "America's Main Streets" campaign is all part of an effort, said organizer Bill Brunelle, "to draw attention to the importance and strong economic impacts of the small businesses that keep Main Streets across the country alive and kicking."
Brunelle's group spread the word about small business influence at IPACO in Logan, Speeds Power Equipment in Salt Lake City and at Local First Utah.
Utah business people on the move
• Kevin Burt will be the new director of the unemployment insurance division within the state Department of Workforce Services. A 15-year department veteran, he was assistant director of the eligibility services division.
• Part-time Park City resident and Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn has become an ambassador for TheraBand, which makes exercise and recovery tools for people who have been injured.


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U.S. consumer spending stalled in March while inflation slowed to below the Federal Reserve’s target, showing the biggest part of the economy might take more time to gain momentum after a tepid start to the year.
Purchases were little changed in both March and February from their prior months, Commerce Department figures showed Monday. The median forecast of economists in a Bloomberg survey called for a 0.2 percent advance. Incomes rose 0.2 percent, with falling prices applying a drag on the nominal figures.
The figures were foreshadowed in Friday’s report on gross domestic product that showed the slowest first quarter for household spending since 2009. Analysts are expecting spending to bounce back, as there’s still plenty for Americans to cheer about in the economic outlook, including a steady job market.
“Consumers still have a lot going for them: a tightening labor market with rising income growth, solid consumer confidence readings, a strong assist from rising stock and home prices, and mortgage rates that have fallen back since the March highs,” Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West in San Francisco, said in a research note before the report.
The Bloomberg survey median called for incomes to rise 0.3 percent. Wages rose 0.1 percent in March after a 0.5 percent gain the prior month.
Disposable income, or the money remaining after taxes, increased 0.5 percent in March from the prior month after adjusting for inflation. It was up 2.4 percent over the past year, compared with a 2.2 percent year-over-year gain in February. The saving rate increased to 5.9 percent from 5.7 percent in February.
Projections for consumer spending in the Bloomberg survey ranged from a decline of 0.2 percent to a 0.4 percent increase. The previous month’s reading was initially reported as a 0.1 percent advance.
After adjusting for inflation, in order to generate the figures used to calculate gross domestic product, purchases increased 0.3 percent in March after a 0.1 percent decline in February, Monday’s report also showed.
Household outlays on services increased 0.4 percent after adjusting for inflation, following a 0.2 percent drop in February. The services category, which also includes tourism, legal help, health care, and personal care items such as haircuts, is typically difficult for the government to estimate accurately until more information is available in later months.
The personal spending report showed the price index tied to consumer purchases fell 0.2 percent in March from the prior month, the first decline since February 2016. It rose 1.8 percent from the same time in 2016. That marks a slowdown after the inflation gauge, which is preferred by Federal Reserve policy makers, climbed above their 2 percent goal in February for the first time since April 2012.
Fed officials have used bubbling inflation as one reason to gradually increase the benchmark interest rate. They did so in March, and have signaled the potential for two more quarter-point rate hikes this year. Policy makers, who meet this week, said after their last meeting in March that they’re seeking a “sustained return to 2 percent inflation.”
Stripping out the volatile food and energy categories, the price measure fell 0.1 percent from February, the drop since September 2001. It was up 1.6 percent in the 12 months ended in March.
This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.


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Recreational and medical cannabis legalization has come a long way since California voters approved the medical marijuana Compassionate Use Act of 1996, Here in 2021, 15 states have legalized adult recreational cannabis markets and 36 states have established regulated medical programs of their own. Still some jurisdictions in the country have yet to come around on the money-making and medical potential of the cannabis plant.
An outdated Reefer Madness-era federal prohibition is part of the reason why legal, hemp-derived CBD has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry. Consumers want the benefits of cannabis and CBD without the worries of breaking local laws and facing prison for trying to take the edge off symptoms of medical ailments. Hence hemp.
Medical cannabis patients living in more restrictive states are seeking a similar prosecution-exempt alternative that will replicate the psychoactive effects of THC-rich cannabis without the risk of arrest. That’s where Delta-8 comes in. However, the synthetically-produced version of delta-8-THC, made by altering hemp-derived CBD (hence it’s legal gray area) is not necessarily entirely safe.
A keen watcher of the headlines will know that Delta-8 THC has been stirring up drama recently, but still not know what Delta-8 THC actually is. How is Delta-8 different from other types of THC? Why are some states banning the substance, while others are greenlighting Delta-8-infused products to hit the shelves of their stores? We asked ourselves the same things.
What Exactly Is Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 is considered a “minor cannabinoid.” It has milder psychoactive effects compared to the standard Delta-9 THC found in strains. The milder mind-altering effects of Delta-8 THC make it an attractive option for healthcare professionals and parents and guardians seeking to help kids with cancer manage their symptoms through therapeutic cannabis products free from potentially disruptive psychoactive effects.
Delta-8 THC has may be more shelf-stable than other THC-rich options, which makes it ideal for use in topical creams, patches, vape cartridges, and edibles without fear of potency fading after a short time.
Finally, Delta-8 THC is an attractive option for cannabis patients dealing with mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders. However, the safety profile of non-naturally-made delta-8-THC is yet to be determined, and is arguably unsafe due to the industrial processes used to make it.
So what is all the fuss about? Why have states like Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah all banned Delta-8 THC entirely?
As most delta-8-THC products are made by chemically altering hemp-derived CBD using industrial chemicals, there may be undesirable byproducts found in what ends up on the shelves. Moreover, less-than-ethical (or just naive) producers may make misleading medical claims, or not appropriately test their products, or not label the right cannabinoid content. This means that there are many appropriate concerns, and it’s not simply a case of misguided concerns.
However, it is certainly arguable that the lack of legal access to cannabis has made potentially less-safe alternatives more attractive.
The Legal Gray Area
Because cannabis remains federally illegal, the legal status of Delta-8 remains complicated.
Outside the handful of states mentioned above, Delta-8 THC should be perfectly legal all across America. After all, the U.S. government actually holds the patent for converting CBD into Delta-8. And the 2018 Farm Bill legalized all hemp production and everything in the composition of hemp products, as long as the levels of standard Delta-9 THC remain below 0.3 percent.
So since hemp-derived CBD is legal and Delta-8 is derived from hemp CBD, it should be perfectly legal, right? Arguably, that’s correct. Right now, Delta-8 THC sits in a legal gray area, a de facto status of legality that many states see as a quasi-legal loophole. The perception that Delta-8 THC has slipped through the regulatory net is why some jurisdictions are working so hard to close it.
Pending Delta-8 Legal Battles
Several state lawmakers with prohibitive mindsets are campaigning to join the list of 11 states that have official legislation on the books to restrict or fully ban Delta-8 THC. Oklahoma, for example, has a bill pending that would legally define Delta-8 as cannabis and treat it to a similar standard as delta-9 rich cannabis. Alabama’s state Senate has a bill in the works that are in line with the Oklahoma effort to ban Delta-8 THC. North Dakota legislators recently voted to accept amendments that would change the state’s definition of THC. Michigan is considering restricting Delta-8 THC sales to licensed dispensaries. On March 31, 2021, New York state moved to legalize adult use marijuana. A little more than a month later, regulations drafted for the state’s legal cannabis market include a proposed ban of Delta-8 THC.
Other states have taken a contrary approach to their Delta-8 THC legislative efforts. Washington state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board, for example, recently put out a policy statement that declares Delta-8 THC can be legally derived from licensed cannabis instead of hemp. Oregon lawmakers have taken a similar approach. State officials are working on regulations that would create a definition for “artificially derived” cannabinoids in order to regulate Delta-8 under the state’s medical and adult-use cannabis laws.
The Bottom Line
While some states might be moving toward restricting or banning Delta-8 THC, just as many more are happy to extend the legal grey area. Cannabis brands are cashing out on the open-to-interpretation regulations.
Delta-8 products are flying off the shelves in states where standard Delta-9-rich THC is illegal or hard to access. States like Texas, for example, have a massive demand for Delta-8 products. There might come a day when Delta-8’s legality is challenged in a higher court or legislated further like Oregon and Washington states have.
In the meantime, we recommend people be wary of delta-8-THC products.


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Analysts expect that Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG) will announce $1.80 billion in sales for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks Investment Research reports. Three analysts have made estimates for Asbury Automotive Group’s earnings, with estimates ranging from $1.80 billion to $1.81 billion. Asbury Automotive Group posted sales of $1.72 billion during the same quarter last year, which would indicate a positive year-over-year growth rate of 4.7%. The business is expected to announce its next quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd.
On average, analysts expect that Asbury Automotive Group will report full-year sales of $7.14 billion for the current financial year, with estimates ranging from $7.08 billion to $7.20 billion. For the next financial year, analysts anticipate that the company will post sales of $7.20 billion, with estimates ranging from $6.91 billion to $7.44 billion. Zacks Investment Research’s sales averages are a mean average based on a survey of analysts that cover Asbury Automotive Group.
Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE:ABG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 23rd. The company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.28. Asbury Automotive Group had a return on equity of 36.35% and a net margin of 2.43%. The company had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.93 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis.
A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Asbury Automotive Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $88.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, May 14th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Asbury Automotive Group from $85.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $81.50.
Shares of NYSE:ABG traded down $0.52 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $79.84. 3,110 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 108,990. Asbury Automotive Group has a 12 month low of $58.60 and a 12 month high of $82.30. The stock has a market cap of $1.54 billion, a PE ratio of 9.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.85.
In other Asbury Automotive Group news, VP William Frederick Stax sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.15, for a total transaction of $79,150.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 3,888 shares in the company, valued at $307,735.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Sean D. Goodman sold 3,299 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.77, for a total transaction of $263,161.23. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 26,183 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,088,617.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 32,599 shares of company stock valued at $2,589,539. Corporate insiders own 1.36% of the company’s stock.
A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its position in Asbury Automotive Group by 1.8% during the first quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 7,592 shares of the company’s stock valued at $527,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Mason Street Advisors LLC raised its position in Asbury Automotive Group by 2.9% during the first quarter. Mason Street Advisors LLC now owns 6,262 shares of the company’s stock valued at $434,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 26.1% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,010 shares of the company’s stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 209 shares in the last quarter. Piedmont Investment Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 5.6% during the first quarter. Piedmont Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 4,922 shares of the company’s stock worth $341,000 after buying an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank increased its holdings in shares of Asbury Automotive Group by 1.5% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 19,385 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,408,000 after buying an additional 286 shares in the last quarter.
Asbury Automotive Group Company Profile
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts, and collision repair services.
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Sensex crash fall out of global meltdown: FM
Sensex surrendered over 600 pts at noon on Wednesday due to a bout of selling by foreign funds.Updated: May 31, 2006 14:13 IST
Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday that the fall in stock market would not affect consumer demand, even as he attributed selling by FIIs partly to a meltdown in global meltdown.
"Our consumer demand is very huge and our growth is driven largely by domestic demand... Global markets are down and it is partly reflected on Indian markets also," he told reporters in New Delhi.
The country's stock market benchmark index surrendered over 600 points at noon on Wednesday due to a bout of selling by foreign funds.
To a question on net sale by FIIs for the last 11 days, he said overall foreign capital in India, including FDI was positive.
"My information is that lot of foreign capital is moving to India and that includes FIIs... We will continue to attract FIIs. Also, we need to attract FDI, not to substitute FIIs, but in addition to FIIs," Chidambaram said.
Last year, he said FDI inflow into the country had surpassed that of the previous year and this year too, "we will attract more FDI because of many projects in infrastructure area."
Any hurdles in attracting FDI should be removed, he said.
First Published: May 31, 2006 14:13 IST


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Discount bookseller and stationer The Works has launched a loyalty scheme, which it has called a first for the value sector.
The Together Reward Card Programme launched across all 305 stores this week and allows customers to earn five points for every £1 they spend.
The Works chief executive Kevin Keaney said: “We have an enthusiastic and loyal customer base at The Works and the launch of the Together Card aims to take our relationship with them one step further. It also gives customers who haven’t yet shopped with us another reason to come into our stores.
“It’s clear that with every penny spent under scrutiny for many consumers, value is the new norm. We need to offer something more than great prices and the launch of this card – a first for the value sector, and one of the most generous in our industry – does just that. This new loyalty card will allow us to reward and retain our best customers and help us to attract new ones.”
The Works said the programme will enable it to send customers personalised communications and special offers based on their interests and buying behaviour.
The Works marketing director Kerry Hughes said: “Many value retailers have traditionally not focused on cementing long-term relationships with customers, or on understanding where and how they buy. Our new programme will help us strengthen our brand affinity with shoppers and gives us an ability to tailor offers to their personal preferences and spending habits.
“It’s also a thank you to customers who have continued to visit The Works despite the tough economy and a way for us to give something back to them.”
Members receive the pounds they accrue via a reward voucher, which will be emailed to customers every three months.
The roll-out follows a trial in southwest England. The pilot scheme resulted in more than 10,000 sign-ups in just four weeks, “and a significant increase in the average transaction value of the trial stores”, The Works said.
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Walt Disney Co. reveals model of Shanghai Disney at Phoenix shareholder meeting
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Radio Disney music was playing outside the Orpheum Theatre today as Walt Disney Co. held its annual shareholder meeting in Phoenix for the first time.
The 450 stockholders attending the two-hour meeting were treated to the first photo of a model of what Shanghai Disney will look like.
The newest Disney park is planned to open at the end of 2015 and the Shanghai Disney castle will be the tallest of any other Disney park, said David Jefferson, a Disney spokesman who talked to me in the lobby of the Orpheum.
Since I just got back from a nine-day whirlwind Walt Disney World vacation, I revel in any new Disney news about the parks. Now I’ll have to put Shanghai on my list to visit.
Shanghai Disneyland will be the sixth Disney park, along with parks in Anaheim, Calif., Orlando, Fla., Tokyo, Japan, Paris, France and Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It will combine classic Disney characters and storytelling with the “uniqueness and beauty of China,” according to a Disney statement.
“With Shanghai Disneyland, we’re creating a one-of-a-kind destination that is authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese,” said Iger in a statement. “We believe this will be one of the most spectacular Disney experiences yet – and an important part of our future. We look forward to opening the gates at the end of 2015 and welcoming the first of the millions of guests who will enjoy Shanghai Disneyland for generations to come.”
The unveiled photo shows a portion of the model of Shanghai Disneyland, giving a first look at the 11-acre green space at the center of the park and the design and scale of Enchanted Storybook Castle, which will be the tallest of any Disney park.
Hayley Ringle covers technology and startups for the Phoenix Business Journal.
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