text:
With over $2 billion spent by consumers in Q4 2020, the nascent nonfungible token (NFT) market has already achieved a number of eye-catching milestones for 2021. It’s often overlooked that new investors are becoming increasingly interested in the market, even as record-breaking sales dominate the headlines. As of Q1, there were 73,000 buyers and 33,000 sellers of NFT transactions via Non Fungible, which tracks NFT transactions. Despite looking impressive on the surface, these figures are in reality tiny in comparison to the global art market, which stood at $64.7 billion in 2018. Eighty-four percent of the global market was made up of the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.
In an increasingly online and globalized world, where the demand for art assets in new markets will only grow, the traditional infrastructure of the art market, dominated by dealerships and auction houses, already seems outdated. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people will probably look back and see that it disrupted art market infrastructure. NFT does provide a glimpse into how smart-contract technology can be used to remove the middlemen and third parties that would otherwise take a cut. In its current form, the current system is not a viable alternative to the current methods of verification, distribution, auction, and certification of ownership, given its many flaws and potential for user error.
NFT data today cannot be used to establish with any degree of certainty who the actual creator was. A growing number of NFT forgeries and fraudulent cases arise where scammers fabricate NFTs that appear to be works by specific artists. NFT forgeries are a rapidly growing issue, according to a quick Google search on that topic. The scammers sometimes take images of real artworks from artists, convert them into NFTs and then sell them as if they are the artists themselves.
Additionally, when a NFT contains significant associated data or content, such as an image, that data is not stored on the blockchain. NFTs instead include links to the data, most frequently through hyperlinks on the internet. There wouldn’t be a way to determine or prove, from blockchain data, what picture was purchased with that NFT if the data (e.g., image) at the end of that hyperlink changed or disappeared.
Consequently, NFT data cannot be protected from eroding. Unbelievable, but true. Therefore, the NFT’s value can be destroyed by altering or deleting the NFT’s image or data. User errors can also lead to millions of dollars going to the wrong address or being stolen forever, such as people miscopying long complicated addresses or succumbing to man-in-the-middle attacks.
Authenticity is validated
Physical art is signed by the artist so that its authenticity can be validated, and the art piece’s owner ensures its permanence by storing it securely. Taking a decentralized, self-governed approach is the only way to enable NFTs to succeed over the long-term.
COVID-19 is spreading rapidly through the art world, and its long-term impact is unknown. The past may show that it created much-needed competition and an end to the high-end cartel of auction houses and dealers of varying reputations. In spite of the fact that there is a clearly defined demand for NFTs, smart contracts have shown how to cut out these middlemen. However, operational risks and the possibility for fraud make the current exchange model unviable for scaling.
The continuation of the use of NFTs across the blockchain ecosystem depends upon forgery prevention and permanence protection, ensuring a fairer, more transparent, and more equitable system for art buyers and sellers. As an industry, we should begin building the future art ecosystem.
*Investment advice and recommendations are not contained in this article. Every investment and trading decision is fraught with risk, and every decision should be based on research.


text:
The future of reporting is almost here! Mark the date in your calendar: GRI Standards will officially launch on October 19, 2016. This follows the approval of the draft GRI Standards by the Global Sustainability Standards Board in late August, and the recent confirmation by the Due Process Oversight Committee (DPOC) that due process for developing the GRI Standards was followed.Read More
One of AIAG’s most popular annual conferences returns to Suburban Collection Showplace on October 11-12, 2016. This is an important opportunity for companies at all levels in the supply chain to stay ahead of their supply chain risk by keeping their knowledge about rapidly evolving regulations on chemicals and other substances of concern up to date.Read More
October’s upcoming release of revisions to the automotive industry’s most widely used international standard for quality management will include language on corporate ethics for the first time in its history. The standard — previously named ISO/TS 16949 — is replaced by IATF 16949 and has been revised by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) with an unprecedented level of industry feedback and engagement.Read More
At the recent AIAG Supply Chain Summit, privacy and e-commerce attorney Stephen Tupper cautioned an audience of supply chain professionals that auto companies need to make sure they understand the globalization of data storage and use of information laws and rules about data transfer and privacy that differ from country to country. In short, he said: “I strongly advise you to get to know your data.” The Supply Chain Summit, held June 14, 2016, in Livonia, Michigan, provides an annual overview of industry trends as well as updates on current AIAG supply chain projects and initiatives.Read More
Supply chain professionals are encouraged to participate in a one-week, automotive-industry focused, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Seminar, October 31-November 4, 2016, at The Renaissance Center in Detroit. This professional development opportunity is sponsored collaboratively by AIAG and Wayne State University. Space is limited.Read More
AIAG has announced the appointment of Cesar D. Pucci, director, corporate quality, Eaton Corporation, to its board of directors. More than 20 executives from the automotive and transportation OEM and supplier community currently serve on the AIAG board, representing a cross-section of its member companies.Read More
The Automotive Industry Action Group has hit a milestone in membership, welcoming its 1,500th new member into the AIAG community this week.Read More
Many AIAG members, volunteers, and staff have enjoyed the improvements to the organization’s website over the past year, and visitors to the site continue to notice new enhancements. So in this interview, we checked back in with AIAG’s Vice President, Information Technology Russ Ortisi. A graduate of Oakland University (bachelor’s degree in accounting) and Wayne State University (MBA with a concentration in international business), Ortisi has worked in IT for the past 20 years, including stints at Chrysler, General Motors, AT&T Systems Leasing, Heller Financial, and General Electric.Read More
Actively involved in AIAG’s Quality Steering Committee since its inception 18 years ago — and a continuous member for the last 14 years — Dave Mimms, general manager of Quality Strategy Management for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., shares his thoughts about why he has stayed active in AIAG and what he thinks the industry still has to accomplish, in this exclusive interview with AIAG Quality e-News.
AIAG is working with KOTRA and the South Korean Government to provide Core Tools training in Korea at a deeply discounted fee. This five-day training program will engage participants in an in-depth review of advanced product quality planning (APQP), production part approval process (PPAP), measurement systems analysis (MSA), statistical process control (SPC), and failure mode effects analysis (FMEA).

domain: news


text:
So, I don't know how I managed to miss this, but Kim Swift, Portal's lead designer, has a new project in the works: Quantum Conundrum. The game is being developed by indie studio Airtight Games and will be published by Square Enix. In any case, the new walkthrough video linked on Joystiq earlier today caught my eye:
The puzzles have a definite Portal vibe, and the visual style looks straight out of a Pixar movie, but Quantum Conundrum very much looks to be its own thing. There's a unique cleverness about the puzzles that has my interest piqued. And check out that plot synopsis:
In Quantum Conundrum, players take on the role of a young kid dropped off on his uncle's doorstep for the weekend; his uncle just so happens to be the brilliant, eccentric inventor, Professor Fitz Quadwrangle. Upon entering the Professor's vast manor home retrofitted with crazy technology to test his latest hypotheses, players quickly realize their uncle has gone missing. Fortunately, players soon gain access to Professor Quadwrangle's latest invention, the Inter--Dimensional Shift Device, which, at the press of a button, will shift the world around them to an entirely new dimension. In order to find him, players must use the newly found IDS Device to dynamically change the world to and from a variety of different dimensions to progress through the complicated Quadwrangle Manor. While on the journey, becoming adept at utilizing the various dimensions will help them trek from one bizarre and challenging room to the next. It might sound easy enough, but it is a tall order for a kid in a giant puzzle of a manor!
From what I've been able to gather—mainly based on this this CES interview with Kim Swift and Joystiq's coverage of the reveal announcement—Quantum Conundrum is due for a summer release on Steam, Xbox Live Arcade, and PlayStation Network.


text:
Bitcoin had been on a very nice run for the past few months. Most of the major news stories that pertained to bitcoin talked about how much it was going up in value. Investors were jumping in to get a taste of the profits that Bitcoin owners were experiencing. The past three months have been a very good time to be a bitcoin owner. However, the good times for bitcoin owners came to a screeching halt last week when the price dipped down to the lowest it had been in three months. Experts think that fears about the coronavirus might have something to do with the sudden crash.
The good news for bitcoin investors is that the price went up slightly. Therefore, the week was not as much of a disaster as it could have been. People who own bitcoin do not have a lot to complain about these days. It is worth a lot more that is was last summer when it bottomed out at around $6,300. It reached a high of more than $10,000 a month ago. There are many experts who predicted that bitcoin would climb far beyond that price. However, that did not end up happening.
It remains to be seen what sort of effect that the coronavirus will have on the overall value of bitcoin. There are many people who have blamed the stock market drop last week over global panic caused by the coronavirus. However, the bitcoin market does not always fluctuate for the same reasons as the regular stock market. The drop in the price of bitcoin could have been caused by a number of different external factors that would impact the global economy. The bottom line is that we might never know why bitcoin suddenly dropped last week. The good news is that it now appears to be on the rise.
Most of the experts have been telling people to hang onto their bitcoin and ride out the low period that it has been on. That seems to be good advice because it is already starting to rebound slightly. The same advice has been given to the owners of stocks. People who sell during a crisis will certainly lose money. However, people who have the courage to hold on to their assets will eventually see a rise in their value. There is a chance they could still sell bitcoin at a higher price if they are willing to wait.


text:
Mark Zuckerberg gives his first interview since the Facebook IPO; Ex-JCP exec joins the GAP; Steve Wynn releases a scathing statement on Joe Francis and Ford may soon have a CEO succession plan.
Consumers can't seem to get enough of craft beer. Now some hamburger chains are hoping to capture a piece of the craft beer momentum.
"If you're going to sell Starbucks on that, then bring it to me," CNBC's Jim Cramer said.
Registers that once merely rang up tabs and stored cash have evolved into hubs that collect enormous volumes of data.
Restaurant Brands International said its loss narrowed in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.
Chipotle will begin serving only food that is free of genetically engineered ingredients, the NYT reports.
Get the best of CNBC in your inbox


text:
The content is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.
For small business owners heading out for a personal vacation equals an upswing in their productivity, according to a new study, with two-thirds saying that it gives them a boost in creativity, focus and motivation.
Yet knowing this does not translate into actually taking a vacation, with just 25% reporting that they are able to take some downtime. And for just about 75% taking time off means that they will worry about work and what they are not doing while they are away.
The study released by Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card looked at travel trends among small business owners finding that while there are some very real upsides to being the boss, it can also mean that they miss out on certain kinds of perks.
"While small business owners enjoy making their own schedule and being their own boss, they often miss out on perks such as guaranteed paid time off," said Vibhat Nair, general manager, Chase Card Services. "As some of the most dedicated workers in the country, small business owners deserve a break and this survey shows they are finding time off while traveling for business."
New benefits for Marriott Rewards
The Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card now comes along with some new benefits, designed to make it easier for business owners to get away and take some much needed time off. Part of this is getting Gold Elite Status faster, so now all cardholders have access to what they are calling an enhanced path to Gold Elite Status when charging $50,000 a year.
Plus for new cardholders there is a new added advantage-they earn a 100,000 point bonus with a spend of $5,000 on purchases, whether that's travel, eating out or anything else, during the first three months.
Some things remain the same, including earning five points per dollar when staying at Marriott hotels around the world, and earning double points on airline tickets (bought via the airline) car rentals, restaurants, office supply stores, and for Internet, cable and phone services.
They earn one point on everything else. There is a $99 annual fee for this card.
The Marriott Rewards Premier Business Credit Card survey was conducted online from April to 29, 2016. It was taken by 1,001 small business owners who employ 99 people or less. This demographic was people 25 years old and up who traveled for work a minimum of three times a year.


text:
New York: JPMorgan Chase & Co reported sharply higher third-quarter results, topping Wall Street expectations, as underwriting revenue at its investment bank offset deeper losses on credit cards and other consumer loans.
The second-largest US bank on Wednesday posted net income of $3.6 billion, or 82 cents a share. That compares with $527 million, or 9 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.
Analysts on average had forecast earnings of 52 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Credit costs climbed as the bank added $2 billion to its reserves against future losses on consumer and other loans, bringing total reserves to $31.5 billion.
Loan losses jumped and the bank reported $7 billion in net charge-offs on consumer loans, up from $3.3 billion a year earlier.
“While we are seeing some initial signs of consumer credit stability, we are not yet certain that this trend will continue,” chief executive Jamie Dimon said in a statement.
The investment bank drove earnings, with net income of $1.9 billion, up from $882 million a year earlier.
A $700 million loss in JPMorgan’s card services division -- compared with a profit of $292 million a year earlier -- dragged on earnings.
JPMorgan shares were up 3.7% in premarket trading at $47.35. The shares closed at $45.66 on Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.


text:
Authorities in the southern port city of Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong, found a variety of insect-resistant transgenic corn within more than 60,000 metric tons of maize imported from the United States, a spokesman for China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.
The agency is in charge of entry-exit commodity inspection and import-export food safety certification and accreditation.
The insect-resistant MIR 162 transgenic corn was developed by Syngenta AG to provide growers with maize hybrids that are resistant to feeding damage caused by moths, butterflies and other lepidopteran insects.
MIR 162 is not authorized by China's agricultural department, spokesman Chen Xitong said.
Read more: http://upi.com/2592662


text:
In 2018 the world was divided following the annual Victoria’s Secret runway show. For many, the glossy-haired, stick thin angels were no longer relevant as consumers called for a more inclusive cast of models. Now in an attempt to revive the once beloved intimates giant, Victoria’s Secret has signed a deal with actress Priyanka Chopra and soccer World Cup winner, Megan Rapinoe.
According to a report by Page Six, the women will serve as spokespeople for the (hopefully) new and improved brand and will appear on a podcast and in marketing material. They join the likes of model Adut Akech, freestyle skier Eileen Gu, Brazilian transgender model Valentina Sampaio, plus-size model Paloma Elesser, and journalist Amanda de Cadene to host a 10-episode podcast series where each woman will have the opportunity to share their unique story.
“It’s a group of women inspiring change and positivity. It’s another step they’re taking towards transforming the brand. The entire industry thought Victoria Secret was done,” an insider for the publication said.
It’s not known if this new push for inclusivity will translate to the Victoria’s Secret stores.
Another source added, “[The Collective] is completely cause-driven … The idea is to create this community of outsiders looking in. It’s a new generation for the brand that is more about inclusivity.
“And they [Victoria’s Secret] needed it if they wanted to stay afloat. The brand was stuck in an era that never evolved. It’s a different world now.”
The brand came under fire in 2018 after former CMO, Ed Razek, claimed “transsexual models” would not be cast in the show as it was “a fantasy”. It followed comments to Vogue where he claimed he had “no interest” in seeing plus-size models on the VS runway
In an era of cancel culture, the brand fell from grace. In 2019 Victoria’s Secret announced it had cancelled its highly-anticipated runway show. In light of the pandemic just 12 months later, its parent company L Brands was forced to close 250 stores in North America – one quarter of its brick-and-mortar business.
Will a podcast alone be enough to repair the VS image? We suspect not, but we imagine more is planned. Stay tuned.


text:
New York—The Wall Street Journal Professional Edition was rolled out to consumers Thursday. The edition, which combines the Journal and access to Factiva and Dow Jones Newswires, debuted in November for enterprise customers.
The Professional Edition, which can be customized, is designed to give users deeper insight into specific industries. The service is priced at $49 per month.
“The Wall Street Journal Professional Edition leverages two of our leading products to create an innovative tool to serve professionals across multiple industries—a service Dow Jones is uniquely positioned to provide,” Todd Larsen, president of News Corp.’s Dow Jones & Co., said in a statement.


text:
You can find the original article here: IFA 2022: Is smart home the smart option for a sustainable future?
According to a United Nations (UN) study, households now account for 20 percent of global CO2 emissions. In her keynote at IFA 2022, Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer at SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, will outline how smart home technologies and energy savings can help reduce CO2 emissions and be part of the solution for a climate-friendly world.
According to a 2021 study commissioned by SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, more than half of consumers aim to reduce their CO2 consumption in the home to net zero. In times of rising energy prices, this is a desirable goal from both a sustainable and financial perspective. Energy and cost efficiency in their own homes is therefore a top priority for many people worldwide.
For an efficient home
“By combining digitalization and energy, Schneider Electric gives consumers the opportunity to make their homes more efficient, sustainable, connected and personalized while maintaining their comfort,” explains Gwenaelle Avice-Huet. “In the home of the future, for which we are developing innovations, smart energy management is central. In this way, we want to make sustainability accessible to all and further decarbonize our planet.”
In her keynote address, titled “Smart Home is the Smart Option for a Sustainable Future,” Avice-Huet, who was named a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum in 2018 and awarded the French Order of Merit in 2019, will discuss the impact of our daily lives, mindsets and consumer behavior on global climate change. She will also explain how to ensure that everyone in society can benefit from smart home energy technologies and enjoy a more sustainable home.
Visitors to IFA 2022 can then also experience SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC’s smart developments at the company’s booth in Hall 5.2a | 123.
To IFA in Berlin
IFA, the world’s most important innovation platform for leading consumer and home electronics brands, is the most efficient industry and communication meeting point for industry, trade and media. IFA 2022 will take place in Berlin from September 2 to 6.
Watch the full post IFA 2022: Is Smart Home the smart option for a sustainable future? and the video about it here on FLASH UP!


text:
| Oct 3, 2011
| 6:44 AM
By Melissa Tewes
Special to The Herald-Mail
Is it possible that snacking on chocolate could be good for you?
Recent studies regarding the potential health benefits of chocolate may suggest so.
Chocolate might not just be for curing a sweet tooth...
| Dec 7, 2009
| 4:32 PM
It's cold and wet and dreary. And everyone is walking around wishing for a bowlful or a mug-ful of something warm. But no one wants to walk outside to to get it. Check out this L.A. Times Test Kitchen recipe......
| Mar 30, 2009
So it's almost April but that doesn't mean to put away the warm drinks!! Here's an offer for 4 packets of hot chocolate from Malcolm's...and you get to choose the 4 you want!
| Feb 19, 2009
I have ventured to the mountaintop.
It smelled of grilled cheese.
This pinnacle, as glorious as the gods of processed foods could conceive, goes by a less-than-glorious name: the Kraft Research & Development headquarters. Even so, mere mortals are not...
| Sep 28, 2009
| 1:34 PM
Finally, it is starting to feel like football season! I wore my jacket for the first time this past Friday, and always look forward to crisp, cool air and October high school football.
Some of my best memories watching games at Bengal Memorial Stadium...
| Nov 4, 2009
2 parts Effen Black Cherry
1 part DeKuyper White Crème de Cacao
2 parts Cream
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass that has been drizzled with chocolate
HOT CHOCOLATE CHERRY
1 part Red Stag by Jim...
| Dec 3, 2009
| 1:17 PM
Spiced hot chocolate
Spice things up for the weekend with this hot cocoa.
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon sugar
1/16 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup half-and-half
1 cup milk
| Jul 7, 2009
The FDA is recalling several products containing dry milk because they may be contaminated with salmonella.
It's part of a national recall initiated after FDA investigators found salmonella in a Plainview Milk Products Cooperative plant last month....


text:
The PlayStation 5 is expected to hit shelves later this year, and while a release date is still up in the air, retailers are preparing by allowing consumers to register interest.
- READ MORE: Sony PlayStation 5: release date, launch games, controller and everything you need to know
Sony plans to release two models for the PS5 when the system hits later this year – a normal version and a digital counterpart, which will come equipped without the disc tray and only be compatible with downloaded games.
However, numerous outlets are offering players the opportunity to register their interest in the PlayStation 5. Registering interest won’t guarantee a pre-order for customers when Sony eventually puts them live, but instead enables people to be one of the first to hear when they are available to order.
By registering interest, customers will be able to transfer their interest into a pre-order, if they wish to do so. This will be subject to allocation on most, if not all sites, but registering interest allows consumers an advantage over everyone else and a chance to secure the PS5 before other people.
Most major outlets are already gauging interest from potential buyers and have opened up the registration process. Residents in both the UK and American territories have means of showing their attraction to the PlayStation 5 and many sites are accepting interest from customers. Here are a selection of sites that are offering the ability to:
It’s unclear when the PS5 will be available or even what the price will be, but registering interest will allow customers the option to instantly pre-order as soon as the details are dropped.
Players can expect a wealth of games to drop later on the PlayStation 5 this year to coincide with the new consoles. Insomniac Games has already confirmed that Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be launching on the new system later this year.
Godfall is an upcoming looter-slasher that is set to launch around the same time as the new console. Recently, developer Counterplay Games showcased an extended demonstration of the game, detailing the fighting mechanics and exploration.


text:
Win a private box for two at The Olympia Theatre, when Pentatonix make their return to Dublin on May 23.
Having sold out their last Dublin show, Pentatonix make their hugely anticipated return with an
Olympia Theatre date on May 23.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2011, Platinum selling recording artists Pentatonix have sold more than 2.7 million albums in the U.S. alone, won a Grammy Award, sold out venues worldwide, have amassed over 1.4 billion views on their YouTube channel with over 10 million subscribers and appeared in the feature film Pitch Perfect 2.
Tickets for Pentatonix on May 23 go on sale this Friday, March 4th at 9am, and are available on Ticketmaster.
To win your own private box at the show, just answer this question:
Pentatonix appeared in which 2015 feature film?
Enter your details and answer below for a chance to win.
© 2016 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.


text:
Maruti Suzuki expands vehicle subscription services to four more cities
Maruti Suzuki on Monday has announced the expansion of its vehicle subscription service to four more cities across India. These are Jaipur, Indore, Mangalore and Mysore. With this, the car manufacturer currently offers its vehicle subscription service in 19 cities across the country.
Also Read : Maruti Suzuki to hike prices of cars from July due to rise in production costs
The different models that are available in this vehicle subscription program include models from both Maruti Suzuki Arena and Nexa channels. While WagonR, Swift, Dzire, Vitara Brezza, Ertiga are available from the Maruti Suzuki Arena channel, premium cars such as Ignis, Baleno, Ciaz, S-Cross and XL6 from Nexa retail chain are also available for subscription.
The automaker has said that it has joined hands with three vehicle subscription partners - Orix, ALD Automotive and Myles for its subscription service.
The vehicle subscription service offers the consumers ownership experience without buying the vehicle. This strategy reduces the financial burden from the customers and brings a new business opportunity to the automakers. It allows the consumers to have the vehicle by paying an all-inclusive monthly rental that includes vehicle usage charges, registration charges, maintenance, insurance etc.
Also check these Vehicles
Despite being a relatively new concept, car subscription is picking up in India. Besides Maruti Suzuki, several other car brands have opted for this strategy. Maruti Suzuki launched its subscription program in July 2020.
Talking about the vehicle subscription service expansion, Shashank Srivastava, MSI Senior Executive Director (Marketing and Sales), said that car subscription is a new and upcoming concept for the Indian market and the company is regularly upgrading its subscription programme with learnings and feedback from customers. "With the addition of four new cities in our network, we look forward to serving more customers," he further added.


text:
Modi Government May Bring AC And Non-AC Restaurants in Same GST Bracket
New Delhi, Oct 16: The Modi government is considering to scrap the difference in GST taxes between air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned restaurants. The GST panel may make taxes levied on both the types of restaurants to be 12 per cent.
A report in The Mint said that a five-member panel, formed by the GST council, may retain tax on five-star restaurants to be 18 per cent. Currently, all AC restaurants are taxed 18 per cent, while all non-AC restaurants are charged 12 per cent GST.
The report said the final decision on this will be taken at a GST council meeting on November 9. The meeting will be chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. A person privy to the development said there was convergence on views that the rates on AC restaurants should be lowered.
The panel will also decide whether AC restaurants should be given the benefit of tax rebates as they do not pass on the rebate to consumers.
The Modi government has reviewed GST in view of the slump in economic growth. In the 22nd GST council meet, it was announced that many items would be brought down from 28 per cent slab to 18 per cent slab. Many articles were also brought down from 18 per cent to 12 per cent slab. The decision was taken to encourage public spending after the Reserve Bank of India, while announcing the monetary policy, said the GST had had an adverse impact on GDP growth.
India’s GDP had slumped to 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2017-2018. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh called demonetisation and GST a double whammy to the economy.


text:
You may never know the sorrow of losing a save file again
Razer has announced its new Save Game Manager feature. The feature will be coming to its Razer Game Booster program and will allow users to save any title’s save files. The new save feature, which will be in beta upon release, is compatible with any game that has local save files and will support backup services for over 2,000 titles. Users will also be able to manually add games to take advantage of this service to Dropbox .
In addition, Save Game Manager will sync as many save game files as the user might want, free of charge, and automatically backup a player’s saves when they save their progress. However, save files are not the only things the new feature will store. Users’ game settings will also be stored to Dropbox such as resolution and anti-aliasing multipliers.
For those unfamiliar with the Razer Game Booster, it is Razer's free program that helps to optimize system settings and enhance a video game’s performance. It will turn off unnecessary processes and applications, catalog games, launch games using the application, and allow users to record in-game footage and take screenshots.


text:
Filson has opened a new world headquarters
19 Jun. 2013
Filson Unveils New HeadquartersAmerican heritage brand Filson has opened a brand new world headquarters and manufacturing facility in its hometown of Seattle, Washington.
The 54,400-sq.-foot (5,017-sq.-meter) structure is a converted warehouse at 1741 First Avenue South. It includes a fully visible/transparent bag and luggage factory on the first floor, plus a showroom and headquarters.
The brand’s older factory will soon be upgraded and become a modern apparel manufacturing center.
“This expansion furthers our 116-year commitment to our customers to provide unfailing goods that allows them to do what they love in the outdoors,” said CEO Alan Kirk. “We celebrate this expansion with our customers who,thanks to their demand for our products, have allowed us to stay true to our values of local manufacturing without compromising quality.”
The brand, which began in 1897, operates one flagship each in Seattle, Portland, Oregon and London, England.
|Back to home|


text:
Researchers that found the last huge Intel security hole have found a new one.
This time, however, Intel and the rest of the industry were ready with patches.
The hole impacts just about every PC and server that uses any kind of Intel processor.
It lets hackers potentially see your web history, your passwords and the your disk encryption keys.
Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
The same researchers that found the Intel Spectre and Meltdown flaws which sent Intel and the whole tech industry reeling has found another problem with Intel chips. And they say this vulnerability, named ZombieLoad, impacts PCs and servers of all flavors if they run Intel chips.
The good news is that the researchers have already reported it to Intel and other vendors, and security patches are being issued now.
Intel has already patched several of its current processors, and it released microcode that will patch others, it tells Business Insider. Among the Intel chips that are vulnerable are the Xeon, Broadwell, Sandy Bridge, Skylake, Haswell chips, Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake, Whiskey Lake, Cascade Lake, Atom and Knights processors, the company reported.
Intel has given this vulnerability a security rating of “medium.” PC makers Apple and Microsoft …read more
Source:: Businessinsider – Technology


text:
Foxconn leads $7 million Series A investment in Cambridge Blockchain
Cambridge, Massachusetts USA – [May 15, 2018] – Cambridge Blockchain Inc announced a Series A equity financing today, led by Foxconn Technology Group’s venture arm HCM Capital. HCM was joined by Partech and Digital Currency Group in a $7 million first close, including new capital and conversion of outstanding debt. The funds will extend Cambridge Blockchain’s peer-to-peer Enterprise Data Management software to new applications, including trusted digital identity for individuals, companies, Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices and next-generation supply chains.
Cambridge Blockchain software is used to store, share and validate sensitive data across multiple stakeholders – initial deployments target the costly and complex know-your-customer (KYC) compliance process at financial institutions. Foxconn, one of the top 10 technology companies in the world (ranked by Forbes, 2017), is now exploring deployments of Cambridge Blockchain software for devices and across its own operations.
[add quote from Jack Lee, Managing Partner of HCM Capital covering potential use cases – e.g. supply chain and IoT-enabled manufacturing].
“Foxconn brings a compelling strategic view regarding blockchain and digital identity,” said Matthew Commons, Cambridge Blockchain’s CEO. “We’re thrilled to have Foxconn’s support, as well as the continued backing of Partech and DCG.”
“Blockchain has been a hot buzzword for a few years now but very few software companies have actually reached the point of full scale production rollouts. This is where Cambridge Blockchain has impressed us over the last 15 months, as well as their first production customers in Europe, in the wake of new digital identity regulations taking full force in a few days” said from Romain Lavault, General Partner at Partech.
Barry Silbert, Founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group remarked, “Cambridge Blockchain is a leader in bringing distributed ledgers into large financial institutions. The company is making the KYC verification process more efficient, while laying the groundwork for a future in which users can better own and safeguard their personal information. We are thrilled to continue supporting them.”
- Company News & Announcements
- Science & Technology
- + 1
- Tech Startups


text:
20 January, 2022 - 22 January, 2022
25 January, 2022 - 26 January, 2022
Porto Alegre, Brazil
26 January, 2022 - 27 January, 2022
New York, U.S.
07 February, 2022 - 09 February, 2022
08 February, 2022 - 10 February, 2022
The premium electric vehicle manufacturer has announced it plans to open a new factory in China by 2018.
As part of Tesla’s global expansion strategy, the new factory is to help the automotive manufacturer avoid import tariffs of around 25% and to maintain its objectives of a “global pricing policy”.
According to Robin Ren, Vice-President, Tesla, China already represents the largest automotive market in the world, and will soon also become the biggest for electric vehicles. Tesla aims to produce around 500,000 electric cars from its own plant by 2018.
Tesla’s Model X will be available for order in China near the end of this month, much sooner than initially planned, driven by the impressive number of reservations received for the Model 3.
The company is said to have signed a contract with Beijing municipal government to locate its headquarters in the city, where it opened its sales office in 2014, the year when the carmaker entered the Chinese market.
Source: China Daily


text:
The Packer editor Tom Karst and Produce Retailer editor Ashley Nickle discuss some of the topics of interest this week, from new tariffs on Mexican products to a report detailing projections for the future of grocery.
Check out more coverage of those topics at the following links.
- Trump promises new tariffs on Mexico
- 11 predictions for the future of grocery
- Can Trump find win with immigration tariff on Mexico?
Tom and Ashley also mentioned a new column by retail veteran and Produce Marketing Association vice president Joe Watson, and they continue to encourage industry members to turn in nominations for Produce Retailer of the Year. See more information on those topics at the below links.


text:
The trade volume between Turkey and Nigeria, has reached $1.3bn (about N204.1billion), the National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Herbert Ajayi, has said.
He said that Nigeria’s main imports from Turkey were clothing, food, engine, automobile parts and pharmaceuticals among others. In return, he said, Turkey’s imports from Nigeria included sesame seeds, raw and semi-processed leather, rubber and other things.
Ajayi disclosed this during the Turkish products solo exhibition, which was organised in conjunction with Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Armanda International Limited in Lagos.
A statement on Friday said the figure represented the trade performance between the two countries as at the end of 2011.
The NACCIMA President said, “Since the last two editions of the Turkish products solo exhibition, the trade volume between Turkey and Nigeria has tremendously improved. As at 2011, the trade volume between the two countries stood at $1.3bn.”
Even though the trade statistics revealed that the balance of trade between the two countries was in favour of Nigeria, Ajayi stressed that the existence and continuous annual growth in the volume of trade between both countries was a testimony of faith, reliability and confidence that they had in each other and in their products and services.
“There is need to further strengthen the existing relationship between Nigeria and Turkey through the formation of joint investment projects,” he said.
Ajayi expressed delight that the exhibition was geared towards enhancing the bilateral trade relationship and fostering mutual cooperation.
Representative of the government of Turkey, Ambassador Ali Buyukelci, said that the volume of trade between the two countries rose in 2011 by 57 per cent.
According to him, the relationship between Turkey and Nigeria dates back to the Ottoman Empire.
After Nigeria’s independence in 1960, he said that Turkey opened its embassy in Lagos and had since been having a cooperative relationship with the country.
He also said that Turkish contracting sector had achieved great experience and success throughout the world.
Buyukelci said, “Our contracting sector ranks second after China worldwide. They have so far successfully completed more than 4,000 projects in 81 countries with a volume of $160bn.”


text:
American Express and Foursquare have extended their relationship into the United Kingdom, in an initiative that involves retail and restaurant partners Tesco, Primark, House of Fraser, Strada, Bella Italia, PizzaExpress, Eat, and others. If consumers sync up their Amex card with the Foursquare smart phone app, they can reveive either a £10 or £5 credit rebate, depending on the brand.
For the geo-social company, the commercial move appears to represent the fruit of its first hire in the country last fall, when Foursquare brought aboard Omid Ashtari as U.K. business development director. The New York-based tech brand, which claims 20 million users worldwide, said its U.K. audience is 70 percent bigger than it was at this time a year ago.
And with the London Olympics coming, the U.K. could be one of the more interesting countries this summer for Foursquare. It’s already running a check-ins special with the International Olympics Committee to offer the chance of winning tickets to the prestigious sporting event.
For Amex, the effort builds on its “Link > Like > Love” campaign that runs not only on Foursquare but also Facebook and Twitter. The New York-based credit giant is obviously serious about becoming a major mobile payments player, promoting Link > Like > Love in its broadcast TV commercials for the last several weeks.
Meanwhile, here’s how the Amex-Foursquare marriage works for consumers:
- Sync Amex card with Foursquare account online.
- Check in at a location.
- Tap a “redeem offer” button.
- Pay with Amex card.
- Get a Foursquare push notification about the money-back reward (see image) within moments after the card is swiped by the merchant.
Mashable first reported the U.K. launch.
This morning, Merkle released its quarterly Direct Marketing Report, ahead of Google’s own Q2 earnings announcement and it makes for a bumper stat-filled ... read more
Yesterday, Facebook reported blow-out earnings that handily beat Wall Street analyst expectations. The world’s largest social network generated $6.24 billion in ad revenue ... read more
With more than a billion users, and billions of daily video views, gaining user attention on YouTube may seem a daunting prospect. ... read more


text:
THERE was a time when you knew very clearly if you had been a victim of theft.
But, as cash becomes less common and we all use plastic a lot more, an entirely different menace lurks.
Already surrounded by its own vernacular, with phrases like ‘skimming’ and ‘phishing’ entering the mainstream, victims often find out they’ve lost something to credit card fraud when it’s too late.
A miscellaneous payment on a statement or a telephone call from the bank is usually the only evidence that our cash has been plundered.
We report in today’s Examiner that credit card fraud in Huddersfield is running at £1m a year – a truly amazing figure.
The message is clear – protect your plastic as it were gold, and never let it out of your sight.


text:
Pathaan marketing relies solely on Brand SRK
Here’s how ‘Brand SRK’ worked its charm into Pathaan’s marketing strategy that completely avoided the traditional marketing route.
It is not too often that you find a product so good that it sells itself. Luxury brands such as Lamborgini and Ferrero Rocher are a few brands that have seldom gone heavy on advertising. For the recent Shah Rukh Khan’s big-screen release Pathaan, the makers have steered away from traditional marketing and relied on SRK’s brand value and fandom to do the work. They are relying on organic PR to bring in fans to the theatres.
As mentioned by an Indian movie critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh in his Tweet, just like Drishyam 2, Pathaan is turning to this unconventional method to promote their film, which Adarsh says was a wise strategy.
In 2021, according to the Duff & Phelps Celebrity’s brand evaluation report, SRK’s brand value stood at $46.3 million. With Pathaan’s marketing strategy, the makers simply leveraged SRK’s brand value and stardom, which seems to have worked in their favour.
Apart from creating chatter around the movie with its music videos and star cast which includes SRK, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, the movie saw organic marketing from King Khan’s fans.
Fans from around the country engaged in various marketing activities to create a buzz. A few organised blood camps, while others took to the streets with life-size cutouts of the characters, and more.
Also Read: Case Study: How Columbia Pacific Communities redefined gender roles through its Christmas campaign
The Big Comeback
It isn’t just SRK, Deepika and team Pathaan who are waiting to see the movie’s performance at the box office. This time, the stakes are high. The entire Bollywood industry, which has been struggling to bring back audience to the theatres at the pre-pandemic level, has pinned its hopes on SRK’s Pathaan.
According to GroupM iTV and Ormax Media’s report, compared to 2019, which remains the best-grossing year for the Indian box office, Hindi cinema has lost 11 percentage of its share (44% to 33%). With Pathaan coming to theaters, it has the potential to revive the sinking ship that is the Hindi film industry.
Karan Taurani, Sr. VP, of Elara Capital said, “Pathaan is expected to have a strong opening day net Box Office collection of INR 0.4bn, based on compelling advances. Lifetime BO (Net) collection may be in a wide range of INR 2-2.5bn, likely breaching the upper end of our estimate, if positive reviews and ‘word of mouth’ publicity ensue.”
Not just exhibitors, Bollywood stars have also shown support to increase the public’s excitement. Various celebrities took to Twitter and shared congratulatory Tweets which further worked in favour of the movie makers.
Moreover, to promote the movie’s release and increase ticket sales, SRK and the makers of the movie sent out an appeal to all his fans around the globe to help the film industry fight against piracy.
Engaging with fans
To amplify the chatter around the movie, Shah Rukh Khan used his Twitter as a way to communicate with the audience directly. He scheduled multiple #AskSRK sessions on the platform, cleverly integrating the audience’s enthusiasm for the movie and turning it into a marketing opportunity for the flick.
The movie made its way to theatres on January 25 with many theatres going house-full. Additionally, the much-awaited movie has already broken multiple records, including becoming the first Bollywood movie to collect ₹100 crore worldwide on day one – all without any direct marketing.


text:
Although lasers based on diamond have been around around for several years, they have never been very powerful. That’s beginning to change now as new CVD fabrication methods provide larger, and purer, diamonds.
Forget everything your parents ever taught you about managing your finances: Down under in Australia, scientists have found money growing on trees. Not paper money, of course, but eucalyptus leaves that are imbued with small amounts of pure gold. These gilded leaves can help gold exploration companies discover new, underground gold deposits in difficult-to-reach locations.
Researchers from MIT have unveiled a new form of motion tracking that uses a three-point system to follow a person’s position, even through a totally opaque wall. Though the word “Kinect” has been thrown around quite liberally for the sake of accessibility, this is strictly a positional tracker — that means that it won’t be interpreting sign language or reading lips any time soon.
Scientists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) have devised a new way of creating twisted laser beams — optical vortexes — for carrying vast, near-infinite amounts of data down optical fiber, discovering exoplanets, and more. SLAC’s optical vortex technology is much more advanced than previous attempts at creating and transmitting twisted light, allowing for shorter pulses, higher intensities, and much wider wavelengths — including X-rays.
Back in the early days of comic books, before they were used to convey compelling, mature narratives, you could turn to the back page and order x-ray specs for a few bucks. They obviously didn’t allow you to see through walls, but Caltech researchers have developed a tiny new terahertz chip that could give your smartphone that ability.
Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.


text:
Profitability of sugar mills is set to improve and farmers are expected to get timely payments after government increased import duty and restricted sugar sales, said a report.
Government had early this month increased import duty on raw and white sugar to 100 per cent to curb cheaper imports and ensure remunerative prices to growers. It also restricted sugar sale by imposing stockholding limits for February and March to contain falling prices.
“The twin government moves are expected to prop up falling sales realisations, support the profitability of sugar mills by enabling them to tide over the supply glut, and keep their credit profiles stable,” rating agency Crisil said in a report today.
“For farmers, this means timely payments for cane, and curbing fresh build-up of arrears on this count,” it added.
Sugar prices fell nearly 18 per cent between October 2017 and January 2018 in anticipation of surplus production. That, along with higher cane prices – up 11 per cent for the ongoing sugar season (October-September) – have piled up pressure on the profitability of sugar mills, it noted.
According to Subodh Rai, a senior director at Crisil, global sugar prices are already down a quarter from the last season’s average because of surplus production.
“Hence, we believe the doubling of customs duty to 100 per cent is a timely intervention to restore domestic balance and protect the profitability of millers,” he said.
Rai feels this will provide a cushion of Rs 6-7 per kg to an integrated sugar mill against a further fall in global prices.
Crisil expects good monsoons and higher cane acreage to boost sugar production in the ongoing season to over 26 mt, 6 mt higher than the previous season, even as demand remains unchanged around 25 mt.
The rating agency believes the sales restriction for two months, requiring mills to keep at least 83-86 per cent of the closing stock of the previous month, and forbidding sale of quantities produced in February and March in the same month, will restrict supply in the interim.
“Notwithstanding higher inventory holding costs, controlled supplies should restrict further declines in sugar realisations before production closes by April,” it said.
Crisil also expect the credit profiles of sugar companies to remain stable, buoyed by improving price scenario and deleveraging.
“However, we will continue to monitor for sharp movement in cane prices in the next sugar season, sowing acreage and regulatory measures,” said Manish Gupta, a director, at Crisil.


text:
Google has been fined €2.42 billion by the European Commission for breaching EU antitrust rules.
The fine, which targets the company's shopping business, is the largest handed out by the European watchdog for a monopoly abuse case and follows a seven-year-long investigation into Google's practices.
The search-engine giant are accused of skewing results in its favour to thwart smaller shopping search services by giving an illegal advantage to another Google product, its comparison shopping service.
"Google has come up with many innovative products and services that have made a difference to our lives," said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s antitrust chief. "But Google's strategy for its comparison shopping service wasn't just about attracting customers by making its product better than those of its rivals. Instead, Google abused its market dominance as a search engine by promoting its own comparison shopping service in its search results, and demoting those of competitors."
"Google has abused its market dominance as a search engine," says European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager pic.twitter.com/UW5qmeOjUM
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 27, 2017
Google now has 90 days to "stop its illegal conduct" and give equal treatment to rival price-comparison services or it will face further penalty payments.
Responding to the record fine, Google announced that is considering appealing against the decision to the highest court in Europe, the European Court of Justice, which will be its last hope of undoing the charges.
While the fine eclipses the record €1.06 billion penalty handed out to Intel eight years ago, Google could have been handed a $9 billion penalty as EU regulatory guidelines stipulate that such fines are capped at up to 10 percent of the company's global turnover.


text:
Shares of Avis Budget Group (CAR 3.68%) pulled back through the first six months of the year. The rental car company was one of many travel stocks hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rival Hertz (HTZG.Q) was even forced into bankruptcy.
According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock fell 29% through the first half of the year. As you can see from the chart below, Avis Budget has taken investors on a wild ride in 2020.
Avis began the year quietly after naming Joe Ferraro as its new interim CEO at the end of 2019. The stock started moving higher in February after the company appointed Bernardo Hees, the former CEO of Kraft Heinz, as its executive chairman. Shares spiked after the company's fourth-quarter earnings report on Feb. 19, in which the company smashed expectations and posted better-than-expected guidance for 2020. However, shortly after that, the stock began to plunge as the market crashed on the novel coronavirus threat.
On March 23, Avis issued an update saying that travel demand had dropped precipitously, that reservations were down 60%, and that April and beyond could bring further declines. The company said it took a number of actions to cut annual expenses by $400 million. It also said liquidity was solid, with $1.1 billion in cash available and no significant debt maturities until 2023.
In an April update, the company said sales had stabilized and were down about 80% year over year. The company raised another $500 million in debt in early May to give it more flexibility.
The stock started rallying in mid-May as the U.S. economy began to reopen and some economic data pointed to a faster-than-expected recovery. Avis stock actually surged when Hertz declared bankruptcy, as investors seemed to see this as an opportunity for Avis to gain market share. In June, the stock pulled back again thanks to mounting fears of a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.
While Hertz's bankruptcy should benefit Avis over the long run, the pandemic is going to significantly impact its financial stability going forward. With the fresh spike in COVID-19 cases, a quick travel recovery seems unlikely. The Transportation Security Administration is reporting that air passenger traffic is still down roughly 70% from a year ago -- a bad sign for Avis, since most of its business is tied to airports.
The company can survive the crisis, but there's no question that it will take a toll. Avis will be further burdened with debt that it can ill afford to take on, especially with ridesharing companies taking market share from rental cars.


text:
So did anyone hear the new rumor that Disney might shut down Marvel comics and "lease" out its properties to other publishers?
Personally, I feel the writing's on the wall for the comic book direct market - sales have been lousy for years, nobody gives a shit about reading capes when they can go see a cape movie instead (cape movies being arguably better than most cape comics, too), and the money is in merch now. If Marvel goes in any meaningful way, LCSs will be reeling even more than normal, Diamond will be reeling, and creators will be reeling too.
I could talk about this for a while, but suffice to say, comic books have little place in a world where energy is expensive. It got its subsidies from the 30s-70s from cheap fossil fuels, and now that those subsidies are starting to run out, nobody can afford to pay creators, consumers can't afford to to keep up with floppies, and comic books stores can't afford to keep the lights on. It's a doomed industry, and we're going to have to learn a thing or two about the post-Napster collapse of the music industry in order to make it through the years ahead. That, or just accept that comics will increasingly become a labor of love and nothing more - settle for breaking even and then maybe the medium (not the industry) will finally be able to revitalize itself into being something respectable again.
Burn, baby, burn.


text:
New sales figures from market research firm NPD show the video game industry did huge business in December 2009, breaking industry records to log the biggest sales month every. However, even the record-breaking December was not enough to bring overall 2009 sales out of the doldrums: on the whole, the industry’s figures were still down 8 percent compared to 2009, chalking up about $!9.66 billion in sales compared to $21.4 billion in 2008.
Sales of game software were down across the board for the year, with console game sales totaling about $10.5 billion (an 11 percent decline compared to 2008) and PC software dropping to $538 million, a 23 percent decline compared to 2008.
For the month of December, the Nintendo Wii absolutely dominated console sales, moving some 3.81 million units—that’s almost double the 2.15 million Wii systems that were sold in December 2008. Sony sold 1.36 million PlayStation 3 consoles and 333,000 PlayStation 2 consoles during the month, while Microsoft managed to sell 1.31 million Xbox 360 systems during the month. Amongst portable systems, the Nintendo DS family moved 3.31 million units during December, while the PlayStation Portable managed to sell 655,000 units. The Wii’s sales performance may forestall talk that the Wii’s bubble of popularity had burst more than three years after the console’s introduction; the month also marks the first time Sony’s PS3 moved more than a million units in a month.
The Wii also took the top three sales slots for software, with New Super Market Bros., Wii Fit Plus, and Wii Sports Resort dominating the top of the charts. However, Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox 360 and PS3 took the number four and five positions, respectively, and the title is now the fourth best-selling game of all time—and it’s worth nothing that three of the ten top-selling all-time games are Call of Duty titles.
The game industry is bullish that the strong December 2009 performance bodes good things for 2010. “This is a very strong way to transition into 2010,” said the ESA’s president and CEO Michael D. Gallagher, in a statement. “I anticipate these solid sales numbers to continue upward through 2010 with a pipeline full of highly-anticipated titles.”
- Star Ocean: The Divine Force: Release date, trailers, gameplay, and more
- Don’t expect a new Sly Cooper or Infamous game anytime soon, says Sucker Punch
- The best Android games available right now (July 2022)
- The most iconic meme game is coming to Nintendo Switch Online this month
- My Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch live in harmony. Yours should too


text:
AMC Networks witnessed another eye-opening decline in its U.S. advertising business -- an 11% drop -- as well as weak distribution revenue, rising only 1%, for its recent reporting period.
All this drove the cable TV network group’s stock down sharply -- 6% -- to $51.27 -- in early Wednesday morning trading. In the first quarter, U.S. advertising was down 6% to $239 million.
The company says “the decrease in advertising revenues is primarily related to the timing of the airing of original programming, as well as lower delivery partially offset by higher pricing.”
Viewership declines in the period have been due to the absence of “Walking Dead” episodes and fewer episodes from the “Fear of the Walking Dead.”
Though things should get a bit a better -- with distribution revenue expected to rise 8% and advertising revenue to see a 4% decline in the coming quarter, estimates Bernstein Research, the near-term picture isn’t good.
“It is not inconceivable that advertising and core affiliate revenue are now both running negative on a normalized basis,” writes Todd Juenger, media analyst at Bernstein Research.
“The biggest concern for investors in TV network companies right now should be affiliate fees/cord-cutting... This is troubling for [AMC Networks], and a troubling read-across for other TV network companies,” he adds.
AMC Networks' total revenue was up 1.4% to $772 million for the period -- with national advertising at $219 million and distribution/other revenue, $385 million. Net income from contributing operators was up 21% to $129 million.
International revenue (advertising/distribution) was up 22% to $180 million.


text:
The former BMW executive, who has overseen a turnaround in fortunes for JLR, will become non-executive vice chairman of the firm.
He will also remain on the board of JLR owner Tata Sons.
A replacement for Sir Ralf has not yet been announced. Tata Motors said in a statement that a search committee has been formed ‘to identify a suitable successor in the coming months’.
In a statement, Sir Ralf said he was “very honoured to have worked with so many dedicated and creative people, both inside and outside of JLR.
“We have elevated Jaguar and Land Rover. We offer our customers multi-award-winning products and will continue to surprise with the best pipeline of new, innovative products we have ever had.”
Currently executive director and CEO, Sir Ralf Speth took over JLR in February 2010, when Ford sold JLR to Tata.
He joined the Ford Premier Automotive Group in 2007 as production and product planning director.
Sir Ralf, a 64-year old German born in Bavaria, began his career at BMW in 1980, where he worked for two decades.
He was made a Sir in 2019, for services to the British automotive industry. He also has a doctorate from the University of Warwick.


text:
- Andrew Maykuth
FDA recalls Synthes bone putty
The Food and Drug Administration has recalled bone putty made by Johnson & Johnson's West Chester-based Synthes unit, saying that the product, used to stanch bone bleeding, may catch fire during surgery and potentially cause death or serious injury. Synthes has received one complaint of the Hemostatic Bone Putty igniting after coming in contact with an electrosurgical cautery system, company spokeswoman Lorie Gawreluk said, and no complaints of adverse effects on patients. The FDA said on its website Tuesday that J&J issued a letter in July requesting medical facilities to examine their inventory and stop using certain lots of the putty distributed from Dec. 22 to June 25.
- Bloomberg News
Chesapeake disputes DEP data claim
Chesapeake Energy says that it submitted Marcellus Shale production data to a Pennsylvania database last week when it was due, but state officials still aren't providing details why it didn't appear online or saying whether a biannual report about one of the nation's top natural-gas fields is now complete. On Monday, the Department of Environmental Protection suggested that some drillers were late submitting data. Chesapeake spokesman Rory Sweeny said that the company met regulatory requirements for sharing data, and that it sent an electronic copy separately last week and sought to resolve problems with the state database. Sweeny declined to provide copies of e-mails to the state. A DEP spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
New York firm buys PSC Info Group
Compass Investment Partners Fund L.P., of New York, says it has acquired Oaks-based consumer-payments systems maker PSC Info Group; the price was not disclosed. Compass has folded PSC, which employs about 300 in the Philadelphia area, into another firm it owns, Wixom, Mich.-based digital-document outsourcing manager Dantom Systems. The new companies will be renamed Revspring, offering "data hygiene and analytics, secure document creation and delivery, multi-channel communications, electronic billing and archival services, and online payment tools," they said in a joint statement. PSC Info founder Joseph J. Greco will be board chairman.
- Joseph N. DiStefano
J&J agrees to hip-case accord
Johnson & Johnson, which faces about 8,000 lawsuits over hip implants it recalled in 2010, has agreed to pay about $600,000 to resolve three cases in the first settlements of the litigation, people familiar with the accords said Tuesday. Earlier this month, officials of J&J's DePuy unit agreed to settle Nevada residents' suits over the company's ASR hip implants, two people familiar with the agreement said. Bill Price, a spokesman for New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson, declined to comment on the settlements or to say whether the company intends to settle more cases.
- Bloomberg News
JetBlue helps lift US Airways stock
US Airways Group Inc. shares rose Tuesday, after JetBlue Airways' CEO nixed the idea of a merger with bankrupt American Airlines. US Airways wants to merge with American, although American has said it would consider all strategic options and other partners, including JetBlue. JetBlue chief executive Dave Barger told Bloomberg News on Monday that JetBlue wants to remain independent and has no interest in a merger. US Airways shares, up 125 percent this year on speculation that it might combine with American, closed up 7.8 percent to $11.42, the largest percentage gain since June 8.
- Linda Loyd
CEO eyes GM reorganization
General Motors Co. chief executive officer Dan Akerson is planning a reorganization of the automaker that would move it away from long-entrenched regional authority toward a structure built on global functions, said two people familiar with the planning. Power would shift from regional chiefs to global leaders in areas such as marketing, purchasing and product development, on the premise that global chiefs can make the company more nimble and efficient three years after its government-backed bankruptcy. "Everyone knows that the changes need to be made," said Dennis Virag, president of Automotive Consulting Group Inc. in Ann Arbor, Mich. Randy Arickx, a GM spokesman, declined to comment.
- Bloomberg News
AAA: More Labor Day travel planned
Americans plan to hit the road this Labor Day weekend despite rising gas prices. Thirty-three million people will travel 50 miles or more, a 2.9 percent increase from last year, according to AAA, the highest level of travel for Labor Day since the start of the recession in late 2007. The overwhelming majority of travelers, 85 percent, plan to drive to their destination; industry observers say the price of gasoline could rise to about $3.75 per gallon by the holiday weekend.
ECB to recruit more staff
The European Central Bank says it is recruiting more staff to help keep its 1,600 full-time workers from burning out under the added tasks thrown up by the eurozone's economic problems. The move follows a staff survey by the union representing many ECB employees that showed bank workers were putting in constant overtime. The ECB said it will be adding 40 new positions to help out with complex tasks such as checking whether countries such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland obey the terms of their bailouts.
Apple-Samsung trial winds down
A U.S. District Court jury could start deliberations Wednesday in San Jose, Calif., in Apple Inc.'s multibillion patent-infringement case against Samsung Electronics Co. Closing arguments were heard Tuesday after last-minute talks between chief executives of the world's biggest smartphone companies failed to resolve the dispute. Apple argues that Samsung should pay it $2.5 billion for ripping off iPhone and iPad technology.


text:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robots Market Revenue to Cross USD 52.6 billion, at a CAGR of 20.5% from 2022 to 2031 – Report by Transparency Market Research Inc.
The increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) robots in industrial automation is driving the market demand.
Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Oct. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Transparency Market Research Inc. – The global artificial intelligence (AI) robot market is projected to flourish at a CAGR of 20.5% from 2022 to 2031. As per the report published by TMR, a valuation of US$ 52.6 billion is anticipated for the market in 2031. As of 2023, the artificial intelligence (AI) robot market is expected to close at US$ 11.8 billion.
The increasing technological innovation and increased government investment in AI research and development have accelerated the growth of AI robots in various sectors, including defense and public services, fueling the market growth during the forecast period. The increasing demand for robots in security and surveillance applications, patrolling and monitoring areas for security purposes, and detecting and responding to potential threats, driving the market demand
Download PDF Brochure: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=83947
The growing e-commerce and logistics industry is expected to propel the market demand as artificial intelligence (AI) robots are used in warehouses for order picking, packaging, and delivery. They can operate autonomously in large distribution centers, improving efficiency in supply chain management.
Increasing adoption of AI robots in industries to automate repetitive and labor-intensive tasks. The Industry 4.0 revolution, which focuses on smart manufacturing and automation, has driven the adoption of AI robots in factories and logistics.
The global artificial intelligence (AI) robot market is consolidated with a small number of large-scale vendors controlling the majority of the share. Most companies are trying to enhance their technological capabilities by spending significantly on comprehensive research and development activities, primarily developing different AI platforms. Transparency Market Research has profiled the following players in its global artificial intelligence (AI) robot market report:
- IBM Corporation
- Brain Corporation
- Neurala, Inc.
- Veo Robotics, Inc.
- Microsoft Corporation
Key Takeaways from the Market Study
- As of 2022, the artificial intelligence (AI) robots market was valued at US$ 9.8 billion
- Based on robot type, the industrial robots segment is expected to account high share of the global market, owing to increased uptime and productivity due to predictive maintenance.
- In terms of component, hardware segments is expected to hold the largest market share.
- Based on the End-use Industry, the industrial segment to generate high revenue during the forecast period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robots Market: Key Trends and Opportunistic Frontiers
- The rise in Internet penetration and increase in digitization activities among various developing countries fueled the demand for AI robots.
- Increasing applications of AI robots in manufacturing and industrial settings to optimize production processes, reduce errors, and enhance efficiency.
- The market players are focusing on the development of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly AI robots aligned with global sustainability goals.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robots Market- Regional Analysis
- North America is the prominent global Artificial Intelligence (AI) robot market. Growth in industrialization and an increase in spending on advanced manufacturing systems are driving the market in the region.
- The strong presence of technology companies and research institutions in the United States. The region is a robotics research and development hub, with applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer robotics.
- The Artificial Intelligence (AI) robot industry in Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the highest rate in the near future. This can be ascribed to the presence of several prominent multinational corporations in these regions that offer solutions for end-users such as automotive, industrial, and other manufacturing sectors. Increased focus on manufacturing automation and consumer robotics in countries like China and India has driven substantial growth.
Get Exclusive Discount on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robots Market at: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=83947
Key developments in the artificial intelligence (AI) robot market
- In May 2023- Doosan Robotics Americas, a global leader in industrial and collaborative robotics, announced a strategic partnership with Indiana-based Finch Automation today. The new relationship expands the reach of Doosan service robots and cobots to OEM machine builders and end users in the Midwest region of the United States
- In August 2023 – Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence (AI) company creating transformative core technology in robotics, together with Tennant Company, today announced the deployment of autonomous robotic scrubbers with Götz Group, a leading German facilities management company.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Robots Market – Key Segments
- Machine Learning
- Computer Vision
- Context Recognition
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
End Use Industry
- Aerospace and Defense
- North America
- Asia Pacific
- Middle East & Africa
- South America
Buy this Premium Research Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=83947<ype=S
About Transparency Market Research
Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.
Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.
Transparency Market Research Inc.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN,
1000 N. West Street,
Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA
USA – Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453
Email: [email protected]


text:
There are plenty of misconceptions when it comes to weight loss, such as all carbs or fats are bad. The best formula for losing weight, according to the National Institutes of Health, is simple: Eat fewer calories than you burn. We've singled out five of the biggest myths that muddy the message.
Sign up for the AARP Health Newsletter.
… Back to Article
Save Up To 25% When You Join/Renew
- Free 2nd membership for another household member
- Discounts on travel and everyday savings
- Subscription to AARP The Magazine


text:
Russellville, Ky., police are now searching for two additional people believed to be involved in a series of Wal-Mart jewelry thefts.
Authorities say Michael Scott Bryant stole jewelry from Wal-Mart stores in Russellville, Franklin and Hendersonville Tenn. on May 19, 2007.
Police said a second person, 31-year-old Richard Young was also involved.
The two men were believed to be in Columbia on Tuesday and could possibly be in Springfield.
Twenty-nine-year-old Serena Richards may be traveling with the suspects.
Russellville police say the men stated they would continue steeling from Wal-Mart stores until they were caught.
If you have any information about the alleged Wal-Mart jewelry thefts, you are urged to call Russellville police at 270-726-5016.


text:
Dutch supply Samsung Note 7 continues
amsterdam - Samsung continues its launch of the potentially incendiary Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in the Netherlands by Monday. That left a spokeswoman for Samsung Netherlands Monday morning.
The South Korean electronics giant made known shortly before the production of its most expensive smartphone 'adjust' because of the ongoing investigation into new problems with the device. Sunday appeared all messages that Samsung would temporarily halt production of its flagship.
Shortly after the launch of the Note 7 in different countries emerged stories of spontaneously igniting or exploding copies. Several people were injured. Samsung decided millions of devices to exchange. Now being made in various media reported seven swap devices also caught fire.
Include two major telephone service providers in the United States are a result of problems with the swap devices stopped selling. Customers who already have a Note 7 may have to exchange it for a different device.
The Note 7 is moreover not the most important model for Samsung. It is one of the newest models with all the latest features, but the flagship of the manufacturer, the Samsung Galaxy 7 series, which comes in two sizes. In addition, Samsung also deserves a lot of all sorts of other, cheaper models.
Leave a comment


text:
Chinatown businesses affected by coronavirus fears
By Cindy Ellen Russell |
February 15, 2020
| Updated on March 11, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Video by Cindy Ellen Russell and Rob Shikina
Community leaders urged Hawaii residents and visitors to not be apprehensive of shopping for groceries in Chinatown.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell held a Saturday press conference at Kekaulike Mall with other government officials and local Chinatown business representatives to encourage the public that the district is safe. Chinatown business remains brisk during the weekend but has experienced a 20 to 50 percent down turn during the week days due to coronavirus fears.
Paul Min, owner of You Market II at Keakaulike Market, said his business is down about 20 percent.
A shopper wears a mask at Kekaulike Mall.
Chinatown business owner Victor Lim speaks at Saturday's press conference.
A shopper wears a mask while shopping at Kekaulike Mall on Saturday.


text:
YouTube is giving quarantined children more venues to consume content on its dedicated Kids app.
YouTube Kids has now launched on the Apple TV app store. YouTube notes that parents can use their Apple TV remote controls to open the app using voice commands. Additionally, all parental controls and settings that have been implemented on the YouTube Kids mobile app will automatically be transferred to Apple TV. Settings can continue to be changed using tablets or mobile phones, though certain features aren’t available on the TV app, including offline mode, voice search, or setting a timer.
YouTube Kids is continuing to expand to additional devices and countries, per YouTube, and is currently available on select LG, Samsung, and Sony smart TVs, as well as Android TV devices.
Subscribe to get the latest creator news
YouTube Kids usage has surged during the pandemic, with one report finding that in the first three months of 2020, people around the world spent more time on the YouTube Kids app than any other service or platform — including Netflix, Twitch, and even parent app YouTube.


text:
- 10 Apr 2015:
- 24 Dec 2014:
- 3 Dec 2014:
- Broadcom scores quad win with quad-core processor in latest smartwatch from Sony (Nov 24) - ABI ResearchThis is the first Android smartwatch based on the Broadcom system-on-chip (SoC) platform which includes a 1.2GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex A7 processor (BCM23550), an improved GPS and Sensor processing SOC (BCM47531) capable of simultaneously tracking five satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, SBAS, and BeiDou), the now popular Wi-Fi/BT/NFC/FM quad-combo connectivity chip (BCM43341), and a highly integrated power management IC (BCM59054).
- 2 Dec 2014:It looks like Google's modular Project Ara smartphone has some fresh competition. Circular Devices has been working on the Puzzlephone, a simpler take on Android phones that you can upgrade yourself.
- 23 Nov 2014:Nokia is launching an Android-powered tablet, marking the Finnish company's return to consumer electronics. The surprise launch pits the firm against Microsoft, which completed its takeover of Nokia's previous mobile-devices business in April.
- 21 Nov 2014:
- 20 Nov 2014:Early adopters of Google's latest Android operating system are warning others of problems with the software.
- 19 Nov 2014:
- 18 Nov 2014:
- 13 Nov 2014:A California judge has ruled that a former iPhone user can sue Apple for damages after she found that she would no longer be able to receive Apple iMessage text messages once she switched from an iPhone 4 to an Android smartphone.
- 5 Nov 2014:
- In a sign that LG and Google are tightening their Android alliance, the two companies have announced a deal to enter into a "long-term patent cross-licensing agreement" covering both existing and future products.
- 3 Nov 2014:
- 15 Oct 2014:
- 24 Sep 2014:
- 15 Sep 2014:
- 11 Sep 2014:
- 10 Sep 2014:
- 2 Sep 2014:
- 21 Jul 2014:
- 15 Jul 2014:
- 27 Jun 2014:
- 18 Jun 2014:
- 3 Jun 2014:
- 26 Mar 2014:
- 19 Mar 2014:
- 10 Mar 2014:
- 27 Feb 2014:Samsung's decision to drop Android in its latest wearables could have effects that ripple out to future smart watches and fit bands, according to analysts.
- 12 Feb 2014:The company's comments feel at once like a hedge against the possibility that Apple may release a watch in 2014, and also like an attempt to prove it can keep up with its Android rivals Samsung and LG.
- 9 Jan 2014:
- 30 Dec 2013:
- 22 Nov 2013:
- 18 Nov 2013:
- 1 Nov 2013:InvenSense intros world's first motion tracking SoC optimized for Google Android KitKat 4.4 (October 31) - Company releaseInvenSense has announced the 6-axis MPU-6515 MEMS SoC and corresponding MotionApps software platform optimized to support key new functions introduced in Android KitKat.
- 17 Oct 2013:Samsung likes software. Anyone who bought the Galaxy S4 already knows this; the handset comes loaded with proprietary software. There's eye tracking, advanced touch functionality, and an enterprise package called Knox. There's also a custom camera app, a TV remote app, a workout app, a travel app, a translation app... the list goes on and on.
- 15 Oct 2013:Shopping for a laptop or portable computer these days feels a lot like shopping for a toothbrush. There's an inexhaustible variety of sizes, colors and shapes. There are Windows tablets, Windows tablets that become laptops and then just your average Windows laptops. There's the iPad and then a massive selection of Android tablets. There's also Apple's family of MacBooks.
- 14 Oct 2013:
- 11 Oct 2013:
- AZUL Design provides integrated services for UI/UX and program design in Asia Pacific
- Universal Stylus Initiative launched to create a specification for an active stylus
- ASRock Rack presents the high specification EP2C612D24
- IoT Gateways Bridge Last Mile Connectivity Gap
- Clientron to exhibit its latest Thin Client and POS solutions along with the full product line at Computex Taipei 2015
- AccuTouch Five Wire Resistive Touchscreens
- Getting the Most Out Of Your Next Generation Digital Security Surveillance System
- Embracing the New Generation Intel Atom Family with DDR3 Memory Support
- Got The Message? Ensuring efficient and reliable delivery of content across a mission critical digital signage network
- Emb' Store On-Demand Software Service for Embedded Computing
- Is Japan losing its influence in global semiconductor market?, asks IC Insights
- Digitimes Research: Philips makes wise move selling Lumileds stake
- Digitimes Research: Microsoft patent fee cut to attract vendors to pre-install apps in Android products
- Digitimes Research: Lenovo smartphone shipments reach only 8-9 million units in 1Q15
- Digitimes Research: China smartphone shipments drop over 30% sequentially in 1Q15 as small regional vendors suffer
Through intensified cooperation with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and MediaTek,...
Taiwan-based crystalline silicon solar cell makers have been impacted by the US imposing an average...
The IC backend service industry was capped by a flurry of merger and acquisition (M&A) activities...
Macronix International, which ranks as the world's second-largest NOR flash supplier with a 19% share...
- Smartphone and tablet industry: The view from Taiwan - May 2012
Taiwan-based companies have a long and successful history of involvement in the supply chain for mobile devices, which for the purposes of this article consist...
- Taiwan motherboard industry overview - May 2012
The year 2011 saw the motherboard industry reverse its trend of declining shipments year-on-year, to post a slight 0.2% growth. This upturn in fortunes was expected...
- Notebook market overview - Jun 2011
The notebook industry in 2010 experienced several major events that significantly changed the industry's ecosystem for the year and the industry is also believed...
- LCD TV overview - Jun 2011
Growth of the global LCD TV market was not as strong as expected in 2010 as the market continued to feel the aftershocks of the economic recession that had hit...


text:
Room to Rent: Out-of-state businesses relocating to Utah in increasing numbers. But not without a fight.
Posted with the permission of Utah CEO Magazine
No business is immune to the adverse economic effects of our present, deep recession. Still, many companies see this as an opportune time to relocate their businesses. Utah offers advantages such as high-quality labor, lower operating costs and a pro-business environment. As a commercial real estate agent, my view remains optimistic (if somewhat challenged) despite a recession that is much deeper than any I have experienced in my career. But one question has been occupying my mind: How can we best compete against neighboring states to attract new businesses to Utah and help existing business find better locations?
Read the entire article: http://www.utahceomagazine.com/article.php?id=566


text:
Dow down as sales slump
Bad news from major retailers left American shares down at the end of Friday after a week of mixed performance. Shares were also hit after latest figures showed that with unemployment still at long term lows, the Federal Reserve may not be able to reduce interest rates in the near term.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 128.38 on Friday, at 10,596.54. Nasdaq was down 111.06 at 3,361.04. The Standard & Poors 500 Index was also down, falling 27.29 at 1,408.89.
DIY stores group Home Depot was a big loser on the day, dragging other shares with it. It announced sales were slowing. J.C Penny was another big retail loser.
Financial stocks and telecom stocks also fell, as did internet stocks. But 'old economy' utility stocks did better.
Most watched Money videos
- Jaguar Land Rover providing vehicles to emergency services
- Jaguar Land Rover introduce safety measures to reopen factory
- Austin Metro TV ad from the 1980s introduced the new British car
- Vauxhall Astra car comes to UK market in 1981
- Classic 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth is heading to auction
- New Italian Fiat Panda introduced in 1981
- How hard will investors be hit by dividend cuts?
- Brabus launches the Invicto - capable of withstanding explosions
- Kent farm advertises crop picking position for under 1,000 people
- What the fund that beat the crash is buying now
- Shares that could benefit from a stock market recovery
- RAC gives you tips on looking after your car in lockdown


text:
How To Prevent Malicious Websites From Using Security Hole In iOS Used In JailbreakMe – Web-Based Jailbreak Method [Updated]
Apple has just released the first beta version of iOS 4.1 (build 8B5080c) and iOS SDK 4.1 for developers of its iPhone Developer Program.
Apple and Steve Jobs had responded to the widely publicized iPhone reception issues stating that it was a ‘non-issue’ and that this is "fact of life" for any wireless phone, advising users to avoid gripping it in the lower left corner or use an iPhone case.
That response naturally did not go well with new iPhone 4 users. But looks like Apple has changed its stance as Steve Jobs has responded to an iPhone 4 user indicating that Apple might release iOS 4.01 to fix the reception issues.
The wait seemed eternal but we are getting reports that Apple has finally started rolling out iOS 4 - its eagerly-awaited next generation iOS.
Apple had given us a sneak peak of its next generation iPhone OS in April. iOS 4 includes over 100 new features for iPhone users and more than 1500 new APIs for app developers.
Apple has seeded iOS 4.0 Golden Master; earlier known as iPhone OS 4.0 to developers of its iPhone Developer program. As with the earlier beta versions, the "Golden Master" version of iOS 4.0 is also available only to iPhone developers at present.
Apple's Keynote address at Worldwide Developer Conference 2010 should be underway shortly. It is being held at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, California.
Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO will deliver the keynote. We are closely following the event live and will keep updating this post with the details as soon as they are announced.


text:
US FINANCIAL MARKET
- Goldman Sachs says that the ongoing fiscal debate in the United States will have a bigger effect than previously anticipated. “We think the equity market will need time to digest the recent gains,” Goldman said in a research note, although its long-term view is still pro-risk.
- Housing will not be an “exciting market” over the next five years and investors would do better to put money into stocks, Yale Economics Professor Robert Shiller, the co-founder of the Case-Shiller Home Price Index.
- Amazon.com earned the highest reputation in this year’s Harris Poll, edging out not only Apple but also companies like Google, Disney, and Johnson & Johnson. According to Harris, Amazon holds the most emotional appeal, provides the best products and services, and is the most trusted company in the U.S.
- Coca-Cola reported fourth-quarter revenue slightly below analysts’ estimates, hurt by a weaker-than-expected performance in Europe. Profit rose 13 percent and revenue rose 3 percent compared with in the year-ago period.
- Yum Brands plans to open between 60 and 70 restaurants this year in Russia and other former Soviet countries. Yum and its franchisees already have 216 restaurants in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Yum has nearly 5,300 restaurants in China, mostly KFCs.
- Michael Kors’ profit rose fourfold during its holiday quarter. Results beat Wall Street analysts’ predictions.
- Fossil fourth-quarter net income jumped 28 percent as demand grew for its watches. Revenue rose 14 percent.
- Avon posted a wider fourth-quarter loss as it marked down its jewelry business and paid restructuring costs.
- Volkswagen’s overall January sales were up 17.4 percent to 491,900, despite a 6.8 percent drop in European sales to 116,900. Asian sales rose 43.7 percent to 251,100 cars.
- Goodyear easily topped Wall Street expectations for the fourth quarter. Both revenue and profit were down compared with during the same period last year. Tire maker Michelin says its profits rose 7.5 percent last year despite a struggling car market in Europe.
- Reynolds American fourth-quarter profit fall 54 percent on pension and trademark-related charges and other costs. But earnings, excluding one-time charges, rose about 6 percent.
US ECONOMY & POLITICS
- Confidence among U.S. small businesses rose in January as owners anticipated better business conditions in the next six months, despite higher taxes and looming government spending cuts. The NFIB said its optimism index increased 0.9 percentage point to 88.9 last month, pulling further from a 2-1/2 year low hit in November.
- Job openings in the U.S. dropped in December. The number of positions waiting to be filled fell by 173,000 to 3.62 million, the fewest since September. Hiring and firing also cooled.
EUROPE & WORLD
- Moody’s said downside risks for the global economy had receded in the past three months, though a number of dangers still remained. The ratings agency expects real growth for the G20 of around 2.9 percent in 2013, followed by 3.3 percent in 2014.
- UK’s consumer price inflation stayed at 2.7 percent last month.
TODAY in HISTORY
- 16th President Abraham Lincoln ‘Honest Abe’ was born on a farm in a log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky (1809)
- Chile formally proclaimed its independence from Spain (1818)
- The Utah Territory granted women the right to vote (1870) (later revoked it in 1887)
- The Senate voted to acquit President Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice (1999)
Sources: Reuters, Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, Bloomberg, CNN Money.
This information has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation is being made as to its accuracy or completeness. The information provided should be used only as general information and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. The economic forecasts set forth in the material may not develop as predicted. All indices, such as the S & P 500, are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.


text:
It also expects rural demand, robust in the previous fiscal, to be impacted owing to the virus spreading in rural areas on a relatively higher scale as compared to the first wave
NEW DELHI: Hotels-to-cigarettes conglomerate ITC Ltd flagged “heightened uncertainty" around the timing and shape of the economic recovery trajectory following the second wave of covid-19 infections in India, adding that urban recovery could be muted compared to the first wave and the spread of infection in India’s villages may impact rural demand.
A rapid pace of vaccination and a stronger healthcare infrastructure would be critical in mitigating the impact of any impending outbreaks, the company said in its annual report for FY20-21 released late on Tuesday evening.
It also expects rural demand, robust in the previous fiscal, to be impacted owing to the virus spreading in rural areas on a relatively higher scale as compared to the first wave. Consumers are also setting aside resources for medical needs, it said.
“On the consumption side, urban-led recovery may be relatively muted compared to the first wave as consumers switch to precautionary savings mode and rising healthcare costs eat into household spending. Rural demand, which remained strong in FY 2020-21 on the back of robust agricultural output, government support and reverse migration, may also be blunted by the large scale spread of the virus to the hinterland in the second wave," it added.
ITC’s gross revenues stood at ₹48,151.24 crore in FY 2020-21; its profit after tax stood at ₹13,031.64 crores in the same period.
The company—whose business spans cigarettes to hotels and packaged consumer staples, soaps and snacks—said that progressive easing of restrictions and improvement of mobility led to a pick-up in economic activity in the second half of last fiscal. The government too responded to contain the spread of the virus by imposing a stringent lockdown and stepped-up efforts to support livelihoods and economic activity through stimulus packages last year, ITC said in its management discussion and analysis.
Meanwhile, the “ferocity" of the second wave in India since February 2021 has adversely impacted the country's earlier projected economic prospects for FY21-22, it added.
That’s because most Indians states imposed partial restrictions to contain the spread of the virus. This has slackened the recovery momentum significantly, it said.
ITC’s varied business interests were impacted by the covid waves—albeit to different degrees. Its fast-moving consumer goods business benefited on account of increased consumption of health-hygiene products such as soaps and sanitizers as well as staples such as pulses, spices, flour and convenience foods in the first half of the year, while the discretionary and out-of-home portfolio reported strong recovery in the latter half.
The company that sells—Aashirvaad flour, Bingo! chips, YiPPee! noodles, Sunfeast biscuits and Classmate notebooks—rolled out over 120 new products last fiscal.
Its over 25 consumer-facing brands represent annual consumer spends of over ₹22,000 crore. The business also saw a shift in consumption habits on account of the pandemic.
Within the FMCG business (excluding cigarettes)—sales through the e-commerce channel more than doubled during the year, taking its salience to over 5% of segment revenue. ITC stepped up efforts to build more digital channels to reach shoppers. In the last fiscal ITC also scaled upits direct-to-consumer channel—ITC e-Store. Launched in March 2020, the e-store’s reach was extended to 11 cities during the year.
“The initiative has been well received by consumers and plans are on the anvil to rapidly scale up the same in the ensuing months," the company said.
The company remains focused on rapidly scaling up the FMCG businesses with a future-ready portfolio, it said. ITC has ambitions to build a stronger packaged consumer goods business in the future.
"Towards this, it seeks to fortify its market standing in the existing core operating categories, in many of which it is already a leading player as aforementioned. It is pertinent to note that these categories, which are largely characterised by low household penetration levels and/or low per capita consumption, offer significant headroom for long-term growth," it added.
ITC called for policy interventions with a focus on supporting sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth, along with support to sectors such as MSME, travel and tourism.
Even as the Indian economy faces multi-dimensional challenges in the short term, it remains one of the most dynamic major economies in the world with huge potential, it said.
“With structural drivers of growth firmly in place, the pace of economic growth is expected to pick up over time. Policy announcements in the Union Budget 2021 are expected to provide further impetus to build India’s competitiveness and foster inclusive growth," it added
Subscribe to Mint Newsletters
* Enter a valid email
* Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
our App Now!!