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| Saudi Arabia | Oct 04, 2017
The days of rep-offices in Saudi Arabia are over. As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify the economy away from oil and gas, the government is encouraging companies to […]
The days of rep-offices in Saudi Arabia are over. As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify the economy away from oil and gas, the government is encouraging companies to invest and manage their operations locally and develop young, Saudi talent.
Pioneering these ambitions is Saudi Aramco, the biggest energy company in the world. In December 2015, Aramco officially launched the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program that is set to completely revolutionize the giant’s procurement process. This may well set the precedent for other local heavyweights, and indeed the entire government, to follow.
The IKTVA stipulates that by 2021 all of Aramco’s supplies and procurement will meet strict localization requirements. Specifically, each of its suppliers will have to undertake an IKTVA test that will assess the value of locally sourced goods and services used, salaries paid to Saudi citizens, training and development efforts for Saudis, and supplier development spending, and divide this figure by the company’s revenue received from Saudi Aramco. This figure will then be multiplied by 100, and if the company’s IKTVA score is over 70, they will be approved.
Speaking exclusively to TBY, Abdulaziz AbdulKarim, Saudi Aramco’s Vice President for Procurement and Supply Chain Management—essentially the department responsible for IKTVA’s launch and implementation—explained: “The program was designed to positively change the way Saudi Aramco engages with its suppliers when procuring goods and services, targeting primary goals that will enable a sustainable economy, supply chain, and energy sector.“
The target of reforming Aramco’s entire supply chain by 2021 is ambitious to say the least. Currently a 30% IKTVA score for any given company is considered strong, and Aramco’s own local procurement figures linger around that figure at present. However, whether these targets are realized within four years or not, the ambition alone creates “enormous potential…for local spending to trickle down to a variety of industries and services,“ argues Dr Abdulrahman Al Zamil, Chairman of Zamil Group and one of the loudest proponents of the IKTVA program.
The USD23 billion spent on oilfield services and equipment (OFSE) annually in the Kingdom suggests that if the 70% target is achieved, up to USD17 billion will be pumped back into the local economy.
Naturally, a possible drawback to the program is that, for now, local procurement could potentially compromise quality and lead to worse prices when compared with services provided by internationally renowned brands. In addition, such structure could prove off-putting for any potential partners aiming to work with Aramco on an ad-hoc basis. The company’s vice president countered these concerns by stressing: “We want an increased presence in Saudi Arabia not only to finalize assembly operations, but also to establish and develop their manufacturing supplier base and regionalize research and development (R&D) alongside their operations in the Kingdom… We are committed to those companies through our long-term agreements.“
However, IKTVA’s biggest test will be its legacy. That is, the ability of such a formula to surpass the boundaries of a single company (albeit one of the biggest in the world), and to extend its reach to the wider economy.
Saudi firms in the industrial and oil and gas sectors have been broadly positive about the concept and feasibility of IKTVA, and many have suggested that the program ought to be used as a model for other local powerhouses, including SABIC, Ma’aden, and the government itself. AbdulKarim confirmed that “such discussion and collaboration is ongoing to ultimately adopt a localization program where we think that IKTVA can be the base of the national localization initiative.“


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Chinese giant Vivo released the device in India in early 2021 after launching the Vivo X60 series globally at the end of last year. Currently, the company is aiming to launch the next-generation X-series with the latest mobile imaging technology developed in partnership with Zeiss. At a recent event in China, Vivo unveiled its first imaging chipset, ultra-transparent glass lenses, new coating technology and Zeiss natural colors.
Now let’s take a look at some of the key features of this new imaging hardware and software developed by Vivo. In addition, it’s worth mentioning that most of these technologies will be featured in the next Vivo X70 series coming out on September 9th.
Vivo V1 Imaging Chip
The Vivo V1 is the company’s first professional-grade image chipset that combines with a smartphone’s image signal processor (ISP) to enhance the device’s image processing process. It is placed between the primary imaging chip and the display, along with the task of assisting the ISP in the image processing system. This chip was developed in-house by Vivo.
Chipsets, like Vivo, have high efficiency, low latency, and low power consumption and are designed to act as high-speed CPUs or in parallel to improve imaging processes such as GPUs and DSPs. It has been. However, the company claims that the Vivo V1 is far superior to traditional GPUs or DSPs in terms of energy and power consumption.
Vivo V1 is also capable of read and write speeds up to 35.84 Gbps and comes with a 32MB high capacity on-chip cache thanks to its optimized internal storage architecture and circuitry. As a result, devices with chipsets will be able to perform noise reduction and frame insertion of 1080p60FPS video in real time. In addition, it will be able to handle MEMC noise reduction and frame insertion with low power consumption when shooting 4K 30FPS video in low light.
Vivo ultra-low dispersion and high transmittance glass lens
The company announced that it will be the first to feature a glass lens in the X70 series, along with the Vivo V1 chipset. Unlike plastic lenses, glass lenses have high transmittance, low dispersion, and excellent thermal stability.
These lenses are difficult and costly to manufacture, but according to Vivo, yields in the early stages of manufacture are only about 60%. Thanks to this, the company states that glass lenses can achieve the highest Abbe number of 81.6, which is the official indicator for measuring color dispersion. It will be the best in the mobile phone industry.
In addition, the purity of the lens is high, and the central transmittance is increased up to 95%. In addition, the company used the AOA dynamic optical calibration process to adjust for the loss of sharpness that could be caused by lens thickness errors or lens eccentricity errors.
Vivo SWC coating technology
Apart from the hardware above, Vivo has introduced a new coating technology Prevents ghost and glare effects With the lens mentioned above. The ALD atomic layer deposition process forms a nanolayer coating on a high transmittance and ultra-low dispersion lens to further reduce light reflection.
Apart from these, Vivo also announced that it will continue to add simulation effects for Zeiss Sonnar lenses to the X70 series. In addition, the company will allow users to change the way time-lapse video is shot on future X70 smartphones. These devices also feature log mode and SuperRAW capabilities that can output 14-bit depth RAW images.
As a result, as other companies such as Oppo and Xiaomi improve their imaging technology, Vivo HAS has introduced its own imaging tools and hardware that pave the way for future Vivo smartphone imaging capabilities. What do you think of the new imaging technology developed by Vivo? Please let us know in the comments below.

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Hyundai to manufacture the GV70 in the USA
After the Hyundai Motor Group announced in May it would produce electric cars in the USA from 2022, there are now more details: The first electric model the group will produce in Alabama will be the Genesis GV70 EV from early 2022. Meanwhile, Hyundai has released a teaser image of its concept ‘Seven’.
First to the US. Korean media report the electric Genesis GV70 as Hyundai Group’s debut model in the US, citing information provided by the manufacturer at a meeting with union representatives. Other electric models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Genesis GV60 are to follow successively. South Korean media also report that the GV70 EV will kick off as a mid-size SUV, as its internal combustion counterpart launched in the US in June is showing strong sales figures.
Basically, the climbing sales figures of its internal combustion models in the US and the resulting increased visibility and awareness are said to have encouraged the Hyundai Group to make the move to local electric car production. The premium brand Genesis alone has been represented in the USA since this year with the GV80 as a sedan and SUV and the aforementioned GV70. Now, with an eye on the large e-car market that the US represents, the electrification of the model range is to be tackled.
Against this background, the Hyundai Motor Group had already announced in the spring that it intended to produce electric cars locally for the group’s brands from next year. This was part of a total investment of 7.4 billion US dollars (about 6.1 billion euros) by 2025 in the group’s business in the United States, it said. It was already clear at the time that the E-models would be manufactured at Hyundai’s Montgomery plant in the US state of Alabama.
The South Korean company now confirmed this once again. Hyundai currently builds the Elantra, Sonata, Tucson and Santa Fe models – sedans and SUVs – at the Montgomery plant. All four models are part of Hyundai’s core product range in the USA. The four model series will apparently continue to be built unchanged for the time being, as Hyundai wants to invest in an “expansion of the production areas for electric vehicles” – however, the Koreans continue to give no details on the exact area and planned capacity of the expansion building.
According to the media reports, the background to the move is also the policy of the new US administration under Joe Biden. Hyundai Motor intends to react to the US government’s policy in advance, writes Business Korea, referring to US President Joe Biden’s draft plan to increase the share of electric cars in new vehicle sales to 50 per cent by 2030.
In the short term, therefore, sales of the battery-electric series are to be pushed, while in the medium term Hyundai will continue to focus on hydrogen. Together with the US government and partners, an American hydrogen ecosystem is to be established, from which passenger cars such as the Nexo, but especially FCEV trucks, can benefit. For commercial vehicles, Hyundai has previously signed an agreement with the US company Cummins to accelerate the deployment of fuel cell electric systems in the US market. Hyundai also plans to invest an undisclosed portion of the $7.4 billion in urban air mobility and robotics.
Meanwhile, Hyundai has released a first official teaser of the battery-electric concept car Seven, which will be presented at AutoMobility LA on 17 November – apparently a preview of the Hyundai Ioniq 7. A statement from the South Koreans says that the study gives a preview “of the first SUV model of the (…) Hyundai Ioniq sub-brand”.
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China imported 11 million tons of ethylene polymers through July, 2019, up 19% from the same period in the prior year. The US supplied 3.6% (397,000 tons) of the total, down from 5.2% (839,000 tons) at the end of 2018.Continue reading
Duties of 25% on imports from the US of most polyethylene grades have had little effect on China’s total imports, which were at record levels from March through May, 2019.Continue reading
In April 2019, for the second month in a row, China’s imports of ethylene polymers hit a new record high. Year to date, reduced volumes from North America were offset by increased volumes from Asia-Pacific sources.Continue reading
China’s imports of ethylene polymers slowed only slightly for the New Year holiday in February and then shot to a new record in March 2019. Exports of fabricated plastic products, however, fell sharply in February, with only a partial rebound in March.Continue reading
In advance of the Chinese New Year holiday beginning on February 5th, China’s imports of many products jumped to new highs in January.Continue reading
Much higher imports of polyethylene and styrenic polymers, reduced polymer imports from the US, no imports of recycle polymers, and, record high exports of fabricated plastic products characterized China’s trade in 2018.Continue reading
China imported 39,000 tons of ethylene polymers from the US in October 2018, down from a monthly high of 102,000 tons in August.
Imports were at record levels for most of the second half of 2017.
Monthly import volume fell to 64,000 tons in December, the price steady throughout the fourth quarter around $490/ton.
China imported 1.9 million tons of recycle polyethylene from all sources in 2017, down 23%. Imports trended lower for most of the year with further declines expected in 2018 as restrictions come into full force. Continue reading


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TORONTO, Canada – The Ontario government has concluded a successful trade mission to the United States to promote the province’s flourishing automotive, technology and life sciences sectors and attract new investment opportunities.
Two delegations of more than 29 Ontario companies, led by Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade, represented the province at two of the world’s largest technology and innovation conferences – the Consumer Electronics Show and the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference and Biotech Showcase.
“Ontario is the second largest IT cluster in North America, making it a hub for global innovation,” said minister Fedeli. “We’re building a stronger Ontario and are proud to be leading major advancements across the technology, automotive and life sciences sectors. By connecting Ontario innovators with global leaders in these key sectors, we’re able to create new opportunities for families and businesses here in Ontario.”
For the first portion of the trade mission, 16 Ontario companies participated in the Consumer Electronics Show (January 5 – 8), one of the largest and most influential tech events in the world. Project Arrow, the first, all-Canadian, zero-emission connected vehicle – designed and built in Ontario – was unveiled at the show, demonstrating the province’s world-class automotive capabilities and innovation.
Building on the success at the Consumer Electronics Show, 13 Ontario companies participated in the Biotech Showcase (January 9 – 11) in San Francisco, the largest healthcare investment symposium in the industry. The delegation, which included companies in biotech research and development, pharmaceutical technology and medical technology, promoted the province’s growing life and health sciences sector to global industry leaders and innovators.
Additional highlights included meetings with Gatik AI, Magna International, Linamar Corporation, Valeo, Meta Materials, Blackberry, Resilience, Rivian and Uber. These meetings were opportunities to showcase the province as a global hub for innovation and an ideal place for companies to invest.
Ontario continues to adopt innovative and forward-thinking approaches to secure and grow the province’s competitive advantages. With a talented workforce, state-of-the-art research and development facilities, award-winning manufacturing and access to an abundance of critical materials, the province is a prime location for businesses to invest and grow.
Credit: Source link


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creator Dong Nguyen
tweeted that his infamous game would be returning to the App Store, reports Gawker.
Nguyen originally took the game down because he claimed it was ruining lives. When the app arrived, people became obsessed with the notoriously difficult game. When Nguyen announced he was removing it from the app store, he received disturbing death threats from people on Twitter.
In an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this month, Nguyen explained he would have the new version come with a warning telling people to take a break.
Nguyen didn't specifically mention when the game would return, but there still are quite a few clones sitting in the App Store. It's also unclear if Flappy Bird will even be its name. — Ryan Bushey


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The newly independent Saab still faces some significant obstacles, but the Swedish automaker says it's still on pace to ramp up its production volume.
CEO Jon Ake Jonsson informed Spyker shareholders at an annual meeting that the company's production is "on schedule," presently building roughly 1000 cars a week. The automaker will reportedly meet its target of building 54,000 vehicles. Jonsson says Saab would increase productivity at its plant in Trollhattan, Sweden, during the month of June to ensure it will meet those goals.
Spyker CEO Victor Muller says Saab's break-even point will come when it is able to sell 85,000 cars annually by 2012. That may be important should the automaker wish to expand its lineup. Saab has publically expressed its wishes to develop a car smaller than the 9-3 -- dubbed the 9-2 -- that could take on the likes of the BMW 1 Series.
"The Saab 9-2 is clearly on the forefront of our priorities," said Muller. "It has to be something as iconic as a Mini and it has to be a real Saab."
Saab officials have indicated that development work on the new car will only occur once the brand's operations are profitable. To help lower engineering costs, the company is also looking for an automotive partner that could help design and produce the 9-2.


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Manufacturers Say Activity Still Increasing> > > >
November 18, 2004
For release: November 18, 2004 at noon
Contact: Kathy Dibling, 215-574-4119
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia today released November’s Business Outlook Survey. Manufacturing activity in the region continues to expand. Survey participants were asked about expected increases in costs for 2005. They were asked if expected increases had lowered their production plans for 2005.
Philadelphia Federal Reserve Senior Economic Analyst Mike Trebing summarized the survey:
"Respondents to this month’s Business Outlook Survey reported that growth in the region’s manufacturing sector is continuing. While indicators for general activity, new orders, and shipments fell slightly from their readings in October, they remain positive and at relatively high levels. Indexes for prices paid fell slightly this month, but more than half of the respondents reported increased prices for inputs. Indicators reflecting the outlook for the next six months showed significant improvement in November."
This survey, which was started in 1968, gathers information on the manufacturing industry in the Third Federal Reserve District covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware. Participation in the survey is limited to manufacturing firms with plants in the area with more than 100 employees. The survey asks about the current pace of business in the participants' plants and their future expectations of business.
To arrange an interview, please contact Kathy Dibling, the Bank's assistant media advisor, at (215) 574-4119. The next Business Outlook Survey will be released Dec. 16, 2004, at noon and will be made available on our web site at www.philadelphiafed.org and over PR Newswire. The aggregate historical data series is also available on the Bank's web site.


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World’s first compostable footwear marries fashion and sustainability
There's no doubt that our planet has a garbage problem. Our landfills are filling up with waste, and plastic is a big problem.
Now, one Israeli startup called Balena is seeking to do something about it. The company refers to itself as a material science firm and has produced the world's first fully compostable footwear, according to a report by NoCamels published Thursday.
It all has to do with a pioneering plastic called BioCir that maintains its shape until it's exposed to the specific bacteria and conditions of a compost facility.
This means the plastic does not melt while its user is still wearing it.
Balena has already put to market 1,000 pairs of men's and women's BioCir slides, complete with a cinnamon scent, in Tel Aviv. It's also assigned designated take-back spots for when the shoes wear out.
The future of sustainable fashion
"When we look at the future of sustainability, it is clear that recycling alone is not solving the problem, the direction needs to turn towards a circular economy model," David Roubach, CEO of Balena, told NoCamels.
"The world's addiction to fast fashion has generated an estimate of 92 million tons of textile waste each year, and just 12 percent of the material used for clothing is recycled."
Roubah says their product was inspired by nature herself.
"We've turned to the Earth's natural cycles for answers," said Roubach. "We need to transition from traditional mechanical recycling, where we melt the product and try to make another product, to a method called biological recycling.
"This renewable concept draws on the example of plants and trees. Nature eventually decomposes and returns to its starting state to begin the cycle again. This phenomenon is the vision for Balena."
Taking the startup to the next level
Now the CEO has ambitious plans to take his new technology and company to the next level.
"Our aim goes beyond being just another niche or one-time project," said Roubach. "With an affordable and scalable proof of concept, we are hoping the compostable materials that enabled the BioCir slide will eventually replace the polluting plastic in the fashion industry."
"In the beginning it was a challenge figuring out our idea, being a minority player in the high-tech world of Israeli startups," added Roubach.
Balena has ambitious goals to help pave the way for a greener more sustainable future.
"Now, climate tech and sustainable startups are gaining momentum, which means something is changing. Israel is aligning its focus in the right direction, and I am proud to be a part of that," concluded Roubah.
With people no longer willing to turn a blind eye to the fashion industry's high carbon footprint, Roubah's invention could not come at a better time. The company's future initiatives are bound to garner even more attention.
Dr. Stiavelli relates his efforts to meet the challenges of the sunshield, and the comparison of the cameras from the Hubble Space Telescope to the James Webb Space Telescope.


text: NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Sharper Image Corp. SHRP August same-store sales fell 16%. Total company sales for the month tumbled 34% to $21.9 million from $33.4 million in the year-earlier period, the San Francisco-based specialty retailer said Thursday. Total store sales declined to $16 million from $19.3 million in the prior August. Total catalog sales/direct marketing sales dropped to $3.1 million. Meanwhile, Internet sales fell 40% to $2.9 million from last August's $4.8 million.


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The world is undergoing a profound, multidimensional transformation. Clean, digital and ethical are some of the key words driving reforms in all areas of our lives. While the European Union strives to adapt to this changing environment this year’s European Business Summit will aim to stimulate the debate on how it can become a true global leader of this process.
This year the discussions will concentrate on three key themes:
1. Europe as a global economic leader - from CSR Europe's Summit on SDGs to Roundtables on e-commerce, clean transport and strategy for plastics to Agora and Meet the Expert sessions on young entrepreneurs, digital ethics and macroeconomic outlook for Europe EBS 2018 will stimulate the debate on Europe's key role in the global economy.
2. Trade opportunities in an uncertain environment - with several major trade agreements already completed and further negotiations underway the EBS 2018 will explore EU's new trade opportunities and future trade relations with the UK. Other issues impacting trade opportunities, such as the Brussels International Business Court, data protection, cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital banking will also be discussed.
3. EU governance and leadership in a changing world - in order to lead by example the EU needs to ensure constant development of its internal system. Topics such as EU Taxation policy and innovation will play a major role during this year's roundtables while Agora and Meet the Expert sessions will give our participants a chance to learn more about European Defence, euro-area governance and the introduction of basic income.


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The Profits for Toyota Dropped, but Hope Is on the Horizon
Toyota is one of the top automakers on the market every year. The brand consistently performs at the top of the market, which has been the case for much of 2022. With popular models in every segment, Toyota is ready to impress. But, in the most recent quarterly review, Toyota saw a dip in profits from April to June. Even with the news of sliding profits, hope remains high for the Japanese automaker to bounce back and finish the year on a high note.
Despite a drop, the outlook is positive
It can be troubling to see reports of a company’s profits falling. That drop doesn’t necessarily mean something bad is happening. In this case, the drop is disappointing for the company, but Toyota still has plenty to look forward to in the upcoming months. The Japanese automaker lifted its full-year guidance for the year.
Even with this increase, there is some reason to be slightly worried. Much of the worry comes from the fact that operating profit for Toyota fell 42 percent. The operating profit margin fell to 6.8 percent, down from 12.6 percent in the previous year. Additionally, the net income for the company is down 18 percent, even though the revenue grew 7 percent. On a world scale, sales slipped down 6.3 percent to 2.01 million vehicles sold.
What aspects caused the drop in profits?
One of the main reasons there could’ve been a drop in profits is the effects of the supply chain issues and semiconductor shortage. With those two things in mind, a profit drop may not be surprising.
The interruptions to production certainly played a part in the lower sales for Toyota. The delay in production caused the company to have fewer new cars available and, in turn, fewer new car sales. Because of this, the cost for Toyota to manufacture cars also got higher. Despite that, the brand was committed to giving suppliers some help with the higher costs.
Why is there still hope?
Even with this sad news, there is still hope for Toyota going forward. One of the biggest reasons Toyota has high hope for its financial future is the changes in foreign exchange rates. This helped Toyota survive more considerable losses during this uncertain time. The Japanese yen suffered losses while the U.S. dollar remained strong, which helped the Japanese automaker to have more value sent back to Japan.
Looking toward the future of Toyota holds a lot of hope for what is to come. First, the fiscal year will close on March 31, 2023, and Toyota has a few predictions up its sleeve. While the brand expects both operating profit and net income to fall, the Japanese automaker is keeping its goal of producing close to 10 million models.
In addition to those goals, the brand is looking to expand its global retail sales to 10.7 million models, which, if achieved, would be a new record for the brand.


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Apple Maps has added transit data for Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. The new data will aid transit riders in navigating the city, via public tram, train, and bus routes.
New U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has reportedly banned the wearing of the Apple Watch during cabinet meetings, due to fears that Russian spies could use them as listening devices.
Samsung has temporarily suspended production of the Galaxy Note 7, in the face of new reports of even replacement units catching fire. U.S. wireless carriers have announced they will no longer offer replacement units.
Security researcher and former NSA staffer Patrick Wardle has demonstrated a way for Mac malware to tap into the live feeds of a Mac’s built-in webcam and microphone.
Another FBI vs. Apple Legal Battle Looms as FBI Examines Options for Accessing Another Terrorist-Owned iPhone
The FBI confirmed on Thursday that they are looking into their options for accessing the information stored on an iPhone used by terrorist Dahir Adan, who in mid-September stabbed 10 people in a Minnesota mall.
Prisma, the popular free AI-powered photo app for the iPhone, has added video support to its already impressive list of powers.
Apple Music and Spotify have both debuted subscriber access to unofficial, user-uploaded remixes. Both services accomplished this via deals with the same music rights management firm, Dubset.
Yahoo reportedly built a government-ordered email scanning program by adapting a filter meant to scan for child porn, malware, and spam content.
Riders of the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road can now use Apple Pay and Masterpass payments to pay for tickets and passes.
Bloomberg reports Apple is making moves to unify all of its internet services teams under one roof at its Cupertino, Calif. headquarters.
Apple’s “Orchard” program looks to find up-and-coming marketing talent. The program will consist of 10 participants: 4 Art Directors, 4 Copywriters, and 2 Strategic Planners.
While Twitter may still be up for grabs, it appears Apple, Disney, and Google won’t be making a bid for the short messaging service.
As promised, U.S. users of the iOS App Store are now seeing developer ads when they search for apps. The ads appear at the top of app keyword search results.
Apple Pay has added support for 26 more U.S. banks and credit unions. Apple’s contactless payments solution also added support for Visa and debit cards for Desjardins customers in Canada.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has posted a tribute to his late friend and Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011. He was 56.
A number of reports have surfaced that Spotify Free is serving up malware to users on all platforms, including Macs running Safari.


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By Richard Comerford, Electronic Products
Apple just launched the iPhone 4S at its headquarters in Cupertino, CA. The new phone uses the A5 chip that’s also in the iPad; has a new operating system, iOS 5, and an AI/voice recognition system named Siri; provides an 8-Mpixel camera and 1080p video capability; and is accompanied by iCloud, a set of free cloud services for iTunes, photos, and documents that also works seamlessly with iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. As word of the announcement got out, Apple’s stock started to drop.
So here’s the question: Is iPhone 4S good enough for now, or does Apple really need to get the iPhone 5 out?


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The vacant Gander Mountain store at Dowlen Road and Eastex Freeway will soon be filled by an Aldi grocery store, so kudos to all involved. Will the owners of Central Mall in Port Arthur be as fortunate with their soon-to-be vacated Sears site? We’ll find out this summer.
Sears announced the closing of that site in December after it had survived several scares. The Sears store in Parkdale Mall is still open, and this week a bankruptcy judge gave Sears Holdings owner Eddie Lampert one last chance to save the retail icon.


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During an event that took place today, Facebook addressed the long-awaited theme “Metaverse”, where it ended up having its new name presented by Mark Zuckerberg.
Let’s say they don’t seem to have invested much time in the brainstorming session to decide the name, sticking to Meta. This will be Facebook’s new name as a company, and the social network itself will remain the same.
With this strategic change, Mark Zuckerberg is looking for an approach similar to the one implemented by Google several years ago when they created Alphabet, the current parent company. So, from now on, all Facebook applications, including WhatsApp and Instagram, will come under the auspices of Meta, its new parent company.
Facebook, or Meta, wants to be recognized as a company of the future
According to Mark Zuckerberg, the main objective is that “over time, they will be recognized as a metaverse company”. It is undeniable that by choosing this name they are already trying to manipulate that goal.
The new name should represent all of Facebook’s applications and platforms, as well as its constant work on virtual reality and augmented reality products.


text: The article analyzes the role taxes can play in "shaping the behavior of individuals and businesses," particularly in saving our ecosystems. The article breaks down the 'polluter pays' principle — which levies higher taxes on big polluters as a means of actively discouraging polluting behavior, using the UK Government's announcement regarding a higher air passenger duty (APD) on ultra-long haul flights as an example. While ADP rates decreased for domestic flights, it is noted that those flights are within scope of the UK Emissions Trading System (ETS), which limits carbon emissions. Another example is the plastic packaging tax (PPT) that will tax plastic packaging that contains less than 30 percent recycled plastic content. The article concludes that there is more room for improvement and further accountability for polluters, but tax has the potential to affect change.


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The next downloadable content pack for Forza Horizon is coming next week, on February 5. Titled the "Jalopnik Car Pack," it will bring six new cars for a cool $5 (400 MSP). As with the other packs, it will be free for Season Pass holders, who will also be able to grab their bonus February car.
The pack includes a 1970 Nissan Datsun 510, 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2013 Subaru BRZ, 1991 Ferrari 512 TR, 1973 Mazda RX-3, and a 1966 Ford County Squire. The February bonus car is the 2010 Devon GTX.
The monthly season pass is set to continue these monthly packs through April, and also includes the already released Rally Expansion pack. It runs you $50, but a real-life Devon GTX costs upwards of half a million dollars, so perspective is important.


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The ship recycling market has returned to a “gloomy” state over the course of the past week. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Clarkson Platou Hellas commented that “this week clearly sums up the difficulties associated with the ship recycling industry and shows how each seven-day period can differ. Contradicting recent reports, Bangladesh has found old problems returning with the restrictions surrounding the foreign exchange and opening of Letters of Credit resurfacing. There are reports of several vessels, recently arrived to the anchorage at Chattogram, now idle waiting for the L/C’s to open. Market sentiment has also affected the recyclers mentality as a declining trend is being promoted from the waterfront with many now providing indications lower compared to recent weeks. With Ramadan coming to an end, the hope is that a resurgence of interest and improved price levels will arrive from the recyclers from Bangladesh in a couple of weeks’ time, after their EID holidays. Elsewhere, Indian remains the more stable market of the Sub. Continent destinations and the lack of tonnage supply should ensure price levels maintain their firm stance”, the shipbroker concluded.
Meanwhile, in a separate note this week, GMS (www.gmsinc.net), the world’s leading cash buyer of ships, added that “a comparable gloom has descended across all of the major ship recycling destinations whilst prices, demand, and sentiments are all retreating, as a miserable supply of tonnage and continued struggles on L/C financing issues plague the most recent deliveries into Bangladesh and Pakistan, the recycling industry has certainly been through a tough and quiet week. The ongoing month of Ramadan has also led to much softer sentiments across the board, as ongoing religious festivities are observed, and business takes a backseat for the time being. Volatile steel plate prices have not helped the current situation brewing at the various recycling destinations either, and this has seen most end users of fresh tonnage abstain from buying, choosing instead to wait and watch developments and how the market opens post Ramadan, before offering afresh on any new vessels being proposed”.
According to GMS, “the primary problem for recyclers at all the major locations is the ongoing and noticeably painful shortage in the supply of vessels for recycling, as freight markets in Dry Bulk and Containers have shown some renewed positivity of late. As such, after a decade long low supply and activity, last year even though it seemed as though it would been an overall busy and bullish start to 2023 for the major recycling markets.
However, things seem to be easing off even before May arrives and the customary cooling of performance in the sub-continent markets due to the oncoming Monsoon season will only further aggravate the present situation – despite the state of supply and the current (and plenty of) availability of space at dormant plots. Making matters worse, with both Bangladesh and Pakistan markets still requiring lengthy central state bank approval processes to open new L/Cs, it is certainly going to be a painful process to get vessels delivered (in time) moving forward, and patience / extra waiting times will certainly be required from those Owners / Cash Buyers seeking to deliver units moving forward. Lastly, the Turkish market echoes virtually identical sentiments and fundamentals as the sub-continent markets, including the Lira, which continues to relapsefurther every week.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide


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By: Kelsi Maree Borland
There have been a huge volume of 1031 exchange deals this year, but Marcus & Millichap’s Tyler Leeson says the volume is nothing new.
It may seem like 1031 exchange transaction volume is growing this year, but Tyler Leeson of Marcus & Millichap says that the volume of 1031 deals is the same as it has always been—huge. While he agrees that the majority of multifamily transactions are 1031 exchanges, he says that has always been true. Leeson recently closed four 1031 exchange deals in Anaheim and Oceanside for a total of $67.7 million, and Leeson says this is an example of the typical deal flow his team sees.
“The majority of our transactions are 1031 exchanges on one or both sides of the deal. People always do 1031 exchanges to avoid capital gains taxes, and that is the reason that we have always done them,” Leeson, senior managing director at Marcus & Millichap, tells GLobeSt.com. “We haven’t seen in an increase in the number of transactions; historically speaking, owners typically do a 1031 exchange and trade into another apartment building or another product type. Over my career, rarely do people cash out.”
In general, transaction volume trended down last year as many investors were waiting on the sidelines to see the outcome of the tax overhaul; however, Leeson says—at least in his business—there was not a decrease in 1031 exchange volume last year, and the deal flow has remained consistent through the first half of this year. “We didn’t see a huge drop off last year with 1031 exchanges,” he says. “The market has continued to be steady. My team has done 27 1031 exchanges this year.”
In general, 1031 exchanges can be difficult in terms of finding product to trade into with the right timing. That is especially true in this market, which is highly competitive with limited opportunities. “We are able to find the inventory,” says Leeson. “That is important to point out. Our team has been able to find the inventory out there even when other teams or companies haven’t been as successful. We are finding deals for all of our clients that want to do an exchange.”
The four transactions that Leeson recently closed fell into that category. The buyers traded into assets in different markets and different multifamily investment classes. “This particular set of 1031 exchanges was unique because the owners exchanged into different markets and into value-add buildings,” explains Leeson. “We are seeing people trade into different product types for ease of management. It isn’t because they can’t find an apartment building. On these deals, our clients traded into the properties because they were a good fit.”
While the activity isn’t necessarily picking up, Leeson also says that it isn’t declining—and he doesn’t expect it to any time soon. “I don’t ever see the volume of 1031 exchanges going down,” he explains. “If everything stays status-quo in terms of the interest rate market and economy, I think we are going to see a really similar second half of the year.”


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Your daily round-up of the best of the Journal’s China coverage:
Cheap iPhone Might Not Be Cheap Enough in China: With the iPhone 5C, Apple will no doubt gain sales and market share in China. But it will still fail to reach the majority of city dwellers, according to a projection from the Wall Street Journal. (Free)
Tokyo Weighs Strengthening Islands Claim: A top Japanese government official said stationing government officials on a group of disputed islands is one way of strengthening Japan’s claim to them. (Subscriber Content)
Hong Kong Infrastructure Projects Proliferate, Increasing Costs: Hong Kong has over the years filled in half its harbor through reclamation and literally pulled down a mountain in the 1990s to build its airport, so it is no stranger to large construction projects. But the scope of infrastructure development the city has in the works is extreme even by its standards, with the pace of construction taking a toll on labor availability and straining budgets. (Subscriber Content)
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DAO Maker, the leading initial decentralized exchange offering (IDO) and initial game offering (IGO) launchpad for cryptocurrency projects, is venturing into the world of nonfungible tokens (NFTs). More specifically, the team is launching an NFT launchpad, with the first project being the “Maradona ’D10s’” NFT collection. It is the first-ever Maradona-licensed collection to come to market, supported by all five of soccer star Diego Maradona’s heirs.
DAO Maker has built up a strong market position through its multiple launchpad solutions. The platform primarily facilitates IDO and IGO solutions and will now explore similar opportunities in the NFT space. NFTs have seen a tremendous popularity surge in 2021, and the demand for NFT-related launchpad solutions has risen quickly.
The DAO Maker launchpad has yielded dozens of projects exploring IDO and IGO approaches. More importantly, DAO Maker was the first major launchpad to facilitate these approaches and the first incubation hub to explore new opportunities in the space.
That approach allowed DAO Maker to become one of the largest networks in 2021, with more than 135,000 Know Your Customer-verified users and more than 270,000 followers on Twitter.
The next crucial venture for DAO Maker revolves around its upcoming “Maradona ’D10s’” NFT drop. The NFT collection features various profile pictures of the late and great Maradona and celebrates the upcoming launch of International Federation of Association Football — FIFA — 2022. Moreover, the legend’s fans can use the profile pictures as avatars in Web3 environments.
What makes the collection unique is how it is the first-ever official Maradona-licensed NFT project. It has the support of all five of the football star’s heirs, and their choice to launch this project together with DAO Maker signifies the platform’s significance in the broader industry.
Jana Maradona, daughter of Diego Maradona, said, “’Maradona “D10s”’ NFTs is the first time all of the heirs have come together in a creative collaboration since Diego’s passing.”
The “Maradona ’D10s’” NFT collection spans 5,000 generative-art profile pictures on the Ethereum blockchain. Commemorating the upcoming FIFA 2022 event through a football-integrated NFT marks an exciting moment for the broader industry. Moreover, it is an opportunity to remember one of the world’s greatest footballers who passed away recently yet remains near and dear to millions of people.
The “Maradona ’D10s’” collection is the first NFT drop to occur through the teaḿ’s new NFT launchpad. The launchpad is crucial, as it can support virtually any blockchain. Moreover, artists issuing NFTs through this new service can gain exposure to a growing DAO Maker community that spans hundreds of thousands of users worldwide.
Christoph Zaknun, CEO of DAO Maker, said, “The NFT space quickly became a very toxic and fraudulent area of crypto. We are entering this market to try to clean it up the way we have with the low-cap market — by providing a venue for celebrities and founders that want to do NFT drops the right way.”
About DAO Maker
Founded in 2018, DAO Maker creates growth technologies and funding frameworks for startups while simultaneously reducing investors’ risks. DAO Maker provides leading solutions in community incubation, fundraising and other growth-related techs for tokenized businesses, featuring social-mining software-as-a-service for community growth, dynamic coin and strong holder offerings for fundraising support, and its upcoming Venture Bond and YieldShield features to create safe environments for retail investors.
Follow DAO Maker on Twitter, Telegram, Instagram and Medium for news and updates.


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Leica launched its new SL2-S camera
Leica Camera AG is a German company known for the manufacture of cameras and optical devices characteristic of the photographic world. The German company has recently introduced and launched on the market the SL2-S Leica, a new version of the already known mirrorless SL-2.
Let’s see all the new features of this new device that has been created and designed taking into account the main needs of video makers and filming lovers. First of all, the photo menu and the one dedicated to the video shooting are separate and independent of each other and therefore they can be customized according to the different needs. Leica has also introduced a new backlit sensor, the 24 megapixel CMOS-BSI, this sensor also offers better sensitivity management and in fact the SL2-S reaches 100,000 ISO. It is very interesting that all users will be able to record videos at the highest quality, therefore in 4K, without any time restrictions. The new camera can record in 10 bit 4:2:2 with the L-Log format up to 60 fps. Whereas, for what concerns the memory, the new SL2-S is equipped with a double SD slot that also supports UHS-II fast cards.
Leica has thought about nature video lovers, in fact with the IP54 certification for cold and heat, the device can be used both in conditions of high temperatures and colder temperatures that can even reach -10 degrees, in addition Leica SL2-S is made of metal and this allows it to withstand different atmospheric perturbations. The L-Mount lens mount is compatible not only with Leica lenses, but also with those of the Panasonic and Sigma range.
Those who decide to rely on the new Leica will not only have the opportunity to use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom as it is compatible with the SL2-S camera, but according to the latest news, the recent collaboration between Leica and Capture-One 21, photo editing software, could amaze users and give great news in the field of post-production.
Other and new features will be introduced with an update scheduled for next year and according to several rumours, the main innovations could concern the tracking and recognition of the subjects’ bodies, faces and eyes; the overlapping of images in Live-View and also the segmentation of the shots.
As already anticipated, the new Leica SL2-S full frame mirrorless is cheaper than the previous version and is certainly ideal and perfect for documentarist and video makers.


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Jenny Bazzetta and Stephanie Yu are preparing to host an event that they wish they’d been invited to when they were starting their businesses.
“There are so many women with small handmade and craft businesses and not a lot of opportunities,” said Bazzetta, who makes and sells handcrafted confections through her business, BonBon Bombardier.
“Business is hard; we need to support one another,” said Yu, a vendor of vintage clothing and accessories who owns Wilder Bag Co.
So the two women asked about 30 women business owners to join them from 5-9:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Pikes Peak Market, 315 E. Pikes Peak Ave., for an evening of marketing, networking, art, live music and fellowship.
Bazzetta said the First Friday event will showcase “women in business who are really standing out and doing something different,” including ecofriendly and locally handmade or handsourced products.
“We feel like there is enough of a market out there, and we want to reflect sustainability and diversity in age, race, culture and economic status,” Yu said.
The two hope that the event will help support not just women business owners but also give a boost to the Pikes Peak Market, where each has a pop-up shop.
The market, which has been in the works for several years, first opened in November at 9 S. Weber St. After another move, the market set up in June at 315 E. Pikes Peak Ave. A grand opening in the new space is being planned for September.
About a dozen businesses now have tables or booths at the market, which is open Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., according to its website.
Bazzetta said she and her husband worked in the food business in St. Louis when they returned to the United States after living abroad.
“I was working as an artisan chocolatier, making European-style sweets,” Bazzetta said. Her husband made and sold Filipino and Japanese dishes through a food truck.
They moved to Colorado Springs in December 2015 after deciding it would be a great place to pursue their other interests, including backpacking.
“I saw a lot of space for an artisan confectioner that does unusual things,” Bazzetta said. One of her offerings at BonBon Bombardier is panforte, an Italian confection made of dried fruit, honey, nuts and spices — “the earliest energy bar,” she said.
BonBon Bombardier was launched in May 2017. Bazzetta was having success marketing her candies through local shops such as Radiantly Raw in Manitou Springs and the Ivywild farmers market, and was taking orders online through her website, but didn’t think she was ready for a brick-and-mortar store.
“We’re renting kitchen space and a booth here at Pikes Peak Market,” she said, adding that she’s on the verge of profitability now.
Yu has a background in the fashion industry and worked full time as an accountant until she’d saved enough money to start Wilder Bag Co. six months ago.
Yu said she has always loved designer bags and backpacks and was looking at her collection one day when it occurred to her that other people would love to buy them, too.
She started selling vintage Coach and Louis Vuitton bags on her Etsy site, and branched out into the clothing, shoes and other items she offers at her Pikes Peak Market pop-up store. She’s looking to add a line of locally made bags.
“A lot of people ask, ‘What’s your real job?’” said Yu, who still does some side work providing accounting and consulting services. “That is a reflection of our culture, that what we love to do can’t support us.”
Bazzetta added that’s where supporting each other comes in.
Bazzetta and Yu met on Instagram and hit it off when Yu came to visit Bazzetta’s store.
Since then, they have been anchors at the market and have helped to bring in First Friday entertainment including poetry groups, artists, an open mic night and a salsa dance teacher.
“We are trying to make this both a cultural space and an incubator for small business,” Bazzetta said. “It has been a work in progress, and now it’s starting to blossom.”
The two named the event Females of the Future and invited women vendors to reserve a space for the Aug. 4 event through Instagram, Facebook ads and posts, email and flyers. They closed applications two weeks ago.
“We have had such a great response for this event,” Bazzetta said. “Women in Colorado Springs are really testing the market, trying to do something different, and itching to have a community of people who can work together.”


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“It is a sad day today but due to low sales globally in analogue turntables a decision to stop production has been made on Technics Turntables,” Panasonic spokesman Ian North explained
Turntable manufacturers Technics will be stopping production on their universally loved Technics 1200s and Technics 1210s. In a statement re-posted on dance board Global Hardstyle, the company behind the production of the Technics turntables Panasonic announced that they would cease the manufacture of Technics turntables in February next year, citing an increasing decline in sales as the motivation behind the line’s demise.
Okay laptop djs! so keep on checking your emails while you are deejaying...
Eingestellt von dj supermarkt um 17:58:00


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Huawei has unveiled plans for cell towers that will one day be able to wirelessly charge drones without the need for them to stop. While Huawei's focus at MWC was undeniably its mobile products, the company does also have plans for many other tech items which should allow them to expand their business in the future. Among these is the company's newest focus – drones. Currently, drone technology is still relatively new in the tech world but undeniably one of the biggest problems surrounding them is the need to charge them. This necessity limits the distance drones can travel quite significantly, but it appears Huawei is hoping to solve this problem in the future.
The concept, which has been thought up by Huawei's X Lab project in partnership with China Mobile, hopes to create cell towers that will be able to wirelessly charge drones on the go, while also boosting GPS signals – which often experience interference with buildings. Currently, in order for the drones to be charged, it's necessary that they land on specially designed pads, similar to how smartphones charge using wireless charging pads. Eventually, though, Huawei hopes the technology will mature enough so that drones will simply be able to fly over the cell tower to get a boost in charge and GPS signal. By this point, though, it's likely that wireless charging will be used for most products.
Considering Huawei's research into wireless charging technology, it wouldn't be surprising to see the company eventually incorporate the technology into their own smartphones, tablets or smartwatches. While it's still unknown how long it will take before the tech becomes efficient and useful enough to become mainstream, it's certain that the research being conducted by the likes of Huawei and China Mobile is sure to help speed up the process significantly. It'll remain to be seen how quickly both companies can get their cell towers up and running in the real world. If they are successful, though, it wouldn't be surprising to see a number of other companies interested in taking advantage of the tech once available, due to the fact that the uses for wireless charging are essentially endless.


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The concept car was revealed at the Tokyo motor show in 2015 and, at the time, was considered to signify Mazda’s intentions to launch a new range-topping sports car powered by a rotary engine.
Since then, no such car has prevailed but we have seen some of its design features appear on the new Mazda 3.
However, in response to being asked whether the RX-Vision could come to fruition, Maeda said: “I hope I can say yes – this is my dream.”
He confirmed he has prepared a design for a sports car which “is kind of a production car”.
Maeda added: “When it is decided as a brand that we need a sports car, that’s when we will produce the car. As you know, we already have the MX-5. If we need a more premium sports car, then we need to have a serious think about it.”


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Print publication: Friday, August 7, 2009
Will the hypocrisy ever end?
An article on the cash for clunkers program discussed opposition to the program by some GOP lawmakers ("Area lots keep taking clunker trade-ins," Aug. 4).
The article talked about resistance to the program among Senate Republicans who seem to think it too generous.
Does anyone remember 2002, when President George W. Bush and the Republican Congress passed an economic stimulus bill that, among other things, ended up giving small business owners up to a $100,000 tax break to buy SUVs and other large gas-guzzling vehicles?
The Republicans' problem with cash for clunkers isn't that it gives away too much money. The problem is that it's not going to the right constituents.
While I think it's great to get rid of old cars for new, more efficient cars, and helping to create a badly needed economic trickle down the chain of commerce, I am a bit concerned about whether the people buying these cars can really afford them.
Assuming the cars being traded in are worth $4,500 or less, then can these folks make the $500 payment on a new car if they couldn't afford to take advantage of previous rebates offered by manufacturers -- some of which were far greater than the $4,500 now being offered by the government?
It seems this is again fostering a huge amount of consumer debt while doing very little to encourage people to live within their means.
I wouldn't drive a car that my fellow taxpayers helped pay for. That's exactly what the cash for clunkers program is about.
That $4,500 doesn't come out of thin air. It is shameful for people to take taxpayer money to buy themselves a brand new car.
If the auto industry wants to sell new cars, it should build cars that are quality engineered and fairly priced
without depending on taxpayer money to make the deal.
I am really pleased to see the cash for clunkers program generating lots of new car sales. I would be happier if the rebate were higher on an American car than a foreign make.
Be that as it may, it goes against my thrifty New England upbringing to see all those "clunkers" -- most of which appear still driveable -- simply crushed and wasted.
How about selling them to Cuba? We could trade for a few carloads of cigars. Or make a grand international gesture and simply give them away. At least someone would get some use out of them.
For those of you who are complaining that the cash for clunkers program should only allow people to buy American-made cars:
Toyotas are made in Kentucky and Ford has moved much of its manufacturing to Mexico. So what does "American made" really mean?
Let's start a cash for clunkers program for general aviation.
After all, the fuel burned by the affluent few who can afford to fly in gas-guzzling corporate and chartered jets, fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, and air taxis make Hummers, SUVs and monster trucks look like fuel efficient economy cars.
The reduction in noise and toxic emissions would be a boon to the environment and livability. In addition, we could save billions nationwide by curtailing spending on extravagant and unnecessary airport expansions such as the third runway proposal at Hillsboro Airport.
In return for their trade-ins we could generously offer high-end bicycles, free of charge of course.


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A few days ago, Xiaomi started rolling out the Android 14-based MIUI 14 update for the Redmi Note 11S 4G devices. Now, the customization of the latest firmware is expanding to the 5G variant in Europe. More regions are expected to roll out soon in the coming days. This latest version of MIUI brings a bundle of new features and customizations to your Redmi phone and is faster and more reliable than MIUI 13.
On the other hand, this update also brings the latest May 2023 security update, which aims to maintain the security of your device and regularly boost it for adequate performance. According to the information, the major update is currently being rolled out for Redmi Note 11S 5G owners living in Europe, and the company will expand its reach to more users in the coming days or weeks.
Redmi Note 11S 5G users can schedule the MIUI 14 update based on Android 13 via build version V126.96.36.199.TGLEUXM and carrying a massive installation package of around 3.7GB. So, make sure to opt for a stable Wi-Fi connection over regular mobile data.
Furthermore, the latest major software version redefines personalization and brings them to a whole new level. The new set of super icons and wallpapers gives your home screen a new look & feel. Additionally, the larger folders highlight the apps you need most and make them accessible with a single tap. For more information, check the full changelog.
- Updated Android Security Patch to May 2023. Increased system security.
- Stable MIUI based on Android 13
(More features and improvements)
- Search in Settings is now more advanced. With search history and categories in results, everything looks much crisper now.
How To Update:
However, the incremental update is being rolled out via OTA (over-the-air) method in Europe and may take some time to reach all eligible units in the country. Accordingly, you can proceed with the manual installation process by going to Settings> About phone> System update> MIUI version> Download and install.


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Apps have been a long, contentious conversation in automotive retail. While there is no doubt that the smartphone and mobile is the future communication channel, the question on the minds of today’s marketers has always been ROI. Will investment in mobile strategies impact today’s buyer?
Thanks to Google and new mobile search criteria, if you aren’t already heavily investing in apps, you may be negatively affecting your SEO ranking. Apps are now a ranking factor in mobile search results and are indexed just like websites.
[Tweet “Apps are now a ranking factor in mobile search results and are indexed just like websites. “]
Mariya Moeva (Google Webmaster Trends Analyst) stated that apps are a positive ranking factor in mobile search. Moz Blog in the same article states that deep links between your apps will improve your website in mobile search. This is a critical factor for dealers. Mobile search accounts for anywhere between 40-70% of dealers overall traffic, making mobile the primary channel for SEO rank.
Google understands what mobile pundits have been saying for sometime: Apps are a primary medium for today’s smartphone-based consumer. Google has officially taken a stand and is granting a big advantage to those that are willing to invest in their mobile customers by implementing an app.
Google’s new CEO, Sundar Pichai, stated “40% of searches now return app indexing results in the top five results.” In the article App Indexing & the New Frontier of SEO Emily Grossman states, “The app rankings advantage is pushed to the next level when you understand that Google is intentionally giving preference to app results for certain queries.” She continues, “In some cases, being an indexed app may be the only way to rank at the top in mobile Google search.”
[Tweet ““40% of Google searches now return app indexing results in the top five results.””]
While Google has introduced a model that’s inclusive, indexing both web and app content to provide relevant results, Apple’s long-term strategy aims to bypass the web entirely, relying more heavily on apps for search results on the smartphone.
Apple Search now relies on deep linking, the method for indexing apps, to provide search results on an iPhone or iPad. By executing a search in Spotlight or Siri, a user can start a search and end up being directed to a deep link in an app without ever seeing a single Google result — even when Google is the “default” search engine.
“Apple’s new deep-link-based search in iOS 9 poses a threat to Google’s core business model, as it offers end users a way to locate content within apps that does not rely on Google or the Web,” states Chris Horton in his article, Marketers: Are You Ready for in-App SEO?
Top dealers have historically placed a high emphasis SEO and invested the time and monetary resources to ensure to status in search. With Google’s new mobile SEO criteria and Apple’s new Search parameters, apps are proving to be a competitive advantage for those companies seeking top mobile SEO placement.
How do I get my app setup for indexing?
In order to prepare your app for indexing, you’ll need to make sure your iOS and Android apps have integrated a number of items, including HTTP deep links, app-to-site association, app indexing SDK, autocompletions, and more. Start with these links:
Alternatively, select a trusted app platform vendor who has already integrated these new changes. Just like web seo, its important your app provider correctly follows app indexing requirements.
Dealers have a unique opportunity to jump ahead of the competition in mobile SEO. With over 50% of dealer traffic now coming on mobile devices, the time to invest in your mobile SEO is now.
Are you having this conversation yet?


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Google releases Inbox for iPad
Google has launched an iPad version of Inbox, its smart email alternative.
Inbox was launched towards the end of October last year on Android, iPhone, and Chrome. It wasn’t optimised for Apple’s tablet at the time, however.
That’s changed with a quietly launched iPad version of Inbox. It features a properly optimised view that takes advantage of the iPad’s extra screen space in much the same way as the equivalent Gmail app.
Inbox itself is still an invite-only service. It offers a new way to deal with email that doesn’t simply involve scrolling through masses of generic messages.
Rather, it intelligently sorts incoming emails into categories, called Bundles. It also provides Highlights, which push attachment thumbnails and key details to the preview pane, so you can assimilate the gist of emails without having to enter them individually.
This is an area of the app that would definitely be enhanced by iPad optimisation.
Read More: What is Google Inbox?
Assists, meanwhile, will figure out what an email is telling you and provide contextual information – a telephone number or a map for a restaurant reservation, for example. Inbox also has a personal assistant element to it, so you can set and receive reminders through the app.
Inbox for iPad is availabile to download for free from the App Store now. If you’re interested in securing yourself an Inbox invite, email Google at email@example.com and ask for one.


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Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey and other spirits, is considering a sale of its Finlandia vodka brand, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Louisville, Kentucky-based distiller is weighing the move as part of a broader effort to focus on its whiskey business, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The deliberations are at an early stage and may not lead to a sale, the people said.
Brown-Forman first acquired a 45 per cent stake in Finlandia in 2000 and an additional 35 per cent in 2002. The company agreed to purchase the rest of the business in 2004 from Altia for €46.8 million. In total, the company spent more than $200 million acquiring the vodka brand.
Brown-Forman’s whiskey brands, which include Old Forester and Woodford Reserve bourbons, are benefiting from a surge in US demand for the dark spirit. Whiskey is estimated to have overtaken vodka as the world’s most popular spirit last year, according to data from Euromonitor. That’s spurred Brown-Forman to prune its roster of brands to focus almost exclusively on whiskey and tequila.
Phil Lynch, a spokesman for Brown-Forman, declined to comment.
Last month, the company announced it was re-entering the single malt Scotch category by acquiring the BenRiach Distillery. That deal followed a move in January to sell Brown-Forman’s Southern Comfort and Tuaca liqueurs to Sazerac.
News by Bloomberg, edited by Hospitality Ireland


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This article is more than 1 year old
BT's broadband share slides below key target
Squeezed by competition
BT's slice of the UK's broadband market is sliding so fast it has missed a key market share target it set just eight months ago.
Yesterday, the company published "record" broadband numbers in a bid to counter negative reports about its recent performance. Yet the move has backfired because the figures also reveal that its retail market share has dropped to under 40 per cent.
The figure is important because in March, BT said that it wanted to "maintain a 40 per cent plus share of the retail DSL sector". Yet the figures published yesterday showed that of the 3.33m wholesale DSL lines in circulation, 1.28m were operated by BT Retail.
BT's own figures show that its slice of the UK's DSL sector has slipped to 38.9 per cent - below its "40 per cent plus" target. The scale of BT's slide is even more acute when you consider that at the beginning of the year BT Retail's share of DSL - via its BT Broadband and BT Yahoo! Broadband brands - was 46 per cent.
BT's continuing loss of market share raises concerns that the telco is failing to make the most from the millions it has invested in promoting its broadband products. Coupled with BT Retail's mass exodus of voice customers, this is yet another headache for the company, which publishes its latest financial results next week.
One industry insider expressed surprise at how quickly BT Retail's lead is being eaten away and is unsure how BT can stop the rot, especially since Wanadoo UK and AOL UK have both passed the 500,000 subscriber milestone.
A spokesman for BT confirmed that BT Retail's market share has dipped below the all-important 40 per cent but explained that it just showed the highly competitive nature of the UK's broadband sector.
"This is proof of what we've been saying - it's tough for [BT] Retail to compete in this space," he said. ®
BT crows about broadband numbers
BT cool on board rift speculation
Wanadoo UK poised for 500,000th broadband customer
NTL supercharges broadband
UK crawls up Euro BB league table
AOL UK cuts cost of broadband


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Unimin workers host food drive
Late last November, Unimin’s corporate office suggested that each plant organize a food drive for the community.
It was too late in the season to organize the drive, so they included it in their annual community relations plan.
In September, Unimin had a day-long safety emphasis day, when all employees at both the Tamms and Elco plant were in attendance.
During the event, they introduced their holiday food drive, which they called “Stuff the Bag.”
They handed out a flyer with a grocery list and talked about how food pantries meet very real needs – the laid off worker who doesn’t qualify for unemployment, the senior who has to decide between buying medicines and buying groceries, the single mom whose car breaks down and grocery money has to go for car repairs. Apparently, it struck a chord with employees.
From Oct. 6 through Nov. 17, they designated Fridays as “Foody Fridays.”
They had stickers to place on each Thursday’s pay envelope, reminding them to purchase and contribute items weekly.
Unimin had a $5 challenge – take just a $5 bill into the grocery store and see how many items could be purchased.
They encouraged employees to involve their young children and grandchildren, as a way to teach them about generosity.
A male employee who was single said he didn’t go to the grocery store, so he gave another employee a $20.
When the receipt and the bags of groceries was brought back, he was so excited about how much was purchased with his money.
Another employee and his wife made it their personal mission. His wife contacted local grocery stores in Pulaski and Alexander counties and brought in cases of canned vegetables.
While at Dollar General checking out, she told the cashier what she was doing.
The man in the line behind her said, “I want to help too,” and pulled out a $20 bill.
She told him she wouldn’t take his cash, but she would help him shop for items.
The employees have taken ownership of the program.
The bags that were stuffed at each plant are 1,000 pound bags. They had to purchase plastic totes to fill because each bag reached capacity early on.
The Elco plant collected food and it came in just under 1,000 pounds. The Tamms plant collected 200 pounds.
The items which were collected were donated to two food pantries in the area: one at Harvest Church of Southern Illinois in Anna and the other at Trinity Assembly of God in Olive Branch.


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Associate Professor Dalié Jiménez is playing a lead role in a large-scale, first-of-its-kind randomized research project to evaluate the effectiveness of various legal and counseling interventions aimed at helping individuals in financial distress – which is defined in the study as people who have been the subject of a law suit in at least one credit card collection case in Maine, where the research participants are based. According to Professor Jiménez, who co-designed the study with Harvard Law Professor Jim Greiner and Professor Lois Lupica of the University of Maine School of Law, the research effort, known as the Consumer Financial Distress Project, is expected to be ongoing for the next five years.
Assisting Professor Jiménez are students from her Consumer Laws and Debt Collection seminar. “Students I taught last spring wrote legal memos answering questions from Pine Tree Legal Assistance (a project partner that will provide lawyer representation) with regard to representing consumers in credit card debt collection cases,” says Jiménez. “During the summer, my [student] research assistant compiled the memos into a 200-plus page manual. In addition, the students in my fall (2013) seminar created four kinds of pro se assistance packets that will be used by one of the control groups.”
The 1,200 people anticipated to participate in the study will be randomized into one of four groups: those who receive an offer of an attorney; those who are given an incentive to get financial counseling; those who receive an offer of an attorney, as well as a financial counseling incentive; and those who receive pro se assistance in the form of the self-help packets. Ultimately, Professor Jiménez expects the study to identify ways to measure the effectiveness of each of the four interventions with regard to its impact on one’s credit score and usability of credit. “We’ll also have enough information to say something meaningful about the effects of bankruptcy on people’s emotional well-being,” she says.


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Oregon Plans New Cannabis Harvest Regulations to Combat Illicit Market
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is gearing up to roll out new regulations for the state’s licensed cannabis growers. The regulations aim to give the state more control and oversight over cannabis harvests. But growers are already pushing back. They say the new rules could interfere with the delicate and often unpredictable timing of harvesting plants at their peak.
New Harvest Regulations Aim To Better Monitor Crop Surpluses
One of the major reasons states legalize adult-use cannabis is to push out illicit operators. The idea is to have a monitored, regulated market that makes it too risky and difficult for black market producers to survive. It’s either get above board or perish.
The reality on the ground, however, isn’t so clean cut. While on the decline, the illicit cannabis market still exists alongside the legal, regulated one. Especially as states make the transition to legal marijuana.
And that’s exactly Oregon’s concern. The state worries that legal cultivators are diverting their surplus crops to the black market.
In response to those concerns, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission is working on a new set of rules to give regulators a better sense of how much cannabis growers are producing—and where it’s all


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On Wednesday, 18th August 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States said, it is going to be investigating a data breach, that has been disclosed by the company ‘T-Mobile’ of the United States impacting more than 47-million current, prospective and former customers of the company.
T-Mobile, third-largest wireless carrier of the United States said, the personal data, that has been including driver’s license information and the social security numbers of over 40 million prospective and former customers of the company had been stolen along with the data from the existing 7.8 million customers of the company.
The first and last names, along with the date of birth details of the customers had also been stolen, and the company said, there had been no indication that, the financial details had also been compromised.
A spokesperson of the US FCC said, the telecommunications companies have a basic duty for the protection of the information of their customers and the US FCC is aware of all the reports of a data breach, that had been affecting the customers of T-Mobile and they are still continuing with the investigation.
The company ‘T-Mobile’, that is having 104.8 million customers as of June 2021, and the company has also acknowledged the breach of the data after Vice, a digital media outlet based in the United States have reported that, a seller has posted a forum, which has been offering a private data, which is also including the social security numbers from a data breach of the servers of T-Mobile.


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Google is working on a project that can dramatically simplify the way people with diabetes monitor their blood sugar level. This will be measured using a tiny eye contact lens featuring miniaturized electronics that will capture the glucose levels in the tear liquid.
The idea to use tears comes after years of scientific investigations of various body fluids. The size and placement of the device was one of the major issues—it has to be deeply integrated into the body, be fast collecting the liquid and easy to be replaced. The solution has been inspired by regular contact lenses. The wearable medical devices based on them let diabetics check the sugar level in a much less disruptive and painful way, and as frequent as they need it.
Google has decided to use wireless “chips and sensors so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair” to integrate them into contact lenses. The miniaturized glucose sensor, placed between the two layers of soft lens material, will be able to access tears right where they emerge, avoiding collecting them in containers, and measure tear sugar with greater accuracy.
At the moment, Google is testing the device prototypes, while the technology is still in its very first stages of development. The team also wants to try integrating tiny LED lights that could flash up if the amount of glucose is above or below a certain line. The tech powerhouse is also in talks with the FDA, and is planning to search partners, which are experts in the field and could create smart contact lens and apps to drive the measurements from a patient’s eye directly to the doctors.


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There’s a lot of new shops in the Borough of Kings. Developers are expected to add 500,000 square feet of retail space to Brooklyn in 2007, according to a report from investment-sales firm Marcus & Millichap. That’s way more than the 33,000 feet added in 2006.
Other highlights from the report:
- Employers in Brooklyn are expected to add 5,700 jobs by year’s end, a 1.2 percent gain and an increase from 4,600 new hires in 2006.
- Retail vacancy is forecast to end the year at 5.3 percent.
- Average marketwide rents are expected to climb 8 percent this year to $37.80 per square foot, although properties in some emerging neighborhoods could post double-digit gains.


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A big congratulation to the Lions Team (Singapore international football team) to win the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012. This is the fourth time that Singapore has won this competition, and the last time that the lion city has won this title was 5 years ago: in the year 2007.
I admit that I am no longer a football fan ever since I broke my leg a few years ago during a friendly football match. But I can feel it; that Singaporeans do not pay much attention to Singapore’s football. Definitely not as before Singapore was kicked out from the Malaysian cup.
Things have started to change as it raise eyebrows when Singapore reaches the semi-finals. Slow but steady, people were starting to talk about it. It has been a long time since you notice Singaporean actually switched channels to watch Singapore vs Thailand in the finals. And when was the last time you see thousands of Singaporean gathered in front of a big screen to watch the live telecast of the Lions Team playing?
All these reminds me of the book I read a few years back by Jack Welch: Winning. As Jack Welch, explains, it’s all about winning. The whole world revolves around winners making great achievements. Companies brings together a team of winners to make sure that the company wins in certain aspect.
I believe that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has always put in their best. In promoting Singapore’s football in every which way but, without winning, nobody is going to pay attention to it. They have tons of other things to worry about in their live. It is about winning that we get to taste the chance to cheer, to gather, to be proud and to be united.
This reflects deeply into any another organizations. You can have the best advertisements but if the products you’re selling are not performing, if the sales rep is not closing sales and if the company isn’t capable of getting the funds for it to expand, nothing is going to work. Every aspect of a company, everyone in the company, has to win.
Nevertheless, a Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all my readers. Hope you have a wonderful and prosperous year ahead!


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Looks like Ford has wizened up to what millions of Americans are doing now, selling their possessions off for money to just exist. How interesting it is that when companies are desperate and beg for money, they still seem to find a way to get the money.
Ford had burnt through $7.7 billion in the latest quarter. It, along with GM and Chrysler, were lobbying Congress for aid.
Ford Motor is selling 20 percent of its 33.4 percent stake in Mazda for Y52Billion but they will still remain the Japanese carmaker’s biggest shareholder however, its reduced interest will give it less control over the company. This means, many of whose current top executives on on loan from Ford. Two of three board members from Ford are going to leave, Mazda said, and Takashi Yamanouchi, executive vice president, is going to become its new president and CEO. Hisakazu Imaki, the current chief executive, will become chairman.
Mazda is also buying shares, 6.87 percent in off-hours trading on Wednesday morning for Y17.9 billion or Y184 each, the closing price on Tuesday. Mazda said the two companies will continue their relationship.
The remaining stock will be probably picked up by a group of Japanese parts suppliers, trading companies and casualty insurers, who will divide Ford’s interest into segments of 1 or 2 percent each.
Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said “This agreement allows Ford to raise capital that will help fund out product-led transformation, and at the same time, allows Ford and Mazda to continue our successful strategic relationship in the best interest of both companies.” Mulally added, “Ford will continue to focus on the Ford brand worldwide and deliver the products our customers really want and value.”
Ford help invent Mazda in 1979 and had owned a steak in Japan’s fifth-largest automaker since then. What is interesting to note is that Ford rescued Mazda from bankruptcy 12 years ago.


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Ocean Array Could Clean Up Tons Of Plastic
Millions of tons of tiny bits of plastic float in giant patches — or gyres — in oceans around the world. There are five large patches of plastic. One of them, the North Pacific Gyre, is roughly twice the size of the United States. All of them are a problem. These bits of plastic look like food to fish and birds and once consumed, end up killing these animals. But the plastic bits also contain chemicals, such as DDTs and PCBs, that once consumed by small sea creatures then enter the food chain to be consumed eventually by people. And because plastic doesn’t break down and dissolve, these gyres are going to be around for hundreds, if not thousands of years, even if we stopped polluting tomorrow.


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Here's the quote from MacRumours:
As documented in its quarterly earnings reports over the years, Apple reported total sales of 472 million iPhones between the device's 2007 launch and the end of 2013. With analyst estimates of over 38 million units for the current quarter ending in just a few days, the company has undoubtedly already sold its 500 millionth iPhone, a milestone that passed without mention from the Cupertino company...
And from my own editorial a couple of years ago:
Going back through the news archives and checking figures with industry watchers, according to our calculations, we passed the half billion sales point for Symbian last Autumn. With multiple manufacturers contributing to these figures over the years (albeit with Nokia dominating), and with some 'closed' Symbian-powered phones like the FOMA devices in Japan and the older Ericsson R380, the actual counting is obviously less clear cut, plus Symbian as an organisation no longer exists, which is perhaps why noone has yet remarked on the milestone.
But still. Half a billion Symbian smartphones.
Indeed. Do take the installed base and other numbers from that article in context though - that was over two years ago!
The two platforms are clearly comparable in terms of both numbers and significance in the mobile industry, albeit in slightly different eras, even though (usually American) revisionists often claim that Apple invented the smartphone. Such commentators would be astonished to see what some of us were doing with Nokia E90s and N95s (etc.) back in early 2007....
Of course, the sheer passage of time means that perhaps 90% of that half billion Symbian devices are no longer in serious use around the world, but then I'd also argue that a good 10% of iPhones are also no longer in use (e.g. classics and 3Gs) - time waits for no man and devices become obsolete faster than ever these days.
PS. Along the same lines, even though far more Android devices have now been sold, my own experience tells me that the attrition rate is far higher in this world because of the savagely increasing demands on system disk space - you try configuring and using an Android phone from 2011 and see how far you get.... Maybe 20% of Android devices are now in drawers or landfill?


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OCTIM was again recognised in the Business Gazelles rankings of the most rapidly developing small and medium-sized companies. The award is presented annually by the “Puls Biznesu” daily.
On 20 January 2016, at Hotel Warmiński in Olsztyn, our representatives accepted the Business Gazelle award. The idea behind the award is to promote small and medium-sized businesses. The contest is to identify fast-growing companies which continue to achieve financial growth, regardless of economic conditions. The Business Gazelle award has been conferred by “Puls Biznesu” for 15 years now.
The Business Gazelle 2015 rankings assessed corporate performance in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In the nationwide rankings, OCTIM ranked 3642nd, and in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province 121st. The award only confirmed our continued growth and is an important tribute to the efforts of all of our employees.


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Halloween 2022: Edinburgh Dungeon promises scariest ever Halloween show
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Edinburgh Dungeon has unveiled its latest Halloween show – and it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Known for revealing the deepest and darkest secrets from the city’s history through interactive live shows, the popular underground venue’s favourite time of the year has arrived.
This year’s gruesome Halloween show is titled Dinner of the Dead, and it promises to be a spooktacular event for all the family.
Entering the Graveyard on All Hallows Eve, guests are summoned to the traditional Celtic harvest feast, where an empty place has been laid to welcome back lost loved ones, as the line between living and dead is at its thinnest on this day.
Calling forth all lost spirits, visitors must be careful as it’s not just friends who can join the feast – darker forces are at play.
Kathryn Angel, General Manager at The Edinburgh Dungeon, said: “The Dungeons are the home of Halloween and this year we really have gone all out.
“Our Halloween shows are full of local history – bringing the spookiest and most ominous tales of our towns and cities to life.
“We recommend only the most courageous peasants book tickets – these shows are not for the faint-hearted!”
For further information and to book online, click here www.thedungeons.com


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A cooperation between Japanese shipbuilder Imabari and Marubeni Corporation has secured a new order for twelve 11.000 TEU container vessels for Taiwanese container operator Evergreen Line. In a statement [...]
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So far Admin Leadway has created 13 blog entries.
American Federal Maritime Commission is reported to be closed due to the governmental shutdown caused by a non-agreement of the financial budget as a result of the disagreement between [...]
MSC and Maersk will be changing 10 of their service rotations between Europe and Far East next year in March. As a result thereof Antwerp will receive an extra [...]
The members of the THE Alliance, Yang Ming and the Ocean Network Express members have rescheduled their service network for 2019. More than 249 vessels will be connecting 76 [...]
China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) is forecasting 216 new airports by 2035 to reach a total of 450 operational airports according to a recently revealed report by CAAC News. [...]
The Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) released figures on the container throughput in Shanghai going down with a year-on-year drop of 5.2% with 34.93 million TEU handled compared to [...]
The credit rating of Maersk has been rated downwards by Moody’s Investors Service, stating they expect the number one of global container shipping will be challenged by a volatile [...]
Despite reports of increasing volumes on the trans Pacific trade lane, the idle container fleet is still increasing. By the end of November it was reported that already 11 [...]
Danish global leading container line Maersk announced they will be targetting a carbon neutrality by 2030 by employing zero emission vessels. This would finally lead to a full neutral [...]
Airfreight has boosted it’s volumes again in October with an increase of 3.1% in comparison with September according to IATA. Alexandre De Juniac, IATA’s CEO and general director stated [...]


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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) – San Francisco, which has been behind many counties in the reopening process, moved further into Phase 2 on Monday allowing customers to go inside stores to shop.
The mayor visited one neighborhood making it clear it’s her primary goal to get even more businesses open sooner.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed spent the early afternoon shopping inside stores on 24th Street in Noe Valley to spotlight San Francisco’s move into the next phase of reopening.
“Today is the first day that we can actually walk into a retail establishment and actually shop,” Mayor Breed said.
At Just for Fun, the mayor and other customers were greeted with hand sanitizer and a list of requirements that stores must now follow to let customers inside.
“Between the hand sanitizers coming in, hand sanitizer again before you go to the cash register, as you can see we have markers around the store to indicate what six-feet is and we’re being very strict about masks,” owner David Eiland said.
But customers don’t seem to mind.
“It’s really helpful cause we’ve been here the last few weeks where its just like, you know door service and you have to say like ‘I’m looking for a present for an 8-year-old and now we can actually like, look around and choose,” a customer said.
In recent weeks, the city’s unified message on reopening has been muddled as the mayor has made it clear that she and the city’s health officer don’t see eye to eye when it comes to the speed of reopening.
“We have to look at the bigger picture and not just the COVID response, right? We want to keep people safe but financially people are struggling and so my push with the county health officer is in some cases we can move faster safely,” Breed said.
The mayor says COVID-19 cases are up slightly, but hospitalizations are down.
That’s why she’s pushed for the city to get a variance from the state to speed up the reopening timeline even more.
“We know the bars, they want to open, and we’re working to move that up. We know the people who cut hair and do hair at hair salons, we’re trying to move those things up, we know that those businesses are really suffering the most because they can’t open,” Breed said.
The original proposal for places like hair salons to reopen is July 15, whether the mayor will be able to move that forward, we’ll have to wait and find out.
- Santa Clara supes vote to let newly elected sheriff start early in wake of predecessor’s resignation
- Iowa parents allegedly drowned baby in bathtub just after birth, affidavit says
- New York Times writers ask you not to read it today
- Allegations Twitter turning offices into ‘motel rooms’ being investigated
- House sends marriage equality bill to Biden’s desk


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The year 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of SANY’s acquisition of Putzmeister. Back in 2012, SANY Germany and CITIC PE acquired 100% of the equity shares in Putzmeister for 360 million euros. As a young and ambitious enterprise, this was a milestone move for SANY as well as a game-changing event in the landscape of the global construction machinery industry.
Over the past decade, Putzmeister, already a top concrete machinery manufacturer in Europe, has achieved steady growth and development under SANY Group. Putzmeister’s sales volume grew from €500 million in 2011 to more than €800 million in 2021, maintaining its leading position in the global concrete machinery market.
With its R&D, manufacturing and sales network expanding to cover Europe, America, and Asia-Pacific regions, the former German family company now enjoys a broader global presence in 154 countries and regions.
Over the past decade, Putzmeister has been integrated into SANY’s global business map. Today, nearly half of the concrete machinery products around the world bear the logo of Putzmeister or SANY.
For SANY, Putzmeister provides applicable experience in internationalization, intelligent manufacturing, and concepts and practices compatible with the fourth industrial revolution. For Putzmeister, its capability of developing new businesses is reinforced by SANY’s financial support and resources.
The R&D cooperation between the two companies has been evidently fruitful. The joint R&D teams have successfully launched the V8 series and the 45m truck-mounted concrete pump for the European market and are now taking the lead in the new arena of electric, intelligent, and digital products. Putzmeister has released the world’s first hybrid truck-mounted concrete pump – “iONTRON” and has applied big data technology in the concrete production, transportation, and placement process to improve productivity, operations, and fuel efficiency.
Both companies serve to open up markets for one another. More Putzmeister products gained access to the Chinese market through SANY, such as Putzmeister’s shotcreting machines, mortar machines, industrial pumps, and telebelt. Similarly, many of SANY’s products have become globally visible through Putzmeister’s network. “Compared to the sales growth,” said Dr. Jiang Xiangyang, Chairman’s Representative on behalf of SANY and Board member at Putzmeister Holding GmbH, “the significance of the acquisition lies in that it gave SANY a closer view of a leading company in the west, the market in developed countries, and their way of company governance.”
To date, the partnership between SANY and Putzmeister has yielded exponentially positive results in the areas of training, employee exchanges, R&D, and business development. Hand in hand, their partnership has yielded far better results than either company alone. One plus one has created far greater results than two.
SOURCE: SANY Group


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[Alan Popovsky, David Rios] [Amanda Jones] [Ashley Gaga, Paul Wharton]
David Rios Salon & Spa celebrated its opening last night with a launch party hosted by Keratese at its new Georgetown location. Guests mingled among the new salon, which has an outside patio and waterfall [and used to be the old Erwin Gomez Salon], while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and sangria from Puro Cafe.
Guests, including Paul Wharton, Miss City of Alexandria Amanda Jones, Ashley Gaga, Keith Lipert, Alan Popovsky, Lindsay Kin, Fletcher Gill, and Jaclyn Mason joined the guest-of-honor David Rios in the celebrations of his new beauty-based business endeavor.
Located on Wisconsin Ave, this can be the new, convenient pit-stop for some TLC for your hair after a day of heavy-duty shopping on M Street. Book your appointment now!
[photos via epgPR]


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Apple’s dislike of bitcoin has been on display for quite some while now, but the cyber-currency has been hit yet again as Apple removed Blockchain — the world’s most popular bitcoin wallet — from its App Store late Wednesday.
Apple had previously removed fellow wallets BitPak and Coinbase — while Blockchain had previously found itself excised, only to later be re-accepted.
Looking to capitalize on the surge of Bitcoin’s popularity, some mischievous pranksters from 4chan’s random image board are trying to convince Mac users to trash their computers.
The hoax claims that Apple has included Bitcoin mining software on all Macs since 2009, but you just need to enter a simple terminal command to unlock it. Of course, there is no secret Bitcoin mining app hidden in OS X, so what does the terminal command sudo rm -rf/* in the picture actually do? Oh, it just basically reformats your hard drive.