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Feds broaden crackdown on dealership fraud
The Federal Trade Commission is broadening its enforcement of car dealerships to crack down on deception and fraud in operations that go beyond advertising.
The latest actions, announced today, also target auto-loan application fraud and deceptive practices related to add-on products and services.
Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, outlined the “Operation Ruse Control” initiative.
The FTC is pairing up with 32 enforcement agencies to conduct a “nationwide and cross-border crackdown on deception and fraud in the auto marketplace,” the agency said.
It included 252 actions that include charges of deceptive advertising, criminal automotive loan application fraud, odometer fraud and deceptive marketing of car title loans. There were 187 enforcement actions in the U.S. and 65 in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada, since the FTC’s last sweep in January 2014.
While the U.S. civil charges can carry hefty fines, criminal charges carry the possi-bility of prison time. For example, a salesperson charged with conspiracy fraud could face up to 5 years in prison. A conviction against a dealer for wire fraud could carry a 20-year maximum sentence and a finance manager convicted of bank fraud could serve up to 30 years in federal prison, said Joyce White Vance, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.
Among the six new actions announced by the FTC are its first auto enforcement cases involving add-on products or services. The six new FTC cases include more than $2.6 million in judgments.
The FTC defines add-on products as products or service a dealer or other third party adds to the vehicle lease or finance contract. A few examples Rich gave during a media conference call included undercoating, extended service contracts and road service.
Rich said, “Consumers have told us that in many cases, the prices of add-ons are not disclosed adequately or they fail to provide the promised benefits.”
She added, “To date, the FTC has also brought dozens of other auto-related cases involving subprime auto loans; deceptively marketed car title loans; dealer misrepresentations about prices, discounts, who will pay off the amount owed on a trade-in vehicle; and scams in which companies promise to reduce auto debt in exchange for a large up-front fee, but then take consumers’ money and do nothing.”
For the first time since the FTC received expanded authority over auto dealers under the Dodd-Frank Act, it took two enforcement actions involving add-ons, specifically, biweekly payment programs offered to consumers.
The FTC charged National Payment Network Inc., a San Mateo, Calif., provider of loan acceleration programs, with deceptively pitching consumers an auto payment program -- both online and through a network of authorized auto dealers -- that it claimed would save consumers money. But, Rich said, NPN did not disclose that the significant fees it charged for the service often cancelled out any real savings. Those enrollment fees averaged $775 on a standard five-year auto loan, Rich said.
In a related case, the FTC said that Matt Blatt Inc. and Glassboro Imports, which owns two dealerships in New Jersey, failed to disclose or adequately disclose the fees associated with NPN’s add-on service. The FTC said that many consumers would not actually save any money because of the fees. Matt Blatt received a commission for each of the more than 1,000 consumers they enrolled, Rich said.
NPN and Matt Blatt have agreed to settle the FTC charges, Rich said. Under proposed consent orders, they are “prohibited from misrepresenting that a payment program will save consumers money, unless the amount of savings is greater than the total amount of fees and costs charged in connection with the program.” They also cannot claim that the payment programs or their associated fees will “improve, repair or otherwise affect a consumer’s credit record.”
NPN will refund more than $1.5 million to consumers, and waive another $949,000 in fees to current customers. Matt Blatt also will pay $184,000 to the FTC as part of the settlement, Rich said.
In May, the National Automobile Dealers Association had alerted its members in a memo that the FTC was cracking down on biweekly payment products arranged in the finance and insurance department and that the FTC had issued civil investigative demands to dealers in connection with such products.
NADA spokesman Jared Allen said that none of today’s FTC announcements are “indicative of any systemic problems within the auto industry -- nor, as the agencies acknowledged, are they reflective of the overwhelming number of honest businesses that make up the nation’s franchised dealer network.
“While we have no firsthand knowledge of the facts surrounding these individual cases, we share the agencies’ view that there is absolutely no place for fraud or de-ceptive practices in any part of the business community,” he added.
Within 24 hours
NPN said it has agreed to the settlement in connection with the FTC’s investigation into biweekly products sold by auto dealers.
But in an email to Automotive News, the company also said it “strongly disagrees with the FTC’s allegations and has presented considerable evidence, including consumer satisfaction surveys, training materials for dealership personnel, and other documents that support its position and demonstrate the value of biweekly payment programs, in terms of convenience, late-fee avoidance, and faster loan payoff. NPN has decided, however, that a settlement is in the best interest of its customers and auto dealer channel partners.”
It has discontinued the marketing and sale of its biweekly payment programs in 2013 and has not enrolled any new customers since that time, the email statement said. It said existing customers “may wish to remain enrolled in NPN’s biweekly payment program at reduced fees.”
‘Did not admit wrongdoing’
A spokesperson for Matt Blatt said, “We believe that we clearly explained the terms and benefits of the biweekly payment plan to our customers. As part of the settlement, the $184,000 is our portion of the settlement, we did not admit any wrongdoing and we don’t think we did anything wrong.”
Susan Buehler, spokeswoman for Matt Blatt, added that the company made the settlement because, “We felt it would be extremely difficult to defend it and pay for litigation.”
Matt Blatt has not sold or used the biweekly payment plan for a year and a half now, Buehler said. But it has set up a phone number and email contact address for customers who still have the product who might have questions or concerns about the payment plan program. “We are pledging to answer all of those phone calls and emails within 24 hours,” she said.
Three auto dealers settled charges that they ran deceptive ads that violated the FTC Act and the Truth in Lending Act and/or Consumer Leasing Act, Rich said.
She said the ads promoted sales, leases or financing that seemed like good deals until fine-print disclaimers canceled it out. In other instances, the disclaimers did not disclose relevant terms, such as required down payments.
“What we’re most commonly seeing and keeping bring actions against are what I’m calling these bait-and-switch tactics, where the advertisement says one thing but it’s not the price you’re offered when you get to the dealership,” Rich said. “That’s not to say there aren’t many, many honest dealers in this industry, but we’re going to keep bringing charges when we see them.”
The three dealers Rich listed as having settled are Cory Fairbanks Mazda of Longwood, Fla., Jim Burke Nissan of Birmingham, Ala., and Ross Nissan of El Monte, Calif.
The proposed settlements in these actions prohibit the dealerships from misrepresenting the purchase cost or any other material fact about the price, sale, financing or leasing of a vehicle. Jim Burke Nissan and Cory Fairbanks Mazda are also prohibited from representing that a discount, rebate, bonus, incentive or price is available unless it is available to all consumers. They also must clearly disclose all qualifications and restrictions.
Calls to Cory Fairbank Mazda and Ross Nissan seeking comment weren’t returned.
In an emailed statement to Automotive News, a spokesperson for Jim Burke Nissan said, “The FTC’s case with Jim Burke Nissan concerned only two online advertisements and involved no other advertising medium. The advertisements did not include the required letters A.P.R. (Annual Percentage Rate) with a zero percent (0 percent) finance rate. They said, “Zero 0 percent for 72 Months” and should have said “Zero percent APR for 72 Months.”
The statement went on to say, “The FTC also claimed some of the required disclosures were incomplete or difficult to read. Jim Burke Nissan cooperated fully with the FTC, acknowledged the oversight, and immediately corrected the advertisements to comply with all the FTC’s requirements. We know of no customer complaints to the FTC involving these or any other ads or practices in our almost 30 years of serving Birmingham and the surrounding communities.”
Poor people, minorities
There is no specific demographic for the victims in these cases, Rich said. In the case of deceptive advertising, it can be far reaching given how many people read newspaper ads or go online searching for vehicle pricing, Rich said.
“The victims are nationwide and we don’t have a total count, but it’s a significant number,” Rich said.
But it is more often poor people or minorities that suffer the greatest, she said.
“In both the advertising deception and in these loan modifications, companies in general, not just auto dealers, exploit language differences to exacerbate the deception problem. We have seen ads that put the ad in Spanish, but the disclaimer in English,” Rich said.
U.S. Attorney Vance added, “We did see a lot more activity against financially depressed sectors. So all I can say is that these practices are used to hurt poor people.”
Vance has worked closely with the FTC and has prosecuted criminal cases at dealerships. She said the Mortgage, Loan Fraud and Discrimination Working Group of the Attorney General’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force is working with other law enforcement agencies “to determine what we can do now to prevent fraud during the auto lending process.”
Vance said she finds loan fraud to be most offensive.
“It’s dealerships that inflate a buyer’s income so they can buy a car they can’t afford, dealers who permit and encourage a straw purchaser to be on a loan so they can get a car they cannot afford. And, finally, putting add-ons on the car with hidden costs,” White Vance said. “These are practices dealers do to boost their bottom line without any concern for the purchasers’ income and family’s well being and I find that to be most offensive.”
Operation Ruse Control is the latest in a string of actions by the FTC to address practices by car dealers.
Since the FTC began Operation Steer Clear, a nationwide sweep the FTC unveiled in January 2014, the FTC has settled with 12 dealerships accused of deceptive advertising.
Under those settlements, if the dealers failed to comply at any point over the next 20 years, they could face a fine of as much as $16,000 each day a deceptive ad runs.
The settlements are part of an FTC crackdown on dealer advertising that began three years ago. In March 2012, the agency settled with five dealers that it had accused of running deceptive ads. In late 2013, the FTC settled with two more.
In January 2014, when Operation Steer Clear was announced, the agency warned that it wouldn’t let up.
It’s doing the same now.
“Protecting consumers in the auto marketplace remains a top priority for the FTC,” Rich said. “If auto dealers are not following the rules of the road, we will step in to apply the brakes.”
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Does wearing two masks provide more protection?
(AP) — Health experts recommend a single cloth mask with multiple layers, but doubling up on masks could offer added protection in certain situations.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a cloth mask made with two or more layers and ensuring it covers your nose and mouth.
If you expect to be around others indoors for extended periods, some experts suggest wearing a cloth mask as well as a surgical mask to achieve a similar effect as the N95 mask.
CDC unveils PSA encouraging Americans to continue to mask up to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus.

domain: news


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Rose Design has created the first raft of promotional material for The Old Vic in preparation for the 2006-2007 season launch in September. The work reflects a new look for the theatre as it seeks to develop a more distinct visual language.
Children’s book illustration student Viola Wang has scooped this year’s top prize, beating over 80 other entrants.
As the production designer works on last-minute preparations for the Brits, we speak to her about creating sets for the likes of Coldplay and One Direction, mastering the skill of
New research has found that while 30,000 students graduated from design courses between 2012-2013 and 2015-2016, only a quarter ended up going into “highly skilled” design jobs.
We Launch has redesigned the branding to “change the stigma” associated with the sports, which have now been brought together under one organisation.


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Recently, the North Korean authorities have improved the efficiency of efforts to combat the circulation of South Korean products in the jangmadang, sources report, causing traders to complain increasingly vociferously.
In places like North Hamkyung Province, where South Korean products come in most frequently via China, annoyance is apparently particularly acute.
One such North Hamkyung Province source reported on the 13th, “National Security Agency people responsible for the jangmadang and members of the Worker’s and Peasant’s Red Guard appear every day to examine all goods such as clothes and daily necessities one by one, insisting that they are ‘rooting out capitalist elements.’ All the products labeled ‘South Korea’ are confiscated without compensation.”
“Even (fake South Korean) products made in China are taken away if they have South Chosun words on them,” the source went on. “Shampoo, toothpaste and other daily necessities are all targets.”
Since the start of the 2000s, South Korean products have been entering North Korea thanks to smugglers and traders, and have sold well in the jangmadang at above average prices thanks in large part to their high quality. Smugglers also prefer South Korean products to those made in China because they are more profitable, making them willing to risk punishment to bring such products in.
Sources say that in ordinary times, traders from inland provinces like North and South Hwanghae, South Hamkyung and North and South Pyongan often come as far as border cities such as Onsung, Musan and Hoiryeong in North Hamkyung Province and Hyesan in Yangkang Province to purchase South Korean products for sale further inland.
The North Korean authorities have tended to call this a ‘capitalist wind’ and often range their official crackdowns against it, but this has hitherto only drawn interest toward the forbidden fruit. What is more, the security service agents and soldiers who are supposed to be cracking down on it are prepared to accept bribes to turn a blind eye, and in many cases have shown sympathy for the activities of traders and smugglers.
Therefore, changes have been limited, with traders merely hiding South Korean goods that are branded, or openly sell ones without labeling where possible.
However, it is this that has become more difficult of late, according to sources. One Yangkang Province source explained the current scenario, saying, “If there is no label then they pick on the trader, asking, ‘Why is there no label? Isn’t this just you removing the label from a South Korean product?’ And then they confiscate the items.”
Obviously, this is arousing the annoyance of people in the markets. In particular, it is attracting the ire of those who previously invested in South Korean products, then couldn’t sell them easily, ended up caught in a crackdown and, worse of all, lost their stock without receiving any compensation.
The North Hamkyung Province source explained that when such events occur “people ask, ‘Isn’t this a crackdown against people selling stuff to survive day-to-day?’ and many are even prepared to swear at security agents about it.”
Those whose position is most fragile complain the most, the source went on, saying that such people point out, “The state cannot produce and it cannot give the people distribution, so why are they even stopping us from surviving? Some people have even said wryly, ‘So, this is the strong and prosperous state’.”
According to the Yangkang Province source, “One woman selling bathroom goods started having many people looking for South Chosun products around, and then immediately an NSA agent confiscated everything. Passing traders got pretty angry when they saw that, saying, ‘It’s not a case of waiting for the strong and prosperous state, it is a case of waiting for the day when those guys will die.’”


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Thanks to ReadWrite for referencing us in this great article.
Nearly 200 chief executives from some of the world’s largest companies met in August as part of the Business Roundtable. Discussing the most pressing issues facing modern corporations, their manifesto signaled a departure from old-school corporate philosophy. Its primary message? Shareholder value isn’t everything.
Regardless of how far-reaching their call for change is, the reality is that consumer demands and shareholder demands are often at odds. Ignoring the former to appease the latter is a recipe for disaster.
When Dollars Don’t Make Sense
Profitability is no longer a matter of selling good products and making sound financial decisions. Today’s consumer-driven marketplace — increasingly wary of corporate motives — rewards transparency, authenticity, and benevolence. It penalizes companies that don’t live up to these values.
As society grapples with issues like income inequality and environmental degradation, companies have found themselves needing to prove they care. For some, this means rethinking partnerships, processes, supply chains, and entire business models. For others, it means doubling down on marketing and PR messaging. But for nearly all, it means implementing corporate social responsibility initiatives. They have to demonstrate their commitment to employees, consumers, and the planet — even if it could mean smaller shareholder payouts.


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Nissan has admitted the Qashqai models allegedly fitted with so-called emissions defeat devices were built at its Sunderland plant in the UK.
Better than an Oscar? On Thursday, Janua
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said N
The London catwalks may be showcasing de
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Electric and Fuel Cell Truck Market Set to Soar with a Remarkable 41.2% CAGR, Projected to Reach US$40.1 Billion by 2030
The global electric and fuel cell truck market is poised for exponential growth, with a staggering CAGR of approximately 41.2% anticipated during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030. By the end of 2030, the market is projected to reach a valuation of around US$40.1 billion. Electric and fuel cell trucks represent a significant shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly transportation, offering numerous environmental and efficiency benefits.
Key Market Insights:
- The market is set to witness more than a forty-fold expansion in revenue between 2023 and 2030.
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) dominate the fuel cell truck segment.
- The demand for medium and heavy-duty trucks is expected to continue its upward trajectory.
- Asia Pacific is positioned to lead the market, with North America’s electric and fuel cell truck market experiencing the most robust growth by 2030.
Advancements in Electric and Fuel Cell Truck Technology:
Electric and fuel cell trucks are at the forefront of the battle against climate change and the pursuit of sustainable transportation. These vehicles utilize advanced technologies, including fuel cells, batteries, and capacitors to store and generate electricity, offering a compelling alternative to traditional diesel-powered trucks.
Fuel cell trucks, which rely on hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity to power the vehicle’s motors, are a key component of this market. They provide substantial environmental advantages, increased fuel efficiency, and reduced noise pollution. Notable projects, such as ITM Power’s H2Oz bus project, have demonstrated the viability of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses for public transportation in Australia.
Moreover, electric and fuel cell trucks contribute to reducing carbon emissions, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change and enhance sustainability.
OEM Commitment to Net Zero Emissions and Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):
In 2022, medium and heavy-duty trucks accounted for less than 10% of global on-road vehicles, but their diesel-powered engines contributed significantly to carbon emissions. Governments worldwide are increasingly promoting electric and fuel cell trucks to combat carbon and noise pollution, elevate environmental awareness, and support global economic sustainability.
Automotive industry participants are intensifying their investments in research and development, driving innovation in electric and fuel cell truck technologies. These investments have led to the introduction of new products, improved performance, and the proliferation of electric and fuel cell trucks in the market.
Supportive Government Policies and Initiatives:
Government initiatives and support for the development of electric and fuel cell trucks, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions and preserving the environment, have been instrumental in propelling the industry forward. Major industry players that prioritize innovation and environmentally friendly transportation solutions have gained market share, offering vehicles with reduced carbon dioxide emissions and lower air pollution.
Government funding for truck development has increased due to rising transportation costs, a heightened focus on environmental protection, and investments in research and development. This has driven market demand for electric and fuel cell trucks, particularly those equipped with features that reduce noise and carbon emissions.
The cost of electric and fuel cell trucks has escalated due to the market’s demand for advanced technologies, leading to increased expenses for raw materials used in manufacturing. This cost escalation poses a significant challenge that may impact market rates. Additionally, handling hydrogen, a crucial element in fuel cell technology, requires careful attention due to its highly flammable nature. Hydrogen’s combustibility may hinder the growth of the electric and fuel cell truck market.
Furthermore, the electric truck charging ecosystem has the potential to disrupt electricity distribution systems. Presently, electric trucks face performance limitations compared to their diesel counterparts, particularly in areas such as model options, recharge times, range, payloads, and overall vehicle maintenance.
Key Market Segments:
Fully Electric and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Categories Thrive:
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are dominating the fuel cell truck segment. These fuel cells are highly regarded for their high power density, low operating temperatures, and rapid startup times. Phosphoric acid fuel cells are also emerging for transportation applications due to their stability and enhanced power production. Both types of fuel cells are poised to contribute to significant market expansion.
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks Take Center Stage:
Medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks are on the rise, driven by new model launches, declining battery costs, and strong support from policymakers worldwide. They are seen as a key solution for decarbonizing the global transportation sector. By 2030, medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks are projected to be more cost-competitive in terms of purchase, operation, and maintenance compared to diesel trucks. Light-duty trucks are expected to follow suit before 2030. The medium- and heavy-duty trucks category is set to dominate the electric and fuel cell truck market.
Growth Prospects Across Regions:
Asia Pacific Leads the Charge:
Asia Pacific is expected to maintain its leadership position in the electric and fuel cell truck market. The region’s growth is driven by increased goods transportation, infrastructure improvements, government funding, and a strong emphasis on zero emissions and noise reduction. Recent investments in fuel-cell-powered vehicles and hydrogen technology in various cities and countries have further boosted demand for fuel-cell commercial vehicles in the region. Notably, the Japanese government aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with hydrogen-powered vehicles playing a central role in this ambitious goal.
North America Emerges as a Lucrative Market:
North America is forecasted to experience substantial growth in the electric and fuel cell truck market. The United States, in particular, is poised for robust growth, mirroring China’s electric vehicle (EV) expansion trajectory. California is spearheading the demand for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks, with research and development efforts and the introduction of new models by market leaders driving growth in the region.
Electric and Fuel Cell Truck Market: Competitive Landscape:
Leading players in the electric and fuel cell truck market include Volvo Inc., Daimler AG, BYD, Traton Group, Renault Trucks, SANY, China FAW Group Corp., Ltd., Dongfeng Motor Corporation Ltd., SAIC Motor, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd., and Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co., Ltd.
Browse Global Electric and Fuel Cell Truck Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional Outlook, and Forecast 2023-2030 (By Powertrain, By Range, By Vehicles, By Geographic Coverage and By Company): https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/electric-fuel-cell-truck-market
Fuel Cell Powertrain Market: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/fuel-cell-powertrain-market
Fuel Cell Vehicle Market: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/fuel-cell-vehicle-market
Fairfield Market Research
UK +44 (0)20 30025888
USA (Toll-free) +1 (844) 3829746
This press release first seen on Brilad


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Andy has spent over two decades writing about all aspects of the broadcast and film industries for a variety of high-profile industry publications on both sides of the Atlantic. During that time the industry has moved from 4:3 SD to 16:9 SD to HD and now on to 4K HDR. He's getting kind of curious to see where it goes next.
Much like in the world of the automobiles, if you want to make sure your lovely new camera has a decent resale value when you move on in a few years time you have to think ahead.
- Saturday 4 Apr 2020 - (17653) How to completely break the rules with colour
- Sunday 29 Mar 2020 - (6870) Things are not good for freelancers now, but there is reason for hope
- Wednesday 1 Apr 2020 - (5277) Tilta's transformative BMPCC 4K/6K display mod is now available
- Friday 3 Apr 2020 - (5177) ATEM Mini Pro: Blackmagic Design brings live multi-cam broadcast abilities to... pretty much everyone
- Monday 30 Mar 2020 - (4306) Intel is building a brain the size of a planet
- Thursday 9 Apr 2020 - (444) XMG unveils monster new Ryzen based laptop
- Wednesday 8 Apr 2020 - (657) Covid-19: This is a watershed moment for the virtual box office
- Wednesday 8 Apr 2020 - (1298) Apple releases ProRes RAW beta for Windows
- Tuesday 7 Apr 2020 - (927) Cooke Optics expands its lens range with new anamorphic and full frame models.
- Tuesday 7 Apr 2020 - (1231) Sony announces $100 million Global Relief Fund to help the creative community


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Title Set for a “Holiday” Release
Ahead of Sega’s official E3 presentation, we have learned that Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed will be headed to the Wii U. A recent list of games heading to the Wii U was released by Nintendo, and All-Stars Racing Transformed appears on said list with a non-specific “holiday” release date. The list differentiates between a “launch window” and a “holiday” release, so it appears that Sega’s new kart-racer may take a bit of time to appear on Nintendo’s new hardware. The entire list of confirmed titles can be found here.
We’ll continue to monitor new information from E3, and we thank Matriculated for bringing this development to our attention. If you have news or information you’d like to share with us, send us a News Tip via the link at the top of every page.


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CACP Chairman calls for reducing farm production cost
Amritsar, Feb 24 (UNI) Farmers should prepared to face the challenges of the WTO in an organised manner through appropriate technology, infrastructure and policy support, agricultural experts today said.
Chairman, Commission on Agricultural Cost and Prices Dr T Haque (CACP) said efforts should be made to reduce the cost of production and make farm products competitive in the international market.
Dr Haque was here to inaugurate a two-day UGC sponsored National Seminar on Economic Reforms Under WTO Regime: Some Implications.
Discussing various issues confronting Indian agriculture and unorganised industrial sector he said that so far the net social and economic gains seem to be negative. He said developed countries have not reduced their subsidie and this was going to limit market access to India's agri-products.
Dr Haque said that our bargaining power at the WTO must be strengthened and there was need to have an appropriate monitoring system.The growth rate of agricultural income and employment had declined and the rate of growth of import of agriculture commodities had been higher than the growth rate of export,he pointed out.
He said Indian farmers and other informal sector workers are in real distress. Expressing some hope, he said that the reduction of export subsidy on cotton and other products by developed countries may provide some relief.
Noted economist and Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) Registrar DrR S Bawa, while delivering his presidential remarks said common people, especially farmers did not know the various clauses of WTO.
Thus, he emphasised that awareness campaign should be launched to educate the masses about the various provisions of WTO.
UNI HS PA RR RS1648


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In a short teaser during today’s Nintendo Spotlight, Metroid Prime 4 has been confirmed for Nintendo Switch.
After 10 years since the last Metroid Prime game in 2007, fans would be overjoyed at this announcement even though Nintendo has only shown a title.
A new game in the critacally acclaimed Metroid Prime series is currently in development for the Nintendo Switch system. “Metroid Prime 4 (Working Title) returns to the First Person Adventure roots of the original Metroid Prime game and introduces a new storyline that ties together the events of the Metroid Prime universe and takes the storyline in new directions,” according to series producer Kensuke Tanabe. Tanabe is leading the project together with a talented new development team, and they are hard at work bringing the action, isolation, and exploration of the Metroid Prime universe to life on Nintendo Switch. ~ Nintendo PR
The title is currently in development, with no launch window set at the moment.


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The war over the right to use the iPad name in China reached yet a new level yesterday when Proview, the company disputing Apple's right to use the name, issued a stern warning to Chinese retailers in the wake of the new iPad release.
The warning came in the form of an open letter published by the Wall Street Journal, which immediately spread throughout the local news channels in mainland China. It begins with a statement of assertions many are already familiar with, namely that Proview is the legal registrant of the trademark "IPAD" in China.
The letter also addresses Apple's recent appeal by stating, "Although Apple Inc has filed an appeal following the rejection of its complaint about the registration of this trademark by the Shenzhen Intermediate Court, we (Proview Technology Shenzhen) remain the only legal holder of the trademark, and enjoy every right to prohibit another entity or individual from using the trademark."
But that last passage isn't the strongest part of the letter. Proview saved its most aggressive message for Chinese retailerson the Internet and in brick-and-mortar stores.
The salient passage reads, "we solemnly inform vendors and dealers (including e-distributorships) of Apple iPads (including the iPad 3) in China that they should immediately stop all infringing activities such as warehousing, transportation, mailing, concealing, etc. Any above activities shall be deemed as a deliberate infringement and we will, without prior notice, take the most severe measures possible to hold the infringers responsible for any legal liability, including but not limited to administrative, civil and criminal liabilities. You are hereby informed!"
The letter is, in effect, an open legal threat to any Chinese retailer daring to sell the device. And while Proview's threats are in essence more saber-rattling than anything resembling rule of law, would-be iPad sellers in China will likely think twice before going down a road that could indeed lead to costly court dates.
However, in recent weeks local experts have pointed out that in a country as large as China, with so many electronics outlets scattered across a nation of 1.3 billion people, it would be nearly impossible for Proview to enforce any real iPad ban on its own. Nevertheless, this latest public stance reveals that Proview has no intention of going away quietly. Until the Chinese courts settle the matter, or Apple decides to pay a settlement, most of Chinaofficial Apple stores notwithstandingmay have to wait for its first glimpse of the stunning new iPad Retina Display.
For more, see PCMag's Hands On With the New iPad and the slideshow below.


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16 October 2012
Pioneers at The Louder Lounge
Hear this year’s news from the V Festival, and find out which lucky Virgin Media Pioneers were invited to The Louder Lounge, the festival’s exclusive VIP hideaway…
Every year, a few outstanding Virgin Media Pioneers are given the opportunity to showcase their products and services at the V Festival’s VIP-haven, The Louder Lounge. The event provides these handpicked entrepreneurs with the unique opportunity to raise their profile and promote their products and services in a truly star-studded setting. This year, four Pioneers were invited along to join the party…
The Lazy Camper – a one-stop shop for all your festival camping needs! Thanks to the Louder Lounge, Lazy Camper made a substantial number of sales, featured in Glamour Magazine, and was approached by several potential investors.
Boom Nails painted countless celeb and VIP nails, including Baby Spice, Emma Bunton, and were interviewed by Company Magazine and Glamour Magazine.
Rolley Golf, raised the profile of their innovative golf products, attracted future sales, and even secured ex-rugby player Will Greenwood MBE as a brand ambassador.
WIWT, built their brand profile among the 1000+ Louder Lounge VIPs, attracting lots of celebs to their photo booth service, including Billie Piper, the stars of TOWIE and Olympian Greg Rutherford.
To find out more about Virgin Media Pioneers, visit virginmediapioneers.com


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Vienna-based fintech Bitpanda received a payment service provider license issued by the Austrian financial market authority (FMA) in accordance with European law (PSD2).
Bitpanda, the Viennese fintech with around 1 million users and more than 100 employees is expanding its business model. The Austrian financial market authority has granted Bitpanda Payments GmbH, the payment service provider license (PSD2) in accordance with European law after less than 5 months. It is a significant milestone for the Bitpanda group and will allow it to launch exciting features and products in the coming months.
“Our goal is to bridge the gap between the modern and traditional financial world. The payment service provider license will allow us to tear barriers down,” says Philipp Bohrn, one of the two managing directors of Bitpanda Payments GmbH. Prior to joining Bitpanda, Philipp Bohrn was the managing director of the Association of Financial Service Providers in Austria’s chamber of commerce for 9 years. Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, former Head of Department Digitalisation and Innovation at Austria’s leading banking group Raiffeisen and second managing director, agrees: “We want to act as the missing link to make digital assets spendable anywhere our users want. With the license, we are a first mover in Europeto offer convenient and innovative features and services.”
“We are very happy that Bitpanda is one of the few European cryptocurrency fintechs to receive such a license. It’s a big step towards our vision to create an open, innovative investment-platform,” says Bitpanda CEO Eric Demuth. Bitpanda’s vision is to provide easy-to-use, convenient access to a vast array of digital assets, and it is currently expanding its trading platform to other asset classes beyond cryptocurrencies.
SOURCE Bitpanda GmbH


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Wal-Mart Responds to Internal Email Saying February Sales Were a Total Disaster
Posted on February 17, 2013Bloomberg reported Friday that they had obtained an internal email, sent by Jerry Murray, Wal-Mart's vice president of finance and logistics, that said Wal-Mart's February sale were a "total disaster."
Murray's email said, "In case you havenít seen a sales report these days, February MTD sales are a total disaster. The worst start to a month I have seen in my ~7 years with the company."
Wal-Mart's shares ended down over 2% on Friday because of concerns over the email cited by Bloomberg. If Wal-Mart is suffering from weak sales it could be a bad sign for the economy overall and not just Wal-Mart.
USA Today reports that Wal-Mart issued the following statement about the email: "As with any organization, we often see internal communications that are not entirely accurate, that lack the proper context and represent individual opinions."
Walmart appears to be saying the the "total disaster" comments are vice president Jerry Murray's opinion and that his opinion may not be entirely accurate. However, he is not only one at Wal-Mart to have concerns about sales.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Cameron Geiger, senior vice president of Wal-Mart U.S. Replenishment, sent an email about January sales that said, "Have you ever had one of those weeks where your best- prepared plans weren't good enough to accomplish everything you set out to do? Well, we just had one of those weeks here at Walmart U.S. Where are all the customers? And where's their money?"


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Logitech is becoming an increasing focus for the eagle eye of OSM as they continue to churn out high-quality products at great prices as they compete in the market. Now Logitech & GN Netcom are teaming up as part of UC solutions and will be offering various devices.
We learned of this partnership through an article over on Geeky-Gadgets where Julian Horsey has written an article talking about the new range of devices that will become available. Logitech made the announcement of the partnership today as they are looking to further expand their audio ranges using the Jabra branding.
Remember Jabra has won several awards for its hardware and from July 2011 we will start seeing some new products that were talked about over on Logitech’s official website. The first is the BSP420 which is a USB speakerphone, the second is the BH970 Wireless DECT headset and the BH870 wireless Bluetooth headset, for the full details on them follow this link.
The products will start off in North America but from reading the press release it would seem that they do intend to go globally which is a great move for both Logitech and for GN Netcom’s Jabra line. Look out for them and perhaps some reviews will follow soon.
What do you think of the partnership between Logitech and GN Netcom? Did the announcement surprise you? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Embassy closing early on Thursday, 20 June, 2013.
Embassy of Sweden Indonesia
Due to the Swedish midsummer holidays, the Embassy will be closing at 12:00 on Thursday 20 June, 2013.
Marketing Communication in Sweden
Embassy of Sweden Canada
As advertising and marketing communication (marcom) moves further and further into the digital arena, Sweden takes to the stage more and more. In Sweden, marcom investments increased by 5.3 per cent...
Swedish Light and Design
Embassy of Sweden Switzerland
The third edition of the design and furniture exposition took place on 13 June in Zurich during the first day with proper summer heat.


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CELEBRITY TV chef Kevin Woodford is urging Wrexham people to bank and not bin their festive food jars this Christmas.
The TV personality is championing a national campaign by British Glass which aims to remind people to recycle glass food jars as well as bottles after the festivities.
This Christmas the UK will consume almost 5.5m jars of mincemeat, 12m jars of pickles and 6.5m jars of cranberry sauce, all packaged in glass.
But only a small percentage will get recycled.
Last year, while some European nations recycled more than 90% of their glass packaging, the UK recycled just 37%.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) claims 863,000 tonnes of glass packaging were recycled last year.
And glass container manufacturers in the UK alone recycled 617,000 tonnes.
By the end of 2004 it's hoped the UK will recycle more than 1m tonnes of glass for the first time.
Recycling just one jar or bottle saves enough energy to power a television for 20 minutes or a 100-watt light bulb for almost an hour.
Wrexham Council has this year expanded its Recycle With Michael kerbside collection scheme to cover 24,000 households.
Residents are reminded that all bins and recycling boxes should be ready for collection by 7.30am, particularly on Christmas Eve.
Residents should also check their bin stickers for revised collection dates during the festive period.
Council recycling officers Nick Price and Claire Loney said: 'Remember, after your Christmas parties you can recycle food and drink cans, glass bottles and jars and plastic bottles in your green box.
'For those residents who are not currently on the Recycle With Michael scheme the civic amenity sites and neighbourhood recycling centres are located throughout the county borough.'
At the launch, Ready Steady Cook chef Kevin said: 'Many people remember to recycle empty bottles at Christmas, but forget about recycling all the empty jars of mincemeat, cranberry sauce, mayonnaise, pickles and even the curry sauce jar they use to make left-over turkey curry.
'The great thing about glass is it can be recycled again and again to make more bottles and jars, so after the celebrations don't bin your glass, bank it at your local recycling centre or put it in your kerbside box.
'And while you're recycling glass, don't forget your cans, newspapers, plastic bottles, cards, TV guides and even the Christmas tree.'


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How Uber Australia is filling a Dutch cash pool and why it is battling an $ 81.5 million payroll tax bill
Uber Australia continued its long-standing practice of sending income to its parent company in the Netherlands.
- Uber financial accounts show Uber Australia Holdings directors for the year 2020 were its own tax advisers
- The company sends much of its locally earned income to its Dutch parent company, which it describes in its accounts as a Dutch “cash pooling arrangement”.
- Experts say the company uses this model to minimize taxes, but the company says it pays all the taxes it owes in every jurisdiction it operates in.
The rideshare and food delivery platform’s latest financial accounts also reveal that the Australian company has asked the NSW government if it should hand over drivers’ payroll taxes and has been hit with a bill tax of $ 81.5 million, which it disputes.
In 2015, Uber told a Senate investigation into corporate tax evasion that about 25% of every transaction in Australia goes to its parent company in the Netherlands.
This entity – Uber’s wholly owned subsidiary based in the Netherlands called Uber International Holding BV – then paid Uber Australia a fee for providing support services in Australia.
Uber Australia’s 2020 accounts indicate that: “The Group has a cash centralization agreement with Uber BV and all funds in the bank are transferred to Uber BV at the end of each day.”
There was an interest charge to have this money in the Dutch cash pool of $ 5.5 million in 2020 and $ 9.5 million the year before.
Uber Australia reported over $ 1 billion in revenue and nearly $ 7 million in after-tax profit for the year 2020. This is compared to $ 906 million in revenue and $ 1.6 million in after-tax profit. taxes in 2019.
Its accounts also show “service fees paid to related companies” of $ 643 million, more than half of its total reported income.
It is not known to which company (ies) these service fees were paid, whether Uber BV or another offshore related entity.
In the same section of its accounts, Uber Australia notes a “collection on behalf of a related company” of nearly $ 6 billion, more than offset by a “payment on behalf of related companies” of nearly 5.3 billions of dollars.
Her accounts show she paid $ 17.3 million in corporate income tax, up from $ 11.1 million the year before.
Uber has long maintained that it pays all the taxes it owes in Australia.
A spokesperson for Uber did not respond to ABC News questions about its financial accounts and the company’s offshore structures, but said she was delighted that after eight years in Australia, Uber’s brands and Uber Eats “continue to show strong growth.”
$ 81.5 million in payroll taxes in New South Wales
Uber’s accounts also reveal further details of a payroll tax dispute with the NSW government.
They reveal that on September 12, 2018, Revenue New South Wales issued a payroll tax audit against the company and that in February of this year, tax bills were issued against the group for a total amount of $ 81.5 million.
These are the amounts that the State considers that Uber owes until June 30, 2020 and the accounts indicate that “the Group has filed an objection to each of the assessments”.
The company claims that if its attractiveness “is not favorable, it would reduce the Group’s operating income”.
“The Group expects to obtain a response, and therefore certainty on the situation of social charges, before the next closing date”, specify its accounts.
“At the date of the consolidated financial statements, management continues to believe that it will succeed on appeal and that it would therefore not be liable for the amounts of social contributions in dispute.
But TWU national secretary Michael Kaine argued that “New South Wales taxpayers have joined carpool drivers and delivery men as latest Uber group ready to scam.”
Mr Kaine called on the NSW government to “listen to its own government department that says they are workers with rights, and finally call on the Silicon Valley giant to come to terms.”
He said if the NSW government ‘cracks’ then ‘Uber will poke fun at the bank for taxpayers and workers’ fees.
Uber also notes in its accounts the recent class action lawsuit by Australian law firm Maurice Blackburn on behalf of thousands of taxi and rental car drivers against Uber.
The law firm alleges that the company’s operations in Australia were illegal because the company knew its drivers were not properly licensed and did not have the proper accreditation.
“The Group denies these allegations and intends to defend itself vigorously against the lawsuit”, indicate the accounts, noting that “the procedure being still at an early stage, it is difficult to measure the potential financial result”.
Uber faces similar legal challenges in many foreign jurisdictions, as it has long argued that it is a technology company, not a transportation company.
All of Uber’s Australian directors in 2020 were its own tax advisers
Uber’s accounts also show that Uber Australia Holdings’ directors for the year 2020 were in fact its own tax advisers.
François Chadwick (who resigned from Uber Australia in May 2021) was the global head of tax and accounting at Uber in the United States. He resigned from this post in April of this year.
Based in Australia, Nicholas Falzon is a partner of the accounting firm PKF. His bio on the company website states that “Nicolas’ background includes extensive experience advising high net worth individuals with respect to their compensation, tax strategies, investment structuring, estate planning and estate planning. retirement “.
He adds that “Nicholas has worked with a number of foreign companies establishing subsidiaries in Australia and has advised on all financial aspects of establishing the business.”
Keir Gumbs is listed as another Australian director in 2020. He joined Uber Technologies in 2019 and was Uber’s deputy general counsel in the United States. He left Uber in July.
Dutch shell company “leaves little taxable profit behind”
Several submissions to the Special Senate Committee on Job Security argued that Dutch shell companies are at the heart of Uber’s global operations.
A submission from the Center for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR) found that in 2019 Uber’s main Dutch front company, controlling more than 50 other Dutch subsidiaries, raised more than $ 5.8 billion (7 , $ 8 billion) in operation. revenues from countries around the world except the United States and China.
“The direct transfer of income from around the world to the Netherlands leaves little or no taxable profits,” the communication said.
“The $ 8 billion Dutch tax shelter was created in 2019 when Uber transferred its intellectual property rights from Bermuda to the Netherlands.”
He said the sale was funded by a $ 16 billion loan from an Uber subsidiary in Singapore.
“The Singapore subsidiary is the immediate parent company of the Dutch shell company which controls Uber’s global empire,” the statement said.
“The accrued interest on this loan will further reduce taxable income in the Netherlands by $ 1 billion per year for the next 20 years.”
He also added that “the revenue generated by Uber’s global ridesharing and meal delivery services, excluding the US and China, accumulates in Dutch subsidiaries with limited financial reports.” .
The submission called for national and global rules to be changed, so that more tax revenue can be collected from Uber and other multinationals.


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The insanely popular Final Fantasy XIV on PS4 and PC is a sight to behold. Even after years from release, the game is going strong as it just dropped it’s […]
The insanely popular Final Fantasy XIV on PS4 and PC is a sight to behold. Even after years from release, the game is going strong as it just dropped it’s newest expansion and has insane critical acclaim.
Fans of Xbox have been wondering when we might see the game come over, as we all know, Microsoft was infamous years ago for publicly denying Sony Cross-Play when they approached Microsoft about it for this game. Now that everyone is being buddy-buddy, some thought the game could come over alongside the release of this expansions. But the director of the game Naoki Yoshida had the following to say in a translated interview by WCCF:
Two months ago, I discussed with Phil Spencer. I have explained this before but we are prepared to do crossplay at any time. To play an MMORPG, there are 2 regulations for Microsoft which stand in the way of making crossplay feasible. Unless these regulations are rejected, there is no meaning. Simply speaking, the matching base FPS style game has no issues with those 2 regulations. If we had made an FPS game [had FF14 been one of those games], then we would already have crossplay. One of the regulations is that players with different platforms cannot chat with each other in-game. Then how do you play an MMO? The other regulation is you cannot make a community with plays on a different platform. You can’t form a guild, you can’t enter into a link shell, [and] no free company. So I would like to have Microsoft change their regulations.Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy XIV
So unfortunately due to Microsoft’s restrictions the game won’t make it’s way to Xbox since this is a title that requires Cross-Play. It is possible a port could make its way to Nintendo Switch. It’s quite funny, since Final Fantasy XI had Cross-Play between PS2, Xbox 360, and PC. Sad this can’t continue now with XIV.
Final Fantasy XIV launched in 2010 on PC, with releases on PS3, PS4, and macOS in 2013, 2014, and 2015 respectively thanks to the expansion A Realm Reborn. This MMO requires a $14.99/month subscription.


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Fendi will take center stage among the featured guests at the 104th edition of Pitti Uomo. On June 15th in Florence, the LVMH Group’s fashion house will unveil its spring/summer 2024 men’s collection, showcased through a fashion show held at the Fendi Factory in Bagno a Ripoli. The new factory opened in the fall of 2022 and is located in the province of Florence.
“We are proud to open Fendi Factory to our clients and press, making it live outside the day by day for the upcoming Men’s fashion show in June during Pitti Uomo,” said Serge Brunschwig, Fendi’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “It is a special place for our artisans and local community as it represents Fendi heritage and creativity, nurturing precious handmade abilities of its artisans and preserving Made in Italy.”
Silvia Venturini Fendi, artistic director of accessories and menswear: “I am thrilled that the next Men’s Show will take place in such a special location to me, the pulsing heart of Fendi, a place symbolic of creation, where development, innovation, craftsmanship training and production are reunited under the same roof. It will be such a unique occasion to see our products take life exactly where our Artisans make them, letting them take centre stage on that day.”
Cover Photo: Arno Senoner / Unsplash


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Telstra Pacnet acquisition complete Skype for Business to make Microsoft a serious UC player EU opens Android antitrust investigation against Google Australia ?way out of touch?: delegates to privacy conference Planet ISP refunds consumer, but attracts ACMA criticism Netflix regret over Australian data cap exclusions
17th April 2015
This article reviews Asian Data Privacy Laws ? Trade and Human Rights Perspectives' by Graham Greenleaf, University of New South Wales
It would have cost $15 billion to shut down the NBN, says Turnbull; Victorian Police can alter data on your PC; Ericsson exits the modem business; iPhone 6 traffic alert; Wearables market to boom, says Gartner; Fast Internet on planes a step closer.
19th September 2014
ACMA warns telcos on compliance; The Government wants to Google you; ACCAN launches digital business kit; and Telstra launches accessibility initiatives; Turnbull supports multi stakeholder Internet; iPhone 6 presales break record; OPINION But why the fuss? The iPhone 6 is OK, but who cares about U2?
17th September 2014
Optus will pay other carriers? exit fees; iiNet acquires most of Tech2; Thaicom-7 launched, now for NewSat and Optus; 4G revenue boost ?will be short-lived?; Our apps are spying on us, and Android is worst; Japanese giants hit 400 Gbps.
8th September 2014
Telstra renews Ericsson deal to support SDN; Telstra has confirmed Ericsson as its continued supplier for optical transport; Dead as a Dodo; Impossible to cost data retention, says iiNet; Australian IT managers unaware of privacy laws; Samsung buys its way into IoT market; MobileMuster wants your old phones.
19th August 2014
Australia at top of new e-trade index; Turnbull trumpets NBN success; Google forms council on ?right to be forgotten?; Large screen iPhone delayed; Huawei unveils its new data centre products; Telecom NZ to launch 4G mobile over 700 MHz
16th July 2014
This editorial notes several key indicators of record growth in Australian telecommunications, as the backdrop to the second issue of this multidisciplinary policy Journal. The growth in social connectivity and 'big data', together with the rapid evolution of new infrastructure technologies, all pose interesting challenges for good policy making – and for keeping up with new developments


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This Plumbing news page includes headlines, articles, and citations about plumbing news from diverse, English-language news sources around the world.
News articles are ordered by publication date, with the newest article listed first and the oldest article listed last.
- Oatey Co. Acquires G.F. Thompson Company Limited
CLEVELAND - Oatey Co. (Oatey) a leader in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced today the acquisition of G.F. Thompson Company Limited (G.F. ... ...
Business Wire. Friday, 9 Feb 2018.
- Ferguson shares lead FTSE 100 higher
The plumbing supplies group reports rising profits and a £500m share buyback.
BBC News. Tuesday, 3 Oct 2017.
- No. 1 Plumbing Wholesaler Grows Sales Pipe with Splunk Cloud
SAN FRANCISCO - Splunk Inc. ...
Business Wire. Tuesday, 3 Oct 2017.
Plumbing parts and tools
- Oldest manatee in captivity dies at Florida aquarium
The longest living manatee in captivity is found dead in an underwater area of its enclosure only used to access plumbing systems a day after a huge party to celebrate its 69th birthday, the South Florida Museum says.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Monday, 24 Jul 2017.
- Plumbing firm Wolseley leads FTSE higher
Shares in plumbing goods firm Wolseley end the day nearly 6% up after it reports a big rise in profits.
BBC News. Tuesday, 28 Mar 2017.
- Leaky plumbing impedes Greenland Ice Sheet flow
Surface meltwater that drains to the bed of the Greenland Ice Sheet each summer causes changes in ice flow that cannot be fully explained by prevailing theories. ...
Science X. Wednesday, 21 Dec 2016.
- Tesla And Cash For Credits: The World Of Transferable Tax Credits
I once got an email from Angie?s List with the subject line ?$99 for $200 Credit Toward Plumbing Services.? I could pay $99 to receive a $200 credit that I could use for a variety of plumbing services. Not a bad deal. ...
Forbes. Friday, 8 Jul 2016.
- Ferguson Acquires Bruce-Rogers Company
Arkansas-based company is a plumbing and HVAC equipment supply house
Kitchen and Bath Business. Monday, 13 Jun 2016.
- Noritz Revamps PROCard Incentive Program
New app provides lead-generation service for plumbing and HVAC contractors
Kitchen and Bath Business. Tuesday, 7 Jun 2016.
- Is Amazon Banking On India For Growth?
In December 2015, Amazon led a $23 million investment in India-based Housejoy, a start-up that offers on-demand home services such as home cleaning, plumbing, beauty, fitness, laundry and other such services. ...
Forbes. Thursday, 7 Jan 2016.
Related Directory Page(s)
Plumbing Contractors News Headlines and News Summaries


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Walgreens is Now Offering Virtual Skincare, Mobile Health Market Continues to Explode
Considering the average wait time for patients seeking a dermatological consultation in the United States is around 29 days (or more), it’s no surprise that consumers are turning to their mobiles for the services they need. The mobile health market is expected to reach $24.2 billion worldwide.
On Monday, Walgreens announced the launch of a new “skin care answers platform,” in a bid to help meet the growing need for accessible skin care resources, care and treatment. Consumers need only to visit the drugstore chain’s website or mobile app. “More than 2 million people visit our digital channels each day,” explains Greg Orr, Vice President of Digital Health at Walgreens. “This is another way we can help address access challenges by giving our customers more convenient channels and resources to meet their health care needs.”
The skin care platform will provide consumers with information on common skin conditions, courtesy of WebMD as well as connect users to Walgreens pharmacy staff via live, 24/7 chat. Walgreens has also partnered with Iagnosis to bring customers DermatologistOnCall, the nation’s largest teledermatology-focused telehealth network. Customers will have access to a plethora of dermatology specialists, using video consultations to receive relevant answers to any medical queries from a licensed-provider in their state. Online consultations are $59 each. According to Roeen Roashan, Medical Technology Analyst at I.H.S. research firm, “Teledermatology has proven to be almost as effective as face-to-face visits in diagnosing conditions.”
With thousands of healthcare apps available for both consumers and healthcare professionals, the mobile health market is booming. Video consultations, with their convenience and broader accessibility, are expected to double by 2020, jumping to 27 million in the US market alone. Like with every other industry, as smartphone ownership and usage increases, so does the expectation that anything and everything can be accessed with the tap of a phone or tablet screen, thus, completely changing the the way companies interact with consumers forever.
Follow her at @D_isforDayana
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With the potential start of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and Donald Trump assuming the presidency of the United States of America, the outlook for Romania’s mergers & acquisitions (M&A) market looks more uncertain in 2017, after climbing past EUR 3 billion in value last year.
In 2016, Romania registered a record number of deals worth over half a billion euros, according to Florin Visa, director, financial advisory, at professional services firm Deloitte Romania.
The biggest transactions last year
He mentioned China Energy Company Limited’s acquisition of a 51 percent stake in KMG International Romania and Mid Europa Partners’ purchase of retail chain Profi from Enterprise Investors for EUR 533 million. The Deloitte director included in the mega-deals category Asahi’s decision to buy Romanian-based Ursus and five other Eastern European beer brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev in a EUR 7.3 billion move.
Aside from the big deals, the market recorded transactions with average values of EUR 30 – 40 million.
M&A consultants told BR that the Romanian M&A market has continued to expand, although the global figures point to a slowdown in deal making.
According to preliminary data by Thomson Reuters, the global M&A volume fell by 17 percent to USD 3.6 trillion in 2016 vs 2015’s record.
USD 3.6 trillion – the value of the global M&A market in 2016, according to preliminary data from Thomson Reuters
In Romania, the market saw just over 100 transactions with a total value exceeding EUR 3.4 billion, an increase of 35 percent in volume and 25 percent in value, compared to the previous year, according to data from Deloitte Romania.
“The current market level is even more impressive if we look back to see that between 2010 and 2013, the market was stable at around EUR 1 billion,” says Visa.
He added that the sectors that saw ten or more transactions in 2016 included real estate, business & consumer services, telecom, media and technology, financial services, industrial goods and healthcare.
“Another catalyst that fuelled the transactions market this year was the increased willingness of the banking community to finance acquisitions (pre-or-post deal),” Cornelia Bumbacea, partner, deals, at professional services firm PwC Romania, and Dragos Atanasiu, senior manager, deals, PwC Romania, told BR.
Meanwhile, private equity funds have continued to play a significant role in financing and educating local companies in a structured and robust corporate culture, according to Bogdan Vaduva, partner at professional services firm KPMG Romania, head of M&A and of energy and natural resources.
“Most of the private equity houses have or are currently clearing their previous funds’ portfolio as they have exceeded their normal investment timeline and return yields. But they are also raising additional funds with a clear focus on Romania, encouraged by the positive economic outlook and the fact that companies are getting the right investment scale,” Vaduva told BR.
M&A market set to remain in growth mode
More companies founded by Romanians could be part of transactions this year, contributing to the overall growth of the M&A market, suggested the consultants working on deals.
“We would not be surprised to observe an increasing interest, particularly among locally based companies, in the next year (2017 e.n.), as a result of the significant number of local players wishing to explore the value that has been built up over the years, by selling their companies. Additionally, we believe the enhanced medium-term stability brought by December’s elections, coupled with Romania’s steps towards developing major infrastructure projects, which have been insufficiently exploited until now, will constitute strong contributing factors in raising investors’ interest in the Romanian market,” commented Vaduva of KPMG Romania.
EUR 3.4 billion – the value of the Romanian M&A market in 2016, according to Deloitte Romania estimates
This year we should also expect to see more private and state-owned companies listed on the stock exchange, according to Florenta Birhala, M&A manager, transaction advisory services, at professional services firm EY Romania.
At the end of last year, private healthcare services firm MedLife was listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The company raised EUR 50.8 million from the sale of a 44 percent stake that marked the exit of private equity fund V4C from MedLife. The fund sold its 36.25 percent stake, while the IFC partially sold its 7.75 percent holding in the healthcare firm.
Visa of Deloitte Romania added that the local M&A market’s growth trend is more resistant to domestic shocks, citing the country’s macro-economic stability and the fact that Romania’s GDP has grown by more than 3 percent in the last four years.
“The domestic risks are rather that consumption will be over-stimulated in the next two years and an economic bubble will inflate and burst sometime in 2018 or beyond,” said the director.
The Brexit and Trump effects
With Romania becoming even more integrated in the global economic system, major political shifts that impact corporate behemoths ultimately have an effect locally in terms of appetite for transactions.
In the case of Brexit, Vaduva of KPMG Romania says the impact on the local M&A market has been rather limited so far, and there are still British firms looking to invest in Romania. He said that stakeholders will have a clearer view once the British authorities present the terms of withdrawal from the EU.
Meanwhile, Visa of Deloitte Romania says that the world seems to have come to terms with Brexit and Donald Trump as US president, but further election surprises and populist anti-globalization measures might occur in 2017.
“Events in the UK are not expected to influence Romania significantly, but the actions of the United States, including the ignition of a commercial war with China, will likely discourage M&A activity all over the world. Furthermore, an anti-EU result in the upcoming French elections might raise a question over the future of the EU and discourage investments in Romania and the countries in the east of the EU,” he added.
Sectors driving Romania’s deal making this year
The M&A consultants agree that there are still target companies with high potential in Romania and the country’s good economic prospects will convince more investors to make a move.
The sectors that will generate deals this year are IT, consumer goods, financial services, real estate, manufacturing and medical services, because these industries have confirmed good returns and still offer potential for further consolidation and expansion, suggested Birhala of EY Romania.
Vaduva of KPMG Romania also sees energy and industry as popular sectors for transactions in 2017.
“The total M&A market value on the other hand will be influenced by how many mega-transactions we’ll see, but I would not be surprised to see double-digit growth again,” said Visa of Deloitte Romania, who also mentioned telecom, media and technology, and construction as additional sectors with potential this year.
According to representatives of law firm CMS Cameron McKenna, medium and large companies will most likely be more inclined to be involved in M&A operations this year.


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Multi-sectoral Businesses from India Explore Cooperation Opportunities in Vietnam
|A multi-sectoral business delegation from Rajasthan (India) comprising 24 companies interacted with Vietnamese companies, and representatives of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Invest Global, and Vietnam Electronic Industry Association at a business event in Hanoi in cooperation with the Embassy on October 6.
During the visit of 18 businesses from the Northern Indian State of Rajasthan to Vietnam, on October 6, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam coordinated with Investglobal to organize an exchange between Vietnamese and Indian businesses.
The delegates exchanged and explored investment and trade opportunities in electricity & electronics, electric cables, switching equipment, solar power, general construction contractors, agricultural product processing and food, fertilizer, education, information technology and software, textiles, mechanical engineering, mineral processing, natural stone, cement, plastics and packaging, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and insurance.
N.K.Jain, Chairman of the Employers Association of Rajasthan, said that Vietnam and India are developing a fruitful Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two countries cooperate in many fields such as health care, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, technology, genetic modification, information technology, sustainable integration, water resources management, smart cities, and startups.
According to N.K.Jain, Vietnam, and India are making efforts to develop the automobile industry, electricity, original component manufacturing industries, and information technology. Therefore, he believes that Indian businesses can find partners in these fields in Vietnam. Indian businesses have actively cooperated with Vietnamese partners in human resource training and developing the startup ecosystem and information technology. In addition, the two countries also have the potential to develop a fair and sustainable energy system, in line with global trends, and to achieve the goals set out at COP26.
N.K.Jain said that the event is an opportunity for businesses from both sides to meet, share information, and discuss potential cooperation in various fields. He believes that it will also contribute to boosting the cooperation and investment relationship between the two countries.
|Vietnam, Cuba Ties - Rare in International Relations
In spite of geographical distance, one country in the Eastern Hemisphere and the other in the Western Hemisphere, Vietnam and Cuba have still maintained close ...
|Nearly 50 Vietnamese Firm Join Trade Promotion Event in India
Vietnamese businesses accounted for over 10% of the international guests invited by the Uttar Pradesh administration to the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show.
|Vietnam Pavilion Inaugurated at World Coffee Conference & Expo 2023
Major enterprises of Vietnam introduced their popular coffee products at the 5th World Coffee Conference & Expo (WCC) in Bengaluru city, India.


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Indian Esports startup, FanClash, has raised $40 million Series B funding to fuel its mission to build a global esports fantasy, data and fan engagement platform. The company plans to use the funds raised for global expansion, building the team and user acquisition. FanClash released its product in India in 2021 and in the Philippines in June 2022 and aims to launch in Vietnam and the USA by early 2023, a company spokesperson said.
This succeeds a Series A round of $10 million from Sequoia Capital India, Falcon Edge (Alpha Wave Ventures) and Info Edge India in August 2021. Existing investors along with Matic Networks (Polygon) co-led the latest fund raise. Online gaming has over 300 million users in India and Esports has hit an inflection point with over 100 million Indian viewers, Rajan Anandan, MD, Sequoia India, said. “The online gaming market is also monetising well and is on track to surpass $5 billion in revenues by 2025. Going after this opportunity, FanClash is building a new destination for Esports fans with an incredible product that is loved by its users,” he added further.
As per the company, there are 500 million core Esports viewers globally, growing at 20% CAGR. In India, this number stands at 100 million and is expected to grow threefold by 2025.
“Esports fans around the world spend about eight to 10 hours a week watching tournaments and gameplay, yet there are not enough avenues for players and viewers to monetise their knowledge in any way. Our customers love FanClash not only because it gives them the opportunity to compete in fantasy games, but also for making them financially independent and hence taken seriously as Esports fans. The industry has corroborated this by the adoption of FanClash in the last 12 months,” Rishabh Bhansali, co-founder of FanClash, stated.
Read Also: Facebook owner Meta makes antitrust commitments over online advertising
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Aaron Judge Game-Used Fresno State Bulldogs Jersey Coming Up for Auction
A jersey Aaron Judge wore in a 2013 game while playing at Fresno State is about to hit the auction block. Offered by SCP Auctions, this is the first time a game-used college jersey worn by the Yankees rookie has been put up for public sale.
The jersey is a home white Nike knit. Rather than the 99 that baseball fans have become familiar with for Judge from his time in New York, the Fresno State jersey has the number 29 on the front and back. Among the patches are the Bulldogs logo on the left sleeve, the Mountain West Conference on the other and a Nike swoosh on the front crest.
The game use is easy to see with plenty of dirt visible on the front.
Reflecting Judge’s massive stature, it’s a size 52.
“Aaron Judge’s collectibility increased tenfold when he recently broke Mark McGwire’s longstanding MLB record of 49 home runs hit by a rookie in a single season. When he eclipsed Babe Ruth’s 96-year-old Yankee Stadium mark by hitting 33 of those home runs at home, the sky’s the limit. Judge is on fire,” said Terry Melia, SCP Auctions spokesman.
A couple of other important game-used Aaron Judge jerseys have sold in recent months, although these were from his time with the Yankees. On July 30, Steiner Auctions sold the jersey from Judge’s first game, which also saw him hit his first MLB home run. The price? $160,644.05. Goldin Auctions also sold a pair of jerseys worn in April, 2017 for $15,925 (Opening Day, April 2) and $61,200 (Yankees home opener, April 10 plus first home run of season).
Judge finished the regular season with 52 home runs, topping Mark McGwire’s rookie record from 1987. The Yankees rookie also helped New York clinch a Wild Card berth.
Bidding for the game-used Aaron Judge college jersey opens on Wednesday, October 18 and closes Saturday, November 4. Potential bidders can register through the SCP Auctions website.


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LIONSGATE REVENUES FALL DUE TO PANDEMIC
Lionsgate Entertainment Corp., an entertainment company headquartered in California, reported a fiscal second-quarter revenue of $745 million, down more than 20 percent from 938 million the year earlier amid the ongoing pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported.
The company also reported a net loss of $18.4 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2020. Revenues of the company's Motion Picture segment declined to $257.6 million due to closing of theaters associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by the performance of titles in the premium video-on-demand (PVOD) market and digital home entertainment platforms. But the segment's profit grew 63 percent to $83 million, thanks to strong demand for library content and lower distribution and marketing costs.
Lionsgate also said that its television production segment revenue declined to $197.2 million compared to $274 million dollars in the same period last year, primarily due to the timing of production schedules and episodic deliveries.
Meanwhile, STARZ, a premium cable and satellite television network owned by the company, reported its best domestic over-the-top (OTT) subscriber growth quarter ever as domestic OTT subscribers increased to 9.2 million, up from 7.4 million in the prior sequential quarter. The company's media networks segment revenue of $388.3 million was up 3.8 percent year-o- year while segment profit was $92.9 million. Revenues were driven by strong growth in the number of streaming subscribers.


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* Q2 EPS $0.34 vs est loss $0.07/shr
* Q2 sales $106.7 mln, above est
* Sees sustained recovery into 2011
Aug 3 (Reuters) - Titanium products maker RTI International Metals Inc RTI.N posted a surprise second-quarter profit, mainly due to increased demand for fabricated products to be used in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill containment efforts.
Sales at the company’s fabrication group, which designs and makes customized titanium-based mechanical and electro-mechanical components, were up 29 percent at $37.3 million.
For the second quarter, the company posted net income of $10.2 million, or 34 cents a share, compared with $125,000, or 1 cent a share, a year ago.
Revenue rose slightly to $106.7 million.
Analysts on average were looking for a loss of 7 cents a share, before items, on revenue of $97.3 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
“Our overall operating environment will continue to be difficult and challenge RTI’s ability to generate meaningful operating income in 2010,” Chief Executive Dawne Hickton said.
However, Hickton sees a sustained recovery into 2011.
Shares of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company closed at $30.00 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Vinay Sarawagi in Bangalore; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal) ((firstname.lastname@example.org; within U.S. +646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: email@example.com))


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Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara is a project of Cryptocurrency exchange provider Coinbase. The acquisition is part of the company's strategy to expand into international markets. The company was founded by Brad Callen, CEO of Coins Reserve. Since its founding in 2021, Coins Reserve has been transforming financial systems through aggressive online lending.
Like many other FX investors, Coinserve plans to use its expertise to help other companies that deal with global finance. The company already has relationships with banks in Australia, Canada, and Germany. In addition, it has significant work to do in India, a country which shares Coinbase's passion for technology and trading systems. Specifically, the startup is interested in learning from two of the most successful companies in the Indian market: Omaxe and Zeba Technologies.
Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara is an example of how machine learning can be applied to finance. Machine learning systems such as Netflix's DeepMetrix, Microsoft Money and Quicken by Intuit, all use sophisticated mathematical algorithms to determine what to buy and sell in the forex exchange markets. In this case, the company will leverage its machine learning expertise to build a platform that allows users in India to have access to these platforms.
In the world of finance, machine learning systems are crucial to developing robust systems that can make sense of the complex data that these applications require. In addition, these algorithms must be able to make sense of the cultural factors that govern buying decisions in different countries. These factors include currency values, political policies, local industries, and local business structures. In this respect, Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara would be particularly useful. The startup has already developed its own machine learning platform.
In the past, machine learning required programmers to spend long hours on end programming these systems. However, Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara has simplified the process. Users simply log in, create an account and start buying and selling using their own real money. In addition, the startup offers a demo account to give potential customers the opportunity to learn about its machine learning platform without having to commit any of their cash. By offering a free, 30-day trial, Coinbase is demonstrating to potential customers how easy it is to operate this type of platform.
Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara also serves to demonstrate the company's dedication to customer satisfaction. In addition to expanding its customer base in India, the startup is also looking to expand its customer base outside the United States. The company has already launched an international network of agents that will work to provide personalized customer service to customers across the globe. Through these efforts, Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara hopes to develop a customer base that is expansive enough to capture a sizable portion of the global prepaid debit card market. Through expanding the customer base, the startup is making itself more appealing to investment firms and other financial institutions that could help it expand its business into new markets.
One way in which Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara would be through the investment firm they recently hired, Binary Options Exchange. Binary Options Exchange is a well-known investor in the exchange industry that has made a name for itself by consistently turning a profit with its various investments. According to Binary Options Exchange's CEO Michael Cohen, "coinspot pre-qualified our team and was instrumental in getting us in position to make an acquisition, and we look forward to helping them build the organization as we expand globally." According to Binary Options Exchange's website, the company "expects its revenue growth to exceed thirty percent annually" through net income gained from the sale of its convertible Note. Since Binary Options Exchange is solely based in California, Coinbase to acquire Indias Agara would give the startup an easy entry into the world of online investment banking. By working with an experienced investment firm such as Binary Options Exchange, the startup will have access to financial resources in one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the financial services industry.
In looking at the current financial health of the exchange, Coinbase to acquire India could help it weather any storm during the next few years. According to Business Insider, "The Indian market is a tremendous opportunity for prospective American companies. The country's prepaid debit and prepaid credit markets are now among the largest and most liquid in the world. At the end of 2021, the country's total domestic output will reach US $1.6 trillion (based on current rates), up from the US's current GDP of $14 trillion." By taking advantage of the gateway created by Coinbase to acquire India, the startup has positioned itself to capitalize on one of the fastest growing markets in the world.
If you want to learn more investment and cryptocurrency information, you can go to inshat


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The trade credit markets are now facing the same problems as the rest of the country's credit markets as more companies find it difficult to pay their bills due to insufficient cash flow, according to trade credit insurer Euler Hermes ACI. As growth in the nation's manufacturing sector was trumped by a sharp contraction in the service sector, Euler Hermes credit index dropped to its lowest point in its more than five year history.
"While the manufacturing index actually gained slightly, it was overshadowed by a sharp loss in the service index," Daniel C. North, chief economist at Euler Hermes ACI explained. "The deterioration in the combined index matches that of other major indicators in the macroeconomy, including disappointing holiday sales, a weakening employment market, accelerating declines in housing prices, downgrades of banks and insurers, plummeting consumer confidence, and a rapid increase in delinquencies and defaults on many types of credit.";
In their monthly commentary regarding a national survey of credit managers in the manufacturing and service sectors, survey data showed a decline for the fourth consecutive month in December and dropped to a record low. Six of the 10 survey components fell, including a 4% drop in dollar collections.
North said the data suggests that "at least for the month of December, manufacturers' customers are being less aggressive about holding on to their cash."
Survey respondents confirmed that business bankruptcies across the country are continuing to rise, and that increase -- coupled with declining sales and increased dollar amounts placed for collection -- show that the nation's business conditions are indeed worsening. "It would appear that trade credit managers are now encountering the same difficulty found in other credit markets -- the inability of debtors to pay their bills due to insufficient cash flow. The survey data suggests that indeed more business than usual are having a tough time surviving in this environment as sales and cash flow dry up," he concluded.


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As much as we love to watch every WWE program every single week or even single day if you’re also a WWE Network subscriber, or as much as we love playing every installment of WWE 2K games, i think we’re all agree that the latest installment, WWE 2K20, is a DAMN unplayable game.
Well, where do we start? I think there’s not starting point and we could just singly pointed the main DAMN (sorry Ron Simmons!) problem. And that is an endless DAMN (again sorry Faarooq) glitch graphic and gameplay.
WWE 2K21 Won’t Be Released This Year
And because of that, since then, no wonder if a lot of us doubting the future release of WWE 2K21. Most of us certainly sure that the game won’t be released after such an abysmal.
Well the, we couldn’t be more certain than ever. Because based on IGN recent report, WWE recently had an earning call meeting in which, WWE interim CFO Frank Riddick announced that “there’s not going to be a launch of a game this year“.
The revelations came after one of the stakeholder asked whether there will be a new WWE video game releases. Even Riddick didn’t explained the main reason behind that quite important decision, i think c’mon we already knew the obvious main reason right?
Will We See WWE 2K22 Next Year?
After knowing that, now a new question popped-up. Will WWE and 2K releasing WWE 2K22 next year? Unfortunately as of this writing, we don’t have any single answer of that.
In other words here, let’s just hope so but at the same time, don’t get your hopes up. Honestly, it is better this way. I mean, which one you prefer? A quick-rush release game but ends up with many glitches or a slow-developed game which ends up satisfies all of us? Exactly guys!
So yeah. what do you think about this interesting WWE 2K updates?


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The World Bank expects the Saudi economy to grow by 2.1 percent during 2019, the same growth rate estimated by the bank in June 2018.
The bank also expects the Kingdom’s economy to rise by 2.2 percent within the coming two years, the bank said in its World Economic Outlook Report issued on Tuesday.
Growth of oil exporting countries is seen to rise at a minor rate this year where the growth rate of the GCC countries as a group is seen to be 2.6 percent from 2 percent in 2018, the report added.
Middle East and North Africa Region’s growth is expected to pick up slightly in to 1.9 percent 2019, but prospects are uneven across countries.
On the other hand, the World Bank is downgrading its outlook for the global economy this year, anticipating a growth of 2.9 percent citing rising trade tension, weakening manufacturing activity and growing financial stress in emerging-market countries.


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60% of Fortune 500 now microblogging
America’s biggest corporations have dramatically increased their participation in Twitter, according to “The Fortune 500 and Social Media,” a yearly report from the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Three in five Fortune 500 companies now have an active Twitter account, compared with 35% in 2009. This is even more than the number that have Facebook accounts, at 56%.
More than a third of the companies with Twitter accounts regularly responded to consumers with @ replies or retweets within a brief period of time, making a solid effort to engage the 26 million US adults eMarketer estimates use Twitter at least monthly.
While the overall usage of Twitter by the Fortune 500 increased, so did its spread throughout the ranks of the list. Last year, nearly 40% of those companies with an account were in the top 100. By 2010, that had dropped to 25%, and companies in the middle of the pack made up a larger proportion of Twitter users.
The industries most strongly represented among Fortune 500 Twitter accounts were specialty retail (23 companies); food, drug and CPG (22); and insurance (20). These were also the top three industries to have a Facebook account.
“These large and leading companies drive the American economy and to a large extent the world economy,” said the report. “Their willingness to interact more transparently via these new technologies with their stakeholders is clear. It will be interesting to watch as they expand their adoption of social media tools and connect with their constituents in dramatically new ways.”


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ViiV, which is based in the United Kingdom, told Bhekisisa it will sell CAB-LA at a non-profit price of £24.70 per jab in 2023 and £23.50 in 2024 (so at between R540 and R570 per shot — you need six per year). The price tag however, excludes distribution costs.
Cheaper, generic versions of CAB-LA will only be available in three to seven years.
Donors such as the US government’s Aids fund, Pepfar, and the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria, will buy the branded injection for African countries. Experts say ViiV have told them it is able to make just under a million jabs per year, but ViiV has not confirmed this number to Bhekisisa. Is this enough?
In this podcast, Mia Malan asks Mitchell Warren for answers. Warren leads a group of organisations and donors who look at ways to make the jab available as fast as possible.
Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.


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Digital TV News: Daniel Huang
Dish TV India launches hybrid STB with HANDAN and ALi
Jan 30, 2019 – ALi Corporation, Dish TV India and HANDAN have announced that they have further extended their partnership by launching the latest hybrid solution, 'Dish Box', to enrich TV the experience for subscribers in India.
News categories: ALi Corp, Dish TV India, HANDAN, Daniel Huang, V.K. Gupta, Y. Lee, Digital TV, India, Satellite, Semiconductor, Set Top Box
ALi to showcase F8 STB SoC family at Convergence India 2019
Jan 25, 2019 – ALi Corporation has initiated further efforts to penetrate the Indian market with its next-generation F8 series set-top box chipset (M3711C). The SoC is due for wide deployment in 2019.
News categories: ALi Corp, Daniel Huang, Digital TV, ICs, India, Set Top Box
Inside Secure provides Secure Provisioning for ALi STB SoCs
Feb 26, 2018 – Inside Secure (Paris:INSD) has announced that they have entered into an agreement with ALi Corporation to use Inside Secure’s Secure Provisioning Solution to build robust security into its products during the chip manufacturing process.
News categories: Inside Secure, ALi Corp, Inside Secure, Daniel Huang, Content Protection, Digital TV, Set Top Box, Silicon IP, Worldwide
ALi to incorporate Advanced HDR from Technicolor in STB chipsets
Jan 8, 2018 – ALi Corp has announced that its upcoming generation of chipsets will feature Advanced HDR from Technicolor. Advanced HDR combines HDR with Technicolor Intelligent Tone Management (ITM), an SDR to HDR conversion tool.
News categories: ALi Corp, Technicolor, Daniel Huang, Kirk Barker, Frederic Guillanneuf, Digital TV, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Silicon IP, Worldwide
Skardin, ALi, and Voxtok collaborate to merge TV and music
Sep 13, 2017 – Voxtok has announced that Skardin has joined the Voxtok.music platform ecosystem by adopting a Voxtok innovation called Smart Sound Bar, a connected audio device that merges TV and Music. Skardin’s product is also the first in its line-up to be powered by ALi STB chipsets.
News categories: Voxtok, Skardin, ALi Corp, Joel Reboul, Alessandro Bassi, Daniel Huang, Digital TV, IBC, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Worldwide
ALi integrates SoCs with next generation Conax Cardless clients
Sep 7, 2016 – ALi has announced that it has extended its partnership with Conax. As the first chipset provider receiving Conax CP 6.0 certification for cardless, ALi has integrated its HEVC series SoC with the Conax cardless security client.
News categories: ALi Corp, Conax, Daniel Huang, Morten Solbakken, Content Protection, Digital TV, IBC, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Worldwide
ALi Corp STB SoCs get a boost with MIPS CPUs
Jun 22, 2016 – Imagination Technologies (IMG.L) has announced that ALi Corporation is shipping a MIPS-based, H.265-capable System-on-Chip (SoC) for hybrid cable, satellite, terrestrial and IP STBs.
News categories: Imagination Technologies, ALi Corp, Jim Nicholas, Daniel Huang, Digital TV, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Silicon IP, Worldwide
ALi to provide Irdeto-certified STB chipsets
May 26, 2016 – ALi Corporation has announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Irdeto, achieving certification to integrate Irdeto's security solutions on its latest generation chipset offerings.
News categories: ALi Corp, Irdeto, Daniel Huang, Steeve Huin, Conditional Access, ConnecTechAsia, Digital TV, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Worldwide
ALi STB chipsets integrate Civolution’s NexGuard forensic watermarking
Jan 7, 2016 – NexGuard has announced the integration of NexGuard forensic watermarking in the lineup of ALi set-top box chipsets. The collaboration provides compliance with MovieLabs security specifications and enables protection of content with forensic watermarking in addition to CAS and DRM systems.
News categories: ALi Corp, NexGuard, Daniel Huang, Jean-Philippe Plantevin, CES2022, Content Protection, Digital TV, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Watermarking, Worldwide
- AT&T premium TV down 473k; Vrio down 239k; HBO up 3.6M video subs in 2Q 2021
- Verizon FIOS consumer video subscribers down 62,000 in 2Q 2021
- Astro launches STB for TV without a satellite dish
- Freesat 4K STB receives EICS certification with DTG Testing
- Cox Media Group Local Solutions partners with Amazon Advertising
- Samba TV announces global TV viewership dashboard
- Sky Brasil's SKY Connect 4K Android TV DVR powered by Wyplay
- NBCUniversal adopts Ad-ID for its One Platform
- Redbox to expand free live TV content with Wurl
- ThinkAnalytics rebrands its suite as 'Think360'
- Grupo Werthein to buy AT&T's Vrio operations
- ITV and Sky upgrade their commercial partnership
- TCL passes TÜV Rheinland ETSI EN 303 645 test for IoT devices
- OFIVE TV partners with Amagi for distribution to FAST platforms
- Comscore provides audience measurement currency to Spectrum Reach
- Global Smart TV household ownership to exceed 50% by 2026
- Innovid quantifies CTV impact on advertising in the U.S.
- HbbTV releases Targeted Advertising specification for TV sets in STB markets
- TheViewPoint supports OTT monetization at Caracol TV
- Altice USA introduces Optimum and Suddenlink 4K streaming device


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The Baltimore Sun: The first crop in Maryland’s long-delayed medical cannabis program is mature and waiting for testing, but it is still unclear when patients might be able to buy it.
And industry officials caution that when it is ready for sale, there will not be nearly enough to meet market demand.
“This industry is in its infancy,” Patrick Jameson, executive director of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, said Tuesday.
“No one should have any expectations,” he said. “The initial supply of medical cannabis will be limited.”