text:
Sep 20, 2008 (From the CalCars-News archive)
Below we include:
- A pointer to an entertaining video clip when GM's Bob Lutz appeared on the Colbert Report
- Analysis of TIME Magazine's print story
- Chrysler working on Zeo, series PHEV
- News on a book on energy with a strong plug-in section by Rainforest Alliance's Michael Brune
- News of Fisker raising money
- Announcement from a second company converting Ford F-150 pickup trucks
COMEDY CENTRAL: GM's Bob Lutz put himself through the gauntlet -- 6 minutes with Steven Colbert, who loves to play the ultra-conservative -- not sure if it will help the car, but you'll probably laugh! http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/185021/september-17-2008/bob-lutz
CHRYSLER WANTS TO CATCH UP The Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122177751102554321.html reports that privately-owned company is "scrambling to develop" a PHEV, and is expected on Tuesday to tell dealers gathered in 100 locations across the US about its plans for the Zeo, a 40-mile range series PHEV. The article makes clear the company expects to outsource much of the production, hasn't selected partners, and has no timetable.
TIME MAGAZINE: two days ago at http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/1001.html we posted two stories from Time.com. We didn't know if either would make it into the print edition. Neither did, exactly. Despite the global financial crisis, the magazine's cover said: "Can GM's Electric Car Save the World?" "Plugged In. GM's Volt could get the company--and the country--off petroleum" has the same byline, and has pieces of the other stories. (The online link from "contents of current issue" goes to one of the earlier stories.) It's worth reading in print, in the issue dated September 29.
HIGHLIGHTS: HEADLINE: CAPTION: It's electric! The Chvey Volt, due to hit showrooms in late 2010, is a leap forward for fuel efficiency. GRAPHIC: large collage of Volt includes a plug that starts on the right-sided page 55 and travels through the story on the flip page 56. GRAPHIC brings to the general public the race between the announced Volt series PHEV and the planned Toyota parallel PHEV. With a title, "Hybrid vs. Hybrid. How the cars of the future compare," it says:
- TOYOTA: The original hybrid uses both gas and electric engines to get the best fuel economy of any car in the U.S. today -- and it costs less than the Volt's target price. WHAT'S NEXT: Future versions will be plug-ins -- but are unlikely to have the Volt's all-electric range.
- GENERAL MOTORS: The Volt is an extended range electric vehicle: it's powered by electricity, with what amounts to a gasoline-fueled electric generator for longer drives. A QUESTION OF COST: Critics love the Volt technology -- but they wonder if the car will be affordable.
THREE NOTABLE QUOTES show how uncomfortable the prospects of the Volt's success make experts who have to backtrack but are mired in traditional thinking:
- "If you can get the costs down, it becomes very attractive," says Dan Sperling, director of the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California at Davis. "If not, it's going to be a slow slog."
- Menahem Anderman, founder of Total Battery Consulting, doesn't believe the 2010 deadline can be met at any price and predicts it will take GM four to five years to develop and test new lithium-ion packs. "I'd like to be wrong," he says.
- And some experts believe the best method of increasing fuel economy lies in simpler, cheaper improvements to existing gas engines. "That will give you the biggest bang for your buck," says David Friedman, research director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Clean Vehicles Program.
OUR COMMENTS on all three:
- Sperling, reflecting his 25-year-long experience with the stop-and-go progress of clean cars, and his frustrating wait for hydrogen, doesn't factor in the likely public incentives at the national and state levels, as well as private incentives. (Yet when he wears his second hat, as one of the most influential of the 11 Members of California Air Resources Board, he develops plans that are based on an end to "business as usual." because of the urgency of reducing fossil fuel use.)
- Anderman for the first time suggests that his repeated predictions for a slow commercialization of plug-ins could be worst case and overly cautious.
- Friedman's comments are the most egregious. Plug-in advocates have suggested that many environmental leaders, worn down by the opposition of the auto industry, have shown signs of the so-called "Stockholm Syndrome," where victims become loyal to those who have taken them hostage. (Flashback: we first saw this on April Fools' Day 2005, when The NY Times ran its exclusive report on our first Prius conversion http://www.calcars.org/calcarsnews/14.html . We were floored when the only criticism came from Dan Becker, then running the Sierra Club's energy and global warming program. Citing US electricity's high reliance on coal, he said "The concern on plug-in hybrids is that we not substitute addiction to one polluting fuel for addiction to a more polluting fuel." Becker's statement was then echoed by automakers for years until disproven by multiple studies.) Friedman's "experts" sound like arguments from the most reluctant automakers. Honda (and to a lesser extent Ford), cite the abilitiy to improve internal combustion engines (ICEs) as an argument against plug-ins. Yet displacing oil with electricity from clean energy sources is a quantum leap beyond finding ways for engines to use less oil. (The only thing better is to entirely reduce vehicle miles travelled. And of course, we want better ICEs, to improve PHEVs' fossil-fueled range extension.)
BEST END: following Friedman's comment, the author and then Bob Lutz conclude the story by making exactly this point: "Friedman may be right in the short term, but if the U.S. is to truly break its addiction to oil, electric cars are the way to go. GM deserves credit for taking a risk, because risk-taking is the only way we can change a transportation system that is sinking us economically an environmentally. 'We're thinking beyond what others are thinking,' says Lutz. That's the right place to be."
CORRECTION: The story includes one key error, stating that a traditional Prius can drive 7-8 miles on electricity. In fact,under optimum conditions, today's Priuses can eke out a mile or two electrically at low speed. The higher numbers are the EV range of the dozen or so Priuses Toyota converted to PHEV to stay in the race; there's no telling what performance Toyota will deliver in the hundreds of leased evaluation PHEVs it now promises in 2009.
MICHAEL BRUNE'S NEW BOOK: The executive director of Rainforest Action Network http://www.ran.org is the author of the just-published "Coming Clean: Breaking America's Addiction to Oil and Coal" (Sierra Club Books,$14.95 -- we'll soon have a link to it at http://www.calcars.org/books.html ). It includes more than 10 pages solely on plug-in cars, and references throughout the book. The book includes profiles/quotes from UC Davis Prof. Andy Frank, plug-in advocate Chelsea Sexton, former CIA Director James Woolsey, CalCars' Felix Kramer, A123Systems' David Vieau and Tesla Motors' JB Straubel and Elon Musk) See an excerpt, "Wake Up Detroit: The Time Has Come for Plug-in Hybrids" at http://www.alternet.org/environment/99519/wake_up_detroit:_the_time_has_come_for_plug-in_hybrids/ .
FISKER RAISES $65M for its Karma PHEV. The Irvine, CA company has built three prototypes; it aims to get its $80,000 PHEV into production in the fourth quarter of 2009. It's raised almost $100M from Kleiner Perkins and Palo Alto Investors, with most of this third round coming from Qatar Investment Authority. Read two short reports with links at http://earth2tech.com/2008/09/09/fisker-gears-up-with-65m-for-karma/ and http://venturebeat.com/2008/09/10/high-end-electric-car-company-fisker-gets-a-65m-boost/
CANADA'S ENVIA JUMPS INTO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONVERSIONS:
Especially since the emergence of former Intel CEO Andy Grove as an advocate for retrofitting PSVs (Pick-ups, SUVs and Vans), we're very encouraged at the growing interest in this strategy. We'll be working with all the companies and organizations looking at this opportunity. We'll soon add them to our page at http://www.calcars.org/ice-conversions.html . Here's the press release at http://www.EnviaAuto.com/news.htm
Plug-in Your Truck: Envia Converts FORD F150 to Get 48 MPG and Cut CO2 by 63%
Sept 18, Vancouver BC, Today Electric Vehicle conversion company Envia announced its REV-H plug-in FORD F150 hybrid conversion, turning the world's most popular pickup from 15 to up to 43 miles per gallon, while reducing carbon emissions by 63%.
The world's automakers and media are recognizing the benefits of plug-in hybrids. Plugin Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) recharge large batteries from the electric-grid (mostly at night when demand is low) and use it to charge a large battery. The cars and trucks can run partially on electricity, dramatically reducing gas consumption and carbon emissions. Their gasoline tank still gives them extended range. This is ideal for many of the 30 million fleet vehicles in North America, which operate mainly over short distances in cities.
"Fleet Managers in B.C. are very interested in the REV products," states Ken Zutz, Commercial Sales Manager of Metro Ford, one of the largest Ford fleet sales dealers in BC. "With the concerns over fuel costs and the regulatory environment, demand is very high for these trucks. My customers want to know when they can get their hands on these in significant quantities."
Envia's REV-H plug-in FORD F150 offers 20 kiloWatt-hours of battery power for an all-electric range of up to 38 miles. The conversion costs $15,000 to $25,000 depending on range, which fleet managers can justify over five years through reduced fuel and maintenance costs -- not even counting various government purchase incentives.
"Many people think the problem will be solved when the big auto makers finally launch their plug-in hybrids. That will fix a small number of new cars. What about the 275 million cars on the road in North America, many of which are viable for conversion?" says Jay Giraud, Founder and President of Envia. "To put one million converted plug-in hybrids on the road, the logistics, production and supply issues are all manageable. This requires no new technology or infrastructure. What's missing is the economic incentive and the current price of gas just gave us that."
Felix Kramer, founder of CalCars.org, a plug-in advocacy organization, says, "The challenge is how to get millions of plug-in cars on the road ASAP. Along with new vehicles from the world's carmakers, plug-in conversions of large gas-guzzlers in fleets make sense. That's a great way to quickly reduce both dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gases -- and a major business opportunity."
About Envia - Envia is a new Canadian company based in Vancouver, which produces highway-capable electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Envia specializes in converting and selling original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicles into all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles under its REV and REV-H (rapid electric vehicles) brands. Partnering with one of British Columbia's largest fleet sales company and largest Ford dealer, Envia is focusing on the private and government fleet markets with consumer markets to follow. The company has a proven technology and works with companies with over 20 years of conversion experience.


text:
Idc yoy 39.9m apple 12.7m yoy
Idc yoy 39.9m apple 12.7m yoy has recently released its financial results for the third quarter of 2021, revealing that the company has sold 39.9 million iPhones and 12.7 million iPads year-over-year. This is a significant increase compared to the same period last year, where the company sold 26.4 million iPhones and 10.3 million iPads. The increase in sales can be attributed to the launch of the iPhone 12 series and the iPad Pro earlier this year.
The iPhone 12 series, which includes the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, has been well-received by consumers worldwide. The new devices feature a sleek design, improved camera system, and faster processing speeds. In addition to the iPhone 12 series, the iPad Pro has also contributed to the increase in sales. The latest iPad Pro models come with a new M1 chip, which provides faster performance and longer battery life. The device also features a Liquid Retina XDR display, making it ideal for creative professionals who require high-quality visuals.
Furthermore, Apple’s services segment has also seen significant growth, with revenue reaching $16.9 billion in the third quarter of 2021. This segment includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud, among others. The company’s subscription-based services have been well-received by consumers, with Apple Music reaching over 75 million subscribers worldwide. Despite the increase in sales and revenue, Apple’s stock price has remained relatively stable. This can be attributed to concerns over the ongoing global chip shortage and potential supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conclusion, Apple’s strong performance in the third quarter of 2021 can be attributed to the successful launch of the iPhone 12 series and the iPad Pro, as well as the growth of its services segment. While concerns over the global chip shortage and the ongoing pandemic remain, Apple’s strong brand and loyal customer base continue to drive sales and revenue growth.

domain: news


text:
Mumbai-based online apparel startup, Bewakoof has raised an undisclosed amount from Snapdeal founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal. Along with Snapdeal founders, Former IDFC Securities Managing Director and co-Head of Research, Nikhil Vora has also invested in personal capacity.
The company was selling its product on its own store and on marketplaces, however now it has decided to switch to a destination model.
The startup has been able to generate an annual sales run-rate of INR 20 crore and targets to reach the USD 100 million in the next 5-7 years. Its revenue has grown 3 times in the past 6 months and over 50 percent of its sales comes from mobile.
Prabhkiran Singh, co-founder of Bewakoof.com said, “We switched because this is where the future is. India will skip the organized retail revolution and the online retail will emerge to be a bigger market. We believe that 30-40 big online fashion brands with USD 100M+ revenue will be created online. The strongest of brands will become destinations for the consumers and the others will depend on marketplaces for their distribution.”
Previously, the company had plans of raising INR 25 crore to expand its portfolio and increase its presence across brick-and-mortar retail stores across India. Started in 2012 by Prabhkiran Singh and Siddharth Munot, the brand sells only on its website and shopping app, also has associations with Bollywood for its merchandise.
Image Source: Bewakoof.com


text:
Dave & Buster’s brings its in-store arcade games to mobile
Dave & Buster’s, the restaurant-and-arcade chain for adults, is stepping into the crowded world of mobile gaming.
The company has already made a move to pull gamers off their phones and into its arcades by installing lifesize versions of Fruit Ninja and Candy Crush Saga. Now, it’s taking the reverse approach: three Dave & Buster’s-branded mobile games — Big Bass Wheel, Speed of Light and Tippin’ Blocs, the company’s most popular current arcade games — are available for free download on Android and iOS.
This isn’t a side project, either. Dave & Buster’s has hired Kevin Bachus, one of the original creators of the Xbox, as its svp of entertainment and games strategy and to lead the brand’s on-the-go gaming.
“Mobile gaming has legitimized gaming in a way,” said Bachus. “There’s not really anyone who comes in our doors who doesn’t play on their phones or tablets. This is our way to connect with guests when they’re not in our stores.”
Dave & Buster’s will have to jockey for user attention, of course. Gamasutra reported in March that in 2014, 500 games were added to the iOS app store per day, while 250 were added daily to the Android store. In order to get Dave & Buster’s fans to tear their eyes off of Candy Crush, Flappy Bird or Fruit Ninja, the company added real-life incentive: Dave & Buster’s games earn players points that can be accumulated and redeemed for in-store prizes.
“It’s a smart model,” said Stephen Baer, managing partner at The Gaming Agency, a digital marketing agency that specializes in games and mobile apps, not associated with Dave & Buster’s apps. “If you can get someone into retail via an app, it’s a huge success, and it builds loyalty to the Dave & Buster’s brand.”
The strategy makes sense: get people to redeem the points they’ve won at the in-store prize counter, and there’s a good chance they’ll stay for drinks, apps and arcade games. The games are even free to play on mobile, with a Dave & Buster’s power card, which stores game credit and can be activated for $2. But Baer added that the strategy’s success depends on the execution of the games: “The game play has to be addictive enough to work,” he said.
Bachus said creating the games for mobile was a balancing act between staying true to the games, and optimizing them for on-the-go bursts of entertainment.
If the first three games to be translated into mobile are well-received, more will be rolled out in app form. According to Bachus, the game’s designers had to figure out how to replicate the feel of each game without mimicking it entirely.
“Arcade games are quick to play and don’t offer that much entertainment value on top of winning prizes,” said Bachus. “In a mobile game, you want to have some motion of progression to continue toward some objective, so with these games we’re adding significant levels of strategy and progression.”
A few differences between arcade game and mobile version: Big Bass Wheel (a spin-the-wheel-for-prizes game) on mobile can feature new prizes on it spinning wheel, whereas Big Bass Wheel in the arcade is fixed. Speed of Light (a game with a board of dots that players must tap when they light up) has added features in mobile like connecting the dots by swiping and numbered dots to be tapped in order.
The ability to redeem points for in-store prizes gives the brand’s games (as well as its notable name) an edge over the competition — and slight forgiveness for game quality. The games are officially in the app store for download now to test, but based off the preview videos, Baer isn’t predicting any will be super addictive.
“My assumption is that they’ll be okay,” said Baer. “I don’t look at any of those three and think that it’s going to be super addictive, but it will build brand affinity. The brand name can be on people’s minds when they’re not at a Dave & Buster’s.”
How gamers’ engagement with short-form video is changing
To better understand how modern gamers are engaging with short-form video, Digiday teamed up with Gamesight to pull key points from an exclusive report on gamers’ shifting video consumption preferences.
Inside SAG-AFTRA’s new deal with video platform Cameo
SAG-AFTRA and Cameo, the celebrity platform that connects talent and fans, have announced a new agreement that allows members to cover brand deals through Cameo for Business (C4B). Brands will be able to access more fan-favorite professional talent through SAG-AFTRA's health and pension plans.
Digiday+ Research: Extreme pessimism about the end of the cookie levels off among agencies
Agencies are still feeling out who they think the winners and losers will be as the end of the third-party cookie draws near, but they're doing so with notably less pessimism than they have in the past.
SponsoredWhat the measurement and currency discussion really means to TV advertisers
Ali Mack, head of TV and agency, Experian Major streaming video providers have recently made headlines by adopting new currencies for ad measurement, threatening Nielsen’s long-standing TV ratings monopoly. NBCUniversal, for example, has certified iSpot and VideoAmp as currencies for advanced audiences and formed the Joint Industry Committee with Paramount, TelevisaUnivision and Warner Bros. Discovery. […]
Benjamin Moore is using OOH near big-box retailers to say their paint isn’t there, encouraging people shop local
The 140-year-old paint brand wants to make sure people know that it is only available at local retailers.
Jose Cuervo Tequila celebrates UFC’s 30th anniversary with Kevin Holland, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson ads
Mexico-based Jose Cuervo, is the first tequila brand to be a direct advertiser of the UFC with spots featuring UFC fighters Kevin Holland, a Cuervo ambassador, and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.


text:
Verizon Expands 5G Footprint to Offer Unmatched Experiences
Verizon Communications Inc. VZ continues to lead the industry with its 5G Ultra Wideband service. The telecom giant has expanded coverage of 5G service to 19 new cities, 19 stadiums and six airports. Also, its 5G Nationwide service is available to more than 200 million people in 1,800 cities across the country.
Verizon is set to offer the first Apple AAPL 5G iPhone and bring new capabilities to customers with its 5G Ultra Wideband and Nationwide networks. Customers will be able to get the new iPhone 12 lineup, including iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini.
Built on a millimeter wavelength spectrum, Verizon’s superfast 5G Ultra Wideband helps create unparalleled experiences for consumers and businesses. The service is currently available in parts of 55 cities, 43 stadiums and arenas as well as seven airports. By the end of this year, the company aims to launch 5G Ultra Wideband in more than 60 cities.
Verizon’s 5G Nationwide runs on lower spectrum bands than 5G Ultra Wideband, using a technology called Dynamic Spectrum Sharing. It allows 5G service to operate simultaneously with 4G LTE on the same spectrum band. As such, if customers move beyond the 5G Ultra Wideband coverage, their 5G-capable devices will remain on 5G.
Verizon’s 5G mobility service offers an unmatched experience that impacts industries as diverse as public safety, health care, retail and sports. The company’s disciplined network strategy for long-term growth, along with operational execution, is remarkable.
Verizon is promulgating 5G mobile networks by using virtualized machines, advanced levels of automation and adaptability. As it continues to expand mobile and home coverage across the country, customers will benefit from greater flexibility and faster delivery of services.
Meanwhile, Verizon completed the world’s first end-to-end fully virtualized 5G data session in a live network. This has enabled the company to respond to customers’ latency and computing needs by providing the base for mobile edge computing and network slicing.
The company is well positioned to capitalize on ample growth opportunities while underplaying competition from T-Mobile TMUS and AT&T T. Its focus on advancing the network will unlock the full potential of 5G that will connect anything and everything – all for the digital world.
The stock has inched up 4.3% in the past six months compared with 9.8% growth of the industry.
Verizon carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Have You Seen Zacks’ 2020 Election Stock Report?
The upcoming election could be a massive buying opportunity for savvy investors. Trillions of dollars will shift into new market sectors after the election. The question is, which sectors will soar for each candidate? Zacks has put together a new special report to help readers like you target big profits.
The 2020 Election Stock Report reveals specific stocks you’ll want to own immediately after the results are announced – 6 if Trump wins, 6 if Biden wins. Past election reports have led investors to gains of +71%, +83%, even +185% in the following months. This year’s picks could be even more lucrative.
Check out Zacks’ 2020 Election Stock Report >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
ATT Inc. (T): Free Stock Analysis Report
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ): Free Stock Analysis Report
Apple Inc. (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report
TMobile US, Inc. (TMUS): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


text:
Etihad Cargo beefs up Russia freighter services
02 / 03 / 2015
ETIHAD CARGO, the freight arm of UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways, is launching twice-weekly, rotating freighter services linking Abu Dhabi and Moscow’s Domodedovo airport from tomorrow, writes Thelma Etim, deputy editor.
The route will operate every Wednesday and Friday using an A330-200F, with a capacity of 64 tonnes.
“Russia is a key market for Etihad Cargo and our new freighter service will allow us to capitalise on the growing trade between Russia and the UAE,” enthuses Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer at Etihad Airways.
“The UAE is also home to almost 25,000 Russians, 400 Russia-UAE joint venture companies and we believe this new cargo routing will complement our existing belly-hold operations to and from Moscow.
“Furthermore, by offering heavy uplift maindeck capability for the first time to the Russian capital and linking this with our existing cargo operations in Abu Dhabi, customers now have more choice for transporting larger goods to what is one of the largest markets in the world.”
Did you find this article of interest, if so why not register for a FREE digital subscription to Air Cargo News? – Find out more
Interested in Freighters, if so why not register to attend the Freighter & Belly Cargo World Conference ? – Find out more


text:
Oba Makarna, the export champion of Turkey’s cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and products sector, also became the export champion of the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia Regions. Musa Özgüçlü, Chairman of the Board of Oba Makarna, received his award at the “Stars of Export Award Ceremony” organized by the Southeastern Anatolian Exporters’ Associations.
Musa Özgüçlü, Chairman of the Board of Oba Makarna, in his speech at the award ceremony, stated that they are very proud of contributing to the Turkish economy with production, employment, and exports, and said, “As Oba Makarna, we have been the company that exports the most in its sector for 8 years. Recently, we have been growing with new sectors and innovative products.”
Oba Makarna Chairman of the Board Özgüçlü said that they became unable to work due to the difficulties in logistics due to the corona, and therefore they decided to establish their own maritime company and by establishing their own maritime company in 2021, they prevented their customers from suffering.
Özgüçlü said, “We entered the shipping industry by establishing Savana ShippingLine to prevent our customers from being victimized. Our investments in this area will continue. We aim to increase the number of ships from 5 to 20 with an investment of approximately 200 million dollars.”
Oba Makarna bought the ship named M/V ALPASLAN OBA last November and increased the number of ships to 5.


text:
On April 13, we formally announced the opening of a Carbon Black office in Japan.
We have had a growing presence in APJ for years and staff in Japan since 2016. We made it “official” in a BIG way at our recent office launch celebration!
It’s common for foreign companies that enter the Japanese market to announce it during a large-scale event. Generally, the office launch occurs sometime after a company has established a presence in the market and has some momentum. A launch is a way of letting the local market know who we are, why we are entering Japan, and what commitments and investments we will be making.
The turnout for our event was incredible. We had nearly 70 C-Level customers and executives in attendance who heard presentations from the U.S. Commercial Councilor from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the VP of Security at IBM Japan, the VP MSS NTT Communications Security Japan, the CEO of Network Value Components, and, of course, a well-received presentation from our own CEO, Patrick Morley.
Patrick introduced Carbon Black, discussed endpoint security market trends, explained why Japan is important to Carbon Black, and described the investments we are making in Japan. We are very lucky to have hired an exceptional team in Japan prior to the launch and will continue to build out our team in Japan going forward. We’ll be giving our current employees a chance to develop their careers as the needs in this market develop and are looking forward to adding more talented contributors to the organization.
Japanese organizations face sophisticated attacks daily, from state-sponsored attackers to organized crime. Being the third largest economy in the world, Japan has a lot to protect and with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics fast approaching, the country is going to be in the spotlight.
The event was a tremendous success and will help us build a strong business in Japan. We are incredibly excited to be partnering with Japanese companies to help protect Japan’s critical infrastructure and intellectual property.
Interested in joining our APJ team? Click here to see our current openings.


text:
New study: customers want more mobile loyalty schemes
New research has revealed that 80% of shoppers want to collect loyalty points on their phone.
A study of 1,000 UK consumers by mobile app developer Apadmi found that eight in 10 shoppers would like to start collecting loyalty points on a retail app. The research also found that 29% of shoppers would be happy to share their location with a retail app to gain incentives and loyalty points when they walk around stores.
Some 51% of consumers polled claimed to own more than one loyalty card, and 46% stated that they regularly collect and spend points on a reward card.
However, only 20% of UK smart phone users interact with a retail loyalty scheme on their phone.
Despite this, 47% of those surveyed said they would prefer to collect loyalty points on a mobile app, rather than a card, to free up space in their wallet. In addition, 63% said they would be more likely to take their phone with them when they go shopping over a loyalty card.
Nick Black, chief excecutive of Apadmi, said: “It seems the days of retailers offering customers only traditional loyalty cards could soon be limited, as technology opens up huge opportunities for mobile apps to offer instant rewards, offers and location-based messaging in a much more engaging and interactive way.
“Interestingly, our research shows that UK shoppers are open to mobile loyalty schemes and are attracted to the benefits they could bring. Customers appreciate investment that retailers make, especially when it is rewarding and thanking them for their loyalty.”
Email this article to a friend
You need to be logged in to use this feature.
Please log in here


text:
Key personnel behind Nier: Automata have teased the announcement of a new game.
Square Enix producer Yosuke Saito and Nier series game director Yoko Taro appeared on a V Jump / Famitsu live broadcast (translated by Fire Sanctury), on which the producer reportedly asked: “So, what’s your new game all about?”
Taro replied: “Uh, it’s not really for me to say,” before Saito added, “well, I think you can talk a little about it the next time we do this.”
Tokyo Game Show is set to run between September 12 and 15.
Taro’s last project, 2017’s Nier: Automata, was developed in partnership with PlatinumGames. Saito acted as producer for the game on the Square Enix side.
Combined NieR: Automata shipments and digital sales have exceeded four million units, according to publisher Square Enix.
The new milestone means 500,000 copies have been shipped or bought digitally since December 2018, when the company announced the game had moved 3.5 million units.
PlatinumGames studio head Atsushi Inaba recently discussed the company’s collaboration with Square Enix on the project as part of a wide-ranging Platinum Games interview with VGC.


text:
Blockchain-based startups received the most funding in the crypto sector from venture capitalists (VC) during the third quarter (Q3) of this year, according to a report by Reuters on Tuesday, citing data from research firm Pitchbook.
Per the report, blockchain-focused products and services platforms received the most funding, with roughly $879 million invested across 24 deals during the quarter.
VCs Target Blockchain-Focused Startups
The latest report revealed that some blockchain-focused startups received the biggest deal in the sector with single funding during the quarter. The report mentioned Mysten Labs, which secured $300 million in a Series B funding round in September, and Aptos Labs, which received $150 million in a fundraiser in July.
According to analysts at Pitchbook, both platforms are expected to compete with major players like Ethereum and Solana.
The report added that decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web 3 were the primary targets of early-stage startup funding from some of the top private investors in Q3 2022.
VC Funding Drops for the Third Consecutive Quarter
Meanwhile, the report shows that overall venture funding has plummeted for the third consecutive quarter this year due to the extreme market conditions triggered by the recent FTX debacle.
Overall venture capital funding declined for the third consecutive quarter to $4.7 billion across 153 deals, a 32% drop from the second quarter’s $6.9 billion across 244 deals, according to the report.
“Still, we note there are areas of the cryptocurrency ecosystem that are less exposed to trading activity, which could be less impacted by the fallout from FTX,” Pitchbook analysts said.
The report also revealed several other hot sectors for VC funding during the quarter, which included financial technology and accounting; both sectors received $737.4 million across 24 deals during the third quarter. The biotechnology sector received $725.8 million across 11 deals, the report said.
The Pitchbook’s report tracked “153 early and seed-stage deals that involved the top 15 VC firms out of 5,997 total deals” during the third quarter of this year.
Your crypto deserves the best security. Get a Ledger hardware wallet for just $79!


text:
The past week finished on a somewhat bad note as the Bureau of Economic Analysis' "advanced" reading of U.S. GDP growth came in at 2.2%, markedly below economists' forecasts. However, even that wasn't enough to derail a week of strong earnings reports, which provided a nice tailwind for the markets that held through even that late-week disappointment. Among the big earnings headlines were sizeable beats from tech/consumer powerhouses Apple and Amazon.com
By the time the dust had settled on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average
The week's big winners
Earnings reports were driving most of the big moves in the market over the past week, but for many companies, the moves were a lot more about projections of what's ahead as opposed to a rehashing of the money that the company earned last quarter. That was exactly the case for Cirrus Logic
For supercomputer specialist Cray
But that wasn't all for Cray during the week. The company also got a shot in the arm after Intel agreed to pay $140 million for networking technology from the company. The deal will significantly strengthen Cray's balance sheet and helped make it a week that the company's shareholders won't quickly forget.
Top 3 Performing Russell 3000 Companies
Weekly Price Change
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Weekly price change is April 20-April 27. Includes only companies with a market cap of $250 million or higher.
Joining in on the big gains during the week were Incyte
For Incyte, the future is still where the payoff is for investors, as the bottom line remains in the red. For the first quarter, though, the per-share loss of $0.36 was less than the $0.46 loss Wall Street expected. More importantly, however, the company's first commercial product, Jakafi, appears to be progressing well after being approved in November. Incyte shipped $25.1 million of Jakafi to specialty pharmacies during the quarter, but because of the way it's accounting for sales, it recorded $19.3 million in product revenue. The company also increased its revenue guidance for 2012 thanks to the previously announced $40 million milestone payment from Novartis.
For Amazon, meanwhile, solid growth sent shares soaring. Investments that the company has been making to help drive growth hurt the bottom-line comparison to last year. However, investors cheered the 34% jump in sales and the fact that the $0.28 in per-share earnings clobbered the $0.07 that Wall Street was expecting.
By week's end, Incyte had tacked on 18%, while Amazon jumped more than 19%.
That's it for this week's top-performers recap. If you're looking for some ideas for strong outperformers for the rest of year, The Motley Fool has created a free report titled "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2012." In it, my fellow Fools reveal a top pick that's poised for explosive growth ahead. Get instant access -- it's free.
The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Cirrus Logic, Apple, and Intel. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Apple, Intel, Novartis, and Amazon.com and creating a bull call spread position in Apple. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.
Fool contributor Matt Koppenheffer owns shares of Intel but has no financial interest in any of the other companies mentioned. You can check out what Matt is keeping an eye on by visiting his CAPS portfolio, or you can follow Matt on Twitter, @KoppTheFool, or on Facebook. The Fool’s disclosure policy prefers dividends over a sharp stick in the eye.


text:
Canadian resellers say the marketplace is looking better today after several years of turmoil, according to a 99-page survey of the IT channel.
“”The future of the IT industry is rosy,”” said Michelle Warren, market analyst for Evans Research of Toronto and the author of this report.
to survey respondents, with 52 per cent predicting an increase in hardware sales and outsourcing forecast to increase by 48 per cent, the challenging period experienced in the past three years by resellers are over. They have emerged (from the market downturn) stronger and are poised for optimistic growth.””
The report was based on 175 qualified respondents, 79 per cent of which had fewer than 50 employees.
Another key finding is the trend towards co-opetition, with 56 per cent of survey respondents indicating they have formed partnerships with other organizations most notably professional services firms.
The report also found that resellers believe professional services is a key growth area and that many of the respondents want to build practices in management consulting, security, mobility and disaster recovery.
With that, software is playing a bigger role in reseller businesses than ever before, Warren said. Microsoft, IBM and Symantec were ranked the top three software vendors in by respondents. Each scored very well in critical reseller areas such as technical support and training.
Hewlett-Packard Canada Ltd. was ranked the top PC and peripherals vendor, while Ingram Micro Canada claimed the top spot in IT distribution, according to the survey.
However, the resellers interviewed for the survey want vendors to bring back more marketing dollars to the table.
“”With tight marketing budgets, resellers rely upon the vendor’s marketing and development funds to help contribute to increased business opportunities,”” Warren said.
She said the main reason the research firm undertook this survey is that the reseller channel is critical to the success of the IT industry. The company also wanted to provide vendors with a better understanding of resellers and the benefits of channel partnership.
“”The reseller is, in many instances, the sole front line contact with the end user, and bridges the gap between vendors and users. As a result, the reseller is in the best position to understand the idiosyncrasies of the market – the pushes and pulls of the end user – what clients’ want and don’t want – coupled with the direction in which the market is heading,”” Warren said.
For more on this study check the August 6th print edition of CDN.


text:
“India is for us one of the most important markets in the world and outstanding service is a key part of people’s overall experience with Xiaomi. B2X is an important strategic partner for us who helps us expand our service network catering for the continuous massive growth in the Indian market. ” said Liu Tao, Overseas Service Senior Manager, Xiaomi
“It’s a great honor for us to expand our partnership with Xiaomi to the Indian market. We are confident that we will add a lot of value to Xiaomi’s go-to-market approach in India and the success of the Xiaomi brand,” Rainer Koppitz, CEO of B2X said in a press release.
B2X, the leading technology-enabled provider of customer care services for mobile devices and consumer electronics, announced today that it has been selected by Mi India as one of their strategic customer service partners. Mi India is the Indian entity of Xiaomi, a leading smartphone manufacturer with whom B2X already collaborates in Europe where B2X supports Xiaomi’s wide array of accessories in multiple European markets. Xiaomi entered India in 2014 and is currently the #4 smartphone manufacturer in India. In a move to accentuate their customer experience further, Xiaomi has expanded their association with B2X to India.
B2X has rolled out a comprehensive service offering to 31 walk-in service centers across India, providing premium face-to-face support for people using Xiaomi smartphones. These service centers are based on B2X SMARTBAR, one of the most innovative in-store customer care solutions for mobile devices and consumer electronics. SMARTBAR is used by some of the most successful mobile brands in the world to deliver a cohesive customer service experience.
B2X SMARTBAR is a flexible in-store service solution that provides personal support and service for any warranty or out-of-warranty related issues including cross-selling devices and accessories. All services and repairs are performed by certified customer support experts and certified service engineers. The solution is integrated with the B2X SMARTCARE Technology platform that provides real-time visibility on all service interactions and the entire, end-to-end service process from the moment customers enter the store to the moment a repaired device is being returned.


text:
Almost half (45%) of EV drivers worry about a lack of available charge points in the near future, according to a new report by Shell e-mobility subsidiary NewMotion.
The report, based on what they say is the largest of its kind conducted in Europe to-date, also points out cost-savings as the biggest driver for EV adoption.
In addition, 46% of the surveyed drivers mention an increase in the availability of charge points as the one thing that will significantly improve their charging experience.
The use of a single charge card (41%) is also seen as an important improvement to the EV charging experience since this will help to more easily access available charge points while on-the-go.
7% of the respondents have a charge point at home while more than half of them (55%) have one at work. From the respondents who do not have a charge point at home, 53% say they also do not have one available at work.
Cost savings as main driver
Saving money is the most mentioned reason for switching to an electric vehicle – 61% of EV drivers say they drive an EV to save money, followed by the driving experience (58%).
A quarter of the EV drivers mention secondary benefits as an important driver to switch to an electric vehicle. Remarkably, the contribution to a better environment (10%) is not mentioned as the main reason for switching to an EV that often, although EV drivers generally see themselves as ‘pro-environmental’ (81%)
Charge convenience main priority for EV driver
For those who own a charge point, ‘ease of use’ is the most important factor when choosing a charging solution, with more than half (52%) citing this as their main purchasing driver. A third mention the price of the charge point as important, while a quarter (26%) say that a recommendation from a third party such as a leasing company, a car dealer or employer, as most influential to their decision.
European differences for charging at work
In the Netherlands, a charge point at work is quite common: 72% of the respondents say they have a charge point at work. The chance you’ll find a charge point at an office in the UK or Germany is significantly lower: only 29% of British respondents and 41% of the German respondents have this.
EV drivers stick with their choice
EV drivers are very enthusiastic about their switch to EV. Most people (86%) believe their next car will be an electric vehicle, while only 2% would switch back to a conventional (fossil fuel-powered) car. Additionally, 9 out of 10 people would recommend an electric vehicle to others, only 3% indicate they would not recommend owning an EV to others.
EV drivers even believe driving electric will rapidly be the norm. 60% of EV drivers expect that ‘full electric’ will be the most dominant fuel type in 2030. 14% expect ‘hydrogen’ to be the most dominant full type in the future, while 13% have high hopes for hybrid. Only 12% expect fossil fuel to remain the most dominant fuel type.
“Driving electric is the undisputed future of mobility. The industry is currently at the crossroad of mobility and the energy transition as electric driving has become more popular. It’s upscaling into its next phase: mass adoption and we’re ready to take EV charging to this next level with our smart solutions,” says Sytse Zuidema, CEO at NewMotion. “At NewMotion, we want to lower barriers for EV driving. If we want to make e-mobility more accessible, the whole industry needs to become more mature and collaboration between parties in the energy transition, car manufacturing and EV charging will be key. This will be the only way to live up to the promising future of electric driving.”


text:
Japanese / English
Elephantech Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Shinya Shimizu, Representative Director & CEO) was awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize at the CEATEC AWARD 2023.
The company believes that its achievement of mass production of electronic circuit boards using metal inkjet printing with low environmental impact was highly appreciated.
Please see below for the details.
— CEATEC (@ceatec) October 17, 2023


text:
Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal are also considered e-waste. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, as these countries have limited regulatory oversight of e-waste processing.
"Electronic waste" may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets, and refrigerators. This includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Others are re-usables (working and repairable electronics) and secondary scrap (copper, steel, plastic, etc.) to be "commodities", and reserve the term "waste" for residue or material which is dumped by the buyer rather than recycled, including residue from reuse and recycling operations. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently commingled (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable), several public policy advocates apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics. Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are considered one of the hardest types to recycle.
Weee! sits down with the film's director/co-writer to talk about her favorite childhood foods and journey as a director, launches curated recipes inspired by the movie ... Additionally, Weee!'s new Chief Creative Officer, Jon M ... Weee! is also the ultimate snacking destination for hard-to-find treats that the entire family can enjoy ... About Weee! Inc.
Feb 28 (Reuters) - E-grocer Weee! has raised $425 million in a late-stage funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, riding on investor interest in a sector that has been one of the biggest winners of the pandemic ... so far to $800 million, Weee! said in a statement on Monday.
28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weee! (www.sayweee.com), the largest and fastest-growing ethnic e-grocer in North America, today announced it secured $425 million in Series E financing led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 ... Weee! also partners with more than 1,000 restaurants to offer authentic food-at-home options for customers. About Weee! Inc ... SOURCE Weee.
7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weee! (www.sayweee.com), the largest and fastest-growing ethnic e-grocer in North America, today announced acclaimed filmmaker Jon M ... The announcement underscores Weee!'s commitment to storytelling that celebrates ethnic culture and community and enhances the platform's immersive and social shopping experience ... About Weee!.
A preliminary ruling by the European Court of Justice states panel makers should not be responsible for electrical waste management costs in a seven-year period as the rules in place before the EU'sWEEE directive entered force, in 2012, permitted member states to place the obligation on panel users instead.


text:
Google finally adds YouTube Music streaming to Wear OS watches
You will no longer be limited to offline play on your smartwatch.
Wear OS device owners can rejoice in today’s news that Google has finally developed a full-fledged YouTube Music app for smartwatches with Wear OS. The app will no longer be limited to offline playback, and you can listen using WiFi or LTE.
Google announced the new feature in a community post on its support forums earlier this week.
In addition to adding LTE and WiFi capabilities, Google has also added a YouTube Music tile to your smartwatch so you can quickly and easily access the music you’ve been listening to.
Now you can listen to YouTube Music on your Wear OS device without even having to have your phone nearby. The upgraded app even includes the Smart Downloads feature which will automatically refresh your downloaded songs when you’re on WiFi.
There are some limitations to the new YouTube Music app for Wear OS
Additionally, if you rely on your smartphone for LTE connectivity, you will have to use an Android device. The new app doesn’t have support for cellular streaming using an iOS device.
This is a prime time for Google to announce the new YouTube Music app for Wear OS. The company recently revealed its highly-anticipated Pixel Watch that will be coming in the fall.
And it would be quite a shame if Google’s flagship wearable launched without the Google-owned music streaming service.
- Google and Samsung partner up for better fitness tracking
- YouTube will now show you the ‘most replayed’ sections of a video
- Google Pixel Watch: news, rumors, price, features, and release date
- Apple is luring more and more people away from Android devices


text:
VR headset technology has been achieving some great heights in the past few years and has been exponentially growing at a pace that will captivate the world in years to come. I may just be the biggest advocate for virtual reality and it seems like a VR eye-tracking company has just figured out a way to track your hands and eyes.
Samsung showed off a prototype called the Exynos VR III at MWC 2017 and it was running software developed by the VR company, Visual Camp. The device is powered by a 10nm SoC that has ARM Mali G71 graphics and is capable of powering dual WQHD+ displays. The display can reflect 2560X1440 pixels and has a refresh rate of 90Hz. If you would like to use the VR device at 4K quality, the refresh rate would drop to 75Hz.
© Visual Camp
The VR headset by Samsung has gaze tracking i.e. the software Visual Camp has been working on. In addition to gaze tracking, the device can also track facial expressions, voice and track hand movements. The headset can track your eyes which mean that the headset will render images wherever your eyes are focused.
© Visual Camp
The technologies being implemented in the prototype can mean only one thing. It would be a huge jump for the VR industry and if Samsung are able to cram all these features into a compact affordable VR headset, it may just break barriers that were previously known to the VR industry. Currently, the VR Device is massive in size and would not be able to work with a smartphone, but a more compact version of the “Exynos VR III” would be highly successful with the given features it comes with.
Samsung has been working on various virtual reality technologies but has not commented on the Exynos VR II yet. A report earlier this year also suggested that Samsung showed off a new Gear VR in a private meeting which had better and upgraded pixel-per-inch density.


text:
As many of you have heard by now, Marvel is making news again. This week Marvel kills off one of their characters that have been gracing the pages of their book for 50 years. A member of the Fantastic four will kick the preverbal bucket. With the release of the Fantastic Four # 587, one of the 4 will not make it to issue number 589. So I’ll be waiting by the business phone early Tuesday morning to find out who dies. A quick special thanks to Tate’s Comics here in Florida for giving me the call in morning on the news! Not too sure why Marvel has decided to off one of the members though, for obliviously reasons sales, but there is probably a bigger picture here. Well at least that’s what we all hope, right? The biggest single event to hit Marvel since the Death of Captain America will happen on Tuesday (one day early release from the normal Wednesday release date). So are you ready? Maybe Marvel will really surprise everyone and have the number 3 they keep showing mean 3 deaths?!
Fantastic Four #1 (1961) $80,000. (Source: Comics Price Guide)
Is there a bigger book this week than Fantastic Four #587? Well, this depends. Maybe! You see there is going to be a comic that will be completely overshadowed this week, a lower print run, and sell out. Look for Ape Entertainment’s Freakshow #1, from the creative team of David Server, Jackson Lanzing, and Joe Suitor. With the comic getting very good reviews, and an appearance from the creative team at Golden Apple in L.A. on January 29, 2011, this comic will be sold out quick. Check out the coverage right here on the Golden Apple web site. The preview pages alone look amazing. Grab yourself a copy early, if you don’t you’ll just have to wait for the second print in a few weeks.
DC Comics goes with the Black Green Arrow in Green Arrow #8, and that’s equals up to some awesomeness. Also check out the non-numbered Shazam issue from Cliff Richards and Eric Wallace, and New York Five #1 from Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly
The Indie’s will also have a couple of books coming out that you should keep an eye on besides the “sold out” Freakshow #1. IDW begins their very first crossover event with Infestation #1. This will be a very different event in many ways. Why you ask? The event involves the Star Trek crew, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and even the Ghostbusters. Is that enough of a “what the…?” for ya? Sounds like fun though, jump in! Darth Vader begins a solo miniseries in Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command #1.
That’s it for this week! Check out the Debut of the NEW InvestComics TV web site at www.investcomicstv.com.
This week on InvestComics TV; Artist Sissy Pantelis!


text:
Thailand Hotel News
More than three-fourths of hotels and resorts in the popular Southern Thai province of Phuket are operating without a license as record numbers of foreign tourists continue to flock to the tropical island’s emerald shores.
A clear majority of the millions of travelers visiting Phuket each year stay at unlicensed hotels and resorts. As a result, Phuket is being denied tax revenue that could otherwise be used to improve the island’s tourism infrastructure.
According to C9 Hotelworks, a hospitality consulting group, only 429 out of 1,724 hotels and resorts on the island are currently licensed. That works out to less than one-fourth of the island’s hotels and resorts.
According to Phuket’s Provincial Administration Office, of the 1,295 unlicensed hotels identified in Phuket, only six have had their licenses approved. A further 1,001 are pending approval, while 288 have not yet applied.
Phuket’s former Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan announced plans for a crackdown on unlicensed hotels late last year, urging travelers not to stay at unregistered hotels. He set a deadline for hotels to register by 31 January 2017.
Half a year later, however, and little has changed.
According to an analysis by C9 Hotelworks, 33 hotels are currently under development in Phuket, and they will collectively add 5,738 more hotel rooms to the island‘s hotel room inventory.
The luxurious Rosewood Phuket (pictured above) is set to open in October 2017. Part of an aggressive Asian expansion plan, it will be the first Asian resort for Rosewood Hotels and Resorts.
Overlooking Emerald Bay, the resort will have 71 pavilions and villas, a private beach, a fitness center, and complete facilities for meetings and events.
One of the hotel’s features will be a free-form “organic” swimming pool with Jacuzzi, lap pool, activity pool, and children’s pool.
The hotel’s spa will have six wellness suites, an outdoor relaxation area, a Watsu pool, a salt sauna, a rain shower, and a spa bath. There will even be a garden growing herbs and other ingredients used in spa treatments.
Food and beverage outlets will include a restaurant serving Southern Italian fare, a poolside restaurant serving local and international seafood dishes, a poolside lounge and bar deck, and a beach-side restaurant serving traditional dishes.
Other multinational hotel brands currently developing hotels and resorts in Phuket include Sheraton, JW Marriott, Best Western, InterContinental, Park Hyatt, Kempinski, and Ramada.
Phuket International Airport
Phuket International Airport is Thailand’s third busiest airport after Bangkok’s two airports, Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport.
Located in Northern Phuket, Phuket International Airport is served by nearly 60 domestic and foreign airlines. It is a hub for three domestic carriers: Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, and Thai Airways.
The airport has two terminals, one serving domestic airlines, the other serving international airlines.
Several foreign air carriers serve the airport, with flights to nearby travel destinations such as Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
The three Middle Eastern airlines offer connecting service to Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East through their respective hubs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Doha, Qatar.
Phuket International Airport registered 15.1 arrivals and departures in 2016, representing 17.8 % growth over the previous year.
Strong demand from China, Russia, and other emerging markets has resulted in strong growth in arrivals at Phuket International Airport.
Fully 17 Chinese airlines are now serving Phuket, and China accounts for two-thirds of Asian traffic at the airport. Chinese passenger arrivals grew by 8% during the first five months of 2017. Russian passenger traffic rose by an even sharper 17%.
Fast Track Meet and Greet Service
Passengers arriving at or departing from Phuket International Airport often face lines of more than one hour at customs.
Phuket Airport VIP Services offers VIP arrival and departure services that provide assistance with luggage and whisk passengers through fast-track customs counters and to either their gate or the arrival hall.
Visa-on-arrival services can also be fast-tracked for travelers from 15 countries.


text:
Richmond, VA — Donald Trump’s failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused nearly 120,000 infections and killed over 2,500 people in Virginia alone. But the pandemic’s effects have not affected everyone equally. Communities of color are seeing higher infection and death rates than the Commonwealth as a whole, and Black and Latino workers are bearing the brunt of the economic damage. As the president’s actions continue to exacerbate the worst public health crisis in a century, Virginians of color are shouldering the burden.
In Richmond, 8 out of 10 new COVID cases as of mid-August were a Black or Latino Virginian. In Northern Virginia, Latinos accounted for 60% of the region’s new cases in July, though they represent just 18% of the region’s population. These trends are consistent with national data that shows Black and Latino Americans suffering disproportionately from higher infection and mortality rates from the pandemic. According to data from the Virginia Department of Health, 6 out of the 10 localities with the highest COVID death rate have a larger minority population than the Commonwealth as a whole.
The economic impacts of Trump’s recession have hurt workers and business owners of color in Virginia particularly hard. According to the Roanoke Times, “jobless claims by Black workers have exceeded those by white workers since late June, even though Black people make up only about a fifth of the state’s workforce.” Research shows that Black and Latino workers are much less likely to be able to work from home than white workers nationwide, placing them at greater risk of infection. And sectors that have been the most affected by COVID like retail and hospitality have higher percentages of Black and Latino workers than the economy as a whole.
For small business owners of color, Trump’s mismanagement of the PPP program has shut them out of much-needed economic aid. Nationwide, 110,000 small businesses have closed, with Black and Latino business owners suffering disproportionately. This is particularly difficult for Virginia, which has one of the highest percentages in the country of minority-owned businesses, and whose economy will feel the loss more than most states
“Donald Trump’s failed leadership has caused the worst public health and economic crises that Americans have faced in generations, and communities of color in Virginia are bearing the brunt of the damage. Black and Latino Virginians are more likely to lose a loved one, lose their job, or close their small business due to COVID, yet all President Trump has to say is, ‘it is what it is,’” said DPVA Communications Director Grant Fox.


text:
Altria companies Philip Morris USA, USTC, Middleton and Nat Sherman will form its tobacco division, and Nu Mark will focus on non-combustible nicotine products.
Altria, which currently has a Chief Operating Officer overseeing all operating companies, said it will align its management structure with the new dual approach. Altria said a Senior Vice President of Tobacco Products will oversee the tobacco portfolio while a President and CEO of Nu Mark will oversee NGPs.
Jody Begley has been appointed to the Senior Vice President of Tobacco Products role and will report to Vice Chairman and CFO, Billy Gifford. In the tobacco division, Heather Newman will be President and CEO of Philip Morris USA, Shannon Leistra will be President and CEO of the smokeless tobacco division USSTC, Ryan Bauersachs will be Managing Director and General Manager of Middleton, and Dominik Meier will be Managing Director and General Manager of Nat Sherman.
Brian Quigley, who has been President and CEO of USTC since 2012, will be President and CEO of Altria’s “innovative products business”, Nu Mark, and will report to Altria Chairman and CEO, Howard Willard.
K.C. Crosthwaite has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at Altria Client Services, having led Philip Morris USA as President and CEO for the past year.
The Chief Growth Officer’s “function which will identify and pursue Altria’s strategic and innovative growth priorities across the tobacco landscape. This function will identify marketplace and adult tobacco consumer insights and translate them into strategies for product development, consumer engagement, future of commerce and business development,” Altria said, adding that it aspires to be the leading US maker of non-combustible, reduced-risk tobacco products.
Altria said the changes will be effective as of 1 June.
“This is a dynamic time in the tobacco industry, and just as we lead in traditional tobacco products, we intend to lead in offering adult smokers more choices in innovative, non-combustible, reduced-risk products […] We expect this new structure to accelerate our innovation pipeline, maximise our core tobacco businesses and allow us to continue to reward shareholders,” Altria Chairman and CEO Howard Willard commented.


text:
Don't you just love announcements of announcements? Well we've got a corker for you today, as Ubisoft has announced that the next Assassin's Creed title will be revealed on the 12th May at 18:00PM CET. If our useless math skills are correct, that's 17:00PM UK time.
We already know quite a bit about the title, of course, as the Victorian adventure leaked late last year. Replay the teaser trailer that we've embedded over and over again, and then speculate like crazy in the comments section below.


text:
How Mazzanti’s 250 MPH Hypercar Stole the Turin Auto Show
Somehow, the 2,866-pound beast is street legal
Update: 14 June 2016
The latest member of the 250-MPH Club, the Evantra Millecavalli from Tuscany-based Mazzanti Automobili, finally made its big league debut this past weekend at the 2016 Turin Auto Show.
Mazzanti will be producing 25 of the cars at a rate of just five a year and three of them have already been sold for prices unknown.
“The excellent performance of the Millecavalli version marks an Italian record that makes us extremely proud,” says company founder Luca Mazzanti. “My tailor-made automobiles reflects my idea of supercars entirely. In fact, I have been dreaming of my own car, different from all others, since I was a child.”
Bugattis, Koenigseggs and Porsches can do it.
Lamborghinis can too — although they’ve been known to burst into flames in the process.
Now Italian carmaker Mazzanti is hoping to join the club: the 250 MPH club.
With a twin-turbocharged 7.2-liter V-8 capable of delivering a minimum of 751 horses, Mazzanti anticipates its EV-R project will produce the “most powerful, street-legal supercar” to ever come out of Italy. Based on the existing Evantra, the aerodynamic EV-R model will be able to do 0-60 in 2.7 seconds and slow itself from 186-0 in seven seconds.
In addition to the extreme top speed and starting and stopping times, the handmade hypercar will be outfitted with carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo, lightweight OZ Racing wheels and Trofeo R tires from Pirelli.
“When you think of a new project, the best way to make it concrete, is with setting objectives.” says company founder Luca Mazzanti. “The objectives must be then translated into numbers in order to become real.”
The world will get to see just how real those numbers get when the EV-R makes its official debut at the 2016 Turin Auto Show in June.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
Suggested for you


text:
Out of doors of what Nvidia shared about its Ampere structure right through the corporate’s Would possibly GTC announcement and a tease of a brand new 12-pin energy connector, little has been showed about what to anticipate for its upcoming GeForce RTX 30-series graphics playing cards. However that may alternate very quickly: Introduced previous this month, Nvidia’s GeForce Particular Match kicks off in at some point on September 1 at nine a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET), with the promise that avid gamers will see what comes subsequent. And we’ll be gazing and commenting are living because it occurs.
As we’ve completed previously, The Complete Nerd team will duvet the development continue to exist YouTube, with complete reactions to CEO Jensen Huang’s finds (and his signature leather-based jacket) in actual time. Sign up for us at eight:45 a.m. PT (11:45 a.m. ET) for pre-show ideas, then stick round for the presentation and our after-show wrap up:
(Word: We can communicate right through the flow. For the unfiltered exhibit, catch it at the Nvidia web site.)
Hypothesis a couple of successor to the RTX 20-series collection has run rampant for months now, however so far, Nvidia has but to concretely lay out its plans. The corporate has handiest hinted at them via a video launched ultimate week that showed a brand new 12-pin energy connector and a special way to cooling. Maximum rumors and meant leaks have swirled across the concept of an RTX 30-series in line with the brand new Ampere structure, with the potential for an RTX 3090 because the flagship client GPU main the stack—an enormous card purported to price $1,400 and be 35 p.c quicker than the 2080 Ti.
Different scuttlebutt means that the preliminary lineup will lack an replace to 2080 Ti, with a $800 RTX 3080, $600 RTX 3070, and $400 RTX 3060 filling out the set. That pricing could be a hefty soar over the RTX 20-series card release pricing, however like with all different conjecture, how issues pan out continues to be noticed. Within the intervening time, take a look at our RTX retrospective to look what avid gamers in truth were given from the ultimate two years of ray tracing and DLSS.


text:
If the promise of online advertising is one of marketing communications so targeted that they stop looking like marketing altogether, its flipside is concern about privacy.
Recently the lightning rod for this concern has been behavioural targeting, the technology that allows a person’s online activities to be tracked and advertising presented to them on the basis of what they’ve previously looked at. This can be done across a single site, across a network of sites or, in its most controversial form, across the entire internet, via ISP records. The perception of this as a “big brother” technology looking over our shoulders at all times has helped fuel the furore over behavioural targeting in recent months.
These concerns are not new. The basis of all tracking, the cookie placed on your browser when you visit a site that allows that site to welcome you back, was the subject of an EU investigation several years ago. But what the concerns indicate is a persistent set of issues that the online marketing industry has yet to fully address.
The first of these is that people are broadly unaware that interactive media allows this measurement and targeting to take place. Some years ago the think-tank Demos carried out some research into teenagers’ attitudes to their mobile phones. A uniformly positive response was quickly transformed into something much more ambivalent once the researchers explained that the technology allowed the user’s location to be tracked all the time the phone was turned on.
The second is that the industry has been very bad at explaining the technology, and at understanding the human concerns it creates. The best example of this I ever saw dates from Google’s launch of its gmail service some years ago. The service, which offered users unlimited storage for mail in return for having ads served into their emails, was greeted with concerns about the search giant spying on people’s communications. Google’s response showed the company at its most technocratic; it pointed out that concerns about privacy were misguided, since no actual people ever saw the contents of the emails. The whole process was carried out by machines.
Another problem is that people have yet to really see the benefit of all this targeting, or perhaps to recognise that it’s happening at a level above that of offline media. Even online publishers experimenting with these technologies admit that the best form of targeting is still to put ads next to relevant content. If online can’t do noticeably better than that, then people are entitled to ask why they are allowing information about themselves to be collected.
Talking about these issues, a viewpoint I often hear is that there’s a conflict between what people say and what they do. At the same time as they’re concerned about their privacy online, people are sharing all sorts of personal information on social networks. At least part of the explanation for this is that the definitions of public and private space that served us so well in the pre-interactive era are now failing.
People have tended to treat social media in the way they treat offline communications within small groups of friends, ignoring the broadcast element of interactive media. This type of behaviour is changing, with LinkedIn European managing director Kevin Eyres saying earlier this year that he is seeing people moving away from using one social network for everyone and instead choosing different kinds of social networks for different types of relationships. As Eyres puts it, you wouldn’t invite your family, current friends, old friends and work colleagues to the same party. The result of this change will be a much more granular approach to sharing personal information.
The other explanation, put forward recently by social media expert Adriana Lukas, is that people completely understand what they can share and what they shouldn’t, and that the two things fall into completely different categories. They know, for example, that stories about what they got up to on Friday night might be embarrassing, but they won’t result in their bank account being cleaned out by identity thieves. Seen like this, the seeming privacy paradox disappears.
What it leaves us with is a significant challenge. In order to be able to deliver on its promise and pull in more advertising budget, the online marketing industry needs to be able to demonstrate its effectiveness. As more and more content producers turn to advertising to support their activities, this need becomes ever greater.
In order for this shift to happen, the industry needs consumers to understand and welcome the benefits they would get in return for allowing information about themselves to be collected. However, we live in a world where no one reads the manual, and where, in the words of a popular dotcom crash era T-shirt slogan “your broken business model is not my problem”. As any teacher will tell you, you can’t educate someone who doesn’t want to listen.
Michael Nutley is editor-in-chief of New Media Age


text:
PARIS - Pierre Berge wants the head of Jacques Mouclier.
"Either Mouclier goes or Saint Laurent quits the Chambre," Berge said Wednesday, in the wake of the collapse of Event Media's plan for live telecasts of the upcoming couture collecitons to the U.S.
Accusing Mouclier, president of the Chambre Syndicale, of "a serious professional failure," the fiery YSL chief said he'll call for a special meeting of the Chambre and will demand Mouclier's resignation.
As reported, Event Media pulled out of the $1 million deal with the Chambre this week after it reportedly failed to sell enough tickets to the telecast, which would have been sent via satellite to New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Under the terms of the deal, the Chambre had promised that Event Media would pay around $50,000 to each of the 18 couture houses that agreed to participate, almost exactly the cost of renting one hall in the Carrousel du Louvre, the new fashion center here.
"Mr. Mouclier has endangered the reputation of couture with this debacle," Berge fumed. "He led a lot of couture houses down the garden path into the Carrousel with promises of hundreds of thousands of francs, and they won't get a sou.
"This dude is incapable of managing the Chambre. He's ridiculous, and must be replaced," Berge added.
Berge said he would ask for the special Chambre meeting after the couture season ends next week.
Mouclier said he had done no wrong and added that Berge called him Wednesday to warn that he would seek his ouster.
"Look, Mr. Berge was one of the people who signed the contract with Event Media," said Mouclier. "If it was such a terrible idea, then why on earth did he agree to it in the first place?"
Mouclier said the Chambre plans to sue Event Media for breach of contract.
"My conscience is clear," Mouclier added. "I've been in fashion for 21 years and I believe I've brought a few things to la mode over the years. Berge can do what he wants. I remain confident in my position."Bad blood has been boiling between Mouclier and Berge for more than a year, after they got into a bitter brawl over plans to advance the dates of the Paris ready-to-wear season ahead of the Milan shows. The dispute ultimately led to Berge being ousted last spring from the presidency of the Chambre's rtw division after several decades in charge.
"Berge's motivation is not for the benefit of the industry, it's to seek revenge," said the managing director of one couture house who asked not to be named, calling it "ironic" that Berge now considers Mouclier an unprofessional manager, "when they have been working together for 20 years."
This executive agreed that the failure of the deal with Event Media was a disaster, but said every businessman makes mistakes. He admitted, however, that the loss of the up-front fee hurts. "That would have paid the costs of the new rooms at the Carrousel du Louvre for this season," he explained.
At Ungaro, managing director Carlo Valerio said: "We are very disappointed. We thought the broadcasts would have been very positive for the image of haute couture. And, financially speaking, the deal also made it easier for all the houses to go into the Carrousel.
"All this drama a few days before the season is not good. But let's examine the situation calmly after the season is over."
Several smaller houses were clearly upset by the TV debacle. Jean-Philippe Lautraite, managing director of Lapidus, called the Event Media flop "a heavy blow, a real pity." He added that Lapidus would probably not have gone into the Carrousel without the guarantee of Event Media's fee.
"But I think we must depersonalize this whole issue. If there is a real problem, we can discuss it calmly. Let's not declare war unnecessarily," Lautraite said.
"We thought the idea was excellent, and it still is," said Alexandre de Poniatowski, managing director of Torrente. "All of us made a special effort and a big investment. It was a chance to show all over the world.
"We are very disappointed," he went on. "But we all signed the contract, and Saint Laurent signed like everyone else. "All of us are to blame as much as Mr. Mouclier. He has given a lot of prestige and helped develop haute couture. You can't just blame him for one thing," de Poniatowski concluded.Givenchy and Kenzo president Richard Simonin would not comment on Berge's demand for Mouclier's departure. He did say, however, that he was "not satisfied with the management of the Event Media affair."
Christian Lacroix also declined to comment on Mouclier. "But Christian and I are happy that the deal [with Event Media] is off," said Jean-Jacques Picart, the house's image director.
Picart said Lacroix had gone along with the deal mostly to show solidarity with the other houses but had been worried that Lacroix couture might be copied after the telecast.
“What he has done at Vuitton is really exceptional,” said @gameofthrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie on @mrkimjones’ final show for @louisvuitton. “He has rebooted luxury in terms of making it commercial, viable and contemporary. And most importantly artistic. He has never compromised his artistic vision for the sake of commodity.” (📷: @zefashioninsider)
After seeing a demand for men’s wear from its customers, British contemporary women’s wear label @ariesarise has added a men’s wear component and will launch a unisex collection with @mrporterlive. The 20-piece collection includes jackets, denim, logo T-shirts and more with deconstructed ‘90s vibes. Set to launch on January 18, you can shop the pieces on Aries’ website and on mrporter.com. #wwdfashion
“And so spending so much time with a character who thinks like that, inevitability you try and analyze yourself and go back and think about your own demons and dark chapters that you had in your life,” says @thedanielbruhl of his role in TNT’s “The Alienist.” The show, set in the Gilded Age of New York, also stars Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans. Head to WWD.com to read about how 39-year-old Brühl prepared for the role and why he thinks the show is so relevant to today #wwdeye ( 📷: @Eriktanner)
Now that Celine Dion’s collection has topped $10 million in sales, the pop superstar, fashion icon and newly-minted industry player is eyeing growth in Asia. Read the full report by @tiffanyap, link in bio. #wwdnews #celinedion
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
Among the familiar faces at @off____white’s show was a surprise figure: Japanese artist @takashipom, pictured here on Wednesday morning. Other show-goers included @jerrylorenzo, who spoke about his upcoming project: a @nike collaboration for back to school, with designs inspired by his childhood on the West Coast. Sitting in the front row were Future, Don Crawley, @miguel and more. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: Stephane Feugere)
According to @laurentsai, former “Terrace House: Aloha State” cast member, she didn’t know she was auditioning for the Japanese version of “Real World.” “I was telling a couple of my friends and someone’s like, ‘That sounds a lot like Terrace House.’ I was like, ’No it can’t be.’” Turns out, it was. But Tsai isn’t just a reality star — she’s an illustrator who has worked with Starbucks Japan and most recently, she’s dipping her toes into the fashion world. Head to WWD.com to read about her time on the show, modeling and her art. #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
More changes are coming to New York Fashion Week: Beginning with the spring 2019 collection, @alexanderwangny will move his New York show to June from September, adopting a biannual schedule with collections shown in June and December. Additionally, the @cfda is planning for an official summer/winter fashion season taking place as soon as June and December 2018. Read more about the upcoming changes on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @slovekinpics)


text:
Turn it around - should the gov be spending public money on having adverts delivered to kids in schools? We don't accept them (explicitly at least) on the BBC etc. We mostly all fret about the kids being turned into vacuous consumers before they've hit KS2. That it's someone's funding model for something harmless should have absolutely no impact on the answer to that question.
Does the govt, a any level, wether centrally or local, have teh right to spend taxpayers money on deliberately preventing someone legally earning an income?


text:
The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 133.4 in August, its highest level since October 2000.
Consumers expecting business conditions will get better over the next six months increased to 24.3 percent.
In June, home prices nationally rose 6.2 percent year-over-year, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices. That is down from the 6.4 percent annual gain in May.
Campbell Soup will announce this week that it does not plan to sell the entire company, according to sources quoted by the New York Post.
Data for July showed the U.S. merchandise trade deficit widened to $72.2B, its biggest m-o-m increase since March 2015. Last month's growth in the trade deficit was driven by a sharp decline in exports, reflecting the impact of imposed tariffs over the past few months. (LPL)
Record short position, those speculating on the direction of rates in 10-year Treasury futures, has increased to its biggest size on record.
Oreo's parent company Mondelez announced that its two newest iterations of the cookie, hot chicken wing and wasabi-flavored, are now available in China. (Fortune)
With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Troy Reinhart.


text:
Kenco Logistics joins Blockchain in Transport Alliance
Kenco Logistics has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), a forum created for the development of blockchain standards and education for the freight industry.
As one of the first third-party logistics providers to join BiTA, Kenco will serve as an industry voice to help guide and develop the standards needed for blockchain to drive the supply chain forward.
“Blockchain is exciting but unfamiliar territory for the supply chain, lacking in industry-set standards. BiTA enables different players within the supply chain to convene and work together to create the necessary guidelines,” said Kristi Montgomery, vice president of innovation at Kenco Logistics.
“We’re honoured to be a part of BiTA and to play a crucial role in that process – which will be all the more impactful because it is being driven by the industry.”
Chris Burruss, President of BiTA: “In addition to developing blockchain standards, education will be a primary focus of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance and to do both effectively, we need engaged members and parties from all areas of the supply chain.
“Kenco Logistics fills these roles nicely and is a natural fit for BiTA. The services they offer, from real estate, to distribution and fulfillment services, and even IT applications, Kenco Logistics touches so many aspects of the supply chain that they will provide unique perspective and insight to the Alliance and its members.”
Japan Seeks to Revive Stalled Semiconductor Industry
Post-pandemic, Japan has seen the consequences of relying solely on foreign imports for its semiconductors. Over 64.2% of its chips are usually imported from South Korea and Taiwan, leaving the country dependent on its neighbours. Industries from auto manufacturers to consumer electronics firms wait for chips, to no avail. But now, the Japanese government looks likely to put real funding behind its semiconductor industry, with top officials emphasising their support.
Domestic supply chains have never been more important. Rather than remain tied to international shipping routes during shortages and delays, governments are doing everything in their power to develop local lines of supply. But the question remains: can Japan pull it off?
How Will Japan Pay For It?
Herein lies our first issue. Japan’s debt has rapidly increased over the past few years, and the semiconductor industry will need roughly a trillion yen—US$9bn—in this fiscal year alone. This cost, however, pales in comparison to what Japan could lose if it fails to keep up with Europe and the US. Both nations have launched aggressive funding measures to revive their local semiconductor industries. And if Japan refuses to invest due to its debt, it could slow down progress in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to autonomous driving.
According to Tetsuro Higashi, the former president of Tokyo Electron and Japan’s top government advisor in semiconductor strategy, ‘If we miss this opportunity now, there may not be another one’. Yet one advanced wafer fabrication factory can cost more than US$10bn, and any money poured into the industry will go fast. That’s why Japan, rather than invest trillions and trillions in failing domestic firms, is considering a second option.
What Do They Plan To Do?
Japan now intends to look abroad and convince overseas chip foundries to come to its shores. Its past failures mostly centred on trying to merge domestic firms that were already going through tough times. ‘This sort of made-in-Japan self-reliance approach hasn’t worked out well’, said Kazumi Nishikawa, a director at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry’s IT division. ‘This time the goal is to offer a strong incentive for an overseas logic foundry to come to Japan’.
As follows, Japan will now reach out to industry partners and leaders in other countries, including the industry heavyweight Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), to build Japanese bases. According to the South China Morning Post, the heart of Japan’s mission is a US$337.2mn research and development project in Tsukuba that will involve TSMC and more than 20 Japanese firms. ‘I think we need to cooperate with our overseas counterparts’, said Akira Amari, a senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. ‘[And] TSMC is the world’s top logic chipmaker’.
Indeed, if that’s Japan’s strategy, the future looks bright. TSMC recently set up a venture near Tokyo to research energy-efficient 3D chips with several Japanese partners. And in the future, the multinational chipmaker may consider expanding its Japanese operations—that is, if government incentives pave the path forward.


text:
When you think of the iconic images of New York City, certainly the yellow taxi cab comes to mind. It makes sense – NYC makes up 40 percent of the for-hire vehicle industry’s business in the United States. It’s why Michael Ibrahim, CEO of a startup called Whisk, thinks his business couldn’t have gotten started anywhere else.
Unlike other phone apps with on-demand car services (think Uber or Lyft), Whisk doesn’t deal in recruiting drivers to be part of its service. Instead, it serves as a platform for users to locate the nearest black car or livery business vehicles. Also, unlike its competitors, users can watch their ride fare in real time on their phone, not unlike riding in a yellow taxi.
Ibrahim says that working with multiple businesses that offer cars for hire allows Whisk to avoid a common problem found in other ride-sharing programs:
“There’s actually a predicative problem about knowing where rides are going to come from at what time and helping to deploy drivers. And what we get, because of our model, is we have all these partners that are helping us do it.”
We’re here to help you navigate this changed world and economy.
Our mission at Marketplace is to raise the economic intelligence of the country. It’s a tough task, but it’s never been more important.
In the past year, we’ve seen record unemployment, stimulus bills, and reddit users influencing the stock market. Marketplace helps you understand it all, will fact-based, approachable, and unbiased reporting.
Generous support from listeners and readers is what powers our nonprofit news—and your donation today will help provide this essential service. For just $5/month, you can sustain independent journalism that keeps you and thousands of others informed.


text:
China's economy will avoid a post-Olympics recession, thanks to its vast size, rising consumer spending and big appetite for investment, one of the country's top economic advisers told a state newspaper.
Justin Lin Yifu, the Peking University professor recently appointed as the World Bank's chief economist, said the Chinese economy's sheer size dwarfed the cost of building stadiums and infrastructure for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"The difference in economic scale between China and other countries that have hosted the Olympic Games is just too large," Lin wrote in the overseas edition of the People's Daily on Wednesday.
"I'm sure that after the Olympics, China can maintain sustained rapid economic growth, and that this can be kept up for a considerable length of time."
China's economy, the world's fourth biggest, was 16 times the size of Greece's, which hosted the 2004 Games, and eight times the size of Australia's, which hosted the 2000 Games, Lin wrote.
Beijing is spending some $35-40 billion on improved infrastructure ahead of the Games in August, as well as $2.1 billion to cover the cost of running them.
That is more than previous Games cities spent. "But China's economy is so much larger than theirs, so relatively for China the investment is not much," Lin added.
China's ongoing need for huge injections of infrastructure investment and expanding consumer spending are also likely to ward off any post-Olympics slump, he said.
"There is a need for much fixed asset investment, and so we can be confident that China will not experience a post-Olympics recession."
Lin is the first economist from a developing country to take the top economics job at the World Bank. He will start on May 31.
Last month, he told Reuters that he expected China's economy to grow by around 10 percent this year, down from 11.4 percent in 2007.


text:
That sum is 6% greater than the investment made by the South Korean conglomerate over the past three years, according to Reuters.
Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday declared that it will make investments worth a whopping 180 trillion won (US$160 billion) over the next three years, seeking to effectively overcome various challenges to its business and its relationship with a government that has maintained a tough stance on family-controlled firms.
Samsung said 130 trillion won, or 72 percent of the amount, will be allocated to South Korea. In 2010, under the leadership of Lee's father, Lee Kun-hee, who was then in charge of the group, Samsung had said it would spend 23 trillion won over the following 10 years on future businesses. The new investment is expected to indirectly lead to about 700,000 jobs in related industries and businesses in South Korea, Samsung said without giving a time frame.
Samsung Electronics said it will invest aggressively in the fifth-generation network technology, which is anticipated to contribute to the growth of self-driving cars, Internet of Things solutions and robotics.
Sea-Tac Airport Plane Crashes After 'Suicidal' Pilot Conducts Unauthorized Takeoff
The last known transmission was from about 8:47 p.m., the Times reported , well before the crash was reported around 9:30 p.m. The man who stole the plane is believed to be a ground service agent and the incident has not been connected to terrorism.
Samsung said most of the new investments will be injected in its key businesses such as semiconductors and displays in order to develop value-added premium products and further widen gaps with runner-ups, especially those of China. "It will continue to invest heavily in the businesses, including developing and manufacturing biosimilars", it said in a statement. The numbers being proposed are much higher than the 25,000 the company hired in the recent three years.
To expand its AI capability, Samsung will be increasing the number of researchers to 1,000 across its global AI centers in the U.K., Canada, Russia, U.S. and South Korea.
After being freed from prison early this year, the Samsung heir returned to the management but maintained a low profile mostly staying overseas for business meetings.
The announcement sent shares in Samsung's contract drugmaker Biologics and in its IT affiliate SDS up five per cent. Samsung Electronics' share price closed this morning flat.