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iPhone, MacBook and iPad – the most coveted gifts for Russians on New year
The device of “Apple” company – the most welcome gift for the New year among the Russian users, according to a survey conducted Mail.Ru Group. Analysts also found how to change the attitude of Russian consumers to electronics as a gift, for what means, or their credit, they plan to buy gifts for and how much willing to spend.
Among more than 50,000 respondents, 38% plan to spend on equipment as a gift over 20 000. Smartphones, tablets and laptops remain popular, they will be happy two thirds (68%) of respondents. However, to put under the tree, these gifts, less than a quarter of respondents (23%); however, significantly more than in 2015 (14%).
“The interest in the gadgets as gifts is stored. However, users accustomed to the new reality of prices and mentally prepared to spend more than 20 000 rubles for the purchase of equipment, it is the best result in the survey. Statistics confirm data from retailers: in the end of the year the demand for machinery has ceased to show a negative trend, mood for 2017 is positive. Many expect a price adjustment down gadgets, as well as further strengthening of demand. New year sale is already started to demonstrate,” commented analysts the results of the study.
The rating of expectations, as last year, led by smartphones – they want to get 40% of the respondents. In second place was the computers and completing the top 3 tablets. Smartphones are guided and those who are going to give the gadgets — the intention to present them as a gift said 53% of respondents. 16% plan to please close the tablet, 11% — “smart” watches or bracelets.
As in previous years, the majority of users want to Apple gadgets – 24% would like to have equipment of the company for the New year. 20% Samsung – this is the highest result for the brand in recent years. Traditionally, the top desirable of gadgets there is a technique Sony, ASUS and Lenovo.
Like last year, the majority of users plan to buy gifts in the shops and electronics of the Russian Internet-stores.


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Firmus Energy confirms 17.75 per cent hike for Ten Towns gas customers from April 1
FIRMUS Energy has announced that its natural gas customers outside Belfast will see a 17.75 per cent hike in their tariffs from April 1.
The Consumer Council has said the typical customer in the Ten Towns network with a credit meter will see their bill rise by £78 to around £518 per year. Customers with a prepayment gas meter will see an increase by £74 to around £493 per year.
Firmus said the hike follows an increase in wholesale gas prices and follows three price reductions totalling around 37 per cent over the last 18 months, that led to gas prices being at an historic low for firmus energy customers.
The natural gas distributor has around 51,000 customers across the Ten Towns network that includes Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon, Limavady, Derry and Newry.
The interim head of the Consumer Council, Raymond Gormley, said the hike is unwelcome news for customers.
“However, we are aware the main driver is the significant rise in the cost of wholesale gas globally over the last year,” he said.
Firmus Energy managing director Michael Scott said: “During 2020 the price of wholesale gas decreased dramatically on the world markets, leading to Firmus energy being able to offer our lowest ever tariffs. Today’s announcement, while unwelcome, is a sign of the market readjusting after 2020 to more standard levels.
“Any increase is never welcome news and we recognise this comes at a particularly difficult time for many. We want to assure our customers that we will continue to monitor and review our tariffs to ensure customers are getting the best prices possible.”

domain: news


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Not content with having several new handsets in the pipeline, HTC has updated two of its most popular Android smartphones with a new look.
The HTC Legend and Desire are both getting a new colour and finish, according to the firm, with the Legend now coming in a phantom black finish, while the Desire is now available in brilliant white for the first time.
"There has been a real passion for these phones since they launched. The phantom black HTC Legend and brilliant white Desire cap a quality mobile experience with an exclusive and premium finish," said HTC's president for EMEA, Florian Seiche.
Last month, HTC unveiled two new devices, the Desire Z and Desire HD. The company is also expected to be one of the first vendors to market a handset based on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform, which is due to get its official launch at an event next week.
Dubbed Barnard's star B, newly discovered planet is believed to be rocky
Also, what's a USB stick?
Gravitational waves become extremely weak by the time they reach the Earth and require highly sensitive equipment for detection
The reactor topped out at 100 million° C


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Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/23/2014 -- Aman Group, the holding company of the international luxury resort collection Amanresorts, announces that its visionary founder has decided to step down from his position as Chairman and CEO.
Johan Eliasch, a global business leader with extensive brand-building expertise, has been appointed Chairman of the Aman Group and Vladislav Doronin, a world-class developer of high-end residential and commercial properties and the lead investor, has been appointed CEO.
Johan Eliasch said. "As someone who is very familiar with the distinctive Aman experience, I am excited to take on this role as Chairman."
Vladislav Doronin is a world-class property developer who is the Chairman and Founder of Capital Group, which he started 21 years ago and built into one of the most successful property development companies in Russia. Capital Group's portfolio comprises over 70 major projects with a total area of over 70 million square feet or 7 million square meters, including some of the most significant buildings in present-day Moscow: business centers, hotels, residential, retail and mixed-use complexes.


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Google is reportedly said to be working on a feature that is similar to how Apple’s ‘Find My’ network works. With the Find My app you can locate Apple devices signed in with the same Apple ID and also helps keep track of AirTag. As per a report by XDA Developers, the new version 21.24.13 of Google Play Services app contains a couple of codes– “mdm_find_device_network_description” and “mdm_find_device_network_title”– that suggest Google may be working a new feature to keep track of Android devices.
The report said that the feature “allows your phone to help locate your and other people’s devices”. Google hasn’t revealed officially about the new feature yet and very little is known as to how it will be different from the existing Android Find My Device. Having said that, as per the description of the feature, it may be quite possible that Google may allow you to track other people’s devices. It would be interesting to see whether or not Google goes ahead with the launch of a device that is similar to Apple AirTag in the future.
Meanwhile, Google recently rolled out a range of features for Android phone users including Android Earthquake Alert System for more countries like Turkey, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
With this free system, people in affected areas can get alerts seconds before an earthquake hits, giving you advance notice in case you need to seek safety. The system developed by Google uses Android phones to create an earthquake detection network that will warn people if they are in a potentially affected area.


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CEO Sharon Price John says Build-A-Bear’s old e-commerce system is a big reason for disappointing online sales in December.
The vacuum cleaner site aims to raise conversions to 25% this year. Analytics monitor tests to its shopping cart and point the way toward improvements that get results, including free shipping and beefed-up language on transaction security.
Brand vacuum cleaner site DirtDevil.com has boosted conversions from its shopping cart process to 18% using WebTrends’ Enterprise analytics product, and aims to raise that figure to 25% this year, according to Michael Crowdes, manager of interactive marketing and e-commerce for Royal Appliance, the Dirt Devil’s maker.
Contributing to the increase are ongoing changes to the site, which the analytics tool monitors to determine their impact on conversions. Among them, for example, are several alterations to the shopping cart process on DirtDevil.com, including tests on the effects of various shipping costs and promotions. The site originally charged a $3 flat fee for shipping on all purchases, but experienced no change in conversion rates when that fee structure was changed to offer free shipping on purchases of $20 or more. Raising the standard shipping rate to $4 from $3 likewise produced no effect on conversions, but offering free shipping on all purchases increased conversions by 3%.
Additional changes to the shopping cart tested and validated through web analytics included adding language about security as well as the VeriSign seal to each page, and introducing a step indicator to show shoppers where they are in the checkout process and what steps remain to complete the transaction. “I have made a lot of little changes to the shopping cart scenario over time, looking at each step in the process,” says Crowdes. “Taken together, these changes have had a big impact.”


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Texans Call For Boycott Of Retailers That Fought Wage Bill
A group is calling on back-to-school shoppers to boycott Macy's and Kroger stores in Texas this weekend, in retaliation for the national retailers' efforts to quash a bill that would have strengthened the state's wage discrimination law.
The bill was vetoed in June after winning bipartisan approval in the legislature. Its sponsors included state Sen. Wendy Davis, who told KERA, "if a woman didn't discover [a pay imbalance with her male colleagues] within her first 180 days of employment she has no cause of action in the State of Texas."
Gov. Rick Perry offered no explanation for the veto — but this week, the Houston Chronicle reported that Perry had received "letters against the measure from the Texas Retailers Association and five of its members," including the two companies.
From NPR member station KSTX, Ryan Poppe filed this Newscast report from Austin:
"Macy's department store and Kroger's groceries urged Texas Gov. Rick Perry to veto the Texas Fair Pay Act, which would have allowed women to sue employers for wage discrimination in state court. Ed Espinoza of is leading a boycott against the retailers.
"'Basically if they want to veto the legislation, we are saying you can veto the stores right back by not going to the stores this weekend,' he says.
"This particular weekend is the state's annual back-to-school tax-free holiday. Shoppers save the 6.25 percent sales tax on things like blue jeans and backpacks. Typically, Texas retailers bring in an extra 6-7 percent in sales revenue. Boycott backers want Macy's and Kroger's to miss out on some of that revenue bump this year."
On the Chronicle's story about the fight against the bill, a retailer called the measure "unnecessary." The top-rated comment on that story came from a man who wrote, "If the bill was unnecessary, then why veto it? Goodbye Kroger and Macy's! We'll remember this one."
In addition to states, large retailers have also clashed with cities over how much they pay employees recently.
Earlier this summer, Wal-Mart said it would build only half of the stores it had planned in Washington, D.C., after the city council approved a bill requiring large retailers to pay "a living wage of $12.50 an hour," as NPR's Allison Keyes reported on All Things Consideredin July.
The passage of that bill, which came despite threats from Wal-Mart, has left some observers wondering whether Mayor Vincent Gray will veto the measure. In 2006, a similar bill was vetoed by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.
In Chicago, reviews of how things went after that veto have been mixed. But city Alderman Howard Brookins told Allison that Wal-Mart's arrival brought new development and jobs to his south side ward.
"It is attracting other businesses like Lowe's and Pot Belly and Game Stop," he said. "Bank of America and Chase Bank are coming."
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Recreational vehicles have been red-hot lately, and Thor Industries (NYSE:THO) has made a name for itself among stock market investors with huge share-price returns. Until recently, many analysts thought the aging baby boom generation would eventually lead to the end of demand for RVs, but millennials have turned out in large numbers to rejuvenate the industry and drive a new wave of popularity.
Coming into Wednesday's fiscal fourth-quarter financial report, Thor investors were looking to see a continuation of the favorable growth trends that the company has enjoyed for quite a while. Thor was able to deliver on its full promise, posting record results and foreseeing a solid future. Let's take a closer look at Thor Industries and how it has done lately.
Thor hammers out strong financial performance
Thor Industries' fiscal fourth-quarter results put the finishing touches on an amazing fiscal year for the RV specialist. Revenue during the quarter jumped by almost exactly half to $1.93 billion, easily crushing the $1.84 billion in sales that most investors were expecting to see. Similarly, net income climbed 44% to $119.5 million, and that resulted in earnings of $2.26 per share, well above the consensus forecast among those following the stock for just $1.95 per share.
Taking a closer look at the report, Thor finally reached the point at which the Jayco acquisition will be more than a year old going forward. That will bring growth rates down, but it shouldn't eliminate them entirely. Jayco contributed about $400 million more in revenue during fiscal 2017's fourth quarter than it did during the year-ago period, but that still left more than $240 million in organic sales growth from Thor's pre-existing businesses.
Gains across Thor's business were well-balanced. The towable RV unit saw dollar-value sales climb 47%, with Jayco contributing about a quarter of total revenue and organic sales gains of almost 18%. Unit volumes were up by more than half from year-ago levels. Pretax income for the segment jumped 40%, overcoming declines in gross margins related to the mix of Jayco sales. Thor noted especially strong demand for more affordably priced travel trailers, reflecting the budget-conscious decision-making that millennial customers are making with their purchases. Backlog figures for the segment almost doubled to $1.42 billion.
For the motorized RV segment, figures were similarly strong. Segment sales in dollar terms jumped by two-thirds, with high demand for gas-powered Class A and Class C motorhomes that appeal to thrifty consumers. Unit sales rose 57%. Organic sales gains of 24% were impressive, and pre-tax income climbed by about three-eighths. Backlog figures also doubled to $916 million, showing the staying power that Thor is enjoying right now.
CEO Bob Martin was quite happy with the performance. "Thor completed another year of exceptional growth," Martin said, "supported by strong demand from dealers and consumers for our products, notably our expanded lines of more affordably priced towable and motorized RVs." The CEO noted that the product mix is resulting in getting "more types of customers, including baby boomers and millennials, to take part in the RV lifestyle."
Can Thor make lightning strike twice?
Thor doesn't see the favorable trends in the industry ending soon. In Martin's words, "Industry fundamentals remain strong, and we are looking forward to another year of growth in fiscal 2018." Results from the company's annual open house showed high levels of excitement among Thor's dealer network for new and redesigned RV products, and Thor anticipates continuing to expand production capacity to meet demand.
In particular, Thor pointed to predictions that industrywide shipments of various types of RVs should rise 10% to 12% in calendar 2017 compared with 2016. With efforts to improve profit margin figures at Jayco and expected increases in demand for entry-level RVs, Thor believes that it can surpass its record performance over the past year with an even better fiscal 2018. The company also said that it intends to keep sharing its success with shareholders through increased dividends, pointing to its seven-year streak of annual dividend hikes and stating its intent to extend that streak going forward.
Thor investors were happy with the news, and the stock rose 4% in after-hours trading following the announcement. The RV market shows no signs of hitting the brakes, and Thor is capturing the opportunity and keeping an iron grip on its leadership position in the industry.


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Visitors attending the renowned RWM exhibition (11-12 September) in Birmingham, England, will have the opportunity to learn about Tidy Planet's turnkey Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants, which feature pioneering solid waste boiler regulating technology - the Artificial Vision System (AVS) - from Sugimat.
Register Now For the the 22nd edition of the Waste & Recycling Expo
Spend 2 days of business interaction, product discovery, education and more at the 22nd edition of Waste & Recycling Expo. Attracting more than 3,000 industry professionals, this premier event is Canada's ONLY trade event serving the waste, recycling and public works markets. From transportation and sustainability to composting and construction, more than 300 companies will be showcasing the latest equipment and services hitting the market. Join us this October 9-10 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto.
More from Shows & Events
The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association's 2019 Regional Meeting takes place September 15-16, at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel in Raleigh, North Carolina. The meeting, themed "Focus on the Future," will feature experts from academia and the textile reuse and recycling industry to provide attendees a glimpse into emerging issues and trends.
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has announced the 2019 SWANA Safety Award recipients, chosen by the SWANA Safety Committee. These awards recognize those who have demonstrated a profound commitment to improving employee safety through communication, best practices, training, and policies. Two organizations are honored this year with the Biggest Safety Improvement Award and the Best Safety Innovation Award.
Canadians know that we need to find new ways to reduce our waste and use our resources more efficiently. When we don't properly recycle and reuse materials, letting them become landfill instead, it is economic value we are throwing away.
The new Freightliner EconicSD™, the only cab-over-engine refuse truck in North America that features a collision mitigation system, will be on full display this year at WasteExpo 2019. The innovative, low-entry waste collection truck will be showcased in the Freightliner booth (#1402) along with an array of work truck solutions for the waste collection industry.
The highly anticipated Mack LR battery electric vehicle (BEV) will grab the spotlight in Mack Trucks' booth at WasteExpo 2019, May 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Built to meet the demanding needs of the New York City Department of Sanitation, the fully electric LR demonstrator will begin testing and evaluation later this year.
Liebherr featuring powerful wheel loader and high-precision wheeled excavator at Waste Expo 2019 in Las Vegas
Liebherr USA, Co. Construction Equipment is displaying the high performance L 556 XPower wheel loader and the A 914 Litronic wheeled excavator at Waste Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada from May 6 through May 9, 2019.
Scranton Manufacturing and its New Way Trucks brand of refuse truck bodies will debut the company's latest rear load body at the 2019 Waste Expo, May 7-9 in Las Vegas, NV. The new 25 cubic yard New Way Cobra HC adds high compaction (HC) to the Cobra line of rear loaders, and was designed to be the fastest and strongest in the lineup.
Wastequip is set to launch RockBox, a new ultra-heavy-duty roll-off container that combines extreme toughness and durability in a lighter-weight container. Made from wear resistant Hardox steel, the new roll-off containers are four times stronger than ordinary mild steel grades, while weighing 20 percent less and lasting twice as long as traditional heavy-duty roll-off containers. Wastequip's new hard and tough roll-off containers will be the first of their kind in the United States to be made of the innovative Hardox material. Wastequip is also a certified member of the Hardox In My Body program.
Wastequip will debut the products May 6-9 at Waste Expo 2019, booth #523.
TOMRA SORTING RECYCLING is set to unveil information about its new cloud-based program designed to connect customers' optical sorting equipment, during Waste Expo 2019. To be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 6-9, show attendees visiting TOMRA's booth #2241 will be among the first to learn more about TOMRA Insight. The new technology unleashes the power of process data to transform sorting from an operational process into a strategic management tool, providing fact-based decision-making at every step of the value and production chain.
FleetMind Solutions, Inc. will be showcasing its latest, connected technologies for waste fleet management at Waste Expo 2019, May 7-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Waste Expo is the largest waste, recycling and organics trade show and conference in North America.
End of Waste Foundation Inc., a public-service corporation based in California, attended ISRI2019 Convention and Exposition in Los Angeles, held April 8th-11th, 2019. With rising concerns with global warming, End of Waste's first traceability software, based on blockchain technology, is providing a tangible solution to what the company calls a broken system in the recycling industry.
With more than 620,000 visitors from over 200 countries, bauma 2019, the world's leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment, generated the best results in the exhibition's 65-year history. The number of visitors rose by about 40,000 over the total produced during the previous event in 2016. More than 250,000 visitors came from countries outside Germany. The top 10 visitor countries after Germany were: Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland and Great Britain. The trade fair also experienced a strong increase in attendance from overseas visitors. Significant gains in this group were produced by China, Australia and Japan. More than 5,500 visitors came from China alone. The number of exhibitors totaled about 3,700 from 63 countries - likewise a record.
ISRI 2019 began Monday night with the show's traditional opening night reception. Close to 300 exhibitors are at this year's event, along with several thousand registered attendees. On the show floor, companies are showing off the latest expertise, equipment, technology, systems, software, services, parts and more for the scrap recycling industry. ISRI sessions through the week are focused on operations, the latest technology and equipment as well as global markets for metals, plastics, paper, tires and e-waste.
Liebherr USA, Co. Construction Equipment division is displaying two high performing material handlers and the most efficient wheel loader in the industry at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries 2019 convention and exposition in Los Angeles, California, to be held April 8-11.
Members of the metals sorting team from global sensor-based sorting leader, TOMRA Sorting Recycling, will be on hand in TOMRA booth # 800 to meet with attendees during ISRI 2019 in Los Angeles , Calif., from April 8-10. Team members will be available throughout the show to address attendees' specific sorting challenges and how TOMRA's X-ray and color sorting technologies can help to deliver solutions.
The leaders of the C&D recycling industry gathered in Brooklyn, NY - March 10-12 to hear an economic forecast for their industry, how to get and retain workers, and several materials specific sessions as part of C&D World 2019.
Within the automotive recycling industry there is growing concern about future economic developments, according to a survey of participants at the International Automobile Recycling Congress, IARC 2019, taking place this week, March 20-22, in Vienna. The survey shows that around 38 per cent expect economic conditions for the automotive recycling industry to deteriorate over the next two years. A similarly high percentage, however, think business will remain stable. Only just over one quarter of those surveyed expect economic conditions to improve.
Rotochopper owners and operators gathered at Rotochopper's manufacturing facility in St. Martin, MN for training the last two weeks of February. The customer service department hosts Rotochopper University annually for companies that have purchased Rotochopper grinders during the past year.
Global Recycling Day 2019 is today, March 18, and people around the world are joining in the celebrations to mark the day. With events from beach clean ups to high school litter picks, and football challenges to school visits taking place in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America, every corner of the globe is uniting to celebrate the importance of recycling.
TerraCycle CEO, Tom Szaky announced as closing keynote speaker for Responsible Business Summit New York
Tom Szaky, president and CEO of international recycling company TerraCycle® is pleased to announce he has been selected as a closing keynote speaker at the 7th annual Responsible Business Summit New York, scheduled for March 18-19.
Frontline Machinery hosted their annual Demo Days & Open House event today at the company's headquarters in Chilliwack B.C.. About 200 customers, industry partners, OEMs and staff were in attendance to see the latest innovations from Frontline equipment partners, including global crusher/screener manufacturer Keestrack, Optical Belt Scale manufacturer Sensortechnik and screen/shredder and mobile conveyor manufacturer EDGE Innovate. Also in attendance was Langley-based Shearforce Equipment which demonstrated their latest hydraulic pulverizer attachment.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors rank fifth on the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics' list of most dangerous jobs. In 2017, the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries identified 30 fatalities among these collectors. This year, in January alone, 17 fatal incidents have occurred in the solid waste industry in the United States and Canada, with two taking place in New York.
The 2019 edition of the National Heavy Equipment Show is quickly approaching this March 28 and 29 at the International Centre in Mississauga. With a sold-out show floor and thousands of visitors pre-registered, the key trade event is ready to mark its 22nd year in just three weeks' time.
Building on its reputation as the premier recycling industry event in the world, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) 2019 Convention & Exposition will add a Residential Recycling Summit to its lineup of educational workshops. Through a seven sessions it will deep dive into the issues surround plastics, paper and residential recycling industries.
In June, the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) is hosting a first-of-its-kind Circular Procurement Summit, over three days, from June 11-13, at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. The conference aims to unite all levels of government, suppliers and vendors, and experts from leading jurisdictions to ignite the transition to the circular economy in cities and regions across Canada.
Canada's only trade event for the waste, recycling and public works markets has launched its attendee registration platform for its 22nd edition to be held October 9 - 10, 2019 at the Enercare Centre, in downtown Toronto.
Terrafirma Equipment Sales & Rentals will be holding Customer Appreciation Days, August 23–25 in Edmonton, Alberta.
McCloskey Washing Systems (MWS) held their first North American Open Day at H&H Stone LLC in Bolingbrook, Illinois, from June 20 to 21. The event highlighted new washing and classifying equipment for both quarrying and recycling applications.
Intermat visitors will have a chance to view the most recent addition to McCloskey International's product portfolio, the I34R compact impact crusher, during Intermat. This exciting new highly mobile machine will be on display outside the entrance to Hall 6 for the duration of the show.
Keestrack will unveil a new design for its track-mounted impact crusher unit R3 / R3e at Intermat (Stand No.: 5A H098). Thanks to its compact transport and operational dimensions, the 30-tonne model offers all advantages of the diesel-electric hybrid concept, which Keestrack is implementing as an efficient alternative drive system in more and more product ranges of its mobile crushing and screening plants.
On March 13, Frontline Machinery hosted their annual Keestrack Canadian Demo Day at their Western Canadian head office in Chilliwack, B.C. Heavy Equipment Guide and Recycling Product News were on site at the event which brought together customers and stakeholders from the aggregate and recycling industry for a live, hands-on demonstration of crushing, screening and stacking conveyor systems.
World of Asphalt will be held in Houston, Texas, from March 6 to 8 and features educational programming and exhibits focusing on the latest technology and innovations for the asphalt industry. The Agg1 Aggregates Academy & Expo, co-located with World of Asphalt, offers educational sessions and exhibits on the latest developments for the aggregates industry. The following are highlights of products that attendees can expect to see at the shows.
On March 13th, 2018, Frontline Machinery, in partnership with Keestrack, will host their annual Canadian Demo Day. This special event brings together customers and stakeholders from the aggregate and recycling industries for a live, hands-on demonstration of crushing, screening and stacking conveyor systems.


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The 26th Outdoor Advertising Awards will be held on October 12th in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, according to the Outdoor Media Association (OMA).
Entries to this year’s awards are also open and it has been announced that the MC for the event is Anton Savage.
The awards, which take place every two years, celebrate excellence in content and planning in Out-of-Home advertising on the island of Ireland.
The jury for this year’s awards will once again be headed up by Stefan Schmidt, founder of Berlin agency dieckerschmidt.
According to Colin Leahy, president of the OMA and managing director of Exterion Media: “Out-of-Home has performed very well in recent years and these awards give us the chance to review campaigns that delivered success for Advertisers and Agencies in the past two years. The judges will be looking for entries that demonstrate the effectiveness of campaigns in creative execution and in media planning.”
The OMA membership is made up of Clear Channel, Exterion Media and JCDecaux. For more details on the awards go to www.outdoorawards.ie


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Poker Night 2, Telltale Games' poker simulator starring a cast of characters from video games and cartoons, is now available on iOS, according to the developer.
The mobile version, which Telltale teased in April on Twitter, retails for $4.99 in the iOS App Store. It includes the same card players as the Windows PC, Mac, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network versions that are also available. Those include characters from Sam and Max, Claptrap from the Borderlands series, Ash from Evil Dead and Brock Samson from The Venture Bros. GLaDOS from the Portal series remains the dealer.
For more on the game, be sure to check out Polygon's Poker Night 2 review and read our interview with the developers about how Telltale brought the familiar cast of characters to the table.
Battlestone, the first action RPG from Zynga and the next step in its foray into mobile games, is now available worldwide on iOS for free, the publisher announced today.
An Android version is "coming soon" to Google Play, according to Zynga.
Battlestone was developed by November Software, a studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area that Zynga quietly acquired last spring. November previously worked on games such as LucasArts' Star Wars: The Force Unleashed franchise, which is why Zynga put the studio to work on the "mid-core" title Battlestone. Zynga launched the game in select markets, including India, earlier this year.
The action RPG offers simple touch-based controls like swiping for attacks and selecting multiple targets for combos. That applies both to Battlestone's...
Video game retailer GameStop posted sales of $1.87 billion, down 6.8 percent from last year's earnings of $2 billion during the same period, according the company's recent financial report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013.
Mobile sales increased 290 percent to $46.8 million, while new software sales decreased 3.8 percent and new hardware sales fell 30.6 percent. Sales of pre-owned goods also dropped 7.5 percent. Consolidated sales in stores decreased 6.7 percent since last year, and the company cited "late stage effects of the current console cycle" as the major factor affecting its topline sales.
Net earnings for the first quarter ending May 4, 2013 were $54.6 million, a decrease from the company's last quarter earnings of $72.5 million.
"GameStop's continuing margin...
Turn-based iOS title Warhammer Quest is coming to mobile devices on May 30, developer Rodeo Games told Eurogamer.
The studio's upcoming title is based on the table-top Warhammer spin-off from 1995 and features top-down strategy gameplay, allowing the player to control a group of four warriors. Warhammer Quest supports iOS 6 and above and allows multiple cloud saves across iPhone 3GS, iPad 2 and iPod Touch 4 or above devices.
Warhammer Quest will be available for $4.99 from the App Store.
Clandestine: Anomaly, ZenFri's augmented reality game currently seeking funds on Kickstarter, is in development for PlayStation Vita, the developers announced today on the game's Kickstarter blog.
The developers describe the game on Kickstarter as a "reality expansion pack" that will use portable devices to augment reality with the game. You play as yourself in Clandestine: Anomaly, "an epic, story driven game that you play in your own neighborhood." The game was originally in development for iOS and Android devices.
Earlier this year, Sony announced that the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and PlayStation Mobile would support the Unity engine. Early this month, Sony announced that it would waive the publisher license fee for PlayStation Mobile this summer. The...
In Dog Sled Saga, a Kickstarted game for desktop and mobile devices, there are two things you should remember. A well-fed dog is a fast dog. A fast dog is a happy dog.
The pixilated brainchild of Dan FitzGerald and Lisa Bromiel, Dog Sled Saga is a mix of racing, reputation building and pet management. Players step into the boots of a musher climbing the racing ranks with the help of his or her dog sled team. But the concept behind the game is less about the sport itself, FitzGerald said, and more about the interaction with your pets.
"I would boil it down to the non-verbal pet relationship," FitzGerald said. "It is absolutely about getting familiar with an animal that can't talk to you. There won't be a lot of pop-ups that tell you about your dog, but there will be signs — [this...
A game even less likely to attract Western gamers' attention the day after the big Xbox One reveal: A new puzzle game released by Sony Computer Entertainment themed after the Yusha no kuse ni namaikida franchise, most recently released in the States under the title No Heroes Allowed!
Yu-Nama: The Puzzle, as it's called, is a basic kind of color-match game with a twist. You're tapping blocks on the screen to dig them up and allow space for monster blocks to fall downward. Slide them around to match up colors and create monster hordes to fend off the would-be heroes invading your territory. Beat 'em all, and it's on to the next level. Simple.
The game's available now on PlayStation Mobile across the world, and you can get it for both the PlayStation Vita and Android systems for only 600...
The launch of Kickstarter-funded retro remake Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded is being delayed until late June, developer Replay Games announced.
According to an official statement issued by Replay (via CinemaBlend), the game's original May 31 release date is being pushed back to allow for "additional polishing."
"Larry Laffer is one picky guy and he won't stop preening himself until every hair looks pristine," reads the statement "In order to show Larry as the true Casanova he is, and provide the best possible Leisure Suit Larry experience for fans, Replay Games has decided to hold off the launch of Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded until late June for additional polishing."
Replay founder Paul Trowe took to the official website to explain the decision to ultimately delay, adding that bugs...
In this week's issue of Famitsu magazine, Level-5 announced that they're set to release an upgraded version of Fantasy Life, the RPG/exploration/goof-around-and-fish-all-day game they released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan late last year.
Called Fantasy Life Link!, the upgrade mostly focuses on boosting the game's online feature set. Up to four people can now play co-op over the Internet once they exchange Friend Codes, and there's also a new Link Mode that, when you're online, lets you exchange messages with friends and keep tabs on their progress through the game. This will be accompanied by a new website launching alongside Link! that's set to feature forums, stats, and screenshot albums. In addition, Level-5 showed off a new island that will be available for exploration in Link!,...
Gravity Guy 2 (iOS, Windows Phone 8)
Everyone's favorite Gravity Guy returns! This time, instead of flipping gravity, you're raising platforms to propel yourself across gaps. Even though it sounds duller than the original, it's actually a good deal more engaging.
Trucker Parking Simulator (iOS)
Have you ever wanted to park a truck? Probably not. It sounds really scary. But there's nothing scary about trying to park a truck in a video game, because the worst that can happen is you end up having to restart a level. And damn if I don't find virtual truck parking really satisfying. Call the Teamsters union!
Can Knockdown 3 (iOS, Android)
Finally a game that lets you take down the efforts of carnies the world over! Best can physics I've ever seen.
Unity Technologies will grant indie developers free publishing tools for the development of iOS and Android games, the company announced today.
Beginning today, indie developers will have access to Unity's basic mobile tools and will be able to publish their games and apps for iOS and Android via the build menu. Publishing services for Blackberry and Windows Phone 8 will also be added in the future, and will be included in the deal without additional cost. The Unity license to publish on mobile platforms cost $800 before today's decision to release them for free.
"We were able to make Unity free for the web and for desktop computers a while ago, but have been dreaming of doing the same for mobile for what seems like forever," Unity CEO David Helgason said in a statement. "Mobile games...
Eve Online developer CCP is turning its focus to mobile development with plans to bring an app for the niche MMO to mobile platforms by next year; however, former executive producer Jon Lander told Touch Arcade it is still learning how to become a mobile development studio.
Speaking to Touch Arcade, Lander described his vision of small teams and quick turnaround times for prototypes of new ideas.
"We have an amazing opportunity to work with a persistent, sandbox world. Oh my God, just imagine some of the best mobile games out there ...," he said. The company has yet to announce what mobile concepts they may bring to life.
This follows his recent transition from CCP producer to head of the company's emerging mobile strategy. According to Lander, the company is not "a mobile...
Mobile game developer, publisher and service provider DeNA will publish 22Cans' Godus on Android, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices, the company announced today.
Developed by Peter Molyneux's independent studio, Godus is a god game-style mobile title that is the spiritual successor to Molyneux's Populous. 22cans turned to crowdfunding platform Kickstarter last year to ask for £450,000 to develop the game. The Kickstarter campaign describes Godus as blending "the power, growth and scope of Populous with the detailed construction and multiplayer excitement of Dungeon Keeper and the intuitive interface and technical innovation of Black and White." The Kickstarter campaign closed at £526,563.
Godus is coming to Windows PC, Mac and mobile devices, and DeNA will be responsible for...
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released, Run That Town, a free iOS strategy game using real 2011 census data.
The game grants players with leadership of any Australian neighborhood they wish. Players then use the real census data of the neighborhood's zip code to develop the area and influence residents. The game features hundreds of development projects — such as pools, stadiums, casinos, theme parks — and allows players to poll "residents" before beginning construction.
If residents are angry overall with leadership decisions, then the player can be chased out of town by an angry mob, where popular leaders are given ticker tape parades.
The Australian Census is conducted Australian-wide every five years, with the last census carried out on Aug. 9, 2011. The census captures...
American McGee's Spicy Horse studio's new title based on The Wizard of Oz is titled OZombie, according to its official Facebook page.
Spicy Horse first revealed The Wizard of Oz-based game earlier this month, with the studio stating that "This is not, in any way, shape or form the title from 2004," referring to the game cancelled by Atari in 2004.
OZombie will feature Dorothy, Toto, Lion, TinMan and Scarecrow as a brain-loving bad guy. The game will be a cross-platform title for tablets, Windows PC, Mac and Linux, and will be based on the Oz series, which consists of 14 episodes.
A Kickstarter campaign for the title is underway and Spicy Horse currently has a second Kickstarter campaign for Alice: Otherlands. Which title gets developed depends if Alice license holder Electronic Arts...
The latest update for endless runner Temple Run 2 adds a new level fraught with peril and more chances for players to earn in-game loot, developer Imangi Studios announced today.
The new landscape, The Narrows, is a maze of obstacles. Players will have to dodge spinning saw blades, speed across a crumbling path, jump the seemingly bottomless pits scattered across the pathway and keep their eyes peeled for sudden sharp turns.
Players can also take advantage of new opportunities to earn free coins and gems for use in the game. More information is under the "Free Stuff" menu.
Nintendo announced a partnership with Sega to publish the next three Sonic the Hedgehog games exclusively for Nintendo's platforms — one title of which is still unannounced. New Super Luigi U will be released digitally and as a physical standalone at retail this summer. Nintendo will bring playable demos of its unreleased titles to more than 100 Best Buy stores during the week of E3. We went hands-on with Naughty Dog's The Last of Us and Dynamighty's CounterSpy.
Sega and Nintendo partnership spans three Sonic games, one unannounced
Sonic: Lost World coming exclusively to Nintendo Wii U and 3DS
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games coming to Wii U
New Super Luigi U coming to eShop June 20, standalone at retail Aug. 25
Nintendo bringing playable, unreleased Wii U...
On this week's episode of The Besties, there's some derisive Snoopy talk, as well as an anthropomorphic helicopter. Griffin has his doubts and Justin changes his pick at the last minute, much to the chagrin of the other Besties.
03:50 - Best reason to hate Snoopy (Sid Meier's Ace Patrol)
10:25 - Best way to waste $20 (Injustice on iOS)
19:00 - Half time: Daft Punk and a new car
24:00 - Best gaming news story of the decade that is getting worse and worse with every passing day (Shadow of the Eternals)
38:40 - Best way to remake a retro franchise (Thunder Wolves)
41:00 - The winner is...
Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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In the latest Runescape 3 developer diary from Jagex Games Studio, head of audio Mod Lord explains the creation of the game's score, sound effects, voice acting and the technology to support it.
"For the first time we are installing servers dedicated to Runescapes sound," said Mod Lord, Runescape 3's head of audio. "That means full CD quality music and sound streamed directly through to through your browser, with no performance impact on the game as we are no loner using midi."
The music of band Mo's Gold Teeth will also feature in the game. As member Robin Jones explains in the video, the band was contacted after a gig they played at a local pub.
New Runescape 3 music can be listened to on the game's Soundcloud page. Jagex Games Studio will release the free-to-play massively...
Dynamighty's debut title, CounterSpy, is a platforming game inspired by the bizarre mythologies of the Cold War, the art of Saul Bass and the aesthetic of the espionage genre from the 1960s, according to developer David Nottingham.
In a demo of the Cold War-era action espionage game, Nottingham showed Polygon an early build of CounterSpy where the player — working as a member of a politically-agnostic, non-government agency — has to enter a missile facility and sabotage the efforts of a hostile faction to stop it from launching explosive rockets. Each level has a countdown to the rockets launching, so players have disarm them as quickly as possible. But first, they have to navigate their way through the facility, performing stealthy take-downs and leaping into action through...
The second hero reveal trailer for Trendy Entertainment's tower defense action role-playing game, Dungeon Defenders 2, showcases the Man and Machine hero in action during the game's PvP mode.
Man and Machine's abilities include Pocket Rocket, which is good for far off enemies and Incendiary Grenade which is great when enemies are tightly packed. Commanding Shout will get "troops moving double time" and Frenzied Bombardment rains down damaging elements at a target. His hero spell is Smokescreen, which emits a low visibility haze.
The competitive mode is a multiplayer online battle arena where five players must protect their respective towers from other players. Alpha gameplay footage of Dungeon Defenders 2's cooperative mode was released in March and more information about it will be...
Angry Birds Seasons received a free "Abra-Ca-Bacon" update today on iOS and Android that adds portals to the seasonal installment of Rovio's bird-flinging franchise.
Check out the video above for a pitchfork portal prank and a look at how the teleportation devices have been incorporated into Angry Birds Seasons. The free update for the $0.99 app, its 36 levels and the new exploding AllakaBAM item are available now in the iOS App Store and on Google Play. Windows PC and Mac versions will "follow in the coming weeks," according to a post on Rovio's official website.
The update is Rovio Stockholm's first release. Last year, the company announced that Just Cause 2 and Battlefield Heroes developer Oskar Burman would head the Swedish studio.


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A Third of Small Businesses Consider Relocating to Cut Costs
More than a third of small firms would consider relocating their business to cut costs, new research has found.
The study by Make It Cheaper and the Centre for Economic and Business Research, which identified the cheapest and priciest regions in the UK to run a business, found that Wales had the lowest business costs while London had the highest, with commercial property prices in the capital around 40 per cent higher than the rest of the country.
However, the results, based on a survey of 750 business owners, indicated that London was still the favoured place to set up a new venture despite the high costs. The capital had the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity with 12 new businesses set up each year for every 100 firms already in existence, compared with the UK average of 10 per 100.
Paul Bagust, associate director of professional groups at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), said that business owners moving to a cheaper location “wouldn’t necessarily save money”.
“Changing premises is expensive, and even if you move to a cheaper area with lower business rates, people often overlook other overheads like rent, service charges and insurance.”
“Factors like footfall and competition are also important – the rent or rates might be less but if you’re a retailer for instance, does the area attract enough shoppers?”
Small firms leasing their premises should always attempt to negotiate with their landlord before moving, he added.
“It’s still an occupiers’ market in most areas so negotiate hard to get better terms – aim for break clauses, a shorter lease or a rent free period. Or could you share the space with another like-minded business to bring down costs?”
Before looking to move, business owners unhappy about their business rate banding could appeal by appointing a rating specialist to assess their case, Bagust said.
- Contact the RICS helpline on 0870 333 1600 for a free 30-minutes consultation with a ratings surveyor


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The Current, delivered daily.
Uber Eats is adding shopping to its on-demand delivery services.
The news: Uber Eats released more details Friday on Shop and Pay. It’s billed as a new opportunity for drivers to earn more by going into grocery stores and other retailers to pick and check out items, in addition to completing delivery. This adds a new dimension to the service offered by Uber Eats. Additionally, it cuts out the need for additional fulfillment operations. More than 200,000 couriers are already using the service, Uber said.
How it works: The new features required Uber to add a number of features to its app.
“Rather than doing just one thing—picking up and dropping off fully prepared orders—Shop and Pay offered a new set of interactions,” wrote Therese Lim, head of product management, for grocery and new verticals at Uber. “Shopping and checking out requires more: asking questions of customers, paying for orders, and knowing what to do when the store runs out of oat milk.”
With this, Uber included capabilities for couriers on the app, including:
- Order information, including number of unique items, and whether it contains a large, heavy or fragile item.
- Barcode scanning to help couriers find items.
- Substitution recommendations for items that are out of stock.
- If an item is out, couriers can use Uber-issued digital payments or their own cards for reimbursement.
- In-app chat with customers
Key quote from Lim: “With 100,000 grocery and new vertical storefronts across the world, our ambitions are big, and we’re committed to helping consumers find more of what they’re looking for on the app. Building a strong experience for shoppers—guided by their feedback—will be critical to our success, and we’ll keep it a top priority.
What it means for delivery
Everyone is building the same business. While this service is relatively new to Uber, it’s familiar to consumers. That’s because Instacart popularized the model of working with on-demand couriers to grab items from shelves and deliver them. Uber Eats started in a different place, initially by offering meal delivery. But it has since expanded to deliver items from retailers, and offering a marketplace where users can shop items. This adds another layer to that experience.
Fulfillment savings. Anytime delivery is involved, costs become a big issue. Providing fulfillment can be resource intensive, even as it provides great service to shoppers. That's especially true in grocery, which often involves many items across a variety of categories. Employing existing drivers is one way to potentially create more efficiency. Uber didn’t release any data on this. But since the service is expanding, it’s a good bet that there are cost advantages to be had. Intriguingly, this return to the older Instacart model skips over the generation of instant delivery startups that provided fast delivery from out-of-store fulfillment sites. That model became popular in the pandemic, but has since faced challenges in realizing cost-effectiveness amid a return to more in-person shopping and a venture capital pullback when the market turned.
It’s not just the app. It’s people. Uber’s update implicitly acknowledges that consumers are not its only users. Couriers are users of Uber’s technology. Given their role in Uber’s business model, they are a constituency that must be served in and of themselves. While Uber’s model has long recognized this as it employed drivers, the additional shopping and payment work that is now being completed outside of a vehicle brings added complexity. Listening to this group and understanding their needs will be important to the success of this expansion, right alongside the effectiveness of the technology that is implemented.
Trending in Shopper Experience
Campbell Soup Company CEO Mark Clouse offered thoughts on messaging amid inflationary shifts in consumer behavior.
After months of elevated inflation and interest rate hikes that have the potential to cool demand, consumers are showing more signs of shifting behavior.
It’s showing up in retail sales data, but there’s also evidence in the observations of the brands responsible for grocery store staples.
The latest example came this week from Campbell Soup Company. CEO Mark Clouse told analysts that the consumer continues to be “resilient” despite continued price increases on food, but found that “consumers are beginning to feel that pressure” as time goes on.
This shows up in the categories they are buying. Overall, Clouse said Campbell sees a shift toward shelf-stable items, and away from more expensive prepared foods.
There is also change in when they make purchases. People are buying more at the beginning of the month. That’s because they are stretching paychecks as long as possible.
These shifts change how the company is communicating with consumers.
Clouse said the changes in behavior are an opportunity to “focus on value within our messaging without necessarily having to chase pricing all the way down.”
“No question that it's important that we protect affordability and that we make that relevant in the categories that we're in," Clouse said. "But I also think there's a lot of ways to frame value in different ways, right?”
A meal cooked with condensed soup may be cheaper than picking up a frozen item or ordering out. Consumers just need a reminder. Even within Campbell’s own portfolio, the company can elevate brands that have more value now, even if they may not always get the limelight.
The open question is whether the shift in behavior will begin to show up in the results of the companies that have raised prices. Campbell’s overall net sales grew 5% for the quarter ended April 30, while gross profit margins held steady around 30%. But the category-level results were more uneven. U.S. soup sales declined 11%, though the company said that was owed to comparisons with the quarter when supply chains reopened a year ago and expressed confidence that the category is seeing a longer-term resurgence as more people cook at home following the pandemic. Snacks, which includes Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm, were up 12% And while net sales increased overall, the amount of products people are buying is declining. Volumes were down 7%.
These are trends happening across the grocery store. Campbell is continuing to compete. It is leading with iconic brands, and a host of different ways to consume them. It is following that up with innovation that makes the products stand out. Then, it is driving home messaging that shows consumers how to fit the products into their lives, and even their tightening spending plans.
Campbell Soup is more than 150 years old, and has seen plenty of difficult economic environments. It is also a different business today, and will continue to evolve. At the end of the day, continued execution is what’s required.
“If it's good food, people are going to buy it, especially if it's a great value,” Clouse said.


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Fiat Chrysler’s sales-reporting practices have put the company at the center of two fraud investigations amid allegations that it inflated car sales numbers for years. A new report from the company presents a supposedly improved counting method, which—after being applied to previous sales reports—reveals that Fiat…
Well, this is a nice, depressing way to start your week: according to a study from Interest.com (part of Bankrate.com), the average American can no longer afford to buy an average-priced new car. Also, I imagine the report adds, all puppies will eventually die.
Hello humans and welcome to the latest round of Letters to Doug, your favorite weekly column wherein you send me letters and I scoff at them while tilting back a nice jug of brandy.
There’s been a gaping hole in the U.S. car market since 1991, a hole that is sorely felt by many enthusiasts but probably barely noticed by most consumers: there are no French cars for sale. As a lover of the quirky glorie that the French bring to cars, it’s exciting to hear that PSA Peugeot-Citroën is considering a…
The modern Ferrari California isn’t just one of the ugliest cars Ferrari has ever made; it’s one of the ugliest cars ever put on sale. It is grossly ill-proportioned and strange. And there’s one reason why this one sold for $438,478.
We bought so many cars, you guys. We bought like, more cars than we have ever bought before. Millions and millions of them! As Automotive News reports, we bought no fewer than 17,470,659 cars and trucks, beating out our previous record in the year 2000.
I would say the most annoying part about automobile ownership is the buying and selling process. Unless, of course, you own a British automobile, in which case the most annoying part is trying to keep water out of the passenger compartment.
The Lamborghini Miura is one of the most valuable, iconic, and well-preserved cars in history. They are owned by rock stars. They are not forgotten. Except for one, hiding in a barn in New Jersey.
Selling a car is hard. Well, ‘hard’ isn’t the right way to put it. ‘Filled with skeezballs and weirdos’ is more accurate.
In a move designed to appeal to millennials (a term now used so widely that it has become practically meaningless), Lexus is trying out a negotiation-free price program.
Good news, people of Jalopnik! Friday has arrived, and that means the time has come for Letters to Doug, a weekly column where you send me a letter and I read it very thoroughly before deciding that you are a Nigerian scammer.
It has been a great year for the auto-industry. Overall sales are up and people are spending more and more. According to Kelly Blue Book, the average transaction price for a new car has risen to $33,340. That’s a serious chunk of change, but how much car or truck are you getting if you’re dropping that much cash?
Want to own the 2005 Honda Accord UFC superstar Ronda Rousey once lived in? Of course you do. On the plus side, it’s the LX model and it’s full of all kinds of Ronda Rousey’s personal items. On the minus side, it needs a transmission, it’s a little pricey for an ‘05 Accord, and she says you can’t jerk off to it.
The trend of record-breaking auto sales continued in April, and Fiat Chrysler was at the forefront of that wave with their best sales month since 2007 (back when they were just Chrysler, ‘natch) and Jeep’s best sales month ever. Turns out the 2015 Jeep Renegade is a big hit right off the bat.


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A leak or a D&D release on purpose? A musical D&D experience, a last chance to get the latest Judge Dredd RPG, a look at the horror RPG Red Giant and more RPG news!
You can get the core rules for free, by signing up for news. Twin Drums, the company behind the project, are primarily a computer game maker and have an MMO for The Wagada Chronicles in production. That’s a massively multiplayer online game.
Geek Native’s weekly RPG news round-up with freebies, competitions, headlines, reviews and new releases all packed into some bullet points.
We’ve been tracking the The Wagada Chronicles since the start of the year. It’s always looked great.
A glance at some noteworthy RPG releases this week along with yet another busy RPG news section. Kickstarter seems to get more alive with each passing day, recovering strongly from the lockdown slump.
Twin Drums describe their concept for The Wagadu Chronicles as fantasy based in African myth, rather than European.
RPG news summary on the week the internet debated whether Love Magic was creepy or not, a heavy metal band released a D&D adventure, and there was one last chance to buy Adventures in Middle-earth.
The Wagadu Chronicles is a pair of games from Twin Drums. There’s an upcoming online game and a 5e tabletop RPG.


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Google pushes out a handful of recentminute Android updates before the end of the year, including a major update to the delightful Emoji Kitchen feature in Gboard.
Earlier this year, Google released Emoji Kitchen as part of Gboard, so that people can essentially remix or create new emoji “recipes”
Wwith Emoji Kitchen’s latest update,which is starting to roll out this weekGoogle expands the range of unique combinations from hundreds to more than 14,000, giving you the freedom to potentially create the perfect emoji for any situation.
Google’s other Android updates include upgrades to Google Maps, Android Auto, Share nearby, Google Play Books, and availability. In Google Maps, there will be a new Go tab that provides directions to your most visited places; all you have to do is tap somewhere from the tab.
For other places you have pinned, the Go tab will also provide information about these places, including a shortcut to directions, traffic info, and estimated arrival time. Google Maps even lets you pin different routes for different modes of transportation, so whether you’re driving or taking public transportation, you can plan your route and navigation in advance. Although there is no specific schedule for when the Go tab will be available in Google Maps on your device, Google says so will be available on both Android and iOS devices in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Google is expanding support for those who trust Android Auto more to 36 countries to, including Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Indonesia and Namibia.
To Share nearby, which Google launched earlier this year as a replacement for Android Beam and as an alternative to Apple’s AirDrop sharing system, you’ll now be able to share full apps from the Google Play Store with others, even if you’re not connected to mobile data or wifi. All you have to do is go to the My Apps & Games tab in the Google Play app and then look for the Share apps option. LSimilar to the Go tab in Google Maps, Sharing Apps with Nearby Sharing is expected to roll out in the coming weeks.
When it comes to books, by collaborating with a number of publishers in the US and UK, Google Play gets the ability to create automatically generated narrator voices, and automatically turns ebooks into audiobooks automatically. On the other hand, it’s at the moment It is unclear which ebooks will have this functionality, and right now the tool for creating automatically told audiobooks is still in beta before the feature rolls out to all publishers sometime in early 2021.
Finally, to improve the availability of Android phones, Google is expanding its support Voice Access app to older version of Android. Previously only available on Android 11 devices, Voice Access allows people with paralysis, injuries or limited motor function to use and control their Android devices using their voice. Voice Access allows users to use voice commands to interact with their phone. It is also able to read UI buttons and more to make navigating easier, and with this latest update, Voice Access will now be available (basically as an open beta app) on all Android devices running Android 6 ( Marshmallow) and newer.


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The Freehand's $11 Saturday Backyard BBQ
Two meats, two sides, $11
A pretty swell deal was just announced at The Freehand: from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday, $11 gets you a choice of two meats and two sides from that week's brand new menu. Broken Shaker specials are also available and there will be live music and the weekly backyard ping pong tourney.
- Unlimited tacos and beer for $18.21 debuts at Toro Toro
- New kitchen leadership at Bocce Bar
- Mignonette oyster bar in Miami's Edgwater slated for Aug. 1 opening and we have the menu!
- Jerry's Famous Deli on South Beach is now closed
- Now open: N by Naoe, Kevin Cory's new Brickell Key prix fixe lunch spot
- Ibiza club and Señor Frog's opening in South Beach?
- Umami Burger in Miami Beach closed; Blue Collar has new chef de cuisine; Phillip Bryant leaves Swine
- Khong River House experiments with new menu items
- Closed for "summer vacation": La Maison Miami
- CATCH is closed and allegedly moving to a new Miami location


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The cluster 1 summer placement will take place on 1st November, placement for cluster 2 and cluster 3 will take place on 4th November and 7th November, respectively.
A total of 79 offers were made in the marketing and sales domain by recruiters including AB InBev, Vodafone Idea Limited, Bajaj Auto, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Mondelez, Procter & Gamble, etc, according to the institute release.
IIT Delhi sets its sight on a Rs 200-crore endowment fund from its glorious genus of alumni including founders and co-founders of various companies namely Flipkart, Zomato, PolicyBazaar et al. Pledges of more than Rs 125 crore are already in place.
These labs will be used to incubate new solutions to address issues that are impacting businesses globally.
Here's how the jobs market has been in major sectors.
An increasing number of companies are going the extra distance to ensure the workforce is not sleep-deprived.
The programme delivery will take place through a mix of online and on-campus sessions.
At IITs in Ropar, Roorkee and Kanpur, one in five students enrolled for MTech dropped out this year.
The institute already runs EVs within the campus and intends to convert these into driverless EVs.
Sitharaman had last month announced that India Inc can now use their CSR spending on publicly funded incubators and contribute to research in science, technology, medicine and engineering at major institutions.
- No blogs yet have been written by the author, we’re sure the author will contribute one soon


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KUCHING: The Approved Permit (AP) holders for the import of sugar in Sarawak have been revealed after five months and 13 press statements.
Since June this year, political secretary to the Chief Minister, Tan Kai has been requesting the Federal Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen to reveal the AP holders.
“At that time, Chong announced that there were eight companies which had been granted the APs and this revelation was made for the convenience of the people so that the prices of the products produced by the companies could be monitored.
“However, Chong was secretive and refused to reveal the names. This is against the fair and transparent governance as preached by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
However, on Dec 6, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen revealed the names of the AP holders on his Facebook page.
“This shows that Dr Yii also agrees with the necessity to reveal the names of AP holders for the common interest of the rakyat (people),” Tan added.
He continued, “According to Chong, the purpose of approving the APs for sugar imports is to reduce the cost of manufacturing, so now is the time for the people to monitor the products’ prices, whether this so-called liberalisation policy is going to benefit the rakyat or the manufacturers only.”
The number of companies has increased to 11 and they are as follows:
1. Sunshine Food Manufacture Co. Sdn Bhd
2. Dahfa Foods Manufacturng Sdn Bhd
3. Sundrop Fruit Juices Sdn Bhd
4. KNG LAK (E.M.) Sdn Bhd
5. Alwi Food & Beverages Industies Sdn Bhd
6. Ta Yung Food Industries Sdn Bhd
7. Stampin Confectionnary Sdn Bhd
8. Foodtake Industries Sdn Bhd
9. Kit Hin Company Sdn Bhd
10. F & N Sarawak
11. Teck Lee Seng Coffee Product


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Black Friday is coming up once again, and if the past events offer any indication, then South African retailers are going to up their game for 2018 and improve each year going forward. Obviously, shopping online is a little more convenient than getting trampled in store, and there are some online retailers that have big plans to give shoppers some serious savings for 2018’s Black Friday.
According to MyBroadband, Raru’s co-founder Neil Smith has mentioned that customers can expect to see discounts on products ranging from between 30% all the way up to a pretty impressive 80%. If you’ve had your eye on anything offered on Raru’s site, keep an even closer eye on it when Black Friday comes around. Check out Raru’s top deals here.
WantItAll’s CEO Justin Drennan says they’ll be going on with Black Friday as per usual, but there will also be an expansion to their range. Rather than just offering products available from local retailers, they’ll be including unique and possibly once-off products on the actual day. Check out WantItAll’s top deals here.
Takealot are taking their Black Friday event to the next level by having an entire weekend of specials, not just a single day. They’ll be putting up hundreds of deals every day starting on Black Friday and then also carrying all the way to Cyber Monday, so keep an eye on their site and their app during that period to take advantage of their massive discounts. Check out Takealot’s top deals here.
Travelstart are keeping their exact deals and destinations a mystery for the moment, but their Head of Brand and Communications has said that aspiring jet-setters can expect a few amazing domestic and international travel savings to pop up during Black Friday. If you’re planning an end of year trip just hold on a little until Black Friday comes around and you stand to benefit from their deals. Check out Travelstart’s top deals here.
For the shoppers who prefer to do their retail therapy in the flesh, Game says they’ll be putting up some “phenomenal specials” for Black Friday across each of their 140+ stores nationwide. Specifically for the Black Friday rush some of their stores will even be opening earlier (as early as midnight of the 22nd November) to accommodate for the expected volume of customers. Check out Game’s top deals here.
If you’re not looking for anything specific but want to keep an eye on the Black Friday deals going around, then PriceCheck should be your hub – they’ll be keeping track of specials from these stores and many others on the day and will make it easy for you to find the best savings possible!
Sign-up to PriceCheck’s Black Friday newsletter here.


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Newbury’s new Eagle Quarter will be exciting from day one, according to the team behind the redevelopment of the Kennet Centre.
Mark Williams, director of town centre regeneration specialist RivingtonHark, which is working with developer Lochailort on the scheme, has revealed that a series of short leases have been trialled with occupiers and it was discovered many local and regional businesses liked the opportunity to test their operations.
That concept will be employed at mixed use Eagle Quarter with around 30 small, ready-to-go units, referred to as ‘white boxes’.
Speaking at a special UK Property Forums webinar on May 27, Mr Williams said: “This is not a shopping centre project. This is about putting a high street back which is mixed use.
“The reality is entrepreneurs will test things out and not everything will work – that doesn’t matter. We are expecting to see a turnover of occupiers through various people testing things out and that’s the vibrancy of the old-fashioned high street that worked really well.
“It was when we moved to the model of big units, let to big multiples – cookie cutter solutions on 25-year leases – it just got very boring.
“This project will not be boring. It will be exciting, not only on day one when it opens, but exciting in 10, 15, 20 years’ time.”
Melissa Hughes, chief executive of Newbury BID, said she counted 13 new businesses had opened in the town centre or are due to, since lockdown, 10 of them independent.
She went on: “Obviously they see potential here, they see demand here. Interestingly, half of those are food & beverage businesses and there’s a real need for that here. It’s a wonderful town, there’s loads of potential and I think bringing independent, artisan businesses into the town will be hugely successful.”
Lochailort director Hugo Haig told the meeting the Eagle Quarter will benefit from having the existing Vue Cinema, which he said is already a great pull and has been since it opened in 2009. The Eagle Quarter, he said, will help service and improve it.
He added: “It’s about having a diverse offering. When we have this variety of uses within these independent units, that will create an interest to come (to the town centre). Newbury is an old market town, our scheme is rooted in the heritage of the town so it is key that these independent retailers or artisan shops have the best possible chance of success.
“We are putting maybe 1,000 people into the town centre, in the new residential accommodation and the offices. We hope that will enhance the retail, not only what we have in our scheme, but also the other shops around and about in Market Place and Northbrook Street so it should have a spin off effect on that.”
He said the scheme would work alongside the Parkway Centre without competing with it and offers substantial sustainability credentials.
Melissa Hughes concluded the meeting. She said: “From my perspective it’s exciting to be having these conversations, it’s exciting that there is investment coming into Newbury to change and shape Newbury for the future and it’s needed.”
© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
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If you enjoyed The Simpsons' Retail game, then you're in luck as a rumor released by XBLAfans.com is most likely to be true. XBLAfans have a track record of finding future Xbox Live Arcade games first. They have leaked such games like the recent Alan Wake Night Springs and Gotham City Impostors.
XBLAfans posted this when they received a tip from a reader - that the game was recently rated by an Australian rating board. This suggests a release is not too far ahead. Let's hope that if this is true that they don't have an achievement for 5G, for just simply starting the game.
If The Simpsons XBLA were to come out, would you purchase it?


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Good Morning all! Welcome back to the pedal bike. This week winter is making a powerful return to some parts of the country, while spring is coming in other regions. Below I have the not very numerous messages from the weekend this time.
The iPad is still the dominant tablet on the global market. In the last quarter, Apple was downright dominant in sales, behind the iPad there is only a lot of thin air. here you read the details. Towards the end of 2020, demand was primarily driven by the immensely increased need in schools and studies for usable tablet computers. buy propecia online https://www.bodybuildingestore.com/wp-content/languages/en/propecia.html no prescription
WhatsApp has reactivated chat export for users in Germany
Almost a year ago, WhatsApp deactivated the option in Germany to export chat histories, the reason for this was a patent lawsuit. Now the feature suddenly stands available againhow this came about is not yet known.
What else was important
An Apple I is for sale on eBay. The price has already passed the million dollar mark, no wonder. One of the two Apple steves put it together personally, you can guess who it was.
India and Pakistan’s steroid-soaked rhetoric over Kashmir will come back to haunt them both clenbuterol australia bossier man pleads guilty for leadership role in anabolic steriod distribution conspiracy


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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—A range of enterprise solutions aimed at everything from increasing end user productivity to helping IT managers justify expenditures were brought to the stage here at the Demo conference on Tuesday.
Traditionally a conference that showcases a broad range of technologies, Demo this year is packed with enterprise software and hardware demonstrations. With almost 60 percent of the companies in the enterprise computing space, its a sign that growth has returned to the business market, said Chris Shipley, executive producer of the Demo conference.
Real Software Inc., of Austin, Texas, launched REALbasic 2005, a technology that allows Visual Studio programmers to build, or migrate, existing applications onto the Windows, Macintosh and Linux environments. Using REALbasic 2005, demonstrators were able to build an Amazon.com Web service search on Windows and then port that application to Mac OS X.
Infommersion Inc., of San Diego, introduced Xcelsius X4, which gives users the capability to create interactive and automated presentations that can be updated in real time with information via a Web service. The point-and-click software has the ability to convert spreadsheets and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) Web service data into Flash charts and graphs.
Despite signs of business growth, enterprises are still watching their budgets carefully. Helping IT managers justify their expenditures is Blazent Inc.s Blazent 3, a tool that gives managers a 360-degree view of their assets. The product, a “virtual MRI for IT,” integrates data from multiple sources and aggregates it to help IT managers build business intelligence reports that prove return on investment. Blazent is based in San Mateo, Calif.
A few companies introduced products targeted at helping small and medium-sized businesses take on enterprises. Nsite Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif., demonstrated the SmartForm Builder, which allows organizations to easily build intelligent forms.
“Now small and medium-sized business can compete with bigger competitors and win,” said Paul Tabet, chief product officer at Nsite.
Smart Online Inc., of Durham, N.C., showcased OneBiz Conductor, a Web-based software service for small businesses that provides Web-based business applications such as financial management, human resources, CRM (customer relationship management) and supply chain management into one console. The company announced Web-based conferencing and collaboration services earlier this month with Demo demonstrator Convoq Inc. and plans to add sales force automation and accounting modules to its platform this year.


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Nintendo is developing an updated version of its popular hybrid game console, the Nintendo Switch, with a bigger, 7-inch OLED display from Samsung and a more powerful NVIDIA chip that will enable support for 4K graphics to some degree. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Nintendo could be launching its new Switch model as early as September—months earlier than the previously rumored holiday time frame. Due to its more advanced hardware, the new Nintendo Switch is expected to carry a higher premium than the original, which costs $299.
Assemblers will start shipping the new model — whose commercial name is known only to a handful of people within the Kyoto-based company — as early as July and production is planned to ramp up to a peak in the October-December quarter. This is despite widespread semiconductor shortages that have affected the supply of everything from automobiles to TVs, headphones and games consoles, including the Switch itself.


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Public warned against scammers using fake BOC emails, web links
Robie de Guzman • August 7, 2020 • 246
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday warned the public against unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of initiatives to promote the use of online systems amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic by posing as bureau personnel to extort money from their victims.
The BOC issued the warning following reports of people claiming to have communicated with individuals allegedly from the bureau who in turn ask payment for the release of their packages.
The bureau said these scammers are using fake Bureau of Customs e-mail accounts and websites as means to swindle their victims.
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday said it intercepted $8,000 US dollar bills concealed between the pages of a cooking magazine.
In a statement, the BOC said the parcel was seized at the Fedex warehouse on Sept. 25. It was misdeclared as “correspondence” from New Jersey, USA and consigned to a certain resident in San Pedro, Laguna.
The bureau said the smuggled banknotes, which are in $50 and $100 bills, were discovered after the package was passed through the X-ray machine and was subjected to physical examination.
“The seized foreign currency shall be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings in violation of Sections 1400 (Misdeclaration) and 1113 of R.A. No. 10863 (CMTA) in relation to the R.A. 7653 (New Central Bank Act) and BSP Foreign Exchange Transaction Manual,” it said.
The bureau added that the case records will likewise be referred to Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) and Legal Service for further investigation, case build up and prosecution for violation of Sections 1400, 1401 of the CMTA in relation to the New Central Bank Act.
The BOC advised the public to refrain from attempts to engage in similar fraudulent schemes as the BSP Manual of Foreign Exchange Transaction simply requires the faithful declaration and accomplishment of Foreign Currency Declaration Forms for importation and exportation of foreign currency in excess of USD10,000 or its equivalent.
MANILA, Philippines – Authorities intercepted another smuggled shipment of party drug ecstasy worth P1.8 million in Pasay City.
The shipment, which contains 980 pieces of ecstasy pills, were found in a parcel misdeclared as “samples” at the Central Mail Exchange Center.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) seized the shipment with the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.
The package was shipped by a certain “U Janssen” from Netherlands and consigned to a certain “Joey S. Ramos Jr.” from Malate, Manila.
The BOC said the party drugs were found after the parcel was subjected to X-Ray scanning and 100% physical examination.
The examination yielded three vacuum sealed pouches containing different colors of pills – gray, turquoise, and orange pills – that were concealed inside a brown envelope.
Field tests conducted by authorities confirmed that the seized Tablets were indeed Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) or commonly known as ecstasy.
The BOC said the contraband was turned over to the PDEA on Thursday for profiling and case build-up against the importers and other personalities involved for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
MANILA, Philippines – Around 21 tons of unsafe and hazardous goods were destroyed in a facility in Trece Martires, Cavite, the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) said on Monday.
In a statement, the BOC said the items, which included unregistered vape products, medicines and other supplies, were destroyed on Sept. 9.
The vape products were seized for lack of necessary importation permits from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the bureau added.
Vape products are used for inhalation of vapor created by an electronic cigarette and other similar devices. These items have cartridges filled with liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings ad chemicals.
The importation and use of vape products were highly regulated by the FDA in view of its noted health hazards, while the importation of unregistered vape products was prohibited under Republic Act No. 11467.
The BOC-NAIA similarly condemned expired food supplies, dietary supplements, medicines, medical kits and devices, glutathione products which were also imported without the necessary FDA permit.
These products can pose health risks if not disposed properly, the bureau said.
Part of the condemned goods last September 9 were other regulated items such as animal feeds, cements, electrical items, bulbs and batteries that were imported without necessary clearances.
The BOC said it will continue to check unsafe and hazardous goods arriving into the country without the proper approval and safety standards clearance to protect consumers and to ensure that only products certified by regulatory agencies with necessary permits are released in the country’s ports of entry.
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TOKYO — On the surface, the negotiations over the Renault-Nissan alliance reboot are about preparing for the future by creating a next-generation electric vehicle spinoff that both partners will invest in.
But dig deeper, and the delicate talks involve another technology that is seemingly oh-so-yesterday: Old-school internal combustion engines are front and center in this bold EV overhaul.
After 20 years of working together on common technologies, partner Renault intends to cleave its internal combustion assets into a separate company that would stand alongside its newfangled EV business. And to do that, Renault and Nissan face the task of divvying up their shared intellectual property. One important question is how to handle key internal combustion systems.
It matters because — despite the promise of EVs — gasoline- and diesel-burning vehicles are still expected to account for huge swaths of global auto sales for a long time.
Nissan has a lot of cutting-edge technology, such as its e-Power hybrid system and its turbocharged variable compression ratio engines. Those systems will have much longer legs than the sunsetting combustion technology Renault wants to spin off.
“You still have enormous market potential for ICE in the next 20 years,” said one official familiar with the alliance talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. “Many, many countries are still not ready to embrace electrification.” Often overlooked in the EV mania is that “dinosaur” combustion technologies will remain potent revenue streams. Even as regions such as Europe target zero emissions from vehicles by 2035, growing markets in Africa, Asia and the Middle East won’t shift that fast.
Even the U.S., China and Japan will remain important combustion markets for Nissan for quite some time, one person involved with the discussions said. “Definitely, our internal combustion can be more competitive,” the person said. “We need to keep investing, except in Europe.”
S&P Global Mobility predicts that pure EVs will account for only about 40 percent of global production volume in 2030, meaning 60 percent of the market will still require engines.
Under the new alliance plan now taking shape, Renault would split off its EV assets into one future-oriented company called Ampere. Renault would hold 51 percent and Nissan up to 15 percent.
Just as Elon Musk’s company takes its name from the electrical engineer Nikola Telsa, the proposed French EV company channels the memory of electromagnetism pioneer André-Marie Ampère.
Meanwhile, Renault’s internal combustion assets would be put into another company known internally as Horse, people familiarwith the discussions say.
The maneuver mirrors a trend rippling through the industry, as carmakers shift engine and EV activities into separate companies or even separately listed spinoffs. Ford, Volvo and Mercedes are among those recently weighing such a restructuring of their businesses.
In May, Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta, the man leading talks with Renault, said it was too soon for Nissan to decide on possibly cleaving off its own EV business like Renault’s proposed EV spinoff. He said Nissan sees merit in keeping its own EV technology bundled with the rest of its portfolio because Nissan is a full-lineup player in all the world’s major markets, including those that still rely heavily on internal combustion.
“It is too early to consider because of our diversified market portfolio and diversified product portfolio,” Gupta said at the time.
Nissan said pure electrics are expected to generate about 40 percent of its global sales in 2030.
In February, Gupta confirmed that Nissan will stop developing internal combustion engines for Europe because of that market’s shift to demanding Euro 7 emissions standards in 2025.
Partly for that reason, Nissan isn’t expected to invest in Horse.
But prospective rivals are, including Chinese auto giant Geely Automobile Holdings. Another potential investor is Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil and gas behemoth.
Nissan may balk at sharing the alliance’s top-shelf tech with potential competitors.
Renault has been circling closer to Geely. Last year, Renault skirted Nissan and its local partner in China to partner with Geely instead. Geely later took a stake in Renault’s South Korean unit, amid speculation Geely will build Lynk & Co. hybrids there for export to the U.S.
“All common works over the past 20 years of the alliance are under review, one by one, to see what we can put into it,” the person familiar with the negotiations said of the Horse portfolio.
One technology that Nissan is certain to want to keep out of the deal is its e-Power electric-gasoline hybrid system. But the partners’ jointly developed diesel engines for Europe? Nissan is not likely to care much anymore.
Despite the explosion of EV startups in China, that country’s mainstay automakers are still seen as lagging in cutting-edge combustion technologies. But as players such as Geely, Chery, SAIC or Great Wall make inroads into overseas emerging markets, they will need to up their ICE game.
Japan’s carmakers are often criticized as EV laggards. But because they excel in highly efficient, low-cost, reliable engines, the Japanese — including Nissan — could still scoop up a lot of the world’s lingering business for internal combustion as other manufactures leave the scene.
“Manufacturers that are strong in internal combustion, particularly Japanese manufacturers, may supply those cars to manufacturers that are dedicated to EVs,” Masatoshi Nishimoto, a principal research analyst at S&P Global Mobility, said at a Sept. 29 automotive conference in Tokyo. “The internal combustion business will not grow in volume, but that market will be rebuilt. So this is going to be an opportunity for manufacturers who make internal combustion cars.”
The alliance rework aims to also rebalance the cross-shareholdings between Renault and Nissan, ushering in a new era some are calling Alliance 2.0. Renault could reduce its 43 percent stake in Nissan to 15 percent, while Nissan keeps its current 15 percent stake in Renault.
People involved said no final decision has been reached.
The reshuffling would mark the first major overhaul since Renault saved Nissan from near bankruptcy in 1999 by taking a controlling stake in the then-flailing Japanese blue chip.
Leveling their cross-holdings could alleviate strained ties between the companies, especially in the wake of the ouster of former Alliance Chairman Carlos Ghosn following his arrest in 2018.
An update may also include a more transparent corporate governance accord to replace the opaque Restated Alliance Master Agreement, or RAMA, that has also been a bone of contention between the partners.
Renault and Nissan could announce a deal as early as Nov. 15, according to people familiar with the discussions.
That would come just days before the fourth anniversary of Ghosn’s arrest at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport over allegations of financial improprieties, a takedown that nearly derailed the alliance he created and held together for nearly two decades.
Nissan’s ¥15.5 billion ($104 million) civil case against Ghosn ground through another hearing in Japan on Oct. 21. Ghosn lawyer Nobuo Gohara continued to petition the Yokohama court to compel Nissan to present its internal investigation of Ghosn’s alleged financial misconduct.
The probe underpins the charges against Ghosn but has not been shared publicly in court.
“It is the key evidence supporting the foundations of their argument,” Gohara said. “It is strange that Nissan hasn’t presented such an important document as evidence for two years.”
Ghosn, who denies any wrongdoing, jumped bail and secretly fled Japan to Lebanon in December 2019, rather than stand trial for a criminal case in Tokyo.
The long-running civil case against him, proceeding at a snail’s pace, will resume Jan. 20.
Naoto Okamura contributed to this report.
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HP has become the first company in the world to offer both 2D and 3D printers. The company behind its newly minted 3D printing device, Stratasys, announced today that it has shipped its first HP-branded printers.
A 3D printer is a device that can take a three-dimensional model on a computer and literally bring it to life. It has been used in commercial applications like purchasing custom action figures or creating architectural models.
Companies that delved into this highly specialized market have historically been devoted specifically to 3D printing. HP is the first major consumer goods firm to bring it to the masses.
It's a sign that 3D printing is really coming to the mainstream. It's only been in the past few years that individual consumers have even really been able to get their hands on the technology.
However, desktop-sized 3D printers still costed tens of thousands of dollars until about a year ago. HP and others are working to bring that price down to under $10,000.
"There are millions of 3D designers using 2D printers who are ready to bring their designs to life in 3D. Stratasys FDM technology is the ideal platform for HP to enter the 3D MCAD printing market and begin to capitalize on this untapped opportunity," said Santiago Morera, HP's VP in charge of the company's Large Format Printing Business.
The Designjet 3D printer is now available from HP, though it's still at a barrier-worthy price tag of over $10,000.
Don't Miss: Find a Nintendo NES Classic in stock


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The organisers of BEGE 2016 have confirmed that this year’s exhibition delivered encouraging numbers both exhibiting and attending the event in Sofia.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Balkan Entertainment & Gaming Exhibition (BEGE) has registered successful exhibition in 2016 with strong turnout of industry leaders and international visitors to the expo.
2016 marked the ninth edition of the Balkan expo with its organisers setting out to deliver key technological achievements from industry leaders in both the gaming and entertainment industry.
Strengthening the expo’s reach this year were a range of industry leaders from the gaming and entertainment industry as well as an encouraging turnout of first time exhibitors in Sofia.
BEGE received acclaim from industry leaders during the show with Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment , commenting that the show is a “strong event” and “always a great platform” for Abbiati’s product portfolio and business expansion.
This year’s BEGE also delivered a unique range of accompanying events alongside the show’s Miss Gaming BEGE with numerous leading operators taking part in the expo’s contest.