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Cadillac debuts its three-row XT6 sport utility vehicle at the Detroit auto show on Sunday, filling out a lineup of luxury SUVs that many industry analysts say is long overdue.
In recent years, the brand once known as the "Standard of the World" has taken heat for being slow to respond to the shift toward crossovers and SUVs. With the XT6, Cadillac now has crossovers in three different segments, plus the full-size Escalade SUV.
The XT6 is a crossover, which blends elements of cars with a traditional truck-based SUV. It comes with a 3.6 liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Buyers will be able to choose between one design option that emphasizes luxury, and another that focuses on performance.
The car will offer customers a blend of spaciousness, safety and convenience features, said Cadillac President Steve Carlisle.
Cadillac had a big hit with the Escalade in the early 2000s, but GM's premier brand later turned away from SUVs to focus on sedans and performance cars — just as the public was moving in the opposite direction. Cadillac suffered as rivals beefed up their SUV lineups.
Now, the brand is playing catch-up.

domain: news


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Prince William and Kate Middleton recently released engagement photographs shot by fashion photographer Mario Testino, who previously also made portraits of Princess Diana. Testino is one of the world’s most sought after fashion photographers, but public opinion regarding these portraits appears to be quite mixed (check out this dpreview forum thread).
What’s your opinion?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Image credits: Photographs by Mario Testino


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The UAE move to shore up global efforts to promote tourism and travel amid the coronavirus pandemic is commendable.The nation reinforced its commitment to support during its participation in a virtual G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting. The UAE is one of the first countries in the region to launch incentives and facilities to support the sector, highlighting the country’s ability to adapt quickly thanks to an advanced technological and digital infrastructure. The UAE is continuing its efforts to develop initiatives that drive tourism innovation and enable the contribution of start-ups and innovation centres in finding quality solutions to overcome the challenges brought about by the pandemic. However, at the height of the global COVID-19 crisis, the mood was circumspect. ...read more...
CountryUAE Top Picks


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Even in the world of online betting and online casinos, crypto-currencies have already entered the industry. Better yet, the traditional online casinos have been ousted completely by the new bit coin casinos. Many online casinos now accept Bit coin and other crypto-currencies. This is also a great method of payment for online casino owners.
The benefits of cryptographic technology for online gambling are evident. Already and foremost, players are saving a lot of money on transaction fees. Yes, this is certainly argument number 1. Also, bit coin deposits remain anonymous. This allows players to remain anonymous on the online gaming platform they play on. That, too, is one of the things that has made bit coin casinos much better than their fiat counterparts.
The benefits of casinos and online games in bitcoin
Transactions in seconds
Unlike a bank transfer, where users sometimes have to wait a few days for a successful transaction, a deposit or withdrawal via Bit coin is made immediately.
It does not seem that the value of Bitcoin will diminish
The value of btc has grown exponentially over the past year and the price shows no signs of a decline shortly. Experts believe that bit coin could even reach $ 1 million. With mass adoption, it would indeed be completely likely.
So far, no control from the central bank
Bit coin and crypto currencies are “democratic” currencies that are not influenced by large banks and financial institutions. Transactions are also secured, encrypted and tax-free (for the moment, given the lack of regulation


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Time for a post April Fool’s Day edition of Free-Fire Fandemonium. I can say that Josh Allen, has agreed to write guest articles for the blog every now and then, and graciously gave up some of his time to get the monthly shenanigans done. Let’s get to it!
DY: It’s time again for another edition of some Free-Fire Fandemonium. Joining me as usual is my partner in gaming crime, Josh Allen of Gamenikkiinexile.. did you manage to survive the Fool’s Day without too much hassle?
JA: The trick to surviving the Fool’s Day is hibernation. That, and video games. If you’re too busy playing to read news…
DY: In my case, the pranks were PUT in my video games. Bah!
JA: That’s what happens when you play “special” games, Foz.
Xbox One (point 5), PlayStation 4 (point 5), Nintendo NX (point?)
DY: Well, on to some more foolish things. We know that Xbox One is planning some kind of upgrades, and Wii U is being short circuited, with the NX rumored to be out before Christmas, but Sony is getting into the mix. There’s rumors, that Sony will not deny, or indeed comment publicly on that are talking about a possible “PlayStation 4.5” with 4K movie support. Has this console generation fizzled out before it started?
JA: I think Nintendo shot themselves in the foot by trying to preserve the Wii “brand.” When you rely on casual players, confusion is bad. As for the other two, I’m not sure what to make of the rumors. What I’ve heard on the Xbox One just seems like a monumentally bad idea. The PS4 sends like it’s more targeted toward 4K, as you mention, and VR.
DY: It’s almost like a 100M dash, where you call them back halfway through and tell them that there was a false start, but now everyone is going to run a 400 meter race instead.
JA: Not sure it’s a short circuit so much as a prep upgrade. At least it’s not that deplorable modular business Microsoft is flirting with.
DY: The problem is that you already have companies going “I don’t know where the limits are”, and now they have to program so much more.. do they “future proof” their games by making them 4K able? Seems to me that they should be BUILDING momentum, and all of a sudden, everyone drops the clutch and there’s parts of the engine everywhere.
JA: See, the way I look at it is, what if ps4 had supported 4K from the word go? You’d have the same questions. That’s different from, say, video card differences or included hard drives. You’re not splitting the market with that the way Microsoft did last generation and seems to want to this generation.
DY: Yeah. I know we touched on it with the Xbox One thing when it was announced, but it now seems like the locked in hardware targets for bringing the best out of the games is now a moving set of goalposts. I mean, do we know ANYTHING about the new Nintendo system? ANYTHING AT ALL? And with Xbox One/Hololens/modular whatsits and Playstation VR/4.5, it feels like we’re grasping at straws.
JA: I think part of that is because there hasn’t been much yet to define this generation. What stands out to you on each console, in terms of exclusive software? Sony has sold a buttload, and Microsoft a pantsload, but it’s been on potential, largely.
DY: I mean, there’s not THAT much exclusive there, most of it is timed only, the only thing that comes to mind right now that is definiteively on one system and not the other, is first party-ish titles like The Order: 1886 (I originally typed that as The Odor, which probably is a good descriptor of how it went over) and MLB 16 on Sony, and things like Quantum Break on Xbox One.
JA: Nothing iconic. Yet. That makes it easier to hit the reset button. Uncharted 4 isn’t out yet, which means they can use that to drive upgrades. PSVR may release around the same time, which…same. PS4 owners don’t have a lot vested in the console yet.
DY: I guess we can look at E3 as a possible “re-introduction” to the current generation of hardware, and to see where things end up from there.
JA: Xbox One: brought to you by Mitt Romney’s Etch-A-Sketch.
Oculus Rift and Steam versions of Project CARS don’t play nice
DY: Speaking of console wars, this caught my eye the other day. PC Virtual Reality is going through its own version of console wars, as it was revealed that Oculus Home users of Project CARS couldn’t play in games with people playing on Steam. This is the LAST thing that a burgeoning market needs, a split that serves no one, am I wrong here?
JA: Forget it, Jake. It’s the PC market. When HASN’T it been split? To paraphrase Roy Rogers, “I don’t belong to an organized gaming community; I play PC games. “
DY: You’ve never had to deal with those “PC Master Race” types then.
JA: Who’d want to? I play games for enjoyment, not to feel superior to those who have less than I do. If I wanted that, I’d vote for Trump.
DY: (And just think folks, only seven more months till the election!) I think this is more dangerous for Occulus Home then Steam, really, as Steam is Virtual Reality platform agnostic, and well, it’s ubiquitous. Even if the Occulus Rift is the biggest VR seller in PC’s, that’s still not a very big pond to splash around in with a closed ecosystem.
JA: Say, there’s a VR killer app waiting to happen: virtual political rallies!
DY: They call that Gamergate I believe.
JA: It’s about ethics in VR compatibility.
Nintendo takes a Step Back from the Treehouse?
DY: Annnnd that’s a not so subtle way to transition into probably the most.. disappointing news bit of the past week, where Nintendo fired a member of there Treehouse marketing group amid complaints from GamerGaters. The Gamergaters (I was going to call them GG’s but eff that, I’m not conflating them with Jet Set Radio) are claiming a major scalp, while Nintendo says it had nothing to do with their complaints, just that she was working a second job “not in compliance with Nintendo’s company policy” Does anyone win here?
JA: Supposedly it had nothing to do with the protests, and everything to do with her having a second job. But they’re going to claim that scalp, and double down. That’s the larger issue. It doesn’t matter who’s “right”. The Gaters will claim victory and try again with another prominent female exec, at Nintendo or elsewhere. Directly or indirectly, Nintendo validated them.
DY: And in latebreaking news, they’ve swung into action against another developer… as they are going after Beamdog software for having A) a writer include a transgender character in their Baldur’s Gate expansion, Siege of Dragonspear, and B) claim that they write to encourage diversity.
JA: Okay, so maybe it won’t be a female target. But Nintendo just did the equivalent of sliding ISIS a cool billion and claiming they did no such thing.
Final Fantasy XV: The Game! The Movie! The Flamethrower! (Kids will love dis)
DY: Let’s talk about something completely different to get that horrible taste out of our mouths. Final Fantasy XV now has a release date, and a big name cast doing a movie, but not playing those characters in the game. It… almost seems like Square Enix are trying to do TOO MUCH to hype this as a BIG EVENT. Are we setting ourselves up for another Final Fantasy: The Spirits WIthin debacle?
JA: FF is their bread and butter. They need it to get back to event status.
DY: True. I’m not sure that what I’ve seen FEELS like that big event though. Maybe there’s only so many times you can break new ground with a series until it feels like “Wait, how did we get here from Four Generic Heroes You Name saving the World to THIS?” Would what we’ve seen been so big if it DIDN’T have that title carry it?
JA: Unlikely. You know what it seems like?
DY: Please don’t say Shenmue. Please don’t say Shenmue.
JA: The franchise creator left to start his own studio (Blue Dragon came from that), and the franchise has suffered since.
DY: True. They’ve gotten so caught up in the MYSTIQUE of “Final Fantasy is a BIG EFFING DEAL” (TM Joe Biden), and gotten away from what made the Final Fantasy series so great.
JA: That’s one way of putting it.
DY: Maybe that’s because we’re the grognards now, as well.. “In our day, our characters didn’t have sixteen million polygons! They were lucky to have six letters in their name!”
JA: Well, that, and Square-Enix suffer from George Lucas disease a little bit. “I have the toys to make pretties? That’s where the budget goes. What story?”
DY: And conversely, “I have the pretties to make toys, to make the budget back! Who needs story!”
Mass Effect Andromeda possible Plot leaks:
DY:Speaking of creeping sequelitis.. So, the plot for Mass Effect: Andromeda was leaked this week, and it promised that mankind was colonizing a distant part of the galaxy, “Mass Effect: Andromeda takes players to the Andromeda galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way, where players will lead the fight for a new home in hostile territory—where WE are the aliens—opposed by a deadly indigenous race bent on stopping us.” Now, taking this with a grain of salt, because it was from a marketing survey, and because we are like a year from release, that sounds a bit likely a retread of American history here. A rather uncomfortable part of it, at that.. Considering the.. problems with the Mass Effect 3 ending, do you have faith in BioWare to tell the story well?
JA:Colonialism isn’t unique to American history, for one. For another, I think the issue was less the ending and more that the lead writer for Bioware, Drew Karpyshyn left. Different writer for third act, as a result.It’s tough to change in midstream that way. Doesn’t mean the new writer can’t write. It means…how do you wrap up someone else’s epic?
DY: True. But now we’re seeing a mass exodus of writers AGAIN, a year away..
JA: Perhaps, but better now than six years and two games in. I think it’ll be fine.
DY: And finally… Sometimes I think you and I were born 20-25 years too early.. as UCal-Irvine has announced recently that they will be offering scholarships.. in eSports. Is this another case of “Oh, California, you so wacky!” or are we going to see the eSports version of the NCAA forming soon?
JA: There’s money in eSports. Where there’s money, universities aren’t far behind. Interesting codicil on that, Irvine is where GameSpy was based back in the day.
DY: So you’re saying the ground may be salted and poisoned for generations to come? (sorry, visceral reaction to seeing GameSpy after all this time having forgotten them)
JA: Nah, just saying that I’m kinda amused by the coincidence. And it’s never too late to go back to school, Foz.
DY: I’m trying to figure out what the eSports version of the Triple Lindy from Rodney Dangerfield’s movie is.
David "SirFozzie" Yellope is the operator of the "An 8 bit mind in an 8 Gigabyte World". (an8bitmind.com) While not QUITE yet at the stage of waving his cane and telling the kids to "get off his lawn", he does admit he owns three canes.


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IBM Japan, in partnership is Apple, has announced the localization of MobileFirst for iOS apps for the Japanese market.
The Apple + IBM partnership was created to bring world-class app design and development to enterprise, and make iPhone and iPad deployment as deep as it was wide. A large part of that is going to be international, and it's beginning with seven apps localized for Japan: Advise & Grow (Banking and Financial Markets), Trusted Advice (Banking and Financial Markets), Retention (Insurance), Case Advice (Government), Sales Assist (Retail), Pick & Pack (Retail) and Expert Tech (Telecommunications).
Apple and IBM released the initial wave of MobileFirst apps in the U.S. back in December. Having worked in international enterprise for years, I'm used to apps that had all the polish and usability of long-sunken battleships. These are not those. These meld Apple-level design with IBM's vertical expertise, and now they're doing it not only for the English speaking enterprise, but for Japan as well. Hopefully more will follow.
After years of purchases based on checklist and interfaces as afterthought, it'll be interesting to see if MobileFirst can do for software what BYOD did for phones and tablets — make the experience matter. And not just across companies, but across continents.
You can find out more on Apple Japan's mobile enterprise page.


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Strauss Zelnick is back. Yes, the mythical CEO of Take-Two Interactive is starring in yet another Push Square article. We've been through our fair share of ups and downs over the past few weeks: from the executive denying that Grand Theft Auto V was ever supposed to get story mode DLC to his saying that the PS4 hasn't yet hit its full potential, we've been writing on this guy a lot lately.
Before we start getting sentimental, we'll just cut to the chase. Take-Two has never been one to put out yearly releases - outside of some sports titles - and apparently there's a reason for that. Speaking to Games Industry, Zelnick said that it's all part of a bigger plan.
"I think the biggest distinction between us and some of our competitors is we don't annualise our non-sports titles, and that's for a couple reasons. One is we want to have the highest quality in the business and that takes time, and two, we like to rest our IP in between releases because we believe that's what keeps it fresh and permanent," he explained. "We don't want to burn off our franchises. It's an unusual strategy - I think we stand alone with that strategy, but it's really paying off."
To further explain how Take-Two's approach is worth it, Zelnick compared the company's 2007 profits to those of this past year. "It's a long-term strategy but history says we're doing well. In 2007 we had net revenues of $700 million and this past fiscal year it was $1.7 billion, all organic."
The rest of the interview is packed with some more specific information, so be sure to check it out. What do you make of these remarks? Speak your mind in the comments below.


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By now, we all are supposed to know that many devices like computers, printers, phone chargers and DVRs should be unplugged to save energy costs when we’re not using them. And we also should be aware that properly adjusted thermostats can save money as well.
But managing all those devices for optimum savings presents a hurdle. “People are so busy, no one is going to run around their house and unplug things,” said Suzanne Jones, interim president of the Association of Energy Services Professionals, an industry group.
Now, however, there is a wide variety of alternative and “smart” devices aimed at helping consumers cut energy use and save money on their utility bills. They include advanced power strips, remote-controlled thermostats and high-efficiency light bulbs.
Even though heating costs are expected to be reasonable this winter (because of a warmer forecast and lower oil prices), you can save even more money with a smart home thermostat, efficiency experts say. Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, said that on average, for every 1 degree you lower your thermostat in winter — or raise it, in summer — you save about 5 percent on your energy bill.
Don’t be put off by a previous bad experience with an older programmable thermostat, said Daniel DiClerico, a senior editor with Consumer Reports. Some devices were so complicated to use that people gave up on them or used them incorrectly: “They were really hard to program.”
But the latest crop of high-tech thermostats is much improved, Mr. DiClerico said; they take note of your home’s energy patterns and adjust accordingly. Nest, an early and still-popular entrant, has been joined by new competitors. A thermostat from Honeywell, for instance, allows you to change the temperature by speaking. (“Make it warmer,” for example.) Smart thermostats with remote access typically cost $200 and up, but can save about $180 a year in energy costs, according to Consumer Reports. Options without remote access can cost less than $100.
Ms. Callahan says her family uses a smart thermostat — a Nest — that works with her home’s Wi-Fi system and allows her to adjust the temperature at home remotely by using a smartphone app. If the family goes away for the weekend, they can set the temperature so it’s comfortable when they return: “We’ve definitely seen a difference in our bill.”
The problem of energy-sucking “vampire” devices, meanwhile, can represent about 10 percent of your annual energy bill, said Ms. Jones. One way to make a dent in the cost is to use a “smart” or advanced appliance strip. Various versions are available for about $30 at major retailers; some sense when the appliances aren’t being used and cut off the power, while others turn off all related devices — like a television and a DVR — when the main device is turned off. Savings can amount to $50 a year per strip, she said. (A comparison of power strip options can be found at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s website.)
Another option is so-called smart outlets, strips that fit into your existing electrical outlet and link to your home Wi-Fi system. Items plugged into it can be turned on or off remotely, using a smartphone. The outlets — like the “Modlet,” from ThinkEco — can be particularly useful for controlling window air-conditioning units in apartments, Ms. Jones said.
Here are some questions about home energy efficiency:
■ Can I install a smart thermostat myself?
If you are comfortable connecting a few wires, then yes. Otherwise, you will want to hire an electrician or other contractor to do the job.
■ Is it cheaper to use LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs?
They both save energy costs compared with incandescent bulbs, but some consumers have balked at the higher price of LED bulbs. Prices, however, continue to drop, and LEDs can now go for under $10 per bulb. If that still seems high, consider that manufacturers claim LEDs can last up to 20 years or even longer.
■ Is turning down your hot-water heater still a good way to save energy?
Turning down your hot-water heater by 10 degrees can save you up to $10 a month, Ms. Jones said. She also suggests a shower head add-on, like one from ShowerStart, that can save money by conserving warm water. Instead of letting hot water run down the drain while you putter about waiting for it to reach the preferred temperature, the device reduces the water flow to a trickle as soon as it warms up; when you get in, you pull a cord to restart the flow. (Cost: about $40.)


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Apple’s retail stores will open at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, March 16, on the official launch day of the “new iPad.” Normally, Apple retail stores open at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.
The new iPad, really, the third generation of the hot-selling tablet, will initially be sold in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the U.S., the new iPad will also be available at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Target, and Wal-Mart but, of course, Apple retail stores will have the largest supply.
Buyers who (after waiting in a long line) buy a new iPad at an Apple retail outlet will be provided with free service from a store employee who will help them customize the tablet, including setting up the tablet with their email address.
One week later, on March 23, the new iPad, as Apple has been referring to it, will be available in many more countries. On that day, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden will all get their chance at lining up for the third-generation iPad.
Still, if you’re not interested in waiting in line for hours … starting hours before the 8:00 a.m. opening of each store, you might want to just wait those few weeks. Unless you absolutely cannot wait that amount of time, you’re likely to have to get in line overnight for Apple stores accessible from the street, and at least 5 a.m. for those in malls.


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On Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, from noon to 3 p.m., CAA USA unveils a brand-new facility and opens the doors to its first retail store for walk-in customers. Grand Opening includes 50 percent off store-wide, giveaways, facility tours, and shooting tip classes.
Pompano Beach, Fla. (December 2022) – CAA USA, designers, and developers of the world-famous MCK/Micro Conversion Kit, proudly announce the Grand Opening of the CAA USA new, larger facility and the first CAA USA retail store. On Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, from noon to 3 p.m., the CAA USA store and facility will be open at 1704 Park Central Blvd. North, Pompano Beach, Florida. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase any of the renowned American-made, CAA Micro Conversion Kits (MCK), including the brand new GEN3 Conversion Kit, or any other CAA USA product for 50 percent off during the Grand Opening. Lots of CAA USA free swag will be on hand, as well as giveaways and raffles (no purchase necessary) throughout the afternoon.
For customers wanting to learn a bit more about the MCK and the new GEN3, two Shooting Tips & Tour sessions will be offered from noon – 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Founder and CEO, LTC. (Ret.) Mikey Hartman, will also be on deck and giving a special shooting tip class. Hartman, a former IDF officer, is credited with developing the IDF sharpshooting manual, as well as leading the Sharpshooting and Marksmanship School. He trained over half a million soldiers and his training techniques are highly sought after by operators around the world.
“This is a very special day for all of us at CAA USA,” Hartman explained. “We have been working for months behind the scenes to make the grand opening of our very first retail store something special and memorable for our customers. We hope to see you there!”
Reserve a spot for the CAA USA Grand Opening by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org or by calling 754-205-9385. Come meet the incredible staff behind the famous MCK conversion kits and sign up to win a free MCK during the event. Cousins of Maine Lobster food truck will also be on-site for a taste of delicious New England lobster.


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WESTERN SNAPSHOT, SEPTEMBER 2004
East Bay Retail Market
Retail construction throughout San Franciscos East Bay
continues to be driven by big box tenants. Investment
in retail properties is strong and construction remains active,
comprising several freestanding big box developments, new
community and neighborhood centers, and infill redevelopment/repositioning
opportunities, says Jeffrey Mishkin, regional manager
at Marcus & Millichap.
The no vote to Measure L, a Contra Costa County referendum
that would have limited retail store size to 90,000 square
feet or less, was key to the development of planned super
centers. Also, due to persistently high vacancies, many office
and industrial sites are being re-entitled, creating new retail
Marcus & Millichap
Retail activity in the once overlooked city of Oakland, California,
is on the rise again. The redevelopment of the Eastmont
Town Center is significant, considering the low-income demographic
of the trade area, says Mishkin. Elsewhere, Cinema Place
in Hayward, California, is acquiring prominent tenants, and
Regency Centers is rebuilding and expanding the ailing Alameda
Bridgeside shopping center.
Mishkin reports that new retail development remains concentrated
along the Interstate 80 corridor, from Emeryville all the
way to Solano County, and the Interstate 580 and 680 corridors
in towns such as Dublin and Pleasanton. Rooftops are
driving the new construction along with East Bay consumers
who continue to maintain healthy spending levels, he
says. Infill development is a mix of new construction
and rehabilitation. Fruitvale Transit Village, built
at a Bay Area Rapid Transit depot, is an example of new construction
while Jay-Phares Corp. is redeveloping Foothills Square shopping
center into a lifestyle center.
Ross Dress For Less plans to open its discount concept, dds
Discounts, in three locations between Oakland and San Leandro.
The Home Depot has opened its first store in Oakland, marking
the debut of its new layout in the East Bay market. Wal-Mart
will open its first store in Oakland, and Talbots is
expanding with the opening of a flagship store in Walnut Creek.
Kohls is the newest retailer in the East Bay market.
At 8 percent, East Bays retail vacancy continues to
improve with traditional shopping centers outperforming urban
retail properties. Mishkin expects rates in the mid-7 percent
range by years end. Vacancy is lowest in east Alameda
and central Contra Costa counties.
The investment market remains strong and construction active.
[There is] tremendous demand for anything that looks
or smells like retail, says Mishkin. From an operating
standpoint, the retail sector has significantly outperformed
other property types.
©2004 France Publications, Inc. Duplication
or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization
from France Publications, Inc. For information on reprints
of this article contact Barbara
Sherer at (630) 554-6054.


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A new study details the "huge" economic impact of the more than 100 lakes in Kosciusko County. The Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College in Winona Lake says lake-specific and lake-related business activity and tax revenue pumps more than $313 million into the region annually.
The center gathered data from more than 300 businesses, many of which it says, "would not have the customer base or the proper location to make a profit without the presence of local lakes." The businesses range from marinas to manufacturers to restaurants and grocery stores.
The center says the economy in communities like Syracuse, North Webster and Warsaw are tied so closely that a "positive or negative shift in the water quality of these lakes could enhance or severely harm the businesses that are located around these lakes. Major industries that would suffer dramatic revenue losses as a result of water quality degradation." Many respondents to the study indicated if there were no lakes or the quality of the bodies of water was poor, they would either do less business or relocate.


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Group ready to implement "further operational efficiencies" as UK business struggles
Articles by Chris Buckley
Chris Buckley, Sales Manager
Chris Buckley joined GamesIndustry in January 2010, now based in BC Canada, Chris is a veteran of the global games industry. Starting out in coin-operated amusement machine (arcades) trade publishing in 1995, for Centaur Communications ‘AB (Amusement Business) Europe’ magazine, Chris made the leap into consumer games and joined MCV Media in February 2000, where he quickly became head of sales looking after a number of entertainment brands and sales staff, before immigrating to Canada in 2008. Chris now handles all commercial sales activity for GamesIndustry.biz, and sponsorships for GamesIndustry’s trade events like the GI Investment Summit.
Recent articles by Chris Buckley
"The company is transitioning to a new direction"
Lumosity preyed on consumers' fears about age-related cognitive decline"
Focuses on localisation and customer care with new deal
"We have yet to really tap into the full potential that Halfbrick has in these areas"
Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Ireland get access to cloud service
"There is a distinction between crowdfunding and preselling"
MK Capital, Redpoint Ventures, and Google Capital all took part
The company's new motion tracking platform needed $250,000 to become a reality.
Key devs behind F.E.A.R., No One Lives Forever re-team with colleagues for PC action adventure Betrayer
Spicy Horse's Hell Invaders is coming to DeNA's Mobage platform
NUAds trademark hints at motion-controlled advertising for Xbox 360
Few people recognise ads convinced global brands that games aren't just for kids, says Bartlett
Company confirms closure, will integrate tech into first-party ads business


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We Help Companies Find New Sales Opportunities
Wigan Council has unveiled plans to develop a new leisure complex called the Wigan Pier Quarter, including a 1,200-capacity performance venue.
Wigan Council has approved plans from Vale Retail for the £60m expansion of the Galleries shopping centre, with the creation of 400 jobs.
Wigan Council is to consider plans from Vale Retail for the £60m expansion of The Galleries into a major retail and leisure centre, with the creation of 400 jobs.
Wigan Council is linking up with Commercial Group Properties and Chinamex to unveil plans for a £125m textiles trade and industry centre at Westwood Park, in order to house a number of Chinese companies and create at least 1,000 jobs.
Wigan Council has approved plans from Greenbank Partnerships to build a £43m sports village in Leigh, which could create 2,000 jobs.
Wigan Council is considering plans from United Healthcare to build a new medical centre in Hindley.
Wigan Council is to consider plans for the development of a £75m sports village in Leigh, including a 10,000-seat stadium, conference facilities, a hotel, 72 homes and 45 apartments.


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Getting those flicks from overseas
Many film fans didn't want to wait until Friday to see Zhang Yimou's "Hero" -- and they didn't have to.
While Miramax pushed the acclaimed Chinese martial arts epic's release date back from month to month and year to year, it has been available on DVD in Asia for close to two years. Thanks to eBay and other online outlets, it's been available to U.S. consumers as well.
Ain't It Cool News Web site honcho Harry Knowles said he got a copy shortly before "Hero" was nominated for a best foreign-language film Oscar in early 2003. Frustrated by the repeated delays and eager to see the movie -- rightly touted as a more stylized follow-up of sorts to Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" -- I bought my copy from an eBay seller last year for less than $10.Miramax has actively fought the importation of "Hero" and other movies awaiting release that are already available on DVD overseas. Now the company can only hope that those imported "Hero" discs will serve a similar function as sneak previews by generating positive word of mouth.
I would have to agree. I've had a DVD from Taiwan of the amazing action film Ong Bak since March and there have been rips of the Thai DVD on Kazaa and other file sharing networks since last year. When "Crouching Tiger" was being promoted over here, but not yet released, a friend returned from a trip from Singapore with a VCD of the movie.
While Ong Bak won't be in American theatres until November, the movie is out there for anyone who wants it. Instead of suing to stop the films from hitting our shores prematurely, perhaps they should consider speeding up the release dates so fans won't have to wait so long for the films they want to see. I've screened Ong Bak for several friends and they can't wait to see it again on the big screen. That kind of word of mouth buzz would be invaluable in promoting great, but obscure foreign films that otherwise wouldn't see the light of day. And there are plenty of them out there.


text: On April 12, ARC joined the opening press conference held by Microsoft at their booth at this year's Hanover Fair. Caglayan Arkan, General Manager Worldwide Manufacturing & Resources at Microsoft guided through the conference in which they have presented their view on Industrie 4.0 and related cases by their partners Fujitsu, KUKA, Miele and Qoros Automotive. The last three presentations covered Industrie 4.0 from an user perspective by directly addressing their customers. KUKA's Dr. Christian Schlögel presented the connection between their lightweight robot iiwa ("intelligent industrial work assistant") and software. Dr. Eduard Sailer from Miele showed an example of an oven that directly sets up the right parameters according to the recipe you have downloaded from their cloud before. Qoros Automotive's case has been presented by Ling Bai and introduced "WeChat"an app that connects the driver via social media with their friends while being on its way. From the manufacturing point of view, Fujitsu showed their Eco-Management Dashboard solution which showed how to transform manufacturing processes through IoT. This presentation was accompanied by an example of a semiconductor plant that has been literally transformed into a plant growing plants.


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Articles Of Interest
US Files Case Against Chinese Subsidies
Economic Assistance Available for US Textile Mills
Vietnamese Cotton Processing Plants Close
International Lingerie Fashion Show
International Lingerie Fashion Party Pictures
Eldorado Raises Over 4000 Pounds of Food for Charity
International Lingerie Fashion Show Continued
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January 1, 2009
US Files Case Against
The US government on December 19, said it had begun legal action at the World Trade Organization to try to
put a stop to various subsides provided by the Chinese government to help boost sales of Chinese-branded
merchandise around the world.
The US Trade Representative's office said the subsidies include cash grant rewards for exporting, preferential
loans for exporters, research and development funding to develop new products for export, and payments to lower the cost of export credit insurance.
Among the industries that benefit are textiles and apparel, it said, adding
that the subsidies "may unfairly alter the competitive landscape around the
world for any industry competing with these Chinese products."
The USTR also said China's textile sector is helped by "other apparent export subsidies" which help products
irrespective of whether they are famous brands.
"We were disturbed to find that China still appears to be using WTO-illegal measures to promote its exports,
ranging from textiles and refrigerators to beer and peanuts," Ambassador Susan C Schwab said.
"We are going to the WTO because we are determined to use all resources available to fight industrial
policies that aim to unfairly promote Chinese branded products at the expense of American workers, farmers,
ranchers, manufacturers and intellectual property owners."
The US added it is concerned "not only because these programs appear to incorporate export subsidies (which
are generally prohibited by applicable WTO rules), but also because of the protectionist industrial policy
apparently underlying these programs."
The request for dispute settlement consultations with the Chinese is the first step in a WTO dispute.
Under WTO rules, parties that do not resolve a matter through consultations within 60 days may request the
establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel.
Available for US Textile Mills
US textile mills can now qualify for financial help to
modernize their facilities after the United States Department of Agriculture extended a program of
benefits to the sector.
The funding is available to textile manufacturers participating in the Economic Adjustment Assistance
Program authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
Under this initiative, the Secretary of Agriculture will provide assistance to US textile manufacturers who
invest an equivalent amount of funds in capital improvements to their operations by acquiring,
constructing, installing, modernizing, developing, converting or expanding land, plant, buildings,
equipment, facilities, or machinery.
Payments under the program are based on the amount of cotton (domestic or foreign) consumed by the textile
manufacturer after August 1, 2008.
Larry McClendon, chairman of the National Cotton Council (NCC), said the program "will help the industry
improve its competitive position in the textile and apparel marketplace."
While Anderson Warlick, chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations and NCC director,
added the release of funds "is critically important given the financial challenges faced by US textile
Tia Lyn's NY Fashion Show with beautiful models of ALL SIZES!
Vietnamese Cotton Processing
Three cotton processing plants in Vietnam's Central
Highland region have been forced to shut down because they have not got enough cotton raw materials for
production, said the country's National Textile and Garment group Vinatex.
The plants, which Vinatex invests in to provide cotton products for the group, have total capacity of 30,000
tons/year and are located at the provinces of Dac Lac, Dac Nong and Gia Lai.
Made in Vietnam cotton products are also struggling to win over domestic producers amid fierce fierce
competition from imported cotton enjoying low tax as a result of Vietnam's WTO entrance.
Many cotton farmers in the country are destroying their cotton plantations to grow other plants like rice and
During the first half this year, cotton imports turnover to Vietnam reached
totaled US$222.9m, up by 63.5% against same period 2007.
A Model wears Body Zone
Lingerie Fashion Show. Photo by Jerome
Wal-Mart Moves to
Takeover D&S Group
Supermarket giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc is launching a cash bid for Chilean supermarket group Distribucion y
Servicio D&S SA, in a move that will give it a significant foothold in the South American market.
Wal-Mart has offered US$0.408 per common share, representing a 37.4% premium on the average closing
price over the past month. The tender is expected to commence December 23, the company said.
As a condition of the offer, Wal-Mart said it must acquire a minimum of 50.01% of D&S's fully-diluted
The Ibañez family, the current D&S controlling shareholder, has already agreed to tender an
unspecified portion of shares.
The family will enter into a long-term stockholders' agreement with Wal-Mart regarding D&S, which will
continue to operate with its existing leadership, associates and brands.
Wal-Mart said moving into Chile is an important step in its international strategy.
"A successful tender offer will give Wal-Mart the opportunity to be a significant participant in Chile,
which continues to have a strong and growing economy among South America countries," said Michael T Duke,
vice chairman, Wal-Mart Stores.
Although D&S' core business is food retail, it also sells clothing in its Hiper Lider hypermarket chain.
46 Mervyns Locations Won
by Kohl's and Forever 21
Department store operator Kohl’s Corporation and fellow US retailer Forever 21 have won a joint bid at auction
for leaseholds to 46 retail sites run by bankrupt chain Mervyns.
Together the retailers paid approximately $6.25m for the sites, with Kohl's to assume 31 of the locations
and Forever 21 to take 15.
"We are pleased with the results of the auction," said Kevin Mansell, president and CEO for Kohl's Department
"With over 1,000 stores from coast to coast, these locations provide increased presence in under
"We will continue to be opportunistic and prudent in our discussions with the owners of select Mervyns real
estate as we continue to position Kohl's to grow market share."
In fiscal 2009, Kohl's expects to open approximately 50 stores, including the majority of the 31 former
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TSMC says trade tensions could disrupt supply of chip equipment
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest contract chipmaker, warned for the first time that trade tensions may disrupt its access to key production equipment and hit its operations, amid increasing friction between the US and China.
The company, which produces semiconductors for Apple Inc. and other major global tech companies, said in its annual report released on Friday that “ongoing trade tensions or protectionist measures could result in increased prices for, or even unavailability of, key equipment." It pointed to factors such as delays or denials of export licenses, additional export control measures, and other tariff or non-tariff barriers.
TSMC relies on equipment from US suppliers including Applied Materials Inc. and Lam Research Corp. for production. The company said trade tensions could also prevent it from securing raw materials required for production, repeating a point it mentioned in the previous annual report.
Also check these Vehicles
Semiconductors have become a key area of increasing US-China competition with chips used in a wide range of products from missiles and cars to smartphones. China is eager to foster a domestic semiconductor industry to cut its reliance on foreign technology as the US tightens control on chip-related exports to the Asian country, including key equipment sales to Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.
Earlier this week, two US Republican lawmakers -- Texas Congressman Michael McCaul and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton -- urged the State and Commerce departments to find a better way to “mitigate the risk of Taiwanese companies providing services and technologies to entities of concern," adding that TSMC shouldn’t be making advanced chips for China’s military.
The South China Morning Post reported this week that TSMC suspended new orders from Tianjin Phytium Information Technology Co., one of the companies blacklisted by the US, over concerns it’s involved either with building supercomputers used by China’s military actors, its military modernization efforts or weapons of mass destruction.
The Taiwanese chipmaker warned new measures adopted by China to counter US sanctions could affect its operations. In January, China adopted a blocking statute that “entitled Chinese entities incurring damages from a multinational’s compliance with foreign laws to seek civil remedies," it said.
“Measures adopted by an affected country to counteract the impacts of another country’s actions or regulations could lead to significant legal liability to multinational corporations including our own," TSMC said in the report.


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Hundreds of thousands of students from across the globe took the lead during a day of climate protests before next week’s United Nations summit on climate change.
“We deserve a safe future and we demand a safe future,” said Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish activist who recently raised awareness about reducing carbon footprints by sailing across the Atlantic in a racing yacht.
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Summer Flash Sale: Up to 50% off + extra 40% off all styles for the family - JCPenney promo code


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Exclusive: Huawei Smartphone Manufacturer Halts Production at Changsha Plant, Sources Say
A factory in the central city of Changsha that makes smartphones for embattled telecom giant Huawei has halted production just a year after starting up, several sources close to the project told Caixin.
The facility operated by U.S. contract manufacturing giant Flex Ltd. had started production in July 2018, but began running into unspecified difficulties earlier this year, said a source close to the industrial park where the project is located. “From this March, the first stage of Flex’s manufacturing program began to experience difficulties,” the source said. “As early as May, Flextronics had already halted production,” he told Caixin without giving details.
Flex did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.
The halt in production would come as Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. faces a series of major challenges from Washington that threaten its ability to produce many of its core networking and smartphone products. The current clash stems from Washington’s determination that Huawei illegally sold American-made products to Iran in the past, violating U.S. sanctions at that time.
In December, Huawei’s chief financial officer was detained in Canada on an extradition request from the U.S. related to the case. And in May, Washington cut off Huawei from the company’s many U.S. suppliers as punishment. Washington has relented more recently as tensions ease in its trade war with China, and earlier this week it said it will again begin allowing shipment of U.S. products to Huawei if those products pose no national security threat.
Before the U.S. announced the resumption of some sales, Huawei had said it expected to lose around $30 billion in sales over the next two years related to the ban.
The source close to the industrial park where Flex was making Huawei smartphones said the plant had “been limited by the U.S. restriction order, putting the Flex facility under a major attack.” A person in charge of hiring for the facility said even though production was halted, a few employees were remaining to maintain basic operations.
The plant is one of many for Flex, previously known as Flextronics, which competes with Taiwan giant Foxconn and currently has more than 100 factories with 200,000 employees in more than 30 countries. The company first came to China in 1987, and has other domestic facilities in cities including Zhuhai, Suzhou and Shenzhen.
The Huawei smartphones were being produced in the first phase of a massive three-stage project being developed by Flex that was meant to have total investment of 5 billion yuan ($727 million). On completion, the complex was designed to have annual capacity for products worth 10 billion yuan. Production began in July 2018 in the first phase, which was making the Huawei phones.
But now Flex could be considering abandoning the project, according to the source close to the economic zone where it is located. “Who will take over the first stage of the project still hasn’t been decided,” the source said. “At the moment Flex is considering leaving Changsha, but it hasn’t made a final decision yet.”
Contact reporter Yang Ge (email@example.com)
- MOST POPULAR


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There is a TON of Apple news coming out of Tim Cook's keynote address at the WWDC. And reports out of Europe today have been yet again depressing.
Take a break and watch this hilarious video (via BuzzFeed):
Take a break from the Apple and Spain news overload today.
5 innovations in radiology that could impact everything from the Zika virus to dermatology
More "Digital Industry Insider" »
A new technology is being developed using just 1% of the finite resource needed for traditional MRIs
Available on iOS or Android


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Microsoft’s Windows 11 will be available on older PCs, but there's a caveat2 min read . Updated: 29 Aug 2021, 02:22 PM IST
- Users will be able to download an ISO file for Windows 11 to get the operating system on their devices.
In June, Microsoft had said that the company won’t be providing Windows 11 updates to certain computers that don’t meet recommended hardware requirements. However, the company told TheVerge recently that while automatic over-the-air updates won’t be available, users will still be able to download an ISO file for Windows 11 to get the operating system (OS) on their devices. But now, the company has clarified that these users may not get ensuing security patches for Windows and other updates.
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Insurance at Top of Dealers’ Worries in Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
For the state that has been wracked by two sweeping storms in the past 14 months — first Hurricane Irene in 2011 and the more recent Superstorm Sandy — many dealers are still struggling to get back on their feet; assessing damage from October’s storm and working through insurance claims at a quick clip.
Mark Scheinberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association told NADA Used Car Guide that “some big issues right now revolve around insurance,” for dealers in areas damaged by Sandy.
“Flood insurance was not available for most of the coastal property, so damage to property is on the dealer,” Scheinberg said.
He also stressed that FEMA does not help with business losses, so dealers must deal with storm impact on their own.
That said, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association has contributed $250,000 on top of the $1M provided by NADA to the Emergency Relief Fund of the National Automobile Dealer’s Charitable Foundation.
Approximately 340 dealers in New York were affected, and about 25 percent still have issues, either with phone lines, power, or Internet (as of Nov. 8), officials shared.
And it isn’t just physical damage they are worried about.
“Many dealers’ insurance plans do not cover for losses from losing business days. This is a challenge since about 85 percent of dealers service employees are union and are guaranteed a 30 hour minimum work week,” Scheinberg told NADA UCG.
As for the vehicles themselves, thankfully, Scheinberg explained that many new vehicles are covered by floorplan insurance, so many dealers are “not on the hook” for damaged vehicles.
“There were a lot of units lost because any salt water damage on vehicles results in a salvage situation. Also, since dealers don’t have much real estate, many vehicles were stored on piers and in other areas near the coast,” Scheinberg explained.
Offering a little perspective, last week Penske Motor Group estimated the business impact from Superstorm Sandy.
The company’s 36 dealerships along the eastern United States were impacted by the storm and lost, on average, three to four days of business, with the dealerships in the New York metropolitan area suffering a more prolonged impact, according to officials.
The most severe damage was felt in Jersey City, N.J., where three of the company’s dealerships sustained damage from flooding, including the loss of approximately 1,000 new and used vehicles which were in inventory.
Power was restored to those dealerships on Nov. 6, and the dealerships have re-opened for business.
Penske chairman Roger Penske said, “Our first priority continues to be the personal well-being of our employees and their families, some of which have suffered enormous hardship. We have established a donation program through the American Red Cross whereby all of our employees can contribute directly to the relief efforts and, as a company, we are directly assisting employees who suffered storm-related losses.”
The Penske dealerships in the eastern U.S. accounted for approximately 17 percent of the company’s retail unit sales and consolidated revenues for the three months ended September 30.
And as dealers continue to assess damage and deal with the impact at home, manufacturers and OEMs are doing their own part.
Manufacturers have responded by adding incentives to help facilitate new-vehicle sales, and NADA estimates that between 30–35 percent of consumers needing to replace a vehicle will buy new.
And as stores assess where to replace lost inventory, officials noted that dealers are optimistic that inventory can be quickly reallocated from other regions to supplant the lost vehicles.
Vehicles from Florida, Texas and Ohio may represent the largest number of units that make their way into New York and New Jersey, according to car lease transfer website Swapalease.com who studied vehicle transfer patterns since January and identified those three states as representing the most frequent originations of leases transferred into New York or New Jersey.
In fact, 18.5 percent of all vehicles transferred into New York have come from Florida so far in 2012.
Other states feeding into New York and New Jersey on a smaller scale have included North Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota and Alabama.
"Keep in mind that the Northeast represents the largest concentration of leased vehicles throughout the country. Luxury vehicles such as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C Class, Lexus and Cadillac brands, which make up a large portion of leases, will most likely be in need of replacement," officials stressed.
Dealers are also claiming that they are seeing improved traffic in the dealerships already and are getting a lot of local consumers that they haven’t seen previously, Scheinberg concluded.


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[Update: 2nd Update, Verizon, Carrier-Unlocked, South Africa, Australia, India, T-Mobile, UAE, Latin America, Russia, South Korea, US, UK] Breaking: Android August 2022 patch rolled out for Samsung Galaxy S22
The August 2022 patch update for the Galaxy S22 is now rolled out in the US. This update rolling out via T-Mobile. Below you can check the firmware numbers.
Galaxy S22 – S906USQU2AVG6 – Size (539MB)
The August 2022 patch update for the Galaxy S22 is now rolled out widely. This update rolling out in Latin America, Russia, the US, South Korea and UAE. Below you can check the firmware numbers.
Latin America – S90xEXXU2AVG6
Russia – S90xBXXU2AVG6
The US – S908USQU2AVG6
South Korea – S90xNKSU2AVG6
UAE – S906EXXU2AVG6
The August 2022 patch update for the Galaxy S22 is now live in the UK.
Samsung recently launched the July 2022 patch update to the Galaxy A33. Now, the Galaxy S22 series grabbed the August 2022 security maintenance update before the month started.
Like every month, Samsung’s security patch update rolled out ahead of its schedule, that’s why people prefer to choose Samsung’s devices over other companies’ devices. Currently, the latest August 2022 patch is released for European users, and we expect other regions to gain access to the update within the next few days.
As per the report, the Galaxy S22 device owners received this update with the build number S90xBXXU2AVG6. Android August 2022 patch could include fixes for dozens of known privacy and security vulnerabilities.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Summary
Samsung Galaxy S22 mobile was launched on 9th February 2022. The phone comes with a 6.10-inch touchscreen display. Samsung Galaxy S22 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. It comes with 8GB of RAM. The Samsung Galaxy S22 runs Android 12 and is powered by a 3,700mAh non-removable battery. The Samsung Galaxy S22 supports wireless charging, as well as proprietary fast charging.
As far as the cameras are concerned, the Samsung Galaxy S22 on the rear packs a rear camera.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 runs One UI 4 is based on Android 12 and packs 256GB of inbuilt storage. The Samsung Galaxy S22 is a dual-SIM (GSM) mobile that accepts Nano-SIM and Nano-SIM cards. The Samsung Galaxy S22 measures 146.00 x 70.60 x 7.60mm (height x width x thickness) and weighs 168.00 grams. It was launched in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Pink Gold colors.
Connectivity options on the Samsung Galaxy S22 include Wi-Fi 802.11 ax, GPS, Bluetooth v5.20, NFC, USB Type-C, Wi-Fi Direct, 3G, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India) , and 5G with active 4G on both SIM cards. Sensors on the phone include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, barometer, compass/ magnetometer, gyroscope, in-display fingerprint sensor, proximity sensor, and fingerprint sensor.
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SSP Group has swung to an interim loss as the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic “heavily impacted” its trading.
For the six months to March 31, the operator food & beverage outlets in travel locations saw like-for-like revenues fall 8.4% to £1.2m and generated pretax losses of £34.3m compared to profits of £54.2m the year before.
This was due to the negative impact of the early coronavirus outbreak in Asia which affected the last few weeks of the company’s first half. Since then, the spreading of the virus across Europe resulted in trading “deteriorating rapidly” across the entire group, the company said.
Prior to seeing the initial impact from the virus in China, the company saw like-for-like sales growth of 1.2% during the first quarter, while in the second quarter they dropped 19%.
The business estimated that the impact of Covid-19 reduced its first half sales by approximately £145m - £150m.
CEO Simon Smith said: “Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the travel sector. Our response has been to take quick and decisive action to protect our people and our business, whilst around the world our colleagues have helped and supported their local communities.
“Although challenging, it was a great illustration of SSP at its best and demonstrated the resilience of our teams. I’m immensely proud of what’s been achieved.
“Looking forward, and with sufficient liquidity to manage a pessimistic trading scenario, I believe the actions we have been taking during this crisis will make us a fitter and stronger business, well placed to deliver for all our stakeholders as the travel market recovers.”
To support the business during the prolonged period of no trading, SSP furloughed colleagues, reduced salaries across the senior management and board, reduced discretionary spend and capital investment to a minimum and dropped its interim dividend.
Looking ahead, SSP said it focuses on reopening the businesses while ensuring employees and customers’ safety.
“Prior to the onset of Covid-19, SSP had had a good first half, with particularly good progress on net gains and a strong pipeline of new business wins,” SSP added.
“The impact of the virus has been significant, but we have taken all the appropriate actions to ensure that, even with extremely low sales, we have sufficient liquidity to manage through a prolonged crisis and slow recovery.”
The business has also announced that following its decision to defer payment of its 2019 final dividend, it is now offering investors that are entitled to it the opportunity to reinvest the dividend in an offering of new ordinary shares in SSP at today’s mid-market closing price.
”The 2019 final dividend will be paid on 4 June 2020 to all shareholders on the register at the record date of 6 March 2020 and this mechanism will allow them to apply for an allocation of new shares up to the value of their 2019 final dividend entitlement,” SSP explained.
Proceeds from the offering will allow the company to retain parts of the dividend cash in the business and further enhance its cash and liquidity position during this period of ”unprecedented disruption in the global travel market” as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
SSP shares opened 2.4% lower at 298.1p.
Drinks manufacturer C&C Group has seen strong growth in off-trade sales of its best brands as the coronavirus crisis wiped all on-trade sales since March.
C&C, the manufacturer behind Tennent’s, Magners and Bulmers, said after reallocating resources to manage the shift to off-trade, April and May volumes for Bulmers were down 16% but up 62% in the off-trade.
Tennent’s saw volumes reduce 42% but rise 41% in the off-trade while Magners total volumes were 7% lower but rose 25% in the off-trade.
The hospitality shutdown is generating underlying cash burn of €7m per month, net of furlough employee support currently around €5m.
“The COVID-19 pandemic presents a challenge of unprecedented scale and uncertainty for our industry and supply partners,” chairman Stewart Gilliland said.
“From the outset of the virus, our priority has been protecting the health and wellbeing of our people, customers, suppliers, business partners and community. The ongoing closure of the hospitality sector has material implications for our business and earnings potential, with approximately 80% of our revenue derived from the on-trade channel.
“An emerging trend from this shutdown however has been an immediate shift in consumption dynamics, resulting in increased demand in the off-trade channel. To capitalise on this behavioural shift, we have reallocated resources behind our Take-Home proposition and seek to optimise our business model in this channel.”
These comments were made as the company’s results for the year to 29 February showed good revenue growth of 3.6% to €227.7m while pretax profits were up 12% to €104.1m.
The FTSE 100 started the day up 1.1% at 6,285.35pts.
Risers saw C&C open uo 4.9% at 208p, Marks & Spencer up 4.1% at 102.90 and Marston’s up 3.5% at 62.87p.
Purecircle opened 3.5% lower at 90p while Naked Wines was down 1.3% at 408.48p and McColl’s dropped 1% at 49.06p.
Yesterday in the City
The FTSE 100 closed up 0.9% at 6,220.1pts as hope persists that the global economy could bounce back from the coronavirus slump more quickly than had been expected.
Tesco ended the day down 1.2% at 229.1p after the announcement of the departure of its chief financial officer Alan Stewart next year.


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This one’s gotta sting.
stories by Ricardo Bilton
BioDigitial wants to completely change the way we understand and explore the human body– but first it needs some cash.
Editor's Pick Louis C.K. is a gifted orator, and like all gifted orators, he’s really good at saying things that are easy to accept at face value.
TechStars is investing in its future startups in an interesting way: by buying a whole bunch of web domains.
The blurry divide between online and offline commerce is giving birth to some very interesting delivery experiments.
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For most people, the most secure security system is often the most simple one as well.
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Guest Post Can you use 23andMe without giving the company all of your personal info? Definitely.
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Often, even the most zany of conspiracy theories contain some grain of truth.
When Staples and RadioShack decided to allow Amazon’s Lockers into their stores, they provied that retailers were willing to try just about anything to get people in the door — even if that meant teaming up with one of their biggest rivals.
To get a same-day delivery right, you need three things: partnerships, scale, above all, money.
BlackBerry could soon get a whole lot smaller.
It’s iPhone launch season again, and this time it comes with a twist: Unlike previous years, tech blogs have not one but two new iPhones to review: the ultra-high-end iPhone 5s, and the colorful mass-market iPhone 5c.
You’ve never really hated soup until you’ve tried eating it with Parkinson’s disease.
If you don’t understand why a baby would need a wearable device, chances are you don’t have kids.
Iranian Internet users were able to access Facebook and Twitter for the first time in four years on Monday, but that wasn’t a sign Iran was loosening its restrictions on the social media sites. It was just a big, fat glitch.
Sprint may be lagging behind its larger competitors, but it’s trying its best to stay competitive.
3D printed guns: dangerous, controversial, and now, apparently art.
Guest Post I have come to believe that, yes, the Internet is killing innovation. So let me plant some seeds of doubt in your biased pro-Internet love fest.
If you were among those wooed more by Apple’s candy-colored iPhone 5C than by the higher-end iPhone 5S, today’s your special day.
Jawbone, it seems, is a victim of its own success.
Google Glass might be the best thing to happen to baseball since Mariano Rivera.
Apple’s iPhone 5S is the first 64-bit smartphone, and Samsung’s Galaxy S5 could be the second.
Editor's Pick Flash memory is getting cheaper and faster, and the companies that specialize in it are becoming major acquisition targets.
Motorola may have a mixed history when it comes to tablets, but the company isn’t giving up on the form factor just yet.
When Canary launched an Indiegogo campaign for its smart home security device last month, it set out to raise $100,000. Instead, it pulled in close to $2 million, making it Indiegogo’s most successful campaign ever.
When is the iPhone 5S home button not a home button? When it’s a fingerprint scanner.
While Apple unveiled its iOS 7 operating system back in June, what the company didn’t say is when iOS users would actually be able to get their (figurative) sweaty mitts on the update. Until now, anyway.
Augmented realized, which bridges the gap between the digital and the physical, is now bridging the gap between the worlds of the deaf and the hearing.
If the boundaries between mobile devices and the web are blurring, does it make sense to have checkout platforms created solely for either one?
If the past few years of logo and interface design have taught us anything, it’s that flat is in.
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For Dragon Innovation, helping hardware makers become legit hardware companies is a bit like teaching them how to walk: It requires a whole lot of hand-holding.
At a press event in Berlin today, Samsung took the wraps off the Galaxy Note 3, the latest entry in its supersized smartphone line.


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just missed it, said Carl Howe, vice president of consumer research at Yankee Group.
From there it seemed the sky was the limit.
sell the business and look at other ventures.
Turning the idea into a marketable product was a bigger challenge. The world had yet to become accustomed to the Internet age and most people hadn heard of email, nevermind used it. While the project was a bust with its first partner Cantel, RIM forged ahead.
A demand had been created, and subscribers to the BlackBerry services continued to grow in leaps and bounds. In 1999, RIM listed on the Nasdaq, raising another US$250 million.
The stakes are high for the unveiling, which many observers say will determine whether RIM survives to see the launch of another BlackBerry smartphone.
But amid all of the success a storm of competition was brewing in the tech industry. market, garnering widespread praise from critics and consumers, but hardly rattling its competitors.
missed the idea that you could create a really good experience without having a keyboard. They gave Apple a two year head start. the time the iPhone hit Canadian shelves, RIM was facing scrutiny from analysts who worried that the growing number competitors, which now also included Google Android system, would devour marketshare.
Branding executives pondered the device, focusing mainly on its appearance, and when one of them pointed out the little keypad looked like similar to the seeds of a strawberry, the conversation zeroed in on the names of fruits and vegetables. Eventually, the group settled on because it was both punchy and remained true to the device original black casing.
Smartphone pioneer RIM looks to put recent hardships behind it with BB10
The smartphone Nike Tracksuit Gray was in demand at corporate offices around the world, and soon the more casual consumer began to take notice, helping to boost its subscribers to nine million by 2007. RIM also secured a distribution deal in China, driving its stock to a level that made it the most valuable Canadian company.
One of those projects put RIM squarely in the eyes of Hollywood. The DigiSync film reader caught on with movie editors because its synching technology shaved hours off the time it took to turn miles of film into useable content in post production. While the technology went on to win RIM both an Emmy and a technical achievement from the Academy Awards, it was never a top priority for RIM founders.
Outside the courtrooms the BlackBerry was a massive success, garnering headlines when its enterprise network remained intact after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 when other wireless phone systems broke down.
Suddenly the BlackBerry was everywhere in the technology community, thrust into the spotlight by the enthusiastic co CEO Balsillie who touted the device on Wall Street and handed it out for free at select technology conferences. Balsillie knew how to build buzz and proudly tapped away on the BlackBerry whenever he appeared before the media.
The lower profile with Canadian consumers also seemed to minimize the concern from RIM executives, who publicly downplayed the influence of the iPhone in an already crowded mobile phone market.
An agreement with Ericcson Mobitex wireless network allowed RIM to create pagers that operated as a two way communicators, a revolutionary concept for data transfer.
It has been a steep decline for RIM, which less than five years ago was the most valuable company in Canada, above Royal Bank (TSX:RY). Affectionately called the maker, the mobile communications pioneer was Canada crowning achievement of the technology sector.
In 1996, RIM launched its first sales success, a clamshell wireless handheld device called the RIM 900 Interactive Pager. It was a two way communicator that also had the ability to send faxes, as well as link to the Internet and email.
TORONTO, Cananda Once a leader but now derided as a laggard, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion hopes to regain the confidence of cynical smartphone users this week as the curtain is lifted on its much anticipated new smartphones.
But Lazaridis discovered that the email feature, which he believed was one of the strongest qualities of the device, wasn being used by most customers. So he hired Lexicon Branding, based in California, to find a way to draw more attention to its keyboard, the main feature that differentiated it from other pagers.
The BlackBerry reputation was growing at a steady clip, helped by the introduction of cellphone service in 2002 on what had been a text only device. Within two years, BlackBerry reached more than 1 million subscribers.
The company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1997, raising more than $115 million, and debuted the first BlackBerry the following year.
The success grabbed the attention of Virginia based NTP Inc. which filed a lawsuit claiming that RIM network infringed on its patents. While NTP won the case, and the courts ordered RIM to pay US$23.1 million, the battle continued in appeals courts for years before a settlement was reached for a much heftier $612.5 million.
RIM went on the defensive in 2008, releasing a combination keypad and touchscreen device it called the Storm, but the phone was swept up in a flurry of other BlackBerry releases that year. Much of the marketing clout was put behind the debut of a high end BlackBerry Bold, which wasn a touchscreen.
The technology captured the attention and imaginations of an industry, and perhaps most importantly Jim Balsillie, an energetic Harvard graduate who, at the age of 33, invested $250,000 of his own money into the company by re mortgaging his house.
systems that would become the foundation of the BlackBerry.
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer famously dismissed the touchscreen device that year, saying no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. it was a strategic decision or simply coincidence, Apple kept its iPhone far away from the Canadian marketplace for nearly a year, choosing to launch in six other countries first.
Back in 1984, the year RIM was founded, it was practically unimaginable that a tiny startup based in Waterloo, Ont. would Nike Jackets Kids
was always into security, said Sweeny. realized that corporations needed secure communications because of industrial espionage, because of hacking. the late 1980s, RIM was working alongside other industry players to develop technology that would eventually be used in pagers and wireless payment processing systems. By the start of the 1990s, the wheels were turning on the communication Nike Hoodie Urban Outfitters
help change the way we communicate, but for fresh engineering graduates Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin that was always the plan. says it almost like telepathy humans have a yearning to communicate. beginnings were humble for the two founders, with the majority of their time dedicated to Budgie, an LED sign business that was contracted by General Motors to communicate messages to workers on its assembly lines. Despite early interest, the project was a sales flop and RIM owners decided to Nike Hoodie Jacket For Men
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As of Might 30, the whole crypto market cap is up 4% and is at present inside attain of a $1.3 trillion market cap. The transfer was sufficient to erase losses over the earlier seven days and was primarily pushed by Bitcoin’s (BTC) 4.9% surge over the interval.
Complete crypto market cap, billion USD. Supply: TradingView
Other than Bitcoin, Cardano (ADA) was the one large-cap cryptocurrency to handle to finish the week with a 4.5% constructive efficiency. In the meantime, Ether (ETH), BNB, Ripple (XRP) and Solana (SOL) did not current weekly good points.
Bitcoin’s development reversal got here after the US inventory market confirmed good points for the primary time after seven consecutive adverse weeks. The longest shedding streak for the S&P 500 in over a decade was adopted by a 6.6% constructive efficiency on the closing bell on Might twenty second.
In line with Yahoo! Finance: “A constructive batch of quarterly earnings from main retailers has helped, a minimum of briefly, to allay issues in regards to the toll [that …] inflationary headwinds may damage revenue margins.” For instance, Macy’s (M) was up 29.1% on the week, adopted by Nordstrom (JWN) up 25.4% and Ross Shops (ROST) rallied of 21.5%.
Curiously, on Might 25, JP Morgan despatched purchasers a analysis observe claiming that $38,000 was the honest worth for bitcoin. The worldwide funding financial institution additionally stated that the collapse of Terra (LUNA) didn’t damage demand for crypto enterprise capital.
On Might 23, throughout the World Financial Discussion board (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, PayPal Vice President Richard Nash said the corporate’s intention to make use of all doable crypto and blockchain providers. Following the launch of Bitcoin buying and selling in the US in 2020, PayPal continues to develop its providing associated to digital currencies.
Under are the winners and losers from the final seven days. Whereas the main cryptocurrencies confirmed modest actions, some mid-cap altcoins confirmed excessive volatility.
Weekly winners and losers among the many prime 80 cash. Supply: nomics
Synthetix (SNX) gained 15.8% after Kwenta, a zero-slippage derivatives buying and selling utility powered by Synthetix, hit $325 million in quantity.
Helium (HNT) gained 15.2% after particulars of Enchancment Proposal #51 had been launched on Might 27. The change introduces a framework to permit subnets with their very own token and governance.
STEPN Governance (GMT) misplaced 14.6% after it banned mainland China-based customers from its cellular app.
Terra Luna Traditional (LUNC), previously referred to as LUNA, fell 12.2% after South Korean authorities subpoenaed all Terraform Labs workers as a part of a wide-ranging investigation.
As a result of combined efficiency of the altcoin markets, it’s value analyzing how merchants are positioned in line with buying and selling and derivatives indicators.
Tether premium exhibits an absence of retail demand
OKX Tether (USDT) premium is an effective gauge of crypto demand from China-based retailers. It measures the distinction between peer-to-peer (P2P) buying and selling in China and the US greenback.
Extreme shopping for demand tends to push the indicator previous honest worth. However, Tether’s market provide will get flooded throughout bearish markets, leading to a reduction of 4% or extra.
Tether (USDT) peer to look vs USD/CNY. Supply: OKX
Between Might 23-30, the Tether premium in CNY has averaged a 2% low cost, suggesting an absence of retail demand. Extra importantly, the 4% crypto market cap rally on Might 30 didn’t change investor sentiment.
Associated: Crypto’s current traders are holding up towards headwinds — and headlines
Derivatives indicators are barely bearish for altcoins
Perpetual contracts, also called inverse swaps, have an embedded price that’s sometimes calculated each eight hours. Exchanges use this charge to keep away from imbalances in change price threat.
A constructive funding price signifies that longs (consumers) are demanding extra leverage. Nonetheless, the alternative state of affairs happens when brief sellers (sellers) want extra leverage, making the funding price adverse.
Cumulative perpetual futures funding price on Might thirtieth. Supply: Coinglass
Perpetual contracts replicate combined sentiment as bitcoin and ether had a barely constructive (bullish) funding price, however altcoins signaled the alternative. For instance, Solana’s adverse weekly price of 0.20% equates to 0.8% per thirty days, which is irrelevant to most derivatives merchants.
The information suggests traders usually are not dashing to verify that the current worth rally is a development reversal. As the whole crypto market cap broke the $1.3 trillion help, merchants are pricing in increased probabilities of a downturn. To this point, in line with buying and selling metrics, there isn’t any clear indication of a market backside.
The views and opinions expressed herein are solely these of the creator and don’t essentially replicate the views of Cointelegraph. Each funding and buying and selling motion includes threat. You must do your individual analysis when making a choice.


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Audi Ireland has announced the appointment of Richard Molloy as general manager of product and marketing and Simon Noone as network development manager. These two senior appointments further strengthen the Audi Ireland team and will help Audi maintain its market position as the number one premium car marquee in Ireland while also achieving its strategic business objectives.
Richard Molloy, who has almost ten years experience in the Irish automotive industry, joins the Audi Ireland team from Mazda Motor Ireland, where he most recently held the position of marketing and pr director. Molloy also previously worked for Chevrolet Ssangyong Ireland and Toyota Ireland and will now be responsible for the development and implementation of the Audi marketing and communications strategy in Ireland.
Simon Noone takes up the position of network development manager at Audi Ireland where he will be responsible for the continued investment in the dealer network and implementation of the long-term retail development plan. Noone joins the Audi team from Renault Ireland, where he held the position as network and business development manager.
Commenting on the appointments, Christian Gussen, managing director of Audi Ireland, said; “Richard and Simon bring a wealth of experience to their respective roles and I am confident they will strengthen our business in the areas of brand and dealer development and ensure we continue to deliver on our promise to provide customer delight to Irish motorists.”
Audi Ireland has recently announced a market share of 5.1% year to date; maintaining its position as the number one premium car brand in the country.


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As we know now, COVID-19 did not dampen the consumers’ desire for diamonds during the festive period, and things continued to improve after then, despite the third COVID wave and thereafter the fourth. The question now is whether this ongoing rally can be sustained, with the roll-in to holiday season 2021 having just begun.
Right now, the signs are good. According to the Rapaport news service reporting after the JCK Show in Las Vegas, which uncharacteristically was held at the end of August rather than at the beginning of June, diamond prices were stable during the month leading up to the show, which is traditionally a slower period for the trade.
The RapNet Diamond Index for 1-carat diamonds edged up by a nominal 0.1 percent during August, but had increased by 11.3 percent since the beginning of the year.
AN OUT OF THE ORDINARY AUGUST
It was an unusual August this year, with JCK Las Vegas coming on the heels of a period during which the diamond bourses in the major trading centers are typically on hiatus, and trading slows – not for financial reasons but more because most dealers are on a beach somewhere, rather than in their offices.
Visitor traffic and exhibitor numbers were lower than than usual, to some degree because of the late date, but most probably more because of COVID’s Delta variant and a reluctance to travel and gather indoors. But, as Rapaport noted, those who did attend the show reported doing good business.
Upbeat activity at the Las Vegas shows reflected the robust U.S. market that has been driving demand, Rapaport said, adding that retail jewelers are having a strong year, spurring optimism across the pipeline.
Indeed, with a year characterized by disruption in the supply chain, many popular items were scarce, with buyers are struggling to find the right goods at profitable prices.
Inventory levels are rising, Rapaport noted, but they but include a growing percentage of stones with black inclusions, milky hues or medium to strong fluorescence.
Supply shortages will likely remain an issue at least until November, Rapaport said, as jewelers and dealers prepare for the holiday season.
“While the resurgence of COVID-19 and inflation concerns have dampened confidence, it is too soon to conclude this decline will result in consumers significantly curtailing their spending in the months ahead,” said Lyn Franco, the Conference Board’s Senior Director of Economic Indicators.
DELTA VARIANT KEEPS CONSUMERS FEELING EDGY
Interestingly, the closely watched Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index declined in August, following a decrease in July. At the beginning of September, it stood at 113.8 down from 125.1 in July.
The Conference Board’s Present Situation Index, which is based on U.S. consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions, fell to 147.3 in August from 157.2 in July. The
“Consumer confidence retreated in August to its lowest level since February 2021,” said Lynn Franco, Senior Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Concerns about the Delta variant—and, to a lesser degree, rising gas and food prices—resulted in a less favorable view of current economic conditions and short-term growth prospects.
But Franco added, “While the resurgence of COVID-19 and inflation concerns have dampened confidence, it is too soon to conclude this decline will result in consumers significantly curtailing their spending in the months ahead.”
The jewelry industry appears to be betting that they won’t.


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New Zealand retail spending on electronic cards rose as expected last month, led by fuel, motor vehicle-related spending and durables.
Spending on debit, credit and charge cards rose 0.4%, seasonally adjusted, in October, following a 0.6% decline in the previous month, Statistics New Zealand says. Core retail, which excludes motor vehicle related spending, gained 0.2%.
Consumer-related stocks on the NZX 50 Index have been among the biggest gainers this year, with a 35% gain based on the NZSE Consumer Index, outpacing the broader market. Briscoe Group has climbed 49% this year, while jeweller Michael Hill International is up 39%.
The 0.4% gain in the latest month matched the forecast in a Reuters survey. Actual sales were up 3.2% from a year earlier.
Spending on fuel rose 1.6% and spending on durables, which include furniture, hardware and appliances, rose 0.7% in October. Consumables, such as food and liquor, fell 0.6% after a decline of 0.7% the previous month.
The electronic cards data covers about two-thirds of retail spending in New Zealand.
Total card transactions, including those not related to retailing, also rose 0.4%.
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Published on February 26, 2024, 5:20 pm
Qualcomm has introduced groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) features for Android smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024. One of the notable innovations is the XR Hub, a device that houses smartphone components and connects wirelessly to AR glasses, providing users with an immersive experience without the bulk or battery complications of traditional integrated headsets.
These AI advancements by Qualcomm are designed to be directly incorporated into Snapdragon and Qualcomm-powered devices. Among the enhancements unveiled are a specialized large language model (LLM) for multimodal responses, an image creation tool, and over 75 AI models accessible to developers for creating bespoke applications.
Setting itself apart from other AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot that rely on server processing, Qualcomm’s AI models operate entirely on-device. This approach permits personalized features and applications while addressing privacy and reliability issues effectively.
To support developers in leveraging these capabilities effectively, Qualcomm has made available more than 75 open-source AI models including Whisper, ControlNet, Stable Diffusion, and Baichuan 7B through platforms such as Qualcomm AI Hub, GitHub, and Hugging Face. These models are optimized for Qualcomm’s platforms to enhance operational efficiency while minimizing computational requirements.
Moreover, Qualcomm has incorporated automation mechanisms into its AI library to streamline app development processes utilizing these models. The library facilitates seamless model translation into well-known runtimes, integrates with the Qualcomm AI Engine direct SDK, and introduces hardware-aware optimizations for improved overall performance.
In conclusion, Qualcomm’s latest advancements in generative AI not only empower developers to create innovative applications but also ensure enhanced user experiences through localized on-device processing. The company’s commitment to making advanced AI capabilities accessible plays a significant role in shaping the future of mobile technology at MWC 2024.


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WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - - U.S. business inventories rose solidly in October as stocks at retailers increased by the most in more than a year, suggesting inventory investment could contribute to economic growth in the fourth quarter.
The Commerce Department said on Friday business inventories advanced 0.6 percent after increasing 0.5 percent in September.
October’s gain in inventories, which are a key component of gross domestic product, was in line with economists’ expectations.
Retail inventories increased 0.8 percent in October. While that was slightly lower than the 0.9 percent gain reported in an advance estimate published last month, the increase was the biggest since August 2017. Retail inventories edged up 0.1 percent in September.
Motor vehicle inventories advanced 1.1 percent in October rather than the 1.2 percent rise reported last month. Auto inventories increased 0.5 percent in September.
Retail inventories excluding autos, which go into the calculation of GDP, increased 0.7 percent in October as estimated last month. That was the biggest rise since December 2017 and followed a 0.1 percent dip in September.
Wholesale inventories rose 0.8 percent in October and stocks at manufacturers gained 0.1 percent.
Inventories rebounded in the third quarter after being depleted in the April-June period. Inventory investment added 2.27 percentage points to the third quarter’s 3.5 percent annualized growth rate.
Given strong domestic demand, businesses are likely to continue boosting stocks of goods, which should underpin production at factories and support economic growth in the fourth quarter.
Business sales rose 0.3 percent in October after a similar gain in September. At October’s sales pace, it would take 1.35 months for businesses to clear shelves, the most in six months and up from 1.34 months in September.
Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci firstname.lastname@example.org; 1 202 898 8315; Reuters Messaging: email@example.com
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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HAMMOND Its been an eventful first year for the Business & Economic Development Group of Hammond & Chippewa Bay.
Since the group first met in March, it has established a farmers market and website. Members are hoping to expand on that progress next year with two new events: River Weekend and business development workshops.
Volunteers are being sought to serve on the event committee for River Weekend, economic development group Co-Chairwoman Erica C. Demick said Thursday.
The details of the weekend would be established by the event committee, which will include a board member of the larger committee, Ms. Demick said.
It could include fireworks over Singer Castle and a full day of events that bring in residents from inside and outside the area, who will enjoy interacting with businesses, vendors, food and encouraging some form of competition, she said.
Ms. Demick said she anticipates that the River Weekend will be held in August so as to not overshadow other events going on.
Group members said they hope River Weekend will bring recognition to the area, drawing tourists and providing an economic boost to businesses.
With the help of SUNY Cantons Small Business Development Center, Ms. Demick currently is working on a series of workshops that will cover a range of topics relevant to the business community:
n Buying & Selling an Existing Business Long & Short Term Planning for a Profitable Transition.
n Get on the Map Business Listings & Customer Review Sites.
n E-Commerce Training Series Learn the basics of e-commerce and how your business can improve its current e-commerce strategy or just get started. This series of workshops will help business owners understand the world of business on the web while providing practical tips and hands-on guidance with exposure to website design and creation, social networking, security and compliance issues, search engine optimization, etc.
The group is looking for more vendors for its farmers market, which starts in early summer and ends in early fall. For more information, email email@example.com.
The group also is developing a slogan or tagline for the Hammond-Chippewa Bay area.
The slogan will be featured on new signs that will sit at the towns entrances.
There are more than 15 possible slogans to choose from on the economic development groups website and even a spot to add your own: www.VisitHammondNY.com.
We are still open to suggestions, Ms. Demick said.
Some sample slogans include:
n Hidden Gem of the 1000 Islands and Black Lake
n Natural Wonder of the St. Lawrence
n Emerald Fields between Black Lakes and Blue Rivers
The group is available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VisitHammondNY.
The committee has 52 members.
We are still encouraging local businesses to add their company to our general listing, Ms. Demick said. We have identified that there about 122 businesses within the community.


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The two airlines carried 153,733 tonnes of cargo and mail in August, an increase of 3.8 per cent compared to the same month last year. The cargo and mail load factor rose by 2.7 percentage points to 63.3 per cent. Capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometres, dropped by 2.6 per cent, while cargo and mail revenue tonne kilometres (RTKs) increased by 1.7 per cent. In the first eight months of 2016, the tonnage carried rose by 1.2 per cent against a 0.3 per cent increase in capacity and a 0.7 per cent drop in RTKs.
Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Sales & Marketing Mark Sutch said, “Overall cargo demand in August was reasonably robust and tonnage continued to stabilise. Freighters on our North American routes were generally full. We now see the momentum for exports out of Hong Kong and Mainland China building. As expected, the yields are gradually improving although there remains a gap when compared with the same period last year. We are planning to operate our maximum freighter schedule over the coming peak to match with the forecast demand from various new product launches.”


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You are here
Video site backed by Tencent said to be seeking US$17b price
A CHINESE startup backed by Tencent is seeking to raise funds at about a US$17 billion valuation, people familiar with the matter said, as it expands its video-streaming service to South-east Asia.
The company, Kuaishou, is targeting around US$1 billion of financing, the
- CALL +65 6388 3838
- EMAIL email@example.com


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Austria, since July 2020
Volunteers from the Know Thyself as Soul Feldkirchen deliver food boxes to people in need in the area of Feldkirchen twice a month. The food boxes are prepared by Tafel, a Red Cross project, collecting good quality surplus food from various suppliers and offering it at storage locations, where people in need can pick up a box.
During the Covid-19 lockdown this pick-up possibility stopped – and a delivery service was established instead.
During the summer after the lockdown, the City Councilor in Feldkirchen decided to continue with direct deliveries to people not being able to pick up food at the storage.
Since July we have taken part in this service by using a private car to collect the packages from the Red Cross storage and deliver them to about 15 households in the city of Feldkirchen and surrounding villages.
Of course, we do everything in accordance with the Covid-19 health and security requirements by keeping the required distance and wearing masks and disposable gloves.
People’s reactions vary from a simple “thank you” to great joy with tears in their eyes when the box is handed over. We appreciate this opportunity to assist people in need.