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J&J Exceeds Profit Estimates with Strong Pharma Unit
Johnson & Johnson exceeded Wall Street's expectations for fourth-quarter profit, with strong performance attributed to the popularity of its psoriasis treatment Stelara and the success of its medical device unit.
Anticipating increased revenue, the company looks to its multiple myeloma drug Darzalex and newer oncology medications, such as Carvykti and Tecvayli, to achieve its pharmaceutical sales target of $57 billion by 2025.
Despite facing potential competition from biosimilar versions of Stelara in 2025, the drug's sales for the quarter reached $2.75 billion, surpassing the average analyst estimate of $2.63 billion, according to LSEG data.
While a key patent for Stelara expired in the U.S. last year, Johnson & Johnson secured agreements with competitors to delay biosimilar launches until 2025.
Analysts predict that this delay will contribute more significantly to J&J's 2024 and 2025 sales than initially expected.
Amgen's Wezlana is anticipated to be the first Stelara biosimilar to launch in the U.S. next year, while biosimilars outside the U.S. are expected to debut in the second half of 2024.
The company's medical device business experienced a boost last year, benefiting from increased demand for delayed joint replacement and other surgeries during the pandemic.
Johnson & Johnson achieved an adjusted profit of $2.29 per share for the quarter, slightly surpassing Wall Street's projected figure of $2.28 per share.
Quarterly revenue amounted to $21.40 billion, exceeding market expectations of $21.01 billion.
Overall, Johnson & Johnson's diverse portfolio, encompassing pharmaceuticals and medical devices, contributed to a successful quarter that surpassed both profit and revenue expectations.


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It seems no game is safe from delays since The Last of Us Part II and Iron Man VR got pushed indefinitely due to COVID-19. One studio that is not worried is CD Projekt Red due to its finances; Cyberpunk 2077 will remain on track to release for September 17.
“Our plans haven’t changed – we’re steaming towards the September release of Cyberpunk,” said CD Projekt exec Adam Kiciński. “There is no shortage of motivation and we also possess all the tools needed to facilitate remote work. We’ve been operating in this mode for over three weeks and to-date results confirm that we can carry on with all our operations without major disruptions.”
The news may sound familiar, as we reported previously that CD Projekt Red does not see a delay happening again. A financial statement looking back at the company’s revenue through 2019 gives a reaffirming look at the current situation with developers. The four-quarter was a record-breaker as the studio generated more than any other quarter in its history. Which it should, as the Netflix series The Witcher boosted sales for The Witcher 3. Along with that, Geralt’s final adventure got a port over to the Nintendo Switch, and Gwent launched on Android and iOS as another bump in money flowing into the company.
Another factor in keeping its finances in order, CD Projekt Red cites its “longstanding strategy of avoiding debt and accumulating cash reserves” to assist its staff while working from home as it continues the final touches on Cyberpunk 2077.
Other progress comes down to getting the game rated. On March 10, the upcoming sci-fi RPG got sent to the ESRB, PEGI, and other rating boards around the world for the official rating. Today, studio head Adam Badowski tweeted an announcement that most of these organizations have made a decision about Cyberpunk 2077.
Very happy to share some progress on this — Cyberpunk 2077 has already been rated by the vast majority of rating boards around the world. https://t.co/gwUXYOXpyb
— Adam Badowski (@AdamBadowski) April 9, 2020
The news means that no new major development will occur besides some fixes. Outside of technical issues like glitches, the main obstacle that the Polish studio faces is localization. Senior vice president of business development Michal Nowakowski spoke about the current dilemma with some of the voice actors recording some of the final lines.
“However, we have managed to record the vast majority of the voiceovers, but there are always some last pick-up sessions, and we’re not very worried about that because that’s something we can record even later and add in the form of a digital patch, so by the moment the customers actually buy the game in September they would just download a file which would add the missing pieces of recordings. But that process has been hampered a little.”
September is a competitive month for the gaming industry. Last year saw the release of games like Borderlands 3 and Gears 5, so depending on what the world looks like, Cyberpunk could face tough competitors. Nowakowski is not worried about what the climate may look like upon launch.
“You’re never launching in a time that’s exclusive to you,” he said. “There’s no such thing. September has always been a competitive period of time and we’ve always been aware of that. If it becomes a tad bit more competitive, that’s fine. We believe we’re going to be launching with a title that’s going to be a must-have title.”
CD Projekt Red has confidence in its financial situation during the coronavirus to make sure another delay will not occur. Five months is a long road, especially as the pandemic is rapidly changing the world, especially the video game industry. We will have to wait and find out to see if the Polish developer can hit its target.

domain: news


text: Comedian Jay Versace sampled vegan fried chicken made by catering company Atlas Monroe on Thanksgiving. In a video documenting the event, Versace—who gained his fame on now-defunct platform Vine and currently has 3.7 million Instagram followers—gets emotional about the flavor of the seitan-based chicken. “You’re lying,” Versace said as he took his first bite. “This is a lie,” he screamed, with a smile. “Oh my god. I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it. It’s not true. This is the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. Even, like, if I wasn’t vegan.” Atlas Monroe founder Deborah Torres explained that Versace had been in contact with the company since September after his friend sampled its vegan fried chicken at the Abbot Kinney Festival in Venice, CA. “He would check in to make sure we didn’t make other [holiday] plans the whole time,” Torres told VegNews. “We were so thrilled. Jay is so sweet and very, very genuine, and you can see that in his personality and brilliance as a comedian. It’s just an honor that he invited us for Thanksgiving just to try it.” In addition to vegan fried chicken, Atlas Monroe treated Versace and his friends to a variety of plant-based dishes, including Deep Fried & Stuffed Turkey, Bacon Truffle Mac & Cheese, and two cakes for dessert. “It’s one thing when people see the food in a photo but after building the anticipation of finally trying it, seeing their faces and astonishment is something that can only be described as magical.” In September, Atlas Monroe became the first vegan vendor at the long-running National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans, scoring top accolades from festival judge Ryan Grim, editor in chief of food media outlet Extra Crispy.


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There’s an unmistakable chill in the air and, perhaps for the first time all year, it’s clear what season it is. But this holiday season brings with it a reminder of how the coronavirus pandemic has upended Americans’ lives. Gone are the crowds of shoppers in the mall and office parties, but what will take its place?
In a survey of more than 900 people on the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform by Stannah, 37 percent said they will not be gathering with their family for the holidays due to COVID-19 and 44 percent have family members planning not to as well. But 32 percent said family members were pressuring them to travel or attend gatherings for the holidays — most commonly their parents, or conversely, their kids — while another 23 percent said that they had encouraged family to travel to them for the holidays.
BREAKING NEWS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS


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You know that cryptocurrency has made its mark when a consumer can drive a Tesla Model S off the lot after paying with newly-mined Bitcoin.
Last week, Lamborghini Newport Beach in Southern California sold a Tesla Model S to a consumer for 91.4 Bitcoins ( about $103,000). The transaction through the payment processor BitPay on Dec. 6, and the car is due to be delivered to a Florida address.
But the really notable part of this story is that it isn’t the largest Bitcoin transaction. In October, BitPay processed a single $1 million transaction for Butterfly Labs, a leader in Bitcoin mining hardware. According to Elizabeth Ploshay in Bitcoin Magazine, the transaction has pushed the Bitcoin economy over the $2 billion mark. It’s also helped to raise the value of the Bitcoin, which currently stands at about USD $871/1 Bitcoin.
The Bitcoin currency has had its ups and downs, as its January 2012 crash demonstrated. But its rebound has been fast an furious in the past few months, considering that it was less than $50 earlier this year.
For the U.S. government, the concept of a electronic currency that isn’t backed by hard currency or the Gold Standard (or an electronic currency at all for that matter) seems to be a worrying prospect. While Former Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan had once dismissed the concept as “a bubble,” lawmakers are now attempting to find ways to regulate the currency, which its critics point out is enticing to criminals because of the potential for anonymous transactions. Homeland Security and the Treasury Department both made the case to Senate for more regulation.
But like it or not, Bitcoin, and other similar cryptocurrencies may no longer be just a fad for chump change. Today the Bitcoin Foundation announced the launch of international affiliates in the U.K., Canada and Australia. Celebrities like multi-platinum-album artist Snoop Dogg have embraced the concept, which means more publicity for bitcoin as an acceptable currency, and an even greater potential for bitcoin exchange. And charities like Sean’s Outpost, which provides support for Pensacola Fla.’s homeless through a 9-acre sanctuary funded largely through Bitcoin, suggest that cryptocurrencies may indeed be more than just “a bubble” or a good ride in a fast car.
Bitcoin image by CASASCIUS
Tesla Model S by Norbert Aepli


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Canada will require food packaging to carry clear labeling to indicate a high content of sugar, sodium and saturated fat, helping consumers regulate their diets and prevent associated health risks.
The health department said that beginning in 2026, the food industry would need to stamp products with a label saying they were “high in” any of those three nutrients that exceeded certain thresholds.
With more than three years to prepare for the change, manufacturers should be able to change wrappers and use up existing stocks or reformulate products, said the department, known as Health Canada.
Canadians consumed more than recommended amounts of sugar, sodium and saturated fat, it said, adding that the labels, on the front of packages, should provide information for evaluating risks. The labels are not meant to classify food as healthy or unhealthy.
Diet-related chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Canada. High consumption of the three “nutrients of concern”, as the department calls them, is closely linked to risk of such diseases.
The policy will not apply to certain food items, such as plain milk and whole eggs, due to their health value. It will also exclude raw fish and meat, whether whole cut or ground.
The exemption for ground meat will come as a relief to the Canadian meat industry, which raised concerns about an earlier proposal to require ground meat to carry such a label.
Poor-quality diets and their health impact brought individual, societal and economic costs, investors said at the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit in December. They called on governments and companies to step up promotion of healthier food and drink.
The economic burden of chronic diseases related to diet and other modifiable risk factors in Canada is C$28.2 billion ($21.9 billion) per year, according to the department.
Ottawa has also recently proposed that written health warnings be printed on individual cigarettes. If Canada implements the measure, it will be the first country to do so.


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Good morning! Here are 10 major stories in markets today.
European PMIs are coming. The first round of May business surveys for European firms comes out between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. London time (3 a.m. and 4 a.m. New York time). Economists expect a very slight drop in reported output from its May levels, and the figure should be a good signal of the European recovery's strength.
George Osborne told the UK's top business lobby his main challenge is boosting productivity. According to the Financial Times, at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual dinner, Osborne said he would release a "plan to make Britain work better" with ideas on productivity, ahead of his July budget.
The Federal Reserve seems pretty unlikely to raise interest rates in June. The Federal Reserve released the Minutes from its April 28-29 Federal Open Market Committee meeting Wednesday night, which indicated that the Fed is unlikely to raise interest rates in June due to the recent rash of less positive economic data.
Greece's creditors are reportedly making pension reform their top priority. According to Bloomberg, Greece's European creditors and the IMF are concentrating on getting concessions on the country's generous pension system, "leaving the door open to compromises on other issues like the country's minimum wage proposals," in negotiations ahead of an IMF payment Greece probably can't make (without a bailout) on June 5.
There may be a problem with the way the US measures GDP. In a statement to CNBC, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said it is "aware of issues" that the way it tabulates gross domestic product and that it is "developing methods to address what it has found." In the first quarter, the first estimate of GDP showed the economy grew just 0.2% to start the year, well below what Wall Street economists had forecast.
UK retail sales are coming too. April's numbers are out at 9:30 a.m. London time (4:30 a.m. New York). Economists are expecting a 0.4% boost from March to leave sales up 3.8% from the same month last year. It's the first retail sales number after Q1, when GDP came in at a disappointing +0.3%.
China's manufacturing PMI missed expectations. The preliminary reading of the HSBC-Markit manufacturing PMI gauge increased to 49.1 in May, higher than the 48.9 level of April, but yet again below forecasts for an increase to 49.3. Anything below 50 signals contraction.
Asian markets are mixed. The Hang Seng is having another down day, 0.26% lower than Wednesday's close, Japan's Nikkei is basically flat, up 0.02%, and the Shanghai Composite is up 1.14%.
Ukraine says it is fighting a "real war" with Russia. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko sparked fresh Kremlin fury by warning that his crisis-torn country was fighting a "real war" against Russian aggressors that could escalate at any time.
China's premier says the country is confident of its new growth target. Premier Li Keqiang said he was confident China has the ability to meet its 2015 economic growth target of around 7%, the official news agency Xinhua said on Thursday.


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Global Portable Devices Industry
An important segment of the consumer electronics industry, portable communication and computing devices are becoming increasingly vital as people adopt lifestyles with greater need for connectivity. Widely used portable device products include smartphones, cellphones, pocket organizers, laptops and handhelds.
In the second fiscal quarter of 2011 alone, almost 430 million mobile devices units were sold on the global market, representing a near 17% rise compared with the same quarter in 2010. Smartphone sales were up as much as 75% compared to 2010, accounting for 25% of overall second quarter sales.
China’s portable digital device market is recording steady growth after the worldwide recession, with the majority of suppliers investing to maximize capacity. China has an 80% share of the world digital camera and portable DVD player market.
Key Market Categories
As portable devices are used on a more widespread basis, the global mobile security market continues to grow in tandem. The world mobile security market is expected to generate close to $4 billion in revenue by 2016, according to research from Visiongain. Mobile malware figures doubled between 2010 and 2011, representing a growing threat for mobile devices. The mobile security market is fuelled by increasing numbers of rogue apps, ID theft, malware, SMS fraud and data theft. Leading companies include McAfee, Panda Security, AVG, Lookout, Vodafone, Mobile Security Labs, SmrtGuard and BullGuard.
According to Visiongain, the navigation systems market will hold vast potential for newcomers through 2016. As yet, location-based services have not yet come into their mature phase, with available apps such as Gowalla and Foursquare already proving popular. The app market is predicted to exceed $60 billion in 2016.
The global market for phones and palmtop computers (PDAs) is showing a steady increase, with the smartphone app market expected to exceed $101 billion in 2017, reports Global Industry Analysts.
The world NAND flash device market is expected to exceed $31 billion in 2014, reports Technavio. The market will be driven by growing numbers of smartphone and tablet computer users. Challenges faced by the market include a possible supply glut. Leading companies on the NAND flash device market include Toshiba, Intel, Micron, and Samsung.
The global mobile augmented reality market is forecasted to show strong growth through 2016, at which time it is expected to account for a quarter of all application downloads, according to Visiongain. Market growth depends on other market segments such as tablet computers, smartphones and the LTE/4G networks industry.
The world 3G/3.5G market is expected to have close to 4.3 billion subscribers by 2017, according to research from Global Industry Analysts. High-bandwidth multimedia services demand will fuel the market along with 3G enabled mobile phone sales and the spread of 3G networks through emerging markets. The volume of mobile handsets has fallen recently due to the economic recession, impacting the 3G/3.5G market.
According to IE Market Research, there are more than 830 million paying digital music subscribers throughout the world, with a forecast of over 1.5 billion for 2014, representing annual growth of 17%. The global digital music market is expected to grow at a rate of over 37% through 2014 to reach almost $33 billion. Online digital music retail is forecast to grow at 33% yearly to generate almost $14 billion in 2014. Record company profit from music downloads is forecast to exceed $21 billion in 2014. North America’s digital music market is expected to reach almost $12 billion in 2014. The category of online single download users is expected to show almost 21% yearly growth, with subscription users forecast to record almost 60% yearly growth to reach close to 29 million subscribers by 2014.


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Every Monday, from 23 July – 03 December 2018 one lucky motorist, around the country, who fills up with R400 or more, stands the chance to “Add some Happy to their Blue Monday.” Engen is giving away weekly fuel vouchers valued at R10 000 for the next 20 weeks.
Congratulations to the first Blue Monday winner, Nkosinathi Ganya who received his R10,000 Engen fuel voucher on Saturday, August 03 at Engen De Grendel Motors in Bothasig, Cape Town.
It is easy to enter. When customers fill up with R400 or more, they automatically receive an entry leaflet from an Engen petrol attendant with instructions on how to enter the competition.
Customers need to follow the steps and keep their transaction or cashiers slip as proof of purchase. Brad Bergh, Engen’s Brands, Communication and Advertising Manager says, “As a brand, it is important for Engen to continue offering exciting and innovative promotions where we can engage and interact with our customers.”
“We know that Monday’s can be a struggle, which is why we wanted to remind our customers that the only Blue in their Monday should be Engen.”


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Kiwi workers are feeling a little more downbeat about their job prospects according to a survey by Westpac.
The Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index fell 3.3 points in the three months to June, reversing gains made earlier in the year.
Westpac Chief Economist Dominick Stephens said: "There has been a broad based decline in employment confidence this quarter, with workers feeling gloomier about both current and future labour market prospects."
The survey finds that workers' perceptions of their own job security have deteriorated sharply, which went against recent employment data.
"June's broad-based decline in employment confidence is perhaps a little surprising when considered against a range of other labour market indicators," the survey says.
"Job ads and vacancy measures have continued to trend higher. And there was very strong jobs growth in the most recent official employment statistics."
The study said one interpretation could be that it reflects the different ways workers and businesses are faring at the moment. GDP has been bolstered by population growth, with more people adding to the demand for goods and services
However, while the size of the economic "pie" has grown, workers' slice of that pie has hardly grown at all. More people are competing for jobs, which keeps a lid on wage inflation.
Confidence fell in most regions with the biggest declines recorded in Gisborne/Hawkes Bay.
The Waikato and Taranaki/Manawatu regions were exceptions with a rise in confidence. The survey noted this was surprising given the importance of the dairy industry in those regions.


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Was one of the most popular video game development companies in the 90’s RareThis is due to the great quality that is provided with such important videogames Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Cashew, Concar Bad Wool DayAmong other games. And now, undoubtedly, its two franchises could make a comeback to restructure a property.
Microsoft Has recently renewed two of its IPs Rare In the global brand database after years of inactivity. That’s the first Blast corps, The game has been released 1997 For him N64. The second is Long live PinataA franchise that was born in 2006 Xbox 360A simulator for creating peanuts that can fight each other and other activities.
It should be noted that this can only be a routine procedure, after all brands do it regularly to protect their property from those who want to steal the name. So most likely the new games of these franchises are not planned, something that can disappoint multiple fans.
Currently Rare Working on his most popular game of the moment, Sea of thievesAnd at the same time, they are developing new franchises that were introduced a few years ago, Everwild. However, these supposed games may be assigned to another studio, as The Initiative is currently working on a new installment. Perfect Dark.
For now, everything about this type of trademark registration is speculation.


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Bangladesh still top exporter of denim to the US
Bangladesh currently holds a market share of nearly 23% in the US denim market as the market leader as of September
Despite a slowdown in the US caused by declining consumer demand, Bangladesh is still the number one exporter of denim garments to the US.
Data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (Otexa) of the Commerce Department show that Bangladesh exported denim apparel to the North American country worth $738.70 million in the first nine months of 2022, up 42.01% from $520.16 million during the same period of 2021.
During the aforementioned period in 2022, the US imported denim clothing worth $3.24 billion, a minor increase of 27.78% from $2.54 billion during the same time period in 2017.
In 2021, Bangladesh became the top denim exporter to the US for the second consecutive year.
Bangladesh currently holds a market share of nearly 23% in the US denim market as the market leader as of September 2022 and remained the top exporter in the European Union (EU) market since 2017.
According to industry insiders, Bangladesh was still leading the market despite global economic turbulence, and inflation, and hoped to be the dominant exporter by the end of this year as Bangladeshi denim is the biggest brand in the US market and US buyers considered it an elite product of high quality.
Other than Bangladesh, imports from the second highest supplier, Mexico, increased 18.99% to $561.38 million, from $471.78 million in the mentioned period of 2021.
Imports from disaster-stricken Pakistan soared by 36.63% to $376.05 million in the first nine months of 2022, up from $275.9 million in the same period of 2021.
Supply from Vietnam to the US grew by YoY 25.12% to $348.64 million in the mentioned period, up from $278.64 million in the January-September period of 2021.
Shipments from China continued to lag, up 6.12% to $291.45 million in January-September of 2022 from $274.63 million in the same period of the last year, with a market share of 9.64%, Otexa data said.
However, the import of denim apparel from the US slowed again in September.
According to various reports, as the US economy faces headwinds, US apparel imports have slowed substantially.
Specifically, with US consumers struggling with four-decade-high inflation and having to prioritize budget for other necessities, the value of US clothing retail sales will face a hard impact.
Moreover, the rising sourcing costs remained a significant business challenge to US fashion companies and due to weakened demand, US fashion brands and retailers could not entirely pass the rising sourcing cost on to consumers.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Mohiuddin Rubel, director of the BGMEA and additional managing director of Denim Expert Limited, said that Bangladesh's position in the US, especially in denim, has always been good.
He also said that just after the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war further hit the global economy and despite this situation, the denim of Bangladesh has been doing well.
“There is a gap of two months in Otexa's data, in which case growth will slow down in October and November, but till September we clearly did well,” he added.
The infrastructure, technology, and technical know-how for denim have developed significantly in the country as also the skills of people related to the sector.
“The backward linkage industry has been strengthened, research, studios have all improved because of which denim has strengthened its position,” he added.
However, gas and utility support has been hampered by the ongoing global economic turmoil which may impact the sector too.
“If the global economic situation was not bad, then we had the opportunity and ability to go further. Still, if the ongoing critical situation improves, we are confident that we will be ahead of any of our competitors,” he added.


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At the end of the week, gold is up after the NFP report, which turned out to be weaker, although the change in farm sector employment exceeded expectations. It’s worth noting the strong revision down of the previous month’s result along with an unemployment rate increase above forecasts. The Fed will also be taking falling wages into consideration.
This recent significant gold price increase is likely a result of speculative investors increasing their long positions. This will be confirmed by the latest data, which will be published next Tuesday by the CFTC. In the ETF market, which replicates physical gold, there has been a dominant capital outflow lately, and so far, there is no improvement. If this market is reactivated again, it could be an additional growth impulse for gold in the coming months.
The upcoming week mainly boils down to one key publication, which will be the US inflation data released on Tuesday. PPI data will not electrify the market as much but could cause some increased volatility. The strength of the American consumer will also be evaluated through the retail sales report. From domestic data, we will receive the CPI indicator (Friday) and the latest NBP inflation report (Monday).
Łukasz Zembik Oanda TMS Brokers


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In an exciting development for fans of shows such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, word breaks this morning that the successful Kickstarter project, Gerry Anderson’s Gemini Force One, is to be published by Gollancz in 2014 and Orion Children’s Books in 2015.
Let’s hope this also means there’s a possibility of a comic based on this new venture at some point.
The book deal was agented by Robert Kirby of United Agents with Orion Children’s Books Editorial Director Amber Caravéo and publication will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first broadcast of Thunderbirds.
Gemini Force One was devised and developed by Gerry Anderson before his death and completed by bestselling author M G Harris with the approval of the Estate of Gerry Anderson, led by his son Jamie Anderson.
A special, and strictly limited edition of Gemini Force One: A New Horizon will first be published by Gollancz in August 2014 and will be available to the project’s original Kickstarter supporters, and will also be sold in collaboration with key specialist bookseller Goldsboro Books.
An Orion Children’s Books main paperback edition will then be published in spring 2015 with books Two and Three to follow in 2015 and 2016.
The Gemini Force One project – which includes plans for a TV series, utilizing vehicle designs by former Star Trek designer Andrew Probert – has been developed by Anderson Entertainment, which was founded by Gerry Anderson, MBE, creator of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Stingray, UFO, Space:1999 and many more.
Among other things, the company is currently organising Andercon, the first official Gerry Anderson convention, which will take place in April.
When the GF1 project first achieved successful Kickstarter funding, gaining over £30,000 in backing from fans, Jamie Anderson said: “With over 600 Anderson fans from around the world chipping in to get this project launched – Gemini Force One is go!”
“Dad was a prolific creative, and was constantly coming up with new ideas,” he adds of the just-announced Gollancz deal. “Gemini Force One was one of his final projects, and something that he felt passionately would inspire a whole new generation.
“In continuing to develop GF1 we’ve been lucky enough to team up with best-selling author MG Harris who really understood the premise of the project and its ‘Gerry Anderson spirit’ from the get-go.
“Now I’m delighted that we’re able to team up with Orion, who share our passion for GF1, to bring this fantastic book series to a global audience. Stand by for action!”
Gemini Force One is a complete reinvention of the magic formula of adventure and rescue which formed the core of Gerry’s most successful series, Thunderbirds, and should appeal to the several generations of Thunderbirds fans and a generation of readers entirely new to the Thunderbirds phenomenon.
MG Harris is best known for her bestselling series, The Joshua Files. Brought on board with the project at an early stage, she is passionate about the project and says of the collaboration:
“It’s a huge honour for me as a Gerry Anderson fan to be involved in bringing Gemini Force One to life,” she says. “The enthusiasm of Orion Publishing Group at all levels for this project has been inspiring. I’m delighted to be working with Orion Children’s Books to add a brand new action-adventure title to their list.”
“It is a great honour to work with Jamie Anderson and M.G. Harris on this hugely exciting new Gerry Anderson project,” adds Orion Children’s Books Editorial Director Amber Caravéo. “It has all the hallmarks of a typical Gerry Anderson concept – action, adventure and a great story at its heart that simply races along! As soon as I read the outline I could see that this was going to be a fantastic new Gerry Anderson brand and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it to long-standing fans and new readers alike!”
• Further detail is up and on-going news will be shared both at the Kickstarter site: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1717674777/gerry-andersons-gemini-force-one
• On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeminiForceOne
• And via Gollancz and Orion Children’s Books: www.orionbooks.co.uk
• A Q & A with MG Harris is live on her website: http://www.mgharris.net/2013/09/20/gemini-force-one-qa-mg-and-jamie-anderson/
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.


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The ride-hailing giant announced a partnership with NASA today to build a brand new air traffic control system that will manage low-altitude autonomous aerial vehicles. The two signed the Space Act Agreement at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, with the goal of making the concept of flying cars a viable mode of transportation by the turn of the century.
Uber’s head of product Jeff Holden also said the company wants to start testing flying vehicles by 2020 in Los Angeles, a city notorious for its congested highways. Uber says it will hold community meetings to listen to people’s concerns. It’s already partnered with a landlord to use its rooftops as launch pads. Los Angeles joins Dallas and Dubai as the first three cities to express interest in working with Uber’s Elevate program.
The beleaguered peer-to-peer car sharing company isn’t the only one pursuing this sci-fi fantasy. There are more than a dozen other companies developing flying cars, from multinational aerospace companies like Boeing and Airbus to startups like Aeromobil and Kitty Hawk. The ambitious vision isn’t without its detractors, including Elon Musk, who recently slammed the idea.
But Uber isn’t letting the outspoken Tesla CEO deflate its lofty plans.
“There’s been a great deal of progress that’s been hard to see from the outside, because a lot of this is just hard work at the drafting table,” Holden said, according to the Verge. “We feel really good. It’s been a really interesting process getting our vehicle manufacturing partners aligned on performance specifications, so that they’re building vehicles that align with what we need to make Elevate successful. So lots of good progress there.”
Uber first announced its Elevate project in a white paper last year. The aerial vehicles are meant to replace helicopters, which Uber says are too “noisy, inefficient, polluting, and expensive for mass-scale use.” Uber claims its flying vehicles will have zero operational emissions and will be quiet enough to fly around cities without disturbing neighbors. Daily long-distance commutes in dense urban areas are expected to take off (sorry) first because that’s where the most money and time can be saved. Regardless, the vehicles would not alleviate the need for traditional vehicles to transport passengers to and from the launch pads.
This all sounds very expensive, but Uber projects UberAir will cost the same as an Uber X ride. Uber even expects its flying vehicles will become less expensive than owning a car. A flight from San Francisco to San Jose on an Uber vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft would take just 15 minutes compared to the 1 hour and 40 minutes it takes in a car during rush hour.
Don’t get your hopes too high, though. Uber has a lengthy list of “market feasibility barriers” it says must be solved before it can build its VTOL ecosystem. Some of those problems deal with engineering, like finding a battery with sufficient specific energy or building out the first commercially viable aircraft that uses distributed electric propulsion for vertical takeoff. Other issues include cost, zoning regulations, air traffic control systems, safety, emissions, and noise pollution.
If it can solve those problems, the future of transportation might look a lot like this rather creepy utopian promo video Uber released today.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated for clarity.
H/T the Verge


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Compatibility problems with the newest PlayStation 2 have raised concerns over the PlayStation 3, and Sony's Reiko Sakamoto has added fuel to the fire with recent comments.
Looking ahead to the PlayStation 3, which SCEI plans to launch in the first half of next year, Sakamoto said that SCEI remains committed to backwards compatibility with existing titles on the new machine.
"It's hard to say the PlayStation 3 will be 100 percent backwards compatible but as we said earlier this year we aim to make it so as much as possible," Sakamoto said.
I find it striking that both the Xbox 360 and apparently the PS3 were both not designed from the ground-up for backwards compatibility. Is this a case of market research telling them that it's just not a big desirable from gamers, or is something else afoot?


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BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhuanet) -- "Hello, Chinese netizens!"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened an exclusive online interview with Xinhuanet with greetings in Chinese on Wednesday.
“I saw the opportunities between Israel and China,” continued Netanyahu, who is on a five-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
As the second China visit in office, he saw the big differences of 15 years. "China performs particularly well, and I see the tremendous development with great admiration, I see with great interests," Netanyahu noted.
"The future will belong to those countries that can make conceptual products, products of the mind." he said, adding, “This is the purpose that I came here.”
"I believe that Israel can be a perfect partner of China. China is a globally economic pal. And Israel is a global center of R&D. And I think we can complement each other to secure the market of tomorrow," he said.
He pointed out that what is most valuable for the economic growth in the 21st century will be the ability to produce conceptual products.
"But we lack of skills," Netanyahu admitted, saying, "We're seeking our partnership."
With China's global rich and Israel's concentration on scientific and technological superiorities in many fields, that would be a perfect partnership, he noted, saying, "We want to be your genuine partner."
On the potential side of the bilateral cooperation, he stressed the importance of civilizations, saying the Chinese and Israelis are very similar in many ways: values of family, education and scholarship.
"The Jewish and Chinese people have great minds. If we share the capabilities what I've seen here in the last 50 years. I think we'll go well beyond into a very bright future." Netanyahu said.
He hoped that China and Israel can merge their strength of great minds. "With great admiration for China and for Chinese civilization, we see a lot of common characteristics. We both strive for excellence. Let's succeed together," he noted.


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Facebook on Monday announced Adam Mosseri will take over as the head of Instagram following the sudden resignations of co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger last week.
announced their resignations from the company last week, more than six years after Facebook acquired the company they founded for $1 billion. Their departures came after growing frustrations with Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg due to increasing interference with the direction of the photo-sharing app, according to various reports last week.
Mosseri has climbed the ranks of the social network giant since joining the company as a product designer in 2008. During his time with Facebook, Mosseri has also served as design director for the company’s mobile apps and later leading the News Feed division. He has been Instagram’s head of product since May.
“I’m humbled and excited about the opportunity to now lead the Instagram team,” Mosseri said in a statement.
Shares of Facebook are down a little more than 1 percent on Monday.


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Smurfit Kappa has launched its new SupplySmart digital solution, which helps businesses to intelligently adapt their packaging to increase efficiency and reduce emissions across their supply chains.
SupplySmart has evolved to tackle increased supply chain complexities and uncertainty in a world which has seen one supply chain disruption after another. Using insights from the analysis of over 100,000 supply chains, it identifies opportunities for optimisation across the entire length of the supply chain. Its new digital twin feature also allows businesses to test their updated packaging in a virtual environment to eliminate risks ahead of implementation.
Leading German consumer goods company Henkel partnered with Smurfit Kappa to launch a compact and sustainable paper-based alternative to plastic packaging. SupplySmart was used to build a digital model of Henkel’s supply chain to achieve the company’s goals of reducing CO2 emissions while introducing a more user-friendly and compact pack. The redesigned dishwasher tablet pack resulted in 66% less volume for the package and has helped to reduce CO2 emissions during transport by as much as 44%. The new sustainable solution also enables easy handling, is easy to store, and is fully recyclable.
Marcel Daube, International Packaging Developer of Henkel’s Consumer Brands division, said, “Smurfit Kappa’s SupplySmart solution has supported us in achieving a number of our key business objectives. It’s not just a change in design; it’s driving sustainability and efficiencies across our entire supply chain. Our commitment to responsible business has found its perfect partner in this innovative packaging, helping us reduce waste, minimise our environmental footprint, and deliver on our sustainability objectives.”
Gérard van den Boogaard, Supply Chain Innovation Director, Smurfit Kappa, added, “We’ve seen how businesses are increasingly assessing how they can best manage their supply chains to address growing complexities and risk alongside keeping costs down and meeting their sustainability goals. Our enhanced SupplySmart digital tool provides our customers with a risk-free solution for realising efficiencies and improvements across their supply chain, enabling them to better respond to market opportunities. It can also identify where sometimes the simplest packaging changes, such as packaging orientation, can lead to significant reductions in both waste and emissions. At Smurfit Kappa, we are creating packaging that delivers on a low-carbon, circular future.”


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Webchutney, the digital advertising agency and consulting firm, which is backed by Capital18, Network18's investment arm, registered a profit of Rs 6.35 crore in the financial year 2011-2012, generating a revenue of Rs 21.55 crore. Note that Network18 holds 230,410 shares of Webchutney Studios, with a 70.06% stake in the company, through its investment arms - it owns 49.42% of the shareholding through Capital18 Limited, Mauritius and 20.64% through Capital18 Fincap Private Limited, with 230,410 equity shares. Webchutney's clients include Airtel, Microsoft, Unilever, Marico, Titan, MasterCard, Barclays, Proctor & Gamble among others. Sidharth Rao is the CEO of Webchutney. The company had recently shuffled its leadership team: Rahul Nanda, who was previously a COO had been promoted as partner and President, mobile initiatives. Nishi Kant was made COO, West and South, while Saket Vaidya was made COO for North. Tarana Mehta had been made Chief Strategy Officer, while Meghana Bhat had taken over as Executive Creative Director. - JuxtConsult: Webchutney also owns a 60% stake (900 equity shares) in online research firm, Juxt Consult, and 100% stake (1,000 shares) in Blue Slate Media. Juxt Consult registered a revenue of Rs 1.7 crore and a loss of Rs 37.94 lakh in FY12. - Blue Slate Media, which runs IndiaDigitalReview* (erstwhile Alootechie.com), IndiaEducationReview, IndiaHospitalityReview and IndiaTourismReview recorded revenues of Rs 85.59 lakh and net profit of Rs 14.46 lakh. Note that Blue Slate had sold iGovernment.in to 9.9 Media in 2009. *Disclosure: IndiaDigitalReview covers digital media and technology, and hence competes with MediaNama
- Navigating The Debate Over Ex-Ante Regulation in India’s Digital Market April 15, 2024
- Tech Manifestos 2024: BJP Wants to Promote ONDC, Increase Digitisation of Land Records, No Mention of AI, Digital India Act April 15, 2024
- Apple loses bid to dismiss lawsuit over App Store fees in the UK April 15, 2024
- WhatsApp Lowers User Age Limit, Sparks Outrage in UK and EU April 15, 2024
- Decoding the potential challenges in enforcing the Digital Competition Bill April 15, 2024
Experts debate the efficacy of ex-ante regulation in India's fast-evolving digital market. Is preemptive control the answer?
Tech Manifestos 2024: BJP Wants to Promote ONDC, Increase Digitisation of Land Records, No Mention of AI, Digital India Act
Lacking plans about the use and regulation of artificial intelligence, use of drones, health stack, cybersecurity and Smart Cities, the manifesto does not have...
MediaNama’s mission is to help build a digital ecosystem which is open, fair, global and competitive.
Views: Response to NPCI CEO’s comments that what is not written in regulations is a no-go for fintech entities
NPCI CEO Dilip Asbe recently said that what is not written in regulations is a no-go for fintech entities. But following this advice could...
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The existing commission-based model, which companies like Uber and Ola have used for a long time and still stick to, has received criticism from...
Factors like Indus not charging developers any commission for in-app payments and antitrust orders issued by India's competition regulator against Google could contribute to...
Is open-sourcing of AI, and the use cases that come with it, a good starting point to discuss the responsibility and liability of AI?...
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They have indeed gone and done it, with the first results of Coca-Cola's acquisition of the Costa Coffee chain hitting the UK later this month. It is three types of coffee in cans from... the... fridge.
The three types of coffee the Coke scientists deem acceptable for chilling are the capitalised flavours of Classic Latte, Caramel Latte and Black Americano, and we may all feel very special today because the UK is the first territory in the world to get these potentially category-creating new cold beverages. At least we think you're supposed to drink them cold. Maybe the idea is you take them home than boil them up in a saucepan?
No, they are definitely for drinking cold, as Coke's press release refers to it as a "ready-to-drink" product and says nothing about taking it home and warming it up and adding milk. They do say something about the ingredients, though, with each can containing about the same caffeine as a double espresso, and between 95 and 120 calories thanks to a smidge of added sugar from the bottomless Coca-Cola fructose syrup lakes. They hit the fridges of Costa later this month.


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French beauty giant L'Oréal has launched a digital skin diagnostic based on people's selfies...
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There has been a major U-turn from the UK Government as the current COVID-19 tracing app has since shifted to a model based on technology provided by Apple and Google. The Apple-Google design has been promoted as being more privacy-focused, which is key to ensuring compliance to the public.
Cybersecurity expert Paul Farrington, EMEA CTO at Veracode had the following to say :
“It’s an undeniable truth that public trust is paramount when it comes to rolling out the COVID-19 tracing app. With concerns that only 49% of people felt comfortable downloading the government app previously, it is great to see the Government adapting its strategy to provide a more privacy-focused solution by deploying the Apple – Google ‘Exposure Notification API’ technology. The decentralised system from Apple and Google puts confidentiality and privacy at the centre of the design, whilst offering a partnership with public health authorities around the world.
In the centralised approach with the original contact tracing app, the three tenets of security weren’t explicitly guaranteed in the design: Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. Users had concerns about their privacy. Now, the government has accepted the advice from external security researchers by switching to the completely open-source Apple-Google initiative. When embarking on software projects, teams should always ensure that security is a key selling point of the product or service. Privacy of data influences the trust of the individual and, in this case, that’s something that is vital in the successful management of a pandemic if you want to win the hearts and the minds of the nation.”


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2Q GDP growth revised up slightly to still weak 1.3%
Real gross domestic product — which measures the output of goods and services produced in the economy — increased at an annual rate of 1.3% in the second quarter, according to the Commerce Department. The latest reading is up from an earlier estimate of GDP growth of 1% for the three months ended June 30. In the first quarter, real GDP increased only 0.4%. "The upward revision to second-quarter growth was mainly due to faster consumption growth of 0.7% compared with 0.4% previously," said Paul Dales, senior U.S. economist for Capital Economics. "This was despite a downward revision to real disposable income growth, to 0.6% from 1%, meaning that households dipped further into their savings," according to Dales. "The contribution from net trade was also larger than previously thought, as export growth was stronger and import growth weaker." The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said second-quarter real GDP growth reflected positive contributions from nonresidential fixed investment, personal consumption expenditures exports and federal government spending. "We'll know more after the release of August's personal spending data (Friday), but it looks as though GDP growth may come in close to 2.5% in the third quarter," Dales said. "Indeed, the strength of capital goods shipments in August points to a decent rise in business investment in the quarter as a whole." Still, Dales doesn't expect stronger GDP growth in the fourth quarter nor in 2012 with households still deleveraging. "We expect GDP growth of just 1.5% next year, which won't be enough to reduce the unemployment rate," Dales said. Write to Kerri Panchuk.


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Acclaimed author, Ridley Pearson, visited the Walt Disney World Resort and signed copies of his latest book, “Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow.” And for more Kingdom Keepers fun, visit: http://www.thekingdomkeepers.com
Click here for the video as Disney Parks has embedding disabled.
About Kingdom Keepers:
The Kingdom Keepers is a series of thriller novels for young readers, written by Ridley Pearson and published by Disney Editions. The first novel, subtitled Disney After Dark, was published in 2005, and the second, Disney at Dawn, was released on August 26, 2008. According to Pearson’s blog, The Kingdom Keepers was submitted to Walt Disney Pictures for a film in August 2006 and was resubmitted again around July 2008. Ridley Pearson has announced that there will be several Kingdom Keepers books coming out sometime in the future. The franchise also includes Kingdom Keepers Online, a collaborative online game.


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Dave Grohl Honors First Night of Hanukkah With Twisted Lisa Loeb Cover
Dave Grohl and producer/frequent collaborator Greg Kurstin are back with the 2021 installment of “The Hanukkah Sessions.”
Last year, Grohl and Kurstin released a new cover every night of Hanukkah that was performed by a Jewish artist. Their covers honored eight different acts including the Beastie Boys, Bob Dylan and more.
Grohl and Kurstin surprised fans by dropping a cover of Lisa Loeb’s “Stay” last night (November 28) on the first night of Hanukkah saying in a statement, “Welcome back to the menorah, y’all. Let’s kick it this year’s Hanukkah sessions with one of Dallas, Texas’s favorite Jewish daughters. So put on your coffee shop spectacles and your Betsey Johnson dress and HAVA listen to this… ‘Stay’ by Lisa Loeb.”
The cover starts off just the same as the original, and Grohl even dons a pretty dress and cat eyeglasses just like Loeb does in the “Stay” music video. But then things take a surprising death metal turn that you just have to hear to believe. The cover can be heard below, and it is an absolute trip.


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Apple has confirmed a significant change: the iPhone using USB-C.
The European Union has codified new rules requiring most personal devices to use USB-C for charging and data transfer. For the first time, Apple has stated that it would be ordered to comply with such a new regulation, notwithstanding its displeasure.
Apple official Greg Joswiak, the company’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, confirmed the news. At a Wall Street Journal event, Joanna Stern interviews Joswiak and another Apple senior vice president, Craig Federighi.
According to Joswiak, EU legislators and Apple have “been in this little bit of a conflict” over the notion of a standard charging legislation. “We have no option,” Joswiak replied to Stern’s query regarding when USB-C iPhones will be available.
He remarked that, despite the EU’s good intentions, it is a difficult item to regulate. Additionally, he mentions how EU legislators previously attempted to standardize the now-outdated micro-USB port. ‘He did not specify if iPhones and other Apple goods sold outside the EU will also include the USB-C connector.
Greg’s remark reiterated that we will see the first iPhone, and maybe the first AirPods, using USB-C in 2024 and that we will not see a fully wireless charging iPhone for some years.
However, Joswiak stated that Apple would be forced to comply with the new EU standard charger legislation governing USB-C. He stopped short of stating that Apple will transition the iPhone to USB-C, but that’s the only right option here short of a wacky workaround.”For the majority of iPhone users, it’s about charging.”
Reason to change
The European Parliament enacted a bill earlier this month requiring a common charging cable for all cell phones and mobile devices such as laptops or wireless headphones. All mobile phones, tablets, and cameras sold in EU nations must include a USB-C charging connector by 2024, with laptops having until 2026.
According to the EU, the new regulation would save customers money on numerous charging connections to keep their mobile phones charged. Officials also stated that the regulations would help reduce electronic waste caused by outmoded chargers. Additionally, it also prevents consumers from becoming trapped in a certain brand due to an exclusive charging method.
Why is Apple not happy with the decision?
Apple has been a major laggard in the USB-C transition, particularly for the iPhone. The corporation already worries that the restrictions will restrict innovation and harm customers.
According to Greg, the changeover to USB-C will also be an issue for previous iPhone owners. It will generate a lot of e-waste. It is because every iPhone user will need to purchase a new USB-C, and the existing Lightning connector will be useless.
Wireless charging feature by Apple
Apple is a prominent smartphone supplier in Europe, with around 23% of the smartphone market. The Insider recently pointed out that Apple might produce wirelessly charging iPhones, thereby circumventing the USB-C requirement. Still, it appears that Apple is staying with a port for the time being.


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“Jettisoning licensing that [doesn’t] properly represent Ferrari,” the new fashion project is engineered to refocus the brand equity and bring new vitality to the company, according to Louis Camilleri, chief executive officer, Ferrari.
reports that Ferrari’s brand value is only recently being transformed into profit, climbing the ranks of
from 350th (2014) to 7th (2019).
Ferrari will also be placing more emphasis on experiential, building on the two theme parks in Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, as well as the two museums in Italy.
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Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol on Monday asked the World Bank and the European Union to review a trio of new trade agreements with Cambodia’s neighbors to determine what impact the deals would have on the country’s exports.
Speaking at a meeting on trade at the Commerce Ministry, Mr. Chanthol said the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the E.U., and the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade benefits being extended to Burma could all impact Cambodia’s economy.
“We need to do analysis: What are impacts of TPP on Cambodia in terms of trade prospects?” the commerce minister said of the ambitious global trade deal being pushed by U.S. President Barack Obama, which has met bitter resistance in Washington.
“Recently, Vietnam also signed the FTA with the E.U. Again, what are the impacts on Cambodia in terms of trade?” he said. “The study should include the analysis of the impacts of EBA with Myanmar on Cambodia.”
Mr. Chanthol said Cambodia was also looking to begin negotiations for its own free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which is comprised of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
“I am pleased to inform you that our prime minister agrees [for] us to start the process of negotiation with the EEU,” Mr. Chanthol said. “We also want you to analyze [whether it] would make sense
for Cambodia to enter into FTAs with Canada, U.S. and other countries, because we are a part of regional FTAs.”
Alassane Sow, the World Bank’s country manager, and Fiona Ramsey, head of cooperation for the E.U. delegation in Cambodia, said during the event they were prepared to assist the Commerce Ministry.
Jayant Menon, the Asian Development Bank’s principal economist for regional economic integration, said by telephone that Cambodia should not be overly concerned by the agreements mentioned by the commerce minister.
“I don’t think Cambodia should worry at all about the TPP, assuming it happens,” he said. “Nor should it worry about trying to join it at this stage. Regulatory issues, intellectual property—Cambodia is not yet in a position to try to meet those type of standards yet.”
Mr. Menon said the main constraint to Cambodian exports was the quality of its goods, and that it should focus on meeting international standards rather than on negotiating new trade deals.
“Cambodia is a highly open economy, they should focus on upholding their WTO [World Trade Organization] commitments,” he said. “They need to focus on that because that is where they are getting most of their benefits.”
(Additional reporting by Colin Meyn)


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Swiss company to build trains for Belarus and Russia
Swiss company Stadler Rail Group has built the factory for production the whole range of modern electric trains and electric transport. The factory is the first of its kind in the post-Soviet countries. Although, Belarusian authorities left some responsibilities for the “progenitor” of the project – “Belkomunnmash”.
Leading European manufacturer of electric trains entered the Belarusian market as a supplier of electric trains, and after that ventured to build the plant near Minsk from scratch. The company Stadler Bussnang AG in 2010 won the tender to supply Belarusian with 10 modern trains. In 2012 company created a joint venture, “Stadler Minsk” to construct a new plant for producing modern trains.
The company is located in the industrial zone of Fanipol – 4 km from Minsk. Company invested 50 mln Euro into the plant.
From the supplier to the manufacturer.
At the opening ceremony of “Stadler Minsk” on 20 November, Alexander Lukashenko noticed that he was the originator of its creation. And not just because he “enjoys these beautiful machines”. “But mostly because we received a high-tech manufacturing. The company, which already has market outlets came to find new ones”, – said Belarusian president.
Stadler company explaining the decision of opening the plant in Belarus noted the qualified human resources, the ability to work in a single economic area with counties from Eurasian Economic Union and good logistics – the neighborhood countries also use wide rail gauge.
The construction of a modern plant in Belarus took 2 years.
At the initial stage, the partner of Stadler was “Belkommunmash Holding Management Company”- a company founded by the Minsk Council. Joint venture “Electric transport” was created for the project, which was later renamed to “Stadler Minsk”. Stadler owned 60% of the company, while “Belkommunmash” had 40%.
According to the “Belorusy i rynok”, in spring of 2014 Stadler bought Belarusian stake for about 10 million USD and thus became the 100 percent owner of the plant. The money, according to Presidential Decree number 122, was directed on the development of “Belkommunmash”.
Construction of the plant in Fanipol began in April 2013. The area of 18.9 hectares was assigned to use in the Minsk region, it was included to the Free Economic Zone “Minsk”. The first launching assembly was completed in December of last year.
The maximum capacity of the new plant – 120 railcars per year. About 700 new jobs have already been created and the staff will increase up to 1,000 people a year later. Factory functions include aluminum welding and painting railcars cars, as well as their final assembly and commissioning. In addition, “Stadler Minsk” is now engaged in the design and production of trolleybuses and trams – Stadler took over this business from “Belkommunmash”.
The first order to be executed at the new plant – double-decker trains for the Russian company “Aeroexpress” (connection with Moscow airports). In May 2013 Stadler Rail Group has won the tender for the supply of 25 double-decker trains model KISS . Value of the contract (118 railcars) is 685 million EUR.
According to the contract, Stadler will deliver the first Russian trains from the Swiss assembly, the rest – 21 trains – will be assembled at the Stadler’s factory in Belarus. The contract must be made before 2016.
Objective: “not to remain on the margins.”
Lukashenko called Fanipol as “the center for international engineering” right after the launch of the Stadler’s plant . He added that “we do not intend and we won’t build a secondary level factories in Belarus, but we want create conditions that give preference only to world class plants, which create highly competitive products”.
“He (Peter Shpuler, ” Stadler Rail Group” CEO) struck the wide road, which other businessmen can go by”, – said Alexander Lukashenko.
However, festive background was marred by serious circumstance. On the one hand, the country has a new modern plant for the production of electric trains – that’s good. On the other hand, what will happen to “Belkommunmash”, which until recently was engaged in the production of trams and trolleybuses?
Professionals involved in the project, in an interview noted that “Belkommunmash” can not produce trolleybuses and trams anymore, because the manufacturing is now transferred to a new plant. “But in the investment agreement, a number of other treaties for this project say that” Belkommunmash “must not die” – he explained.
Primary responsibility for the development of “Belkommunmash” Alexander Lukashenko laid on the current director of the new plant Vladimir Korolev. “It all began from “Belkommunmash” . The current director of “Stadler Minsk”earlier headed “Belkommunmash. 30 percent of employees of Stadler Minsk” are people from” Belkommunmash. You are responsible not only for this business, but for “Belkommunmash” also”.
Shpuler assured that the company will find the solutions for development of “Belkommunmash”.
“Yesterday and today we discussed these issues and we are able to develop a vision and proposals for the integration of the companies. For the last two years we have established a very trusting relationship, and I’m sure we can find a solution that will satisfy all parties,” – said the head of the company Stadler . He added that the company expects to receive an order for the production of Belarusian subway cars – “it would be an important sign for the plant”.
CIS Chief Sales Officer of Stadler Matthias Stehr told the media that the concept of further development of “Belkommunmash” is actually discussed, but there are already three directions. “First, cooperation is possible in the manufacture of components (hulls, joints, etc.). Second, we can help” Belkommunmash ” to develop municipal engineering. Third: it is possible to find other areas of production and other products that can be made at “Belkommunmash” factories”,- said Matthias Stehr.


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New Delhi: Even before Dussehra-Diwali, the Modi govt. has given a big gift to millions of government employees. In a press conference held on Monday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the festival advance for government employees.
The Finance Minister said that during the festive season of diwali, the Modi Govt. will give an advance of Rs.10,000 to its employees. For which employees will get prepaid RuPay card.
Also, the Finance Minister has announced LTC Cash Voucher. Today’s announcements have been made by the Finance Minister with the objective of increasing the demand
Let’s see what was the announcements Finance Minister has made in the press conference.
- The central government announced a 50-year interest-free loan for states with a capital expenditure of Rs.12,000 crore. A provision of Rs.1,600 crore has been made for North Eastern states and Rs.900 crore for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. A provision of Rs.7,500 crore has been made for other states under this scheme.
Only half of it will be given in the beginning. The rest will be given after the first installment is used. If some amount is not used, then it can be re-allocated.
- 2. The government has announced a festival advance of Rs.10,000 for all central government employees. The central government will give a prepaid RuPay card of Rs.10,000 to all rank and category employees under this scheme. It can be used for any festival till 31 March 2021.
There was no provision for advance in the Seventh Pay Commission. However, this time the government has announced to give this advance of 10,000 rupees during the festive season. Employees will be able to return it in 10 installments. It will be fully interest free advance. The government will bear the bank charge in this.
- At the press conference, the Finance Minister announced LTC Cash Voucher. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that under LTC cash vouchers, government employees can claim cash instead of reimbursement for travel. LTC Cash can be used for purchase of goods before March 31, 2021, for SVCS equal to three times of travel tickets. At the same time, they can also take advantage of once an encashment. Proper payment will be tax free; At the same time, tax will be payable on the leave encashment at the earlier rate.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “We hope that the LTC Cash Voucher Scheme ‘will generate additional consumer demand of Rs 28,000 crore.”


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Now that one of Mackage’s designers, Elisa Dahan, has a new baby and a three-year-old son, she and her codesigner, Eran Elfassy, decided there was no better time than the present to launch children’s outerwear.
This month Mackage Mini makes its debut at Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s, select boutiques and in its Mercer Street store in Manhattan with an assortment of wool and down styles for girls and boys. Inspired by the brand’s women’s collection, the new line has such signature touches as logo buttons, leather epaulets and fur-trimmed hoods. This is new territory for the 13-year-old Montreal-based brand.
Dahan, who is already back at work three weeks after the birth of her second son, Rafael, said that she decided to venture into children’s wear when she was unable to find jackets for her elder son, Nathan. “From a consumer’s perspective, I didn’t feel they were warm enough. I felt there was something missing. This is for mothers and fathers who really care about their child’s aesthetic to that high of a degree,” she said. “I think there are a lot of people who do care about how their kids dress, because they do it for themselves.”
Last month on her new InFashionated blog, Dahan wrote, “OK, let’s be honest! I find the choices for kid’s [sic] clothes out there are very weak.”
Initially, she and Elfassy wanted to create coats for children in sizes two to six, but buyers insisted they design them for two to 12. They were told that sizes eight to 12 are the sweet spot at retail. Mackage Mini consists of wool coats for girls, peacoats and double-breasted coats for boys and puffer down coats for each. Retail prices will range from $395 to $450.
Elfassy declined to comment on projected volume for the new line but said the company’s annual sales are running 23 percent ahead of last year, and in the U.S. they are up by 40 percent. Mackage Mini will focus on essentials before expanding into rainwear or leather outerwear, he said.
His five-year-old niece drew the crown-wearing sticklike figure that appears on the logo and hangtags for Mackage Mini. By chance, another niece, 18-year-old Danielle, gave Elfassy the idea for the company’s name, by mispronouncing maquillage, the French word for makeup. When she was five, Elfassy once asked her for a kiss, and she refused because she said she was wearing “Mackage.” “Now she tells me, ‘I gave you the word. I should own the company,’ ” he said with a laugh.
@juicebeauty, where @gwynethpaltrow holds the title of creative director of makeup, has become one of the foremost labels in the organic beauty category –– with sales on track to hit $100 million this year. What’s behind the rapid growth the brand is experiencing right now? It all started in 2005 when the wellness movement was just getting started. Read more on WWD.com. #wwdbeauty
Stay up to do date with breaking news and trending stories with WWD’s “The Essentialist.” Our newsletter delivers the top news in fashion right to your inbox. Want more info? Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
"I want to tell a story that inspires people to feel good about themselves, but also I'm making a commentary about the lack of female stories and female directors and saying this should change," said @imheathergraham on her latest project "Half Magic." The comedy feature, which the actress wrote and directed, is based on her own struggles as a woman in show business. Read @andrewnodell's full interview with Graham on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery)
@meltcosmetics cofounders @lora_arellano and @danabomar built their brand on a single idea: a true matte lipstick. To set the brand apart, they said they always put their customers first –– including a personalized note in each package. #wwdsummits #wwdbeauty
@moncler unveiled its latest project, #MonclerGenius, yesterday at Milan Fashion Week. The Italian outwear maker gave show-goers a preview of the monthly collections – which were created by eight designers and creative talents including Pierpaolo Piccioli, Simone Rocha, Craig Green and more – that will start rolling out in the summer.


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General Motors (NYSE:GM), with a current market capitalization of $34.54 billion, has brands which include Buick Chevrolet, GMC, Opel, Cadillac, Daewoo, Holden and Vauxhall. Recent earnings from the company have been a positive surprise for the market, with sales growth of 10.8% and income growth of 62.5%.
Global Trend - Fuel Efficiency
GM is one of the pioneers in making fuel efficient engines which are becoming increasingly popular due to higher fuel prices. The company's presence in high growth and energy deficient markets like India and China is likely to boost its fortunes multi-fold. It has invested significantly in research and development of new models from its global manufacturing hubs at low costs. This has been backed by able and efficient product and after-sales support. Due to such steps, the company is enjoying robust sales and annual revenue of about $151.84 billion, surpassing most other competitors. It also boasts one of the best operating margins in the industry of around 5.2%. Net income has turned around appreciably since the recession of 2008, and stands at about $5.44 billion.
GM sold over 2.5 million vehicles in China in 2012, an 8.3% increase from 2011. In the U.S., GM sold 2.5 million, marking a 13% gain. China and the U.S. are GM's two largest markets, and these countries are both seeing fuel economy for passenger vehicles rise, due to a greater number of drivers demanding better fuel economy.
The factors that favor GM in this sector is its low price-to-earnings multiples. With a P/E ratio of about 6.62, the company betters the industry's average of 12.61 by some margin. It also has one of the lowest price/earnings to growth ratio of 0.48, making it an attractive growth story for long-term investors. Further, within the industry, GM is one of the companies which has shown positive growth in its business over the last one year or so wherein other major competitors have failed. One of the greatest investment wizards, Warren Buffett, has also recently increased his stake in the company, which can be construed as a major positive for the stock.
Another factor which favors the company was its ability to reduce other costs towards maintaining liquidity, financing sources and cash flow. The company has managed to refund most of its outstanding loans, including that from the US Treasury resulting in higher profitability under reduced interest liabilities.
The profits from North America, its main interest, beat the street to $4.9 billion (though less than 2011 record profit margin of $7.6 billion). This is accompanied by an increase in profit by about 39% by its financing business. The company's focus on China is also seen as a potential growth area since there is a trend of increased sales in that country over the past years. There are also reports that the company is proposing to acquire a one-third stake in Japanese auto giant Isuzu.
Europe continues to be an Achilles' heel for GM due to the ongoing European financial crisis. The company's financial report shows that its European business has had a net loss of $1.8 billion in comparison to a $700 million loss a year ago. The revenue too dropped 20% from its European division. But, even then the results were better than the predictions by most analysts. The company has, however, shown confidence in breaking even in Europe by 2016.
GM's competitor, Ford (NYSE:F), on the other hand has better sets of statistics as far as its financial figures are concerned. It has an extremely low P/E of 2.15 making its valuations ideal for investment. The price/earnings to growth ratio is also extremely low at 0.83, but higher than GM's 0.48, indicating a good growth prospect albeit a tad slower than GM. Ford has also been focusing on China. It has set up an assembly plant and is likely to enhance its production capability by almost double due to increased demands. However, Ford posted a sharp 20% fall in profits to $1.6 billion in the first quarter of the year from $2.0 billion in the same quarter of 2011. This decline is much steeper than the one that GM reported. Hence, the earnings for the next quarter are to be watched prior to committing oneself for investing in the company.
Another GM competitor to watch is Toyota (NYSE:TM). The company has been recovering from recalls and natural disasters in Japan and Thailand that had beleaguered it in the past. It has commenced marketing new models of fuel-efficient cars like the Corolla and Prius Hybrid. This Japanese auto manufacturer is expected to forecast profits in the coming quarters in excess of General Motors' expected earnings. The company managed to beat analysts' forecasts by improving margins, volumes and its forecast for fiscal year 2013. Analysts expect the company to improve its net profit next year by as much as 200% as it overcomes the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and floods in Thailand last year. However, the valuation of yen vis-à-vis that of the dollar is likely to dent into its profits. The current valuations of the company are also very steep with its trailing twelve month P/E of 34.68 against an industry average of 12.61. Hence, in my opinion, even though Toyota looks like a good prospect for future investments, at current levels the stock is expensive and GM is a better bet in today's market.
Going forward, GM, being one of the most trusted names in the American household, is sure to capitalize on the growing confidence in the market. With newer innovations and a global economic turnaround, the sales of motor vehicles will rise. The operating margins for this industry are currently very low, owing to the ongoing financial crisis in the world over, but the situation is likely to reverse very soon, thus benefiting the industry as a whole and GM in particular. The revenue and profits are likely to balloon in the near future and investors looking for gains in the long-term horizon should have this company in their portfolio.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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Intel has unveiled the entire line of 12th General ‘Alder Lake’ laptop CPUs in all segments. The high-end 45W H-Series models will be available in gaming and Creator laptops in February 2022, while the 28W P-Series and 15W U will be available. The series for mainstream lightweight devices will launch later this year.
The new Intel 12th Gen lineup brings Intel’s hybrid architecture and diversified cores to laptops. The company claims that their new flagship CPU, the Core i9-12900HK, is “the fastest mobile processor ever created” and “the best mobile gaming platform in the world”.
Intel has announced its powerful i9-12900HK, which includes 6 performance cores and eight efficiency cores with 20 threads. The maximum turbo frequencies for each set of cores are 5GHz and 2.5GHz, respectively.
It has 24MB L3 cache, basic power rating is 45W, but it can go up to 115W. Integrated Intel GPU Feature 96 Execution Units. Intel claims up to 28% better gaming performance than the Core i9-11980HK.
This flagship CPU Core i9-12900H, Core i7-12800H and Core i7-12700H join the same core counts. Going down this list, the Core i7-12650H has only six P-cores and four e-cores. The Intel Core i5-12600H and Core i5-12500H have four performance cores and eight efficiency cores, while the Core i5-12450H has four cores each.
Intel is targeting mainstream slim and lightweight laptops with a new P-Series tire rated for performance between 45W and 64W. The new Core i7-1280P to Core i3-1220P models will feature six, four, or two P-cores with eight e-cores and integrated graphics with 64 to 96 EU.
U-Series models include Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium Gold, and Celeron chips that operate between 9W, 29W or 15W and 55W. These models feature one or two P-cores with four or eight e-cores, and are targeted at ultra-portable form components, including foldable and fanless devices running Windows or Chrome OS.
The Alder Lake generation uses ‘Golden Cove’ architecture for P-cores and ‘Gracemont’ for e-cores. The chips are made on the Intel 7 (10nm) process. Intel has developed a new scheduler called Thread Director, which runs on Windows 11 to optimize workloads for a variety of core types.
Platform level support includes DDR5 RAM up to 4800MT / s or some SKUs, AI acceleration, AV1 media decode, Wi-Fi 6e, USB 3.2 Gen2x2 and LPDDR5 with Thunderbolt 4.
In addition, Intel announced the 12th General Socketed Desktop CPU lineup of 65W and 35W TDP ratings, with 22 new models across the Core i9 to Pentium and Celeron ranges. The 65W models will ship with the newly redesigned Intel Laminar coolers, featuring RGB LED lighting effects for the higher end models.
Along with these CPUs, new motherboards based on Intel’s H670, B660 and H610 platform controllers will be available from leading manufacturers including Asus, Gigabyte, MSI and ASRock.
The Intel Evo Laptop Design Certification, the common name for Intel’s Project Athena, has been updated with a third-generation feature. First, devices with foldable displays will be included.
It is also informed that the company will launch its new GPUs and the same will be called Intel Arc. The company has also revealed that the new graphics will power more than 50 devices in the near future.
The company has also revealed that brands including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Gigabyte, and MSI will bring their devices with the latest GPUs, and the first offering is expected to happen before the end of the first quarter of this year.
Read interesting news, reviews as well as tips & tricks on TechnoBugg website, and stay updated with the latest happenings of the tech world on the go with Technobugg App. Also follow on Google News and join our Telegram channel for the latest updates.


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THE world's shipowners and managers, after nearly two years of disrupted supply chains, say new approaches are needed to building resilience into the shipping ecosystem, reports New York's Fortune magazine.
Speaking to the recent Fortune Global 500 Summit in Hangzhou, Maersk China manager Jens Eskelund said: "What we're seeing is a consequence of the single-minded focus we've had on just-in-time delivery."
In just-in-time manufacturing, if one component is delayed, it can upend entire production cycles. And in the past two years, such disruptions have become commonplace.
But it is not as simple as that, he said. "You cannot single out any particular aspect of the transport chain. The disruption cuts across all elements of the transport chain. It's the warehouses, it's the rail, it's the trucks, it's the shipping lines," said Mr Eskelund.
Most supply-chain analysts have pointed to just-in-time manufacturing - a strategy that encourages manufacturers to maintain a bare minimum of stock in their own factories to save space and costs - as the bogeyman responsible for the current supply-chain crisis.
Global supply chains are still recovering from the whiplash caused by the city lockdowns governments imposed in 2020 to contain Covid. Initially, lockdowns in China shuttered factories, which stalled much of the supply side in global shipping.
Then lockdowns in the US prompted a surge in demand, as people ordered electronics and gadgets to facilitate working from home.
Many other scattered disruptions -such as China closing shipping ports in August and June to prevent a Covid outbreak, and the US suffering a trucker shortage have hobbled the shipping industry's ability to rectify snags in their shipping schedules.
According to Bloomberg, 77 per cent of the world's ports are experiencing abnormally long turnaround times. Scores of ships remain anchored off the coast of US and Chinese ports, idle, and waiting for space to dock.
The turmoil has pumped seaborne freight costs to record highs, rising over 300 per cent year on year as of August, encouraging some exporters to hold off on shipping goods with low profit margins.
With the Christmas wholesale delivery rush abating now shipping costs are falling, roughly halving between September and October, but docks won't be able to work through the logjam of ships anytime soon.
But supporters of the just-in-time manufacturing argue that shipping goods across the world was never a good idea. So shortening supply chains by home-shoring production is the best way today.
The US, the EU, Japan and China are all currently trying to on-shore semiconductor manufacturing. Delays in delivery of all-important semiconductors have been the most prominent example of the world's supply-chain issues. But Mr Eskelund says slow and expensive ships aren't the only loose link in global supply chains.


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It is no secret that 2020 was an incredibly profitable year for Amazon. While the pandemic hit traditional brick and mortar stores hard, it helped propel eCommerce and Amazon sales. In fact, the pandemic actually gave Amazon more market share and sales volume than even Jeff Bezos could dream of! With so much of the population in the United States and all around the world experiencing mass lockdowns, we’ve seen a rise in remote working. Plus the pandemic has kickstarted an online shopping surge and consumer trends are shifting from traditional shopping experiences to contactless delivery options like Amazon.
Amazon Delivered Record Performance in 2020
According to Forbes, Amazon delivered a record performance in 2020 with its annual revenue up 38% to $386 billion, a yearly increase of over $100 billion. Additionally, Amazon’s net profit was up 84% for the year compared to 2019.
Massive sales growth has been seen across nearly all verticals, but particularly in the food, home, beauty, and electronics sectors, for obvious reasons. As the world continues to embrace digital technology, it is estimated that more than 2 billion people are now shopping online. With this trend continuing to skyrocket, retail eCommerce sales are predicted to grow by 20.2 percent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in certain countries between 2020 and 2024.
So what will 2021 bring for Amazon? Well, with Amazon’s core customer base stronger than ever, they are continuing to explore new ways of doing business, which is keeping Amazon at the head of the eCommerce pack – in spite of the economic struggle that traditional retailers are experiencing. We have been keeping an eye on the trends, and here are a few of our predictions for what 2021 will hold for you, as an Amazon seller.
Amazon Consumer Trend #1
Amazon’s Customer Base will Continue to Boom Due to COVID-19
As we witnessed in 2020 in the first throes of the pandemic, Amazon’s sales (and online sales in general) skyrocketed due to the restrictions put in place for brick-and-mortar stores in order to deal with COVID-19. We predict that this trend will continue to move upward, and as a result, Amazon Prime memberships will likely increase as COVID-19 continues to shape our daily lives.
Prior to COVID-19, only 12% of retail sales occurred online, so anti eCommerce. It is reported that around 70% of U.S. consumers shopped on Amazon in Q3, and 48% of Amazon customers have said that they would be fine if they never shopped in a brick-and-mortar store again.
Amazon Consumer Trend #2
Word-of-Mouth Referrals and Social Proof May Eclipse Brand Preference
As more and more shoppers delve into product reviews instead of blindly following a brand’s advertising, social proof is beginning to take precedence when it comes to shopping online. It is no secret that products with multiple 4 or 5 star reviews are more attractive to consumers than specific brands. Buyers are looking for authenticity, transparency, and integrity when it comes to a brand. This means that there is a huge opportunity for smaller brands to emerge on Amazon and challenge the competition by offering exceptional products and a strong brand message
Amazon Consumer Trend #3
The Social Nature of Amazon May Begin to Expand Through Amazon Posts
Social media and social networking are here to stay for good, it seems, and Amazon has rolled out its own version via Amazon’s Posts, which aims to “social media-fy” product offerings. Amazon’s Posts allows brands to present carefully curated product feeds to draw the eyes of style savvy shoppers, with the ultimate goal of capturing sales from scrolls, much like Instagram and Facebook. We predict that Posts will grow to other marketplaces outside of the U.S. and will churn out likes, reactions, and comments to further cement the importance of Amazon’s social proof
Amazon Consumer Trend #4
Amazon Will Freshen Up Their Grocery Selection
If 2020 taught us anything, it is that the demand for essential products and convenience was a main priority for many of us around the world. We predict that Amazon will continue to expand its grocery options to keep up with Walmart+ and Walmart’s brick-and-mortar stores.
In order to remain competitive in this increasingly saturated delivery market, Amazon will need to revamp its Amazon Fresh delivery program and open up more Amazon Go concepts. Currently, Amazon only has Amazon Fresh locations in Seattle, Chicago, New York City and San Francisco.
Amazon Consumer Trend #5
Walmart Will Be Amazon’s Main Rival in the eCommerce Sector
While Amazon still dominates the eCommerce market in terms of delivery services, Walmart+ has pressed Amazon to innovate by providing unique perks to their customers. As of January 2021, 142.5 million U.S. consumers are Amazon Prime members, but if the 2020 holiday season is any indicator, the competition between the two retail giants is heating up. While Amazon reported its most lucrative holiday season yet, Walmart.com sales increased 124% in Q4 of 2020.
Amazon Consumer Trend #6
More Customers Will Incorporate Amazon Tech Into Their Everyday Lives
With convenience and on-demand services becoming the norm, in 2021 we predict that consumers will likely become more comfortable with taking advantage of Amazon’s convenient technologies for daily tasks. This includes things like adding items to their shopping cart with Alexa.
We also predict that consumers will continue to become more tech savvy, and will opt for using smart accessories like Alexa glasses or Amazon’s new health and wellness tracker, Halo.
In Q4 of 2020, Amazon also launched its ‘Experiences’ platform, with many virtual classes and sightseeing tours offered as personal live streaming sessions. With this new platform, Amazon features products like baking ingredients for a culinary class as in-session shopping opportunities.
Amazon may also take advantage of the burgeoning virtual experience trend to promote the numerous AI-driven try-on technologies that it has pioneered. In the past few months, Amazon has acquired many platforms that may be used to create virtual beauty counters, fashion dressing rooms, and virtual layouts of home furnishings for a more personal shopping experience. Virtual showrooms and augmented reality for online shopping in general will also become increasingly popular, especially as the technology becomes more and more accessible to the masses.
Amazon Consumer Trend #7
Competition Will Continue to Heat Up
One of the major news stories from 2020 was how Thrasio and other large companies are executing rollups of eCommerce brands on a mass scale. As small businesses achieve success on Amazon, these large companies are buying out their competitors in large volumes in an effort to dominate the market. While there are many vocal critics of this business model, the fact is that this activity is increasing the overall savviness on the marketplace. In combination with the long-term trend of manufacturers in China selling directly on Amazon and cutting out the middleman, we predict that the competition on Amazon will continue to increase dramatically in 2022.
Amazon is it for the long haul. They are proactive adjusting and adapting to hold their spot as the number one eCommerce marketplace. If you are looking for help navigating the eCommerce giant, let’s chat. Our team of Amazon consultants has a vast portfolio of experience in helping businesses list, optimize, advertise and more on Amazon.


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REGO Payment Architectures Inc. announced today the engagement of SKB Capital to act as its financial advisor for both the firm’s capital requirements as well as its long-term corporate strategy to align with a major multi-conglomerate tech titan.
Suzanne E. Kecmer, CEO of SKB Capital, has a distinguished track record in both the cyber security and financial services sectors. REGO believes the engagement of SKB Capital will provide strategic and investment guidance the Company needs in order for its cutting edge patented COPPA compliant payment platform to be launched. “This engagement represents a significant milestone as we move forward to deploying a viable product and at the same time position the company for its corporate mission in launching the only COPPA compliant mobile payment platform for the 80 million 18 and under users who influence over $860 billion annually in spending. Suzanne’s knowledge, experience and expertise in the cyber security market will ensure that the security protection that REGO has embedded in its platform will be well understood as a unique discriminator in the marketplace,” confirmed David Knight, CEO of REGO.
“We look forward to partnering with REGO to appropriately capitalize and swiftly proliferate its world-class technology,” said Suzanne E. Kecmer, CEO of SKB Capital.


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Carphone Warehouse to operate stand-alone Samsung stores across Europe
Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse has signed a deal with Samsung to operate over 60 Samsung stand-alone stores across Europe.
The agreement follows the launch of three stand-alone Samsung stores in Spain last year, all of which are operated by Carphone Warehouse.
The new stores will be rolled out in the next three months across seven European markets including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands. Featuring a premium ‘look and feel’, the stores will sell Samsung's full range of mobiles, tablets, laptops and wearables.
In a statement Samsung said there was potential to expand the relationship going forward, with Carphone Warehouse acting as Samsung's preferred partner across Europe and operating the majority of dedicated Samsung stores.
“Together we will create a powerful new retail concept to showcase, for our customers, a wide range of products, content and services as well as injecting both investment and new jobs into the retail sector,” the company said.
Carphone Warehouse chief executive Andrew Harrison added: "We are delighted to have been chosen as Samsung's preferred European partner for their store roll-out. Our Connected World Services business will combine Carphone Warehouse's retailing expertise and systems with one of the world's biggest brands and will help us make even more lives better through connected technology."
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As high performance computing, automotive electronics, 5G communications, IoT and AR/VR applications are rapidly growing, their requirements for smaller form factors, higher data rates, low power and cost reduction will significantly increase the adoption of advanced packaging technologies. Researchers at Yole Développement estimated that overall revenues of the advanced packaging industry will enjoy a 7% CAGR between 2016 and 2022. Fan-out (FO) will be the fastest growing advanced packaging platform, registering a 36% CAGR between 2016 and 2022. By 2022, the FO packaging market will grow to over US$3 billion.
In view of this market trend, SEMICON Taiwan 2020 will include an exhibition area for FO packaging for the first time where local and foreign vendors can demonstrate manufacturing equipment, materials and components that are critical to FO packaging process.
SEMICON Taiwan 2020 Fan Out Packaging Pavilion Exhibitors
|I2816||E and R Engineering Corporation|
|I2822||TechMax Technical Co., Ltd.|
|I2828||TA LIANG Technology Co., LTD.|
|I2923||Mingkun Technologies Co., Ltd.|
|I2928||Manz Taiwan Ltd.|
|I3023||Takano Co., Ltd.|
|J2834||Utechzone Co., Ltd.|
|J2838||Industrial Technology Research Institute - ITRI|
|J2934||Horng Terng Automation Co., Ltd.|