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September 22, 2009
Microsoft announced today that it has acquired the technology assets of Interactive Supercomputing (ISC), makers of the Star-P parallel programming suite. The revelation was made via a blog post by Kyril Faenov, GM of the High Performance & Parallel Computing Technologies group at Microsoft. Faenov said ISC CEO Bill Blake and some number of ISC employees would be joining Microsoft at the company's New England Research & Development Center in Cambridge, Mass. As far as plans for the Star-P product, he had this to say:
We have recently begun plans to integrate ISC technologies into future versions of Microsoft products and will provide more information over the coming months on where and how that integration will occur. Beginning immediately, Microsoft will provide support for ISC's current Star-P customers and we are committed to continually listening to customer needs as we develop the next generation of HPC and parallel computing technologies. I'm looking forward to the opportunities our two combined groups have to greatly improve the capability, performance, and accessibility of parallel computing and HPC technologies.
No terms of the acquisition were forthcoming.
UPDATE: According to the FAQ on the new ISC Web site, Microsoft will not be picking up the Interactive Supercomputing customer contracts (only support for a limited time). Microsoft will also halt all sales and future work on Star-P:
Effective with the closing date of this acquisition, Star P is no longer available to purchase. There will not be any future releases of Star P beyond the version 2.8 which was released by ISC earlier this year. The version 2.9 that was released to a few customers in Beta will not be released for production use by customers. Active Star P customers who are using earlier versions of Star P were granted the right to upgrade to 2.8 by ISC prior to the close of the transaction.
There will not be any future releases of Star P beyond the version 2.8 which was released by ISC earlier this year.
In essence, Microsoft has shut down the Star-P product line and looks to be only interested in the underlying technology and the people who developed it.
Posted by Michael Feldman - September 22, 2009 @ 10:48 AM, Pacific Daylight Time
Michael Feldman is the editor of HPCwire.
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10/30/2013 | Cray, DDN, Mellanox, NetApp, ScaleMP, Supermicro, Xyratex | Creating data is easy… the challenge is getting it to the right place to make use of it. This paper discusses fresh solutions that can directly increase I/O efficiency, and the applications of these solutions to current, and new technology infrastructures.
10/01/2013 | IBM | A new trend is developing in the HPC space that is also affecting enterprise computing productivity with the arrival of “ultra-dense” hyper-scale servers.
Ken Claffey, SVP and General Manager at Xyratex, presents ClusterStor at the Vendor Showdown at ISC13 in Leipzig, Germany.
Join HPCwire Editor Nicole Hemsoth and Dr. David Bader from Georgia Tech as they take center stage on opening night at Atlanta's first Big Data Kick Off Week, filmed in front of a live audience. Nicole and David look at the evolution of HPC, today's big data challenges, discuss real world solutions, and reveal their predictions. Exactly what does the future holds for HPC?


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Facebook revenue growth slows down but beats Wall Street estimates
Facebook (FB) reported its fiscal 2Q17 results on Wednesday, July 26. The company beat Wall Street estimates on all fronts. The social media giant earned $9.3 billion in revenues in the quarter with EPS (earnings per share) of $1.32 per share. Wall Street was expecting revenues to come in at $9.2 billion with EPS of $1.13 per share.
The company’s net income soared by a whopping 71% year-over-year (or YoY), while its revenue growth slowed to 44.7% YoY as the graph below shows.
Facebook’s 2Q17 earnings are higher than Alphabet’s
In 2Q17, Facebook’s bottom line came in higher than that of is larger rival Alphabet. The latter’s earnings took a hit due to a fine from the EU’s antitrust department. Facebook’s ad revenue grew at more than twice the rate of its rival Google (GOOG) (GOOGL), which came out with its quarterly results earlier this week. However, Google is still by far the leader in the digital ads segment, according to eMarketer.
Facebook revenue growth has slowed down as it runs out of space in its news feed section. However, the company still has other avenues to boost growth, as we’ll discuss in the next part of the series.
The company’s earnings growth was driven by a surge in sales of mobile video ads. The company has been displaying more video ads in its app, as consumers have been increasingly accessing the Internet through their smartphones.
The company’s stock, which has already surged by 44% year-to-date (or YTD), rose 3.7% in after-hours trading as the social media giant slashed its full-year capital expenditure guidance. Facebook said it may come in at the lower end of the previous guidance of $7 billion to $7.5 billion.
Mobile ad revenues now account for most of Facebook's (FB) revenue and reached $8 billion for fiscal 2Q17, a 53% surge on a YoY basis.
After opening on a bearish note on Wednesday, Tesla (TSLA) was trading with 4.8% losses for the day, near $195.25 at 1:16 PM ET.
With voting conducted in seven phases panning six weeks, India’s (EPI) elections have been a grand affair—to say the least. Tomorrow is the day of the results.
Qualcomm (QCOM) stock fell more than 10% in the first half of trading on May 22 after it lost its licensing lawsuit with the US FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
Apple (AAPL) suffered a setback recently when the US Supreme Court allowed an antitrust lawsuit against the company to proceed.
Today doesn’t seem to be a good day for electric vehicle companies. Earlier today, NIO stock hit an all-time low of $4.00.
The cannabis sector has been struggling to find direction on May 22, with cannabis stocks trading on a largely mixed note in the first half.

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Weltmeister Motor has recently closed its RMB 3 billion (around $450 million) Series C led by Baidu and followed by Shanxi Fanncial Holdings Group-affiliated Taihang industrial Fund and Linear Venture. The company claimed that it has raised at least CNY 23 billion (USD 3.4 billion) till now.
According to media reports the company plans to put investment primarily towards research and development (R & D) of an intelligent cockpit.
Chinese tech giant Baidu in December 2017 also had invested in WM Motor and has got a strategic partnership with the company to jointly develop on Level 3 autonomous driving solutions which will be mass produced by 2021. WM Motor has also joined Baidu’s self-driving open source platform Apollo a year ago.


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Vince Staples To Hold ‘A Walk Through Ramona Park’ Livestream Tonight
The livestream will feature a performance from the rapper’s hometown of Los Angeles
Vince Staples has announced details of a special livestream, Vince Staples Live: A Walk Through Ramona Park, which will take place tonight.
In partnership with Amazon Music, the online event will feature a one-night-only live performance from the celebrated artist filmed at the iconic Fonda Theatre in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Sponsored by Coca-Cola’s recently launched digital platform Coke Studio, the performance will see Staples taking viewers on a retrospective journey through his catalog so far. The setlist will weave its way from some of his earliest songs through to his critically acclaimed 2021 self-titled album and its follow-up Ramona Park Broke My Heart.
Clocking in at 90 minutes, the set will also find the star sharing personal anecdotes and stories from across his career.
Vince Staples Live: A Walk Through Ramona Park will air at 8pm PT tonight (August 23) via the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, the Amazon Music mobile app, and on Prime Video globally.
It’s not the first time Staples has held a special digital event around his latest record. Shortly after the release of the album earlier this year, the rapper broadcast Ramona Park Broke My Heart: The Musical. It drew inspiration directly from the album, which pays tribute to the Ramona Park neighborhood in Long Beach, California, where Staples grew up.
“I am often told the lie that life is what you make it. For over a decade, most of my work has been an anthology of what I believed to be home. Now I’ve realized that it reaches beyond location,” Staples wrote in a statement about the album. “I have been exploring the utility of home. Security. Comfort. Meaning. The answer. The excuse. To outgrow is to love blindly no longer. Ramona Park Broke My Heart is the story of that growth.”


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I like to think that most of us who use computers are reasonably bright and responsible. So I get really irritated by the mindset of some technology vendors who insist that treating us like children is not only okay, but also the responsible thing fo...
Dell on Wednesday said it will start reaching out directly to affected customers to replace motherboards in PCs with Intel's flawed Sandy Bridge chipset.
Half the notebook computers and a growing number of desktops shipped in 2011 will run on graphics-enabled microprocessors as designers Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) increase competition for the units that raise multimedia speeds without add-...
Sales of Apple's iPad battered Acer's netbooks and notebooks sales so badly that Dell was able to regain its second-place position in the global PC market.
Laptops and desktops from Lenovo with the upgraded Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) will become available starting in early April, with Hewlett-Packard planning shipments of business PCs soon after, the companies said.
If you feel you are a lost cause at setting up and operating the latest tablets and smartphones, you aren't alone.
Acer today announced that it will launch a new media centre PC in April. The Acer Revo 100 includes a combination touchpad and touch keyboard that slots inside the PC's case when not in use.
Mozilla has urged users to update their graphics cards' drivers if they want to take advantage of Firefox 4's hardware acceleration.
Gartner on Thursday lowered its growth forecast for worldwide PC shipments in 2011, joining a growing number of analysts who believe Apple's iPad 2 will bridge the remaining gap between laptops and tablets this year.
Remember when Apple thought different? They wanted us to see them as being like us, their customers. They wanted us to believe we had similar values, goals and aspirations. They wanted to convince us that, with their help, computers would be differen...
A new wave of Web-connected printers from the likes of HP and Lexmark are changing the way we dole out documents. Instead of dumb single-purpose devices, a modern multifunction cloud printer can print any document from nearly any device, anywhere you...
Apple's release on Thursday of a developer preview of the next Mac OS X version showcases a range of ideas and features adopted from the iOS-based iPad tablet.
An intriguing report on German news site Heise.de on Monday unveiled a cheap monitor that includes built-in PC functionality. The Acer DX241H is an otherwise standard 1920x1080 pixel HDMI monitor, but it also features an operating system running on t...
The launch of the highly anticipated next-generation Apple iPad looks set to be pushed back until June.
Hewlett-Packard regained the top position in India’s PC market in the fourth quarter of last year, after falling behind Dell in the previous two quarters, according to data released by research firms Gartner and IDC India.
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The three major players in the UK confectionery market are in a constant state of competition - vital in an increasingly saturated market. The latest move sees Nestlé square off against Cadbury with a major £48 million (€69.4m) marketing push for Kit Kat Kubes.
According to market analysts Datamonitor, the launch of Kit Kat Kubes is a direct response to the recent overhaul of Cadbury's chocolate confectionery range in the UK. Some £10 million of the marketing budget for Kit Kat Kubes is to be spent on the launch alone, and Nestlé clearly believes that there is potential to steal markt share from both Cadbury and Mars with this spin-off product.
The promotion of the bite-size version of Nestlé's Kit Kat bar, through television, radio and press activity, will encourage consumers to have a break with the adapted strapline 'Have lots of little breaks'.
Nestlé is hoping to capitalise on the lack of choice in the bite-size chocolate market in the UK, claims Datamonitor, especially as most brands in this category are targeted at women. Nestlé claims that its brand is likely to appeal to younger men, as opposed to the older female target audience of rival brands such as Mars' Revels or Minstrels.
Nestlé has also launched the Kit Kat spin-off in response to a demand for products that can be shared among friends and family. It also hopes that the chocolate will appeal to the growing number of people who prefer to eat bite-size confectionery as they can control how much they eat across the day and feel less guilty, the market analysts claim.
As eating patterns change, with snacking increasingly displacing mealtimes, there are a greater number of consumption occasions that marketers - particularly those in the impulse sector - can target. For example, Cadbury recently launched Boost Guarana, targeted at consumers looking for energy whilst on the move.
"Understanding how eating patterns are changing is vital for maintaining brand relevancy and hitting on new growth areas. Consumption occasions that show the most change, either positive or negative growth, represent day parts where consumers' situations are changing the most and hence new needs are evolving that can be targeted," Datamonitor said.
The analysts claim that evening snacking is the only occasion that will experience more growth in the home than out of home, for example.


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11 May 2012 – Singapore’s green telco giant went even greener today by planting 30 trees at the Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve. The tree-planting exercise was StarHub fulfilling its promise to plant 30 trees if Singapore recycled 3,000kg of electronic waste (e-waste) between Earth Hour on 31 March and Earth Day on 22 April 2012.
“Although only 300kg of e-waste was recycled, we decided to plant all 30 trees,” said Ms Jeannie Ong, Head of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, StarHub. “After all, we believe in preserving our natural environment and planting trees is an excellent way to raise environmental awareness amongst our staff.” Ms Ong led 21 other StarHubbers in planting the 30 trees at Sungei Buloh Nature Reserves’ Boardwalk near the Visitor’s Centre, under the NParks Plant-A-Tree programme.
The trees planted were Avicennia alba and Rhizophora mucronata, commonly known here as Api-Api Putih and Bakau Kurap respectively.
The tree-planting marked the end of a three-week long campaign that launched StarHub’s e-waste recycling bins at its Customer Service Centres at OUB Centre, Plaza Singapura, StarHub Green and Tampines Mall, as well as a bin at Level 4, *SCAPE.
“We did not really know what to expect,” shares Ms Ong, referring to the far lower quantity of e-waste recycled than challenged. “There is no other widely publicised channel of e-waste recycling for consumers here, so we were rather optimistic in our challenge to Singaporeans.
“However,” she added, “we still hope that all consumers will visit our Customer Service Centres and recycle their e-waste with us. After all, e-waste is one of the most toxic wastes of all; that is why we are trying to do our part in minimising irresponsible disposal and subsequent damage to the environment.”
Besides planting trees to renew the environment, StarHub would also like their customers to join in and do their part to save trees with the StarHub Green Bill, which was officially launched on 1 May 2012. This service is available to all StarHub customers who have at least one active personal StarHub Mobile, StarHub TV, MaxOnline and Digital Voice service.
StarHub Green Bill provides customers with paperless billing that includes SMS or email alerts when their bill is ready. Customers enjoy the freedom of accessing their bills online, as well as the convenience of making online payment anytime.
StarHub customers are invited to log on to My Account Manager at www.starhub.com/hubid to sign up for the StarHub Green Bill and do their part to help save the trees.


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In a recent interview on Good Morning Arizona, CBS 5, MDLifespan’s founder and CEO Dr. Paul Savage shared his expert insights on the pressing issue of forever chemicals and their impact on our health. These chemicals, referred to as forever chemicals due to their persistent nature in the environment and the body, have raised significant concerns, prompting the CDC to recommend testing for their presence in individuals.
Dr. Savage explained that forever chemicals, including fluorinated chemicals found in a variety of everyday items such as plastics, textiles, and cleaning products, have become pervasive in our environment over the past four decades. Disturbingly, the recent warning from the CDC indicates that 98% of Americans now have these chemicals in their system.
What’s particularly alarming is the association of forever chemicals with a wide array of chronic diseases, from obesity and heart disease to Alzheimer’s and cancer. This underscores the urgent need to address the impact of these toxins on our bodies and overall well-being.
While the current limitations in testing only cover a fraction of the 4000 known forever chemicals, Dr. Savage emphasized the importance of advanced toxin testing to gauge individual toxicity levels. Furthermore, he outlined practical steps that individuals can take to minimize their exposure, such as ensuring a clean food and water supply, thorough cleaning of fruits and vegetables, and replacing household cleaners with safer alternatives.
The interview also shed light on emerging developments in addressing this crisis. Dr. Savage and his team are pioneering a protocol involving plasma exchange, which shows promise in effectively removing forever chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins from the body. This breakthrough offers hope in combating the adverse effects of these pervasive environmental pollutants.
As we grapple with the prevalence of forever chemicals in our surroundings, it’s vital to stay informed and proactive in protecting our health. MDLifespan will continue to explore this critical issue, providing valuable insights and updates on potential solutions in upcoming articles.


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The London bar was raided by Metropolitan Police's Wildlife Crime Unit last week over the ingredient in its Moby Dick cocktail.
Edmund Weil, director of Nightjar, said: "The contentious ingredient was ‘whale skin infusion’, which was derived from a single dried piece of whale skin (around 2 x 5 cm) that was bought in a supermarket in Japan last year by one of our employees. This small piece of skin stayed in a single bottle which was topped up with whisky over the course of the year, and used to flavour the drink.
"We are fully co-operating with the police in their enquiries.
"Before the police visit, we weren’t aware that the use of this ingredient was unlawful under the COTES legislation which underpins the protection of endangered animals throughout the EU. We unwisely assumed that since it was obtained lawfully in its country of origin, we were not contravening any laws."
But Weil said in hindsight, having the cocktail on the menu was a "grave error in judgement", regardless of the legal framework.
The drink has been removed from the menu and all proceeds from the sale of the cocktail have been donated to a whale conservation charity.
Read Weil's full statement here.


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NATIVE EXTRACTS, leading Australian Phyto-tech company announces an exciting strategic partnership with the Heyi Commercial Group (Heyi), marking a significant expansion of natural ingredients, access to the latest in plant science and advances in Cellular Extracts from Australia for a new chapter of natural NPD and China Beauty.
Heyi Commercial Group will be launching an introductory subset of NATIVE EXTRACTS natural Cellular Plant Extracts officially at PCHI this week, on the 20-22nd of March in Shanghai at the World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Lisa Carroll, Director & Innovator at NATIVE EXTRACTS Pty Ltd, commented on the new global expansion saying: "Our partnership with Heyi Commercial Group (Heyi) is a pivotal move towards introducing our natural ingredient innovations to China, and strategic to our global expansion.
This will be the first time the China market will experience our pioneering Cellular Extraction process that has evolved the botanical extract over the past decade, advances, and innovations from Australia in plant science, and access to the entourage of natural molecules from both popular traditional botanicals and a collection of Australia’s unique botanicals. This strategic collaboration will meet China’s exponential demand for NATIVE EXTRACTS’ quality, eco-responsible manufacturing, transparency, and True to Nature ingredients.”
NATIVE EXTRACTS has built an extensive library of plant profiles and over 400 ingredients in its offering, this will give China brands, formulating chemists and contract manufacturers a new palette of tools for premium quality natural ingredients with transparency back to source, a new look at natural molecules harnessed from botanicals popular in China, as well as a greater connection to Australia’ pristine mega-diversity for new sources of phyto-compounds to work with.
Carroll anticipates, the synergy between our ground-breaking Cellular Extraction processes on targeted high value botanicals and Heyi's expertise is expected to spark a new wave of natural product innovation, transparency and new stories for China’s consumers wanting to know more about where their ingredients come from and how they are made.
With the Chinese market now in sight, NATIVE EXTRACTS aims to leverage its phyto-tech advances and Heyi's prestigious market presence to introduce innovative natural products, setting new industry innovation for natural ingredient selection for cosmetics and haircare markets.
Carroll says, “Heyi's depth of market insight, commitment to quality, and assistance in meeting regulatory compliances perfectly complements our goals. Together, we're poised to revolutionize natural product innovation in the region."
Carroll continued, “When the Heyi Commercial Group approached us, it was clear we had found the right partner to represent us in the region.
They have a strong understanding of their market, share our commitment to quality, and their solution-centric approach to their customers through their analysis centre, laboratories, R&D Centre, and Application centre recognized by the CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment).
We are excited to partner with Heyi Commercial Group and work together to address the regulatory needs for our products' availability in the China market.
This is an opportunity for Chinese brands and their contract manufacturers to work with natural molecules in their entourage, and new extraction innovation.
I anticipate some exciting natural product innovation to come in 2024 from the region, and building new markets will have a positive impact on our supply chain. In the future, this will also offer local support to international brands with Chinese offices or looking to establish a presence.”
China has a long history and connection to botanicals for solutions to human problems.
There is a high demand for premium and unique natural ingredients sourced from pristine ecosystems.
The NATIVE EXTRACTS portfolio offers the China market a new look at the natural compounds their Cellular Extraction process can harness from traditional, popular botanicals in demand, as well as botanicals not yet offered to the market.
Working with Heyi Commercial Group will offer expertise on the ground both technically and from a regulatory perspective.
Find NATIVE EXTRACTS at the Heyi Commercial booth number 2K10.
NATIVE EXTRACTS' global expansion is a testament to the vision and commitment of Lisa Carroll and her team, reaching an impressive milestone as China joins as one of the eight (8) countries across four (4) continents embracing our innovative botanical extracts.
This expansion not only signifies the consumer driven demand for their natural product innovations, but it also highlights the global cosmetic industry’s recognition of the importance of natural, eco-responsible, and transparent ingredients.
In addition, “creating new markets for our ingredients creates greater demand for our growers to scale too, along with new opportunities to engage and diversify their crops if they choose too. This has always been an important part of our business model.” Carroll concluded.
THE LONGEST LASTING, NATURAL & WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMIN C
WATERLESS - WATER WISE - WATER CLEVER: THE AGE OF WATER-CONSCIOUS PRODUCTS


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Amazon secretly testing delivery drones in English countryside
Amazon has been captured secretly testing delivery drones.
The US online giant has kept its programme under close wraps, barring release of a video clip in 2016.
But the Mirror recently snapped test flights at a base in the Cambridgeshire countryside.
The company, which insists it aims to use drones to deliver packages in 30 minutes, has refused to allow journalists access to the test site.
In 2013 boss Jeff Bezos – the world’s richest man – predicted drone deliveries within five years saying: “I know this looks like science fiction, it’s not. Could it be four, five years? I think so.
“It will work and it will happen and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
But that deadline has passed and the airlifts have yet to get the go-ahead in any country.
A major stumbling block is safety with fears over what happens when the craft are out of sight of the operator and how they are able to avoid other objects in the sky.
Drones are also under scrutiny after last month’s shutdown at Gatwick Airport and this week’s temporary closure of Heathrow.
It is likely that the engineers spotted by the Mirror are working to ease fears over safety concerns, as well as work on battery life.
One expert said: “If you have to recharge them every other hour, then you need so many drones and you have to orchestrate that.”
The Civil Aviation Authority said Amazon was yet to apply for approval of the technology.
It added: “The law says you can’t operate a drone beyond the line of sight of the person controlling it.”
But Miya Knights, co-author of a book on Amazon, believes its drones are not marketing hype, as some have claimed.
She said: “Amazon drones are potentially a very good way of cutting delivery costs.”
Miya believes they are more likely to be used in less built-up areas.
She also questioned whether people would want drone drop-offs, and thought they could be theft targets when they land.
Another fear is that an army of drones will do away with the need for delivery drivers, with huge job losses.
Miya said: “I don’t see that happening.”
Another expert said humans also had an advantage over machines: “They know where customers live and which doorbell to ring. To program that in IT is not that easy and not cheap.”
Amazon already uses robots extensively in its warehouses to move products around. The company claims that they are not designed to replace human workers.
Other experts insist drones in general will be big business.
Barry Jenkins, director of counter-drone strategy at the Drone Major Group consultancy said: “By 2030, it will be worth 628,000 jobs, there will by 76,000 drones in the air, it’s a £42billion industry.”
And Amazon insists it is serious about its drone delivery programme, saying: “One day, seeing Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road.”


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If the announcement of The Avengers Project weren’t proof enough, Marvel are committing to videogames in a big way. In a new interview, Marvel Games tease some “absolutely amazing” announcements in virtual reality, and affirm that the studio has the authority to create original stories within the Marvel universe.
Sounds like we’ll be seeing more Marvel titles in our upcoming PC games list before long.
Senior vice president of Marvel Games Jay Ong says that when he first joined – around 2014 – the studio was “rebooted”, and that it has now been recognised as “a driver of the brand” and “as a creator of original IP”.
For an example, he cites Spider-man’s costume from his forthcoming game, due later this year. “It’s neither the theatrical costume, nor is it from the comic books,” says Ong. “The white spider design is totally original. We’ve come a long way. I think we used to be a support unit; now we’re big”.
Ong enthuses about the kinds of games that we’re going to see coming out of Marvel in the near future, though he mentions only console, mobile and VR when it comes to platforms.
“It’s going to be exciting here,” he says. “Absolutely expect some announcements in VR, that’s something we’re really excited about. I think our fans are going to go crazy. The things we’re doing there are absolutely amazing.
“One of the things about our team, and we talked about our team ethos earlier, is that we have almost irrational ambition… In VR, we have that same ambition. We think if we do something there, it shouldn’t be just for the novelty of it. It should be something that defines the platform, that defines the experience. Certainly we’re looking to build when Spider-man comes out, it’ll be one of the best games on the platform, and when Avengers comes out, it’ll be one of the best games on those platforms. We think our efforts in VR will be the same thing.”
Asked when we get to hear more – and if it might be around E3 – there’s a long pause. All Ong will say is: “soon.”
You can check out the interview in full over on Gamespot.


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City cars and superminis seemed to be falling out of favour as the two segments led the largest April decline in used cars values since 2011, Cap HPI has reported.
Used values of supermini and city cars were “hit hard” during April, according to Cap HPI, which saw an accumulated monthly drop of 2.3% at the three-year and 60,000-mile point.
The problem of vehicle clocking is one the rise with one-in-14 cars on UK roads showing “mileage discrepancies”, according to research carried out by Cap HPI.
Cap HPI has reported that used car values have “softened” during March as the SUV segment defined an overall average decline of 0.9% at three years and 60,000 miles.
Automotive data experts at Cap HPI have found that the owners of some small electric vehicles (EVs) could run their zero-emissions car for 12 months and make a profit when they sell it on.
Used car values declined during February for the first time since 2008 as car retailers begun to show signs of "reluctance" to squeeze their profit margins any further, according to Cap HPI.
Auctions halls around the UK were heaving in 2018 as many dealers turned to the used sector to bolster profits. The result was the unusual phenomenon of high used volumes and record prices.
EnquiryMAX and Cap HPI have announced a new data partnership that will help dealers manage pricing risk in the part exchange process.
Cap HPI wins the 2019 AM Award for Supplier of the Year
Used car values declined by 0.7% in January as dealers saw lower retail demand for vehicles priced over £12,000, Cap HPI has reported.
Used car values fell by 1.7% in December as demand weakened and dealers targeted stronger returns at the start of 2019, according to Cap HPI.
Cap HPI's vehicle identification specification service, Spec check, has added the Lexus and Toyota brands to ensure car dealers do not suffer from a missed profit opportunity.
Supply constraints triggered by the introduction of WLTP have resulted in used car values that have defied the usual season trends, according to Cap HPI.
As major cities across the UK announce their plans for Clean Air Zones (CAZ) it is clear that there is no consistent picture for the motorist or clear impact for the industry.
Cap HPI has warned that large car retail groups that inaccurate vehicle data could be costing their business £117,000 a year in findings from a profitability study carried out in partnership with the Institute of Transport Studies.
Cap HPI has revealed plans to launch a wave of new real-time data tools and insight after adding agility to its new product development with the launch of a new automotive data science team.
Used electric vehicles (EV) rose in value during September despite static performance elsewhere in the sector, according to research from Cap HPI.
Lower than usual car registrations numbers due to the switch to the WLTP vehicle emissions tests could see an increased number of car buyers invest in nearly-new alternatives, Cap HPI has said.
Cap HPI is launching a WLTP solution for users of its new vehicle data that will pull in information from manufacturers.
The used car market slowed in July, according to Cap HPI.
Automotive Management Live: Where franchised and independent dealers will find everything they need to know about operating a modern showroom and service and repair facility fit for the digital age.
When: November 12 2020
Where: Birmingham NEC
Find out what features are in this month's, and future, issues


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Consumer Protection has urged tenants and landlords to check for unclaimed bond money, which could be put back into the pockets of West Aussies in time for Christmas.
MORE than 115,000 faulty airbags are being replaced each month but the quest to replace the 1.4 million still remaining in Australian cars could extend to 2020.
FAKE blood and a light up witches nose are among items found to pose a threat in a pre-Halloween safety sweep by Consumer Protection.
PUPPY scammers have conned 28 people into buying dogs that don't exist, with victims losing a total of $51,000 so far this year, WA's Consumer Protection says.
A WORKING car can mean life or death for eight-year-old Addison Read.
RUBY Rose has played some dangerous characters but the actress herself is now officially dangerous.
CLOSE to 200 Australian consumers have lost a total of $142,000 to celebrity endorsement scams so far in 2018.
THE banking royal commissioner says firms should stop charging customers as soon as they know they have died.
FIVE insurers prompted by regulator action are refunding more than $118 million in total to almost 213,000 people who bought add-on products from car dealers.
TWO hearing aid retailers face a joint penalty of $2.5 million after they admitted to misleading pensioners in a series of newspaper ads.
THE FEDERAL Court has imposed a $2.25 million penalty on food giant Heinz after it misled consumers by claiming one of its snacks was beneficial for young children.
THE ACCC alleges from December 2013 Trivago advertised itself as an impartial price comparison service, but was prioritising advertisers willing to pay the highest cost-per-click fee to Trivago.
EXECUTIVE denied withholding from the corporate regulator a blowout in the expected cost of compensating customers who had paid fees without getting any superannuation services.
NAB kept charging fees to super fund members by assuming they knew they could ditch them, the financial services royal commission has been told.
AUSTRALIANS’ $2.6 trillion in superannuation nest eggs is in the hands of people “surrounded by temptation”, the banking royal commission was told.
FEDERAL Government is signalling a new war on banks to drive down costs for ordinary Australians, saying “the deck is stacked against” customers
CONSUMER Protection WA is warning unsolicited salespeople they could be prosecuted if they ignore ‘Do Not Knock’ stickers.
WA Facebook users have been duped out of nearly $110,000 after being tricked into thinking they had won lotto.
THE Checkout’s executive producer has fired a parting shot at the ABC after the TV show was axed by the public broadcaster after six seasons.
CONSUMER groups have taken aim at a plan to overhaul the way telcos handle disputes with customers, with accusations of trying to downgrade the role of the sector’s independent umpire.


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LONDON (CBS.MW) -- European markets on Tuesday fell into the red after confidence from U.S. consumers, who are seen as the engine for global growth, dipped to its lowest level since March.
The German DAX Xetra 30 index (1876534) declined 0.2 percent to 3,411 and the French CAC 40 index (1804546) eased 0.7 percent to 3,142.
The FTSE in London also turned lower. See story on London markets.
U.S. markets were hit by disappointing consumer confidence figures, although the Dow Jones Industrial Average was moving toward break-even after the initial shock from the data. The consumer confidence index fell to 76.6 in July from 83.5 in June. See story on U.S. markets.
Several European companies reported earnings on Tuesday, with the primary theme that while earnings are better than expected due to cost-cutting, signs of top-line growth are spotty.
Telecom equipment maker Alcatel ALA, -2.90% (013000) led European markets, up 6 percent, as it said its second quarter loss narrowed to 675 million euros from 1.43 billion, while it swung to a 21 million euro operating income rise from a 126 million loss.
Sales decreased 26 percent year-over-year to 3.14 billion euros, but were up 6 percent from the first quarter. See story on Alcatel results.
It reiterated full-year forecasts and said third quarter revenues would be stable.
France Telecom FTE, -1.05% (013330) increased 1 percent after it posted a first half EBITDA rise of 23.5 percent to 8.5 billion euros, ahead of analyst estimates of 8.1 billion. Capital spending was slashed 32.9 percent to 2.16 billion euros as part of its restructuring program.
For the year, it sees 3 to 5 percent growth in comparable sales, EBITDA of over 16.8 billion and a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of less than 3.
France Telecom subsidiary Orange (007919) rose 1.3 percent despite early gains. It posted a first half rise in EBITDA of 41.8 percent to 3.3 billion euros, on a 6.9 percent increase in revenues to 8.6 billion euros. Average revenue per user improved 6.8 percent in the U.K. to £267, but was flat in France at 376 euros. Non-voice revenues rose 26.2 percent to 978 million euros. The mobile phone unit said it will meet its full year targets of 5 percent revenue growth and at least 6.2 billion euros in EBITDA.
Also in the telecom sector, Telefonica TEF, -1.09% eased 0.5 percent in Madrid amid the market downturn. The Spanish and Latin American telecom swung to a second quarter net profit of 882.2 million euros. Sales fell 1.7 percent to 7.10 billion euros.
Another loss maker, engineering group ABB ABB, +0.61% (ABB), was over 5 percent higher after it swung to a $55 million second quarter loss from a $38 million rise. EBIT rose 14 percent to $171 million, and revenues rose 12 percent to $5.06 billion. EBIT margins rose to 3.4 percent from 3.3 percent.
The Swedish-Swiss engineering group, which has been hit hard by asbestos-related costs, reiterated its full-year forecast of an EBIT margin of 4 percent, and plans to reduce net debt to $6.5 billion. ABB shares started the day 3.8 percent higher.
On the flip side, chipmaker STMicroelectronics STM, +0.07% (012970) was off 1.9 percent after it said it will raise $1.2 billion through zero-coupon convertible bonds due in 2013. The proceeds will be used to help pay holders of STMicro's convertible bond due 2010 who can redeem their bonds in 2005. Up to 40.9 million shares could be issued, at a premium of 55 percent to STMicro's share price when the bond is issued. Managers will be able to increase the issue size by up to 15 percent a month after issue.
In addition, Italian aerospace and defense group Finmeccanica unveiled a 500 million euro bond that converts into STMicro shares. The bonds can convert into 20 million STMicro shares, the company said.
Tire maker Michelin (012126) fell 2.1 percent as it said first half net income slumped 34.9 percent to 165 million euros on a 6.1 percent decline in revenues to 7.348 billion euros, both figures missing analyst estimates. Negative currency effects hit sales by 10 percent, while a 2.4 percent positive impact in sales volumes is more the effect of inventories being rebuilt at dealers, especially in Europe, than of an actual increase in end user demand, Michelin said. Previously announced restructuring in Spain hit net income by 140 million euros pre-tax, Michelin noted.
Drugmaker Aventis AVE, +0.88% (013046) eased 2 percent as it posted a second-quarter net income gain of 18.8 percent to 603 million euros, despite a 6.2 percent decline in sales to 4.17 billion euros. It noted that the sale of Aventis CropScience impacted sales but also added to earnings. Aventis said that currency effects hit sales by 13.1 percent. Aventis reiterated its full-year forecast of high single-digit percentage sales growth in its core business and EPS growth in mid- to high-teens.
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For the last two weekends in September, Ferrari is offering car and racing enthusiasts a glimpse of its unique world in a spectacular exhibition to be held in the Italian town of Maranello, where these extraordinary vehicles are made. Baroque Ground has all the details
The exhibition, called Universo Ferrari, will offer visitors an unprecedented and exclusive look at the world of Ferrari. A special structure has been built to house Universo Ferrari, located near the Fiorano circuit where visitors can further experience a number of Ferrari activities and view some of its most iconic vehicles up close, including the Scuderia Ferrari as well as other latest Ferrari models such as the SF90 Stradale, Ferrari’s new series-production super car hybrid. This exhibition is also the Stradale’s European premiere and offers a rare opportunity to take a closer look at Ferrari’s latest innovation.
Universo Ferrari, which will be held on 21 and 22 September and again on 28 and 29 September, is the first exhibition to specifically explore the world of Ferrari. Areas in the specially built structure will be dedicated to all of Ferrari’s activities, from its Classiche division to its GTs and racing cars, as well as the Scuderia Ferrari.
Maranello’s Ferrari Museum offers a unique and enthralling voyage of discovery for fans and enthusiasts with an exhibition that tells the car’s story and its fascinating history. Visitors can experience what it’s like to sit in a semi-professional Formula 1 Scuderia Ferrari simulator and get a taste of the exhilarating ride that Formula 1 drivers experience during a Grand Prix race. This virtual experience is an unmatched one, part of the museum’s special ‘Museu Fan Experience’ that also includes the adrenaline of a group pit stop with photos as well as entrance to the museum, a personalized Ferrari badge with one’s name and a complimentary Ferrari cap.
The Universo Ferrari exhibition also offers an exclusive Ferrari shuttle service to visitors that is included in the ticket price. The exhibition is open to both private visitors as well as the public on the dates mentioned, which are public viewing days.
Maranello, the birthplace of Ferrari, is located in the region of Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy. It is home to both the Ferrari Museum mentioned above as well as Ferrari’s manufacturing plant.


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Welcome to Leyard's Media Room where you'll find the latest information on Leyard news, high resolution images and corporate information. Additional product information, specifications and imagery are available on individual Product Pages.
News & Announcements
Leyard and Planar, global leaders in visualization products, today announced that the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC professional soccer clubs have selected Leyard and Lighthouse Technologies Ltd., for five video screens in their transformed Providence Park stadium in downtown Portland
Leyard and Planar, global leaders in visualization products, announced the companies will serve as the premier sponsor of Jumpstart 2019, starting with the Lessons in Strategy workshop taking place March 11-13 in Dallas, Texas.
Leyard and Planar, global leaders in visualization products, are pleased to announce that industry experts, Barry Belsky and Jon Holvey, have joined the companies’ growing Sports and Entertainment division.
Leyard and its companies will feature their latest innovations in a wide range of display technologies, from LED and LCD, to rear projection and image processing solutions.


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When Darden Restaurants bought Irvine-based Yard House last year, fans of the casual dining chain worried. Would quality go down? Would innovative foods become less frequent?
So far, the restaurant giant, which also owns Seasons 52 and Olive Garden, has continued to give Yard House’s culinary team free rein in the kitchen, executive chef Carlito Jocson said. One of the first big initiatives under the new owners is the debut this week of the Eat Late menu.
To lure late-night diners, Yard House restaurants are adding foods inspired by the gourmet street food movement. Available 10 p.m. to close, the Eat Late menu features four meals: black truffle cheeseburger ($7.95), pastrami dog ($6.75), chilaquiles ($5.85) and Monte Cristo Pops ($6.35). The latter is a modern take on the classic deep fried sandwich, which is stuffed with ham, turkey and Swiss cheese and dusted with powdered sugar.
“Our new Eat Late menu is designed for people making their last stop of the evening after a night on the town or working the swing shift,” Jocson said. “The menu is really reflective of the ambience at that hour – loud, laid back and casual.”
The late menu, which debuted Tuesday, does not replace the chain’s late-night happy hour. Those specials will continue to be offered Sundays-Wednesdays 10 p.m.-close, the chain said. Yard House has locations in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine and Brea.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.org


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One million masks purchased in Canada not useable: govt
408 total views, 1 views today
The Canadian government said Friday that one million KN95 masks imported from China did not meet its strict standards and so could not be distributed to frontline health workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Public Health Agency of Canada “has identified approximately one million KN95 masks as non-compliant with specifications for healthcare settings,” a spokesman told AFP.
“These items were not distributed to provinces and territories for frontline health care response, and are being subsequently assessed for use in non-healthcare settings,” he said.
Chinese model KN95 masks are similar to N95 masks, as well as the FFP2 model used in Europe.
“Much of the world’s supply is manufactured in China and moving materials out of that country is highly complex,” said Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand.
The relationship between Ottawa and Beijing has been on the rocks ever since the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, an executive at Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, in December 2018 in Vancouver.
Millions of other respirators and N95 masks are currently being scrutinized by the agency, Anand said.
Meanwhile domestic production of masks and other medical supplies “is ramping up,” with contracts signed with three more Canadian companies this week to produce 16 million “medical face shields.”
General Motors said in a statement it would start producing one million masks per month for the Canadian government at its Oshawa assembly plant, which had been shuttered in December 2019.
The head of its union, Jerry Dias, said he was “thrilled” that 50 employees “will be recalled” to make the masks. Some 2,000 auto workers lost their jobs when the plant was closed.
In early April, Canada received deliveries of more than 10 million masks and announced total orders for more than 60 million more N95 masks. (AFP)


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The Blockchain Factory promises to be the technological and regulatory bridge between the banking and blockchain world. In addition, it wants to be a specialized infrastructure partner with a banking license for crypto currency and blockchain companies. With the Blockchain Factory, SolarisBank aims to further advance the vision of decentralized and contextual banking.
SolarisBank, the first banking platform with a full banking license, will launch its “solarisBank Blockchain Factory” on 28 June 2018. The Berlin-based technology company is thus expanding its offering and creating a technological and regulatory bridge between the banking and blockchain worlds. solarisBank will thus become a specialist infrastructure provider for companies in the crypto-currency and blockchain industry.
Roland Folz, CEO of solarisBank, is confident about the Bitcoin evolution:
“solarisBank has been enabling contextual banking for over two years – modern financial services are integrated into companies’ existing offerings via interfaces (APIs) and made available to customers when and where they need them. Offers in the Bitcoin evolution blockchain and Bitcoin evolution area through the ‘solarisBank Blockchain Factory’ are the next strategic step. There is great demand from the Blockchain world for a licensed partner who can provide the technological and regulatory link to traditional banking – as a technology company with a banking license we are the natural partner.
According to the press release, solarisBank intends to use Blockchain Factory to offer banking services to companies whose business is based directly or indirectly on crypto currencies and Blockchain technology. These include, for example, the “Blockchain Company Account” for the banking transactions of Blockchain companies.
In addition, services are to be made available for global trading centres for crypto currencies in order to facilitate the purchase and sale of fiat currencies, for example via solarisBank’s “Automated Trust Account”, an automated trust account for crypto currency marketplaces.
To this end, it is working together with vPE Bank: Together, solarisBank and vPE intend to offer institutional trading of crypto currencies. Other corporate customers of solarisBank are currently integrating additional services in the area of digital banking and debit cards for blockchain companies. For example, the company promises to combine crypto currency wallets and bank accounts in a single offering.
Hybrid future of the Fiat and Bitcoin evolution world through SolarisBank
Peter Grosskopf, CTO of solarisBank, predicts a hybrid future for Blockchain and Bitcoin evolution: “The Fiat world will not dissolve. We are moving towards a hybrid future in which the blockchain world still has to prove itself. At solarisBank, we see the disruptive power of the business models and want to help shape the future of this industry. It has always been the role of banks to keep their customers’ assets in trust. Even in the age of decentralization driven by Bitcoin evolution technology, banks must continue to play this role. We are providing the infrastructure to link traditional banking with modern digital offerings.”
Founded in March 2016, solarisBank was one of the first financial technology companies with a full banking licence. Since then, the company has established its “Banking as a Platform” concept internationally. Blockchain and crypto currency offerings from the “solarisBank Blockchain Factory” are the next strategic step. In addition to the cooperation with vPE Bank, further partnerships are already in the implementation process and are expected to be launched in the course of the year.


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If you’re seeking information about a Chrysler lifetime powertrain warranty lawsuit, you’ve come to the right place. Recently, the automaker was forced to put a lawsuit behind it as a class-action lawsuit. It was negligent to supply faulty powertrains to thousands of its current customers. The company is being sued by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for this mistake.
Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty Lawsuit
On or before October 31, 2021, the current version of this lawsuit comes from plaintiffs who bought a Chrysler vehicle from Chrysler in the State of Missouri and provided a lifetime warranty for the power train on or before that date. The warranty only covers the initial owner or lienor and contains the language about mandatory periodic inspections. This means that anyone not a party to the original purchase can sue the company for failure to perform the necessary inspection. When this happens, the lawsuit usually involves substantial damages.
A few years ago, a Chrysler attorney sent me the latest lawsuit against the automaker.
This time, the complaint was filed in federal court in Chicago. The complaint specifically named the automaker under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act as well as the Fair Credit Billing Act. The complaint says that the company failed to perform a needed pre warranty inspection and instead focused on getting more money from the plaintiffs.
According to the complaint, the automaker failed to perform an important five-year inspection after the warranty was granted.
The warranties cover parts and labor, according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that the manufacturer focused on selling the power train and did not make any attempt to repair any problems. The company did, however, send out a five-year warranty to the plaintiff, but the warranty was inadequate. The next step, according to the complaint, was for the manufacturer to settle the case in arbitration.
If the company does not act responsibly when they grant a warranty, the litigation could cost them a lot of money, possibly forcing them into bankruptcy.
According to the complaint, the company’s long-term solution for a malfunctioning engine is to sell the motor vehicle. If they are found to be trying to avoid their responsibility, the case could lead to significant financial loss for the automaker. Some automobile repair experts believe that the current liabilities of the company may be the result of their shoddy workmanship and poor warranty practices. The risk of losing the financial investment for a five-year or lifetime warranty may force some potential customers to turn down a new vehicle with a defective engine.
According to the complaint, the dealership, through the automaker, focused on increasing their profits at the expense of providing a good product that was reliable and safe.
In addition to a five-year or lifetime warranty, the dealership directed the plaintiff to only get pre-owned parts, which were of poor quality and often required that customers pay more for repairs. The plaintiffs were also directed not to get a new engine because the current one was still under warranty.
A final step in the process involves a series of tests, including an inspection of the engine by a certified mechanic who has not seen the engine in use, which can cost hundreds of dollars. Because the complaint against Chryslers includes such a heavy financial component, many of the cases are settling out of court.


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Dale's Remodeling earns pair of national honors
Dale's Remodeling has received two national honors from industry magazines, which ranked the Salem company among the top 500 in the nation.
Remodeling Magazine last month named Dale's to its 2016 Remodeling 550 list, ranking the local company at 151. The panel of judges compiled the list with commitment to customer satisfaction and excellence in the residential remodeling industry in mind.
“Being recognized on this national list is a huge honor and is a testament to the hard work our employees put in, day in and day out,” said Dale Van Lydegraf, president and CEO of Dale’s.
Dale's was also mentioned in Qualified Remodeler magazine's Top 500 2016 list. Companies were graded on criteria such as total years in business, industry certification and awards, association membership, installed remodeling dollar value and community service.
The awards cap a successful year of honors for the company. In March, vice president of marketing Kayla Van Lydegraf was named to the Pro Remodelers “40 Under 40” list for her achievements as a young woman in business.


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Voicemod, the popular AI voice changing program, is taking a giant leap in personalisation. With its latest features, users can now create their own unique synthetic voices from scratch and share them with the world.
Previously, Voicemod offered over 100 AI voice options, including celebrity impersonations and fantasy characters. Now, the new AI Voice Creator feature allows users to craft a unique synthetic voice, choosing from a variety of genders, ages, and tones.
But the personalisation doesn't stop there. With Voicelab, users can fine-tune their synthetic voices, adjusting pitch, volume, and frequency, and even adding audio effects. According to Voicemod, this results in an almost "unlimited" number of voices.
Once users have created their bespoke AI voices, they can share them on Community Voices, a platform that also allows access to other users' creations.
Voicemod CEO and co-founder, Jaime Bosch, explained that the company has essentially created a tool that lets users start with a voice 'persona' generated by AI, adjust various parameters and effects, and create an entirely new AI-powered voice.
As AI voice technology becomes more prevalent, legal issues around voice cloning are minimal since voices are not copyrightable. Voicemod's new features, which focus on creating new voices rather than replicating existing ones, further sidestep any potential legal concerns.
Voicemod is available for both macOS and Windows 10 and 11, so why not give your online persona a unique voice today?
Made with TRUST_AI - see the Charter: https://www.modelprop.co.uk/trust-ai


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Kodak, Broner is taking the Mayweather approach to Gucci.
Gucci made international headlines this past week after a sweater resembling blackface was met with some well-deserved scrutiny. Celebrities and athletes took to Twitter saying they would boycott the brand and no longer give Gucci their business. Well, yesterday Floyd Mayweather made it clear that he doesn't care about the boycott at all, and now it seems his fellow boxer Adrien Broner is taking the exact same approach. TMZ Sports spoke to Broner about Gucci where he commented on his feelings, or lack there of, concerning the controversy.
"I don't care! It's just a sweater! Why's everyone getting so bent out of shape about it?!" Broner said.


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VLC users on Windows might encounter issues when trying to auto update VLC from version 3.0.12 and 3.0.13. Find more details here. We are publishing version 3.0.14 to address this problem for future updates.
VideoLAN is now publishing 3.0.13 release, which improves the network shares and adaptive streaming support, fixes some MP4 audio regressions, fixes some crashes on Windows and macOS and fixes security issues. More details on the release page.
A new release of libbluray was pushed today, adding new APIs, to improve the control of the library, improve platforms support, and fix some bugs. See our libbluray page.
20 years ago today, VideoLAN moved from a closed-source student project to the GNU GPL, thanks to the authorization of the École Centrale Paris director at that time.
VLC has grown a lot since, thanks to 1000 volunteers!
Read our press release!.
VideoLAN is now publishing the VLC for Android 3.3.4 release which focuses on improving the Chromecast support. Since the 3.3.0 release, a lot of improvements have been made for Android TV, SMB support, RTL support, subtitles picking and stability..


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Marvel announced that they will start including codes for free digital copies in all their $3.99 super hero comics. The free digital copy codes will start appearing in the $3.99 comics in June 2012 and will be for the same issues on the Marvel Comics app for iOS and Android devices. Some of the comics included in this new initiative are Avengers, Captain America, Invincible Iron Man, Mighty Thor, Amazing Spider-Man, and Wolverine & The X-Men.
“We’re committed to bringing fans the best value in comics. By including codes for free digital copies in all our $3.99 super hero comics, we’re doing just that” said David Gabriel, who is SVP of Sales at Marvel Entertainment. “We’ve seen a tremendous response to the digital codes in Avenging Spider-Man, our Season One graphic novels and the Ultimate Comics line. The positive reactions from both retailers and fans make it clear that including these codes with our books drives customers into comic stores on a repeated basis.”
“At Marvel, we’re always looking for ways to bring the worlds of print and digital media together to deliver the best comics experience for our fans,” said Peter Phillips, who is SVP & GM at Marvel Digital Media. “With this next step, fans will soon be able to buy their comics from their favorite retailers but also enjoy them on their mobile devices and tablets, all at no extra charge. Welcome to the Revolution.”


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Can wine and spirits really move away from glass? 'Today's consumers are extremely open to alternative pack formats'
Glass remains by far the most dominant packaging format for wine and spirits. But it's heavy to transport, creating concerns over carbon emissions. Will consumers accept the innovations trying to offer more sustainable packaging formats?


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Three times the leverage
Cryptocurrency service company COBINHOOD announced that it is launching margin trading on its zero-fee, high-frequency cryptocurrency exchange platform. COBINHOOD users of all experience levels can now tap into unused funds for greater overall value.
COBINHOOD began in 2017 as a project of Popo Chen, the founder of 17 Media, and Wei-Ning Huang, a former senior engineer at Google, to help future economies adapt to the changing times by creating a financial center suitable for an era that will be defined by blockchain technology. It operates under the belief that the evolution of blockchain technology and the consequent decentralized financial sector has the potential to permanently alter the way businesses operate on an international scale. This latest launch is a further step to support such a development in the global marketplace.
Margin trading allows users to trade more than they could previously, including three times the leverage for BTC/USDT, ETH/BTC, ETH/USDT, and COB/ETH. Short selling will allow users to improve their financing flexibility and give them the opportunity to achieve higher returns on their investments, along with the increased leverage on cryptocurrency trading. Margin funding will provide crypto funds to margin traders in exchange for earned interest from the provisioned funding amounts. For the time being, margin funding will be offered with four cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Cobinhood (COB), Ether (ETH), and Tether (USDT).
Goals include educating users about blockchain to improve returns
Margin trading functions will give traders of all experience levels the ability to further develop their investing skills on a platform that prioritizes user safety and service reliability. The expert tutorials improve traders’ knowledge of the cryptocurrency marketplace and proficiency in blockchain technology. The offered lessons are both informative and understandable.
“We are excited to officially roll out our Margin Trading feature, as we continue to improve and expand the COBINHOOD platform,” COBINHOOD CTO and co-founder Wei-Ning Huang said in a press release. “Unlike other cryptocurrency exchanges, at COBINHOOD we are constantly innovating our features and services to support traders. We look forward to improving the COBINHOOD platform and offering innovative features that will keep the industry moving forward as it grows.”
COBINHOOD is also adding a Margin Trading Golden Mission to its new launch as an exclusive benefit for COBINHOOD users. The Golden Mission will be available from October 19 to December 19, 2018. During this time, any users who complete the specified margin trading trades and margin funding bids will receive COB at no charge. Users who engage in the Golden Mission will also receive tickets for COBINHOOD’s lottery program, Candy Machine. Users who complete the entire Golden Mission will be able to receive 150 COB and 25 Candy Machine tickets.
It’s common sense and practical applications like COBINHOOD ‘s tutorials, Margin Trading feature, and Golden Mission that will go a long way towards resuscitating interest in crypto currency as an innovative financial instrument.


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Hair Loss and COVID-19 – See the Surprising Connection
Hair loss is a common condition among male and female patients. Some of the common causes for hair loss include genetics as well as a reaction to certain medications or hormonal changes. Many doctors are also reporting another growing cause for hair loss among patients. These doctors say patients are suffering from hair loss related to the coronavirus pandemic and it is impacting people who had the virus along with others that never became sick from COVID-19.
Hair Loss and COVID-19
The majority of people naturally lose somewhere in the range of 50-100 hairs on a daily basis. Hair loss can also occur after an illness but this does not seem to be the case with hair loss related to COVID-19. The loss of hair on the scalp seems to come from the psychological stress of fighting off the virus.
There are also people suffering from hair loss that have not contracted the COVID-19 virus. Instead, they are losing their hair due to emotional stress related to financial difficulties, job loss and the death of family members due to the pandemic.
The ongoing stress related to COVID-19 means the number of patients suffering from hair loss related to the virus continues to increase. A survey was conducted in July about post-COVID symptoms among a group of 1567 survivors of COVID-19. Out of those surveyed, 423 people reported suffering from unusual hair loss. These survey results were reported by the group, Survivor Corps, and Natalie Lambert, an associate research professor at Indiana University of Medicine (who helped to conduct the survey).
Types of Hair Loss Related to COVID-19
When it comes to hair loss related to the coronavirus pandemic, many doctors say the condition should be temporary but that it could last for several months. Experts say there are two types of hair loss that seemed to be triggered by the pandemic:
- Telogen Effluvium can begin several weeks or several months after a sudden stressful experience. Telogen is when the cycle of hair growth is in the resting stage. Telogen Effluvium is the result of stress forcing a large amount of hair roots to make a premature move into the resting phase. While the hair will normally return after some time has passed, the condition can also cause irreversible hair loss in some patients.
- Alopecia Areata (AA) is when the immune system begins to attack the hair follicles. The condition can be made even worse by psychological stress. Alopecia Areata can result in hair loss in all areas of the skin and it creates a bald, patchy appearance in areas that have a lack of hair. Thankfully, the hair follicles that are impacted by AA can produce normal hair growth again if the disease subsides.
Hair Loss and Self-Image
The loss of hair due to the COVID-19 pandemic can increase the amount of stress a person feels as well as have an impact on the way they view their appearance.
People that suffer from a loss of hair can often feel less confident about their appearance and not be as comfortable during their personal interactions with others. A full and healthy head of hair gives a person a youthful look and this can translate to greater success in the workforce. The amount of hair that a person has is often tried to their identity and self-confidence and the loss of hair can have a negative impact on the self-image of a person.
Treating Hair Loss from COVID-19
There are a number of options people can use to treat their hair loss related to COVID-19. They include following a healthy and nutritious diet, practicing stress reduction techniques and taking vitamins such as biotin. The use of minoxidil can be recommended to patients willing to commit to using the product on a daily basis.
It has even been reported that a positive attitude can help in dealing with hair loss that is related to stress. The less anxiety and stress felt by a person, the less likely there will be an extreme amount of stress that can contribute to hair loss.
Patients are also advised to look into undergoing a hair transplant if the hair that is lost due to stress does not return to the scalp. A hair transplant takes hair from the donor area of the scalp (the back or sides of the head) and moves it to areas of the scalp that are suffering from thinning or balding. If there is enough quality donor hair on the scalp to use for a hair transplant, the donor hair can be taken from other areas of the body to place in the scalp. An experienced hair restoration surgeon can examine the scalp of a patient to determine the cause of the hair loss as well as the extent of the condition. The doctor will also let the patient know the type of results that can be expected after the hair transplant along with the best hair restoration option to achieve the desired amount of hair on the head.


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Q2 2016 Mobile Marketing Benchmarks – India Edition
In the last 1-2 years, India has seen explosve mobile growth. In fact, by 2017 the sub-continent is projected to pass the US and become the world’s second largest smartphone market after China. India is also ranked third in total Google Play downloads app downloads, while the growth rate on both Google Play and the App Store hit 50% last year.
The average Indian mobile user is hungry for apps. According to the India edition of the Vserv Smartphone User Persona Report (SUPR), 24% of the country’s 160 million-strong smartphone user base downloads as many as 18 apps and games in a single month!
Despite such growth, there have been few reports benchmarking data that marketers need to do their job properly. That’s where the AppsFlyer India Study comes in! Fill in your details below to get:
- The AppsFlyer Performance Index: India Edition ranking the top networks operating in India based on retention and scale
- Retention benchmarks per platform and per category
- Spend per app per platform in addition to a breakdown into the popular shopping category


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New Delhi: The Paytm app has suddenly disappeared from the Google Play store. The reasons for this have not been ascertained yet. For the first time, the payment app Paytm has mysteriously disappeared from the Google Play store. The app, owned by One97 Communications Limited, is not available on the Google Play Store, while Paytm, Paytm for Business, Paytm Mall and other company-owned apps are still available on the Play Store. However, Paytm is available for download on the Apple App Store.
According to India Today, they contacted One97 Communications Limited and sought information about Paytm’s disappearance from the Google Play store. However, no official information has been received so far.
Let us tell you that Paytm is owned by an Indian company called One 97 Communications Limited. Which was founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma. But the company received large sums of money from Fintech firm Ant Financials, a subsidiary of China’s Alibaba Group.


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LiveNinja co-founders: Will Weinraub, CEO, center. Emilio Cueto, CTO, left, and Alfonso Martinez, CCO. File Photo by CW Griffin of the Miami Herald.
By Nancy Dahlberg / firstname.lastname@example.org
LiveNinja, a Miami-based technology company that provides communications tools for businesses, announced Wednesday that it has closed a $2 million round of financing, bringing its total funding to $3.5 million.
The bridge funding is from Scout Ventures, Anzu Partners, Comcast Ventures Catalyst Fund, Citi Ventures, Accelerated Growth Partners and SeedInvest. LiveNinja will use the funding to build out its product line and expand its sales and marketing team. LiveNinja, founded in 2012, is a team of 19 people.
Along with the funding, LiveNinja announced a new product, LiveNinja Messenger, to make it easier for businesses to manage conversations, no matter where or how the customer chooses to engage. This differentiates it from the pack of applications out there, including Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Skype and others, which can’t be embedded on a company website.
LiveNinja CEO and co-founder Will Weinraub gave a demo of its newest tool at a recent weekly Waffle Wednesdays networking event that the company puts on each week at its Wynwood offices free for the tech community, most days for breakfast and one Wednesday a month after work.
“We’re entering a new era for business-to-customer communication but to do it right, we have to think about what businesses really need to make messaging work for them,” said Weinraub in the announcement. “Most messaging apps are walled-gardens that operate in a separate environment. We built LiveNinja to be more flexible. You can use it as a standalone messaging application, but you could also embed it within your existing website and share it on other channels as well.”
He showed the crowd that using LiveNinja Messenger, brands can not only start conversations on their website, but also on social media and other apps with an easy to share link. Instead of one-off conversations that frustrate customers, each of these conversations can be easily managed in one seamless thread, giving both the customer and the brand the ability to scroll up to view what they spoke about last. An iOS application makes it easy for businesses to maintain customer conversations on-the-go, he said. Part of the new funding will be used to build out new features for the tool.
Weinraub said anyone can sign up at www.liveninja.com to try LiveNinja Messenger for free for a limited time, and he encouraged feedback. In time, it will evolve into a "pay as you grow" model where brands will only pay on a per-customer engagement.


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General Motors today offered a preview of the future, revealing three models that could be among the 20 all-new all-electric vehicles it will launch in 2023.
The first two electric vehicles will be launched in the next 18 months, said GM, and will be based on learning from the Chevrolet Bolt EV, which went on sale about 10 months ago. Although GM did not provide details on upcoming models, it showed reporters three different concepts: a sports crossover, a larger van, and a square vehicle that looks more like public transportation to cities. The three models were among nine vehicles covered with blankets at the GM design dome at its technical campus in Warren, Michigan.
“There is more to come,” was the common response to questions from many reporters.
GM executives took a look at the company’s strategy for the future by saying that its “zero-emission electric roadmap” will require both electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.
While the new models will be based on the Bolt’s platform, Pam Fletcher, chief executive officer of electric vehicles, showed a vision of the next generation of GM’s electric vehicle platform, which is being developed from scratch and said the multi-brand electrification strategy will focus on electric crossovers and SUVs, the current heart of the market.
“We go much further than we would expect,” said Fletcher, standing in front of the series of covered vehicles.
GM has also been busy developing next generation hydrogen fuel cells in association with Honda and said its first commercial vehicle with such technology will be available in 2020. A Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 with hydrogen fuel cells is currently evaluated by the Army of The United States and has received favorable reviews for its stealth operation and instant acceleration, GM executives said.


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The Tesla brand might be the most well-known among electric car consumers. A new software update may draw even more customers to the models while also worrying other drivers on Texas streets and highways. The new upgrade allows drivers to play video games, potentially increasing accidents due to distractions.
Video games and vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may take action over legitimate concerns over Telsa’s videogaming controversy. Adding video gameplay as an option on a Tesla display screen could garner much publicity in tech media, but the costs could be enormous. Drivers concerned more about scoring on a video game or otherwise engaging with interactive web browsing could lead to a fatal crash.
Attempts to cater to the technology enthusiast market sometimes drive decisions to add sophisticated advancements to vehicles. Often, the technology improves safety, as seen with blind spot monitors and cross-traffic alerts. However, many consumers prefer technology designed to make a daily commute or long drive less monotonous. Improvements in infotainment systems attempt to meet these demands. The inclusion of video games inside the vehicle may court disaster, though.
Distracted driving and collisions
Distracted driving occurs when a driver’s attention diverts from the road. Engaging in conversations, rubbernecking, talking on the phone, or sending text messages may lead to distractions. So might taking one’s hands of the wheel to eat, drink, adjust clothing, and more. Awareness campaigns focusing on distracted driving typically address common bad habits drivers perform. Activists likely did not expect to discover a car manufacturer would add video games as a distracting option for drivers.
Drivers who embrace distractions could be liable for collisions. Anyone playing video games while driving may face a huge judgment if it causes a severe collision.


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There are growing fears that many young people in Australia believe vaping is not as bad as smoking. For this reason, the Minister of Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell, and the health minister of New South Wales, Brad Hazzard, have started a campaign to combat the problem.
Their goal is to overcome misinformation about vaping and, if possible, ensure that teenagers stop vaping altogether.
The campaign has been labeled Get the Facts - Vaping Toolkit, and it will take place in New South Wales.
The NSW Government's website said that the campaign had been launched to encourage young people to give up vaping while also teaching them the truth about the habit and the dangers of using e-cigarettes.
The e-cigarettes can have many dangerous substances, often found in nail polish remover, cleaning products, weed killers, and bug sprays.
Hazzard pointed out that respiratory research had shown that e-vaping liquids contain chemicals similar to those found in antifreeze. The industry has come up with more than 500 flavors to ensure young kids are more drawn to them.
Nevertheless, there is no denying that these vaping products can cause a lot of damage to the lungs of these young people.
Already, a disease known as "popcorn lung" has been linked to e-cigarettes and vaping products, and it's all because of the harmful compounds they contain. The condition damages small airways within the lungs.
Therapeutic Goods Administration discovered that illegal amounts of chemicals were present in about 33% of the vaping devices sold in Australia.
Although vapes have no labels saying they contain nicotine, they still have very high amounts of addictive chemicals. The amounts of nicotine in vaping products are so high that people can become addicts for life after using them.
The campaign seeks to provide support to secondary school children, their parents, carers, and the schools. They would like these groups to learn how to keep young people from using vaping devices and getting addicted as a result.
The Toolkit offers educational material and evidence-based resources intended to encourage parents and young people to learn more about these products so that they can start talking about the harmful effects of using e-cigarettes.
Mitchell is worried that young people are starting to vape without considering the effects of taking up the habit.
In addition to the Toolkit, NSW Health has also made it clear that it is firmly against those selling e-cigarettes and vapes to minors illegally.
Statistics indicate that from July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, over 100,000 e-cigarettes were seized by NWS Health. The e-cigarettes had a street value of more than $2 million.
In a similar operation in the UK, hundreds of vapes were seized, and they were also discovered to have twice the country's legal nicotine limit.
People caught offering these devices to young people in Australia can get fines of up to $11,000, while companies can get penalties of up to $55,000 for first offenses.
According to Mitchell, offering young people education about the dangers of vaping is very important because many people are selling nicotine products to young people.


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Apple’s 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference starts June 5, costs $1,599
Enlarge / Apple's WWDC announcement.Apple reader comments 6 Share this story Apple's 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference is happening between June 5 and June 9 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, according to both the WWDC site and e-mails sent out to registered developers this morning. Previous WWDCs have usually been at the...
I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its component fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken-down computers. That is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark


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One of the world’s biggest news agencies, Associated Press, announced that they are going to launch an NFT (non-fungible token) marketplace to sell their award-winning photos.
Associated Press, that is actually a non-profit global news organisation, will offer for buy an initial collection of contemporary and historic photos by their own photojournalists; NFTs will range from space, climate, war and other images to spotlights on the work of specific AP photographers. Each NFT will include a rich set of original metadata offering collectors awareness of the time, date, location, equipment and technical settings used for the shot.
The initial collection will be released over a period of weeks beginning Jan. 31., with NFTs of various price points, while the news agency clarifies that all proceeds go back into funding factual, unbiased AP journalism.
The NFT marketplace is going to be built by blockchain provider Xoom and will also support secondary market transactions and purchases using credit card payments as well as crypto wallets. Organisers have even created a waiting list working on building the momentum.
Following the recent NFT boom, news organisations are working on exploiting the opportunity, as an NFT can be a photograph, a video, or even a news article or editorial, with photos being of course the easiest monetisable asset.


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According to a press release on Thursday, Coinbase has successfully registered with the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank – DNB) as a crypto service provider. This appproval will allow the platform to offer crypto-related products and services to the Dutch.
Coinbase is a platform that makes it very easy to buy cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. It is one of the most popular crypto-exchange platforms with tens of millions of users. It is also the first company in the crypto industry to go public in the United States, in April 2021.
According to the release, it’s also the first to receive DNB registration approval – an important step in Coinbase’s continued international expansion.
Coinbase to bring the potential of the crypto-economy to the market
Indeed, Coinbase sees industry regulation as an “enabler” of crypto’s growth, establishing clear ground rules that will create an environment that encourages innovation and builds public and policymaker confidence in the industry.
Nana Murugesan, Vice President, International and Business Development at coinbase said:
We are pleased to announce that Coinbase has successfully registered with the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank – DNB) as a crypto-service provider.
The Netherlands is a key international market for cryptos, and I am very excited that Coinbase can bring the potential of the crypto-economy to the market.”
Launched in 2012 by software engineer Brian Armstrong and former Goldman Sachs trader Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase is a trading platform that allows users to buy, sell and store cryptocurrencies.
Originally, Coinbase only allowed for Bitcoin trading. However, as the crypto industry really took off, the platform began to diversify its offerings and support more assets. Today, more than 160 cryptos are supported.
Today, Coinbase serves customers in nearly 40 European countries through dedicated hubs in Ireland, the UK and Germany. Additional registrations or license applications are pending in several key markets in accordance with local regulations.


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Phantasy Star Nova Development Details Revealed - NewsVGChartz Staff, posted on 11 September 2013 / 1,714 Views
During Sony Computer Entertainment Japan's press conference on Monday, Sega announced Phantasy Star Nova, a PlayStation Vita title that will take place in the same universe as Phantasy Star Online 2.
Unlike the MMORPG, Phantasy Star Nova will be a single player offline game that will be sold in stores come 2014. Despite the offline focus, Nova players will be able to connect together in an ad-hoc multiplayer.
Additional development details surfaced today. Tthe game is being developed by tri-Ace, and they currently have over 70 team members actively working on it. Their goal is, according to Siliconera, to produce an AAA quality game for Vita. Let's hope they succeed.
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- It was all smiles and a family affair Tuesday at the Trump Doral where Donald Trump got the key to the city of Doral just before an official ribbon cutting ceremony.
Donald was joined by three of his children: daughter Ivanka, sons Donald Junior and Eric along with the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer for the opening of the Arnold Palmer Villas. All this as the World Golf Cadillac Championship tees up to begin.
The interiors of all of the eight villas on premises were designed by Ivanka.
"So this is the Presidential Suite. It's 5,000 square feet with a beautiful master suite and a six fixture bathroom," said Ivanka to CB4's Lisa Petrillo while giving her the grand tour.
The new deluxe guest rooms are adorned in elegant neutrals, accentuated with mahogany and gold leaf Spanish revival details.
"There are eight villas in all and each one is named after a particular world class golfer. The art work inside reflects that," she said. "That's how we build. We build like it's our own home."
Ivanka is a busy working mom of two small children who, in addition to owning her own clothing line and working with her father, she's also launched a new online initiative, celebrating #womenwhowork and how they find balance.
"I found that pop culture wasn't speaking to us in a very authentic way about what it means to be a women who works. It just hasn't been representative of how women are working today so we started a conversation," Ivanka explained.
Ivanka also keeps her fingers on the pulse of real estate.
"Miami is incredible. It's on fire. We have a hotel now which is the ultimate test where rooms are priced on a daily basis. It's amazing to see the demand come into Miami from all over the world," she said.
Thursday night, during the the Cadillac Championship Ivanka will host a fashion show by Dolce and Gabbana to give sizzle to the four day event.
"Here we are in heart of Miami so we're looking to embrace that after golf is over, we can have fun in the evenings," she said.
The Cadillac Championship is on through Sunday. For more info on Ivanka : www.ivankatrump.com
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Fareportal is a global travel technology company known for offering one-stop-shop solutions for travelers. Established in 2002, the company provides end-to-end travel booking services and technology solutions to major players in the travel industry such as airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies. With its headquarters in New York, Fareportal has expanded over the years and has offices across the world, including India, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and the Philippines.
Funding and Investors:
Fareportal has had a total funding of $320 million, with the latest funding round being in 2018, where they raised $150 million from venture capitalists. Some of the notable investors who have backed the company include Guggenheim Partners, Baird, and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
Fareportal has been a major player in the online travel booking space, with its flagship product, CheapOair, being a household name among travelers. In recent years, the company has been aggressively pursuing expansion opportunities, launching new platforms and expanding its reach in emerging markets. However, despite these efforts, the travel industry has been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the company to make some tough decisions.
On March 26, 2020, Fareportal made the difficult decision to lay off 200 of its employees in its Indian office located in Gurugram. The move was a result of the collapse of the travel industry, which forced Fareportal to take drastic cost-cutting measures to stay afloat.
According to industry reports, Fareportal was not the only travel company that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many other travel companies, including Expedia and Booking.com, were also forced to lay off thousands of their employees due to the sudden halt in travel. Companies in the travel industry are expected to continue facing challenges in the months and years ahead as the world attempts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statement from the Company:
In response to the layoffs, Fareportal released a statement saying that it was a difficult decision but one that was necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the company. The company also stated that it was providing support to its affected employees, including severance packages, healthcare benefits, and job placement assistance. The company also emphasized that it was looking for ways to adapt to the changing business environment and was investing in new products and technologies.


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A stringent scanning of imported items will begin from September 21 to curb rampant violations of “rules of origin” which have opened floodgates for dumping of Chinese items in India by means of third nations resembling Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia with which New Delhi has free commerce agreements (FTAs), two officers mentioned requesting anonymity.
“The Customs are armed with the new mechanism of verification that kicks in from September 21. It gives them full authority to check all FTA imports such as mobile phones, white goods, set-top boxes, incense sticks, cameras and other electronic gazettes more closely,” mentioned one of many officers, who works for the Union finance ministry.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on August 21 had notified — the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin below Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020, or CAROTAR, 2020 requiring element disclosures by importers to say concessional responsibility advantages below commerce pacts resembling FTAs. “The CAROTAR, 2020 shall come into force on September 21, 2020,” the CBIC order had mentioned.
Interpreting the Customs’ notification, consultancy agency EY India mentioned in response to the brand new rule, importers must furnish particulars of certificates of origin (CoO) within the invoice of entry and make vital declaration in a bid to say preferential fee of responsibility. “The importer shall possess information to demonstrate the manner in which the origin criteria are satisfied and maintain all supporting documents for at least five years from the date of filing of the bill of entry,” it mentioned.
The officers talked about above mentioned the Customs might additionally ask for supporting paperwork and data and when doubtful, deny the good thing about the FTA responsibility concession or enable it provisionally pending verification.
“The industry has repeatedly represented to the government to review the existing FTAs and take action to put a brake on their misuse,” the primary official mentioned, quoting finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s price range announcement this 12 months.
She had mentioned that undue claims of FTA advantages had posed a menace to the home business and such imports require stringent checks.
Union minister for commerce and business Piyush Goyal had additionally cautioned the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to strengthen the “rules of origin” provisions to test the inflow of Chinese items within the Indian market.
Co-chairing the 17th Asean-India Economic Ministers Consultations, which was held on August 29, by means of video convention, Goyal had highlighted that the FTA must be “mutually beneficial” and expressed the necessity to strengthen the principles of origin provisions, work in the direction of elimination of non-tariff obstacles and supply higher market entry.
“In case of Asean countries, the merchandise trade gap has risen from $5 billion in 2010, when FTA was implemented, to more than $22 billion now,” a second official mentioned.
“Our position of merchandise trade surplus with Vietnam and Singapore has reversed in the last three to four years. From a position of a surplus of $2 billion with Vietnam at the start of FTA in 2010, now India has a trade deficit of about $3 billion with it. While our trade deficit with Singapore stands at over $4 billion,” he mentioned.
“The trade gap has also widened with Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The painful part of this story has been that these FTAs have been misused widely to export goods to India in utter disregard to the ‘rules of origin’ requirement,” he added.
Vietnam has been exporting numerous digital gadgets. Of late, electronics imports have began coming in from Indonesia as properly. Thailand and Malaysia have additionally been exporting elevated portions of digital and different items to India, he mentioned.
“Investigations have revealed that items such as TVs, mobile phones, set-top boxes, telecom network products, metals coming from FTA countries did not meet the prescribed rule of origin criterion,” he added.
In some instances, the Customs has detected that just a few importers had been smuggling restricted items resembling incense sticks within the guise of products declared to be imported below an FTA, he mentioned.
In the final 5 years, the Customs have detected fraudulent claims below FTA to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore, he added.