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Final Fantasy 7 Remake was, for fans, an agonizing no-show at E3 2018. With Square Enix staging a dedicated E3 livestream for the first time since 2015, we guessed (incorrectly) there would be something about this long anticipated work. Alas, no.
What we do have, however, is at least the concession from director Tetsuya Nomura that, yes, this game was announced way too early. Cold comfort, especially for fans clinging to statements like “We are actually in development,” as a sign of progress.
“I am well aware of the fact that we announced it too early,” Nomura said to the Italian website Multiplayer (via Kingdom Hearts Insider). “but even in the industry, word was beginning to spread that we were working on the game, so we just decided not to keep it more secret and officially reveal it.”
So, that’s why we saw it in 2015 (and it was just a glimpse at the time, too). If nothing else, Square Enix gave a launch date for Nomura’s other project, the even-longer-in-development Kingdom Hearts 3, which is coming Jan. 29, 2019. Nomura told The Verge that development on both it and Final Fantasy 7 remake are being developed in parallel, meaning Final Fantasy 7 remake is out of the concept stages.
Nomura also agreed that Kingdom Hearts 3’s revelation (at E3 2013) was somewhat forced and premature, too. “Deciding when to announce your game to the public is always difficult,” he said. “In our case, we receive pressure from the fans even when we do not announce anything. ... People are waiting for new information regardless of whether the game has been announced or not.”
Nomura said his preference is that Square Enix reveal its games before rumors or leaks upstage what they’re doing. If nothing else, he’s being honest about what they’re working on, even if that leaves fans tapping their watches for years on end. This was the third straight E3 where Square Enix had nothing to show or say about Final Fantasy 7 remake.


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Thinking back to the start of this year, it’s hard to take in how much has changed at Altmetric. We’ve had a brilliant, busy, fun 12 months – which now seem to have gone by so quickly! A few highlights to mention include:
– We built and launched our newest platform, Altmetric for Institutions. Take up has been really positive and we currently have over 15 institutions either already implemented or in the process of being set up across the UK, Europe, Australia and the US.
– We helped organise and run the 1:AM altmetrics conference – 2 days of great sessions that included presentations from publishers, researchers, librarians and funders. The event was more popular than we could have hoped for, and we’re already starting to discuss plans for next year.
– Our top 100 list, built by our developers with design help from the team at Digital Science, has received over 15,000 unique visits since its launch in mid-December. The accompanying blog post has been viewed nearly 2,000 times, and we saw some great press coverage in major outlets including the Telegraph, the Times Higher Education,the Huffington Post and the Guardian.
– We ran our first ever publisher day in London. Organised in conjunction with figshare, the event brought together about 50 interested stakeholders for a day of discussion and brainstorming. Stay tuned for news on future events!
– Speaking of publishers, we’re continuing to see a growing demand for our badge visualisations. Publishers Wiley, Health Affairs, Frontiers, Springer and ScienceOpen are among a number of content providers that added the Altmetric data to their article pages. Additionally we announced further roll out with platform providers HighWire and Silverchair, meaning it is now even easier for their publishing partners to offer their readers and users the additional context and insight that Altmetric data offers.
– Our team grew from 7 at the end of 2013 to 18. Our new team members include developers (Scott, Maciej, Shane, Matt M, Matt P, and Jakub), product sales managers Sara and Ben, customer support exec Fran, training and implementation manager Natalia, and Kathy who joined as our COO. All of these new colleagues have added a great amount of knowledge and experience to our day-to-day operations, and we’re feeling well-placed to take on any challenges and opportunities that next year will bring!
Alongside all of this we’ve continued to attend and present at a huge number of events and industry conferences. We’ve been actively engaged with the altmetrics discussion and debate via platforms such as our blog and Twitter, and continue to work closely with ongoing projects and reviews (such as those being undertaken by HEFCE and NISO) to help shape direction for the use of altmetrics.
Looking ahead to 2015, we plan to build on the standard we’ve set this year. We’ll be further involved with driving the discussion around the use of new metrics in research evaluation, and will work to ensure that our platforms and data continually offer our users the best and most valuable insights.
So, with that, a very happy New Year to all of you! We’ll see you in 2015…

domain: news


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1Collision announced that it will be exhibiting at the 2022 SEMA Show, offering the opportunity to discuss shop owners’ and managers’ challenges and discover solutions available to take their businesses to the next level.
The 1Collision advisory team will be fielding repairers’ questions at booth no. 35271 in the Upper South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center Nov. 1-4.
“1Collision and our Canadian partner, CSN Collision Centers, are expanding our 280-location throughout North America,” said Jim Keller, president and COO of 1Collision. “We encourage all independent shops to stop by our booth to learn about affiliation opportunities and how you can truly own your operation.”
Keller said that 1Collision provides comprehensive support to affiliated collision repair centers in business planning, marketing and web presence, operations, office management and training, rebates and purchasing power, insurer and OEM relations, HR and recruiting support. The company also offers a cost-saving national group health and benefits package and succession and exit strategy and planning.
For more information on 1Collision, visit 1collision.com.


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In a real threat to high street retailers Australian consumers are increasingly embracing the digital economy, with 88 per cent of household Internet users now making online transactions, according to research by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Some 69 percent have made a purchase in the last six months.During the last 12 months ChannelNews has noticed that more global web sites like Amazon and major retail groups in the UK and the USA, are now shipping consumer electronics devices to Australian consumers. A US Amazon spoksperson said “Our business out of Australia has increased significantly during the past 12 months. We are doing extremly well with our Kindle sales and we are currently making more products available for Australian consumers”.
One major US retail chain recently told ChannelNews that in 2011 they intend to target the Australian market with a spinoff of their already successful US site. “We have to grow and as the US market is in decline it is logical that we look for International business online. Australia is a logical market to target however at this stage we do not want to show our hand. We anticipate that in a lot of cases we can deliver door to door in Australia up to 30% cheaper than what a Dick Smith or Harvey Norman are selling the same consumer electronics goods for. They said.
The ACMA eport which was released at a Communications Policy and Research Forum held in Sydney said that the most popular goods and services purchased by Australian consumers are: travel goods and services (56 per cent); event, concert or movie tickets (43pc) and household goods, such as furniture, electrical appliances and computer equipment (37pc).
In general, consumers with higher levels of education, income and in some form of employment were more likely to engage in e-commerce.
Some 54 per cent spent less than $1000 during the previous six months, while 43 per cent spent more. Of those, 11 per cent spent more than $5000.


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A new round of layoffs got in the company of snape, which included 100 staff working in the field of advertising.
According to Imran Khan, head of strategic changes in the company snape that it was demand from senior managers audit their teams and ensure proper use of resources to achieve the company’s goal, this word means to delete posts and demobilization of employees who do not need them so badly currently.
And snape had laid off 120 engineers in the beginning of the month in the focus to mitigate the number of employees in the sectors of Engineering content. Raised talk earlier about hiring snape excessively to promote the work of the company in the areas of advertising and launch new products so as to try to appropriate the big facebook and Google.
But after the release of the financial results of the official didn’t check snape growth of the disease in the revenue for three fiscal quarters of consecutive, prompting the company to change the way to sell advertising and speak to mail order bid to reach a larger number of advertisers which in turn led to lower advertising rates dramatically compared to traditional method.
Round new hairdos focused on the field of advertising due to the way the mechanism in the creation of campaigns and pricing, negotiation and more.
Recall that this is the third time you snap the demobilization of staff during the year. The company wants to achieve profits by the end of this year, therefore, firing workers and the provision of the interests of their part of achieving the goal.
The post snapchat introduces 100 employees in the Advertising industry appeared first on the tech world.


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The newly announced integration between Nextatlas’s data and Market Logic’s insights platform will streamline the process for enterprises to surface and share fresh insights across their organizations.
BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / January 30, 2024 / Market Logic Software, the market-leading SaaS provider of insight management solutions, is thrilled to announce a partnership with Nextatlas, a pioneer in AI-driven trend forecasting and consumer insights. This collaboration aims to revolutionize how businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence to access deeper insights into market trends and consumer behaviors.
Market logic’s AI-driven insights platform serves as a centralized hub for managing market knowledge. The platform, powered by the company’s ground-breaking AI for insights technology, DeepSights™, allows business professionals to obtain trusted insights at scale and speed through intuitive, natural language interactions.
Nextatlas complements the Market Logic platform by providing a direct link to a rich collection of forecasting and consumer insights. Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, Nextatlas analyses social media data, online content, and various sources to identify emerging trends and consumer behaviors. The insights generated by Nextatlas are invaluable for businesses across industries, enabling informed decision-making related to product development, marketing strategies, and more.
The newly announced integration between Nextatlas’s data and Market Logic’s insights platform will streamline the process for enterprises to surface and share fresh insights across their organizations. Business users will be able to deepen their understanding of markets with DeepSights™ pulling relevant Nextatlas data into reports alongside other trusted information sources. This powerful combination of two leading AI platforms will empower business leaders, especially those in Go-To-Market functions, to identify new opportunities and innovate ahead of the competition.
“In the race to outperform the competition, companies are increasingly seeking the support of AI to shrink the time it takes to uncover and act on market and consumer insights. With that goal in mind, Market Logic’s strategy is to facilitate our clients’ access to an ecosystem of cutting-edge data providers. Nextatlas is renowned for its application of artificial intelligence to the creation of insights, and we are excited to be working together to help our customers shorten the insights-to-action cycle,” said Olaf Lenzmann, Chief Product and Innovation Officer, Market Logic.
“We’re really excited to bring together Nextatlas’s AI in trend forecasting with Market Logic’s DeepSights™. This partnership is a game-changer in market intelligence, making AI insights more impactful for businesses. By blending our strengths in spotting emerging consumer trends with the powerful insights from DeepSights™, we’re giving companies the tools they need to stay ahead of market changes. Together with Market Logic, we’re transforming how data is used in decision-making, creating a top-notch resource for businesses looking to innovate and stay competitive,” said Luca Morena, Co-founder and CEO of Nextatlas.
DeepSights™ is specifically trained to understand the full meaning and context of market and consumer content. Through natural language interactions, it enables professionals in marketing, product development, and insights to explore their company’s vast pool of market knowledge and extract relevant information rapidly. Drawing on internal and secondary content, DeepSights™ provides concise answers and summary reports to business users in seconds, saving significant time each day and accelerating time to action. As DeepSights™ is accessible via standard business applications, such as Microsoft Teams and Google Chat, it enables companies to bring valuable insights into the heart of daily business workflows.
To learn more about how this strategic partnership can elevate your business and increase the impact of insights on business performance, please contact email@example.com.
Daniela Zuin, CMO
Market Logic Software
Tel: +44 7799 113040
About Market Logic Software:
Market Logic is a market-leading SaaS provider of insights management solutions.
Our AI-enabled insights management platform, powered by our special purpose AI for Insights technology DeepSights, allows insights teams to equip business decision-makers with trusted insights at scale and speed. Since 2006, we’ve helped hundreds of consumer-focused brands across the globe to transform into insights-driven businesses. Market leaders such as Unilever, Vodafone, Bayer, and Tesco are driving innovation and making smarter market moves with the support of Market Logic.
Find out more at https://marketlogicsoftware.com.
Since its inception in 2012, Nextatlas has positioned itself as a pioneering force in trend forecasting and predictions, utilizing artificial intelligence to meticulously analyze social media posts on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit. With a focus on early adopters, the platform evaluates information from over 300,000 users, extracting and filtering data for relevance, quality, and authenticity. Through this innovative AI technology, Nextatlas publishes daily insights into emerging trends and cultural shifts, challenging the traditionally opinion-led industry with a fully-fledged scientific approach. The platform’s name symbolizes its commitment to creating not just an “Atlas for the Future,” but the next evolution of a cultural Atlas – a dynamic map dynamically charting sociocultural changes with the power of AI and data analysis. Nextatlas continues to lead the charge in predictive trend detection, revealing evolving consumer behaviors and confidently predicting developments not yet visible on the horizon.
SOURCE: Market Logic Software
View the original press release on newswire.com.


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Apple’s contract manufacturer Wistron Corp is likely to restart its plant near Bangalore in Karnataka state next week, which was shut following labor unrest in December, according to media reports.
On December 12, factory equipment and vehicles parked on the premises were damaged after a protest launched by contract workers turned violent. Nearly 7,000 workers were present during the incident and they were demanding clearance of unpaid wages and better working hours.
Following the unrest, Apple had launched an investigation and found that Wistron had violated the “Supplier Code of Conduct.” However, the Cupertino-based tech giant has now said that Wistron has taken corrective actions, but will remain on probation for some time. It said that Wistron has restructured its recruiting team and enhanced training and support for workers.
Wistron also claimed it has cleared the dues to its workers, implemented new hiring and payroll norms, and put in place a new system for workers to anonymously air their grievances.
Last week, the government of Karnataka state, where the plant is located, had held talks with top executives of Wistron and six staffing firms in a bid to resolve the issues and restart operations at the earliest.
The Taiwanese company operates a 44-acre plant that manufactures devices for multiple brands including Apple. It has two manufacturing plants near Bangalore and produces the iPhone SE and the iPhone 7. There are plans to start making new models and ramp up output. Wistron has committed to investing roughly 13 billion rupees ($176.74 million) in smartphone manufacturing over the next five years.
Apple has been trying to reduce its dependence on China amid the trade war between Beijing and Washington, and sees India as an alternative. Its contract manufacturers – Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron – had recently registered for the Indian government’s production-linked incentive scheme, which aims to attract large investments in mobile phone manufacturing and specified electronic components.
While Wistron and Foxconn have manufacturing facilities in India, Pegatron is soon set to begin operations in the country. It has reportedly leased half a million square feet space in an industrial park near Chennai and is expected to invest around $150 million.


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New S&P 500 "Communications Services" Segment Shows You Where We Are, Where We are Going
Though impressionistic, a coming September 2018 change in industry categories--combining telecom, tech, media, and entertainment companies--tells you something about fundamental changes in the internet and telecom ecosystems. To wit, the changes show--in part--that connectivity and apps now are becoming parts of a single market.
The new S&P 500 sector called Communication Services also is being created because the former “telecom” sector now includes too few firms. The new Communications Services sector will replace the former “Telecommunication Services” category.
But the rationale is important for larger reasons. S&P Dow Jones argues that tech and content and app companies have become a lot more integrated.
Verizon, AT&T and Comcast, for example, have made acquisitions to become content, mobile and internet services providers. Google now makes devices and provides mobile and internet access service, not just key internet apps. Facebook and Amazon have made smaller moves into either internet access and network infrastructure, or into devices.
The other important change is that both Netflix and Amazon also will be part of the single Communications Services category. Google and Facebook are moving into e-commerce or content, or both.
The larger point is that 30 years ago, the global telecom business was the center of its own industry and ecosystem. It created its own apps, built its own devices, conducted its own research and built its own network equipment.
These days, research and development primarily is conducted by third parties. Devices are supplied by other third parties. And most apps are created--”over the top”--by third parties.
And as all legacy revenue streams atrophy, the telecom industry has become--essentially--a tail on an internet dog.
At the same time, large app providers increasingly are integrating functions once provided by service providers. From owned undersea cables to hyperscale data centers; from devices and mobile services to local internet access services; from voice to messaging; other firms with business models based on advertising or commerce are competing both with telecom service providers and consumer electronics manufacturers.
In principle, that is why firms such as Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, NTT and others are moving into new lines of business other than “access or transport” services.
So, though impressionistic, the new S&P 500 Communications Services category tells you quite a lot about where the business is, right now, and where it is going.


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2013 Jetta Hybrid to Start from $24,995
October 4, 2012 9:04 AM
comment(s) - last by
Base model Jetta Hybrid is priced well
Volkswagen of America has announced the official pricing for the 2013 Jetta Hybrid. The official price for the base Jetta Hybrid will be $24,995 with an SE model starting at $26,990. Volkswagen says that the hybrid version of the Jetta will be the most fuel-efficient Jetta in the lineup with an estimated combined fuel economy rating of 45 mpg.
The car is also the first hybrid in the world to use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The car will also be the fastest compact hybrid in its class with an estimated 0 to 60 mph time of less than nine seconds. The 2013 Jetta Hybrid is also able to drive on electricity alone at speeds of up to 44 mph for up to 1.2 miles depending on operating conditions.
The gasoline engine of the Jetta Hybrid is a 1.4-liter turbocharged TSI engine combined with 27-HP electric motor -- total system output is listed at 170hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle in base form will feature front and rear disc brakes, daytime running lights, power heated exterior mirrors, 15-inch wheels, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and hybrid badging. The car will also have power windows and six way manually adjustable seats along with air-conditioning. The base model also features integrated Bluetooth technology and a CD player with six speakers.
The SE version of the vehicle includes all the base model features and adds LED tail lights, power reclining front seats, a media-device interface with an iPod cable (
perhaps?), and a premium touchscreen radio along with keyless entry and start. The high-end hybrid SEL will sell for $29,325 and adds a sunroof, navigation system, heated front seats, and more. Volkswagen's top-of-the-line Jetta Hybrid, the SEL Premium, will start at $31,180.
The SEL Premium version gets the hardware from the SEL plus navigation, LED daytime running lights, and active front light system, bi-xenon headlights, 17-inch wheels, and a premium audio system and more.
the Jetta Hybrid back in January.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
10/4/2012 4:42:05 PM
The TDI will be better for a driver that will spend the majority of their time on the highway. The hybrid is better for city driving, but not a lot.
The TDI is a much better buy.
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Mississauga, (June 3, 2013) PROFIT Magazine Unveils 25th Annual List of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies.
PROFIT Magazine today ranked Mits Airconditioning Inc., No. 360 on the 25th annual PROFIT 500, the definitive ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Published in the Summer issue of PROFIT Magazine and online at PROFITguide.com, the PROFIT 500 ranks Canadian businesses by their revenue growth over five years.
Mits Airconditioning Inc., HVAC distributor, made the PROFIT 500 list with five-year revenue growth of 133%.
“To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Fastest-Growing Companies in Canada, the PROFIT 500 has expanded to recognize the entrepreneurial achievements of more than 500 Canadian Companies” says Ian Portsmouth, Editor-in-Chief of PROFIT magazine. “PROFIT is proud to now showcase Canada’s forward-thinking small business entrepreneurs and honour their talents and innovations.”
“Mits Airconditioning Inc., is honoured to be on the PROFIT 500 ranking,” says CEO Jack Eliav, “This achievement reflects the strength of the products we distribute, the dedication of all of our staff and the ability to focus and operate in a niche market within the great wings of the HVAC industry.”
Mits Airconditioning Inc. attributes its successful growth rate to the following strengths:
About PROFIT Magazine and PROFITguide.com
PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success is Canada’s preeminent publication dedicated to the management issues and opportunities facing small and mid-sized businesses. For 31 years, Canadian entrepreneurs and senior managers across a vast array of economic sectors have remained loyal to PROFIT because it’s a timely and reliable source of actionable information that helps them achieve business success and get the recognition they deserve for generating positive economic and social change. Visit PROFIT online at PROFITguide.com


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Editorial: Halloween to Christmas
If Halloween is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, there's a reason for that.
"Black Friday" the day after Thanksgiving has traditionally been the start of the economically vital holiday shopping season. The name does not spring from any grim event like a stock market crash but because it is the day when retail stories typically begin turning a profit on the year.
Stores are edging toward making Halloween the starting line for holiday shopping. In many stores, the seasonal sales and promotions begin this weekend.
Sears even has a sale underway called "Black Friday Now." Toys 'R' Us Christmas toys go on sale this Sunday. The New York Times reports that Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon are among the stores contributing to what it calls "Black Friday creep." J.C. Penney is planning a series of sales in November leading up to a "Huge Sale" on Nov. 20 and a "Day Before Thanksgiving Sale" on Nov. 24.
By itself, Halloween isn't a particularly big retail event. The National Retail Federation predicts spending this weekend will be $5.8 billion, back to 2008 levels just before the economic roof fell in. By contrast, spending over the traditional Thanksgiving to New Year's season is anticipated to be $447 billion, up 2.3 percent from last year. (In a another, smaller sign of recovery, the federation says personal Halloween spending will be $66, up from 2009's $56.)
The stores will be happy to sell large quantities of candy, costumes and decorations but that's not the point of Black Friday's informal move. The idea is to increase traffic in the stores, entice shoppers with sales on bigger ticket items and hope they return later in the holiday season. Unsaid is that the stores hope to get the shoppers while they still have money.
Holiday sales have become important barometers of American economic activity. We Americans have a simple way of observing our holidays. We spend. And that spending drives 70 percent of the economy.


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“I bought everything in the Argos catalogue,” says shopaholic Wendy Wilson. “And I’m £1.3m in debt!”
Confessed shopaholic, Wendy Wilson, 57 and divorced, has bought every item in the Argos catalogue.
“I just can’t help it,” she said. “Everything looks so new and shiny and desirable, I know I simply must have it.”
To date she has bought over 20,000 items. As new items are added and old ones removed, her local branch manager has offered her half-price buy-back on older items.
Mrs Wilson, from Derby, has had to rent a warehouse to store all her purchases, 99.6% of which have never been opened.
“It’s just like walking through an Argos warehouse,” She says. “It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, a bit like Christmas.”
Mrs Wilson, who is currently unemployed, has run up credit card debts of almost £1.3m.
When asked how she managed to acquire so much debt she replied: “It was easy!”
Mrs Wilson’s psychiatrist said she could not divulge personal and confidential patient information but added: “This is a weird one, all right.”
The Financial Ombudsman said they do not comment on ongoing cases but added: “This is a weird one, all right.”
Mrs Wilson’ solicitor said he hoped the extensive and persuasive advertising, the ease of acquiring credit and Mrs Wilson’s mental state would be taken into account at her hearing next week.
An Argos spokesperson said: “This only goes to prove what a superbly wide range of products we have and we would like to thank Mrs Wilson for her continued custom.”


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When Omar Tijerina told his parents he wanted to open a bagel shop in his hometown of Laredo, they were caught off guard. “Sell tacos,” they said. “Who’s going to want to eat bagels here?”
Two years and tens of thousands of bagels later, it turns out Omar was onto something. His business, Gateway Bagel Co., has proven Laredoans have an appetite for more than just tacos. “The bagel is basically the New York taco,” Omar says. “You can put anything you want on it.”
Omar runs Gateway Bagel Co. with his wife, Jamie Tijerina, a New York native. They offer authentic New York bagels along with a Tex-Mex-ified menu that has shaken up the breakfast taco monotony for hungry South Texans. From The Texican—a chorizo, egg, and cheese sandwich—to an ancho blueberry cream cheese spread, the duo’s offerings regularly sell out at their north side food truck location and have won multiple Readers’ Choice Awards from the Laredo Morning Times.
The success has been surprising, the couple says. A customer once messaged the duo on Instagram, disappointed the food truck was closed for the day. “Guess I just won’t eat until tomorrow because I just wanted a bagel,” he joked. Grinning and shaking his head, Omar says, “That’s crazy to me that we’re affecting people so much.”
A wannabe foodie unsure of what to do after high school, Omar started his culinary career working at the historic La Posada Hotel in downtown Laredo. He’d listen to Frank Sinatra playing in the kitchen and pretend he was in New York City, cooking for chefs like American restaurateur David Chang in a high-end Manhattan establishment far from the oppressive South Texas heat. He finally made it out of Laredo when he enrolled at the now-closed French Culinary Institute in New York. After graduation he earned his big city chef credentials, bouncing around restaurants before landing with Google, first as a line cook and eventually chef operator as part of the company’s food service team.
But Laredo still loomed in the back of his brain. “On our second date,” he recalls, “I told Jamie, ‘Just so you know, if this gets serious, I want to move back to Laredo, 100%.’” The couple married the day before New Year’s Eve in 2018. A few months later, while waiting for a flight home from their honeymoon in Paris, they admitted a hard truth to each other: They were tired of the hustle and bustle of New York City.
By Cinco de Mayo of 2019 Omar was back in Laredo, and Jamie joined him a month later. For nearly a year, Omar worked a job selling food to local restaurants, but it quickly evaporated when the pandemic hit and the city went on lockdown. As the couple sat on the couch in the summer of 2020 while Tiger King played in the background, Omar turned to Jamie and asked her for a business idea. “I promise I’ll make something out of it,” he told her. For Jamie, who grew up on Long Island, the answer came easily.
“What about bagels?” she recalls saying. “I need to eat something other than a breakfast taco.”
They reached out to a bagel purveyor on Long Island. If they could source real New York-style bagels, Omar knew he could do something special for Laredo. “Bagel shops,” he says, “are always centered around their neighborhood.”
The bagel sandwich with bacon, egg, and cheese is a typical item at any bagel shop. But the rest of the menu changes depending on where you are in the city. On the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where Jewish families have lived for generations, you might find a white fish salad on the menu; halal chicken over rice in Brooklyn for the large Muslim community; and black bean soup for the Caribbean families in the Bronx. Omar knew he could do the same thing in Laredo.
Respect for the classic New York bagel experience was important, but making the food accessible and palatable for Laredoans was paramount. “I wanted somebody who’s never been to New York, nor who cares to go to New York, to want to eat these bagels,” he says. “So how do you build for that?”
One phone call later, almost 400 partially baked New York bagels were headed south. Omar and Jamie mocked up a simple menu of bagels and cream cheeses and set up a Facebook page to get the word out and start taking orders.
In less than an hour, they were sold out.
Their initial excitement was quickly overshadowed by the realization that they were now responsible for making 400 bagels from their home. The two would sometimes stay up until 4 a.m. making cream cheese and “seeding” the partially baked bagels with the appropriate seasonings before finishing them off in the oven. “And every morning,” Omar says, “Jamie would give me a paper route and I’d go out delivering bagels like Santa Claus.”
It didn’t take long for the pair to outgrow their home kitchen. As interest and orders continued to climb, cases of bagels from New York turned into pallets of cases of bagels, with upward of 3,000 bagels coming in each delivery from New York. A week before Christmas in 2020, Omar and Jamie opened their food truck with an expanded menu featuring sandwiches that pay homage to both New York and Laredo. The next year, they opened a brick-and-mortar shop at the historic Rialto Hotel in downtown Laredo and a kiosk at Laredo College.
Permanent menu items at Gateway include The Soho, made of turkey, egg, cheese, and avocado; and The Big Poppa, stuffed with bacon and roasted serranos. Savvy customers keep track of the business on social media for pop-up items like barbacoa, brisket, and pulled pork bagel sandwiches. “I’d go crazy just doing bacon, egg, and cheese all day, every day,” Omar says. “No way.”
Not that the two have any problem shaking things up. In January, Omar and Jamie decided to end their residency at the Rialto to open a drive-thru restaurant. Customers, they realized, prefer their chorizo bagel sandwiches on the go. Omar is hopeful the new shop will be open by the end of the year, while visions of franchise opportunities loom in the future.
And for good reason. Gateway’s culinary impact has already traveled north. Jamie recounts a meeting with some college students in San Antonio who were from Laredo. They lamented that returning home meant more limited food options but cited one standout. “Right now,” they said, “the best things about Laredo are the bagels.”


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A spokesman from the manufacturer of the fresh-breath mints explained to the Guardian: “The dome has received a lot of press attention on what the hell to do with it. While the government decides, we thought we would take the opportunity to create the largest advert in the world.”
Smint, who applied to Greenwich council last month for the use of the building, believes that spending £1m on the campaign will be good value for money.
But who will see the ad? “About 30m airline passenger a year fly over the dome and would be able to see our ad, depending on which side of the plane they sat,” explained the spokesman. “You could even see it from space.”
For consumers mulling the surrealist credentials of such an advertising coup, it may be noted that Smint’s parent company is the Spanish confectioner Chupa Chups, whose logo was designed by artist Salvador Dali.
To view related research reports, please follow the links below:-


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General Motors reported a Q1 2010 profit of $865 million, its first profit in three years, today. GM paid back $8.2 billion in loans from the US and Canadian governments last month. The automaker is still 61% owned by the US Treasury, but expects to buy it out later this year when it goes public again. The New York Times has more:
G.M. has been able to improve its performance even as industry sales remain weak largely because it shed a significant amount of its debt during the six weeks it spent in bankruptcy protection starting in June 2009.
From July to December, G.M. lost $4.3 billion, mostly because of the cost of settling with the United Automobile Workers union over retiree health benefits, but it had positive cash flow of $1 billion. Prior to bankruptcy, G.M. was rapidly depleting its cash reserves and could have run out of money within months had the government not stepped in.
G.M. said revenue was up 40 percent, to $31.5 billion, and it had positive cash flow of $1 billion.
The results show that G.M. is on track to become a public company again as soon as the fourth quarter, allowing the government to recover more of the billions of dollars it spent preventing G.M.’s collapse.
BusinessWeek has a good overview of GM’s loan repayment:
…the majority of the government’s $50 billion investment is tied up in the Treasury’s 61% ownership in the company…GM won’t be able to pay the remaining $40 billion of the government’s investment until the company launches its planned initial public stock offering, which could happen in the fourth quarter. The $8.4 billion was just the debt portion.
The other critical point is that the $50 billion investment in GM was, in retrospect, more than the company needed. The Treasury Department gave GM a big slug of cash in case there was a double dip in the recession or if wary consumers really fled the company’s brands. As the car market got a boost and some of GM’s new models sold well, it was clear that GM didn’t need all of that cash. So GM just paid back the $8.4 billion in debt with government money.
In GM’s case, profit equates to cleverly pushing money around. GM, it seems, is once again gaining traction in the public mind. If that happens, GM has a better chance of basing its profits on more traditional means gaining even more sales–once it goes public again later this year.


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While crowded malls and long lines may not be in the cards this year, the holiday season is still a critical time for retailers. Merchants can take a proactive approach to sales by embracing digital payment options, flexible payments, and more.
PayPal CEO Dan Schulman recently hosted a discussion with Alphonso David, the first person of color and first civil rights lawyer to serve as President of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the world. In the conversation Alphonso discussed getting people invested in the struggle for equality—a goal that is increasingly relevant in today’s times.
Research and Insights
Several weeks after Schulman spoke to Porter, Congressman Lewis passed away at the age of 80. The release of this episode serves as a reminder of the impact of Lewis’ work and the legacy he left behind.
Bridgett Jeffries, owner of Café Wakefern, at her home-based dog daycare and boarding business in Columbus, Ohio. Bridgett Jeffries has dedicated her life to caring for other people’s furry...
In typical times, merchants play an important role in making the back-to-school experience simpler and less stressful for parents. Now, they have an even bigger opportunity to help shoppers navigate this tricky time of year. With such an unusual back-to-school season on the horizon, here’s what merchants need to keep in mind.
In a recent #NeverStandStill conversation, Phoenix Mercury basketball player Diana Taurasi spoke to PayPal CEO Dan Schulman virtually from the WNBA’s “bubble,” where she and other players...
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Supermarket video retailers have the opportunity to capitalize on the summer Olympics, which begin July 19, with a wave of tie-in releases to bolster what has been a lagging sports segment.
"The Olympics are always a big issue, and something that people are interested in," said Jamie Molitor, director of video operations at Dierbergs Markets, Chesterfield, Mo. Dierbergs will carry a few of the Olympic tapes in its 14 stores.
Included in the pre-Olympic releases is "Olympica: America's Gold," which was released by ABC Video, Stamford, Conn., March 13. The two-volume set presents Gold Medal winning performances of America's legendary Olympians like Carl Lewis, Bruce Jenner, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mary Lou Retton and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Next month, Turner Home Entertainment, Atlanta, will release a double-tape set, "100 Years of Olympic Glory," and a single tape, "America's Greatest Olympians." The latter release will include a traditional video rebate promotional tie-in with Hanes Her Way products, and a commemorative Olympic pin from Panasonic. Other Olympic-themed titles include "Golden Moments in U.S. Olympic History," due out May 7, from PolyGram Video, New York, and an animated children's title, "Animalympics," that UAV Entertainment, Fort Mill, S.C., will release May 1.
But even the Olympics can be a hard sell at supermarkets, retailers said. While many supermarkets that currently sell or rent sports videos will handle some of the Olympic tapes, others fear oversaturation of the marketplace. Raley's, West Sacramento, Calif., carries a variety of sports bloopers and training tapes for both sale and rental, but doesn't plan on stocking the Olympic tapes, said Dan Black, video buyer.
He said the live television broadcasts of the Olympics will create competition with video sales and rentals. "The Olympics are in the United States this year and won't be on a time delay," he pointed out.
Along with Olympic videos, other sports titles are coming to the market. CBS/Fox Video Sports, New York, plans two Olympic basketball videos: "Dream Team '96 Goes for the Gold," due out June 4, and "USA Basketball Olympic Highlights '96," to be released Sept. 3. As the National Basketball Association playoffs approach, other basketball tapes also will be available from CBS, including "Michael Jordan: Above & Beyond" and "Grant Hill: NBA Sensation," due out May 7, and "The Official 1996 NBA Finals Video," which will street July 23. Another CBS/Fox title, "Back on Top -- Cats!: The Official 1996 NCAA Championship Video," came out April 19. A professional hockey tape, "Ice and Asphalt: The World of Hockey," is being released by Paramount Home Video, Hollywood, tomorrow.
Memories of last year's strike are dimming and baseball titles are finding new sales potential, particularly in the home markets of various teams and players. New official Major League Baseball tapes being released by Orion Home Video, Los Angeles, April 30 are "Dodgers On-Line" and "No Place Like Home: The Story of the 1995 Colorado Rockies." Other key baseball videos are "Ken Griffey Jr.: Adventures in Baseball," from ABC Video, streeting May 31, and the Oscar-nominated documentary, "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream," released by Turner March 25. Meanwhile, local highlight tapes like "Atlanta Braves 1995: Braves Win . . . It All!" from Turner, and the official World Series video from Orion, Los Angeles, continue to do well as the new season gets going, according to industry observers, particularly in Atlanta. Orion's "Cleveland Rocks," about the 1995 Indians, has been a big seller for northeast Ohio chains like Riser Foods, Bedford Heights; Finast, Maple Heights, and Buehler Food Markets, Wooster. Retailers are hoping the new slate of titles will increase interest in the category, saying sales currently aren't meeting their expectations.
"Sports tapes, in general, don't do too well here," said Molitor of Dierbergs. "They do OK as new releases, but once you put them in the catalog, they don't move too much." But others think that new titles, especially those involving the Olympics, can help change that. Some expect that the preponderance of Olympic programming on television will help ignite sales.
"The Olympics will generate interest in Olympic videos," said Bob Glish, vice president of operations at NDC/Mega Marts, Oak Creek, Wis.
"And they're going to need that interest for them to rent or sell," he added. He regularly carries a few sports tapes, mostly bloopers and highlights, for both sale and rental.
Goff Food Stores, Haslett, Mich., doesn't have room for sports or Olympic videos, said Shirley Decker, video buyer. "We've tried them in the past, and we can't give them away," said Decker.
One of the major difficulties is that sports videos that feature football, baseball and other teams typically only have regional appeal.
"If the 49ers have a good year, the tapes do well in California. But people in Cleveland don't want to see the Atlanta Braves win the World Series," said Bill Bryant, assistant vice president of Ingram Entertainment, La Vergne, Tenn.
"Sports videos are consistent sellers in their own niche, but we haven't seen any explosive growth in the category and don't anticipate any dramatic change," Bryant said.
Tom Fraley, video coordinator at Homeland Stores, Oklahoma City, carries a few golf and football tapes for rental but doesn't have a section devoted to sports. "Sports tapes do marginally well here. We're looking into carrying the Olympics and we'll try to find a place for them, certainly for rental and, if we have the space, for sale," he said.
Space is a consideration for most supermarket video buyers. "Sports tapes are something we don't and won't carry," said Robert Dodge, video supervisor of Inserra Supermarkets, Mahwah, N.J. "We decided to pass on the Olympics, mainly because we don't have the space, but also because there's a lot of sell-through coming out this quarter."
WaxWorks Video Works, Owensboro, Ky., which supplies tapes to several grocery chains in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, also finds sports tapes challenging. "We're trying to put together a [sales] package of Olympic tapes from different studios, and our challenge is incorporating them in one [display] location," said Kirk Kirkpatrick, vice president of sales. "The different studios don't want to include the others." WaxWorks is one of the few companies that will do some special signs for retailers, trying to incorporate and ride on the coattails of the Olympics. "Although I believe there will be some lasting interest in the Olympic tapes, people will see some Olympic events and also want to see others. There's so much of it on television that we see it as a challenge or competition as well as an opportunity," he said.
Bob Tollini, senior vice president of Major Video Concepts, Indianapolis, said that the three-week Olympic event will hurt video rental. "Absolutely, the Olympics are competition to rental," he said, "and they'll win!" Major Video Concepts distributes to thousands of stores nationally. "The Olympics will win to some extent," Tollini continued. "People will watch the Olympics like they watched the Gulf War. They'll get hooked and, if they get hooked, they don't rent."
Kirkpatrick of WaxWorks pointed out that supermarkets typically have more success with hit theatrical titles. "I'm not suggesting that there's not a market for the Olympic tapes, but a lot of that market will be saturated by the free TV that is available," he said.
The timeliness and news value of the Olympics works both to attract and distract views. Although John C. Groub Co., Seymour, Ind., doesn't carry any sports videos, it will carry some Olympic tapes.
"If there's something timely and consistent with what's happening from a current events standpoint, we normally participate," said Carl Lange, director of merchandising.
Olympic fever can cause a surge in pre- and post-Olympic video collecting by creating household names and overnight sensations. "That's what happened with Torville and Dean, the skaters," said Tollini of Major Video Concepts. "That tape did OK. No one had ever heard of them, but after the Olympics, people came in to buy their tape."


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Posts tagged: auto dealers
The price of gas continues rising and the busiest driving season is a few months away.
The Associated Press reports the average price of gas in Washington has reached $3.88 per gallon of regular gas.
Prices quoted rely on a AAA auto club survey of stations and dealers across the state. The $3.88 figure is 6 cents more than last week and 24 cents up from a month ago.
And it's 11 cents higher than the national average.
The AP reports these average prices for cities:
Gas prices in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene show no sign of retreating. The price per gallon of regular jumped three cents in both cities from Monday to Tuesday.
From Tuesday to Wednesday the price jumped another three cents, on average, in Spokane.
That would be from $3.21 to $3.24 per gallon of regular, according to data found on GasBuddy.com.
Not surprising, you're going to find an increasing number of apps and tools to help find the best prices in your location.
We've found five which are either free or cost very little: GasBuddy's own smartphone app; iGasUp, which uses data from Oil Price Information Service (OPIS); something called GasBook; an app called Poynt (which does more than gas pricing); and an iPhone only app called Local Gas Prices.
Today's Spokesman Review story on the rise in gas prices indicates people are concerned enough to cut down on travel trips or use less expensive means of transport.
One follow-up received here came from LeaseTrader.com, a site to help companies finding or leasing vehicles.
Their comment on the impact of higher prices has two points to make:
—Based off 2008 modeling, LeaseTrader.com believes drivers won't take specific action (reduced gas consumption, exiting lease contracts) until gas reaches $4 per gallon.


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Last month, on January 30 at the initiative of our Polish partner DTS, we had the opportunity to speak at the TVP* Academy, in Warsaw. The main objective of the meeting was a presentation of ATEME, its new products and evolution to TVP technical employees.
Up to now, our partner DTS gave presentations of ATEME devices on its premises and in general to people interested in a specific topic. This time, it was different. Wiling to present ATEME’s devices to a wider group of people, Stanislaw and Krzysztof Lubinscy, owners of DTS, prepared a workshop dedicated to TVP. The proposal was welcomed with enthusiasm, and many attendees from TVP and Polish Radio spent half a day learning about ATEME and its technology.
ATEME was represented by Xavier Gentric, Northern Europe Sales Manager in charge of Poland. He started with a general introduction on ATEME, followed by a presentation of ATEME’s state of the art in video compression technology: new codec around the corner, Ultra HD trends, contribution and OTT news. Many questions were raised about HEVC, DVB-S3, OTT with a 4K hot topics. When asked about ATEME strategy in Poland Xavier Gentric said:
“We are going to face a new wave of innovations in technology, namely HEVC, this new codec would be required by the industry to enable the introduction of 4K and better multiscreen offer. The Polish market is dynamic, it was a pioneer in the satellite, IPTV and OTT field, significant investments have been made in the past 15 years, so it is natural that ATEME would like to be considered as a leader in terms of technical expertise”.
It was a very interesting workshop from many perspectives, academic study, future trends, new applications, impacts on TVP, and we would like to express our genuine gratitude to DTS for making it happen !
*TVP-Telewizja Polska S.A., the only public broadcaster in Poland, is broadcasting 13 channels among which 9 in DTT.


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Amazon to Open Bookstore in Nashville
Amazon may have abandoned plans for bookstores in Denver, Atlanta, and Boise last year, but they haven’t given up on the concept. Geekwire reports that Amazon plans to open a bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee.
The location is not listed on the Amazon Books page on Amazon.com, but Amazon Retail is hiring for a store in Nashville, and a local Nashville source reported that the bookstore will occupy a 4,600-square-foot space at the Mall at Green Hills. The store will be located in suite 216, but the mall has made it difficult to tell exactly where that is located.
The opening date has not been announced.
The first Amazon Books opened in Seattle’s University Village Mall in 2015. Eighteen additional stores have opened in the four years since, and now a 20th store is in the works.
I have to say I am surprised; when I reported on the three abandoned Amazon Books locations last December, I really thought that they indicated that Amazon had changed its retail strategies. Books are not a high margin niche, so it would have made a lot of sense for Amazon to choose a more profitable use for their retail locations.
Clearly my Magic 8 Ball is not to be trusted.
Amazon was not queried before this post was written; they have made it clear they do not want to respond to my emails, so I have stopped sending them.


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Smoltek Nanotech Holding AB (“Smoltek”) announces that the Group company Smoltek Semi AB (“Smoltek Semi”) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a global manufacturer of capacitors for the joint development of Smoltek’s ultra-thin CMF-MIM capacitors and, provided that the development goals are achieved, mass production and sales via a 50/50-owned joint venture.
The MoU that the two parties have now signed relates to the joint development of a capacitor product and the industrial mass production process for Smoltek’s patented, ultra-thin carbon nanofiber (CNF-MIM) capacitors. The initial part of the project will be defined in a Joint Development Agreement (JDA), where 1.5 million USD will be paid to Smoltek Semi for continued development work when the development agreement has been signed. The MoU also refers to the potential formation of a 50/50-owned joint venture which, if it is formed, will receive a license for mass production and sales of CNF-MIM capacitors in the discrete capacitors segment. The capacitor manufacturer has, in the event of the joint venture being formed, undertaken to take responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the planned joint venture, as well as to invest a total of 3.5 million USD in the development project, of which 1.5 million USD will be paid to Smoltek Semi when the planned Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for the initial part of the project has been signed.
Smoltek Semi has been collaborating with a global manufacturer of passive components for the evaluation of Smoltek’s patented technology platform, which enables manufacturing of ultra-thin carbon nanofiber capacitors, since 2020. The evaluation license agreement for this collaboration has been gradually extended, most recently to the end of June 2022, with the purpose to reach an agreement on the terms of the MoU which has now been signed.
The MoU means that Smoltek Semi and the capacitor manufacturer have now agreed on the overall terms and initial financing to bring Smoltek’s patented CNF-MIM technology for ultra-thin capacitors to market in the discrete capacitors segment, and to mass-produce and sell these capacitors via a 50/50-owned joint venture.
“This agreement with a global capacitor manufacturer is a historic milestone for Smoltek. We now have a perfect partner in place to complete a competitive product and industrial mass production process for our ultra-thin CNF-MIM capacitors. Given that we succeed in this, the joint venture that we plan to start will have excellent conditions to take a significant share of the market for decoupling capacitors by utilizing our partner’s established network in the semiconductor industry. I am very proud of Smoltek’s entire team that has made it possible to take such an important step closer to our goal of becoming an innovative industrial company based on our patented nanotechnology platform,” says Smoltek’s CEO Håkan Persson.
More about the MoU and the way forward
The MoU defines two phases, of which Phase 1 begins after negotiations and signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) which will regulate the parties’ responsibilities and commitments. The JDA is expected to be signed in the near future and Phase 1 is expected to be completed during the second half of 2023.
Phase 1 includes product development and industrial process development for discrete CNF-MIM capacitors. The capacitor manufacturer will invest 1.5 million USD at the start of phase 1, while Smoltek Semi’s corresponding investment consists of the carbon growth machine which the company has ordered, as communicated in a press release on March 21 2022, as well as product development and process development at the contract manufacturer.
Phase 2 will begin when a number of predetermined conditions for the performance of the discrete CNF-MIM capacitors have been met. During phase 2, Smoltek Semi and the manufacturer plan to form a joint venture, with each party owning 50 percent. According to the MoU, this joint venture will receive a license from Smoltek for mass production and sales of discrete CNF-MIM capacitors. Commercial and financial terms for the license will be negotiated and decided in connection with the formation of the joint venture. The manufacturer undertakes to initially invest 1.5 million USD in the joint venture, and approximately an additional 0.5 million USD related to production equipment. Smoltek Semi’s corresponding commitment to invest in the joint venture consists of additional investments in production equipment for industrial carbon growth and additional investments in process development. Given that the joint venture is formed, the parties will negotiate regarding additional financing and terms related to running the operating company, as well as the terms for the license mentioned above.
Smoltek’s targets for 2027 for the company’s ultra-thin capacitors
The MoU with a global manufacturer of capacitors is in line with the company’s strategic goals for 2027, as well as the phases and interim goals that remain to achieve these goals, as described in a press release published on May 5, 2022. Smoltek recommends stakeholders who want more information about the company’s overall development from an innovation company to an innovation-driven industrial company to read this press release.


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Ringo Mobile to enter Senegalese market, reports Leral.net.
Ringo Mobile will launch Ringo Africa to target members of the African diaspora, numbering in the millions, who wish to stay affordably in permanent touch with their families abroad.
Senegal is Ringo’s first international market. The company aims to have 100,000 customers by the end of the year in Senegal. It will then expand to Spain, Greece and France, which have large African communities.
Ringo Mobile launched in summer 2015, and claims to be the first operator exclusively addressing foreigners’ phone needs. After 5 months of operations, Ringo Mobile has 26,000 customers in total, 4,800 of whom are in Senegal.
Source: MVNO Dynamics 4 February 2016


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SM partners with DA, Resto PH to support local farmers
In a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Resto PH, SM Supermalls has shown its support for Filipino farmers and restaurants that have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
The joint project called Farmers’ Produce offered mallgoers a farm-to-table experience from July 3 to 5 at the SM Aura Premier Skypark Lawn
It was just the beginning for SM malls nationwide selling local produce to help jumpstart the country’s agriculture and restaurant industry, which includes vegetables, fruits, herbs and seedlings, dairy products, condiments and seasonings, local drinks and meat products.
“Many individuals and businesses have felt the economic impact of the current pandemic. This project allows our shoppers to enjoy fresh and organic products, while helping farmers, small communities and local restaurants get back on their feet as the country adapts to the new normal,” SM Supermalls President Steven Tan said.
Resto PH, an association of restaurant owners, also sold special menu items using the local products at the launch. Resto PH and Mango Tree Restaurants president Eric Teng and Icebergs owner Bambi Del Rosario-Young said restaurants are a big buying block of the produce to help local farmers who have been unable to sell their harvests the past few months due to lockdown.
Mango Tree Bistro chefs created new dishes using local produce, while Icebergs prepared their special desserts with fruits and other ingredients sourced from the farmers. Mamou, Genki Sushi, King Chef, Scouts Honor, Pizza Express, and Monga also joined the event.
Farmers’ Produce is part of the government’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Program, the flagship market development program of DA.
Visit www.smsupermalls.com for more information or follow SM Supermalls on all social media platforms @smsupermalls for latest updates.


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This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.
Tesla claims there was not a solution available to them, so they had to make their own chips for self-driving cars.
Today Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) announced their in-house designed chips have been installed in Model S and Model X since March and are now being used for the Model 3 vehicles. CEO Elon Musk claims their in-house chip is much faster than the competing NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) solution they were using. The chip is being manufactured by Samsung in Austin, Texas.
We will have another article detailing the chips in more detail by our hardware section; the below article will be about the financial implications of the announcements from Tesla today.
Update: NVIDIA has claimed that Tesla’s comparison is not accurate with a statement they provided to MarketWatch claiming their comparison was against NVIDIA’s Xavier which is designed for driver assisted technology and offers 30 TOPS Tesla’s claimed it offered 21. They claimed a more accurate comparison for fully autonomous driving would be against their Drive AGX Pegasus which offers 320 TOPS, Tesla’s custom chip offers 144 TOPS of processing.
The Immediate Impact
We have been reporting for years that Tesla would be building their own custom chips since they hired Jim Keller in 2016 and licensing IP from AMD. These chips being already in the cars would mean an immediate drop in orders from NVIDIA, at over 5000 cars a week the revenue will be missed. This move provides Tesla with more flexibility in how they control their network and self-driving mechanisms while also reducing the costs to make the vehicles, aiding the companies goal of lowering manufacturing cost for the Model 3.
If the claims that Musk made are true about the chip and network’s ability with regulatory approval possible for 2020, it also opens the company up to licensing their technology out. At the beginning of the broadcast, Musk challenged competitors to reverse engineer their system and said he would hire anyone who could. Tesla has previously had a policy of giving away their patents but didn’t specify if this would transfer over from their chip design division as well claiming they filed 12 patents on the chip. If the chip and network are truly as revolutionary as they claim they could create a monopoly in the market.
Tesla's Robotaxi Could Change the Entire Auto Industry
The news of the chip development along with the neural network, and software from Telsa will enable autonomous driving at Level 5 musk claims. Level 5, is where the machine is fully capable and is commonly known as “steering wheel optional”. Once regulatory approval fully autonomous driving for their fleet occurs in regions Tesla plans to offer their network of ridesharing vehicles with a mix of vehicles that owners will rent out to Tesla, and where demand permits Tesla owned vehicles.
Tesla claims their cost per mile would be roughly $0.18, which is far below what any other company would be able to offer when you consider Uber and Lyft have yet to make a profit meaning if approval comes through for Tesla both ridesharing companies would be in serious trouble. Uber has its own division working on autonomous vehicles but has not provided much information about how the development has been going, Lyft has a partnership with Google-owned Waymo.
The Robotaxi fleet is a smart move from Tesla from a financial standpoint for many reasons. The first is that it will cost Tesla very little upfront and will generate revenue. They estimate that in the first year it will be cash flow neutral and in the following years be “extremely cash flow positive”. The second reason is that when purchasing a Tesla, you agree to only operate it on the Tesla network, which means that unless there is a driver in the vehicle, it cannot be used by another ride-sharing program, which will be important in the long term. The third reason is that it is essentially being financed by Tesla owners (which is excellent news for a company that has had trouble getting capital in the past), and generates profit for the owners. Musk claims the NPV (Net Present Value) of the Model 3 on the Robotaxi network would be $200,000. The final piece to the puzzle for Tesla is batteries, and Musk claimed the batteries that will ship next year will have a million miles of longevity, which he claimed the rest of the car already has.
If their chip and network perform as claimed and regulatory approval is given, it is not hard to see Tesla as one of the most valuable car company in the world. Tesla is currently the 7th most valuable due to a stock fall over the last year, worth $45 billion, or about one-fourth of Toyota(TYO:7203). Analysts are claiming that Uber is seeking a valuation of around $100 billion in their S-1 filing, with their IPO coming very soon, and Tesla could be competing with them as early as 2020; although Tesla does have a history of promising aggressive timelines and not being able to meet them easily.


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President Barack Obama, stung by efforts to drag health care across the finish line, is taking a more hands-on approach to revamping financial regulation at its outset, drafting legislative language, mounting political pressure on Republicans and trying to control the terms of the debate.
Mr. Obama will ratchet up the pressure with a high-stakes appearance on Wall Street, according to Democratic officials. "The president is expected to discuss the need for Wall Street reform outside of Washington in the coming weeks," said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, declining to comment further.
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Save 15% or more from Best Buy deal of the Day


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Huawei might be bringing in the HUAWEI Mate20 X after all. Despite the official announcement stating that Singapore will not be getting it, many fans in Singapore are still asking about it.
This massive phone seems like a hot favorite. Recently, I got to know that Huawei might have the intention to bring it to Singapore. And yesterday, on Huawei’s Facebook page, it posted a poster with “SOMETHING BIGGER IS COMING”.
My speculation is, of course, the Mate20 X. And on their description, it says:
Think bigger, think better, think smarter.
A grand surprise is coming your way on Monday so stay tuned for more exciting news!
Hopefully, I can get the official news on Monday. If you want to know more about the 7.2-inch, 5,000mAh capacity HUAWEI Mate20 X, check out my post.
I guess some will be very upset by the news (if it is true). As it was officially announced that Singapore will not be getting the Mate20 X, some might have bought the Mate20 or Mate20 Pro. Now, if Mate20 X is available, I am sure they will “jump”.
According to my understanding, the pricing might be between the Mate20 and Mate20 Pro. Please wait for the official announcement.


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Old Navy president Tom Wyatt has resigned to enter the education field, Gap Inc. said Thursday.
This story first appeared in the January 20, 2012 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
Wyatt will become chief executive officer of Knowledge Universe in Portland, Ore., the parent company of the KinderCare, Champions, Knowledge Beginnings and Cambridge schools and The Grove School, which provide early learning and school-age programs around the country.
His departure means Gap has another big spot to fill. The retailer is seeking a new head of Gap Adult design, which was previously held by designer Patrick Robinson, who was involved in a broad spectrum of categories until being ousted last year.
Searches are under way for both jobs. In the interim at Old Navy, two executive vice presidents, Nancy Green, chief creative officer, and Tom Sands, who runs stores and operations, will lead the business, which has not been performing well. Comparable-store sales were down 4, 7 and 9 percent in December, November and October, respectively. Still, Wyatt is credited with leading efforts to remodel stores, develop the SuperModelquin marketing campaign and lay groundwork for an international expansion. “This was probably one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make,” Wyatt said. “An opportunity came my way that allows me to devote myself to helping children get the education they deserve.”
Sources said Gap has been on an ongoing, aggressive hunt for talent for a range of jobs in merchandising and other creative areas, including contacting former Gap executives with good track records. One of its alumni, Tracy Gardner, has been tapped for Gap’s Global Creative Center in New York. Beginning Monday, Gardner will be working alongside Pam Wallack, executive vice president, and the rest of the team, in an effort to improve the product and help turn around the retailer’s sagging women’s business. “She is joining us in an advisory capacity and will provide oversight and guidance on the development of our women’s product,” said Gap spokeswoman Louise Callagy. “They will begin working on developing holiday product for 2012.”
Gardner is not considered a successor to Robinson, since she is a merchandiser and not a designer. Yet sometimes executives who start in consulting roles eventually take permanent positions within a company. Gap had no comment on whether Gardner could eventually take on a bigger role.
Gardner has strong merchandising experience and is considered a solid tactical merchant, rather than someone who would set a new strategic course, though some retail analysts believe that’s exactly what Gap needs. Comparable-store sales at Gap stores in North America were negative 4, 2 and 5 percent in December, November and October, respectively. “This is a key positive for the company given women’s has been a struggling division for several years and could significantly benefit from Gardner’s input,” Jeffries & Co. said in a report Thursday.
Gardner was vice president of women’s merchandising at Gap’s Banana Republic division from 1998 to 2000; led Gap Adult Merchandising from 2001 to 2004 when the business was still on a growth curve, and became president of J. Crew Group in 2004 until leaving in 2010. Currently, she’s a partner and member of the board at social selling Web site StyleOwner. Gardner will be advising on Gap Adult product development, particularly women’s and accessories. Though the performance has not been good, Wallack said in an internal memo that “across global design, marketing and production, we’ve taken a number of steps to bring clarity, resources and focus to our work, and we’re making real progress.”
A year ago, Gap Inc. shook up its Gap North America division, naming Art Peck as president to succeed Marka Hansen. Also, the Gap Global Creative Center, located at 55 Thomas Street in New York’s TriBeCa, was formed. Wallack, who at the time was president of Gap Adult for North America, became executive vice president of the center, which houses design and product development teams as well as marketing, fashion public relations, fabric research and development, and technology services, to serve the Gap brand globally.
Wyatt, 56, joined Gap Inc. in 2006, held top jobs at the Gap Body and Outlet businesses, and became president of Old Navy in August 2008. He has long been passionate about education. “This chance to impact children’s lives through the power of education is an opportunity that presents itself once in a lifetime,” Wyatt said Thursday.


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Black Rock Shooter Black Blade ver. becomes official along with a new tease
Good Smile Company's Black Rock Shooter, who has recently been released, is now officially looking at her follow up, the 1/8 scale Black Rock Shooter Black Blade ver. We've seen this figure before a couple of times back at WonderFest in July and in August at Comiket. Details were scarce but that doesn't matter now as the Black Blade ver. is available for pre-order.
This is great news for those who missed out on pre-ordering Black Rock Shooter or were unable to squeeze a purchase in at her time of release. What makes this version different from the original Black Rock Shooter is, as the name says, will be trading her BFG for a black blade. She's also now stripping her coat to show you her ever slender figure. It's still a dramatic pose and much so an amazing figure.
Black Rock Shooter Black Blade ver. is retailing for 6,800 yen and is set for release in April, 2010. Pre-orders are available at AmiAmi and Hobby Search.
But that's not the only news. Figure/GK has a screen shot of what could possibly be the next Black Rock Shooter? Only time will tell.
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Taylor Swift Super Bowl ad accused of stealing its idea from a TikTok creator
What started as a feel good Super Bowl ad about Taylor Swift, has been marred by controversy, and now the company has responded. TikTok creator Sharon Mbabazi accused Cetaphil of stealing the idea for their commercial from her viral TikTok videos with her stepfather, which generated millions of views. When the skincare company caught wind of the backlash, it reached out and made things right with Sharon, according to an update they shared. Despite the act of remuneration, Cetaphil denies copying her specific videos, claiming that the idea came from the wider trend of more dads and daughters bonding over football this season, which, of course, all came from Taylor Swift.


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A new Street Fighter 5: Champion Edition stream is coming next week. Capcom has confirmed that the Spring Update stream will take place on April 6th at 3 PM PDT via YouTube, Facebook and Twitch. It will focus on upcoming characters like Rose and Oro will also providing updates on Season 5.
Season 5 was revealed in August 2020 and features new characters like Dan Hibiki, Rose, Oro, Akira Kazama from Rival Schools and a fifth mystery fighter. Dan was originally slated to release in Winter 2020 but got pushed back to February 2021. The livestream will likely reveal when characters like Rose and Oro can be expected.
We may also find out new details on Akira, who was originally slated to release in the Summer along with Oro. Stay tuned for more details next week. In the meantime, Capcom is also rumored to be working on Street Fighter 6 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One and PC. It was meant to release this year but faced delays due to development troubles (though things are now back on track under a new director).


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FRANCHISE group One Stop has recorded 16 consecutive quarters of growth.
The Tesco-owned franchise model, which launched in 2014, has improved like-for-like growth by 6.8% on average across its estate.
One Stop said its growth has been fuelled by its own label products, refreshed point of sale materials, and strong promotional concepts including a successful £3 meal deal.
Nigel Prendergast, head of marketing at One Stop, said: “The Own Label range is helping to drive positive LFLs across multiple categories and increasing franchisees’ margins, thanks to the breadth of range they can now stock.
Jonny McQuarrie, managing director, said: “One Stop Franchise offers independent retailers the opportunity to operate their own business within a proven and successful retail model.
“It empowers local retailers to grow their business and secure their future in a fast-changing and highly competitive environment.
“Our franchise model is fulfilling a real need for independent retailers and increasingly being seen as the way forward to remain competitive, profitable and successful.”


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Visitors can register now for Printwear & Promotion Live! 2019, which is being held on 20-22 January 2019, in Halls 17 and 18 at the NEC, Birmingham.
The organisers have announced that this year’s event will include an exciting new attraction – a skate ramp, sponsored by PAG Leisurewear. As well as the skateboarders and BMXers showcasing different garments on the ramp, there will also be a more traditional fashion show, sponsored by Regatta, and a bag and headwear decoration advice area sponsored by BagBase and Beechfield.
Alongside these features visitors will be able to view a wide variety of exhibitors drawn from both the garment and machinery side of the industry, showing new styles for 2019 and the latest models on the market.
Registration for Printwear & Promotion Live! 2019 is free via the show’s website.


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Farmer Len Burger points out the variety of pumpkins he has been able to grow during a difficult growing season on his Drums farm.Times Leader Staff Photo/S. John Wilkin
Adverse growing conditions this summer have resulted in smaller pumpkin harvests throughout the region, a factor that could reduce supplies at stores and increase prices.
Brian Campbell, who grows 220 acres of pumpkins in Columbia County, said the lack of rain in August occurred when pumpkin plants pollinate. A lack of rain prohibits pollination, which means fewer pumpkins in the field, he said.
“Because of that, we didn’t see the yield we normally do in the northeast,” Campbell said. “Pumpkins will be short on supply and they will cost maybe an extra dollar each.”
Drums farmer Len Burger planted 5 acres of pumpkins this summer to sell at his stand. They have a good shape and strong stems, he said, but like Campbell’s, Burger’s fields produced less this year.
The summer and early-fall weather represented some challenging conditions for pumpkin growers, Burger said.
“The dry spells in the summer kept the yield down a bit, and then we had wet weather. If you didn’t spray them, that dampness will bring blight and disease,” he said.
A supply shortage isn’t what Bill Sheehy, owner of Dundee Gardens in Hanover Township, wants to face this time of year.
Sheehy’s business sells an average of 35 tons of pumpkins every fall. Farmers from Williamsport to Plains Township supply Sheehy with pumpkins, and they all faced adverse growing conditions, he said.
Many of the farmers along the Susquehanna River lost their entire crop during the flood in June. Those on higher ground were faced with the dry August weather followed by extended periods of rain reduced their pumpkin production.
As a result, Sheehy is encouraging people to buy their pumpkins early.
“We expect a tremendous rush just before Halloween, and the selection might not be as good later on because the farmers pick their best pumpkins first,” Sheehy said. “All of our suppliers said the weather in the summer, contrary to last year, really cut into their crops.”
Sheehy has opened several of his refrigerated warehouses to store pumpkins, insuring he has enough for sale up until Halloween.
While some growers are faced with smaller harvests, Nescopeck Township farmer Harry Roinick Jr. is the exception to the rule.
On Roinick’s -- aptly named Pumpkin Hill -- his 11-acre pumpkin crop is not only bountiful, but large.
Large as in 40 to 70 pounds each.
“I’m having a hard time finding small and medium sizes. They’re all bigger than normal,” Roinick said. “I have no idea why.”


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Even though we are all grown up now and take life much more seriously than we used to do as kids on a playground, an enjoyable game still has a good chance of helping us reclaim our inner child.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts and prepare to land in the year 2020. The business climate at your destination is very favorable for the financial sector albeit certain challenges are expected from time to time. We wish you an enjoyable stay, that you contribute to the development of pioneering technologies, and victory in the competitive world of banking.
In association with Solanteq the Ukrainian company Alfa Insurance presented its customers mobile apps for the Android and iOS platforms, developed based on SOLAR Mobile.
Solanteq has successfully completed the EMV certification of SOLAR ACS and confirmed that it meets the requirements of 3-D Secure 2.1.
There is no doubt that the emergence of artificial intelligence has garnered considerable attention across society. And it has already had a major impact on our daily activities. The mysterious hidden algorithms that recognize which ads we will be interested in, scan our activity in social media and online shopping stores, and answer questions in chatbots are making our lives increasingly productive.
A two-day event was held on the topic: ‘The Cashless Economy: Towards Sustainable Banking’ in Baku, Azerbaijan on 6-7 November. Solanteq was the main sponsor of the event.
We all know that nowadays you don’t need to carry cash in the wallet to make a purchase. And thanks to mobile technologies people can now even leave their bank card at home. But what is really amazing is that now consumers don’t need to have a payment card at all, which brings never-before-possible convenience to clients.
Today it is hard to find a global bank that does not offer mobile banking services. And apps are no longer just a convenient way to check your balance, they are an integral part of the banking experience and highly valued by consumers.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is preparing to become the first major central bank to issue a digital version of its currency — the yuan, seeking to be abreast with and in control of an evolving economy.
The new cryptocurrency Libra was introduced by Facebook three months ago, on 18 June 2019. It is expected that the launch of the Libra at the global level will take place in the first quarter of 2020, and testing will begin at the end of 2019.
With the rapid pace of digitalisation and the constant growth of e-commerce, easy and instant cashless payments are becoming a must-have for consumers of financial services.
In the 1970s, when ABBA recorded their first album and when the second Walt Disney World began accepting visitors, another great achievement happened - the birth of the bulky magnetic stripe reader now known as a point of sale (POS) terminal.
On 17 July 2019 in Brussels, SWIFT – a member-owned cooperative that brings together more than 11,000 banking organizations, securities institutions and corporate clients, announced enhanced global payment innovation (gpi) for corporates.
Customers want banking to be fast, simple and affordable, providing seamless secure digital experiences across multiple channels. On the other hand, fraudsters are devising increasingly sophisticated tools and techniques, benefiting from the large quantity of breached identity data flooding the web.
3-D Secure 2.2.0 (3DS2) — the new authentication protocol for online card transactions — is a truly exciting and welcome innovation. 3-D Secure 2.2.0 is designed to improve on its predecessor by reforming the weak points of the previous protocol. This next version of the 3DS is created especially for friction reduction in the transaction process to help improve conversion.
Since the first Quick-Response (QR) code appeared in 1994 and until now no such visible bridge between the offline and online worlds has emerged. Those blocky black and white squares of digital information seemed destined to become a big thing, and they did. Nevertheless, the popularity of QR codes varies and they still have a mixed reputation around the world.
PASHA Bank, the largest private bank in Azerbaijan, has launched a loyalty program in partnership with Solanteq. Together with Turkish Airlines, the bank has introduced the PASHA Bank Miles&Smiles card. The rewards program is open to both customers of the bank and any individual.
On the best weekend of July, Captain Morgan Hotel was the venue for a conference and the center of a clash of oars with kayaking races sponsored by OnegoSurf and Work & Sport. In the evening, it turned into a lounge area with relaxing music, exquisite food from Frank and a wonderful view of the setting sun. The fifth anniversary of Solanteq offered a change of activity, and as you all know this makes for the perfect break!
Towards the effective implementation of the digital strategy and information system improvement, Ukrainian Vostok Bank and Solanteq signed an agreement for the launch of SOLAR Retail Banking - a modern processing product for all types of retail operations.
The payments industry has been, and will continue to be, one of the most dynamic areas of innovation in the banking industry. Banks and credit unions must anticipate consumer needs and innovate in ways that will prioritize the most effective mix of capabilities, processes and people.


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Thirty years ago, in the 1980s, close to 60% of the income of all Americans came from work. Today, this figure is barely over 50%. This numbers come from a wonderful study produced by Wells Fargo (you can find it here). Danielle Kurtzleben, at Vox, highlights this chart that explains were income is coming from now:
Surprised? Government transfers have increased its share five points, although the reason behind this is simple: demographics. There are many more Americans on social security now than 34 years ago, meaning that a higher share of income comes from the government, not from wages. This is part of a long term trend - and it is one of the few things that have contributed to the very modest rise in income for most Americans in the last few decades.
Of course, this graph doesn´t tell us much about how income is being distributed, and how it compares to the returns of capital. We discussed this last month, talking about inequality - more here. Spoiler alert: it is not pretty.
Krissy Clark, from Marketplace, and Andrew Bouvé, from Slate, have a look at what would happen if Wal Mart raised wages to its workers enough to make it a living wage:
Their conclusion: not a whole lot. Wal Mart would have to raise the hourly wage for its salaried employees to $13.63/hour, for a total cost of $4.8 billion annually. This might sound like a lot of money, and it is, but Wal Mart had a $17 billion profit last year alone, and that´s after spending $15 billion on stock buybacks to make its shareholders happy.
Even without reducing its profits one dime, the reports find that the retail chain would only have to raise prices on its stores by 1.4% to cover the increase in wages.
The video is part of a wonderful series from Marketplace, "The Secret Life of a Food Stamp", giving an in depth look on how companies like Wal Mart rely on public benefits both to make money and to pay workers low wages. Make sure to have a look.


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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has won its case against Valve as the Australian Federal Court today ruled the company is guilty of breaching consumer law. Specifically, the ruling relates to a suit filed in August 2014 where the ACCC took issue with Valve’s lack of a refund policy for Steam, which goes against guarantees set out in Australian Consumer Law.
Following the original suit, Valve implemented a refund policy where players were entitled to full refunds on products providing they were requested within 14 days of purchase and had played them for less than two hours. The new policy had no bearing on the case however, as determining whether Valve had been in breach of the law for the 10 years it had already been operating in Australia was the main point of contention.
Valve had previously defended their position by saying they don’t actually conduct any business in Australia, rather they provide access to an online storefront of video games through their Steam client software. This is despite the fact Steam charges a specific USD price for the Australian market.
The Federal Court was having none of that defense, with Justice Edelman delivering the judicial equivalent of “nah mate, nice try.” He ruled that Valve does indeed conduct business within Australia, and had published misleading language in the Steam Subscriber Agreement and Steam Refund Policy regarding consumers entitlement to refunds.
The ACCC were pleased with the court’s decision, with chairman Rod Sims saying the ruling sets a precedent that foreign businesses “selling goods and/or services to Australian consumers can be subject to Australian Consumer Law obligations, including the consumer guarantees.”
Sims also said the Federal Court’s decision is a landmark case as it is the first time they have expanded the legal definition of “goods” to include computer software.
Valve’s punishment has yet to be decided, but a hearing is scheduled for April 15 to determine any potential financial repercussions.


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Cold press juicing craze comes to D.C. area
Two pounds of organic produce in a little jar? Cold press juicing has come to Washington. It's popping up in grocery stores and coffee shops.
But what do they really do?
The press extracts more nutrients, vitamins, phyto nutrients out of the produce.
It’s a two-step process: There's grinding involved, similar to the way your teeth would grind down. And that pulp is pressed in a hydraulic press that applies two tons of pressure.
Business savvy entrepreneurs and companies are definitely taking advantage of this new fad.
It helps people who don't generally eat a lot of fruits and vegetables include them in their diet.
Ranging from $6 to $10, cold press juices may give some consumers sticker shock.
It's 100% organic, there's a lot of produce in each bottle, it's also bottled in glass.
It takes a lot of people to get that cooler filled with juice.
Most people don't complain about spending $10 on a martini, this is far better for you.
“I would love to do it every morning if i had the time,” says Kristy Clark. “I'll go to the store and I'll buy kale and spinach and beets - beets are expensive - and actually to make juice for me and my husband would about this.”


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Emily Cheung, Founder and CEO of Shake to Win, was interviewed by BBC two times in one month. About her perspectives and personal experience as a female entrepreneur in COVID-19.
In spite of a reduction of 6,8% in its economy, China is getting back on track after the strong measurements taken by the government due to the Covid-19 outbreak last December. Our CEO and Founder, Emily Cheung, participated in a BBC podcast as a young entrepreneur and a businesswoman based in Hong Kong, and she was asked to give her perspective in business living through the lockdown and now after the quarantine has started to lift in some areas in China.
In the interview, Emily described her action after arriving in China from Europe early this year, she says: “I gave my information to the authorities since I was arriving in the country from Europe. I voluntarily went on self-isolation, and twice a day, an AI machine called me to know my temperature and if I was all right” She felt the extreme measures were necessary to stop the pandemic from spreading and gave a good example of how to manage this type of crisis.
The BBC reporter asked to know the perspective of Emily regarding how the Chinese government was handling the situation for businesses, to which she answered: “The government announced measures to support different business sectors and it has been very effective in said support, they saw opportunities within the risky situations”, an optimistic declaration in front of the delicate situation many small and medium-sized businesses are facing in all around the globe.
In previous interviews, Emily has expressed her desire to use Shake to Win as a tool to create a community that could influence the tourism sector for the better, helping small and medium-size businesses to grow by connecting to the Chinese market. Emily has expressed how imagination and innovation are two very important aspects related to how she keeps her life evolving.
In a previous article, we mention that China is one-third of the main exporters of good in the world, next to EE. UU. and Europe, but experts in the economy are now saying that China has a very strong possibility of recovering economically for the second part of this year, especially since the country now relays on domestic consumption and investment more than in exportation of goods.
In front of indicators that show how some markets are reopening, innovation is key now more than ever. The United Nation Development Program, for instance, is making a global call for hardware and software developers, product designers, scientists, innovators and inventors to come together and help those who could be most affected by this pandemic.
The World Tourism Organization revised its 2020 prospects for international tourist arrivals to a negative growth of 1% to 3%, translating into an estimated loss of US$ 30 to 50 billion in international tourism receipts. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, UNWTO predicted a positive growth of 3% to 4% for this year. Shake to Win, as a Digital Marketing Company, aims to provide its services and its platform to boost the economy of the tourism sector by the creation of digital ecosystems that will attract the Independent Travelers from China into other countries.
China is definitely a market for growth in the coming months for the West. Innovation and financial commitments are key to ensure that tourism can lead wider economic and social recovery, as proven in past disruptions on the back of the highly resilient nature of the sector and its ability to bounce back strongly. We at STW always remember our vision of connecting the world through tourism and cultural experiences using technology, and since the worst part of the crisis is passing, but with the utmost respect for the terrible losses due to the pandemic, we now wish to expand our horizons and help connect businesses with the client in a sector that is our passion.
Check out the interview on here


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Travis Barker’s Musink Festival adds Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, more to lineup
2019 is going to be filled with music festivals, and we've got another one to add to your list.
Check out the lineup below!
MUSINK Festival, a music festival, tattoo convention and car show all in one, is set to span over the course of three days, March 8 through March 10, and it’s slated to be held at the OC Fair and Event Center in Southern California.
Of the upcoming festival, Travis Barker shared:
“Every year we have more and more fun and this year I’m excited to announce Suicidal Tendencies, Limp Bizkit, Fear, Hatebreed, Dead Kennedys, and more. Super stoked for all the fans to come out for a great time of music, cars, and tattoos.”
Special $ 79-weekend general admission tickets are currently available for purchase until Dec. 31 at 11:59 PM PT, while supplies last. All other tickets, including VIP passes, will go on sale this Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 AM PT.
For further information on the festival, and to purchase your tickets, you can go here!
Check out the daily lineup below!
View this post on Instagram
@TravisBarker presents the 12th Annual Musink March 8-10 2019 at the OC Fair & Event Center in #CostaMesa CA! 100’s of world famous tattoo artists, the return of the @LowAndSlowCarShow, and of course, an incredible music lineup. @limpbizkit, @SuicidalTendencies, @Ho99o9, @HatebreedOfficial, @FEARLeeVingOfficial, @SickOfItAllNYC, @Dead__Kennedys, @BleedingThrough, @TSOL_Official, @AllHailTheYeti, @AntiFlag, @VooDooGlowSkulls, Special Guests, and Travis Barker with a DJ / Drum set. #Musink2019 is going to epic! Tickets on sale this Friday at 10:00AM at musinkfest.com. We’ll see you all in Costa Mesa for one hell of a weekend! #MUSINK #LowAndSlowCarShow #2019 #OC #Music #Tattoos #Festival
See more: Riot Fest 2018 Live Photos
Watch more: Anti-Flag: Making Punk Personal