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The UAE and Saudi Arabia were the fourth and fifth biggest markets for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 2011, the luxury vehicle maker said on Monday.
The company revealed record sales results for 2011 with a total of 3,538 cars sold globally, a 31 percent increase on the 2010 total of 2,711 cars.
The figure represents the best sales result in the company's 107-year history; the previous record of 3,347 cars having been set in 1978 during the Silver Shadow II era.
Sales figures for the Middle East rose by 23 percent in the past year, the company said in a statement, adding that the UAE registered 32 percent growth.
Globally, China and the United States were the most significant individual markets for Rolls-Royce.
"We had an outstanding year in 2011 and we should take a moment to reflect on this Great British success story," said Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
"Our business is in excellent shape. We are developing our dealer network, moving into new markets like South America, expanding our manufacturing operation in West Sussex to meet global demand and have plans to develop our product range."
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Over the past couple of years, LG Electronics' operating profits have slowed, but earlier today the South Korean company revealed its expectations for the second quarter of the year, and thankfully it seems that the tech giant could record a two-year high in operating profits. However, despite the fact that LG was expecting the LG G5 flagship to boost sales figures in Q2 2016, it appears that the positive outcome is largely attributed to market niches other than LG's mobile division.
The LG G5 is, without a shadow of a doubt, a fairly unique smartphone, all thanks to its modular design which gives users the ability to attach different modules for a variety of purposes. In theory, this sounds like a great concept, but in reality, the LG G5 hasn't made much of an impact on the high-end smartphone market. According to HMC Investment analyst Greg Roh, the company managed to sell only 2.2 million LG G5 units during Q2 2016 "due to stiff competition". In light of these details, analysts believe that LG's mobile division is likely to have recorded a fifth consecutive operating loss throughout the second quarter of the year ending June. Furthermore, analyst Greg Roh expects the company's mobile division "to remain in the red" in the third quarter of the year.
Thankfully, while LG Electronics' mobile business doesn't seem to be doing too well, the company expects to reach a two-year high in operating profits throughout Q2, and revealed in a regulatory filing that its profits throughout April-June are likely to reach 585 billion Won (roughly $504 million). This would represent the highest quarterly profit registered by LG Electronics since Q2 2014, when the company topped 610 billion Won. This apparent success is largely attributed to LG's TV business. LG is the world's second-largest TV manufacturer following Samsung Electronics, and analysts believe that sporting events including the 2016 UEFA Champions League could have contributed to an increased demand (and sales) for both large-sized TV sets and more affordable alternatives. Additionally, LG's home appliances business is likely to have registered notable profits, according to analysts, who believe that the warm weather in certain regions may have increased demand for air conditioners. Either way, LG Electronics expects revenue for Q2 2016 to have increased by 0.5% to 14 trillion Won.

domain: news


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Apple is coming off a bad week
The problems began on Tuesday, when users running Apple’s macOS High Sierra operating system on their computers were informed that anyone with a Mac computer could gain system administrator access.
Apple’s attempt to fix the issue reportedly caused other problems that Apple appears to still be trying to handle.
Then, iPhone users on Saturday began to report that an iOS11 bug was making their phones crash. Apple issued a software update to fix the problem, but some users still said that the crashes were stopping them from accessing the upgrade.
CVS has agreed to buy health insurer Aetna for about $69 billion
The deal, which was announced Sunday, could shake up the healthcare industry. But why was it made?
Partly because of Amazon. The e-commerce giant is reportedly preparing to make an entry into the healthcare industry. In October, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that Amazon had received wholesale pharmacy licenses in at least 12 states.
Industry analysts previously said the CVS-Aetna deal was likely to happen because the health retailer was looking to make a strong move in the healthcare industry as it attempts to fend off Amazon.
Oracle is opening a $43 million public high school at its Redwood Shores, Calif. campus
The software services firm plans to use the campus to teach students business development, user experience design and other skills.
The school represents a push by large tech companies to increasingly influence the curriculum of public education while forming stronger relationships with students.
From The Wall Street Journal: A video of how drone delivery is saving lives in rural Rwanda
News on Open Source is free and unlimited. Access to the rest of 512tech.com comes with an American-Statesman digital subscription, which also includes myStatesman.com and the ePaper edition. Subscribe at statesman.com/subscribe.


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Flush with money from recent fund-raising efforts, India’s biggest online retailer Flipkart and rival Snapdeal are pulling out all stops this festive season to woo shoppers in a period that is crucial for them to justify, and possibly increase, their soaring valuations. The world’s largest retailer Amazon, meanwhile, is matching every step and promotional offers by local firms as it seeks to become the biggest player in India.
Flipkart on 6th Oct 2014 made an ambitious plan to unite a billion people through what they promise is going to be the greatest sale ever in India.Flipkart’s #BigBillionDay hash tag on Twitter was trending on the morning of 6th October but soon several other hashtags, criticizing the sale, like #Flopkart, #Failkart, #Fraudkart, etc started to catch up, as disappointed buyers took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction. Later in the day, it seemed Flipkart had earned more angry customers than satisfied ones from “The Big Billion Day” sale initiative.
Flipkart rivals Amazon India and Snapdeal have been mocking the company’s 6 October sale with campaigns of their own. Snapdeal on Monday ran a campaign with the tagline “For others it’s a big day. For us, today is no different.” Amazon has been running a sale from 4-6 October, calling it the “Mission to Mars” weekend.
Even as Flipkart drew curtains on its ‘Big Billion Day’ sale for the day, its rival amazon.in tried a novel way to own the catchphrase coined for the sale, to get users to their own site. When users typed bigbillionday.com in their browser, they landed on the amazon.in site and not on Flipkart, the online shopping site that declared its biggest online sale open at 8 am on Monday morning. Amazon also seemed to have bought the keyword flipkart for the day, as amazon advertisements appeared on pages that had the keyword flipkart. So every website that displayed Google ads, automatically got amazon ads to show up on pages that had the keyword flipkart.
Snapdeal, on the morning of 6th October had a full size ad in TOI saying that “For other’s it’s a big day, for us, today is no different. Check Snapdeal.com before you buy”. Masterstroke!
This change in buying habits of customers, who are now fast getting used to around-the-year discounts on e-commerce sites, is forcing offline retailers to react as well. Offline retailer are now forced to offer more and more discounts to the customer to keep them attracted. Although e-commerce accounts for less than 1% of the total retail market in India, it is by far the fastest growing retail channel. It is estimated to grow to as much as $22 billion (excluding travel) in five years from $3.1 billion currently, according to a November 2013 report by CLSA.
With so many big e-commerce players and their offline counterparts fighting it out for the customers attention, the Indian consumer is poised for a dhamaka diwali this year !


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This weekend the U.S. Marshals Service will auction off the single largest car collection the agency has ever offered at auction, "thanks" to the demise of DC Solar and the federal investigation and prosecution that stemmed from that case. The details of the case are a little complicated, with a number of defendants already having pleaded guilty to various charges while other individuals remain uncharged, but the gist is that the company was a startup that sought to lease mobile solar generators to various vendors and sought financing from investors to begin operations.
What happened between the start of the company and the seizure of some 149 cars is currently a matter of dispute in federal court, but in the meantime, one of the very real results of this case is the U.S. Marshals Service seized a large and surprisingly eclectic car collection that includes vehicles as mundane as Chevy Volts, but also about 10 classic Fiats, a bunch of Hummer H1s and a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am once owned by Burt Reynolds.
As far as collections go, it's hard to pin down an overarching theme in this one, but let's just say some items appear to have been impulse purchases, like a 1965 Plymouth Fury LAPD police car, while some sub-"themes" can be identified.
The dozen-ish vintage Fiats, for example, are one of the themes. The Mopars from the '60s and '70s are also a theme. The AM General Hummers are apparently another theme. We also counted at least a dozen Chevy Camaros of various vintages.


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PELLA, Iowa – The Easy-Slide Operator – Pella Corporation’s innovative, new hardware solution – has been named winner of the Best Window & Door Product category at the 2021 International Builders’ Show.
Produced in Murray, the recently launched hardware solution allows homeowners to open and close casement and awning windows by easily sliding the operator up to open and down to close the window, offering a much smoother operation and enhanced user experience.
“Delivering innovative products that bring modern technology and aesthetics to the window and door industry continues to be a focus for us,” said Nicolle Picray, brand communications and PR manager, Pella Corporation. “We are pleased this new product feature is being recognized by the industry and will continue to look for ways to enhance our product offerings.”
With more than two years of design development and consumer testing, Pella’s innovation team refined the Easy-Slid Operator to make the mechanism simple, smooth and durable. The Easy-Slide Operator has been tested to 20,000 cycles, which is the equivalent of opening your windows once per day for 54 years. The revolutionary window hardware was developed based on Universal Design Principles and is designed to be a solution for all people, regardless of their age or physical ability.
“Our team takes great pride in the products we manufacture here, and it is nice working for an industry-leading company that focuses on innovation and function in everything we develop,” said Greg Wyatt, plant manager of the Pella Murray location. “With the Easy-Slide Operator, Pella’s commitment to detail and enhanced customer use is apparent in every feature.”
The Easy-Slide Operator was selected by a panel of 18 industry and media judges, who carefully considered the product’s functionality, innovation, design and user-friendliness.
The Easy-Slide Operator is currently available on Pella Impervia fiberglass casement and awning windows, which are also manufactured in Murray. The company plans to expand the availability of Easy-Slide Operator to additional product lines in late 2021.


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The latest report by the purchasing managers index, from the Ulster Bank, has shown that there was a slight rise in business activity at the end of last year. However this rise was most likely down to a completion of outstanding business, rather than a burst of new business activity, so it would be wrong to get too excited about these new figures.
Northern Ireland’s figures for December were actually only beaten by London of the 12 UK regions, with manufacturing, retail and services all seeing a modest improvement. But construction continued its downward trend with a decrease in activity once again.
Growth In Private Sector For First Time In 6 Months
Richard Ramsey, chief economist for Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland, speaking about the report in an article in the Belfast Telegraph, said:
“Northern Ireland’s private sector returned to growth for the first time in six months in December.
“Retail and manufacturing joined services in expansion mode. Retailers saw a sharp rise in sales following seven successive months of decline.
“Manufacturers and services companies recorded more modest rates of growth while construction remains mired in recession. Construction output has fallen almost continuously over the last two-and-a-half years while new construction orders have been falling almost continuously for three years.”
New Demand Remains Weak
He went on to say that, although demand remains weak there is some quiet confidence within the private business community:
“New demand remains weak with order books shrinking for the seventh month running,” he said.
“Retail was the only one of the four sectors to record a pick-up in demand last month. Despite subdued demand, Northern Ireland’s private sector continued to increase staffing levels, albeit at its slowest pace in twelve months. Recruiting staff continues to present difficulties for firms.
“Manufacturers reduced their headcount for the second month running with December’s decline the sharpest in almost three years. This suggests some manufacturing firms are adjusting their business conditions to the reduced external demand.
“Inflationary pressures ended 2023 significantly below where they started the year. But there are signs of costs pressures ticking up again not least in terms of shipping costs with container ships being re-routed away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Supply-chain disruption could once again be a feature of the global economy in the year ahead. Higher wages were widely cited as a cost pressure in the latest survey while some firms mentioned increased material costs. Outside of construction, Northern Ireland’s private sector remains confident for growth in 2024. But concerns about the lack of government at Stormont remain.”


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BASF Opens New Plant For Metal-Complex Dyestuffs
Germany-based BASF inaugurated a new plant for the production of metal-complex dyestuffs at BASF Colorants and Chemicals Co. Ltd., China. The world-scale plant will supply the global market with non-textile dyestuffs, pigments for printing inks, and leather and textile chemicals.Dr. Walter Gramlich, president, BASF Colorants Division, said, The new metal dyestuff plant is part of the strategic development of our worldwide non-textile dyestuff business. Asia is the biggest market for our Neozapon® dyestuff ranges where we also expect the highest growth rates.Neozapon dyestuffs have a wide range of applications. They can be used for printing on plastics when high transparency is required, as well as fiber dyeing.Our plant will match the high BASF level of quality BASF has one more focus for the new metal- complex dyestuff plant: we meet local and international environmental standards, stated Dr. Udo Rheude, general manager of the Chinese facility.


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Have you been encountering way too many unskippable ads on YouTube? You’re not alone. PCMag: Oftentimes, YouTube only shows two ads before a video starts. But in recent weeks, some users on social media have reported seeing as many as five to eight or even 10 unskippable ads in a row. One user who encountered eight unskippable ads during a viewing said each ad was about five to 10 seconds in length. The high ad load is inevitably causing concerns YouTube will display more unskippable ads for all users in an effort to rake in more revenue. But the Google-owned platform told PCMag the sharp increase in the unskippable ads was merely a test.
“At YouTube, we’re focused on helping brands connect with audiences around the world, and we’re always testing new ways to surface ads that enhance the viewer experience,” a YouTube spokesperson says in a statement. “We ran a small experiment globally that served multiple ads in an ad pod when viewers watched longer videos on connected TVs. The goal is to build a better experience for viewers by reducing ad breaks.” In other words, the test was about showing the viewer more ads in the beginning of the YouTube video, rather than spacing them out. YouTube’s spokesperson adds: “We have concluded this small experiment.” But whether the platform will ramp up the unskippable ad rate in the future remains unclear.


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Police are hunting down a man after he was caught on camera allegedly testing out an artificial vagina toy.
The man can be seen in CCTV footage pulling down his pants in the store and trying a “fleshlight," a popular sex toy disguised as a torch. Stunned staff at the British store Simply Pleasure immediately reported the man to police, who are treating the case as indecent exposure.
“The man in question is believed to have entered the store and spoken to staff before going upstairs where he selected a product and used it whilst alone in the room,” a Devon and Cornwall police spokesperson said.
The man was then disturbed by a staff member and left the store without purchasing anything.
The incident occurred in July, though police have just begun to release information about the case. Authorities are asking that anyone who recognizes the man contact them with more information regarding his identity.


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January 24, 2024 – Following the global rollout of iOS 17.3, which introduced a slew of features including enhanced anti-theft protection, Apple is gearing up for an even more significant update with iOS 17.4. Rumors suggest that the tech giant could release the first beta version of this upcoming operating system this week.
The most anticipated aspect of iOS 17.4 is its potential support for app sideloading in Europe. This development comes in response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates that Apple must make changes to its platform by March 7th. Specifically, the company will be required to open up its ecosystem to third-party app stores and sideloading in Austria, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and other European nations.
Failure to comply with the DMA’s regulations could result in hefty fines for Apple, potentially amounting to up to 10% of its annual turnover. However, it seems unlikely that the company will extend sideloading capabilities to regions outside of Europe anytime soon. This reluctance is likely due to the significant revenue generated by the App Store through its so-called “Apple tax.”
In related news, Apple has also recently committed to opening up access to NFC technology in the European Union, a move that will allow third-party payment apps to utilize this functionality. This marks a significant departure from the company’s previous stance on NFC access and is another indication of the regulatory pressures it is facing.


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Microsoft has weighed in on this evening’s announcement, claiming that the agreement gives Google (NSDQ: GOOG) 90 percent of the online ad market, and thus makes the market “far less competitive.” So far, it doesn’t have an official strategic response, other than that it’s weighing its options. But it does deliver a key message to Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) shareholders: “Our proposal remains the only alternative put forward that offers Yahoo! shareholders full and fair value for their shares, gives every shareholder a vote on the future of the company, and enhances choice for content creators, advertisers, and consumers.” Basically, if you want to get paid for your shares, you’ll go with Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT). If you want to see the value of your holdings collapse, then sign an ad deal with Google and good luck going it alone. Full statement.
Meanwhile, this should be music to Microsoft’s ears: Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) has already released a statement expressing concern over the competitive implications of the agreement: “Following closely on the heels of Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick, this Google-Yahoo alliance would represent even further consolidation in the internet advertising market… We must ensure that this consolidation does not foreclose needed competition or harm consumers.” (via Reuters)


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In May, GM participated in its annual townhall meeting hosted by OESA. The message was clear from Jeff Morrison, GM Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Purchasing, and across all of the presentations, marketing promotions, and discussions that took place throughout the conference: “EVs for Everyone, Everywhere.” While GM is going all-in with their EV strategy, and this is nothing new, what was interesting and noteworthy was some of the early successes, roadblocks, and new market competitors that GM is now coming up against. These new vehicles making new names for themselves are also making some new waves in traditional marketplaces where GM is not a long-standing partner.
Early Successes with EVs
GM is on the record announcing during their first quarter 2023 earnings release that they are in the number two market position for EVs. With increased investment of $3 billion in a joint venture with Samsung's SDI battery cell program, and an investment of more than $1B in battery material maker POSCO Future M to expand the production capacity at their chemical battery materials facility in Canada, GM is securing the critical infrastructure needed to manufacture one million EVs by 2025.
Drive to Prime
But a bright future filled with EVs will require strategic partnerships and prime suppliers. It will not be business as usual for GM suppliers as Bill Venner, Executive Chief Engineer, detailed GM’s Ultium battery strategy and critical future vehicle developments. With the Ultium battery program in full effect, customers can expect a 40% reduction from Bolt EV battery costs and an overall reduction of 25% fewer parts.
Less parts means tighter margins for vehicle suppliers and raw material cost forgiveness – additional payments covering increases in raw material and operating costs will now become a relic. In 2022, GM supported roughly $5.5 billion in cost increases submitted by suppliers. This year they don’t expect to see this level as demand is cooling and supply pressures are not as severe. If you are a supplier looking for cost forgiveness this year you better have a compelling business case that brings significant value to the forefront of any of these discussions.
Charge It Up
As GM looks to advance its vehicle platform, questions still remain on how consumers will be able to capture the much needed electricity for these vehicles. For this power, Hoss Hassani, Vice President of Charging & Energy offered a unique perspective. There has become a collision of sorts within the automotive and energy landscape that is bringing a new competitive force to the market.
General Motors has historically been an automotive company and while they will remain in this industry, they are forging a new presence in the energy industry. This new presence is causing a level uncertainty amongst the typical energy powerhouses including Generac and solar partners. However, GM is committed to making EVs a reality for all. Citing that 90% of all EV charging occurs at home, GM will be launching the Ultium Home in November of this year. The Ultium Home Energy Management System allows you to create your own home microgrid for ultimate energy self-reliance. Additionally, multiple partnership efforts with Flying J and a new EVGO program will make charging available whenever and wherever you need it most.
While we all wait and see how many EVs can be manufactured, sustained, and accepted by humanity, the message is clear from General Motors. EVs for everyone, everywhere, and GM is prepared to make this a reality in the very near future.
To learn about manufacturing technology tailored for the automotive industry, visit Plex’s automotive page by clicking here.


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Now the chip shortage is starting to impact the agriculture industry in a big way. Experts say the shortage has already had an impact on the price of potato chips in the US and the UK. The shortage is expected to last at least two more years, and could cause the price of other food commodities to go up. The price of farming equipment is bound to skyrocket as well.
In fact, farm equipment manufacturers have already halted shipments to dealers. New combines, planters and tractors all rely on the chips. Hoosier Ag Today reports, "The biggest factor impacting the ability of US farmers to produce the food we need has nothing to do with the weather, the markets, trade, regulations, or disease. The worldwide shortage of computer chips will impact all aspects of agriculture for the next two years and beyond...”
One of the largest John Deere dealers in the country, Reynolds Farm Equipment, is currently turning customers away because specific equipment is unavailable and the order times are unknown. Farmers across Ohio and Indiana are being told to “plan ahead” due to a chip shortage that is causing shortages of everything from tillage to combines to ATVs. Bane Welker Equipment typically supplies Case farm equipment to Midwest farmers, but is unable to supply the basic equipment this year.
The lockdowns will cause many different problems with the economy and the food supply in the coming years. The technology enables farmers to produce higher crop yields, decrease water usage and properly distribute pesticides and fertilizers. If farmers aren’t able to get the equipment needed to do an efficient job, then the environment and the food prices are directly impacted. The federal government can usually cover up the problem with free bailout money, but this situation is unique.
The government cannot bailout out the agriculture industry to solve the chip shortage. The federal government will be unable to bail out consumers and protect them from a shrinking food supply and rising food prices in the coming years. Even if the government intervened directly in the marketplace and made it harder for HP and Apple to get the chips, this too would disrupt the functions of businesses across the country, causing a ripple effect for many other industries that rely on computers.
America is also more dependent on the global marketplace for these chips than ever before. In the 1990s, 37 percent of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing took place in the US. Today, the US only manufactures 12 percent of the world's supply. The economic policies of the past twenty-five years have pushed critical technology infrastructure jobs overseas, making the US and its agricultural system more vulnerable than ever before to something as simple as a semiconductor shortage.
Intel's CEO Pat Gelsinger warned that this issue could go on for several years, “Anybody who looks at the supply chain says, 'That's a problem.' This is a big, critical industry and we want more of it on American soil: the jobs that we want in America, the control of our long-term technology future.”


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ScreenGeek – November 5, 2020 at 02:40PM:
The global pandemic has halted the movie industry to a dead stop. Up until recently, productions were shut down, theaters were closed, and release dates have been consistently postponed. However, one thing that could not be held up by the pandemic was the marketing merchandise for these films. The tie in ‘Eternals’ promo stuff was already in production and some has leaked out.
‘Eternals’ Leak Reveals The New MCU Team Fully Assembled


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August 08, 2008
Austin, Texas -- Annual percentage rates for student credit cards dropped more than three-quarters of a percent this week, spurred by Discover's lowering of rates in that category, according to the CreditCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report.
A Discover spokesman said the company was simply enhancing its offer when it dropped its regular APR from 16.99 to 14.99 percent for student cards, driving the whole category lower.
Of the nine credit card categories tracked by CreditCards.com, five saw rates decline, three remained unchanged and one rose. This follows a key decision by the Federal Reserve this week. Caught between threats from inflation and recession, the Fed left a key short-term interest rate unchanged at 2 percent. That means an unchanged prime rate, which banks use to set APRs on variable rate cards.
Rates for card categories tracked by CreditCards.com are listed below:
|Credit Card Rate Averages|
|Avg. APR||Last Week||6 Month|
Still, the Fed provided itself with flexibility going forward. "The Committee will continue to monitor economic and financial developments and will act as needed to promote sustainable economic growth and price stability," the Fed said, suggesting rate increases and decreases remain possible.
The CreditCards.com credit card rate survey is conducted weekly using data from the leading U.S. card issuers. Rate movement may also be influenced by changes in the composition of offers tracked.
Introductory offer periods and regular interest rates vary with applicants' credit quality and issuer risk-based pricing policies.
CreditCards.com is a leading online credit card marketplace connecting consumers with multiple credit card issuers, including nine of the 10 largest in the United States, based on credit card transaction volume. CreditCards.com, https://www.creditcards.com, enables consumers to search for, compare and apply for more than 150 credit cards and offers credit card issuers an online channel to acquire qualified applicants.
Ben Woolsey, 512-996-8663, ext. 106
Director of Marketing
NOTE TO EDITORS: The information contained in this release is available for print or broadcast with attribution to CreditCards.com.


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Mar 22, 2010 (LBO) – Buying tea for stock during the commodities crash in the last quarter of 2008 helped boost profits at Finlays Colombo group last year, the Sri Lankan company has revealed. The firm, part of the Swire group of the UK, said its tea packing business made higher profits in the first half of last year after a “bold” decision to accumulate stocks during the market crash.
Tea prices plunged at the Colombo auctions and large stocks remained unsold when the global commodities bubble burst towards the end of 2008.
“. . .we had taken the bold decision to purchase tea for stock during October-December 2008 when prices of Ceylon tea unexpectedly dropped to very low levels,” the company said in its annual report.
“The wise use of these stocks to drive margins resulted in divisional profits well above budget in the first half of 2009.”
Chairman Kumar Jayasuriya said the firm’s performance last year was “buffered by the profits earned in the first half of the year, when tea prices were low . . .”
Its tea packing and green tea businesses were able to increase gross margins, benefiting from falling input prices, particularly in the first half of the year.


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Zeepay has closed a funding round of $200,000 to support the startup’s current expansion efforts in providing POS devices to help merchants make mobile money transactions.
This is what Mr. Appiah, CEO of Zeepay had to say about the round.
“We raised [the funding round] through an anonymous local Institutional Investor. The funds are actually being used towards our current integrations with some major corporate institutions. We are also using the same funds for integration with 3 remittance partners as well.
As mentioned, we are pretty excited about what’s ahead and look forward to launching officially to the Ghana by December. [This] would see us coming to market with a domestic transfer product, remittance to mobile wallets and mobile money merchants. We have also recently re-launched our website to be more user friendly.
We are currently also partnering with other stakeholders to develop payment ecosystems in farm communities nationwide. Our native app should be on Google Play by end of year.”
Zeepay, a 5-staff startup, is an aggregator for Mobile Financial Services and partners with Mobile Network Operators such as Airtel, and various payment service providers. This partnership’s aim is to develop a retail payment ecosystem for Mobile Money in Ghana, all in an effort to improve Financial Inclusion and meet UN sustainable development goals in Africa.
Zeepay is one of two Ghanaian startups which made an appearance at DEMO Africa this year. The competition served as a true launchpad for the startup to receive some visibility and gain investor interest across Africa.
On related eCommerce news, the Ghana eCommerce Expo is happening in Accra this month, and it brings together more than 30 eCommerce platforms in Ghana. This looks like a bright time for mobile payments, and eCommerce in Ghana as new non-telecommunications players show interest in a system that has been largely led by MTN, and later by other telecommunication operators.


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The next big thing for Liu and his Legend: China's consumer revolution
Liu Chuanzhi steered Lenovo to be the world's top PC maker. Now he's targeting the next big thing - China's free-spending middle class
A decade after surprising the world with Lenovo's takeover of US technology giant IBM's personal computer business, its founder, Liu Chuanzhi (profile), is turning the attention of his business empire to the next big thing: the free-spending Chinese consumer.
"We currently focus more on consumer-related businesses as I feel the Chinese government is very serious about how to get its people to spend so we can boost domestic consumption, which is really important to national economic growth," said Liu, the 71-year-old chairman of Legend Holdings, parent of Lenovo and one of the largest privately owned industrial and investment conglomerates in China.
"You will see more and more Chinese people become middle class and more and more of them will travel abroad. When they travel, they will see popular things and businesses in foreign countries, for example, car rental, and when they get back, they may want to try the same things," Liu told the South China Morning Post in an exclusive interview in Hong Kong.
Legend, which lists on the Hong Kong stock exchange today after raising about US$2 billion in an initial public offering, has already invested in China Auto Rental, the country's No.1 car rental service provider. Liu said his next focus would be on any businesses, at home or overseas, that can help Chinese people "eat, dress, live and travel better".
The former top computer scientist turned entrepreneur is banking on the Chinese government's stated policy of turning the country into one full of consumers and ending reliance on low-end manufacturing and exporting to drive economic growth.
Chinese incomes have risen rapidly in recent years, the country's tourists are spending billions around the globe and vast areas of the country remain ripe for further development even as overall economic growth slows.
In a 2014 report, consultants McKinsey estimated the per-household disposable income of China's urban consumers would double between 2010 and 2020 to about US$8,000, and with more people set to move to cities as a result of the government's urbanisation policy, the numbers of consumers will grow.
Liu, the son and grandson of wealthy bankers, once earned about 100 yuan a month in his early years as a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. No estimates of his current personal wealth are available.
He followed up the ground-breaking 2005 IBM deal with last year's £900 million (US$1.4 billion) takeover of British firm Pizza Express via Hony Capital, Legend's flagship private equity unit.
That deal catapulted Hony into the big league of global buyout funds and showed the world that Chinese capital was now a major player, in the same way that the Lenovo-IBM deal a decade before had announced the arrival of Chinese tech firms.
Focusing on the Chinese consumer may help boost Legend's profile at home. In terms of brand recognition, Chinese consumers know more about Lenovo's PCs, smartphones - Lenovo acquired the Motorola Mobility phone brand from Google late last year for US$3 billion - and home electronics products than about Legend.
That is despite the group having another four business areas besides Lenovo and Hony where it is a major player: food and agriculture, consumer services, real estate, and chemicals and energy. The consumer services business has a focus on health care and runs a nationwide chain of dental clinics.
Liu said the key to the company's success in expanding abroad would continue to be transparency.
Many Chinese firms, notably telecoms company Huawei, have struggled in the US mergers and acquisitions market due to perceptions they are state-owned, or in Huawei's case, have ties to the military. That complicates business deals in sectors considered sensitive due to national interests.
"We've always tried to be very transparent, since the very early days when we made the Lenovo-IBM deal and later when we acquired the Motorola business. Because we were very transparent, we didn't see the US government giving us too much trouble when approving those deals," Liu said.
At home, one of Legend's drivers of success would be innovation, Liu said, acknowledging that in China innovative new ideas can come into conflict with policies, attitudes and laws that reflect a different approach by the government.
A case in point, Liu said, was Didi Kuaidi, the homegrown taxi-booking app often known as the "Uber of China" after the US ride-hailing service. Didi is literally a family affair for Liu, since it is run by his daughter, Jean Liu Qing, who joined last year after 12 years as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs.
Didi has grown rapidly in China, but has run into opposition from established taxi firms fearful of losing business. Protests against its services have sometimes turned violent, leading the authorities to declare car-hailing apps illegal. However, the services continue to run and gain in popularity thanks to cheap pricing and efficient service for users and the opportunity for extra income for car owners.
"I think Didi can do more than just provide a new way of transportation for Chinese people. In fact, it also helps to curb air pollution in China; if we can all make the best use of our resources, for example to get more people to share rides so we can cut traffic-related pollution," Liu said.
He said he was very proud of what his daughter had achieved and joked that she may be more popular in the media than he is nowadays given her company's fast business growth as well as its big impact on social development in China. Didi also showed the way for both budding entrepreneurs and big companies.
"There are always some times when you see certain policy lies in a grey area, but as long as you see the direction is right, you should go for it," said Liu. "For Legend, I think we should dare to try more new things. For China as a country, innovation is all about trying new things too."


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Fri March 22, 2013
HBO: Programming Could Be Sold Directly Through Internet Providers
Originally published on Fri March 22, 2013 1:21 pm
HBO CEO Richard Plepler is saying something a lot of the television network's fans have been waiting to hear — that its content could be offered to customers directly through their Internet service providers instead of a cable company.
Right now, HBO must be purchased through a cable provider. Plepler tells Reuters that HBO Go, an online streaming service launched by the network in 2010 (but still only available as an extra to your cable TV) might also be sold through ISPs.
Customers could pay $50 a month for their broadband Internet and an extra $10 or $15 for HBO to be packaged in with that service, Plepler told the news agency.
"Maybe HBO GO, with our broadband partners, could evolve," Plepler says. "We would have to make the math work."
HBO Go has about 6.5 million registered users, compared with about 29 million for HBO's main service, Reuters says.


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Google Africa celebrated the graduation of 5000 entrepreneurs who had completed its Hustle Academy training programme with events in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. In Nigeria, the event was hosted in Lagos with more than 70 graduates in attendance.
The graduates of this year were selected from about 10,000 applications. The 5000 alumni come from 23 cohorts that participated in virtual bootcamps that lasted five days.
During these bootcamps, participants learnt how to define their business strategy, boost sales, and make investor funding pitches. Lessons on smart financial planning and digital marketing were also covered in the curriculum.
At the end of the program, each entrepreneur received individualized mentoring sessions to address certain issues they were having with their business and to obtain guidance from a network of qualified mentors and coaches.
Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director General of NITDA, spoke at the graduation ceremony about the significance of the country’s digital transformation and the necessity for Nigerians to advance their digital skills in order to contribute to society and also compete in the global market.
Google’s Hustle Academy new plans
Following the graduation ceremony, and as part of their dedication to supporting African entrepreneur, Google Africa also announced it will be launching a new series titled “Hustle Academy Brings You…” on its YouTube channel.
The new talk-show-style video series, will feature well-known and respected entrepreneurs from all over Africa and share useful advice and growth strategies to motivate upcoming entrepreneurs. This will also help enrich and broaden the Hustle Academy program initiative.
Entrepreneurs from Africa, including Engr. Nnamdi Ezeigbo, CEO and founder of SLOT Systems Ltd., will share their insights, lessons learned, and words of wisdom. This series hopes to provide SMBs the chance to hear from entrepreneurs in different industries about the problems, themes, and topics that they frequently deal with.
This will also help Google further fulfill its promise to support the success of entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Google committed to support African entrepreneurs
The Google Hustle Academy was launched in February of this year and is dedicated to offering real-world business training that enables entrepreneurs to develop the soft skills that go along with their innate talents.
This is just one of many Google programs dedicated to assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa.
While there has been substantial progress in the development of these abilities since Google began offering digital skills training in Africa in 2017, Small and Medium Businesses still want more hands-on assistance.
The Hustle Academy’s main goal is to provide Small Medium Businesses with the knowledge, tools, and access they need to thrive and grow.
Speaking on Google’s commitment especially for SMEs, Mojolaoluwa Aderemi-Makinde, Head of Brand and Reputation for Google in sub-Saharan Africa, she said,
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are the backbone of the global economy, and in Africa, they account for an estimated 80% of jobs. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, there are an estimated 44 million micro, small and medium enterprises, which function as important drivers of economic growth.
If we recall, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the company intended to invest $1 billion in Africa over the following five years to support a variety of initiatives, from better connection to investment in startups, to support the continent’s digital transformation.
The software giant is trying to explore their investment ideas in a plethora of ways, and this is just one of them.
Join the community now!


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New York Times
Updated: 7 hours 57 min ago
The notorious Silk Road site was shut down in 2013. Others have followed. But the online trafficking of illegal narcotics hasn’t abated.
In a long-sought victory for the F.D.A., a federal judge said officials have the authority to regulate stem-cell treatments made from patients’ own fat.
It’s a pleasure to watch software improve. I read the change logs, and I think: Humans can do things.
A wide range of companies are lining up to complain about Silicon Valley’s power as lawmakers and regulators step up their scrutiny of Big Tech.
Salesforce’s deal to buy the business tools maker Tableau, its largest ever acquisition, was pushed by the need to make business information understandable.
British lawmakers questioned a Huawei executive on Monday about American allegations that the company poses a risk to national security.
Josh Tyrangiel is out after a four-year run. Jesse Angelo, the former publisher of The New York Post, is set to come aboard.
Kevin Roose gets into the future of technology, the anxiety of publishing a huge story and his newest hobby (no screens involved).
NASA plans to open the International Space Station to commercial business, including tourism. But the tickets won’t be cheap.
A month after Uber’s rocky I.P.O., its chief executive laid off two members of his executive team: the chief operating officer and the chief marketing officer.
The decision, while not financially significant for either company, shows how the online retailer has gone from a sought-after customer to a direct competitor of FedEx.
The legal action against Silicon Valley’s giants will be long, difficult, uncertain and, for some people, disappointing.
The blind spots and new possibilities of the technologies we love (and hate).
Until recently big tech companies were seen as one of the few relatively untainted sources of big-money donations for Democrats. Now, that’s changing.
His ideas led to early versions of modern computing and helped win World War II. Yet he died as a criminal for his homosexuality.
Security experts warn that time is running out for campaigns to create protections against the cyberattacks and disinformation seen in recent elections.
Google said it would acquire Looker for $2.6 billion in a bid to catch rivals in the cloud-computing industry.
The images were meant to exonerate Richard Liu, the e-commerce mogul. They have also helped fuel a nascent #NoPerfectVictim movement.
Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, facing the growing possibility of antitrust action and legislation to rein in their power, are spending freely to gain influence and access.
For an 8-minute, one-way flight, the average ride will cost between $200 and $225 per person and include private ground transportation on both ends of the trip.


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The global cryptocurrency market cap is Rs 203.81 lakh crores, a 3.36 percent increase over the last day, while the total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is Rs 14,95,753 crores, which makes a 50.53 percent increase.
Coinbase buys Agara, its first startup acquisition in India
Coinbase, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has announced its first startup acquisition in India. The firm is acquiring Agara, an AI-powered support platform with operations in India and the United States, for an undisclosed amount. Read more here.
Australia’s largest bank breaks ranks to offer crypto trading
Commonwealth Bank of Australia will become the country’s first to offer retail clients crypto services, Australia’s largest bank said on Wednesday, marking a change from the sector that had refused to do business with cryptocurrency providers, Reuters reported.
What is an NFT and what makes it so popular?
The introduction of smart contracts has led to the emergence of many new applications on the blockchain, one of which is non-fungible token (NFT). Read more here.


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Text By CSULB Reporter Candace Manriquez, Video by CSULB Reporters Kim Norlund and Julian Cabrera
In any given direction from where Griselda Florinda Gomez lives on the west side of North Long Beach, there is a major grocery store within two miles. Despite this, Gomez finds it hard to access healthy, nutritious foods for herself and her children.
“I don’t have a car and all of the stores are too far to walk to,” Gomez says.
According to walkscore.com, Long Beach is the 11th most walkable city in the US, but the North Long Beach neighborhood ranks 37th out of the city’s 43 neighborhoods.
With three children under the age of six, Gomez says that the only way within reason to get to and from a traditional grocery store is by riding the bus, and doing so poses a financial burden.
“It’s kind of embarrassing but I can’t afford to spend four dollars or whatever it costs for all of us to ride the bus each way. That’s money that could be used to buy groceries,” she says.
So like many North Long Beach residents, Gomez alternates between fast food and buying cheap, processed foods at local convenient stores and bodegas.
In a typical day, Gomez’s five-year-old twins eat a sugary cereal for breakfast, fast food kid’s meals for lunch, Hamburger Helper for dinner, and candy as a snack. Accompanied with soda and artificial juice drinks, the children eat nearly twice the 1,000 recommended calories set forth by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Statistics provided by Long Beach Unified School District show that 38 percent of fifth graders in North Long Beach were obese in 2009, which was the highest rate of obesity in the city for that age group. The Long Beach Post reports that 55 percent of all people over the age of 12 in North Long Beach are overweight or obese.
According to the body mass index provided by the Center for Disease Control, Gomez’s children are not overweight or obese, but due to admitted excessive sugar consumption, they have had several cavities that have resulted in root canals that required general anesthesia.
These are only a couple of the major effects of eating poorly according to registered dietitian Terry Cooper.
“Just because a child is not overweight, does not make them immune to diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol,” Cooper says. “Plus, they will most likely end up being overweight adults if they keep with the same eating habits,” she says.
This is not news to Gomez who says she used to buy fruits such as bananas from a local Mexican market for 50 percent more than they cost at her local Trader Joe.
“I used to buy vegetables and fruit through WIC (Women, Infants, and Children food program), but my children won’t eat them. I just end up throwing them out,” Gomez says.
Some believe that educating the public is simply not enough.
Emily Dingmann of the hunger fighting organization MAZON says that large grocery chains and urban transportation providers are also responsible in the food desert epidemic.
“Grocery stores have to be willing to build in poorer neighborhoods,” Dingmann said. “There are plenty of government food subsidy programs to ensure that stores will make money in these neighborhoods. But if stores are not going to build, then local governments have the responsibility to get their residents to stores for low to no cost.”
Long Beach Transit does offer reduced or free fare rates to seniors, children under the age of four, Medicare recipients, and the disabled, but Dingmann says that they can do more.
“If a person is on food stamps, WIC, disability, or unemployment, there should be some way that their transportation is subsidized,” Dingmann said. “Once a person has to spend money that would have gone to food on the transportation that takes them to food, we have a problem.”
Representatives for North Long Beach have been taking strides to provide education and access to nutrition for residents.
In January of this year, Kaiser Permanente announced that they were granting North Long Beach $1 million for a three year investment in the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Zone program.
The program works in conjunction with the Coalition for a Healthy North Long Beach with an
aim to make healthy food choices and recreation accessible to those in the under-served neighborhood.
Through the HEAL Zone program, The Greener Good Farmer’s Markets were created. One of the two markets is located in North Long Beach at the Atlantic & Artesia Intersection and operates every Wednesday from 3:00 pm to sunset. Customers are able to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables as well as cooked foods, and are able to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
While North Long Beach lags behind many neighborhoods in the city as it pertains to nutrition equity, education and access, the local government is aware of the disparity and is making efforts improve conditions.
For mor information about the connection of access to healthy food and healthy living, visit the following sites:


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Members of the marine industry in Australia will be prominent at this year's Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
Australia’s leading internationally focused industry organizations, Australian Marine Export Group and Superyacht Australia, joined forces to showcase Australian products and promote Australia as an idyllic cruising destination.
Australia-based Aqualuma, a manufacturer of marine lights and the current Australian Exporter of the Year, continues to be a major sponsor for the 2011 show.
“Australian manufacturers and boatbuilders are major players in the international market,” Australian Marine Export Group chief executive MaryAnne Edwards says. “They have developed an excellent reputation in the United States and are confident of success at Fort Lauderdale, coming on the back of an already successful show in Monaco.”
Veem Engineering Group will be showcasing its new Veem Ultraskew propeller at the show. Muir Winches, a manufacturer of windlasses and anchor systems for the superyacht sector, and Hydrive Engineering, the largest manufacturer and exporter of hydraulic boat steering gear in the Southern Hemisphere, also will exhibit at the show.
This year’s show runs from Oct. 27-31.


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On grocery deliveries, Sobeys and Ocado will develop their first Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) in the Greater Toronto Area.
In addition to this initial CFC, Sobeys and Ocado will consider developing other CFCs in Canada's dense urban areas.
A similar deal with France's Groupe Casino was agreed in November past year.
The partnership will bring a new website for online grocery shopping plus mobile grocery ordering apps, while Ocado's latest automated warehouse geared towards e-commerce will be built in Toronto. "Sobeys is a highly successful and much admired Canadian business and we are proud that they have chosen Ocado Solutions to partner with to build their online grocery business".
The tie-up will involve Ocado helping launch Sobeys' online grocer service, and include investment by Ocado installing its grid and robots.
Sobeys operates more than 1,500 stores across Canada and recorded sales of C$23.8 billion past year.
In its first venture into North America, the online grocery retailer is set to establish a foothold in the country via a partnership with Sobeys, which has an estate of over 1500 stores across Canada.
The initial fees will be offset by the costs linked to establishing the partnership and integrating its software platform with Sobeys' systems, the United Kingdom company said.
It then expects capital expenditure of £15m in the 2018 financial year to support the development of its platform.
This means that Ocado expects to be earnings neutral for the year, but has stated that the deal will add "significant long-term value to the business".
Ocado confirmed last week that, in order to provide greater clarity on the split between Ocado Retail and Ocado Solutions, it will be introducing segmental reporting of sales and EBITDA from the publication of full year 2017 results.


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Worse than running out of potatoes on supermarket shelves, potato processing factories can't afford a stock-out. Yassen Abdelhay, export advisor at Arafa Group, reports on the crucial period for European factories from February to May 2023, and how Egyptian producers played a key role during this phase.
Abdelhay says: "Potato supply has become the main concern for all potato processors. If a factory runs out of potatoes, it can cost millions of dollars in lost market share, and it can also affect the viability of the business. Over the last two years, we've learned that potato production in the EU is not sufficiently sustainable to enable processors to adequately cover year-round demand for raw materials, for a number of reasons; European growers are faced with a number of factors that can no longer be denied, and which imply a sharp break with the past. Abdelhay lists these factors.


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U.S. banknotes and Chinese language yuan notes.
Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs
The commerce warfare between the U.S. and China has dragged on for greater than a yr, and it is beginning to flip right into a brewing foreign money warfare, mentioned analysts.
The yuan depreciated previous 7 per greenback final week for the primary time because the international monetary disaster of 2008, which prompted the U.S. Treasury Division to designate China as a foreign money manipulator.
In a latest report, the Financial institution of America (BofA) Merrill Lynch World Analysis predicts what may occur to the Chinese language yuan in three eventualities.
Situation 1: A full blown commerce warfare — the yuan depreciates 10%.
Chinese language imports from the U.S. are solely a 3rd of American imports from China, the financial institution identified. Which means that China can not match the U.S. tariffs when it comes to amount. Nevertheless, one factor Beijing can do is to devalue the yuan by 10%, canceling off the impression of a 10% tariff on Chinese language items, BofA Merrill Lynch World Analysis analysts mentioned.
Situation 2: A drawn out deadlock — the yuan stays “unchanged.”
“In a protracted deadlock, RMB is more likely to stay vary certain, solely as a result of Beijing can be cautious of each angering the US by permitting the RMB to weaken or including much more headwinds going through Chinese language exporters by permitting the RMB to strengthen,” the financial institution mentioned, referring to the yuan’s different identify, the renminbi.
Situation three: An imminent commerce deal: The yuan appreciates “modestly.”
On this state of affairs, the worth of the yuan will go up however will probably be restricted.
It is because “any deal is more likely to embrace stipulation that may restrict the room for any future RMB depreciation,” the financial institution defined. “If Beijing feels that the draw back for the RMB is proscribed, it’s more likely to need to restrict the upside for the RMB, particularly if it thinks any RMB appreciation turns into troublesome to reverse politically.”
Winners and losers in Asia
Weak spot within the yuan “basically places the brakes on” different currencies within the area, together with the Indian rupee, Singapore greenback, Korean gained, Malaysian ringgit and Indonesian rupiah, mentioned Jameel Ahmad, international head of foreign money technique and market analysis at FXTM.
Amid the commerce warfare, the Korean gained appears more likely to be among the many largest losers because it “has been essentially the most most well-liked expression of decay in commerce tensions,” wrote BofA Merrill Lynch World Analysis analysts in a latest observe.
South Korean commerce is closely depending on China and the U.S., because the nation is carefully interlinked within the provide chains between the 2 giants. The gained has additionally been hit by the dispute with Japan, which has spilled into commerce between the 2 Asian neighbors.
Essentially the most resilient foreign money amongst rising markets in Asia is the Thai baht, the BofA Merrill Lynch analysts wrote.
Regardless of makes an attempt by Thailand’s central financial institution to weaken it, the baht has steadily strengthened — supported by the nation’s giant commerce surplus, amongst different components.
U.S.-China commerce tensions have additionally affected economies elsewhere, and paired with slowing progress globally, it’s encouraging nations to lean towards weaker currencies, Ahmad warned.
“From many views it is smart to favor an inexpensive foreign money throughout unsure occasions,” Ahmad instructed CNBC in an electronic mail. “There’s a international downturn happening, and demand for items (or) companies is in danger to weak spot as a consequence of declining funding confidence, with this encouraging the choice to have an inexpensive foreign money to spice up export competitiveness.”
A weaker foreign money makes a rustic’s exports cheaper, inflicting them to be extra engaging in worldwide markets.


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Syracuse, N.Y. – The entire Valenti family is ready to make the donuts.
Their donut shop, Glazed & Confused, will open 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at 211 N. Clinton St. The space was most recently home to Darwin on Clinton, the sandwich shop that moved a few blocks to the Chase Bank building.
The Valentis are the creators of the Dizzy Pig – a donut dipped in maple glaze, sprinkled with cured bacon and drizzled with a bourbon-sugar mix. It’s been one of the most popular $1 items at Taste of Syracuse for the past two years.
Izabella Valenti, who is 15, and who also goes by Izzy and Bella, worked the cash register at the 2017 Taste of Syracuse. She says “everyone was asking” for the location of the Glazed and Confused store. She had to tell them: “We don’t have a storefront. But maybe it’s a good idea.”
They’re also making “doninis,” savory sandwiches built on a cake donut. Toppings include a fried egg, bacon and cheese. The sandwich is pressed and served hot, like a panini.
More classic donuts, like ones with cinnamon sugar or sprinkles, are available, too, as are vegan and gluten-free options. Boxes of a dozen range from $11 to $19. Drinks include Recess Coffee, milk and iced tea.


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After pandemic delay.
The unsecured lender swung to a R560 million loss in the 12 months through September, compared with a year-earlier profit of R267 million.
Sales in its first quarter rose by 7.7%.
Chinese Internet behemoth loses as much as 5.5% in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
But its clothing and Australian divisions continue to struggle in the face of Covid-19.
Three auditors face a total of 413 improper conduct charges related to the failed property syndication scheme.
Employees signed VSP agreements in August 2020.
Unchanged share price indicates shareholders expect much the same in the second six months than in the first half of the year.
Its online sales in SA in the food segment grew by almost 160% and contributes more than 2% to overall sales.
Beyond just the claims under its hospitality and leisure division.


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Google Adverts API v12 will sundown on September 27, 2023.
Builders are being suggested emigrate to a more moderen model earlier than then to make sure API entry will not be affected.
Why we care. API updates have a direct impression on how promoting campaigns work. When an older model is now not supported, requests utilizing it’s going to fail, which may disrupt marketing campaign administration. To forestall this, it’s vital to maintain utilizing the most recent API model. This fashion, advertisers and builders can entry new options, making certain campaigns run easily and carry out properly.
Depreciation and sundown timetable. Sometimes, three main variations can be found at anybody time with a lifespan of round 12 months, whereas minor variations have a assist lifespan of 10 months. Builders should carry out a most of two upgrades per 12 months, however you would not have to improve in strict sequential order.
The desk under lists the particular deprecation and sundown dates for every out there model, and projected launch dates for future variations.
Migrate asap. Emigrate to the most recent model, go to the Google Adverts API documentation here.
Get the every day publication search entrepreneurs depend on.
Dig deeper. Learn the announcement from Google here.


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Seven-fold growth in ceramic 3D printing market by 2032
Ceramic 3D printing is an emerging segment within the 3D printing industry that began its commercial journey in the past 10 years, making it a relative newcomer compared with polymer and metal 3D printing. However, increasing entrants into the field in the past few years, from major ceramics companies to small 3D printing startups, illustrates that interest in ceramic additive manufacturing is picking up.
In their new report '3D Printing Ceramics 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook', IDTechEx forecasts the ceramic 3D printing industry to grow seven-fold to $400m by 2032. Given how young the market is, seven-fold growth in the next ten years indicates a positive future for the industry.
The rationale behind ceramic 3D printing
Why would ceramics manufacturers turn to 3D printing for ceramic shaping? As it turns out, the reasons driving polymer part manufacturers to turn to polymer 3D printing are very similar. Ceramic shaping techniques, such as hot isostatic pressing, extrusion, and injection molding, are long established in the ceramics industry; however, the high initial costs to make these tools and the long lead time involved make these very difficult and expensive to use for prototyping and small/medium-volume part production. Ceramic 3D printing, much like polymer 3D printing, fills this niche perfectly by substantially decreasing the initial costs of production.
Who is jumping into ceramic additive manufacturing?
Despite being a fledgling technology in comparison to its counterparts in polymer, metal, and composite 3D printing, the ceramics 3D printing market has very notable 3D printing and ceramics industry players trying to gain market share for themselves.
From the additive manufacturing market, this includes metal 3D printing companies like voxeljet and ExOne, who have made their machines compatible with ceramics, and HP, who have filed for patents involving ceramics for their Multi-Jet Fusion technology.
From the ceramics industry, ceramic materials suppliers like SGL Carbon and Schunk Carbon Technology are offering 3D printed high-performance ceramic part production, while others like Morgan Advanced Materials and Johnson-Matthey are actively conducting research and development to see how ceramic additive manufacturing can optimise their products. Lastly, several companies dedicated to ceramic 3D printing, like Lithoz and 3D Ceram, are key leaders within the market, having developed their own proprietary ceramic printing technologies. These companies’ interest in ceramic 3D printing indicates that the path for future growth for the market is open.


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While wheat as much as doubled this year and cotton surged, the benchmark index for commodities is signaling neither inflation nor deflation, spurring investors to bet the best returns next quarter will be in precious metals.
The Standard & Poor’s GSCI Index of 24 raw materials, tracked by as much as $80 billion of investments, advanced 1.6 percent this year through Sept. 24, the smallest change since 1996. Record gold prices and a jump in copper were wiped out by slumping natural gas and oil prices as slowing growth in the U.S. and China, the biggest fuel consumers, sapped demand.
The rally in agricultural commodities has been more about a weaker dollar and the Russian drought than demand for raw materials, said Michael Pento, a senior economist at Euro Pacific Capital in New York, who correctly predicted the collapse in commodity prices in 2008. Investors accumulated record amounts of gold and silver this year to protect their wealth amid concern the world’s economy would falter.
“Global growth is not on a tear, primarily with the drag from developed countries on oil,” said Walter “Bucky” Hellwig, a Birmingham, Alabama-based senior vice president at BB&T Wealth Management, which oversees $17 billion. “If there’s a price increase there from higher demand, that’d be indicative of a rebound in the economy.”
U.S. consumer prices rose 1.1 percent in the 12 months ended in August, the Labor Department said Sept. 17, below the average 2.6 percent during the previous decade. The Federal Reserve indicated Sept. 21 that it’s now focused on inflation below the preferred long-term range. European Union inflation slowed to 1.6 percent in August, from 1.7 percent in July, the statistics office said Sept. 15.
Gains in agricultural commodities are raising consumer costs. Kraft Foods Inc., based in Northfield, Illinois, boosted U.S. prices twice since May on some types of coffee, and Bridgestone Corp. and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced higher charges for tires. Next Plc, the U.K.’s second-largest clothing retailer, said Sept. 15 that selling prices will rise by 5 percent to 8 percent in 2011 because of cotton.
Coffee traded in New York rose to its highest price since 1997 on Sept. 8, rubber touched a 21-month high in April in Tokyo and cotton reached a 15-year high today in New York.
Food companies may absorb commodity gains instead of passing them on to consumers, said Evan Smith, who helps manage $2 billion at U.S. Global Investors Inc. in San Antonio, Texas.
“Higher corn and wheat prices mean the buyers of those things, consumer goods and food manufacturers, will face some pricing-margin compression” because of the “tough economic environment,” he said.
Industrial Commodity Gains
While both the S&P GSCI and the Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index of 19 commodities are little changed this year, other gauges show something different. The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Spot Raw Industrials Index, which includes some goods that don’t trade actively on exchanges, such as copper scrap, burlap and cattle hides, rose 8.1 percent through Sept. 24. That may signal an impending rally, said Chris Rupkey, the chief financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. in New York.
“It looks like we’re poised to break out and go to all-time highs for commodity indexes, and that’s going to bring in more buying,” Rupkey said. He forecast a 20 percent jump in the Spot Raw Industrials Index to a record in three to six months.
Weightings, Slower Growth
The S&P GSCI is the most widely tracked commodities index, with $75 billion to $80 billion invested at the end of the first half, said Michael McGlone, the senior director of commodity indexing at S&P. The gauge is weighted about 67 percent toward energy, 16 percent to agriculture, 8.5 percent to industrial metals, 5 percent to livestock and 3.6 percent to precious metals.
The International Monetary Fund forecast in July that global growth will slow to 4.3 percent in 2011 from 4.6 percent this year. The euro zone may slow to 1.4 percent next year from 1.6 percent in 2010, China’s expansion may be 8.9 percent, down from 10 percent, and the U.S. will be at 2.5 percent, slipping from this year’s 2.7 percent, according to the median of as many as 62 economists’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
“As far as the idea of booming global growth, I just don’t see it,” Euro Pacific’s Pento said.
Oil closed today at $76.52 a barrel, almost half the record of $147.27 reached in July 2008. U.S. gasoline demand slid to the lowest level since October 2008 in the week ended Sept. 10, according to data from MasterCard Inc.
Slowing growth sapped a gain of as much as 6.5 percent in the MSCI World Index of equities this year, leaving the gauge up 1 percent and driving investors to precious metals and other assets favored in times of financial stress. Treasuries returned 8.5 percent this year, according to an index from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, while holdings in exchange-traded products backed by gold and silver reached a record, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Gold may rise to $1,315 an ounce by year-end, advancing 1.3 percent from $1,298.60 today, heading for a ninth straight quarter of gains and the longest rally since at least 1975, according to the median of 24 analyst estimates in a Bloomberg survey. Silver may climb 2.5 percent in the quarter to $22 an ounce, an eighth consecutive increase, the longest stretch in at least 35 years, the survey showed. Silver hit a 30-year high of $21.645 today.
The survey projected that copper, cocoa, coffee, sugar and soybeans will fall by Dec. 31, while cotton will rise. Corn, wheat and nickel may be little changed.
Wheat has jumped 30 percent in 2010, reaching $8.68 a bushel on Aug. 6, the highest price in almost two years and double this year’s low of $4.255 on June 9, as flooding in Canada and drought across Russia and the European Union ruined crops. Cotton rose 37 percent so far this year and touched $1.0393 a pound today, the highest level since 1995, as rain in China and Pakistan damaged fields. Arabica coffee in New York has rallied 34 percent and traded at $1.9865 a pound on Sept. 8, the highest price since 1997, as dry weather threatened trees in Brazil, the largest producer.
U.S. food prices may rise by 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent this year, compared with earlier forecasts of as much as 2.5 percent, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Aug. 25. Consumer prices will rise 1.5 percent in 2011, compared with an estimated 1.6 percent gain this year, based on the median in a Bloomberg survey of 57 economists.
“We’re definitely seeing some prices passed on, but our feeling right now is that inflation is not really a big concern,” said Christian Wagner, who helps oversee $175 million as chief investment officer of Longview Capital Management in Wilmington, Delaware. “We’re not considering that to be a very large fear until we see some constriction on monetary policy.”


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Before pulling up to the corner of the Fourth Street Apple Store in Berkeley at around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, I crossed my fingers, hoping for a short line.
Standing around spot number 50 in line, I realized my hopes of leaving the store and arriving home with the phone of my choice in a timely manner faded. Although smaller than the 6 Plus, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6’s 1,334 x 750 pixel display presents a perfect size for those who love iPhones and want a bigger screen, but would still like to be able to use the device efficiently with one hand.
One person who did not have to worry much about which phone to buy was San Francisco nurse Donna Collins.
“I got here at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday,” she said at around 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, standing in front of the Apple Store with its black curtains blocking the little Apple “Oompa-Loompas” as they scurried around to prepare the store for the upcoming event.
This was not Collins’ first time spending the night in a line with other tech enthusiasts awaiting the latest “i” device. She has been involved in the process since the original iPhone was released in 2007.
“(iPhones) are easy to operate,” Collins said. “I run a small (jewelry making/selling) business from it.”
The new A8 processor features a 64-bit architecture, which helps expedite downloads to a point never seen in any other hand-held Apple product.
The most noticeable features of the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are the screens. In 2012 Apple released the iPhone 5 and, for the first time, revealed a screen bigger than the 3.5-inch displays iPhones 1-4s have.
While spectacular in every way, the iPhone 6 Plus tells me that Apple basically decided to plunge into the “phablet” game for the sole purpose of attracting screen-size freaks.
The 6 Plus garners a couple more features than the 6, mainly manufacturer apps that behave like iPad apps, in addition to a mechanical photo lens stabilizer — which is actually pretty cool.
While these additions are nice, they do not do much in creating a big difference between it and its smaller counterpart.
In comparison to the 5s, not much is different thus far, when both are running iOS 8. Simply put, this phone is a bigger, better and revamped edition of its older version.
While the new hardware houses the future of the Apple phone series, the majority of new features come by way of iOS 8, which is available for iPhones 4s-6 Plus.
Though all of these devices operate with the new system, some features are not available on all of them.


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Twitter and Foursquare both said Thursday that some high-ranking executives would be stepping down, with the changes coming as both companies look to expand and try out new products.
Foursquare, one of the first apps to put location-sharing on the map, is rethinking its service and dividing it in two in an effort to stay relevant.
Facebook now has its own take on location sharing -- an optional feature that periodically broadcasts people's locations to their friends.
Facebook has unveiled its new video feature for Instagram, five months after Twitter launched a very similar video app called Vine. Can the rival services co-exist?
South by Southwest Interactive is best known as the technology festival that put such social networking mainstays as Twitter and Foursquare on the map. But if there was a "next big thing" at this year's event, finding it would be pretty hard.
You've probably heard of social-networking service Foursquare. If you haven't already jumped in headfirst yourself, you may be aware that Foursquare's a location-based social network that lets users "check-in" via mobile device at restaurants, bars, ...
One of the odd aspects of the Facebook event launching the new Facebook Places service was the participation, support, and partnership of competing location-based check-in services.
Suddenly, there are two kinds of people. The first kind loves location-based social networking services like Foursquare. They speak in an alien language about "Mayors" and "Badges" and broadcast their locations to the world.
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Watsco recently reported record fourth-quarter sales of $914 million with full-year sales in 2016 increasing almost 3 percent to $4.22 billion.
A big way the Miami-based wholesaler increased sales through an aggressive online plan that incorporates four e-commerce sites and several mobile apps to sell HVAC equipment and supplies for brands including Carrier, Rheem and Tempstar in the United States and foreign markets.
“Watsco’s goals with these technology programs are to further strengthen its leadership position, accelerate sales and profit growth, increase the speed, convenience and efficiency in serving customers, and extend Watsco’s reach into new geographies and sales channels,” Nahmad said in a statement announcing the company’s financial results.
Nahmad added that he expects these digital technology applications to continue priming Watsco’s growth in years to come as “a modern, data-based company.”
In 2016, Watsco noted the following increases in customer activity on its e-commerce sites and mobile apps:
In addition, Watsco increased the number of SKUs it makes available online to 500,000 last year, up 71 percent from 2015. The combination of a larger number of online SKUs and customers’ increased use of apps and e-commerce sites has resulted in more line items per online order, according to the company.
More details here.
Source: Miami Herald and Seeking Alpha.


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Etihad Cargo has started prioritising perishable items going through its Abu Dhabi hub.
The firm has launched a cold chain service that will prioritise the transfer of perishable cargo from aircraft into dedicated centres.
The airline will also offer last-mile delivery of perishable goods that come in through its hub.
Etihad Cargo, a devision of Etihad Airways, said the service, called FreshForward, will support the UAE’s cold chain industry and would ensure goods including fish, vegetables, dairy, fresh fruit, and flowers, moved “seamlessly across” the firm's distribution network.
Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Etihad Airways managing director for cargo and logistics, said: “Etihad Cargo plays a vital role in stimulating the UAE’s imports and exports via our Abu Dhabi hub.
“Safe, efficient and timely transport is critical for the UAE’s major importers of fresh produce including supermarket chains, [food and beverage] wholesalers, restaurants and florists.”
Etihad said it transported more than 90,000 tons of perishable goods over the last 12 months, of which fruits and vegetables made up more than 37% of the total. It also shipped 15,000 tons of meat, 19,000 tons of flowers and 8,000 tons of fish.
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Here’s a deal for those looking for a discounted Google Nest Mini. For a limited time, Leclerc Group is selling the Mountain View Company’s voice assistant on its e-commerce site at more than 50% off.
For this good plan associated with Black Friday, the Leclerc brand offers its customers the opportunity to purchase Google Nest Mini for less than 25 euros. Offered at the recommended price of €59.90, the web giant’s voice assistant sees its price drop to €24.90; That is, an immediate discount of 35 euros from the merchant’s website.
For information, the promotion is for the charcoal color of the Nest Mini and is valid until Sunday, November 27, 2022, while supplies last. Finally, there are no additional shipping costs required for in-store delivery.
Google Nest Mini: A good deal on Leclerc’s voice assistant
The Google Nest Mini is an upgraded version of the Google Home. The voice assistant answers the questions of its users and gets information about the weather, news or even sports.
The connected object also allows you to listen to music on many streaming platforms such as Spotify, Youtube Music or Deezer. Just tell Google Assistant what title, artist, album, or genre of music you want, and it’s ready to stream music from the phone to the Nest Mini.
The Google Nest Mini works with hundreds of compatible connected devices, such as lights, thermostats, and televisions. Finally, the device can be installed on the wall of the kitchen, bedroom, living room or hallway.
The BFMTV editorial staff was not involved in the production of this content. BFMTV is likely to receive compensation when one of our readers makes a purchase via the links included in this article.


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The Board of Directors of Transcorp Hotels Plc (THP) held its Completion Board Meeting at the weekend, approving the company’s plans to conduct an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and list its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
The THP will offer 800 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N10 per share for subscription. The proceeds of the offer will be used to part-finance its expansion projects specifically the construction of two new flagship hotels in Ikoyi, Lagos and Port Harcourt, as part of its broader expansion plans. The offer for subscription will open on September 24th and close on September 30.
THP is the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc which owns and operates the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the Transcorp Hotels Calabar.
Managing Director and CEO of THP, Valentine Ozigbo said Nigeria’s hospitality industry is experiencing significant growth, with major demand for expanded capacity and enhanced quality and service.
He said THP is ideally positioned, as the existing owner of the largest number of hotel rooms in Nigeria, and partnered with one of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands, Hilton Worldwide, to leverage this demand.
The proceeds of this offer will be used to fund the development of two new Transcorp Hilton hotels, one in Ikoyi, Lagos, and the second in Port Harcourt, with both due for completion in 2017.
We are delighted to be able to offer the Nigerian public the opportunity to participate in our future success. This offer reiterates our commitment to creating sustainable value for all stakeholders. “


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Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.02 to 0.2 percent, pointing to a weaker start on Wall Street on Tuesday.
Kraft Foods Inc
Nestle said it had no intention to bid for the British confectioner ending speculation about one potential rival bidder. Cadbury has so far rejected Kraft's attentions describing the latest bid on Tuesday as derisory.
Kraft said it would use the full net proceeds of the $3.7 billion pizza business sale to fund a partial cash alternative to Cadbury shareholders, raising the cash portion of the deal by 60 pence a share, but keeping the overall size of the offer unchanged. Kraft shares in Frankfurt
ICSC/Goldman Sachs release at 7.45 a.m. EST chain store sales for the week ended January 2 versus the prior week. In the previous week, sales rose 0.4 percent.
Credit Suisse Group AG
At 8.55 a.m., Redbook releases its Retail Sales Index of department and chain store sales for December versus November. In the prior period, sales fell 4.5 percent.
Commerce Department releases at 10 a.m. November factory orders. Economists in a Reuters survey expect a rise of 0.5 percent compared with a 0.6 percent rise in the prior month.
The world's top mobile phone maker, Nokia
Apple is set to announce it has acquired mobile advertising company Quattro Wireless for $275 million, the Wall Street Journal-affiliated blog All Things Digital reported late Monday. An announcement could come as early as Tuesday, said the report, which cited unnamed sources.
At 10 a.m., National Association of Realtors issues Pending Home Sales for November. Economists in a Reuters survey expect a 2.0 percent decline compared with a 3.7 percent rise in the previous month.
An independent committee of directors of eye care firm Alcon
U.S. automakers release December auto sales. Economists in a Reuters survey expect median annualized sales of 3.90 million cars and 4.45 million trucks. In November, the figures were 3.87 million cars and 4.44 million trucks.
China's yuan is facing a new round of appreciation pressure and expectations of a stronger currency will attract speculative capital inflows, complicating liquidity management, a senior official said in comments published on Tuesday.
Oil edged up toward $82 a barrel, rising for the ninth straight session, as cold snaps in key consumers the United States and Europe boosted demand for heating fuel.
U.S. stocks climbed broadly on Monday after a report showed the manufacturing sector expanded for a fifth straight month, lifting confidence in the global economy as investors eye fourth quarter earnings.
The rally, which marked the first trading day of 2010, drove both the Dow and the S&P 500 to their highest closes in 15 months, while the Nasdaq ended at a 16-month high.
European shares dipped in early trade on Tuesday, retreating from a 15-month high as investors booked a small portion of recent lofty gains ahead of key U.S. macro data. Japan's Nikkei average hit a 15-month closing high on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Mike Nesbit)


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Wyndham Worldwide first-quarter net income tumbled 56 percent as the hotel company incurred huge charges to extinguish debt early, but topped Wall Street expectations easily when those one-time costs are removed.
Revenue jumped 9 percent to $1.04 billion, also edging out most expectations, and the hotel chain boosted its full-year adjusted earnings forecast above what analysts had been predicting.
Wyndham earned $32 million, or 21 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31. That's down from $72 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding a $62 million early extinguishment charge and a benefit of $4 million tied to legacy and other adjustments, earnings were 60 cents per share compared with 44 cents per share in the prior-year period.
Analysts predicted earnings of 55 cents per share.
There have been signs of a thaw in the hotel industry after years of stagnation.
Just last week, Marriott International said that it expects room rates and fee revenue to rise at a fast pace this year after rising occupancy rates drove its first-quarter profits higher.
Lodging revenue at Wyndham climbed 24 percent to $185 million, while vacation ownership revenue increased 11 percent to $501 million.
Revenue for the vacation exchange and rentals segment increased 1 percent to $361 million.
Wyndham Worldwide, which runs hotels under brands including Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and Days Inn and sells vacation time shares, also said Wednesday that it is upping its buyback program by $750 million.
The Parsippany, N.J. company now anticipates 2012 adjusted earnings of $3 to $3.15 per share, up from a range of $2.85 to $3 per share. It maintained that revenue will be between about $4.43 billion and $4.6 billion.
Analysts expect full-year earnings of $2.98 per share on revenue of $4.51 billion.
After the earnings announcement, the company's shares slipped in trading on the New York Stock Exchange. (Click here to get real-time quotes for Wyndham.)


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Philippines: E-Cigarette Industry Resisting Taxes On Par With Tobacco
Aug 12, 2019: THE e-cigarette lobby said its products are safer than traditional products and asked the government not to tax it at the same rate as tobacco-based products.
Industry groups said Friday that taxing e-cigarette and vapor products on par with regular cigarettes will not curb tobacco use and will discourage use of their “less harmful alternatives” if they were taxed at the same rate.
The Philippine e-cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) and the Vapers Philippines (Vapers PH), in separate statements, urged legislators to consider studies which found that e-cigarettes and vapor products are a “significantly less harmful alternative.”
“Heavy taxes on reduced-risk products will only result in smokers sticking it out with conventional cigarettes instead of switching to less harmful nicotine products,” Vapors PH said.
PECIA also pushed for a public consultation on proposed tax legislation which they said will be a venue to discuss other measures to reduce tobacco use.
“PECIA wants to draw attention to the fact that Congress made no public consultation for the proposed legislation. Our organization could have provided the resources and studies to aid House Representatives understand tobacco harm reduction strategies being embraced by some countries,” PECIA said in the statement.
House Bill (HB) 1026, approved on second reading on Aug. 14, further raises the excise tax on heated tobacco or e-cigarettes to P45 per pack in 2020 and an incremental increase of P5 per pack per year, on par with regular cigarettes, while vapor products with nicotine salts increases the tax to P30 from the current P10 per milliliter, with an incremental P5 yearly increase to P45 by 2023.
However, the Department of Health-Department of Finance (DoH-DoF) version of the bill proposes that vapor products to be taxed at the same rate at P45 per milliliter with an incremental increase of P5 per year to P60 by 2023 and by 10% annually thereafter.
Vapers PH said the UK and New Zealand have encouraged their citizens to adopt “less harmful nicotine products, particularly e-cigarettes” instead of regular smoking.
“Experts believe that the remarkable decline in Japan’s smoking rate was accelerated by the entry of heated tobacco products in the Japanese market in 2014,” Vapers PH said.
Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, however, said e-cigarettes and vapor products should be taxed at par with regular cigarettes as taking e-cigarettes is “not necessarily more beneficial.”
“In the DoH and DoF proposal, and what the House approved yesterday, (the excise tax on e-cigarettes) was increased to 45 pesos to align with regular cigarettes because it doesn’t matter if it’s smoked, heated or burned, they have the same effect,” Mr. Chua said during the first ways and means committee hearing in the Senate on Thursday.
“A heated tobacco product is basically the same as the burnt tobacco product and should not be taxed differently,” Mr. Chua added.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III has said he hopes to raise taxes on heated tobacco and vapor products to parity with regular cigarettes.
The only remaining bill under the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) Package 2+ is the higher excise tax on alcoholic beverages, e-cigarettes and vapor products. The excise tax on tobacco products was signed into law last month.
HB 1026 is expected to go under final reading this week and may be transmitted to the Senate by the end of August.
According to DoF estimates, the DoH-DoF proposal on alcohol and e-cigarettes may generate around P52 billion while HB 1026 is expected to generate P33.3 billion by 2020.
If the DoH-DoF proposal is passed, the measures as well as the recently passed excise tax on Tobacco products will help reduce the Universal Health Care (UHC) funding gap to P10.4 billion from P62 billion in 2020.
In its initial implementation in 2020, UHC will need P257 billion, of which P195 billion will provided by the General Appropriations Act and other sources, P15.5 billion from the tobacco tax and P36.5 billion from the DoH-DoF version of the alcohol and e-cigarette tax, leaving a P10.4-billion funding gap.
In the Senate, the ways and means committee is set to start parallel hearings to dicuss the remaining tax reform packages, beginning with those that have advanced in the House, such as the excise tax on alcohol and e-cigarettes and HB 313 or the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act (CITIRA).
CITIRA cuts the corporate income tax rate to 20% from the current 30% while streamlining investor incentives by making them time-bound and performance-based. — Beatrice M. Laforga


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Eighty-nine percent of iPhone owners say they’ll stick with Apple for their next smartphone, according to a new survey by USB Investment Research (http://www.ubs.com/1/e/about/research.html).
HTC had a 39% retention rate,Research in Motion a 33% retention rate, Samsung a 28% retention rate and Motorola a 25% retention rate.
USB says the Android platform did better when users were asked simply about software. Fifty-five percent said they would stick with Google’s mobile platform. However, an additional 31% of Android users said they might switch to an iPhone next time around.


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Remedy Entertainment’s CEO reveals that its two unannounced projects in collaboration with Epic Games will take place in the same universe.
Remedy Entertainment is currently working on several different projects, with the studio split into four teams developing five games. The developers behind Control have started work on a new AAA project, while a second team is hard at work on an action-packed sequel to Crossfire known as CrossfireX, and a third is developing Vanguard, which will allegedly be an ambitious free-to-play co-op title.
A fourth team is working on two unannounced projects, with both games being developed for console and PC in collaboration with Epic Games. Although there are few details on what the two titles will be about, a new interview between GamesIndustry.biz and Remedy Entertainment CEO Tero Virtala has shed more light on the mysterious projects.
According to the publication, Virtala spoke very briefly about the scope and narrative of both games, clarifying that they “are set in a shared universe.” Allegedly, one will be a large-scale, AAA title and the other a smaller experience, with the team wanting to create an IP that they can revisit through multiple releases. “With the project we’re doing with Epic, it’s in a world we want players to spend more time in,” Virtala claims during the interview, going on to reveal that Remedy hopes to continue exploring “the world and the brand” through more than one release.
The idea of pursuing this ambitious new IP appears to check off another goal Remedy is aiming to achieve, with Virtala telling GamesIndustry.biz that the studio intends to build multiple expanding brands going forward. The pair of shared universe projects definitely appear to fit that bill. Meanwhile, Remedy hopes its new live-service cooperative game Vanguard will also develop into an expansive, long-running brand that it can continue to cultivate post-launch.
The interview delves deeper into exactly what Remedy intends to build with the Vanguard project, claiming it will look to offer an innovative take on the co-op shooter that lifts the genre to new heights. Players also know that the company is working on a new release set in both the Control and Alan Wake universe, continuing both franchises’ stories following their official merger in Control’s AWE DLC last year. There’s no word on when the game will hit shelves, although considering Control released in 2019, it’s likely not on the cards anytime soon. CrossfireX appears to be the next major release for the team, with the high-octane first-person shooter slated to debut sometime later this year. The title is a sequel to Crossfire, returning to the franchise’s world while bringing the explosive brand of combat Remedy has become known for.
Remedy Entertainment is currently working on two unannounced projects in collaboration with Epic Games.
MORE: New Details Surface for Remedy and Epic Games Collaboration
Next PS4 Firmware Update Could Be Removing the PlayStation Communities Feature
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