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In September, Jeep unveiled three new battery-electric SUVs—two mid-size SUVs, the Recon and the Wagoneer S, are to be built in North America and go on sale in 2024. A third, smaller EV, called the Avenger, was officially launched at the recent Paris Motor Show, and sources at Jeep are predicting that it could become the brand’s best-selling model.
The Jeep Avenger will technically be the brand’s first pure EV, but it will come in both gas and electric versions, which will be sold in different markets. Forbes reports that Spain and Italy will get the fossil-burning version, while the EV version will be sold elsewhere in Europe.
The Avenger will be built on Stellantis’s STLA Small platform. Production has begun at the Stellantis plant in Tychy, Poland, which has just completed retooling. Initial production capacity is 1,000 cars per day.
The Avenger has 156 hp, weighs 1,541 kg, and has a 54 kWh (51 kWh usable) battery pack. Jeep is predicting a range of 400 km (250 miles) on the WLTP testing cycle. Level 2 charging at 11 kW is standard, as is a heat pump to improve cold-weather range. DC charging at 100 kW is supported.
Forbes’s James Morris reports that Jeep’s ICE+EV strategy involved some compromises, including a cramped back seat with “a mound in the middle of the floor.”
The Avenger is apparently considered too small for US buyers—there are no plans to bring it to North America at present, although Head of Design Ralph Gilles has reportedly held out some hope for the future.
Jeep hasn’t announced a price yet, but Mr. Morris estimates that it will start at no less than £36,000 ($41,000) in the UK.


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In case you were hoping that Epic Games would come up and announce a new Unreal Tournament title, you have got it wrong folks. The developer has announced that currently there is no game for the series in development with them.
Same as it has been with other major areas that needed attention, the Game Developers Conference 2014 has brought news regarding Unreal Tournament too. It’s just that it is not what you would have otherwise expected.
Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games was at the conference where he told CVG about their development plans and preferences:
We’re not [planning on] shipping an Unreal Tournament game. We have a lot of nostalgia for the game but we’re actually not developing anything in the Unreal game universe at all at the moment. We’ve announced Fortnite… That’s a game we’ll be talking about later. We don’t have anything to show you here at GDC. We’re developing that project and there are several other projects that aren’t announced yet that are being developed with Unreal Engine 4.
The multiplayer first person shooter series has been long dormant and there still is a community that is looking forward to see more from it. On the other hand, the developer looks quite busy with other titles. Let’s just hope that the next Unreal Tournament game gets laddered up on their list of priorities.
How many of you would want to see the next Unreal Tournament game on the latest generation of consoles?

domain: news


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Hong Kong’s commerce minister warns of rising protectionist sentiment in global trade
Edward Yau remains optimistic about city’s economic outlook, but advises caution over impact of global trade disputes and protectionist sentiment
Hong Kong’s commerce minister on Saturday warned of “rising protectionist sentiment” in the global trade environment, although he remained positive about the city’s economic outlook for the coming year.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah advised the city to beware of global issues impacting its economic outlook, despite “a very clear rebound” this year with 3.7 per cent growth and rising retail and tourism figures.
“While we are enjoying this positive achievement ... I am seeing that trade disputes or negative sentiments are not uncommon these days,” he said.
“We are also seeing the lack of consensus on some very major and apparent issues that should support international trade, for instance, e-commerce, investment facilitation or support of micro, small or medium enterprises.
“All these are very important and pertinent questions that one would seek to address but they do not find favour or consensus among major players.”
Yau cited the United States’ renegotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement and Brexit as examples of disgruntled developed nations complaining about not benefiting from global trade.
While Hong Kong enjoyed a warm trading environment on this side of the Asia-Pacific, he added, the world was not uniform.
“So we must be very vigilant and alert that on one hand we should seize opportunities that are given to us and ride on the fast stream,” he said, referring to China’s Belt and Road Initiative to open up trade along a new silk route and the Greater Bay Area scheme to develop a trading zone that would link Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.
How China’s vision of a metropolis rivalling the New York, San Francisco and Tokyo bay areas will become a reality
“On the other hand, we should be cautious of rising protectionist sentiment, even among some of our trading partners. I will say that for the coming year we should stay alert but remain positive.”


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The artisanal craft movement has spawned at least three Lakeland companies that roast coffee beans in small batches and provide them quickly to local consumers, coffee shops and restaurants for maximum freshness: Concord, Ethos and Patriot.
Source: The Ledger
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Facebook Gaming and Blizzard teamed up to give members of Blizzard’s gaming community, and viewers of the BlizzCon livestreams, the chance to win BlizzCon-related gifts.
By watching specific Gaming Creator channels and the BlizzCon Opening Ceremonies livestream, members of the gaming community were given the chance to win a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket and discounts on BlizzCon event gear – for example, $10 off the BlizzCon 2018 Goody Bag or 20% off all BlizzCon 2018 merchandise. All they had to do to be eligible for these BlizzCon In-Stream Rewards was to log into their accounts and watch broadcasts for at least 10 minutes.
The livestreams began on October 25 and continued at BlizzCon until October 29. Those who were selected as winners had a limited time to claim their reward in chat. Furthermore, once claimed, they’d receive a redeemable code via Facebook Messenger.
Facebook first introduced in-stream rewards last March, allowing creators to reward their livestream viewers with prizes. Rockstar Games, developers of Grand Theft Auto were first to use the tool earlier this year to give livestream viewers free in-game cash in GTA Online. Rewards were given to fans watching select GTA Online livestreams on the official Rockstar Games Page and several partnered creators from the Facebook Gaming Creator program.
The initiative marked the first time Rockstar integrated in-game rewards for livestreaming, and was available for all fans who link their Facebook account with their Rockstar Games Social Club account.
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Facebook introduces new Space Jam chat theme, an emoji search bar for finding your favorite emojis more easily and a …
Businesses in the US will soon be able to enable Facebook Pay as a payment option directly on their websites.
Facebook Gaming is scaling its cloud gaming infrastructure and announcing an expansion of its games library and availability.
Facebook has announced several new shopping updates across its apps, including the expansion of Shops to WhatsApp and Marketplace.
Facebook has announced the official launch of Live Audio Rooms, one of the social audio features it announced recently.
Facebook has announced several new features that will help Group admins manage and moderate their groups more effectively.


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India witnessed a 165% growth in app downloads across iOS and Android devices in the last two years, revealed research firm App Annie in its yearly “State of Mobile” report. Globally, it grew at 35%. China, which grew 65% which accounted for half of all the app downloads in the world.
Top ten downloads in India
The top apps that were downloaded in India include: Facebook, Messenger, UC browser, WhatsApp, Shareit, TikTok, Vigo video, Hotstar, Truecaller Timesgroup-owned MX player.
The top apps in India in terms of monthly active users included: WhatsApp, Facebook, ShareIt, Messenger, Truecaller, Timesgroup-owned MX player, UC browser, Instagram, Amazon and Paytm.
India along with countries like Australia, Indonesia saw over 140% growth in time spent in the top 5 video streaming apps in 2018 vs. 2016.
The tops five video streaming apps that topped in India include Youtube, Hotstar, JioTV, Amazon Prime and Voot.
Interestingly, India also topped in the consumer spend category for video streaming apps. The top ones were Netflix, Hotstar, Bigo Live, Live.me and AltBalaji.
The time spent on shopping apps in India, a largely mobile market, grew only 5% where as in the US, it grew 70%. In comparison, Chinese users spent seven times more than Indian users and 11 times more than US users on shopping apps.
Globally, mobile is set to comprise nearly 75%of total e-commerce transactions by 2021.
Time spent on online food delivery apps more than doubled in two years in India. This is fueled by growth in both fast food apps (QSR — Quick Service Restaurants) and the rise of food delivery services, cited the report.
Globally, downloads of the top 5 food delivery apps have grown 115% in 2018 vs. 2016. UberEATS and Zomato, respectively, were the top two food delivery apps by worldwide downloads in 2018. Of the markets analyzed, India saw the strongest growth at 900%, followed by US.
Social and communication
India grew at 40% in the last two years in social and communication apps. The report added that apps such as Instagram, Snapchat andTik Tok have leveraged video in a one-to-one or one-to-many mode to foster deeper engagement, particularly for Gen Z the generation that comes after millennials.
The top five social apps in India include, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook messenger and IMO respectively. Notably, Instagram saw the strongest global growth in its user base at 35% from January 2017 to Dec 2018.
While China topped the app download market, emerging markets saw a significant growth while US slowed down. Global consumer spend in apps reached $101 billion last year, up 75% since 2016. And 74% of all money spent on apps last year came from games. Apps outside of games accounted for 65% of total global downloads, consistent with two years prior, added the report.
As per the collaboration, JPL will offer its Cloud Native 5G Core to telcos globally along with Subex’s HyperSense for enabling closed-loop network automation, product performance and customer experience analytics.


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Arla's milk price for June 2021 will increase to 33.23 pence per litre as the market outlook looks 'stable'.
Arla Foods' on-account prices for conventional and organic milk will increase by 0.44 pence per litre from next month.
This takes the co-operative's conventional milk price to 33.23 pence and organic milk to 41.59p per litre for farmers.
Arla Foods amba board director, Arthur Fearnall said this would be 'welcome news' for farmer owners who were becoming 'increasingly pressured by rising on farm costs'.
"Commodity market prices have overall remained relatively stable in April. Powder demand has been strong with increasing prices, while butter and cheese prices have weakened.
"Overall, so far, European milk intake has been lower than last year; however, intake has started to pick up with a small increase through March and April.
"The current outlook remains stable,” Mr Fearnall said.
Alice Swift, UK agriculture director at Arla, added that there was a 'growing sense of optimism' as the UK reopened following lockdown.
"The gradual opening-up of the country does mean that we are now seeing an expected shift in consumer and shopping habits in the retail sector," she said.
"We continue to work hard to ensure the most value for our farmer owners for the milk they produce as we work together to lead the way to create a sustainable future for dairy.”


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Published on : Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Outrigger Enterprises Group is pleased to announce the opening of the Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa, which welcomed its first guests on January 30, 2014 (Mauritius time). The deluxe 181-room, all sea-view resort is the first for Outrigger in the Indian Ocean and the company’s 45th property now open or under development in eight countries.
“The expansion of the Outrigger brand into the Indian Ocean is the latest development showing the strategic commitment of Outrigger to open stunning resorts in desirable and iconic warm water beachfront locations around the world,” said Darren Edmonstone, managing director, Asia-Pacific, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts.
“Ownership of the property in Mauritius gives Outrigger the unique opportunity to share the locally-rich sense of place and discovery that guests look for when they go on holiday,” he said. “The wonderful warmth, color and exotic mixes that characterize Mauritius can now be experienced at the new Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa,” he added.
The Republic of Mauritius is located 2,000 kms off the southeast coast of Africa and 1,100 kms from the east coast of Madagascar. In Mauritius the absolute beachfront property has an idyllic location on the southern tip of the island in the Bel Ombre nature reserve, adjacent to the Heritage Golf Club. The new Outrigger resort is surrounded on the landward side by expansive sugar cane plantations.
Outrigger purchased the property in May 2013 and has completed an extensive refurbishment program.
The Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa General Manager, Frederic Chretien, said: “The Outrigger dream for Mauritius has come true. From today we are delivering our acclaimed Outrigger hospitality that blends the needs of the most discerning traveller with the charm and tradition of an early 17th century Mauritian sugar cane plantation on the island’s southern coast.”
Getting to Mauritius from Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa is easy. Direct flights connect Mauritius with Perth, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Paris, London, Dubai, Johannesburg and numerous cities in Africa.
The new Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa is a 45-minute drive from the island’s international airport (MRU) and a 90-minute drive from the capital, Port Louis.
Outrigger will host an official grand opening ceremony and celebration on April 18th of this year.
Tags: beijing, chennai, delhi, dubai, hong kong, Johannesburg, kuala lumpur, london, madagascar, Mauritius with Perth, mumbai, Outrigger Enterprises Group, paris, shanghai, Singapore


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India inks first trade Agreement with Mauritius, Check Details Here. India has signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) with Mauritius. This is the first trade Agreement signed by India with a country in Africa.
This MoU was signed during the ongoing visit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The main objective of this trade agreement is to encourage and improve trade between the two countries.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed this CECPA along with prime minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.
- India and Mauritius would provide preferential access to a number of items like medicine,surgical equipment etc
- India and Mauritius covers 310 export items for India
- This MoU will boost Indian Entrepreneurs to invest in Mauritius
- Mauritius will get preferential access for export of 40,000 tonnes of sugar into India
- Indian service providers will have access to around 115 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service sectors
- This MoU will also help to focus on post pandemic economic recovery.
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Name India’s External Affairs Minister who signed the first trade Agreement with Mauritius:
The first trade Agreement between India and Mauritius was signed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Name the Mauritius Prime Minister who signed CECPA with India?
This CECPA agreement was signed by Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth along with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar


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24 year-old Angel Hicks was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 4 years suspended for allegedly mastermind a robbery through craigslist. Her boyfriend, 26-year-old Jarmal Datcher was sentenced to 12 years last month. Two years were suspended from his sentence.
Court records say Hicks met up with a guy on craigslist, danced for him while casing his house. The next day she sent her boyfriend to rob the man.
Court papers say Datcher forced his way inside, holding the victim at gunpoint.
The victim told police he was "scared for his life and his heart was racing." He told police Datcher said " i want the money and i will not hurt you."
Records say Datcher spent an hour looking for money and credit cards but turned up empty-handed. He took the victims 2010 white Bmw and the victims checkbooks.
When police caught up with him a short time later, he confessed.
This incident happened back in august but the
Sot: marjorie stephens, bbb, dec 2012
"if you could meet at a public place like a restaurant or mall where there are people around, that person isn't going to be as likely to try to rob you"
The BBB said they will not deter people from shopping on Craigslist but caution consumers about meeting up with strangers at your home.


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Letâ€™s get into the week that was in ID developments.
Weâ€™ve been waiting for some real, substantive fallout from Appleâ€™s crackdown on data sharing amongst apps, and hereâ€™s a big signal that things are getting real. Facebook is looking to get out in front of its next earnings call by putting out word that Appleâ€™s changes are causing the social networking giant to undercount attributions by 15 percent, reported Ad Age.
This sounds â€” pretty bad. But the details will be important here. Facebook has upward of 10 million advertisers. Is this hurting everyone? Just brands that used Facebook to track app installs? Mostly just games and app-centric companies? Does this matter to big CPGs or auto companies, for instance? Or the local plumber?
Well, one performance marketing company, Carousel, says Appleâ€™s moves are hitting all its clients â€” hard, reported Big Technology. As a result, Carousel has â€œmoved from spending millions of dollars each day on Facebook to a few hundred thousand dollars. Before the iOS changes, Facebook generated 80% of the traffic Carousel sent to its product pages. Now it accounts for 20%.â€
A lot more will likely be revealed when Facebook talks about its financials. The company says it is trying to get a better handle on this change before the holiday shopping season.Beyond that short-term crunch, hereâ€™s the part (from Ad Age) that might make Zuckerberg and company nervous down the road:
â€œ…as all these changes take hold marketers have been concerned about the lack of hard data that they can rely on from Facebook. There have been worries about how Facebook could rely more on estimates rather than exact data.â€
If Facebook, whose ad targeting system is unsurpassed because itâ€™s so exacting (due to the companyâ€™s direct relationship with 2 billion people), becomes associated with â€œprojectedâ€ and â€œextrapolatedâ€ data, itâ€™s likely to dent its reputation â€” and ultimately hurt business.
Zero Data 30
â€œThe FTC must lead a market shift toward data minimalism,â€ said FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter during a recent open meeting, reports Digidayâ€™s Kate Kaye.
Um, weâ€™re all for eliminating clutter with the changing of the season, but data minimalism doesnâ€™t necessarily jive with â€œletâ€™s just find a cookie replacement and keep targeting that way.â€
Does this sentiment mean that the FTC is looking to come down a lot harder than we even realize? Obviously, Google and Facebook have been changing the way they operate very publicly for a reason. But data is how the web works!
Kaye details a new push from legislators, who want the FTC to establish new rules to define and prevent businesses, including Big Tech platforms, from violating laws against deceptive or unfair data practices. And, if nothing else, the FTC could have $1 billion more to play with its pursuit of a more private web.
â€œ…aÂ proposal…which got initial passage on September 15 by a House committee…would…allocate $1 billion to the FTC to…staff a new bureau addressing unfair or deceptive practices related to privacy, data security, identity theft and other data abuses.â€Â
Said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat who heads the House Consumer Protection Subcommittee:
â€œLarge tech companies like Facebook have gotten away for years with nothing more than a slap on the wrist for their deceptive practices. With these resources, the FTC will invest and hold companies accountable for failing consumers.â€Â
Living in Sin
If youâ€™ve ever wondered how reporters who cover digital advertising view this industry once theyâ€™ve moved out of the trade press, the latest issue of Galaxy Brain on Substack â€” dubbed â€œThe Internetâ€™s Original Sinâ€ should be quite illuminating. Itâ€™s a Q&A between ex-Adweek and ex-New York Times reporter Charlie Warzel and ex-Adweek reporter-turned-Gizmodo staffer Shoshana Wodinsky.
Hereâ€™s Warzel: â€œUltimately, you show how wildly boring tech stuff like â€˜header biddingâ€™ leads to this race to the bottom that hurts competitors first, then advertisers, then anyone who publishes things online. And the internet turns to this kind of garbage-y, pop-up-y, clickbait-y surveillance hellscape.â€
Hereâ€™s Wodinsky on tech giants like Facebook and Google: â€œ…these companies…donâ€™t see us as being sophisticated. Itâ€™s a problem of scale. These companies are so big, with so many users, they legitimately canâ€™t think in terms of a single user. They ultimately donâ€™t care about your personal sense of right and wrong or what feels okay to you and what doesnâ€™t feel okay. Theyâ€™re not thinking about your agency. They want to be profitable because theyâ€™re a company and thatâ€™s their job. And, at the end of the day, you might feel upset over what theyâ€™ve done but hey, youâ€™re just one user. Youâ€™re not really part of that calculus.â€
Sounds like the FTC might want to give these folks a call.
Anyhow, thatâ€™s it for this week! See you next time.


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Australia's research-based drug industry has slammed a call by generics makers to increase their products' share of the value of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) market from 12% to 16%.
The proposal has come from the Generic Medicines Industry Association of Australia (GMiA), which is urging the federal government not to make any further cost cuts to the PBS in its budget for 2013-14.Instead, it calls on policymakers to increase generics' market share of the PBS from 12% to 16%, estimating that this would "achieve an ongoing annual saving in the vicinity of A$205 million."
Generics represent 12% of the PBS by value, while original branded drugs account for 4%, and 84% of the dollar value of the Scheme is spent on original brands where there is no competition from generics, before the loss of market exclusivity of the original brand, says GMiA. Increasing the market share of generics from 12% and substituting the existing 4% of the market currently using original brands subject to generic competition would drive important savings to the PBS, in turn freeing up headroom for the funding of new medicines and ensuring sustainability for the PBS, it says.
Therefore, the group calls on the government to adopt medium-term policies that drive substitution from original branded drugs to generics, a move which it says would "deliver a positive health outcome for patients and a three-way win for patients, taxpayers and the economy. In addition, this will create long-term capacity for breakthrough new medicines to be listed on the PBS."
However, the research-industry group Medicines Australia has attacked the proposal as "protectionist" and says its proposition that substituting originator brands for generics would create savings for the PBS is "flawed on several fronts."First, says Medicines Australia chief executive Brendan Shaw, the proposition is "based on the fallacy that generic medicines are cheaper for the government than their branded equivalents." In fact, he says, the government pays the exact same price for both, and "won't save one cent by protecting one group of manufacturers over another group of manufacturers."
He also says that protectionism is poor policy, a poor way to run the PBS and at odds with the market-based mechanism of price disclosure, and that giving preference to a generic over an originator brand constrains doctors’ freedom in prescribing as well as consumer choice.
Fourth, good policy comes from consultation and dialogue between industry and government, not "half-baked ideas that come from left field," while fifth, the GMiA proposal assumes that it is the established generics firms which drive price reductions and that automatically giving these firms market share will provide savings.
However, "this may not be the case," says Dr Shaw.
Finally, he points out that there is already a price signal for consumers to choose a generic over a branded medicine where the branded products has a higher patient premium. "Where there is no such premium, as far as the consumer is concerned there is no difference in price between an originator brand or a generic brand," he says.
Local reports note that last year's examination of the future of the PBS by a government working party had discussed the possibility of requiring consumers to use generics rather than branded medicines, and that the Pharmacy Guild of Australia points out that doing so would breach long-term agreements in place between the government and the pharmaceutical industry and pharmacy sector.


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Gap Inc.'s revenue at stores open at least a year dropped 4 percent in September partly on weak results abroad. The performance missed Wall Street's forecast.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected a 3.8 percent decline.
Gap, the nation's largest clothing seller and operator of the Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap and other chains, said that its comparable sales for September include its online sales.
This figure is a key gauge of a retailer's health because it excludes results from stores recently opened or closed.
Revenue at stores open at least a year at Gap North America fell 4 percent. Banana Republic and Old Navy both dipped 1 percent. The biggest decline came overseas, where the metric slid 13 percent.
Gap, which has been struggling for several years, has been particularly hard hit by the down economy. Rising costs and deep discounting are among the factors pressuring its performance.
For the five weeks ended Oct. 1, total revenue edged up slightly to $1.35 billion from 1.34 billion.
Year-to-date revenue at stores open at least a year fell 3 percent, with total revenue flat at $9.12 billion.
The San Francisco retailer said it will report its October sales results on Nov. 3.
Gap has about 3,100 company-operated stores and approximately 200 franchise stores in more than 90 countries.
Its shares fell 4 cents to $16.88 in premarket trading.


text: While HP, Acer and Samsung have jumped into the Chromebook market with a variety of inexpensive school-ready notebooks, Dell has watched and waited. The wait is almost over because Dell’s Chromebook 11 will be out in the new year. Built around an 11.6-inch screen, it is the first Chromebook to use Intel’s new Celeron 2955U processor that runs at 1.4GHz. The base model includes 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage space as well as access to Dell’s Wyse PocketCloud online storage and collaboration service; there’s also a 4GB version. All told, it adds up to a 2.9-pound system that should easily fit into a child’s backpack or a school desk. Dell says that the systems will sell for under $300.


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SBI-FMO is a joint venture between Japan’s SBI Groupwhich is a spinoff of Softbank, and Dutch development bank FMO and invests in fintech companies majorly. Bessemer Ventures is a $4-billion fund which has also invested in startups like BigBasket, Swiggy, among others.
Innoviti Payments plans to use the fresh funds to enter tier-2 and tier-3 cities targeting retail outlets like restaurants, apparel stores and grocery outlets to tap the rising digital payments volumes post demonetisation.
“The first round of funding in 2015 was majorly used to enhance our technology to ensure 96% success rate for transactions flowing through us, which is much higher than the industry average. With this new infusion, we are planning to expand our presence across the country,” said Rajeev Agrawal, chief executive officer of Innoviti Payments.
The company claims to have an advantage in the crowded digital payments space as it has the highest success rate for payments, because of its tie-ups with multiple bank payment gateways and its ability to check which gateway could have the higher success rate.
“Just like Google Maps tells you which road will take you to your destination fastest, we can gauge which gateway will give a smooth payment experience and plug the payment accordingly,” said Agrawal. “Higher success rates mean good checkout experience of customers and smooth handling for the merchant.”
Innoviti, through its partnerships with multiple banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank even American Express and meal-voucher company like Sodexo, has the ability to offer merchants many payment options. The company already works with major retail chains like Lifestyle, Reliance Fresh, Tanishq and Inox, managing their card payments. The company recently launched UPI payments through its terminals as well.
“We have already deployed around 50,000 terminals and process more than Rs 20,000 crore of payments annually through more than 12 crore transactions,” said Agrawal. “We hope to add another 1,000 merchants in smaller towns and double the transaction volume over the next 12 to 18 months.”
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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued demand notices to all the four companies that bought spectrum in the recently concluded auction, asking them to make payments by August 16.NDA Candidate Dhankar Elected New Vice Prez
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Sometimes it is hard not to be amazed at what people can do, like making a portable home console in the size of an Altoids tin.
Hardware modder, Shank, has amazingly cramped a functioning Wii, not an emulator, into an Altoids tin. Frankenstein it with buttons from the 3DS, a battery, a screen and what Shank got was a portable Wii, dubbed KillMii, that can last about 10 minutes on battery.
The KillMii is finished! It's a fully functional Wii portable inside an actual Altoids tin. It runs hot, has a 10 minute battery life, and awful controls, but it's a real Wii inside (not an emulator.) It's the worst thing ever. pic.twitter.com/WrqiPmVHJB
— Shank (@dyxlesci) September 30, 2018
With a portable Wii this size, Polygon has made a count that you can fit 12 KillMiis into an original Wii console. Granted the original Wii console had a disk drive, but KillMii is portable.


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Entrepreneur Mr Valente has just moved his mentoring academy for tradespeople into a new 2,000 sq ft office in the Brightfield Business Hub, in Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate.
He has already taken on 14 staff for the Trade Mastermind and Coaching Academy and hopes to recruit a further 50 people during the New Year.
He is also preparing to launch his business in America, Canada and Australia.
Mr Valente, who shot to fame in 2015 when he won BBC’s The Apprentice, said: “We already have almost £1 million in sales and we are only just getting going.”
His academy and his Trade Accelerator University, which offers 24 hour online learning, are aimed at sole traders and small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction industry.
Mr Valente said: “This is about teaching business owners the skills they need to build up and grow their businesses.”
The lessons are delivered in varied ways from large group webinars to online one-to-one tuition.
Mr Valente said his success and failure - he built up his boiler installation company ImpraGas, in Yaxley, from scratch into a £10 million turnover business over eight years only to see it close just months after selling it - were the strengths of his mentoring.
He said: “We are giving clients lessons in success and failure.
“We know what the up and downside looks like. We’ve failed so they don’t have to.”


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PALO ALTO, CA: Hewlett-Packard has launched the largest and most aggressive enterprise marketing campaign in the company's history, aimed at getting CIOs and other IT executives to embrace, not fear, change. The effort comes as the company continues its attempt to successfully position itself in an increasingly competitive technology marketplace.
"This is the biggest push we've done around enterprise," said Stacey Hoskin, senior manager for adaptive enterprise PR. "We're opening some eyes about how strong and robust our solutions are. This campaign really reinforces that we are serious about this."
The enterprise campaign comes on the heels of HP's biggest consumer product launch late last summer. That campaign focused on 158 new consumer and digital products, presenting HP as an innovator in the eyes of consumers. This new campaign also hopes to present HP as a leader and innovator, this time with an enterprise audience. The two campaigns are part of HP's ongoing efforts to help redefine its image from a PC and printer company to a global technology leader in all markets, from digital technology to IT.
HP, working with its enterprise PR agency of record Burson-Marsteller, is reaching out to analysts, trade media, and tech and business press with those messages, with a strong focus on the success clients have had with HP.
The global marketing campaign launched last week under the slogan "change +hp," showcasing HP customers, including Kimberly-Clark, the US Postal Service, and the Screen Actors Guild, who use the company's technology to master change.
"We talked to CIOs and IT executives about what keeps them up at night, and they said 'change,'" said Stacy Katz, HP's director of corporate media relations. "Change could mean anything from their company's change in business objectives, to changes in their IT needs. What distinguishes us as a global brand is we listen to our customers and help them solve these problems. We create a dialogue, and partner with current and prospective customers to help them handle changes. We don't dictate what they have to do, unlike some of our competitors."
PR and advertising will play vital roles in the campaign, as it roles out in the coming weeks and months, as well as around the world. While HP will present customer case studies to the media and analysts, it is also presenting those customers' successes directly to the public.
The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal both featured 16-page inserts last week showcasing HP customers. Each company was featured in a two-page spread detailing how HP products and services helped those customers deal with change.


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From UC Browser to the Kings of Chinese internet industries, all are doing a core business in India Photograph:( Others )
China’s Internet market is growing at a phenomenal rate with more than 731 million users at present. The market is so enormous that there are around 200 different app stores in the country at present. Gaining abundant success in the domestic market, China’s tech giants simultaneously pushed their boundaries, creating waves in rest of the world, despite stiff competition.
China is the second largest economy in the world - worth of $11 trillion as per World Bank’s 2017 figures with the US bagging the first rank $18 trillion. Despite this, China's market has often been characterised by skeptics as an act of mere "replication" of products made elsewhere in the world. But having said that, it is undeniable that Chinese Internet giants are vying with early starters of the western world.
In the year 2011, China blocked Google Play, since its authority wanted Google to store Chinese users' data on China's servers. In addition, the authority needed Google to filter its search results, which Google refused. Instead of being dispirited, country’s tech giants came up with its own alternative for the search engine. Soon, the market was taken over by Baidu, a popular Chinese search engine that became China’s Google. Today, Baidu happens to be the sixth largest Internet company in the world.
According to Mary Meeker’s attest Internet Trends report, another Chinese production, the UC browser made it to the list of the top ten-most downloaded apps in India.
According to Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends report, another Chinese production, the UC browser made it to the list of the top ten-most downloaded apps in India, ranking at the sixth position with WhatsApp at the first, followed by Facebook Messenger. This Chinese search engine reached the Indian Internet market in 2008. During those years, only two search engines were operational--UC Browser and Opera Mini. Therefore, it was easier back then to develop credibility and win the trust of people. It was a preferred over Opera mini in smartphones and desktops.
"UC Inside, World in Hand", the browser's slogan said it all. Over the years, UC Browser’s Indian market share has risen to 41.76 per cent, beating Google Chrome which is at 38.99 per cent, according to the reports of StatCounter. Late last year's data shows that more than 100 million active users access UC browser on their mobile phones.
The consistent rise in Indian internet users’ graph estimates around 465 million users in 2017, as per the report of Internet and Mobile Association of India.
Since India's Internet sector is burgeoning at a rapid pace with rising number of social media websites, growing Internet penetration, and increasing sophistication and diversification of small businesses, it is predicted that its Internet market will grow by 2.5 times by 2020. Other international tech giants, such as Amazon and Uber are inspired enough to invest billion dollars into the country. Besides, as per the report of Internet and Mobile Association of India, there are around 465 million Internet users in 2017.
China’s Internet sector giants were left with two choices—either to target West or East. Their decision to capture eastern countries like India with potential users turned out to be sensible. A Chinese beautifying app, “Beauty Plus”, is a rage in India because of the selfie-obsessed youth. The parent company - Meitu, that developed the app, did a thorough research before stepping into the Indian market. Since a majority of Indian girls seek fair and blemish free looks, this app introduced makeup filters for flawless-looking skin. Earlier, as the country was struggling with slow Internet speed, the company launched a lighter version of the app called “Beauty Plus Me”. One of the believed approaches of these Chinese firms is that they are not easily swayed by what is cool and in trend; instead, they go for what is the requirement of the target market.
Mobo Market app, which is China’s version of Google Play Store, is proved to be more advanced and diversified than the latter one itself. The company is promoting its applications in full swing in India and adding features specific to the country--it now has Beta support for multiple Indian languages including Bengali, Urdu, Marathi, and Tamil. On the other hand, China's “ShareIt”, the fastest file transfer tool - 200 times the Bluetooth speed—bagged the third position in the Top 10-most downloaded apps on Google Play in 2017. Furthermore, recently China's Wechat, an instant messaging app by Tencent, has invested in India’s WhatsApp rival Hike messenger.
China’s e-commerce giant, Alibaba Company turned around the picture of its domestic, small and middle scale businesses and of the firms around the world via web portals.
China’s e-commerce giant, Alibaba Company turned around the picture of its domestic, small and middle scale businesses and of the firms around the world via web portals. Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba group, who is officially the richest man in China did not use the magic mantra of “Open Sesame” which worked for the original Alibaba of the Arabian Nights - opening the mouth of the cave in which forty thieves have hidden a treasure. Instead, it was Ma’s struggle and determination that helped Alibaba to scale such heights. Currently, Alibaba group has handsomely invested in some of India’s major e-commerce businesses, most famous among these being Paytm. Besides, Baidu is also expected to invest in Indian e-commerce startups including, Zomato, BookMyShow, and Bigbasket.
China's tech titans, Baidu (search), Alibaba(e-commerce) and Tencent (instant messaging and gaming)-(BAT), called as the "Kings of Chinese Internet industries" although being distinct from each other, but are doing core businesses in the country. It is, therefore, definitely a major breakthrough for India as well. Furthermore, let’s see if this companionship works in strengthening India-China relations when there is already a peril going on in between both the countries over Doklam border standoff.


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Mon, Apr 13th 2009 11:50am
Some new internet regulations recently went into effect in South Korea, forcing sites with more than 100,000 users per day to confirm users' personal information before they upload content or leave comments, so they can ensure people post content under their real names. The cutoff was lowered from sites with 300,000 daily users, and the new, lower bar caught YouTube Korea. But instead of complying with the system, Google has instead disabled uploading and comments on its Korean site (via PaidContent). Google's stance on censorship of its search results in China garnered it a lot of bad press; the fact that YouTube Korea lags behind other local video sites in popularity probably made this latest decision a bit easier. Apparently, though, people can easily get around the ban by using versions of YouTube aimed at other countries -- highlighting the frivolity of these sorts of laws given the global nature of the internet. Unless countries want to go as far as setting up Great Firewalls of their own, users will easily circumvent the rules, should they so desire.
If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...
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Japan demo shows electricity entering EV through tires
Israeli inventor has backers for cardboard bicycle
NASCAR tests tires on a unique machine that can spin rubber at 200 mph
(Phys.org) —Tens of thousands of NASCAR race fans will converge March 30 in nearby Martinsville for the STP 500, watching dozens of race cars zip around the Martinsville Speedway at speeds exceeding 130 ...
Self-inflating bike tires campaign for dollars
Wireless tire pressure monitoring systems in cars may compromise privacy, pose security threat
New wireless technologies in cars may compromise a driver's privacy and pose a security threat, warn researchers at Rutgers University.
Let it roll: Low-resistance tires save drivers money
(Phys.org) —Drivers who switch to tires with low rolling resistance can save an average of nearly $150 a year, says a University of Michigan researcher.
Green tires: Where the rubber meets the road
Most of us don't think about tires much until we either get a flat or they wear out, and then the bite of up to $1,000 or more for all four corners sure gets our attention. Most of all, we don't think of tires as having anything ...
Hertz to recycle all its tires
Do you have any idea what happens to the tires when you junk your car? I didn't think so. What about the 1.2 million tires on the 300,000 cars that are in the Hertz rental car fleet at any one time? I didn't think you had ...
Isoprene research could lead to eco-friendly car tires
(Phys.org) -- The worlds rubber supplies are in peril, and automobile tire producers are scrambling to seek alternative solutions.
Student designs of 'intelligent' tires for tomorrow win kudos at a prestigious international trade show
(Phys.org)—Intelligent tires may be just around the corner – especially if designs by students in the University of Cincinnati's nationally number-one ranked industrial design program are realized.
Historic blaze fueled a boom in tire recycling, advances in fire monitoring
An historic tire fire 30 years ago that blazed on for nine months in the northwest Virginia Appalachians, releasing giant plumes of toxic smoke, sparked a recycling revolution and advances in fire-monitoring methods. The ...
How studded winter tires may damage public health, as well as pavement
Scientists are reporting new evidence on how studded tires wintertime fixtures in some areas but banned in others for causing damage to pavement may also damage the health of motorists and people living near ...
Sensata to buy Schrader Intl in $1 billion deal
Sensata Technologies plans to inflate its presence in pressure sensing equipment with a $1 billion deal to buy privately held Schrader International, which makes tire pressure monitoring sensors.
Waste dump at the end of the world
On their mission to the moon in 1969 the Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin created arguably the most famous footprints ever. Since the time the astronauts of the Apollo 11 Mission stepped onto the ...


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City’s sales tax revenue is down so far in 2012
May 8, 2012
By Warren Kagarise
Issaquah municipal government did not collect as much revenue January through March as it did during the same period a year ago, although planned developments could strengthen city finances.
In 2011, sales tax revenues increased almost 10 percent from 2010, but only due to sales tax on construction, mostly related to Swedish/Issaquah.
However, the city received about $6.1 million in revenue through March, down 6 percent — or $393,286 — from the same period a year ago. The figure includes sales tax revenue, building permits, grants and other funding sources.
The construction of Swedish/Issaquah bolstered the 2011 total.
“The difference was, in 2011, we had a lot of sales tax on construction coming in still from Swedish hospital,” city Finance Director Jim Blake said April 24 in a presentation to City Council members. “That died down around April and it went back to a normal type of a sales tax trend that we’ve been seeing.”
Blake attributed the decline in revenue to a spike in onetime costs, including some related to severance packages for city employees shed during a reorganization at City Hall.
In the reorganization, officials touted a more streamlined municipal government and focused less on cost.
The total Issaquah municipal budget is $85.7 million — including about $36 million for police and fire services, community development and planning, parks and recreation, and municipal government.
Issaquah, like other local governments, must make do in the economic downtown. The reshaped economy means reduced sales tax revenue and less money from building permit fees — key sources of city dollars.
Blake offered a conservative estimate and said overall revenue could decline 8.8 percent from last year — although he said sales tax revenue from proposed construction is likely to close the gap.
“It’s kind of like the worst-case scenario. I mean, it could be worse if something unexpected happens,” he said.
However, sales tax revenue related to the construction on the Regency Centers retail complex in the Issaquah Highlands is expected to boost city coffers. (The project received approval from the Urban Village Development Commission on May 1.)
Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or firstname.lastname@example.org. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.


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Jay Z brought his signature sneakers to the 2024 Super Bowl sidelines on Sunday in Las Vegas.
The rapper wore a pair of his Reebok S. Carter x Jay Z sneakers in white. The style, originally released in 2003 at Foot Locker locations around the United States, was the first of his “S. Carter Collection” with Reebok.
More from Footwear News
Jay Z’s Reebok sneaker sold 10,000 pairs hours after its release. Although he wasn’t the first rapper to have a signature sneaker, his collaboration with Reebok is considered a game-changer for the shoe industry.
Jay Z attended the Super Bowl with his daughters, Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter, who wore both coordinating with him in bomber jackets. Blue Ivy wore a pair of Nike dunk low “Industrial Blue” sneakers while Rumi donned leather booties.
The rapper received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 4 for his contribution to music and hip hop.
At the Grammys, Blue Ivy provided another fashionable moment wearing a pair of white leather boots by Larroudé, which added more glamour to her custom Vivienne Westwood princess dress.
The Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the San Francisco 49ers at the 57th annual Super Bowl, held in Las Vegas. Usher will headline this year’s halftime show. Reba McEntire performed the National Anthem and Post Malone sand “America the Beautiful.”
Super Bowl 2024 Celebrity Arrivals and Shoe Moments
Launch Gallery: Super Bowl 2024 Celebrity Arrivals and Shoe Moments
Best of Footwear News


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NEW YORK — No rent collection while in jail, double the dough for landing on Go and clean out Free Parking if your luck takes you there are among five made-up Monopoly rules Facebook fans voted in for future editions of the board game.
Several thousand people weighed in on “house rules” over 10 days of recent debate and a year after Hasbro Inc. added a cat token and retired the iron a stunt aimed to keep the 79–year–old game fresh.
New means old all over again in this case since house rules are often passed on through generations. Some casual players may have thought a few of the 10 in the running before debate ended Thursday were already in the official rule book. And some, even regular players, might not have heard of others.
Hasbro’s house rules debate came after the company received results of a survey showing nearly 70 percent of 1,000 respondents reported never having read all Monopoly rules and 34 percent said they had made up rules more than once.
The winning house rule for landing on Go means players get 400 Monopoly dollars instead of the official 200. As for Free Parking, official rules call for absolutely nothing to happen when a player lands there. Under the house rule, any taxes and fees collected are thrown into the middle for a lucky someone who lands on that corner square.
Rounding out the five winners are players must travel around the board one full time before they can begin buying properties, and collecting 500 bucks for rolling double ones.
To appease hardcore players not interested in new rules, the Pawtucket, R.I., company will put the winners into a special House Rules Edition to be released in the fall and add them to classic Monopoly’s game guide next year as unofficial.
AP Photo/Steven Senne This photo shows a cat token, the newest Monopoly token on the game board at Hasbro Inc. headquarters, in Pawtucket, R.I. Hasbro has released a limited “house rules” edition of the popular board game.×
AP Photo/Hasbro This image provided by Hasbro, shows the board game Monopoly. Hasbro has released a limited “house rules” edition of the popular board game.×


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The whole confusion in connection with the resignation of Elon Muska began with … the contribution on Twitter, which was published in August. Musk announced on the social networking site that he has funds to remove the company from the stock market for a price of $ 420 per share. After placing such a post, the company's shares rose by more than 9%, but it turned out that the listing contained untruth.
The issue was dealt with by the American Securities Commission, which started a study of Muska's activities a few days ago. It was stressed that President Tesla's statements were "false and misleading".
"Musk has not even discussed the key terms of the transaction, let alone confirmed, including the price, with any potential source of funding," said the US financial regulator. The BBC recalls that Musk initially refuted accusations and assured that he acted in "the importance of truth, transparency and the well-being of investors".
Musk eventually signed an agreement whereby he and Tesla have to pay a fine of $ 20 million. Musk must also resign from the post of president of Tesla for a period of three years. From now on he will be the general manager.


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Thailand will apply for membership in CPTPP trade group
As part of its policy to expand its free trading relationships, the Thai government is preparing its application for the Kingdom to join the CPTPP trade group that includes nearly a dozen countries around the Pacific Rim, a government official said last week.
The government plans to submit the necessary documents to formally seek membership in the trade group before the end of this month ahead of a general election that is scheduled to take place, said Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department at the Commerce Ministry.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, entered into force on December 30 of last year. Thailand is one of several countries that have expressed interest in joining the pact that currently has 11 members.
The members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam, most of which have already ratified the agreement.
Thailand has a solid commitment to free trade. The Kingdom has signed several bilateral free-trade agreements (FTA) and is pursuing others. It is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Area, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which is a free trade agreement linking the ten ASEAN countries with China, Australia, India, South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand. The RCEP is not yet in force.
The countries of the CPTPP currently account for about 13 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, and it contains a market of 500 million people. The agreement is designed to cut tariffs on agricultural and industrial products, ease investment restrictions and enhance intellectual property protection.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, the Kingdom’s chief economic policymaker, has long been in favor of Thailand joining the CPTPP. He ordered various ministries to study the pact and report on its costs and benefits to the country.
Auramon said a study conducted by the Ministry of Commerce concluded that membership would lead to increased trade and investment for the country while upgrading regulations and standards. It would also help cement Thailand’s position as a major manufacturing base for foreign-affiliated manufacturers.
Thailand’s economy relies heavily on exports, and increased access to foreign markets and lower or no tariffs are bound to help the country’s economy to grow even faster.


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NEW DELHI -- Maruti Suzuki India aims to attract technology-driven youth with its premium hatchback Ignis, set to launch Jan. 13.
India's largest automaker will offer the vehicle through its Nexa outlets, which also sell Baleno and S-Cross models. The Ignis will be available in gasoline and diesel variants powered by 1.2-liter and 1.3-liter engines, respectively.
The hatchback, designed for the 18-35 age group, comes with automatic gearshift options as well as an Android- and iOS-compatible smartphone linkage display audio system. Online bookings for Ignis will start early next month, Maruti Suzuki officials said Thursday, though they refrained from disclosing the price range at this stage.
Maruti Suzuki eyes the country's 440 million young adults "who have a different style of thinking, listen to their inner voice most of the time and believe in exclusivity," R.S. Kalsi, executive director of marketing and sales, told reporters here.
These individuals will drive India's growth, and Maruti Suzuki is the first company to identify the choices of this group, Kalsi said. "There's no car brand that is talking to them, and they are left to choose what is available," he said. "Here's a car that is going to talk directly to these millennials."
Ignis is India's "first urban compact vehicle" for this age group, Kalsi said.
Target customers are digitally connected first-time buyers who eschew compromise. "They want best of designs, the looks, features, global standards -- everything has to be there in that package," said Vinay Pant, assistant vice president of marketing. "But again the practicality comes in: It should be a city car which they can maneuver here and there."
Parent Suzuki Motor launched Ignis in Japan back in February, selling 18,000 by the end of August. The company's Indian unit looks to cater to the domestic market first, followed by exports to South and Southeast Asia. Maruti Suzuki said research and development took three and a half years.


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Class project may change the entire shipping industry
With hundreds of thousands of packages and shipments crossing the globe, especially during the holiday season, the industry has turned to UBC Okanagan researchers to develop better ways to track parcels.
Marine shipping accounts for 20 per cent of all Canadian imports and exports, so there’s little wonder that the maritime transportation industry is keen on improving its tracking capabilities, says UBCO’s Zheng Liu.
Liu, a professor in the School of Engineering, says his team of student researchers are using deep learning algorithms, including cloud computing technology, to help create a monitoring software that can be used by shipping companies to track shipments more effectively.
“Deep learning works like the human brain by making smart conclusions with the information at hand,” explains Liu. “Our algorithm takes the shipping container code, even one that is not clearly legible, and is able to extract its information accurately.”
When shipped, containers use a common code that tells the monitoring software where the container is from and where it is going. The researchers were looking to improve existing methods—today’s systems locate the code on the container, and then quickly and accurately recognize the code.
By using a state-of-the-art algorithm and advanced tracking hardware, the researchers were able to get the system to recognize the tracking information in less than a second. In comparison with the manual check and entry, the solution can greatly improve efficiency at the port.
In collaboration with CANSCAN, a company that uses artificial intelligence to secure shipping containers, the UBC student researchers have been developing tools for use at the Port of Montreal, which is an international container port that services Toronto and the rest of central Canada. The port tracks nearly two million containers annually—and these containers are currently being tracked with manual systems.
The student project, called Applying Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence to Maritime Transportation, won top prize at the school’s capstone engineering contest last spring. The goal was to make the shipping containers immediately identifiable using artificial intelligence. This research will free up time for workers at the port who still input data manually.
“By digitizing the logistics of shipping containers, it helps to further improve shipping transportation to ultimately ensure that packages destined for our doorstep arrive on-time while being tracked from the sender to us,” says Liu.
The research, with funding from Mitacs, was published in the latest edition of the journal IEEE Xplore.


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tri-Ace RPG in shadow of FF XIII
Final Fantasy XIII is unquestionable the role-playing event of the year, but that isn't stopping other developers from pushing their wares this spring in the shadow of the massive series.
Star Ocean developer tri-Ace has finished work on Resonance of Fate, an original role-playing game to be published by Sega a mere week after Final Fantasy XIII. Only seven days separate the two games, but there's sure to be far more distance between the two in terms of sales.
The anticipation has been growing exponentially for Square Enix's game, which obviously puts Resonance of Fate in a poor position. Of course, the March 16 release is far better than the original date that had been set: March 9, the very same day on which Final Fantasy XIII comes out.
We'll know just how much difference a week makes soon enough.
- Star Citizen hits 55 million USD in funding and makes the Guinness Book Of World Records
- New PS Vita update brings in Themes
- The Last Team Standing update arrives for GTA Online
- Syndicate spiritual successor Satellite Reign gets a new HD gameplay video
- Last chance to back card-collecting RPG Eminence: Xander's Tales on Kickstarter
- October PS Plus Instant Game Collection line-up announced with Driveclub as a bonus
- Betas planned for every platform should ensure Battlefield: Hardline will work at launch
- Latest patch for Battlefield 4 fixes just about everything and unblocks your kitchen sink
- Warface gets updated with new maps and a few gameplay tweaks


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Failure to Launch
The Internet has leveled the commerce playing field by giving businesses of all sizes the chance to sell. As a result, more and more small companies and start-ups are eager to dive into the online world to jump-start success.
According to Thomas Harpointner, CEO of Atlanta-based Web service and marketing firm AIS Media, about 90% of these companies believe that most of their sales will either occur through the Internet or be brought in from online marketing.
However, companies that are looking to launch an e-commerce site often fall into traps that ruin their chances of success. Here are some tips on how to avoid the most commonly made mistakes:
Lack of proper planning: “We advise clients of the “5 Ps of Success”: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance,” said Harpointner, who has 15 years of experience working with companies about to launch e-commerce sites. “An e-commerce site should be thought of as a new venture. With the proper attention, it can deliver substantial results. But someone within the company should be dedicated to managing it.”
Hiring the lowest bidder: Expect to get what you pay for, he said. “Internet users today are far more sophisticated than they were just a few years ago. They have raised the bar in expectation levels of professionalism, usability, functionality and interactivity.” That said, retailers should hire solution partners accordingly.
Failing to market the site: “Be prepared to market your site with e-mail newsletters, on search engines, through the press and via traditional marketing techniques such as direct mailers, links within your catalog and in-store displays, if applicable,” Harpointner said. “Nobody cares unless you effectively get the word out to customers.”
Unrealistic or lack of expectations: Establishing expectations up front helps eliminate disappointment later, he said. What about companies that can’t seem to do this on their own? Communicating these expectations to an e-commerce consultant will help companies make an effective plan and meet company goals. Simply stated, “Define your success,” he said.
At some point, all retailers may have fallen into one or more of these traps. The good news is that the digital age is primed for trial and error and the ability to correct mistakes.
“It is also important to prepare for mistakes by putting policies in place,” he said. “Anticipate the most common mistakes and assign them to members of your staff in advance. This will ensure that they are resolved promptly and efficiently when they arise.”
With the proper planning in place, retailers are able to focus on the lifeline of their business—the customer. More importantly, Harpointner stressed the importance of understanding the needs of the customer. With more interactive solutions at their disposal, this task has never been easier for retailers. Through features like online reviews, consumers can openly voice their opinion to retailers—whether it involves positive or negative feedback.
Merchants should not discount negative feedback from a shopper willing to share an experience. “One customer’s isolated complaint may indicate a broader problem,” he noted. “Instead of viewing a customer complaint as a nuisance, view it as an opportunity.”
Hands down, the biggest opportunity that could come of this information is how to avoid repeating the same mistake with other shoppers.
Judge revokes LeNature, Giant Eagle deal
PITTSBURGH The LeNature bottling facility in Latrobe, Pa. will go to Cadbury Schweppes Bottling Group Inc. instead of Giant Eagle Inc., following a federal bankruptcy court decision that Giant Eagle acted in poor faith throughout the bidding process for the plant.
Bankruptcy court judge M. Bruce McCullough ruled that Giant Eagle behaved in bad taste during the process, by threatening not to carry 15 Cadbury Schweppes soft drinks, teas, and bottled waters at its stores.
Although the judge awarded the plant to Cadbury Schweppes for $19 million, the company said that it no longer wanted the plant, and according to reports, Giant Eagle plans to appeal the decision.
LeNature was forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy (later Chapter 11) last November after a former ceo was found to have inflated sales figures for 2005.
BJ’s veteran promoted to chief marketer
NATTICK, Mass. BJ’s Wholesale Club has promoted Edward Gillooly to the new position of evp, chief marketing officer. Gillooly was most recently serving as senior vp, director of marketing.
Gillooly joined BJ’s in 1991 as assistant vp, marketing director. In 1992, he became vp of the marketing department. In September 2002, he retired from the company. In January 2007, he came back to BJ’s to head its marketing department.


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If you avoid using text-messaging and mobile e-mail functions on your cell phone because the keypad doesn’t lend itself to those tasks, Telus Mobility might have a solution in the offing.
The wireless carrier has invested in Digit Wireless, a Cambridge, Mass. company that has designed a new cell phone keypad meant to make data input easier.
Known as the “Fastap” keypad, this interface replaces the typical 12-button cell phone face with a 45-button array, which accounts for all of the alphanumeric combinations you’d create on the everyday QWERTY keyboard, said Digit’s CEO Dr. David Levy.
“The handsets themselves have gotten much better. [With] the combination of bigger screens and better software, it’s much easier to get text messages. The only problem that’s left is the keypad. It’s easily overlooked because we’re so used to it.”
He said Digit hasn’t tested Fastap among consumers yet, so he has no empirical data to suggest it’s better for text input than is the standard cell phone keypad. Still, he pointed out that the telephone keypad is half a century old, and designed for numerical combinations.
“If you’re inhibited by a technology that’s 50 years old and not designed for the application, I don’t think there should be any doubt in anybody’s mind that if you design something for the task, it will be better than something not designed for the task,” Levy said.
Telus Mobility aims to bring this data-oriented keypad to market later this year in a phone built by LG Electronics. At the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association’s (CTIA) Wireless 2004 conference it Atlanta last month, LG displayed one of its 5450 camera phones modified with Fastap keypad software and hardware, as a demonstration of what’s to come.
Telus Mobility put money into Digit via Telus Ventures, a corporate investment fund. The partnership with Digit and LG “is as natural a fit for us as the Fastap keyboard is on a mobile phone,” said Robert Blumenthal, Telus Mobility’s vice-president of products and services, in a statement.
A Telus Mobility spokesperson said the Fastap phone should hit the market in the fall at a price near $350 without a service contract.


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Flower show at Fatehsagar -10 fragrance filled days
10 day flower show to begin from 25th December at Fatehsagar pal.
For 10 days from 25th December onwards, Udaipurites can enjoy the beauty of flowers at Fatehsagar pal. The entire promenade will provide a feeling of freshness to the public of Udaipur and tourists as well. Until 3rd January, treat your senses with various colourful flowers and carry home some of the beauty with you.
Administration and UIT have started making arrangements for the flower show 2017. UIT Chairman Ravindra Shrimali said that UIT and Municipal Corporation will display various species of flowers in these 10 days. Private firms and hotels have been invited to make this show even more appealing to public. All those who have participated in flower show in the past are being contacted for their contribution this year, too.
Many people have developed beautiful plant gallery at their homes. These people can also be a part of the flower show and display their plants. To make the people aware of the importance of environment conservation, it has been decided to give away plants free of cost like every year.
The first flower show was organised in February 2014 at Fatehsagar pal. This was a three-day event and was appreciated by public. Plant lovers had enthusiastically participated in this show. Assessing the interest of public, it was then decided to organise flower show every year in the month of December. Since December is the time of winter vacations, more and more people can enjoy the flower show.
In 2014 itself another flower show was held in December which was for 10 days. Following years in 2015 and 2016, public enjoyed the 10 day flower show in the month of December. This year again, the flower show is expected to attract more crowds since tourism is at its peak in December. Fatehsagar pal smells good with a variety of flowers…some of which are a delight to eyes and arouse curiosity.


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The textile industry is the leading indispensable sector in Turkish industry. The first link of the professional chain, which is very important for the national economy, is yarn. The international competition perceived in almost all industries today is also felt intensely in yarn manufacturing.
Yarn manufacturers who want to step forward and gain an advantage in the extremely competitive setting are preparing to gather for the 16th time at the International Istanbul Yarn Fair, which will be held, between February 28 and March 2, 2019.
Turkey, the major yarn manufacturer in its region, became more powerful with the Yarn Fair organized with the participation of 308 companies and company representatives from 15 countries this year. Tüyap hosted more than 12,000 visitors related to the yarn industry, and rightfully became very proud thanks to the prominent business environment created.
With the intense promotional activities carried out in target countries in 2018, participating companies from many countries of the world, especially Morocco, Tunisia, India, Iran, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Russia visited their fair and realized important deals thanks to the purchasing groups.
The Istanbul Yarn Fair, expected to host thousands of visitors in 2019 by increasing its promotional activities, is continuing to book stands for companies that want to open up to international markets.
If you want to book a stand and participate in the second biggest yarn fair in the world, please contact their project team at http://iplikfuari.com/en/show-team


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Ubiq Security and Sobal Corporation Announce New Partnership
Leading Japanese digital technology company partners with Ubiq to address their customers need for data-first security and privacy solutions.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., February 11, 2020 –Ubiq Security, Inc. a data-first security and privacy solutions provider, announced a partnership with Sobal Corporation in Japan, a leading digital communications technology provider, to deliver fast, multi-domain data protection for Japanese enterprises.
Sobal Corporation has a strong reputation in the development of embedded software and firmware for digital products as well as R&D of wireless communication technologies. The ability to secure data is an essential component in what they deliver to their customers, and they can now provide this capability through Ubiq’s data-first security and privacy platform.
The transmission and reception of large volumes of sensitive data, such as video streaming, has increased exponentially, enabled by rapid speeds of communication technology including the introduction of 5G. The need for more robust, faster, low-latency data security that spans any type of network infrastructure is now inevitable.
“We are now partnering with Ubiq to deploy powerful security-related software. Sobal will work with Ubiq to provide more robust and optimal solutions for our customers,” said Atsushi Shiizu, Sobal Corporation President & CEO.
“We are very excited to partner with Sobal, a successful and forward-thinking leader in the market, with deep and trusted customer relationships. Together, we aspire to enable our customers to meet their data security and privacy needs, in this increasingly complex and connected world,” said Wias Issa, Ubiq CEO.
Sobal Corporation will take to market Ubiq’s data-first security and privacy software platform, that secures data at the point of inception and enables only authorized system and user access throughout its lifecycle.
Learn more about Ubiq’s Partner Program at: https://www.ubiqsecurity.com/partner
Ubiq is a technology company that has simplified the complex and messy world of encryption through a set of APIs, that are simple enough for any developer to use, yet scalable and extensible enough to encrypt data effortlessly across diverse applications and programming languages, cloud environments, and storage types. By enabling developers to quickly integrate encryption into their applications, Ubiq is empowering innovators around the world to efficiently build more secure products and experiences.
For more information, visit www.ubiqsecurity.com.
Setup is quick and easy
Ready to get started?
Create a FREE account instantly and start encrypting data or get in touch to discuss a custom package for your organization.


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Limelight Aspen to close for renovations this spring
Flagship Limelight location aims for Thanksgiving reopening
The Limelight Aspen will close for renovations this spring, The Little Nell Hotel Group announced Thursday.
The flagship Limelight property (there are two others in Snowmass Village and Ketchum, Idaho) will undergo “top to bottom” renovations to all of the hotel’s public spaces as well as all 126 guestrooms and suites, according to a news release.
A complete closure of the hotel begins April 11 with a goal to reopen around Thanksgiving, said Meaghan Lynch, public relations manager for Limelight Hotels. The hotel already closed online reservations for the Aspen location, so there are no guests to rebook; those interested in staying at a local Limelight property will be redirected to Limelight Snowmass, according to Lynch.
The project will primarily focus on an interior revamp and is unlikely to impact traffic and parking near the hotel, Lynch said.
Stonehill Taylor, a New York City-based design firm, will take the lead on the contemporary renovation featuring “natural material coupled with metallic accents and pops of bright color,” the release states. The firm also worked on Limelight Snowmass, which opened in 2018.
“The renovation of our flagship Limelight property ushers in a new era for the brand,” Little Nell Hotel Group Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Alinio Azevedo said in the release. “The completion of the Limelight Hotel Aspen renovation will set the new standard for the Limelight brand and align the design aesthetic with future Limelight Hotel developments.”
Updates at the Limelight Aspen will also inform the design of a not-yet-open Limelight property near the base of Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California, according to the news release.
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He’s a former Aspen resident, a California surfer, and allegedly connected to high-powered foreign actors.


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NEW YORK, (Pakistan Point News - APP - 14th Nov, 2016 ) : Samsung's $8 billion offer for Harman International drove up shares in the auto electronics maker sharply while major US equities markets were little-changed early Monday. About a half-hour into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial average was up 0.3 percent at 18,904.23, building on last week's record close on the back of a post-election rally. The broader S&P 500 was flat at 2,164.76 However the tech-rich Nasdaq was 0.
1 percent lower at 5,229.71. Major tech stocks fell, with microsoft down 0.9 percent, Apple down 0.8 percent, Google parent Alphabet down 2.5 percent. Embattled South Korean electronics giant samsung announced Monday it would buy the US car audio and connectivity electronics specialist Harman for $8 billion in cash, equal to nearly 30 percent above the Stamford, Connecticut company's closing price on Friday $87.65. Harman shares were up 25 percent to $109.68, close to Samsung's offer price. Drugmakers gave up early gains to fall into negative territory, with Pfizer losing 0.6 percent, Eli Lilly and Co down 0.2 percent and Johnson & Johnson down 0.8 percent. Oil majors fell, with Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips all down between 0.3 and 0.7 percent, with the noted exception of Marathon Petroleum, which rose 0.7 percent ahead of a dividend payment to shareholders.


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Apple Inc. shares fell -3.1% to close at $126.04 -- a new 52-week low -- on Wednesday, on concerns over iPhone sales (although inching up + 0.5% in today’s pre-market trading session). The company’s stock is down more than -30% year-to-date.
Several analysts have cut their price targets on the stock in recent times. On December 20, JP Morgan’s Samik Chatterjee lowered the price target to $190 (from $200) while maintaining an Overweight rating on the stock. This analyst sees over 50% upside in the company’s stock.
On November 8, Morgan Stanley’s analyst Erik Woodring slashed the price target to $175 (from $177) while maintaining an Overweight rating. The analyst sees around 39% upside in the company’s stock.
Barclays analyst Tim Long reaffirmed an Equal-Weight rating on the stock on October 4, and reduced the price target to $144 (from $156). This analyst sees around 14% upside in the company’s stock.


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Fatty fish have long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which are good for health.
But some have methylmercury, which is toxic to the developing fetus.
And all have PCBs or other organic compounds that are unlikely to promote health.
The advice? Eat 2 to 3 servings of lower-mercury fish per week for a total of 8-12 ounces.
That's fine, but which fish are low in methylmercury?
For this, the agencies have created an reference chart that sorts 62 types of fish into three categories:
"Best Choices" (eat two to three servings a week)
"Good Choices" (eat one serving a week)
"Fish to Avoid"
Here's where things get tricky.
- Choices to avoid include, among others, Bigeye Tuna and Tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico.
- Good choices include Albacore and Yellowfin Tuna and Tilefish from the Atlantic Ocean.
Good luck telling the difference.
As I've written before (and also see this post and this one about fish politics), if you want to avoid methylmercury during pregnancy, it's best to avoid tuna. Consumer Reports advises pregnant women not to eat tuna at all.
Center for Science in the Public Interest said:
The best advice for pregnant or nursing women and parents of small children is to choose fish that are low in mercury and high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and sardines. They should avoid albacore tuna altogether and consume tuna labeled as "light tuna" very sparingly—no more than two ounces per week for women and one ounce per week for kids.
And are PCBs a non-issue? Could fish politics have anything to do with this?
Here are the documents:
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
The Centers for Disease Control has emphasized that washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective measures we can take in preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, millions of Americans in some of the most vulnerable communities face the prospect of having their water shut off during the lockdowns, according to The Guardian.
Aerial photos of the Sierra Nevada — the long mountain range stretching down the spine of California — showed rust-colored swathes following the state's record-breaking five-year drought that ended in 2016. The 100 million dead trees were one of the most visible examples of the ecological toll the drought had wrought.
Now, a few years later, we're starting to learn about how smaller, less noticeable species were affected.
Natthawat / Moment / Getty Images
Disinfectants and cleaners claiming to sanitize against the novel coronavirus have started to flood the market, raising concerns for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which threatened legal recourse against retailers selling unregistered products, according to The New York Times.
The global coronavirus pandemic has thrown our daily routine into disarray. Billions are housebound, social contact is off-limits and an invisible virus makes up look at the outside world with suspicion. No surprise, then, that sustainability and the climate movement aren't exactly a priority for many these days.
By Molly Matthews Multedo
Livestock farming contributes to global warming, so eating less meat can be better for the climate.


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O-I will give its support for new legislation aimed at educating and increasing recycling rates in the United States.
Senators Robert Portman and Debbie Stabenow have created the “Recycle Enhancements to Collection and Yield through Consumer Learning and Education (RECYCLE) Act of 2019.”
Randolph Burns, O-I’s Global VP of Government Relations, said: “O-I is thrilled to see bi-partisan legislation that will have an important impact on reducing waste and increasing the availability of recyclable materials, like glass.”
The RECYCLE Act, administered by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPE), is an outreach grant programme created to inform and educate consumers on which items are accepted in their municipal recycling programs.
O-I is the largest user of recycled glass (cullet) and using it in the manufacturing process to make new glass containers reduces the amount of energy needed and decreases greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are a global company and can see that other countries are much further ahead than the U.S. in terms of recycling behaviour.
“Europe has had tremendous success, so we know it’s possible.
“To change consumer habits we must start with education. This legislation provides a needed jolt of energy to jump-start action and momentum,” added Mr Burns.
Both non-profits organisations and public-private partnerships will be eligible to apply for funding.


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KARACHI-In a development for Sino-Pak trade and agricultural cooperation, Pakistan’s Dynamic Engineering and Automation and China’s Qingdao Lulu Agri Equip Co Ltd signed an MoU here to carry out a project to processing chilies in Pakistan for export to China.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counsellor, Pakistani Embassy in China, Qamar Zaman, Joint Secretary, Pakistani Ministry of Commerce (Agri Division) and Wang Zihai, Pakistan’s Hon’ble Investment Counsellor to China, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Sunday. With China currently being the world’s largest pepper producing and trading country, the MoU opens up new avenues for Pakistani enterprises to tap into the vast Chinese market. It also provides a platform for research collaboration and exchange programmes between the two companies, fostering mutual learning and growth.
Under the terms of the MoU, the two companies will jointly develop and coordinate work plans for the establishment of chilli production workshops, personnel management and technology transfer. At the end of last month, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and former Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif jointly witnessed the signing of a protocol on phytosanitary requirements for the export of dried chilies, showing the huge potential of Pakistan chili and provides a broader market opportunity for chili-related enterprises in the two countries. Li Zhimin, Chairman of Qingdao Lulu Equip, who participated in the first FoodAg held in Karachi from August 10 to 12, exchanged views with various chilli companies from Pakistan’s major chilli growing cities, including Karachi and Lahore, and reached cooperation intentions with six Pakistani companies.
Founded in 2015, Qingdao Lulu Agricultural Equipment Co Ltd is a diversified enterprise that integrates research and development, manufacturing and import and export of agricultural machinery and equipment. The company, which created the first chilli handle removal machine and sells well in China, exports its products mainly to India, and began exporting chilli processing equipment to Pakistan four years ago. India has been China’s largest source of imports for four consecutive years. Li pointed out, “Pakistan has similar geographical advantages of growing chilies as India, but the quality and yield of Pakistani chilies have relatively fallen behind due to the aging of the varieties and backward technology.” “As more and more Chinese enterprises like Lulu Equip invest in the variety improvement, mechanical planting and scientific processing of Pakistani chilli, it will provide a more stable and convenient trade environment for Pakistani chili export to China and promote the growth of bilateral trade,” Li added.
MOU signed for cultivation
of red chilies under CPEC
Chinese leading food firm Litong Food signed a memorandum of understanding with Guard Agriculture Research and Services (GARS) for cultivation of red chilies in Pakistan and subsequent export to China under CPEC framework, Gwadar Pro reported on Saturday. CEO GARS Shahzad Ali Malik said that under mutual agreement, the criteria for selecting seed production land shall consider the underlined factors such as long-term feasibility, land and water availability.
He said in a phased program a total of 200,000 acres of land will be brought under chili cultivation. “Joint efforts will be made to promote Chili seed breeding, Chili crop production and research with a focus on developing high-quality Chili seeds suitable for the local agricultural conditions and crop production for Litong as per requirement,” the company head added. Shahzad Ali Malik said it will boost chili export to China and improve the profitability of chili growers. He said Pak-China collaboration in agriculture will be further strengthened in the days to come. He said Guard Agriculture Research and Services along with Litong and Longping are also exhibiting together at International Food and Agriculture expo, Karachi.


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The annual inflation rate in Turkey was at 84.39% in November, down from 85.51% in October, official figures showed on Monday.
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the country’s annual inflation rate has posted the first decline since May 2021.
Turkey’s monthly inflation rate was at 2.88% in November, down from 3.54% in October.
The largest annual increase was seen in transportation with 107.3%, food and non-alcoholic beverage and home furniture followed it with 102.55% and 92.83%, respectively, in November.
Nureddin Nebati, the Turkish treasury and finance minister, tweeted that the country’s inflation had peaked and was now entering a downward trend, assuming no unexpected global developments.
Weaker prices of commodities and some improvement in global conditions played a role in the lower rate of inflation, he said, adding that various measures that Turkey adopted, such as forex-protected Turkish lira deposits, also had an effect on inflation.
The mechanism was introduced to compensate lira depositors for foreign currency fluctuations.
The downward trend in inflation will be more palpable with the base effect as of next month, Nebati said.


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The CBI is now forecasting GDP growth of 1.2% in 2013, up from 1.0% in its May forecast, after a better than expected second quarter and signs of a pick-up in confidence across a broad range of sectors, including services, construction and manufacturing.
In 2014, the CBI expects the economy to gather pace, forecasting 2.3% GDP growth up from 2.0% in May.
John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said: “The economy has started to gain momentum and confidence is picking up, but it’s still early days.
“We need to see a full-blown rebalancing of our economy, with stronger business investment and trade before we can call a sustainable recovery. We hope that will begin to emerge next year, as the Eurozone starts growing again.
“The Government needs to get behind talented UK businesses to help them break into new export markets and sell great British products and services around the globe.”
The CBI forecasts that the unemployment rate will be 7.8% in 2013, falling to 7.6% in 2014.


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Driven by strong employment and record export growth, the German economy has been the best performer among its G-20 counterparts. Buoyed by much optimism, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 2.5% in 2018.
Despite concerns over Brexit and growing populism in Europe, German businesses remain confident. According to IHK Bremen Managing Director Volkmar Herr: “Growth has not been dampened by domestic political turbulences. And these domestic issues are not high on the agenda of exporters and manufacturers. Germans realize that free trade is paramount for continued growth.”
Manrico Paulitschke, CEO of Berlin-based biotech company Provitro, says, “In spite of their cultural, economic and historical diversity, Germans have common characteristics: a strong work ethic and attention to process and detail. Our social market economy also values the interplay of free enterprise and a strong protection of a highly skilled permanent workforce.”
This socioeconomic model has made Germany a leading exporting nation. A manufacturing power in the 19th century, Germany focused on developing its export sector by supporting its small and medium–sized businesses in the mid-20th century.
Collectively known as the mittelstand, these companies account for more than 70% of GDP and are a major job generator.
“In 2015, German companies numbered 3.5 million and employed close to 29 million people. Small-medium sized companies accounted for 99.3% of those companies, about 61% of those employees and about 82% of company apprenticeships,” says Burkhard Schneider, executive director of Berlin-based BASCH Consult, which specializes in cross-border SME mergers and acquisitions.
Over the past decade, these little-known small and medium–sized companies have intensified their focus on the Asian region.
“Rising spending power in Asia, with its population of more than four billion, means that the high standard of German brands is becoming more valuable,” says Bremerhaven-based international moving company Brauns International CEO Wolfgang Makurat.
“The mittelstand’s strength stands on a long-term commitment towards its permanent employees. It is also characterized by a more personalized approach to customer service. This means we are able to respond faster to our clients’ needs, especially in the industry of international moving, where punctuality and attention to detail is the foundation of long lasting relationships,” he adds.
An outstanding example of the mittelstand that has had exceptional success on the global stage is luxury kitchen manufacturer, Poggenpohl. Built on a strong foundation of exquisite craftsmanship 125 years ago, the company continues to rely on the artistry of its homegrown workers, while incorporating state-of-the-art technology to deliver customized high-end kitchens around the world.
“Our brand is distinguished by quality, exclusivity and innovative developments that have resulted in worldwide recognition,” says Managing Director Thomas Kredatus.
While eastern Germany lags behind the Ruhr area and the automotive belt in the south, the reconstituted state of Brandenburg has cultivated fast–growing economic clusters in IT and Industry 4.0, a government-coined term to describe its project to automate and digitize manufacturing.
“With our plans to list on the stock exchange next year, we will launch a software service model for our expansion to other countries,” says Benjamin Akinci, the founder and CEO of abl social federation, which provides data solutions for Cisco Systems and Weston–Comstor, among others.
Located at Europe’s center, Brandenburg is ideally positioned to benefi t from China’s ambitious “One Belt, One Road” project.
“Brandenburg possesses advanced infrastructure that makes the region an ideal place for Asian companies to launch their operations throughout the EU,” says Brandenburg Invest Deputy Head for International Business Kirstin Wenk.
Because of their size and lean management structure, the mittlestand are also characterized by quick decision-making and agility. Looking beyond China, Asia figures largely in their long-term strategies.
“German companies have been greatly involved in giant markets such as China and Japan. However, India and the rapidly growing Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, with a combined population of almost 1.9 billion, offer excellent business opportunities for German enterprises in a wide range of sectors,” says German Asia Pacific Business Association Managing Director Timo Prekop.
These family-owned firms have become increasingly active in developing high-tech products for niche markets and supply chains of large companies. In 2014, more than 42% of these companies introduced an innovation in their products or processes.
Many foreign companies that found success in the EU adopted this German growth model. Tokyo-based petrochemicals company Asahi Kasei moved its European headquarters from Brussels to Du?sseldorf in 2016.
“As a foreign petrochemicals player and manufacturer of microsensors, we cannot match the size of German giants on their own turf. We do not intend to compete at their level. But our personalized approach to customer service and hands-on collaboration with local universities gives us an edge and allows us to become a contributor to industrial and environmental innovation in the local market,” Asahi Kasei Europe President Hideki Tsutsumi says.