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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles County restaurants were cleared today to reopen for limited dine-in service, as were barbershops and hair salons, as the state approved the county's request to move deeper into California's roadmap for restarting the economy.
Los Angeles -- home to roughly half of the state's coronavirus cases and deaths -- had been one of only about a dozen California counties not to have received a “variance'' from the state allowing more types of businesses to reopen. The variances are granted based on a list of criteria, including infection rates, hospital capacity, testing availability and ability to trace contacts of infected residents.
The county submitted a request for a variance earlier this week, and it was granted Friday morning.
“This further brings our communities together and resumes a sense of normalcy, representing monumental progress for Los Angeles County on the path toward recovery,'' Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kathryn Barger said.
County health officials released reopening protocols Friday afternoon, and businesses will be free to open as soon as they can meet them, potentially as early as Friday night.
For restaurants, the guidelines include a restriction to 60% of capacity. Customers and employees will be screened for symptoms such as cough or fever, physical distancing measures will be enforced and customers will be required to wear face coverings when not eating. Customers are encouraged to make reservations, and they will be asked to wait for their table either in their cars or outside the restaurant. Bar areas of restaurants will remain closed.
Hair salons will also be required to enforce physical distancing, and employees and customers will also be screened for health symptoms. Customers and employees will be required to face coverings.
Los Angeles County previously revised its Health Officer Order on Tuesday, clearing the way for all retailers in the city, including those inside enclosed shopping malls, to reopen for in-store shopping with restrictions on capacity and mandatory face coverings.
The revised order also allowed the reopening of offices, swap meets, flea markets and drive-in movie theaters. Houses of worship were also cleared to again hold in-person services, with limited capacity and restrictions on activities.
With that new order in place, several Southland shopping malls reopened this week, including the Citadel Outlets in Commerce and the Glendale Galleria. The Beverly Center reopened today, and Westfield Century City is set to open Saturday. Only a limited number of stores are open, and hours are limited.
The county health order continues to require residents to wear cloth face coverings when interacting with people outside their own households. It also calls for continued social-distancing. Reopened businesses also must adhere to strict safety protocols, requiring face coverings, limited capacity inside stores and hand-washing and sanitizing stations.
County public health director Barbara Ferrer again stressed the need for business to adhere to all requirements before reopening.
“The only reason we were able to successfully submit a variance was because of all the work everyone has done throughout our county,'' she said.
“We do ask businesses to please adhere to the directives that are included in the health officer order and to the protocols prior to reopening. Compliance with the protocols is required. Reopening as safely as possible and in ways that protect both employees and customers will require a lot of effort, and we
do appreciate everyone's commitment to doing this right.''
News of the long-awaited restaurant and hair salon reopenings came on a day the county reported another 50 deaths due to the coronavirus, while Long Beach reported four more, raising the county's overall number of fatalities to 2,294.
Another 1,824 cases were also reported by the county, while Long Beach confirmed another 116 cases and Pasadena added seven, pushing the total to 51,685.
The large number of new cases was attributed in part to a backlog of about 500 tests being reported, but officials have also touted the ever-increasing availability of testing that has led to increased figures.
In submitting the request for a variance to the state, county health officials noted this week that there has been a downward trend in the rate of positive cases and hospitalizations, offering assurance the county is equipped to handle a surge in cases if one should occur.
“As a reminder, the actions that we take today affect what we'll see in terms of cases, hospitalizations and deaths several weeks from now,'' Ferrer said. “... As we enter the weekend and we're out of our homes and visiting many of the reopened establishments because we're all really hungering for some return to normalcy, I want to just note that the new normal that you're going to see reflected in the businesses reflects the fact that COVID-19 is still very active in our communities. And there's a great deal at stake in the reopening.
“While many people do not know anyone who's been infected with COVID-19 and they don't know anybody who may have passed away or who had a loved one who passed away, there are thousands of other people across our community who are positive for COVID-19 who have been or are right now very ill. Many people have passed away and there are many people who are mourning the loss of loved ones. So it's important to understand that we all need to do our part as we go through our recovery journey to take care of each other.''
Barger said that on Tuesday, members of the county's Economic Resiliency Task Force will give a presentation on “roadmaps to safely reopen some key sectors, including restaurants, sports venues, theme parks, corporate businesses and manufacturing and film and digital media.''
She said the roadmaps will “ensure industries can hit the ground running with proper public health guidelines ... as soon as the state gives approval to reopen. The plans provide guidance for immediate reopening and a framework for the return to the new normal.''
Photos: Getty Images


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Black Friday is still a major brick-and-mortar retailer event, drawing in $2.4 billion in revenue last year. At the same time, customers spent $10 less in 2016, than they did in 2015. Retailers need to step up their game to boost sales, and one way to do that is with digital signage.
Over the last several months, restaurants have dominated the top stories on Digital Signage Today, but September readers branched out a bit and explored topics ranging from retail digital signage kiosks to future trends.
The digital signage industry may seem like a mature industry, but it continues to grow and expand in different ways. Trends are a moving target, especially in a technology industry, so it's important to regularly get some perspective from companies in the field.
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When Google unveiled a system to lets its software understand the meaning and relationships between people, places, things and other concepts the company engineers told me that it would be used to improve more than just search results (see “Google’s New Brain Could Have a Big Impact”). Not long after, the Knowledge Graph surfaced again as a key part of Google Now, the company’s answer to Siri (see “Google’s Answer to Siri Thinks Ahead”). Now the Knowledge Graph is being used to make Google’s system for TV set-top boxes smarter, according to GigaOm.
Google announced an upgrade to Google TV today that allows it to take spoken commands, and Google TV product lead Rishi Chandra tells GigOm the Knowledge Graph is making it possible. Users can now simply say “CNN” to switch the channel, or call out the name of a show to be shown all ways it can be watched either live or via Internet streaming. Questions such as “how to tie a bowtie” might return relevant YouTube videos or web search results, depending on which is the better match.
The Knowledge Graph is likely needed to allow Google TV to figure out what kind of entity a person just mentioned in their spoken request, for example whether it’s a TV show, channel or website.
Given the number of uses that Google’s Knowledge Graph has found, it may not be too long before other companies begin to emulate the approach. Some of the technology behind Apple’s Siri can similarly be used to understand something of the meaning of the terms people use. Perhaps it won’t be too long before Siri or similar technology surfaces in Apple’s TV device or other products beyond the iPhone.
Here’s how a Twitter engineer says it will break in the coming weeks
One insider says the company’s current staffing isn’t able to sustain the platform.
Technology that lets us “speak” to our dead relatives has arrived. Are we ready?
Digital clones of the people we love could forever change how we grieve.
How to befriend a crow
I watched a bunch of crows on TikTok and now I'm trying to connect with some local birds.
Starlink signals can be reverse-engineered to work like GPS—whether SpaceX likes it or not
Elon said no thanks to using his mega-constellation for navigation. Researchers went ahead anyway.
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.


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Oct 16, 2020, 5:46 pm75 ptsA campaign to legalize marijuana in Montana is facing a last-minute legal challenge, even as residents are already participating in early in-person voting and submitting mail-in ballots that feature a pair of cannabis reform initiatives. Prohibitionists have retained a law firm that’s preparing a…
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NewsBudz is a marijuana and medical cannabis news app. The site delivers a daily feed of the latest cannabis news. We aggregate over 30 of the web's best sources for news about marijuana, hemp and legalization to keep you informed.
Stay on top of the latest news headlines, trends and developments worldwide around recreational and medical marijuana. Sit back and relax, while you read learn and share. On the web or your mobile device, NewsBudz is your cannabis news stream.


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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Japanese semiconductor maker Elpida Memory Inc. elpdf agreed to pay the Justice Department $84 million to settle charges it took part in a global conspiracy to fix prices of memory chips, the department said Monday. The U.S. said Elpida conspired with other chip-makers to fix the price of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips between April 1999 and June 2002. Companies including Dell Inc., Apple Computer Inc. and IBM were affected by the scheme, the Justice Department said. Elpida is the fourth company to be charged in the DRAM price-fixing investigation.
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Treasurer Wayne Swan says the US central bank's intention to further support the US economy is encouraging.
While there was still a way to go, the quantitative easing plans by the US Federal Reserve were a positive development, he added.
"There's still a long way to go in addressing global challenges, but we do take heart from one of the most encouraging weeks in the global economy for some time," Mr Swan said in a statement.
"We know the US economy still faces significant challenges, with uncertainty surrounding the impending 'fiscal cliff' and continued risks flowing from Europe driving a reluctance among American businesses to invest or hire new workers."
The US Federal Reserve plans to spend $US40 billion ($A38 billion) a month buying back mortgage-backed securities for as long as necessary to stimulate the economy.
It also extended a plan to keep short-term interest rates at close to zero until mid-2015 by six months, under a "highly accommodative stance of monetary policy".
"The idea is to quicken the recovery," chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.
Mr Swan said Australia continued to "walk tall in the world", after racking up 21 consecutive financial years of economic growth.
However, the economy and budget were not immune to global economic headwinds.
"We can't be complacent about challenges at home," he said.
© AAP 2018


text: GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), which operates the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here, is in the process of doubling the cargo-handling capacity in the next couple of years, a top official said Tuesday. The airport currently handles 1.5 lakh tonnes of cargo though the facility was originally designed to handle only one lakh tonnes, chief executive officer of GHIAL SGK Kishore said, while claiming this was possible because of efficient operation. ''We're doing a study on the requirement for increasing the cargo-handling capacity, which category of cargo, and what facility is required. So, when I say doubling, the present 1.5 lakh tonnes could become three lakh tonnes,'' he said. When the report gets over and designs were made available, then we shall decide on the final figure,'' Kishore told reporters on the sidelines of a programme. ''Assuming the new facilities (after expansion) are in place in the next two or two-and-a-half years, it will be the time for us to handle the additional capacities,'' he said. He further said exclusive terminals to handle perishables and express cargo were being set up, besides a logistics park on a 100-acre land. Kishore said cargo-handling was growing at eight to nine per cent every year, about 50 to 60 per cent of which comprised pharmaceutical products.


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Ivan’s deli and store in Limerick city has a sign reading ‘closed ‘til further notice’
A LANDMARK northside shop did not open for business this Tuesday, prompting concern from members of the public.
‘Closed until further notice’ signs were erected at Ivan’s store and delicatessen at the Caherdavin Cross on the Ennis Road, prompting more questions than answers.
While its future is uncertain, some locals are hoping the closure is being facilitated to allow renovations take place.
Attempts by Leader Business to contact the company were unsuccessful, so exactly what is happening with the shop is uncertain.
The popular store and bakery, formerly owned by the late Ivan Cremins, only re-opened in 2015 after it was closed at the start of the previous year.
Now housing a restaurant as well as the bakery producing the kind of cakes the business is famous for, many people in Caherdavin were left hoping it is just a temporary closure, not least for the 30 or so staff who work there.
Caherdavin-based Fine Gael councillor Olivia O’Sullivan said: “When Ivan’s closed the last time, there was an outcry. It’s an institution here. It’s part of the community.”
Meanwhile, northside activist and Fianna Fail local election candidate Pat O’Neill added: “It’s a landmark. From the community’s perspective, Ivan’s has been there for years. It has served the community well. It’s synonymous with Caherdavin really. That cross is Caherdavin Cross, but it really became known as Ivan’s Cross. That will tell you how the name became so linked with the area.”
Green Party councillor Brian Leddin said: “It’s a landmark establishment, only re-opened a few years ago which was positive. So we just hope that everything is okay, and the closure is temporary.”
Ivan’s closed after 38 years trading on the northside in January 2014. But it re-opened under new management the following year after a €200,000 fit-out as a bakery, deli and cafe.


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(Reuters) - Match Group Inc forecast current-quarter adjusted earnings below analyst estimates on Tuesday, hit by higher spending for Tinder and its other dating apps, sending its shares down 10 percent in after-market trade.
Match Group, which plays cupid through its PlentyOfFish and Match.com services, has been investing heavily to take its cash cow Tinder to emerging markets and promote its other dating services as competition in the dating market heats up.
Marketing costs are expected to rise about 20 percent year-over-year for Tinder and its other brands like Hinge and Pairs.
The company expects fourth-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to be between $165 million to $170 million, below estimates of $170.9 million, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
The company also forecast fourth-quarter revenue to be between $440 million and $450 million, below estimates of $454 million, largely due to a hit of about $6 million from a stronger dollar as well as indirect revenue softness because of General Data Protection Regulation and lower impressions.
The legislation was put in place by the European Union in May to protect personal information and has forced online players to make sure they have permission from users to handle their personal data.
Tinder — where users swipe left or right on their phones to signal interest in a person — added 344,000 average subscribers in the latest quarter, bringing the total to 4.1 million.
Match Group’s total average subscribers rose to 8.1 million in the third quarter.
Match Group said it now expects full-year revenue to approach the top end of its prior forecast of $1.68 billion to $1.72 billion. Analysts were expecting revenue of $1.72 billion.
Net earnings attributable to shareholders fell to $130.2 million, or 44 cents per share, in the quarter ended Sept. 30, from $287.7 million, or 98 cents per share, a year earlier.
On an adjusted basis, the company earned 39 cents per share, above analysts’ estimates of 36 cents.
Total revenue rose 29.3 percent to $443.9 million, beating estimates of $438.1 million.
Dallas-based Match’s shares have risen nearly 90 percent in the last 12 months, despite a 22 percent plunge in May caused by Facebook’s plan to create its own dating service.
Shares of the company were down 9.4 percent at $46.64.
Reporting by Arjun Panchadar and Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Bernard Orr


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There are three rules in life that are mantra: 1. The Golden Rule; 2. Always bet on yourself; 3. Shoot your shot.
Clearly Kobe Bryant knows when to shoot his shot. On the basketball court and in his post-NBA career as an investor.
Earlier this week, Coca-Cola announced that it purchased a stake in BodyArmor, the fruit juice-based sports drink that boasts superior nutrition and hydration. It’s Coca-Cola’s attempt to play in the same sandbox as Gatorade, which has an estimated 75% market share of the $8 billion U.S. sports beverage market, according to CNN. Gatorade is also owned by PepsiCo, so clearly Coca-Cola is ready to double down on wherever they can to gain ground in a growing sports drink market.
For Coca-Cola, that means it’s time to diversify from Powerade (…which does an annual $1 billion in sales) and get their electrolytes the all-natural way from BodyArmor, which estimates it will do over $400 million in revenue this year, according to MediaPost.
Which brings us to the fourth biggest investor in the brand: Kobe Bryant.
According to ESPN, Bryant bought roughly 10 percent of the company in March 2014 for about $6 million, over time.
According to ESPN, BodyArmor’s new valuation with the Coca-Cola deal mean’s Kobe’s stake is worth big, big bucks: Approximately $200 million, over 30 times his initial investment.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 15, 2018
That’s some insane ROI.
It also makes Kobe the fourth biggest investor in the brand. Clearly he believed in the vision:
Bryant is now the fourth largest investor in the brand, marketed as a healthier competitor to Gatorade, behind the brand’s co-founder Mike Repole, Coca-Cola and Keurig Dr Pepper. When he invested in BodyArmor, the brand had just come off a year of $10 million in sales. BodyArmor is projected to top $400 million in sales in 2018.
Bryant earned $328 million from his contract with the Lakers over the course of his 20-year NBA career.
Crazy that his bet on BodyArmor has now earned him a little shy of two-thirds of what he earned in the NBA. What a wild ride for the Black Mamba.


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In response to Kenya’s growing unemployment problems, many Kenyans are devising innovative ways to secure jobs in the United States while living in Nairobi.
A most recent method involves getting a US phone number to open a bank account, which allows you to apply for remote US roles that favor local candidates.
Applicants then create profiles on job recruiting sites and apply while posing as a US citizen. Aerial view of the city of Nairobi.
It costs about Ksh 12,852 (USD 90) to open a bank account and Ksh 7,140 (USD 50) is deposited after registration. Legality Research by Kenyans.co.ke shows that it is perfectly legal to have a virtual US phone number from abroad.
In some cases, companies based in Europe or even Africa that want to sell their services to people living in the United States are encouraged to set up a virtual phone number to make the whole process easier.
As a result, some technicians have created services designed to help those interested in obtaining foreign phone numbers. Some consultants require ID and proof of address from their clients before proceeding with the process. US companies want to hire people with local phone numbers to facilitate communication without paying extra for international calls, according to service providers. ”
Setting up a traditional phone line for international or local US calls would be much more expensive because it would require more paper and equipment than it’s worth,” suggested one provider. “The big advantage of setting up a virtual US virtual number is that you and your customers don’t have to worry about international calling costs.” bank account However, getting a bank account abroad can be tedious, as most traditional banks require the applicant to appear in person. The applicant must also present one of the following documents: a valid foreign passport, the foreigner’s identity code from the green card, border crossing card DSP-150 with photo, consular card (CID) or identity card issued by the home. country origin, in this case Kenya.
However, individuals located outside the United States apply for online accounts and use the services of brokers to help them apply and submit their information online.
Alternatively, applicants can open accounts at US banks with international branches, but must have large initial deposits. An alternative way to invest However, Kenyans have the option of obtaining a “golden visa” (or EB5 visa), which allows its holders to live and invest in the United States (US) without extensive requirements.
The owner also gets the opportunity to study in America, engage in other profitable activities and retire. The visa holder does not need to work in the United States to obtain an EB5 visa, but as a pre-qualification condition, the individual must make a substantial investment in the United States.
“To get this visa, you must invest at least 105 million kroner ($800,000) in an American company and create at least 10 American jobs,” the Visa Guide explained on its website.


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Uncover industry thought leadership as CJ Affiliate subject matter experts discuss affiliate marketing with top media outlets.
Epsilon-Conversant and CJ Affiliate found that the majority (62%) of consumers don’t think brands should stop advertising during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Half (48%) of global consumers have received a marketing message in the past two weeks that they felt was poorly timed or inappropriate, new research from Epsilon-Conversant and CJ Affiliate has revealed.
Starting at the beginning of this month, affiliate networks such as Skimlinks and Sovrn (which acquired VigLink) can no longer send traffic to Amazon and get a cut of transactions, according to sources at many affiliate networks and publishers.
CJ Affiliate president Mayuresh Kshetramade takes a look at the unique capabilities that exist only in affiliate, which make this channel adaptable, yet accountable, during moments of uncertainty.
A run-down of some of the leading companies and experts in performance marketing on raising awareness of the global pandemic and supporting partners during this distressing time.
Dan Sweeney, Group Vice President of Corporate Development, shares how retailers are looking at members in their affiliate marketing networks to determine where to allocate their marketing budgets.
Jessica Woodbury, Director of Content Development, offers tips on how to take advantage of affiliate links on Pinterest.
Desiree Toto, Director of Product Development, explains how consumer behavior is changing and what marketers can do to adjust.
Chris Bass, Senior Content Strategist, shares how success is highly dependent on the development, maintenance, and growth of your network.
Sandrine Thompson, Strategic Insights Director, discusses how smartphones, a growing global middle class and improved online services are opening up international e-commerce opportunities.
Sub-affiliate networks are a common feature in the affiliate marketing world. They offer services to publishers that can make it easier for them to monetise their website – they create a second tier of an affiliate programme – whereas a traditional affiliate network is a mediator between advertisers/merchants and affiliates/publishers.
Today's consumer is device- and channel-agnostic, and switches seamlessly from device to device throughout a given day. Find out what you need to know to adapt to this cross-decive behavior.
Affiliate marketing enables web publishers to monetize content - and thousands of site owners are turning to CJ Affiliate to get these revenue streams flowing.
As consumers add more devices and their shopping experiences become more digitally-led, we will continue to see innovation in affiliate to keep pace with evolving behaviors.
Influencer marketing is undoubtedly one of the biggest trends in affiliate marketing. In the last two years, the number of affiliate partnerships with influencers has soared.
Today, on International Women’s Day, we're celebrating women in affiliate marketing, I am excited to bring you a super compilation of interviews. Having reached out to numerous fine ladies in our industry, we were pleasantly astounded by the response rate. Within just a few days we ending up interviewing more than 40 ladies from all around the world, working both for giants like Microsoft and Sprint, Uber and Shutterstock, as well as self-employed women who live and love affiliate marketing every day.
As the mega online shopping event grows in popularity every year, Amazon isn’t the only one reaping the rewards. Prime Day may help to pique consumer interest, but the buzz carries over to other brands, which experienced significant revenue growth around the same day last year. In CJ Affiliate’s global network, brands saw an average of 75% year-over-year growth in revenue on Prime Day.
Affiliate gives brands the transparency and robust tracking they need to measure and truly understand how their influencer efforts are working. The problem? Affiliate marketers get stuck comparing results from influencer campaigns to those of traditional affiliates like coupon and loyalty publishers. The fact is that affiliate teams need to look at a different set of considerations and KPIs to achieve influencer marketing success.
With a total population of 3.1 billion people, the Asia Pacific (APAC) region represents the largest opportunity for digital expansion in the world. For brands looking to capitalize on this opportunity, affiliate marketing is an effective channel for driving global brand growth.
CJ Affiliate Business Development Manager Jessica Woodbury shares tips on how advertisers can best leverage affiliate in 2017.


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Dr. Walser Dental as exhibitor on the ADA 2014 in San Antonio, Texas/USA
The ADA - American Dental Association Annual Session, takes place from October 9 to October 14 in San Antonio, Texas/USA in the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. Host is the American Dental Association itself, which is the largest dental association in the United States, with its 157,000 dentist members. The fair is held annually.
For the dental matrices manufacturer Dr. Walser Dental it is the first time that the company takes part in an exhibition in the United States. In addition to numerous exhibitors from all over the world, Dr. Walser Dental will present their products there. You can find Dr. Walser Dental from October 9 till October 11 at booth 1447.
More information about the ADA 2014 can be found here: http://www.ada.org/en/meeting
We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio!


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Consumers Get Back to Spending
By Michael Englund and Rick MacDonald
While income growth remains small, U.S. consumers' wallets remain open. The latest confirmation of that trend came in the July report on U.S. personal income, released Aug. 30. Income posted a surprisingly small 0.1% rise in July (vs. economists' median forecast of a 0.4% gain), following sizable downward revisions in all the income data for 2004. But the other side of the report contained a surprise: Consumption surged 0.8% (vs. the median 0.7% forecast), with large upward revisions to previous months.
Looking more closely at the income figure, wages and salaries rose 0.4%, while proprietors' income (from individually owned businesses) dropped 0.5% due to a 28% decline for farms. In addition, rental income declined 0.6%, and personal current-transfer receipts -- which includes payments of old-age, survivors, disability, or health-insurance benefits -- dipped 0.8%.
The income revisions for the prior months (June's growth was revised to 0.2%) were disappointing on their own, as the figures for government receipts of tax payments from households were not revised downward nearly as much. This left a renewed sideways trajectory for the ratio of household taxes to income, following three years of strong and steady declines, which suggests that the fiscal-policy party is over for tax cuts.
The disposable-income weakness dropped down to the savings rate, which fell to only 0.6% in July, from a revised 1.3% in June -- consistent with its pattern of bouncing just above the zero level. This lean savings rate is what we at Action Economics had expected before the surprisingly weak "real" spending figures were initially reported for the second quarter.
Economists had to look to the consumption data for upside surprises. As expected, spending was boosted by a 4.1% jump on durable items related to the sharp rebound in vehicle sales. But other components were also revised higher. And a flat chain-price index in July contributed to the encouraging spending outlook, leaving a very robust set of real (adjusted for inflation) spending figures as the U.S. enters the third quarter.
Higher-than-expected consumption is even more important then the income weakness. The chain-price deflator for nondurable items actually fell 0.4% in July -- an encouraging signal on inflation -- leaving a huge 0.8% real gain in consumption in July that more than offset the revised 0.4% June drop.
The July report has prompted an upward revision in Action Economics' third-quarter GDP estimate back to 4.3%, with a 4.1% real growth rate for consumption. Because consumption entered August at such a healthy level, we now see less upside possibility, so we've revised downward our retail sales forecasts for August to 0.8% overall and 0.7% excluding autos. Our August light-vehicle sales forecast has also been lowered, to 17.8 million units, as the seasonal surge we expect should now be capped by brisk nonauto sales and a savings rate at a surprisingly low 0.6%.
In total, the data through July now look much more like what we expected prior to the surprisingly weak June data. The savings rate is no longer posting a surprising uptrend, thereby showing consistency with the high levels prevailing for consumer confidence. Tax revenues are indeed stronger relative to income, and the June lull in spending is being followed by a rebound that will smooth out any perceived slowing in household spending.
Englund is chief economist and MacDonald is director of investment research and analysis for Action Economics


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In a volatile market, Wells Fargo equity strategist Gina Martin Adams says tech is where to invest, and Eric Schoenstein, Jensen co-portfolio manager, says companies with strong fundamentals deliver growth without so much volatility.» Read More
Tamara Mellon, the co-founder of the luxury brand Jimmy Choo, told CNBC that her former business partner Choo did not have the "creative vision" to design shoes.
Nike CEO Mark Parker see growth in products for women, as well as in football items..
CNBC's Jane Wells speaks to Nike CEO Mark Parker about the new climate technology in its footwear.
Discussing what's catching the eyes of teens in retail these days, with Stephanie Wissink, Piper Jaffray senior research analyst.
What retail stocks should investors be targeting right now? FMHR trader Pete Najarian explains why he likes Apple, Tiffany and T.J. Maxx.
Piper Jaffray upgraded Kors to overweight. PJ analyst Erinn Murphy, says Michael Kors is the number two handbag brand, and expects to see growth in Europe ahead.
Kyle Bass, hedge fund manager at Hayman Capital, talks about the former CEO's mismanagement of JC Penney. The whole thing was handled poorly, he says.
Nike Pres/CEO Mark Parker talks exclusively with CNBC about the new Free Flyknit shoes and how eventually, customers will be able to get custom made shoes designed to fit their feet.
Terry Pillow, Group CEO, Tommy Bahama talks about expanding in Asia and how the continent is embracing its brick and mortar outlets.
Mikihiko Yamato, Deputy Head of Research at Ji Asia tells CNBC's Cash Flow which retailers will benefit from the recent improvement in Japanese consumer sentiment.
Andrew Plympton, Independent Non-Executive Director, Sunbridge Group Limited says the company has many years of growth ahead as it plans to tap rising demand from China.
To fill a plus-size void, Rent the Runway recently debuted its first collection of evening gowns and cocktail dresses for curvier figures.
It's not your imagination. That shirt you recently bought is wearing out faster than others you purchased years ago. It's all part of cost cutting.
CNBC contributor Stacey Widlitz says the retailer's priority should not be online but getting people back in stores.
Jyrki Tervonen, CFO at H&M, comments on the company's strong third quarter, how it remains a "small player" in China and therefore has "huge potential" there, and on the group's online strategy.
CNBC's Courtney Reagan spoke with Men's Wearhouse CEO Doug Ewert about its retail products, and its customer base.
While Men's Wearhouse's outlook remains cautious, its new CEO Doug Ewert told CNBC he is focusing on the company's strengths.
CNBC's Courtney Reagan talks with Men's Wearhouse CEO Doug Ewert, about the termination of company founder George Zimmer and his vision to grow the retailer's business.
Bloomingdale's is attaching chunky plastic tags to some dresses to fight "wardrobing"--the practice of wearing an item once and then returning it.
Rahul Sharma, founder and managing director at Neev Capital, tells CNBC that apparel retail is protected from the online onslaught at they sell their own product.


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If you’ve ever paid a visit to the WTA Tour’s web site, you were sure to notice the vast array of headshots used in player profiles. Unlike the theatre world, the business world or even the APT’s site – where there’s a standard for what a headshot might look like – the WTA seems to have allowed the players to submit any picture they choose. ANY PICTURE! So, TSF introduces the WTA Headshots series. Here we’ll present headshots and predict where these pictures might have shown up otherwise, giving bios and pseudo news reports solely based on the images themselves… your guesses are welcome, too!
Dinara Safina | Dinara has been selected Miss Pensacola Valley Mall 2009 by the Beautification Realization Team after a dazzling performance on the mall’s catwalk last weekend. Dressed in a ’70s-inspired purple blouse with floral pattern criss-crossing her top, Dinara danced to “Unwritten”, the Natasha Bedingfield hit for the talent portion. Her subtle purple eye shadow and well-put-together, straightened hair was a hit with Beautification Team member Cindy Sorwell. “I thought Dinara brought a presence to the pageant that no other girl had,” Sowell said. “And that smile… THAT SMILE! Simply sensational.” Local pageant officials are looking forward to Dinara’s appearance in the Greater Peach County’s Beauty Bonanza in August.
Michelle Larcher de Brito
Today, Electronic Arts announced that tennis star Michelle Larcher de Brito will be the face of the company’s new game The Sims 4: Escape to Portugal. Along with the introduction of the game, the company announced a new imaging system in which the likeness of real people can be seen on Simn characters. Michelle is the first person to test the new technology, and when the youngster tried out the game in a public square in Lisbon last weekend, she was squealing with delight: “That looks sooooooooo much like me!” the grunter exclaimed. SimMichelle seemed to be having trouble in her love life, however, when her new boyfriend tipped over her garbage can after an unintelligible verbal disagreement. Guess things aren’t all that peachy in the virtual suburban life, either.
Dominika is the new face of www.iweartoomanyaccessories.net, a site launched by fashionista Lauren Conrad. “We’re confident that Dominika wears too many accessories, so she’ll be the perfect spokesperson for our site.” In the banner photo, seen at right, Dominika is wearing sunglasses, an earring (yes, just on one side), a necklace, three rings, a bellybutton ring, two anklets, and a toe ring. “I even put in tinted contacts and was wearing invisiline, because those are totes accessories, too,” Dominika said at the launch party at a Kohl’s store in suburban Toledo.
(screengrabs via SEWTA website)


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The email vendor community has continued its consolidation with the acquisition of Email on Acid by Pathwire.
Terms of the transaction announced Wednesday were not disclosed.
The goal is to provide “a reliable path to the inbox,” states Will Conway, CEO of Pathwire.
Email on Acid CEO John Thies will step down from that role, but will continue as a consultant to the business to assist with the integration.
Roughly 45 Email on Acid employees will join the Pathwire team, bringing its total global headcount to 350 employees and contractors.
A spokesperson said Email On Acid will retain its brand name for the time being.
Email On Acid’s software-as-a-service allows users to view how emails will render in Gmail, Yahoo and other email platforms, and via mobile desktop and the web, and it also provides analytics.
Pathwire, which delivers over 250 billion emails a year for brands such as DHL, Wikipedia, Toast, Lyft, and Microsoft, provides an email API and other email marketing tool.
Email on Acid’s pre-deployment platform had already been integrated into Pathwire’s Mailjet product set. Mailgun and Mailjet users will get access to instant email testing, content checks, and analytics.
The combined technologies will enable “successful outcomes through a proactive, prescriptive approach,” Conway says.
In addition, the purchase will advance Pathwire’s goal to become a comprehensive email service provider, Pathwire says.


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THE WHAT? e.l.f Magnificence has maintained the low costs on its most cost-effective objects regardless of rising costs for two-thirds of its line up amidst the rising value of inflation, in accordance with a report by The Wall Road Journal.
THE DETAILS The sweetness firm introduced value hikes on its larger finish merchandise this spring with rising prices threatening income. Nonetheless, CEO Tarang Amin said he made a guess to maintain costs mounted on the decrease value objects.
Talking to The WSJ he stated, “We didn’t contact a 3rd of our objects.” These included lipsticks, mascaras and eyelash wands.
THE WHY? The rising value of inflation has hit the business laborious, nevertheless, Amin said that the technique to maintain low-cost objects cheaper will stay even within the face of an ongoing rise.
“We wished to make certain there was an entry into e.l.f. if somebody was on a funds constraint,” stated Amin.


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Dan Murphy: Apple fight shows tax tail is now wagging world economic dog
The European Commission recently levied a $14.5 billion tax bill on Apple Inc. Their crime? Devising clever strategies and entering into government-approved advanced pricing agreements to minimize their tax on European Union sales.
They are not charged with tax evasion, fraud, misinterpretation of the law, or any other tax-related offense. To confuse matters even more, the tax levy on Apple was triggered by the EC's disagreement with the Irish tax authorities, not Apple. The Irish do not agree with the EC and do not want to collect the tax from Apple the EC claims it is due.
The use of tax havens and tax avoidance strategies is integral to multinational tax planning. Since the United States is the global leader in intellectual property-intensive industries, it is not a surprise that U.S. accounting and law firms are the global leaders in devising strategies to minimize global taxes. These professionals design corporate structures that facilitate profit shifting from high tax rate to low rate jurisdictions.
Ireland is already a low-rate country with a 12.5 percent corporate tax rate, compared to the U.S. 35 percent tax rate. In addition, Ireland permitted the use of other related entities to receive profit allocations that are not subject to any Irish tax.
The Apple case raises two key questions. First, why is the EC fining Apple for a disagreement it has with Ireland? Second, is it necessary for multinational tax planning to be as convoluted, opaque, and maddening as it has become?
Just like in the U.S., there is a growing nationalistic sentiment in Europe. Beginning with the European Parliament voting to break up Google two years ago to the U.S. Treasury stating that the EC is 'targeting' U.S. corporations.
Some have suggested that the EC's targeting of Apple and other U.S. technology companies reflects European frustration with being left behind in the tech industry. Their motto appears to be, 'If you can't beat them, tax them.' The $14.5 billion tax bill on Apple could also be viewed as retribution for what many see as an outsized $19.4 billion settlement with Volkswagen over diesel emissions.
High-priced, mind-numbing multinational tax planning is a natural response to corporate taxation. Since the U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate among the developed countries, the incentive to avoid U.S. taxes is that much higher. We have truly reached the point in multinational tax planning where the 'tax tail' is wagging the 'economic dog'
Despite calls for lower tax rates and tax 'harmonization,' taxes will always be a source of international competition. The most economically efficient, fairest, and simplest solution is to scrap the U.S. corporate tax system. Unlike people, corporations are legal creations that do not pay taxes; they collect and remit taxes that are actually paid in the form of lower wages, lower returns and higher prices. Corporations do not pay taxes, people do.
Eliminating the corporate income tax would reduce future multijurisdictional disputes and allow businesses to focus more of their energy, time, and money on their core products and mission.


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Despite "Mission: Impossible 2" and new plans for "Terminator" and "Indiana Jones" follow-ups, the most popular spawning ground for sequels is not the bigscreen but homevid. With production costs…
When it comes to using Web sites as a promotional tool, it's safe to say that every site out there is hoping for some "Blair Witch" magic. But "The Blair Witch Project" phenomenon was a pinnacle of…
Icebox.com has inked an exclusive content development deal with Jonathan Katz, the co-creator of Comedy Central's animated "Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist," to produce several original series for…
In a novel partnership, movie theater chain AMC Entertainment and iFilm said Wednesday they are launching a showcase that will allow selected helmers of short films to comply with a recent MPAA…
First, television was supposed to kill off radio. Then VCRs were supposed to mean the death of the movie house. Now the Internet spells the end all of offline entertainment. Right?
Dubbed the "Benedict Arnold" panel by some, a slew of former music industry execs defended their dot-commie conversion at the MP3 Summit on Wednesday. The standing-room-only aud that attended the…
"Men in Black" is coming back with a vengeance Sept. 5 on DVD, with enough new and groundbreaking material to fill an alien spacecraft.
Barry Diller's USA Networks Inc. and Roland Emmerich/Dean Devlin's Centropolis Entertainment are pooling their interactive science-fiction assets into a network of sites, the companies said…
Web studio Next Picture has partnered with iPix to create an interactive online location scouting service.
Rapper Eminem, currently a hit in concert halls and courtrooms, plans to make his next high-profile appearance on the Web.


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Mobile network service provider Ncell has organised a competition to develop mobile phone applications called the Ncell App Camp.
Ncell issued a statement on Monday (August 11, 2014) saying that the competition targeted young developers and mobile enthusiasts. It was launched as a part of Ncell’s corporate social initiative with an aim of unleashing ‘the country’s digital potential and inspire youth to build innovative businesses’.
The competition has four categories: agriculture, corporate solutions, education and tourism. “Agriculture, corporate, education and tourism are major contributors of the Nepali economy, wherein creative youth can make a huge difference by coming up with tools to enhance efficiency and productivity. These are also the sectors around which young innovative businesses can thrive,” said Sanju Koirala, the corporate communication director of Ncell, says.
The thematic winners would get cash prizes of Rs 250,000 each while the overall winner will bag an additional Rs 500,000 in cash along with Ncell sponsorship to participate in a similar overseas app camp, Ncell says.
Apps can be created for any platform — Android, Apple iOS, Windows, SMS or J2ME, among others, Ncell says
Registration for the competition can be made for free at http://www.ncell.com.np/appcamp.
Registration closes at noon on October 28, 2014.
In other Ncell news, the mobile network company has also launched Ncell App for subscribers that allows them to access information about Ncell products, services, schemes, and also supports them to easily check their balance, top up balance, buy data packs and other services, and transfer balance, among others.
“We are glad to unveil to our customers Ncell App that provides a complete self-service solution. We believe it will ease their operations and benefit them greatly,” Erim Taylanlar, the CEO of Ncell, says.
The App comes with different features for pre-paid and postpaid subscribers. The features are automatically loaded to subscribers’ handsets depending on the type of SIM they have.


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There is nothing “niche” about the recent story on the economics of organic farming in the Agronomy Journal.
The journal reports on an 18-year study demonstrating that organic crop rotation is consistently more profitable than conventional corn and soybean production, even when organic price premiums are cut by half. That is very good news for both organic producers and the agricultural economies in which they operate.
The report is especially important in that it comes from one of the major U.S. professional trade journals for agricultural research — not known as a bastion of progressive thinking on alternative agriculture.
Lower risk of crop loss
The Agronomy Journal report also showed that risks of crop loss were less in the organic system — they're more stable, less vulnerable overall to weather events, pests and diseases that all result in crop loss.
This reduced risk is echoed in USDA data. As reported here last year, the resilience of organic production recently helped win lower crop insurance premiums for some organic farmers — who had actually been paying 5% higher premiums before this change.
Something must be working right. U.S. sales of organic food and beverages continue to grow even in these economically hard times, increasing from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010, including a 7.7% jump between 2009 and 2010.
Ecological weed control costs less
The study found that the cost of production was less in organic systems, even though organic production involved more field operations (which, by the way, means jobs).
The savings was primarily from lack of herbicide inputs. Instead of using chemical weed control, organic farmers often use cover crops to effectively control weeds. These cover crops then do double duty as fertilizer, when they are plowed in to return key nutrients to the soil.
Visit our agroecology pages for more stories on how and why organic (and other agroecological practices) are productive, resilient, fair and sustainable — and good for a farmer's bottom line.


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Face to Face Engagement in Banking
To provide 2-3 Canadian banks and/or credit unions that are prioritizing face to face interactions with customers and any resulting success metrics associated with that.
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
- The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), through a partnership with Vidyo, now offers its customers a means to have face-to-face conversations with their banker online.
- This move has made "RBC the first bank in Canada to offer immersive, remote video chat to small business customers across North America — for free".
- The bank's customers can now interact face-to-face with their bankers from any location on any device.
- After launching the new technology, RBC witnessed an "increase in customer satisfaction".
- Also, RBC ranked as the bank with the "highest in customer satisfaction".
Proposed next steps:
You need to be the project owner to select a next step.


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Alaska’s largest brewery announced Friday that it will expand its distribution to the Buckeye State this summer, making Ohio the 18th state to offer Alaskan Brewing products.
The news was announced by email.
In the email, Alaskan said it has partnered with Columbus Distributing, Heidelberg Distributing, House of La Rose, Matesich Distributing and R.L. Lipton Distributing to get beer to bars, package stores and other retailers.
It is the first new state to offer Alaskan products since Michigan and North Dakota in 2014.
Ohio will be the farthest Alaskan has spread its reach; all 17 other states are closer to Alaska.


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The thorns in the side of telecom companies are colliding! And the government telecom company BSNL is not far behind in that fight. Last month, Telco launched a number of cheap postpaid plans. And this time BSNL made those plans available to all circles in India.
Initially, postpaid plans of Rs 199, Rs 798 and Rs 999 are currently available for BSNL customers across India. But the most eye-catching thing is that while Reliance Jio is coming up with a postpaid plan from Rs 399, BSNL is starting a postpaid plan from just Rs 199.
The Rs 199 postpaid plan is the cheapest plan of BSNL. Because the 99 RS plan has already been removed by this government telecom company. The Rs 199 postpaid plan offers unlimited calling to BSNL customers anywhere in India. However, 300 minutes of free talk time is available on any other network. Also, this excellent postpaid plan offers users up to 25GB of data. It also has the facility of data rollover up to 75GB. Once the data limit is reached, users have to pay Rs 10.24 per 1GB of internet. With this plan, customers get the opportunity to send 100 free SMS every day.
Government BSNL offers customers unlimited voice calling on Rs 798 postpaid plan. That means calling free on any network, anywhere in India. In this recharge pack, customers get the opportunity to use 50GB of data. It also comes with the facility of 150GB data rollover. Like the previous plan, this 798 RS postpaid plan also allows BSNL customers to send 100 SMS every day. However, the best offer of this plan is that customers will get another family connection add-on service. Anyone who gets a family connection will get unlimited calling on any network, as well as 50GB of data and 100 SMS per day.
BSNL also offers unlimited voice calling services to customers on any network in India with a postpaid plan of Rs 999. In this recharge pack, BSNL customers get access to up to 75GB of data. With it again customers get special offer of data rollover up to 225GB. This postpaid plan also has the opportunity to send 100 free SMS per day. However, BSNL offers a total of three family connections on a postpaid plan of Rs 999. And with this family connection, you get the benefit of sending 75GB data and 100 SMS for free.
Stay updated with every news, download Koustav WiFi News App on your mobile.
Get all Tech News related to live news update of latest mobile reviews apps, tablets etc. Stay updated with us for all breaking news from Tech and more update News.


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LivingSocial, the daily-deal maker, announced Thursday that the company will reduce its DC-based and remote workforce by approximately 160 employees. The layoffs include the closure of its Tucson call center at 250 S Williams Blvd and the 120 employees working there. The company will transition its customer service function to a U.S.-based service provider this spring. Notifications are taking place immediately and all employees impacted by these decisions will be offered severance packages, continuation of health benefits and outplacement support, according to the company.
LivingSocial is a marketplace to buy and share the best things to do in your city – or wherever you may be. It provided help to local and national businesses for growth by introducing them to new customers. With thousands of unique and diverse offers every day, members got deals on everything from weekend excursions to international travel, from exclusive gourmet dinners to family outings and more.
This round of layoff comes just five months after the company laid off about 200 employees, in order to cut costs and refocus its business model.
“LivingSocial is evolving from a multi-category, multi-country voucher-based business to a North America-based marketplace focused on experiential categories,” stated LivingSocial’s President and CEO Gautam Thakar. “It has been a tougher journey than I would have liked, but we have remained focused over the last year on the initial goal of being breakeven in our voucher business. We have aggressively sought operational efficiencies through simplification, automation and outsourcing, culminating in the completion of the initial phase of our turnaround today.”
Concurrently, LivingSocial has been testing new products, providing consumers with more seamless ways to engage with merchants that offer local experiences. In particular, Restaurants Plus, LivingSocial’s card-linked solution, has shown initial success, with high adoption from merchants in the restaurant category and positive early feedback from consumers, on the move away from vouchers.
“Early customer adoption of our card-linked product has encouraged us to shift future investment from our voucher business,” added Thakar. “As a smaller organization, we will focus on scaling our card-linked offer initially in the restaurants category, before adding other categories in the future. While it is never an easy decision to say goodbye to talented colleagues, we believe that we are now in a more stable position to invest in the next phase of our journey.” LivingSocial plans to focus almost entirely on growing its Restaurants Plus program.
Participants just sign up once on LivingSocial and register a credit or debit card. Any time they use that card at an approved location, they will get up to 30 percent cash back automatically credited to their account, while LivingSocial gets a cut of the transaction.


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Amid intensified competition in the telecom industry led by Reliance Jio, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is offering 90 GB or gigabytes of mobile data for 90 days at Rs 429. Under its special tariff voucher or STV priced at Rs 429, BSNL is offering 1 GB of mobile data per day for a validity period of 90 days, according to its website – bsnl.co.in. BSNL’s recharge pack of Rs 429 includes free voice calls (local and STD) and is not available in the Kerala circle, the telecom company has said.
State-run BSNL launched the Rs 429 recharge pack, offering 1 GB per day of mobile data for 90 days, in September.
The Rs 429 recharge pack from BSNL comes at a time when the telecom industry is seeing strong competition led by aggressive mobile data pricing by new entrant Reliance Jio, the provider of telecom services under brand Jio. Some analysts say Reliance Jio’s competitive data pricing has pushed incumbent telecom companies to revise their offerings and announce lucrative schemes for their customers.
Here’s what BSNL customers get under the Rs 429 offer:
Termed as a “voice and data centric plan” by BSNL, the Rs 429 pack comes with unlimited voice calls from the home LSA (local Service Area) to any network for 90 days, according to the telecom company’s websites for the Rajasthan, Kolkata, Punjab and North East telecom circles.
(BSNL’s recharge pack of Rs 429 comes with unlimited voice calls for 90 days, according to its Kolkata circle website)
“BSNL introduced Voice & Data Centric Plan 429 under prepaid mobile service with Unlimited Voice to any network and 90 GB data (1GB/day) for 90 days,” BSNL said on its North East circle website.
(BSNL launched its “voice and data centric plan 429” in the Rajasthan circle on September 4, 2017)


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FSG LAWYERS: On creative workspace office pros & cons. SDSI: 7 new companies accepted into the Springboard business mentoring program. AGENDA: Registration and travel planning now open for January and February trade shows.
Details on Industry Insight.
Sport Chalet reported its first annual increase in comparable store sales in six years for the 12 months ended March 31.
The company said same store sales for fiscal 2013 increased 3.7%. In 2013, comp sales increased three out of four quarters.
Sport Chalet reported a loss for the year, but the loss narrowed vs. 2012.
Total sales: up 7.2% to $87.8 million
Same store sales: up 6.8%
Team division sales: up 23.1%
Online sales: up 20%
Net loss: $2.3 million vs. $3.8 million
The company said same store sales were boosted by stronger sales of winter goods vs. the same period in 2012.
Total sales: up 3.1% to $360.6 million
Same store sales: up 3.7%
Team sales: up 19.5%
Online sales: up 21.5%
Net loss: $3.3 million vs. $5.1 million


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Fisker Automotive’s proposed sale to a Hong Kong company formed by backers of the bankrupt hybrid vehicle startup appears to have hit a snag, with a competing bid emerging in the final hours from another contender: China’s Wanxiang Group.
That’s the news this week from U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., where unsecured creditors of Fisker are squaring off against Hybrid Technology, the company formed by Fisker backer and former director Richard Li. Hybrid Tech had been set to purchase Fisker’s assets out of bankruptcy as of the new year.
According to the Wall Street Journal, unsecured creditors have filed court documents objecting to Hybrid Technology’s proposed purchase and are seeking to pursue legal claims against the company. Hybrid Technology was formed late last year, and in November paid $25 million to purchase Fisker’s defaulted $192 million loan obligation to the Department of Energy, leaving taxpayers on the hook for the remaining $139 million.
In the meantime, Fisker’s unsecured creditors are supporting a rival bid by Wanxiang, the Chinese automotive manufacturing giant, which this week offered to pay $25.725 million for the bankrupt company’s assets and to take over some of Fisker’s debts, according to court documents. The bankruptcy court is scheduled to consider Fisker’s sale to Hybrid Tech on Friday, but unsecured creditors are pushing for an alternative auction for the company’s assets later this month, with Wanxiang as the leading bidder.
Wanxiang has its own ties to Fisker in the form of A123 Systems, the lithium-ion battery maker that it bought out of bankruptcy in January 2013. A123 made the batteries for Fisker’s Karma luxury hybrid sports car, and Wanxiang was reported to be considering a bid for Fisker in May of last year, before Fisker had filed for bankruptcy protection.
Fisker raised $1.2 billion from investors including VC firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and NEA, as well as now-defunct investment firm Advanced Equities. It also drew down $192 million from its $528 million conditional loan granted under DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program (ATVM) to pay for a planned factory to build a lower-cost hybrid sedan in Delaware.
But Fisker ran into a series of insurmountable problems on its course toward insolvency. It stopped building its Karma hybrid sports cars in July 2012, and since then has been pummeled by bad reviews and reports of vehicle fires and recalls. Last year’s Hurricane Sandy destroyed a warehouse containing $30 million worth of Fisker’s already-built Karma sports cars.
At the same time, DOE cut off Fisker’s access to its loan in 2011 after the startup missed performance targets, and the agency put the balance of Fisker’s loan obligation on the auction block in October. At the time, DOE stated that it would “require all bids to include a commitment and business plan that promotes domestic manufacturing capabilities and related engineering for advanced technology vehicles here in the United States.” But it’s unclear whether that standard will require bidders to continue renovating the Delaware plant where Fisker had intended to produce its lower-cost Atlantic hybrid sedan.
Fisker certainly isn’t the only company that has failed to take on the legacy automotive industry via venture capital investment and government loans. Failed “green” vehicle companies include Coda Automotive, Think Global and Next Autoworks (formerly V-Vehicle), as well as plug-in EV charging companies Better Place and ECOtality, which both declared bankruptcy this year.
So far, Tesla Motors is the only venture-backed carmaker to succeed in breaking into real-world markets and posing a competitive threat to plug-in vehicles like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. Tesla has also paid off its DOE loan -- a positive development amidst a tough period for electric vehicle startups getting government assistance.


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The EU response to US trade tariffs
The first half of 2018 has seen the start of bilateral trade wars with the US. China initially, but also the EU and others are confronted with high import tariffs on selected goods as part of the US administration’s “America First” rhetoric. The authors discuss what it means for the EU to face a threat to a long-established alliance with the US. They argue that not only are trade wars a lose-lose game, but that the EU has no option but to retaliate against US economic aggression. The EU’s best option for damage control is to defend the international multilateral system and maintain open and free trade with the rest of the world.
This paper is an external publication by Intereconomics – Review of European Economic Policy for Bruegel.EU-Response-US-Trade-Tariffs
Copyright © Bruegel 2015
To read the paper published by Bruegel, click here.


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PSP sales are continuing their downward spiral, as the latest numbers from NPD Group for the month of January show.
According to NPD, 100,000 PSP units were sold for the entire month of January - that includes both PSPgo and PSP-3000.
That's a precipitous drop from January 2009 when Sony managed to sell 172,000 PSPs. Carry over the 1, cross the "t" and that comes to an abysmal 58 per cent drop from last year.
These are not good numbers for Sony, particularly since it was looking to PSPgo to reinvigorate lagging sales in the second half of 2009. Instead, sales continue to slide.
Even during the holidays, PSP didn't prove nearly as popular as the year before. December saw a respectable 654,000 PSPs sold. That's not so good, however, compared to the 726,000 units sold in December 2008.
Clearly PSP is in enormous trouble as DS garners four times the sales and iPhone gains momentum.


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Top 5 States for Long Gun Sales
Sales soared last month.
According to FBI data on NICS firearm checks by year and by state and type of gun, long gun sales surged in New York in May. Overall, May saw a 6 percent increase in gun sales from last year. That’s nationwide, not just in New York.
The data comes from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is not a one-to-one measure of gun checks to gun sales but is the industry’s best measure. Total estimated gun sales racked up to 926,516. That figure represents 512,406 handguns, 315,716 long guns, 27,969 other types of firearms, and 15,726 checks for transactions covering multiple firearms.
May 2017 led New York to a 5-month record high on long gun sales. New York gun dealers processed 12,857 applications for what would most likely turn into long gun purchases. (We say likely because some of those sales would be denied. this is just a number of checks run.) Last year’s numbers was 19 percent lower.
New York held the number five spot on total long gun purchases in the nation. The top 4 states holding that record currently are Florida, Texas, California and Ohio.


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Team Humanity Clothing Company to Establish Flagship Store in Brownsville, PA
On Monday, December 12, 2016, Team Humanity Clothing Company unveiled their plan to establish a flagship retail store on Market Street in hometown of Brownsville, Pa. This announcement comes at a time when positive change is taking shape in the notoriously blighted downtown. This year has witnessed poignant demolition of the old Kart’s Department Store and beautiful redevelopment of 27 Market Street, the space, now-occupied, by the Brownsville Family Pharmacy. The downtown stage/park project, spearheaded by the Brownsville Students in Action is also nearing completion and will, hopefully, serve as an attractive centerpiece for Brownsville’s future.
Team Humanity – Post embed
Check out video of recent demolition and downtown stage below.


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It's on and poppin once again, as Nike and adidas prepare the hammers for the next seven days of sneaker spending. This week the releases start early, with several sneaks launching today (Thursday) including two much-anticipated colourways of the React Element 87 and the Converse Hello Kitty collection. Also today, the Nike Tekno hits retailers in four colourways (moving super quick) and a Foot Locker exclusive colourway of the adidas P.O.D
On Saturday, you can cop the Jordan IV 'Raptors' and the latest from Pharrell and adidas Originals.
Get all the info in the video above and subscribe to Complex AU on YouTube today for more Australian sneaker release info.


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"The countdown has begun and is ticking away toward 10 a.m. Eastern time on Monday 2/29 at which time pre-orders will open," the official post reads. Additionally, early adopters will get two games with the HTC Vive at no cost: Job Simulator and Fantastic Contraption.
The device will retail for $800/£690/€900. Included in the price is a headset, two wireless controllers, two movement tracking and room scale sensors and three games - Fantastic Contraption, Job Simulator and Google's Tilt Brush.
Pre-orders go live today from 10am EST/3pm GMT.
Release date and pricing details for the HTC Vive leaked out ahead of an official announcement.
According to GamesBeat, pre-orders for the virtual reality headset begin February 29, with shipments starting in early April. The device will cost $800.The reported price tag puts it a full $200 ahead of the Oculus Rift. Details and pricing on Oculus Rift were revealed during the Consumer Electronics Show in early January. The Oculus Rift costs $600 and has an expected ship date of "April 2016."The official announcement is expected during the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. In addition to being a fully functioning VR headset, the device also includes Vive Phone Services.
Vive Phone Services makes answering phone calls while in a virtual world, as well as other modern phone operations such as text messaging and checking voice mail, possible without needing to disconnect.
We had a chance to go hands-on with the Vive at Valve's VR event in Seattle, WA. All told, we sampled 12 different games, including Job Simulator and Elite: Dangerous.
Seth Macy is IGN's weekend web producer and just wants to be your friend. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy or check out Seth Macy's Youtube.


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RBC Capital Markets has lowered its estimates for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as the company gears up to launch new products. RBC senior analyst Amit Daryanani said his checks suggest that the iPhone maker’s sales slowed in the second quarter. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is scheduled to announce its second quarter results on April 23, 2013.
The analysts reduced their March quarter estimates to $41.2 billion in revenues and $9.59 per share in earnings. That’s lower than Wall Street consensus of $42.7 billion revenue and $10.08 in earnings. RBC estimates Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s gross margin to be at 38 percent in the second quarter.
Since the financial crisis, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has had significant exposure to financial stocks in its portfolio. Q1 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more At the end of March this year, Bank of America accounted for nearly 15% of the conglomerate's vast equity portfolio. Until very recently, Wells Fargo was also a prominent Read More
It also lowered the iPhone unit sales estimate from 37 million units to 35 million, which would be a 26 percent Q-o-Q drop from the record December quarter sales. Though iPad sales are expected to grow 55 percent Y-o-Y to 18.3 million units in the second quarter, over 50 percent of that will be iPad Mini. RBC reduced its gross margin estimate by 60 basis points to 38 percent.
For June quarter, analysts estimate the revenues and earnings to decline further to $37.3 billion and $8.72 per share respectively. However, that will be mainly because of product transitions in the quarter.
The iPhone sales are expected to come down to 28.6 million as the company plans to launch iPhone 5S and the low-cost iPhone in July. The iPad shipments will remain stable at around 19 million units. Due to the product transitions, quarterly sales will decline 10 percent to $37.3 billion, and gross margins will come down to 37.6 percent.
Furthermore, RBC analysts expect that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may surprise investors by increasing the dividend payment by 50 percent from $10.60 to $16+. The company is expected to generate $45 billion in free cash flow this year.
Mr. Daryanani said that the company’s growth momentum will return in the latter half of this year due to a number of catalysts including: launch of iOS 7 at WWDC, iPhone 5S and low-cost iPhone launch in July, upgrades of iPad and iPad Mini in September quarter, and carrier expansion in China during the fourth quarter. The surprise elements may be iWatch and iTV launches.
RBC Capital Markets has an Outperform rating on the stock with $550 price target (lowered from $600). Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares were down 1.05 percent to $429.78 at 12:27 PM EDT.


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BlackBerry has updated its cross-platform messaging app BBM with a slew of new features and paid subscriptions. You can now pay a recurring fee of $0.99 per month to remove ads, and get a custom PIN for a separate monthly fee of $1.99. Show More Summary
BlackBerry is focusing on software this year more than ever. The smartphone maker is working hard to ship a bevy of cross-platform apps for mobile devices and desktops for business users. The company will release three bundles of apps,...Show More Summary
BlackBerry owners may not be as common as they once were, but there are still plenty of them out there. They’ll all be very glad to here that once they install the latest update to BlackBerry OS, which started rolling out yesterday, they’ll be able to start downloading Android apps. Show More Summary
Yesterday BlackBerry rolled out a major software update, giving BlackBerry users on BlackBerry 10 devices such as the Q5, Q10, Z3, Z10, and Z30 access to over 200,000 Android apps as well as features such as Blend and a Siri-like … Continue reading ?
BlackBerry is rolling out an OS update that brings Android apps to its current line of devices through the Amazon Appstore. BlackBerry OS 10.3.1 will arrive on the Z30, Z3, Z10, Q10, Q5, Passport, and Porsche Design P’9983 and P’9982 models. Show More Summary
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) which has remained famous for its business phones, has rolled out a major software update, allowing the users of its entire suite of BlackBerry 10 devices such as the Z10, Q10 and Z30 to access Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Android applications using Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s Amazon Appstore and a host of other features, including Blend. An […]
BlackBerry today said BlackBerry OS 10.3.1 is available for device owners to download. The latest version of BlackBerry's operating system includes the Amazon Appstore for Android apps and brings back keyboard shortcuts to devices with physical keyboards. Show More Summary
Canonical wants to move us away from the app-centric mobile experience. The mobile market is saturated. Any new entrants are doomed from the start. And if you need proof, just look at Windows Phone or BlackBerry. The problem is that you need an app ecosystem to gain market share, but you need market share in order to entice developers to your platform. Read Full Story
Immobiliare.it has announced that they have reached 2 million downloads of its iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry Apps.
Today, instant-delivery startup Postmates brought its app from mobile to the web. The move helps those on Windows Phone, Blackberry, or even those on iOS and Android but too lazy to pick up their phone to order. (Several TechCrunchers in the office have done this multiple times. Show More Summary
BlackBerry CEO John Chen recently made an absurd demand for “app neutrality.” Here’s why that desperate plea should spook BlackBerry investors.
A Blackberry CEO is speaking out on Net Neutrality — or rather, on an issue that isn’t mentioned in Net Neutrality, but that he thinks should be. As you may know if you own a mobile device, some apps are available only on some platforms,...Show More Summary
CEO John Chen's proposal sparks ridicule, including one person who compares it to forcing Disney to release "Frozen" on Laser Disc. read more
The App Store and Google Play both have more than 1.4 million apps available for download, while Windows Phone and BlackBerry owners are used to a much smaller selection of apps. That’s exactly what BlackBerry CEO John Chen finds discriminatory, so he wants US legislators to force developers to create apps for the failed BlackBerry platform. [...]
BlackBerry CEO John Chen: Unfortunately, not all content and applications providers have embraced openness and neutrality. Unlike BlackBerry, which allows iPhone users to download and use our BBM service, Apple does not allow BlackBerry or Android users to download Apple’s iMessage messaging service. Show More Summary
If you hadn't noticed, BlackBerry isn't doing so well in the company's battle to maintain relevance in a mobile ecosystem dominated by Apple and Google. While the company maintains a small but vocal component of fans, efforts to launch...Show More Summary
BlackBerry has jumped into the debate on net neutrality the way that BlackBerry does just about everything these days: ass-backwards. Last night, BlackBerry CEO John Chen wrote a blog post that contorted the standard definition of net...Show More Summary
BlackBerry is doing its best to mount a comeback in the face of overwhelming competition from iOS and Android devices. The BlackBerry Classic is a step in the right direction, but the fact remains that app support is a huge problem, and porting apps...
Amidst the hoopla of Microsoft's Windows 10 event yesterday, I missed a thoughtful letter posted on the BlackBerry blog. CEO John Chen penned it, sharing his thoughts with the FCC on…


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Industrial production in Moldova, seasonally and workday adjusted, dropped by 7.8% m/m in May in the deepest monthly decline since the 13.4% plunge during the lockdown last March.
Gross industrial production fell by 14.7% m/m, and the 11.6% y/y advance boasted by industrial production (gross terms) may be misleading due to low base effects. The 2.8% decline compared to May 2019 is more relevant.
In April, Moldova boasted the best post-crisis industrial performance and a massive 11.6% advance compared to April 2019.
Sector-specific granular data reveal that the industrial slowdown in May was caused in Moldova by both external and internal factors as well. Industries related to the production of automobiles, which slowed in Europe amid the semiconductors crisis, reached Moldova as well.
Thus, the production of electronic and optical parts plunged by 41% m/m, production of rubber and plastic parts by 19.3% m/m and the production of electric parts by 9.8% m/m (all in gross terms).
The production of food also declined, by 2.2% m/m and 11.7% y/y. Production of non-metallic mineral products (broadly speaking construction materials) contracted by 11.5% m/m, but thanks to robust advances in the previous months it is still a notable 10.4% above May 2019.
Other industries that largely depend on exports saw sharp declines in May. A deep contraction was seen in the sector of textile production (-32.4% m/m), leather and furs processing (-16.5%) and clothing production (-4.7%).


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A new page on the music streaming service’s website says: “Spotify is coming to the US. The award-winning music service that’s taken Europe by storm will soon be landing on US shores. Millions of tracks ready to play instantly, on your computer and your phone.”
Users are invited to submit their email address to be notified when the site launches.
It is still not clear when the US service will go live. A Spotify spokesman told the Telegraph this evening: "We’re working hard to launch the service in the US as soon as possible. All we can say right now is watch this space!"
Spotify’s US launch has been expected for some time but lengthy negotiations with record labels have meant a long wait for users. Daniel Ek, the company’s founder, insisted for much of last year that the US launch would happen before the end of 2010 but the deals have dragged on.
Earlier today Spotify announced a partnership with Virgin Media that would see the music service integrated with Virgin Media’s TiVo set-top boxes and made available to mobile customers.
The partnership, first revealed in the Telegraph last October, is the latest in a series of tie-ups that have enabled Spotify to grow its customer base. It is rumoured that the company is close to announcing a partnership with Facebook, to be unveiled later this summer.
Two weeks ago Spotify announced a $100m (£61m) funding round that values the company at $1bn.


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A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business’ Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here . You can listen to an audio version of the newsletter by clicking the same link.
London (CNN Business) This year, cryptocurrencies have been up. They’ve been down. But they never seem to be entirely out.
What’s happening: Hype around bitcoin is building again, with a financial tool that could boost public exposure to the digital currency poised to make its debut this week.
After plunging this spring, bitcoin is now trading above $60,000 — not far off the all-time high of more than $64,800 achieved in April. It’s jumped more than 40% so far this month.
Driving the gains: Investors are excited about the anticipated launch of the first bitcoin futures exchange-traded fund. The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF will go live on Tuesday, according to the company.
The fund will provide an entry point for investors who are interested in cryptocurrencies but don’t want to deal with buying and selling the tokens themselves.
The SEC signaled last week that it could finally approve such an instrument, which the crypto industry has long lobbied for.
“Before investing in a fund that holds bitcoin futures contracts, make sure you carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits,” the agency tweeted.
Should it go ahead, the ETF could supercharge bitcoin’s recent rally.
“We view the approval of a Bitcoin futures ETF as a positive step for the digital asset space,” Isaac Boltansky, BTIG’s director of policy research, said in a recent note to clients.
That doesn’t mean regulators are completely ditching their distrust of cryptocurrencies. Boltansky noted that a futures ETF is different from an ETF that buys and sells bitcoin directly. On that front, the SEC appears to remain skeptical.
And the rollout of stricter global rules continues to loom. Oversight bodies face more pressure to act as the pool of investment grows.
In a recent speech, Bank of England official Jon Cunliffe noted that the collapse of the $1.2 trillion market in subprime mortgage-backed securities triggered the 2008 financial crisis. Crypto assets, meanwhile, have grown to $2.3 trillion.
“$2.3 trillion of course needs to be seen in the context of the $250 trillion global financial system,” Cunliffe said. “But as the financial crisis showed us, you don’t have to account for a large proportion of the financial sector to trigger financial stability problems.”
Some industry players see the writing on the wall. Coinbase published a proposal for regulating digital assets last Thursday. The company, which went public earlier this year, called for a designated US body to monitor crypto assets.
“Where new policy questions or challenges arise, the ability of a single dedicated regulatory body to respond in an efficient and timely manner benefits everyone,” Coinbase said in a research paper.
Goldman Sachs takes full control of China securities venture
Goldman Sachs has received clearance to take full ownership of its securities joint venture in China, a sign that Beijing remains open to foreign financial firms even as geopolitical tensions simmer.
The latest: Goldman announced Sunday that the entity, previously named Goldman Sachs Gao Hua Securities Company, will be renamed Goldman Sachs Securities Company. The unit offers investment banking and securities services to clients in mainland China.
“This marks the start of a new chapter for our China business following a successful 17-year joint venture,” CEO David Solomon said in a letter to employees.
Remember: Wall Street has long sought greater access to mainland China, a market where bankers see huge potential. The process has been arduous, however, with the country moving extremely slowly to open its doors to financiers without local partners.
Corporate America sees China as a long-term bet that it expects will pay off despite persistent political strain and slower growth.
The country’s economy expanded by just 4.9% in the third quarter, according to official data published Monday. That was the weakest rate of expansion in a year as the country contends with a major energy crunch and supply chain disruptions.
There are also fears about debt loads in China’s property sector, which accounts for as much as 30% of GDP.
“The challenges of keeping the economy running smoothly have increased,” said Fu Linghui, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics.
Labor is flexing its muscle as workers gain leverage
Across the United States, workers are saying enough is enough — and many are either hitting the picket lines or quitting their jobs as a result.
For the first time in decades, employees, rather than employers, have power to wield in the labor market, which is reorienting itself in the wake of Covid-19, my CNN Business colleague Chris Isidore reports. That’s empowering unions, which have been much weaker in the 21st century than in the past.
At John Deere ( DE ) , 10,000 workers went on strike last Thursday after rejecting a tentative deal that would have improved wages and benefits, calling for “a better share of the pie, a safer workplace and adequate benefits.” They joined 1,400 strikers at Kellogg ( K ) upset with seven-day work weeks and a two-tier retirement system. Pilots from American Airlines are set to hold demonstrations at the Miami airport on Tuesday.
Step back: Businesses have been struggling to find the workers they need to fill a record number of job openings. There has also been a record high number of workers quitting jobs.
That gives employees greater bargaining power — which many are determined to use.
“My nurses and health care professionals are angry,” said Elizabeth Hawkins, negotiator for a union of 32,000 nurses that could soon go on strike at hospitals and clinics in Southern California and Hawaii run by health care giant Kaiser Permanente.
History lesson: Robert Reich, a former US labor secretary, said that workers also made major gains after the tumult of World War I and World War II.
“It may have taken a pandemic to open people’s eyes,” he said. “Many people are frazzled. A lot of workers are saying, ‘I’ve had it!'”
State Street and Albertsons report results before US markets open.
- US industrial production data for September arrives at 9:15 a.m. ET.
- The NAHB Housing Market Index for October follows at 10 a.m. ET.
- Apple is set to unveil two high-end MacBook Pro laptops at 1 p.m. ET.
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We’re seeing more of our favourite services shift to an online presence as our smartphones become our primary entertainment devices. So is this now starting to play a negative role on cinema. There are a number of reasons for this shift, whilst some may be a more temporary adjustment, it’s difficult to ignore the more permanent changes that are occurring too;
Lockdown and distancing – The recent lockdown measures and social distancing strategies put in place across the world to curb the spread of the coronavirus may only be short term, but will certainly have a longer lasting impact. Whilst measures are being eased in many countries and locations such as cinemas start to reopen, it may be quite some time before a larger audience returns, especially when alternatives are becoming increasingly available.
Video-On-Demand and streaming – The alternatives are coming in the growing number of streaming services available – the big names in Netflix and Amazon Prime have typically held older titles with their own big self-developed titles, but this is changing with the growth of Disney+ – a recent release of Hamilton forgoing a theatrical run has been incredibly successful and being touted as the most streamed piece of online content currently, and the plan to release the live action remake of Mulan directly onto the platform already shows the willingness to leave the box office behind in favour of a streamed service instead – the success of Mulan could be the catalyst in spreading change for many other studios too, a prior release by Universal and their title Trolls had already shown that VOD releases in certain instances can definitely be more successful, whether or not this can be linked to an increasing audience in lockdown or not is a different matter, but as streaming services continue to grow it’s unlikely that is the root cause.
Gaming – Perhaps the most widespread change has been within gaming as mobile devices have become the most popular platform. In some cases they have even begun to replace more cemented institutions, as has been seen during the past few months particularly with the growth of online casinos. As brick and mortar locations had remained closed around the world, a surge in real money players has been seen, with the likes of slots and roulette proving extremely popular. That has seen people regularly getting involved in playing popular online slots games, such as Quick hit and Buffalo, which have been providing a Vegas like experience. These online casinos have seen growing number of players from all backgrounds getting involved, but gaming is perhaps a more obvious sector where this shift could happen as we may be looking at a more unlikely target as cinema could be at risk.
With that being said however, it isn’t all doom and gloom for cinemas just yet – the release of the previously mentioned Mulan does come at a heavy cost as fans are expected to pay $30 on top of their $6.99 service fee to watch the movie, much higher than the lower price of a movie ticket – it is expected that this cost is to offset those who will watch as a family, rather than paying $40 or $50 for a number of cinema tickets, the cost covers many viewers, but it still hadn’t been quite well received. With no information on whether or not this is a longer term rental period or a single viewing experience, and could make a difference to how users accept the change.
For now, it has become less a question of whether or not a change will happen and more to what extent the change will happen – it’ll be a number of months before any cinemas really return to a sizeable capacity enough to judge whether or not attendance has fallen off as much as it appears, and it will also be in the hands of the studios to whether or not they also decide to make the change to an online solution – the success of Mulan and possible attendance will be the key indicators for change.


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Data from the U.S. Public Interest Group show consumer complaints about credit report errors surged by 60% year-over-year in 2020. It’s due in part to creditors reporting consumers as late on payments even though they allowed them to skip amid COVID-related job losses.
Ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic keep coming, and your credit report could be one of the victims.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy organization, has studied the number of complaints the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) received in 2020 versus 2019 regarding credit reporting errors and found that in every month, last year’s complaint numbers beat – or often shattered – the previous year’s level.
The smallest month-over-month change from 2019 to 2020 was a 24% increase in February. But starting in April, numbers were up 50% or more every month, and in December, rose by a whopping 124% compared to the previous December.
Overall, 2019 saw a total of approximately 277,000 complaints about credit reporting errors, while these complaints clocked in at more than 444,000 throughout 2020, for an annual increase of more than 60%.
U.S. PIRG explains that the huge uptick in complaints is due in large part to errors in credit reporting triggered by pandemic policies that allowed consumers to skip certain payments.
Congress’ CARES Act passed in March, the legislation that provided the first stimulus checks also instructed mortgage and student loan lenders to allow borrowers to put their payments on hold. Auto loan and credit card companies then voluntarily followed suit.
But even though the CFPB instructed lenders to report these loans and debts as “current” while consumers were in relaxed repayment schedules, many of the lenders and loan services erroneously reported the skipped payments as “late” to the three credit bureaus. Consequently, some consumers who had skipped payments with permission saw their credit scores nonetheless take a hit.
When looking at 2020s credit reporting complaints post-CARES Act, calculated from April 1 through the end of the year, the increase over 2019’s complaint numbers is 69%.
U.S. PIRG’s analysis was released March 1.


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At this year’s Paris Motor Show which kicks off at the end of next month, Mazda says that it will be focusing on low fuel consumption and reduced emissions, with three new model introductions.
The lightweight Mazda2, which was voted World Car of the Year 2008 – has received an upgrade and will be given its European premiere in Paris.
Joining the upgraded Mazda2 will be the all-new Mazda5 premiering with a new, more economical MZ-CD 1.6 diesel engine.
The new Mazda3 with an upgraded MZ-CD 1.6 diesel engine will also be introduced. Mazda say that it offers more power and torque, while lowering fuel consumption and emissions.