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The Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating Reviton from Helm Agro US
By Diego Flammini
A new herbicide could be available to U.S. farmers soon.
The Environmental Protection Agency is currently reviewing Reviton, a new Group 14 herbicide from Helm Agro US, the same company behind products like Kendo insecticides and the Ro-Neet herbicide.
Reviton is marketed as a burndown product in corn, soybeans and wheat, and can be used as a desiccant in cotton fields.
The crop protection product includes the active ingredient Tergeo.
The herbicide has proven itself capable of controlling more than 50 broadleaf and grass weeds, including some resistant to glyphosate, ALS and triazine.
“As a time when few herbicides are being brought to the market, Reviton is truly breakthrough technology,” Dave Schumacher, president of Helm Agro US, said in a statement. “The performance of Reviton in field trials has been impressive. Growers and retailers will be excited once they see the product in action.”
A new molecule discovery is partly responsible for Reviton’s success.
Researchers with Farm Hannong, a Korean agrochemical company, discovered the molecule.
Earlier this year, Helm Agro US and Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, a Japanese agrochemical manufacturer, entered an agreement to produce Reviton with the new molecule for the U.S. market. The agreement between the parties also includes two additional herbicide products.
Helm Agro US expects Reviton to be released later in 2020 following state and federal registrations for crop use.
Farms.com has reached out to Helm Agro US and industry groups for comment.


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While other tech giants such as Meta, Microsoft and Google fired thousands of employees, Apple hasn’t given into the pressure, but why though?
Entering into the last quarter of the year, many tech companies started laying off thousands of employees. Major tech corporations such as Google, Meta and Microsoft laid off thousands of employees, whereas the tech industry collectively laid off around 220,000 in just a few months.
While other tech giants were laying off large parts of their workforce, Apple never caved into the pressure and kept holding onto its employees. But how did Apple go through the tech slowdown without lowering its employee count? Well, the answer is simple, and it’s ‘efficient hiring’.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought with itself a giant boom for the tech industry, profits skyrocketed and tech companies hired thousands of new employees. However, the pandemic boosted growth soon halted and the costs of new employees pulled down growth thus forcing the companies to start off a firing spree.
On the other hand, Apple was cautious throughout the pandemic. The tech giant had a safer approach towards hiring and hired far lesser employees than other firms during the pandemic. On top of this, Apple was also able to generate more money per employee than companies that over hired during the pandemic thus keeping it in the safe zone even after a devastating tech slowdown.
“This signals a better quality of management at Apple compared to other technology companies that clearly read the signals during the pandemic the wrong way” said Saxo Bank A/S’s Peter Garnry while talking about the tech layoffs.
According to data, Apple’s headcount from 2020 to 2022 has increased by just 20%, other giant tech firms on the other hand had an increase of about 60%.
“Apple is frugal by nature. It comes down to the management’s stewardship of shareholder dollars and a tight focus on what growth opportunities to invest in.” said Credit Suisse Group AG analyst Shannon Cross.

domain: news


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After TikTok Ban In India, PUBG Mobile Players Are Wondering If Their Game Will Be Banned Next
Now that Tik Tok has been banned, a lot of people actually seem to be happy about it.
However, PUBG Mobile users are starting so see some similarities between this ban and the one on their game a little while ago. And these PUBG fans are already making contingency plans for the worse, if it came to that.
Some are talking about going back to older games like Left for Dead, Call of Duty, and GTA V. Others talk about protesting if that happens (though it's debatable how serious they are). Still others figure they can just use VPN services on their smartphones to connect and play anyway.
Don't give a fuck about tiktok ban , but pubg ban hua to talwarein chal jayegi.— Narayan Abhishek (@NarayanAbhishe3) April 17, 2019
Tooofan aayega fir.#pubglover thoko like.
Well I am not tiktok user but what's going in our country they initially ban PUBG in some states of India then they removed ban of PUBG now they ban TikTok and Jio ban telegram official website (https://t.co/atiVt49VtK) it's India don't make it china,Iran— Aniket Dudhe (@cyberlord_276) April 17, 2019
TikTok, Pubg ban are just to test the waters, once people get accustomed to these bans, more will follow.— Bharat Ek Mauj (@BharatEkMauj) April 18, 2019
That's a good idea it seems, seeing that the authorities are already making a move to ban the popular smartphone game. The Rajkot police, who previously imposed a temporary ban on PUBG Mobile earlier this year, are apparently trying to do it again. This time they're seeking a more permanent solution by requesting Google to take the app down from the Play Store here in India.
The Rajkot police apparently wrote to Google asking them to block the app for IP addresses in the area. Supposedly, they sent the letter when the ban was first implemented in March.
They still have no clear reason for implementing a ban on the game aside from vague claims of "it spoils children", "makes kids violent", and "disrupts studies".
Till now, no court in India has made any ruling on PUBG Mobile in any capacity either, so the police can't really act on their own -- and without a complaint. Nonetheless, PUBG players are worried and preparing for the eventuality of "If not PUBG then what?"
In a PUBG Mobile India group on Facebook, users are suggesting alternate games to play or installing VPN to get around the PUBG ban -- if that eventually happened.
Thankfully, it seems Google hasn't responded to Rajkot Police's request yet, and they're not likely to without good reason. We predicted this would happen, but it's still a scary thought to consider just how quickly we're moving from singular app bans to complete censorship.


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Customer satisfaction improved for major household appliances and is at or near all-time highs for personal computers and big-ticket consumer electronics such as televisions, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).
Amid recent news of weak durable goods growth and the continued uncertainty of the housing market, the ACSI results may provide a glimmer of hope for future demand for these durable products.
"In order for demand to rebound, consumers must exhibit an increased desire to spend and have the means to do so," said Claes Fornell, founder of the ACSI and author of The Satisfied Customer: Winners and Losers in the Battle for Buyer Preference. "ACSI data suggest that for durables, the first condition has been met in the form of higher customer satisfaction. Whether this will translate into increased consumer demand will depend on positive movement in the factors that impact the means to spend: employment, wages and access to credit."
Satisfaction with personal computers surged 4.0 percent to match the all-time industry high of 78 on the ACSI's 0 to 100-point scale. Apple gained two percent to 86 -- its highest score ever. This marks the seventh straight year that Apple leads all other PC makers, and the 9-point gap between Apple and its nearest competitor is the largest in ACSI.
That's not to say Apple is without its critics. Karine of Mt-Tremblant, Canada says the IMAC she bought in 2008 for $2900 has been nothing but trouble. "Barely 15 months after purchase, I had a kernel attack," she writes ConsumerAffairs.com. "I paid $750 for a repair that didn't fix the issue. I had to bring the computer back to the store three more times, and it only made it worse. I am bitter and will not buy another Mac in the future."
Many Windows-based machines also improved and no brand declined. Dell improved three percent, while Acer (Gateway and eMachines) and the HP division of Hewlett-Packard both rose four percent, forming a three-way tie at 77-well behind Apple. These companies were joined by the aggregate of all smaller PC makers, such as Sony and Toshiba, which gained four percent to 77.
"Windows-based PC brands appear to have recovered from the problems associated with the Windows Vista software," said Fornell. "Barely a year into the release of Windows 7, satisfaction with these brands has returned to -- and in some cases even surpassed - the levels prior to the launch of Vista."
PC makers have benefited overall from better customer service, although this service continues to lag far behind other durable goods industries. PC owners who had reason to contact customer support are eight percent less satisfied than those with no post-purchase contact with the manufacturer or retailer.
Customer satisfaction with major appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and washers and dryers improved 1.2 percent to 82 -- matching a 10-year high. Whirlpool is atop the industry, unchanged at 83. 2010 marks the 15th year in a row that Whirlpool has had at least a share of the industry lead. GE closed the gap with Whirlpool, gaining five percent to 81 and rebounding from a big drop last year.
GE's climb tied the manufacturer with the aggregate of all smaller appliance makers, which improved three percent to 81. Electrolux rounds out the industry, unchanged at 79 and matching a five-year low.
GE does not rate highly with Mike from Villa Hills, KY, who says that after using all GE appliances for 26 years in his previous house with minimal problems, his wife insisted on GE when they moved to another house.
"We bought flat top stove, dishwasher and over-stove microwave," he writes ConsumerAffairs.com. "At 14 months the microwave broke. Entire insides had to be replaced. At 32 months, motor went out on dishwasher. At 39 months, the front burner on the stove went out frying the on-off switches also. My solution, never buy anything with GE associated by name or make."
Satisfaction with home electronics such as televisions and DVD or Blu-ray Disc (BD) players increased 2.4 percent to 85 -- the best-ever score for the category and the highest level of customer satisfaction for any ACSI industry thus far in 2010.
Greater affordability has made these products more attractive. For the first time, prices for some flat-screen TVs have fallen below $500. Prices for DVD and BD players have dropped as well, translating into better value for money, with a positive effect on customer satisfaction.


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TCN Reaches New Growth Milestones, Showing Its Chops in Call Center Operations
Good news recently emerged for TCN, a company that focuses on enterprise-level cloud-based call center systems, as it achieved a slate of milestones illustrating its growth. With successes in mergers and customer counts, the company had plenty to be proud of, but wasn't resting on its collective laurels.
One of the biggest successes the company enjoyed was a completed merger with Global Connect, who also offers cloud-based call center systems with a focus on dialing and communications. That wasn't all, as the company recently boosted its customer base to 1,600 firms and beyond, and brought in a pair of new data centers for both Las Vegas and Calgary, increasing its range of operations.
This is good news for TCN, especially given that the cloud-based contact center market is itself expanding rapidly and is likely to continue doing so through 2020; a MarketsandMarkets report suggests that the numbers will better than triple, going from $4.68 billion in 2015 to a hefty $14.71 billion by 2020.
Plans are also in play to bring out more material for its customers to put to use, including the recent launch of a business intelligence system that served as an extension of its flagship product, Platform 3.0. With this new system, users get access to analytics and reporting tools that provide access to actionable insights using the flood of data most companies collect every day. That makes better agent performance, a more efficient overall organization, and offers other benefits besides. TCN also brought out its VocalRX system, focusing on healthcare operations and looking to provide more efficient operations, collection of revenue, and automated notification tools. TCN even has plans to help drive business forward with a new trade-up program, allowing new TCN customers access to special pricing on infrastructure upgrades, including free inbound calling for two months and call recording tools.
The company doing quite a bit right here, offering both new products to address current customers and special pricing structures to bring in new customers. It might be a good idea to add some price breaks for current customers as well; no one wants customers looking at a bill and wondering why only the new customers get access to the price cuts. Still, it's a small matter to bear the current customers in mind with long-term loyalty-based rewards programs, and those who do should find that new customers come in rapidly and stick around longer as it's clear their business is appreciated.
TCN has delivered a lot of value so far and doesn't look to slow up. With new products and programs for customers, it's working hard to get and keep customers. There's room for improvement—there always is—but what TCN's doing right now seems to be doing the job just fine.
Edited by Stefania Viscusi


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Film and sheet manufacturer AEP Industries Inc., and its Canadian subsidiary AEP Canada Inc., is buying the assets of Quebec-based flexible packager Transco Plastics Industries Ltd. for approximately US$5.3 million.
The company will gain about US$30 million in annual net sales from Transco’s former customers, according to a news release from AEP.
The transaction is expected to close within the next two weeks.
According to South Hackensack, N.J.-based AEP, it intends to relocate the manufacturing activities associated with the Transco businesses to its manufacturing sites throughout North America. AEP has 11 plants in the U.S. and one in West Hill, Ont.
“This is a compelling investment opportunity for AEP that will gain meaningful business to our company and deliver a solid return on invested capital,” said Brendan Barba, AEP’s chairman, president and CEO. “With Transco we will expand our already robust presence in the plastic packaging industry and enhance our suite of products.”
AEP manufactures, markets, and distributes a range of plastic packaging products for the consumer, industrial, and agricultural markets. The publicly traded company reported sales of approximately US$292 million in the third quarter of 2012.


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The e-commerce giant has told some customers that, from Jan. 19 onward, the company will no longer accept Visa credit cards issued in Britain ” due to the high fees Visa charges for processing credit card transactions.”
Visa shares fell 2.5% in U.S. premarket trading.
Visa earlier this year hiked the interchange fees it charges merchants for processing digital transactions between the U.K. and the European Union.
After Brexit, an EU cap on interchange fees no longer applies in the U.K., allowing card networks to raise their charges.
Mastercard has also increased its U.K.-EU interchange fees.
Amazon customers were told they will still be able to use debit cards — including those issued by Visa — and non-Visa credit cards like Mastercard and American Express. Users are being encouraged to update their default payment method ahead of the changes. The news was first reported by Bloomberg.
Visa said it was “very disappointed that Amazon is threatening to restrict consumer choice in the future.”
“U.K. shoppers can use their Visa debit and credit cards at Amazon U.K. today and throughout the holiday season,” a Visa spokesperson told CNBC.
“We have a long-standing relationship with Amazon, and we continue to work toward a resolution, so our cardholders can use their preferred Visa credit cards at Amazon U.K. without Amazon-imposed restrictions come January 2022.”
Amazon blasted Visa for its high card charges. “The cost of accepting card payments continues to be an obstacle for businesses striving to provide the best prices for customers,” a spokesperson for the company told CNBC.
“These costs should be going down over time with technological advancements, but instead they continue to stay high or even rise.”
The move could be viewed as a way for Amazon to get some bargaining power over Visa to lower its fees. The payments firm also charges businesses scheme fees to become part of its network.
While smaller retailers aren’t in a position to negotiate, Amazon — given its size — may have better luck.
Sources from: CNBC
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By Melodie Warner
Verizon Communications Inc.'s (VZ) fourth-quarter loss widened on restructuring charges and Hurricane Sandy-related expenses while revenue grew more than expected, thanks to increased contracts in the wireless business.
The largest U.S. phone carrier has seen its revenue growth improve in recent quarters as Verizon Wireless--its joint venture with Vodafone Group PLC (VOD, VOD.LN)--launched shared-data pricing plans to better capitalize on increasing data usage. Earlier this month, Verizon Wireless forecast a net gain of 2.1 million new contract subscribers in the fourth quarter, the best in its history, with 87% of total postpaid phone sales being smartphones.
Meanwhile, Verizon's wireline business has benefited from increased FiOS Internet and television subscriptions and expanded networking and cloud-computing services, mitigating the impact of a shrinking landline business.
Verizon reported a loss of $4.23 billion, or $1.48 a share, compared with a loss of $2.02 billion, or 71 cents, a year earlier. The most-recent quarter included a $1.86-a-share charge related to severance, pension and benefit charges, early debt retirement and other restructuring activities, while the year-earlier quarter included a per-share charge of $1.23 primarily related to the valuation of pension plans. Excluding items, adjusted per-share earnings fell to 38 cents from 52 cents. Verizon said the impact of superstorm Sandy also reduced adjusted earnings by seven cents a share.
Revenue jumped 5.7% to $30.05 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast per-share earnings of 50 cents on revenue of $29.83 billion.
Operating margin widened to negative 10.5% from negative 3.9%.
Verizon Wireless added 2.1 million of the most profitable postpaid subscribers, up from 1.21 million additions a year earlier and up from 1.5 million additions in the prior quarter. It added 2.24 million total subscribers during the quarter, pushing its base to 98.2 million connections, a 6.6% increase from a year ago.
Wireless revenue rose 9.5% to $19.99 billion. Total churn, or customers who cancel services, was 0.95%, compared with 0.94% a year ago and 0.91% in the prior quarter.
The company also added 144,000 FiOS Internet and 134,000 FiOS Video subscribers during the quarter. Average revenue per user at the wireline business climbed 9.5%.
Shares were trading 37 cents lower at $42.17 premarket. The stock has fallen 13% over the past year through Friday's close.
Write to Melodie Warner at firstname.lastname@example.org
--Verizon reports $4.23 billion loss from pension, debt and storm charges
--Wireless margins hit by smartphone subsidies from iPhone, holiday sales
--Wireless venture adds 5 million customers in 2012
(Updates throughout with details beginning in the first paragraph)
By Thomas Gryta
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) reported a fourth-quarter loss Tuesday, as year-end charges and smartphone subsidies weighed down results that included the best-ever customer additions to its wireless service.
Verizon reported a $4.23 billion loss that stemmed largely from massive charges from its pension plan, debt-related costs and storm damage. Revenue rose 5.7%.
The Basking Ridge, N.J., telecom giant also added a highest-ever 2.1 million in new wireless contract customers in the quarter, even as overall industry growth has been slow, driven by holiday spending and strong sales of Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhone 5, which is the first to run on next-generation LTE networks.
As expected, margins on wireless services dropped in the quarter as subsidies paid on all of those smartphones were a direct hit to profits. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture that is 45% owned by Vodafone Group PLC (VOD, VOD.LN).
"We knew margins were going to be light, but they were a little lighter than expected," said Jonathan Chaplin, analyst at New Street Research, who noted that customer trends across Verizon were strong in the quarter.
"What we learned today was that it cost them a little bit more on the expense line than we thought," he said. He noted that 2012 was strong for the overall business, but investors want to know what the company plans to do for 2013.
Verizon shares recently dropped 1.5% to $41.90.
Verizon reported a loss of $4.23 billion, or $1.48 a share, compared with a loss of $2.02 billion, or 71 cents, a year earlier. The most-recent quarter included a charge of $1.86 a share, while the year-earlier quarter included a per-share charge of $1.23 primarily related to the valuation of pension plans. Verizon said the impact of superstorm Sandy, which caused extensive damage to its wirelines operations in the Northeast, also reduced adjusted earnings by 7 cents a share.
Excluding items, adjusted per-share earnings were 38 cents, below Wall Street analyst expectations of 50 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters.
Revenue rose to $30.05 billion, beating expectations of $29.83 billion.
The wireless division--bringing in two-thirds of total revenue--has been leading rivals in both adding customers and reporting low customer cancellations. For 2012, the wireless company added more than 5 million net new contract customers, bringing its total to 92.5 million. Those additions likely widened its lead over rival AT&T Inc. (T), which reports results on Thursday, and had about 70 million contract customers at the end of September.
But Verizon reported wireless margins of 41.4%, down from 50% in the third quarter and 42.2% in the year-ago quarter. Included in the sale of many smartphones is a subsidy, usually of a few hundred dollars, that the carriers pay the handset makers to lower the phone's price tag for consumers but also to lock in the buyers as a wireless subscriber for two years.
Verizon Wireless activated 9.8 million smartphones in the quarter, making up 87% of its total phone sales. Smartphones now account for more than 58% of the Verizon Wireless contract customer base, up from 53% at the end of the previous quarter.
Wireless revenue rose 9.5% to $20 billion in the quarter, as service revenue increased 8.5% to $16.4 billion. Total churn, or customers who cancel services, was 0.95%, compared with 0.94% a year ago and 0.91% in the prior quarter.
Verizon Wireless has spent billions building its LTE network, and it has a big lead over other carriers in rolling out the platform, something the carrier has stressed in its marketing. It said Tuesday that about 50% of its total wireless data traffic is now going over the LTE network.
While that has been cited on Wall Street has helping to attract customers, Verizon Wireless also has been aggressive in its data pricing plans and phone upgrade policies. Verizon Wireless launched new data plans last summer that let the carrier better capitalize on customers' increasing data usage and enable users to add devices more easily.
The company said 23% of the retail contract customer base adopted the Share Everything Plans, up from 13% three months ago.
The average revenue per account for retail wireless subscribers under contract grew 6.6% from a year ago to $146.80 per month. The company had 35.1 million contract accounts at the end of the quarter, up 1.4% from a year ago. It had an average of 2.6 connections per account, up 4.3% from a year-ago but flat with last quarter.
Overall, wireline revenue dropped 1.5% to $9.99 billion from $10.14 billion a year ago.
The division's FiOS internet and television service reported strong results in the quarter, adding 144,000 internet and 134,000 video subscribers. The company said the growth was greater than in the prior two quarters, despite disruption from Hurricane Sandy.
Verizon had 5.4 million FiOS internet and 4.7 million video connections at the end of the quarter, both up about 13% from a year-ago, with about two-thirds of customers buying "triple play" packages of phone, internet and video services.
--Melodie Warner contributed to this story.
Write to Thomas Gryta at email@example.com
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In a bid to take head on with Tata Motors in the LCV category M&M is planning to launch a passenger vehicle on the Maxximo platform over the next 12 months.
It is to be mentioned here that the company has already invested a huge sum of Rs. 300 crore at its Chakan unit for the same and the company plans to soon introduce the product in the Indian market which will take on the Tata Magic, a passenger vehicle made on the Ace Platform.
It may be noted here that the Maxximo, that was launched by the company at the auto expo is already eating away volumes from the Ace’s market and with the passenger vehicle of Maxximo in pipeline, it is believed that the segment will see a lot of action in times to come.
Mahindra and Mahindra Chief Executive (Automotive Division) Rajesh Jejurikar confirmed the development by saying that the company is planning such a product for the Indian market.
While Jejurikar was in Chennai for the launch of Maxximo in the South Indian market but the consumers are now eagerly waiting for the passenger vehicle on the Maxximo platform that will in return get high volumes to Mahindra.
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text: IF the essentials of retailing were only location, location and location, then Lane Crawford's store in Singapore should have been a winner. Its distinctive glass cone of an entrance looks out across the junction of Orchard Road and Scotts Road, the two main shopping thoroughfares of the island. The dimension that worked against the store was time, or rather, timing. While the store's management has to shoulder a lot of blame for misreading how different the shopping preferences of Singapore were from those of its Hong Kong home market, it also found itself in the teeth of the toughest retail market in Singapore's recent history. 'Lane Crawford was not the first to go, and it won't be the last,' a retail analyst with broker Kay Hian James Capel said. Earlier this year just a few doors away from Lane Crawford, Galeries Lafayette gave up after years of trying to establish itself. That site will shortly be home to Planet Hollywood's latest Asian restaurant. Gaps have opened up along the Orchard Road shopping malls. Rumours of other big closures abound. Behind the dark outlook for retailers is a ruthless demand and supply equation. Over the past five years, retail sales have grown an average 3.5 per cent and slowing. Retail space grew 8.8 per cent. In the first six months of this year, 367,000 sq ft of new retail space came on stream, taking the total stock to 18.7 million sq ft. By the end of the year an estimated 1.8 million sq ft will have been added to the shopping malls and stores around the island. Some of that will be in the Orchard Road area, presenting more unwelcome competition to existing shopping centres, but the real rivals are the emerging suburban malls which have been built in the outlying townships. It is no longer necessary for shoppers to trek to Orchard Road. This has increased the dependence on the tourists, but the strength of the Singapore dollar has reduced the buying power of visitors. That same currency appreciation has made it much more attractive for Singapore citizens to save up their luxury shopping needs for overseas trips. The local dollars are being spent less freely because they are just not available. Singapore is a rich country, but much of the wealth is asset-based: the flat and the incredibly expensive cars. Analysts point out that marginal spending power for those who are repaying loans for both home and car is relatively low, so shopping sprees are out. While the market conditions are generally pretty grim, there are those who are doing more than surviving at both ends of the market. Giordano is reported to be making progress, although not at the same rate as in its new Asian markets. F.J. Benjamin, which specialises in well-known brand names ranging from Guess to Gucci, says Singapore is still a growth market, and plans to list its stock there. Getting the right products is - as ever - the key, and that is where Lane Crawford made its fundamental mistakes, according to market analysts. The best that many can say about Lane Crawford's product mix is that, for what was once a five-floor department store, it made a very good shoe shop. Footwear was the only line which really appealed to the consumers. As for the rest, Singapore shoppers were not prepared to pay Lane Crawford's prices for a label which had much less cachet than it commanded in Hong Kong. There is no shortage of the world's top fashion names in Singapore, and unlike the shop 'til they drop buyers of Hong Kong, to whom brand names are essential for everything, Singapore consumers are often happy to pay for a couple of good outfits, and then bargain hunt. Just how much Lane Crawford was struggling to find its niche in Singapore became clear in April last year when it renegotiated its contract with its landlord, Marco Polo Developments - a sister company under the Wheelock and Co banner - and reduced its floor space from five floors to two. It was not enough, and attempts to find the right product mix were unsuccessful, leading to a last-ditch attempt to keep a presence in the market by reducing its space to a single floor. This was ruled out on the advice of consultant Richard Ellis, which felt the landlord was still at risk from a default - despite the relationship between the two companies. For Marco Polo, the result may not be all bad news. It has lost a tenant, but can now look for ways of raising its rental income. The three floors vacated by Lane Crawford have all been leased as offices. A ground-floor tenant who would pay more in rent might be found, one analyst said, and pointed out that the hugely successful sale of the Ardmore Park residential redevelopment gave the company a deep cushion to soft-en the Lane Crawford pull-out. The Lane Crawford management will have to hope that Hong Kong shoppers never develop Singapore's more frugal habits.


text: Strung Out have confirmed that they will release a new album in June. Additionally, the band's box set which includes a live DVD is due out in April. Pre-orders are on sale now. Fans can check out a teaser for the upcoming record below. Leave us a comment with your thoughts!


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TOKYO -- Konami, a leading Japanese video game producer, is undergoing a strange transformation. The company was recently reorganized, leading to an exodus of talent. All the while, top management has stayed silent about what was going on.
From the fiscal year that ended March, the company stopped disclosing sales figures for its console game software. Mysteries abound, and gamers are baffled.


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Coronavirus has prompted a consumer rights conundrum. With everything from concerts to holidays cancelled, thousands of people are left having paid for something that isn’t going to happen. Here's what you're entitled to:
Travel has been a big victim of the virus. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all foreign travel on 17 March, with the restrictions now in place for an indefinite time period.
In theory, holidaymakers should be well protected against cancellations. ABTA rules state entitlement to a full refund for cancelled package holidays, while EU laws mean airlines must refund cancelled flights.
But, unfortunately, would-be travellers are struggling to get their money back from travel companies. According to Which  20 of the UK’s largest operators are illegally with holding refunds that should be paid within 14 days.
Many holidaymakers are finding they are being fobbed off with vouchers or a credit note, or are being pressured to re-book their trip.
Frustrating as this is, industry bodies have warned that travel firms could go bankrupt if they paid out refunds straight away. As a result, various travel industry bodies are urging the Government to step in a support the travel industry.
Sporting events and concerts
The UK’s big summer of sporting events, gigs and festivals is another victim of Covid-19. Generally, if you bought your ticket for a cancelled event from an official seller, you should be entitled to a refund.
Ticketmaster, for example, says its refunding tickets automatically, with the refund including the ticket’s face value plus the service charge.
But most concerts are being rescheduled rather than cancelled altogether. Original tickets remain valid for postponed events – but you can get your money back if the new date doesn’t suit you.
The same goes for sporting events. For example, the London Marathon was rescheduled for 4 October – but you can get a refund if you can’t make the new date.
Tennis fans who got the option to buy Wimbledon tickets in the public ballot and paid for them will get a refund plus the opportunity to purchase tickets for the same day and court for next year’s championships. Football fans with tickets to Premier League matches are likely to be refunded too.
The cheapest Advance train tickets are normally non-refundable but, with people being advised not to travel, you can get a refund on Advance tickets purchased before 23 March.
Refunds can be processed remotely (you normally have to go to a station ticket office) via the website of the rail company or third party that sold you the ticket.
If you are a commuter with a season ticket you are no longer using due to being furloughed, working from home, or because the trains aren’t running, you can get a partial refund if there are at least seven days left on a monthly ticket,or more than seven weeks left on an annual ticket.
There’s normally an admin fee of £10 for season ticket refunds but train companies are waiving it at the moment.
Pausing premium sports channels
With live sport on hold for now, Sky Sports and BT Sport customers are faced with only being able to watch re-runs and repeats.
But you can save a bit of cash by pausing your sports subscription. If you’re with Sky,you can arrange for your Sky Sports subscription (and BT Sport if you have it) to be paused online and you’ll automatically start paying for the full package again when the action resumes.
If you pay for BT Sport directly with BT, you have two options: you can get a two-month bill credit for the service, or donate the cash equivalent to the NHS. If you pay for Sky Sports via BT you’ll have to call to request a bill credit.
If you’re a Virgin Media customer and subscribe to Sky Sports or BT Sport , you'll be able to pause your subscription online. The same goes if you pay for Sky Sports as part of a TalkTalk broadband bundle.
Gyms, fitness studios and sports clubs have all been forced to close due to the pandemic. All the main chains, including Pure Gym, Better, David Lloyd, Third Space, Fitness First and Anytime Fitness, have automatically frozen memberships.
Some smaller studios, as well as outdoor bootcamp operators such as Be Military Fit, are running online classes via Facebook Live or Zoom for a reduced monthly fee. However, if you can afford to keep paying your normal membership subs, it might increase the chances of these small businesses being able to re-open when the pandemic is over.
Cinemas and theatres
The entertainment industry has been one of the hardest hit with the pandemic bringing down the curtain on both cinema and theatre trips.
Film fans with monthly or annual cinema memberships can normally pause or extend their memberships. For example, Cineworld will be extending the membership of all My Cineworld Plus accounts retrospectively once it re-opens, equivalent to the total duration the cinemas closed. Meanwhile Odeon has paused Limitless membership payments until its cinemas reopen.
The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers says anyone with tickets for cancelled theatre performances will be contacted by the company they bought the tickets from regarding exchanges and refunds.
There’s good news for anyone who has car insurance with Admiral – the insurer is giving each customer a refund of £25. The pay-out is being made because the number of car insurance claims has dropped as drivers stay off the roads.
The owners of 4.4 million vehicles will automatically receive the payment by the end of May.
Admiral is the only UK insurer to announce an automatic refund policy so far – drivers with other insurers should continue to pay their car insurance, even if they are driving significantly fewer miles than usual.
If you’re not using your car at all, you could apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). If approved, this means you no longer need insurance for your car (so you could cancel your policy and get a partial refund), but it also means you won't be able to legally drive it.
Emma Lunn is an award-winning freelance journalist who specialises in personal finance. She has more than 15 years’ experience writing for national newspapers, trade and consumer magazines, and specialist websites


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2 min read.Updated: 17 Aug 2018, 05:32 PM ISTAnirban Sen
The projected target for Big Billion Days also takes into account sales from online fashion retailers Myntra and Jabong, both owned by Flipkart
Bengaluru: Flipkart is targeting sales of $1.5-1.7 billion in its annual Big Billion Days sale, nearly double of what it did last year, three people aware of the online retailer’s plans said. Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy has set aggressive targets for his top lieutenants overseeing key businesses such as smartphones, fashion and large appliances, the people mentioned above said, requesting anonymity. The projected target also takes into account sales from fashion retailers Myntra and Jabong, both owned by Flipkart.
In its five-day Big Billion Days sale last year, Flipkart generated gross sales of more than ₹ 5,000 crore driven by booming sales of Apple Inc’s iPhones, Xiaomi phones and VU televisions.
Flipkart typically generates most of its business during Big Billion Days from high-value categories such as smartphones and large appliances. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The people mentioned above added that the targets might be revised right before Big Billion Days, likely to be held in October.
The strong showing by the two companies so far this year was primarily driven by multiple sale events that offer big discounts on smartphones, televisions, clothing and other products.
The e-commerce market is widely expected to continue accelerating over the next few quarters because of faster internet connections, increasing familiarity with online shopping among consumers and heavy investments by Flipkart and Amazon on discounting, advertising and supply-chain expansion.
For Flipkart, the Big Billion Days sale is by far the most important event on its annual calendar and the online retailer typically channels all its resources behind the Diwali sale. Under Krishnamurthy, Flipkart has been even more aggressively chasing growth from Big Billion Days, as the company views it as a springboard of sorts that sets the momentum for the next few quarters.
Flipkart typically starts preparing for Big Billion Days as early as May, ramping up logistics and inventory, hiring thousands of temporary workers and upgrading the technology that runs its marketplace.
Amazon India typically boasts of a greater assortment of products during the festive sale. Flipkart, on the other hand, focuses more on putting together a compelling collection of exclusive brands and products for such sale events.
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Actually, some types of apples do appear to be better for your health than others, at least according to a recently published study by a team of Canadian researchers. They compared eight different varieties of apples to see which ones were highest in antioxidant activity.
The researchers found that polyphenols, compounds that are the major source of antioxidants in apples, are five times more prevalent in apple skin than in the flesh. Of the eight types of apples studied, the two that provide the most antioxidants are the Red Delicious and Northern Spy, with Ida Red coming in third. The apple type offering the least in the way of antioxidant activity was the Empire (Red Delicious had twice the antioxidant power as Empire). The researchers found that while Northern Spy apples had fewer polyphenols in the skin than Red Delicious, they had twice as much in their flesh.
The other apples studied included McIntosh, Cortland, Golden Delicious, and Mutsu. All were from the same farm in Ontario. The study was published in the June 29, 2005 issue of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.
In addition to the antioxidants they provide, apples are a good source of soluble fiber, which can help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and they fall low on the glycemic index. The antioxidants they contain offer protection against both heart disease and cancer. In fact, a study in Finland that included 10,000 men showed that those who ate the most apples had less than half the risk of lung cancer than did those who ate the fewest apples or none at all. The study was published in the August 1, 1997 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Whatever types of apple you prefer, I urge you to look for organically grown ones. If you can’t find organic varieties, peel the apples you do eat. It is better to miss out on some antioxidants than to consume residues of pesticides. You’ll get plenty of antioxidants if you include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
Andrew Weil, M.D.


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Labor unions play an important role in our democratic society. For years, unions have been advocating for and protecting employees when it comes to workplace safety, employee benefits and fair wages. There is power in numbers and labor unions provide a voice for employees whose concerns would otherwise fall on deaf ears and go unaddressed. Given the purpose and power of U.S. labor unions, it’s no surprise that some corporations and businesses discourage or ban employees from forming them.
McDonald’s Corp. is the most recent company to be accused of wrongfully terminating employees for joining labor unions. Recently the Fast Food Workers Committee, a labor group advocating for higher wages for New York City fast food workers, filed a lawsuit against the fast-food giant for wrongful terminations that occurred at franchise locations in and around New York City.
Since its formation, McDonald’s Corp. has relied upon a franchise model to largely avoid disputes and lawsuits related to employee wages, benefits and working conditions. While the company contends individual franchise owners establish and control employee-related matters, labor rights advocates argue the corporate giant essentially regulates every component of its franchise business including the wages and schedules of employees.
In the lawsuit, McDonald’s Corp., along with the owners of the specific franchises, are accused of “suspending employees, cutting their hours and threatening them with termination for union activities.” The average American fast food worker earns only roughly $9 per hour, making it difficult to live and support a family in any part of the country much less major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or New York City.
The decision, in this case, could not only have a significant impact on McDonald’s Corp., its business practices and its employees but also on other corporations who attempt to hide behind the franchise model to avoid responsibility for labor-related issues.
Source: Bloomberg, “Workers Say McDonald’s Fired Them for Union Activity,” Leslie Patton, July 18, 2014


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Samsung has recently tripped up over the the complex issue of image rights with its recent Olympic facebook app. Unfortunately due to a lack of legal clarity it is unclear if Samsung should or should not have sought prior approval from athletes for the use of their photographs.
Ahead of this years Olympic Games sports personalities should consider how best to manage their image rights. Potentially, considerable benefits can accrue through the use of an offshore company. The newly proposed Guernsey Image Rights register , which will be the first in the world, offers a unique way of managing an individuals image rights. Utilising a pre existing trust structure also helps to manage the costs associated with establishing the image rights company
Footballers and Clubs have been having problems with HMRC over payments for ‘image rights’ . HMRC have been claiming that some of these payments should be viewed as the players ‘income’. To help create clarity and to maximise the tax benefits of a trust , the newly proposed Guernsey Image Rights register will be of significant benefit to footballers, their agents and clubs.


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A French fashion house has teamed up with Northern Territorian (NT) Mick Burns to buy a former garden farm near Darwin that will be building Australia’s largest crocodile farm.
The Northern Territory’s crocodile farming industry (NT) will be given a major boost with the finalization of a land deal outside Darwin where a $40 million development is planned.
-The proposed farm will house up to 50,000 saltwater crocodiles and was purchased for $ 7.25 million
-During full production, 30 people will be employed on the farm
-Hermès and Louis Vuitton control most of the NT crocodile farms and prefer Australian saltwater crocodiles
PRI Farming – ultimately controlled by French high fashion label Hermès – has bought The Sweet Life, a former melon and banana farm in Lambells Lagoon, for $ 7.25 million.
The Lambells Lagoon fruit and vegetable farm.
A veteran of the NT crocodile farming industry, Mick Burns, is the director of PRI Farming along with three French nationals who are also directors of Hermès.
The company plans to build a facility for 50,000 saltwater crocodiles to be raised for skin and meat products.
The stated development costs amount to around 40 million US dollars.
The proposed crocodile farm is said to be Australia’s largest crocodile farm.
If Burns’ plan is carried out, it will increase the number of crocodiles bred in the NT by 50 percent.
Hermès’ crocodile leather handbags can sell for over $ 30,000. (Supplied: Mario Anzuoni / REUTERS)
French fashion labels Hermès and Louis Vuitton own or control the vast majority of crocodile farms in the NT.
“They look for the crocodile eggs in the Northern Territory, raise them on their own farms – according to their own standards – and these standards are very high because the skin of the animals must not be damaged so that a very high-quality product can be made from it,” explains Geoff McClure, a crocodile farm advisor, to “ABC”.
Both Hermès and Louis Vuitton tend not to put their crocodile farm holdings in the spotlight – none of their websites mention they are in the industry.
“ABC” Rural believes that crocodile farmers who have been bought up by luxury brands often do not need to talk about sales through nondisclosure agreements.
According to McClure, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton like Australian saltwater crocodiles because they have “more scales per unit area on their stomach” (!!!)
“The NT was traditionally the home of crocodile breeding due to climatic factors – it’s warmer there,” he said.
“In the NT the egg harvest is well established … and the number of eggs that can be removed under license is increasing. Hence, there is some certainty about the consistency of egg supply that you will not get in Queensland or Western Australia.
In 2018/2019, over 24,600 crocodile skins were exported from the NT, according to the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), with the industry valued at $ 26.7 million for the NT economy.
This means high income for the Australian region, as it is a growing industry that is also interesting for tourists, the report said.
Mick Burns, the director of PRI Farming declined ABC Rural’s request for comment.
And I mean…That the human species completely disrupts the natural order is undeniable – the depth and scope of our crimes are unpredictable and incalculable.
We would therefore like to thank the pandemics for intervening and perhaps achieving what we are currently unable to do – namely, weakening or even stopping the crimes of the most dangerous and vicious predators.
My best regards to all, Venus


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Posted on Thursday, July 12th, 2018 by Peter Sciretta
As a huge tabletop gamer, it brings me much pleasure that Mondo has been dipping their toes into the board game space. Last year, they teamed up with USAopoly for the hidden traitor game The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 and this year they are announcing Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene. Today, Mondo has released our first look at the game’s miniatures and have revealed some of the game’s mechanics. Some of these details have me excited, but others have me feeling a bit…skeptical.


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GUEST OPINION Mobile: hero or villain for retailers?
Gary Bicker, UK country manager, affilinet ponders whether increasingly savvy consumer use of mobile is a boon for retailers or a more sinister erosion of their core businesses and profits
Mobile has certainly been grabbing all the headlines recently. Whether it’s to dazzle us with how many people are now starting their purchasing journey by turning to their smartphone or new mobile wallet offerings from the likes of Barclays and O2; mCommerce has certainly become something of a retail darling.
But in amongst all the hype, are UK retailers really prepared for how mobile is diversifying the retail experience? Consumers are using their smartphones not just to engage with retailers and make purchases, but also to become more savvy. The saying goes that knowledge is power, and thanks to the smartphone consumers often know more about the best deals on products than retailers themselves.
In the US big high street stores have looked to take tackle this trend by accepting that people will come in store to experience products before whipping out their mobile to find the best deal available on or offline, and then marching over to the store manager ready to negotiate in order to get themselves a bargain. In response to this more and more US retailers are providing employees with tablet PC’s and the authority to negotiate with customers – after all, they’d rather close then deal than lose it. And to do that, they must be prepared, equipping staff with the right information at the right time.
Whilst our US cousins are seemingly arming themselves to be more nimble in the face of how mobile and online is merging to create a different retail experience, UK stores still have some way to go. Technology is being used to help check product stock levels, rather than respond to the seismic shift in consumer buying behaviour. That means that when it comes to the high street, they’re rapidly losing ground. And the irony is that in many instances, this is only likely to be driving consumers to become more reliant on ecommerce and mcommerce platforms as they don’t perceive they are getting any added value from shopping ‘on the street.’
For most people, the high street still has an important role to play in their purchasing decision especially for high value items. They expect to be able to go in-store and for staff to be informed about competitors prices, warranties etc. and for staff to be able to react on that basis in order to provide them with the best deal then and there. Without this capability, retailers are gifting the competition a sale.
So how can UK retailers respond and stem the tide? The first step is to embrace technology and how it is evolving the retail experience and contribute to making it all the more richer. Those brands that engage more via mobile and can provide more information at all points of the purchasing journey will ultimately fare better than those that don’t. Debenhams is a brand that is doing mobile well. The retailer has a mobile app, which can be used to scan barcodes on products in store in order to gain product reviews, price comparison information and see whether the product is in stock. Making this information more accessible, provides a better experience and helps to inform customers as well as encourage them to make the purchase– after all, the research has been done for them.
More and more retailers are also looking at in-store wireless as often 3G is so temperamental. This enables customers to unlock location-based offers via social sites, for retailers to push their own offers at consumers and provide a much more seamless retail experience. Another trend that retailers are looking at is the use of QR scanner technology allowing consumers to take a mobile voucher to the till that cashiers can scan, rather than having to print off pieces of paper. The beauty of this approach is that it enables retailers to drive more footfall into stores and then target them on a more spontaneous basis via methods like geo targeting.
Mobile isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, in fact technology means that it will only evolve and impact retailers further. So rather than sitting on the sidelines, retailers have to get involved and start driving change, rather than reacting to it.
Recent research we undertook showed at Internet World indicates that perhaps there is still some way to go. Two thirds of companies had yet to optimise their website for mobile browsing. The good news is though, that 71% of those that have taken this step have tagged it so that they can analyse mobile traffic and generate transparency into what channels are driving customers to their site.
For mobile to become the hero of the piece, retailers have got to make mobile work for them and this means integrating it with other channels helping to deliver innovative services that reach people at all stages of their purchasing journey across multiple channels.


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Deere & Company announced fourth-quarter 2014 results, which indicate an improvement in sales and profit in the construction and forestry segment as the company's net income and sales dropped.
The John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum in Waterloo, Iowa will open its doors to the public Dec. 2, 2014 with a focus on engaging visitors in the history of tractor and engine design and manufacturing at John Deere, especially in Iowa's Cedar Valley.
Michelin opened its newest plant in North America, which will produce the Michelin X TWEEL Airless Radial Tire for commercial applications.
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25) showed overall new business volume for October was $8.3 billion, up 9 percent from new business volume in October 2013.
Volvo Construction Equipment is eliminating motor graders and milling machines from its product portfolio and will cut about 15 percent of jobs at its construction equipment facility in Shippensburg, Pa., according to the Central Penn Business Journal.
Construction firms added jobs in 37 states and the District of Columbia between October 2013 and October 2014 while construction employment increased in 28 states and the District of Columbia between September and October, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
Donaldson Company Inc. announced its financial results for its fiscal 2015 first quarter.
Mike Neri, owner of Mike Neri Sewer & Water Contractor Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Ill., was arrested Oct. 27, 2014 after failing to comply with OSHA standards and not paying penalties associated with safety violations, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation released the November 2014 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI), which indicates an overall confidence in the equipment finance market of 64.2.
A 28-year-old woman who implemented the use of GPS units in her fleet to increase safety, productivity and tracking ability is one of the winners of Construction Equipment magazine’s “Under 40 in Construction Equipment Awards,” announced recently.
A worker was fatally injured after being struck-by a front-end loader hauling hay at Double Dutch Dairy in Shelby, Neb., on June 17, 2014.
Caterpillar Inc. employees and retirees have pledged more than $6.4 million to the United Way this year, which the Caterpillar Foundation matched dollar-for-dollar.
Bridgestone Americas announced the opening of its first giant off road radial tire plant.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has indicated that, on average, 6 percent of federal highway funding was allocated toward new highways and bridges, according to Roads & Bridges.
Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes Inc. announced a definitive agreement under which Halliburton will acquire all the outstanding shares of Baker Hughes in a stock and cash transaction.
Navistar Inc. has partnered with Terranova GTS LLC to showcase an International DuraStar Multi-Purpose Vehicle at this week’s AIDF (Aid and International Development Forum) Disaster Relief Summit in Washington, D.C.
Purchasers of construction equipment have shifted attention to new machines from used, according to a report from Purchasing.com.
Navistar announced that its dealer education team has received certification from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for the company’s dealer training programs.
CNH Industrial, in cooperation with Zhejiang Yizhong Education Consulting Ltd., and with the support of its brand Iveco, launches a training program (TechPro2) dedicated to industrial vehicles.
Intermat announced the number of brands registered to exhibit at Intermat 2015—scheduled for April 20-25, 2015 in Paris—has passed 1,000, including 238 brands making their first appearance. Also included in that number are Manitowoc Crane Group and Manitou, returning to Intermat after a hiatus. Eighty-five percent of the stand space has already been allotted, with a new category segmentation being added for 2015 across the 375,000-square-meter exhibition surface area.
The ARTBA submitted comments to the U.S. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers opposing a proposed regulation that would expand federal regulation to cover virtually any wet area in the country—including roadside ditches
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced its newly-elected 2015 officers, as well as directors elected at its recent annual meeting to the AEM Board of Directors and AG and CE Sector Boards.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced the 2014 inductees into the AEM Hall of Fame, which recognizes and celebrates outstanding individuals in the off-road equipment industry, and their legacy of innovation, service and leadership.
Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc. introduced its first attachment product line to the North American market: a full line of hydraulic breakers.
John Deere Construction created the GoHaul mobile application for E-Series articulated dump truck (ADT) customers.
James D. Pitcock, Jr. and Horatio S. Earle are the 2014 inductees to American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Foundation’s Transportation Development Hall of Fame.
Volvo Construction Equipment will discontinue development and production of its current product line of Volvo-branded backhoe loaders and motor graders, transferring production to Volvo CE’s Chinese company SDLG.
In attempting to fix an auger that stopped working, a Lexington, Ky., man lost part of his arm, according to LEX 18.
Donaldson Company Inc. announced its intent to close its Grinnell, Iowa, manufacturing facility, which manufactures mufflers and other exhaust products for off-road equipment.
Deere & Company has been selected 16th on the 2014 Global Top Companies for Leaders list, a comprehensive study that recognizes best-in-class management practices, especially in the area of leadership development.
The Wacker Neuson Group is building a production line for skid steer and compact track loaders at its U.S. facility in Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Montabert recently opened a remanufacturing facility in Lake City, Ga., to address the growing demand for remanufactured hydraulic breakers and hydraulic drifters.
Following a complaint about unsafe working conditions, Spradling LP has been cited by OSHA for 13 serious safety and health violations for exposing workers to falls, struck-by, electric shock hazards and failing to guard rotating machinery parts at its Channing, Texas drilling site near Amarillo.
CONEXPO Latin America 2015 education will feature a new one-day aggregates conference at the show, designed to give producers practical, hands-on education that will help them streamline productivity and increase profitability.
Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman told CNBC that the strength of the U.S. dollar has helped the company’s overseas business.
Case Construction Equipment has partnered with Indoogoo, a website that offers heavy industry “online trading services within the social network model.”
Dodge Data & Analytics released its 2015 Dodge Construction Outlook, predicting that total U.S. construction starts for 2015 will rise 9 percent to $612 billion, a larger gain than the 5 percent increase to $564 billion estimated for 2014.
As a part of its effort to increase energy efficiency nationwide through the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge, the U.S. Department of Energy recognized Cummins Inc. for reducing energy use and costs at its Jamestown (N.Y.) Engine Plant.
Voters across the nation approved 60 of 90 (67 percent) transportation-related initiatives that were on the November ballot, according to a report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center (ARTBA-TIAC).
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc. announced third quarter 2014 results for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2014.


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January 11 News, Android platform-founder Andy Rubin said to the media a few days ago, the second Nexus One mobile phone is still manufactured by HTC, for enterprise users, which may be equipped with a physical keyboard.
It is reported that the device's main rival is the BlackBerry, BlackBerry mobile phone market in the U.S. companies have a certain position.
Andy Rubin, founder of Android platform, has recently accepted the "Wall Street Journal" interview, in the interview, when asked earlier regarding Google releases new mobile phone, he disclosed that the above information.
RIM's BlackBerry e-mail sending and receiving areas, with its prominent characteristics have attracted a lot of business users. Google's Nexus One all aspects of performance are very competitive, if you choose other areas as a propaganda point will inevitably be based on Android phones compete with other brands, that for the promotion of Android is extremely unfavorable. However, if the user is targeting the enterprise and it can be locked directly to the BlackBerry as the main competitive objectives, more conducive to the promotion of this product and competition.
All right reserved
ThinkPad X60 battery
LG LM40 battery
Sony VGP-BPL9 Battery


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The price of a hotel room in Bend surged last month to record levels, helping the city make up for an occupancy rate that was slightly below pre-pandemic levels.
The average price for a hotel room in Bend was $202.86 per night in July, according to data compiled by Visit Bend, the city’s tourism arm. That rate is well above the $135.97 average price in July 2020 and the $172.30 average price in July 2019.
The average price of a room in August was slightly lower than July but still a respectable $190.20. The previous August high occurred in 2017 when the average price reached $175.86. That was the month of the solar eclipse that drew thousands of visitors to Central Oregon.
The lodging demand in July was almost equal to the demand in pre-pandemic July 2019. This year the demand (number of rooms sold in a month) was 87,599. During the same month in 2019, it was 87,413.
In August the lodging demand was down compared to July at 79,964. It was also down compared to August of 2019, which had lodging demand of 81,689.
Kevney Dugan, chief executive of Visit Bend, said the slowdown toward the end of August could be attributed to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Oregon and across the country.
As for the higher prices per room, Dugan said that’s good for Bend. Visitors who spend more are helping businesses deal with increased labor costs and helping the city’s general fund, he said.
“People are clearly willing to pay more to come to Bend right now,” said Dugan. “There are not necessarily more people coming based on the data, but they are paying more so businesses are staying fairly healthy and the city’s transient room tax collections are strong compared to the budget.”


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Face-Off on Stocks: Costco, BJ's, Wal-Mart
Retail stocks tend to be early cyclicals, meaning they rise ahead of other sectors in the early stages of economic recovery. That's part of what's driving some impressive results among luxury retails, like the ones we tackled in our previous Face-Off. This time around we're looking into some names at the other end of the dumbbell.
Costco (COST), a national chain with a more affluent customer base, has greatly outperformed the broader market this year, but whether shares are still attractive at current valuations in a matter of debate. The same goes for shares in BJ's (BJ), a regional club, which have jumped about 30% in 2010. And then there's Sam's Club, owned by Wal-Mart (WMT), the empire of always low prices. Unfortunately the same can be said for the price of Wal-Mart's stock, which has lagged behind even the tepid returns of broader market this year.
For more on the bull and bear cases on Costco, BJ's and Wal-Mart, see the video below.


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More than 50 years ago, Mike Moreno Jr.’s grandfather opened a small grocery store in Little Village after establishing his family in Chicago, having moved from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. His father, also named Mike, turned the family business into a successful liquor store under the Moreno name. Now a “Mexican-American family affair,” Moreno Jr., opened Osito’s Tap, a modern new speakeasy-style bar to cater to the young Latinos in the area and “show the potential of the Mexican-American community,” Moreno Jr. said.
Like his grandfather, Jose Moreno and his father, Moreno Jr., said that his goal — as vice president of the family corporation and now owner of the new bar — is to preserve the family’s legacy in the neighborhood by investing in its people to create a “safer and attractive neighborhood” that encourages other young Latinos to remain in the area, he said.
“I don’t like the stigma that people give Little Village (saying that) it is dangerous neighborhood because it is not, it’s a very vibrant, young and growing neighborhood,” Moreno Jr, added. “There is rooted culture and pride in this neighborhood and the people here deserve a nice bar where they feel comfortable and have access to craft beer and nice cocktails without having to commute downtown or other neighborhoods.”
The petite bar, which has a classic Chicago vibe, has a wide variety of craft beers — some from local and hyperlocal breweries — and specialty cocktails with a Latin flair curated by Denisse Soto, the bar manager. Its interior was designed by a neighborhood carpenter and local architect. His sister Monique (Moreno) designed the logo, inspired by their family pet and the other sister, Angelique, crafted the light appetizer menu.
Osito’s, named after the family’s Chihuahua, is the first and only bar of its kind to open in the neighborhood in the last two decades, confirmed Ald. Mike Rodríguez). It’s located in a space behind the liquor store, at 3724 W. 26th St. Rodríguez added that he welcomes Moreno Jr’s vision of creating new venues that tap into the younger Latinos to ensure that they stay in the neighborhood and help it develop, while still preserving a Mexican essence.
“A way to combat gentrification is by keeping people in the neighborhood, especially keeping the young Latinos in the community,” Rodríguez said. “The Morenos have been here for decades, they’re community stakeholders and they are interested in the best of the neighborhood,” he added.
Amid fears of gentrification given the evident changes in Pilsen and the neighboring areas, Moreno Jr., said that although the new bar might bring new visitors to the area, his main goal is to reinvest in the neighborhood and encourage others to do the same.
“It’s a cycle where Little Village is losing some of its best and its brightest to another neighborhood because people don’t see any opportunity and any potential," he said. "But I’m starting to see now more and more Latinos getting educated and ... noticing the potential that we have as a community, and they are starting to come back.” Moreno Jr. graduated from DePaul University in 2013.
The median age of the Southwest Side neighborhood is 23, making it one of the youngest neighborhoods in the city, according to stats from the Chicago Special Service Area program on which Moreno Jr. serves. The SSA helps to oversee the finances of the community. Little Village’s 26th Street is also the second highest-grossing strip next to the Magnificent Mile.
Eat. Watch. Do.
According to Blanca R. Soto, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, the neighborhood has “a good amount of retail leakage from the younger generation leaving this community in search of goods and services not offered here.”
“Osito’s is the perfect example of a local business owner meeting a market demand that was otherwise unmet,” Soto added.
Moreno Jr.'s grandparents still live in front of the liquor store and now bar building. Though he can no longer speak very much, Jose said that he never imagined the effect that his family would have in the neighborhood and that he is proud of his son and grandson.
“I couldn’t have done it without the help of my family and friends,” said Moreno Jr., whose dream of opening a bar sparked in 2016 and took shape after he received a City grants through the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund in 2017.
“I want to make sure that Osito’s Tap is a bar from and for the community,” said Moreno Jr.


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Smith Electric, a major electric truck manufacturer, has announced plans to build a new assembly plant in the South Bronx, New York. The announcement comes as another maker of alternative vehicles said it would be adding hundreds of new jobs at its California facility.
The Kansas City-based Smith said it expects to bring 100 jobs to the New York city area with the new plant that will produce electric school buses and medium- and heavy-duty trucks, according to the New York Times.
City Councilman James Vacca told the news agency the announcement to build a factory in the borough is a win-win situation.
"The electric trucks are welcome because they address both environmental and quality-of-life issues," Vacca added. "Long-term, this will mean jobs, but also quieter traffic and less pollution."
Smith has already found customers in the state, including Duane Reade pharmacy.
Meanwhile, in Fremont, California, Tesla Motors said it was ramping up production at its electric car manufacturing plant, a move expected to open up approximately 400 jobs through the first quarter of 2012, according to KGO-TV.
Tesla said the starting pay will be $16 an hour and include benefits and an employee stock plan.


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Interestingly, only 15 per cent of the Indian brands are leveraging generative AI to enhance CX initiatives compared to 18 per cent globally
In the rapidly evolving landscape of consumer preferences, Indian consumers have emerged as global frontrunners in embracing AI-driven interactions, however, Indian brands are trailing the world in harnessing the latest AI innovations, a new report shows.
According to the latest Adobe’s 'State of Digital Customer Experience' report, more than half (57 per cent) of Indian consumers, would choose an AI-enabled tool or service over human interaction, far more than the global and APAC average of 39 per cent and 48 per cent respectively. However, human interaction remains a top choice when considering aspects of decision-making, customer support, and returns or cancellations. Many (39 per cent) want both options to be available, particularly when exploring new products and services.
Despite these preferences and Indian consumers anticipating customer experience (CX) benefits from generative AI, Indian brands are falling behind global peers. Only 15 per cent are leveraging generative AI to enhance CX initiatives compared to 18 per cent globally. Brands in Europe and the US are also twice as likely to already have dedicated AI budgets and internal usage policies.
However, 41 per cent of Indian brands are seeing CX as a business priority today and 87 per cent of Indian brands are prioritising CX enhancements over other business goals. That puts it at the top of the strategic agenda, equal to integrating the CX technology stack while accelerating the adoption and integration of generative AI. Moreover, in the next 12 months, 53 per cent of Indian brands are committed to improving their generative AI capabilities whereas 76 per cent of brands already have or will pilot generative AI solutions to support experience delivery.
“Advances in generative AI have been already transformational for consumers, and they now expect brands too to also adopt the technology for better and personalised experiences. Our latest research shows that Indian brands are embracing the shift to GenAI and devising avenues for its responsible usage to enhance personalisation at scale, and digital customer journeys,” says Anindita Veluri, director of marketing, Adobe India.
Indian brands are world leaders in adopting customer data management (89 per cent), and almost all have the data to balance personalisation and privacy (95 per cent). While brands lead the world in customer data capabilities, they are currently lagging in the adoption of technologies and tools that support personalisation.
Both consumers and brands agree that data privacy and security concerns constrain personalisation. Brands say consumer reluctance to share data is a top barrier, but they underestimate the impact of data missteps. 59 per cent of Indian consumers will stop or consider not buying from a brand that isn’t transparent about personal data use.
Indian consumers are most concerned about responsible and ethical usage of their personal data. 60 per cent of them think that a decision would be made about their data without consent, 65 per cent believe that brands will collect too much data and 56 per cent say that brands won’t be able to build ethical AI tools.
68 per cent of respondents expect to be informed when content is AI-generated, whereas 64 per cent would be more diligent about fact-checking content due to generative AI, further the report.
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Government Surveillance, Privacy & Data
NY’s Proposed BitRegs a Threat to Privacy and Innovation
The New York State Department of Financial Services recently proposed sweeping regulations for digital currencies – the first such rules in the United States dedicated to digital currency – that would require this burgeoning privacy-friendly industry to watch their users’ every move. New York’s proposed regulations would impose more restrictions on digital currency than on standard currency, requiring many digital currency services to identify all customers and track all transactions, and retain this data, largely for the sake of state surveillance.
Digital currency, such as Bitcoin, is a disruptive technology with vast potential to democratize financial services and spawn a new generation of innovative products from startups. In addition to its decentralized nature and global transferability, an appealing feature of most digital currencies is relative anonymity, since transactions are not directly linked to users’ names. Other than cash and prepaid cards, options for private transactions are limited. As fewer people carry cash, digital currency is shaping up to be important to the future of financial privacy. However, digital currency faces scrutiny from law enforcement and regulators due to persistent questions about security, volatility, and the potential to fund criminal activity.
New York should ensure its “BitRegs” take digital currencies’ unique nature into account and do not unnecessarily invade user privacy or stifle innovation.
While the illicit financing risks that digital currencies pose are real, New York should ensure its “BitRegs” take digital currencies’ unique nature into account and do not unnecessarily invade user privacy or stifle innovation. The regulations aren’t set in stone yet – New York is still taking comments – but the finalized rules may have a broad impact due to New York’s position as a center of world finance.
[Check out CDT’s previous post on mobile payments and privacy.]
Government requiring businesses to invade privacy and create risk
An individual’s identity combined with her financial transaction history are sensitive data. New York’s proposed requirement that many services collect and maintain this information is a serious privacy threat to any user of digital currency, and a liability for companies that must protect the information from hackers. New York’s proposed regulations require digital currency companies to have cybersecurity and user privacy programs, which is generally a good thing, but ironically the regulations themselves enhance the risk to privacy and security.
New York’s proposed regulations would require digital currency services, wherever they are headquartered, to obtain a “BitLicense” to operate in New York or serve New York customers. The BitLicense would require a wide range of digital currency services to identify their customers by name and physical address. Importantly, the regulations would also require digital currency services to record the details of every transaction, including the identities and physical addresses of the parties involved. As a result, each service with a BitLicense must not only collect detailed identifying and transactional information from users, but would also need to swap this information with other services with each transaction. Digital currency services would be required to maintain these records for ten years.
New York’s proposed regulations cover a broad range of services, including any person that controls or issues a digital currency (administrators), stores or maintains control of digital currency on behalf of customers (wallets), transmits digital currency or receives digital currency for transmission (transmitters), exchanges digital currency into any other type of currency (exchanges), or secures digital currency on behalf of others.
New York’s BitLicense would go beyond what is currently required under federal law.
New York’s BitLicense would go beyond what is currently required under federal law. The Bank Secrecy Act and the PATRIOT Act currently impose anti-money laundering rules on a wide variety of financial institutions to prevent illicit activity. In 2013 the U.S. Treasury Dept. issued guidelines making clear that digital currency exchanges and administrators are subject to the existing rules for “money transmitters”, which require customer identification. Yet New York’s BitLicense would extend far beyond exchanges and administrators, and would impose requirements – such as identifying all parties to a transaction – not currently applied to money transmitters.
Overbreadth: Wallets & the Wand of Woh
CDT is still developing an official position on the “BitRegs,” and we would welcome feedback on the following initial recommendations that we are considering.
1) New York should remove the requirement that all digital currency services record the identity and physical address of every party involved in every transaction. This would require services to routinely share the identifying information of their users, to the detriment of user privacy and control, and may be a very difficult technical mandate for companies to fulfill securely. If this requirement must exist at all, it would be better relegated to transactions involving a high dollar amount, high risk parties, or high risk goods.
2) New York should reconsider applying its customer identification and transaction tracking requirements to every type of digital currency wallet. New York’s regulations would cover services that “store” or “maintain control” of digital currency on behalf of others. Wallets are crucial to users of digital currency since the currency (or, more accurately, the credentials that indicate the user’s ownership and control of currency) must reside somewhere. The regulations would cover wallets that store the user’s currency/credentials in the cloud, locally on a user’s hard disk, or even physically via a paper printout. Even if a wallet is created solely by the user (not on behalf of others), the wallet could be subject to the regulations if the wallet “transmits” the digital currency to another person – a fundamental feature for many e-wallets, because a wallet is of limited use if you can’t transfer money out of it.
Users should not be required to provide identifying information and submit to transaction tracking to use a wallet software product that the user downloads to a local machine and that stores the user’s digital currency or credentials locally. Reporting requirements for high value or high risk transactions could still apply. For custodial accounts accessible to or controlled by third parties holding funds or credentials on behalf of users, the BitLicense should be no more intrusive or onerous than current federal requirements for money transmitters.
3) New York should clarify its rules to exclude services that are incidental to digital currency exchanges, storage, and transactions. New York’s proposed regulations cover businesses that “secure” digital currency on behalf of others. Does this mean cybersecurity or antivirus software vendors must identify digital currency users whom they protect? The proposed regulations would also cover businesses that “transmit” digital currency. Does this include Internet service providers, like Comcast or Sky Broadband, whose networks transport digital currency credentials?
New York’s proposed regulations should include clarifying language to prevent such unreasonably broad interpretations. For example, current federal anti-money laundering regulations include an important list of exemptions to the definition of money transmitters that New York’s proposed rules lack.
4) New York should widen its exception for video game currencies. New York’s proposed regulations include an exception for online video game currency, but only if the currency has no market outside of the gaming platform. Yet game currencies and rare items for most major online games are often sold in online marketplaces for fiat money. For example, Eve Online’s Intersteller Kredit is readily available from unauthorized sellers, at least one exchange openly trades Second Life Linden Dollars for Bitcoin, and Diablo 3’s Wand of Woh is currently for sale for *only* $168 on eBay. Given the external markets for such gaming currencies and artifacts, it would seem many gaming companies – as issuers of digital currency – may not be protected by the proposed regulations’ exception for video game currency.
Such activities are generally not authorized by the gaming company, but New York’s proposed regulations do not make that distinction. If video game currencies must be regulated by the “BitLicense” at all, it may make the most sense to include video game companies only to the extent that the currencies they issue have company-authorized marketplaces outside of the game.
Square pegs, round holes
New York’s proposed “BitLicense” has generated a fair amount of controversy. While some business leaders embrace the regulations, others express outrage and mull whether to cut off New Yorkers to avoid the BitLicense requirements. The writing is on the wall, though: lawmakers are looking to more closely regulate digital currency. The question is whether any new regulations will be a positive force in “legitimizing” the industry or a negative force by eliminating user privacy and imposing such heavy compliance costs that only well-capitalized outfits can compete. As currently written, we question whether New York’s BitLicense rules are in the best interests of digital currency users and companies, and urge New York to scale back its proposal to better balance the interests of law enforcement, user privacy, and innovation.


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April 29, 2008 12:00 AM
A . A . A
9. Velozzi Supercar and Solo SUV
Velozzi (Beverly Hills, Calif.) /// 100 mpg (both) /// $100,000-plus (supercar), $30,000-$35,000 (SUV) /// velozzi.org
They may not have
a running prototype today, but the 20-member crew at Velozzi does have extensive plans and an inventive design for both a supercar (pictured above) and a mass-production SUV. A full-scale design buck is being constructed right now, with a powertrain in tow and plans to line up suppliers soon. CEO Roberto Velozzi tells PM that 300 acres have already been allocated for a solar-powered production plant in China, while the South African government has expressed interest in its own facility. The company is also exploring retail options that include stand-alone dealerships.
How it Works
Team Velozzi will enter the AXP with two plug-in hybrids; the original powertrain element for both will be microturbines functioning as onboard generators to charge the batteries. "These are just very small versions of the turbines you might find in a helicopter and can handle a variety of liquid fuels," Roberto Velozzi says of the microturbines, which have been undergoing bench testing for four months. "When you run them at the right rpm, they can be incredibly efficient." For the 3000-pound-plus supercar to hit its targets of a 200-mph top speed and 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, however, carbon-fiber bodywork and a lightweight tub (aluminum, composite or carbon fiber) aren't going to cut it alone--battery tech will be key. Velozzi admits that the cost of packs from U.S. suppliers has been a major hurdle, so the company will likely source them from China.
This appears to be a well-rounded squad, with engineering experience in Formula One race cars, fuel-cell vehicles and high-performance racing boats--not to mention concept cars at top firm Metalcrafters and high-level supply companies. Though there's a lot of outsourcing to China involved, Velozzi will work with Bayer Material Science to produce bodywork in bulk and Virginia Tech to reinforce it with carbon nanotube pellets. Plans are for the supercar and SUV to hit the global market by 2010. --Ben Stewart


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SoHo Chinese department store
Pearl River Mart to close by year's end
The Chinese department store on Tuesday announced plans to close its doors at 477 Broadway by the end of the year. The independently-owned retailer has been in business for 44 years.
Citing rising rent costs and increased competition from online retailers, husband and wife principal owners/managers –Co-Founder Ming Yi Chen and President Ching Yeh Chen, respectively— have made the decision to close Pearl River at the end of their current lease in December.
The three-level, 30,000 foot store --which employs 40 full time staff— and its online shop will continue to remain fully operational through the end of the year.
"The decision to close our store was not easy but our current business model simply isn't sustainable in today's retail landscape," stated Pearl River President Ching Yeh Chen. "Should we decide to pursue a new direction with Pearl River, it will be imperative for us to capture the unique shopping experience that our customers know and love."
Pearl River is currently exploring ways to expand its e-commerce division. In addition to significantly lowering operational costs, the transition would allow the company to continue serving its loyal customer base while also retaining many of its current staff; the majority of whom have been with Pearl River for more than two decades.
Pearl River Mart was founded in 1971 by a group of overseas Chinese student activists in a small shop in New York City’s Chinatown. The store expanded and relocated several times throughout the decades before it settled on the 477 Broadway location in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood in 2003.
As the store’s closure approaches, Pearl River will host various events to thank its loyal customers for their years of support.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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Budget airline backs sale of Stansted Airport
RYANAIR has backed the decision by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal that the sale of Stansted Airport can go ahead after years of appeals by BAA.
While BAA delayed the sale of the airport it has doubled passenger charges and presided over record traffic declines from 24m in 2007 to 18m in 2011.
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: “These repeated delays in the sale of Stansted must now end. BAA has used every legal tactic to delay this sale for four years since it was first recommended by the Competition Commission in 2008.
“Ferrovial and the other owners of Stansted are unfairly enriching themselves at the expense of UK passengers/visitors who are suffering higher charges and third-rate service at Stansted while the CAA’s “inadequate” regulatory regime does nothing to protect airport users.”


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BMC’s earnings could indicate future growth areas
The Houston-based software company reported earnings of $524 million, or $3.37 per share, for the year ended March 31, which compares to $562 million, or $3.25 per share for the previous year. However, including one-time items, the company’s earnings were $331 million, or $2.13 per share, this year, which compares to $401 million, or $2.32 last year.
Even though BMC’s profits dipped slightly, the company also pointed out some areas of success, which could indicate the direction in which the company’s new owners will take it.
For instance, BMC’s software-as-a-service business increased its customer base by 80 percent in the past year, and it now has more than 600 customers. Also, BMC’s cloud-related license bookings increased by 35 percent in the past year. The company qualifies its cloud-related license bookings as groups of products that are sold with its cloud lifecycle management products.
Another interesting tidbit derived from BMC’s earnings: The company spent $27.2 million on restructuring in the fourth quarter — the majority of which was associated with recent layoffs — and it spent $4.9 million on last year’s proxy battle with an activist investor that wanted the company to put itself up for sale.
Molly Ryan covers manufacturing, technology, the Port and logistics for the Houston Business Journal. For her breaking stories and industry insights, follow her on Twitter.
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“On some technology, they are now competitive on technology with European arms exports and very competitive on price.”
China has sold defence systems and co-developed a derivative of a Russian fighter with Pakistan and done smaller deals with African countries. There is also interest from Latin America.
Western analysts say China has a reputation for selling basic but reliable equipment with relatively few questions asked about its use, a key selling point.
But the range of products on display in Zhuhai is both increasing and gradually moving up in value, while remaining a decade or two behind the most advanced U.S. equipment.
For the first time at Zhuhai, China showed an export version of a long-range surface-to-air missile, the truck-mounted FD-2000, and a Predator-style UAV called the Wing Loong.
There was also a focus on systems that build relationships such as the L-15 trainer, which won its first export deal to an unidentified country at the show.
Admittedly, China’s other reputation for copying what it cannot make is unlikely to disappear any time soon.
A parlour game among delegates is to tick off the similarities between Chinese systems and foreign platforms.