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V8-Powered Mercedes SUVs Returning for 2022, Including G-Wagen: Report
One of Mercedes’ most iconic models is apparently re-entering production sooner than expected.
Last year Mercedes announced that in 2022, a number of its cars that are typically available with V8 engines would not be sold due to supply chain issues. Everything from the G-Wagen to the sporty C63 AMG coupe was set to lose eight-cylinder power, and for the most part, that statement is still true. It's not all doom and gloom, though, as the German automaker was reportedly able to pull enough parts together to build a slew of V8-powered SUVs.
The news comes in the form of an alleged memo circulated to dealers that states as much. According to the document, V8-powered versions of the GLS,
The existing source is what appears to be a legitimate document from Mercedes-Benz, posted by a dealership employee on a Mercedes forum. It states that order banks for the models are set to open on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. EST. Other alleged dealership employees in the thread corroborated this information, as well as automotive industry analyst Robby DeGraff.
According to the forum thread, allocation will be "very limited," so it appears as if Mercedes isn't completely out of the woods yet. It is, however, a lot better than nothing. In an SUV-crazed market like the U.S., not having your most profitable models up for sale is a big problem, one which the automaker is clearly trying to address. It's noted as well that these vehicles will be MY2022, not 2023.
Update: Feb. 2, 2:39p.m. ET: A Mercedes spokesperson confirmed this information to The Drive, saying
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New Mercedes G-Wagen Off-Road Trim Finally Starts to Unlock the Truck’s Potential
The new Professional Line adds headlight guards, off-road tires, and mud flaps.


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Razer has made some of the best gaming peripherals around for years now. The company tries to support smaller groups of gamers like Mac users along with the majority of PC users. Razer has announced a new mouse for a group of gamers that might be even smaller than the number of Mac gamers out there — lefties.
Typically, a lefty has to search for an ambidextrous gaming mouse or learn to play with their right hand. Razer has unveiled the first gaming mouse specifically for the left handed gamer called the DeathAdder Left Hand Edition. The mouse has all the features of the traditional right hand DeathAdder.
Features include 1000Hz ultrapolling, always-on mode, 3500dpi sensitivity, and on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment. The mouse has five programmable buttons and can track accurately at 60-120 inches per second with 15G of acceleration. The lefty edition is shipping now globally for $59.99.

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Beginning September 1, 2015, IKEA will limit its lighting sales to only LED bulbs in all its stores. The company first announced its all-LED plan in 2012.
Since 2013, IKEA US customers have purchased 7.6 million LED bulbs. According to a study conducted by IKEA-US in 2012 and again in 2015, consumers are more open to purchasing LED bulbs and lighting. In 2015, 64 percent of Americans purchased at least one LED light bulb for their household, compared to 49 percent in 2012. And in 2015, 51 percent of Americans have purchased several LED bulbs for their home, up from 39 percent in 2012.
However, 68 percent of Americans still do not know that LED bulbs can last an average of 20 years, and 34 percent don’t realize that LEDs use less electricity than other bulbs.
The recent IKEA survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 Americans aged 18 and older in July 2015, using an email invitation and an online survey.
Photo: LEDs via Shutterstock


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Small Business Saturday is on 5th December this year and is one of the most successful small business campaigns. Run by Small is Big CIC, a community interest company that is not for profit, it was founded in 2010 in the US by American Express.
As a result of the campaign, last year 16.5 million people shopped in a small independent business on Small Business Saturday representing a 20% increase in footfall on 2013 or 2.7million more shoppers. 64% of the UK consumers were aware of the day a, 33% increase on 2013. Last year the campaign was featured by most media, trended at number 1 on Twitter on the day and received over 3.5 million views on its Facebook page. 55% of Local authorities and hundreds of MPs supported the campaign. This year’s small Business Saturday carries the theme “5 million small businesses one big day”
According to their website Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign. It aims to highlight small businesses and encourage people to support their local independent small businesses on Small Business Saturday and beyond.
“The small business Saturday campaign plays a valuable role in focusing the minds of consumers and business people on what small businesses in any sector or line of business can offer in terms of range of products and services and levels of customer service”
The campaign exists as a nationwide promotional tool for small businesses. It delivers help and advice alongside opportunities to connect with other small businesses. In short, it exist s to support, inspire and promote small businesses. Everything is free for small businesses, start-ups or entrepreneurs. For the purposes of the campaign any business with annual revenues under £10million is considered a small business whether you are a retailer, an office business, a tradesman, a one man band or an employer.
You can get involved in a number of ways from events, social media, awareness raising or by linking up with other businesses. Whether you have supported the campaign for the last two years, already have activities planned, or are getting involved for the first time the www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com website features a whole host of ideas to help you make the most of the event. What will your small business be doing?


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MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacies has signed a lease for a new 14,000-sq.-ft. store in north Miami. With a store opening planned for the summer of 2011, the newest store will be the company's 29th location and its first new store opening since its airport location opened in 2007.
The move is part of the company's three-year growth plan, which includes adding as many as 22 new store locations in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties over the next three years, as well as remodeling up to five existing locations annually. Three existing stores, including Hialeah Gardens, were remodeled in the last 12 months.
"Being in north Miami will allow us to reach out to introduce our successful community pharmacy and discount model to additional ethnic groups and expand our loyal customer base," stated Steve Kaczynski, CEO of Navarro Discount Pharmacies.
According to the retailer, new store and existing store renovations include new merchandise layout, new colors, enhanced signage and improved services for customers, such as a pediatric pharmacy for busy parents, free compounding pharmacy services, a free Diabetes Club for adults and children with diabetes, and free prescription delivery for all customers.
Other parts of Navarro's overall growth plan include identifying new wholesale partnerships and business development opportunities, as well as adding e-commerce capabilities to its website for the Hispanic population that lives outside of southern Florida.


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A startup convenience store chain has required staff at its Beijing headquarters to pass math tests in order to qualify for recruitment and promotions – and some are scared the tests are an elaborate excuse for layoffs.
Non-senior employees at Bianlifeng, a scan-and-go convenience store chain, need to answer questions roughly equivalent in difficulty to that of the aptitude tests for national civil servant qualification exams, which include high school-level algebra and geometry, according to an internal letter acquired by Caixin.
“Our convenience stores' operation has entered a phase of full digitalization, and junior-level staff’s math and logic abilities make us competitive in the market,” reads the letter.
Some Bianlifeng staffers, however, suspect poor results will be used as excuse for layoffs amid the company’s worsening performance – and they say tests will include advanced subjects such as calculus that are irrelevant to junior-level duties.
Bianlifeng did not offer further comment on the possibility of advanced questions.
Staffers who fail the tests will undergo math training and be tested again, the internal letter said. The company declined to comment on whether still failing the tests after training would result in dismissal.
Bianlifeng founder Zhuang Chenzhao responded that the company has billions of yuan in reserved capital, and that the test is merely a result of his personal “management style,” which is to “optimize our human assets."
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Français All the newest French-language news, with releases from France and other French-speaking countries, along with domestic releases on all topics. This section contains French-language releases covering arts, sports and entertainment news and announcements of new product launches, with information on consumer goods and services. Also included are stories on developments in the health and education sectors, as well as announcements of special charity event, community outreach education and awareness campaigns, and all the latest news from the business world.
Jul 30, 2014
Jump to news releases
Jul 28, 2014, 09:00 ET Customers Flying on Delta Receive More Free Entertainment than any Other Carrier
Feb 05, 2014, 16:05 ET SiteTalk to Expand into US Market, Signs MOU with Imogo
Jul 24, 2014, 08:30 ET Scarlett Gypsy #1 Debut Album All Access Dead-On Revival of 80s Glam Rock
Jul 29, 2014, 11:00 ET Forrest Gump Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Exclusive One-Week IMAX® Release On Sept. 5


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KUALA LUMPUR: 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd, Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd and Genting Bhd are among the stocks to watch on Friday, according to JF Apex Research.
PETALING JAYA: 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd is looking to get a foothold in the thriving Malaysian pharmaceutical industry following its proposed acquisition of Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd recently.
KUALA LUMPUR: The pursuit for “protection” against the novel coronavirus has led to some Malaysians seeking traditional remedies at Chinese medicine shops.
KUALA LUMPUR: Westports Holdings Bhd, Willowglen MSC Bhd, Malaysia Smelting Corporation Bhd (MSC), 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd and Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd are among the stocks to watch on Monday, according to JF Apex Research.
KUALA LUMPUR: Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd (Caring) will be delisted from Bursa Malaysia on May 8,2020, the company said in a filing with the exchange.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will keep to the timeline of May 12 to gradually open up economic sectors, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
KOTA KINABALU: Businesses should put in place Covid-19 preventive measures instead of relying on getting their employees to be tested, says Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will keep to the May 12 schedule to gradually open up its economic sector, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
AirAsia’s BIG loyalty programme has released a newly revamped app and allows passengers to use their points beyond flights and travel.


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Most people know that EPA fuel economy estimates can't be trusted. They're conducted in a lab and represent the best-case scenario (and maybe even wishful thinking). It's just like when your co-worker brags about how much he can bench press. Sure you benched 320lbs, Brian. Sure you did.
You can't blame consumers for expecting results that are at least reasonably close to the window sticker. Especially when they paid a premium and presumably bought a hybrid with gas savings in mind.
It's no surprise then that one of the most common complaints we see about hybrids is how it doesn't get anywhere near the fuel economy I was promised. Here are a few instances where those gripes were legitimate.
You could say the first time the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actually did anything to hold manufacturers accountable for their MPG estimates, was in 2012 when the agency slammed Hyundai and Kia for the fuel economy ratings of their 2012 and 2013 models.
While this didn't necessarily relate to hybrids, it set a president where the EPA was cracking down on blatant attempts to game the system. And Hyundai / Kia paid dearly in the form of a $395 million settlement.
The compensation was meh, however. Of that $395 million, only $185 million would go to owners. And owners had to choose to participate in a lump-sum payment, which for each Kia owner was about $667. Hyundai owners, meanwhile, got $353 on average.
We first saw an automaker make automatic "goodwill payments" in June 2014, when Ford announced they would be reimbursing 200,000 hybrid owners for false mileage ratings.
"Ford has announced it will lower the fuel economy ratings for its model year 2013-2014 hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as most model year 2014 Fiestas. The hybrids include the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi, and Energi versions of the Ford Fusion."
This was a big deal since the models in question were all hybrids where owners paid a premium for fuel efficiency. And when they didn't get it, they made their voices heard. However, there wasn't much hope before the payments that anything substantial would get done.
But the EPA cracked down on Ford and mandated that they updated their MPG estimates, and updated all the stickers on unsold cars.
Ford is once again making MPG headlines for all the wrong reasons. Apparently the "goodwill payments" weren't good enough for Dave DeLuca, a 2014 Fusion Hybrid owner who sued Ford for false MPG ratings.
"DeLuca said he noticed the Fusion didn't seem to be getting the mileage it should, so he took the car back to the dealership and told them about the decreased fuel economy. According to the lawsuit, DeLuca was told nothing could be done because nothing was wrong with the car."
Interestingly, the lawsuit accuses Ford of updating the software on the Fusion Hybrid to make the car appear to get better mileage (via the dashboard), when in reality it's the same ole', same ole'.


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The management shake-up at Tesco looks set to continue, according to reports today.
Sky News has reported that under-fire CEO, Philip Clarke, has decided to appoint a new chief marketing officer in place of Matt Atkinson, who has only been in the role since December 2012. He was previously group marketing and digital officer. Prior to joining Tesco in June 2011, he was CEO of agency EHS 4D.
The report comes just days after confirmation that the retailer’s chief financial officer, Laurie McIlwee, had resigned amid reports of a rift with Clarke.
Sky said it was unclear whether Mr Atkinson would remain at Tesco in another role or leave the company but claimed Clarke had identified a new chief marketing officer to replace him.
As well as overseeing Tesco’s advertising strategy Atkinson played a pivotal role in its Clubcard strategy.
Last June he told the BRC Retail Consortium Symposium that ventures such as Clubcard TV, the ramping up of personalised loyalty offers and the move away from big box supermarkets to shopping and entertainment destinations was starting to pay off for the retailer.
“I think now, with a number of the things we’re doing, we’re back,” said Atkinson at the time.
Atkinson was also an important figure in the launch of Tesco’s Hudl tablet, a competitor to Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad. He also oversaw the award of Tesco’s £100m advertising account to Wieden+Kennedy in July 2012.
Kantar Worldpanel today revealed that Tesco’s share of UK grocery spending declined to 28.6% in the 12 weeks to 30 March 2014, compared with 29.7% the previous year.


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PUNE: A 29-year-old man was arrested on Saturday on the charge of committing burglary twice at a furniture shop in Rahatani between June and November this year.
The man had stolen plywood sheets and 15 drums of synthetic resin adhesive from the shop. The Wakad police traced the thief, Saddam Khan of Kondhwa, with the help of CCTV footage and the vehicle he had booked through a mobile application of a logistics company to transport the stolen material. The police have recovered 10 drums, plywood sheets and a cutter machine, collectively worth Rs2. 10 lakh.
Assistant inspector Santosh Patil of the Wakad police said the shop owner approached the police on November 5 and informed them about the theft worth Rs86,000. “On June 15, drums of resin adhesive were stolen from the shop. At that time, we had told the owner to use a good quality lock for the door. We had even told him to install CCTV cameras and appoint a guard. However, he did not listen to us. The shop was burgled again on November 5,” Patil said.
The officer said the police had checked the CCTV cameras in the area in June and tried to trace the path of the vehicle used by the burglar. “We could not track the vehicle at that time. However, this time, we could identify the vehicle with the help of CCTV footage,” he said.
“The driver of the vehicle told us he went to the shop early morning on November 5. The person kept the plywood sheets in the transport vehicle, and they left. During questioning, Khan revealed that he and his brother used to run a plywood shop, but his brother took over the business. Since then, Khan has been jobless. Khan found the Rahatani furniture shop’s weak locks and broke into it twice,” Patil said.


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Changes in the law mean it's now illegal again for Brits to make copies of music and videos for personal use.
The high court has quashed regulations – thatwere introduced in October – which allowed people to legally copy CDs and DVDs bought for their own use.
Apparently, the government was 'legally incorrect' in deciding not to introduce a compensation scheme for songwriters, musicians and other rights holders who faced losses as a result of their copyright being infringed.
The legal challenge stemmed from Basca, the Musicians' Union, and industry representatives UK Music.
Jo Dipple, CEO of UK Music, said: “Last month, the high court agreed with us that the government acted unlawfully when it introduced an exception to copyright for private copying without fair compensation. We therefore welcome the court's decision today to quash the existing regulations. It is vitally important that fairness for songwriters, composers and performers is written into the law. My members' music defines this country.”
Basically, it's now illegal to copy your own CDs, MP3s, DVDs, Blu-rays, e-books and any other copyright material. So if you've been listening to ripped albums in the car, it's probably a decent time to invest in that audio cable you've always wanted.
It's not exactly the end of piracy, however. As the BBC notes, “Court action was rare under the previous law and the industry often turned a blind eye to people copying data for personal use.”


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The five-day event focuses on the processing, packaging, converting and logistics technology industries; the show has strong international resonance and features an all-comprehensive product and service showcase as well as a full suite of integrated supply chain-related events.
IPACK-IMA, the exhibition of technology for food processing and packaging is offering the most exhaustive, value-increasing overview of the entire supply chain for food and non-food industries.
The package printing and converting sectors, whose solutions apply across the different specialisations on display at the shows, are represented by the technological offer of Converflex, organised by Centrexpo Spa, and once more proves a winning brand for the display of assembled and running machinery.
This is further shown by the unfailing presence of Italian manufacturers members of ACIMGA, among the global leaders in the industry. Topping off the event with equipment and technology for industrial material handling is Intralogistica Italia, promoted by Ipack-Ima Spa in partnership with Deutsche Messe.
The event is welcoming a total of around 2,000 exhibitors, one-third of which coming from 54 countries outside of Italy, spread over 160,000 square meters of exhibition space and 11 halls.
Opening Conference with designer Carlo Ratti.
Meanwhile, an exceptional testimonial like Carlo Ratti, head of the prestigious MIT SENSEable City Lab, Boston, USA, and one of Wired magazine’s 50 people who will change the world, headed up the IPACK-IMA Opening Conference this year. It was coupled with a discussion among major players in the global industrial scene.
The Conference pairs Carlo Ratti, owner of the eponymous Turin studio and leading Italian designer and engineer who conquered the US market, and the ensemble of exhibitions led by IPACK-IMA, showcasing Italy’s top-notch technology and engineering serving productions.
Ratti took the podium to launch a forward-looking message. “Future Food District: new technology & user interaction” is the title of his speech, the pivotal point of the inaugural ceremony of a great exhibition event unparalleled in the world for its comprehensive product and service display and exceptional co-location with the Milan Universal EXPO 2015.
The conclusive speech of the ceremony will be provided by Giuliano Poletti, the Italian Minister of Employment and Social Policies. IPACK-IMA, Daitytech, Meat-Tech, Converflex and Intralogistica Italia will close tomorrow, Saturday May 23.


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ebpSource, a provider of high-volume electronic billing and payment (EBP) and electronic invoicing and payment (EIP) services for tier 1 banks, telecoms and payment processors, has announced a new strategic partnership with SSC Solutions (SSCS) of Thailand. SSCS is an award-winning IT developer and applications integration specialist, focused on the delivery of document workflow, data management, knowledge management and payment services.
The ebpSource/SSCS partnership is intended to help clients in the Southeast Asia region ‘unwire’ the enterprise – by delivering bills, statements, documents, invoices and other regular transactional information to multiple, fully-integrated customer channels; from online banking and customer portals, to smartphones, tablets, kiosks, branch and ATM networks.
“E-billing and e-invoicing represent a major growth area in the region and we are extremely pleased to have teamed up with the world leaders in this space,” says Fred Chan, CEO of SSC Solutions. “This partnership brings together two centres of excellence that promise the best of both worlds – globally proven expertise and innovation, delivered with local knowledge and support.”
The US money market fund reforms came into effect in 2016 and are already dramatically shaping US fund industry with investors flooding out of prime funds and into government securities. While the reforms are similar, they are not the same. GTNews interviews Yeng Bulter, global head of the cash business at State Street Global Advisors on the differences.
Despite being behind the likes of Europe and China, the US payments industry is now rapidly advancing, said Anish Kapoor, CEO of AccessPay told GTNews in an exclusive interview.
Treasurers are more interested in cross-border payments and automation than real-time payments, as they are consistently asked to do more with less, argues Rick Burke, head of corporate payments at TD Bank in an exclusive interview.
The top five sectors Asian fintech investors are interested in are data analytics, blockchain, lending, payments and regtech, according to Gary Hwa, EY regional managing partner.


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Photo source: vision China
On August 20th, China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) released the 42nd "Statistical Report on China's Internet Development Status" in Beijing today. As of June 30, 2018, the number of Internet users in China reached 802 million, with a penetration rate of 57.7%. Among them, the number of mobile Internet users has reached 788 million, and the proportion of Internet users accessing the Internet through mobile phones is as high as 98.3%.
In April 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the National Conference on Network Security and Informatization. He systematically expounded the important ideas of network power and fully emphasized the driving role of the development of network telecommunications in the development of new industrialization, urbanization and agricultural modernization.
As of June 2018, the number of netizens in our country has reached 802 million, with a penetration rate of 57.7 %. In the first half of 2018, 29.68 million internet users were added, up 3.8 % from the end of 2017. The number of mobile internet users in our country reached 788 million, and the percentage of internet users accessing the internet through mobile phones was as high as 98.3 %, up 0.8 percentage points from the end of 2017. Among them, 35.09 million new mobile internet users were added in the first half of 2018, an increase of 4.7 % over the end of 2017.
In addition, the percentage of Internet users using desktop computers and laptops was 48.9% and 34.5%, respectively, down 4.1 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points from the end of 2017, while the percentage of Internet users using TV reached 29.7%, up 1.5 percentage points from the end of 2017.
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Similarly, the proportion of Internet users accessing the Internet through computers at home in China is 82.6%, which is 3.0 percentage points lower than that at the end of 2007; the proportion of Internet cafes, units, schools and public places accessing the Internet through computers has increased by 2.0, 4.6, 0.5 and 4.5 percentage points respectively. In June 2018, the average Chinese Internet user spent 27.7 hours a week on the Internet, up 0.7 hours from late 2017.
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As of June 2018, the number of rural netizens in China was 211 million, accounting for 26.3% of the total netizens, an increase of 2.04 million compared with the end of 2017, an increase of 1.0%; the size of urban netizens was 591 million, accounting for 73.7%, compared with the end of 2017. An increase of 27.64 million, an increase of 4.9%. China's continuous urbanization process has led to an increase in the urban population, a continuous decline in the rural population, and a slight change in the structure of urban and rural netizens.
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As of June 2018, the internet penetration rate in China's urban areas was 72.7 % and in rural areas was 36.5 %. compared with the end of 2017, the internet penetration rate in urban areas was significantly higher than that in rural areas.
On the one hand, the utilization rate of urban netizens in the application of online shopping, travel booking, online payment and Internet financing is higher than that of rural netizens; on the other hand, urban and rural netizens communicate instantly and network music. Network video and other applications show a small difference.
The rural population is the main component of non-internet users. As of June 2018, the scale of non-netizens in our country was 588 million, of which the proportion of non-netizens in urban areas was 37.8 %, and that in rural areas was 62.2 %.
The lack of internet skills and the restriction of educational level are the main reasons for restricting non-netizens to use the internet.
The survey showed that the percentage of non-internet users who did not surf the internet was 49.0 % and 32.5 % respectively due to the lack of computer or internet knowledge and cultural limitations such as pinyin. Age is another major reason for non-internet users not to use the internet, because the proportion of non-internet users who are too old or too young to use the internet is 13.7 %. The percentage of non-internet users who did not use the internet because of no demand or loss of interest was 10.2 %. The percentage of non-internet users who do not surf the internet is lower than 10 % due to the limited time available to surf the internet, the lack of network equipment or the inability to connect broadband and other access barriers.
Over the same period, the number of IPv6 addresses in China was 23555 /32 and 0.53% in the past six months. Since the launch of the Action Plan to Promote the Scale Deployment of Internet Protocol 6 (IPv6) in November 2007, operators in China have basically been able to support IPv6 at the network level, and are promoting the transformation from network capability to service capability.
China's international export bandwidth is 8,826,302 Mbps, with a half-year growth rate of 20.6 %. internet users have faster internet access, better quality of cross-border roaming calls and better network quality. At the same time, the number of websites, mobile internet access traffic and app numbers all achieved significant growth in the first half of 2018.
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China's Internet infrastructure construction has been continuously optimized and upgraded, and the speed-up and fee-reduction policy has been implemented steadily to promote the significant growth of mobile Internet access traffic. Network information services are developing in the direction of expanding network coverage, speed and cost. The integration of travel, environmental protection, finance, medical care, home appliances and other industries with the Internet has deepened, and Internet services have been characterized by intelligence and refinement.
As of may 2018, the number of mobile applications ( app ) on the market in our country was 4.15 million.
Among them, the number of mobile applications of local third-party application stores in China exceeded 2.33 million, accounting for 56.1%; the number of mobile applications in Apple Store (China) exceeded 1.82 million, accounting for 43.9%.
As of may 2018, the proportion of game applications has been relatively large, with the number exceeding 1.52 million, accounting for 36.6 % of the total. The application scale of life service category was the second, accounting for more than 563,000 items, accounting for 13.6 %. The scale of e-commerce applications ranked third, with more than 416,000 models, accounting for 10.0 %.
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China's Internet wealth management rate increased from 16.7% at the end of 2017 to 21.0% in June 2018, and Internet financial users increased by 39.74 million, with a half-year growth rate of 30.9%.
The scale of Internet financial users in our country continues to expand, the Internet users' financial habits are gradually being cultivated, the capital management business breaks the rigid payment and effectively reduces the business risk of financial institutions, reduces regulatory arbitrage, and at the same time further enhances the active management ability of the institutions. Promote the Internet capital preservation products to the net value of financial products to accelerate the transformation of money fund issuance slowed.
As of June 2018, China's online shopping users and users using online payment accounted for 71.0 % of the total internet users. online shopping and internet payment have become applications with a high proportion of internet users.
On the one hand, e-commerce, social applications, digital content fusion, social e-commerce business model expanded e-commerce, e-commerce enterprises with digital content with the introduction of a diversified shopping scene. On this basis, E-commerce has maintained a stable development in general and played an important role in coordinating supply-side structural reforms, stimulating employment and helping rural revitalization.
On the other hand, the vast majority of payment institutions access the network, which improves the transparency of funds and the security of online payment. The proportion of mobile payment users using mobile payment is 71.9%.
The first half of 2018, network entertainment market demand is strong. The original works of network music are supported, the users of online literature read in various ways, the types of online games are diversified, and the trend of the content of the game is more and more excellent. The rapid rise of short video applications accounts for 74.1% of Internet users using short video applications to meet fragmented entertainment needs.
At the same time, the content of online culture and entertainment has been further standardized, the copyright environment of network music and literature has been gradually improved, the illegal and illegal content in online games has been rectified, and the video industry has constructed an ecological system with content as its core. Live broadcast platform into fine operation stage.
In the first half of 2018, 30.6%, 43.2% and 37.3% of the netizens used shared bicycles, reserved taxis, and reserved special buses/express trains. The user scale increased by 11.0%, 20.8% and 26.5% respectively compared with the end of 2017.
Shared bicycle market from the end of 2017, the two strongest competition back to multiple competitive pattern, bicycle companies try to expand revenue sources through a variety of ways, and began to provide deposit-free services to avoid risk. There is a cross-border convergence phenomenon in the network contract car industry. Platform enterprises have a comprehensive layout around the travel service field, and the single business has begun to expand to the platform ecology.
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As of June 2018, China's online government service users reached 470 million, accounting for 58.6% of the total Internet users, and 42.1% of the Internet users obtained government services through Alipay or WeChat city service platform.
First of all, the government actively promulgated policies to promote the development of online government, communication information barriers, the construction of a full process integration online service platform, the construction of people's satisfaction with the service-oriented government;
Secondly, the degree of intensification of government websites at all levels has obviously increased. The total number of government websites nationwide is 19868, which is 70.1% less than that of the first census in 2015;
Finally, party and government organs and mass organizations at all levels actively use the "two micro-one-end" new media, such as micro-blog, micro-letter, client, to publish government information, respond to social concerns, and constantly improve the level of local government information openness, online service.
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In the first half of 2018, China's core technologies in the information fields such as quantum information technology, world-wide communication, brain like computing, artificial intelligence, supercomputers, industrial internet and so on are developing well.
Our country has the layout in quantum chip, quantum programming, quantum software and so on; brain-like computing chip products with independent intellectual property rights have been introduced; artificial intelligence on-line retail stores, family and children education, old-age care, household work, medical health, investment wind control and other scenarios rapidly landed; The machine has achieved breakthroughs in autonomous control, peak speed, sustained performance, green indicators, etc. Enterprise information systems migrate to cloud platforms, and industrial Internet platforms develop rapidly.
As of June 2018, the number of netizens in China was 802 million. In the first half of the year, there were 29.68 million new netizens, an increase of 3.8% from the end of 2017, and the Internet penetration rate reached 57.7%.
As of June 2018, the number of mobile phone users in China reached 788 million. In the first half of the year, 35.09 million new mobile phone users were added, an increase of 4.7% compared with the end of 2017. The proportion of Internet users using mobile phones reached 98.3%.
As of June 2018, rural Internet users accounted for 26.3%, with a scale of 211 million, an increase of 1.0% over the end of 2017; urban Internet users accounted for 73.7%, with a scale of 591 million, an increase of 4.9% over the end of 2017.
As of June 2018, the proportion of Internet users using mobile phones in China reached 98.3%, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from the end of 2017; the proportion of Internet users using desktop computers and laptops was 48.9% and 34.5%, respectively, down 4.1 from 2017. 1.3 percentage points; the proportion of Internet users using TV Internet reached 29.7%, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the end of 2017.
As of May 2018, the number of mobile applications (apps) monitored in China's market was 4.15 million. The top three application categories are game applications, life service applications and e-commerce applications, accounting for 36.6%, 13.6%, and 10.0%, respectively.
As of June 2018, the number of IPv6 addresses in China was 23555 yuan / 32, an increase of 0.53% in half a year.
As of June 2018, China's international export bandwidth was 8826302 Mbpss, a half-year growth rate of 20.6.
As of June 2018, the number of instant messaging users reached 756 million, an increase of 35.61 million from the end of 2017, accounting for 94.3% of the total Internet users. 750 million of mobile instant messaging users increased by 56 million 410 thousand over the end of 2017, accounting for 95.2% of mobile phone users.
As of June 2018, China's network news users have reached 663 million, with a half-year growth rate of 2.5 % and a usage rate of 82.7 % among internet users. Among them, the number of mobile internet news users reached 631 million, accounting for 80.1 % of mobile internet users, with a half-year growth rate of 1.9 %.
As of June 2018, the number of online shopping users in China reached 569 million, an increase of 6.7% compared with the end of 2017, accounting for 71.0% of the total netizens. The number of mobile online shopping users reached 557 million, an increase of 10.2% compared with the end of 2017, and the usage ratio reached 70.7%.
As of June 2018, the number of online take-out users in China reached 364 million, an increase of 6.0% compared with the end of 2017. Among them, the number of mobile online take-out users reached 344 million, with a growth rate of 6.6% and a usage ratio of 43.6%.
As of June 2018, China's network payment users reached 569 million, an increase of 7.1% over the end of 2017, and the proportion of users increased from 68.8% to 71.0%. Among them, the scale of mobile payment users is 566 million, and the annual growth rate is 7.4%.
As of June 2018, the number of online live broadcast users in China reached 425 million, a slight increase of 2.94 million compared with the end of 2017, and the user utilization rate was 53.0%, down 1.7 percentage points from the end of 2017.
As of June 2018, the number of shared bicycle users in China reached 245 million, accounting for 30.6% of the total netizens, and the user scale increased by 24.32 million in half a year.
By June 2018, the number of taxi users in China reached 346 million, an increase of 59.7 million compared with the end of 2017, with a growth rate of 20.80.The scale of users of special trains or express trains reached 299 million, the half-year growth rate was 26.5 percent, and the proportion of users used increased from 30.6 percent to 37.3 percent.
As of June 2018, China's online government service users reached 470 million, accounting for 58.6 % of the total number of netizens.
[this article comes from Phoenix Science and Technology, Wen / Hua Zi Jian, Reijian / Liu Kaokun]
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The EU SME Centre and China Britain Business Council are happy to invite you to an online workshop organised in collaboration with the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) and the SENET (Sino-European Health Network Hub) project on the healthcare market in China. The workshop will take place on 8 April from 10:00-12:00 (Brussels time) | 16:00-18:00 (Beijing time)
Under the environment of global change and economic slowdown, profound restructuring and uncertainty in 2019, the Chinese healthcare foreign trade witnessed strong growth. Statistics of China Customs revealed a total import and export trade volume of 145.691 billion USD, up by 26.85%, the highest since 2011. Europe, Asia and North America were China’s top three trading partners in terms of healthcare foreign trade. The US continued to be China’s top 1 trading partner, followed by Germany, Japan, India and Ireland.
The pandemic of Covid-19 beginning of 2020, greatly accelerated the demands of healthcare service globally. Meanwhile, after a decade of reforms, China health reform has entered into a new era. The Chinese government has further opened up its healthcare sector, at the same time enhancing the level of administration in the medical device sectors for foreign products. More policies in the medical device sectors have been introduced – providing opportunities, but also challenges for European SMEs that are preparing to enter or already doing business the Chinese market. For instance, the market of Contract Research Organisations (CRO) in China has been growing rapidly since 2017 along with the Research and Development (R&D) encouragement policy published by stakeholders in China.
This workshop is organised in cooperation with PARP, as a run-up/supporting event to the Med2Meet B2B event that will take place on 21 April 2021.
You can find the recorded webinar on Youtube:
About the speakers
Wendy Wang Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences at the China-Britain Business Council in Beijing. She leads on sector-related activities across China, working closely with UK Healthcare and Life Sciences government departments and trade associations to deliver research reports, marketing events, trade missions as well as sector themed Expo. She is also the EU SME Centre’s key expert for healthcare, pharma and medical devices. She is currently updating a previous report from the EU SME Centre in September 2017 on China’s healthcare sector (expected completion by May/June 2021).
Before joining CBBC, Wendy worked as senior advisor of healthcare and life Sciences, Trade Council of the Royal Danish Embassy to China. She has over 16 years’ experience in the healthcare sector. Wendy has a Master’s in Business Administration from the Renmin University of China.
Stefan Jungbluth Head of Business Development at the European Vaccine Initiative (EVI)
Stefan has been working since 2012. Prior to joining EVI, Stefan was Managing Director and co-founder of a biotechnology company in Spain which focused on the discovery and development of drugs against rare cancers. Previously, he occupied different management positions related to business development in Spain´s three most renowned biomedical research centres, the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Centro de Regulación Genómica, and Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares. His professional experience also includes a secondment at the Directorate General for Research, Directorate F – Health, at the European Commission in Brussels. Before that he worked for more than ten years as researcher at King´s College London, at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, and at the Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich.
Johnny Pan International Consultant at SPI China Rep. office
Jhonny has 6 years of experience with European SME in developing business opportunities in China and performing tasks related to international market research and business development. Since joined SPI in 2012, Johnny has accumulated extensive experience in supporting European SMEs in developing market report and business analysis in many fields, covering food & agriculture, ICT, pharmaceutical, healthcare, agri-food and transportation, etc. Johnny has developed several market reports and case studies for EU SME Centre, helping SMEs to find cooperation opportunities with Chinese organizations. Moreover, Johnny has developed a series of training materials in different sectors in the Chinese market for the training seminars to European SMEs in collaboration with the EU SME Centre.
Dr Jim Roldan
Dr. Jim Roldan earned a Msc degree in Medicine and Surgery and studied Business Administration while working in different Operations and Information Service positions at “Caixa de Barcelona” (now “Caixa Bank”), the largest bank in Spain.
In 1985 founded CTA, the first Optical Character Recognition company being able to covert images into text in an Apple Macintosh computer. CTA’s “TextPert” was distributed in 30 different countries and seven languages, becoming the largest exporter of computer software in Spain. It was also the first company delivering and Arabic OCR. In 1987 CTA spun off one of the oldest Apple dealers in Spain: CTA Serveis. During almost three decades, CTA Serveis became the leading reference in electronic design and publishing in Barcelona, supporting a full generation of talented graphic designers that have given to the city its distinctive reputation on electronic graphic design talent and innovation.
As the packaged software disappeared in 1994, Jim Roldan founded Smart Vision Systems, now Indra Servicios Digitales, the leading worldwide Business Process Outsourcing supplier of Electronic Document and Record Management Services (EDRMS) and Business Process Management (BPM). In 2007 Jim Roldan was appointed senior VP of Strategy and Efficiency of Indra, the largest european IT integrator in Europe by capitalization.
Since 2010, Jim Roldan has participated as an advisor and small business angel investor in several disruptive business ventures thorough Tanaka Consulting. Dr. Roldan has also acted as executive director of Linkcare Health Services, a spin off from Barcelona’s Hospital Clinic after eight years of international research on Integrated Health Care.


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Showing results for tags '2020'.
The final race for 2020 Formula One season ended with a lot of smiles and farewell with many changes in drivers seats for the 2021 season. With new some new faces in the drivers' seat next season and some new rules being implemented, a fantastic season came to an end. A year affected by corona virus however was not able to effect the racing world as F1 ended the season in a strong fashion. Here is the how 2020 looked for the F1 world. So waiting for a new season in 2021.........................
Popular internet browser Google Chrome has reportedly received its final update for 2020 which comprises of major performance boost. The update has focused on faster launch, faster loading, better resource management, as well as better battery backup. The official blog post by Matt Waddell, director of product for Google Chrome, claimed that this is perhaps the largest improvement in performance that Chrome has seen in years! Image : Google Looking at the changes The major change comes in form of Google Chrome's tab priority. According to the announcement post, Chro
We all saw the launch of the new Xbox and PS5 and how cheap they launched it. Both consoles have very competitive prices and boast of having capabilities of running 4k at 120fps. But modern 2020 games have been quite demanding. We all saw how flight simulator could barely run at 60 fps on 4k on the RTX 2080ti, the fastest consumer gpu till last month. Now i know the consoles will have new RDNA2 architecture, faster SSD and all those stuff. But can it run modern 2020 games like CRYSIS Remastered and Microsoft's Flight Simulator at 4K 120fps, nvm 8K. What do you think? Let me know


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Unlike many industries, cannabis has seen a surge in sales amid the COVID-19 outbreak. It is recession-resistant much like alcohol and tobacco. However, sustainable success through this disruptive time will depend on a functioning global supply chain with access to cultivation products many of which are manufactured in China. The supply chain has arguably experienced the greatest impact from the pandemic, with closed factories, anemic production, and closed ports and transportation routes. In fact, 94% of Fortune 1000 companies are experiencing shocks to their supply chain, according to Dunn & Bradstreet.
The cannabis industry has experienced cycles of supply shortages over the last two years, but this pandemic is a different beast. With challenges coming from both overseas as well as North America, it’s a double-edged sword, In the early months of 2020, ports and factories in China were impacted when the coronavirus made its debut in Wuhan. These disruptions led to an anticipated 2- to 3-month delay for cultivation materials such as grow lights, pots, and other agricultural commodities, according to Justin Pierce, a principal with Hydroponics, Inc., the leading provider of agricultural supplies, logistics and procurement for the cannabis and hemp industries. Now in the U.S., companies are not functioning at full capacity with layoffs and staff in quarantine. The world has yet to see the full ramifications of such a global supply shut-down, anticipated to hit full-force later this spring.
Cannabis has been deemed an essential business in most states and will need grow materials to continue cultivation and production. Now, there’s evidence that some cultivators are stocking up in fear of not just future supply shortages, but also related price spikes - a near inevitability with the current volatile market. Pierce said Hydroponics, Inc. doubled average weekly sales in the first two weeks of state lockdowns. The Company sells a wide variety of products growers need such as soils, nutrients, and fertilizers.
Cultivators are also concerned about long-term supply given the recent increase in consumer demand of cannabis products. Cannabis companies are seeing record-breaking numbers of orders and higher-than-average total purchase price per customer, according to Business Insider. Such panic-buying is exacerbating supply chain bottlenecks and driving cultivators to order more cultivation supplies in anticipation of continued demand for cannabis. Cannabis-related activities are proving to be recession-resistant and thus demand is expected to stay steady in the coming months.
It is not only the lack of equipment that threatens the cannabis supply, but also a lack of human capital. As more states issue stay-in-place orders, growing facilities are losing employees to quarantine. With fewer employees working with the plant, the supply of flower could also take a hit, especially as the industry enters the growing season. It can take up to six months for flower to reach dispensaries, according to Remedy Columbia owner Mitch Trellis. So, while vendors may have enough supply today, it could be a bleaker situation by the end of the year.
Of course, increases in sales of both cannabis and grow supplies may not last. Cultivators and consumers may be misreading the tea leaves, aiming to lock in prices as they foresee expenses rising with increased demand and lower supply.
For growers, Pierce says logistics costs will skyrocket in the short-term. Despite the global economy in despair, the logistics, and particularly transportation, industries seem to be thriving. Transportation prices are up 34%, causing the largest monthly jump in the Logistics Manager’s Index - a bi-monthly measurement of activity reported by supply chain professionals - ever recorded from 49.06 to 65.6 in March. The domestic trucking industry is scrambling to move an inundation of food and essentials. Air cargo capacity has been halved globally and passenger flights remain grounded, leading to soaring rates. A one-way transpacific charter freighter costs more than twice as much as before the pandemic. Pierce predicts domestic shipping rates will increase with UPS implementing a coronavirus surcharge and FedEx following closely behind.
In the long-term, there will be widespread cannabis industry changes that will forever alter the landscape of cultivation supply in North America. Very few companies were prepared for the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Each hour of downtime can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and without the proper supplies, plants, and the profits they bring, companies will founder. Pierce expects the current “buy America” procurement sentiment to not only continue but to amplify. Since the procurement function is measured by cost savings rather than revenue-assurance, cultivators who procure and handle logistics in-house will feel the strongest effects – and the most pain. When the procurement function has to resort to extraordinary measures to secure supplies on time, the higher costs are assigned to other parts of the organization - and everyone loses. Period.
The Economic Policy Institute estimates at least 50% of small businesses will not survive this pandemic, leading to a decrease in competition and an increase in price. These devastating effects on supply will create an entirely new world of operations and logistics, one in which cannabis companies will be forced to professionalize or go the way of the buggy whip.


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WPA has booked cinematographers Brian Pearson ("Into the Storm") on Steve Quale's "The Lake," Stephen Windon ("Furious 7″) on Justin Lin's "Stark Trek 3," Gavin Kelly ("TableTop") on Rob Spera's…
The real-looking fur was no problem. CG water and marmalade were a piece of cake. No, the hardest part of animating the bear in the just-released "Paddington" was "finding the character that everyone…
The word has gone out again in visual effects business: "There's trouble in Montreal." Quebec's new incentives are turning Montreal into a burgeoning hotspot for the global vfx biz. But the city has…
When I started covering the visual effects realm there was a "big four" of vfx companies: Industrial Light & Magic, Digital Domain, Rhythm & Hues Studios and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Two of those…
Global effects powerhouse Framestore, best known for its work on the "Harry Potter" pics, has opened a studio in Montreal, tapping into the creative and tech talent pool and provincial tax credit…
One of the most successful and intriguing successes on "Zero Dark Thirty" was the re-creation of Osama Bin Laden's secret compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Production designer Jeremy Hindle's goal…
If companies like Sony Imageworks, Weta Digital and Framestore are the creative divas of the effects world, Los Angeles and London-based outfit the Foundry is fast becoming the conductor.
Each of London's big four film vfx houses has its own strengths, but tries not to get pigeonholed.
Universal's "The Tale of Despereaux" marks the first big step by Framestore CFC into producing its own CGI animated movies. Framestore set up a feature animation arm 2½ years ago in partnership with…
This one-time line producer, who served a term as British film commissioner, is now managing director of film at Framestore-CFC, Europe's largest visual f/x and computer animation company.


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Get ready for the first peek of fast-paced, free-to-play, shooter
ATLANTA – July 13, 2011 — Today, Hi-Rez Studios announced that Tribes: Ascend will be featured at QuakeCon and playable by the public for the first time at the annual gaming convention.
Tribes is one of the most lauded brands in multiplayer gaming, with previous titles in the franchise being played by over one million people.
Tribes: Ascend is a new generation of the online multiplayer shooter, incorporating classic Tribes elements such as fast-paced, jetpack enabled combat, skiing, and vehicles, combined with teamwork and strategy. Tribes: Ascend is being designed by Hi-Rez Studios as a AAA free-to-play title.
Although the game is still in Closed Alpha, conference attendees will get the first public hands-on with Tribes: Ascend at Booth 333 of QuakeCon, held in Dallas, Texas from August 4th-7th 2011. Attendees can also register to win a limited number of keys to the Tribes: Ascend Closed Beta.
“QuakeCon has been called the Woodstock of gaming and we’ re thrilled to introduce Tribes: Ascend at this show”, says Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios COO. “QuakeCon has always delivered exceptional, competitive, multiplayer gaming… for free; and that’s our mission with Tribes: Ascend.”
About Hi-Rez Studios
Hi-Rez Studios, Inc, located just outside of Atlanta GA, was established in 2005 to create exceptional online interactive entertainment. In February 2010 the company released the squad-based Shooter-MMO Global Agenda. Hi-Rez is currently developing other competitive online games including Tribes: Ascend and SMITE. For more information, visit www.hirezstudios.com
Media Contact: [email protected]


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Qualcomm has debuted a brand new smartphone chip that’s supposed to bring flagship-grade features to mid-range handsets: the Snapdragon 636.
In a bid to power even more of the world’s smartphones, Qualcomm has launched a successor to this year’s mid-range Snapdragon 630 chip at a press event in Hong Kong, attended by Trusted Reviews. Dubbed the Snapdragon 636, the new chipset supposedly boasts an incredible 40% boost to performance compared to the Snapdragon 630.
Probably the most useful upgrade, however, is the new support for ultra-wide FHD+ displays. Ultra-wide screens on smartphones are becoming increasingly common, as more phone makers try to reduce bezel thickness and fill more of the front of their phones with display.
This feature is bolstered by what Qualcomm calls “Assertive Display”. This feature is reminiscent of Apple’s True Tone technology, and “optimises the visibility of the display in all lighting conditions”.
Qualcomm has also kitted its 14nm chip out with an advanced Adreno 509 GPU – a powerful chipset that’s also designed by the US chipmaker. The bold claim is that we’ll see a 10% boost to gaming and browsing performance compared to the previous generation, which Qualcomm reckons will support an “unprecedented gaming experience with lifelike visuals”.
Speaking about the announcement, Kedar Kondap, VP of Product Management at Qualcomm, said: “The introduction of the Snapdragon 636 Mobile Platform allows OEMs to enjoy a smooth transition from the Snapdragon 660 and 630 Mobile Platforms while supporting the deployment of superior functionality and performance to end users.”
He went on: “Manufacturers can use the same modem and camera architecture to enable fast and efficient testing and calibration, cutting down on significant resources or time normally required when developing products on brand new platforms.”
So when will we see this chip out in the wild? Well Qualcomm promises that the Snapdragon 636 will begin shipping to its own customers as soon as November 2017, so we’d expect to see the chip appearing in smartphones circa early 2018. Qualcomm designs chips that are used by leading brands, including the likes of Samsung, Apple and LG, so we should certainly see it get some use in the mainstream.
Related: Samsung Galaxy S9
Which of your smartphones do you think offered the best performance? Let us know via Facebook or tweet us @TrustedReviews.


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TAIPEI • Foxconn Technology Group is considering scaling back or even abandoning plans to make cutting-edge displays from a US$10 billion (RM41 billion) plant it’s building in the US, Reuters reported.
Such a move could undermine promises to create 13,000 jobs at a project hailed by US President Donald Trump for reviving American manufacturing. Apple Inc’s main manufacturing partner is re-thinking its approach because of the high cost of making advanced TV screens from the US, Reuters cited spokesman Louis Woo as saying.
Foxconn unveiled the Wisconsin project with much fanfare in 2017 as the Taiwanese company extracted a raft of incentives from the state, although some were forfeited last year after falling short of hiring goals. Billionaire chairman Terry Gou’s Taiwanese company is in a particularly precarious position as the US and China wage an escalating battle over trade. It does most of its manufacturing in the mainland, sells products to Americans and faces pressure from both sides to maintain or create new jobs.
Foxconn now intends to turn the Wisconsin site into a base for mostly engineers and researchers, Reuters cited Woo as saying. It would also produce specialised products for industrial, healthcare and professional applications, he said.
“In terms of TV, we have no place in the US,” Woo is cited as saying. “We can’t compete.” — Bloomberg


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Authorities want Apple to unlock the iPhone of the Sutherland Springs shooter
Remember all the fuss about Apple refusing to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino shooters? Well, it might all happen again, as authorities have served Apple a search warrant for the iPhone SE belonging to the Sutherland Springs shooter who killed 26 people a couple of weeks ago in Texas.
The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, had two devices on him when he was found dead by authorities, including an iPhone SE.
BGR Top Deals:
- Amazon just kicked off Black Friday with discounts on Kindles, Fire tablets and Dash Buttons
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Authorities want Apple to unlock the iPhone of the Sutherland Springs shooter originally appeared on BGR.com on Mon, 20 Nov 2017 at 07:00:51 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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Nov. 9, 2022 update
Yesterday, more than two years after Governor Newsom signed SB 793 into law, California voters overwhelmingly approved the law in a statewide referendum (Proposition 31). Today it was challenged in federal court by R.J. Reynolds and others.
Jan. 22, 2021 update
The California Secretary of State's Office has confirmed that it has validated the required number of signatures to suspend the enactment of the flavor ban law until voters decide whether to approve it in a referendum in November 2022.
The tobacco industry and retail trade groups have so far lined up $21 million for a campaign to convince California voters to oppose the ban, according to the Los Angeles Times. The ban includes menthol cigarettes.
Dec. 11, 2020 update
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has agreed to suspend the flavor ban until the November 2022 election, according to California vaping advocate Stefan Didak. (The agreement has also been reported in Halfwheel.)
The ban could also take effect next year if the state shows that an insufficient number of qualified voters signed petitions (the process of verifying the signatures will go on past the first of the year, when the law was scheduled to take effect). However, since the group that organized the petition drive collected more than a million signatures, that seems unlikely.
Nov. 25, 2020
The California flavored vape ban scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, will probably be suspended for two years until voters decide whether to keep or overturn the law. Opponents of the ban, which also includes menthol cigarettes and flavored smokeless tobacco and small cigars, have collected what they believe are enough signatures to give voters the choice to reject the tobacco and vape ban in a November 2022 referendum.
The California Coalition for Fairness, a group funded by major tobacco companies, says it has collected more than a million signatures from registered voters in the state opposed to the ban. According to the Los Angeles Times, 623,312 valid signatures are required. Typically, groups like the coalition collect more signatures than required, because many are discarded by state auditors.
The ban covers products sold in physical retail stores only (it does not ban online sales). The bill originally banned all tobacco and vaping products in flavors other than tobacco, but lobbyists were successful in obtaining exemptions in the final version for hookah products, pipe tobacco and premium cigars. It was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Aug. 28.
The Coalition for Fairness was funded in large part by cigarette manufacturers Altria (Marlboro) and BAT/RJ Reynolds (Newport, Camel), which spent more than $21 million in the effort to stop the ban. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the 22-month delay of the ban will mean an additional $1.1 billion in sales for the cigarette manufacturers.
But it will also mean a reprieve for small vape businesses in the state. For many vape shops and e-liquid manufacturers, the law could have been a death sentence. Although it allowed online sales to continue, most California vape shops depend on face-to-face sales of flavored e-liquid.
Unlike some other flavor bans, the California law made no exception even for products approved through the FDA’s premarket review process. In other words, submitting a PMTA to the agency and being approved would still not allow a manufacturer to sell products in the country’s largest state.
Although consumer group CASAA issued calls to action for its California members, there was no visible opposition to the flavor ban organized by independent vape trade organizations, and no participation by industry groups in the signature-gathering effort.
Cut the crap. I am an adult a tax payer and a voter. I do not need the Governor or any other state official telling me what I can or cannot smoke. The lockdowns and stay at home orders are enough. We are not kids and do not need any more damm restrictions. If Newsom wants to be remain in office he better stop with the anarchy.
I am 43 and smoked since I was 17. I was finally able to quit last year by switching to vaping. I have never had success quitting…and now I wont even go back to smoking because my menthols will be illegal too. this is bullcrap and hope it is overturned
Your comments towards the end of your article I completely untrue and in accurate. Vapin’ the 619 is named in the lawsuit against the state of California going up against us as well as the Neighborhood Market Association which headed up the formation of Communities for Safer Vaping- which has fought far and wide against flavor and hardware bans here in California and beyond. Get your facts straight!
Fair point, and thanks for the work that you and Vapin’ the 619 do. What I meant to say (and have edited the article to make clear) is that no vape-oriented trade organizations led opposition to the law. My point was not to diminish the efforts of the Neighborhood Market Association, which is not primarily a vaping-oriented trade group, but to highlight the lack of a powerful vaping trade association in California.
Have we heard any updates or news that this is certain?
The signatures have to be verified by the state, which may take a couple weeks.


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Published: October 28, 2021 on our newsletter Security Fraud News & Alerts Newsletter.
With a WhatsApp malware worm wiggling its way into Signal, Telegram, and Skype, and malware now being delivered in .bmp image files, it’s a cyber jungle out there. It’s a sort of “survival of the fittest” and those in-the-know can help keep themselves from becoming a casualty of these cybercrimes.
Beware .BMP Image Files
A Malwarebytes investigation found .bmp files are the latest addition to the list of image files that are known malware carriers. The usual culprits like .doc, .jpg, .exe, and .zip are known carriers of malware image attachments. According to the report, .bmp files can now be added to the list of potential malware carriers and should be approached with caution before opening.
The bitmap image files (.bmp) can now store digital images that are easily opened by multiple platforms such as Mac and Microsoft Windows. Most any device can open a .bmp image attachment and now, .bmp attachments can carry malware images. Remember to approach all email attachments with a dose of skepticism and always look for email phishing red flags before opening any attached file.
What’s Up with WhatsApp’s Worm?
ESET malware researchers discovered a new worm that started in WhatsApp and is now wiggling its way into other apps including Skype, Telegram, and Signal. Although worms carry malware, there’s a simple but significant difference between how a worm and a virus differ. Still, in the end, they both carry malware. A virus needs triggering, or an action, by a target to spread through a system. Think: clicking on a phishing email attachment that’s malware-filled and from there infects entire systems. Worms, on the other hand, are stand-alone malicious programs needing no interaction to duplicate and spread itself once it breaches a system.
A Worm and a Free Smartphone
The ESET research found fake WhatsApp messages offering a free smartphone for downloading an app from Google Play store. Unknown to the user, the app is bogus and carries the worm, and the Google Play store is fake. And as you might guess, the free smartphone never arrives. ESET finds this offer has been traveling for months to the other apps, Skype, Telegram, and Signal, via WhatsApp Messenger.
If the link in the WhatsApp message is clicked, the person will go to a convincing clone of the Google Play store (below), where they are asked to download a fake Huawei app,of corse it's malicious.
According to ESET, “The malware spreads through the victim’s WhatsApp and routinely responds to each incoming message with a URL to a rogue and malicious Huawei mobile application. When mounted, it asks for a selection of permissions, which include access to notifications.” ESET finds bad actors are currently using the worm for subscription fraud and adware. They warn the worm can also be used to spread ransomware, spyware, banking trojans, and more. Users should remember that “free” isn’t always a good thing, and in this case, especially if it’s a free smartphone.
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Food Cowboy’s app connects for-profit and nonprofit food distributors with the ambitious goal to end hunger in America.
It can seem like such a waste tossing a plate of perfectly good leftovers into the trash, something Americans are familiar with considering they throw away 40 percent of their food. But through the use of mobile technology, one startup is aiming to change that.
We’ve all heard the motto “reuse, recycle and reduce” as a way to inspire individuals to do their small part in keeping the planet healthy. But the startup Food Cowboy is expanding this movement to potentially help millions of Americans.
Food Cowboy’s app connects for-profit and nonprofit food distributors with the ambitious goal to end hunger in America. In 2013, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households, according to Feeding America. In addition, Americans spend $165 billion per year on food waste, according to the National Resources Defense Council, which is twice as much as what the government spends on food stamps.
Here’s how the Food Cowboy app works: Food donors enter in information to the app, such as food type, temperature, quantity and description. Then nearby food banks provide logistics on where and when they can receive the delivery.
Though a smart idea, the founders aren’t your typical startup tech geeks; Richard Gordon came up with the idea after attempting to drop off a truck full of unwanted food late at night only to find that most nonprofits were closed. Food Cowboy’s mission is to eradicate this problem by acting as a communication line.
“We are an air traffic control system for food that is coming in from a donor and going out to a recipient charity,” Barbara Cohen, a Food Cowboy co-founder, told CNBC.
Food Cowboy operates on a double bottom line; redistribute food waste to the needy and save food distributors — and arguably the nation — a lot of money.
Top photo courtesy of Food Cowboy


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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organised a private sector roundtable on Monday on climate change mitigation and its potential impact on the competitiveness of Pakistan's textile sector.
The participants discussed impact of global warming on the ability of Pakistan's textile manufacturers to compete with global suppliers and identified opportunities to enhance resilience of the country's textile firms in the face of climate change.
The speakers highlighted the role of climate-focused reforms in introducing green business practices to the textile sector. The participants reviewed the impact of global warming on textile supply chains, assessed industry competitiveness in combating global environmental degradation, and developed recommendations for policy.
They also discussed corporate action required to bolster supply chain resilience.
USAID Mission Director to Pakistan Reed J Aeschliman commented on the support that the US would provide. "The USAID will aim to provide more opportunities for open information exchange with the public and private sectors to identify priority issues impacting the environment and develop effective strategies for a sustainable future for Pakistan.”
He added: “I am certain that the public and private sectors will continue to work together on win-win priorities. You have the unwavering support of the US government as a partner to assist you to achieve your goals. "While the representatives from the largest textile manufacturers, suppliers, exporters, and representatives of top US retail brands shared their expert opinions at the round-table, the textile industry representatives offered policy recommendations that can assist the private sector achieve sustainable and resilient economic development.
Renowned US brands shared their strategic plans to fight climate change and presented the best practices that have successfully been implemented across the textile value chain to reduce the emission of elements contributing to global warming.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2022.
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Australian designer Dion Lee will compete during this week’s London Fashion Week for the prestigious International Woolmark Prize against finalists from China, Belgium, India, Japan and the United States.February 12, 2013 4:07am
Dion Lee's entrant in the Wool Innovation Award for London Fashion Week 2013, shot by Hugh Stewart and styled by Shona Heath, model Sarah Birkett.
Australian designer Dion Lee will compete during this week’s London Fashion Week for the prestigious International Woolmark Prize against finalists from China, Belgium, India, Japan and the United States.
Mr Lee, 26, won what Australian judges called once-in-a-lifetime opportunities by making it to the pointy end of the Woolmark judging.
The full collections will be unveiled at the International Woolmark Prize awards show on Saturday during London Fashion Week.
The six designers from around the globe are competing for the ultimate industry recognition, $102
Images of the International Woolmark Prize finalists were photographed in London last week.
The final judging panel includes Diane Von Furstenberg, Donatella Versace and Victoria Beckham.
‘‘The International Woolmark Prize has gained extraordinary momentum over the past 12 months, generating support and interest across the globe,’’ Australian Wool Innovation chief executive Stuart McCullough said.
‘‘The final will showcase the future of fashion and we are very proud that Merino wool will hold a firm place in that exciting and prosperous future.’’
See www.woolmarkprize.com for more information.
Two men charged over the armed robbery of a Shepparton service station have been remanded in custody until next week.
The 2014 Yarrawonga Mulwala Multisport Festival has been hailed a huge success by organisers and participants alike.
The fifth annual King Billy Retreat Open Garden Party will be held at Rushworth on Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Echuca College students Calum Pearson, Luke Judd, Kiriana Epararma, Harriet Nilon, Kyle Melhuish and Stephanie Chong are heading to China.
A former Rochester resident is helping women with their confidence and their horses.
Accusations of bullying, disrespect and dangerous conduct.
And the school's best all-rounder for this year.
Finley's Mark Whiley has been traded from the GWS Giants to Carlton - the club he has supported all his life.
District residents are being invited to enjoy Oktooberfest celebrations at Tooborac Hotel and Brewery.
Momentum builds for the greatest show in Cobram, with young and old expected to lap up family attractions in sunny conditions.
Water users have welcomed the governments' announcement of a $350 million package for new irrigation efficiency programs in NSW, but say water availability is in need of improvement.
Farmers and anyone interested in big boys’ toys will be fascinated to check out an unmanned helicopter in action at an Ardmona orchard.
Judge comments, If I were single, I'd marry this steak!
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Home Tags Tide Pod Challenge
Tag: Tide Pod Challenge
YouTube is trying to prevent otherwise bright people from doing dangerous things.
Either they have a lot of laundry, or perhaps they're interested in the viral fad known as the "Tide pod challenge" that has taken over social media. Regardless, Wilmington Police want these two people identified.
The viral Tide Pod Challenge is likely the reason behind some Walmart stores locking up the product behind glass to prevent people from stealing them.
A new online challenge that involves teens putting Tide laundry-detergent pods in their mouths is raising concerns among experts.


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Nigerian fintech startup Kuda has raised $25 million in a Series A round led by Valar Ventures, the firm co-founded and backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, with Target Global, the European venture capital firm that led Kuda’s last funding, participating in the round.
The Series A follows Kuda’s $10million raise in November 2020, a feat cheered for being the largest seed round by an African startup.
The company had said at the time it had 300,000 customers (which was a mix of individuals and sole-proprietor businesses) and was processing an average of $500 million worth of transactions per month.
Fast forward months later, Kuda says it now has 650,000 customers. Ryan Laubscher, who recently joined Kuda as Chief Commercial Officer says that Kuda processed $2.2 billion in transactions in February 2021 alone – a staggering increase from $5.2 million processed in February 2020.
All of this has been achieved just in Nigeria where the company launched as a no-fees, digital-only bank in the second half of 2019 with $1.6million pre-seed funding.
Kuda has two co-founders; Babs Ogundeyi, the CEO, and Musty Mustapha, the Chief Technology Officer.
The company has a microfinance banking license from the Central Bank of Nigeria. At the moment, Kuda’s flagship product is a digital-only savings account. Customers can download the app, enter Know Your Customer (KYC) information and have an account within a day.
The new customer can receive deposits into this account, though the maximum balance and deposit amount depends on the level of KYC information provided. Customers request a debit card on the Kuda app and have it delivered to their homes.
Laubscher says Kuda’s Series A round was oversubscribed and a “decent amount of capital” was left on the table.
Their plan is to further accelerate the company’s growth in ways that those investors who couldn’t get in at this round would still be interested in being part of the Kuda story when they raise again.
© 2022 Arise News - Part of the Arise Media Group.


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The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce recently partnered with the Forsyth County Schools’ College and Career Development Department and local manufacturers to involve high school students in National Manufacturing Day 2018: October 5th. Students from all Forsyth County high schools spent the morning of National Manufacturing Day touring the operations at:
· Motovario Corporation (an Italian gear manufacturer)
· Metcam, Inc. (a fabricator of precision sheet metal components and assemblies for OEMs)
· Hansgrohe (a German manufacturer of luxury faucets and showerheads)
· GAF Materials Corporation (a roofing and shingles manufacturer)
· American BOA (a manufacturer of metal materials for the industrial and automotive markets)
· Specialty Appliances (an orthodontic equipment manufacturer)
· Solvay Specialty Polymers (a manufacturer of high-performance plastics, polymers, fluids and elastomers)
· Hitachi T&D Solutions (an electrical equipment supplier)
· TÜV SÜD America, Inc (a third-party, independent testing lab)
Each group of students toured these companies to draw attention to the many rewarding, high-paying careers available in the manufacturing industry and to highlight the importance of manufacturing to the nation’s economy. The students spent the day visiting multiple manufacturers before and after a lunch provided by Automation Direct (a manufacturer of PLCs and tools).
“[A]s a really big believer in teamwork, it’s good for us to share our time, facilities and experiences for the betterment of the community and its aspiring manufacturing professionals,” commented Jerry Ward, Co-Owner and Vice President of Operations for metal fabricator, Metcam.
Metcam created a company-wide theme for this year’s National Manufacturing Day of “Open Doors, Open Minds.” With their participation the company hopes to be an inspiration to future manufacturers and to advance a strong network of local businesses and educators.
The face of modern-day manufacturing is an important element in local workforce development and the Chamber is proud to partner with local companies investing in the future of our region.


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The session, titled, “9 Months to 100 Days” showed how the partnership with Panda is accelerating digital transformation for CentraCare’s patients, providers, and community. The title refers to the more than 60% reduction in time it takes for the 12,000+ employee health care system to adopt best-in-class innovations, which Holmen sees as critical to the system delivering on its mission.
- As Wayne Gretsky said, “skate to where the puck is going.” Digital health strategy is essential
- Meet consumers where they are – that’s what almost every other industry has learned
- Sharing the digital journey with peer organizations attracts the top digital talent
- Starting new ventures is hard and high-risk – find the right partners with proven track records


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Sector has driven economy since 2012, but reform needed to match global importance
China”s newly issued guideline for the development of the trade in the services sector is expected to help bring it in line with the information age and widen market access, boosting high-quality growth.
On Oct 27, in coordination with 23 other ministries, the Ministry of Commerce released a plan setting out goals for the development of the sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). It takes into account new developments and issues facing trade in services during the period.
According to the World Trade Organization, trade in services refers to the sale and delivery of intangible products like transportation, tourism, telecommunications, advertising, computing and accounting, among others.
The leading role of greater reform and opening up is given prominence in the new plan, which makes clear that deepening reform and opening up will be prioritized. Efforts in this regard will include widening market access for services, improving the cross-border trade in services, and building a platform to enable higher quality opening up.
Experts believe that a healthier, more robust growth of trade in services is critical to China’s economic transition and sustainable growth, particularly as globalization has slowed since the world became preoccupied with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting that China’s services sector has driven the country’s economic growth since 2012, Guo Meixin, researcher at the Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking at Tsinghua University, whose focus of research is China’s trade relations, said that stronger, healthier growth for the country’s services sector is necessary for high-quality development and the transition toward a low-carbon economy, and that China has plenty of room to grow in this respect.
“Compared with the trade in goods, China’s trade in services has long remained in deficit and is currently smaller in volume. Widening the scope of opening up not only requires efforts to lower barriers in the real economy, but also needs broader market opening. This will not only be conducive to upgrading trade in services, but will also help generate more job opportunities in the service sector,” she said.
One highlight of the new guideline is that for the first time, digitalization was included as a development goal for the growth of the sector as the country has reached a new stage of development, and reliance on the internet to spur demand for trade in services is on the rise.
Guo believes that digitalization not only offers China a key means of overtaking other countries in economic growth, but also helps improve government service efficiency and public satisfaction.
The guideline noted the importance of reform and broader market access for all players. In particular, efforts will be made to issue and improve negative lists for the cross-border trade in services.
China’s first such list came into effect in the Hainan Free Trade Port in August, and proposed special management measures for foreign providers offering services in cross-border settings. Areas addressed included national treatment, market access, local presence and cross-border financial services trade.
“The content of the new plan is aligned with the national goal of high quality growth and in particular, echoes the new context, which is digitalization,” said Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. “In mapping out a clear picture of development across sectors, the plan will provide guidance on cooperation and synergy across departments, which is conducive to nurturing the stable, sustainable growth of trade in services.”
Zhou believes that the demand-driven fast growth of technology has helped the sector better cater to market needs, and that enterprises will now be able to shift their focus to the services that they provide.
“And as the key to economic transition is about the allocation of productive factors, a more advanced growth of trade in services will be important to conventional manufacturing businesses in leveraging strength and capturing new opportunities and overall to improving China’s quality of growth,” he said.
Last year, China’s trade in services dropped 15.7 percent year-on-year to 4.56 trillion yuan ($707 billion) mostly due to the effects of the pandemic on tourism, but the service trade deficit continues to narrow, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Guo believes that uneven growth across sectors is also a prominent issue facing the sector.
“Statistics show that there is an imbalance in the structure of China’s trade in services, as tourism and transportation now account for about half of the trade volume,” she said.
“The share of knowledge-intensive services in China’s total service value-added exports is increasing, but the share of foreign content remains high, at over 30 percent. Much effort is needed to drive its growth to enable the sector to grow in a healthier, more sustainable manner.”
The many different trade and aid policies being pursued by China globally have been heavily criticised but can developing countries become more independent or will China’s policy reform?


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December 19, 2008
FedEx joins companies dropping 401(k)s
FedEx Corp. has announced it is the most recent U.S. company to at least temporarily cancel all 401(k) matching contributions for its employees.
ABC said in addition to dropping all 401(k) payments for at least one year, the company suspended all pay raises for 2009 and implemented a 5 percent pay cut for all its salaried workers.The company's temporary suspension of all matching payments to the retirement system is similar to actions already taken by Motorola, Ford and General Motors.
While such cuts will help save the companies funds during the current economic crisis, workers say the 401(k) system was a key benefit.
That was one of the reasons that I stuck around with the company, a FedEx compliance manager identified only as Jacob said.
That's free money right there that I couldn't match at other companies.
It's disappointing because we expected better, said Janet, a 26-year-old worker with another company embracing 401(k) cuts.
Robert Christensen of the labor law firm Fisher & Phillips told ABC News some companies set up 401(k) agreements so that they can revoke matching payments at any time.


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Rescue Heroes and educational toys for infants helped lead the way to an 8 percent increase in core Fisher-Price toy sales in the third quarter -- a strong performance by that division of parent Mattel Inc., which saw sales rise 2 percent.
Mattel said Thursday its third-quarter earnings rose 19 percent before one-time charges, as the No. 1 toy manufacturer improved profit margins under its year-old leadership. Net income, before one-time charges, was $207.6 million, or 48 cents per share, up from $174.3 million, or 41 cents a share, a year ago. Sales rose 2 percent to $1.61 billion from $1.58 billion a year ago.
The earnings beat the consensus earnings estimate among analysts polled by Thomson Financial/First Call of 46 cents per share.
Including one-time items, Mattel reported net income rose to $199.8 million, or 46 cents per share from a loss of $336.9 million or 79 cents a share in third quarter of 2000. The one-time charges this quarter were mainly part of the restructuring plan, which required terminating licensing arrangements and closing its North American distribution and manufacturing facilities.
A strong performer was the Rescue Heroes action figures that Fisher-Price introduced in 1998 in response to mothers requesting a non-violent and inspirational action figure for their preschoolers, said Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price Brands.
Billy Blazes firefighter emerged as the most popular of the company's "Rescue Heroes" series and Fisher-Price was in the process of making a special edition of the toy, with the character wearing gear from the Fire Department of New York City, when the terrorist attacks occurred Sept. 11.
Fisher-Price and Toys R Us are donating all proceeds of the special edition to FDNY safety education fund.
Rescue Heroes are expected to be a popular holiday gift and the Aquatic Command Rescue Center, a staging platform for the Rescue Heroes, is on the Hot Dozen holiday toy list for Toy Wishes magazine.
However, sales of plush toys of Disney and Sesame Street characters made by Fisher-Price were flat in the third quarter.
"We've seen six quarters of decline in U.S. sales of character brands, but we're hopeful that this quarter represents a turning point," said Kevin Farr, Mattel's chief financial officer.
Already Tickle Me Elmo Surprise, which commemorates the fifth anniversary of the original toy, is selling well, Friedman said. Mattel has rebounded steadily in the last year under new management following the departure of former CEO Jill E. Barad and the sale of its poorly performing Learning Co. software unit. Mattel virtually gave the unit away late last year and has said it will focus on its core toy products. A few product lines did not fare well this quarter. Barbie sales in the United States fell 17 percent, the third consecutive quarter sales have fallen.
"We've had lower sales on our collector doll business and holiday Barbie," Bob Eckert, president and CEO, said during a conference call. "These are dolls that retail for $35 or more. I think that the reasons for the precipitous drops are the economic climate today just doesn't support those types of price points."
Company executives had an overall positive outlook for the fourth quarter.
"Retailers are expecting a good holiday season," Eckert said. "Parents will self-sacrifice first. Kids will still have a good Christmas and 90 percent of our toys sell for less than $20 and about three quarters of them sell for less than $10."


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Operating profit at the company reached €771 million for the three months ending March 31st 2007, whilst net income hit €932, a rise of 32 per cent.
And it was the Vivendi Games arm of the company that excelled, with revenues jumping 117 per cent to reach €291 million.
The star performer in Vivendi’s gaming camp was undoubtedly World of Warcraft expansion The Burning Crusade, which broke sales records earlier this year by selling 3.5 million copies across Europe and North America in its first month on release.
“We are clearly running out of superlatives for Vivendi Games, especially World of Warcraft,”' chief financial officer Philippe Capron stated. “We're of course not going to release an expansion pack every quarter, so the rest of the year will be less brilliant.”