text:
LONDON - Tesco, one of Britain's largest private-sector employers, is offering its staff advances on their pay in the latest sign of the distress arising from a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
Inflation has surged to a 41-year-high, driven up by rising energy bills and double-digit price hikes for food like milk, eggs and cheese, leaving many lower wage households facing tough choices this Christmas.
The labour market remains tight, however, and companies are raising hourly wages and offering one-off bonuses to attract and retain workers.
Under Tesco's new scheme, 280,000 of its workers will be able to receive up to 25% of their contractual pay early if they pay a small fee.
Britain's biggest supermarket chain said that would help staff avoid taking on expensive debt with high interest payments, such as pay day loans.
Many other European countries are grappling with high inflation, but Britain is the only Group of Seven nation yet to recover its pre-pandemic size.
According to the Resolution Foundation think tank, the poorest fifth of households in Britain are now more than 20% worse off than their peers in France and Germany.
With pay rises trailing inflation, there has been a wave of industrial action across sectors including railways, post and telecoms. Nurses are set to strike in the coming months.
To help staff cope while the economy flounders, some companies are offering workers extra help.
Retailer John Lewis Partnership said in September it would pay a one-off bonus of 500 pounds ($595) for full-time employees, while Marks & Spencer is offering an annual raise of 7.4%, a 250 pound voucher and benefits including free food and sanitary products.
Cleaning and property management company Mitie has offered about 60% of its 68,000 staff a "winter support package" comprising one-off bonuses, retail discounts and an option to borrow against future pay.
The country's new monarch, King Charles, is also lending a hand, providing a bonus payment of 600 pounds for his staff earning less than 30,000 pounds, according to media reports.
Tesco, which has hiked hourly pay by nearly 8% this year, said employees would have to pay a 1.49 pound ($1.76) fee per advance to use its scheme.
"We hope this helps to support colleagues, particularly in the run up to Christmas," Tesco's UK people director James Goodman said.
Consumer spending expert Martin Lewis said salary advances were a safer option than pay day loans, but caution was needed.
"It's very important to make a pact with yourself that if you're going to do this you'll only ever do it for real emergencies, he said on his Money Saving Expert website.
"Not new shoes, not a party you want to go to. And generally not for paying your bills."
($1 = 0.8457 pounds)
($1 = 0.8410 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey and Sarah Young, Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Elaine Hardcastle)


text:
PlayStation 4 invests in social media to win new generation of gamers
Sony's much-anticipated next-generation PlayStation 4 games console will feature an array of social functions that allow gamers to share content and interact with other users via their smartphones.
PS4: invests in social media
Sony yesterday unveiled preliminary details of the successor to the PlayStation 3 (PS3) at an event in New York’s Manhattan Center, including the news that it will go on sale in time for Christmas.
"Cloud gaming" will form a core part of Sony’s new device, allowing consumers to stream games from previous generation consoles and play them instantly. The technology that drives this has been developed by Gaikai, a company Sony bought in 2012.
The console will be significantly more powerful than the current PS3, with hyper-realistic graphics and hardware features including a controller bearing a touchpad and reflector strip to allow users to interact via motion-sensing with the console’s Eye camera.
Industry observers said these tactile elements of control have been driven by the growing popularity of touchscreen devices such as the iPad and Sony-manufactured Android-powered devices.
DuBose Cole, a strategist at Mindshare UK, said: "The social functions of the PS4, including the dedicated 'share' button for game video clips, Ustream multicasting and live 'spectator' modes all treat gaming as something to be celebrated, shared and viewed by others."
But he stressed that PS4’s new social functionality might be merely preaching to the converted.
He said: "The social functions link] directly into video elements of gaming already found in social media like YouTube.
"But it raises the question if it will increase the amount of people who frequently share gaming content. For those that would already watch a video of someone beating a game or pulling off an amazing feat, these features are incredibly useful, but the risk remains that it won't scale to foster wider sharing behaviour on the level the hardware integration anticipates."
Third-party games publishers expressed enthusiastic support for the new console, with launch games to include Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs.
But stiff competition is set to come from rival console-maker Microsoft, which itself is gearing up to unveil its Xbox 360 successor, which games industry observers expect will occur at the E3 Show in Los Angeles in June.
The PlayStation 3 went on sale in 2006 and to date has sold around 75 million units.
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Global Product Manager Evans Taylor c£50k - c£60k p.a. plus car, bonus and benefits, North East of England or Central London
- Brand Manager Radisson Blu Edwardian, London Competitive , South Kensington, London
- Account Director- Exciting Online Content Marketing Company- Up to £70,000 plus OTE Cedar Scott Up to £70,000 basic (up to £90,000 OTE) plus share options, Central London
- ACCOUNT DIRECTOR/SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR - BTL/SP/Brand Experience - London - £45 - £55k plus bonus Judi Patton £45K-55K plus bonus, London/Greater London
- Senior Planning Director, International Agency, London, to £120k Fill Recruitment Ltd to £120,000, Central London
- Head of Customer Analytics - Consultancy Harnham £90000 - £100000 per annum + benefits, London
Integrated digital marketing offers huge opportunities to engage, servic...
Mobile marketing is coming of age, and the pace of change is now exponen...
With UK consumers spending an average of £1,083 a year online, int...
Conversational Mobile Marketing: Engage Customers and Empower Advocates (Expert Reports) External website
The pressure is on for marketers and mobile operators to embrace a strat...
As a nation, the UK is media and technology obsessed with over half of t...
All customers have the potential to become your brand advocates, driving...

domain: news


text:
3DS sales reach 11.5 million in US alone, Nintendo calls system a "powerhouse"
Nintendo also announces March 14 launch date for Yoshi's New Island.
We'll begin emailing you updates about %gameName%.
Nintendo has now sold more than 11.5 million "3DS family" units in the United States alone, the company announced today. Worldwide, Nintendo has sold more than 34.98 million systems as of September 30, meaning the US market makes up about one-third of all sales. Importantly, Nintendo counts 3DS XL and the 2DS as part of the "3DS family."
Gamers also bought a record number of 3DS games in 2013, Nintendo said. The company sold over 16 million combined packaged and digital 3DS games last year in North America, an increase of 45 percent compared to 2012.
On a worldwide basis, Nintendo has sold more than 122 million 3DS games as of September 30.
"Nintendo 3DS is a powerhouse with games and experiences that appeal to all kinds of players," Nintendo of America marketing executive Scott Moffitt said.
Moffitt added that the "best days" of the 3DS are still to come in 2014 and beyond. To that end, Nintendo also announced today that Yoshi's New Island will launch March 14 in stores and through the eShop. The new Super Smash Bros. game is also coming to the 3DS sometime in 2014.
Finally, Nintendo today announced Disney Magical World, a new game that features "dozens" of Disney characters in numerous Disney-themed worlds. This game launches on the 3DS in stores and through the eShop on April 11.


text:
We are pleased to announce that we are adding NVIDIA RTX cards to our lineup of GPU instances. NVIDIA's RTX generation introduced the concept of dedicated ray tracing (RT) cores for 3D acceleration and Tensor Cores for AI processing.
NVIDIA's description of new Ray Tracing technology:
RTX-capable GPUs include dedicated ray tracing acceleration hardware, use an advanced acceleration structure and implement an entirely new GPU rendering pipeline to enable real-time ray tracing in games and other graphics applications. Ray tracing acceleration is leveraged by developers through NVIDIA OptiX, Microsoft DXR enhanced with NVIDIA ray tracing libraries, and the upcoming Vulkan ray tracing API.
NVIDIA's blurb about the RTX AI capabilities:
NVIDIA NGX features utilize Tensor Cores to maximize the efficiency of their operation, and require an RTX-capable GPU. NGX makes it easy for developers to integrate AI features into their application with pre-trained networks.
In addition to these new onboard technologies, the RTX generation includes the typical performance increase of a new GPU generation so adding RTX to our GPU lineup was a no-brainer.
As of today, we are offering the RTX 4000 chip but we have plans to offer other cards as well.
We hope you enjoy!


text:
U.S. Postal Service to Close Domestic Mail Service By January 2017
“Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has delivered our mail through rain, sleet, snow, and hail. But, the time has come to move forward,” announced the Postmaster General Patrick Donahue. “Beginning this year, the USPS will take steps to eliminate all U.S. mail routes ending service in January 2017.”
For years, USPS has suffered losses competing against UPS and Fedex in package delivery. Additionally, the increased adoption of email (since 1996) and text messages (since 2000) has led to the further decline of sending and receiving letters.
“No one gets letters from grandma anymore,” states Cliff Clavin, history buff and postal enthusiast. “Just look at the latest greeting card commercials – no one is walking out to their mailbox. Daughter are handing sappy cards to their mothers. Friends are trading cards at parties. All you get in your mailbox is pizza flyers and catalogs.”
The USPS pledged to continue International Mail Services and mail delivery for the Government including legal notices, fines and taxes, and social security checks.
USPS will continue to run P.O. Boxes for an additional five years. “We understand not every family or business has a physical address. By granting this extra time, we hope private companies will take over and continue these services.”
As word of the closure of the U.S. Postal Service spreads, most received the news with indifference.


text:
DETROIT — The Big Three is starting to look more like the Big Two, as Chrysler drifts further behind its larger hometown rivals Ford and General Motors, whose newly issued stock will be publicly traded for the first time on Thursday.
Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler’s chief executive, has been preaching patience and promising a successful turnaround from the company’s bankruptcy — just over a longer timeframe than G.M.’s.
But as investors clamor for a piece of the new G.M. and also bid up Ford’s stock price, Chrysler is increasingly being cast as the odd man out in Detroit’s automotive resurgence.
Chrysler’s sales in the United States are less than half what they were five years ago and its product lineup is still in the early stages of an overhaul.
On Wednesday, the company showed off its new Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle at the Los Angeles auto show, as well as the tiny Fiat 500 microcar that Chrysler dealers will begin soon begin selling in the United States.Continue reading the main story
But industry analysts said that the company remained in low gear and was quite a way from its own public stock offering.
“Chrysler is nowhere near ready,” said David Whiston, an equity analyst with the investment firm Morningstar. “It still needs way more car model product than it has.”
Mr. Marchionne has said that Chrysler was hurt more by the severe drop in overall auto sales in 2008 and 2009 than other automakers. While G.M. and Ford took a big hit in sales, too, Ford is back to prerecession levels, and G.M. has some of the industry’s fastest-growing brands.
“We got a bloody nose on the way into the recession and I’m not sure we got it all back on the way out,” he said last week in a conference call on third-quarter earnings. “So we need to fight harder.”
Mr. Marchionne is also the chief executive of Fiat, the Italian automaker that controls Chrysler by virtue of the 20 percent stake it received in the bailout deal negotiated last year with the United States government. With Fiat at the wheel, Chrysler is working to add new fuel-efficient cars to its lineup beginning next year. But in the interim, Chrysler’s sales are stagnant and the company continues to lose money.
Chrysler cut its losses in the third quarter to $84 million, but still owes $7.4 billion to the United States and Canadian governments for loans it received. The interest payments on the loans — $899 million so far this year — has prevented it from posting any profits.
The United States government owns 8 percent of Chrysler, whose largest stockholder is the United Automobile Workers retiree health care trust, which owns 55 percent.
Mr. Marchionne, who previously led Fiat to a comeback, has pledged a public stock offering for Chrysler in the second half of 2011, suggesting that the G.M. stock would help set the stage.
“The success our competitor in town is achieving with its own offering is an indication of the receptiveness of the capital markets,” he said.
But industry analysts said it was too soon to tell whether a Chrysler stock offering would generate anything close to the interest shown by investors in G.M.
Chrysler’s sales in the United States have rebounded some from last year’s dismal performance, when it fell below one million vehicles sold for the first time in decades. Its two biggest brands, Dodge and Jeep, have benefited from some new offerings, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But its Chrysler brand has plunged to 14th in sales among all the brands sold in the United States, behind traditionally smaller players like Volkswagen, Subaru and Mazda.
“They’re going to have to prove themselves in the marketplace, and that’s going to take a little bit of time,” said Jeff Schuster, head of auto forecasting at J. D. Power & Associates.
This year through October, Chrysler sales have risen 16 percent, to 910,000 vehicles. As recently as 2005, Chrysler sold 2.3 million vehicles in the United States. Over all, it currently ranks fifth among carmakers in the market, behind G.M., Ford, Toyota and Honda. This year, G.M. has sold 1.8 million vehicles in the United States.
Chrysler is banking on some refreshed versions of older models, like its Sebring sedan and the Town and Country minivan, to add some luster to its namesake brand. It also should get a big lift when it rolls out a new version of its Chrysler 300 full-size passenger car.
But the company continues to struggle to get traction in the revived market for pickup trucks. Sales of the Ram pickup have increased less than 2 percent this year, while pickup sales at Ford have risen 30 percent and at G.M. by 15 percent.
In the long term, industry analysts said, Chrysler’s prospects depend heavily on the new Fiat-based cars coming in the next couple of years. Fiat was able to acquire its 20 percent stake in Chrysler without expending any cash, partly because the federal government considered Fiat’s expertise in high-mileage cars a big plus for Chrysler.
Fiat also has options to increase its stake to 35 percent by fulfilling conditions laid out by the Obama administration.
Fiat hopes that Americans have forgotten the embarrassing quality problems that led to its derogatory nickname — “Fix It Again, Tony” — and to its abandonment of the United States market nearly three decades ago.
Now, Fiat is returning with 130 new dealerships connected to existing Chrysler stores. Chrysler on Wednesday announced that the dealers that would get Fiat franchises.
This year, G.M. and Ford have been piling up billions of dollars in profits, with Ford on pace to set a record, while Chrysler remains the only Detroit automaker still in the red.
“It’s a shame that Chrysler’s sort of been in the background,” said Rebecca Lindland, director of Automotive Research for North and South America at the forecasting firm IHS Global Insight. “But I also think their day will come.”Continue reading the main story


text:
Microsoft explain why Call of Duty will stay on PlayStation after Xbox exclusivity rumors
Both PlayStations fans and Sony itself have expressed concern over Call of Duty becoming Xbox and PC exclusive, but Microsoft have reiterated their claim that the games will remain on PlayStation, giving one simple reason why.
Microsoft announced their shock buyout of Activision Blizzard back in January 2022, with the deal set to close in Summer 2023. While Microsoft previously stated that there are no plans to make Call of Duty Xbox and PC-exclusive, Sony still expressed concern.
As reported by VGC, Microsoft responded to these concerns in a document sent to Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE). Here, they accused Sony of blocking games from Xbox Game Pass and reiterated that it “wouldn’t be profitable” to remove Call of Duty from PlayStation.
Microsoft acquired Bethesda back in 2021, and have already started making their games, such as Starfield, Xbox and PC exclusive. However, in this document, Microsoft insisted that Sony shouldn’t worry about Call of Duty being removed from PlayStation.
“Regardless of how unsurprising Sony‘s criticism of content exclusivity is – given that PlayStation’s entire strategy has been centered on exclusivity over the years – the reality is that the strategy of retaining Activision Blizzard’s games by not distributing them in rival console shops would simply not be profitable for Microsoft,” claimed Microsoft.
Microsoft gave several reasons why they wouldn’t remove future Call of Duty games from PlayStation, but it all boiled down to profit.
“The hypothetical adoption of any content discontinuation strategy would not be profitable for Microsoft and, even if implemented, such strategies would have no competitive impact, for the reasons described above,” concluded Microsoft.
There are also reports that there are contractual agreements that ensure the next three Call of Duty games will be on both Xbox and PlayStation. Rumors suggest that Call of Duty 2024 will be developed by Treyarch, and Activision have even teased a new premium game for 2023.
Image Credit: Activision


text:
A Berkeley bookstore has been the target of an alt-right group for the last several months, and now, store owners are saying the threats are getting violent.
The threats include one member saying they will burn down the store.
Employees from Revolution Books tell KRON4 the store’s goal is to share the truth about what’s happening in the world.
This particular group started targeting the store after Milo Yiannopolis was set to speak at UC Berkeley last year.
And as we know, that turned into a riot.
“We’re gonna burn down your bookstore, just so you know that,” one demonstrator from the alt-right group said.
On Saturday, employees at Revolution Bookstore were met by an angry group of protestors.
“They call themselves Western Chauvinists, and they’re all Trump supporters,” bookstore employee Reiko Redmonde said. “This is an outrageous threat. We’re not going to stand for it. We’re not going to be intimidated or deterred.”
Employees say this is the 10th time these extremists have gotten aggressive in front of their store. but this was the first time there was a threat of violence.
“These are threats you have to take seriously,” employee Rafael Kadaris said. “These people are targeting immigrants. They’re targeting Muslims. They’re targeting anyone that disagrees with Trump.”
“They’re about making America great again, which is about making America white again,” Redmonde said.
In the past, the alt-right group showed up with dozens of supporters.
“These pro-Trump fascist thugs have repeatedly targeted Revolution Books over the last series of months. and they’re targeting this store because we are the political and intellectual center for an actual revolution, and these people are supporters of a white supremacist president,” Kadaris said. “And we stand for everything they’re against.”
The all-volunteer bookstore takes pride in what they stand for.
Employees tell KRON4 police were called on Saturday but no arrests were made.
Store employees are now rallying the community together to stand up for what they consider another form of hate.
- VIRAL: WOMAN TELLS COUPLE ‘GO BACK TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY’
- $2 MILLION SUNNYVALE HOME BREAKS RECORD
- REPORT: SAN FRANCISCO IS HEALTHIEST CITY IN US
- CONVICTED KILLER CHARGED WITH 1986 FREMONT COLD CASE MURDERS
- TEACHER ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 8TH GRADER
- GET KRON4 NEWS ON YOUR AMAZON ALEXA DEVICE


text:
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, December 11, 2015, 2:18 PM
Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming tour sold out instantly.
Tickets for the upcoming “The River Tour 2016” went on sale officially at 10 a.m. Friday. They were gone in minutes.
As his habit, the Boss had them priced reasonably for the four area concerts.
But fans could wind up shelling out much more than the initial prices as ticket agencies and scalpers swooped in to make a killing.
Everyone knew this would happen.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent letters Tuesday to Stubhub, TicketNetwork and Vivid Seats, asking them to take down offers of hundreds of tickets until they went officially on sale Friday.
Some of these advance tickets were going for more than $ 5,000.
Springsteen and The E Street Band plan to play “The River” on this tour, celebrating the double album’s 35th anniversary.
Expect the prices to just continue rising as concert dates near.
Springsteen concerts have a history of online problems. Six years ago, New York legislators called for a federal investigation of Ticketmaster.
During the “Working on a Dream” tour, thousands of fans bought tickets for the Washington, D.C., show only to learn no such tickets existed.
Springsteen railed against the secondary sites.
In New Jersey, where Gov. Chris Christie takes The E Street Band seriously enough to fly the American flag at half-staff when Clarence Clemons died, legislation was pending to enhance consumer protection. There’s been no action on the bill for the last two years.
Springsteen often adds concerts to the established schedule, but as of Friday afternoon, there was no word whether fans would get to experience the epic four-hour “The River” tour at reasonable prices.


text:
NEW YORK, April 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hemp, a derivative of the cannabis plant, has been used for centuries due to its multi-faceted nature. Hemp, for instance, is used to manufacture textiles, paper, construction materials, and fuel. Most commonly, hemp is known for being derived from the cannabis plant, which has caused it to be classified as a drug under international regulations. However, while unlike marijuana, hemp does not cause psychoactive effects, marijuana and hemp actually offer similar therapeutic benefits. The two differ heavily in the biological makeup of their THC and CBD compounds however; Marijuana contains significantly more THC, which causes the psychoactive effects. On the other hand, hemp contains minimal traces of THC, but contains more CBD. Medical institutions are now reevaluating hemp and its derivatives in order to leverage it for medical uses as CBD can be used to treat medical conditions such as chronic pain, neurological disorders and epilepsy. Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its first CBD-derived drug in 2018, Epidiolex, which is used to treat seizures in patients associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome. The FDA's move to approve Epidiolex adds credibility to the cannabis industry, demonstrating that it can potentially become an alternative to traditional medications. According to data compiled by Hemp Business Journal, a division of New Frontier Data, the total sales for the U.S. hemp industry totaled USD 820 Million in 2017. The research suggests that the industry is expected to grow to USD 1.9 Billion by 2022, and at a CAGR of 14.4% during the 5-year period. NutraLife Biosciences, Inc. (OTC: NLBS), Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc. (OTC: LBUY), Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (OTC: LHSIF) (CSE: LHS), InMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC: IMLFF) (TSX: IN), PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC: POTN).
In 2017, hemp-derived CBD products accounted for the largest market share as the segment delivered sales of USD 190 Million, accounting for 23% of the overall market in 2017. Sales from the food, personal care, and industrial applications also contributed to a significant portion of the market share. By 2022, Hemp Business Journal forecasts that hemp-derived CBD products will continue to dominate the market, driving in USD 646 Million in sales. The rapid expansion of the CBD marketplace has led to the emergence of new CBD-based products. Consumers can now more easily find CBD products in their local pharmaceutical stores or even a convenience store. The CBD market can accelerate even further if clinical trials progress and report positive data, since the FDA requires effective, large-scale trials in order to evaluate cannabis as a form of treatment. Researchers from the University of Minnesota's (U of M) College of Biological Sciences and College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences are one of the handfuls of groups that are federally authorized to study cannabis. The researchers have argued they have "indisputable evidence" that hemp and marijuana should be separated, according to Mercola. "It's a plant of major economic importance that is very poorly understood scientifically. With this study, we have indisputable evidence for a genetic basis of differences among cannabis varieties, further challenging the position that all cannabis should be regulated as a drug," said George Weiblen, a professor with a joint appointment in the U of M's College of Biological Sciences and College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.
NutraLife Biosciences, Inc. (OTCQB: NLBS) just announced breaking news this morning that the company, "to launch a new line of Phytocannabinoid rich (PCR) water enhancing drops under its new in-house brand PCR Pure. NutraLife's new CBD water enhancers will initially be available in four flavors, strawberry, grape, coconut and watermelon. Each 2 oz. bottle will contain 15 servings and have 20 mg per serving or 300 mg per bottle of PCR hemp extract. The new water enhancers are infused with the extract and can be added to water or other beverages to help support overall health and wellness.
NutraLife's water enhancers will be manufactured at its Coconut Creek facility in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) under the direction of Edgar Ward, the Company's Chief Executive Officer. NutraLife's products are tested for potency and purity by its in-house laboratory chemists. The Company's products also undergo third-party testing to ensure they do not contain contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents.
NutraLife manufacturers and distributes thirteen different core formulations which it modifies to meet the specifications of its private label customers. The Company provides approximately 50 different variations of its core formulations. In addition to NutraLife's CBD water enhancers, NutraLife's products include CBD infused oral sprays, tinctures, pet drops, pain balms, face creams, and nutraceutical oral spray products for daily health and wellness uses.
NutraLife's CBD water enhancers are designed to provide a convenient daily dose of Phytocannabinoid rich hemp extract for on the go. NutraLife's water enhancing drops will be coming soon to online retailers as well as the Company's website at PCRPure.com.
About the Company - Nutralife Biosciences, Inc. operates a multifaceted life sciences company. For more than 6 years the Company has manufactured and distributed private label and branded nutraceutical and wellness products. The Company launched its hemp-based CBD products in 2017. Through its subsidiaries, Precision Analytic Testing, Inc., and PhytoChem Technologies, Inc., NutraLife provides bulk material analytical, identity, potency and purity testing of raw hemp, hemp cultivation, raw bulk material extraction and processing."
Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: LBUY) is a multi-platform cannabis technology company connecting consumers with dispensaries and product companies through online, loyalty, print, and in-person initiatives. Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc. recently announced that the Company officially launched leading mobile application Greenlight in Colorado and Oklahoma. The statement follows a November 8, 2018, release announcing Leafbuyer's acquisition of Greenlight. Previously a California-only order ahead and loyalty platform, Greenlight is now available to Leafbuyer dispensary customers located in Colorado and other legal cannabis markets. At time of writing, 16 Leafbuyer dispensary clients have signed up for the cutting-edge technology in Colorado and 9 additional clients in Oklahoma. Through the Greenlight app, consumers can preorder their favorite cannabis products from participating dispensaries and skip the line when they go to pay and pick them up. "Greenlight is one more way we provide industry-leading technology for our customers," said Mark Breen, Chief Operating Officer of Leafbuyer. "The Greenlight initiative in Colorado provides more value to current and potential Leafbuyer clients."
Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (OTCQX: LHSIF) (CSE: LHS) is the cannabis provider committed to providing a trusted, high quality cannabis experience based on our genuine care for all cannabis users and a focus on operational excellence from seed to sale and beyond. Liberty Health Sciences Inc. recently announced the launch of Zentient Labs, a line of premium hemp-based CBD products made from a proprietary formula of ultra-high quality CBD, nutraceuticals and vitamins that promote energy and focus for wellness seekers. Zentient Labs will include a line of products across numerous categories including propriety brands and partner brands. These categories will include an athletic line, a wellness line, beauty and premium pet products. Liberty carefully selected the brand name Zentient Labs to deliver on a promise to provide high-quality CBD products to customers who seek out creative pursuits, the deepest of relaxation and the most aggressive sports activities. The Company did extensive consumer research to define what this brand will represent. "Liberty Health Sciences is quickly becoming a leading cultivator and distributor of premium cannabis products through low-cost production techniques and high-end dispensary design and intends to apply the same techniques to the cultivation and distribution of hemp-derived products," said George Scorsis, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Health Sciences. "We currently operate two facilities in Florida with a total cultivation capacity of over 41,000 square feet.
InMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQX: IMLFF) (TSX: IN) is a biopharmaceutical company developing a proprietary biosynthesis system for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids, as well as a pipeline of cannabinoid-based medications that target diseases with high unmet medical needs. InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently provided an update on its drug development program for the treatment of Epidermolysis Bullosa ("EB"). The Company has determined that the clinical development path forward with its investigational drug candidate for the treatment of EB, previously referred to as INM-750, will be optimized by transitioning to an alternative formulation, now designated as INM-755. INM-755 is formulated based on one of the two cannabinoids that comprised INM-750. The Company remains on track to file a Clinical Trial Application with Health Canada in the second half of 2019, with the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial beginning before the end of the year. Alexandra D.J. Mancini, MSc, InMed's Senior Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, commented, "Our decision to move forward in clinical development with INM-755 is data-driven. Moreover, we believe that pursuing a single-agent formulation, rather than a combination product, will ultimately improve the probability of development and regulatory success in this complex and rare disease," Ms. Mancini continued, "INM-755 will be developed based on its potential to provide symptomatic benefit for all EB patients, and possibly improve skin integrity in a subset of EB Simplex patients through keratin up-regulation."
PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC: POTN) is a publicly-traded company that acts as a holding company for its principal subsidiaries, First Capital Venture Co., the owner of Diamond CBD, Inc., the maker of Diamond CBD products. Diamond CBD Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PotNetwork Holdings, Inc., and a leader in cutting-edge, hemp-derived CBD products for the wellness market, recently announced that it had its sights set on the booming pet industry, a market worth an estimated USD 72 Billion according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). The Company's award-winning MediPets line of pet CBD products was on showcase for three days at the influential Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida from March 20 - 22. Diamond CBD's MediPets line of hemp-derived CBD-infused oils, pet treats, and pet sprays are specially formulated to let cat and dog owners share the health benefits of CBD with their favorite furry friends. The Company's pet products have drawn rave reviews, with MediPets Dog Treats winning a 2018 Pet Business Industry Recognition Award by Pet Business Magazine. "We recognize that our consumers love their pets as much as any member of their family. That's why our MediPets team is dedicated to creating a range of CBD-infused products in different flavors and categories that will help keep pets healthy and happy," said Kevin Hagen, Chief Executive Officer of PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. "It was great to be a part of another amazing Global Pet Expo and give retailers, wholesalers, and market buyers an opportunity to get to know and experience our great brand."
Subscribe Now! Watch us report LIVE https://www.youtube.com/FinancialBuzzMedia
Follow us on Twitter for real time Financial News Updates: https://twitter.com/financialbuzz
Follow and talk to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financialbuzz
Facebook Like Us to receive live feeds: https://www.facebook.com/Financialbuzz/
FinancialBuzz.com, a leading financial news informational web portal designed to provide the latest trends in Market News, Investing News, Personal Finance, Politics, Entertainment, in-depth broadcasts on Stock News, Market Analysis and Company Interviews. A pioneer in the financially driven digital space, video production and integration of social media, FinancialBuzz.com creates 100% unique original content. FinancialBuzz.com also provides financial news PR dissemination, branding, marketing and advertising for third parties for corporate news and original content through our unique media platform that includes Newswire Delivery, Digital Advertising, Social Media Relations, Video Production, Broadcasting, and Financial Publications.


text:
Bill Gates isn't concerned about the money Microsoft's four loss-making units are losing--it's all part of the plan.
Lucky he's got those cash cows eh? I guess that the earlier news that Microsoft makes its money off basically Windows and Office alone should come as no suprise. Loss leaders such as MSN (pre v.8), Windows Messenger and all the other 'freebies' Bill give us merely serve to promote / operate on / tie into the products that they make their big bucks from. (Consider the recent launch of the corporate version of Messenger for instance.)
He told the the Financial Times at this week's Comdex Fall trade event: "Of the businesses that we are investing in, (the losses are) all very intentional. It is not like we thought we'd be making money on Xbox at this point, or on business solutions, or mobile, or MSN."
For the most recently reported quarter, Microsoft's client division (mostly made up of the Windows operating system business) made $2.48 billion on revenues of $2.89 billion and its information worker division turned in profits of $1.88 billion on $2.3 billion of sales.
Margins were not quite as meaty at the server software division but it is clear how much these established businesses--the subject of the anti-trust proceedings over the past five years--have carried the newer areas.
News source: ZDNet


text:
Brian Fetherstonhaugh, Chairman and CEO—OgilvyOne Worldwide
Once again SMX London was held at the rather grand New Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden. Unlike the typical chilly days of last November Spring was in the air and to begin the conference Brian Fetherstonhaugh of OgilvyOne took to the stage in front of a packed conference hall to deliver his keynote.
Brian began with addressing the concept that search was the holy grail of marketing. And even more so in a time of recession—the industry itself was still growing at a rate of 10-20% a year! He then told attendees that whilst OgilvyOne had worked with some top brands including American Express, Sears, Ford, Shell, Barbie, Pond’s, Dove and more. But as Brian pointed out, David Ogilvy was kind of crazy! “He was an “interesting and nutty guy”.


text:
Samsung has unveiled its another folding smartphone, a “Z Flip” handset with a lofty price tag aimed at “trendsetters.”
The smartphone flips open, like a case, opening into a 6.7-inch screen, and fits in a pocket when folded.
The ultrathin glass used for the screen can be folded and unfolded more than 200,000 times and resists scratches, according to Samsung.
The Galaxy Z Flip is officially launched Friday 14th February, 2020, at a starting price of $1,380, head of Samsung product marketing Rebecca Hirst said at a San Francisco unveiling.
“It changes everything — space, size, and the very way we use it,” Hirst said while practicing it.
“The Z Flip is a statement smartphone; it is for trendsetters and trailblazers.”
The Z Flip displays notifications such as time and phone calls, and can still be used to take photos when it’s closed.
The new device comes amid growing interest in folding handsets, and a similar “flip” Razr device recently introduced by Motorola.
Samsung launched its first foldable handset, the Galaxy Fold, in September after faulty screens forced an embarrassing delay of the release of the $2,000 device.
Folding smartphones have been introduced by Chinese makers Huawei and Royole.
Analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said Samsung was moving ahead of iPhone maker Apple, which he does not expect to develop foldable screens in a handset for at least three years.
“I think that Apple is a bit risk-averse when it comes to designs these days,” Moorhead said.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galazxy Fold To Commence Sales
Samsung also announced new collaborations with streaming television titan Netflix and Xbox video game console maker Microsoft.
“We believe this is a significant partnership that will provide millions of Samsung users around the globe the best entertainment experience,” said Netflix chief marketing officer Jackie Lee-Joe.
“Great stories come from anywhere and should be loved everywhere.”
Netflix will be providing Samsung S 20 phones to creators of some of its original shows to make content for the global streaming platform.
An Xbox car racing game, “Forza Street,” has been tailored for play on S 20 phones, according to Samsung.
“This is just the beginning of or gaming partnership with Xbox,” said head of US mobile channel marketing David Park.
Samsung also touted working closely with Google to integrate the internet giant’s technology into its new smartphones, such as tailoring YouTube content for display on the Z Flip.
“I think the partnership play was very strong today,” said Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi.
“Having Google here is a big deal. It seems they are getting closer together; there was a time when Samsung wanted to build its own ecosystem.“


text:
Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is one of the world’s top tourist destination cities. Each year approximately 22.7 million international visitors arrive in Bangkok.
How many tourists visited Bangkok in 2019?
Welcoming around 22.7 million international visitors, Bangkok ranked as the top destination for global travelers this year, according to Mastercard’s 2019 Global Destination Cities Index. The commendation is a repeat for the Thai capital, as it was named the world’s most visited city for the past four years.
How many tourists visit Thailand each year?
The number of tourists visiting Thailand increased from 35.35 million in 2017 to 38.28 million in 2018 and then 39.92 million in 2019. The increase in visitors from 2018 to 2019 was limited to 4.24 %, which actually was less than Thai authorities expected.
How many tourists visited the Thailand in 2019?
In 2019, the number of tourist arrivals amounted to almost 40 million, slightly increasing from the previous year. In that same year, foreign tourists accounted for around 33 percent of the total tourists in Thailand. Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Southeast Asia.
Why Bangkok is the most visited city in the world?
Thailand’s capital city attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the globe every year. It offers tourists a unique set of characteristics – it is the largest and most developed city in Thailand but manages to maintain its historical architecture and traditions dating back hundreds of years.
What was the most visited city in 2019?
1. Bangkok — 22.78 million. Visitors to Bangkok — the most visited city for the fourth year in a row — also spend the third most of any city on the list.
Which city is most visited by tourists?
Bangkok. Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is the most visited city in the world thanks to a whopping 22 millions international visitors!
Which country has most tourists?
Most visited destinations by international tourist arrivals
|Rank||Destination||International tourist arrivals (2019)|
|3||United States||79.3 million|
What Thailand is famous for?
what is Thailand famous for?
- Temples. Thailand is a heavily Buddhist country with more than 41,000 temples, and more being built all the time. …
- Monks. With over 41,000 Buddhist temples across the country, you can imagine there are plenty of monks around. …
- Buddhism. …
- Street Food. …
- Islands. …
- Tuk Tuks. …
- Elephant Pants. …
What country visits Thailand the most?
Tourist Arrivals In Thailand By Country
|Rank||Country or territory||Number of tourists (Jan-Mar 2017)|
Why is Thailand so popular for tourists?
Thailand is not just famous for its tropical beaches. The country is also famed for its amazing rural locations that cater extremely well for tourists despite seemingly being in the middle of nowhere. Whether you are looking for somewhere quiet to stay or a rural adventure, you can easily find accommodation and tours.
Is it safe to travel to Thailand right now?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Thailand due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country. … Reconsider travel to: Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla provinces due to civil unrest.
How much is tourism worth to Thailand?
Tourism is an economic contributor to the Kingdom of Thailand. Estimates of tourism revenue directly contributing to the GDP of 12 trillion baht range from one trillion baht (2013) 2.53 trillion baht (2016), the equivalent of 9% to 17.7% of GDP.
Is Bangkok a dirty city?
Bangkok is not a dirty city; it is just a city. The overwhelming majority of cities of comparable size have a mix of very clean areas and areas that are not so clean. The same is true for Bangkok.
Is Bangkok Dangerous?
Tips for Staying Safe in Bangkok
Thailand has some of the world’s most dangerous roads, and traffic fatalities are common. … Be extremely cautious of drugs in Bangkok, as well as drink spiking in Thailand overall. Anyone—including tourists—caught possessing or using drugs in Bangkok faces harsh punishment.
What is the most visited country in the world 2020?
Most visited destinations by international tourist arrivals 2020
|3||United States||79,6 million|


text:
The office will initially focus on business development and client services and will help the agency find work from mainland clients.
Jonathan Cummings, managing director of Start Creative Hong Kong, said: "Since opening in Hong Kong, it has been clear that there are many opportunities for us in mainland China and to explore these further we need to have a presence on the ground."
To head the new office Start Creative has hired Tori Liu, who previously worked for Creative Connexions, a consultancy specialising in promoting UK creativity in China.
The agency has already worked on a project in China, having designed a flagship Adidas store which opened last year in Beijing, working with its partner agency, environments specialist JudgeGill.
Start Creative is headquartered in the UK and also has offices in Dubai and Mumbai.
This article was first published on brandrepublic.com


text:
Nigerians on social media have expressed their displeasure over American model, Blac Chyna’s upcoming bleaching cream sales in Lagos.
The 30-year-old American influencer is billed to kick off her first Nigerian visit on November 24 with a pool party in Abuja and a pop-up sales of her latest bleaching cream collection in Lagos on November 25.
Chyna recently took to her Instagram @blacchyna to endorse the bleaching cream, which is a result of a collaboration between her and skin whitening advocate, Dencia.
The cream which goes for $250 (N91, 000) per bottle on the website of the beauty company has resulted in outrage on social media.
Nigerians took to social media to condemn the move saying, Nigeria already has an issue with bleaching.
A Twitter user, @SincerelyTops tweeted, “Blac Chyna partnering up with Africa’s bleaching king and queen to create a new face bleaching cream is beyond problematic.
“It’s really rubbing me the wrong way, ain’t no way in hell she would do that in LA. Exploiting Nigeria’s colourism problem is disgusting.”
@MsJah_ said, “Blac Chyna is going to Lagos, Nigeria to promote a bleaching cream and I am honestly disgusted.”
@MariamasTL wrote, “Couple of people telling me that bleaching cream has always been around which I fully understand, however, this will attract even more people to buy it which is the problem here despite its high price.”
@DegosTee tweeted, “The real issue here is that it’s being targeted at the Nigerian market and the fact that the villainous product will most likely sell out in Nigeria.”
NAN reports that amidst the debate, some Nigerians noted that the move provides an opportunity to address rampant bullying of dark-skinned people and the growing market for bleaching creams.
@Chocolatsteh tweeted, “Instead of making threads about Blac Chyna, what we should be focusing on is the root of the problem which is evidently colorism and white supremacy.
“Skin bleaching didn’t start yesterday and Blac Chyna is just one of MANY people, who have fallen into its trap.”
@Paulce3 said, “I’ve seen on several occasions where really dark-skinned people get shamed for being that way and black beauties getting underappreciated.
“Black models complain about the favoritism towards lighter skinned models over them all the time.”
@3Jessi5 wrote,“Blac Chyna is taking advantage of the insecurities of colorism and self-hate.
“Skin whitening cream is horrible. This should not be advertised and she is choosing Africa for a reason. Shameful.”
Comments on the posts on both Chyna’s and Whitenicious Instagram pages have been disabled.


text:
$49.19 Million in Sales Expected for Scorpio Bulkers Inc (SALT) This Quarter
Brokerages expect Scorpio Bulkers Inc (NYSE:SALT) to post $49.19 million in sales for the current quarter, according to Zacks. Six analysts have provided estimates for Scorpio Bulkers’ earnings. The highest sales estimate is $52.01 million and the lowest is $47.22 million. Scorpio Bulkers posted sales of $26.82 million in the same quarter last year, which suggests a positive year over year growth rate of 83.4%. The firm is scheduled to report its next earnings results on Monday, February 5th.
According to Zacks, analysts expect that Scorpio Bulkers will report full year sales of $49.19 million for the current year, with estimates ranging from $158.09 million to $166.84 million. For the next year, analysts anticipate that the business will report sales of $230.76 million per share, with estimates ranging from $173.00 million to $273.54 million. Zacks’ sales averages are a mean average based on a survey of analysts that cover Scorpio Bulkers.
Scorpio Bulkers (NYSE:SALT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 23rd. The shipping company reported ($0.15) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.14) by ($0.01). Scorpio Bulkers had a negative return on equity of 6.51% and a negative net margin of 57.43%. The firm had revenue of $38.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $40.04 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($0.60) EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 61.5% compared to the same quarter last year.
Scorpio Bulkers (NYSE:SALT) opened at $8.10 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.20, a quick ratio of 2.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Scorpio Bulkers has a fifty-two week low of $5.70 and a fifty-two week high of $10.14. The stock has a market cap of $692.22, a P/E ratio of -7.36 and a beta of 3.56.
Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fox Run Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in shares of Scorpio Bulkers in the 4th quarter valued at $101,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Scorpio Bulkers in the 2nd quarter valued at $138,000. Voya Investment Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Scorpio Bulkers by 27.2% in the 2nd quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 25,660 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $182,000 after acquiring an additional 5,493 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in shares of Scorpio Bulkers by 315.0% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 44,400 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $315,000 after acquiring an additional 33,700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nationwide Fund Advisors increased its stake in shares of Scorpio Bulkers by 42.9% in the 2nd quarter. Nationwide Fund Advisors now owns 45,197 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $321,000 after acquiring an additional 13,574 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 40.31% of the company’s stock.
COPYRIGHT VIOLATION NOTICE: “$49.19 Million in Sales Expected for Scorpio Bulkers Inc (SALT) This Quarter” was originally published by American Banking News and is the sole property of of American Banking News. If you are reading this story on another website, it was illegally stolen and reposted in violation of United States and international copyright law. The correct version of this story can be accessed at https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2018/01/20/49-19-million-in-sales-expected-for-scorpio-bulkers-inc-salt-this-quarter.html.
Scorpio Bulkers Company Profile
Scorpio Bulkers Inc is a shipping company. The Company owns and operates newbuilding drybulk carriers with fuel-efficient specifications and carrying capacities of greater than 30,000 deadweight tons (dwt). The Company operates through two segments: Kamsarmax and Ultramax. Its Kamsarmax segment includes vessels ranging from approximately 77,500 DWT to 98,700 DWT.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
Receive News & Ratings for Scorpio Bulkers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scorpio Bulkers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.


text:
The banking sector in India witnessed a rapid change during the demonetisation drive last year, which helped in the growth of digital banking. Several policy initiatives now seek to bring transparency in the financial sector. Technology is playing a major role here. After the demonetisation drive, cashless payments increased by 22% in October 2016 in comparison to October 2015. Mobile banking transactions grew 175%; while money transacted using mobile banking grew 369% from October to October, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data. In step with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s ‘Digital India’ drive, banks are actively encouraging their customers to opt for mobile and internet banking.
Demonetisation brought a cashless revolution
The demonetisation drive has augmented digital transactions at all levels. Thus, a neighbourhood grocery shop now accepts payment through Paytm, a mobile wallet, while people of all age groups are learning to pay their bills through net-banking and debit and credit cards.
Seema Sarkar, a woman in her mid-40s from urban Kolkata, told BE, “I am happy that my digital skills are becoming better. Earlier, it was just for the sake of learning, but now such skills have become a necessity. I can easily transfer money through wallets and cards. It is not as tough as we used to think. Banks are also becoming digital and linking Aadhaar cards with our accounts. I hope the government makes this more secure against cyber-crime and theft.”
Saraswati Mondal, who runs a grocery shop, told BE, “Initially, we were puzzled and scared with the sudden introduction of demonetisation and payments through digital modes. Now we are perfectly fine with it. Though, payment through cash is always an easy option, payment through digital wallets or debit card is not tough. We are learning gradually.”
According to Piyush Singh, Accenture’s head of financial services business in India, “Digital banking is meant to bring the millions of unbanked Indians into the financial system and to create an easy way to transfer government benefits to the people who need them most. The aim of all of these initiatives is to bring banking and financial services to hundreds of millions of people.”
According to a recent survey conducted by ET Wealth that included 10,000 respondents (all urban internet users), 40% of the respondents prefer bank websites to branches for routine transactions as against merely 10% who go to the branch for routine transactions. About 20% prefer mobile apps while 17% and 10% prefer SMS and ATMs, respectively. It was noteworthy that 60% respondents prefer digital banking. However, when it comes to special transactions such as opening an account or getting a loan, a large number still prefer to walk down to the branch- 42% prefer to go to the bank branch for a special transaction while 27% prefer the website even for special transactions.
The penetration of digital banking has gone deeper than just big cities. Even in small towns with less than five lakh population, 38% prefer to go to the website for routine transactions while only 11% go to the branch. Even mobile apps (19%) are preferred more than branches in small towns.
New payment methods
As rural India is still trying to become familiar with the concept of digital banking, the urban and semi-urban banks are providing customer services effectively and efficiently. Nonetheless, the Jan Dhan Yojana, a programme that offers basic savings accounts with small credit lines to the unbanked, the Aadhaar, a biometric-enabled authentication system, and smart phones are enabling the rural customers to initiate their banking process and operate their account.
There was hardly any change in cheque transactions and payments in 2016. Money transfers using national electronic funds transfer (NEFT)–through which money is transferred in batches, after approval from the banks sending and receiving money–and transactions over Point of Sale (PoS) terminals (debit card swipe machines) grew 16% and 35%, respectively, in 2016 (October over October), as compared to mobile, smartphone and app-based payment platforms. Non-cash payments like NEFT, IMPS, PPI, mobile banking, PoS terminals and National Automated Clearing House (NACH) rose 6%, showing that digital transactions rose faster than consumption. Cash transactions have been reducing since January 2016. The NACH is used for making bulk transactions towards distribution of subsidies, dividends, interest, salaries, pensions, and for bulk transactions towards collection of payments pertaining to telephone, electricity and water bills, loans, investments in mutual funds and insurance premiums.
Consumers used the Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, the mobile payments platform, released in August 2016, for 300,000 transactions amounting to `90 crore in November 2016. The number grew to 1.4 million transactions, worth `480 crore, till December 25, 2016. There were 7,000 transactions, amounting to `73 lakh, in November 2016 through the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), which uses mobile networks, and not the Internet, making it the least used digital payment platform by number and value of transactions. USSD transactions rose to 60,000 in December 2016, amounting to `6.6 crore until December 25, 2016.
Growth in digital payments has increased according to recent March 2017 data released by the RBI. The latest data show that there has been increase in digital transactions of 33% by volume and 59% by value since November 2016. The data illustrate a decisive move towards new mobile-based payment methods; with older forms of non-cash payment, like debit and credit cards, showing fewer uptakes. Card payments spiked 51% in December 2016 before declining in the following months, with latest data showing them up a modest 10% overall since demonetisation.
Avinash Luthria, Vice President and Business Head, Financial Processing & Licensing, Worldline, told BE, “Banking has obviously become more ‘digital’ in recent times, thanks to the thrust that demonetisation provided. Today, there are more than 825 million cards in the market and both debit and credit cards are being used for small and large ticket transactions. Electronic banking transactions through channels like ECS, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS etc. have grown by 118% year on year, clearly indicating a substantial rise in the use of digital channels by the consumer.
Banking has also become more inclusive with new, alternative payment methods like UPI enabling digital bank-to-bank transfers between consumers. Payments have expanded to include more digital methods like QR codes, AEPS, NFC on mobile and UPI. Indian banking is definitely going less-cash. The digital economy has grown to 15% compared to last year when only 2% of transactions in India were digital.”
Lack of training in digital banking
Information Technology solutions have given rise to a new world of internet, business networking and e-banking, thus paving the way for an efficient and speedy transaction, saving time and reducing cost. Mobile e-commerce and payments has seen unprecedented growth in recent years. Several analysts have estimated that by 2017, the mobile payments industry will be worth $1 trillion.
The internet has emerged as a blessing for the present pace of life but at the same time, also resulted in various threats to the consumers and other institutions. Hackers and crackers are growing and spreading at every corner of the world, intervening with various internet accounts through miscellaneous techniques like hacking the Domain Name Server (DNS), Internet Provider’s (IP) address, spoofing, phishing, internet phishing etc. and have been successful in gaining “unauthorised access” to the user’s computer system. Useful data have been seized to earn huge profits from customer’s accounts. Thus, technology has both positive and negative impacts.
In a developing country like India, the awareness about and the education of technology is not up to the mark. A large number of people in India do not understand the complexity of e-banking, are might be conned by hackers. Ramaswamy Venkatachalam, Managing Director – India and South Asia of Global banking and payment technology solutions provider Fidelity Information Services (FIS), opined, “Given the changes in the banking and payments sector in India, more people are moving towards digital modes like mobile wallets, Aadhaar Pay, Bharat QR, UPI, mobile and net banking.Though some people question the safety of these modes, the answer lies in understanding the technology and the business practices incorporated by the institutions that provide these services. Security over time has evolved and become better, making the customers financial data more protected. Yet, there are innumerable instances where the customers are trapped into the new technological innovations in the digital banking system.”
According to a recent survey, the biggest concern for a person in adopting mobile banking is security. New systems pose a new security threat. Compromised data not only leads to serious implications but also tarnishes the company’s image forever. This is an area that needs a lot of technical expertise and presents an opportunity for the banks to join hands with e-commerce companies. They will not only be using the established expertise but also gain easy customer insight that is critical for segmenting and targeting the users later. As Ramaswamy Venkatachalam elaborated, “Making the digital transaction safe has two aspects to it, one being the technology behind it and the other being financial literacy in the population using it. Just as people are careful while carrying their cash around and take protective measures, the same needs to be followed while doing any digital transaction. The other very important parameter in increasing safety in digital payments space is vigilance and detection of fraud at early levels, hence, integration of better and more sophisticated fraud management and mitigation are very important so that the responses for any kind of threat detected is already present in the system. Apart from this there are various other practices followed by some financial institutions such as storage of data at a consolidated level in secure servers, role based access to the employees and analysis of behavioural patterns of employees using the banking software, to keep the data of their consumers safe and secure. By improving both technology and financial literacy the digital banking and payments space will provide robust, convenient and frictionless services to people and there would be continuous rise in adoption of upcoming digital banking and payment services.”
For instance, in Rishra, a small town in West Bengal, only 32% of the population leverage the power of digital banking. “People lack basic education on how to do digital banking. Many times, there have been cases in which people didn’t know how to withdraw money from their ATMs and got their cards blocked. This resulted in a lot of chaos in the banks as the customers panic and create ruckus in banks. They need to be given proper training. We can’t just hand over a debit card to a 70-year-old man and ask him to withdraw money from ATMs. He has to be trained properly on how to use his card,” said a public sector bank official.
“People are often doubtful about digital monetary transactions. They do not trust this digital banking and turn up at banks for every small doubt. There have been many cases of frauds in which people have panicked and given their account numbers to other people in the fear that their accounts will be blocked. There was a case in which a woman who works as a maid received a message that her account will be blocked if she doesn’t give her account number quickly. She panicked and provided all the details of her account. `70,000 were withdrawn from her account. In one case, a young, educated man, lost more than a lakh due to internet fraud. People lose trust when they hear about such cases. The government has to make people aware of the ways in which they can benefit from digital banking. The concept of digital banking is very good but for that people need to be educated about it and the system has to be extremely secure,” added the official.


text:
In the, that didn’t take long at all department, Dimension Films announced today that a sequel to Piranha 3-D which made an estimated $10 million on its opening weekend (which ended yesterday) is in the works. With Piranha being budgeted at a reoprted $24 million, this movie will not be a runaway success by any means, which makes the news and its timing all the more surprising. This seems a potentially erroneous snap judgment on the part of Dimension, as juxtaposed to Sly Stallone’s earlier mentioning that he had a sequel in mind for the $30+ million opener The Expendables. From Dimension’s press release, via comingsoon:
After earning rave reviews from top critics, wild cheers from audiences around the country, and $10 million in its opening weekend boxoffice, Dimension Films is pleased to announce that PIRANHA 3D – THE SEQUEL is in the works.
PIRANHA 3D producer Mark Canton stated, “We are thrilled that audiences are not just loving PIRANHA 3D, but cheering for it. And it’s fantastic that so many critics are really getting the movie and recommending it. We can’t wait to get to work on the sequel.”
PIRANHA 3D opened with fantastic reviews from top critics like the ASSOCIATED PRESS and REUTERS, enjoying a very FRESH rating of 80-82% favorable reviews on the popular movie review site ROTTEN TOMATOES throughout it’s opening weekend. The movie has captured the attention of movie fans as well as elite media outlets like The Wall St. Journal, The Daily Beast and The Huffington Post. And taking Hollywood by surprise, PIRANHA 3D – via a partnership with Funny Or Die – is the subject of a much-talked about campaign to be named Best Picture of the year. Funny Or Die’s “For Your Consideration” video for PIRANHA 3D took the nation by storm last week. And, as announced over the weekend, Academy Award ® nominee and Piranha 3D heroine Elisabeth Shue will debut a brand new video in the coming days on Funny Or Die.
You can laugh and debate this news at your own peril.
Not sure if British import Kelly Brook (pictured) made it through the pic alive, but you can be sure that she is part of the reason for the clams this movie has earned thus far. Share your thoughts below if you wish, just don’t get gobbled up by any flesh eating fish.


text:
Nov 3 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
- The Republican tax proposal has clouded the outlook for electric vehicles in the United States. The congressional plan presented on Thursday, which would abolish a $7,500 federal income-tax credit for electric vehicles, arrives just as automakers are gearing up to expand their lineups. nyti.ms/2gY7rqv
- As Apple Inc reported revenue and profit increases that beat Wall Street expectations for its fiscal fourth quarter, the company said it was also seeing strong demand for the iPhone X, as well as for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models, which it unveiled in September. nyti.ms/2h04qG0
- The Trump administration will promote coal, natural gas and nuclear energy as an answer to climate change at a presentation during a United Nations global warming conference this month, the White House confirmed Thursday. nyti.ms/2gZH2IV
- Travel website TripAdvisor Inc has apologized to a Texas woman for repeatedly deleting her review of a Mexican resort that detailed how she had been raped there by a security guard. nyti.ms/2gXVdxU
- India's Paytm unveiled an updated version of its service on Friday that integrates chat features, including photo and video sharing, into its market-leading digital wallet. nyti.ms/2gYsY27 (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)


text:
Posted Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 10:00 AM PDT by Tom Landy
The eight episode miniseries is slated for high-definition in November.
Sony is working on 'The Pillars of the Earth' for a Blu-ray release on November 23.
The miniseries is based on Ken Follett's acclaimed novel and stars Ian McShane, Matthew MacFadyen, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, and Natalia Wörner.
The 3-disc Blu-ray set will feature 1080p video, likely a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include:
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $69.95.
You can find the latest specs for 'The Pillars of the Earth' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 23.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


text:
Apr 28, 2022, 11:02 ET
BETHESDA, Md., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DMI, a global digital transformation services company, has joined the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI). MOBI is a member-driven consortium focused on creating the standards and collaboration necessary to enable Web3 digital infrastructure for connected vehicles and IoT commerce.
The membership will provide DMI with the opportunity to collaborate within its alliance of the world's largest vehicle manufacturers along with startups, non-governmental organizations, transit agencies, insurers, toll road providers, smart city leaders and blockchain technology companies. Since its launch in 2018, MOBI has become the leading convener and ecosystem partner, advancing blockchain and related distributed ledger technologies in mobility.
"DMI is excited to join MOBI and have exposure to other partners and thought leaders across interconnected industries who share our vision of accelerating the adoption of blockchain technologies," said Michael Deittrick, Chief Strategy Officer. "Our team of senior advisors have been living and breathing connectivity since its infancy, and now as a member of MOBI, DMI is further enabled to help our clients, partners, and communities create interoperable, scalable solutions to pioneer the future of mobility, together."
Trusted by some of the largest automotive, manufacturing and transportation brands in the world, DMI's globally recognized team has helped pioneer connectivity in the industry for more than 20 years. DMI's offerings span the entire connected ecosystem from device to the cloud and include AI and analytics; blockchain and distributed ledger; and Smart Contract technology for industries ranging from automotive, government, healthcare, logistics, transportation and more.
"We've seen the positive impact and results these technologies have made for many of our clients, especially in the automotive sector," said Deittrick "The ability to connect and collaborate with this global consortium of leaders will help us build on our strong foundation of connected capabilities and bring additional value to our clients through this trusted ecosystem."
Joseph Bannon, Vice President Global Business Development at DMI, will be leading DMI's engagement with MOBI, including MOBI working groups and MOBI's Integrated Trust Network.
DMI is a global technology solutions company that specializes in digital strategy, design, transformation and support. Utilizing expertise in the areas of AI & Analytics, Commerce, Experience, Managed Services, Transformation, and Government, DMI delivers intelligent digital transformation solutions that meet organizations where they are. Born digital, DMI has been delivering mission-critical, enterprise grade solutions since 2002 for more than a hundred Fortune 1,000 enterprises and all fifteen U.S. Federal Departments. DMI has grown to 2,100+ employees globally and has been continually recognized by top industry analysts as well as a Top Workplace USA. www.DMInc.com
Share this article


text:
Canadian cannabis industry executives are warning that product shortages in the country could take as long as three years to alleviate. Some insiders believe that cannabis production estimates are too optimistic, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Since the sale and use of recreational marijuana were legalized in October, product shortages have led some cannabis retailers to reduce hours or limit purchases. In Alberta, regulators originally estimated that up to 250 cannabis stores could be operating in the province by the end of this year. But product shortages caused the province to place a moratorium on issuing licenses in November. As a result, Alberta has only 65 cannabis retailers, with 20 of those located in the city of Calgary.
Chuck Rifici, chief executive officer of Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. in Toronto, said that the challenges of expanding cannabis production have made it difficult to meet the demands of the newly legal recreational cannabis market.
“There’s a lot of execution risk, people are expanding by 10, 20 times,” Rifici said. “Personally, I think we’re at least three years out from hitting real equilibrium.”
“Ultimately any manufacturing facility growing 20 times is likely to face delays,” he added.
Greg Engel, CEO of Organigram Holdings believes that it


text:
The compact crossover segment is now one of the fastest growing segments with almost every automaker jumping in. The 2016 Honda HR-V is set to arrive this month and will be one of the heavy hitters that will compete with other new models, like the Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, Chevy Trax and Mazda CX-3. The HR-V borrows its platform from the small Fit, nabs the Civic's engine and comes filled with features that Honda hopes will set it apart, does it work?
Continue reading "2016 Honda HR-V [REVIEW]" »
Honda has revealed all the details about the 2016 HR-V compact SUV, which will officially go on sale on May 15. Pricing for the 2016 HR-V starts at $19,115 (plus $880 destination).
Continue reading "2016 Honda HR-V priced at $19,115 and rated at 35 mpg" »
There have been rumors about a successor to the Honda S2000 for years and now the latest rumor claims that the successor could get an electrified powertrain that feature a turbocharged engine and two electric motors.
Continue reading "Honda S2000 successor may get a turbo engine and two electric motors" »
We're still patiently awaiting the arrival of the 2016 Acura NSX, but some of the NSX's engineers recently shared some of the technical details about the NSX at the SAE Detroit Section dinner, held in conjunction with the SAE 2015 World Congress and Exhibition. Details about the NSX's construction, airflow management system and some details about its hybrid powertrain were discussed at the dinner.
Continue reading "2016 Acura NSX: Acura drops more details" »
Leaked patent drawings of the all-new 2016 Honda Civic have leaked online, giving us an early look at the production 2016 Civic. Honda gave us a preview of the new Civic Coupe earlier this month at the New York Auto Show with the Civic Coupe concept, but now we can see what the new sedan will look like as well.
Continue reading "2016 Honda Civic patent drawings preview the new Civic" »
The restyled 2016 Acura RDX is scheduled to hit dealerships tomorrow and Acura has announced the pricing, which starts at $35,270 - an increase of just $175 over the 2015 model. The 2016 RDX gets a bunch of upgrades, including a restyled exterior, a more powerful engine and new technologies.
Continue reading "2016 Acura RDX priced at $35,270" »
Honda unveiled the all-new 2016 Pilot earlier this year in Chicago, but Honda didn't release all the specific details about the third-generation Pilot. Honda has now released all the details about the 2016 Pilot, with the exception of the pricing ahead of its arrival this summer.
Continue reading "2016 Honda Pilot specs released before it arrives this summer" »
We can't say that we're too surprised, but Honda has confirmed that the Crosstour crossover is going to be discontinued at the end of 2015. The end of the Crosstour will give Honda more room to produce its higher volume SUVs, like the CR-V and 2016 Pilot.
Continue reading "Honda Crosstour hits the end of the road" »
The concept version of the all new tenth generation Honda Civic bowed today at the New York Auto Show. Highlighted by stunning neon green paint, LED lighting, and a large spoiler wing; the concept truly turns heads and proves that Honda hasn't lost it's mojo.
Continue reading "2016 Honda Civic Concept stuns the crowd in NYC" »
A few weeks ago rumors started to circle that Honda is going to bring a Civic hatchback back to the U.S. and now Honda has sorta confirmed those rumors. Honda has announced that its UK plant will be the global production hub for the next Civic five-door hatchback and that it will be exported to key global markets.
Continue reading "Honda confirms next-generation Civic hatchback will be sold in 'global markets'" »
When Honda released the Fit EV in 2012, Honda announced that only 1,100 Fit EVs would be available over the following three years. Buyers could also only lease it for three years, but now that many of those original leases are now close to done, Honda has announced that it is extending the lease option for another two years.
Continue reading "Honda extends Fit EV leases and drops price to $199 a month" »
Being big fans of hatchbacks like the Mazda3 and VW Golf, this is great news! It's being reported that Honda is finally going to offer a hatchback version of the Civic in the U.S. again. It's been 10 years since Honda offered a Civic hatchback in the states.
Continue reading "Honda Civic Hatchback to return to the U.S. in 2016" »
The Acura TLX is unique in the that it's an all new model, yet technically replaces two. By being affordable, feature filled, and versatile, it's going to offer a ton of value making your forget all about the TSX and TL before it. What it will remind you of though is... an Audi. After a week behind the wheel of the V6 AWD model with the Advance package, that's what it kept repeatedly reminding me of, and that's not a bad thing.
Continue reading "2015 Acura TLX V6 SH-AWD [REVIEW]" »
Honda recently announced plans to introduce a range of new turbocharged four-cylinder engines in the U.S. as it seeks to use the technology to meet stricter fuel economy standards. It's now being reported that the next-generation Honda Civic will get a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine as standard.
Continue reading "Next-Gen Honda Civic to get a standard turbo 1.5L" »
Although sales of the Honda CR-Z hybrid have failed to meet expectations, Honda is reportedly working on a new one. A source has revealed that an all-new CR-Z is in the works and will arrive by 2017.
Continue reading "Next-Gen Honda CR-Z to get the Civic Type-R's engine in 2017" »
Honda has just revealed the most powerful Type R model yet - the all-new Civic Type R. With a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood, the new Civic Type R packs 305 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. The new engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, but unlike the Golf R or Focus RS, the Civic Type R sends all its power to the front wheels.
Continue reading "All-new Honda Civic Type R packs 305 horsepower!" »
Acura has revealed the updates to the 2016 RLX, which goes on sale on March 3. The 2016 RLX is getting a few updates including the addition of the AcuraWatch suite of safety technologies and a revised suspension tuning to improve the RLX's ride quality.
Continue reading "2016 Acura RLX gets AcuraWatch tech and revised tuning" »
We're now just a day away from the official reveal of the much anticipated Honda Civic Type R, but Honda Poland has just given us our first look at the production model.
Continue reading "2016 Honda Civic Type R: First official photo revealed" »
Honda has released a new 55-second spot titled "Keep Up" that is meant to "echo the brand's thirst for relentless improvement by pushing themselves to new limits." But what we're most excited about is that the video provides a preview of the new Civic Type R.
Continue reading "2016 Honda Civic Type R teased again in a new spot [VIDEO]" »
It's being reported that Honda filed a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office last week to protect the name "CDX." Acura has revealed that it is looking at the idea of selling a version of the small Honda HR-V crossover, which would likely be called the CDX to align with the naming structure of the RDX and MDX crossovers.
Continue reading "Honda trademarks 'CDX' name, likely for small Acura crossover" »
In addition to unveiling the all-new 2016 Honda Pilot SUV, Honda also previewed the next-generation Ridgeline pickup at the Chicago Auto Show. This single sketch previews the design of the new Ridgeline, which looks a bit more like a traditional truck, than the original Ridgeline.
Continue reading "Next-Gen 2017 Honda Ridgeline previewed in Chicago" »
Last year the RDX had its best sales year ever and Acura is hoping to keep that momentum rolling with the debut of the updated 2016 RDX. When the 2016 RDX arrives this spring it will arrive with updated styling that aligns it closer with the rest of the updated lineup, like the ILX and MDX. It will also get a new V6 and Acura's AcuraWatch safety and driver-assistive technologies.
Continue reading "2016 Acura RDX gets more power and updated styling" »
Honda has unveiled the all-new 2016 Honda Pilot SUV, which now in its third generation, the eight passenger SUV ditches the previous boxy look. The 2016 Pilot will arrive in showrooms this summer with a body that's been stretched 3.5 inches, a new 3.5L V6 and a Honda's first 9-speed automatic transmission.
Continue reading "All-New 2016 Honda Pilot debuts with a more muscular body and 9-speed transmission" »
Acura has announced the pricing for the updated 2016 ILX, which now starts at $28,820. The 2016 ILX gets a bunch of big updates, like a standard 201-hp engine, a restyled exterior and more features.
Continue reading "2016 Acura ILX priced at $28,820" »
Honda is getting ready to reveal the new Civic Type R next month at the Geneva Motor Show, but even though the show is a few weeks away, Honda has been kind enough to release a few teasers early. The Civic Type R will look very close to the concept version, which is proven by these few photos of the production version.
Continue reading "2016 Honda Civic Type R official pics released, has 167 mph top speed" »
Acura is giving the 2016 MDX a long list of updates, which should help it hold on to its title as the best-selling three-row luxury SUV. The updated 2016 MDX gets a new 9-speed automatic transmission, a new AWD system with a twin-clutch design and the AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies.
Continue reading "2016 Acura MDX gets a 9-speed transmission, new AWD system and AcuraWatch" »
Honda has finally confirmed that it will show the production version of the much anticipated Civic Type R at the upcoming 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March. Honda says that the Civic Type R will be the "most extreme Type R ever built."
Continue reading "Honda confirms Civic Type R will debut at the Geneva Motor Show" »
Acura has announced that it has started production of the refreshed 2016 Acura ILX, which was revealed in November at the LA Auto Show. The 2016 ILX gets styling updates, a new powertrain and more equipment inside. In addition to the new ILX, Acura is also celebrating the 2 millionth North American-made Acura vehicle, 20 years after Acura production began in the U.S.
Continue reading "Acura kicks off production of the refreshed 2016 ILX" »
Acura has almost revamped its entire lineup, but only one model hasn't received the latest Acura face - the RDX. Acura has just announced that the restyled 2016 RDX SUV is going to debut next month at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.
Continue reading "Restyled 2016 Acura RDX to debut at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show" »
Just yesterday we discussed the fact that Honda is preparing an all-new 2016 Honda Pilot and now Honda has released a teaser of the new SUV ahead of its debut next month at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.
Continue reading "All-new 2016 Honda Pilot teased ahead of its debut in Chicago" »
Honda is set to introduce an all-new 2016 Honda Pilot right after the debut of the 2016 HR-V SUV this year. The 2016 HR-V is expected to launch this spring.
Continue reading "All-new 2016 Honda Pilot coming later this year" »
Tokyo has set a goal of putting 6,000 vehicles on the road by the 2020 Olympics, which will see the city spend up to $385 million on fuel cell vehicle subsidies and hydrogen stations. Tokyo plans to build 35 stations and is in negotiations with Toyota and Honda, since both automakers plan to release new fuel-cell vehicles within the next year.
Continue reading "Honda and Toyota part of Tokyo's plan to put 6,000 fuel-cell cars on the road by 2020" »
This week two supercars debuted at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show - one was expected, but another stole the show. It had been rumored that Ford was working on a new GT supercar and Ford started the Detroit Auto Show off with a bang by pulling the covers off the new GT, unfortunately the dust hadn't settled by the time that Acura pushed the start button on the 2016 NSX. For the most part it seemed that most of the media at the show was more excited about the Ford GT, but Acura may have something else up its sleeve to put the NSX on top - the NSX Type-R.
Continue reading "Acura NSX Type-R could be Acura's answer to the Ford GT" »
It was rumored and now Honda has officially confirmed it. Before the end of the year Honda will begin introducing four-cylinder turbocharged VTEC engines in the U.S. The new turbocharged engines are an extension of Honda's Earth Dreams Technology powertrain lineup.
Continue reading "Honda will introduce VTEC Turbocharged engines in the U.S. this year" »
It's been a very long three years since Acura unveiled the NSX concept and now Acura has unveiled the new NSX in production form. Luckily most of the design details from the original concept have translated into the production 2016 NSX.
Continue reading "2016 Acura NSX debuts in production form with a new twin-turbo V6" »
Acura has just announced that the next-generation 2016 NSX is going to debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show. To get the world ready for the debut of the 2016 NSX, Acura has released a few teaser photos and a 30-second teaser video that gives an early glimpse of the production car and the sound of its three-motor, twin-turbocharged Sport Hybrid powertrain.
Continue reading "2016 Acura NSX Teased Ahead of its Detroit Debut [VIDEO]" »
Yup you read that right! For years Honda has neglected its U.S. buyers, while buyers in Europe and Japan have been able to get their hands on sportier models like the Civic Type-R. Now it's being reported that Honda may have finally given the green light to a version of the Civic Type-R for the U.S. market.
Continue reading "Honda May Finally Bring the Civic Type-R to the U.S." »
Acura is giving the 2016 ILX a much-needed refresh which debuted today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The ILX is Acura's smallest model, which shares its platform with Honda Civic and thankfully the updates go a long way towards helping to differentiate the two models.
Continue reading "2016 Acura ILX Gets a Much Needed Refresh" »
The Honda CR-V is set to become the best-selling SUV for the 10th year in a row and now Honda is hoping it can duplicate that success with the introduction of the 2016 HR-V. The HR-V joins a new growing class of compact SUVs that includes new entries like the Mazda CX-3, Jeep Renegade and Chevy Trax.
Continue reading "2016 Honda HR-V Arrives Early Next Year with 138-HP" »
As expected, Toyota has officially announced the name of its upcoming 2016 fuel-cell vehicle, which will be called the Mirai. According to Toyota, Mirai, which means "future" in Japanese, represents a turning point for the automotive industry.
Continue reading "Toyota Officially Names its 2016 Fuel-Cell Vehicle the Mirai" »


text:
By Stephanie Losee, Managing Editor, Dell Global Marketing
Jeff Clarke, vice chairman and head of Dell’s PC business, walked onto the stage at the Dell Annual Analyst Conference this morning in Austin to the tune of Spamalot’s “I Am Not Dead Yet” and gave some of his top 10 reasons the PC is, in fact, “dead”:
10. Just 315 million PCs were sold last year.
9. In this room, only nine out of 10 people have a PC. The tenth person probably has three.
8. 68 percent of consumers use PCs to shop on Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday is not much to crow about.
7. PCs are used by only 100 percent of Fortune 500 companies.
6. Excel and smartphones are a match made in heaven.
5. Of the 1.2 billion ATMs around the world, just 1.2 billion of them are using a PC.
4. Nearly all consumers who own a personal computer use it at least once a day. Which is more often than they bathe.
3. Scientists, government employees, engineers, architects, and the entire film industry gave up PCs in favor of “story time.”
2. Since the “post-PC era” began in 1999, only 3.58 billion PCs have been sold. Pundits may have meant the “post-typewriter era.”
1. Mainframes and minicomputers are totally making a comeback.
Watch an excerpt of Clarke’s remarks at the conference.


text:
2018 Lamborghini Urus SUV launch triggers new corporate look
Lamborghini unveils “more approachable” look at new dealership in Bristol
Lamborghini Urus launch preparations for 2018 have stepped up with a revamp of the brand’s corporate image, with the first showroom to be overhauled in Bristol in the UK.
The new look and values – designed to convey Lamborghini as a pure, cutting edge and visionary brand – will be rolled out across all Lamborghini outlets, from its headquarters in Sant ’Agata Bolognese and the adjacent museum, the corporate website and all showrooms.
The shift is a result of a perceived need to make Lamborghini more approachable ahead of the launch of the Urus 4×4, which the firm hopes will double sales from around 3250 cars a year to more than 6500. Crucial to this will be winning more family and female buyers.
“While the Urus will retain the DNA of Lamborghini – we describe it as a super-sport SUV – it’s arrival will mean we can speak to additional customers and fans, and we want to use this new look to welcome them in,” said Federico Foschini, Lamborghini commercial director.
“We expect there will be many customers who will own supercars from other brands at the moment and want the ultimate SUV to compliment them – and in the Urus, we will have the fastest, most powerful SUV on the market.”
Highlights of the Bristol showroom revamp include a totum pole outside the dealership with an illuminated Lamborghini shield on a black background that glows at night, plus a bright, airy showroom environment with all decoration in the form of polygons or characterised by sharp lines.
“When Audi took over Lamborghini we wanted stability and a brand that had consistent values built around the premise of being Italian, uncompromising and extreme,” said Foschini. “That has been really effective, but with the arrival of the Urus we can be more open and less intimidating.
“We want people to approach the brand more. It’s an evolution not a change, and it encapsulates our former values while broadening our appeal in new ones.”


text:
Avril is planning to expand sunflower seed crush capacity in France
Posting group EBITDA of €356m (US$385m), a jump of +46% on the prior year, along with a revenue hike of 19%, at €6.9b, the company announced plans yesterday [April 14] to expand its sunflower oil and meal output. It wants to reduce reliance on Black Sea imports and will look to increase its sunflower seed crushing capacity in France.
"In the processing of more than one million tons of sunflower seeds, over 50% of the French agricultural production of sunflower would be valorized by the group."
Avril, which is France’s largest animal feed and biodiesel producer, also reaffirmed its long-term growth strategy despite the ongoing market volatility and the Black Sea conflict. “The crisis in Ukraine heightened the already high tensions on world markets. From energy to agricultural raw materials, the war is driving up costs.”
And, against such a background, the group additionally revealed that it is set to provide a once-off aid package of €6m for French livestock farmers. The funds, which will be available from July, will be directed towards newly established livestock farmers, also enabling the transfer of farms, along with modernization and sustainability of farming operations.
Gains for oilseed processing business, feed losses
The French group noted an “exceptional performance” in 2021 for its oilseed processing and renewable energies division, which includes seed crushing operations as well as the production of oilseed meal, refined oils, and biofuels. EBITDA for those operations reached €171m.
However, an EBITDA of €13m (-57%) reflected a poor performance for its agricultural division, said Avril. The division comprises its animal feed business unit, Sanders, feed additives unit, MiXscience, fertilizer specialist, Terrial, and raw material purchasing unit, Feed Alliance.
Sanders, it confirmed, was hit by the surge in raw material prices and by its inability to pass on all of the increases to farmers.
MiXscience, a producer of animal specialties for livestock feed, managed to limit losses as a result of a market push in Africa, and a solid sales performance. However, restrictions on raw material supplies, trade constraints linked to COVID-19, and unfavorable weather conditions penalized the business, in particular, its Brazilian unit, Salus.
Pork, egg operations
Terrial, though, was able to successfully adapt its commercial strategy to preserve its margins in the face of the pressure on raw materials, said Avril.
The company’s egg business, which involves the packaging and manufacture of egg products, and which is still in the process of being sold, once again sharply widened its losses. However, it said its pork business, Abera and Porcgros, which it divested in January 2022, performed well in 2021.
In January 2022, the group announced the acquisition of Solteam, one of France's leading importers of traced and guaranteed ‘deforestation-free’ non-GMO soy. “Once confirmed by the French Competition Authority, this investment will be instrumental in achieving our goal of obtaining 100% of our soy and palm oil supplies from sustainable sources by 2030.”


text:
Roll-your-own (RYO) clubs are being formed in an effort to get around a new federal law that requires retailers using the machines to meet the same regulatory requirements as major tobacco companies.
In this latest effort to sidestep the law, retailers with the machines are forming a club, charging customers $5 to join. Because the machines are technically owned by the club and not the store, customers can buy their lower-taxed loose tobacco and then rent the machine for $12.50, according to Renia Liu, who runs such a business in Clifton Park, NY. Similar clubs have popped up from Staten Island to Massachusetts. timesunion.com.


text:
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or cooking gas prices have been lowered. Non-subsidised LPG prices have been lowered by Rs. 35-36 per cylinder (14.2 kilograms), while subsidised LPG prices were decreased by up to Rs. 1.77 per cylinder across the four metros. Effective April 01, 2018, non-subsidised LPG will cost Rs. 653.5 per cylinder in Delhi, Rs. 676 per cylinder in Kolkata, Rs. 625 per cylinder in Mumbai and Rs. 663.5 per cylinder in Chennai, according to Indian Oil Corporation’s website – iocl.com. Of course. It comes as a relief to the millions of consumers across the country that are currently faced with an all-time high oil prices.
While subsidised LPG prices are lower by Rs. 35.5 per cylinder in Delhi and Kolkata compared with existing prices, they are down Rs. 36 per cylinder in Mumbai and Chennai.