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- In time for Christmas Pragmatic Play launches new Santa slot
- Game features suitably festive symbols and plenty of free spins
With Christmas just around the corner, the influx of new Santa-themed slots is hardly surprising. Earlier this week, we brought you news of Habanero’s brand new Santa’s Village slot, and now, Pragmatic Play has got in on the act too, releasing the aptly named have Santa.
The developer has also recently signed an agreement with operator William Hill, which will see the latter will offer all of Pragmatic’s slot titles to its players.
Seasonal spins in festive new Santa
With a three by five reel panel and background populated by snow-dusted pine trees, the new game combines the traditional with the not-so-traditional. Santa boasts reel symbols such as elves, red-nosed reindeer, and candy canes, as well as a unique bonus game.
Christmas tree symbols matched on the reels will activate the free spins round, and unwrapping gits from underneath the jackpot tree will take place in a unique new bonus round.
Pragmatic Play’s head of games production, Catalin Bratosin, has called Santa “an excellent addition to [their] proven portfolio of slot titles, exhibiting [their] ability in audio-visual design and crafting uniquely engaging gameplay experiences.”
“We prioritise,” Bratosin goes on, “being able to provide players with varied and charming slots, and the game’s innovative features and vibrant reels capture all the spirit of Christmas.”
More Pragmatic for players in 2018
Joining Diamond Strike, 7 Piggies, and more in Pragmatic Play’s vast and growing collection of slot titles, Santa will soon become available to users of William Hill. The developer’s has announced that it intends to launch two games per month every year too, which is a pretty decent hit rate for fans of its titles.
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copyrightThis person has recovered from FB and Google without any goods sold
According to the report, this person has falsified money from Facebook and Google. Now you call it negligence of Google or Facebook or a big mistake. These frauds have been done between 2013 and 2015, and both of these companies have purchased the goods without understanding any of the things that they have purchased.
This man from Latavia pretended to be Taiwan's hardware maker Quanta Computer and registered with the same name in Latvia. After this, it sent invitations to Google and Facebook inventory items that they had never sold.
According to the report, it was attached to the contract and letter along with fake invoice, which was the sign of officials of both the companies. In addition, he also attached fake emails, spoofed emails and sent by Google and Facebook officials.
Let Google and Facebook use the wire transfer to transfer money. Under this, both the companies did not check that these invoices are fake and there is no contract.
It does not end here. After taking crores of rupees from both the companies, the person has invested money in five countries, including Europe, Latvia, Lithoniaia, Cyprus, Slovakia and Hungry.
Later, when Google came to know about this fraud, then the company advised the authorities about it. Google said, 'We have found the fraud and have alerted the authorities immediately. We have recovered the fudged funds and we are happy that now it has been mater solved.
The man who was cheating more than 1 billion from Google and Facebook has now been found guilty under US Wire Fraud. Apart from this, there are charges for money laundering and identity theft. After this, agreed to return $ 50 million of the stolen total amount. It is reported that again on July 29 it will be presented in court, where it is expected that it can be 30 years in jail. However, it is not clear what has happened to the remaining 72 million dollars so far.

domain: news


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Publisher Deep Silver has finally unveiled Dead Island: Riptide after their little tease back in June. Much of it is still under wraps, but it looks like fans of the original game will have plenty to love here, as much like its predecessor, Riptide will take place on an island–near the location the first game was set in–and will let you bring over your character(s) from Dead Island into the spin-off. Deep Silver is adamant this is not a sequel, which could mean the mysterious Dead World trademark they filed last November could be the “real” sequel. Either way, we’re getting more Dead Island next year when the game ships for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Head past the break for more info and some screenshots.
It looks like at least two of the ideas I requested in my wish list during our Dead Days of Summer earlier this month is making its way into the game, and that’s the addition of forts, which you’ll be able to reinforce and barricade. Riptide will also feature a new weather system that can flash flood areas, adding another thing to be paranoid of while you’re wandering around looking for supplies.
What do you guys think? Is this the new Dead Island adventure you’ve been itching for or does this sound like more of the same?


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Here’s an update on story News 4 told you about last week.
Plans for a huge resort condominium to replace Club LaVela have hit a snag.
LaVela representatives say they still plan to sell the club, but they don't know when.
The club's lawyer and part owner, Patrick Pfeffer, says the April 5th closing date fell through but both sides are still working to close the deal.
It could take anywhere from six weeks to three months to finalize anything.
That’s no comfort to some unit owners who have already invested a lot of money into a resort condominium which is planned for the Club LaVela site on Thomas Drive.
In the meantime, club officials say LaVela will remain open for business as usual.


text: News Step Up 30 September 2011 Ella Alexander Picture credit: GoRunway.com SONIA RYKIEL has appointed April Crichton as its new creative director. Scottish-born Crichton played a key role in helping the company to launch its Sonia by Sonia Rykiel diffusion line back in 1998."In addition to having been the right-hand designer to Madame Sonia Rykiel, [April] has contributed to the development of the Sonia by Sonia Rykiel line," said the label's president Nathalie Rykiel in a statement today. "Today, April continues her adventure with us by directing creation for the Sonia Rykiel line."Nathalie and Sonia Rykiel haved helmed the French label since Gabrielle Greiss stepped down from her role as creative director in 2009. Crichton will take her bow with Nathalie at the end of the brand's spring/summer 2012 show tomorrow afternoon.


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LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- The 132-year-old Kentucky Derby has its first sponsor, the Louisville-based fast-food restaurant giant Yum Brands which owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
Churchill Downs Inc. said as part of a 5-year deal with Yum Brands, the race will be called the Kentucky Derby, presented by Yum Brands, a release on the derby Web site said.
"As an outstanding corporate citizen in our hometown, Yum Brands understands the importance of the Derby's history and tradition to the residents of our city and region," said Thomas H. Meeker, chief executive officer of Churchill Downs.
Yum Brands also owns Long John Silver's and A&W. "This is a highly targeted and cost-effective way for us to create awareness and interest in Yum around the globe," said Chairman David Novak.
Under the deal, Yum Brands will get six 30-second television ads during NBC's coverage of the derby on May 6 and two 30-second commercials on ESPN and ESPN2. The Yum logo will appear in several locations at Churchill Downs.


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In an effort to keep its direct messaging system up-to-date with the likes of Facebook Messenger and other chat apps, Instagram this week debuted a new feature that allows you to see when your friends were last online. In order to test the feature yourself, just open the Instagram app, tap on the Direct
NBA star Paul George loves video games, and he wanted his splashy new Nike signature shoe to reflect that. The Thunder forward has teamed up with PlayStation for an unconventional yet stylish sneaker design.
After more than a year of employee-only testing, the Amazon Go grocery store in Seattle is finally open for business. The premise is simple -- just walk in, grab what you want, and then walk out. But will it really work?
In a rather bizarre weekend tale, a San Francisco man on Friday evening passed out drunk in his Tesla Model S while trying to drive across the Bay Bridge, according to a report from SFGATE . As the story goes, the man fell asleep in bumper to bumper traffic whereupon other drivers on the road, seemingly
Are you looking for the best new music? We'll let you know what new tracks and albums are worthy of your attention. Up this week: Lin-Manuel Miranda with Nas, Mount Eerie, and more.
Most of the time, hacking means brute force attacks and exploiting user naivety. Not so with these unorthodox hacks, which expose vulnerabilities in everything from drones to 3D printers.
To get an idea of how AI researcher Mike Cook spends his time, it might be helpful to play a game. A simple computer game that’s accessible here . In designing the game, Mike - a senior research fellow at the University of Falmouth - started with a partially finished concept. It involved the player directing
Winter marks the beginning of a new side-by-side offroad desert racing season, dominated so far by the Polaris RZR factory team. Two competitive desert racing schedules open opportunities for factory teams and private entries.
Everyone loves a good trailer, but keeping up with what's new isn't easy. To simplify things, we've rounded up the best new movie trailers and teasers for your consumption, including the new trailer for 'Tomb Raider.'
Roomba brand robot vacuums are still the best in the business after all these years, but they’re also among the most expensive options out there. Not everyone wants to drop that kind of cash on a vacuum, and the good news is you don’t have to. The Pure Clean Smart Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is a terrific
The highly anticipated test firing of SpaceX's massive Falcon Heavy rocket is now planned for January 22. Should the test proceed successfully, the unmanned rocket will carry Elon Musk's red Tesla Roadster into Mars orbit.
With its awesome screen, capable camera, and midrange price point, the Honor View 10 is definitely a crowd favorite, If you recently purchased the phone, here are a few of our favorite Honor View 10 tips and tricks.
Missing product keys getting you down? We've chosen some of the best software license and product key finders in existence, so you can locate and document your precious keys on your Windows or MacOS machine.
The early part of January is typically the slowest time of the year when it comes to app releases, but things picked up in a big way this week as a ton of fresh content made its way to the App Store. Below are ten games that you're going to want to try out this week, and best of all, they're
Monumental showcases the journey of four Maine-born photographers as they explore Katahdin Woods and Waters by canoe, bike, and on foot. The goal? To encourage increased public access to Maine's outdoor resources.
Check out our roundup of the best new crowdfunding projects and product announcements that hit the Web this week. You can't buy this stuff yet, but it sure is fun to gawk!
BMW will quietly reintroduce the diesel-powered 5-Series to its lineup as the 2018 540d xDrive sedan. It joins the 328d and the X5d as the only diesel BMWs available in the United States.
NASA is hoping it won't have to rely on solar power for a manned mission to Mars. The Kilopower project is a small nuclear reactor that could be loaded onto a spacecraft and sent to the red planet.
Costing a bit more than a regular bed in a box, Sleep Number’s It Bed is a smart mattress that uses an app and sensors track your biometrics to see how you slept.
2018 is looking like it may be a big a year for foldable smart devices. LG has just unveiled two patents that give some insight into what its plans are for the next generation of smartphones.
The PUBG developers, after analyzing the data from tens of millions of online games, have identified patterns of cheating related to more than 100,000 players, who will be permanently banned from the game in a single wave.
So what could be better than an awesome discount? Free stuff, of course. Amazon may be the largest online retailer, but that doesn't mean there aren't few freebies to be had -- you just need to know where to look.
The Google Home Max is reportedly causing Wi-Fi issues for users of the certain devices. A firmware update for the router appears to have resolved the issue for most users. Google has also implemented a fix to resolve the issue for users on different devices.
Steve McQueen's granddaughter gets behind the wheel in a parking lot duel to introduce the new 475-horsepower six-speed Ford Bullitt Mustang, using the iconic car chase scene from the movie as its inspiration.


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For the first time in Formula E history, the sport has announced that a manufacturers trophy will be introduced this year, in what is a game-changer for the all-electric series.
Since Formula E’s birth, only the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships have existed, however, now the powertrain suppliers will be fighting for bragging rights.
The introduction of a manufacturers’ trophy is significant, as it will also be a chance for the powertrain suppliers to boast that they produce the best EV technology.
Despite the fact that the fourth round of Season 10 is taking place this weekend, Formula E will use the current points to introduce the new trophy at the São Paulo E-Prix.
Formula E currently has six powertrain suppliers, they are Jaguar, Porsche, Stellantis, Nissan, Mahindra and ERT. Points will be taken from the two highest-scoring cars from each manufacturer.
The winning manufacturer will receive a trophy at the end of the season, whilst a winner’s badge will be displayed on helmets, cars and apparel the following campaign.
Chance to ‘celebrate’ manufacturers
“We are thrilled to unveil the Manufacturers Trophy for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship,” said Alberto Longo, Formula E’s co-founder and CCO. “This has been a long time in the making and marks a real milestone in the evolution of the Championship as it captures the competitive spirit that fuels Formula E.
“Our manufacturers are at the heart of our journey, pushing the boundaries of technology and sustainability in motorsport. Their contributions are vital, not just in shaping the future of racing but in advancing electric vehicle technology for the road. This trophy will celebrate their innovation, their commitment, and their role in driving us towards a more sustainable future.”


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“Globalisation is evolving, not collapsing”
Economic globalisation is changing structurally as world trade grows in new directions but is not fragmenting into regionalisation of supply chains and trade flows in reaction to worldwide disruptions, economics experts and business executives declared at a DHL Express event yesterday.
However, companies are certainly thinking about adjusting their supply chains in the face of the current geo-political developments and other risks even if they are not yet taking action on a large scale.
Those were two of the key takeaways from the presentation of the new DHL Global Trade Atlas to international media, including CEP-Research, in Brussels.
As already reported, the in-depth study showed that global trade is continuing to grow despite diverse challenges while new regional growth areas, such as South and South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are emerging.
Andrew Wilson, Global Policy Director for the International Chamber of Commerce, explained that globalisation is changing with more regional trade, for example within Asia. But he stressed: “We do not get any sense that globalisation is at an end. It’s more an evolution, a renewal, not a fragmentation or a collapse.”
Asked about potential downside risks to world trade prospects, he pointed out that geo-political issues, such as a possible escalation in the Taiwan Strait, are playing a much bigger role for companies than in the recent past.
Supply chain reviews
Wilson also said companies are reviewing their supply chains, possibly to diversify them more, but he stressed that changing a supply chain is not easy, especially given that human skills are “embedded” into existing structures.
According to the ICC executive, companies are still in a ‘wait and see’ mode about whether to change their supply chains. “Timelines for supply chain shifts could be 5-6 years,” he commented.
‘China plus’ strategies
Responding to CEP-Research questions, DHL Express CEO John Pearson said DHL is not seeing a regionalisation trend at present. “We see China +1 or +2 or +3 (strategies) but it’s still Asia to Europe or to North America (trade flows),” he made clear.
On the question of supply chain changes, he added: “Changing your supply chain is slow and cumbersome. You cannot get away from the economics of the supply chains that have to be set up.”
Discussing broader economic trends, Pearson noted that global trade “has never been more in the spotlight” as its importance for the world economy and society as a whole becomes ever more apparent.
For example, he cited how DHL had distributed more than 1 billion Covid-19 vaccines “with zero spoilage” over the past two years. “Trade was the salvation and solution during the pandemic,” he summed up.
In particular, the DHL Express chief remained upbeat about the long-term potential of e-commerce, which has risen from 16% of global retail sales before the pandemic, to about 19% at present due to the pandemic-driven surge in demand.
He cited McKinsey research predicting that e-commerce will more than triple from US$300 billion in 2020 to US$1,000 by 2030. In particular, he pointed out that: “B2B e-commerce is definitely on its way now. We are seeing that.”
Presenting the Global Trade Atlas findings, the study’s author, Steven Altman, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern’s Center for the Future of Management, showed how global trade had “roared back” in 2020 from the initial Covid-19 pandemic lockdown hit, and had continued to grow last year and this year to a new record, 10% above pre-pandemic levels.
Even though international organizations had repeatedly downgraded their economic forecasts this year, they were still expecting positive trade growth in 2022, he underlined. “It’s not looking like a big retreat.”
New Asian tigers
Looking ahead to the 2021-26 period, Altman highlighted South Asia (especially India) and South-East Asia (Vietnam and the Philippines in particular) as likely to achieve fast and large-scale growth. All these three countries “have potential to benefit from efforts by many companies to diversify China-centric production and sourcing strategies”, he pointed out.
In addition, Sub-Saharan Africa could develop into another region of rapid growth.
As a result of these expected trends, China’s share of trade growth is likely to drop back after outperforming other regions in the last few years, although its total trade volumes will continue to increase, he noted.
Asked by CEP-Research which findings in the report had surprised them, Altman highlighted the rising share of emerging economies in global trade, while Wilson pointed to the weak performance of Latin America compared to other regions.
Covering 173 countries that comprise more than 99% of world trade, GDP, and population, the DHL Trade Growth Atlas examines global trade growth trends, geographic shifts, the mix of products traded, and broader changes in the business environment. It analyses trade in goods worldwide, by region, for advanced vs. emerging economies and complements the DHL Global Connectedness Index series.


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NAPLES, Fla -- If your Christmas shopping isn't done, well, you're not alone. Every year millions of Americans wait until the last minute and some major retailers are playing into that by staying open all night.
Toys R Us is one of the many stores enticing those last minute shoppers with extended hours. Stores nationwide opened Tuesday morning and have been open 24/7 all week long.
The clock is ticking, but that doesn't seem to bother the ultimate procrastinators. Jay Cullen says, "it's been a tradition for the past 40 years of my life and I stick with it."
A nationwide survey finds there are more last-minute shoppers this holiday season. As of Sunday, 9 percent of shoppers hadn't even started buying for the holidays.
Will Gardner started his shopping Friday. "I'm about an hour in," he says.
There's no denying the crowds and long lines add to an already stressful time of year, but some say there are positives to waiting until the last minute.
"It's very stressful, but at the same time, it's when you get your best deals, some clearance items, things like that. You never know, you might save some money," says Cullen.
Others say there are no positives no matter how you look at it. "I definitely don't enjoy it. I'm very stressed. The things I want to get are going to be gone," says last-minute shopper Ashley Haugen.
Amelia Bailey adds, "This is my first time doing Christmas on my own, so I never realized how stressful Christmas really was until now."
Retail experts have been tracking holiday spending on a weekly basis. After the busy Black Friday rush, sales fell into a lull. Since then, things have picked up, thanks to the most loyal procrastinators.
Cullen says, "It's just the way I've been my whole life, just last minute, get it done and move on."
If you still aren't done with your shopping, you still have time. A number of stores and mall are extending their hours to accommodate the last minute shopper.
Toys R Us stores nationwide opened their doors Tuesday morning and have been open 24/7 since. They plan on staying open again all night, closing at 10 p.m. Christmas Eve.


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Europe’s troubles affect wide variety of U.S. firms
Zachary A. GoldfarbFrom manufacturers in the Midwest to upscale retail shops in Manhattan, a wide variety of American companies are feeling the pinch of Europe’s economic contraction, helping to hold back recovery in the United States.
Ford, the iconic U.S. car company, says that Europeans are not only buying fewer cars but also replacing fewer parts. Kraft Foods, which is behind such brands as Swedish Fish and Dentyne, says sales of candy and gum in Europe are lagging. And jeweler Tiffany & Co. says fewer European tourists are shopping at its flagship Fifth Avenue store.
Pour citer cette ressource :
"Europe’s troubles affect wide variety of U.S. firms", La Clé des Langues [en ligne], Lyon, ENS de LYON/DGESCO (ISSN 2107-7029), août 2012. Consulté le 20/04/2024. URL: https://cle.ens-lyon.fr/anglais/archives/archives-revue-de-presse/europe-s-troubles-affect-wide-variety-of-u-s-firms


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Can Wheat Carry The Load?
Oct 23, 2013
Good Morning! Paul Georgy with early morning comments for October 23, 2013 at 5:00 am. Grain futures are higher on short-covering. Corn remains in a 10 cent trading range for 7 sessions. Soybeans have pushed through breakout resistance at 13.06 while wheat continues to grind higher.
Trade is expecting a good sales number from USDA when they release the weekly sales data for week ending Oct. 3, on Thursday. EIA data should be released later this morning.
Weather in South America suggests good coverage for most of Brazil over the next 10 days however Argentina remains dry during this period. The 10 to 15 day forecast for Argentina provides more moisture for the region.
The supply bears are waiting for a confirmation of big yields from USDA on the November 8th S+D report. The demand bulls are hoping for some large sales numbers on Thursday and again on Oct 31st.
We'll discuss the market impact of lowering EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard in our next monthly webinar - 10/29/13 at 8:00 PM CDT. This is a no cost event, register here.
November option expiration is on Friday and we have not received confirmation on when CFTC will release an update to the Commitment of Traders report.
The wheat supply and demand table suggests the world has a plentiful supply. However, the areas creating concern are the Black Sea region where prices have jumped nearly $100 a ton in a few weeks and in Argentina where inflation and lack of farmer selling is driving prices higher. This news is supporting prices at the CME. Technical buying is also a catalyst as nearby contracts break overhead resistance. Stay in touch with your Allendale Broker for strategies.
Cattle traders are getting hope from the stronger beef cutout values. Tuesday’s choice beef prices closed up 1.04 and select was up 1.38. The stronger beef values could give packers a reason to pay the 131 feedlots are asking this week.
Pork cutout values were down .15 as some retailers have turned to featuring pork as beef crossed the 2.00 mark again. As we move into November both beef and pork will take a back seat to turkey featuring. A close above the 89.00 level in Dec hog futures is needed to keep the uptrend going.
Call your Allendale Representative with question at 800-262-7538.
Markets as of 5:00 AM
- Dec Corn +3 3/4
- Nov Beans +6 3/4
- Dec Wheat +6 1/4
- Dec Cattle +.27
- Dec Hogs +.00
- Dec Dlr +.07
- Dec S&P -10.00
- Dec Crude -1.12
- Dec Gold -10.70
If you have any questions on any of our material, give us a call at 800-262-7538 or email us at email@example.com


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Not too long ago, Porsche’s CEO Matthias Mueller leaked word that the Zuffenhausen brand was in the works with an entry-level roadster that would slot itself below the Boxster. However, the approval and success of that project was dependent on the “economic” circumstances and climate. Now, apparently Porsche is delaying the project.
”Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche,” said Mueller in an interview. Mueller also said that there was worry that the entry-level roadster could dilute the brand’s image. But interestingly enough, the new Cajun SUV isn’t doing that already?
Either way, the idea of this entry-level roadster is comes from Porsche’s desire to produce a succssor to the iconic Porsche 550—yes, the one that killed James Dean. If anything, Mueller apparently added that the model could see a 2014 launch.
On the other side of things, because Porsche is delaying this entry-level roadster project, Mueller said that the brand is considering a new sports car slotted above the 911. He hinted with details that it could cost between 300,000 to 400,000 euros. Not much else was said. But to me, that sounds like they’re coming out with a successor to the Porsche Carrera GT. Only time will tell.
– By: Chris Chin


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An official press release stating: ‘The company has realigned its business strategy and will be closing its offices in France, Germany, Spain, Australia and Benelux.
‘Koch Media has been appointed to assist SEGA with distribution across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Spain of packaged goods, Level03 Distribution and 5 Star Games will assist with distribution across Benelux and Australia respectively which will be implemented from the 1st July 2012.
‘All other territories will continue to be run through the same channels as before, and along with Koch, Level03 and 5 Star, will be managed through the SEGA Europe Headquarters based in London.’
Jurgen Post, COO of SEGA Europe commented: ‘SEGA is entering a new and exciting phase that will position the company as a content led organisation maximising sales with strong and balanced IP such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Total War, Football Manager and the Aliens franchise. The company will benefit from a clear focus and realigned strategy for our digital business and packaged goods and we are confident that this will lead to a successful future.’


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Divining the Future: Special Report
Asia's Challenge to Europe
Published: October 14, 2013
The BaShiTong food court, a collection of small eateries on the third floor of an office building in central Chongqing, China, closed this summer just three months after it opened. Workers sued for back wages. The owner of one spot lost all his savings and barged into the office of the food court’s promoter with a propane tank, taking him hostage and threatening to blow the place up by igniting the tank.
European Pressphoto Agency
Divining the Future
Scientists, professors and others peer around the corner to offer their take at what might be coming next.
It was Chinese capitalism in action: very messy, often unfair, sometimes violent. But the BaShiTong hostage incident ended quietly. While litigation continues over the back wages, workers quickly found new jobs, sometimes less stressful ones. Zheng Feng, the athletic, 28-year-old former manager of a dumpling shop in the food court, now sells sportswear at a fashionable shop nearby.
“It is much easier — plus the air-conditioning is better here,” he said.
Almost 3,700 kilometers, or 2,300 miles, to the southwest of Chongqing lies the sprawling, overcrowded city of Mumbai, the commercial capital of India. Bharat Petroleum, a state-controlled oil company in India whose sales rank it in the top 250 multinationals, has its headquarters in a dilapidated building in the city’s oldest British colonial neighborhood. A rickety, claustrophobic elevator takes visitors up to the chairman’s elegant office, tastefully decorated with abstract paintings in vivid blues.
Raj K. Singh, the company’s chairman and managing director, smiled when asked in late August how it treated its workers. Unionized employees performing even menial jobs earned the equivalent of $560 a month until this summer, when a new labor agreement raised their pay to $800 a month. Nonunion workers in India doing the same tasks earn as little as $50 a month, he said. The company’s losses, mainly the result of fuel price regulations but also its own high costs, are heavily subsidized by Indian taxpayers.
BaShiTong and Bharat Petroleum illustrate several facets of the Chinese and Indian economies. The economies could scarcely be more different. Yet each represents a formidable challenge for Europe in the years ahead.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany repeated tirelessly during her successful re-election campaign this year that Europe has only 7 percent of the world’s population and produces 25 percent of the world’s economic output, but represents 50 percent of the world’s social spending. Sustaining those lopsided percentages requires that Europe remain at the forefront of competitiveness. Europe needs to produce quickly and efficiently a wide range of goods and services that the rest of the world is willing to work much longer and harder to buy.
That will not be easy. The problems for Europe look formidable.
China has embraced a version of the rapidly churning, sometimes Darwinian capitalism of the United States, including an almost American acceptance of large holes in the social safety net. Businesses like BaShiTong can and do fail quickly in China. But the resources are swiftly absorbed elsewhere. The country has proved uncommonly adaptable to opportunities in a wide range of markets — including Europe’s.
To be sure, China and India share two serious handicaps: chronic corruption and pollution. Both problems are particularly troublesome for their people and their economies. Project delays and substandard quality associated with corruption, and eventual cleanup costs associated with pollution, affect their competitiveness. But they do not offset the impressive gains that both countries, especially China, have made in recent years, and continue to make.
China has quadrupled its output of graduates in the past decade, built national networks of bullet trains and modern highways, and acquired the latest foreign inventions through joint ventures and technology transfer agreements. In the years to come, said Mary Gallagher, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan, “It’ll have a labor force more like Europe’s, it’ll have an infrastructure more like Europe’s, it’ll have levels of foreign investment that will make it more competitive.”
A quadrupling of blue-collar wages in the past decade has made China increasingly uncompetitive in areas like garment manufacturing and shoemaking, which are shifting to poorer countries in Asia. But the result has been an accelerated shift by Chinese industry into higher-value sectors vital to Europe. Partly as a result, China’s appetite for European exports is faltering, even as Chinese exports to Europe keep rising.


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Mobile phone titan Nokia is going through a number of changes, thanks to the recent buyout by Microsoft, however a new patent has taken everyone by surprise.
The filing, spotted by Nokia Power User, suggests that the firm could be joining Samsung and LG by releasing its own flexible handset. The patent gives detail about a "swiss roll" battery that could fold and wrap around itself.
Although the patent doesn't give much detail about how the idea would work, annotations note "the flexible battery ten may be used in a multi-function portable electronic device".
It is similar to a design that Nokia patented last year (2013) but the new one is more flexible, perhaps suggesting that the firm has worked and improved on its previous idea and isn't wanting to limit its possibilities.
The patent reads: "Various embodiments of the invention could be used in any suitable type of portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a gaming device, a music player, a notebook computer, or a personal digital assistant, for example."
Posted by Samantha Green


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We’re hitting peak leak season with the OnePlus 7 Pro, and next up is the official retail packaging which also gives us a glimpse at some yet-to-be-announced accessories in the form of OnePlus Wireless Bullet 2 and a Warp Charge 30 in-car charger.
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Stories April 30, 2019
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Stories July 10, 2018
The OnePlus 6 is easily one of our favorite Android smartphones so far this year, and it got a bit better last week with the reveal that it was going to arrive in Red. Now, that new colorway is available.
OnePlus Bullets Wireless Stories May 16, 2018
As teased at the beginning of the OnePlus 6 announcement, Carl Pei and co. today announced another product to compliment its flagship smartphone. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless build off the company’s previous wired headphones in terms of design, but are finally wireless.


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The anticipation for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is officially at an all-time high after CoverGirl announced their exclusive beauty partnership with the Lionsgate movie last week. This is the makeup brand's first-ever major movie sponsors...read more >>
Every year, the Cosmetic Executive Women (aka CEW) celebrate the year's hottest beauty products at the CEW Beauty Insiders' Choice Awards. It's the only rewards program that is determined by the beauty industry professionals who make up CEW...read more >>
What is it about a burning candle? Anything it diffuses smells warm and tranquil. I look forward to late-afternoon lulls when I take a breather to light up a bougie.
This one caught my eye, because it was created in collaboration with John De...read more >>
Leave it to the Cannes Film Festival to bring us so many beauty inspirations in one week! It seems like all the blonde A-listers are into a red lip this year. Carey Mulligan rocked it for The Great Gatsby premiere, and Georgia May Jagger also steppe...read more >>
We've been huge fans of BITE Beauty, the all-natural and edible line of amazing lip colors, since they first hit Sephora stores in 2011. The brand is known for using food-grade ingredients that are literally good enough to eat. You know, since we&...read more >>
Instagram gives us a daily dose of visual inspiration from our favorite brands, models, and industry friends. Every week, we'll be highlighting the favorites of our feed. Click through the slideshow to see who made the cut this week.read more >>


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There’s no doubt about it, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a devastating disease, and prevalence in this country and around the world is too high. However, did you know that dairy foods may help reduce the risk of T2D?
“You only have to spend five minutes talking to someone who has lost their sight or has lost a leg as a result of Type 2 diabetes to realize the devastating impact the condition can have,” said Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK. “As a country, we are sleepwalking towards a public health disaster of an almost unimaginable scale.”
In the U.S., one in three people have prediabetes and 90 percent are unaware of their risk –and may be “sleepwalking” toward their own health disaster. According to the CDC, if people with prediabetes make no lifestyle changes, progression to full-blown T2D could occur within five years.
The good news is there are things people can do to avoid or delay the onset of T2D – and you can help people make those changes. Studies have shown that weight loss, increased physical activity, and eating plans characterized by fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy foods (Elwood, 2007; Hirahatake, 2014) and a low glycemic load are associated with lower T2D risk. In contrast, meal plans that include high amounts of refined grains, processed meats, and added sugars, including sugar-sweetened beverages, are associated with increased risk of T2D.
However, we know very little about how eating more dairy foods affects insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β-cell function – factors that influence the progression toward T2D.
A six-week randomized crossover trial recently examined this relationship in 33 adults at risk for T2D who routinely consumed sugar-sweetened beverages. When participants ate three servings of dairy foods (2 percent milk and unsweetened low-fat yogurt) compared to three servings of sugar-sweetened beverages and food (non-dairy pudding) in their every-day meal plans, they were better able to maintain glucose control according to some measures. Although more evidence is needed, these results could potentially indicate that the simple substitution of dairy foods for sugar-sweetened foods and beverages may help slow the progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes.
Even as we await further research to clarify these relationships, you can help raise awareness about diabetes risk now. You can also help people make better nutritional choices, such as eating the recommended three servings of nutrient-rich dairy foods per day for Americans ages 9 years and older.
While your clients learn important Facts About Type 2 diabetes from the American Diabetes Association, you can read more about the growing body of science showing that dairy food consumption is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.


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At No1 Currency we are committed to equality in the workplace for all employees, and are passionate about ensuring talent within the organisation reaches its full potential. In 2018, as part of a broader Government initiative we have published our gender pay gap results for the first time. (more…)
The fast-growing foreign exchange specialist No1 Currency has acquired London firm CAC and six of its branches to become the largest dedicated foreign exchange provider on the UK high street.
The latest transaction crowns a year of rapid expansion and strong turnover growth for No1 Currency. The high street brand, which is owned by the Irish multinational financial services company FEXCO, has grown its UK network by over 40 branches in 2016 alone. (more…)
Virgin Holidays, one of the UK’s most popular tour and travel operators, has today announced a partnership with travel money specialists No.1 Currency.
The collaboration sees No.1 Currency, one of the country’s fastest growing foreign exchange retailers, selected as official travel money partner for Virgin Holidays.
No.1 Currency, which handles one in 50 of all travel money purchases in the UK was selected by Virgin Holidays due to their competitive rates, excellent customer service and extensive national store network. (more…)
Travel money specialist No.1 Currency has recorded a 70% surge in business compared to this time last year as holidaymakers in the UK clamour to buy their foreign currency in the final hours before the result in Britain’s EU referendum.
No.1 Currency recorded its busiest day of the year yesterday, with customers queuing outside its network of 102 high street stores.
The surge in demand for foreign currency also saw No.1 Currency record its busiest ever day for online sales, and a 300% increase in orders for home delivery of currency. (more…)
They say money can’t buy you love. But it can buy you a romantic getaway, and if you’re planning to propose to your beloved on a last-minute Valentine’s Day break, new research by the travel money specialists No1 Currency reveals the best value romantic destinations to do so.
If you’ve been inspired by the BBC’s sumptuously romantic TV adaptation of War & Peace, the icy delights of St Petersburg offer the best value. The weak Rouble means return flights for two people and three nights in a four-star hotel in Russia’s most romantic city now cost just £521.70. If you opt to pop the question at the Winter Palace, former home of the Czars, two tickets cost barely a fiver. Here’s hoping your proposal ends better than it did for the Romanovs. (more…)
It could be a good year for the British tourist, with the Pound currently stronger against more than two thirds (68%) of currencies of the most popular holiday destinations, according to research by travel money specialist No.1 Currency. And, South America offers the best value, with Argentina (55.3%), Brazil (47.1%) and Colombia, the top three destinations where Sterling has strengthened most over the past 12 months.
No.1 Currency has looked at how the Pound has performed against currencies in 50 of the most popular holiday destinations over the past 12 months; to provide a comprehensive guide as to where could be hot or not in 2016 in terms of best value. (more…)
Using the new service is simple; customers can order their currency for Home Delivery by visiting www.no1currency.com/travel-money-delivered/ and completing the short order form. Currency orders are paid for securely online using a credit or debit card.
Up to four currencies can be purchased in a single Home Delivery order with a maximum value of £2,500 and minimum order value of £400. Orders placed before noon for Euro or US Dollar will be processed and dispatched for next working day delivery. (more…)
Best value resorts to ski – Brits heading to Europe this winter will enjoy an extra boost from a strong pound
Britons who want to hit the slopes without breaking the bank this winter should stick to Europe rather than the big name ski resorts of the USA and Canada, according to new research by the travel money specialists No.1 Currency.
No.1 Currency compared the cost of a basket of ski essentials in some of the world’s best-known ski resorts. The basket included; six days of ski and boot hire, a six-day lift pass, ski lessons for six days, as well as the cost of a coffee, a bottle of beer, a bottle of wine and a quick lunch for two on the slopes. (more…)
From 15 stores to 50 in three years – Westfield opening marks milestone for fast-growing foreign exchange retailer No1 Currency
One of the UK’s fastest growing foreign exchange retailers, No1 Currency, has crowned a period of rapid expansion by opening its 50th store in the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford.
When the No1 Currency brand was purchased by its Irish parent company Fexco in 2012, it had 15 stores. In just three years it has added a further 35 locations to its portfolio. It now employs more than 200 people and expects to hire another 50 as it opens further stores across the UK.
No1 Currency now handles one in 50 of all travel money purchases in the UK and this year will see sales of foreign currency exceed £0.5billion encompassing over two million transactions since its acquisition by Fexco. (more…)
One of the UK’s leading travel money retailers No1 Currency has opened a new foreign exchange store creating three new jobs at Crompton Place shopping centre in Bolton.
Shoppers getting ready for their summer holidays now have a choice of over 50 different foreign currencies at the store, which will serve not just the 279,000 residents in the town, but also the thriving local business community.


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Shinsei Bank, Japan’s largest bank, has launched a new initiative that rewards its customers through cryptocurrency transactions when they open an account.
- 1 Shinsei Bank will reward its customers with these 2 cryptocurrencies
- 2 Attracting new customers through crypto is becoming increasingly common
- 3 Ripple plans to buy bankrupt crypto lending platform Celsuis
- 4 Share this:
Shinsei Bank will reward its customers with these 2 cryptocurrencies
In its August 10 newsletter, Shinsei announced the cryptocurrency rewards in collaboration with SBI VC Trade. This mechanism is an incentive system that attracts new customers to the bank. Shinsei Bank stated that they chose to give out the rewards in Ripple (XRP) and Bitcoin (BTC).
— 新生銀行 (@shinseibank_jp) August 10, 2022
Customers will have from August 10 to October 31, 2022, to earn 8,000 Japanese Yen ($60) in XRP or Bitcoin. According to the concept, existing customers will receive crypto exchange coupons as rewards, while new users will receive rewards for the account they create. Customers selected to redeem coupons need an SBI VC account.
The bank announced a “$60 Bitcoin bounty campaign” for all new customers who complete the required transactions.
Attracting new customers through crypto is becoming increasingly common
The bank is using cryptocurrencies for the first time for its years-long program. The inclusion of cryptocurrencies in the incentive mechanism is becoming a common method to attract more customers given the growing popularity. However, Ripple is gaining popularity in Japan and Asia as its technology gains acceptance in cross-border payments. Meanwhile, although its legal battle with the SEC continues, Shinsei Bank specifically chose XRP. The majority of Shinsei Bank customers also stated that they want to invest in cryptocurrencies through the bank.
With these, Ripple has built a solid reputation in Asia and Japan for cross-border payments using its technology. For example, as part of its expansion in Asia, Ripple announced its partnership with SBI Holdings. Additionally, the inclusion of XRP in the rewards program coincides with Ripple’s announcement that additional financial institutions will integrate the cryptocurrency into their services. According to Ripple, more than 76% of global financial institutions plan to use cryptocurrencies in the next three years.
Ripple plans to buy bankrupt crypto lending platform Celsuis
AmkNews.com As we reported, Ripple officials recently reported that they are interested in acquiring Celsuis. Celsius froze its users’ assets in June due to “extreme market conditions”. Other crypto companies followed, such as Voyager and CoinFLEX. Celsius then hastily paid off its outstanding debts on various DeFi loans. He also got his collateral back and filed for bankruptcy a month later. It is not clear at this time whether Ripple plans to completely acquire Celsius.
Disclaimer: The articles and articles on AmkNews do not constitute investment advice. AmkNews.com does not recommend buying or selling any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is AmkNews an investment advisor. Therefore, AmkNews and the authors of the articles on the site cannot be held responsible for your investment decisions. Readers should do their own research before taking any action regarding the company, assets or services in this article.
Warning: Citing the news content of AmkNews and quoting by giving a link is subject to the permission of AmkNews. No content on the site can be copied, reproduced or published on any platform without permission. Legal action will be taken against those who use the code, design, text, graphics and all other content of AmkNews in violation of intellectual property law and relevant legislation.


text: The Chinese internet regulator has introduced new rules governing how search engines must operate in the country. The new rules state that search engines must provide “objective, fair and authoritative results”, and that these organic results must not harm the interests of the public, legal organisations or the Chinese nation. The rules also state that search engines must limit the number of ads that appear in the search engine results pages, and that these ads must be clearly labelled so that users can differentiate them from organic results. The rules have been introduced due to persistent complaints of confusion between paid and organic results in China, as well as in response to a recent investigation into the main search engine Baidu, after the death of a user who found misleading medical information via the site. The rules will apply to all search engines operating in China. The main Chinese search engines are Baidu, Haosou and Sogou.


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You’ve most likely heard about the smartphone app that beautifies your pictures better and faster than the having it Photoshopped. But to have this applied to cars is somewhat similar too, and we can see it happening to the 2017 Honda Ridgeline very soon. Honda appears to be introducing a number of accessories for its latest truck and they’re sure to be showstoppers.
These were the said accessories that could come with the Ridgeline: black roof rails, cross bars, running boards, fender flares, a skid plate, a hard tonneau cover, special 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and a towing kit. And though some of the items are expected, others are just plain unnecessary and we’re about to see some eyebrows being raised in the event this occurs.
If you had thought that these accessories were being offered by Honda in the past, you’re totally wrong. That’s because apparently, Honda’s seeming testing the waters with their Ridgeline this time around, and we’re kinda pitying the truck for having to be accessorized with absolutely no necessity. Sure, it’s still going to look boring and bland, but we don’t think the accessories are going to take it up a few notches.
What do you think about Honda’s idea of accessorizing its pickup truck?


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Khatija Haque - Head of Research & Chief Economist
Published Date: 09 July 2018
The headline Dubai Economy Tracker Index (DET) eased to 56.0 in June from 57.6 in May. Both output and new orders increased at a sharp rate last month, indicating strong demand, which was evident across the three key sector surveys last month. However, the rate of increase was slightly softer than in May. The average DET reading for H1 2018 was 55.8, lower than the reading for H1 2017 and indicating a slightly slower rate of expansion so far this year.
Employment in June was broadly unchanged (50.2), despite the strong growth in output and new work over the last two months. Input costs inflation eased in June, but looking at the first half of the year in total, producer inflation was higher than in H1 2017, with most of the increase likely due to VAT. These higher costs have not been fully passed through to consumers. In June, selling prices were marginally lower on average, and this was the trend over H1 2018 as well.
Businesses remained highly optimistic about their future order growth in June, with the business optimism index rising to 86.1 in June, the highest reading on record. Firms cited “solid business conditions”, marketing initiatives and a “strong pipeline of new work” as reasons for optimism.
The sector surveys showed a marked improvement in business conditions in the construction sector in June, while momentum in the travel & tourism sector slowed. Activity in the wholesale & retail trade remained strong on sharp price discounting.
Source: IHS Markit, Emirates NBD Research
The construction sector index rose to 57.1 in June from 54.6 in June, reflecting stronger growth in output and new work last month. Employment in the sector increased as well at a similar rate to May. Input costs were broadly unchanged from May, providing some relief for businesses. Although there was still marginal discounting in terms of selling prices last month, it was less pronounced than in May. Business optimism in the construction sector also rose to a record high of 89.1 in June, underpinned by the strong pipeline of work.
The headline index for the sector rose slightly to 58.6 in June, the highest reading since October 2017, signalling a strong rate of expansion. The growth in output and new work accelerated from already high levels in June, although this was partly due to further price discounting. The selling price index remains well below the neutral 50.0 level for the second month in a row, despite higher input costs. Employment in the sector was only marginally higher last month, despite the strong rise in output and new work.
The travel & tourism sector index declined to 54.9 in June, the lowest reading since December 2017. While output and new work did rise sharply last month, the headline index was weighed down by a decline in employment in the sector. The employment index fell to 48.8, signalling the most job losses in this sector since records began in March 2015.
While selling prices were unchanged last month on average, input costs continued to rise, squeezing margins further. Nevertheless, firms were highly optimistic about their output in 12 months’ time, with the future output index rising to a record high, consistent with the whole Dubai survey.
Dubai PMI rose in February
UAE and Saudi PMIs slip in February
Dubai PMI signals slower start to 2021


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Condé Nast's Portfolio is an example of a "great notion," said Jon Fine in BusinessWeek, that didn't look so hot "when exposed to the harsh light of day." The ambitious—and expensive—startup business magazine was shut down on Monday. Readers were never really looking for a magazine like Portfolio. When the recession hit and consumers started shutting their wallets, the magazine's high-end advertisers decided they didn't need it, either.
Don't blame advertisers, said Paul Boutin in The Industry Standard. Portfolio had the right stuff to please readers and ad clients alike—its online Blogonomics posts, for example, were "sharp and sharp-tongued." But magazines are entertainment. "Like a movie, an album, or a novel, sometimes a work that has every reason to be a hit just doesn't catch fire."
"Portolio, a good magazine, shouldn't be viewed as a cautionary tale," said Jon Friedman in Marketwatch. "It was a victim of hype at the outset and the recession in the end." But the bottom line is that the business model of financial magazines doesn't work any more in the digital age—so Portfolio won't be the only one to go out of business.
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Reader Poll: Too Much Inve$ting in Tech Companies
Last week’s reader poll question was based on a comment from Maxifier CEO Jonathon Shaevitz during a video interview with Adotas at ad:tech NY 2012: “Is there an overfunding of tech companies?” The results are as follows:
- Yes: 60 percent.
- No: 40 percent.
This week’s question: Has Big Data’s rise to prominence come at the expense of creative?
We’ll publish the results next week.
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Leave a Comment
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- Falcon Social, DataSift Partnership Gives Customers Access to Aggregated & Anonymized Facebook Topic Data
- XAPPmedia: Internet Radio Ad Load Q2 2015 Report


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GM Goes Profit, Raises Full-Year Outlook
Aug. 4 (Reuters) – General Motors Co (GM.N) posted second-quarter profit on Wednesday after losing last year when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down, and raised its forecast for the year despite an $ 800 million hit from the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle recall.
Net income was $ 2.8 billion, or $ 1.90 per share, compared with a loss of $ 806 million the year before, or 56 cents per share.
GM said adjusted earnings before interest and taxes were a record $ 4.1 billion and $ 8.5 billion in the first half. He raised the adjusted forecast for full-year EBIT to $ 11.5 billion to $ 13.5 billion, from $ 10 billion to $ 11 billion previously.
The company expects to lose production of about 100,000 vehicles in North America in the second half of the year and expects commodity costs to increase from $ 1.5 billion to $ 2.0 billion.
“The semiconductor shortage remains fluid and supply chain challenges continue” into the second half of the year, GM said in its results.
Detroit’s largest automaker has benefited from strong demand and the high prices it was able to charge for its popular trucks and SUVs, which offset costs associated with Bolt recalls and production disruptions caused by semiconductor shortages.
Managing Director Mary Barra, in an earnings call Wednesday, said GM’s US stocks were “pretty thin”, with a 25-day supply. “I anticipate it will be pretty tight for the rest of the year and will continue until the next one.”
Like its rivals, GM faces uncertainty due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. GM, Ford Motor Co (FN) and Stellantis NV (STLA.MI), as well as United Auto Workers, on Tuesday reinstated the compulsory wearing of masks in their American factories and called on workers to be vaccinated. Read more
GM’s inventory of unsold vehicles as of June 30 was half its levels a year ago. It said it has $ 1.4 billion in inventory of vehicles built without certain electronic modules due to the lack of semiconductors.
GM said its more optimistic outlook for the full year depended on no vehicles stuck in inventory due to a lack of semiconductors.
The company reiterated its plan to introduce more than 30 electric vehicles by 2025, including two new electric vehicles for commercial customers and small businesses.
GM said its previously announced investment of $ 35 billion between 2020 and 2025 is primarily aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity for electric vehicles and batteries. The company said it would increase production capacity for electric vehicles by converting existing combustion engine vehicle assembly plants.
Reporting by Paul Lienert and Ben Klayman in Detroit, editing by Louise Heavens and Nick Zieminski
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Last year emerged as a record-breaking one for electric vehicle sales in the U.S., defying the prevalent narrative of dwindling EV demand. Automakers sold over one million pure-electric models in 2023, a nearly 50% increase compared to the year before. Sure, Tesla grabbed the lion's share of this pie, but it's worth noting that every car company that sells EVs in the U.S. also had a standout year of EV and PHEV sales.
However, the EV sales records coincide with something else—U.S. car dealers have orchestrated a staunch rebellion against EVs. After writing a letter to President Biden in November 2023, urging him to “tap the brakes” on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new emissions proposal, dealers last week wrote a second letter to Biden.
This time, the request was not to tap the brakes but to slam them.
Get Fully Charged
Car dealers request President Biden to pause EPA mandate again
The Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. government's agency that establishes national pollution control standards, wants to increase the share of EV sales substantially by 2032. But car dealers have opposed this plan, citing low consumer demand among several other roadblocks.
The dealers—after getting no apparent response from the Biden Administration to their first letter—say in their second letter that “[i]t is uncontestable that the combination of fewer tax incentives, a woefully inadequate charging infrastructure, and insufficient consumer demand makes the proposed EV mandate completely unrealistic.”
The EPA is expected to finalize an ambitious and aggressive plan this year to slash emissions. Outlined over 262 pages, it has stated how the new regulations will remove millions of metric tons of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, diesel exhaust, and air toxics by imposing restrictions on the sales of gasoline- and diesel-powered light- and heavy-duty vehicles.
The EPA is proposing to achieve this by increasing the share of light-duty EV sales to 67%, and commercial EV sales to 25% by 2032. Thousands of dealers across the country detest this plan. Some of their concerns are undoubtedly valid, like the fact that only 19 models qualify for the federal tax credits this year, compared to 43 last year, leaving customers with far fewer options.
This is because the U.S. Department of Treasury has revised its guidance surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act, encouraging automakers to establish a localized EV supply chain. This is aimed at further reducing reliance on China for critical components like batteries, leaving dozens of models ineligible with their current components and supply chains.
However, that's changing quickly. Several models are expected to regain their eligibility for tax credits in the coming months—the Volkswagen ID.4 recently qualified, and General Motors is optimistic that the Lyriq and Blazer EV will qualify as well. While the concerns around fewer tax incentives and inadequate charging infrastructure are true, the claim about insufficient consumer demand looks shaky.
In 2023, U.S. automakers rolled out EVs off their assembly lines at a record pace. The total sales of rechargeable models—including BEVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell vehicles—amounted to 1.4 million. Of this pie, 1.1 million were fully electric models. Mercedes-Benz saw its U.S. EV sales rise by a record 139%. Volkswagen Group’s EV sales surged by 61%. Ford delivered over 72,000 EVs, a new record. Most other OEMs, including Volvo, Nissan, and the Hyundai Motor Group, saw their BEV sales soar.
So why are the dealers pushing back against EVs? Inadequate charging infrastructure is one persistent issue. There’s also the fact that 43% of dealer profits emerge from parts, labor, and service, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2019—EVs have fewer components and require far less maintenance.
That’s not the only reason they can represent a threat to dealer balance sheets. A skewed supply-demand ratio has increased the time EVs spend on dealer lots. By the end of November 2023, EV inventory levels reached a new high with 114 days of supply, Cox Automotive’s data showed. This is more than double the 53-day supply from the same period in November 2022. (Data excludes Tesla and Rivian due to their direct-to-consumer sales model.)
This is one of the reasons that prompted Ford to cut its production targets for the F-150 Lightning, while GM delayed its ambition of producing 400,000 EVs in North America in 2024—delaying the production of several models in the process.
But the dealers also bear some responsibility. There’s ample evidence that sales reps at car dealerships have blatantly lied about EVs, and coerced buyers to purchase gas cars. Some experts agree. They aren’t convinced that dealers are investing enough in educating their staff (and the customers) regarding EVs.
When I asked Loren McDonald, the CEO of EV consulting and marketing analysis agency EVAdoption, if dealers were simply bad at selling EVs, he said, “Yes and no. We’ve all heard the stories of clueless dealer sales reps when it comes to EVs.”
McDonald ran into a poorly informed sales rep at a Mercedes-Benz dealership a year ago. “He didn’t know if the EQB we were test driving had regenerative braking. He had to get a service technician to come out and try to figure it out—and he didn’t know how to turn it on. I finally figured it out myself,” McDonald told InsideEVs.
EVs, in a way, are a whole new language that needs learning, but dealers don’t seem to understand that. “Fundamentally, dealers and legacy automakers have yet to understand that they are selling a different product, one that is fueled by electricity and not gas,” McDonald said. “People are completely unfamiliar with the charging process, terminology, best practices, where to charge, how to charge, etc,” he added.
Over at the Sierra Club, a Washington D.C.-based environmental organization, a spokesperson used much harsher words to describe the dealers’ attempts to thwart the EPA’s efforts.
“Auto dealers are once again trying to block major progress on cleaner cars. For years, the Sierra Club has called out dealers (and automakers themselves) for failing to keep up with consumer demand for EVs,” Katherine Garcia, Sierra Club’s director of Clean Transportation For All told InsideEVs.
“The dealers have had years to prepare for the EV transition, but they’ve dragged their feet along the way,” Garcia added.
She thought this was unfair to Americans, especially those impacted by air pollution. “The dealers’ lobbying to weaken the EPA’s vehicle standards is an affront to American families. These important safeguards will protect families from car pollution, save drivers at the pump, and clean up climate emissions,” Garcia said. The negative impact of gas emissions on the environment has been broadly documented and proven.
McDonald suggested automakers might be behind dealers' woes due to some “strategic blunders,” like “bringing out BEV pickups for a segment that doesn’t see BEV pickups as meeting their needs of towing and range, versus large and mid-sized SUVs,” he said.
While electric pickups might not offer as much range, they still have a lot of demand—GM CEO Mary Barra recently said GM has 100,000 orders for its electric pickups, which includes the Silverado EV, Hummer EV, and Sierra EV. (The Tesla Cybertruck has over 1 million reservations, although selling them is not a dealer problem as Tesla sells directly to its customers.)
“The Chevy Bolt was the third-highest-selling EV in the U.S. in 2023. So clearly people are interested in EVs if the product is good, and fits their budget and driving needs and situation,” McDonald added. He also noted that more options were needed in the large and mid-size SUV segments, where volumes are generally high in the U.S.
“The Kia EV9 will likely do very well in 2024 and 2025. But where is the electric Ford Explorer? Where is the electric Chevy Tahoe?” he said.
Despite some of these “strategic blunders,” many automakers are all in on EVs—or at least they say. Regardless of how well they navigate the bumpy road ahead, they need dealers’ support to clear inventories, boost production, and keep the cycle going.
Whether dealers like it or not, the EV revolution is happening. Instead of writing letters that may go unread in the presidential inbox, dealers might find greater dividends in focusing on education—for both their staff and consumers. Investing in knowledge sooner rather than later could be a win-win for everyone involved.
Contact the author: firstname.lastname@example.org


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Following in the footsteps of other major game studios, Bungie may be releasing a mobile version of its most popular game, Destiny. The game will be released on iOS and Android, according to rumors.
Since Sony took over developer Bungie, both companies have been keen on releasing Destiny on different platforms. So soon we may be able to play the game on our iPhone and Android devices. Even the Xbox is not excluded, but you’ll be playing via Cloud.
Movies and series
Like Microsoft, however, Bungie is chasing bigger successes. The former released a TV show about the game HALO, for example. Bungie, too, is now looking at the possibilities of giving the IP a place on other platforms, separate from gaming. So a show on major streaming services is also still on the cards.
There is little chance that it will be a port of Destiny 2. (Image: Bungie)
For the release of the iOS and Android versions of Destiny (again, not confirmed), Bungie is partnering with NetEase. The Chinese company has been a shareholder of Bungie since 2018. On a LinkedIn profile, NetEase is at least looking for a creative collaborator to take on a project. The project in question is an “as-yet-unannounced first person shooter.” Gee, what would that be?
Very present chance of a mobile version?
Although it’s a matter of looking at the coffee table, the chances of a mobile version of Destiny coming out are high. According to insiders, Bungie has been working on the project for two years now. CEO of Bungie, Pete Parsons, previously stated that NetEase has “a tremendous amount of experience in terms of mobile gaming, which we don’t have.”
However, don’t expect a direct port of, say, Destiny 2. It’s more likely to be a game in the same universe. The hardware of cell phones is simply not yet fast enough to run a First Person Shooter like Destiny 2. Well, maybe with the new Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro it will.
Not the first
Bungie and Sony are obviously not the first parties to release AAA titles on mobile. One of the most famous is Skyrim that even runs on a refrigerator thanks to Android.
But the Pokémon series, PUBG, Minecraft and Call of Duty have also made the switch, the biggest game franchises in the world.
So when we will get concrete facts about Destiny on mobile is not yet known. Perhaps Gamescom in August or E3 next year will answer it.


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First-year students at Loreto Secondary School will have “tablet” computers instead of books next autumn – both to make the most of the technology and to take a huge weight off their backs.
With school bags weighing up to 16 kilograms, it is an idea that parents are welcoming, said Loreto principal Colm Keher. Part of the aim is that it will allow more students to walk and cycle to school.
Loreto is one of two schools in Europe (the other being in the UK) who have signed up to use Samsung Galaxy tablets under a “Smart Schools” pilot programme run by the South Korean company.
Loreto’s 174 first-years will each have a Samsung Galaxy tablet with their textbooks in ebook form, and the company is providing 30 tablets, which will defer the cost as the school is spreading the discount among all the students, Mr Keher said.
It is also providing a “smart board” for one of the classrooms, which will link up with the tablets – an interactive element that is more beneficial than single, separate devices, the principal said.
The teacher will also be able to allow and block certain websites during class time, he noted.
There is still a question of cost at the moment, and Mr Keher said he is hopeful that the Government will examine the issue of VAT on ebooks – because while school textbooks are exempt from VAT, ebooks are not. “It is an anomaly that there is VAT on ebooks,” he said.
There is the worry that the tablets will be lost or damaged, but Mr Keher says it’s an issue with regular textbooks too. An advantage of an ebook, he said, is that even if a tablet is lost, the student will still own a licence for the ebook and will not have to buy a new one. And the tablets will be fitted with GPS software that can locate them if they are misplaced or stolen.
The idea of introducing the technology was an idea researched by a subcommittee of the school’s Parents Association, and it is something the school is keen to try, Mr Keher said.
“Having worked on this process for two years, there is a strong sense that this is the way to go. It is the future of education and it has the potential to bring a great benefit to our pupils,” he said.
And the issue of students carrying heavy textbooks every day, and the physical risks involved, is one of the main considerations.
“Ever since I came into teaching, this has been an issue. The only solution is the use of technology,” Mr Keher said.
“We are very conscious that there are very few kids walking and cycling to school. If it improves that alone, I think it would be worthwhile to do.”
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A couple of weeks ago, teenager Tom Short had to ask his girlfriend, Emily, what Kenzo was.
Balaclavas are so last year for the man who has been dubbed the "dapper thief".
Embattled bridal gown designer Johanna Johnson is holding a fire sale of evening dresses at bargain prices in an attempt to pay some of her creditors.
Long in the front, short in the back is the new black in the beauty world.
It's that age-old adage: at some point, most of us have to choose between our face and our figure.
The publication has drawn the ire of the internet for comparing the locks of mothers to the frumpy fashion equivalent of "mom jeans".
A beauty queen in the United Kingdom has been dethroned after she disrobed and engaged in sex on television.
There's no blood test or other easily read biomarkers, but scientists have finally shed some light on the elusive chronic fatigue syndrome.
The Biggest Loser trainer shared a heartfelt message about training as a working mother.
Scientists have identified three ancient wheat species they say could generate as much interest as quinoa.
Beauty may not be skin deep, but when it comes to fruits and vegetables, skin is good.
A group of London opthalmologists believe using your smartphone at a particular time can affect sight after two women presented with similar conditions.
She usually spruiks expensive goods, but now it seems Rebecca Judd has taken a fancy to a product your average Joe Blow can afford.
At first I was the one altering our relationships, dashing off to see the world, with my friends feeling left behind. But when I returned to New York in my mid-30s, there was a significant shift.
Going to the doctor is straightforward if you have stomach pains, seeking help with sexual problems is very embarrassing for most.
Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell went online dating in her fifties. How did she get on?


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Free sandwich from José Andrés, cheap drinks and other shutdown specials abound at D.C. area bars and restaurants
The federal government shutdown will be a big bummer for the thousands of federal employees in our region.
That lack of cash flow will also affect small businesses in the D.C. area, including bars and restaurants.
"The reality is with the uncertainty, people are going to be looking to cut costs and spending and it may be more of eating at home than eating out in restaurants," said Kathy Hollinger, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.
D.C.'s restaurant scene has exploded in recent years, including this year where more than 50 restaurants opened in the region this past spring.
"We have a really robust dining scene, so this poses definite concern amongst our members," Hollinger said.
Still, some D.C. area bars and restaurants are counting on the fact that furloughed federal employees will be more interested in drowning their sorrows than pinching their pennies. Many of them have already advertised specials that will kick in if the government shuts down, including José Andrés, who tweeted Monday night that he's offering free sandwiches at all of his restaurants to federal employees with a federal ID from 3-5 p.m. every day of the shutdown.
He's probably going to be giving out a lot of sandwiches, if his Twitter traffic is any indication: the tweet has already been retweeted more than 1,400 times. Here are some others doing specials:
- Sprinkles: A free cupcake Tuesday for federal employees who present their government ID at the Georgetown cupcakery;
- Osteria Marzano: This Alexandria restaurant will offer half off pizzas, $3 beers and $4 rail drinks to anyone with a government ID;
- Urbana: This restaurant in Dupont Circle's Palomar Hotel will extend its happy hour by one hour every day of the shutdown; on Tuesday, that means food and drink specials from 4-8 p.m.; on Wednesday, 4-9 p.m. etc.
- Z-Burger: Because this burger joint likes nothing better than giving out free burgers, a government ID gets you a free burger from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. during every day of the shutdown.
Rebecca Cooper covers retail, restaurants, tourism and the arts.
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In a victory for the Federal Trade Commission in its efforts to protect consumers from spyware and malware, a federal appeals court has upheld a district court ruling that imposed a judgment of more than $163 million on Kristy Ross for her role in an operation that used computer “scareware” to trick consumers into thinking their computers were infected with malicious software, and then sold them software to “fix” their non-existent problem.
“This is a huge victory for consumers,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “As this case shows, scareware causes enormous economic injury. We remain committed to protecting consumers against this kind of scam.”
In October 2012, in addition to the imposing monetary judgment, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland permanently prohibited Ross from selling computer security software and any other software that interferes with consumers’ computer use, and from any form of deceptive marketing. In 2008, the FTC had charged Ross and six other defendants with conning consumers into buying software to remove malware supposedly detected by computer scans. The other defendants either settled the charges or had default judgments entered against them.
Ross appealed the district court ruling, including its finding in favor of the FTC on the issue of whether Ross was a “control person” who could be held liable for the deceptive practices. On February 25, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the lower court’s findings, stating, in part, that to rule in her favor “would effectively leave the Commission with the ‘futile gesture’ of obtaining ‘an order directed to the lifeless entity of a corporation while exempting from its operation the living individuals who were responsible for the illegal practices’ in the first place.”
To learn more about these kinds of scams, read the FTC’s “Free” Security Scans.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.
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20 January 2023
Love Hemp Group plc
("Love Hemp" or the "Company")
Love Hemp Group PLC (AQSE: LIFE) (OTCQB: WRHLF), the brand-led consumer goods company focussed on CBD health and wellness solutions, is pleased to provide a Board director update.
Following the recent completion of the strategic refinancing of the business, and as announced on 14 December 2022, both Graham Mullis, non-executive Chairman and Anthony Dyer, interim CFO have completed their transition periods and have now stepped down from the Board with immediate effect.
The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Fahmeeda Khan, as the interim Financial Director and Board director, with immediate effect.
There is no further information regarding Fahmeeda Khan that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 4.9 of the AQSE Growth Market Access Rulebook.
Love Hemp expects to announce further appointments to the Board shortly.
Love Hemp is also pleased to announce the group of strategic investors that provided the
Tony Calamita, CEO, commented:
"We thank Graham and Anthony for their support and guidance during what has been a very challenging time for the business, and we wish them well in their future endeavours. We welcome Fahmeeda to the Board who brings a wealth of financial experience to the Company and we look forward to working with her as the Company progresses to the next stage of its development".
The Directors of Love Hemp Group plc take responsibility for the content of this announcement.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of
For further information please visit: www.lovehempgroup.com or contact:
Love Hemp Group +44 (0) 203 968 6643
Tony Calamita, CEO email@example.com
About Love Hemp Group
Love Hemp Group is a brand-led consumer goods company focussed on health and wellness solutions for consumer use cases including sleep, pain, anxiety, stress and recovery. The Company is a pioneer in the UK-based premium high-quality CBD market, with over 40 products including oils, edibles, sprays, cosmetics and topicals. The Company's range of products are sold online across 70 websites and in over 2,000 stores including some of the biggest retailers in the UK, such as Holland & Barrett, Boots and Ocado. Listed on the Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE: LIFE) the Company recently changed its name to Love Hemp Group plc, from World High Life, to better reflect its focus on supporting the "best in class" CBD brand as it embarks on a wider expansion of its core business and offering.


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Mr. Mayor, please call People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Call them and close a deal that could change the way we fund services in Colorado Springs.
“We are just waiting for the mayor to call, and we are excited to put something together that will be a win-win for everyone involved,” said Kristina Addington, campaign coordinator for PETA, in an interview with The Gazette’s opinion department.
PETA, based in Norfolk, Va., heard about our city’s well-publicized budget constraints. Recent stories in the mainstream national press have told of city officials turning off streetlights and eliminating trash cans and trash service from city parks. This offer means our city’s bad national media rap could lead to good things, if Mayor Lionel Rivera negotiates a lucrative and sustainable deal for the City Council to approve.
“We want to advertise on trash cans, so the money we pay for the ads could fund the restoration of trash service,” Addington said. “In addition to paying for trash service, our ads would get residents of Colorado Springs excited about saving the planet and saving animals.”
Addington says the best thing anyone can do to stop human-caused global warming (a hypothesis) is to stop eating meat.
“Nobody has a bigger carbon footprint than the meat industry,” Addington said. “So you can spend $80,000 on a hybrid car and change out your light bulbs, but the best thing you can do is stop eating meat and go vegan. This costs nothing, because we’ll send you a vegan starter kit for free.”
Whatever. If you see a PETA trash can and feel the sudden urge to save Mother Earth from a theory, go ahead give up meat. Ads inform and attempt to persuade. They have no power we do not give them. If you want the amazing vegan starter kit, go to www.goveg.com, or call 1-888-VEGFOOD. Otherwise, eat what you please and enjoy the lovely PETA ads.
PETA has a large and effective marketing budget. Even some of the most carnivorous Americans have made their peace with PETA. Once a confrontational bully, PETA has become a model of friendly and efficient marketing genius. The trash cans it proposes for Colorado Springs would each feature one of the organization’s beautiful Lettuce Girls (cleavage covered with lettuce) and the following harmless message: “Meat Trashes the Planet.”
(Please vote in poll to the right, in red type. Must vote to see results. Thanks!)
If PETA strikes a deal with Colorado Springs, Addington says, the organization plans to publicize the arrangement nationally. That would bring free positive publicity to our city. Just as negative publicity can reduce tourism, positive publicity stands to increase it. The positive publicity could lead other businesses and organizations — perhaps the beef, dairy and poultry industries — to seek similar marketing arrangements with City Hall.
Imagine if we could find a way to get Home Depot, or Scotts Miracle-Gro, to sponsor the care and watering of grass in our parks. A national ad campaign, paid for by the sponsor, could show off the grass in Colorado Springs — a city known for its plan to let the grass go brown with callous disregard for children. We would get free lawn care and publicity bought by a company trying take partial credit for preserving and enhancing our city’s beauty. It’s a great opportunity for Colorado Springs and a savvy lawn-care products business.
We could try to entice a major sporting goods manufacturer to sponsor our city pools. If PETA can win in Colorado Springs, so can anyone else product or cause.
Colorado Springs has problems the rest of the country keeps hearing about. This creates an obvious opportunity for national marketers to benefit by helping solve our problems.
PETA saw this opportunity and wasted no time proposing a partnership. This should change the way we seek to fund public amenities. Before using local money for local projects, we should seek outside money for local projects with partnerships that benefit all parties involved.
Let’s get started with PETA, then pursue more arrangements that are equally brilliant. It stands only to breathe new life into the economy of Colorado Springs, with outside money and national publicity that would improve our image and increase tourism to the country’s most beautiful place. — Wayne Laugesen, editorial page editor, for the editorial board


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The kids state in the video that an Apple representative at the store said that the phone cannot be bent and dismissed it as an online rumour.However, as the video shows, the kids were able to bend the phone.
A recent report by Consumer Reports stated that the iPhone 6 Plus was indeed more fragile than the iPhone 5S. That said, the report also revealed that the HTC One (M8) was more fragile. Consumer Report performed a scientific test to a number of devices including the LG G3, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
The report also stated that the iPhone 6 could also be bent, but publically as of now we have not heard of a bent iPhone 6.
Apple on its part dismisses this as a minor issue and states that it has only received complaints regarding 9 devices in total.


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Posts Tagged «H.265»
Microsoft’s new rendering research could bring better visuals to Xbox One, mobile devices May 22, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Microsoft has released a new paper that illustrates how the cloud offload rendering platform it talked about for Xbox One could actually be deployed in reality. Could we see a shipping solution use this tech during the Xbox One’s lifetime?
Panasonic shows off first 4K Blu-ray player, but can discs survive another standard transition? January 7, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Panasonic has unveiled a new video player that will handle the next-generation of streaming 4K Blu-ray discs, but will the standard survive long enough to take advantage of the ability?
BPG: A new, superior image format that really ought to kill off JPEG December 12, 2014 at 10:16 am
For all of the massive technological advances that we’ve seen over the last few years, there are still a number of dinosaurs from a bygone era that — rather unfortunately — just won’t die. JPEG is one of the most prominent examples: It was created more than 20 years ago, and yet its antiquated, bloated, blocky algorithm still dominates the web. Now, however, there’s a replacement in town — it’s called BPG, and it’s awesome.
Qualcomm announces new 64-bit, eight-core SoCs with DX11 graphics February 24, 2014 at 9:14 am
Qualcomm is kicking off Mobile World Congress with a bevy of new announcements including multiple new SoCs, 64-bit processors, and a new DX11-capable GPU coming to its high-end product family.
Chip slapped: Qualcomm senior VP calls upcoming octa-core processors ‘dumb’ August 5, 2013 at 9:34 am
Qualcomm claims that the upcoming octal-core chips that leverage big.LITTLE MP are “dumb” and a waste of time. The truth is more complicated.
H.265 gets pushed forward with Broadcom’s 4K-capable BCM7445 January 9, 2013 at 2:45 pm
H.265, the next generation video standard, is moving forward as Broadcom announces a new quad-core ARM-based BCM7445. Sporting a 28nm process, Broadcom won’t say how much it will cost. Unfortunately, that probably means it’s expensive.
Next-gen HD video draft is proof we need to fix the system before it falls apart February 20, 2012 at 11:37 am
The upcoming H.265 video compression standard has hit an important draft milestone, but we need to unify various parts of the industry before the pace of innovation leads to further market volatility.


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FedEx and Walgreens to begin drone deliveries in Virginia
Story by: SupplyChainDive.com
Alphabet subsidiary Wing Aviation has partnered with FedEx and Walgreens to begin commercial drone deliveries of select items to customers in Christiansburg, Virginia, next month (an exact date has yet to be released), according to a blog post.
The drones will primarily carry food, healthcare, wellness-related and convenience products, according to FedEx. Consumers can opt-in to a waitlist to receive packages by drone, but FedEx did not specify if there is an extra cost to do so.
The pilot serves as a drone delivery test-case for FedEx and Walgreens.
Vish Sankaran, chief innovation officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, said in a statement the pilot puts Walgreens “in a unique position to capitalize on the convenience of drone delivery if and when it should expand, with approximately 78 percent of the U.S. population living within five miles of a Walgreens store.”
“Wing has spent the last seven years developing a delivery drone and navigation system for this purpose,” Wing CEO James Ryan Burgess said in a statement.
“By delivering small packages directly to homes through the air in minutes, and making a wide range of medicine, food and other products available to customers, we will demonstrate what we expect safer, faster, cleaner local delivery to look like in the future.”
According to Wing’s website, its drones can cover six miles in roughly six minutes, lowering deliveries straight to a customer’s doorstep.
Read the full story HERE
Source and credits: supplychaindive.com / Morgan Forde@morgan_forde / iTrucker / Mario Pawlowski


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If advertisers are unhappy with social media, it's because they need to stop measuring engagement and start looking at business goals, advises Paul Phillips of Edelman Hong Kong.
A panel discussion at the Tencent Mind Conference Tuesday in Shanghai looked at hard truths about investing in hot shows.
The Chinese media giant walked marketers through its content offerings at its event yesterday in Shanghai.
The two new-to-APAC tools help marketers tie multiple devices to a single customer-ID and the optimize ads in real time to drive conversions.
Eugene Yap of Iris Concise discusses the high bar today's marketers must surmount.
Robust growth expected for Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam, the next 'it' markets for digital.
Redlab claims Tellscore is the country's first automated platform for brands to contract with micro influencers.
The update to UAC (Universal App Campaigns) gives publishers and developers more options for performance-based campaigns.
Company touts rapid user growth in the region’s third-largest country, as well as increasing brand activity.
The CEO and founder of AdAsia Holdings looks ahead to machine learning's impact on personalisation, storytelling and the role of marketers.
The China-based internet giant has inked another data partnership with an agency network, this time Dentsu Aegis Network.
Speakers at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai share best practices for VR use in marketing.
The ingredients for brand engagement are there, but take some extra effort says Forward3D's Richard Brosgill.
Facebook's Reynold D’Silva sounds an alarm for mid- to senior-level marketers.
Our listicle-based look back at the year in APAC marketing and communications continues, with the biggest deals of the year.
Customer feedback, constant product development and flexibility are key, according to Shenzhen’s coding education startup, Makeblock.
Salesforce Lead Analytics for Facebook will help users create performance visualisations against key marketing-automation metrics.
Geraldine Goh, head of marketing in Asia for IG, talks about the challenges of marketing financial services brands in today's international marketplace.
Delivering KOL campaigns through programmatic could make automated ad targeting more creative and engaging, writes Aaron Brooks of Visual Amplifiers.
A panel discussion at yesterday's China Innovation Summit focused on the next wave of AI applications, including creative roles.


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Ford is going to make a recall for 828,053 cars in North America as their doors can unlatch.
766,682 units are in the U.S. and the other 61,371 are in Mexico. The 2013-2015 Escape, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 C-Max, 2015 Lincoln MKC and 2014-2016 Transit Connect are among the considered issue.
The automaker says that cars in states with higher ambient temperatures and solar loading feature higher rate of reports. The affected states are California, Washington, Louisiana, Nevada, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Utah, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and Georgia are among the affected states.
The problem is that the pawl spring tab located in the door can break. Then it will not be able to latch. Moreover, the door can open during driving. That’s definitely not safe. The producer says that there was 1 report about an accident 1 about an injury.
The company’s dealers will change door latches on all the issued cars. Fords will run a customer satisfaction campaign allowing owners not located in the listed states to have a 1-time free latch change for the car’s life-time.


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Lenovo has agreed to preload onto all of its new PCs the full range of SweetLabs’ Pokki software, which tweaks the Windows operating system, the companies announced today.
The deal is the second major OEM partnership this summer for Pokki, which runs a platform for installing and using Windows apps, making the desktop experience feel more like a mobile one. Back in June, Acer began preloading a Pokki-powered game “arcade” onto all of its new PCs.
Today’s announcement is broader than that, though. Under the Pokki brand, SweetLabs makes the games launcher, a custom Start menu that launches apps via a mobile-esque interface, and an app store for discovering new apps. All of those products will be bundled together in the Lenovo deal.


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Advertising revenue from street furniture increased by 8.9% over the quarter, while billboard revenues were up by 5.7% with the UK having strong increases. Transport was up 14.4%, primarily driven by the continued advertising recovery in Hong Kong as well as improvements in the US, Spain and Portugal.
Jean-Charles Decaux, JCDecaux's chairman and co-chief executive officer, said: "Revenue growth in the third quarter of 2004 was at the top end of our expectations, with all three of our divisions contributing strongly to this performance. Our street furniture and billboard businesses benefited from an improved advertising environment across most European markets over the summer.
"Sales from recent street furniture contracts continued to increase in the US and Asia-Pacific, and our transport advertising business confirmed the recovery in this market,"
The results mean that for the nine months to the end of September, JCDecaux has produced a 5.6% increase in revenues to €1.2bn.
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