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Tesla has opened the first V4 Supercharger stall in the United Kingdom at the Tesla Centre in Tottenham, and it is also the first in the world with contactless payment.
The V4 Supercharger was unveiled and featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony today by Transport Minister Jessee Norman, according to a report from DrivingElectric.
The V4 Supercharger was first launched in Europe in Harderwijk, the Netherlands, in March. The major changes were appearance, cable length, and maximum charging speed.
Tesla’s new Supercharger design features a maxed-out charging speed of 350 kW, but there is expected to be even faster speeds once the automaker rolls out 800-volt architectures across its vehicle lineup.
Additionally, the V4 Supercharger in this location features a new touchless payment option. In the past, Tesla Superchargers have communicated with the vehicle, which has a payment method set as a default, which automatically charges the vehicle owner for the power they use.
This one is different. There is a QR code that will take them to the Tesla App, or they can tap their card on the contactless payment reader to pay for their charging session.
The method is shown by Electric Felix below:
— Felix Hamer • electricfelix (@electricfelix) August 25, 2023
Tesla’s V4 Superchargers are making their way across Europe and are enabling EVs from other manufacturers to charge. Tesla first rolled out a Pilot Program in Europe to test the opening of Superchargers to other automakers, and it eventually culminated in the automaker’s choice to allow OEMs to adopt the NACS connector in the United States earlier this year.
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at firstname.lastname@example.org. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at email@example.com.


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Annual inflation reaches 12.6 percent; highest in 26 months
CAIRO: The annual inflation rate reached 12.6 percent at the end of last month, up 0.2 percent from January and marking highest rate in 26 months, the Central Agency for Public Statistics and Mobilization (Capmas) reported Sunday.
The February rate is the highest since the implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Gatt Agreement in December 2004 during which inflation was 17.3 percent, according to Capmas.
The rate had flattened in January for the first time in 10 months after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised interest rates in November and December by 0.5 percent and 0.25 percent, respectively. MPC has since maintained overnight rates at 8.75 percent for deposit and 10.75 for lending.
MPC is scheduled to meet Thursday to decide on another possible hike.
The government, under increasing public pressure to address price increases especially in food and construction materials, has taken several steps to provide relief but quantifiable results have not yet been recorded.
This month, customs exemptions on meat and poultry imports will end unless Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif extends the terms of the decision, now under implementation for six months. In September, Nazif opened the gates for importers to counter the shortages resulting from the Avian Flu Virus and various cattle diseases which hit the country’s livestock in 2006.
In late February, Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid slapped a LE 65 per ton duty on cement exports and a LE 160 per ton duty on steel exports to counter market shortages the ministry identified as the reasons behind skyrocketing prices in both sectors. But, as of the end of last week, the ministry reported prices have maintained their pre-duty levels at LE 345 for cement and LE 3,500 for steel.
On Egypt’s consumer price index, used by Capmas to determine the annual inflation rate, the weight of food items can reach as much as 40 percent. Analysts blamed last year’s entrance of the Avian Flu in February and the government’s July gasoline price hike for inflation rising into double digits toward the end of the year.

domain: news


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MG to extend higher level plug-in grant until end of March
The UK’s fastest-developing seller of electric cars has committed to honouring the £3,000 Plug-In Car Grant after the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) cut the level of support and price cap for which awards are eligible on March 18th.
Both the MG ZS Electric and the new MG5 EV are covered by the PICG and will continue to be so despite the government cutting the price cap for grant-funded support from £50,000 to £35,000 in a move that it says will encourage the uptake of affordable vehicles.
At the same time, the £3,000 grant towards a new EV has been cut to £2,500, but thanks to its commitment to making EVs affordable for everyone, MG has committed to topping up the support level to its previous level for all customers who order a new MG EV in March 2021.
Guy Pigounakis, MG’s Commercial Director, said: “While we welcome any news that encourages people to buy affordable electric cars, for it to come in the middle of the toughest March trading conditions ever is a blow to customers.
“At MG, we believe in ensuring our customers are as happy as they can be with their new cars and in recognition that many of them will have made the decision to buy an MG EV with the £3,000 grant funding in mind, we have decided to honour that for all purchasers who order a new MG ZS Electric or MG5 EV for delivery before the end of this month.”
MG currently offers three plug-in models in the UK – the established MG ZS EV, the game-changing All New MG5 EV and MG HS Plug-in*, all backed up by MG’s incredible 7 year warranty and fast-developing dealer network.
To find your local dealer, or to discover the high-tech, value-for-money range of cars on offer, please visit the MG Motor UK website.


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Kumho Tire has announced that its Solus KH25 high performance tire has been selected by Dodge as an original equipment fitment on the 2013 Dodge Dart.
The Dodge Dart SE wil be fitted with Solus KH25 205/55R-16s. SXT and Rallye models will be fitted with 225/45R-17 Solus KH25s.
The Solus KH25 features an all-season tread compound molded into a symmetric design that combines notched shoulders, independent intermediate tread blocks and continuous centre ribs.
A fine-tuned footprint shape allows for long-lasting and even tread wear, while the optimized design and exacting manufacturing process reduces vibrations and road noise to deliver a comfortable and safe ride, according to the company.
"The all-new 2012 Dodge Dart is an incredible new vehicle and we are very proud Dodge selected our Solus KH25 high performance tires for its SE, SXT and Rallye trim levels," said Rick Brennan, vice president of marketing for Kumho Tire U.S.A.
"The Solus KH25 has a strong track record with many other vehicles on the market, so the Dodge Dart is in great company," he added.


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The U.S. Justice Department charged eight people Tuesday in connection with the takedown of two international cybercriminal rings that cost advertisers tens of millions of dollars.
A 13-count indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Aleksandr Zhukov, Boris Timokhin, Mikhail Andreev, Denis Avdeev, Dmitry Novikov, Sergey Ovsyannikov, Aleksandr Isaev and Yevgeniy Timchenko with criminal violations for their involvement in perpetrating widespread digital advertising fraud. The charges include wire fraud, computer intrusions, aggravated identity theft and money laundering.
Most of the defendants are from Eastern Europe. Two are from Russia and the other is from Kazakhstan.
According to the indictment, Ovsyannikov was arrested last month in Malaysia, Zhukov was arrested earlier this month in Bulgaria and Timchenko was arrested earlier this month in Estonia, all pursuant to provisional arrest warrants issued at the request of the United States. They await extradition. The remaining defendants are at large.
“As alleged in court filings, the defendants in this case used sophisticated computer programming and infrastructure around the world to exploit the digital advertising industry through fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue.
The ads were never viewed by human internet users, prosecutors said.
“In fact, the defendants faked both the users and the webpages: they programmed computers they controlled to load advertisements on fabricated webpages, via an automated program, in order to fraudulently obtain digital advertising revenue,” prosecutors said in the indictment.
In one of the schemes, prosecutors said, the defendants accessed more than 1.7 million computers belonging to ordinary individuals and businesses in the U.S. and elsewhere by using a global “botnet,” a network of malware-infected computers.
“Meanwhile, the owners of the infected computers were unaware that this process was running in the background on their computers,” prosecutors said.
As part of their efforts, prosecutors said seizure warrants authorized the FBI to take control of 31 internet domains and information from 89 computer servers.
“The FBI, working with private sector partners, redirected the internet traffic going to the domains (an action known as ‘sinkholing’) in order to disrupt and dismantle these botnets,” prosecutors said.
Google and Microsoft helped the U.S. and other international law enforcement agencies unravel the digital schemes, prosecutors said.
For technical details on the malware and botnets referenced in this case, please see US-CERT Alert TA18-331A: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA18-331A


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According to JPMorgan Chase & Co., low liquidity can make stock markets particularly vulnerable to exaggerated moves around large option trades.
The large volume of options has caught the attention of investors in recent days – first when volatility started to rise with stocks, and then to reports that Softbank Group Inc. and others have invested billions in the derived products. A big concern is that liquidity remains low, according to JPMorgan’s derivatives strategist Shawn Quigg.
“Unusually large transactions in narrow markets open the door to larger fluctuations in the dealer’s gamma positioning, especially when executed in style factors / sectors that may already be considered overbought / sold,” said Quigg in an email Wednesday. Gamma refers to the drift in the price of options that brokers seek to compensate for by buying or selling the underlying stock. “This increases the potential for exacerbated stock movements as brokers hedge exposure.”
How options influence the stock market has become a pressing issue of late, with some analysts claiming that the precipitous rise of U.S. tech giants in 2020 is mainly due to dealers hedging the other side of these deals.
But others are skeptical: Benn Eifert, chief investment officer at QVR Advisors, said day traders had a much larger effect. John Griffin, a finance professor at the University of Texas at Austin known for reporting suspicious activity in the VIX and studying Bitcoin, said he doubted an investor could be responsible for the movements of these liquid tech stocks.
While retail traders may have played a role, they were not the primary driver, Quigg said.
Following the recent multi-day massive selloff, investors can take advantage of the high volatility – particularly in tech and dynamic stocks – by selling puts, he said.
Quigg and his colleague Peng Cheng recommended tail protection in a note Thursday: Sell 1x three-month on-the-money puts on the Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 while buying three-month puts at 90%. at zero cost, they said.


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SCOTUS Should Balance Main Street and Online
Alex Brill, Michael Knoll, Ruth Mason and Alan Viard | Real Clear Markets
For more than 50 years, the Supreme Court has prevented states from requiring out-of-state sellers to collect sales tax unless the seller has a physical presence, such as a local store or warehouse, in the state in which the sale occurs. Although the out-of-state sellers’ customers are supposed to remit tax on such sales, very few of them do so. As online retail sales continue to grow, states’ annual revenue loss has been estimated to be as much as $33.9 billion in 2018.


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This was one of the key findings from Cloud Africa 2018, a research project conducted by World Wide Worx and F5 Networks, across Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa earlier this year, where we asked decision-makers at 300 medium and large organisations about their cloud computing usage, benefits, and intentions.
While all markets were on par in terms of their use of business apps in the cloud, and while organisations in Kenya and Nigeria were more likely to host service apps in the cloud than those in South Africa, it was interesting to note that training and legal apps were the lowest on the priority list when it came to cloud-hosted applications, across all markets.
The global e-learning market is expected to be worth $200 billion by 2024, driven by emerging corporate trends and the escalating popularity of online or Internet-based learning programs.
Yet, only 14% of South African organisations said they hosted training apps in the cloud, dropping to just 2% of organisations in both Kenya and Nigeria.
The cloud is the ideal platform to make education more accessible to more people, especially in Africa, where inequality and a lack of access to infrastructure, connectivity, and locally relevant content have resulted in a largely uneducated and under-skilled workforce.
At the foundational phase, online learning allows children in rural areas to access the same quality content, delivered by highly qualified educators, as children in more developed urban areas. It democratises education, providing knowledge transfer and equal opportunities for all.
Extended to the university level, e-learning not only opens new revenue streams for universities but also solves the problem of overcrowding and not being able to meet the demand. The result is that more students can register for courses, resulting in more employable graduates and, hopefully, reduced unemployment rates.
Universities are often criticised for not evolving their outdated curriculums in line with industry trends and requirements, and therefore producing graduates who are not adequately prepared for the world of work. Cloud-based training apps can be adapted on the fly, giving universities the edge by allowing them to provide the most relevant, up to date course material.
In education, as in industry and business, change is the only constant. Education cannot end at school or university. It must be a lifelong commitment for any professional, especially in today’s rapidly changing business environment. Cloud computing is the only solution if enterprises want to keep up with the change.
Educating the enterprise
IT and business are always changing and while the requirement for apps is to be fast, highly available and secure won’t ever change, what has changed is the speed of deployment. Users and customers want everything delivered immediately, a dynamic that’s driving the DevOps methodology and automation.
Businesses that want to keep up with the pace of their customers need to empower their teams with the skills and expertise to respond to change in new ways. Often, this means bypassing traditional, task-based operations, which are painfully slow and can’t keep up with business requirements and user demands.
Cloud computing and training apps offer an opportunity to upskill professionals in any industry. F5’s Super-NetOps training programme is a perfect example. Designed to teach network professionals the foundational skills required to effectively automate their infrastructure – for free – our goal is to help the industry adapt to change, through education, so that it can continue to improve the user experience and drive new functionality.
Facilitating learning through cloud-based training apps is better suited to Millennials and Generation Z, who want to consume content on the go. Just as everything else is evolving to cater to our shortening attention spans, so too must education. Training apps allow schools, universities, and enterprises to offer more dynamic education material, including video and gamification, that brings the material to life and allows users to learn at their own pace.
There businesses advantages cannot be denied. Online training helps teams to stay on top of their changing job requirements and, therefore, improves job satisfaction and loyalty. It aids succession planning by equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to progress in their careers. It helps businesses keep control of training budgets and reduces costs associated with recruitment and onboarding. In addition, it helps businesses to stay relevant and competitive by empowering teams to experiment and innovate as identified by all three markets in our research for being the biggest business impact of cloud computing.
We can no longer be selfish with the learning experience. We need as many skilled and knowledgeable professionals as possible to help us all survive the future of work and the onslaught of machine learning, artificial intelligence and the Internet of everything.
Businesses in Africa need to start shifting their priorities and to share their knowledge and expertise so that we can all become more agile and comfortable with change.
News fatigue shifts Google searches in SA
Google search trends in South Africa reveal a startling insight into news appetite, writes BRYAN TURNER.
The big searches of the year no longer track the biggest news stories of the year, suggesting a strong dose of news fatigue among South Africans.
“People ask, why are the Guptas not on the list of Google’s top searches?, says Mich Atagana, head of communications and public affairs at Google South Africa, “The Guptas are not on the list because South Africans are not actually that interested. South Africans are looking for things they don’t know. From a Gupta point of view, we’ve been exhausted by the news and we know exactly what is going on.”
Google South Africa announced the results of its 2018 Year in Search, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major moments.
“Four years ago, there were almost no South Africans on the personalities list,” says Atagana. “Over the years, South Africans have gotten more interested in South Africa, in searching on Google.”
That isn’t to say that international searches – like Meghan Markle – are not heavily searched by South Africans. But they feature lower down on the lists.
From the World Cup to listeriosis, Zuma and Global Citizen, South Africans use search to find the things they really need to know.
These are the main trends revealed by Google this week:
Top trending South African searches
- World Cup fixtures
- Load shedding
- Global Citizen
- Winnie Mandela
- Black Panther
- Meghan Markle
- Mac Miller
- Jacob Zuma
- Cyril Ramaphosa
- Sbahle Mpisane
- Kevin Anderson
- Malusi Gigaba
- Ashwin Willemse
- Patrice Motsepe
- Cheryl Zondi
- Shamila Batohi
- Mlindo the Vocalist
- How did Avicii die?
- How old is Pharrell Williams?
- What is listeriosis?
- What is black data?
- How old is Prince Harry?
- How much are Global Citizen tickets?
- How to get pregnant?
- What time is the royal wedding?
- What happened to HHP?
- How old is Meghan Markle?
Top ‘near me’ searches
- Jobs near me
- Nandos near me
- Dischem near me
- McDonalds near me
- Guest house near me
- Postnet near me
- Steers near me
- Spar near me
- Debonairs near me
- Spur near me
- Winnie Mandela
- Meghan Markle
- Sbahle Mpisane
- Aretha Franklin
- Khloe Kardashian
- Sophie Ndaba
- Cheryl Zondi
- Demi Lovato
- Lerato Sengadi
- Siam Lee
The Year In Search 2018 minisite can be found here.
Smartphones dip in 2018
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, worldwide smartphone shipments are expected to decline by 3% in 2018 before returning to low single-digit growth in 2019 and through 2022.
While the on-going U.S.-China trade war has the industry on edge, IDC still believes that continued developments from emerging markets, mixed with potential around 5G and new product form factors, will bring the smartphone market back to positive growth.
Smartphone shipments are expected to drop to 1.42 billion units in 2018, down from 1.47 billion in 2017. However, IDC expects year-over-year shipment growth of 2.6% in 2019. Over the long-term, smartphone shipments are forecast to reach 1.57 billion units in 2022. From a geographic perspective, the China market, which represented 30% of total smartphone shipments in 2017, is finally showing signs of recovery. While the world’s largest market is still forecast to be down 8.8% in 2018 (worse than the 2017 downturn), IDC anticipates a flat 2019, then back to positive territory through 2022. The U.S. is also forecast to return to positive growth in 2019 (up 2.1% year over year) after experiencing a decline in 2018.
The slow revival of China was one of the reasons for low growth in Q3 2018 and this slowdown will persist into Q1 2019 as the market is expected to drop by 3% in Q4 2018. Furthermore, the recently lifted U.S. ban on ZTE had an impact on shipments in Q3 2018 and created a sizable gap that is yet to be filled heading into 2019.
“With many of the large global companies focusing on high-end product launches, hoping to draw in consumers looking to upgrade based on specifications and premium devices, we can expect head-to-head competition within this segment during the holiday quarter and into 2019 to be exceptionally high,” said Sangeetika Srivastava, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.
Though 2018 has fallen below expectations so far, the worldwide smartphone market is set to pick up on the shift toward larger screens and ultra-high-end devices. All the big players have further built out their portfolios with bigger screens and higher-end smartphones, including Apple’s new launch in September. In Q3 2018, the 6-inch to less than 7-inch screen size band became the most prominent band for the first time with more than four times year-over-year growth. IDC believes that larger-screen smartphones (5.5 inches and above) will lead the charge with volumes of 947.1 million in 2018, accounting for 66.7% of all smartphones, up from 623.3 million units and 42.5% share in 2017. By 2022, shipments of these larger-screen smartphones will move up to 1.38 billion units or 87.7% of overall shipment volume.
“What we consider a so-called normal size smartphone has shifted dramatically in a few short years and while we are stretching the limits with bezel-less devices, the next big switch to flexible screens will test our imaginations even further,” said Melissa Chau, associate research director with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “While this category of device is still nascent and won’t see major adoption in the year ahead, it’s exciting to see changes to the standard monoblock we are all so used to carrying.”
Android: Android’s smartphone share will remain stable at 85% throughout the forecast. Volumes are expected to grow at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7% with shipments approaching 1.36 billion in 2022. Android is still the choice of the masses with no shift expected. Android average selling prices (ASPs) are estimated to grow by 9.6% in 2018 to US$258, up from US$235 in 2017. IDC expects this upward trajectory to continue through the forecast, but at a softened rate from 2019 and beyond. Not only are market players pushing upgraded specs and materials to offset decreasing replacement rates, but they are also serving the evolving consumer needs for better performance.
iOS: iOS smartphones are forecast to drop by 2.5% in 2018 to 210.4 million. The launch of expensive and bigger screen iOS smartphones in Q3 2018 helped Apple to raise its ASP, simultaneously making it somewhat difficult to increase shipments in the current market slump. IDC is forecasting iPhone shipments to grow at a five-year CAGR of 0.1%, reaching volumes of 217.3 million in 2022. Despite the challenges, there is no ambiguity that Apple will continue to lead the global premium market segment.


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The Xiaomi Mi 9 will be announced in China next week and this will be their first flagship model for 2019. Now Xiaomi has dropped another teaser which confirms that the new flagship will be heading for Barcelona in conjunction with MWC19.
Earlier this week, Xiaomi has sent out invites for a product launch that’s taking place on the 24th February 2019. Based on the latest teaser image, we can confirm that it’s the Mi 9 that comes with a triple-camera setup. The last time Xiaomi launched a flagship smartphone at MWC was the Xiaomi Mi 5 in 2016.
From the image, we can tell that there’s a camera for depth of field, one for normal shots and another camera for ultra-wide-angle shots. The Mi 9 will run on the latest Snapdragon 855 processor and can expect this to be the most affordable flagship smartphone until the next Pocophone arrives. We will be attending MWC19 in Barcelona, so keep it locked on to SoyaCincau.com for the latest updates.
[ SOURCE ]


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The Portman Group
This month, Larry Nelson has spotted a flaw in the drinks industry's regulation of its own products....
The UK's Coalition Government is showing every sign of being stumped by the country's love affair with the bottle, not that the industry is...
Over the past two years, the name Drinkaware has become a familiar feature on drinks labels in the UK. Drinkaware’s chief executive Chris So...
Henry Ashworth has faced plenty of challenges since taking the reins at the Portman Group in 2011. Dealing with the fall-out from decisions by the group's independent complaints panel and the ever-agitating UK health lobby means life is rarely dull. Here, Ashworth talks to just-drinks' deputy editor James Wilmore about the watchdog's work, and a certain Scottish brewer.
To coincide with tomorrow's forum on responsible drinking in the UK, this month's 'just the Answer' sees Olly Wehring tackle the CEO of Drinkaware, Chris Sorek.
The Portman Group has argued that UK health campaigners are “ignoring the facts” after claims that children are being negatively influenced by drinks firms sponsoring sport.
Mast-Jägermeister is launching a new multi-media campaign in a bid to showcase its namesake liqueur brand's heritage and “premium” ingredients to US consumers.
Here's a round-up of this week's highlights in the global spirits & wine categories. We are also running similar round-ups for beer and soft drinks & bottled water.
Mast-Jägermeister and Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) have joined UK drinks industry watchdog, The Portman Group, just-drinks can reveal.
Alcohol-related violent crime in the UK fell by 32% in the past 10 years, while the population is becoming less tolerant to anti-social behaviour, according to latest studies.
Today's news that German spirits firm Mast-Jägermeister has joined UK responsible drinking organisation The Portman Group may raise eyebrows in some quarters.
- Focus - Pernod's YTD Performance by Region
- Comment - Will We Understand the Language of Rum?
- Focus - Heineken's Q1 Performance by Region
- just On Call - Pernod shifts Scotch focus in China
- just The Preview - Pernod Ricard's Q3 & YTD
- CFO of Diageo's United Spirits stands down
- Pernod Ricard sees YTD recover as sales increase
- Remy Cointreau US head to step down
- BrewDog launches GBP25m crowd-funding attempt
- Global Tequila market hits new highs in 2014
- Global Tequila insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Global rum insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Diageo plc (DGE) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review
- Bacardi Limited - Strategy and SWOT Report
- ALDI 2015: Radically transforming Anglo Saxon grocery markets


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What to Expect in the Stock Market May 30-June 3
Thank you to all the men and women who put their lives at risk so I can live the life I live and talk about money and stocks. You are the Shadow MVPs of the Freedoms we have today.
Seems the markets are turning around. We finally saw consecutive green days last week. Something we have not seen for months. The Dow Jones actually saw 5 consecutive days in the green. The S&P and Nasdaq snapped their 7-week losing streak and finished last week in a positive direction.
Does this mean the worst is over and we can finally go back to the World of 2021? Where we were making new highs every other day?
Well, probably not.
There are still a lot of headwinds (a fancy way of saying challenges) facing the US economy and investors are worried (more on this below).
But I will take a relief rally whenever we can get one.
The Beautiful Market Returns Last Week:
Tale of the Tape
No, I mean that literally.
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the price of eggs will be 21% higher by the end of the year. This is a massive increase from the expectation of a 6-7% increase from last month.
How can this be?
Well, it is a combination of factors:
Bird flu outbreak in January that killed 6% of egg-laying chickens in the US
Chicken feed is more expensive because it is made from corn and soybean which have been affected by the trade war with China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Cage-free eggs are all the rage right now and that is more expensive to maintain
Plus all the typical issues we have talked about all year
Supply chain constraints
Putin is the world's worst human being on the planet
In March of this year, a dozen large Grade A eggs were $2.05, expensive but😕. In May, those same dozen large Grade A eggs were $2.52 😨. It was only $1.40 in Spring 2019.
Trying a new segment for the newsletter (let me know what you think)
Three grocery stores were among the top 10 most reputable companies, can you guess the three stores? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter
Combine that with a recent report from FRED aka the Federal Reserve Economic Data, that showed people are beginning to draw on their excess savings to face inflation. The personal savings rate dropped to its lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Jeffrey Roach, LPL Financial's chief economist said, "A falling savings rate tells me that consumers are dipping into savings to offset a subpar wage growth unable to keep up with inflation."
The Fed has doubled down on raising rates and reducing its balance sheet to fight inflation. Last Wednesday, the Fed minutes were leased for their meeting earlier in May. It showed the Fed will increase rates probably for longer than most investors had expected to ensure inflation comes down.
THE GOOD NEWS?
The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency that oversees government spending, released a report on Wednesday stating inflation has topped and will decline from here. However, it will still remain above the Fed's annual target of 2%. Also, GDP for the US will grow at 3.1% in 2022 whereas most banking analysts had expected a growth of only 1%. Per CNBC:
Random Interesting/SAD Facts
The number of death per 100,000 children due to Guns
It is now the leading cause of death in Children
NOT Sickness, NOT Disease, NOT car accidents
Number of people who traveled over the Memorial Day weekend according to AAA
This is an increase of 8.3% from 2021
What was that about inflation causing airfare and gas to be more expensive?
For those of us who live in the South (like ya boi), Summer equals STORM SEASON
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is forecasting a 70% chance of 14 to 21 named storms this season.
Of these, six to 10 would become hurricanes, and of these, three to six would intensify into major hurricanes of Category 3 or greater.
Lord PROTECT US!!
All eyes on labor
This week the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report. It measures the number of job openings available, the number of new hires, and the number of quits that we have in a month. March showed there were 11 million jobs available. With 5 million people unemployed, it means there were plenty of jobs to go around. It will be interesting to see how the labor market is faring. To see if people are rushing back to work especially as inflation continues to cause people to use up their savings.
However, right now workers still have a lot of power in the job market. But things might be changing
As far as stocks are concerned. Everyone's favorite meme stock, Gamestop, reports earnings this week. This should be a reminder to everyone not to get caught up with movements when investing. People’s attentions change and they move on. When investing the most important thing to look at is the CASH a business can generate.
Speaking of Cash generating businesses, there are two that I am very interested in that will be reporting this week: Salesforce and Crowdstrike
Salesforce wants to be like Microsoft for businesses. They provide “customer relationship management software and applications focused on sales, customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development.”
In my words: they make it easier for businesses to have a personal touch with customers
The key thing with Salesforce is the fact that they made themselves to be a platform where developers created plugins for the software. Making it very user friendly and personalized for each customer
It is literally the anti-Microsoft (pre-Satya Nadella).
I love boring Business to Business companies because they tend to be able to charge more for their services and they are not caught on the whims of consumer preferences.
Crowdstrike is a cybersecurity company. They provide “cloud workload and endpoint security, threat intelligence, and cyberattack response services.” According to their website
In my words: they use AI to ensure they can prevent attacks before they happen and make it seamless for any business.
Another Business to Business company.
With more and more businesses having employees work from all over the globe, cybersecurity will play a massive role in protecting information from being stolen or systems from being corrupted.
From my research (meaning seeing my company using the service and then listening to podcasts and reading newsletters), Crowdstrike seems to be a leader in the space for enterprises.
Both of these companies have been getting destroyed due to the general hate of tech companies with large multiples right now. So trying to determine if they are a good buy for my portfolio.
Sports I Care About Update
Since the season is over for Man U (Praise the Lord). This section will become updates on teams I care about. This week is all about Real Madrid winning ANOTHER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE trophy!!
Answer to Trivia: Trader Joe's (my favorite store of late), H-E-B, and Wegmans. Three other grocers were in the top 25 most reputable companies: Kroger (cost-effective), Publix (overhyped but good), and Costco (my second favorite store).
Thank you for Rocking With ME
If you enjoy the newsletter SHARE IT.
Remember GENEROSITY > greed
God bless Each and Everyone of y’all


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TUI opens a new travel store in Sheffield
Leading holiday company TUI has today opened a new holiday store in The Moor, Sheffield development.
This new store is a relocation from Sheffield Pinstone Street and is first for TUI as it is located inside the Next store, which also opened today.
Holidaymakers can enjoy an ideal setting when looking to book their next perfect break. The new store has a fresh, modern look with booth-style seating so customers can see their holiday plans on the big screen when discussing options with their travel advisor. There is also a Travel Money desk and Welcome Bar where advisors greet guests as they walk into the store.
Customers will be able to discuss all of their holiday plans and access reviews and excursions for potential destinations with staff who will be on hand to offer their professional knowledge and a personalised holiday planning service.
Last month saw the launch of the new TUI Airways Dreamliner flights from Doncaster Sheffield airport to Orlando Sanford in Florida and representatives from both TUI and the airport were present to celebrate the opening of the new store.
For customers already looking ahead to next year, TUI has recently introduced another long-haul favourite Cancun, Mexico to the programme for summer 2020 from Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
Stephen Bracegirdle, Head of Retail for TUI said: “With the launch of this new store and a wide range of holidays, including the family favorite of Florida now available from Doncaster Sheffield Airport, this is a really exciting time for the region.
“We’re delighted that our brand new TUI store in Sheffield is now open. Our excellent team there is able to offer customers a personalised experience to find them the perfect holiday.”
Chris Harcombe, Aviation Development Director at Doncaster Sheffield Airport said: “This new investment by TUI in a state of the art store is real testament to the demand to fly locally, with the Airport now just 25 minutes from Sheffield City centre. This summer has seen 5 new routes added by TUI, meaning 110,000 extra seats from DSA including long haul services to Florida, with Mexico to start next summer.”
ALL PRESS RELEASES


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Don’t you just hate it when people promise you something one day, but only deliver on it a week later? Well Space Hulk has done just that. Space Hulk: Deathwing was supposed to launch last week, but will only be launched on the 14th of December this week after a last minute delay. But it’s okay because we still have the launch trailer. Yay?
Space Hulk: Deathwing is a new Warhammer: 40,000 FPS featuring the popular kids- Dark Angels. The courageous 1st Company are experienced and serve the Space Marine with pride and honour, but when a Genestealer-infested space hulk appears in Imperial space all hell breaks loose. The game is based on the Space Hulk board game, and Deathwing includes a solo campaign as well as co-op for up to four players.
Space Hulk: Deathwing will be available on PS4 and Xbox One in 2017 (and hopefully on the 14th of this month for PC).
The launch trailer tries to get us excited by playing on the fact that it is only a weeks delay. The trailer also serves to remind players that they get 15% off on the game and get an the Lost Mace of Corswain weapon by pre-ordering Space Hulk: Deathwing on Steam.


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Linda Rodin, a fashion stylist and beauty icon, recently released a series of lip kits in time for summer, which consist of varying hues of pink and purple.
The formula is creamy and long-lasting, making it glide onto the lips with ease while nourishing them at the same time. A total of five shades are available, which are labeled: 'Red Hedy,' 'So Mod,' 'Tough Tomato,' 'Winks,' and 'Billie on the Bike.' The liners match the lip sticks perfectly, and help the product to stay on for even longer and have a stronger look.
Due to their highly pigmented finishes, Linda Rodin's luxurious lipsticks and liners are made to be the center of every look, and therefore enables those who wear them to skip out on other makeup products.
These New Linda Rodin Products are Perfect for Adding a Pop of Color
Riley von Niessen — May 10, 2017 — Fashion


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As we move into the year 2023, it’s natural to wonder what the future holds. And with 250 days from today, there are a lot of possibilities to consider. From major events to technological advancements, here’s a glimpse of what we could expect in the next few months.
One of the biggest news stories of the year will likely be the 2023 World Athletics Championships, which are set to take place in Eugene, Oregon from July 15-24. This will be the first time the event has been held in the United States, and it’s sure to draw a lot of attention from sports fans around the world.
Another major event that’s just around the corner is the 2023 Academy Awards, which are scheduled for February 26. This year’s ceremony is already generating buzz, with many predicting that it could be a big night for films like “Belfast” and “The Power of the Dog.”
If you’re looking for ways to make the most of the next 250 days, there are plenty of tips to consider. For example, you could try setting a new fitness goal and working towards it each day. Or, you could take up a new hobby, like painting or photography, and use your free time to hone your skills.
Another tip is to focus on your mental health. With so much going on in the world, it’s important to take time to unwind and relax. Consider trying meditation, taking a yoga class, or simply spending time outdoors to clear your mind.
When it comes to reviews, there are plenty of products and services that are sure to make waves in the next 250 days. One example is the new iPhone, which is rumored to be released in September. With a sleek design and powerful features, this phone is sure to be a hit with tech enthusiasts.
Another product to keep an eye on is the Peloton Tread, which is set to launch in July. This high-tech treadmill offers a variety of workout options and is sure to be a game-changer for fitness enthusiasts.
If you’re looking to learn something new in the next 250 days, there are plenty of tutorials to consider. For example, you could learn how to code and start building your own websites or apps. Or, you could take a cooking class and learn how to make delicious meals at home.
Another tutorial to consider is a language course. With so many online options available, it’s easier than ever to learn a new language and broaden your horizons.
As you can see, there’s a lot to look forward to in the next 250 days. Whether you’re a sports fan, a tech enthusiast, or simply looking to improve yourself, there are plenty of opportunities to make the most of the time ahead. So, get ready to embrace the future and all that it has to offer!


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Hydroponics gardening piques the curiosity of horticulture
Monday, December 13, 2021
Media contact: Gail Ellis | Communication specialist, copywriter | 620-515-2498 | firstname.lastname@example.org
During the past year, Oklahoma State University expansion has been inundated with inquiries related to Hydroponics Plant production.
Expansion specialists saidthe non-traditional gardening method is workable but also requires more complicated growing techniques. Its surge in popularity is based on several factors.
“We saw interest in gardening in general with the onset of COVID-19 when everyone was home,” said Josh Campbell, educator at Oklahoma County Extension. “They wanted to connect with nature and the food supply by learning more about food sources and safety.”
What makes hydroponics attractive? Plants can grow in a liquid nutrient solution without the presence of soil and it is a viable means of production for tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and peppers, as well as ornamental plants.
“Hydroponics is an option in urban areas where there is no access to land bases or productive soil,” said Campbell. “Scientists and those interested in technology from an agricultural point of view see this as the future of production in a small space.”
Bruce Dunn, an OSU professor of horticulture and landscape architecture, said another major driver of curiosity about hydroponics is the efficiency and cost savings of local food production.
“Most of our produce comes from California, and when we see $ 4 a gallon of gasoline and labor and transportation problems, those things depend on our vegetables getting here in Oklahoma,” he said. “Local food movements want to reduce the carbon footprint and eliminate food deserts. We get calls every month from people saying they are getting into local food production. “
For the home gardener considering small-scale hydroponics in a garage or greenhouse, the method can be an economically viable option.
“The advantage of hydroponics in a greenhouse is that you can schedule the harvest of fresh produce,” said Dunn. “If you divide the greenhouse into quarters and stagger the germination times, you have something to harvest every week.”
However, both Dunn and Campbell recognize that hydroponic gardening is more capital-intensive and not as forgiving as traditional gardening. Stages of production that occur in natural eco gardens are difficult to replicate in a hydroponic setting.
“Hydroponics growers have to ask a premium to make money, and that often requires farm-to-table restaurants or suppliers paying that higher price,” said Dunn.
“I have seen very few growers who have expanded their operations to a commercial level and are still making a profit,” said Campbell. “You have to be a great gardener and a seasoned businessman to overcome the logistical challenges of growing food in a controlled indoor environment. If you don’t provide the right nutrients, water or light, things can quickly get out of hand. ”
The saturation of Oklahoma’s cannabis industry is also responsible for many of the hydroponics inquiries. As marijuana growers begin to close their businesses, they are turning to the specialists at OSU Extension and looking for alternative ways to use their large, empty greenhouses.
“I’ll get inquiries from people who say vaguely, ‘I’m growing this plant …’ and I know exactly what they’re growing,” Dunn said with a laugh. “Oklahoma has more cannabis growers than California, and that may not be sustainable.”
“It is an opportunity for Extension to help vegetable producers identify their barriers and solve problems,” said Campbell.
In addition to the OSU Extension’s collection of hydroponics fact sheets, Dunn and Campbell are available to answer questions about hydroponics gardening or to make site visits to assist with vegetable production. Dunn also leads a team of PhD students in the OSU’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture department who research fertilizer application, algae control, and production methods of hydroponic peppers, leafy greens, and other fast-growing vegetables.


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BURR RIDGE, ILL. — BAK Food Equipment, a supplier of food processing equipment, announced the appointment of Marcos Manzo to national sales director. Manzo will leverage his experience to support BAK’s customers, while also helping expand the company’s sales pipeline and support its existing relationships.
Manzo has nearly a decade of experience in sales in the food processing industry. He most recently served as vice president of sales at CM Process Solutions, where he expanded the capabilities of the company’s North American sales team through his leadership. He also has previous experience at Equipment Processing Solutions, the predecessor to BAK before its rebrand.
“Marcos brings with him an extensive knowledge of the food processing industry and its operations, which makes him the ideal sales consultant for food processors exploring the value-added benefits of automation,” said John Bobak, founder and chief executive officer of BAK Food Equipment. “We are thrilled to welcome him back to our innovative team of consultants, who are equipping the industry for success every day.”
Manzo added, “I’m proud to be joining BAK Food Equipment’s team of experts to help food processors improve their production and increase yields through the use of elite automated processing equipment from Nowicki, N&N Nadratowski and Protech.”
Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.


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Establishing the right partner relationships is crucial for Huawei’s bid to expand its cloud business outside of China, said Huawei executives at ITU Telecom World 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Huawei is aiming to have 60% to 70% of its cloud business originate from outside of China by the end of next year, up from the current 25%. The firm has installed cloud bases in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe.
Huawei’s director of cloud computing marketing, Ron Raffensperger, said Huawei’s current challenge lies in engaging both systems integrators and software application partners specializing in cloud deployments for specific verticals, to help with its cloud expansion outside of China.
Raffensperger cited healthcare and transportation as e-government applications that hold great growth potential, and finding the right set of partners to pursue such projects with is critical, he said. Huawei has to date established between 20 -30 partner relationships with such firms.
In China, Huawei helped build the Shanghai Pudong Health cloud, which hosted the medical records of patients in hospitals and community health centers. The information available in the cloud enabled patients to visit outpatient or small regional clinics instead of specialized doctors which might be located far away.
The firm has also adopted the Amazon Web Services cloud interface as a standard for its own cloud products, so customers get access to tools and applications that have been developed around the Amazon cloud.
Raffensperger cited the adaptability of Huawei’s internal sales organizations as a further challenge faced by the company. A sales force accustomed to selling products such as switches and antennas could not sell the cloud concept to customers in the same way, and the challenge lay in understanding the needs of customers outside of China, he said.
Apart from understanding customer needs, Huawei has also chosen to focus on software for the cloud, particularly around automation and cloud management, which Raffensperger claims is a major differentiator among cloud providers. Although unable to reveal figures, Raffensperger said Huawei was spending ‘a lot of money’ on research and development.
Huawei’s cloud ambitions fall within the company’s targets for its enterprise business – president of the firm’s enterprise division William Xu told reporters at the event that Huawei is aiming to double its $2 billion sales figure from last year to $4 billion this year, followed by $7 billion next year to between $15 billion and $20 billion by 2015.


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Dirty streets, empty shops, beggars, car parking and punitive business rates are among a raft of issues affecting Northampton town centre which need urgent attention, a new report has stated.
A town centre summit, which was attended by businesses from across Northampton, was held at the Guildhall last September.
And the results of the survey have now been published, with Northampton Borough Council already pledging to take action in 27 areas.
The summit, which was chaired by former Church’s China managing director, Stephen Church, revealed an “overwhelming view” that cost and availability of car parking was the most damaging issue affecting footfall.
It goes on to say that business rates are at an “unsustainable level” and are “critically damaging” to both current businesses, and the prospects of attracting new businesses.
The re-design of the Market Place has failed, with a 25 per cent drop in pitch rentals, and cleanliness is “well short” of acceptable levels, the report continues.
And it goes on to say that beggars, street drinkers, gangs of youths and drink-induced anti-social behaviour are affecting the down by day and night.
Councillors are also labelled as “uninspired,” and lacking the knowledge to make necessary improvements to the town.
In the report, Mr Church says: “The overwhelming areas of concern for the majority of contributors relate to the cleanliness and maintenance of streets, furniture and public spaces along with the availability and cost of parking.
“It was also strongly felt that urgent attention should be given to the issues of anti-social behaviour, development of the cultural quarter and arterial access to the town centre.”


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Q3 2022 INDUSTRIAL MARKET OVERVIEW
Vacancies remain near record lows in the Boston industrial market, at 2.9% in the warehouse segment and 5.4% in the flex segment. Leasing volume is decelerating, however, with limited available space on the market that meets the requirements of modern tenants. Developers are responding to space needs, and construction is at its highest level in several decades. Roughly 11 million SF is under construction across Massachusetts, mostly in warehouse and GMP projects, supporting the rapid growth of e-commerce and the life sciences industry. Development is spreading far from Boston, with about 3 million SF under construction in central Massachusetts and the Worcester area. Rent growth has continued at a torrid pace, especially in the flex segment which reached 11% over the first three quarters of 2022. That number matches the cumulative rent growth rate for the flex segment across 2019-21.
While fundamentals are still arguably at their strongest point in recent memory, macroeconomic issues are beginning to challenge the primary demand drivers for the industrial market. E-commerce companies are contending with global supply chain disruptions and inflation-driven pressures on consumer spending. Amazon is scaling back its national logistics footprint by 10-30 million SF, after recording its first quarterly loss since 2015 earlier this year. The e-commerce giant will close at least five Massachusetts warehouses in this downsizing. Biotech has been affected by struggling public markets, with IPO activity slowing significantly and industry stocks underperforming the broader economy in 2022. The rising strength of the U.S. dollar is also sending pricing power to overseas manufacturers.
Despite macroeconomic headwinds, the industrial market is still in a strong position for long-term growth. The Amazon closures will barely make an impact on the overall Boston industrial market, as they represent less than 1% of the total inventory, and Amazon continues to expand to new facilities at a rapid pace. Given how low vacancies are, the additional space on the market may provide necessary relief for tenants seeking to expand. E-commerce should also have plenty of room for continued liftoff, as online sales as a percentage of total retail sales in the U.S. still trails that of many other industrialized nations. E-commerce also may better withstand an economic downturn, as it generally offers cheaper prices than in-person shopping. While biotech public markets have struggled, VC funding remains robust. As this influx of investment boosts the R&D capabilities of many local firms, companies will also require additional biomanufacturing and GMP space. Although dozens of local firms have announced thousands of combined layoffs in 2022, overall scientific R&D jobs increased by about 12% over the last year, which easily outperformed the broader professional and business services sector.


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From Silicon Valley, American tech companies oversee ever-expanding global empires.
Google has a bigger slice of the online search market in Europe than it does at home . More than 80 percent of Facebook’s 1.3 billion users live outside the United States, with Brazil and India among the social network’s most important markets. And Apple now sells more iPhones and iPads in Shanghai and St. Petersburg than it does in San Diego.
The world’s seemingly insatiable appetite for all things tech has made many of these giants among the most profitable companies in the world. But selling these products has also placed them largely at odds with global privacy rules that go far beyond what American lawmakers demand at home.
The tech companies often rely on lengthy (frequently incomprehensible) consent forms and free speech rights to protect themselves against claims of misuse of their users’ online information. But that defense does not hold up in large parts of the world, including Malaysia, South Africa, Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Argentina.
The right to privacy is taken more seriously abroad, notably in Europe, where politicians are considering rules that would fine any company up to $125 million or 5 percent of its annual revenue if it flouted the region’s strict data protection rules.
And regulators from Paraguay to the Philippines are lifting passages — almost word for word — from Europe’s tough privacy laws .
“Europe’s data protection rules have become the default privacy settings for the world,” said Billy Hawkes, a former data protection regulator for Ireland .
Facebook has repeatedly had to rewrit e its privacy policies to give its global users a greater say in how their online data is used.
Microsoft claims that its cloud computing services (which allow people to store documents and photos on the Internet) now comply with Europe’s tough data protection rules — the only American company so far to receive such approval.
Google, meanwhile, is scrambling to comply with a recent European court ruling that allows anyone — whether in or out of the 28-member European Union — to ask that links to online information about themselves be removed from its global search results.
Although Google fought hard to block this so-called right to be forgotten, it lost the battle, and has scrubbed thousands of links from its search results to adhere to the European ruling. Advocates for the new standard are hoping to force the company to extend the practice across its entire global search business — and potentially to the United States.
“Americans really do care about these issues,” said Gus Hosein, a senior fellow at Privacy International, a London- based consumer advocacy group . “But right now, they have very limited rights that they can exert over how their data is used.”
Across the globe, countries are looking toward Europe for cues on how best to protect their citizens’ privacy. When Brazil unveiled the country’s new Internet bill of rights, lawmakers demanded that tech companies obtain permission from users before sharing their data with online advertisers and marketers.
New rules in South Africa forbid sending people’s online information electronically to countries that do not replicate its stringent privacy laws .
In South Korea, people have the right to access their online information held by tech companies whenever they want.
For tech giants like Google and Facebook, the path ahead is clear. These companies may call Silicon Valley home, but they’re increasingly falling in step with international regulators.


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COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has been touting an improving economy, even as he pleads for more "emergency" jobless benefits. The December jobs report will help indicate whether things are really getting better or whether the president should fess up that after five years his economic policies aren't doing enough to fire up growth and create jobs.
Recent data indicate the economy has neither been improving nor is there any new emergency. During the three months ending in November, the U.S. Labor Department estimated the economy added 193,000 jobs each month, whereas during the first three months of 2013, the monthly count was 207,000.
The economy did expand at a strong 4.1 percent pace in the third quarter but some 40 percent of that growth was stock building -- retailers and others filling shelves and warehouses with goods customers didn't buy but are nonetheless scored by gross domestic product accountants as "inventory investment."
Hence, most economists expect businesses to adjust purchases and for growth to slow to something in the range of 2.5 percent -- only marginally better than the pace set since the recovery began in 2009.
Industry surveys indicate retail sales did pick up in December but retailers cleared out inventories by slashing prices. Hence, Chinese and South Korean exporters made lots of money sending clothes and electronics to American holiday shoppers but U.S. businesses didn't profit much marking up those goods for sale to consumers. That generates little reason for optimism about future hiring.
On the plus side, housing remains strong but much has been driven by investors from abroad seeking a politically secure parking place for wealth by purchasing real estate in New York, the more elegant sections of other cities and warm-weather properties in Florida and southern California.
Importantly, young families, who compose the vast majority of first-time home buyers and domestic additions to demand and price push have remained on the sidelines, bedeviled by a sour job market for recent college graduates.
Forecasters expect the Labor Department to report the economy created about 200,000 jobs in December -- not much improvement or much decline from the record of recent months.
The unemployment rate should stay at about 7 percent, largely because so many adults remain discouraged or stuck in part-time jobs. Factoring in those folks, the jobless rate becomes 13.2 percent.
Getting unemployment down to 6 percent, while employing those folks at the margins of the labor market, would require about 365,000 jobs each month for three years.
What continued mediocre jobs growth shows is that Obama's redistributionist policies -- such as some of the highest taxes on businesses in the industrialized world and dysfunctional subsidies for middle-class health insurance -- and statism -- such as business regulations more burdensome than necessary to accomplish reasonable safety and environmental objectives, endless lawsuits brought on banks, free trade agreements with government-run Asian economies and prohibitions on U.S. energy production -- don't create growth or nearly enough decent jobs.
More importantly, mediocre jobs growth indicates Obama's policies, by suppressing the demand for workers and wages, are adding to income inequality rather than addressing it constructively.
The United States can do better -- it can be a more prosperous and fairer society.
However, the country needs for the president to radically change his policies or wait for a radically different president.
(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)


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Coin, the company behind the innovative electronic card that aimed to consolidate your wallet into a single card, has today announced the 2.0 version of its offering. The first iteration of Coin began shipping in April 2015 and anyone who owns the first generation of the product is eligible for a free upgrade to Coin 2.0. Coin 2.0 includes a variety of enhancements, most important of which comes with the addition of NFC.
EMV Stories August 26, 2015
EMV Stories December 16, 2014
On the same day that Apple Pay reached a sign-up rate of 90% of US bank cards by transaction volume, Samsung is reportedly planning to launch a rival mobile payment service that would work with 100% of cards and payment terminals on day one.
Re/code suggests that the company is in talks with LoopPay, a startup which describes itself as “the most accepted mobile wallet on the planet.” Instead of using an NFC chip for contactless payment, LoopPay transmits a magnetic signal which simulates the swiping of the magnetic strip on a card. That means it works with all cards and all payment terminals, contactless or not … expand full story
EMV Stories November 10, 2014
EMV Stories July 30, 2014
Today, Square announced a new version of its popular mobile payment system that will support EMV chipped credit cards. EMV is a joint effort from MasterCard and Visa to help improve security credit and debit card transactions and is set to become a standard in the US by October 2015. In addition to EMV-equipped credit cards, the new version of Square’s payment system will still feature support for legacy magnetic strips, so customers will still have the option to swipe and sign.


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Introduction – the stage is set
We live in a world that is rapidly progressing toward newer and greater levels of convenience, connectivity and freedom. This is the age of the wireless power and communications revolution, where everything from handheld consumer electronics to home appliances to transportation is incorporating wireless technologies to create new levels of convenience, interaction and monitoring. While tremendous progress has been made because of technologies including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, radio frequency (RF), Ultra Wide Band (UWB) and global positioning systems (GPS), one last tether has kept consumers from making the leap to a completely wireless lifestyle – the power cord. In research conducted by the Alliance for Universal Power Supplies, consumer demand for “simplicity, a better charging experience and convenience,” along with manufacturing, usability, waste and environmental concerns surrounding the billions of power adapters that are produced and shipped each year globally, have created a surge of interest in wireless power solutions.
In association with Chicago market researcher Synovate, Green Plug (www.greenplug.us), an organization committed to creating
a single plug solution for electronics, asked 1,000 online consumers about their attitude toward purchasing consumer electronics devices, which typically come with external power supplies that don’t work with any other product.
According to the survey, conducted in April, 2008, “31 percent of respondents said they regard incompatible power supplies as ‘wasteful’ and have many unused adaptors just lying around, while 30 percent described the situation as ‘frustrating’ – agreeing that forgetting to bring the right charger when leaving the house can prevent the use of an important device such as a laptop, cell phone, camera or music player. Another 18 percent said that they never thought about the situation before, 13 percent said it doesn’t really bother them and 8 percent said it is ‘costly’ – and that they have had to purchase replacements when forgetting to bring the required charger to the office, school or on a trip.”
Consumer demand, coupled with the formation of several companies in the last decade that are offering viable wireless power solutions, has generated an accelerated race to market for wireless power solutions ranging from proprietary pad and adaptive solutions to integrated near-field and broadcast technologies pursuing international standards – all of them promising the right answer.
Started in 2006, Fusion is a leading provider of total solutions to the digital home entertainment market. The Fusion brand of cutting-edge technologies incorporates the most dynamic and interactive applications to bring you seamlessly into the era of digital convergence between consumer and IT products.Young, digital and dependable with a fresh innovation – that is the image that Fusion represents.Here at Fusion, we have an ardent vision of the future of our digital entertainment experiences – a complete digital home entertainment system that brings together all your digital media, allowing you to access them wherever in (and even beyond) your home, whenever and however you want. With our strong passion for all things audio-visual, together with solid background in IT; we focus on developing next-generation products driven by customer feedback and needs. Our team continuously strives to listen to our customers, respond to your needs, and improve.In the midst of rapidly-evolving technologies, we feel that we can do more than just ride the trends. We here at Fusion believe in pioneering innovation to boost your digital experience and revolutionize your digital lifestyle. We are a team with young generation, we try to solve people’s life problem from 20 to 21 century. Lots of new and digital stuff come out and phrase out so soon.And we try to create a new solution and try to fix the fear of technology.Special design for aged people, decrease the pain from new technology and build up a real convenient and better quality for life


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We can now bid our goodbyes to what could have been the Apple’s most ambitious iPhone ever because according to the new evidence which has surfaced is virtually guarantying that the company’s top of the range iPhone 7 has been cancelled. We have reports of Russia’s Eurasian Economic Commission to thank for the news after it published Apple’s official trademark filings for a remarkable 13 new devices (most of which are new Apple Watch variants). But sadly there were only two, not three, new iPhones models (the ‘A1778’ and ‘A1784’) listed among them.
This information corresponds with news from respected Japanese site Mac Otakara last month that Apple had decided to cancel the iPhone 7 Pro, a new third addition to the iPhone range which would sit above both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Multiple photos had previously leaked of the three iPhone 7 models together. So how do we know if that is absolutely final or not, well Russia has always received every model of iPhone that Apple has sold up to now, the omission of a third model from the country’s official patent commission is as close to a rock solid confirmation as you’re likely to get.
As for the reasoning behind the cancellation, MacRumors says it came down to concerns that Apple would be unable to attain sufficient quantities of its new dual lens camera for the Plus model. These were overcome, but Apple had the iPhone 7 Pro in reserve even if it was in limited quantities because Apple was so keen to reclaim the smartphone camera crown it lost to Samsung in recent years. Comment below and let us know what you feel about Apple cancelling the most ambitious iPhone ever, do you think Samsung is winning this race of the monopoly for the smartphone market?


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While Indian companies are giving semiconductor designs to global partners, it is time for the country to become self-sufficient in terms of semiconductor manufacturing as well
The government of Karnataka is aiming of becoming the hub of fabless startups in India. It is also aiming to support the local ecosystem of electronics manufacturing by propelling Electronics System Design & Manufacturing Sector.
“ESDM sector in the country is predicted to reach USD 220 billion by 2025.It has the potential to create 1,000 start-ups, 10,000 IPs and around 10 lakh jobs,” noted C N Ashwath Narayan Karnataka Minister for Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology. He was speaking at the IESA Vision Summit taking place virtually.
The minister pointing out towards the semiconductor ecosystem in the country said that while Indian companies are giving semiconductor designs to global partners, it is time for the country to become self-sufficient in terms of semiconductor manufacturing as well.
India, as the minister pointed out, has over 100 semiconductor design service companies. He is confident that there will be a thrust for manufacturing of silicon semiconductor chips in the country.
IESA Chairman Rajeev Khushu had recently said that with series of government interventions like PMP, SPECS and PLI, India is set to become the global hub for electronic products and with an economy of this size it is important for the country to have its own component manufacturing and eco system.
IESA expects the electronics sector’s contribution to the GDP to double in a couple of years, as the government increases it efforts to boost electronics components manufacturing in the country.


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Chinese-based consumer electronic company Meizu isn’t as popular as the firm shows apathy to the international markets. Meanwhile, the company catches the home market with extraordinary flagship products. It also uses the USP of its competitors by providing the finest products with amazing specifications. Even some Meizu products carry distinctive features that make them project from their rivalries.
On January 6, the company announced that it would hold its first product launch conference later this week. The event is scheduled to be held on January 12; ardent fans of Meizu and tech enthusiasts can watch the live stream of the forum on the official social media pages of the company and other platforms like YouTube, and Weibo.
Affordable phones from leading companies are the finest conceptualization to energize the firm’s future launches. Even some firms are trying to take over the business with affordable phones to outstretch the plans over the globe. Recently, Nokia released four cheap phones to kickstart the year.
As per the official announcement from the company, Meizu will likely introduce numerous products of its sub-brands, including Lipro, Pandaer, and mBlu. Meizu officially announced that the new mBlu smartphones would focus more on the price segments. The company explained that most people are waiting for the release of flagships, but a third of genuine buyers buy smartphones at a price of about $ 235 (Rs.17,498) or even less.
The new device will be tagged mBlu 10. The smartphone has already been popped up in the TENNA database. The phone comes with a screen resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels with 6.517 inches and a fingerprint sensor mounted on the side of the phone like many affordable phones. The device has a built-in 5500mAh battery that supports 10-watt charging might be less than its generation models. Still, a cheap phone can’t do much than this as the price value is concerned. The Meizu Blue 10 is 9.3mm thick and weighs 201g.


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Description: Discover the latest news in the robotics industry, as Chinese startups achieve impressive fundraising milestones for global expansion. From cooking robots to delivery automatons, learn about their remarkable advancements.
Introduction: This week’s robotics news highlights the remarkable fundraising successes of Chinese startups, propelling them to international recognition. From cutting-edge cooking robots to adorable delivery couriers, these companies are revolutionizing the industry and expanding their reach worldwide. Additionally, we pay tribute to the late Joanne Pransky, a pioneer in the robotics field, with a scholarship initiative by Women in Robotics. Read on to explore the latest advancements in the world of robotics.
Cooking Robot Company Botinkit Raises $13M: Shenzhen-based startup Botinkit has secured a significant $13 million in its Series A funding round. Known for its cooking robots that ensure consistency and efficiency, the company has already ventured beyond China into Japan and the U.S. Now, armed with fresh capital, Botinkit sets its sights on Europe and the Middle East. Besides streamlining the cooking process and minimizing ingredient loss, Botinkit envisions remote cooking possibilities, where a chef in one country can cook for someone thousands of miles away using their software and hardware system.
SoftBank Backs Rice Robotics’ Delivery Venture: SoftBank, the technology giant, has invested in Hong Kong-based Rice Robotics, known for its adorable delivery robots sporting wide, captivating eyes. These charming couriers have been assisting workers in SoftBank’s Tokyo headquarters, ensuring seamless deliveries between 7-Eleven stores and drop-off locations. With $7 million raised in its pre-Series A funding round, Rice Robotics aims to expand further within Japan, its primary revenue source.
ForwardX Raises $140M in Robotics Advancement: Beijing-based ForwardX has made significant strides in the warehouse logistics and inventory management sector. The company, established in 2016, has already deployed 3,000 robots, serving esteemed clients such as IKEA, UNIQLO, Walmart, and Mitsubishi. Recently, ForwardX concluded a $30 million funding round, boosting its Series C to $61 million and total funding to an impressive $140 million. These funds will support the company’s continued growth and innovative advancements in the field of robotics.
Women in Robotics Launches Joanne Pransky Scholarship: The robotics community mourns the loss of Joanne Pransky, a distinguished figure who dedicated her life to exploring the human-robot relationship and advocating for social robotics. In honor of her legacy, Women in Robotics introduces the Joanne Pransky Celebration of Women in Robotics scholarship. This scholarship aims to empower and support the next generation of women and non-binary students pursuing careers in robotics. Contributions to the fund can be made via Bold.org, helping pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse future in the robotics industry.
Conclusion: Chinese robotics startups have surged ahead with impressive fundraising achievements, expanding their innovative technologies across borders. From automated cooking to delightful delivery robots, these companies redefine the possibilities in the robotics space. Additionally, the industry commemorates the influential work of Joanne Pransky with a scholarship initiative encouraging gender diversity and inclusivity in the field. As the robotics industry continues to flourish, it embraces a future driven by groundbreaking innovations and remarkable advancements.
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The senior director, leisure travel industry sales for Florida’s Discover the Palm Beaches – the tourism promotion body for Atlantic Ocean-facing Palm Beach County – says the jurisdiction’s 39 communities can accommodate those who enjoy being in the water and those who prefer being on land.
Erick Garnica told a Wednesday Toronto gathering that the community of Jupiter has “waters that are amazing” and will be appreciated by those who enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling.
Jupiter offers many eco-activities, he added.
The county in total has 47 miles of beaches.
Palm Beach Gardens, on the other hand, is known for its golfing opportunities, while those visiting Delray Beach will find many bars and restaurants and is “our version of (Miami district) South Beach without the craziness and the chaos.”
Palm Beach County attracts its share of the rich and famous and offers luxury shopping, Garnica said.
He noted many associate Florida with beaches, but said his county provides a “lot of things to do,” citing the likes of a May music festival; visits to the Everglades, a national park; and the Loggerhead Marine Life Center, which among other things helps rehabilitate injured or ill sea turtles.
Ian Black, director of group sales for Palm Beach’s The Brazilian Court, said his hotel dates back to 1926 and is two blocks from a beach and two blocks “from some of the best shopping in the world.”
The hotel has 80 guest units.
Black said the hotel works to keep an earlier ambience.
“We try to keep the whole feel of the ’30s and ’40s in the property,” he said.
Pictured are Paul Larcher of VoX International, which represents Discover the Palm Beaches in Canada, Black and Garnica.


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What we've seen money flow into some of the biggest retailer -- department store chains like JC -- let's get right to Sandra Smith she's apple one touch with some of these names another -- think well there's certainly a lot of investors were looking for that turnaround from JC Penney and maybe this is the beginning of its up Q percent today.
After those retail sales numbers came out this morning it did show.
Strain in the department store chains which JC Penney obviously struggling over the past year or so -- getting a nice boost in today's session after that report.
Kohl's also up more than a percent Nordstrom getting a nice boost.
Also and that report that was considered not really great for retail sales for the month of January grocery store chains did really well Kroger continuing.
It's a really nice run up that -- seen.
So far this year and over the past year Safeway and Harris teeter supermarkets among the gainers in there are also -- wanting to take a look at the Dow thirty right now.
Obviously most of the activity is in the red.
Make -- remains the worst performer on the Dow right now a lot of speculation in the market -- -- this after President Obama last night.
It's proposed raising the minimum rating requirement and that potentially leading to the selloff there that accounting for about a quarter of the Dow's overall losses.
And -- I wanna finish up by showing the commodities markets here has a couple big movers.
Natural gas prices been extremely volatile.
Up a couple percent right now at three dollars 29 cents per British thermal unit.
And then there's silver a story -- talking about today HSBC saying silver's -- to -- that shining star.
Not kidding you -- but it has been.
Outperforming gold so far this year -- -- -- buying opportunity and a -- it's very -- an industrial -- not just the -- absolutely so thank -- Sandra very much Sandra Smith.
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Following a meeting this week at the EU Agrifish Council, the Commission is looking into how the European meat industry can be safeguarded against the threat of disruption from increased imports from the Ukraine, and from Brexit.
Since the DCFTA was applied in 2016, meat exports from the Ukraine have increased by 32%. It’s also expected that 15% of exports to the EU will be from the Ukraine this year.
Because of this, some member states have expressed their concerns that it cause problems in the coming years for the EU farming industry. In particular, they have pointed to the poultry imports, of which Ukraine is a major supplier and some states argue it’s causing imbalance in the market.
Additionally, Brexit is just around the corner and the risk of no-deal is becoming a real possibility. If the UK goes ahead with its plan to remove tariffs on 87% of goods in the event of no-deal, it could mean market disturbance for at least 12 months, which is how long the UK plans to remove tariffs for.
Ireland would be the most affected by this change in tariffs. Over 50% of meat exports from Ireland are to the UK, and the market is worth an estimated 800 million euros. Dairy and beef are most at risk.
Other member states could also be affected, either directly or indirectly. Among those that could be directly affected are Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and France.
Although there’s been no confirmation of the EU’s contingency plan for this yet, the EU agriculture boss said the bloc is preparing for all scenarios. This is part of the EU’s wider planning for no-deal Brexit, which could affect a range of industries in different member states.
He noted in a statement: “We have a lot of experience in dealing with these market disturbances related to market developments.”
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By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
The 12 Volt Summit has given birth to the "12 Volt Initiative," the new name for the industrywide cooperative to raise awareness of car stereo.
The steering committee that organized the 12 Volt Summit held in July has nominated a slate of industry members to run the initiative and will email that slate out to attendees of the summit, who will then vote on the nominees by the last week of September. To view the nominees please see www.TWICE.com.
In addition, the steering committee voted to enlist the support of Jeff Manning, architect of the Got Milk? campaign and a featured speaker at the 12 Volt Summit, where industry members gathered to tackle how to raise awareness for car stereo. Manning has reportedly agreed to be hired by the industry but no formal contract has been signed.
Steve Witt, steering committee member and marketing VP of Alpine, said a newly elected committee was necessary because the commitment will be long term and will require "consistent planning, management and execution to achieve our goal … of increasing awareness." He said the voting process will not delay the goal of creating a campaign or strategy for the industry to review by International CES in January.
Witt claimed that steering committee members have been very active since the 12 Volt Summit. "Personally I have spent 50 hours in the last three weeks working on this, and I'm not alone. There are people working tireless hours right now to get this thing established."
This TWICE webinar, hosted by senior editor Alan Wolf, will take a look at what may be the hottest CE products at retail that will be sold during the all-important fourth quarter. Top technologies, market strategies and industry trends will be discussed with industry analysts and executives.


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Fox Business Flash top headlines for March 29
Fox Business Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
Nike on Monday filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against MSCHF over its controversial “Satan shoes” collaboration with rapper Lil Nas X.
The shoes are unofficial designs of Nike’s trademark Air Max 97 design, though the shoe company has said it is not involved with the creation or sale of the shoes.
The shoes, which contain a drop of human blood in the sole, went on sale Monday for $1,018 per pair. They are decorated with a pentagram and a reference to Luke 10:18, a Bible verse about Satan's fall from heaven.
Only 666 pairs were made available, and all were sold out shortly after going on sale.
Lil Nas X is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Shortly after the lawsuit was announced he posted a tweet showing a homeless Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants begging for change.
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"Nike filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against MSCHF today related to the Satan Shoes," Nike told Fox Business in a statement. "We don't have further details to share on pending legal matters. However, we can tell you we do not have a relationship with Lil Nas X or MSCHF. The Satan Shoes were produced without Nike's approval or authorization, and Nike is in no way connected with this project."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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After snapping up The Netherlands’ Red je Pakketje last May, Swedish last-mile delivery company Instabox has done it again; this time acquiring Norwegian logistics and e-commerce delivery solutions firm Porterbuddy. The acquisition signals Instabox’s further commitment to, and marked high growth rates within the Norwegian market.
While the exact financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, in an interesting move, Porterbuddy’s majority shareholders Verdane and Canica will reportedly reinvest their entire proceeds and double down with a fresh injection of capital. In doing so, Verdane/Canica will then become one of Instabox’s largest shareholders.
“With two of Europe’s most forward-leaning solutions for home delivery coming together, the Verdane team will draw on its experience from scaling more than 40 digital consumer businesses to support Instabox as it moves to provide greener and more user-friendly options,” commented Verdane’s Christian Jebsen.
Founded in 2015 in Stockholm, Instabox has one of the largest parcel locker box networks across the Nordics. Its partner list includes retail giants H&M and IKEA, as well as well-known brands Apotea and Boozt. The firm counts more than 2,000 automated lockers in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, with Germany now on the horizon, and has shown an impressive growth rate of over 300% per year, posting revenues exceeding €67.5 million in 2021.
Launched in 2017, Porterbuddy reaches approximately 60% of the Norwegian population, catering to the greater Oslo area as well as along the coast to Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, and Trondheim in the north.
“We've had our eyes on Porterbuddy for a while, as one of the most innovative last-mile companies in the Nordics,” commented Instabox founder and CEO Alexis Priftis. “I'm particularly impressed by their 4.9 out of 5.0 user rating which means that they share our obsession with user satisfaction, as well as their home delivery tech stack which I believe is one of the strongest out there.”


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Just one day before the first Xiaomi’s event from 2018, all the eyes are aiming at the possible revelation of the Redmi Note 5. It still is unclear if the newest All Rounder Redmi Note 5 will be just a rebranded Redmi 5 Plus or an entirely new handset with improved specifications. Either way, a Redmi Note 5 will come on the next Wednesday, but it may not be the only device launched by Xiaomi at India.
According to some reports, the company will also release the Mi TV 4 alongside the smartphone. The Mi TV 4 is the latest TV series manufactured by the company, despite the fact that it was announced back in CES 2017, it still is the most recent Xiaomi’s smart TV. Interestingly enough, the Mi TV 4 if released in India, will mark the debut of a brand new series of products from the Chinese company to be commercialized in the country.
Gizchina News of the week
Both Xiaomi and Flipkart already started to tease us showing the Mi TV 4 through their respective website and social media. At the moment we can’t state what sizes the TV will be available in India, neither can we pinpoint the price tag. However, knowing Xiaomi and all their effort and wait to launch such product in India we expect a great value for money, considering what it offers and the competition.
All details such as pricing, availability will be revealed on the Valentines Day, February 14th. We are just a single day ahead, so don’t forget to set a reminder to not skip any details about the Xiaomi first event of 2018.


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YSU grad expands vodka distribution
By Burton Speakman
A Canfield native and Youngstown State University graduate who made his way into the vodka industry has brought the product to his hometown.
It was always important to bring Clique Vodka to Youngstown because there has been so much support for the company in this area, said Noah Cohen, CEO and founder of Premier Innovations Group, the parent company that distributes the vodka.
Much of the investment in the company, 80 percent to 90 percent, has come from people in the Youngstown area, Cohen said. He started the company in 2007 at age 25, but it took three years to develop its own brand of vodka and get it into stores.
“We want to get into the Youngstown market and just explode,” he said.
When first starting the company, Cohen had to rely on friends and family in the Youngstown area to help finance his venture, he said.
“I was young and thought I had a great business idea, but I had to go to people who had trust in me and find someone willing to take a risk,” Cohen said. “I thought it was going to be a lot easier than it was.”
It is difficult to get bank loans for any type of new business, but for liquor, it’s very hard because the product cannot serve as collateral, he said. Because of the regulatory issues, banks do not want to be left with alcohol if a company goes out of business; they do not have the license to sell it.
The people in Youngstown were willing to invest because they knew Cohen, he said. They also have knowledge of other local companies, such as Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt and the DeBartolo Corp., that have been successful.
The company initially focused on getting into the state liquor stores in Pennsylvania, and then there was an opportunity in Tennessee, Cohen said. Youngstown was always the next expansion goal for the company.
“We want to become a regional supplier and plant the seeds toward being a national one,” said Frank Bachurski, vice president of marketing and brand development.
Clique Vodka is being sold throughout Northeast Ohio. The brand is sold in numerous retail outlets, such as Giant Eagle.
Although the product is available in Youngstown, Bachurski said the company will hire a local sales team within the next month to begin a larger product rollout.
Those employees will begin working with local clubs and offer their product to charitable events as a way to get information out about Clique, he said.
Clique costs about $16 a bottle. Ohio now marks the fourth state that Premier Innovations Group has expanded to, along with Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia. Clique is made and bottled in Latvia.
Premier recently signed a deal with Total Wine and More to carry Clique, Bachurski said.
This deal will expand the company to 13 to 17 more states by the end of 2012, he said.


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The companies, according to the order, were "indulging in cartelization" by acting in concert to increase the prices of cross ply/bias tires variants sold in the replacement market and limiting and controlling production and supply in the said market.
The commission noted that the tire makers had exchanged price-sensitive data amongst them through the platform of ATMA and had taken collective decisions on the prices of tires.
The CCI also said that it found that ATMA collected and compiled information relating to company-wise and segment-wise data (both monthly and cumulative) on production, domestic sales and export of tires on a real-time basis.
"The sharing of such sensitive information made the coordination easier amongst the tire manufacturers," it added.
As a result, the CCI ordered ATMA to "disengage and disassociate" itself from collecting wholesale and retail prices through the member tire companies or otherwise.
The decision confirmed a previous order dated Aug. 31, 2018, which had been kept in sealed cover following a petition by MRF.
Individual penalties for the tire makers are $56.8 million on Apollo Tyres; $83.1 million on MRF Ltd.; $33.6 million on Ceat Ltd.; $41.3 million on JK Tyre and $23.8 million on Birla Tyres.


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Honda's Activa switches to OBD-II compliance ahead of April 1 deadline
Japanese two-wheeler major is focusing to support Indian government's roadmap for alternative fuels with this tech upgrade.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has updated its flagship Activa scooter with an on-board diagnostics (OBD-II) system, ahead of the OBD-II regulations for new two-wheelers that are set to kick in from April 1, 2023.
The company will start production of the updated Activa at its plant in Tapukara (Rajasthan), Gujarat and Bengaluru (Karnataka) later this week, with the scooter reaching its over 6,000 dealerships across India by end-January.
HMSI stated that it has incurred a cost of Rs 1,177 to bring this technological upgrade to the 110cc Activa, which is also the largest-selling scooter in India.
The company also took the opportunity to introduce a smart-lock feature to the Activa with a new remote lock-and-key system christened 'H-Smart'. The new technology offers remote vehicle lock-unlock functionality, along with other features such as remote stop-start and identification of the vehicle's location from a distance.
The H-Smart system also brings a smart ECU to the Activa which sees 5 new patent being filed by the company with respect to the alternator starter generator (ACG) controller, and easy maintenance of the smart-lock system, among others.
The new Activa comes priced at Rs 74,536, ex-showroom, and is now compatible to run with E20 - 20 percent ethanol-blended petrol - in line with the government's target of rolling out E20 fuel across India by 2025. The new Activa's Smart variant is priced at Rs 80,537 (ex-showroom).
HMSI stated that it will support the government in its roadmap towards sustainability and carbon neutrality by leveraging its experience in Brazil where it offers two-wheelers which are compatible with up to 85 percent Ethanol.
"Honda will bring flex-fuel two-wheelers to India to support the government's roadmap to reduce carbon emissions," said Ryo Takahashi, director, Business and Product Planning Division, Motorcycle Business Function, Asian Honda Motor Company.
According to Atsushi Ogata, president, MD and CEO, HMSI, "ICE technology still has a big advantage with respect to distance per charge or refuel. From a carbon emissions point of view, the Indian government is strongly promoting bio fuels as agriculture remains India's main economic activity. While electrification is growing, India needs to stick to IC engines for a long time to come."
Maruti Suzuki inks MoA with Uttar Pradesh Government's Transport Department to automate driving license test tracks
Maruti Suzuki will undertake automation of the driving license test track using requisite technology in line with the Ce...
The company believes the Jimny’s global brand identity based on its go-anywhere capabilities and off-road DNA will be di...
The camp will offer a 32-point Electronic Vehicle Health Check-Up, Brake and Wiper check, Tyre and Fluid Level check, as...


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Crypto Vs. Cash: Which Countries Expect to Go Digital Soon?
Elena Perez's original article for cointelegraph.com reduced by 51%
Here are three more countries that are close to abandoning cash payments and potentially accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment method. "In my definition of cryptocurrencies one of their hallmarks is that they are not issued by a government, or union of government. In that respect I do not think that governments now or in the future will consider promoting cryptocurrencies as a major form of payment instrument.
If we talk about digital currency in a broader sense, I think it is highly possible that governments in the future will create digital form of money that can be used for payments." GermanyGermany has long been an outlier of European Union, with the nation currently having no restrictions on the use of cash payments. At the beginning of February 2016, the Ministry of Finance proposed to limit payment transactions with cash to the amount of 5,000 euros - both in the country and throughout the eurozone. In October 2018, the Bank of Canada described a number of issues associated with the country's complete refusal of cash in the study "Is a Cashless Society Problematic?" For example, some people, such as the elderly, may still prefer to use physical money instead of electronic payments.
To issue a digital currency by the Central Bank of the country, which would not be a cryptocurrency, but a digital version of the Canadian dollar to compete with private payment networks. Today, almost everyone understands the direction in which the payment systems of the future will develop, and it is definitely not toward cash or physical assets - cash will become electronic, but what role will blockchain and cryptocurrencies play? And whether it can prove its speed and complete security, we'll have to wait to find out.
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Summarised crypto news.


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China plans to reduce imports duties on foreign cars from 25 to 15 percent. To avoid additional punitive taraiffs from the US, the country has pledged to ease restrictions on foreign investment in the auto, aircraft and shipbuilding industries.
Global trade tensions have been brewing for months with tariffs and counter-tariffs flying between the US, China and several other countries. The US government has now challenged some of the tariffs at WTO level.
US officials have revealed a list of Chinese goods they will be targeting with 10 percent tariffs, raising fears of an escalating trade war. US retailers have slammed the decision, as has China itself.
Chinese officials condemned US punitive tariffs, threatening that it could launch "the biggest trade war in history." Beijing plans to bring the trade dispute to the World Trade Organization.
Government consultations between Germany and China in Berlin on Monday aim to send a signal of closer bilateral cooperation in light of a worsened trade spat with the US. But some hurdles have yet to be overcome.
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