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By Meg Jalsevac
November 20, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Two years ago, San Diego based pro-life activist James Hartline used his on-line report to organize and promote a national boycott of Paul Ecke Ranch Christmas poinsettias due to the Ecke family’s extensive history of financial support for abortion-giant Planned Parenthood (PP). Hartline is now claiming a major boycott victory. Recent local reports indicate that, since the 1920’s, this will be the first year the principal poinsettia producer in the nation, Ecke Ranch, will not produce and sell their typically large crop of the festive Christmas plant.
The Ecke family’s financial and ideological support of PP is well-documented and extends back through the years. Multiple members of the Ecke family are listed on the Planned Parenthood of San Diego’s 2006 annual report within the ‘Margaret Sanger Donor Circle’.
Mrs. Elisabeth Ecke, referred to as “a longtime champion of Planned Parenthood and the reproductive services it provides”, is listed as also having bequeathed funds to PP upon her death. In 2005, several members of the Ecke family contributed $250,000 to fund the renovation of the local PP clinic which was in turn named in honor of the family matriarch, Elisabeth Ecke.
According to an article in the San Diego Tribune Review, the Ecke Ranch has decided to license Armstrong Garden Centers to both grow and sell poinsettias under the Paul Ecke Ranch name. According to ranch officials, the change is not expected to cause any great diminution to the ranch’s overall income since they assert that selling the full-grown plants does not constitute the bulk of their business. However, according to the Tribune Review, the ranch typically grows and sells anywhere between 300,000 to 400,000 full-grown poinsettias each Christmas season. This year, they will produce only 6,000 to be used for promotional purposes.
While the Tribune Review article makes no mention of the pro-life boycott, Hartline is convinced that it has affected the Ecke business. “It is clear that our boycott will continue to hurt the Ecke name and their poinsettia sales. I fully believe that the Eckes know that their name is bad news among pro-lifers. I believe their decision to license out their name is, in part, due to our ongoing boycott.”
Hartline encouraged pro-lifers to continue the boycott of the Ecke poinsettias saying, “We must understand that the Eckes will continue to profit off of the poinsettias being produced by Armstrong Gardens, because the Ecke name will still be used.”
“I am convinced that our boycott has created major problems for Ecke Ranch. Without churchgoers purchasing their poinsettias, the Eckes will have a real hard time getting that extra cash they need to fund Planned Parenthood. Babies are more important than giving the Eckes blood money for their poinsettias!”
To contact Armstrong Garden Centers who will be selling Ecke poinsettias this Christmas:
2200 E. Route 66, Suite 200
Glendora, CA 91740-4673
TEL: (626) 914-1091
Gary Jones, Marketing VP
Armstrong Garden Centers


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We Are Social’s Monday Mashup #253
Brands post more on Instagram than Facebook
As organic reach on Facebook reaches an all time low, brands are turning to Instagram. A new study has shown that the world’s top 250 brands post on average 9.3 times a week to Instagram, but only 8.8 times to Facebook. Recently topping 300 million active monthly users, Instagram is proving to be an attractive place for brands, not least because all content posted will reach every single fan’s feed.
Facebook to provide topic data to brands
Through a partnership with DataSift, Facebook will now offer brands an insight into who is talking about what on the platform. This aptly named ‘topic data’ will include the demographics of people discussing a given topic, the specific things spoken about within it, such as brand names or products, and even the sentiment of the discussion. Advertisers will also be able to filter by the location and demographic information of the people within the conversation.
Twitter adds two new features for advertisers
This week, Twitter has launched a new analytics home page and in-tweet promotion feature, to make it even easier for brands to promote themselves on the platform. The analytics home page will provide a holistic view of tweet activity, such as how many people have seen your tweets, mentioned your username and shared your links. Also updated is the ‘quick promote’ feature which can now be done directly from a Twitter profile rather than through the analytics tool.
Twitter experiments with TV timelines
As the popularity of second-screening during live TV grows, Twitter is experimenting with ways of making this experience easier and more enjoyable for users. The new feature would track when users are talking about or searching for a particular programme and offer them the option to try out the show’s dedicated timeline. If the user accepts, they would see a new Twitter interface showing three column feeds (highlights, media and all) helping audiences to delve deeper into TV conversations and the promise of more eyes on your hilarious X Factor tweets.
Twitter buys live video app, Periscope
Its been confirmed that Twitter has acquired Periscope, a beta stage startup that lets users “explore the world in real-time through someone else’s eyes”. The move into live video is an obvious one that fits seamlessly with the real-time news element of the platform as well as their current focus on video content. The deal has come at a time when Meerkat, a similar live streaming video app, has gained a lot of traction. But, Twitter might have put a stop to Meerkat’s exponential growth by cutting access to the platform’s social graph, essentially making Meerkat users build their own following from scratch rather than using the fan base they have already acquired on Twitter.
YouTube launches 360-degree video
YouTube makes the first steps towards a virtual reality offering by introducing 360-degree videos. The videos can be watched through a browser, but also on mobile, with the android app allowing users to change the viewing angle based on where the phone is pointing. This feature means the android mobile app can be used with a Google Cardboard headset. YouTube have uploaded a playlist of the first 360-degree videos that are available.
Alibaba invests in Snapchat
Chinese e-commerce group, Alibaba has invested $200m into Snapchat. The deal pushes the value of the four-year-old photo-messaging app to an impressive $15 billion, putting it in the top ranks for privately-held start-ups. Snapchat is currently blocked in China, so it is still unclear of Alibaba’s plans for the app.
Apple buys all Twitter ad space for smart watch launch
In a bid to stop rival brands hijacking conversation around the Apple Watch unveiling, the technology giant bought out Twitter ad space on the day of the launch. Firstly with a promoted trend around the ‘Apple event’, but also with promoted tweets linked to all keywords associated with Apple and watches. The move follows on from last year’s iPhone 6 launch, where Samsung managed to steal much of the Twitter conversation.
Brands bid for attention during Apple Watch launch
Of course, that didn’t stop brands trying to join the conversation, so here’s our pick of some of the best and worst attempts…
The latest in Apple technology #AppleWatch pic.twitter.com/donpG4MXYn
— innocent drinks (@innocent) March 10, 2015
Introducing the new wearable eatable. #AppleLive #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/0EqGqU1f1v
— Hostess Snacks (@Hostess_Snacks) March 9, 2015
When will they make a #smartwatch like this? pic.twitter.com/SzxbdoHTZj
— Papa John’s Pizza (@PapaJohns) March 9, 2015
Timeless. #FindYourBeach #AppleWatch pic.twitter.com/zYIt1ngtet
— Corona (@corona) March 10, 2015
Yeah, but can the watch tell you when to go? #tweetfromtheseat pic.twitter.com/tQgW7Y7xhh
— Charmin (@Charmin) March 9, 2015

domain: news


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Waitrose, which has a 10-year deal to supply the online supermarket with food, is revamping its own online delivery offering and targeting customers inside the M25, Ocado's home turf.
There seems to be a difference of opinion within Waitrose, owned by John Lewis, about whether it intends to peacefully co-exist with Ocado or whether it should eventually become a full-blown competitor.
With the City unsure of the long-term game, the shares were knocked down 15.8p, or 6%, to 243.5p.
News that Steiner sold two million shares at 254p, something he always intended to do post float, says the company, added to the uncertainty. That this announcement was made after the market closed on Friday was seen as clumsy by some.
The sale seems to erase any suggestion that Ocado is the subject of a bid.
On the renewed drive by Waitrose, long-time Ocado sceptic Clive Black, at Shore Capital, says: "It is reported that the food division of the John Lewis Partnership has invested £10 million in its grocery online website; small beer compared to Ocado's proposed £210 million on a new customer fulfilment centre, but maybe that differential is in itself notable.
"We continue to believe that many folk believe Ocado is a division of Waitrose and when the light bulb comes on that a, it is not, that b, it is a competitor and that c, Waitrose is providing online direct, then our aforementioned fears about competition may come to the fore."
He says the shares, which have rallied hard lately, are still a sell.
Ocado insists it is relaxed about Waitrose. Steiner has long argued that the online supermarket industry has much further to grow. "There is room for everyone in the market," said an Ocado adviser.
Morrisons and Marks & Spencer are also looking to boost their online arms. Ocado reckons its superior service and affluent customer base will keep it ahead of such rivals.
It emerged at the weekend that at least one Ocado bear has been badly burnt. New York hedge fund Blue Ridge Capital is said to have lost £40 million by shorting Ocado stock when it fell to 130p from a float price of 180p.
What happens when Waitrose's deal to supply Ocado ends is far from clear. It could be extended, or alternatively Waitrose by then may feel it wants to go it alone. Ocado could then look to Marks & Spencer as a partner.
Speculation that the best way for M&S to boost its online sales would be to take over Ocado has been the talk of City retail watchers for some time.
M&S recently poached Laura Wade-Gery from Tesco to lead its internet revamp.Reuse content


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Coffee to go? Easyjet teams up with Starbucks for in-flight drinks
STANSTED airport carrier easyJet, has announced that passengers will be able to purchase Starbucks drinks on all flights across its European network. From today (Monday February 8), all customers will be able to purchase a cup of Starbucks coffee whilst o
STANSTED airport carrier easyJet, has announced that passengers will be able to purchase Starbucks drinks on all flights across its European network.
From today (Monday February 8), all customers will be able to purchase a cup of Starbucks coffee whilst on-the-go, following a successful trial.
EasyJet's head of in-flight, Rob Pickering, said: "We are delighted by the feedback we have received from our passengers over the past few months, and are pleased to roll out this product to all flights across our network.
"This is a significant step forward for the easyJet in-flight product and we are proud to be the first European airline to serve such a premium coffee brand as Starbucks, which will ensure that our passengers will never need to be without great coffee or hot drinks."
You may also want to watch:
Starbucks UK and Ireland managing director, Darcy Willson-Rymer, added: "Offering Starbucks drinks to easyJet passengers means that we can give new and existing Starbucks customers the chance to experience great quality coffee whilst travelling.
- 1 Walden fire: Resident has died
- 2 Gardeners behind the best-kept Saffron Walden allotments named
- 3 Covid booster vaccinations scheme is rolling out at pace
- 4 New solar farm policy 'ducks the main issues', say campaigners
- 5 Team Max to hold fundraising auction for planned children's hospital
- 6 Extension lead warning after fatal fire in Saffron Walden
- 7 Runners raise more than £1,500 for Accuro in west Essex
- 8 Food collection and seasonal songs at R A Butler's harvest festival
- 9 English Touring Opera coming to Saffron Hall with rarely performed Handel opera
- 10 Walden war historian on the inspiration behind his latest book


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Jabil Inc. announced its reinvention of the wipes container. FusePack wipes packaging combine features of multiple packaging substrates, leveraging the best elements of rigid and flexible components. The lightweight but strong package is more sustainable and e-commerce-friendly than the alternatives. Cracking/opening in the harsh transit conditions of e-commerce — the flexible yet strong pack can withstand the shocks, vibrations and temperature changes of ecommerce fulfillment. FusePack is also hermetically sealed, extending shelf life and eliminating leaking.
“Cleaning and sanitizing wipes have been steadily rising in popularity and since 2020, they’ve truly become a household staple,” says vice president of technology Ayana Johnson for Jabil Packaging Solutions. “While wipes have become an essential part of our lives, traditional wipes canisters are incredibly bulky, using an excessive amount of plastic while tending to lose moisture, causing decreased shelf life. As home delivery has taken off, we’ve seen traditional canisters struggle with the bumps, shocks and vibrations of shipping directly to consumers. These factors drove us to reinvent the wipes container with FusePack packaging.”
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This Friday, fashion’s hautest designers are joining forces to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs are participating in a huge Fashion for Sandy Relief Sale on Friday, Nov. 16th at Metropolitan Pavillion. The sale is being presented by the Tory Burch Foundation, Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue. Items on sale will be 50% off and all proceeds will benefit the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.
FASHION FOR SANDY RELIEF 50% OFF DESIGNER SALE
Friday, November 16, 2012
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
123 West 18th Street | Metropolitan Suite


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Central bank to lower foreign ownership in payment intermediaries
HANOI, VNS/VNA - The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) plans to lower the foreign ownership rate in the payment intermediary service sector to 49 percent instead of leaving it unrestricted to avoid manipulation by foreign investors in the field.
The SBV would include the limit in a new draft Decree on intermediary payment services, news site tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn reported yesterday.
According to the SBV's Payment Department, the new regulation would help avoid manipulation by foreign investors, ensuring security and safety for banking and financial activities.
It will also create favourable conditions for domestic enterprises to seize more investment opportunities in the sector.
Most countries in the region had set limits on foreign ownership in the field. In Indonesia and China, the ratio did not exceed 20 percent, while in Malaysia, the ratio was 30 percent, the SBV said.
As of November this year, Vietnam had 30 payment intermediary service providers licensed by the State Bank, including MoMo, Moca, Payoo, SenPay, Zalopay, Airpay, VNPay, Monpay, ViettelPay, 1Pay, Nganluong, VTCpay, Mpay and Wepay.
It is worth mentioning that most of the payment intermediary service providers in the country now belong to foreign investors.
Nguyen Hoa Binh, chairman cum founder of Vietnamese e-commerce start-up NextTech Group, which runs many payment intermediary companies in the country, said it was high time for a restriction on foreign ownership in the sector.
In recent years, flourishing cashless payment services had paved the way for a sudden flood of foreign capital flowing into the market. Many foreign investors had already grasped the major shares of domestic payment intermediary companies, he said.
Currently, 90 percent of 1Pay's capital is owned by Thailand’s True Money; Japan’s NTT Data Group has bought 64 percent of Payoo; South Korean investors Global Payment Service and UTC Investment Co Ltd hold 65 percent in VNPT EPAY; and foreign funds Warburg Pincus, Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered Private Equity hold about 64 percent in MoMo.
According to Nguyen Thuy Duong, deputy director of consulting firm Ernst and Young Vietnam, in other countries, during the early stages of development, payment intermediary companies were allowed to freely raise capital.
But now the market had grown to a certain size, market regulators would need to tighten control over the operation of businesses to ensure the security and safety of the country’s payment system, she said.
Strong development of technology had made it easier than ever to transfer money through payment intermediary channels, including cross-border money transfers, she said.
Experts warned that if it was not strictly controlled, there would be the risk of tax evasion, money laundering and illegal cross-border money transfers.
The SBV admitted the management of cross-border electronic payment transactions in Vietnam faced many difficulties due to the fact that most transactions were conducted via international payment gateways and handled by international card-issuing organisations.
Another problem relating to foreign ownership room was indirect ownership. For example, foreign investors could indirectly expand their ownership in Vietnam’s payment intermediary companies by pouring capital into local investment funds.
This exercise had also been adopted in many other sectors. Once foreign investors dominated the market, it was very difficult for local enterprises to compete, the SBV said. - VNA


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PRESS RELEASE: WorkRush 9 to 5, a new light-hearted Workforce Management game set in a busy office environment, has been officially launched by the pioneers in back office workforce optimisation software, eg solutions. The pioneering game was originally developed as a result of eg’s first ever Hackathon in 2015, and is the first in a series of games being planned throughout the year under the brand of WorkRush.
eg released WorkRush – 9 To 5 on 10th February 2017 during its annual company Kick Off event at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield.
This is the first Facebook game developed by the software vendor, aimed at connecting with the people who use its software in the day-to-day working environment.
The concept behind the game is to demonstrate work allocation techniques and optimise the performance of the workforce whilst contending with everyday challenges faced by management, whether that is worker stress, illness or slightly more rogue obstacles to effective management.
Elizabeth Gooch, CEO, eg software, stated: “eg’s software changes the way businesses interact with their people and the customers they serve and our new Facebook game is designed to introduce people to the principles that underpin our software in a fun way
“It’s a continuation of our gamification strategy to improve user effectiveness by merging business and personal technology experiences,” she added.
The game has been showcased at external client-facing events, such as the eg Operational Excellence day conference, which took place at St. George’s Park, Derbyshire, in November 2016. When asked to give feedback at the conference, some clients commented that they could also see the game being used by Team Leaders and their teams, either in an educational capacity or as a fun way to introduce eg’s products and operations management best practices to staff.
During gameplay, stars are accrued when the workforce hit their milestone targets. Drawing on real-life characters from eg’s senior management team, players can also interact with the company’s CEO Elizabeth Gooch.
Gamification has been proven to increase the productivity rates of users by as much as 79%. According to Gallup’s 2012 international workplace study of 1.4 million workers, employee engagement and productivity are inextricably linked. By using apps to improve worklife experience for their staff, businesses can also improve customer service and realise real benefits for themselves.
Like eg’s Facebook page for updates and versions of 9 To 5 and to stay up-to-date with the latest WorkRush games.


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It looks like reliable sources are confirming there will be a 2012 iMac, which this news comes just a few days after we reported there could still be an iMac in 2012. The new iMac would likely see a release date in September after being shipped to factories in August, and these rumors come from the Apple’s supply chain and were sent to this popular blog from a KGI analyst.
We already knew that any iMac in 2012 would only be a refresh, and those of our readers looking for a major upgrade that included a Retina display would be disappointed. The lack of a Retina display had been hinted by Apple’s CEO recently, but this hint also included a solid indication that 2013 would deliver a Retina iMac.
The KGI analyst made it clear that Apple would ship a low number of desktops in July, but this would be made up by a massive increase in August thanks to the refreshed 2012 iMac shipping from factories. Apple has also made zero growth in Q2 of 2012, but the second half of the year will be much better considering the major products expected to launch in fall. The weaker economy will slow things a little but considering the lineup, iPhone 5 / 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro / Mini iPad / iPod touch 5G, Apple should see a bumper end to this year.
The patience of Apple fans — we’ve seen an increasing number of people wanting to hand over money for the new iMac and the frustration is starting to show, which includes comments like “I’m sick of waiting, what’s taking so long?“. There are genuine buyers waiting for the 2012 iMac, and rather than buy the aging 2011 model or a Windows computer that they moved away from years ago, it is the new iMac they want but frustration grows when Apple won’t even confirm when or if a new model is coming.
Do you think Apple should at least confirm new products are coming, which would stop people waiting for something that could miss a year? This had been seen with buyers waiting for the iPod touch 5G last year that skipped a year for the first time, and also the current iMac is well over a year old and would really upset buyers if it missed a 2012 refresh. One problem with revealing upcoming products is the possibility that people would stop buying current models, and Apple wouldn’t want this.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new pandemic regional stay-at-home order that has impacted Orange County, where Anaheim and Disneyland Resort are located.
As per the Governor’s Order, all food and beverages purchased at Downtown Disney District or Buena Vista Street establishments must be consumed off-site. Disneyland’s official website reads:
While the Downtown Disney District has begun a phased reopening, beginning Dec. 7, restaurants and dining locations that do not offer take-out will close. At that time, Guests will not be permitted to open or consume any food or beverage items on property, and food and beverage items purchased at the Downtown Disney District must be taken to-go, for consumption off property only. Retail locations will remain open with enhanced health and safety measures in place.
Now, Paul’s Theme Park Adventures on Instagram [above] has shared new signage that reads:
California State Order prohibits eating and drinking on Disneyland Resort property at this time.
Paul also shared this photo of a nearly identical notice at the entrance to Buena Vista Street to his Instagram Stories.
Magical Imagery shared a photo of the same sign in another location on Instagram Stories.
In this case, it appears that the food and beverage notices were posted near snack displays in Downtown Disney or Buena Vista Street retail stores. Presumably, however, the same sign appears throughout the partially open areas of Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure Park — note that no part of Disneyland Park is currently available to Guests, even for shopping and dining.
Another Instagram user, Five Fires, shared the following post [below], sharing that all outdoor tables and chairs have been removed to discourage Guests from lingering in common areas at Downtown Disney. The caption on this post reads:
Cure [sic – Current] Situation now at downtown disney! Tables and chairs have been removed from AMC area. Photo credit
At this time, Carthay Circle Lounge and other restaurants have begun canceling Guests’ dining reservations until further notice. Stay tuned to Inside the Magic for the latest news from Disneyland Resort as Governor Newsom’s latest restrictions continue to be enforced.
Have you visited Downtown Disney recently?


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3D-enabled Killzone 3 confirmed
Following up on our earlier projection, Sony has confirmed the existence of Killzone 3 and its support for 3D.
Joystiq has confirmed with GamePro that the magazine's next issue features the third instalment of the gritty first-person shooter. Previously, Sony executive Jack Tretton has hinted at a sequel to GameTrailers TV.
According to GamePro's article, the game's 3D mode requires not only glasses, but a 3D television set too. It's optional, of course, and the game can be played in standard mode without the need for glasses or a 3D display.
Killzone 3 has not be given a release date, but will be exclusive to PlayStation 3. Expect more details next month during E3.
- Thomas Was Alone gets a release date for PS4 and Wii U
- New Warframe update adds space-flight to the gameplay with Archwing mode
- New poll indicates that people believe online gaming is “the least welcoming space” for women
- CD Projekt RED releases The Trail, the opening cinematic from The Witcher 3
- New Project CARS trailer pulls up to the starting grid
- Far Cry 4 dev says linear games will suffer in the new world of gameplay video sharing
- Almost 1,100 developers, students and journalists sign the new #gamediversity petition embracing diversity in games
- Felicia Day breaks her silence about #Gamergate, is almost immediately doxxed
- Ubisoft announces PC specs for Assassin's Creed: Unity and they're killer


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Over the first eight months of 2021, exports of the capital’s pharmaceutical products and medical devices amounted to $819.39 million, which is almost four times more than in the same period of 2019. This was announced on Tuesday, November 16, on the official website of the mayor of Moscow.
“Today Moscow is the center of the pharmaceutical industry in Russia and the leading exporter of products of this sector. The capital accounts for about 40% of the volume of supplies of medical equipment and slightly more than 52% of pharmaceutical products. The combined exports of these two directions increased from $207.11 million in the first eight months of 2019 to $819.39 million in January-August 2021,” commented Vladimir Efimov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy and Property and Land Relations.
According to him, this year Moscow has sold pharmaceutical products to 114 countries, which is 17 more than last year. The main buyers were Argentina, India, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, as well as neighboring countries. Medical devices have been exported to 92 countries this year. The main buyers were neighboring countries and partners from Europe: the Netherlands, Germany, and France.
“According to the results of eight months of 2021, Moscow’s exports of medical products amounted to over $69 million, which is 39% more than in the same period of 2020, and 32% more than in 2019. Moscow has increased the volume of exports of medical industry products due to a steady growth of the supply of CT scanners, catheters, and similar products,” added Alexander Prokhorov, head of the capital’s Department of Investment and Industrial Policy.
As the head of the department stressed, in the eight months of 2021, Moscow’s pharmaceutical exports exceeded $ 750 million. This is 3.5 times more than in the same period in 2020, and almost five times more than in 2019. It became possible to increase the volume of exports of pharmaceutical products due to a growth of the supply of various vaccines, as well as by expanding the range of other pharmaceutical products. This includes packaged medicines and immunological products.


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The next big version of Android, called “Gingerbread” is coming in Q4 this year, and for the first time will have minimum spec requirements for hardware – 1GHz processor, 512mb RAM and 3.5″ screen minimum.
This is something Microsoft are doing with Windows Phone 7, and now Google have joined in.
Gingerbread also sees the death of custom UIs, like HTC’s Sense.
Although Google have not confirmed if manufacturers will be banned from using their own UIs, Android 3 is being designed to be make them obsolete.
Link – unwiredview.com


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Dunamu is launching the Upbit digital currency exchange, with the aim to become the largest digital currency exchange in South Korea.
Upbit will trade over 110 crypto-currencies, such as bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin and ripple. By comparison, most exchanges in Korea usually trade less than 10 different digital currencies.
Dunamu signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Bittrex, the digital currency exchange based in the USA.
Pre-registration for Upbit began on 25 September. Pre-registered users will then be entered into a drawing to receive one coin from the list of crypto-currencies which will trade on Upbit, including bitcoin.
Upbit will provide users with Bitgo wallets tand Kakao Pay authentication for added security. Upbit will be available on both Android and iOS, as well as online.
South Korean fintech company Dunamu is affiliated with Kakao Corp, which owns Kakao Talk, Korea’s leading smartphone messenger app.


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An investigation has claimed UK poultry firm 2 Sisters Food Group tampered with labels on its fresh chicken products to alter slaughter dates in a potential health hazard to consumers.
An undercover probe by The Guardian newspaper and ITV News showed workers at the largest supplier of chicken to UK supermarkets also mixed birds with different slaughter dates on the production line at its West Bromwich plant in the Midlands.
The company supplies Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer, Aldi and Lidl. All retailers said they would start immediate investigations when notified of the recorded evidence, which also revealed products returned by the stores to 2 Sisters were repackaged and sent back. Workers were also seen dropping fresh chicken on the floor only to put them back on the production line.
Responding to the revelations, 2 Sisters said in a statement yesterday (28 September): “We have been made aware of several broad allegations made by The Guardian/ITV in relation to inappropriate procedures, food safety and hygiene issues at two of our poultry processing facilities. We view these allegations extremely seriously.”
It went on to say: “We have not been given the time or the detailed evidence to conduct any thorough investigations to establish the facts, which makes a fulsome response very difficult. What we can confirm is that hygiene and food safety will always be the number one priority within the business, and they remain at its very core.”
Experts told the investigation team the practice of changing “kill dates” could artificially stretch the commercial life of meat products by triggering the food processor to print incorrect use-by dates on supermarket packaging.
Supermarket products typically have a use-by date around 10 days after the bird has been slaughtered.
Professor Chris Elliott, a food safety academic from Queen’s University Belfast who led the UK government’s independent review of food systems following the 2013 horse meat scandal, told The Guardian:
“Over the past three to four years I have conducted many inspections of food businesses right across the UK. I have never seen one operate under such poor standards as your video evidence shows.
“I think [this] absolutely calls out for a full investigation. We need to get environmental health officers, we need to get the Food Standards Agency to do a thorough investigation. The Food Standards Agency will take this very seriously. They will look at the premises and see if there are grounds to close the facility down.”
2 Sisters finished off its statement on how it may respond to say: “If, on presentation of further evidence, it comes to light any verifiable transgressions have been made at any of our sites, we will leave no stone unturned in investigating and remedying the situation immediately.”
The company’s lawyers at Schillings added: “Food safety and hygiene are 2SFG’s top priorities. To the extent that you have identified any shortcomings (which is not admitted), these could only be isolated examples which our clients would take very seriously, and they are investigating the allegations made.”


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RTO to begin drive against transport vehicles plying without fitness certificates
Fitness certificate issued from RTO offices after mandatory inspection of vehicles under the commercial transport category are fitted with yellow colour number plates.mumbai Updated: Oct 16, 2016 17:57 IST
Ahead of the hearing of a case in Bombay high court, the transport department is conducting a fortnight-long drive against vehicles plying without a valid fitness certificate.
A RTO official said the drive will begin next week and continue till October 31. The transport commissioner’s office has directed all regional transport offices to submit the report of the action taken during the drive before November 3, 2016.
Fitness certificate issued from RTO offices after mandatory inspection of vehicles under the commercial transport category are fitted with yellow colour number plates.
Annual fitness renewal is necessary for all transport vehicles such as trucks, tempos, buses and auto rickshaws, while newly registered vehicles are exempted for two years. Hundreds of vehicles go through the process of fitness renewal daily across the state.
While hearing a PIL filed by Pune-based activist Shrikant Karve, the HC has directed the conducting of vehicle fitness tests on 250-metre long tracks. The court has given till October 20 for making necessary provisions for the test tracks.
Prior to it, acting on the HC directive, the transport department has made some procedural changes in the fitness renewal process, besides increasing the fine for plying vehicles without fitness renewal.
“If a vehicle is found plying without a fitness certificate, the owner would have to pay compounding fees of Rs2000 for the first offence. For the second offence, it would be either Rs5000,” said the RTO official, requesting anonymity.
Such periodical drives act as a deterrent and force people to renew their vehicle fitness on time, according to RTO sources, which ultimately helps in reducing road accidents and making roads safer.
Reducting in fine of renewal of fitness certificate
Last month, transport department reduced fine for late renewal of fitness certificate to Rs 100-200 for 15 days, from earlier Rs 1000 for first 10 days and Rs 100 per day thereafter. However, some RTO officials think it was a wrong decision and will result in reluctance in renewing fitness certificate on time. “Drivers or owners of vehicles must be spending more amounts on chewing pan, than the fine for delayed fitness renewal,” said an RTO official. Another official said that it should not have reduced below 50%.
All you need to know about fitness certificates
As per the rule 62 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, fitness certificates is mandatory for all the transport vehicles – trucks, tempos, buses, and trailers – including public transport vehicles such as auto- rickshaws and taxis.
Before issuing f fitness certificate, inspectors need to carry out a physical inspection of the fitness and drive them to test their road-worthiness. The certificates are valid for one year for old transport vehicles and two years for new ones
Fitness certificate of non-transport vehicles – like your car – is valid for the first 15 years and thereafter has to be renewed every 5 years.
After a rap from the Bombay High Court, the Motor Transport Department issued a circular on August 28, 2012, directing all RTOs to follow proper procedure before issuing a fitness certificate to any vehicles.
In last February, the HC had directed the transport department to make 250 meters test tracks available at all the RTOs for vehicle testing. As the department couldn’t fulfill directive, it had stopped fitness renewal for avoiding contempt of the court. Later on HC given it time till October 20, for fulfilling the requirement
In 2014-15, total 6.64 lakh vehicles were issued fitness certificates including 1.14 lakh from Mumbai. Of those 5.51 lakh vehicles were of transport category while remaining was of non-transport category.
The Motor vehicle Act 1989 stipulates a fine of Rs100 for failing to produce a fitness certificate for the first time. For subsequent offences, the amount is increased to Rs300. Fine for not having a valid fitness certificate ranges between Rs2, 000 and Rs5, 000.


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Real solutions to streamline your business.
Featured Resource: Assess Your
Until recently, Visa refunds occurred offline. What does that mean, exactly?READ MORE
According to the most recent Nilson Report, $24.26 billion is lost worldwide to credit card fraud on an annual basis, which is comparable to the Gross Domestic Product of nations such as Iceland and El Salvador.READ MORE
If you haven’t noticed, a major trend has emerged in the last year around signatures and credit cards. In late 2017 and early 2018, card brands announced major changes to their signature requirements. Mastercard is now taking yet another step away from signatures.READ MORE
In late 2017 and early 2018, the card brands revealed a major change to their long-held signature requirements for credit card transactions. MasterCard, Discover and Amex announced they would no longer require signatures for magstripe and EMV transactions beginning in April 2018. Visa announced that signatures would still be required in the event of a chargeback dispute for magstripe transactions, but would be optional for EMV.READ MORE
Any time you obtain a financial product, be it a bank account or a loan, you have to provide some personal information. This process protects the lender from fraud and ensures that the relationship is transparent.READ MORE
The payments space is ever evolving, so it should be no surprise that card brand rules change too. Despite the improvements in payment technology, chargebacks aren’t going anywhere. In an effort to streamline the chargeback dispute process, Visa is rolling out a new initiative — the Visa Claims Resolution (VCR) — to reduce time, costs and (hopefully) the number of chargebacks received.READ MORE


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — The sky seemed to be the limit for shares of F5 Networks Inc., a poster child for so-called cloud computing stocks.
Shares of F5
But F5’s earnings report and a dim forecast on Wednesday shaved more than 20% from the stock’s market valuation.
The selloff was a stark reminder that while many investors are bullish on the tech sector, some of its high-profile leaders — including Netflix Inc.
Among many equity strategists, the general sentiment about the tech sector remains upbeat. Much of their attention centers on wireless communications and new media technologies related to the connected home. Those point to bullish conditions for companies in the communications equipment, semiconductor and data storage markets, say analysts at Canaccord Genuity, a Canadian brokerage.
Of course, optimistic reports and earnings results don’t change the need for investors to take a hard look before buying into some brand-name tech stocks.
Indeed, F5 was among a handful of technology and telecommunications stocks that Canaccord Genuity said several weeks ago to avoid, citing its “lower 2011 return probabilities.” Read more: Cloud-computing stocks’ selloff could be overblown.
Netflix: No Hollywood ending
Another high-flying stock stirring controversy now is Netflix. Last year was a boon for Netflix, as the company continued its transformation from an online DVD-rental retailer to one of the biggest providers of digital content online, with strong growth coming from its options to stream movies and TV shows via digital TVs, Blu-Ray disc players, video-game consoles and set-top boxes. The company also offered a new subscription plan for streaming videos.
Investors bought the Netflix story, sending the shares up last year to nearly $180, from about $55. The stock hit a high of $209.24 on Dec. 1, but has since faltered by about 12%.
That decline comes as little surprise to some observers. Analyst Michael Souers of Standard & Poor’s sees Netflix shares trading closer to $140 by the end of this year and has a sell rating on the stock, mostly on the basis of valuation and pressures on Netflix’s subscriber base that could cut into revenue. Netflix, he noted, “will have to modify its business model over time to maintain its competitive position.”
At Wedbush Securities, analyst Michael Pachter is far more pessimistic. Pachter’s underperform, or sell rating, puts a $78-a-share price target on Netflix’s stock. He points to the costs of acquiring more content as a main reason for his view.
Pachter says Netflix’s deal in December to bulk up its streaming library with shows and movies from the ABC and Disney Channel networks illustrates how content-acquisition costs will catch up with the company.
Terms of that deal weren’t disclosed, but Netflix reportedly will spend $50 million to $150 million a year for the Disney-owned programs. Pachter says that along with the estimated costs to acquire content from premium networks such as Starz LSTZA, EPIX VIA and others, Netflix could end up spending as much as $600 million annually in such deals.
Even with more subscribers watching videos online, and thus reducing Netflix’s delivery costs, Pachter said, “The net costs for acquiring content is going to still be about $300 million a year over the next two years and that is going to offset a lot of what the Street is modeling for earnings,” Pachter said.
Netflix’s market price suggests, the analyst adds, that the company will earn $3 a share for its 2010 fiscal year, rising to $5 in 2011, $9 in 2010 and reach $14 a share in 2013. However, after the impact of content-acquisition costs, he expects Netflix’s earnings to rise by just $1 a share annually, from $3 in 2010 to $5 a share in 2012.
“The market thinks that revenue goes up much faster than costs,” Pachter said. “I think they move in parity. I should be proven right by the end of the year.”
RIM on the edge
Research In Motion faces its own darkening clouds, mostly due to competitive factors. Investors have been on the sidelines, and the stock lost 14% in 2010. This came against the backdrop of the iPad and Google Inc.’s Android operating system, along with weaker-than-expected response to the release of the RIM’s BlackBerry Torch and uncertainty over growth prospects for its new BlackBerry 6 operating system.
Romeo Dator, who manages U.S. Global Investors All American Equity Fund GBTFX, said he expects RIM’s weakness to continue.
“RIM appears to be the market share loser to Google
Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros., says that RIM’s U.S. business has declined for four quarters at a time when the market for smart phones has been expanding.
“They lost a lot of traction,” Wu said. “And the risk right now is that the Android phenomenon could really take off in the next year or two. The headwinds against them this year, and in the next few years, are going to be stronger than now.”
At investment researcher Morningstar Inc., analyst Joseph Beaulieu put the point on RIM bluntly: The stock’s valuation “reflects assumptions that the company has the same competitive position it had two or three years ago,” he wrote in a December report. “Because we disagree with this view, we would stay away from the shares.”
For whom Dell tolls
Computer giant Dell is another company with almost too many issues to count, Wu said. Accordingly, he has a hold rating and $14-a-share target price on the stock, and advises caution before investing in the world’s No. 3 PC company.
Dell is “competing on two fronts,” Wu said. First, Apple is a serious rival to Dell’s consumer PC business and is also gaining ground in the education market, which had swung in Dell’s favor in recent years.
“They [Apple] are going after Dell’s core markets, taking back share in education and also getting more powerful in the small-and-medium sized business markets,” Wu said.
Second, Wu said, Dell faces increased competition on the corporate side, with IBM Corp.
“Some customers are already swapping out Dell [products] for Cisco’s,” Wu said.
Morningstar analyst Michael Holt also doesn’t see much upside for Dell’s shares anytime soon, due in large part to the company’s fitful efforts to tackle competitive challenges.
The crucial strategy for Dell is its push into data center technologies including servers and storage, which offer greater switching costs and often drive consulting services,” Holt noted in a mid-January report. “However, more than two thirds of Dell’s revenue remains tied to commodity hardware (desktops, laptops, peripherals) while storage represents just 4% of revenue. We think changing the balance will require significant time and cost.”
Holt added: “As the economics of the PC market deteriorate, Dell hopes to transform itself from a maker of commodity boxes into a trusted enterprise solutions provider on par with Hewlett-Packard and IBM,”“This is the path to creating shareholder value, but we doubt this strategy will become the dominant characteristic of Dell’s business model anytime soon.”


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Well that didn’t take long. Hours after the Best Buy snafu, Engadget managed to get their hands on a half-dozen images of the next “Google phone.” So here’s what we know. The device will carry the model name GT-I9020 (the unbranded Galaxy S is the GT-I9000) have a front-facing video camera, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and — according to a model that recently crossed the FCC’s desk — T-Mobile’s AWS 3G bands. All that’s left is for the official unveiling from Google and or Samsung. Hit the read link to check out the other images.
Remember that Nexus Two rumor? Well, Samsung publicly stated that the Nexus Two fodder was “simply not true,” but they didn’t say anything about the Nexus S! Earlier this morning, blog Phandroid noticed Best Buy’s website advertising the Nexus S handset; it has since been removed. The exact verbiage of the ad, which did not have an accompanying image, was:
The Nexus S. Available only at Best Buy this holiday season.
As you may also notice, the name of the missing image is “Nexus S for T Mobile.” Alright, let’s hear your best conspiracy theory. Will the Nexus S be a Galaxy S set with Android 2.3? Will it be T-Mobile only or will just the T-Mobile variant be a Best Buy exclusive? Pandora’s Box is officially open for business. Go nuts. More →
Samsung Mobile has a media event scheduled in New York City tonight and, perhaps in preparation for that, several artifacts for the Continuum handset have hit Verizon Wireless’ website. The unannounced device now has a 360-degree viewing applet and a 185-page user guide on VZW’s site; this is the second cameo the device has made. If you’re interested in picking up the dual-AMOLED display Galaxy S device, hit the jump and have a look at the two links. More →
If you’re rocking a Samsung Galaxy S, and wondering when you are going to get to dip your proverbial spoon into the Froyo goodness, listen up. Samsung Mobile UK has just tweeted that:
Froyo starts rolling out today; everyone will have it by the end of Nov. To prepare, get the latest version of Kies
Now, we’re not sure what the implication is for Galaxy S handset users Stateside, but the fact that the roll-out is starting today can’t be a bad sign. If you’ve been waiting for Android 2.2 on your Gally S, drop us a comment and let us know your thoughts. More →
It looks as though the worldly Samsung Galaxy S will be one of the very first smartphones to be knighted by the Wi-Fi Alliance as Wi-Fi Direct certified. Wi-Fi Direct is a newly minted protocol that will allow enabled electronics to make device-to-device connections with the speed, range, and throughput of 802.11b/g/n. Samsung’s generic GT-I9000 is now listed on the Wi-Fi Alliance’s site as a Wi-Fi Direct compatible device.
As a note, any Wi-Fi enabled device can gain Wi-Fi Direct certification by implementing an approved software/firmware update; no additional hardware is needed for the protocol. Now, in regards to when Sammy will actually roll-out this approved code to GT-I9000 handsets… that’s anyone’s guess.
South Korean electronics powerhouse Samsung has announced its Q3 financials via a press release. The outfit raked in an impressive $35.8 billion in revenue and $3.98 billion in operating profits, and about 25% of that profit came by way of its thriving telecommunications business. Samsung chiefs were quick to credit their mobile communications wing, which shipped 71.4 million phones during Q3 — a 19% increase on last year’s figures. Samsung claims to have sold 7 million Galaxy S phones during the quarter and expects to sell 10 million by the end of the calendar year. Go on Samsung, pat yourself on the back. Press release after the break. More →
If you’re a current Sprint customer, with an Epic 4G, you might not have had much of a reason to utilize the Media Hub feature included with the Samsung handset. However, if you plan on purchasing an Epic 4G or Galaxy Tab between October 31st and January 8th, Sprint might give you an incentive to explore The Hub a little further. According to blog Androinica, Sprint will be offering a $50 credit to Samsung’s Media Hub to customers who purchase any of their Galaxy S offerings. Vouchers will be issued with a 10-digit promotional code that can be redeemed anytime before March 31, 2011 and must be used within 60-days of activation. Seems like a pretty good deal. Hit the jump for the full article. More →
According to Gizmodo, yes. The blog is reporting that a “friend” of theirs actually got some hands-on time with the Samsung heir to the Nexus throne. The device, which is being referred to as the Nexus Two, was described as “black and shiny” with a 4-inch AMOLED display (we would assume Super AMOLED since it’s Samsung), front-facing camera, and roughly the same proportions as the current Galaxy S offerings in the U.S. (not including the Epic 4G). The “friend” also said the device’s software, which was a stock version of Android, was “very buggy.” We have to admit, the thought of Galaxy S hardware running an unmolested version of Android has piqued our interest. Samsung has a media event scheduled for November 8th where, most blogs agree, the company will announce their Continuum handset. Could this be Samsung’s equivalent of “one more thing?” We hope so.
UPDATE: PCMag’s Sascha Segan just posted an article of his own on the rumored device. The post had this to say on the matter: “The unnamed, unlocked Samsung phone is not coming out at an event on November 8, my sources said.” Although earlier in the post he did admit, “Samsung is working on an unlocked Android device that looks like the one in Gizmodo’s pictures. But it may not be called ‘Nexus Two.'”
Note: Above image is a mock-up. Image credit to Gizmodo. More →
When Verizon Wireless announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab, there was a fair amount of skepticism about the unreleased device’s $599 price tag. Now, according to a leaked Best Buy advert, it appears as though a Wi-Fi only model will be making its way to Best Buy Mobile for a more modest $499. The Wi-Fi only Galaxy Tab, which will be available in silver, packs the exact same components as its cellular counterpart — minus a CDMA radio. Samsung had promised a Wi-Fi only model of the device when the Tab was officially announced back in September; the company had made it seem like that device was still a ways off. What do you think? In light of the new model and price is the Tab any more appealing? More →
So sad. It looks like those Galaxy S owners who are still, very patiently we might add, waiting to get Android 2.2 on their handsets will just have to wait a little longer. According to a tweet by Samsung Mobile UK, the company’s Froyo update will “be available in the UK from early November” and to all other operators “by the end of November.” While this is just the UK, it can’t be a good sign for those U.S. Galaxy S handset owners with carrier branded handsets who were expecting Android Deuce-Deuce in the near future. More →
Samsung has announced that the Galaxy S (GT-i9000) is officially getting Android 2.2. The press release — which is dated October 18 — lists: voice-controlled GPS through Google Maps with Navigation, faster performance by JIT(Just in Time) compiler, Search in-browser, and Adobe Flash Player 10.1″ as some of the improvements being implemented by Froyo. The release states that the upgrade will “be available from the mid of October 2010 in the Nordic region and gradually rolled out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East Asia, North America, Africa and rest of the world.” Hit the jump for the full release. More →
On schedule and as reported, Sprint has officially announced the addition of the LG Optimus S, Sanyo Zio, and Samsung Transform to its Android handset lineup.
The LG Optimus S in an Android 2.2 device that boasts a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera, visual voicemail, Sprint ID, Wi-Fi (with hotspot capabilities), GPS, 1500 mAh battery, and micro-SD card slot. The device will retail for $49.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available beginning on October 31.
The Sanyo Zio is an Android 2.1 device with a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi b/g, visual voicemail, Sprint ID, GPS, 1140 mAh battery, and micro-SD card slot. The device will retail for $99.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available for purchase on October 10.
The Samsung Transform is an Android 2.1 device with a 3.5-inch HVGA display, full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera with flash, front-facing VGA camera, Sprint ID, 800 MHz processor, 256 MB of RAM and 1500 mAh battery. Samsung has said they will update the operating system to Android 2.2 “later this year.” The device will retail for $149.99 on-contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate) and will be available on October 10.
There you have it. Hit the jump for links to all of the press releases. More →
If you’re rocking a contract on CDMA carrier U.S. Cellular, listen up. The company has just announced that they will be offering the Samsung Mesmerize; a full-touchscreen Android smartphone that carriers that Galaxy S moniker. Like all Galaxy S phones, the device will sport a Super AMOLED display (4-inch), 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, 5 megapixel camera, SWYPE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, and micro-SD card slot. The device will ship with Android 2.1 but will be upgraded to Android 2.2 “later this year.” The device will retail for $199 after an $80 mail-in rebate and will go on sale October 27. The full press release is after the break. More →


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Apr. 9, 2008
Trend, Sophos and McAfee flunk Vista SP1 anti-virus tests
John Leyden sheds some light on just how secure these vendors’ products actually are when it comes to Window’s Vista SP1.
“Top tier anti-virus vendors including McAfee, Trend Micro, and Sophos all failed to secure Windows Vista SP1 in recent independent tests. Virus Bulletin, the independent security certification body, said 17 of 37 anti-virus products tested failed to reach the VB100 certification standard. McAfee VirusScan, Trend Micro Internet Security and Sophos Anti-Virus overlooked threats known to be in circulation.”
“In what may be one of the most pointless studies done in quite some time, a research firm has discovered to its own amazement that people tend to trust their own friends more than well known bloggers. Well, I should certainly hope so. Were there really people out there who thought that folks with high trafficked blogs actually held more sway than a personal friend?”
“As for business, Skype for Business could end up being bundled in with Google Apps as a starter. What might be more interesting is a tighter integration between Asterisk, which Gmail works with today, and Skype.”


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Reddit is Fun, the smartphone app that allows easier browsing of the popular user generated news site, has added NFC sharing in its latest update, allowing users to share posts between NFC-enabled devices.
- Oxigen Wallet loyalty program partnership
- Half of Brits expect to replace cash with new technologies
- Wienerschnitzel launches mobile payment and loyalty app
- CaixaBank launches HCE mobile payments app
- PayAnywhere reader supports Apple Pay


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Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Google’s Rich Miner to Give Sprint Keynote - Android Handset to Follow? | AndroidGuys: "December 10th marks the start of this year’s Application Developer Conference for Sprint, which has been held annually since 2001. One of this year’s keynote addresses will be given by CEO Dan Hesse. Another keynote will be given by Google’s Rich Miner."


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TUI cancels flights to popular Spanish island until next year due to volcano eruptions.
The airline has cancelled all flights to and from La Palma until February 2022 despite the fact that volcanic activity has been decreasing and experts are optimistic that the volcano is now silent.
All TUI flights to and from La Palma have been cancelled until February 10, 2022. The first flight next year takes place on February 17. Customers who have had their flights affected will be able to rebook or receive a full refund.
A TUI spokesperson said: “Due to the ongoing situation we’ve unfortunately had to cancel all flights to La Palma departing up to and including February 10, 2022.
“All impacted customers will be contacted directly to discuss their options.
“The next scheduled flight to La Palma is February 17, 2022.
“We’d like to reassure customers due to travel to any other Canary Islands that our flights are currently operating as planned, however, we will continue to monitor the situation and contact them should their holiday be impacted.
“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this time.”
On September 19, the Cumbre Vieja volcano began erupting and many people had to be evacuated as their homes were devoured by lava. Seismic activity has now dropped significantly and according to the Canary Islands government: “volcanic activity has fallen to almost nothing.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.


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Toyota will spend another $2.1 billion building a new battery plant in North Carolina, the latest sign the automaker is trying to catch up in an industry that has embraced the switch to electric vehicles.
The Japanese automaker also announced Wednesday that it will build its first U.S.-made electric SUV at its Kentucky plant starting in 2025. The three-row car will use batteries supplied by Toyota’s North Carolina plant.
At first, the news suggests that Toyota is strengthening its commitment to EVs. Historically, the company has lagged other automakers in announcing new EV models, supporting hydrogen-powered vehicles instead. But earlier this year, Toyota said it plans to introduce 10 new battery powered vehicleswith a goal of 1.5 million electric vehicles sold per year by 2026.
The North Carolina battery plant is part of the company’s renewed commitment to electrification, though it’s not just all-electric vehicles. Of the six production lines that will go live when production begins in 2025, only two will be dedicated to all-electric EVs. The other four are for hybrid EVs.
Toyota has not yet shared its plant’s projected gigawatt-hour capacity. In the past, the company has said it could produce enough batteries for 1.2 million vehicles a year.
The increased capital expenditure at a U.S. battery plant indicates that government incentives to boost battery production nationally are working. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed in August 2022, includes incentives to manufacture batteries in the US. The result is a slew of commitments from domestic and international automakers – from Ford and General Motors to BMW and Hyundai – to get production up and running on US soil in the coming years.
Toyota initially announced its commitment to build a factory in the US in 2021. At the time, the Japanese automaker allocated $1.8 billion for a plant near Greensboro. Last September, Toyota tripled that investment to $3.8 billion. The latest capital injection brings Toyota’s total stake to $5.9 billion.


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Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd. (MTWL) now enjoys One Million fans on its Mahindra Motorcycles Facebook page.
The Mahindra Motorcycles Facebook page uses a variety of motorcycling related content to engage its fans. From providing an insight into the innovative features of the Mahindra Centuro to sharing information on great roads for a week-end ride, Mahindra Motorcycles Facebook page has garnered considerable interest in recent months from two-wheeler enthusiasts on the digital platform.
“When we launched the Mahindra Centuro, it marked the beginning of a new breed of motorcycle which had, at its core, the Mahindra DNA of tough, rugged and reliable. One of the central thoughts in creating the Centuro has been to provide innovative solutions for unaddressed consumer needs. Our online engagement has relied on this same principle of connecting with our fans through innovative campaigns and contests. Reaching 1 million Facebook fans is an important milestone in our journey on social media and we thank our fans. We intend to increasingly leverage this powerful medium to build our presence in the Indian two wheeler segment over the next few years.” said Sarosh Shetty, Vice President – Marketing, Mahindra Two Wheelers.
Innovative campaigns like the #RoadsLessTravelled tapped into the motorcycling passion of fans by showcasing exciting roads from across India. The Mahindra Motorcycle Facebook page also uses humour to drive engagement through its #OnlyInIndia campaign.


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Gandhinagar, Jan 12 (PTI) Mahindra groups realty firm Mahindra Lifespace Developers today announced its foray in Gujarat and will develop a 350-acre industrial park near Ahmedabad that could entail an investment of Rs 3,000 crore from the company and units to be established. The company has signed an MoU with the Gujarat government in this regard and the proposed industrial park is expected to create direct and indirect employment for about 12,000 persons, when fully operational, Mahindra Lifespace said in a statement. "The proposed new industrial park marks Mahindra Lifespaces foray into Gujarat and is being planned to cater to non-polluting industries," it said. "Estimated total investment of Rs 3000 crore by the company and its customers," the company said.
The proposed multi-product industrial park will be developed under the aegis of Gujarat Industrial Policy 2015.
"Mahindra Lifespaces is delighted to make its entry into Gujarat with the establishment of a multi-product industrial park that will offer business infrastructure and attract more manufacturing investment into the state," companys MD Anita Arjundas said.
"Strong port infrastructure, a robust base of both large scale industries and MSMEs, and a young and agile workforce all contribute towards creating an enabling ecosystem for manufacturing in Gujarat," said Sangeeta Prasad, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Cities and Industrial Clusters, Mahindra Lifespace Developers.
Mahindra Lifespaces has pioneered the development of sustainable, integrated business cities ? Mahindra World Cities - in partnership with state governments in India. Based on the philosophy of ?Livelihood, Living and Life?, the Mahindra World City (MWC) developments in Chennai and Jaipur span over 4,000 acres and have emerged as business destinations of choice for more than 130 reputed Indian and transnational companies, who have set up operations in these Cities to cater to both Indian and global markets.
Moreover, both MWC Chennai and MWC Jaipur have been developed on ?green? or environment-friendly principles.
As part of its journey towards creating a network of industrial clusters across the country, Mahindra Lifespaces, through a joint venture between its subsidiary Mahindra World City Developers Ltd and Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, is also setting up an approximately 263.80-acre industrial park in North Chennai (the NH5 corridor).
Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd, the real estate and infrastructure development business of the USD 17.8 billion Mahindra Group, has residential and commercial development footprint of 13.15 million sq ft of completed projects and 9.60 million sq ft of ongoing and forthcoming projects. PTI MJH MR


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Payment startup Wyre acquires Hedgy, a smart contract developer for bitcoin
Crypto payment startup Wyre has acquired Hedgy, a smart contract developer for the Bitcoin blockchain, for an unnamed amount. Writes about this CoinDesk.
According to Ioannis Jannaros, COO and co-founder of Wyre, the deal will allow his company to expand the range of services it provides to cryptocurrency startups. Wyre develops cross-border payment solutions using Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and other cryptocurrencies that act as a settlement tool for transactions.
The purchase of the smart contract platform will allow Wyre to expand its financial ecosystem, giving clients access to forward contracts, swaps and more, Jannaros said..
Wyre plans to take advantage of Hedgy’s ‘navigation’ benefits in the regulatory space, he noted, adding, “This is indeed a highly regulated area, and in this sense Hedgy was well ahead of its time. They made derivatives on smart contracts before Ethereum existed. “.
Hedgy focuses on hedging commercial risks. Companies that use smart contracts or otherwise rely on cryptocurrencies to lower their transaction costs thanks to blockchain can use derivatives to essentially capture the price of an asset during a transaction, explains Wyre on a blog on Medium..
“In the Bitcoin world, the volatility that characterizes the market is attracting the attention of retail speculators, investors and professional traders. Over time, volatility will decrease (which may not happen so soon). As the markets become less volatile, there will be more demand for creative financial products such as options and futures, ”Wyre writes..
Libra intends to register as a payment system, the regulator demands more Facebook expects to obtain a payment system license in…
Payment platform Stripe is ditching bitcoin and considering switching to Stellar American company Stripe, which deals with…
The Peter Thiel Foundation has invested in a startup that is developing a solution to service large cryptocurrency transactions. The Peter Thiel Founders Fund expects that…


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HP will draw on its business user base to help its TouchPad tablet challenge Apple in the enterprise, says Bill Wohl
The launch of HP’s TouchPad has all the chaos one would expect from a gadget launch. While HP hopes the tablet can challenge Apple’s iPad, its operating system, WebOS, is supposedly a threat to Windows.
The TouchPad can be preordered in the UK, and will reportedly arrive on July 15, while early reviews in the US have revealed niggles. Meanwhile, stories are emerging of a second generation, with more memory and different colours, as well as the improvements HP has promised.
What makes HP think it can impose order 0n all this and come up with a winning strategy? A few days before the TouchPad touched down, we asked Bill Wohl, HP’s chief communications officer what the big idea is. In a few words, the answer is – apparently – HP’s business sales channels.
Despite the strong performance of the iPad and the growing presence of Android, Wohl thinks there is room in offices for a tablet that CIOs can trust – at least that is what he told us, and a couple of other journalists.
There is room for another tablet
First, Wohl dealt with something close to HP’s heart – the decline in the PC market. Is that due to tablets, and is that why HP is so keen to succeed with the TouchPad, we asked.
Wohl thinks PC sales have slowed – at least in the consumer space – much more because of the economic downturn, repeating what his boss Leo Apotheker told an earnings call with analysts: “Consumers are making the choice today between whether to refill the tank of gas in their car or refresh their PC.”
Wohl has found his feet at HP though, and is keen to promote the tablet which HP is basing on technology it acquired with mobile maker Palm, and has rebuilt into tablets,
Is HP late into the race? “No, the tablet is not a sprint but a marathon,” said Wohl.
“A lot of folks would like to say the tablet is a mature market, they ship millions of devices and it’s done. But the reality is there are some 40 tablets in the market and it is the first time this form factor has caught on, particularly in the consumer space. We see it as very early in the tablet market.”
Continued on page 2


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Help select the 2012 Innotribe Startup Challenge Finalists!
29 August 2012
The online Finalist-selection round of the 2012 Innotribe Startup Challenge is now open at http://innotribestartup.com
. The Challenge introduces the world's most promising FinTech and Financial Service startups to a global community of over 9000 financial institutions, investors and influencers actively investing in innovation. Over 400 of startups from around the world applied to participate in the 2012 Challenge, and dozens of expert judges (Disclosure: I am one of the judges) selected just 45 Semi-Finalists to participate in the regional Showcase events in NYC, Singapore & Belfast earlier this year. Six companies were selected as regional Finalists, and now you and other financial industry and startup ecosystem professionals can select the other Finalists who will be invited to Sibos
, the world's largest event for financial industry professionals, to meet with top banks and financial institutions and compete for a prize of $50,000. The Challenge website has been updated to feature quick-read competitor profiles, pitch videos of all the semi-finalists, and new networking features, so you can get to know all the Semi-Finalists and vote for (or contact) your favorites in just a few minutes. Voting is open until September 23rd at http://innotribestartup.com
, so please come help select the most promising FinTech & Financial Services startups of 2012.


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Motorola made their new Moto X4 smartphone official earlier this month and now it looks like the company could launch an Android One version of the handset in the US. The picture above was posted on Twitter by Evan Blass, as we can see the handset features the Android One branding.
The Android One version of the Moto X4 is expected to have the same specifications as the handset announced earlier this month. This would include a 5.2 inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The handset will come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor and will feature 3GB of RAM. The device is also expected to come with 32GB of included storage and feature a microSD card slot for expansion.
The new Android One Moto X4 is also expected to have the same cameras, these will include a 16 megapixel front camera for Selfies and dual rear cameras. The dual rear cameras are said to include one 8 megapixel and one 12 megapixel sensor. As yet there are no details on when this new Android One X4 will launch, as soon as we get some more details, we will let you guys know.
Source Evan Blass


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The financial system is evolving and some of the most crypto-friendly online banks are working every day so that financial decentralization can be adopted and used by many more users.
The goals they are working hard on are:
- more user-friendly interface;
- system requiring less energy expenditure, a goal that will be achieved with the highly anticipated Merge.
The interesting intermediate step between a traditional banking system and a completely decentralized system is undoubtedly online banking.
Banks with more sophisticated services and usage systems that stand out for efficiency and speed.
Online banks, contrary to popular belief, are very safe because they were born on the web and know the risks of the Internet. They use special encryption programs that only allow access to secure sites!
In addition, banking groups that mainly carry out digital activities have a limited number of physical establishments and staff, therefore fewer expenses to manage. For this reason, the digital service is cheaper than the traditional service.
The ranking of the most crypto-friendly banks
Let’s see together which are the most used online banks.
Revolution head of list.
The company is based in the UK and offers many banking services including prepaid debit card, currency exchange, cryptocurrency exchange and peer-to-peer payments.
It was founded in 2015 in London. Despite Brexit, the company has found a way to maintain and provide quick and easy access to its international customers by obtaining a Challenger banking license from the ECB, facilitated by the Bank of Lithuania.
The Revolut mobile app supports spending and ATM withdrawals in 120 currencies and allows you to send money in 29 currencies directly from the app.
Revolut thus appears as the most wanted online banking service in Europereceiving the most searches in no less than 25 countries.
No less than 71,000 average monthly searches were recorded in Germany and Spain. In Switzerland, on the other hand, 25,000 average monthly searches.
The popular fintech app also announced in August that it had received permission from the EEA regulator to sell Bitcoin in Europe and England through its app.
The EEA in which Revolut will be able to operate includes 27 countries, including the UK, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Specifically, Revolut has been given permission to operate by CYSEC, or the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and Bitcoin will precisely be sold through a hub that the company will open in the country.
Second on the list is Wise, the most searched in nine countries.
The British multinational, based in London, was founded by two Estonians.
wise is the second most searched online bank in 18 countriesincluding Hungary, Greece and Portugal, while it is third in five other countries.
Overall, Wise has 338,080 average monthly searches in Europe.
N26on the other hand, comes in third position, being the most searched in four countries.
The bank under consideration is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, was founded in 2013 and offers financial services to customers in various member states of the Single Euro Payments Area and the United States.
However, UK operations were suspended in April 2020 due to Brexit uncertainties.
N26 ranks third being the most searched in four European countries – Andorra, Austria, San Marino and Slovenia – and the second most searched in four other countries, including Belgium and Luxembourg.
Co-founder of N26 Max Tayenthal admitted a few months ago that it should prioritize expanding its services, including cryptocurrency trading.
In practice, Max Tayenthal confirmed earlier this year that the geographical expansion of N26, which focused more on expansion than on the type of services it offered, including crypto, was not proving to be a winning strategy.
Here is what he said:
“Should we have built trading and crypto instead of launching in the US? Looking back, that might have been a smart idea.
Conclusions of the analysis
The data just presented was collected by a spread betting broker CMC Markets. The latter analyzed a comprehensive list of online banking services available in Europe via Ahrefs to find out the average number of monthly searches each bank receives in each European country.
As a reminder, CMC Markets is a UK-based financial services company that offers online derivatives trading such as spread betting and contracts for differences between global markets such as stocks and currencies.


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Why Millennials Are Flocking To Utility Apps
New comScore study: Five of the top ten “must-have” apps among millennials are utility apps.
We are excited to announce the first round of leaders who will bring our 2020 theme HUMAN.X to life at our global conference in New York on May 5-7.
Believe it or not, the No. 1 app among millennials is not a social media app.
According to comScore’s 2017 U.S. Mobile App Report, the “must have” app among smartphone users aged 18 to 34 is Amazon, followed by Gmail and Facebook. In fact, among the top ten, half of them are “utility” apps and two are messenger platforms.
Despite the fact that Snapchat’s 170 million users are comprised of mostly teens and millennials—per one study, more than 78 percent of them use the app daily—young people seem to be able to live without it. Snapchat didn’t even crack the top ten “must have” apps in comScore’s study.
A Condé Nast and Goldman Sachs study from earlier in 2017 found that Amazon was the second most popular app among a combined survey sample of teens and millennials, behind Snapchat.
As the lines blur between social media apps and messaging apps, millennials are using their smartphones for more than just connecting with their friends and exploring content. Here are a few reasons why utility apps are earning attention among millennials.
Smartphones are ubiquitous in the professional world
Less than a decade ago, most everyday employees did not have smartphones unless there was a specific reason for it. Smartphones were oftentimes administered by one’s employer and used exclusively for work-related communications.
Flash forward a few short years, and many employees have their work email and Slack apps downloaded to their personal devices. Office communications occur in real-time, which has made it getting things done a lot easier—albeit, not without lifting some of the boundaries between one’s work and his or her personal life.
Modern-day banking is mobile and on-the-go
Remember when you had to go to the bank to deposit a check? Mobile banking has made saving, depositing and investing easier than ever. Beyond having one’s own mobile app that’s associated with their bank or credit card company, a slew of financial management apps have emerged to help young investors allocate their savings.
Mint was among the first of the major fin-tech apps, but as of late, tools like Betterment, Acorns and Albert have gained momentum among financially-savvy millennials who are seeking an easier way to save and invest. Some of these platforms are even utilizing AI to demystifying investing, allowing young investors to make smarter decisions that are backed by data.
Millennials value their time (and apps that help them save time)
We’ve all read the studies that demonstrate millennials’ desire to invest in experiences over “stuff,” and a natural corollary to this insight is that millennials are looking for ways to squeeze more free time out of their days for things like travel and other experiences.
Apps like Amazon and Seamless, which help expedite and take the pain out of everyday tasks like shopping and ordering food, are popular among millennials because they cater to their on-demand expectations and help them be more efficient. Products like Soylent take this mentality to new extremes, promising to optimize people’s meal prep and intake to five minutes or less.
Want more insights? You can read the full comScore report here.
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Elena Baturina is no longer Russia's richest woman
The founder of the online retailer Wildberries Tatyana Bakalchuk topped the list of Russia's richest women, Forbes magazine said.
According to the publication, her fortune reached $1.4 bln. Bakalchuk pushed off the permanent leader of the list of past years, Elena Baturina, the head of Inteco Management and widow of Moscow's former mayor Yuri Luzhkov, with the fortune of $ 1.2 bln.
It is noted that a new assessment of Bakalchuk’s condition was the result of changes that occurred with her main asset, the Wildberries online store. According to the magazine, in 2019, Wildberries turnover grew by 88% and amounted to 223.5 bln rubles.
According to Forbes, for the first time Bakalchuk entered the list of the richest people in Russia in 2018, and then her fortune was estimated at $ 600 mln. A year later, it almost doubled, which allowed her to take second place after Baturina, TASS reported.
In 2019, Wildberries turnover increased by 88% and reached 223.5 bln rubles ($3.63 bln), according to the company’s statement.
Wildberries is an online retailer in the EAEU countries that has been operating on the market for 15 years. The company is present in the markets of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Poland. The range of Wildberries includes over 3.6 mln products, about 40% of which are produced in Russia. Wildberries turnover in 2018 increased by 72% and reached 118.7 bln rubles ($1.93 bln).


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A friend once told me that you can’t go far wrong by walking in the opposite direction to the signposts at Kings Cross underground station.
Whilst that has proved sound advice over the years, it could equally have been applied to that venerable City institution, the Bank of England and, more specifically, its Governor, Mark Carney.
For some time, Mr Carney has been warning households and the City that interest rate rises are imminent, only for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to backtrack, preferring a wait and see approach. Fixed income investors who took the opposite position have by and large been well rewarded as gilt yields have fallen further when the mooted rate rises failed to materialise.
These mixed signals earned Mr Carney a reputation in some quarters as “an unreliable boyfriend” with one MP suggesting, not unreasonably, that people have no idea where they stand on future interest rate rises.
This all looks set to change. In recent weeks, gilt yields have started to harden and – after so many false starts – the MPC cannot put off the inevitable much longer. It is important to remember that interest rates of sub-1 per cent were an emergency response to the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2007/8. They were never meant to stay at these levels for any longer than necessary.
Whilst the strong expectation is that interest rate rises from here will be very gradual, one shouldn’t underestimate the implications on the psychology of the Great British
consumer of the first interest rate rise for more than a decade.
The timing of the first rate rise may be unfortunate. Anecdotal and survey evidence suggest a gradual slowdown in a number of sectors this year, be it construction and
the housing market, leisure or new car sales. The latter were down nearly 10 per cent year-on-year in the normally strong month of September and it’s a long time since I have
received as many money-off restaurant emails in my Inbox.
But inflation is rising, driven to no small extent by the devaluation of sterling in the aftermath of the Brexit vote last summer. This is being felt in many areas from clothing down to the weekly shop. This matters as the MPC’s remit is to achieve a symmetric inflation target of 2 per cent as measured by the 12-month increase in the Consumer Prices Index. Data for September is due to be released this morning but CPI has been above target every month since February. If today’s reading starts with a 3 then Mr Carney will be forced to write an open letter to the Chancellor explaining why the MPC has been unable to fulfil its remit.
Although this is not without precedent (the last such letter was in December for an undershoot rather than overshoot), it will likely compound the pressure for action on rates sooner rather than later.
A further cause for concern of the current accommodative stance is there are signs of excess emerging once again in certain areas of the lending market. Car finance, for example, is firmly in the sights of the Bank’s Financial Policy Committee. Wider consumer credit growth of over 10 per cent a year prompted independent ratings agency Moody’s to warn over summer of a risk to credit card lending quality. The signs are there.
So, we are perhaps approaching a perfect storm, one whereby the MPC needs to raise rates to control inflation and reassert its own credibility when the consumer-led economy is starting to slow down on its own. And this time, it appears markets are taking the prospect seriously. This makes for an awkward end to 2017.
Which sectors fair best and worst in times of rising interest rates?
Consumer discretionary stocks are generally best avoided in an interest rate tightening cycle as people shop less and prioritise the essentials. Anticipation of this has already led to a de-rating this year of shares in the car dealerships, sofa and carpet retailers, for example.
Fixed income stocks such as gilts and corporate bonds can also be volatile as their value is usually inversely proportion to their yield, ie, rising yields = lower prices, all other things being equal.
So-called defensive stocks, which would include utilities, food retailers and other suppliers of staple goods, are generally in favour as people will always need to eat and keep warm.


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The Centre’ move to relax cabotage law may be a ‘game changer and transform India’s ports into a major transhipment hub,’ according to Mumbai and Nhava Sheva Ship Agents Association (MANSA).
On May 21, the Shipping Ministry issued a notification lifting restrictions on foreign registered vessels on transportation of loaded or empty containers between Indian ports. Earlier, it was the prerogative of Indian registered shipping lines that paid taxes and were governed by Indian laws.
Commenting on the development, Captain Vivek Singh Anand, president, MANSA, said, “Apart from creating a level-playing field, reduction in freight rates and making Indian trade more competitive, the move would allow coastal movement of export, import/ empty containers by foreign vessels leading to healthy competition among shipping lines,”
He said Indian ports can now attract cargo originating from or destined to foreign ports, leading to cargo growth in India. “This move would also have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the Indian traders and manufacturers by reducing the supply chain lag time and transhipment cost at a foreign port,” he said.
According to MANSA the relaxation in cabotage law would also address the problem of empty containers getting accumulated at some Indian port while other ports facing a shortage of empty containers.
“As a result, the additional cost of repositioning of these empty containers to deficit port(s) across the Indian coast would be reduced substantially with foreign vessels now being allowed to pick up such containers. The issue of empty containers was an outcome of uneven growth in containerised cargo resulting from the imbalance in exports and import,” MANSA chief said.


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AT&T to Begin Offering Local Phone Service To Businesses in State
Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, January 28, 1997
Business customers throughout Pacific Bell's California territory will be able to buy local phone service from AT&T starting next Monday, the long-distance carrier said yesterday.
In December, AT&T began offering local service to business and residential customers in Sacramento. Yesterday's announcement marks AT&T's first statewide rollout anywhere in the country of competitive local service for businesses.
AT&T is promising customers a combination of competitive prices, simple pricing, and a single bill for services such as local and long-distance calls, cellular service and Internet access, said spokeswoman Alice Nagle.
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¤ÐT&T will charge business customers $10.32 a month per line plus 1.9 cents per minute for local calls, regardless of time of day. Pac Bell's charges vary depending on when and how long you call.
According to Pac Bell, AT&T customers will save money only if they call during peak business hours for less than three minutes. A 10 minute call during business hours will cost an AT&T customer 19 cents, compared to 13.8 cents for Pac Bell service. During off-peak hours, Pac Bell customers will save even more.
"They are making it easy for California businesses to pay more for local calls," said Pac Bell spokesman Lou Saviano.
One business that signed up for AT&T's service is Scandinavian Designs, the furniture chain based in Petaluma. It became a test site for AT&T's business service in late August and found the transition from Pac Bell was seamless.
Brenda Morgan, director of information services at Scandinavian Designs, said her main interest is to simplify billing and service calls by having one company handle all its telephone needs.
"My feeling is that rates are all pretty much the same," she said, "and having one place for our service is so important.
For small and medium-sized businesses, AT&T is simply reselling Pac Bell's local service, which it buys wholesale at a 17 percent discount. AT&T hopes to convince state regulators this year to grant it an even larger discount.
For large business customers who are turning to AT&T for local service -- such as Union Bank, Sanyo, DHL and California State Automobile Association -- AT&T will use existing hardware from its long- distance network to help route outgoing local calls.
Eventually, AT&T hopes to use its own electronic switches to route all the local traffic it handles, giving it more control over service quality.
MCI has been reselling Pac Bell's local service to residential and business customers in Northern California since September.
"We've been there, done that, and are doing it better" than AT&T, claimed MCI spokesman Andy Shepard. But he couldn't quote specific prices.
Business customers should expect to wait several weeks before receiving service, said AT&T's Nagle. Both AT&T and MCI have complained that Pac Bell is switching local customers to them too slowly.


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LODI, Ohio — Shoppers visiting Ohio Station Outlets near Lodi are questioning if the mall can survive after four stores closed this month and three more are in the process going out of business.
However, Heather Broadsword, the general manager of the outlets, stressed the mall still has 41 stores open and the mall is not closing.
The property was purchased by Namdar Realty Group in December of 2017.
"We are still profitable. We have great stores left that do really well," Broadsword said. "The mall is not going away. Our corporate office has assured us they have no intention of closing this mall and they will do anything they can to help us keep it going."
Levi's, CorningWare, Appalachian Outfitters and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory all closed in January.
Bass and Jockey have store closing signs in their windows.
The Gymboree outlet shop is also shuttering its doors. The children's clothing company filed for bankruptcy this week.
Ed Gozowski, who visited the outlets on Friday with his son on Friday, said he has doubts about the sustainability of the mall.
"I don't think there is going to be much of a future really. I think it'll be gone," Gozowski said.
Corporate decisions, competition from other outlets and on-line shopping are some of the factors contributing to the closures.
But Broadsword remains optimistic about the future. She said 500,000 people shop at the outlets yearly and 2018 sales were up compared to 2017.
She said a retailer that has several locations in Ohio is planning to move into the Levi's space pending the execution of a license agreement.
"We have reached out to several national brands to bring different options in here as well as talk to local tenants in the area and try to bring traffic back into the mall," Broadsword said.
Broadsword said events for children are also planned, including a Valentine Princess Party on February 10. In addition, train rides around the outlet mall will resume in March.
The mall, which is located in Harrisburg Township off I-71, has been open since 1996.
Zoning Inspector Hattie Ziegler said trustees have concerns about the recent stores closings and she expects it will be a topic of discussion during a meeting Monday night.


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The Valencia Conference Centre once again hosts a major event organized by AECOC: the 32 Congreso AECOC de Gran Consumo, which will take place from 25th to 26th October 2017.
The Valencia Conference Centre hosts a major event organized by AECOC once again, the 32 Congreso AECOC de Gran Consumo, which will take place from 25th to 26th October 2017.
According to its AECOC official website, economic viability, social and environmental responsibility and offering a seamless shopping experience are some of the different variables that will allow a company to reach its goals.
These topics will be discussed at the meeting by invited experts such as: Juan Roig (Honorary President of AECOC and President of MERCADONA), Ken Segall, (Creative Director -branding product naming, marketing strategy-), Fuencista Clemares (Country Manager at Google Spain & Portugal), Juan Manuel Morales (General Director Grupo IFA) and Javier Rodríguez Zapatero (President of ISDI).
Further information about speakers and registration on the official website.


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Nov. 1, 2012 at 8:42 AM ET
NEW YORK - U.S. companies added 158,000 jobs in October, data from a payrolls processor showed on Thursday in a revamped report on the private sector labor market.
The historical data for the ADP National Employment Report was revised as part of the new methodology, which was used for the first time in the October report. September's increase has halved to 88,200 new jobs from an initially reported 162,000.
Economists had forecast October's report would show a gain of 135,000 jobs, according to a Reuters poll.
Economists often refer to the ADP report to fine-tune their expectations for the nonfarm payrolls report due on Friday, though it is not always accurate in predicting the outcome. The overhaul is meant to bring ADP's numbers more in line with the government's final revised jobs figures.
Separately, the number of planned layoffs by firms jumped 41.1 percent in October to the highest level in five months, although the number includes more than 10,000 jobs in U.S.-owned auto plants in Europe, a report from consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., said.
Employers announced 47,724 planned job cuts last month, up from September's 33,816, according to the report. It was the highest level since May.
U.S. automotive companies said they will let go of 11,615 workers, though that includes 10,900 Ford layoffs that will affect workers in Belgium and the United Kingdom.
The planned layoffs were modestly higher than the 42,759 announced in October last year. The total for the year so far stands at 433,725, down from 521,823 for the same period in 2011.
"While the Ford job cuts are not impacting American workers, they indicate just how vulnerable companies in the U.S. are to the situation in Europe", John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in a statement.
The last three months of the year tend to see heavier lay-off activity and the weak third-quarter earnings season does not bode well, Challenger said.
The consumer products industry announced 5,250 cuts, while electronics companies laid off 4,491 workers as the sectors were hurt by a slowdown in consumer and business spending.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.


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An Italian sandwich shop has newly opened in Glasgow's southside.
Focacceria 138 has taken over at 138 Allison Street, the former Country Shop butchers in Govanhill.
The new spot is dishing out a winning combination of focaccia, coffee and cannoli from 7am until 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week.
Its sandwich menu for this weekend includes options such as roasted eggplant, artichoke truffle and ricotta; Parma ham, mozzarella and basil and Italian sausage truffle, ricotta and Provolone cheese.
You can follow Focacceria 138 on Instagram to see what they're serving up here.
If you're wanting a gander at other food and drink offerings in Glasgow, sign up for our new-look newsletter.