text:
News bitcoin scam
A couple whose dream bitcoin investment turned into a nightmare say they have lost almost everything, as the accc notes cryptocurrency investment scams are on the rise. Read the most recent news on bitcoin scams to stay informed about the latest events, cases and scammers with our bitcoin scams news section. Justice ruth bader ginsburg has apologized for her critical remarks about donald trump.
The great bitcoin scam - forbes.
The top cryptocurrency events. Make sure youre not logging into a phishing site (explained below). These scams are not hard to spot but can be costly if not avoided.
To start out, it is important to understand what bitcoin really is. There are a lot of scams on the cryptocurrency market, due to the fact that its mostly unregulated by the government. Smart staking and.
How to avoid bitcoin scam, theft and fraud (2019 updated).
It appears to be delivered mostly via email by exploiting weaknesses in hotmail or live mail accounts. One of the biggest red flags is the promise of unrealistic prices. A new scam has begun targeting porn viewers in an attempt to blackmail victims and extort 1,900 and they only take bitcoin.
60,000 words of shocking information, based on 3 years of data collection and analysis. At the outset, let me clarify that bitcoin itself is not a scam, but how bitcoin is being sold is a scam. Medical licenses issuance illinois.
Victims receive a legitimate-looking email that will usually mimic an email they are expecting to receive, making the scam seem even more real. Over the past few days, a new bitcoin scam has been doing the rounds. Scientists have discovered widespread uranium pollution in drinking water supplies in india.
New bitcoin (btc) scam leads to fake bbc news article.
Will affect bitcoin price. Heres how to avoid them never expose your private key seed phrase. Via malware, the scammers claim to have compromising footage of viewers taken from the would-be victims webcam while pornographic videos were playing.


text:
The CBI (Central Bank of Iran) and the Ministry of Trade have reached an agreement to connect the payment platform of CBI to a trading system that allows companies to settle payments in cryptocurrencies, according to the report of Mehr News Agency.
Iran will let crypto payments for international trade
The country’s deputy minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, Alireza Peyman-Pak stated that the system will be up and running “within the next two weeks.”
“We are finalizing a mechanism for operations of the system. This should provide new opportunities for importers and exporters to use cryptocurrencies in their international deals.”
According to him, the government should not be ignoring the crypto industry’s economic and business prospects, as evidenced by major private cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC). The Iranian government is said to be working on a mechanism that would enable the use of cryptocurrencies in global trade.
“All economic actors can use these cryptocurrencies. The trader takes the ruble, the rupee, the dollar, or the euro, which he can use to obtain cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which is a form of credit and can pass it on to the seller or importer. Since the cryptocurrency market is done on credit, our economic actors can easily use it and use it widely.”
In late 2021, Iran’s major blockchain organization expressed worries about crypto regulations being implemented before the country becomes fully immersed in Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Iran has also been shutting off electricity to local Bitcoin miners on a regular basis, blaming high temperatures.

domain: news


text:
Google says it plans to introduce support for external microphones for its line of Pixel phones. This will allow those shooting video to capture higher-quality audio to accompany their visuals. The feature will work with USB-C ports (Pixel 2, 3) and 3.5mm jacks (Pixel). The company confirmed the update in its forums, stating, “At the same time as Pixel 3 launch (October 18th), we will introduce support for Android-compatible plugged-in external microphones in the default camera app for all Pixels.” Other Android camera apps have supported this feature for some time, but not the main Pixel camera app. Pixel owners can expect to see their app update with the new tool in the next few days.
Write a comment


text:
As stores reopen throughout Arizona and the rest of the country following coronavirus restrictions, Macy’s at Park Place mall is closing for good.
A liquidation sale is underway after the department store announced earlier this year that it would close about 125 stores across the country after years of struggling with slowing in-store sales.
The Park Place location was put on the market last year, showing all three stories available for lease at 5850 E. Broadway.
No new tenant has been announced for the space, and mall owners Brookfield Properties did not respond to a request for comment.
An advertisement placed in the Star announced the store’s impending closure and a sale on everything in stock. Macy’s did not provide a timeline for the closing.
What could become of the 153,511-square-foot store remains unknown.
In recent years, mall owners had begun recruiting entertainment and restaurant venues to fill big spaces, but the pandemic’s impact on large gatherings could prove to be a challenge.
Industry experts think big department store spaces could become offices, hotels or distribution centers, given their central locations and plentiful parking.
For now, the sales are expected to be good.
Also closing is Tuesday Morning’s location at River Road and Stone Avenue.
Earlier this week, the discount retailer filed for bankruptcy and announced closures of several stores and its distribution center in Phoenix.
The company cited the impact of the pandemic as the reason for closing. No information on a closing date has been provided, as a bankruptcy judge must approve the proposed closures.
Other national chains that may have less of a presence, if any, following the pandemic include JCPenney, which plans to close more than 240 locations, though specific sites have not been announced; Victoria’s Secret, with plans to shutter 250 stores; and Pier 1 Imports, which is going out of business entirely.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
The business news you need
With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history.


text:
Samsung Electronics revealed on Tuesday its high-performance 50-megapixel (MP) image sensor, ISOCELL GN1, for smartphones that feature fast autofocus, and supports 8K video recording.
As the mobile camera image sensor market rapidly grows, Samsung hopes that its new ISOCELL GN1 sensors would cement its position as the leading memory chipmaker.
According to the South Korean tech giant, the new product features “tetra cell” (4-in-1) pixel binning and “dual pixel autofocus” technologies. Samsung said that the features are a first for such an image sensor to feature simultaneously.
ISOCELL GN1 Sensor
The ISOCELL GN1 has a 50 MP resolution 1/1.3-inch camera sensor, comparable to Sony’s IMX700 50MP sensor. The image sensor boasts 100-million-phase detection for its ultra-fast and reliable autofocusing mechanism. The GN1 uses technologies that could detect, track, and focus on still or moving target objects in real-time. The sensor also improves light sensitivity allowing users to capture enhanced images and record brighter videos even in low light conditions.
Samsung said that with its tetra cell technology, ISOCELL GN1’s pixel size could turn into 2.4μm pixels from a native pixel size of 1.2μm. The tetra cell increases the quality of light reception by increasing the pixel size. The sensor could also capture 12.5MP stationary images with 2.4μm pixels in pixel-binning mode.
The new image sensor also includes gyro-based EIS and Smart ISO. It could also record videos at ultra-high-definition 8K resolution at 30 fps.
Park Yong-in, Samsung’s executive vice president in charge of its sensor sector, said that its products with advanced pixel technology had set the company as a leader at providing high-performance image sensors.
He added that the ISOCELL GN1 testifies to its commitment to cater to increasingly diverse market environments.
Later this month, the ISOCELL GN1 would go into mass production with new handsets using the sensors to come out later this year. A Vivo smartphone coming out later this year would reportedly use the new 50MP sensor first.
In November last year, Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi released the world’s first commercial smartphone, “Xiaomi Mi Note 10,” to feature Samsung’s 108-megapixel image sensor. Samsung’s “Galaxy S20”, the company’s first 5G phone released last February, also uses the same sensor.


text:
- Mastercard recently announced its intention to add support for crypto payments.
- The company noticed a demand for crypto payments, and that a lot of people are transitioning.
- It revealed that it will add crypto support in 2021, although they did not mention what coins will be supported.
Mastercard recently announced that it will add cryptocurrency support to its payment network. The company already has over one billion users, and with digital currency support, this will represent a massive move for crypto adoption.
Mastercard Responds to Demand by Enabling Crypto Payments
According to the announcement, the company decided to respond to demand crypto, planning to add support for digital currency payments in 2021. As a result, Mastercard will allow people to pay with crypto at over 30 million merchants. However, the company did not reveal what cryptocurrencies will be supported.
It believes that opening up to crypto might help merchants attract new customers, as well as build loyalty regarding the existing ones. The firm has noted that a lot of people are leaving traditional finance in favor of digital currency, and so Mastercard decided to give them that choice.
It said as much in its announcement, noting that the company is not going to start recommending people or merchants that they switch to crypto. But, people are already switching to crypto, and Mastercard will only add support for those who wish to use digital coins. The same goes for merchants — the payments giant will give them the option to accept crypto payments, but it won’t force anyone to do so.
Which Cryptos will be Supported?
Now, the company noted that stablecoins are reliable and secure, so it is likely that they will be supported, but no other cryptos are specifically mentioned. The company did, however, offer four points that will serve as core criteria for selecting which coins will be added.
- Strict KYC compliance
- Robust consumer protections, including security and privacy
- Regulatory compliance
- Stability as a means of payment
Mastercard is already actively engaging with multiple central banks across the globe to also support their upcoming CBDCs. The company had CBDCs on its mind for a while. After all, it did release its virtual sandbox tool in 2020, allowing central banks to test their coins and demonstrate how CBDCs can be used within the Mastercard infrastructure.


text:
Australian data-services firm Link Administration Holdings Ltd. has rejected a reduced takeover offer from Canada’s Dye & Durham Ltd.
(Bloomberg) — Australian data-services firm Link Administration Holdings Ltd. has rejected a reduced takeover offer from Canada’s Dye & Durham Ltd.
The company’s board “does not believe it is able to recommend” the A$4.30 ($2.93) per share offer to its shareholders, which was revised down by the Canadian software firm from a previous bid of A$5.50, Link said in a statement Monday. Link said it will continue to engage with Dye & Durham.
Dye & Durham proposed lowering its takeover offer for what is the biggest back-office service provider to Australia’s booming pension industry by 22% last week, citing the current state of financial markets and the value of both Link and its recently spun out conveyancing unit PEXA Group Ltd.
Link shares are down about 13% since the start of June after Australia’s consumer watchdog raised concerns over the merger. A unit of Link has also been served with a group lawsuit relating to its administration of former star UK stock picker Neil Woodford’s collapsed fund.
Link’s decision was made after feedback from stakeholders and a valuation from the deal’s independent experts that included “potential adjustments to that range as a result of the change in market conditions” among other factors, the company said.
The firm will postpone the scheduled shareholder vote on the deal to a later date, it said.


text:
“There are rumors around the globe that Apple is coming with their new operating system at Worldwide Developers Conference 2021”
Tech enthusiasts across the globe are waiting for the Worldwide Developers Conference 2021. Apple’s technical event 2021 will primarily focus on the software section. The company will introduce us to the updated version of various software, which includes MacOS 12, tvOS 15, iPad OS 15, iOS 15, WatchOS 8, and more.
However, there is speculation that they might come up with their new operating system homeOS. However, the company has not given affirmations to the news. The skepticism of tech people is based on a job listing by Cupertino company. Javier Lacort, the famous tech reporter, shared the job listing. The original job listing stated-
You’ll get to work with system engineers across Apple, learning the inner workings of iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and homeOS, and optimizing your code for performance in ways only Apple can. Come join our team and make a real difference for music lovers worldwide,” the posting read, according to MacRumors. Later, it stated: “The Apple Music Frameworks team owns the technology stack that enables the system-integrated Apple Music experience on all of our mobile platforms: iOS, watchOS, and homeOS.”
The advertisement mentioned homeOS twice. The news created a craze among the fans. But when the rumors about the new operating system began to spread, the company amended the job listing. It stated that the printing of homeOS was just a printing mistake. It was supposed to be a Home pod. So, What does that mean? Was the news of homeOS just a misunderstanding?
Will Apple launch homeOS?
It’s been several years, Apple has not launched a new operating system. So, the company might surprise the fans with the new operating system. Well, the company has not given affirmations to fans regarding the new operating system. However, tech enthusiasts have come up with several theories regarding homeOS.
As the name suggests, the new operating system will be in relation to the home appliance. As the job listing mentions, it will also connect to music as well. As of now, Homepod is supported by tvOS. However, in the future, the company might switch to the new operating system. The company might be planning to expand the home appliances with a new operating system.
Well, the above are just theories. We have to wait for two more days for the confirmation.
What is the schedule of WWDC 2021?
The event is scheduled to happen on Monday, June 7. For the very first time, the event will take place online due to the situation of the global pandemic of coronavirus. The event will be five days long which commences with the keynote address at 10:30 PM IST (10 AM PDT). Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple Inc, will begin the event with a keynote speech followed by other officers of the company.
Where to watch WWDC 2021?
You will be able to watch the event on Apple’s YouTube channel. Set a reminder, and stay tuned to watch the event.
Are there any fees to attend WWDC 2021?
You can participate in the event without any fees. However, there are few sessions in the event which are exclusive only to paid persons. You have to pay the 100$ fee to attend those sections.
If you have any other queries, you can ask them in the comment section.
If you find the article helpful, bookmark our website for similar articles.


text:
On Thursday, BharatPe (An Indian UPI based merchant payment network) said that in the month of September the network recorded transaction disbursements of over ₹80 crores. This amount of transaction disbursements in a single month makes the merchant as the largest financial-tech lender for merchants in the country during the pandemic.
In the current quarter of the year 2020, the financial-tech company has facilitated loan disbursements to the scale of ₹150 crore with the help of it’s partners.
The company has already stated that it has plans to increase the figure of the loan disbursements upto seven times in this current year and aims to disburse loans upto ₹1000 crore in the remaining F.Y of 2020-21.
The company’s BharatLoan enables the merchants to take loan of amount between ₹20,000 and ₹7 lakhs for a tenure upto 15 months at minimal interest rates compared to the current bank loan interest rates. Notably, the merchants can repay the loan with installments that can be paid on daily or weekly terms.
The complete process of lending the loan to the merchant is carried out digitally with no physical verification or hardcopy requirement. From application to document verification, the process is conducted by online portals securely.
Retail businesses of small and medium-sized are gradually coming back on track and are already preparing for the upcoming festive season, one of the officials from the company said.
The official further added that the company aims to be the financial-tech partner of first choice for the merchants of India and will continue to bring new products that enables them to grow their businesses rapidly.
The company is currently serving over 50 lakh merchants across the country and it has grown it’s business by 30 times from 2019 also the company is leading offline UPI transactions with facilitating over 5 crore transactions in a single month.
Marquee investors such as Beenext, Sequoia, SteadView Capital, Ribbit Capital, Coatue Management LLC, Insight Partners, Amplo are on the company’s list.


text:
Skip to content
January 31, 2023
The Open News
GM is developing a new small-block V-8 engine for $854 million
Ram unveiled a concept for an EV pickup truck that will compete with Ford, GM,
MP Materials CEO says GM organization key to building EV supply chain in U.S.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra first woman to lead Business Roundtable
GM reports upgraded 2022 Chevy Silverado in the Middle East
Lockheed Martin and GM companion to foster new moon buggy for NASA astronauts and cargo
Are Electric Auto Transport Trucks The Future Of Auto Shipping?
GM Cruise’s autonomous vehicles to hit the roads for testing without a human reinforcement before
Nikola and General Motors collaborate to make this 900-horsepower super electric truck
Cadillac will be General Motor’s (GM’s) Lead Electric Vehicle Brand
Copyright by The Open News - 2022
Submit a Guest Post
Content is protected !!


text:
- 24 min ago Maruti Suzuki Announces New 5 Year/ 1 Lakh Kilometer Warranty On Select Diesel Models
- 6 hrs ago New Isuzu V-Cross Diesel Automatic Launched In India At Rs 19.99 Lakh
- 7 hrs ago Maruti Suzuki XL6 Launching Tomorrow: All You Need To Know
- 8 hrs ago All-New Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS Launched In India With Prices Starting At Rs 4.99 Lakh
- Movies Hrithik Roshan And Tiger Shroff’s ‘War’ Will Be An Adrenaline Pumping Visual Extravaganza: Director
- News AAP MLA Sandeep Kumar disqualified
- Technology Xiaomi Mi Band 5 Is On Tow, Reveals Huami CEO
- Sports Pro Kabaddi League 2019: Match 52: Tamil Thalaivas Vs Jaipur Pink Panthers: Dream 11 Predictions, Fantasy Tips
- Lifestyle Shraddha Kapoor Gives Us A Slay-Worthy Moment With Her Chic Dress For Saaho Promotions
- Education SSC CGL Result 2018 Tier-1 Likely To Be Declared Soon
- Finance What Have We Learned About Home Insurance From Recent Floods?
- Travel Cycling for beginners: The basics any beginner cyclists should know
The Indian government is looking at increasing the registration charges of petrol/diesel powered two and four-wheelers in the country. The charges for registration and renewal of registration will soon increase by up to 25 times.
According to Times Of India, once the new registrations charges are implemented, registering a petrol or diesel car will cost the owner Rs 5000 while the renewal of registration will cost Rs 10,000. Currently, both these charges are set at just Rs 600 each.
The reason for the increase in the registration amounts is to mainly discourage the purchase of petrol or diesel-powered vehicles while boosting the shift towards the use of EVs in the country.
The amendment to hike the registration charges is currently still in its drafting stage, which will be implemented sometime soon. According to the proposal, any vehicle including private cars, cabs and all two-wheelers running on conventional fuel will face a hike in their registration charges.
As per the proposal, registration of two-wheelers will be increased to Rs 1000 while its renewal will cost Rs 2000. Currently, the charges are fixed at Rs 50. Similarly, registration of cabs which are currently Rs 1000 will be increased to Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 for registration and re-registration, respectively.
That is not all, even imported vehicles will face a registration hike from the current Rs 5,000 to Rs 40,000. Commercial LMVs will face a hike from Rs 1000 to Rs 10,000 for registrations and Rs 20,000 for renewals.
An official stated, "We have sought feedback from all stakeholders before notifying the final fee structure in the next 40 - 45 days."
Apart from the increase in the registration amounts of petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, the Indian government is also looking at a proposal to scrap all vehicles older than 15-years — here are all the details.
Thoughts On The Hike In Registration Charges
The Indian government is pushing hard to encourage the shift towards electric vehicles in the Indian market. The government is also taking every possible action to improve the sales of EVs in India. It will be interesting to see how people will react to the hike in registration amounts when the proposal is actually implemented.


text:
Sabre-connected agencies in France, the Netherlands and United Kingdom now can book and fulfill Air France-KLM bag fees,
according to Sabre Travel Network. That functionality is available in
the "classic view" of the Sabre Red Workspace while the newer
graphical view in the agency desktop system currently accommodates only
shopping for Air France-KLM prepaid bags, according to a Sabre spokesperson who
noted that "work is in underway to make pre-paid bags bookable in
graphical view." Sabre in September 2012 announced a new content deal with Air France-KLM
that called for the sale of KLM's premium-economy seating. The
spokesperson confirmed that "pre-paid seats are available in graphical
view today for shopping and booking," adding that Sabre receives the seat
and bag content from the Airline Tariff Publishing Co.'s Optional Services
GBTA named travel buyers Donna Kelliher of Dominion and Pamela McTeer of First Data Corp. as nominees for its president and CEO post.
The winner will serve a two-year term starting at the conclusion of the Global Business Travel Association's convention in San Diego in August, where members will vote. Christie Johnson, director of business services at Johnson Downie, is running unopposed for vice president. The ballot also includes three nominees for two Direct member-at-large positions on the board of directors: Denise Truso, global travel director at St. Jude Medical; Rita Visser, director of global travel GPO/executive travel services at Oracle; and Karoline Mayr, director of global travel procurement at Deltek. The open Allied member-at-large board seat will be contested by Altour senior vice president of sales Doug Payne and Christopher Juneau, Concur senior marketing director for Australia and Asia/Pacific.
Privately held Virgin Atlantic Airways reported a £93 million pre-tax loss for its fiscal year ending Feb. 28.
Virgin Atlantic Ltd., a group that includes the passenger airline business as well as Virgin Holidays and an air cargo business, posted a pre-tax loss of £69.9 million, which included positive special items. Group revenue for the 12-month period increased 5 percent year over year, with a modest increase in total passenger counts and a passenger load factor improvement of 1.3 percent. The carrier reported a 9.2 percent increase in passengers traveling in Premium Economy and Upper Class. Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger, a former American Airlines executive appointed this year, expected an improved financial performance for this year and has established a plan to "return the business to profitability within a two-year time frame," according to a statement. The path to profitability includes the carrier's new U.K. domestic business
, its pending joint venture with Delta Air Lines
, the impacts of a more fuel-efficient fleet and other initiatives, including a cost-savings program that calls for "£45 million in financial improvements in the current fiscal year."
Concur announced preferred seat tracking and alerts for TripIt Pro users,
although users still must contact the carrier or booking agent to actually change seats. Users can set tracking preferences for classes of service, window or aisle seats and those in the front or back of the cabin. Alerts on openings in exit rows and bulkheads also are available as part of the service, currently offered on the web but coming soon to mobile, Concur announced.
EasyJet this month will include "free fast track security" as part of its "flexi" fares targeted at business travelers,
which were introduced in 2011
. According to the carrier, "phase one" of the expedited security rollout will include 27 airports, including London Gatwick, London Stansted, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Athens, Munich and Hamburg.
The average cost for a first-quarter domestic U.S. trip by Travel Leaders Corporate clients dropped for the first time since early 2010,
according to the travel management company. The marginal $1 year-over-year decline in total domestic trip cost to $953—including air, car and hotel costs—resulted from a 2 percent drop in average airfare (the first such reduction since 2011, according to the TMC) and a 3 percent decrease in average daily car rental rate (to $42, "a three-year low") offsetting a 1 percent rise in hotel cost per night. Based on Travel Leaders Corporate data, Miami had the largest first-quarter increase in nightly hotel cost, up 11 percent year over year, followed by Dallas and New York (each 9 percent). "The number of hotel room nights booked by our clients has jumped 21 percent year over year," noted Travel Leaders Corporate president David Holyoke. "Clearly, there is significant demand for business travel."


text:
Gearbox, Kowloon Nights and TinyBuild join GamesIndustry.biz Investment Summit at PAX East
Two new publishers join PlayStation, Ubisoft, Humble Bundle, Kickstarter and more at investment event
Gearbox Publishing, Kowloon Nights and TinyBuild are the latest names to join the GamesIndustry.biz Investment Summit at PAX East next month.
The event connects developers together with publishers, platform holders and investors, and is designed to get games and studios funded. Now in its tenth year, the Summit has generated millions of dollars for game creators worldwide. This PAX East event will take place on Thursday, February 27th in Boston and tickets are on sale now.
Gearbox, Kowloon and TinyBuild join PlayStation, Ubisoft, Super.com, Kickstarter, Merge Games, Humble Bundle, Snail Games, Xsolla and many more to be announced.
The morning conference will feature a special indie developer panel hosted by PlayStation's indie boss Shuhei Yoshida. The full speaker line-up will be revealed later this month.
The conference is followed by a networking lunch and then 1-to-1 meetings between developers and publishers. Meetings are designated before the event and are at the discretion of the attending publishers and investors.
Tickets are on sale now. PAX East indie exhibitors can request a free ticket here.
Publishers and investors looking to attend the Summit are encouraged to buy a table to meet with studios. Tables cost $700 and can be booked by emailing email@example.com.
Xsolla is the headline sponsor for the event, which will take place at the Aloft Hotel next door to PAX East in Boston. Interested in being a sponsor for the Investment Summit? Contact our events manager Charlotte Nangle through here.
PAX East is run by Reed Pop, the parent company of GamesIndustry.biz


text:
January 2, 2018 - 11:49 am
Plant-based restaurant VegeNation opened a Henderson location in August and has found its niche in the city, employees say.
“We get a good mix of people,” hostess Jen Dailey said. “We have people who are fully vegan and people who eat meat; it’s nice when they get to try vegan for the first time and end up loving it.”
Dailey described the restaurant’s menu as a “mix of vegan comfort food and good, healthy options.”
Resturant owners say they cook with locally grown vegetables whenever possible. In addition, the restaurant adopts school gardens and grows its own food.
Among the most popular items are chicken pot pie gnocchi with chicken, peas, carrots and mushrooms; a burrito bowl made with organic brown rice, black beans and locally grown greens; and Pho-King delicious, a mix of Vietnamese pho, mushroom broth and noodles.
Since the restaurant has opened, owners have added a few new items to the menu. Among them are mushroom power pasta that includes pasta toasted in mushroom sauce, broccoli, kale and grape tomatoes. On the dessert side, VegeNation recently added chocolate tacos filled with avocado chocolate mousse, topped with salted caramel sauce, fruit and salted coconut; and warm apple cobbler with streusel served on warm skillet, topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel.
The resturant also offers daily specials such as veggie changa, which comes with vegan chicken, peas, carrots, spinach and rice, guacamole, pico de gallo and secret sauce.
Where: 10075 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson
Hours: 8-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 8-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays


text:
Talon welcomed trade customers and MX riders to check out its Yeovil factory on 15 August. Showing off its new wheel-assembly facility and dispatch warehouse, this was a great opportunity for visitors to see inside one of MX’s best known brands.
The re-organisation of the Yeovil site has allowed for expansion of the machine shop to include two DMG robot-fed, five-axis machines plus new machines for producing hubs in-house, confirming Talon’s commitment to manufacturing in the UK. It means all products are conceived, designed and produced in the same place and this investment in the company will help Talon grow and improve for years to come as it continues to strengthen technical partnerships with companies such as HRC.
Following on from its production of extended swingarms for KTM Group brands Talon has just released a new range of triple clamps and it promises more goodies before the end of the year.


text:
Issuers of reloadable prepaid debit cards are going after the "banked" crowd.
As competition intensifies, issuers are beefing up card features and looking to expand their distribution through new retail channels, including certain niches of consumers that may have well-entrenched banking relationships.
In one of the latest such endeavors, American Express Co. on March 21 announced a partnership with Office Depot to roll out the office supply chain's first prepaid card at a selection of its 1,100 stores in the coming months.
Amex introduced its low-cost prepaid card last November (see story). A temporary one-time card load is $4.95 in Office Depot stores; customers may order a permanent, reloadable card online.
The goal with Office Depot is to target "small businesses or families looking to manage their day-to-day finances," including "those who use cash, debit and checks to manage their money and those who don’t use credit products," an Amex spokesperson told PaymentsSource via email.
While the target customer presents a complex picture of an entrepreneur or small-business owner on relatively solid financial footing, that customer may have specific reasons to want to control its spending in certain categories, Madeline Aufseeser, a senior analyst with Aite Group, tells PaymentsSource.
"Our research indicates many reloadable prepaid card customers have more financial relationships than some people think," she says. "And while they may have above-average income, too, they want to use prepaid cards to control and manage spending in different categories."
Examples include segregating business or household spending by restricting certain funds to prepaid cards and providing family members or employees with reloadable prepaid cards, she says.
Amex's move also underscores its goal of expanding its prepaid cards into new retail channels. Amex in November announced a deal to distribute a similar card, the American Express for Target prepaid card (see story).
The card brand is working on additional distribution deals with specialty and mass-market retailers, the Amex spokesperson says.
"Most of the bigger prepaid card programs until recently had only a single-thread distribution strategy, whether it was online or through Walmart or convenience stores. But that is changing," Aufseeser says.
Examples include NetSpend Corp. expanding its distribution from many smaller, independent distributors into 7-Eleven Co. stores (see story). A growing number of supermarket chains also are beginning to carry a broader range of prepaid cards, Aufseeser says.
Exclusive deals with retailers to distribute specific prepaid card brands are unlikely to emerge, Aufseeser says.
"Like gift cards, prepaid reloadable cards are expanding through diverse retail channels, but there is still a lot of room for growth," she says.
As prepaid cards expand into mainstream retail outlets, they may find new audiences, Aufseeser says.
In an online survey of 250 reloadable prepaid debit customers Aite conducted during the first quarter of 2011, 86% said they had a checking account, 80% said they had a bank debit card, and 61% said they had a credit card.
Some 67% of prepaid cardholders said they used their card most frequently for spending, according to Aite.
Amex also on March 21 announced expanded features for its prepaid cards.
Cardholders now may withdraw up to $400 per day from ATMs and may load funds into card accounts using the Vanilla Reload Network by InComm, in addition to MoneyPak.
Cardholders also may load up to $5,000 monthly into the card accounts from paychecks via direct deposit at no charge.
What do you think about this? Send us your feedback. Click Here.


text:
Apple unveils iOS 15, privacy updates and extends FaceTime to non-iPhone users
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference hosted virtually overnight in the US revealed numerous tweaks to the iPhone maker's software ecosystem and nothing in the way of new hardware.
The new version of the iOS operating system for iPhones, iOS 15, will be officially available by September in time for the arrival of the iPhone 13 and sees Apple respond to the boom in video conferencing apps by opening its own FaceTime video app to Android and Windows users.
Apple isn't creating an app for those non-iOS platforms - yet. Instead, Android and Windows users will be able to click on a link sent from an iOS device user to start a video call with them in a web browser.
This is the first time that FaceTime has been available across these platforms and sees Apple attempt to keep users in its own ecosystem, rather than resort to alternatives such as Zoom and Google Meet, which are available across a wider range of devices and software platforms.
Other FaceTime upgrades include the ability to blur backgrounds during video calls in portrait mode, a grid view to speak to a number of people at the same time, conference-style, the ability to send links to participants to schedule calls and the ability for users to share their screens and music through a new feature called ShareTime.
Elsewhere, incremental changes across the board, from the Apple Watch and iPad to Mac OS and Apple TV were the order of the day. However, the new sharing and communications features are only likely to intensify hostilities between Apple and Facebook, which are at war over Apple's recent iOS update which asks users to opt into ad tracking on their devices. Vast numbers of Apple users have chosen instead to turn ad-tracking off, with Facebook, therefore, less able to tailor adverts to its users, based on their web activity on Apple devices.
The privacy push by Apple CEO Tim Cook continues with its new software updates. A new service called iCloud+, which will be included in existing iCloud subscriptions will feature Private Relay, a type of virtual private network to mask an Apple user's identity and web activity while using the internet.
Another iCloud+ feature, Hide My Email, lets users enter a placeholder email address when signing up for new services.
Apple will also introduce a tracker blocker in its Mail app to mask a user's IP address and location. It will do the same in its Safari web browser. A new section of the App Tracker Report will let users see how often apps used information in the last seven days and what third party domains the apps are connecting to.
In an update to its Siri digital assistant, Apple will support offline speech recognition, meaning fewer commands will have to be sent to the cloud, making the service more private.
The full list of Apple announcements and a replay of the WWDC keynote is available here.
You must be logged in in order to post comments. Log In


text:
Over the last week we’ve become very aware of the fact that game developers are trying for a sea change. It might instead be that gamers are the ones that’ve made this change happen – maybe developers are only doing what the market demands they do in order to survive. In any case, we’ve seen three major games announced as new, their developers revealing that instead of making new games, they’ll be putting more time and effort into the games that people already love.
With Spider-Man Mile Morales for PlayStation 5, we’ve got an “expansion and enhancement to the original.” That means we’ve got a very successful first Spider-Man game and, per Sony and the developers of the game, we’re going to get a bigger, better release to capitalize on the greatness of that original. Read all about it – it’s very strange.
With Grand Theft Auto 5: Enhanced Edition (announced for PlayStation 5 this week), we’ve got a very, very similar situation to what’s going on with Spider-Man. Here we’ve got a franchise of games, with Grand Theft Auto, that’s been successful and has found massive amounts of users in Grand Theft Auto online. So why go and try to make a new game when the old game is still popular?
The same goes for Destiny 2. Bungie revealed that they would not be making a game called Destiny 3. Instead, they’re dedicating their time to expansions and enhancements for Destiny 2. They’re avoiding what they straight up called a “mistake” in releasing Destiny 2 when they still had the Destiny 1 universe running online. Instead of releasing a whole new universe online every few years, they’ll keep on adding to the universe that’s already established.
Will this work?
This is the model with which we’ll see game developers work if their games are largely multiplayer and online. It was strange to see the Spider-Man game appearing as “new” when it’s actually just an enhanced edition – that’ll still be a rarity, since it’s not primarily an MMO.
The subscription membership fee associated with World of Warcraft was ahead of its time. It would not be a shock to see more monthly costs in place of one-time costs for AAA online games in the near future. This is the way!


text:
If presidential candidates don't have the technical know-how to take an educated stand on whether tech companies should provide the government with a backdoor to encryption, how can we judge if they'll make the right choice if they get elected?
Proposed HIPAA Privacy Rule changes in pending federal legislation could lead to elimination of the requirement to de-identify patient data that's used for research purposes, raising questions about whether that data will be at a higher risk for breaches, warns data de-identification expert Khaled El Emam.
New proposed FDA cybersecurity guidance is an important step in getting medical device manufacturers more focused on the risks posed by their products as they're used in healthcare settings, security experts say.
Casino operator Affinity Gaming has sued incident response firm Trustwave, alleging that the firm failed to fully eradicate and "contain" the 2013 data breach and payment card malware outbreak that it was hired to remediate.
Cryptocurrency exchange Cryptsy has revealed that it suffered a 2014 hack attack that now leaves it insolvent. The exchange is appealing to its attacker to return the stolen bitcoins, worth $5 million today - no questions asked.
The FBI is investigating the point-of-sale malware breach at hotel chain Hyatt, which says related infections stretched for four months and affected 250 hotels worldwide. But Hyatt has yet to reveal how many customers or payment cards were compromised - or how attackers got in.
If federal regulators pull the plug on the HITECH Act's "meaningful use" incentive program for electronic health records, they must devise bold new ways to help ensure that data stored in EHR systems is secure.
Microsoft has patched a new, critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting all versions of Internet Explorer, but it's now only supporting and patching IE 11 and Edge. Potentially, several hundred million users of old IE versions are now at risk.
Tracing bitcoin transactions, some security experts suspect multiple gangs have each amassed more than $1 billion, making them the equivalent of "unicorns" - a term venture capitalists apply to extremely successful startup firms. In case there was any doubt, cybercrime really does pay.
Reliable data specifying the number of people employed in the United States in cybersecurity field is hard to find. But one government survey shows a 5 percent increase among information security analysts in 2015.
A federal official's comments this week that the government is "ending" the HITECH Act's "meaningful use" incentive program for electronic health records is raising numerous questions, including what's next for health data privacy and security regulations.
Networking vendor Fortinet refutes a researcher's assertions that there is an SSH "backdoor" in the FortiOS firmware that runs its devices. Many experts say that while the patched flaw looks unintentional, it might still serve as a backdoor.
The discovery of a serious remote code execution flaw in Trend Micro's consumer security software - now patched - is a reminder that even security software has code-level flaws. But shouldn't security vendors be held to a higher standard than others?


text:
ST. THOMAS — The Virgin Islands Government Employees Retirement System (G.E.R.S.) has ended its 26-year relationship with the West Indian Co. Ltd. (WICO) for management of the sprawling Havensight Shopping Mall.
In what the territory’s near-insolvent government pension system calls a $2 million-per-year savings, it will assume management of the waterfront mall, one of the Virgin Islands’ premiere port and retail centers.
G.E.R.S. owns the 8.9-acre Havensight Mall. The mall borders the West Indian Co. cruise ship dock, which brings hundreds of thousands of cruise travelers annually. With its high-end jewelers, souvenir shops, and popular open-air bars and restaurants, Havensight Mall is the red carpet to the Virgin Islands for thousands of visitors each week.
“The (G.E.R.S.) Board has decided to manage the mall themselves,” said pension system Administrator Austin Nibbs. “The G.E.R.S. will manage the mall and find a suitable management (company) at a later date.”
Several calls were placed to W.I.C.O. Interim President and Chief Executive Office Anthony Ottley seeking comment on Tuesday. The Consortium did not hear back.
An October 28th memo from Mr. Ottley to W.I.C.O. employees confirmed “ … a smooth transition period over the coming months,” Mr. Ottley said.
In the meantime, Mr. Nibbs said the retirement system will save “in excess of $2 million annually” by managing Havensight Mall itself.
The government pension system bought Havensight Mall in 1993 and, since that time, WICO has managed the mall on behalf of the retirement system. The latest five-year contract between the parties ended in September, and during its Oct. 17 meeting, G.E.R.S. did. not renew the contract.
The mall borders the West Indian Co. cruise ship dock, which brings hundreds of thousands of cruise travelers annually. In a release found on the G.E.R.S. website, the pension system said, “This decision was made in the best interest of the GERS members, not only as a cost saving measure to increase the revenues generated by the mall, but also for the implementation of the GERS’ vision, so that the mall can finally reach its full potential.”


text:
Naiise arises from ashes of GOD
Jul 14, 2015
A new homewares concept in Singapore has expanded from being an eCommerce player to a chain of three bricks and mortar stores in just four months.
Naiise is the brainchild entrepreneur Dennis Tay which has risen from the ashes of failed Hong Kong retailer GOD (Goods of Desire).
The store focuses on Singapore-designed products and has opened in Wheelock Place, Clarke Quay and West Mall. The newest store at Central, Clarke Quay, has opened in the 6500 sqft space vacated by GOD in April.
Despite the expansion into physical retail space, Naiise will continue to sell products online and run its popular pop-up promotional stores, such as partnerships with local food operators in shophouses.
Tay said in an interview with Today Online that he was “terrified” to take up such a large space when approached by landlord Far East Organization which was seeking a tenant to replace GOD. But the space has allowed the brand to expand its offer, branching into design books, music, magazines and workshops and creating areas for customers to dwell and chill in-store.
The new store stocks more than 4000 products from 400 brands, some 60 per cent of them sourced from local designers.
Read more about Tay’s new “design megastore” at Today Online.
Related News: Buffalo Wild Wings serious about Asia


text:
Warner Media made the announcement today that Jason Monteiro has been appointed as General Manager of HBO Max Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Jason Monteiro is a senior media executive who has extensive leadership experience across the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East in OTT platforms.
Monteiro said, “I could not be more excited to be joining this amazing organization and in particular to lead the charge for HBO Max. It’s going to be such a thrill to work with the people across WarnerMedia to bring the likes of Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, DC, Warner Bros, HBO favorites, new Max Originals and many more, to the viewers in Southeast Asia.”
Jason Monteiro has been appointed as General Manager of HBO Max
Prior to joining HBO, Monteiro was the Director of Saudi Arabia’s leading content streaming platform Shahid. Monteiro was responsible for the streaming platform’s free tier and responsible for user growth and engagement at Shahid.
Earlier he was working as the general manager of Indonesia and Malaysia for iflix and later worked in the capacity of the company’s Chief Marketing Officer.
He also held multiple leadership roles at leading telecommunications companies across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
Monteiro will be based out of Singapore and oversee the day-to-day operations of WarnerMedia’s Direct-to-Consumer business, brand, marketing, subscriber management, leading content experience, and digital partnerships.
Johannes Larcher, Head of HBO Max International, said, “Jason arrives at HBO Max with a proven track record of building and growing subscription services across Asia and other important global markets. He’s a passionate leader known for building and inspiring high-performing teams, and I’m eager to see his leadership in action as he steps into his new role today.”
Until the company appoints a new Managing Director for the broader INSEAK region (India, Southeast Asia, and Korea), Monteiro will be temporarily reporting to Larcher.
Monteiro will be responsible for the present HBO Go streaming service and eventually launch HBO Max in the region in the near future. He will have to lead a professional team of cross-functional executives to maximize the streamer’s success post the launch.
As Warnermedia’s focus was on the growth of HBO Go, its international streaming service they could not launch HBO Max in the Asian continent.
Last year in May 2020, HBO Max was launched in the United States of America and subsequently started its roll out all across the globe last year in 39 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The streaming platform was launched in Europe last year in the month of October in the Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Spain, and Norway. The company is on track to launch in other European countries this year.


text:
USA: Workers at the collapsed candle factory complain to the company that they were not allowed to leave
Workers at a Kentucky candle factory, which was destroyed by a tornado last week, have filed a lawsuit claiming that bosses threatened to fire anyone who left the job as the storm approached.
The class action lawsuit was filed Wednesday and The documents state that Mayfield Consumer Products banned the 110 workers from leaving the facility, even though they had been notified three hours before the tornado hit the area.
Eliza Johnson, 20, said in the lawsuit that the company had shown a blatant disregard for the safety of workers, forcing them to stay at the factory despite expressing concern about the impending extreme.
He is charged with this lawsuit the company that it did not provide a safe workplace, in violation of state regulations. Payment of monetary compensation to employees is also requested.
The company denies banning employees from leaving. Kentucky Gov. Andy Besir said Tuesday that authorities will investigate the collapse of the plant.
On December 10, strong tornadoes hit Kentucky and neighboring states, causing 76 people lost their lives. The 22 victims were in the city of Mayfield, where the candle factory was located and among them was and its eight employees.
The roof of a warehouse Amazon also collapsed in Illinois, killing six employees.


text:
Large corporations currently have to pay out quite a bit in damages in the US. Just last week, we reported that Apple has to pay a total of 50 million US dollars to the customers suing it due to its errors around the susceptible Butterfly keyboard. Compared to a payment that T-Mobile US now “wants” to hand over to its customers as part of a settlement, however, that seems like peanuts. The background is an extensive data leak last year, through which cyber criminals were able to capture gigantic data sets from customers. Despite its willingness to pay, however, T-Mobile US sees no blame on itself.
Money payment to make amends
However, those affected cannot now rejoice that the hefty sum will be divided among them. Rather, T-Mobile US is providing only a portion of the sum of money as reparations for the data theft. In addition to 350 million US dollars, which is to be paid out to aggrieved customers, the company also wants to invest the remaining 150 million US dollars in the broadest sense in connection with the data theft. Thus, T-Mobile US promises extensive spending in the area of cybersecurity. This information emerges from the agreement that the company was able to negotiate with its plaintiff customers this weekend. The amount was already reported in May by the news portal Bloomberg.
Data theft at T-Mobile US in 2021
Customers of Telekom’s U.S. offshoot were hit like a hammer blow by the news of the gigantic data theft in the summer of 2021. For T-Mobile US, it will have been no different when they first heard about the extensive data theft in the executive suite. A total of 76.6 million US citizens are said to have been affected by the massive data leak. The most sensitive data was stolen. Everything from telephone numbers to real names was involved. In retrospect, it turned out that the cyber criminals were able to exploit a security vulnerability. The culprit was apparently a router whose attack protection was simply too weak.
T-Mobile US with too little protection against cyberattacks
Clearly, T-Mobile US was not very careful about protecting itself against such attacks. Accordingly, the affected customers also took action against the telecommunications company as part of a class action lawsuit. Now the legal dispute has apparently come to an end in the form of a settlement. This is attractive for Telekom’s U.S. offshoot insofar as they were not found guilty by any judge of having actually committed security-related errors. The agreement itself even states that by paying damages, T-Mobile US is in no way admitting guilt for having had too little protection against such attacks.
Judge still has to approve
However, the agreement is not yet set in stone. First of all, the judge in charge still has to give his blessing to the agreement reached. However, since the debt waiver clause on the part of T-Mobile US is common practice in agreements of this kind, the judge is likely to approve the agreement without any problems. An example from Europe shows that the reverse can also be true. At the beginning of the year, Deutsche Telekom received millions in compensation from the EU Commission.


text:
In the bustling arena of Excon 2023, Ashar Locker, a renowned player in crushing and screening solutions, unveiled its new brand identity, embracing a futuristic outlook. We had the privilege to sit down with Vasim Pradhan, the visionary leader steering Ashar Locker into a new era of pioneering solutions. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Ashar Locker has stood as a stalwart in the dynamic landscape of industrial solutions, navigating the ever-evolving currents with a keen eye on innovation and sustainability. At Excon 2023, this industry leader took centre stage to showcase products and unveil a redefined identity that signals a transformative journey into the future.
A visionary shift in identity
The unveiling of Ashar Locker’s new brand identity at Excon 2023 was not a mere cosmetic change but a profound shift in ethos and a commitment to a future-driven perspective. Vasim Pradhan shared insights into the significance of this pivotal moment.
He expressed, “Excon 2023 is a milestone for us. It’s not just about launching a new logo; it’s about embracing a futuristic outlook. It signifies a commitment to innovation and sustainability – two pillars at the core of our identity.”
The product lineup
One can only talk about Ashar Locker by delving into the cutting-edge products that define their portfolio. At Excon 2023, the company presented a comprehensive range spanning Wire mesh, Anti-clogging or Self-cleaning screens , Rubber, and Polyurethane screens. The focus, however, was not merely on the products themselves but on the infusion of cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the anti-clogging category.
“We believe in staying ahead of the curve. Our showcase at Excon 2023 was not just about displaying products but about presenting a vision of the future. We seamlessly integrated the latest global design criteria into the Indian Anti-clogging market, showcasing our adaptability and commitment to pushing technological boundaries,” explained Vasim Pradhan.
Addressing key industry focus areas
As the construction industry pivots towards globalisation, sustainability, technology, and decomposition, Ashar Locker is ready to address these key areas strategically.
“Sustainability and efficacy are non-negotiable for us,” Vasim Pradhan emphasised. “Our dedication to sustainability goes beyond rhetoric. For instance, we have developed a specialised polyurethane that prioritises environmental consciousness and ensures the health and safety of our workforce. It’s a tangible manifestation of our commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
Moreover, he shed light on the evolving dynamics within the company, stating, “The societal shift towards inclusivity is palpable. Women play pivotal roles in our back-end and front-sales teams, dispelling archaic notions of a male-dominant industry.”
Navigating regulatory landscapes
The conversation steered towards the regulatory landscape, focusing on the challenges posed by raw material availability and pricing. Vasim Pradhan highlighted the need for a more proactive governmental role in stabilising these crucial elements.
“Regulations provide a foundation, but there’s room for improvement,” he stated. “The volatility in steel prices during the COVID era posed challenges, nearly doubling at one point. We advocate for a regulatory body to manage and stabilise raw material prices effectively. It’s not just about complying with regulations; it’s about fostering an environment conducive to sustainable growth.'”
Pioneering the future
A significant revelation emerged as Vasim Pradhan hinted at a groundbreaking product set to redefine industry norms soon. Ashar Locker, known for introducing Anti-clogging screens, is on the brink of launching a product that integrates artificial intelligence into its development process.
He said, “By the next Excon, we plan to launch a product that will change the game. Our R&D team is leveraging AI to develop a screening solution that goes beyond traditional practices. We’re not just adapting to the future but shaping it.”
A glimpse into tomorrow
Ashar Locker’s commitment to steering away from harmful practices, embracing inclusivity, and leveraging technology for groundbreaking solutions positions them at the forefront of the industrial solutions landscape. As we look towards the future, Ashar Locker stands as a beacon, illuminating the path toward a more sustainable, technologically advanced, and inclusive tomorrow. Expo 2023 was not just an event; it was a chapter in the saga of Ashar Locker’s evolution, and the story is far from over.


text:
The term "plastics" might not quicken the pulse of tech-happy geeks eagerly awaiting the day their cellphones can sprout wings and fly them to the moon.
But that doesn't mean the plastics industry is stuck back in the 1970s. A number of companies are using 21st century innovation and technology to push the industry into new areas of growth.
One of those companies is PolyOne (POL). It makes specialized polymer materials for the plastics industry, everything from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) resins and biodegradable color concentrates to high-density compounds as strong as metal.
Over the past six years, PolyOne has transformed itself from a supplier of low-margin, commodity-type products into an industry leader in innovation, research and development. The strategy has allowed PolyOne to fetch some of the highest margins in the business.
"Every project they take on has much higher margins than those at the average company," said Dmitry Silversteyn, an analyst at Longbow Research. "They've really become an R&D engine."
He gives much of the credit to Chief Executive Stephen Newlin, who took over the helm at PolyOne in February 2006 after previous stints at Ecolab (ECL) and Nalco Chemical.
"It took Newlin three or four years to transform the company culture from a commodity mindset to one that focuses on profit margins and R&D," Silversteyn said. "PolyOne has increased its R&D twofold over the past six years, more than doubled its sales and marketing staff and doubled its gross margin."
He cites the company's work with computer maker Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) as an example of how PolyOne has evolved over the years.
After HP was having problems with a plastic part in one of its printers — a "low-value product" that had problems moving paper and wore out too quickly, Silversteyn says — PolyOne developed a much more advanced part that involved a blend of additives and plastic. It ended up fixing the problem.
"It's a small piece of plastic, but in terms of dollar value it's almost equivalent to the entire plastic casing around a printer," Silversteyn said.
In addition to beefing up its R&D, PolyOne also has used buyouts to broaden its product line. The latest acquisition came Oct. 24, when PolyOne announced plans to buy Spartech (SEH), a maker of bulletproof barriers and aircraft cabin windows.
The deal is valued at $393 million, including $246 million for the acquisition itself as well as the assumption of $142 million in debt.


text:
When it comes to the hottest, most anticipated games, it’s pretty hard to think of something that could possibly beat GTA 6 and the amount of hype that has generated around this title. Even though there is no kind of evidence that the game exists in any form at the moment, fans of the popular franchise Granf Theft Auto continue to treat the subject as if Rockstar were to release the game tomorrow.
That being said, the eager GTA community is constantly holding its breath for some kind of Grand Theft Auto 6 news which will, they hope, put the game’s release into a bit of a perspective. But so far, Rockstar has only acknowledged that GTA 6 is going to be a real thing, and that it is currently behind Red Dead Redemption 2 in the priority queue.
Rockstar announced some time ago that it would focus on GTA 6 only after the development and release of Red Dead Redemption 2 had finally come to pass, in a successful manner. Red Dead Redemption 2 is another hot title coming from Rockstar, which is trying to bank on the critical success of the first installment of the game, released all the way back in 2010.
We know that Rockstar plans to release Red Dead Redemption 2 this year, according to a teaser poster put out by the company some time ago on their social media outlets. If everything goes as planned at Rockstar, we should see RDR 2 released in Fall. Bu come Fall, the falling of leaves will not only mark the release of a new (hopefully) bestseller western game, but also the start of production for GTA 6.
People closely tied to Rockstar claim that GTA 6 has already been put on the drawing board, and that the development process has already begun for the game that has a lot to live up to. It is the sequel to GTA 5, which is arguably the most successful GTA games in the franchise’s history. Although, you could roughly say that about any of the GTA iterations, as they have all had a massive impact on the worldwide gaming culture.


text:
Amazon develops hand recognition payment system
Amazon is reportedly working on a new payment system that would use card data linked to the hand of the user.
Jon Fingas reported for Engadget that:
Amazon’s rumored hand recognition payment tech might be useful beyond paying for produce at Whole Foods. Wall Street Journal sources say the company is developing hand-based checkout terminals that it would sell to “coffee shops, fast-food restaurants” and other stores that tend to have repeat customers, not just Whole Foods. It’s also clearer as to how the technology might work. The system would reportedly start by linking your payment card to your hand, asking you to insert your old-school plastic and scan your hand before you could pay using your hand alone.
Amazon’s cloud would store the data and might even tie it to Amazon.com spending to help target ads, although we can imagine some hesitation given that people are already concerned about creepy targeting. The company may also have challenges in safeguarding payment cars. It could blacklist people caught using stolen cards, according to tipsters, but that would only help after a thief had already bought at least one item using your hard-earned money.
The system is still young, but may be making progress. Amazon is said to be working with Visa for test transactions, and is supposedly in talks with Mastercard. It might be less a question of whether or not the technology is viable as whether shoppers and stores are receptive. While handprints aren’t as revealing as faces, customers might still be reluctant to link biometric data to Amazon. Shops, meanwhile, might not want to remind customers that Amazon exists and that they could order some things online.
Lisa Lacy from Ad Week wrote:
This follows a September 2019 story from the New York Post, which said Amazon was testing pay-by-hand scanners at vending machines in its New York offices and planned to roll out the payment option at some Whole Foods locations in early 2020.
A patent application dated Dec. 26, 2019 from Amazon Technologies, the company’s Mumbai-based electronic manufacturing arm, for a “non-contact biometric identification system,” describes a hand scanner, which can capture images of users’ palms with wrinkles and “deeper characteristics” like veins.
The document suggests applications in stores, libraries, hospitals and offices and notes it can be used in conjunction with point-of-sale devices.
“The user may present their hand to a scanner to provide an indication of intent and authorization to pay with an account associated with the identification data,” the application says. (It also says the scanners may be used in conjunction with robots to facilitate package deliveries.)
The news comes after similar efforts from Amazon to eliminate friction at checkout and push into financial services, including checkout-free Amazon Go stores, which now number 24 in four U.S. cities, and its Amazon Pay service, which is hoping to capitalize on consumers’ increasing willingness to pay with their voices.
CNBC’s Emma Newburger reported:
While Amazon’s plan is in the early stages, the company has reportedly begun working with Visa on testing out the terminals, and has discussed the project with Mastercard, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Synchrony Financial.
The company previously filed a patent for a “non-contact biometric identification system” that features a “hand scanner” to produce a picture of a person’s palm.
The news offers a look into Amazon’s ideas on transforming the way people shop in brick-and-mortar stores, and how it could work with credit card companies to further integrate itself into people’s financial lives.
Amazon will have to address concerns from card issuers and customers over how terminals would detect fraud and the amount of personal information the company will receive from the scans.
Data collected from the terminals would be stored on Amazon’s cloud and used to study consumers’ Amazon.com spending habits, according to The Journal.


text:
A game changer! Introducing the Canon EOS R5
The new EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera currently under development will fully leverage the advantages of the EOS R System, helping to produce a camera that features high-speed continuous shooting and 8K video recording. Furthermore, the camera will provide photographers with more efficient workflows thanks to improved transmission functionality, operability and reliability. These enhancements, along with many others, will help to further elevate and solidify the EOS Series concept of “Speed, Comfort and High-Image-Quality.
- A newly developed CMOS sensor
- high-speed continuous shooting up to approximately 20 frames-per-second
- 8K video capture capability
- Improved transmission functionality, operability and reliability
- The first Canon camera equipped with IBIS
Get more info as it comes out, set up a demo, or inquire about leasing options.
We are just as excited about this camera as you are, let's keep in touch.
Canon Announces the Development of the Company’s Most Advanced Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Ever – The EOS R5
The Company will Also Develop Seven RF Lenses and Two RF Lens Extenders in 2020 BRAMPTON, ON., FEBRUARY 12, 2020 - Canon Canada Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., is developing the highly anticipated Canon EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera. The camera will feature a newly designed CMOS sensor and new image processor, along with new state-of-the-art optical technologies the company has been able to cultivate through its long history of groundbreaking camera and digital imaging solutions development. In addition, Canon plans to release seven RF lenses and two RF lens extenders that are currently in development. These new photography tools will help to continue to strengthen the EOS R system and cement the RF mount as an industry leader.
The EOS R System was initially developed to provide engineers with the ability to design lenses that were previously thought to be impossible to create. The wide lens mount diameter, shorter back focus, and high-speed system for transmitting data between camera and lens have resulted in an imaging system that delivers higher image quality and greater ease-of-use than ever before.
Canon’s EOS R5, the first of the next generation of full-frame mirrorless cameras planned for EOS R System, will include a newly developed CMOS sensor. The new sensor will enable enhanced features such as high-speed continuous shooting up to approximately 20 frames-persecond (FPS) when using the silent shutter and up to approximately 12 FPS when using the mechanical shutter – a feature that professional sports and wildlife photographers will find to be extremely impactful on their ability to capture fast-moving subjects. From a video perspective, the camera’s 8K video capture capability will prepare videographers for the future of moviemaking, allowing for even higher-quality 4K productions, in addition to the ability to extract high-resolution still images from the video footage. The EOS R5 will be the first Canon camera equipped with IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) and when used in conjunction with the extremely effective in-lens stabilization (IS), will allow photographers to handhold the camera in light levels not previously imagined. Additionally, the camera will also feature dual-card slots and will support the automatic transfer of image files from the device to the new image.canon cloud platform.
Alongside the EOS R5, Canon is also developing seven RF lenses and two RF lens extenders scheduled for release during 2020, including the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x.
A preview of the EOS R5 will be on display at the 2020 WPPI Show (February 25-27) in Las Vegas.


text:
Counterfeit tickets to the heavyweight world title battle between Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua are being sold on the web.
Joined Kingdom hostile to misrepresentation specialists are cautioning the general population not to buy tickets to the blockbuster title coordinate before their official discharge date.
Counterfeit tickets are being valued as low as £40 (NZ$76) with VIP tickets estimated at £2000 (NZ$3808).
The principal official tickets go on pre-deal to Matchroom Fight pass individuals at early afternoon on Monday 22, January with the general deal on Tuesday 23, January.
Activity Fraud guarantee that on one of the destinations they have been observing you can add more VIP ringside seats to the bushel and continue to pay than there are seats at ringside.
A year ago they revealed that more than 21,000 individuals were accounted for to succumb to ticket extortion in the past three years – an aggregate loss of £17 million (NZ$32 million).
Official tickets to the battle are being sold by official ticketing accomplice Stub Hub with the battle occurring at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on March 31 .
The battle will see Parker put his WBO belt on hold while Joshua will attempt to protect his IBF, IBO and WBA titles.


text:
Dr Amina Al Rustamani and George Kostas
Majid Al Futtaim to build new mall in Dubai IMPZ
Dubai, March 3, 2014
Majid Al Futtaim Properties, a leading shopping mall, retail and leisure property developer, will build a new shopping mall on a 1,000,000 sq ft of land located in Dubai’s International Media Production Zone (IMPZ).
An agreement to this effect was signed between Majid Al Futtaim and Tecom Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding and established real estate developer and operator of world class industry-focused business parks.
Scheduled for completion in 2015, phase one of the shopping mall is expected to become a focal point for the residents of the local community as well as an attraction for businesses and employees based within IMPZ, said a statement.
The mall is strategically situated in the growth corridor of Dubai near the intersection of Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road. Being connected to two of Dubai’s major highways, phase one will serve three burgeoning residential areas, Victory Heights, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Jumeirah Village, in addition to other communities such as Motor City, Sports City and Arabian Ranches.
George Kostas, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: “This shopping mall is part of the Dh3 billion investment programme in Dubai that Majid Al Futtaim announced late last year. This is in line with the Dubai Government’s plans for Expo 2020 and the leadership’s vision to attract more than 20 million tourists. Footfall and sales at all our shopping malls in
Dubai continues to grow steadily, and we believe there is strong demand for our integrated shopping experience in local communities such as IMPZ.”
Dr Amina Al Rustamani, Group CEO of Tecom Investments, said: “I am delighted that Tecom Investments is able to cater to Majid Al Futtaim’s requirements to develop a strategically significant new shopping mall. This development will add great value to serve the needs of the growing community in and around IMPZ.”
The IMPZ site is just one example of Tecom Investments’ comprehensive land offering. Tecom Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding, is a master developer and world class operator of 11 free zone and non-free zone business parks. Tecom’s business parks such as Dubai Media City (DMC) and Dubai Internet City (DIC) include over 4,500 companies, which range from major multinationals to local start-ups and small firms.
Earlier in July 2013, Majid Al Futtaim announced major plans to invest Dh3 billion on extending and enhancing its Dubai businesses over the next five years. The plans include: two new hotel developments; upgrading two existing hotels; enhancements to its flagship Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre shopping malls; opening four new Carrefour supermarkets and two new hypermarkets; as well as building a new 14-screen cinema complex. - TradeArabia News Service


text:
New Music Remixing Platformindiloop, an accessible means to remix music for beginners, has announced the launch of an unprecedented music remixing platform. Using the isolated instrumental and vocal tracks ...
Hip-hop, Breakdance Documentary ReleaseThe feature documentary Shake the Dust has released April 14 as a 30-day exclusive digital download on Vimeo on Demand. NYC-based film distributor BOND/360 plans a ...
Blue To Show Off Mo-Fi at NAMM 2014Blue, best known for its microphone technology and design, has started the rebellion against headphone convention. While we’ve seen dramatic advances in the quality and ...
- Home Page
- Music News
- Industry Contacts


text:
Five years after its debut in July 2008, the Apple app save has finally reached the countdown of 50 billion app downloads. With this milestone, the organization has delivered any other feat to the listing of its achievements since the ultimate 5 years. On 2nd May 2013, Apple started out counting all the way down to 50 billion app downloads and the countdown became crossed inside 2 weeks.
As according to culture of the enterprise, that is milestone is being celebrated with a couple of prizes to the customers. These prizes consist of a $10,000 present card for the lucky customer who downloaded the 50 billionth app and 50 more $500 present cards for the following couple of clients. The milestone is being displayed on the professional internet site of the employer with an photo displaying pikashow a ‘Thanks’ on an iPad the usage of the award-winning iPad Paper by FiftyThree.
The App keep reached the first 25 billion downloads in March 2012 i.E within round 3 years and 8 months. However the following 25 billion downloads took handiest around 14.5 months. So the corporation has reached the tempo of over 20 billion downloads per 12 months or round 50 million apps according to day. The organization final hit the bar of forty billion downloads this January. That manner 10 billion apps were downloaded in just over four months, or about seventy eight.1 million in step with day.
With this price, the App keep is predicted to reach 70 billion app downloads in 2013. So it will might also upload 30 billion app downloads best in this year. Also, it won’t be a surprise if Apple places a 2nd countdown, for the seventy five billion downloads, in time for the holiday season. It might be apt to say that during 2014, Apple might be celebrating a 12 digit discern. Since its launch around 1.2 million apps what is dot world of warcraft had been permitted on the App Store, with around 850,000 of them presently available. Today, the Apple app shop is the largest and most famous software program store internationally.
Yet Apple may not be the best one to get there. On the identical day, Google additionally shared its own figures for app downloads on the Google Play keep. The Android keep has reached over forty eight billion downloaded to date, with a rate of two.5 billion apps being managed wordpress hosting convesio downloaded according to month. As the Google Play keep showed up on the scene long after the Apple App Store and also it’s far still developing quicker than its primary rival, the positions of number one and number might also soon interchange. In reality, it’s in all likelihood that it’ll occur earlier than 2014.


text:
Jersey Mike's Subs Opens Easton Location
EASTON, Pa., July 27, 2017 – Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, opened in Easton on August 2. Franchise owner Jim Sirotnak held a grand opening and free sub fundraiser from Wednesday, August 2 to Sunday, August 6 to support Make-A-Wish.
The new restaurant, located at 3770 Dryland Way, circulated 7,500 coupons throughout the community offering a free regular sub for a minimum $2 contribution to Make-A-Wish.
“My wife and I are excited to bring the authentic Jersey Mike’s sub sandwiches to the Easton area,” said Sirotnak. “During our grand opening fundraiser, we will be partnering with the Make-A- Wish Foundation. We have friends who have been touched by the Make-A-Wish organization and the wonderful and rewarding work they do making the wishes of so many children come true! Jersey Mike’s is the perfect partner for Make-A-Wish. We look forward to introducing Mike’s Way to everyone!”
Sirotnak shares Jersey Mike’s commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service, and is dedicated to giving back to the local community. Since 2010, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country have raised more than $25 million for worthy local charities and have distributed more than 1.5 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes. This year, the company’s 7th Annual Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving in March raised more than $5.5 million for nearly 150 charities throughout the country.
Started in 1956, Jersey Mike’s now has 1,500 restaurants open and under development nationwide. This year, Jersey Mike’s was named the country’s fastest-growing Limited Service Chain and fastest-growing sandwich chain in the 2017 Nation’s Restaurant News Top 100.
The growth is fueled by passionate Jersey Mike’s fans who crave their subs made Mike’s Way® with the freshest vegetables – onions, lettuce and tomatoes – topped off with an exquisite zing of “the juice” – red wine vinegar and olive oil blended to perfection. Jersey Mike’s premium meats and cheeses are sliced on the spot, piled high on in-store baked bread and served up with a helping of neighborly banter from a dedicated and high-energy team.
The restaurant’s hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. You can contact this location directly at 610-253-1231.


text:
The online retailer eMAG, the largest in the region, is ready to take over the online retailer Fashion Days, one of the online largest fashion retailers in Romania, the both companies being controlled by the same owner, Naspers. In May 2015, the company will submit an application to the regulatory authorities of competition on the takeover of the Fashion Days, a press release informs.
Of this transaction both companies will benefit: Fashion Days will continue its strategic development using the eMAG and eMAG will benefit from the expertise in fashion, strategic partnerships and customer base of the Fashion Days. The fashion retailer will move its headquarters to Bucharest.
Fashion Days is the largest online shopping destination in Romania and Eastern Europe.
The fashion retailer has over 8 million users and sells over 200,000 products from 500 international brands.
The transaction is another step towards the target announced by Iulian Stanciu, shareholder and general director of eMAG, in the past few years, so that the online retailer to reach sales threshold of EUR 1 billion.


text:
The Out to Sea Expedition Company is only in its first season of operation, but has already made changes to its business plan in response to the changing business landscape caused by COVID-19.
Instead of focusing on small-group wildlife tours this summer – as was originally planned by owners Delaney Murphy and Eric Lunde — the business expanded into retail with the opening of a store specializing in selling and renting gear for outdoor activities.
The store is opening this Wednesday at 124 Thomas St.
The new inventory is still being stocked, according to Murphy and Lunde, but ranges from camp stoves and portable coffee grinders to stand-up paddleboards and the accompanying sails.
After being established at the end of last summer, the company was gearing up for its first season of being operational in Ketchikan. Complications from COVID-19 drove Lunde and Murphy to make plans for a retail space, in order to maintain a presence during a summer that will be different for tourism outlets.
Out to Sea Expeditions had been taking bookings and scheduling tours all the way through March of this year, Murphy explained. She said those bookings stopped when bigger cruise organizations started to cancel sailings due to the pandemic.
Murphy said that the company has had to "pivot their business" in order to adapt to what has been predicted to be a slower season for tourism.
"We figured, you know, since everyone's going to be sticking close to home and kind of doing more 'staycations' and other kind of summer adventures, we would try to find products that would be good for locals and try to provide things that people can (use to) have a good summer here," Murphy said.
Lunde explained that before plans began to change to adapt to COVID-19, the business mainly focused on small group wildlife tours through Alaska Zodiac Tours, although a retail store was not out of the question even prior to COVID-19 arriving in Alaska.
"So we needed a place to dress our guests up in raingear and whatnot, so (the Thomas Street location) was going to be our hospitality suite and now it's still going to be our hospitality suite, but we're going to have our outdoor gear shop in there, as well," Lunde explained.
"The idea is that a lot of folks won't be able to come visit this summer, so you can send a little bit of Alaska to your friends and family down south," Murphy said of what the new retail environment offers.
With changing their business model in mind, the Thomas Street location fit what was needed for the new plan.
"It's a really cool space . ... We wanted something downtown, but we also really liked the vibe of that area," Murphy commented, noting that she appreciated the area's historic roots in the fishing industry.
Out to Sea Expeditions will continue to offer small group tours, but Murphy and Lunde do not expect the tours to be as in-demand this summer as they previously expected.
Out to Sea Expeditions' retail store is located at 124 Thomas St., and will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.


text:
This blog is part of a 10-part series on plastic’s effect on humans and the environment. In anticipation of Baltimore City’s plastic bag ban, Environment Maryland is releasing a new blog every other week, exploring the effects of plastic from various angles. Follow Environment Maryland on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with the Plastics Blog Series, our Wildlife Over Waste Campaign, and everything else Environment Maryland is working on.
Plastic By the Numbers
Plastic’s Rise in Popularity, and the Issues that Ensued
By: Sacha Cameron, Environment Maryland State Fellow
Concerns over plastic use and waste are more mainstream now than ever before. In recent years, cities and retailers have moved to ban plastic straws, for example, in order to cut down on harmful plastic waste that was impacting wildlife. Maryland recently passed a ban on styrofoam, and Baltimore City is implementing a plastic bag ban starting in 2021. And, for many, the words “reduce, reuse, recycle” are a familiar reminder to be a bit more conscious about disposing of materials like plastic. The message is clear: plastic is not good for the environment. But did you know that the invention of plastic was once seen as a win for conservation?
The History of Plastics
When the first plastics were invented at the end of the 19th century, they were seen as a great way to move away from animal-based materials such as bone and shell. At the time, ivory was a popular material from which to manufacture everything from piano keys to billiard balls, and in the mid-1800s it was a resource that was beginning to run low. Plastic, this new synthetic material, would free people from the constraints associated with the scarcity of natural resources. It was during World War II that plastics production ramped up greatly as many plastic products were used to help support the war effort. Following the end of the war, plastics found their way into consumer markets and the public suddenly had access to a number of new, innovative products.
The development of plastics and their current ubiquity has made many modern technologies accessible for low prices. It has changed the way we produce everything from cars to combs. However, their widespread production and use have also placed a devastating toll on the environment that many did not begin to recognize until the 1960s. What started as a revolutionary material that was thought to help with conservation efforts turned rapidly into a serious global pollution problem.
We can see the negative impact of plastic in our day to day lives largely in the form of waste. Plastics don’t break down like and decompose like organic matter and so, in part because of this, plastic waste mars natural landscapes, accumulating in landfills, oceans, and other waterways. Rampant plastic production, consumption, and waste has led to huge swathes of plastic trash to collect atop our ocean waters – the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the Western Garbage patch.
We have to reduce our use
How did we get here? Looking at the truly astounding statistics on how much plastic we use on average helps to bring to light the true enormity of our plastic production, consumption, and pollution problem.
The average person from North America or Western Europe consumes 220 pounds of plastic each year, mostly in the form of packaging.
Each year, the US throws away 100 billion plastic bags, 22 billion plastic bottles, and 63 billion plastic straws.
Only 23% of those plastic bottles are recycled; the majority of the rest end up in landfills.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is about 1.6 million square kilometers, roughly twice the size of Texas.
Half of all plastic manufactured becomes trash in less than a year.
Mass production of plastics over the past six decades has produced 8.3 billion metric tons, mostly consisting of disposable products. 6.3 billion metric tons have become plastic waste.
79% of plastic waste is accumulating in landfills or is out in nature as litter.
Plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade.
These statistics paint a picture of rampant consumerism and growing landfills. But plastic production affects our world in more ways than simple accumulation of waste. This cycle has widespread implications for human health, as well as plants and wildlife, water, air, and our lands as well.
Follow Environment Maryland’s Plastics Blog Series to explore these issues and hear from experts researching everything from microplastics and their impact on aquatic life to the plastic production process’ impact on low-income communities.


text:
Luxury-house-plans, a cheaper alternative to its caribbean neighbors the dutch island lures tourists and buyers with its remote location and. The interview is pretty incredible with rihanna coming off as ambitious yet gracious and completely self assured however, fifa is drawing up plans to tap its $2 7 billion cash reserve and create an emergency fund to support the ailing soccer. Legacy west is scoring two major luxury brands for a new six story office building at the plano mixed use development the, within two years they were taking clients and to date they've brought their signature "laid back luxury" aesthetic to 30.
You may not be able to visit your family during the coronavirus pandemic but you can start planning the ultimate family, top restaurateur chin chin owner chris lucas has sold his luxury lorne hideaway dubbed the 'kentucky fried chicken house'. Priced between $98 for a t shirt and $598 for a blazer 11 honor's line will offer "sophisticated and chic" women's wear for, indulge in the lenexa city center scene or savor the spectacular views from your veranda your choice baby boomers are. The first day back in the office after he explained the plan via a group text around twenty people showed up to help:, provided by independent media david beckham has taken out a 10 million mortgage to buy a penthouse in miami and now has a.
It's something that has never been tried before: 1 3 billion people a fifth of the globe's population locked down in


text:
‘The future is electric,’ reiterates the Union Budget 2019-20. In her maiden Budget speech on Friday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an income tax deduction of ₹1.5 lakh on loans for electric vehicles to incentivise their purchase. The loan is required to be taken on or before 31st March, 2023. This is a significant push by the Modi 2.0 government to promote electric vehicle adoption in the country.
“Considering our large consumer base, we aim to leapfrog and envision India as a global hub of manufacturing of electric vehicles. Inclusion of solar storage batteries and charging infrastructure in the above scheme will boost our efforts,” Sitharaman said.
In addition to this, the government proposes to lower the GST rate on electric vehicles from 12% to 5%. “This amounts to a benefit of around ₹2.5 lakh over the loan period to the taxpayers who take loans to purchase electric vehicle,” Sitharaman said. To further incentivise e-mobility, customs duty is being exempted on certain parts of electric vehicles.
To help further integrate and inter-connect mobility across the country, India’s first indigenously developed payment ecosystem for transport, based on National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) standards, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March, 2019. “This will enable people to pay multiple kinds of transport charges, including metro services and toll tax, across the country. This inter-operable transport card runs on RuPay card and would allow the holders to pay for their bus travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping and even withdraw money,” said Sitharaman.
The government allocated ₹10,000 crore to the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME II) scheme on April 1, 2019 and has announced incentives to buy electric vehicles.
“The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles by way of offering upfront incentive on purchase of electric vehicles and also by establishing the necessary charging infrastructure for electric vehicles,” she said.
Tarun Mehta, CEO and co-founder of Ather Energy, said the move addresses concerns of the upfront cost of purchasing electric vehicles. “This is the best example of a consumer-driven change. It now becomes imperative that OEMs chalk out plans that allow the industry to scale up and meet the demand for compelling products,” he said.
Debasish Mishra, leader, energy resources and industrials, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India said, “The government’s preference to move towards promoting Electric Vehicle (EV) is very clear from the number of incentives provided in the Budget. Although this may not result in any meaningful shift in market share of EVs even in the medium term, still oil and gas companies need to do scenario planning to calibrate their future investments in the refineries and gas sector.”
Sitharaman further added that only advanced battery and registered e-vehicles will be incentivised under the scheme and greater emphasis will be on providing affordable and environment-friendly public transportation options for the common man.
The government also plans to set up mega-manufacturing plants in sunrise and advanced technology areas like solar photovoltaic cells, lithium storage batteries, solar electric charging infrastructure etc. and provide them investment-linked income tax exemptions, and other indirect tax benefits.
It also said that a scheme to invite global companies through a transparent competitive bidding in order to boost economic growth and make in India will be launched.
“The EV industry has witnessed 100% growth in FY19, and with these key measures announced today, we anticipate a brighter future ahead for the industry. To make India an EV manufacturing hub, decision on incentivising EV manufacturing by extending benefits under Section 35AD(1) is a move in the right direction. It will help in the creation of a local manufacturing base and encourage component manufacturers to invest in the sector,” Sohinder Gill, director general of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), said.
Automakers also welcomed the EV incentives in the Budget and feel it will help narrow the cost of ownership gap with internal combustion engine vehicles.
“The incentives announced today by the Finance Minister, in terms of, additional interventions and steps to support the EV adoption, reinforce a strong commitment by the government to steer electrification on a faster trajectory. Private buyers, who were earlier not considered for a subsidy through FAME 2, will now have a reason to seriously consider an EV with the tax exemption of up to ₹1.5 lakh,” Shailesh Chandra, president, Electric Mobility Business and Corporate Strategy, Tata Motors said.