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28 December 2022
The Malaysian government recently announced the Sales Tax Bill 2022, which confirmed that the removal of Import Sales Tax exemption on goods bought from outside the country will be imposed on 31 March 2023.
Currently, there is an Import Sales Tax exemption threshold set at RM500 (approx. £100), allowing importers to purchase goods free of sales tax from non-resident companies up to this amount. However, this will be removed from 31 March 2023 and instead, non-resident providers will either have an obligation to register for Malaysian sales tax to charge this to the consumer at the current rate of 10% directly, or the consumer will have an obligation to pay the tax at clearance of the goods themselves.
The Malaysian government still needs to release details on whether there will be a Sales Tax registration threshold or if a simplified registration process will be applied for these transactions.
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Is China the next world leader in tech?
The next few years could see China dominating the tech market with low-cost, high-performance goods
OPINION: Could China be the next technology powerhouse? Some might claim it already is, thanks to the country's cheap labour and strong manufacturing base, but that's not really the whole story. Yes, a high number of tech goods are already manufactured in China, but how long before they're all designed there, too?
The consumer technology market is currently a pretty event split, with available technologies comprising a wide range of brands from a diverse mix of countries - Britain, the US, Korea and Japan immediately spring to mind. But China looks set on not only catching up with its western counterparts, but on overtaking them.
To see this in action, you need look no further than 2015's CeBIT show. As the partner country for this year's expo, China has brought along a substantial number of companies and products - and it makes for an impressive sight.
One of the best-known faces at the convention has been Jack Ma, billionaire owner of Alibaba Group. The e-commerce brand experienced a record-breaking stock market launch, and is one of China's strongest economic players.
The company this week unveiled a facial recognition-based payment system. This development sees the B2B sales firm joining the ranks of companies such as Apple and Facebook, which have both recently launched their own payment solutions.
While China has been a major force in the OEM and B2B manufacturing world for decades, the new millenium has also seen Chinese firms build their own brands in the western world.
Due to the scarcity of western goods in the strictly controlled Chinese marketplace, domestic companies have a huge foothold in China's increasingly large technology industry, and that gives them an immediate advantage thanks to sheer efficiencies of scale.
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Old royal curtains from Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have been upcycled and transformed into luxury kimonos at the suggestion of the King.
Vast swathes of rich fabrics, which are believed to have dressed the windows in family and private rooms during the late Queen’s reign, were lying unused in storage after being collected during clear-outs over the decades.
Now, the delft blue floral, vintage rose and teal, and rich damask burnt orange drapery has been repurposed into high-end, hand-made patchwork kimonos through an initiative by Charles’s King’s Foundation, ready to be auctioned off for the charity.
The King came up with the idea and students from the foundation’s batch production skills course went on to use the grand fabrics as part of a training programme designed to sharpen their techniques at repeating a selection of hand-crafted garments.
He put the foundation in touch with curtain storerooms at Windsor Great Park, where out-of-use royal materials are kept and repairs undertaken.
In early 2022, the students at Dumfries House – the headquarters of the charity – in East Ayrshire were sent a range of 30 different patterns as part of a bulk 50-metre delivery with the goal of repurposing them into a modern fashion collection fit for retail.
Jacqueline Farrell, the foundation’s education director, told the PA news agency the students were surprised to be handling the historic royal cloth.
Ms Farrell said: “It was like Christmas morning getting those bundles through and opening them all up, and rummaging to see what we’d got.
“I think once they got over the shock of being asked to cut up some royal curtains, the real challenge was in the design.
“How do you take these fabrics and make something contemporary-looking, and something that people will want to wear nowadays?”
The armfuls of material spanned more than 40 years of royal curtain design throughout Elizabeth II’s reign, dating as far back as the 1950s and up to the 1990s, with much of it inspired by nature with floral or large leaf patterns, and a number of pieces from the 1980s including some denim.
A kimono design – in two styles – was chosen because of its inclusive one-size fits all shape, its versatility and its sustainable geometric near-zero-waste pattern.
Ms Farrell said the curtains most likely originally came from the royal family’s private sitting rooms.
“Some of (the rooms) would have certainly been fairly grand in themselves but I would imagine (they were used in) more of the family rooms – the private rooms.”
She added: “Everything is inspired by nature. You see that in the timeline.
“There’s not a lot of geometrics and nothing hugely pictorial – there’s no corgis or children’s fabrics. It’s certainly more sophisticated.”
Up for auction will be four delft blue floral kimono coats – three medium and one large; one vintage rose and duck egg short kimono; one damask burnt orange and teal short kimono; and one bold denim blue and yellow damask short kimono (all one size).
Each one took between eight to 10 hours to tailor by hand.
Ms Farrell said she hoped the initiative might inspire others around the country to reuse their old curtains for garments or other craft pieces.
“It’s not just about making a collection to be sold,” she said.
“We hope this project will show what can be done with vintage materials in terms of repurposing and upcycling.
“Maybe other people will start to think about using curtains in a new way.”
Asked whether Charles’ idea echoed the Sound of Music in which when Maria makes play clothes for the Von Trapp children out of curtains, Ms Farrell laughed and agreed: “Yes, modern-day Sound of Music.”
While samples of the donated fabric have already been preserved, archived and catalogued for historic record and other parts of the curtains repurposed as cushions or moved to other royal residences as has been the custom at the Palace, the batch that remained was used for the foundation’s project.
Any leftover bits from the cutting process were saved to be used for applique sewing classes in the foundation’s project in schools and some of the remaining material will be used in other initiatives.
The King set up the King’s Foundation, previously known as the Prince’s Foundation, as a vehicle to train the next generation of skilled craftspeople – including in fashion and textiles – in heritage techniques essential to many traditional UK industries.
Ms Farrell said: “He has always been keen that people of all ages carry on the handskills that are so valuable to luxury fashion.
“He’s regularly complimented on his enduring fashion style and the fact that he will wear clothes and make sure that they last a very long time.
“He obviously gets clothes repaired and preserved so he can continue to wear them.”
A spokesman for the King’s Foundation said: “It was very much the King’s idea to use the curtains.
“He found out about the material and said ‘Right, this can definitely be put to good use’.”
The online auction, which also includes other collectibles and experiences including dinner in The Garden Room at Highgrove Gardens and stays at Dumfries House Lodge, opens on Sunday and runs until 11.59pm on Friday December 8 via https://uk.givergy.com/KingsFoundationAuction
There are no set guide price for the kimonos and money raised will go to the foundation to support its future textiles programme, which marks its 10th anniversary next year.
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Wii Sports was a huge success for Nintendo, so why hasn't it created a Switch Sports for the Nintendo Switch yet?
But why? Switch is already a success and that casual market has already sailed to the mobile market. Plus Nintendo didn’t bundle in 1,2 Switch with the console for a reason
I agree 100% but I wish the joy cons were better utilised in some party style game... Mario Party was a bit underwhelming
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Marine17 conference unveils first speakers
First three speakers named for industry conference in July.
The Marine17 industry conference, due to be held in July this year in conjunction with the Sydney International Boat Show, has announced details of its first three speakers who will be presenting at the three-day event.
The speakers are Nick Bice, director of boats and maintenance with the Volvo Ocean Race, Mark McCrindle, principal of McCrindle Research, and Aaron K. Weiche, chief marketing officer of GetFiveStars.
“It’s great to secure such high calibre presenters like these three on the program,” said Howard Glenn, Marine17 chair and BIA national CEO. “Their proven business experience and expert skill set will offer insight into best practice business strategy and provide delegates with numerous takeaways they can introduce into their own businesses.”
Nick Bice will be presenting on Day One of the conference on the topic of logistics for marinas. He has been involved in five editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, twice as a sailor, twice as shore crew and then most recently as head of the boatyard.
“Now coming in to my 6th edition, the challenges continue with ensuring the successful Volvo Ocean 65’s continue to evolve as the rest of the marine industry evolves,” he said.
Mark McCrindle will present to the combined conference on future consumer profiles and trends, and identify where boating fits in the mix. His highly valued research and reports, presented through infographics, data visualisations, videos, media input, resources, and blogs, have developed his reputation as an expert demographer, futurist and social commentator.
McCrindle is a best-selling author, an influential thought leader, TEDx speaker and principal of McCrindle Research. His advisory, communications and research company, McCrindle, counts among its clients more than 100 of Australia’s largest companies and leading international brands.
Aaron K. Weiche is the chief marketing officer of GetFiveStars, a customer feedback and online review platform that helps brands and businesses listen, evaluate and market their customers’ experiences. Having built three successful digital marketing agencies over the last 18 years in partner and executive roles, he is highly experienced in web design, mobile, SEO, online reviews and social media.
Weiche is a faculty partner with Local University, a Google sponsored national conference series, and a founding board member of MnSearch. He is also a regular speaker at the annual Marine Dealer Conference and Expo in Orlando.
Early-bird registrations for Marine17 will be opening on 21 February 2017. Visit the website for more details.


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by Tamara Dagher
on Wednesday, December 6th, 2017 at 4:49pm.
Every year, San Clemente launches it's holiday season with a celebration, in downtown Avenida Del Mar. The Spanish village by the sea, transforms into Santa's village by the sea. Local businesses get together and set up along the streets of downtown, while locals can enjoy an evening of shopping, dining and entertainment throughout the night.
This year, the Hartanov Team at Berkshire Hathaway set up their annual booth and passed out free cotton candy, hot apple cider and holiday goodies! Who wouldn't want that?! Not only that, but the Hartanov Team held a crafting station where anyone could stop by to make their own stress balls. Nothing says the holiday season than trying to relax in between all the celebration and chaos!
The night sky was filled with Berkshire Hathaway's red balloons, and a beautiful full moon. Del Mar street was vibrant with holiday cheer, just a week after Thanksgiving. Del Mar street is adorned with twinkling lights, and festive decorations up and down the town, officially kicking off the holiday season.
Kids and families enjoyed the artificial snow brought to the community center, holiday activities and vendors handing out complimentary hot chocolate, cookies and popcorn! The atmosphere felt so welcoming and charming again this year, with windows lining the avenue. The Hartanov team had another fun filled event and we were so happy with the turnout. We love our community and everyone who supports us!


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A new story line will soon be launched, with this new foray into the Gamma Quadrant, The Black Watch will expand its power.
Star Trek Online is incredibly proud to announce our fourth major expansion, Victory is Life. Paying homage to fan-favorite Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, this brand-new expansion will bring Captains to the Gamma Quadrant and beyond, in a new story kicked off by the invasion of the mysterious Hur’q. You’ll be able to play as a brand new faction, the Jem’Hadar; experience six new episodes in the Star Trek Online story; and interact with ten of the original cast members from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. We’re so excited to announce four of those actors for you here today, with more coming in next few weeks.


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CETA trade deal is already under threat after EU lawmakers called for an immediate halt to the deal.
That means the deal could fall apart and the U.S. will have to go it alone on a wall along the border with Mexico.
But if the EU and U.K. vote to block the deal, it could cause a cascade of other trade issues and diplomatic headaches that could delay the trade deal for years.
The EU has signaled that it wants the deal to go forward, and it’s been working on a deal since the U,C.A.,C.I.A. and the G7 met in Brussels in late September.
But the UC.
S., the EU’s main trade partner, has expressed concerns that the deal is too favorable to the UCC, according to an official with knowledge of the talks.
The U.C.B.A.’s trade chief said earlier this month that the EU had raised concerns with the UCDs office, and the EU has since said it has agreed to address those concerns.
EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday that the UUC is concerned about the potential for U.N. tariffs on products imported from other countries.
“I believe there’s a certain amount of risk that could happen,” De Gucet said.
A and the other nations who are already paying a premium for that deal.” “
But at the same time, we’ve got an obligation to protect the rights of U.L.
A and the other nations who are already paying a premium for that deal.”
He added that the European Union and UCC are working together on “the trade package that will be signed by the end of the year.”
In the meantime, the EU is planning to launch a countervailing duty investigation against a third party company that was found to be violating trade rules by using its own workers.
The company, which is called H-2, is an industrial company that provides equipment for the UCL.
The case against the company was dismissed last week, but the UUCE said it plans to appeal.
The European Union said that in the case of the ULC, “there is evidence that a significant number of H-1B visas are being abused by companies that may not meet the requirements of the EU” and that the company should have been more careful in its handling of H1-B visas.
“This is an example of a company which was exploiting the H-0 visa system to increase its profits and its profits were not in line with the requirements for the EU,” De Garde told reporters.
He said that if the case against H-8 is not resolved by the deadline set by the EU, the company will be forced to close its plant in El Paso, Texas, in 2019 and hire a lower-wage labor.
H-6 workers are paid below the minimum wage in Texas and the company said it would be forced in 2019 to move to Mexico if it doesn’t receive a significant increase in its wages.
The trade commissioner said the EU would also seek the removal of tariffs on UCL goods that are produced in China.
De Gardes office said the company would not comply with the measures.
H3 and H4 are also at risk, according the UCAW, which represents the union representing U.U.C.’s H-3 workers.
H4 is one of the few U.
B’s in the UPL, according for its jobs in the manufacturing sector.
It’s the only company in the industry that is not subject to tariffs, and its workers have a “right to demand higher wages and a living wage,” said De Gardo.
“H3 is also in jeopardy, because H3 is responsible for the manufacturing and production of the CECP [the EU’s commercial electronic directive].
And H4 has also a right to demand that its employees have the right to decent living and a good standard of living.
That is an important issue.”
The EU trade official said the UBCA and other trade partners were concerned about some of the provisions in the trade agreement.
He added, “It’s not the end yet, and we’re going to do everything in our power to defend the interests of all of the countries involved in the agreement.”
This story has been updated to clarify that U.O.C., the UOCC and the C.UUC are not members of the Council of Ministers, but that they are the two groups that represent the countries of origin in the CETA negotiations.


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Retreading specialist Vipal Rubber has announced the release of its new VT250 tread, which is optimized for mud and snow use. The company says the tread’s compound is formulated specifically for low-temperature use, and the tread pattern is directional and designed to maximize self-cleaning.
It also features the company’s Eye Control wear indicator, which Vipal says makes it possible for users to identify anomalies in alignment, balance and geometry as well as indicating when the tread has reached the end of its service life.
Gabriel Fuma, commercial manager of Vipal NAFTA, said, “The VT250 has everything to become a reference when it comes to tread for severe snow conditions because of its advantages, which will easily be perceived by the market, as they match what the fleets need. The product was designed to serve fleets in the northern US states and Canada in the harsh winter, so installation is recommended immediately before winter.”


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Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview Tuesday that the Silicon Valley giant is “probably under-appreciated” by naysayers who are skeptical about the company’s prospects.
The stock of Apple has lost more than a third of its value since its August 2018 high amid concerns that its exposure to China’s slowing economy would hurt its prospects in coming quarters. Cook said on CNBC that naysayers have expressed concern about the company “over and over again” throughout the years.
“I’m not defensive on it,” Cook said. “My honest opinion is that there is a culture of innovation in Apple and that culture of innovation combined with these incredible, loyal customers, happy customers, this ecosystem, this virtuous ecosystem, is something that is probably under-appreciated.”
Last week, Cook posted a letter to shareholders on Apple’s web site saying that revenue in the last quarter of 2018 would be $84 billion. That figure is 4.8% below the $88.3 billion revenue in the same quarter a year earlier. It’s also far short of the forecast Apple gave investors only two months ago, which saw revenue in the quarter coming in between $89 billion and $93 billion. The news added to the recent selloff in Apple’s stock.
“I’m never surprised by the market, to be honest with you, because I think the market is quite emotional in the short term,” Cook said. “We sort of look through all of that. We think about the long term. And so when I look at the long-term health of the company, it has never been better. The product pipeline has never been better. The ecosystem has never been stronger. The services are on a tear.”
Apple’s stock closed Tuesday up $2.82 a share, or 1.9%, at $150.75.


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In The Curse, the authors concluded that paying to own talent, international franchises and assets across disparate consumer media platforms is generally a hard to manage and loss-leading strategy. They highlight focused media companies like Discovery Communications (DISCA - Get Report), efficient operations like McGraw-Hill (MHP) and businesses with a distinct, non-consumer competitive advantage like Bloomberg as far more valuable models.
Ava Seave, a co-author of The Curse and a principal at consultancy Quantum Media is skeptical of Disney's ability to gain added performance from Marvel or Pixar, relative to what either company could get independently. "You want to sell to everybody, whether you own it or not," says Seave, of a movie studios ability to gain pricing power in licensing content competitively to distributors. Still, she concedes that Disney has a record of finding and deploying talent.
Cuneo, the former Marvel CEO, believes Disney's ability to run Marvel and Pixar characters through its assets is its competitive advantage. Citing Disney's interest in bringing Marvel to theme parks, Cuneo says "to do this quickly would require capital that other entertainment companies don't have today." Cuneo doesn't currently own Disney shares.
"Disney's whole is greater than the sum of its parts," says Martin Pyykkonen, an analyst at Wedge Partners, who adds that Disney's broad base of characters gives it more segment-to-segment synergy than any other consumer media company. He expects that CEO Iger could use Marvel characters to bolster Disney's international presence. "It's much more germane to what Disney does."The notion of synergy cuts against de-consolidation plans underway at Dow Jones Industrial Average giants like Pfizer (PFE), ConocoPhillips (COP) and Kraft Foods (KFT) and a post-crisis shareholder focus on realizing the full value of assets across Corporate America. Still, some investors own Disney for the benefits of its scale. "We like Disney's stock because of their ability to leverage various platforms to maximize their advertising revenues," says Robert Key, a portfolio manager at CCM Investment Advisers, which houses $2.5 billion in assets under management and held roughly $13 million of Disney shares, as of March 31. While Pyykkonen and other analysts are confident Disney benefits from being a conglomerate, there's still reason for shareholders to question whether the company's magic will run cold. Disney's Studio Entertainment unit posted a second quarter operating loss of $84 million in May on it sci-fi epic dud John Carter, which prompted the unit's head Rich Ross to step down. Even counting the success of The Avengers, Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce expects the division to post declining revenue in 2012, on the loss. Meanwhile, as of fiscal 2011, over 30% of Disney's revenue and 40% of its operating income came from its cable networks, fueled by ESPN sports programming. But with costs to broadcast the NFL's Monday Night Football rising in 2014, among other sports programming price increases, ad rates at ESPN will need to rise just as fast for Disney to maintain margins at its single biggest profit center. Because of spending for initiatives like Shanghai Disney and the uncertainty of future ESPN margins, Matthew Harrigan, an analyst at Wunderlich Securities says that Disney is expensive on a free cash flow basis. "Are we at peak margins for ESPN?" wonders Pyykkonen of Wedge Partners. Those spending and future margin concerns underscore just how crucial it is for Disney to be correct in its assumptions on the benefits of owning Pixar and Marvel. In Disney's May earnings call, Iger highlighted Marvel and emerging market joint ventures as keys to an international push, citing limited inroads for ESPN abroad. "


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This is the University of Maryland football team, in case anyone mistakes them for science fiction characters (AP Photo).
We’ve seen this before. In science fiction, mostly.
A man in a reflective silver helmet is streaking across an open field. He’s flanked by ten other guys in matching chrome helmets and all-black uniforms made from a special material that repels moisture. Trying to stop them are eleven guys in all white, also in moisture-repellant material, like the light side of the force.
But this isn’t Star Wars. It’s Rutgers-Louisville.
Ever since Nike took an active role in redesigning the football uniforms at the University of Oregon, college football Saturdays are beginning to look like glances into the distant future. There are uniforms that glow, uniforms that reflect light, and even uniforms that turn the state flag into a confusing amalgamation of red, yellow and black.
Teams are wearing uniforms with thousands of different helmet, jersey and pants combinations, and there is absolutely nothing uniform about their get-ups.
It all began at Oregon in 2000, when alum and Nike chairman Phil Knight decided his program’s uniforms needed a drastic renovation. So Knight and his team came up with a futuristic design that looked like no other football uniform anyone had ever worn. The transformation came at a time when the football program happened to be on the verge of an uptick—Heisman trophy candidate Joey Harrington led the Ducks to a 9-3 record and a Holiday Bowl win over Texas.
Oregon would finish 11-1 the next season, throttling Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl and finishing No. 2 in the nation. That season, and possibly the uniforms the Ducks wore during it, vaunted Oregon into national contender status. The Ducks have been one of the premier programs in college football over the past decade and have attracted recruits with a wide-open, revolutionary playing style and of course, those revolutionary uniforms.
With success comes imitation, and the sincerest form of flattery has been bestowed upon Oregon, as schools across the country have tried to match fancy uniforms with on-field success. In fact, most schools across the country have tried some form of insane uniform nonsense…even Notre Dame, one of the game’s most traditional of schools, wore a ridiculous outfit against Miami in an October game. Few schools (Penn State, Alabama, Michigan) remain immune to the uniform craze, sticking with duds that have lasted the test of time.
Nike calls the 2012 Oregon getup “the most advanced football uniform system to date.” The jerseys are made of something called chain maille mesh, and allow for ventilation and “improved thermoregulation,” according to a press release from Nike creative director for football Todd Van Horne.
The “Pro Combat Deflex” padding is designed to be hard yet lightweight.
Nike also shelled out more than $1 billion to become the official apparel producer of the National Football League in 2012, meaning that the company will produce the uniforms for all 32 teams.
Only the Seattle Seahawks underwent a noticeable future-ization of their uniforms, adopting a hidden checkerboard pattern on their helmets and embracing a grey, blue, and green combo that appears unique among NFL teams.
Still, Van Horne told CBSSports.com that plenty of equipment modifications were made before the 2012-13 season. Among them:
-Elimination of double-layered padding over the shoulders. The idea was to make pads lighter and more streamlined.
-Hydrophobic qualities to the jerseys so that they don’t absorb water…beads up on the surface and doesn’t change the fit
-New socks that fit to players’ feet exactly.
-Dri-Fit, which is a material designed to move moisture to the outer layers of the fabric. Nike makes virtually everything in Dri-Fit these days.
But the football uniform revolution isn’t just being fueled by Nike. Adidas, Reebok, and Under Armour have all come up with similarly futuristic looks inspired by gratuitous and possibly even unnecessary attention to detail. Adidas’ ClimaCool and Reebok’s PlayDry are the companies’ answers to Dri-Fit, and have been met with positive results. Under Armour offers cold weather and warm weather gear, which are made with fabrics specifically designed to keep athletes’ body temperatures in check no matter what the outside conditions are like.
The University of Maryland connected with its own apparel mega-company roots and asked Kevin Plank, head over Under Armour and former Terrapin fullback, to design new uniforms for the team for the 2011-12 season. The result? Those crazy, state flag-inspired garbs that became the talk of college football in 2011, and a completely redesigned logo.
The uniform madness has even found its way into high school football, where teams are wearing incredibly ridiculous designs. Atlantic High School in Florida trotted their players out in these.
While most schools in Connecticut have stayed with traditional uniforms and colors, there’s no doubt that in time, the uniform revolution will reach us.
“It would be cool to wear something that looks so flashy like that,” said Torrington High School quarterback Jason Abbott. “I always feel like if I look good when I play, it makes me feel better and that makes me play better. Look great, feel great.”


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Kuo of KGI Securities said in his forecast that most of the smartphone capabilities stuffed by Samsung in the Galaxy S5 are obviously to make the device a worthy opponent of the 2014 iPhone model, which analysts now refer as the iPhone 6.
A number of these specs and features, Kuo told Apple Insider, are Samsung's response to the innovations that were introduced with the iPhone 5S in September 2013. And five of them are briefly detailed below:
Apple packed the 5S with TouchID and the move set off the race for device makers to also include biometrics to bolster the security features of 2014 smartphone models. Kuo is quite certain that fingerprint scanner will be one of the main GS5 features but an eye-reader or iris scanner will not make the final cut.
For a flagship device like the Galaxy S5, "fingerprint is necessary for a star model," the KGI analyst was reported by CNET as saying.
32-bit processing chip
Sammy fans have been conditioned on the possibility that like the iPhone 5S, the Galaxy S5 will be flexing its CPU muscle in 64-bit mobile computing standard. Kuo, however, disagrees, insisting that in replacing the Galaxy S4, Samsung is sticking to 32-bit.
Like its predecessor, the GS5 will come out in two CPU flavours and the likely candidates are an 8-core Exynos chip and a quad-core Qualcomm hardware, the possibly the brutish Snapdragon 805 chip.
5.2-inch screen and 1080p display
The Galaxy S5 screen profile is getting a slight upgrade - upsizing to 5.2-inch that beams out in 1920 x 1080 resolution. As Kuo noted that there will be two major GS5 builds - prime and standard - the pixel density will differ.
For the prime version, users to enjoy 565 pixels per inch while standard GS5 buyers will be delighted as well by the unit's 423ppi pixel count.
Kuo debunked earlier reports that the Galaxy S5 is hitting the store shelves in two different design languages for its framing. True, the GS5 will retail in premium and standard but both builds will remain plastic.
There will no metallic Galaxy S5 for 2014, the analyst said.
16MP main shooter
From 13MP in the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S5 camera lens will rely on 16MP sensors, which Kuo said will be amply complemented by 3D gesture controller and phase detection autofocus.
Those watching for the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date, reportedly set between March and April 2014, should take note that Kuo is mostly accurate in his previous predictions involving upcoming iPhones and iPad rollouts. So the GS5 features mentioned above can be taken as practically confirmed.


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Cashew Prices Are About to Go Nuts, says Bloomberg
According to an article on Bloomberg, the world’s sales for cashew nuts are growing faster than any other nut, even as the production in some regions slows.
“The global popularity of the kidney-shaped nut has been growing faster than any other tree nut — even almonds. Demand jumped 53 percent since 2010 and outpaced production in at least four of the past seven years, industry data show. Now the worst drought in a century for Vietnam, the largest exporter, is raising concern that supplies will be even tighter in a market valued at $5.2 billion.”


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China swiftly hit back with a warning of its own that U.S. tariffs will be met with comparable measures from Beijing. Tucked into the Chinese Embassy’s response, between references to win-win cooperation and referrals to the World Trade Organization, was this understated bit of shade: “As the Chinese saying goes, it is only polite to reciprocate.”
For a country whose official communications lean heavily on bland rhetoric, the quiet quip read like a late-night comedian’s zinger.
A few hours later, China did, in fact, reciprocate and showed it was not joking around, threatening $50 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods if the Trump administration does not back down, in what many see as a step toward an all-out trade war.
The plan it outlined Wednesday would hit 106 U.S. products — including such big-ticket trade categories as soybeans, cars and some airplanes — with 25 percent levies.
Also included on the long, and in many cases oddly specific, list published on the Foreign Ministry website are beef, with and without bones; dried cranberries; fresh and frozen orange juice; various forms of tobacco (tobacco waste, hookah tobacco, tobacco cigars, partially or totally deterred tobacco stems), whiskies (no details provided); and chemicals (liquefied propane, primary shaped polycarbonate, etc.).
The move sent markets tumbling and intensified fears of an escalating series of moves on China-U.S. trade.
Chinese officials and analysts say China is demonstrating that it has no intention of bowing to pressure from President Trump.
Wei Jianguo, a former vice minister of commerce, said the key to understanding Beijing's response is “same proportion, same scale and same intensity.”
“That means we will retaliate with the same strength,” he said. “Whatever the total value of trade the United States targets, we will target the same amount. If it’s in the form of tariffs, we will do the same.”
The prospect of a tit-for-tat economic battle between the world’s two largest economies? Not funny at all.
Luna Lin in Beijing contributed to this report.


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by Angela Guess
A recent press release states, “Quanergy, the leading provider of solid state LiDAR sensors and smart sensing solutions, today introduced Qortex™, a core, proprietary perception software platform compatible with Quanergy’s full suite of LiDAR sensors. With the release of Qortex, Quanergy is now the only LiDAR manufacturer to commercially produce an integrated software and hardware platform solution, enabling a entirely new level of smart awareness for autonomous vehicles and beyond. LiDAR sensors use lasers that send pulses that reflect off objects to measure directly the distance and shape, creating a detailed 3D map of the physical world. However, in order to perceive what these objects are and where they are located, additional technology is needed to interpret the 3D data from the sensor. Qortex has been developed over 10 years to accomplish this feat with high accuracy and ensure a flexible, modular and scalable approach to deploying LiDAR-enabled applications.”
Dr. Louay Eldada, founder and CEO of Quanergy, commented, “Quanergy is committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with LiDAR, and is now the only commercially available full system LiDAR solution provider… Working in combination with Quanergy’s LiDAR sensors, perception software applications derived from Qortex provide the necessary information to make informed decisions in real time, giving autonomous vehicles and smart machines across industries one of the most advanced understandings of their environment.”
Read more at Business Wire.
Photo credit: Quanergy


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The latest U.S. inflation numbers are out and they reveal that prices are increasing. Inflation in the US is ahead of the rest of the world by over 3 percentage points, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. This could be the reason why the US has outpaced the world’s average rate of inflation in the past decade. Oscar Jorda (the bank’s senior policy advisor) cautions against interpreting too much into these percentages. The overall picture is clear.
Different factors affect the rate of inflation. The CPI is the price index used by the government to gauge inflation. It is calculated by the Labor Department through a survey of households. It measures spending on services or goods, but it does not include non-direct spending that makes the CPI less stable. Inflation data must be considered in relation to other data and not as a stand-alone figure.
The Consumer Price Index is the most popular inflation rate in the United States, which measures the price increase of products and services. The index is reviewed every month and shows how much prices have risen. This index provides a useful tool to plan and budget. Consumers are likely to be concerned about the cost of goods and services. However it is crucial to understand why prices are increasing.
The cost of production goes up and prices rise. This is sometimes referred as cost-push inflation. It is a rising cost of raw materials, like petroleum products or precious metals. It may also include agricultural products. It is important to keep in mind that when the price of a commodity increase, it will also affect the price of its product.
Inflation statistics are often difficult to find, but there is a method to help you calculate how much it will cost to purchase products and services throughout the year. Using the real rate return (CRR) is an accurate estimate of what an investment for a nominal year should be. With this in mind, the next time you are seeking to buy bonds or stocks make sure to use the actual inflation rate of the commodity.
At present the Consumer Price Index is 8.3 percent higher than its year-earlier level. This is the highest annual rate since April 1986. Inflation is expected to continue to rise because rents comprise a significant part of the CPI basket. Inflation is also caused by the rising cost of housing and mortgage rates, which make it more difficult to buy an apartment. This drives up the demand for housing rental. Further, the potential of railroad workers affecting the US railway system could cause a disruption in the transportation of goods.
The Fed’s short-term rate of interest has risen to a 2.25 percent level in the past year, a significant improvement from the near zero-target rate. According to the central bank, inflation is expected to increase by just one-half percent over the next year. It isn’t easy to know the extent to which this increase will be enough to manage inflation.
The core inflation rate, which excludes volatile oil and food prices, is approximately 2 percent. Core inflation is reported on a year to year basis by the Federal Reserve. This is what it means when it says that its inflation goal of 2 percent is. In the past, the core rate has been lower than the target for a long time however, it has recently begun rising to a level that has caused harm to numerous businesses.


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Felix Clark and Corinna Kovner, the couple behind award-winning Ester Gin, have celebrated the official opening of the distillery and cellar door, as well as the launch of their new Old Toms Gin.
Ester started out as a bootleg experiment and went on to become a bold juniper-forward, award-winning gin, which is now available through Bibendum Wines.
“We have an amazing artist in residence whose workshop upstairs is textured, layered and kind of chaotic. That laid the foundations for a dynamic and interesting space of our own,” explains Corinna, “We wanted to avoid the industrial warehouse aesthetic and invent something beautiful instead.” The finished space is a fusion of function and form – art and science – with signature Ester red highlights, stacked boxes of polished gin and intricate brewing equipment that could easily display in an art museum.
The expansive room centres on a 10-seat marble table – a proper vantage point – where tastings will be held. “It’s where we all work when we’re not distilling, where we share a meal or argue over our Spotify playlists,” says Corinna. That energy of conversation and connection will flow into public tastings – “which we’ll keep simple,” Felix explains, “Classic gin cocktails, our own bottled cocktails and gin flights – we also have a new product to release.”
To celebrate the grand opening, Ester launched its easy-sipping Ester Old Tom Gin. “Our gins are sometimes described as flavour sledgehammers,” Felix said, “but this one’s less spicy, more delicate.”
Where traditional Old Tom’s are made with added sugar, Ester has let nature do her work, “We’ve used a triple citrus distillation with jasmine flower to create a more subtle flavour profile, bringing out the gin’s natural sweetness.” Ester Old Tom Gin will be available for retail purchase or tastings.
The Tasting Room & Pop-Up Bar will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, every week for walk-ins only, with the bottle shop open 12-5pm every day.


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New York – Audiovox declined to
comment on news reports that FLO TV will shut down its direct-to-consumer
mobile-TV service by the end of the year after a little more than a year on the
FLO TV, a subsidiary of Qualcomm,
has not returned multiple phone calls and emails.
Audiovox markets three products
that receive FLO TV’s direct-to-consumer service: an installed in-vehicle FLO
TV tuner to retailers, another version for car dealers, and a FLO-TV-equipped
portable DVD player. For its part, FLO TV markets a handheld battery-operated
It was unclear if FLO TV will
also shut down its white-label service to cellular carriers AT&T and
Verizon Wireless. Both carriers offer a version of FLO TV’s subscription
service under their AT&T Mobile TV and Verizon Vcast Mobile TV brands
through about a dozen cellphones combined. The phones are equipped with FLO-TV
Retailers have told TWICE that in
part because of the economy, sales of in-vehicle tuners have been slow, but one
also mentioned that picture quality was grainy on in-car displays larger than 7
inches in size. Sales through car dealers were also affected by the
recession-induced decline in new-car sales. In addition, research analysts have
said FLO TV’s white-label service through cellular carriers has been slow to
gain traction, in part because of the small selection of FLO TV-equipped
For his part, Dr. Paul Jacobs,
CEO of FLO TV owner Qualcomm, has said the company misjudged consumer interest
in on-the-go viewing of TV episodes and other long-form programming compared to
viewing short-form video.
If the reports of a shutdown are
true, the decision caught Audiovox by surprise, given the company’s
announcement last month that it was banking on a major price cut to its FLO TV
in-car TV tuner and continued advertising by FLO TV to boost the product’s
sales during the holiday season. The cuts took the retail aftermarket version
of the car tuner to $199 from $399, plus installation. The price of expediter
version was also “substantially cut,” the company said at the time.
By this morning, the Mobile
Electronics Specialists Association and the In Car Experts (ICE) buying group
said they have received no official word about the service’s future, but ICE
said it was supposed to get an official update in the next day or two.
FLO TV’s direct-to-consumer
service has been available since late 2009, initially through a FLO TV-marketed
handheld personal TV, which was promoted early this year in a
and was most recently priced at $149 from an original $249. Also
late last year, Audiovox began marketing an Advent-branded FLO TV tuner through
expediters to new car dealers for connection to a vehicle’s existing DVD video
system. Earlier this year, Audiovox shipped the Audiovox-brand in-vehicle tuner
to electronics and car stereo retailers, and Mopar began offering FLO TV as a
car-dealer-installed option in Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles.
Audiovox’s $199 DVD/FLO TV portable followed in the summer in limited
Earlier this year at the NAB show in
April, FLO TV announced plans in the second half to add interactive
capabilities, pay-per-day and event passes, and time-shifted viewing options.
The company also talked about adding datacasting capabilities to expand the subscription base.
By July, however, Qualcomm’s CEO
said at an industry conference that Qualcomm was willing to talk to potential
buyers to take over the service-provider role, although he noted that the chip
maker always expected to get out of the service-provider business after
launching it to push the technology.
The 700MHz-band service launched
through Verizon in early 2007, but service was initially available only in 20
markets where unused UHF spectrum was available. FLO TV gradually expanded
service to 65 markets by early 2009, growing that to 85 in June when analog-TV
stations turned off their analog transmitters during the terrestrial-TV
conversion to digital broadcasting. By the end of 2009, service was available
in about 107 markets reaching more than 200 million consumers. Service through
AT&T started in mid 2008.
FLO TV offers up to 20 channels of full-length
simulcast and time-shifted programming from such content providers as ABC, ABC
Entertainment, ABC Family, ABC News, ABC Sports, Adult Swim Mobile, CNBC and ESPN.
A month-to-month direct-to-consumer FLO TV subscription costs $14.99/month
for up to 20 channels.


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The latest UK Charts are in. inFamous: Second Son enjoys its second week at #1. Ground Zeroes managed to hold on to the #2 spot while Titanfall had to settle for 3rd place. Continue reading inFamous: Second Son Continues To Dominate UK Charts
Watch the new Watch Dogs trailer detailing the city of Chicago and showing its depth and diversity.
Watch Dogs releases May 27 on PS3, Xbox 360, Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Watch Dogs is available to pre-order right now.


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The potential market for broadband connections of at least 50Mbps is 900,000 households in the Netherlands, according to a report from Telecompaper.
The consumer survey, conducted in August, shows that 900,000 households would like to have at least 50Mbps download within four years. The report 'Dutch Consumer Connected Q3 2009' was released to coincide with the FTTH Netherlands conference sponsored by Telecompaper. The survey found DSL is currently the most used technology with 49 percent of the market, followed by cable with 40 percent, fibre-optics with 4 percent and other technologies at 6 percent. Around 5 percent of respondents said they still use a dial-up connection. Asked about the most important element of a broadband connection, 55 percent said price, while 37 percent appreciate the possibility of a dual-play plan of internet and telephony. Over a quarter (26%) said that a download speed of at least 50Mbps is also important, while 8 percent want a minimum upload of 8Mbps.
Click here to see full article
Over half the respondents (51%) said they don't know whether they will need a connection of at least 50Mbps, while 31 percent said no and 15 percent answered yes. Looking at how long they will wait for such a connection, the figures suggest that around 460,000 households would like at least 50Mbps within 12 months and 730,000 within 24 months. The total group, representative of 900,000 homes, expects to have such a connection within four years. A majority (58%) said they don't know what kind of network technology they will use with the fast connection. Of the remaining respondents, 42 percent expect to use cable, and the same percentage said fibre-optics. The categories DSL, wireless and other took 5 percent. Fibre has more preference among men, high incomes and DSL users than by women, low income groups and cable subscribers.


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The Galaxy Nexus was a great smartphone for its time, combining some of the best specs on phones at the time with a completely redesigned version of Android. It received three major Android updates after that, but when Android 4.4 KitKat came, Google decided it was time to end support for its first impressive Nexus smartphone. Disappointing, but the development community took it upon itself to do what Google couldn’t/didn’t want to, and now the first stable KitKat ROM for the device has been released.
The ROM is an unofficial build of CyanogenMod 11 (CM 11), and is said to be working well – the camera’s HDR mode doesn’t work and there’s an animation glitch when taking screenshots (the screenshots themselves come out just fine), but that’s about it for the list of issues. It’s still in beta stage, but that’s because of missing customization features of CyanogenMod instead of bugs, so if you’ve been looking for some stable and trouble-free KitKat love for your Galaxy Nexus, it’s time to stop reading and hit the source link below.


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Rosewood Hotels and Resorts has added Chengdu to its list of properties in its Asia-Pacific pipeline, which currently includes hotels in Greater China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Currently having an opening date of 2023, the Rosewood Chengdu is the group’s fifth planned hotel in Greater China.
The hotel will form part of a mixed-use development in the city’s central business district, occupying the top floors of the 300-metre-tall tower. So far, 180 rooms and suites are planned, with facilities including a Manor Club executive lounge, four restaurants and bars, and a spa, fitness centre and pool. The group’s signature The Pavilion residential-style events space will also feature.
“We selected Rosewood to manage this special property due to its innovative yet sensitive approach and we are confident they will introduce a successful and unique brand of ultra-luxury hospitality to the market,” said Yin Qiu Ping, chairperson of property developer Saiho Group that is developing the mixed-use complex.
The group recently opened its second property in China, the Rosewood Sanya (pictured), joining the Rosewood Beijing in August this year as the group’s two sole properties in Asia.
Despite being headquartered in Hong Kong, the group has a limited presence in Asia-Pacific under its flagship Rosewood brand (the company originated in the Americas). That is set to change over the coming years, with nine new hotels planned for Asia by 2023 – more than any other region.
Along with the new Chengdu property, these also include the hotels in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, both set to open next year.


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- Uber could deliver weed in the US when federal laws allow it, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said Monday.
- Cannabis delivery services are legally available for adults in New York, California, Nevada, and Oregon.
- "We're absolutely going to take a look at it," Khosrowshahi told CNBC.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi on Monday said the taxi firm might start delivering cannabis if federal laws change.
"When the road is clear for cannabis, when federal laws come into play, we're absolutely going to take a look at it," Khosrowshahi told CNBC.
Cannabis is currently illegal under US federal law, but 15 states and Washington, D.C, have legalized the drug for adults over the age of 21. Thirty-six states have legalized medical marijuana so far.
Weed delivery services are legally available for those aged 21 years olds or above in California, Nevada, Oregon, and most recently New York, the latest state to legalize recreational cannabis, after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill on March 31.
Medicinal cannabis was already legal in New York before the bill.
Insider reported on April 6 that Virginia and New Mexico were close to legalizing recreational marijuana.
Khosrowshahi said in the interview that Uber wanted to concentrate on deliveries of food and alcohol.
"For right now with grocery, with food, with alcohol, etc., we see so much opportunity out there, and we're going to focus on the opportunity at hand," Khosrowshahi said.
Uber didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment about Khosrowshahi's remarks.


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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z3n55l/global_computer) has announced the addition of the "Global Computer Hardware Manufacturing Market 2011-2015" report to their offering.
One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the continuous demand for technology upgradation. The Global Computer Hardware Manufacturing market has also been witnessing increasing PC awareness and skill set in emerging markets. However, the increasing demand for integrated multi-functional devices could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.
The key vendors dominating this market space include Canon Inc., Dell Inc., IBM Corp., Quanta Computer Inc., and Wistron Corp.
The other vendors mentioned in the report are Apple Computer Inc., BenQ Group, EMC Corp., Flextronics International Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., Inventec Corp., Oracle Corp., Toshiba Corp., and Western Digital Corp.
Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio's Hardware team said: ''Customers in emerging markets, especially students, have obtained a huge awareness about PCs and their usage. Further, the increasing awareness is also leading to the increased adoption and utilization of these devices in emerging markets. Moreover, the PC has become a part of almost every household in the urban areas of emerging markets. The increasing adoption of PCs in emerging markets is driving the demand for more production from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).''
According to the report, the increasing spending capacity among worldwide customers is leading to the demand for advanced products from PC vendors. The pressure for advanced devices is transferred by PC vendors to OEMs that manufacture PCs and their peripherals. Moreover, the demand from corporate customers for advanced products is driving vendors and OEMs to come up with new architecture that could be an upgrade over the existing technology as well as a cost-effective product. Further, consumers are looking for technology upgradation that could upgrade their PCs with minimum expenditure on upgrade products.
Further, the report reveals that the introduction of highly integrated devices such as smartphones in the Digital market is having a strong negative impact on the demand for PCs in the Global market.
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z3n55l/global_computer


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TSMC announced that the 4nm process will be trial production in the third quarter, and 3nm will be mass-produced in the second half of next year
IT House, June 2 news, according to the Taiwan Economic Daily, the foundry leader TSMC today held the 2021 technology forum and announced that the 4-nanometer process technology is expected to start trial production in the third quarter of 2021, one quarter earlier than the previous plan, The 3nm process will be mass-produced in the second half of 2022 as planned.
This year is the second consecutive year that TSMC has held an online technical forum to share with customers TSMC’s latest technological developments, including the N6RF process that supports the next generation of 5G smartphones and WiFi 6/6e performance, and supports the most advanced automotive applications. An enhanced version of the N5A manufacturing process and 3DFabric series technology.
TSMC revealed the latest innovations in advanced logic technology, special technology, and 3DFabric advanced packaging and chip stacking technology in this technical forum. This year, more than 5,000 customers and technology partners from all over the world registered to participate on June 1 The online technical forum to be held on the 2nd.
TSMC introduced the N5 (5nm), N4 (4nm), N5A (5nm A), and N3 (3nm) process technologies at this year's technology forum. TSMC pointed out that since 2020, leading the industry in mass production of 5-nanometer technology, its yield rate has increased faster than the previous generation of 7-nanometer technology. The N4 enhanced version in the N5 family further improves performance, power consumption efficiency, and transistor density by reducing the mask layer and design rules that are almost compatible with N5.
TSMC pointed out that since the announcement at the TSMC Technology Forum in 2020, the development progress of N4 has been quite smooth, and it is expected to start trial production in the third quarter of 2021.
TSMC also launched the newest member of the 5nm family, the N5A process, with the goal of meeting the increasing demand for computing power in newer and more enhanced automotive applications, such as artificial intelligence-enabled driving assistance and digital vehicle cockpits.
TSMC stated that N5A will bring the same technology used in today’s supercomputers into vehicles. It is equipped with N5’s computing performance, power consumption efficiency, and logic density while meeting the strict quality and reliability requirements of AEC-Q100 Grade 2, as well as other vehicles. Safety and quality standards.
IT Home understands that TSMC’s N3 technology is scheduled to become the world’s most advanced logic technology when mass production starts in the second half of 2022. N3 relies on the reliable FinFET transistor architecture to support the best performance, power efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Compared with N5 technology, its speed is increased by 15%, power consumption is reduced by 30%, and logic density is increased by 70%.


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The auto industry
’s recent meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has certainly resulted in some hope. The representatives who were part of the delegation, are hopeful that she might take some decision to revive the auto industry soon. The minister is expected to continue consultation with the industry till Sunday.
The sector considered the centre of economic activity is going through the worst ever dip. Finance Minister’s engagement on the slowdown
comes after some leaders publicly criticised the sinking economic situation. On July 30, in an interview with The Economic Times, Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj blamed the government’s inaction for falling demand.
“The government may or may not be saying this, but there are clear cut markings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, which show a decrease in growth in the last three to four years,” Bajaj told the The Economic Times adding that -no investment, no demand, will growth fall from the heavens ?Anand Mahindra
also recently suggested the government to reduce Goods and Services Tax (GST
) on automobiles to lift the demand. Yet the realisation of the downtick has come from only a handful of industry magnates as many continue to exert indifference to it.
It is to note that the key indicators like job creation, consumer demand even for small ticket fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) has been on a decline since the third quarter of the last fiscal.
The spending power has been hit so hard that consumers shifted to cheaper daily essentials in both urban and rural markets. The country's top producers of household consumption goods started cheaper packs. These companies have been trying to restrict the cost as low as Rs 10 in most cases to keep the sales moving.
A media report as early as January 2019 said that, National Sample Survey Office assessment conducted between July 2017-June 2018, showed unemployment rate at 6.1 per cent, the highest since 1972-73. In the same month the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, a leading think-tank, also revealed that the country lost as many as 11 million jobs in 2018, reported Reuters.
The automakers themselves started witnessing slowdown after last year's September. Though, many ignored the downward trend and kept on building inventory to show growth in their wholesales numbers. However, it backfired as even the last festive season could not bring much excitement.
This lead to massive inventory pile of two-wheelers and passenger vehicles across dealerships. In order to balance the inventory, the manufacturers had to resort to continuous production cuts in the last few months. Leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki India announced 25 per cent cut in production in July 2019.
Another early signal came as IIP also dipped to almost half in the H2 of FY2019 to 2.1 per cent compared to 4.4 per cent in FY18, while WPI also increased from 2.9 per cent in FY18 to 3.7 per cent in the second half of the FY19.
Policy changes like hiked upfront insurance premium and new axle norms were obvious damper in the short to mid term. High fuel prices and liquidity crunch
post IL&FS crisis also added to the woes. A recent draft notification by MoRTH proposing manifold jump in registration cost of vehicle poses another challenge in the coming months while overcasts a cautionary sentiment in immediate term .
According to the notification new car registration is pegged at Rs 5000 against Rs 600 now while new medium goods/passenger vehicles registration are proposed at Rs 20,000, up from current Rs 1,000. The registration fee for a new truck or a bus has been proposed at Rs 20,000, as against Rs 1,500 now. The registration fee for two-wheelers is proposed to be Rs 1,000, as against meagre Rs 50 now.
The only positive factor was high GDP growth shown till the third quarter of the last fiscal which did not sync with real market condition in many ways. According to the government the GDP in Q1, Q2 and Q3 of FY 18-19 grew by whooping 8.2 per cent, 7.1 per cent and 6.6 per cent which finally plummeted to 5.8 per cent in Q4.
Amidst the series of incidents hinting at weakening demand did good GDP number keep the industry hopefully and aloof from the reality? I recently asked this to a top executive from the industry (in a press conference), who declined to comment.
But the biggest question is - why this sense of urgency came only after the business slipped into massive downward spiral and the status is very unlikely to improve anytime soon.
It's almost unbelievable that the industry could not sense the impending downturn. To my mind this certainly highlights (most) industry leaders' acute reluctance to go public in terms of speaking their minds on the economic status which they probably felt might go against the incumbent government. This is what also comes through from their off-the record discussions.
This finds a strong support in Vikram Kirloskar’s statement: “Government-industry trust at all-time low,” he told The Time of India on June 12, 2019.
We need to understand why it took lakhs of job losses a strong double digit de-growth for the industry to finally realise the mayhem and prompted a few to speak up.Auto sector
which contributed over 10 per cent (Rs 120,000 crore) to the overall GST collection of Rs 11,00,000 crore last year and provided (direct and indirect) jobs to 37 million people will certainly play a key role in building ‘New India.’
As the nation sets ambitious target of achieving $5 trillion economy by 2024, auto industry known as the wheel of an economy must understand its importance and work closely with the policymakers and keep offering suggestions more aggressively. The sector leaders also need to have the strength to express and raise an alarm responsibly beyond its lobby group whenever needed. Road To Revival
The BS-VI pre-buying and upcoming festival can serve as the best possible opportunity for the automotive sector to bring back the vigour. The industry and the government can work together on the following immediate measures:1. Liquidity
: This should be on the top of the priority list to lift the sentiment of the consumer. RBI’s recent interest rate cut by 35 basis points (bps) is certainly a great step. However, the government need to leverage other tools also to improve liquidity such as easing of lending norms by banks. The government should also take steps to improve cash in the hands of framers and rural population through MNREGA and other rural schemes. 2. Excise Duty Cut on Petrol and Diesel
: Since 2014, the government has hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel more than a dozen times by taking advantage of tanking crude price. It also added multiple cess on this item. It’s to note that the crude oil price touched the lowest $36.34 per barrel in January 2016 and stayed below $60 a barrel till long time. Even now it hovers around $58, the government has room to announce some cuts here which will be a major sentiment booster. It would be a welcome move if government brings it under GST. Crude touched $150 a barrel in 2008 and remained above $100 per barrel till August 2014. 3. Incentivising vehicle scrappage
: This is a very popular method adopted by the developed nations too. USA also introduced this scheme (popularly known as cash for clunkers) as stimulus to auto industry during the 2008-09 recession. India can use this for dual advantage - a. A stimulus to create demand for new vehicles. b. Remove polluting old vehicles to improve the air quality and reduce pollution.4. GST Cut
: Most of the automobile products are taxed at par with sin goods, as realisation here may help the industry. The government must re-look at reducing/re-structuring GST on mass/commuter segment two-wheelers and entry level cars. Currently automobiles attracts heavy cess that also needs to be rationalised. A decreasing demand may impact the GST collection, while reduction/rationalisation of GST may create new demand thus stabilize the GST collection
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETAuto.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETAuto.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.


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By JUWON PARK Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The freshest faces among South Korean influencers are no longer the usual, 20-something celebrities. Instead, entertainment and social media are focusing on a new generation: the elder generation.
Older women were once invisible in South Korean entertainment as the industry stuck to rigidly conservative traditional female roles and cast them only as devoted mothers.
But older women are front and center in recent advertising and entertainment series.
A pioneer in the trend is Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung, the 74-year-old “Minari” actor who promotes Oriental Brewery beer and the Zig Zag shopping app in two recent ad campaigns.
The beer video highlights the novelty of its spokesperson, who says: “For someone like me to be on a beer ad, the world has gotten so much better.” With a Cass beer in her hand, Youn says she makes friends by being her authentic self and alludes to the beer helping people to dissipate their social awkwardness.
South Korean producer Kim Sehee said Youn’s Oscar win earlier this year inspired his entertainment series, “Wassup K-Grandma.” He said South Korean young people have a new interest in their elders, birthing a new word “harmaenial” — a portmanteau of the South Korean word “harmoni,” or grandmother, and the English word “millennial.”


text: Over 145 million apps have been downloaded from Apple’s App Store and Google Play through the outlet of Facebook’s mobile app. And about 41% of Facebook’s advertising revenue came from their mobile app with having its users buy apps that are sponsored on the Facebook app. But Facebook is now taking it one step further, rather than just having users download apps from the Facebook advertisements in the Facebook, they want to track if the Facebook user to see if they have already downloaded the app and if they have the advertisement on the Facebook mobile app with me more specific to in-app purchases. If the Facebook user clicked on the ad on Facebook then it would take the mobile user to a specific place inside the new app to make an in-app purchase. This is genius of Facebook to do because once you download an app, there is not much a reason to keep advertising to the same people to download the app again when they already have, then they are just wasting money. By making it more specific to each Facebook user, companies can make more specific advertisements to users to make in-app purchases which is how many app developers are making money after the user has downloaded their app.


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This is great news for open source software and country like India where price factor plays major purchase decision.
The Hindu India’s National Newspaper reports that:
Most serious players in the computers market expect two dominant operating systems — Microsoft Windows and Linux. Accordingly, computer makers such as IBM, Dell, HP and, of course, the Taiwanese computer exporter Acer are not really taking sides, happy to sell whatever the customer wants.
Indeed, with Linux consistently bettering market expectations, these large firms are offering more choice and lower prices, not just in the server market, but also on laptops. And laptops pre-loaded with Linux operating system are gaining in popularity among Indian customers as well.
=> Read more at the hindu.com.


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Sep 28, 2018, 15:45 ET
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with its generous customers, Brighton has donated $6.4 million to support breast cancer charities nationwide through the annual sale of its Power of Pink bracelet and accessories. On Sept. 28th, the company will unveil its much-anticipated limited edition 2018 Power of Pink bracelet, marking the 16th year the company has embarked on this legacy of love.
"There's a reason the heart is our symbol—we're a company that has always deeply cared about the well-being of our customers and their loved ones; it's only natural that we'd want to give back—it's in our DNA," said Jerry Kohl, owner and founder.
Since first beginning its Power of Pink promotion in 2003, Brighton has made meaningful strides to support breast cancer prevention, education, treatment and research—not only at the national level—but in the communities in which it serves.
This year's bracelets will be available through October 31st. Brighton will donate $10 for each bracelet sold in its stores. There are two Power of Pink bracelets this year: the new legacy bracelet for $60, along with a pink leather customizable Christo Cuff that sells for $78.
Designed to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who are touched by breast cancer, this year's legacy bracelet has charms that say, "You Are Love," "Gratitude," and "Trust Your Journey of Love."
"We often receive moving letters from customers who tell us that this meaningful jewelry, with its message of love, spoke to them at exactly the right time, with exactly the right words," said Brighton designer Maryam Nassirbegli. Many of Brighton's customers have collected these bracelets every year since they were first introduced.
To find a participating retailer, visit brighton.com.
Owners Jerry and Terri Kohl started Brighton over 40 years ago, and they resolved to have a company that would be run from the heart, focused on treating customers and employees the way they love to be treated and giving back. Brighton has raised over $6.4 million for breast cancer charities.
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Two of the country’s biggest media agencies, GroupM and Madison, have projected double-digit advertising growth for calendar year 2023, coming at a time when the Indian economy has remained largely resilient amid global volatility.
On Wednesday, the Pitch Madison Report, which was released in Mumbai, said domestic advertising expenditure (adex) would grow 16 per cent in 2023, marginally ahead of GroupM’s estimate, which had projected a growth of 15.5 per cent for the current calendar year in its forecast released Tuesday. However, both forecasts maintain that India remains among the fastest-growing advertising markets in the world in 2023, despite the estimates being lower than 2022 growth rates. (See chart)
The total Indian adex, according to the Pitch Madison Report, will touch Rs 1.04 trillion, driven by digital advertising whose share in total domestic adex will stand at 41 per cent from 38 per cent in 2022. It will be the largest advertising category for the second year in a row, ahead of television, whose share will slip to 32 per cent in 2023 versus 34 per cent last year. Print advertising’s share will stand at 19 per cent in 2023 versus 21 per cent reported in 2022.
GroupM too has retained a buoyant forecast for digital advertising in 2023, saying it will constitute 56 per cent of total domestic adex this year, ahead of the 54 per cent share in 2022. TV and print advertising, on the other hand, will slip to levels of 30 per cent and 10 per cent each in terms of share in 2023 versus 31 per cent and 11 per cent each reported last year.


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Mobikwik had filed draft papers for a Rs 1,900-crore IPO in July, which was approved by market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in October.
However, Paytm’s failed IPO in November and declining investor interest in startup IPOs forced the company to halt its listing plans. According to data from investment platforms that allow trading in private companies, the company’s unlisted shares had also taken a hit at the time.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Taku revealed that the company still plans to launch an IPO, but at a more opportune time. For now, it will deploy the fresh funding for marketing, hiring people and making acquisitions, he said. No decision has been taken on the valuation for the current funding round, Taku said.
Last valued at over $700 million, Mobikwik is one of India's largest buy now, pay later (BNPL) providers. It has over 100 million registered users, which it plans to grow in the coming months.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- Inflation Cools, Industrial Growth on Firm Ground
India’s consumer inflation eased to a five-month low of 6.71% in July on the back of a moderation in food inflation, firming up expectations that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may go for a softer increase in policy rates at its end-September review.I am a Chinese, not a Terrorist: Huawei India CEO to Court
Huawei Telecommunications (India) chief executive officer Li Xiongwei told a Delhi court on Friday, “I am a Chinese (national) and not a terrorist,” apparently borrowing a line from a Shah Rukh Khan movie.Chip Shortage in the Rear-View Mirror, Auto Cos on Launchpad
Automobile companies are gearing up for a record number of launches in the coming months as the semiconductor shortage that has plagued the industry eases.
ETPrime stories of the day
4 mins read
8 mins read
7 mins read


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TENERIFE–Microsoft engineers, executives, and developers have spent much of the past decade spreading the gospel of the security development lifecycle (SDL), trying to convert people and organizations to the religion of building security into software and other products from the beginning of the process. That effort has succeeded in many ways, and now experts say it’s time to bring that thinking to the IoT world.
Security typically is not high on the list of priorities for companies building embedded and IoT devices. Threat modeling a smart TV or car navigation system isn’t something that many developers have experience doing, but these devices all present opportunities for attackers, who see them as computers like any other. The attack surfaces for these devices can be broad and not necessarily easily defendable.
Those factors make the lack of an SDL all the more problematic.
“Developing a product is like building a house. They both require a secure and strong foundation,” Harsha Banavara, a security analyst at Schneider Electric, a major maker of ICS and other gear, said in a talk at the Kaspersky Lab Security Analyst Summit here Tuesday.
The idea of an SDL did not originate at Microsoft, but the company has been one of the loudest proponents of the approach for many years. It’s a lesson that Microsoft learned the hard way in the early 2000s as attackers and customers both took notice of the numerous weak spots in Windows, Internet Explorer, and Office. Out of the pain of customer anger and public embarrassment came Microsoft’s initial forays into creating an SDL, a process that continues still.
Banavara said that IoT device manufacturers should follow the lead of traditional software makers before it’s too late to make the necessary changes. Right now, not many consumers are screaming and yelling about vulnerabilities in their IoT devices, but that may change if there’s a major attack that becomes public.
“An SDL reduces ambiguity, and it also helps in the marketplace,” Banavara said.
The privacy considerations raised by having an increasing number of devices capturing and transmitting data about their users and environments is also something that needs to be addressed. Many owners likely have no idea about the kind and volume of information smart devices gather.
“We’ve got more and more devices recording all of our conversations and the data is being sucked away for the companies to mine,” said Chris Rouland, CTO of Bastille Networks.
Image from Flickr stream of Scott Law.


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Huawei Technologies is expanding its holdings in Chinese semiconductor companies and other technology companies. This is part of the strategy of the world’s largest electronics company in view of the pressure from the USA to realign its supply chains and to rely on its own chip production.
The investments run primarily through the investment company Habo Technology Investment. They cover practically all parts of the semiconductor industry chain, the writes Telecom-Portal Light Reading citing the Chinese Financial magazine Caijing. The aim is to build a controllable supply chain. The participations therefore mainly follow technical and less financial aspects. So far, Habo Technology has invested directly in 38 companies, 35 of which are in the chip sector.
Broadly diversified investments
The focus of investment has shifted several times, said Caijing. At the end of 2019 and in the first half of 2020, material and opto-electronic chip companies were the target; in the second half of 2020 and early 2021 mainly EDA software companies. The latest investment at the end of June was MaxOne. This is the first Chinese company capable of developing vertical probe cards, which are essential for assembling microelectronic components in tight spaces.
Huawei founded the investment company Habo Technology in April 2019 in response to “repression” by the United States, as Guo Ping, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, called it. The US government under Donald Trump has practically cut off Huawei’s chip supply from abroad through export restrictions. As a result, Google suspended licensing of Android for Huawei cellular devices, among other things, and as a result, Huawei recorded a significant decline in sales.
Own fab is intended to cushion sanctions
The current US administration under President Joe Biden gives Huawei little hope that the sanctions will be lifted. Rather, Biden recently extended a Trump ban on US investment in China. Listed by his predecessor Trump, additional Chinese companies whose securities are not allowed to be traded by Americans, added. These include several Chinese providers of surveillance and espionage technology, as well as partner and subsidiary companies of previously listed companies. This also includes two Huawei finance companies.
In view of the US’s confrontational stance, Huawei is not only relying on building its own supply chains, but also on building semiconductor factories. A strategy promoted by the Chinese government. Beijing is pumping billions into local chip manufacturing, which has to be rebuilt almost from scratch. A veritable international arms race has set in with semiconductors around the world.
With an investment of 1.8 billion yuan (235 million euros), Huawei plans to start production in its first chip factory in Wuhan next year. First of all, chips and modules for optical communication are to be manufactured there.


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SAISC CEO Amanuel Gebremeskel explains that the SAISC has gone digital: from our first edition of The Link Newsletter, to a new digital nomination process for the SAISC Steel Awards 2023, which will give the industry a chance to study nominated projects online for the first time before the winners are announced in October.
As the longstanding custodian and champion of the steel value chain, the SAISC is gearing up for a year packed with events focused on continuing professional development (CPD) training and an array of digital marketing and networking opportunities. This also includes our flagship event – the iconic annual Steel Awards – in October 2023.
In addition to a stellar events and educational / training calendar this year targeting our members and the entire steel supply chain including engineers and architects, project managers, quantity surveyors and others – we are also engaged in many initiatives which leverage and embrace digital technology for the benefit of you, our valued members!
Online newsletter distributed to over 4 000 industry members
This first online edition of our SAISC newsletter The Link has been sent to over 4 000 members of our own and other industry bodies with which we have reciprocity. It is appropriately named The Link as it represents a communications and information link between the SAISC and our members – as well as a link between members themselves. This newsletter is cladding-themed, featuring cladding-related members Global Roofing Solutions, Macsteel and Bolt and Engineering; as well events and opportunities we will be presenting this year. As such, the online newsletter is just one way in which we are embracing the digital era to support the entire steel value chain.
In this newsletter – with handy emailed highlights, featuring a ‘read more’ link to the full version of each article and the whole newsletter on our website – you will find industry news, useful information and knowledge-sharing about quality, industry standards and solutions to steel value chain challenges; as well as profiles and updates from our members.
As we move through various industry-relevant themes in the other two editions planned for the year, we trust that more members will participate in this newsletter, and gain valuable marketing leverage as their articles are shared with thousands of readers in this new digital format and via our website and social media channels. This will also help to support the financial sustainability of the SAISC as we seek to advance the interests of our members.
As you are aware, the SAISC is the custodian of quality, technical standards and knowledge within the steel value chain, and you our valued members – form an integral part of this pool of professional skills and learning.
The SAISC and its sub-associations have been directly involved in assisting the SA Bureau of Standards to formu- late specifications for the industry, including updating standards on designing for seismic areas. This topic came into focus recently after deadly earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, causing mass destruction to buildings and infrastructure – largely due to non-compliance and outdated standards.
As the SAISC we invite members to actively engage and get involved with us, so that when there are opportunities to share professional knowledge, by way of offering online or on-site training sessions, expertise and experience, you can participate or attend and gain continuous professional development points (CPD).
‘Steeling’ yourselves for the Steel Awards!
Lastly, but of course, not least, look out for our upcoming networking and training events in this newsletter, and watch this space for everything you need to know about entering, and attending the SAISC Steel Awards 2023. Planning is already underway, entries opened on the 1 April, and you will be able to enter via a simple online process which will also – very cleverly – digitise the entire nominations, selections and judging process – as well as allowing this to be effectively digitally curated and accessible to all our members moving forward.
“I encourage as many members as possible to participate in the awards, to showcase the many excellent steel projects we have undertaken across the region over the past 12 months. We had 700 guests attending in 2022, and we anticipate that this year’s event will be even bigger and better, giving us all a chance to network while we toast and celebrate the best of steel value chain excellence.”
Until next time, I wish you a successful second quarter of 2023, as we all work diligently to continue the next chapter of post pandemic recovery, despite the challenges of the current national energy crisis.
Yours in steel Amanuel


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Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
Next month, British retailer Jack Wills will unveil its second Philly-area store, deliberately sidestepping the King of Prussia Mall in favor of Ardmore's Suburban Square shopping center. Close to Bryn Mawr and Villanova, the 1,300-square-foot Ardmore location will appeal to area coeds with its preppy, Abercrombie-meets-Barbour aesthetic; men's and women's apparel will be showcased amidst a "fireplace, repurposed flooring from old schools, vintage fixtures from the United Kingdom and the signature pink and navy striped cash wraps."
Jack Wills currently has 13 stores in the states—including Philly's Walnut Street location—all of which are concentrated in the Northeast. But according to WWD, enclosed malls are not on the brand's agenda as it continues to push south and west—and that includes KOP: "[Malls are] not our cup of tea at this point in time," says Jim Hardy, president of Jack Wills Inc. Look for the Ardmore store to open late May.
· Jack Wills Expands in the U.S. [WWD]
· Jack Wills [Official Site]


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Has Apple been working on a set-top cable box for years now? And Nokia's first Windows Phone 8 device leaks ... maybe.
Noah K tackles the biggest tech rumors of this week! Check out what Apple may be up to with the cable companies and Nokie's Windows Phone 8 rumors.
Rumor Roundup is a show taking a look at the latest trends, rumors, and leaks buzzing around the technology industry hosted by Noah Kravitz - a well-known and respected tech editor who's been involved in the industry for years. Not only does Noah deliver the news in full force, but he also provides his analytical thoughts and insight leaving one wondering of what lies ahead in the world of tech.
TechnoBuffalo isn't just a rehash of information from other websites. It provides tech reviews, insights, news and rumors from the best and brightest editors in the technical review space!
Want the most recent episode of this show always up to date on your website? Use this self-updating embed code!


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#263: A Tech Update from the West Coast
California has often been among the most active states in passing new legislation to regulate the tech industry. These policies can potentially impact not just Californian consumers and companies, but those across the United States. Cathy Gellis, a lawyer in the Bay area, joins the show to discuss the latest developments in the west coast affecting privacy, the sharing economy, and free speech.
It is Free
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Wyoming Office of Tourism Releases 2021 Preliminary Travel Economic Impact Data
February 28, 2022—Cheyenne, Wyoming—Today, the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) released its 2021 Economic Impact preliminary findings, conducted by Dean Runyan Associates. According to the report, Wyoming’s tourism and hospitality industry experienced substantial growth in 2021, with $4 billion in direct travel spending while generating $243 million in tax revenue – a 50.5 percent increase from 2020.
“It is exciting that more people continue to come to Wyoming and experience all the things we love about our state,” Governor Gordon said. “It is important that we continue our efforts to grow this valuable sector of our economy.”
2021 Economic Impact Highlights:
These preliminary estimates for Wyoming are subject to revision as more complete source data becomes available in April 2022.
- Wyoming welcomed 8.1 million overnight visitors; a 16.8 percent increase from 2020
- $4 billion in direct visitor spending; a 31.2 percent increase from 2020
- Visitor spending directly affected Wyoming’s economy by generating $243 million in local and state tax revenues; a 50.5 percent increase from 2020
- The leisure and hospitality sector gained an estimated 1,730 jobs
- Accommodations experienced the largest spending growth; a 61.8 percent increase from 2020
- Wyoming travel industry GDP is estimated to be $1.6 billion in 2021 and represents 3.7% of the total state GDP
The full preliminary report can be found here.
“Despite the ongoing challenges still facing global tourism, the grit and fortitude of Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism industry shined through in 2021, making it a game-changing year for the state economy,” said Diane Shober, executive director for the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “Wyoming will continue to be a leading travel destination in the United States, and all indicators point to economic growth going into 2022.”
The preliminary data was released ahead of the Governor’s Hospitality and Tourism Conference on Feb 28-March 1; the only event dedicated to celebrating and educating Wyoming’s tourism and hospitality industry. Hosted by the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association (WLRA) and the Wyoming Office of Tourism, the Governor’s Hospitality and Tourism Conference consists of a variety of keynote speakers, and industry breakout sessions. This year’s topics include: 2022 travel trends, celebrating 150 years of Yellowstone, data and insights going forward and much more.
For more information on the Wyoming Office of Tourism, visit www.travelwyoming.com.
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For Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, every day is opposite’s day. If you or I were lobbying to Kroger’s supermarket chain to allow legal carry in their stores – which they already do – we’d highlight incidents where Kroger disarmed customers and employees were victims of violent crime. See? we’d say. A no-guns policy leaves innocent Americans relatively defenseless against criminal predation. Over at huffingtonpost.com, Moms jefe Shannon Watts uses these real-world incidents as proof that Kroger shouldn’t allow legal carry in their stores. Huh? you say. Here it is from the horse’s mouth . . .
The moms’ group decided to take action in response to recent demonstrations by open carry activists in Kroger stores in Ohio and Texas, and after conducting research that identified more than a dozen shootings on Kroger property since 2012, said Erika Soto Lamb, a spokeswoman.
“Kroger employees shouldn’t have to determine whether the person holding a gun in the frozen aisle is someone dangerous or someone making a political statement,” Lamb said.
Conflate much? I mean, how many of those shootings were the result of open carry or, for that matter, legal concealed carry? Why none! But I would point out that anyone holding a gun in the frozen aisle should just let it go, let it go, let it go. Holding a gun in a grocery store is an excellent indication that something illegal’s going down.
Or maybe about to go down, and the person holding the gun is attempting to stop it. Which would be a good thing, not a bad thing. Here in the real world. Back in Shannon’s world . . .
In a letter sent to Kroger CEO Michael Ellis last week, Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts said those existing laws aren’t sufficient to keep customers safe.
“In most states, gun laws are exceedingly lax, especially when it comes to the open carry of firearms,” Watts wrote. “In many states, virtually anyone can openly carry a loaded gun without going through any licensing, permitting or training.”
Moms Demand Action has logged a dozen shootings that have taken place inside a Kroger or in the parking lot of one since 2012.
In June 2013, a 2-year-old girl was shot in a Kroger parking lot in Stone Mountain, Georgia, after a customer tried to intervene in an attempted mugging.
In February, in another incident in Georgia, a 42-year-old man shot and wounded two Kroger customers at a store in Lawrenceville, east of Atlanta.
Again, how does this argue against legal carry? And where, HuffPo, are the other ten incidents? Just for fun [/sarc] I Googled “Kroger parking lot rape” and found this story [via onlineathens.com]:
Lawyers for a woman kidnapped from a Kroger supermarket parking lot and then raped reached a settlement with the grocery company in a lawsuit the woman filed against Kroger following the attack . . .
The victim, a 23-year-old Athens restaurant manager at the time, was kidnapped at knife-point by three men as she walked to her car in the parking lot of the Kroger store on College Station Road late one July night in 1994 . . .
Six other crimes were committed in that same parking lot between Oct. 17, 1988, when a woman was robbed at knife-point, and July 13, 1994, when the rape victim who sued Kroger was abducted, according to Gilbert Dietch of Atlanta, another of the woman’s lawyers.
Five of those previous parking lot crimes were directed at customers, and a Kroger employee was the victim in another, he said. Several involved violence, including a beating with a billy stick and a threat using a tire iron, he told a Clarke County jury as the trial opened Monday.
But only one of the incidents — the beating — was ever reported to Kroger’s ”risk management” division in Atlanta, according to testimony by a Kroger security expert Monday.
Should have been a defensive gun use? Yes. If you Google “Kroger armed robbery” do you find dozens of examples? You do. Should Kroger force its customers to disarm to shop in its stores? I’d like to see them try.
The basic idea that the Moms are selling – a non-guns policy would make Kroger customers safer – is so ludicrous that even HuffPo writer Ben Hallman felt obliged to end his puff piece with a disclaimer:
It’s impossible to say whether these incidents would have happened if Kroger were to advertise a no-gun policy. Gun advocates are quick to note that criminals are unlikely to abide by polite requests to leave their guns at home.
True dat. And well done Kroger for issuing the following statement:
Contacted on Friday, company spokesman Keith Dailey said the grocery chain had no plans to change existing policy, which is to abide by state and local laws.
“Millions of customers are present in our busy grocery stores every day and we don’t want to put our associates in a position of having to confront a customer who is legally carrying a gun,” Dailey said. “We know that our customers are passionate on both sides of this issue and we trust them to be responsible in our stores.”
As they have been.


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Written reply to Parliamentary Question on prevention of cross-border scams
Date: For Parliament Sitting on 6 March 2023
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Yip Hon Weng, MP, Yio Chu Kang SMC
To ask the Prime Minister (a) what are the Ministry’s plans to curtail cross-border scams given the enhanced connectivity to transfer money through real-time payments; and (b) how is the Ministry working with international financial and security organisations to prevent such cross-border scams from taking place.
Answer by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Minister in charge of MAS:
1. MAS has launched real-time cross-border retail payment linkages with India and Thailand in the recent past. These will facilitate faster, cheaper, more accessible and more transparent cross-border payments for individuals and businesses.
2. We are keenly aware that criminals can exploit a more efficient and interconnected global payment network. We have seen scammers make use of faster cross-border payments to transfer their criminal proceeds out of Singapore, to where it is difficult to trace, and beyond the jurisdiction of our Police to freeze. The government is working actively to address this risk both domestically and in collaboration with our international counterparts.
3. Domestically, MAS has worked with our major retail banks to tighten and implement anti-scam controls. These include lowering the default transaction notification threshold to S$100 or lower, alongside the daily limit of S$1000 or lower for real time cross-border transfers. Banks actively monitor changes in scam typologies and will adjust these measures as appropriate.
4. Globally, our agencies work closely with our international counterparts to combat cross-border crimes and scams. For example,
a. MAS proactively exchanges relevant information with its international counterparts to surface suspicious cross-border flows and activities so that the authorities can take the appropriate mitigating measures.
b.Our Singapore Police Force (SPF) works with its overseas counterparts to exchange information and conduct joint operations to dismantle scam syndicates. SPF is a member of the “Asset-Recovery Interagency Network- Asia Pacific”, a network spanning 28 jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region which aims to increase members’ effectiveness in depriving criminals of their illicit profits. SPF also shares intelligence on transnational scams with the international policing community through INTERPOL.
5.We aim to reap the real benefits to the public of fast and efficient real time cross-border payments while mitigating the risks. MAS and the Police will continue to work closely and proactively with industry to review and enhance the suite of anti-scam measures.