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India can become one of the world's automotive export hubs of the 21st century, says Nigel Harris.
Today is a very special day in the history of Ford Motor Company as we officially open our Sanand Automotive Facility in Gujarat.
We are increasing production to meet the demand of the Indian consumer and what is equally exciting is that we will be building vehicles in India for export to consumers around the world.
It is our belief that India can become one of the world's automotive export hubs of the 21st century. The path to this is through the launching of a new ambitious trade agenda that would truly lead to Make in India for the world.
The Ford Sanand Automotive Facility will open a new chapter in our almost 90-year history in India.
The facility sits on a campus that is over 400 acres and today we are launching production in not one but four all-new plants including a stamping, vehicle assembly, engine assembly and a parts production plant.
The Sanand Automotive Facility, when fully operational, combined with our already very successful assembly operation in Chennai, will double our manufacturing capacity in India to over of 600,000 engines and 440,000 passenger cars.
And, when you add the business services centres Ford operates in Chennai, Coimbatore and Gurgaon, we will employ over 16,000 people in India.
Much is being written today about the 'Make in India' strategy. The successful development of our Sanand Automotive Facility is a testament to an early version of this pro-manufacturing strategy that was implemented by Narendra Modi, the then-chief minister in Gujarat.
Tamil Nadu is another state that deserves special mention for their work to implement a pro-manufacturing agenda to bring investment and jobs.
Policies in Tamil Nadu led us to open our manufacturing facility in Chennai 20 years ago.
It is very encouraging to learn that one of the federal government's first steps to implement 'Make in India' was to look to the best practices already in use in states such as Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
At Ford, we can vouch that those policies are working and this makes us all the more confident in the success of 'Make in India'.
Virtually, no other industry has the same job-creating benefit of the auto industry. Over the last century, the auto industry has generated millions of jobs in countries that have developed a domestic auto sector.
That same promise holds true for India. In addition to Ford's direct jobs, Ford purchases from Indian parts suppliers already exceed $1 billion, and these purchases from local companies also generate thousands of additional jobs.
There is no doubt that an expanding auto sector will play an important role in delivering jobs and economic growth in India.
A central factor in unlocking the real potential of India's auto industry and generating millions of jobs is to set a new course on trade policy.
All major auto companies are now assembling vehicles on global platforms and all have the ability to produce a number of vehicles for different markets in the same plant location.
One important criterion used to decide where to invest is whether a country provides the export opportunities that will maximise the output of the plant.
The time is now for India to look at every necessary policy innovation and accelerate its auto sector growth.
The global auto industry is undergoing an unprecedented expansion, from approximately 86 million new vehicles built this year to almost 110 million per year by 2020.
This is a historic increase in new factory capacity that will be installed within the next few years, and much of it in the Asia-Pacific region. India has an urgent interest to signal to the world its intent to pursue a large share of this new auto investment and the jobs that will go with it.
A new Indian trade agenda to expand automotive exports should be a strategic component of India's manufacturing strategy.
Policies such as reforms to the current export regulations combined with the completion of trade negotiations already underway, such as the Eurpoean Union-India free trade agreement (FTA), the India-Thailand FTA, and the India-ASEAN FTA, all with a clear commitment of including automobiles, would underpin India's high ambition to be a major player in the global auto industry.
The Indian economy's time has come. Implementing policies that transform 'Make in India' to Make in India for the world will set the nation on a transformational course.
The path is not without challenges, but the results will be well worth the journey. Now is the time to say yes, and boldly embrace a 21st century free trade agenda for India.
The author is, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company India.


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As the reactions show, everyone in trucking, shipping and manufacturing has something to say about fuel economy, specifically the call by President Obama for heavy-truck manufacturers to use technology to reduce fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions beyond model year 2018.
Land Line reported OOIDA’s concerns on Wednesday about how the new standards will drive up the cost of new equipment for the small-business owners who make up 90 percent those moving freight by truck.
In the days following the announcement, others began weighing in.
“Look at the new technology costs and what happened with emissions, as the engine’s gone up $21,000 over a five year period for a Class 8,” said American Truck Dealers Chairman Eric Jorgensen.
“It wasn’t only that impact,” Jorgensen told Land Line. “You’re also adding on top of that the 12 percent FET, the Federal Excise Tax. And for truckers or trucking companies to finance this equipment, they’re going to have to come up with additional equity in the form of trade equity or more cash down.”
Jorgensen says attaining the type of increase in economy the administration is looking for will be as much or more of a challenge than the Environmental Protection Agency’s clampdown on greenhouse gas emissions that started more than a decade ago.
“What happened is that the cost went through the roof, and the technology wasn’t proven. Instead of people adopting this technology, because it was so expensive they found ways to keep their existing equipment longer. For us and our shops, our shop business boomed because of all the overhauls we were working on.”
U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., says he’ll file legislation to keep the White House out of the truck design business.
“The president once again thinks he is an automaker and a member of Congress with this latest mandate on trucks,” Roberts stated Thursday. “In fact, it is another end run around the Congress with the potential to create safety concerns and no measurable effect on climate change as indicated by his own EPA administrator.”
“Instead of letting the markets determine what kinds of trucks are produced, the president is doing it and in the end, it will be the consumer and the taxpayer who pay for it,” Roberts continued. “I have already heard from many Kansans worried about this announcement increasing the price of trucks they need for their businesses.”
The fuel-economy and emissions mandate calls on the EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a final rule by March 2016 to outline how the manufacturers are to carry it out. The president has asked the California Air Resources Board to assist.
“We look forward to teaming with the federal agencies and strongly support this effort,” CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols stated online. “We are excited to share the California experience and technical expertise gained from our early actions to reduce emissions and save fuel from the heaviest trucks via our California tractor-trailer greenhouse gas program over the last six years.”
Many truckers don’t see eye-to-eye with the California standards, and OOIDA has filed a lawsuit on their behalf saying the ongoing clampdown by CARB violated the Interstate Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
A group called the Heavy Duty Fuel Efficiency Leadership Group – with members from Con-way Inc., Cummins Inc., Eaton, FedEx Corp., Wabash National Corp. and Waste Management Inc. – formed in 2010 to support the first round of EPA/NHTSA fuel-economy standards for heavy trucks effective for model years 2014 through 2018.
The group showed up in Maryland for Wednesday’s announcement alongside the so-called “SuperTruck” built by Peterbilt, Cummins and Eaton, which uses all the bells and whistles on the truck and trailer to achieve 10.7 mpg. The average in trucking is about 6 mpg.
“SuperTruck is a prime example of public and private organizations coming together and using technological innovation to drive business and environmental success,” Cummins Chairman Tom Linebarger said in a statement.
The EPA and NHTSA have already tipped their hand that future fuel-economy standards for trucks will extend to the trailers.
OOIDA is concerned that a one-size-fits-all approach to fuel economy and emissions will leave truckers and fleet owners with fewer choices for spec’ing trucks to fit their operations.
As reported, even the American Trucking Associations, which had been onboard with the first round of fuel economy and emissions standards in 2011, is distancing itself from the second phase.
See related story:
Cost of equipment still a sticking point in new fuel economy mandate, OOIDA says
Copyright © OOIDA

domain: news


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Picnic Without Food Poisoning This Summer
9 simple strategies to keep food safe and everyone healthy
En español l Haul out the coolers and picnic baskets, fire up the grill, and — most importantly — refresh your food safety know-how as the summer cookout season gets underway.
No matter what kind of get-together you're having, remember that food-borne bacteria thrive in warm weather. Make sure you prepare, cook and store food correctly to keep everyone healthy and safe.
It's not as easy as it sounds. More than 100 people attending a recent Food Safety Summit of 1,300 experts in Baltimore reported they got sick with suspected food poisoning about 12 hours after a meal, according to Maryland health officials. No one was hospitalized — and the media had a field day with the irony of the outbreak — but many suffered symptoms including diarrhea and nausea.
The best way to protect yourself and your guests, says former caterer Jeff Nelken, a food safety consultant based in Woodland Hills, Calif., is to follow these simple rules and tips:
1. Wash your hands
"I can't stress this enough," says Nelken. Wash with warm water and soap before and after handling food and, of course, after using the bathroom.
2. Keep raw foods and their juices away from cooked foods
Never put cooked food on an unwashed plate that previously held raw food. Use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables, and wash the boards thoroughly after each use. "And don't forget the tongs you use to put your raw meat on the grill," Nelken adds. "Never use the same ones to turn or remove the cooked meat."
3. Never thaw food at room temperature, such as on the counter top
There are three safe ways to defrost food: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the microwave. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
4. Think small bowls, not big ones
Instead of putting out a big bowl of potato salad or some other perishable food that can get too warm, divide it up into smaller serving bowls, Nelken suggests. Serve one bowl and keep the others refrigerated until the first one is empty. Then replace it — "don't refill it!" — with a chilled one, he says.
5. Ice down food transported by car
Your car heats up like an oven, so be sure you have plenty of ice, cold packs and insulated containers if you're traveling with food. Cars can get up to 120 degrees in 10 to 15 minutes on hot days," which, unfortunately, is too warm for cold food and not warm enough to keep hot food safe, Nelken says. According to the USDA, cold foods such as egg salad or tuna salad should be kept at 40 F with ice or frozen gel packs until serving time. Hot foods should be kept at 140 F or above. Store them in an insulated container until serving.
6. Use multiple coolers
If you are packing up your car with food and snacks, pack one cooler with raw meat, poultry and seafood (pack them still frozen so they stay cold longer) and one for prepared food or raw produce, advises the USDA. Reserve one cooler just for beverages and snacks (because it will be opened frequently), allowing the unopened food coolers to stay cold. Make sure coolers are filled to the top with ice or ice packs to help them stay cold longer.
7. Two hours in the sun, max
Food should not sit out in the sun any longer than two hours, and if it's 90 F or hotter, cut that to one hour.
8. Use pasteurized eggs
"If your crowd includes a lot of people over 65 or those with compromised immune systems, use pasteurized eggs to reduce the risk of salmonella," Nelken suggests. Brands such as Davidson's Safest Choice are available at several supermarket chains.
9. Cool cooked foods quickly
Three hundred guests were sickened at a Missouri wedding recently thanks to gravy that cooled down slowly, allowing bacteria to grow, health officials said. "Hot food needs to be kept hot. You can't just let it cool down at room temperature. Bacteria doubles every 15 to 20 minutes," explains Nelken. If you're cooking ahead of time, refrigerate then reheat your food when guests arrive. Once hot food is served, it needs to be kept hot "at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above," he adds.
Also of Interest
- 12 foods that sabotage sleep
- 9 must-try yogurt recipes from dips to desserts
- Help bring relief to struggling seniors; find volunteer opportunities near you
Visit the AARP home page every day for great deals and for tips on keeping healthy and sharp


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Garic, one of the most forward thinking suppliers of plant and welfare equipment is looking to celebrate World Innovation Day with a raft of R&D product development programmes which encapsulate everything that is at the heart of the company’s ethos.
World Innovation Day, which falls on 16 February, will fire up what promises to be a busy week for Garic as it commences work on a brand new product range inspired by, and to complement, its highly acclaimed Combi Cabin Eco Series Plus welfare unit.
The first product, currently tightly under wraps in the research and development department, will be unveiled in the spring.
It is also fitting that a day which aims to recognise, promote and celebrate innovation coincides with the first of two prestigious award ceremonies in which Garic has been identified as an innovative leader in its field.
The team will be heading down to the Housing Innovation Awards where they will be competing for the title of Most Innovative Supplier against some of the biggest names in the business.
The week after, sees Garic don their best bib and tucker again. This time to contend for the acclaimed titles of Business Innovation of the Year and Equipment Supplier of the Year in the Construction News Specialists Awards.
Neil Richardson, director says: “It can only be a good omen that World Innovation Day falls at such a significant time for us.
“Innovation has always been at the core of the Garic ethos, it’s just the way we’ve always been. However, for our staff – from the R&D department to the sales teams – and right through to the products they deliver, it’s a fantastic acknowledgement of their hard work and expertise.


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IMAX and Google will team up to create a cinema-grade virtual reality camera, the two companies announced at Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O.
IMAX’s team of engineers and camera specialists will work with Google to develop these cameras using IMAX’s capture technology. The camera will be built to employ Jump, a platform for creating and viewing 3D 360 video.
Both corporations hope to create the highest-quality, most captivating virtual reality content to consumers.
Virtual reality is an immersive entertainment format that’s among the buzziest consumer technologies this year. It uses responsive headsets that make users feel like they’re in the middle of the action.
“For nearly 50 years, IMAX has pioneered moving image capture to allow filmmakers to produce the highest resolution images across 2D, 3D, film and digital formats,” IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond said in a statement. “Today’s partnership with Google takes us into the next frontier of immersive experiences — virtual reality — and we look forward to working with them to provide our filmmaker partners and other content creators with a level of VR capture quality not yet seen in this space. VR marks an exciting area of opportunity for IMAX and we believe this agreement, which enables us to participate in image capture and content creation, is an important first step in our broader VR strategy.”
IMAX developed its first 2D 15perf / 65mm film camera in 1976, which to this day remains the highest-resolution camera in the world. Since then, it has also developed lightweight 3D digital cameras and made a new 2D digital camera with ARRI, a manufacturer and distributor of motion picture cameras.
With this partnership, IMAX will provide Google with exclusive access to pre-existing IMAX documentary content so that Google can convert and use the material for its VR technology.
“IMAX is known everywhere for their incredible immersive cinematography and sound, and we’re delighted to have them contribute their decades of experience in cameras and content to the Jump platform,” Google’s Vice President of Virtual Reality Clay Bavor said.
Last month, TheWrap reported that Amazon was also in talks with virtual reality companies about developing original virtual reality content.
Some of the world’s biggest companies are rushing into virtual reality. Other tech giants like Facebook and Samsung are pouring investment dollars into developing VR headsets and making them widely available.


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KnowBe4, the global provider of the most extensive security awareness training and simulated phishing platform has revealed its main cybersecurity advice to help safeguard individuals from dangerous scams in the 2023 holiday season.
The increasing number of threats like phishing and payment and investment scams create potential risks during the festive holidays. People continue to fall prey to these scams each year, resulting in significant financial losses.
According to reports from the FBI, the most prevalent scams in the last year were phishing schemes, including phishing via voicemail (vishing) and SMS (smishing). These fraudulent activities involve unsolicited emails, text messages and phone calls, convincingly disguised as legitimate companies that request personal, financial or login details.
Among the favourite tactics used by cybercriminals are non-payment and non-delivery scams. The former happens when a buyer pays for goods or services online but never receives these items, while the latter involves shipping of goods or services, but the seller is never paid.
Fraud continues to be an ever-growing problem, as the Australian National Anti-Scam Centre reports. In 2023, over 250,000 scams have been reported so far, accounting for a total loss of more than AUD $429 million.
Phishing holds the top spot regarding the types of scams received, accounting for over 90,000 reports and leading to over AUD $25 million in losses. However, investment fraud has resulted in the highest financial losses, totalling AUD $259 million this year.
To protect end users against such scams, KnowBe4 has shared its top five cybersecurity tips for the 2023 holiday season. These are: to exercise caution when clicking on links or opening email attachments from suspicious sources; to verify before buying online and ensure reputable sellers and websites are being used; to trust your instincts and scrutinise any situation or offer that seems off or too good to be accurate; to be wary of delivery note scams, especially during the holiday season; and to be sceptical of unsolicited investment offers that promise guaranteed high returns or quick profit.
An additional recommendation from KnowBe4 is to remain updated and educated. This involves staying informed about the latest scams and techniques used by cybercriminals and regularly reviewing guidance from trusted sources such as law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity organisations, or consumer protection agencies.
Stu Sjouwerman, the CEO of KnowBe4, explained: "Phishing remains the top tactic used by cybercriminals for a reason. As humans, we inherently trust requests coming from people and institutions that we know."
"This trust can be exploited by cybercriminals through spoofing email addresses and phone numbers."
"Phishing is even more common during the holiday season, when people often lower their guard. It is crucial to remain alert to potential scams during this time of year. Remember these tips to enhance your cybersecurity defence, ensuring a safe and secure holiday season," said Sjouwerman.


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- SC American Red Cross assisting with Hurricane Harvey relief
- USA calls talk with Abbas 'productive'
- Annan commission calls on Myanmar to end Rohingya restrictions


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Subscribe to VG247 this Black Friday and save 35% every year!
As the temperature of the island paradise in "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" gradually decreases, it is better to relax wit
Coast Guard officials announced last week that starting at the end of 2022, the Coast Guard will abandon its current combat uniforms and switch to the blue version of the Navy III working uniform.<
Orage is committed to keeping you warm, dry and comfortable, and this will never change. However, its innovative view of style continues to evolve with the passing of each season. Orage is able to
Others might say that the American dream has outmoded people’s desires. However, some people still live to tell stories of how they reached such a peak after changing their lives. Mokhtar Jabli,
Brands such as T-Mobile, Cheap Caribean, vineyard vines, Helly Hansen and Sleep Number pay tribute to military and veterans through these exclusive offers
Portland, Oregon, November 9th, 2021
The unpretentious bar snacks have become sublime.
Give any friend a story
As a subscriber, you have 10 gifts to send every month. Anyone can read what you share.
The bartender at
Tampa, Florida-Thanksgiving is still a week away, and we want to make sure you have a reliable game plan to complete the perfect holiday meal.
We contacted chefs in the Tampa Bay area to lear
CBS Essentials was created independently of the CBS news staff. We may charge commissions from certain product links on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer ter


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The Australian government is committing millions to two blockchain-based pilot projects to explore the technology’s potential in supply chain solutions.
The consulting company Covergence.tech received approximately $ 2 million for research in the field of automation of tax reporting processes for trading companies, including those that sell alcoholic beverages. The Convergence project aims to provide companies with ways to reduce the cost of compliance control associated with the creation, storage and transportation of their products.
And the startup Everledger, which specializes in creating a global diamond registry; allocated $ 2.24 million to develop solutions for the mining sector that will increase demand for Australian products on the global stage in the future.
“These two successful projects will demonstrate opportunities to improve the technical and regulatory environment on blockchains in Australia. Increase blockchain literacy and support collaboration between the Australian government, the private sector and blockchain companies”, Porter said.
Why is the Australian government investing in blockchain?
Blockchain is a distributed database that stores information about all transactions of system participants in the form of a “block chain”. So, all users have access to the registry. Acting as a collective notary who confirms the truth of the information in the database. Blockchain used for financial transactions, user identification, creation of cybersecurity technologies, etc.
Blockchain technology has the potential to transform established business processes and radically change how regulators work.
For example, the government says in a press release that the research these companies are doing will help ease the burden of regulatory compliance.
In addition, these companies will increase the productivity and competitiveness of critical sectors of the Australian economy. Such as mining, food and beverages.
Christian Porter said the grants will demonstrate the potential of blockchain. So, it will help businesses reduce costs and red tape throughout the supply chain.
Blockchain grants align with the country’s 52-page national roadmap for blockchain. Focusing on regulation and standards, skills, opportunity and innovation, and international investment and collaboration.
Note also that interest in blockchain continues to grow. Back in 2016, many banks, exchanges and fintech companies announced the launch of their own technology development projects. Blockchain remains one of the hottest topics in financial services and stock markets. And there is every reason to expect its speed to grow.
Technology is truly capable of protecting the data we have to work with while making it more accessible and transparent. In addition, blockchain can significantly reduce costs and minimize the time it takes to solve emerging problems and eliminate errors.
Confidence in the blockchain is also supported by the fact that any data changes are possible only if the network participants confirm the legitimacy of the transaction in accordance with general rules and protocols.


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Here's a tidbit on Wing Commander Online from the June issue of Maximum PC, courtesy of Hadrian.
Then there is Andy Hollis, who is leaving the hardcore Jane's sim line to manage the creation of a persistant-world Wing Commander online game, which is still a couple of years from fruition. As Andy said "It's the next big frontier in computer gaming. The last time I was this excited about the future potential for computer games was back in the old days (Commadore 64, Atari 800). Building products in the online space is more about growing player communities than just building the product itself."


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Newgioco Group Inc has kicked off sports betting via its Italian online betting platform and will include the League of Legends, DOTA, Starcraft, as well as NBA Basketball, Formula One and MotoGP sports versions.
Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the company was forced to temporarily shut down 150 betting shop locations throughout Italy, but the organisation emphasised that the closure of the physical locations would not impact its ongoing online and mobile operations. People can now use personal computers, tablets and cell phones to position bets across all online platforms.
“Clients of our online operators through Multigioco in Italy are now able to bet on the outcome of esports competitions of League of Legends, DOTA, Starcraft, as well as esports versions of NBA Basketball, Formula One and MotoGP,” Newgioco commented.
[image credit : Newgioco Blog]


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Vodacom announced that it made the first ever commercial voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) call in South Africa on 4 June 2015. The service is now live across the Vodacom network.
“The move to use Wi-Fi technology to carry voice traffic will mean better call quality for consumers,” said Vodacom.
“By integrating Wi-Fi into its network as another voice carrier, Vodacom is ensuring a seamless voice experience no matter what the connection.”
The first call was made by Vodacom’s network engineering officer Beverly Ngwenya to Vodacom’s CTO Andries Delport.
“Aside from seamless call quality, there are a number of consumer benefits that come with Wi-Fi calling. One of the most significant is the ability to make a call using your cellphone number with no need for additional apps,” said Delport.
VoWiFi differs from other applications that allow voice calling over a data network, in that it uses the built-in voice dialling feature of the phone and thus your normal cellphone number to make a call.
At present, there are only a small number of test Samsung Galaxy S6 devices in the country that have the ability to make VoWiFi calls.
However, Vodacom is working with Samsung on a software update which will be released once final testing is complete.
VoWiFi technology will also assist in improving coverage where normal cell signals battle to reach, such as inside office blocks or in the basement of shopping centres.
In the future, VoWiFi will also offer a solution for remote sites that have Wi-Fi coverage – like guest lodges in game reserves.
Calls made over a Wi-Fi network will be billed using existing minutes. No data costs will be incurred when making a Wi-Fi call.


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Don't-Miss Hard drive Stories
Available in capacities ranging from 120- to 960GB, with the 240GB model selling for $115.
A shortage may stall SSD prices, but the cost-per-gigabyte will continue to decline
Western Digital has shipped the 6TB WD Red and WD Green models
More data protection controls loom for cloud providers in the EU
Samsung says its new 850 Pro line of SSDs will start at $129.99 and offer up to 1TB of storage
The 3Par StoreServ 7450 is getting new SSDs and software
A line of SSDs will use the high-speed interface and the emerging NVMe specification for high performance, Intel says
The storage device features both USB and Lightning connectors
With IBM and Fujifilm technology, tomorrow's LTO tape cartridges could store up to 154TB of data each
Sony has created a magnetic tape material that can store up to 74 times more data per unit area than materials in use today
The PM853T uses 3-bit MLC technology to increase storage density and lower cost
Micron ships M500DC SATA SSDs with capacities from 120GB to 800GB, priced at $1 per gigabyte
HP's new SSDs will offer up to 512GB of storage and ship in May.


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The long-vacant 7.1-acre Pageant Beach site at the southern tip of Seven Mile Beach will be developed as a five-star luxury resort.
Initial plans are to build 450 suites with 10-foot ceilings and 9-foot glass doors.
According to RE/MAX real estate broker James Bovell, the still-unnamed hotel will boast a 10th-floor bar and grill with an outside glass elevator, four swimming pools including a rooftop infinity pool, five outdoor beachfront and poolside restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness facility, a landscaped boardwalk, children’s center and 30,000 square feet of conference facilities.
The Cayman Islands Land Register, produced by the Lands and Survey Department, confirmed the developer is Miami-based Howard Hospitality Group, which on Jan. 30 placed a “caution” on the site under the name HHG Pageant Beach Ltd., meaning the company has committed to the 7.1-acre property – block 13E 165.
HHG is the same company that on Feb. 18 completed renovation of Seven Mile Beach’s old Treasure Island Resort, reopening it as the 285-room Margaritaville Beach Resort.
HHG also plans a 42-room “boutique” hotel near Lawrence Boulevard.
Despite multiple efforts, HHG chief operating officer and co-founder Michael Wilkings could not be reached for comment.
The 900-foot waterfront Pageant Beach site has been vacant since Cayman’s first tourist hotel, the 36-guest Pageant Beach Hotel, built in 1954, burned down in 1975. Property owner Susan Olde has long sought between $20 million and $23 million for the property, although RE/MAX owner Kim Lund, who brokered the HHG deal, said the cost could be as much as $50 million.
“The deal is not closed yet,” Mr. Lund said, “but the price is subject to a number of different things. A property like that 7.1 acres on Seven Mile Beach could sell for anything between $25 million and $50 million.”
Mr. Bovell said the hotel would offer an unnamed number of 700 sq. ft. beachfront suites, priced between US$595,000 and US$795,000; six two-bedroom, 1,700 sq. ft. villas, priced at US$1.6 million to US$1.8 million; and three three-bedroom, 4,000 sq. ft. penthouses, costing nearly $5 million each.
Mr. Bovell said the HHG residences at Pageant were priced to sell: “We will be pre-selling beachfront suites, villas and penthouses initially at low penetration-pricing levels,” Mr. Bovell said. “Sales are subject to final government approvals.”
When HHG formally declared interest, the site was “pending conditional,” meaning the potential buyer confronted a range of development requirements. Neither Mr. Bovell, Mr. Lund nor HHG would say if an environmental impact assessment – an often expensive and prolonged process – would be required.
Mr. Lund said, however, that construction could start “next year sometime,” but cautioned he could not confirm dates “because we are still pulling it all together.”
The proposed hotel development comes in the wake of late-February’s notice of a US$5.75 million Naul Bodden Homes deal for the nearby 1.82-acre Treehouse site, just south of Pageant Beach. NCB plans a five-story boutique hotel adjacent to commercial and residential development.


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The “Flappy Bird” game is deceptively simple: Users tap smartphone screens to make a bird fly through gaps in pipes to score points. Anytime the bird hits a pipe or drops to the ground, the game ends. Fans post their scores on Facebook Inc.
The Hanoi developer who removed his “Flappy Bird” game from app stores after becoming a global sensation and earning as much as $50,000 a day experienced the kind of success few individual programmers encounter.
Nguyen Ha Dong, creator of the difficult game with a simple design that shot to the top of the most-popular download rankings, removed “Flappy Bird” from Apple (AAPL) Inc. and Google (GOOG) Inc. online stores this past weekend. He said in a Twitter Inc. message that the game “ruins my simple life.”
Dong, who said on Twitter he has been a programmer for 10 years, didn’t answer repeated calls or text messages to his mobile phone today. Yet his success, viewed as an anomaly by industry insiders, could be a boost to Vietnam’s fledgling community of developers in an industry where revenue almost doubled in three years.
“This is the success story the country needed,” said Than Trong Phuc, managing director of technology-focused investment fund DFJ VinaCapital LP in Ho Chi Minh City. “The money from Silicon Valley will come. It will come looking for the next ‘Flappy Bird’ -- or the ‘Flappy Bird’ developer himself.”
The success of “Flappy Bird” is almost unprecedented for an independent developer as the game ranked first or second for free apps around the world, said Ouriel Ohayon, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and co-founder of Appsfire SAS.
The game is deceptively simple: Users tap smartphone screens to make a bird fly through gaps in pipes to score points. Anytime the bird hits a pipe or drops to the ground, the game ends. Fans post their scores on Facebook (FB) Inc.
Without any marketing, the game became a global phenomenon through social media, Ohayon said.
“Flappy Bird” is the No. 1 free Apple iOS app download in 137 countries, according to App Annie Ltd., an analytics and marketing service. It is the top free Google Play download in 33 countries.
"Flappy Bird" creator Nguyen Ha Dong removed “Flappy Bird” from Apple Inc. and Google Inc. online stores this past weekend. He said in a Twitter Inc. message that the game “ruins my simple life.”. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Ohayon estimated Dong and his .Gears Studio earned at least $20,000 a day and as much as $50,000 a day in advertising from “Flappy Bird.”
“I have seen hundreds of games and I have never, never seen anything like this,” Ohayon said in a phone interview from Sunnyvale, California. “I think he’s a regular guy who just won the lottery.”
That kind of success is sure to spur more interest in programming among Vietnamese, said Esther Nguyen, chief executive of Ho Chi Minh City-based music website Pops Worldwide. Vietnam’s digital content industry grew to 3,883 registered businesses in 2012 from 2,844 in 2009, according to the Ministry of Information and Communication. Revenue was $1.2 billion in 2012, up from $690 million in 2009.
“People will have more confidence: ‘If that guy did it, I can, too,’” she said.
On Feb. 8, Dong said on Twitter that the game is a success of his “but it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it.” He apologized to the game’s fans and said he would stop offering it on app stores within 22 hours, according to the post.
“I cannot take this anymore,” he posted on his Twitter account, which has 120,000 followers.
Dong said in another message his decision was not “related to legal issues.” Earlier, he wrote, “I understand copyright laws. In the game there is no violation of copyright.”
Dong may have been pressured by other developers or companies that may have said his idea is not original, which is common in the industry, Ohayon said. He also may have been bothered by threats he received through social media from users frustrated by the game’s difficulty, he said.
“Every developer dreams of this shiny moment,” Ohayon said. “But you don’t know how to handle this when it happens. We don’t know the whole story. The guy is a true mystery.”


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DALLAS (AP) _ Kronos Worldwide Inc. (KRO) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $30.3 million.
On a per-share basis, the Dallas-based company said it had net income of 26 cents.
The maker of titanium dioxide pigments posted revenue of $436.5 million in the period.
Kronos Worldwide shares have risen roughly 9% since the beginning of the year. The stock has dropped 48% in the last 12 months.
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on KRO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/KRO


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Wilshire Phoenix has filed to launch a publicly-traded trust called Bitcoin Commodity Trust (BCT) – putting the firm in direct competition with Grayscale Investments’ $3.4 billion bitcoin trust (GBTC). According to the June 12 filing with the U.S. Securities and … read more.
During the last few months in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak and faltering global economy, many individuals have shown an interest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, oftentimes people can find the process a bit daunting because they are … read more.
A possible Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Criminal mastermind Paul Le Roux told the judge that upon his release he plans to “start a business selling and hosting bitcoin miners,” … read more.
There has been some confusion over whether India will ban cryptocurrency, including bitcoin, following recent reports of a note being circulated by the government. News.Bitcoin.com interviewed executives of five cryptocurrency exchange platforms in India to find out the truth about … read more.


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Sunway Malls has released a response to the Malaysian government’s RM20 billion (US$4.75 billion) stimulus package to ease the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19).
While congratulating the government on the “well-balanced and well-thought package”, the official response signed by Sunway Malls & Theme Parks CEO HC Chan also expressed the view that savings from the package’s 15-per-cent electricity discount should be “ploughed back to encourage more consumer spending through marketing programmes, shoppers’ rewards, tenants’ vouchers adoption and free parking to create a multiplier effect”.
The statement also unveiled Sunway Malls’ RM5 million ($1.2 million) marketing programme, released in conjunction with the unveiling of the stimulus package. The sales-driven campaign is intended to stimulate consumer spending, benefitting retailers and consumers alike throughout the firm’s portfolio of seven malls.
Sunways’ statement suggested that domestic tourism presents a viable business opportunity at a time when international travel has dropped off, and called for further initiatives to drive local consumption.


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Amazon has massive resources, but it may struggle to enter the PBM marketplace.
CVS and Walgreens stock both dropped Wednesday on the speculation that Amazon will enter the pharmacy business.
Shares in both retailers closed down more than 3% on May 17, soon after a CNBC report speculated that Amazon is getting into the drug retailing business.
While the move is not definite, the massive global retailer is hiring a business lead to figure out how the company can break into the market, according to CNBC. In addition, a CNBC source said that Amazon has started to recruit more broadly from the pharmacy industry.
Amazon is also reportedly considering the development of a pharmacy benefit manager for its employees.
Amazon recently started selling medical devices and equipment in the United States, so a move into other health-care sectors is not out of the question. However, while the news may affect the stock performance of drug store chains in the near-term, some analysts are doubtful that it will have a long-term impact. Drug chains have relationships with PBMs, payers, physicians, and others that span decades.
“While we believe Amazon has the monetary resources to enter the space, we do not think Amazon’s entry would be market disruptive,” wrote Ann Hynes, analyst at Mizuho Securities USA, in a research note. “Given the regulatory, payer and generational hurdles, we do not think the investment Amazon would need to make would garner the meaningful ROIC it typically enjoys and expects.”
For example, CVS Health said in mid-March that its PBM clients achieved the lowest drug trend in the past four years in 2016, despite rising drug prices. CVS Caremark clients saw their prescription drug trend drop to an average of 3.2% last year, compared to 5.0% in 2015.
“On the PBM side, the three largest players each process over 1 billion claims annually,” wrote J.P. Morgan analyst Lisa Gill in a report, according to a Forbes article. “Importantly, the scale they have aggregated allows them to negotiate attractive rebates/discounts with manufacturers and attractive reimbursement terms with retail pharmacies.”
However, Adam Fein, PhD, president of Pembroke Consulting, told The Orlando Sentinel he could see Amazon most easily entering the market for patients who pay cash because they're uninsured or they're looking for a better deal than what they would get through their health insurance provider.
"Prescription drugs is such a big market, and Amazon, I think, looks at every big market and figures out if there's a place for them to play," Fein said. He estimates that Amazon could capture 5% to 10% of the market if they put enough resources behind the effort.


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Skoda Citigo: Up!-based city car no certainty for Australia
The Skoda Citigo will not go on sale in Australia in 2013 as expected and is no certainty to join the local line-up in the future.
Despite originally being planned to arrive during the first half of this year, Skoda Australia spokesman Karl Gehling told CarAdvice the local division currently has no firm plans to bring the Volkswagen Up!-based city car to our shores.
“It’s still under consideration. We haven’t made any decision yet,” Gehling said.
“We’ve never committed to bringing it, we’ve just said that we’re looking at it. I suspect that there’s no change as such, it’s still under consideration.”
In June 2012, Skoda Australia’s then-managing director, Matthew Wiesner, said the company planned to add the Citigo to its local line-up in the first half of 2013, with the expectation that it would be priced no higher than the Up!, which starts at $13,990 in three-door form.
But Gehling today confirmed the Citigo was no longer part of the local division’s launch diary, which will see the compact Skoda Rapid arrive midyear and the mid-sized Skoda Octavia follow in the fourth quarter.
“Those are our next two launches,” he said.
Asked whether he believed there was demand for a vehicle like the Skoda Citigo in Australia, Gehling responded: “We’ll have to wait and see.”
The Skoda Citigo is essentially a rebadged version of the Volkswagen Up!, differing only in exterior styling and interior presentation. Both cars are 3.5m long and are available with a 55kW/95Nm 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine.
The news comes as Skoda launches the racy Citigo Sport variant in the UK.
Available in both three- and five-door body styles, the Citigo Sport gains foglights, black 15-inch alloy wheels, a sporty body kit with front and rear spoilers and a rear diffuser, and a sports suspension tune that drops the hatchback’s ride height by 15mm.
Three exterior colour combinations are available: white with red stripes, red with black stripes and black with red stripes.
Inside, the Citigo Sport boasts red and black sports seats; leather wrapped steering wheel, handbrake and gearstick gaiter with red stitching; matching floor mats; a grey and black dashboard; and four additional speakers.


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Are you feeling fortified today? Good - it's likely your Vitamin D level is up to snuff. But, if you're feeling a bit brittle, grab a glass of milk and head outdoors. Both milk and sunshine are excellent sources of Vitamin D. Milk because it's been fortified with the vitamin since the 1930s; sunshine causes a photochemical reaction in the skin, resulting in natural production of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is particularly critical to the health of our bones, and deficiency has been linked to rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Rickets is a childhood disease, and osteomalacia a bone thinning disease. Osteoporosis, of course, is a disease resulting in weaker bones and increased risk of fractures.
Until recently, it was believed that adequate exposure to sunshine was a sure fire way to fill up your Vitamin D tank. But, scientists from the University of Wisconsin now say that may not be the case. They studied the effect of sunshine on Vitamin D levels in people living in Hawaii. Hmm... I wonder if their research forced them to travel to the sunny isles in the middle of the harsh Wisconsin winter...
They found even the sun-drenched denizens of Hawaii, averaging over 20 hours per week outside, were not guaranteed adequate Vitamin D levels. In fact, 51% of those studied actually had a Vitamin D deficiency.
The researchers say, in light of these results, they will establish ongoing studies and winter in Hawaii for the next several years.Photo courtesy of thiagofest.


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The value of micro cap stock for Citi Trends, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTRN) was significantly lower on Wednesday after the discount clothing provider reported quarterly financial results that came in far lower than what analysts had expected, The Associated Press reports.
The retailer announced a loss of $7.9 million, or 54 cents per share, for the period ended July 28, compared to its loss of $10 million, or 69 cents per share, in the same period during 2011. The most recent earnings were worse than the loss of 44 cents per share, according to a FactSet poll.
The company posted a profit in the first quarter of 2012, however, it has struggled to keep its head above water since that period due to a major decline in same-store sales and an increase in clearance sales. The company has had to lower its estimates for new store openings due to the lower sales, and also announced it plans to slash jobs to offset the effects of its hurting bottom line, according to The Wall Street Journal.
As of 2:42 pm on August 15, Citi Trends shares were down 19.3 percent to $11.89 each.


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Digiday Research: With ad businesses suffering, publishers turn even more to subscriptions
The impacts of the coronavirus outbreak are still just beginning to be felt on the economy. In media, the global pandemic has meant a forecasted drop in ad revenue and event revenue for publishers. About 88% of them say they will miss their forecasts for the year.
In response, publishers are also ramping up focus on certain parts of their business.
A new Digiday Research survey on the business impacts of the coronavirus outbreak has found that 40% said spending more resources on building their subscription businesses is their biggest priority, while 32% of them also indicated that branded content programs and “virtual events” are now taking up more of their attention and resources.
But for many, spending more resources simply isn’t an option. Some of the publishers who took this survey said that they “aren’t spending resources because we can’t afford to.” Another said: “We’re not reallocating resources, we’re diminishing resources.” Others are cutting any sort of spending radically, including on overheads like office space.
According to our benchmarking research, the priorities before the outbreak were growing direct-sold ads, programmatic ads and branded content revenue. Subscriptions were the fifth priority for most publishers heading into the second-quarter, just as the outbreak started to make its presence felt in the U.S.
Green shoots: Publishers see ad activity return in China
Publishers are starting to see activity emerge from China and Northeast Asia.
‘A function of confidence’: Uncertainty casts a shadow over M&A deals
Dealmaking has been rife in the media and ad sectors in recent years as the market consolidated around fewer, more powerful players. But as the coronavirus hit, many companies have pulled the brakes on their acquisition plans. Save for one or two processes that were due to complete soon anyway, the majority of investment bank […]
How food publishers are giving back to the restaurant industry
While producing additional coverage may be the obvious approach for serving their communities in a time of need, Food & Wine, Eater and Thrillist have taken it a step further by setting up fundraising features and promoting local businesses.
SponsoredPublishers are experimenting with more engagement models
A growing number of publishers are using registration walls, paywalls and metered models to collect first-party user data and drive subscription revenue.
Bustle Digital Group, G/O Media cut staff
Bustle Digital Group announced the layoffs of a dozen staffers on Friday, including the entirety of The Outline’s staff, and pay cuts for some remaining employees.
‘Companies are in freeze mode’: Coronavirus crisis strains ad tech licensing model
Like so many other industries, the coronavirus crisis is rapidly separating the distance between the haves and the have nots in the software-as-a-service sector. In ad tech in particular, there was a rush in the middle of the last decade for companies to switch their models from charging clients a percentage of the media they […]


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How much exactly is the processing power of the Microsoft’s new console? Jeff Hensaw, engineering manager of the Xbox One has said that it’s “limitless”.
During a console demonstration, Henshaw said that processing power of their new console is equivalent to more than ten Xbox 360 consoles and that “the cloud brings infinite additional processing power”.
“Microsoft has hundreds of thousands of servers and dozens of data centers geographically distributed all around the planet, and Xbox One has the ability to instantly tap in to that limitless computational horsepower,” he said.
The notion of “virtualized cloud computing” shouldn’t be taken for granted in this day and age. The console has the ability to process tasks by drawing resources right from the cloud, enabling the Xbox One to run beastly in real-time.
Trying to paint a vivid image of the processing power, Hensaw said that the Xbox One can process tasks that would cause any other device to “melt a hole in the ground”.
“Game developers can now create persistent worlds that encompass tens or hundreds of thousands of players without taxing any individual console, and those worlds that they built can be lusher and more vibrant than ever before because the cloud persists and is always there, always computing,” Henshaw said.
“Those worlds can live on in between game sessions. If one player drops out, that world will continue on and can experience the effects of time, like wear from weather damage, so that when a player comes back into the universe it’s actually a slightly evolved place in the same way that our real world evolves a little bit from the time we go to sleep to the time we wake up. Game developers have given us incredibly positive feedback on the crazy different ways that they can use this incredible new cloud power resource.”
Although I am not sure about the claims made by Mr. Henshaw, one thing is for sure that the next generation of consoles (both PS4 and Xbox One) is a positive step towards future.
The Xbox One will launch in November for $499.


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Nexon has announced the next expansion to their free-to-play MMORPG, Mabinogi. Coming in early June, Mabinogi will receive its next expansion, Goddess of Light and with the expansion comes a month-long celebration. Throughout the month, new pictures and updates will be added to the Mabinogi website, forums, and Facebook page. in addition, new contests will be held that will offer the opportunity to win Premium Character Cards, 2x Experience bonuses and even a chance to be immortalized in the Erinn Walker. Check back every weekday for new information.
Let The Light Shine In
Goddess of Light is the next major expansion coming to Nexon Americas fantasy life MMO, Mabinogi
Players can continue to enter and explore a vast and growing world in Mabinogi, which continues to grow with the announcement of the upcoming expansion, Goddess of Light, for the fantasy life massively multiplayer online role playing game.
A major part of this new update will be a brand new area called Tara.
Tara is the capital city of the Aliech Kingdom, which includes Dunbarton, Emain Macha, and Tir Chonaill. Much like other cities, there are banks, general stores, smithies, and clothing stores. A brand new style of shop, the auction house sells rare items in a bid-style format between players. There is jousting grounds and another hub for Shadow Missions that involve the new city.
Between Tara and Taillteann is the small gully of Corrib. This is a particularly beautiful area, containing lush foliage, waterfalls, and trees containing honeycomb. Players may use the honeycomb that falls from tress to produce royal jelly, honey, and pollen.
Nexon America will be celebrating the upcoming release as it plans for the scheduled update in early June. Throughout the month of May, Nexon will be unveiling what new places there will be to explore, the skills players will have to learn and hobbies to take up in a fantasy life. Nexon will be constantly hosting contests and chances to win Premium Character Cards, 2X Experience bonuses and more.
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Mabinogi Game Page.


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Retailers Don’t Know What Consumers Want
Consumers are being left wanting by retailers not meeting customer expectations according to new research by Oracle Retail which highlights the fundamental reasons why retailers and customers don’t see eye to eye.
According to a new 15,800 respondent global consumer study, retailers don’t know what consumers want, with shoppers and retailers split on what constitutes a quality in-store experience.
Oracle highlights the split between both groups in how they view product returns, with 57% of retailers calling the process ‘very easy’ while the same volume of consumers disagreed calling it a ‘complete hassle’.
Faster shipping was also at the forefront of fundamental requirements from retailers to customers, with 92% wanting free one-day delivery by whatever means necessary, while delivery fees represented a 13% caveat for consumers when choosing to make repeat purchases.
Senior Vice Present and General Manager for Oracle Retail, Mike Webster, claims no matter what platform, ‘customers expect the same calibre of service in all interactions,’ meaning retailers have much higher competition when competing with ‘rival brands and new business models’.
An important factor for 86% of respondents was the ability to choose shipping options, with online-only retailers outperforming traditional retailers when it came to shipping flexibility.
Online retailers also provided more accurate delivery times, with items arriving on-time 52%, versus 49% for traditional and direct to consumer brands.
Furthermore, the study also highlighted loyalty rewards as able to create ‘personalised experiences’ and no longer being just about dynamic content or ‘special offers’.
Oracle indicates that consumers are seeking ‘preferential treatment’ based on brand relationships, with 48% of respondents basing their loyalty on discounts.
Recalls and product warnings were also of importance to consumers, with 52% holding greater trust in brands that respond immediately in the event of a product issue or recall.
Honesty and authenticity were paramount for generating trust between customers and new brands, with 47% highlighting trustworthiness as fundamental to brand relationships.
Although only one in five Generation Z and Millennials consumers completely trust what retailers tell them.
“Consumer expectations are perpetually in flux.”


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A reduction in demand for premium cuts of beef, lamb and pork has been noted among EU consumers, as they opt instead for cheaper, more flexible formats, insight data from Bord Bia has shown.
Speaking at a Meat Business Women event yesterday (Thursday, September 8), Bord Bia’s interim director of global business Noreen Lanigan outlined that rising food inflation and financial pressures have prompted consumers to take control of their spending by reducing protein purchases.
Average food inflation in countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reached 13% in June of this year, compared to 12.6% in May.
As well as this, a growing gap between total inflation and food inflation has been recorded in a number of EU markets, most notably in Germany, Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands.
“Financial pressures are resulting in less proteins being considered overall and a focus on more cost-effective types,” Lanigan said.
“Shoppers continue to move away from steak, with mince on the increase, as they look for their protein to stretch further and they look for formats that are flexible but still deliver on taste.”
Lanigan also said that a decline in demand for meat-free alternatives has also been noticed, but chicken remains steady as it continues to be seen as the “ultimate meat staple”.
To combat this, meat companies and supermarkets must move to get beef and other proteins onto the consumer’s shopping list and make these “habitual purchases”, Lanigan said.
However, she added that while the consumer is now on the lookout for more affordable protein options, compromised quality will not be accepted.
“[We see] the emergence of a new type of shopper, relying more on discounters, but bringing with them their quality demands. They are hoping to have it all for less.”
Lanigan added that while there may be a temptation to change price points and introduce in-store promotions to avoid losing customers, however, she said that communication about quality should also be used as a way to retain shoppers.
“There is a need to tap into consumers aspiration by communicating our quality credentialism.
“Some shoppers may be less familiar with what quality and sustainability claims mean.
“There’s a need now more than ever, to communicate and explain those credentials so that they become part of the consumer’s value consideration,” Lanigan concluded.


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Pedals to the metal at TweedLove event
Scotland’s biggest homegrown cycling event took place much earlier than usual and proved to be a great warm-up for what will be a showcase year for biking in the area.
Three major races across the weekend attracted more than 1,200 riders – with the YT Industries TweedLove International a highlight of the biking action.
Featuring some of the fastest enduro racers in the UK, and a prize fund of £2,000, this fiercely-competitive race saw local riders Bex Baroana and Innes Graham secure the fastest times of the day.
And there was just as much excitement on the hill in this year’s Hope Enjoyro presented by Ridelines. Hundreds of first-time racers and family teams enjoyed a laid-back day of riding at Glentress on Saturday, with plenty of locals turning out to cheer them on.
Away from the races, the buzzing event village on Tweed Green kept visitors and locals entertained all weekend with music and films, street food, beer and more.
Hundreds of kids watched Sing 2 at the free outdoor cinema on Friday evening – and a showing of Top Gun: Maverick topped off a great day of action on and off the bikes on Saturday.
Peebles High Street also had a busy weekend, with festival visitors offering a welcome boost to the bank holiday trade. Some spectators struggling to find local accommodation had to travel in from Melrose to watch the racing – a sign of healthy room bookings over the TweedLove weekend.
Festival director, Neil Dalgleish said: ‘This year’s festival was always an important one for us. It’s a massive year for cycling in Scotland and we wanted to do our bit to set the Tweed Valley up for the events to come.’
‘As well as hosting the UK’s biggest enduro race, a free family ride through the streets and a fun day of dedicated events for kids, we attracted some of the biggest cycling brands and businesses to the valley. We couldn’t be more proud of the people in our community that helped to make it happen – from our wonderful team of local volunteers to everyone who offered a warm welcome to our riders and visitors. You are all amazing!’
The next round of the YT Industries TweedLove Triple Crown Series will take place in Innerleithen on May 20/21.
Visit tweedlove.com for more information.


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Skyhook, a pioneer in the development of mobile location technology, is bringing accurate and precise location to the smart feature phone market. The volume of mobile phone shipments is once again exploding worldwide, driven in large part by the rise of low-cost “smart” feature phones aimed at emerging markets with limited internet access.
KaiOS Technologies has established itself as the provider of the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones. Skyhook will now offer its hybrid positioning capabilities, including Wi-Fi and cell-based positioning, for integration with all devices running on KaiOS. This will enable device manufacturers to enhance their smart feature phones with advanced device location capabilities that can position a device in any environment.
Network-based/hybrid positioning is and has been a core pillar of functionality required in premium smartphones in more established markets for roughly 15 years. Device manufacturers that use KaiOS can now create phones with similar functionality and all associated location-based features found on premium-priced smartphones at a fraction of the price. This enables smartphone-level access for communities that had limited access previously.
Location technology has become an essential requirement for functions such as mapping and applications like weather, social media, and commerce. Skyhook’s accurate and accessible solution provides manufacturers with a drop-in location solution that can be integrated in a number of ways.
Skyhook software sets the standard for accurate location determination in connected devices. This hybrid positioning solution intelligently blends Wi-Fi, GPS, and cellular signals for accurate device location in any environment, including indoors.
With its history in emergency response systems and in developing the world’s first commercial Wi-Fi based positioning service, Skyhook is uniquely positioned to help KaiOS’ OEM partners to use location-based app features or meet government-mandated emergency call location regulations.
KaiOS powers an emerging global ecosystem of affordable digital products and services, with the mission of advancing digital inclusion and closing the digital divide. Through this collaboration, users of KaiOS-enabled phones will benefit from the global reach of Skyhook location services, its accurate positioning capabilities in hard-to-detect environments, and flexible integration approach, helping to combat digital inequity.
“Skyhook is passionate about bringing location to the smart feature phone market, and we are thrilled to collaborate with KaiOS as the company accelerates the adoption of mobile technology on a global basis and in particular in the developing world,” said Craig Waggy, CEO of Skyhook. “We look forward to helping feature phone original equipment manufacturers provide location for devices worldwide.”
When OEMs or ODMs choose to work with Skyhook to power their KaiOS devices, they gain network and hybrid location-based functionality built into their phone offering. In the U.S. and Europe, KaiOS devices operating with Skyhook services will now be able to meet the mature, Mobile Network Operator regulatory requirements necessary in those regions. These regulatory requirements allow first responders to locate device users if an emergency call is placed. Through close collaboration with KaiOS, device makers, and chipset manufacturers, Skyhook can provide the location component of these end-to-end solutions, which are critical to bringing these devices to market.
“Advanced location services are the perfect addition to KaiOS’ existing suite of smartphone-level features such as high-speed internet and an app store with a great range of content,” said James Ho, CTO of KaiOS Technologies. “Together with Skyhook, we’re enabling the next generation of smart feature phone functionality, narrowing the gap to smartphones, and ultimately helping millions of the unconnected to become digitally enabled.”
Skyhook is the worldwide independent leader in location technology, operating the world’s largest independent location network, consisting of 5.1 billion geolocated Wi-Fi hotspots, 200 million cell towers, and 20 million actionable venues. Skyhook processes tens of billions of location transactions, serving devices, apps, wearables, brands and advertising platforms with precise and accurate location data and intelligence. Skyhook, through its parent company Skyhook Holding, Inc., operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation. To learn more visit www.skyhook.com.


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Comms distributor DMSL is looking for resellers to branch into hosted voice over IP (VoIP) after bolstering its portfolio and overhauling its fixITlocal scheme.
Having been predominantly a BT house for many years, the Essex firm has added rival carriers Opal and Viatel in recent months. Through subsidiary Cloud Telephones, it also offers hosted VoIP from VoiceNet, and DMSL managing director John Carter claimed resellers should act fast to become involved in a buoyant market.
“For the next two years, this is going to be the sweet spot,” he said.
DMSL’s fixITlocal programme, which links end users with IT problems to resellers in their area, has also been overhauled. Since its inception, the scheme has been blighted by concerns over dwindling membership and modest call-out volumes.
Membership is now free, with Carter explaining the company is now running it as a marketing programme.
“We are generating a huge amount of leads and have recruited two new sales guys,” he said. “For fixITlocal resellers, we have some fantastic products.”
Are partners encouraged by the big changes coming to Cisco next year? Josh Budd, content editor of CRN sister publication Channelnomics Europe, finds out
Thomas Kurian will join the company next week and transition into the top role in January
What is a former smartphone maker doing buying a next-gen security start-up, and what will the deal mean for Cylance partners' margins and market opportunity?
Samanage will use recent $30m investment to grow global operations and its channel


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RadioShack’s shambling remains were provided another jolt of life today. Radioshack Mexico Tiendas… when they were purchased by another company that prepares to relaunch the once-great seller as an online-focused brand.
The store’s remains were purchased by Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a start-up founded in 2019 that’s been scooping up brand names from other faded retail giants also, consisting of Pier 1, Modell’s Sporting Item, Dressbarn, and more. REV says RadioShack’s site already has “strong existing sales and sales capacity,” and the company is “confident” it can further raise awareness of the brand internationally.
REV claims it’s successfully turned around other companies it’s released as online brand names. The Wall Street Journal reported that Dressbarn more than doubled its profits between the second and first quarter of 2020.
RadioShack was founded in 1921 and ended up being a retail staple in the ’80s and ’90s for anyone seeking to grab tech basics. For a very long time, that suggested actual radio parts, but ended up including lots of electronic toys (one Brink editor fondly remembers his Armatron) and ultimately phones. Its fortunes decreased vastly as online shopping got here, and the company declared personal bankruptcy twice in the past five years. RadioShack still licenses its name to third-party “authorized” shops and sells top quality products within some areas of HobbyTown, a crafts retailer– comparable to how you can still find “Sharper Image” items at Kohl’s despite the fact that that seller shut its physical doors over a decade earlier. REV didn’t state whether those RadioShack licenses would stick around. Radioshack Mexico Tiendas
REV states it will “quickly relaunch” RadioShack’s website. For those of you still clinging on to fond memories of the shop, there’ll be a familiar adequate location to go when you desire to buy pricey HDMI cables and knockoff headphones.


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Sprint is looking to cut the wireless provider competition down to three. As Sprint looks to pursue their attempts at taking over their fourth-place competitor, it would seem that they are gaining some financial traction. T-Mobile is currently valued at $26 billion at their current stock price, which has only risen since the rumors of a Sprint takeover began to surface. As with any takeover, Sprint would not only have to cover that price, but have to pay a premium to acquire the entire corporation. T-Mobile's current debt, which is estimated at around $20 billion, will also need to be covered in the buyout. Looking at the numbers, we can see that Sprint would have to cover a price of around $46 billion, as well as pay a premium. AT&T's efforts to acquire the 'UNcarrier' for $39 billion some years ago were shot down by the Justice Department, and the odds of the FCC and the SEC approving such a large takeover by Sprint is equally unlikely. If the wireless carrier industry was cut down to only three major choices instead of four, it would not be looked at positively for consumer choice.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, the architect behind SoftBank's acquisition of Sprint, is not known for being held back when it comes to big moves. His aggressive attitude and availability of funds makes it entirely plausible that Sprint may go for the purchase anyways, even if the chances of success are minimal. The interesting bit here is why exactly Sprint is buying T-Mobile. By all levels of merit, it should be the other way around. T-Mobile has been growing rather quickly since Q2 of last year, and Sprint has slowly been shrinking during that time. T-Mobile's networks have grown stronger and more reliable, and at a much faster rate than Sprint's.
Such a deal would mean big things for the US wireless market and not all of them good. T-Mobile has been the only force in the last few years to actually shake up the mobile market. T-Mobile has been keeping the 'big boys' of the industry on their toes, and that can only be a good thing. While T-Mobile does not yet have the best nationwide coverage, they are growing quickly, and under their current leadership it is entirely possible that in five or ten years they may be able to challenge the 'best in the business' AT&T and Verizon. What do you think? Is there a chance this merger could go through? Would you like to see a Sprint-T-Mobile combination facing AT&T and Verizon? Let us know in the comments!


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Twitter has released an update for their official app for iOS and Android. The new version includes updates like a revamped discovery tab, improved search and account management.
Facebook App for iOS and Android Updated with Sharing, Emoticons Support and Improved Friends Tagging
Facebook App for iOS and Android has been updated to support sharing posts, using emoticons and improved friends tagging in posts, photos and comments.
Android has taken over China’s smartphone market with over 90.1% market share in just a few years, beating Symbian, the previous leader as well as iOS.
CyanogenMod, a popular custom ROM for Android gets its stable version 10 release for a number of devices. This version is based on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
It wasn’t so long ago when Rovio teased us with videos and screenshots of upcoming version of Angry Birds Star Wars. Today, the company has released the highly anticipated game, Angry Birds Star wars for almost all popular platforms which include iOS, Android, OS X, Windows Phone and Windows 8.
Android has had the functionality of interchangeable virtual keyboards since its inception. OEMs such as Samsung and HTC have shipped their own versions of keyboard, which were actually better than what Google shipped with Android until Gingerbread was released. Google stepped up their game in that release to introduce mutlitouch on their keyboard and since(…)
Google announced Android 4.2 a few days back but it hasn’t made its way to any existing smartphones. While the Nexus series is bound to get the latest Jellybean update soon, a huge majority of Android smartphone owners might never get the update since OEMs take their own sweet time in deciding and working on(…)
Google has started rolling out a new compose and reply experience for Gmail users. With the new interface, whenever you click on the Compose button, instead of opening a new interface for composing emails in the messages list view, a popup similar to chat opens to let you write out emails. It contains normal functionality such(…)
After announcing this updated many weeks back, Google has finally released the voice search update for their iOS app. This update brings Google Now like voice search capability to the app along with support for iPhone 5. The update Google search app for iOS uses Google Knowledge Graph to provide smart and contextual search results(…)
Google Announced Nexus 10 Tablet Manufactured by Samsung, Features 2560 x 1600 Display and Android 4.2
Google’s Android event may have been cancelled by Hurricane Sandy, but that didn’t stop the search engine giant from unveiling its new Nexus devices. Along with an announcement of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, Nexus 4, new Nexus 7 models, Google has officially unveiled the Nexus 10 tablet too.


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Bombay HC seeks reply on PIL regarding meat shops near airport
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought
reply from Principal Secretary of the aviation ministry on the
menace caused by meat shops and slaughter houses in the
vicinity of Mumbai International Airport.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by one Datta Mane
alleging the shops selling meat and chicken attract birds,
which sometimes result in aircraft being hit by them.
Division bench of Justices J N Patel and S C
Dharmadhikari asked the Union aviation secretary as well as
Maharashtra chief secretary and Commissioner of Mumbai
Municipal Corporation to file replies by June 30.
According to the petitioner, the information obtained
under Right To Information Act reveals that there are over 200
shops selling meat or chicken within 10 km radius of the
The waste generated by these shops ends up in open
garbage dumps and attracts birds, the PIL said.
The slaughter house at Deonar too falls within this
area, it said, adding that as per the Development Control
rules, slaughter house or meat shop is not permissible near an
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Dubai Mall made waves in the retail world on Tuesday as it announced a groundbreaking achievement: hosting a staggering 105 million visitors in 2023. This remarkable feat represents a significant uptick of over 19 percent compared to the previous year’s footfall of 88 million. With these impressive numbers, the mall has firmly solidified its status as the most visited destination globally.
The latest statistics released by Dubai Mall also shed light on its strong start to 2024, with an astounding 20 million visitors flocking to its premises within the first two months alone. Such figures indicate a promising trajectory for another record-breaking year ahead.
According to Mohamed Alabbar, the visionary founder of Emaar, Dubai Mall’s unprecedented success is a testament to the city’s forward-thinking leadership and robust economic landscape. Alabbar emphasized the mall’s embodiment of Dubai’s vibrant spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence, translating the visionary leadership’s aspirations into tangible reality.
Alabbar further underscored the mall’s global appeal, noting the diverse array of nationalities represented among its visitors, which reflects Dubai’s cosmopolitan culture. He highlighted Dubai Mall’s pivotal role in driving the city’s prosperity and fostering innovation.
The surge in foot traffic can be attributed to a myriad of events and promotions hosted by the mall throughout 2023 and the onset of 2024. Key highlights included renowned events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Food Festival, along with various international celebrations that attracted throngs of visitors. Additionally, the highly anticipated 3 Day Super Sale further bolstered the mall’s allure, drawing crowds from far and wide.
Dubai Mall’s digital footprint has also witnessed remarkable growth, boasting an impressive Instagram following of 1.3 million. This expanded online presence has enabled the mall to engage with a broader audience and enhance its brand visibility.
With a commendable customer satisfaction rating averaging 4.6, Dubai Mall continues to receive glowing reviews from its patrons, reinforcing its reputation as a premier shopping and leisure destination.
Since its inauguration in 2008, Dubai Mall has emerged as the world’s second-largest shopping destination, spanning a vast area of 1.2 million square meters. Boasting over 1,200 retail outlets, including prestigious department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s, alongside a diverse selection of international dining experiences, the mall offers an unparalleled shopping and entertainment experience for visitors from around the globe.
In conclusion, Dubai Mall’s record-breaking achievement in welcoming 105 million visitors in 2023 underscores its unrivaled position as a global retail powerhouse. With its continuous innovation and commitment to excellence, the mall remains at the forefront of the industry, setting new standards for shopping and entertainment worldwide.


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PepsiCo: we need a full-on digital approach to reach our target audience
While every person misses a different aspect of pre-pandemic life, music lovers universally miss the live concert experience. The Drum talks to PepsiCo about its AR experiment that hopes to bring some of the musical magic back into its customers’ lives.
Pepsi launches AR pop concert
PepsiCo in Malaysia recently launched a campaign that uses digital technology to bring live music back into people’s lives. The brand used AR technology, linked to its bottles, to stream a concert. The main act was Siti Nordiana, supported by winners of its #PepsiBoldTalent audition challenge.
As a brand, Pepsi has a longstanding link to music, but with the pandemic halting live music and on-ground marketing activations, it had to find another way to reach its customers.
The answer was digital, according to Salman Butt, senior marketing director APAC of PepsiCo.
“Keeping the spirit of the brand alive and relevant, the Covid pandemic has led us to think differently as traditional on-ground activations and promotions were limited. We needed a full-on digital approach to reach our target audience. With some brainstorming on the digital landscape with the agency, we decided to leverage on the new era of technology to reach out to consumers who are confined to finding experiences and things to do within their home,” he explains.
Being able to bring back an experience that customers miss was another key reason the brand looked to technology. “We know that music lovers in Malaysia have been missing the concert experience for over a year due to the pandemic. These insights landed us on the big idea of taking augmented reality to the next level by bringing a concert right to your home.”
With most brands turning to digital touchpoints to reach customers that are in lockdowns or under restrictions, Butt says they had to also produce an idea that was creative enough to stand out against competing digital content.
“Digital has always been a focused channel for the brand. However, in this pandemic era, we are further leveraging digital and experimenting with new-age digital technology and platforms to reach out to consumers. This campaign is an example of that. With more brands putting a heavier focus on digital, breaking through the digital clutter via innovative campaigns will continue to be our way to stay ahead,” he explains.
In terms of how it works, Butt says users are required to visit the specific URL. Upon activating the AR camera via the website, users point the AR camera at the Pepsi Black Raspberry bottle. The AR camera then uses the Pepsi Black Raspberry packaging as a unique signature to detect and activate the concert. An AR Pepsi bottle will then appear along with the concert on the AR bottle itself.
The talent chosen for the concert was Siti Nordiana, who Butt explains was picked due to her wide appeal. She was also selected because she has a bold personality that links to its previous campaign around the ‘bold talent’ competition.
“With Siti Nordiana, we are able to reach out to a wide audience as she has a strong fan base and is very popular, as seen in her recent achievement of being the most popular female artist (Artis Top Top Meletop Wanita) in the Anugerah MeleTOP Era 2020. We also wanted to take this opportunity to be the first to showcase the bold side of Siti Nordiana, similar to how we provided a platform for the #PepsiBoldTalent winners to showcase their bold talents.”
As to whether the campaign has cut through, Butt believes the use of AR to do Malaysia’s first virtual concert in this way has caught the interest of consumers.
“Feedback has been positive and since this is the first-ever AR concert in MY, it has created a lot of buzz and excitement among the consumers to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience in the comfort of their homes. This digital campaign that was specially designed to reach out to the consumers during this pandemic has ignited excitement internally in other countries,” he adds.
While music lovers will still be pining after the face-to-face experience, the brand bridging the connection with a favorite artist during the pandemic will earn them some kudos. A ‘full-on’ approach to digital and technology, in this example, has helped Pepsi to cut through when all brands are shifting to a more digital strategy.


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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a popular Kellogg’s cereal has been linked to a salmonella outbreak that has infected 100 people in 33 states.
The CDC announced Thursday that customers should avoid Honey Smacks, tweeting, “Do not eat this cereal.” The agency says it found salmonella in samples of Honey Smacks, which has been subject to a voluntary recall by Kellogg since mid-June.
It says that regardless of expiration date, the cereal should be thrown away or returned to a retailer for a refund.
The CDC says at least 30 of the people infected in the outbreak have been hospitalized. It says most people infected with salmonella develop a fever, cramps or diarrhea within 12 to 72 hours of being exposed to the bacteria.
According to the CDC map, Massachusetts reported seven people infected with the Salmonella as of July 12, 2018.
CASE COUNT MAP: Salmonella Infections Linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal
- Do not eat any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal, regardless of package size or best-by date. Check your home for it and throw it away, or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. The Kellogg Company recalled the cereal on June 14, 2018.
- Retailers should not sell or serve Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal.
- Even if some of the cereal has been eaten and no one got sick, throw the rest of it away or return it for a refund.
- If you store cereal that looks like Kellogg’s Honey Smacks in a container without the packaging and don’t remember the brand or type, throw it away.
- Thoroughly wash the container with warm, soapy water before using it again, to remove harmful germs that could contaminate other food.
- CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka infections.
- 100 people infected with the outbreak strain have been reported from 33 states.
- 30 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
- Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal is the likely source of this multistate outbreak.
- This investigation is ongoing and CDC will provide updates when more information is available.


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As the cruise industry gets back on track after two years without sailing, only one cruise stop in Anchorage is planned for September this year.
Holland America downsized its fleet two years ago shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. And that reduced the number of ships that once brought about 1,500 visitors to Anchorage on a two-week Alaskan-focused tour.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the industry, cruise lines made about a dozen stops in Anchorage each summer. They docked in Alaska Harbor and delivered crowds of tourists ready to visit souvenir shops and restaurants.
Tour operators and others say the change will have a small impact on Anchorage’s economy. They expect any losses to be offset by other changes in what some believe could be a record year for Alaska tourism.
Large numbers of cruise guests are expected to disembark at Seward and Whittier this season — the first cruise stops in south-central Alaska in two years — and make their way to Anchorage. Companies also say they are seeing promising signs of another strong year for independent travelers — travelers not tied to a cruise itinerary — which have grown in profit over the past year.
Small businesses and restaurants in Anchorage will feel some impact from reduced Anchorage shipping calls, said Josh Howes, president of Premier Alaska Tours, which provides transportation for Holland America cruise guests.
But the ships only stopped in Anchorage for one day, which limited the economic impact of the guests, he said.
“I would say the biggest impact for the ships not coming into downtown Anchorage will likely be on the vendors because people are taking shuttles downtown and going to restaurants and gift shops and getting back on shuttles and going away would,” said Howes, a board member of the Alaska Travel Industry Association.
The ships also stopped at other towns along the Alaskan coast, so the reduced schedule will be felt a bit in other communities like Homer, Howes said. But the expected flood of visitors to south-central Alaska should offset the losses, he said.
“Anytime we can have revenue diversification, it’s a good thing. So when they come back, it’s going to be great when they come back,” Howes said.
[Tourists are returning to Alaska this summer. Will there be enough workers to manage them?]
Jim Jager, a spokesman for the Port of Alaska, said most ships visiting the port were Holland America ships making repeat voyages, but some other ships also made one-off stops in Anchorage, like the 1,000-foot Queen Elizabeth .
Those ships are not scheduled to return to Anchorage this year, Jager said.
Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam is the only ship scheduled to dock in the port on September 15. It can accommodate around 2,100 guests.
Erik Elvejord, a Holland America spokesman, said the reduced visits to Anchorage were due to the cruise line selling four ships in mid-2020. The company now operates 11 ships.
With the reduced fleet, Holland America is focused on delivering its core model of week-long cruises, he said.
But there’s still demand for two-week cruises to Alaska and elsewhere, he said.
Holland America has scheduled two visits to Anchorage in 2023, one in May and the other in September. So there are already signs of growth, he said.
He said Anchorage is very welcoming, with community groups and schools visiting the ships.
As demand for the longer Alaskan voyages continues to grow, the company will send more ships to Anchorage, he said.
“It was a wonderful call,” he said.


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Ornua launches Kerrygold butter in South Korea
Dairy exporter plans to sell flagship brand through local retailers in Seoul
(second from left) Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed: it is critical that we build these new markets for premium Irish dairy products
The group said it would sell Kerrygold butter, which recorded sales globally of €900 million last year, through a number of local South Korean retailers.
As milk deficit regions, these countries offer significant potential as a route to market for Irish dairy exports, Ornua said.
The new product was unveiled by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed at a launch in the Hyundai Department Store Samseong-dong in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul during the Irish Trade Mission to South Korea and Japan.
“As we prepare for a post-Brexit environment, it is critical that we build these new markets for premium Irish dairy products,” Mr Creed said.
Ornua aims to generate €1 billion in sales from its Kerrygold brand, which also includes yogurts and cream liqueurs.
South Korea is the 11th largest economy in the world, with a population of 51 million and a gross domestic product of €1.2 trillion. It currently imports 150,000 tonnes of cheese and butter.
Ornua’s John Jordan said “Opening new routes to market, such as South Korea, is a central pillar of Ornua’s strategy to develop Kerrygold from a butter brand into a €1bn global dairy brand.”
“ Today’s announcement is also an key step in further diversifying our customer base, a particularly important consideration for Irish dairy farming in the current political environment,” he said.