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Millennials face such a roasting online that it's almost as if they can't do anything without being criticized. And according to a new survey, religion is the latest topic to ruffle a few feathers.
There's always a friendly rivalry between different generations.
Everyone tends to think that their age group has it the worst, and usually the blame for that rests primarily on other generations.
millennials on the topic of gen z: pic.twitter.com/GStpmvbr7E— moon 〇° MARVEL IS RULER OF ALL (@merakikru) May 17, 2021
But there's one generation that most often bears the brunt of the criticism.Millennials seem to be almost universally derided by the internet for their broad range of crimes.
One of the main things that millennials are nearly constantly blamed for...
@ftcomment Because I shop at the fucking dollar tree for food bitch!— Valerie Complex (@Valerie Complex)1495212907.0
Let's start with a classic.Only one-third of millennials own their home - with another third still living with their parents. This is the lowest rate of homeownership since the '60s.
Onto a potentially smaller issue.Sales of breakfast cereals are down - far down - and it seems like millennials are to blame. We aren't sure of the reasons, although some speculate that it's just too messy and difficult to clean up.
Millennials are also in opposition to a particular gesture.
That's not the only convention that this generation is doing away with.
Although some things may actually be positive.
Others are more upsetting.Apparently, millennials are wreaking havoc with Costco's profits, choosing, instead, to do their bulk shopping via the good old internet.
And some are just plain weird.
We've already discussed the lack of marriages in millennial culture...According to some, the honeymoon is another tradition that millennials are taking down. Some even claim that they're favoring "unimoons" - separate vacations for the newly married couple.
Millennials tend to favor a more unconventional life.
There's another convention they're eschewing.
And there's another thing that millennials are no longer keeping hold of.Cash! The generation is far more fond of spending virtually, with cash being overly cumbersome and an annoyance.
Here's a weird one.Apparently, millennials have also stopped eating lunch. Many favor a few light snacks throughout the day instead of an extensive lunch break, finding it healthier and more time efficient.
And that's not all.
Hotels have also taken a hit.
There are some things that millennials find too basic.
And there are other cleaning products that are seen as simply unnecessary.
And there's another traditional item that millennials are eschewing.Well, not eschewing entirely - but certainly downsizing. In the past, a huge Thanksgiving turkey was seen as a status symbol - but millennials have been downsizing, citing less food waste.
There's another culinary item that millennials are making obsolete.Beer. Whether it's a fancier, craft IPA or a cheap forty, it seems like they just aren't as fond of the stuff as previous generations.
This one might surprise you.
Millennials are also saying goodbye to something else.
And there's another high-class item that the generation is totally over.Millennials no longer want to wear stiletto heels - and if you've ever tried wearing a pair, we imagine that you can see why.
It seems like there's a range of this sort of item that millennials are no longer bothered about.
And it's not just beer that's taken a hit.Wine's also on the out - well, wine with a cork, at least. Millennials tend to favor a screw top - maybe because of their dislike to kitchen utensils...
This one's less upmarket.
And now, a new survey has found that 43% of millennials here in the U.S. "don't know, care, or believe that God exists."
The American Worldview Inventory asked US adults over the age of eighteen what their religious beliefs were.
And this year they found that half of Millennials (people born between 1984 and 2002) didn't believe in God at all.
Although 57% did consider themselves religious.
Leading on from these statistics...
It's said that Millennials are "significantly less likely to embrace key traditional biblical teachings, including the nature of God, original sin, salvation, creation, life after death, human purpose, and biblical morality."
The AWVI responded to the findings, saying these views "threaten to reshape the nation's religious parameters beyond recognition."
Meanwhile, 70% of Generation X (people born between 1965 and 1983) considered themselves Christian, as well as 79% of Baby Boomers. The highest percentage of Christians were in the Builder Generations (born between 1927 – 1945) in which 83% consider themselves Christian.
The survey also asked about individual life perspectives...
Asking questions on whether you should "treat others as you want them to treat you."
In response, 48% of Millennials agreed, along with 53% of Gen Xers, and 81% of Boomers also said they agreed.
Other perspectives Millennials were on board with were: defining success as happiness, personal freedom, or productivity without oppression; considering an abortion performed to be morally acceptable under certain circumstances; considering premarital sex to be morally acceptable, and finding reincarnation to be more plausible.
The most unpopular belief with Millenials was that there's a "universal purpose for all people is to know, love, and serve God with all heart, mind, strength, and soul."
Sociologist George Barna, CRC director of research, said of the survey's findings: "Gen X and the Millennials have solidified dramatic changes in the nation's central beliefs and lifestyles. The result is a culture in which core institutions, including churches, and basic ways of life are continually being radically redefined."
He believes this shift began around sixty years ago, during the baby boomer generation...
But described Millennials as having "aggressively cut ties with core biblical views and lifestyle values."
What do you think?
For more of the latest news, keep scrolling...


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Hanoi named among best places to spend fall
Cable news channel CNN has selected Hanoi as one of the 12 best places to go for fall, calling the capital a "bright spot".
"Asia tourism in general has been the slowest to bounce back (Japan, for instance). But Vietnam is the real bright spot right now," CNN quoted Scott Keyes, the founder of flight deals and travel advice site Scott's Cheap Flights as saying.
"And autumn in the capital is drier and cooler with monsoon season ending," Forrest Brown, author of the CNN article, added.
"Hanoi has plenty to keep foodies satiated. Cha ca (fish cooked with turmeric and dill) is so popular a street was named after the dish. Hanoi-style banh tom (shrimp cakes) is another must-try.
Be sure to ramble around the city's Old Quarter with its historical streets and shops trading in jewelry, fabrics and flowers. You can tour the quarter and beyond on Soviet-era Ural Sidecar motorcycles. On the outskirts of Hanoi and far from tourists is Dong Ngac, a "village of scholars" that has barely changed in centuries," Brown wrote.
He suggested Hotel de l'Opera near the beautiful Hanoi Opera House as a good choice. "Or for something more contemporary, try Maison d'Orient in the Old Quarter."
Other places in the CNN list are Mexico City, Samoa, Madrid, Greenville (South Carolina), Egypt, Cape Town (South Africa), U.S.-Canada Atlantic cruises, Bavaria (Germany), Buenos Aires, Hawaii and The Azores.
In July, Hanoi was selected as one of the six best destinations to explore by bike by Booking.com, a global online travel website.
"The capital cof Hanoi is one of Asia’s most popular cycling destinations, known for its centuries-old architecture, lakes, parks and over 600 temples and pagodas, the city offers a network of fantastic cycling paths that allow travelers to explore amongst locals on bicycles and scooters," Booking.com wrote.
"Visitors can park up in the city’s colorful Old Quarter and refuel on delicious Vietnamese street food like beef noodle soup and shrimp cakes," it added.
Vietnam welcomed 1.87 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of the year, up 16.4 times year-on-year, with South Korea and the U.S. leading the pack.
Travel - Sat, October 1, 2022 | 8:26 pm GTM+7
Molex, a U.S. manufacturer of electronic, electrical and fiber optic connectivity systems, has expanded its manufacturing facility in Hanoi with solar panel installation.
Industries - Sat, October 1, 2022 | 6:46 pm GTM+7
State-owned Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has asked Trungnam Group to put the 172-megawatt capacity portion without a pricing mechanism of its 450 MW solar farm in Ninh Thuan into the competitive power generation market.
Energy - Sat, October 1, 2022 | 3:54 pm GTM+7
Spectre, a Danish maker of functional garments for outdoor sports brands, started operating its $17 million factory in An Giang province Friday, the company’s third in Vietnam.
Industries - Sat, October 1, 2022 | 3:06 pm GTM+7
A Dong Thap province court on Friday handed a death sentence to Nguyen Trung Thanh, chief accountant of Filipino-invested Pilmico Vietnam, on corruption charges.
Society - Sat, October 1, 2022 | 2:43 pm GTM+7
An appeal court in Hanoi has reduced the jail term for former deputy minister of health Truong Quoc Cuong to three years, from the four years ruled by an instance court in May.
Society - Sat, October 1, 2022 | 11:05 am GTM+7
Liquidity in the townhouse and villa segment, once feverishly high in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has been drying up in recent months.
Real Estate - Sat, October 1, 2022 | 9:50 am GTM+7
American energy corporation AES has received in-principle approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade for its VND50,432 billion ($2.11 billion) Son My 2 LNG-to-power project in the south-central province of Binh Thuan.
Energy - Fri, September 30, 2022 | 9:24 pm GTM+7
Coro Energy has completed commissioning of its Vietnam rooftop solar pilot project, the UK-based energy firm announced Friday.
Energy - Fri, September 30, 2022 | 6:59 pm GTM+7
Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index reversed a consecutive five session decline with a six-point gain Friday to close at 1,132 points.
Finance - Fri, September 30, 2022 | 6:30 pm GTM+7
The industrial and logistics market in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau will continue to grow in 2022-2023 thanks to Vietnam’s resilient economic expansion, according to Cushman and Wakefield.
Real Estate - Fri, September 30, 2022 | 3:32 pm GTM+7
Building a Vietnam bonded warehouse for U.S. cotton would benefit both countries, Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vinatas) chairman Vu Duc Giang said Friday.
Industries - Fri, September 30, 2022 | 3:19 pm GTM+7
Thailand's Central Retail is seeking opportunities to build malls and supermarkets in Binh Thuan province.
Industries - Fri, September 30, 2022 | 3:05 pm GTM+7

domain: news


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Goldman Sachs fund manager Sharmin Mossavar-Rahamani recently asserted a pessimistic outlook for cryptos:
In a midyear economic-outlook report, the bank’s investment strategy group says the price of bitcoin is likely to decline even further than the 45% it has in the first seven months of 2018.
“Our view that cryptocurrencies would not retain value in their current incarnation remains intact and, in fact, has been borne out much sooner than we expected,” the team lead by chief investment officer Sharmin Mossavar-Rahamani said.
The negative viewpoint seems to be predicated on the zero-value characteristics of cryptos:
“We expect further declines in the future given our view that these cryptocurrencies do not fulfill any of the three traditional roles of a currency: they are neither a medium of exchange, nor a unit of measurement, nor a store of value.”
What is noteworthy here is the term in their current incarnation. Digital notes offer a new incarnation for cryptocurrencies, where intrinsic value is represented on a discounted income cashflow basis, and where synthetic income/price ratios are even applicable, allowing digital currency investors to form portfolios that can be valued like REITS and businesses. At the same time, they contain the exact same free utility that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin do, potentially making them hyperinflation-adjusted ultra-alpha-coefficient investments such as Ethereum in 2015-2017.


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2017 was a successful year for Trina Solar: 20 years since its foundation, our module partner shipped solar panels with a total power output of one gigawatt (GW) to Europe in 2017, while at the same significantly expanding its international market presence. By the end of 2016, more than 23 GW were distributed worldwide. This corresponds to a market share of 10 percent.
In addition to its financial stability and reliability, the company attributes its success first and foremost to its expanded sales network and enhanced services. Another major contributing factor is Trina’s high product quality and its innovativeness: Thanks to the introduction of various technologies, for instance, the 1,500 V technology, more modules can be connected in a string, reducing the system costs (BOS). For 2018, Trina plans to further strengthen the freshly boosted market presence in Europe and establish stable and lasting partnerships in the core markets. Further information can be found in the press release.


text: Close Costco Offers Thousand Dollar Food Kits, Lasts 25 Years Everyone's favorite place for bulk shopping is now offering emergency kits. And they're enormous. Aidan Kelley has the story. WTSP 2:59 PM. EDT October 02, 2017 TRENDING VIDEOS Three dead in murder-suicide T-Tapp Tuesday Small chance of tropical development in the tropics Tampa hotels tacking on questionable fees at checkout iOS 11 frustration and fixes Marine saved woman he just met What type of gun did the Las Vegas mass shooter use? Las Vegas gunman's brother speaks Soccer team salutes Las Vegas survivor from Md. Inside the chaos: Police release Las Vegas body cam footage More Stories Timeline: 3 murders in Tampa neighborhood, killer at large Oct 23, 2017, 10:35 a.m. Mysterious murders: Vigil honors victims' lives as… Oct 22, 2017, 10:53 p.m. In Tampa's 'it' neighborhood, murders worry Seminole… Oct 23, 2017, 1:36 p.m.


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I’ve just finished another piece for IDG Connect taking apart the Taiwanese technology industry – it seemed like as good a time as any on the back of Computex 2014.
If you haven’t heard of the show it’s the second largest IT event in the world and is held every year in Taipei as it has been for 34 years.
Well, the island formerly known as Formosa has been punching well above its weight on the tech scene for decades now, thanks to lots of government investment, a booming chip industry and a steady stream of bright young engineers and designers pouring from its universities.
But as I found out, many of its major firms are facing an unprecedented set of challenges which could threaten its long term future.
Firstly the PC market is in decline – which is bad news for 4th and 5th placed global brands Acer and Asus. Whether terminal decline we still don’t know but it has certainly meant Taiwan’s major ODM/OEM firms have had to adapt to a new mobile-centric output.
The two big brands mentioned above, however, haven’t done a very convincing job so far.
“The whole shift to mobility including smartphones and tablets is the new growth curve for the whole industry,” Forrester analyst Bryan Wang told me from Computex. “What I have seen is that Taiwanese companies are losing in this space.”
Gartner’s Amy Teng was not much more optimistic.
“These manufacturers have to rely on brand vendors to consume their production outcome. This business relationship is weak because today’s PC supply chain is advanced and standardised enough to transplant from vendor to vendor easily,” she argued.
Teng added that the move from high volume, low customisation products to low volume, highly customised products is a big challenge – especially when these manufacturers are being asked to be more cost effective and quicker to market.
All is not lost, though. The country’s semiconductor firms are still well placed and there are opportunities in other areas for those ODM/OEM giants like Wistron, Foxconn, Quanta and Pegatron.
“Regarding how to overcome, or thrive in the coming decade, I do not see any opportunity in the smartphone/tablet space now. However, Taiwanese companies still stand a chance in the connected home space, which is set to evolve in the next couple of years,” said Wang.
“Home/smart gateways, set-top-boxes and smart routers – these could be the angles. At Computex here, I do see home grid, smart plugs, smart home solutions are evolving as an interesting area.”
The big news from the Orient this week, or at least this small part of it, has been Google’s decision to pull out of plans to build a $300 million datacentre in Hong Kong.
Now the web giant claimed this was due to high costs and the difficulty of getting enough land for its requirements, which at first glance seems fair enough. It ain’t cheap here and land is at a premium in the tiny SAR.
However, the more I think about it the stranger it seems, and here’s why.
- It’s not short of a bob or two – was cost really the reason for its decision?
- The project has been trailed way back since 2011 when Google announced it bought 2.7 hectares of land in the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate near Sai Kung, although interestingly a link to the Google page on it now results in a 404 error message.
- At the time, Google said: “We chose Hong Kong following a thorough and rigorous site selection process, taking many technical and other considerations into account, including location, infrastructure, workforce, reasonable business regulations and cost.”
So what’s changed?
Mainland China is admittedly a small market for Google and that probably won’t alter unless there’s an unimaginable change of heart from Beijing. But it knew that back in 2011 when it bought those 2.7 hectares of land that are suddenly deemed not enough.
It’s more likely that with projects underway in Singapore and Taiwan, Google is concentrating on those first to ramp up its datacentre presence in the region.
We must remember it’s still a baby in the IaaS space when compared with the AWS behemoth.
But I personally wouldn’t rule out a return to the HK project for Google in the future as it looks to grow its Google Compute Engine offering in the future. Rival Rackspace has been steadily building out its operations from Hong Kong, for example, recently launching its first public cloud service in Asia from the former colony.
It must be added that Google already has a healthy complement of servers in the SAR and recently announced a tie-up with the local Chinese University of Hong Kong, so rumours of dissatisfaction with and interference by the local government may be wide of the mark.
However, news of the pull-out will still be a big blow to the Government CIO’s Office as it tries to sell HK over its near neighbours as Asia’s premier datacentre destination.
If any more PR blows like the Google story start landing next year, it might be time for the HK government to rethink its strategy.
In terms of the abuses uncovered by the rights group, they’re pretty similar to those detailed at Foxconn over the years which led to a landmark agreement between Apple, the Fair Labor Association and the Taiwanese manufacturer to sort out conditions at its plants.
When I say “similar” I mean things like overworking and underpaying staff, breaking local employment laws through discriminatory hiring, excessive overtime and the like and subjecting employees to sub-standard living conditions.
You can usually gauge the seriousness of the allegations by the speed of the tech giant in question’s response and the length of its statement. So it was that Apple came back within a few hours with a long response claiming it had undertaken 15 audits at Pegatron and that it had been “in close contact” with CLW investigating findings highlighted by the group.
Their latest report contains claims that are new to us and we will investigate them immediately. Our audit teams will return to Pegatron, RiTeng and AVY for special inspections this week. If our audits find that workers have been underpaid or denied compensation for any time they’ve worked, we will require that Pegatron reimburse them in full.
One para that was lopped off my story referred to the fact that Pegatron facilities, including the ones mentioned in the report, produce gear for a raft of big name technology brands besides Apple. Microsoft, Dell, HP, Nokia and Asus have all had kit made by the Taiwanese headquartered manufacturer in the past.
Beyond Pegatron too there have reports of various rights abuses, in Samsung suppliers, and Chinese manufacturers making kit for firms including Telstra, Sony and Phillips.
However, the fruity-themed Cupertino giant, unfortunately for it, now has a reputation which makes it easier for hacks like me and rights groups like CLW to build a compelling narrative around such incidents.
For better or worse that’s the way it is but hopefully with Apple taking a lead, as it is certainly appears to be trying to do, on improving labour rights among its suppliers, others will follow. We mustn’t forget Apple boss Tim Cook used to be the firm’s COO and so will be well aware just how big a task it is to clean up the supply chain.
This is a process which will take years, not months, but it’s reassuring to an extent that stories like this still make the headlines, because once they stop then the whole process of improving the rights of shop workers in countries like China is likely to grind to a halt too.
Last week Asian chip giant MediaTek launched its latest System on a Chip design, the 28nm quad core MT6589. Before you click on to something more interesting, here’s why it should make anyone with a mobile phone sit up and take notice.
First, MediaTek. It’s probably the most ubiquitous chip company you’ve never heard of. Asia’s biggest and the fourth largest fabless chip company by revenue globally, it lists LG, Huawei, Sony and others among its clients. Until now the firm has largely been focused on the 2G feature phone market, especially in China where demand was huge until recently, but this announcement sees it really break out into the high end smartphone space.
The analysts I spoke to pretty unanimously agreed that MediaTek and arch rival Qualcomm between them are making a seriously disruptive play in the mobile space. Put simply, MediaTek is making quad core affordable by sticking CPU, GPU and wireless modem on the same SoC, which means the MT6589 will end up in plenty of cheap smartphones as well as some higher end ones.
The result? The big brands are going to have to differentiate on something other than quad core. In effect, as IDC analyst Teck-Zhung Wong told me, it’s going to kick off a whole new round of price competition, which is great for users and will spur the industry forward to keep on innovating, which is good for all stakeholders.
In the background there’s also the tussle between Qualcomm and MediaTek.
Qualcomm is doing amazing things this year and now sits third by revenue in IHS iSuppli’s new ranking of global chip companies. It has already produced a quad core aimed at the same market and has an advantage in its modem capabilities, which even MediaTek admitted to me. So it’s Taiwan versus the US in the battle of the budget quad cores. MediaTek historically has that huge customer base in China to tap and is likely to be faster to market but Qualcomm is catching up and apeing many of MediaTek’s technical advantages and customer relations strategies.
The jury’s out but it will be an interesting 12 months to see who the smartphone winners and losers will be.


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CLEVELAND - Fuel prices might be falling, but it's not stopping companies in the business of delivery from charging extra for fuel. Despite the low cost at the pumps, some companies in the shipping industry are still raking in a fuel surcharge.
Northeast Ohio drivers are enjoying gas prices down to an average of $1.69 per gallon, with diesel prices down thirty percent from one year ago. Still, FedEx is charging a fuel surcharge of 4% for ground service and 2.25% for express service. UPS is charging 5.25% for ground service.
The companies said the rates are based on national diesel fuel averages and are adjusted monthly while base rates stay more stable. The surcharges are lower now than they were when fuel cost more.
“In other words, the cost of the fuel is passed to customers in the appropriate amount,” UPS spokesperson Dan Cardillo said in a statement provided to Fox 8 News.
Cardillo also said UPS is paying for more fuel due to a surge in e-commerce deliveries requiring drivers to drive more miles to spread out residential locations.
“The fuel surcharge is not solely based on the price at the pump. It is very important to understand that we are talking about the total cost of fuel,” Cardillo said in the statement.
So, while we can all fill up for less, for now it doesn't appear there's any end in sight for fuel surcharges.


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Police in Cheshire say they have received several reports of distraction thefts targeting supermarket shoppers.
Officers say offenders tend to target older people who are shopping in the supermarket, watching them enter their number into the chip and pin device at the checkout, then one person will distract them when they've put their bags in the car while another steals the victim’s bank card from their purse.
The offenders will then empty the victim’s account of cash either at cash machines or by going on a spending spree.
DCI Paul Beauchamp said: "Of concern to us is the fact that these thieves appear to target older shoppers when committing their crimes.
"We are again taking the opportunity to remind the public to be on their guard and to have an awareness of this type of crime and following simple crime prevention steps.
"Similarly, we want you to always check your bank statements for any inaccuracies or discrepancies, as credit card fraud may not be immediately apparent."
Anyone who sees suspicious activity or had any information should contact Cheshire Police on 101.


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When you think of Bitcoin, you probably think of the digital currency, but it could be a useful asset for a lot of people.
You may have seen it in action, or heard it talked about in other forums.
And you may even have heard of the popular Bitcoin wallet, the Xapo Bitcoin Wallet.
Now the wallet maker has a new product that may be a boon for anyone who has a Bitcoin wallet that’s less than ideal.
The new Xapo wallet, which launched on Monday, allows users to use Bitcoin to pay for things like gas, groceries, and even rent an apartment.
It also has a few other features that are worth noting.
The wallet is compatible with almost every bank in the U.S. It has a wide array of features, including the ability to pay by credit card, check, or debit card, as well as mobile payments.
It’s also one of the few wallets that can also be used to make Bitcoin payments at businesses.
The company has said that the company has over 2.5 million users.
So if you’re worried about getting caught up in the Bitcoin hype, there’s a new Bitcoin wallet for you.
[Crypto Coins News] 1Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the Bitcoin company Xapo.


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New Alehouse To Open In Wilkes-Barre On Monday
A Florida-based restaurant chain opens Monday in the former Logan’s Roadhouse in Wilkes-Barre Twp. that closed two years ago. The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. for Miller’s Alehouse’s new location at 2310 Wilkes-Barre Twp. Boulevard. Community members will have the opportunity to visit the new restaurant and win prizes as part of a business card raffle. Miller’s Ale House is described on its website as a “casual sports restaurant and bar with freshly-made food at an incredible value.” The restaurant has at least 60 televisions to watch sports and offers a large selection of draft beer. The restaurant is known for its signature hand-breaded, boneless chicken Zinger with the choice of 15 sauces. The menu also features a variety of appetizers, burgers and entrees including steaks and seafood. Its full-service bar features specialty cocktails, a wine selection and more than 75 varieties of local craft, seasonal and domestic beers. Miller’s Ale House is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Sundays.


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The fun is just beginning for data crunchers following Super Bowl 51 and its host of advertisements. Now is the time to measure how effective ads were in swaying audiences and to see if the millions of dollars were put to good use.
Thankfully, Buick showed signs of life with a very young crowd. “PlayOn!” surveyed a panel of high school students over each of Super Bowl 51’s ads and Buick walked away with the most awareness and favorability gained among teenagers.
Specifically, 46 percent of teens had neither positive nor negative feelings regarding the Buick brand. But, after the advertisement featuring Cam Newton and Miranda Kerr, three of out of four teens reported positive feelings towards the brand. It was named the most significant in swaying a teenage audience among the host of Super Bowl commercials.


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Critics: Cash advance usury’
Sens. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, and you will Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, is writers of SB 104. Brand new statutes is co-paid because of the half a dozen almost every other Senators out-of both sides.
In the committee reading last week, Walker stressed he had been not blaming payday loan providers to the financial challenges that many Hoosiers deal with. But he told you lawmakers have to know if the fresh large-interest financing are good policy.
Oftentimes, we know you to (an online payday loan) has furnished advice that is lives changing, the guy said, plus most other circumstances we know you to definitely (a payday loan) has furnished choices which have been devastating.
ily qualities on Indianapolis Urban Category, affirmed your newest interest rate “are hideous and you can designed to pitfall borrowers toward good spiral out of ever-broadening debt.”
Erin Macey, plan expert on Indiana Institute to have Doing work Parents, told you their studies have shown pay day lenders compiled $sixty million when you look at the desire out of Indiana borrowers from inside the 2017.
Macey cited good poll presented in the 2018 you to definitely revealed 88 per cent off Hoosier voters service a great thirty six percent rate cap. The latest poll including receive 84 per cent envision cash advance try harmful and you may 76 per cent is more likely to vote to possess a beneficial legislator which aids reducing the price to 36 percent.
The poll, which included individuals who got removed pay day loan or know anyone who has, got an effective margin of mistake of in addition to or without five fee factors.
“It is unusual observe public consensus for the problems so you can the latest the quantity based in the survey,” authored pollster Christine Matthews out of Bellwether Browse & Consulting. “We find nearly universal and you can wide-starting support getting enhanced regulation and you may reform from payday lending within the Indiana.”
Private-markets substitute for unmet you desire
World representatives on hearing questioned some of the says from the advocates, making lawmakers so you’re able to examine a beneficial tangle of dueling “facts” and you will “research.”
However the summary is clear, told you Brian Burdick, a good Barnes and you may Thornburg lobbyist symbolizing the consumer Economic Provider Organization out-of The usa, which debts itself as “the fresh new sound for the brief-buck, short-label credit world.” He plus stands for Tennessee-mainly based Check into Dollars.
If for example the speed try capped on 36 per cent, Burdick told lawmakers, “members of all of our organization will be gone and i also don’t know whom fills the newest pit,”
Various other states which have instituted an effective thirty six per cent cover, Burdick advised lawmakers, consumers were driven “to the on the web lenders, the newest tribal lenders, the guy out in this new parking lot exactly who if not spend holidays your own kneecap.”
Burdick said the people who possess affirmed meant for the cap try “well-intentioned,” but for the absolute most area haven’t stepped up in order to complete the brand new need like his private-market website subscribers have done.
Burdick in addition to said their unfair in order to define the brand new funds since the which have an apr away from 391 percent. This is because the new funds are manufactured for just two months, perhaps not a year otherwise offered. Paying a bit more getting short loan are cheaper than bouncing a, Burdick advised lawmakers, or having fun with a credit card and destroyed a cost, otherwise having power services block and achieving to invest a great reconnect commission.
Matt Bell, an old Republican condition lawmaker lobbying having Ohio-created Axcess Economic, called the proposed cover “an attempt to advance restriction the means to access borrowing to have Hoosiers.”
Research gets thrown around usually,” he said. “The thing i can tell you is exactly what our people experience its experience in our company and you can experience our world.
Bell told you studies let you know sixty percent of individuals faith the brand new funds are rather valued and most 9 of 10 look for them of good use. The guy said an average debtor are forty-two, keeps a median domestic money from $forty-two,663 – just just underneath the new You.S. median regarding $50,046.
“They are instructors who happen to be shopping for a way to improve water furnace one broke in their home. They’ve been social servants – fire fighters, law enforcement officers – who want to manage to make sure their mate has actually good brake system on auto when the youngster try moved, they might be moved securely” Bell said.
Could there be people well-known surface?
And you can people offered negotiations you certainly will slow down action on the questionable topic to own a new 12 months. An equivalent suggestion getting a great 36 % cover is even incorporated for the a home bill, it has never already been booked to own a listening.
Lawmakers and you will advocates reduce than just monthly to work through an answer through to the deadline to maneuver costs out of the Family and you will Senate.


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Mumbai-headquartered edutech startup WhiteHat Jr, that was acquired in August this year by online tutoring firm Byju’s, has agreed to withdraw five of its ads after being pulled up by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Aired on TV and social media, the ads urge young children to take up computer programming classes to secure their future.
“ASCI has processed complaints against seven ads of WhiteHat Jr, five of which were in potential violation of the ASCI code,” said Manisha Kapoor, ASCI secretary general. The advertising sector watchdog said WhiteHat Jr had agreed to withdraw the ads. “The advertiser has also assured us of their cooperation to adhere to the ASCI code going forward,” Kapoor said.
The ads faced criticism on social media for suggesting that knowledge of coding enables children as young as six and seven to develop apps that will have the investors lining up.
“Whitehat Jr won’t stop showing you ads until you find a girlfriend, get married, produce kids and get them enrolled in Whitehat Jr,” tweeted Abhishek Asthana, founder of ad agency GingerMonkey. The tweet drew about 2,000 likes and hundreds of comments from irate social media users.
Another tweet that went viral spoke of WhiteHat Jr ads evoking FOMO (fear of missing out) among parents. “There’s something deeply cringeworthy about ads that feed FOMO of Indian parents. Kind of upsetting actually,” tweeted Amod Malviya, cofounder of Udaan, a B2B marketplace.
Acknowledging the issue, Karan Bajaj, founder and CEO WhiteHat Jr wrote in LinkedIn, “Feedback on our marketing needing improvement is well-taken. We’ll do better with it,” Bajaj said. “Coding for kids is about the sheer joy of creation, hence I founded WhiteHat Jr.”
Several social media users have criticised the ads because they put undue pressure on young children and their parents. Some of WhiteHat Jr’s social media ads featured the names of prominent tech personalities such as Bill Gates, Sundar Pichai and Steve Jobs to promote its coding classes. The ads featuring Gates, Jobs and Pichai have now been removed.
Source: Economic TimesCorporate, News


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CHARLOTTE – A recent study of the auto loan by generation released by Lending Tree, America’s leading online loan marketplace. It was stated in the study that people between the age of 39 to 54 years have the highest load of the auto loan on their shoulder. According to the study, 60 percent of Gen Xers have their name listed for an auto loan. In the year 2019, U.S auto loan originations hit a 19-year high and reached $584 billion. A large amount of income in America in the auto loan can be attributed to rising car prices, interest rates, and loan term lengths.
According to the loan comparison website, the median balance of Gen Xers who have auto loans is $18,741 is higher than other age groups. It is 9% more than baby boomers’ $17,185 median balance. This is higher than millennials’ $16,200 and 37 percent more than the lowest median balance of $13,666 held by Gen Z.
The data released by the study showed that about 60% of Gen X has an auto loan. According to the date from the Federal Highway Administration, they also log the greatest number of miles. Millennials are behind Gen X with 54.5 percent auto loan. And baby boomers are just below this number with 54% of auto loans. Gen Z has only 36 percent of the auto loan and its median balance is $13,666. And the oldest generation in the study has an auto loan of 43 percent with a median balance of $14,042.


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Major U.S. retailers Macy’s Inc, Kohl’s Corp and Gap Inc said on Monday they would furlough tens of thousands of employees, as they prepare to keep stores shut for longer to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
Kohl’s also said it would suspend its share repurchase program, evaluate its dividend plan and draw down $1 billion from an existing credit line, joining a growing list of companies seeking to shore up their cash reserves to weather the financial hit from the health crisis.
Macy’s and Gap have suspended their dividends and have also tapped into their credit facilities.
Gap said the furloughs will affect its store employees in the United States and Canada. The company had about 129,000 employees at the end of last year.
The action will impact a majority of its about 130,000 employees, Macy’s said, while all workers at store and store distribution centers, as well as some corporate office associates will be affected, according to Kohl’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine.
There are broadly four types of vaccine — one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine.
Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time.
Shares of Kohl’s, which had about 122,000 employees in 2019, closed down nearly 9%. Macy’s stock ended nearly 3% lower.
“Given these extraordinary circumstances, we are taking difficult and decisive actions to strengthen our financial liquidity,” Kohl’s Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gass said in a statement. Gass said she will not take a salary.
Widespread lockdowns to arrest the spread of the outbreak in the United States have hammered sales for brick-and-mortar retailers as most stores remain closed, despite their online business staying up and running.
President Donald Trump on Sunday extended his stay-at-home guidelines until the end of April, dropping a hotly criticized plan to get the economy up and running by mid-April after a top medical adviser said more than 100,000 Americans could die from the outbreak.
The pandemic, which has killed about 34,000 people across the globe, has compounded sales pressure for retailers already facing stiff competition and a shift to online shopping.
Kohl’s said furloughed employees would continue to get health benefits. Macy’s specified that employees enrolled in health benefits will continue to receive coverage, at least through May.
Macy’s said it would maintain the “absolute minimum” workforce needed to maintain basic operations across its Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Bluemercury brands.The retailer added there would be fewer furloughs in its digital business, supporting distribution centers and call centers, while Kohl’s said it would start buy online and pick up-at-store services later this week.


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Late Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump took credit for what might have been a big achievement — preventing an auto plant from moving to Mexico — if it were true. But it turns out Trump did have some influence in Ford's decision to keep making Lincolns in America.
"Just got a call from my friend Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford, who advised me that he will be keeping the Lincoln plant in Kentucky - no Mexico," Trump tweeted. And then: "I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!"
As several news outlets then reported, neither of the two plants where Ford builds cars in Kentucky were ever at risk. The company's new contract with the United Auto Workers union preserved those jobs. While Ford was considering moving production of the low-selling Lincoln MKC to its plant in Cuautilan, Mexico, it would have ramped up production of its popular Escape in Kentucky.
However, when asked whether Trump had some bearing on the decision to keep the Lincoln production in Kentucky, Ford spokeswoman Christin Baker answered: "The answer to your question is yes."
"We have been reviewing the sourcing of this product, and Bill Ford spoke to the President-elect yesterday and shared our recent decision to keep Lincoln MKC in Kentucky," Baker elaborated. "We are encouraged the economic policies he will pursue will help improve U.S. competitiveness and make it possible to keep production of this vehicle here in the U.S."
During the campaign, Trump talked about imposing high tariffs on cars coming from overseas, and repeatedly chastised Ford — often using faulty information — for moving some production to Mexico.
Even if U.S. jobs were not at stake in this particular location decision, the ability to produce vehicles in other countries has been very important to the Ford's business model, and that of other American car companies. If Detroit is no longer able to move different vehicle lines around to its various factories because of political pressure or new tariffs, it could curtail their profits, and even their ability to create more jobs in the United States.
Thus far, Ford has been resolute in its decision to move production of some small car lines to Mexico, and vocal in its opposition to an overhaul of the free trade agreement between Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
However, the company might have wanted to start off on the right foot with the Trump administration by making a small concession.
"I'm sure they're trying to make nice with Trump," says Art Schwartz, an economist and former labor negotiator with General Motors. "He is president now, so he does have a lot of influence. To start fighting with him right away would be a bad idea."
Still, it's unlikely that Trump can force Ford to open new plants in the United States, even if he imposed the kind of import barriers that he has promised. "Ford's not going to eat a 35 percent tariff," he said. "The price of the vehicles would go up, sales would go down, and jobs would be lost in the U.S."
Ford's decision may also be indicative of a broader chilling in investment in Mexico, as businesses wait to see how the rules of the road will change in the Trump administration — which could take a long time to become clear.


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Now even the New York Times is misusing the “law of large numbers”
We can forgive the talking heads on CNBC for blathering on about mathematical “laws” of which they are totally ignorant. What do they know?
But when James B. Stewart, a Pulitzer-prize winning professor of business journalism at Columbia University writes about Apple (AAPL) “running up against the law of large numbers” in the
New York Times
, it’s time for corrective action.
For the record, the law of large numbers — once shortened to “LOL numbers” (as in “laugh out loud”) by a wag in our comment stream — has absolutely nothing to do with how big a company has grown.
First formulated in the 16th century and rigorously proven by Jacob Bernoulli in 1713, it states that the probability of an experiment — the average roll of a die, say — achieving the expected result increases the more times the experiment is performed.
What Stewart was really trying to say in an otherwise admirable article about Apple’s astonishing record of growth since it reinvented the mobile phone in 2007, is that it’s easier for a small company to double in size than a large one.
“Put another way,” he writes, “to increase its revenue by 20 percent, Apple has to generate additional sales of more than $9 billion in its next fourth quarter. A company with $1 billion in sales has to come up with just another $200 million.”
This is true. But as Evercore Partners’ Robert Cihra points out in the next paragraph, analysts have been saying this about Apple for years. Yet despite the “law” they keep citing, Apple’s growth has actually been accelerating.
Past performance is no guarantee, of course. But there is no law — mathematical or otherwise — that says that the world’s most valuable company can’t keep growing faster than its competitors. Especially when that company is in the business of disrupting one industry after another.
UPDATE: I’ve since learned that I was not the only writer bothered by Stewart’s misuse of the law of large numbers. Horace Dediu pointed me to Tech.pinions‘ Steve Wildstrom, who references an “excellent takedown” by blogger Dr. Drang. I’m still looking for a good name for the rule that says a company can’t keep growing forever at a pace that’s faster than the economy.


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Starfield has continuously been at the forefront of two rumors: developer Bethesda Game Studios is nearly done with development and has been looking at a release around the 2021 holiday season. Both rumors have now been scrapped by multiple reputable sources.
Taking to Twitter earlier today, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier stated that the development of Starfield is actually “nowhere near done” and hence will be releasing later than expected.
He added that the new science-fiction role-playing project was being helmed by a “very small team” until 2019. The developer by all means needs more time than what rumors have been suggesting for several months now.
Rumors like this keep floating around but Starfield is nowhere near done, according to several ppl familiar with development. It'll be at E3 but the planned release date I've heard is way later than most people expect. Sharing this so that folks keep their expectations in check https://t.co/LVFzmX1XYu
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) May 20, 2021
To further nail down the development status and release window, The Verge editor Tom Warren shared the same sentiments as well.
yup, not coming this year.
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) May 20, 2021
The good news however being that Starfield will be appearing at the upcoming all-digital Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next month. This remains to be officially announced by Bethesda Game Studios and Microsoft but Schreier, being a notable source, has confirmed the game to be finally receiving a reveal at E3 2021.
Starfield was announced back in 2018 as the first new Bethesda intellectual property in over two decades. The game has been said to be a console exclusive for Xbox Series X owing to the acquisition of ZeniMax Media by Microsoft which has brought Bethesda (and all other related studios) under the first-party wing of Xbox Game Studios.
Starfield will be strictly single-player with an open-world larger than The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and Fallout 4. There will be modding support, pilotable and customizable spaceships, and other role-playing elements which for the time being remain to be officially acknowledged.


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Mumbai : The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) will organise the five-day India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) digitally from October 12 which has the potential to bring about 25-40 per cent of business that is generated in the physical format, the industry body said on Tuesday. The GJEPC expects to witness participation from 500 exhibitors and 10,000 buyers through this online platform, it said.
"A large and comprehensive virtualjewellery trade fair, IIJS Virtual will be an opportunity for our exhibitors and buyers to connect, talk business and place orders from the comfort of their offices or homes," GJEPC Chairman, Colin Shah told reporters in a webinar.
"Although we missed out on the August show, we couldn't let another opportunity go by. Bolstered by the midstream's confidence in a pick-up in festive and wedding demand, we went into high gear to organise IIJS Virtual in record time, to ensure that the IIJS lives up to its earned reputation as the backbone of the Indian industry's growth," Shah said.
The IIJS 2020 has the potential to do 20-40 per cent business transactions as compared to what is done during a physical show, he added.
The GJEPC is planning to organise IIJS in physical format in January. However, if situation does not normalise by then the council will hold it virtually as well, Shah added.
The show will have dedicated 5 halls each for gold jewellery, diamond or colour stone jewellery, couture or bridal jewellery, loose diamonds, colour stones, pearls, and silver or costume fashion jewellery.
IIJS Virtual has well-equipped digital architecture and ensures exhibitors can have one-to-one meetings with the buyers, Shah said.
Both the buyer and exhibitor experience will be enhanced with 2D and 3D Stalls, Dashboards for Buyers and Sellers, and an appealing Meeting Interface with live product profiling.
"IIJS is one of the most coveted annual shows that helps the trade stay connected. It is one of the biggest networking and gem and jewellery sourcing events.
"This year, the pandemic has forced us to put our plans on hold for the physical show. But, out of every adversity emerges an opportunity, and we are now gearing to conduct the IIJS Virtual Show to help connect buyers and sellers. We are hopeful that business will be back on track soon," GJEPC Vice-Chairman Vipul Shah added.


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COS is expanding its store network into Taiwan with the opening of its first brick-and-mortar store at the Taipei 101 Shopping Center. The store’s exterior is decorated in a forest green colour, while its interior sports warm neutrals creating a soothing atmosphere.
SEE ALSO: Apple to open fourth South Korea store
To compliment the neutral colour palette, the store interior has a minimalist design with organic textures and recycled materials, including bamboo furniture, slate-shaped cashier counters, stone magnetic floors, and aluminium display shelves. Additionally, across the store’s table surfaces are made with Richlite material, which is composed of recycled paper and phenolic resin.
“Opening a store in Taipei is an exciting step,” said Petra Lerch, MD of COS Asia Pacific. “We have been planning to enter this market for some time, and launching this new brick-and-mortar store is like the first place to connect with local customers.”
In 2012, Hong Kong was the first Asian market for the H&M Group-owned fashion label to enter. Throughout the continent, COS has gradually expanded its presence, launching in China, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia. Last year, the brand opened its first store in the Philippines. Currently, COS operates more than 280 physical stores worldwide.


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Profits plunge at Go Outdoors
By Sarah Wood | 21st November 2023
Go Outdoors profits fell by nearly half last year as the retailer was hit with increased operating costs.
The outdoor clothing and equipment specialist, which has a store in Gloucester, saw profits down to £13m for the year to the end of January, compared to £21.5m for the previous year.
Sales for the year were up 7% to £338m, due to solid in-store sales.
The retailer said profits had been hit by property, utility and freight costs, which had all risen disproportionately. Staffing costs were also up, due to changes to the national living wage and new store openings.
Go Outdoors, which is owned by JD Sports, grew its UK store portfolio from 68 to 86 over the year, as it cashed in on the rise in Brits spending time outside.
The retailer said hiking, camping, cycling and fishing had all seen big increases in equipment sales since before the pandemic.
Copyright 2023 Moose Partnership Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission.


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KYOTO, Japan — A Nintendo press release has revealed that after decades of work as video games’ most iconic mascot, Mario will soon be dead forever.
“We have been delighted in sharing the adventures of this smiling, super-powered Italian plumber with you,” the release read. “With this in mind, we must announce that we will end our year-long celebration of Mario with his eternal exit from this mortal realm. Starting next Monday, Mario will no longer come back to life.”
“You will get one Mario. That’s it,” the announcement elaborated. “Once you make a mistake, the game is over. Mario will leave this world at 35, the same age as Christ.”
The initial backlash on social media was swift and negative. Longtime fans bemoaned the situation felt like “losing a family member” and frantically asked what the news would mean “for the Smash community.”
To assuage the angry online crowds, Mario creator and game director Shigeru Miyamoto offered clarifications. Said Miyamoto, “This decision is not a metaphor or some artistic message about the preciousness of life. This is what Mario himself wants.”
“Mario has been eager to die for many years,” explained the legendary game designer. “But he cannot die, because he did something very bad many years ago. I cannot tell you what he did. But I am happy to say Mario has recently repaid his karmic debt and may now pass on.”
“Please play as much as you can this weekend. After that, Mario will rest,” finished Miyamoto.
Nintendo has advised that Mario’s respawning will end at 12:15 a.m. Japan Standard Time. Luigi, dead or alive, will be buried alive with his brother, in accordance with Miyamoto’s wishes.


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Whenever clients dropped behind on repaying their short-term, small-dollar loans, https://paydayloansmissouri.org online Ace money Express threatened jail time or pressured them into taking out fully brand new loans with exorbitant charges to pay for your debt.
Ace ended up being so intent on squeezing cash away from customers that its training manual included a visual of a step-by-step loan procedure that could trap delinquent borrowers in a period of debt, the customer Financial Protection Bureau stated Thursday.
Those kinds of abusive debt-collection methods have reached the center of this ten dollars million settlement the federal government watchdog reached with Ace, certainly one of the nationвЂ™s largest lenders that are payday. The Irving, Tex.-based business consented to the offer but denies wrongdoing.
Ace must spend $5 million to refund delinquent clients who had been at the mercy of unlawful collection techniques from March 7, 2011 to Sept. 12, 2012. Ace also needs to spend a $5 million civil penalty and ВВend its abusive techniques, in line with the purchase.
Eligible borrowers will soon be contacted by way of a settlement administrator with directions for publishing a claim for a reimbursement of these re re re payments to Ace, including charges and finance costs. CFPB officials stated they might perhaps maybe not figure out a precise wide range of clients harmed by AceвЂ™s behavior, but estimated the figure to stay the thousands.
вЂњAce had been relentlessly overzealous with its quest for overdue customers,вЂќ CFPB Director Richard Cordray stated in a seminar call with reporters. вЂњAce enthusiasts had been over and over repeatedly calling consumersвЂ™ employers and family relations and improperly sharing the main points of this debt.вЂќ
Problems at Ace became apparent once the bureau carried out one of its very very first examinations of this payday lender. Examiners unearthed that the companyвЂ™s in-house and third-party collectors threatened to report delinquent borrowers to credit agencies or even to include costs with their financial obligation, in breach regarding the legislation.
Additionally they uncovered a graphic in AceвЂ™s training manual that illustrated that the organization provides delinquent clients the option of refinancing or expanding their loans. Then, if the debtor вЂњdoes perhaps perhaps perhaps not create payment as well as the account gets in collections,вЂќ the cycle starts once again, aided by the customer that is same for the next pay day loan.
A current CFPB research discovered that significantly more than 80 % of pay day loans are rolled over or accompanied by another loan within 2 weeks, according to a research of 12 million loans in 30 states. These borrowers are more inclined to remain in debt for 11 months or longer, accruing more costs.
Ace, which includes 1,500 retail storefronts in 36 states additionally the District, stated it cooperated aided by the bureauвЂ™s probe but disputes the findings.
вЂњWe settled this matter so that you can give attention to serving our clients and supplying the products they depend on,вЂќ said Ace chief administrator Jay B. Shipowitz.
The company hired Deloitte Financial Advisory Services to review a sample of its collection calls after the CFPB raised concerns. The consultant discovered that a lot more than 96 % of AceвЂ™s calls throughout the review duration had been according to what the law states.
CFPB Deputy Enforcement Director Lucy Morris stated the Deloitte research had вЂњsignificant flawsвЂќ but nevertheless revealed вЂњsubstantial violations.вЂќ
Ace insists so it has policies in position to stop struggling borrowers from taking right out brand new loans. The organization analyzed its information from March 2011 through February 2012 and discovered that almost 100 % of clients with financing in collections for over ninety days failed to sign up for a brand new loan within fourteen days of paying down their existing debt.
Nevertheless, the business stated this has instituted a unique conformity monitoring system, has cut ties having its old third-party collection agency now calls for all employees to simply simply simply take quarterly conformity training.
The growing prevalence of payday financing, particularly following the economic crisis, has alarmed lawmakers and advocacy teams. Payday advances carry high rates of interest and balloon re payments that may trap People in the us in a period of financial obligation, experts state. Industry teams argue that payday financing serves a necessity which is not being met by conventional banking institutions.


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March 4 (Reuters) - H.J. Heinz Co Chief Executive William Johnson would receive about $56 million if he gets terminated following the ketchup maker's acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital, the company said on Monday.
In its preliminary proxy statement, the world's largest ketchup maker also said the merger agreement, announced on Feb. 14, has been amended so that restricted stock units would vest in keeping with their existing schedule instead of all at once at the time of the merger.
Heinz spokesman Michael Mullen said Johnson's "golden parachute" payment would reflect his success in building shareholder value over his 15 years as CEO.
"This compensation consists of equity that Mr. Johnson accumulated over his 30-year career with Heinz and existing equity awards and contractual rights that were in place well before the announcement of the proposed merger," Mullen said.
Arthur Winkleblack, chief financial officer, and David Moran, CEO of Heinz Europe and its global infant nutrition business, would each get about $15.5 million in a similar scenario, Heinz said.
The filing also showed that the initial offer for Heinz, made by Brazilian private equity firm 3G and Berkshire, was for $70 per share. The buyers later raised their offer to $72.50.


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Indonesia leads SEA in rising online technical consumer goods sales
Online sales of technical consumer goods in the region rose to 43% in Q1.
Indonesia is one of the markets in Southeast Asia that has been demonstrating the steadiest hike in e-commerce contributions for technical consumer goods (TCG), according to GfK Market Intelligence.
Online sales in Indonesia have been contributing an increasing share of the overall TCG market value, rising for three years straight — from 14% in 2019, 19% in 2020 and subsequently to 23% in the latest period. Singapore (22%) and Thailand (22%) are the two other markets where online sales contributions have exceeded 20 percent of the overall TCG market in Q1 2021.
GfK also found out that consumers in SEA are turning to online shopping as a result of restriction measures enforced by governments.
One of the few sectors which has managed to benefit greatly from the COVID-19 pandemic is e-commerce, with online sales of TCG in the region surging to 43% in Q1. This increase translates to $594m in sales.
Media tablets, in particular, saw a spike of 80% in Q1 2021 because of the work at home trend in the region. Similarly, mobile computing devices also registered a similar uptrend, with sales value growing from 9% in 2020 to 35% in 2021.
“The “at-home” experiences have kept the online marketplace going and provided a cushion against economic shocks created by the pandemic in the past months. Going forward, these “at-home” experiences will continue to shape the online marketplace and economic drivers that are vital for success even in the post pandemic world, in areas of convenience, performance, as well as health and hygiene,” Alexander Dehmel, Market Insights Lead of GfK Asia said.


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In a quarter that is believed to have been the worst for US stocks after the financial crisis, investor Warren Buffett went on a shopping binge.
In a filing late by Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway it said, it had bought $20 billion in stocks in the three months ended 30 September which included $6.9 billion worth of dabbling in US stocks.
The shopping also included the acquisition of specialty chemical company Lubrizol Corp for $8.7 billion. The purchase closed in the quarter after being announced earlier in the year, as also $5 billion in preferred shares and warrants of Bank of America.
According to some analysts, the $6.9 billion in common stock purchases represented a fairly aggressive market position. They added that was a better jump that what had been seen from them in a while.
Buffet's company bought about $3.6 billion in stock in the second quarter and less than $1 billion in the first quarter and said given Buffett's inclination for bargains, the buying in the third quarter was not a surprise.
They add a fairly significant decline in the quarter was seen, but the question was where he put the money to work.


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Ford Wants to Take on Subaru With a Sport Wagon Named Fusion
The Ford Fusion sedan is not long for this world, but just as the sedan is set to be axed in the coming years, the “Fusion” nameplate will live on in another form. Word has it that Ford is looking to use the name on a high-roofed sport wagon that the company is developing to compete against the Subaru Outback. There’s no timetable on when the Fusion Sport Wagon is going to arrive but look for its debut to happen shortly after the Fusion sedan gets the heave-ho from Ford early next decade.
A Mild-Mannered Ford Escort is Expected to Fetch Huge Money at An RM Sotheby’s Auction
A ratty looking 1976 Ford Escort GL sedan is expected to sell for as much as $300,000 at a coming RM Sotheby’s auction, all because it was once owned by St. John Paul the Great, a lot of whom know him more as the late Pope John Paul II. The unassuming Escort isn’t in the best of condition, but its provenance is the biggest reason why it’s predicted to go for that much money.
Now Ford Says a Fiesta RS Isn’t Happening as the Confusion Grows
Less than a couple of weeks ago we found out that the Ford Fiesta RS might finally happen. It was Ford Performance Europe boss Leo Roeks who hinted about the possibility, but we just learned that the Fiesta RS remains just a rumor for the time being. The news comes from Ford’s head of design for Europe, Amko Leenarts, who argued that an RS model isn’t necessary because the Fiesta ST is fast and powerful enough.
Ford May Finally Build a Fiesta RS, But It’s Not Coming to the U.S.
Rumors about Ford wanting to add a high-performance RS model to the Fiesta lineup have been flying around for quite a few years. Unfortunately, we never got a hot-hatch above the 212-horsepower ST200, despite the first Fiesta RS concept dating back to 2004. But Ford’s more recent plans to expand the RS performance lineup may finally include the tiny Fiesta.
Shareholders Are Pissed About Ford Killing off Sedans; Silly Ford Thinks It’s Reinventing the American Car
Why Ford CEO Jim Hackett thought that killing off almost all of Ford’s car lineup, after watching stock prices drop 12 percent in five months, was a good idea is outlandishly puzzling. That’s a huge drop in stock price, and his plan is to cut $25.2 billion in costs by 2022. Apparently, the route to take to do that is to force loyal Ford customers into trucks or SUVs. He’s taken a lot of heat from shareholders over this move and actually had the nerve to say that Ford is “reinventing the American car.” So, riding a wave that was created by consumers, while killing off most of your car lineup, is now considered reinventing the American car.
Even worse, Hackett wants to blame the sour reaction to this move on media coverage, saying “I wish the coverage had been a little different. If you got beyond the headline, you’ll see we’re adding to our product lineup, and by 2020 we’ll have the freshest showroom in the industry. The headlines look like Ford’s retreating. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.”
Truth be told, the brand is killing off an entire range of affordable, economical cars in hopes that loyal customers will be willing to step up from a car like the Taurus or Focus to an SUV. According to him, customers say they want Ford SUVs. That’s “what they really want.” I don’t know about you, but to me, that sounds like reasoning that tries to shift the focus away from him being an idiot in hopes that the next five years will yield a better profit with no cars.
Well, he better be right. I mean, Ford isn’t reinventing the American car – that’s not how this works. But, if things don’t work out, and this proves to be as much of a bonehead move as it appears to be, Hackett will probably find himself out of a job a lot sooner than he expected.
The Ford Focus Active is Suffering From an Identity Crisis
More than a few hearts were broken when Ford announced plans to dramatically scale back its non-crossover and non-SUV lineups in the U.S. One of the casualties of that downsizing is the Ford Focus. Unfortunately, all but one version of the Focus are expected to be eliminated from the company’s U.S. lineup. That means that there’s a good chance that we can say goodbye to hatchback and sedan versions of the Focus. It’s not likely, but the ST could also get the heave-ho as could the range-topping RS, which only arrived in the country in 2015. We barely knew it. The good news is that there is one version of the Focus that will, without a dout, remain in the U.S. It’s called the Focus Active, and it’s essentially a raised five-door hatchback with some semblance of a crossover.
The Next-Gen Ford Focus ST Will Take on the Renault Megane RS with the 2.3-Liter EcoBoost; Could Deliver as Much as 320 Horsepower
The next-generation Ford Focus ST was recently spotted testing in the wild, and we’ve already discussed what it may bring to the table in our speculative review. Now, a new rumor suggests that the new ST might be the last non-hybrid hot-hatch from Ford and that it could get its juice from the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost found in the Mustang. Sounds pretty wild, but it makes sense given Ford’s plans for the next-generation Focus RS.
2019 Ford Focus ST
After seven successful years on the market, the third-generation Ford Focus was replaced by a brand-new hatchback. Although it’s too early to say whether the new model will be as successful as its predecessor, it has many features to brag about, starting with a new platform that will underpin several Ford vehicles in the future. It also boasts a sportier exterior, new tech inside the cabin, and a revised engine lineup. With the standard Focus on its way to dealerships as of 2018, it’s time to talk about the RS model. The performance-oriented model might arrive by the end of the year and rumors and renderings are already making headlines on the internet.
Ford’s very own competitor for the all-popular Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Focus ST will benefit from all the cool features of the new Focus, but it will receive a few extra features inside and out. The sportier exterior with more aggressive cues will be joined by an exclusive interior, while its engine will provide the most power in an ST model yet. Until the next-generation Focus RS arrives, the ST will sit at the top of the range in terms of performance and pricing. Let’s take a closer look at what we already know about this car in the speculative review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming Ford Fiesta ST.
Ford to Bring the New 1.5-liter Three-Banger to the U.S. Market; Will it Wind Up In the Next-Gen Ford Focus?
Unveiled earlier this month, the new-generation Ford Focus introduced a brand-new platform from the company, as well as a number of new or updated engines. Set to arrive in the United States sometime next year, the Focus could also bring Ford’s brand-new, 1.5-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost unit to North America.
Is the 2018 Ford Escape a Death Trap? IIHS Testing Shows it Might Be if You’re the Passenger
The 2018 Ford Escape is, by most accounts, a good crossover. But its safety is being thrown into question after the model received the worst rating among seven small SUVs from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s passenger-side small overlap crash performance. Of all the SUV models that were tested, the Escape turned in the only ’poor’ rating among the group, a stunning grade considering that most of its rivals, including the Jeep Compass, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain, all received ’good’ ratings.
Wallpaper of the Day: 2019 Ford Focus
The new Focus is here, and its DNA has evolved in a way that pleases the car gods. It has a more aggressive look outside and a more refined interior with lots of new technology. It’s now a car for the modern ages and is now fully equipped to compete with the Honda Civic and Chevy Cruze, among others. The problem is that it will go on sale in Europe later this year (with more than 180 horsepower in range-topping form) but won’t come to the U.S. until sometime in 2019. It might not be a supercar, but the Focus does have its own following. If you’re one of the many Focus fans out there, we’ve hand-picked our favorite wallpaper of the new model and dropped a gallery for you to browse too – go ahead and take a few to keep your desktop fresh and the itch subdued until it goes on sale.
Visual Comparison: 2018 Ford Focus vs 2019 Ford Focus
After seven years on the market, the third-generation Focus was finally retired in 2018 and replaced with a new model redesigned on a clean sheet. Highly popular in the U.S. and Europe, the third-gen Focus leaves a big legacy behind. The outgoing hatchback was a high seller, it spawned the best ST model yet, and marked the return of the RS nameplate. Whether the new Focus will be able to fill the big shoes or not is hard to predict at this point, but we can compare the two cars inside and out to see what changed and which is ultimately more appealing. Let’s have a closer look below.
Continue reading for the full story.
2019 Ford Focus
The Ford Focus has finally entered its fourth generation, and it brings a lot of change in terms of design, comfort, and economy. It comes complete with a largely revamped interior and loads of new technology; not to mention a range of new engines that are more powerful and more efficient. As usual, the new Focus will call Europe (and China) home first, before coming to the United States for the 2019 model year.
Here’s a Preview of What the Ford Focus ST and Focus RS Might Look Like
Ford just unveiled the fourth-generation Focus in London, and it’s pretty obvious that we have a new exciting hatchback underway. Sportier than ever before on the outside and equipped with better features on the inside, it’s powered by four drivetrains in Europe, including both gasoline and diesel options. And, just like the smaller Ka+ and Fiesta, it gained a crossover-inspired Active version. Having seen the new Focus, I can’t help but wonder how the ST and RS versions will look like. A couple of new renderings from X-Tomi Design provide the answer.
The New Ford Focus is Here, and It’s Itching for a Shot at the Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic
After seven years on the market, it’s time for the third-gen Focus to be put to rest as an all-new generation comes to life with major improvements in tow. Ford designed the fourth-gen Focus from the ground up, giving it some design cues from the now-defunct third-gen Focus RS to go with some seriously upgraded tech, new safety features, and a range of new engines that are not only more powerful but more efficient as well. Europe and China will see the fourth-gen Focus hit dealers by the turn of the year, but the U.S. won’t see the new model until sometime in 2019.
2018 Ford Fiesta Active
After almost 10 years on the market, the sixth-generation Ford Fiesta was finally discontinued in 2017, making way for a brand-new model with a fresh and sportier design. The new Fiesta also brought new technology on the table, as well as revised engines and an ST model powered by a three-cylinder unit. Come 2018 and Ford added a new member to the Fiesta family, this time around in the form of a crossover-styled model called Active. The Fiesta Active joins the Ka+ Active, a similar version of the smaller Ka+ hatchback launched earlier in 2018.
Designed for a small niche that used to include the Volkswagen CrossPolo — a model that is no longer available — the Fiesta Active will share the market with the Hyundai i20 Active. Essentially a hatchback with increase ground clearance and crossover-style cladding, the Fiesta Active is aimed at customers who want the benefits of crossover but still need a compact car that’s easy to drive and park inside the city. A bit more rugged on the outside, the Fiesta Active shares its technology and drivetrains with the standard hatchback, although certain differences are noticeable in every department. But more about that in the review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the Ford Fiesta Active.
One Minute News: Ford Teases the Focus Yet Again; Debut Imminent
The next-gen Ford Focus is set to debut, and Ford just can’t quit putting out the teasers in anticipation. It’s set to take on the Volkswagen Golf, Chevy Cruze, and Honda Civic, so it needs to be a looker. Work has it that it will be and you can even expect the Focus ST and Vignale to be released sometime this year as well. Word about the drivetrain is still nonexistent, but the Focus should grow a bit to offer more room inside and the Focus RS, which could come to be long before the end of the fourth-gen’s lifecycle, could even make use of Ford’s new Hybrid technology that could push the hatchback beyond the 400 horsepower mark. All eyes are on Ford today, folks. Stay tuned for the latest!
As the SUV Obsession Continues, Ford and Chevy Look to Light Their Sedan Lineup
It looks like sedans are slowly getting extinct. We have seen the Volvo S80 and the Mitsubishi Lancer being discontinued in 2017, and next in line are sedans from Chevrolet and Ford. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Ford and GM will drop a number of sedans as crossovers have become the priority choice of consumers. Which cars are these? Read on to know.
Ford to Kill off the Fiesta and Taurus in the U.S. for Good; GM Killing off the Chevy Sonic
Ford and General Motors are doing a little house cleaning, and a few models from each brand are expected to get discarded in the near future. On the chopping block on Ford’s end are the Taurus and the Fiesta. They’re expected to be joined by the Chevrolet Sonic after a Wall Street Journal report revealed that all three models are now on borrowed time in the U.S.
Ford Teases the Next-Gen Focus Just Days Before its Debut
The unveiling of the next-generation Ford Focus is upon us. We’ve already seen the model numerous times through spy shots of test mules and photo shoots. Now, it’s Ford that’s doing the teasing courtesy of a new video that reveals a good number of details about the fourth-generation model. The all-new Ford Focus will make its highly anticipated debut next Wednesday, April 10. Circle those calendars, folks. The new Focus is arriving.


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Australian Tech Millionaires Hold Queenstown Secret Summit
Some of Australia’s best-known tech millionaires were in Queenstown recently at a mysterious meet-up where the requirement for entry was having a company valued at over $100 million.
Among the invitees were Seek co-founder Paul Bassat, online retail entrepreneur Ruslan Kogan (pictured), the founders of Campaign Monitor Dave Greiner and Ben Richardson, Freelancer.com CEO Matt Barrie, and Canva founder Melanie Perkins.
While the event didn’t have a formal name it has been referred to as a gathering of “unicorns and centurions”, with the unicorns being leaders of companies that have reached a $1 billion valuation and centurions those with a valuation over $100 million.
Participants exchanged views on the future of Australia’s tech startup industry and engaged in “peer support” discussions on the various challenges facing their businesses.
Naturally, there was some quad biking, hiking, and fishing, too. (And, according to one source, some helicopters.)
Original article by Alex Heber, Business Insider Australia, January 30, 2015.


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EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: City's $500m retail revolution
DESPITE concerns over the future of Toowoomba CBD retailers once the $500 million redevelopment of Grand Central is complete, centre manager Shaine Beverage assured residents to feel positive about the economy and future of retail for the city.
"The investment of $500 million toward the redevelopment of Grand Central shopping centre is a demonstration of strong confidence in the performance and opportunities of the local economy," he said.
"Toowoomba's thriving construction and development works is establishing the region as a hub of economic activity, and Grand Central is poised to help realise even more of these opportunities.
"By transforming the centre into the region's unrivalled retail, entertainment and lifestyle destination, Grand Central will be well positioned to capture the millions of dollars in retail spending currently being lost to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast shopping precincts."
The project will also make a significant contribution to employment in the region, with around 1,000 jobs to be created within the redeveloped shopping centre.
Mr Beverage said the transformation was on schedule and progressing well.
"We are very excited about launching stage one of the Grand Central redevelopment project later this year, and we will have more information about that launch very soon," he said.


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Catalyze gets C&I solar developer Sol Alliance
- Independent power producer (IPP) Catalyze has gotten commercial and also commercial (C&I) solar programmer Sol Alliance, expanding its existence in the northeast of the US and also handling an 80MW project growth pipeline while doing so.
Including in its acquisition of California-based developer PermaCity previously this year, the bargain will certainly give Catalyze with higher source sources and also deeper solar development capabilities in essential markets such as New York and also New Jersey, the firm said.
Adhering to a collaboration that has actually already seen both business interact for more than a year on project development and acquisition, the bargain will offer Sol Alliance accessibility to Catalyze's origination-to-operations software application integration platform, REenergyze, as well as its exclusive rooftop solar panel installing technology.
Catalyze Chief Executive Officer Steve Luker stated the purchase builds on the business's plan to broaden by getting local distributed solar development firms "that bring a riches of in-depth understanding of the local landscapes and also present synergies to an extremely fragmented market".
Headquartered in Colorado, Catalyze develops, constructs, possesses and also runs eco-friendly dispersed generation and storage projects. The IPP additionally got battery storage provider Prisma Energy Solutions previously this year.
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Close to 41.4 million shoppers chose to shop only online from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, more than the 34.7 million who chose to shop exclusively in stores according to the National Retail Federation. Cyber Monday and Black Friday both saw double-digit sales growth compared to last year and broke online sales records in the United States. Interestingly, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving saw the highest increase from last year with online sales experiencing a growth of 31.8%. It is clear that each year, more and more customers make their holiday purchases online.
Here are the online sales figures for this year:
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Nintendo’s last couple of consoles have had rather rocky launches. While the 3DS did go on to become an incredibly successful handheld and is still popular to this day, its launch titles were mostly middling and uninteresting. As for the Wii U, its launch was arguably disastrous, with titles that mostly consisted of ports that other systems had already had for years and no real killer app to convince people to buy the console; it now seems Nintendo doesn’t plan on repeating those mistakes.
According to MCV, sources close to Nintendo have told them that the company plans to not only have a new Legend of Zelda released as a launch title, but to have new Mario and Pokémon games released within the first six months of the console’s release. Nothing is known about the Mario title but Game Freak is apparently working on the Pokémon game.
The same sources also told MCV that the NX has managed to gain support from other third-party companies; SEGA, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Activision, and Warner Bros. Not only that, but the rumours of the NX being a portable device that can connect to a TV are accurate and the visuals are said to be somewhere between the PS3 and PS4.
One unnamed exec that has had first hand impressions with the system said:
“It’s a nice bit of kit, a bit of a novelty, but a good one. It won’t appeal to PS4 fans. Nintendo seems set on trying to upgrade smartphone gamers. That’s going to be a big job for the marketing department.”
The NX is currently slated to release in March 2017, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as a launch title, but will it be the only launch title?


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The South African cabinet has approved the submission of the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill of 2020 to parliament for processing.
The Constitutional Court ruled in 2018 that the use of cannabis in South Africa was legal for both personal and medical use. But it is currently still unlawful to use it outside of one’s private home as well as buying and selling it.
The new bill will regulate the use and possession of cannabis and the cultivation of cannabis plants by an adult for personal use.
It will also provide the limit of the quantity of cannabis that may be possessed by an adult and criminalize the smoking of cannabis in public places, according to Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola.


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Shell pockets £2.1bn with latest sell-off
Shell has raised £2.1billion by selling a 10 per cent stake in Australia's Woodside Petroleum as chief executive Peter Voser presses on with plans to streamline the group.
The sale reduces Shell's holding in Woodside to 24 per cent and means the Anglo-Dutch firm has completed around £3.4billion of a plan to offload up to £5billion of assets by the end of the 2010-11 financial year.
The company said the sale formed part of a strategy to own energy assets directly or through joint ventures, rather than via shareholdings in other firms.
Sale: Royal Dutch Shell boss Peter Voser said the move was part of a global drive'to simplify the company and to improve our capital efficiency'
And insiders said Shell (down 25.5p to 2059p) had only retained a 24 per cent stake due to the difficulty of offloading such a large volume of shares in one go.
It has agreed to hang on to its remaining stake in the company for a year, unless a third party comes in to buy more than 3 per cent of Woodside.
Voser said the sale was part of a 'worldwide push to simplify the company and to improve our capital efficiency', as the firm gears up for a period of costly investment.
Shell spent £20.7billion building the business this year and expects to invest a further £17billion each year until 2014, as it bids to up its oil output from 3.1millio barrels a day to 3.7million.
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As reported in Computerworld and other media outlets yesterday, AOL announced its new “One by AOL platform, unveiled on Tuesday, promises a consolidated and holistic view of brands’ marketing expenditures and performance across all screens, including TV”
Also from the article: “One allows advertisers and agencies to use data as the foundation of their marketing strategy, looking at consumers through a single, media-agnostic lens, from Web to TV,” said Bob Lord, president of AOL, in the company’s official announcement. “Connecting audience data to media exposures throughout the purchase path lets brands accurately measure return on their marketing dollars.”
This is a very good sign from a company that I have not been positive about for a long time. Back in February AOL CEO Tim Armstrong discussed more layoffs at the company which did not surprise me at all. After all, I have written about AOL’s pending irrelevance going back to 2011. In fact whenever I receive an email from someone using an AOL account it feels to me like 1993 all over again and I even have recently heard the classic “You’ve got mail” sounder in my office.
In truth I did not properly evaluate the reach of AOL sites like Huffington Post and Engadget and while AOL and Mr. Armstrong continue to plow ahead toward the goal of lasting relevance, it is in many ways (particularly in the area of branded content) better positioned than is Yahoo and its somewhat beleaguered CEO Marissa Mayer. Even today there are calls for her ouster.
So while AOL’s days as a default email provider are less important, and its content more important, the development of the One by AOL platform may be just what many of us involved in digital advertising are waiting to employ.
From the Computerworld article:
“One is very important to AOL for many reasons,” said Ray Wang, founder and principal analyst with Constellation Research.
In the past, it’s been “very hard to work with AOL to get the customer insights across all the acquired platforms,” Wang explained. “So, the solution is mapping these new journeys by continuity of experience across channels, screens, process and other contextually relevant insight.”
The real test now will be how much simplification advertisers and agencies actually see in the new service, he added.
The more important issue, however, is providing a unified platform that customers can build on top of to track audience, attribution, conversion rates and other contextual insights, Wang said. “This is more than just multiple screens,” he noted. “Why? Customers don’t care what channel or screen they operate in, and marketers know this.”
Well, smart marketers do at least. Does this score one for AOL? Even if it is AOL is still trying to come from behind. That’s the way I see it.