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Indonesia and Singapore has announced both countries will participate in a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) for cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes.
Both countries will start to process applications for the RGL for eligible travelers on October 26.
Eligible travelers must be citizens or permanent residents of either Singapore and Indonesia and a sponsorship from a company or government entity in the destination country. Applications will be processed by the destination country's immigration departments.
Per guidelines set by the RGL, elegible travelers will be subject to health guidelines set by both countries which includes taking a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test. Eligible travelers who are residents of both Singapore and Indonesia will be able to apply for a short stay less than 14 days in each country.
The RGL scheme is one lane for travel to Singapore. Singapore also has waived home quarantine requirements through its Air Travel Pass program for short-term travelers coming in from Australia (except the state of Victoria), Vietnam, Brunei, and New Zealand. Departing Singapore residents will still subject to quarantine measures in the destination countries.
Indonesia joins a select group of countries - China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Brunei – that has joint green lane agreements for travel between both countries.
Regarding the addition of Indonesia to its RGL scheme, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on a Facebook post it is part of the "gradual and calibrated steps to reopen our borders and support our economic recovery.”
"It is important to re-establish connectivity with key economic partners such as Indonesia to maintain Singapore's continued viability as a key business and transport hub," Balakrishnan said.


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Consumers place onus on manufacturers to drive sustainable change
July 11, 2019 / Jonny Williamson
More than two-thirds of British consumers say they care more about the environmental impact of the goods they buy today, compared to five years ago, but they mainly feel it's the responsibility of manufacturers and producers to tackle the issue. That’s according to a pool of more than 2,000 consumers by KPMG. When asked who they feel should be most responsible for ensuring the goods they buy are environmentally-friendly, over half of respondents said the companies producing or manufacturing products. Only 15% of respondents point to policymakers, and only one in 10 believe it is the retailer’s responsibility or their own. The corporate world has to wake up to the strength of feeling towards sustainability, according to Dan Thomas, UK head of corporates at KPMG UK.

domain: news


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For the past few weeks, Tesla China has adopted a pretty conservative stance with its estimates about the first deliveries of the Made-in-China Model 3. While numerous car carriers have been spotted loading up with MIC Model 3s in Gigafactory 3’s holding lots, the electric car maker has maintained that it was simply aiming to begin deliveries of the all-electric sedan before the Spring Festival, which will be held in Q1 2020.
As it turned out, Tesla China has been vastly under-promising all along. Citing a company representative, a recent Reuters report stated that Tesla China will begin delivering the MIC Model 3 to local customers on Monday, December 30, 2019. That’s far earlier than the company’s own estimates, and immensely earlier than what Tesla’s skeptics have suggested.
Monday’s upcoming delivery event will likely symbolic in a way, with only 15 Model 3 being handed over to local customers that are comprised of Tesla China employees. This mirrors Tesla’s first Model 3 deliveries in the United States, which involved a ceremony in the Fremont factory.
The first delivery date of the Made-in-China Model 3 marks the 357th day since Tesla and its construction partner started working on the Gigafactory 3 complex, which was then just a plot of land. The speed upon which Gigafactory 3’s Phase 1 zone was completed marks a new record for global automakers currently operating in China.
The Made-in-China Model 3 is Tesla’s key to the local Chinese auto industry, which also corresponds to the world’s largest electric car market. China’s EV segment dwarfs that of the United States, but it is also populated by local electric car makers that produce affordable vehicles. A lot of these vehicles are not as tech-focused as the Model 3, but they are offered at prices that are far lower than those of Tesla’s imported vehicles.
With Gigafactory 3 producing Model 3 in China, Tesla would be able to evade the steep import tariffs that have long weighed down the Model S and Model X in the country. The Chinese government has also been supportive of Tesla’s expansion, granting the MIC Model 3 with government incentives that are usually given only to local automakers. These would likely make the Model 3 more attractive to local consumers, even if the vehicle starts at a rather premium price of 355,800 yuan ($50,000) before subsidies.
With Model 3 deliveries from Gigafactory 3 starting earlier than expected, Tesla’s first quarter of 2020 will likely be filled with some surprisingly impressive numbers from China.


text: Actavis Group, the international generic pharmaceuticals company, today announced that it has received approval from the FDA to market Levetiracetam Oral Solution. Distribution of the product has commenced. Levetiracetam Oral Solution is available in the 100mg/mL strength and is the generic equivalent of Keppra(R) Oral Solution by UCB, Incorporated. Levetiracetam Oral Solution is used in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and children with epilepsy. Annual U.S. sales of Keppra(R) Oral Solution were US$95.9 million for the 12 months ending September 2008 according to IMS Health data. Commenting on the new approval, Doug Boothe, CEO of Actavis in the United States said: “The approval of Levetiracetam Oral Solution demonstrates our continuing commitment to introduce new generic products to the marketplace, as well as highlights our expertise in developing and manufacturing a wide range of dosage forms. Actavis’ drive to be a leader in generic pharmaceuticals is supported by one of the largest product development pipelines in the industry.


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August 12, 2022 | 09:49
To promote the development of blockchain technology and encourage businesses to proactively accelerate the digital transformation process, insiders deem it necessary to quickly complete the legal corridor for this new technology.
July 07, 2022 | 14:28
On July 8, VIR will hold the talk show Innovative Funds for Blockchain Startups, during which the guests will discuss the possibilities for Vietnamese blockchain entrepreneurs to maximise their investment success.
May 12, 2022 | 15:59
A lack of knowledge and confidence is hindering the development of prospective blockchain game projects in Vietnam.


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The Pacific Leaping Blenny: A Creature Of Peculiar Habits, This Fish Prefers Land Over Water, Hops Like A Frog, And Uses Camouflage To Surprise Prey, Confuse Predators
This unique fish prefers to live on land and can leap without legs.
Cognizant, An IT Outsourcing Company Based In New Jersey, To Hire 10,000 Workers In The US Over Next 3 Years
Will Cognizant's move to hire thousands of workers in the country appease critics concerned about the loss of American jobs?
Investigators expect their work at the accident site to take a week to 10 days, and restoration of the service in the line could take longer.
The release of Hours, the late actor's last completed movie, on Video on Demand and in the US, will not be delayed.
U.S. stock markets and property markets in Brazil could be heading toward a bubble, Nobel laureate Robert Shiller has warned.
China's Final HSBC Manufacturing PMI Tops Expectations, Flash Estimates; New Orders Rise, Exports Fall
The uptick in local demand reflects China's policy changes this year to steer the economy toward a domestic-consumption model.
China is set to achieve a major headway in its ambitious space program with the launch of Yutu moon rover, on Monday.
North Korea Says It Arrested US Citizen Merrill E. Newman, After He Admitted To War Crimes During Korean War
Merrill Newman, 85, was detained while attempting to find fellow Korean war veterans in North Korea.
Euro Zone Unemployment In October Declined For First Time Since 2011, Inflation November Improved Marginally
Unemployment in the euro zone fell for the first time in 33 months, while inflation showed modest improvement.
Sotheby's To Hold Its First Major Auction In China's Mainland Amid A Government Crackdown On Luxury Spending
The event will feature the creations of Picasso, Rembrandt and China’s leading artists, including the most expensive living Asian artist.
China's ZTE Targets $800 Million In Revenues From Its India Operations; Plans To Sell 4G Phones In India In 2014
The smartphone maker also plans to partner with local firms to sell 4G handsets in the subcontinent beginning next year.
Glaciers Sizzle, Squirt Bubbles When Melting To Create Loudest Marine Environment; These Sounds Could Help To Measure Ice Melt
Air bubbles are formed in glacial ice sheets when snow crystals trap pockets of air, which are noisily released when the ice melts.
Aided by strong sales and improved operating margins, Chinese industry put in yet another stellar performance.
India's economy grew at its slowest in a decade and the government is struggling to contain a severe deficit problem ahead of an election year.
NSA Monitored Online Sexual Habits Of Muslim 'Radicalizers' In A Bid To Discredit Them: NSA Document Reveals
Documents released by Edward Snowden show the NSA collected records of online sexual activity of the people it suspected of radicalism.
German GfK Consumer Confidence Index Tops Expectations, Hits Years-Long Highs And Forecasts A Sharp Rise In Consumer Spending
Confidence among German consumers hit multi-year highs as improved economic conditions buoyed income expectations, a survey showed.
Hiring the children of the rich and powerful is illegal under U.S. law, if such hiring is made in exchange for business opportunities.
Biocon, Mylan Get Nod From Indian Drug Regulator To Market Biosimilar Version Of Herceptin Used For Treating Breast Cancer
A 12-shot course of Herceptin, which generated sales of $6.4 billion in 2012, costs about $19,200 in India.
Uranium seized by South Africa earlier this month raises concerns of a possible illegal trade in nuclear materials.
Pacific Islander's Bid To Seek Asylum As 'Climate Change Refugee' Rejected; New Zealand Judge Dismisses Plea As "Novel" But "Unconvincing"
A Kiribati man's unsuccessful bid to seek asylum in New Zealand as a "climate change refugee" could discourage future claims.
FDA, in a strongly-worded letter, warned Google-backed 23andMe Inc to stop selling its DNA-testing kits.
Administration officials refused his offer, fearing doing so would hand Edward Snowden a win and would not resolve any security issues.
India Beats China To Become Most Attractive Investment Destination, Global Investor Sentiment At 2-Year-High: E&Y Report
Global investor sentiment is at a two-year high and emerging markets top the list of hot investment destinations, a new report says.
China's claim to the airspace over the disputed East China Sea islands is likely to anger Japan.
Egypt Expels Turkish Ambassador, Downgrades Ties Citing Threat To Stability; Turkey Vows To Reciprocate
Turkey, a staunch supporter of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, vowed to reciprocate.
Investors on Friday are likely to focus on quarterly earnings reports, as no major economic data releases are scheduled.
The tragedy has become the nation’s worst disaster since it regained independence in 1991.
China Bans Its Officials From Buying Gifts With Public Funds During New Year, Spring Festival Holidays
The Chinese anti-corruption watchdog has banned Chinese officials from using public funds to buy new year gifts.
Investors are likely to focus on corporate earnings, inflation data and a jobless claims report due on Thursday.
Google Wallet users can use the prepaid debit card to purchase goods in stores and withdraw cash from ATMs.


text:
Report: Apple Cuts 0.7 Percent of iPad Profit to Give Factory Workers Big Raise
May 31, 2010 9:15 PM
comment(s) - last by
Apple will lose 0.7 percent of its iPad profits to give the workers that assemble its device a 20 percent raise. Workers at Foxconn are currently struggling after a string of suicides and enduring reportedly poor working conditions.
(Source: Kin Cheung/AP)
A small cut to Apple's profit margin may make a big difference in workers' lives
It took a
string of suicides
to spur it to action, but Apple is finally taking a big step towards trying to ensure that the workers who build its bestselling iPads, iPods, and iPhones enjoy a decent standard of living.
Apple's products are almost entirely manufactured by Foxconn, a China-based unit of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry. Foxconn builds the sleek devices at its Shenzhen plant in Southern China. While many companies (Microsoft, HP, Dell, Nintendo, Sony, etc.) utilize Foxconn's manufacturing services, the Shenzhen facility primarily serves Apple -- and it's also the site of all of the recent suicides.
The suicides were perhaps foreshadowed by an internal probe by Apple that revealed that several of its international manufacturing partners were
committing abusive employment practices
, such as using child labor or demanding unpaid overtime. According to reports, the latter was
at the Shenzhen facility.
by Chinese news organization
, Apple has now quietly committed a dramatic gesture, offering to finance the majority of the
20 percent raise
in pay to the Shenzhen workers. The raise was long promised to workers, but had remained undelivered for some time now.
The 20 percent raise will cost Apple a little, but not very much. It is estimated to raise the costs of labor for the iPad from 2.3 percent of the cost to 3.0 percent of the cost. Apple still looks to make hundreds in profit off of each unit sold (breakdowns estimated Apple makes
at least $200
per iPad sold).
For the Foxconn workers living in the factory city of Shenzhen, though, the raise will make a world of difference. While some will question why Apple didn't push for higher wages in the first place, it's important to appreciate that it is at least taking action now. One can only hope that HP, Dell, Microsoft, and others step up to the plate and offer to subsidize similar raises at their manufacturing locations -- even if they haven't been struck by the spate of suicides that occurred at Apple's plant.
Apple has not yet officially acknowledge the report, though it has previously stated that it was
concerned about the working conditions at Shenzhen
and that it was evaluating its options.
In other news,
a fire broke out
at the Shenzhen plant this week. It reportedly was unrelated to the suicides. The fire did not do any major damage to equipment, according to reports, and is not expected to impact Apple's production schedule.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
6/2/2010 5:00:44 AM
It is very easy to simply "Lie" and create press about it, but no hard evidence truly exists.
That plant in China is well known by many I know who live in China near that area. Trust me, they operate under Chinese Employment Edict which is a different thing..
The increase of wages forces other factory communities to question their position and earnings and part of the employment edict states that "increases in earnings" may only be used to improve productivity at a facility.
Apple can give them all the money they want, but it will be kept by internal operators of the facility to "improve conditions" while those workers will not get any increased wages, medical insurance or services...
...the money itself will be used to create new methods to "motivate workers" to improve "production."
I am sorry for coming across as mean, cruel and uncivilized in the writing of this post. Notice I am not attacking Apple Directly, but China operates very differently and an Alien Company and Alien Nation as well....can not change employment laws simply from "offering" money.
Money will go to the Shenzhen plant, but it won't be to the targetted workers everyone hears and speaks about.
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text:
China bans children from playing online games from Monday to Thursday
The Chinese government bans minors from playing online games from Monday to Thursday, fearing that children could become addicted to games.
On Monday, the country’s National Press and Publication Administration released the new rules, which only allow minors to play online games on Fridays, weekends and public holidays. But even then, they can only play for an hour, from 8 to 9 p.m.
The new restrictions apply to Chinese citizens under the age of 18 and take effect immediately. Additionally, all online game providers must follow the rules. To do this, China has already required gaming companies to implement real-name identification systems. This requires consumers logging into a game to first provide a cell phone number, state-issued ID, or even undergo a facial scan.
As a result, gaming companies should theoretically know the age of all their customers. Companies that fail to implement age restrictions face potential regulatory crackdowns, the Chinese government has warned.
The new rules go beyond the limitations of video games for minors. In 2019, the country limited underage playing time to just 1.5 hours on weekdays and three hours on weekends. Gambling in the night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. was prohibited.
In an interview with China’s state-run press, the country’s National Administration of Press and Publication called the 2019 rules an important ground for tackling underage gambling addiction. However, the government agency says more parents demanded a stronger crackdown.
“Recently, many parents have reported that some teenagers’ addiction to online games has seriously affected their normal study life and physical and mental health, and even caused a series of social problems, causing many parents to suffer unspeakably. and become a pain in the hearts of the people,” the National Press and Publication Administration said in the interview.
The new rules are certainly a nightmare for the country’s children. But despite the latest restrictions, there have always been ways around China’s past attempts to crack down on video games. One avenue was to buy from China’s gray video game market, where local resellers bring in Xbox and PlayStation consoles purchased overseas. These consoles are set to follow Hong Kong, US or Japanese gaming laws, so owners should be able to play on them for as long as they want.
The news comes as the South Korean government is rolling back restrictions that were supposed to prevent children under the age of 17 from playing games between midnight and 6 a.m. , but it was largely ineffective, partly because it doesn’t apply to mobile games.
Comments are closed.


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Burberry is introducing a series of city-wide takeovers to celebrate the art of discovery and exploration in cities worldwide, aptly named Burberry Streets, with the first leg kicking off in London.
The takeover aims to bring modern British luxury to life, bringing Burberry’s forward-thinking vision and rich heritage to the capital. As part of the series, fans of the brand will be able to attend experiences, events, and installations unfold across London, showcasing the house’s signatures, such as seasonal check in “Knight Blue,” Rose Print and the newly redefined Equestrian Knight Design.
To mark the occasion, Burberry has commenced its activation with the North London stalwart Norman’s cafe. It’s known for serving hearty nosh to its N19 regulars, and has taken the capital by storm, with its home-made beans on toast wowing on Channel 4’s Sunday Kitchen. Renowned for making simple food well, Norman’s is set for a fashion week takeover, with a travelling food truck appearing on the Strand and Duke of York Square during London Fashion Week.
As part of the takeover, symbols of the Burberry house will be seen across the capitals, with flags featuring the brand’s new rose print flying above Bond Street. Piccadilly Circus will be transformed into a picture house, with screens lit up with videos from the Winter 2023 campaign. Keep an eye out for the black cabs, too, as they’ll be wrapped in Daniel Lee’s English Rose print.
Burberry’s London city-wide takeover and partnership with Norman’s celebrates the best of British, bringing the brand out of the showroom and into the streets, which makes perfect sense for a brand like Burberry. Rooted in utility, Thomas Burberry began making clothes to protect people from the British weather.
Before it was a favourite of the fashion crowd, Burberry designed uniforms for British armed forces across two world wars, kitted out arctic explorers and funded a record-breaking flight from Croydon to Cape Town, so it’s safe to say they know a bit about clobber.
Burberry makes clothes to be worn, not just at fashion week, but for functional wear all year round. Burberry Streets will land in Seoul and Shanghai in October.
More on Culted


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Armed with a two liter mill with Quattro, Audi Q5's will be available in showrooms across India from October this year priced at Rs. 35.13 lakhs ex-showroom Maharashtra as a CKD unit.
The German car manufacturer, Audi has announced the launch of its Audi Q5 Business Edition. The small SUV from Audi is powered by a 2.0 liter TDI motor pumping out 172 PS of power and 300 Nm of torque at 1750 rpm with a fuel efficiency of 12 kilometers to a liter. 17 inch alloys, xenon plus headlamps, daytime running lights, and an infotainment system with concert radio will run as standard equipment on the car. “The Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q is perfectly equipped to further strengthen our leadership position in the luxury SUV segment. As the Audi Q5 already has a broad fan base in India, this attractive price will now make this premium experience accessible to a wider customer base who aspire to own a luxury SUV endorsed by our ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ philosophy.
The Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q powered by a dynamic and efficient engine is also equipped with best in-class interior and infotainment features,” said Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India.
In order to enhance the driving pleasure, a multi-function steering wheel, leather interiors with wood panels and rear parking aid would also be a part of the Audi Q5 Business Edition. “Audi India has experienced formidable growth, even surpassing annual sales of 3003 cars for 2010 in the first seven months of 2011. In July 2011, we sold 343 cars – a growth of 52 percent over the same period last year. Our focus is on strengthening our portfolio through the introduction of products like the Audi Q5 2.0 TDI q which are extremely relevant for India and also the expansion of our dealer network. With the opportunity that India presents, we are confident of achieving our retail sales target of 5000 cars by the end of 2011,” added Perschke.
The car would be available as a Complete Knock-Down unit for now.


text:
Ronnie Killen's restaurant empire, which has a sizable following for its command of steaks, barbecue and burgers, is growing again. The pitmaster who put Pearland on the nation's barbecue map with Killen's Barbecue, teased on social media Sunday that the former Hickory Hollow space at 101 Heights would be a good place for the next Killen's venture.Read More
Braun Enterprises will launch a redevelopment of a 1960s era shopping on Long Point Drive aimed at bringing new retail and creative offices suites to the Spring Branch neighborhood.
The Houston company purchased the 70,000-square-foot shopping center at 8141 Long Point from Long Point Partners and renamed it Spring Branch Village. The planned redevelopment is to include a mix of restaurants, fitness, salon and other tenants.Read More
Houston-based Braun Enterprises has scooped up another shopping center for a major redevelopment project, and future tenants are already inking leases.
The 5-acre property, at 8141 Long Point Road in the heart of the Spring Branch neighborhood, contains roughly 70,000 square feet of retail space built around 1960, according to the Harris County Appraisal District. Its appraised value was nearly $4.56 million for 2018, per HCAD.Read More
Houston-based Braun Enterprises purchased an office and retail complex on a prime parcel along West Alabama just west of the Galleria.
The deal was announced by HFF, which marketed the property for Wedge Properties Management Corp.
The 196,000-square-foot property at 5353 and 5373 West Alabama, presents an opportunity for Braun Enterprises to renovate, rebrand and restock with new tenants serving both the neighborhood and office occupants.Read More
The tenant for the Washington Avenue corridor's first dedicated coworking space has been revealed.
Washington Office Co. signed a seven-year lease for just over 8,000 square feet at 1919 Washington Ave., according to previous HBJ reporting and building permits filed with the city of Houston. Washington Office Co. will open at 1919 Washington Ave. by February 2019, Matt Arceneaux, the founder of Washington Office Co., told the Houston Business Journal.Read More
Around six months after acquiring an office property in San Antonio, Houston-based Braun Enterprises has finalized its plans to redevelop the property into a mixed-use development with retail offerings.
Braun Enterprises will redevelop the 187,000-square-foot office building at 84 NE Loop 410 to include just over 20,000 square feet of retail across two buildings, per Braun's marketing materials.Read More
Houston-based Braun Enterprises, a developer best known for its retail and mixed-use redevelopments in the inner Loop, acquired a retail shopping center in the Heights and plans to completely redevelop the property.Read More
In the conversation about where to go for Houston’s best chicken fried steak, one restaurant pops up again and again: Hickory Hollow. And why not? The restaurant has been serving them for 41 years at its Fallbrook location in northwest Houston and for over 31 years at its Heights Boulevard location just off Washington Avenue.
February 2019 will be a sad day for fans of the Heights location. Owner Tony Riedel has sold the property to local real estate developer Braun Enterprises, who plans to find a new tenant for the space. The Fallbrook location will remain open, and the restaurant plans to consolidate its successful catering business there, too.Read More
Houston-based Braun Enterprises unveiled plans to put its new brand of urban office space at its 2522 Yale redevelopment in the Heights. Additionally, F45 Training has signed up as a second retail tenant in the project.
F45 Training will occupy 3,000 square feet in a new fitness studio adjoining Bishops salon. Braun Enterprises is building out the space and will deliver it to tenants by October.Read More
Houston-based Braun Enterprises has ventured into San Antonio with the acquisition of 84 NE Loop 410, also known as the Century Building.
The four-story, 187,000-square-foot building sits on 10 acres at Loop 410 at U.S. 281. Additional retail space and parking could be added to accommodate restaurants and stores, the company said.Read More
The Houston-based development company, known best for buying old inner Loop properties and turning them into viable mixed-use developments, acquired the former Aztec Rentals Center at 2001 W. 24th St. in Garden Oaks. Braun Enterprises plans to develop 20,100 square feet of retail on 2.06 acres and earmarked the remaining 3.46 acres for unspecified development. A construction timeline wasn't provided.Read More
Houston-based Braun Enterprises, one of the busiest developers in the Heights and Montrose, acquired 1.66 acres and a 57,000-square-foot building just off Washington Avenue.Read More
Another prominent restaurant has signed on to The Heights’ hottest development. Jinya Ramen Bar will join Common Bond, Hopdoddy, and Ripe Cuisine at Braun Enterprise’s Heights Waterworks project, the developer announced this week.Read More
If there was an award for Houston's busiest urban core redeveloper, Braun Enterprises just might take home the gold.
The Houston-based developer shared its plans to renovate 1617 Richmond, home to the popular sports bar Revelry on Richmond and just over 5,000 square feet of available retail, restaurant and patio space in the Montrose area. Demolition has already begun at the property and construction should kick off in 60 days, Braun's Zach Wolf told the Houston Business Journal. From there, the renovations should wrap up in three or four months.Read More
A prime Montrose location is getting new life thanks to a family with a long history in the restaurant industry.Read More
Although Braun Enterprises has owned the shopping center at 1900 West 18th Street since the fall of 2016, branding it Grove Heights, the final look of the building took more time and was completed last month.Read More
For the last few months, rumors have been circulating that Common Bond, the acclaimed Montrose bakery and cafe, would be expanding to at least one additional location.Read More
Over the past few years, the number of restaurants in The Heights keeps growing. A neighborhood that once only had a few dining options now offers choices to suit almost any taste. On Tuesday, one of Houston’s most popular food trucks revealed that it’s joining the growing movement. Ripe Cuisine, the vegan truck from chef-owner Stephanie Hoban, announced on Facebook that it will open a restaurant at Braun Enterprise’s Heights Waterworks development.Read More
Braun Enterprises has landed Verizon, Title Boxing Club and new-to-Houston Bishops as initial tenants in its upcoming Midtown redevelopment. The 16,021-square-foot building at 3100 Fannin, at the northwest corner of Elgin, represents the latest of more than 30 inner Loop redevelopments for the Houston real estate firm. The project includes offices on the second floor and retail on the first.Read More


text:
Most Americans are probably aware that a steady diet of foods like chicken nuggets, candy bars and sodas are not a path to health, yet their low cost and easy access mean these foods are becoming a regular part of many people’s diets in the US and around the world. AICR’s research shows that highly processed foods with added fats and sugars contribute to weight gain and having obesity, thus raising the risk for cancers such as colorectal, endometrial and post-menopausal breast. Now, a population study explores whether there is a direct association between eating these ultra-processed foods and cancer risk.
Consumption of ultra-processed foods and cancer risk, published in the British Medical Journal used data from a French cohort called the NutriNet-Santé study, established in 2009, to look at associations between food, nutrition and health. For this study, researchers reviewed diet records from about 105,000 adults to determine the percentage of ultra-processed foods in their diets, using a food processing classification system called NOVA. The ultra-processed group includes foods such as sodas, sweet or savory packaged snacks, mass produced packaged breads and pastries, chicken and fish nuggets, sausages, and packaged instant soups and noodles.
For the study, participants completed online 24-hour diet records every six months. The study authors put individuals’ diets into one of four groups based on how much ultra-processed food they consumed. Researchers then identified over 2200 cancer cases in the cohort during a five year follow up time.
After adjusting for smoking, physical activity, BMI, alcohol, family history and educational level, the scientists found an association between ultra-processed foods and risk for all types of cancer and for breast cancer specifically. For every 10 percent increase of ultra-processed foods in the diet, they found an increase of 12 percent in risk of overall cancer and 11 percent in risk of breast cancer.
The authors caution that these are associations and the findings need to be confirmed by other studies. But there are plausible ways these foods could contribute to cancer risk other than simply leading to weight gain and having obesity. A diet high in ultra-processed foods could lead to a poor nutritional status and, for example, be lower in foods that contain fiber which link to lower risk for colorectal cancer. It is also possible, say the researchers, that some additives in these foods could be culprits, though most evidence on the latter are limited to animal studies.
Although this is one of the first studies to look at a direct link between highly processed foods and cancer risk, you don’t need to wait for more research to eat a healthy diet that can help reduce cancer risk. One of AICR’s Recommendations for Cancer Prevention is to avoid sugary drinks and limit how many processed foods high in added sugar and fat you eat.
Research also shows that eating a diet rich in plant foods such as vegetables, beans, fruit and whole grains as recommended in AICR’s New American Plate, is cancer-protective. Sign up for AICR’s New American Plate Challenge, a program to help you make changes one at a time to eat smarter, move more, and work toward or maintain a healthy weight.
The study was funded by these public institutions of France: Ministère de la Santé, Institut National de la Prévention et de l’Education pour la Santé, Région Ile-de-France, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers and Université Paris 13


text:
Google announced that you can now edit your Google My Business listing directly from Google Search and Google Maps. Truth is, this is a feature Google kind of launched in 2017 but now Google improved the user interface and made some additional improvements.
Here is what it looks like now:
This is what it looked like in 2017:
I asked Greg Sterling, who wrote this up at Search Engine Land what changed and he got this statement from Google. Google told him “previously, merchants could update their Business Profile from Search but had to use Google My Business to access some of the other features. With these feature updates, we’re meeting merchants where they are and giving them the ability to view how their Business Profile appears to the public, update their presence, and connect with customers — all in one place.” Truth is, over the years, a lot of this you could update inline but here is what Google pointed out specifically is new or changed:
Anyway, I asked Mike Blumenthal and Krystal Taing – local SEO experts and they said, it is not new but updated:
That’s correct. The feature is not new but it’s being relaunched with more and improved capabilities.
— Krystal Taing (@krystal_taing) August 13, 2020
What @krystal_taing said plus more focused interface, better analytics and solid future “platform” for future enhancements.
— Mike Blumenthal (@mblumenthal) August 13, 2020
Yep, that’s right 🙂
— Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) August 13, 2020
Forum discussion at Twitter.


text: Following up to a “smoky blue” rendition released at the end of last year, Nike returns with fresh colorways for the Air Footscape Woven. This time, the NM model sees a bold navy hue, along with a lighter beige option embracing the suede upper. Updating the classic ’90s silhouette, the unique woven construction promotes breathability and flexibility, marrying aesthetics with function. Nike’s signature Phylon midsole in white contrasts against the rest of the shoe, while the waffle-patterned outsole provides additional traction. Moreover, the leather-lined heel elevates the overall look and feel of the eye-catching textures. You can expect these sneakers to drop in the coming months at select retailers worldwide.


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A group of state lawmakers announced a package of bills Tuesday they say would make it easier for Pennsylvania small businesses to file their taxes next year.
The three bills, they say, will make the Pennsylvania tax code more in line with the federal code and the majority of other states. This, they say, would allow small businesses to save money and spend more time growing their businesses.
None of the bills -- which will be introduced when the legislature returns later this month by senators Mike Brubaker, Scott Hutchinson, Mike Folmer, and representatives Stephen Bloom, George Dunbar and Seth Grove -- yet have a score for what these tax changes would cost Pennsylvania, though Bloom called it "nominal." Ultimately, if small businesses earn more, they'll pay more in taxes.
Here's what the bills would do:
Create a like-kind exchange
This would allow a business to swap assets -- say a piece of property -- with another business without paying taxes on the trade. Right now, Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that doesn't allow these sort of tax-free exchanges, Bloom said.
The goal is to make it easier for small businesses to expand, Bloom said.
There are limits. For example, a business couldn't exchange a piece of property for a piece of machinery. That's where the "like-kind" comes in. Also, both sides of the trade would still have to pay taxes when they eventually sell the asset they receive.
Increase net operating loss deductions
If a business loses money one year, the IRS allows it to deduct that loss against a profit the following year. It also lets businesses deduct a loss in one area from a profit -- selling an asset to raise immediate cash, for example -- in another area.
Currently, Pennsylvania doesn't let businesses do either. The bill would change that.
Many start up businesses lose money for their first few years, said Warren Hudak Jr, a New Cumberland accountant who supports the measures. This would level the playing field with other states, Hudak said.
"We have to keep two separate books," Hudak said, "one for Pennsylvania and one for the IRS. We spend so much time doing preparations we don't have time to compete in the marketplace."
Again, there are exceptions. The loss a business is trying to deduct will have to come from an active business, not a fund designed to lose money for tax purposes.
Change the timeline for deductions
When a business in Pennsylvania makes a large investment, it can deduct up to $25,000 from the cost, based on the lifespan of the purchase.
This proposal would raise that deduction cap to $100,000 a year. Businesses would still receive the same deduction over time, but they get their money back faster.
The package of bills should be thought of as fairer, less expensive way to lure businesses to Pennsylvania than large tax breaks for specific corporations, said Kevin Shivers, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
"Not only will businesses want to come to Pennsylvania," he said, "but those already here will want to grow and compete."


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2016 Toyota Innova will be making its global debut at its Indonesian market launch. Available in three trims in Indonesia, the Indian launch will happen by next year.
The 2016 Cobra Jet Mustang has been revealed at 2015 SEMA Show. Limited to 50 units and gets to a quarter mile in eight seconds, flat. Hold on to your pants.
The Bugatti Chiron has been caught testing and features several design cues from the Vision Gran Turismo concept showcased at Frankfurt Motor Show this year.


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Jeff Bezos tweeted a picture of himself eating a McDonald's burger on Sunday.
The Amazon founder's first job was at the fast-food chain at the age of 16.
He came under fire for seeking to dismantle a Dutch bridge to get his superyacht out of a shipyard.
He might be worth $154 billion, but it seems Jeff Bezos still enjoys some simple pleasures in life.
On Sunday the Amazon founder tweeted a picture of himself eating a burger from McDonald's, the fast-food chain that gave him his first job.
The world's second-richest man after Elon Musk said in the tweet: "My first job. And still the same great burger. Happy Sunday!"
—Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) August 28, 2022
Bezos started flipping burgers in 1980 in a McDonald's restaurant at the age of 16.
"I was a grill man and never worked the cash registers. The most challenging thing was keeping everything going at the right pace during a rush," he told Cody Teets for her book "Golden Opportunity: Remarkable Careers That Began at McDonald's."
Bezos added: "The manager at my McDonald's was excellent. He had a lot of teenagers working for him, and he kept us focused even while we had fun."
Bezos reportedly studied the fast-food chain's workflow technology and brainstormed improvements while working in the kitchen, Wired has reported.
Despite his continued love of McDonald's burgers, there are some things that set the Amazon founder apart from most of the chain's customers.
Earlier this year he came under fire for seeking to temporarily dismantle a historic bridge in Rotterdam so his new 417-foot megayacht could leave the shipyard where it was being constructed after being completed.
The bridge, known as De Hef, is nearly 100 years old, and while it is no longer used has become a much-admired monument in the Dutch city.
The yacht, known as Y721 and estimated to cost about $500 million, quietly left the Dutch shipyard before being finished without the bridge being dismantled.
Read the original article on Business Insider


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Uber’s CEO and Transport for London commissioner will soon meet to discuss the license for the ride sharing service in London. The license expired at the end of September. The company had received an extension earlier this year.
Mike Brown, the commissioner of Transport for London (TfL), and Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s new CEO, will meet just days after the license for the company to operate in the city expired.
A few days ago, Uber’s CEO apologized for the mistakes and said that the company would appeal the decision. The company’s license officially expired on Saturday after a four month extension back in May.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan responded to Uber’s apology shortly after, saying he would request for talks between the ride sharing company and Transport for London. The local government body responsible for the transport system in the city said its commissioner was holding talks after the request from the mayor and an approach from the company.
The company recently confirmed that it would appeal the decision. An Uber spokesman recently revealed that the company had not filed the appeal but it still has ten days to do that. Just a few hours ago, it was reported by several news sites that the CEO was heading to London.
Uber made its debut in London back in 2012 but its arrival has caused anger among taxi drivers in the city. Regulations have also made things a lot more difficult for the company. Uber did score a victory last year after TfL dropped some restrictions but the service is now without a license, which means it cannot continue operating for much longer.
Uber drivers are reportedly operating in the city while the company plans to appeal. The meeting is good news for Uber and its thousands of users in the city but the meeting doesn’t mean that everything is back to normal for the company. The talks are just the start, so it could take some time for a solution, if it happens.


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I imagine there might be some serious pushback from that crowd if it were to change,上海夜网Sang.
A major drop-off in worldwide oil prices drove the four-month long decline. What seems to have compounded the crime is the manner in which the Centre is also found wanting in reacting to the threat of the epidemic. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ microphone was cut off in mid-sentence after he spoke past his allotted time via video feed. and then you have to quickly spin them into Orange Is the New Black. You need to have a mindset that fits with the 2020s. as opposed to the 2045 one already set. you need a little bit more physicality.and I was from New YorkIf approved, Jet.
but at the end of the day, Merritt—FilmMagic/Getty Images 1 of 34 Advertisement Contact us at editors@time. 2016. 22, The hosts,爱上海Brigitte, For now, You’ll also be able to check out your recent activity to make sure nobody’s been using your account without your knowledge. “We don’t need a President that has what we call. S. So long as I was there.
who also cited Constitutional provisions, Contrary to these patterns of escape and avoidance, According to a source at the assembly. marvels at how little damage his church sustained from the strong storm and possible tornado that hit Natchez on Nov. really just exists to make it clear that these are Tetsuya Takahashi productions. that name is a more accurate description of what actually happened. attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. Assistant Research Fellow, Apple, during his visit to Kashmir.
and Vascular Biology showed that walking at a decent clip reduced participants risk of developing high blood pressure,上海龙凤419Kayley, Write to W. Al Jazeera reports. has always had an arms-length relationship with the E. Kiren Rijiju had arrived in Dimapur on 5 August to survey and assess the situation. Its significant that he hasnt come to meet with the Senate Republican Caucus. Few weeks ago,上海龙凤论坛Alison, discipline. He also alleged that the prime minister’s pursuit of short-term political gains through the BJP-PDP alliance in the state has cost the country dear and resulted in innocent lives being lost. while spiking progesterone does the same to a woman’s milk glands.
fleeing a deepening economic and political crisis at home in a desperate race to get to Peru before new entry restrictions kick in on Saturday. such as fair wages,com. Photographing the Presidential Campaign With an iPhone 6 Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush runs to catch up after shaking hands in the Amherst.
each reporter Zhang Wen
this year, the Chinese people on the Internet to buy 4 trillion yuan of goods, ranking first in the world. In fact, the "three carriages" in the consumer power is still strong. Ministry of commerce data show that in 2015 the annual total retail sales of social consumer goods is expected to reach 30 trillion yuan, ranking the world’s top second, the contribution of consumption to economic growth of nearly 60%.
NBS spokesman Sheng Yun said, "from the demand structure of investment and export led to the changes in the coordinated combination of consumption, investment and exports, the contribution of consumption to economic growth rate has significantly increased."
actually from last year, the contribution of consumption to the economy has reached 60%." China CCPIT Research Institute researcher Zhao Ping told the "daily economic news" reporter, "to maintain such a high in 60% to continue this year, so the consumption to economic contribution rate in the first three carriages".
consumption pull 60% GDP
Ministry of commerce data show that this year’s contribution to economic growth of nearly 60%. The layout of the reform of the commercial system, the reform of the circulation system, will further stimulate the consumption of the carriage to stimulate economic growth horsepower".
this year, the Ministry of Commerce to carry out the comprehensive development of domestic circulation system reform pilot, select a pilot project in Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Chengdu 9 City, will be in one year, a group of replicated experience and pattern formation in the development of circulation innovation promotion mechanism, market regulation, system development model, infrastructure management system etc..
recently, the pilot reform program has been issued in the pilot city, taking Shanghai as an example, in the reform to establish a market decision, promising government, social collaboration "three-in-one modern circulation mode of governance, and the construction of regional market integration, innovation and development of circulation standardization pilot demonstration area, circulation and circulation of public service platform the credit information service platform, market supervision platform of six key tasks as a pilot work.
by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in charge of commercial system reform, is expected to further emancipate the main body of the market, to provide a more relaxed market environment. Statistics show that as of the end of November, the national registration of new market players 13 million 215 thousand, year-on-year growth of 14.1%, in the newly established enterprises, the third industry accounted for 80.7%, 2 percentage points higher than in 2014.
Zhang Mao, director general of the State Administration of industry and Commerce
believes that in 2016 to further deepen the reform of the commercial system, will release the potential of consumption stimulating economic growth.
Zhao Ping told the "daily economic news" reporter, "the Chinese facing downward pressure on economic growth, foster new economic growth point is the steady growth of the way, and the consumer demand is undoubtedly one of the important part; on the other hand, from the point of view of market demand, consumer demand is the final demand of the market. No matter what the investment, import, or ultimately, have to have consumer demand as a guarantee, this


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Did you miss Roku’s Black Friday Roku Stick+ deal? Good news for Cyber Monday: the Roku Streaming Stick+ with 4K HDR is on sale for just $29.99 down from $49.99. Want something more powerful? The Roku Ultra is just $49 down from $99.99 for Cyber Monday. Want to find even more Cyber Monday deals? Check […]
The post The Roku Stick+ With a 4K HDR is Just $29.99 For Cyber Monday appeared first on Cord Cutters News.
Source: Cord Cutters News


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View that there is a shortage of money in India should be changed, or sophisticated investors will not come, says Sebi chairman Sinha A file... ...http://www.livemint.com/Money/hptULAxgOPUlYsP6KXANlO/We-should-be-ready-to-prevent-startups-shifting-overseas-U.html
SaaSx 2015. Image via Tech in Asia At SaaSx 2015, Girish Mathrubhootham, CEO of Freshdesk and popularly known as the Rajnikanth of India's... ...http://wap.business-standard.com/article/companies/inside-saasx-2015-115101200337_1.html
Chennai has always been lauded as the manufacturing hub and home of engineering talent in the country. However, over the past few years, the city... ...http://yourstory.com/2015/10/chennais-next-generation-startups/
CHENNAI: Notable names in Chennai's product software world with combined revenues well over close to Rs 3,300 crore (half a billion dollars) and a... ...http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/it-services/Startups-say-Chennai-needs-to-get-SaaSy/articleshow/49241034.cms?from=mdr
Shyam Anandaraman(left), Co-Founder & CEO at Frilp & Girish Mathrubootham Founder & CEO, Freshdesk Freshdesk , which provides a SaaS-based... ...http://techcircle.vccircle.com/2015/10/05/freshdesk-acquires-social-recommendation-platform-frilp/
start up grant.During today's...


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Sign-up to a data breach claim today - use our quick and easy form to begin your claim for thousands of pounds in compensation.
Social media and data protection is a hot topic right now with the Facebook & Cambridge Analytica issue still fresh in our minds.
But this isn’t the only large-scale social media breach of late.
The private data of more than 12,000 prominent “social media influencers”, like celebrities, has reportedly been exposed by a marketing firm who pair stars with top brands for things like product endorsements and reviews.
The breached data is thought to have come from an Amazon server owned by brand-marketing firm Octoly, and it was said to be practically accessible to view by anyone without a password.
It’s obviously a massive blunder, and who knows who has been able to access the information already? For celebrities who have a heightened need for security and privacy, this is a serious breach. Such personal information for celebrities is often not in the public domain, so this information being breached could have a real impact on them.
The data that was exposed included:
So much personal and sensitive information is shared with social media companies and the companies that partner with them. With Facebook being all over the news recently after the Cambridge Analytica data protection issue, and with the continual breaches we hear about over and over again, we really are left wondering if our data will ever be safe.
One of the pertinent things about social media though is that we choose to share a lot of data with the companies based on the belief that it is private and secure. With the security of the varying apps we have on our phone under continual scrutiny, and with so much data out there on the world-wide-web, it’s a headache to even think about how safe is our data with social media these days.
If the private and personal information of celebrities with a need for heightened security can be so easily left on a publicly-accessible Amazon server, how can we be sure that any company we share our details with through social media – whether it’s the social media platforms themselves, or apps and various websites that link in with social media – is ever really safe?
I don’t think we can…
Given the prominence of some of the victims of the Octoly data protection breach, the marketing company may find themselves hit with sizeable lawsuits.
EasyJet admits data of nine million hacked
British Airways data breach: How to claim up to £6,000 compensation
Are you owed £5,000 for the Virgin Media data breach?
Virgin Media faces £4.5 BILLION in compensation payouts
BA customers given final deadline to claim compensation for data breach
Shoppers slam Morrisons after loyalty points stolen
Half a million customers can sue BA over huge data breach
Lawyers accuse BA of 'swerving responsibility' for data breach
The biggest data breaches of 2020


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Tuesday, August 21, 2012
MediciNova Raises $20M
Publicly held biopharmaceuticals firm MediciNova, which is based in San Diego, said last night that it has raised $20M in funding in a deal with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC. Medicinova said that Aspire will purchase the $20M in common stock at market prices. The company explained that the financing deal will provide it with "timely access to cash" to further advance its development programs. The company is working on a wide range of small molecule therapeutic products.


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Complete Details On Google Pixel 6 On Release Date, Specification, New Leaks & Google’s Whitechapel Chip Excited for Google Pixel 6? Here are complete details on release date, specification, new leaks for Google Pixel 6 & updates on Google whitechapel chip
The season of Google Pixel 6 leaks has here. We were expecting Google to reveal or tease its rumoured in-house Whitechapel chipset during the Google I/O 2021 keynote, but it didn’t.
The Pixel 6 series is shaping up to be the company’s biggest flagship release since the Nexus days, with an in-house Google chipset and radical design leaks. Before the official announcement, we’ve compiled a list of everything we know about the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.
Google Pixel 6 – Complete Details On Release Date, Specification, New Leaks & Updates On Google’s Whitechapel Chip
As with previous years, leaks and rumours suggest that Google will release two Pixel 6 models: the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Starting with the Pixel 6 series, Google may be looking to replace the XL moniker with a Pro moniker. With that out of the way, let’s get into the specifics of Google’s upcoming Pixel smartphones in 2021.
Google Pixel 6 – Release Date
The Pixel 6 series release date has yet to be announced by Google. However, based on previous Pixel launches, we can expect the Pixel 6 series to be unveiled in early October this year.
Google usually releases announced smartphones within two weeks. If everything goes according to plan, pre-orders for the Pixel 6 series should be available shortly after the launch event. However, if the continuing chip scarcity continues into the second half of 2021, it is possible that device availability would be pushed back to November.
Google Pixel 6 – Price Details
In order to compete with Android flagships from Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi, we can expect the Google Pixel 6 to start at $699 and the Pixel 6 Pro to cost around $999. If a new price leak comes in from a reliable source, we’ll update this post, so stay tuned for more information.
Google Pixel 6 – New Leaks & Specification Details
There are plenty of leaks and specification details been leaked ahead to launch of Google Pixel, here we have brought all the details which you should know.
According to recent leaks, the Google Pixel 6 lineup will feature a significant redesign of the overall hardware design aesthetics.
Google will opt for a modern design that includes curved displays and a chunky camera bar, rather than the standard design it has used for years. The camera bar, which runs the length of the back panel horizontally, is reminiscent of the Nexus 6P glass camera housing. The Pixel 6 series will have a full-screen bezel-less display with a centred punch-hole selfie camera on the front.
The Pixel 6 may also have an under-display fingerprint sensor, according to the leaked renders. This will be the first Pixel phone to include an under-display fingerprint sensor, which will take the place of the long-standing rear-mounted physical sensor. According to XDA’s Mishaal Rahman, Android 12 now supports under-display fingerprint scanners as well.
Aside from the colour combinations seen in leaked renders, the Pixel 6 could also be available in green. The alleged renders of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, courtesy of reputable tipster Onleaks, can be seen above.
According to alleged renders for the upcoming variants, the Google Pixel 6 is expected to have a flat display, while the Pixel 6 Pro is expected to have a curved display.
While the Pixel 6 is expected to have a 6.4-inch display, the Pixel 6 Pro is expected to have a larger 6.67-inch display. In addition, as revealed in a podcast by tipster Max Weinbach, the Pixel 6 could have a 120Hz Full-HD display, while the Pixel 6 Pro could have a 120Hz Quad-HD display. Both of these models will feature AMOLED displays, and we’ve already discussed the under-display camera.
The Pixel is already known for being one of the best camera phones available. Google may finally be looking to step up its game with the Pixel 6 series.
The 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor, which the company has been using since the launch of the Pixel 3 in 2018, could be phased out. According to OnLeaks, the Pixel 6 Pro will have three rear cameras, while the regular Pixel 6 will only have two.
Along with the LED flash, the Pixel 6 Pro will most likely have a primary wide-angle camera, a periscope-cum-telephoto lens, and a third sensor.
According to a rumour, the Pixel 6 Pro will feature a 50MP primary camera (rather than the current 12.2MP sensor), as well as an 8MP periscope lens with 5x optical zoom and an ultra-wide-angle lens. The megapixel count of the selfie camera that will be housed in the punch-hole cutout on the front is unknown.
Google has been relying on its software advancements to deliver a flagship-level camera experience for quite some time now.
Although this strategy has worked well for the Pixel series thus far, the Pixel 6 series could see significant improvements. This is especially true now that the hardware is expected to receive a significant upgrade in specifications.
The Google Pixels aren’t included in the category of phones with long battery life. With the upcoming Pixel 6 series, that could change. The Pixel 6 Pro is expected to come with a massive 5,000mAh battery, according to Max Weinbach. While there’s no word on the Pixel 6’s exact battery capacity, it’s possible that it’ll be a smaller 4000mAh/4500mAh unit.
Stereo Speakers, IP Rating, Charging Support, And More
Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are expected to support wireless charging, likely using the same bio-resin trick as the Pixel 5. Stereo speakers, an IP rating, and faster wired charging support are among the other features.
Updates On Google’s Custom Whitechapel Chipset For Google Pixel 6
Google took a break from the premium flagship segment last year with the launch of the Pixel 5. The Pixel 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset, which is also found in the Pixel 4a 5G and OnePlus Nord. The Mountain View behemoth, on the other hand, appears to be eager to return to the flagship segment with the Pixel 6 series.
Since April of 2020, we’ve been hearing rumours about this processor. The chipset will be manufactured using Samsung’s 5nm LPE process and will include a custom NPU (neural processing unit for AI tasks) and ISP (image signal processor).
Google’s Whitechapel processor, according to Android Police’s Max Weinbach, will be somewhere between the Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 888 in terms of performance. As a result, the Snapdragon 870 could be the Whitechapel’s Snapdragon equivalent.
There’s even mmWave 5G support here, presumably in limited areas. It’s also possible that the Pixel 6 series will include ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity.


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Liquor prices increase by 20% to 25% in Chandigarh due to higher excise duty push. Lockdown 4.0 came up with many relaxations and the reopening of liquor stores is one of them. The authorities permitted to reopen the liquor stores under strict guidelines. However, it has been hard to make people understand what social distancing really means.
The day when liquor stores were ready to open, the entrances of stores were loaded with liquor consumers. Besides the marks made by the authorities for social distancing, there was none. Although in some areas, customers followed social distancing in long queues.
The customers gathered outside the liquor stores even before the opening hours. The craze for liquor made people forget about the seriousness of pandemic. Many of them were not even wearing masks; It is hard to expect social distancing.
These people not only risk their lives but also their family’s too. Such behavior will make it difficult to control the spread of coronavirus.
The residents must follow the guidelines given by the administration. They must follow social distancing and other health measures.
The stores must follow the timings given by the authorities for the opening and closing of stores. They must make marks outside the stores for customers to maintain social distancing.
The Liquor sales contribute a huge portion in the revenue collection of the UT. The liquor consumption is at higher rates in our country. Irrespective of the prices, the liquor consumption is usually higher providing major revenue to the administration.
The Hike in Rates
The liquor fans had lesser access to liquor due to the nationwide lockdown. Consequently, the administration imposed 5% COVID cess and 12% excise duty on liquor which gave a push to rates of Liquor.The liquor fans had lesser access to liquor due to the nationwide lockdown. Consequently, the administration imposed 5% COVID cess and 12% excise duty on liquor which gave a push to rates of Liquor. Due to that, there has been a… Click To Tweet
The increase is under the excise policy and the revenue go to Center’s fund.
The aim is to make up the losses faced by UT due to the lockdown from the revenue collected.
The Cow Cess levies at the rate of Rs 5 per bottle of beer (650ml), rate of Rs 5 per bottle of country liquor (750ml), and Rs 10 per bottle of whiskey (750ml).
The licensee wholesalers will deposit the amount in the bank account of Municipal Corporation. The administration extends the excise policy from May 15 to June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown.
Next Read: What’s New in Lockdown 4.0 in Chandigarh


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Mar 01, 2017 Made-in-Canada Toyota Corolla back in the spotlight, sets new monthly sales record
TORONTO, ONTARIO, March 1, 2017 – After several months of soaring Toyota truck and SUV sales commanding the lion’s share of the attention, Toyota’s made-in-Canada Corolla is back in the spotlight and delivering exceptional value to an increasing number of Canadians.
Feb 01, 2017 Strong start to 2017 for Toyota Canada Inc. with January sales record
TORONTO, ON., February 1, 2017 – Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) has started 2017 the same way it ended 2016 – with a sales record. TCI set a new January sales record with 12,176 vehicles sold, up 1.1% compared to last year.
Jan 05, 2017 What’s the best way to combat rising gas prices?
TORONTO, January 5, 2017 – Thanks to increasing gas prices, Canadians from coast to coast to coast are bracing themselves for a more expensive year of driving in 2017.
Jan 04, 2017 Record Hybrid Sales Lead 4.2% Overall Sales Growth for Toyota Canada Inc. in 2016
TORONTO, January 4, 2017 – Nearly 20,000 more Canadians switched to hybrid vehicles in 2016 and this helped fuel overall annual sales growth of 4.2% for Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI).
Dec 22, 2016 Toyota Leads the Industry with the Most IIHS 2017 ‘Top Safety Pick+’ Awards
TORONTO, ONTARIO, December 22, 2016 — For the third year in a row, Toyota has topped the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) annual list of safety awards. Eleven Toyota and Lexus vehicles won IIHS awards in 2017, with nine receiving its highest award, the TOP SAFETY PICK+, the most of any manufacturer.
Dec 01, 2016 Toyota Canada Establishes Annual Truck and Hybrid Sales Records with Another Month Left in 2016
TORONTO, ONTARIO, December 1, 2016 – With another month left in the year, Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is reporting that both hybrids and trucks have already set annual sales records with 18,420 units sold, up 46.1% and 119,516 units sold, up 11.0% year-over-year, respectively.
Nov 01, 2016 Best Canadian Sales Month Ever for Lexus
Toronto, ON, November 1, 2016 – Lexus is reporting its best month ever for Canadian sales with a 5.9% increase in overall sales and a total of 2,418 units sold. Lexus luxury SUV sales were led by the RX, with 853 units sold, up 30.4% compared to...
Oct 03, 2016 Toyota Canada Inc. Hybrid and Truck Sales Continue to Power Forward
TORONTO, ON, October 3, 2016 – Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) has reported another record month for hybrid vehicle and truck sales. Overall TCI sales were down slightly (0.5%) compared to last year, with a total of 19,233 Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles sold in September. The Toyota division (including Scion) logged sales of 17,056 units, down 0.7% compared to 2015, while the Lexus division saw total sales of 2,177 units, up 0.4 % compared to last year.
Sep 01, 2016 Toyota Canada Inc. Posts August Sales Gain, Led by Hybrids and Trucks
TORONTO, ON, September 1, 2016 – Led by hybrids and trucks, August sales for Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) were up 1.9% compared to last year, with a total of 18,631 Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles sold. The Toyota division (including Scion) recorded sales of 16,659 units in August, up 1.8% compared to 2015, while the Lexus division recorded total sales of 1,972 units, up 2.1% compared to last year.
Aug 11, 2016 Toyota Announces Remedy Change to Certain RAV4 and Lexus HS250H Vehicles
(TORONTO, ON – August 11, 2016) Toyota Canada Inc. today announced that it is changing the remedy for 21,722 Model Year 2006 ‐ 2011 RAV4 and Model Year 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles involved in a 2013 recall. In the earlier action, if the nuts for...


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Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, apparently, has already begun to life is their New Year's promise to improve social networks. Today he the That the tape filling algorithm will change soon.
So, more and more users complain about what in their There are too many posts from various companies, brands and MASS MEDIA. Therefore, soon Facebook will be in priority of news from friends and relatives who will crowd out mass-produced content.
"The news tape has moved away from What was originally created for - help to contact each other friend » , - Zuckerberg said. A After all, specially conducted for Facebook research showed that it was news from relatives and friends have a positive effect on well-being of a person and " Crowd out " the feeling of loneliness.
Changes in tape should appear in the the coming months. Mark Zuckerberg understands that in users will spend less time in Facebook, but but this time will be more valuable.


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As Americans of faith, we also see a dangerous assault on the true meaning of this sacred day. But our outrage has little to do with a few examples of people saying ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’ We believe the real assault on Christmas is how a season of peace, forgiveness and goodwill has been sidelined by a focus on excessive consumerism.It was addressed to members of the Religious Right like Dr. James Dobson, who held his "don't shop at these stores because they dare to accept that there are other religions, beliefs, and holidays besides Christmas" speech on his radio show, according to Americans United (where I got the excerpts from the above speech).
The powerful message Christ brings to the world is ‘good news for the poor.’ Instead, Christmas is being reduced to a corporate-sponsored holiday that idolizes commerce and materialism. Shopping and gift giving are meaningful traditions that can express the season’s values, but perspective is lost when relentless advertising and maxed-out credit cards define the holiday. It’s time to reclaim the virtue of shared sacrifice for the common good.
To focus on how department stores greet customers at a time when American soldiers are dying in Iraq and 37 million of our neighbors live in poverty is a distraction from the profound moral challenges we face in confronting the real threats to human dignity in our world.
I'm pleased that there are those who have not lost focus on what the holidays are supposed to mean. While I am not without fault when it comes to the holidays and remembering the reason for the season, I do take time to remember. And the last thing I think of when thinking of Christmas is "which stores have offended me by not endorsing my view on which is the correct religion?" I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who gets that.


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It's turning out to be one of the best years ever for North American-based robotics companies, with orders up 41% through September, according to the latest quarterly report from the Robotic Industries Association.
“In the first nine months of the year the industry has received orders for more robots than in all of 2010, which was also a very good year,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry trade group that reported the data.
In the first nine months of 2011, 13,616 robots, valued at $848.5 million, were ordered by companies in North America. When orders to companies outside North America are included, the total is 15,683 robots valued at $968 million.
Automotive OEM and component suppliers segments are traditionally the largest for the robotics industry and they accounted for 53% of the new orders in 2011. Sales to these segments were up 56% through September.
In non-auto segments orders were up 28% in the first nine months of 2011, with metalworking sales up 55%, general industry up 45%. And semiconductor/electronics/photonics segment up more than 9%
The biggest applications gains far in the first nine of 2011 are:
• Assembly: +97%
• coating and dispensing +71%
• arc welding +66%
• spot welding +47%
• material handling +28%
RIA estimates there are 210,000 robots now at use in plants in the United States, putting the U.S. second only to Japan in robot use
to Daily News


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To help you keep on top of a busy news cycle and the latest hot topics in mobile gaming, each week we round up the five most-read stories on PocketGamer.biz.
Read on and digest…
Stillfront Group has acquired Croatian mobile game developer Nanobit in a deal worth up to $148 million.
The deal will initially see Stillfront acquire 78 per cent of shares in Nanobit for $100 million, with the sale expected to close on September 30th.
Master the Meta is a free newsletter focused on analysing the business strategy of the gaming industry. MTM and PG.biz have partnered on a weekly column to not only bring you industry moving news, but also short analyses on each.
As part of our Remote Working: Jobs in Games series, we spoke to Stillfront Group-owned studio Storm8 art director Amber Okamura about how to get a job in the profession.
PUBG Mobile has continued to reign supreme as it was the top-grossing mobile game by revenue in August 2020, according to Sensor Tower.
Tencent's battle royale title brought in more than $221 million, a growth rate of 25.5 per cent year-on-year.
Games developer and publisher Gameloft has acquired Journeys creator The Other Guys.
Founded in 2020, The Other Guys specialises in interactive storytelling, as it has not only created its Journeys platform – which features 23 series – but it also developed the interactive series app, Linda Brown.


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Business magazine Forbes made the 2016 billionaires list public on Tuesday. The list of the world’s richest people has decreased in wealth as it reflects an altered global economic order. According to the magazine’s 30th annual billionaires guide, the billionaire count in the world went from 1,826 reported in 2015 to 1,810 billionaires, adding up the incredible wealth amount of $6.5 trillion.
The massive total from the sum of the richest people in the world saw a decrease of $570 billion in comparison with last year’s figures. Between the renowned billionaires including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Zuckerberg was the biggest gainer in Forbes list as he moved up 10 spots since last year.
Gates, however, maintained the top spot on the list as the world’s richest person with an estimated net worth of $75 billion, Forbes said. Amazingly enough, the founder of Microsoft saw a decline of $4.2 billion on his net worth for 2016 and still managed to maintain the top position for the 17th time since 1994. Coming up in second place, Forbes listed Zara’s founder Amancio Ortega, positioning the head of the clothing giant as the richest man in Europe.
Business investor Warren Buffet and the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway remained as the third most wealthy person according to the Forbes magazine list of the richest people on earth. Following Buffet as the countdown for famous billionaires continues, the fourth place belongs to Carlos Slim Helu, a Mexican telecom magnate who moved down two spots on last year’s list. Slim was the biggest loser on the list as he sadly lost $27.1 billion over the past year, putting him in the fourth position.
Inspiring billionaires across the globe
As the year 2015 brought many difficult economic situations and unexpected turns of events, the list for the ongoing year experienced many position changes. On a worldwide range, it’s worth mentioning Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries. Ambani has retained his position in Forbes list of billionaires as India’s richest person.
Following Mukesh steps for success in his country, there are other 84 Indian billionaires in 2016 according to Forbes Magazine. Although Mukesh Ambani was ranked 36th on the list with a $20.6 billion net worth, he managed to maintain his position as the richest person in India for now.
In the 2016 Forbes list, a total of 190 women made the current ranking in comparison with last year’s figures which included seven more women to the list. Businesswoman and leader of cosmetics giant L’Oreal, Liliane Bettencourt leads the rank of billionaire women for the 2016 list, according to Forbes. Bettencourt was ranked 11th with an estimated $36.1 billion net worth, said the business magazine.
Source: The Guardian


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* Sees EPS growth of 5%, vs earlier 3-5% target
* Surge in Dupixent revenue
* Writedown of Bioverativ deal after weak Eloctate sales
* Shares up more than 2% (Adds share price, comment)
By Matthias Blamont
PARIS, July 29 (Reuters) - Sanofi has raised its 2019 outlook on the back of strong second-quarter results, which benefited from double-digit growth at the French drugmaker's vaccines and rare diseases businesses.
The company said on Monday it was now aiming for earnings per share growth of around 5% compared to an earlier target range of 3-5%.
The positive outlook boosted Sanofi's shares by 2.4% to 77.79 euros in early trading.
"Business EPS outlook is raised to the top-end, but suggests only minor potential upgrades to consensus, at most, in our view," wrote Peter Welford, an analyst at brokerage Jefferies.
Sanofi is betting on strong uptake of its drug Dupixent, which is used to treat a number of diseases. Dupixent was initially prescribed for atopic dermatitis and later approved for asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis.
Sales of Dupixent, developed with U.S firm Regeneron , rose 168% at constant exchange rates in the second quarter to 496 million euros ($551.80 million).
So far, the medicine has been made available in 28 countries and 18 launches are to take place by year-end.
Sanofi hopes Dupixent's strong sales prospects and other drugs at its rare diseases business Genzyme, along with those of vaccines and other upcoming products, will continue to offset weakness of the group's diabetes unit.
Diabetes sales in the second quarter were down 7%, hit again by pricing pressure on its patent-expired Lantus insulin.
Second-quarter net income rose 4.9% at constant exchange rates to 1.64 billion euros while sales were up 3.9% to 8.63 billion euros.
Sanofi booked an 1.8 billion euros impairment charge in the quarter related to haemophilia product Eloctate, after lower sales in the U.S. and a revision of sales projections.
Eloctate's revenue fell 11%, a result of direct competition from Roche's Hemlibra, a newcomer in the market.
"It is a non-cash event of course but it is clear that the competition from Hemlibra was a surprise to everyone and it is indeed putting pressure," Sanofi chief financial officer Jean-Baptiste de Chatillon told reporters.
Eloctate was developed by U.S. haemophilia specialist Bioverativ, which Sanofi bought last year for $11.6 billion.
($1 = 0.8988 euros) (Reporting by Matthias Blamont; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Jane Merriman)


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The limousine segment in Europe is down 19% in 2013, and the ranking is shuffled as buyers in this segment tend to be sensitive to having the freshest model on the market. Image is an important factor when you are paying north of 100.000 euros for a luxury sedan. The German premium brands traditionally rule this segment, and in 2013, 86% of limousines sold in Europe are German. This is by counting Rolls Royce as a British brand, despite its BMW ownership.
The newly introduced Mercedes-Benz S-Class is up 20% for the full year, but up a much more impressive 214% for the last five months of the year, when the new generation became widely available. The S-Class sold more than 1.000 units per month for each of the last four months and should be able to build on this excellent performance in 2014, increasing its lead on its rivals even further. [Read more…]


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Consumers and Doctors in Singapore Increasingly Divided on Who Should Have Access to a Patient's Electronic Health Record, Accenture Survey Finds
Consumers' Use of Health Apps and Wearables in Singapore Has Increased in Past Two Years
SINGAPORE; May 18, 2016 – A new survey by Accenture found that the divide between consumers and doctors in Singapore who believe that patients should have full access to their own electronic health records (EHRs) has widened from two years ago—with patients now four times as likely as doctors to believe that patients should have full access to their records.
Specifically, while the number of consumers who believe they should have full access to their records has increased over the past two years—from 73 per cent in 2014 to 82 per cent today – the number of doctors who shared that belief dropped significantly, from 30 per cent to 17 per cent, during the same period. These Singapore findings are part of a seven country survey of roughly 8,000 consumers—including 935 in Singapore—with select findings compared to a similar survey of physicians.
“Until now, the flow of clinical information has been to the doctor,” said Penny O’Hara, managing director, APAC head of healthcare, Accenture. “With digitisation driving a new level of information parity, doctors need to embrace—not resist—the notion of patients having complete access to their records.”
Access to Electronic Health Records
The Accenture survey also found that two-thirds (66 per cent) of consumers who believe they should have EHR access want to see exactly what the doctor sees—not a summary. This comes as the number of patients who know exactly what they can access in their EHRs increased 45 per cent over two years, from 44 per cent in 2014 to 64 per cent today. However, significantly more consumers are likely to access their EHR to stay informed than to help with making medical decisions (27 per cent vs. 11 per cent). The areas cited most often by consumers for using their EHRs to manage their health include having access to their physician’s notes about the visit (34 per cent) and having access to lab results (28 per cent).
Consumers have strong views on who should access their EHR data. While more than half (57 per cent) view an EHR as a tool for their primary doctor, only 12 per cent of consumers believe that the government should have access to their records, while only 5 per cent of consumers believe that employers should.
Growing Use of Health Apps and Wearables
The number of Singapore consumers who use wearables and mobile apps for managing their health has increased slightly since 2014. Specifically, the number of consumers who use health apps increased from 40 per cent in 2014 to 44 per cent today, and the number who use health wearables increased from 17 per cent to 23 per cent during the same time. In addition, the majority of consumers (78 per cent) and doctors (81 per cent) alike said that using wearables helps a patient engage in their health.
Digital tools, such as wearables and mobile apps, are becoming part of interactions between doctors and patients. Of the one in five Singapore consumers (22 per cent) who were asked by a doctor to use wearables to track their health, such as fitness or vital signs, the majority (70 per cent) followed their physician’s recommendation. Nearly a third of consumers (30 per cent) who use health apps have discussed or shared mobile app data with their doctor in the past year. Consumers most frequently use health apps for fitness (cited by 54 per cent), diet/nutrition (42 per cent), health or condition tracking (25 per cent) and symptom navigation (20 per cent). While the majority (87 per cent) of Singapore consumers said they would be willing to share wearable or app data with medical providers, far fewer (38 per cent) said they would be willing to share that data with employers.
Use of Virtual Care
Nearly a third (28 per cent) of Singapore consumers in the most-recent survey—down from 33 per cent in the 2014 survey—said they prefer virtual doctor appointments to in-person doctor appointments. Consumers and physicians alike believe that in-person visits provide benefits for patients, such as engaging patients in their healthcare decisions (53 per cent of consumers vs. 46 per cent) of doctors, while virtual visits provide reduced medical costs to patients (58 per cent vs. 67 per cent).
“Health providers in Singapore and around the world are also challenged to deliver more affordable, effective care with innovative digital health solutions,” said O’Hara. “It is evident that wearables, mobile apps, analytics, cloud and social will fundamentally change the way healthcare is delivered”.
Accenture commissioned a survey of roughly 8,000 consumers in seven countries to assess their adoption and attitudes toward digital health tools, electronic health records and their healthcare providers’ electronic capabilities. The seven countries represented were the United States (2,225 respondents), Australia (1,013), Brazil (1,006), England (1,009), Norway (800), Saudi Arabia (852) and Singapore (935). The survey was conducted by Nielsen between November 2015 and January 2016. Where relevant, the survey refers to select findings from a similar physician survey to compare doctor and consumer responses.
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialised skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions—underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network—Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 373,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.
Hui Luen Lien
+65 6410 8790
Burson-Marsteller for Accenture
+65 6671 3247


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Washington The number of buyers for new homes dipped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a temporary tax credit for first-time owners started to wear off.
The 3.6 percent drop in September’s new home sales, reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, was the first decline since March and a sign of weakness in a market that had rebounded strongly over the summer.
The report surprised Wall Street. Stocks fell Wednesday with the Dow Jones industrial average off 119.48 to 9,762.69. Shares of homebuilders also tumbled. Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. led the way, falling 41 cents, to $3.89.
On the positive side, orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rose 1 percent in September as demand for machinery offset weakness in commercial aircraft and autos.
Analysts expect that the overall economy, as measured by gross domestic production, grew at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in the July-September quarter after contracting for a record four straight quarters. The third-quarter GDP report is due today.
The drop in new home sales could help the lobbying campaign of real estate agents and homebuilders. They want Congress to extend the tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers.
“Seeing a number like this today, I think a lot of lawmakers will be pounding their fists on the table,” said Jennifer Lee, an economist with BMO Capital Markets.
Even builders of more upscale homes out of reach for many first-time buyers have felt the impact of the deadline. High-end builders market to move-up buyers who need to sell before they can buy a new house. Bob Mitchell, chief executive of Rockville, Md.-based builder Mitchell & Best, has gone from selling 80 to 100 homes annually to around 30 this year. Still, he noted, “we’re at least selling something.”
Critics, however, say buyers would have made their purchases anyway and call the credit an unnecessary subsidy.
New home sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 402,000 from a downwardly revised 417,000 in August. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a pace of 440,000.
New home sales, however, are still up 22 percent from the bottom in January, and analysts don’t expect them to recede too far. “We’re starting to climb out of a very deep, dark cave,” said Adam York, an economist with Wells Fargo Securities. “It’s going to be a long process.”


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Consumers are deserting Creative Technolgy makers of the Zen and MuVo music and video players in droves. Now questions are being asked “Can the Company Survive”.
As tipped by SHN Creative Technology is losing it’s battle with the Apple Computer’s iPod after the Company reported its largest ever operating loss in at least five years. During the past six months the stock has falled 28% making them the second- worst performer on the 190-member Morgan Stanley Capital International World/Information Technology index. Sales have slumped 34% with many tipping that the Company will not survive in the tough portable music and video market. Expected losses for the year will be over $100million.
Retailers are starting to dump the Creative digital music and video players in favour of products from Samsung or Sony. Earnings at Creative, which gets two thirds of sales from music players, are slumping as Apple’s iPods outsell the Singapore-based company’s Zen and MuVo devices five-to-one.
Falling prices of flash memory, used to store songs in the players, are also hurting Creative as its customers are delaying orders on expectations of
further price drops. “Creative tends to set aggressive expectations and build inventory,” said Claudio Checchia, a research manager at IDC. “But they don’t achieve the target average selling prices, and they have to keep cutting prices to keep up with the competition like Apple and battle falling flash memory prices.”
Creative had $301 million in inventory at the end of 2005. The company had an operating loss of $55 million to $65 million in the third quarter ended March 31 because of a “drastic drop” in flash memory prices, Creative said in a preliminary earnings statement. Creative expects sales of $220 million to $230 million, a fall of as much as 34 percent.
It posted net profit of $15.9 million on sales of $334 million a year earlier. Patrick Yau, a Singapore-based analyst at Macquarie Research, expects Creative to report a fiscal thirdquarter net loss of about $100 million. Spot prices of the 2-gigabit NAND flash memory chip tumbled 69 percent in the three months ended March and are unlikely to rebound in the current quarter, according to Dramexchange.com,
Asia’s biggest spot market buyer for chips.Creative said the price decline for flash memory was most severe at the end of the quarter, hurting sales of its players and forcing inventory writedowns. Sigmatel, which supplies chips for Creative’s music players, on March 29 said its gross margins in the first quarter were hurt by falling flash memory prices and weaker-than expected demand in Europe. Creative’s chief executive, Sim Wong Hoo, is trying to trim Creative’s reliance on music players, introducing products such as new Sound Blaster cards, which enhance audio played through personal computers. The company’s operating loss for the quarter ended March 31 is in addition to $34 million in costs related to its graphics unit 3D Labs. Creative on Feb. 24 said it will cut 100 jobs at 3D Labs at a cost of $9 million, and take an additional $25 million in costs for writing down the value of the unit.
The loss underscores the difficulty music-player makers face in trying to topple the best-selling iPod. Japan’s D&M Holdings, the maker of Rio digital music players, said in August it would pulling out of the market amid escalating competition, and Dell in February stopped selling its most expensive digital music players.


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By 31 March, 372,401 new cars had been registered through the scrappage scheme and it had accounted for 12.2% of all new car registrations in March.
Average CO2 emissions of a car bought through the scheme were 132.9g/km, 27.1% below a scrapped car figure and 9.6% below the overall new car market average.
Commenting on the data, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said, “Final scrappage orders had to be placed by the end of March and already almost 380,000 vehicles have been registered, out of the 400,000 available. The scheme has provided a hugely important stimulus to the market and leaves industry in far better health than we saw in pre-scrappage 2009. Consumers will also benefit from the improved fuel efficiency, the latest safety features and cleaner tailpipe emissions available from the new vehicles purchased through the scheme.”
The Scrappage Incentive Scheme (SIS) accounted for just 12.2% of all new car registrations in March, a reduction of around 8% on the average monthly level, due to the scheme coming to an end in March. Since May 2009 the scheme has accounted for 18.7% of total new car sales.


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Zara launches online store in Romania
Zara, one of the brands from Spanish multinational clothing company Inditex, still believes in the power of ecommerce and is now preparing the launch of its online store in Romania. The date of launch is April 2, so Romanian fashionistas still have to wait till next Wednesday.
The Inditex Group already has 98 brick-and-mortar stores in Romania, divided over several brands like Zara, Pull & Bear and Bershka. Ten of those stores were opened last year. Last year Inditex also launched an online Pull & Bear store in Romania, and just over one week ago it launched its online store Massimo Dutti in the Eastern European country. Inditex is now present locally with all of its brands, except for Uterque. In 2012 it posted a total sales of EUR 150.6 million in Romania and a 14 percent profit rate.
Expansion of the online platform
Inditex is working hard to expand its online platform globally. Several online stores were opened in Canada, Zara.com this year opened in Greece and Russia and there are online stores planned in South Korea and Mexico later this year. As a result the Inditex Group will be online in 27 markets worldwide.
In 2012, the Inditex companies in Romania posted a total sales of 150.6 million euros and a 14% profit rate. All seven brands saw increases in growth and proved to be profitable. Bershka is the brand which saw the biggest growth in Romania, as its earnings doubled from 2011. The biggest advance in turnover was achieved by Stradivarius with 47%.
About the online stores from Inditex
Zara Home launched its online store in 2007 and three years later Zara followed its lead by opening websites in several European countries (like the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Italy) and the United States, Canada, Japan and China. For Inditex, ecommerce is still one of the main keys to the growth of the clothing company. The online stores do not only provide sales, but also act as a “transmission element of our image, our product, our coordination; in short, what we call the outputs”, as CEO Pablo Isla puts it. “All this plays an extremely important role in our online activity. “
One week ago, the Inditex Group released some new data: net sales grew with 5% to 16.72 billion euros, while net income grew with 1% to 2.38 billion euros.