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The Mladá Boleslav-based carmaker Škoda Auto will completely stop production in all three of its plants in the Czech Republic from 27 September. The reason is the lack of chips that are used in on-board electronics. This was stated today by the weekly Škodovácký odborář.
According to the unions, the company planned a mass holiday for Monday, September 27, because Tuesday the 28th is St. Wenceslas Day. Employees would have four days off at the weekend. “At the same time, we will continue to do so by canceling shifts until the end of the week, including the overlap into Saturday’s shifts of the seventeen and eighteen-shift system.
Employees receive 85 percent of the average salary for a canceled shift, which includes, for example, extraordinary annual bonuses. They are thus at the level of their daily earnings. According to Povšík, however, there is a risk that wage compensation will have to be reduced if the situation continues to deteriorate. According to him, people working in Škoda would then receive, for example, 80 percent of the average salary. The set minimum wage compensation is 60 percent.
According to unions, there are shutdowns in Volkswagen Group factories around the world. “Some high-margin companies, such as Porsche and Audi, are partially preferred. Planned outages are especially important for planning suppliers and logistics flows,” said Povšík.
The shutdown in production will be used to repair the busy roundabout in Mladá Boleslav in Průmyslová Street, which the builders will also extend by one lane. “This will significantly relieve traffic and speed up the exit from the 13th gate. In normal operation, such a building modification would cause incredible chaos,” said Povšík.
According to the union leader, the situation with chips has improved slightly, the factories in Malaysia have already resumed their production, but not yet to the maximum. Povšík estimates that full production, including overtime, will not start until the end of the year. “The situation is unlikely to be consolidated in 2022 either, at least at the beginning of the year in the first and second quarters,” he said.
At the same time, Povšík stated that the unions, in cooperation with the company, will keep employment at the highest possible level. “There may be partial transfers of employees, but always under the full control of the KOVO departments at Škoda Auto,” he said. According to him, the situation is worse with the transition to electromobility, when the number of employees corresponds to the types of assigned products within the group. “We can handle what is happening with chips now,” he added.
This week, production is also in the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic in Cologne, and here the reason is the lack of chips. Production of the small Toyota, Peugeot and Citroën cars should resume on Sunday evening, September 19, ie by night shift on Monday.
The Nošovice carmaker Hyundai has not yet had to stop production due to a lack of components. “There are problems, but we don’t have to interrupt the shifts yet,” Petr Michník, a spokesman for the Silesian carmaker, told ČTK. He added that there will be no overtime Saturday shifts in Nošovice, which the company originally planned for September. The carmaker has previously stated that it adapts the current availability of specific parts to the production plan and tries to strengthen stocks.
Škoda Auto employs almost 39,000 people, of which about 34,000 in the Czech Republic. These are regular employees, in addition to them, agency workers also work in the car factory. The average tariff wage at Škoda Auto is around 56,000 crowns.
Last year, Škoda Auto delivered over one million cars worldwide. It operates three production plants in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia and India, mostly through group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan in cooperation with local partners. It is active in more than 100 markets.


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CBS 58's Michael Schlesinger tried out being a barista on National Coffee Day
Posted: Sep 29, 2015 7:57 PM CDT | Updated: Sep 29, 2015 8:04 PM CDT
It's National Coffee Day. CBS 58's Michael Schlesinger spent the morning at Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company in Walker's Point to see the masses get their daily caffeine fix. It's estimated Americans spend $20 on coffee a week.
Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts and Panera Bread were among those offering coffee specials in recognition of this day for our favorite brew.
Schlesinger even trying his hand at barista.
Be sure to check in on Michael's daily adventures week day mornings on the CBS 58 morning news from 4:30 to 7 AM.

domain: news


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TPL Trakker Has Partnered With Bank Alfalah To Provide Customers Of Bank Alfalah With Exclusive Discounts On Vehicle Tracking Products.
TPL Trakker, Pakistan’s Leading Iot Company Providing Tracking, Telematics, Mapping And Location Based Services, Has Partnered With Bank Alfalah, One Of The Country’s Premier Financial Institutions, To Provide Customers Of Bank Alfalah With Exclusive Discounts On Vehicle Tracking Products Using Their Cards As Part Of This Arrangement.
Following the partnership, customers of Bank Alfalah will get exclusive discounts up to 28% on Trakker Plus, Trakker Premium and the newly launched TrakkerPRO, allowing them to drive their newly bought cars with the least worries. The collaboration is another step in Bank Alfalah’s efforts of developing a distinct product portfolio which facilitates customers in the best way possible. The bank has been constantly working on ways to bring greater ease and convenience to the lives of the people who use its services by partnering with some of the leading organizations in various sectors.
As a market leader in GPS vehicle tracking systems with over 19 years of experience in Pakistan, TPL Trakker Ltd. offers an unparalleled combination of technology and customer service.
With Industry First products and services like TrakkerPRO and Stolen Vehicle Recovery Assistance, the company has gone the extra mile to ensure complete peace of mind for customers, with the promise of giving customers cash, equivalent to the value of their car in case of the unfortunate event of car theft.
It is evident that both companies are on a mission to digitize their products and services for customers across the country. Bank Alfalah customers will have access to this unique product offering from 1st July – 10th December 2021. In a move to ensure all customers enjoy this benefit, the offer is valid nationwide on all Bank Alfalah cards across Pakistan.
This news was originally published at Nation.


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For Immediate Release
March 1, 2019
Kate Spiner, Director of Communications
Concord, NH – Ahead of Consumer Protection Week, March 3-9, 2019, Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald urges New Hampshire residents to take added precautions to protect themselves from IRS-related scams which tend to increase during tax season. In 2017, the Attorney General's office received 471 reports related to IRS scams. In 2018, there were 984 such reports.
The Attorney General offers strategies individuals can employ today to better protect themselves and those most susceptible to scams including education, heightened awareness, and practicing added vigilance when answering unknown phone calls.
Individuals most commonly report receiving unsolicited calls fraudulently claiming to be from the IRS and demanding payment for delinquent taxes. The callers typically ask for some sort of immediate payment and threaten arrest, wage garnishment or other forms of legal process to coerce the payment.
The IRS continues to caution taxpayers that, with very few exceptions, their first contact with a delinquent taxpayer will not be a phone call but will be in the form of a letter from the IRS sent through the mail. The IRS also does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information and it never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the phone.
A second prevalent IRS-related scam being reported is tax-related identity theft. This can occur when the perpetrator uses a stolen Social Security number to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. Often, the victim is unaware that the theft has happened until the person files his or her return and only then discovers that a fraudulent return had already been filed and the refund sent to the thief.
The Attorney General recommends taking these steps to better protect yourself against scams:
If you become a victim of tax-related identity theft, you should:
Attorney General MacDonald also offers the following advice about how to reduce the risk of identity theft:
Other scams to be aware of that seek personal information or money include: Grandparents Scam, Romance/Sweetheart Scam, Home Improvement or Paving Scams, Lottery Scams, Utilities Scams, Charity Scams and others. More information and resources available at https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/consumer-alerts.htm .
New Hampshire consumers may file a formal complaint at: http://doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm or by calling the Attorney General's consumer information line at 1-888-468-4454.
New Hampshire Department of Justice
33 Capitol Street | Concord, NH | 03301


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The sugar rush of last year’s Summer Olympics and political spend has given way to the inevitable crash, as third-quarter advertising expenditures were down significantly from Q3 2012.
According to a new report from Kantar Media, overall Q3 TV spend dipped 6 percent to $17.2 billion on unfavorable comparisons to the year-ago July-September period. Broadcast TV took the biggest hit, dropping 18 percent to $4.18 billion. Predictably, spot TV also took its lumps, falling 15 percent to $3.8 billion.
“Comparisons against Q3 of 2012 are skewed by last year’s record-breaking Summer Olympics and political campaign ad spending, which artificially boosted the market,” said Jon Swallen, chief research officer at Kantar Media North America. Swallen added that the London Games and the presidential and local elections injected “more than $1 billion in incremental money into the TV marketplace.”
Of course, the broadcast marketplace as a whole did not directly benefit from the huge cash infusion provided by the Olympics. NBC booked north of $1 billion in ad sales for the 2012 London Summer Games, a haul it sweetened with another $300 million in affiliate and digital revenue.
(While the Winter Olympics don’t have quite the impact of the Summer Games, NBC expects to make a profit on Sochi, for which it paid a $775 million rights fee. Earlier this fall, NBC Sports evp of sales and marketing Seth Winter said NBC already secured a record $800 million in Sochi sales.)
As Swallen notes, advertising driven by the Olympics, other sports programming and elections accounts for a steadily increasing share of TV sales. Whereas these categories accounted for $12.8 billion, or 19 percent, of the estimated $68.4 billion in overall TV sales in 2008, last year’s incremental spend accounted for 22 percent of the total TV take—a hearty $16.8 billion wedge of the $75.2 billion pie.
National cable networks aren’t nearly as in thrall to the Olympics and political eddies. Per Kantar, cable was up 5 percent to $6.24 billion. Pricing increases and an ongoing inflation of hourly ad time contributed to this increase.
Spanish-language TV is also largely unaffected by the incremental spend, as Univision, Telemundo and other outlets combined to rake in $1.72 billion in Q3 sales, up 10 percent from the year-ago $1.56 billion.
Syndication was effectively flat at $1.26 billion, down just $6 million versus Q3 2012.
Foregoing the apples-to-hand-grenades comps to 2012, the two-year differentials are much more encouraging. When compared to the last non-Olympic, apolitical Q3 (2011), broadcast is up 7 percent from $3.92 billion, while spot TV spend improves 2 percent versus $3.72 billion. And, as one might expect, cable’s steady growth is reflected in similar comparisons. When positioned against a Q3 2011 haul of $5.73 billion, ad-supported cable is up 9 percent.
All told, U.S. ad expenditures for the quarter were down 2 percent to $34 billion. TV accounted for more than half (51 percent) of that figure.
For the first nine months of 2013, perennial big spender Procter & Gamble was once again the top-ranked advertiser, with measured spending of $2.39 billion, an increase of 16 percent from the year-ago period. Per Kantar, P&G’s spending hikes were broadly distributed across its brand portfolio.
AT&T was the second largest investor in measured media, upping its year-to-date ad budgets by 22 percent to $1.4 billion. Rival Verizon reduced its total expenditures by 15 percent, to $865.4 million. According to Kantar estimates, the spending gap between the two telco giants is now at its widest margin in a decade.
Two automakers made the top 10 list, as General Motors increased its media spend 4 percent to $1.2 billion and Toyota dipped 1 percent to $920.4 million.
When taken as a whole, the top 10 advertisers spent $11.8 billion between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, up 6 percent from last year’s $11.1 billion.


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HELENA — The Montana House Republican majority Wednesday endorsed a bill that says businesses cannot be required to enforce local public-health orders, such as mandates to wear a face-mask or limit customer numbers.
House Bill 257, sponsored by Rep. Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade, also says businesses cannot be penalized for not following any local ordinance or public-health order that denies customers access to their services.
Public-health orders during the Covid-19 pandemic “have compelled private businesses to be an enforcement arm … through fear and threats,” Hinkle said on the House floor. “This has placed our businesses between a rock and a hard place.”
The House voted 66-34 for HB257, with all but one Republican in favor. The bill faces a final House vote Wednesday before advancing to the state Senate.
Democrats, who opposed the measure, acknowledged that the Covid-19 pandemic and orders to try to control its spread have hurt many businesses.
But they also said HB257 will “destroy” public health efforts and handcuff government in responding to any future outbreaks of a deadly communicable disease.
“My real concern with this legislation is, it’s fighting the last war,” said Rep. Tom France, D-Missoula. “Rather than lock us in with this legislation, we’d be better advised to leave some flexibility.”
HB257 says cities, counties, local health boards or a state emergency plan cannot take any action that “compels a private business” to deny a customer access to their premises or denies the customer access to the business’ goods or services.
It also says that if an ordinance or order takes that step, businesses cannot be penalized for not enforcing it.
In arguing for the bill, Republicans said businesses had been put in the difficult position of having to enforce face-mask mandates or other regulations, or face possible penalties or lawsuits from local officials.
That burden has led to many businesses alienating customers and, in some cases, having to close their business, they said.
“In the Flathead, everyone has said (officials) do not have the authority to do these things,” said Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell. “This bill is to never make those mistakes again.”
But Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, said the bill essentially prohibits a county health board from issuing any regulation or order that interferes with the relationship between a business and its customers.
The majority of businesses in Gallatin County are thankful for the work of county health officers, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said – but that a vocal few felt otherwise.
“I want to commend the public health officials for their efforts,” Stafman said. “This should be an easy `no’ vote. The bill itself destroys public health at every level one could imagine.”


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Appletiser has done a purposeful thing audit after routine quality testing found a couple of their bundles were outside "Alright rules". Last week, the sparkling juice brand conveyed an affirmation imparting their chief concern as the "flourishing" of customers. "The prosperity and success of our buyers is our fundamental concern, and we have taken a decision to pull out affected stock from the market the nation over, with fast effect," Appletiser said.
Appletiser has done an intentional item review after routine quality testing discovered a few of their bunches were outside "OK guidelines". Last week, the shining juice brand delivered an assertion communicating their principle worry as the "prosperity" of shoppers. "The wellbeing and prosperity of our purchasers is our essential concern, and we have taken a choice to pull out completely influenced stock from the market across the country, with quick impact," Appletiser said.
Coca-cola company in South Africa has asked the selling of appletisers to be put on hold for the sake of the safety of the consumers. They have reported that their sparkling apple juice has higher levels of toxins than normal. The Appletiser is one of the most selling Coca-Cola products in South Africa.
Appletiser products have been recalled by Coca-Cola South Africa. The products called are those that include six batches that have Best Before (BB) dates 07NOV21, BB 30MAY22, BB 10JUN22, BB 18MAY22, BB 19MAY22, and BB 23MAY22. The numbers can be found on the top or bottom of the packaging of the cans and bottles.
Seven days after Appletiser reported a review of six groups of its item because of raised levels of a form poison, Pioneer Foods has declared a review of a few LiquiFruit brands for a similar explanation. It is additionally reviewing Ceres squeezed apple items, yet just those sold external SA.
People go through the worst especially ladies when a person can just stay at home and watch TV or rather read their books they go to clubs to live a fake life that they can't afford. A picture was posted on Twitter as a lady was pouring an Appletiser can juice into an expensive wine bottle, what are people doing at this clubs?
Patulin is a normally happening poison delivered by an assortment of molds and at undeniable levels, it can cause gastrointestinal trouble. The review influences different items, including LiquiFruit Clear Apple, in 250ml containers and 330ml jars just as 1 liter containers. The food monster said that it hadn't got any grievances from purchasers however has chosen to speed up additional testing to be sure beyond a shadow of a doubt of the degree of the possible effect.


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Other available languages: none
Charlie McC REEVY
European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services
SEPA Direct Debit Launch
SEPA Direct Debit Launch Event
Brussels, 13 October 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a very great pleasure for me to address you today at this event marking the official "SEPA Direct Debit Launch". Almost 22 months have elapsed from the "SEPA Goes Live" event, which I had organised together with Gertrude and Gerhard, on the occasion of the official SEPA launch I must say that substantial progress has been achieved from that time on, despite the constraints caused by the financial crisis last autumn. I am, therefore, pleased that banks and the EPC have maintained their commitment to the project and are pushing ahead with the delivery of SEPA. And this explains why we all are here today to welcome the launch of the SEPA Direct Debit which is an important missing piece in the SEPA puzzle.
Today is a historic day for SEPA Direct Debit payments and a watershed in the further development and progression of the SEPA project. As of 2 November, it will be possible to execute the first SEPA Direct Debits. And this is also possible thanks to the Payment Services Directive which is the necessary legal platform for SEPA, in particular for SEPA Direct Debit.
Currently, there is no scheme in place for making cross-border direct debits. The EPC SEPA Direct Debit scheme is, therefore, truly innovative and provides a framework for the SEPA's flagship product. As a result, all direct debits, whether domestic or cross-border, will be provided under the same essential conditions and modalities throughout the SEPA area.
I would, therefore, like to congratulate the EPC, as the scheme 'owner', on this great achievement.
I am convinced that SEPA Direct Debit could and should give a new momentum to SEPA migration. A critical issue for the success of the SEPA Direct Debit is that all customers can be reached. Hence, it is essential that a majority of banks adhere to the SEPA Direct Debit scheme as of 2 November, with full reachability for euro area banks by November next year, in line with the new Regulation on cross-border payments. Latest figures on banks adherence to the SEPA Direct Debit scheme are encouraging and hold promise for the future developments…but I think Gerard will develop this further…
However, this is only a start, albeit a good one. Now, it is of crucial importance that payment service providers step up their activities and launch an active information and communication campaign with customers on the main characteristics, features and advantages of the SEPA Direct Debit.
The implementation of the SEPA Direct Debit will require changes. And customers will have to be convinced about the merits of these changes. In particular, the direct debit mandate will now remain with the creditor. Today, in some Member States, the mandate is held by the payer's bank. Consumers will, therefore, have to be reassured that the new SEPA Direct Debit offers them at least the same guarantees and protection they currently enjoy. Some so-called 'Additional Optional Services' could be developed by the banking communities concerned – ideally in a concerted way – to at least maintain the current services level and offer customers the same level of security.
But, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Only real acceptance by final users will show if the SEPA Direct Debit scheme, as currently developed by the EPC, is sufficiently attractive and fulfils users' expectations. So to sweeten this pudding, I think such Additional Optional Services will be an important ingredient. Another important sweetener will, of course, be the pricing of SEPA products. This has emerged as a crucial issue especially in relation to the possibility of establishing a SEPA migration end-date. Member States and users are rightly concerned about the price/quality characteristics of SEPA products. SEPA is still too often perceived as linked to price increases. We do indeed receive complaints from consumers questioning the need for new payment instruments if they mean higher prices. One key means of taking the heat out of this debate would be for banks to visibly communicate with their customers on SEPA pricing. For example, if banks were to publish a statement on their web-site explaining to customers that SEPA is not being used as a pretext for price increases nor for product deterioration, I am sure this will swell support for faster migration.
Another decisive factor to ensure customers' acceptance of the new SEPA products is to ensure that their views and concerns are adequately taken into consideration. This raises the issue of a proper governance structure, both for the EPC and for the SEPA project as a whole. We recognise that the EPC has made some improvements to its own governance arrangements. But more needs to be done. In particular, there remains scope to improve and professionalise the contacts with users and vendors, for example in relation to the quality, planning and availability of information available. Furthermore, proper and serious consultations of all parties concerned have to be ensured.
But we should probably go one step further and set up a proper governance structure for the SEPA project, with the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders. Such structure would act as a catalyst to ensure that the realisation of the SEPA vision is shared by all stakeholders and meets their needs and expectations. But the complexity of the SEPA project and the multitude of interested parties make the setting up of such a structure, which could take the form of a SEPA Council, an ambitious and challenging, though indispensable, exercise.
Having spoken at some length about what banks should be doing to make SEPA a success, I should now like to say a few words about what the Commission is doing to support the SEPA project.
First, transposition of the Payment Services Directive : The Commission has worked with Member States and stakeholders to ensure complete and consistent PSD transposition. From the latest news received, it seems that some Member States will unfortunately not be ready on time, namely Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia and Greece.
Second, we have tried to clarify some legal issues for SEPA Direct Debit: Industry has complained about the lack of legal clarity about a long-term business model for the SEPA Direct Debit that is compatible with competition rules. The Commission and the ECB have provided, in their statement of 24 March, guidance to the market and stand ready to provide more in the future. As regards the short term, legal clarity on financing mechanisms has been provided by the new Regulation on cross-border payments.
However: One remaining obstacle is the absence of guarantees in all Member States on the continued legal validity of existing Direct Debit mandates when migrating to the SEPA Direct Debit. Based on the latest news we have received, with the important exception of Germany, this no longer seems to be a problem within the euro area.
Third, a clear SEPA Road Map has been adopted: Our September Communication sets out a SEPA Roadmap for the period 2009 to 2012 and aims at injecting new dynamism and increased commitment into the whole SEPA project. The Roadmap identifies individual actions with clear deadlines under six priority areas to achieve full SEPA implementation. There will be close monitoring of the progress achieved in fulfilling the actions in line with the timetables defined.
Fourth, the Commission is actively monitoring SEPA migration by public administrations: We are publishing a regular benchmarking survey on public administrations migration to the SEPA Credit Transfer to build peer pressure and foster migration. Very much to our regret, our second survey published in July reveals that public authorities appear to be lagging behind rather than leading the market, although some Member States recently indicated that significant volume increases can be expected in the next twelve months.
Fifth, reflection on an end-date: we published end September the results of an extensive public consultation on SEPA end-date. I believe there are strong economic and societal arguments in favour of setting an end-date. Many stakeholders, both on the demand and supply side of the market, share this view. But a not insignificant number of stakeholders still consider that it is premature to talk about full migration to SEPA products whose quality still remain to be demonstrated. And there still seems to be some political reluctance to discuss the issue. Most Member States hesitate to commit themselves and tie their hands at a moment where SEPA Direct Debit is still on its launch pad and the SEPA benefits are still theoretical. Over the next few months we will, therefore, carefully consider and analyse how best to progress with this file at EU level and to build political support. In this respect, I would, therefore, strongly call on the payment services providers to speed up their SEPA migration in the coming 12 months and to increase the SEPA offerings with competitive pricing.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Although I have said this before, SEPA presents a fantastic opportunity to provide Europe with a world-class payment system benefiting European citizens and businesses. We need to make SEPA a success to harness the full potential of the Single Market and help realise our "Lisbon" ambitions. SEPA is Europe's way of keeping ahead of the dynamic trends in electronic payments usage in the US and Asia.
The recent financial turmoil has shown the vital importance of properly functioning payments to the wider economy and we should not allow the current difficult economic climate to deflect or slow us down. Although some of the rough edges of the SEPA diamond still need some polishing, the launch of the SEPA Direct Debit is a quantum leap forward for SEPA as a whole and provides for the first time a true pan-European direct debit service. Together, we can now go forward, inject new momentum into the SPA project, working hand-in-hand with all stakeholders to ensure that SEPA products are best of breed and competitive.


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Tourists in the U.S. are spending more at restaurants than ever before, good news for quick-serve operators as summer vacationing enters its home stretch.
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) reported this year that tourism spending at restaurants in the U.S. is at an all-time high, with 15 percent of sales at quick serves stemming from tourist spending. Quick-service and fast-casual restaurants made up 34 percent of the total amount of tourism and travel restaurant spending in 2012.
The growth of the travel and tourism industry is also increasing faster than the overall economy, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the Department of Commerce. The industry grew 6.8 percent, while the gross domestic product of the U.S. only grew by 1.8 percent.
Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the NRA’s Research and Knowledge Group, says it’s “common sense” that quick serves would be the recipient of strong tourist spending. While travelling or visiting an attraction, families are bound to get hungry and quick serves are usually in these areas, he says. Families can enjoy an affordable meal in less time than it would take at a fine-dining restaurant and go back to exploring the attraction they are visiting.
“One out of every five restaurant dollars is spent at quick-service restaurants. At the National Restaurant Association, we try to emphasize how important it is to know about travel and tourism trends for restaurant owners,” Riehle says.
Operators are experiencing that first-hand and even adapting their business to accommodate travelers. Ted Tsakiris, co-owner of Teddy’s Bigger Burgers, a Hawaii-based burger brand with additional locations in Washington, Iowa, and Japan, noticed a strong tourist presence at his Hawaiian outposts. He did a little investigating and found out that the number of tourists from Japan was declining, while Chinese and Korean tourism was increasing.
“You have to assimilate to your demographic,” he says. The chain is rolling out Chinese and Korean versions of its menu to accommodate this influx of tourists.
Riehle also says it is important for a restaurant owner to know his customer. “Understanding demographics and working with travel and restaurant associations” is a good way to make sure the marketing efforts that owners make can reach tourists effectively, Riehle says.
Maureen Bausch, executive vice president of business development for the Mall of America and a board member with the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, says restaurant owners should “ask themselves what the most cost-effective way to reach tourists is.”
She recommends that operators look at partnerships with other organizations, such as hotels, to increase their reach. “Just be visible,” Bausch says. “If you’re not top of mind, you’re not anywhere.”
The increase in tourism spending is due in part to an increase in international visitors to the U.S. The Department of Commerce reported that the amount of international visitors to the U.S. increased from 55 million in 2009 to an estimated 65.4 million in 2012. Paul Kern, branch chief on travel and tourism at the Bureau of Economic Analysis, says international visitors increasingly see the U.S. as giving them the most value for their money.
“There was a time when the U.S. dollar was very low and that drew in visitors from Brazil, India, China, and Russia,” Kern says. That set a precedent that continues today, he says.
Kern says the best thing restaurant owners can do to make sure that they are capitalizing on this trend is to know the demographics of the tourists travelling to their area. Several resources are available to help with this; U.S. averages and data from national agencies can be helpful, he says. Another resource that quick-service operators can use is the Survey of International Air Travelers, produced by the International Trade Administration. The survey shows data about international flights and passengers. Statistics about where the passengers are from and what airports they are flying into can help owners know how to market their brand, Kern says.
“International visitors are now at a record high in terms of visiting and spending,” Riehle says. “The ability to get a brand or establishment’s presence known is becoming more and more important. The competition remains fierce. The ability to stay on consumers’ minds is important.”
Tsakiris says creating a connection once a customer is in the restaurant is also important to building tourists’ spending.
“I want a tourist to come back two to three times during their stay. It’s our job to build a sort of ‘micro-relationship,’” he says. “If you don’t build that, they’re not going to come back.”
That also ensures that tourists are going to remember and talk about a restaurant long after their vacation is over.
“When neighbors travel, they tell everyone where they had a good time, and word of mouth generates more traffic,” Bausch says.


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Released on: June 29, 2015, 8:22 am (EDT)
Author: Mary B. Mackley
Asheville, NC, June 29, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — Newly released Civics Handbook presents you with the information and the test to examine your own civics proficiency, and provides a study tool assisting children, adults and all students to learn the material. And while learning, you might be inspired to visit and see where some of U.S. history unfolded as Historic Sites, Places, Parks, Battlefields, Sites of Remembrance and National Treasures are listed in the book. Americana A Civics Handbook Second Edition was released June 20, 2015 (ISBN# 978-1514221563) by Mary B. Mackley of Asheville, NC.
Released on: June 27, 2015, 4:17 am (EDT)
Author: Kelly Bronson
Palo Alto, CA, June 27, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — Kaeng Raeng, a leading creator of natural dietary supplements and cosmetics, best known for it’s 3-day Detox Cleanse program, has announced the launch of a new Amazon Ambassador program.
Amazon’s community guidelines allow for brands to provide free product or samples of products to individuals in exchange for an expectation of an Amazon review. Kaeng Raeng will accept applicants via their website to sample product offerings in expectation of ambassadors leaving Amazon reviews, which are not required to be positive-just honest.
Those interested in becoming Amazon Ambassadors can apply here:http://kaengraeng.com/index.php/feedback, to become part of this exciting new program.
Released on: June 26, 2015, 6:06 am (EDT)
Industry: Marketing, Advertising, Media
Streamlined and Affordable; Do-It-Yourself PR for Amazon Sellers, Startups and Crowd-Funders
Cleveland, Ohio, June 26, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — EconomyPR.com today announced the launch of its affordable, streamlined “do-it-yourself” public relations services for entrepreneurs, Amazon Sellers and crowd-funders today. Bridging the gap between random “gig economy” freelancers and premium agencies, EconomyPR.com has demonstrated in beta that it can deliver professionally-written press releases, blogs and media pitches at a fraction of the fees charged by agencies and publicists. The company’s do-it-yourself model enables clients who might not have even considered PR to conduct effective media campaigns.
Released on: June 26, 2015, 6:08 am (EDT)
Author: Chelsea Beagles
Dallas, TX and Austin, TX, June 26, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — Redpoint Insurance Group, LLC today announced the purchase of the workers compensation business (located in Austin, Texas) of American Hallmark Insurance Company of Texas. The acquisition is expected to close effective July 1, 2015. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Hallmark workers compensation business will begin operating under the name Redpoint Workers’ Compensation.
Released on: June 26, 2015, 6:10 am (EDT)
Author: Lamore Marketing & PR
Oklahoma City, OK, June 26, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — Association Motor Club Marketing (AMCM) just announced they will launch their new mobile application, AMCM Presentation, during the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA-PBL) National Leadership Conference in Chicago June 25- July 1, 2015. The app was designed specifically for Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) participating in the AMCM Fundraising Program.
Released on: June 26, 2015, 6:12 am (EDT)
Author: Sage Press
Park City, Utah, June 26, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — Do you want to get your children involved in vacation planning or encourage them to learn about world geography and culture?
Multiple award-winning Author/Illustrator Corinne Humphrey and Sage Press Books (http://www.sagepressbooks.com) would like to present Roaming with Rudy, Paris!, the first book in the new “Roaming with Rudy” series of guidebooks just for kids. Dedicated to young travelers everywhere, each city guide is filled with photographs, illustrations, maps, fun facts, travel journal, activity pages and more.
Released on: June 25, 2015, 10:00 am (EDT)
Author: David Akwue-Terraz
Industry: Software, Computers, Internet & Online
Lausanne, Switzerland, June 25, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — Overwhelmingly positive user response confirms strong demand for well-crafted Windows software.
Pipemetrics (http://www.pipemetrics.com) marked the first year on the market of its flagship product Bvckup 2 (http://bvckup2.com/) by announcing that an analysis of user engagement data shows substantial and growing demand from Windows users for higher quality standards.
Windows has been traditionally associated with software that focused on the technical elements first and the user experience second.
Founded in 2012, Pipemetrics was set up with an altogether different take on Windows software. By marrying industrial system engineering with nuanced visual and interactive design, the company develops software that is as lean and powerful as it is beautiful.
Released on: June 18, 2015, 3:28 am (EDT)
Author: MIKE KERWIEN
Industry: Construction, Small Business
WILMINGTON, DE, June 18, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — M. Davis, the fifth generation woman-owned Industrial Contractor and Fabricator headquartered in Wilmington, DE has named Christina MacMillan its Manager of Supplier Diversity. Christina MacMillan will enhance the program by working with diverse vendors to help identify opportunities with M. Davis. This will enable M. Davis to continue promoting economic growth and community development through our diversity and inclusion initiatives while also expanding our current supplier base to include the best and brightest.
Released on: June 08, 2015, 5:01 am (EDT)
Industry: Travel, Entertainment
South London parks are the subject of new photographic exhibition at the Horniman Museum.
LONDON, June 08, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — A new photographic exhibition celebrating London’s lesser-known landscapes open this month at one of London’s friendliest museums. South London Landscapes is now open at the Horniman Museum And Gallery this week and runs throughout the summer, featuring photographs of the Horniman itself as well as other picturesque public spaces in and around south London. The Horniman is one of London’s liveliest small museums, boasting excellent natural history and music galleries, a small aquarium and extensive landscaped grounds. For more information, and to see the latest deals on London hotels, see LondonTown.com.
Released on: June 08, 2015, 4:40 am (EDT)
Industry: Travel, Entertainment
Guildhall Art Gallery explores the work of little-known but pivotal Afro-Caribbean artists
LONDON, June 08, 2015 — /EPR NETWORK/ — A groundbreaking new exhibition at the Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London will look at the little-known and rarely exhibited history of 20th-century Black British art. No Colour Bar: Black British Art in Action 1960-1990 runs from 10 July 2015 to 24 January 2016, and will explore the history of art produced by Britain’s Afro-Caribbean citizens, reflecting their experiences in the country after the major emigrations that occurred following the end of the Empire at the conclusion of the Second World War. For more information on this and other exhibitions in London this summer, see LondonTown.com, where you can also find information on London events and cheap London hotels.


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Andrea Cocchi, Chief Executive Officer of Carpigiani Group and Ali Group for EMEA and APAC Regions, announced that effective September 1, Penny Klingler has been named President of Carpigiani North
In 2019, HOSPECO is celebrating its first century of business. Founded in 1919, at the start of U.S.
Aramark announced that chairman, president, and CEO Eric Foss is retiring and lead independent director Stephen Sadove has been named non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors.
Filippo Berti, Chief Executive Officer of the Ali Group, announced organizational changes at several of its operating companies in North America that become effective September 1.
In response to dramatic increases in international and domestic equipment sales as well as growth spurred by new initiatives, Frontline International has completed an expansion project doubling the
Arc Cardinal and Churchill announced today an exclusive distribution agreement for North America regarding the Dudson brand.
Boston-based ezCater, the world’s largest marketplace for online catering, has moved its HQ from Downtown Crossing to nearby Congress Square.
US Foods Holding Corp. announced that eight of its drivers were named to the 2019 class of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) Truck Driver Hall of Fame.
Core States Group recently announced the promotion of Andrew Lee to Director of Account Management for the firms’ key market sectors.


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Roundy’s, Inc. (“Roundy’s”) (NYSE: RNDY), a leading grocer in the Midwest, today announced Robert Mariano, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer and Darren Karst, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will present at the BMO Capital Markets 2014 BMO Farm to Market Conference on May 21, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. EDT (12:30 p.m. CDT), at the Grand Hyatt in New York, N.Y.
The audio portion of the presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the “Investor Relations” section of Roundy’s website at www.Roundys.com and will be archived through June 4, 2014.
Roundy’s is a leading grocer in the Midwest with nearly $4.0 billion in sales and more than 23,000 employees. Founded in Milwaukee in 1872, Roundy’s operates 169 retail grocery stores and 114 pharmacies under the Pick ’n Save, Rainbow, Copps, Metro Market and Mariano’s retail banners in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. Roundy’s is committed to helping the communities its stores serve through the Roundy’s Foundation. Chartered in 2003, the Roundy’s Foundation mission is to support organizations working to relieve hunger and helping families in crisis due to domestic abuse, neglect and other at-risk situations.
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U.S. business optimism drops in fourth quarter
Grant Thornton International Business Report cites economic uncertainty as the number one constraint to business growth in coming year.
Latest NewsQ4 2017 Rail/Intermodal Roundtable: Improvements apparent; work remains The State of the DC Voice Market Inside look at Rocky Brands Inc.‘s E-commerce Distribution Center: Upgrade with lights System Report: Rocky Brands Sees the Light Pharmaceutical Handling Adapts to DSCSA More News
Latest ResourceThe Retailer’s Atlas for Omnichannel Returns Fueled by e-commerce, the new state of retail is truly an omnichannel one, and companies will flourish or flounder based on how well their supply chain can meet customer expectations.
Optimism for the nation’s economic outlook among U.S. business leaders plummeted 16 percentage points in fourth quarter 2013 to a net balance of 36% according to the latest data from the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR), a survey of 3,300 business leaders in 45 countries.
Hiring expectations in the United States declined for the first time in the past year, with a net balance of 38% of business leaders foreseeing an increase in hiring during the coming year, down from 42% the previous quarter. In addition, net 52% of business leaders expect profits to grow, a slight decline from 54% the previous quarter and a substantial increase from 28% a year ago. U.S. business growth expectations actually improved, with net 65% of businesses expecting to see revenues climb during the next 12 months, up from 50% in third quarter 2013 and up from 38% from the same period last year. However, a net balance of 37% of U.S. businesses leaders cite economic uncertainty as the number one constraint to growing their operations in the next 12 months.
“It’s clear that the recent gridlock in Washington is significantly contributing to the lack of confidence in, and optimism about, our economy among the nation’s business leaders,” said Stephen Chipman, chief executive officer of Grant Thornton LLP. “Our nation’s political leaders were able to reach a budget agreement, which will likely avert another costly government shutdown and extend the sequester for the next two years. However, they must now turn their attention to embracing a long-term debt ceiling solution combined with comprehensive tax and entitlement reforms that would provide a level of economic certainty that businesses are desperately seeking.”
The notion that the government shutdown affected optimism about the economy correlates with other recent research from Grant Thornton LLP, which indicated that 60% of CFOs believe the state of the U.S. economy will remain the same or worsen during the next six months because of similar uncertainty.
The lack of optimism in the U.S. economy is consistent with what is occurring in other global markets. Global business optimism fell to a net balance of 27%, down five percentage points from third quarter 2013. Optimism among Chinese business leaders declined following a 27 percentage-point increase to net 31% in the previous quarter. In fourth quarter 2013, business optimism in the world’s second largest economy fell to a net balance of 22%.
Brazil business optimism also dropped significantly from a net balance of 31% to 10%, a record low for the IBR. Russian optimism declined from a net balance of 19% to just 1%, its lowest since 2011.
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Rating Helmets Beyond Pass/Fail
If you wear a full-face helmet, chances are you chose this type of helmet for its protective qualities. But what about the difference in levels of protection between different makes and models of full-face helmet? In the U.S. there isn’t much information to go on. Helmet safety certification uses a pass/fail system: a helmet either earns a DOT-approved (or, in some cases, Snell-approved) rating or it doesn’t. In the United Kingdom that’s changed with the government’s “Safety Helmet Assessment and Ratings Programme,” better known as SHARP.
The key word there is “Rating,” as in the 1- thru 5-star rating that SHARP assigns to helmets. According to the program, the more stars, the better protection a helmet can give. SHARP is “unique in providing a scaling to helmet performance,” says Anna McCreadie, of the U.K.’s Department for Transport, the government agency that conducts the SHARP testing. The U.K. government created SHARP in the hope that it would arm motorcyclists with more knowledge about the helmets they choose. As McCreadie explains: “SHARP is a comparative test designed to give motorcyclists more detailed information about the likely performance of different helmets in a collision. All the helmets available for sale in the U.K. must meet certain minimum standards—SHARP gives consumers information about how well helmets perform beyond those minimum standards.” SHARP tests have found differences in performance of as much as 70 percent between high- and low-scoring helmets.
Read the full article at Motorcycle Daily


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While exclusive games have traditionally been key to driving console sales, Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty said in January that the company is keen to avoid alienating Xbox One owners by releasing platform exclusive titles during the new console’s early days.
“You won’t be forced into the next generation,” he said. “We want every Xbox player to play all the new games from Xbox Game Studios. That’s why Xbox Game Studios titles we release in the next couple of years—like Halo Infinite—will be available and play great on Xbox Series X and Xbox One.
“We won’t force you to upgrade to Xbox Series X at launch to play Xbox exclusives.”
The approach is unique in the console space and in stark contrast to the strategy of rival PlayStation, which has committed to releasing games that are only possible on its more advanced PlayStation 5.
Spencer’s blog also touched on plans for backward compatibility when Xbox Series X launches during the 2020 holiday season.
“It’s our intent for all Xbox One games that do not require Kinect to play on Xbox Series X at the launch of the console,” he said.
“And because of the unprecedented power of Xbox Series X, most of your favorite games will load faster and look and perform many times better on the new console.”
Microsoft said in May that Xbox Series X already plays 1,000s of games thanks to its advanced backwards compatibility support.
In a follow-up statement, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Hideaki Nishino said the company believes “the overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles will be playable on PS5”, although he didn’t say when that might be.
“We’re expecting backward compatible titles will run at a boosted frequency on PS5 so that they can benefit from higher or more stable frame rates and potentially higher resolutions,” Nishino added.


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Processing shrimp exports at Minh Phu Seafood Corporation in Ca Mau (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The agro-forestry-fishery sector recorded a trade surplus of close to 3.3 billion USD in the first five months of 2020, a decline of a mere 2.3 percent year-on-year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), shipments overseas during the period brought in nearly 15.5 billion USD, down 4.1 percent year-on-year. Exports of key farm produce, husbandry products, fisheries, and forestry products earned approximately 7.4 billion USD, 210 million USD, 2.6 billion USD, and 4.2 billion USD, respectively. All were down year-on-year, by between 1.5 and 19 percent. Most products saw lower export revenue compared to last year, with earnings for tra fish, rubber, fruit, shrimp, peppercorn, and tea falling sharply. By contrast, shipments of coffee, rice, vegetables, cinnamon, and bamboo and rattan posted higher value. China remained Vietnam’s largest export market in the January-May period, with 3.7 billion USD. Despite showing a decline of 15.5 percent year-on-year, the figure accounted for 23.8 percent of Vietnam’s total export value. Following was the US, with around 3.4 billion USD, the EU with some 1.6 billion USD, ASEAN with nearly 1.6 billion USD, and… Read full this story
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Five-month agro-forestry-fishery trade surplus nearly 3.3bn USD have 291 words, post on en.vietnamplus.vn at May 29, 2020. This is cached page on Talk Vietnam. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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A TV channel scheduled for launch next week is claiming to be the first national television outlet to offer shares via crowdfunding.
Hochanda TV (home of crafts, hobbies and arts) is giving viewers the chance to buy into the company behind the channel with the promise of a stream of dividends if it proves to be a success.
The channel is the brainchild of two entrepreneurs, Paul Wright and Val Kaye, who created the shopping channel Ideal World and another called Create and Craft Channel and then sold them to private equity firm Inflexion for £73.8m in 2011.
Wright and Kaye have founded Hochanda after asking crafters and hobbyists what they want from a TV channel. It will launch at noon on Thursday 27 August on Freeview channel 39, Sky channel 663, Freesat channel 822 and also via IPTV.
It will air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with 12 hours a day (9am until 9pm) being broadcast live. Hochanda is also planning to broadcast simultaneously in Germany with live translation starting on 1 September.
Hochanda’s chief executive, Jamie Martin, said: “The craft industry in the UK is huge but there’s currently limited choice on TV for the craft and hobby audience. This is where Hochanda comes in. Our aim is to educate, inspire and entertain.
“We want the viewers to be part of the channel, which is why we’ve listened to what they want in a channel as well as setting aside a proportion of shares for our viewers to own.”
The channel will focus 75% of its airtime on crafts - from paper and fabric crafts through to craft beer - and the remaining time will be dedicated to hobbies such as fishing, travel and DIY. The funding opportunities for viewers will be handled by Crowdcube, with a minimum investment set at £50.
When the channel was first mooted in public, the Peterborough Telegraph reported Kaye as saying the company expected to employ more than 90 people.


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Five new GM maize authorisations published
Rules authorising five of six genetically modified (GM) maize varieties approved by the European Commission last week have been published in the EU's official journal. A decision authorising GM maize MON 89034xNK 603 has yet to be issued.
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According to TmoNews, T-Mobile may move to a contract-free model from March 24. The announcement may come as early as today.
TmoNews has reported the shift citing an unnamed source. The report said, “while we’re confident the details are accurate today, they could easily change tomorrow.” T-Mobile will also dump early termination fees. Added to this, the carrier will offer $25 to $30 monthly installation plan on handset purchases.
The report by TmoNews has also revealed new marketing plans of T-Mobile. The “Stick Together” tagline will retire along with the Ducati, driven by spokesmodel Carly Foulkes. Instead, consumers should be looking forward to see the phrase “Dual 4G” that probably refer the carrier’s HSPA+ and LTE networks. This new marketing campaign was expected, as the company’s CEO John Legere earlier said that the carrier would launch a “in-your face” campaign after it finishes the merger with MetroPCS.
Let’s see, what happens today.


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Brewcade (2200B Market St.), the Castro's popular arcade bar, is set to close next week for a month-long remodel and expansion, which will include a name change.
Hoodline readers will recall that Brewcade, open since 2014, was officially given the green light to expand into the neighboring former Botellón space earlier this month.
Now, owner Shawn Vergara has announced the business' new name: District 8, a reference to the Castro's supervisorial district.
"The name is inspired by the Castro, our richly diverse neighborhood that we know and love," reads a message from Vergara in the bar's window. "Bringing you 'booze, buttons, and bites,' this new fast-casual restaurant will be a safe and inclusive space for our LGBTQ+ community and all."
Vergara told Hoodline that he and his sister and business partner, Tiffny Vergara Chung, decided to change the name because they no longer wanted customers to only associate the business with arcade games and beers.
While District 8 will continue to offer both items in its new format, "we didn't want to have a name that was too on-the-nose," he said. The new eatery's primary focus will be on food and drinks, with games as more of an accessory use.
"We want people to think of it more as a restaurant," said Vergara, who said his goal is to draw repeat customers with strong food and drink options.
The new eatery will have "a simple comfort food menu showcasing food purveyors from the Bay Area," said Vergara. Offerings will range from fresh-baked pizza to lemongrass beef sandwiches, and Acme Bread, Tomales Bay Foods, and Straus Creamery will be among the restaurant's purveyors.
Vergara and Chung, who also own nearby cocktail bar Blackbird (2124 Market St.), have purchased Botellón's Type 47 liquor license, allowing them to serve full liquor and cocktails for the first time.
In addition to its central bar, District 8 will have a roving cocktail cart, offering pre-bottled cocktails, one liquor and one mixer. Vergara's hope is that it will cut down on lines and allow customers to get their drinks more quickly.
"The last thing I want guests to do is wait in line," says Vergara, who said he may add a second roving cart with beer if the idea proves successful.
Customers will also be able to order a limited selection of beers and cocktails from the walk-up food counter.
"Our goal is to make guests' experience as smooth as possible," says Vergara.
Construction is currently underway inside the former Botellón space, which closed last October after less than a year in the neighborhood. Much of the work, estimated to cost $250,000, will involve the removal of a non-load-bearing wall that currently separates the two spaces.
District 8 will be accessible through the former main entrance of Botellón, while Brewcade's current entrance will be exclusively used as an exit.
Brewcade is set to close this Monday, June 3. The day before, it will host a farewell party, starting at 4 p.m.
Due to the construction timetable, it will be closed during Pride Month, an often busy time for Castro restaurants and bars.
The temporary closure comes nearly three weeks after indoor beer garden Willkommen opened across the street.
By mid-summer, both businesses should be up and running at the same time, adding some much needed vibrancy to an area that's struggled with multiple retail vacancies.
District 8 is currently hiring kitchen staff. Those interested should drop off their resume at the bar or email it to [email protected].
Thanks to tipster Zach Z.! See something interesting while you’re out and about? Text Hoodline and we’ll try to find out what's going on: (415) 200-3233.


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“While Jupiter Research expects total music sales to remain flat over the next five years, the online portion of the market will continue to expand, reaching $3.3 billion in revenue by 2008. Physical formats continue to drive much of the industry but they are losing market share to a la carte music downloads and music subscription services. By 2008, one out of every two dollars spent online will be spent on digital music,” reports Jupiter Research’s Lead Analyst Lee Black.
The market leader, in good position to capture major part of US music download market, is Apple Computer’s iTunes Music Store.
More information about Apple’s iTunes Music Store here.


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Seeing Madison’s success, lawmaker announces bill to crack down on card skimming devices
MADISON, Wis. — A new proposal at the Capitol aims to crack down on identity theft. It copies a Madison ordinance that tried to stop criminals using credit card skimmers from stealing credit card information while people pumped gas.
The Madison Common Council passed the ordinance after at least a dozen skimmers were found on gas pumps across the city last summer and fall. The problem is that many pumps are made by the same manufacturer and use a universal key. Under the ordinance, gas station owners were required to install unique locks on their pumps that only they had the key for.
“Security is the biggest thing, knowing that you’re the only one that can get in. The tool that was used to get into [pumps] was available at hardware stores,” Mike Seversin, owner of Seversin’s Service Center on Madison’s east side, said.
Madison Weights and Measures inspectors said since the ordinance passed, they only know of one case where a skimmer was installed. The pump was fitted with a unique lock, but it was broken to install the skimmer.
Impressed by Madison’s success, one lawmaker wants to make this a state law. Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, announced the legislation on Tuesday after hearing reports of card skimming in the Green Bay area. It would require unique locks on all gas pumps, and anyone not in compliance would face a penalty.
“There is a simple common sense solution to stopping or drastically reducing the risk of card skimming at gas pumps. That is to require all gas station owners to use unique locks and keys on each of their pumps,” Hansen said.
Under Madison’s ordinance, gas station owners were required to pay for the locks out of pocket. Seversin said it cost him about $30 per pump. Hansen said the cost of updating these locks is relatively inexpensive compared to the financial cost to consumers whose financial information is stolen at the pump.
Earlier in the legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill increasing penalties for people convicted of card skimming, but Hansen wants to take it a step further.
“It makes more sense to prevent these crimes from happening in the first place so consumers are protected and taxpayer dollars aren’t spent on investigating, prosecuting and housing these criminals,” Hansen said.
Seversin started updating his locks even before Madison’s ordinance passed. He said most of his gas sales happen at the pump, and he wanted customers to feel comfortable filling up at his station.
“That’s the main reason I put the locks on, to make my customers feel at ease. I didn’t want feeling uncomfortable paying at the pump because 75 percent of my gas is pumped at pay at the pump,” Seversin said.
Hansen is now circulating the bill looking for support and co-sponsors. He’ll introduce it within the next week or so.
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Posts Tagged ‘Steam Community’
Posted by DaRipp3r on March 3, 2014 under Euro, Mac, News, PC
To survive the dangers of space exploration and planet terraforming in Edge of Space, where lethal Jetpack Space Penguins, Space Laser Sharks, and other monstrosities lurk in the dark, it’s better to have allies around. That’s why Handyman Studios is very excited to announce a slew of new features for the upcoming content update this week, including the long-awaited deployment of Multiplayer m... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on January 23, 2014 under PC, Reviews
Deadly Premonition is a PlayStation 3 release that has made its way to the Windows PC platform. To the dismay of gamers, this port had a very rocky launch on Steam. Gamers went to the official Steam forums to complain about in-game glitches that affected gameplay. Some of these glitches include unexplainable crashes and poor performance on high-end gaming rigs. Rising Star Games listened to the... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on January 16, 2014 under Euro, Mac, News, PC
Valve kicked off its first-ever Steam Dev Days Conference by announcing the continued growth of Steam, a leading platform for PC, Mac, and Linux software. In addition, Valve detailed Steam's 2013 geographic performance to the more than 1,200 Dev Days attendees. In the trailing three months the number of active Steam accounts jumped 15%, to 75 million from 65 million (announced October 201... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on January 7, 2014 under Euro, News, PC
Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Dota 2, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced over one dozen Steam Machine designs now in production from leading manufacturers and targeted for release in 2014. The lineup of Steam Machines announced today offers a wide variety of price... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 31, 2013 under PC, Reviews
Project Zomboid is a survival horror game with a randomly generated open sandbox world with roguelike gameplay. The character creation process offers endless possibilities when designing a character. You can choose from a selection of predetermined classes such as the police officer and firefighter, to name just a few. Each character class deals in a specific expertise, which can include marksmans... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 19, 2013 under Euro, Mac, News, PC
The 2013 Steam Holiday Sale is on now. For the entire holiday season, shoppers can take advantage of huge savings on thousands of games. Following in the Steam Sales tradition, there will be different promotions happening all day, every day -- including eight-hour Flash Sales and Community's Choice Sales, where gamers may weigh in on which titles should be discounted next. On top of Fla... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on December 5, 2013 under Euro, News, PC, Portables
Rising Star Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced that the Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut: The Official Visual Companion, is available now on the Apple App Store via iBooks for iPad at the permanently reduced price of $5.99, just in time for the holiday season. For the price of a large specialty coffee (Agent Francis York Morgan's favorite hot be... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on November 27, 2013 under Euro, Mac, News, PC
The Steam Autumn Sale is on now and runs until December 3rd, 2013. There are huge savings throughout the store, with daily deals, flash sales, and discounts on thousands of games. Add games to your Steam Wishlist and be notified when a game from your Wishlist goes on sale, or shop for games using the Steam Mobile App, available for iOS and Android. Official Website: http://www.steamp... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on November 25, 2013 under Euro, Mac, News, PC
Valve today announced the beta launch of Steam Reviews, adding more ways Steam users may share their experiences with others and make more informed purchase decisions. Users considering a purchase on Steam may now browse reviews from friends and the community, leave comments on reviews, and indicate which reviews they found helpful. Once a user has played a game or used a software title on S... more.
Posted by DaRipp3r on November 19, 2013 under Euro, Mac, News, PC
Five industry-leading companies are set to speak at the upcoming Steam Developer Days, to be held in Seattle, WA on January 15th and 16th, 2014. The five companies confirmed so far are AMD, Intel, Nvidia Oculus, and Unity. In addition to these presentations, representatives from Valve will be giving presentations on the upcoming Steam Machines, developing for the Steam Controller, and more.... more.
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Cadillac just unveiled the 2025 CT5 luxury sedan and it ships with a tech-forward feature that’s certain to annoy the “back in my day, cars were for driving” crowd, a 33-inch 9K touchscreen display. The dashboard-based LED screen curves toward the driver in a “single, continuous screen” that spans the entire viewing area.
This is a customizable user interface that you can access in a number of different ways. Cadillac has partnered up with Google, so many of the company’s apps are built-in to the display, like Google Assistant and Google Maps. This allows for live traffic updates, podcasts, music streaming, hands-free communication and more.
Cadillac has been teasing this display for a while, after it first showed up at CES in 2021 as part of the Lyriq EV concept car. However, the 2025 CT5 is far from a concept vehicle, as it likely releases next year. It seems as though automobile manufacturers are in a race to push out the widest and more versatile screen, with BMW recently introducing full-width displays on windscreens that are also set to launch with 2025 models.
Of course, the Cadillac CT5 is also a car, and not just a big metal house for a touchscreen display. The CT5 refresh boasts a 2.0L turbo engine, upgradeable to 3.0L, with 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, along with dual exhaust tips. The company promises a “quiet, smooth and effortless” ride, thanks to all-wheel drive, Super Cruise drive assistance technology, and something called the Drive Mode Selector that uses a full range of sensors to automatically adjust responses depending on the surface and weather conditions.
Cadillac says the 2025 CT5 will be manufactured at GM’s assembly facility in Michigan, with production beginning in the spring.


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German consumers want the greatest possible security and convenience when they are online. At the same time, they are surprisingly reticent about using new technologies that rely on biometric features instead of passwords when logging in – although these are precisely the answer to this desire. Correspondingly, only 29 per cent feel better secured in their online activities when they log in using face ID. This was one of the findings from Nevis’ recent study of German consumers. The study also provides valuable information on the areas where consumers need to catch up in terms of IT security, for example in the authentication methods they use.
In this representative study, Nevis, working together with the online market research institute mo'web research, surveyed 1,000 German consumers aged 14 and over. The study shows that the majority of consumers are aware that their personal data is exposed to considerable security risks when using sites on the World Wide Web – whether these are e-commerce, online banking or health services. It is also apparent that, despite this, users often behave contrary to this awareness.
It is worth noting, for example, that 14 per cent of those affected by a cyberattack say they have not changed how they manage their passwords or how they protect their accounts. Of the users who do take extra security measures, most of them (66 per cent) rely on the use of more complex passwords and 58 per cent on many different, complex passwords for different accounts.
In other words, these measures are preferred over two-factor authentication, which is only used by 41 per cent. This is despite the fact that this type of authentication is more secure than relying solely on a password for identification. After all, two-factor authentication uses two features to verify the identity of a user. These could be biometric data such as a Face ID or a fingerprint scan. If even more additional forms of identification are used, such as geolocation or the device ID of the smartphone, this is referred to as multi-factor authentication – which ensures even more security.
Those who have experienced problems are more ready to change their behaviour
Another result of the study is that logging in as easily as possible is a priority for 51 per cent. They give this the highest possible score of 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. However, one factor that proves to be error-prone in many login situations and thus causes frustration rather than comfort is the password itself. Consumers often even cancel purchase transactions because they have difficulties with password management.
But anyone who now expected that consumers would welcome apps that do not require a password but still offer a high level of security when logging in to online banking, for example, is mistaken. More than two-thirds of the study participants would not download such an app. One thing that is interesting, however, is that of those who changed their behaviour in terms of password security after a hacker attack, 52 per cent would be prepared to use such an app. Clearly, then, people who have already been victimised by online criminals are more open to new and secure technologies. On the other hand, the majority of users do not seem to be sufficiently aware of the threats posed by leaked or hacked passwords.
Is Face ID still too unknown for authentication?
As far as the acceptance of passwordless authentication methods is concerned, the study participants were specifically asked about their attitude towards face ID as a login option. This uses the individual facial features of the user as biometric identification features. The chance of an unauthorised person being able to use someone else’s face ID is one in a million. Therefore, this method is considered a very strong authentication option. It is often used as a second security factor in addition to the password or the device as part of a two-factor authentication process. Nevertheless, the study participants are sceptical about face ID. It is not just that very few people feel more secure when logging in using this method, more than a third even reject it outright, and a large number (37 per cent) are undecided.
Considering the widespread desire for simpler login methods, this result is surprising. One reason for this may be that users still know too little about the advantages of Face ID. For companies, however, this circumstance offers several opportunities at once: if they can manage to make clear how uncomplicated and secure passwordless authentication via Face ID is, they will score points with their customers because they are responding to their customers’ need for convenience. At the same time, this sets them apart from competitors who still rely on the complicated, classic password-based login. And last but not least, a passwordless login app also means increased security for the companies themselves: They make hacked user accounts due to easily cracked passwords a thing of the past.
By the way: Nevis has added the most important results of this consumer study to another one for which 500 IT decision-makers were surveyed on the topic of IT and login security in the new “Security Barometer”.


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Would you be willing to watch a 30-second advertisement on a vending machine to get a free drink? According to a vending machine operator Apex Corp, soon, "thirsty Japanese customers will be able to drink coffee or other non-alcoholic beverages at a low price or even for free — as long as they watch a 30-second advertisement on the vending machines."
Apex said it expected to roll out the service to "turn its machines into a new medium for advertisers, who will pick up the partial or full cost of drinks" next month.
Free Drink Vending Machines
More Stats +/-
42 Amazing Vending Machines
Connected AI Planters
Distorted Avant-Garde Lookbooks
Gluten-Free Cauliflower Tots
Easy Open Snack Packaging


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McClatchy Co. wrote down the book value of its stake in Classified Ventures LLC, indicating the online ad initiative begun as a way of capturing lost ad sales is stumbling.
In a regulatory filing Monday, McClatchy valued its 25.6 percent in Classified Ventures at $86.5 million at the end of June, down 13 percent from December.
McClatchy owns the online venture with A.H. Belo Corp.; Gannett Co.; Chicago-based Tribune Co., which owns the Chicago Tribune; and The Washington Post Co. Classified Ventures operates the automotive ad site Cars.com and the real estate site Apartments.com.
Newspaper publishers have seen ad revenue wither as advertisers follow readers online. Classified Ventures was set up to reclaim some of that lost revenue.
McClatchy also took a slight write-down on the value of its 14.4 percent stake in online jobs site CareerBuilder.com.
It also slashed the value of its 49.5 percent holding in Seattle Times Co. to $9.9 million from $19.3 million.
Page compiled from Tribune staff, wire reports


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Walmart has announced a plan to help women business owners, but some are are questioning the company's motives.
The move comes only months after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a class action sexual discrimination lawsuit filed against the company.
The retail giant's new commitment to women will be an expensive one.
Over the next five years, the company has pledged to spend $20 billion on products from women-owned businesses, which doubles the amount spent in previous years.
The retailer will also fund more than $100 million in grants to provide job training for low-income women and push the company's major suppliers to hire and promote more women.
This new initiative has many wondering if Walmart is only trying to polish its image.
"I'm completely underwhelmed. This is a company that has systematically discriminated against women and they think they can evade responsibilities simply by a PR stunt," said Terry O'Neill, the president and chief executive officer of the National Organization for Women.
Walmart company officials insist their efforts are not related to the lawsuit.
"We're doing it because we think it's good for our business," explained Leslie Dach, the company's executive vice president of corporate affairs.
Walmart estimates that women control $20 trillion in annual consumer spending worldwide. Company executives say empowering women helps the company to continue to develop.
"It's good for our customer. It creates economic opportunity in the communities we're trying to build our business in," Dach said.
This new plan for women is not the only way that Walmart is working to promote a more caring image. The company is also working with first lady Michelle Obama to promote healthful eating.


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The company makes DRAM chips, and has Apple as its biggest customer.
Supply has tightened over the last year in the DRAM market, and prices have reflected such a move.
Samsung is the world's biggest DRAM maker, and the company uses its own chips for its popular Galaxy smartphones. Samsung expects to have so many S4 available for sale, however, that it has looked into other companies due to diminishing supply.
Analysts believe Samsung can sell 10 million GS4 per month, surpassing its predecessors by a large margin.
Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Apr 2013 17:19


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Surrey MP criticises Farnham furniture shop's free bar
A furniture shop in Surrey giving away free beer to attract more customers has been criticised by the health secretary for exploiting a legal "loophole".
Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey, said Simon Atkins' shop Innsatiable in Farnham could have an adverse effect on the town's pub trade.
The shop does not need a licence as alcohol is given away and not sold.
Mr Atkins insisted he was doing nothing wrong and said anyone who looked under 25 was asked for ID.
Mr Hunt has asked the alcohol licensing minister if the Home Office planned to take action.
"Legally, the owner of Innsatiable is doing nothing wrong, but I know that there are genuine concerns about the impact of the scheme on the pub trade in Farnham and fears that similar businesses might open in other towns," he said.
But Mr Atkins insisted he was allowed to have a free bar in his shop, which he said gave his business a captive audience.
"We give them [customers] a free beer," he said.
"If they want to buy a beer mat they can buy a beer mat, if they want to buy our furniture they can buy our furniture, and if they want to buy our branded clothes they can.
"We operate in exactly the same way as all the supermarkets do, and that's a policy of ID for anyone who looks under 25
"We could get into the situation where we could serve people under 18 because they are allowed to drink, but we don't want to get that - that's up to their mums and dads."
Waverley Borough Council said it was working with Mr Atkins to clarify whether he needed a licence.
'Against the law'
A spokesman said: "Should information come to light that the Licensing Act 2003 is being breached, Waverley Borough Council will take appropriate action."
Surrey Police said the force was aware of the shop's operating practices and officers would act over any licensing act breaches.
"The Safer Neighbourhood Team will continue to monitor the situation but currently there is nothing being carried out which is against the law," the force said in a statement
A Home Office spokesman said: "It is a criminal offence to sell alcohol without a licence. This may include situations where alcohol is included as part of a wider contract or transaction or where no specific price is quoted but donations are requested."


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AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn is looking for ways to increase ticket sales, but athletics director Jay Jacobs says the Tigers may simply need to win first before fans start gobbling up tickets.
Season ticket sales for the upcoming football season are down down 4.7 percent when compared to sales at this time last year, Auburn confirmed Thursday. The Tigers have lost "about $600,000" of potential sales as a result, but scholarship seating levels are at an "all-time high" for the season, Jacobs said Thursday.
Slow sales with lower-end tickets and a wait-and-see approach for some fans after a 3-9 season (the school's worst in 60 years) are to blame. The school started selling season tickets to the general public June 7.


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Amid the COVID-19 global pandemic and economic slump, Gov. Phil Murphy approved a bill on Tuesday evening that would ramp up recycling requirements for unused and wasted food. The newly signed Assembly Bill 2371 requires large generators of food waste – such as hospitals, prisons, restaurants and supermarkets – to recycle food garbage rather than send it to incinerators or landfills. The measure goes into effect in 18 months.
At its core, the bill requires generators of more than 52 tons of food per year to separate food waste and send it to the closest authorized recycling facility within 25 miles. Sen. Bob Smith, D-17th District, the bill’s main sponsor, argued that the legislation would create an entirely new industry, revolving around environmentally conscious food recycling, rather than letting it sit in a landfill where it would produce methane gas. In the years to follow, the booming industry would drive down costs and vastly outdo any expenses that businesses might incur in the near future, according to Smith.
“It’s not only progressive environmentally, but it’s very good in terms of starting new industries,” Smith told NJBIZ. Smith said that because the bill does not kick in for nearly two years, that should buy state and local officials and business executives time to first contain the COVID-19 outbreak and bounce back economically, before getting this new industry started. “This might be one of the pieces of that recovery, new industries, new jobs. Certainly not by itself, it’s not going to do that, but it’s a new industry for the state,” Smith said.


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Sony Confirms Days Gone Delayed To 2019
Sony has officially delayed Days Gone, the PlayStation 4 exclusive third-person zombie action-adventure game, according to a statement made to US Gamer. Days Gone was previously scheduled to release in late 2018 but the game page on the PlayStation website was recently updated with a 2019 release window. We’ve reached out to Sony for comment on the game’s delay.
Since its announcement during E3 2016, Days Gone has been one of the PlayStation 4’s most highly anticipated exclusives. That said, Sony has many strong exclusives lined up for the PlayStation 4, including God of War, Detroit: Become Human, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, and the Shadow of the Colossus remake is already available. There’s always the possibility that Days Gone was delayed so as not to crowd the PlayStation 4’s already impressive 2018 line-up.


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New Delhi: India’s leading Mobile Wallet and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platform, MobiKwik, flagged off its campaign ‘Spend Now, Pay Later’ to promote its innovative BNPL product “MobiKwik Zip.” From its inception in 2009, MobiKwik has been at the forefront of innovation in the fintech space; being amongst the first to launch a mobile wallet and more recently BNPL in India. The campaign is targeted towards the people of Bharat, most of whom are neglected by legacy financial institutions and have no access to credit. The campaign educates users on the benefits of MobiKwik Zip, an interest-free pay later product with a limit of up to ₹ 30,000 available in the user’s wallet for daily life payments.
Conceptualized and executed by GingerMonkey LLP, the campaign comprises three films. Each film showcases how a protagonist is stuck in a challenging situation of having inadequate funds to make payments. This is when MobiKwik Zip is stitched into the narrative as a solution, highlighting its various value propositions including 1) ease of use, 2) easy access to credit, and 3) increased purchasing power. The product ‘MobiKwik Zip’ is the hero of the story and solves three tricky situations in the films – paying the electricity bill, buying medicines online, and last-minute shopping. The first commercial that has gone live shows how MobiKwik Zip makes life easy by helping pay a large electricity bill on time.
India’s online transacting users have briskly grown at a CAGR of approximately 15% from 180 million in Fiscal 2018 to over 250 million in Fiscal 2021. However, India had only 30-35 million unique credit card users resulting in a low credit card penetration of 3.5%, as of March 31, 2021. BNPL is the only way to expand credit penetration in India allowing users to avail credit and pay later for their spending. India’s digital BNPL market has rapidly grown to reach US$ 3-3.5 billion in GMV in Fiscal 2021 and is expected to grow to US$ 45-50 billion by Fiscal 2026 driven by user growth.
Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Upasana Taku, Chairperson, Co-founder & COO, MobiKwik said, “We strongly believe that BNPL for daily life payments (eCommerce, groceries, bills) is the only way to deliver financial freedom to millions of Indians. This is the mission that lights our fire at MobiKwik. We are focused on addressing the unmet credit needs of Indians by combining the convenience of Payments with the benefits of Pay Later.”
She further said, “Through this campaign, we aim to spread awareness about MobiKwik Zip and inform consumers on how they can Spend Now and Pay Later for their day-to-day needs.”
Speaking on the campaign, Abhishek Asthana, Creative Head, GingerMonkey said, “The brief of the campaign was pretty clear, to breakdown the proposition of “Buy Now Pay later” to the target audience who usually are not eligible for credit due to insufficient credit history. A cash-starved generation that doesn’t compromise on lifestyle is always in a dilemma whether to spend now or postpone the purchase to the next salary cycle. Working on this insight, we picked out top use-cases where MobiKwik Zip could be a lifesaver. Needless to say, the communication needed to be ‘Zippy’, for a product that’s named MobiKwik Zip. We are confident that the campaign will resonate with the target audience and achieve the intended business results for the company.”
MobiKwik Zip is an innovative pay-later option for MobiKwik users available on its mobile apps with a single-tap activation. Zip provides a superior payment experience to users enabling them to pay anywhere and everywhere in India. It allows users to make payments in a 15-day cycle while availing interest-free credit ranging from ₹500 to ₹ 30,000. MobiKwik Zip currently has 22.3 million pre-approved users and 79% repeat users.
MobiKwik is currently on the road to IPO and has filed the Draft Red Herring Prospectus with SEBI. The company is profitable at the contribution level across all its business segments and has seen a revenue growth (CAGR) of 52% in the last 3 years (FY18-21).
- Agency: GingerMonkey LLP
- Chief Creative Officer & MD: Abhishek Asthana
- Business Director: Santosh Pradhan
- Creative Director (Art): Birju Raikwar
- Head of Production: Aiman Shaikh
- Sr. Business Partner: Prafull Kumar
- Production House: BAND-STAND VIDEOS
o Director: Vishal Gupta
o Producer: Tuhin Srivastava & Neel Nigam


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BENTONVILLE, ARK. — Sam’s Club, a division of Bentonville-based Walmart Inc. and a leading membership warehouse club retailer, plans to open more than 30 new “clubs” across the United States over the next several years. The first store, which is planned for an undisclosed Florida city, is slated to open in 2024.
The new clubs will span approximately 160,000 square feet, which is larger than most current locations. Most new stores will feature a seafood/sushi island, full-service floral and walk-in dairy and fresh coolers, as well as a larger healthcare space featuring a patient waiting area, health services suites, private consultation rooms and dedicated hearing and optical centers. Many of the new locations will also include fuel stations and liquor offerings.
In addition to the new stores, the company has a multiple-year plan to invest in and modernize its supply chain through new distribution and fulfillment center locations across the country. Sam’s Club will launch five new supply chain fulfillment and distribution centers this year, with the first location planned in Georgia in the third quarter.
Kathryn McLay, CEO of Sam’s Club, says the decision to invest in expanding the company’s physical footprint was motivated by historic comparable sales growth and a record rise in membership over the last two years.
“We’ve seen remarkable growth over the past few years with a record number of members, and we’re excited to bring the experience of Sam’s Club to even more markets as we expand our footprint,” says McLay. “And as we open new clubs in new locations, we’ll continue to innovate so that our members shop and save, whether in person or online.”


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Kerlink a provider of network solutions dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT), has added two seasoned wireless and IoT professionals to capitalise on the company’s rapidly growing opportunities in the Americas, Asia Pacific and other major markets.
“Kerlink’s strong financial results and rapid expansion in diverse international markets clearly demonstrate the increasing demand for our LoRaWANTM products and services,” said Kerlink CEO William Gouesbet. “These senior-staff additions bring key experience, connections and industry expertise to help Kerlink realise the opportunities before us and pursue our goal of achieving €70 million in revenue in 2020.”
This year, Kerlink announced nationwide LoRaWANTM rollouts with companies in India and Argentina, as well as deployment partnerships with IoT network providers in Belgium, Poland, Ireland and Germany. While Europe represents a vital market for Kerlink, the company’s overseas expansions are providing the biggest boost to growth. It recently reported revenue of €10.1 million for the first six months of 2017, an 87% increase over the same period in 2016.
To help continue this growth rate and expand the company’s international footprint, Benjamin Maury joins Kerlink as global head of business development and strategic partnerships. He brings more than 15 years of experience helping companies create and implement strategies for M2M and IoT business models for smart-city, security, automotive, telematics and other fast-growing IoT sectors.
Strategically positioned at the centre of the LoRa® ecosystem, Kerlink aims at crystalising a strong network of partners around its IoT network solutions and value-added services. Maury will help accelerate the launch of key technology and business partnerships, to inspire creativity for designing connected devices, trigger development of innovative applications, and identify additional business opportunities in international markets.
Carlos Briceno joins Kerlink as senior director of sales and business development for Kerlink Inc., the Chicago-based subsidiary that will develop and manage the company’s expansion in North, South and Central America. His duties include developing the strategy for profitable revenue growth of all products and services within those diverse markets, and strengthening the Kerlink Inc. organisation.
Carlos has more than 20 years of experience in wireless telecommunications, Wi-Fi and IoT. As the founder of Briceno Consulting, a U.S.-based firm, he worked with clients such as InterDigital Inc., an industry leader in designing and developing advanced technologies for mobile communications; Qowisio, a French provider of IoT solutions for low-power, wide-area networks, and BCSG, a U.K. company that provides cloud-based solutions to customers worldwide.
Kerlink, a co-founder and board member of the LoRa AllianceTM, in the past two years has emerged as one of the world’s largest suppliers of base stations and other equipment that power LoRaWANTM IoT networks. That growth also has been driven by the network design-and-management services the company added to its offering, making it a complete IoT solution provider for large telco deployments, and to support smart cities and companies in setting-up dedicated private networks.


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A wave of armed robberies has hit mobile operator franchise stores and other retailers that sell electronics in Gauteng and the Western Cape, spokespeople for South Africa’s cellphone networks have told MyBroadband.
In addition to Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and Telkom stores being robbed, Core Group’s iStores also appear to be a target, with 3 of its shops hit in 2 weeks during August.
“Initially there was a marked increase in Gauteng, and when incidents were decisively dealt with through law enforcement and partnerships there was a marked decrease,” the GM of Business Risk Management at MTN SA, Lily Zondo, told MyBroadband in a statement.
As the multiple armed robberies in Gauteng subsided, Zondo said they then saw an increase in incidents in the Western Cape.
Similar to the wave in Gauteng, as arrests were made and partnerships put in place, the number of incidents decreased.
“The most recent robberies have been in Gauteng,” Zondo said.
A spokesperson for Vodacom said the company had also noticed that the robberies comes in waves, remarking that the flare up in the Western Cape happened last year.
“Until recently it had quietened down quite a bit,” Vodacom said. “It seems to be on the up again, although not so much at Vodacom shops.”
MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, and iStore all said that the safety of their staff was their primary concern, and that the incidents have resulted in them putting extra security measures in place.
Telkom and MTN also indicated they provide counselling to their staff after an incident, with MTN adding that they offer counselling to customers who were in the store during the robbery, as well.
“A follow up session is held two weeks later to assess any potential issues post incident,” Zondo said.
Cops and robbers
Based on reports of the armed robberies that have made the news this year, the criminals enter the target stores like customers: one at a time over the span of a minute or so.
They look and act as though they are just a normal customer until a group of them break off to demand access to the store room while the rest control the situation inside the shop.
When their bags are full of loot, the robbers leave the store and make for their getaway vehicles.
Often they make it to their cars and out of the mall without a ruckus, but the most recent robberies of iStores in Gauteng involved a gang that did a lot of shooting on their way out.
While none of the companies affected wanted to disclose the exact number of store robberies they have faced, Vodacom did say fewer than 10 of their stores have been hit during 2014 so far.
Statistics from the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa suggests that there have been around 530 mall robberies in South Africa since the start of the year. About a third of those (180-odd) were robberies related to the theft of cellphones. The remaining 66% of robberies included other electronics, clothes, jewellery, and other goods.
Network operators MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom all indicated that they are collaborating with the police, who are working closely with the Hawks to curb the number of robberies.
As of July 2014, 48 suspected armed robbers were arrested in Gauteng with a further 19 suspected robbers arrested in the Western Cape, Zondo said.
She added that following a successful collaboration with the SAPS and the Hawks, a total of 67 suspects had been arrested by the end of July 2014.


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With more than 260 million parcels expected to be dispatched by UK retailers during November and December 2016, consumers wanting to reduce their Christmas carbon footprint should choose click and collect over home delivery, according to Doddle.
New research from the click and collect company reveals that if UK consumers opt to have their online Christmas shopping delivered to their homes, a staggering 41,489 vans will be needed on UK roads every day throughout November and December.
The research reveals that click and collect reduces the daily number of vans needed by 78%, to just 9,220. With each delivery van producing approximately 152kg of CO2 per shift, taking 30,000 vans off the road every day is equivalent to planting 12.8 million Christmas trees over the Christmas period.
The removal of so many vans from UK roads is one of the many benefits of consolidated delivery. Based on Doddle’s calculations, it takes 15 minutes to deliver four parcels to individual homes, the same time it takes to deliver 50 parcels to one parcel consolidation point.
Tim Robinson, Doddle CEO, said, “Click and collect is to delivery, what Tesla is to driving. Consumers choosing to click and collect their Christmas orders are choosing the carbon-light delivery option that will help the UK remove more delivery vans from our roads than any other initiative. We’re looking forward to doing our part to make 2016 the greenest Christmas yet.”
November 16, 2016