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Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group is set to gain from the just signed Rafale aircraft deal. Reliance signed a Joint Venture with Dassault Aviation France for providing components for construction of the 36 fighter craft that India is going to purchase from the French Company. The Rs 60000 crore deal has a 50% offset content with Indian firms getting opportunity to supply components. Domestic value addition opportunity for the indian industry is estimated to be Rs 24000 crores out of the deal. Nearly 74 percent of the 50 percent offset value should be exported from India. This means that nearly 40% of the total deal amount or approximately Rs 24000 crores. As per indications, do
The external debt of the country reached $486.6 bn as on March end 2016. According to the verification of the trend by the government on the basis of the Report published by the RBI, the external debt of the country increased by $10.6 bn compared to a year ago. NRI Deposits drives external debt Unlike in the past, debt was driven by NRI deposits. The share of NRI deposits increased to 25.1% though commercial borrowings continue to be the major component of external debt with 37.3% share. According to the data, NRI deposits increased from $115 bn to $127 bn during the year. on the other hand, ECBs increased to $ 181.3 bn from $180.6 bn. A positive development about the debt scena
The US has expressed the hope it can find common ground on trade issues with India and other developing countries on controversial trade issues like the Doha round subjects at the WTO. Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council told the PTI that there is the need for enhanced cooperation at global economic platforms. Citing the WTO, Mr Zient asserted that the future looks bright for the WTO. Mr Zient will be in India next week for the second India -US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. Both countries are in an effort to raise their trade engagement to a higher level because of overall warmth prevailing between them. The new soothing view from the US on evergreen disp
China’s official tabloid looking mouthpiece – the Global Times in an article advised India to accept the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project for the welfare of the entire region. No third party is aimed in the project and according to the article, it is unfortunate that the CPEC has opened a new area of confrontation between the two countries. The article seems to be published in the context of External affairs Minister Sushama Swaraj’s protest and India’s concern at the project running through the PoK. The article without concentrating on the economic content of the CPEC, goes on political lines. Midway through the GT reporter who himself auth
The crucial meeting of the officials of the proposed RCEP is meeting in Vietnam. Meeting of the officials will negotiate on future tariff structure within the RCEP which has 16 members including ASEAN countries, India China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The RCEP is an Asian alternative to the US led TPP where China is not a member. From the Indian angle, the proposed FTA discussion is very important as the country is the least prepared for the aggressive tariff cut suggested by others especially China. Beijing aims a zero tariff structure for bulk of the manufacturing commodities given its advantage in the sector. ASEAN is also not opposed to such a tariff struc
Discussions for the proposed Free Trade Platform comprising the major Asian countries - the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), is entering into a tough round with India resisting zero tax regime advocated by major partners. Commerce Ministry officials have indicated that eliminating import duty on majority of tradable goods will be disastrous for India. Existing data indicate that India’s FTAs with ASEAN and bilateral ones with several other countries have bought only trade deficits. Most of the arrangements caused flooding of goods into the Indian market. East Asia’s’ developed industrial sector and early established advantage in FTA formations
Trade battle between the US -world’s largest economy and India world’s fastest growing economy is on an uptrend and WTO battles have increased in recent years. the latest incident is the US’s follow up compensation demand out of its poultry trade dispute victory at WTO’s DSB(Dispute Settlement Body). In the latest development, the US has requested WTO to initiate compensation from India for the poultry trade restrictions against US imports. Earlier, the US had won a case against India’s import restrictions against US imports including poultry, egg and live pigs at WTO’s DSB. The DSB in June 2015, ruled that Indian ban on import of poultry meat,
Finance Ministry has finalized a model agreement between the Centre and states for the effective implementation of bilateral investment protection agreements (BIPAs or BITs) between India and other countries. The model agreement ensures states commitments to protect the interest of foreign investors. BIPA is signed between the central government and other countries for providing protection to foreign investment. Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPAs) are agreements between governments of two Countries for the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments in each other's territories by individuals and companies situated in either State. They provide t
In its effort to check black money’s mobility across borders and to reap more revenues, the government has modified DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Cyprus on the Mauritius line. Capital gains from share sale will be subjected to source based taxation as per the modification made to the India- Cyprus DTAA. Cyprus is a major tax haven. The change implies that if a foreign investor from Cyprus makes profit through investment in Indian shares, he should pay the capital gains tax in India. Modalities of the modifications were finalized between the officials of the two countries. According to official sources, the agreement will go for Cabinet approval soon. Rewor
Major FDI liberalization drive in food processing, pharma and defence: The government has announced major reform measures by removing existing notable restrictions in critical sectors. These include relaxation in three sectors – the sensitive and high growth food product sector, strategic sector -defense and competitive sector -pharma. Announcing the decision, Prime Minister described that India is the most open economy in the world now. The announcement also helped the government to calm markets that started to react violently to Raghuram Rajan’s exit decision. A remarkable outcome of the new policy is that upto 100% FDI is allowed under defence and civil aviation s
Dictionary on Indian Economy
- Logic of withdrawing Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes
- Raghuram Rajan: The Gladiator returns to Chicago
- Why the GST reform is transformational?
- Good intention but poor thinking - what troubles demonetization?
- India Black Money Report: CBI underestimates black money at Rs 25 lakh crore
- High interest rate rather than inflation is the macroeconomic problem for India right now
- Japan’s first trade deficit in 30 years is part of the Global Shift
- Why we need an emergency monetization plan as well?
- Arvind Subramanian rocks with 'Chakravyuha' in Economic Survey
- NREGS: give respect to the tax payer’s money


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Quality Meat Scotland highlights Brexit challenges and opportunities
A new paper has put the challenges and opportunities of leaving the European Union under the microscope.
The publication focuses on three key areas concerning the trade of red meat from Scotland: access to the EU market; access to non-EU markets; and managing imports.
“As with any major change, the prevailing uncertainty about the impact of Brexit is unwelcome for the Scottish red meat industry, as it is for many other UK industries for which exports play a key role,” said Jim McLaren, QMS chairman.
“Quality Meat Scotland’s economics services team is producing a series of briefing notes looking at the impact of Brexit on our industry. The first looks at the challenges and opportunities for the trade in red meat from Scotland as a result of Brexit.”
The Scottish red meat industry contributes a total of £2 billion to the country’s economy every year and provides an estimated 50,000 jobs.
Typically speaking, just under a quarter (23%) of annual turnover from Scottish abattoirs is from meat sales to customers inside Scotland. In comparison, two-thirds of the turnover is due to sales to customers in the rest of the UK and 10% is from international sales, over 90% of which is from EU member states. The paper recognised that trade to countries outside Scotland is “fundamental” in securing the long-term sustainability of the Scottish red meat industry.
The report claimed: “Over the past three years, on average 15% of UK beef production, 36% of sheepmeat production and 25% of pigmeat is exported. The European Union dominates this international trade with, over the past three years, on average 94% of the UK’s beef exports, 88% of sheepmeat exports and three-quarters of the fresh and frozen pigmeat exports going to the EU.”
EU member states have unrestricted free access to the whole of the EU market. Countries that are not part of the union and don’t have preferential access to the market face punitive tariffs.
If Scotland did not have free access to the EU, exporters would face the following tariff rates on exports of whole carcases (based on average export prices of UK shipments to the EU for the first eight months of 2016):
92% on a beef carcase
45% on a lamb carcase
53% on a pig carcase
“The information contained in this report makes clear that losing the full and free access to this market that full membership of the EU brings is a considerable threat, with UK meat exporters potentially facing punitive tariffs and substantial market disruption,” McLaren explained.
“The document also makes it clear that opportunities to build and improve market access to capture recognised opportunities outside the EU will take time and significant resources.”
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- quality meat scotland
- Jim McLaren
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domain: news


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In response to a fan on their Facebook page, Xseed have stated that they are open to localizing other games in the Senran Kagura series.
“[Senran Kagura Burst] has sold well enough that we are open to considering other iterations in the series,” an Xseed representative replied to a fan asking whether the company was interesting in Senran Kagura Shinovi Vs., Dekamori Senran Kagura and Senran Kagura 2.
Xseed also commented on why they’re localizing Ragnarok Odyssey Ace—an updated version of Ragnarok Odyssey—but not the updated version of Valhalla Knights 3.
An Xseed representative shared that enough time has passed since Ragnarok Odyssey’s release for Xseed to bring Ragnarok Odyssey Ace over. Additionally, the game has “tons more content and updates planned post-release,” for which a new game was required, and Xseed couldn’t simply bring the title over as a DLC update to the original.


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Video: PayPal vs Square
Last updated: June 28, 2018
PayPal is an international e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as cheques and money orders. PayPal is the faster, safer way to send money, make an online payment, receive money or set up a merchant account.
Accept credit cards on your iPhone, Android or iPad. Send invoices free with Square Invoices. Signing up for Square is fast and free, and there are no commitments or long-term contracts like with alternative services.
Face to face in the news:
2018 - PayPal acquired Square of Europe - iZettle
PayPal is taking its biggest bet yet on point-of-sale transactions, small businesses and markets outside of the U.S. as it looks to raise its game against Square, Stripe and others in the world of payments: The company has confirmed that it is buying iZettle — the Stockholm-based payments provider commonly referred to as the “Square of Europe” — for $2.2 billion in an all-cash deal. Like Square, iZettle has made a lot of headway in building out a point of sale business by way of a card-reading dongle that links up with a smartphone or tablet, working with smaller businesses that might have never used a card service in the past because of the prohibitive costs of taking card payments. From that, it has extended into other financial services for those business, from inventory management to loans.


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According to the reports, OnePlus is set to revive its OnePlus X lineup with a new phone, the OnePlus Z. Unlike the OnePlus 8 series, the OnePlus Z is said to be more affordable, and thanks to a Geekbench sighting, potential specs of the upcoming handset has been revealed, and we can’t say we’re surprised.
Assuming this Geekbench sighting is accurate, the OnePlus Z is expected to come with 12GB of RAM and will be using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. This is particularly important as the use of the Snapdragon 765G suggests that the phone will support 5G, meaning that this will be a phone with a (hopefully) affordable price tag that also comes with 5G connectivity.
If you’d rather not fork out close to $1,000 for a 5G smartphone, then the OnePlus Z could be the phone for you. What’s also interesting is that earlier rumors had suggested that the OnePlus Z might actually use the MediaTek Dimensity 1000 chipset, but this Geekbench listing is now suggesting otherwise.
Apart from the choice of chipset and RAM, the Geekbench listing does not reveal other specs of the phone, although previously leaked images and renders have indicated that the phone could come with a dual rear-facing camera setup, a hole-punch front-facing camera, and an in-display fingerprint sensor.
The phone is also said to be priced around the $500 mark and could be launching this July.


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Microsoft is adding .NET Framework development for Silverlight, its wannabe challenger to Adobe Flash, which is released today as a beta. Opening Microsoft's Mix 07 web and designer conference, Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's chief software architect threw down the gauntlet to Adobe and to AJAX. He announced the cross-platform, cross- …
That was no crash...
That was no crash, that was a demonstration of the fast restart option in Expression...
Did you see the BBC demo on day 2?
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Electronics manufacturer Foxconn has come under fire again, specifically in the Chinese factory that assembles Apple's iPhones. The New York Times reports that the company has been accused of "compelling" students to work at its assembly plant, a charge that Foxconn denies.
Foxconn claims that "interns" can be found on the assembly lines but are free to go whenever they choose. At the same time, representatives for advocacy group China Labor Watch claim to have spoken with students who say they are being made to work on the line by their teachers.
Li Qiang, founder of China Labor Watch, says vocational students spent time at Foxconn to learn, not work. However, Li claims, those students are told they will not graduate unless they work on the line.
A Foxconn representative told The Times that interns represent 2.7 percent of his company's workforce in China, all of whom are recruited "under the supervision of the local government, and the schools also assign teachers to accompany and monitor the students throughout their internship."
Late last year, the Fair Labor Association worked closely with Apple to investigate and ensure fair working conditions at Foxconn's China factories. Apple has also posted "Supplier Responsibilities" to its website.


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Guernsey hamster owners warned over speedy breeding
The GSPCA has issued an appeal to the Bailiwick's hamster lovers after being inundated by the fast-breeding rodents.
Steve Byrne, the charity's manager, said he was contacted by the owner of a pair of Syrian hamsters after their brood quickly grew to 34 animals.
He said this had come as a surprise to the owner, after they were told the pair were of the same gender.
Mr Byrne said: "One or two pets can end up in dozens and, if it had been left any longer, hundreds."
He said: "Unfortunately there's no legislation really regulating pet shops, so children and adults alike can go in and buy a pet quite easily.
"They can take these pets on and then end up in a situation like this."
Emma Trousdale, the charity's welfare officer, said the sudden arrival of so many hamsters had caused considerable problems.
"It was a bit of a mad house," she said.
"We're still in need of quite a few cages. They weren't easy to sex and I've never done it personally, so I had the book open and everyone was hands-on."
She said: "Some of them started giving birth within an hour of coming into the shelter."
Ms Trousdale told BBC Guernsey the identity of the pet shop in this particular case was not made known to them.
Mr Byrne said: "We need to educate the children of the island and adults need to be responsible as well, because it's the adults allowing the children to have these pets that's causing the situation."
However, despite the warning, Mr Byrne said he was actively looking for islanders to take on the hamsters as pets, because there is not enough space for them at the charity's centre in St Andrew.
"A lot of the females still may be pregnant but we are appealing for people to come forward that are interested in taking on a hamster," he said.
"We need them to be mindful of what they're doing but they are looking for homes."
Sue Vidamour, the founder of Animal Aid, said she was frequently presented with hamsters that had been abandoned.
"We hate the fact that hamsters are on sale to children because they sleep all day and are active at night.
"They're totally unsuitable."


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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday commenced mop up of banned foreign fruit juices in Kaduna State markets.
Mr Natim Mullah-Dadi, the State Coordinator of the agency said that the exercise was as a result of Federal Government import prohibition list with emphasis on super and central markets in the state.
Mullah-Dadi said the essence of the mop up was to safeguard health of the general public and to ensure healthy environment for residents.
“There is an import prohibition list that bans the importation of fruit juices in retail pack into the country and Kaduna state is inclusive.
“All fruit juices in retail pack are banned and people should avoid buying them because when you engage in selling such products, they are not made in Nigeria.
“People do not have adequate knowledge about what the product is all about. All juices in retail packs must be done away with in all super markets and central markets so that we can save lives.
“We are mopping out all the foreign fruit juices in the markets so as to encourage our manufacturers here in the country and to also create job for our youths,’’ he said.
All products that are banned cannot be sold in the country, because they do not have the NAFDAC registration number.
He advised the general public to always check manufacturing and expiry dates as well as NAFDAC registration number of the product before purchase.
“We have always communicated to the sellers that before they sell the products, they should make sure it has NAFDAC registration number and also the buyers must do same.
Mullah-Dadi assured that the agency would continue to sensitise sellers of such products until there was total compliance.
“We will continue the mop up exercise and use it as an avenue to sensitise the sellers of these products.
“ We shall also organise a re-awareness workshop for all the super markets and retail owners around Kaduna State to enable them see reasons on why products that had been banned must not be sold.’’


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Manufacturing Industry Wants to Improve Customer Experience
Rising operating costs are by far the biggest threat to the business success of transformation projects.
The report, “Customer Experience vs. Rising Operational Cost: Global Manufacturers Speak Out on Digital Transformation,” by Valtech and Gartner Peer Insights, shows an overwhelming willingness to change and modernize the customer experience, but also identifies obstacles companies face in their digital transformation. For the report, 100 global manufacturing industry leaders were surveyed on the current state of their digital transformation and the biggest challenges they face.
Breaking down organizational silos
When asked about their company’s maturity in creating helpful and flexible customer experiences, 91 percent said they either already have modernization strategies and tactics in place or are aware that they should.
Sixty-two percent of respondents said the digital transformation projects they initiated are going well. They are confident about their ability to act in the future or are positive about organizational change. This indicates that there is an overall willingness on the part of these companies to engage in the digital transformation process.
Although the digital transformation of companies is predominantly (74 percent) led by traditional IT departments, almost all (97 percent) report at least occasional or regular communication and collaboration between IT, sales, marketing and the product department in the implementation of these projects.
Organizational and technological challenges
The companies surveyed cite rising operating costs (79 percent) as by far the biggest threat to the business success of their transformation projects over the next few years. Less frequently cited but still significant challenges include changing customer expectations (42 percent), loss of control over pricing (37 percent), new competitors (35 percent), channel multiplication (33 percent) and supply chain management (32 percent).
On the technical side, lack of integrated marketing and technology components (69 percent) are among the biggest challenges. This can lead to data silos and prevent tools from being used to their full potential (55 percent). Other challenges cited by respondents include difficulty scaling legacy systems (51 percent), lack of staff or internal expertise (34 percent) and lack of buy-in from senior management (15 percent).


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With Nintendo supplying some of the most highly anticipated games throughout the last year, fans are eager to see what the company will bring to the table at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, colloquially called E3. But while Google gets more than 57,000 searches per second, fans don’t need to look far to get some of the best information around.
Though many fans already knew the company would be focusing on games released in 2019, Nintendo officially announced the exact games that will be playable during the expo. These include:
- Pok?mon: Sword and Shield
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (remake)
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
- Luigi’s Mansion 3
And those are just the games that can be played by fans at the expo. Nintendo also notes that there will be more information revealed about upcoming games slated for this year. After all, Nintendo Direct followers already got a healthy dose of Pok?mon content and Super Mario news earlier this year.
Fans speculate that titles might include Animal Crossing, Bayonetta, and even Mario Kart Tour, a smartphone app for the popular racing game. Just be sure not to throw your phone when you lose — an estimated 30% of iPhones will take on some form of damage throughout the course of a year.
“The 2019 lineup for Nintendo Switch aims to deliver smiles with many different unique games and experiences,” said Doug Bowser, the aptly named Nintendo of America President. “Games available this holiday season will be the focus of our booth.”
Variety also notes that more than 80 Best Buy locations throughout the country will host special early access events for the new Marvel game.
These little plastic consoles are expected to take the world by storm next week, with more than a few sales to match. With more than 16,000 plastic manufacturers operating throughout the United States, however, we can expect these juggernauts to match their supply to the demand.
Even though powerhouse Sony won’t be at the event this year, that doesn’t mean that Playstation won’t be catering to fans for the occasion. Starting today, Sony’s third annual “Days of Play” will last through June 17, offering sales on consoles, accessories, and more than 250 games.
But Nintendo isn’t to be outdone. The Pok?mon company will also host a number of sales and special events from June 11 through June 18 on their eShop and through their website.
It just goes to show that E3 impacts every gaming supplier, not just those attending. For more information on the event, check out the official page here.


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Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!
Microsoft pulls a “one more thing,” introduces Surface Duo, a dual screen “phone” that runs Android apps
In a surprise move, Microsoft took to the stage to announce a new phone – that’s right – a new phone, a Surface phone in fact. This week saw the company announce its Surface Duo, a dual-screen phone that runs Android apps.
Microsoft announces 2 new keyboards with dedicated emoji, search, and Office 365 keys
If you’re in the market for a new keyboard, Microsoft has announced 2 new keyboards that bring some dedicated keys to help you find your way around faster, including emoji, search, and even Office 365 keys.
Mojang lead says Minecraft 10 years from now should “feel similar, or close” to today’s game
Minecraft has been a much-loved game for many years, amongst both adults and children alike. If you were worried about the direction that Minecraft might head in, Mojang lead Jens Bergensten has sought to ease fears, by saying that the game should “feel similar, or close” to how Minecraft feels today, 10 years from now.
New Microsoft Arc, Bluetooth, and Ergonomic mice announced, Pre-orders open
It’s not just keyboards and phones that Microsoft has been working on. It also has some new mice, including a new Microsoft Arc, Bluetooth mouse, and an Ergonomic mouse. You can read all the details here.
That’s it for this week. We’ll be back next week with more Microsoft news.


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It might strike the right balance between speed and value.
Update: Our northern neighbors can now grab these budget phones from Canadian retailers.
You’ll also see upgrade to camera and graphics performance.
Give this one a skip.
Update: HMD has launched the Nokia 5.3 and the low-end Nokia C3 in India today.
HMD Global appoints Juho Sarvikas as Vice President of North America, and he will bring the Nokia 8.3 5G to the US.
Don’t expect 5G in the next Nokia 2 series phone.
The news comes a year after it signed partnerships with Xiaomi and Sony.
A new report points to 8K recording and a few more camera-related improvements for the late 2020 flagship.
Another leak also suggests that HMD could abandon the Nokia 9’s approach to cameras.


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Partnership agreed with Aton Storage for renewable energy storage solutions for residential customers
Rome, February 7th, 2017 – Enel’s range of services for the storage of electricity generated from renewable resources is expanding. After finalising agreements in recent months with Tesla, BYD and LG Chem, Enel has expanded its collaborative efforts to include Aton Storage, one of the first Italian companies active in the development and manufacture of innovative storage systems featuring modularity and scalability, as well as performance and Italian design.
Enel thus continues its partnership activities with the world’s leading manufacturers of home storage systems, with the aim of expanding its product portfolio and fostering competition among market players. For some time now, the Group has been forging global partnership agreements with the most respected and competitive manufacturers on the market.
“Thanks to our agreement with Aton we can enrich and strengthen the range of products offered to end users with innovative, high performance solutions that contribute to energy efficiency,” said Ernesto Ciorra, Enel’s Head of Innovation and Sustainability. “Storage solutions play a key role in the development of renewable energy and electric mobility, sectors in which Enel is a world leader.”
Ettore Uguzzoni, CEO of Aton Storage, said: “We are greatly honoured to partner with Enel and contribute the experience of our engineers and our distinctive capacity for technological innovation. We will strive to make the best contribution to the development and deployment of storage systems, which we believe will bring significant benefits to both families and the environment.”
The battery developed by Aton was included among the new technologies that Enel presented during the Formula E event held in Marrakech on November 12th, 2016, and the Capital Markets Day in London on November 22nd. Enel has also incorporated the Aton storage system in its commercial offering of photovoltaic panels combined with energy storage systems, which will launch shortly.
All Enel press releases are also available in smartphone and tablet versions. You can download the Enel Corporate App at Apple Store and Google Play.


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For A Mainframe Software Giant, A Window Into P Cs
By acquiring dozens of rivals in the mainframe software industry, Computer Associates International Inc. has become the No.2 software maker, after Microsoft Corp. But, despite buying several software makers in the faster-growing PC market, it has never been more than an also-ran in PC software. Now, the Garden City (N. Y.) company is trying a new tack.
Computer Associates is counting on Microsoft's hot-selling Windows graphics system to make its latest thrust. With remarkable speed, it has assembled a family of 15 Windows packages. Among its new offerings is the $550 dBfast program, which is among the first Windows-compatible data-base packages. Like the company's new Textor word processing program and UpToDate personal organizer, the data-base program was acquired during the past few months from small, little-known software houses. Chairman Charles B. Wang says his goal is to build PC software sales into 25% of the company's total revenues. In 1990, such software accounted for 10% of the company's $1.3 billion in sales.


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Do I need to hire a lawyer? What does it mean for a Pensacola personal injury lawyer to be ‘board-certified’? What do you do if you’re the victim of a car accident? Find out the answers to these questions and more here on Joe’s blog.
Small wounds can happen easily when you are out fishing or enjoying some time on the beaches, for example, getting hooked on your own fishing tackle or stepping on an oyster shell. At the time, it may seem an insignificant injury. But, the Vibrio vulnificus bacterium can enter through a new wound or through an
At least six children have been crushed to death by toppling Ikea chests, prompting the voluntary recall of about 29 million chests and dressers sold by the popular retailer, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says. Pensacola product Liability Lawyer, Joe Zarzaur explains the products recalled include dressers from Ikea’s lower-cost Malm line, which has been
Florida drivers earned the designation of “the worst” drivers in the U.S., according to a recent study from CheapCarInsurance. Surprise. The car insurance comparison site surveyed 2,000 drivers across the U.S. and ranked the four most populous states to figure out where the rudest and worst drivers dominate the roads. Florida had the worst drivers,
Shocking Statistics That Will Make You Think Twice About Grabbing Your Phone The numbers illustrating the dangers of cell phone use while driving are downright startling. In fact, at any given time throughout the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while behind the wheel of an automobile. Smartphones have made it
Trucking Accidents and a Florida Truck Wreck Lawyer Anyone who is handling or screening a Florida Truck Wreck case will usually immediately seize upon one or two FMCSR’s which they strongly believe were violated by the truck driver or trucking company. In fact, a thorough investigation of most trucking cases will reveal one or more violations.


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The Crestview Public Library encouraged shoppers to "think outside the box" by hosting a Home Party Expo that brought together local home shopping party hosts and potential customers for a day of browsing, sniffing and sampling.
CRESTVIEW — Mac Kramer’s grin stretched ear to ear as he exited the Home Party Expo that the Crestview Public Library hosted Saturday. The 2-year-old, gripping a Santa key his mom, Dorothy Kramer, just bought for him, had assurance of a visit from the jolly old elf this Christmas.
Usually, Mac’s mom would have to take him to a Longaberger home shopping party to buy the pewter key, which provides Santa Claus access to homes lacking chimneys. However, at this event, nearly a dozen local home party hosts brought their shopping experiences to the library.
Library clerk Audrey Milcarek, an event organizer, said it allowed patrons to get a jumpstart on their holiday shopping without the need to battle shopping center traffic.
“This is thinking outside ‘the box,’” Milcarek said, gesturing air-quotes in reference to a big-box store or mall.
Home shopping parties’ benefits were evident on both sides of tables that lined the library’s main meeting room, Milcarek said. The representatives were as local as the shoppers were.
“These are great career opportunities for women who already have careers and are busy with families,” she said. “They either want to make a little extra money on the side, or want some extra income while taking care of families.”
Tastefully Simple home party host Beth Bryant — a consultant selling the gourmet food line for 10 years — said she appreciated the work-from-home flexibility.
“I tutor in school during the day,” she said. “This is my fun job.”
Some home parties feature demonstrations of the merchandise. Serena McCabe was displaying Pink Zebra home fragrance products to Crestview resident Lisa Garrison.
“We’ve only been in business a year,” McCabe said. “Our signature product is our Sprinkles” scented pellets. “Because it’s brand new, people are always interested. Instead of a show at someone’s house, we do a candle party and everybody makes a mini candle instead of me doing a demonstration. Everybody loves it. It’s a hobby as well as a little income here and there.”
Garrison hadn’t made up her mind whether to buy anything.
“I’m just out enjoying my Saturday,” she said. “But I might buy something. There’s a lot of interesting things here.”
Building business, community
Within the first 45 minutes, the Home Party Expo had attracted more than 40 library patrons who sniffed candles, admired cosmetics, browsed housewares, popped Tupperware lids and tried out Miche handbags with changeable “skins” and handles.
Though mostly women were visitors, several men came, too.
“I was getting some Christmas present ideas,” an unidentified man said as he hastily exited the room. “There’s too many womenfolk in there for me, though.”
Attendance, which included regular library patrons who stopped by out of curiosity and people who went to the library for the expo, made Milcarek optimistic.
“Hopefully, we can go bigger and better, get more representatives and maybe move it to the Community Center,” she said. “We want to show the library is involved with our community and with our local businesses.”


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Before all iPhones can switch to OLED displays in 2019, Apple has a trio of smartphones headed out later in the year, one of which still sports an LCD panel. Amidst reports of a delay concerning the LCD model, schematics have come to light giving us our potential first look into the device alongside its iPhone X Plus bigger brother.
The schematics for the budget LCD iPhone and the premium iPhone X Plus have been unveiled thanks to a continued collaboration between Forbes and accessory maker Ghostek, which has previously provided accurate details to the publication with the Samsung Galaxy S9.
Unsurprisingly, the images reveal that the iPhone X Plus will house a larger 6.5-inch screen compared to the current standard of 5.5-inches on the iPhone 8 Plus, despite reducing its footprint from 158.4 x 78.1 mm to 157.2 x 77.1 mm.
Despite Huawei beating Apple to the punch with its P20, the headline feature on the iPhone X Plus is its triple lens camera on the rear. This is currently in debate across the media, with many stating that the third slot is simply for the flash, however this contrasts previous schematics where the flash is distinctly smaller than the lenses themselves. Considering Apple is set to make triple lens cameras a standard in 2019, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the company adopt it early for its higher-tier handset.
Apple’s budget LCD iPhone isn’t set to sacrifice size, measuring a longer 147.12 x 71.52 mm than the current iPhone 8, which comes in at 143.6 x 70.9 mm. Although the schematics don’t give too much away, it is believed to carry a 6.1-inch screen.
The LCD iPhone will be stripped back of technology, housing a single rear camera instead of the iPhone X 2’s dual and iPhone X Plus’ supposed triple lens, which retaining the first generation of Face ID technology, while the other two upgrade to the second generation.
Face ID has supposedly caused numerous problems for the device, however, with Korean publisher The Bell reporting that neither Japanese firm JDI or LG Display can secure yields with the redesigned notch on the display.
If Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is correct, then the cheaper iPhone could start as low as $600 (£465), while the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 successor pushes the barrier up to $800-$900 (£600-£670). The top-end iPhone X Plus is expected to range closer to the current pricing of flagship handsets, with Kuo quoting between $900 and $1000 (£670-£745). All devices are believed to see an unveiling during September, with a full launch in November.
“We forecast that Apple will adopt a more aggressive price policy for the following reasons: (1) concern over the negative impact of a higher price in a mature smartphone market on selling momentum, (2) improved cost structure, which is mainly attributed to assembly yield improvements of end product & 3D sensing and cost reduction of components, and (3) increasing users of Face ID benefiting the promotion of the Apple service and ecosystem,” explains Kuo, via MacRumours.
KitGuru Says: Apple lowering its pricing can only be a good thing for everyone, considering it was one of the first commercial smartphone manufacturers to push the $1000 barrier. How much would you pay for a smartphone? Does any of Apple’s speculated line-up appeal to you?


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Losing a prototype device is never fun. A prototype in someone else’s hands is the mother of all leaks, providing pretty much any and all information on said product. Not that we need more leaks, as no product is ever a secret these days. But the topic always calls back to the lost iPhone 4 prototype that had people going wild.
An Honor employee has unfortunately lost a prototype device belonging to the brand on a train in Germany. The German arm of the brand posted this message (translated to English):
“On Easter Monday, April 22, 2019, an Honor employee lost an Honor smartphone prototype while traveling on Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express trip #1125 from Düsseldorf (at 6:06 a.m.) to Munich (at 11:08 a.m.). The prototype is in a gray protective case which conspicuously disguises the camera with a cover.”
The reward to anyone who finds it is a whopping 5,000 euro, which is nothing to scoff at. Since prototype devices often use special hardware that differs from the final product, it’s likely very valuable to Honor. Considering that the next device to launch is the Honor 20 next month, this may be the device that was lost.
If you happen to find it, tweet or email the brand for your reward. It’s been a few days and the device hasn’t been found so presumably it’s still out there in the wild.


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Magnolia Park Night Out has reached the end of an era. The event, supported and sponsored by the Magnolia Park Merchants Association has officially shut down as of its last event on May 27, 2022. The association voted unanimously at their June 1st board meeting to finally let go of the event due to a lack of participation and funding.
The event began over 12 years ago when stores, Mindfulnest and Encore Nouveau, started a ladies night with discounts, music and a food truck or two. As more neighboring stores joined in, they coined the event Ladies Night Out. In 2014, the event became official with the launch of the Magnolia Park Merchants Association, who worked to brand the event, include more stores, and work with the city for an event permit and food trucking parking signs.
The event was eventually changed to Ladies and Gents Night Out and then finally to Magnolia Park Night Out (MPNO) to be more inclusive of the guests attending the event. Happening every last Friday from 6-9pm, six blocks of Magnolia Blvd would be lined with up to 35 food trucks. Over 45 stores would stay open to participate, bringing in live music, vendors, and other entertainment like balloon twisters, face painting, book signings, caricature artists, and more.
The food trucks that come to the event pay to participate which has sustained the event’s recurring costs for event permits, insurance and police patrol. The City of Burbank also supplied help with funding the trash clean up required for the event. During the pandemic, the event was shut down for 16 months and re-launched again in July of 2021. Unfortunately, the event didn’t make it back to its full potential quick enough, and saw a decline in the number of participating food trucks and stores.
About half the number of food trucks have been signing up for the last 9 MPNO events, and the association has learned that many of the regular trucks that attended have either gone out of business during the pandemic or are booking larger catering jobs in replace of events. The City of Burbank also pulled back funding for trash clean up which incurred an additional $1200 in monthly costs for the association.
During a recent study done by the Magnolia Park Merchants Association, only 35% of the stores in the event area stay open for MPNO, and even fewer actively participate. The lack of funding and dwindling store participation ultimately led to the decision to shut down the beloved Burbank event. In a message to the businesses from Magnolia Park Merchants Association President, Kathy Ross, she wrote, “While we love the event, and we know some of the stores and many members of the community do too, the increasing costs and lack of income made continuing this event financially unfeasible. We know the loss of MPNO will sadden many businesses and community members, but MPMA could not afford to continue losing money each month.”
Even though the association is letting go of Magnolia Park Night Out, it vows to continue Holiday in the Park for this year as well as following years. While the association’s Board of Directors is deeply saddened for the loss of this iconic event, they are hopeful the stores and community that value MPNO will find a way to bring it back life they did before there was an association.
Since food trucks are allowed to park on Burbank streets with the appropriate permits and following the appropriate parking signage, it is possible that the event can go back to its grass roots beginning when the stores and food trucks worked together to bring the community out on Friday nights. “We hope that the stores that wish to still participate will invite food trucks and will stay open later for the community,” added Ross.
For any questions or concerns regarding the closing of MPNO you can email the association at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Electric vehicles are taking to the streets, meaning drivers are looking for more places to charge. The rapid rise of electric vehicles creates an opportunity for those willing to learn the ropes. Find out how you can invest in electric vehicle charging stations and play a role in shaping the future of transportation.
Why invest in EV charging stations
If you’re noticing more electric vehicles on your daily commute, it’s not just you. Battery electric vehicle sales hit another record high in the second quarter of 2022, reaching 196,788 as overall new vehicle sales fell 20%.
The share of electric vehicles in the United States increased to 5.6%, from 2.7% in the second quarter of 2021. Automakers are launching new electric vehicles on the market with more range, superior technology and zero emissions , giving drivers a reason to make the switch.
According to information from the PEW Research Center, 42% of Americans say they are considering buying an electric vehicle. The survey was carried out ahead of the passage of the landmark climate bill, offering new incentives for buying an electric vehicle. What is more interesting is the breakdown by age group.
- 18-29: 55%
- 30-49: 47%
- 50-64: 34%
- 65+: 31%
Moreover, more than half of them live in urban areas. While it’s true that most EV owners charge overnight, a growing number of people living in cities are renting. A new Harvard study shows that overall rental vacancy is at its lowest since the mid-1980s.
Younger generations are most likely to be renters, and many apartment complexes have yet to install EV charging stations. Nearly 50% of people under 30 rent, while 10% of people 65 and over do.
Where are the electric vehicle charging stations currently located?
Electric vehicles are expected to represent the majority of vehicles on the road by 2030. However, the most common reason Americans (58%) say they would not buy an EV is that they are afraid it will does not give them enough autonomy.
While much is being done to alleviate this fear, businesses have the opportunity to participate while contributing to the future of transportation (and making an extra profit).
The Biden administration has deployed $5 billion in funding over the next five years under the NEVI program to build a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations.
Electrify America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, is working to build a fast-charging network across North America.
Automakers like Tesla are also building their own supercharging network to allow their drivers to go anywhere. Meanwhile, many people in the above category (young drivers looking to buy electric vehicles) are looking for more convenient options on their daily commute.
For business owners, this represents an opportunity. And for those who don’t own a business but still want to get involved, there are ways to invest in electric vehicle charging stations.
How to invest in EV charging stations
To give EV drivers more options, you can install chargers in your business. In particular, if guests are staying longer, it may be worth considering. For example, a quick stop (less than five minutes) might not be worth it, but that’s another story for restaurants, entertainment venues, bars, clubs, malls, small businesses and even workplaces.
Installing EV charging stations is an investment in your business. As electric vehicles continue to gain market share, having convenient charging options can help drive traffic with increased visibility.
Many popular digital mapping services (like Google Maps) now offer solutions for finding charging stations, while others like Plugshare are specifically designed to locate them.
That being said, the availability of electric vehicle charging options can boost business. There’s over $2 billion in utility-provided rebates and $60 million in government grants to get you started (see incentives in your state here). Companies like ChargePoint make it easy with different charging options and valuable tools to help you manage data.
What about those who don’t own a business
If you don’t own a business and still want to invest in electric vehicle charging stations, you can always choose to own part of one of the companies listed above. For example, buying stocks in companies like Tesla (TSLA) or ChargePoint (CHPT) can expose you to the expected massive growth in electric vehicles and its supporting factors over the next few years.
To gain exposure to the broader EV market, an ETF like KraneShares Electric Vehicles & Future Mobility ETF (KARS) holds stakes in companies like Tesla, ChargePoint, Nio (NIO), Albemarle (ALB), BYD, Rivian (RIVN), Lucid (LCID), Aptiv (APTV) and more.
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- PROJECT HELP
- WHITE PAPERS
A new market research report from The NPD Group shows that quick-service chains have increasingly adopted strategies used by the fast casual segment, and for good reason. The fast casual segment is the only category in the restaurant industry that has sped up its growth throughout the unpredictable economic environment.
Although still relatively underdeveloped, major fast casual chain units increased by a double-digit rate throughout the last three years, according to NPD's Recount, a bi-annual census of restaurant unit counts.
Although still relatively underdeveloped, major fast casual chain units increased by a double-digit rate over the last three years, according to NPD's Recount, a bi-annual census of restaurant unit counts.
Fast casual unit counts are as follows:
During that same five-year period, unit counts among quick-service restaurants hovered between 1 percent growth and 2 percent declines. Unit counts at midscale restaurants decreased between 1 percent and 4 percent during the period. Meanwhile, unit counts at casual dining chains peaked at a 2 percent increase in 2008, followed by declines of 3 percent and 2 percent in subsequent years.
NPD's "Fast Casual: A Growing Market" report finds that even with this growth, consumer demand outpaced the rate of unit expansion, reflecting higher levels of consumer satisfaction with the fast casual experience. In addition, several leading fast casual chains have built strong customer loyalty.
This success has motivated other segments, including casual and quick-service, to renovate, upgrade and enhance menu selections to compete.
"Many fast casual concepts were positioned as a fresh, made-to-order alternative to traditional fast food options, and consumers responded positively," said Bonnie Riggs, restaurant industry analyst at NPD and author of the report. "Although some fast casual concepts faltered, consumers responded positively to the concepts that offered a new fast food dining experience. The segment benefited from fast food consumers trading up and full service consumers trading down."
Riggs added that QSRs have taken note of fast casual's success and have begun offering more premium products, healthier options, and are upgrading interiors with a more upscale and modern look.
For example, McDonald's is in the middle of a $1 billion-plus remodeling effort that should be completed at its 14,000 U.S. units in 2015. Wendy's and Burger King are also reimaging their restaurants to include "lounge-like" features such as flatscreen TVs, Wi-Fi and fireplaces.
Additionally, plenty of QSR chains – from Wendy's to Carl's Jr. – have upgraded their burgers to compete with fast casual's "better burger" brands such as Smashburger and Five Guys.
These types of changes, especially higher quality food offerings, are what consumers want and need, Riggs said.
"Fast casual concepts are in an excellent position for growth relative to the overall industry," she said. "However, the same growth opportunities are available to any restaurant operator able to innovate, provide value for money, and not just keep up but surpass competitors."
Read more about trends and statistics.
© 2014 Networld Media Group All rights reserved.


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The owner of Huddersfield’s new-look Packhorse Centre has offered a temporary home to traders from the town’s indoor market.
Tenants in Queensgate Market will have to move out from August as Kirklees Council turns the building into a new food court and events venue holding up to 3,000 people.
The council had been planning to move the market onto the streets – probably the Market Place end of New Street – and house traders in converted metal shipping containers and nearby empty shops.
The move would last at least three years while a new indoor/outdoor market is built on the site of the existing outdoor market.
Now Zahid Iqbal, the entrepreneur behind the revamped Packhorse Centre, has offered the council some units and indoor space.
“The council says they have 32 tenants remaining and we could house 20 of them in the Packhorse Centre,” said Mr Iqbal.
“We could make the former Peters unit available and we could house 10 or 12 in there. It also has a downstairs which could be used for storage, and there are also offices and toilets.
“It makes sense to keep the Queensgate traders indoors because they are coming from an indoor market. Why would they want to be outside in the cold in a metal shipping container when they could be warm inside?”
Mr Iqbal has spoken to the council and is waiting for them to come back to him. However, units are being let all the time and two empty units have gone since he first made the offer to the council.
“For me this is a win-win situation,” said Mr Iqbal. “We can offer the traders a home for three years from when Queensgate Market closes in August. It’s ready-made.
“We have had market traders come down to have a look at what we are offering. Many don’t want to be outside.”
Clr Peter McBride, the council’s Cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: “We are exploring different options in Huddersfield town centre for the temporary relocation of the market, and can confirm that the offer from the Packhorse Centre is amongst them.
“We haven’t made any final decisions at this point, as we need to assess the opportunities against the needs of the market traders and our regeneration plans. We expect to be able to confirm a preferred option in late spring.”
READ MORE: This is the vision for the Packhorse Centre


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Those rumors about a turned out to be true--sorta. Demoed onstage at the Santa Monica E3 show by Sony's Kaz Hirai, the new PSP doesn't look all that different on the outside, but it's said to be 33 percent lighter, 19 percent slimmer, offer better battery life, faster game load times, and video output to TVs.
Separately, the company will also bow PSPs in two new colors: "ice silver" and a Star Wars-themed white PSP emblazoned with Darth Vader's visage. Both the colored PSPs will be available in "Entertainment Pack" versions for $200 each--the silver model will include
And...that's it. Looks like anyone waiting for a more robust PSP upgrade (with oft-requested additions such as onboard flash storage, a second analog stick, or a touch screen, for instance) will have to wait until 2008 or beyond. That said--the promise of faster load times and video output may mean a lot of older PSPs may soon be finding their way to eBay.


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Moscow airport hosts Chinese airlines and importers
23 / 04 / 2019
Mikhail Chuvilkin giving Chinese partners a tour of the new cargo terminal
Sheremetyevo International Airport and airfreight terminal operator Moscow Cargo have hosted senior managers at Chinese airlines and their key consignees in Russia.
China is a significant strategic partner for Russia. In 2018 alone, trade between Russia and China increased by 28%, reaching more than $100bn.
Russia ranks first among China’s ten largest trade partners in terms of trade turnover growth.
The Russian Federation’s Ministry of Industry and Trade supported the Sheremetyevo event which included a presentation of the airport’s new cargo complex and its automated freight handling and storage system.
Andrey Nikulin, first deputy general director of Sheremetyevo International Airport, declared: “We managed to achieve outstanding results in the development of international cooperation thanks to the Sheremetyevo airport’s efficient long-term planning and large scale investment program. We understand the needs of airlines and are ready to meet them in full.”
Mikhail Chuvilkin, first deputy general director–director for production of Moscow Cargo, told his guests: “The new infrastructure allows us to fully comply with our customers’ high requirements and even exceed their expectations.
“One of the greatest advantages of our terminal is the availability of areas for express cargo handling. Today, speed is the main requirement the customers set. Speed provides a competitive edge.”
In 2018, the import of goods from China to Sheremetyevo soared by more than 40%, while exports saw a 20% increase. Sheremetyevo has a strong lead in the market of the Moscow air cluster, with a 62.8% share for cargo.


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Costco Wholesale Corp. reports that September sales for the five-week retail month increased 15.8 per cent to $19.50 billion versus $16.84 billion.
Comparable sales in Canada jumped almost 15 per cent, 14.6 per cent in the U.S. and 12 per cent in international markets.
Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange for the same period were 7.3 per cent for Canada, 10 per cent for the U.S. and 8 per cent for international.
Costco currently operates 817 warehouses, including 565 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 105 in Canada, 39 in Mexico, 30 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 16 in Korea, 14 in Taiwan, 13 in Australia, three in Spain, and one each in Iceland, France, and China. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.


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Goodyear Advances Tire Development With Second Dynamic Simulator
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and VI-grade today announced a state-of-the-art DiM250 DYNAMIC Driving Simulator will be installed at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg.
In addition to strengthening Goodyear’s product development at the European site, the new driving simulator also enhances technical collaboration with its headquarters in Akron, Ohio, where another DiM250 was recently put into operation. In addition, both of Goodyear’s innovation centers employ VI-grade COMPACT Simulators to complement virtual tire development processes.
Driving simulators allow tire models to be developed, tested and validated early in the development cycle, identifying the best performing tires before building a first prototype. This matches with the pace of the automotive development process, providing tire models at the right time when requested by vehicle manufacturers.
“This level of simulation capability is a clear technology leadership advantage,” said Chris Helsel, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Goodyear. “We are always looking to appropriately accelerate the development process and maintain our status as the preferred supplier for our customers.”
“We are delighted to report on the adoption of a second DiM250 DYNAMIC Driving Simulator at Goodyear,” said Guido Bairati, VP Global Sales and Marketing, VI-grade. “With DiM250 and COMPACT simulators on both sides of the ocean, Goodyear is now at the forefront of virtual tire development and gains a significant competitive advantage when it comes to collaboration with automotive OEMs and accelerated product development. In both locations, Goodyear engineers will count on digital twins of important circuits such as Nurburgring Nordschleife, Virginia International Raceway and Idiada Spain Proving Grounds, and on advanced tire models in CDTire format from Fraunhofer Institute.”
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 74,000 people and manufactures its products in 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.


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By Jung Ha-Won
Indian carmaker Mahindra and Mahindra said Monday it would use its purchase of South Korea's Ssangyong Motor to become a global player in the sport utility vehicle market.
Pawan Goenka, president of Mahindra's automotive and farm sector, said the merger would help both companies expand in the global market.
"We believe that Ssangyong and Mahindra make powerful companies to create a global SUV brand," he told reporters after the Indian company signed a preliminary agreement to buy a controlling stake in Ssangyong.
Ssangyong, South Korea's smallest carmaker, is mainly a manufacturer of low-priced but robust SUVs such as "Rexton," "Kyron" and "Actyon" that sell globally. It also makes sedans.
It was granted court protection from creditors in February 2009 after rising oil prices and slowing demand due to the global crisis hit SUV sales and former Chinese parent Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp declined to inject more funds.
Ssangyong has struggled to stay afloat since a violent strike over job cuts disrupted production for almost 80 days last year.
"Two companies are very compatible. We have similar size and we both are very SUV-focused," Goenka said.
The Indian firm will keep Ssangyong's current management after the acquisition and provide "financial stability", he said.
"We need to bring Ssangyong back to its glory. we believe it's a very strong brand," he said, adding Mahindra would bring in more people in research and development.
Mahindra has ample cash reserves to finance the costly takeover without help from outside investors, he added.
He declined to reveal the takeover cost, which analysts say will be more than 500 billion won (423.3 million US dollars), or the size of the stake Mahindra will buy.
Mahindra's vice chairman and managing director, Anand Mahindra, said his company had cash reserves of more than 500 million US dollars.
"We intend to be here as a long-term player, so we are not looking to talk to any financiers for the purpose of financing this acquisition," he said.
The Indian's firm's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.3 percent, one of the lowest in the industry, he said.
It plans to launch some of Ssangyong's signature models to India, which is Asia's third-largest car market and is enjoying robust growth, the vice chairman said.
"Ssangyong Motor will have a good chance in India, where demand for sport utility vehicles is fast rising," said Anand Mahindra.
If the deal goes through, Mahindra would become the second Indian carmaker to enter the South Korean market after Tata Motors, which bought truck maker Daewoo Commercial Vehicle in 2004.
Due diligence for the Ssangyong deal is expected to begin in September. A Mahindra executive said earlier this month that a definitive agreement was expected in November.


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The company said it was building a new facility that would double the size of its workforce in the city.
DALLAS, TX(TIP): Apple said on Thursday, December 13, that it would expand its operations in Austin, Tex., with a new $1 billion campus on the north side of the city that would nearly double the size of the company’s current 6,000-employee work force in the area.
The technology giant said it also planned to establish new, 1,000-worker operations in San Diego, Seattle and Culver City, Calif., and to add hundreds of workers in offices in New York, Pittsburgh and Boulder, Colo. over the next three years.
The new 133-acre campus in North Austin will initially employ 5,000 workers in engineering, research and development, operations, finance, sales and customer support. It will ultimately have the capacity to accommodate up to 15,000 workers. Apple said it expected that its expanded presence would make it the area’s largest employer.
“Apple is proud to bring new investment, jobs and opportunity to cities across the United States and to significantly deepen our quarter-century partnership with the city and people of Austin,” Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, said in a statement.
Apple had become synonymous with hoarding money overseas after deferring tax payments on its foreign earnings for years. In January, it said that it would increase its spending in the United States substantially after last year’s tax cuts led it to bring back most of the $252 billion it had stashed abroad.
The company said at the time that it planned to invest more than $30 billion in the United States over the next five years and to create 20,000 jobs by expanding its operations and adding a new campus.
President Trump, who had chided Apple over various issues in the past, reacted to the January announcement by praising the company while crediting his own policies for getting it to make the investments.
In September, though, Mr. Trump took aim at Apple over jobs after the company told trade officials in a letter that the administration’s tariffs would affect a wide range of products.
None of the new positions announced by Apple on Thursday appeared to involve manufacturing.
Unlike Amazon, which held a highly publicized yearlong beauty contest before deciding to put major new hubs in New York and Virginia, Apple has been relatively quiet about its expansion plans. But the $5 billion headquarters the company opened in Cupertino, Calif., last year may hint at the effect the new Austin campus will have on the city, Texas’s capital.
Apple has had a mixed year financially. In August, it became the first publicly traded American company worth more than $1 trillion after a series of remarkably profitable quarters. But its stock took a hit in November after the company said it would stop reporting how many iPhones, iPads and Mac computers it sold each quarter, figures central to understanding Apple’s performance.
A slowdown in iPhone sales, which account for nearly 60 percent of Apple’s revenue, has weighed heavily on the company’s share price since then. It has been pulled down further by Mr. Trump’s suggestions last month that tariffs might be placed on Apple devices imported from China.
The smartphone maker is also embroiled in a legal fight in China with Qualcomm, its chip supplier, which resulted in a Chinese court ordering Apple to stop selling older iPhone models in China.
Another complication for Apple is the simmering tensions between China and the United States, which Mr. Cook had previously warned could hurt the company’s business in China. The recent arrest of Meng Wenzhou has added to the strain.


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The tate’s real world AI is a new program by Andrew Tate to teach individuals how to create their own profitable businesses. His controversial claims have some skeptics worried about the program’s legitimacy. However, it has been reported that Tate’s previous online courses like Hustlers University and 67 Steps have generated sustainable profits for many of his students.
The program’s instructors are called “professors,” and each one is a highly successful entrepreneur with claimed net worths in the millions. They also run their own businesses and have thriving social media profiles. The professors teach daily informative videos with advanced education and mentoring, and they are available to answer students’ questions.
The Real World AI Revolution Unveiled by Andrew Tate
Some people have claimed that The Real World AI is a pyramid scheme, since members are encouraged to promote the program on social media and earn commissions from each new member they recruit. This has led to concerns about a lack of transparency and the potential for predatory behavior.
Andrew Tate has earned his reputation as a “real-life hustler” through his online marketing and promotional strategies. He is a former 4x kickboxing world champion and has made a lot of money by creating webcam studios, managing OnlyFans, running casinos, and selling online courses. He is also known for his hard-hitting, truth-bomb style of content that has earned him huge followings on Twitter and Instagram. Tate has faced controversy in the past, namely being banned by major social media platforms due to his controversial views and anti-Muslim rhetoric.


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Online electronic disruptor platform instaENG is reporting massive success following its latest exhibit at the recent Retail Risk event in London.
The security bid platform demonstrated to attendees how customers can use its revolutionary platform to post jobs in specialities such as CCTV, intruder alarms and fire systems, which businesses or sole traders can then directly bid for.
Tastefully brought to life with giveaway dinosaur stress balls and a live performance, instaENG showcased how “industry dinosaurs are continuously ripping off customers” and refusing to change antiquated working practices by still routinely marking up jobs by 30 per cent.
The team onsite successfully showcased how instaENG has completely democratised the process of awarding security work, making it leaner, more efficient and transparent.
Unsurprisingly, the brand’s presence at Retail Risk has created a massive buzz, sparking interest from new customers across all industries including retail, manufacturing and property management.
David Stubbs, co-founder of instaENG said: “It has been really encouraging to see the huge interest in our platform and we are delighted that multiple manufacturers have expressed an intent to trade with the instaENG community as a combined group.
“This means that all of our regional suppliers will soon benefit from the discounts normally enjoyed by only the dominant dinosaurs. It’s an exciting development for us all.
“It’s clear that bringing something so different to market has its challenges, so it’s very comforting to have forward thinking brands like Travis Perkins, David Lloyd and Kiasu on our journey with many more waiting for contracts to expire.
“Over 1500 jobs completed, not one specification visit and not one dispute. It’s incredible statistics and within an average of over 30 per cent saving for the same kit, I’m sure that many more savvy retailers and corporates will join us soon.”
The entirely online platform has already signed up more than 55 suppliers, including several blue-chip brands since launching in January.
With 98 per cent UK postcode coverage, the platform has more than 50 jobs allocated through the site every week.


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Behind the ads is a fast-growing industry that barely existed a decade ago. Debt-settlement companies claim they can significantly reduce borrowers’ debts by negotiating directly with creditors. Unlike most businesses, these companies have flourished during the economic downturn.
But a growing group of lawmakers, regulators and consumer advocates say these companies exploit desperate borrowers, often leaving them deeper in debt. The Federal Trade Commission wants to restrict fees the companies charge. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has introduced legislation that would bar debt-settlement companies from collecting fees until a settlement has been reached. Last month, Oregon‘s attorney general reached a settlement with Credit Solutions of America, the USA’s largest debt-settlement firm, that bars the company from operating in that state for three years.
Now, the industry is fighting back.
The Consumer Credit Rights Campaign, a coalition of debt-settlement companies, says
the proposals would eliminate a legitimate option for consumers who can’t afford to fully repay debts and don’t want to file for bankruptcy.
mpanies act as a valuable intermediary between borrowers and lenders, says Don Goldberg, a Campaign spokesman. “If you take them away, you’re leaving consumers on their own.”


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Yoor is a quite innovative concept for the development of a personalised social app for recreational boating that addresses the lack of real-time information on congestion at mooring locations. The application, which is created from Filippos Peveretos, a Greek entrepreneur, provides comprehensive real-time data to maritime tourists and expands on the shared experiences of the surrounding community.
Based on maps, navigation guides, GNSS signals, and weather reports, it helps users find appropriate places to anchor, promotes safety and recreation tips based on user recommendations, and provides information on weather conditions. Today, its estimated that the members of the international community of recreational boating are something more than 2,5 million people and at the same time is consisted from around 10 million yachts! Among Yoor’s top priorities is in the following months to held a funding seed round in England.
Mr. Peveretos will be the official Greek participation at MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, among 50 startups from around the world. MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is an “open” program that its main goal is to introduce entrepreneurs with the international business environment and ecosystem that has close-ties with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The startupers that will participate at this program, will have the ability to set-up a company in something less than a week and afterwards to pitch it at a group of investors. Mr. Peveretos noted the great chance towards businesses and companies to “participate” via the sponsorship of Yoor, since they will be exposed to a very high quality and wide audience.


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hotels in Canton, Beijing and 500 cities in China.
|News from Thailand -- The Nation|
Communist insurgents in the Philippines called off a truce with the government on Wednesday, almost two weeks ahead of schedule, raising concerns about the future of peace talks.
Celebratory gunfire killed a four-year-old boy and more than 400 others were injured by powerful firecrackers in typically rowdy New Year celebrations in the Philippines, officials said Tuesday.
The Philippines braced Sunday for its annual orgy of New Year's Eve merrymaking which every year leaves hundreds maimed by firecrackers or hit by bullets fired in the air by armed revelers.
The death toll from a tropical storm that hit the central Philippines on Christmas Day has risen to 20, with more than 20,000 others left homeless, the government said Sunday.
The death toll from a tropical storm that hit the central Philippines on Christmas Day has risen to 11 with thousands more forced out of their homes by landslides and flooding, officials said Friday.
Tropical Storm Wukong left six people dead and two missing as it cut through the central Philippines, following devastating Typhoon Bopha that killed hundreds earlier this month, officials said Thursday.
Eight people were killed and thousands left homeless as two fires struck the Philippine capital on Christmas Day, with one of the blazes sparking a riot in a slum, officials said.
A top Philippine communist rebel with a US$128,000 bounty on his head was arrested on Tuesday, the military said.
The death toll from a typhoon that devastated the Philippines earlier this month will likely hit 1,500, making it the second deadliest since the country began keeping records, the civil defense chief said Saturday.
The Philippines has passed a landmark law that criminalizes “enforced disappearances,” a presidential spokeswoman said on Saturday, in a move hailed by human rights groups.


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Oct 30, 2015 (LBO) - Sri Lankan hotel operator, John Keells Hotels Plc’s profits increased by only 2 percent to 350 million rupees in the September quarter 2015 despite a tourism boom in the Island, interim accounts showed. Earnings per share was flat at 24 cents per share for the quarter. The company's revenue also increased by 2 percent to 2,768 million rupees compared to 2,701 million rupees a year earlier. The group which has hotels in Maldives said cost of sales rose 4 percent to 910 million rupees and gross profits rose 2 percent to 1,857 million rupees. Finance costs declined 34 percent to 45 million rupees from 68 million rupees, a year earlier.
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Revenues in the Maldives branch rose to 1,441 million rupees in the quarter from 1,463 million rupees a year earlier giving 170 million rupees in profits, down from 223 million rupees.
In Sri Lankan segment, revenues rose to 1,351 million rupees up only 7 percent in the quarter from 1,260 million rupees a year earlier and it made a profit of 181 million rupees, up from 133 million rupees a year earlier.
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text: Poor consumer confidence has lost its ability to surprise, says Chris Hobart, president of Hobart Financial Group. He says "any time we get news that consumer confidence is the lowest that it's been in seven months, I think initially as the day begins will knock us back. But then we rebound because -- is it really that big of a surprise for us? I don't think it is." Hobart tells Andrew O'Day a big reason consumers lack confidence is that they are getting a very clear message from the Fed. "We've hears over the past three months, 'We're going to do everything we can to prop up the economy.' But they're saying that in a way kind of to warn us."


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It’s 45 years since the iconic Ford Mustang hit the streets and the latest version of the archetypal all-American muscle car has gone on view at the Los Angeles auto show. It goes on sale in the US next spring continuing to offer coupe (including an optional panoramic glass roof) and convertible variants.
All the sheet metal other than the fastback roof is new.
The front includes reworked headlamps and grille, plus a raised “powerdome” hood. The pony ornament has been revised and enlarged.
Ford has also reworked the GT’s 4.6-litre V8’s air intake to increase output from 300 bhp to 315 bhp while the 4-litre V6 is unchanged.
In updating the Mustang, Ford is looking to revive a model first introduced in 1964 but has seen sales slide 30% this year to 83,557 from 118,959 a year earlier.. It’s an important image car for the company and has been used in films through the years such as ‘Bullitt’ in 1968 and the 1971 Bond film ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ as well as in the current ‘Knight Ride’ television series.
The base GT now outperforms the 2009 Mustang Bullitt, one of Mustang’s performance versions.
Details regarding sales outside the US will be made at a later date.


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Macy's Herald Square will unveil their legendary Christmas Windows Thursday evening. Whoopi Goldberg is set to appear alongside the cast of Broadway's Sister Act.
Never one to miss out on a Christmas tradition, Santa Claus will also be on hand to flip the switch and unveil the 2011 display, titled "Make-A-Wish."
This year's windows tell the story of a magical character launch from a mysterious ship headed to the North Star to decorate the tree of wishes.
More: NYC's 6 Best Toy Stores
Meanwhile, Bloomingdale's debuted their 59th Street holiday windows Wednesday evening. The event included a performance by cast members from Broadway's Priscilla Queen of the Dessert and the winner of America's Got Talent, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
Bloomie's windows celebrate the store's iconic shopping bags. The display features a selection of recreated, oversized vintage shopping bags on a blue backdrop. The festive decor also has a camera tucked away inside - it will snap a photo of window-gazers to display in the window, and will also be sent to the Bloomingdale's Facebook page.
Lord & Taylor lit their Christmas windows Monday night with the help of Kathie Lee Gifford. Look for more from CBSNewYork.com as stores across the Big Apple prep for Santa's arrival!
Macy's Herald Square
34th Street - Broadway Blvd.
for more features.


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TV Everywhere / Multiscreen (Smartphone, Tablet, …) News
Netgem enables multiscreen TV for ZEOP with new UI on Android TV
Jun 7, 2023 – Netgem has launched a revamp of Zeop TV in La Réunion, with the latest version of its multiscreen apps introducing more content and more features in a super-aggregator model.
News categories: Netgem, ZEOP, ZTE, Mathias Hautefort, Emmanuel André, Jianbo Wang, Android TV, Digital TV, France, Mascarene Islands, Set Top Box, TV Everywhere, UX
Zattoo app comes to VIDAA-based Hisense and Loewe TVs
Nov 15, 2022 – With the Zattoo app now being available on Hisense and Loewe TV devices running the VIDAA operating system, Zattoo is closing one of the last gaps in the market for access to its service in the DACH region.
News categories: Zattoo, VIDAA, Loewe, Constanze Gilles, Denis Oštir, Apps, Austria, Digital TV, Germany, IPTV, Smart TV, Switzerland, TV Everywhere, TV OS
Tring selects multiscreen solution from SmartLabs
Sep 14, 2022 – Tring has chosen SmartLabs' multiscreen solution. The solution is built on SmartLabs' SmartTUBE TV service management platform, SmartMEDIA content delivery system, and SmartCARE analytics engine.
News categories: SmartLabs, Tring, Gary Hamer, Armand Selimaj, Albania, Content Distribution, Digital TV, IPTV, TV Everywhere
SeaChange to power FIFA World Cup streaming for Grupo TVCable
Sep 20, 2022 – SeaChange has expanded its services to Grupo TVCable in Ecuador to include the streaming of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The SeaChange platform will support bringing games to viewers through Grupo TVCable's Xtrim streaming service.
News categories: SeaChange, Grupo TVCable, Chris Klimmer, Daniel Coronel, Cable TV, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Ecuador, TV Everywhere
Axinom expands partnership with Sky
Jul 1, 2022 – Axinom has expanded its technical partnership with Sky. The partnership includes app development as well as maintenance support for some of the largest streaming initiatives - WOW, Now, Peacock, and Sky Go.
News categories: Axinom, Sky, Magnus Leppik, Ben Lavender, Apps, Digital TV, Germany, Ireland, Streaming, TV Everywhere, UK
Orange Belgium deploys MediaKind VSPP and Encoding Live solutions
Apr 19, 2022 – MediaKind has announced that it has been selected by Orange Belgium to provide enriched consumer experiences to its subscribers across a range of devices, from mobiles, TV decoder and tablets to main television screens.
News categories: MediaKind, Orange Belgium, Damien Montessuit, Thomas Parvais, Belgium, Content Distribution, Digital TV, IPTV, TV Everywhere
Breezeline launches cloud-based TV service
Jan 18, 2022 – Breezeline (Cogeco US) has launched Breezeline Stream TV, a cloud-based TV service that integrates live TV, DVR, on-demand and streaming apps for viewing devices inside and outside the home via a single, easy-to-use interface.
News categories: Breezeline, Heather McCallion, Digital TV, IPTV, TV Everywhere, USA
3SS delivers Smart TV apps for A1 Bulgaria
Nov 10, 2021 – 3 Screen Solutions (3SS) has delivered two new smart TV apps for A1 Bulgaria. The apps are now live and available to Xplore TV subscribers with Samsung Tizen and LG webOS connected TVs.
News categories: 3SS, A1 Bulgaria, Kai-Christian Borchers, Apps, Bulgaria, Digital TV, IBC2022, Smart TV, TV Everywhere
A1 Makedonija deploys A1 Xplore TV with Zappware
Sep 28, 2021 – A1 Makedonija has launched A1 Xplore TV in Macedonia, powered by Zappware. A1 Xplore TV constantly learns from the user's viewing habits and recommends content relevant to them.
News categories: Zappware, A1 Makedonija, Ives Decraene, Elena Panova, Digital TV, IPTV, Macedonia, TV Everywhere, UX
- Atmosic SoC approved for Google Android TV remote controls
- Bell Media unveils new and expanded ad solutions
- Irdeto ensures integrity of apps running on OSNtv
- Thales and Netskrt Systems collaborate on inflight VOD streaming
- Samsung chip to power Hyundai in-vehicle infotainment
- Radio Television Hong Kong selects Irdeto multi-DRM solution
- Spectrum Reach taps Beachfront for programmatic monetization of convergent TV
- Netgem enables multiscreen TV for ZEOP with new UI on Android TV
- KCGM deploys Amagi SaaS offering to distribute anime channel in India
- Leading industry players join IAB Tech Lab advertising standards group
- DingoTV streaming service adds gamification with Edge Video
- Foxxum partners with OTTera to expand app portfolio
- Taiwan Mobile selects Broadpeak for live video streaming to mobiles
- TV Globo affiliate EPTV turns to MediaKind for IP video edge upgrade
- tvOS 17 brings FaceTime and video conferencing to Apple TV 4K
- VIDAA to bring Paramount+ to viewers in Canada and Latin America
- AR/VR headset shipments slowed in Q1 2023
- Introducing Apple Vision Pro: Apple’s first spatial computer
- 49% of U.S. adults watch video via a CTV device daily
- FAST revenues in Eastern Europe set to reach $42m by 2028


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At least these have a good finish.
A line of Sopranos wines, priced from $10 to $30, are set to hit the market in the coming months.
“Wine was the obvious next brand extension,” says Mark Gonsalves, whose Beverage Investment Group, funded the project.
The new collection will feature three types of Chianti, a pinot noir and a pinot grigio.
Later, a Tony So prano Signature Col lection will feature an amarone and a prosecco.


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The market fell into a correction as Treasury yields surged to a 15-year high and Chinese economic concerns mounted. The major indexes fell below their 50-day lines with more and more leading stocks breaking down. Cisco Systems (CSCO) and TJX Cos. (TJX) were earnings winners. But On Holding (ONON), StoneCo (STNE) and Cava (CAVA) were earnings losers. Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT) and Home Depot (HD) were other notable retail reports. Tesla (TSLA) tumbled amid a spate of new price cuts and discounts.
Market In Correction
The Nasdaq led the way, but the S&P 500 and the Dow also fell below their 50-day lines as Treasury yields spiked. Nvidia (NVDA) fared relatively well, but more and more leaders broke down, with energy a notable exception. The market is now in a correction.
Consumers, Economy Strong
The latest batch of data shows that the U.S. economy has momentum in Q3 as consumer spending appetites perked up with a boost to retail sales from Amazon Prime Day and strong spending at food and drinking places. Meanwhile, minutes from the July 25-26 Fed meeting showed that most policymakers still saw “significant upside risks to inflation.” S&P Global’s GDP tracker currently shows the U.S. economy growing at an accelerated 3.2% rate in Q3, up from 2.4% a week ago. July retail sales grew 0.7% from June, nearly doubling forecasts. Outside of autos, sales rose 1%. Strong July housing starts and the August Philly Fed manufacturing index unexpectedly jumping into positive territory also contributed to the stronger growth backdrop. Single-family homebuilding is benefiting from a dearth of existing-home sales, because would-be sellers want to keep their existing low mortgage rates.
China’s economy continues to struggle, with July retail sales and industrial production rising less than expected vs. a year earlier, along with other weak data. China property giant Evergrande filed for bankruptcy protection in New York. China’s central bank cut rates unexpectedly.
Cisco Growth Accelerating
Cisco Systems (CSCO) reported that Q4 EPS rose 37%, the second straight quarter of acceleration, while revenue climbed 16% to $15.2 billion, the fourth quarter of faster growth. The networking giant gave some mixed guidance for fiscal 2024. But shares advanced as product orders jumped 30% vs. the April quarter.
Tesla Steps Up Price Cuts
The global EV giant announced a variety of price cuts, discounts and incentives this past week, signaling more pressure on profit margins. On Aug. 13, Tesla (TSLA) cut China Model Y prices on high-end variants by $1,930, but not base Model Y, the most popular version in China. The company also offered a fresh insurance subsidy for Model 3 buyers in China worth $1,100, amid swirling rumors that the new upgraded Model 3 will launch in the next few weeks. Tesla also nearly doubled discounts on its luxury Model S and Model X vehicles in China. Tesla launched new, range-limited versions of its Model S and Model X in the U.S. that are $10,000 cheaper than official list prices of the old base trim. However, for not much more buyers could find existing Model S and X inventory. TSLA stock plunged, extending a monthlong slide.
Walmart, Target Guidance, Stocks Diverge
Big-box discount giants Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT) released varying results this week. Dow Jones giant Walmart reported a surprise earnings gain early Thursday with a 4% EPS rise as revenue climbed 5.7% to $161.6 billion. Walmart raised full-year forecasts, though largely on the Q2 beat. WMT stock fell after results from near record highs. Early Wednesday, Target earnings skyrocketed 362% after five straight EPS declines. But sales fell for the first time in almost six years, with the 4.9% decline to $24.8 billion, worse than expected. Target slashed its full-year outlook noting additional pressure on consumers. Shares, which hit a three-year low ahead of earnings, popped on results but were little changed for the week.
CVS Dives On Surprise Blue Shield Loss
CVS Health (CVS) shares slumped 8% on Thursday after Blue Shield of California, with 4.8 million members, said it would drop CVS Caremark’s prescription benefit management, or PBM, services. CVS will continue to provide specialty pharmacy services, which now accounts for more than 50% of pharmacy benefit spending, for the nonprofit insurer. Analysts were mixed over potential for Blue Shield of California to develop an alternative, more transparent drug-pricing model that could replace PBMs by weaving in an array of services, including from Amazon Pharmacy and the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. Blue Shield says it hopes to save $500 million a year in drug costs.
Off-Price Retailers Shine
Off-price apparel and home-goods giant TJX Cos. (TJX) and apparel rival Ross Stores (ROST) both beat views. TJX reported a 23% EPS gain while revenue rose 8% to $12.8 billion, the strongest growth in five quarters. Ross reported a 19% EPS gain with sales up 7.6%; it also raised guidance. TJX stock cleared a short consolidation while ROST broke out.
Applied Materials, Synopsys
Applied Materials (AMAT) reported fiscal Q3 EPS of $1.95 vs. $1.94 a year earlier. Sales fell 1% to $6.43 billion. But both beat views, while the chip equipment giant guided up on Q4. AMAT stock rose modestly. Synopsys (SNPS) reported a 37% EPS gain as revenue rose 19% to $1.49 billion, the best gains for both in five quarters and beating views. The chip-design software maker also named a new CEO. SNPS stock initially jumped on earnings but quickly erased gains.
U.S. Steel Surges On Multiple Bids
U.S. Steel (X) said it’s mulling strategic options, including selling key assets or the entire company, after receiving multiple unsolicited bids. The steel giant rejected an offer from rival Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF), then much-smaller industrial firm Esmark offered $35 a share. U.S. Steel stock shot up 35% to near 31, suggesting investors have doubts about an Esmark deal. Global steel giant Arcelor Mittal (MT) reportedly could bid for much or all of U.S. Steel. Cleveland-Cliffs said the United Steelworkers union had given it the exclusive right to bid on U.S. Steel.
Home Depot Sees Fewer Big Projects
The Dow Jones home-improvement giant reported an 8% EPS decline with sales falling 2% to $42.92 billion, though both slightly topped Q2 views. Home Depot (HD) saw continued strength in smaller project categories, but said there is pressure on certain big-ticket, discretionary categories. The board also OK’d a $15 billion share buyback. HD stock briefly broke out but then erased gains.
On Holding Tumbles On Earnings
The Swiss parent of high-end athletic shoemaker reported a 66% EPS decline, well short of views. Revenue leapt 64.5% to $505 million, a fast pace and above views, though growth slowed for a second straight quarter. On Holding (ONON) guidance implied 30% revenue growth in the second half. ONON stock tumbled 14% on Tuesday in massive volume.
Fitch Warns On Banks
Fitch Ratings cautioned there’s additional pain ahead for the U.S. banking industry on Tuesday and warned it may downgrade dozens of banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM). Fitch cut its assessment of the industry’s health in June based on the string of March bank failures. Cutting the sector’s rating by another notch, to A+, would force Fitch to reevaluate ratings for more than 70 U.S. banks. Earlier this month, Moody’s downgraded several regional banks.
Chinese Internets Fall Amid Earnings
Amid concerns about a slowing Chinese economy and hopes for stimulus, several China internet firms reported. Gaming and messaging giant Tencent (TCEHY) reported a 24% EPS gain with revenue up 3%, with both showing accelerating growth but coming in below estimates. E-commerce giant JD.com (JD) reported a 23% EPS gain while revenue fell 1% in dollar terms, though they rose 7.6% in local currency. Both beat views. Smaller e-commerce play Vipshop (VIPS) reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings. All three stocks fell amid broader Chinese economic concerns and market woes.
Buffett-Backed Brazilian Fintechs’ Earnings Strong
Warren Buffett-backed Nu Holdings (NU) and StoneCo (STNE) both reported strong growth. Digital bank Nu Holdings reported a strong profit vs. a year-earlier loss, moving toward a first-ever annual profit. Revenue grew a robust 61%, though that was the fifth straight quarter of deceleration. Payments firm StoneCo reported booming Q2 growth and sees strong gains in Q3. Meanwhile, Uruguay-based DLocal (DLO) reported a second straight quarter of accelerating earnings and revenue growth It also named Pedro Arnt as co-CEO. Arnt stepped down as CFO of Latin American e-commerce and payments giant MercadoLibre (MELI) a few days earlier. DLO stock skyrocketed, while STNE and NU sold off.
Restaurant IPOs Dive On Earnings
Mediterranean-themed Cava Holding (CAVA) and Korean-BBQ-themed GEN Restaurant Group (GENK) reported earnings for the first time as public companies, with both stocks tumbling. Cava reported a strong profit with a 62.5% sales gain. GEN Restaurant reported results that beat some views and missed others.
Deere Earnings Top
The farm, forestry and highway construction equipment giant reported that Q3 EPS shot up 66% vs. a year earlier while revenue rose 12% to $15.8 billion, both comfortably beating. Deere (DE) modestly raised its full-year net income forecast. DE stock fell solidly for the week.
Buffett Buys Into Homebuilders
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) opened positions in homebuilders D.R. Horton (DHI), Lennar (LEN) and NVR (NVR) in the second quarter. New-home sales are a pocket of strength in the housing market amid steep mortgage rates. The conglomerate also further grew a stake in Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and further cut its holding in Chevron (CVX). Buffett dialed up his energy bet last year as oil and gas prices soared after Russia’s Ukraine invasion. Apart from the two oil giants, Berkshire kept its top biggest stock holdings steady last quarter. Still, Apple (AAPL), the No. 1 holding, was a bigger holding thanks to its big advance in Q2.
News In Brief
Cardinal Health (CAH) reported that Q4 EPS surged 48% and revenue rose to $53.45 billion, both beating. The drug and medical devices wholesaler raised its full-year outlook, though Cardinal’s earnings guidance was slightly short at the midpoint. CAH stock reversed lower.
XPeng (XPEV) reported a wider-than-expected Q2 loss while revenue fell sharply. XPeng does expect deliveries to jump to roughly 40,000 in Q3 from Q2’s 23,205, but that was in line with some expectations. Shares continued to tumble after a huge run.
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