text:
East of England Co-op has launched its first online shopping platform and announced a new partnership with rapid delivery service, Just Eat.
The move means the East Anglia-based society is the first regional co-operative to have its own shopping platform, and the first co-op food retailer in the UK with its own shopping app.
East of England customers will be able to order shopping and book a delivery slot from 25 of the society’s stores. After being picked and packed, delivery will be fulfilled by new partners Gophr, one of the UK’s biggest food delivery networks. Orders can be submitted through the app, or from eastofengland.coop/onlineshopping, and be delivered in as little as 20 minutes.
In addition, the society’s online delivery partnership with Just Eat is available at 53 East of England stores, which, says the society, “significantly increases access to convenience online shopping in communities across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire”.
Driving the launch is Matt Adamson, who joined the organisation earlier in 2023 as head of e-commerce, a newly created role.
“We’re immensely proud to be the first regional co-operative to have our own shopping platform, and become the first co-op food retailer in the UK with our own app,” he said.
“To be launching our own online shopping platform alongside rapid delivery with Just Eat means we’re able to offer our customers a great variety of online shopping options.
“Online shopping remains a fundamental part of consumer shopping behaviour – 13% of grocery shopping is now conducted online. After significant development and a successful trial, our new platform allows customers access to our full range, including Sourced Locally produce from local producers, setting us apart from other online shopping retailers. And of course, they can still earn dividend points.”


text:
According to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s trade in goods with the rest of Africa in the last five years was N15.85 trillion.
The data is for 2018 through September of current year. The amount represents 9.3% of the nation’s overall international commerce during that time, highlighting the meager level of intra-African trade.
The value of commerce between the nation and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) members averaged N1.42 trillion each year over that time, totaling N7.09 trillion or 4.2% of all trade during that time.
Nigeria’s foreign commerce during that time was estimated to be worth N170.27 trillion, with exports accounting for somewhat more, 52.6% of the nominal value.
According to the historical pattern, Nigeria dominated regional commerce throughout the period under study. Exports totaled N12.76 trillion, or 80.5 percent, of the N15.85 trillion in regional commerce, while imports were a pitiful N3.09 trillion.
Additionally, 7.5% of the trade value in the period was made up of items imported through authorized methods from other ECOWAS nations. The value was N528.6 billion, compared to the nation’s exports to neighbors, which increased by roughly 12 times (N6.36 trillion).
The NBS numbers support the low intra-regional commerce, which is modest, anemic at best, and largely regressive.
For instance, the amount increased by approximately 80% in 2019 to N5.03 trillion before declining by 44.7% the following year. The value of commerce between the largest regional economy and other African nations somewhat increased last year (6.6 per cent).
The valuation was N2.28 trillion as of September, which brings the annualized projection to N3.04 trillion, or roughly 2.5% more than last year’s performance.
Foreigners are reportedly allowed to move around the continent more easily than Africans themselves, according to the African Regional Integration Index, which does not reflect past attempts to advance the single market and free movement agenda.
With a score of 0.383 on average, trade integration across the African continent is ranked towards the bottom of the scale. It also notes that average import taxes and average non-tariff trade barriers are higher in Africa.
In a few weeks, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will turn two years old. However, the treaty’s full commerce has not yet started. Similar to how the single currency roadmap has been entwined with neo-colonialism, there are now more discussions than actual measures on the anticipated African Union visa plan.
Africans need visas for about 47% of their domestic travel, while some nations still demand transit permits. The single air transportation market continues to be an illusion. These are a few of the issues that have impeded trade inside the African continent.

domain: news


text:
Imprint has raised a $75 million Series B led by Ribbit Capital to help companies launch co-branded cards with custom rewards. It already works with customers like H-EB.
Billionaire Jack Dorsey’s Block reported better-than-expected earnings and raised 2023 adjusted cash flow (ebitda) guidance by more than $1.5 billion, contingent on tearing down silos.
Jack Dorsey’s Block reports earnings after the market close on Thursday, and investors will be watching closely to see if the departure of key executives and technical...
Fintech Synapse was an early mover in the banking-as-a-service sector, but structural faults and operating problems have led to missing funds and a messy breakup with longtime partner Evolve Bank and Trust. Now, the startup needs to find a replacement fast.
Last year PayPal slashed its prices in its payment services business in an attempt to fend off Dutch giant Adyen and other encroaching competitors. The strategy is working, but at what cost?
The San Francisco-based company laid off 86 full-time employees after losing one of its largest clients, business banking fintech Mercury.
The brainchild of Elizabeth Warren and a product of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is fighting for its life against a court case brought by payday lenders that argue its funding structure is not constitutional.
From smoothly written scam texts to bad actors cloning voices and superimposing faces on videos, generative AI is arming fraudsters with powerful new weapons.
The launch of the FedNow instant payment system has raised the value of access to master accounts–which Kraken Bank, Custodia Bank and others haven’t been granted.


text:
Forwarded this email by a friend? Subscribe here.
Welcome to November!
This week we’re witnessing what it’s like to come down from a sugar high, and we don’t mean the post-trick-or-treating crash. After explosive growth over the past two years, the tech industry is slowing down like a kid two hours after a candy binge. As Morningstar highlights, the rising dollar, falling consumer spending, sluggish digital ad growth, and a murky outlook for cloud computing are all hurting big tech earnings. And the slowdown isn’t isolated to tech behemoths; the startup sector also seems to be sobering up after a party, as the New York Times described last weekend.
You might be feeling the impact of the sugar crash in your own portfolio, since many sustainable and ESG funds are heavily weighted toward growth stocks like tech companies. Sprinkling in some stable value stocks can help create a healthier balance — and there are ways to do it without sacrificing your values. We’ve got more on that below.
One thing that’s not crashing? Interest rates. Yesterday the US Federal Reserve hiked interest rates by another .75%. That’s unwelcome news for homebuyers, who are already facing the highest mortgage rates in two decades. The Fed signaled that it plans to continue raising rates in the coming months in its attempt to control inflation, though hinted that future increases could be smaller.
Trying to figure out how to cope? The Wall Street Journal suggests some strategies for dealing with rate hikes. Among them — enjoy the benefits of higher rates by ratcheting up your savings. If you’re shopping around for a high-yield savings account, we’ve got some tips to find your “yield of dreams.” Finally, remember to turn your clock back and enjoy your extra hour of sleep on Sunday — you deserve it!
News you can use
- Nearly three-quarters of S&P 500 companies now tie executive compensation to some form of ESG performance. That’s according to a new report from The Conference Board, which found growing links between exec pay and goals related to diversity, carbon footprint and emission reductions.
- Only 15% of Americans have a good understanding of ESG, finds a new survey. Yet despite being unfamiliar with the elusive acronym, over 75% agree that companies have a responsibility to behave as good citizens and consider their impacts on the planet, and 40% would be willing to accept lower return on investment in companies with stronger ESG performance. So maybe [share FWIW with your friends] to spread the word about sustainable and values-aligned investing 😉.
- Global consumer goods giants are probably going to miss ambitious targets to reduce plastic pollution by 2025, says a new report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment Programme. Achieving 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025 is unlikely for most of the over 500 companies that had committed to it. Together the brands are 65.4% of the way there, representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced. While collective first-use plastic is actually increasing, the good news is the use of recycled content in packaging has doubled from 4.8% in 2018 to 10% in 2021.You can check how much progress individual companies have made on several metrics here and read more about investing on this issue here.


text:
Mac and Cheese is a fan favorite, and here in Bakersfield we have lots of options. But on Saturday, cheese chefs battled it out with the return of the Mac and Cheese Fest in Stramler Park, for the 7th edition of the event.
Food, drinks, music, dancing and community – you could see that in every corner of the fest, with organizers saying over 3,000 people in attendance.
“It feels really good to have everybody back out there doing what we all want to do – just enjoy ourselves, have some drinks, get some food,” said Jen Bowden, the events director for the festival. She added that the event sold out Saturday morning as people showed up to sample different kinds of Mac and Cheese from over 30 vendors, and drinks from about 15 different vendors as well.
It was also a competition as restaurants battled it out for different prizes. Our own, Brianna Willis, was one of the judges at the event. KC Steakhouse and Nov’s Soul Spot tied for the best Mac and Cheese. Butcher Block was crowned most creative, with their sausage mac and cheese. The Chicken Shack won the cheesiest prize. Countryside Market was an All-Time People’s Choice winner and helped judge the event this time around.
Bowden added that a portion of proceeds from the event also go to help a local charity in our community, and organizers are still figuring out which group they will try to help.
Meanwhile, a common theme – people were just happy to be out and together.
“It’s just good to see people out in the open again and after this whole pandemic, it feels good, back to normal,” said attendee, Miriam Meza.
Vendors say being at the Mac and Cheese Fest also helped highlight local businesses and share a spirit of community.
“That’s what it’s about - our city and our county, our community loves being together, and what an event to bring all different restaurants, and be together again,” said Rick Jhaj of Countryside Corporation.
Bakersfield City Councilmember Andrae Gonzales of Ward 2 who was also at the Mac and Cheese Fest said events like these showcase the true spirit of our city, and seeing people and businesses from all over brings him a sense of pride.


text:
Video: Watch: Inside the coroner’s gift shop The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Olvera Street, Venice Beach and … the coroner’s office?
As unlikely as it might sound, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office is a must-see destination for many visitors to Los Angeles.
The tourists aren’t coming to catch a glimpse of a dead celebrity – they’re coming for the gift shop.
“More than a few European guidebooks out list our store as something to do when you come to Los Angeles,” said coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey. “There are a lot of guests from other countries that show up.”
Harvey said the gift shop, dubbed Skeletons in the Closet, got its start with a simple coffee mug nearly 20 years ago.
He said the coroner’s office was hosting a training program on death investigations and needed a registration gift for attendees. Staffers decided to slap a coroner’s office logo on some coffee mugs and history was born.
“It was a simple coffee cup but it had a coroner’s seal on it,” Harvey said. “At the conclusion people came up and asked if they could get a couple more coffee cups.”
Harvey said as demand for the mugs grew, they knew they were on to something. Former secretary Marilyn Lewis came up with the idea of a beach towel featuring the chalk outline of a body.
“We started selling that and the Associated Press came by and took a picture of it and did a little story,” Harvey said. “The horses were out of the corral at that point. Everyone wanted a beach towel.”
In those days, the gift shop literally was located in a closet, said Edna Pereyda, who has worked at the gift shop for the past six years.
Now the shop is larger, taking up a small office on the second floor of the coroner’s building in Boyle Heights, and it sells all sorts of items, including coroner’s T-shirts, skull-shaped business card holders, a crime scene kit with police tape, evidence markers and chalk, and DVDs of “North Mission Road,” a cable TV show about the coroner’s office.
“Things that kind of trade on the history and reputation of the Department of Coroner,” Harvey said.
Even with all the new products, Pereyda said the beach towels remain a classic.
“Our No. 1 selling item are our beach towels,” she said. “People come from all over the world for them.”
Pereyda, who is prone to bouts of giggling and easily shows off photos of the many celebrities who have stopped by, said the shop attracts locals as well as tourists.
“We get all kinds of people in here from all walks of life,” Pereyda said.
She said some people deliberately seek out the gift shop and others find it by accident.
“I’ve got quite a few of those ones,” she said. “They’re picking up their (deceased) loved one’s items and then just stop in.”
Harvey said some people initially thought it was a “travesty” for the coroner’s office to engage in something as tongue-in-cheek as a gift shop, but he said the staff always tries to remain respectful to the dead.
“We do try to maintain a level of decorum with what we do. It’s designed to be playful,” Harvey said.
A few years ago, the shop teetered on the edge of insolvency and was being propped up with funds from an anti-drunk driving program the coroner’s office runs.
Harvey said the gift shop now employs a marketing person to attract customers and come up with new products.
He said one his favorite new items is a license plate frame that reads “L.A. County Coroner.”
A particularly popular item right now are the body bags. Pereyda said one girl who bought one said she planned to cut holes for her arms, legs and head and wear it for Halloween.
“People want to be inside the body bag,” she said with a laugh.
Skeletons in the closet is located at 1104 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information or make a purchase, call 323-343-0760 or visit www.lacoroner.com.
626-962-8811, ext. 2718


text:
Homestead Player Housing Update Announced for ESO — December 6, 2016
The long-anticipated player housing update for The Elder Scrolls Online has been officially revealed by ZeniMax Online Studios today. Homestead, which will be a free inclusion in the next major update, will introduce nearly forty new player houses into the game, alongside over 2000 furniture items to decorate your house with. It's scheduled for release in February 2017. The official announcement can be seen here, and the update will be available on the PTS in January, before its scheduled official release the next month.


text:
Kylie Jenner has opened up about her newly dyed bright blonde hair for the first time. And guess what? It was kind of a mistake.
The 19-year-old surprised fans by debuting her new peroxide locks at NYFW this year – and this time, it wasn’t a wig.
Kylie Snapchatted the whole dying process on Snapchat to prove that yes, she really had taken the plunge and gone blonde for reals.
However, in a new interview with People, the teenage chameleon admits that it didn’t quite go to plan…
‘I really wanted a nice, honey dirty blonde’, Kylie explained. However, her mind was soon changed once the whole transformation process began.
‘When we started bleaching it, it got so light so fast and I was like, “Wow, my hair is not damaged, I can do this.”‘
‘So I went for it.’
At the time of her dye job, Kylie let fans into the entire process via Snapchat.
Her first hair transformation Snap was captioned ‘all day’, and at this point her black roots could still be seen. But in her next video her whole head is covered with bleach and she’s scratching her scalp with a comb, captioning it ‘the pain’.
Even though it was Kim’s blonde transformation at fashion week that was the most memorable, it seems like Kylie got her recent hair inspo from Kourtney. She posted a pic of a 16-year-old, blonde kourt on her Instagram, captioning it: vibes.
Kourtney spoke about bleaching her hair on her app last week, saying she would never do anything like that again because it destroyed her hair. In the past Kylie has also mentioned that she ruined her hair after being experimental with it when she was younger, and since then she’s been trying to get it back to being healthy.
Speaking back when Jen Atkin made her a darker shade of blonde she said: ‘Took months of not dying my hair and wearing wigs to get my hair back to health so I can do this!’ We reckon she’s over caring about that now, though.
After all the bleaching is done Kylie snapped a picture of her with the bee filter, captioning it: Cant decide between platinum blonde or honey.
In the last Snap hair hair is up in a bun and looks a lot warmer than it did straight after dying, so we’re assuming she went for a more golden, honey tone, slightly different to Kim’s ice white blonde.
Love it or hate it, she’s certainly rocking it!


text:
Genshin Impact Catching up on the Mobile Competition
According to mobile analytics firm Sensor Tower, Genshin Impact is already making a wave in the mobile gaming market as it has already accumulated nearly $400 million on mobile alone. Sensor Tower’s recent report shows that developer miHoYo has made around $393 million in revenue from Genshin Impact mobile since launching in late September. Genshin Impact is free to play right now for PS4, Nintendo Switch, mobile, and PC.
Sensor Tower analytics only report how much revenue Genshin Impact has accumulated on mobile, showing what a powerhouse of a free to play game it is. According to Sensor Tower, Genshin Impact mobile has made a combined average of over $6 million a day on iOS and Android since its release. According to their rankings, this pushed Genshin Impact above both PUBG Mobile and Pokémon Go, showing quite an impressive debut. If Genshin Impact is able to sustain this momentum, it could be one of the biggest mobile games of all time.
Genshin Impact generates revenue through microtransactions that include bypassing waiting mechanics in order to continue your adventure rather than put the game down for a set amount of time. These mechanics are nothing new to the mobile market, but it looks like the systems miHoYo has in place are perfect for generating revenue. It’ll be interesting to see how much of this revenue is pumped back into Genshin Impact to keep it evolving and growing after the title really blew up in popularity straight out the gate.
Have you tried Genshin Impact on mobile? How has miHoYo convinced you to drop money on the game? Let us know in the comments below!


text:
Warhammer 40,000 – Space Marine: THQ Enjoys Better Than Expected Second Quarter
Although THQ has not released as many video games as other companies, it still earned a net sales worth $146 million. The company had just announced its second quarter’s (covering July to September) financial figures for the 2012 fiscal year. The increase it has recently enjoyed is considered significant especially when compared to last year’s second quarter, which produced a mere $77.1 million. If only it does not have to experience more losses as the years go by. I guess more investment is required for bigger projects and the bigger projects are the ones that bring in the dough. So, THQ earns more and also loses more. Oh, well.
Based on the second quarter, the best performer from THQ’s released video games was Warhammer 40K – Space Marine. The game sold 1.2 million units. This sales statistic already counts the units sold across all platforms. Almost half of the units were sold in North America. THQ CEO Brian Farrell said that older catalog titles, such as Saints Row 2, were able to perform well. This is Farrell’s partial explanation on how THQ managed to surpass expectations. People are just on the lookout for the sales generated by new releases. Yeah, old ones can also be re-energized.
“We are encouraged that our second quarter performance exceeded our expectations, particularly in a quarter with a light released schedule,” Farrell went on to say. Maybe he is feeling a lot better about next year’s second quarter, which will be witness to Saints Row – The Third and of course, WWE 12 will factor in then. These games are starting to heat anticipation up right now.


text:
Bridgepoint has acquired a majority stake in hyaluronic acid specialist HTL from Naxicap Partners, which will reinvest in the business to retain a significant minority interest.
GMI includes two other shoes companies controlled by Consilium, River and Calzaturificio Energy
GP uses its MKB Participatiefonds IV fund to back the Dutch furniture business Heditex
Colin Baker was previously Counsel at Goodwin Procter and an associate at SJ Berwin
Verret will be a managing director at the European financial services-focused firm


text:
A new segment in the gaming industry known as Paid Competitive Gaming (PCG) is emerging, according to a recent report called the "Global Paid Competitive Gaming Report 2023."
The report, released at the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, predicts that the PCG market will reach $16 billion by 2024 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 31.9% from 2021 to 2024. This growth rate is six times faster than the overall global mobile games market, which is expected to reach $223 billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 4.9%.
The report was jointly created by Newzoo, a leading global video game and gamer data company, and MPL and is based on a study of 24,562 respondents across 12 of the largest gaming markets conducted by Newzoo in 2022.
Since the pay-to-play model was first introduced in the 1970s and the free-to-play model emerged in the 2000s, the gaming industry has undergone a significant transformation. Currently, there are four primary ways of monetizing games: subscription services, rewarded ads, play and earn, and PCG.
According to Tony Habschmidt, Head of Consulting at Newzoo, the gaming industry's shift towards innovative models reflects publishers' willingness to embrace change while players expect new and inventive ways to interact with their favorite games.
He notes that PCG has become a prime example of this shift, allowing players to monetize their experiences through interactions with other players. This system rewards players for their skills and has democratized and redefined the industry by attracting new players from various forms of entertainment, such as sports and social media.
He adds that PCG offers a unique competitive experience for everyday gamers, providing numerous opportunities to compete in skill-based games with other players globally beyond traditional games. The availability of real money prize pools enables players to monetize their gaming abilities, while fair and competitive gameplay is ensured through effective skill-matching.
The top markets for PCG are projected to be the US, India, Mexico, the UK, and Germany. Mobile remains the dominant platform for gaming, with over 2.8 billion mobile gamers contributing more than 50% of the global gaming revenue in 2021, projected to reach $113.0 billion by 2024. Skill gamers are more engaged than traditional gamers, and many traditional gamers are likely to play skill-based games in the future. Smartphones and 5G technology will unlock new audiences, with projected growth in the number of global smartphone users and 5G-ready smartphones by 2024.


text:
Washington—Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase just 1.1% in June compared to last year, reflecting modest growth expectations as retailers head toward the back-to-school and holiday seasons, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released this week by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.
“With the economic recovery moving slowly, retailers are being cautious this summer and could hold off on stocking up for the holiday season until fall,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “We aren’t expecting significant increases for imports until October, when retailers will have a better idea of what to expect for holiday demand.”
Cargo import numbers do not correlate directly with retail sales or employment because they count only the number of cargo containers brought into the country, not the value of the merchandise inside them. But the amount of merchandise imported nonetheless provides a rough barometer of retailers’ expectations.
Rebound Toward Q4?
U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.31 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in April, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was up 14.6% from an unusually slow March but down 0.1% from April 2012. (One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.)
May was estimated at 1.4 million TEU, up 2.2% from a year ago. June is forecast at 1.4 million TEU, up 1.1% from last year; July at 1.44 million TEU, up 1.9%; August at 1.43 million TEU, up 0.5%; September at 1.42 million TEU, up 0.8%; and October at 1.45 million TEU, up 7.9%.
The first six months of 2013 are expected to total 7.8 million TEU, up 1.9% from the first half of 2012. The total for 2012 was 15.8 million TEU, up 2.9% from 2011.
“We are witnessing a period of import trade growth that is running more or less in sync with the U.S. economic expansion. Unfortunately, both are anemic,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “The impact of this extremely cautious consumer spending is that we expect import consumption to remain weak for the coming four to six months.”
Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades and Miami on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast.


text:
Just when you thought that Microsoft may cut off the Xbox team’s allowance following their $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella suggests that they’re not done spending yet.
“We’ll always look for places where there is that commonality of purpose, mission, and culture,” said Nadella to CNET regarding future potential acquisitions. “We will always look to grow inorganically where it makes sense.”
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer echoed that idea somewhat by noting that the recent ZeniMax Media deal “doubles the size of our creative organization” and that “content is just the incredible ingredient to our platform that we continue to invest in.”
It’s certainly important to mention that most companies of this size would likely never entirely rule out the possibility of future acquisitions. Not only are video game companies looking to expand their creative war chests as we head into the next generation but Game Pass is a particularly hungry content beast that Microsoft will certainly want to feed with more day one releases and other potential exclusives.
Instead, it’s the potential specifics of this statement which are so intriguing. It’s maybe worth reminding everyone that Microsoft was valued at over $1 trillion in 2019. They may be third in the market if you compare the sales of the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, but they’re by far the most valuable company among those three hardware manufacturers.
What we’re saying is that there’s no potential deal that strictly seems to be off the table. We doubt the price tag of companies like EA and Activision make them likely acquisitions, but other than that, we imagine that Microsoft is at least willing to enter negotiations with just about any game development studio.
Along those lines, there were recent rumors that WB may wish to sell its gaming division, but those have seemingly been shot down in recent months. We’ve also recently spoken about Microsoft’s seeming interest in reacquiring developer Bungie, but it sounds like those talks may have not gotten far if they ever meaningfully occurred in the first place. Furthermore, there’s been quite a bit of speculation that Sony is interested in acquiring Konami, but we’ve yet to hear any serious talks about a potential Konami sale from a reputable source. The same goes for the Sega acquisition rumors that have been floating around as of late.
All the same, we’re standing by the idea that almost nothing is off the table as Microsoft looks to make up for their lack of exclusives in the previous generation by securing more and more first-party partners.


text:
References in periodicals archive ?
The company will be selling the vehicle in the country through MMSK Corporation, the firm's sole distributor in South Korea.
Seoul, July 3, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces that, as one of the key elements of its strategy for the Asian region in fiscal 2008, it is to enter the built-up car sales business in Korea working through its sole distributor in that country MMSK Corporation.
MMSK is a Japanese/Korean joint venture recently set up by Daewoo Motor Sales Corp., Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation (Korea) Ltd.
Starting in October 2008 MMSK plans to phase the introduction of MMC's Lancer Evolution high-performance 4WD sedan, Outlander mid-size SUV, Eclipse sports coupe, Lancer sports sedan and Pajero all-round SUV models onto the Korean market.
Acronyms browser ?
Full browser ?


text:
Brooklyn Nets co-owner Joseph Tsai is poised to set a new US pro sports franchise sale record by buying the 51 percent of the National Basketball Association team he does not already own at a valuation of $2.35 billion.
The deal, likely to be announced this week according to the New York Post, will involve Tsai taking over the team in full from Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. Tsia is the co-founder of e-commerce goliath Alibaba.
The $2.35 billion valuation for the club would beat out the $2.2 billion that David Tepper paid last year for the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers, and the $2.2 billion that Tilman Fertitta paid for fellow NBA team the Houston Rockets in 2017.
Tsai bought his existing 49 percent interest in the Nets last year for $1 billion, and locked in a right to acquire the remaining equity for $1.35 billion before the 2021-22 NBA season. The emerging deal represents Tsai accelerating that prior timetable by two years.
The Nets have already been a heightened story within NBA circles with their signings this summer of free agent stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Durant is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury that will likely have him out of action for this entire upcoming season. But news of the signings has still sparked sizable increases in ticket and merchandise sales for the team.


text:
An advert for the game put up ahead of the game's official unveiling at E3 shows Stadia branding alongside PC, PS4, and Xbox One logos.
Another possibility is that the listing is for Final Fantasy 7 Remake, or maybe even a Square Enix game that has yet to be announced.
Final Fantasy VII Remake actually has some gameplay videos, so we know that it will be an action RPG now.
How to watch the Devolver Digital E3 2019 live stream online
Welcome to PCGamesN - your one-stop-shop for the best, fastest, and most thorough PC gaming news coverage this E3. We should also hear about Wolfenstein: Youngblood , planned for release on July 26, 2019.
Officially E3 does not start next week Tuesday June 11, but the closer we get, the more banners are being revealed at Staples center.
Square may have underwhelmed fans with its show at last year's E3, but a strong lineup of games in development, led by Crystal Dynamics' Avengers project, creates the potential for a memorable recovery. Hum the Final Fantasy VII theme in the comments section below.
The news came out from the official Twitter account of Marvel's Avengers. They included it over any new information on Final Fantasy VII and the Avengers game they are helping to developed. Final Fantasy XV was initially unveiled as Final Fantasy Versus XIII in E3 2006 and was issued a full decade later. Finally, we'll get to see who's in the game and what it will be like.
We don't know for sure, but previous year Square Enix's showcase was only around half an hour in length.
Of course, we won't know if Square Enix has announced a game too early until years later. Hype for the franchise is near an all-time high following the massive success of Endgame, making E3 the ideal time for Square to finally pull back the curtain on its superhero-sized project.


text:
Starting An Investment In Cannabis Stocks In July
To start this week top marijuana stocks pulled back slightly after showing some upward momentum to close out June. Currently, the best cannabis stocks to buy have continued to consolidate near current levels for more than four months. In the US cannabis companies delivered strong earnings in the first quarter and have expanded into new markets during the year. Despite producing a strong quarter, the top marijuana stocks to invest in did not see strong financials turn into market gains.
Instead, top pot stocks have continued to trade at these lower market levels as the year developed. Now in July cannabis investors are looking to establish positions before the cannabis sector begins to rebound. One factor that could be a major catalyst for cannabis stocks is federal legalization and reform. In the US the cannabis industry has been growing on the state level while waiting for lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass much-needed cannabis reform and federal policy.
Researching Top Pot Stocks Before Investing
Currently, there are a few different bills introduced in Congress that would benefit the cannabis industry if implemented. Given this point, there are many different ways to invest in the cannabis market. Many traders are investing in vertically integrated cannabis companies and ancillary marijuana stocks. Ultimately this gives an investor exposure to more than one area of the cannabis market.
It’s important for investors to research a company and do their due diligence before investing in the cannabis sector. Researching earnings and observing the stock’s trading patterns can help you establish the best entry for your investment. With many US cannabis stocks declining in the market on July 6th this could be an opportunity to start positions in the cannabis sector at lower levels. With this in mind let’s take a closer look at 2 top marijuana stocks for your watchlist in April.
Marijuana Stocks To Watch
Ayr Wellness Inc.
In the past year, Ayr Wellness Inc. became the fourth largest cannabis company in the Florida market. The company has expanded its presence through acquisitions in other key markets as well. For now, Ayr has 36 operating dispensaries in Florida and a total of 52 stores nationwide. AYR opened its most recent dispensary in Spring Hill, Florida. Recently, In the company’s first-quarter 2021 financials AYR saw revenue of $58.4 million up 74% from the year prior. Also, the company delivered a Q1 Adjusted EBITDA of $18.4 million on a US GAAP basis.
For the second quarter of 2021 Ayr provided a revenue guidance estimate of $90 million up 218% year over year. In addition, the company reaffirmed its guidance for 2022 with revenue of approximately $725 million. AYR has also opened its sixth dispensary in Nevada close to the Las Vegas airport. In June the company opened its third dispensary in Pennsylvania by CannTech PA, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.
AYRWF stock closed on July 6th at $28.60 up 20.27% year to date. In February AYRWF stock reached a high of $37.50 and has gained 258.99% in its 1-year performance. According to analysts at Tip Ranks AYRWF stock has a 12-month average price target of $42.04 per share. This would represent an increase of 46.99% from this current trading price. For this reason, AYRWF stock could be a top marijuana stock to buy in July.
WM Technology, Inc.
One interesting way to play the growth in the cannabis market is WM Technology, Inc. better known as Weedmaps. Weedmaps is an online listing marketplace for cannabis consumers and cannabis companies. Before going public the company established one of the largest online markets for cannabis companies and consumers. In 2020 WMH holdings were valued at having an estimated $160 million in revenue. Now with a market cap of $2.149 billion Weedmaps can continue to expand its online hub for cannabis consumers. As the cannabis industry continues to grow rapidly, Weedmaps is also building its SAAS platform. In detail, the platform provides consumers with information regarding cannabis products. This includes online ordering, local retailer and brand listings, product discovery, and consumer education on cannabis and its history, uses, and legal status.
Additionally, WM Technology also provides point of sale, logistics, wholesale, and order solutions. Weedmaps currently has an estimated 10 million monthly active users and approximately 18,000 business listings in the U.S. Primarily, Weedmaps client base includes over 55% of holders of retail licenses in all cannabis markets. With more cannabis sales moving to online pickups and deliveries Weedmaps presents an interesting way to invest in the cannabis industry.
MAPS stock closed on July 6th at $16.63 down 3.71% for the trading day. In February MAPS stock reached a high of $29.50 and is up 30.23% year to date. As the cannabis sector begins to recover MAPS stock could hold potential value for investors. With this in mind, MAPS stock is a top ancillary cannabis stock to add to your list this week.
MAPH Enterprises, LLC | (305) 414-0128 | 1501 Venera Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146 | email@example.com


text:
Record chip profit masks Note 7 failure in Samsung Electronics' Q4
Defence reveals timing for new IT services panel
Satellite operators get spectrum license tax cuts
Last year's big DDoS attacks were only the beginning
PwC to investigate ATO's system collapse
Don't have an account? Register now!
Researchers demo AWS EC2 decryption key leakage
Call for stronger isolation in public clouds.
Sep 28 2015 10:00AM
Browser makers slowly strangling weak RC4 cipher
Ancient encryption can be broken "within hours".
Sep 14 2015 8:10AM
Researchers develop quantum-computing safe crypto
Practical implementation of secure key exchange for TLS.
Aug 5 2015 5:26AM
NIST launches post-NSA review into crypto guidance
Updated: Addressing concerns over compromised algorithms.
May 15 2014 11:12AM
NSA infiltrated RSA security more deeply than thought
Second tool discovered.
Apr 1 2014 6:21AM
Ten highlights from RSA and TrustyCon
Two conferences, lots of controversy.
Mar 3 2014 3:05PM
RSA blames NSA for security industry mistrust
Chief speaks out on U$S10 million contract.
Feb 26 2014 3:55PM
Researcher logs Android, iOS touch gestures
Jan 31 2014 12:54PM
NSA contracted RSA to use flawed algorithm
Leaks reveal $10m contract.
Dec 23 2013 1:16PM
RSA paid $10m by NSA for encryption backdoor
Update: RSA denies 'secret contract'.
Dec 22 2013 3:53PM
RSA tells users to dump NSA algo
BSAFE and scrub weakened random number generator.
Sep 20 2013 11:49AM
Webroot adds anti-phishing capabilities to RSA
Webroot and RSA partnership.
Jul 24 2013 9:25AM
RSA Live offered free by year's end
Customers comfortable sharing data.
Jul 15 2013 10:33AM
A different route to bug hunting: Adobe researcher
Search for recent acquisitions.
Jun 17 2013 9:55AM
Video: Frank Abagnale closes RSA Asia Pac
Travelling the world was a lonely business.
Jun 11 2013 12:22PM
NAB cyber security chief blames US for fraud spike
Australia an easy target.
Jun 7 2013 6:28AM
NAB cyber security head says US crackdown caused fraud spike
Down Under is the 'un-burnt forest' of fraud.
Jun 6 2013 2:43PM
RSA Asia Pac: Photos day one
RSA brings its security conference to the Asia Pacific. Here are photos from day one of the con.
Jun 5 2013 5:17PM
RSA chief unsurprised by ASIO, Defence hacks
Jun 5 2013 1:55PM
Three-quarters of RSA delegates have plugged in found USB sticks
Sixty eight percent admit to being data breach victims.
Mar 20 2013 7:30AM
Most popular tech stories
Avaya files for bankruptcy protection, CEO calls it the 'best path forward'
Avaya says Australian operations will be "business as usual" following bankruptcy
Sydney MSP Brennan IT cracks $93 million in first year under new CEO Stephen Sims
Ignia director Joshua Boys joins Microsoft as new Azure lead
Five ways Donald Trump's Presidency could affect Apple
7 accounting packages for Australian small businesses compared: including MYOB, QuickBooks Online, Reckon, Xero
16 top tips for optimising Windows 10
36 top productivity-enhancing mobile apps
How long will a UPS keep your computers on if the lights go out?
How do I make sure my email is properly synced between all my computers?
Top 25 fantasy games of all time
How to: How much RAM do you really need?
Head-to-Head: Synology DS216+ versus QNAP TS-251+ 2-bay NAS
Everything you need to know about Elon Musk's Tesla Powerwall 2
Top 15 obscure video game consoles for collectors
10 advanced tips for Rainbow Six Siege
20 key tips for succeeding at Rainbow Six Siege
Battlecruiser 3000: Screaming into the Void
A gorgeous fan collection of Battlefront Scarif DLC shots
Review: Alienware's Alpha R2 is a lost cause
Fujitsu updates retail analytics platform
Australian retail robot set for 2017 launch
Intel continues push into retail tech
Is IoT the next ransomware frontier?
How Elanation built a child-friendly wearable
Don't have an account? Register now!
Forgot your password?


text:
The parents of a 13-year-old girl who committed suicide in December have filed a wrongful death lawsuit that accuses White Middle School officials of failing to notify them of a bullying complaint involving their daughter.
Subscribe to Hot Topics RSS feed
It's not surprising that pets are often a popular holiday gift. The darling image of the bow-bedecked puppy or the kitten-stuffed stocking is a holiday classic, but holiday gift givers should make sure that an animal's charm doesn't overshadow other important factors to consider when making a pet purchase, including where the pets came from and who the recipient is.
Whenever it snows, it is a common sight to see workers at shopping centers and business owners out and about clearing pathways, parking spaces and entrances of snow and ice. But this isn't just good business to help customers get in the door, it is also a liability issue should someone slip and fall and injure themselves. Homeowners, too, face similar, albeit more limited, liability if they fail to take adequate steps to remove such slippery hazards from their property.
You may think having golf-course green grass requires hours of work each day, but if you want the best lawn on the block, it's as easy as coming up with a plan. The secret? When it comes to lawn maintenance, it's never too early to prepare your course of action.
Faster data speeds. Rapid-fire communication. Bigger screens. The wireless industry is creeping ever closer to instantaneous interaction all the time according to mobile experts.
- Page 3


text:
Despite its high population growth as well as resources, Africa as a continent still recorded lowest numbers of the manufacturing sector output, something experts say is hampering growth.
Addressing such gaps, experts believe will help boost the sector that currently accounts for only 1.5 percent of the global manufacturing output but noted that this move needs concerted efforts.
“Improving Africa’s manufacturing capability requires a complex array of interventions by multiple stakeholders,” said Johan C. Aurik, Global Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board, A.T. Kearney,USA.
Aurik who was speaking at the world Economic forum on Africa -WEF Africa216 in Kigali on Wednesday said that Africa needs to exploit its scale while increasing more efforts in energy sector.
The three day forum that kicked off on May 11 ran under the theme ‘Connecting Africa’s Resources through Digital Transformation’ has attracted 1,200 delegates from 70 countries across the globe.
“This is a long process, but generating more value addition in agriculture and natural resources could have a significant effect on growth and employment,” he added.
Most certainly, Ally Angula, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Leap Holdings Namibia, says that the continent with its population of 1 billion people and well placed resources needs to move towards manufacturing its own products.
“Africans just need to believe they can manufacture goods themselves because the main opportunity lies in the production of goods for African consumers,” he said
But also, the need for more investment in the education sector to provide skilled labour to the industry sector has emphasized as one of the ways to bolster the sector.
“The labour pool is largely unskilled, which presents challenges for the industrialization of the continent,” said Geoffrey Qhena, Chief Executive Officer, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC).
Accordingly, most of the Africa’s strong economies still have low percentages of the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP which also shows the need for policy makers to re-strategise.
For example, Kenya has 12 percent, Nigeria 9 percent, Zambia 8 percent and Rwanda 7.6 percent compared to developed economies like China whose sector accounts for 30 percent.


text:
Apple reportedly has plans for a 14.1-inch iPad Pro
It looks like a new size of the iPad Pro could be coming down the pipeline. This is according to Ross Young, who is CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC). The size of the new iPad Pro will reportedly come in at a massive 14.1-inches.
Confirmed the 14.1" iPad Pro is being developed with our supply chain sources. It will have MiniLEDs and ProMotion. Not sure of the timing, but early 2023 may be more likely.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) June 9, 2022
Young has been known to be fairly accurate about information when it comes to display or display related news. He states that he has received confirmation from his sources that a 14.1-inch iPad Pro is being developed by Apple. The news comes from suppliers, which will most likely provide the 14.1-inch display. While Young is not sure when the device will be announced or when it will hit retail shelves, his guess is that it will more than likely be sometime in 2023.
A 14.1-inch iPad Pro would be massive
Of course, this isn’t the first time we are hearing about Apple’s 14.1-inch iPad Pro, with the news also coming from Twitter user Majin Bu. According to Majin Bu, the next-generation tablet will arrive with Apple’s recently announced M2 processor and 16GB RAM. Bu states that a 512GB model will be available. Of course, this comes as no surprise considering the current models start at 128GB and go up to 2TB.
Furthermore, the M2-powered iPad Pro will apparently arrive in three sizes, the 11-inch model, 12.9-inch model, and lastly, the 14.1-inch variant. Bu states that the new iPad Pros should be announced towards the end of 2022 but also offers a disclaimer at the end of the tweet. The future of the iPad is looking pretty bright, considering the changes to its OS, things are looking and feeling quite different. Apple has recently made huge announcements at WWDC this week, showing off new hardware and the future of software for its iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac computers.
Source: Ross Young (Twitter)


text:
Strong customer demand for business-changing technologies, coupled with new disruptive software and services, will drive growth in the IT industry over the next 12 months. In fact the global IT industry is expected to grow by 5 per cent, according to a new report released by CompTia. In total CompTIA has identified 12 trends that will provide profitability in 2018 (see gallery, below).
The data indicates the positive sentiment is generally broad based, with executives from the largest tech firms to the smallest managed service providers expecting favourable business conditions to continue. “Beyond strong economic fundamentals, the growth story revolves around the spending associated with companies entering new phases of digital transformation,” said Tim Herbert, CompTIA’s senior vice president for research and market intelligence.
“CEOs and boardrooms across every industry sector in the economy are waking up to the fact that inaction or even incrementalism may be inadequate in the face of rapidly changing business dynamics brought on by the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related emerging technologies.”
He added: “Additionally, the trends unfolding in the year ahead will do so in an environment of high expectations; namely, for business value, security, transparency, and equal access to opportunity.”
The complete report is available at https://www.comptia.org/resources/it-industry-trends-analysis


text:
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Schalke decided to break the long-standing sponsorship deal with Gazprom. Instead of the name of the largest Russian natural gas company, the German emblem placed the name in the central part of the shirt.
A change that aroused particular interest. In the second division, Schalke have made 7,000 copies of the new shirt available for €69.95 and demand has far exceeded supply from the club’s online store.
Figures which make it possible to mitigate the financial loss of 9 million euros guaranteed this year by Gazprom alone. A value that would reach 15 million euros if it went up.


text:
The Automotive Aftermarket: Time for a Tuneup?
By diagnosing and responding to three service alerts—omni-channel retail migration, Mexican plant expansions, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership—automakers, parts suppliers, and 3PLs keep the aftermarket engine purring like a kitten.
As the automotive aftermarket continues to evolve, automakers, auto parts suppliers, and third-party logistics (3PL) providers must react to the constant changes driving the industry’s supply chain, from the widening of the Panama Canal to the migration of cargo from East to West Coast ports.
But, of all the changes that are currently transpiring, three recent developments—a shift to omni-channel retailing, an increase in manufacturing investment in Mexico, and the approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership—are having an especially pronounced impact on automotive aftermarket supply chains.
In response, automakers, auto parts suppliers, and 3PLs are gearing up to navigate through these developments and help effectively streamline the automotive aftermarket supply chain in 2016 and beyond.
Omni-Channel Retailing: Consumers Change Lanes
Consumers are currently combining mobile, online, and in-store channels when shopping for auto parts, resulting in an omni-channel experience, according to UPS’s 2015 What’s Driving the Automotive Parts Online Shopper study.
Of the online shoppers surveyed for the study, 56 percent have purchased parts online, a rise of 8 percent compared to 2014’s study. And, 95 percent of surveyed shoppers compare prices before they purchase any items.
In addition to an increase in purchases, the UPS survey found that online shoppers interact differently with automotive aftermarket companies than they have in the past. They seamlessly move between their mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and physical stores to either purchase, research, pick up, or return merchandise.
"This shift is significant because many small and mid-size automotive aftermarket companies have linear supply chains for their online and physical store businesses," says Brian Littlefield, UPS’s director of marketing for the automotive industry. "To successfully service consumers in an omni-channel environment, automotive aftermarket companies must integrate both the online and the physical store businesses into a single, seamless process."
To integrate their online and physical store businesses, and provide customers an omni-channel experience, most large companies have already reconfigured their supply chains. But small and mid-size companies are playing catch up, and investing in supply chain improvements to increase the likelihood of long-term success.
"It can be challenging for a small or mid-sized business to invest the time and budget in these capital improvements," Littlefield says. "But it’s absolutely imperative that these investments are made. Just as general consumer retail has shifted to the omni-channel experience, the automotive aftermarket industry is also moving in that direction."
changing lanes: Shipping Preferences
From the rise of ship-to-store to a growing interest in alternate delivery options, auto parts consumers are increasingly open to having packages delivered to locations other than their homes.
Source: 2015 What’s Driving the Automotive Parts Online Shopper Survey, UPS
Seamlessly integrating online and physical store businesses typically begins by re-evaluating how the company monitors and maintains inventory levels for individual parts, as well as completed assemblies, whether they’re across online marketplaces, high-volume wholesalers and retailers, or small-volume retailers.
All inventory levels at the assembly, warehouse, distribution, and retail segments of the supply chain often require greater visibility for sales, as well as returns. To improve their customers’ omni-channel experiences, some automakers and automotive suppliers may need to increase their inventory levels as well.
"Because this is different from traditional distribution strategies, and requires a higher level of visibility, the integration of supply chains also requires a firm commitment from the highest level of management," Littlefield says.
UPS’s study also reveals that online auto parts purchasers use ship-to-store 55 percent of the time, a 14-percent upturn compared to 2014’s figures. So, while physical store locations are significant, a consistently reliable online presence is even more important.
If online purchasers cannot find their auto parts domestically, they will shop internationally as well. In fact, 29 percent of the study’s respondents completed international purchases in 2015.
"Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors must become incredibly nimble to provide an even higher level of service," Littlefield explains. "Product availability is vital and should become even more important as barriers to trade are reduced through agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership."
With this nimbleness in mind, aftermarket manufacturers must also be willing to ship their products the same day or within a few hours, as the omni-channel experience has resulted in "always on, always available" expectations.
"Manufacturers are faced with the struggle of balancing inventory with where—and how—it should be stored to serve customers quickly," says Brian Neuwirth, vice president of sales and marketing for UNEX Manufacturing Inc., an order picking solutions provider based in Lakewood Township, N.J. "They must increase their fulfillment speed to move the product out of the warehouse or distribution center and ship it to the end user as quickly as possible."
As a manufacturer and supplier of LED lights and lighting products, Madison, Ind.-based Grote Industries has experienced a decline in its distribution customers’ inventory capacities; some are even asking Grote to maintain inventory and ship small orders within one or two days. Consequently, the company had to shorten its transit time.
"We have to monitor our shipments from beginning to end so we know exactly where they are—both inbound to us and outbound to our customers," says Debbie Sherman, logistics and transportation manager for Grote Industries. "It is essential that we know about transit disruptions or delays."
"The end-to-end knowledge of our products’ physical location is crucial because customer expectations are increasing," adds John Grote, vice president of sales and marketing, Grote Industries. "We rely on logistics service providers to let customers know where their products are at all times, and when they will be delivered."
To meet customers’ ever-increasing expectations, Spec-D Tuning, a City of Industry, Calif.-based online auto accessory provider specializing in headlights and taillights, offers customers same-day shipping if they complete their orders before 3 p.m. Pacific Time. The company has also established distribution centers on both coasts so that customers receive their items in two or three days.
"We offer free shipping, phone support, and online chat before customers purchase their accessories," says Jacky Lau, executive director of Spec-D Tuning. "We also provide detailed product descriptions, images of the products from different angles, and instructional videos so that customers can install the products themselves."
Mexico Shifts Into High Gear
In 2007, roughly 65 percent of all cars in the United States were built north of Ohio, according to Steve Rand, senior vice president, automotive of Hub Group, a freight transportation management company based in Downers Grove, Ill. By 2017, however, Rand expects that figure to decline to 30 percent as assembly locations continue to migrate out of Michigan and the Ohio Valley.
"The majority of plants are moving to the southeast United States—South Carolina (BMW), Alabama (Mercedes), Georgia (Kia), Mississippi (Toyota), and Tennessee (Nissan)—and most of those companies have plants in Mexico as well," he says. "This has significant implications for the supply chain as all the action is moving into the U.S. Southeast-to-Mexico corridor for Tier 1, Tier 2, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) shippers."
As a result of Mexico’s emergence as an automotive industry powerhouse, many companies now identify the ideal methods for moving products into and out of the market so they can successfully capitalize on the region’s economic output and potential; $1.3 billion of goods currently cross the U.S.-Mexico border every day (roughly $1 million per minute), according to UPS’s Littlefield.
Automakers and automotive parts suppliers that increase their cross-border shipping capacities should consider implementing integrated, contractual services that offer customs clearance and door-to-door visibility.
"Contractual, expedited cross-border services offer an affordable, fast, and reliable alternative to conventional ground or air freight," says Littlefield. "The ability to tighten delivery time, often by two to three days, and the efficiency associated with that, is tremendous. And logistics service providers have visibility into the entire supply chain, so automakers and auto parts suppliers know the location of all their parts at any given time, regardless of the service offering they choose."
Considering all these factors—with only one end-to-end solution provider and one point of contact—the services are a win-win for all supply chain partners, especially if they increase efficiency. Shortening delivery time by hours, or even days, produces bottom-line benefits.
Aside from an increase in cross-border shipping, the automotive industry’s growth in Mexico also provides Americas-based parts manufacturers the opportunity to expand globally.
"Because of Mexico’s geographic and economic standing, as well as its free trade agreements with so many countries, especially European nations, automotive parts manufacturers are well positioned to supply the global automotive industry," Littlefield adds.
TPP Removes Trade Roadblocks
After nearly 10 years of negotiations, on Oct. 5, 2015, an agreement was finally reached on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the largest regional trade pact in history. Currently representing 12 countries, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the TPP is expected to connect 800 million consumers across the Americas and Asia-Pacific, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the global economy.
Not only will the TPP deepen the economic ties of each of the 12 participating countries, it will also have a considerable impact on the automotive aftermarket.
"As barriers to trade are reduced, automotive aftermarket companies and consumers in the countries involved with the TPP should have significantly more opportunities to conduct business together," Littlefield says.
In addition to an increase in market access, the TPP will reduce or eliminate 18,000 tariffs, expedite customs procedures, and support private companies that compete against government-owned facilities. It will also improve U.S. trade capabilities.
"More than 70 percent of the world’s purchasing power—and more than 80 percent of anticipated growth in the world’s purchasing power—is currently located outside the United States," says Littlefield. "The TPP will help level the playing field.
"As a result, many small and mid-sized businesses, including automotive aftermarket companies, will grow through exporting," he adds.
Putting the Pedal to the Metal
As their services and product offerings continue to expand throughout the world, automakers and automotive parts suppliers of all sizes are considering utilizing various types of technologies, particularly 3D printing, carton flow racks, and event management visibility tools. These tools not only save time and money, but they also streamline the automotive aftermarket supply chain, thereby improving efficiency for the long term.
By reducing the time it takes to manufacture prototypes, for example, 3D printing can simplify the entire product development process.
"Depending on the number of design revisions a new product goes through, 3D printing can shave months of time and tens of thousands of dollars from the development schedule," says Littlefield. "And, best of all, automotive companies can upload their 3D print-ready files to 3D printing companies’ websites and receive their parts as early as the next business morning."
In addition, UNEX Manufacturing’s Neuwirth advises automakers and automotive parts suppliers to implement carton flow racks. While creating flexible, modular, and portable storage, the flow racks can increase space utilization by 50 percent—flexibility that is critical whenever companies encounter line and process changes.
"In the automotive industry, things can change at a moment’s notice, as customers are always reconfiguring, adding new products, and updating standards. To keep up and stay competitive, plants must be flexible and efficient," Neuwirth says. "Carton flow racks help plants improve productivity and efficiency because production demand changes will not disrupt their business operations. Because the carton flow racks are easy to move and adjust, plants can respond to abrupt changes without hesitation."
To retain visibility of packages and shipments across multiple transportation modes, Grote Industries’ Sherman also advises automakers and auto parts suppliers to use event management and visibility tools. By entering a shipment-related number into an event management and visibility website, companies can access all information related to international shipments that are transferred via air freight or ocean container.
"After entering their house bill or airway bill number on the website, shippers can view packing lists, the transit and delivery of any shipment, and even the release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection," she says. "The process is simple."
Material costs will steadily rise in the foreseeable future, according to Neuwirth. Omni-channel retailing also will continue to grow, thereby requiring manufacturers to reconfigure their distribution centers to speed fulfillment. And regulations will continue to affect the industry in some capacity.
The solution? Automotive aftermarket suppliers need state-of-the-art distribution centers equipped with technology that improves and speeds the order picking process.
John Grote agrees with Neuwirth, adding that the North American aftermarket needs to service customers better than direct sources overseas, or else it simply won’t be able to compete.
"Information and speed will be critical for success in the future," he says. "Both those components differentiate us from the competition."
Furthermore, Littlefield advises automotive aftermarket suppliers to prepare for the future by implementing new, scalable supply chains, rather than adding solutions to existing platforms—another method of competitive differentiation.
"All too often, companies layer new or additional supply chain solutions onto their current platforms because it’s the quickest and least expensive path to servicing their customers," he explains. "Eventually, companies spend more time managing their supply chains than they would if they had originally implemented a new solution. The earlier a company can design and implement a scalable supply chain the better, regardless of how quickly or how large they grow in the coming years."


text:
2020 Ford Bronco Details - New ford bronco - 2020 ford bronco details, news, photos, Get the latest news, price, and photos on the new 2020 ford bronco. ford promises a new small pickup truck and a return of the legendary bronco name.. Ford bronco 2020 | bronco confirmed - release date, 2020 ford bronco 03/16/2018 update. ford held a press conference where they discussed the future of the company in suv segment. the news that came our way was in regard to their upcoming off-road vehicles, with 2020 ford bronco included.. 2020 ford bronco — ' - autoblog, Everything we know about the 2020 ford bronco here's where we stand on the long road to production. 2020 ford bronco confirmed | cars today, Fast forward to 2016. a sequel to the craft is on the way, the hulk has become a staple of the hugely-successful avengers movies, the reunited guns n’ roses has earned well over $100 million dollars and counting on their new concert tour – and it’s now been confirmed that the long-rumored 2020 ford bronco is a “go.”. 2020 ford bronco: expect ford’ reborn , Back in 2004, the ford bronco concept made its debut at the detroit auto show. the bronco concept has—aside from a cameo in the upcoming movie rampage—avoided the spotlight ever since. with. 2020 ford bronco: [update], Update: we also learned that, in addition to a ranger-based bronco, ford will build a smaller model that is thought to be based on the ford escape.leaked images allegedly showed the model as. 2020 ford bronco, testing michigan, review, specs, 2020 ford bronco testing in michigan review – when ford released previously this year it will bring back each the bronco and the ranger, we had been stoked. not just would there be a new midsize opponent for trucks like the chevrolet colorado and toyota tacoma, the jeep wrangler would finally acquire some competition once again.. 2020 ford 'baby bronco' presentation images leak online, 2020 ford bronco the 2020 ford bronco leaked at a meeting for ford dealers in las vegas. image credit: ford on the presentation screens are three photos of the upcoming, reborn baby bronco. 2020 ford bronco familiar design - carbuzz, It’s been a long time since we had news about the 2020 ford bronco.the blue oval automaker has remained tight-lipped since the first teaser image of its jeep wrangler rival was released last.
New ford bronco 2020 ford bronco details, news, photos → Ford bronco 2020 new bronco is confirmed release date → 2020 ford bronco — here's everything we know autoblog → 2020 ford bronco is confirmed us cars today → 2020 ford bronco what to expect from ford’s reborn off → 2020 ford bronco everything we know [update] → 2020 ford bronco, testing in michigan, review, specs → 2020 ford 'baby bronco' presentation images leak online → 2020 ford bronco will have a very familiar design carbuzz →


text:
When on January 16, 2012 Müller Dairies bought Wiseman for £279.2m, the deal was said by Robert Wiseman to make strong strategic sense, to have synergy and the maximise the 'complementary positions' of the two companies.
The 360p/share deal looked good for Wiseman shareholders, who had been trading the stock at 250p. I discovered that a large proportion of the purchase was from a Deutsche Bank letter of credit for €250m, at a rate greater than 5%.
At the time we concluded that Müller would be wanting it's Wiseman dairy farmer suppliers to contribute to the cost, as the opportunities for an uplift in prices, despite the operating synergies, seemed limited.
So it is no surprise to hear that on April 30th Wiseman announced at they would be cutting farm gate prices by 2p (6.6%) to 26.42 p/standard litre.
The company said the decision “reflects the continuing and sustained impact of a challenging market environment and more recently a collapse in the value of bulk cream.”
Pete Nicholson, Wiseman Milk Procurement Director, commented, “After a three year period which has seen our farm-gate price increase five times by a cumulative 4.55ppl, we must now reflect the competitive environment we are operating in...”
The price cut comes at a time when farmers face increased pressure from rising input costs. Dairy producers have warned that milk costs have become detached from production costs, affecting their already slim profits. It currently costs an estimated 30.1ppl to produce milk in the UK as prices have risen for feed and fuel in particular; last year saw price increases of 17 and ten per cent for feed and diesel respectively.
Nevertheless, returns for producers remain below the EU average. Farming unions have expressed great dissatisfaction. It takes a long time before farmers see any reward when the price of dairy products rise, but they are soon reduced when the price of a product such as cream declines.
Wiseman makes no mention of the debt raised by the companies sale for close on a third of a billion £s, but this must come into the company's calculations. It's very different to the multi-billions of euro money which government spends. Euro money, after all, grows on trees.


text:
Whether it’s catching the first waves at sunrise, managing bumper to bumper traffic on the way to the office or hitting fresh powder on the slopes at first light, new Kickstart by Mountain Dew offers a refreshing and energizing take on your morning routine.
Available in two bold flavors, Orange Citrus and Fruit Punch, and only 80-calories per 16 oz. can, Kickstart presents a fresh alternative to the age old morning question of “coffee or juice,” by offering the best of all worlds.
It combines the great taste of Mountain Dew with five percent real fruit juice and just the right amount of caffeine. It’s the ultimate morning “pick me up” that satisfies all day long.
“Our consumers told us they are looking for an alternative to traditional morning beverages – one that tastes great, includes real fruit juice and has just the right amount of kick to help them start their days,” said Greg Lyons, Vice President, Marketing, Mountain Dew.
“We heard them loud and clear and created a completely new offering with Kickstart to give them exactly what they asked for.”
Kickstart by Mountain Dew will be available in retail stores nationwide beginning February 25. But, to be one of the first to taste Kickstart before it hits shelves, consumers can visit www.kickstartfirsttaste.com to request a can.
With the can in hand, fans are encouraged to submit a photo of themselves getting into their morning groove with Kickstart for a chance to be included in a “Chasing Sunrise” anthem video.


text:
The freezer battle is hotting up as the supers try to stem losses to discount channels
Last year: 5 ►◄
Sales: £466.2m (-5.3%)
The battle for the freezers is heating up as the supers try to stem losses to discount channels by cutting branded prices and extending their own-label ranges. Birds Eye, as a result, has seen £26.3m melt away.
Sales are down across all sub-brands except Field Fresh, which is trying to do what the British Frozen Food Federation says should be a priority for the sector: convincing shoppers that frozen food can be fresher and better quality than chilled. It seems to be working. Sales have more than quadrupled to £52.9m, though it’s worth noting that some of this growth is down to the application of the Field Fresh banner to existing products.
This is part of an investment that’s included the relaunch of the brand’s peas, chicken products, fish fingers and other key products. Captain Birds Eye is also returning to the brand’s above-the-line communications and packaging.
“We’ve just launched a new multimillion pound campaign for our coated fish range, with a new TV ad featuring the return of Captain Birdseye,” says marketing director Steve Challouma, who adds that fish fingers are performing well. “Running throughout 2017, we’re investing £4m in marketing support across TV, VOD and social media, with a dedicated hashtag of #FishFriday, with the aim of making fish a teatime favourite again.”
The brand recently forked out £5.5m on a campaign for the premium Inspirations range, down 16.5% to £44.3m. Premiumisation is partly responsible for pushing Birds Eye’s average price up by 1.8%, but with costs rising after the Brexit vote, further rises could be on the cards.
“We’ve been working very closely and collaboratively with retailers to minimise any impact on our customers and ensure they get the best quality products at the best possible value,” says Challouma.


text:
A wanted Greenville business owner accused of failing to return customers' items has been arrested, according to deputies.
In February, Jonathan Smith, with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, said deputies and police had dozens of active warrants for the arrest of Ronald Stewart II, the owner of The Golden Hedge.
This week, Stewart was arrested in Hilton Head by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and is awaiting extradition to return to Greenville County, Smith said.
To date, Smith said both agencies have approximately 130 active warrants for Stewart in connection with the two locations of The Golden Hedge store he owned.
Stewart had two locations, one at 591 Haywood Rd. in the city of Greenville and one at 626 Congaree Rd. in the county, where customers dropped off items to be repaired or sold under consignment, Greenville police said.
Police said customers have not been able to get in touch with Stewart to get their items back and the store has since shut down. According to Smith, Stewart sold some of the victims' belongings at local pawn shops.
Copyright 2014 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Sunday, August 31 2014 3:31 PM EDT2014-08-31 19:31:29 GMT
The owner of a Wellford strip club was arrested following a sting operation inside the club, according to police. Timothy Treadwell, 51, was charged with prostitution and assault and battery after officersMore >
The owner of a Wellford strip club was arrested following a sting operation inside the club, according to police. More >


text:
Edelweiss - Fotolia
Anyone who is trying to go for growth in the PC market is brave given the prevailing winds of decline in that space and maybe deserves to be given time to turn things around.
Earlier this summer Toshiba revealed that it believed there was still life in the business PC market and as a result it was working with channel partners to go after that opportunity.
The size of the challenge was fairly large even before it began, with the PC market struggling to produce growth over the past few years, and despite Q3 witnessing a revival of sorts the UK has also been hit by Brexit and hardware price rises.
The scale of the ambition to gain PC market share was made even clearer with Toshiba's 1H for the six months to September. "The shrinking scale of the PC and TV businesses had an impact," the firm revealed.
In notes accompanying the numbers, which saw a 4% decline in revenues for the first half, the firm highlighted Brexit as one of the main issues that had impacted performance. Overall the Eurozone delivered moderate growth, driven by Germany, but demand also slowed in China.
Where things are motoring is on the hard drive front, which helped operating profits increase three fold on the same time last year to 115.3bn Yen, thanks largely to NAND flash memory chips that go into smart phones.
The firm is trying hard to recover from an accounting scandal that saw it restructure and drop into the red and the latest numbers give it a platform for growth. The firm has also revised its annual outlook upwards to the tune of 50% to bring home a profit in the region of 180bn yen, compared to the 708.74bn loss last year.


text:
Social site asks users for city-specific data after earning $1.86 billion in ad sales last year.
Facebook earned a whopping $1.86 billion in ad revenue last year, according to an eMarketer estimate, but the company is not resting on its laurels. It has added a feature that, at least in part, appears designed to enrich the geo-targeting possibilities on its marketing platform.
Palo Alto, CA-based Facebook is serving a sidebar module that reads: "Which city do you live in?" Underneath the copy (see image) appears a city and state, such as "San Francisco, California," as well as a picture from the city's Facebook community page. InsideFacebook.com first reported the change.
Viewers can click an "I live here" button to add that city to their user profile without leaving the current page. They can also click a "Choose another city" link to go to the profile editor and choose a city. The module disappears if a user clicks the "x" button. Facebook users who already list their current city are apparently not being fed the sidebar module.
Clearly, the idea is to get more of its 550 million users to include where they live in the profile data, which will be utilized in ad targeting for local restaurants, entertainment events, and daily deals marketers.
Separately, Goldman Sachs will limit the availability of its Facebook shares to foreign investors, due to concerns that the deal could run afoul of U.S. securities regulations. The development comes two weeks after the huge investment firm made known its $450 million stake in the seven-year-old Facebook.
Pro Rank Tracker is a cutting-edge ranking tracking tool for keeping you up-to-date with all the latest changes in the rankings of your websites and videos.
Christopher Heine was a senior writer for ClickZ through June 2012. He covered social media, sports/entertainment marketing, retail, and more. Heine's work has also appeared via Mashable, Brandweek, DM News, MarketingSherpa, and other tech- and ad-centric publications. USA Today, Bloomberg Radio, and The Los Angeles Times have cited him as an expert journalist.
Traditionally desktops have shown to convert better than mobile devices however, 2015 might be a tipping point for mobile conversions! Download this report to find why mobile users are more important then ever.
Have you ever wondered what factors influence online spending or why shoppers abandon their cart? This data-rich infogram offers actionable insight into creating a more seamless online shopping experience across the multiple devices consumers are using.
October 13, 2015
1pm ET/ 10am PT
November 12, 2015


text:
The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is sponsoring the 20th Annual Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Mich.
Over 200 new recreation vehicles will be on display, including folding campers, motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers and fifth-wheel travel trailers, according to a news release. Special discounts include folding campers from $4,999, trailers from $8,999 and motorhomes from $49,999.
Booths featuring parts and accessories, campground information, on-site RV financing and RV rentals make this the complete RV show experience. This year’s show will also feature an outdoor display of new RVs for an even bigger selection.
The grand prize giveaway at the show will be the Ultimate MIS Race Experience package from Michigan International Speedway. The package includes tickets, camping and VIP access (valued at nearly $3,000).
Show hours are weekdays 2 to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The show is sponsored by MARVAC, a member organization representing all aspects of the camping and RV industries.
For more information, call (517) 349-8881 or visit marvac.org.


text:
Thanks to some very generous Bundy farmers the Pumpkin Fest is back!
'Very dangerous' storm slams southeast Queensland.
The storm has turned from the southern end of the Sunshine Coast and appears to be...
Christmas storm tops up graziers’ ‘dry-as-a-bone’ dam, but farmer warns they aren’t...
Proston dairy farmer, Steve Wilkinson sells his milk to a foreign-owned company.
Storms and heatwave to kickstart official start of summer.
Gympie’s drought status was revoked last year, but could that decision be reversed...
Food & Entertainment
Queensland's newest wine and food festival kicks off this weekend
Queensland’s wine industry unveils a five-year strategy to realise “untapped...
Dairy bill seeking support as losing access to fresh Aussie milk becomes a “real...
Here's the unique reason her attempt failed
'I've got no doubt you are a good dad,' magistrate tells offender.
The movers and shakers, decision makers and shot callers of 2019
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and hail
He has been on the wrong side of the law for years, but a convicted ice dealer has...
A Murgon man has allegedly had his car stolen at knife point.
Art & Theatre
Chainsaw sculptor shares tips on how to master the unique art.
The wind farm is expected to be operational by next year
First drovers to bring cattle through the South Burnett in 28 years.
A farmer has copped a hefty fine for the "elaborate” drug crop


text:
We already know that 40% of food in the U.S. goes to waste, mostly because we buy too much and toss it in the trash. But food is also wasted at every stage of the production and supply chain, whether it’s because we feed crops to livestock that we then only eat part of, or toss produce before it hits stores because of its imperfect appearance. And there’s another form of food waste you might not even have thought about: over-consumption. By eating too much, we not only make ourselves fat and sick, but we waste food, and the resources that went into producing it.
A new study from the University of Edinburgh that quantifies the amount of food wasted over ten stages of the production cycle found that of the food that ends up in stores and on restaurant tables, we waste 20%. Half of that is thrown away or left to spoil, and the other half is wasted because of over-consumption. That’s right: Of all the food made available to humans, a tenth of it is sacrificed to gluttony.
But even that figure looks small in comparison to the food wasted before it gets anywhere near our tables. Overall, around half of all food produced goes to waste, and it breaks down like this:
First, livestock: Over a billion tons of food is grown and fed to livestock that results in 240 million tons of meat, milk, and eggs. This is the least efficient food production system, with losses of 78%, meaning we only consume around a quarter of what was grown. In the process, we lose around 840 million tons of food. Livestock farming also makes up around 14.5% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, which could be avoided if cut our meat consumption habits.
Food processing results in other big losses, because much of the raw product ends up being tossed. Take sugar–a good example because it’s the largest single-processed crop. Sugar beet and sugarcane come into the factories as substantial biomass, and are reduced through processing to a dry product. In 2011, 1,271 metric tons (Mt) of sugarcane and 247 Mt of sugar beet resulted in just 170 Mt of raw sugar, 9 Mt of non-centrifugal sugar and 56 Mt of molasses–a loss of 84%. Not only does the process waste a lot of water, but it also wastes everything in the cane that isn’t sugar: Protein losses, for instance, run at 92% for sugar.
Taken in this light, the food we waste by over-shopping and letting good produce spoil seems less significant. Still, as consumers, reducing our own waste is one of the most important ways we can reduce waste overall. The other, as made obvious by this study, is to eat fewer animal products–not just meat, but eggs, dairy, and anything else that requires crops be grown to feed animals instead of people. That doesn’t mean everybody needs to go vegan all at once: It considering plant-based options as your default protein. It would also help if scientists would hurry up and make vegan cheese that actually tastes as good as the real thing.


text:
DETROIT — U.S. auto sales cooled off in May as dealers started running short on some popular, fuel-efficient models and buyers were turned off by sharply lower incentives.
Deals aren't likely to come back until the end of this summer. Some experts are advising people to delay their purchases if they can.
"If you don't have to buy, wait until fall. If you lease a car, extend it," said Edmunds.com chief Jeremy Anwyl.
Consumers heard that message in May. U.S. auto sales were expected to be around 1 million cars and trucks, down 8 percent from April and 4 percent from last May.
Meanwhile, Obama administration officials said Wednesday that the government will lose about $14 billion in taxpayer funds from the bailout of the U.S. auto industry, a third of the loss officials initially estimated.
In a report from the president's National Economic Council, officials said that figure is down from the 60 percent the Treasury Department originally estimated the government would lose following its $80 billion bailout of Chrysler and General Motors in 2009.
The report's release coincides with the administration's efforts to tout the bailout's role in the revitalization of the U.S. auto industry after last week's announcement that Chrysler is repaying $5.9 billion in U.S. loans and a $1.7 billion loan from the Canadian government.
As for sales, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co., all of which ran short of models owing to parts shortages caused by the March 11 earthquake in Japan, had the biggest sales declines, with Toyota down 33 percent, Honda off 23 percent and Nissan off 9 percent compared with May of last year.
General Motors Corp.s sales dropped 1.2 percent, as falling pickup-truck sales offset strong sales of more fuel-efficient cars and crossovers. It was the same story at Ford Motor Co., which saw sales fall 2.4 percent for the month. Pickup sales dropped more than 10 percent at both companies.
Once again, small, compact and midsize car sales were up and truck sales were down because of high gas prices.
At Ford, where the F-Series pickup is traditionally the top-selling vehicle in the U.S., fuel economy clearly was driving sales. For the first time in decades, the company sold more F-150s with V6 engines (55 percent) than it did with larger V8s.
Despite a raft of bad economic data in the past few days, automakers generally said they were still optimistic for the year, with Ford and GM sticking with annual forecasts of around 13 million in U.S. sales. That's far short of the 2000 peak of 17.3 million, but better than the 10.4 million trough in 2009.
Ford even increased third-quarter production by 8 percent over last year, and its chief economist, Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, said there was good economic news with the bad, including moderating of gas prices, low interest rates and better availability of loans.
"We caution against reading too much into the monthly data," she said.
Don Johnson, GM's vice president of sales, said consumers are taking a wait-and-see approach as gas prices fluctuate around $4 per gallon. Construction remains weak, hurting truck sales.
Even so, Mr. Johnson thinks consumer confidence over the long term remains strong and sees pent-up demand among drivers who kept their vehicles longer than usual during the recession. He expects sales and incentive spending to rise toward the end of the summer.
"All things considered, we continue to believe the recovery remains on track," he said.


text:
When the New Mexico International Auto Show opens on Friday, visitors can expect to see 300 new cars from almost every brand.
But, for dealers, it means sales.
Annually, for the past 10 years, said Charles Henson, the head of the New Mexico Auto Dealers Association, dealers have seen a spike in sales.
for up to 90 days after the show.
“There’s still excitement in sitting in a new car,” Henson said. “And that’s what you do at the show, without the experience of the dealer. If you’re thinking about buying a new car, you can have them all side by side.”
Well, almost side by side. The auto show will take up most of the Albuquerque Convention Center this Friday, Saturday and Sunday with cars spread across the largest rooms in the center.
Although many will be hoping to see the Tesla Motors Model S at the show, the company won’t be showing any of its cars. Tesla does not have any dealers, so it won’t be at the show sponsored by the NMADA. Tesla, instead, sells its cars over the Internet.
But, the Tesla’s newest, and most likely, competitor, the Cadillac ELR, will be.
Business First drove the ELR coupe at a preview day on Wednesday, and like the Tesla, it’s fast and smooth. It also feels much more like a car. The Tesla has the speed, presence and performance of a sports car, but it’s a four-door sedan. The Cadillac, although not nearly as quick, is also a plug-in hybrid. It feels more like a large, American, luxury coupe. It uses the drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt, but in a much more stylish body.
Both cars have a base price of about $60,000.


text:
Stationery giant, Pukka Pads, is reminding people across the south of the joy of receiving a handwritten letter.
To mark National Handwriting Day (Monday 23 January), the Poole-based firm is encouraging everyone this week to write a letter to either a relative or friend rather than using new methods of communication such as email or Skype.
Pukka Pads managing director, Chris Stott, said: “Technologies such as email and Facebook have become the most convenient form of communication and handwriting, and the appreciation of language, has suffered as a result.”
The national day highlights the importance of handwriting and the personal touch it can add to your message, which online communications lack. Hand-written messages give an extra personal layer to communication, so for this week Pukka Pads is encouraging everyone to pick up a pen and paper instead.
Pukka Pads has around 400 products on the market, sold in 35 countries across the world. Today, there are few stationery avenues the company has yet to explore with jotta pads, projects books, ring binders, leather portfolios and even duplicate books.


text:
Happy Money, the Costa Mesa, California-based fintech that operates a marketplace that hooks borrowers up with credit union lenders, has raised $70 million in venture funding at a valuation of $495 million.
The Series D round of funding was led by CMFG Ventures, the venture capital arm of CUNA Mutual Group. The round is double its previous fundraising efforts and is more of a strategic investment. CUNA Mutual Group does business with 95% of the credit unions in the U.S. giving Happy Money access to more partners. Under the investment deal, Happy Money will work with CUNA Mutual’s sales force to reach more credit unions.
“This business has a lot of momentum,” said Scott Saunders, chief executive and founder of Happy Money. “We did $35 million in revenue last year and we are currently at a $65 million annualized revenue run rate.” In July of last year, Happy Money announced alliances with Alliant, First Tech and Technology Credit Union, the three credit unions, to provide debt elimination loans. The startup has facilitated $1 billion in debt elimination loans to its customers since then.
Happy Money is among the crop of fintechs that are going after the lending market, hooking borrowers up with financial institutions that want to lend money. It’s taking a different approach in that it is helping customers get rid of credit card debt or what the startup calls “sad” money. At last count, the nation owed $870 billion in credit card debt, with slightly more than half of U.S. adults owing money on at least one credit card. Many people are stuck in a cycle where they pay the minimum due each month racking up expensive interest along the way. On its platform customers can get a loan to pay off high-interest-rate debt, use its digital tools to save more money and evaluate their “happy” and “sad” spending patterns. The company has created a Happy Score to measure the financial well being of an individual using cash flow, savings, behavioral and psychometric data.
“Credit card debt makes people sad and saving makes people happy,” said Saunders. “Because of that, our mission is to help borrowers become savers and help people be happier.” The executive said proceeds from the Series D round will go to build out a national network of credit union partners to offer low-interest rate loans to its customers. Happy Money does plan on adding other financial institutions as partners in the future. The average loan size at Happy Money is $15,000 with most borrowers having a FICO score of at least 700. Happy Money uses its own data and algorithms to assess the creditworthiness of borrowers. Saunders said based on its underwriting criteria, the average borrower’s credit score is around 740.
While Happy Money and other fintech lenders have been growing very few have operated during an economic downturn. Lots of them including Happy Money were born out of the Great Recession. With signs pointing to a economic slowdown, it's not clear how these fintech lenders will fare. After all, when the economy slows, people spend less and in some cases lose their jobs. That could result in them defaulting on their loans. Saunders acknowledges that any company lending money in a recession will experience higher levels of defaults, but he said the type of lending matters. “Prior to the Great Recession revolving credit card debt increased every year for forty years,” said Saunders. “From 2008 until 2014 $200 billion of consumer credit card debt was deleveraged. Of that 25% were defaults but a much greater percentage of consumers were pulling back and paying off their balances. Recessions drive people to pay off their balances.”


text:
After several weeks of rumors, Google has announced their partnership with Softcard. The purpose of this venture is to combine forces with Google Wallet, which has been around since 2011 but never enjoyed wide usage.Read More
Sprint hasn't said anything about John Legere's assertion that T-Mobile is now the larger of the two carriers, but it is rolling out a new plan apparently intended to slow Tmo's progress. The new plan is actually just a limited time offer in Sprint's existing Family Share Pack tiers. For $90 per month you can (sort of) get 12GB of data to share across 10 lines with unlimited SMS and voice.Read More
Sprint offered the original G Flex, and the sequel was announced on Sprint (and AT&T/US Cellular) a few weeks ago with pre-orders starting on February 20th. If you want to get your hands on the new curved phone from LG, Sprint's pre-orders are live just as promised. If you pull the trigger, Sprint will even throw in a free Quick Circle case for the device (a $59.99 value).Read More
Sprint has announced that it will begin offering the LG G Flex 2 on March 13th. People with their hearts set on this curved poster child will be able to place a pre-order starting tomorrow, February 20th. The phone will go for twenty-four payments of $12 or $504 altogether, and it will be available in Platinum Silver or Volcano Red (a Sprint exclusive).Read More
Earnings calls are usually a rather boring affair, unless the company is run by John Legere and includes a guy wearing a pink cowboy hat. T-Mobile had its Q4 2014 earnings call this morning, and the entire thing was live streamed on YouTube. When asked about T-Mobile's growth versus Sprint, John Legere explains why T-Mobile has already passed the Now Network to become the third largest carrier in the US.Read More
Samsung still makes more phones than anyone, so when Android 5.0 rolls out to its flagship devices, that's when you know the latest version of Google's mobile operating system is really getting in front of people. Users have started to report that T-Mobile is currently pushing out Lollipop to the Galaxy S5.Read More
AT&T is making a bold move for the Mexico market, buying the country's third and fifth largest carriers earlier this year. With these acquisitions, the carrier enhanced its World Connect Value plans with unlimited calling to Mexico. Now it will soon bring the capability to its $60 GoPhone plan.
AT&T is bumping its $45 GoPhone offering up from 1GB to 1.5GB a month and the larger $60 plan from 2.5GB to 4GB.Read More


text:
New Goodyear plant in Mexico to start operations in 2017
Goodyear’s new $550-million manufacturing plant in the northern Mexican state of San Luis Potosí will begin operations in 2017.
The plant is expected to produce 6 million tires per year, and cover 30 percent of the Mexican car manufacturing sector’s demand.
The San Luis Potosí plant is Goodyear’s first plant in the Americas in 25 years.
Full story in Spanish