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California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) — and its now famed (and feared) three-part test as to whether a worker could be classified as an independent contractor or must by law be classified as an employee — has been a magnet for controversy almost since day one. The law’s main provision is that a worker doing work within the “usual course of the hiring entity’s business” must be classified as an employee, not a contractor.
The goal of the law, most agree, was to target the big names in the gig business — Uber and Lyft. Consumer protection groups advocating for the law’s passage have argued that all over the gig economy, there are workers who should be considered employees but are instead classified as independent contractors, purely so the businesses can avoid paying employee benefits.
But critics of AB5, as Karen Webster wrote in a recent commentary on the near-reflexive desire among regulators to punish Big Tech for being Big Tech, have noted that although the intention of the law might be understandable, the words of the legislators describing its purpose are not.
“It’s clear that AB5 is essentially an assault on app-based, on-demand tech companies. It is replete with exceptions for much of the traditional gig economy — for instance, it’s for people selling Tupperware part-time, but not for someone dropping off meals for a restaurant delivery app. Uber and Postmates, in fact, have filed a lawsuit in which they claim that ‘AB5 is an irrational and unconstitutional statute designed to target and stifle workers and companies in the on-demand economy…'” Karen Webster wrote in her recent commentary.
Irrational and unconstitutional — and, according to a blog post by Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, also destructive to jobs and business models. Trying to fix the problem of benefits for gig workers by simply forcing a square peg into the round hole of employment as it has traditionally been defined won’t protect Uber’s drivers. Instead, it will dump a massive number of them out of their paying jobs, at the worst moment in economic history.
“Employment comes with a cost: hundreds of thousands of drivers would lose work opportunities overnight,” he wrote.
Khosrowshahi believes gig workers need protection and a better deal than they are offered at present, referring back to his New York Times article written on this subject over the summer. But that means thinking differently about gig workers and how their benefits are provided.
The High Cost Of Creating Employees
While Uber denies that classifying their drivers as gig workers is part of a grand masterplan to systematically under-provide for their needs and safety, they do openly concede that independent contractors are much less expensive to retain than full-time or part-time employees. And that increased cost means that as employees, the firm would be able to retain far fewer than the 1.7 million contractor-drivers it currently employs.
“According to our research, if Uber instead employed drivers, we would have only 260,000 available full-time roles — and therefore 926,000 drivers would no longer be able to work on Uber going forward. In other words, two-thirds of people currently driving with Uber would be denied their ability to work,” wrote Khosrowshahi.
And, he noted, moving to a mix of part-time and full-time drivers doesn’t meaningfully change the math – they would still be cutting over 900,000 drivers and would only end up with about 280,000 jobs total.
Given that the economy spent much of the spring hemorrhaging jobs and that over 10 million Americans are still out of work, said Khosrowshahi, now seems like a particularly bad time to be pushing a million gig workers out of their jobs in the name of giving them protections that most don’t seem to actually want.
Helping Gig Workers To Death
As PYMNTS’ surveys have found, gig workers by and large like being gig workers — the appeal is precisely that it is not regular 9-to-5 employment. They like having the flexibility to decide when and where they will grab a few extra dollars
That goes away in a world where those workers are forcibly converted into employees, Khosrowshahi noted.
“As an employer, however, Uber would be forced to actively manage drivers’ schedules, hiring a specific number of employees based on a baseline volume of consistent business. Uber would hire fewer drivers to each do more trips, and require them to work a certain number of hours.”
By forcing Uber into an employment model, AB5 and similarly designed laws are actually forcing most of their drivers out of their jobs — and pushing the rest of them into a version of the job that a majority have explicitly reported that they don’t want.
What Can Be Made Better
Gig workers lacking benefits is a problem, Khosrowshahi wrote, and one that merits solving. But his argument states that legislating gig workers into becoming employees isn’t the right way to get there.
“Instead of eliminating opportunity for nearly a million people, we should endeavor to improve the benefits and protections for gig workers. Their success, supported by a stronger safety net, would help bolster our nation’s economy,” he wrote.
Uber’s preferred method is a Working Together proposal, which would provide funds directly to gig workers to put toward health benefits, paid time off and other needs. Under this model, the funds would have to be maintained across gig platforms, so a gig worker’s benefits would be accessible from whatever platform they use.
The fact that gig workers need benefits is increasingly a point of agreement. But the problem with trying to push gig workers into the market as employees — as Elaine Turner, a shareholder and director focused on employment law at Oklahoma-based Hall Estill, told Karen Webster in an interview earlier this year — is that it’s essentially applying a grossly out-of-date solution to a very contemporary problem.
“The laws and legal concepts that we’re talking about have been around for decades, and they have not evolved along with the U.S. economy or the ways that the workplace has changed,” she said.
At a high level, noted Turner, many individuals want to have independence and, in effect, be their own boss — something the gig economy makes possible through its flexible platform design. It’s something that was almost unheard-of in 1938, the year a large swath of legislation that governs current labor practices was crystallized in the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Funny thing about economies: They can change a lot in 80 years.
As Turner said, labor laws are still rooted in a time when the U.S. was largely an economy driven by manufacturing; nowadays, it’s primarily a service economy. Those laws haven’t kept pace, she maintained, and they must evolve.
What that evolution will look like remains to be seen, but its necessity seems pretty clear. And a solution that involves a third of gig workers trading benefits for flexibility and two-thirds losing their jobs entirely probably isn’t the most worker-friendly option.


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Hyatt published results for Second Quarter of 2021
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (Hyatt) has reported its second quarter (Q2) financial results of 2021. Mark S. Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, said:
"Second quarter results improved significantly as travel demand rebounded sharply in certain markets. While leisure travel continues to lead the recovery, we are very encouraged by continued improvements in business transient and group."
The list of highlights includes the following results:
- Net losses decreased compared to the second quarter of 2020 to a US$9 million net loss;
- Adjusted EBITDA increased compared to the second quarter of 2020, to US$55 million;
- Comparable system-wide RevPAR increased to US$72.47 in Q2 of 2021, and decreased 49.8% compared to Q2 2019 on a reported basis;
- Comparable owned and leased hotels RevPAR increased to US$86.66 in Q2 of 2021 and decreased 53.4% compared to the second quarter 2019 on a reported basis;
- Net rooms growth of 7.1%;
- As of June 30, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of US$1,737 million.

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Milliken & Co. announces restructuring
Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. announced Thursday it is restructuring to position the company for future growth.
“The changes … have one fundamental objective: to enhance the future growth opportunities for Milliken & Company,” President and CEO Harold Chandler said in a letter to employees. “This long-term perspective incorporates orienting all Milliken associates closer to our customers.”
The specialty fabrics and performance products textile divisions are being combined into one division called performance and protective textiles. It will be led by Jeff Price, who has managed the specialty fabrics division for eight years. He's been with Milliken for 38 years.
Chip Winter will lead the combined division’s manufacturing and supply chain operations, and report to Price.
Also reporting to Price will be six businesses: nonwovens; global airbag; uniform and protective; engineered performance products; and specialty interiors.
Sim Skinner, the previous president of the performance products division, has resigned from the company, Chandler stated.
In other restructuring, Chandler stated Milliken plans to combine the research division with marketing.
“This will put our innovation focus and initiatives as close to our customers as possible, enhancing our ability to design and develop new products.”
Chris DeSoiza, previous vice president of research, has left the company, Chandler stated.
Corporate research will report to David Moody, chemical division president.
Among other changes, floor manufacturing will move into the floor covering division, led by Phillip Bridges and reporting to Jim McCallum, floor covering division president.
“Proactive changes such as these bring value to our shareholders, associates and the communities we serve,” Chandler stated.
Milliken & Co. has more than 7,000 employees and 43 manufacturing facilities worldwide. The Spartanburg campus has about 950 employees.
Last month, Milliken acquired Keystone Aniline Corp. of Chicago, Ill., a global maker of dyes, pigments and polymers.


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The next-generation Ford Ranger has made its global debut. Ford says it has reimagined, redesigned, and reengineered the all-new model from top to bottom, and the result speaks for itself. The 2022 Ranger looks more refined and capable than ever before. The question is, could it shake up the mid-size pickup truck segment once again?
The customers spoke—and Ford listened
This model year begins a new era for the Ford Ranger, one in which the customers have a lot more input about what makes and drives this truck. According to Ford, it gathered hundreds of hours' worth of customer insights to produce a vehicle that looks more athletic on the outside and more comfortable on the inside.
Reimagined and redesigned exterior
The result is a Ranger that looks unmistakably modern while retaining the nameplate's signature rugged style. There's a bolder grille with a bar that extends to the new C-clamp headlamps. Directly underneath, there's an H-shaped cladding that fits excellently with the daytime running lights (DRLs) and front bumper.
Over to the side, we see a strong shoulder line all around and sleek-looking wheel arches. The rear features redesigned tail lamps that complement the front's C-clamp setup. Ford also increased the Ranger's track and wheelbase by 50 mm each, allowing the truck to have a wider and more aggressive stance. Overall, we think the new Ranger looks more imposing than the previous generation model.
The Ranger's truck bed has also been redesigned for added utility and convenience. There's a new integrated side-step that sits behind both rear wheels for easier access to the bed. A new plastic-molded bed liner also helps ensure worry-free cargo loading. Plus, the added tie-down points sit on strong steel tube rails for added security.
For low-light cargo loading, Ford equipped the all-new Ranger with zone lighting. The new feature can be controlled with the in-cabin SYNC display to provide a 360-degree lighting experience in the dark.
Modern driver-centric interior
While the next-gen Ranger deserves praise for its exterior redesign, we can't overlook the effort Ford put into creating an all-new interior. Ford has always been near the top when it comes to cabin comfort, but the 2022 Ranger kicks things up a notch.
Ford designed the cabin with versatility in mind. Whether driving for work or with family, the new Ranger can fit every need. When the driver steps inside, they're immediately greeted by a 10.1-inch or 12-inch vertical touchscreen infotainment display. It complements the new fully-digital instrument cluster and comes with the latest Ford SYNC 4 system.
New for this year's model is a built-in modem that allows smartphone connectivity through the FordPass app. The modem unlocks a new set of features, including remote start, remote locking, and vehicle status checking. For added convenience, Ford also put a wireless smartphone charger on the new Ranger.
Ford moved many of the driving controls from the dashboard and center console to the SYNC 4 screen. It has resulted in a cleaner dashboard layout that we think looks immaculate. There's also a new 360-degree camera for seamless parking and off-road exploring. On top of that, the Ranger gets an available e-shifter for the automatic variants.
With the Ranger's comprehensive inside-and-out transformation, it's now better-equipped to go up against the top mid-size pickups out there.
Brand-new engine options
Customers have clamored for more power and torque from the Ranger, and Ford delivered. The clear highlight is a new 3.0-L V6 turbodiesel engine for maximum performance. Other powertrain options are also available, including the proven Single Turbo and Bi-Turbo 2.0 inline four-cylinder diesel engines. For lovers of gasoline models, the Ranger will be available with a new 2.3-L EcoBoost four-cylinder mill.
Keep in mind that the powertrain options will vary from market to market, and Ford Philippines has yet to confirm which engines it will be bringing to our country. That will come in a later announcement, but the turbo variants seem like a lock, seeing as the current-spec Rangers come equipped with these engines.
Superior off-road capability
The all-new Ford Ranger characterizes the "Built Tough" identity to a tee. As mentioned, Ford increased the front wheels forward by 50 mm to ensure an improved approach angle. The rear suspension dampers have also shifted outboard of the frame rails for a better overall ride.
Ford will offer customers a choice between two four-wheel-drive systems, an electronic shift-on-the-fly system, or an advanced full-time 4x4 system with a set-and-forget mode. Off-road mode selection can now be done through the center touchscreen display. Needless to say, testing the new Ranger's off-road might could be a treat when it arrives.
The next-generation Ford Ranger will be built in Thailand and South Africa beginning in 2022. Ford will make eight colors available at launch. We most certainly will get the new model sometime next year, but Ford says it will announce specific market launch details at a later date. We'll have to stay tuned when Ford Philippines announces the local availability, engine options, and variants for the 2022 Ranger.
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Importation Of Noodles Prohibited – NAFDAC
In a statement released on Monday, May 1, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, confirmed that the importation of Indomie noodles has been prohibited in Nigeria.
She explained that the product is among the foods on the government’s list of prohibited items.
“It should be noted that indomie noodles have been banned from being imported into the country for many years. It is one of the foods on the government prohibition list. It is not allowed in Nigeria, and therefore not registered by NAFDAC.”


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Foundation Cigar Company has announced that Miami Cigar and Company will be the exclusive distributor for its newly announced Upsetters brand. Upsetters is the second brand released by Foundation Cigar Company, the company founded by Nicholas Melillo. The agreement comes as the new brand is set to release just before the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show. In addition, Foundation Cigar has said it plans to name a brand manager for The Upsetters.
It was back in May when Foundation announced Upsetters, a brand that is highlighted by the incorporation of Jamaican tobacco. The brand will consist of eight offerings – five with a Claro wrapper, two with a maduro wrapper, and one with a candela. Each of the offerings incorporate both Nicaraguan and Jamaican tobacco.
In a press release, Miami Cigar and Company President Jason Wood commented, “We could not be happier to be introducing this innovative product to the market. Upsetters is the perfect addition to our portfolio and we can not wait to release this product in the US.”
Melillo commented, “We are anticipating rapid interest and growth with The Upsetters brand, and I’m confident that the already in-place and highly professional Miami Sales and Distribution infrastructure will spread the brand evenly with brick-and-mortars coast to coast. Above and beyond Miami’s involvement, I am supremely excited to announce the appointment of a Brand Manager for the Upsetters next week.”
Miami Cigar also distributes the La Aurora and Viva Republica brands. The company also distributes its own brands including Tatiana, Don Lino, and the Nestor Miranda brands.
For further information on the Upsetters, see our story we did on the brand.


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Popular Hotel and Indoor Waterpark Ready to Reopen in New Jersey
Get ready for some splish splash adventure as a popular hotel/indoor waterpark is preparing to open its doors for the first time since the pandemic began. So, the only question is are you a slide or lazy river person?
Well according to NJ.com the formerly known Hotel HL and Coco Key Water Resort in MT. Laurel is opening its doors after years of being closed. The 14-acre property sold last year for $13 million dollars to new owners after the property was put up for auction twice. Before the Hotel and Waterpark closed it hosted a nice 55,000-square-foot indoor water park guests enjoyed various slides and a long lazy river; we don’t know what changes the new owners would make if any however we do know a new name will be arriving as well as the grand reopening date soon enough. But as of yet to be disclosed, we can assume it will be sometime in 2023.
For those who haven’t been here before its location is 915 Route 73 between I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Though it is good to see businesses not only reopening but also new locations pop up as one of the largest indoor go-kart tracks in the world is being built right here in the Garden State. More importantly, it’s right around the corner from us here at Magic,
So, to keep up with all the latest New Jersey local hot spots by signing up for our newsletter as we continue to bring you everything New Jersey right here at Magic 98.3


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When you get to the cash register, you now have a new option for payment aside from cash, check, or plastic.
Reuters says it has exclusively learned that Office Depot has joined Paypal’s pilot program that allows customers to pay for transactions with their account in brick-and-mortar stores.
This is only a test program for Office Depot as well, as the retailer is only rolling out the option at a select number of locations.
“It’s at this point in a small number of stores … because there are still some rough spots in that experience. There are some limitations on who can use it, service carriers that support that,” Reuters quoted Office Depot North American president Kevin Peters as saying.
The retailer joins Home Depot in its willingness to at least try Paypal’s new system. In the future, Paypal hopes to start attracting stores that don’t have “Depot” in their name.
It is kind of a win-win situation. It’s unclear how much Paypal charges brick-and-mortar stores in transaction fees with the new program, but we have to imagine it would be competitive with credit card acceptance fees.
However, there are politics with everything and no doubt many retailers have sweet partnerships with the major credit card issuers and don’t want to rock that boat.
Nevertheless, it is a clear trend for 2012 that retail payment solutions will undergo a paradigm shift not seen since the adoption of credit cards. Mobile technology like Google Wallet is also poised to make a splash. Stay tuned for a lot more in the way of developments in this field.


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French investment house Partech Ventures has ploughed a $30m investment into free mobile service provider FreedomPop. The LA-based firm offers users a basic text, voice, and data service, working in...
Systems integrator claims the deal will help prevent 'business-damaging' errors for its customers
Reports suggest Dell is pursuing a straightforward IPO, contradicting existing plans to buy out tracking stock holders
Fujitsu has secured its second big Dutch public sector deal this year
NSS Labs claims vendors are refusing to have their products tested effectively and are trying to restrict its access


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Hong Kong startup Origami Labs boasts of having launched the world’s first smart ring, a sleek device called ORII that brings voice assistance right to your ears.
Paired with a mobile app, you can send short text messages, or even take a quick call instantaneously with just a simple touch on the ear, without having to flip out your phone or wear a headset device.
Co-founder Kevin Johan Wong says the initial idea for the wearable tech - that works through bone conductivity- was inspired by his father Peter, who is visually impaired and needed a screen-free alternative to interact with technology.
Accessibility through technology, is not about building products for blind people. What it is actually about is using blindness as a way to learn more about us as humans
After spending long nights working over coffee to create the initial prototype of the ring, Kevin and a group of MBA friends from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology developed the product in 2015.
Their mission? To change the way people communicate.
“It is something that was very much inspired by my dad, and to help people like him,” says Kevin. “My dad has been visually impaired since 13. For people like him, it’s very difficult to use screen based or touch based devices.”
“He made it his life objective for a period of time, to not only help himself but to be able to help people like him. I think that’s an amazing thing,” he adds. “The way he put it was that accessibility through technology, is not about building products for blind people. What it is actually about is using blindness as a way to learn more about us as humans, helping a small group of people can affect make something that’s beneficial to all of us.”
“I had a conversation with him and at the time the product was still built for the eyes where he told us that, one of the most basic thing that vision impaired people want or any disabled people wants is to be normal or to appear normal. So, in that way, I think, that’s what’s really inspired us to build it. It is about inclusion and not necessarily about, just targeting a group of people.”
Entrepreneurship runs in Kevin’s blood. His family owns a luxury watch retail business for three generations, which he helped run before venturing full time into entrepreneurship through Origami Labs.
In 2017, Kevin and team launched ORII on Kickstarter to an overwhelming response; they raised USD 333,000, ten times over their funding goal.
In an age where people are so tied to their smartphone screens, the Kickstarter success validated Origami Labs’ suspicion that consumers are increasingly looking for ways to be screen-free.
We call this a screen-free revolution
“Ours is a very interesting product in that, it doesn’t just appeal to gearheads or gadget heads. Who it appeals to are people that want an electronic product that’s more minimal - something that almost strips out some features but stays focused. They believe in being able to be separate from your screen,” says Kevin.
“We call this a screen-free revolution. It’s not to say you need to put away your phone all the time, but it allows us to be able to ignore the screen, a bit more than we do normally do.”
ORII’s aims to make interacting with tech more human. Asked about ORII’s potential in retail, Kevin says the wearable device, with its intuitive nature, could work well in the hospitality business.
“We’ve been approached by a lot of different industries but it’s just we don’t have the bandwidth to be able to pursue everything at once – which is why we like hospitality.”
“In hospitality, you have restaurants, (hotel) management, security, customer service, and also lobby management. These are the many different elements of customer-facing businesses.”
Watch the full interview with Kevin below:


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Farm income during 2011 and 2012 is expected to be double the average of the previous two decades due to a combination of high food prices and bumper crops, according to Philip Lowe, assistant economic governor with the Reserve Bank.
Speaking at Australian Farm Institute Agriculture Roundtable Conference, Lowe said in an uncertain global financial environment the outlook for Australian agriculture was good.
According to IMF figures, global food prices have increased 40% since 2004 and other figures show commodities such as wool, beef, wheat and sugar experienced similar boosts.
These increases have had an impact on the costs of inputs for farming, like fuel fertiliser and seed, but overall Lowe says the rise in prices is good news for domestic producers.
Lowe says the near-record-breaking expected winter wheat crop of around 40 million tonnes follows a good harvest last year. Farm output has increased by about 70% since the mid-1990s.
“This combination of generally high prices and high output has provided a substantial boost to aggregate income of the farming sector over the past financial year, and another favourable outcome is expected this year,” Lowe says.
“After adjusting for inflation, farm incomes over these two years are expected to be almost double the average of the previous two decades.”
Lowe says the increase in global demand for food comes from the rising food consumption in Asia as well increased meat consumption, which demands large amounts of grain, as well as an increase in the use of foods for non-consumption purposes like bio-fuels. This comes with a modest expansion in the global supply due to urbanisation in Asia and an increase in extreme weather.
Ivan Colhoun from ANZ Research says: “While the speech is mainly focused on the medium-term positive outlook for agriculture, there was some guidance about monetary policy. It's currently neutral, and it seems increasingly dependent on how things play out in Europe.”
“The European situation remains grim… there is likely to be considerable uncertainty about the global economy for an extended period.
“Encouragingly, the US economic data has generally been better than expected recently, corporate balance sheets remain strong and there are few signs that the financial turbulence has led to the significant deferral of spending on capital goods that caused so much damage in 2008 and 2009. At the same time, while Asian growth has slowed, growth remains firm and is increasingly domestically sourced (something that needs to continue to increase across time),” he says.
He also notes: “The downward trend for global food prices over the past 100 years appears to have ended.”


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NZ Business Leaders At APEC 2022
New Zealand business will be represented at the APEC Leaders’ Week in Bangkok, commencing 13 November, by members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
New Zealand’s three members – Rachel Taulelei, Malcolm Johns and Anna Curzon – supported by Stephen Jacobi and Stephanie Honey, will attend meetings in Bangkok including the fourth and final meeting for ABAC, the APEC CEO Summit and ABAC’s Dialogue with APEC Economic Leaders.
“These meetings come at a critical time” said Rachel Taulelei, Founder of Oho, who chaired ABAC during New Zealand’s year in 2021. “The business community must navigate through the myriad challenges facing the Asia Pacific region, including ongoing pandemic disruptions, geopolitical tensions, a senseless war that threatens global food and energy security, rising inflation, persistent inequality and the harsh realities of climate change”.
Earlier this month the ABAC team met with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and presented her with a copy of ABAC’s Annual Report to APEC Economic Leaders, under the theme of “Embrace, engage, enable”. The Report will be formally presented to APEC Leaders as part of a Dialogue in Bangkok on 18 November.
While ABAC works collectively, this year under the leadership of Thai Chair Kriengkrai Thiennukul, the New Zealand members have also championed some specific priorities which are highlighted in the report.
“In particular we have made clear that turning inwards on trade is not the right strategy in a deeply interconnected world. We need a strong and credible World Trade Organization, and deeper economic integration in the region, including through high quality pathway trade agreements like CPTPP and RCEP and a future Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific”, said Rachel Taulelei.
“Climate change is no less urgent, as is vividly on display at COP27” said Malcolm Johns, CEO of Christchurch International Airport. “Last year, ABAC New Zealand led the development of a set of Climate Leadership Principles for business, modelled on the work of the Climate Leaders’ Coalition. This year we have focused on ways to put these principles into action by sharing best practices for a just and fair transition and will be speaking further about this in Bangkok”.
Anna Curzon, Chief Product Officer, Xero, highlighted the importance of the digital economy. “We must put in place the fundamental building blocks around data flows and interoperable regulation, as well as enabling elements such as digital identities and paperless trading. Just as importantly, ABAC New Zealand has pointed out that we need to boost the capabilities of our small businesses, women entrepreneurs and Indigenous enterprises if we are to realise the enormous potential of the digital transformation,” she added.
In Bangkok the New Zealand business delegation will join Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Trade Minister Damien O’Connor, senior officials and business leaders from around the region at the APEC CEO Summit, the first such gathering held in person since 2018.
ABAC brings together three senior business leaders from APEC’s 21 economies to advise APEC’s Economic Leaders on their agenda for sustainable and inclusive business growth. The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) provides policy advice and support to New Zealand’s ABAC Members. See www.tradeworks.org.nz


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Smuggling is also depriving retailers of revenue and an umbrella organisation representing them is behind the campaign.
Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) is planning to start its campaign in Cork Airport and on the Dublin-Cork Aircoach with posters warning that cigarette smuggling is a criminal offence.
It then plans to roll out the poster campaign in other airports and on other Aircoach routes.
RAS spokesman Benny Gilsenan said cigarette smuggling is nearly as big an issue in Cork Airport as it is in Dublin Airport.
“Cork is a major hub,” said Mr Gilsenan. “We have people on the ground who keep us fully informed about what’s happening there. The market [in Cork] is very lucrative.”
RAS aims to use the busy summer period to show that bringing home cigarettes and tobacco from other countries and selling them in Ireland seriously undermines smaller retailers all across the country.
Last year, the Revenue’s Illegal Tobacco Products Research Surveys showed there were 412m contraband cigarettes in the Irish market and an estimated 9% of roll-your-own tobacco here was also contraband.
Mr Gilsenan, who runs a newsagents close to Croke Park in Dublin, said this means that legitimate retailers who have paid taxes and duties to sell such items have lost a significant portion of their trade to the black market. He said this had resulted in significant drop-off in revenues.
“Five years ago cigarettes sales represented 44% of my turnover,” he said. “That has now dropped to 33% because of smuggling and a lot of small shops are in a similar boat.”
He said the retail price of a 30g packet of Samson roll-your-own tobacco is €15. But smugglers are bringing in 50g packets of Samson from abroad and selling them for €10 each.
The retail cost of an average price of a packet of cigarettes here is €11.30.
This is the second highest price in the whole of Europe, just slightly behind Norway.
Cigarettes prices in some other European countries, such as Spain, Italy, and Malta, are far cheaper, while in many Eastern Europe states they are considerably cheaper again.
Excise duty and Vat accounts for 78.7% on every packet of cigarettes sold here.
The illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol, and solid fuel, which is estimated to have cost the Irish exchequer €2.4bn since 2010.
A person found with more than €10,000 in drugs could face up to 14 years in jail.
If they had €10,000 of illegal cigarettes or even more, they would probably get just a fine.
“A jail sentence is extremely rare for cigarette smuggling,” Mr Gilsenan said.
“Hard-working retailers are deprived of legitimate tobacco sales and footfall that can have a major effect on profits and jobs, in a market where 10% of the packs held by smokers are currently classified as illegal.
“Our campaign is designed to deter people who may be tempted to resell tobacco in Ireland without recognising the damage that this causes to shops nationwide.”
The new campaign posters will be launched in Cork on July 3 by Fine Gale senator Jerry Buttimer.


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After a stellar 2014, analyst estimates suggest Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) still has another 15% appreciation potential this year. That wouldn't match last year's run, but still nothing to sneeze at. However, we asked three of our Fool contributors for alternatives to Facebook that offer investor's even higher potential stock price growth in 2015. For various reasons, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) all made the cut.
Bob Ciura (AAPL): A 15% return from Facebook stock would be a nice return, but I believe investors can do even better with Apple. Apple is set to report quarterly earnings on Jan. 27, and if Apple beats, there's room for a strong rally. Analysts estimate Apple will earn $2.57 per share in the first fiscal quarter on $67.1 billion in revenue, which would represent 24% earnings growth and 16% revenue growth, year over year. Those are impressive growth figures, which of course is due largely to the release of the iPhone 6. The iPhone is Apple's flagship product, as it represents approximately 56% of Apple's revenue.
There's reason to be optimistic that Apple can reach its expectations. Apple sold more than 10 million iPhone 6 devices in the first weekend of availability. And, it's worth noting that number didn't even include sales in China, where the iPhone wasn't available until weeks later. China is a huge growth opportunity for Apple. In fact, China was Apple's fastest-growing geographic region in fiscal year 2014. Apple's China business is now a $30 billion business by annual revenue, which makes it the third-largest region for Apple behind only the Americas and Europe.
Plus, analytics firm Flurry found that 51% of all smartphones activated in the week before, and including Christmas, were iPhones.
If Apple can meet, or possibly exceed, expectations for the first quarter, there's room for the stock to rally. That's because Apple is still fairly cheap on a valuation basis. The stock trades for 16 times trailing earnings and 12 times 2015 profit estimates, which are actually lower multiples than the broader market. The market seems reluctant to bid up Apple stock, but if its first-quarter earnings beat expectations, a big rally may be in store.
Tim Brugger (Google): Even after its nearly 4% stock price hike this past week, Google is still down for the year, and that follows a disappointing 2014. There are several reasons for Google's poor share price performance, including hiccups with new products, negative sentiment, and declining cost-per-click, or CPC, ad rates. But the dark cloud over Google has overshadowed some recent successes, leaving its stock at value levels and substantial upside in 2015.
The king of innovation took one on the chin recently when it announced it was taking Google Glass off the market. While no one should expect every cutting-edge new technology like Glass to hit a homerun, the wearable flop added to the market's negativity. Though revenues jumped a whopping 20% last quarter, and will likely show continued growth in the soon-to-be-announced Q4, the 4% decline in CPC rates on Google sites stung.
The drop in CPC ad rates is largely due to online users shifting to mobile devices, which advertisers are loathe to pay the same rates as desktop spots. However, Google is in the midst of introducing a comprehensive suite of tools specifically for its mobile marketing partners that will help stem the rate slide, which ultimately will appease disgruntled shareholders.
Google's plans to dominate the fast-growing smart home market -- a business estimated to grow to $490 billion in the next five years -- are taking shape. Google's Nest smart thermostat is quickly becoming the hub from which all its smart devices will run, placing it firmly at the head of the smart home class. Yes, there have been some missteps in the past year or so. But with Google's depressed share price, coupled with new and potentially significant revenue drivers in place, matching Facebook's projected 15% growth in 2015 will be the tip of the iceberg.
Tamara Walsh (Tesla Motors): Electric-car maker Tesla Motors has been one of the best growth stories of the past five years. In fact, the stock is up more than 1,082% from its initial public offering price of just $17 in 2010. While this is undoubtedly impressive, investors could see even wilder upside in Tesla's stock during the next five years as the company moves ever closer to its mass market EV, the Gen 3.
The California-based company has serious momentum behind it heading into 2015 including the much-anticipated launch of its Crossover EV, Model X. Tesla now expects to begin Model X deliveries in the third-quarter of fiscal year 2015. Moreover, if the zero-emissions crossover is as "special" as Tesla's CEO Elon Musk proclaims, it could become Tesla's best-selling EV yet. And that's not the only growth catalyst Tesla has in its corner.
Tesla also kicked off the New Year with overwhelming demand for its new higher margin version of Model S. The company ended 2014 by introducing the world's first dual electric motor car, and Musk says, "Demand for the P85D is off the charts." This should significantly boost margins for Tesla going forward as the automaker now thinks more than 70% of the cars it produces this year will be dual-motor.
These catalysts as well as international expansion into new markets should electrify Tesla's stock in the quarters ahead.


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Devout coffee enthusiast Geoffrey Meeker, owner of locally based coffee roaster French Truck Coffee, now has three locations in New Orleans, plus another location in Memphis and one in Baton Rouge. Meeker, who hails from Danville, Illinois, moved to New Orleans in 1999 to work as a food and beverage consultant for W Hotels, and, like the rest of us, he fell in love with the city. His idea for French Truck Coffee came about in 2010 when he got a bag of freshly roasted coffee from California.
“I had been working in fine dining my whole career to that point and had never had coffee quite as good,” Meeker says. “I started researching and decided I could do it. I decided early on that I would use these little antique French Trucks to deliver in, and the name evolved out of that. Starting and owning a business is all at once the most challenging thing I have ever done and the most rewarding.”
Meeker buys beans from all over the world, working closely with the exporters in the country of origin, and visiting farms and cooperatives. He works with several ethically sourced specialty coffee importers in the United States to get the coffee as quickly as possible after harvest to ensure the highest quality cup of coffee.
In addition to having easy access to all of the high-quality coffee he can handle, Meeker loves seeing the impact that he has at the farm level. “We travel to origin five to six times per year, and we get to know the exporters and the farmers,” he says. “We know that the farmers who are working to make a better life for themselves and their families are reaping the benefits of their hard work. We see better schools, social programs, new homes, new equipment and a better standard of living happening wherever the effort is being made by the exporter and our importer. We pay a premium for coffee over the big multi-nationals for the privilege of having the top-quality coffees, and those premiums make it to the farmers. It makes a huge impact.”
Focusing on small-batch, artisan coffee was a no-brainer for Meeker, who says that coffee is like all food — if you start with a really high quality ingredients and take care to prepare it well, it will always be superior to something that’s mass produced. “We find the best quality coffee we can afford and roast it just before it is ready sell or be brewed,” Meeker says. “Every bag we sell tells you when it was roasted.”
Meeker recently partnered with NOLA Distilling to create a ready-to-drink boozy concoction called the Coffee Cruiser. “We have fans of our iced coffee — big fans — and one of them happened to work at Nola Distilling and thought it would be a great pairing,” Meeker says. “I had in my head what would be a great coffee-based liqueur, and, after several different recipes, we agreed on the final product to go in the bottles. It was created with the idea that you could just pour it over ice, and it’s ready to drink. We are getting great feedback on the original flavor. If it keeps going well, I could see some more flavors and maybe some holiday blends.”
French Truck Coffee also recently debuted its Tricentennial blend, the La Nouvelle Chicory Blend, as a tribute to the city’s 300th anniversary. The blend is on sale during the rest of the year for $11 per bag. Also be on the lookout for two more locations in New Orleans by the end of the year (plus another location in Memphis). 1200 Magazine St., (504) 298-1115; 4536 Dryades St., (504) 702-1900; 217 Chartres St., (504) 605-2899, frenchtruckcoffee.com


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Category Archives : Lexus
Lexus eyeing the compact crossover segment in India. After launching the Lexus ES and Lexus RX in March and the Lexus LX in May, Autocar.
Lexus officials have said that the LS is under review for India. After introducing the 2018 Lexus LS 500 and 2018 Lexus LS 500h this.
Lexus to enter sub-compact SUV segment next year. Lexus plans to enter the sub-compact SUV segment with a product of its own based on the.
Lexus’ 4-seat luxury sports coupe will be priced above rivals. Lexus showcased the Lexus RC F in India at a customer preview this year, and.
It will be roughly the size of a Toyota Aygo. Lexus is currently focusing on introducing the all new Lexus LS in global markets, and will likely take up.
Rivals the Range Rover SDV8 Autobiography (INR 2.27 crore, ex-showroom Delhi). Following its unveil at the brand’s official launch in March, Lexus has now revealed.
Lexus ES to have a more global focus in next generation. Just over a month back it was reported that Lexus would not introduce a.
Lexus’ compact SUV gets a facelift with a host of upgrades. Lexus has unveiled the 2017 Lexus NX at Auto Shanghai 2017. The facelift brings.
Located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport‘s domestic terminal at Taj Santacruz. Lexus has inaugurated their first dealership in Mumbai, which is located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport‘s.
After an endless wait, the Lexus brand has finally entered India officially. The Toyota Motor Corporation’s luxury brand has arrived with two vehicles at launch:.
Will compete with the Land Rover Range Rover. Lexus is launching today in India with three vehicles: Lexus ES, Lexus RX and Lexus LX. According.
Only Lexus LS to fulfil the demand for large sedans. The fourth generation Lexus GS arrived in 2011 and was expected to phase out next.
Will go on sale at the end of 2017. The brand new Lexus LS was unveiled at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in.
Likely to go on sale by 2018. At the 2016 Paris Motor Show, Lexus introduced the Lexus UX Concept to show its vision of a.
Expected to launch in India later this year. Ahead of the brand’s official launch in the country, parent company Toyota, through it dealer this week.


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- VineLine Dispatches from Harvest 2019
- ‘Slow and steady harvest’ forecast for Northwest grapes in 2019
- VineLines Dispatch: Northwest wineries fill lists of USA Today readers
- Koenig wins Idaho Wine Competition for new owners
- Bledsoe Family Winery set to open tasting room in Oregon
- Northwest vineyards track along 2017 vintage after cool July
- Idaho wine industry prepares for 10th annual judging
- Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance hires Robert Hansen as executive director
- 2019 American Wine Society conference casts spotlight on Pacific Northwest
- BC wine industry loses a lion with passing of Harry McWatters
Walla Walla wine road shows in 2013
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance released more information today regarding its 2013 public tastings in Portland and Seattle.
The Portland event ($60 + service fee) is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25 at Pure Space in the Pearl District, and proceeds will benefit the charities of the Classic Wine Auction. The Seattle show ($50 + service fee) is Monday, March 11 in Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center.
This will be the ninth year for the Portland pouring, and the seventh year in Seattle, according to Shontina Gianotti-Coers, director of marketing for the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance.
An A-Z list of more than 50 wineries will be represented in each city. Public tasting for both events is scheduled for 5:30-8:30 p.m., with the trade portion of each running noon-3 p.m.
Ticket purchase and trade registration begins at Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance.
Walla Walla wineries will be making multiple trips to Seattle during March, which is Washington State Wine Month, with Taste Washington on March 23-24 at CenturyLink Field Event Center.


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Inflation Rate Falls to Lowest Annual Rate in Two Years
Inflation showed further signs of cooling in June, posting an overall 4.1% increase from June 2022, the Commerce Department reported earlier today. The June annual inflation rate was the lowest since September 2021 and marked a decrease from the 4.6% pace in May. The favorable report sparked a banking executive to say that the Fed should go an “extended pause” on further interest rate hikes.
The personal consumption expenditures price index, excluding food and energy, increased just 0.2% from the previous month, in line with the Dow Jones estimate, the Commerce Department said. Goods prices actually decreased 0.1% for the month while services rose 0.3%. Food prices also fell 0.1%, while energy increased 0.6%, according to a CNBC report.
“Today’s economic releases reaffirm the current market narrative that inflation is cooling and economic growth is continuing, which is a favorable environment for risk assets,” said George Mateyo, chief investment officer at Key Private Bank. “The Fed and investors will take comfort in these numbers as they suggest that the inflation threat is dissipating and thus the Fed may now be able to go on vacation and assume an extended pause with respect to future interest rate increases.” Read the full CNBC story.


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"Healthy" Kid-Friendly Foods That Have a Shocking Amount of Sugar
If you regularly avoid anything considered to be a dessert food for your toddler, there's still a good chance your little one might be getting more sugar than you thought. According to a new study conducted by researchers at the Centers For Disease Control, American toddlers are getting far too much added sugar in their diet. Too much added sugar can contribute to loads of health problems, including high levels of obesity, cavities, asthma, and risk factors for heart disease as adults. The American Heart Association recommends not giving any foods with added sugars to children under the age of 2. For children older than 2, it recommends no more than six teaspoons of added sugar a day. According to the CDC's new study, though, the AHA's added sugar recommendation isn't a common practice for most.
Researchers surveyed parents of 800 children ages 23 months to 6 years old to gauge how much added sugar they consume in a 24-hour period. For 6- to 11-month-olds, 61 percent of sugar in their diet was added sugar, and that number only got higher as the kids got older. Almost 98 to 99 percent of the sugar consumed by 1- and 2-year-olds was added sugar. The oldest toddlers in the study, from ages 19 to 23 months, consumed an average of about seven teaspoons of added sugar per day — that's more sugar than a Kit Kat bar!
According to the CDC, added sugars include brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose. And while certain sweet treats are obvious culprits, it's the seemingly healthy foods that can sneak in more sugar than you'd think. Take a look at the list of sugary foods you may not have suspected.


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Escalating technological developments and automation across the globe have been resulting in the surging carbon footprints. The soaring need for energy efficiency coupled with to facilitate the reduction greenhouse impact the green IoT gaining tractions of the service and technology providers. Furthermore, the growing industrial automation, smart environment monitoring, smart logistics, smart homes are contributing to the demand for the green IoT market. However, the industry witnessed a completed halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, due to which the demand for green IoT solutions and services was almost negligible. But, it is expected that with the stabilization and revitalization in the global economy, the demand for green IoT would also increase.
The increasing energy consumption due to the robust growth in digitalization and connected devices is one of the key factors for the demand of green IoT solutions. It was found that in 2018, the total number of connected devices was around 22 billion in 2018, which is expected to reach to 41.6 billion by 2025.
According to MarkNtel Advisors’ market research report “Global Green IoT Market Analysis, 2020”, the market size of green IoT across the globe is forecast to grow at an astronomical CAGR during 2020-25. The market size is surging on account of increasing demand for technologically advanced products. Moreover, the automation in the industries coupled with the surging number of smart homes and smart cities projects are resulting in the need or green IoT solutions due to the energy efficiency regulations by the government. Therefore, the market size of green IoT is forecast to rise in the forthcoming years.
Also, the benefits from the green IoT such as plant monitoring, machine 2 machine communication, pollution control, waste management real-time data tracking, intelligent building smart logistics and shipment information collected in the most energy-efficient manner are some of the key factors contributing to the growth of green IoT market.
The Asia Pacific to Witness Robust Growth in the Forecast Period
In 2019, North America grabbed the major market share in the global green IoT market. The green IoT market in North America is witnessing an uptick on account of the increasing IoT spending of the U.S and Canada in the industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, retail, etc. It was found that the U.S holds the leading position in the IoT spending worldwide and in 2019, the country spent around USD 192 billion on IoT. Furthermore, the increasing R&D in technologies in the region, the high cloud adoption rate in comparison to other regions coupled with the emerging number of startups providing solutions for green IoT are contributing to the growth in the market size.
However, the APAC is expected to grow at a robust pace in the forecast period on account of increasing investments in R&D by countries such as China and Japan to develop technologies for energy efficiency. Moreover, the surging smart homes and smart city projects in the region would generate the nee and therefore would contribute to the demand for green IoT solutions.
Software to Grab Significant Market Share During the Forecast Period
In 2019, the Software segment grabbed the major market share. The market for the software segment is increasing on account of the emerging need for real-time streaming analytics, Data management, Remote monitoring, and network bandwidth management. Moreover, the technological advancement in software by the manufactures is one of the key contributing factors for the growing market share of the segment. However, the growing need for deployment & integration, support & maintenance and consulting for the green IoT solutions are emerging as the key contributors for the increasing market share for the services segment.
The manufacturing and healthcare sector combinedly captured a significant market share in 2019. The key contributing factors for the rise in the green IoT deployment in the manufacturing segment is the rapid adoption of green IoT solutions due to the increasing government’s emphasis on energy efficiency. Also, the continuous growing manufacturing industry and IoT deployment are creating the need for green IoT solutions. The increasing investment in IoT by the healthcare sector for cost and time saving is also emerging as an opportunity for the green IoT solution providers. Furthermore, Wi-Fi and NFC technology grabbed the major market share in 2019. The increasing internet penetration across the globe coupled with the rising connected devices demand is contributing to the need for Wi-Fi and NFC, as revealed by MarkNtel Advisors’ research report “Global Green IoT Market Analysis, 2020”.
According to MarkNtel Advisors’, the global green IoT market across the globe is highly fragmented due to the presence of numerous local and foreign players operating in the IoT solution market. The major market players with a considerable market share in the industry are Intel Corporation, SAP SE, Cisco, Microsoft Corporation, IBM, Oracle, PTC Inc., Google, HP Enterprises, Amazon Wen Services, Bosch Software Innovation GmBH, General Electric, Telit. The companies are entering strategic alliances for geographical expansion and are investing in the new technologies to gain a significant market share in the industry.
“Global Green IoT Market Analysis, 2020” provides comprehensive qualitative and quantitative insights on the industry potential, key factors impacting sales and purchase decisions, hotspots, and opportunities available for green IoT solution providers across the Globe. Moreover, the report also encompasses the key strategic imperatives for success for competitors along with strategic factorial indexing measuring competitor's capabilities on 16 parameters. This will help companies in the formulation of Go to Market Strategies and identifying the blue ocean for its offerings.
1. By Components ((Software (Real-Time Streaming Analytics, Data Management, Remote Monitoring, Network Bandwidth Management), Services (Professional Services, Managed Services), Platform (Device Management, Application Management, Network Management, Cloud Platform))
2. By Node Components (Processor, Sensor, Connectivity IC)
3. By Network Infrastructure (Server, Storage, Ethernet Switch and Routing, Gateway)
4. By Connectivity Technology (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee, Near Field Communication, Cellular, Satellite, Others)
5. By Application Areas (BFSI, Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, Residentials, Energy and Utilities, Government and Defense, Agriculture, Logistics and Supply Chain, IT & Telecom, Others)
6. By Region (Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Middle East & Africa, South America)
7. By Countries (China, India, Japan, Australia, South-Korea, U.K, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, U.S., Canada, Mexico, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina),
8. By Company (Intel Corporation, SAP SE, Cisco, Microsoft Corporation, IBM, Oracle, PTC Inc., Google, HP Enterprises, Amazon Wen Services, Bosch Software Innovation GmBH, General Electric, Telit, Others)
Key questions answered in the study:
1. What are the current and future market trends of the Global Green IoT industry?
2. How the industry has been evolving in terms of end-user demand and application areas?
3. How the competition has been shaping across the region followed by their comparative factorial indexing?
4. What are the key growth drivers and challenges for the Global Green IoT industry?
5. What are the customer orientation, purchase behavior, and expectations from the Global Green IoT firms across various regions?


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Admirals Bank, headquartered in Boston, MA, has started offering its secured home improvement financing in Texas. The loans can be used for a wide range of home improvements including home solar and energy efficiency upgrades totaling up to $40,000.
“In analyzing the prospects of offering our home improvement financing products in Texas, we uncovered a significant need for these products in that market”, said Lee Pollock, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Admirals Bank.
After much effort to adapt the Bank’s processes to the unique aspects of the Texas market, the bank is now offering their secured, non-equity based financing to homeowners throughout the state. Mr. Pollock added, “Texas is an incredibly large market and we are now one of a few institutions that can effectively lend in this area.”


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Amazon’s top UK reviewers appear to profit from fake 5-star posts FT investigation finds suspicious behaviour by 9 of top 10 UK contributors on product feedback Amazon’s problem with fake or manipulated reviews appears to have worsened since the pandemic turbocharged the number of people shopping on its site © FT montage Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens new window) Dave Lee in San Francisco 7 hours ago 177 Print this page Amazon is investigating the most prolific reviewers on its UK website after a Financial Times investigation found evidence that they were profiting from posting thousands of five-star ratings. Justin Fryer, the number one-ranked reviewer on Amazon.co.uk, reviewed £15,000 worth of products in August alone, from smartphones to electric scooters to gym equipment, giving his five-star approval on average once every four hours. Overwhelmingly, those products were from little-known Chinese brands, who often offer to send reviewers products for free in return for positive posts. Mr Fryer then appears to have sold many of the goods on eBay, making nearly £20,000 since June. When contacted by the FT, Mr Fryer denied posting paid-for reviews — before deleting his review history from Amazon’s website. Mr Fryer said the eBay listings, which described products as “unused” and “unopened”, were for duplicates. At least two other top 10-ranked Amazon UK reviewers removed their history after Mr Fryer. Another prominent reviewer, outside of the top 10, removed his name and reviews, and changed his profile picture to display the words “please go away”. The FT’s analysis suggested nine of Amazon’s current UK top 10 providers of ratings were engaged in suspicious behaviour, with huge numbers of five-star reviews of exclusively Chinese products from unknown brands and manufacturers. Many of the same items were seen by the FT in groups and forums offering free products or money in exchange for reviews. The Competition and Markets Authority, the UK’s competition watchdog, launched in May its own probe into online stores over “suspicious” and manipulated reviews, which it estimates influence £23bn in UK online shopping spend every year. “We will not hesitate to take further action if we find evidence that the stores aren’t doing what’s required under the law,” a CMA spokeswoman said. Justin Fryer’s Amazon review, and an eBay listing for an identical Item sold from his account the day before Amazon’s longstanding problem with fake or manipulated reviews appears to have worsened since the coronavirus pandemic turbocharged the number of people shopping on its site. One estimate, from the online review analysis group Fakespot, suggested that the problem peaked in May, when 58 per cent of products on Amazon.co.uk were accompanied by seemingly fake reviews. “The scale of this fraud is amazing,” said Saoud Khalifah, Fakespot’s chief executive. “And Amazon UK has a much higher percentage of fake reviews than the other platforms.” Amazon said it took such fraud seriously and used AI to spot bad actors, as well as monitoring reports from users. It said it would investigate the FT’s findings. “We want Amazon customers to shop with confidence knowing that the reviews they read are authentic and relevant,” the company said, adding that it suspends, bans and sues people who violate its policies. Amazon and the problem of fake reviews But Amazon has known about the activity on Mr Fryer’s account since at least early August, when one user of the site emailed chief executive Jeff Bezos directly after his complaints had been ignored. “Jeff Bezos received your email,” an Amazon employee later replied, pledging to investigate Mr Fryer and the other high-profile accounts. A number of reviews highlighted were subsequently removed — but no broader action appears to have been taken. Since February, Mr Fryer’s reviews from China-based brands have included three gazebos, more than a dozen vacuum cleaners and 10 laptops — as well as everything from dolls houses to selfie lights to a “fat removal” machine. His contributions typically contained a video of the product taken out of its packaging but delicately handled, with comments mostly about the exterior features and the quality of the box it came in. Many of the same products were then listed as “unopened” and “unused” on an eBay account registered under Mr Fryer’s name and address. On August 13, for instance, Mr Fryer sold an electric scooter for £485.99, seven days before posting a review of the same product on Amazon, describing it as “hands down my favourite toy” that he liked “so much we purchased a second one for my fiancée”. When contacted this week, Mr Fryer said the items on his eBay listings were duplicates, and that the accusation he was receiving free products in return for positive reviews was “false”. He said he had paid for the “large majority” of goods, but could not say how much he had spent “off the top of his head”. “I have relationships with and I know some of the sellers,” he said. “My partner’s Chinese and I know a lot of the businesses over there . . . and I just review.” Daily newsletter #techFT brings you news, comment and analysis on the big companies, technologies and issues shaping this fastest moving of sectors from specialists based around the world. Click here to get #techFT in your inbox. Unlike bloggers and influencers, who can accept and publicise free products with proper disclosure, Amazon’s community guidelines explicitly prohibit “creating, modifying, or posting content in exchange for compensation of any kind (including free or discounted products) or on behalf of anyone else”. The exception is the company’s “vine” review programme, an invite-only scheme where top reviewers are sent free products that are not contingent on a positive review. Observers of Amazon’s marketplace say the site’s algorithms greatly incentivise paying for positive reviews, even if it means doling out expensive products. Alongside price and delivery time, reviews are a crucial factor in pushing the product up Amazon’s rankings and help gain algorithmically calculated endorsements, such as the influential “Amazon’s Choice” badge. “You are more than twice as likely to choose an inferior product online versus the best product online if there are fake reviews on those inferior products,” said Neena Bhati, head of campaigns at consumer group Which?. The organisation has campaigned heavily for more stringent checks on online reviews.
Source: Amazon’s top UK reviewers appear to profit from fake 5-star posts | Financial Times


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To meet the changing needs of its customers and reduce its carbon footprint, while also ensuring the long-term viability of the universal postal service, La Poste has decided to revamp its mail-service range.
As of January 1, 2023, customers will be able to choose between three types of letters. The distribution of letters and newspapers/magazines, as well as parcel deliveries and local services, will continue to operate six days a week. The company has said that while people send fewer priority letters today, other types of mail retain an important place in French society – notably, standard everyday letters, letters that have legal value, or small items sent in letter format. Reliable delivery, mail-tracking services and environmental consideration are the top-ranking expectations that came out of La Poste’s recent survey conducted among 22,000 business and private customers.
The use of priority red letters is decreasing; for example, households sent 45 priority letters a year in 2010, compared with only five in 2021. Digital tools, emails and text messages have been widely adopted by consumers who want to send urgent messages and information. On the other hand, the standard green letter is still popular among customers for the majority of day-to-day uses, such as sending administrative documents, postcards or small items.
According to La Poste, the current format of the red letter no longer corresponds to consumer uses and habits. Moreover, since it must be delivered quickly, sometimes even requiring a plane journey, its energy footprint is significant. Consequently, for occasional urgent letters (to cancel a subscription, for example), La Poste will now offer the red e-letter. This type of letter will be sent via the laposte.fr website (service available until 8:00pm). It will then be printed by La Poste at a branch near the recipient’s address – while respecting the confidentiality of the content – and delivered the next day in an envelope bearing a red-stamp marking.
Customers will be able to consult a log of the letters they have sent and use letter templates to carry out their administrative procedures. For customers who are not digitally literate, La Poste will offer the option of sending red e-letters from a post office, using an automated postal machine or with the help of an advisor (equipped with a Smartéo phone). The price of a red e-letter will be €1.49 (US$1.52) for one to three sheets of paper, compared with €1.43 (US$1.46) for a priority ‘red stamp’ today. The cost of the envelope and paper are included.
Additionally, the standard green letter will be delivered within three days and be priced from €1.16 (US$1.18), which is the same as the current price. Customers will be able to add a delivery-tracking option at a cost of 50 cents (US$0.51), and thus receive confirmation the letter has been delivered.
The Turquoise services plus letter is a new addition to the company’s range. It will be proposed for customers’ most important letters that require tracking and traceability, for sending a cheque or small items, for example. It will be delivered within two days. With smart data technology, the turquoise services plus letter will include (at no extra cost) services such as tracking notifications, collection of the letter by the postman/woman from the sender’s personal letterbox and a flat-rate compensation, in the event the letter is delivered late.
Furthermore, the registered letter service will still be available for sending “formal or procedural” letters, which require legal proof. Registered letters will be priced from €4.83 (US$4.93), compared with €4.55 (US$4.65) in 2022, with a three-day delivery time.
Although consumers are sending fewer letters today, they are sending more Colissimo parcels. The Colissimo rate for the first weight bracket (less than 250g) will remain unchanged at €4.95 (US$5.06) for the fourth consecutive year, despite inflation and the sharp rise in fuel prices. On average, the Colissimo rates for the universal parcel service will increase by around 2.4% on January 1, 2023, i.e. lower than inflation.
As indicated by the French Authority for regulation of the electronic communications and postal sectors (ARCEP), the prices meet the principle of affordability set out by the applicable French legislative and regulatory framework. Additionally, La Poste has calculated that by 2030, with the development of the priority ‘red e-letter’ and the standard green letter (with a three-day delivery), it will have saved 60,000 tons of CO2 a year, which represents a 25% reduction compared to the current service offers. This reduction will be obtained by stopping the use of air transportation in France (during 2023), more efficient truck loading and by printing of e-letters closer to the recipient’s address (thus reducing transportation).


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The annual Rotary Club of Prince Rupert auction is underway.
The online auction was launched yesterday (November 1) and will be open for bidding until November 15.
It’s the second year the club has opted for the online format and they are looking forward to 2022 being even better.
“We had a great auction last year,” said Crystal Lorette, Auction Committee Co-Chair. “It was our first attempt online, just coming out of COVID. And of course we didn’t have any in the year 2020. So we were able to raise a substantial amount of money that goes back into the community.
She noted that all of that money, nearly $40,000, stayed in the community and so far this year the 350 items donated to the auction have a retail value of $52,000 and they will continue to accept new items until the auction ends.
“I just want to say a big thank you to all of the Rotary businesses and friends in our community who again gave truly amazing and generous donations this year,” Lorette said. “And to all the bidders who will show up. It’s funny. You can come in and watch, you can just set your amounts and you can do it on your phone now.
Bidders can register on the Rotary website and will be redirected to the host site operated by online auction company Auctria where they can browse items, enter bids and even set up automatic bidding with an option to maximum bid allowing them to set their own budget. .
This is a change from last year when it was hosted by Bidding Owl, which Rotary was happy with, but the club found Auctria’s administrative costs more to their liking.
“It’s a really nice site,” Lorette said. “It has very nice graphics. It has all the information and we could kind of build it to suit us, so we could customize it a bit. There are videos about the history of our Rotary club, as we are over 100 years old now.
Funds raised from the auction go to ongoing projects such as Halloween Fest; School District 52’s Apple program; maintenance of the Centennial Project (McClymont Park) and Rotary’s waterfront park (whale park); and others.
Organizations that need funding can also apply for a grant from the Rotary Projects Committee.


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Intertainment Media Inc. (TSX-V: INT; OTCQX: ITMTF; FRANKFURT: I4T) announced that Paul Stanley, co-founder of KISS, has agreed to join Ortsbo as a spokesperson and business partner.
Stanley will be working directly with the Ortsbo team to develop and initiate Ortsbo’s entre into global socialization of live event programming.
The platform will allow fans at live concert venues to interact with other fans around the globe, in real-time in over 50 languages through Twitter, Facebook, Ortsbo.com and online through Ortsbo’s Live & Global platform creating a social, global village at live entertainment and sports events.In addition to socialization, the program will connect global fans to exclusive sponsors, offers and merchandising opportunities partnered with Ortsbo.
This program will also be integrated into New York City’s newest major venue, The Barclay Center in Brooklyn, NY where Ortsbo is a partner. The Barclay Center is scheduled to open Fall 2012.


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HONG KONG: Dairy Farm posts profit growth for first half
Hong Kong-based retail conglomerate Dairy Farm International Holdings said today (29 July) it saw first-half profits rise almost 17% on the back of higher sales.
Dairy Farm posted US$181.4m profit after tax for the first half of 2010, up 16.7% on the first half of 2009. Sales reached US$4.3bn, up 13% on the previous year.
Chairman Simon Keswick said: "Based on current market conditions, Dairy Farm is expected to continue to trade well in the second half of 2010 and to produce a satisfactory result for the full year."
The company, which has stores in markets including China, Malaysia and Singapore, opened 127 outlets over the half to reach 5,198 stores in operation over the half.
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Bitcoin has notoriously straddled traditional asset classes. Is it really a currency or is it simply another speculative.
Here’s One Thing The Bitcoin Frenzy Has In Common With The Dot What The Hell Is Happening To Cryptocurrency Valuations? They say that money makes the world go round and it’s certainly been the driving force behind countless movie plots over the. The financial world is changing at a pace never before seen in history. These new instruments are being developed and. Sync Wallets Faster By Optimizing
Is bitcoin having a good year or not? As an industry, we need to work on honing our understanding of the many narratives, and.
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Although a variety of e-commerce platforms are booming during COVID-19 lockdowns, bitcoin payments remain exceedingly niche.


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As wearable gadgets starting to build in the market, technology companies are also developing their own computing products to compete and hope to get a share in the market.
Microsoft is one of the companies that is currently reported to be working with a touch-enabled smartwatch device. According to the suppliers, they are going to compete against Apple Inc. which is already rumored to have been further developing their iWatch.
Microsoft have already requested components for their smartwatch in some suppliers in Asia. One executive from the suppliers said they already had a meeting with the Microsoft research and development team in their headquarters. But there were no details and clear news that Microsoft is going to move first before the others.
According to analyst Wanli Wang of RBS, smartphones are getting too big and having them around sometimes is a hassle, this is why there is an anticipation of the growing demand of wearable and smaller devices. “A smart watch that is compatible with a smartphone and other electronics devices would be attractive to consumers.” he added.
And according to a research conducted by Gartner, wearable gadgets is going to be a hit in 2016 with an expected $10 billion market.
Every one in the tech industry is not flourishing by just inventing and developing new gadgets, they are also looking closely in the market, their rivals, and what they are developing. If you want to succeed, then compete with the ones on the top in the market, develop your own, surpass them and get the win.
A spreading rumor and a couple of reports from big online news networks are suggesting that Google’s Motorola Mobility is going to compete with other companies and develop their own smartwatch. According to the reports, this smartwatch is going to be a good match with an Android smartphone. For the Android smartphone fans, this is going to be phenomenal.
Not just Google but seems many are quite confident that this smartwatch that they are currently developing could be sensible since it is developed by the Motorola Mobility unit. Reports also suggest that the Google smartwatch or maybe Android smartwatch could be released after summer ends.
On the other hand, Lee Young Hee, Samsung’s VP confirmed that they are currently developing a smartwatch of their own, which could be a big hit since Samsung is quite a good competitor in the tech industry, too.
He did not mention any more details regarding the smartwatch such as the release date but they are definitely planning for the launch. It could be this summer, too, or before Apple release their own smartwatch that others say, the iWatch.
A billion-story in the making.
Rumors are now spreading for a new Apple product. Some analysts say that this will revolutionize portable players, tablets, music, and smartphones, and will change people’s view on wristwatches. A tech expert believes that this could be worth billions to the super tech giant.
According to Oliver Chen, a Citigroup analyst, the rumored iWatch of the company could be billions of opportunity for them, pulling some numbers by around $6 billion. Furthermore, he thinks that there could be even plentier than $6 billion if the tech giant creates something that is totally fresh and new just like what they had when they launched iPod.
He noted that the watch market globally is now priced at about $60 billion every year. The $6 billion could-be oportunity for Apple only depends upon the company if they capture at least ten percent of the total market.
However, Chen is also looking for a lesser profit of about $3.6 billion for the Apple iWatch.
Chen believes that the iWatch could give the company more money rather than paying much of their attention to revolutionizing the television market.
On Tuesday, a person familiar with Apple Inc.’s plans, said that the Cupertino-base tech giant has a 100-team performing tests on the rumored wristwatch device that is said to function some of the tasks that a computer does, as well as what the iPad and iPhone do too.
The 100-person team of Apple Inc. is composed of product designers, managers, hardware and software engineers, and members of the marketing group. The team was formed last year and is said to have worked on previous projects such as the iPad and iPhone.
The wristwatch-like device of Apple Inc. still remains to be private. According to the sources who requested not to be named, the size of the team is suggesting that the company is already farther on the phase of experimentation.
Apple Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook faces a sort of burden from the company’s shareholders. The company has experienced a decrease in stock of over thirty percent since a September high in the midst of plummeting sales growth and tight rivalry from competitors like Samsuung Electronics Co. If Apple won’t produce another innovative gadget that charges a higher price, then the investors are driving the company to give back more cash.
A former Apple employee and now a technology consultant, Bruce Tognazzini noted that the rumored iWatch will fill a wide hole in the ecosystem of Apple. He further added that with the other innovations done by the company, its value will be underestimated at launch, then grow to have an intense effect on people’s lives and providence to Apple.
Over the weekend, there are rumors spreading for an upcoming Apple gadget tagged as the Apple iWatch.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, the Cupertino-based tech giant is already on the process of examining archetypes of its next accessory. The reports say that the rumored device will be running an iOS version closely integrated with that of the iPhone.
Features of the rumored iWatch included calendar and email alerts, caller ID, map navigation, Siri integration, mobile payment support, and app notifications. It is also rumored that Corning, the Gorilla Glass manufacturer, will be supplying the device’s glass based on its latest bendable Willow Glass.
According to the report from The New York Times, Apple Inc. is currently on its experimentation of its wristwatch-like gadgets made of curved glass. The watch is expected to operate on iOS platform like other Apple devices. People familiar with the situation stated that this upcoming device will make it outstanding from its rivals.
Moreover, the company is also rumored to have talks with the parent company of Apple supplier Foxconn, Hon Hai Precision, on the production strategies needed to manufacture the said gadget. This is after Apple has hired a lot of people who are experts in sensors and other elements vital to wearable computers.
According to an analyst from Gene Munster, Piper Jaffray, if this rumor is true, then the introduction of iWatch has the possibility to change the future of mobile computing. He further noted that such iWatch concept could sooner or later substitute the need of screen from a tablet or a smartphone. It could also significantly modify the size and cost of future gadgets, wherein it could let Apple target both emerging and developed markets.


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September 22, 2011 at 00:01 AM EDT
OpenStack adds UI, virtual networks with ‘Diablo’
In its new Diablo release, the OpenStack cloud OS gets perks including a dashboard to give IT a peak into what's happening in the cloud, better authentication that ties into existing directories, and an API to ease integration into big, dynamic networks.
The OpenStack posse is putting some gloss on the next release of the open-source cloud operating system.
A major goal of the newly available “Diablo” release, is to boost useability of the OpenStack by administrators and users with a new dashboard. Other improvements will enable the use of big, highly scalable networks, and new distributed scheduling for updating and synchronizing data, said Jonathan Bryce, CTO of The Rackspace Cloud and project chairman for OpenStack.
Totally new to OpenStack are:
“With this release, it was important to step back from features and focus on the user experience,” said Devin Carlen, founder and VP of engineering for Nebula, a startup dedicated to helping companies deploy OpenStack-based private clouds. Nebula played a key role in developing the new dashboard.
The availability of a dashboard to give on-premises IT people a better handle on what’s happening in their clouds and could drive OpenStack adoption, Carlen said, adding that Amazon EC2 adoption soared after Amazon launched its monitoring dashboard called CloudWatch.
The Diablo release also includes improvements to the existing OpenStack Compute, Object Storage, and Image Service modules.
Rackspace and NASA launched OpenStack in July 2010 to build an open-source cloud OS on proven technologies. Despite some big-name glamor–Dell, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard and others have endorsed the effort–it’s unclear how well it will fare against established cloud offerings like Amazon Web Services or against Microsoft’s Windows Azure effort, which has also been backed by Dell and HP.
Analyst Jay Lyman of The 451 Group said OpenStack has gained credibility although it’s still too soon to tell if its adoption can match the hype around the effort. RackSpace knows scalability and many companies weighing a cloud move like to have options. Amazon Web Services adoption is huge but “most enterprises like to have a Plan B and OpenStack is emerging as Plan B, especially after recent Amazon outages,” he said.
OpenStack now claims more than 100 contributing companies and some big customers, including CERN and Walt Disney Co., which will speak on its use of the technology at the OpenStack Design Summit and Conference in Boston next month.
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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Dell’s proposed purchase of EMC isn’t just one of the biggest acquisitions of a tech company ever, but it puts the biggest technology company in Massachusetts under the control of a Texas-based owner. Six quick thoughts about the deal:
• These kinds of deals tend to be thrilling mostly to investment bankers and private equity wheelers; executives like EMC chief Joe Tucci, who will no doubt pocket enormous bonuses tied to the sale; and EMC shareholders, who stand to get about 19 percent more for their shares than they were worth at the closing bell on Friday.
• Remember when Compaq, the Houston-based PC giant, bought Mass.-based Digital Equipment, the once-pioneering maker of minicomputers for businesses, in 1998? This deal has obvious echoes of that one. Compaq was later acquired by Hewlett-Packard, which is now separating itself into two companies and shedding tens of thousands of jobs. Those investment bankers and CEOs tend to form an insulated-from-reality “circle of trust” that believes this deal will somehow be different, and their giant combination will somehow magically find “synergies” where most others have failed to.
• EMC has always had what I call a “sell and buy” culture. The culture was built around salespeople who were phenomenal at selling “big iron” — expensive data storage equipment — to the Fortune 500 executives who managed their companies’ data centers. And rather than investing in a lot of its own internal innovation, the company did a very good job of scouting out disruptive, fast-growing companies and snapping them up. The best of these acquisitions was VMware, the virtualization company that lets customers use their existing servers and storage assets more efficiently and flexibly. EMC paid $625 million for the company in 2004; it still owns 80 percent of VMware, now a separate publicly-traded firm, and VMware remains one of EMC’s fastest-growing pieces. All companies have a hard time continuing to innovate over decades, but at EMC, this “sell and buy” culture contributed to that.
• 68-year-old EMC CEO Joe Tucci has been working without a contract since February, and postponed his retirement twice before that. Finding a successor to Tucci should have been one of the top priorities for EMC’s board for, oh, about the last eight years. They failed at it, and Tucci clearly ran out of ideas for how the company could continue to grow. (One day, I hope to learn why executives like Paul Maritz and Pat Gelsinger, now running Pivotal Software and VMware, respectively, didn’t wind up in the corner office as Tucci’s successor.)
• Perception contributes to reality in a big way. EMC and Dell are viewed as vendors of PCs, servers, and expensive storage gear — stuff — at a moment when many consumers and businesses are happier to buy services, not stuff. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have been racing ahead in the world of cloud-based data processing and storage, and I wonder whether a few years of integration pains, as Dell and EMC figure out how to bring their two organizations together, is going to somehow speed their ability to move from the world of stuff to the world of services. (And yes, the world of services needs hardware to run, but increasingly those data centers build their own gear from commodity components, not pricier, branded stuff. Have a look at the Open Compute project, which shares designs for data center gear among top companies, for one example.)
• One of the by-products of EMC’s ferocious enforcement of its employees’ noncompete agreements — which prevent workers and execs from jumping ship to join a competitor or form their own business — is that the data storage sector in Massachusetts is much weaker than it should be. EMC, founded in 1979, should by now be the tallest oak tree in a forest of oak trees, not a big oak standing on its own.
Scott Kirsner writes the Innovation Economy column every Sunday in the Boston Globe, in which he tracks entrepreneurship, investment, and big company activities around New England.
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TROY, MICH., March 18, 2015 – Plex, the leader in cloud ERP manufacturing software, today recognized the global expansion of its customer, Firstronic. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Firstronic makes electronic components for automotive, industrial and medical industry customers. Building upon its success in the U.S., the company recently launched a new plant in Mexico powered by the Plex manufacturing cloud in just 90 days, a process that would have taken 12-18 months with an on-premise ERP system.
Manufacturing Cloud Strengthens Firstronic’s Competitive Edge
Comments on the News
“Firstronic has a tremendous opportunity to take the capabilities we have developed and proven in Michigan and replicate them around the word,” said Firstronic CEO John Sammut. “Plex plays a critical role – it gives us the same level of automation and control as the largest manufacturers in the world, but without the overhead, cost and complexity of a big, on-premise ERP system. Our ability to get the new Juarez, Mexico facility up and running in just 90 days is a great demonstration of the competitive advantage Firstronic gains with the Plex Manufacturing Cloud.”
“At Plex, we strive to help manufacturers build competitive advantage,” said Plex CEO Jason Blessing. “Firstronic’s success is emblematic of the global shift beyond lowest cost production to manufacturing based on quality, lead-times, flexibility and customer collaboration – all areas where Plex helps manufacturers excel.”
Firstronic’s Success in the Plex Manufacturing Cloud
Plex Systems, Inc., a Rockwell Automation company, is the leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, empowering the world’s manufacturers to make awesome products. Our platform gives manufacturers the ability to connect, automate, track and analyze every aspect of their business to drive transformation. The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform includes solutions for manufacturing execution (MES), ERP, quality, supply chain planning and management, Industrial IoT and analytics to connect people, systems, machines, and supply chains, enabling them to lead with precision, efficiency and agility.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 24,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.
©2021 Plex Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform and the Plex logo are registered trademarks of Plex Systems, Inc.


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Fiat Chrysler names Bigland as head of Alfa and MaseratiTue, 24, May 2016
Harald Wester has been replaced by Reid Bigland as head of Fiat Chrysler's Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands. Bigland will also continue as head of U.S. and Canadian sales for the automaker. Wester will remain FCA's chief technology officer.
Germany to retest 30 cars showing 'inexplicably high' CO2 levelsTue, 24, May 2016
A German government committee has asked for further tests on 30 cars it says have "inexplicably high" CO2 emissions. The results came to light after officials tested cars from most major brands for 'defeat' devices.
Fiat Chrysler shares fall on report of German sales ban threatMon, 23, May 2016
Shares in Fiat Chrysler fell 5.1 percent after Germany's Bild newspaper reported that the automaker could be prohibited from selling cars in Germany if evidence of disregard of emissions rules was found.
Alfa expects to unveil crossover by end of yearMon, 23, May 2016
Alfa Romeo likely will reveal its new crossover by year end, brand chief Harald Wester said.
Fiat backed by Italy in snub of Germany over emissions probeFri, 20, May 2016
German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt criticized Fiat for not showing up for a meeting to discuss emissions irregularities in its diesel vehicles. However, Fiat won the backing of Italian authorities.
Eagles work in concert for Fiat ad shootMon, 23, May 2016
To grab dramatic footage aerial footage of the Fiat 124 roadster, ad agency FCB Chicago used a trio of eagles with small Sony Action Cams attached to them, and tried to steer clear of crows.
Alfa Giulia to debut with a more powerful engineMon, 16, May 2016
Alfa Romeo's new Giulia midsize sedan will begin arriving in U.S. dealerships in September or October, says the CEO of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles-owned brand.
Fiat reprises 'blue pill' man to launch 124 Spider adsFri, 13, May 2016
The elder gentleman in Fiat's 2015 Super Bowl spot “Blue Pill,” who mistakenly tossed his last enhancement pill out of his bathroom window, is back in a new ad for the 124 Spider.
FCA recalls certain ’16 Jeep Grand Cherokees for wiring issueFri, 13, May 2016
Fiat Chrysler is recalling an estimated 32,267 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees to fix a potentially incorrectly crimped wire harness terminal that could lock the vehicle in park or neutral after the vehicle is stopped.
Dodge commandeers Bondurant trackSat, 07, May 2016
FCA made a sponsorship offer that the Bondurant Racing School couldn't ignore, and now the Camaros and Corvettes that sped through Bondurant for 13 years have given way to SRTs, Hellcats and Vipers.
FCA details plans to hike Jeep, Ram outputFri, 06, May 2016
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne shed some sunlight on the automaker's aggressive plans to revamp its North American production footprint over the next 18 months to make more Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups and fewer cars.
Marchionne says FCA-Google deal on Pacifica is 'first phase' of relationshipFri, 06, May 2016
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said his company's agreement with Google to put the technology giant's autonomous driving system in 100 Chrysler Pacifica minivans is a “first phase” of their relationship.