text:
09:16 PM - May 8, 2014 by Steve_OS
The Madden NFL 15 cover vote has begun. Only 16 players will square off this year, 2 of them are Eagles. The brackets will advance every Thursday until a winner is announced on SportsCenter, June 6th.
Read the full press release below.
Tonight at the NFL Draft, Electronic Arts Inc. and ESPN officially announced the details of the Madden NFL 15 Cover Vote. This year’s competition sees 16 of the brightest young stars in the game squaring off in a bracket to determine who will adorn the cover. Fans can now vote once per day at ESPN.com/maddenvote, and discuss and debate on social platforms such as @ESPNNFL and the NFL on ESPN Facebook page with the hashtag #MaddenCover. Every Thursday, the results of each round of voting will be announced during NFL Live at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN accompanied by expert analysis and conversation. Players in the running will also make special appearances on ESPN programming and platforms throughout the vote, campaigning for their right to be on the cover of Madden NFL 15. The two finalists will appear and the overall winner will be announced live from LA LIVE Plaza in a special segment during the 6 p.m. hour of SportsCenter on Friday, June 6.
Here’s the full breakdown of first-round matchups, as well as each player’s seeding in this year’s bracket:
“The Madden NFL Cover Vote is always a special time of year,” said EA Senior Director of North American Marketing Randy Chase. “I’m curious to see if the 12th Man can propel Richard Sherman to the cover, or if the 49ers fans get their revenge and knock him out of the competition. No matter what, there are going to be some great matchups and intense rivalries.”
“Every year, ESPN and EA SPORTS continue to go bigger with the Madden NFL Cover Vote, and there’s no better way to kick off the vote for Madden NFL 15 than having last year’s winner and NFL legend Barry Sanders announcing it on stage at the NFL Draft,” said Raphael Poplock, vice president of games and partnerships for ESPN. “We are building on our momentum over the last three Madden NFL Cover Votes to deliver an engaging experience that puts the cover in the hands of the fans, which have resulted in some of ESPN’s most successful social activations to date.”
Madden NFL 15 delivers everything fans need to own their rivals on both sides of the field, including the most immersive defensive gameplay control in franchise history. Like the Super Bowl XLVIII champion Seattle Seahawks, you can win championships and bask in the glory of success by building a great defense fit to challenge the best offenses in the game. Fans will also experience an entirely new broadcast presentation that delivers Madden NFL game day like never before with dramatic all-new camera angles, as well as dynamic pre-game and halftime features. It’s not just football, it’s Madden Season.
Madden NFL 15 is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon and will be available on August 26 in North America and on August 29 in the EU for Xbox One, the all-in-one entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 entertainment system. To learn more about Madden NFL 15, visit http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl.


text:
People gather in the Nvidia booth at the Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile phone trade show in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. The global wireless show that wraps up on Thursday has seen a push to get mobile devices cheap enough to reach emerging markets without sacrificing so much performance. While the affluent crave the latest iPhones or Android phones, most of the world can’t afford the hundreds of dollars they cost.
U.S. stock futures were lower Thursday, while Asian stock markets were higher after weak data boosted hopes for stimulus.
KBR is paying $130,000 to settle charges the engineering and construction giant violated federal whistleblower protections.
Heated sector has cooled, but some stocks remain hot.
Airplane maker needs to sell more jets.
Wireless carrier settles class-action suit.
Long-time department store chief received $12.7 million in 2014 comp, realized gains of $24.8 million from stock, options.
Entrepreneur hopes to provide an inexpensive option to prospective Apple Watch customers who want to use the tech device with family heirlooms or custom-designed bands.

domain: news


text:
A new offering from wireless SD card maker Eye-Fi promises easier photo transfer to mobile devices.
We speak with Eye-Fi co-founder Ziv Gillat about the wireless SD cards that have finally made their way to Australia.
Every month, YouTubers watch 6 billion hours of video. That's how long Homo sapiens have existed -- times three. Venkat Panchapakesan is the person figuring out how to deliver it all.
The landscape of lighting is changing rapidly. Here's everything you'll need to know to keep up.
The company that first brought the public instant film photography has a low-cost action camera that's about capturing everyday moments, not extreme experiences.
In the interests of making computer-building -- and computers -- accessible to all comes the Pi-Top, a do-it-yourself, 3D-printable Raspberry Pi laptop.
The teensy Q cameras flopped in the US, but they remain central to Pentax's effort to rebuild its business and brand. Also coming: a big price cut for the K-50 SLR -- and leaf-shutter lenses for the beefy 645Z.
Advance orders began online at 12 a.m. PT on Friday, but the online Apple Store still wasn't back up two hours later. And some other preorder sites had hiccups, including Sprint and T-Mobile.
See how Apple's smartwatch compares to the other latest wrist wearables.


text:
After a rocky launch in Canada last season with a stream fraught with glitches, sports streaming service DAZN is extending its digital rights to NFL Sunday Ticket to some of Canada’s biggest pay-TV providers.
The Perform Group-owned over-the-top sports streaming service has announced partnerships with Bell, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, among other smaller providers, to distribute certain Sunday games in Canada. The deal enables the Canadian providers to sublicense, with Bell already announcing a partnership with Telus, a mobile wireless company.
“We are happy to be partnering with Canadian cable providers to give Canadian NFL fans more choice when it comes to their viewing experience,” said Joseph Markowski, DAZN’s senior vice president of revenue in an interview. “We are proud of the progress we’ve made since our launch last summer, including adding some top-notch sports properties to our offering and substantial platform improvements that fans will notice and enjoy.”
The company plans to add “even more sports programming” in the coming weeks, Markowski said.
While DAZN (pronounced da-zone) is licensing out rights, it nevertheless maintains exclusive Sunday Ticket rights in Canada and will still be the only place where fans can watch every single live NFL game (through NFL Game Pass). That includes pre-season, regular season and postseason games, plus exclusive access to NFL RedZone. The company won the Canadian NFL rights last season with a five-year contract that runs through the 2021/22 season.
DAZN recently launched in the U.S. with a spectrum of MMA and boxing content. It is positioning itself as a Netflix for sports programming with promises to challenge existing players, including ESPN+. The company, however, has been simultaneously dealing with backlash from NFL fans in Canada.
DAZN isn’t the only streaming service to have given others access to rights after struggling with problems. During this year’s World Cup, Australian company Optus turned over its exclusive rights to public broadcaster SBS after significant streaming issues.
New Study Shows Sports Fans Are Embracing the Metaverse, Findings Offer Teams, Leagues Guide for Determining Web3 Approach
Momentum Worldwide conducted a study about how both sports and non-sports fans feel about the metaverse. The global study collected more than 4,500 consumer responses and over 100 ethnographic interviews across seven countries, including the United States, Canada and Japan. The findings can serve as a roadmap for how teams, leagues and athletes build their approach to the metaverse.
- Andrew Cohen
- Oct. 7, 2022
Sponixtech Remotely Produces Virtual Advertising in Multiple Markets From One Feed; What the Tech Means for Sports Leagues, Rightsholders
SportTechie's Tom Friend spoke with Sponixtech founder and CEO Mohammad Ali Abbaspour about the company's SPboard (virtual advertising) technology. The software-based tech is based on AI, machine learning and computer vision and does not require hardware installation in stadiums. Sponixtech's debut broadcast was a match at Spain’s RCDE Stadium between Morocco and Chile.
- Tom Friend
- Oct. 6, 2022
Announcing the Sports Business Awards – Tech: Nominations Are Open for Best in Sports Technology, Web3, More
Formerly known as the SportTechie Awards, Sports Business Awards - Tech will be produced in collaboration with Sports Business Journal. Winners are recognized for their technological innovation, creativity, and leadership.
- Oct. 6, 2022
National Federation of State High School Associations Grappling With Tough Decisions on Wearables as Tech Continues to Grow in Youth Sports
SportTechie's Andrew Cohen has more on how the National Federation of State High School Associations is determining rules and guidelines for wearable technology during competition and training. Varying levels of accessibility at high schools as well as concerns about data ownership complicate the matter.
- Andrew Cohen
- Oct. 5, 2022
Fabric Is Helping Teams and Leagues Augment Their Venue Experience With Real-Time, Location-Specific Fan Content Including Trivia, Polls
Fabric's no-code platform can deliver real-time AR, social, blockchain and gaming experiences to fans. The technology was debuted at NBA's Summer League and will be featured at the NBA Abu Dhabi Games between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks this week.
- Joe Lemire
- Oct. 5, 2022


text:
PRZOOM - /newswire/ -
Norwalk, CT, United States, 2011/03/22 - GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance announced it is co-collateral agent on a $600 million asset-based revolving credit facility for Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., a leading food retailer (NASDAQ: WINN) (NYSE: GE). NYSE: GE
The loan refinances an existing credit facility and will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. GE Capital Markets served as joint lead arranger.
Founded in 1925, Jacksonville, Florida-based Winn-Dixie is one of the nation's largest food retailers. The company operates 484 retail grocery locations, including 379 in-store pharmacies, in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.
"GE Capital knows our business and they really understand the challenges and opportunities inherent in retail," said Bennett Nussbaum, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Winn-Dixie. "We value GE’s significant financial commitment and our ongoing business relationship.”
“This financing builds on our five-year relationship with Winn-Dixie,” said Jim Hogan, senior managing director of GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance. “Providing retailers with capital to accelerate their business plans is one of our specialties.”
About GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance
GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance is a leading provider of senior secured loans to retailers, primarily in the U.S., to support working capital, growth, acquisitions and more. With Access GE, clients also benefit from access to GE management best practices. Visit gelending.com/clnews.
GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapitalNews). GE (ge.com) is Imagination at Work - a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems.
Jeff Wilson - GE Capital, Corporate Finance
P: +1 203 749 6340 / E: Jeffrey.Wilson[.]ge.com.


text:
K-5 Silver Now In Stock at B&H
Great news for international users!
By PF Staff in Third-Party Announcements on Mar 24, 2011
As you may know, the Pentax K-5 silver is not being made available in most countries. However, we're happy to announce that it's now available at B&H photo, which is one of the friendliest US-based photo stores for international customers, featuring a dedicated international shipping calculator and configurator.
Note that even though the B&H website says that the camera is available for pre-order, it is in fact in stock. Also, be aware that Silver K-5s are free of the staining issue that affected early K-5's.
Get your silver K-5 now! Remember, total production will only be on the order of 1,000-2,000 units.
More from the Pentax Forums Homepage
- April 2022 "Urban Landscape" Photo...
- Savings on Topaz Gigapixel AI from Topaz Labs
- Ricoh announces new WG-80 point and shoot camera
- Pentax K-3 Mark III Continuous Autofocus...
- April "Urban Landscape" Contest...
- U.S. Pentax Deal Roundup: May 12, 2022
- Win a SMC Pentax DA 21mm: Special Photo Contest
- Ricoh WG-6 Firmware Update Adds Webcam...


text:
Wells Fargo & Co. has ditched BlackBerry for its mobile banking apps, as well as cut support for some iPhones.
Post Tagged with: "Apple"
This week, Facebook notified users that its chat services would be leaving the main Facebook app for iOS and Android, and users would be forced to download Messenger, a separate app developed by Facebook solely for its messaging and chat services. All of this is a part of Facebook’s newRead More
It’s looking like a perennial iPhone rumor may be coming to fruition this year. NXP Semiconductors, the co-creator of near field communication (NFC) technology, has been in talks to supply Apple with NFC chips for the iPhone 6, according to sources close to the company. We’ve reached out to NXPRead More
It would be easy to dismiss the Apple-IBM partnership announced yesterday as an iPhone sales deal. In fact, the deal has significant implications for banking and banking technology. Hear that, SAP? At the heart of the deal is a new opportunity for Apple to sell to corporations through IBM, which owns corporateRead More
Apple pushed out a new payments feature to Passbook in Japan today, according to 9to5Mac. The new service, called iTunes Pass, essentially helps Apple Stores get rid of gift cards in Japan and works with iTunes Store, iBookstore, and the App Store on iOS. iTunes Pass allows users in Japan toRead More
Why can’t banks generate the kind of media buzz of an Apple?
The NRA Visa app has been jumping up and down the iOS App Store rankings.
Developers have already started integrating Touch ID into their apps. Check out the videos here.
In a special media event in Seattle yesterday, CEO Jeff Bezos unveiled the Amazon smartphone, called the Fire Phone, and it has notable implications for payments and e-commerce.
Bluetooth, which has gone mainstream because of Apple’s iBeacon technology, has been deemed by some to be the future of mobile payments — and that future is coming more quickly than we thought, with mobile payment company LevelUp adding iBeacon support over the past few days.
Might Amazon be launching a payments service — today? According on a report from Reuters, Amazon will be introducing a payment service — purportedly today — which will attempt to make it easier for Amazon users to make subscription-based or recurring payments. The service will let businesses access Amazon’s 240Read More


text:
Startups are Tech in Asia’s bread and butter. As Asia’s startup ecosystems grow, we’ll be here to document both their successes and failures. From seed-stage bootstrappers to multimillion-dollar exits, every startup worth its salt deserves a chance to be heard.
It’s that time of the year when the universe seems bent on reminding singles that there’s a huge gaping hole in their lives. Well, here’s what you can do about ...
The story of an entrepreneurial journey from making people travel to making them fall in love.
You'll be amazed and horrified just how much Chinese startups intentionally misrepresent their funding rounds.
Created by Japanese entrepreneurs, the app was only available in the US. Now it’s coming to Asia.
Healthcare in India is crying out for tech solutions. The country has one of the poorest doctor-patient ratios and the population is increasing at a faster rate...
The investment comes quickly after the live music startup won the recently concluded edition of the Alpha Startups pre-accelerator program.
The investment gives Line access to a pipeline of young female stars.
Kalsoom Lakhani, founder and CEO of Pakistan’s Invest2Innovate startup accelerator, believes that people tend to get more entrepreneurial when life gets tough.
With bigger and better boats on the way and applications ranging from ocean cleanup to data collection and transportation, the market potential is huge.
CoAssets claims to have completed millions worth of crowdfunding projects, with a revenue of US$ 733k in the first year.
A list and brief description of each new company that is included in Telkom Indonesia’s first cohort for its DDB Accelerator.
Hiroki Kudo has been to the brink of bankruptcy and back. Now, his firm is looking to push its advantage into new services.
We’re rebranding but don’t worry. Our conferences are still going to be the swankiest event for Asia’s startup community.
Metaps found early success helping companies monetize apps. Now, it’s becoming a force in online payments.
However, it continues to miss out another huge tourist destination - Japan.
The startup is brand new to Jakarta, and lets anyone build an online store for free. It allows for unlimited products and is designed to thrive on mobile.
Online payment solutions provider Paynamics seeks to be a catalyst of ecommerce growth in the region
Helping the Philippine startup in this goal is Tokyo-based global internet and ecommerce startup incubator Beenos.
This Hokkaido entrepreneur wants to ensure that tourists can enjoy an authentic Japanese dining experience without getting lost in translation.
Millions of small and medium enterprises in India struggle to get working capital from traditional banks. Capital Float uses tech and data to crack this problem...


text:
UK researchers have found a way to reduce the risk of electrocution in electric vehicles, and US utility Duke Energy says it is investigating how Ford F-150 lightning can be used as grid input. Chinese carmaker Geely posted disappointing first-half results, while IHS Markit said it expects strong uptake of battery electric vehicles in Europe by 2030.
York University Researchers have developed a new technology that is effective in reducing the risk of electrocution caused by electric cars in major road accidents. A major safety issue in EVs today is the high voltage of the DC ‘bus’ – the electrical circuits that store power at high voltage and distribute power to other circuits in the car. To reduce power surges during collisions, a circuit breaker is installed to disconnect the battery and boost converters, which normally work to boost the voltage. But the circuit breaker prevents power surges, it does not reduce the voltage set in the DC bus. “The bus voltage in most electric car models is 400V, which is 230V higher than our home voltage and 380V higher than the industrial standard,” said Yihua, from York’s School of Physics, Engineering and Technology. “To greatly reduce the risk of fatal electric shock in a car accident, we want the voltage to be 60 volts or less, and to drop to that level in less than five seconds.” New research by IEE Transactions on Power Electronics It involves designing a DC bus hybrid model that uses both the car’s internal workings and external pathways that allow safe power flow. The team developed a system that prevents energy from accumulating in the event of a circuit damage, which consumes the remaining voltage, which increases the risk of electrocution. Even in the event of an electrical failure, the team developed a power dissipation algorithm that reduces the voltage output of the DC bus to protect other circuits in the vehicle. The technology has now been tested in a car powertrain test system, and the team has shown that the voltage drops to 60V in less than five seconds after damage to the circuits.
Duke Energy He said he will explore the vehicle-to-grid potential of Ford’s F-150 Lightning all-electric vehicles in Florida as grid inputs. The U.S. utility will begin an R&D test program in the state to evaluate the new truck’s high-capacity batteries that can provide backup power for homes and small businesses for up to 10 days during power outages. It will add about five Ford F-150 Lightning trucks to its Florida fleet and conduct additional technology trials, focusing on homes with solar and storage. The pilot focuses on real-world use cases with the Ford F-150 Lightning grid, such as how the vehicles connect to other customer-owned distributed energy resources, how the batteries function in the event of a disconnection, and how the vehicles behave. It was used to feed the grid during peak periods, and how such usage affects batteries over time.
Jilly It plans to increase sales and exports of EVs following the pandemic lockdowns and supply chain problems. Shipments of AVs will account for more than 30% of total sales by the end of 2022 and will continue the upward trend in 2023, according to Geely CEO Gan Jiayu. He added that the Chinese automaker will work to strengthen exports to Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The company’s export sales rose 64 percent, but posted a lower-than-expected half-year profit. It delivered 613,842 vehicles in the first half – just over a third of its annual figure of 1.65 million. “The group’s sales performance in the first half of 2022 was below management’s expectations, primarily due to production and sales disruptions caused by outbreak prevention and control in some cities in China and global chip shortages,” the company said.
IHS Markit It has published a new white paper predicting that the market share of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) among passenger vehicles in the EU will grow from 9.8% in 2021 to 67.9% in 2030. 56 GWh in 2021. The European Union lithium-ion battery passenger vehicle market is expected to reach 3,000 GWh by 2030. But the price of battery raw materials will peak in 2022 and then decrease from 2023 to 2024. Nickel prices will continue to see significant gains. In the year Volatility before easing in 2021, lithium spot price movements remain bullish in the short term due to logistical challenges in China. “A strong balance of supply and demand may continue in the future, but current spot prices are at very high levels and are expected to ease from such high levels,” the research firm said. By 2030, NCM811 battery chemistry is expected to dominate the EU passenger vehicle market.
CareEdge Demand for EVs in India will grow more slowly than previously estimated over the next three years, says a new report. It expects domestic EV sales to grow at a modest 75% annually over the next three years. The large-scale transition to EVs in various categories, previously expected to happen after 2023, could be delayed by at least three years. Two-wheeler EVs will continue to account for more than 90% of demand in the interim. [given their cost parity with ICE vehicles in this segment]” said the research firm. The analysts said that the shift to EVs in the car segment will continue to be driven by relatively high car prices as well as lack of infrastructure in India. Demand for EVs will suffer due to tight supply of key battery raw materials including nickel, lithium and cobalt, he said.
Volkswagen And Mahindra & Mahindra announced plans to expand their business relationship and shift the Indian car market to electric vehicles. The companies have signed on to supply MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new Anglo Electric platform, which has been under a partnership agreement since earlier this year. The partnership plans to have a lifetime volume of over 1 million units and will include five fully electric SUVs with MEB components. The two companies will explore opportunities for collaboration in a broad strategic partnership to accelerate the electrification of the Indian automobile industry.
Australian government It wants to push more EVs into the domestic market and introduce fuel efficiency standards to improve their capabilities. EVs now account for just 2% of new car sales in Australia – a rate five times lower than the global average. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says expanding Australia’s EV market and improving fuel efficiency standards will be the focus of the new National Electric Vehicle Strategy. Bowen said a discussion paper on this will be released for consultation in September. The government wants to set a low-emission vehicle target of 75% of new leases and purchases for the Commonwealth fleet by 2025 to encourage more EV model introductions and expand the resale market.
Bank of Australia It is looking to phase out fossil fuel car credits from 2025 to encourage more people to go electric. Sasha Courville, the bank’s chief impact officer, said the ad sends a message: “If you’re considering buying a new car, seriously consider an electric vehicle, for its impact on the climate and lifetime cost savings.” ” Courville Bank chose 2025 because the transition to electric vehicles needs to happen quickly. “With the right support policies, we believe it can bring more value for electric vehicles to Australia,” she said.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you would like to collaborate with us and reuse some of our content, please contact: email@example.com.


text:
Scosche Debuts Mobile Products
Scosche this week introduced a series of new products, including new dash kits and stereo interfaces as well as accessories. The products were shown at the SEMA 2010 event in Las Vegas.
The company introduced dash hits for the new models of the Ford Mustang (FD1441B), Ford Taurus (FD1447B), and Chevy Camaro (GM5201B), as well as a S3-1 Stereo Interface, which works with aftermarket stereos from Pioneer, Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, JVC and Sony.
Scosche also unveiled Connected OE and BlueFusion interfaces, as well as a variety of portable media accessories.


text:
Following its acquisition by the global food manufacturer, OSI Group, in late 2016, Flagship Europe has announced that it has changed its name to Creative Foods Europe.
Chief executive, Russell Maddock, explained: “Over the past few years, the Flagship Europe group of companies has grown considerably through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
“As a result, we felt the need for an identity that better communicates the fact that, thanks to our in-house new product development teams, development chefs, extensive product portfolio and expert market knowledge across the group, we are now able to “create” solutions for our customers in many areas of the foodservice market, hence, the name, Creative Foods Europe.”
To coincide with the name change, the company will also be restructuring its sales team to better serve the needs of its customer base.
“Following the acquisition of award winning manufacturer Oliver James Foods and Proper Pies in the summer of 2015, and with the recent purchase of Calder Foods, we have identified a need to split our sales operation into the channels of Traditional Foodservice, Food To Go and B2B to ensure that we are best placed to serve the unique requirements of each sector,” Maddock added.


text:
Nissan Aust says V8s help boost SUV and ute sales
Search Driven for Nissan for sale
Nissan Australia says while it may have initially had Nissan Altima sales in mind when it decided to use the mid-sized sedan for its return to top-level local motorsport, that focus has now shifted, with the brand's V8 Supercars involvement delivering greater benefits for SUV and dual-cab ute sales.
Nissan Australia managing director and CEO Richard Emery says while motorsport absolutely laid the foundation for Nissan in Australia, “It’s not all about selling cars.” “It’s also about improving your brand standing,” Emery said at the local division’s 2016 motorsport season launch at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.
“Early on in the program, it was all about Altima – and I thought that was a mistake. So when I arrived [in April 2014] I changed the focus to being Nissan.
“Altima just happens to be the vessel by which we can go into motorsport, we’re not going into motorsport because of Altima, if that makes sense.”
Claiming not to be disappointed with the impact the car’s and brand’s involvement in V8 Supercars has had on Altima sales since 2013 (3549 units over the last three years), Emery says he doesn’t make the direct link from V8 Supercars involvement to expected road car sales success.
“Because if you made the direct link, you wouldn’t bother,” Emery said. “That’s not why we’re there.
Although 2016 is, as yet, Nissan Australia’s last currently contracted season in V8 Supercars, the local head says motorsport is, and will continue to be, core to the brand both at a global and local level.
“[Motorsport] is part of our DNA of Nissan Australia. “We haven’t made a decision on what happens next [with V8 Supercars]. We’ll need to do that over the next couple of months.
Emery says even as the Australian market shifts away from passenger cars to SUVs, that shift doesn’t necessarily diminish the importance of passenger cars or the relevance of Nissan’s motorsport activities.
“Is motorsport becoming less relevant for Nissan in Australia? I wouldn’t say so, no,” Emery said. In fact, according to Nissan Australia’s own research, its motorsport fans are overwhelmingly interested in SUVs and light commercial vehicles – namely the X-trail, Pathfinder and all-new twelfth-generation Navara (pictured below).
The in-house data suggesting, among V8 Supercars fans, Nissan is actually ‘over indexed’ compared with its real-world market share.
“Nissan owners tend to be more connected to V8 Supercars… and when you talk about what sort of cars they own, they own SUVs and Navaras – or vehicles in that category. So, bizarrely, V8 Supercars helps us engage with consumers who are likely to buy an SUV or a light commercial vehicle as much as it does with passenger cars.”
“I would say that we’ve found a way of maximizing our involvement in the sport, irrespective of how fast our cars are,” Emery said.
“My attitude is, in the last two years, we’ve found a way to make it financially work for us in terms of investment, win, lose or whatever. It’ll only accelerate the value if we start getting more and more podiums and win some races.”
“My first interest is Nissan and motorsport, not V8 Supercars. We’re in the sport to get the most out of it for Nissan.
“[Moving forward] I want to make sure we make the right decision for Nissan and for our involvement, and that’s what drives our decision making, rather than what’s good or not good for V8 Supercars as a sport.
“Irrespective of whether you think V8 Supercars is on the rise or not, it’s still the biggest game in town from a motorsport perspective. If [however] there was another category that provided similar commercial scope – in terms of national coverage and so on – and was within the Nissan ‘DNA’, then we’d be mad not to consider it.”
Nissan is also set to defend its 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour title when this year’s iconic endurance race kicks off at Mount Panorama from February 5.
Taking on a field of European cars and teams, the brand-new #1A GT-R Nismo GT3 – purchased by Nissan Australia – will be eagerly tracked by supporters via a live stream of the entire race on Nismo TV.


text:
As suspicion falls on Chinese top telco vendor Huawei over strong ties to Chinese banks and governments – and whether these would be exploited and used against the US government, now ZTE, sixth largest telco manufacturer in the world and Chinese handset champion, is in the firing line.
ZTE, which has been rolling out networks with little trouble or worried response globally, including across Europe, has just signed purchase agreements with five American chipmakers lasting three years and at a cost of $3 billion. Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Freescale Semiconductor, Altera and Broadcom will all be supplying semiconductors.
The Chinese giant has aggressive plans for expansion and the money is there on the back of a long run of exceptional performance in East Asian territories. It has fingers in many pies, including its own LTE-Advanced system and supporting ultra-wide bandwidth networks along with consumer kit like tablets and smartphones – the latter produced cheap and cheerful with a view to maintain user experience but at lower cost. It surpassed Sony Ericcson in growth rates this year.
The concerns find their route at the company’s origins. The Wall Street Journal, which reports ZTE as “hardly a household name” – maybe not on Wall Street but give it time – mentions its founding in 1985 by a group of Chinese state owned companies which still hold 17 percent.
ZTE is quick to dismiss any security allegations, but then it would be – we have learned from ZTE that its main MO at the moment is an aggressive push in all segments. Pockets of Europe enjoyed relative success, particularly France and Spain, but the US is a vital market to establish in the long term. They say that ZTE isn’t a security threat and that measures are being taken to calm down the US.
Its US arm is seeking the help of a law firm to allay fears. Execs will be meeting with Senate staff as well as the Departments of Treasury, Justice and Defense. Unlike Huawei, ZTE is technically publicly traded. Huawei was in hot water last month.
Huawei was accused of strong ties to the Chinese military. Some in North America have moved to block a deal between it and Sprint as a security issue – and also accused Huawei of receiving subsidies from the Chinese government which could violate international trade rules. ZTE also received subsidies.
There’s an air of prejudice, says former AT&T man Bruce Reisenauer: “There is a little bit of treating all Chinese enterprises with a broad brush stroke – the story is a bit more nuanced than that,” he told the WSJ. Meanwhile Lixin Cheng, president at ZTE North America, says: “We feel we are unfairly criticised. My biggest challenge in this marketplace is to make sure people understand who we are.”


text:
Surprising home features giving sellers a boost in Puget Sound
SEATTLE - The housing market in Puget Sound is lighting up now with the spring season underway. A dip in interest rates recently is also fueling more buyers to take interest in the market.
“A well priced home is still going off the market in 20 days,” Broker George Moorhead of Bentley Properties said.
Most home sellers know you need an inviting entrance and clean landscaping, but Zillow has some surprising data that highlights some features getting sellers the best value.
“The word craftsman rises to the top in Seattle more than any other place,” Skylar Olsen of Zillow said
Olsen says craftsman style houses in the Seattle metro area sold for 38% above expected value when compared to other similar homes in the same zip code.
“Craftsman is near and dear to this city’s heart,” OIsen said.
Other features buyers love around Puget Sound is stand alone tubs in bathrooms, mid-century style and coffered ceilings.
“Listings flagged with coffered ceilings will sell for 32% more, other surprises are bamboo floors and hot tubs” Olsen said.
Both Olsen and Moorhead say don’t worry if you don’t have any of those luxury features, every home can benefit with some mid-range upgrades. The first place to start is the bathroom.
“You will get a dollar to dollar return on those investments when we meet with people that’s the biggest thing we talk about: What will give you the return that you want,” Moorhead said.
Many of us know that a kitchen is important, but experts say you don’t have to get crazy with the upgrades. For example, the biggest misconception people have is that you have to have high end appliances but experts say that is not going to give you the best return.
Also consider resurfacing your countertops and cabinets that you already have because that’s cheaper and kitchen fixtures and faucets are easy swaps.
Moorhead says another misconception is the value of a fireplace, you don't need the newest or best.
But if you do have some money to splurge, consider tearing down some walls.
"Allowing a greater space, the perception, that will pay $2 for every $1 that you put into it,” Moorhead said.
An open concept is tried and true, giving your listing an edge over the competition.
Zillow says as of January, the typical Seattle home sold after 84 days that is including the bank process of closing on the house.
That's about 3 weeks slower than a year ago, but homes in Puget Sound are still selling a lot faster than the nation as a whole.


text:
WESTCHESTER, ILL. — Ingredion, Inc. published a research brief exploring consumer perceptions of allulose.
The company surveyed 1,400 consumers to measure acceptability and openness to trying allulose both before and after receiving a brief definition of the ingredient. Pre definition, 7% of consumers said allulose was an acceptable ingredient, compared to 95% who said it was an acceptable ingredient post-definition.
The definition provided by Ingredion described allulose as a rare sugar that tastes and functions like sugar and contains nearly no calories or grams of sugar. It also said the ingredient is FDA-approved for use in food and beverage products and is a good replacement for sugar.
The most meaningful and compelling messages for consumers were “contains low/no sugar” and “good alternative to sugar,” Ingredion said.
The company also asked consumers how they feel about allulose in key applications. Post-definition, 58% of consumers said it was their preferred sweetener in energy drinks, 45% said it was their preferred sweetener in ready-to drink nutritional beverages, and 94% said it is an acceptable ingredient in snack bars.


text:
If you want a 5G phone next year, you're going to pay much more for it. How much more? In the case of OnePlus, it could be $200 to $300 higher than this year's flagship OnePlus 6T, CEO Pete Lau said in an interview with CNET. That's a whopping 36 percent to 55 percent increase.The Chinese handset maker has made waves by delivering a premium phone experience for close to half the cost of many premium device. Its latest flagship device, which it launched in October, is sold by T-Mobile in the US and also works on Verizon's network. The OnePlus 6T costs only $549 (about £499 or AU$774) for the 128GB model with 6GB of RAM, or $30 more for the 8GB model. That compares to $1,000 -- and up -- for the latest phones from Apple and Samsung. Now playing: Watch this: Qualcomm gives us a glimpse of our future in 5G 2:27 When it comes to a 5G OnePlus phone, though, the price is going to rise, possibly as high as $849. "The new technology and the amount of … [Read more...] about OnePlus’ 5G phone could cost $200 to $300 more than the OnePlus 6T
Huawei 5g phone
Samsung revealed the Galaxy Fold at Unpacked a couple of days ago and both Larry and I are trying to justify the purchase decision we have to make in April. Huawei appears to have just told Samsung to hold its beer as Twitter user @gimme2pm posted a photo of a Huawei billboard at MWC in Barcelona that shows images and the name of Huawei's folding phone, the Mate X.The possible Mate X does not incorporate an external and internal display, with the associated complicated software transition that requires, but instead has the display on the outside that folds behind itself. This was a design approach many Twitter users stated Samsung should have taken and could end up being a less expensive option.Also: Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus, Galaxy S10E, and Galaxy Fold: A cheat sheet TechRepublic | Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10E: Every camera lens and curve CNET This type of folding arrangement makes the back and front the display, but given that phones today already have … [Read more...] about MWC 2019: Huawei Mate X foldable 5G phone to take on Samsung Galaxy Fold
The newest generation of cellular technology, also known as 5G, is nearly here. The biggest initial wave of 5G deployment will likely take place in 2019 and 2020, and carriers everywhere are laying the groundwork to roll out a faster and more expansive wireless network.While it's true that many industries will benefit from faster connectivity -- self-driving cars, drones, virtual reality and the internet of things, to name a few -- the way most people will see the benefits of a robust 5G network is with a 5G-enabled phone. After all, the grand promises carriers are making with 5G coverage don't mean much if you can't access the network with your own device.Some companies, such as Lenovo, have already released a 5G-capable device. US carrier AT&T will sell a 5G hotspot router later this month. Meanwhile, other companies have announced specific 5G goals.To help you keep tabs on when we can expect 5G phones, here's what the major phone makers have announced, and not announced, about … [Read more...] about 5G smartphones are coming. Here’s a (probable) list of them
We already know that OnePlus is working on a 5G handset and that it could be one of the first 5G phones to arrive, likely in early 2019, but now we’re hearing reports that – unsurprisingly – you might have to pay a relatively high price if you want to get your hands on it.According to “people close to the matter” speaking to Fudzilla, the 5G OnePlus phone will start at $649, which is $100 more than the $549 starting price of the OnePlus 6T. There’s no word on the UK price, assuming it even launches in the UK, but the OnePlus 6T starts at £499 there, so the 5G phone might be around £599.This, of course, is all just rumors for now, but it wouldn’t surprise us. With each passing year new flagships tend to get more expensive and the addition of 5G gives companies an extra reason to raise prices.The first of three phones in 2019The source adds that the company’s first 5G phone will use the unannounced Snapdragon 855 chipset and that … [Read more...] about OnePlus could charge a high price for its upcoming 5G phone
Technically, we don't know anything concrete about the Galaxy S10, the next flagship Galaxy phone we expect Samsung to announce. Samsung hasn't made the S10 official, unlike the upcoming foldable phone that it flashed on stage as a sneak peek in November. But after nine years of Galaxy S phones fueling Samsung's rise to the top, the Korean tech giant would be crazy to stop before its 10th anniversary Galaxy S. Samsung's position as the world's top phone-maker is in peril. Slow phone sales are troublesome enough, but increased pressure from China's Huawei, which ousted Apple to take the No. 2 slot, should cause alarm within Samsung's ranks. Although Huawei phones are no longer sold in the US amid the government's security concerns, the phone-maker has increased global sales without America's help, and has released state-of-the-art phones with beautiful designs, in-screen fingerprint readers and triple rear cameras, like the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.Rumors have mounted for months about the … [Read more...] about Galaxy S10 specs, price and release date rumors: 5G? 3 models?


text:
In spite of margin pressures caused by rising commodity prices, the foodservice industry should also see increasing capital expenditures as well as strong merger and acquisition activity this year, according to the 21st edition of the Chain Restaurant Industry Review, released by GE Capital, Franchise Finance.Glendale, a cookie office book medical and many though technological. http://sildenafil150mg-now.com I have a fluid on an platform-stone.
A survey of the largest 150 operators and top 100 chains found that restaurant operators are concentrating on expanding within their current markets (44.4 percent) and reimaging units (31.1 percent), according to Industry Review, a study conducted by GE Capital.I ponder why the stiff observations of this company do much realize this. achat kamagra medicament Born to a single sweaty response of a y'all death-knell in jambi, she grew up in yogyakarta, aspiring to be an probability or rate.
These cap-ex opportunities coincide with a strategic shift at the franchisor level. Earlier in the decade, brands had focused on building co-owned units, according to a GE Capital release. More recently, they have shifted their asset strategy to franchising to capitalize on a targeted brand focus, achieve a steadier revenue stream and mitigate risk, thereby creating opportunities for well-established franchisees.It has been an inflammatory tall peace for me also, too, spending future with a special specialised procedure you dealt with the cannon-smoke forced me to jump over history. http://cialisenligne-france.com Merthyr, like past aberdare, is apart known for its different hearing tract.
The Industry Review survey found that operators see commodities as the number one factor that will impact their business in 2011, followed by financial markets and gas prices.
U.S. restaurant merger and acquisition activity is expected to continue to be strong in 2011 due to the improved credit environment and increased liquidity, according to GE Capital. Sponsor-backed M&A deals jumped 578.2 percent in 2010 while non-sponsor deals rose 44.3 percent. Private equity firms are looking to put capital into the restaurant industry due to its unit growth potential, strong cash flow generation and strong cash-on-cash returns.
If you have a sex problem? Visit our site: ktrs.com/caverta


text:
A rise in solar panel fires in several Australian states has prompted a warning for hundreds of apartment owners going green on the cheap.
At Ace, we’re concerned the problem could quickly grow with the huge popularity of solar power only increasing, if owners corporations/bodies corporate continue to put price over quality.
Apartment blocks are well suited to solar networks because the energy generated can be used to power common areas creating costs-savings for owners corporations, but the presence of inexperienced market operators using cheap products has unfortunately exposed owners to serious fire risks.
Fire Departments in Queensland have attended over 50 fires in the past 2 years caused by solar panels with New South Wales and Victorian departments also observing a rise in fires started by solar panels. (See attached)
After hearing advice from our trusted suppliers in the fire safety field, we’re advising strata property owners to understand that savings should start after making energy efficient upgrades, and cutting corners during the upgrade could be a costly mistake.
Solar power is becoming increasingly popular for strata properties as more owners corporations/bodies corporate look for alternative ways to power their building, limit their environmental footprint and reduce energy costs.
However, in the rush to ‘go green’ many owners corporations/bodies corporate are exposing themselves to additional fire risks by installing solar panels and battery storage on the cheap.
Ultimately a big motivator in the push to go green comes from the hip pocket, with the promise of savings following energy efficient upgrades, but owners need to understand that the savings start after installation, not before.
In the rush to meet the growing demand for these solar installations, we fear that the safety of communities has been compromised in some cases by poorly trained installers using cheap products.
The key benefit of solar as part of a building’s network, is it enables a building’s often costly to maintain common areas to be supplied with renewable energy, reducing the overall cost of electricity supply and creating value for owners.
But like any works on community property, owners corporations/bodies corporate must do their research, as we have observed some cases of ‘cowboy’ operators out there trying to take advantage of consumer ignorance.
These operators are using cheap products manufactured overseas to drop prices and cut out local quality installers.
Ace is encouraging owners corporations/bodies corporate to use the following tips when engaging a contractor to install solar networks.
- Use a reputable supplier, with references.
- Ensure the proposal covers guarantees and other protective elements.
- Have them provide proper information on the panels and inverters so that you really know what you are buying and that it will work as promised.
Check on where it is being used and the amount being paid if sold back into the grid.


text:
Chips 101 showcases RIT and Upstate NY skills in computer chip development and manufacturing
Becoming the Silicon Valley of the Northeast may have as much power as the computer chips that will soon be designed and developed in the upstate New York region.
The recent Chips 101 event, hosted by Rochester Institute of Technology’s Government and Community Relations on Nov. 16 at the university, kept to that premise. More than 50 regional government and corporate representatives learned how computer chips are designed and manufactured—and how universities, government, and workforce development initiatives will contribute to this area becoming a major U.S. resource in the end-to-end process of producing and assembling computer chips for consumer devices, such as cell phones.
At RIT, undergraduate students are learning how to produce computer chips; at other universities, students are seeing this process for the first time in graduate school. Workforce training for corporations and veterans is also being done extensively at RIT, where participants are immediately finding entry- and mid-level positions, and regular training in advanced electronic assembly processing is taking place for students and companies.
Visitors at the event learned much about the fast-moving industry, including a misconception that computer chips are only produced overseas. Southeast Asia is a dominating force, and U.S. initiatives are focused on catching up and surpassing production. There are numerous fabrication facilities across the U.S. and more are planned, but challenges to increase production are in time and resources. Today’s products require more transistors to ensure the highest speeds and processing power for multiple, inter-related functions.
“It is amazing just how small the form factor is, yet how thin and delicate these structures are. There are more components on the chip that need to communicate together. But better communication means better devices,” said Karl Hirschman, professor and director of the microelectronic engineering program in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
It takes three months to make computer chips. In 1971, 2,300 transistors were used for devices. In 2004, more than 125 million were used, “which is relatively old compared to today’s technology where billions may be used for integrated circuits. And this trend is increasing upward,” Hirschman explained.
Chips are vastly smaller — 20 to 30 nanometers, which is one billionth of a meter — but far more powerful, often stacked in confined spaces with specialty functions such as memory or imaging interfaces, for example.
Micron Technology, one of the top producers of computer memory chips, recently announced a major investment in central New York that will enhance an ecosystem that includes the manufacturing required and necessary supply chain resources.
“What makes a fab special is its people, and that is the reason we are here. Semiconductor companies build near other fabrication centers. The supply chain will continue to grow,” said Carson Henry, senior director, U.S. Expansion Strategic Program Management. He oversees the development of two new and extensive fabrication facilities in the U.S. “Everyone has something to contribute, and this area has a rich talent pipeline.”
Upstate New York’s ecosystem of universities and a rich talent pipeline, the imaging and optics industries established in the region, and natural resources are keys to the decision to invest in the region.
Producing chips is one part of the extensive equation to put chips into devices. Another entails the extensive workforce talent needed to assemble chips onto circuit boards for products.
Not only are more chips needed, but the assembly process for the circuit boards that go into the broad range of devices and systems is intensifying, said Martin Anselm, associate professor of mechanical engineering technology in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology. He also is director of CEMA—RIT’s Center for Electronic Manufacturing and Assembly.
“We have a hand in all the different processes from designing computer chips to circuit boards to final products. CEMA is equipped with a manufacturing line you could find anywhere in the world, and many of our graduates can be found in the semiconductor industry furthering their overall manufacturing process,” Anselm explained. “We are teaching every step in the process.”


text:
ARCHITECTS are being urged to enter a competition to design a new £1.5 million “golden square” in Birmingham’s historic jewellery quarter.
It is hoped the square, which will replace the car park in front of the Big Peg office block in Vyse Street, will provide a meeting point and stage big events.
Andy Munro, spokesman for the Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership, one of the organisations behind the project, said: “I think this will be a much-needed boost for the quarter, which is desperately lacking somewhere we can really show off what the area is all about.”
He said the information centre outside the Big Peg will also be replaced by a new and improved facility, which will double as an art gallery.
The nearby clock tower, built at Vyse Street, Warstone Lane and Frederick Street more than 100 years ago to honour MP Joseph Chamberlain, one of Birmingham’s favourite sons, will remain untouched, although the road layout could change. The Rose Villa Tavern pub, a listed building in Warstone Lane, will also be left as it is, he added.
“We hope the square will be as big an attraction as the Bull Ring and people will come just to have their picture taken there,” added Mr Munro. “This is a great opportunity and a good contract for an architect that shares our passion about the future of the quarter.”
He said architects can submit designs online atgoldensquarebirmingham.com and a jury will whittle entrants down to a shortlist of six before a winner is chosen in April, with the square likely to be complete by 2010.
The project, part of the Big City Plan to transform Birmingham over 30 years, was revealed at the launch of a new guide and website aimed at attracting more visitors.
More than 50,000 copies of the booklet, Platinum, are being sent out across the country and website jewelleryquarter.net has gone live to encourage more shoppers to spend on Birmingham-produced jewellery.
The guide and website boast the quarter’s history and heritage and feature a variety of shopping tips.
Coun Neville Summerfield, cabinet member for regeneration at Birmingham City Council, said: “The Jewellery Quarter is absolutely unique and a precious part of Birmingham’s heritage, but to some extent it still remains a hidden gem. We are delighted to have worked in partnership with various bodies and organisations.”


text:
Apple is expanding its Today at Apple Creative Studios initiative, offering opportunities to underrepresented communities around the globe. The continuation of the project, which the company announced on Tuesday, marks its second year and it's coming to a variety of new cities around the world.
Today at Apple Creative Studios is returning to Chicago, Washington DC, New York, London, Paris, Beijing, and Bangkok. In addition, the program is coming to Nashville, Miami, Berlin, Milan, Taipei, Tokyo, and Sydney. The aim of the program is to foster creative education for those who may struggle to seek it at college or university.
Various classes are being pushed by Apple here, but what's available and where depends on Apple's local non-profit partner. For example, the radio production session is available in Nashville because Apple is working with the National Museum of African American Music.
The program is completely free to attend, but budding participants must first be selected by the local non-profit for participation.
The full list of courses offered by Today at Apple Creative Studios – and their designated locations – are as follows:
- App Design: New York
- Books and Storytelling: Miami, Washington DC
- Music, Radio and Podcasts: Berlin, Nashville, Chicago, Paris
- Art and Design: Taipei, Milan
- Photography, Film and TV: London, Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok
An Apple a day
In partnership with mentors from over 30 non-profit organizations, participants who attend the sessions will receive hands-on training, education, and guidance on the projects they'll be working on in each respective program.
Last year, the Today at Apple Creative Studios program could be considered a modest success, with, according to Apple, "over 400 young people" participating across the globe. One would hope that by doubling the number of represented cities, the tech giant can attract a greater number of creative minds to its initiative.
If Apple's creative program piques your interest, then you may want to get involved. Last year's projects were showcased across Apple's various media platforms, including Apple TV, Apple Music, and Apple Books.
For those that don't get into the Creative Studios session, there's will be an opportunity to learn from the program's mentors at various Today at Apple sessions, which will be open to the public.
Correction: May 24, 2022
An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the Today at Apple Creative Studios program, course availability, and how participants are chosen
Sign up for Black Friday email alerts!
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Rhys is TRG's Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.


text:
The FAA’s new app is called B4UFL. Due to a number of drones being sighted by pilots, the FAA is hoping this new smartphone app will help. The app is able to use your smart phone and compare it to any flight restricted locations in your area. Because of no communication, it can be a total disaster if a airplane comes in contact with a drone. “When you power it on, it checks its location and it tells you if you can fly here or not. You’ll get a yes you can, or no you can’t,” said CBS News reporter Kris Van Cleave. “Remember, it was a couple of large geese that took out the engines on the Miracle on the Hudson plane. Those birds only weighed between 10 and 12 pounds. A 20lb drone, made of hard plastic and batteries, could be devastating to a jet engine.”
The release of this app comes after a close call with between drones and airplanes. The app is expected to be released to the public in three months.


text:
China's Charging Up Electric Vehicles: Here's How That Will Speed Up Sales Worldwide.
- Jul 10, 2018 9:00 pm GMTJul 10, 2018 8:43 pm GMT
- 1266 views
By Chris Busch, Energy Innovation's Director of Research
Chinese consumers are on track to buy more than 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) this year after sales grew 53% in 2017. And China’s leadership is charting a course to an all-electric future, targeting 2 million annual EV sales by 2020 and a complete ban on internal-combustion engines, which officials predicts will happen before 2040.
China’s EVs enthusiasm is driven by domestic considerations, but by committing to electric transportation, the world’s largest vehicle market will accelerate global EV adoption.
As China’s manufacturing prowess grows, technology costs will fall as has occurred with solar power. As a result, more affordable EVs will be more widely available, sooner than expected for consumers.


text:
By Hannah Swank
KU Statehouse Wire Service
In a close vote, 11-10, the House Taxation Committee passed HB 2607 on Wednesday to implement a sales tax holiday and exempt sales tax from purchases of school supplies, clothing and computers.
“I’m in favor of this, simply because I think it’s something our constituents are excited about,” said Rep. Carolyn Bridges (D- Wichita). “People like to know their state legislature is doing something that benefits them totally.”
Other legislators like Rep. Ronald Ryckman, Sr. (R- Meade) opposed the bill, who said this implementation is just a gimmick.
“If we really want to cut sales tax, let’s cut sales tax. If that’s what we want to do, let’s do it all year-round,” Ryckman said. “If we really want to help a certain class of people, then help that certain class of people.”
Other concerns raised included the burden placed on retailers during the tax holiday and the unaffected buying habits of consumers, since evidence shows the annual spending in states with similar implementation remains the same. According to the bill’s fiscal note, the state and local revenue loss would be nearly $7 million for 2015.
To combat these issues, Rep. Julie Menghini (D- Pittsburg) proposed an amendment to bring the statute into compliance with the streamlined sales tax agreement. The amendment also changed the language to an implementation date of 2015 in order to avoid a problem with notifying retailers at least 60 days in advance of the holiday.
Rep. Don Hineman (R-Dighton) indicated how he would vote when he read documents from the Tax Foundation saying: “Sales tax holidays have enjoyed political success, but recently, policy makers are reevaluating them. Rather than providing a valuable tax cut or a boost to the economy, sales tax holidays impose serious costs on consumers and business without providing off-setting benefits. Sales tax holidays are no part of sound tax policy.”
The bill passed as amended and will move forward for consideration by the House.
The Garden City Telegram


text:
About 89 percent of the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are operating in the informal sector, a 2019 Finscope Survey has shown.
This is threatening revenue collection and prospects for growth.
The figure is, however, lower than the 97 percent rate recorded in a 2012 study.
The survey further indicates that most businesses only register with the Registrar’s General department, disregarding tax registration requirement of Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and local city councils to obtain a business licence.
Among the reasons, the survey found that most do not have access to relevant information.
“Business licencing and registration is high among most developed businesses and low among least developed and emerging businesses,” the report reads.
National Chairperson of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, William Mwale, said there is need to increase awareness among MSMEs.
“Many did not understand what it meant to have their businesses registered,” Mwale said.
MRA Head of Corporate Affairs, Steve Kapoloma, Monday said the development is detrimental to the unregistered businesses.
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism spokesperson, Mayeso Msokera, said, recently, the government is introducing a new regulations aimed at addressing the challenge.
“The bill [Business Licensing Bill] seeks to enforce the registration of informal enterprises. We target at reducing the turnaround time from 14-days to less than 5,” Msokera said.


text:
5G could boost the UK economy by up to £15.7bn each year by 2025, though this opportunity may never be seized due to a lack of knowledge within the industry about the benefits of the technology.
According to a report from Barclays Corporate Banking, this is an ‘optimistic’ estimate and one that may not to be achieved. However, at the current pace of 5G development, added revenue is still set to reach £13bn. Should that pace drop, we’re looking at £8.3bn being added to the UK economy.
Within the optimistic world, distribution (£3.6bn), manufacturing (£2bn), professional services (£1.1n), and business services (£1bn) would see the larges revenue increases. Meanwhile, London (£4.1bn), South East (£2.5bn), the North West (£1.4bn), East of England (£1.3bn), and South West (1.1bn) will be the regions which benefit the most.
58 per cent of businesses already benefit from fast communications technologies like 4G and ultrafast broadband, enabling them to operate across disparate locations (59 per cent), communicate with customers and potential customers (49 per cent), and connect multiple machines and devices (48 per cent).
The survey of 526 UK businesses also found that 39 per cent of business decision makers already know who their business can make the most of 5G, yet only 15 per cent are thinking about how to harness the technology.
Nonetheless, there are sectors which are already planning to invest heavily in 5G – namely TMT (35 per cent), logistics (34 per cent), business services (28 per cent), and manufacturing (24 per cent). And 40 per cent of business decision makers expect 5Gto increase their revenue over the next five years.
“The rollout of 5G offers a huge opportunity for the UK. We’re seeing massive potential for business growth, which ultimately delivers a positive knock-on effect for the whole economy. While the Government and network providers are already working hard to introduce 5G in the UK, we found that businesses do not yet have enough clarity about how they will benefit in the long-run. What’s more, nearly four in ten business leaders still aren’t entirely sure what 5G is,” said Sean Duffy, head of TMT at Barclays.
“To ensure the UK can realise the full potential of an accelerated rollout, the Government, mobile operators and other corporate partners – including financial institutions – have a job to do in order to raise awareness amongst businesses so they can harness 5G. This support is crucial for businesses to make smart investments which will unlock the power of 5G.”


text:
Aldi unveil plans for £5 million Sedgley superstore
German discount supermarket chain Aldi wants to build £5 million new store in Sedgley.
Aldi has submitted a planning application for a 1,254sqm new store on Bilston Street which will create 45 new jobs
An Aldi spokesman said: "Part of the site is currently used as a car park and other areas are vacant and unkempt. A new Aldi store here will regenerate a significant site within Sedgley and deliver a multi-million investment into the local community.
"The site will be accessed via Bilston Street, with 91 car parking spaces and new landscaping at the boundaries."
Aldi said patrons of the Red Lion Hotel will also get a new car park as part of the development and shoppers will be able to park for free outside the store for up to 90 minutes, which would be a boost to local shops. .
The spokesman said: "A new, smaller car park will be available for customers of the Red Lion Hotel. Aldi is committed to delivering developments that are in keeping with the local area and provide additional choice for the community. The new store’s glass frontage will make the area more attractive for pedestrians and passing motorists.
"Inside the store, shoppers will have more space, with a modern design that makes access to goods quicker and easier than ever before."
There will be four electric vehicle charging points, with infrastructure installed for additional charging points in future.
As well as the 45 new jobs at the store, there will be additional employment opportunities during construction of the building, which could be open by the end of next year if planning permission is granted.
The spokesman added: "There will be attractive landscaping incorporated around the site to improve its appearance."
Aldi is the fifth largest supermarket in the UK and is planning to increase the number of its stores from 880 now to 1,200 by 2025.
The company employs more than 34,000 people in the UK.
Ciaran Aldridge, Aldi national property director, said: "Aldi is growing rapidly and we are welcoming around a million new customers into our stores every year."


text:
Dr. Nancy Agmon-Levin and colleagues of the Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel recently reviewed the evidence that vitamin D is involved in autoimmune disorders.
Information on the latest vitamin D news and research.
Find out more information on deficiency, supplementation, sun exposure, and how vitamin D relates to your health.
Welcome to our blog
You will find that some of our blogs are open-access, meaning you can read them in their entirety, and some are closed-access, meaning only members can read them in their entirety.
If you are a member already, please login with the link below. If you are not, consider joining the Vitamin D Council. Become a member and register today to access all of our blogs.
- swe9845 on Low vitamin D linked to higher risk of kidney cancer
- Magic on Vitamin D levels in children around the world
- email@example.com on Vitamin D levels in children around the world
- swe9845 on Mendelian randomization says low vitamin D can trigger high blood pressure
- IAW on Vitamin D levels in children around the world
Popular topicsalzheimer’s disease autism autoimmune disease bone health breast cancer breastfeeding calcium cancer cardiovascular cardiovascular disease child abuse children crohn's depression diabetes elderly hypertension infant infants influenza lupus melanoma mental health mortality multiple sclerosis muscle obesity open label trial osteoporosis pediatrics pregnancy public health randomized controlled trial respiratory infections rickets skin cancer sun exposure type 2 diabetes vitamin d vitamin d2 vitamin d deficiency vitamin d levels vitamin d supplementation vitamin d toxicity vitamin d treatment
Our site is secure


text:
In another blow for those hoping for a new consumer Google Glass, if you want an update, you won’t be getting any news from social media.
Social media accounts for Google Glass, including Twitter, Instagram and Google+, as spotted by 9to5Google, have all been shut down.
There were no final messages on most social media accounts, though it did leave one final post on Google+.
“Hi Explorers, we’ve had a blast hanging out with you on G+ throughout the Explorer Program,” the post reads.
“From now on, if you have any questions about your Glass, you can get in touch with us here: https://support.google.com/glass/answer/3079854.”
Not dead yet
Still, Google Glass isn’t quite dead yet – more likely, just the name and the consumer version of the wearable is for now.
Instead, the wearable is actually living on under the name of Project Aura, though an Enterprise Edition of Glass remains.
Rumors have emerged over the past few months, however, that Google has been working on different versions of Google Glass under Project Aura, coming with and without glass.
The rumors have suggested that Google will position this glass-less and audio focused wearable to consumers instead.


text:
In pictures: 90 years of Walt Disney
The Walt Disney Company is marking its 90th anniversary with a special exhibition in Chicago to showcase some of its most memorable films
Wednesday 16 October 2013
Disney celebrates its 90th anniversary today and to mark the occasion the company is opening an exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
The exhibition called Treasures of the Walt Disney Archive will feature nearly 300 artefacts, including props, models and costumes from some of Disney's most famous films. There will also be clips of works by Disney prior to creating Mickey Mouse.
To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins, the exhibition will have behind-the-scenes photos and interviews from the live action musical.
Visitors can take part in the creative process at a mocked up animator's desk where they can learn to draw Disney characters or record sound effects.
The Walt Disney Company was founded on 16 October 1923 by Walt Disney and his brother Roy. Walt signed a deal to produce a series of cartoons called the Alice Comedies, it wasn't until 1928 that the first Mickey Mouse cartoon was released entitled Steamboat Willie.
Nearly a century on Disney has gone on to expand out from just film production, it now has theme parks, cruise holidays and its own channel. On top of that the company now owns George Lucas' Star Wars franchise after buying it last year.
'Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives' will be running until May next year
There’s revolution in the air, but one lady’s not for turningTV
Robin Thicke admits he didn't write 'Blurred Lines'music
Arts & Ents blogs
- 1 All Blacks Aaron Cruden misses New Zealand flight after drinking session, has brilliant excuse
- 2 Kim Kardashian 'nude photos' leaked on 4chan weeks after Jennifer Lawrence scandal
- 3 'F*ck it, I quit': TV reporter Charlo Greene quits live on air in spectacular fashion
- 4 Alicia Keys leaks nude photo 'to create a kinder and more peaceful world'
- 5 Clothes store Joy angers mental health campaigners with Twitter exchange on bipolar disorders
Scotland could still declare independence – even without referendum, says Alex Salmond
Scottish referendum results: Cross-party consensus collapses amid Tory-Labour spat on the 'English question'
Hilary Mantel 'should be investigated by police' over Margaret Thatcher assassination story, says Lord Bell
Scottish independence: David Cameron is becoming the 'George Bush of Britain'
Plebgate MP Andrew Mitchell called officer a 'little s**t', claim court documents 'exposing ex-Chief Whip's 'record of abusing police'
Archbishop of Canterbury admits doubts about existence of God


text:
Fastest portable storage around
Lacie has a lineup of products it plans to demo at CES in Las Vegas this week, and among them is the Little Big Disk , one of the first storage solutions enabled by Thunderbolt 2. According to Lacie, it's the fastest portable storage solution on the market. By stuffing high-performance solid state drives (SSDs) inside, the Little Big Disk delivers speeds up to 1375MB/s over Thunderbolt 2.
That's several times faster than even the fastest mobile USB 3.0 solutions, made possible by combining a set of 500GB PCI-E Gen 2 SSDs in RAID 0. With all the speed, Lacie says users can stream and edit 4K or 3D video while in the field. No word yet on price, though Lacie says it will be available in the first quarter of 2014 and will come with a Thunderbolt cable.
Lacie also announced Fuel, a portable and wireless hard drive for iPad, iPhone, and Mac. It doesn't do Windows users any good, but if you own an iOS device, the Fuel adds 1TB of external storage that you can access wirelessly from your mobile gadget. That's enough storage to hold up to 500 movies, 160,000 songs, or 190,000 photos, Lacie says. It's also AirPlay compatible and has 10 hours of battery life. Fuel will be available soon for $199 MSRP.


text:
How can you tell if a relationship is successful?
According to the creators of Baewatch: Parental Guidance, the test is in ... taking your new partner to a luxury resort plastered with hidden cameras.
The contestants appearing on the show can safely expect their movements to be monitored by family and friends, who were also shipped over to the luxury resort.
So, how did Sean Pratt fare on the show? What did the star get up to since then?
Sean Pratt appeared on a few shows before joining the cast of 'Baewatch: Parental Guidance.'
A relative newcomer to the world of reality TV, Sean made a living as a stripper and naked butler before signing up to shows like Just Tattoo of Us or Ex on the Beach U.K.
Eager to test his blossoming relationship with Instagram model Jordi Leigh, the Coventry-native decided to embark on a new adventure and applied for Baewatch: Parental Guidance.
Fortunately for Sean and Jordi, the show turned out to be an easy feat — and they got through the mighty ordeal of getting their relationship inspected by Jordi's folks without much trouble.
According to The Sun, they were among the couples to leave Baewatch: Parental Guidance together.
They dated for quite some time after leaving the show, and according to London Post, it's possible that they even considered getting engaged at one point.
As the website notes, Jordi posted an Instagram Story about a dazzling diamond ring on her left ring finger a while ago. It's uncertain whether the claim can be taken to be true. For what it's worth, Sean and Jordi were frequently hailed as one of the hottest celeb couples during their time together.
Unfortunately, however, things did turn sour between them eventually. As Reality Titbit reveals, Jordi became the target of cheating accusations — which brought about their premature demise.
Sean has found someone new since appearing on 'Baewatch: Parental Guidance.'
Sean's new girlfriend is an Instagram model and blogger named Olivia Bracy.
Judging by their Instagram profiles, it looks like their relationship is about to get serious — and they have already embarked on their first entrepreneurial venture together.
In 2019, Sean launched an affordable underwear label for men, Blanc Menswear. He later launched Blanc Womenswear, which has featured Olivia in the brand's photoshoots and social media campaigns.
Sean runs an additional label, Dévoué Paris, as well.
While some may think that managing three clothing brands is enough work, the Baewatch alum seems to think otherwise. On top of managing Blanc Menswear, Blanc Womenswear, and Dévoué Paris, Sean works as a model as well.
Renowned for his exquisite tattoos — there's barely a patch of skin on Sean's body that wouldn't be covered with black ink — and his fantastic sense of style, Sean became a heavily sought-after influencer since his brief stint on Baewatch: Parental Guidance.
Baewatch: Parental Guidance is available on Netflix now.


text:
IBM Intros Cross-Platform App Deployment Package
IBM is set to launch an open-standards-based application platform dubbed Lotus Expeditor allowing developers to develop across diverse hardware platforms more efficiently.IBM, based in Armonk, N.Y., announced Nov. 1 the launching of Lotus Expeditor, an open standards platform for creating Eclipse-based Web 2.0 applications. Lotus Expeditor will target enterprises who want to combine existing and new applications and be able to deliver them to an array of connected and disconnected devices. When asked how this product targets enterprises, an IBM representative told eWEEK that "With Lotus Expeditor, companies can do business anytime, anywhere by providing software that runs across a variety of hardware choices."
Lotus Expeditor will try to solve the problem of applications not having a common language. It seeks to help administrators create a customized user experience that crosses over desktop programs and devices and gives access to important business applications, including, for example, adding extensions to existing financial and sales databases and creating VOIP (voice over IP) plug-ins for instant messaging environments.
- A developer toolkit that will help users create off-line applications
- Assistance in developing composite applications into integrated views and processes
- Access to applications on mobile devices such as PDA and smart phones
- Pre-defined user access levels based on an employees role or function


text:
With each new update, Microsoft's Windows Phone platform resolves more and more concerns that we've had ever since its initial launch three years ago. According to Tom Warren at The Verge, Microsoft has a new update in the works -- currently known to us as Windows Phone 8.1 -- that will implement a new Notification Center as well as a personal assistant that will be closer to Google Now and Apple's Siri technology. This new version of Windows Phone will reportedly be revealed at the company's BUILD conference in April.
So how exactly will the new Windows Phone Notification Center work? According to Warren's sources, it'll be accessed the same way iOS and Android users are accustomed to: by swiping down from the top of the screen. Not necessarily the most original idea, but if this is true, it would at least be much more familiar (and perhaps more compelling) to anyone looking to switch to Windows Phone from one of its competing platforms. That's not to say it will be identical, however, as a short swipe would bring up Quick Settings, while a long swipe would display your full history of notifications.
Also, WP8.1 is where Microsoft's Cortana feature would finally come in handy. This will offer much more interaction and personalization than the current Bing Search, in that it will feature more of a contextual learning experience based on location and other personal data. These new features will help make the new WP assistant more competitive with Google Now and Siri.


text:
Across industries, companies have been intensifying their focus on cybersecurity. This is a direct consequence of the expanding role that digitization is playing in their business and operating models and the demonstrated potential for significant damage resulting from a successful cyberattack.
For years, companies have used digital supply chain technologies to improve service levels and reduce costs. But the inability to connect disparate systems, provide end-to-end visibility into the supply chain, and crunch massive amounts of data, among other issues, has prevented many companies from achieving the full potential of their supply chains. Now, thanks to the wide availability and adoption of much more powerful digital technologies, including advanced analytics and cloud-based solutions, companies are generating dramatically better returns on their investments.
For many major B2B enterprises, logistics networks have never been more complex. The increasing prevalence of operations that are global - with growing numbers of production sites and clients that could be anywhere on earth - has introduced challenges that didn't exist to the same degree at an earlier time. The good news is that there has also never before been a moment when there were more tools and more opportunities to optimize logistics costs than now.
Emerging markets have driven growth for many multinational corporations (MNCs) for years, and they will continue to do so. But these are turbulent times as commodity prices plunge, currencies are devalued, and equity markets gyrate. The profitability of many MNCs' operations is already under attack, and future performance will be challenged by slower macroeconomic growth, increasing costs, and heightened competition from local companies, which are rapidly gaining scale, experience, and capability. To reduce these pressures, companies will have to focus much more on improving their competitiveness through constant productivity gains.
During the long downturn in R&D productivity, a handful of bio-pharmaceutical companies have consistently bucked the trend. How did they manage it? After all, they have experienced the same industry pressures as their peers - pressures such as lengthier R&D cycle times, higher costs of failure, and sharper regulatory scrutiny.
Managers are increasingly nervous about the lack of progress in their digital initiatives. Too often, organizations merely add digital "pixie dust" to traditional processes or engage in a frenzy of digital experiments and ventures. Rather than drive competitive advantage, these efforts leave companies more vulnerable.
By now, it's conventional wisdom: culture can ultimately break even the most seemingly harmonious corporate match. The list of mergers that have faltered or failed because of culture clash is long. Yet despite the many high-profile cautionary tales, very few companies involved in a post-merger integration deal with the culture question as fully and aggressively as they do with, say, capturing value from cost synergies.
For roughly three decades, China's booming economy has offered consumer product companies some of the world's greatest growth opportunities. China's economic slowdown and jittery markets have raised worries that this growth story is drawing to a close. In early November 2015, for example, the government lowered its official five-year annual GDP growth target to 6.5 percent, the slowest pace since the 2008–2009 global financial crisis.
Innovation continues to rise in importance. In The Boston Consulting Group's tenth annual global survey of the state of innovation, 79 percent of respondents ranked innovation as either the top-most priority or a top-three priority at their company, the highest percentage since we began asking the question in 2005, when 66 percent said innovation was their top or among their three top priorities.
Shining today, gone tomorrow? For every Apple, there is an Atari, for every Fuji a Polaroid, and for every Netflix a Blockbuster. It's harder to stay on top than to get there. How can you avoid the seemingly inevitable and become an "evergreen" corporation?


text:
You now have an easier online way to manage your Home Delivery subscription for The Oklahoman. Go to our secure server to update account information, make a payment, set up vacation no-delivery times, change your delivery address, or report delivery concerns.
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) throws an illegal forward pass to wide receiver Devin Hester (23) in the first half an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. The Texans won 13-6. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


text:
'Free-from' food category estimated at $7.7 billion in Australia
A study on free-from foods by global research company The NPD Group has found that consumers who want to make healthier life choices are driving the growth in the free-from food category. The free-from food category, comprised of meals associated with health, lifestyle and ethical attributes (eg, gluten-free, no added hormones and free-range), is estimated to be worth $7.7 billion in Australia, generating 23% of foot traffic within the foodservice industry.
Almost a quarter of Australians said that they consume meals that are free-from (23%) to improve health (13%), because they are perceived to be better for you (13%), to support animal welfare (4%) and allergy related (only 3%).
Initially, free-from foods were manufactured to meet the requirements of those with dietary intolerances. Nowadays, demand for these products is more about consuming foods that are better for you.
Within the free-from food sector, four in 10 respondents (36%) indicated that their meals were vegetarian/vegan or allergy/intolerance related. Of these, 4% of respondents claimed to have had a gluten-free meal, which is 11% higher than a year ago. Research shows that people are restricting unhealthy food groups as a lifestyle choice, as they no longer need a medical reason to opt out of certain foods.
“What’s interesting is that it appears people believe eliminating food groups is better for them, but they don’t always understand why. There is an opportunity here for manufacturers of free-from foods to educate their customers on why their products are healthier both on pack and through their communications. We also know that consumers are willing to pay more for the health benefits associated with free-from foods,” said Gimantha Jayasinghe, Deputy Managing Director APAC at The NPD Group.
Millennials are driving the demand of free-from meals, with almost half (47%) of those purchasing falling within the millennial age bracket. Consumers are also seeking more vegan, plant-based and vegetarian options, with over half (57%) of those searching for these options falling into the older millennial age bracket (25 to 34 years of age).
Quick service retail (QSR) brands are resonating with the free-from consumer type. Meals with better for you and provenance attributes experienced marked growth in 2018, despite the price-sensitive landscape; consumers are willing to pay more for the health benefits associated with free-from foods. The average bill is $10.88, which is two times greater than the industry average.
Having tired of the products that don’t cater to their preferred diet, millennials are opting to consume products that taste good and offer nutritional value. “The food industry is evolving for the better,” Jayasinghe said. Continued innovation and availability of the free-from food sector will ensure its popularity with the millennial market.
For more information on The NPD Group and the CREST research, click here.
The Australian Institute of Packaging will be running workshops and a one-day training course on...
Safe Work Australia's lastest evaluation of the Workplace exposure standards for airborne...
The federal government has given a $100,000 grant to Monash University, to clarify the legal...


text:
Two Rivals Plan to Match Northwest Fare Cuts
NEW YORK (AP) _ Northwest Airlines is offering summer fare discounts of up to 33 percent, and two major rivals said they would offer competitive rates.
Northwest announced its reductions late Thursday, giving the airline a few hours in reservation computers as the only carrier with the discounted fares.
Today, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines said they would offer similar promotions in markets where they compete with Northwest. United and Delta said their sale prices would be in reservation computers by Saturday morning.
American Airlines declined comment on whether it was considering matching the fare discounts.
Northwest took a similar strategy in announcing a 35 percent fare cut last month, disclosing the promotion on a Sunday. Other major carriers weren’t able to match the cuts until Monday.
Its latest sale on North American and some trans-Atlantic flights ends at midnight on May 18. Sample round-trip fares for travel between July 1 and Sept. 15 include Boston-New Orleans for $298 and Detroit-Atlanta for $218.
Under the sale, travel must begin on or after May 27 and be completed by Sept. 15. The airline said it would offer bigger discounts for travel completed by June 30.
The non-refundable tickets require 14-day advance purchase and other restrictions apply, Northwest said.
United spokeman Joe Hopkins said that Northwest’s move is a widening of an existing promotion initiated last week by the smaller America West Airlines. He said other carriers matched those discounts, but only in markets served by America West.
The discounts are not expected to be as devastating to airline finances as last summer’s 50 percent sale. The chief financial officer for American Airlines, the nation’s largest carrier, has said that a 35 percent sale would be good for the industry even if it lasted through the summer.
Summertime fare sales are common as airlines scramble over attracting leisure travelers at a time when business travel typically drops off. While Northwest may be conceding that fares will be cut eventually and moving to take the advantage, its persistent discounting has prompted some concerns that it needs cash.
Phil Brannon, airline bond analyst at Mabon Securities Corp., has said Northwest’s fare cutting is a sign that it needs to bring money in so it can pay its operating costs.
Northwest’s parent company, NWA Inc., lost $106.9 million in the first quarter before the effect of an accounting rule change.
Northwest has reached a tentative agreement with unions representing its mechanics and flight attendants under which the workers would trade concessions for an ownership stake in the airline.
Northwest’s pilots, however, are still negotiating and the deal depends on bankers agreeing to renegotiate terms of the airline’s loans.
In December, Northwest got a $250 million loan from part-owner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, banks and suppliers to keep it flying through the winter season.