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Shares of chip packager and tester King Yuan Electronics Co (京元電子) yesterday rallied 6.91 percent after the company reported better-than-expected profits for last quarter.
Net income surged 62 percent year-on-year to NT$604.83 million (US$19.26 million), compared with NT$372.22 million a year ago, the company said on Wednesday in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
It was its best profit performance in three quarters, it said.
Earnings per share (EPS) rose to NT$0.49 from NT$0.3 during the same period.
Revenue rose 20.83 percent annually to NT$6.09 billion, while non-operating losses fell 86.5 percent to NT$28.47 million, and tax payments dropped 17.73 percent to NT$166.52 million.
First-half net profit rose almost 37 percent to NT$984.24 million, from NT$720.46 million in a year ago, with EPS increasing to NT$0.8 from NT$0.59.
King Yuan’s second-quarter EPS came in higher than its target of NT$0.44, thanks to better control over operating expenses and a lower tax rate, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co (元大投顧) said.
As a result, Yuanta raised its EPS forecast for this year by 10 percent to NT$2.3 and by 9 percent to NT$3.3 for next year, factoring in the better-than-expected results and stronger margin outlook, driven by higher loading from networking and memory applications, it said in a client note on Wednesday.
Aiming to expand capacity to cope with increasing customer demand, King Yuan on Wednesday said it was raising its capital spending for this year to NT$9.37 billion, up 42 percent from an earlier estimate of NT$6.85 billion.
The increase provided evidence that King Yuan is one of the major beneficiaries of Huawei Technologies Co’s (華為) strategy of accelerating its in-house chip development to replace US vendors, Yuanta said.
King Yuan is well-positioned to provide its testing services to Huawei’s chip unit, HiSilicon Technologies Co (海思半導體), given its “dominant market share and significant increase in testing time,” Yuanta said.
Apart from Huawei orders, faster rollout of 5G smartphones, earlier turnaround of subsidiary Dawning Leading Technology Inc (東琳精密) and market share gains in non-smartphone areas should also boost earnings in the medium to long term, Yuanta said.
STAYING AHEAD: Fitch said that TSMC remains technologically ahead of others, but Samsung is building a new chip fab, while China is investing in its domestic industry As escalating US-China tensions and COVID-19-related production disruptions force US technology supply chains to transform, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC, 台積電) US$12 billion chip fabrication plant in Arizona would be key to spurring greater US production of core semiconductor components, Fitch Ratings said. “We view the US-TSMC alliance as a first step in building a more autonomous US technology supply chain, given high barriers to entry, specifically related to the significant capital and design capability required for leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing,” Fitch said in a statement on Tuesday. “By working with TSMC, US chipmakers will not face the financial burden of incremental investment
DIVERSIFICATION: Although COVID-19 would push more companies to produce in emerging markets, DBS said that it was unlikely that firms would totally leave China Geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions are expected to accelerate the migration of manufacturing out of China, as concerns about the risk of production concentrated in one country increase, S&P Global Ratings said. Although its economic expansion might be weaker than previous levels due to the accelerated relocation of manufacturing, China’s economic growth would still be stronger than that of most other economies, the ratings agency said. “While absolute growth rates will moderate, we believe China’s economic performance will continue to be a key sovereign credit support,” S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Tan Kim Eng (陳錦榮) said in a statement on Thursday. “Its growth
Taiwan’s corporate landscape has changed significantly over the past 20 years, with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) replacing Formosa Plastics Corp (台塑) as the revenue leader, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC, 台積電) has emerged as the most profitable firm, a survey of Taiwan’s 50 largest companies published on Tuesday last week showed. The Chinese-language CommonWealth Magazine survey ranked Taiwan’s 50 largest companies based on their revenue last year, and compared them with the results of a similar survey it conducted in 2000. Only 33 companies on the original list remained in this year’s rankings, the survey found, following two
The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) would set up new guidance by the end of August to boost corporate governance, insurers’ solvency, green financing, financial technology, the trust industry and information security, new FSC Chairman Thomas Huang (黃天牧) said yesterday. “Corporate governance has been improved in terms of compliance and shareholding disclosure with former chairman Wellington Koo (顧立雄) at the helm. It is time to move to the next phase to focus on companies’ roles in sustainable development,” Huang told a news conference in New Taipei City. The commission would also set policies to incentivize companies to increase green financing and adopt the


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A unique statement lines the problems Black borrowers deal with which have income-motivated repayment plans, whenever you are some other also offers an answer — all just like the Service of Training is considering new choices getting the agreements.
One or two latest reports is actually highlighting the need for reforms to help you earnings-inspired arrangements for repaying figuratively speaking, since repayment pause comes to an end early the following year therefore the Agency out of Training appears which will make a different package through the regulatory procedure.
Of consumers during the payment on Knowledge Trust’s study from just how Black colored consumers experience figuratively speaking, 72 % was enrolled in a living-motivated fees, or IDR, plan. Those borrowers described IDR because the a thing that is like an excellent “lives financial obligation sentence,” told you the new statement, which had been according to a nationwide survey of almost step one,300 Black colored borrowers and in-breadth interviews having one hundred Black colored consumers.
“Borrowers often felt like these people were and make costs without any end around the corner, hence is combined of the other debts — of cash advance or housing debt or vehicle obligations otherwise borrowing card obligations,” told you Jalil Bishop, who co-written brand new statement. “They think eg training is supposed to give them new information and you will possibility to score in advance of those expense, but figuratively speaking are extremely a location in which one to obligations was intensified.”
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The latest Institution off Training also provides five IDR arrangements to possess paying down federal student education loans that will be designed to build borrowers’ monthly premiums way more affordable of the basing her or him on the income and you may family members dimensions. Each plan features another type of payment several months, but they basically last ranging from 20 and twenty five years. Consumers also have to recertify their earnings and family relations proportions all season so that their loan servicer is recalculate the percentage.
In principle, IDR is meant to help consumers real time a much warmer lifetime while they are settling its loans. But that’s maybe not what are you doing in fact, specifically for Black colored individuals, said Victoria Jackson, secretary director to possess degree coverage in the Degree Faith. For almost all individuals, the fresh payments continue to be unaffordable — almost one fourth of those surveyed told you it strive spending money on book, health care and you will eating, and 71 % told you they cannot pay for a family savings.
Consumers reported that the money to have IDR preparations have been therefore low which they simply shielded enough to keep them away from default but not adequate to pay down the attention or principal out-of the mortgage. They frequently see its equilibrium “ballooning,” said Jackson.
All the respondents — 80 percent — said they supported broad financial obligation cancellation because of the national, hence Bishop told you manage let manage “the annals and you will development regarding mismanagement and crappy style of the brand new student loan fees plans.” However, borrowers would also like reforms so you can IDR plans that would enable it to be them to find real improvements towards settling the funds — by subsidizing otherwise reducing focus — and you may plans you to make towards brand new terms of the college student loans.
“When people use student education loans, the high quality fees package is actually 10 years,” Bishop told you. “Of several borrowers would not understand this these people were during these 20- and you will twenty-five-12 months arrangements, because when they borrowed your debt, they considered it actually was things they had be able to pay off maybe not too long shortly after graduating.”
The fresh institution has actually recognized all these complications with IDR plans inside negotiated laws-and make procedure, telling negotiators that it desires to carry out a different IDR package that tackles the fresh new enough time payment symptoms, racking up interest, expensive money and you will level of arrangements which have varying terms and conditions. The challenges having many IDR arrangements was emphasized for the basic settling training from the Rachelle Feldman, representative provost and movie director during the College or university from Vermont at the Church Slope, who is offering while the solution negotiator symbolizing four-year personal associations.
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“I just want to make a genuine plea to own less routes so it would be reduced complicated for everybody — not merely our [Public-service Financing Forgiveness] individuals however, all of our consumers at every level,” Feldman told you.
Daniel Kreisman, a member teacher from business economics from the Georgia County College, believes, stating into the a recent report to own Third Way that new department is always to reduce the choices readily available for education loan installment agreements — not merely in this IDR, but also for payment agreements generally.
Individuals is automatically enlisted on simple “fixed” cost preparations, and this lead to the highest cost away from financing defaults, wrote Kreisman. IDR arrangements could offer a better fit for borrowers, however, you will find obstacles so you’re able to accessing her or him — needing to contact its loan servicer and you can consistently approve its income — and some individuals do not know the choice can be obtained.
Kreisman went a research test during the Georgia County with 542 undergraduate people where preselected payment agreements was switched anywhere between teams. In the event that standard repayment bundle is the default, 63 % out of children chosen it. Nevertheless when the new IDR package is actually the fresh standard, only 34 % decided to subscribe a basic payment plan.
“The simple takeaway would be the fact changing the brand new default choice are going to be a decreased-costs, high-prize lever to your bodies — and for children,” Kreisman had written. “Immediately, the duty is on individuals so you can navigate a very complex payment program. The facts what to that it as an insurance plan failure which is charging one another youngsters and you can taxpayers.”
Kreisman told Inside High Ed that he believes which have an IDR plan since the merely package — while you are however giving individuals the possibility so you’re able to prepay — manage let solve many issues that occur that have IDR agreements, particularly being forced to recertify earnings from year to year. Negotiators and expressed concerns about this new recertification techniques in first discussed code-to make training, even so they turned to a great deal more automation and you can study sharing between federal businesses as the a prospective services.
IDR preparations may help keep of a lot borrowers out-of defaulting if the cost stop raises towards the , told you Kreisman. But the institution will not to able to fix the difficulties which have new agreements at that time — they won’t yet possess proposed regulating text towards the IDR agreements to possess negotiators to adopt. Nevertheless, given most of the which is going on within government student support, the conclusions on reports are very important for these thinking about reforms.
“I online payday loans do believe now is a very good time understand Black colored borrowers’ feel and you can what they need plan manufacturers doing,” Jackson said.

domain: news


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Fueled by hot chocolate and cookies, 30 players came in from the cold to compete in the National Go Center Winter Warmer last Saturday, December 10. There were three first-place winners all with 3-1 records: Huang Qi (6D), Joel Kenny (5D) and Qingbo Zhang (5D)
All three- and four-game winners received their choice of a go book, a souvenir mug, or an NGC t-shirt.
The other winners were: Qiuhua Zheng (4K) 4-0, Michael Lash (4K) 3-1, Laura Wu (6K) 3-1, Regina Kim (10K) 3-1, Davis Zetlan (10K) 3-1, Michael Zeller (11k) 4-0 and Calvin Li (21K) 3-1.
“We are expecting to bring back the Chinese Lunar New Year tournament after a 2-year hiatus as our next event.” reports TD Gurujeet Khalsa. “The exact date is still to be set but will be around the start of the Year of the Rabbit on January 22nd.”


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It's been an exciting week, starting off with a Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase that revealed a large number of games coming to Nintendo Switch this fall. Some of the titles we get to look forward to are ports like NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition and No Man's Sky.
In other news, there's a rumor that the first Metroid Prime game is getting a remastered version for Switch this holiday season and will be followed by the second and third games. Plus, a shareholder asked Nintendo leaders about plans for older IPs, like F-Zero, that haven't been touched in a while. The answer was both limited and encouraging. There's even more to discuss so let's dive in!
Nintendo Direct Mini shows several games are coming to Switch this fall
On Tuesday, we had the Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase which lasted for about 25 minutes and gave us a look at upcoming Switch games. While this isn't the big Not-E3 Nintendo Direct that many fans were hoping for, there was still some exciting news. You might want to make sure you have room on your best microSD card, cause it turns out that a lot of ports and new games are coming to Switch in October.
The big finale was the reveal that three Persona games are coming to Switch starting with Persona 5 Royal on October 21, 2022. Considering that Atlus has already revealed these games for every other major platform this wasn't too surprising. Though, I'm sure Persona fans are happy not to fall victim to any more Twitter fakeouts regarding the games coming to Switch.
In other news, NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition, No Man's Sky, and A Plague Tale: Requiem - Cloud Version are all coming to Switch in October. This fall will be a busy one for Nintendo seeing as how Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is already slated for a November 18 release as well.
It's worth noting that No Man's Sky, an open-world space adventure, will be getting a physical release but there's also no mention of multiplayer on the official Switch announcement. At least for now, No Man's Sky on Switch will be a single-player-only game at launch.
Mario + Rabbids trips up again, but we're looking forward to it
The Nintendo Direct Mini also showed off gameplay for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, which we now know is releasing on October 20, 2022. This launch date was followed up the next day with a specific Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Showcase which lasted about 15 minutes and provided a closer look at the new action gameplay, which does away with turn-based battles in exchange for real-time combat action that still maintains the same tactical focus.
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For anyone who's been paying attention to Mario + Rabbids, it's somewhat of a tradition (whether intentional or accidental) that information for the sequel leaks out in advance of a big reveal. This was the case when Nintendo made the official page go live just before the E3 2021 Nintendo Direct announced the game for the first time. This week, the release date was revealed on Ubisoft's website the day before the Direct Mini showcase but was then pulled down until after the presentation ended.
Rumor: Metroid Prime port could come to Switch this holiday season
Noted game journalist Jeff Grubb stated on the Game Mess Mornings show that Metroid Prime Remastered will be coming to Switch this holiday season to line up with the series' 20th anniversary (thanks, Nintendo Everything) and that it will only be the first game rather than a trilogy collection that has been rumored. Supposedly Metroid Prime 2 and 3 are also basically done, but Nintendo tends to hold onto its finished projects and releases them based on what makes sense with its release calendar.
God dammit! I forgot to talk about Metroid!
I think that Nintendo will rerelease Metroid Prime 1 on Switch instead of Trilogy. It has been working on this for years, and when I first heard, everyone (including me) assumed it was the Trilogy.God dammit! I forgot to talk about Metroid!
I think that Nintendo will rerelease Metroid Prime 1 on Switch instead of Trilogy. It has been working on this for years, and when I first heard, everyone (including me) assumed it was the Trilogy.— Jeff Grubb, No. 3 games journalist (@JeffGrubb) September 30, 2021September 30, 2021
If true, this is a great move that can help tide over Samus fans who have been waiting for Metroid Prime 4 for what feels like an eternity. The game was announced in 2017, but then Nintendo stated in 2019 that it wasn't happy with the development of the game thus far. This led Nintendo to scrap the work it had done and give the project back to the original Metroid Prime trilogy developer, Retro Studios. Due to pandemic delays and starting over, we likely won't get the fourth installment for another year or two.
Shareholder buys stock to ask Nintendo about F-Zero and other older game IPs
Following the Nintendo Direct Mini, Nintendo held a Q&A with its shareholders and one of the questions asked related to whether or not the company had plans for new titles or remakes for older games. Reportedly, they specifically asked about F-Zero, Baten Kaitos, and Wario Land among others (Thanks, VGC). Nintendo's president explained that the company cannot create sequels "to every series fans request." However, he also indicated that at least one remake is in the pipeline that he couldn't talk about before moving the meeting onward.
Since then, @momiji_manjyuu on Twitter came forward and explained that they are the shareholder who asked this question during the meeting and prefers to keep their real identity anonymous. They had reportedly bought 5.6 million yen in stocks back in February, which is equivalent to about $40,000 USD, in order to ask Nintendo about F-Zero, according to Kotaku. Twitter users were quick to thank them for asking this question to which @momiji_manjyuu responded, "We delivered everyone's thoughts and feelings!"
第82期 任天堂株主総会質疑応答の議事録が出ました！Q3が私の質問です。私が列挙したバテンカイトス、ワリオランド、カエルの為に鐘は鳴る、カードヒーロー、超操縦メカMGといったタイトルは割愛されましたが、そこには確かに「F-ZERO」の文字が刻まれています！https://t.co/y4nKOAqWfi第82期 任天堂株主総会質疑応答の議事録が出ました！Q3が私の質問です。私が列挙したバテンカイトス、ワリオランド、カエルの為に鐘は鳴る、カードヒーロー、超操縦メカMGといったタイトルは割愛されましたが、そこには確かに「F-ZERO」の文字が刻まれています！https://t.co/y4nKOAqWfi— もみじ(Momiji) (@momiji_manjyuu) June 30, 2022June 30, 2022
Despite being a relatively well-known racing series, F-Zero hasn't had a new game in 18 years. At this point, many gamers only know of Captain Falcon through Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The N64 game, F-Zero X, did come to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack within the last few months, but while it's fun to relive the past, having a new game would be immeasurably more exciting. The Switch has had revitalizing power for many of Nintendo's IPs, so who knows. Maybe we will see an F-Zero remake sometime soon.
What to play this weekend
Right now Nintendo is hosting a Big Ol' Super Sale where popular games can be found for as much as 50% off until July 7. Some of the best deals include Super Mario Odyssey for 40% off, Astral Chain for 30% off, and Death's Door for 35% off, plus much more. It's definitely worth taking a look here if you haven't already.
As for new games for the week, Portal Companion Collection released on Tuesday, bringing these two classic Valve games to Switch. These games defined a generation and are still fun today. Portal 2 even supports two-player on one system. If you're looking for something a bit more silly, Fall Guys has finally come to Switch and it's free to play. Dive into exciting minigames and compete against other players online to see who is the best.
Until next time.
- Rebecca Spear
Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.
For All Mankind has been renewed for another season on Apple TV+, and there's more big news for fans of the show
iPhone 17 will reportedly offer a new display size for those who want to sit between the regular and Pro models
Alt Store, a popular third-party app store, is now available to download on iPhones in the EU


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Fortune, a global leader in business journalism, recently highlighted Fishtech’s investment in security analytics pioneer Haystax Technology in its daily Term Sheet featuring the top news in venture deals, private equity deals and IPOs.
In December, Fishtech invested $4 million in Haystax Technology to expand the company’s product offerings into new commercial markets. As part of the deal, Fishtech added Haystax’s flagship security analytics platform, Haystax, to its portfolio of next-generation security solutions that deliver operational efficiencies and improved security posture to organizations in a wide array of sectors.
Fishtech anticipates bundling Haystax’s solutions with other complementary solutions to reach existing customers, as well as helping to develop and build a scalable channel sales program to reach additional customers in finance, healthcare and other sectors where decision-makers face difficult security challenges.
According to Fischtech founder and entrpreneur Gary Fish, “We want to enable organizations to embrace the benefits of digital transformation through next-generation security solutions.” Haystax Technology, he said, “is one of our best-of-breed partners that will help us reach this vision while leading the security analytics market into a new phase of multi-billion-dollar growth.”
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Haystax is Hiring!: As Haystax Technology ramps up its presence in new commercial sectors and continues its platform and product innovations for existing private-sector and government clients, we are looking for top-performing talent to join our team and help solve the world’s most challenging security problems. If you are a software developer, analyst, data scientist, professional services engineer or sales engineer with a passion for excellence, we’d love to hear from you. Check out the Haystax Jobs page for our latest open positions.


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Baltimore, May 23 – The contaminated drug that caused last fall’s fungal meningitis outbreak and killed 55 people is just the tip of the iceberg of an industry-wide problem, according to a new report released today by Maryland PIRG. The meningitis outbreak was simply the latest and deadliest in a long line of errors and risky practices by compounding pharmacies.
“Consumers should always be confident that their drugs are safe and effective, regardless of whether their drugs are manufactured at a compounding facility or a pharmaceutical company. Our prescription drugs should not lead to the illness and death of our loved ones,” said Jenny Levin, Advocate for Maryland PIRG.
Traditionally, compounding pharmacies have engaged in the practice of customizing a medication for a particular patient – such as altering the dosage or turning a pill into a liquid for patients who have difficulty swallowing. But now, large compounding pharmacies are behaving exactly like drug manufacturers. Although they manufacture drugs in bulk, large compounding pharmacies do not conduct rigorous testing, nor do they adhere to safe manufacturing processes that pharmaceutical companies are required to implement. Instead they are exploiting legal loopholes in the law to escape the necessary safety standards and oversight.
The report, “Prescription for Danger,” analyzed more than 40 warning letters issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to compounding pharmacies from January 2002 to December 2012. Each firm was cited for multiple violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, such as making new drugs that have not been tested for safety and effectiveness, and making drugs in unsanitary conditions.
“Congress must give the FDA the authority it needs to ensure that drugs made in compounding pharmacies are safe,” said Levin. “We should never repeat the avoidable tragedy of having contaminated and unsafe drugs on the market again.”
The report highlights some of the most blatant violations by compounding pharmacies, including:
- In 2002, consumers complained about arthritis pain relief injections produced by Lee Pharmacy in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The FDA analyzed the injections and found they were contaminated with penicilliium rugulosum, a potentially lethal fungus.
- In 2009, Hopewell Pharmacy in Hopewell, New Jersey, was found to be using a solvent called diethylene glycol monoethyl ether in sterile injections used for the treatment of varicose veins. This ingredient is normally used in industrial cleaners and is not approved by the FDA for use in drug manufacturing.
- In 2005, University Pharmacy in Salt Lake City, Utah, was investigated because a 25-year-old woman lapsed into a coma and died from using Photocaine, a topical anesthetic cream produced by the pharmacy without the approval of the FDA.
- According to a state pharmacy board investigation, in September 2005, three patients died and several others were sickened at a Virginia hospital after receiving drugs made at a compounding pharmacy in Maryland. The drugs were recalled after the FDA found contamination in remaining samples.
- The 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak linked to a contaminated drug produced and distributed by a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts, the New England Compounding Center. 14,000 people in 23 states were exposed to the drug. The states that had the most consumers affected were Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
- The report is available here.
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Maryland PIRG, the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest advocacy organization that takes on powerful interests on behalf of its members, working to win concrete results for our health and well-being.
Your donation supports Maryland PIRG's work to stand up for consumers on the issues that matter, especially when powerful interests are blocking progress.


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Burgeoning efforts by Oman’s authorities to drive the growth of e-commerce are also paving the way for the development of a potentially promising gig economy in the Sultanate, according to Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Dr Al Sunaidy (pictured), who is also Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Planning, said the Ministry, along with other government stakeholders, is looking to ensure that workers of the gig economy also enjoy labour and social insurance protections currently available to employees of conventional offline businesses.
He was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Oman E-commerce Conference (OEC 2019) at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday. The two-day forum, organised by the Ministry with the support of events management firm Inovexic, is being held under the auspices of Ahmed bin Nasser al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism.
In a gig economy, companies and businesses tend to hire freelancers and independent contractors as temporary workers. Such enterprises typically connect with customers and clients via an online platform, as in the case of Uber, the ride sharing service, or Airbnb, the home renting website.
Significantly, all of the legal, regulatory and electronic support infrastructure initiatives being pursued by the government in its drive to fuel the growth of e-commerce are also spawning the development of the gig economy in the Sultanate, according to Dr Al Sunaidy.
“Consequently, it is apt to discuss updates to labour and social insurance laws to cover those working for companies operating in the gig economy who provide their services through web-based applications, without the need to operate from permanent offices. We need to ensure that the rights of these employees are protected, while also ascertaining the responsibilities and obligations of companies marketing products and services via online channels.”
In addition to the enactment of a number of landmark statutes designed to stimulate the business and investment environment, the government is also working on multiple fronts to accelerate the growth of e-commerce in the Sultanate, said Dr Al Sunaidy.
“We are now working on the second version of the Invest Easy one-stop-shop, which will be launched in conjunction with the eVisa service as well as Bayan Customs System of the Royal Oman Police (ROP),” he said.
Importantly, these laws and initiatives will also make it possible for Oman entrepreneurs to set up online businesses from home, with access to e-signature authentication features, e-payment facilities, and electronic customs clearance capabilities. The recent launch of a new e-commerce department in the Ministry will also aid the growth of the e-commerce industry, he said.
Dr Al Sunaidy urged students and young Omanis, in particular, to pursue satisfying and rewarding entrepreneurial opportunities in e-commerce, noting that initial upfront investments in online businesses are just a fraction of that for conventional start-ups. Furthermore, e-commerce firms can be opened in the comfort of one’s home or in ordinary warehouses, he said.


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Interested in learning what's next for the gaming industry? Join gaming executives to discuss emerging parts of the industry this October at GamesBeat Summit Next. Register today.
Social gaming company Zynga today announced that it is bringing its mobile Scrabble-like game Words With Friends to Facebook.
That means players on Android devices and devices running the iPhone operating system iOS will be able to carry their active games over to Facebook and play them on the website. They will also be able to compete against players on Facebook while playing on mobile devices. That cross-platform functionality works on both Android and iOS devices, a Zynga spokesperson told VentureBeat.
“We have the capabilities to handle multiple types of games and tune infrastructure to optimize specific game client interactions,” the spokesperson said. “We don’t expect any lag time between an iOS player and a Facebook player and have tuned the infrastructure appropriately.”
Words With Friends is basically like Scrabble. The game assigns point values to letters, and players spell out words on a game board. The game awards multipliers for placing letters of special tiles.
Players can compete against their friends, or they can compete against a random opponent. Gameplay is asynchronous, meaning the two players don’t have to play against each other at the same time. Players get a notification when it is their turn through the mobile device’s push notification. Words With Friends on Facebook will use Facebook’s internal notification system to alert players when it is their turn, Zynga told VentureBeat.
The company would not comment on whether it would be bringing a similar cross-platform experience to its other games, like its newest title Empires & Allies. The company currently has a mobile version of FarmVille, another game on Facebook.
Zynga has become a Facebook distribution powerhouse like no other game company. The company has delivered hit after hit to Facebook. That makes it a lot easier for Zynga to generate revenue, since a percentage of users usually pays for items in otherwise free games. The company filed to go public in July.
Zynga’s latest social game, Empires & Allies, is another hit for the company. It attracted more players than FarmVille, its first breakout hit, in just 25 days. Empires & Allies is gaining new users at a rate of a million a day and 8 million a week now, according to AppData.
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.


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Most of us already know the story. On January 26, 2013, it became effectively became illegal under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) for consumers to unlock a cell phone provided from a carrier for use on another network, unless they had approval from the original carrier. That means where you could normally unlock, say, an AT&T phone for use on T-Mobile’s newly refarmed 1900MHz network, it has now become illegal. Just about everyone has been up in arms over the law, sparking a petition seeking legislative action, even gaining the attention of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, who stated that the unlocking ban “raises competition concerns,” as well as “innovation concerns.”
Well, AT&T has finally decided to weigh in on the matter in a post found on the company’s Public Policy Blog. Their thoughts? “Chillax, boo, we’ll still unlock our cellphones for you… but there are some caveats.”
“While we think the Librarian’s careful decision was reasonable, the fact is that it has very little impact on AT&T customers. As we make clear on our website, if we have the unlock code or can reasonably get it from the manufacturer, AT&T currently will unlock a device for any customer whose account has been active for at least sixty days; whose account is in good standing and has no unpaid balance; and who has fulfilled his or her service agreement commitment. If the conditions are met we will unlock up to five devices per account per year. We will not unlock devices that have been reported lost or stolen.”
60 days. Good standing. No longer on contract. Sounds reasonable enough. If you’re a new AT&T customer and buy a subsidized phone for $200, you’ll have to wait until your current contract is up before you can unlock that phone and sell it to someone else for use on another network. The problem? Those people who buy used locked AT&T phones for use on other networks — they’re the ones getting stiffed. Well, those and unsavory types who sell falsely reported lost or stolen smartphones.
I have sort of mixed feelings about the whole thing. While I agree this kinda sucks for Android junkies looking to refresh their handset with a new one every 6 months by selling their phones on eBay/Craigslist/etc, there’s really nothing stopping anyone from selling their phone to someone already on AT&T’s network. I guess the real issue is with non-AT&T customers looking to score a used-deal on an AT&T phone for use on T-Mobile or in another country, and of course, isn’t something AT&T seems too concerned with.
Curious to hear your thoughts on the matter. Do you think AT&T’s stance on the whole matter is unreasonable? Or do feel like they really shouldn’t have an obligation to provide unlocking services for non-customers?


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Global silicon shortage set for repeat – this time with lithium
The current supply chain disruptions and the global shortage of computer silicon is having significant effects on many businesses at present. At a consumer level, the internet is full of news of silicon shortages in the latest generations of graphics cards and CPUs. The latest big tech leader to express concerns is Tim Cook of Apple, after the company’s CFO Luca Maestri predicted loss of sales between $3bn and $4bn this quarter due to limited supply of chips.
Many businesses are beginning to see rises in hardware costs as even OEMs’ prices rise: larger OEMs source and contract for long future time periods and are less susceptible to the smaller operators’ supply-sensitive price variations.
One industry that is being especially hit hard is one that is in a significant period of transition – automotive. With a greater expectation on the latest tech being onboard, modern vehicles contain a significant amount of technology, and not just in peripherals like in-car entertainment systems. Many vehicles use computerized engine management systems, as well as telemetry add-ons, so a shortage of silicon for these is slowing down the world’s car and truck production lines.
Part of the problem is that many chip designers run “fabless” operations, in that they outsource the physical production of silicon semiconductor wafers to third parties, and not surprisingly, want to exploit economies of scale available from the largest fabrication plants. That leaves a few key industry players like Samsung, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics producing a majority of the world’s wafers. Anything affecting those three companies especially will have significant knock-on impact on many other verticals. A serious drought in Taiwan, for instance (where two of the world’s largest fabricators are based) will have consequences for the next 24 months, according to some estimates.
Now, the automotive industry has another crisis looming in the next decade as it moves from fossil-fueled vehicles to pure EV output — the lithium in batteries may well not be available in sufficient quantities at a reasonable cost by 2027.
The issue is not a shortage of lithium, rather that its easier methods of extraction will have depleted stocks, leaving only “marginal” resources, which cost more per metric ton to exploit. By 2028, demand for lithium overall is predicted to have reached 2.8 million tons, with availability at 2 million tons — a shortfall of 800,000 tons, assuming no new large-scale mining projects are begun.
Both the EU and the US governments are aware that they are becoming more susceptible to global shortages of core manufactured goods (microprocessors) and raw materials (lithium for batteries) and are taking steps to alleviate future supply fluctuations. Projects in North America and Europe are testing new processes for “direct lithium extraction”, using chemicals and electricity that separate the element from its carrier materials, obviating the reliance on purer forms of lithium such as those available from South America’s brine-based lithium recovery.
One method of boosting supplies of lithium is to recycle depleted batteries more. At present only around 5% of lithium battery packs are disassembled and recycled, with most ending up in landfills. In addition to heavy metal contamination leaking into the water supply, discarded batteries remain a good source of rarer elements.
However, taking apart today’s lithium-based batteries is expensive and complex, and therefore doesn’t represent a sound investment: that will surely change as shortages in supply of lithium kick in, and price equity for “new” and recycled lithium is reached.
Investments are being made in lithium battery technologies, with a $175m facility currently under construction in Rochester, New York by Canadian company Li-Cycle. Such facilities also recover cobalt, copper, gold, and nickel as well as lithium, making them valuable sources of rarer metals that can be used in batteries and other technology manufacturing processes.
As technology underpins more and more day-to-day business activities, the hardware that effectively powers today’s commercial activities will become an increasingly precious resource. That value to organizations permeates down through the supply and manufacturing chains, making even the most banal of constituent parts a commodity that has value.
Furthermore, increasing strictures on greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption (specifically used to cool cloud computing’s data centers), and carbon footprints mean that businesses and governments will be forced to think longer-term than at present.
6 March 2024


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NETGEAR has announced their new Stora network-attached-storage with remote access that is designed for the home users to share photos with friends and family without the need to upload to online internet websites.
Zalman has officially unveiled the ZM500-ST (500W model) and ZM600-ST (600W model). Both are non-modular and feature dual +12V rails, ultra quiet 120mm fans, all sleeved cables, two-forward switching circuit design, support for dual graphics cards and are 80Plus certified with a maximum efficiency of 80 percent. Targeting the mainstream market, both ZM500-ST and ZM600-ST
In our earlier post, Microsoft has lambasted Google over its “Chrome-in-IE” plan. Google has hit back at Microsoft today, defending its new Chrome Frame plug-in, and says it makes IE more secure, not less. Read the article now on Computerworld and enjoy the mudslinging! “Accessing sites using Google Chrome Frame brings Google Chrome’s security features to
Laptop Magazine has previewed Phoenix’s new Instant Boot BIOS. The Instant Boot BIOS reportedly cuts down POST time to about a second and can boot into Windows 7 in 10 seconds on a Lenovo T400. A video paints a thousand words so folks, read on to see the Instant Boot BIOS in action. Impressive!
You might have heard of Intel’s Light Peak technology, a new high-speed optical cable technology designed to connect your electronic devices to each other. Lightpeak also has the ability to run multiple protocols simultaneously over a single cable. Catchy huh? What has this to do with Apple ? Read on
Barely three days after the official launch of Radeon 5870, Slovenia based EKWB is already working on a new Full Cover Water Block for the new Radeon GPU. According to the website, the water blocks should be available in a fortnight if testing goes well.
Thermaltake has announced a multi-socket support budget CPU cooler, the Contac 29. Measuring 120 x 120 x 25 mm (L x W x H) and weighing 558g, the Contac 29 features Thermaltake’s Direct Contact Technology, allowing 3 U-shaped 8mm diameter heatpipes to “immediately touch the CPU” for efficient heat dissipation. Equipped with a 120 mm PWM
Intel announced that they would be delivering new Pineview processors for Netbooks to PC makers in Q4 2009. The Pineview processors is expected to make the chip faster, smaller and reduce power consumption. This could result in thinner netbook designs with longer and better batter life. Read more..
Announcing the first USB 3.0 external hard drive, Freecom’s XS 3.0 is backwards-compatible and will work with all USB 2.0 enabled computers and notebooks, as well as forthcoming USB 3.0 models.
Following several (often contradictory) rumours about the GT300, some claiming sub-10% yields, Fudzilla have been informed by an unnamed Senior Manager at Nvidia that such rumours are “baseless” and “Our 40nm yields are fine”. What is interesting, though, is that the Senior Manager talks about 40nm in general (which could easily mean the GT21x shrinks),
Chinese website eNet have scored the first clear pictures of ATI’s upcoming dual-Cypress Hemlock card at a demonstration event. Hemlock is rumoured to source two variants, branded as HD 5870 X2 and HD 5850 X2. More pictures next page.
Today, Dell introduced Alienware latest gaming rigs in Singapore – the Alienware M15x laptop, Area-51 and Area-51 ALX desktop PCs – which are using the new Intel Core i7 processors that promise amazing gaming performance. Read on for the press release and the local pricing.
ASUS has recently announced their latest gaming and multimedia notebook PCs that boast superb 3D visual and system performance with the new Intel Core i7 processors. Both the ASUS G60J and M60J feature 16-inch high definition display and up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM.
WhoGlue Inc., a small Baltimore tech company founded in 2000, is suing Facebook for infringing on a key patent it holds on “facilitating communications between user members of an online network.” If WhoGlue gets its way, the patent infringement case may potentially hurt the online social networking giant’s business but most importantly, similar social networking
Google has raised the ire of Microsoft by releasing Chrome Frame, an open source plug-in which allows people to run Google Wave from within all versions of Internet Explorer. For those who do not know, Google Chrome Frame is a plug-in for Internet Explorer that lets people use Chrome from within Microsoft’s web browser. This allows
Researchers Suresh Garimella and Tannaz Harirchia at Purdue University reportedly have “developed and tested new mathematical formulas concerning the properties of boiling liquids in “micro-channels.”” Representing a breakthrough in micro-channel cooling technology, this may totally change how cooling systems are designed in everything from computers to electric and hybrid cars. If micro-channel cooling technology does take off,
The Japanese version Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Edition operating system will include an original wallpaper and an event sound set based on a character named Nanami Madobe and is voiced by actress Mizuki Nana.
Microsoft has released another Windows 7 video which has four party planners talking about how the upcoming OS can help to plan your party with sample videos and notes that you can print out, the activities you can have like showing your holiday photos etc, but before that you would need to install Windows 7 first (obviously). The
Razer has revamped DeathAdder with a 3.5G 3500dpi infrared sensor and tangle-free braided cable. COST: US: $59.99, Europe: €59.99. AVAILABILITY: Razerzone.com – 24 September and In Stores – Late September
Today, Wacom announced their new Bamboo tablets which claim to be the first to merge multi-touch with their pen tablet technology. The Wacom Bamboo, Bamboo Fun, Bamboo Pen and Bamboo Touch made up the 2nd generation Bamboo family.


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News - Ford
Ford takes a new view of SUV safety
Territory replacement likely to get Ford’s 180-degree front and rear safety cameras
Click to see larger images
24 Jun 2015
A FORD Territory replacement might become the first Blue Oval vehicle in Australia to get Ford’s new camera technology that allows the driver to “see” around corners.
The company announced in the United States overnight that it plans to equip its global SUV range with the new device that gives a split-screen view to each side of the vehicle, enabling the driver to look to the left and right for approaching traffic, pedestrians or cyclists, even if the view from the driver’s seat is obscured.
Wide-angle lens cameras in the grille and tailgate of the vehicle beam the 180-degree view to the dashboard screen where, to prevent distortion, it is split into three views – one to the left, one to the right and a straight-ahead view in the middle.
The objective is to make driving safer when emerging on to a busy road from, say, a tight alley, driveway or garage, where a wall or other obstacle might block the driver’s view.
The system works from the grille camera when the vehicle is travelling in a forward gear, at up to 10km/h, and from the tailgate view when in reverse gear.
The company revealed that it plans to fit the system to all variants of its global SUV range by 2020. That includes the full-sized Explorer and mid-sized Edge made in both North America and China, and Europe’s all-new S-Max and Galaxy crossover vehicles.
There was no mention of the upcoming Australian-developed, Thai-built Everest on the list of vehicles to get the technology, but Ford says that in time, other Ford cars will get the system, along with rearview cameras that the company plans to make standard across the range.
The company says it is rolling out driver assist cameras on its cars at the rate of two million a year around the world.
Ford Australia is yet to announce which SUV will potentially replace the Territory which ends its production run next near when Ford closes its Australian manufacturing operation.
While most pundits suspect the Canadian-built Edge will fill the void, but as GoAuto has reported, Ford insiders say it is not a fait accompli.
A problem is that the North American Edge has only five seats – a major drawback in the family wagon market where seven-seat availability is a distinct advantage.
Ford’s Chinese-made Edge has a seven-seat configuration, but Ford Australia communications and public affairs director Wes Sherwood told GoAuto that the company had no plans to import any Chinese-made vehicles.
He commented that the new Everest would offer seven seats once the Ranger-based SUV arrives in the country in October.
However, Everest pricing starts at $54,990 plus on-road costs – a hefty ask for many families with several children.
An alternative to fill the gap might be the 2016 European Ford Galaxy people-mover that would be more affordable and yet still offer a family friendly seven seats.
The new-generation Galaxy – a stretched version of the S-Max – will be built in Spain from later this year, sitting on the same CD4 mid-sized vehicle platform as the Mondeo and Edge. A right-hand drive version is planned for Britain and Ireland.
Powered by the same EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel four-cylinder engines as the Mondeo, the Galaxy will also be offered with all-wheel drive in Europe.
If the Galaxy was added to the Australian line-up, it theoretically would compete with the Honda Odyssey that starts at $37,610, Kia Carnival from $41,490, Hyundai iMax from $38,290 and Toyota Tarago from $46,990.
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Plans are underway to create a more formalised plastic recycling scheme across the rural sector that mandates the re-use of certain types of plastic.
The new scheme will be based on a consultation document created by AgRecovery that was recently presented to the government.
“We have consulted on how to do it, and they are going to consult on how to make it into a legal process. The focus there is around voluntary membership and making it mandatory,” AgRecovery chief executive Tony Wilson said.
It will initially target the “four big plastics” – silage bale wrap, plastic agrichemical containers, large fertiliser bags and smaller bags.
“The aim of it is that we’re moving away from a voluntary scheme where these producers or manufacturers pick and choose if they want to belong, to where it’s mandated,” he said.
AgRecovery wants to run the scheme and has applied to become as an accredited public steward organisation (PSO) to enable it to do so.
The drive behind this is due in part to central government, but most of it is coming from the farmers themselves, Wilson said.
“They’re having to prove to their end customers or the customers they are sending their product to that they are being sustainable.”
That proof is tied in to the sustainable dairying programmes run by the dairy companies, such as Fonterra’s Tiaki scheme or Synlait’s Lead with Pride.
“It’s great to see the likes of Fonterra realising how important it is and making it more compulsory or incentivised for the farmer to do the right thing.”
For farmers, it will mean more places to drop off their plastic for collection.
A mandated scheme would be funded by a levy that would fund the vehicles used to collect the plastic and manage the collection sites.
That levy will be placed on the plastic manufacturers or the brands for every measure of plastic created and put into the market as a product.
While there could be a small increase in pricing at the farmgate, Wilson said with it being mandated, everyone would paying for it.
“It’s a different way for the waste to get moved and I’d put my hand on my heart and say that it would be costing the farmer less giving us the plastic than taking it to a landfill.”
Everyone has a role to play in plastic recycling, he said.
“If we get this right and we get all of this plastic back. NZ Inc benefits from it because we’re selling products at a higher margin overseas. We all win from that and it’s really important that we get that right.”
One of the guidelines for AgRecovery to follow as a PSO is that everything that is collected must be recycled in a circular economy. This means the plastic must be in a state that it can be re-used. AgRecovery can get hard plastics processed in New Zealand, but soft plastics have to be sent overseas.
“The thing with the product stewardship scheme is that we’re not chasing the dollar, we’re chasing the plastic and we are rewarded by showing that we are recycling more plastic, not that we’re making a profit because we’re a not-for-profit charitable trust.”
As a result, they use only A-grade recyclers to ensure that the plastic is being properly recycled into products such as building insulation or car parts.
It is not just farmers – there is a lot of plastic that is used across supply chains, and Wilson said AgRecovery is interested in exploring ways that it can assist with that aspect of recycling.
“Whether its stuff like shrinkwrap on pallets that move through the supply chain or the re-bagging of bags, we need to make sure all of that plastic is brought back into a scheme so it can be recycled.”
Wilson hopes to match the recycle rates in Europe, which sit at around 85-90%. By comparison, NZ’s rate is around 50%.
“We have a big task ahead of us to get to those levels. We’re really keen to do it, but we need everyone’s help to get there.”
Viewing plastic as a resource rather than as a waste product will greatly help lift those rates.
“It’s a steep change and we really need to think outside the box in terms of innovation and I think farmers are up for that.
“No one wants to bury or burn on the farm anymore. They want to get it back again to be re-used.”
This article first appeared in the September edition of our sister publication, Dairy Farmer.


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Scuderi signs up UK PR team
February 11, 2010 § Leave a comment
I’ve been following the progress of the Scuderi split-cycle engine for a while now and the Massachussetts-based R&D company appears to be gearing up for a media onslaught this side of the Atlantic.
The Scuderi Cycle engine is, says the company, the most revolutionary advancement in engine technology since the Otto Cycle 130 years ago. It’s a two-cylinder principle with one cylinder handling intake and compression, and the other power and exhaust, made possible by the firing ‘after top dead centre’ – a bit of a Holy Grail of a process only now made possible by modern electronic combustion controls.
The petrol engine emits up to 80% less nitrous oxides, has torque levels of a comparable diesel, efficiency gains of up to 10% in naturally-aspirated form, 15-20% with turbocharger, and 25-50% with an air hybrid component (an air tank to store waste energy). Oh, and it’s suitable for any piston-driven application – cars, generators, aircraft, ships, rail locomotives…
I interviewed VP Stephen Scuderi last autumn (’09), and he said that the first licensing agreement was expected shortly, and production within three to five years.
So what’s the problem? Credibility. Now, I love a leftfield solution, but there’s an immense amount of scepticism that this engine will actually work. Feedback from friendly powertrain engineers suggests that it’s over-complicated, that no-one’s yet managed to get firing after top-dead centre quite right, and ‘if it really was any good, we’d all be working on it’. And in the current economic climate it’d be a brave manufacturer who’d take the risk of investing in something so unproven, so out-there.
The hiring of a UK PR operation suggests that something’s afoot, however: probably the announcement of the first licensing/supply agreement. This is going to be interesting.


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LivingSocial, a deals web site that lives in the same space as Groupon, has been injected with a $175 million investment from Amazon, the company confirmed today. Living Social also said that it secured an additional $8 million investment from Lightspeed Venture Partners.
The news comes amid reports that Google is reportedly set to buy Groupon, the largest player in the new group deals space and a clear market leader, according to Hitwise. (See chart below)
LivingSocial said it is currently booking revenues of $1 million per day on average and is projected to book more than $500 million in 2011. The investments, the company said, will be used to continue the pace of worldwide launches around the globe and, largely, to compete. In a statement, LivingSocial CEO Tim O'Shaughnessy said:
To be the biggest player in the local commerce space there is no one better to work with than Amazon. As the social shopping space continues to heat up, LivingSocial is committed to staying focused on providing the high level of quality that consumers and merchants have come to expect when working with us.


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8. Elon Musk's "funding secured" fail
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Musk for fraud in September, claiming this August 7, 2018 tweet about securing private funding for Tesla was false and misleading.
Musk quickly settled the suit by agreeing to step down as Tesla's chairman and pay $40 million in penalties, among other stipulations.
SEE: Photo Galleries (TechRepublic Flipboard magazine)


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KOCHI: Until a few years back, glimpses of people lining up before grocery stores were a normal sight. With the arrival of supermarkets, small-scale grocery shops began losing their prominence. With their business dwindling, many such stores are finding existence tough.StoreIn, a startup by Rado Paul, a resident of Perumbavoor, aims at finding solutions to the problems faced by the over 1.5 lakh stores in the state. By bringing them under their network, StoreIn aims at making them aware of the challenges faced by the industry and solving them.
“GST is one of their major headaches. All shops which do business above `40 lakh are bound to pay the GST. The business of many grocery stores won’t exceed the specified slab, but the onus is on the shop owners to prove that. Shops which don’t have the GST registration won’t be able to generate the bill which gradually leads to their shutdown. Unorganised shops face such issues and we are there to help them,” says Rado.
Through StoreIn, the stores can get the groceries at a lower rate. “We procure the items directly from the distributor. We get them for a good price as we buy them in bulk. The items are delivered to the doorstep of the stores and they get them at discounted rate, and there are no middlemen. So, the store will get a better profit too,” adds Rado.
There are currently 600 stores under StoreIn. Over 400 of these are in Kollam and 200 are in Malappuram. Under StoreIn, warehouses have been set up, from where the items will be delivered to the stores.
“On average, a store sells 10 kg of sugar and 30 kg of rice a day. We have to procure locally-made items like pappadum, pickles and curry powders. Since we are dealing with large quantities, storage space is essential. Thirty shops come under a warehouse.”
The store owners have also been provided with an e-pos machine each under the initiative. “It’s simple to operate. The stock details will be stored in the machine. Also, there will be different numbers assigned for items i.e 42 for rice, 22 for sugar and 12 for jaggery. So when the items are sold, the stock gets updated and we will get the details of the bill. This makes the GST filing simpler.”
The next major move of StoreIn is to connect these stores with e-commerce giants.
“Most of the e-commerce giants don’t have delivery in rural areas. The store owners are scared of these platforms as they fear their business will be affected. If they are connected, these platforms will get access to every part of Kerala. If you order 10 kg of rice from any of the e-commerce platforms, it will be delivered to you from the nearest store. Thus, the business of the store is sustained. We are already in talks with some of them,” says Rado.
Talking about the immediate plans, Rado says that the first phase is over. In the next phase, he aims to bring 15,000 shops under StoreIn. “By January, StoreIn will reach Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. By April, we will mark our presence in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.”
StoreIn has its office in Thykoodam.
“I have to set up the warehouse first. More than the metro cities, I love to expand the business in rural areas as they are in dire need of delivery services. When I began StoreIn, I planned to get together with all store owners every 45 days. Right now, I’m able to do it,” says Rado.


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Considered one of Japan’s largest on-line retailers has banned the sale of ivory, closing a serious market for the controversial commerce.
Rakuten is accused of being the world’s largest on-line retailer for elephant ivory, however will now part out its sale.
The commerce is authorized in Japan for gadgets imported earlier than 1989 – however no new inventory may be introduced into the nation.
Many different nations have banned the commerce outright over considerations that it contributes to elephant poaching.
Rakuten additionally banned the sale of sea turtle merchandise on its website, telling AFP information company it was responding to “rising worldwide concern”.
“We anticipate it’ll take 1-2 months for all listings of those prohibited merchandise to be eliminated,” it stated.
On the day of the announcement, numerous ivory gadgets have been nonetheless listed on the market, together with many carved private seals referred to as “hanko”.
Sellers of such gadgets are anticipated to take care of cautious data of their origin, and use solely authorities-regulated ivory stockpiles.
However activists consider the principles are sometimes circumvented and the valuable materials is usually smuggled throughout borders.
Yahoo Japan, one other website which permits the sale of ivory, has previously come under fire for the practice.
Nevertheless, a spokesman advised Reuters it didn’t plan to halt the commerce, saying: “We do not assume that the authorized ivory commerce in Japan has any impression on African elephant numbers.”
“It is very important recognise there are cultural variations between totally different nations,” he added.
African elephant numbers have plummeted within the final century, and there are an estimated 500,000 remaining on the continent.
China, a standard powerhouse within the ivory commerce, announced in December that it would ban all ivory actions and commerce by the top of 2017.
Conservation teams hailed the choice as “historic” and a “recreation-changer” – however ivory artists have lamented the loss of a traditional craft.
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Supreme Court won't review drug patent deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court let stand a ruling that drug companies can pay rivals to delay production of generic drugs without violating federal antitrust laws.
The justices refused to review a federal appeals court ruling that upheld the dismissal of a legal challenge to a deal between Bayer AG and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's Barr Laboratories. Bayer paid Barr to prevent it from bringing to market a version of the antibiotic drug Cipro.
The deal, involving Bayer's 1997 settlement of patent litigation with Barr, was challenged by a number of pharmacies, which appealed to the Supreme Court. More than 30 states and various consumer groups supported the appeal.
The Federal Trade Commission has opposed such deals, saying they violate antitrust law and cost consumers an estimated $3.5 billion a year in higher prescription drug prices. It has supported legislation pending in Congress to prohibit such settlements, which it says have increased in recent years.
The New York-based appeals court, in its ruling last year, cited its similar 2005 decision involving the drug Tamoxifen, used to treat breast cancer, infertility and other conditions. The Supreme Court declined to review that case.
In the Cipro case, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal by the pharmacies without comment.
The Supreme Court case is Louisiana Wholesale Drug Co v. Bayer AG, No. 10-762.


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A MUM was horrified when she discovered a ready meal she bought for her toddler was infested with bugs.
Hannah Johnson, from Cheshire, bought a pasta bake from Aldi for her 23-month-old son Louie and as she unpacked her shopping spotted the creepy crawlies.
She claims some of the insects were still alive and had infested some of her other groceries, which she had to throw away.
Aldi has apologised for the incident and it is being investigated by Chesire East Council.
Hannah, 31, had bought a few 85p Mamia organic bolognese pasta bake for toddlers aged 12 months and over from the store in Holmes Chapel.
Elle a dit CheshireLive: “It was a massive shock.
“As I was unpacking these ready-meals on the side, I noticed some living ones fall off and start crawling across my table.
“They were all over other my shopping in the bag, so I had to throw loads out, deep clean the house and myself.
“It wasn’t a nice day. I didn’t want to eat anything after that.”
Hannah said she struggled to identify what the bugs were.
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Elle a ajouté: “I’ve tried to figure it out, but I’m not sure if they’re from the UK or not.
“Some look like larvae, some look like woodlice, and I think it’s more than one species.
“Some had turned into flies. A lot of them were dead, but some were still living. It was really strange.”
Aldi has offered Hannah a £40 voucher to cover the cost of her shopping.
An Aldi spokesman said: “Although very rare, incidents like this can occasionally occur if packaging is damaged at any point before the product is consumed.
“We have apologised to Ms Johnson for her experience and have offered her a full refund.”
Lottie a dit à ses fans qu'elle était en cure de désintoxication le mois dernier et a partagé la nouvelle sur TikTok
A Cheshire East Council spokesman added: “We can confirm that we have received a complaint from a member of the public and we have visited the store in question and spoken with the customer.
“We are investigating in conjunction with the primary authority for the store and, Donc, cannot make any further comment.”


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By Meg Olson
Brothers Robert and David Li’s introduction to Point Roberts was the same as it is for many who choose to visit from Canada. They were picking up a package.
“We buy a lot of things in the states and it’s ridiculous waiting in line,” said Robert. “We wanted to think of some way to remove the inefficiency.”
What they did was start In Out Parcel at 145 Tyee Drive, a building the brothers had purchased in 2013 as an investment property.
After spending too many Saturdays lining up at the border, then standing in line in the rain at a parcel service, then lining up again to return home to Vancouver, “We came up with the idea of opening our own parcel place so at least we didn’t have to wait to pick up a package,” David said. “Line-ups for parcel pickup can be excruciatingly long, especially during weekends and major holidays.”
The problem of long lines plagues all traditional parcel places, David said, because with an employee at a computer terminal locating and retrieving a package and collecting fees, it takes minutes per customer, and there are usually no more than a few terminals at each business. By automating parcel pickup, minutes are shaved to seconds and, with more than 2,000 lockers, In Out Parcel can promise parcel retrieval in 30 seconds or less.
“Everything is automated,” Robert said. “It’s extremely quick. Kind of like a bank machine.”
Clients set up an account, prepay their fees and have parcels shipped to their account number. When the parcel arrives at In Out, the client is sent an email with a pin code. That code will allow them access to the building and to locate and open the locker that contains their parcel. “It’s available 24 hours a day,” Robert said. The business also offers traditional counter service during staffed hours, “for people who like to talk to a person,” but Robert said 90 percent of their volume goes into the lockers.
Robert said in addition to enhancing customer service, they also thought of community impacts when making the decision to automate. “We are offloading a lot of trips to the night, so it impacts traffic,” he said, especially on Saturday, the day that most people can make it during traditional business hours to pick up a package.
To learn more about In Out Parcel and its services, or to sign up, visit inoutparcel.com.


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Indian pavilion opens at Expo 2020 Dubai with cultural performances
The Indian pavilion opened at the Expo 2020 Dubai with cultural performances. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the large Indian diaspora during the inaugural ceremony of India Pavilion through a video conference.
Piyush Goyal, Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, inaugurated the pavilion on Friday.
Goyal said, “Delighted to inaugurate the stunning India Pavilion at the Expo 2020 in Dubai. I invite the world to come and partner with India for driving the next phase of global growth…”
Visitors can enjoy the unique experience of art and expression with light, music and dance at the pavilion.
The Indian pavilion symbolises pride, potential and power of Indian citizens living all around the globe.
It tells a story of aspiration, serves as a symbol of audacity and an invitation to the world. I wish to tell the world, you can bet on India, Goyal told media.
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, also attended the inaugural ceremony of India Pavilion.
Indian yoga guru Swami Ramdev was also present at the inaugural ceremony of India pavilion.
“Dubai has allowed very few pavilions (countries), India is one of them, to retain pavilion even after Expo 2020 Dubai gets over.
“We will keep UAE as a base showing India as an emerging superpower," Goyal said.
The pavilion is a fine blend of modern outlook and traditional strengths. It is a saga of business exposition and a celebration of all Indian festival at the event.


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Swift Prepaid, which rebranded itself over the summer as daVinci Payments, has moved forward with its sales process.
Books for Swift Prepaid are out, sources said. Bids for the fintech company are due later in October, people said. Raymond James is advising on the sale.
In July, Buyouts reported that Swift Prepaid was considering a sale. Swift Prepaid produces $65 million in revenue on $35 million Ebitda. It is expected to sell for 15x to 16x, Buyouts said.
Swift, of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, was founded in 1996 as a non-bank issuer of Visa and Mastercard prepaid cards. The company provides prepaid solutions for incentive and reward programs. Swift supplies branded, prepaid cards in more than 160 countries in 10 currencies.
Syncapay, a holding company that seeks to buy payments companies, owns Swift Prepaid. Syncapay is backed by Bain Capital Ventures, Silversmith Capital partners, MissionOG and Nyca Partners.
Executives for Swift Prepaid, Syncapay, Bain Capital Ventures, Raymond James, Silversmith, Mission OG and NYCA could not be reached for comment.
Action Item: See Bain Capital Ventures’s latest form ADV here.


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First OLED iPad may not arrive until 2022
Per the report, the transition will begin with a few models. The orders will apparently go to Samsung and LG, who also make OLED panels for the iPhone 12 series.
According to an earlier rumor, Apple has demanded higher specifications for the OLED panel meant for the iPad Pro when compared to the screens supplied for iPhones. Today's report provides more clarity on that.
Apple is expected to use hybrid OLED units which are thinner than conventional panels and are made using a combination of flexible and rigid OLED technologies. Samsung and LG have branded these panels as UT (Ultra Thin) and ATO (Advanced Thin OLED), respectively.
Samsung Display will reportedly start supplying UT panels for the iPad in 2022, and the chaebol has already started working on facilities and equipment that would be required. LG Display will commence shipments in 2023. The report adds that full scale manufacturing will also begin in 2023.
mini LED iPads will likely precede the arrival of OLED ones
As you may already know, all iPads in Apple's current lineup sport LCD panels. The latest report corroborates earlier rumors that said some 2021 iPad models will use mini LED, presumably a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a 10.2-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini. To be more specific, up to 40 percent of iPad models coming next year could feature miniLED. The tech is expected to offer similar benefits to OLED but without downsides such as burn-in.
OLED panel supposedly costs Apple $90 per unit.A report that dates back to 2018 says Apple may never use OLED for iPads because of technical and financial constraints. To give you some perspective, 6.1-inch iPhone 12's
That said, competitors like Samsung and Lenovo already make OLED tablets, so it wouldn't be surprising if Apple makes the switch too.


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Steak 'n Shake to permanently close 57 restaurants
Steak 'n Shake is losing dozens of its locations due to financial woes.
The chain's parent company announced Monday that 57 of its restaurants will be permanently shut down.
The closings were caused by the coronavirus-stricken economy.
A document didn't name which locations were affected.
Steak 'n Shake started 2020 with 553 restaurants. Last year, it had 624.
Despite the pandemic, takeout and drive-thru services remained open for most stores in the chain, The Indianapolis Star reported.
The company's first franchise debuted in 1939.
Video: May 10 marked milestone for most states easing restrictions
Hearst TV contributed to this report.


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Appointed by Noble as their official sales and service dealer, Super Veloce Racing (SVR) will be revealing the latest Noble supercar on May 5th in London.
SVR’s Noble M600 will be the latest car to come out of the Leicester-based factory, with this particular one wearing a ‘Black-Red’ exterior to go with its carbon fiber roof.
Noble had to go through a five year development process in order to build the latest generation M600 and M600 CarbonSport. With SVR now handling customers directly, prospective drivers will be able to get a hands-on experience before placing an order for this British-built supercar.
After the test-drive process is completed, SVR will work alongside the customer in order to develop bespoke aesthetic details in order to provide buyers with a truly unique experience.
The team at SVR has specifically chosen the London Motor Show as a launch platform for the latest M600, as a way to showcase “prestige” as well as to have visitors reflect on the automaker’s British foundations.
This ‘Black-Red’ Noble M600 will feature all the model’s latest developments, as well as its proven 4.4-liter Yamaha twin turbo V8 engine, plus a six-speed manual gearbox. With 662 BHP (492 kW) and 604 lb-ft (818 Nm) of torque on tap, the M600 is able to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.5 seconds before maxing out at an estimated top speed of 225 mph (362 km/h).


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Was the reveal of an all-new Hearthstone expansion not enough for today? Blizzard doesn't believe so, as it has deployed the digital card game's latest update. That update includes some previously-teased changes, along with a returning event from last summer.
Update 11.4 opens the door for Boomsday Project pre-orders, while also providing a terrifying look at the game's newest Hero, Mecha-Jaraxxus. The new Warlock hero is available immediately to anyone who pre-orders the bigger Mega Bundle, which also includes 80 card packs, for $79.99.
Players can also look forward to the return of the Midsummer Fire Festival, Ragnaros' hottest celebration of the season. This will include the return of the Ragnaros Fire Festival Tavern Brawl, as well as a new PvE Tavern Brawl set to debut a little later. Basic Daily Quests will also reward double gold, which should help players save up for new Boomsday Project card packs when the expansion goes live on August 7.
And as noted last week, Mountain Giant, Molten Giant, Witchwood Piper, North Sea Kraken, and Jungle Moonkin have had their tribal tags adjusted. So Elemtental Mage and Shaman players can now enjoy adding some Giants to their ranks.
For the full list of changes, including bug fixes and tweaks, check out the Hearthstone website.


text: You won't have a tough time remembering the name of Audi's first electric vehicle, not when the automaker says the SUV will simply be called the E-Tron. That's it -- no model designation, no numbers, nothing else. The automaker told Autocar that it's using the tactic it used back in the '80s when it named its all-wheel drive the Quattro. "It is comparable to the first Audi Quattro, which was known simply as the Quattro," Audi chief Rupert Stadler told the publication. "In the long term the name E-Tron will stand for a pure electric driveline structure."


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Disney posts 4Q loss as parks business, costs drag results
Walt Disney Co. reported fiscal fourth-quarter loss on Thursday thanks largely to changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its earnings were dragged by costs from restructuring related to its streaming services and lost revenue from its California theme parks, which remain closed amid surging coronavirus cases in the U.S.
But its results weren’t as bad as feared and the company’s shares advanced after hours.
Before the pandemic, Disney’s profit soared as its wide array of media and entertainment offerings, from Marvel theatrical releases to Disney cruises, outperformed. But those businesses have been among the hardest hit during a pandemic that shows no sign of going away.
Even before the pandemic, Disney had been increasingly focused on its streaming services such as Disney Plus, which launched a year ago and now boasts 73.7 million subscribers, surpassing analysts’ and the company’s own expectations. That move has been vastly sped up by the pandemic, as well as increasing competition from new streaming services such as NBCUniversal’s Peacock and WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, not to mention older rivals like Netflix.
In October, Disney announced a restructuring of its business units to put streaming front and center. It created three content arms, one each for sports, general entertainment and its studios, which have famous brands including Star Wars and Marvel. Their primary focus is on making shows and movies for streaming services. Meanwhile, a new distribution group will centralize how the content is sold and oversee streaming operations.
Disney Plus has boomed during the pandemic. Subscribers to Disney’s main streaming bundle — Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu — top 120 million. It still plans to launch another international streaming service called Star. Disney has also been pivoting to releasing major titles on streaming services that would traditionally have appeared at cinemas, like a live-action remake of “Mulan” and the upcoming Pixar film “Soul,” which will hit Disney Plus at Christmas.
Disney posted a loss of $629 million, or 39 cents per share, in the three months that ended Oct. 3. That’s a swing from earnings of $1.21 billion, or 58 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts expected a loss of 73 cents per share, according to FactSet.
Revenue fell 23% to $14.71 billion. Analysts expected revenue of $14.15 billion.
To offset the cost of shuttered parks, the company is laying off some staff. In September, Disney said it was laying off 28,000 staffers at its parks in California and Florida due to limits on attendance and other pandemic-related issues. Two-thirds of the planned layoffs involve part-time workers, although salaried employees and hourly workers were both affected.
Disney said revenue at its parks, experiences and products business fell 61% to $2.6 billion. But it wasn’t just parks that suffered. The company said it has suffered “significant disruption” in the production and availability of programming material — including the shift of live sports from the third into the fourth quarter and beyond. The pandemic has also led to the suspension of TV and movie production, though some of that has resumed in the current quarter.
Shares of the Burbank, California-based company rose $4.48, or 3.3%, to $140 in after-hours trading. The stock had closed down less than 2% at $135.52.
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The Teamsters Are Coming For Amazon
July 2, 2021
Unions across the U.S. are raising their voices in support of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters recent announcement that they are “coming for Amazon” and seeking to improve the quality of the workers’ lives through Unionization.
Recently, Teamster Members from 500 Local Unions met to lay out their priorities for the next five years and collectively adopted the following resolution: "Be it resolved, that building worker power at Amazon and helping those workers achieve a union contract is a top priority for the Teamsters Union."
To date, efforts to organize Amazon warehouse workers have unfortunately failed, most recently in Bessemer, Alabama, where workers voted 2-to-1 against joining a Union.
The Teamsters Union leadership has appointed a National Director for Amazon, Randy Korgan who is quoted saying, “There is perhaps no clearer manifestation of how America is failing the working class than Amazon," in Salon. "Building genuine worker power at Amazon will take shop-floor militancy by Amazon workers and solidarity from warehousing and delivery Teamsters."
Decades ago, Unions were the primary driving force behind raising up the quality of life of blue collar and middle-class workers. And while Unions directly benefit their members through Contracts that provide reasonable wages and working conditions in exchange for a skilled and reliable workforce for the employer, people in all classes benefit from the results of organized workers. Unions raise the bar for everyone, and it’s exciting that the Teamsters are taking such a direct and impassioned approach towards organizing Amazon workers.


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The Apple rumor mill is churning over reports that Apple will not release a new iPhone this summer like they have every year since 2007.
I think that’s a huge mistake. With new Android phones every six months, Apple can’t afford to let the platform stagnate.
I sure hope the rumors are unfounded. My 3Gs is approaching two years old now and it’s time for a new phone. If I can’t get a new iPhone (the 4 will be a year old) then I’m going to be looking at alternatives. I’ve not been impressed with Android so far, but the iPhone is in serious danger of falling behind in the market.
Android phones have larger screens, faster processors and arguably a more open platform. They also have phone company crapware and a fragmented and bizarre app ecosystem. I guess it’s gonna be the usual game of what sucks the least.


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Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. furthermore, Rite Aid not long ago consented to offer 865 stores to straightforwardness worries of hostile to trust controllers. It has been over a year since the country’s biggest and third-biggest drugstore chains declared that they would endeavor to converge in a $9.4 billion arrangement.
“Regardless of the troublesome working environment made by the expanded length of the merger procedure with WBA, our second from last quarter comes about show strong execution in our front-end business, great cost control and proceeded with solid development at our drug store advantage supervisor, EnvisionRx,” said Chairman and CEO John Standley. “Repayment rates remain our biggest test and we anticipate that that will proceed for the rest of the financial year.” New nonexclusive medications likewise hit the organization’s deals.
Ritual Aid, situated in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, earned $15 million, or 1 penny for every share. Income, balanced for non-repeating expenses, were 2 pennies for every share, the organization said Thursday, a penny short of Wall Street desires, as per a survey of investigators studied by Zacks Investment Research. Income fell under 1 percent to $8.09 billion, additionally shy of expert projections.
Costs ascended around 1 percent to $6.19 billion, while general costs and intrigue costs continued as before. Same store deals for the quarter fell 3.4 percent, which incorporates a 4.7 percent diminish in drug store deals and a 0.4 percent diminish in front-end deals. Shares of Rite Aid Corp. have expanded 8 percent since the start of the year. The stock has risen just about 8 percent in the most recent 12 months.


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A new study by consulting firm Accenture has found that brands could sell more stuff if they offered a more personalised service and removed unintended barriers to purchase.
The study involved a survey of 1,500 consumers aged 18 to 60 across the US and UK. The results showed that consumers have a positive attitude towards personalised offerings and services, however, they disliked being overwhelmed by choice or receiving irrelevant recommendations.
The study found that 56 per cent of people would be more likely to shop at a retailer (be it in store or online) if they recognised them by name.
Some 58 per cent of respondents said they are more likely to purchase if a brand recommends them a product based on their past purchasing history. And 65 per cent said they would give a retailer repeat business if they knew their previous purchase history.
Despite the need for a more personalised approach, many respondents agreed they rarely got it from retailers they shopped with.
Accenture’s Jeriad Zoghgy said of the results: “Brands today have a responsibility to make it easy for customers to engage, buy and consume what they want, how and when they want.
“In an era when your brand is the experience, it’s imperative that retailers deliver the ultimate user-friendly and tailored experiences or risk sacrificing sales and loyalty,” he said.
DonateLife is the Australian Government’s program that works to improve organ and tissue donation and transplantation outcomes across Australia. At the heart of DonateLife‘s marketing strategy is DonateLife Week, which runs from 25 July to 1 August. The goal? Encouraging 100,000 Australians to join the Australian Organ Donor Register. This year, DonateLife is support by […]
Image sharing and social platform, Pinterest has announced it is launching new ways for creators to build their business and earn money. Now creators will be able to make their pins shoppable and earn commissions through affiliate links, and partner with brands on sponsored content. Pinterest is also introducing a new paid partnerships tool, allowing […]
In celebration of the all-new Sonos Roam smart speker, Sonos and The North Face are kicking off a multi-faceted partnership that unlocks a whole new way to experience some of the most epic expeditions and natural landscapes. Rooted in the unique history of each brand across audio and outdoor exploration, the partnership will come to […]
Klarna, a leading global retail bank, payments and shopping service, announced it has appointed marketing executive Katrina Ang to spearhead the company’s marketing and brand in Australia and New Zealand. With over 15 years of experience, Katrina Ang will be responsible for building on the global success of the brand, which is the undisputed leader […]
Consumer PR agency, FORWARD has announced a new purpose and sustainability business offering: Communications with Purpose. The internal transformation will see the PR agency achieve B Corporation (B Corp) accreditation. Coinciding with these announcements is the reveal of a new brand identity. FORWARD is introducing Communications with Purpose to complement its existing content-led consumer lifestyle […]
As the saying goes, never put all your eggs in one basket. This is as applicable to programmatic monetisation for app developers as it is for any other aspect of life. Being overly reliant on just one ad tech stack for monetisation can be risky, especially when that ad tech stack isn’t known for offering […]
Octagon, IPG’s global creative agency specialising in sport and entertainment, has announced the promotion of Simone Errey to managing director, Australia, Formerly Octagon’s head of operations, APAC, Errey (pictured above) will now oversee the agency’s local creative, planning, strategy, commercial consulting, client services and production teams, while also retaining a key position on the APAC […]
ESPN and the National Basketball League have extended their broadcast partnership for a further three seasons as part of an expanded television rights package. ESPN and the National Basketball League announce a new expanded agreement that will run for three seasons, until the end of the 2023/24 NBL season. The landmark broadcast deal comes with […]
Sydney-based co-working startup, Workit Spaces, announced today the launch of ‘Beyond The Store’, a six-part web series to uncover the smarts and passion behind successful Australian eCommerce businesses. Workit Spaces has gone where no other coworking hub has gone before, by investing over $100,000 to tell the stories of six Australian eCommerce businesses and how […]


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One of the most worrying socioeconomic trends to capture the attention of finance experts is the steady rise of income inequality.
A recent paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed that income inequality has increased unimpeded since the 1980s.
According to this research, the top 1% own about 40% of the wealth in the United States. (They owned about 30% in the 1980s.)
Meanwhile, while the 99% may share the other 60% of wealth, wages have remained stagnant for decades while the cost of living has steadily increased.
Even with taking inflation into account, the purchasing power of today’s wages has maintained basic parity with 1970s wages.
Such levels of income inequality haven’t been this disparate since the Great Depression. Additionally, the inequality may be worse since it is relatively easy for the wealthy to legally mask the true value of their wealth.
Some experts believe that the wealthy will continue to accrue an inordinate percentage of wealth.
Now French economist Thomas Piketty has a simple solution to remedy income inequality — simply abolish the wealthy.
Taxed out of existence
Piketty in 2013 published a bestselling book called “Capital in the 21st Century.” It focused on income inequality and laid out a plan on taxing the rich to combat the issue. In
March 2019, he released his new book, “Capital and Ideology,” which lays out his tax-the-rich-out-of-existence plan.
Piketty says that the wealthy, especially billionaires, are detrimental to economic growth. Contrary to popular beliefs, their very existence does not boost economic growth or spur job creation.
Piketty’s plan includes the initiation of a graduated wealth tax plan that taxes French millionaires worth 2 million euros ($2.2 million) at 5%.
French billionaires worth more than 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) would be taxed as much as 90%. According to Piketty, the wealthy gain their wealth from public knowledge, existing infrastructures, and existing research.
“So no, there won’t be billionaires anymore. How can we justify that their existence is necessary for the common good?” Piketty says.
Piketty’s plan don’t look to be implemented anytime soon.
No politician in France has introduced or ratified his ideas. France even did away with its wealth tax in 2017
Small-cap winners galoreThe big stock market winners share one common attribute: Near the beginning of the ascent of their shares, the companies offer revolutionary products or services, are market leaders in their respective industries, or both. Some big stock market winners that possessed the attributes outlined above are Netflix (NFLX), which we recommended to investors in October 2002; Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), which we bought and recommended in July 2004; Baidu.com (BIDU), which we bought and recommended in August 2006; and MercadoLibre (MELI), which we recommended to investors in October 2010. Get up-to-date small-cap stock picks from David Frazier, editor of Small-Cap Profit Confidential.
Smarter cryptocurrency investmentsThe stock market crash of 2008 was the catalyst for his journey into alternatives. And interestingly, it was the impetus behind the creation of Bitcoin and the blockchain technology behind it. Keene Little wasn’t ready to risk his money yet but he was very curious, so he began charting Bitcoin’s technical patterns. What finally convinced him to dip a toe into digital currencies was seeing that they followed familiar price patterns that could be analyzed and successfully acted on. Now he shares those insights with subscribers to the Crypto Wealth Protocol.


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The economic growth rate for the second quarter of the current financial year is likely to be "subdued" at 5.2 per cent and a revival can be expected only from the last quarter of 2014-15, says a Dun and Bradstreet report.
The deceleration in credit growth coupled with expected weak rural demand owing to erratic monsoon and substantial shortfall in production of various kharif crops point towards moderation in GDP growth during Q2 FY15, it said.
D&B expects the GDP to grow by 5.2 per cent in Q2 (the July-September quarter) of this fiscal year.
"The pessimism prevailing regarding the global growth prospects along with the domestic issues reiterate our stance that a revival in economic growth can be expected only from the last quarter of FY15," Dun & Bradstreet India Senior Economist Arun Singh said.
Industrial production number is likely to remain sluggish for September as structural bottlenecks would continue to impede a meaningful recovery in the manufacturing sector.
"The sluggish growth in industrial production has undermined hopes of a sharp rebound in manufacturing. The festive season may not bring much of a cheer to the consumer durables sector owing to the adverse impact of uneven rainfall on crop production and rural incomes," Singh said.
On inflation, the report said that even as the current easing of WPI and CPI inflation augurs well for the economy, an accurate assessment of the price situation can be made only post November 2014 when the statistical base effect wanes off.
Retail inflation dropped to 6.46 per cent in September, while September wholesale price inflation to a five year low of 2.38 per cent.
Moreover, the substantial shortfall in production of various kharif crops could lead to firming up of prices of cereals and pulses in the near term.
"In sum, a broad-based revival in investment and consumer sentiment is contingent on addressing structural issues in areas such as coal supplies and agriculture, simplification of business and taxation rules and resumption of various stalled projects," Singh said.