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GM Offering Buyouts to Salaried U.S. Employees
General Motors is planning to spend an estimated $1.5 billion to buy out a meaningful portion of its salaried workforce in the hopes that the decision will help save the company $2 billion over the next couple of years. While it seems like a very expensive way to save money, CEO Mary Barra clearly feels as though now is the time to strike.
Buyout Begone: Ford Says You Can Never Own Leased EVs
Ford Motor Co. will be suspending end-of-lease buyout options for customers driving all-electric vehicles, provided they took possession of the model after June 15, 2022. Those who nabbed their Mach-E beforehand will still have the option of purchasing the automobile once their lease ends. However, there are some states that won’t be abiding by the updated rules until the end of the year, not that it matters when customers are almost guaranteed to have to wait at least that long on a reserved vehicle.
Cadillac Expects to Lose One-Third of All U.S. Dealerships This Year
Cadillac is expected to have lost one-third of its U.S. dealerships this year — going from nearly 900 physical locations at the start of 2021 to an estimated 560 by year’s end.
But there’s allegedly no need to worry about the brand because this is part of a planned electric offensive. Last year, Cadillac asked dealers to spend the capital necessary to install charging stations, update their service centers, and retrain staff to better tackle EVs or take a buyout before the automaker’s first battery-driven car (the Lyric crossover) hits the market early in 2022. It would seem that a meaningful portion of the whole decided to bow out, which Cadillac seems totally fine with.
Ford to Cut 1,400 Salaried Positions in U.S. Through Buyout Initiative
Barely a full day after news broke that Ford was on the cusp of announcing layoffs, Ford announced those layoffs. On Wednesday, the automaker informed employees that it needs to eliminate 1,400 salaried jobs as part of its $11-billion restructuring program. The good news is that these cuts will be handled through retirement buyouts that won’t leave the departing workforce empty handed. The automaker’s internal memo also stated that the buyouts would be voluntary.
The Blue Oval previously said it expects a full-year loss in 2020 thanks to the pandemic, with a pre-tax profit of anywhere between $500 million and $1.5 billion in the third quarter.
Getting Into the Game: Amazon Purchases AV Startup Zoox for an Undisclosed Sum
Always eager to slash delivery costs — especially if the government opts to stop subsidizing the company via the U.S. Postal Service — Amazon has been getting chummy with EV startups. It’s also begun exploring new business opportunities in regard to food delivery and ride hailing, resulting in sizable investments into both sectors.
On Friday, Amazon announced it will acquire California-based Zoox to help it further those goals. Coming off a staffing reduction of about 10 percent to contend with the pandemic, the company is currently focused on delivering an symmetrical, self-driving, zero-emissions vehicle that can compete on the currently nonexistent robo-taxi market. While the world’s 13th largest company (by revenue) seems like it would make good use of the property to advance its autonomous delivery program, corporate messaging seems to indicate Amazon is more interested in Zoox’s expertise in people moving.
'Do or Die': Nissan Buying Out U.S. Employees As Cost-cutting Spree Continues
In an effort to reduce expenses and lower its headcount, an embattled Nissan is offering buyouts to its U.S. employees.
It’s rumored that Nissan plans to eliminate thousands of white-collar jobs and shutter several global factories as part of its effort to improve the company balance sheet. Going into 2020 weak and not expecting to make any money, the automaker is turning its focus to restructuring for at least the next 24 months.
“To adapt to current business needs and improve efficiencies, Nissan will offer voluntary separation packages to eligible U.S.-based employees,” the company said in a statement.
GM Offers Buyout to 18,000 Salaried Employees
Wednesday morning, General Motors announced third-quarter 2018 earnings “reflecting profitability in all core operating segments.” Operating profits were at $2.5 billion, with North American profit margins hovering around 10.2 percent thanks to healthy truck sales. All in all, things were looking pretty good.
Then GM announced a plan to extend buyouts to salaried employees in the region with 12 or more years experience in order to cut costs. Roughly 18,000 salaried employees are said to be eligible for voluntary severance packages. The reason? General Motors says it wants to do this while the company is still healthy, which sounds like a pretty strong hint that bad times are ahead.
BMW Buying Out Brilliance Automotive in China, Adding Capacity for U.S.
Now that China has relaxed its joint-ownership mandates, BMW has announced that it will procure a majority stake in its venture with Brilliance Automotive. The German firm will be the first foreign automaker to have majority control of its business in the region.
Being first will not come cheaply, however. It will cost BMW $4.2 billion to assume control with a majority stake of 75 percent of the business — albeit as part of a larger deal. All the manufacturer has to do is come up with the funds and wait until 2022, when rules limiting foreign ownership for all Chinese auto ventures are officially lifted.
Amid Lawsuit, SEC Investigation, Musk Says Tesla's Private Funding Will Come From Saudi Arabia
Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced his intention to take the automaker private. But speculation quickly arose that the claim was just a clever ploy to drive up the company’s share price and burn short sellers, a group Musk seems to have a particular disdain for. This resulted in a shareholder complaint, filed Friday as a securities-fraud class action in federal court in San Francisco, alleging he lied to manipulate shareholder prices.
However, the Securities and Exchange Commission was already investigating the matter at the time of the lawsuit’s filing. While the bulk of the initial investigation involved asking Musk if he was lying, it’s presumably advanced in scope and complexity since then. The lynchpin to the whole issue is whether Tesla actually secured the billions in funding necessary to go private. Even though the CEO said the money is real, he did not specify who would provide it.
That changed on Monday morning, when Musk pointed to oil-rich Saudi Arabia. But it’s not as simple as it sounds.
Take the Cash, Hit the Bricks: Nearly 2,500 Korean Workers Opt for GM's Voluntary Redundancy Package
Union officials have stated that roughly 2,500 workers from General Motors’ South Korean unit have applied for a redundancy package offered as part of the automaker’s comprehensive restructuring of the region. The number represents around 15 percent of total GM staff in the area and should make negotiations with one of the most inflexible workers’ unions on the planet that much easier.
Still, what General Motors plans to do with its remaining South Korean factories is unknown, but it has already announced one closure. This has left many wondering if the automaker will abandon production in the country entirely. Fortunately, the Korean workforce has not responded with violence. In fact, many appear to see the writing on the wall, opting to take a buyout rather than cause a fuss during the restructuring.
J.D. Power Bought by XIO Group; Deal Appears to Have High Initial Quality
J.D. Power and Associates is planning to put more of your possessions under the microscope, now that they’ve taken on new ownership in a deal worth $1.1 billion.
Best known for its vehicle quality ratings, J.D. Power, a unit of McGraw Hill Financial Inc., was snapped up yesterday by London-based XIO Group, according to Reuters (via Automotive News).
The investment firm muscled out a competing private equity firm to land the cash deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. XIO Group has a strong footprint in China, where it is linked to many high-powered investors.
With Liabilities Looming, GM And UAW Agree To Pension Buyouts. But What About The Workers?
One of the legacy costs that GM was not able to reduce in the bailout was pension costs, a whopping $128b obligation as of the end of 2010. And though the plan is “only” underfunded by $10.8b at the end of June according to GM, Kenneth Hackel, president of CT Capital LLC (and author of two textbooks on valuing securities) recently told Bloomberg
The financial risk because of [GM’s pension liability] is higher than people understand. The cold reality is if you used a conservative discount rate and you wanted to close out the plans, you would have to raise about $35 billion.
With GM’s market cap sagging into the low-$30b range (currently around $34b), the risk of pension liabilities growing larger than GM’s market capitalization is very real. And as lower interest rates and a weak stock market reduce pension fund returns, the obligations grow, in turn putting pressure on GM’s stock price. And it’s not like nobody saw this coming: a GAO report released in April 2010 issued dire warnings about the state of GM and Chrysler’s pension obligations. Now, according to the ace reporters at Reuters, GM and the UAW have hashed out a buyout deal giving workers the option of being bought out of their pensions. Which has us dying to know: what’s a UAW pension worth in cash?
GM To UAW: Take This Job And Keep It
When the music finally stopped at Old GM, the UAW’s VEBA fund was left holding a lot of IOUs. On those merits, the union’s benefit trust was given about 17.5 percent of the equity in the bailed-out and re-organized New GM. UAW leadership has always maintained that having its membership’s benefits staked on the company’s financial performance would not change its mission, and that VEBA’s representative on GM’s board, Steve Girsky, would operate free from union influence. And one hopes he would, considering he’s being paid well to advise CEO Ed Whitacre. But the tension between GM’s IPO sprint and the UAW’s non-VEBA interests never goes away, and the Wall Street Journal [sub] is reporting that the latest spat is over the old hobbyhorse of buyouts.
Ford Brings Back Buyouts, Visteon Dumps Pensions on Public
It’s been a while since we’ve heard the word “buyout” echoing out of Detroit, as 2008 marked the year in which auto industry employees finally started to be fired like everyone else: without a hefty severance kiss-off. Ford, on the other hand, did not get a shot at free house-cleaning in bankruptcy court, so it’s bringing back buyouts. According to Market Watch, the Blue Oval is offering blue-collar employees a $50,000 lump sum payment and a $25,000 voucher for a new vehicle or another $20,000 lump sum, as well as six months of health insurance coverage. There’s even an extra $40k for workers of “a certain age.” But this being Detroit, employee benefits are either feast or famine. While Ford’s workers are being offered cash for their jobs, the former Ford parts division Visteon announced today that it is seeking to dump pensions for 21,000 retirees in bankruptcy, following Delphi into yet another stealthy yet popular form of indirect automaker bailout.


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Now with 2016 in the rear view, it’s a great a time to look back at the year that was. Tech was a big part of mainstream media and continued to push the envelope of cutting edge. From the growing platform of VR and AR to the phenomenon that Pokémon GO was, multiple stories dominated the year.
Some of the more notable stories include the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Samsung’s flagship was on pace to be the best-reviewed phone of the year before it started blowing up. Two recalls later, Samsung officially killed it off, losing upwards of $2 billion in the process. Now it’s just a punch-line. Nike also made the super-cool self-lacing Back to the Future shoes a reality. Strapping motors on the sole, the shoes can self-lace with when you slip them on. All we’re missing is the flying DeLorean now.
Nintendo also made a big comeback with three great products. It announced its first mobile game with Super Mario Run—a resounding success with over 25 million downloads, a throwback to its hey day with the NES Classic, which sold out right away and is impossible to find a month later, and a snapshot of its future with the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid console/portable gaming system that will have its own dedicated display that will allow you to game on the road or strap it on to a stand and play on your big screen.
But none of these topped the biggest story of the year: Pokémon GO. Eight months after its release, the fad has died completely; but in the middle of summer, Pokémon GO was a phenomenon. And no, that is not hyperbole. During its height, over 50 million users were playing it. People started buying external batteries to play longer and walked many miles just to hatch a few eggs. The movement eventually ended and people got over it, but Pokémon GO burst onto mainstream like few other movements do.
Through all the negativity that surrounded the year, there were many great stories. For the time being, let’s pour one out for the crazy year that 2016 was and hope 2017 is just as fun with tech stories.
Check out Jon’s breakdown of the best tech stories of the year in the video above.

domain: news


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Confirming reports from earlier this week, Amazon announced this morning an expansion of its Dash button program – the small, push-button devices that allow consumers to place orders of specific products, ranging from paper towels to trash bags to even bubble gum and condoms, via Amazon.com. The retailer says today it’s adding over 50 new brands to the service, which now includes an expanded selection of consumer packaged goods, like soup, soap and crackers, as well as toys and musical equipment from brands like NERF, Play-doh and D’Addario.
The line-up of new names includes Campbell’s Soup, Cascade, Clif Bar, D’Addario, Dial Liquid Hand Soap, FIJI Water, FoodSaver, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers, Hubert’s Lemonade, Lavazza, Mentos, Nutiva, Puffs, Quilted Northern, simplehuman, Trident, V8 Vegetable Juice, and others.
In total, there are now over 150 Dash Buttons available to Amazon Prime members, up from 29 last year.
Despite their wide availability, it’s unclear how popular Dash buttons are with consumers. While it’s one thing to press to re-order a household staple, like toilet paper, it’s more difficult to think that someone would need a button to re-order something like Play-doh. (Unless, perhaps, you’re a daycare center?)
According to Slice Intelligence data cited by The WSJ, fewer than half of people who bought a Dash button since March of last year have used it to place an order. However, Slice’s data is third-party data – it collects information on retail transactions by analyzing the emails of those who have its Shopping app installed, or who use the Unroll.Me service to unsubscribe from emails.
Meanwhile, Amazon is claiming continuing momentum for Dash buttons. It says this morning that, over the last three months, it has seen orders doubling among those Prime members who use the Dash button to place orders. It says it’s seeing orders now taking place over twice a minute – that’s up from once per minute just three months ago.
In addition, Amazon says that total Dash button orders grew by 70 percent in that same time frame.
Dash buttons are basically free to Amazon Prime shoppers. Though there is a $4.99 charge to order, which is credited back after the first Dash button order.
For brands, they see the buttons as a means of connecting with their most loyal customers. They’re happy to tout how great the buttons are in Amazon’s release, but don’t reveal how much these orders actually impact their bottom lines by sharing hard numbers.
That being said, the buttons’ mere existence has prompted other startups to enter the same space of push-button orders. Tel Aviv-based Kwik, which just raised $3 million, is working on its own buttons, with brands like Domino’s, Budweiser, Huggies, and others already on board.
Still, Dash buttons are largely still an experiment for the time being. Though Amazon’s numbers indicate more consumers have been willing to try the buttons, to what extent those consumers will return to use them over time remains less certain.
Anecdotally, I haven’t used my own buttons as much lately, as I tend to have my groceries and other household staples delivered through an on-demand grocery delivery service…which, come to think about it, would be more useful to use if I could push a button to add items to their shopping list. Hmmm.


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For the first time ever, Aruba is positioned furthest overall in the ‘Leaders’ category in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Wired and Wireless LAN Access Infrastructure.
Fortinet Philippines, a global leader in high-performance cyber security solutions, was recently recognized as the Best IT Security Solutions Provider during the 12th National Product Excellence Awards held at the Crown Plaza Hotel Manila in Quezon City.
Digital payments and online banking are gaining traction in the Philippines as revealed by the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Index. The research by Kaspersky Lab done during the second half of 2016 revealed a great majority of Filipinos use the internet for online shopping (90%), for accessing online payment systems and digital wallets (89%), and for online banking (74%).
Apple said Friday it was delaying until early next year the release of its HomePod speaker set to compete with Amazon’s Alexa-powered devices and Google Home as a smart home and music hub.
New findings point to possible access by multiple third-parties to a computer containing classified data
Kaspersky Lab researchers have discovered a new malware which steals cryptocurrencies from a user’s wallet by replacing their address with its own in the device’s clipboard. Criminals are targeting popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Zcash, Dash, Monero and others.
According to a new market research report “Cloud Application Security Market by Component (Solutions (Cloud Application Discovery, Data Protection, Threat Protection, and Analytics & Reporting), and Services), Organization Size, Industry Vertical, and Region – Global Forecast to 2022″, published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from USD 6.78 Billion in 2017 to USD 13.67 Billion by 2022, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.1-percent.
Globe Telecom’s commercial deployment of massive MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) technology is accelerating its bid to roll out 2 million home broadband lines, with speeds of at least 10 Mbps by 2020. This greatly enhances customer experience on Globe LTE network.
Innovative entertainment technology leader CJ 4DPLEX today announced that it will showcase for the first time to the public the new 4DX VR Disk unit at IAAPA Attractions Expo (IAE) 2017.
A massive security breach that hit Equifax has cost the US credit bureau nearly $90 million so far, a figure that is set to rise further, its chief financial officer said on Thursday.


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Ciara dazzled in a sparkly purple number at the star-studded Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party.
On Friday, Sept. 8, the songstress, 31, was spotted in the Big Apple amid New York Fashion Week, giving nothing but toned leg, in a stunning floor-length gown complete with a deep V-neckline, thigh-high slit, and long-line blazer.
On Wednesday, Ci Ci made her first red carpet appearance since welcoming a daughter, Sienna Princess, with husband Russell Wilson, in April. The mother of two attended the Tom Ford runway presentation on the first day of NYFW, wearing a black sleeveless gown that featured a halter neckline and satin detailing.
Check out her latest round of fashion pics in the gallery and tell us in the comment section below: do you love it?


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Xbox 360 sales surge in Japan – ‘Tales Of Vesperia’ prompts queues
ohh yeah Japan goging 360
Microsoft has always struggled in Japan, with the original Xbox completely failing to even come close to the sales figures boasted by the PS2, and then the Xbox 360 also failing to really make headway against Sony’s PS3 or Nintendo’s Wii. But things could be changing, as the release of the overtly Japanese game Tales Of Vesperia has prompted queues in Tokyo, and sales of the Xbox 360 to rise for the fourth consecutive week.
I’m a big fan of Japan, for the culture, the animé, the technology, the robots, and of course the girls. Then there is the little fact that both Sony and Nintendo hail from the land of the rising sun, as do Sega, Square Enix, Konami, and a long list of other gaming giants. But Japan doesn’t necessarily like us, and by us I mean westerners. It’s a very closed nation that has only relatively recently opened up its borders and embraced worldwide consumerism.
What this means for gamers is two-fold: we get all the best games to come from Japan, while ignoring the rubbish like horse racing simulators and dating games, but we have trouble selling our wares back to them. So when Microsoft decided it wanted in to the games hardware manufacturing business, we all knew Japan was going to be a hard nut to crack.
I’ve been writing off Microsoft’s chances of even getting a foothold in Japan for quite a while now, but maybe I was wrong. The latest figures to emerge aren’t huge, and won’t have Microsoft’s accountants licking their lips, but they do show the console is at least heading in the right direction.
According to Punch Jump, sales of the Xbox 360 have risen for four consecutive weeks. Three weeks ago Microsoft sold 3,807 units, two weeks ago that rose to 4,941, while last week the figure rose again to 5,359. Soul Calibur IV for the Xbox 360 also managed to get in to the top ten software chart with 34,786 units sold in a week.
This week may see the upward trend carry on, as PC World reports that the release of Tales Of Vesperia on Thursday morning prompted queues of around 200 people in the Akihabara electronics district of Tokyo. The game is the latest in a line of RPGs that appeal directly to Japanese gamers.
The game has been released in Japan first, with a US release following on August 26th, and Europe having to wait until early next year. As well as the game being available separately, Microsoft has seen fit to release a special edition Tales of Vesperia Xbox 360.
While one hit hardly makes the Xbox 360 a sudden success in Japan, it does at least stop the console flat lining as I thought it would be by now. It also depends on how different people see success. While most of us will brand the Xbox 360 a failure in Japan for the amount of consoles sold, Microsoft has probably set its sights lower.
As long as the Xbox 360 can hold on to even a slight market share, it means Microsoft is still in the running, and can release a follow-up console in years to come. You never know, one of these releases might actually blow the Japanese away so much that they ignore the nationality of the manufacturers.


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Copyright 2019 Hubbard Radio Washington DC, LLC. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
BOSTON (AP) — A computer built in the 1970s that helped launch the personal computer age as well as a trillion-dollar company has sold for $375,000.
The fully functioning Apple-1 auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction was sold at a live sale Tuesday.
RR says the winning bid came from a U.S.-based businessman who wishes to remain anonymous.
The computer is one of 60 or so remaining of the original 200 designed and built by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976 and 1977, and one of 16 that still works.
It sold back then for less than $700. The original owner offered to sell it to Wozniak in 1982 for $10,000, an offer that went unanswered.
Insight by Infor: Defense experts from the Army and National Guard Bureau address joint readiness restoration challenges in this free webinar.
Cupertino, California-based Apple recently became the world’s first publicly traded company to be valued at $1 trillion.
Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.


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GSK share price down after profit warning due to R&D spending
GlaxoSmithKline has seen its share price tumble more than 6% in the days following its full-year results, with investors pulling back after the company warned that profits will suffer as it ramps up R&D spending.
GlaxoSmithKline has seen its share price fall more than 6% since warning investors in its full-year results last week that profits will suffer in 2020 as the drug maker steps up research and development (R&D) spending.
‘In 2020, our first priority remains innovation, to progress our pipeline and support new product launches,’ GSK chief executive officer (CEO) Emma Walmsley said. ‘Recent data readouts underpin our decision to further increase investment in R&D and these new products.’
GSK will also see earnings hit by its a two-year programme that will see the company split in two, with one unit focusing on pharmaceuticals and vaccines and the other on consumer health.
The decision to divide the company in two came at the end of 2018 after GSK announced a £9.8 billion consumer health joint venture with US rival Pfizer.
To help finance its R&D spending and the break-up of the company, GSK said that it has launched a strategic review, with its management open to further asset sales to generate the cash required to implement its growth strategy.
‘All of this aims to support future growth, deliver significant value creation, and set up two new leading companies in biopharma and consumer healthcare, each with the opportunity to improve the health of hundreds of millions of people,’ Walmsley added.
GSK is trading at £16.96 as of 15:55 (GMT) on Wednesday.
GSK: technical analysis
The latest set of results knocked GSK’s share price back towards the 200-day simple moving average (SMA) of £16.62, but once again buyers have stepped in around £16.70, according to chief market analyst at IG, Chris Beauchamp.
The elegant trend of the past year and more is testament to the strength of the bullishness on GSK and to its business strategy. The February peak was the highest level this century, and further gains target the 1999 high at £19.64. Crucially the recent weakness has hit trendline support from the 2018 lows, providing another strong signal.
In addition, the daily stochastic reading is now firmly in oversold territory, and bullish crossovers in this and the daily moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) would be the kind of trigger investors might look for in order to go long.
At present the near-term sequence of higher highs and higher lows is firmly in place, with no sign of a reversal just yet. A renewed push higher heads towards £18.50 and the January peak, while a drop below £16 would begin to suggest that the share price is entering a bigger period of weakness.
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Retail took a nosedive in 2009, as consumers spent less and focused on the basics. Surveying this grim environment at the time, an analyst at GLG Research predicted that relatively upscale Macy's
That was 2009, but this is 2011
In terms of year-over-year same-store sales, the recession proved rough for all these retailers:
YoY Sales Growth 2009
YoY Sales Growth 2010
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.
Only Kohl's posted positive sales growth for 2009, with J.C. Penney taking a surprisingly big hit. But though it suffered in 2009, Macy's perked up nicely in 2010 relative to these peers.
The recession helped Macy's refocus its strategy. The company's 2010 fourth-quarter report noted that management was "in the early phases of several key strategies" that are leading a growth in sales and changing the company’s shape for the year ahead.
Here's why we should be watching Macy's now.
- "Magic" selling. For 2011, Macy's is focused on sales, sales, sales. While 2010 ended strong, the company's annual report credited exclusive sales training and customer-driven merchandising for that rebound. As those practices persist, Macy's same-store sales have continued to climb, with an increase of 5.8% for February, 0.9% for March, and a full 10.8% for April 2011.
- The "omnichannel" strategy. Besides being a mouthful to say, "omnichannel" is the core of Macy's various key strategies. Macy's annual report calls it "the blurring line between our stores, the Internet, and mobile technology." The company wants to drive consumers, whether online or in person, into a relationship with Macy's and the brands it offers. And, yep, there will soon be an app for that.
- A market on branding. Irwin Simon, CEO of Forbes, once said, "People will always pay for brands." As someone living with two teenage girls, I can personally attest to this. While discounters offer midrange brands such as Levi's, Macy's exclusive deals with products from Kenneth Cole Reaction and Material Girl put the department store in a more elite market. Such exclusive brands and limited labels constituted at least 43% of sales for Macy's in 2010.
Foolish bottom line
Macy's is clearly sharpening its competitive edge. If the crucial strategies outlined by the company continue to produce great sales results, it will start competing less with Wal-Mart, and more with Saks.
Add Macy's to My Watchlist to stay up on the latest news and analysis.


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Just how popular is your birthday?
If your birthday falls in the months of July or September, you share a birthday months with millions of Americans. Those are the most popular months to be born in, according to a very ambitious data researcher with NPR.
If you were born on a particular day in mid-September, you have the number-one most popular birthday known to man. Congrats! What's the least
For many parents, the idea of their children playing with toys guns is a hotly debated one. Well, a gun range in Texas has made things even more complicated by offering to host birthday parties for kids as young as eight.
The thought of a 250-year-old sandwich is enough to turn your stomach. But, worse than that is the thought of having no sandwiches at all. That’s why we should all join the town of Sandwich in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the invention of the sandwich.


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A multimedia system with a 7-inch touch-screen is available as a dealership-installed retrofit for 2012-14 XC70s. The system, introduced earlier this year, is called Sensus Connected Touch and includes a browser that connects to the internet through a smartphone or USB device when the vehicle is stopped.
On the 2014, the Sensus system's prices range from $1,365 without a navigation system to $1,730 with navigation.
A factory-installed navigation system is standard on 2014 XC70 Platinum models, and all versions of the XC70 have a standard dashboard display for audio and climate functions, but it is not a touch-screen. A portable Garmin navigation system is also an available accessory.
Volvo announced plans for the Sensus Connected Touch system earlier this year in Europe.


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Citroën will showcase some of its most iconic vehicles at this year’s London Classic Car Show (February 14-17) at ExCel London.
As part of its centenary celebrations, the French automotive brand will display 10 of its most iconic heritage vehicles including a Citroën B12 Taxi, Type H Van and DS, as well as the latest addition to the Citroën range – the new C5 Aircross SUV.
The unique event invites classic car owners, collectors, experts and enthusiasts to see, hear and smell the world’s greatest cars all under one roof.
Alongside Citroën’s centenary exhibition, the show offers an indoor driving runway, which will feature a parade of Citroën models, as well as an opportunity for spectators to see the classic cars up close.
Classic Citroën cars on show
CITROËN B12 TAXI
The only surviving example of its kind in the UK and one of the very few left in the world, this 1926 Citroën B12 Taxi was found in 2002 in a chicken shed on a farm just outside Paris. The model was transported to Kent where a complete restoration was undertaken. The B12 was manufactured using mass production technologies, which were still unique to Citroën in the 1920s.
CITROËN TRACTION AVANT
Although criticised at launch on 19 April 1934, the Citroën Traction 7 was the first of the Traction Avant (front-wheel drive) line that eventually ran all the way through to 1957. It was deemed revolutionary for its many innovations, including being the first mass-produced car with a monocoque chassis and the first car in the world to lose the running board, which changed the way you got into a car – rather than ‘mounting’ it, you descended into its cabin. The specific example at the London Classic Car Show was built in 1939 and registered 15 days after the outbreak of the Second World War, making it one of the last cars to leave the factory.
CITROËN TYPE H VAN
The first front-wheel drive van in wide circulation, the Type H launched in 1947 and lasted decades without any major change up until the arrival of the C25 in 1981. It was deemed to have an innovative design for a commercial vehicle of its time and modern vans still take inspiration from its architecture and functional design.
In 1935, Maison Michelin took over Citroën and proposed a ‘people’s car’ for rural drivers. A national survey was commissioned to determine the right price, speed and capacity – this led to the 2CV in 1948. The 2CV went on to be a hugely successful model with almost four million cars being manufactured until it was phased out in 1990. The model on show will be a 1964 2CV AZAM, which is one of only five of this specification left in the UK.
Its eye-catching ‘drop of water’ design, courtesy of Flaminio Bertoni, caused it to stand out when it was launched at the 1955 Paris Motor Show. This futuristic design earned Citroën DS the nickname the ‘Flying Saucer’. The hydropneumatic suspension combined with power steering gave the car its famous handling that allowed the Citroën DS to ride on only three wheels. In fact, the DS19 of General de Gaulle was able to save the President during the attack of the Petit-Clamart, in spite of its punctured tyres.
The first French production vehicle with a body created solely out of thermoformed plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), the Citroën Méhari debuted in 1968. As a result, the car wasn’t susceptible to scrapes, small blows or corrosion and was easy to maintain and entirely spray washable, including the interior. The 1985 example appearing at the London Classic Car Show was first registered in the Netherlands.
In production from 1982 – 1994, the Citroën BX set a new standard for the brand; it’s one of the best-selling Citroën cars of all time and credited with saving the company from bankruptcy during the ‘80s.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970, the SM was the first Citroën to have a five-speed gear box. The model on show was one of 1,500 vehicles that were exported to Italy, which was one of the best export markets for the model.
Launched in the summer of 1974, it was voted Car of The Year in 1975. Famed for its curved windscreen and a boot without a tailgate, it sold nearly 1.2 million units during its 16 years of production. On display will be a 1985 eight-seater Citroën CX Familiales in full ‘Prestige’ specification.
“2019 is a very special year for Citroën and we’re looking forward to kicking off the centenary celebrations at the London Classic Car Show next month,” said Karl Howkins, Managing Director at Citroën UK.
“We’re bringing together a fantastic collection of iconic models that have resonated with motorists and showcase the brand as it’s developed through the years.”
London Classic Car Show Event Director Bas Bungish added: “We are delighted that Citroën has chosen the London Classic Car Show to mark this key milestone.
“Citroën has shaped the automobile industry over the past 100 years and it will be fascinating to see a selection of these notable cars in one place.”


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In the last year you may have heard of Bank Transfer Day. Due to new banking regulations people made a mass exodus away from the larger banking institutions to smaller, more local banks and credit unions. For those who have bank accounts, it was a smart decision as many people saw an increase in customer service and a decrease in fees. But for those who do not have a bank account, none of this revolt really even mattered. These are often the people who live paycheck to paycheck, and have no need to store up money since it is gone by the end of the month. For these people there is an alternative to cash, as Wal-Mart’s push into banking has greatly expanded the financial services customers can access at their stores.
The biggest change in their financial offerings is the Bluebird card, which is set for release the week of October 15th. This card offers those who are upset about banking fees peace of mind. It is a prepaid card that requires no credit check and offers overdraft and fraud protection. Those who do not wish to carry cash around with them can simply use the card. The fees are low, and the convenience is great.
This new card is in addition to another prepaid card offered through Wal-Mart. They have a current contract with Green Dot that they will keep despite the new offering. It is not clear why the company is starting another product so similar to one already in existence. However, the Green Dot card is issued by MasterCard and Visa, whereas the Bluebird comes through the services of American Express. Both companies are major players in the credit industry, and both offer benefits and services that certain consumers find appealing.
Both of these cards are in addition to the money centers that Wal-Mart has had in their stores since 2004. These centers, which top 1,500 in number, offer a variety of services. At the center a customer can send money to relatives, open a Wal-Mart credit card, cash a check, have checks printed, and even utilize tax preparation services. In other words, they operate almost just like a bank, but without offering deposit services. While the store would like to see more people using the range of services, the vast majority of the transactions done are check cashing.
Many years ago a friend of mine threw out the idea. He said there are so many people dedicated to shopping at, and so many that are employed by, Wal-Mart, they could essentially form their own town. They could build Wal-Mart cars that run off Wal-Mart biodiesel (from the McDonald’s restaurants located in the buildings). They could open the Bank of Wal-Mart, and even offer subsidized Wal-Mart housing located directly above the store itself. It may take a lot of planning, but there would be thousands of people who would go for it. It may be years before we actually see Wal-Mart towns start popping up, but it does look as though that is the direction the retail giant is heading. The expansion of their financial services is just the start; it is only a matter of time before the money centers offer a deposit feature.


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It looks like Lego has released another new exclusive set. This time an employee exclusive version of the Lego Kladno Campus 2015 (4000018). Kladno is a city located in the Czech Republic and is home of a huge Lego factory known as the Kladno Campus. For the 15th anniversary of its opening Lego has created an architecture style set for the employees. Because, of the exlusivieness of this set, you can only find it on Ebay or other market place stores. So far going for about $150-200!
Interestingly, Lego recently released an exclusive set based on this factory, the Lego Kladno Campus 2012. It looks like the facility has grown a lot since then.
There is a whole Lego theme of production facilities, more details here: http://www.brickowl.com/catalog/lego-sets/miscellaneous/internal
Check out a bigger photo of the Lego Kladno Campus 2015 Employee Exclusive over on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52416370@N03/17143976246/


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Less than 25 percent of all digital campaigns are being measured using brand uplift studies – and questions remain as to whether the results are being applied strategically, according to new research.
On Device Research, the marketing effectiveness research company, has announced the results of its first ‘State of Digital Brand Measurement’ research report, conducted in partnership with Data Stories Consulting.
The report found that whilst many marketers have learnt the lessons from Les Binet and Peter Field from their influential ‘The Long & Short of It’ effectiveness research, these lessons are not being applied when it comes to digital advertising campaigns.
• Less than 25 percent of all digital campaigns are being measured using brand uplift studies – and questions remain as to whether the results are being applied strategically
• The majority of brand effectiveness measurement is conducted by media owners to justify spend, as opposed to independent research for brand-led strategic planning
• Brands who more frequently measure digital brand impact and employ the results strategically see higher shifts in brand awareness, of up to 20 percent, than those who measure infrequently, demonstrating how brand research drives brand health.
Brand effectiveness research is currently most-often provided – frequently as a free value-add – by media owners, to justify the spend on their properties and platforms. Measurement at a media-owner level allows evaluation and optimisation of different creative messages and audiences, however they remain in channel-specific silos. As a result, they are typically retrospective and don’t enable the brand and its agency to look at holistic results across the entire media plan to inform future activity.
The opportunity for brand marketers and agencies is to move the approach to brand research towards something with more strategic value. Stefan Schoombee, Account Director, Dentsu Red Star suggested “the holy grail would be to have something that goes between the walled gardens”.
The ubiquity of digital delivery metrics, such as clicks, views or likes, ensures their continued mis-use as optimisation criteria. The industry-wide opportunity is to be able to measure brand-health metrics whilst the ad campaign is in-flight, enabling shifts in digital marketing investment whilst the campaign is live.
Commenting on this opportunity, Patrick Zinga, Digital Development Director, Starcom stated “We have to say why a campaign has performed in a certain way; what has made an impact? How are we changing perceptions? Let’s contextualise what this data means.”
Alistair Hill, CEO, On Device Research said “While agencies claim that the majority of digital ads are assessed using brand metrics, the majority of campaign measurement reports employ behavioural and delivery metrics such as clicks, likes or video views, as brand proxies, despite the fact they have no proven link to brand uplift. We hope the insights revealed in the ‘State of Digital Brand Measurement’ report enables brands, agencies and their media partners to dig deeper into the true brand impact of their digital advertising campaigns.”
The report findings are the result of in depth interviews with nineteen senior agency leaders for 3 months, up to October 2019. Alongside the research results, it includes a series of key considerations and best practice for advertisers, agencies and research suppliers.
The overwhelming consensus from the research is that the advertisers which are getting the most out of digital brand measurement are those who apply learnings from research studies to future planning strategies. Further research from On Device Research has confirmed that advertisers who measure brand impact multiple times have enjoyed higher brand awareness shifts, of up to 20 percent, than those who have only measured digital brand impact once.
Advertising is a vital tool to sustain brand growth. Branding itself reduces price elasticity and enables business to focus on sales value rather than sales volume. It is clear therefore that there is an opportunity for media agencies to provide greater value to their brand clients by becoming experts in the application of digital brand measurement.
Qualitative and quantitative in depth interviews conducted with nineteen senior agency leaders from Dentsu Aegis, Mediacom, PHD, Mindshare, Publicis, Starcom and OMD from July to October 2019.


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New York Comptroller Advises Care When Buying Gift Cards
Shoppers are being warned to exercise caution when purchasing gift cards.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says New Yorkers should read the fine print on cards for details on fees and expiration dates while law enforcement officials say purchasers should be careful to select cards located near checkouts and possibly choose from the back of the rack to avoid getting a card that has had its activation information compromised.
Police say it’s not uncommon for criminals to partially record identifying information on unpurchased cards then use them once the cards are activated by a buyer.
Meanwhile, DiNapoli says every year people getting gift cards end up losing out by not making purchases on time. Money from unused gift cards issued by New York businesses is turned over to the Comptroller’s office as abandoned property after five years of dormancy. In the last fiscal year, over $11.6 million from gift cards was turned over to the Abandoned Property Fund.
In addition to not using cards in time, the Comptroller says there could be service fees when a card is purchased, fees to check balances and charges for replacement of lost or stolen cards.


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If jewelry, clothing and dream catchers are on your shopping list, head to the Black Market Boutique and cross them all off.
Located on Grafton Street just a few steps away from Pizza Corner, the Black Market is known for its great prices and for being “filled to the brim” with products, says manager Lauren Parsons.
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“We just have a lot of inexpensive stuff,” she says. “You can get a lot from here for little.”
Parsons explains there is no middleman, so these savings are passed on to the customer. The shop owners go to Asia every year for buying trips and visit countries such as Thailand, Nepal and India. Sometimes, the buying trips include a visit to South America.
Parsons will be heading on her sixth buying trip in January.
She says these trips allow them to better understand who they are getting the product from.
“It’s cool to get to know the people and come back every year,” she says. “Plus, it’s great to shop.”
Inside the shop, world music handpicked by the staff plays as a pleasant aroma drifts through the air. One of the things The Black Market is known for is its selection of incense.
“It’s a staple here,” says Parsons. There are about 50 types available, including vanilla and coconut.
Asked if that makes it the shop with the most incense in Halifax, Parsons is unsure.
“I have never contemplated that question,” she says, but she figures they probably are.
The shop is popular with people of all ages, but especially students. One of those students is Morgan Abrams.
“I love it here,” says the 20-year-old. “I love the atmosphere. It’s very relaxed.”
Abrams says she comes to the store once a week to check things out and “gravitates towards whatever catches her eye.”
The shop is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year and marked the occasion last Saturday with the day’s sales being donated to Feed Nova Scotia, the Ecology Action Centre, Act of Living and The Themba Project.
The shop also had a day last year where it celebrated its 20th anniversary by donating the day’s sales to different causes.
“We’re trying to keep that as a tradition,” says Parsons.


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2020 has been quite the year for the video game industry. We knew beforehand that this would be the year that both Microsoft and Sony would be bringing out their next-generation video game console platforms, however, it was also the year that we got news of next-generation video games being subjected to a price increase. There were rumors of new video game titles being pushed towards a $70 price mark and at this point the price hike is a reality.
Video games take a ton of time and effort to make. From small indie games to big AAA titles, there’s a ton of time and effort that goes into game development. However, for AAA video game titles, the time and effort are handled by a massive team of employees. Furthermore, with each and every new console hardware release, there is a new potential available for developers to craft up games. With the latest hardware offering more powerful components, the ability to make games even more detailed will allow players a more immersive experience.
Unfortunately, this comes at a cost for the development studios. With more power comes more resources, time, and technology that can be implemented into a game. This means that the studio is putting more money into a game project while maintaining the same price for each video game release. We haven’t seen a price increase for several years now, but the latest consoles are bringing in AAA video game titles at $70 and according to Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan, the new $70 price is acceptable.
Jim Ryan was recently interviewed by The Telegraph where he was asked if $70 for a new video game title is a fair price and according to Jim it is. Jim made note of Demon’s Souls as a reference of how much entertainment players receive with the game and at $70 it seems like it’s a good fit for not only the value of entertainment but a means to keep studios afloat. However, Jim Ryan wouldn’t elaborate if this price would be featured for other studio video game releases under Sony’s umbrella.
This has been a hot topic for a little while now. There have been several statements thrown out in the public for ways to lower costs for not only the consumer but also studios. For instance, making smaller scoped games that don’t require as much time to complete will allow studios less time to spend on the video game project in studios and ultimately requiring less money to produce. For now, we’re just getting into the next-generation console cycle so only time will tell if consumers find with the $70 price hike or not.


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WOOING fickle consumers continues to be the No. 1 priority in the volatile cosmetics business. Makeup purchasers can't be trusted to develop loyalty to one brand. In fact, they can be trusted not to.
This capricious attitude is especially apparent when it comes to eye shadow. The American woman has been coloring her eyelids for more than 30 years and by now is familiar with every color and which ones she prefers. Marketing research indicates that she's not particularly concerned about formulation. So, these days, cosmetics manufacturers are hoping that she'll be swayed by innovative presentation.
Strolling past the cosmetics counter, a woman has her choice of shadows imprinted with houndstooth checks, ziggurats and waves. Most of the patterns reflect trends in design or are tied to themes of the season's fashions. Chanel's Ombre Couture eye shadows are stamped with the quilted pattern that has become a signature of the French fashion house. Estee Lauder's Pressed Satin compact features four shadows, each shaped in interlocking paisleys, a pattern popular in fall fashion collections.
Following a trend that first surfaced in Japan and then appeared in Italy, intricate patterns and textures are showing up in just about every prestige-price collection this fall, and the trend will continue into the holidays.
"American manufacturers were late to catch on to the pressed patterns," says Karen Young, executive director of makeup marketing for Estee Lauder. "The Japanese have been doing it for years because they have the advanced technology that it takes. It's only very recently that American firms have linked with Japanese companies and been able to take advantage of their technology."
In Milan, Pupa Cosmetics has created an 8-inch-square compact that holds 16 different eye-shadow colors, all shaped to create the wings of a butterfly with a mascara tube as its body. Marketed in Italy last year, the set is being sold this year in the United States as a $50 gift item.
"With so much competition from American and French firms, the Italian companies had to do something to draw people to their counters," explains Dan Wilkes, president of the Wilkes Group Inc., which distributes Pupa in the United States. "Complex, unique presentations are something that the Italian woman has come to expect."
Pretty presentations affect the price of the shadows, but not as much as consumers think, Wilkes says. Young says the $20 price tag on Estee Lauder's shadows is up from last year's four-shadow compact, "but that would have happened anyway. Prices in general are slightly higher."
A single shade of eye shadow will sell for as much as $25 this season. Some compacts containing four colors can carry a price tag of more than $40. Taking the elitism of cosmetics to an extreme, Chanel's Ombre Couture is marketed with a $100 mini shoulder bag in a quilted jersey to match the shadow's imprint.
"The industry isn't as creative as it was 10 years ago," Young says, "but pressed patterns have been one way of generating some excitement. It's another way to seduce the consumer."


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Big crowds means big bucks – for some local vendors the National Cherry Festival is big business. And it’s all focused on the Open Space.
For most of the last 35 years, J&S Hamburg has packed up a crew and a grill from South Airport Road and headed north to the open space. Jason McQueer says, “It’s been great so far. Probably one of the best we’ve ever had.”
The pandemic derailed everyone’s 2020. But this year, McQueer says they’re making up for lost time. “We weren’t here the last two years. Last year we didn’t have the staff. The year before it was closed. So we’re trying to get into the swing of things. And so far we’ve been making up for the downtime we had.”
As for the crowds, McQueer is thrilled with the turnout. “It’s crazy. It’s almost like nothing ever happened. People are out, spending money, and having fun,” he says. “It feels great. It is hope that things are getting back to normal.”
Whether you need hot food for lunch or dinner, or a hot coffee, the open space has you covered. It’s the first year at the festival for Kellie Cannon with Espresso Bay, which is here with its cherry coffees and even some cold brew. Kellie Cannon says being here is great for business at their downtown location too. “We’re getting the word out. Our shop is right down the road which is nice if they wanted to get some more coffee. If they want to purchase bags in our store. They can get any flavor down there we’ve got at least 20 of them.”
JenTees has been running the official National Cherry Festival souvenir tent for more than 25 years. “Oh my gosh, it’s been crazy. I tell you. The first two days we had unprecedented, record sales, which we did not anticipate. But… we were ready.” Steve Mulliner works for JenTees and is manning the souvenir tent. “Last year we had some really strong sales. Actually last year in our 26 years doing this, was our record sales year believe it or not. And this year we already blew that away in the first four days,” he says.
Here you can wear your Cherry Festival love with pride, and wear your heart on your sleeves. “I think people are just happy to be out in full force. The Cherry Festival is back 100%. Concerts, parades, everything,” Mulliner says. “It has been a roller coaster not knowing what to expect. Our challenge is purchasing this year. Because I still have product I ordered last fall that has not come in. So we’ll just have it for next year.”
© 2023 - 910 Media Group


text: INDIANAPOLIS -- Buy a winter coat made in China, and chances are good it was shipped on a freighter to Los Angeles, loaded on a train for Chicago, then trucked to Indianapolis. Now Indianapolis' logistic experts are trying to figure out how to get those coats and plenty of other railroad freight to come directly here instead of passing through Chicago. Hundreds and possibly thousands of new logistics jobs could emerge if they succeed. Quieted years ago by heavy trucks, freight railroads finally are roaring again, hauling ocean-going containers full of Asian imports to inland cities. This year alone, railroads have committed $8 billion for track and yard upgrades, one of the biggest expenditures since World War II. The trend already has spilled into Indiana. Indianapolis developer Duke Realty's new AllPoints Midwest industrial park, located just west of Indianapolis, could get a special truck road. Trucks on it would haul extra-heavy containers from the nearby CSX Avon railyard. And in Northwest Indiana, CSX and Norfolk Southern, the largest Eastern railroads, are separately scouting sites for new rail yards. Known as intermodal terminals, these new yards would have cranes able to quickly lift containers from rail cars and stack the containers on highway trailers pulled by big cargo trucks. Indianapolis for years has discussed cargo logistics as a growth industry. While warehouses have proliferated in the area in recent years, the region has remained mostly reliant on trucks. It never has quite latched on to the railroad boom. "Indiana has been a little bit slow to embrace the rail renaissance," said William Friedman, railroad expert at Duke Realty. CSX's Avon yard already operates an intermodal facility, Friedman noted, capable of lifting about 40,000 containers a year. It's one of the nation's 275 intermodal terminals, and tends to be on the small side. The nation's heavyweight, the Chicago area, has 20 intermodal terminals with a total yearly lift capacity of 13 million containers. Indianapolis is the second-largest destination for that Chicago container freight, after Chicago itself. In past years, being close to the Chicago yards was a decided cost advantage in that shipping through Chicago was closer than, say, going through St. Louis. In an era when container traffic is proliferating, though, Chicago accounts for 40 percent of the nation's intermodal container shipments, which can mean getting a container out of a congested Chicago railyard can take most of two days. Indianapolis could get its own intermodal train directly from a West Coast port if there were enough customers here to justify the cost of creating a train for just one city. The Ports of Indiana developed the Lake Michigan seaport at Portage in 1970 and barge ports on the Ohio River in 1976 at Mount Vernon and 1985 at Jeffersonville. It now is turning its attention to cultivating what it calls inland ports purely for rail and truck lines. Ports spokesman Jody Peacock said discussions have been under way to identify companies throughout the state that could make use of a new intermodal terminal if it were available. "This is sort of the next evolution for the ports. We developed the facilities on Lake Michigan and the Ohio River. Now we're looking at our fourth port," Peacock said. "You look at the congestion on the highways, the shortage of truck drivers. We think there are opportunities here and all over the state." So far, though, Indiana hasn't seen much railroad muscle. Norfolk Southern is creating a $250 million container rail service running from its seaport at Norfolk, Va., to Columbus, Ohio. Now Duke is developing an industrial park alongside the area where the Columbus intermodal terminal will be built. And in the Southeast, Burlington Northern is moving ahead with a $400 million container corridor connecting the Southwest and Southeastern states.


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DS has unveiled the Aero Activity Lounge strategy forward of this year’s Geneva Motor Show. It’s a streamlined, all-electric powered, pseudo-SUV – and it’s a car that the French brand name hopes will revolutionise the electric powered luxury vehicle marketplace, thanks to its concentrate on effectiveness.
The concept’s electric powered drivetrain was created employing expertise acquired from DS’s encounter in the Method E racing collection. It comprises a 670bhp electric powered motor and a flooring-mounted 110kWh battery pack, which presents a claimed 0–62mph time of two.eight seconds and a array “greater than four hundred miles.”
The DS Aero Activity Lounge


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Ford sees 10 pct margin in North America in 2013
DETROIT, March 27
DETROIT, March 27 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co expects operating margins of about 10 percent in North America this year, down slightly from 2012, because the company expects a greater portion of its sales this year will come from smaller cars that are less profitable than trucks.
Higher costs associated with growing volumes also pinched margins, the No. 2 U.S. automaker said in a presentation prepared for an investor conference on Wednesday. Last year, Ford's operating margin in North America was 10.4 percent.
However, Ford expects a benefit from growing U.S. auto sales, higher market share and better vehicle prices.
Trending On Reuters
We are living longer but not creating financial plans to keep pace. Advisers give tips on how to make sure you don’t outlive your money. Video


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MWC 2018 is less than 20 days away, and top brands are all set to launch their flagship smartphones at the event. However, we recently learned that Huawei won t unveil the P10 successor at MWC. Instead, it will launch the device on March 27 at a separate event in Paris. Huawei has confirmed its presence at the Mobile World Congress, and has promised to unveil new products. Also Read - Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro to launch in India next week: Here's everything we knowAlso Read - Huawei P50, P50 Pro with OLED display, HarmonyOS launched: Price, features
Those expecting to see the Huawei P11 (or P20), would be a bit disappointed. According to a report on GSMArena, Huawei may unveil a new Mediapad tablet. Recently, a tablet showed up on Geekbench listing featuring an 8.4-inch display running at QHD resolution. Also Read - Huawei Band 6 launched to take on Mi Band 5, brings SpO2 monitor at budget
Powered by Kirin 960 quad-core SoC along with 4GB of RAM, the tablet also supports Cat.4 LTE and runs Android 8.0 Oreo. It is likely to be the MediaPad M5 tablet, but we will have to wait until Huawei officially announces it.
Apart from the tablet, Huawei is also expected to bring its payment service, Huawei Pay in the European markets. The Chinese company is also expected to unveil the successor to the Huawei Watch 2, the Huawei Watch 3. However, more details about the specifications, design and features of the smartwatch are not available at the moment.
Just yesterday, two new Huawei smartphones carrying model number FLA-AL00 and FLA-TL10, which could be the Nova 3 and Nova 3 Plus were spotted on Chinese certification site TENAA. The smartphones feature 18:9 display and dual cameras at the back. There is a possibility Huawei may announce these devices at MWC 2018.


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Europe’s largest economy may have been growing at a relatively fast pace, but German financial analysts and investors remain gloomy about the future.
The latest ZEW economic think-tank’s monthly poll of economic sentiment shows a decline for the fourth month in a row.
Expectations are now at their lowest level since April 2009.
The reason – worries that a global economic slowdown will hit German growth.
The reading comes just days after word that Germany’s economy grew by 2.2 percent in the second quarter – the fastest quarterly expansion in 20 years.
But that recovery is being driven by exports and global demand is key to continued growth.
To counter weaker sales at home, German companies, like Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler, are looking to China particularly.
Audi sold over 50 percent more cars in China last month than it did a year earlier, BMW’s sales were up by more than 80 percent, while Daimler tripled its sales of Mercedes cars.


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Rosselhoznadzor decided to concede to Russia only for transit cargoes of fish products, which has not been opened in Lithuania.
MOSCOW, 4 Dec. The Rosselkhoznadzor from December 14 restricted the transit of fish products through Lithuania to the Russian Federation, and from December 7, has restricted the importation into Russia of products from four fish processing plants in Lithuania, the Agency reports.
“A decision was made to suspend from 14 December 2015, import to the Russian Federation of fishery products from third countries, unloaded and temporarily stored in Lithuania, with the exception of production, which followed from the country of origin without opening the container in transit via the territory of the Republic of Lithuania”, — stated in the message.
“On the inspection results a decision about the introduction… 7 December 2015 temporary restrictions on import into the Russian Federation of products with 4 fish processing plants in Lithuania,” adds the Agency.
Earlier it was reported that the Rosselkhoznadzor together with colleagues from Belarus will check the enterprises of fish branch of Lithuania, supplying their goods in member States of the EEU.
Rospotrebnadzor banned as of 1 August, the importation of canned fish, four Latvian producers. Herewith, the Rosselkhoznadzor 4 June imposed temporary restrictions on delivery to Russia of all fish products from Latvia and Estonia because of violations identified during inspections, as well as the availability in the products of forbidden and harmful substances. Later Kazakhstan joined the ban.


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Brown Jordan, the leading name in luxury outdoor furniture, is hosting a special customer appreciation event this Saturday at its Scottsdale Quarter store.
Look for the BMW parked out front as you enter the showroom to enjoy a special catered lunch, including sandwiches, salads, desserts and beverage selections.
Open to the public, the event starts at noon and ends at 5 p.m. on Jan. 14.
Brown Jordan will offer a 10% off promo that lasts until Jan. 23rd. AZFoothills will also raffle off 2 VIP Phoenix Open Greenskeeper tickets.
For more information, call Brown Jordan at 480.998.1142, or visit brownjordan.com.
Brown Jordan at Scottsdale Quarter is located at 15345 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite K190, Scottsdale 85254.


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Las Vegas-based gambling company Scientific Games Corp. (NASDAQ: SGMS) has partnered with British bookmaker, Betfred, to provide full retail and digital sports betting solutions at Wind Creek Bethlehem in Pennsylvania.
Chosen to be the sportsbook operator’s technology provider, the Nevada company will launch retail solutions at the former Sands Bethlehem in the first half of this year as part of Betfred’s recent tie-up with Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming entity of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Courtesy of the new partnership. Pennsylvania bettors will be able to access digital sports betting in time for the 2020-2021 NFL season, which tentatively begins on September 10.
Chief Operating Officer for the UK bookmaker, Mark Stebbings, used an official press release to comment on the major score…
…”Scientific Games was the clear choice to provide our sports betting platform in Pennsylvania. OpenSports™ provides best-in-class, reliable technology and services that will help us reach more players and grow our sportsbook presence at speed.”
The operator’s Pennsylvania players will be able to take advantage of Scientific Games’ full OpenSports product suite, which includes “industry-leading online and mobile betting technology and services.” The mutually-beneficial partnership will likewise see Betfred leverage its Wind Creek Casino partnership and provide Scientific Games’ retail betting kiosks and over the counter betting solutions alongside Don Best-powered data feeds, part of OpenTrade, one of five branches of the OpenSports product suite.
Senior Vice President Sportsbook, Digital for Scientific Games, Keith O’Loughlin, said…
“Betfred is one of the UK’s top-performing bookmakers, and their move into the U.S. will spark growth. Once again, a sophisticated and experienced sports betting operator has chosen OpenSports to responsibly grow its U.S. presence with our maximum reliability, scalability, and performance.
“Together, Scientific Games and Betfred can make a massive impact in the sports betting arena by driving player engagement and putting their digital and retail sportsbooks at the forefront of this expanding landscape. Betfred is synonymous with giving UK customers a great value proposition, and we are confident that they will get great traction in the U.S. with this customer-oriented approach.”
SG & the Garden State:
Scientific Games recently rolled out an experience-enhancing feature, Free Rounds, to its operating partners in New Jersey. The feature creates added value benefitting both players and operators alike by giving users greater opportunity to consider a range of slot content.


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Elon Musk thinks human civilization will fall apart unless people have more babies — and he’s expressed particular worries about Italy, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. But he has some concerns about the United States, too.
For weeks, Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, the acquirer of Twitter in a $44 billion deal and a father himself, has been tweeting about birthrate declines in America and abroad.
“At risk of stating the obvious, unless something changes to cause the birth rate to exceed the death rate, Japan will eventually cease to exist,” Musk tweeted on May 7, according to TheStreet. “This would be a great loss to the world.”
Tesla Inc. is readying a major upgrade of its driver-assistance software but the top federal crash investigator says the move might be premature.
Chief Executive Elon Musk said last week that drivers would soon be able to request an enhanced version of what Tesla calls its “Full Self-Driving Capability.” The upgrade is expected to add a feature intended to help vehicles navigate cities, expanding the suite of driver-assistance tools that had been designed mainly for highways.
Despite its name, Full Self-Driving doesn’t make cars fully autonomous, and Tesla instructs drivers to remain alert, with their hands on the wheel.
Jennifer Homendy, the new head of the National Transportation Safety Board, said Tesla shouldn’t roll out the city-driving tool before addressing what the agency views as safety deficiencies in the company’s technology. The NTSB, which investigates crashes and issues safety recommendations though it has no regulatory authority, has urged Tesla to clamp down on how drivers are able to use the company’s driver-assistance tools.
ProPublica has obtained a vast cache of IRS information showing how billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett pay little in income tax compared to their massive wealth — sometimes, even nothing.
In 2011, a year in which his wealth held roughly steady at $18 billion, Bezos filed a tax return reporting he lost money — his income that year was more than offset by investment losses. What’s more, because, according to the tax law, he made so little, he even claimed and received a $4,000 tax credit for his children.
His tax avoidance is even more striking if you examine 2006 to 2018, a period for which ProPublica has complete data. Bezos’ wealth increased by $127 billion, according to Forbes, but he reported a total of $6.5 billion in income. The $1.4 billion he paid in personal federal taxes is a massive number — yet it amounts to a 1.1% true tax rate on the rise in his fortune.
Author(s): Jesse Eisinger, Jeff Ernsthausen, Paul Kiel
GameStop mania has spilled over into a popular exchange-traded fund, as the WallStreetBets craze reaches beyond shares favored on social media.
The fund, State Street ’s SPDR S&P Retail ETF, was created in 2006 to give investors broad exposure to mall-store firms. Its shares have surged 23% this year, far outstripping a 4% gain in the S&P 500, despite the uncertain outlook for retail. Behind those gains are the traders who congregate on social-media platforms such as Reddit’s WallStreetBets forum and whose enthusiasm has turned this mundane investment into a roller coaster.
On Jan. 27, GameStop soared 135%, driven by events such as Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk tweeting “Gamestonk.” The State Street fund jumped 42% the same day. The next day, GameStop shares tumbled 44% and the fund, known by its ticker XRT, dropped about 9%.


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Burberry is expanding its garment rental business. The premium fashion business has teamed up with My Wardrobe to rent out some of its most iconic pieces, including the classic trench coat, for a minimum of four days and up to 14 days. If a buyer does not want to give up, it is also feasible to purchase a thing secondhand, which is less expensive than purchasing it new. Scarves, trench coats, T-shirts, skirts, jeans, and shoes are among the options. Renting clothing is becoming increasingly popular among young people since it is the only way they can afford to acquire high-end designer gear for occasions such as weddings, theme parties, picture shoots, and filming. The global market share is dominated by women’s online clothes rental and ethnic wear. Men’s end users and western clothing styles are also experiencing strong growth.
Such measures aid in reducing fashion’s environmental effect. All of these alternatives to traditional fashion, whether it’s purchasing secondhand, recycling, mending, upcycling, or renting items, assist to dramatically lessen the fashion industry’s environmental imprint. By 2030, emissions from this fast developing industry are estimated to exceed 2.7 billion tons per year.


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Tesla recalls nearly 12,000 EVs due to software communication issue
EV major Tesla is recalling around 12,000 electric vehicles in the US sold since 2017 due to a communication error that may cause a false forward-collision warning or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency braking system, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated.
The EV maker will recall 11,704 Tesla Model S, X, 3 and Y models after the vehicles received a software update that took place on October 23 in its limited early access Full-Self Driving (Beta) population. Following this, Tesla started receiving reports of false forward-collision warnings and automatic emergency braking events from owners.
NHTSA conveyed that after receiving such reports, the EV company had uninstalled FSD 10.3 and then updated the software and released FSD version 10.3.1 to those affected vehicles, Reuters reported. Tesla was then questioned by the safety agency as to why it had not issued a physical recall to address software updates issues.
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The safety agency has conveyed that it will now stay connected with Tesla to ensure that any safety defect is promptly acknowledged and addressed.
Tesla has also recalled 2,791 EV units because of a possible mechanical fault. The company is recalling the Tesla Model 3 electric cars produced in the US between 2019 and 2021 as these models may constitute a lateral link that may get loose from the chassis. This recall has been confirmed by both Tesla and NHTSA.
Owners of these suspected models have been asked to get an appointment scheduled by the company so as to get the vehicles inspected. The brand will carry out the repair if the issue is found in the EVs.


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eDynamix is proud to announce that its Service Plan platform has been launched across the MG Motor UK national dealer network, bringing peace of mind to drivers nationwide.
MG customers can now purchase a customised Service Plan on their vehicle for up to 5 years, spreading the cost through monthly payments, or by paying in full.
eDynamix Director, Iain Nickalls, said “We are extremely excited to be working with MG on this new development for their dealer network. Service Plans are firmly embedded in the UK dealer culture and are an important loyalty and revenue driver. With the company recently being named as one of the UK’s fastest growing automotive brands, it is fantastic that eDynamix has been asked to provide this solution for MG customers through 2017 and beyond”.
“The MG team are very much looking forward to launching eDynamix Service Plans to the dealer network’ said Harvey France, Head of Aftersales and Parts for MG Motor UK. ‘ eDynamix offer dealers much more than just Service Plans and we can see the real benefits of using one provider. Having a standard approach throughout saves time, money and resources. The eDynamix Connect App will allow our Dealers to see how they are performing at the touch of a button.”
Our MOT Lookup facility has now been extended to provide a full breakdown of MOT history and ownership changes.
Users can view each previous MOT, its pass status and, where there were failures or advisories, these highlighted with the ability to drill into the information.
The data has also been made available in iVHC and as part of the technicians tablet application so that, through all stages of a vehicle visit, users are aware of any previous and outstanding issues.
Why not try our MOTCleanse
We’ll be happy to run your live vehicle database through an MOTCleanse for free and let you know how many records are incorrect.


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TJ’s IGA Nathalia Show and Shine and Swap Meet will again rev-up car enthusiasts from the region when prized cars roll into the Nathalia Recreation Reserve next month.
Gates open from 8am and show chairman Anthony Oliver said if it had wheels and people were proud of it ‘‘we want you to show it’’.
‘‘There’s something for all ages, something for the kids and car enthusiasts, some of the swap sites have things for the ladies and for a first this year we also have clowns attending,’’ Mr Oliver said.
Sponsored by insurer Shannons, there will be 12 different prizes to be won, with judging starting at 11am and presentations from noon.
Mr Oliver said the show was one of the town’s bigger events for the year.
‘‘People get inspiration for their own car projects, buy parts, or purchase a completed vehicle,’’ he said.
Food vendor vans and coffee will be available on the day along with a major raffle and children’s entertainment.
Rotary Club of Nathalia member Ross Smith said each car was a personal triumph.
‘‘I think they’re the flavour of the month, old cars are very popular, people like buying them as a scrap heap and doing them up — it becomes an adventure driving them around and perhaps a miracle if you get there, but just about every person owns a car and some of these cars won’t be around for much longer,’’ Mr Smith said.
TJ’s IGA Nathalia Show and Shine and Swap Meet will be on March 24 at Nathalia Recreation Reserve.
Show entry is $5, including spectators and car entry.
For more information, phone Anthony Oliver on 0418106652 or follow ‘TJ’s IGA Nathalia Show and Shine & Swap Meet’ on Facebook.


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Mailing.com Launches Web-to-Print Postcard Builder for Dental Industry
Nationwide direct mail company rolls out end-to-end, variable-data-driven direct marketing platform.
Contact: Natalie Beck, Beck Marketing Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2020
PHOENIX (March 3, 2020) — Mailing.com announced today the completion of phase two of its updated brand rollout – an enhanced web-to-print platform, offering scalable direct marketing solutions to help dental practices generate revenue and increase ROI.
With this new portal, dental offices can now customize the postcard design and send it to print all in a few clicks from inside Mailing.com’s direct mail automation program. From list procurement and design personalization to production and final delivery to the post office, it’s a turn-key solution that manages the entire workflow, end to end.
“Companies of all sizes are searching for ways to work faster, smarter and with fewer resources, especially dental practices,” said Ashley Jorgensen, marketing director for Mailing.com. “We’re proud to introduce innovative and affordable solutions to help dental offices improve their marketing programs from conception to execution. We designed our web-to-print platform with our customers in mind, and we can’t wait for them to experience this unique, interactive platform first-hand.”
“Another important differentiator that sets our platform apart from our competitors is that our per piece price always includes printing, mailing list and postage. Customers won’t have sticker shock when they reach the checkout,” Jorgensen explained.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, as of 2018 there were 199,486 dentists practicing in the United States, and the profession estimated to grow more than 19% over the next few years, outpacing all other professions. This translates to approximately 61 dentists per every 100,000 Americans. Mailing.com decided to focus their initial efforts on the dental industry based size and scope of their marketing needs.
“We have helped our clients produce seamless, effective direct mail campaigns for more than 50 years, and while the technology has changed our industry in many ways, our core values remain consistent over the years,” said Mailing.com CEO Craig Hauer. “Our partners are like family to us, and we look forward to continuing our legacy of providing superior customer service. The added value that our online postcard builder gives our customers is the ability to quickly produce postcard campaigns with variable data and personalization all in one place, on-demand and at an affordable price.”
Advances in technology have spurred a renaissance in the direct mail industry. According to data company Statista, direct mail advertising’s annual revenue in the U.S. will amount to approximately $10.9 billion by 2022. Due to improved targeting and highly precise data sets, direct mail campaigns have a more significant impact than ever before. According to the latest report from the Association of National Advertisers, the ROI of direct mail increased by 12 percent last year, surpassing that of online display ads.
Founded in 1965, Mailing.com has printed and mailed more than 656 million direct mail pieces in its history. The family-owned and operated company handles more than 20,000 campaigns every year, offering total in-house campaign management from its 75,000 square-foot warehouse. Mailing.com is a leading printing and direct mail company that provides direct marketing solutions for businesses of all sizes. Its state-of-the-art equipment and processes allow for flexibility and innovation in every aspect of a client’s marketing needs. Mailing.com is a certified Full-Service Mail Service Provider (MSP), and one of the few companies that offer on-site USPS “Mail Anywhere” verification, which provides our client partners enhanced accuracy and greater control over expectations for delivery. Established in 1965 and based in Phoenix, United Printing & Mailing, Mailing.com was founded on the principle of family-like customer-centric service, trusted by top companies, such as Subaru of America and Geico. For more information, visit www.mailing.com.


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For All Those People Who Have Macs Because They Don’t Get Viruses
I’ve had a personal computer of one kind or another for about 18 years. Every machine I’ve ever owned ran on Windows operating systems. The first one, a Packard Bell desktop computer that had a 486 processor and ran Windows 3.x, was an advertised special at Lechmere; when I got there the morning of the sale, they were already supposedly sold out and were offering a more expensive model instead. I accused them of a bait-and-switch, so to shut me up they gave me a further discount on the display model. When I got it home, I found out it was infected with a virus. Thus I learned early on about the importance of computer security.
I used to laugh at people who said they bought Macs because “Macs don’t get viruses.” Some even went so far as to claim their machines were so secure that they didn’t need anti-virus software. I would respond that Macs didn’t get viruses only because hackers didn’t bother writing malicious programs for machines that were but a tiny fraction of all personal computers. It’s the same reason why the 9/11 hijackers didn’t fly their planes into Dairy Queen drive-ins in rural midwestern farm towns; the low level of damage wouldn’t be worth the trouble. I figured that was bound to change if Apple could ever get more than a 5% share of the PC market.
Now I see, via Glenn Reynolds, this report that hackers are now directing their attentions to Apple machines.
In the past, malicious attacks on the Mac platform have been few and far between. More than 90 percent of the desktop market share used to go to Windows, so that’s where cybercriminals focused their time. But in recent months, OS X adoption has been rising, and similarly the number of threats (like last year’s MacDefender trojan horse) have been rising.
“The OS X platform has always been as potentially hacked and compromised as any other platform, but it just hasn’t been targeted until now,” Dave Marcus, director of advanced research and threat intelligence with McAfee Labs, told Wired.
[ . . . ]
“The interesting thing about the exploits over the past few days is that the bad guys are using the same techinques [sic] on a Mac as they’d use on a PC or tablet,” Marcus said. “They’re using rigged documents and websites, Java exploits — very much mimicking the methodology used in the PC world.”
The lesson is simple: Just as it’s a good idea to lock your doors even if you live in a small town, it’s a good idea to protect your computer with security software and take other sensible precautions even if you use a Mac. Believe me, the little extra effort is a breeze compared to the hassle of having to rid your machine of a virus.


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With IPO Looming, Airbnb Chalks Up A Multimillion-Dollar Loss
Short-term rental site Airbnb may face a bumpy road going public after a reported loss of more than $300M last year.
Though it made a $200M profit in 2018, Airbnb had a $322M net loss in the first nine months of last year, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources.
Costs are on the rise, per the publication, and there is growing anxiety within Airbnb’s ranks about the slide in profitability. The board has been turning up the heat on executives to explain why revenue has fallen below expenses. While the company was valued at $31B in 2017, its most recent internal valuation was much lower, per the WSJ.
The pressure is on Airbnb in light of its plans to go public at some point this year. Amid an environment of widespread skepticism around tech firms with losses, Airbnb's solid profit was set to be its selling point.
Uber’s highly anticipated IPO last year was underwhelming, as was Lyft’s. Meanwhile, WeWork is still mopping up the mess from its failed attempt to go public. The coworking giant canned its IPO in September, and has been trying to right the ship in the months since. In November the company announced a five-year strategic plan, and this month named CRE veteran Sandeep Mathrani as its new CEO.
The exact timing of Airbnb’s IPO is not clear, though it may be delayed by the coronavirus crisis, as China is such an important market for the company.
While investors are said to be increasingly distrustful of companies that have been dealing with losses, few technology companies that have gone public in recent years were profitable, University of Florida finance professor Jay Ritter told the WSJ.
"[Airbnb has] huge global market share, the brand name … and there’s no question they will be able to achieve profitability,” he said.


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Google meets MOOCs; Online education alliance targets tech work force training
Silicon Valley online education startups may be most closely associated with Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs, but a new industry partnership focuses squarely on translating online learning to practical workforce training.
Sebastian Thrun, the founder of online education startup Udacity, on Monday unveiled a broad vision for an Open Education Alliance, which unites education technology providers and tech companies like Google Inc. and AT&T.
Thrun made the announcement at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco, and Udacity also created a landing page dedicated to the project.
According to Udacity, the alliance does not replace a university degree, but rather "provides access to cutting-edge and relevant post-secondary education that empowers individuals to pursue successful careers in technology."
In pursuit of this goal, the company is seeking partners interested in building and curating course content, recognizing completion of online courses and hiring students with online credentials. Thrun maintains that he has "nothing against face-to-face education," and the alliance is a result of demand.
“We got a lot of inquiries from industry," Thrun said at the TechCrunch event. In addition to Google, Udacity has signed on Silicon Valley companies including Nvidia Corp., Intuit Inc. and 23andMe, though no information was released about how much revenue Udacity may generate from these partners.
Thrun highlighted tech fields like software development and Big Data analysis as current examples of professional fields with quickly evolving skill sets in high demand by tech companies.
Lauren Hepler is the economic development reporter at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
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Working from an office in the historic Byward Market of Ottawa, Jonathan Simon and the rest of the team at Magmic are quietly producing mobile games for iconic brands like Mattel, Hasbro, and Rubik’s Cube.
Business didn’t always look so promising. During the 2008 recession, the Canadian publisher and developer had to downsize from 110 employees and four floors to just 55 and one floor. But Magmic worked its magic, and today has over 100 original and licensed games under its name.
We caught up with Director of Marketing Jonathan Simon to chat about how the studio successfully monetized both IP-based and original games.
Meeting business goals, making players happy
Like most developers, Magmic used to rely on static and interstitial ads in its free-to-play titles. But as a ‘curator of brands’ balancing its partners’ business goals against user preferences, Magmic had to beat the average ad implementation. “Players don’t like being interrupted, but at the end of the day we also needed to make licensors happy by making money,” says Simon.
The solution came in the form of rewarded video ads. Magmic first experimented with rewarded in 2015, and once it began to scale up with the format in 2016, players started speaking up. “Users don’t complain about rewarded like they do with other ads. Quite the opposite,” says Simon. “The major feedback we hear from players is ‘We want more!’ and ‘How come I can’t watch more ads?’”
Magmic has plans to deliver. Simon and his team are toying with mechanics that really do allow users to watch as many ads as they want. “Everybody understands this will only add to overall revenue, and we can find new ways to push it forward and get buy-in across the board. It will happen this year,” says Simon.
Advice for other devs
One of Magmic’s first innovations with rewarded ads was a tool that can seamlessly turn ads on or off within different game mechanics or for different user segments. “We’re constantly testing to see what works with our users and what doesn’t work for different segments,” says Simon.
Investing time into optimization has allowed Magmic to reap above-average returns. Magmic’s version of the Hasbro game Scattergories, for example, puts an ad above payment options within the game’s store. Some developers fear that placing ads above or beside IAP will sour players on in-app purchases, but Magmic’s tool can prove this isn’t the case. “Cannibalization is one of the biggest myths,” says Simon. “If someone really wants to spend money, they’ll spend money. The people who don’t, you need to give them a way.”
Magmic has proven that rewarded video ads increase monetization, retention, and player experience. Tapjoy offers multiple ways to integrate rewarded ads, as well as free consultations for developers who want to leverage the power of rewarded ads.


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Ludhiana: After the reduction of VAT by Punjab Government on steel from 4.5% to 2.5%, the steel consuming industry also deserves the same package because failing which, this will prove to be a big discrepancy in procedure and taxation.
Steel is the base raw material for the engineering sector & the difference between the slabs will affect the system. The most effective will be the MSME sector.
For example if some big company is manufacturing some product by purchasing the steel then that company will have to pay 2.5% VAT on purchase and then that company if sell it out of state at 2% CST which will be equalent to the VAT paid on raw material. In the process all the Large companies who are self manufacturing will be out of the VAT refund net
Whereas if some company manufacturers any products by purchasing the parts and then assemble it then he will have to pay VAT of 6% on the purchase which will lead to a huge VAT refund as already.
Whereas in case of dealers they will have to pay the VAT by 6% on purchases and then again will have to apply for refunds after its CST sale at 2%.
It is a fact that 90% production of the Bicycle & Bicycle Parts, Fasteners, Sewing Machines, Autoparts are sold out of the state at 2% CST whereas Just 10% are consumed within the state.
This huge difference in VAT on steel & products will force the market to work more in grey economy.
The traders will prefer to show the fake in house production to avoid the VAT refund process which will create harassment for both the traders & department.
If the Punjab Government will reduce the VAT on Bicycle & Parts, Fasteners, Sewing Machines & Auto Parts ,the number two production of these goods will end and the exchequer will earn a huge amount by VAT, at the same time the industry will free from the process of VAT refunds, this process will also help the state in abolishing the bogus transactions.
So Federation of Associations of Small Industry of India has requested the state Government to reduce the VAT on Bicycle & its parts, Fasteners, Sewing Machines & Auto parts.
(The Author is National President, Federation of Associations of Small Industries of India -FASII).//ludhiana news online, ludhiana news in English, ludhiana news, ludhiana current news, ludhiana news live, Ludhiana breaking news, Ludhiana headlines, Ludhiana latest news, punjab news, india news, punjab news live, punjab news online, punjab news, punjab news headlines, punjab breaking news, india news, punjab news,


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Labatt strike comes to an end: Eleven months is a long time for a brewery strike. But that’s what has been going on at the Labatt brewery in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Until a few days ago, that is. The strike has finally come to an end, and the 45 employees should be back to work by the time you read this. The new agreement between Labatt and the union will expire in March 2020.
Wood Buffalo Brewing sets sights on whisky: Fort McMurray, Alberta-based Wood Buffalo Brewing is hoping to become the province’s first craft distillery. And in true Canadian fashion, the brewing company plans to begin making whisky. If the plan goes smoothly, expect to see Fort Mac-produced whisky on the shelves early this summer.
Will a two-four cost $10 more in Ontario corner stores?: A research paper from The Beer Store, which has a near monopoly on beer sales in Ontario, claims opening up beer sales to corner stores will have a dramatic effect on the price of beer. According to the paper, the average price of a two-four would increase by $10 should the provincial government gives corner stores the ability to sell beer. A potential reality or scare tactics to hold onto its monopoly? Sound off in the comments section below.
Toronto councillor aims for early morning Olympic beers: Canada is known for enjoying two things. Beer. And hockey. But with this year’s Winter Olympics taking place halfway around the globe, that means some of Team Canada’s games are happening before bars are legally allowed to open. Toronto councillor Mike Layton is hoping to change that. He plans to put forward a motion to allow bars in the city to open and start serving beer at 6:00 am during the final days of the Olympics.
The day craft came to Mexico: A Yahoo! Food article presents a side of Mexican beer most of us in the Great White North have never seen. Did you know Mexican beer lovers are embracing the craft beer revolution? Check out the story for details.


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Microsoft has announced that "Civilization Revolution" and "Dungeon Defenders" will be released for free in March for Xbox 360 members of the Xbox Live Gold service.
"Valiant Hearts" for Windows 10
Catch up on what's new in the Windows Store
windows store weekly
Microsoft's future phones to target businesses in just 18 'core markets'
...of fabulous flagships, Xbox excitement and Microsoft's mobile meltdown
Your handy guide to all the phones + tablets running Windows 10 Mobile
windows 10 mobile
Humble Indie Bundle 7 has launched, allowing anyone to pay pretty much whatever they want for a new series of great indie games, and one movie that celebrates indie games.
Today's gaming news round-up includes word on a new update for Hard Resent, sales numbers for Dungeon Defenders for the PC, a new Michael Bay-directed Need For Speed The Run trailer and more.