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Financial technology start-up Ripple announced a new product on Tuesday that allows financial services organisations to provide their customers the option to purchase and sell bitcoins.
The tool, dubbed Liquidity Hub, will provide enterprise clients access to digital assets from a variety of sources, including market makers, exchanges, and over-the-counter trading desks, according to the San Francisco-based startup.
Clients will be able to trade bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin, ethereum classic, bitcoin cash, and XRP among other cryptocurrencies, according to Ripple. In the future, the company hopes to offer other digital assets such as non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. The feature is presently in beta, but it is expected to arrive in 2022, according to Ripple.
Ripple, which was founded in 2012, is closely linked to the cryptocurrency XRP. With its On-Demand Liquidity product, the company sells XRP to financial firms as a form of “bridge” for speeding up international transfers.
According to CoinMarketCap data, XRP is the seventh-largest digital currency in the world, with roughly $60 billion worth of tokens in circulation.
Ripple also sells RippleNet, a financial communications service that banks and other financial organisations use to transmit money across international borders. Ripple positions itself as a rival to SWIFT, the world’s largest interbank payment network.
XRP is the world’s seventh-largest digital currency, according to CoinMarketCap, with around $60 billion worth of tokens in circulation.
RippleNet, a financial communications service used by banks and other financial institutions to send money across international borders, is also sold by Ripple. Ripple seeks to compete with SWIFT, the world’s largest interbank payment network.
The company is entering a new product category at a time when cryptocurrency enthusiasm is at an all-time high. The main and second-largest cryptocurrencies, bitcoin and ether, both set new highs this week amid a broader rise in the crypto market.
Crypto is also gaining traction among mainstream businesses, with Mastercard, PayPal, and Goldman Sachs all announcing support for digital assets.
RippleNet’s new tool, according to Asheesh Birla, general manager, may be viewed of as a “aggregator for numerous liquidity venues and individual assets, similar to how Google Flights is for airlines and flights.”
According to Birla, the product has been in the works for nearly two years. Coinme, a bitcoin exchange and ATM operator based in the United States, is Ripple’s first customer.
“We have a long history of working with financial institutions, crypto exchanges, brokerages and market makers, which our enterprise customers can now directly benefit from,” Birla told CNBC. “We’re planning to support a variety of assets and have plans to expand to more tokenized assets like NFTs in the future.”
Ripple said it will also provide its banking partners XRP-based lines of credit to avoid them needing to pre-fund Liquidity Hub accounts.
“Companies doing this today have to park working capital at an exchange while waiting for funds from weekend activity to be deposited in a bank account,” Birla said. “We started offering this as part of ODL and it’s one of our most sought after features.”
Ripple is one of the world’s largest crypto start-ups, with a private market cap of $10 billion. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Japanese financial services business SBI Holdings, and Spanish bank Santander are among the startup’s backers.
However, the corporation has faced significant regulatory uncertainties in the United States. Nonetheless, Ripple claims that it is gaining popularity in other areas such as Japan and the United Kingdom, with international volume at its ODL crypto product increasing 25-fold since the third quarter of 2020.
“Despite headwinds in the U.S. with the SEC, our traction with customers globally hasn’t slowed down,” Birla said.


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A new post box will be installed near the West Bromwich Post Office in New Square Shopping Centre.
The move follows the intervention from local MP Tom Watson.
A 400 signature petition was presented to Mr Watson in October and he immediately opened up discussions with the chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene.
Tom Watson MP said:
"Royal Mail refused to install a new post box outside of the West Bromwich Post Office but the decision made absolutely no sense, which is why residents started the petition.
"We have a brand new Post Office in New Square. I see many people queuing up for stamps in order to send cards and letters to their loved ones. Given that we now get many thousands more people regularly shopping in West Bromwich, it seemed silly not to allow people to post the cards and letters in a convenient place.”
He added: "After maintaining pressure on the company, I'm pleased to say they have listened to the views of local people. A new post box will now be installed, which I know will be welcomed by many shoppers."
In a letter to Mr Watson, Royal Mail said they would install the post box as quickly as possible.
Steve Burr, centre manager for New Square, said: "We look forward to having the new post box on our site to support the Post Office, New Square and our customers."

domain: news


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Here are the highlights of this year's Computex in Taiwan.
Gadgets - Slideshows
Roccat has become the latest gaming accessory brand to ditch Cherry MX keyswitches for their own proprietary solution. Here's a closer look at the company's new Titan switches.
ASUS announced the world's first health tracker with blood pressure tracking at their Computex 2018 press conference. Here's a closer look at it.
ASUS ended their Computex press conference with a bang by unveiling a new AI-driven, dual-screen concept product called Project Precog. Here's a quick look at what they showed.
ASUS have debuted their first gaming focused smartphone, The ROG Phone, ahead of this year's Computex. Here's a hands-on first look.
Ultimate Ears celebrated the the arrival of their new Alexa-assisted BLAST and MEGABLAST portable speakers to the Australian market with what else but a big party.
We took the new Oppo R15 Pro smartphone for a spin. Here's a taste of what the dual-lens camera on it can do.
We got our hands on Oppo's R15 Pro ahead of its Chinese launch. Here's a quick sneak-peek.
We unboxed the Oppo R15 Pro. Here's what's inside.
When it comes to cool and neat new gadgets, CES is like a jungle. Here are twenty cool discoveries we made during the world's biggest consumer electronics tradeshow.
On the eve of this year's CES in Las Vegas, the tradeshow's best and brightest gathered for an early showcase to journalists and industry figures. Here are our favorite discoveries of this year's CES Unveiled.
One of our favourite things at Computex is the mental weirdness that exemplifies technological evolution.
With so many thrilling movies being released to Blu-ray every week, it’s quite hard to keep track of each one of them even for the avid loves of film and cinema. But you can’t look away. In fact, there is nothing worse than a blind buy that ends up being a disappointment.
While 2016 sucked in many ways, many great things happened in the world of technology. However, there were some absolute shockers too. Here we look at the 10 best technology products of 2016 and follow it with the 10 worst technology products of 2016.
3D printing is the way of the future and it’s only getting more accessible.
Sometimes an excellent operating system can be made even better
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PCW Evaluation Team
This small mobile printer is exactly what I need for invoicing and other jobs such as sending fellow tradesman details or step-by-step instructions that I can easily print off from my phone or the Web.
Microsoft Office continues to make a student’s life that little bit easier by offering reliable, easy to use, time-saving functionality, while continuing to develop new features that further enhance what is already a formidable collection of applications
I’d recommend a Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 and the new Windows 10 to anyone who needs to get serious work done (before you kick back on your couch with your favourite Netflix show.)
It’s useful for office tasks as well as pragmatic labelling of equipment and storage – just don’t get too excited and label everything in sight!
The Brother MFC-L8900CDW is an absolute stand out. I struggle to fault it.
I need power and lots of it. As a Front End Web developer anything less just won’t cut it which is why the MSI GT75 is an outstanding laptop for me. It’s a sleek and futuristic looking, high quality, beast that has a touch of sci-fi flare about it.
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- Samsung’s Galaxy S10 will launch on Feb 20
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- 10 Blu-ray movies / Best looking Blu-ray movies


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Exhibiting for the first time at ISH, Unidrain has reported they experienced an extremely busy stand and were delighted to be part of this significant trade event.
Unidrain’s unique system is now the go-to for stylish, discrete drainage and their award-winning products can be found across the globe from five star hotels and spas through to residential homes.
On their stand at ISH Unidrain were able to effectively display their range of linear drains, including the HighLine and HighLine colour floor drain. HighLine colour is the latest product to be introduced and is available in five different finishes, including copper, brass, brushed stainless steel, polished stainless steel and black. This enables interior designers, architects and end consumers to colour match their drains to their other bathroom fittings.
Unidrain also displayed their award-winning Reframe Collection, which includes a soap shelf with shower wiper, toilet brush and paper holder, hooks, towel bar and their new corner shelf. This is available in the same five colours as the HighLine drain to enable continuity of design in the bathroom.
More news from Unidrain


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We would see an electrical automobile based mostly on Honda’s e:Structure, its devoted EV platform, a 12 months sooner than the corporate had beforehand introduced. At a enterprise briefing, whereby the automaker talked about earnings construction, battery initiatives and different issues, it has introduced that it is building a mid-to-large-size EV based mostly on the e:Structure and that can go on sale in North America by 2025. Honda previously said that autos adopting the structure will likely be accessible in 2026.
The corporate additionally introduced that it is additional growing its automobile OS to be used with mid-to-large-size EVs in North America and ensuring that it permits for the “steady development of auto capabilities and companies for patrons even after the automobile is bought.” As TechCrunch notes, although, it did not say if it is at the moment engaged on (or at the very least planning) a smaller automobile based mostly on its e:Structure for the North American market in the mean time.
Earlier than the autos based mostly on its devoted platform come out, Honda will launch the EVs it is at the moment growing with Normal Motors: The Acura ZDX and the Prologue, which is automaker’s first electrical SUV. Each autos will likely be accessible in 2024. In Japan, Honda is anticipated to launch a sequence of small-size EVs, together with an electrical N-One, which is a mini box-like Kei automotive that may be generally seen on the streets within the nation, in 2024. It is going to additionally launch a small-size SUV for the Japanese market in 2026.


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Ashley Furniture opens second retail store in China, identifying a need for compact furniture adapted to needs of Chinese market
January 22, 2014
(Industry Intelligence Inc.)
– Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. opened its second retail location in China in December, Bloomberg Business Week reported on Jan. 14.
The multibillion dollar family owned company, headquartered in Wisconsin, first established a presence in China when it outsourced manufacturing there to save labor costs about 20 years ago. Now it is learning how to adapt its product lines for the Chinese market, amid a rapidly expanding home furnishings market being fuelled by mass urbanization.
Apartments in China typically have small dining rooms, for example, so modifications include smaller dining tables.
Paul Dotta, Ashley Furniture’s VP of international business, who lives in Shenzhen, said the company would also have to alter its marketing strategies to meet the needs of a Chinese middle class he noted was “very different” from its equivalent in the U.S.
The primary source of this article is Bloomberg Business Week, New York, on Jan. 14, 2014.


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New Logan and Sandero failed NCAP crash tests
The European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) released the safety ratings of two new models Dacia/Renault Logan and Sandero Stepway.
India will become the main market of the new French crossover. The new model will be presented there next year. Besides that company is going to prepare several premieres for this country.
Renault is not doing very well in Indian market recently. In 2018 the sells of the mark fell by 27%. The company plans to increase the sales by updating the mark range. Thus, compact hatchback Triber, restyled hatchback Kwid and crossover Duster will be released in Indian market this year. In 2020 Renault will release a new small SUV which is still know by its factory index HBC.


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Imposing the goods and services tax on goods bought on overseas websites will be on the agenda when Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey meets his state and territory counterparts this week.
Retailers have been warning for years that the absence of a tax on imported goods worth less than $1,000 has been seriously denting business.
They say the change will boost jobs and could net the Government $1 billion of extra revenue each year.
Federal Treasury has been asked to examine ways to charge the GST on imported goods worth less than $1,000, which are currently excluded by the low-value threshold.
It will report back to the treasurers on the options available.
A 2011 report from the Productivity Commission said the threshold should only be lowered if the revenue from the change exceeds the costs.
Russell Zimmerman from the Australian Retailers' Association thinks that can be achieved - if the threshold is reduced to as low as $30.
"The Government, through the Productivity Commission Report, was told that if the threshold was lowered to $100 that there would be in excess of $500 million worth of tax collected," Mr Zimmerman said.
"However, we believe that if the threshold was lowered to around about the $30 mark, collection of goods and services tax would be in excess of $1 billion."
Mr Zimmerman says the potential benefit for retailers through increased domestic sales is less clear.
John Daley from the Grattan Institute values the budget improvement of the low-value threshold change at $500 million to $600 million a year.
"That will doubtless help, but when your ongoing budget deficit is in the order of $30 billion, you need an awful lot of things that look like that," Mr Daley said.
"Now by comparison, if you broaden the GST to cover fresh food, health and education - private spending on health and education - that increases your tax take by $13 billion."
Broadening the GST to a bigger range of products is just one of the suggestions in a new Grattan Institute report.
Mr Daley admits some of the suggestions, such as imposing a capital gains tax on owner-occupied housing, could have negative social consequences.
But he says others simply make sense, such as increasing the age at which people can start accessing the pension and their superannuation to 70.
He says that change will earn the Government an extra $12 billion a year, and scrapping super contribution tax concessions for older Australians will save $3 billion.
The report says indexing the fuel excise to inflation would raise $3 billion a year, while banning negative gearing would also raise $3 billion.
But Mr Daley is not overly optimistic about some of the more politically sensitive proposals taken up by the new Federal Government, despite the need to pay for policies such as the paid parental leave scheme and the disability insurance scheme.
"That's what we're hoping with this report will help to achieve: to start people thinking about if we're serious about bringing our budgets back into surplus, these are the kinds of things that we are going to have to do - and all of them will be politically painful," he said.


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You saw it coming, of course. But don’t get too cocky; we all did.
Apple Inc.’s admission that sales of its iPhones would fall $5 billion short of expectations was a stunner, all right. But it wasn’t exactly a surprise. For the past couple of years, the company has propped up its revenue by charging lavish prices for the iPhone — $1,000 or more for a gadget that’s only slightly better than the one users already had.
It was only a matter of time before people said “no more.” And when they did, they said it in Chinese.
We should have seen that part of it coming, too. China is Apple’s third-biggest market, after the United States and Europe. But it is facing a sluggish economy, aggravated by a simmering trade war with the United States. At the same time, the country’s own smartphone makers, like Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, make excellent phones and charge half the price of an iPhone. So when millions of patriotic Chinese facing a thrifty new reality are due for a new smartphone, why bother with Apple?
But the Chinese downshift isn’t the whole story. In his letter to Apple shareholders, chief executive Tim Cook admitted that even in “developed markets, iPhone upgrades also were not as strong as we thought they would be.” Presumably he is referring to the United States, Europe, and Japan.
To Tim Bajarin, president of industry research firm Creative Strategies, the message is clear: Apple’s nosebleed pricing strategy has reached its limit.
“I think Apple’s actually dealing with the threshold of how much they can charge for a product,” Bajarin said. “I think everything over $1,000 isn’t going to fly anymore.”
And that means Apple’s in for a challenging year or two, as it recalibrates its business strategy. (The stock took a major drubbing on Wall Street Thursday, igniting a big selloff in US markets; it ended the day down nearly 10 percent.)
Let’s not exaggerate the damage, though. Apple is still vastly successful and astoundingly rich. It expects to have about $130 billion in cash at the end of this quarter. And despite the falloff in China sales, Cook said first-quarter earnings per share would set a record, thanks to a 19 percent revenue increase in the company’s other businesses — Apple Watch, cloud-based services such as Apple Music and the App Store, and the venerable Mac line of personal computers, which got a major overhaul last year.
Still, the iPhone is about two-thirds of Apple’s revenue, so the company must change its ways. So what’s the plan? In his letter, Cook tells us what to expect.
First, Apple will offer new incentives to trade in old phones. It sounds like a continuation of last year’s unusually aggressive trade-in program, the desperation move that alerted Apple-watchers that there really was trouble in paradise.
Still, it’s a smart play. Apple can avoid a humiliating and costly price cut on its premium products, while still making them more affordable. Meanwhile, the used phones get refurbished and resold, often to people who’ve never owned an iPhone before. Now Apple can sell these people on subscribing to the company’s cloud-based services, like music streaming, apps, and online data storage. It’s an excellent way to keep making money in a smartphone market that’s not growing anymore.
Yet this strategy amounts to a holding action. Cook alerts us to expect more. “Apple innovates like no other company on earth,” he said, “and we are not taking our foot off the gas.”
What’s next? The next big thing in smartphones will probably be 5G, the superfast wireless technology that’s just starting to be deployed in a few cities in the United States and abroad. Apple has said it doesn’t expect to sell a 5G iPhone until 2020, which makes sense, because it will probably take at least that long before 5G is widely available.
But other phone makers, including Samsung and Huawei, plan to offer 5G phones this year. So 5G alone won’t give Apple much of an edge, unless they can combine it with something more.
Like augmented reality, perhaps. That’s the technology that lets you see digital images overlaid on the real world, and without a lot of fuss, Apple has been making major investments in it.
For one thing, Apple has added augmented reality features to its iPhone software. But it has also spent millions of dollars buying up companies that make the components needed for a new kind of augmented reality device. One of them makes sensors for tracking eye movements, another makes head-mounted displays, and another builds see-through video screens for AR glasses.
Existing AR glasses are far too heavy and bulky because of all the computing horsepower needed to make them work. Enter 5G. It moves data so fast that remote computers in the cloud could do the hard work. Then the network could relay augmented reality images to a sleek and comfortable pair of glasses with the Apple logo etched into the frame.
Tim Bajarin is convinced AR is Apple’s next big bet. “If they get that right,” he said, “it’ll be another big, innovative hit for them.” Indeed, it would be Apple’s first new product category since the iPad was released nine years ago.
Can Apple make it work? It’s no sure thing, but the company needs a new hit. After the Chinese meltdown, Apple’s smartphone business will never be the same.


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Tuesday, March 8, 2022 - SEPEC CONSULTS SAS, a French engineering and project management company, and CALCUB, a French company specializing in the rehabilitation and fitting out of maritime containers, announced today the signing of a partnership for the manufacture and distribution of maritime container farms in the European market.
Controlled environment agriculture is a growing market, with accelerating disruptions from climate change, the need to increase production to meet the demands of a growing population, and the requirements to produce sustainably forcing the entire agricultural sector to rethink its supply chain. The CEA provides answers to the current problems by enabling the production of hyper-local, healthy, and fresh products, thus meeting the demand of stakeholders.
For farmers, food processors, retailers, or even NGOs, these sea container farms are a way to ensure a constant and controllable production flow. Integrating these solutions will make supply chains more sustainable, from farm to fork, and help meet requirements set by governments.
"For more than 18 months, our company has been developing hydroponic containers for market gardening in a controlled environment. This project is the result of our awareness that our agriculture is undergoing profound changes and adaptations to the vagaries of climate, regulations, and consumer behavior.
Today SEPEC Consults has decided to manufacture and distribute the 3rd generation of containers, more efficient, easier to use, ergonomic, and "made in France" to meet European and French demands. To achieve this new challenge, we are happy to share our values and knowledge with the company CALCUB, a specialist in the development of recycled maritime containers, and to set up a "win to win" partnership.
We are convinced that this association will be beneficial for both of us and we will do our utmost to put this new container on the market by the end of June. We look forward to continuing the adventure at ....." said Jean-Luc Achard, Chairman of SEPEC CONSULTS SAS
"The environmental issues at stake for our two companies through the recycling of containers and the development of hydroponic agriculture, make us strongly believe in this alliance which will respond to a new form of resilience in agriculture," said Richard CHOTIN-HOSPITAL, President of CALCUB SAS.
This partnership will help meet the growing demand for modular systems in Europe and developing countries.


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South Korea marketing agency Cheil Worldwide has picked up a majority stake in The Barbarian Group, the acclaimed agency behind Burger King's Subservient Chicken.
With the acquisition, Barbarian Group will move its headquarters from Boston to New York. Its management -- including CEO Benjamin Palmer, COO Rick Webb, and Keith Butters, chief experience officer -- will remain in place. The agency has created work for Kashi and Red Bull, among other clients.
In a blog post today, Webb sought to assure employees and clients the agency was not about to be amalgamated into a faceless parent company.
"This is still The Barbarian Group, we're still called The Barbarian Group, and we are still committed to making things awesome. This is the next evolutionary step in our adventure towards making things awesome," he wrote.
Cheil operates 31 offices in 25 countries, and employs more than 1,500. Its investment in TBG is the latest in a series of moves designed to place it in competition with the largest global agencies. One year ago it bought creative shop London-based Beattie McGuinness Bungay.
AdMedia Partners advised Cheil in the transaction.
Meet Your Favorite ClickZ Contributors
Many of ClickZ's leading expert contributors will be at ClickZ Live, the new online and digital marketing event kicking off in New York (March 31-April 3). Hear from the likes of: Jeremy Hull, Lisa Raehsler, Andrew Goodman, Bryan Eisenberg, Mathew Sweezey, Aaron Kahlow, Stephanie Miller, Simms Jenkins, Jeanne S. Jennings, Dave Hendricks and more!
Until March 2012, Zach Rodgers was managing editor of ClickZ's award-winning coverage of news and trends in digital marketing. He reported on the rise of web companies, data markets, ad technologies, and government Internet policy, among other subjects.
March 19, 2014


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Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel for Qualcomm, said that the verdict is the latest victory in Qualcomm's worldwide patent litigation, which is directed at holding Apple accountable for using its valuable technologies without paying.
Maxell Patent 8,339,493: According to Maxell, Apple's back side cameras on iPhones from the iPhone 5s through to the iPhone XS Max infringe on their camera patent. Qualcomm can now ask the judge for an order to halt further infringement of its patents by Apple.
In response to the judgement, an Apple spokesperson told AppleInsider "Qualcomm's ongoing campaign of patent infringement claims is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the larger issues they face with investigations into their business practices in United States federal court, and around the world". The decision awards the entire $31 million to Qualcomm that it had been asking.
A federal jury in San Diego on Friday awarded Qualcomm about $31.6 million in damages on its patent infringement claims. Readers are cautioned that Patently Apple does not offer an opinion on the merit of the case and strictly presents the allegations made in said legal cases / lawsuits.
What these legal actions do seem to be leading to is Apple looking to move away from Qualcomm's products and components as much as possible, but that's a move that probably won't be noticeable in the end product.
The dispute between Apple and Qualcomm is also part of an antitrust lawsuit that the US Federal Trade Commission filed in 2017. In the same month, Qualcomm was granted an injunction banning the sales of some iPhone models in Germany.
Qualcomm Inc. won the first USA jury trial in its global dispute with Apple with several court cases set to be heard in coming months which if they go against Apple will result in iPhone sales being halted in some markets. The patent case was presided over by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw. Where Apple is alleged the Qualcomm for following illegal practices in chip manufacturing for keeping its dominance whereas Qualcomm has accused the iPhone maker of using its tech without its prior concern and monetary compensation.
The ruling could be even more financially significant since Qualcomm says these three patents represent just a small portion of its "tens of thousands" of other IP claims.
"Apple is very skilled at handling appeals and taking a longer-term view".


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5G networks, devices and use cases are proliferating – in this article eContactServices looks at the key trends shaping the new mobile technology. It’s clear that 5G is ushering a new, disruptive era that is reorganising relationships between operators, vendors and other players across the telco ecosystem. With more than 20 years’ experience in delivering lead generation services to the telco and broadcast industry, eContactServices can help you navigate this new landscape. Contact us today.
Operators are investing 5G – but still need spectrum
GSMA Intelligence calculated recently that mobile operators are expected to spend $1.1 trillion worldwide between 2020 and 2025 on building new networks, roughly 80 per cent of which will be on 5G networks. It adds that more than 80 operators worldwide have now launched commercial 5G networks. And 5G is no longer confined to advanced markets – the first 5G networks in Africa launched this summer, for example, even though 3G/4G still has plenty of headroom for growth in such regions.
However, delays in auctioning new 5G spectrum has delayed 5G launches in some European markets, underlining the fact that access to the right spectrum is crucial to deploying new networks.
OpenRAN seeks to revolutionise network vendor market
How networks are being built is changing as we enter the 5G era. The large vendors are being challenged by a push to ‘open’ up networks allowing operators to use multiple, smaller vendors – disaggregating network software and hardware. According to a report last month by Dell’Oro Group, sales of so-called ‘OpenRAN’ equipment could surpass $5 billion over the next five years.
Vendors to watch in this space include Mavenir, which acquired the UK’s ip.access last month to boost in OpenRAN offerings. The big vendors are getting involved too: Nokia became the first major equipment maker to embrace OpenRAN over the summer.
Apple whets consumer 5G appetite
This month’s announcement of the first 5G-equipped iPhones could provide a boost for consumer uptake of 5G. Apple was relatively late to the 5G party – flagship 5G devices from the likes of Samsung have been in the market for a while – but a new iPhone has historically been a catalyst for change. Consumers may not be sold simply on 5G’s ‘faster speeds’, but Apple may be able to develop a compelling 5G proposition around AR/VR or gaming.
Ericsson expects consumer 5G subscriptions to reach 190 million worldwide by the end of this year, a slight increase on early indications – mainly due to a faster uptake in China, which has offset dampening demand caused by the pandemic elsewhere.
Is the enterprise-ready to embrace the 5G opportunity?
5G is considered the first generation of mobile tech that is set to have a greater impact on the enterprise rather than consumers. KPMG estimates that £3.35 trillion in value is waiting to be unlocked across major industries that embrace 5G such as government, finance, healthcare and manufacturing.
A report this month commissioned by Ericsson outlines how service providers are transforming from “connectivity provider to enterprise service creators” and delivering 5G enterprise solutions in collaboration with a broad ecosystem of partners “leveraging OSS, BSS, cloud technology, and AI.”
However, a separate study by Bell Labs Consulting looked into how prepared businesses are to make the most of the opportunity ahead. It identified a gap between “intentions and actions” when it comes to 5G – while 86 per cent of business decision-makers said they have some kind of strategy for 5G, only 15 per cent are currently investing in its implementation.
Private networks take 5G in-house
As 5G increasingly powers the enterprise, many private companies are looking to take their networks ‘in house’. This is particularly true of companies involved in public safety and critical infrastructure, which are able to take advantage of 5G’s ability to support mission-critical or business-critical use cases.
However – like operators – companies will require spectrum to deploy these new private networks. Some markets are already supporting this. In Germany, for example, the regulator recently sold spectrum to a range of iconic German brands, including Bosch, BMW, BASF, Lufthansa, Siemens and Volkswagen.


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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday extended the deadline for filing GST returns for March-May to June 30.
On late filing of GST returns, no late fee, penalty or interest will be charged for companies with turnover of up to Rs 5 crore.
For companies with more than Rs 5 crore turnover, no late fee and penalty will be charged on GST return filed by 15 days. A reduced interest rate of 9 per cent will be charged, she said.
The minister said 'Sab ka Vishwas' indirect tax dispute redressal scheme has also been extended to June 30 and no interest on payment made till June 30 will be charged.
Additionally, the government relaxed company provisions including that of mandatory holding of board meeting and filing of return by newly incorporated companies.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Shippers, trucking firms at SMC3 conference urged to use embedded analytics in transportation software to automate tasks from motor carrier selection to route optimization.
Spot rates are a barometer for how trans-Pacific service contract negotiations could fare.
Turkish shipping line UN Ro-Ro has bought its national rival Ulusoy Ro-Ro.
Cathay Pacific has relocated its cargo-handling operations in Frankfurt to Lufthansa Cargo’s terminal at Europe’s biggest air freight hub.
HSH Nordbank, the leading financier of container ships, is up for sale.
Chennai Port has benefited from aggressive efforts to increase productivity, but it faces serious competition.
Eimskip’s acquisition spree continued this week with the purchase of a Belgian refrigerated freight forwarder.
Growth at mainland China’s top eight ports slowed in 2016.
The strong US dollar is making a bad equipment imbalance at the border worse, and will encourage the growth of less-than-truckload shipping across the border and in Mexico, SMC3 expects.
Beneficial cargo owners that book through non-vessel-operating common carriers should be aware that spot rates can vary dramatically and those that seek the lowest rates have the highest risk.


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If you’re planning to go to Europe, or still thinking where to go, perhaps this brief about cruise inside European rivers would stimulate your thoughts. Don’t worry about transporation, food, stay, or where to go. It’s all done for you. Just relax and enjoy.
Kansas City, largest in Missouri, has also like any other suffered from decline in hotel accommodations, as it fell by 2.3% to 49.9 compared to same time last year. Despite the fall however, Kansas City is still doing better than the U.S. hotel accommodation decline average of 4%.
More details on Business Journal.
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If you have a serious plan to visit Hawaii anytime soon, this might be your best year. With reports from Pacific Business News about 7 percent drop in hotel occupancy back in 20th Dec last year, and room rates falling by 17.5% to $181 per night from what they were one year before, this would mean most probably lowest combination you can hope for of crowd and price. Unlses ofcourse everyone reads the news and all of a sudden decides to go there!


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A decline in production and a drawdown in wheat stocks for the first time in six years: the grain market is shifting.
The world’s grain market is one that embraces a multitude of actors. While a small number of countries dominate exports, there is high regional diversity when it comes to imports. In a recent research note from Clarkson’s Shipping Intelligence Network on grain, research analyst David Whittaker says that since the beginning of the millennium, there has been a rise in imports of grain into all major regions, with “the extent and drivers of this” increase differing according to region.
A varied and uncertain industry
Using the examples of Europe and the Americas, he explains: “Europe’s grain imports, representing 10% of global imports in 2016/17, have seen only limited growth as domestic output has largely kept up with rising demand, with European imports accounting for just 5% of global grain trade growth since 2000/01. Meanwhile, despite the Americas accounting for 70% of global grain exports in 2016/17, the region is still a significant importer, with a 16% share in 2016/17.”
However, other regions play key roles in the world grain trade. Mr Whittaker identifies Asia as being the biggest contributor to growth in the field in recent years, with 58% of market growth since 2000/01 deriving from the continent. Last year, its contribution to total imports was 47%, with growth in multiple nations supporting this. Asian countries aside from China imported 117m tonnes of grain in 2016/17, up 51% from 2000/01 and constituting 17% of world growth since then. Yet, China is growing in importance with regards to global trade in grains, making up 22% of world grain imports in 2016/17 and responsible for 41% of world grain trade growth since 2000/01. In the Middle East and Africa, imports of grain into these regions have risen by 86% since 2000/01 to reach 135m tonnes in 2016/17, constituting 28% of world grain imports. The two regions have been responsible for 28% of the growth in the world’s trade in grain since 2000/01.
The analysis comes at a time when ostensibly, the global grain trade situation appears positive. According to the International Grains Council’s Grain Market Report from February, total grain production for 2016/17 is estimated to have been 2,140m tonnes, against 2016m tonnes in 2015/16. Meanwhile, total trade in grains in 2016/17 is anticipated to have been 352m tonnes, an increase from 346m tonnes in 2015/16. Trade in wheat, maize, soyabeans and rice all went up between these two timeframes. However, though the report’s most recent forecast indicates growth in total grain trade for 2017/18, it anticipates that production will fall to 2094m tonnes in this period. Trade is predicted to increase slightly for maize and soybeans according to this forecast, though wheat trade will fall slightly and trade in rice will remain the same. However, with the exception of wheat, production of these commodities is expected to fall for 2017/18 in comparison to the anticipated figures for 2016/17.
Early projections from the International Grains Council show a decline in global wheat output in the 2018/19 season
So what are the factors currently influencing the grain business? In a video from March discussing grain prices, Helen Plant, senior analyst for Market Intelligence at the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, tells of how new and, to a lesser extent, old crop global grain prices increased during February, discussing the price boosts in new crop, November 2018, UK feed wheat futures (in comparison to previous times).
Chances and caveats
“The main driver of these increases [are] less-than-ideal weather conditions for some of the world’s major producers and exports of wheat and maize,” she explains. “This includes maize crops in Argentina and Brazil, which together account for over 40% of global maize exports. … There have also been concerns about the impact of cold and continuing dry weather on US winter wheat crops. Additionally, in northern Europe, low temperatures at the end of February and start of March are also of concern, giving the reduced level of winter-hardening or winter-readiness seen in winter wheat crops there.
“With these concerns, early projections from the International Grains Council show a decline in global wheat output in the 2018/19 season,” Ms Plant adds. “If global demand continues to grow, as has been the trend in recent seasons, then we can see the first drawdown in global wheat stocks in six years, albeit from record high levels.”
Aside from weather conditions, other factors can affect the global grain trade, including politics. Recently, a number of trade deals have been made, with those involved in transporting grain potentially reaping the harvest of these agreements. Australia’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, signed in March, could be advantageous for grain exporters in the country. Big hitters in the Pacific have signed the pact, which will reduce both tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. Additionally, Iran has made a deal with Russia and Kazakhstan committing to buy wheat from the two countries over five years, with the Tehran Chamber of Commerce saying that total shipments might hit as many as 1m tonnes a year over the next half a decade.
However, factors that impact world grain trade don’t always bring positive consequences. Take the case of infrastructure. It has been reported that despite the fact that Ukraine’s grain sector is doing well, state-run rail operator Ukrzaliznytsya has found it tough in recent years to transport bumper harvests, with the majority of freight locomotives and rail cars dating back to the 1980s. Wagon shortages have restricted movements, but Ukrzaliznytsya will not be getting new grain cars until next year. Local exporters claim that the lack of trains has meant that merchants’ grain shipments have sometimes been held back. Meanwhile, in Canada, shippers and producers of grain have expressed concerns about a backlog of rail shipments. The Ag Transport Coalition, which represents several grain associations, said in late February that car order fulfilments from Canada’s two major railways stood at 38% during one of the weeks of that month.
With big hitters in the grain world being affected by different factors this year, as noted above, there will be winners and losers among those who transport grain. However, with total grain production for 2017/18 anticipated to decline, there may be more in the latter losers’ camp.


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In the next ten days, we expect a reduction in the prices of basic food products, especially those listed in the Decision on determining the margins from 5 to 12 percent. And in the bread section, the price reduction has already started. We expect a reduction in the prices of milk and dairy products in the next 3-4 days, and a reduction in the prices of meat products by the end of next week, Macedonian Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi said on Thursday.
As Bekteshi stated after the press briefing , even greater price reductions are expected as of December 1, if the raw materials remain at the same import prices.
“An additional decision will be made tomorrow which will expand the list of activities that will be supported by the Government according to the requirements of the Economic Chamber and the chain of the meat industry will be covered by subsidized electricity,” the economy minister said.


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A series of briefing events will be taking place between 26th February and 20th March 2018 to showcase investment opportunities available through the new £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF). The British Business Bank and the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will be coming together to brief business advisors and the local business community about the new funding opportunities available, its potential uses and how businesses can apply to receive the fund.
The events will be taking place at each of the 10 Local Enterprise Partnership areas within the…view event
Midven’s March event for portfolio companies took place on 6 March 2017 and focused on Thinking Differently To Maximise Your Personal Performance.It was held at the Cosy Club in Birmingham and attended by a number of Portfolio Companies.
Andy is a multi-awarded executive and business coach, gaining recognition for his clients’ achievements both on a regional and national level. He has consistently been placed in the top…view event
Midven’s May 2016 event for portfolio companies focused on the theme “Successful Marketing”.
The speakers included:
Jennifer Edwards Director of Marketing at Midven
Jennifer opened the event by speaking about Strategic Marketing – appraising the competitive landscape to construct your messaging and define market position.
Javan Bramhall, Founder of Digital Glue
Javan spoke about creating an ideal customer profile for your business. Building an understanding of the inherent strengths and weaknesses of prospective customers and identifying how your business can help.
Steve Pashley, CEO and Co-founder of Health2Works
Steve spoke about Direct Marketing to Many…
Midven’s April 2016 event for portfolio companies focused on the theme “How to Prepare for an Exit”.
The speakers included:
Tony Stott CEO of Midven Ltd
He spoke about how to obtain a high sale price for your business.
Surjit Kooner Director of Midven Ltd
He talked about how to choose a Corporate Finance Advisor.
Ray Harris, Odyssey Corporate Finance
Ray was a guest speaker at the event and talked about the role of the Corporate Finance Advisor.
Gary was also a guest speaker at the event and spoke about personal experiences in selling a business.


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Before there were UwUpies and E-Gees, Softgirls and VSCO girls, there were Valley Girls. Fer sure. And they totally like, loved going into, like, clothing stores and stuff.
Of course, parents then had to pony up for that preppy, peppy California look, just as today’s parents try to keep up with the fickle trends that drive the kids’ market. It’s a business that—despite some of the cryptic lingo—continues to remain steady, thanks to parents who are willing to listen to their kids, and brands that understand the parental preferences, as well.
Childrenswear held a global value of $203.4 billion in 2017, according to Statista, the international statistics portal. The market is forecast to reach $339 billion by 2024, according to Global Industry Analysts (GIA).
Growth in kids’ wear will be “driven by factors such as growing exposure of children to media and the ensuing rise in materialism, excessive consumption and impulsive purchases,” GIA states, adding that other aspects include, “greater autonomy and decision-making power of kids and their enhanced role in purchase decisions; growing affluence of parents; and a widening range of choices in luxury and designer clothing brands.”
Statista says the baby and young children’s apparel market in the United States was valued at $21 billion in 2018. And with all the effort to appease their kids, American parents have made the U.S. the largest consumer of children’s apparel, with 21 percent of the global market, according to web data provide ScrapeHero.
Perhaps the market is so strong in the U.S. because more than half (56 percent) of the parents of one-to-five-year-olds say shopping for children’s clothes is fun, according to the Cotton Council International (CCI) and Cotton Incorporated 2019 Childrenswear Study. It may come as no surprise, though, that the shine wears off their enjoyment once kids hit the tween years (10-to-13) when just 39 percent of parents say it’s still fun and instead are more likely to feel overwhelmed (16 percent) and frustrated (14 percent) by the clothes shopping experience.
Babies, on the other hand, have no say in what they wear, and toddlers, not much more. That gives parents all sorts of leeway to play dress-up with their own living dolls. It makes sense then that ScrapeHero reports that babies (0-to-3 years old) have the highest number of products (13,300) and that market was expected to be worth $8.4 billion in 2019. Girls had the second greatest number of products at 9,300, followed by boys at 7,400.
Mintel says moms are more prone to being thrifty, while fathers like to express their sartorial side when picking out kids’ clothes. And overall, the top inspiration for a purchase comes from what is requested by the child (69 percent), according to the Childrenswear Study. That’s followed by retail store displays, salespeople and window shopping (50 percent), “people I see regularly including children of friends and family” (36 percent), retailer, brand, or e-commerce sites (30 percent), and social media sites (29 percent). It should be noted that the social media sites see a big spike among parents of one-year-olds (43 percent).
More than half of all parents (51 percent) say fabric has “some/a great deal” of influence on their purchase, according to the Childrenswear Study. And 83 percent of parents check fabric content at least some of the time before purchasing kids’ clothes, with two in five checking “always/usually.”
When it comes to fabric preference for their child’s clothes, cotton is the preferred fabric overall. More than three-quarters (78 percent) prefer cotton for their kids’ underwear and undershirts, while 77 percent prefer it for shirts or tops, such as tees, tanks, dress shirts, and sweatshirts, according to the Childrenswear Study. Additionally, 71 percent prefer cotton for their kids’ bottoms, whether it’s pants, leggings, denim jeans, or shorts.
When seeking apparel for their children, the Childrenswear Study respondents say the most important factors are that the clothes are “comfortable for my child” (96 percent), do “not chafe or irritate my child’s skin” (76 percent), are “functional/allows my child to move/play” (70 percent), are durable or long-lasting (62 percent), are made with high quality (60 percent), and are “a style my child will wear” (60 percent).
Increasingly, parents are springing for premium children’s brands.
GIA says this stems from the fact that even though the birth rate is declining, “the increased resources available per child [are] helping increase per capita spending.” This can be seen in the increase in “Mom & Me” outfits for mothers and daughters. The market is also seeing demand for non-gender specific clothes, according to GIA, as well as durable apparel made from environmentally friendly materials and extended-size apparel for children. It’s also feeling the influence of advergaming (advertising in video games), viral marketing, and social media advertising aimed at children.
Speaking of viral, Edited analysts say retailers should be poised for the spread of Baby Yoda merchandise. The character is officially known as The Child in the new Disney+ series, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian.” Officially licensed apparel and accessories is being made available through a variety of retailers, including ShopDisney, Amazon, Target, Kohl’s, Walmart, and Macy’s.
“Unlike many other memes that are short lived, Baby Yoda’s popularity has rolled into 2020 with retailers tapping the character for merchandise,” Edited noted. “If you have a license for Baby Yoda, then graphic T-shirts are the easiest and most popular way to capitalize on the character.”
The tops category is the most popular among children’s clothes (19,800 items), according to ScrapeHero, with bottoms following at 6,300.
Because so many tops are purchased, parents say they like to buy clothes for their kids that include positive messages (88 percent), according to the Childrenswear Study. That’s followed by parents who just want their kids to be comfortable, “even if I don’t like his/her style” (85 percent).
Mintel’s Alexis DeSalva, retail and apparel analyst, says that although the children’s market faces some challenges due to declining birth rates, the market remains steady.
“Retailers need to find ways to evolve the meaning of value and convenience for parents, especially as they do more shopping online,” DeSalva said. “Further, looking to existing shoppers to drive incremental sales will be important for maintaining ongoing engagement.
“Retailers need to consider parents’ and children’s style preferences, especially as kids play a big role in purchase decisions,” she added. “Those that capture the attention of parents and their kids have a chance to encourage additional self-purchases from parents and retain children as loyal customers when they transition to independent shoppers.”


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WSJ: Best and Worst Ads of 2008 — no surprise that Microsoft’s Jerry Sienfeld ads were on the list.
USAToday: Ad Track: Microsoft wants you to throw a party for its Xbox — On a recent Saturday, about 1,000 women across the country moonlighted as marketers for Microsoft’s newest Xbox services. Microsoft … More proof that Wii found a niche that Xbox and Playstation 3 missed — women.
NY Times: For Craft Sales, the Recession Is a Help
WSJ: Notebooks Overtake Desktop PCs — Notebook shipments rose nearly 40% to 38.6 million units during the period, while desktop shipments fell 1.3% to 38.5 million units.
WSJ: Who Should Foot the Bill of a Lawsuit?
— In the U.S. the loser of a lawsuit pays the legal fees, which differs in other countries, including Canada, Germany and the U.K. Also tort costs as a percent of GDP are 2.2 percent according to a study by Towers Perrin, which are twice the rate of other countries. Germany was second with the costs being 1.1 percent.


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China called on the U.S. government on Tuesday to “stop the unreasonable crackdown” on Huawei after the U.S. stepped up pressure on the tech giant by indicting it on charges of stealing technology and violating sanctions on Iran, complicating high-level trade talks between the countries about to begin in Washington.
The Chinese government will “firmly defend” its companies, a foreign ministry statement said. It gave no indication whether Beijing might retaliate for the charges against Huawei, China’s first global tech brand and the biggest maker of switching gear for phone and internet companies.
The foreign ministry complained Washington has “mobilized state power” to hurt Chinese companies “in an attempt to strangle fair and just operations.”
“We strongly urge the United States to stop the unreasonable crackdown on Chinese companies including Huawei,” said the statement. It said Beijing will defend the “lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies” but gave no details.
Huawei Technologies Ltd., which has spent a decade battling U.S. accusations it is a front for Chinese spying, denied committing any of the violations cited in Monday’s indictment.
Huawei Technologies is disappointed to learn of the charges brought against the company and the company denies any law violations or wrongdoing, according to a statement the company sent to CGTN on Tuesday.
After the arrest of the company’s CFO Meng Wanzhou, Huawei sought an opportunity to discuss the Eastern District of New York investigation with the U.S. Justice Department, but the request was rejected without explanation, the statement said.
The allegations in the Western District of Washington trade secret indictment were already the subject of a civil suit that was settled by the parties after a Seattle jury found neither damages nor evidence of willful and malicious conduct, according to the company.
Huawei denies that it or its subsidiary or affiliate have committed any of the asserted violations of U.S. law set forth in each of the indictments, is not aware of any wrongdoing by Meng, and believes the U.S. courts will ultimately reach the same conclusion, the statement said.
The charges unsealed Monday by the Justice Department accused Huawei of trying to take a piece of a robot and other technology from a T-Mobile lab that was used to test smartphones. Huawei passed Apple in mid-2018 as the second-biggest global smartphone brand after Samsung.
Story compiled information from Associated Press and CGTN.


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In a move we didn't see coming, Plex commercial skipping has arrived. Vudu's Xbox app now has HDR content. There are new features on Xbox and we had a lot to watch and play with!
Microsoft has released the long-awaited Xbox One X. Amazon has a great sale on UHD Blu-ray. There's a new site that analyzes them. Microsoft is planning a game streaming service.
YouTube TV is coming to the Xbox One. Xbox may soon support wireless surround without an AV receiver. Microsoft kills the Kinect, and we've got tips to prepare for the Xbox One X.


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EA has just added the files on the server, and the event is coming, requiring a new store update! Get ready to visit new places as we go around the world and it’s coming up next! Join us later for all the details on the new event! Update: The event is LIVE!
A preview of the next event is here and a new decoration joins the game to celebrate the new year. Join us right after the jump for the second part of the update walkthrough! The last 24 hours of the update are here, as it’ll end on January 31st at 8am GMT!
A bunch of new decorations have been released in this new mini-update for the Chinese new year! Join us right after the jump for the complete list of released and upcoming items! Note: Year of the Rooster Pt. 4 and the rest of the questline starts now!
A new teaser was just released on facebook by the game’s official page. Want all the charm of international travel without ever having to take a bad passport photo? Get prepared for some global adventures from the comfort of your own Springfield!
We just posted yesterday a preview on it as speculation and this confirms a journey around the world event next! Stay tuned for all the infos!
Another event based on an episode has been released by EA. On Sunday, March 13, 2005, Fox aired “Goo Goo Gai Pan”, the 12th episode of Season 16 and the 347th episode to date. This Episode Fact File will recap the episode with all the infos we’ve on this episode. Get the scoop right after the jump!
A new event has been hinted in the files coming up next week, right after the end of Lunar New Year update. It’s the one that was hinted in the store update description. Join us right after the jump for SPOILERS on what’s coming!
The Chinese new year is here with the Lunar New Year 2017 update! As most of you know by now, every update not only brings new content but also changes to many other aspects of the game. From prices to appearance, task lengths to requirements, any part of the game is subject to change and many changes affect every player. Follow us right after the jump for the list of all of the changes.


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A baby’s smile is infectious. Their wide gummy grin has the ability to melt any frown and soften even the hardest of hearts. However, when it comes to the baby who has the country’s greatest smile every mother would say their child wins that title hands down.
In an effort to settle the argument once and for all, Bonjela, Britain’s number one teething gel has launched the Britain’s Greatest Baby Smile competition.
The contest comes as part of the 12-month Britain’s Greatest campaign – from the makers of Bonjela, Reckitt Benckiser – which celebrates everything that is great about Britain in 2012.
Bonjela Teething Gel provides effective, soothing relief from teething pain. Its local anaesthetic action relieves pain and soothes sore gums, while its antiseptic action can help prevent minor mouth infections – for turning those teething pain-frowns upside down!
The nationwide competition kicked off on the 10th April, and the winning baby will be launched into the spotlight as the face of the new advertising for leading baby brand – Bonjela.
The competition is being held in partnership with supermarket giant Tesco and Bounty website, with brands Nurofen for Children and Karvol participating with in-store promotions.
For a chance to show off your baby’s winning smile, pick up your camera and get snapping. Entry couldn’t be simpler, just head to Bounty and upload your picture. The entry phase closes on May 8, so make sure you don’t miss out on this opportunity.
Once all the photos are collated, they will be short-listed to 10 baby finalists by our expert panel that includes:
- Helen Wynne, who was recently awarded Tesco Achieving mum of the year, will be sharing her expert opinion. As the mum of a child with special needs, Helen used her experience to set up her own inclusive child-minding centre, Blythswood in Wrexham.
- Lisa English, Brand Manager at Reckitt Benckiser
Blogger Emma Sheppard, who writes the popular baby blog “Me. The Man and the Baby.” - does this blogger sound kinda familiar to you?
- Lisa Penny, Head of Stakeholder relations from Bounty
- Vanessa Tilley, Marketing manager for healthcare and pharmacy at Tesco
- Lucy Butler, Editor from the Tesco baby and toddler club
- Debbie Bird, Editor at Babyworld
- Katya Crichton, Art Director from creative agency Euro RSCG
Once the top 10 have been agreed by our panel of experts, the final decision is in your hands! The photos will be posted on the Bounty website on the 16th May 2012, for people to vote for their favourite cheeky smiles.
Make sure you share the link with as many people as possible on your social network pages to get as many votes as you can. Don’t forget to encourage your family and friends to nominate your photo too!
The new face of Bonjela Teething Gel will be announced on the June 20th 2012 with advertising to launch in 2012.
Lisa English of the Britain’s Greatest Campaign, said: “We’re really excited to launch this competition to find Britain’s Greatest Baby Smile. We expect there to be a lot of competition and look forward to finding the winner for our new advertising campaign.”
Full terms and conditions are available on http://www.bounty.com/babysmile
Visit for more information


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Sarwa is a Dubai-based fintech company, and its founders are Nadine Mezher, Jad Sayegh, and Mark Chahwan. Sarwa is a personal finance and investment platform. Sarwa raised $15 million in a Series B financing round led by Mubadala Investment Co, the sovereign investor of Abu Dhabi. The mobile platform Sarwa will use the funding it received from Mubadala to expand its team and also launch new digital products.
In just three years, Sarwa has carved a name for itself by nearly doubling its client funds and expanding its product base to include a wider range of securities and asset classes.
The other investors include around 500 Startups, Shorooq Partners, Kuwait Projects Company, Middle East Venture Partners, Hambro Perks Oryx Fund, DIFC, Vision Ventures, and HALA Ventures. The representatives of Mubadala Investment Co. and the 500 Startups will join the board of directors of Sarwa.
Sarwa is a partner of Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 community regulated by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Sarwa will use the new capital it gained to push new boundaries to expand its market position further.
Sarwa will concentrate on growing its team further and will also launch several new digital products. With the help of its mobile app, Sarwa aims to deliver varied personal finance products, such as Sarwa Crypto and Sarwa Trade.
The Head of Ventures and Growth at Mubadala Investment Co, Mr. Ibrahim Ajami, said that the quality of the founders is of paramount importance, and the management team of Sarwa has the vision and passion to lead the company into its next chapter of growth.
Mubadala is a global investment company. It is a sovereign investor, owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi. In alignment with the vision of HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Mubadala manages a global and diverse portfolio of assets and investments in the United Arab Emirates and abroad. Mubadala’s business is nearly $243 billion (AED 894 billion), and it spans six continents with interests across multiple sectors and asset classes. Mubadala’s business is to generate sustainable financial returns for its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi.


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Global Manufacturing – The China ChallengeBy : Jim Pinto,
San Diego, CA.
In today’s global environment whoever manufactures products better, cheaper and faster, wins. Every country in the world is competing. In consumer products, China is grabbing a lot of the prizes. And they’re moving strongly into high-tech. Will some of the automation majors become Chinese also?
Automation.com, January 2005
In today’s global environment whoever manufactures products better, cheaper and faster, wins. Every country in the world is competing. In consumer products, China is grabbing a lot of the prizes. And they're moving strongly into high-tech. IBM's PC business is now Chinese. Will some of the automation majors become Chinese also?
Global horizonsThere is something very basic about manufacturing – value is added by taking raw materials and labor, and producing products that can be sold in high quantities, with quality, to generate good return on the investment.
In the past decade, manufacturing technology has expanded rapidly on a global scale. Many countries have mastered the methods, the quality processes, the execution systems and software. In this new century, the global spread of manufacturing knowledge is having far-reaching consequences. We are seeing fundamental changes in international business structures and deployment of global capital.
The manufacturing sector remains significant in leading economies worldwide, but faces major issues such as cost competitiveness, product innovation and how to compete in an increasingly global market. One of the very first questions is: Where in the world should the manufacturing plant be located?
Of course, innovative design and product development are important to generate competitive advantage. But design and development can be done in locations that are not necessarily tied to the production plant. Intel, for example, builds semiconductor fabrication plants in many different worldwide locations. Likewise, many automation companies build products wherever it suits their business needs.
Choice of plant locationLabor skills and availability are important, but automation (available globally) reduces dependency on those factors. This brings the choice down to proximity to material sources, and/or proximity to markets, plus lowest cost with the best quality.
During the past decade or so, it seems clear that manufacturing is tending to migrate away from the U.S. for a variety of factors, not the least being that manufacturing appears to have a negative image. PLC inventor, technology guru and author Dick Morley suggests that the idea that manufacturing is somehow bad has caused jobs to be driven out. He suggests that no community in North America really wants a new assembly plant, a printed board facility or a semiconductor enterprise. In television dramas the villain is the businessman, and the hero is the scrubby squatter who fights to prevent progress.
In the U.S. today, big factories are despised and penalized with high taxes, strict zoning regulations and infinite bureaucracy. NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) attitudes are driving manufacturing offshore. On the other hand, Ireland, China, Korea, Hong Kong and many other countries seem to be inviting industry with open arms and deferred taxes. And manufacturing people are often honored as heroes.
US manufacturing statisticsManufacturing's share of the US economy, as measured by real GDP, has been stable since the 1940s. During this entire time, the ratio of manufacturing output to GDP has ranged from 16 to 19%. As of 2002, it was 16%.
During this same 50-year time span, with alternating booms and recessions, the number of manufacturing employees has remained fairly constant, oscillating at around 16.5 million. In the recent downturn, manufacturing employment fell to about 14.2 million.
Manufacturing has sustained its share of a growing economy with the same number of workers, mainly due to automation, which caused faster productivity growth. As the economy has grown, manufacturing's share of non-farm employment has decreased from 32% in 1947 to 11.5 % in 2002.
Automation and outsourcing are modern facts of life. So the well-intended but job-inhibiting laws that enforce things such as workers' comp, higher benefits and "living wages" simply are disincentives for employers to create jobs.
Traditional manufacturing payroll jobs simply won't be coming back. Many U.S. manufacturers, including major automation manufacturers – like GE, Emerson, Honeywell, and Rockwell – are moving production plants to other global locations like China. And this is not simply because of cheaper labor.
China ManufacturingLet's look at some facts about manufacturing in China today.
There has been fierce competition in the past, but the new Chinese competition is dramatically different; they are about half the price. This has been a big factor in the loss of about 2.7 million manufacturing jobs since 2000.
Meanwhile, America's trade deficit with China keeps soaring to new records. It's likely to be more than $150 billion in 2004, and about 12% of that through the world's biggest retailer: Wal-Mart. All the other large retailers (Target, Home Dept, Sears, K-Mart) are following suit.
A new book, "The Chinese Century" has a clear message: If you still make anything labor intensive, get out now rather than bleed to death. Shaving 5% here and there won't work. You need an entirely new business model to compete.
America has survived import waves before, and it has lived with China for decades. But now something very different is happening. The assumption has always been that the U.S. and other industrialized nations will keep leading in knowledge-intensive industries while developing nations focus on lower skills and lower labor costs. That's now changed. What is stunning about China is that, for the first time, a huge country competes both with very low wages and high tech. Combine the two, and America has a problem.
How much of a problem? On one side, the benefits of the relationship with China are enormous. After years of struggling to crack the Chinese market, US multinationals like General Motors, Procter & Gamble and Motorola are finally reaping rich profits. They're making cell phones, shampoo, autos, and PCs in China and selling them to the Chinese middle class – about 100 million people, a group that should more than double in size by 2010.
Also, by outsourcing components and hardware from China, US companies have sharply boosted profits and return on capital. China's surging demand for raw materials and commodities has driven prices up worldwide, creating a windfall for US steelmakers, miners, and lumber companies. The cheap cost of Chinese goods has kept inflation low in the US and fueled a consumer boom that helped America weather a recession.
The cost of the China syndromeBut there's a huge cost to the China relationship. First there is the huge US trade deficit; China is the largest and fastest-growing part. While US consumers binge on Chinese-made goods, the US deficit is a record 6% of GDP. The trade shortfall – coupled with the US budget deficit – is driving the dollar ever downward, raising fears that cracks will appear in the global financial system. By keeping its currency pegged to the $ at an undervalued level, China amplifies the problem.
In the meantime, America's industrial base has eroded to a dangerous level, not only in the old segments, but in more advanced tech-industries. China is adding state-of-the-art capacity in cars, specialty steel, petrochemicals, and microchips. These plants are aimed at meeting seemingly insatiable demand in China. But if China's growth stalls, the resulting glut will turn into another export wave and disrupt American industry.
Meanwhile, U.S. companies are no longer investing in much new capacity and the ranks of U.S. engineers are thinning. By contrast, the number of Chinese engineers is growing by 350,000 annually, young workers and managers willing to put in 12-hour days and work weekends, an unparalleled component and material base in electronics and light industry, and an entrepreneurial zeal to do whatever it takes to please big retailers such as Wal-Mart.
And Chinese producers are hardly standing still. In a recent survey of Chinese and U.S. manufacturers by Industry Week, 54% of Chinese companies cited innovation as one of their top objectives, while only 26% of U.S. respondents did. Chinese companies spend more on worker training and enterprise-management software. And 91% of U.S. plants are more than a decade old, vs. 54% in China.
More innovation. Better goods. Lower prices. Newer plants. America will surely continue to benefit from China's expansion. But unless it can deal with the new industrial realities, it will suffer a loss of economic power and influence. Can the U.S. meet the China challenge?
China buys IBM PC Business – Automation next?As a postscript to this review of the impact of China on the manufacturing scenario, consider this latest development (late 2004). That venerable standard "The IBM PC" is now Chinese.
In a deal that announced China's ambitions to become a key global player, Chinese manufacturer Lenovo is taking over IBM's PC business, including R&D and manufacturing. This creates the world's third-largest PC manufacturer (after Dell and HP), and changes the structure of global PC manufacturing. The deal, one of the biggest acquisitions ever by a Chinese company, is expected to quadruple sales of Lenovo, already Asia's biggest computer manufacturer.
There's a lot of pent-up money in China from its exports to the US and the rest of the world. Until now, US capital has been going in the opposite direction, pumped into China's booming economy. Despite a huge trade surplus, China has not yet put much direct investment into the U.S. It must start doing so soon.
Right now the Beijing government has tight control over conversion of the Yuan currency, which is pegged to the US $. At present, the Chinese government holds about 10% of outstanding U.S. Treasury securities, second only to Japan. Most people feel that the Yuan is undervalued by about 30% and a revaluation will devalue China's U.S. debt by a third. Unless it simply accepts a devaluation of this huge debt, China will surely be using this cash to do a lot more deals in the U.S.
Who knows – maybe even some of the major automation companies will soon be Chinese...
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Welcome to Tuesday!
China's Huawei 2017 revenue ascends backed by smartphone sales and cost controls
On Friday, the world's number three smartphone producer, China's Huawei Technologies reported a 28% jump in the previous year’s net revenue, powered by cost controls as well as a sturdy performance in its home market.
The outlook for the high-tech Chinese company, actually trailing Samsung Electronics along with Apple Inc in mobile devices, is clouded by fierce competition in the domestic market, not to mention diving sales in America because Washington’s considering higher import duties on China's tech stuff.
Shenzhen-based Huawei boasted net revenue surge to about 47.5 billion Yuan the previous year, steeply up from a 0.4% leap in 2016. Apparently, the surge turned to be partly the outcome of a 85% sag in net financing expenses because the Chinese company had smaller foreign exchange losses booked.
Profit inched up 15.7% hitting 603.6 billion Yuan, which is in line with Huawei’s previous guidance as well as its slowest surge for four years.
The Chinese company vowed to concentrate on improving revenue having posted the slowest revenue surge for five years in 2016 because its slim-margin smartphone business suppressed revenue surge.
The company’s consumer business, including smartphone operations, tacked on at a slower 31.9% ending up with 237.2 billion Yuan having shipped up to 153 million smartphones in 2017. The given segment had managed to inch up 43.6% in 2016.
The carrier business, which accounts for almost half of the group's total profit, ascended at a slower tempo of 2.5%, versus 2016's 23.6% expansion because telecom operators are about to present next-generation 5G wireless networks in the nearer future.
Market share revenues in the European Union have helped Huawei to compensate the company's exclusion from America, which appears to be the world's most profitable market for smartphone makers.
In July, Britain's inflation rate rallied for the first time in 2018, thus leaving many UK households feeling quite squeezed by prices, soaring at nearly the same tempo as their wages…
On Friday, the evergreen buck rallied versus its counterparts after data disclosed that the American economy generated more jobs than anticipated In October, thus backing the Fed’s case to proceed with gradual rate lifts…
On Tuesday, gold rallied because uncertainty over the latest developments in Britain’s departure from the EU backed safe haven demand and traders looked ahead for American inflation data to underpin the Fed’s pledge to remain on hold…


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Of course, Zynga suggests players pick up where they left off using FarmVille Express, the HTML5-powered companion app to the Facebook game that lets players manage their farms. This is far from the first Zynga game to close, but it appears to be the first mobile game for the developer to pull the plug on. For it to be tied to the game maker's flagship franchise only makes it sting that much more.
As for the "why", it's likely a matter of return on investment. FarmVille on iOS probably didn't have enough regular players--to Zynga standards, at least--to warrant pumping development resources into for updates and general upkeep. It's a shame, really, considering this was one of the few Facebook games gone mobile that actually brought in player's progress from Facebook. Perhaps that's not what the average player is looking for? We've reached out to Zynga for comment.
Are you bummed to see FarmVille on iOS go the way of the dodo in lieu of FarmVille Express? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.


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Seeking to promote tourism, the government has extended e-visa facility for citizens of 165 countries at 25 airports and five seaports, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Tourism Minister K J Alphons also said the government has launched the 'Incredible India 2.0' campaign, marking a shift from generic promotions to market-specific promotional plans.
A 24X7 toll free multi-lingual tourist helpline has also been put in place as part of the efforts.
To promote tourism in India, events such as 'paryatan parv' (tourism festival), International Buddhist Conclave and International Tourism Mart too have been organised.
He said while development and promotion of tourism is primarily the responsibility of state government, the Union Tourism Ministry provides central financial assistance to states and UTs to organise fairs, festivals and tourism-related events for the promotion of tourism.


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Archives for Rhino-Grasshopper-ArchiCAD Connector
To some, the ultimate architectural design workflow on Mac has just been created. GRAPHISOFT’s efforts put together three leading AEC industry tools working together on the Mac platform.
By partnering with the most dominant algorithmic design software company and creating a meta-data infrastructure with a flexible graphical super-system—to help visibly put that data to work—the Hungarian BIM software maker is positioning itself for the future.
Graphisoft, the leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) software maker for architects and designers has announced the winners of its Grasshopper-ArchiCAD Workflow Competition.
Graphisoft has introduced a public beta version of its Rhino-Grasshopper-ArchiCAD connection, an industry first bi-directional and real-time connection between all three programs.


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- Instacart is adding 15-minute services to its app, starting with Publix in Atlanta and Miami.
- The company is using nano-warehouses to fulfill rapid grocery deliveries.
- The expansion into ultrafast delivery comes as the industry has seen players shutdown operations.
Instacart is entering the 15-minute grocery delivery wars as casualties emerge and acquisition deals fall apart in the volatile space.
The e-commerce grocery giant announced Wednesday a rapid delivery program using nano-fulfillment centers powered by automation. Florida retailer Publix will be the first Instacart retailer to offer 15-minute delivery through the Instacart app. Customers will also be able to order through Publix's digital channels.
The ultrafast service will be available in Miami and Atlanta in the coming months. Instacart did not disclose what consumers will pay for the fast service.
The 15-minute delivery platform, dubbed Carrot Warehouses, involves building new micro-warehouses, devising floor plans, and establishing automated solutions to help retailers meet demand for fast delivery, Instacart said.
The move by Instacart to enter the ultrafast space comes as a handful of players have ceased operations in recent months, including Fridge No More and Buyk. Both US-based startups ran into liquidity issues due to restrictions on Russian money, forcing them to shutter this month. 1520, which promoted 15 to 20-minute deliveries in New York, folded in December.
Daniel Danker, vice president of product, said Instacart's playbook is not the same as the ultrafast players who bypass retailers by sourcing their own goods.
"Our strategy is very different from new quick-service players - we're focused on empowering grocery retailers, never competing with them," Danker told Insider. "With Carrot Warehouses, we're introducing an entirely new model, one that we believe will be more successful because grocers have strong relationships and established trust with their customers."
Instacart said its ultrafast model would be tailored for each retail partners. "Some partners will want stand-alone facilities that we operate and manage, and others may look to co-locate the Carrot Warehouse within their existing brick-and-mortar location," Instacart said in a statement.
More retailers are lined up to take advantage of the expanded rapid delivery service.
However, Instacart declined to name merchants and the number dark warehouses they plan to roll out this year.
"No specific numbers to share, but this is an area of interest for many retailers as they look to nano-fulfillment centers to complement their brick-and-mortar stores," the company told Insider.
Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, analysts had noted the unsustainable business practices of the nascent segment. Many of the players have been burning through investor funds to acquire customers with advertising and promotional discounts.
Robert Mollins, a Gordon Haskett analyst, said the Russian funding issues that doomed Buyk and Fridge No More only accelerated the inevitable burst among players that include Jokr, Getir, and Gorillas.
"It was bound to happen," Mollins told Insider in a previous interview. "The amount of money that these companies had to spend to attract customers, and the payback that was required, was incredibly high."
Ultrafast delivery is part of a suite of Instacart Platform tech solutions the company announced Thursday. Besides 15-minute delivery, Instacart also rolled out new advertising and data tools for retailers to use to increase revenue and optimize inventory, respectively. The data insights platform, for example, is intended to give retailers a better handle on out of stock items – a pain point for app users who are often frustrated and confused by strange replacements made by Instacart shoppers.
The company said the various tech solutions under the Instacart Platform, which include the company's bread-and-butter e-commerce marketplace, gives retailers the technologies needed to improve both in-store and online operations. Instacart did not provide a cost for each tech solution, only stating that retailers can choose to use the Platform technologies a-la-carte.
"The grocery industry is undergoing a digital transformation where customers expect a seamless experience across many channels, but behind the scenes it's taking an incredible amount of work and investment for retailers to deliver these new services," Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart, said in a statement. "We're looking to change that with Instacart Platform. We started as the e-commerce and fulfillment partner of choice for grocers, and we've been building on that foundation to broaden and deepen our capabilities, in order to help retailers innovate faster than ever on their own properties."


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A new battery may be on the horizon that is so much better than Testla’s that it will put the company out of business. From Tyler Durden at zerohedge.com:
We all know the story behind Fisker, it was one of the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 2008, and even had a legal spat between Tesla, but shortly after in 2012 the company crashed and burned in bankruptcy. Last year, Henrik Fisker decided to relaunch his brand. He thought that one failure wasn’t enough—-just like Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets. During Fisker’s relaunch, he made a shocking comment that caught the attention of Musk and it was on the claims of a new breakthrough in battery technology using graphene-based hybrid material that would revolutionize battery storage and make Musk’s batteries appear obsolete.
Thirteen months passed, and Musk wrote off Fisker’s claims, as Musk decided to focus on other things like his Boring company. That might of been Musk’s fatal flaw, because Fisker just came out and dropped a bombshell on the electric vehicle (EV) industry: ‘New Fisker Batteries 2.5x Density, 500 Miles Per Charge & Charging in 1 Minute’..
Musk will shortly developed uncontrollable convulsions with the understanding his Gigafactory producing thin-film lithium batteries could be obsolete.
Autoblog reports the new breakthrough, calling it a solid-state battery revolution:
It seems that we’re on the cusp of a solid-state battery revolution. The latest company to announce progress in developing the new type of battery is Fisker. It has filed patents for solid-state batteries and it expects the batteries to be produced on a mass scale around 2023.
In the game of electric vehicles it’s all about batteries. Musk’s technology would be considered legacy when compared to solid-state. Here is why:
- Greater energy density
- Rapid charging times
Fisker claims the batteries underdevelopment have a density of 2.5x when compared to the standard EV batteries. This should give the range of a Fisker vehicle well over a 500-mile and recharging capabilities in as little as a minute.
Here’s what Dr. Fabio Albano, VP of battery systems at Fisker Inc. claims:
This breakthrough marks the beginning of a new era in solid-state materials and manufacturing technologies.
We are addressing all of the hurdles that solid-state batteries have encountered on the path to commercialization, such as performance in cold temperatures; the use of low cost and scalable manufacturing methods; and the ability to form bulk solid-state electrodes with significant thickness and high active material loadings. We are excited to build on this foundation and move the needle in energy storage.
To continue reading: Is This The Tesla Killer?


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Bloggers who offer endorsements must disclose any payments they have received from the subjects of their reviews or face penalties of up to $11,000 per violation, the Federal Trade Commission said Monday.
The agency, charged with protecting consumer interests, had not updated its policy on endorsements in nearly three decades, well before the Internet became a force in shaping consumer tastes. The new rules attempt to make more transparent corporate payments to bloggers, research firms and celebrities that help promote a product.
"Given that social media has become such a significant player in the advertising area, we thought it was necessary to address social media as well," said Richard Cleland, assistant director for the division of advertising practices at the FTC.
Consumer interest groups have long complained about the lack of disclosure. They say consumers often have no way of telling what corporate payments have been made to bloggers writing on parenting, fitness, dieting and financial services sites, for example.


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Pokémon GO continues the trend of infuriating its fanbase by increasing the price of Remote Raid passes. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the free-to-play game is also limiting the amount of Remote Raids players can take part in daily, causing even more frustration.
Niantic claims that the Remote Raids weren’t supposed to be this prominent in GO, which is why the price hike was mandated. Fans will now have to pay 195 PokéCoins for one Remote Raid Pass, which used to cost100 PokéCoins. The three-pack Remote Raid Pass will now cost 525 PokéCoins when it used to be 300.
“We plan to keep Remote Raid Passes as part of Pokémon Go,” the developer said in a blog post. “However, we believe this change is necessary for the long-term health of the game, and we do not make it lightly. We feel this is a necessary step toward our goal of preserving and improving the unique experience of playing Pokémon Go—a game we hope you continue to enjoy long into the future.”
Despite what Niantic claims, many are saying that this is a completely unnecessary move since they already have to use real money to get PokéCoins. Though some Remote Raid Passes will be given as a reward for Research Breakthroughs, this is still seen as an incredibly negative move altogether.
Fans have been turning on Pokémon GO ever for a while now, with many hating the bigger emphasis on paid events and microtransactions. It went from a fun mobile game to a pay-to-win affair, or should we say pay-to-catch, that many gamers hate. At one point, numerous fans stormed an in-person event that was only supposed to have paid ticket buyers.
Even with all of these complaints, it doesn’t look like anything major will change unless a major drop in their finances happen. Considering how the game brings in millions of dollars yearly, that won’t be happening anytime soon.
Read More: Pokémon Bank is now free forever, but there's a massive catch
Pokémon GO is available now on iOS and Android.


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With the coronavirus pandemic and its lingering effects, companies have now experienced how challenging it can be to plan and maneuver their supply chains around uniquely disruptive, once-in-a-lifetime events. But the unfortunate truth is that less severe events overwhelm or undermine supply planning all the time. Legacy tools are no longer up to the task of getting supply where it is needed most.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on global risk-management strategies. Many companies learned in 2020 that their supply chains weren’t prepared for a disruption of such massive scale. Now, they’re determined not to get caught short again.


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Last updated on July 2nd, 2019 at 09:58 am
Port Washington-based Hyler Communication’s has launched its online Consumer Product Showcase, an online website dedicated to featuring a wide variety of product brands and website information. Hyler Communications founded the online service to match quality consumer product manufacturers with leading media and consumers who wish to purchase products.
“I originally planned this showcase as a live event showcase,” said Lora Hyler, owner of Hyler Communications. “I’ve attended consumer product showcases on the east and west coast and decided early on that the Midwest would benefit from an event like that. However, I’m glad I decided to go the route of the online show case because it opened up showcase opportunities to out of state companies as well as firms with smaller marketing budgets.”
Right now the site features only six consumer products, the majority from the Wisconsin area, but Hyler is in discussion with multiple out of state firms as well as local firms and plans to update the show case regularly.
Chameleon Brewery, and its new line of beers is one of the product showcases already on the site, Hyler said. Hyler is also working closely with New York product show case event organizers and national media outlets to grow the popularity of the showcase.
Product listings include full contact information for each company, including phone email and website URL, Hyler said.
“With the combination of the showcased products and the people I am working with on getting publicity, I’m really excited for the potential growth the show case could have. It’s a great way for local entrepreneurs and inventors to showcase their products for consumers and media across the country,” she said.


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Hall China Co. Anticipates Recalling Laid Off Employees
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — Some employees laid off from The Hall China Co. could be called back to work as soon as next week, according to one company official, who said the COVID-19 pandemic has left the company in “uncharted waters.”
Ralph Smith, who serves as human resources officer for both the East Liverpool pottery at 1 Anna St. and the former Homer Laughlin China Co. in Newell, W.Va., said in a phone conversation Wednesday, “We’re looking to call people back. We’re reviewing bringing back folks. Hopefully in a week, we can bring back some. It’s uncharted waters.”
Smith had sent a Worker Adjustment And Retraining Notification (WARN) Act letter April 30 to both East Liverpool Mayor Greg Bricker and the Columbiana County Department of Jobs and Family Services, notifying them of the pending mass layoff at Hall China.
The WARN Act of 1988 requires such notification by employers with 100 or more employees, providing 60 calendar days advance notice of plant closings or mass layoffs. With 100 employees at Hall, the anticipated layoff of about 40 workers between April 30 and May 30 meant the WARN letter was necessary.
In his letter, Smith advised the company was unable to give the full 60-day notice required for “a couple of crucial reasons,” writing, “our business was struggling to survive.”
He said various companies were interested in purchasing the business but backed away, then the ultimate buyer of a portion of the business, Steelite International, did not want the sale disclosed, fearing the loss of business and the inability to secure badly needed capital.
The buyer also did not want the company to announce any closure for fear of a major loss of business and indecision over the number of employees it would retain, Smith wrote.
Before a total number of layoffs could be decided, the coronavirus epidemic hit, Smith wrote, and the company was closed down.
“Now that there is a better understanding, we are sending out this notice as the amount of layoffs will meet or exceed one-third of the workforce,” he concluded.
Hall China was started by Robert Hall in 1903 and was purchased by Homer Laughlin more than 10 years ago. It had been making many of the Newell company’s larger Fiesta items, according to Smith.
Homer Laughlin sold its food service division as well as its name and The Hall China Co. to Steelite International March 24, with the company no longer making or marketing products for food service customers.
As part of the sale, Homer Laughlin changed its name to The Fiesta Tableware Co., and the popular Fiestaware line was not part of the sale but will continue to be manufactured locally for both retail and commercial customers.
Smith said Wednesday Hall China planned to purchase ware from The Fiesta Tableware Company prior to the plant being closed by the coronavirus pandemic. Although manufacturing has been allowed to reopen in West Virginia, it is still closed down in Pennsylvania where Steelite International is located, meaning no orders can be received, so none of the laid off employees could yet be recalled.Pictured: The Hall China Co. visitor entrance. Image: Dustin M. Ramsey / Attribution
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.


text: Apple announced a new service called Apple Pay yesterday and it works to replace traditional credit cards by using your iPhones (iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with NFC inside) instead. For security and authentication Apple Pay can also rely on the Touch IDs on these iPhones. But Apple Pay is also available on the Apple Watch and users with older iPhones (iPhone 5 onwards) can pair their Apple Watch with their phones to take advantage of Apple Pay. But while the iPhone has Touch ID what about the Apple Watch, there is to Touch ID on Apple Watch. Multiple sources in the media (via MacRumors) have confirmed that Apple Watch will use the sensors on its back that are in contact with the skin of the users for authentication, similar to Touch ID. That makes more sense. Of course you can also enter a PIN instead from the Apple Watch (similar to how iPhones require your passcode after being powered down). Whatever it is Apple is the only company out there that cares about security and privacy of the user data, the most and from Day 1 their model has been privacy and security first, rest... next. But even Apple can't do miracles and this is not magic and hence is crackable so eventually your security and privacy is in your hands and your safe practices!


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4/3/2013 10:16:30 AM
No Verizon takeover of Vodafone...for now
Verizon has denied it is set to bid for Vodafone, as rumours the biggest takeover in history was imminent.
Vodafone shares had hit a 10 year high after weeks of speculation about it being taken over by its US rival. Recent reports suggested Verizon would team up with fellow American operator AT&T to mount a break-up bid. Verizon has been keen in buying out Vodafone's lucrative 45% share in Verizon Wireless but a full takeover would have been worth £161bn, far outpacing AOL's £120bn of Time Warner in 2000.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Verizon said while it remained interested in buying out Verizon Wireless, it said it did not 'currently have any intention to merge with or make an offer for Vodafone, whether alone or in conjunction with others'. This means it will be at least six months before it can table a bid, unless Vodafone's board recommends it or a rival steps into the fray.
However, reports have suggested talks will continue about the future of Verizon Wireless' ownership. Whether Vodafone would be prepared to sell its share remains to be seen. Its stake in the business has been seen as a successful hedge against the continuing difficulties it faces in the southern European markets.
Author: Graeme Neill