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ASX Stock Pioneering Wearables Tech for Child Safety
Jan 24, 2020
MGM Wireless' (ASX:MWR) SPACETALK, the most secure smartwatch for children on the market today. Impressively, the same designers who brought the world the Apple Watch were advisors to SPACETALK.
HeraMed to Spring-Board German Pre Natal Market Entry by Partnering with Telehealth Provider Kinderheldin
Nov 21, 2019
HeraMED (ASX:HMD) has signed an agreement with Kinderheldin to add online midwifery service to be offered as HeraBEAT PLUS in Germany.
YPB to Generate First Revenues for its Breakthrough Anti-Counterfeit Technology
Sep 16, 2019
In a major step forward, YPB Group (ASX:YPB) has signed a supply agreement to sell its Motif Micro 1 (MM1) smartphone authentication technology to China’s leading security label supplier PanPass Inc.This comes just days after it made a major technical breakthrough in the development of its Motif Micro technology.
YPB Secures Vital Pharma Contract: Expects Circa $1M in Revenue
Sep 10, 2019
YPB Group Limited (ASX:YPB) has reinforced its relationship with leading Indonesian pharmaceutical and wellness company PT Combiphar, by signing a new three-year Master Services Agreement (MSA) that delivers the ASX listed technology company life of contract revenues of circa $1 million.
CLI’s Strategic Move into Hemp CBD is Paying Off
Aug 21, 2019
Making waves in the ASX pot stock space is award-winning global agronomy, farm management and agtech company, CropLogic Limited (ASX:CLI) — it's been on a run, making higher-highs and higher-lows since February and rewarding shareholders with a more than 550% gain all up.
#VEGAN: ROO Launches into $27B Plant Based Meat Market
Aug 19, 2019
Roots Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Limited (ASX: ROO) has just begun a planting program to examine the effects of its RZTO and IBC technologies on several protein-laden crops, including peas and beans, to increase the content of leghemoglobin – also known as “heme” — a form of haemoglobin in plants and the key ingredient in what makes plant-based meats so tasty.
YPB Accelerate Up Take of Anti-Counterfeit Tech: Monthly Growth Rate Up 400%
Jul 29, 2019
It took two years for YPB to get to 75 million ProtectCodes™ sold. It has taken just two months to increase that to 100 million.
YPB Continues Push into Multi-Billion Dollar Cannabis Industry
Jul 24, 2019
YPB Group (ASX:YPB) has signed its first client in the cannabis consumables space, establishing a foothold in a high volume, fast growing industry where companies are increasingly alert to counterfeit products.
$26 Trillion Market and Counting: Simble Solutions Expands its Energy Solutions into UK
Jul 3, 2019
Simble Solutions (ASX:SIS), an Australian software company focused on energy management and Internet of Things solutions, has made substantial inroads in terms of providing integrated hardware and real-time software solutions for the energy sector in Australia and the UK.
AVC Invests in the Multi-Billion Dollar Energy Revolution
Jun 27, 2019
Auctus Alternative Investments Limited (ASX:AVC) is raising a US$25 million energy infrastructure Fund to invest into the booming North American battery storage industry.
The Future is Now: Flamingo Delivering AI solutions in $2.9T Market
Jun 12, 2019
Ai will generate $2.9 trillion in business value and recover 6.2 billion hours of worker productivity just two years from now and Flamingo Ai (ASX:FGO) is at the forefront of this movement.
Can EN1 Become the Google AdWords for Influencer Marketing?
Apr 17, 2019
Influencer marketing is growing so rapidly that it could be worth $10 billion by as soon as next year and engage:BDR (ASX:EN1) is looking to dominate the space.
The ASX Company Changing the Game in Real-Time Healthcare Analytics
Mar 19, 2019
The company I’m looking at today comes with significant potential and is leading the way in informatics, a particularly lucrative area of healthcare that is seeing a rapid shift to digital patient data driven by the need for real-time healthcare analytics.
Could IVO Attract Tencent Attention by Providing Loyalty to WeChat Users?
Sep 20, 2018
Invigor Group (ASX:IVO) has signed a MoU with China’s Winning Group, a highly valued and very select partner of the multi-billion dollar capped tech giant Tencent.


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TWIN FALLS • Chobani has invested nearly $750 million into its Twin Falls plant, but the company isn’t stopping there, CEO Hamdi Ulukaya said.
At a celebration Thursday, Ulukaya welcomed the governor, state dignitaries, city and company officials and economic development partners to commemorate the factory’s latest project — a nearly $100 million expansion already under construction.
Just three years after opening the world’s largest yogurt factory in Twin Falls, the company is adding new production lines and building an office headquarters for its global research and development team.
For Ulukaya, investing in Twin Falls and Idaho was the right decision.
“I thought I made the right choice the minute I arrived here,” he said.
The addition and new production lines are expected to be complete and operational later this year. The new offices will be ready by the middle of next year.
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter commended the company’s founder on his confidence in the state, which he said has resulted in other companies making the same choice to come here.
“You’ve been a tremendous source of pride for me,” Otter said. “… Every day is a great day when you invest $100 million in Idaho.”
To commemorate the event, representatives from various groups were invited to sign their names on a beam to be placed inside the new addition.
The original factory opened in 2013 with just a few hundred workers. Recently, the company announced it would hire an additional 100 employees in the first half of this year, pushing its total local employment to more than 1,000 workers.
“We needed the jobs even separate from this expansion,” company spokesman Michael Gonda said. “We needed jobs to produce more food.”
Twin Falls has been the birthplace of several new Chobani products already, Otter said. These include Chobani’s popular Flips line and its Meze Dips and yogurt drinks launching this summer. Other products now being formulated will also be produced at the Twin Falls factory, the company said.
“This is just a celebration of the first phase,” Ulukaya said. “I’m so happy. I’m so honored.”
Chobani’s three building permits recently filed with the city call for 72,677 square feet of expansion.
“The growth of Chobani here has been the gift that keeps on giving,” Mayor Shawn Barigar told reporters, referencing other businesses that have relocated to the Magic Valley in the wake of Chobani’s success.
That includes Fabri-Kal, Otter noted, which opened in Burley last year. The company supplies millions of the yogurt producer’s single-serve cups.
And it’s not just the corporations that are benefiting. Chobani and other new companies are helping to drive up regional wages and benefits packages as they compete for employers.
As more locals find better and higher-paying jobs, some economic analysts are beginning to worry the area’s labor pool is too shallow. Economic development organizations are diversifying their strategies with college and high school programming, and even reaching out to tourism organizations for external marketing, Barigar said.
Those efforts, in turn, are helping Chobani fill jobs almost as fast as they create them.
“We have been privileged over the past few years to have an incredible network of support in this community,” Gonda said.
Ulukaya considers himself and his company representatives to be among Idaho’s biggest cheerleaders. He tells his business colleagues: “Invest in Idaho — you’ll never be sorry.”

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February 11, 2014 |
JOHANNESBURG: Mahindra South Africa has had its best annual sales in a decade of operating in the country during 2013, bolstered primarily due to some government tenders. The company sold 4,056 units of the range it offers in South Africa, maintaining a consistent upwards sales trend with a four per cent increase on the previous year. "We are very happy with our performance in a very competitive market," said the CEO of Mahindra SA, Ashok Thakur. We now have 12 product lines in our local range of Mahindra and SsangYong vehicles and I am pleased to report that sales volumes were up in all but two of the model ranges," he added.
February 5, 2014 |
GREATER NOIDA: Mahindra & Mahindra will come up with three completely new vehicle platforms , including one for a compact sports utility vehicle , between 2015 and 2017 as part of its programme to strengthen products range. The company, which is showcasing a hybrid version of its SUV XUV5OO , said the vehicle will be ready for commercial launch in one year. "We have been traditionally strong in the big SUV and utility vehicles segment. An area we are not strong is the compact SUV segment, which has seen rapid growth in the past 18 months.
January 23, 2014 |
Barely three years after emerging out of the Bankruptcy Court by ceding control to Mahindra & Mahindra, Ssangyong Motor Company, South Korea's fourth-largest car maker, is close to achieving the first full year of profits. The company posted its best ever sales in 2013 and is now aiming to double its volumes to 3,00,000 units by 2016. Having achieved strong operational health, Ssangyong is embarking on a $1 billion investment, which it will meet through its internal accruals. ?
January 17, 2014 |
MUMBAI: India's largest utility vehicle maker, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is working on a compact sports utility vehicle to take on the Ford EcoSport. ET learns, the project is codenamed S102 and will be one of the first products to come out of Mahindra-Ssangyong's joint platform project. The S102 is based on Ssangyong's X100, and will be globally launched in the first half of 2015. The Mahindra's offspring is likely to make its way into the market by end of 2015 or beginning 2016.
January 3, 2014 |
MUMBAI: Led by the strong demand to its newly launched products, Ssangyong Motor Company , South Korean sports utility vehicle maker owned by Mahindra & Mahindra posted its best ever sales since 2002, growing 20% in volumes with sales of 1,45,649 units for 2013 . The domestic sales grew 34.1% to 63,970 units, highest since 2005, and the exports posted a growth of over 11% to 81,649 units. The exports for the company exceeded 80,000 units for the first time led by strong demand for Korando C in Russia and China.
October 19, 2013 |
JOHANNESBURG: Mahindra South Africa (MSA) has said it has positioned itself to continue as a fast growing automotive brand in the country with the launch of two new models in the first quarter of 2014. "Since the last show here two years ago, Mahindra has grown by about 150 per cent," MSA chief executive Ashok Thakur said at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show as the vehicles went on display for the visitors, who are expected to number 2,50,000 over the 10-day event.
October 17, 2013 |
In August 2013, when Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) reported its financial results for the April-June quarter, there was some good news from South Korea. Ssangyong, which M&M had acquired for Rs 2,100 crore in 2011, had turned in a net profit of 6.2 billion won (Rs 36 crore). This was Ssangyong's first profit in six years (excluding extra-ordinary items). A few months ago, Bajaj Auto received a Rs 27 crore dividend cheque from Austrian bike maker KTM, in which it has invested Rs 1,200 crore.
September 3, 2013 |
In an interview with ET NOW, Mahantesh Sabarad, Sr. Vice President - Equity Research, Fortune Equity Brokers, talks about various stocks. Excerpts: ET Now: What seems to help Bajaj were the export numbers which did not work out for Hero. Your comments .... Mahantesh Sabarad: Most of these companies reported lower-than-expected sales, but Bajaj Auto was a surprise because that was the only company reporting better-than-expected numbers. Our estimate was 302,000 units; they reported 312,000.
June 23, 2013 |
Ten years, 50-plus deals â€" VS Parthasarathy , the Mahindra group's M&A chief, has steered all big deals. Here's what he has learnt about deal making. The beginning Our cross-border journey began in 2002-03 when we looked at Baltra Tractors , a UK-based tractor company. We realised we needed a dedicated unit inside the company to be able to help us do the deals efficiently. In 2007-08, we set up an in-house team of three people. Today that team has expanded to 15 and has done 50 deals worth over $5 billion.
June 17, 2013 |
NEW DELHI: Ssangyong Motor Co, part of the Mahindra Group, today said it has sold a total of 12,730 vehicles in May, this year, a rise of over 25 per cent over the year-ago period. The company sold 5,270 vehicles in Korea and 7,460 in exports, including CKD kits, Mahindra & Mahindra said in a statement. "We are delighted with the steady progress being made by Ssangyong . The trend towards weekend leisure travel in Korea is helping drive up our SUV volumes in that market," Mahindra & Mahindra President, Automotive and Farm Equipment Sector, Pawan Goenka said.


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We stole no one’s market – Mabuda Farm
Mabuda Farm, the entity cited by Maphatsindvuku vegetable farmers as having taken over the Siteki market is denying the allegation as completely incorrect.
Says Helen Pons “this story is completely incorrect. Mabuda is primarily a maize farm however recently we have started growing seedlings and are encouraging local farmers to buy from us so they can grow their own vegetables.
We have a small garden under shade and when we have excess vegetables we sell them directly to the vendors but the quantity is minimal and would never cause vegetable growers to lose Maphatsindvuku this week fetched E10 while eight beetroot tubers cost a paltry E5 as well as eight onions cost E5. We purchased for E35, enough vegetable supply to last a family of two for two months.
On the price mix NAMBoard management said “farmers need to be aware of the existing difference between farm gate prices and retail prices for the reasons of costs involved in all stages. When retailers and NAMBoard buy produce at farm gate they relieve the famers of several costs and risks including transport costs, handling, packaging, refrigeration, shelve space spoilage and storage which under normal conditions are in excess of 40 per cent of the overall selling price. Inversely when farmers opt to sell by the road side and directly to individuals they incur these costs.
Most farmers tend to undermine the loss arising from such hidden costs. As a courtesy and in the spirit of development, NAMBoard sets floor prices when signing contracts with farmers. As part of our object of stimulating farmers, NAMBoard offers a floor price to farmers contracted to her which in most cases is higher than the national gross margins and that of retail shops in overall.
This is unprecedented and provides farmers with security that whatever happens they at least have money to produce the next crop. Additionally transport costs, storage costs are borne by the institution which constitutes anything between 33 per cent and 40 per cent of marketing costs for small holder farmers.Due to its versatility of this industry, most economies follow the norm of having the market being self-regulated by the forces of demand and supply rather than price fixing. This benefits farmers that are advised their market.” of scheduled production in times of low supply and or on produce of high value in the cycles.
It is for this reason that most of NAMBoard’s resources and efforts are directed at developing farmers to ensure they use better varieties, achieve better yields and have increased access to markets.In addition to the above, as vegetables are more perishable, all shops and retailers endure additional costs from farm gate to actual sale of produce.
These include logistics, handling packaging, refrigeration and shelve space when we consider these additional handling costs the prices retailers use to sell produce my not be translated to rip off on the aspect of farmers.” True to the assertion another farmer popularly known as Mamba in Maphatsindvuku grows green pepper (pimento) for the marketing board but also grows other vegetables for other markets in order to sustain himself in the face of the available market forces. However the other farmers say they could not afford this luxury because of limited land space and inputs.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, End hunger: achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.If done right, agriculture, forestry and fisheries can provide nutritious food for all and generate decent incomes, while supporting people-centred rural development and protecting the environment. Right now, our soils, freshwater, oceans, forests and biodiversity are being rapidly degraded. Climate change is putting even more pressure on the resources we depend on, increasing risks associated with disasters such as droughts and floods. Many rural women and men can no longer make ends meet on their land, forcing them to migrate to cities in search of opportunities.
A profound change of the global food and agriculture system is needed if we are to nourish today’s 795 million hungry and the additional 2 billion people expected by 2050. The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.
In the same vein Goal 1 No poverty, aims at eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. While the number of people living in extreme poverty dropped by more than half between 1990 and 2015 – from 1.9 billion to 836 million – too many are still struggling for the most basic human needs.
Globally, more than 800 million people are still living on less than US$1.25 a day, many lacking access to adequate food, clean drinking water and sanitation. Rapid economic growth in countries like China and India has lifted millions out of poverty, but progress has been uneven. Women are more likely to live in poverty than men due to unequal access to paid work, education and property.
Progress has also been limited in other regions, such as South Asia and subSaharan Africa, which account for 80 per cent of those living in extreme poverty. New threats brought on by climate change, conflict and food insecurity, mean even more work is needed to bring people out of poverty.
BLEAK FUTURE: Although Wakhile Mamba has acquired farming skills at the age of four, he is losing the enthusiasm to become a vegetable farmer like his mother because no one seems interested in buying the produce at the end of the day. He is uncertain on how he is going to afford school in the future.
TAKEN OVER: Mabuda Farm


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KUCHING: Sarawak will follow the federal government’s decision to make the wearing of face masks compulsory in public places in the state effective Aug 1.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the wearing of face masks in Sarawak is compulsory not also in public places, but also when using public transport, in shopping malls, markets, eateries and retail shops.
“This takes effect on Aug 1,” he said during the Covid-19 daily update today.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that the use of face masks in crowded public areas and public transport will be made compulsory from Aug 1.
Ismail Sabri had warned that those who do not comply with the ruling can be fined or prosecuted in court, and he stressed the ruling was made following the increase of Covid-19 cases and the lack of compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) among the public.
On another matter, Uggah who is also deputy chief minister said SJKC Chung Hua, Siburan is the latest school to have its reopening postponed to Aug 3.
He explained that this would involve the Primary 1 to 6 classes in that school, but the preschool classes there will resume as normal.
He also said following SDMC’s meeting with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), it has been decided that the intake for the pre-university’s programme there has been postponed until further notice.


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Tag : Raf Simons
Raf Simons joins PradaSubscription
Luxury Italian brand Prada has appointed Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons as its new co-creative director.
World Mental Health Day shines a spotlight once more on the intense pressure the fashion industry places on people working in it.
The season-defining shows, top trends to know and key items topping their buying list, Drapers asked buyers from Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Farfetch, Stylebop, The Shop at Bluebird ...


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New Ford CEO Jim Farley is undoubtedly a pretty important person, but that won’t dissuade him from enjoying his weekend pastime of racing. Farley picked up his hobby back in 2008 and has pursued it ever since, so it was certainly worth wondering it he would forgo the activity when he was promoted to CEO. However, Farley has no plans to give up his beloved hobby.
“It was probably the second conversation we (Farley and Executive Chairman Bill Ford) had after we had talked about this leadership opportunity,” Farley said during an interview with SalesForce. “I said, ‘You know, Bill, I can’t just stop racing. It’s just who I am. It’s my yoga. You’ve got to let me do this if I’m going to be a better CEO.’ He was very supportive.”
Farley began racing back in 2008 when he purchased a 289 Cobra from a friend. He obtained his racing license soon thereafter, and proceeded to immediately catch the racing bug. Today, Farley routinely hits the track in his 1966 Ford GT40 and 1978 Lola T298.
“When I’m at the track I’m just Jimmy Car-Car, nothing more,” Farley said. “It’s a great way to stay humble and connected to the product, and it’s a great way for me to relax, because I love competing.” Of course, Farley is acutely aware of the gravity of his position and the dangers of racing, too, and vowed to be as safe as possible when behind the wheel.
“As a CEO, you have to have an outlet to come back every day and lead the organization,” Farley said. “When I’m in that car, I’m concentrating 100 percent and there’s nothing else to think about. When I’m done, it’s such a mental break in a very quick time and it just works for me.”
Spoken like a true, died-in-the-wool track junkie, we’d say.
We’ll have much more on new Ford CEO Jim Farley soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford business news and 24/7 Ford news coverage.
Great to have a car guy back in a top role!
Jim Farley don’t know cars he should be racing trucks and SUVs that’s all he thinks can sale in America
Did you read the article? He races a GT, not a Fusion.
Also, no one said they can’t sell any sedans in America. Ford is clearly capable of it. They said they can make More money by investing the capitol in trucks and SUVs than in sedans.
GT of which Ford sales less of than sedans and cost way more money to build He should be racing a Fusion it’s the same chassis use for the SUV and obviously not I wouldn’t be killing a vehicle I know how to sale, I’d build a better model of it, Thank U Very Much
Roy, are you telling me that Ford should have cancelled the Mustang because it sells fewer units than the Fusion? You ever heard of something called a SEGMENT? The GT performs well in its segment and makes Ford a good bit of money on a per unit basis. The Mustang does well in its segment. The Fusion placed third in its segment AFTER people started panic buying them AFTER they got canceled, finally showing the support that the model lacked previously. Get over the Fusion. You and other enthusiasts should have bought them and upheld the segment for Ford when you had the chance.
It’s “dyed” in the wool. Don’t jinx him


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Entrepreneur looking to make a Bundle with latest venture
David Walsh, whose previous businesses include Mathison, a diversity hiring platform, is raising up to €2m for his latest start-up
Serial entrepreneur David Walsh is seeking to raise up to $2 million for his latest venture with around a quarter of that amount already committed.
The Irishman, who previously co-founded diversity hiring platform Mathison and Chase West Watches, has just gone live with Bundle, an LA-based customer-intelligence platform.
“Our main focus is customer traction right now to build momentum leading into the raise. We have 50 companies signed up in the first three weeks alone so we’ve made a promising start,” Walsh told the Business Post.


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Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 Sells A Million Copies, Price Drops to Celebrate
Konami shared the excitement of its success with the Pro Evolution Soccer series with customers by lowering the price of its headlining soccer title. Selling a million copies worldwide, the company has made it even easier for new players to jump on the wagon.
Though many herald EA’s FIFA Soccer series as the crown jewel of soccer games, Pro Evolution Soccer has always held a core group of fans with its UEFA Championship mode. FIFA will have a UEFA update coming down the pipe soon, but those who want to give this other title a shot certainly can now; with most retailers pricing the game at $29.99, it might be time for a new beautiful game.


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Twitter reached out to a rarely approached market this week: people without access to high speed internet and people with limited data caps.
The social media service announced a new “lite” version of their site this week, one that uses significantly less data and loads at a much faster speed. By company estimates, changes they’re making to the mobile Twitter site already could cut data use by as much as 40% in most cases. With Twitter lite, data use will be cut as high as 70%.
Twitter Lite will only be available though a web browser. It’s not a standalone app at the moment. Of course, because people with slow or limited internet likely aren’t downloading many apps anyway.
The service is aimed primarily at users outside of the United States, as these are often the communities that lack internet connections the most. “We didn’t feel like we were reaching these other countries well enough, and this will allow us to do it faster, cheaper and with a better experience than we’ve had before,” Keith Coleman, Twitter’s vice president of product said.
In regards to India, there’s no coincidence that Twitter is releasing their lite service right as a major cricket event is taking place. Cricket is tremendously popular in India, and following real time sports is one of the most popular uses for Twitter. Unlike most other social networks, Twitter still has a chronological timeline instead of one that uses an algorithm to determine importance.
Twitter Lite is also expected to be popular in countries that suffer from slow internet like Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.


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Aaron Jagdfeld, CEO of Generac Power Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of generators and other engine powered products, has received the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2012 Award” in the manufacturing category in the Upper Midwest. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Jagdfeld was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special gala on June 14, 2012, at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis.
“It’s an honor to have been selected for this award,” Jagdfeld said. “The manufacturing sector is experiencing a strong rebound in the United States. I’m proud to be a part of a company whose entrepreneurial spirit is helping lead growth in this important part of the economy."
Now in its 26th year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, Michael Dell of Dell, Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Fred Smith of FedEx, Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google, Richard Schulze of Best Buy, Andrew Mason of Groupon, Mindy Grossman of HSN, Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn, and many more.
As an Upper Midwest award winner, Jagdfeld is now eligible for consideration for the National Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the National Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on Nov. 17, 2012.


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Jefferson Pointe has been sold back to the company that built it.
Broker Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P. announced the sale of the 407,000 square foot lifestyle center Monday to Arizon-based RED Development.
The seller was Institutional Mall Investors LLC. The deal was completed earlier this month. RED owns the property as Jefferson Pointe Center SPE LLC.
RED built the lifestyle center — a term used to describe a shopping center that is restaurant- and entertainment-oriented — in 2000, but sold it a few years later.
The center is anchored by Von Maur, which owns its store property separately, and AMC Theaters, which recently purchased the 18-screen theater complex from Carmike.
Other tenants include Bed Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble, Marshalls, Ulta Beauty, Old Navy, White House Black Market, Vera Bradley, DeBrand Chocolates, Michaels and Tucanos Brazilian Grill. Several restaurants are situated on outlets at the southwest Fort Wayne center, most notably Biaggi’s and Eddie Merlot.


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UPDATED: 3/20/18 4:03 pm ET - new story
WASHINGTON -- Automakers are doing a much better job repairing vehicles with open recalls for defective Takata airbag inflators after slow initial response
CDK Global Inc.'s planned acquisition of Auto/Mate, a smaller provider of dealership management systems, has been blocked by the Federal Trade Commission, the companies said Tuesday.
The move would have bolstered
NASHVILLE -- Nissan North American has elevated several of its top U.S. sales executives, including Infiniti chief Randy Parker and Nissan brand sales executive Judy Wheeler, to
Mitsubishi has returned to network TV in its biggest marketing push in over a decade -- one that features the 2018 Eclipse Cross and underscores the brand's renewed commitment to the
The vehicle accessories maker picked Vanguard’s cloud forecasting and planning platform over numerous competing technologies.
CARY, N.C. (PRWEB) March 20, 2018
A U.S.-based automotive accessories maker will
Power Sunroof Market-Development of new and Diversified Technologies is creating Exciting Opportunities within the Automotive Industry :Tuesday, 20 March 2018 10:43 Written by EIN News
(MENAFN Editorial) Power sunroof is most recent trend in the vehicles that is in huge demand. The sunroof is usually installed at the roof of the vehicle in order to


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Central bank seeks bids for digital currency test project
Based on the 76-page request for proposal, candidates would need a wide range of skills and considerable expertise across a number of different services and technologies, including payments, cloud, blockchain and distributed ledgers, databases and cyber security.
The budget for the project is 4.96 billion won ($4.4 million), and bidding is open to non-Korean entities.
Korea's central bank has been working on developing central bank digital currency (CBDC) technology since last year, as the world's major central banks started looking into the potential of CBDCs as their answer to cryptocurrencies, which are volatile and largely beyond their control.
A CBDC utilizes technology to represent a country's fiat currency in digital form. Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, the CBDC would be centralized and regulated by a country's monetary authority.
The major goal of the 10-month project is to verify basic functions of a CBDC, from issuance and distribution to redemption, and also its applications, like payments offline and online in different scenarios.
The bank said it will be responsible for issuance and redemption of the digital tokens. Private companies, including banks and fintech companies, will be tasked with distributing the token to end-users.
The service company will be selected by an open bid. After the company is selected by July, testing of the CBDC will begin in a virtual simulated environment built on a cloud system from August.
Phase 1 testing, to check the basic process of CBDC issuance and redemption, will run through the end of the year.
Phase 2 testing will run through the end of June next year. That will involve testing of larger-scale applications of CBDCs, such as transfers between countries, purchasing digital assets or offline payments. The bank also plans to come up with basic regulations regarding CBDCs.
The central bank said this testing does not mean the CBDC will be in use in Korea anytime soon.
"Our testing does not mean we will be putting CBDCs into use anytime soon," said Yun Sung-guan head of digital currency research team at the bank. "We are trying to be prepared for the future when there is a dramatic change in our payment environment."
After testing, Yun said the major task for the bank will be to find technical problems related to CBDCs, solve them and research more use cases of the digital currency.
On when countries like the United States will adopt CBDCs, Yun said, "No one knows the answer," adding monetary authorities must be careful as CBDCs can face technical problems related to cybersecurity and have a massive impact on the existing financial system.
Naver and Kakao spokespersons said Monday they will be bidding through subsidiaries specializing in distributed ledger technology.
BY KIM JEE-HEE [firstname.lastname@example.org]


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Safeway at Watergate to close
The Safeway store at the Watergate buildings is shutting down this Sunday.
After 45 years doing business here, the Safeway inside the infamous complex along Virginia Avenue NW will close for good.
The store is relatively small with just 16,000 square feet. Its lease expires next month and the closure is part of Safeway's plan to focus on updating and building bigger stores in the region.
Safeway's departure will leave this corner of the city with only a Trader Joes and a Whole Foods.
“We're still all living on a student budget and its pretty difficult to kind of keep your budget balanced when you’re shopping at such a specialty store all the time,” said GW student Hayley Burgess.
More than 1,300 neighbors signed a petition this year to keep the Watergate Safeway open. Sheryll Gordon was sad to see the store close.
“They’re nice and friendly,” she said.
Safeway said all employees will be placed at other area stores. In the meantime, neighborhood leaders say there have been informal talks to attract another grocery store to the space.
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For all the breaking stories happening in your neighborhood and developing stories happening around the world, join Leon Harris and Alison Starling weeknights on ABC7 News at 5 and 11.


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Modern day BMW M1 supercar still a dream
BMW says it is considering its option regarding the revival of a supercar program.
BMW looks set to one day produce another supercar as a spiritual successor to the legendary M1 - but don't hold your breath on when it will appear in showrooms.
The head of sales and marketing for BMW's M go-fast M division - producers of the legendary M3 and M5 - says the company is considering its options for a supercar revival, fueling speculation that's been swirling since the
M1 Homage motor show special was revealed in Italy in 2008.
Now that the GFC is out of the way, car makers are keen to revisit the prospects of another supercar following a boom of sorts; Honda was the most recent, announcing it will revive its NSX ,while BMW arch rival Mercedes-Benz now has its 21st century SLS AMG, also known as the Gullwing. Audi also has its Lamborghini-derived R8 as a halo model in its lineup.
"I won't say that we'll never do it, but I won't say that we'll do it either," says BMW M's Brian Watts.
"Do we give it thought? Of course we do. I can't say we'll never do it.
"At the moment we've got enough projects on hand to keep us busy for quite a long time."
Watts says BMW's M division is currently considering its options but stresses any decision on the creation of such a vehicle would be made independent of other upcoming BMW models, including the much anticipated new BMW i8 hybrid supercar.
"At the moment we are looking into several options but we just don't feel like we have to bring out a supercar because the others are doing it."
Watts says any BMW supercar revival would be all about timing.
"Do we do something just because others are doing it or do we do something because we want it to be the best time, the best opportunity?
"We're quite successful at what we do. We're segment leaders and it takes a lot of effort to remain a segment leader."
However, Watts is adamant no work has been done on a modern BMW supercar, despite the 2008 unveiling of the M1 Homage motor show car.
"There's no development work. There's not one piece of metal being built and made a supercar shape out of it."
So don't go throwing deposits around just yet.


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Online review sites can give small businesses a real boost. But they can also be used to damage a firm’s reputation, whether justified or not. Peter Crush explores how to cope with negative publicity.
Few hearts could not have been warmed by the plight of Robert Sansom, owner of Hampshire-based Petersfield Bookshop.
After despondently tweeting he hadn’t sold a single book all day in January, follower (and sci-fi author) Neil Gaiman was so touched he re-tweeted it to his 2.8 million followers. Cue something of an online sensation. Within 24 hours, not only was Mr Sansom’s inbox stuffed with 300 new messages, but he had also gained 1,100 new Twitter followers and, perhaps more importantly, £1,000 of orders (an uplift that has kept going).
This is the internet working at its best, and it led to an outpouring of goodwill in support of the antiquarian bookshop.
“So happy to have discovered you,” said one on Twitter.
“A treasure trove,” added another. “This is one of the most interesting and unique bookshops in the world,” wrote one more. “The perfect bookshop,” writes one on review site TripAdvisor.
But for all the reasons online sites can be an SME’s saviour, the flipside is that they can just as easily destroy reputations – thanks to review sites in particular. Sometimes, these sites are a repository for the unfair, the unjustified and downright malicious.
While the odd negative review might sound insignificant, the reality is that 92 per cent of consumers now read online reviews (up from 88 per cent in 2014) according to online marketing platform provider BrightLocal, with two-thirds saying positive reviews make them trust that business more.
In fact, nearly half of customers form a buying decision after reading just one to three reviews, meaning a negative one near the top can stop a sale. Consumers are likely to spend 31 per cent more on products and services from businesses that have excellent reviews, the research found.
However, growing numbers of small businesses are becoming worried about review sites, simply because of the sheer influence now yielded by the likes of TripAdvisor, Yelp and newcomer Feefo. According to digital solutions provider Vendasta, just one negative review can cost a company 30 customers – and while the stakes have got higher, many are worried that SMEs aren’t getting the protection they deserve.
“No one expects businesses to have perfect reviews,” argues Neil Warwick, FSB's policy chair for EU and international affairs. “Having slightly less than five stars is no bad thing. But we’re hearing from SMEs who are suffering from fake reviews – often by competitors – and malicious reviews by people who have not even purchased anything from them.”
Indeed, FSB research for its recent Destination Digital report found that 21per cent of SMEs have suffered from malicious or fake reviews. “SMEs tell us they’re reliant on digital platforms for exposure, search engine rankings, even better postal rates, such as through Amazon,” says Mr Warwick. “But there is huge variance in ability to contest or have complaints removed.”
It’s an issue Josh James, COO at last-minute holiday booking site Snaptrip – which receives an average of five to 10 reviews per day – knows only too well: “While we’ve avoided having real vexatious reviewers, there have been times when we’ve hit a brick wall,” he says. “We’ve had cases where so-called ‘reviewers’ aren’t even customers. The sites say they remove all slanderous reviews, but some have stayed up, and we can’t get them taken down.”
Few argue that genuine negative reviews don’t have their place. “SMEs with the same sort of poor feedback – such as on item quality, or durability – should see it as a wake-up call,” says Seb Ellis, who advises SMEs, including pawnbroker chain Prestige Pawn (of Channel 4’s Posh Pawn), about managing their online reputations.
“In the absence of redress from sites, it’s vital SMEs take control of their digital footprint themselves.”
The good news, Mr Ellis argues, is that the public can generally spot obviously vexatious and angry keyboard warriors a mile off. The key, he says, is engaging with other bad reviewers. “Don’t be general, respond to their specific queries, and do it calmly,” he says. “What you’re doing – even if you don’t agree with the comment – is showing to other readers that you care, and are open and transparent. This creates advocacy.”
Christopher Lamotte, founder of Real Marketing and SME reputation advisor, says: “Responding well is all about creating trust. Comments may be unjust – one client in hospitality got a one-star review because the diner got drunk and wanted to have a rant – but the key is to take the emotion out of it. It may mean apologising – even if not in the wrong. The point is, other readers will then see it’s the reviewer that was being unreasonable. Classic manners go a long way.”
Sometimes a review can be so fantastical that the only response is to play the complainant at their own game. “We recently had a negative review about our Babasac baby sleeping bag,” says Keira O’Mara, director of Mama Designs.
“It was ridiculous, saying the fabric was so loud it rustled, keeping the baby awake. We re-posted the comment on our Instagram, and got so much support we decided to carry out some actual noise tests – which we again put on Instagram.
“We replied to the reviewer, saying: ‘I’m so sorry to hear that you thought the fabric rustled and was horrible. We were so concerned about this that we carried out some noise tests and posted them on our Instagram. Unfortunately babies do have a bad habit of waking up in the night, so maybe there was a different reason for him waking. I hope you are getting some sleep now’.” Not surprisingly, this was the last time they heard from that reviewer.
Pick your sites
Some review sites are more SME-friendly than others. New entrant Feefo ‘invites’ customers to post reviews [it typically gets a 12-14 per cent response rate], but verifies them using that firm’s own sales data, ensuring reviews only come from real customers.
“Our reviews are moderated, but they will go up unedited,” says Managing Director Matt West. “What we suggest is using the feature of being able to enter into a dialogue on the system. Our view is that SMEs must reply to comments, because if customers don’t have a platform to enter into a conversation, they’ll simply shout elsewhere.”
It’s because most review sites do allow dialogue that others argue there are other online destinations SMEs should worry about more. “We actually find social media sites are much more likely to feature vexatious reviews, precisely because it’s easier to fire off an immediate outburst,” says Jez Ashbury, director of Shooting Star, which advises clients about digital strategies. “While we also say engage, our advice is actually to take disputes offline altogether by inviting people to call you. Otherwise, you’re leaving too much of a discussion online.”
For those firms still suffering unjust, unfair or vexatious reviews, help could soon be on its way. An EU regulation on platform-to-business relations (P2B regulation), aiming to create ‘fair, transparent and predictable business environments’ for SMEs, came into force last summer. It intends to offer redress to businesses, should they feel it’s necessary, and Mr Warwick says FSB is lobbying to ensure it is brought into domestic law. “We’re also pushing for SMEs to have an independent regulator – like an ombudsman – that they can appeal to,” he says.
“Online platforms offer a great gateway into new markets, and allow SMEs to grow their markets,” he concludes.
“That’s the benefit of them. But it’s all about balance. It’s time these sites were also looked at from the SMEs’ perspective, and not just that of the consumers.”


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Gabrielle Union is set to marry her long-time beau Dwayne Wade on August 30, 2014. And according to TMZ, wedding guest have already been warned that NO CAMERAS and NO PHONE CAMERAS allowed… which could be a huge problem, since their guests are ADDICTED to social media!
The invitations which are made of wood, announces the nuptials will take place at 10:30 P.M. in the evening and close friends and family members are to “Put on their dancing shoes and join them for a THROW DOWN.”
According to TMZ.com
It’s all set to go down at a mystery location in Miami on August 30th.
Guests have been instructed to meet up at a famous hotel — where they will be transported to the wedding site.
But the most important part of the invitation is the note which directs the guests to leave their phones and cameras at home “for the comfort of our guests and to protect our privacy.”


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Governors Agree to Support 3-Year Ban on Internet TaxesBy Rajiv Chandrasekaran
The Washington Post
The nation's governors agreed Thursday to support a three-year ban on special Internet commerce taxes in exchange for a promise by Congress to consider requiring electronic merchants to collect sales taxes after the moratorium.
The National Governors Association had opposed bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate to enact an Internet-tax moratorium, saying the freeze could deprive state and local governments of crucial tax revenue as electronic commerce becomes more popular. The governors' disapproval threatened to scuttle the bills, introduced by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)
Industry groups contend that imposing sales taxes on Internet transactions will slow the growth of electronic commerce and make it less appealing to consumers.
After three months of negotiations with the governors' association, Cox agreed Thursday to revise his bill, reducing the moratorium from six years to three. Cox's bill also would set up a "Commission on Internet Commerce" that after the moratorium would propose a new system of levying state sales taxes on Internet and mail-order purchases.
The governors want to require Internet and mail-order merchants to collect sales taxes even if they do not have a physical presence in the state to which the goods are shipped. Currently, such businesses are not required to collect state sales taxes if they do not operate in the destination state; purchasers in 45 states and the District of Columbia, however, are required to send the appropriate sales tax to their state treasury, a rule that is largely flouted.
Because there are about 30,000 different tax jurisdictions nationwide, industry groups say that imposing a tax-collection requirement on merchants would create severe administrative burdens.
The governors want the commission to consider setting up a uniform national system of sales tax rules for electronic commerce and uniform rates for each state. By making those changes, they contend that the requirement would not be too cumbersome for merchants.
"Our goal is to ensure the system is fair," said Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (R) who spearheaded the issue for the governors association. "A person should be taxed fairly no matter where the purchase is made."
Wyden said he would not support the compromise. "This creates a plan that's going to create tens of billions of dollars in new taxes that will clobber small businesses," he said in an interview.
President Clinton has expressed support for both a moratorium and a commission to study new approaches to taxing Internet commerce. Cox emphasized that recommendations by the commission, which will have business, consumer and federal government representatives but will be dominated with state and local representatives, will have to proceed through the standard legislative process. "It will only be proposed legislation," Cox said. "It puts the issue on the table."
Wyden and industry lobbyists also object to a provision in the Cox bill that would allow states and local government to keep existing taxes on Internet access service and commerce. "It guts the whole moratorium," said Jill Lesser, the deputy director for law and public policy at America Online Inc. "It says that if you rush to enact a tax, you win."


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Wondering what’s new in the world of Jaguar cars? Jaguar Peabody has the latest news, including one classic Jaguar car that unfortunately won’t see the inside of your Jaguar dealership’s showroom.
(Strictly) Limited Edition Jaguar E-TYPE Coming
The Jaguar E-TYPE often tops lists of history’s most beautiful cars. If you’ve seen one, you immediately understand why. It’s a marvel of design, with not an ounce of excess sheet metal or a single stray line to be found. If you’ve missed your chance to own this classic Jaguar car, however, this may not be your chance.
Jaguar Classic — the division of the Jaguar brand that produced last year’s limited run of the Jaguar XKSS — is now turning its attention to a handful of carefully sourced Jaguar E-TYPE coupes from the car’s first generation. Their safety features will be upgraded, but they’ll otherwise stay true to production spec. The cars will be restored using OEM Jaguar parts, or replacements fabricated in-house to the company’s high standards. The lucky few who have a chance to buy one will pay $355,000 for the privilege.
Jaguar Brand Hits Sales Milestone
When the sales numbers from your Peabody, MA Jaguar dealership came in — along with those from our companion dealerships around the United States — there was a 132 percent increase over March, 2016. That’s the best month for the company since 2003, and it’s driven in large part by the brand new Jaguar F-PACE SUV and Jaguar XE sedan. We knew these were important cars. We didn’t account for the Jaguar F-PACE accounting for nearly half of all sales by itself!
Jaguar I-PACE Prototype Spotted
Last November, Ian Callum said of the Jaguar I-PACE, “This isn’t just a concept. It is a preview of a five-seat production car that will be on the road in 2018.” And so it was. A production-spec prototype was spotted in testing, and it looks very close to the concept that debuted in 2016. Some cosmetic features have been toned down slightly, but most of what we liked — the futuristic-looking curves and the cab-forward design included — is still there.
The 2018 Jaguar I-PACE looks to be making its way to your Jaguar dealership later this year. Until then, why not visit Jaguar Peabody at 247 Newubury St. in Peabody to test drive one of our great new Jaguar vehicles or to schedule expert Jaguar service?
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Pacific Coachworks (PCW) has started production of its 2016 model year units at its new RV manufacturing facility in Nampa, Idaho.
According to a press release, the Perris, Calif.-based company’s initial run of units for the month of July will consist of the Sea Breeze and Surf Side eight-foot metal-sided travel trailers. Pacific Coachwork’s seven-foot ultralight metal-sided products will follow in August.
“Our team in Nampa has been great,” said Jeff Daily, general manager of Pacific Coachworks. “They were able to hit the ground running and get units produced very quickly. We plan to keep that momentum going and introduce some of our popular toy hauler trailers at our Nampa plant on or before September.”
For more information about recreational vehicles and Pacific Coachworks visit pacificcoachworks.com.


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The Maryland Christmas Show is celebrating its 35th season at The Frederick Fairgrounds on Nov. 16-18th & 23-25th.
The show features artisans & merchants in 7 buildings. Top artists and craftsmen as far away as Nova Scotia! The Maryland Christmas Show is just about anything related to Christmas, along with an enjoyable holiday shopping experience.
Two consecutive weekends: Friday/Saturday/Sunday Nov. 16th, 17th, 18th and on Nov. 23rd 24th 25th
Hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission for adults is just $8, and it’s half price for kids 10 and under.
Santa will also be at the event so you can grab a selfie with Santa.
For more info, go to MarylandChristmasShow.com


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The Warehouse Grain BeetleThe Similac formula recall scare is one of many formula recalls, but this one seems to really have gotten to a lot of moms.
As we covered the recall, helping moms identify the rather ambiguous and confusing lot numbers and affected containers, there were a lot of heartbreaking comments from moms who were rightfully upset that the formula they trusted for their baby's health could have something as disgusting as beetles and their larvae mixed in -- despite the reassurance that it was a "common beetle" and that while it could hurt babies' GI tract and they might refuse to eat for a bit, it wasn't of immediate medical concern.
Moms seemed to really disagree with that attitude. I called last week for moms to really step up and tell formula companies that this kind of thing isn't okay, and that's exactly what's happening:
Moms have formed a class-action lawsuit against Similac, and a Senator is questioning the company as well.
...a federal class action was filed accusing the manufacturers of unfairly and deceptively promoting the product as having safe ingredients for infant consumption when the ingredients may cause diarrhea and other health problems.
Seems that moms think GI tract pain and refusal to eat is not okay.
There is a Facebook group set up for moms (and dads and other caretakers) to organize efforts to sue Abbott Industries under the accusations of failing to properly exert quality control measures to ensure that the formula was safe for consumption and that it did not contain beetle particles.
Specific legal terms: negligence, strict liability, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose, and unjust enrichment.
To make matters worse for Similac/Abbott, Iowa's own Senator Tom Harkin, who is also chairman of the Senate Health, Education Labor, and Pensions Committee, has started an inquiry into the reason that Abbot waited a full week after discovering the bugs before they issued a recall, and wants to know if they knew about the complaints the FDA was getting ... and sat on it. He also wants to know if whether or not this is going to cause a shortage of the formula and what they're doing, if anything, to prevent it -- important info for moms whose infants rely on this particular formula. He's given them a generous deadline of October 7 for their response.
Personally, I'm going to support this lawsuit and inquiry in any way I can. I have no grounds to join the lawsuit, but those of you who do, do it! If your child has had any problems, get medical documentation and join these efforts. The biggest changes in infant formula have always come from consumer demand, but usually after something has gone wrong. Hopefully this situation can be used as a stepping stool to demand better procedures, transparency, and safety requirements of all formula companies, for the sake of all babies who drink formula at any time, for any reason.
Image via pestproducts


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The survey polled almost 100 senior executives from restaurant and bar chains. It showed that more than 90 per cent of companies cited guest feedback as a top five performance indicator, and 95 per cent believe employee engagement is ‘very important’ in driving customer engagement. However, only 16 per cent of those businesses surveyed correlate their employee engagement against their customer satisfaction.
The most common methods of measuring staff engagement were by staff turnover and exit interview, instead of engaging the employees while they were still in the workplace.
Vice president of CGA Peach Peter Martin said: “With the customer experience so dependent on service and staff quality, not to mention employee morale, this appears a major gap in the market’s insight. There’s a need for more joined-up thinking, especially when it comes to front-line teams.”
A large 71 per cent of business leaders were shown to see employee recognition and reward as a key method for driving positive frontline growth, and two thirds believe involving in-store teams in finding solutions for the business also helps. However, only six in ten of them shared real-time feedback with store and site managers.
“With frontline teams in restaurants and pubs responsible for delivering those great customer experiences, and with those same staff being the main contact point with the paying public, building better two-way communication between head office and site managers about their customers could become the biggest opportunity to gain competitive advantage,” explained Martin.
The survey shows that a systematic approach to staff and guest engagement is necessary for businesses to get more insight into improving themselves. The recommendations that emerged from it are:
- Businesses should improve board-level buy-in and must lead from the top to suceed at the front
- Human resources, marketing and operations departments must converse more with each other and share data, particularly that which combines customer and employee feedback
- Firms should link employee recognition and reward to customer key performance indicators
- They should introduce real-time feedback to managers and teams on the frontline
- Businesses must gain a better understanding of what drives engagement


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Ford is cutting 43 of its 48 design staff in Turin as it switches focus from a traditional ‘coachbuilder’ to an electronic studio. They have been offered opportunities in other Ford design studios. The office will continue to work with production studios in Dunton and Cologne, and the move does not affect the opening of Ford’s London design centre this summer, according to a spokeswoman.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 30 female artists and designers from across the world have designed prints representing our fight for equality, from
The new logo acts as a “plinth” for other content while the creative campaign features different fabric backgrounds to reflect the “range of personalities” that attend the fair.
The new ultra-marathon series runs five-day, 250-kilometre races across the world, and looks to appeal to people of all skill levels, whether they are running “novices” or long-distance “experts”.
Pantone has made a name for itself as a colour trend-setter, telling the world it knows what shade will dominate everything from fashion and packaging, to art and furniture the


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BBB Warning Michiganders About Online Animal Sales
The Better Business Bureau is warning Michigan residents about a website that claims to specialize in the sale of monkeys and birds.
According to a news release, the website monkeysnadbirdsforsale claims to sell small monkeys for between $1,200 and $1,500 and parrots for $1,000. The Better Business Bureau, however, believes the site has been set up in order to scam people.
The bureau reports that a number of complaints about the site have been reported over the last month. One reviewer reports attempting to pay for an animal using Paypal and Venmo but when those methods failed, he was asked to buy gift cards instead. That's a big red flag.
Phil Catlett, the president of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan tells Fox 17 that pet scammers aren't just focused on puppies.
“Each year pet scams are among the riskiest scams we see at the BBB,” Catlett said. “Most people think of puppy scams. But they work for all types of animals: dogs, cats, even monkeys and birds.”
Catlett goes on to say that the website lists a physical address in Hickory Corners, a small community north of Battle Creek. The property owner tells the Better Business Bureau that he has no connection to the online seller.
“It is not uncommon for bad actors to list a fake address in an effort to make themselves appear legitimate,” Catlett said. “A physical address can give a customer a sense of security.”
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.


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The exotic Leopard design will be making a comeback this year on the Nike Air VaporMax 2021.
Following the Leopard rendition from 2018, the design is back once again in 2022 on last year’s Air VaporMax model. The makeover arrives just in time for the running season thanks to all of the warmer weather coming our way. The sneaker opts for a black primeknit upper that’s detailed by red accents on the Nike Swoosh logos on the sides, the tongue labels, and the heel tabs as well. The exotic print is added to the heels while a translucent smoky overlay system adds support while a translucent Air unit and grind outsole are added below to complete the design.
NIKE AIR VAPORMAX 2021 LEOPARD RELEASE INFORMATION
The Nike Air VaporMax will be dropping in its new exotic design will be dropping soon, in the coming weeks via select Nike retailers and Nike.com for a retail price of $210. Continue to read down below for official images of the pair and make sure to follow JustFreshKicks for all of the updates going forward and more of the latest sneaker news.
Nike Air VaporMax 2021
Style Code: DH4090-001
Release Date: 2022
Retail Price: $210


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SCMP’s China Internet Report 2020 shows healthy fundraising and investment activity in tech sector despite ravages of Covid and US-China trade war.
Mike Cagney, co-founder of Figure Technologies, explains how blockchain and digital assets are transforming consumer loans, banking, and more.
While China is pushing more artificial intelligence surveillance technologies into law enforcement and everyday life, the US is having a rethink.
Ep. 19 | Will PayPal and Venmo offer crypto trading? FC Barcelona kicks off fan token. USDC ditches Ethereum for Algorand.
Other top news: Chainlink embraced by China’s blockchain network. Could Justin Sun’s infamy outshine TRON 4.0? Fintech in Thailand and Singapore.
India could reap greater economic growth, cut down on corruption and more if it adopts a more progressive stance on cryptocurrency. A leading role in Asia is New Delhi’s for the taking.
Ep. 18 | Fed chair throws shade at Digital Dollar Project. Ripple elbows in on SWIFT. Compound dethrones MakerDao.
Other top news: China’s new blockchain cross-border payment platform for Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong. 5G for all in Shenzhen. Fintech VC in India.
What lies ahead for the global economy, US-China geopolitics, emerging markets and sectors like real estate in the next 5 years? GreaterX’s unique focus group — ‘from farmers to a billionaire’ — offers a crystal ball.
Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong have three legal and monetary systems. A new blockchain banking platform would unify the area into an economic hub.
Other top news: Chinese high schoolers cram-studying bitcoin mining. Blockchain-powered lotteries in Cambodia. Startups in India, Singapore and UAE.
10 million Chinese high schoolers will soon take the equivalent of the SAT or A-Levels, and it looks like they better study up on how crypto gets made.
Is it because Huobi has an in-house Communist Party relations office, while rival exchange Binance does not? Gather ’round for a Tale of the Two Cryptos.
The rest of the world may worry over the new e-RMB and what it could do to the US dollar. But inside China, will yet another digital payment system even matter? Forkast.News finds out what the laobaixing think.
Other top blockchain news: China sounds new warning against crypto. Brave browser brouhaha. Startups in Japan and Malaysia.
Game of Thrones at the world’s largest bitcoin mining rig maker culminates, in this week’s episode, with a once-exiled company founder storming and seizing back the corporate castle.
Ep. 15 | Is China’s digital RMB ready for prime time? Making the case for a US CBDC. Blockchain comes to Minecraft.
More top news: China exploring blockchain to cure gaming addiction. LG joins Hedera Hashgraph. Startups in Japan, Singapore and the Philippines.
Chris Giancarlo: digital dollar technology is coming ‘fast and furious.’ Can US seize the CBDC momentum?
Money is part of a nation’s financial infrastructure, and the dollar needs a digital upgrade for this changing world, says Giancarlo, former CFTC chair who now heads the Digital Dollar Project, in an exclusive interview with Forkast.News.
Digital Dollar Project’s new white paper proposes a ‘third format of currency’ that would be interchangeable with paper money while preserving privacy. Is America ready for a government crypto dollar?
Contrarian wisdom on bitcoin mining. Also: how China’s DCEP could shake up the global financial system.
Adam Traidman of BRD discusses CBDCs in an age of intensifying US-China rivalries, and bitcoin halving’s surprising impact on crypto mining and profits.
More top news: China pours billions into blockchain and other infrastructure. Ant Financial’s new smart contracts. VC in Singapore and India.
Digital currencies will become increasingly common in the economy, with CBDCs as an ‘organic gateway.’ Should we worry about user privacy?
Former banker Mike Novogratz is ‘petrified’ of China’s new state-issued cryptocurrency, and ConsenSys’ Joseph Lubin agrees
Two titans of blockchain discuss China’s DCEP, Covid-inspired technology and more with Forkast.News Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, in video highlights from Ethereal Summit 2020.
China’s new DCEP — the world’s first major central bank digital currency — just piloted in 4 cities. When it is ready for mass use, could it challenge the US dollar’s hegemony in global trade and finance?
The central bank’s cash-like DCEP sets the stage for China’s next-gen financial infrastructure. Will it threaten the US dollar’s global supremacy? A University of Chicago Booth professor explains.
What does ‘universal basic income’ have to do with a digital dollar or a central bank digital currency?
Covid-19’s disruption of global economies could speed up changes to financial systems around the world. Will cash become obsolete?
Ep. 12 | Bitcoin halving elicits yawns. As China trials CBDC, Tim Draper predicts it will bomb. Is NEAR Ethereum’s new killer?
Other top news: TRON snags Covid aid. Free Telegram Open Network. China builds tech talent database. Bitmain’s civil war. Another win for Ripple.
China will soon have its first bachelor’s program in blockchain. Why isn’t the talent-starved industry more excited?
Blockchain education conundrum: China wants blockchain growth, but its tech labor supply “quality” falls short of high employer demands. A Forkast.News exclusive report on a new program in Chengdu and clues to what might be holding China back.
Ep. 11 | Crypto surges before bitcoin halving. China taps SenseTime for CBDC rollout. BitMEX shuts out Japan.
Other top news: IBM’s Covid medical supply network. China now has over 1,000 blockchain firms. Startups in Japan, India and Singapore.
Ep. 10 | Ripple sues YouTube over scam videos. Hong Kong’s first regulator-approved bitcoin fund manager. Hacker messes with dForce.
Other top news: Courier giant YTO forms blockchain logistics lab. 224 more blockchain firms get official thumbs up. VC in Singapore, UK and US.
Ep. 9 | U.S. rethinks ‘digital dollar.’ China’s new national blockchain platform. Is Libra now a stronger rival to China’s CBDC?
Other top news: Bitcoin halving frenzy. New Huawei tech zone. Blockchain company busted for defective face masks. VC in Hong Kong and Canada.
This week has been one where big changes came fast and furious on the opposite sides of the central bank digital currency world. First, alleged screenshots of a mockup of the People’s Bank of China central bank digital currency’s mobile app were published, giving the public a taste of the apparent functionality of the platform […]
Ep. 7 | Binance buys CoinMarketCap, Toilet Paper Token skunks Bitcoin, China pulls ahead in patent race, and more
Other top news: Blockchain in TV and film. Going Dutch on Covid. Nodle’s new network. BMW tracking auto parts. House rentals in new intelligent city
China is trying to grow its blockchain industry, but are all these startups for real? Forkast.News dives into the data to find the truth behind the numbers.
Ep. 6 | New blockchain arsenal to fight Covid-19, Zoom cancels Facebook, coronavirus wipes out Digital Farms, and more
Other top headlines from around the world: Microsoft wants to power mining with brain waves. Crypto exchanges Huobi and OKEx under fire. China shifts to digitally sweep ancestral graves.
In this newsletter and podcast, we bring you top headlines around the world, including: A new proposal to create a digital dollar. Coinbase’s legal chief heading U.S. Treasury. A Bitcoin-Red Cross coronavirus fundraiser in Italy. Universal basic income’s revival. Steem’s hard fork into Hive, and more.
Also: Blockchain voting after the Voatz debacle, IOTA limps back after cyber attack, smart cities in China, and Forkast.News insights to help you make sense of the top headlines.
Despite all signs that interest just isn’t there for STOs, and ICOs are too tarnished by scams to be a legitimate investment vehicle, this investor thinks there’s life left in both.
Ep. 3 | Top blockchain news on China, France and S. Korea – and a new Ethereum protocol. What’s next for India?
What’s up with South Korea’s new blockchain regulations? And where is bitcoin now legal tender? (Mai oui!) Other headlines around the world: a storm over STEEM, the new Baseline protocol for privacy, HTC’s Exodus 5G Hub, and how the coronavirus has affected blockchain firms in China.
In this first article of a three-part Forkast.News series, we will examine how blockchain can — and can’t — disrupt the world’s telecom industry, and take a closer look at where efforts are falling flat.
Not enough startups and young talent are as gung ho about blockchain as they are about hotter categories such as such as AI, media or the sharing economy.
After their panel on how blockchain technology is changing the world of finance and enterprise at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2019, Digital Asset cofounder and CEO Yuval Rooz and R3 CEO David Rutter answered follow-up questions.
As protests continue to rock Hong Kong and China’s economy slows, concerns are rising about the Special Administrative Region’s future as Asia’s premier financial hub.
The Chinese government has identified blockchain technology development as an issue of national importance, along with other emerging technologies such as AI, deep learning and IoT. President Xi Jinping has outlined the importance of blockchain technology to China’s industrial maturity, urging continued development so China can lead the way in defining international standards.
The central bank’s digital currency efforts, ironically, would give it more control over the economy.
China’s enormous market of 1.4 billion people means there is a large pool of human resources that can drive blockchain development and adoption, especially in the wake of endorsement from President Xi Jinping. Blockshine founder and CEO Layla Dong explains how China’s burgeoning market can boost blockchain development.
Investment in Chinese blockchain projects reached USD$367.7 million in the first half of 2019. Blockchain Global CEO Sam Lee says Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent have fueled a breadth of tech talent.
The PBOC’s new token could wipe out the need for remittance services like TransferWise. But if the eurozone is any foreshadowing, uniting several countries with a single currency is a complicated endeavor.


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Welcome to ABC Radio National. Skip to:
Programs by Subject
3 Jun 2014
Will Penfold's Grange end up in foreign hands?
25 Feb 2014
Rorting could cost grape growers millions as the Federal Government considers axing the wine equalisation tax.
3 Feb 2014
The latest heatwaves have validated Brown Brothers decision to invest in cooler regions.
11 Nov 2013
Labor not opposed to sale of grain handler.
30 Sep 2013
One of the country's top climate scientists says the latest IPCC report should be a wake-up call to rural Australians.
23 Jul 2013
Wine judges don't always hit the mark when they put sensory examination and evaluation of wine to the test.
24 Apr 2013
A group of Chinese sommeliers has visited South Australia's Riverland to see what the wine industry has to offer.
6 Mar 2013
The record summer heat has cut the yields for wine grape growers in the Victorian region of Rutherglen.
4 Mar 2013
Untimely rain has done nothing to dampen the prosects of Riverina grape growers and wine makers.
26 Dec 2012
It takes a snip here and a snip there and a steady hand at all times.


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The on-going battle of the brand drug versus the generic is taking place in spades and in advertisements.
Is the generic equivalent of Liptior, simvastatin, as good at reducing cholesterol build-up in the arteries?
Reading this NY Times article Maker of Lipitor Digs In to Fight Generic Rival is a reminder that those who hold an expiring copywrite/[patent are loath to give it up, no matter how much profits they have enjoyed by their monopoly.
Many doctors have come to see simvastatin as a viable substitute for Lipitor. Studies show that at commonly prescribed doses Lipitor and simvastatin are equally effective at reducing LDL cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol.
A big difference is that Lipitor costs $2.50 to $3 a day, while simvastatin sells for 75 cents to $1 a day at most retail pharmacies, and as little as 10 cents a day at discount pharmacies like Costco’s.
It is shaping up to be the biggest shift yet to a generic drug, potentially saving the nation $2 billion a year or more in prescription costs.
And scientists and doctors say that for most of the 16 million people in America who take drugs to reduce cholesterol, the low-priced alternative will work as well as the name-brand medicine — Lipitor, which is made by Pfizer and is the nation’s most widely prescribed drug.


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Cost cutting at GM and fears that the German supplier of the Camaro Convertible’s roof mechanism was about to go under led to last week’s claims that the car was put on hold indefinitely. However, the supplier in question is still in business and has a new agreement signed with GM.
Furthermore, GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan has confirmed to Automotive News that production of the highly anticipated drop-top is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2011. He went on to concede that this will be a few months later than the originally planned late 2010 launch.
"We always thought it would be one year after the coupe," he said. "Instead we are going two."
As for the Z28, GM was planning to add the 550hp (410kW) 6.2L V8 engine from the Cadillac CTS-V to the Camaro’s engine bay in an effort to destroy any chances of the Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Shelby Mustang GT claiming the title of ‘modern-day muscle car king’. Sadly, the Z28’s expected $50 million development price tag, impending 35.5mpg CAFE implications, and niche status meant it was virtually dead from the start.


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Myanmar coffee to hit Whole Foods as economic opening continues
NEW YORK - Two shipments of coffee beans from Myanmar arrived in the United States this month, the first commercial-scale imports in over 15 years and the fruits of a U.S. government development program for farmers in the once-isolated southeast ...
NEW YORK - Two shipments of coffee beans from Myanmar arrived in the United States this month, the first commercial-scale imports in over 15 years and the fruits of a U.S. government development program for farmers in the once-isolated southeast Asian economy.
The two containers, totaling 600 60-kg bags, imported by Seattle-based Atlas Coffee Importers are a fraction of the 24.8 million bags of coffee consumed annually in the United States. But the shipments could herald a welcome diversification from traditional supply areas that are being hit by climate change.
Whole Foods Market bought 41 bags and La Colombe, a specialty chain backed by Chobani yogurt founder Hamdi Ulukaya, purchased 10 bags. The arabica beans will be on show at La Colombe cafe in Washington on Tuesday.
"It will be sold as single origin and as special coffee that we're offering," said Darrin Daniel, director of sourcing for Allegro Coffee Company, a Whole Foods subsidiary that supplies much of the food store's coffee.
Myanmar exported only modest amounts of coffee in the 1990s and a shipment of 17 60-kg bags in 2015 was the first delivery since 2000, U.S. government data shows. Burmese immigrant Melvin Tan, who founded Austin, Texas-based Irrawaddy Coffee Roasters in 2015, said he imported 10 bags from Myanmar that year.
"I'm down to 1-1/2 bags. I would say ... I'm going to more than triple it this year from last year," Tan told Reuters.
Poor diplomatic relations between the United States and the former military dictatorship made traders and roasters cautious in conducting business up until recently, industry sources said.
USAID, the federal government's aid agency, launched a funding program to help the country's coffee farmers bolster the quality of beans two years ago as part of a shift toward open economic and political relations with Myanmar.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has been running a separate program since 2014 to help farmers switch from growing opium poppy to coffee. The agency has worked with 1,280 farmers to plant 1,000 hectares of coffee, and expects its first harvest at the end of this year, said program coordinator Jochen Wiese.
James Tooill, who handles La Colombe's sourcing and roasting of single-origin coffees, said if farmers keep up quality after USAID-funded training ends in 2019, Myanmar could become a reliable origin for specialty coffee.
"The ability for it to run once the initial investment is over is a crucial turning point," Tooill said.
Further buying by roasters could encourage more production, said Craig Holt, founder of Atlas Coffee Importers.
"A lot of people that contributed this year just did a tiny portion of their harvest as an experiment to see if it was worth the money," Holt said.
Myanmar produces about 115,000 bags per year, according to Atlas, less than neighboring Laos and Thailand, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture says produce 525,000 and 1 million bags annually, respectively.


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Singaporean businesses don’t have to be confined here as they can and should expand to other countries.
Singapore (PRWEB) July 08, 2013
Partnering with Kingdee Software Solutions Group, a leading business management solutions provider in the Asia Pacific region, the Reach Technologies is confident that even small start-ups can market their products and services to the world, competing with others alike on fair ground.
"Singaporean businesses don’t have to be confined here as they can and should expand to other countries. China, Malaysia, Hong Kong are examples of countries they can grow their business in," explains Emerlin Toh, the managing director of Reach Technologies Pte Ltd.
Toh highlights that one of the key functions of its solutions that can achieve this purpose is remote access. This enables business owners to manage their off-shore businesses without physically being there. For example, a business owner who has a branch in China, can access information about the branch from his office in Singapore. This can include information from sales, purchases, inventory status and its finances.
The ability to create multiple databases for each business is also a key benefit of using Kingdee’s solutions. This easily segregates businesses in separate regions, which can differ due to currency and tax variations. A business in China may operate differently from its headquarters here in Singapore, which therefore needs to have its information in a separate database. Doing so also allows access levels to be altered accordingly, which enhances the flexibility of the solution.
Businesses who have transactions across borders are believed to be the greatest beneficiaries of such a solution, including those who regularly purchase products outside of its operating country.
Reach Technologies believe that its solution is the most practical for globabilizing, and can also assist Singaporean businesses to apply for a government grant to implement this solution at a reduced cost.
To find out more on the solutions that can help your business compete on a global scale, visit Reach Technologies' website on Kingdee Software Solutions.


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A banner year at the box office driven by such films as "Fast & Furious," "Star Trek" and "Hannah Montana" is turning out to be a powerful recession vaccine for the nation's biggest movie theater chains.
Only a few months ago, investors feared consumers' reluctance to spend money would keep them from going to the movies, depressing business at 5,800 U.S. theaters.
Like a twist ending to a Hollywood thriller, attendance at theaters this year has jumped 14 percent, according to tracking company Hollywood.com Box Office. Theater operators may have the weak economy and penny-pinching consumers to credit.
"Much like the dollar stores in retail, the movie theaters are picking up a certain amount of discretionary entertainment spending, such as money spent on video games, staying in fancy hotels and going on long vacations," said Chris White, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities.
A strong showing at the multiplex has been one of the few bright spots for the Hollywood studios, which have been buffeted by losses in DVD sales that have long propped up the business.
More beneficially, however, the upswing at the box office has lifted theater operators, or "exhibitors" as they call themselves. Despite the tinsel associated with Hollywood, movie theaters have never been a glamor business and still generate income much like they did three-quarters of a century ago: two-thirds from ticket sales, one-third from selling popcorn, soda and candy.
In recent years, exhibitors have boosted revenue largely by raising ticket prices and not as a result of attracting more moviegoers. The number of tickets sold peaked at 1.6 billion in 2002, the year "Spider-Man" appeared alongside a trifecta of "Lord of the Rings," "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" sequels. But, otherwise, theater admissions generally have remained flat, between 1.2 billion and 1.4 billion admissions annually since 1994.
Regal Entertainment Group and Carmike Cinemas Inc., the nation's No. 1- and No. 4-ranked chains, reported revenue increases of 6.8 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively. Cinemark Holdings, the third-largest theater owner, reported last week that revenue from admission and concession sales rose 6.7 percent.
In some cases, concession sales are being aided by special promotions.
Carmike, for example, recently launched Stimulus Tuesdays throughout its 250 theaters, selling 16-ounce drinks and 46-ounce tubs of popcorn for $1 each, cutting the price to as much as $5 below what it normally charges.
The discount program is helping to attract more patrons, said Richard Hare, Carmike's chief financial officer.
"We're getting more box-office sales on Tuesday, a traditionally very slow day of the week," offsetting the profit lost on the markdown, he said.
After sharp losses and declining profit in 2008, the sudden upswing in box-office revenue and attendance has inspired more confidence on Wall Street, which has regarded movie theaters as a mature industry with diminished growth prospects. Shares of Carmike, Cinemark and Regal have jumped 21 percent to 114 percent this year, although they have yet to rebound to year-ago levels.
"People assumed that the box office, like the economy, was going to hell in a handbasket," said James Marsh, an analyst with Piper Jaffray & Co. "The sentiment has shifted pretty dramatically."
Vicissitudes at the box office aside, exhibitors still face entrenched difficulties, including amassing heavy debt as a result of upgrades and building more theaters than demand required. After a spate of theater bankruptcies around the turn of the century, consolidation has left a handful of megaplayers.
Of course, no one knows how long the box-office resurgence will last. On paper, at least, movie theaters are poised for a strong spring and summer, fueled by sequels, including "Terminator Salvation," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
"We expect consumers will continue to view cinema as one of the most convenient and affordable forms of entertainment," Cinemark Chief Executive Alan Stock said in a call with analysts.
Riding this year's box-office wave, the Plano, Texas-based operator of 420 theaters reported that first-quarter profit jumped to $17.6 million, or 16 cents a share, compared with $5.3 million, or 5 cents, a year earlier. That was 3 cents better than analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected.
The higher revenue from ticket and concession sales for other major operators, however, has not flowed directly to the bottom line because of one-time charges.
Carmike, of Columbus, Ga., reported a loss of almost $4 million for the quarter, mostly from charges of $5.5 million relating to the severance of its former CEO. Excluding that charge, Carmike earned about $1.5 million, compared with a $4.3 million net loss during the same period in 2008.
Regal's net income, which dropped 22 percent, to $21.3 million, in the quarter, was affected by higher operating costs for its theaters, interest expense and a shift in the reporting period that excluded results from the New Year's holiday weekend.


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By SHOICHIRO TAGUCHI, Nikkei staff writer
OSAKA — Japanese flying car startup SkyDrive is accelerating the development of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle with the 9.6 billion yen ($67 million) it recently raised, setting its sights on a first commercial flight by the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
Tokyo-based SkyDrive announced on Monday that it had raised the money from 13 Japanese companies, including Suzuki Motor, Kintetsu Group Holdings and MUFG Bank. Apart from research and development of the eVTOL aircraft and its flight operation system, the funds will also go toward the hiring of engineers.
The latest round comes on top of the 3.9 billion yen SkyDrive raised in August 2020 from the Development Bank of Japan and trading house Itochu, among others.
With investments from insurance companies, electric power companies and auto parts manufacturers, SkyDrive said it would be able to deepen cooperation in areas such as the development of insurance products, the building of charging facilities, and the exchange of technical knowhow.
“It will be great to see that the more companies we form partnerships with, the more we can accomplish,” SkyDrive’s CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa said on Monday.
SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft is under review for certification by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The company made its first successful manned flight in 2019, becoming Japan’s most developed flying car startup.
It now envisions flying cars zipping over Yumeshima, an artificial island where the world fair will be held in 2025, taking participants on pleasure flights. This new mode of transportation will not only help to ease traffic jams, but can also be used for medical emergencies and disaster relief.
SkyDrive is now working with authorities to establish review criteria and certification plans for the nascent industry. “We are proceeding with the same strict standards as the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency,” Fukuzawa said.
If it is successful at the World Expo in Osaka, SkyDrive will expand overseas, hoping to commercialize the vehicle in India by March 2027. The company sees demand in India given as its cities are notorious for traffic snarl-ups.
To this end, the startup has formed a partnership with Suzuki Motor, whose main market is India. The companies will consider collaborating in research and building mass-production capabilities. Fukuzawa said he was also thinking of establishing a business base that will conduct market research and forecasts, among other tasks.
“There is also a possibility of producing aircraft in India in the future,” he said.
Although Fukuzawa did not mention specific countries, he said that the company was conducting preliminary research on expansion into Southeast Asia.
Although most countries, including India, do not have flying car regulations yet, the company’s eVTOL will be built to meet standards in line with those in the U.S. and Europe.
SkyDrive, however, is already facing competition. Companies ahead of the regulatory and certification curve expect to commercialize their flying cars in 2024 or 2025. Germany’s Volocopter is planning to build four to six ports in Singapore by 2030 and is likely to be developing a route for tourists that will connect Malaysia and Indonesia.
Japan’s big automakers also have similar ideas. Honda Motor is aiming to commercialize a flying car in the 2030s, while Toyota Motor has invested $394 million in U.S.-based Joby Aviation.
Fukuzawa admitted that global competition is intensifying, but said its compact, easy-to-maneuver aircraft gives it an advantage. “Just like with cars, it is natural that there are multiple players in a single country in the flying car market,” he added.