Story For Everyone

  The transition started a few years ago, out of necessity. After peering beneath my bed to retrieve a fallen item, I was horrified to discover a thick coating of dust on the floor. My old-school corded upright vacuum was too bulky to fit all the way under, so I picked up a robot vacuum to handle the dirty work for me. Then I got a dog, which led to the purchase of a smart air purifier to help combat allergies and asthma, and a pet camera to keep an eye on my fur baby (and my home) from my phone, 24/7. Since then, I've been reviewing smart home gadgets for PCMag and my little Florida beach bungalow has transformed into a test bed for the latest home tech, growing smarter by the week. Now I walk into the bedroom and tell Google Assistant to turn on the lights. I ask Alexa to reorder protein powder and dog food and it arrives on my doorstep two days later. I adjust my thermostat via an app on my phone from the comfort of my bed. I receive severe weather warnings and recipe ideas on t...

The first half of 2023 saw strong growth in the EV market, reflecting increasing EV popularity. Mainland China was by far the largest EV market, with 55% of global EV sales in H1 2023, a total of 3.4 million units. This represents 31% of all light vehicle shipments in the region, up from 15% in the full year 2021. “China’s growth rate in H1 2023 stood at 43%, a notable decrease from the extraordinary 118% seen in H1 2022. The end of Mainland China’s EV support scheme caused disruption, uncertainty, and a price war,” said Canalys Principal Analyst Jason Low. “While a huge choice of EVs is available in China, no single model has over 10% market share. BYD is the leading EV brand in China, but the Tesla-led price war has been challenging for smaller brands,” Low added.   Compared to overseas markets, China retains a crowded and highly competitive market, which is on the verge of consolidation and reshuffling. “Price wars have caused more automakers to focus on cost reduction, but...

This is the 38th year for our annual Fastest-Growing Companies list, which ranks companies based on growth in revenue, profits, and stock returns; this year’s edition tracks those metrics over the three years through June 2023. The companies featured are worth a combined $4 trillion in market capitalization and, on average, delivered an annual 42% return to shareholders over the past three years. That significantly outperformed the S&P 500 index’s 15% annual return to shareholders over the same period.  Industrials led all sectors with a 108% three-year average annual earnings growth rate. Alongside No. 2 Tesla, the No. 3 spot was also claimed by a Texas-based company from the industrial sector. McKinney-based electrical equipment company Encore Wire saw nearly $3 billion in revenue in the four quarters before April 2023. Chemical company Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) (No.4) is the sole South American company on this list, headquartered in Santiago, Chile. SQM generated more ...

Let’s take a closer look at the top 5 richest countries in the world, and explore how you can live there in 2023. Country      GDP per capita (USD) Luxembourg      141,590 Singapore      131,430 Ireland      131,030 Qatar      113,670 Switzerland      84,470 1. Luxembourg      GDP per capita (USD) 141,590 Tiny Luxembourg is the wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita. In the heart of Europe, Luxembourg offers easy access to markets throughout the region. It’s also an ideal hub for many transcontinental transport routes, including rail lines, roads, and maritime shipping routes (despite being landlocked!). Strong economic policies in Luxembourg promote business development and foreign investment. There are tax incentives for foreign companies and streamlined immigration procedures for their workers. Luxembourg has a highly skilled and educated workfor...

  Electric cars have begun to conquer the roads, and as gasoline and diesel-powered cars are gradually phased out, this trend becomes even more pronounced. It is not limited to cars only, as more and more electric vehicles are available, 10 advantages of electric cars Lower operating costs Electric cars typically have lower operating costs compared to gasoline cars due to lower fuel costs, reduced maintenance costs, and higher energy efficiency. Cleaner energy source Electric cars run on electricity, which is a cleaner energy source compared to gasoline, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Improved driving experience Electric cars offer a smoother and quieter driving experience, which many drivers find preferable to traditional gasoline cars. Lower dependence on oil Electric cars reduce the reliance on oil, making nations less dependent on volatile foreign oil markets. Improved air quality By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, electric cars ...

 “We can feel there is a strong climate pressure more than ever. So, we can see everywhere electric cars. The hot-topic this year also is about digital. We can see some companies coming from consumer electronics, such as LG. We have Samsung. We can feel that it’s all about connectivity, 5G, the Cloud. So, we’ll be connected to the home, connected to the office.” Japanese company Sekisui makes materials for different industries worldwide, including mobility. It’s been in Europe for 60 years and has been supplying the European automotive market since the 1980s. The firm says 75 percent of today’s cars in Europe are equipped with its technologies. Components for glass are a big focus. This concept car, showing off the windows of tomorrow. Masashi Yanai is the Product Planning Director, at Sekisui Europe.  “By touch switching, the glass can turn to transparent and also back to the privacy glass. Also, for the front door, we also integrated for in the car, because there are no door...