kscarbel2

Paul, I don't believe that China has the sway over North Korea that some want to believe. They are neighbors, but China's motivation for North Korea's continued existence has, since the 1953 Korean War's cease fire agreement, has always been to have the DPRK as a "buffer zone" between it and US-controlled South Korea. China very much likes this arrangement. Particularly over the last 10-15 years, North Korea has been increasingly viewed by Beijing and its people as a pain in the behind. Beijing has failed, though not for a lack of trying, to get North Korea to set aside the military agenda and focus on its infrastructure and people (because the bad DPRK economy results in an unwelcome migration of people into China). North Korea only pays Beijing lip service, ignoring most of Beijing's advise. Anyway, I sense that China has little to no sway at this point over the DPRK, and hasn't since the founder passed away in 1994 (China did have a bond with him). China can arrange a meeting, but that's about all.

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Big Rigs / April 13, 2017 This month, more than 40 logging trucks and their drivers rallied alongside the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) in a fight for the survival of the Heyfield Mill in Victoria. A strong visual reminder of the role trucking plays in any industry, it's clear the potential closure of the Heyfield Mill in a town that's home to 2000 people goes far deeper than just the end of a single company. As the current situation stands, access to areas of Central Highlands timber has been restricted due to the presence of the leadbeater's possum, listed under threatened species status. Mill owner Australian Sustainable Hardwoods, (ASH) which processes 150,000 cubic metres of timber per annum, has rejected the government's counter-offer of a three-year contract consisting of close to half the amount of timber and a $4.7million operational subsidy. As new agreements are debated and possums are surveyed, workers and trucking contractors count down to the end of the existing supply agreement, which expires on June 30, 2017. But that's all politics. For 62-year-old Gerald Conway of G&S Conway, the closure of the Heyfield Mill could mean the end of his working career and family business. Driving from the age of 18 using a special license from the police department, the local contractor started moving wood chips in 1978. "We keep busy on the chip and employ a few people - it's good work,” he said. "They keep saying there is going to be 250 people out of a job, but with all those connected there will be thousands out of work.” Like many of the contractors in town, 100% of his work comes from the mill. Both his brother and nephew are involved in logging and one of Gerald's sons, also dependent on the mill, runs three logging trucks that each come with a specialist set-up worth more than $500,000. "My son just added a Kenworth to his business. It's going to be a struggle to pay that off if the mill goes down,” he said. "We have been doing it all our lives and there are some blokes in the bush with a couple of million worth of gear they won't be able to sell.” Mr Conway, who was part of the Melbourne protest, said he wasn't too keen on one of the proposed solutions, which offered to train workers to switch to the tourism industry. "How many people are they going to take on tours to see this possum?” he sighed. When asked if he could see himself as a guide, Gerald just laughed. "I employ four blokes. I figure if they shut the mill, the rest may fold and Heyfield could pull the pin,” he said. "We've done everything all right - our trucks are geared up for carting chips, I have a specific set-up on trailer so we couldn't resell them. "May as well take 'em out and put them in the tip.” Mr Conway said he felt for others he knew who had bank debts they may be unable to pay off. "It's just a bit hard at the moment. You can't spend any money doing anything because you don't know what is next,” he said. "I know blokes who may lose their house and don't know how to do anything else, some who can't get another job at that age.” Australian Sustainable Hardwoods chief executive Vince Hurley said there were dozens of trucks involved and reliant on the day-to-day running of the Heyfield Mill. "We have many trucks that will be impacted - log trucks carting into us, which is around 42,000 B-double loads per annum,” he said. "There is also a lot of truck movement directly. We need to move stock between the green mill and processing plant, which is about 38,000 normal semi loads a year. "All of them are private subbies and contractors.” Chip trucks like Gerald's do about 1200 loads of chips for the mill per year, alongside 450 loads of sawdust. Final products like wood goods and timber also call for 15,000 outgoing loads a year. "The fact is, currently this is a good, profitable mill which makes money and employs people,” Mr Hurley said. "It is extremely frustrating for everyone. Right now we are waiting for the government to give us some answers. "Every day in this business we spend money on improvements, so if we are going to continue to operate we need to have some longevity.” For those involved, it's this uncertainty causing the most pain. "This is not a good thing - The sooner we know, the better. People are filled with anxiety. We want to resolve this for our people, suppliers and transporters,” he said. The amount of viable timber supplies remains in question, the answer dependent on which side of government is asked. But the impact of the closure - if it happens - is clear: the flow-on effects will be felt by the trucking industry. Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has stated he is working at a federal level to determine the future of the mill. "There is no doubt the flow-on effects of the Australian Sustainable Hardwoods sawmill closing would be felt heavily by the heavy vehicle industry,” Minister Chester said. .

TCA urges Congress to forgo any increases to 80,000-pound limit James Jaillet, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) / April 12, 2017 The Truckload Carriers Association has issued a letter to lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate asking them to retain the current 80,000-pound weight limit for tractor-trailers operating on U.S. roadways. Responding to an apparent interest by legislators eyeing an increase to a 91,000-pound, six-axle limit, TCA told lawmakers in the letter that an 11,000-pound increase in the country’s truck weight limit would “only benefit a minority of carriers, while forcing the rest of the industry either to divert critical resources into these new configurations or risk becoming obsolete.” Those in favor of the legislation, such as Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.), say increasing maximum weight limits in the U.S. would boost highway safety, reduce congestion and increase trucking’s efficiency. Ribble introduced a bill in 2015 to bump the maximum weight limit to 91,000 pounds nationally. The issue has cropped up several times in recent years in both the House and the Senate as either add-ons to larger bills or standalone legislation. It doesn’t appear any new legislation has been introduced yet regarding a weight-limit increase this Congressional term. TCA seemingly is getting ahead of the looming legislative session, during which such legislation could be in play. TCA argues an increase in allowable weight limits and a sixth axle would become a de facto mandate for all carriers, as they would be pressed by market conditions to retrofit their equipment with a sixth axle and other necessary equipment to haul 91,000-pound loads, TCA says, to keep up with competitors. Such equipment updates range from $3,000 to $4,800 a trailer, TCA argues, which would cost even mid-size carriers potentially millions. Upfitting would also come with higher ongoing operating costs, the trade group argues, such as on brakes, tires and more. “Carriers are unlikely to see rate increases that fully offset the cost of moving the additional weight,” TCA argues in its letter. “Certainly no one will pay for the increased cost of fuel associated with a sixth axle, especially if it was not required for the shipment. The cost burden will fall squarely on the carrier.”

Transport Topics / April 12, 2017 Global truck- and carmaker Daimler AG said its first-quarter earnings will be significantly better than during the same three-month period in 2016. The Stuttgart, Germany-based manufacturer said all five of its major divisions earned more operating income for the quarter, year-over-year, and also improved their profit margins. The April 11 statement from Daimler was an unaudited earnings preview ahead of the formal first-quarter presentation April 26. For the corporation as a whole, operating income is expected to be 4.01 billion euros, an 86.6% surge over the 2.15 billion euros in the 2016 first quarter. Among the five divisions, Daimler Trucks is expected to increase quarterly operating profit by 29.5%, year-over-year, to 668 million euros. Operating margin is estimated to increase to 8.4% from 6.3%. Truck making is Daimler’s second-largest unit. Mercedes-Benz cars, the largest division, is headed for a 60.1% increase in operating income to 2.33 billion euros, the company said. Operating margin appears to be improving to 9.8% from 7% a year ago. The company’s other divisions are Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Buses and financial services.

Volvo Trucks USA Press Release / April 12, 2017 . .

Volvo previews new VNR regional haul model Fleet Owner / April 12, 2017 Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) offered a glimpse of the shape of trucks to come with two preview videos for its new Volvo VNR regional haul model. “The VNR is wholly reimagined inside and out. It melds a modern, connected workspace inside the cab with bold exterior lines and optimized dimensions for maximum efficiency. This is a truck built to deliver the versatility our customers need to face the challenges of the rapidly evolving North American freight network” said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “We expect that the VNR’s bold, dynamic appearance will change antiquated perceptions of what trucks should look like.” To gauge impressions of the VNR’s streamlined exterior styling, Volvo Trucks mentioned it recently offered a sneak peek to a few people—none of whom are actors, most with no connection to the trucking industry—and filmed their reactions. Volvo Trucks noted it has been adopting automotive features to help make driving freight vehicles easier and created a state-of-the-art driving environment to help attract more drivers to the industry. New features include a proprietary steering wheel that tilts like a car’s—the first and only one in the industry—more ergonomic seats, an advanced infotainment system and a new instrument cluster with many new functions in the driver information display. An updated version of the Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission and Volvo’s I-See predictive cruise control that memorizes road topography help shift more efficiently. Enhanced passive safety features and Volvo Active Driver Assist makes the new Volvo VNR the safest Volvo ever, according to the company. Designed and engineered expressly for regional haul applications, the new Volvo VNR was developed to be adapted to bulk transport, flatbed, liquid tankers, port drayage, and other urban pickup and delivery operations. “Volvo as a brand has always been innovative. We’re always driving progress,” said Nyberg. “Especially in this new Volvo VNR, we wanted to apply technology to meet specific needs articulated by our customers. We’re giving them a better tool to apply to the complexities of their regional haul applications.” The new Volvo VNR will make its public debut April 20 at ExpoCam in Montreal.

Volvo Trucks to Launch Regional VNR Model Heavy Duty Trucking / April 12, 2017 Saying it will "change antiquated perceptions of what trucks should look like," Volvo Trucks North America will launch its new VNR Regional Haul truck at the ExpoCam show in Montreal later this month, with new streamlined experior styling and features such as a steering wheel that tilts like a car’s. Volvo says the new truck is groundbreaking in terms of modern design. To gauge impressions of the VNR’s streamlined exterior styling, Volvo recently offered a sneak peek to a few people — none of whom are actors, most with no connection to the trucking industry — and filmed their reactions. The new videos can be seen here and here. (Volvo has had great success on Youtube in the past, most notably with its famous Jean Claude Van Damme video, which showed the actor doing a split atop two European Volvo Globetrotter trucks. The video went viral in the fall of 2013.) "The VNR is wholly reimagined inside and out. It melds a modern, connected workspace inside the cab with bold exterior lines and optimized dimensions for maximum efficiency," said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. "This is a truck built to deliver the versatility our customers need to face the challenges of the rapidly evolving North American freight network. We expect that the VNR’s bold, dynamic appearance will change antiquated perceptions of what trucks should look like.” Volvo has been adopting automotive features to help make driving freight vehicles easier and created what it says is a state-of-the-art driving environment to help attract more drivers to the industry. This design philosophy is reflected in a host of new features on the truck, Volvo says, including proprietary steering wheel that tilts like a car’s — the first and only one in the industry, according to the company — more ergonomic seats, an advanced infotainment system and a new instrument cluster with many new functions in the driver information display. Other new features include an updated version of the Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission and Volvo’s I-See predictive cruise control that memorizes road topography help shift more efficiently. There will be enhanced passive safety features as well as the Volvo Active Driver Assist, which the company says makes the new VNR the safest Volvo ever. “Volvo as a brand has always been innovative. We’re always driving progress,” said Nyberg. “Especially in this new Volvo VNR, we wanted to apply technology to meet specific needs articulated by our customers. We’re giving them a better tool to apply to the complexities of their regional haul applications.” The new Volvo VNR will make its public debut April 20 at ExpoCam in Montreal. HDT's Jim Park will be on hand to cover the unveiling. .

Using "crystal clear" English, Trump continuously promised that on "day one" he would label China a currency manipulator. But now he has flip-flopped and thrown yet another campaign promise to the curb, alike his NAFTA promise. If you go to the Trump-Pence website, that page has been deleted ("Designate China as a currency manipulator"). Folks, this situation has been going on for many years. It hasn't suddenly and dramatically changed over a few months. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US won't label China a currency manipulator Nikkei Asian Review / April 13, 2017 WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- President Donald Trump said Wednesday in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that his administration won't label China a currency manipulator in a report due this week. Trump said the reason he has changed his mind on one of his signature campaign promises is that China hasn't been manipulating its currency for months and because taking the step now could jeopardize his talks with Beijing on confronting the threat of North Korea. "They're not currency manipulators," Trump said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Atlantic / April 14, 2017 Why does Trump no longer believe China is devaluing its currency, even though he has said so as recently as February? “It’s a very, very complex issue and I’m gonna leave it to the president to specifically answer it,” answered White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm going to instruct my treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator"

Since when do police/airport security wear grubby blue jeans? Answer: They never have. Anyway, note this new video from 0:49. The paid thug tells the doctor, the paying customer seated in his purchased seat, "You'd rather go to jail than just get off?" Jail? On what charge? .

Mercedes-Benz undecided on future diesel sales in U.S. Reuters / April 12, 2017 Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz USA chief said the company has not decided whether to resume selling diesel vehicles in the United States. The company has not received approval from the EPA to sell 2017 model diesel vehicles. The EPA said in September 2015 that it would review all U.S. light vehicles with diesel engines following an admission from Volkswagen AG that it had installed software in vehicles that allowed them to emit up to 40 times legally permissible level of pollution. In April 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice asked Daimler to investigate the emissions certification process for its Mercedes vehicles. Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, told reporters at the New York auto show that the company's engineers are in talks with the EPA over the diesel vehicles. He said he was not aware of the status of those talks. Before the EPA declined to approve the sale of 2017 diesel models, Mercedes-Benz diesels accounted for just 2-3 percent of U.S. volume, Exler said. "No decision made one way or the other," on the future of diesel sales, he added. Exler said the automaker plans a big boost in electric vehicles, adding 10 new EVs by 2025 worldwide, including 7 or 8 coming to the United States. "That's going to be the big focus going forward," he said. He declined to comment on the status of the EPA review, saying if a "regulatory investigation is ongoing and you are not involved, it does not make sense to comment." In March, German prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into whether Daimler employees may have committed fraud in a probe tied to diesel vehicle emissions. Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by Tata Motors, said on Wednesday it was adding a seventh diesel model for sale in the United States. The company estimates about 10-15 percent of its U.S. sales will be diesels this year. Fiat Chrysler is also still trying to win U.S. approval to sell 2017 diesel models as the U.S. government decides whether to take legal action. The EPA accused the Italian-American automaker of illegally using undeclared software to allow excess diesel emissions from 104,000 U.S. trucks and SUVs. The EPA has refused to grant Fiat Chrysler approval to sell 2017 diesel models. VW Group of America chief Hinrich Woebcken reiterated on Wednesday the company has no plans to resume sales of new diesel models in the U.S. In March, VW won approval from the EPA to sell up to 67,000 diesel vehicles from the 2015 model year, including about 12,000 in dealer inventory with approved emissions fixes. Woebcken said dealers have not yet resumed sales.

ANA is first class. I like Thai, Singapore, Cathay and Etihad as well. .

My airline of choice......a perfect experience every time. .

Drought Angels hay run: ‘They were glad they haven’t been forgotten’ Owner/Driver / April 12, 2017 A number of generous truckies assisted in delivering much-needed hay, cotton seed and dog food to the drought-stricken Auburn region in what was a successful first event of the year for the Drought Angels. On the day, generous truckies Tim Ison from Ison Haulage and Chris Dolbel from Nobby’s Transport, both Chinchilla based owner-drivers, donated their time, fuel and trucks to help the Drought Angels deliver supplies to eight farmers in need. Drought Angels Co-Founder Tash Johnston says the farmers were appreciative and glad to know the general public wants to help. "The families were overwhelmed and were so grateful that people understand and want to help them," Tash said. "They were so glad they haven’t been forgotten." Tash explained that the Drought Angels still need to get about 400 bales of hay from Kerang in Victoria up to Wyandra in south-west Queensland. "We have about eight truck loads of hay to get from Kerang to Wyandra, so any help would be appreciated," she said. The Drought Angels plan on doing plenty of aid work across the year, but rely on donations to keep things moving. "We’re going to do some more hay drops, but we need to raise money first. "We’re holding a big fundraiser later in the year but in the meantime it’s about getting food hampers out, prepaid grocery vouchers and more hay. "Every donation helps." If you’re able to assist with carting hay from Kerang to south-west Surat, email the Drought Angels on droughtangels@gmail.com.au To help make the Auburn visit a successful one, and to help the Angels get to more regions across the year, tax-deductible donations can be made at http://droughtangels.org.au/product/make-a-donation-drought-angels/ .

Fuso reveals new upgrades to Canter range Prime Mover Magazine / April 12, 2017 Daimler truck brand, Fuso, has introduced an improved Canter line-up in response to customer feedback. The Japanese truck manufacturer has said the new Fuso Canter features have been geared towards improving driver experience, as well as upgraded seats and interior trim. “Canter already had the best-in-class payload, as well as excellent efficiency and performance, but we have introduced several targeted initiatives aimed at further increased efficiency for our customers,” said Fuso Truck and Bus Director, Justin Whitford. “Along with our class-leading warranty backing, these changes make the Canter range an even more cost-effective tool for any job.” Fuso’s engineering team said the Canter’s exterior styling remains unchanged, except for a silver painted top grille louvre that gives the upgraded model a subtle lift, while the dashboard and door panels are now a mixture of black and grey, while silver-painted highlights have been added to the gearshift lever surround (on Duonic models) and a steering wheel mounted badge. The seat trim has also changed from blue to black, with new hardwearing vinyl side bolstering introduced to eliminate the chance of fabric fraying due to driver ingress and egress or seatbelt abrasion. “The changes introduced for Canter are in direct response to customer feedback and continue the evolution of our most popular model,” said Romesh Rodrigo, Fuso Senior Manager, Product Management and Engineering. “We are very pleased to introduce a range of product and operational changes that we know will be appreciated by our customers.” The Canter uses a proven 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that can be selected with a five-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed Duonic twin-clutch automated manual, which ensures fast and smooth gearshifts. .

Owner/Driver / April 11, 2017 A KIM Haulage A-double tipper, prepared by Sloanebuilt Trailers, is due to hit the streets in Metro Sydney this week. The performance-based standards (PBS) A-double tipper has an impressive payload of more than 51 tonnes, coming in at 25.6m with a new Mack Superliner up front. This truck further enforces a growing A-double trend around the country, with Sydney looking set to follow in Melbourne’s footsteps. As far as we know, this is the first A-double tipper to operate around metro Sydney, and managing director of KIM Haulage Ken McCelland says it’s only the beginning. "This is the first A-double in my fleet and as far as we know it’s the first A-double tipper in NSW," Ken said. "In my opinion once RMS sees this, they’ll start replacing B-doubles. "It carries more than my B-double yet it’s shorter. "This combination also corners better than my 5-axle setups.’ Business development manager at Sloanebuilt Trailers, Ben Weckwerth, echoed this sentiment citing Sydney’s construction demands. "The A-double market is growing and RMS is doing as much as possible to allow us to use more productive units," Ben said. "It’s a step in the right direction to help with Sydney’s infrastructure boom." While this is KIM Haulage’s first A-double combination, director Ken already has another one planned as he expands his fleet to accommodate local demands. "Our fleet is all PBS, and this is our first A-double," he said. "I went to PBS in 2012 and I’m about to double my operation by putting another 10 PBS-approved truck and trailer combinations on the road this year. "We have all Macks coming, consisting of eight or nine quad-dogs and another A-double." A major sticking point for A-doubles at the moment is their exclusion from the B-double road network, an issue which Ken believes will improve. "RMS wants more productive units and A-doubles mean fewer trucks on the road. "I think they’ll see how safe and productive these A-doubles are and take notice." Sloanebuilt Trailers are getting behind the demand for A-doubles, as the New South Wales market continues to grow. "We’re rolling A-doubles into being a serious part of the business," Ben said. Related reading - https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/48726-maxwell-freightlines-pioneers-high-productivity-interstate-road-trains-from-melbourne/#comment-361539.

Frost & Sullivan Press Release / April 11, 2017 Freightliner's deployment of class-leading technology will help it deliver the lowest RCO to customers Based on its latest survey of US Heavy-Duty Fleet Managers, Frost & Sullivan* recognizes Freightliner Trucks with the 2016 US Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Leadership. Managers of heavy-duty truck fleets identified Freightliner as having the most comprehensive and cost-effective mix of advanced technologies. It leads in both the top weighted mean score (WMS) and loyalty index (LI), and has the highest normalized Product Leadership Index (PLI) score of 10.0. It has far outdone the second and third ranked companies, which have PMIs of 5.7 and 4.7. Freightliner's sustained focus on leveraging advanced technologies for a reduced Real Cost of Ownership℠ (RCO) and uptime maximization, as well as assimilating continuous customer feedback, has helped Freightliner achieve market leadership. It has effectively packaged these advancements in the technology clusters of powertrain, chassis, safety, connectivity, and regulation compliance technologies. This delivers value in the form of a low life cycle cost for fleets and owner/operators. "Fleet managers of the largest private and for-hire fleets in US rank Freightliner as the leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the area of advanced truck technologies," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst, Silpa Paul. "Freightliner's RCO optimization strategy is focused on deploying advanced powertrain technology to reduce fuel consumption and cost, safety features to reduce accident propensity, and connectivity/solution-enabled fleet management to improve vehicle uptime." As fuel efficiency has become an increasingly important component of RCO, Freightliner's engineers have responded with next-generation diesel engines and powertrains alongside compressed and liquefied natural gas options. The company's proprietary full-scale wind tunnel enables it to design aerodynamic vehicles that deliver the power customers demand while reducing fuel consumption. Although the incorporation of advanced technologies can result in higher upfront investment, fleet managers recognize the long-term savings on operational life cycle costs. "Freightliner's product leadership is further strengthened by accepting feedback from customers regarding product attributes and value design processes," noted Paul. "The company is in constant dialogue with members of its customer council, its dealers and technicians through formal in-person meetings as well as casual communications, in order to be able to incorporate valuable customer feedback in the product design." In addition to an open line of communication with dealers, technicians and customers, Freightliner's parent company, Daimler Trucks North America LLC's (DTNA) market research & analytics team proactively seeks customer feedback from high-value customers on its own as well as its competitor's products. For such proactive initiatives to develop a world-class product, Frost & Sullivan is pleased to present Freightliner with the 2016 US Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Leadership. "Freightliner has been an innovative and customer-centric company since its inception," said Mary Aufdemberg, director of product marketing, Freightliner Trucks. "This Product Leadership Award upholds our reputation as a leader in technology, and providing the best solutions to our customers for their success, and we receive it proudly." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables. Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for outstanding achievement in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research. * Frost & Sullivan is a leading global market research and analysis firm.

Today's Mack is not the product that we connect the name with from 20-25 years ago. It has become a disposable truck, alike the Freightliner you speak of. With a European thought process, Volvo doesn't want you to attempt to keep the truck more than five years.

Eaton and Cummins Inc. Announce Joint Venture Cummins Press Release / April 10, 2017 Eaton and Cummins today announced an agreement to form a joint venture for automated transmissions for heavy-duty and medium-duty commercial vehicles. The joint venture will be named Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies. Cummins and Eaton will each own 50 percent of the new joint venture. The formation of the joint venture is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The parties expect the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2017. Cummins will consolidate joint venture results as part of its Components business segment. “Customers are focused on powertrain solutions that provide the best combination of technology, performance and quality,” said Craig Arnold, Eaton chairman and chief executive officer. “Our joint venture with Cummins will leverage the technical strengths and experience of two industry leaders with long histories and deep industry expertise to provide superior automated transmission technology for our global customers.” “Our growth strategy includes expanding our product offerings and extending our global footprint by becoming the world’s leading powertrain supplier,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. “Our JV with Eaton will deliver the most advanced automated transmissions and develop an integrated powertrain and service network that supports our customers like never before. Just as we’ve done for the past 100 years, we will use our experience in partnerships and technological expertise to ensure our customers’ success.” The global joint venture will provide customers with industry-leading transmission technologies and solutions that deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency, performance and uptime while leveraging both Cummins’ and Eaton’s global service and support networks. The joint venture will design, assemble, sell and support all future medium-duty and heavy-duty automated transmissions for the commercial vehicle market. Eaton’s current medium-duty automated transmission, Procision®, and next generation heavy-duty automated transmissions, will be part of the joint venture. In addition, the joint venture will market, sell, and support Eaton’s current generation of automated heavy-duty transmissions to OEM customers in North America. Eaton’s Vehicle Group will retain its global manual transmission business, global clutch business, current generation medium-duty and heavy-duty automated transmission business outside of North America, global aftermarket business, light-duty transmission business, agricultural transmission business, and global automotive business and associated product lines. Under the terms of the agreement, Eaton will receive $600 million in cash from Cummins for 50 percent interest in the joint venture. Conference Call with Eaton Management at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, April 10, 2017 Eaton’s conference call to discuss the joint venture is available to all interested parties as a live audio webcast today at 1 p.m. United States Eastern time via a link on the center of Eaton’s home page. This news release can be accessed under its headline on the home page. An audio replay of the webcast will be available at the same link. Cummins leadership will comment further on the joint venture and answer investor questions during its Q1 2017 Earnings call on May 2 at 10 a.m. ET.

The Guardian / April 11, 2017 White House press secretary Sean Spicer said he was “sure” that Donald Trump had seen the video. “I don’t think anyone looks at that video and isn’t a little disturbed that another human being is treated that way,” he told reporters. “Clearly watching another human being dragged down an aisle, watching blood come from their face after hitting an armrest or whatever, I don’t think there’s a circumstance that you can’t sit back and say this probably could have been handled a little bit better, when you’re talking about another human being.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CNN / April 12, 2017 The man who ended up bloodied and screaming Sunday night, Dr. David Dao, had initially agreed to get off the plane, passenger Jayse Anspach said. "Him and his wife, they volunteered initially," Anspach said. "But once they found out that the next flight wasn't until (Monday) at 2:30 p.m., he said, 'I can't do that. I gotta be at work.' So he sat back down." The harder the officers tried to get the man to leave, the harder the man insisted he stay. "He was very emphatic: 'I can't be late. I'm a doctor. I've got to be there tomorrow,' " Anspach recalled.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is under fire for saying Hitler didn't use chemical weapons Los Angeles Times / April 11, 2017 Spicer, overlooking the gas chambers, said Hitler ‘didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons’ White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer appeared to forget about the Holocaust when comparing Hitler with Syrian President Bashar Assad during a cringe-worthy televised briefing with reporters on Tuesday. “You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons," Spicer said, in an attempt to argue that Russia and other countries that are not standing up to Assad are on the wrong side of history. Spicer's rendering ignored the horror of the Holocaust, where gas chambers were used as part of a genocide campaign that killed 6 million Jews as well as millions of others including Gypsies and gay people. “You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” Sean Spicer Many expressed shock as Spicer went on to field other questions. Spicer was given a chance to recover in a follow-up question, but instead evoked more gasps. “He was not using gas on his own people the same way,” Spicer said. He referred to the Syria bomb victims as "innocent." He then added awkwardly that he was aware of "Holocaust centers" and that he meant that Hitler did not use gas in the middle of towns. The suggestion that Holocaust victims were not Hitler's "own people" — intended or not — hit a sore nerve for Jews and other victims who considered themselves loyal subjects of Germany. There is also a painful and long history of Holocaust deniers who claim, among other things, that gas chambers were not used to kill Jews. Spicer's comments came during Passover, in which Jews celebrate freedom from oppression. After the press briefing ended, Spicer released another clarification in written form: "In no way was I trying to lessen the horrendous nature of the Holocaust," he said. "I was trying to draw a distinction of the tactic of using airplanes to drop chemical weapons on population centers [exactly as Japan’s Unit 731 did in WW2]. Any attack on innocent people is reprehensible and inexcusable." . .