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As many as 9.5m toys in the US are being recalled. However, the majority of the toys are no longer being retailed.
The latest recall began with a toy from the film Cars, and affects 436,000 toys globally - specifically the car based on the Sarge character.
It follows the recall of some Fisher-Price toys, including ones based on Dora the Explorer, announced on August 1. The recall has been caused by lead-contaminated paint supplied by a third party to one of Mattel's contractors in China.
As well as the Disney Pixar Cars material, Mattel is recalling 62 other toys sold between January 2007 and now. They include 44 Polly Pocket toys, 11 Doggie Day Care toys, four Batman toys, one One Piece toy, and the accessory part of two Barbie toys.
In the ad campaign, which ran in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Financial Times US and USA Today, Mattel chief executive Robert Eckert had written a letter telling parents that "nothing is more important than the safety of our children".
He went on to say: "Our long record of safety at Mattel is why we're one of the most trusted names with parents, and I am confident that the actions we are taking now will maintain that trust."
In the wake of the findings, Mattel has implemented a three-point checking system to ensure that only paint from certified suppliers is used. It is also tightening up its testing procedures.
In a statement revealing the latest recall, Eckert said: "The safety of children is our primary concern, and we are deeply apologetic to everyone affected.
"We don't want to have recalls, but we don't hesitate to take quick and effective action to correct issues as soon as we've identified them to ensure the safety of our products and the safety of children."
The owner of one of the factories involved in the recall, Zhang Shuhong, hanged himself in a warehouse owned by the company last week, Chinese state media has reported.


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Popularity of Premier Inn and Costa coffee chain bumps up Whitbread profits
Whitbread has hailed market-beating performances by its top brands Premier Inn and coffee chain Costa for delivering a chunky increase in profits.
Premier Inn benefited from the UK's shift towards 'strong branded hotels' as it overcame a decline in the wider market with growth of 2.4 per cent in revenue per available room.
But Whitbread said it expected Premier's sales growth in the second half of the year to be more moderate than the 'high levels' seen in the first half.
Profit growth: Ad campaign featuring Lenny Henry helps boost hotel chain
Premier, which has benefited from an advertising campaign featuring comedian Lenny Henry, opened another 1,500 rooms in the past six months, taking its total to 49.020. It has plans to extend this figure to 65,000 rooms by 2016.
Meanwhile, Whitbread said Costa delivered an 'outstanding performance', with underlying profits up 30 per cent to £36.1million and 141 new coffee shops opened.
The figure for Whitbread's hotels and restaurants, including Beefeater and Brewers Fayre, rose 8.5 per cent to £181.3million.
This generated a profit haul of £193.4million for the six months to August 30, as total revenues climbed 14.2 per cent to just above £1billion.
But Whitbread's shares were down 49p at 2,274p in late morning trading as investors took profits after a recent strong run, and responded to the warning that hotels sales growth was set to slow.
Whitbread employs more than 40,000 people at 2,500 sites in the UK.
Income shares watch: Whitbread hiked its half-year dividend by 11.4 per cent to 19.5p. The shares yield 2.18 per cent.
View from the City
'Whitbread is flying the flag as an example of an established company showing growth stock characteristics,' said Richard Hunter, head of equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.
'Most of the boost comes from the twin growth engines of Costa and Premier Inn, where the Olympics provided a tangible benefit for the latter.
'With international opportunities providing further room for manoeuvre, the company has been able to reinvest in the business and also maintain its progressive dividend policy. An element of caution comes in the form of a net debt figure which edged higher and a rather more conservative outlook for the second half.
'However, by tapping into the consumer zeitgeist, Whitbread continues to appeal to the cash-strapped consumer and the shares have reacted accordingly, having risen 39 per cent over the last year as compared to a 7 per cent hike in the wider FTSE 100.'
Sheridan Admans investment research manager at The Share Centre, said: 'Investors moved in this morning to take profits as Whitbread delivered double-digit growth, supported by profits from its Costa Coffee operation and higher prices at its budget hotel operation, Premier Inn, which benefited from the Olympics.
Stock watch: Whitbread shares have risen steadily over the past year
'Growth seekers will be encouraged to see the company’s aggressive five-year plan defy the UK recession. The Premier Inn brand opened a further 1591 rooms at a time when one of its biggest competitors, Travelodge, is being forced to close a number of its hotels to lessen the heavy burden of its debt restructuring plans.
'Costa Coffee also opened a further 141 coffee shops and plan to have a total of 350 new shops by the end of its financial year.
'Despite Whitbread being on target to meet its growth plan and the attractiveness of its business model, we continue to recommend investors "hold" in these challenging times as we believe the potential is currently reflected in the price.'
Jeffrey Harwood of broker Oriel Securities also has a hold recommendation on the stock.
'Whitbread is a strong company performing well but we consider the shares are fairly valued, following strong outperformance this year,' he said.
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Study says GMOs can cohabit with conventional and organic agriculture
Genetically modified organisms, organic production and conventional agriculture all have their place in modern farming, according to a new report by the Swiss food industry.
Internutrition, an association grouping 14 companies said that different methods could be used side-by-side.
After carrying out research into the health and environmental effects of the different methods, the association said that the authorities should treat them equally.
Security measures imposed on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture should also be applied to the conventional and organic methods. The association said that this would remove any doubts about the safety of organic production.
Internutrition said it strongly supported the use of GMOs in agriculture, allowed farmers to reduce the use of pesticides. Over 20 years of experience of GMOs being consumed by millions of people, confirmed that their use in food was safe.
The association said it was opposed to a moratorium on GMOs, saying that such a step would show the authorities lacked a long-term vision.
The Internutrition study follows one in May by the environmental organisation Greenpeace. Greenpeace called for an immediate GMO moratorium, saying that it was impossible to avoid contamination of conventional and organic agriculture if the three methods were used simultaneously.
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Harrods launches fashion rental service
Harrods, a London-based department store, has announced the introduction of a new garment rental business in collaboration with My Wardrobe HQ. Check the news Harrods launches fashion rental service and more on Switzerland based Luxury lifestyle Magazine- Kenleaks Magazine.
The selection of rental goods will be available on My Wardrobe HQ and at a Knightsbridge department store, letting Harrods consumers to access the clothing they are interested in in a more familiar way.
My Wardrobe is a premium garment rental platform as well as a social network for buying, selling, and renting designer products established in the United Kingdom.
Women’s clothes and accessories from the wardrobes of Arizona Muse, Poppy and Chloe Delevingne, Olivia Buckingham, Roxy Nafusi, Caroline Fleming, and other renowned fashion stylists and personalities may be found here.
My Wardrobe HQ is one of Harrods’ aims on the path to more sustainable growth, with an emphasis on services that assist consumers extend the life of premium products.
Harrods Limited is a department store located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London, England. It is owned by the state of Qatar via its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority.
Check the news Harrods launches fashion rental service and more on Switzerland based Luxury lifestyle Magazine- Kenleaks Magazine.


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DHS Announces National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security
Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano revealed a plan to protect U.S. goods from terrorists, criminals, and natural disasters and to strengthen the U.S. supply chain globally Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
“We must continue tostrengthen global supply chains to ensure that they operate effectively in time of crisis; recover quickly from disruptions; and facilitate international trade and travel," Napolitano said.
TheNational Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security establishes two goals:
“The first is to promote the efficient and secure movement of goods and the second is to foster a global supply chain system that is prepared for and can withstand evolving threats and hazards, and rapidly recovery from disruptions,” according to a DHS press release.
DHS and the Department of State will lead a six month engagement period with the international community and industry stakeholders to solicit feedback and recommendations on how to implement the plan in a “cost effective and collaborative manner.” Within 12 months of the release of the strategy, a consolidated report on the status of implementation efforts will be developed, according to the release.
Click below to download The National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security.national-strategy-for-global-supply-chain-security.pdf
photo by photohome_uk /flickr


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Most of us are in wait-and-see mode right now
Speaking of marketing and advertising business, analysts have marked that advertising agencies are already dealing with a weak outdoor advertising market, see its audience head indoors and away from billboards.
Our team has a new and exciting announcement about an UPCOMING product coming to help you and your company to grow advertising business and monetize advertising space for its true value. Mysterious enough?
Today, we have the pleasure to announce that our company East Idea Integrated Solution recently became IAB Hong Kong powered by HKDMA (Interactive Advertising Bureau Hong Kong) member! With comScore, Facebook, Google, Next Digital, RedLotus, South China Morning Post, a...


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Last month, I reported on the “sumangali girls” in India, workers who are lured to textile factories on the promise that they will earn enough money for a dowry or higher education—but instead end up working long hours for little pay in exploitative conditions.
Since the story came out, many readers have asked how they can support fair labor with their purchases. Unfortunately, there’s not one easy answer. As NPR’s new Planet Money series illustrates, tracing a T-shirt from cotton field to store shelf is complicated business. But consumers can help. Here are seven tips to keep in your pocket during your holiday shopping:
1. Check the label.
For clothing that is not made in the United States, check out Fair Trade USA, a certification group that evaluates all parts of companies’ supply chains. Between March 2010 and June 2012, only 4 out of 55 factories in 23 countries it considered were immediately certified. Today, the group certifies certain products made by these five companies. Social Accountability International is another good resource for which factories have undergone auditing. Some individual companies (like H&M) post some information about the factories they buy from online.
Another approach: Buy only clothes made in the United States, where labor laws are comparatively strong. As Mac McClelland reports, building an entire wardrobe out of made-in the-USA labels can be tough. But don’t give up: Here is a list of stores to get you started.
And if you do decide to go the made-in the USA route, here’s something to keep in mind: In order to earn a USA label, “all or virtually all” of a product must be produced here, according to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requirements. However, garments made of fabric sewn in the United States are allowed to have a USA label “regardless of where materials earlier in the manufacturing process (for example, the yarn and fiber) came from.” So it’s possible that cotton production and spinning for your skinny jeans’ denim, for example, could take place in India, but the jeans would still earn a USA label.
2. Buy used clothes.
At $15 a pair, your leopard-print pumps can fall apart after you wear them once—and you’ll still be able to replace them without breaking the bank. As Elizabeth Cline noted in her book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, Americans are “buying and hoarding roughly 20 billion garments per year.” Keeping prices low encourages suppliers to drive their costs down abroad, so one way to beat the cycle is to reuse what’s already out there by shopping at thrift stores, consignment shops, and online resale sites. Buffalo Exchange, eBay, and Bib+Tuck are good options. (Goodwill has been criticized in Forbes and NBC News for paying disabled workers below minimum wage, so check with your local store.)
3. Support small clothing companies that don’t allow exploitation in their factories.
Look for companies that build fair labor into their business models. Alta Gracia, for example, makes its clothes in the Dominican Republic, but pays three times the local minimum wage and allows workers to unionize. San Francisco-based Everlane publishes information about its factories, providing full reports on each one with photos and owners’ names. Its prices are comparable to those of chains like Urban Outfitters and the GAP.
4. Support big clothing companies making progress.
Sometimes, US companies respond to consumer boycotts by pulling out of a region entirely, leaving local workers without any jobs at all. So instead of boycotting, consider buying from companies whose social responsibility initiatives you believe in. H&M, for example, offers discounts to shoppers who recycle their clothing at its stores. Levi Strauss & Co. gives money to Social Awareness and Voluntary Education,? which provides rehabilitation for sumangali workers in India. Eileen Fisher manufactures 10-20 percent of its products domestically and conducts mandatory anti-trafficking trainings for managers and workers at its Chinese factories.
5. Support companies that are making their factories safer.
Last April, Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza collapsed, killing more than 1,000 garments workers, many of whom were reportedly making clothing for US companies. Following that incident, more than 100 garment companies signed a legally binding agreement requiring the signatories to share the costs of safety upgrades in more than 1000 factories over the next five years. To see a list of which companies have signed, click here.
6. Read independent apparel industry reports.
In 2012, the anti-trafficking organization Free2Work released a comprehensive report comparing US clothing companies’ labor practices. The Fair Labor Association regularly publishes reports on garment factory conditions around the world, as does Anti-Slavery International and the Clean Clothes Campaign. These organizations send researchers to conduct independent interviewers with workers on the ground, providing a more complete picture of the industry.
7. Ask yourself: Do I really need this?
Because a lot of the time, that new T-shirt simply isn’t worth it.


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RGG Studio, the developer behind the long running
Yakuza Like a Dragon franchise, is in the process of “researching” Unreal Engine 5, as it considers dropping its current, in-house Dragon Engine. As reported by IGN, the team is aware that its custom engine is starting to show its age, and would probably need a “major update” if it was going to be used for future games.
There was a time, not too long ago, when the Dragon Engine was the bee’s knees. It was introduced through Yakuza 6: The Song of Life in 2016, and represented a significant jump in terms of technical and graphical prowess. The Dragon Engine still looks good — even great at times — but with RGG Studio adding so many bits and pieces to it over the years, its foundations are starting to creak.
But here’s the interesting part: the newly announced Like a Dragon: Ishin! — a full remake of the PS4 and PS3 samurai spinoff from 2014 — is using Unreal Engine 4. Clearly, the development team thought it would be easier to utilise Epic’s software for that project.
“We are kind of looking at it and saying, what are the merits of each? What’s the merit of the Dragon Engine? What’s the merit of the Unreal Engine?” says Masayoshi Yokoyama.
“The main challenge is that now, we have so many platforms,” he continues. “We have PC, we have Steam, we have Xbox, we have all sorts of things from which our game can be a part of, and so making a game that can be on all these platforms and using the chance to share our game with people all around the world is the major challenge that we think we want to face going forward.”
It could well be that moving to Unreal Engine 5 is the answer to RGG Studio’s conundrum, as it looks to push Like a Dragon even further into the spotlight. Do you think the team should let go of the Dragon Engine and move onto something new? Pray for funny physics in the comments section below.


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NVIDIA to release gaming tablet? Gimme.
Evleaks has done it again; it seems NVIDIA is preparing a gaming tablet for us, and the well known site has gotten an exclusive scoop.
This picture is probably the rumoured NVIDIA Shield tablet; from the looks of it, we can see the stereo speakers in front of the device, and the front-facing camera. We expect a 7.9 inch tablet, with a 2048×1536 resolution, sporting Nvidia’s 2.1GHz clocked Tegra K1 SoC with 2GB of RAM and 5GHz WiFi.
The tablet will also feature Gamestream support and is expected to arrive later this year, so stay tuned.


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Healthy dining doesn't stop with calorie counts and nutrient content.A growing number of restaurant-goers want to know where the food originated — and the closer to home, the better.
In its annual chef survey, the National Restaurant Association found that local and sustainable food production trumped even health-oriented trends forecast for 2012. Additionally, 72 percent of adult consumers indicated they are more likely to visit a restaurant that sells local items, according to the organization.
A Chicago-based research firm, however, says the trade group may be overstating the case.
Technomic Inc. found that just 21 percent of consumers consider "local sourcing" when buying restaurant food or beverages. Still, the trend is significant, says Sara Monnette, the company's director of consumer research.
"I think the entire industry is being impacted at least somewhat by these trends," she says. "If it is not something currently in one brand's strategy, it may be in their competitor's, so those not utilizing local sources have to still think about it."
Even McDonald's is getting in on the act, she notes, with its recent farm-to-fork advertising campaign.
The University of Tennessee is delving deeper into the trend. UT Extension and UT's Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management are collaborating on a statewide survey of restaurants, consumers and farmers.
Eighty to 90 percent of the restaurants included in the survey are already buying some local food products and most would like to buy more, says Dena Wise, professor and extension specialist at UT. The survey tapped five restaurants in each county across the state, most of them independently owned and operated.
"In some cases it may just be lettuce, tomatoes, herbs," Wise says. "A large number of them also indicated they would serve more of certain foods and purchase more if they could get them locally."
Consumers also are interested in purchasing more locally sourced foods, as long as they are convenient, the UT researchers found.
"The problem we have is in setting up some kind of a marketing structure to get the food to local restaurants and local markets, so they can purchase it in a consistent way, in a convenient way," Wise says.
For Mahastie Vafaie, buying local means simply walking out the front door. The Tomato Head faces Market Square, which also hosts a twice-weekly farmers market. Tupelo Honey, a popular eatery with two Asheville, N.C., locations also cited the proximity of the farmers market in announcing its plans to open a Market Square location.
"It is really important to some customers and very important to me and my staff," Vafaie says. "We all get very excited when the market is right outside our door, and we are able to pop outside and buy ingredients to incorporate into our specials."
Vafaie says she has also been able to cultivate relationships with farmers near her newer Maryville restaurant.
Ruby Tuesday has dabbled in local sourcing, using Grainger County tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in its Knoxville restaurants last year. The Maryville company is making similar efforts at its far-flung restaurants, says the executive chef Peter Glander.
"It is truly changing our distribution system," he says. "We have to do that, our guests are expecting it. If you don't do this you're running behind."
Other restaurant operators say they haven't seen a surge in demand. Buying local also presents difficulties for companies neither small enough to easily deal with local farmers nor large enough to manage them, they say.
"Some of that's kind of difficult to do," says Mike Connor, president and CEO of Connor Concepts, which will soon open its 16th restaurant in the Southeast. "You'll have people come over and say, we'd like you to buy our tomatoes. If somebody just grew tomatoes in their backyard they don't have stringent (health and safety) regulations."
Additionally, he says, local sources need to meet the same quality requirements for each of his restaurants, which would be difficult to monitor.
UT researchers acknowledge that buying locally grown food may prove challenging for restaurants large enough to require farmers to have liability insurance, which can price a typical backyard producer out of the market. But, they say, plenty of opportunities exist among small, independent eateries.
"I definitely think it's a connection issue," says Alice Rhea, UT Extension area specialist. "I think the production is there, the products are there, people aren't aware of it."
As an outcome of the Local Table project, the research team hopes to establish some type of third-party to help facilitate relationships between restaurants and local farmers.
"It seems to be an idea whose time has come," Wise says.


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Chromebook churn is becoming a big problem for schools, but who is to blame?
How long should a low-end Chromebook be expected to last?By Shawn Knight 38 comments
The big picture: When the Covid-19 pandemic prompted schools to conduct virtual classes over the Internet to comply with shelter at home orders, many turned to low-cost Chromebooks to ensure every student could work remotely. For many districts, it was the most affordable route forward but now just a couple of years removed from the height of the pandemic, another issue has become abundantly clear.
According to a recent report from the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund, schools are now starting to see these Chromebooks fail and create piles of electronic waste. What's particularly annoying is that in many instances, the hardware in these systems is still perfectly fine.
The report highlights the four year average expiration date for software updates. Once a Chromebook hits its death date, it can no longer receive updates or access secure websites. Aside from the obvious security concerns, teachers have reported that expired laptops are unable to access websites for state testing.
The Chromebook Churn report also draws attention to the fact that finding spare parts for used laptops is a challenge, how scarcity can lead to high prices, and how evolving designs make it impossible to mix and match parts between systems. In one specific example, the report noted that six manufacturers made what it called non-functional changes to the plastic bezel on their Chromebook 11 models "that made these parts incompatible from one model to the next."
Doubling the lifespan of Chromebooks for students in the US could save taxpayers $1.8 billion, the report claimed, assuming no additional maintenance costs.
The group's points make a lot of sense on paper but I'm not sure how well they'd translate to the real world. Is it really feasible to expect a low-cost Chromebook with entry-level hardware to last 8-10 years? What's the experience going to be like for a student using a tried Chromebook in year nine?
I'm all for manufacturers expanding access to spare parts and those that wear out after heavy use, but to blast a Chromebook maker for not using the same design across every model seems a bit excessive. Many companies have experimented with the idea of modular electronics like laptops in the past, and none have found much success. The breakneck speed of tech innovation clashes with the concept and frankly, people desire shiny new electronics.


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Ubisoft raises profit forecast after strong quarterly sales
PARIS Feb 7 (Reuters) - French videogames publisher Ubisoft has raised its sales and profit forecasts for the current financial year after reporting strong demand for games such as Assassin's Creed 3 and Far Cry 3 over the crucial Christmas season.
The group now expects to post an underlying operating profit of 90-100 million euros for the year ending March 31, up from a previous forecast of 70-100 million euros, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Sales are seen coming in at 1.24-1.26 billion euros, compared with a previous forecast of 1.20-1.26 billion euros.
Third-quarter sales rose 23 percent to 802 million euros, beating the group's own forecast of 740-800 million, and the company said it was also optimistic for the new fiscal year, forecasting "further growth in both sales and current operating income." (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
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- Reads from WWW
Thursday, 31 Oct 2013
According to Microsoft, Windows XP systems have an infection rate that's six times higher than Windows 8. And this is likely to increase once support for the 12-year old OS comes to an end next year.
Wednesday, 30 Oct 2013
Intel partner Altera just announced at ARM Developer's conference today that the company will manufacture ARM's 64-bit processors starting next year.
Seagate has just announced two protection plans, which are named 'Rescue' and 'Rescue and Replace'. The 'Rescue and Replace' plan offers device replacement and data recovery for the damaged device. This plan starts at US$ 39.99. The 'Rescue' plan is a data recovery service that starts at US$29.99.
Earlier this month, Adobe announced that its network had been hacked, and that the attackers had accessed customer IDs, encrypted passwords and possibly encrypted credit and debit card numbers of 2.9 million of its customers. The company now says that it could have impacted up to 38 million users instead.
Motorola recently unveiled Project Ara, a free and open hardware platform for creating highly modular phones. Early designs of these phones show that each and every part can be swapped around, letting users choose what their devices can do, and how much they cost.
It appears Google is ready to join the fray with rumors that the Google smartwatch will be hitting the market within months. Hit the link for more.
Google has announced that their instant messaging service, Google Hangout, will now come with SMS integration. Other improvements include support for animated GIFs as well.
Apple has confirmed to The New York Times that a manufacturing issue has affected a limited number of iPhone 5S units which caused the battery to drain faster or take a longer time to charge.
Tuesday, 29 Oct 2013
A limitation of the advanced compact cameras has always been their focal range, and the Stylus 1 gets rid of that with a 10.7x optical zoom lens that has a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout its zoom range. The camera also sports a built-in hot shoe and 3 EV-stop ND filter. Hit the link for more details.
Google will be releasing a new version of Google Glass which will be compatible with prescription eyewear. The option to switch to the new model will be given to all existing Glass users who purchased their device before 28th October 2013.


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The performance of Whitbread shares has been quite astonishing. Against a background of a reasonable but far-from-exciting trading statement, the price has hit a year's high and come close to topping the all-time peak of a little over 1,900p. As I write this the shares are around 1,850p against a 12-month low of 1,409p.
What is going on? As far as I can gather there are two stories circulating in the stock market. One, of course, involves a takeover strike for the budget hotels, coffee shops and pubs/restaurants group. The other relates to the booming Costa Coffee division. It is rumoured that the group is preparing to float (or perhaps even sell) the coffee shop business that has grown rapidly under John Derkach and now embraces more than 2,200 outlets.
The bid is expected to come from across the Atlantic. It is said a US company has completed its research and is near to launching a seemingly irresistible offer. Should a bid materialise – the alleged price is around 2,400p a share – it would capitalise the former brewer at more than £4.2bn. Its current valuation is nearer £3.3bn.
The Costa Coffee story was originally that a flotation was on the cards. But the sudden resignation of Mr Derkach as managing director has clouded the issue. He is taking over at Tragus, the unquoted, heavily indebted restaurant group that takes in the Café Rouge chain, itself once owned by Whitbread. His successor at the coffee counter is Chris Rogers, the Whitbread finance director. The group is now looking for a new head bean counter.
My guess is that a Costa Coffee sale is unlikely but a flotation, possibly with Whitbread shareholders getting special treatment, could be on the agenda, although the group has denied it has any present intention of getting out. The plan is to expand the business. Already Britain's top coffee shop chain, there are aggressive ambitions to extend the number of outlets worldwide to 3,500 by 2016.
Clearly the share strength is intriguing many investors. I feel that something rather more suggestive than current trading is behind the performance.
The group has experienced a profitable transformation in the past decade or so. Once a family controlled "big six" brewer, it had an extensive pub chain and moved, like many of its then rivals, into upmarket hotels, off-licences, soft drinks, wines and spirits as well as restaurants. The pub/restaurant chain is the main surviving element of the old brewing business. Yet Whitbread has continued as a quoted company, unlike all the other once-powerful brewers.
The No Pain, No Gain portfolio alighted on the shares nearly four years ago at 1,105p. It has been something of a bumpy ride, with the price at one time falling to 750p. But in the past few years, as the nation's economy deteriorated, the group's basic ability to resist recessionary influences has come to the rescue.
Booker, the cash and carry chain that remains the star of the portfolio, has produced final quarter figures that should keep shareholders happy although the immediate stock market reaction left much to be desired. In what is normally a low-key 12-week period sales rose 4.8 per cent. In the 52-week year (this year the group enjoys an extra week that should add £1m to operating profits) they were 7.3 per cent higher at £3.9bn.
The group, which now has £63m in the bank against £27m a year ago, intends to announce its results next month. The shares, strong recently, fell 3.25p on the trading update to 81.25p.
Two other constituents have contributed to the City's news flow. Northern Petroleum has, with its much bigger partners, started the search for oil in an area adjacent to the Zaedyus oil discovery off South America. It's a "low cost investment" for Northern, which has a 1.25 per cent interest in the venture.
TEG, the environmental composting group where the possibility of a takeover remains on the agenda, says it has generated electricity at its 50 per cent owned Glenfarg, Perthshire, plant and arranged a new contract with the recycling group Viridor for waste treatment.
Following a couple of approaches, TEG began a strategic review that could lead to a bid. Because of this process, it has postponed publishing its year's figures.


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North says hard cheese as parmesan subsidy grates with struggling southern mozzarella makers
An Italian cheese war has broken out, with cheesemakers from the Mezzogiorno accusing the Government of Silvio Berlusconi of bailing out hard-pressed parmesan producers in the North to save them from the credit crunch while ignoring the plight of mozzarella makers in the South.
The Italian Agriculture Ministry is buying 100,000 wheels of parmigiano reggiano and donating them to the poor, together with 100,000 wheels of grana padano. The cheese bailout is costing €50 million (£44.6 million), paid for from European Union funds intended for charitable causes.
Parmesan, a hard granular cheese whose quality is highly prized and protected by law, is most often grated over pasta dishes, with grana padano as a more economical alternative. Parmesan makers say their sales are off 10 to


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There’s no doubt that huge fortunes have been made on cryptocurrency markets. Now that these digital assets have entered the mainstream, should you be investing in cryptocurrency? Duncan Taylor, Infinity’s Head of Compliance takes a look at the pros and cons.
You don’t have to google very hard to find cryptocurrency success stories. The internet is awash with tales of successful investors showing off their luxury cars and multi-million-dollar mansions bought with the proceeds of investments in Bitcoin.
There’s no doubt that some people have got rich very quickly by investing in crypto. So, it’s natural to wonder if you too could make a fast buck by jumping on the bandwagon. But think very hard before taking the leap – despite all the hype, all that glitters is not gold.
What are cryptocurrencies?
Cryptocurrencies are decentralized currencies that exist digitally, using cryptography to secure transactions. Whereas paper currencies have a central issuing and regulating authority, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum (these are just two of the more well-known among the thousands now in existence) rely instead on an anonymous peer-to-peer distribution network called the blockchain. For those interested in a detailed description of how this works, there’s a beginner’s guide here.
Cryptocurrencies are gaining traction and are certainly here to stay. Since October 2020 Paypal users in the US have been able to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrency via the platform and increasing numbers of retailers are turning to crypto with nearly a fifth of Americans wanting to make a purchase with a digital currency.
But beware of the risks.
Crypto was riding high at the end of 2021, with Bitcoin peaking at an astounding $68,789 in November.
Fast forward 10 months or so (I’m writing this in September 2022), and the value of Bitcoin has plummeted to less than a third of that amount. Which is some tumble!
Clearly, this is a volatile asset.
And volatility is not the only issue with cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrencies are unregulated
For me, the lack of regulation of cryptocurrencies is a major red flag. Many eminent individuals within the financial industry are of the same opinion. The deputy governor of the Bank of England, Jon Cunliffe, recently added his voice to those calling for regulation.
He pointed out that while blockchain technology changes the way risks are managed compared to non-digital assets, it cannot eliminate risk altogether. He explained “Financial assets with no intrinsic value … are only worth what the next buyer will pay. They are therefore inherently volatile, very vulnerable to sentiment and prone to collapse.”
He gave the example of terraUSD, a stablecoin that collapsed in June 2022. At its peak, terraUSD was the 10th largest cryptocurrency in circulation yet the algorithm that pegged it to the US dollar failed. The stablecoin proved to be not such a safe bet as its name would suggest.
Regulatory standards and frameworks exist to mitigate risk. While many innovators, including regulators and public authorities in many countries, are working to put some kind of international standards in place, for now cryptocurrencies remain an unregulated and high-risk investment when compared to a balanced portfolio of traditional assets.
Cryptocurrency: to invest or not to invest
While I wouldn’t rule out cryptocurrency investments altogether, I would advise prudence if you’re wanting to test the crypto waters.
If your investment goal is to save for a worry-free retirement, or indeed, if you want an investment that is anything other than high risk, cryptocurrency is not the way to go. These investments have yet to prove themselves over the long term and you are better off following a more conservative investment plan of diversified investments comprising stocks, bonds, cash, commodities and property.
Cryptocurrency could perhaps play a small part in your overall financial plan if you can afford to be at the riskier end of the investment spectrum. And that’s the crux of putting money into crypto – only invest if you can afford to lose the money.
Cryptocurrency is as state-of-the-art as it gets in terms of investments, but the age-old Latin warning that applies to many financial transactions is as relevant as ever: caveat emptor – let the buyer beware.
I have over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and hold a Chartered FCSI qualification. I ensure that our operations are fully compliant with the rules of our most stringent regulators.


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Despite only now revealing the full price, Polestar opened pre-orders in March and more than 7,000 people in 18 countries signed up to pay a $2,500 deposit on a Polestar 1.
“We have seen a strong initial response from our first customers,” said Ingenlath. “This gives us confidence that our brand has a bright future.”
The Polestar 1 is based on Volvo SPA platform but introduces the use of scathes of carbon fiber to make the sports car lighter and stronger. With a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that allows the car to drive up to 150 km (93 miles) on electricity alone, the 1 shows the duality of Polestar.
Both interested in “green” technology and performance, the hybrid drivetrain not allows the Polestar 1 to drive miles on electricity, it also allows combines with the internal combustion engine to churn out 600 hp and a whopping 1,000 lb-ft of torque.
Recently seen testing in the arctic circle, the Polestar 1 precedes the Polestars 2 and 3, which will both be fully electric.
this article first appeared on Swedespeed.com


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The Future of Urban Transportation
In a big move, EHang, a Chinese company that makes electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, announced its EH216-S flying taxi on Alibaba’s online store, Taobao. This is a major step in the era of self-flying passenger planes, with the EH216-S set to change city travel.
EHang’s EH216-S: A Game-Changer in Urban Mobility
EHang’s EH216-S has gotten a lot of attention and praise, completing over 42,000 successful test flights in 14 countries. It’s the first in the world to get a Type Certificate and Standard Airworthiness Certificate for pilotless eVTOLs from China’s Civil Aviation Administration, showing it’s safe and reliable.
Strategic Move: EHang’s Entry into the Urban Air Mobility Market
Introducing the EH216-S on Taobao shows EHang’s smart move to enter the growing market for city air travel. Priced at 2.39 million yuan (US$332,000), it’s ready to go global, with a price of US$410,000 for international buyers starting April 1st.
EHang’s CEO on EH216-S: Confidence and Growth
Hu Huazhi, EHang’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, is very confident in the EH216-S. Getting airworthiness certification has led to more demand and higher earnings, with a 260.9% increase in fourth-quarter earnings compared to 2022.
Key Specifications and Features
The EH216-S can go up to 130 kilometers per hour, cruise at 100 kilometers per hour, and reach a max altitude of 3,000 meters. It can travel 30 kilometers in 25 minutes and takes 120 minutes to recharge. This makes it super efficient and convenient for city commuters.
Diverse Applications and Partnerships
EHang sees many uses for the EH216-S, from air taxis to sightseeing and airport shuttles. They’ve teamed up with city governments to help grow low-altitude travel.
The Future of Urban Air Mobility
Selling flying taxis on Taobao shows a new way to travel in cities, fitting China’s plan for new industries. With 20 provinces focusing on low-altitude travel, EHang’s EH216-S is leading the way in changing how we get around.
The EH216-S flying taxi on Taobao is a big step in city travel. With its high-tech features, safety certs, and partnerships, EHang is changing how we move around cities. As city air travel grows, the EH216-S is leading the charge for a better, greener way to get around.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Papa John's founder John Schnatter has resigned as chairman of the board. The company made the announcement late Wednesday, hours after Schnatter apologized for using a racial slur during a conference call in May. Schnatter, who has appeared in TV ads for the pizza chain, still owns about 30 percent of the company's shares. Forbes reported that Schnatter used the N-word during a media training exercise. When asked how he would… Read at AP News
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KNOTTINGLEY BUSINESS OWNERS RECEIVE GRANTS
03 March 2020
Business owners in Knottingley have been supported with Council grants to help improve the appearance of their shop fronts.
The Hill Top Retail Enhancement Fund was launched in January 2019 after the success of a similar project in Wakefield and Pontefract.
The scheme has allowed businesses to access funding to improve their shop fronts which has improved the visual impact of Hill Top and encourages more people to use the facilities on offer. This will lead to more people visiting the area and supporting the local economy.
The funding could also be used to support internal renovations if this was required to allow empty units to be brought back in to use.
The scheme has been a great success with 10 businesses being supported since the scheme was launched. The total investment in the area is £133,500, with grants totalling £47,500, which has generated a further £86,000 of investment from the businesses.
Before the project began there were four long-term empty units on The Arcade and the scheme has been successful in bringing three of them back in to use including the old Barclays Bank which had been empty for 10 years and a prominent location on the street. A local business has now purchased this and will develop the units into further retail opportunities.
Cllr Darren Byford, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Regeneration, said: “It is fantastic to see the difference these grants have made to the Hill Top area of Knottingley.
“We want to encourage residents to use local amenities and hopefully the new look and feel of the area, as well as some exciting new businesses opening up, will do just that.
“I would encourage business owners in Knottingley and Ferrybridge to get in touch and see how we can help. It has certainly made a big difference to the businesses we have supported so far.”
The Council also supported The Arcade last year by enhancing the parking area in front of the shops - new parking spaces were painted, the drains cleared to reduce flooding and the bollards painted. The whole street is now more appealing and with new businesses starting up, it is hoped there will be an increase of visitors to the area.
Some businesses who have benefitted from the grants include:
Full renovation of Dishy Fish, the long established fish and chip shop which last year was bought and is under new management. The new owners wanted to modernise the shop and make it more appealing and undertook a full renovation which was supported by the grants. This has led to jobs being created for residents of the area.
Chuldrow Martial Arts, who work with children of all ages, needed help with new signage and internal improvements. This has improved the experience for their students and allowed them to expand their already successful business.
ST Plumbing and Evape, which are two of the oldest buildings on Hill Top, received a grant to fully render the front the front of the buildings which were crumbling away. The facades were crumbling and needed specialist rendering, the grant allowed them to undertake this as well as updating signage, windows and doors.
A long term empty unit has been fully renovated and is now Hill Top Café and Deli. The new business has again brought an empty unit back into use and is already bringing more people to The Arcade. They have created four jobs alongside the owner of the business and expect to create more jobs once the business is established.
Family-run business Skinworx is well established with years of experience but required new signage and shop front to improve the appeal of the business. The grant allowed new modern windows and signage to be installed.
The scheme is now being delivered on Racca Green and in other areas of Knottingley. If any business would like to find out more please email firstname.lastname@example.org


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COLUMBIA, Mo. - As the busiest shopping season of the year approaches, businesses in central Columbia are reporting an increase in counterfeit money.
Store employees on Business Loop 70 told ABC 17 News they usually see about one or two counterfeit bills a month. But one local store that asked not to be identified saw four fake $20 bills in one day last week.
And it's not just the big bills that are being duplicated.
The Break Time gas station on Providence Road said they received four fake five dollar bills in one day last week.
The store employees said they check the money they receive to make sure it's not fake by using a money marker or black light.
But how can a person avoid accepting fake money?
First, experts recommend to feel the bill. Real money is made of cotton and linen and has tiny ridges in it. Fake money is often printed on paper and feels smoother.
Next, hold the bill up to the light and check for the watermark. It should appear in the light.
Also, closely examine the details. The real $10s, $20s, $50s, and $100s have color-shifting numbers in the right-hand corner that change color when moved. The portrait, border and serial numbers are also much more vivid and even on real bills.
Columbia police are investigating the counterfeit cash received at those stores.


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WhatsApp: 07354 848031
High Street Events: Online Shopping Repent
While many high streets across the UK have taken a massive hit with the growth of online retailers, one group of independent businesspeople in York has bucked the trend with their innovative marketing plan.
Retailers on Bishopthorpe Road knew they had to do something special when the once-bustling high street lost many shops to the recession. The situation was so bad that by 2008, one-fifth of the shops were empty, and a number of others were barely hanging on.
When the post office (once the hub of the community) closed down, local councillor Johnny Hayes knew it was time for drastic measures. As the co-owner of Frankie and Johnny’s kitchenware shop, he admitted he thought this spelled the end of the road for everyone.
However, rather than accepting what seemed inevitable, the traders formed a plan to pull the high street back from the brink. First, a new cafe, The Pig and Pastry, opened. It was run by local owners, who knew plenty of people, understood what they wanted and worked hard to create a popular eating and meeting place.
© Rusana / Adobe Stock
Then, seeing there was hope for even new businesses, Andy Shrimpton, of the Cycle Heaven bike shop, approached Hayes with an idea. Both men have lived and worked in York for more than 30 years and decided to spearhead an action plan to bring Bishopthorpe Road back to life.
Shrimpton's idea was the result of visits to Copenhagen in Denmark, where he had been impressed by the sense of neighbourhood and community. The two retailers came up with a simple plan to instil the same sense of community in York.
The idea was to bring all the shops together as a community, setting up a new group website and relaunching with a street party. Hayes described it as a "eureka" moment. They arranged for the road to be closed to traffic for the event, stalls were set up in the street and bunting was added to create a festive atmosphere.
To their delight, around 3,000 people turned up. Entertainment was provided by live bands, people started dancing and the butcher was giving away free burgers to revellers. Hayes said he couldn't believe the amount of goodwill the event created and recalled thinking to himself, "We're going to be all right."
He was right - today, Bishopthorpe Road has a real buzz about it, with a host of local shops and cafes attracting shoppers and diners. People are stopping for mid-morning coffee and having a chat over homemade pastries and cakes, or indulging in a special Sicilian ice cream, courtesy of Beppe Lombardo, owner of food outlet Trinacria.
He has further plans to attract people to the high street by staging more events, such as a dog show, street Olympics and displays of street art.
There's an official name for the strategy adopted by the traders of York. It's labelled a "sticky street" by urban planners - a description coined by the Canadian planner, Brent Toderian. He realised that planning conversations always revolved around the movement of cars and people in the town centre.
Engineers seemed to think it was a measure of success when more cars and pedestrians could be moved through an area as quickly as possible, but Toderian realised very few conversations took place about how all these people would actually use the streets.
He believes lingering is the definition of a successful shopping street, so it's important to consider what will make them stay when they get there. The name "sticky street" defines a street where people are encouraged to stick around, rather than just rushing in, doing a bit of shopping and rushing off again.
A think-tank at the Stockholm Resilience Centre (a Swedish research institute) agrees something must be done to save our high streets. It encourages planners to "embrace new planning approaches" to tackle the threat posed by online shopping and other economic factors, such as the continuing uncertainty over Brexit in the UK.
Retailers need to try everything in their power to persuade shoppers to "stick around", as no-one wants to see a high street with empty, boarded-up shops, which have fallen victim to fly posting and vandalism. Once an area starts to look run down, it's the beginning of a downward spiral - as no-one wants to open a business in a tatty-looking street.
Regardless of how online sales are increasing, the high street is still an important part of Britain's retail economy and is a focal point for the local community. People can foster a sense of belonging that isn't possible with an e-commerce store.
The high street needs all the help it can get. According to research by Ipsos Retail, 2018 was hardly a "memorable" year for the UK retail industry. At best, businesses "flat lined".
A survey of 3,000 UK adults by Empathy Broker revealed 51% of consumers preferred shopping online, rather than in physical shops. The research showed that 55% of respondents said they shopped more online now than 12 months ago. The 25 to 34-year-old age group shops most online - on average, they make a purchase online eight times a month.
A study in November 2018 by accountancy firm PWC revealed around 14 shops were closing every day across the UK. A massive 2,700 shops had ceased trading in the preceding six months, with fashion and electrical shops suffering most in the battle against online competition.
London was the worst affected region of the UK, while Wales in general was faring better than anywhere else. To counter the closures, only 1,569 new shops were launched, which meant the high street had lost a total of 1,131 stores in six months.
Britain’s best high street
According to the Talking Retail Awards in November 2018, Britain's best high street was Crickhowell High Street, in the Brecon Beacons. It received the accolade after launching an ambitious community initiative to attract more shoppers.
The Totally Locally Campaign saw more than 100 local shops and businesses unite to promote each other's services and run joint marketing initiatives. The campaign spurred 267 local people to jointly buy and renovate a former pub, the Corn Exchange, transforming it into three shops with residential flats above.
Crickhowell High Street is also the location of Wales' first Zero Waste shop, which supports the Plastic Free Crickhowell initiative aimed at reducing waste.
While the high street is fighting back, no-one says it will be easy - but if traders follow the advice of retailers who have brought their shopping area back from the brink, it appears there's hope for everyone with some careful planning.
Make your business stand out from the crowd with KAS Shopfittings' range of high-quality shop equipment. Contact us on 01793 754230 for details of our shop counters, shelving systems, slatwall, card racks and more. Our huge range of products is available for nationwide delivery.


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MALE shoppers are taking the lead for their sartorial choices from the ultimate current posterboy for success, Barack Obama.
The President-elect's signature blue tie is flying off the shelves with sales in John Lewis up 200 per cent week on week.
Barack Obama is currently a shining example of the 'smartening up' culture that men have been adopting in the current economic climate and clearly a strong influence in work wear culture.
Dressing for politics is always a point of interest, for example, the opposing styles of Nixon and JFK caught the public's attention in what has become known as the 1960 'stolen election'. However, the style of the current candidates holds more relevance for men's fashion than ever as men dressing for the credit crunch look for successful role models.


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EA/DICE has deployed Star Wars Battlefront 2 update 1.27 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, bringing some much-needed improvements to the game’s Chosen One update. While the Chosen One update has been well-received by players, a number of key problems were present with Anakin Skywalker, making him too much of a force (choke) to be reckoned with. The new hotfix rectifies these issues, and you can read the full Battlefront 2 update 1.27 patch notes below.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 update 1.27 | What’s in the Chosen One update?
The Battlefront 2 update 1.27 brings some much-needed balancing for Anakin, addressing a small number of issues with the character. While the future Darth Vader is still a tough cookie, the power of his abilities has been reduced. The max base damage of his Heroic Impact ability has now been reduced to 450 points, while its max radius is now locked to 20 meters, reducing its area of effect.
Additionally, EA/DICE has responded to player feedback regarding Obi-Wan Kenobi’s All-Out Push ability, where the damage reduction applied by this move would remain active even after it was completed.
Discussing these changes to the character, the post on the official Battlefront 2 forum noted that “Anakin should always be a formidable opponent, [but] we felt that being able to one-shoot heroes from such a great distance was not optimal.”
The new update comes in at 474 MB on PC and 567 MB for PS4, with the Xbox One update also set to deploy shortly.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 update 1.27 patch notes
The Battlefront 2 update 1.27 patch notes can be read below:
- Balanced Anakin Skywalker’s “Heroic Might” ability. The max radius of the ability is now locked to 20 meters and max base damage to 450 points.
- Fixed an issue where the damage reduction that applied while Obi-Wan Kenobi was performing his All-Out Push ability, remained active after the ability was completed.
- Disabled the scoring events when a player squad spawns on another player.
- Fixed an issue where the AI Starfighters on Starfighter Custom Arcade would fly out of bounds.
- Removed the duplicate message for all the appearances when opening the Legion Starter Bundle.
- Resolved a settings issue that would occasionally cause the game to crash on PC on startup.


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Amazon Alexa isn't even that scary compared to this
Amazon is equipping law enforcement with powerful facial recognition software:
You know all those cameras going up around seemingly every intersection in your city? Yeah, the Rokognition software can presumably tap into those to recognize you in real time.
As much as it scares normies that Alexa texted their private conversation about hardwood floors to a friend, this is worse due to its chilling of free speech and targeting of certain groups. Amazon also powers a huge portion of government infrastructure (storage) on Amazon Web Services.
Don't go gently into a surveillance state.


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MOTOTV, the largest and fastest growing video network dedicated to powersports dealers, announces a partnership with American Suzuki Motor Corporation to provide video advertising and promotions inside Suzuki motorcycle, scooter and ATV dealerships.
Suzuki has partnered with MOTOTV to distribute video content to their dealerships' television screens in the United States. Suzuki will show various content regarding Suzuki products through MOTOTV, including current promotions, videos showing product features, product reviews, and much more.
"Suzuki is excited to be partnering with MOTOTV to reach the millions of consumers that walk into our dealerships every year," said Steve Bortolamedi, Senior Advertising Manager at American Suzuki Motor Corporation. "In the past, most of our advertising has focused on getting our customers into Suzuki dealers. Now we can extend that advertising inside the dealership and target those customers when they are ready to buy."
"We are excited about our partnership with Suzuki because we know Suzuki dealerships will benefit from increased sales of Suzuki products." explained Gary Halpin, Co-Founder of MOTOTV. "MOTOTV is the best way to educate the consumer as well as the employees inside powersports dealerships."
In addition to advertising opportunities for brands targeting the powersports customer, MOTOTV includes content from partners like SPEED, RacerX, Red Bull and more to create a more entertaining environment in dealerships.


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Robinhood’s huge, two-part Series F round came partially in Q2 and partially in Q3. The app-based trading platform announced the first $280 million in early May, valuing the company at around $8.3 billion, up from a prior price tag of around $7.6 billion.
Then in July, Robinhood tacked on $320 million more at the same price, raising its valuation to around $8.6 billion.
While it has long been known that savings and investing apps and services are seeing a boom in 2020, precisely what caused investors to pour $600 million more into this already-wealthy company was less immediately evident. Recent data released by Robinhood concerning one of its revenue sources may help explain the rapid-fire capital events.
Filings from Robinhood covering the April through June period, Q2 2020, indicate that the company’s revenue from payment for order flow, a method by which a broker is paid to route customer orders through a particular group, or party rose during the period. As TechCrunch has covered, Robinhood generates a sizable portion of its revenue from such activities.
The company is hardly alone in doing so. As a new report from The Block, shared with The Exchange ahead of publication notes, Robinhood’s Q2 payment for order flow haul was impressive, but not singularly so; trading houses like E*Trade and Charles Schwab also grew their incomes from order flow routing in the period.
But Robinhood’s gains come in the wake of the firm’s promise to shake up its options trading setup after a customer took their own life. As we’ve written, there is a tension between Robinhood’s desire to limit who can access options trading, its need to grow and the incomes options-related order flow can drive for the budding fintech giant.
This morning, however, we are focusing on revenue growth over other issues (more to come on those later). Let’s dig into Robinhood’s Q2 order flow revenue numbers and see what we can learn about its run rate and current valuation.
A big Q2
According to The Block’s own calculations, Robinhood saw saw its total payment for order flow revenue roughly double, rising from $90.9 million in Q1 2020 to $183.3 million in Q2 2020, a 102% increase.


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In addition to success on the footy field, 2012 promises to see the Sharks scoring some major wins off the paddock as well.
“The proposed Sharks development is the cornerstone of an exciting vision for our Club and has the potential to enhance and contribute to the community we all love. By providing new facilities, services and jobs to the local area, the Sharks will crystallise its role as an iconic leader within that community.” said Sharks Chairman, Damian Irvine.
“I am convinced that we have chosen the very best joint venture partners possible in the consortium of Bluestone Property Group, Parkview and Capital Corporation. They have the combined skill, experience and determination to see this exciting plan through to realisation,” said Irvine.
Ben Fairfax, Managing Director of consortium partner, Bluestone Property Group is excited about what this proposal brings to the Sutherland Shire, “As a gateway to the northern end of Cronulla, the proposed Sharks Development is an opportunity to deliver a fantastic development outcome for the area.”
“It is about people coming to the area for sport, for retail and service, for medical, for leisure for employment, to purchase their first home or to purchase their last, creating a ranging demographic of people who will live in the area creating the social fabric for the community. It is about opening up the foreshore to the community,” said Fairfax.
For the first time, a one-stop-shop local retail centre will include a range of shopping opportunities including a supermarket, bulk liquor store, food outlets and speciality retail.
Catering for everything from a last minute item to a full weekly shop, the retail centre will be conveniently linked to the existing club and will incorporate a stylish food court with views to Botany Bay and the city making it a ‘must go’ attraction in the Shire.
The new residential development will provide 700 new dwellings in a range of size and affordability. Architecturally designed for people at all stages of their life, the proposal has an emphasis on useable public open space and practical living areas set in a beautiful and convenient foreshore location.
Matt Crews from joint venture partner Parkview said, “Australia’s premier urban planners and architects competed to be part of the team to create the vision for this project. After a rigorous selection process the reins for the creation of this new estate were handed to Scott Carver Architects and Turner Associates Architects. Along with JBA Planning, they have designed a master-planned estate that will enable high quality urban design and architecture to be established in this wonderful location.”
Up to 1600 much-needed new jobs will be created by the development during both construction and operations and will provide local jobs and opportunities to local people.
“Based on average annual earnings wages, this represents an additional $17.2 million in salary and wages for the local region. Construction of the proposed retail centre at the Cronulla Sharks Leagues Club is expected to create more than 500 jobs, both directly and with suppliers. In total, 1,659 employment opportunities would be created as a result of the proposed retail centre development at the Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club,” said Crews.
Generous open space areas and parkland will see the newest, world-class multi-abled playground built and will include shade, seating and other amenities such as paths, cycleways and generous public parklands available to all.
Steve Grant, Chairman of consortium partner Capital Corp served as the Chairman of the Western Sydney Institute of TAFE Advisory Board for a number of years, and is keen to use this expertise to involve TAFE and the local High Schools to make use of the Club’s facilities for training in Hospitality.
“We have approached industry stalwarts to lead the interface between the educational facilities and the development team, and we are keen to incorporate a state-of-the-art training facility in the revamped Club,” said Mr Grant.
The Sharks are an icon of the Sutherland Shire and are cheered on by some of the most passionate supporters in sport. A modern and revitalised “Sharkies” will become the next new social and community hub for the Shire providing a central family entertainment, dining and leisure complex for the whole community.
Ben Fairfax said, “Sport plays a major role in the fabric of the Sutherland Shire and with a successful development that incorporates sport, health, education and nutrition there is the opportunity to tie in programmes and unite all sporting codes in the Shire.”
With a secure financial base the Sharks will take on a bigger role, both financially and non-financially in the community. A new centre with modernised facilities will mean the Sharks will continue its tradition of nurturing and fostering sporting talent and excellence for the whole region in all sports and at all levels.
Sharks Chairman Irvine is thankful that the region has been quick to get behind the proposal, “I am hugely appreciative and greatly encouraged by the overwhelming level of support and input we have received for this proposal by the community. Providing an outcome that embraces mutual benefit to the Club and the community is what we’re committed to achieve.”
The proposal is being assessed under the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure 3A Approval Process and is due for determination towards the middle of this year. A model of the development is on display in the foyer of the Sharks Leagues Club and more information can be found at www.infoonsharks.com.au


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black friday 2015 circulars
Are Stealing From another A prospect exactly a battle of the sexes for lululemon athletica and Nike.
It is known as a role change, Certainly. Lululemon, Group that made a multibillion dollar commercial out of $100 yoga pants, Began a men's only store now, Any time Nike, The most beneficial name in sports gear, Opened its first all women store just a weeks at a younger time. The new ventures could unlock big profits for both specialists, Mainly Lululemon, Which is still working to cope to get back on track after two years of underperformance. Consider what the new stores mean for two rivals: Lulu's men's store is just their latest step to branch away from its core yoga apparel, Complete a website black friday now from Nike's playbook, Whose sports empire best black friday deals of 2015 was borne out of a simple runners small business enterprise in the 70's. Positioned in Manhattan's trendy SoHo locality, The 1,600 foot store opened on Black Friday and is made to appeal to not just yogis, But marathoners and Crossfit recovering individuals, And a whole connected with other athletes. Lululemon announced plans for the separate men's stores in 2013, And remarked their target customer as in his 30's, Awesome, Directed, Goal centric, And self fixed. Added claims refers to him as an"Specific sports opportunist, Among new clothing methods is a variable short liner called a"Joiner, Which permit shorts to have customizable liners. Using grocer still in its first week of operation, It's far too early to tell if it should be success, But Lululemon is going big on the men's store concept with openings planned for idaho and Miami before the end of the season, Savvy timing for the birthday shopping season. The idea seems sensible for Lulu. Men compensate for half of the citizenry, And the achievements of manufacturers like Nike and Under Armour attests to the size of the market opportunity in men's athletic apparel. Known for its as a way to detail, Lululemon was best in case you open a men's only store, Where touches like the planning and the music playlist can be altered to appeal to the male audience. One more could face challenges as its brand and the aspirational nature of it may appeal more toward women, But its success with menards black friday men has been evident as a lot more claims has had success with men's so far as comps have been higher than in other product mix, That new stores should drive them moreover. Nike is taken unusual kind of Flight As an example choose Lululemon, Nike has been making inroads in the birthday women's market forever, But only in make sure national did it open its first all women's store. Almost 6,000 foot Newport beach front, CA location following its Women's Showcase last month where it promised several new offers in women's apparel, Includes a new line with different venture with Brazilian designer Pedro Lourenco, Improved upon sports bras, And new sneaker styles combining its Flyknit systems. Nike's new could retail save. Generate: Nike news liberate Nike's push into women's apparel comes as Lululemon has confirmed a sizable promote for the gear, And as Nike has seen more rise in unique than in men's, Just as Lulu has seen better improvement in men's. Admire Lululemon, Nike is likewise having workout classes in the new store, An additional of the merging of brand details. On the heels of the Newport Beach making open, Nike opened its second women's store in Shanghai earlier this week. And the Newport Beach location has had an endorsement from at least one important source. Self mag said hello"Glances mind-Dazzling" And higher quality as it"Excel at, A mutually healthy and balanced Tapping underserved markets can be a win for both manufacturers, And their previous success at serving like partners should bode well for their future stores. Just regarding Lululemon, Only, This gambit carries more advantages. Nike is in to begin with on its game. Shares are at a list high, Despite complaints from Under Armour and Lululemon, It is usually firing on all cylinders, Thanks to growing demand for sports apparel and innovation in areas including the Fuelband and Flyknit. Lululemon is two years into a sudden tailspin that has sent shares down nearly 50% using peak and flattened same store sales. A telling sign of the excellence between the two companies Nike now has a higher P/E ratio despite being more than 10 times Lululemon's size. So while Nike don't have the new stores to outperform to maintain its success, Lululemon leads to. A strong performing in men's would demonstrate that group has a huge market opportunity, That going without athletic shoes has put its product recall days behind it, And it can easily become a high growth stock once again. Lululemon will report third quarter cash next thurs, Look for some more detail on the men's stores as this is one story the corporation needs to sell. 1 great stock to get for 2015 and beyond 2015 is healthy diet up to be an execellent year for stocks. But if you want make it possible for 2015 is your best investing year ever, You need where do you start. Narrow models look great The Motley Fool's chief investment officer just published new research report that reveals his top stock for the year ahead. To get the full story on this year's stock cost-free. Jeremy Bowman owns states of Nike. The Motley Fool encourages Lululemon Athletica, Nike, And Under protect. The Motley Fool owns puts in plain words to you of Nike and Under Armour.
Try any of our silly e-E book services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold conns black friday similar suggestions, But we all assume contemplating about a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure maintain in mind.
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Twitch’s Stock Stream gives you real money to invest
Buy low. Sell high. Win nothing.
Snap Inc. officially files for IPO
Sources say the valuation could reach $25 billion.
Chinese hackers allegedly stole secrets from US law firms
Illegally-obtained data was then used to game the stock market.
Wall Street wants algorithms that trade based on Trump's tweets
Trump's volatility is a market opportunity.
Trader pleads guilty to sparking stock market 'Flash Crash'
Navinder Sarao admitted to using software trades to profit from panic.
Twitter accounts for NY Post, UPI hacked to push fake WWIII alerts
No, the Pope has not announced the start of World War III (of course, if someone says something ba...
Twitter submits plans for IPO: 140 characters of going public
Honestly, it shouldn't come as any shock: the microblogging service that made it perfectly accepta...
Icahn's AAPL buyback advice could benefit Apple quickly, significantly
An analysis by Deutsche Bank's Chris Whitmore shows a potential US$50 billion stock buyback would bo...
Fidelity Market Monitor app brings stock alerts, news and fanciful financials to Google Glass
You know, it makes sense: an app for the one percent, tailor-made for a $1,500 headset. Fidelity's...


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Fleet management provider Fleet Logistics has merged with independent fleet managers Fleet Company GmbH, to form Fleet Logistics Group.
The merger announcement was timed to coincide with Fleet Logistics’ 20th anniversary. The company also marked the occasion by changing its logo and website.
The new enlarged Group will sit alongside sister companies, FleetVision and TCOPlus, within parent company’s TÜV SÜD Business Unit Fleet, to provide a unified approach to global fleet management.
Jörg Löffler, chief executive officer of the Fleet Logistics Group, said: “The year 2016 represents an important landmark in the history of Fleet Logistics as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
“To mark this very special occasion, we have taken this opportunity to combine two market leading brands: Germany’s leading independent fleet solutions expert, Fleet Company, with Europe’s largest and longest established independent fleet management provider, Fleet Logistics International.
“Globalisation is a hot topic amongst international companies and for those demanding global solutions to manage their global fleets, Fleet Logistics Group as we will now be known, has developed the very first, truly global car fleet management company, with a physical presence across all four continents to support our global customers.”


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The Leon is still a practical option that should remain firmly on buyers’ consideration lists
The latest Renault Clio aims to take on the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa in the UK.
Vacuum giant Dyson has called time on its £2 billion project to market an electric vehicle (EV) after concluding that sales of its “fantastic electric car” would not be economically viable.
Nettospar Live: Where franchised and independent dealers will find everything they need to know about operating a modern showroom and service and repair facility fit for the digital age.
When: November 7 2019
Where: Birmingham NEC
Find out what features are in this month's, and future, issues


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[Ed. note: The following is an unedited press release issued by IAAPA. -J]
Today, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) inducted Bob Rogers, Will Koch, Don Clayton, and Daniel Burnham into the IAAPA Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors leaders, legends, and pioneers for their significant and lasting contributions to the worldwide attractions industry. The awards were presented Tuesday, Nov. 16 during the Kickoff Event for IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 Conference and Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.
“This year’s class of inductees into the Hall of Fame honors some of the attractions industry’s most outstanding visionaries,” said Tim O’Brien of Ripley Entertainment and 2010 chairman of the IAAPA Hall of Fame and Archives Committee. “Their creative accomplishments and contributions entertained our grandparents many years ago and will do the same for our great grandkids for many years to come.”
Bob Rogers, BRC Imagination Arts
Over the course of his 40-plus-year career in the attractions industry, Bob Rogers has always created magic. His first job was working in the Magic Shop at Disneyland; his most recent accomplishment was on a bit grander scale—overseeing the creative development of two pavilions at World Expo 2010 in Shanghai that dazzled more than 10 million visitors in just six months.
Rogers is the founder and chief creative officer of BRC Imagination Arts, based in Burbank, California. His firm has won hundreds of awards while working with such high-profile clients as Ford, General Motors, NASA, Universal Studios, Volkswagen, and The Walt Disney Company.
One of Rogers’ signature creations, “Holavision,” debuted at World Expo 1986 in Vancouver as part of his “Spirit Lodge” show and allowed live actors to interact with “floating” images.
Though Rogers’ career began in theme parks, he has since branched out to other forms of visitor attractions. A pioneer of “experience museums,” recent critically acclaimed projects include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex near Orlando, Florida.
Will Koch, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
In an era when some family-owned amusement parks struggled to survive, Will Koch thrived.
The former owner and president of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, took what was once a small roadside attraction and transformed it into a high-profile theme park that set an attendance record with nearly 1.2 million visitors in 2010.
Under Koch’s leadership, Holiday World added its sister waterpark, Splashin’ Safari, along with several world-renowned wooden roller coasters; the latest, 2007’s “The Voyage,” regularly tops enthusiast polls as the best wooden coaster in North America.
Koch was a savvy marketer. He enhanced Holiday World’s family-friendly atmosphere by offering free parking, sodas, and sunscreen to all guests and he insisted the park be “open” with fans and the press alike. Under Koch’s leadership, Holiday World was one of the first major theme parks to actively embrace social media through blogs and Twitter, among other online platforms. Koch died on June 13, 2010 at the age of 48.
William A. Koch Sr., Will’s father, is also a member of the IAAPA Hall of Fame.
Don Clayton, Putt-Putt Golf and Games
As the founder of Putt-Putt, Don Clayton not only revolutionized the miniature golf business but helped create what we now know as the family entertainment center (FEC) industry. His first Putt-Putt Golf Course opened June 21, 1954, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with an emphasis on both fun and friendly competition. The course paid for itself in less than a month; two years later, Clayton helped open his first seven franchises, which started a Putt-Putt craze that swept the United States and beyond.
Clayton founded the Professional Putters Association in 1960 and began to host tournaments that drew massive attention; in 1968 he paid out a then-record first-prize award of $100,000. He also founded Putt-Putt World Magazine and hosted the Putt-Putt television series.
Clayton was also a leader and innovator in the business, adding the first video game room to a Putt-Putt in 1978. He helped develop the first indoor/outdoor putting surface, wrote numerous best-practice articles for industry publications, and was an active member of IAAPA for many years before his death in 1996.
Daniel Hudson Burnham, Chicago World’s Fair
As seen by the tens of millions of visitors to World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, World’s Fairs can have a tremendous impact on the attractions industry. This year, IAAPA inducts a man who is credited with shaping the industry more than a century ago as overseer of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
Daniel Hudson Burnham, a renowned architect and planner at the turn of the 20th century, created the Midway Plaisance at the Chicago fair, a mile-long walkway lined with an assortment of amusement concessions, live shows, rides, and the world’s first Ferris wheel. Burnham’s Midway is credited with shifting the amusement industry from sedate attractions based on natural features to more invigorating creations that continue to dominate the industry today. The Chicago fair Midway also was used as inspiration for New York’s Coney Island amusements. Burnham died in 1912.
About the IAAPA Hall of Fame
The IAAPA Hall of Fame was established in 1990 to celebrate outstanding achievement and contributions to the growth and development of the amusement park and attractions industry; an industry that, like few others, depends on the imaginations, talents, and vision of its dream builders.
Since that time, dozens of industry pioneers have been honored, including: Walt Disney (Walt Disney Company); Milton Hershey (Hersheypark); Bo Kinntorph (Liseberg); Franz Mack (Mack Rides/Europa Park); George Millay (Wet ‘n Wild); Jay Stein (Universal Studios Florida); Geoffrey Thompson (Blackpool Pleasure Beach); and Antonio Zamperla (Zamperla).
The IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees are not chosen by virtue of their personal success alone, but rather for significant contributions to the entire industry, their community, and the world.
To be considered for the IAAPA Hall of Fame, a nominee must:


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A French court ordered Google to remove links to images of former chief of Formula One racing Max Mosley. The press caught Mosley having a “sick Nazi orgy” in 2008, and Mosley said Google’s remaining links to these photos are an invasion of privacy.
Teads provides a customizable ad tech platform for buyers and sellers. Its tools not only make it easier to create video ads, but also to serve them to a large audience.
The French government is close to passing a new law that would limit powerful online retailers like Amazon from offering customers free shipping for their orders.
For the third time in a row, the U.S. government requested — and got — more user data from Twitter than all the other nations of the world combined. And that’s before you count Prism-style FISA requests from the NSA, which Twitter cannot legally disclose.
The Union of French Jewish Students is claiming victory today in several-month battle with Twitter over releasing personal account details of Twitter users who tweeted anti-Semitic statement.
Carnet de Mode describes itself as a “Parisian temple of fashion.” The marketplace connects up-and-coming fashion designers in Paris with stylish consumers around the world.
BonitaSoft, the business process management (BPM) solutions provider, announced today it has raised $13 million it its third round of funding thus far.
France isn’t exactly known as being the friendliest country for big businesses, especially when it comes to tech companies. Here’s another potential example of why.
Yahoo is apparently no longer interested in purchasing France-based streaming video Dailymotion, according to a Wall Street Journal report today.
Since Apple won’t talk directly, AppGratis has taken to blogging. Apple did not talk to the French company before pulling its app from the iOS app store, says CEO Simon Dawlat, and won’t talk now either.
After being Amazon.com’s best-selling laptop for 149 days straight, Google is taking its Chromebook show on the road, both internationally and at home.
More jobs and more business competition will require more investment in Internet infrastructure, France’s president told its citizens today.
Guest Post Giant tech companies don’t pay much in taxes, even though they derive much value from users in many countries. With this proposal, corporate taxes could fairly reflect where value is actually generated.
With its usage in the U.S. at an all-time high, digital comic book startup ComiXology announced plans to launch the service into Europe, the company tells VentureBeat.
The iPad mini will only be available starting November 2. Unless you’re a lucky Apple fan in France.
French music service Deezer announces $130 million in funding.
Korean electronics powerhouse Samsung on Monday confirmed it has filed a complaint against Apple in French courts on the grounds that the iPhone and iPad maker is violating three of its patents.
In a strange move, French media regulators have banned the words “Facebook” and “Twitter” from appearing on TV and radio unless a program specifically talks about the services in a news story, according to This Much I Know.


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MUMBAI, INDIA: The e-commerce players have had an amazing season. What made it most interesting is that most of these players took a big risk and announced an app-only sale? Not surprising actually since the app market in India is expected to reach Rs 3,800 crore by 2016. And this is just the beginning, more so as the festivities will continue till the end of 2015 or even early into the new year.
While due credit should be given to the sales and marketing teams, praise should also go to the developers who designed the apps to make them more interactive and user-friendly. In other words, offered customers a seamless shopping experience over their mobile phones.
Nishant Jain, CEO, Design For Use, one such developer, who enabled many such e-commerce companies shares his views with CIOL.
Since many e-commerce companies have gone app-only, what are the specific challenges they face with regard to an apps-only policy?
A major challenge faced by these enterprises with regard to applications is their inability of envision app design separately from the website design.
Even though there are a lot of similarities between the two, the mobile ecosystem uses a lot of features like gestures, high-end cameras, GPS, etc which are not used on the desktop. Using these features successfully without hampering the familiarity with the desktop version, I think is the biggest challenge.
You have made an interesting observation on app designs, how important are app designs to boost sales?
It’s not just the design of the app which will make the difference. we feel that the experience of the user on the app is what makes the difference.
Our observations have been that only aesthetic changes to the design of the product are not enough and the design changes need to be implemented at the functional level as well. Most of the apps have similar designs expect for visual changes but the ones which stand out are the ones which focus on user experience. Sales can get a boost once the process of buying is fun and captivating, it shouldn't be just a click away but rather be something which the user looks forward to as convenient, simple and easy.
How many customers have you enabled? What have been their business outcomes?
We have worked for a lot companies from different sectors. Be it travel, hospitality, education, e-commerce etc. Working on the user-experience combined with the usability of the product has led to atleast 10 percent increase for our clients.
Focusing on design at a functional level has enabled us to better our clients’ progress and in turn helped them meet their objectives.
Take the following instances:
MakeMyTrip: Increased their total number of bookings on hotel deals
Qikwell: Increased the number of conversions on appointments
Apollo Sugar: Increased the interactions with the app. The number of people using the app to track their sugar levels has increased
Differential imaging: Increased the number of sales leads
Groupon app: Increased the number of deals purchased
Whole Foods: Improved their Thanksgiving shopping process
Travel Triangle: Improved their conversions on mobile
A lot of these companies have seen almost 100 percent increase in their business.
What are the trends you see in the segment in the next two to three years?
At the moment App designs are mostly an extension to desktops designs for most of the companies. Even though the trend is shifting towards app but the focus on design is not app specific.
In the next 2-3 years with the advancement in technologies and introduction of better gestures, voice and camera features we believe the trend will shift to making more app specific designs.
Companies will start working on apps as a unique identity more than it being merely an extension of the desktop.


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Duisport’s container throughput increased, rail freight pivotal
Despite the pandemic and the overall three per cent decrease in volumes, Duisport managed to break a new record concerning container handling during 2020. Specifically, the German port saw a five per cent increase in the handled containers, which translates to 4,2 million TEUs. Rail freight traffic to and from China was crucial to reach these numbers since it also increased by approximately 70 per cent during the past year.
During 2019, Duisport registered 35 to 40 weekly trains arriving from various Chinese destinations. For 2020, this number increased up to 60 trains per week. Eurasian traffic was not the only one to contribute to the port’s successful year. Developments in Eastern Europe were also vital since connections with Poland, for instance, have been contributing to Duisport’s growth for several years now.
As Erich Staake, CEO at Duisport, explained, “the increase in container business is not solely due to pandemic-related catch-up effects”. On the contrary, the port follows a particular strategy for connections with China, which intensifies continuously by adding new destinations. The specific approach started paying off last April when the port saw record figures from China.
Expansion towards China Eastern Europe has transformed Duisport into a central hub of the New Silk Road and European rail freight. “We have systematically expanded our position as a preferred destination for eastern European and Asian freight transports into Europe”, added Staake. Indeed, during 2020 thirty per cent of all rail-based trade between Europe and China ran through the Duisburg logistics hub.
Realistic plans and rail
Duiport’s CEO also underlined the importance of maintaining a realistic profile for the year to come. The figures from 2020 might provide space for optimism and possibilities for more developments; however, Staake is well aware that the pandemic is still here. “Since the vaccination strategies in the EU roll out much more slowly than in the US or the UK, we will have to expect lower demand and further restrictions with lock-downs for our home market. The logistics sector, which is characterised by small and medium-sized companies, may be negatively affected due to continued uncertainty among consumers”, he mentioned.
Nevertheless, Duisport’s plans for 2021 bring good news for the rail sector. One of the port’s main goals for this year is to strengthen its presence in rail transportation by shifting more traffic from road to rail, especially from Eastern Europe. The facilities’ expansion measures combined with new partnerships in Logport VI with DSV and MAERSK, will most probably play a significant role in this sense.
- Maersk and Duisport join forces in a new logistics centre
- Duisburg sees record figures from China in April
- First freight train on its way from Wuhan to Europe
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Universal Threatens To Take Its Music And Go Home
from the my-tunes dept
While Apple basks in the glow of a successful product launch, the company may have a fresh fire to put out. According to reports, record label Universal has decided not to renew its contract with the company that allows its songs to be sold on iTunes. The label’s music may still remain on iTunes after the current contract expires, but Universal will have the right to withdraw it at any time. There’s a good chance that Universal is simply posturing here, as it would be hurting itself significantly if it stopped selling on iTunes, which has become the third largest music retailer in the country. That being said, tension between the labels and Apple has been brewing for quite some time, as many labels have been unhappy with Apple’s stance on song pricing. Of course, the labels have only themselves to blame for getting into this mess. Their insistence on selling DRM’d tracks is what has allowed Apple to establish and keep its dominance in online music, which in turn gives it the upper hand in these negotiations. If Universal really wanted to stick it to Apple, it wouldn’t withdraw its music, but it would find another outlet to sell unprotected MP3s that can play on consumers’ iPods. More than anything else, that would force Apple to respond to its demands.


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The government is expected to this week announce a plan to roll-out smart meters to tackle emissions and prices from energy suppliers, but consumer benefits could be small.
Each smart meter is expected to cost £340 to deploy, but each one will produce an average annual saving of just £28, meaning the cost of the scheme could take over 12 years to be fully recouped, reports the Telegraph.
With the roll-out scheme forecast to exceed £9 billion in costs, the development could cause controversy, especially as details have yet to be confirmed as to where the funding will come from.
Dr Fiona Cochrane, energy campaigner for consumer group Which?, told the paper: "We are concerned because it has been clear all along that there were major benefits for the energy companies and these were being guaranteed by the government."
She added that consumer benefits are less clear-cut, except for the promise of accurate billing.
Energy companies will immediately save money as they will no longer have to send staff out to read meters.
If you want to find out more about your energy options and how you could save up to £378 in minutes, click here.


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A Lichfield business is celebrating its 10th anniversary by confirming plans to expand in order to meet rising demand.
Effective Business Management (EBM) is a virtual outsourcing organisation for companies across the UK that’s been growing steadily since it was founded back in 2010.
Run by Lichfield husband and wife team Alison and Steve Hancock, it has seen a six-fold increase in business growth over the last four years alone, and tripled its employees in the same timeframe
Now the company, which is based at Lichfield Business Village is planning to expand its staff by at least an additional third over the coming months.
The company had seen an increase before the coronavirus lockdown, but co-director Steve said the pandemic saw demand for support on managing live chats and virtual events rocket.
“With the new challenges that COVID-19 has brought to businesses, we’ve seen a change in the type of work that firms have called us in to support, or completely manage from start to finish.
“As there’s been a move away from physical to virtual events, one area we have seen a big upturn in demand for is staging virtual events, like conferences, as companies have been unsure of how to set up and manage effectively having not run them prior to lockdown.
“Just one example is we managed a virtual event that was attended by 1,200 people.”Steve Hancock
Clients already supported by EBM include those within the supply chain for Formula 1, business schools, coaching businesses and the medical profession.