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3OYS: Valley businesses targeted with utility scamPosted: Updated:
PHOENIX -- Valley businesses are being targeted with a utility scam. It's one that went away for awhile. But it's back and it's rampant. Unfortunately, small business owners are getting taken.
C & G Jewelers is a small family run business just the kind scammers love to target. No one knows that better than Diane Simonian, who was helping to run her parents' jewelry store recently and got a phone call. "A gentleman called stated our A-P-S was going to be turned off due to non-payment," she remembers.
Diane knew the jewelry store couldn't stay open without power, but the APS representative said if she could get him $500 in the next 30 minutes the store's electricity wouldn't be turned off. "He said we had to hurry and go down to CVS or Walgreens and buy a pre-paid card," she says.
Diane says her family panicked at first but quickly remembered their APS bill was not late because their payment is automatically deducted from their bank account. It’s a good thing the family didn't buy the pre-paid card, because once they get the card, put money on it, and give the caller the code found on the back, the crooks make off with all the money.
A similar phone call was recorded by another Valley business who got the same demand. Except this time, the scammer wanted $987 on two of those pre-paid cards. And if the business doesn't pay up, the caller said: "We were calling to advise you that technicians are in your area. Disconnection can take process in the next 30 minutes unless the payment is made."
Alan Bunnell is with APS, and says the utility company is well aware of the phone scam, and has issued an alert to customers. "We will never ever call a customer directly or show up face to face saying that they owe us money. So if anybody ever does that, that is the biggest warning sign that is not legitimate."
As for the family-run jewelry store, they never paid a penny. And they hope other small business owners and managers won't fall for bait.


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With China expected to overtake the US in online spending this year, university graduates have found success by abandoning traditional career paths to start internet sex-toy companies.
When Chris Wu was studying abroad at the University of Leeds, she said she loved to go to high-end sex-toy shops to admire the “beautiful” products. After she returned to Beijing with a master’s degree in public relations, she was disappointed that sex shops at home sold “low quality products that lacked design”.
“That was when I first wanted to start my own sex-toy shop,” the 33-year-old said. “But I felt I needed more experience, so I worked at a PR company for five years and then started the business three years ago.”
Wu now employs six staff, and her online store has been profitable for the last year-and-a-half. Her sleekly designed homepage proclaims that TOIs Intimacy Boutique was “established with the conviction that sensual pleasure and fulfilment are paramount to a well-lived life”.
Another young entrepreneur, Li Chengze, decided to start his online sex shop, called Xiao Ye, after working in the advertising industry for a year and seeing the potential of the online sex-toy market.
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The shift of Amazon's Prime Day promotional event to October from July caused a huge pull foward of holiday sales that likely would have otherwise fallen in Novermber.
Retail sales increased 8.3% and e-commerce sales increased 66.5% during the week of Oct. 11, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse data released Oct. 28.
Although Prime Day wasn’t specifically mentioned as the driver of the growth, the annual Amazon promotion was held Oct. 13-14 and other notable retailers responded with promotions of their own as has been the case in prior years when Amazon scheduled the event in July. As result of “major cyber promotions,” the holiday shopping season is well underway, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, a retail sales measurement tool that provides an accurate look at sales by aggregating sales activity in the Mastercard payments network and combining it with estimates for other payment forms such as cash and check.
Given the strong start in October, Mastercard SpendingPulse is forecasting U.S. retail sales to grow 2.4% excluding automotive and gas, from Oct. 11 through Dec. 24, compared to the same time period last year.
“This year may look different than years past, but I’m optimistic as the sales outlook is far better than economists might have expected earlier in the year. To put it in perspective, the 2008 recession saw holiday season declines of -3.5%, so this could be a happy holidays indeed,” said Steve Sadove, a senior advisor for Mastercard and the former CEO and chairman of Saks Inc.
Here are some of Mastercard’s other retail insights and holiday predictions.
Online, anytime points to record e-commerce highs: Online sales growth has fueled retail through the pandemic. With social distancing measures in place and health concerns running high, e-commerce’s share of overall retail sales is expected to jump from approximately 14% in 2019 to more than 20% in 2020.
‘Tis the season—earlier than ever: Online deals started in October with major e-commerce promotions serving as important milestones. We can expect this to continue into November with Singles Day in China and extending through the season.
Shopping local, shopping small. With mobility impacted by the pandemic, and many consumers still working remotely and children attending school virtually or on a limited in-person basis, many consumers turned to their neighborhood stores and suppliers. This shrinking “retail radius” is also contributing to the shift to e-commerce.
Travelers remain grounded: With international travel restricted, many families will be staying home—or traveling locally this holiday season. This will have a ripple effect, impacting larger cities as well as the luxury stores and hospitality companies that cater to overseas tourists.
Reimagining brick and mortar stores—with a focus on the omnichannel experience: Caution and convenience remain top of mind for many consumers, and retailers are responding accordingly. Buy online, pick up in store as well as technologies like contactless will remain important as retailers establish innovative ways to allow this type of low-contact experience.


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OTTAWA - A Canadian manufacturer says his company is being shut out of a bidding process in Maryland by the same ''Buy American'' policies that President Obama has assured Canada is not protectionist.
Now the Toronto-area company which does a majority of its sales with the United States says it may have to move operations south of the border to save the business.
And what is occurring in Maryland may only be the tip of the iceberg given the current protectionist sentiment in the U.S. Congress, says the president of Hayward Gordon Ltd., a Toronto-area company that produces industrial-grade water pumping and mixing equipment.
''This is shutting out any non-American company from doing business on any public infrastructure,'' said John Hayward, whose Halton Hills, Ont. company employs 75 people.
Hayward said he had been working for two years to bid on the Maryland water treatment project, which he believes was potentially worth about $200,000 for his company. Now he's been shut out.
The Maryland sanitary bid document calls on contractors to ''provide a list of all iron, steel, and manufactured goods 'not' produced in the United States to be precluded from the (federal) funding.''
Hayward said no contractor would stand a chance of winning the bid if they included any non-American suppliers.
More importantly, he says, he may have to shift production south of the border to keep selling to U.S. markets which represent about 75 per cent of his water pump sales.
''We just spent $7 million on a brand new factory two years ago that's going to be gutted as a result of this,'' he explained.
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters president Jayson Myers said he's hearing more and more complaints and concerns from Canadian suppliers.
He said firms hoping to bid on American highway and energy projects, particularly for green energy initiatives, are fearful of being shut out. He added Canadian suppliers are also experiencing increased export controls on U.S. military contracts.
''They're concerned this an indication of things to come,'' he said.
Last month, Ottawa claimed victory over the Buy American clause attached to President Barack Obama's US$787-billion economic stimulus package after the White House succeeded in including a rider that U.S. treaty obligations must be respected.
During his visit to Ottawa on Feb. 19, Obama reiterated his support for unfettered trade, saying the clause would not significantly impact Canadian producers and suppliers who want to bid on U.S. contracts.
''I expect four years from now the U.S.-Canada relationship will be even stronger than it is today. I expect increased trade, I think we'll see increased integration of efforts on energy and various industry, and I think that's to be welcomed,'' he said at the time.
But the early signals are not good. Rather than limit the use of Buy American provisions, the U.S. House of Representatives will likely approve a new $15-billion bill for water quality projects this week - beyond the already approve stimulus package - that also contains the protectionist clause.
It is unclear whether Ottawa can challenge the application of the provision, since federal funds are being channelled to state and municipal governments that are not subject to the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Trade Minister Stockwell Day responded to a request for an interview by email, saying the government is monitoring the situation.
But he also stressed that the United States ''has never had a World Trade Organization or NAFTA obligation to provide access to Canada for state or local level procurement.'' Canadian provinces and municipalities are also exempt from trade agreements.
The difference, says Hayward, is that he's never seen the U.S. resort to such stringent protectionism as he is seeing now. The company has been in business for 56 years and exports about $6 million in manufactured goods to the U.S. annually.


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SAVVY Brits have found a bargain Butlin's holiday deal which means you could spend four nights at the holiday parks for just £90.
Based on a family of four, this means a holiday for just £5.60 each, per night.
Butlin's, which reopened last month, is already seeing a boom in bookings as Brits look to go away in the UK this year.
However, families who can wait a bit longer can take advantage of the cheap deal, which is on offer for 2022.
Posted on the website HotUKdeals, the deal includes four nights for two adults and two kids at the Bognor Regis park for just £82, instead of £335 in March 2022.
Due to popularity they have since increased in price to £119, although are still a huge bargain for families wanting a break, and eagle-eyed bargain hunters should keep an eye out for further reductions again.
Similar cheap deals can also be found if heading to Skegness in March 2022, with Standard rooms for four from £95 for four nights.
Some lucky families found discounts for as low as £51 for four nights, although these quickly sold out.
Families praised the bargain, with one person writing: "I love Butlin’s. This is a great deal."
Another person said: "A friend booked it but paid a few quid more for one of the hotels. She said she got a half price dining plan as she booked the hotel as well. Stupidly cheap."
We spoke to Butlin's about what guests can expect when booking a holiday with them this year, including pre-booking swimming pools and restaurants, and new show experiences.
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Butlin's Managing Director Jon Hendry Pickup told The Sun: "Guests will still get the full-on family entertainment experience they would expect from Butlin's but there are a few things we have adapted and amended this time round.
"We have a fully bookable experience which we didn't have before. Now we have updated this with the app so guests can start booking a few weeks before they arrive to maximise what they are able to do there."
Here are some other seaside holiday park deals this summer.


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Affordable voice communication in South Africa today received a boost with the launch of iCall, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service from iBurst.
iCall enables iBurst subscribers to make calls at competitive rates to any cellphone or landline in the world using their modems and VoIP devices which can be purchased from iBurst.
Compared to using a traditional fixed line phone, iCall subscribers will save 17% on calls to South African cellphones, 15% on national calls and in excess of 70% to many international destinations. With iCall, it is cheaper to call a landline number in Australia, China, the UK, USA and most of Europe than it is to call Cape Town from Johannesburg from a traditional landline.
The wireless broadband provider is emerging as a surprise player in the VoIP market. Already, iBurst is the only wireless broadband provider not to penalize subscribers who make VoIP calls across their networks.
“iBurst doesn’t have any traditional voice revenue to cannibalize so we’re quite happy to encourage the adoption of VoIP,” said Thami Mtshali, CEO of iBurst.
The deregulation of the telecommunications industry announced by Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri in September 2004 means that dozens of ISPs are beginning to take advantage of this cost-saving technology.
“VoIP allows individuals and organisations in particular to direct their savings towards priority areas,” added Mtshali.
Upon iCall signup, subscribers will be allocated an iCall number. The process is password-protected to verify calls being made and ensure accurate billing. The applicable rate for the destination and the duration of the call will determine how the subscriber's voucher is depleted.
Strict security protocols will ensure that calls are only made with the allocated username and password issued during signup. Subscribers are required to pay a subscription fee of R50 per month including VAT after which pre-paid vouchers need to be purchased as an additional top-up option for using the service. These are currently available in R100 and R200 denominations. The subscription allows for unlimited free calls between iCall subscribers which is ideal for inter-branch communication, amongst other uses.
An itemised bill will be mailed to subscribers electronically ensuring that they are aware of their monthly usage. iBurst also offers telephonic and e-mail support to ensure that all queries are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
Interested parties are invited to signup for their iCall service using http://www.iburst.co.za/, where they will also be able to access the applicable rates, terms and conditions along with further information.
iBurst’s wireless broadband service, which will cost as little as 12 cents a megabyte from 1 April, is up to three times faster than 3G and 17 times faster than dial-up. iBurst’s most affordable package from April is “Play Intro” offering 200 megabytes of data at R149 per month.
iBurst continues to lead the way by offering unrestricted VOIP, data-carryover, month-to-month contracts and great customer service.
For further information regarding iBurst products, the company's call centre can be reached 24 hours a day either via telephone (0860 IBURST or 0860 428 778) or email (email@example.com).


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The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 is picking up a new look for app and game pages, along with the ability to remotely install apps to your other devices. Combined, both tweaks bring the Windows 10 version of the Store a lot closer to Microsoft's recently revamped web store (via Windows Latest).
The new look for app and game pages is quite a bit sleeker than the previous design, featuring a large "Install" button at the top of the page, followed by a card-like design with the app's name, icon, and description. Scrolling down, Microsoft has also cleaned up the process of viewing other information about an app, affecting the Overview, System Requirements, Reviews, and Related sections.
Finally, like the refreshed web store, the latest update for Windows 10 includes the ability to remotely install apps on your other devices. You can access the feature by clicking or tapping the ellipses menu next to the "Install" button and choosing "Install on My Devices." From there, you can select from your other Windows 10 machines, as well as your Xbox One consoles if the app is available there.
Importantly, this update appears to be rolling out now via a server-side switch from Microsoft, rather than an app update. If you aren't seeing the new look and remote installs just yet, sit tight; they should make their way out to everyone soon.
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AFRICA – In Africa, rice has become the fastest growing staple food in the region, and with the COVID-19 pandemic will certainly affect rice supply and cause prices to fluctuate during and after the pandemic.
According to a report by Africa Rice Center, rice consumption in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was projected to reach 35 million tons in 2020 before the COVID-19, out of which 15 million tons (43%) were to be imported from Asian countries.
Some of these Asian countries have been hard-hit by the pandemic and the immediate impacts of COVID-19 in SSA will be felt by rice consumers, especially in urban areas, in the form of higher prices of rice and tighter food budgets.
The rice agri-food system, therefore, faces potential risks, including international market instability, increasing productivity shocks and socio-political instability.
The economic consequences of COVID-19 in major rice exporting countries, such as India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, United States and Myanmar, contributing to 83% of the volume of world exports in 2017-2018, are not yet fully understood.
Even if the world rice stocks increased in 2019 to 184 million tons versus 176 million tons in 2018, the stocks could fall due to the contraction of world production and increased speculation.
The lockdown in many countries has seen the transportation of goods including rice being curtailed in the short term, thus resulting in a decline in rice imports into SSA.
Asian exporting countries may also restrict exports to support domestic consumers until the end of the pandemic and when productive capacity is regained.
For example, as of 1st April 2020, Vietnam and Cambodia decided to restrict rice export to protect their domestic market and cope with a potential food shortage.
Rice traders in India, which is the world’s biggest rice exporter, had stopped signing new export contracts for three weeks in March 2020, because of labor shortages and disruptions in supply during a countrywide lockdown to control the coronavirus spread.
This allowed rice-exporting countries like Thailand to increase shipments and raise global prices, forcing consumers in Africa to pay higher prices.
Fortunately, Indian traders have just resumed signing new export contracts.
This clearly indicates that such disruption, instability and uncertainty in supply from major exporting countries could lead to serious price spikes akin to those witnessed in the 2007-2008 global food crisis, which will certainly affect the vulnerable people in Africa.
The recent investigation of countries’ rice self-sufficiency status by Africa Rice Center has shown that countries like Gambia, Cameroon, Ghana or Senegal have self-sufficiency ratios of 60% or less.
Price shocks will therefore be more severe for these countries as they are still largely dependent on Asian exports to meet the gaps between production and consumption.
There is potential disruptions in domestic markets of inputs (seed, fertilizer), resulting in low use of inputs thus low domestic production of rice.
The shortcoming in the inputs production systems will even upset the nearly self-sufficient countries with high per capita consumption such as Madagascar, Mali or Sierra Leone, where in addition to reduced rice stocks in markets, farmers may also consume all their rice stocks including seeds.
In some countries, farmers may not be allowed to go to farm or find labourers for farm activities due to lockdown and social distancing rules that have been imposed.
With the current situation and given the role the rice sector could play to attenuate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security, some measures have been suggested which include subsidization and control the retail prices to contain the increase in consumer prices and avoid riots.
In addition to that a quick inventory and monitoring of rice stocks (local and imported) in countries need to be undertaken and promote regional trade by taking advantage of the existing regional trading blocs and free trade agreements, among other measures.


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Market the worst for 30 years
TERRY SMITH, outspoken boss of stockbroker Collins Stewart, said markets were in their worst state for 30 years and warned he could see no signs of a recovery. 'The outlook is bad and is getting worse. Fair value for the US market is a quarter or a third down from where it is now, and it could go down even lower than that. The UK is not so overvalued.'
Smith, who made his name by blowing the whistle on accounting tricks played by big companies, added: 'The economic data are a horror story. We are flirting with deflation. I cannot see what will turn it around.
'Governments in the UK and the US cannot cut interest rates much further, and they cannot boost public spending because they already have large deficits.'
He said: 'Dividend yield is going to be a far more important part of share performance. Go for things that will survive this environment like healthcare, utilities, and branded goods with very strong names. Don't go into cyclical companies such as chemicals or manufacturing.'
Despite the dire environment, half-year profits at Collins Stewart were steady at £11.9m. Dividends were held at 2.25p.
Smith said it had held up because it prepared in advance for a downturn by cutting fixed costs. 'We have been working on the Noah principle - forecasting rain doesn't count, but building an Ark does.'
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BI (business intelligence) vendor MicroStrategy is getting out of the contact center software business, having sold off its Angel subsidiary to Genesys for roughly US$110 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in March.
Cisco Systems' acquisition of network optimization vendor Intucell closed just three days before the start of this week's Mobile World Congress, great timing for a deal that is likely to play a big role in Cisco's mobile future.
Hewlett-Packard has sold some of the rights to its webOS mobile operating system to LG Electronics for use in smart television sets made by the South Korean electronics firm.
SAP has acquired SmartOps in a move the company says will allow it to develop real-time supply chain applications that take advantage of SAP's HANA in-memory database.
Even though PC giants Hewlett-Packard and Dell reported significant year-over-year sales declines, tech stocks, buoyed by signs of confidence from other IT vendors, started to rise again Friday after slumping for most of the week.
Alcatel-Lucent's board has appointed Michel Combes as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, following Ben Verwaayen's recent resignation.
Intel has acquired appMobi's HTML5 developer tools division and hired its tools-related technical staff, to likely boost its presence in the mobile apps developer market.
Hewlett-Packard's CEO has dismissed persistent rumours that the company might break itself up in a move that could create more value for shareholders.
Hewlett-Packard reported a drop in profit for the last quarter as printer and PC sales both declined, but said cost-cutting measures the company announced last year are starting to pay off.
They are probably the biggest cellphone makers most people have never heard of. Despite ranking third and fourth in the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter, mention Huawei and ZTE to many Americans or Europeans and you're likely to be met ...
Oracle is moving 130 manufacturing jobs from Mexico to Oregon in the U.S., a company spokeswoman said.
Twitter is aiming to give marketers more control in how they advertise on the site by giving them access to its API through third-party service companies.
Salesforce.com is hoping to give its Marketing Cloud product line a fresh boost with a new social advertising platform for Twitter.
The European Parliament's industry committee approved more than 900 amendments to proposed new data protection laws.
France Télécom reported a 4.5 percent drop in revenue in the fourth quarter, blaming much of the decline on regulatory measures.
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Diageo benefits as Britons drown sorrows in downturn
Britons guzzling their way through the downturn have delivered strong UK sales for Guinness-maker Diageo, bucking a wider fall across the group.
Christmas promotions on spirits and the marketing drive around the 250th birthday of Guinness fuelled a 5 per cent rise in UK sales.
The world's largest spirits group, which also makes Gordon's Gin and Baileys, said its spirits, beer and wine businesses also gained market share in Britain amid a 'backdrop of unprecedented economic turmoil'.
Booze boost: Drinks group Diageo saw UK sales rise 5 per cent
But chief executive Paul Walsh used the half-year trading update to launch a bitter attack on the government for its overcomplicated tax regime.
He warned Diageo could move its headquarters out of the UK if the government hikes taxes any further.
'We like operating out of the UK,' he said. 'Our heritage is here, however it's a competitive world and if we see tax increases on both a corporate and individual level we will look at other options.'
He added: 'While we have no plans to move, the government should not take us or any other multi-national company for granted.' Walsh made the comment as Diageo missed analysts' profits forecasts - with first-half earnings down from £1.41bn to £1.39bn.
The group suffered from poor consumer confidence in America and Europe, particularly in Greece and Ireland. Diageo is trying to protect itself from any defaults by Greek customers by keeping an extra close eye on stocks and repayments.
Underlying sales fell 2 per cent to £5.2bn, but the firm was able to increase the interim dividend by 5 per cent to 14.60p a share.
Walsh said: 'As we had anticipated this was a challenging six months.
'The economic and consumer environment remained weak in many markets and we faced a difficult comparison against the first quarter last year. We are in the early stages of recovery with more encouraging signs in the emerging and developing markets.'
Walsh said while sales were down 6 per cent in the first quarter they were up 2 per cent in the second quarter.
He expects the recovery to be flat 'which given where we have come from is not that bad', he said.
Drinkers have traded down from high-margin premium brands to cheaper alternatives, but Diageo still managed to launch a £2,000 bottle of blended whisky for the Chinese market.
The shares fell 7p to 1,018p as Andy Blain, an analyst at Shore Capital said: 'This was clearly a challenging period for Diageo, but still a relatively solid set of interims.'
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Disney Springs has become quite the subject of controversy for the past few years, with some outspoken fans saying this re-imagined shopping district has become too much like an outlet mall and isn’t really keeping with the “spirit” of the former Downtown Disney district any more. However, no matter how you feel about the changing face of this location, in the two years since this shopping district opened, Disney has been making a lot of changes, opening new stores, offering great deals, and even hosting some character-based events.
Though we published a big update for Disney Springs last month, it looks like even more changes are happening at this shopping district, with new additions in the Marketplace, a special limited-time deal which will give guests the ability to earn some free money, and even some changes to a recent parking addition...
1. Changes coming to Disney Springs preferred parking
Though Disney just introduced preferred parking at Disney Springs a few weeks ago, it looks like changes are already coming to this new system. Beginning this week, guests visiting Disney Springs who pay the $10 preferred parking fee can choose between the Lemon or Mango parking lots, as opposed to the Lemon and Grapefruit lots, which were designated for preferred parking previously. Complimentary parking in surface lots and parking garages, as well as valet parking, of course remain available.
2. Characters in Flight balloon gets a new name
After unveiling a new balloon design earlier this year, and remodeling the ticket kiosk below, yet another change has come to one of Disney Springs' most iconic symbols. Though it was previously known as Characters in Flight, this tethered balloon attraction is now called Aerophile: The World Leader in Balloon Flight. Though this new name is quite a mouthful, it should separate this attraction from its former life inside Downtown Disney, and helps cement its new legacy as an iconic symbol of Disney Springs.
3. Mobile Order comes to Disney Springs
After successful trials at four restaurants inside Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World has expanded its mobile-ordering option to a restaurant beyond the theme parks. Guests visiting Disney Springs can now use the My Disney Experience app to select menu items at the Disney-owned D-Luxe Burger restaurant. As has been the case with the rollout of this technology guests will need to have a credit card linked to their my Disney Experience app to order food in advance, and cannot use Disney Dining Plan credits with this feature either.


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We have all heard the tales of aggressive competitiveness between Uber and Lyft in the United States, with the latter accusing the world’s leading ride-sharing company of unethical behavior. But what you may have not heard is that Uber’s top competitor in India, Ola, is expanding, prompting Uber to seek a merger in other regions to remain on top.
In a statement, Ola explained that it’s expanding into New Zealand markets. But as the firm’s planned expansion begins in New Zealand, Uber could be at great risk, as its growth in some regions inside the country seems to have become stagnant. Ola is already operating on the Australian continent, and consumers located in regions where Uber isn’t yet present could soon have better ride options.
In the meantime, Uber is discussing its own expansion, but one that would require the purchase of one of its top competitors in the Middle East: Careem Networks FZ. Bloomberg reports that Uber is currently discussing the potential purchase of the company, which would value Careem at $2 to $2.5 billion. Considering Uber is serious about remaining on top, it’s clear that this deal could happen soon, as this isn’t the first time the two companies discussed the idea. In July, Uber and Careem talked about combining their Middle Eastern ride-hailing services, after Uber noticed the competition had become costly.
With more than a million drivers in 100 cities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Pakistan, Kuwait, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Palestine, Iraq, and Sudan, Careem allows customers to book rides using several types of transportation such as rickshaws, golf carts, and even boats. So it’s easy to see why Uber would want to expand its tentacles in the region and use Careem’s established system and clientele to boost its own presence.
But while Uber is thinking like a giant, ready to do what it takes to keep expanding, to the consumer the presence of a new rival means better ride fares and more options. So while a merger could benefit both companies, it could also scare off other competition, as the powerful Uber would stand on top, virtually unchallenged as the only ride-sharing provider in the region. And who would hurt the most? The consumer.
Hopefully, entrepreneurs in the region will see even more reasons to go into the ride-sharing business even if Uber and Careem join forces.
Competition: The Consumer’s Best Friend
In a free market, individuals are free to innovate mainly because of competition. Without it, there would be no efficient way to supply the services and products the market demands. And as history shows us, it was competition that freed men and women from a life of misery and oppression, allowing people to no longer depend on the aristocracy to feed their own.
In 2018, we also see competition helping the technology industry thrive, bringing incredible innovations to the most impoverished corners of the world precisely because rivalry among tech firms and entrepreneurs has driven the price of their products so low that anyone can afford it.
As an app, Uber is part of this incredible revolution, helping to ignite a new trend that helped lift countless drivers out of poverty, even in the face of great resistance from governments around the world. But as the company grows globally, so do its competitors. Whether Uber’s executives like it or not, that’s the beauty of capitalism. A good idea can help drive innovation that will better the lives of countless individuals precisely because competition presents unique incentives to entrepreneurs.
While Uber is thinking as the leader and wants to remain on top, its popularity is also creating a greater demand for more companies offering similar and even better ride opportunities. And thanks to that, the ride-sharing company will have to continue working to stay on top, honing its technology and its appeal so it can continue to compete globally.
In the end, everybody wins, both because new competitors create more job opportunities and because competition drives the price of services down. So what’s not to like when we hear that one of Uber’s top competitors is expanding? It means that capitalism continues to work its magic, even as powerful political figures work relentlessly against it.


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Imazon. 2020. Is the EU-MERCOSUR trade agreement deforestation-proof?. (p. 92). Belém: Imazon.
In June 2019, the European Commission and the Mercosur countries agreed on a trade-agreement (EMTA) that, once ratified by participating countries, is expected to increase commerce in agricultural products between the two regions. The trade deal will eliminate 93 per cent of tariffs for Mercosur products to the EU, notably benefiting agricultural products, including beef and soy.
Concerns have been frequently raised about the risk of increased deforestation in the Mercosur region – especially in the Brazilian Amazon. Such worries are pertinent given that an analysis of 189 countries from 2001 to 2012 shows that deforestation increased significantly over the three years after the enactment of free trade agreements (Abman & Lundberg 2020). Nevertheless, the proponents of the EMTA have argued that the deforestation risk could be mitigated because of the provisions of its Trade Sustainable Development Chapter and the recommendations provided by the Sustainability Impact Assessment.
However, this report shows that deforestation could increase in the Mercosur countries due the increased demand for agricultural products (Chapter 1) and could affect sensitive regions in Brazil, including areas neighboring indigenous lands and conservation units (Chapter 2). Moreover, Chapter 3 provides evidence that the EMTA’s Trade and Sustainable Development provisions are insufficient to mitigate the increased risk of deforestation focusing on the Brazilian case. Therefore, the current agreement may not promote sustainable development as required by the EU trade regulation. Chapter 3 presents seven recommendation to reduce the risk that the ratification of the current EMTA would result in additional deforestation and conflicts with indigenous populations.


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We have been hearing about the HTC 10 every few days, be it some leaks of the HTC 10 or a teaser from the company. The HTC 10 has literally created a hype around it because of this. Now, HTC has once again teased its latest flagship smartphone, this time sharing a video instead of any image.
HTC shared a video teaser on its Twitter account. HTC tweeted “Not all music is created equal. Hi-res audio so every note is crystal clear. You’ll hear it. 4/12 #powerof10“. The HTC 10 will be officially unveiled on April 12 which will reveal all the features of it.
Just last week HTC teased an image on Twitter claiming the HTC 10 to be the ‘fastest and smoothest Android’ smartphone. The HTC 10 was also spotted on GFXBench with Snapdragon 820 SoC and 4 GB RAM.
Going by the latest video teaser, the HTC 10 will provide “the highest-quality sound possible” and “flawless high fidelity on your phone” through the “best BoomSound yet”. Talking about specifications, the HTC 10 has got Snapdragon 820 SoC and 4 GB RAM under the hood along with Adreno 530 GPU.
HTC 10 specifications:
- CPU: 2.1 GHz Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: Adreno 530
- Operating System: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Display: 5.1-inch Quad-HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) display
- Rear Camera: 12 MP auto-focus with flash
- Front Camera: 5 MP
- Internal Storage: 32 GB
- Connectivity: NFC, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Battery: Unknown


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A Wuhan nail salon-owner’s story of resilience, as Covid-19 forced a three-month freeze on her business
Qiu Mengyi’s loyal customers waited three months to get their nails done, as Wuhan remained in lockdown due to Covid-19; thanks to a loan from MYbank, her business survived and she’s now looking to the future
As the clock struck midnight on April 8 in Wuhan, nail salon owner Qiu Mengyi was finally able to restart her business that had gone into hibernation for nearly 3 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The long-awaited recovery had just begun.
Qiu was the first small business owner in Wuhan city to apply for MYBank’s interest-free loans aimed at helping hard-hit SMEs get back on track. With a few clicks on her smart phone, she applied for a loan of RMB 52,000 (or around USD 7,000), and was approved.
The entire process took about 15 seconds.
For many mom-and-pop business owners, the lockdown at the epicentre of the outbreak meant having to pay overheads while generating little, or zero income if they had to close their business entirely.
In March 2020, MYbank partnered with 100 Chinese banks, and leading industry organizations, to jointly launch “contactless loans,” aimed at supporting 10 million small and medium sized enterprises, individual businesses, and farmers across China, to help them resume work and overcome the impact of Covid-19.
“This month, our interest has been entirely written off and for the following months we can enjoy a 20% reduction in interest payments,” said Qiu. “Even though the business won’t be completely back to normal in six months, the money will help to tide us over.”
When considering how her business operations will resume, Qiu isn’t worried.
“Once my store reopens the flow of customers will return,” said Qiu.
During its five-year operations the salon has attracted over 1,300 loyal customers many of whom have been asking Qiu when her store will reopen.
In the days leading up to 8 April, Qiu did an entire cleanup of her salon, preparing for its reopening.
During off-peak periods, Qiu’s business generates around RMB 200,000 per month. The peak season for the manicure industry is the Spring Festival Holiday and due to the outbreak, Wuhan went into lockdown two days before the period commenced.
Not only has Qiu’s business missed out on catching its annual prime time revenue, but the lockdown period has meant that her salon was closed for nearly three months. “The cost pressure comes from paying rent which is around RMB 100,000 for three months,” said Qiu who’s salon is in Wuhan’s Guanggu District.
Reflecting on her situation, Qiu said she was concerned but never overly worried. Since owning her business, she has already overcome three obstacles which has strengthened her emotional resilience.
After graduating from university in 2016, Qiu decided to pursue her passion of beauty services by opening up a nail salon of her own. However, two days before signing the lease for the salon space, her business partners pulled out and she was left in the lurch.
They had paid the deposit on the space but without her partners she needed to raise the rest of the business funds in a short amount of time before losing the space.
By chance she looked at her Alipay Jiebei account on her phone (Alipay’s consumer loan product), which had increased her borrowing threshold. With Jiebei and her friends and family’s help, she was able to raise the RMB 30,000 on Alipay and open her 40 square meter nail salon.
In 2018, Qiu was faced with another challenge. Due to various factors, she was forced to give up the venue she had rented for two years. She had to find a new space quickly.
At that time, she had just paid back the money she borrowed from Jiebei and didn’t have any extra cash to rent a new place. Having already helped to establish her business, Qiu turned to Alipay again and was able to take out a RMB 160,000 loan from MYbank.
With this loan she not only was able to open her a new store in a new location, but was also able to increase her store size five times the original, from 40 square meters to more than 130 square meters.
During the five years of running her own salon Qiu can confidently say she has always been hardworking and gave her business everything. She also talks about the many things she has learnt along the way, such as asking for help.
“Although I work hard every day, I wouldn’t be where I am now without everyone’s help. During the pandemic, MYBank raised my threshold to RMB 220,000.” Qiu said.
The hard work of running her own business paid off the day Qiu was able to buy her own flat.
Qiu is but one of countless small business owners in Wuhan waiting to restart their businesses in the “new normal”.
She said, “I am a native of Wuhan city and the pandemic was one of the most challenging times of my life. I’m ready and excited to restart my business with the help of my fellow citizens, my community, and with the help of Alipay and MYBank for small merchants.”


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Google Lunches Android 10
The release of the next generation of Android may be at hand. Google is expected to release Android 10 on Tuesday,
The new operating system is scheduled to roll out to all Pixel phones.
Google released the first preview version of the software in March and demonstrated more features at its annual I/O developer conference in May.
The company announced in August that the next generation of its mobile operating system -- previously called Android Q -- now to be known as Android 10. No date was given at the time for when the new software would be made available.
One of Google's key selling points for Android 10 is a new approach to keeping personal information private. The new privacy featurescome in the form of more granular location controls and a dedicated privacy section in the settings app.


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For the past three years in a row, Volkswagen has sold more vehicles than any other carmaker on the planet. Yet that achievement has won it little applause.
The German carmaker’s profits and share price have languished, and the sales numbers have been overshadowed by one of the most damaging scandals in corporate history: accusations that it installed illegal software in its diesel models to circumvent tightening emission rules. VW, whose brands also include Audi and Porsche, has paid billions of dollars in fines and compensation.
That’s not all. This past April, the European Commission accused the company of colluding


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They must have shared a heartfelt hug after this one.
The ZigBee Alliance and the Wi-Fi Alliance have said they will collaborate on applications for home energy management and networking. The initial goal will be to get Smart Energy 2.0, a standard promoted by ZigBee, to work on Wi-Fi.
ZigBee and Wi-Fi are both wireless protocols for allowing different devices to communicate, but they aren't the best of friends. In the early part of the decade, Wi-Fi became enshrined as a standard for notebooks and subsequently phones, in part because Wi-Fi can handle a large amount of data, and companies like Intel promoted it heavily. ZigBee was promoted by Philips and others, but the low-energy, lower-bandwidth protocol faced a problem: who needs it? ZigBee vendors tried a number of applications, but none seemed to gain widespread adoption.
Then the smart grid came about. Companies like Tendril Networks and others began to outfit home appliances with ZigBee and utilities began to conduct trials. It got an early lead but Wi-Fi and power line network companies began to pursue. GainSpan, for instance, has been promoting a low-powered Wi-Fi chip for home networking. Meanwhile, Powerline and ZigBee inked an alliance last year.
Interoperability between these three standards in marriages of convenience will essentially allow them to stay in competition in the home networking market. Appliance makers have said that they only want to support a few protocols for home area networking. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has said it wants to determine standards for home networking soon and has said it would prefer to support a few, but not an excessive, number of protocols.
By not throwing a hissy fit, ZigBee and Wi-Fi have essentially agreed to going along with the desires of the appliance makers and NIST to get solidified standards out early. Appliance makers will put boards in their systems that support ZigBee, Wi-Fi and likely power line. Consumers will be able to buy appliances without fear that they bought a ZigBee dryer in a utility zone that supports Wi-Fi. Competition between the standards will then be fought out in utility contracts and on store shelves over time.
The other winner in this could be, weirdly enough, Cisco. Cisco is one of the primary manufacturers of DSL boxes. These boxes will likely aggregate data from appliances and then deliver the data to smart meters. Smart meters in many areas will not communicate directly with appliances. Thus, there could be a boomlet in consumers upgrading their standard DSL box for computer and phone connections to one that provides Internet, phone and home networking.
These sorts of alliances further lessen the possibility that cellular will be used to let appliances communicate in the home. Other home networking standards will likely clamor for interoperability handshakes as well before NIST issues its final recommendations.
Elsewhere, Aurora Biofuels, which wants to raise algae in ponds and turn it into fuel, has raised $15 million more. That brings the total raised to $40 million. Robert Walsh recently resigned from Aurora as CEO. Last year, a number of algae and biofuel companies received grants from the Department of Energy but Aurora was not one of them.
Finally, CB Richard Ellis, the large commercial property developer, said it will start to offer solar leases, consulting, power purchase agreements and other services to clients. A Fortune 500 company getting into solar could help some companies -- imagine being on their short list of preferred vendors -- but it could also be bad news for start-ups who thought they might want to turn fallow roof space into power plants.


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Some big Christmas news coming your way on Halloween. Here is the cover of the newest issue of the Mickey Monitor showing off how the new Christmas lights on Cinderella Castle will look this holiday season: http://www.acanthusmedia.com/mm_winter.jpg . The lights are already installed on the castle, but have not been illuminated yet.
About the author
Tom has been regularly visiting the Walt Disney World® Resort from the time he was 4 months old. While he has made countless visits in the last 28 years, he did not become a truly active member in the Disney fan community until the summer of 2007, when he decided to launch the WDW News Today website and podcast. Tom has since become an Orlando-local and is a published author on Walt Disney World.
Contact Tom at [email protected]


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The Sneaky Way Brands, Bloggers And Celebrities Are Getting You To Buy Clothing
When fashion blogger and L'Oréal ambassador Kristina Bazan shows off a "gem" of a handbag to her 2.3 million Instagram followers or when top fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad shares her favorite mascara for a morning jog, it seems to viewers like insider information, or a hot tip.
That, after all, is the beauty of fashion bloggers. Real people following real trends and sharing the products that make their glamorous lives possible. Right?
Well, think again. Getting fashion inspiration from Instagram influencers often means wholehearted product recommendations aren't always as genuine as they seem.
Welcome to the murky world of sponsored posts: from the Kardashians shilling weight loss teas to Danielle Bernstein of @weworewhat making upward of $15,000 per post promoting everything from make-up to hotels.
There's no problem when those paid to pose with products admit that's what they're doing, usually through hashtags like #ad and #sponsored or — as in the unfortunate case of Scott Disick — by simply posting the PR email as the picture caption. Sure, the Kardashians may not need the money, but most of us understand that bloggers are doing a job and need to get paid.
But when it comes to fashion promotion, many bloggers are less than transparent with their followers, blurring the line between call-out and endorsement. Julie Zerbo, founder of The Fashion Law blog, recently published an investigation into opaque sponsorship practices and found big blogging names like Chiara Ferragni repeatedly failed to disclose the financial incentives behind their product photos by not clearly signaling sponsorship with the appropriate hashtags.
"Many are well aware of the legally mandated disclosure requirements but are under the impression that if they disclose that something is an ad, consumers will respond with less vigor — and, as such, their behavior is really quite deceptive," Zerbo said in an interview, explaining that many bloggers swap "#ad" for something more vague, like "#partner." Some don't do even do that.
"It stems from the exact reason why personal style blogs were so popular in the first place," Zerbo said. "They were deemed to be more authentic than traditional media as the content was dictated far less by advertisers and other behind-the-scenes interests."
The why behind the wear: So what, right? Sure, bloggers aren't always being straight-up with the public, but how many people are really buying what they're selling?
More than it might seem. According to WWD, Rachel Parcell of the Pink Peonies blog reportedly drove $1 million in online sales for Nordstrom over the 2014 holiday period, while ShopStyle Collective reported a more than 300% year-on-year rise in blogger-related sales in December 2015.
Retailer Lord & Taylor found itself in hot water with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission when it paid 50 influential people on Instagram to post pictures wearing the same dress last year. Those who posted it didn't disclose they'd each been given thousands of dollars to rock the paisley print, which sold out in days.
"Bloggers bring credibility to a brand or product. For the most part, people follow bloggers whose opinion they trust and respect. Many bloggers are really amazing at forming relationships with their readers and therefore those bloggers have amazing conversion rates," fashion blogger Melanie Becic said in an interview.
"Do influencers lead to greater brand awareness? Absolutely," Zerbo said. "Their endorsements of a brand and its goods, which can really be as simple as posting a photo on Instagram, have a large effect on what brands are hot at any given moment."
But it's not just brands that benefit. Bloggers like sponsored posts too, and not only because they're making bank.
"I think that visibility is another motivation. If you write a post about a product and get featured on the website or social media account(s) for that brand, you may get a lot of exposure and gain new followers," Becic said.
The only people losing out in this financial fashion equation? The consumer. But perhaps not for long.
The legal issues: Simply put, advertising by deception is not legal. Zerbo makes clear that FTC regulations around promotion "apply to bloggers in the same manner as they apply to more traditional entities, such as magazine publishers and television broadcasters."
That means that Aimee Song's brand ambassador deal inked with Laura Mercier in April and reportedly worth half a million dollars is likely already violating regulations, according to Zerbo. But until now, bloggers haven't been too worried about disclosure, because the law has only gone after the advertisers themselves and sidestepped their ambassadors.
"Some brands and bloggers simply have not educated themselves enough around the responsibilities and guidelines around this type of business relationship," Sharon Herzog, founder of media and blogger database Fashion PR Girl, said in an email interview.
"Some bloggers consider sponsored posts 'selling out,' but if they are trying to build their fashion-blogging business in some way, they will have to face the responsibility of communicating to their audience that they are building a business which needs to generate revenue in order to be able to continue producing unsponsored and quality content for their readers."
And Zerbo predicts that bloggers won't get away with shielding sponsorship for much longer, noting that "as indicated by the monetary sums at stake and the truly enormous followings that these influencers have, the stakes are very high."
Herzog said bloggers should always include "#ad" or "#sponsored" in their captions (and not in the comments) to make sure they're in the clear. And while some gray areas exist, such as when bloggers receive free products to review, "bloggers should take the responsibility themselves" — not just to keep on the right side of the law, but also to be fair to their readers.
"I strongly believe that bloggers should disclose whether or not something is an ad or sponsored. I think that goes with being honest with your readers. If a blogger does not want to disclose that something is sponsored or an ad because they are worried that the readers would react adversely to it, they have not build a good enough relationship with their readers," Becic said.
But while the legal landscape looks set to inevitably force bloggers toward greater transparency, for now many are still posting deceptively unclear sponsored posts.
So when you see your favorite bloggers wearing a cutout bikini at the beach or sipping cocktails in a slip dress this summer, remember that everything isn't always as it seems.


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BRESLAU — All 165 spots at Country Paws Boarding in Breslau were booked months in advance for March break.
By the time it started, only four reservations remained.
The province had begun its long fight with the COVID-19 pandemic, one that continues six months on. The results have been disastrous for the dog boarding industry.
“It was supposed to be the best week of the year for us,” said Country Paws Boarding owner Jaymie Crook. “So, that was our introduction for what the COVID-19 pandemic had in store for us.”
With travel grinding to a halt in March, coupled with the land border to the U.S. shutting down, travel plans the world over have been put on hold.
And dog boarding is a mirror image of the travel industry, explained Crook.
With more people staying at home — or exploring Ontario — it means their faithful pup isn’t in need of their own hotel destination.
Daycare dog services for front line workers helped ease some of the burden in the early days, and it was an important service for those that needed it. But between his two boarding locations in Breslau and London, Crook has dropped from about 85 employees to 25 today.
They were able to take advantage of government subsides for as long as they could manage. But when it became clear that business wasn’t picking up, they had to let go out of most of their staff.
Crook estimates they are back to about 40 per cent of their regular occupancy, and that’s during the summer months when travel is usually at its highest. From July to August, he said they tend to be close to full occupancy for all eight weeks.
“We anticipate it to stay this way until it is safe to leave the country,” he said.
During the 2008 financial crisis, Crook said most families were scaling back their vacations, opting for American destinations instead of flying to Europe or the Caribbean. But they were still travelling, he said, and it had nowhere near the impact the pandemic has had.
For the staff that have remained, Crook is now working to train them as dog trainers to expand the business.
Dog grooming has been one of the bright spots over the last few months. And dog treat sales have been another surprise, outperforming previous years with more owners at home and paying attention to their dog’s wants and needs.
But the pandemic won’t last forever. And with 25 years of experience, Crook has seen generations of dogs from loyal pet owners, and he knows they will return.
“We know these dogs on a first-name basis,” joked Crook. “We know them better than we know the owners, and I think they appreciate that. We don’t know what the future holds, but people will travel again. When they do, we’ll be here and ready for their dogs.”


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According to a report announced today, there’s a 68 percent increase in the number of UK businesses hiring remote workers in the last 12 months.
The small business review, which quizzed more than 45,000 businesses in the UK, found that 71 percent of respondents cited flexibility and cost savings for employing non-office based staff. Businesses claim they are saving 23 percent of staff costs due to this shift.
The review found that the move to remote workers is not a temporary fad caused by the recession and rising costs, with almost 70 percent of businesses saying they definitely plan to continue using freelancers in the next year.
Almost half of the businesses revealed that the lasting benefit to their business of the recession is learning how to harness technology and the web to work more efficiently and cut costs.
An astonishing 91 percent of business respondents reported that the quality of work done by remote workers is as good or better than full-time staff.
There figures show that businesses that were forced to recruit remote workers to save costs due to the recession and rising prices, have found that the benefits are so appealing that they plan to continue to use freelancers from now on.
UK businesses have found that the quality of work of freelance consultants working remotely is as good if not better than office-based staff as the financial incentives to do a better, quicker job are clearer. Not only that, but businesses have found the taking advantage of new technology, such as the internet and cloud working, means they work more efficiently.
As a result of these changes, productivity of British business is increasing, quality of work is improving and the long-lasting effects will be a virtual work revolution.


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Mackinac Bridge stops staking tokens in its toll lanes on Sept. 10.
“Very few” tokens have been used by motorists in recent years, a release says.
Mackinac Bridge Authority decided in July to stop token use.
Most customers pay cash, MacPass cards or credit cards.
Commemorative token sets of two tokens can still be purchased at www.mackinacbridge.org


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- Sanofi will give its business in China a more prominent billing in how it presents financial results, highlighting the growing importance of the country's pharmaceutical market to the French drugmaker.
- In an organizational restructuring announced Thursday, two of Sanofi's five "global business units" will be recast to more clearly split operations in mature economies like the U.S., Europe and Canada from emerging markets like China.
- The changes will rebrand Sanofi's current general medicine and emerging markets unit as "China and Emerging Markets," placing older, established products such as the company's anticoagulant Lovenox alongside diabetes and cardiovascular medicines in a newly created "Primary Care" business.
As the second largest individual market for Sanofi's medicines, China has become an important driver of revenue growth for the French drugmaker — particularly as sales in the U.S. slow.
Since 2010, product revenues from China have grown at double-digit rates in all but two years, more than tripling from 667 million euros ($880 million at the time) to more than 2.2 billion euros ($2.51 billion) last year.
Resolution of supply constraints for the five-in-one combination vaccine Pentaxim (DTaP-IPV-Hib), expected this year, should give a further boost.
Thursday's changes are organizational, rather than a new focus. Still, the elevation of China and emerging markets to an independent business unit — with established products in mature economies stripped out — reflects the greater impact sales in these growing countries have on Sanofi's bottom line.
Older drugs like the diabetes medicine Lantus (insulin glargine) and the anticoagulant Plavix (clopidogrel) account for much of Sanofi's business in China. Reforms by Chinese regulators, however, have opened the door to newer drugs, creating greater opportunities for multinational pharmas.
AstraZeneca, for example, recorded nearly 25% year-over-year growth in China sales over the first six months of 2018, and recently secured approval there for its new cancer drug Tagrisso (osimertinib).
That said, Sanofi's China sales remain dwarfed by the near 10 billion euros it generated in Europe last year, and the almost 12 billion euros earned in the U.S.
Olivier Charmeil, who currently heads Sanofi's retiring general medicines and emerging markets unit, will stay on to run the new business group.
Dieter Weinand, head of Bayer's pharmaceuticals division, will take over as chief of Sanofi's new primary care business, while Stefan Oelrich will leave Sanofi as head of diabetes to take Weinand's soon-to-be vacant spot at Bayer.
Both new units will launch early 2019. Sanofi's other three business franchises will remain the same.


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A next generation salad potato variety is on track to achieve 2 million tubers per hectare, bringing with it the potential to become a new market leader. according to a report by FarmingUK.
The variety Jacky. developed by Agrico, is said to be on target to produce 2 million tubers per hectare with 65% sized 25-35mm yielding 50tonne/hectare overall.
Paul Coleman revealed the trial data while demonstrating Crop4Sight – an app for managing potato crop yield – during AHDB’s Potato Showcase Week. “Jacky could be a real game changer,” said Mr Coleman, MD at Crop4Sight, “I first saw it as a seedling in some of Greenvale’s trials and realised its potential.”
Jacky is a high-yielding second early potato variety. Bred to consistently produce round tubers below 45mm with pale yellow flesh, it is seen as ideal for the UK’s salad market.
Archie Gibson, executive director at Agrico said “Together with its high blight resistance scores which potentially mean fewer sprays, Jacky has a capacity to be a very profitable crop. If replicated in commercial growing situations, this natural resistance could save growers over £400/ha plus man and machinery hours.”
“With demand outstripping availability of traditional market-leaders e.g. Maris Peer, Jacky is setting a standard that no other variety has got near,” Mr Gibson said.
Source: FarmingUK. Read the full article here


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Faced with an erosion of its growth on the domestic market, Alibaba has announced the creation of separate divisions for its Chinese and international activities, and heralded the arrival of a new CFO.
Shiseido, impacted by the pandemic in 2020, is launching three of its perfume brands on Chinese online platform Tmall with the aim of attracting young consumers who are increasingly interested in the world of fragrance.
The second hand luxury market is gaining momentum. Our LuxurynsightXFashionNetwork podcast guest Maximilian Bittner, CEO of Vestiaire Collective since last year, shares his perspective on the sector’s potential.
At Alibaba's Lazada, staff are furious over demands they submit health reports daily and other coronavirus-prevention steps seen as too invasive, highlighting a long-running culture clash with management from China.


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Japanese news outlet 4Gamer recently got the chance to sit down with a multitude of developers from a variety of different video game development studios, including those from Koei Tecmo, to ask about their aspirations for 2022. The president of KT’s Team Ninja division, Yosuke Hayashi; producer for the Dead or Alive series, and Nintendo platform exclusive titles including Hyrule Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, had some interesting comments regarding the year ahead. According to him, Koei Tecmo will announce games in 2022 that will show the “full power” of the current state of the company, ones that have been in development for several years.
A few other heads at Koei Tecmo also teased some of the projects they’re working on.
Junzo Hosoi, brand manager for Gust Co., says that celebratory plans are underway for the 25th anniversary of the Atelier series to go alongside the upcoming release of Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Isterious Dream. Fumihiko Yasuda, brand director for Team Ninja, reminds everyone that a new Three Kingdoms action game is still being developed, and reveals that his own secret directorial title is finally starting to take shape after being in the planning stages for many years. And lastly, Keisuke Kikuchi, producer of the Fatal Frame series, will be “taking on new challenges” to “create something fun through trial and error,” but he clarifies it’ll be a while before the announcement.
Thanks to Twinfinite for some of the translations used in this article.


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Suddenly, you can see it happening: A future in which Microsoft melds the traditional Windows desktop with the highly mobile and highly connected devices that are just now exploding isn't just possible. It's a sure thing.
Microsoft on Wednesday unleashed its nearly feature-complete Windows 8 Consumer Preview to the public. This new pre-release milestone, called the Beta internally, is one of just a handful of public releases the company plans before delivering the final version of the OS in an expected Q4 2012 timeframe. But it's already got the Internet buzzing.
"Get psyched," commentator and professional Apple promoter David Pogue wrote from his column at the New York Times. "With Windows 8, Microsoft has sweated the details, embraced beauty and simplicity, and created something new and delightful."
"A Silicon Valley startup called Lytro is shipping a camera this week that actually lets you focus or refocus your pictures on a computer after you take them," commentator and professional Apple promoter Walt Mossberg wrote from his equally lofty perch at the Wall Street Journal.
OK, so Mr. Mossberg hasn't opined on Windows 8 yet, but then why would he with other such exciting topics to discuss this week? The point, however, is simple: Even Microsoft's biggest critics—and Apple's biggest public backers—love Windows 8. Well, assuming they give it the time of day, that is.
"We really are on the threshold of a whole new era of personal computing,
USA Today's more moderate Ed Baig noted in his own review. "I'm impressed by what I see."
So am I, Ed. So am I.
You can find my own voluminous coverage of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on the SuperSite for Windows, which currently consists of about 20 articles, soon to be bolstered by several more covering various installation-related topics. Interest in this milestone was so great that readers brought our web servers crashing down to the ground at least twice yesterday.
But if you're interested in the official word on Windows 8, for some reason—I recommend sticking with independent third parties like yours truly, for example, but you never know—Microsoft has finally posted its Windows 8 Consumer Preview press conference video online. This is from Wednesday's 90-minute event where Microsoft President Steven Sinofsky and friends unveiled the milestone to the public.


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Creekside’s culinary options keep getting better and better, and as someone who lives within five minutes walking distance of Franz’s Trail I couldn’t be happier. First, we had the addition of Nita Lake Lodge’s new fine dining restaurant, Jordan’s Crossing, then Hoz’s and El Tipo’s changed hands and were transformed, and now, Players Chophouse Restaurant and Lounge is set to open its doors.
The Chophouse is a series of restaurants owned by a group of businessmen and professional athletes, like NFL player Mitch Berger, NHL alumus, Steve Passmore and many more.
“We have hockey players and Olympians and business owners, and that’s where the Players name comes from,” said Wendy Derzai, director of marketing and sales.
They’ve purchased the former digs of Morgan’s Restaurant and transformed the interior using stockyard legacy and alpine lounge decor, creating a space which can accommodate 300 guests in the dining room and an additional 50 on each of the two patios.
Over the past month and a half, they’ve been busy installing hardwood floors, a massive bar that runs the entire length of the room upstairs, and seven flat screen TVs, not to mention refacing all of the fireplaces and removing the chandelier that hangs in the front window.
Whew, that sounds like a lot of work — enough to work up a bit of an appetite.
I don’t find myself craving a sumptuous steak very often, but a quick glance at their menu tells me that, even if I’m not in a carnivorous mood, I could find something to satisfy my hunger.
Their offerings for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner cater to a myriad of tastes, and even some tighter budgets.
“We actually are changing the menu slightly for Whistler, in order to take into account local fare and produce,” Derzai added, explaining that they will also be offering a daily fresh sheet that includes produce from surrounding communities.
The Chophouse concept is actually a bit of a twist on a traditional steakhouse.
“We’re a casually elegant steakhouse,” she said, adding that their concept is based on the American chophouse, which offers specialty cuts, but in a laidback atmosphere.
If you love beef, welcome to heaven. The Chophouse carries the highest grade of meat available on the market — prime steak.
“Only two per cent of cattle are ever deemed prime,” Derzai explained, “There’s nobody (else) in Whistler that carries it.”
Apparently, when meat is this good, any idiot could cook it, and it would still taste amazing.
But the Chophouse’s bottom line seems relatively simple: offering a quality product at a reasonable cost. And they also want to appeal to a wide range of clientele, not simply wealthy tourists who are visiting town.
“We want to be part of the fabric of the community,” Derzai said. “We don’t want to be a company that comes in and just sort of says, ‘well, you guys have the tourists right here, so we’re going to gear to them.’ That’s not what keeps a business sustainable.”
It certainly sounds like they’ve thought out all aspects that go into creating the perfect Whistler dining experience — it’s family-friendly, with a complete kid’s menu, perfect for skiers, with a holding area in the front of the house to store gear, and there’s even an entertainment aspect, with live music in the lounge.
“We’ve done this a couple times,” Derzai said with a laugh.
They had originally hoped to open in September, but have been waiting for their licensing to be approved. Now, they are gearing up to open for business in late October or early November. Sharpen your steak knives.
Samurai Sushi is taking another step to try help the environment. The eco-conscious restaurant has already switched to bamboo chopsticks and biodegradable containers and now, they’re trying to discourage customers from using plastic bags to take their orders home by charging 15 cents per bag.
Wendy Gabelhouse manages both of the Samurai locations in town.
She said the new fee is their way of encouraging customers to bring their own cloth bags, and think twice about whether they really need to use a plastic bag. If they decide to take one anyways, the 15-cent fee will be given to AWARE.
“We don’t take any of it. We still buy the bags, which are like double the price, but we just feel that… everyone has to do their part, and we want it to be a positive experience for our customers,” she said.
Though Gabelhouse is expecting it could take a while for people to get into the habit of bringing their own bags, so far, the response to their new policy has been overwhelmingly positive.
“People have already been bringing their own bags in,” she added.


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by Anton Shilov
04/25/2011 | 10:03 PM
Nintendo has officially confirmed plans to release a successor for its successful Wii home game console in 2012 and demonstrate it for the first time at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo show in June.
"Nintendo has decided to launch in 2012 a system to succeed Wii, which the company has sold 86.01 million units on a consolidated shipment basis between its launch in 2006 and the end of March 2011. We will show a playable model of the new system and announce more specifications at the E3 Expo, which will be held June 7-9, 2011, in Los Angeles. Sales of this new system have not been included in the financial forecasts announced today for the fiscal term ending March 2012," the official statement from Nintendo reads.
Earlier it was reported that the next-generation console from Nintendo is internally called "Cafe" and architecturally resembles Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360, but sports higher amount of compute power. Nintendo Cafe is based on custom triple-core IBM Power microprocessor and features ATI R700-like (Evergreen) custom graphics engine. The system will have 512MB or higher amount of memory.
The specifications are likely to be very preliminary and exact levels of performance are unknown. Still, DirectX 11-like graphics capabilities seem to be up-to-date, but in 2012 will rather be outdated. Nonetheless, specifically tailored games running on a triple-core processors and with DirectX 11-class graphics at even 720p resolutions should look significantly better than present.
The choice of architecture is rather logical as Nintendo will need to ensure that its new console will not only be able to play popular high-definition cross-platform games that are already available, but will also be quickly adopted by game-developers currently designing games due in 2012 and later.
The console will also feature a rather innovative game controller, which will feature a large touch-screen as well as traditional gamepad controls, according to reports not confirmed by Nintendo.


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A study of 1,000 consumers conducted by Oracle shows that recent ongoing supply chain woes have negatively impacted their view of the stability of the supply chain in 2021. The study found that 92% of consumers think that there are more supply chain problems to come, while 66% of respondents worry the disruptions will never end.
The report comes at a time when companies and consumers are preparing for the high-spend, high-demand holidays. The study also showed that 91% of consumers plan to change their buying behavior, including stocking up in case of shortages and planning ahead for gifts and consumer items.
Other key metrics in the report include:
- 81% of consumers say they will pay more for on-time delivery
- 84% of consumers say they will cancel an order due to delays
- 58% of consumers say disruptions will cause them to stop using a brand after 1-3 delays or disruptions
The message here is clear: brands must react to the supply chain disruptions and communicate with customers to salvage brand relationships.
How can brands react to new buying behavior and worries?
The survey showed that 78% of consumers would be willing to trust a company that implemented AI and advanced technologies in their supply chain management software. These tools help companies react more quickly to changing supply environments. Procurement, logistics, manufacturing, and shipping tools must all work together with the customer-facing marketing, sales, and service software. Software that lets companies react, communicate changing states, and provide options for customers in case of delays will become increasingly important to continued brand success.
Consumer behavior has been in a state of flux for decades — reacting to new technologies and new marketing channels. Companies that react similarly by providing consumers with flexibility and reliability will fare much better. To protect themselves and their investments, companies must implement supply chain management or enterprise resource planning software that organizes, tracks, and — most importantly — reacts to the changing conditions.
The new model is the old model
Oracle’s findings suggest that the same business model of trust and reliability remains one that resonates with consumers. But to employ this model at the scale that many brands expect can take a personal toll on the employees, which ultimately hurts consumers and brands. Reacting to changing conditions, communicating quickly with customers, and providing options for customers who need them is a complex task.
Automation, AI, and ML-enabled software can ease this burden. Supply chain software with AI can detect and react to delays quickly. When this software is connected to shipping tools, automation can update consumers of changing dates. Integrations with customer support software and ecommerce platforms gives the customer a choice in how to move forward, should their shipment be delayed.
Without next-level technologies like AI, ML, and automation within modern supply chain platforms, companies run the risk of burning out their employees with endless complex decisions and damaging their brand.


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The 2024 Kia EV9 Has 1 Futuristic Feature Straight out of a Sci-Fi Film
The Kia EV9 is a midsize electric SUV that looks like something out of The Jetsons. It isn’t a spaceship, but it may as well be based on some of its cool and kooky features. Hyundai Motor Company and its sub-brands are innovating in the EV space, and the South Korean brands have experienced plenty of success with some EV nameplates. The Kia EV9 has the potential to be a hit as well.
This Kia EV9 feature is strange and futuristic
Kia recently held an event in Seoul, South Korea, to showcase the production model of the 2024 Kia EV9 after displaying the concept at several auto shows. Members of the media were able to check out how the production EV9 differed from the far-out concept model. Surprisingly, there weren’t many groundbreaking changes between the two models (aside from a more simplified exterior). Kia was able to keep many of the most exciting features teased by the concept.
One cool EV9 feature that will remain on the production model as well is second-row captain’s chairs that are able to rotate. The chairs can rotate up to 180 degrees. Is anyone else getting major Star Trek vibes?
The Kia EV9’s design language deliberately pushes limits and challenges the norm. The midsize electric SUV’s rotating second-row captain’s chairs may not seem like a huge deal, but this feature is one of many examples of Kia subverting conventional design and forging a new path toward the future.
Why drivers have high expectations for the Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 is the first fully-electric midsize SUV from Kia. It follows the Kia EV6, a small electric SUV making a big splash in the industry. The EV6 is a World Performance Car of the Year finalist. It’s a cousin of the former World Car of the Year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. There are already plenty of great EV nameplates coming out of South Korea. Expectations are high for newer Hyundai Motor Company models like the Hyundai Ioniq 6.
Expectations are also high for the EV9 because it’s related to one of the most popular midsize SUV’s in the game, the Kia Telluride. The Telluride is one of the most value-oriented SUVs on the market, and it has the accolades to prove it. Kia’s midsize SUV has topped ranking lists for years.
Consumers and auto enthusiasts expect the Kia EV9 to be an electric Telluride or at least Telluride-adjacent. The midsize electric SUV has big shoes to fill. The question is, will it live up to the hype?
What do drivers want from the Kia EV9?
The Kia EV9 has great potential, but it has to deliver on the EV fundamentals before gaining the approval of drivers. The EV6 has a max driving range of 310 miles. The EV9 should ideally have a max driving range of 310-330 miles as a larger SUV.
Kia’s midsize electric SUV should also have an exhilarating amount of torque (that’s delivered instantly thanks to electric motors). U.S. News & World Report claims that the 2023 Kia EV6 GT makes 545 lb-ft of torque.
While most midsize SUVs don’t need that much torque, a similar power output on one of the EV9 configurations certainly wouldn’t hurt it. Above all, drivers are expecting a comfortable and value-oriented SUV because of the standard that the Telluride has set.


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Sales of new commercial and passenger vehicles in China shrank in the first quarter as slowing economic growth chipped away at demand, adding to concerns about the full-year sales outlook in the world’s largest auto market.
In the first quarter, total vehicle sales in China fell 3.4% from a year earlier to 4.79 million vehicles, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said Wednesday. Sales of passenger cars fell 1.3% to 3.77 million vehicles.
Continue reading “China car sales down 3.4% in Q1”
General Motors Co. will begin to build Cadillacs in China within a year as the automaker works to establish the luxury Cadillac brand globally, according to Joel Ewanick, GM’s global marketing officer. GM is expected to announce April 22 during the Beijing auto show that it will begin to build its all-new large Cadillac sedan, the XTS, later this year in China, according to another source familiar with the company’s plan.
Continue reading “Cadillac will make three new Cars in China”
Skoda Auto, a Czech brand German auto giant Volkswagen, said on Thursday that first-quarter sales rose by 11.8 percent from the level at the same time last year to a record of 242,700 cars, with a boost from China and India.
The car maker said in a statement it had set another all-time high in March when it raised monthly sales by 12.1 percent on a 12-month basis to a record 95,200 units.
Continue reading “Skoda posts Record Sales, thanks to China”
New pictures from the upcoming JAC SII SUV, aka JAC B-SUV, that will debut at the Beijing Auto Show later this month, it will be listed on the China car market soon after the Beijing show. The JAC SII loox very much like the outgoing Hyundai ix35 and that isn’t a coincidence because JAC makes many cars that are, legally, based on old Hyundai’s.
Continue reading “JAC SII SUV is Out in China”
The more you can take in one haul the better, because time is money. Here we have a massive car transporter that was stopped by the police near Wuhan, transporting 12 brand-new Dongfeng-PSA vehicles. The innovative truck driver modified his truck so it could take two extra cars… on the ramps.
Continue reading “Dangerous car transport in China”
Last-minute surprise from Brilliance Automotive. The upcoming Brilliance H330 has been renamed to Brilliance H230. The H230 will debut at the Beijing Auto Show later this month and it will be listed on the Chinese car market later this year. See below for new spy shots showing the very new H230 from all sides.
Continue reading “Brilliance H330 has been renamed to… Brilliance H230”
A very fine Audi S4 in matte-purple, seen right here in Beijing by reader Kael (thank you!) who earlier snapped a very pink Audi of the same type. Purple does this S4 no bad, an underestimated color indeed, check this purple Audi TT, or this purple Gallardo, and yet another purple Gallardo.
Beijing auto has released three teasers from the upcoming Beijing Auto C70, formerly known as the C70G. The C70 is based on the old Saab 9-5 and will debut at the Beijing Auto Show later this month and it will be listed on the China car market late this year. Chinese media report today that Beijing Auto has hired the famous Italian design studio Pininfarina to finalize the B70’s design.
Continue reading “Beijing Auto teases new C70”
New spy shots from the Chery Cowin E3, a new small sedan from Chery that will hit the China car market next year. The Cowin E3 is based on the same platform as the Chery A2. Power will come from a 1.5 mated to a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT.
Continue reading “Spy Shots: Chery Cowin E3 testing in China”
Citroen wants to expand aggressively on the China car market, and they want to do so with the DS-range. The attack starts with the DS5 which will be listed as an import on the Chinese car market sometime around the middle of this year. Second car to come is the DS3 and third the DS4, both will be listed as imports near the end of this year. Continue reading “Citroen plans aggressive expansion in China”


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Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) February 10, 2012
Like many retail industries that sell discretionary products, the Hat and Cap Stores industry felt the negative effects of the recession. When unemployment hit an unprecedented high of 9.3%, consumer confidence crashed and per capita disposable income declined for the first time since 1991. As a result, industry revenue fell an estimated 0.1% in 2008 and 2.4% in 2009. Fortunately for industry players, the slowly rebounding economy has aided the return of spending on hats and caps. These small- tickets items are favored by Generation Y shoppers (between the ages of 15 and 29); as this demographic increasingly enters the workforce, demand for industry products will grow. IBISWorld estimates that this factor has largely offset recessionary declines. Industry revenue is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 0.9% per year over the five-year period to 2012, to total $2.1 billion. This includes a 2.6% increase in 2012 alone.
Still, competition from alternative hat sellers has constrained industry growth and profitability. Online retailers are favored for their price comparison abilities and the added convenience of shopping from home. “Mass merchandisers also pose a competitive threat since they offer discount prices on similar items,” according to IBISWorld industry analyst Caitlin Moldvay. “In response, brick-and- mortar retailers are expanding their product selections to invite and retain shoppers.”
Hat and cap stores are expected to experience a solid recovery through 2017. Rebounding economic conditions – leading to increasing per capita disposable income and consumer sentiment – will boost expenditures on discretionary items like headwear. “Despite projected industry recovery, competitive pressures from online retailers, coupled with a decline in leisure time available, will continue to limit growth opportunities for industry players,” says Moldvay.
The Hat and Cap Stores industry has a low degree of market share concentration. The industry’s largest player, Genesco Inc. holds an estimated 26.6% of the market; however, the remainder of the industry is largely composed of small specialty retailers. The average company in the industry operates from one location and employs five full-time employees. Over the past decade, the industry has undergone a period of consolidation as Hat World (now a subsidiary of Genesco) acquired Lids Corp. in 2001, which was previously the industry’s largest headwear retailer with more than 400 stores. Hat World also acquired Hat Zone Inc. in 2002 and Cap Factory Inc. in 2003 before being acquired in 2004 by Genesco Inc. Over the five years to 2012, Genesco has continued to consolidate its leading market position by acquiring Sports Fan-Attic in 2009, as well as Sports Avenue and Anaconda Sports Inc. in 2010.


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Articles tagged "James Minnick"
Lovell Minnick jumps into the roll-up game with the purchase of $2-billion wealth manager -- and a plan
Starting with Kanaly Trust, the Philly area private-equity firm plans to pick off sleepy, undersized trust companies and unleash their potential
October 10, 2012 at 3:39 AM
— There are no additional results —


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The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore reports frigid winter weather from Dallas, Texas and its impact on travel and power outages.» Read More
Marching north, it was expected to pummel the East Coast with snow, sleet, and freezing rain from Baltimore to north of Portland, Maine, according to the National Weather Service. The Delaware Memorial Bridge, which links Delaware with New Jersey, was closed briefly "due to ice and multiple accidents," according to the bridge's official Twitter account.
The storm was moving up the East Coast, with snow, sleet, and freezing rain expected from Baltimore, Maryland, to north of Boston, according to the National Weather Service. The system was expected to reach Philadelphia and New York City by Sunday afternoon and linger over the area through Monday morning's rush hour commute.
*Storm kills two in Britain, one in Denmark. BERLIN/ LONDON Dec 5- Hurricane-force Storm Xaver blasted towards mainland Europe on Thursday after cutting transport and power in northern Britain and killing three people in what meteorologists warned could be the worst storm to hit the continent in years.
This year's Black Friday was the coldest in more than 20 years. CNBC's Courtney Reagan reports the unusually cold temperatures stimulated consumer buying on Black Friday, particularly with winter apparel.
CNBC's Jane Wells reports California produces 80 percent of the nation's fresh citrus. Farmers are used to a freeze this time of year.
An Arctic weather system is headed toward the US and could bring snow, ice and wind to much of the United States, including the South and California
CNBC's Courtney Reagan reports that cooler-than-normal temperatures impacted consumer buying on Black Friday, particularly with outerwear, which rose 125% from last season.
Cesar Purisma, Finance Secretary of the Philippines says 6.5 to 7 percent growth in 2014 is attainable and explains how the government can afford to increase infrastructure spending.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports nearly 2 thousand cancelled flights this week so far due to inclement weather.
It looks like the iconic balloons of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be allowed to take to the skies.
Nov 27- A wintry blast of heavy rain, wind and snow across the eastern United States disrupted Thanksgiving travel plans on Wednesday for some of the millions of Americans hitting the roads and taking to the skies on the busiest holiday travel day of the year.
The Weather Channel's Carl Parker reports where the largest snow amounts will accumulate tomorrow morning.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports flight cancellations and delays are picking up across the country. United has announced they will waive fees changes.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports flight cancellations and delays are picking up nationwide. So far more than 1,800 flights have been delayed.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports flight cancellations and delays have been picking up at a more rapid pace. In 2012, airline delays cost $7.2 billion in operating income.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports steady travelers are arriving to Newark Airport in New Jersey. Roughly 3 million are expected to travel by air for this holiday week.
CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports travelers are finding some flights are leaving on time, or even early from Newark Airport in New Jersey, but there are delays in Philadelphia and at LaGuardia in New York.
Daniel Baker, CEO of flight-tacking service FlightAware, and JetBlue COO Rob Maruster talked to CNBC about available information on possible delays.
Gusts are just below the 23 mph limit that would ground Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants balloons in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Jim McDonald, Northern Trust, says retailers are breathing a sigh of relief; rain will probably push sales. Jeffrey Kleintop, LPL Financial, weighs in on the holiday shopping season.


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The BMW M3 has probably become one of the most tuned cars in history. A new tuner by the name of Emotion Wheels has released a new package that drops an upgraded version of the BMW X6 M’s 4.4L TwinPower turbo V8.
Originally, the BMW M3 Coupe makes 414-hp and 300 lb-ft of torque from its 4.0L V8. Emotion Wheels tweaked the 4.4L TwinPower turbo V8 from the X6 M to make a total of 707-hp and through it in the M3 Coupe. Of course, there were some significant changes made to the chassis, suspension and braking to handle the huge power upgrade.
Emotion Wheels has yet to release any performance figures but we’re guessing it’s going to be quite a bit faster than the 4.8 seconds it takes the standard BMW M3 to hit 62 mph.
As far as visual modifications go, Emotion Wheels added a new carbon hood, new side sills, an H&R suspension and 19-inch Wasabi Matte-Black alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli Zero Nero tires.
Emotion Wheels BMW M3 Coupe:
– By: Kap Shah


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Friday, 11 August 2023
Few have resisted the temptation of taking a "souvenir" home from a hotel room at the end of a holiday. Almost nine out of ten travellers admit that at some point they have left their hotel with something extra in their suitcase. So what are the most typical items stolen from hotel rooms? A study carried out based on a thousand responses to a survey reveals the answer. Among the top items slipped into cases are towels, soap dishes and boxes of tissues, according to the report carried out by Passport-Photo Online.
The study reveals that 87 per cent of guests admitted to having taken something from a hotel room at least once in their life and a quarter of them admit to a minor theft every time they stay in a hotel. What's more it also concludes that the majority justify their "acquisition" by the price paid for the room or sentimental reasons.
The majority also consider it to be acceptable to steal bathroom accessories, personal hygiene products and items from the mini bar.
Guests even boast about these petty thefts to their friends back home, but probably fail to mention that 80 per cent of perpetrators are caught by the hotel and obliged to pay for the items taken or a fine, or have even been included on an accommodation black list. In fact eight out of every ten regret having taken what wasn't theirs.
The study points out that putting something in your case that doesn't belong to you is a question of age. "It's the younger generation that brings the average down: only 80 per cent of under-25s admitted to having taken something, while the figure for the over-55s was more than 90 per cent," explains the report. Furthermore, men are more likely to give in to the temptation than women.
Among the items most popular with more serious thieves are pillows, cushions or head rests, but bottle openers are also popular and even the bible provided in the bedside drawer in many hotels.
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