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Fireworks sellers have opened pop-up stores in Vancouver for the final time, thanks to the city banning the sale of the festive pyrotechnic items starting November 1.
Phatboy Fireworks opened 13 stores in Vancouver on March 25, and principal Parm Cheema told BIV that his stores will be in business until 6 p.m. on October 31.
He has also opened one store in North Vancouver and one store in Kamloops. Many Metro Vancouver suburbs have already banned fireworks sales.
While a trickle of in-store sales has taken place, the rush really takes place on Halloween, and in the two days before that date, he said.
“This year, we’re expecting to see a huge boom in sales because it’s the last year for sales in Vancouver,” he said.
Banning sales for fireworks in bricks-and-mortar stores will not curb sales in Vancouver, as residents will be able to simply go online to buy what they want, said Cheema, who also sells fireworks online. Indigenous reserves are also places where people may buy fireworks as they are exempt from city bylaws.
Natural Resources Canada’s explosives regulatory division determines which fireworks are eligible to be legally sold in Canada, and it has banned the sale of some kinds of fireworks, such as cherry bombs and firecrackers, for being too dangerous.
“They’re the number one demand item,” Cheema said of cherry bombs. “People want those things so there’s a huge market for it.”
Ban likely to backfire
He said some of his online competitors sell cherry bombs, firecrackers and other illegal fireworks, and that the City of Vancouver’s outright ban on all physical-store sales could backfire, as Vancouverites will go online and buy illegal and more dangerous fireworks than they would have purchased had they gone to a physical store.
The danger of illegal fireworks may also be enhanced by the fact that people who set off illegal fireworks may set them off more quickly, so they are not caught, Cheema said.
“You see people do more, and they set them off faster, so they are not doing it safely,” he said. “They don’t do the proper set-up. They quickly go outside, light the fireworks. They may throw them in the garbage, not noticing that they are still hot, and that’s what causes house fires. Illegal fireworks cause injuries, like a lot of injuries, where people’s fingers are blown off.”
Vancouver city councillor Pete Fry successfully introduced a 2019 motion to ban fireworks, and then council confirmed that vote earlier this year, following a staff report. He believes that the ban on buying and setting off fireworks in Vancouver will reduce the number of fireworks set off during future Halloweens.
He opposes allowing fireworks not only because they can cause injuries and fires but also because they scare animals and some people.
One woman told council that her autistic son pulls his hair out when fireworks ignite because of the loud sounds.
Fry said it has been too easy to get a permit to set off fireworks in the city.
“Last year, it was a multiple choice web form that you couldn't get wrong,” he said. “It was a multiple choice. If you didn’t get the question right, you’d get stuck on that page. So any congenital idiot could have filled out the form, frankly.”
Read more from Business In Vancouver


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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Mainstream retailer Sam's Club began offering 50-copy "church packs" of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ" this week, in a twist on usual ways of selling to religious groups.
Advance sales for the film's Aug. 31 release on DVD and video cassette already have exceeded expectations for the retailer, the warehouse club division of Wal-Mart Stores.
Though specialized companies usually handle sales to religious groups and stores -- "Passion" has different distributors for the secular and religious markets -- the bulk packaging of the film fits the Sam's Club strategy, company spokeswoman Jolanda Stewart said.
"Focusing on small business is our mission, and that includes churches and religious segments," Stewart said.
Church groups had already shown enthusiasm for the movie when it was released on the big screen in February, even renting theaters for private screenings.
Sam's is selling 50 DVDs in a pack. Industry representatives called the bulk packs unique.
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Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s stock slide slowed on Thursday as it came to light that the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities probably impacted chip designs by other companies as well. Analysts also helped do damage control for the chip maker, but unfortunately for CEO Brian Krzanich, the timing of his sale of millions of shares of Intel stock is being questioned.
Krzanich unloads Intel stock
Regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission reveal that he sold $24 million worth of Intel stock in late November, which was after his company knew about the vulnerabilities but before outsiders knew about them. According to Business Insider, Krzanich’s stock sale was after Google had told Intel about the serious vulnerability in its processors, but the security hole wasn’t made public until this week.
A regulatory filing in late November reveals that the chief executive received approximately 644,000 shares of Intel stock which vested at prices between $12.99 and $24.17, and then he sold them for an average of $44.05 per share. In addition to those vested shares, he sold about another 245,000 shares he owned before.
Carlson Capital's Black Diamond Arbitrage Partners fund added 1.3% net fees in the first quarter of 2021, according to a copy of the firm's March 2021 investor update, which ValueWalk has been able to review. Q1 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more At the end of the quarter, merger arbitrage investments represented 89% of Read More
After the stock sale, the number of shares Krzanich owned was reduced to exactly 250,000, which is the number of shares he is mandated to hold while serving as chief executive of the company, according to Intel’s corporate bylaws. The Intel CEO raked in over $39 million from the share sale, according to the regulatory filing.
Questions about Krznich’s trading plan
That sale was part of his 10b5-1 trading plan, which allows executives to set parameters ahead of time whereby shares of their companies will be sold. Executives use these trading plans to avoid allegations of insider trading at times such as this. It would be illegal for insiders to sell shares of their company based on information they know that hasn’t been revealed publicly. However, they can set a 10b5-1 trading plan up ahead of time to plot out a plan for stock sales.
However, unfortunately for Krzanich, the timing of his 10b5-1 trading plan is also problematic. The filing that reveals his Intel stock sale in November also states that he had adopted the plan just a month before, on Oct. 30, 2017. Researchers have said that Intel and other chip makers were told on June 1, 2017 about the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities. Thus, even Krzanich’s 10b5-1 trading plan was put into place between the data he would’ve been told about them and the date the rest of the world learned of the vulnerabilities.
An Intel spokesperson told MarketWatch that the CEO’s sale of Intel stock was “unrelated” to the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities, but that was the only comment on the matter. It may be too early to know whether Krzanich’s sale of Intel stock will be scrutinized by regulators, but it certainly seems possible.
Intel stock slid another 2% on Thursday, falling as low as $42.69 in intraday trading.


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ICYMI, Burberry has made some big changes to the way it presents its latest collections.
Firstly, unlike most brands, the fashion house will not be showing its Spring/Summer 2017 collection at London Fashion Week. Instead, it will showcase what it calls its September collection, for both womenswear and menswear, that’s designed for the current season instead of spring and summer.
Secondly, the entirety of the September collection will be available in stores and online immediately after the show.
That’s not all. To allow consumers to interact with and understand the collection better, the show venue, Makers Studio, will be open to the public from 21 to 27 September. Artisans from British collective The New Craftsmen, will be bringing the collection to life through various forms of craftsmanship, from sculpting to calligraphy.
For those at home, don’t worry, you can also watch the show in the comfort of your couch below, on 20 September, 2.30am Singapore time!
If you happen to be in London between 21 to 27 September, be sure to pop by Makers Studio at 1 Manette Street, London to experience the Burberry September collection for yourself.
For more on Fashion, head here. Or check out This Unexpected Colour Is Emmy Red Carpet-Approved or Kenzo Shows Us The Dangerous World Of Social Media.


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MGT303 Corporate Policy & Strategy
The Kobe Steel scandal started in October 2017 when the company revealed that it had falsified data about the quality of its aluminium, steel and copper products. These had been used by hundreds of major companies including Toyota, Honda, Subaru and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, leading to concerns over product safety. The Central Japan Railway Company, for example, found that 310 parts included in its bullet trains did not meet the agreed standards. The scandal led to a major dip in Kobe Steel’s share price and the resignation of CEO Hiroya Kawasaki. The company’s March 2018 report on the scandal found that it had ‘a management style that overemphasized profitability, and inadequate corporate governance.’ Kobe Steel (KBSTY), a century-old industrial giant, has admitted to falsifying data on products sold to top customers like Boeing (BA) and Toyota (TM). It says as many as 500 companies could be affected, including manufacturers of Japan’s famous bullet trains. Essentially, Kobe employees faked reports to make it look as though products met the specifications requested by customers when in fact they didn’t. The scandal initially concerned copper and aluminum parts, but has spread to steel products, too. It has raised doubts about thousands of tons of material shipped over a period of more than 10 years. For the aluminum and copper parts, false data was given about their strength and durability. In the aerospace industry, Boeing and Japan’s Mitsubishi (MHVYF) both used Kobe parts made with falsified data in their aircraft. But the two companies insisted they don’t believe the parts present a safety concern. Japanese automakers Toyota (TM), Honda (HMC) and Nissan (NSANF) acknowledged they had used affected Kobe materials but were still assessing the consequences for their vehicles. Ford (F) has said it found aluminum parts in the hood of its Mondeo model in China, but can’t confirm if they were sourced during the affected period. Other big companies — including GM (GM), Mazda (MZDAF) and plane-maker Airbus (EADSF) — said they haven’t found any suspect parts so far but are combing their supply chains regardless. The future of Kobe Steel is unclear, but it looks bleak right now. Its stock has nosedived 40% since the revelations first emerged. Some analysts have warned the company could go bust, and others have suggested it could be broken up and sold off to rivals. Kobe hasn’t put a number on the likely size of the financial hit from the scandal. The firm’s CEO has said it will bear the costs of any product recalls by its customers. He is also leading an internal probe into what happened. With this in mind, write a case study in an essay format, addressing the below mentioned points: Critically discuss the various costs that Kobe Steel had to face owing to the scandal. Your discussion should comprehensively address the visible costs, internal administrative costs as well as intangible costs the firm had to face. Critically discuss the reason that prompted or encouraged such a corrupt practice to occur in a well-established and reputable company like Kobe Steel. Analyze the performance of Kobe Steel from the year 2015 to the year 2019. Do you think that there are other reasons beyond the corporate fraud that may have affected their performance? Discuss. Examine the incorporation of triple bottom line framework by Kobe Steel. Assess its implementation and discuss its outcome. Do you think that incorporation of the triple bottom line framework can mitigate or eliminate corrupt practice in the company?


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New York’s Vaporizer Law RESULTS IN the Vaporizing Consequences
There are many reports lately that the vaporizing flavors of the cigarettes could be dangerous to your health. This has been the subject of much debate. E-Cigarette Vaporizers and vapors are not a fresh thing. Vaping flavors were first introduced a couple of years ago but recent events have shown that there is more risk involved with vaporizing than in smoking. Many new e-juice flavors are being intended to address this concern, however the real question is, are these truly safer than cigarettes?
One reason we recommend you stay away from these new “juice flavors” is basically because the government is looking at them. Recently the FDA sent out statements to all cigarette retailers advising them to stop selling any e-juice flavors like bubble gum or pop corn. There is also a bill currently in Congress that will propose to regulate all flavored e-juices so the government can remove any unflavored vaporizer.
Another issue that has been brought up about e-juice, is the flavorings used. Many times, once you buy an e Cigarette it comes with a pack of smoking materials. Some companies add flavorings to these to enable you to like a stronger nicotine hit and never have to smoke another cigarette.
The issue with this is that most of the flavoring agents could cause illnesses such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, coughing, runny nose, throat irritation and much more. It is especially dangerous for small children to use these products. Since the FDA will probably ban flavored e Cigarettes the firms will have no choice but to eliminate these harmful ingredients. This may cause significant injury to the youth who are in desperate need of nicotine.
Most e Cigarette flavors are made with artificial sweeteners and flavorings. These are a cheap way to produce a product that tastes really good. People do not realize that they are inhaling thousands of chemicals together with the sweet vapor that they are creating when they puff on an e Cigarette. Additionally, people also don’t realize that they are consuming nicotine, that is highly addictive. Since the FDA has been unable to regulate the number of nicotine that is contained in the Cigarettes the manufacturers will continue steadily to sell them in huge amounts, knowing full well they are running the risk of causing smokers to suffer from diseases such as lung cancer and raised blood pressure.
Another danger that is looming in the near future for vaporizers along with other new nicotine smoking products is that young people will begin to associate them with casual, cool culture. Young people will be less inclined to associate the taste of menthol cigarettes with cigarettes. This can cause them to turn from vaporizing flavors and go back to smoking regular cigarettes. It will also force chain restaurants along with other eateries to serve only cigarettes, which may drive customers from them.
It has been reported that teenagers who use e-Cigarettes will try drug and alcohol abuse. It seems that all they want to do is enjoy flavored of liquids and forget about their potential side effects. They do not seem to care that they are causing harm to themselves among others. Those who Vape smoke usually do not seem to mind the truth that they are killing themselves while trying to quit their smoking habit. This is why more people are trying to find safe and healthy flavored e liquids so that they can replace cigarettes with a thing that they can enjoy rather than killing themselves.
The general public health crisis that is looming over the vaporizer industry cannot be ignored. The longer that these companies sell menthol cigarettes along with other flavored e liquids in the United States, the worse the situation will get. If the government takes action quickly enough, the problem could even get worse than it currently is. It really is time that consumers and businesses both stepped forward and began to support one another. You can find so many different types of e Cigarettes that it’ll be impossible for a single business to provide everything there is to offer. It really is time that folks put their money where their mouth is and began to support new e-Cig flavors prior to the vaporizers companies ruin the market with insane new flavors.


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On MSI X299 motherboard and Intel Core i7-7740X CPU
G.Skill has been recently pushing the memory envelope hard, and with the latest DDR4 memory it has moved the frequency mark to a whole new level but today it told us that its DDR4 memory managed to break a record at 5,500MHz.
Because it is such a cool, user-friendly company
Australia's consumer watchdog has carried out an investigation into the fruity, tax-dodging cult Apple and found that its staff lie to customers about their legal rights.
Funded by a loudmouth screaming on the sidelines
The shy and retired former Microsoft boss Steve “there’s a kind of hush” Ballmer said that the IT industry can learn a lot from professional sports.
Ethereum to blame
Last week at Computex quite a few of our contacts mentioned that RX 580, 570 and older 480 and 470 cards are extremely hard to find. It turns out, that our contacts confirmed that the Ethereum crypto currency network is to blame.
A lot of bang for the buck
According to a fresh report, AMD's entry-level 16-core Threadripper CPU could cost as low as US $849.


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KUALA LUMPUR: Following the Timah whisky brand controversy that triggered a lot of public discourse recently, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (IND-Muar) has suggested that parliamentary priorities may have been misplaced.
PETALING JAYA: The company manufacturing the homegrown whiskey Timah has agreed to consider changing the name and image on the label of their award-winning product, says the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Society needs to be educated to think in a more logical manner, following the controversy over the local whiskey brand 'Timah', says Pengerang Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
OCTOBER 19 — Award-winning Malaysian-made Timah whiskey isn’t the only controversial alcohol name, it seems. There are at least 10 controversial brews “that got more attention for their artwork than their taste.” One is a beer that goes by the name and label “Lost Abbey’s...
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad agrees with Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor's call for a local alcoholic beverage company to immediately change its 'Timah’ brand and the picture used on the bottle.


text: Google has rolled out a worldwide update of its popular maps app to give terrain a ‘more vibrant’, detailed and colourful appearance. The visual makeover adds greater detail and makes natural features easier to see, such as beaches, deserts, lakes or snow caps on the peaks of mountaintops. The updates give Google ‘one of the most comprehensive views of natural features on any major map app’, the tech giant has said. The redesign will be available across all 220 countries and territories that Google Maps supports, starting this week. ‘We’re rolling out new visual improvements that bring even more detail and granularity to the map, making it easier to understand what an area looks like whether you’re exploring virtually or planning a visit,’ said Google Maps product manager Sujoy Banerjee in a blog post.


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Barber on eve of shift to new site
On his final day of trading in his Esk St shop, Invercargill barber Paul McKinlay was dealing with a Christmas rush of his own.
Mr McKinlay's barber shop was buzzing with customers eager for their last-minute Christmas haircut before the shop moves to Cambridge Place Arcade in the new year.
After nearly a decade snipping and trimming from the Esk St Barbers and Tobacconist, Mr McKinlay is moving to new premises.
"I did look at my options but it made sense to not move too far away," he said.
"It's only 10 metres away, so the customers should be able to find me."
With the end of his lease at his current location, Mr McKinlay said there were some benefits to the move.
"They say a change of scenery is as good as a holiday," he said.
"I may even be able to charge a few cents more after all these years."
Loyal customer Stuart Newton said he was not so sure about any price hike but he would follow Mr McKinlay around the corner.
"I've been coming here for more than six years. I enjoy Paul's company and the haircut comes with a laugh and a joke," Mr Newton said.
"I'm sure a change in premises won't change that."
Enjoying a trim in the barber's chair, visitor Phillip Grennell, a former Southlander, said at least he would not have to look far to find the new shop if he passed through Invercargill again.
"I left for Australia 43 years ago and am back for a visit and if I do come back again I'll definitely drop in for another haircut."
The Southland Times


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The competition watchdog has fired a warning shot at Google and Apple, telling the tech giants to clean up their app stores now or face regulation which will make them do so.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has spent the last seven months investigating the notoriously murky app stores of Google and Apple, finding there are “significant issues which warrant attention”.
According to the ACCC, Google and Apple need to be more transparent about how they promote apps, offer consumers the ability to change and remove preinstalled or default apps, ensure they do not use information collected about third party apps to advantage their own, and reconsider payment systems that exclude competitors.
Apple and Google could also “do more” to prevent and remove malicious apps from their stores, according to the regulator, which said the two US giants now have a clear “window of opportunity” to address the issues.
The ACCC has ongoing concerns that digital platform companies have the ability and incentive to favour their own products and related businesses, often under the cover of opaque algorithms and platforms.
In its latest interim report on digital platform services, the ACCC examined the problems as they relate to app stores, which are dominated in Australia by Apple and Google and their respective App Store and Play Store.
The pair’s dominance, including their ability to set the rules for who can access the app store, has the potential to harm competition and app developers and consumers, according to the ACCC.
The latest report found Google and Apple need to do more to prevent harm and allow competition.
“This is an area where the ACCC considers more can be done by Apple and Google, including in order to meet expectations that they should not leverage their market power, and the access they have to commercial information, to advantage themselves to the disadvantage of rival apps,” the report found.
“This report identifies, as potential measures, those steps that could be undertaken by Apple and Google; however, regulation may be required if they fail to do so.”
ACCC chairman Rod Sims, who led the regulator’s landmark 2019 inquiry into digital platform, said there are still serious concerns with the market power of the tech giants.
“Apple and Google’s stores are the gateways between consumers and app developers, and it’s true that they provide considerable benefits to both groups. But there are significant issues with how this market is operating,” Mr Sims said.
“Apple and Google don’t only run the app marketplaces, they also compete within them with their own apps. They have the ability and incentive to promote their own apps over others, and they control the terms that their competitors must comply with to gain access to their stores.”
The ACCC has suggested a series of measures for the platform giants in response to its findings, including more rating and reviewing of apps, the ability to change preinstalled apps, app developers being allowed to inform consumers about alternative payment methods and that the data collected by Apple and Google as app store operators be “ring-fenced” from their other operations.
“There is a window of opportunity for Apple and Google themselves to take steps to improve outcomes for app developers and consumers by adopting the potential measures we have identified,” Mr Sims said.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.


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Category Archives: Business
Book buffs around the country ought to be a happy lot right now. Amazon has launched its popular Kindle store in India. Now, readers can swap rupees for reads, as international bestsellers, classics and works by Indian and independent authors are a click and download away. Also, fledgling writers will now have access to Kindle Direct Publishing to showcase their work and find interested parties.
Everything from text books to chatting with a teacher can be done online, so why not move school study halls to the web? A recent survey predicts that 2012-2013 school year will see the rise of online study halls by students who want to enhance their education with digital content and more online collaboration.
The spark of an idea, the spirit of an individual, the enterprise of the team go into building a successful business. Without being aware, the government’s economic forecast and the nation’s economic growth hinges on entrepreneurial success and the vibrant progress of businesses. The ultimate recognition for an entrepreneur is taking the stage in the limelight to stand out from the crowd and win an award.
Goat breeding is gaining prominence in the country due to a decline in the grazing area and natural resources, said Dr D Swaroop, Director, and Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG). Speaking on the sidelines of a two-day conference on goats called GOATTERY-2012, organized by the websites http://www.indianlivestockfarms.com in Coimbatore, Dr Swaroop said the central and state government have realised the importance of goats and have formulated various policy measures to implement the breeding of the animal in rural areas to help poor and needy people.
Shortage of trained nut pluckers is a grim farm sector problem in Kerala but for 37-year-old Selvin Chacko coconut plucking is a hi-tech profession involving car, mobile and even a dedicated website. While many youngsters looked down upon coconut plucking as a less-esteemed career, Selvin from Changanassery has opted for it with ‘career pride and pleasure’ and keeping in tune with the changing times he is using modern facilities like mobile phone and website to get connected to customers.
Tamil Nadu, which has the highest number of MSMEs in India, will equip all District Industries Centres in the 32 districts with better infrastructure at a cost of 50 crore. These centres can then serve as a hub to promote MSME units.
The government has also decided to train nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs under a new scheme. The ‘New Entrepreneur-cum-Enterprise Development Scheme’ (NEEDS) will help educated youngsters draw up business plans and tie up with financial institutions for their ventures. At least half the beneficiaries of this scheme will be women.
Vidya sagar, As part of its youth programme that seeks to help youngsters with disability, the organisation, formerly called the Spastics Society of India, launched a marketing unit christened ‘Kalakkal kadai‘ to act as a bridge between potential consumers and differentlyabled entrepreneurs.
Chennai auto scene has a new address to flaunt about a designer car showroom in Egmore. A joint venture between Dilip Chhabria Design Pvt.Ltd and Lalitha Motors Pvt.Ltd (part of Lalitha Jewellery group), saw the opening up of a DC Design outlet in Chennai on March 11, 2012.
This is not just a collaboration aimed at profits but a result of my passion for vehicles. Lalitha Group’s customer-centric approach alongwith a rich experience in retail and DC Design’s superior designs skills will indeed be a formidable combination” said Mr.Kiran Kumar of Lalitha Jewellery.
Thinking of Moving to Cities in Search of Jobs? Think Twice, Rural Tamilnadu Joins Information Technology Highway
US real estate firms have spawned new job opportunities for TN rural women. Thanks to their outsourced projects on maintenance service billing and invoice processing, Indian KPO (knowledge processing outsourcing) companies have roped in rural women for the job that does not call for niche skill sets. Companies such as Episource, a KPO firm headquartered in the US, has opened new avenues to graduate women in areas such as Jolarpet, Koundapadi and Villivakkam to eke out a living of their own. In association with women self-help groups, the company has helped women in these rural areas to set up small brick-and-mortar centres to do some processing work for the company.
The Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) is all set to make inroads into a chunk of the proposed Chengalpattu Composite Local Planning Area. To facilitate the expansion of the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA), the Housing and Urban Development Department has shelved the proposal of the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) to create a composite Local Planning Area for Chengalpattu. However, a similar proposal for expansion of the Local Planning Area for Kancheepuram by including 25 more villages was approved and notified by the government in December 2011. Check out the composite map illustrating the expansion of the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
T-shirts have been an age-old comfort wear all around the world. But have you ever wondered how old actually is the history of this particular style of clothing? T-shirt evolved through cutting the one-piece undergarments used in the 19th century into separate top and bottom garments. The top used to be long enough to tuck under the waistband of the bottoms.
However it became popular in the United States during the Spanish American war, after they were issued by the U.S. Navy. T-shirts were actually a slip-on garment without buttons or collar, usually with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line. The garment got its name due to the shape of its outline; it soon became popular in various industries, including agriculture as a bottom layer of clothing for workers.


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For those of you unable to attend the public consultation regarding Rushden Lakes, Nene Local reports.
Rushden Lakes set to become almost half as big again under the new expansion plans.
A new project called Rushden Living – has been submitted to East Northants Council, it’s the first stage of a bid to extend the shopping development on land west of the popular Rushden Lakes site.
If approved there would be almost 12,000 sq m of shops, restaurants and offices, as well as a new link road hoping to ease traffic into the site. The plans include:
– A1 class units (non-food retail)
– A1 (retail including food)
– B1 (offices)
– B1 and B2 (general industry)
The proposed development should also mean a 782m privately-owned link road between the development and Ditchford Road.
Ditchford Road will be realigned to facilitate the new road junction providing an alternative means of access to Rushden Lakes, for shoppers currently entering from the A45. An additional 811 car parking spaces will also be created, bringing the total number of spaces to 2,730.
It’s anticipated that work could begin as early as next year with completion in 2020. We have been no indication of any shop names which may be interested in joining the development in this proposed newest phase.
Phase two, is currently being built to include a 14-screen cinema from Cineworld, due to open in early 2019.


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Take Two Interactive To Support The Nintendo Switch In The Long Run
Some gamers may not be familiar with Take Two Interactive, but they're the company that owns developers like 2K Games and Rockstar. With all the hype building around the release of the Nintendo Switch, Take Two has taken the time to comment on the console, and they are said to be providing support for the Switch in the long run.
"Supporting It Long Form"
According to Nintendo Today, Take-Two's head Strauss Zelnick talks about Nintendo and the games they plan to make for the Switch. He says, "We're excited about Switch we're supporting Switch with NBA 2K18, we've said we're supporting it long form."
Zelnick also says that the company never counts Nintendo out whenever they decide to bring anything to the market. The Nintendo Switch is looking to shape things up by adding more third party games in its lineup, so it's a smart move for Take-Two to jump in on the Nintendo bandwagon early.
NBA 2K18 And Other Titles
Zelnick also expresses that, as of now, he can only announce the NBA title coming to the game, but it's sure that the developers have some other titles up their sleeve - they're just not ready to be announced yet.
Gaming Bolt notes that there have been rumors buzzing around about a remaster for L.A. Noire, and it's possible that the devs are working on a version that can be playable for the Nintendo Switch. This year will also mark the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. Hhopefully, the developers are also working on a version playable for the Switch when the game comes out in the fall of 2017.
One of the biggest concerns that gamers had with the Switch is that the console may not have a steady stream of games coming toward it after launch. News has come out, however, that multiple developers are working on about a hundred different titles for the console. Hopefully, the Switch doesn't flop like the Wii U when it gets released this coming March 3.
Why The Nintendo Switch Needed To Run On Nvidia Tech
Will Nvidia provide hardware powerful enough to keep players happy?
'Nintendo Switch' Pre-Orders Getting Cancelled Because Of Low Supply
Bad news for anyone who wants to get their hands on one of the most anticipated consoles of 2017 - Nintendo Switch pre-orders are now getting cancelled because of low suppy.
The Nintendo Switch Already Has 100 Games In Development
Hopefully the steady stream of games will save the Nintendo Switch from flopping like the Wii U.
Red Dead Redemption 2 News, Update: Monumental New Feature Pushes Back Xbox One, PS4 Launch?
The latest news indicates that a monumental new feature might be the reason why the release date of Red Dead Redemption 2 for Xbox One and PS4 was pushed back.
Mini SNES Classic Edition vs NES Classic Edition: Which Console Is Better?
The SNES Classic Edition comes with two controllers. While the SNES Classic's controller cables get an extra two feet in length. However, both come with significant improvement to the controllers themselves.
MORE IN ITECHPOST
The Role of Technology in Education in 2019
2019 is proving to be another great year for trends in educational technology. There are many upcoming trends that seem to have a bearing on the future of the sector with respect to technology.
New Retroreflective Material Could be Used in Nighttime Color-Changing Road Signs
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A thin film that reflects light in intriguing ways could be used to make road signs that shine brightly and change color at night, according to a study that will be published on Aug. 9 in Science Advances.
Top 5 Video Games to Play for a Truly Unique First Date
Video games have a way of taking us outside of ourselves and live in a fantasy world. It's even better when you're playing a game with someone special!


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Back in March Kia Corporation unveiled the Concept EV5 at Kia’s Chinese EV Day. The all-electric SUV concept took center stage at the event to present the brand’s strategy to establish global leadership in electrification, now we could be in front of EV5 test mule using a Kia EV6 that our colleagues at Motorsjason spotted in South Korea.
The mysterious vehicle was caught in the streets near Hyundai Motor Group’s R&D Center in Namyang, South Korea and despite we don’t know what this could be, it is clear that Kia are trying to play distraction using EV6 body, but several devices attached to the front and rear wheels announce us that the South Korean carmaker is testing a new drivetrain that according to the scale could be next EV5.
The chassis testing mule had a slightly modified body of the Kia EV6 with apparently similar wheelbase but could be hiding a different model.
Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, which celebrates the creative tension formed from the fusion of often seemingly contrasting visual influences of nature and modernity, has galvanized Kia’s design team in the delivery of the Concept EV5’s striking aesthetics. In particular, the ‘Bold for Nature’ pillar of the philosophy has influenced the form and stance of the Concept EV5, creating a unique SUV to support those pursuing a ‘borderless life’ where there is no boundary between their enjoyment and appreciation of nature and the city.
These are the very first spy shots of an expected SUV that should arrive by the end 2023 in China, later Kia will launch in selected markets that could be USA or Europe.


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Gifting-as-a-Service Startup Sendoso Gets $100M in Series C Funding
Sendoso, another startup in the rapidly growing gifting-as-a-service space, recently landed $100 million in Series C funding.
That brings the company's funding total to $152 million, surpassing the totals of Snappy and Alyce, two other major gifting-as-a-service (also known as "end to end" or "one to one" gifting) startups that have attracted major attention from venture capital firms over the last year or so.
Snappy has raised $100 million over three rounds of funding, while Alyce has raised $48 million. Sendoso's $100 million Series C haul is also the largest single round of funding any of these companies has received, beating the $70 million Snappy picked up in May.
The news is the continuation of a trend we've been watching closely for its disruption potential in the promo industry. The gifting-as-a-service model has received significant buzz lately, with major publications such as the Wall Street Journal calling it a "personalized alternative to homogenous corporate swag."
While these companies don't appear to be a direct threat to promo—as software platforms, many even offer branded merchandise integration and fulfillment capabilities that could make them potential partners—their tech-powered approach to corporate gifting has certainly raised eyebrows within the industry. (For in-depth coverage on gifting-as-a-service and promo, read our July longform or listen to this episode of the PM Podcast.)
We are thrilled to announce our $100M #SeriesC funding round led by @SoftBank_Group Vision Fund 2, enabling us to expand our hiring, product offerings, and new European headquarters in Ireland! 🎉🇮🇪#Sendoso #FundingAnnouncement #IDAIreland
— Sendoso (@sendosohq) September 14, 2021
Sendoso now has more than 20,000 users and 800 business customers, including Comcast, Nasdaq and eBay. According to TechCrunch, the platform offers 30,000 items ranging from branded merchandise to retail gifts and gift cards, and provides logistics and fulfillment services similar to those offered by other gifting-as-a-service startups.
It also offers many of the same tech-integration capabilities as its competitors. Via TechCrunch:
The startup’s platform integrates with a company’s existing marketing, sales and management software—Salesforce, HubSpot, SalesLoft among them—and then lets users use this to organize and order gifts through these channels, for example as part of larger sales, marketing or HR strategies. The gifts are wide-ranging, covering corporate swag, other physical presents, gift cards and more, and there are also integrations you can include to share gifting across teams of salespeople, to analyze the campaigns and more.
Sendoso's latest round of funding is also noteworthy in that it was led by SoftBank, whose Vision Fund 2 represents the world's largest tech-focused venture capital fund. At $108 billion in total capital, the fund includes investors such as Apple and Microsoft.
“We believe Sendoso offers the most comprehensive end-to-end gifting platform in the market,” said Priya Saiprasad, a partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers, according to TechCrunch. “Their platform includes a global marketplace of curated vendors, seamless integration with existing tools, global logistics and deep analytics. As a result, Sendoso serves as the backbone to enterprises’ engagement programs with prospective customers, existing customers, employees and other key stakeholders. We’re excited to lead this Series C round to help Sendoso accelerate its vision.”
In a post on the company's website, CEO Kris Rudeegraap said Sendoso will use the funds to expand its global warehouse and logistics capabilities, increase the size of its product marketplace and add "top talent" as it scales. The company also will open a European headquarters based in Ireland.


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Companies can meet the challenge of disruptive innovation by adopting a new “ecosystem” strategy, says Professor Peter Williamson.
Companies can meet the challenge of disruptive innovation by adopting a new “ecosystem” strategy that attracts a wide range of partners that help all parties innovate and grow, says a new book, Ecosystem Edge, by Professor Arnoud De Meyer of Singapore Management University and Professor Peter Williamson of Cambridge Judge Business School.
Managers need to leave old “command and control” approaches behind in favour of a strategy of boosting learning and innovation by attracting collaborators to strengthen their network, says the book to be published on 14 April by Stanford University Press.
To profit, such ecosystem creators need to establish efficient “tollgates” to collect revenues when partners tap a “keystone” contribution of the ecosystem leader – the way that Cambridge-based chip designer ARM collects royalties or license fees from the 90 per cent of mobile phones globally that use its power-saving chip designs.
Read more here


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Many people have collections of old smartphones at home. That are out of use because they don’t know what to do with them. Now an Israeli company has come up with a solution: a vending machine. That allows consumers to recycle, sell or upgrade to an improv model. It aims to save energy, natural resources and environmental damage associat. With the extraction of minerals associat with the production of smartphones, as well as to ruce end-use e-waste. RE-Refurbish Smartphones Revolution, found in 2015, provides a universal machine. That is currently available in three stores in Tel Aviv and 14 in Europe – in Finland, Germany and Spain.
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The Israeli-made vending machine was present at the “Climate Solutions” conference and festival organiz. By Start Up Nation Central, the Jewish National Fund KKL-JNF and JNF. Canada, and the company Hulda Central Israel Forest. To Afghanistan Phone Number List use the machine, you ne to enter the serial number of the phone, so that the system can check whether it belongs. To you, whether it has not been stolen and whether it has been paid in full. After ticking a few boxes, you place your phone on a touch panel where an. AI system verifies the correctness of the claims you made about your phone and gives you a price.
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It is noteworthy that this figure can be much lower – half, and sometimes less than the one that can be sold on the secondary market. But it is certainly convenient. For example, the reporter’s iPhone 12 was pric at 1,090 shekels. For an additional BRB Directory NIS 2,010 ($600), it could be trad in for a new refurbish, fully test and unlock 128GB iPhone 12 Pro Max with a 12-month warranty. Smartphone Revolution vending machine at the Climate Solutions Conference and Festival in Hulda Forest, central Israel, October 26, 2022 The updat Smartphone Revolution machine at the Climate Solutions Conference and Festival in Hulda Forest, central Israel.


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Thanks To Resident Evil 3 And Monster Hunter, Capcom Expects To Make A Lot Of Money
The publisher has increased its revenue and profit targets due to a handful of key titles.
Japanese gaming publisher Capcom has announced that it expects to make even more money than anticipated for its latest financial year due to the big success of a few key titles.
In a news release, Capcom said it is increasing its forecast for revenue and profit for the financial year ending March 31 due in part to big sales of Resident Evil 3 and ongoing sales of catalog titles like Monster Hunter World.
Capcom said its efforts to grow digital game sales have paid off, and that is also part of the reason why the company is increasing its revenue and profit forecast. On top of that, Capcom said preorders for Monster Hunter Rise for Nintendo Switch are "off to a promising start." All of these factors, in addition to a presumed boost due to COVID-19, is why Capcom is raising its performance estimates for the financial period.
As you can see in the chart below, Capcom now plans to bring in 92 billion yen for the year in revenue and 21 billion in profit, which compares to the previous forecast of 85 billion yen in revenue and 18 billion yen in profit.
Capcom will officially announce its earnings results for the period on January 28, so check back with GameSpot then to find out if the company reached its increased targets.
In other Capcom news, the publisher is holding a special Resident Evil showcase event on January 21 starting at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET. One of the surprises has seemingly been revealed early, as the Resident Evil multiplayer game Resident Evil Re:Verse has leaked online.


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Providers of products and services to companies in the retail sector were honoured at the inaugural Checkout National Retail Supplier Awards, which took place at the Radisson Blu Golden Lane in Dublin on November 27.
“The event paid tribute to the ‘unsung heroes’ of the Irish retail sector,” said Stephen Wynne-Jones, editor of Checkout magazine. “Retail suppliers are fundamental to the success of the industry in areas such as shop equipment, packaging, merchandising, software development, cleaning,...
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Simplest way to speed up your interenet in seconds: Don't put your router near a lamp
- Ofcom says interference leaves 20% of people struggling to connect to web
- Advises router should be as far away as possible from radio wave devices
- Watchdog suggests rebooting box can help overcome connection issues
Placing your internet router beside a telephone, lamp or other electrical device could be making your connection sluggish and unresponsive, Ofcom will reveal today.
The watchdog says interference caused by gadgets such as baby monitors could leave as many as a fifth of families struggling to connect to the internet or surf the web at the high speeds promised by their broadband providers.
Placing your internet router beside a telephone, lamp or other electrical device could be making your connection sluggish and unresponsive, Ofcom will reveal today
Ofcom has now advised that the router should be ‘as far away as possible’ from radio wave-emitting devices, suggesting that rebooting the box can help overcome connection issues.
Sharon White, chief executive of Ofcom, told today’s Daily Telegraph: ‘We estimate that consumers’ home broadband experience may not be working as well as it could in around a fifth of UK homes.
‘This is often caused by something unrelated to the internet connection, which could be as simple as interference to the broadband router from a lamp, stereo speakers or baby monitor.’
Miss White also announced: ‘In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching an app for smartphones and tablets, which will test your wifi connection.’
The watchdog says interference caused by gadgets such as baby monitors could leave as many as a fifth of families struggling to connect to the internet
She added: ‘We also need the other important ingredients – choice, quality of service, competitive prices and wider availability – to be working for consumers too. On most of these measures, the UK does well.
‘But we have identified some areas of concern – such as rising prices for some landline and broadband customers, which may not be justified by higher costs or improved service.’
She said: ‘But we worry about people who don’t want the hassle of leaving their current provider, or lack the confidence to shop around. We want to make it easier for customers to switch providers.’
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Posh pink gin brand Pinkster has boosted its range of ‘Hedgepig’ gin liqueurs with a trio of new drinks.
It has added Cambridge Gage (28% abv), Glorious Gooseberry (27% abv) and Zesty Elderflower (29.8% abv) flavours to the range in 50cl bottles. They are all made with fruit grown in orchards local to the brand’s Cambridgeshire base (rsp: £36).
“While Pinkster will always be the flagship brand, Hedgepig allows us to indulge our passion for making gin with fresh fruit to create unusual handcrafted liqueurs,” said Pinkster MD Stephen Marsh, adding he wanted to establish Hedgepig as “the definitive pudding gin” thanks to the fact the new flavours were “all suited to accompanying cheese and desserts”.
To mark the launch, Pinkster has teamed up with The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, with 50p from every bottle sold going to hedgehog conservation and care. The tie-up is being promoted across Hedgepig’s bottle stickers and PoS.
Pinkster recently kicked off a “six-figure” investment into its core gin, unveiling a new bottle design, slogan and a fresh ad campaign based on ‘the dos and don’ts of pink gin’, designed to play up the brand’s seasonal credentials and that it uses real raspberries in production rather than flavouring.


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The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that declining biodiversity is threatening food supplies globally.
However, it is our food production systems that have been the major driver of biodiversity loss. Food and drink production has driven 75% of deforestation to date and agriculture is the top threat for 86% of plant and animal species known to be at risk of extinction.
Across Africa, agriculture has the potential to not only deliver food security but to be a driver of economic growth. It is, however, critical that environmental and societal impact are given priority when making decisions on the development of the sector.
How can the sector find the balance between creating economic opportunity and implementing sustainable practices that positively impact ecosystems?
AfricaLive speaks to industry leaders from across the continent on the challenges & opportunities in developing sustainable African agriculture.
Africa can leverage some of the established methods on increasing yield, such as using adequate fertilizers, data-driven farming, alternative farming methods like urban farming, better seeds while investing in finding other ways to improve the yield per acre. Overall, there needs to be more investment and focus on how to do more with less.
We also need to reduce production losses to the minimum levels possible across the value chains. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, post-harvest losses can be as high as 50% in Africa, which means producing twice as much as required to get the desired output. And if growth is via acreage increase, then the environment’s damage is an obvious consequence with minimal economic benefit.
Also, there is a need to focus on streamlining the value chains to capture more value lost to several middle players. There are too many players between the farmers and the main markets. Intermediaries reduce value attributable to the farmers and potentially also increases losses. According to Benin’s African Cashew Initiative, intermediaries increase costs on average by 15%, which could be significantly higher in other markets.
Overall, this means that we need to look at the value chains to eliminate inefficiencies and improve effectiveness. This approach will require investments from African governments and private sector players.
Traditional farming and fishing methods used to be very sustainable. The problem is that nowadays they are not traditional anymore. The common farmer that may have come from a traditional farming background is mostly practicing monoculture. Pastoralists are overgrazing their rangelands – unlike their forefathers who practiced rotational grazing and understood the importance of the carrying capacity of their natural grazing habitats.
Fisherfolk have discovered nets and commercial ways and due to lack of legislation being followed or governed, they have the means to wipe out their fishery very quickly and very easily.
At the end of the day, they live from day to day and can’t afford to think about tomorrow.
Food security will need to be delivered by a combination of large, medium, and small acreages. Industrial agriculture can be influenced positively by regenerative practices. It will take time to convert all the production methodologies into better ones, but of course it is possible.
With the new African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, we see new opportunities coming through and more engagements with both the public and private sector. There will be studies done to assess the impact of the free trade area as well as efforts to make the private sector comply with market requirements. A company that was working exclusively in the Senegalese market, for instance, will have to adapt if they are to enter the Tanzanian market for instance.
I foresee challenges in power supply that can negatively impact the production of processed food. African countries trade in fresh fruit and vegetables primarily, and a lot of food perishes during transit, so we need to improve our manufacturing capabilities, to add value to the food, and increase our earning potential through exportation.
We work in partnership with a West African country that exports 95 per cent of its cashew nuts to India and Vietnam. Those two countries process and resell the cashews to other countries in the world. Our studies have shown that there is a very steady market for cashew kernels even in the countries where the raw materials come from. If we industrialise, therefore, we will be able to close in on this market and keep the money in the country.
Cocoa has been an important commodity for our country. Cocoa is not just a cash crop for us; it has also become part of our politics. The cocoa sector feeds about 800,000 people in the country and issues that affect the industry can be quite emotive. Unfortunately, our industry has suffered a dip in production in recent times. The dip in production has been occasioned by climatic changes as well as factors such as disease. The government has put in place measures whose impact will start being felt in a few years with the expected rise in volumes of production.
The government is putting a focus on increasing production while also encouraging diversification in the overall agriculture sector. Adding value to our cocoa is also part of our national strategy. Value addition will help increase the value of our product, boost our standing in the global cocoa industry, and lead to job creation. Diversification will also see us improve the agricultural sector and boost our national revenue.
Going forward cocoa will not be the dominant crop in Ghana if our diversification plans come into fruition. Cocoa will still be an important and relevant crop but it won’t be as prominent as it is now.
Our firm got its start after our founder noticed that East African countries largely engaged in exporting raw coffee. He spent time studying the market and trying to understand why adding value locally was so difficult. FairAfric was then born to kick start value addition efforts in Ghana. He began by working with the government before getting into private-sector dealings. After we found ourselves in frequent competitive disadvantages, we decided to establish our chocolate making factory here in Ghana.
In 2019, we achieved a 10,000 bar per-hour processing capacity here in Ghana. It was amazing to get this done right in the middle of the pandemic. Our idea of value addition is not just turning beans into chocolate bars, it’s also about empowering locals by creating opportunities. Our outreach extends to farmers and also local people that help this industry move forward through their talents.
We are proud to have reached the million-bar milestone and can also confirm that our chocolate is 100% organic.
We must protect our yield by embracing sustainable practises. Our appreciation for sustainable farming has led us to encourage farmers to embrace these methods as well. Change can be tough with farmers that have inherited the farms from previous generations that didn’t know much about sustainability though.
We, therefore, pursued an incentive system where farmers get paid 600 dollars per ton if they practise sustainable farming. Farmers that work with the Fairafric co-operative get an additional premium as an incentive.
Since farmers want to enjoy these benefits, it becomes easy to convince them to incorporate sustainable farming methods.
Our long term plan is to impact surrounding communities positively through our successes. We want people here to have access to potable water, education, the internet and healthcare. Its high time that all organisations that benefit in one way or the other from this industry, make contributions towards the greater good.
Michael Marmon-Halm, Managing Director at Fair Afric. Ghana
We are the only coffee processing plant in East and Central Africa. It is important to emphasize that because remarkably, even people in the Tanzanian and East African food & beverage sector are unaware that value addition is being carried out here in Tanzania.
Even within East Africa, people import processed coffee from Brazil and Malaysia while we have the product here in our stores. We have to improve awareness. We also work in bulk handling of coffee and perhaps this hasn’t helped us brand the value added products properly. We now have improved branding with our Tanica and Kilimanjaro brands, which are gaining in popularity.
We must look at value addition because as our production capacity goes up, there’s risk of massive surpluses. Value addition helps us create more products and expand our market appeal.
Our factory at the moment can only add the value to 2% of the produce we receive, but we want to improve this. The big barrier to value-addition in Africa is the cost of the technology.
Our current machines have been going since 1963, and their longevity is remarkable. To be honest, it is almost a miracle they still work so well. We do, however, acknowledge the need to upgrade and that’s in the pipeline. We would gladly welcome partnerships and investments in our journey to gaining a bigger footprint in East Africa.
Rodness Milton, Managing Director at TANICA PLC. Tanzania
Education, Youth Engagement & Skills Development
Being a university of agriculture, one thing going for us is that we have a national council and other schools of agriculture in the country that we work with. We also have a memorandum of understanding with the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, and positive relations with the Federal Institute for Industrial Research.
Our production agenda is supported by the National Cereal Research Institute situated in Badeggi Niger State as well as the Nigeria Institute of Oil Palm Research in Benin, Edo State. We have done well to ensure that we have not only global partnerships, but also local ones. Apart from our work with these institutions, we are doing community work by getting local farmers to work our lands and training them on cereal farming.
In five years, we will be the leaders when it comes to the Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.Gs). We have put in place an S.D.G exhibition centre that pushes us to achieve our goals. Our agricultural focus will have a great deal of research to help keep hunger and starvation at bay in the country.
Landmark University is also looking to produce significant publications that will get us a higher ranking in the next two to three years. Our vision for the next five years is not to just rank in the Times Higher Education ranking, but to rank well. We want to be competing with prestigious institutions all over the world. Our ultimate vision is to feed the world, but that has to start with feeding our campus, community, our state, and then the country. In summary, we want to ensure that our agrarian agenda is well developed, and we want to rank well globally in five years.
Growing up, agriculture was more of a punishment, so it baffled even my parents when i chose this field. We started this organisation without a clear picture of what the future would hold. All I knew is I wanted it to be an entity that brings about impactful change in the lives of struggling youth. We are still on the growth path and every day we have a clear picture of where we are headed.
We are glad that we are getting some international attention as well. People in Liberia, Nigeria and other places have called us to go introduce our interventions in their jurisdictions. Our long term plan is to explore possibilities and opportunities in other countries, but we must have a solid foundation at home first.
I believe the future is now. About a decade ago, the conversations that were being had about agriculture were very different. We have come to a point where it’s no longer a shame to be a farmer. Every day we are creating the future, with everyone along the value chain playing their part. Our youth have shown that with the right support, they can do wonders. We are calling for as well as forming partnerships that will see us grow in areas of crop improvement and mechanisation. I believe that we are setting ourselves up nicely to become a food secure country.
When a country moves from a poor developing nation to a middle-income nation the young people don’t want to dirty their hands any more. It is normal, people don’t want to get up at 5am to go work in the fields. So, there is that problem we have – people need to eat and for that people need to farm. We have 150 farmers who farm for us at SKC Surat.
We have a project where we inculcate our farmers – who are third generation now – with best practices to stop putting too much insecticide and pesticide on their vegetables. There is that problem in Mauritius which has been passed down from previous generations. There are many pests like fruit flies in Mauritius and there is a perception that in order to kill the pests the more you spray the better. What is happening though is the food is absorbing the pesticide, which leads to very serious health problems including increased risk of cancer for the consumers, for the people of Mauritius.
The international Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P) programme intends to put an end to this type of practice. In Europe, for example, you have EuroGAP and products which don’t meet the standards will not be imported.
In Mauritius the government has been trying to address issues such as the overuse of pesticides by introducing MauriGap, however after several years it was clear they were not succeeding. We have more leverage with the farmers though and can talk to them more directly in a way they understand.
Launching a commodity exchange in Ghana essentially meant launching a system which had never existed before. Such a move would come with challenges anywhere in the world. There will be some who are resistant to change and don’t see the need for such a platform. Regarding the sub-region, each country also has its own plans and ambitions. We can, however, benefit from the fact that West African countries are all firmly focused on improving their agricultural sectors.
The onus is on us as individual countries to form synergies that will see us achieve our individual and collective goals. The foreseeable problem amongst countries when it comes to proprietorship, is the need for ownership and self-preservation but that shouldn’t deter us from the overall goal.
Perceptions are changing, new habits are forming, and people appreciate the role technology through the exchange is playing in agribusiness. Farmers are thrilled by the fast payments, and those who aren’t comfortable using the technology (electronic trading system) are co-opting their children to be floor trading representatives for them. This is a clear example of attracting youth into agribusiness. Finally, opportunities exist for creating partnerships, but they must be constructed in a way that adds value to all parties involved.
The bridge between micro and institutional finance need to be bridged sooner than later – or else we risk losing out completely as younger generation farmers will cease to exist and older generation farmers will go out of business.
Considering the majority of food production on the continent comes from smaller acreages, this gap is fundamental. Farming is not cheap and anyone who thinks it is, is living in the past!


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July 18, 2022
Section 301 (China) Tariffs Causing a Fourfold Increase in Tariff Rates
President Biden has to-date chosen to retain Section 301 tariffs on over $300 billion worth of imports from China, originally imposed by President Trump. In a new insight, AAF’s Tori Smith and Tom Lee explain how these tariffs impact American consumers, and the Biden Administration’s reluctance to eliminate them.
- This study finds that, since 2017, these tariffs have resulted in a quadrupling of the trade-weighted average tariff rate Americans pay for Chinese imports, and a doubling of the trade-weighted average tariff rate Americans pay for imports generally.
- While President Biden initially expressed opposition to these tariffs in 2020, he has declined to eliminate them despite ample opportunity.
- Removing these tariffs is an obvious and effective way to mitigate the pain of rising inflation by reducing the costs of goods Americans purchase from overseas.


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According to the Korean media, Samsung decided to start production of its new generation flagship model the Samsung Galaxy S21 series in order to fill the gap in Huawei as soon as possible and deal with the pressure of Apple’s iPhone 12 series.
As some industry sources report, Samsung Electronics has decided to hold its Galaxy S21 global launch event in January next year. It will officially launch the series from late January to early February at the latest.
As we all know, the Galaxy S series usually has a launch event in February or March each year. Then, they go on sale in March or mid-April. However, the Galaxy S20 was released on February 12. It went on sale on March 6. So it turns out the Galaxy S21 will come one and a half months earlier than this practice.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series launch, pre-order, and release dates tipped https://t.co/KIZbK8w54L— 91mobiles (@91mobiles) November 4, 2020
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Sick of political ads yet? Yeah, most of us are. They’re often negative and annoying. And perhaps that’s an understatement. But for me, there’s one ad that really stuck out this 2014 political season. You’ve probably seen it. It’s the “I Have No Textbook” ad. And this one really works. Here’s why.
Part of the “Tell Thom Tillis” ad series, this ad features Megan, a teacher from Cary, NC. This ad supports the re-election of US Senator Kay Hagan by pointing out how much ground we’ve lost regarding education. You may have even seen the rebuttal ad supporting her opponent, Thom Tillis. But what is it about Senator Hagan’s ad that makes it so effective? Loss aversion.
Loss aversion is the theory that contends people prefer to avoid losses more than making gains (prospect theory). The teacher explains the loss of textbooks and teachers’ aides, along with the increased class size she is expected to handle effectively under adverse circumstances. The ultimate victims of her situation are her students. Voters feel that loss. And there are very few of us across the State of North Carolina that are not, at some level, connected to a student. Megan describes the great loss. And we are moved.
The Tillis counters her concerns with the fact that teachers have received a pay raise. But the ad isn’t memorable or moving. Why?
Prospect theory doesn’t move the needle more than loss aversion. Speak to the losses and people will feel the pain and be motivated to change.
Raleigh, NC – October 9, 2014. US House District 2 candidate, Clay Aiken, and the More With Four Wake County Commissioner candidates will hold a joint event on Sunday, October 12, 5:00 p.m. at Fortnight Brewing. The brewery is located at 1006 SW Maynard Rd, Cary NC 27511.
The event is part of a countywide tour designed for citizens to meet all four Wake County Commissioner candidates. Based on a desire to be in every town across the county, the four Commissioner candidates—Sig Hutchinson, Matt Calabria, Jessica Holmes, and John Burns—will listen to the needs of Wake County citizens and share their vision for the future of the county.
“Unlike many political rallies, I designed this event to be fun, casual, and family friendly,” stated Jeff Tippett event organizer and Founder of Targeted Persuasion. “With craft beer, food trucks, and a band I believe families will have an enjoyable time as they discuss matters of great importance to District 2 and Wake County. This is the perfect opportunity to talk face-to-face with the candidates.”
New digital agency helps political campaigns, advocacy groups, and business find their targets online. And then persuade them.
Raleigh, NC – October 2, 2014. Jeff Tippett, a Raleigh political strategist and business leader, has launched a new company, Targeted Persuasion. The company helps political campaigns, advocacy groups, and businesses find their target markets online. But beyond just finding those markets, Targeted Persuasion creates assets designed to persuade.
Whether qualified by voting frequency, political affiliation, gender, ethnicity, geography, income, or a numerous other data points, voter files are cookie matched though a patented technology. Using big data, the company can identify what the target ‘looks like.’ Through a large online buying platform, ads are served directly to the identified market. These ads could be display, social, or video.
This same approach is taken for businesses that need to identify and persuade customers or clients. For example, identifying consumers with car leases ending can be a valuable asset to a new car sales or leasing team. With over 140,000 data points, most industries can find their target market.
Because of the targeted approach there is less waste in online media buys leading to a better return on investment. In addition, watching ad performance in near real time allows for constant optimization and increased performance. The integration of voter files, big data, and a large ad buying platforms along with experience with content that persuades, sets Targeted Persuasion apart from similar companies.
Quote from Jeff Tippett:
“Most political campaigns and businesses don’t realize that we can identify their persuadable universes online. We no longer target websites or keywords; we target the exact voters that can help the campaign win the election. But it’s more than just targeted. Our creative helps persuade. What good is identifying these targets if you don’t persuade them?”


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JD Logistics – beaten up, enough damage done
Bad news from China. Manufacturing shrank in July, as demand dwindled and flooding affected output. Analysts are concerned that the trend could continue unless the government boosts spending. The PMI fell below 50 and analysts warn that GDP growth in the second half could be poor. Fiscal policy would be the key tool for boosting growth in coming months, they told Reuters.
Rate erosion may be easing, but rock-bottom prices are 'not good for anybody'
West coast ports suffering as US container imports plunge by 37%
Cost-cutting FedEx Express to retire MD-11s for B767s and 777s
Carriers turn their gaze back to scrubbers as voyage results tumble
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The 'mother of all BAFs' looms for shippers as green targets advance
WestJet will 'disrupt' Canada with three 737Fs, but rivals aren't scared
Dachser's M&A in air and ocean freight – how serious is that?
CMA CGM eyes car-carrier market boom as liners are ready to invest
Asia services expanding as logistics players opt for a 'China+1' strategy
End-of-year cargo surge adds to operational challenges at JNPT
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World's first blockchain fitness band launches initiative to promote a healthier lifestyle
New Zealand technology company champions healthy living with proprietary health wearable device InfiniteBand.
Like most performance gears, InfiniteBand has an accompanying app that allows users to track personal health data. With one tap to sync data in real-time, users are privy to personal health reports, including amount of calories burnt, distance clocked, goal progress and step count. The app is also slated for upgrades to include future functions such as blood pressure calibration and sleep log. With users being more aware of their own fitness levels and having control over personal goals and progress, the company hopes that exercising can become more widespread, ultimately leading to more healthy lives.
In addition to physiological benefits, users can participate in an exclusive wellness programme launched by the same creators of the InfiniteBand. The Burn to Earn programme rewards participants who lead active lifestyles with fitness credits that can be used with participating merchants.
The year-long wellness programme was designed to give users time to condition themselves to start living more healthily. With every Burn to Earn challenge that one completes, one will be able to increase one's periods of exercise to form healthy habits for a more active lifestyle.
InfiniteBand's suite of products, namely the fitness band, smart phone application, and wellness programme, was designed by InfinitePay Limited, a technology company headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. The company explores emerging technologies and integrates them into everyday products that ease burdens and better lives worldwide.
InfinitePay Limited is celebrating the launch of their very first wearable product with the Collector's First Edition InfiniteBand, available in limited quantities only.
Once all sets of the Collector's First Edition are booked for pre-order, they will no longer be available in the market. All users who sport the Collector's First Edition InfiniteBand will also be able to access an exclusive tier of rewards for the Burn to Earn programme. More information can be found at http://ifr.life.
Physical inactivity has long been linked to an increased risk of premature death. A new study found that even minimal exercise could significantly lower the risk of premature death. With the introduction of InfiniteBand and the Burn to Earn Programme, InfinitePay Limited hopes to combat the perils of a sedentary lifestyle by fostering the good habit of staying active and keeping fit.
For more information, please visit InfinitePay Limited's website at http://infinitepay.net .
For more information, please contact: Cheryl Lim


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New Delhi: As soon as the Union Government announced to introduce a bill on cryptocurrency in parliament in the upcoming winter session, which seeks to ban private players in the country, the prices of all cryptocurrencies crashed by 15 percent.
Reportedly, all major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum etc saw buying dip in India as it witnessed a fall of around 15 per cent and more on November 23.
Commenting on the same, the WazirX CEO Nischal Shetty asserted that on Tuesday night crypto market saw nearly 15-20 percent crash in prices as the investors engaged in crypto panic selling.
However, he also admitted that presently, the market is recovering and is at 3-4 percent discount currently.
''People in India who have entered the market for the first time are scared now. However, we have suggested people to wait for the parliament's winter session and derive conclusion based on it,'' he added.
The crypto dip on Wednesday after the Union government decided to introduce a bill in the winter session of the parliament.
According to Lok Sabha bulletin issued on Tuesday, the said bill is listed among 26 items of legislation for consideration.
''To create a facilitative framework for creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India. The Bill also seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India, however, it allows for certain exceptions to promote the underlying technology of cryptocurrency and its uses,'' the bulletin said with regard to the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021.
Notably, a week ago, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had that all democratic countries need to work together on cryptocurrency and ensure that it does not end up in the wrong hands.
Giving an example of the virtual currency, he said, "Take cryptocurrency or Bitcoin for example. It is important that all nations work together on this and ensure it does not end up in the wrong hands, which can spoil our youth.
Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on Monday called top stakeholders of the crypto industry for a meeting.
According to a report by BrokerChooser, in our country more than 10 crore people have cryptocurrency which is the highest in the world. With this figure, India has left America, China, England and other countries of Europe far behind. 7.3 percent of India's population has crypto holdings.
Notably, all the money-related i.e. currency and banking products in India are regulated by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), while investment assets such as equity and commodities are looked after by Security Exchange of India (SEBI).
The banker's bank, RBI too has been speaking about cryptocurrencies for a long time and its Governor Shaktikanta Das earlier, had said that there are some legitimate concerns regarding cryptocurrencies which have been placed before the government.
Cryptocurrency price in India:
On Thursday morning, the price of Bitcoin on cryptocurrency exchange WazirX fell to a low of Rs 33.5 lakh (or about $45,000). It was down over 25 percent from the previous day's close of nearly Rs 46 lakh. In comparison, the price of bitcoin fell about 2.6 percent to $56,000 on Binance, the world's largest exchange by volume.


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Tarantino introduced the sale at a latest crypto-art conference in New York.
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“I’m excited to be presenting these exclusive scenes from ‘Pulp Fiction’ to fans,” Tarantino stated in a Nov. 2 press launch.
The plan is to public sale off NFT — non-fungible tokens — primarily based on excerpts from Tarantino’s unique handwritten script for the movie, accompanied by commentary. The NFT is pitched as “secret,” that means that its contents might be viewable solely by the proprietor.
But in response to the go well with, Tarantino didn’t seek the advice of beforehand with Miramax — which nonetheless owns the rights to the director’s 1994 traditional. Miramax’s attorneys have despatched a stop and desist letter searching for to dam the sale, however that has not stopped Tarantino and his workforce from shifting ahead.
Miramax alleges that Tarantino’s actions have interfered with the studio’s personal plans to enter the marketplace for “Pulp Fiction” NFTs.
In a press release, Miramax legal professional Bart Williams accused Tarantino’s workforce of a “deliberate, pre-meditated, short-term money grab.”
“This group chose to recklessly, greedily, and intentionally disregard the agreement that Quentin signed instead of following the clear legal and ethical approach of simply communicating with Miramax about his proposed ideas,” Williams stated. “This one-off effort devalues the NFT rights to ‘Pulp Fiction,’ which Miramax intends to maximize through a strategic, comprehensive approach.”
The go well with seems to activate the query of whether or not promoting NFTs primarily based on excerpts of a screenplay qualify as a “publication” of the screenplay. According to the go well with, Tarantino’s lawyer has instructed Miramax that Tarantino retained the appropriate to publish his screenplay within the Miramax contract, and that he’s exercising that proper via the NFT sale.
Miramax argues that NFTs are a one-time sale, and will not be equal to publication of a screenplay, and that subsequently Miramax owns the NFT rights.
The go well with states claims of breach of contract, copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competitors.
Tarantino’s consultant declined to remark.
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Controvesial Sweden based socialite Tatelicious has been appointed Nyaradzo International brand ambassador.
Tatelicious announced the news on Facebook expressing her excitement.
International Brand Ambassador weSAHWIRA MUKURU. #Nyaradzo_Group
Inbox them for those interested in having a funeral policy with Nyaradzo.
Remember to say mabva kwaQueen Tatelicious .
Boss vaone kuti ndikushanda.
MUNHU WESE KUNYARADZO
Thank you Boss Philip #Nyathi and your team for believing in my Brand.
Tatelicious posted a video of herself wearing a Nyaradzo mask and skirt.
Tatelcious will be part of other celebrities who are currently promoting the Nyaradzo brand, such as, Lorraine Guyo, madam Boss and Jah Prayzah.
The drama queen was grateful for the opportunity


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James Heaney is not a ‘techie,’ but he understands that technology is playing an increasingly important role in how businesses are able to compete in today’s market.
As the new chair of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Technology Council, Heaney wants to broaden the appeal of technology to chamber members.
“Our programs are not just for IT (information technology) professionals,” Heaney says. “We have to reach out to all our members and help them understand why this is important.”
Heaney, senior vice president and Texas market group manager for Comerica Bank, has scheduled a number of events this year to highlight technology and how it can benefit businesses. The first is a breakfast series open to all chamber members that is designed to inform attendees about technology best practices. The first breakfast is set for March 14 and will focus on cloud technology and how it can be best used in the business world.
Then on April 5, the Technology Council is sponsoring the 9th Annual CIO Panel at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in conjunction with InnoTech SA, one of the region’s largest business technology events. The North Chamber will recognize the “Corporate and Public Sector IT Executives of the Year” during the event.
The featured topic for the CIO Panel this year will be mobile technology and its value to businesses. The proliferation of mobile technology with the popularity of smart phones, iPads and tablet devices is impacting businesses at every level, says Debby Zucker, spokeswoman for the North Chamber, which has some 1,300 members, many of them small businesses.
“This topic has gone viral with all companies being affected and the epidemic will continue,” she says. “Our members can immunize themselves by attending our event and hearing what our panelists have to say.”
Todd Renaud, vice president of management information systems for Security Service Federal Credit Union in San Antonio, is chairing the chamber’s committee overseeing a breakfast series targeting chief information officers and information technology professionals. Renaud says they too will be looking at the proliferation of consumer devices, such as iPads and smart phones, and how this can be safely and efficiently integrated into the business world.
“Everyone today has their own device that they want to use at work and that presents big challenges in terms of data security,” he says. “We will be looking at how we can best satisfy this demand for mobility while maintaining proper levels of data security and business efficiency.”
Renaud says that while the breakfast meetings he is overseeing are targeted toward CIOs and IT professionals, he shares Heaney’s desire to reach out to the non-IT executives to get their perspective on these issues and to share the ideas coming out of the tech community.
Another area of interest to the tech community that will be discussed at future events is what is being called “big data” and what to do with it. Big data refers to the enormous mass of information that is out there and available in the public sphere.
The committee members will be looking at the best ways to gather and harness this data so that it can be put to good use by businesses.
When used properly, technology not only benefits businesses, it can improve the quality of life, Heaney says. As businesses become more efficient at gathering information used for planning and forecasting, it will make them more profitable, he says.
“Finding ways to help our members plug into these new technologies and use them to their full potential is one of the value-added benefits to chamber membership,” Heaney says.
“We want to find ways to benefit all our members without diminishing the original intent of our forums, which was to serve as a place for tech professionals to meet and share ideas.”
The North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has supported San Antonio’s business community for more than 35 years.


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The Sony Pictures hack continues to shake things up in Hollywood as loads of emails, scripts, and even full unreleased films continue to leak to the public. The media has been quick to sift through all of the leaked material looking for interesting, illuminating, or even just plain scandalous material to publish now that the usually secretive mega-studio has been sliced wide open, and one of the many companies that’s feeling the burn happens to be in our own back yard.
Crackle, the online video site responsible for popular web shows like Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee and Cleaners, is delaying its upcoming film The Throwaways, billed as a “cyber-thriller” about criminal hackers, due to the trouble its parent company is currently experiencing. The film stars Sam Huntington as a notorious hacker recruited to stop a cyber-terrorist plot. The film also features Kevin Dillon and James Caan. In light of the real life hacker drama Crackle has pushed the debut of The Throwaways from December 16th to an undetermined date in early January. (Noted: Since we started writing this story Crackle has pulled the film’s trailer and all promotional material off its website and YouTube channel.)
This isn’t the first injury Crackle has suffered at the hands of the Sony hack. Emails published last week reveal that Sony has been toying with the idea of selling off the digital studio to raise some extra cash. According to leaked emails Sony considered selling a 51% controlling stake in Crackle to the highest bidder. According to the emails Sony execs have valued Crackle, which has produced Emmy nominated programming like Comedians In Cars at around $200 million, selling a controlling share could bring the trouble studio as much as $100 million to spend on new projects.
Crackle could be missing a big opportunity by not cashing in on the hacker buzz to give The Throwaways an even bigger opening. Still, it probably doesn’t pay to score points at your bosses’ expense, especially when you know they’ve been thinking about selling you to the highest bidder.


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ITASCA, Ill. Midas has reported net earnings of $1.3 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 29. That’s compared to $2.2 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2007. Both the 2008 and 2007 results include 2 cents per diluted share for special items.
Revenues for the quarter increased 8.5 percent to $44.8 million. Operating income declined $1.7 million to $4.1 million in 2008 from $5.8 million last year.
“The $1.7 million decline in operating income primarily resulted from the expected $1.1 million reduction in European royalties, increased spending to accelerate the transition of shops to new franchisees, a shortfall in U.S. franchising income and the timing of real estate sales gains,” said Alan Feldman, Midas’ chairman and chief executive officer. “These declines were partially offset by significant reductions in corporate expenses and strong retail performance in Canada.”
The company said that its increased emphasis on transitioning shops to new franchisees led to a 50 percent increase in shop transitions to 38 during the first quarter of 2008 from 25 a year ago.
“New franchisees continue to drive outstanding sales growth, with comparable shop retail sales at the 57 shops sold to new franchisees over the past year up 18.5 percent in the first quarter and up 14.7 percent over the past 12 months,” Feldman said. “We believe accelerating franchisee transitions where appropriate is a wise investment for the long-term health of the Midas system.”
To support this increase in transition activity, the company spent an incremental $400,000 for short-term lease costs to preserve shop sites, $300,000 to prepare shops for re-franchising and $100,000 to increase franchisee recruitment. The company also incurred $300,000 in operating losses and additional overhead to oversee the company-operated shops purchased from franchisees in the past six months. These increased costs related to transitions should result in improved profitability in the future as these shops are re-franchised.
“The challenging retail sales and economic environment in the U.S. had a negative effect on our results that was partially offset by strong performance in Canada, resulting in a $300,000 reduction in the year-over-year operating income in our North American franchise business,” Feldman said.
“Importantly, we were able to completely offset the entire $1.1 million decline in European royalties that resulted from the scheduled change in the license agreement from a fixed fee to a variable payment based on a percentage of sales,” said Feldman. “We accomplished this through our planned reductions in corporate expenses and improved profitability of our R.O. Writer software and wholesale businesses.”
In addition, gains from the sale of real estate were $200,000 lower in the first quarter this year than in 2007. The 2008 gains are not expected until later this year.
System-wide comparable shop retail sales in the United States were down 1.6 percent. The company said the decline in retail sales was caused by significant declines in the Southeast and the West, the same regions hit hardest by the current weak real estate and consumer credit markets. The remaining U.S. regions had positive comparable shop sales, including the Northeast and the North Central, which were both up more than 3 percent.
Retail sales at Midas shops in Canada, which has not experienced similar major housing and credit issues, were positive in all geographic regions. Overall comparable shop sales in Canada were up 7.8 percent.
“We continue to see strong sales increases in our new categories of tires and maintenance, which are helping to offset the decline in brakes” Feldman said. “Comparable shop tire sales increased by 18 percent in the U.S., while oil changes were up 10 percent and brake sales were down 9 percent. The launch of our new SecureStop brake service did not occur until late February and, therefore, had limited effect on our first quarter results. Preliminary results show positive U.S. comparable shop sales in April and improved fundamental brand measures in the first quarter.”
Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.9 million, or 50 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter, compared to $3.3 million, or 22 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of last year. Lower cash outlays for business transformation costs, combined with positive cash flow from changes in assets and liabilities, more than offset the decline in net income.
Total sales and revenues for the first quarter were $44.8 million, compared to $41.3 million last year. Midas’ franchising revenues were $13.3 million for the quarter, down from $14.7 million in 2007. Approximately $1.1 million of this decline was due to the scheduled change in the Midas Europe license fees from a fixed amount to a variable payment based on a percentage of retail sales, while the balance was due to the elimination of royalties from company shops that were previously franchised.
Real estate revenues were $8.7 million compared to $9.0 million last year as a result of more company-operated shops.
Revenues from retail sales at company shops were $14.9 million during the quarter, up from $9.5 million in 2007. The increase is the result of operating an additional 34 company shops in the first quarter of 2008 compared to last year.
Replacement part sales and product royalties were $6.7 million, down from $7.0 million a year ago. The entire decline is due to the change in the U.S. warranty program whereby Midas no longer receives product royalties from its vendors. This warranty change resulted in a $0.9 million reduction in product royalties which was offset by a $0.6 million increase in the sale of tires, oil and batteries. This change in the warranty program also resulted in a $0.9 million reduction in warranty expense.
Revenues from the R.O. Writer software business were $1.2 million in the first quarter, compared to $1.1 million last year.
The company’s first quarter operating income was $4.1 million, compared to $5.8 million for the same period a year ago.
Interest expense for the quarter was $2.2 million, even with 2007. The company’s bank debt was $72.6 million at the end of the first quarter, down from $76.3 million at the end of 2007.
Midas recorded income tax expense of $0.8 million during the first quarter, compared to $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2007. The company does not pay a significant amount of cash income taxes because of net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $88 million from previous years.
Midas is increasing its previous 2008 full-year guidance to account for the acquisition of SpeeDee. Full year revenues are now expected to be approximately $193 million compared to the previous estimate of $190 million.
Operating income is expected to be approximately $1.5 million higher than the previous range of $27 to $29 million, excluding an estimated $1.5 million in business transformation costs related to the completion of the company’s shop re-imaging program.
Midas now expects cash flow from operating activities of between $32 and $34 million in 2008after providing for changes in working capital.
Midas intends to use this cash flow to pay down debt related to the SpeeDee acquisition, to repurchase shares and to fund opportunistic acquisitions and new shop growth.
The company expects full-year interest expense of $10 million, an increase of $0.5 million related to funding the SpeeDee acquisition. Midas expects capital spending of approximately $6 million.
“During the first quarter, we moved aggressively to implement three major initiatives, which will position Midas for ongoing growth. The launch of our SecureStop brake service will elevate and differentiate the Midas brand in this critical category,” Feldman said. “The acceleration of franchisee transitions will bring fresh energy and incremental sales results as we implement our total car care model. And, our acquisition of SpeeDee Oil Change will allow us to expand the Midas system as well as accelerate our push in the maintenance category.”