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DIFFICULTY to accessing foreign exchange to bring in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts have started crippling tricycle and motorcycle assembling plants in the country with spillover effects on outsourcing companies that supply labour to the industry.
A reference point is Dag Motorcycles Industries Nigeria Limited, the assemblers of Bajaj tricycles and motorcycles.
Ademuyiwa Abe , the company’s Secretary/Legal Services, said the firm has been forced to cut down its 1,000 per day production capacity by 40 percent and terminated the services of Ashton Consulting Ltd, who supply the labour, until the situation improves.
According to him, the forecast for the Nigerian economy for 2016 is not looking too good, hence, we were forced to cut back on some of our operations.
“In the last few months of last year, there was restriction on foreign exchange by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); so most of the time, there was no foreign exchange to bring in the CKD, not just the CKD, but other items required for assembling. Since there was no more foreign exchange, the situation became so bad that we had no choice but to terminate the services of our contractor who supplies the workers that do the assembling,” he said.
“We are appealing to the government to consider manufacturers in the country, the exchange rate is gradually killing our business, we import at a certain rate and by the time we want to order for more materials we find that the value would have gone up to what we cannot afford thereby increasing the cost of production.
“We are doing all we can to make sure that we actually remain in business. We have submitted our list to the CBN to include us in the priority list but secondly, there is a fallout consequences that may come up because the exchange rate will not be the same with what it was,” he stated.
Fielding question on the impact of the forex on products price, he said: “Today it’s N285 to a dollar at the parallel market and if we factor other costs into it, you will find out the cost of the finished product will be out of the reach of the poor. When you think of buying a motorcycle with almost half a million, you will either think of buying a small car to use . With the current situation, the finish product will no longer be affordable and if it is unaffordable, the market segment is out of reach because there will be no demand and the purchasing power will definitely be affected.
“I will like to say this is a foreseeable problem likely to be encountered even if the foreign exchange is available for the manufacturing sector. This is a big problem” he said.
He explained that the production cuts affected Ashton Consulting Limited which supplies the workforce to the company.
“With this decision, there is bound to be reactions, because we are talking of 250 workers. The contractors understood the situation very well but the workers are the ones creating issues with fallout to the end users of the motorcycles. The workers have already gone to some media houses to express their grievances, so we felt we have to let the public know what really happened so that there will be no mismanagement of information. If the situation improves and CBN lifts the ban on forex, we will call on them to recruit new or existing workforce,” he said.
“There had been allegations that we terminated our contracts with our consultant based on the fact that we did not increase salaries, this is not the true position of what transpired. We are all aware about the CBN’s foreign exchange restriction policy. The motorcycles and the tricycles we assemble here were brought in as CKD for us to assemble, but the rate at which these CKD are coming, we could not afford the exchange rate bearing in mind other factors included in cost of production.
“We notified our contractors based on the contract we had in hand because we do not deal with the workers directly but the contractors who recruited them. At the moment we are not producing hoping that as things improve, we can get back to operation.
“Ashton is an independent contractor and also a limited liability company and independent of us. It is just the contractual partnership we have with them and there is simply no nexus with the company. This partnership has lasted for over 5 years. We did not terminate this contract based on poor performances by the workers but simply doing this based on a national issue.”
United Kingdom Ordered Meta, Formerly Facebook, to Sell Giphy
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has instructed Meta – formerly known as Facebook – to sell Giphy, the American search engine that allows users search for and share short looping videos which are without sound, that are similar to animated GIF files.
The CMA stated that the merger deal could possibly be harmful to social media users and advertisers in the UK. It also found that the deal would further boost Meta’s already strong market power, as it would limit other platforms’ ability to use Giphy GIFs, which will, in turn, drive more traffic to sites owned by Facebook (WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook).
According to the CMA, Meta’s sites dominated social media usage time up to around 73 percent, and could eventually outperform social media rivals like TikTok, Twitter and Snapchat by leveraging Giphy. The Authority then added that before the merger, Giphy had launched ”innovative advertising services” which brands like Dunkin’ Donuts and Pepsi which it could possibly have brought to the United Kingdom.
The CMA also stated that at the time the merger was made, Giphy’s advertising services were terminated by Facebook. That move removed a vital part of potential opposition in the market. The CMA was concerned by this move, calling it particularly concerning considering that Facebook is in control of about half of the £7 billion display advertising market in the UK.
Facebook had acquired Giphy for a reported fee of $400 million, with an aim of integrating the service into Instagram. After a month, the CMA started an investigation into the merger and decided in August that Facebook could hinder social media rivals such as TikTok and Snapchat from tapping into Giphy’s GIFs.
Meta had initially stated that the CMA did not have jurisdiction because Giphy was not operational in the United Kingdom, adding later that Giphy’s paid services were not display advertising by the definition of the CMA.
In October, Meta was fined $70 million by the CMA for breaking some rules related to the deal by failing to report necessary information and changing its chief compliance officer on two different occasions without receiving permission.
Burger King Expands to Nigeria
Burger King, an American multinational chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, has opened its very first restaurant in Nigeria to deepen its growing brand, support new job creation and enhance economic productivity in Africa’s largest economy.
The United States Mission in Nigeria has praised the improving commercial ties between Nigeria and the United States as American franchises and branches set up shops in Nigeria. This has in turn created more jobs as well as investment opportunities in the country.
This was said by the US Mission Commercial Counselor, Jennifer Woods during her speech at the opening of the Burger King outlet in Nigeria. Woods underlined the impact which new businesses have on a country’s economy, especially with a popular franchise like Burger King opening in a developing market like Nigeria.
She said that being Africa’s largest economy and a large youth population with a strong connection to the world, American brands must look at Nigeria as a highly critical market. She went ahead to state that while the companies will benefit from the expansion into the country, Nigeria itself will also benefit largely from their presence in the country.
Woods also described the addition of another American-owned franchise (one that emphasizes a culture of excellence) will help to provide job opportunities as the business expands to new parts across the country. She praised the high level of interest by consumers and the passion which they have for the iconic American rapid service restaurant since it began its operations in early November.
The Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila congratulated Burger King and all its local partners on the intriguing business deal, explaining it as another signal of the benefits of a close business relationship between the United States and Nigeria. He also stated that Burger King is expected to open hundreds of outlets across the country.
Burger King entered into an alliance with local firm, Allied Food & Confectionary Services Limited in order to bring the American brand into the Nigerian market. The Group Managing Director of Allied Food & Confectionary Services Limited, Antoine Zammarieh has prior experience bringing United States rapid service restaurants to Nigeria.
Panasonic Confirms Data Breach after Hacker Attack
Japanese tech giant Panasonic has affirmed that the company has been a victim of a data breach after some hackers were able to access the company’s internal network.
In a press release dated November 26, the company stated that its private network was illicitly accessed by a “third party” on November 11, and also stated that some data which was on a company file server had been retrieved during the breach.
However, a spokesperson for Panasonic, Dannea DeLisser stated that the data breach started on June 22, and ended on November 3. She also said that the very first unauthorized access was detected on November 11.
The company which is based in Osaka, Japan provided additional details about the breach. In the press release, the company said that although it is conducting its own investigation into the breach, it is also working with a third-party organization to investigate the data leak. The third party organization is also looking into whether or not the breach included personal information of customers or sensitive information which concerns social infrastructure.
Immediately the unauthorized access was discovered by the company, the incident was reported to the appropriate authorities who went ahead to set up some security countermeasures, which also contained steps to avert external access to the network. The company closed the statement by apologizing for concerns and inconveniences caused by the data breach.
This type of incident is not completely new to Panasonic, as just under a year ago Panasonic India faced a ransomware attack in which hackers leaked about 4 gigabytes of data, including email addresses and financial details.
The data breach also comes at a period when Japanese technology companies are facing waves of cyberattacks. NEC and Mitsubishi Electric were victims of hackers in 2020, and Olympus was also made to suspend operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East after being a victim of a ransomware attack.
The trend of cyberattacks in Japan is likely to reduce public faith in the company, especially since it has been hacked twice since last year.
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Porsche plans for EVs to make up half of sales by 2025
Porsche expects electrified vehicles to make up around half of its sales by 2025, reports Bloomberg News. Detlev von Platen, the member of the Porsche executive board with responsibility for Sales and Marketing told the news service at the Beijing Motor Show (China), "The train for electric mobility has well and truly left the station… China is and will remain the biggest market for electric cars for the foreseeable future."
Significance: Although it is not quite clear what definition Porsche is using for the term electrification, the news service has suggested that this is plug-in type vehicles such as plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles. The comments are a significant uplift from a target announced just a month ago for the automaker in which it was suggested that its electrified vehicle line-up would make up a quarter of the total. However, the company is already making a significant shift in that direction with its Cayenne and Panamera plug-in hybrid variants, which are already growing in popularity, while it will launch its first full electric vehicle (EV), the Mission E, next year, and it will also spawn a range of variants. Broadening its range in other directions will also bring more electrification, while existing models such as the Panamera and Cayenne look set to have an even wider array of options going forward. Its iconic sports cars such as the 911 and 718 could well receive an electric boost in due course as well. Porsche also seems to be keen to take advantage of the push towards greater electrification in China as well, which could make a further difference.
- AutoMobility LA Previews Continue
- AutoMobility LA 2019: Automakers focus on electrification, utility vehicles
- California tightens availability of EV credits
- EU expects to avoid US tariffs on cars
- Sales of electrically chargeable vehicles in EU grow 51.8%
- Japan looking to subsidise compact BEVs
- The UK passenger car market went into retreat again in October, falling by 6.7% year on year
- UK government considering green number plates to identify zero-emission vehicles
Press previews at the 2019 AutoMobility LA convention and auto show this week have included several reveals of auto… https://t.co/rZ9aqPaT20

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Sarah Darville Postal and other businesses on East Fourth.
Store owners already struggling to get by are worried about a significant rent increase planned by their landlord, the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association.
The Local spoke to about a half dozen shopkeepers on Third and Fourth Streets, between Bowery and Second Avenue, who said they were grappling with a sluggish economy as well as challenges unique to their blocks. Some worried they would follow in the footsteps of La Sirena, which earlier this week announced that it would be closing, should they too face rent hikes of what is expected to be around 30 percent.
At Postal, a packing and shipping store on Fourth Street, owner Gary Patick said he alternates between busy days and days when “nothing happens,” and doubted he’d have any room to negotiate when his lease expires in two years. He described his profits, which in 2010 and 2011 were their lowest in a decade, as “a real roller coaster” and said that one-third of them go toward rent payments. Read more…
Stephen Rex Brown Dina Leor’s Mexican memorabilia store, La Sirena, may have to move due to a 30-percent rent increase.
A low-income housing association in the East Village is planning substantial rent hikes for its commercial tenants — a move that has already forced the Mexican trinket shop La Sirena to notify its customers that it will close.
Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association’s executive director Val Orselli explained that the rent increases will pay for $400,000-worth of renovations to some of its 25 buildings over the next couple of years. The Association’s tenants include familiar names like the 4th Street Food Co-op, East Village Music Store, Rivington Guitars, Bond Street Chocolate, and FAB Café. As many as 24 will face rent hikes once their leases expire.
“We tried as much as possible to use our reserve funds, instead of increasing the rents of the tenants through big increases that tenants cannot afford,” said Mr. Orselli. “So either the cost has to be borne by residential tenants, who are very low-income, or the commercial tenants.”
“We don’t have a choice,” he added.
The owner of La Sirena, Dina Leor, faces a rent increase of around 30 percent, according to Tower Brokerage president Bob Perl, who will be negotiating the new lease. “Their mission is to have affordable housing,” he said of the Association. “The board has decided to make good use of the retail values in the area.” Read more…
For every East Village business that’s opening or closing, dozens are quietly making it. Here’s one of them: Pageant Print Shop.
Lauren Carol SmithRebecca Solomon
It’s been nearly two decades since Michael Caine and Barbara Hershey perused the Pageant Book Shop for a copy of E. E. Cummings in “Hannah and her Sisters,” but the store’s history goes back farther than that. In 1946, Sidney B. Solomon and Henry “Chip” Chafetz joined the ranks of Book Row, a stretch of mom-and-pop bookshops along Fourth Avenue from St. Marks Place to 14th Street. One of Mr. Solomon’s two daughters, Shirley, took over after her father died and then moved the store to West Houston Street after a rent hike in the 1990s.
Pageant became an online-only enterprise in 1999, only to reopen at 69 East Fourth Street after Shirley’s sister Rebecca moved back to the city. Nearly seven years later, the siblings are still selling hard-to-find items, though now maps and prints rather than rare books. “Some are old, some are very old, some are very, very old,” said Shirley during a recent conversation with The Local.
How does a shop that sells old maps stay in business?
Shirley: I focus on the unique and affordable. I have things from $1 to $100, to $1,000. There’s an original David Roberts lithograph that is $3,000 framed. We get lots of foot traffic and sell a lot of things in the $1 to $4 range, which adds up. Read more…
Stephen Rex Brown Owner Lalita Kumut, along with her friend Daphne Blake (left) and her cousin, Maka Inthraphuvasak, pack up the Aromatherapy store on East Seventh Street.
After 20 years, a fragrance shop on East Seventh Street is moving three blocks south, and the owner of Porsena is considering expanding into the vacated space.
Lalita Kumut, the owner of Aromatherapy Bath and Body Oils, said that her lease had expired in December, but that she’d been holding out for a new location. “My customers told me to wait until another lease came up — I’m a good tenant,” Ms. Kumut said. “Finally, I found something nice.” Read more…
Stephen Rex Brown The shuttered store at 64 East Fourth Street.
Sara’s Vintage and Handmade Jewelry on East Fourth Street closed over the weekend, and the landlord says it is being evicted.
The store, which opened in 2008, sold vintage and antique jewelry as well as handmade jewelry by local designers, according to Yelp.
The store’s landlord said that it was far from an ideal tenant.
“They didn’t pay the rent for roughly the last six months,” said Valerio Orselli, the executive director of the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association. “They are being evicted.”
Stephanie Butnick The buildings at 9, and 11-17 Second Avenue, which will be renovated as part a new development featuring low-income apartments that would be available for as little as $1.
Developers are expected to seek Community Board approval Wednesday for a plan to renovate a row of properties along Second Avenue, and sell some of the apartments to low-income families for as little as $1.
The mostly low-income families who currently live in the two buildings at 9 and 11-17 Second Avenue are guaranteed units in the proposed development, which would combine the two structures into one larger building.
The project, run by development firm BFC Partners, is operating under the Department of City Planning’s 2009 amendment to the inclusionary housing program, which creates permanently affordable housing, now with the option to buy. According to Juan Barahona of the development firm, tenants will be able to buy the new apartments for between $1 and $10.
The project will also take advantage of new zoning laws that allow developers to build more square footage on a lot, provided they allocate 20 percent of the building’s total area to affordable housing.
In this case, the 12-story, 4,000 sq. ft. building will house approximately 12 low-income units (available to those making 80 percent or less of the area’s median income ̶ approximately $63,000), dispersed throughout the complex, and about 48 market rate units. The development’s market-rate units, which make up the majority of the building, will offset costs.


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Shahina Mukadam, Independent Market Expert told CNBC-TV18, “This is the right time or maybe in the next six months it is a time to sort of accumulate pharmaceutical stocks for a three to five year period. I have myself done this, I have picked up something like an Aurobindo Pharma at declines, Glenmark Pharmaceutical, Fortis Healthcare I have been holding from much lower levels basically the reason being that this is a very bad period that the pharmaceutical sector is going through.”
She further added, “We are serious in terms of numbers across pharmaceutical companies, the results that they are declaring, we have seen the USFDA becomes very stringent and most of them have got certain negative – the USFDA has come on very seriously with negative observations for a lot of these companies and this has impacted both their US sales which is the mainstay for their profitability. So, this in my view is a time to start accumulating with three to five year view because I believe that the US market cannot do without Indian pharmaceutical generic companies.”
“The way they are structured, I believe after the phase of correction, there will be increased competition in terms of generic pricing pressure, over a period of time Indian pharmaceutical companies will be better placed and able to adapt. So I would be buying something like Aurobindo Pharma, Fortis Healthcare, I would also be looking at Lupin where there is some resolution coming about from the USFDA for a couple of their plants. So to that extent one can start accumulating but I don’t see any upward movement over the next six months because if you see on year-on-year (YoY) basis it is going to look optically very bad.”
“We are going to see lower margins, lower profitability and lower turnover, so to that extent one needs to be sure as to what one is doing when you are getting into these pharmaceutical companies as of now,” she said.


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USING NFC (Near Field Communications), a very short-range radio technology, a smartphone can become a car key. NFC is already built into many modern smartphones – it is the tech that enables contactless payment systems. The other requirement of the phone or its SIM is the ability to securely store encrypted data. Mercedes engineer Santiago Pena Brossa demonstrated the system by opening an app and touching his HTC phone gently against the doorhandle of a new E-Class.
Digital key will be an option on the W213 and will spread to other Mercedes models. s), ome tphones he r n dle 3


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Since Halo Infinite’s online multiplayer mode came out, all sorts of controversies have accompanied the title: one in particular, somewhat peculiar compared to others, is that the game’s campaign would not unlock wearable armor as cosmetics for multiplayer. Let’s explore the question below!
There are various issues on which the community of enthusiasts are fighting since the exit of the Halo Infinite’s online multiplayer mode. In fact, the game, in addition to having thrilled a large number of players (the idea of making it was certainly helpful free-to-play), has also aroused less than enthusiastic reactions from a portion of the audience.
In particular, it seems to be mainly criticized aspects related to the lack of premiums in Battle Pass, which would not entice players to continue playing. Some of them in fact hoped that the Halo Infinite campaign, coming soon, allowed to unlock usable armor in multiplayer, however, which has been denied by some data miners. Let’s see below to deepen the story, and why the news seems to be false.
Halo Infinite: Is the news that the campaign does not unlock armor for multiplayer is false?
The original news, coming from the Halo Infinite subreddit, stated that data miners had found the list of unlockable items through the campaign, and that there were no armor among them. After various discussions, Gene Park of the Washington Post stated that this leak was fake. To support it was also arrived Paul Tassi of Forbes, who stated that even with only thanks to the preview (currently under embargo) they can safely deny the thing.
lol just found it
– Paul Tassi (@PaulTassi) November 22, 2021
The software house 343 Industries has not yet commented on the story, so we do not have at this time official statements. It must be said that the development team has been very busy lately introducing ways to augment the reward content, not to mention the work that has been done so far with the singleplayer campaign, which has only recently entered the gold phase.
To stay up to date on all the news on Halo Infinite (with our invaluable guides) and on the most important titles of the moment, stay tuned to the pages of TechGameWorld.com. If you prefer to buy game keys at discounted prices, you can do so through our link to Instant Gaming.


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Virgin to market rivals' brands
Sir Richard Branson has begun selling rivals' products for the first time in his 30-year business career with the launch of financial services website Virginmoney.com. The site, which went live at 8am, is a 'virtual' financial intermediary offering details on ISAs, unit trusts and mortgages plus an online share dealing service.
It has teamed up with financial services guide MoneyFacts to provide price and performance league tables. Financial products such as personal loans and insurance will be added in August.
The latest addition to the Virgin stable of more than 150 companies is a 50-50 joint venture between Virgin Group and the Australian financial services giant AMP - joint owners of Virgin Direct, which has its own range of branded investment and savings products.
The website is the first in a series of intermediary ventures offering information on product providers. The next will be Virginwine.com, launched this weekend, followed by a travel service that could see Virgin providing details of flights from its arch-rival British Airways. Sir Richard is known to see the future of his business as much in internet gateway services under the Virgin.com umbrella as in traditional Virgin branded products.
Virginmoney.com, which already has 100 staff, will make money by linking up with 15 product providers. They will offer their services through the website with no initial charges. Every time someone orders an information pack from one of the e-associates, Virginmoney.com will receive £35 commission.
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With the right plan and the right discipline, you can get seriously shredded in just 28 days.Read article
Ultimate Nutrition signs on as title sponsor for 2009 Olympia Weekend
May 22, 2009
American Media, Inc, and the IFBB Professional League are proud to announce Ultimate Nutrition as the title sponsor for Joe Weider's 2009 Olympia Weekend.
Ultimate, one of the industry's leading supplement companies, is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.
"Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend is the top event in the bodybuilding world, and it is a perfect match for Ultimate Nutrition products," said Brian Rubino, Vice President, Ultimate Nutrition. "Ultimate Nutrition has stood for quality and innovation for 30 years and having the opportunity to present the 2009 Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend is another great event of our 30th anniversary celebration."
Ultimate Nutrition presents Joe Weider's 2009 Olympia Weekend brought to you by Bodybuilding.com on September 24 through September 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In men's bodybuilding, the 2009 Olympia is unquestionably the most competitive lineup in the 44-year history of the event. With defending champion Dexter Jackson, two-time champ Jay Cutler, Phil Heath, Kai Greene, Victor Martinez, Dennis Wolf, Melvin Anthony, Silvio Samuel, Toney Freeman, Dennis James, Branch Warren, Mo Elmoussawi and a host of others already slated to compete, the top 10 will be jam-packed with talent.


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Latest Jack Ma Stories
Alibaba Group announced on Tuesday that it has bought back $7.6 billion dollars worth of stock from Yahoo Inc., moving the Chinese e-commerce giant one step closer to an initial public offering.
US Internet pioneer Yahoo, which has been struggling with cash flow and market relevance, has agreed to sell its stake in China’s top e-commerce player, Alibaba, for at least $7.1 billion, the two companies announced this weekend.
Yahoo and its longtime Chinese partner Alibaba are in the midst of complex negotiations to restructure the California-based web portal and search engine company's Asian holdings.
Since Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang announced his departure, the lifeboats appear to be lowering in what could become a mass exodus from the struggling search portal.
Veteran web giant Yahoo announced today that PayPal President Scott Thompson will be taking over as the company’s chief executive.
According to congressional fillings, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group may be trying to make a bid to buy all of Yahoo Inc.
Global markets are abuzz as reports emerged Thursday that the Chinese e-commerce titan the Alibaba Group will try to finance as much as $4 billion of debt in an attempt to buy back Yahoo’s 40 percent stake in their company.
- An uxorious, effeminate, or spiritless man.
- A timorous, cowardly fellow.


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Chennai, Nov 23 (IANS) Multi-brand car servicing major Mahindra First Choice Services is getting into servicing two wheelers while expanding its current network and looking out for capital infusion of about Rs 100-125 crore for business from a strategic partner, said a top company official.
The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., is also planning to have a presence in petrol bunks offering minor repair services and a tie-up has been made with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., he added.
“We are getting into servicing multi-brand two wheelers and a pilot project is underway in Bihar. The business offers good potential as only 30 per cent of the after sales service in the case of two wheelers are with the authorised service centres and the remaining is with the unorganised segment,” Y.V.S. Vijaykumar, Chief Executive Officer said here.
He said, in December, the company will be launching the two wheeler servicing business nationwide and the target is to have about 2,500 service centres under its brand by 2023.
Vijayakumar said, Mahindra First Choice Services has already launched private label parts for two wheelers.
On the four wheeler segment, the company is targeting to increase its network from the present 330 to 1,000 by 2023.
“We have good traction in the C and D level cities where original or quality parts and good service are not available. The company has 35 warehouses across the country supplying spare parts to the service centres,” Vijayakumar said.
He said the focus is on servicing cars rolled out by large volume players like Maruti, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ford and others.
He said the company is hoping to up its revenue by 50 per cent as compared to previous fiscal’s turnover of Rs 91 crore.
“In two years time our target is to touch a turnover of Rs 300 crore,” Vijaykumar said.
The revenue stream for the company is the joining fee and annual royalty paid by the franchisee and also the sale of annual maintenance contracts, extended warranties, sale of spare parts, providing garage management software as a service and others.
According to Vijayakumar, getting spare parts from the vehicle manufacturers is not a problem nowadays.


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Festive demand drives PV sales to record high in Oct
Rival Hyundai Motor Company said its domestic sales increased by 15 per cent to 55,128 units last month, from 48,001 units in the same month a year ago
NEW DELHI: Passenger vehicle wholesales in India rose to a record high in October as companies pushed dispatches to dealers to cater to the enhanced demand in the festive season.
The overall passenger vehicle wholesales in October rose to 3,91,472 units, up 16 per cent from 3,36,679 units in the same month last year.
Last month witnessed the highest-ever dispatches of passenger vehicles in the domestic market by Maruti Suzuki India and Mahindra & Mahindra. “It is not only the highest October in terms of sales, but also the highest ever month which we have seen in the Indian passenger vehicle industry in any year in any month,” Maruti Suzuki India senior executive officer (Marketing and Sales) Shashank Srivastava told reporters in a call.
Rival Hyundai Motor Company said its domestic sales increased by 15 per cent to 55,128 units last month, from 48,001 units in the same month a year ago. “The festival season has again proved that customers are really wanting to buy cars. The good part is that although we do not have pent up demand, the fresh inflow is what is keeping us afloat,” Hyundai Motor India COO Tarun Garg said.
Mahindra & Mahindra said its utility vehicle dispatches rose by 36 per cent year-on-year to 43,708 units in October.


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// Steph Strike has been named as the new MD of George at Asda
// She will replace Nick Jones, who left to become CEO of Joules earlier this year
// Strike has been with Asda for 16 years
Asda has promoted Steph Strike to become the new managing director and vice president of its George fashion division.
Strike – who has been with Asda since 1995 – will replace Nick Jones, who left the supermarket earlier this year to join Joules as chief executive.
Strike started off with Asda as retail graduate before working her way up to category director and then vice-president of customer proposition and planning before being promoted to lead George.
An Asda spokesman told Retail Gazette that Strike will take on her new role with immediate effect and will report directly to Asda president and chief executive Roger Burnley.
Meanwhile, Jones joined Joules after working at Marks & Spencer and Asda for a total of 25 years.
While at Asda, he was responsible for the performance of the Big 4 grocer’s trading divisions across food, general merchandise and George.


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Créme de la Mer, an ultra-luxurious face cream that costs $110 for a 1-ounce tube, and dresses from hip designer Derek Lam are just some of the items that will be available at Bloomingdale’s new SoHo store, scheduled to open next week, but not at the 59th Street flagship.
Located at 504 Broadway, the SoHo store is a sleeker, more chic version of a typical Bloomingdale’s – and one that Chief Executive Michael Gould said he hopes will serve as a blueprint for the future of the brand.
Gould said he envisions taking the mini-Bloomie’s – which he describes as a specialized department store – to other cities. For now, though, Gould said he is concentrating on getting the SoHo store up and running. Doors open to the public April 24.
“This is an opportunity to expand the brand in a part of New York City where we were not doing very much business,” Gould said.
The 90,000-square-foot store – roughly a third of the space of a typical Bloomingdale’s and renovated at an estimated $40 million – is expected to further invigorate the thriving shopping district, real estate brokers and analysts said.
“Bloomingdale’s will give SoHo a real anchor,” said Faith Consolo, of Garrick-Aug.
Located in an 1862 landmark building that long housed Canal Jean Co., the six-story Bloomingdale’s mixes original elements of the architecture with sleeker touches: Smooth black glass display cases offset exposed brick walls, and mannequins dressed in brightly colored clothing stand on scuffed, factory-like floors.
The SoHo store opens as Bloomingdale’s overall sales are showing increasing strength.


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A Hard Lesson On Student Credit CardsMarcia Vickers
Parents of college students beware: The empty-nest syndrome you're experiencing may end up as empty-wallet syndrome. The moment your kids step on campus, they become highly sought-after credit-card customers. To establish relationships card marketers hope will extend well beyond the college years, they are offering students everything from free T-shirts to chances to win airline tickets as enticements to sign up.
As a result, college students now have heavy card debts. Some 14% have balances of $3,000 to $7,000, and 10% owe amounts exceeding $7,000, according to Nellie Mae, a nonprofit student-loan provider in Braintree, Mass. "Students who have no history with credit are being handed it on a silver platter," says Gerri Detweiler, education adviser for Debt Counselors of America, a consumer advocacy group in Rockville, Md.
As long as they are over 18, students can get a card without asking mom or dad to co-sign. But when they get into debt trouble, they often go running to their folks for help. Jason Britton did--and then some. Now 21 and a senior at Georgetown University in Washington, Britton racked up $21,000 in debt over four years on 16 cards. "When I first started, my attitude was: `I'll get a job after college to pay off all my debt,"' he says. He realized he dug himself into a hole when he couldn't meet the minimum monthly payments. Now, he works three part-time jobs. His parents are helping pay his tuition and loans.
PITFALLS. Having educated himself on the pitfalls of credit, Britton now speaks to student groups on the issue. Since card issuers' pitches may be confusing, he and experts dish out this advice:
-- Beware of teaser rates. Credit-card marketers may advertise a low annual percentage rate (APR) but it often jumps substantially after three to nine months. First USA's Student Visa has a 9.9% introductory rate that soars to 17.99% after five months. Teaser rates aren't unique to student cards, but a 1998 study by the Washington-based U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that 26% of college students found them misleading.
-- Pay on time. Because students move often and may not get their mail forwarded quickly, bills can get lost. Then the students fall prey to late-payment fees. Some cards, such as Wells Fargo & Co.'s Student MasterCard, have late fees as high as $30. If one or two payments are overdue, many cards bump interest rates up as well.
-- Shun cash advances. Students are often unaware that rates on cash advances are much higher than those on card balances. Citibank's student card has an APR on advances of 19.9%, vs. 17.15% for regular balances. Some cards also impose a fee of as much as 4% of the advance.
-- Don't ask for extra credit. Instead, find a card that has a restrictive credit line. The limit on the American Express Credit Card for College Students ranges from $500 to $4,000, depending on age and credit history. Another option: Get a secured credit card. Its credit limit depends on your savings at the issuing bank.
Debt advisers say students should hold only a credit card on which they can carry a small balance and a charge card they must pay off monthly. They should pay more than the minimum on credit cards. And they should not charge purchases they can pay for in cash, such as pizza and gas.
If you're a parent, talk to your kids about responsible credit-card use. College Parents of America, a Washington advocacy group, has tips on its Web site, www.collegeparents.org. Among them: Make sure your kids know a card isn't a way of getting items they can't afford.


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The French company, which is positioning itself as a pure luxury player, has engaged in a flurry of high-profile moves since the beginning of the year, notably spinning out of the group its stake in Puma, and selling its holding in Stella McCartney back to her.
“Kering is announcing that discussions are under way with Mr. Christopher Kane about the conditions in which the British designer could take back full control of the eponymous brand. Christopher Kane and Kering wish to continue to collaborate with the aim of achieving a gradual and harmonious transition,” the company said in a brief statement.
Kering intends to list the stake under “non-current assets held for sale and discontinued operations” in its half-yearly accounts to June 30, to be published July 26.
Kane was unavailable for comment on Thursday.
Kering purchased a 51 percent stake in Kane’s business in January 2013 as part of an aggressive acquisitions strategy that also saw the company buy brands such as Pomellato and Brioni. The acquisitions came as growth at Gucci was slowing and Kering was looking for other brands to bolster its portfolio against competition from LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Those deals were two years before the appointment of Alessandro Michele as creative director at Gucci, a move that set the brand on the path to skyrocketing growth that now has it setting the goal of reaching 10 billion euros in sales.
At the time of Kering acquiring its stake in Kane, WWD described him as London’s new leading man, and the commercial breakout success of his generation in the British capital. The purchase came as Kane was wrapping up a successful, three-year collaboration on Versace’s Versus collection and against the backdrop of rumors that he was ready to take the top job at Balenciaga, which is now designed by Demna Gvasalia.
Kering said its aspiration was to take the brand global, and on Kering’s watch Kane opened a flagship store — designed by John Pawson — on Mount Street in London, and launched accessories with Kane’s signature safety buckle detail. Last summer, Kering also opened a temporary summer shop for Kane on Bond Street.
Kane had said he partnered with Kering because of its reputation in developing luxury brands.
Managing the day-to-day business proved problematic, with Kane’s business seeing a revolving door of chief executive officers since it purchased its majority stake in the business.
A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Kane founded his brand in London in 2006, and initially focused on women’s wear in the designer segment. One of London’s favorite fashion showmen, Kane is part of a crop of young designers who started revving up London’s fashion scene more than a decade ago. He won the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2011, bagging a cash prize of 200,000 pounds, or $322,500, and access to industry mentors.
Kering’s latest string of divestitures raised questions about what could be next or whether an exit from Christopher Kane might cap the run of activity.
Puma’s financial momentum last year had increased pressure on Kering to move the asset out of the group before it grew too big; the French group’s intentions to focus on luxury had been widely flagged. Kering continues to hold a 16 percent interest in Puma.
Last week’s announcement that Tomas Maier is leaving Kering’s Bottega Veneta after 17 years as head designer there prompted speculation about his signature collection, which is a joint venture with his soon-to-be former employer.
“We’re operating as usual,” the brand’s ceo Laurent Claquin told WWD earlier this week when asked whether Maier’s departure from Bottega would impact the future of the partnership.
There also remains the question of Volcom, a sportswear company purchased by the French group in 2011, as part of its plans to build a sports and lifestyle division around Puma. Puma ceo Bjørn Gulden in January said his company had no plans to take on Volcom.
Kering also invested in fashion label Altuzarra in 2013, in which it still holds a minority stake.
The French group has defied expectations and outpaced luxury peers with sales fueled by its star brand Gucci, which has clocked over a year of growth exceeding 35 percent.


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While the Honda Accord does happen to be a superb vehicle to own, sales of the flagship vehicle have been falling ever since the start of 2016. One of the reasons is that most people have been going for the 10th generation of the Honda Civic instead of the Accord.
The Honda Civic is more economical, its lighter and it offers up good performance. It’s also almost as big as the Accord too and this is one of the main reasons why the Civic is chosen over the Accord.
The Honda Accord needs a big upgrade if it is to take the title of being a special midsized car again. Now we are hearing that this may happen as the Accord could come with SH-AWD.
This is the same drivetrain that Acura use on their vehicles and it could mean that the Accord is dropping SH-AWD on the Acura. Should the Honda Accord offer up the SH-AWD it would offer up a driving character that is unique and this would be something that the Civic wouldn’t be able to copy.


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As we wrote about here, Virginia enacted a law decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana earlier this year. Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of misconceptions about what that law—which became effective yesterday—actually means.
It is hard to underestimate the impact that the coronavirus and its related fallout—economic and otherwise—will have on the cannabis industry. Some of that impact will be decidedly negative. For instance, as we wrote about recently, cash is harder to come by for cannabis companies right now.
If you’ve been following the cannabis industry in 2020, you’ve likely heard the term “cash is king” more than once. This has become the industry consensus as stocks (mostly traded in Canada) began to slide after some disappointing earning numbers in the middle of 2019. That, in turn, resulted in decreased valuations and a reduction in investment capital.
As we arrive at the middle of June, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has not issued any conditional adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses and, as we recently wrote about here, it may be a while before the licenses are issued. Nevertheless, those licenses will be issued eventually, and it is important that cannabis entrepreneurs begin evaluating their next steps.
As we’ve discussed on our blog and our podcast, we have been closely watching how marijuana sales fare in the face of the recession created by the coronavirus. Sales figures for marijuana in May are still rolling in, but early returns appear favorable.
Many in Illinois have been waiting with bated breath for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to issue new (conditional) adult use cannabis dispensary licenses and it appears that wait may not end anytime soon. By way of background, under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, an ambitious and precedent-setting social equity centered piece of legislation, these license were to be issued before May 1, 2020.
The individual contributors to this blog are horrified by the death of George Floyd and dismayed by the pain and destruction in our communities. We want to acknowledge this incredibly trying moment happening in our country right now. Even though we write professionally on a daily basis, we found it incredibly difficult to express ourselves in this situation because it’s difficult to know where to even begin.
On this episode of the Joint Status Report, David and (friend of the program) Irina Dashevsky interview Jim Boland and Mykel Selph about Cresco’s (www.crescolabs.com) SEED Program and how it is benefiting the industry.
Full disclosure: David Belsky is a personal friend (don’t hold it against him) and his company, FlowerHire, is a firm client. He is also one of the foremost authorities on placing talent in the regulated cannabis and hemp industries. Earlier this week, Forbes posted a great interview with Belsky that we highly recommend.
In early January, Illinois received thousands of applications for adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses. Only 75 of those applications will be granted a license…eventually. Although the Illinois Cannabis Tax and Regulation Act (the Act) required the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to issue the licenses before May 1, 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker and the IDFPR have delayed their issuance indefinitely due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.


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Tradition exists to be honored and improved upon. Venerable classics like grilled cheese sandwiches can only get better, according to chef Eric Greenspan. The food traditions of Italy are well documented, but for Roads & Kingdom’s Matt Goulding and writer Elizabeth Minchilli, there’s always more to learn. A year after opening Vespertine, chef Jordan Kahn wants to keep his diners guessing.
'Pasta, Pane, Vino,' Jordan Kahn, and grilled cheese
From this Episode:
'The Great Grilled Cheese Book'
Is there any snack more classic than a grilled cheese? When chef Eric Greenspan turned the cheese plate from one of his restaurants into a grilled cheese, he won the...
'Pasta, Pane, Vino'
The challenge of writing about Italy’s food traditions is finding something new to say, according to Roads & Kingdoms co-founder Matt Goulding. Photo by Alfredo Chiarappa.
Elizabeth Minchilli's view of Italy
Evan Kleiman credits Italian lifestyle writer Elizabeth Minchilli for showing her a different side of Italy over the course of their 25-year friendship.
Vespertine's first year
For chef Jordan Kahn, “intention is everything.” Photo by Christopher Ho.
A food justice pioneer looks back
Marion Nestle began working in food advocacy in 1976. She went on to pioneer the field of food studies at NYU, inspiring countless careers in food justice.


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POKHARA, Oct 7: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) is less likely to purchase and sell mountain goats this Dashain as farmers have tagged higher prices this year.
Mountain goats from Tibet will not be imported from Tibet for this year’s Dashain festival as the border points with China remain closed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of mountain goats available in local markets in Pokhara and elsewhere is likely to see a sharp decrease as local traders are also hesitant to buy mountain goats from places like Mustang at such higher prices. Local traders believe that the prices of mountain goats will see a sharp hike this Dashain because of the limited number of mountain goats available in the market.
Binod Chand, chief at the FMTC in Mustang, said the company has decided not to purchase mountain goats this year as farmers are found tagging much higher prices as compared to previous year.
Last year, the company had purchased live mountain goats for Rs 560 per kilogram and had sent them to Kathmandu whereas the price has gone up to Rs 750 per kilogram this year. “We visited Upper Mustang in search of mountain goats but they are not sufficient,” he said, “Farmers have increased the price. It is up by Rs 200 per kilogram.”
The existing Procurement Rule allows them the rights to increase the price by 10 percent as compared to the prices of previous year. They allow FMTC to pay Rs 615 per kilogram to make a purchase. However, farmers are not ready to sell them for less than Rs 750 per kilogram this year.
Chand said it will be too expensive to purchase mountain goats at the price tagged by farmers and send them to Kathmandu. “We have exceeded the time limit for buying the goats. We should send the goats to Kathmandu within 20 days from today. But we do not have enough time to do that now,” he told Republica.
The FMTC had invested Rs 30 million to buy 1,920 mountain goats last year. “We need to follow the same procedure while buying them for which we lack sufficient time,” he said.
Officials at FMTC said the price of mountain goats cannot be reduced in the following year if the deal is confirmed at the higher prices this year. This has made the FMTC hesitant to make any purchase deal.
Local production of mountain goats is not sufficient for consumption during Dashain. Although the local demand of mountain goats used to be met through import from Tibet in the past, the closure of the border with China to contain the spread of COVID-19 this year has made it difficult to import them. Chand said the local traders, who went to rural villages in Mustang to buy mountain goats, are still trying to buy mountain goats at moderate prices.


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The Single Currency In Cuba
Still many tourists who come on holiday to Cuba, wondering what currency to pay everywhere. And all because of the so-called two-track system, which functions on the territory of the country. However, now the Council of Ministers has decided to eliminate this confusion, and at the same time to recover the cost, and the role of the peso as the national currency.
For almost twenty years in Cuba run two of the national currency, namely convertible and ordinary pesos. First the locals used solely for tourists, exchanging at the rate of one dollar. And the second option is for the local population. And it cost a quarter less.
To purchase any goods or services, and to pay travel expenses and airport tax, tourists need convertible pesos or canadian dollars, pounds sterling, and even Swiss francs. Interestingly, in many tourist areas, a change you can give, as in a convertible and not convertible currency.
Because of this situation, many low workers take on extra work as taxi drivers or offer tourists their homes to make extra money and convertible pesos.
On the main square of Paris, the Hotel de Ville opened the main rink of the city. It is decorated with Christmas lights and lanterns. Rink arbitrarily divided, transferred a portion of adults and the... read more
A little trip on a sailing boat for a couple from the UK has turned into a circumnavigation. They say that in July 1998, decided to rest, traveling to Spain and Ireland, but then they continued their... read more
Next June on the territory of Croatia will open the country's first water Park. According to local authorities, June 2014 will be a truly major milestone in the life of the country, as they will pres... read more
In mid-March, namely 14 the number in the territory of one of the Portuguese city of óbidos will be the sweetest event of the year - the international festival of chocolate. For the sake of this eve... read more
14 June in the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan, for the second time will be a gastronomic festival Pizza & Beer Fest. This is an interesting alternative for those who want a break from Caribbean foo... read more
Famous places to travel with highest rating


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The Hanoitimes - The 2019 ASEAN Tourism Forum Travel Exchange (Travex), which will be held in Quang Ninh province on January 16 - 18, 2019.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has called for local travel agents’ registration for Travex 2019. Accordingly, the travel exchange will feature 450 pavilions of ASEAN nations, including 100 booths of host Vietnam.
Travex is among the most long-standing annual travel fairs in ASEAN as part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF). Quang Ninh province will host the ATF 2019 from January 14-19 next year under the theme “ASEAN: The Power of One”.
Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province.
It provides a platform for tourism firms of Vietnam and ASEAN to meet and strengthen cooperation with more than 400 international buyers and reporters from major tourism markets such as the US, Europe and Northeast Asia, among others.
The ATF is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member nations of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries. ATF 2016 marks the 35th anniversary of this event since it’s inauguration in Malaysia in 1981. Thailand successfully hosted the region’s largest travel trade show, the ATF 2018 in January in Chiang Mai. The hosting of ATF in 2019 creates a golden opportunity for Vietnam in general and Quang Ninh in particular to promote tourism.
In addition, a wide range of activities will be held as part of the forum such as formal meetings between officials of ASEAN National Tourism Organisation (NTO) and meetings between ASEAN tourism ministers and their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and India.
Other events include association meetings involving ASEAN Tourism Association, Federation of ASEAN Travel Association, ASEAN Airlines Association, and ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association, exhibition and business appointments seeking to facilitate the trade of regional and individual tourism products of ASEAN member states, and a tourism conference.
The number of foreign visitors arriving in Vietnam in April was estimated at 1.3 million, raising the total figure for the first four months of 2018 to 5.5 million, up 29.5% over the same period last year, according to National Administration of Tourism.


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The InfoWorld news quiz: Nov. 12, 2010
Samsung enters the tablet game, Amazon suffers Internet shameBy Dan Tynan
Another week, another tablet PC -- now Samsung's Galaxy is hoping to knock the iPad into orbit. What else happened this week? Amazon felt the wrath of an outraged public, Windows Phone 7 handsets officially went on sale, yet another browser debuted to take on IE/Firefox/Chrome, and we learned of new and possibly unhygienic ways to use e-books and smartphones. Do you have the smarts to ace this week's quiz? Give yourself 10 points for each correct answer. Now wash your hands thoroughly and begin.


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The most important press conference of MWC 2018 is about to start, and we all know what Samsung is planning to unveil: The “boring” but still very exciting Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones.
The Galaxy S line returns to MWC after a year of absence, although we don’t expect any surprises from Samsung at Mobile World Congress here In Barcelona, Spain. Every little Galaxy S9 detail has already leaked over the past few months. The best leaks then came in the weeks preceding Samsung’s Galaxy S9 keynote, leading right up to yesterday’s huge leak that showed the Galaxy S9 and S9+ being used in the wild in more than half a dozen photos.
In what’s about to follow, Samsung will likely confirm most or even all of these rumors, though we sort of hope that Samsung still managed to hold a few surprises back for the actual show.
Shoppers who always want something new from smartphone makers might not be happy with the Galaxy S9 — hence the “boring” comment. The phone is basically the “S” generation of the Galaxy S8. In my book, however, that’s not a bad thing. iPhone “S” generations always to improve the overall experience offered by the previous year’s models, and I’d always choose the iPhone S over its predecessor.
The Galaxy S9 should be better than the Galaxy S8 in almost every conceivable way. We’re looking at the same great all-screen design, better hardware, and a new camera experience. In fact, the camera might be the main selling point of the phone, according to reports. Oh, and the fingerprint situation has been fixed and the sensor has been centered on the back of both phones.
One of the annoying things about the Galaxy S9 is that it won’t have a dual-lens camera like the larger Galaxy S9+. Of course, we all saw this movie when it premiered two years ago. Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus featured dual cameras on the back while the iPhone 7 did not. This trick helped Apple make more money by encouraging users to buy more expensive phones with better margins, and Samsung wants in on that action.
Will Samsung announce anything else at the show? Yes, that’s certainly a possibility. Not that we really care about anything other than the Galaxy S9 right now. Watch the entire event in the video live-stream below, and you can follow along with our live blog beneath the video.


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Shay Mitchell has been using face masks for more than 18 years, although she believes she needs to use them more now she is 29 than she ever has before.
Shay Mitchell has been using face masks for more than 18 years.
The 29-year-old actress - who was named the face of the skincare company Bioré in April last year - has admitted she has been applying various creams and nourishing sheets to her face ever since she was a child, but has started to realise she ''actually needs'' to use them more now she is getting older.
The former 'Pretty Little Liars' star posted a picture of her sporting a grey lotion on her face alongside two of her friends on social media to share her beauty secrets.
Speaking about her go-to cosmetic product on her Instagram account, she wrote: ''Friends who mask together stay together... no but for real, we have been doing masks for 18+ years (except now we are realizing how much we actually need them) work perk of being a @bioreus ambassador - face masks and pore strips for everyone! #missingmygirlsalready (sic).''
And the brunette beauty enjoys a a ''mini spa day'' every week, and devotes each Sunday to pampering herself and repairing her skin after wearing make-up all week.
Speaking previously, she said: ''You really do have to take a day out of the week to kind of have your own mini spa day ... I think for me, it's kind of getting into a routine of things. I think it's about taking those times to kind of replenish your skin.''
Shay also believes it is very important to follow a healthy diet and drink lots of water to keep your skin looking healthy.
She explained: ''My diet is everything in moderation. So, if I want to eat that whole pizza, I'm going to eat that whole pizza. But then I'm going to go to the gym and maybe do two workouts the next day - but also because I enjoy it. So, I think for me it's never holding back on anything because I'm the kind of person that's like, 'OK, you never know if tomorrow is going to come, so I'm going to eat this cupcake.' But I'll work out after it. If you told me I could never have chocolate cake for the rest of my life, I would be OK with it. Pizza? No.''
Pixies kicked off the European leg of their latest tour in the sleepy retirement town of Bexhill-On-Sea.
Kent punk duo Slaves held up their pledge to headline a gig on the Kent coast this weekend when they once again took to the Hall By The Sea stage at...
The batsman is batting for the music industry these days.
He is set to unveil his new album 'Cowboys and Africans'.
'Ginger' is the kind of album that sees Brockhampton coming to terms with what they've been through.
It's time for our monthly round-up...


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Tastiest brews near Brockton: Black Hat Brew Works in Bridgewater treasures community
Editor's note: This is part of a series of stories taking a peek inside some of the little craft breweries that have cropped up in the Brockton area in the past few years, where the art and science of brewing meet and the mantra is the fresher the better. From elegant taprooms to old-school casual, from hardcore traditional to wild concoctions like jalapeño cream ale and Ultra Violet Squeeze – there’s something for everyone and plenty of reasons to make a beer lover cheer.
BRIDGEWATER — If you like dogs, a laid back atmosphere and a variety of craft beer styles, then Black Hat Brew Works is definitely for you.
Located at 25 Scotland Boulevard, Unit 1, in Bridgewater, the brewery is known for its flagship, easy-drinking Bridgewater Blonde and its popular Fuzzy Bunny Slippers double IPA.
The brewery was started in 2015 by owner Paul Mulcahy and a few co-owners who are no longer associated with the brewery.
Originally from Brockton, Mulcahy had been doing some home brewing for a while, and a career in the food processing industry gave him the background he needed to get a craft brewery going.
So Mulcahy opened at the Scotland Boulevard location with the Bridgewater Blonde and the now-popular Blueberry Kolsch, and set to work creating great beer and becoming a staple in the community.
"Right around this time was when my wife and I were going up to Maine and Vermont every weekend and scoping out breweries — what are they doing and what's the vibe?" he said. "People really are digging local, like supporting local. And I just thought that was the coolest mentality to have a business."
Mulcahy said he makes it a point to be deeply involved with the surrounding community. The brewery uses Bridgewater's Mike Shea's Coffee Roasting for their stouts and Easton's Simpson Spring water for all their beer. The grain they use to brew even goes to make products for Bridgewater's Woofy Biscuits dog treat store.
Black Hat Brew Works likes to be involved in community events like the Bridgewater Fourth of July parade. They also hold a yearly Black Friday party in honor of their anniversary and host the South Shore Farmer's Brew Fest.
Despite the brewery's posh name — which was inspired by Mulcahy's long-time habit of wearing a black baseball cap — and logo — which is based on a 1909 French furniture store ad — the brewery has a humble feel. Lots of its beers have fun, silly names, their taproom is a frequent hangout spot for Bridgewater's cutest pups and it often organizes fundraisers for local causes.
For instance, the brewery releases Such a Good Boy cream ale several times a year, which benefits Brockton's Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts. It currently features a pug fittingly named Bruin, who won a contest last year to be featured on the beer.
"We really just dig that the sense of community here," Mulcahy said. "Bridgewater is a nice town to be in. They're a very supportive town to be in."
Since the brewery's start, Black Hat Brew Works has grown significantly. Mulcahy said they typically have nine beers on tap to ensure there's a variety and distribute three to four beers to local restaurants and liquor stores.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, not knowing when they could open normally to the public, the brewery began to focus more on canning and distribution. As a result, they can now be found as far south as the Cape and Islands and as far north as the North Shore.
Soon, Mulcahy said, their Bridgewater Blonde will even be served at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield.
As a result of the brewery's growth, they are looking for a newer, bigger location. But, Mulcahy said, they hope to stay in Bridgewater.
In the meantime, Black Hat Brew Works fans can look forward to a new beer that will soon be featured in the taproom, and the potential return of some old favorites like their chili vanilla stout and their Belgian quadruple in coming months.
Enterprise staff writer Susannah Sudborough can be reached by email at firstname.lastname@example.org. You can follow her on Twitter at @k_sudborough.


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In a statement released today, Apple defended the use of a battery warning message that appears when an iPhone user replaces their battery not at an Apple Store or authorized repair facility.
The tech giant says it does this to ensure device safety and performance, according to the statement. While true, the notification also likely aims to discourage iPhone owners from swapping the phone’s battery themselves, or at an unauthorized repair store, effectively hindering the third-party market’s ability to operate.
The full statement Apple sent to well-known Apple commentator Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) regarding the notification reads as follows:
“We take the safety of our customers very seriously and want to make sure any battery replacement is done properly. There are now over 1,800 Apple authorized service providers across the US, so our customers have even more convenient access to quality repairs. Last year, we introduced a new feature to notify customers if we were unable to verify that a new, genuine battery was installed by a certified technician following Apple repair processes.
This information is there to help protect our customers from damaged, poor quality, or used batteries that can lead to safety or performance issues. This notification does not impact the customer’s ability to use the phone after an unauthorized repair.”
News broke last week, courtesy of iFixit, that if an iPhone battery is replaced either on your own or at an unauthorized repair shop, an ominous message in the Settings app reads as follows:
“Important Battery Message
Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery. Health information not available for this battery.”
This notification only appeared on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max when running iOS 12 or iOS 13, according to iFixit.
According to iFixit, all Apple batteries include an authentication feature that pairs the battery to the specific iPhone’s logic board.
It’s important to point out that Apple doesn’t disable the battery and that it does continue to work after receiving this notification, with only ‘Battery Health’ in the Settings app being no longer visible.
Source: @reneritchie Via: The Verge


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(Reuters) – Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk plans to list SpaceX’s space-based Internet venture, Starlink, several years into the future, when revenue growth is smooth and predictable.
“The public market doesn̵
Musk said last year that Starlink was an important new revenue stream for its California-based Space Exploration Technologies or SpaceX.
SpaceX President Gwyn Shotwell in February floated the idea of separating Starlink for an IPO in the coming years.
SpaceX is vying to build its satellite constellation Starlink to offer commercial broadband by the end of 2020.
Musk also tweeted that he is a “huge fan” of small retail investors and will ensure that they receive the highest priority.
Report by Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru: Edited by Sriraj Kalluvila


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During a sponsored programming session at the event in San Francisco this year, AMD’s senior manager, Nicolas Thibieroz, and developer technology engineer, Jason Stewart, will be talking about the company’s recently launched open-source initiative.
GPUOpen to bridge the gap between console and pc game development
According AMD, GPUOpen “marks the beginning of a new era where developers are able to achieve their artistic and technical vision via open and unrestricted access to the GPU”. The new tech will be bridging the gap between PC and console game development.
GPUOpen is a new philosophy spearheaded by AMD that aims to bridge the gap between console and PC game development by allowing optimal access to the GPU for developers. GPUOpen is a portal to effects, SDKs, libraries and tools that provides various levels of GPU access and functionalities for real-time graphics and content creation. In addition GPUOpen components are provided with an open source license to give developers full control and usage of the code they choose to use. GPUOpen marks the beginning of a new era where developers are able to achieve their artistic and technical vision via open and unrestricted access to the GPU.
GPUOpen was officially launched last week, as one of the biggest open source initiatives.
A critical design goal was to have GPUOpen created by developers, for developers, keeping marketing elements to a minimum. The creation of the Radeon Technology Group led by Raja Koduri was key in turning GPUOpen into a reality and I am very excited that this project is now being launched.
Today is the birth of GPUOpen and like any newborn it has some growing to do. As we add new content over the next few months we will be listening to developers feedback and respond as needed.
It’s time to open up the GPU.
GPUOpen is AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s Gameworks, which is a developer program set- to provide game developers with a collection of graphics libraries and tools aimed at improving the visual quality of games. It includes technologies such as PhysX – Nvidia’s proprietary physics engine – as well as VisualFX which encompasses a number of Nvidia optimized rendering techniques and in-game visual effects. For a full rundown on GPUOpen and Gameworks, we suggest you read this article.


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Aus: Australian economic worries hit Southcorp, but share price is recovering
The rise came on top of a A$0.03 increase last Friday, following an A$)0.36 fall on Wednesday and a further $0.29 fall on Thursday when the stock closed at its lowest level for three months and only A$0.12 above its 52-week low.
CEO, Graham Kraehe, issued the profit downgrade on Wednesday, blaming it on slack consumer demand and some de-stocking by retailers pending the July 1 start of Australia's radical new taxation system. The system - based on the abolition of wholesale sales taxes and the introduction of a 10% goods and services tax - has caused a general downturn in consumer spending.
Four interest rate rises, each of 0.25% since November, have also dampened demand generally and, in the wine sector, a post-millennium "hangover" is adding to the slowdown. Figures from the Government's Australian Bureau of Statistics show that domestic sales of wine and brandy in April totalled 26.1m litres, compared with 30.3m litres in April 1999, a 13.6% fall.
"As half of Southcorp's wine sales are Australian, this softness will reduce profit expectations for the year as the June quarter is the largest profit contributor," Kraehe said. "Wine profit in the June half is now expected to be a little below last year although well ahead of the December half."
BRL Hardy managing director, Stephen Millar, re-iterated that he is "comfortable" with the company's forecasts, saying it is "doing great". However, Australian trading manager, Brian de Mamiel, said that demand was as "sluggish" as he had seen in his 30 years in the industry.
He believed that consumer buying patterns had changed ahead of the start of GST with non-discretionary items which were likely to rise in price being bought in preference to discretionary items such as wine.
Glen Cunningham, executive general manager, corporate affairs, for Southcorp says the new tax system's requirement for quarterly audits by retail business has led to de-stocking and new orders being held back to after July 1.
There is less concern for Australia on the export front with records continuing to be set month after month. Strong pre-millennium demand has boosted sales to a record 281.9m litres, worth $A1.32billion, for the year to the end of May, a 34.7% increase, compared with a 43.5% increase in the year to the end of April.
Sales to the UK totalled 137m litres, a 36.5% increase for the 12 months, and were worth $A577m. The US, the second biggest market, took 49.5m litres, also a 36.5% increase, worth $A310.2m while sales to the third biggest market, New Zealand, were up 6.2% to 65.6m litres worth $A65.6m. Canada took 12.1m litres (up 41.2%), Germany 9.1m litres (up 63.7%) and The Netherlands 7.3m litres (up 104.3%).
The biggest percentage increase - 135% - was in sales to the 11th biggest market, France, which took 2.8m litres.
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Wix, an Israeli firm that has developed a do-it-yourself platform to create websites, said Wednesday it is acquiring Tel Aviv-based startup Rise.ai, a developer of gift-card and store-credit software that allows e-commerce firms to re-engage with their customers. No financial details were disclosed.
The acquisition will extend the Wix eCommerce platform, providing a full solution for merchants to re-engage with customers and get them to spend more, through gift cards, loyalty programs, rewards and referrals, Wix said in a statement.
The Wix eCommerce platform provides online stores, service providers, restaurants and event organizers with ways to create, manage and grow their business online and in person. Using the Wix offering, merchants can sell through multiple sales channels including web and mobile storefronts, social media, online marketplaces and physical retail locations, as well as manage and track inventory, orders and fulfillment, and do payment and brand marketing.
In 2020, Wix users processed over $5.4 billion in online transactions via their websites, an increase of 126% over 2019. In addition, Wix eCommerce merchants saw an increase of 140% year over year growth in sales transactions in 2020 compared to 2019, the company said in the statement.
“By providing merchants with more native tools, we can help them grow long-term customer value and revenues to build their businesses and keep optimizing and increasing profitability,” said Arik Perez, head of Wix eCommerce. “Rise.ai is considered to be the best solution of its kind in the market, and the integration will enable merchants to easily manage and maintain customer engagement tools, ultimately leading to increased loyalty and revenue.”
Rise.ai was set up in 2015 by CEO Yair Miron, and has raised to date $454,000 in seed money from angel investors, according to the database of Start-Up Nation Central.
“Customer retention has become the top priority for eCommerce brands worldwide, as acquisition costs continue to spike,” said Miron. “Since our founding, we have powered tens of thousands of leading brands with loyalty and re-engagement solutions to grow their businesses.”
Wix said that the Rise.ai solution will be available to all of its customers in all countries and currencies.
Last year, Rise.ai partnered with Google to help businesses offer digital gift cards and Facebook used the startup to offer users a digital gift card program.
Wix’s headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices globally.


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COVID-19 City of Toronto takes action to enable 24-hour retail deliveries
Monday, March 16, 2020 2:25:00 PM
City of Toronto takes action to enable 24-hour retail deliveries
As part of the City of Toronto’s response to COVID-19 in support of businesses and the community, effective immediately and until further notice, all retail businesses are exempt from the City of Toronto Noise Bylaw to facilitate after-hour deliveries.
The City's Noise Bylaw includes the ability to provide an exemption in response to extraordinary circumstances affecting the immediate health, safety or welfare of the community. This exemption will ensure retailers can receive deliveries 24 hours of a day, seven days a week to ensure essential goods remain in stock
City staff – in consultation with Mayor John Tory's office – moved quickly to make this immediate change after it was raised by the Retail Council of Canada as a way to allow additional deliveries for retailers.
“We are taking this action to help Toronto businesses get deliveries and continue to stock their shelves with essential goods for our residents. By exempting retail businesses from the City's noise bylaw right now, we will ensure that retailers can receive deliveries 24 hours of a day, seven days a week. This action is part of the City's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and my focus on protecting the people of Toronto, including our most vulnerable residents, and helping businesses.”
- Mayor John Tory
There is no need for residents to panic-buy and stockpile. While being prepared for emergencies is always advised, any bulk purchasing beyond a two-week supply jeopardizes the ability of vulnerable people to access essential food and health supplies.
For updates on the COVID-19 risk in Toronto and information on how to protect yourself from infection, visit https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/.
SOURCE: City of Toronto


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Smartphone or Die? A cover story for Newsweek Japan on smartphone addiction.
The Heartbleed bug: how scared should you be? (Very.)
The future of banks and marijuana.
The doomed online drug trade.
The bitcoins bankrolling Snowden.
Anonymous’ Next Move.
My Bitcoin misadventure.
Consumer tech is doomed!
Blog at WordPress.com.


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Comedy will be on the menu at a food event in the heart of Stockport.
Foodie Friday will welcome hundreds to Stockport's Market Place on January 31 for an evening of entertainment and tasty grub.
A Laugh in Stockport will present musical comedy from Two Old Codgers to accompany two new local singer songwriters - Louise Shufflebottom and Amy Thiele - and John Gell on the fiddle.
Food will include a traditional hog roast, wood fired pizza from the Pizza Peddlers, brisket, venison sausages and burgers from Big D BBQ and vegetarian favourites from Spud Stop.
An artisan baker, as well as cheese and wine sellers will also be on hand, while High Peak Beers will provide craft ales and cocktails.
Entry to the event – from 6 to 9pm - is free.
Executive member for economic development and regeneration, Iain Roberts said: “The late night Foodie Friday events have already proved a really popular draw and I would encourage people to come along to this week’s event which will offer something for everyone.”
For more information, visit stockport.gov.uk.


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A study released by a global management consultancy firm said four Gulf countries feature among top global emerging markets for retail expansion.
The Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) ranks 30 countries on market attractiveness, market saturation, country risk and time pressure on an annual basis.
Martin Fabel, partner at A. T. Kearney Middle East, said the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are attracting strong interest from international and regional retailers thanks to high GDP per capita figures, increasing population and rising tourism numbers.
“We are seeing GCC retailers grow exponentially,” he said.
“Some have reached their 100th store opening milestone in a third of the time compared to developed markets and some are experiencing growth rates three to four times faster than their mature peers–we call it hyper-speed evolution,” Fabel added.
The GDRI included Oman for the first time whereas Qatar failed to feature because the country’s population growth was below the required threshold.
The UAE ranked the highest within the MENA region, scoring 60.6 on the Global Retail Development Index (GRDI). The country’s position improved one rank, standing at 7th on the index, compared to last year. The report said that the move “reflects strong consumer confidence and increasing retail sales of over five per cent in 2011 (compared to 2010).”
The study noted that the UAE benefitted during the Arab Spring due to its status as a safe and welcoming nation for tourists and investors. The Global Retail Expansion report said Dubai Mall is the world’s most-visited shopping and leisure destination, with more than 54 million visitors in 2011 (up 15% from 2010) and a 35% increase in average retail sales.
Oman was the Middle East’s second and world’s eight growing market, with a GRDI score of 58.9. The global study highlighted the Gulf nation as a “small gem.”
Muscat’s boosting of infrastructure spending has led to a greater consumer purchasing power, rising number of expatriates and tourists, and more modern retail formats, the study revealed while adding that wholesale and retail trade contributes to 8.7% of the country’s GDP.
Although modern outlets are gradually replacing the traditional souks (open-air marketplaces) and small shops, especially in the capital, Muscat, the expansion of supermarkets and shopping malls is slower than other Gulf countries, the findings noted.
Next on the Middle East ranking is Kuwait which embarked upon a heavy public spending which helped it grow 6.1% annually and clinch 12th position on the GRDI with a score of 56.6. According to Emanuele Savona, principal at A.T.Kearney, Kuwait dropped its position because of the increasing market saturation.
The report said that popularity of hypermarkets is increasing, with a 7.5% increase in sales during the past year, with young people spending more on consumer electronics.
The Avenues Mall, Kuwait’s largest shopping centre, opened in 2011 and features the largest number of international brands in the country. The Gulf state is opening doors to two other modern shopping centres, including 360 Kuwait, with more than 800,000 square feet of retail space, and Mall of Kuwait, with more than 1.6 million square feet. The new malls are pushing many secondary malls toward renovation as a way to attract international brands, the Global Retail Expansion findings suggested.
Saudi Arabia, the biggest Arab economy, stood at 14th position this year as its GDP and population increased a rise. The report said that the desert kingdom is the largest and among the most attractive markets in the Middle East with 28 million citizens.
“Rising disposable incomes and acceptance of modern formats and foreign brands are driving consumer spending,” the report said while adding that a government stimulus plan will inject about $110 billion into the economy in the next five years.
Religious tourism is driving sales in many sectors, as millions of Muslims make the annual pilgrimage for Hajj.
The report praised Jordan for a ‘strong debut’ which entered the table with a GDRI score of 51.1, placing it 18th on the list.
“Although Jordan is in the early stages of growth, opportunities will increase as consolidation and strong economics change the playing field. The government is on a mission to boost the economy, applying to join the GCC and investing in developing the country. While retail is gaining strength in the country, Jordan’s status as a gateway to Iraq makes it even more attractive to retailers,” the study noted.
The GDRI index recorded Lebanon’s fall of 10 spots from last year to 22nd position this year due to political instability and the uprising taking place in Syria. Despite being a low-income country, A.T Kearney report said that Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, is ‘home to a vibrant and trendy bourgeoisie’ who follow international fashion trends and prefer shopping in high-end malls for products from renowned international designers, including wristwatches and luxury cars.
Morocco ranked 27th on the index, with a GDRI score of 44.8. The North African nation’s ranking dropped from last year because of increased political instability, the report revealed.
Last on the index at the 30th spot, Tunisia also fell 12 positions from last year because of unrest in the country.
“While the government still supports a favourable environment for foreign investment, international retailers are hesitant to enter this recovering market,” said the report.


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Shares of Minda Corporation were up by 1.5% at Rs 204 per share on Tuesday, extending its Monday’s 15% rally on the BSE, after investor Ashish Kacholia bought an over one million shares of auto ancillary company through open market.
On April 23, 2018, Ashish Kacholia had purchased 1.08 million shares or 0.52% equity of Minda Corporation at Rs 182 each on the BSE, the bulk deal data shows.
The name of sellers not ascertained immediately.
Minda Corporation is one of the largest suppliers of 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler and off road vehicles electronic & mechanical security system. The company is a diversified company with a product port folio encompassing from mechanical & electronic security system, door system, electronic controllers for electric vehicles, plastic interiors and for auto OEM's across the Globe.
At 09:29 am; the stock was trading 1% higher at Rs 203 against 0.42% rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined 494,506 shares changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE so far.
In past six months, Minda Corporation outperformed the market by surging 43% as compared to 6% rise in the benchmark index.


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Chinese central bank is inching toward formally introducing a digital currency of its own after five years of research, which would make China one of the first major economies to make the move.
“People’s Bank digital currency can now be said to be ready,” said Mu Changchun, deputy director of the payment and settlement division of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) at an event held by China Finance 40 Forum over the weekend in Yichun, Heilongjiang.
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Sport shoes have come a long way: Over the years, they got lighter and faster - and now, they lace themselves. Nike has introduced the "HyperAdapt" and it's only available for purchase through the company's app.
Sportswear giant and trendsetter Adidas has been caught red-handed in a major corruption and bribery scandal in the US, prompting a reconsideration of athlete endorsement in exchange for other superstars.
It's been dismissed by some as a marketing stunt for a sportswear company while others think breaking the two hour mark for a marathon is worthwhile whatever the circumstances. But what does Breaking2 actually mean?
The American company has become the first major maker of sporting apparel to offer a performance head covering for Muslim women who choose to cover. While some have celebrated the release, others see it as a market grab.
Patrick Lange has smashed records at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, tackling the grueling 226-kilometer endurance event in just over eight hours. Swiss triathlete Daniela Ryf took the women's gold.
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Financial institutions try to capture new accounts with tablet technology
When USAA’s iPhone-app customers synced devices with their new iPads, consumers instinctively began to deposit physical checks remotely using the tablets’ cameras. There was just one problem: The functionality was not yet built for USAA’s tablet app, and the San Antonio, Texas-based bank wasn’t prepared to handle the quirks, like the difference in aspect ratios between iPad and iPhone images. In turn, USAA was forced to make fast technology tweaks to accommodate consumer behavior.
“Customers will use you whichever way they want to use you,” said Neff Hudson, USAA’s assistant vice president of emerging channels. “There are big challenges.” That customer power is meaningful to banks like USAA, whose tablet-banking users slant toward a wealthier audience, which Hudson attributes to the tablets’ high price tags. Plus, the majority of users fall under the aging Baby Boomer category, so products and services important to them hinge on retirement and research related to financial topics, said Hudson.
USAA’s internal data is in line with what Forrester Research Inc. found in data it published last year. The global research firm reported that tablet early adopters boast higher-than-average incomes — at least $120,000 annually — and advanced education, attributes that make them more likely to utilize numerous offers of financial services.
Hudson predicts that in the next year many new mobile and tablet banking functionalities will emerge from within the industry.
“More complicated products will be sold through more immersive media devices,” he said, adding that “Underwriting is one of those areas that should get simpler from the customer standpoint and more accurate from the institution standpoint.”
Beyond underwriting on the go, tablets will play a role in changing the way in which products are sold. Kevin Travis, partner at financial services consultancy firm Novantas LLC, has noticed murmurs of banks sending sales forces into the marketplace armed with tablets to simplify the loan-origination process.
Take small-business lending, for example. As loan origination requires a deluge of paperwork, tablets and smartphones could save busy business owners the hassle of coming into physical branches three or four times. “It’s a huge increase in productivity,” said Travis.
Even smaller banks are getting into the tablet game through their vendors’ debuts. Intuit Financial Services, an online-banking vendor to nearly 1,500 U.S. banks and credit unions, is looking to add account-opening functionality into its smartphone and tablet bank offerings. Though the vendor has standard functionality in place to do things like check account balances, Intuit Mobile Solutions senior product manager Deepti Sahi said she “sees a need to meet both mobile registration and account opening functionality.”
Currently, Intuit is working to ensure that consumers can open accounts within three to four clicks, a necessary feat as “the attention span on mobile and tablet is shorter,” said Sahi.
“That’s a challenge,” she said. “How much risk does an FI [financial institution] take on and what is the bare number of steps to take on to create a new membership? …We haven’t figured out the answers. We’ll collaborate with the risk appetite of our partners.”
Beyond tablet trajectories, FIs are ultimately striving for the holy grail of deploying universal applications so that their customers can start interactions that begin in one channel (e.g., a tablet) and finish in another (e.g., a PC).