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Increasing prices are on the minds of many. Price spikes have increased spending on housing, food, clothing, and more. Fuel prices—and especially gasoline for cars—are at the core of many of these increases. A lot of factors, though, have contributed to the need for more spending on fuel.
Gas prices were on the rise when the year began. On June 14, 2022, the average cost of a gallon of gasoline eclipsed $5 for the first time in history. Prices have dropped nearly a dollar since that date, with some projections guaranteeing further drops and others anticipating an increase within the coming months. It is easy to point fingers at a laundry list of possible causes: turmoil in Europe, lingering effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, or the tightening of the global supply chain in response to shortages. Others swear that inflation is solely to blame, and some skeptics are convinced that corporate greed within the industry is the actual cause.
Despite all these uncertainties, one thing is clear: fuel prices impact much more than the simple price consumers pay at the pump. Rising petroleum costs lead to corresponding increases across a variety of sectors and can affect Uber prices, the cost of airline tickets, and shipping times. Higher fuel costs have also threated longstanding industry practices, like the just-in-time (JIT) inventory management model, and can effectively tighten the global petroleum supply. Because fuel price fluctuations can affect so many other industries, it is important to identify the discrete factors that impact the price of gasoline.
First, the price of crude oil constitutes around 54% of the retail price of a gallon of gas. Because oil futures trade on a global commodities market, the fundamental economic principles of supply and demand drive the price of crude oil. Further, geopolitical instability can also impact the price of crude oil. Despite producing the most oil of any country each year, the United States is a net importer of petroleum. This makes the country especially sensitive to supply chain crunches or international sanctions on petroleum products stemming from foreign conflicts, like the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The next factor, comprised of federal, state, and local taxes make up around 16% of the retail cost of a gallon of fuel. Currently, the federal government charges an excise tax of 18.30 cents per gallon along with a 0.1 cent fee for federal storage. State taxes vary across jurisdictions, averaging around 31 cents per gallon at the start of 2022. Some state-imposed taxes vary drastically when compared to others. Consumers seeking to purchase a gallon of gas in California can pay up to $6 per gallon with a 57 cent state tax, for example, while Alaska only imposes a state gasoline tax of around 9 cents. Individual municipalities may also impose taxes on retail sales of gasoline, further increasing these disparities in prices.
The costs of refining crude oil makes up around 14% of the price paid at the pump. Refining costs can depend on a variety of factors, including the type of crude oil being used, the processing technology available at the refinery, and the specific fuel requirements imposed by given local and state governments. Refining costs are also seasonal, with summer months generally bringing higher costs. Unfortunately, U.S. petroleum refining capacity has lagged behind demand for years. This issue started well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, but supply chain issues and reduced workforce availability stemming from the pandemic have all exacerbated the capacity problem. Still, there have been very few new refineries opened in the United States since 1977. With many refineries either shutting down or switching to production of alternative fuel sources such as biofuels, refining capacity may continue to lag behind petroleum demand in the coming years. This drives the price of gasoline higher.
Finally, the costs of distribution and advertising constitute around 16% of the price of retail gasoline. After crude oil is refined into gasoline, it is shipped from the refineries to local terminals through pipelines. Then, the gasoline may be blended with other products, like ethanol, to meet local regulations. Retail gasoline is ultimately distributed to individual gas stations by tanker truck. Each step in this distribution process adds additional costs that the consumer ultimately bears at the pump. On the advertising side, costs may vary based on the station owner’s chosen marketing strategy. Station owners face a number of additional costs, which include salaries for employees, lease or rental payments, equipment costs, insurance, and more. These cost vary by station, season, and location, but many of these costs are passed on to the consumer at the pump.
Considering the variety of factors that influence retail gas prices, it can be difficult to identify the specific causes of a given rise or decline in costs. Rather than focusing on the ever-changing retail cost of gasoline, consideration of the other factors is most wise. The price of global crude is the main factor affecting retail gasoline prices so the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices, changes in U.S. production capacity and GDP, and global and domestic petroleum consumption patterns are most informative. Businesses should consider location-based factors affecting fuel prices, including state and local taxes and other regulations that add to overall costs. Business can also keep an eye on domestic refining capacity and global demand, along with any news on foreign conflict or other sources of geopolitical instability. It is impossible to determine whether fuel prices with rise or fall with a high degree of precision, but understanding what factors comprise the “price at the pump” can bring clarity to a dynamic situation and uncertainty rising costs bring.


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PARIS — The Consumer Goods Forum has elected Lars Olofsson, chief executive officer of Carrefour SA, and Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Co., as its new co-chairmen.
The Consumer Goods Forum has elected Lars Olofsson, chief executive officer of Carrefour SA, and Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Co., as its new co-chairmen.
Olofsson and Kent will both serve two-year terms. According to Jean-Marc Saubade, managing director of the Consumer Goods Forum, the election of high-profile executives from the retail and manufacturing sectors underscores the group’s commitment to cross-industry collaboration on the most important issues, including sustainability, consumer health and wellness, and food safety.
"Our consumers deserve the best possible response from retail and industry on the issues that resonate with them," Olofsson said in a statement. "We as an industry must move forward in a more collaborative, open and inclusive way. I am honored to join Muhtar Kent in leading the Consumer Goods Forum, in order to shape, with all its members, the future of our industry."
Kent commented, "The Consumer Goods Forum offers the industry the chance, finally, to come together on even terms and work in concert on the noncompetitive issues that affect all our companies. The forum delivers the concrete working tools, benchmarks and best practices we need to get this work done. It is also a highly effective way for us to stay connected and engaged with our many and varied stakeholders."
The Consumer Goods Forum is an independent global consumer goods network. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of more than 650 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders across 70 nations. The forum was formed in June 2009 through the merger of CIES (The Food Business Forum), the Global Commerce Initiative (GCI) and the Global CEO Forum. Its member companies have combined sales of 2.1 trillion euros ($2.6 trillion).

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At ECTS last month, both 3dfx and NVIDIA were setting their sights on Digital Hollywood.
According to NVIDIA we are only a few years away from being able to render scenes as complex as those in A Bug's Life or Toy Story in real time on our humble desktop PC.
Why does this scare me?
Hooray For Dollywood?
Jason Leighton, formerly of Outrage, explains the problem -
"I grew up in an age where one or two people made an entire game, so there wasn't a whole lot of arguing on what constituted a good game. When I actually got into the industry it was still possible for a small team (5-7 people) to create an awesome mainstream game."
"Unfortunately due to market pressures that is no longer possible. Cut scenes, character modelling, and the general complexity of working in a 3d environment have brought skyrocketing costs to developing a game."
As models, environments, special effects, textures, and even the games themselves all get more complex, development teams and their budgets are getting bigger and bigger.
The latest Final Fantasy game, for example, was created by a team of literally dozens of artists, writers and programmers, and had a budget approaching that of a Hollywood blockbuster.
David Perry, a gaming industry veteran and founder of Shiny, sees this trend continuing.
"Yes, budgets will get bigger, so will research costs. It means that teams with big financial backing are gonna have a lot of fun. Teams with little financial backing will be eating beans for 2 years, then crossing their fingers."
Getting that financial backing is the problem, especially for new companies trying to break into the gaming industry.
Bob Wade, co-founder of Binary Asylum, told me in a recent interview that it is "impossible to break into the industry now without multi-million pound backing and all the restrictions that usually go along with that".
This means that "most creativity, originality and talent is crushed before it gets anywhere near a published game. The industry just isn't set up to encourage new talent and ideas".
Jason agrees, explaining that "it is extremely difficult to make money in the PC games industry (primarily due to the horrible distrubution chain), so publishers have to be careful on which games they choose to develop".
"Most take the safe route and churn out sequels to established franchises, or make last year's hits, only this time 5% different."
Because of this Jason believes that in the future "the real innovation is going to come from budgetware titles (titles costing $20 or less) or titles that are distributed via the web".
Where does this leave smaller independent studios, like id Software and Epic Games?
Tim Sweeney of Epic told us "I can't think of any good sides to 100-person development projects and huge budgets! Some games will go that way, but it's not an interesting situation to us".
So what are the alternatives? "There are different directions games can go, and we're already seeing teams heading off in these different directions", Tim explained.
"One direction is towards linear gameplay with huge amounts of content, like Final Fantasy, or Half Life. To compete there you need a huge team, a huge budget, and huge resources."
"The other direction is less content but more open-ended gameplay, like our 12-person team is doing with Unreal Tournament. There are 50 levels, but an endless variety of gameplay variations supported (teamplay, deathmatch, tournament mode, lots of gameplay mutators); thousands of user-created maps and gameplay mods available for download; and Internet play with persistent stats to keep people playing."
"The difference will be the focus, whether it's on quantity of content, or open-ended gameplay. We're totally going to open route."
I Feel Fine
Whichever direction a developer chooses though, one thing is certain. "Both types of game will evolve awesome visuals, and will continue to catch up on movie special effects".
According to Tim "we're really not too far behind, say just 6 years behind state-of-the-art non realtime rendering".
That means that by 2005 we should be playing computer games with characters and environments as detailed as those in A Bug's Life, and special effects as impressive as anything The Matrix can offer.
For game developers that can afford to stay ahead of that technology curve, it's going to be an exciting ride... Thanks to David Perry, Tim Sweeney, Jason Leighton and Bob Wade for helping with the preperation of this article.


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GET FiT Lubbock registration kicks off
GET FiT Lubbockregistration kicks off
GET FiT Lubbock
registration kicks off
The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center Garrison Institute on Aging will kick off GET FiT Lubbock 2012 with online registration now through Oct. 21. Get FiT Lubbock 2012 begins Oct. 21.
GET FiT Lubbock is an eight-week fun competition to help people in the community meet their fitness and weight loss goals. The competition includes exercise and weight loss activities, encouragement and support from health and fitness professionals and free GET FiT nutritional lectures.
Teams of four people will compete. The mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle in the community to reap the benefits of improved health and fitness.
Since its launch in 2007, GET FiT Lubbock has resulted in close to 100,000 hours of exercise and 12,000 pounds lost for participants. Registration is free. For more information or to register for GET FiT Lubbock, call 743-7821 or visit www.healthylubbock.org.


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Off-grid solar appeals to many people, for many reasons. There is often a desire to go an extra step in support of solar power. To have some additional protection from grid issues. There can also just be the desire to establish a power source that’s for one household alone and 100% independent of the grid.
But there’s much more to off-grid solar than simply adding a few more panels and disconnecting from the grid. Read our latest blog and let’s now go through the ins and outs of off-grid solar.
Record levels of renewable energy drove down electricity prices across Australia in the September quarter, with prices zero or negative for one-sixth of the time, the Australian Energy Market Operator has said in its latest report.
Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer, Tindo Solar in South Australia, has invested millions into a new factory and production line as it hopes to produce enough panels to meet the growing demand for Australian-made panels. Twenty years ago, Australia had a burgeoning solar manufacturing industry, but this was short-lived. China now accounts for roughly 70% of global solar panel production, compared to Australia’s dismal 0.3% share. However, with news of a China supply crunch, could local manufacturing provide a lucrative opportunity and a long-term solution for supply security?


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20 May 2008
Okay, everybody out of the tomb
NAOC Holdings, a Los Angeles-based expansion stage venture capital firm, today announced it has acquired PC Club, a California-based personal computer retailing chain with 37 locations nationwide. The acquisition will allow all PC Club stores, as well as the chain's two retail Web sites, PCClub.com and ClubIT.com, to remain open with business as usual.
"Brick-and-mortar accessory computer stores are still a valued commodity in the US," said NAOC spokesperson Alan Hunter. "We know PC Club with its long history, quality technical service and computer accessory assortment will continue to have strong potential for continued business operations. A technology retail outlet is the next logical addition to our portfolio, and we expect this will be a mutually beneficial relationship."
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.Posted at 9:24 AM to PEBKAC


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Queensland-based honey producer Capilano launched a capital raising offer on the Australian Stock Exchange on Monday, asking shareholders to help it raise up to $16.8 million.
General manager of finance Dirk Kemp said increasing working capital would provide flexibility for the company's plans to invest in bee-keeping enterprises, new product development and expansion of its export markets.
"We have to step up to that next stage so obviously, we have a bit more stock, so that can help us to grow in the future," Mr Kemp said.
Australia is seen as a clean, green producer of honey and at the end of the day, people will get used to the taste and obviously, that should help the product.
"Part of this is the joint venture we announced with Convita and that is the focus on developing and growing the supply of premium honey products, such as Manuka honey."
Active Manuka honey, derived from Leptospermum trees native to New Zealand and Australia, has recognised healing properties and is used for everything from burns treatment in hospitals to skin care and health foods.
"We need to develop our export market obviously, in China, but also the rest of the world, including North America," Mr Kemp said.
Shareholders entitled to discounted share price
For every 10 shares they own, shareholders with a registered address in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore will be entitled to subscribe for one fully paid ordinary share in the company as of May 26.
The price is $19.50, a 7.7 per cent discount on the $21.12 value they held when Capilano requested a trading halt last week ahead of today's announcement.
The prorata non-renounceable rights issue is fully underwritten by Canaccord Genuity Australia Ltd.
The company, which was established in 1953, had a $182 million market capitalisation prior to the offer.
They source honey from more than 300 active bee keepers across Australia.
Mr Kemp said cheap honey from China and Argentina was their biggest competition on the world stage.
"Australia is seen as a clean, green producer of honey and at the end of the day, people will get used to the taste and obviously, that should help the product," he said.


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December 3, 2020
Today, the Jeep® brand and the LEGO Group revealed the newest LEGO® Technic™ model, the one-of-a-kind Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Designed to emulate the iconic look, design and legendary off-road capabilities of the actual vehicle, this first-ever LEGO model of a Jeep SUV is ready to face any epic adventure.
November 17, 2020
For enthusiasts who crave soul-stirring, legendary off-road performance and a new level of on-road performance, Jeep® introduces the V-8-powered 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.
November 16, 2020
Jeep® will unveil the new 2021 Wrangler Rubicon 392 at noon EDT on Tuesday, November 17. The event will be streamed online and available for public viewing at www.youtube.com/Jeep.
November 12, 2020
The innovative 2021 Jeep® Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid has been named Green SUV of the Year™ by leading industry publication Green Car Journal. The announcement was made this week at the Virtual Greenbuild Conference and Expo. The Wrangler 4xe delivers up to 25 miles of nearly silent, zero-emission, electric-only propulsion, making it commuter friendly as an all-electric daily driver without range anxiety.
September 24, 2020
In celebration of 80 years of 4x4 leadership, open-air freedom and adventure, new 80th Anniversary models, loaded with advanced safety and technology features, are available across the entire Jeep lineup, plus the Jeep Wave premium-service customer care program will be included across the entire Jeep lineup for the 2021 model year.
September 15, 2020
Jeep® and Ann Druyan, widow of Carl Sagan, have joined together to create the 90-second video "Pale Blue Dot," which launches the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe and draws attention to efforts to combat climate change. With every completed view of “Pale Blue Dot,” Jeep will make a contribution to Coalition for Rainforest Nations and the Carl Sagan Institute of Cornell University.
September 3, 2020
The Jeep® brand has introduced its new Wrangler 4xe, marking the arrival of the most capable, technically advanced and eco-friendly Wrangler ever. Jeep Wrangler 4xe models will be available in Europe, China and the United States by early 2021.
August 31, 2020
New for 2021, Wrangler models now offer the TrailCam forward-facing off-road camera with the 8.4-inch touchscreen, which can be accessed through the available Off-road Pages. Off-Road Plus joins Wrangler Rubicon as standard equipment and adjusts throttle, transmission shift points and traction control.
August 25, 2020
Mopar accessories are available to complement the pet-friendly features of the Wrangler, as well as the Pacifica. Dog lovers can choose from a lightweight Mopar pet kennel, as well as all-weather floor mats and cargo mats to protect their vehicle’s interior.
July 30, 2020
Each Jeep® Performance Parts (JPP) lift kit includes four springs, four FOX shocks, front lower control arms, front and rear stabilizer links, front and rear bump stops, various fasteners and JPP badge, all packaged in a custom, reusable wooden crate with the JPP logo.
May 12, 2020
Fiat 500 earns praise for its ease to park, fun styling and affordability, while Jeep® Wrangler earns a spot with its well-deserved reputation as an off-road icon. FCA is one of two automakers with more than one vehicle on the list.
May 10, 2020
In its continuing efforts to monitor and reduce the environmental impact of its vehicles, FCA has completed its latest Global Warming Potential (GWP) analysis. The redesigned-for-2018 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited was compared with the previous-generation vehicle, its overall GWP is 15 percent lower than that of its predecessor.
March 5, 2020
As part of its spring celebration, the brand is launching the Jeep Wrangler ‘Friends & Family’ initiative, giving consumers access to special pricing for the first time ever on the Jeep Wrangler, and with ownership, the opportunity to join the global Jeep family.
February 7, 2020
Kicking off the opening of the 2020 Chicago Auto Show this weekend, Mopar introduced a customized version of its new limited-edition 2020 Jeep® Wrangler JPP 20, featuring a wide array of Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) targeted to the off-road enthusiast.
February 6, 2020
As the Chicago Auto Show opens this weekend, the Jeep® brand is introducing new editions of the Wrangler and Gladiator in the form of new High Altitude models, which deliver a new level of premium content combined with legendary Jeep 4x4 capability and a new customized appearance.
February 6, 2020
Kelley Blue Book has named the 2020 Jeep® Wrangler, Jeep Gladiator, Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups winners of its Best Resale Value Awards. For the ninth consecutive year, Kelley Blue Book has named the Jeep Wrangler to its Top 10 list and Wrangler has captured a segment award for the 10th consecutive year.
February 5, 2020
The 2020 Jeep® Wrangler, 2020 Fiat 124 Spider and 2020 Chrysler Voyager have been named category winners of Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com ninth annual 5-Year Cost to Own Awards. The 5-Year Cost to Own Awards honor the new vehicles and brands with the lowest projected ownership costs.
January 23, 2020
The Jeep® brand is returning the Wrangler Rubicon Recon edition to the iconic SUV’s lineup. The Recon edition is based on the Wrangler Rubicon and features unique exterior and interior content.
January 16, 2020
As the bitter cold of winter moves into much of the country, Jeep® is delivering new North Edition models across its lineup, with legendary 4x4 capability and a host of standard content to tackle frosty commutes. Three Jeep North Edition vehicles will be on display during the New England Auto Show: Jeep Gladiator, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.
January 14, 2020
The 2020 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon EcoDiesel – the most capable, fuel-efficient and highest torque-rated Wrangler ever – has been named FOUR WHEELER "2020 SUV of the Year." The award is given annually by the editors of the opinion-leading off-road enthusiast publication.
2022 Jeep Wrangler
2021 Jeep Wrangler
2020 Jeep Wrangler
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Tickets have almost sold out for this month’s Contour Fashion Ball, to be hosted in the Lancaster Ballroom at the Savoy Hotel, London.
A waiting list has reportedly already formed for those hoping to join the celebrations and fundraising for the charities, which include the Retail Trust and the Fashion and Textile Children’s Trust.
For the first time, this year, the ball has secured the support of three headline sponsors in the shape of LYCRA® fibre brand owner INVISTA, bra accessories specialist Fashion Forms and lingerie and swimwear brand Panache.
Guests will be able to enjoy a champagne reception at the River Room on the banks of the Thames and experience a three course dinner, prepared by executive chef Bernhard Mayer and Budiono Bin Sukim, banqueting chef of The Savoy.
The evening’s proceedings will be hosted by TV fashion guru Mark Heyes and guests will be taking to the dance floor the sounds of ‘Ronnie Scott’s favourite,’ the Joie Stilgoe Quartet.
Prizes for this year’s Fragrance Frenzy Draw and automated auction, which will allow guests to bid for the first time via smart phones, will include a luxury five-night stay at the Four Seasons hotel in Mauritius, box seats for Aegon Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall, VIP tickets for England vs. Belgium at Wembley and tickets to see Elton John in concert.
The Eveden-sponsored photo booth will be making a return, this year, and will be situated in the bar area of the ballroom.
Those who are unable to attend, but would still like to make a donation, can visit the event’s Just Giving page.


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From adorable tags to extra-strength leashes, pet parents will appreciate having access to these products.
The founders expressed gratitude and appreciation for their many supporters in the raw pet food community.
Posts featuring employee recommendations — complete with photos of their pets — boost their confidence and builds connections.
Former zookeeper and conservationist Christine Mallar effects change in the industry and through her customers.
JOIN US THIS SEPTEMBER IN KANSAS CITY FOR PETS+ Thrive! Experience what you love about PETS+ – in person! Education and insights from peers and industry...
The legislation passed the state legislature's agriculture committees.
The former Nutrition Science Director made a public exit and created a storm of speculation on social media.
Natural Pet Food Group was launched in 2006 and now serves customers globally in markets including New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, the U.S. and Canada.
In particular, they gushed about the PETS+ Spring Sample Box
The owners of Lucky Dogs in Skaneateles, NY, work and play together to create their own luck.
Instead, budget for them — plus other tips for spending less, managing wisely and selling more.
The deal 'will significantly increase our overall scale and footprint in the West region,' said the CEO of PFX.
PETS+ readers share how they get compensated fairly for grooming these mixed-coat dogs.
Can a profit be bad? Yes, and find out why while crossing these items off your to-do list.
Get the most important newsand business ideas from PETS+.


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Since its listing on the Mesdaq market of Bursa Malaysia in mid-May, GD Express Carrier Bhd (GDEX) has been among the best performers on the exchange.
The company’s market capitalisation has gained over two fold since then.
Despite the general bullish sentiment surrounding GDEX, its managing director and chief executive officer Teong Teck Lean has his feet firmly on the ground and concedes that the company still has a long way to go.
“This is only the beginning as GDEX is a small company. We must not forget to benchmark ourselves against the other players in the industry. If you look at FedEx (US based Federal Express Corp), in 33 years they penetrated some 200 countries. So although GDEX is among the fastest growing here, to me it’s still very slow (growth),” he says.
The courier company’s growth has been impressive. From about 200 daily customers some five years ago, the company now boasts of as many as 1,600 clients utilising its services everyday.
In line with these improvements GDEX’s fortunes have also taken a turn for the better, and the company turned the corner in its financial year ended June 2002.
For the cumulative nine months ended March this year, GDEX posted a net profit of RM894,000 on the back of RM6.1mil in sales.
According to its prospectus, GDEX is forecast to post an after tax profit less pre-acquisition profit of RM2mil on the back of RM43.6mil in sales.
In its notes accompanying its financial results, GD Express says that there may be some variance from its forecasts. “The analysis on the variance from the profit forecast will only be available when the Group announces the results for the final quarter of the financial year ending 30 June 2005,” it said.
Meanwhile, Teong says. “The real growth will come from outsourcing jobs. For example, if you talk about the telecom business, if they (the telcos) outsource part of their operations, such as marketing material, pamphlets, warehousing and controlling of inventories, it could be worth quite a bit.”
“This business is huge. If more companies shift to this type of outsourcing, it could be worth a lot. This is the future of the business. This is what GDEX is targeting,” he says.
GDEX’s plans for growth are not just centred on the local front. Recent news reports quoting Teong and other company officials have said that the company will venture into regional markets in five years time.
Teong qualifies these statements: “We have already taken the initial steps to start operations abroad … within five years. I plan to do it in three.” He says GDEX will likely first venture into Thailand and Singapore due to their geographical proximity. The venture abroad, he says, is now a necessity. “Sometimes we have no choice. If our clients expand say to Thailand we have to as well. In this business, everyday is a race…”
GDEX has been aggressively penetrating the east Malaysian market. “Over the last couple of months we have opened six to seven outlets at a cost of about RM300,000 each. In April we started marketing in Sarawak. We spent over RM1mil in Sarawak opening four outlets. In the next one-year we will invest about RM2mil in Sabah and Sarawak.”
Still, GDEX has yet to appeal to the investing fraternity.
He explains that the courier business focuses on long-term relationship building with customers. “Courier services are needed everywhere. The important thing is you have to earn your clients’ trust; once they trust you they will outsource more to you. It’s about forging a relationship,” Teong says.


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Hi there Beefjackers!
Recently, there’s been some debacle about people using Flash or HTML5 in different mobile platforms.
On Android platforms, there have been some issues concerning Adobe Flash Player. A recent update called Jelly Bean has made the Android Flash Player quite buggy, so it has been removed from the Google Play Marketplace. This has occurred in spit of its popularity; the flash player is among the most downloaded and best rated apps on the Google Play store.
Unfortunately, the news for Flash on iOS is even worse. Apple has decided to forgo the use of Flash, even for its video player, opting to go with one based on HTML5 instead, so as to increase battery life and improve security. Things are looking even more dreadful for Flash as even Adobe is looking down on the idea of using it for mobile apps.
What about Beefjack?
Well, Beefjack is ahead of the curve, as we are expert developers in both Flash and HTML5, so whatever the outcome, we’re on top =)
- Marco M
Company No. 7925081 | VAT No. GB141791023
Copyright © 2012 BeefJack LTD . All Rights Reserved.


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30, August 2018
The warning that the FDA had issued in May this year against as many as 17 companies that were selling e-liquids that carried labeling or advertising that resembled kid-friendly foods has paid off. On August 23, 2018, the agency announced that all these manufacturers have stopped selling these friendly food products, which typically included kid- such as juice boxes or candy, or food items such as cookies.
The premise on which the FDA, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had built the case against these manufacturers was false and misleading branding. The danger which the FDA and the FTC discovered from this exercise was that they lured children and other minors into these spurious products which contain nicotine, tobacco or other substances derived from them.
This is a small sample of the brands that the FDA and the FTC discovered during their drive against such e-liquids with labeling or advertising that resembled kid-friendly foods:
This latest action from the FDA is part of its Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan. As part of this plan, the FDA has aggressively stepped up its efforts to enforce its own existing regulations that are aimed at preventing access by the youth to tobacco products. E-cigarettes and other vaping products are popular items in this category.
This movement gathered steam with the FDA recently launching an aggressive campaign nationally in late 2017 on both online and physical retailers selling dubious products and issuing warning letters to businesses that sold JUUL brand products to minors. As we know, JUUL is a popular alternative to cigarettes which markets e-cigarettes.
These nationwide actions led to the issuance of Warning Letters to these 17 companies, which were warned to stop selling their e-liquids with labeling or advertising that resembled kid-friendly foods. 13 of these 17 Warning Letters were issued in association with the FTC.
The stringency and urgency of these actions from these agencies needs to be seen in light of recent revelations by the National Poison Data System data, which showed that as the popularity of the electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes spiked, so did the number and frequency in the calls to poison control centers and visits to emergency rooms asking for attention towards children as young as under six years of age. Most of these calls and admissions were caused by to e-liquid poisoning and exposure to other forms of liquid nicotine.
The FDA is seeing this exercise as part of its larger concern over the fact that there has been a sharp rise in the consumption of e-cigarettes among middle and high school students in the US. It estimates that over two million children in this age group consume ENDS and other nicotine-based products. The FDA is worried that such misleading and deceptive enticements lead young people into this habit, which has the direct effect of triggering changes in the brain that induce addiction. Once addicted, these children become vulnerable to a host of ailments such as seizure, coma, respiratory or cardiac arrest.
While such stringent direct action is one of the means by which the FDA aims to implement its Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan; it also seeks to regulate the use of tobacco use by young children through a comprehensive plan that it put in place around in late July last year. In addition to making designing, labeling and packaging of such products less attractive; steps to make tobacco products less toxic and addictive are part of this plan.Read more


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Audi shook the motoring world with its RS Q E-Tron at the Dakar Rally, so much so that there have been calls for the FIA to look at regulations so that the German carmaker doesn’t steamroll all opposition in the future. 200kg overweight but by all accounts, the fastest in the competition, the RS Q E-Tron’s breakthrough couldn’t come at a better time as the world’s carmakers race to make a mark on the electric vehicle (EV) market, and this is good news for the energy storage industry, says Revov MD Lance Dickerson.
“Formula E, Audi’s expected return to Le Mans next year with an electrified race car and watershed moments such as Audi’s statement at the Dakar Rally all serve to popularise EVs,” says Dickerson. “In a petrol-head society, the mere suggestion that a hybrid or electric car can be as fast, faster even, is a paradigm shift for many that have either been in denial or living in the shadow of internal combustion engine dominance.”
Dickerson, whose company Revov supplies batteries for the renewable energy and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) market in sub-Saharan Africa that are repurposed from the cells of EV batteries, says Audi’s successes could do wonders for 2nd LiFe batteries. “Imagine us repurposing the cells of an E-Tron that won a stage at the Dakar and using it to provide energy storage at a renewable plant: the symbolism couldn’t be more poignant as we quite literally are in a race to save the planet,” he says.
Dickerson says that Revov plays an important role in the circular economy, a concept that is not yet mainstream but gaining momentum. “EV batteries are designed to withstand high charge and discharge rates and extreme operating conditions. Currently, the elephant in the room in the EV industry is what happens to the battery when it needs to be replaced?”
Dickerson explains that after a few years the weight of the battery no longer justifies its output and so it’s replaced. In the absence of a viable recycling value chain, these batteries end up in landfills - the opposite of what saving the planet should look like. “However, the individual cells in these EV batteries still have many years’ life - up to 10 or 15 years - if they are repurposed and built into batteries that are designed for stationary storage where weight doesn’t matter. These are called second life (2nd LiFe) batteries,” says Dickerson, who explains that LiFe is a play on the periodic table symbols for lithium and iron.
That’s the position in the circular economy that Revov was created to fill, he says, because what better way to contribute to the wellbeing of the economy than to supply energy backup to another burgeoning industry - renewable energy - using 2nd LiFe lithium iron phosphate batteries. “Sure, there are brand new lithium batteries that are built to go into the storage market, but when you consider that there is a trivial difference in performance, and in some instances superior performance from the EV cells used in 2nd LiFe batteries, it becomes a no-brainer. Why add additional strain to the lithium supply chain when we can solve a massive problem for the EV industry?” asks Dickerson.
With South Africa’s EV market set to gather momentum over the coming years, Dickerson says carmakers will find that they, too, will be faced with the dilemma EV manufacturers are finding in more mature markets such as Shenzhen, China. When asked if Revov would be prepared to step in and repurpose local EV batteries after their productive lives in electric vehicles, Dickerson’s answer was unambiguous. “Of course, that is very much part of our strategy. The whole point of introducing 2nd LiFe into the energy storage sector in South Africa and other African countries is to lighten the carbon load on our planet. It’s absolutely in all our best interests that South Africa embraces the circular economy,” he says.
Growing lithium shortages are likely to add pressure to the 1st LiFe battery market, not least on supplier margins, so Dickerson predicts 2nd LiFe batteries will become the dominant battery type providing energy backup to power installations and UPS systems.


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FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen said it had uncovered "inconsistencies" when determining carbon dioxide emission levels which could affect about 800,000 cars.
VW said the financial risks stemming from the finding is about 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion). The risks may come from compensation claims from consumers who say they bought their car under false pretenses and from possible affects from CO2-based taxation regimes, a VW spokesman told Automotive News Europe.
The models affected are VW, Seat and Skoda vehicles that use 1.4-, 1.6- and 2.0-liter diesels built in 2012 and later. These so far include VW Golf, Polo, Passat, Audi A1 and A3, Seat Ibiza and Skoda Octavia models. VW's 1.4-liter ACT gasoline engine in the Polo that has cylinder on demand technology is also affected.
The fuel efficiency deviations were in some cases between 10 percent to 15 percent, the spokesman said.
The issue of potentially false CO2 levels mainly affects Europe, the biggest market for diesel cars, where a model's carbon emissions are always communicated to consumers. Such practices are not as common in markets such as the U.S. where often only fuel efficiency and mileage are provided. Nevertheless the VW spokesman could not rule out that the U.S. could be affected.
"VW's top management will immediately start a dialogue with responsible authorities regarding the consequences of these findings," the carmaker said in a statement today. "This should lead to a reliable assessment of the legal, and the subsequent economic consequences of this not yet fully explained issue."
The VW spokesman said a recall is not needed because the issue is not a technical problem. The company has not yet decided whether it needs to set aside the full 2 billion euros as a provision since it is still too early and the estimate is very rough.
VW said the revelations surfaced following an investigation into possible further irregularities after the company admitted in September that up to 11 million diesel engines sold globally were fitted with "cheat" software.
VW said the latest finding is unrelated to U.S. regulators' allegations that larger, 3.0-liter diesel engines mostly used in Porsche and Audi SUVs were designed to cheat emissions tests, an allegation that VW denies.
"From the very start I have pushed hard for the relentless and comprehensive clarification of events," VW CEO Matthias Mueller said in the statement. "We will stop at nothing and nobody. This is a painful process but it is our only alternative."
VW had previously admitted to installing cheat software in 2.0-liter diesel engines. But the latest allegations from U.S. regulators and the automaker itself suggest that both larger and smaller engines and even non-diesel ones may have deceived regulators.
"VW is leaving us all speechless," said Arndt Ellinghorst of banking advisory firm Evercore ISI. "It seems to us that this is another issue triggered by VW's internal investigation and potentially related to Europe."
Reuters and Bloomberg contributed to this report


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Ljubljana stock indices edge up in lower turnover
Bosnia's Federation retail sales up real 8.8% y/y in Oct
Most Sofia bourse indices end higher, Eurohold paces gainers
Podravka, Adris boost Croatia’s share indices in lower turnover
Romanian stock indices turn green, MedLife shines
Dec 17, 2007 16:47 EEST
December 17 (SeeNews) - The gross foreign exchange reserves held by Macedonia's central bank, NBRM, rose to 1.551 billion euro ($2.2 billion) at the end of October from 1.522 billion euro a month earlier, the NBRM said on Monday.
Compared to end-2006, the foreign exchange reserves grew by 135 million euro, NBRM’s data showed.
The reason for the increase is the central bank's buying foreign currency, NBRM said in a statement posted on its website.
MACEDONIA FOREX RESERVES (in millions of euro):
($ = 0.6947 euro)
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Pakistan’s electric vehicle (EV) policy will get revisions so that it can address the concerns of local automotive industry and there is no truth in the rumors that the government intended to draft a new policy.
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam after the second inter-ministerial committee on EV policy said that there was no truth in rumors that the government of Pakistan was drafting a new policy. He, however, said that draft approved by the cabinet would be amended. He said that the amendments were aimed at addressing the concern shown by the representatives of Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) and Pakistan Association of Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM).
The Advisor said that the policy had huge financial benefits for Pakistan as, he claimed, the country would save up to US $1 billion and at the same time reduce air pollution by 70 percent. He said that automobiles were the biggest consumers of fossil fuel. He said that the government was also working on incentive packages to promote EVs in the country.
Malik Amin Aslam said that the government wants to make Pakistan a hub for the EV manufacturing and its subsequent export through the EV policy. He said that the government would prioritize local EV manufacturing and the policy guarantees that. Aslam said that by introducing the EV policy, Pakistan has become the second country in the region which had formulated such a policy.


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Nuco launch Nu Notes™ App
Nuco are launching ‘Nu Notes™’, the ultimate notes app to capture, store and organise handwritten memos and doodles. The app will allow consumers to Scan, Save, and Share their notes through a unique interface designed to harmonise writing with technology in a modern world.
The app will feature scan technology to capture notes, drawings and doodles, and the user can then categorise and flick through their scanned notes in a ‘virtual bookshelf’ of book covers.
Notes can then be highlighted, annotated, or added to with images previously stored on the device, before being shared via email, social networks, dropbox and iMessage.
Nu Notes™ enable users to access all their scanned notes in one place, allowing for easy access to handwritten pages. So whether you have 5 minutes between lessons to recap on last week’s revision, or you’re catching up on minutes from that all important meeting over a morning coffee, this app will allow you to pick up from whenever, wherever you left off.
Nuco are exhibiting at the Stationery Show in April and are a sponsor of this year’s National Stationery Week.
For more information go to www.nuco-int.com – Stand M701
Posted on 20th February 2015 by Hazel Fieldwick


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Dell announces Internet alliances
Wednesday, June 28th 2000, 12:00 am
By: News On 6
Firm wants to broaden offerings by teaming with Microsoft, AT&T
NEW YORK - Dell Computer Corp. announced partnerships with AT&T and Microsoft Network at the PC Expo trade show on Tuesday in a move to broaden its offerings in the expanding Internet economy.
AT&T and Dell will sell Internet access to small businesses. They plan to launch the service, branded DellEPro, in late summer.
With only 26 percent of small businesses online, the market is ripe for such a service, said Michael Dell, Dell's chairman and chief executive. AT&T estimated a $28 billion market for small-business Internet service.
In the fall, Dell will introduce a co-branded Internet service with Microsoft Corp. called Dellnet by MSN. The companies said their alliance is geared toward the"plug-and-play" consumer who wants to be on the Web within minutes of turning on the computer.
Mr. Dell was careful to say that the company will continue to offer AOL in its preconfigured product lines.
Mr. Dell said the Round Rock, Texas, company will not play favorites among operating systems or service providers as the company executes a growth strategy detailed for Wall Street in April.
"Dell wants to provide the broadest range possible for our customers," he said.
Mr. Dell also supported Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in the software giant's uphill battle with antitrust regulators.
"The Justice Department isn't exactly an expert in the software business. We're not big fans of government involvement in business," he said when asked about the case.
Mr. Dell is a supporter of Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who has criticized the Justice Department for its aggressive stance in the antitrust case. Mr. Bush is expected to be the Republican presidential nominee in the fall election.
Mr. Dell said he does not like commenting on the Microsoft case, and he welcomed a return to the topic at hand: Dell's financial future.As the semiconductor industry enjoys a robust demand, companies such as Dell must worry about shortages of parts, which drive up prices and shrink margins.
Mr. Dell said that although the supply of certain PC components is constrained - and Dell"is not getting as much from Intel" as it would like - the company is prepared for any fall-out.
"It's nothing that will have a material effect" on company earnings, he said.
Dell is expected to grow by at least $8 billion this year, which would mean full-year revenue of $33 billion for the 2001 fiscal year.Dell's stock closed down $1.19 on Tuesday to $47.81 on the Nasdaq stock market.
Some analysts, including Richard Gardner of Salomon Smith Barney, say Dell's reliance on Intel could affect revenue while the company is building momentum in the sale of the computers that make up the backbone of the Internet. Much of that growth will come from the server and storage markets, where Dell mdash with its direct sales model - can offer lower prices.
Mr. Dell rebuffed suggestions that Dell looks more and more like a company that packages other people's products instead of creating them.He pointed to a relationship with International Business Machines Corp., announced last year, that essentially created a research and development unit with IBM engineers for Dell.
"There isn't a technology at IBM that we don't have access to," he said.
The relationship with IBM was cemented late last year when James T. Vanderslice, a career IBMer known for his strategic thinking and storage expertise, decided that he liked the Dell model so much that he wanted to be part of the company. He is a co-vice chairman with Kevin B. Rollins.
Dell executives held their PC Expo meetings uptown at the well-appointed, well-air-conditioned Four Seasons hotel. There, Mr. Dell said reports of the death of the PC are wildly exaggerated.
But in Manhattan, as about 90,000 technology buyers jammed into a steamy Javits Center, the talk was about anything other than the PC. Expo goers kicked the tires on any number of the latest gadgets and software packages.
Sweat beading on his brow, Theodore Barth, a Brooklyn tax consultant, examined a scanning device from WizCom Technologies of Acton, Mass."We're looking at it to replace highlighters. You can go into a meeting and scan the important stuff and download it into your Palm or PC," he said.
Randy Green, president of the company, said the QuickLink pen has become popular with an odd mix of professionals since its introduction in March.
"We have sold a lot of them to the clergy - ministers and rabbis," WizCom president Randy Green said."Don't ask me to explain why the clerics like them."
"Dell wants to provide the broadest range possible for our customers."


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Last Updated on Thursday, 9 February 2017, 22:15 by Denis Chabrol
Just days after the Bank of Guyana began controlling foreign exchange rates at Cambios and commercial banks for the first time since 1989, concerns are being raised about the legality of that move even as forex traders on the streets are offering more than the officially prescribed rates.
Cambios on Thursday displayed that they were buying United States (US) dollars at GYD$210 and selling at GYD$213 in keeping with orders by the Central Bank. However, on America Street unlicensed foreign exchange traders are willing to buy US$100 bills at GYD$211 and sell them back at GYD$215.
Sources indicate that if buyers need large amounts of foreign exchange, they can get what they need for as much as GYD$220 from Cambios or unlicensed foreign exchange traders on the streets. “Any businessman who needs money for his business, he is going to pay the extras that the dealer wants. They are going to force the transactions to now go underground because the Cambio dealer is going to put whatever the price needs and the rest of the transaction is going to go underground,” a frustrated businessman told Demerara Waves Online News.
Last week, a well-known city Cambio had been selling US dollars up to GYD$218 to US$1.00.
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall charged that for the Bank of Guyana to limit the spread between the buying and selling rates is illegal because the “Dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing) Act states that “The price at which a licensee may buy or sell any foreign currency shall be determined by the licensee and shall be displayed at a prominent place on the licensed premises.”
“To my mind, Section 9 is quite clear in its language and spirit. It harbors no room for ambiguity or equivocation. It is the licensee and no one else who shall determine the selling price of foreign currency sold by that licensee. The Central Bank can lawfully play no part in fixing or influencing those prices.
“In the circumstances, it is my considered view that the guidelines issued by the Central Bank in so far as they seek to influence the price at which foreign currency is sold by a licensee, is ultra vires, the Dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing) Act, Chapter 87:01, and unlawful,” Nandlall said.
Banking industry and business sources told Demerara Waves Online News that foreign exchange is available over the counter at commercial banks, but the major restriction is the wire transfer of funds to pay for supplies, services rendered and repatriation of franchise royalties
Unlike up to September 2015 when making large overseas payments through commercial banks was easy, business owners are complaining that commercial banks say they must now join a virtual line to obtain foreign currency.
Financial sector analysts told Demerara Waves Online News that the major reasons for the foreign exchange shortage include huge purchases by neighbouring countries that are facing acute foreign exchange shortages, huge transfers by Trinidad-headquartered companies that are operating here, reduced earnings from major exports like rice and sugar, increased debit and credit card purchases, a loss of confidence in Guyana’s economy that is resulting in capital flight.
“I have no doubt that capital flight is taking place because businessmen have lost confidence in the ability of this government to run the country and it hasn’t started now; it started a year and half now. I have no doubt that people are shipping money out, people are nervous, people are losing confidence,” the well-known businessman who began trading during the 1980s and is a strong APNU+AFC coalition supporter told Demerara Waves on condition of anonymity.
The Central Bank’s order to limit trading in US dollars at GYD$210 (buying)- GYD$213 (selling) at Cambios and commercial banks is in stark contrast to assurances by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan’s assurances that the days of foreign exchange controls will not return. At that time, Jordan had also brushed off questions about whether government had been preparing to limit the rate when asked if there had been plans to peg the rate at GYD$213.75. “Pegging a rate means we have a fixed exchange rate. We do not have a fixed exchange rate; we have a market-determined liberalized rate (and ) that won’t change,” he said on January 27, 2017.
Jordan had said that the liberalized rate would not have changed even with decisive action if moral suasion had failed. “Decisive action is to make certain that all players in the market play by the rules,” he said, adding that the rate would intervene based on demand and supply.
A prominent city businessman with numerous branches across Guyana was Thursday night vehemently opposed to foreign exchange controls and instead preferred to allow market forces of supply and demand to set the new rate. “The attempts by the government to control the market are completely wrong. Allow the free market to operate,” he said.
Fearing that if the shortage worsens and he is unable to purchase supplies and service his debts in a timely manner he would have to close aspects of his business and lay off many of his workers, the businessman said the time has come for the government, private sector and banks to discuss the problem. “As the banks are able to release, we are giving them (suppliers) little drips going along. I don’t see an end in sight and I am hoping the situation doesn’t get worse because if it gets worse, layoffs are going to soon follow. You can’t sustain it; we will have to start closing locations,” said the businessman.
Earlier this year, the Bank of Guyana stopped buying Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados dollars after market intelligence had showed that huge amounts of those currencies had been sold to Cambio and in turn large amounts of US dollars had been purchased and taken/sent to those sister Caricom countries.


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Norbert Dentressangle has invested in 40 hybrid drive forklift trucks in a bid to reduce its environmental footprint.
The new trucks reduce fuel consumption by over 35 per cent and will replace old forklift trucks during the upcoming year.
Following trials at the company’s Northampton, Rowley Regis and Leigh depots last year, the trucks are already operating in transport depots around the UK, such as Wakefield, Darlington, Luton and Hounslow and will be supplied to other sites across the national delivery network by the end of the year.
Simon Tebbs, procurement business partner at Norbert Dentressangle Transport Services, said: “The initial trials demonstrated that the hybrid drive trucks would deliver a significant business improvement with an average 35 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and, depending on use, some even saw a drop of almost 50 per cent.
“The outgoing trucks use 5.4 litres of fuel per hour, whereas the new model uses 2.4 litres per hour, when measured against industry VDI 2198 Standard.”


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What you need to know
- Capcom has released updates sales figures for its big franchises.
- Devil May Cry 5 has sold over 3.1 million copies.
- Resident Evil 2 has sold over 5.8 million copies and is currently selling faster than Resident Evil 7.
Devil May Cry 5 arrived in bombastic style almost a year ago and while it hasn't sold quite as well as some of Capcom's other huge series, it's still putting up respectable numbers. Capcom's latest update shows that Devil May Cry 5 sales have crossed 3.1 million copies sold. It's worth noting that when you are considering just the original release of the games and not the later re-releases on PC, Devil May Cry 5 is the best-selling game in the series.
The Resident Evil franchise is also staying a juggernaut, with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard crossing 7 million copies sold and Resident Evil 2 (2019) crossing 5.8 million sold. Resident Evil 2 (2019) is actually selling at a faster pace than Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and may overtake it in the future. In total, the Resident Evil franchise has crossed a staggering 95 million copies sold.
We recently got updated numbers for Monster Hunter World, which has crossed 15 million units sold while the new Iceborne expansion has hit 4 million sold. With fantastic success in all of these big games, Capcom is looking strong going into the next generation of consoles, with the company previously stating it wants to maintain a reputation for "high-quality titles." The next big Capcom title is the Resident Evil 3 remake, which is currently set to release on April 3, 2020.
A glorious remake
Resident Evil 3 is back and more gorgeous than ever. The package not only includes the remake of the original game, but the multiplayer game Project Resistance, as well.
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Aukey 26800mAh 65W USB-C battery review: My new go-to travel power bank
There's been a steady improvement in really big portable batteries with high outputs for us with laptops as they shift to USB-C, and the latest I'm relying on is the Aukey 26000mAh portable battery.
Bethesda won't be holding a digital E3 showcase this year
We have some unfortunate news to share (and no, it's not an April Fool's joke). Bethesda Softworks has confirmed that it will not be holding a digital E3 showcase this year. Instead, news about Bethesda games will be shared in different ways in the months ahead.
Daily Coronavirus updates: UN says COVID-19 threatens global stability
COVID-19 has already infected over 877,000 people globally and caused over 43,540 fatalities. It has also had a huge impact on the tech industry, affecting the global supply chain and causing interminable product delays. Here are all the ways the coronavirus is affecting the world.
Go up against real intelligence with these multiplayer PlayStation VR games
If you’d like your gaming experience to entail meeting some new friends or duking it out against human intelligence, we’ve rounded up the best multiplayer games for PlayStation VR.


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New Delhi, October 3
The Centre has agreed to waive “interest on interest” charged on loans up to Rs 2 crore for “most vulnerable category of borrowers” for the six-month moratorium announced by the RBI in view of Covid-19.
In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Finance Ministry said the concession would be given to eight categories, including housing, education, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), consumer durable, credit card dues, auto, personal and consumption loans, irrespective of whether a borrower availed of moratorium or not.
After careful consideration and weighing all possible options, the government has decided to continue the tradition of “hand-holding of small borrowers”, the Centre said even as it clarified that the concession won’t be applicable to loans above Rs 2 crore. — TNS


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The government has raised statutory taxes on mobile money and electronic transactions, New Zimbabwe reported. New Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube announced a USD 0.02 tax per US dollar on electronic transactions. He ordered the review of the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax, which used to be charged at USD 0.05 per transaction regardless of volume, effective 1 October.
He said there is a need to expand the tax collection base against the background of rising informalisation of the economy and huge spikes in electronic and mobile phone-based financial transactions and real-time gross settlement transactions (RTGS).
While the new tax seems like a downward review, it is not, as consumers will now be charged per dollar transacted, whereas in the past, the tax was 5 cents for every transaction, including those above USD 1. The new USD 0.02 per dollar tax effectively means most people will have to pay more in tax for every dollar transacted, as more than 96 percent of the transactions currently conducted in the country are electronic.


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As part of the Journal’s investigation of surveillance technologies online, Digits asked readers to submit questions about technology and privacy. Several readers asked about what happens when cookies are deleted, and one posed the following question:
If I delete all cookies and then later enable them, can the new cookies be associated with the “old” cookies? Does deleting cookies force trackers to start over, or do they just pick up where they left off, combining the new with the old?
When a consumer deletes all cookies from his computer and later enables them, tracking companies generally can’t associate the data from the “new” cookie with information from the “old” cookie, says Jules Polonetsky, director of Future of Privacy Forum, a Washington-based group that advocates “responsible data practices.” The group is supported by several online advertising companies, including AOL, eBay, Microsoft and Yahoo.
“You deleted that number that the advertising company or website recognizes you by. If (…) you show up again, they will assign you a new number and generally are not going to have a link between the new and the old,” says Mr. Polonetsky, a former chief privacy officer at AOL and DoubleClick.
Some tracking companies can subvert this by using technology such as Adobe System Inc.’s Flash program. Flash cookies can be used to remember a particular user and re-install cookies that a user has deleted. The Network Advertising Initiative, an industry trade group, and Adobe condemn the practice. “That is certainly deceptive behavior, not something that acceptable folks do,” Mr. Polonetsky says.
In addition, researchers have found other ways to recognize an individual web user without cookies based on other identifiers, such as a computer’s Internet address or the configuration of a Web browser.
Deleting cookies can also interfere with efforts to avoid online tracking. Some systems to “opt out” of tracking install a cookie on a user’s computer, which acts as a signal to advertising companies not to track or send targeted ads to that user. Deleting cookies will wipe out this cookie as well; the user will need to opt-out again in order not to be tracked.


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By Michelai Graham Boardroom's Tech Reporter
October 29, 2023
Google’s federal antitrust trial revealed that it paid $26B to be the default search engine on mobile phones and web browsers in 2021, and it’s likely a big portion of that money went to Apple. Something about this doesn’t seem ethical, but I can’t lie: Chrome is superior.
A peek into today’s edition:
Meta, Microsoft, Snap,Alphabet, and Amazon report earnings
Apple to host Mac event next week
Elon Musk‘s Twitter purchase anniversary is here
Big Tech Earnings From Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Snap and Amazon
Artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure were the main topics of discussion across Big Tech earnings calls this week. Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Snap, and Amazon reported earnings and updated financial outlooks this week.
Amazon generated $143.1 billion in revenue, a 13% increase year-over-year. The big tech firm beat analysts’ projections across the board, and thanks to the holiday season, Amazon expects sales to land in the $160 billion to $167 billion range.
Alphabet’s revenue increased to $76.7 billion, up 7% year-over-year. The company’s Google Cloud division produced $8.41 billion, and despite missing projections, revenue for Alphabet’s Google Cloud biz grew 22% year-over-year.
Meta generated $34.15 billion in revenue, a 23% increase year-over-year, marking the company’s fastest rate of growth since 2021. Daily active users across Meta’s family of apps topped 3.14 billion, an increase of 7% year-over-year.
Microsoft generated $56.5 billion in revenue, an increase of 13% year-over-year. Its biggest revenue win came from its cloud business, which produced $24.26 billion in revenue, up 19%.
Snap’s revenue rose 5% year-over-year to $1.19 billion, and its Snapchat+ monthly subscription service surpassed five million subscribers. The company returned to positive growth in the third quarter, boosting its stock by as much as 20% on Tuesday.
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Apple Set to Announce New Line of iMacs Ahead of Releasing Q3 Earnings
Apple swiftly announced an unexpected event set for Monday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m. PT. The Big Tech giant will likely announce a new line of Macs, and the event will be completely streamed virtually. Apple knew what it was doing when it dubbed this keynote its “Scary Fast” event since it usually has an IRL crowd for big product announcements. The company took the play on Halloween words to the next level when it updated its event page with its logo transformed into a spooky Finder face. Apple hasn’t launched a new line of iMac desktop computers since April 2021.
This isn’t the only order of business Apple is getting to before its next earnings report comes out on Nov. 2. The company is also upping the Apple TV+ monthly subscription fee from $6.99 to $9.99 and said it will honor California’s new right to repair initiative nationwide. In the midst of this, Taiwan-based Foxconn, Apple’s biggest product maker and supplier, will cooperate with the Chinese government in potential tax and land-use investigations.
Meta Hit With Lawsuits, Alleging Facebook and Instagram Features Are Addictive to Kids
Meta is facing lawsuits from a bipartisan group of 42 attorney generals, alleging that it knowingly developed addictive features on Instagram and Facebook to keep young users engaged on its platforms longer. The lawsuits span 41 states and DC and even include Meta’s home state of California. One of the filings runs 233 pages long and accuses Meta of altering the psychological and social realities of young users and refusing to implement age verification parameters. CNBC reported that one of the suits accuses Meta of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal data on users under 13 without parental consent.
The Big Tech firm hasn’t responded to the lawsuits yet, but we can expect to see Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg in many courtrooms across the nation very soon.
Sam Bankman-Fried Trial: What We Learned from Week 4
Something surprising happened this week after the court took a break until Thursday: Sam Bankman-Fried decided to testify in his own trial, where a jury will decide if he’s guilty on 12 counts of financial-related fraud charges. Up until this point, SBF’s defense hadn’t decided if he was going to take the stand or not, but the former FTX leader spent Thursday answering some questions in a mock testimony. Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed the jury for the day, so they didn’t get to hear SBF’s testimony while the court ruled on which parts of SBF’s testimony were admissible in court.
Judge Kaplan said SBF had an interesting way of answering questions and even begged him at one point to listen to inquiries before speaking and to answer questions directly. SBF official took the stand on Friday in front of jurors, where he told them he told them he didn’t defraud FTX customers. SBF answered questions about his vision for FTX, the company’s early days in Hong Kong, and his initial plan to sell FTX to Binance before it took off. From the sounds of it, SBF will be back on the stand next week as the defense calls an estimated six witnesses to testify.
While SBF prepped to take the stand, his bankrupt crypto exchange narrowed down its list of bidders interested in reviving the platform, MilkRoad reports. Soon after FTX filed for bankruptcy last November, talks began about restarting the exchange under new management.
TikTok is testing out 15-minute uploads, an increase of 5 minutes from its previous video cap. The company also announced its first live music event headlined by Cardi B that will broadcast on its platform with highlights.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared that Threads is nearing 100 million monthly active users. The Big Tech company is also testing a verified-only feed for paying Meta Verified customers.
Bitcoin briefly breached the $35,000 threshold for the first time since May 2022, marking a new 16-month high amid the expected approval of a Bitcoin ETF soon. This ETF would give financial institutions a smoother bridge into crypto investing that mirrors how they typically buy stocks.
Spotify‘s monthly active users increased by 26% to 574 million, marking its second-largest Q3 net addition performance in its history. The streaming service posted $3.55 billion in revenue for the quarter.
Sony sold 2.5 million copies of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game in the US in the first 24 hours of its release, making the PlayStation 5 exclusive Sony’s fastest-selling gaming title to date.
Shazam, the music identification app owned by Apple, announced a new feature called Concerts, which will recommend music events to customers based on their Shazam queries. With this expansion, I’m going to bet that Shazam will add a concert ticket-purchasing feature as well, or maybe Apple will build its own internal ticket sales tech.
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Bethany College Reopens The Swedish CrownNovember 14, 2019
About the only thing different at a downtown Lindsborg, Kansas, restaurant after more than half-century is its name.
After being closed for a few months for some cleaning and minor kitchen updates, The Swedish Crown reopened its doors over the summer in 2019 as The Swedish Crown Restaurant Presented by Bethany College.
In 1966, Roy and Donice Applequist opened the legendary restaurant, serving countless platters of traditional Swedish and Midwest specials to local residents. In spring 2019, they gave the restaurant to Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. The Swedish Crown helped to maintain the community’s deep ties to its Scandinavian heritage.
Natalie Nelson, who once worked at the restaurant as a waitress, now manages the restaurant, which gave her the opportunity to pay homage to its legacy.
Her impact is largely on the menu, and she studied previous menus and considered items that had been rotated on and off over the years.
“I wanted to take it back to what I was serving then,” said Nelson, technically employed by Sodexo, which contracts to operate Bethany College’s food services, including The Swedish Crown. She has been with Sodexo for about eight years in different roles.
That includes the ever-popular Swede burger, served with a tasty lingonberry barbecue sauce. More traditional Scandinavian offerings include Swedish meatballs accompanied by dilled potatoes. Those same meatballs show up on the popular Swedish platter, along with sausage and pickled cucumbers and beets. On the appetizer menu is pickled herring.
Nelson introduced a version of pyttipanna, a Swedish-style hash that she discovered while studying abroad in Sweden. Potatoes, onions and maybe bell peppers for color are cooked with a choice of meat. The Swedish Crown typically adds in ham or sausage, but a roast beef option has been offered.
“We found a recipe that makes it from scratch,” she said. “I learned that it is very popular in Sweden, but it started out as just kind of whatever you had in your house you would throw together. Now it’s turned into that convenience food, and several restaurants sell it.”
Several of the recipes used by the restaurant were passed down through the Applequists or from local chefs, since Lindsborg has a strong Swedish heritage.
The waitstaff today wears Swedish-themed uniforms, which previously had been only a special-occasion dress code. While not a full costume, the uniform is a comfortable combination of a vest, white shirt and stylized aprons.
Locals have been returning to the longtime favorite restaurant, not to mention an uptick in tourists.
“This is pretty close to the only place that you can get Swedish food,” Nelson said. “So anyone who wants to try a bit of Swedish food comes in, and we are starting to get different tour buses coming in as well.”
The Swedish Crown also has tapped into a new audience: Bethany College students, who can eat at the restaurant depending on their campus meal plan.
“They enjoy it because it gets them away from the cafeteria,” Nelson said. “They get to come down and have their pork chops or the big burgers – so I think they’re really enjoying it.”
Students also are working both in the front and back of the house, and Bethany College’s food services program augments the in-house Swedish almond case with many of the other baked goods on the menu, including the rye bread. Even the local grocery store plays a role, as it supplies an ostkaka, a Swedish-style cheesecake that is more of a custard. As the holidays draw nearer, that list will expand to spritz and pepparkakor cookies.
“I think it is a great bridge between the college and the community,” Nelson said. “This restaurant is so important to the community. I think it’s a great way for Bethany College to give back.”
In fact, the restaurant provided a sneak peek at what was to come with a limited opening during Midsummer “because we couldn’t not have a Swedish venue open,” Nelson said. “It’s our local celebration of our Swedish heritage.”


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The walls are up along the brand new 150,000 square foot Costco in Clovis.
“It will be a full-fledged Costco just like all their other warehouses, this is their largest format store that I’m aware of,” said Clovis community and economic director, Andy Haussler.
Haussler said the new warehouse will be 50,000 square feet bigger than their old store off of Ashlan and Peach and will have about 30 fuel pump stations.
Costco owns the former building and is working on having another tenant come in.
Starbucks and Mod Pizza are looking to be neighbors at the new spot off Santa Ana and Shaw.
Haussler said the big box store is creating a snowball effect, bringing in other businesses and causing existing ones to look at improving their look.
“The private investment on Shaw has been significant. Not only do we have Costco, we have new hotels coming in and new businesses coming into vacancies,” he said. “Hobby Lobby announced it’s coming into the old Toys R Us on Shaw. We have four hotels being developed into this area.”
Hobby Lobby is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Haussler says the old Kmart has found a user to take over its spot.
Shaw has seen its heyday of activities followed by lows that left storefronts empty.
“During the recession, things got hard, but the city stuck with their plans and worked with the property owners and investors to come alongside and make things happen on Shaw and is really exciting to see it come to fruition,” Haussler said.
It’s a comeback tale benefiting the city of Clovis with more shopping options and increased tax revenue.
As for Costco, traffic lights are being put up to accommodate all the extra cars that will be in the area. The grand opening is July 18 at 8:30 a.m.


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Cookie and cracker production will accelerate: study
June 18, 2014 By Bakers Journal
June 19, 2014, New York – The U.S. cookie, cracker and pasta production
industry's slow growth is expected to accelerate as consumers buy more
premium goods, says an IBISWorld report.
June 19, 2014, New York – The cookie, cracker and pasta production industry's slow growth is expected to accelerate as consumers buy more premium goods, says an IBISWorld report.
Over the past five years, the cookie, cracker and pasta production industry has achieved slow growth;
however, in the next five years, industry revenue is anticipated to
increase as the domestic market strengthens. For these reasons, industry
research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the Cookie, Cracker &
Pasta Production in Canada industry to its collection.
Improving discretionary income
levels allowed consumers to trade up to premium and branded goods,
helping lift industry performance. However, growing concerns regarding
the healthfulness and nutritional quality of products made with refined
white flour have placed downward pressure on the demand for traditional
industry goods. In response to these concerns, as well as diet trends
that curb the consumption of wheat-based food, producers introduced a
variety of brand extensions, including non-wheat pasta, gluten-free
cookies and nutrient-enhanced crackers. Product innovation and a
strengthening domestic economy are expected to drive industry revenue to
grow an annualized one per cent to $2.8 billion in the five years to 2014,
including a projected increase of 0.9 per cent in 2014.
benefited from the growing demand for biscuits and pasta in foreign
markets,” said IBISWorld industry analyst Hester Jeon, in a media statement. Despite an appreciating dollar, exports increased during this
period, with the trend driven by the United States. Furthermore, the
United States accounts for over 90 per cent of total exports. The United
States imports biscuits and dried pasta from Canada because Canadian
imports are relatively more affordable than products produced in the
United States. While the industry benefited from increased foreign
demand for its goods, producers also faced intensifying competition from
foreign manufacturers. As disposable income increased, some consumers
traded up to imported products from the United States and Italy.
In the next five years, the industry is anticipated to grow as the
domestic market strengthens. “As disposable income levels continue to
improve, more consumers will trade up to premium, value-added goods at
retail stores, helping lift industry revenue,” says Jeon. Also, a
depreciating dollar will make Canadian goods more affordable in foreign
markets, facilitating the growth of exports. While producers will face
intensifying competition from foreign manufacturers and producers of
alternative goods, such as bread and potato chips, product innovation
and the introduction of healthier band extensions will support the
growth of the industry.
Overall, IBISWorld forecasts industry revenue to
grow over the five years to 2019.
For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Cookie, Cracker & Pasta Production in Canada industry report page .
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CRM workshop xRM App Challenge will be organized during this years' Windays conference for the first time, with leading CRM companies participating including Siniša Kezić from IN2.
Job Fair organised by HZZ on 7.03.2012. in Zagreb, and IN2 was one of presented companies.
Igea , a member of the IN2 Group, was one of the companies presented at job fair organized by HZZ (Croatian Employment Service) in Varaždin today.
Technological day of this year's Oracle days 2012. Conference presented many case studies, including INkom2 solution.
Microsoft WinDays12, the biggest Croatian biz-tech conference in the last 11 years will be held in Rovinj from 23rd till 27th of April 2012.


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Pamper your furry friends at FurBabies in south Hanover
The Evening Sun
Tina Woodfin has been a dog groomer for about four years. After noticing a dearth of groomers in south Hanover, she and her husband, Brandon, decided to open FurBabies Pet Grooming, a one-stop shop to cater to the area's furry friends.
FurBabies will offer haircuts, baths and nail trimming to dogs, cats and smaller animals such as guinea pigs, ferrets and rabbits.
More:Downtown Hanover: Perceptions change as local leaders work to create vibrant experience
The store is set to open on Jan. 6 at 1116 Baltimore Street in Penn Township. Woodfin said they will raffle off a free grooming to celebrate the opening.


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In the future, old-fashioned chip and pin and passwords, as well as keys, will be rendered useless as much of the world relies on biometric security.
It is thought the new technology will keep people’s money and property safer than ever before by totally eliminating identity theft.
Just this month, MasterCard revealed it was looking at plans to introduce a biometric payment card that will have an in-built fingerprint sensor.
Proposals like these are reportedly being fast-tracked by a number of companies in response to new EU regulations set to come into force that require people to use two methods of authorisation when making a payment.
Some tech experts have even said eye retina scanners could be used to authorise payments, as well as fingerprint readers.
Stan Swearingen, the chief executive officer at IDEX, which is the biometric technology provider for MasterCard, said fingerprint bank cards will likely be used across the UK within two years.
He told the Independent: “I believe it’s the future. When you look at the convenience and security, and what it does to the experience I believe it is the future. There are pilots all over the globe and next year we expect millions of units to be deployed.
“It really physically ties the card to you, it’s not that someone can look over your shoulder and steal your password.
“If someone was going to spoof [a fingerprint] they would first have to get a latent high-quality fingerprint of yours, they would then have to lift that print, apply it to a substance, maybe gelatine, and then apply it to their finger to work in front of the shopkeeper.
“It could perhaps be done but it wouldn’t be scalable, you couldn’t do it to multiple accounts. Even if they could then the back-end analytics would flag it up as unusual shopper behaviour. When you combine it all together this is a compelling security offer.”
But concerns have been raised that this type of technology could in itself open up a whole new avenue of identity theft.
David Emm, the principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab, commented: “There’s one major downside to the use of biometrics. Biometric data stored by a service provider is just as valuable a target as a database containing usernames and passwords.
“In my view, they should rather be used to confirm our identity, with a password (or other mechanism – or ideally more than one) used to confirm that identity. If I choose a poor password and it is compromised, I can change it: if my fingerprint is compromised, there’s nothing I can do about it.”


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New Patent Reveals Cadillac CT5 Coupe Design
On July 3, while many Americans celebrated an early Independence Day, GM was celebrating another achievement. The design patent it filed back in early 2017 for a “vehicle body exterior” was granted an official patent number from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on this day (patent number D821,923).
Although the design patent doesn’t explicitly mention the word “Cadillac,” the six images attached in the patent clearly portray a coupe model from the automaker.
According to the patent, Australian-based Jaehoon Lee gets the credit for inventing the model. He works at General Motors in Melbourne as a Creative Designer, while also boasting a past position with GM Korea on his resume.
Pre-Owned vs. CPO Cadillac Vehicles: Discover which option is best for you
News of a potential CT5 coupe provides an exciting distraction from the current hubbub of excitement about the mid-October arrival of the 2019 Cadillac XT4. Despite the industry’s overall trend of declining sedan sales, the recent patent for a two-door Cadillac indicates that the brand might not be giving up on this vehicle category yet.
If the brand does add the CT5 coupe to its lineup in the near future, it might possibly incorporate the semi-autonomous Super Cruise system. After all, GM”s product chief Mark Reuss recently claimed that this technology will be available on every Cadillac model by 2020.
Although Cadillac has yet to reveal the performance specs and range of features the CT5 coupe will offer, this model will likely manifest the latest luxury features, driver assist technology, and energetic performance characteristic of current models.
Appealing Accessories: Upgrade your ride with these Cadillac add-ons


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Japanese mobile customers will soon have two more choices of LTE suppliers, with eAccess announcing plans to build a network, while IIJ prepares to offer data services through DoCoMo's LTE network.
Mobile voice and broadband provider eAccess has contracted Ericsson to deploy a mixed-mode W-CDMA and LTE network, Ericsson has announced.
Ericsson revealed that under the agreement, it will “supply LTE functionality to Japan's metropolitan areas, such as Tokyo, Tokai and Osaka.”
eAccess plans to launch the mixed-mode network progressively, starting in the major cities from March.
The operator holds a license to operate W-CDMA services on the 1.7-GHz band and plans to use the same frequencies to offer LTE. eAccess began offering voice services in March 2008.
Separately, ISP Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) announced it will begin offering a data service for its customers using NTT DoCoMo's Xi LTE network.
The IIJmio High-speed Mobile/D service will come in too flavors – one which provides 128kbps speeds by default, but may be upgraded to full-speed with the purchase of 100MB “coupons,” and one which comes with a 1GB “coupon” per month.
Rival Softbank is planning a commercial launch of its TD-LTE network by the end of the month.


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The last time Rosedale Center attempted to play with the idea of a traditional mall food-court, we got Revolution Hall. It was a short-lived — and inexplicably cashless — experiment in meme-able, internet-inspired food from one centralized vendor disguised as multiple restaurants. It lasted eight months.
This time, the Roseville shopping center is taking a more heavily curated approach in the space that was once a two-story Borders bookstore.
Potluck (1595 Hwy. 36, Roseville, potluckmn.com), which opens Nov. 12, features an exciting lineup of Twin Cities food purveyors, each their own business owners with their own kitchen teams turning out both tried-and-true and new-to-us bites. And yes, you can pay with cash.
There are seven counters, and all of them are on one floor. (The second level is now closed, to be redesigned in a “Phase 2.”)
The largest counter belongs to Burger Dive, elevated bar food and a “gotta-have burger” from chef and co-owner Nick O’Leary. Burger Dive first launched earlier this year in the back of Tony Jaros River Garden (2500 Marshall St. NE., Mpls., 612-789-9728). It’s the only counter with a bar, so guests wanting a drink will have to stay within the confines of railings surrounding a large space in the center of the hall. And in true dive form, there will be pulltabs and a meat raffle. But if you are holding out for a Greenie, the signature neon drink from Tony Jaros, don’t hold your breath. Co-owner Josh Thoma has asked the originators and “We can’t get an answer.” (At least there will be Greenie-soaked pickles.)
Thoma’s also behind Smack Shack, the onetime food truck and North Loop restaurant (603 N. Washington Av., Mpls., 612-259-7288, smack-shack.com) known for its lobster rolls and mac and cheese. Here, it’ll be offering a pared down, food truck-style menu.
Greeting guests upon entering Potluck will be a circular hut for Nordic Waffles, Stine Aasland’s wildly popular State Fair stand and international hit. It’s the first long-term, stationary outlet for Nordic Waffles in the Twin Cities, and the proprietors hope to use it to test new flavors for the fair and beyond.
“What appealed to us was the whole concept of all local chefs,” said co-owner Luis Carrillo (Aasland’s husband). “We don’t have that in the Twin Cities at any other food courts.”
Ascending celebrity chef Justin Sutherland is behind two new concepts. His Obachan Noodles & Fried Chicken creates build-your-own bowls: Choose from miso, tonkotsu or shiitake broth; ramen, udon or soba; tofu, pork belly or crispy chicken (mild or hot — and not Minnesota hot). It’s named for Sutherland’s grandmother (“obachan” in Japanese).
And Chickpea, a collaboration with Shish’s Leo Judeh, offering big bowls of creamy hummus, baba ganoush, feta dip, garlic sauce and loads of toppings. Judeh hopes the Rosedale spot will help launch Chickpea into a chain. Next up for the brand will be an opening at Keg & Case Market (928 W. 7th St., St. Paul, kegandcase.com).
On the sweet side, there’s St. Paul and south Minneapolis’s Grand Ole Creamery (750 Grand Av., St. Paul; 4737 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., grandolecreamery.com) which will be scooping 12 flavors, including its signature sweet cream, in homemade waffle cones. They’ll also have three rotating flavors of pizza by the slice.
And Fox 9’s “Jason Show” host Jason Matheson is debuting an entirely new concept using an old recipe, his grandfather’s biscuits. Betty and Earl’s Biscuit Kitchen will offer six flavors of the crispy, flaky, buttery baked goodness. Think of them as self-contained sandwiches. Fillings are baked right in, including a cinnamon roll version, caramel apple, bacon and Cheddar, and one with sausage and gravy. Matheson has been perfecting the recipe of his Tennessee grandfather at Sunday brunches for more than 15 years, and he believes he finally nailed it.
“That’s him in biscuit form,” he said.


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Virgin polyester’s environmental pitfalls weigh on all parts of the denim supply chain, including trims. Brands are increasing their use of recycled polyester, while others are seeking alternatives to eliminate it from denim production all together.
Now, eight years after Riri Group introduced its first recycled polyester zipper tape, the Italian-Swiss trims company announced it is transitioning to exclusively use the sustainable alternative. Though other companies like YKK offer recycled polyester options, Riri reports that this move will make it the first manufacturing company in the fashion accessories industry to introduce the use of recycled polyester as the production standard for its zip range.
This transition to recycled fibers aligns with the company’s green approach, which sees innovation for the future as one of the main pillars of its corporate strategy. “This choice shows once more the ability of the company to develop products that keep in mind the environment whilst preserving functionality, reliability and that visual taste that the world of fashion requires,” Riri Group stated.
The recycled polyester used in tapes for zips is made from recycled polyester fibers—a blend of 20 percent pre-consumer waste and 80 percent post-consumer waste. All the recycled polyester is GRS (Global Recycled Standard)-certified, highlighting Riri’s commitment to choosing suppliers that meet the industry’s international standards.
By using recycled polyester as production standard for the zip range, Riri states will cut its carbon footprint of zip production by 3 percent, or the equivalent of 169 return flights from Geneva to New York.
“We are proud of this step and the effect that it has on sustainability and the cultural change through which we approach the development and improvement of our products” said Renato Usoni, Riri Group CEO. “Our innovation is the result of a tireless research of low environmental impact materials, an approach that has been the foundation of our identity for many years, but that now is renewed once more to make another step toward the future.”
Style remains a priority for the company as well. Riri’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection offers three themes that represent different emotional responses to the pandemic.
In Rejoice, the bright and vibrant colors of Buenos Aires are applied to zipper teeth and zipper pulls. Riri’s Rebirth line focuses on zips and buttons developed with natural materials and processed manually. Copper jeans buttons with a special water-based paint finish are part of the collection, as well as hemp-derived bio-plastic eyelets.
Design, materials and colors featuring in Timeless break away from seasonal trends to become collection mainstays. “Every piece is cared for in every detail, created specifically to leave a lasting mark,” the company described. Buttons, chains and pullers are either made of gold, silver or stainless steel. Tapes are made with “refined” materials such as leather and satin.


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FindBiometrics is keeping the identity conversation from MWC 2018 alive all March with Mobile Biometrics Month, sponsored by Precise Biometrics and BioCatch.
At this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, FindBiometrics President Peter O’Neill had the opportunity to catch up with Precise Biometrics Chairman of the Board Torgny Hellström at a critical juncture for the latter’s company. Precise Biometrics has for many years been one of the leading players in the mobile biometrics revolution, seeing its fingerprint algorithm software integrated into a wide range of smartphones and other devices. But like many others, the company also came under intense pressure from an increasingly competitive market in 2017, while also seeking to expand into exciting new market areas as the commercial biometrics industry continues to grow.
In his discussion with Peter O’Neill, Hellström speaks frankly about the “challenging” year that was 2017, and the “tremendous price pressure” that came to bear in the market for capacitive sensors in particular; but he also delves into the opportunities that situation has created as Precise Biometrics and its partners see the migration of these sensors into the mid- and low-end mass market for mobile devices. Hellström also discusses the emerging opportunities in under-display fingerprint sensor technologies, and in the biometric smart cards and payment cards market, for which many are expecting a major boom in the year to come (and in which Precise Biometrics is already participating in a high-profile trial led by Visa). As Hellström explains, “we have just seen the beginning of the future of biometrics; there is much more to come.”