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Five Things You didn't Know about Tania
TVOvermindFive Things You didn't Know about Tania MehraTVOvermindFurthermore, she has traveled to countries situated all around the world while doing fashion shows for the Christian Audigier fashion house, which is best-known for the Von Dutch clothing line as well as the Ed Hardy clothing line. Overall, some people ...
Posted on 30 May 2017 | 10:10 pm
Tania Mehra Wiki: Facts to Know about the
Earn The NecklaceTania Mehra Wiki: Facts to Know about the “Second Wives Club” Cast MemberEarn The NecklaceTania Mehra Wiki. Tania Mehra is 33 years old and she is a former beauty queen and Maxim model. She won the Miss India USA 2011 title and has traveled around the world doing fashion shows for the Christian Audigier/Ed Hardy fashion house, and more.
Posted on 25 May 2017 | 7:01 am
Nick Jonas Refers to His Ed Hardy Dressing
PEOPLE.comNick Jonas Refers to His Ed Hardy Dressing Phase as 'Dark Times'PEOPLE.comWe all have embarrassing sartorial skeletons hidden somewhere deep in our closets, both literally and metaphorically. Whether you felt at the time that the mullet you had in high school was the peak of high fashion or you thought layering ten tons of ...Nick Jonas embarrassed by Ed Hardy fashion phaseTV3.ieall 5 news articles »
Posted on 10 May 2017 | 7:18 am
Christian Audigier's bohemian ranch in
Los Angeles TimesChristian Audigier's bohemian ranch in Topanga sells for $415000 over askingLos Angeles TimesA Topanga ranch owned by late fashion designer and marketer Christian Audigier has sold for $2.41 million, about 21% over the asking price. Set behind large wooden gates, the bohemian-vibe estate sits on three acres of grounds and includes multiple ...and more »
Posted on 11 January 2017 | 7:42 am
Christian Audigier's English Tudor in
Los Angeles TimesChristian Audigier's English Tudor in Windsor Square lists for $3.3 millionLos Angeles TimesAnother home owned by the estate of late fashion designer and marketer Christian Audigier has come to market, this time in historic Windsor Square, for $3.299 million. Audigier, who helped popularize the clothing brands Von Dutch and Ed Hardy, owned a ...1925 English Tudor-style mansion in Windsor Square is a glittery classicCurbed LAall 2 news articles »
Posted on 1 December 2016 | 2:23 pm
Christian Audigier, Fashion Designer, Dies
Christian Audigier, the French fashion designer best known for the Von Dutch and Ed Hardy lines, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 57. The cause was cancer, said Michele Elyzabeth, Mr. Audigier’s former publicist. Mr. Audigier told TMZ this year that he ...
Posted on 13 July 2015 | 11:30 am
Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier dies at
(CNN)Christian Audigier, the designer best known for his work with Ed Hardy and Von Dutch, has died after a battle with cancer, friend and publicist Michele Elyzabeth said. He was 57. Elyzabeth said the designer, who died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in ...
Posted on 10 July 2015 | 3:00 pm
Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier dead at
Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier has died. He was 57. Although few details about Audigier’s death are known at this time, TMZ first reported in January that the star designer was battling MDS, also known as myelodysplastic syndrome. It’s the same ...
Posted on 10 July 2015 | 2:27 am
Christian Audigier Dead: Ed Hardy Designer
Christian Audigier, the French-born designer whose trucker hat defined the era of young, mid-2000s tabloid stars, died in Los Angeles on Thursday. He was 57. Audigier is best known for his logo-laden and rhinestone-encrusted Von Dutch and Ed Hardy goods.
Posted on 10 July 2015 | 2:10 am
Ed Hardy Designer Christian Audigier Dies at
French designer Christian Audigier, best known for his clothing line Ed Hardy, has died. He was 57. Audigier died in Los Angeles after a short battle with cancer, WWD reports. Audigier had been diagnosed with cancer in January and suffered from the bone ...
Posted on 10 July 2015 | 1:51 am


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$7,500 “EV credit” provides extra sales thrust for Lucid Air
Lucid announced Thursday that it’s offering a $7,500 “EV credit” on select configurations of the Air Touring and Air Grand Touring—if they’re ordered by March 31, 2023.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring starts at $139,500 and offers an EPA-rated range of up to 516 miles or, in its Grand Touring Performance guise, 1,050 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 2.6 seconds. The Air Touring starts at $108,900, and it delivers an EPA range of up to 425 miles and an astounding 140-MPGe EPA rating—better than any current Tesla.
So for the time being, this drops the entry prices for Grand Touring and Touring to $132,000 and $101,400, respectively. Lucid notes that this doesn’t apply with some build combinations, like adding the Stealth look to this aviation-influenced design.
Neither the $94,400 dual-motor Air Pure nor the $250,500 tri-motor Air Sapphire are mentioned in the promotion. That’s likely because there’s an eager backlog of reservations for each—as there also likely are for the single-motor (rear-drive) Air Pure versions, at $88,900, that come later in the year.
2023 Lucid Air Touring
Although calling it an “EV credit” seems like a coy admission that none of the company’s Arizona-made electric vehicles currently qualify for the EV tax credit applying to purchases, it could just as well be a response to Tesla’s recent price cuts, which lowered the cost of the Tesla Model S and Model X by about 15%.
Lucid has managed to roll in some federal incentives, though. It was one of the first companies to offer a lease that appeared to figure in IRS 45W, the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit, that’s part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Put simply, that allows captive or affiliated finance companies, which can offer the vehicle under lease, to claim the amount and do so—and in recent weeks many more brands have appeared to figure that in.
This isn’t the first such $7,500 discount independent of an actual tax credit. Late last year, a $7,500 Tesla discount much like this and aimed at giving the Model 3 and Model Y a boost. Such events, so far, have been rare among companies like Tesla, Lucid, or Rivian that follow a direct sales model. Given the Tesla recalibration and a recent response from Ford, it appears that the EV price war some have predicted is here, on some level.
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Under Obamacare, if you allow a worker more than 30 hours per week, you must give health care as a benefit. Under 30, and you do not have to pay anything. Thanks to Barack American is becoming a nation of part time workers.
Lowe’s, the do it yourself retail store, is about to hire 45,000 seasonal workers and 9,000 PERMANENT part time workers—none will work more than 25 hours a week—this is the Obama economy, part time work and not benefits
See the full story by clicking on the blue headline
Atlanta Business Journal, 1/23/13
The seasonal jobs will include cashiers, lawn and garden workers, loaders and stockers. On average, those employees could work 20 to 25 hours per week.
Employees in the permanent part-time jobs will work during peak weekday shopping times, the Mooresville-based, N.C.-based home-improvement retailer (NYSE: LOW) said in a news release.


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CHOKER necklaces, flannel shirts, Doc Martens, scrunchies, plaid mini-skirts… these were the must-have items in any cool girl’s wardrobe during the Nineties.
In recent years, a lot of these love-it-or-hate-it trends have enjoyed a resurgence – and now one of the era’s top beauty looks is making a comeback.
Tooth gems – small crystals that are applied to teeth with brace glue – have been spotted on Katy Perry as well as a host of trendy Instagram bloggers.
The 32-year-old pop icon sported a tiny gold Nike tick gem on the iHeartRadio Music Awards red carpet.
Situated on the left side of her mouth, Katy’s crystal twinkled every time she flashed a smile.
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Photographs of the tongue-in-cheek accessory have also been shared on the Instagram pages of Tooth Kandy, an LA-based clinic, WAH Nails and Tattoo Skills Tooth Gems.
While the sparkles may look cool, dentists have warned they can lead to tooth decay.
“Tooth jewellery involves sticking small jewels onto the teeth using dental cement,” stated the experts at Dental Health.
“They should be fitted by a dentist, who can easily remove them if necessary.
“It is important to keep the area around the jewel clean, as plaque can easily build up around it and you will be more likely to get tooth decay.”
They recommend not using at-home kits and ensuring the gems are fitted by a specialist.
Meanwhile, Topshop, ASOS and Primark have revealed the key items shoppers are currently snapping up.
Topshop’s £34 polka dot ruffle blouse is flying off the shelves, while Primark have unveiled a £15 gingham dress that is predicted to sell-out.
ASOS says their Farleigh jeans are on the online retailer’s best-selling trousers.


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Police seek vehicle connected to catalytic converter thefts
Man, woman also seen inside Jeep
Unsuspecting shoppers recently left Kansas stores to discover a piece of their cars missing.
Olathe police said they're hoping the public can provide information that can help catch the thieves.
The thefts were part of a recent string of thefts targeting catalytic converters. Thieves crawl underneath the car, cut off the converter and leave with it. These types of thefts can happen to any car anywhere.
The converters are part of the exhaust system that controls emissions from a car. They're made of precious metals and can yield good money when they're sold for scrap.
Last weekend, thieves hit cars that were parked outside of a popular shopping area, hitting in the middle of the day.
"I would like to find them," said business owner Buddy Martin.
Police said they've spotted a newer-model white Jeep Cherokee at a lot of the thefts. A man and a woman were also seen with the vehicle.
"We pay good money for our cars. We make payments or do whatever and they belong to us and so do all the parts," said shopper Leslie King.
"It's really unfair. You're a victim. You come out into your car and it doesn't start, then you have to do all these different things like call for help," said shopper Stephanie Dansco.
The thieves make anywhere from $50 to $100 off of the converters, but the removal can cost drivers between $700 and $1,000 in damage.
Martin said he thinks the thieves are looking for cars parked in the back section of the lot.
"I do try to watch where I'm parking. (I) try to park closer to the building," said Dansco.
In the past few months, Lenexa police said they've also had a problem with these thefts, so they've launched a program. Local auto shops will engrave license plate numbers into the converter, making it traceable. Police said it has helped deter thefts, especially at larger businesses.
Anyone with information about the thefts should contact the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.


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NITI Aayog has proposed that only electric vehicles should be sold after 2030, expanding the scope of the clean fuel technology beyond two- and three-wheelers.
India has been a laggard in the global race toward electrification of automobiles, with no clear guiding policy.
Foxconn, the assembler of iPhones, has told the state that its plant will be set up in the special economic zone of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
The report makes it clear that passenger safety needs to be ensured under such a regime and has to be addressed with proper policy initiatives.
There are marked improvements in Electric Vehicle technology, including battery storage capacity, its cost economics, charging time and range anxiety.
The company has written to the government evincing interest in entering the market through the single-brand retail window, sources told TOI.
The government wants automakers to move to 100% manufacturing of electric vehicles for which it is launching a dedicated policy. The auto industry had also demanded such a policy.
Driverless cars will render millions of Indian drivers jobless, hence won't be allowed: Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari said the technology in its present form wasn’t suited for the Indian market and will also render millions of Indian drivers jobless.
India is planning to introduce a cab aggregator platform where commuters could choose any mode of transportation like electric four-wheeler taxis or two- wheelers.
India wants to cut down on a ballooning Rs 7 lakh crore crude import bill. Electric buses and vehicles along with ethanol and other green fuel could be the solution.
Bibop talks about the reason for delay of their project in India, their rivalry with Hyperloop One, Make in India and the future of jobs.
The plan, being spearheaded by my ministry, will bring together road, rail, air and urban planning to provide seamless movement of freight traffic across states.
The government, in partnership with taxi aggregator Ola, is also introducing a fleet of 300 electric cars in Nagpur to test the feasibility of electric taxis in the country.
According to a top government official, a committee under Niti Aayog would now look into the feasibility of having hyperloop transportation.
The Hyperloop — high-speed travel in pods inside a partial-vacuum tube — is the brainchild of Tesla founder Elon Musk, who opensourced the basic design in 2013.
HTT’s Chairman, Bibop G. Gresta talks about their foray into India, their investments and future plan
Union Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari has a Letter of Intent to build a hyperloop in India sitting in his desk and, once signed, the country could potentially possess the transport system in 38 months


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Learnings From Lockdown
The COVID-19 outbreak in the UK changed consumer behaviour towards food almost overnight.
Too Good To Go sought to uncover how behaviour and perceptions towards food have changed, and what Brits were thinking, feeling and doing in the kitchen during the lockdown.
This report summarises the findings of research conducted on behalf of Too Good To Go by Markettiers between the 24 - 27 April 2020.
Key takeaways include:
More people are aware of how much food they waste and are throwing away less food than normal during these uncertain times
Confidence in understanding the different labels has increased, albeit slightly, in the last year
During the current crisis, habits have changed. More people are cooking from scratch and trying new cooking skills
There are some regional differences in cooking skills
The younger generation is more likely to have tried new skills
However, many people are looking forward to more flexibility when the lockdown is relaxed


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Dairygold became the latest dairy processor to raise its milk price for June deliveries to 55.5 cpl yesterday, up 2.5 cpl/l from May.
This corresponds to an average June milk price ex-farm of 60.3 c/L, based on average milk solids in June.
It comes as both Glanbia and Lakeland Dairies have increased their June milk prices by 3c/l and the Kerry Group has increased its price by 2c/l.
Recent price increases have been attributed to the continued strength of global dairy markets and strong demand for dairy ingredients due to limited milk supply growth from key dairy regions, according to processors.
The increased milk price also reflects the significant increase in input costs for milk suppliers this year, according to a Dairygold spokesman.
Earlier this week, Glanbia announced it would pay 55.08 cents/L (including VAT) for June milk, 3 cents/L more than last month.
This is broken down into a base milk price of 49.58c/l (including VAT), an agri-input support payment of 5c/l on all milk delivered in June and a sustainability action payment of 0.5c/l ( including VAT). paid monthly on all milk delivered in 2022 to recognize specific sustainability actions carried out on the farm.
In the meantime, Lakeland Dairies has announced that it will pay an increased milk price of 55.1 c/l (including VAT) for June milk in the Republic of Ireland. This is also an increase of 3 c/l compared to the May milk price.
On average, Lakeland Dairies pays 57.88c/L for June milk in ROI, with all fixed price milk contracts receiving an additional payment of 8c/L.
Last week, the Kerry Group also announced that the base price for June milk would rise to 53.5c/l (including VAT). This is 2c/L higher than the May milk price.
Global dairy trade
The rise in milk prices paid by Irish processors comes as EU milk collections for May, which is normally the month with the highest milk production, were “extraordinarily weak”, according to ASB, one of New Zealand’s leading commercial banks.
However, it also noted that milk powder prices fell overnight at the Global Dairy Trade auction. A 5.6 percent drop in whole milk powder and an 8.6 percent drop in skimmed milk powder drove the overall price index down 5 percent.
This is due to the ongoing energy crisis, drought, rising input costs and other unfavorable economic headwinds on farms, the bank said.
https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/dairy/key-milk-processors-announce-increased-june-milk-prices-as-global-milk-markets-see-continued-strength-41856819.html Major Dairy Processors Announce Increased June Milk Prices as Global Dairy Markets Record Continued Strength


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Kiowa's Fall Fest Sunday, Oct. 25
October 7, 2020
Get ready for some outdoor fun on what will hopefully be a beautiful fall day Sunday, Oct. 25. It's Kiowa's Fall Fest starting at 2 p.m.
There will be Halloween costumes and pumpkin decorating and carving contests – lots of games. There will be vendors and some surprises.
A favorite is the meat cook-off with lots of grillers firing up their cookers. Then the public gets to sample the smoky meats around 5 p.m. Kiowa's Chamber of Commerce is still finalizing details. Watch the Newsgram next week for more information....


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Kind of weird though how R&D spending has increased massively but their products seem more stagnated than ever. Hopefully the payoff of all that R&D is yet to come.
6:37 pm — Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Vanilla Dry Ice:
Eye-opening: "Funds spent on MacBook Pro R&D in last 3 years: -$2 billion"
6:39 pm — Wednesday, 24 August 2016
R&D = putting product decisions off into the distant future
7:26 pm — Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Vanilla Dry Ice:
Also R&D = Making something, putting it in the vault, then waiting for someone else to confirm that your idea is marketable
7:28 pm — Wednesday, 24 August 2016
OR ... real innovation takes time, and there are numerous dead ends that don't work out before you hit on the golden idea.
As Google (or Microsoft, or Facebook) about that. The only difference between them and Apple, really is that Apple generally gets more bang for its R&D buck, and that its list of "didn't work out" includes a lot of stuff that never even made it to market.
Apple's R&D is *not* working on the next MacBook Pro, or the next Mac mini. That's in the hands of the production staff (or the dead-letter office, as the case may be). Apple R&D is working on what we'll see in the years 2020-2030.
10:30 pm — Wednesday, 24 August 2016
PS. It's odd that the report, while otherwise strong, ignores the fact that Tim Cook has been running Apple for closer to eight years (at least) than five (that's just when the CEO tag was official). It's something a lot of Cook critics ignore as well.
As for the charts, obviously most paint a pretty rosy picture that may be showing some signs of decline (or a relatively short lull). I think the cash-on-hand (despite extraordinary numbers of billions expended on return-to-shareholder things that weren't even on the horizon in the Jobs era) and the increase in the stock price (over 100 percent in five years, and still criminally undervalued) tells the tale.
Some complain that Cook isn't a visionary, and they are right: at worst, he's an outstanding caretaker who's "vision" extends to making Apple more than just a product/service supplier. At best, he's exactly the guy this company needed/needs for this phase of growth and long-term development. Disney went through a funk for nearly two decades after Walt died, but had some roaring (#lionkingjoke) successes in multiple areas of business in the late 80s and beyond, even without a "great visionary" at the helm. Apple may get a visionary again some day, though you'll never get another Jobs or anything remotely like him. Keeping the company so financially strong it can't be taken over, though, continues to be if not Job 1, then in the top five of priorities. Without independence, Apple will die. With it, at worst Apple will coast along like so many other big-name brands until a creative genius like John Lassiter comes along again.
10:47 pm — Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Just a pair of uneven scrotal sacs:
Chas_m, your analysis is too logical and sane for this watering hole full of pink-slipped cockwaddles
2:14 am — Thursday, 25 August 2016
9:46 am — Thursday, 25 August 2016
No one can dispute that Tim Cook has done a phenomenal job managing Apples success.
That being said people like me grow frustrated that a company of Apples size and resources can't do basic timely updates for their lines of traditional computers. 3 year old technology at todays prices is simply awful.
I understand that Apple is mostly a phone and tablet company today. But its a reasonable complaint that Apple is leaving their line of traditional computers to whither on the vine. Or in the rare instance when they do get an update they are brought closer and closer to their iOS cousins in both software and hardware.
Not everyone can or wants to shoehorn their lives into an ipad and its software.
Before anyone says "fuck off and get a windows machine then", I have and it works great. As long as the tool works well and has the price:performance ratio I need, I don't give a shit what the logo is.
10:11 am — Thursday, 25 August 2016
@chas_m nice work
10:50 am — Thursday, 25 August 2016
@chas_m: Very nice. Thank you.
11:33 am — Thursday, 25 August 2016
Summary: Apple is making a fuck-ton of money, and Tim Cook is a really fucking good CEO.
There, summarized with NO CHARTS!
7:41 pm — Thursday, 25 August 2016
No doubt that Tim Cook is a great CEO, he is just more underappreciated. CEO does not need to be visionary and vice versa, also there are other qualities that a company need to be successful. Looking only at visionary is like looking only on one side of the coin. True that Apple needs a visionary guy, but he will come along when the time comes. The only reason the company does not sink after SJ passed away is one: Tim Cook.
1:10 am — Friday, 26 August 2016
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With so much buzz about Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency all over the internet, we wanted you to let you know what the cryptocurrency is and how will it be helpful to you or your business. Thus, we put a lot of effort and did research for you. Let's make it easy for you by elaborating things in this article.
In the last 10 years, the virtual currency like Bitcoin has created its buzz and also hit the market with its presence. Though not many people use Bitcoin in their day-to-day life, the number of things you can buy and the number of services that you can pay with cryptocurrency is growing.
According to CoinMap, a site that monitors cryptocurrency acceptance, there is over a 700% surge in the number of business venues that accept payment in Bitcoin since 2013.
As you can see, the number is not far from making its way to reach mainstream adoption.
As per the Guardian report, the market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies could explode over the next five years, rising to $5-10 tn.
Apparently, few months back, the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg has made his headline by revealing cryptocurrency - Libra. It’s an experiment in monetary systems for the digital age and has inevitably been compared to popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. However, many experts have raised a question to call a Libra as a cryptocurrency.
What is Libra, Exactly?
Facebook’s Libra is not just a cryptocurrency. It’s a “reliable digital currency” all about delivering “the Internet of money” through an efficient infrastructure. The cryptocurrency is intended to be sent to any part of the world with a bare minimum of a fee.
Libra is not as decentralised as other cryptocurrencies. You can open and download the open source code for free in the case of Bitcoin. Instead of one centralised node, Libra has multiple central nodes which can be controlled by a legion of stakeholders.
We already know it's quite impossible to hack Bitcoin because of its decentralised nature. But as far as the Libra is concerned, it may create several loopholes about security.
What is Gemini, Exactly?
Gemini is a digital currency exchange and custodian that allows customers to buy, sell, and store digital assets. It is a Bitcoin and Ether (the native currency on the Ethereum blockchain) exchange platform.
The biggest advantage of Gemini is that it holds most of its Bitcoin and Ethereum in offline wallets. It contains only a small portion available online, which reduces their risk. Storing too many cryptocurrencies allow them to maintain high liquidity.
Cryptocurrency And Its Future
The cryptocurrency took its birth in 2009 with Bitcoin. By the year 2013, it already grew and was at its record value of $ 266 per Bitcoin. Bitcoin supported the market value of nearly $2 billion during its peak in January 2018.
And then it grew 50% shortly thereafter. That created a lot of buzz and debate among investors about the future of cryptocurrency in general.
The constant growth of cryptocurrency is grabbing the public's eye. The people have turned out to be more interested in them. Both institutional and retail investors are increasingly investing in cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrencies have created their hype in the market that governments and bank sectors decided to influence the cryptocurrency market, saying that cryptocurrency is the next economic bubble. Some of the governments have banned trading in cryptocurrencies due to lack of control over them and unpredictability of the market. The main challenge affecting the cryptocurrency industry is the centralization of hashing power in the hands of several people or in a specific geographic area.
Privacy is the most distinctive standard in some of the cryptocurrency. As far as the Monero coin, one of cryptocurrencies with greater privacy in relation to operations, is concerned, it helps you to utilize the currency in the given field:
Since the cryptocurrency is creating its huge impact on the market, the financial world is set to get more complex. It will take a few years to completely replace the hard cash.
In the field of economy, the main concerned of cryptocurrency is to get rid of intermediaries. It's not needed. If we believe in this then the whole concept of economy and the whole world vision of it should change.
Cryptocurrencies Around The Globe
Though in some countries cryptocurrencies are illegal and limited for their usage. This will not affect the development of their progress though. But there are some countries which are using cryptocurrencies to expand their commercial capacity. The best Cryptocurrency can improve the following aspects of country:
In the financial world, cryptocurrency is not depended on any segment or factor. It's a completely independent currency. Their capability in the commercial sector can be exploited by investors, individuals and legal persons.
Facebook's digital currency, Libra into cryptocurrency will eventually benefit Bitcoin. Of course, it will take some time, but Facebook will speed up the pace of teaching people all about cryptocurrencies. This will allow more people to use Bitcoin. That is why Bitcoin is counted as scarce Facebook’s cryptocurrency will not be. People will demand for the trustworthy ledge to store their currency.
As the number of digital wallet apps continues to rise, users will switch to utilizing these apps to run away from hard, physical and unsafe transaction. This fact alone is groundbreaking, particularly for users that don’t utilize banks, and for many international transactions that could be difficult without the use of a digital wallet. We really have no doubt that blockchain technology is an innovative tool that will make smooth the road of transaction and the world of cryptocurrency.
Find more top mobile app developers worldwide on AppFutura.


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DHL Express: It is in our DNA to deliver
Since Christmas, DHL Express, has operated more than 50 flights transporting numerous shipments of the urgently needed COVID-19 vaccines within Europe.
Destinations included are Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Romania and Sweden who received first batches of the vaccine for the provision of their citizens. Several of these countries already received additional batches via DHL Express, e.g. Italy, Lithuania, Norway and Romania. With its hub and gateway network, spanning 60 countries and territories in Europe and operating more than 100 aircraft, DHL Express is perfectly equipped and prepared for the regular supply of further countries with COVID-19 vaccines in Europe and beyond.
“Our Express network has already proven its strong resilience during the first weeks of the pandemic. While almost all nations went into lockdowns, none of our operations had stopped”, said Alberto Nobis, CEO DHL Express Europe. “It is in our DNA to deliver, even in times of global crisis. Thanks to our people and infrastructure we keep trade lanes open and enable our customers to continue their businesses. With international Express deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines we are supporting numerous governments in their fight against the pandemic. In Europe our strong presence allows us to move medical goods from country to country within up to 24 hours.”
Besides Europe DHL Express has also served vaccine batches to Bahrain, Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Mexico, Oman and Singapore.


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Topshop fashion show watched by millions online as lines sellout in hours
The event, which ran online yesterday to kick off London Fashion Week, saw the high-street fashion retailer partner with Facebook to create a “customisable catwalk” plug-in for Topshop.com.
It allowed viewers watching a livestream of the show to share snapshots of their favourite looks with their friends on Facebook in real time.
TopShop says over 2 million people tuned in from over 100 countries, across multiple platforms and devices to watch the fashion show, which it built considerable buzz for in the days running up to the event with promises of a personalised experience.
However, the number of people estimated to have been exposed to images and content from the show is thought to be more than 200 million although it is impossible to benchmark that in any meaningful way. What is certainly true is this seems to have easily broken TopShop’s previous record.
The livestream event used Facebook’s open graph technology to let users watching the show automatically post to their own Facebook and Twitter pages saying things like: ”I am watching the Topshop Unique show” or “I just customized the Topshop Unique catwalk”.
#Topshop and #Unique both trended globally on Twitter with the first ever fashion show to be livestreamed on Twitter and the ‘Tweet Off’ invented by Topshop asking followers to review the show in 140 characters.
Topshop partnered with Elle evolving the ‘Tweetwalk’ to the ‘Tweetwalk 2′ by sharing images live from backstage with both Elle and Topshop followers moments before they hit the runway.
The online catwalk event resulted in some items including the printed panel dress selling out within one hour and Tosphop lipsticks and make up were being purchased during every minute of the show.
A post from the Chinese actress Wang Luo Dan in attendance reached 90 million followers on Chinese microblogging site Weibo.
Media partners and fashion bloggers globally also hosted the livestream and drove a significant number of views through their fanbases and readers around the world.
Topshop.com was clicked on by over 120 countries and had more traffic from the USA on one day than in its history, particularly exciting in a week were the brand has opened 15 new stores inside key cities with leading wholesaler Nordstorm.


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As witnesses and contributors to the booming China-U.S. bilateral trade and investment, Chinese companies expect exchanges between high-level officials from both countries, such as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), would further provide more and broader opportunities for companies from both countries.
Bank of China (BOC) USA is one of the Chinese companies which benefited from the close economic and commercial exchanges between the two countries. With more than 30 years of operation, the bank now is the 12th largest foreign bank in the United States.
Xu Chen, president and CEO of the BOC USA, told Xinhua that the bank's expansion in the United States was closely connected to the continuous rising of the bilateral trade and investment. According to Xu, 70 percent of BOC USA clients are local companies, most of which have business exchanges with Chinese counterparts.
In 2014, bilateral trade value exceeded 550 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 6.6 percent from a year ago, data from the China's Ministry of Commerce showed.
In addition to the booming trade, more and more Chinese companies are investing in the United States, which the BOC sees as important opportunities for the bank's expansion, said Xu.
Over the past six years, direct investment from Chinese companies to the United States has increased fivefold, creating more than 80,000 jobs in the country. Chinese investments in the U. S. now total nearly 50 billion and will increase to between 100 billion dollars and 200 billion dollars by 2020, creating between 200,000 and 400,000 jobs for U.S. workers, a recent study by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Rhodium Group found.
The auto parts manufacturer Wanxiang America set foot on the U. S. market 30 years ago and now has 28 manufacturing factories and over 12,000 employees in the United States.
Ni Pin, president of Wanxiang America, told Xinhua that it's the right time for Chinese companies to invest in the country, because local and state governments are taking great efforts to attract foreign investment, especially those from China.
In order to ensure and boost stable economic exchanges, dialogues and communications between senior officials from both countries are considered as important as those between companies.
According to Xu, the development of Chinese financial institutions has been far behind their U.S. counterparts' operation in China, although Chinese companies have competitive abilities in terms of product designs, management and IT support, compared to U.S. banks.
One of the reasons for the slow development is that the U.S. regulators and lawmakers have no thorough understanding of China's financial sector, and still hold biased views toward Chinese financial companies, said Xu.
The S&ED could help officials from both sides carry out frequent and in-depth communications and exchanges so as to boost bilateral understandings and to help create favorable regulatory and business climate for companies from both sides, said Xu. Chinese regulators should invite their U.S. counterparts to visit China more often, suggested Xu.
The seventh China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) will be kicked off on June 23 in Washington DC, with the economic dialogue focusing on in-depth discussions on macro-economic policy and restructuring, promoting trade and investment, and stabilizing and reforming the financial market, including on the exchange of " negative lists" on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT). The negative lists outline sectors that are closed to investors.
If the talks could help ease trade frictions in areas such as solar energy and steel, it will be a boost to shipping companies, like COSCO, said Zhang Xiaolan, general manager of the COSCO Americas.
In addition, if the United States relaxes its restrictions on high-tech exports to China, shipping companies could see their costs reduced as U.S. exports to China will definitely increase, Zhang told Xinhua. Now, containers shipped from Asian region to the United States are much more than those from the United States to Asia, especially China, according to the manager.
As for the ongoing BIT talks, Ni said the negotiation process is way more important than the result. Because both countries have many different social and economic structures, the talks could help both sides to get better understanding of each other.
As long as the talks and communications can move forward, there is a great chance that bilateral trade and investment will continue booming, said Ni.


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On Wednesday, the first day of Oahu’s plastic checkout bag ban, Bert Silva brought several of his reusable bags to Foodland in Kapolei. But the change to bringing his own bags to the grocery store was nothing new to him.
“I’m into the environment, and I think it’s about time we did it,” said Silva of Makakilo, who has been using the reusable bags for about three months.
Other residents also seemed to be adjusting fairly well to the ban, some saying they have been preparing for the change by keeping reusable bags in their cars.
City Environmental Services Director Lori Kahikina acknowledged that the ban will be an adjustment for residents of Oahu, the last county in the state to implement an ordinance aimed at stepping up use of environmentally friendly checkout bags, but said the law is a compromise between environmentalists and businesses that have to pay more for compostable or paper bags.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Kahikina said at a new conference Wednesday at Foodland in Kapolei. “This really is a litter problem that we’re trying to curb.”
Some stores, including Foodland, are offering incentives to customers who bring their own bags. Foodland customers who bring reusable bags will receive a 5-cent credit or three Hawaiian Miles for each bag used at checkout.
Foodland estimates that they sell more than 200,000 reusable bags statewide per year.
“We’ve been planning this for many years now,” said Foodland spokeswoman Sheryl Toda, adding that Foodland stores on neighbor islands already have policies in place to comply with bans established in other counties. “We’re following the same plan that we have there for rewarding our customers for doing their part to keep Hawaii clean.”
At Target in Kapolei, customers said Wednesday they received a free reusable bag.
Mary Kaulia said she bought three reusable bags at the store and got the fourth one free.
“This is something new for me,” said Kaulia. “I kind of like that because it’s better for the environment.”
As a diver, she said, she sees plastic bags at Kahe Point Beach Park and hopes the ban will help to eliminate litter.
Honolulu County’s plastic checkout bag ban became an ordinance three years ago, although its implementation was delayed. The ban was amended last year.
Environmental groups and several city officials maintain that plastic bags have significant negative effects on the environment, including litter and threats to marine animals.
Retailers can choose to provide compostable plastic bags and recyclable paper bags containing a minimum of 40 percent post-consumer recycled content. But those retailers giving out compostable or paper bags will pay 10 to 14 cents per bag, whereas plastic bags cost 2 cents a bag.
Kahikina said customers may still bring their own plastic bags to the store, adding that there might be some confusion at first. She said an inspector will be sent to a business if someone reports a violation. Fines for businesses not complying with the ban range between $100 to $1,000 per day.
“I have three of the reusable bags in my trunk, and I always forget,” Kahikina said. “But as of today (Wednesday), I can’t.”
Oahu’s law permits several exemptions, including the use of plastic bags for plate lunches and other prepared food, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, and other loose items, such as coffee, candy, flowers, medications, newspapers and nuts.
Leah Slappy, who supports the law because it’s environmentally friendly, said she will now have to buy more bags after she runs out of her “stock supply.”
“If they (customers) have to go and specifically buy them (plastic bags), they’ll buy them for a purpose,” such as trash pickup, said Slappy of Ewa Beach.
For more information on the ban, visit opala.org. To read the city ordinance, visit 808ne.ws/1IMdOBr.


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DUBAI, 3rd December 2022 (WAM) — The sixth annual Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) has concluded after an action-packed, month-long celebration of fitness and wellness. The challenge, an initiative of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, with the aim of making Dubai a happier and healthier city, saw 2,212,246 participants they committed to 30 minutes of exercise every day, for 30 days.
Held from 29 October to 27 November 2022, the annual fitness movement included a wide range of free fitness events and activities across the city. The challenge offered an exciting month of inclusive and fun fitness activities at two fitness villages, DP World Kite Beach Fitness Village and RTA Last Exit Al Khawaneej Fitness Village, as well as 19 community fitness centers, a host of events sports and thousands of free programs. classes throughout the city.
In addition, participants had the opportunity to take part in two major fitness events on Sheikh Zayed Road: Dubai Ride presented by DP World and Dubai Run presented by Mai Dubai, in addition to the inaugural Expo City Dubai Sports and Fitness Weekend , which offers more than 45 partner sporting events and more than 13,000 free fitness classes. More than 263,000 participants attended the Fitness Villages and Fitness Hubs alone, who had the opportunity to take part in various activities ranging from paddle and soccer training to rowing and spinning, as well as various fun group workouts and high energy, suitable for all levels of physical fitness. .
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said: “With the conclusion of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, I would like to reflect on the amazing achievements of the 2,212,246 participants who committed themselves to their health and well-being by participating in the inspiring fitness movement.
Participants have led by example in committing to improve their health and well-being and helped transform the fitness mindset of the entire community. I want to thank each and every person, government agency, business, and organization that contributed to or participated in this initiative. Together, we are well on our way to becoming the fittest city in the world. Although the challenge is over for another year, I encourage you all to stay active and continue your fitness journey by embracing all that our great city has to offer.”
Ahmed Al Khaja, Managing Director of Dubai Festivals & Retail Establishment, said: “Since its inception six years ago, DFC has inspired numerous fitness and wellness travel success stories, from beginners to enthusiasts of fitness who have reached new milestones. DFC will continue to be a source of inspiration and encouragement for citizens, residents and visitors to Dubai, encouraging them to commit to a healthier and more active lifestyle. View a record 2.2 million participants this year is truly inspiring, including almost 35,000 cyclists for the Dubai Ride and more than 193,000 runners for the Dubai Run on Sheikh Zayed Road. When we look back over the last 30 days, it is truly amazing to see our city’s commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being. I would like to thank everyone who made it possible for the sixth edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. It is a very special initiative and one that I am very proud to be a part of.”
Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, said: “With 2.2 million people taking part in this year’s Dubai Fitness Challenge, we have once again demonstrated our continued dedication to maintaining our physical and mental health as a community working together to achieve one goal: a healthier and fitter future for all.DFC was designed to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the incredible range of fitness facilities the city has to offer, while challenging each other to achieve new goals and adopt a more active lifestyle. The small changes made and healthy habits started during DFC don’t have to end when the challenge does. I encourage everyone to continue prioritizing their physical and mental well-being throughout the year. The sixth edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge has been another resounding success and I would like to thank everyone involved for this incredible achievement.”
To help everyone stay motivated throughout the 30 days of the challenge, DFC 2022 partnered with a number of leading global health and fitness apps to promote positive behavior change among participants through public and private challenges funny App partners this year include Fitbit, Fitze, STEPPI, Count’d, Core Direction, Les Mills, McGregor FAST, Runkeeper, Technogym, ENHAPP and Hygear.
Since its inception, the Dubai Fitness Challenge has seen a steady increase in interest and engagement with the number of registered participants growing by more than 180 percent, from 786,000 at the inaugural event in 2017 to 2, 2 million in the 2022 edition. Dubai Run participants increased 176 percent from 70,000 runners in the inaugural edition in 2019 to 193,000 in 2022. Cyclists participating in Dubai Ride increased 75 percent from 20,000 in 2020 to 34,897 in 2022.
The annual event makes Dubai the only city in the world to offer its citizens and visitors a whole month of free and inclusive fitness classes, activities and events, easily accessible across the emirate. Health and fitness awareness Over the past five years, the Dubai Fitness Challenge has had a significant impact on public awareness of the role of physical activity in improving health and reducing diseases such as life
Dr Ramadan Al Blooshi, Acting Director of the Public Health Protection Department at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said: “At a community level, the Dubai Fitness Challenge has helped to significantly increase health awareness public awareness and to instill a better fitness mindset in the community. The event has encouraged people to adopt simple yet effective lifestyle habits. These public health driven awareness activities play a crucial role in changing community members’ approach from post-diagnosis care to lifestyle disease prevention.This not only improves the community’s lifestyle, but also directly helps mitigate the impact of lifestyle diseases in the health system”.
Year after year, the annual city-wide fitness initiative has achieved its goal of positively impacting social well-being through a wide spectrum of wellness, sports and fitness activities.
According to a post-DFC survey conducted after the 2021 edition, participants reported immense psychological benefits, including positive self-esteem (28%) and enhanced mental well-being (25%). The DFC survey showed that 52 percent of total participants logged between 30 and 60 minutes of activity per day, while 24 percent went further and did more than 60 minutes per day. Overall, 88 percent of all DFC 2021 participants reported achieving their 30×30 goals. Community Fitness Infrastructure Alongside the growth of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, the emirate has also expanded its community sports infrastructure and free fitness and lifestyle facilities across the city.
The Roads and Transport Authority announced earlier this month that it will increase its cycle track network from the 542km achieved in the first quarter of 2022 to 819km by the end of 2026 as part of the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040. The public also has access to running and cycling tracks and exercise equipment in both parks and beaches. Dubai Municipality has developed running tracks in several parks that currently stretch for a total of 37.7 km, while bike tracks in the parks stretch for 15.7 km. Dubai Municipality has also developed a total of 12 km of public beach trails.
Cycling and running tracks have proven extremely popular with an estimated 1.86 million people using them by 2022. The growing fitness awareness of the Dubai community is also reflected in the increased trade in sporting goods of the emirate The value of Dubai’s foreign trade in sports equipment in 2021 reached AED 1.22 billion, while in the first ten months of 2022 (January to October), foreign trade in sports equipment reached AED 1.1 billion of AED.
Fitness partners Designed to get people moving and enjoying the outdoors and helping Dubai become one of the most active cities in the world, some of the many other highlights of the Dubai Fitness Challenge 2022 included more from 285 key global fitness and sports brand partners including adidas, Nike, Asics, Under Armour, Puma, Reebok and PepsiCo, hotels and shopping centers showing their support with bespoke events and exclusive promotions; free health and wellness provider reviews, and 82 city schools getting involved with 30 x 30 sessions built into the curriculum along with visits to Fitness Villages.
Entities helping DFC strengthen community spirit this year include organizers Dubai’s Department of Economic Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Sports Council; Introducing Partners DP World, Mai Dubai and Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai; Partner associations Sun and Sand Sports, AVIV Clinics, Emirates Airline, Emirates NBD, Etisalat by E&, Fitbit, Shamal – Kite Beach and Last Exit; Official partners Aster Hospitals, Clinics and Pharmacy, Arabian Automobiles Co, Dubai Chamber, Lipton and Sports Society; Media Partner Arabian Radio Network (ARN); and Government Partners Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Event Safety Committee, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai Police and Emirates Schools Establishment. The 7th edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge will take place between October 28 and November 26, 2023.


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By: OnIslam & News Agencies
As a summer Ramadan approaches in the midst of scorching sun, tourism companies in the Cape Town has been expanding Muslim-friendly establishments to attract Muslim tourists seeking to spend Ramadan and enjoy the city’s cooler temperatures.
“Cape Town is blessed to be a city with a lot of Mosques – the Bo Kaap has nine Mosques alone, and there are many Mosques in the central city area too,” Gamidah Jacobs, owner of the Bo-Kaap based Lekka Kombuis; a Malay cooking school and Cape Town Tourism member, told eTN website on Monday, June 9.
Across Cape Town, a number of establishments have been attracting Muslim tourists from the beginning of June.
Located at the southern part of the world, Cape Town visitors will enjoy cooler temperatures during the holy month of Ramadan, which starts next June 28.
Mosques and establishments that serve halal food are also a great attraction.
“As for foods, Cape Town has halal fast food outlets as well as Cape Malay foods which you can find all over Cape Town,” Jacobs said.
“Visiting Cape Town as a Muslim it’s a bonus staying in the Bo Kaap area as it is a predominantly Muslim area and there are a few lodges and hotels in and around this area, eg. Hilton, Cape Town Lodge,” he added.
Muslims make up to 1.5% of South Africa’s 44-million population. Cape Town alone is home to nearly half a million Muslims of diverse Asian origins.
South Africa is currently ranked as the second most halal friendly country according to Crescentrating for non OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) countries, and the Muslim community in Cape Town is the largest in the country.
The halal industry is steadily growing in South Africa where Muslims make up some 1.5 percent of the country’s 49 million-strong population.
Muslims have halal bodies that certify almost every product manufactured in the country. This has enabled Muslims to consume halal products.
Some of the country’s major banks offer Muslims Shari`ah-complaint banking facilities.
Muslims have also established their own Islamic banks and insurance companies.


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Digital TV News: Rich Warren
Comcast to bring HBO Max to Xfinity customers
May 27, 2020 – Comcast has announced that existing Xfinity HBO customers will have access to HBO Max at no additional cost via the HBO Max app and website while the companies work to quickly bring the app to the Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex platforms.
News categories: Comcast, WarnerMedia, HBO Max, Rebecca Heap, Rich Warren, Digital TV
WarnerMedia announces further launch partners for HBO Max
May 20, 2020 – WarnerMedia has announced that the latest companies to sign on to distribute HBO Max at launch include Altice USA, Cox Communications, Microsoft, National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), Samsung, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Verizon.
News categories: WarnerMedia, HBO Max, Rich Warren, Apps, Cable TV, Digital TV, Gaming, IPTV, Streaming, USA
HBO Max to be available on Apple devices at launch
Apr 27, 2020 – WarnerMedia has announced that HBO Max will be available on Apple devices when it debuts on May 27, 2020. At launch, customers will be able to access HBO Max on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD.
News categories: WarnerMedia, Apple, Rich Warren, Apps, Digital TV, Set Top Box, Smartphone, Streaming, Tablet, USA
HBO Max to be available to Charter customers at launch
Apr 15, 2020 – WarnerMedia and Charter Communications have announced a distribution agreement that will make HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s anticipated streaming platform, available to Charter customers when it launches next month.
News categories: WarnerMedia, Charter Communications, Rich Warren, Tom Montemagno, Apps, Cable TV, Digital TV, Set Top Box, Streaming, USA
- India Smart TV market grew 8% YoY in 1H23
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- 76% of Nordic households now have an internet connected TV set
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Side Collectibles has released detailed information and images of their upcoming John Stewart Premium Format Figure. The 20.5″ tall statue will go on sale starting at noon PST on October 11th, 2018 at Sideshow’s website. Like many of their statues in the past John Stewart will come in two editions. The Collectors Editions will sell for $580 USD while the Exclusive Edition, featuring a second interchangeable head, will sell for $595 USD.
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NECA Toys revealed images promoting the Predator / Green Lantern figure set which will be available as a New. Continue reading
"Hostility is for squares" The Green Lantern #10 presents the first part of a two part story that will lead. Continue reading
DC Comics has released their schedule for comic books being published in July of 2019. The Green Lantern. Continue reading


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Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) CEO Howard Schultz sees the coffee retailer as a technology company.
He made that abundantly clear during the company's third-quarter earnings call, during which he devoted much of his time to discussing the company's digital initiatives. He specifically focused on the chain's effort to bring its digital order-ahead service to all company-owned stores by the end of the year.
"By further enhancing our already world-class digital technologies through the introduction of capabilities like Mobile Order & Pay and soon to be delivery and expanding our loyalty program, we are driving traffic as reflected in the 4% growth in traffic in Q3," Schultz said in his opening remarks.
Today, you will hear about unique digital partnerships that we are forging with like minded businesses in a number of verticals that will further leverage the Starbucks brand and our digital assets in order to further reduce our already low cost of customer acquisition and drive additional incremental traffic.
Starbucks sells coffee, but technology drives that business and will be at the forefront of growth.
It's all about Mobile Order & Pay
One of the biggest challenges facing Starbucks is that many of its drinks take time to make. That can lead to long lines in stores, degrading the customer experience, and maybe causing some potential customers to simply walk past.
Mobile Order & Pay solves that problem and eliminates any backup at the cash registers. Customers can use their phones to place their order in advance, pay for it, then simply pick it up in the store.
It's an elegant system that I had the chance to test on a recent vacation (it's not rolled out near my Connecticut home yet) that makes stores more efficient, especially during peak traffic times.
"Mobile Order & Pay is enabling us to serve more customers more quickly and efficiently and to significantly reduce attrition off the line," Schultz said. "We are already seeing positive impact on operating results."
The CEO added that the service "is fueling both revenue and profit growth in every market in which it has been deployed, with customer adoption starting faster and accelerating with each new phase we roll out."
Rewards are key, too
Schultz also talked about another digital initiative, the company's My Starbucks Rewards program, which allows users to receive incentives like free food and drinks from making purchases. He said:
MSR continues to be one of our most important business drivers as new members contribute not only short-term increases in revenue and profit, but also to long-term loyalty for years to come. We now have 10.4 million active MSR members, up 28% from Q3 of 2014 with 6.2 million being Gold members, up 32% from Q3 last year.
The increase in Gold membership, which requires 30 purchases in a calendar year, shows that the the loyalty program is driving traffic to stores. MSR members now account for approximately 30% of total tender in North America, according to Schultz.
Mobile payment is rising, too
Starbucks' app also allows customers to pay using a smartphone either by linking a credit card or loading it with gift cards. That area of the business has been picking up as well, the CEO explained:
We have reached the milestone where mobile payments now represent 20% of all in-store transactions in our U.S. stores, more than double the figure from only two years ago, and we are now processing nearly 9 million mobile transactions each week.
Digital payment can not only speed up the line, but it may lead to customers spending more because it doesn't feel like spending money in the traditional sense.
It's all coming together
Schutlz believes all of the company's digital successes are related.
"Our plan all along has been to bring both our MSR membership and our digital capabilities to scale, and we are now there," he said. This will allow the company to:
...leverage the Starbucks brand, our deep engagement with customers, our global store footprint and our world leading mobile digital card and loyalty assets to create the foundation of a much broader external mobile digital and loyalty platform -- one that would extend to purchases and experiences outside of the four walls of the Starbucks store.
That's the real goal -- not just improving the in-store experience, but integrating Starbucks into its customers' live when they are not in the store. The company has begun doing that by offering programs that tie MSR into a variety of non-Starbucks rewards, including free music from Spotify and taxi-life services from Lyft.
The coffee chain is well ahead of most of its competitors, but it still has a ways to go in developing its digital future. Schultz seems committed to doing whatever it takes to make that happen.


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Business News›bullion features
Conversion of physical gold to electronic gold will not attract capital gains tax: Budget 2023
Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) are instruments that represent gold in electronic form and are notified as securities with trading, clearing, and settlement features that are comparable to other securities already offered in India.
Hyderabad gets India's first real-time Gold ATM
The ATM has a capacity of storing 5kgs of gold. There are 8 available options for the quantity of gold starting from 0.5 grams to 100 grams.
Gold rate today: Yellow metal trades flat ahead of inflation data; silver holds Rs 61,000
Gold is seen as a hedge against inflation, which rising rates aim to tackle, thereby diminishing the metal's appeal. Higher interest rates also make other assets more attractive compared with non-interest-bearing bullion.
MMTC-PAMP to expand footprint in southern cities
The brand also plans to open 15 wholly-owned retail stores in the region over the next three years
BSE ready with technology for launching electronic gold receipts
Currently, India allows trading only in gold derivatives and Gold ETFs, unlike several other countries which have spot exchanges for physical trade in gold.
Kalyan Jewellers forays into digital gold spaceWith gold continuing to shine bright, and technology offering convenient solutions, Kalyan Jewellers Digital Gold powered by Augmont provides a safe, easy and reliable method of buying 24-Karat pure gold, digitally, a media release issued by Kalyan Jewellers said.
What happens to your gold jewellery in gold monetization scheme?The scheme was launched by the government in 2015 with an intention to put the idle gold stored by individuals in their homes and bank lockers to productive use. However, the scheme did not find many takers -one of the main reasons being what happens to the gold you deposit with the bank.
Mint Street's code word for devaluation in 1991: Hop, Skip and JumpC Rangarajan, who served as RBI governor and chairman of PM’s economic advisory council, recounts the anxiety in the lead-up to the actual measures in an interview with TOI . Excerpts:
Fed taper talk fears keep gold locked in tight rangeSpot gold edged 0.1% lower to $1,864.86 per ounce by 10:00 a.m EDT (1400 GMT), while US gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,868.70.
How the crypto legacy started: A mint-fresh tale of trade and the original dogecoinThe ducats minted by Venice from the 12th to the 19th centuries have a particular link with Kerala.
Did you say Bitcoin is better than gold? Eat crow nowWhile true believers still tout Bitcoin’s merits as a store of value akin to digital bullion, recent events show how controversial that view is.
10 things to know about India's new gold playbook: What's in it for you and the govt?The gold monetisation scheme was launched in 2015 with the aim of turning unused gold lying idle in India’s households into a productive asset.
Gold’s powerful rally has bulls setting their sights on $1,800Since getting caught in a wave of forced selling, gold has staged a powerful recovery.
Gold’s been on a tear this year and 2020 may see more rewardBullion is heading for the biggest annual advance since 2010.
HZL’s Pantnagar silver refinery added to ‘London Good Delivery’ listHZL's silver refinery is India's third refinery and the only private sector refinery to be listed on LBMA.
Sovereign gold bonds open; 10 things you must know before investing in themThe scheme is aimed at unlocking 20,000 tonnes of the precious metal lying idle in households and temples, whose worth is estimated at around $800 billion.
Currency ban: I-T department alert against doubtful cash, bullionThey said the I-T department is "working" on reports of some heavy sale made in the bullion market in western states last night.
SBI to tie-up with MMTC to sell Indian gold coinsSBI said it is in the process of entering into agreement with MMTC, the state-run bullion trader.
Fifth tranche of Sovereign Gold Bond expected to cross Rs 820 croreThese numbers are likely to go-up further as the receiving offices are still in the process of uploading information of huge rush of applications received on the last day.
Flipkart-owned Myntra all set to diversify into home furnishing, personal care segmentMyntra had restricted its presence to apparel and accessories, but will now take on focused players in the space such as Urban Ladder, Pepperfry, Nykaa and Bluestone.
Gold Monetisation Scheme receives a warm welcomeIt would allow people to deposit gold with banks and redeem it at the end of the tenure at the price prevailing then.
Industry hails Gold Monetisation & Sovereign Gold Bond schemesThe industry welcomed the government's approval of Gold Monetisation and Sovereign Gold Bond schemes saying it will give a positive boost to the industry.
Gold rush on Akshaya Tritiya - make haste, slowlyThe outlook for gold is not optimistic and there could be more pain in store. The key factor working against gold is the imminent rate hike.
Fake currency: How central banks like RBI normally approach the problem of counterfeitsThis election a lot of the black money that changed hands may have been fake. But counterfeits may not matter to RBI in the larger scheme of things.
Gold price-fixing scandal: UK's FCA scrutinises $20 trillion gold marketEvery business day in London, five banks meet to set the price of gold in a ritual that dates back to 1919.
Gold drops from record high; silver falls 7%Gold retreated from its all-time record high at the domestic bullion market today and sinked to Rs 31,520 per 10 gram on hectic speculative sell-off from stockists and investors amid bearish global cues, as well as recovery in rupee.
10 facts that will give you a better understanding about goldAnd, in case you didn’t cash in on the tumble in prices earlier this week, fret not: the gold story isn’t over.Load More
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The newest affordable Nokia Lumia smartphone is finally here in the Philippines. The Nokia Lumia 530 is currently one of the most affordable Windows phone that you can get right now. It runs on the latest Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia cyan OS and it now packs a faster Quad-core processor.
Nokia Lumia 530 Specifications
- 1.2 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 200 processor
- 4.0″ FWVGA LCD
- 512MB RAM
- 4GB storage with MicroSD card slot up to 128GB
- 5 MP Rear Camera
The Nokia Lumia 530 Dual Sim is now available for P4,990.


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- A terrible PMI reading prompted a massive slide in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) on Friday.
- Stock market bulls appear to have underestimated the effect of the coronavirus on the U.S. economy.
- Donald Trump’s phase one deal with China looks unlikely to be fulfilled, posing a significant risk to the Dow Jones.
The Dow Jones was hammered on Friday after a horrific U.S. PMI reading bludgeoned a stock market already vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak and lingering uncertainty around the presidential election.
Adding to investor angst was the fact that China can activate the get-out clause in Donald Trump’s phase one deal, heightening the risk of another trade war escalation.
Dow Jones Dives as Awful PMI Hints at Imminent U.S Recession
Minutes before the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had plunged 282.33 points or 0.97% to 28,937.65.
The Nasdaq fell the hardest – more than 2% – and the S&P 500 lost around 1.2%.
A clear risk-off day in the commodity sector saw crude oil tumble more than 0.8%, while the price of safe-haven gold soared more than 1.7%.
U.S. bonds confirmed the massive move from risk. The 30-year Treasury note yield plummeted to 1.892%, an all-time low.
Friday brought a batch of terribly concerning U.S. economic statistics, as PMI data indicated the first contraction in business activity since the financial crisis.
Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, blamed the unfolding health crisis in Asia and the upcoming election in November.
The deterioration in was in part linked to the coronavirus outbreak, manifesting itself in weakened demand across sectors such as travel and tourism, as well as via falling exports and supply chain disruptions.
However, companies also reported increased caution in respect to spending due to worries about a wider economic slowdown and uncertainty ahead of the presidential election later this year.
The reading will likely be alarming to Dow bulls, as it indicates that a recession may be about to strike the United States economy.
But some economists are taking a more optimistic view, as the following soundbite from Capital Economics research demonstrates:
We have a hard time believing the apparent message from the IHSMarkitPMI that the economy is on the brink of a recession.
Unless job creation and consumer confidence suddenly craters, it’s difficult to see how the new downside risks that have emerged in recent months would be enough to sink the entire economy.
Analysts’ confidence in U.S. consumer strength has been a common theme for some time, but recent evidence has shown that retail activity is not matching sentiment.
Stock Market Beware: Trump’s Phase One Deal May Be Dead
An elevated U.S. stock market has more to worry about than the basic economic impact of the coronavirus. The knock-on effect poses a serious political threat to the relationship between the Trump administration and Beijing.
As turmoil roils the Chinese mainland, Donald Trump’s much-vaunted “phase one” trade deal is unlikely to be fulfilled, as Nordea Research’s Andreas Steno Larsen warns:
The Phase 1 deal is dead as it looks right now. The last sentence in the deal says that they will renegotiate in event of “force majeure.”
The big question is if Trump’s advisers will dare to communicate that before November 2020? We doubt it. A trade war 2.0 showdown looks likely for 2021.
This should undoubtedly be troubling for the Dow Jones over the long term. Yet the more immediate impacts of the coronavirus on China’s economy and the rise of Bernie Sanders will make it hard for investors to look beyond what could be a volatile few months for global stock markets.
WHO Worries Window to Contain Coronavirus Is Closing
The World Health Organization (WHO) is watching the virus with trepidation, stating today that the window to contain the outbreak is closing. And that most nations are not acting fast enough.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, stressed his concern about the increase in transmissions of the coronavirus in people with no history of China travel.
Dow Stocks: China Exposure Smashes Tech, Walmart & McDonald’s Shine
On a very shaky day for the Dow 30, it was unsurprising to see domestic defensive play Walmart rally more than 0.65%.
Confirming the flight out of growth, restaurant giant McDonald’s ticked 0.2% higher.
It was not such a good day for two of the Dow Jones’ biggest stocks. Apple lost more than 2.8%, while Boeing slid around 1.55%.
But even they weren’t as ugly as Microsoft, whose stock dove more than 3.7%.
Nike, with its incredibly China-centric business model, fell more than 2.7%.
This article was edited by Josiah Wilmoth.


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2018 Mclaren 650S Review – McLaren 650S has actually just been with us given that 2014 but a replacement is currently in the works, as evidenced by a prototype spotted in the wild. The look of the prototype is not a complete surprise as the 2018 Mclaren 650S is, in fact, an upgrade of the 12C, which dates back to 2010. We’re expecting the brand-new design, codenamed the Mclaren P14, to debut in 2017, as a 2018 model. It’s possible we see the automobile as early as the 2017 Geneva auto show next March.
2018 Mclaren 650s Review
The Mclaren P14 will be initially of 15 brand-new models under McLaren’s Track22 service plan announced at the 2016 Geneva car show. It won’t be a true next-generation vehicle as it will miss out on the brand-new carbon fiber tub and powertrain hinted at by McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt in May.
Instead, the Mclaren P14 will stick with McLaren’s existing carbon fiber tub and twin-turbocharged V-8 discovered in the 2018 Mclaren 650S and most of the car manufacturer’s other designs. There will be some differences, though. For instance, try to find tweaks to the tub similar to those used to enhance ease of access in the Sports Series, such as the larger door opening and lower sills. Efficiency will also be enhanced to further increase the space between the Super and Sports Series designs. In this regard, try to find improvements in power and aerodynamics. The Mclaren P14 is also expected to introduce the next evolutionary step of McLaren’s style language. Style employer Frank Stephenson has actually previously stated the cars and truck will have a more extreme look than even the P1. Another major modification will occur in the cabin, which is anticipated to adopt a brand-new, more instinctive design.
Beyond the Mclaren P14, we can eagerly anticipate a convertible being contributed to the Sports Series variety. There’s also believed to be a high-end model code-named the P15 in the works. The P15 is indicated to fill deep space in between the top Super Series model (675LT) and entry-level Ultimate Series model (P1).


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Ford Motor Co. could shut its Maumee Stamping Plant as early as September, months ahead of a 2008 closing the company announced last fall.
A company spokesman said no closing date has been decided.
Bob Smotherman, president of United Auto Workers Local 1892, said the closing could occur by fall. The 800,000-squarefoot building has about 375 hourly workers and 40 salaried workers, but all but 70 of the hourly workers have accepted some of the 38,000 buyouts the firm offered nationally, officials said.
The future of the plant is unknown, but UAW officials told The Blade two months ago that the workforce would be down to minimal levels by September.
The factory makes bumper and vehicle body panels.
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Report: Amazon wants proof of purchase from sellers
Amazon is trying to curtail counterfeit products on its website by requiring sellers to undergo a more rigorous vetting process before listing their products online, according to PYMNTS.com. According to the website, Amazon is now requiring sellers to pay a fee, which can be as high as $1,500, and provide purchase invoices from a handful of manufacturers and distributors before being able to sell the products on its website. (PYMNTS.com)
Kroger in 2017 to celebrate 30 years supplying Kentucky Derby’s annual Garland of Roses
CINCINNATI – In celebration of Kroger's 29-year history of providing the Kentucky Derby's annual Garland of Roses, the company released a new video Friday that showcases the 'Journey of the Roses' – from a Rainforest Alliance-certified grower in Bogota, Columbia to the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs– and highlights the humanity and passion embedded in every step along the way.
"We are committed to conscientiously driving sustainability and innovation into our supply chain," stated Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Kroger's director of sustainability. "We are honored to support the Kentucky Derby, and our partnerships with the Rainforest Alliance and Passion Growers ensure that the flowers used to create the iconic Garland of Roses are produced responsibly."
Kroger supplier Passion Growers produces the "Freedom" roses featured in the garland on their farm in Bogota, Columbia. The roses – which are Rainforest Alliance certified based on Passion Growers' ongoing commitment to their employees and a sustainable environment – are transported directly to Louisville, where a team of master florists stands ready at a local Kroger store to hand-sew more than 400 roses onto the garland.
This annual process, which takes place on the eve of the Kentucky Derby, can last up to 12 hours and is open for the public to watch.
Kroger has been the official florist of the famous garland since 1987. The Kentucky Derby, also referred to as the "Run for the Roses", is the most famous horse race in America. Filled with history and tradition, the race attracts over 150,000 spectators annually. The Garland of Roses, which is presented to the derby winner, is one of the world's most-recognized floral arrangements.


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The 2012 Olympics spurred on more people than ever to get active - but it's legacy isn't just about sporting greatness.
Preston Park in Stockton was recently given eighty costumes worn by actors in the Olympic opening ceremony, which it has been putting to good use to help bring it's Victorian street to life.
More top news
Plans to stop the Teesside super-hospital project seen temperatures rising among politicians and campaigners.
Birds of Paradise is a tribute to the elegance of feathers used by fashion industry giants like Alexander McQueen Christian Dior and Gucci.
School boy, Dylan Cosgrove is backing Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue's bonfire safety campaign after a firework prank went horribly wrong.


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Spring, Texas – In-N-Out Burger just announced their new Willowbrook location is officially open, as of Sept. 4.
The location was first announced in April 2019 and has been much anticipated since. Their newest location at 7611 FM 1960 W., Houston will feature a drive-thru, covered patio with outdoor seating for 42 guests and an indoor dining space for up to 74 guests, according to a press release from In-N-Out.
The press release also stated the company will be hiring 80 associates to join their team at the new location. Wages start at $13 per hour. You can learn more about employment opportunities here.
The new location, along will all other In-N-Out restaurants are open Sunday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and Friday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.
In-N-Out is a regional fast food chain with locations primarily in the Southwest and Pacific Coast. The California-based eatery serves fresh, never frozen 100% American beef patties, fresh, hand-cut french fries, and shakes with real ice cream. To view their menu, click here.
Photo credit: sota, Flickr


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The killing of 22 people at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) store last month led to new demands that the world’s largest retailer stop selling firearms at its thousands of U.S. stores. After a month of deliberation, CEO Doug McMillon announced Tuesday that the company would stop selling some kinds of ammunition and take other steps to “make the country safer.”
The memo to company employees also noted the killing of two Southaven, Mississippi, Walmart employees later on the same day (August 3) as the mass shooting in El Paso and Walmart’s previous decisions to limit sales of handguns and military-style semi-automatic rifles to persons over the age of 21, to require a “green light” response to a federal background check rather than required absence of a “red light,” to videotape points of sale for firearms, and to allow only trained staff to sell firearms.
McMillon said that once Walmart sells its existing stock of .223 caliber and 5.56 mm ammunition it will no longer sell short-barrel rifle ammo. He noted that in addition to this type of ammunition’s use in hunting rifles, it is also used in large-capacity magazines on military-style weapons. The company also will stop selling handgun ammunition once existing supplies are exhausted, and it will discontinue handgun sales in Alaska, the last state in which the company still sells the weapons.
The company’s share of U.S. ammunition sales will drop from around 20% to a range of 6% to 9% as a result of these changes McMillon said.
Walmart is also “respectfully requesting” that customers no longer carry firearms openly in Walmart or Sam’s Club stores, even in states where open-carry is legal. Of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, only six ban open carrying of a handgun (California, the District of Columbia, Florida, New York and South Carolina) and only seven ban open carrying of long guns (rifles and shotguns): California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Jersey), according to data from the Giffords Law Center.
McMillon said that Walmart is exploring ways to share its proprietary firearms sales technology platform with other retailers to assist them in selling firearms “in a responsible, compliant manner.”
The company is also urging the Trump administration and Congress “to move forward and strengthen background checks and to remove weapons from those who have been determined to pose an imminent danger.” Calling firearms control “a complex situation lacking a simple solution,” McMillon said Walmart is “trying to take constructive steps to reduce the risk that events like [those in El Paso, Southaven, and Odessa, Texas] will happen again.
Tuesday’s announcement won’t have much impact on the sale of firearms in the United States. Walmart last month estimated that it sells about 2% of the country’s firearms.


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In all plans to expand its venture, Starbucks announced on Tuesday, that it would make Starbucks deliver available throughout the US in early 2020 in collaboration with Uber Eats. The first Starbucks program was piloted in Miami and has since expanded in 11 markets.
According to a press release, the companies have announced to collaborate on “innovation and technology integration.” The partnership will help both the companies to focus on the delivery packaging, in-store operation and providing the courier in time.
We are driven to create new and unique digital experiences that are meaningful, valuable, and convenient for our customers. Partnering with Uber Eats helps us take another step towards bringing Starbucks to customers wherever they are – Roz Brewer, group president, and chief operating officer for Starbucks
Starbucks’s partnership with Uber Eats will do its global delivery service outside of China while reaching out to all those customers other than those customers for whom Starbucks is a morning afternoon routine.
The Starbucks delivery is available via the Uber Eats mobile app on iOS and Android while tracking the progress and location of their courier. Starbucks has also developed good packaging to keep the temperature managed according to the menu taken.
Since 1971 the company has been committed towards its service with more than 30,000 stores around the globe. It is still trying to enhance its experience.


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4 eCommerce Trends to Look Out for in 2021
Updated January 8, 2021
2021 is upon us. For e-commerce brands and marketers alike, it’s an exciting time of the year — a fresh start after a busy (and likely stressful) Q4 season.
Undoubtedly, 2021 will be unlike any other year we’ve experienced. That being said, recognizing and preparing for emerging trends will help brands and advertisers adjust and execute their marketing strategies accordingly.
Despite all of the craziness, 2021 can still be a killer year.
Read on for the e-comm trends you need to be aware of going into the new year.
4 e-commerce trends to look out for in Q1 2021 and beyond.
1. Higher competition online
This is a big one. Because of the pandemic, a lot of shopping has shifted from in-store to online. In fact, according to consumer research, 52% of adults plan to spend less time in stores, or visit stores less frequently, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of that, 33% of those who weren’t purchasing online regularly prior to the outbreak plan to spend more time shopping online after the outbreak.
What does this mean for your digital strategy? Well, the competition online will continue to increase. As a result, expect higher-than-normal cost-per-clicks (CPC), especially compared to previous years.
2. More frequent promotions (and way earlier, too)
With increased competition, e-commerce brands will need to do more to set themselves apart from their competitors. For this reason, expect to see a lot of promotions throughout 2021. This certainly isn’t unusual for larger holidays (e.g. Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, etc.), but we anticipate more promotions than ever before.
Additionally, with less people shopping in-stores, it’s likely that big retailers will shift a lot of their in-store promotions to an online format. Be on the lookout for more frequent giveaways and doorbusters happening online.
Not only will there be more promos this year, they will also show up a lot earlier, too.
In fact, in Q4 2020, Hilding Anderson, head of retail strategy at Publicis Sapient, said “Amazon’s Prime Day (in October) marks the earliest start of the full assortment holiday shopping season in 50 years, as COVID permanently reshapes the holiday calendar.”
At the end of 2020, big retailers like Walmart, ASOS, and Best Buy offered customers Black Friday deals as early as October.
With limited in-store shopping and higher competition online, e-comm retailers will be eager to capitalize on holiday-related spending as early as possible.
3. An increased emphasis on unique & engaging creative
On and leading up to major holidays, users’ social feeds are often inundated with ads. For this reason, it’s crucial that e-comm brands create and utilize fresh and engaging creative to grab peoples’ attention.
Especially on Facebook and Instagram, higher click-through rates (CTR) mean cheaper cost-per-clicks (CPC). This is especially important during times of higher competition.
With overcrowded social platforms, now’s a good time to diversify and stay top-of-mind with an omni-channel approach.
Vibrant (and festive) colors sprinkled in with some eye-catching animations will also go a long way in Q1 2021 and beyond. Don’t let users miss your unbeatable deals because your ads blend in to their feed.
4. The continued importance of AI-powered strategies
The rise of machine learning has taken e-commerce digital marketing by storm in the last few years. More and more, e-commerce advertisers are relying on machine learning to optimize campaigns in the moment.
Our two cents? Embrace machine learning, because it’s not going anywhere.
On Google, don’t hesitate to test Target ROAS, Smart Shopping, and Smart Display. As an added benefit, these smart campaigns are incredibly easy to set up.
On Facebook, use Campaign Budget Optimization (CBO) to let their algorithm do the heavy lifting when it comes to allocating budgets across ad sets. With the extra competition, 2021 will also be the perfect time to embrace Targeting Expansion and Automatic Placements to get in front of additional eyeballs.
But keep in mind that AI-powered features always have a learning phase, so implement these at least two weeks before peak sales or holidays, just to be safe.
It’s never too late to adjust your e-commerce strategy and embrace trends in the digital world. And with COVID-19 expected to last well into 2021, these trends are here to stay.
Looking for more e-commerce insight? Download our free resource, How to Put Together a Successful Social Ad Campaign for E-Commerce.
Perfect Search is your partner in everything e-commerce. Our team are experts in paid search, social media and display advertising, and more! Contact us today for a free, comprehensive site and strategy audit.
Quinn, a Notre Dame alum, hails from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (A.K.A. BROconomowoc, A.K.A. The Real OC). Though he’s not afraid to admit that he wants to swim in a pool of spaghetti noodles, his guilty pleasures are shower beers and The Bachelor.


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Both brick-and-mortar and online businesses can now charge up to 4 percent of the transaction cost.
They've always had to pay a fee to the credit card companies. But after a settlement with those companies, they can pass the fee along.
"There has to be a sign conspicuously displayed indicating that they do surcharge, then at the cash register and on your receipt they have to clearly disclose what the surcharge is," said Adam Levin, Credit.com.
This applies only to credit cards, not debit cards.
Some big chains have already said they won't charge the fee.


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Google Cloud has announced Google Workspace, a new brand identity for its integrated product experience that brings together messaging, meetings, docs, and tasks. Google Workspace is essentially a transformation of G Suite, with additional features.
Google had announced a unified experience to create, communicate, and collaborate in July this year as the ‘new normal’ redefined office experience. The Google Workspace is that collaboration experience that works whether you’re in an office, working from home, or in the field.
It brings together core tools from Google like chat, email, voice and video calling, and content management into a single, unified experience. There’s also new features like linked previews, smart chips in Docs, Sheets, and Slides (when you @mention someone in a document, a popup will display details providing context), document creation in rooms, as well as picture-in-picture for Meet across Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
According to Google, more than 2.6 billion users choose to use Google’s productivity and collaboration apps every month and there are more than 6 million paying Google Workspace business customers.
Google Workspace is now generally available to all Google Workspace business customers and will roll out to consumers in the coming months. Google Workspace will also come to education and non-profit customers in the coming months.
The new brand identity too will roll out in the coming weeks and users will see new four-color icons for Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Meet, and tools like Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
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Prices could surge as much as 44 percent by the end of the year in a prediction made by Robert McEwen, one of the gold’s industry’s most unabashed bulls due to confidence in the economy buckling, he said.
We could see metal trading in a range of $1,700 an ounce to $1,900 by the end of 2016 as uncertainty builds around the stability of global currencies and sovereign debt. “Record-low global interest rates will cause a huge amount of anxiety for investors, who will turn to gold as a store of value and an alternative asset.” McEwen said.
McEwen went on to say on Tuesday in an interview at a gold conference in Colorado Springs “Gold is a currency that doesn’t have a liability attached to it”. In the past the big argument against gold used to be it costs you money to store it. Right now, it’s costing you money to store your cash.
McEwen is gambling big on gold. As the chief executive officer of his eponymous company, he’s paid $1 a year and doesn’t receive bonuses, betting that his share holdings will reap him ample rewards. He’s doing this at a time when many gold executives are treading curiously over the metal’s recent comeback as the wounds still feel fresh from the bear market that started in 2013.
This isn’t the first time that McEwen has made bold predictions for prices he expects bullion could reach $5,000 in just four years. He gave the same outlook in 2011 less than five months before gold peaked and then plunged as much as 46 percent to a five-year low reached in December 2015.
“Gold is a currency that doesn’t have a liability attached to it”
This time, McEwen expects a number of catalysts, from the U.S. election to instability at banks, could make his prediction come to fruition.


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Cashless transactions rise to N395tn
According to new data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, cashless transactions in Nigeria increased by 42.05 percent to N395.47 trillion in 2022.
According to the new data, Nigerians used cashless payment methods to process N117.07tn more than the N278.39tn processed in 2021.
The total amount processed on the Nigeria Instant Payment System and Point of Sales terminals in 2022 was N395.47tn, which is how cashless transactions are recorded on the NIBSS.
This continued Nigeria's growing adoption of electronic payment channels, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. NIP transactions totaled N387.08 trillion during the period, while PoS transactions totaled N8.39 trillion.
Total NIP transactions in 2021 were N271.96 trillion, with PoS transactions totaling N6.43 trillion. December had the highest number of e-payments in the two periods under consideration. In December 2022, NIP and PoS transactions totaled N42.03 trillion and N826.30 billion, respectively.
NIP and PoS transactions totaled N30.26tn and N699.75bn in December 2021, respectively. According to the NIBSS's 'Instant Payments - 2020 Annual Statistics' report, the pandemic altered the country's e-Payments landscape and accelerated the adoption of instant payments, with more people using electronic channels for funds exchange.
With a new Central Bank of Nigeria favoring cashless transactions, the growth of e-payment is expected to continue in 2023.
The apex bank's new 'Naira Redesign Policy - Revised Cash Withdrawal Limits' is intended to reduce cash transactions. With a weekly withdrawal limit (without penalties) of N500,000 for individuals and N5m for corporations, cash transactions in the country are expected to slow.
It stated that "customers should be encouraged to conduct their banking transactions through alternative channels (Internet banking, mobile banking apps, USSD, cards/POS, eNaira, etc.)."
According to a recent Mastercard survey, 91% of Nigerians use digital platforms to conduct financial transactions.
The report titled 'Financial Inclusion - Connecting People to Finance, Health, and Education' said, "There is now a greater awareness of mobile money, combined with a broader diversification in its uses. Consumers are increasingly willing to use mobile money for purposes other than transactions.
"They are using credit, savings, and insurance products; in many cases, mobile money is being used to receive payments for services or products. Consumers are also using mobile money to pay bills and buy products."


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By David Randall
NEW YORK, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Buyers are intently watching U.S. retail shares as a barometer of shopper confidence as inflation bites, as an important purchasing season of the 12 months begins on Friday.
Shopper discretionary shares, measured by the S&P 500 Shopper Discretionary sector – the group of corporations that profit from spending on retail, eating places, and holidays – are down 32% for the 12 months to this point, greater than double the 15.5% decline within the broad S&P 500, as shoppers have been walloped by surging inflation and the swiftest enhance in rates of interest because the Nineteen Seventies.
“These shares are a clue as to how briskly the economic system is slowing and whether or not slowing inflation is lifting confidence on Fundamental Road,” stated Jim Paulsen, chief funding strategist on the Leuthold Group.
U.S. shopper costs rose at a slower tempo than economists anticipated in October, pushing the annual enhance under 8% for the primary time in eight months and serving to spark a rally within the broad U.S. inventory market on hopes that inflation had lastly peaked after hovering close to 40-year highs.
General, the Nationwide Retail Federation, a commerce group, forecasts that vacation gross sales, together with e-commerce, will rise between 6% and eight% to between $942.6 billion and $960.4 billion throughout November and December. That might are available in under each the 13.5% bounce reported final 12 months, and the 9.3% achieve in 2020.
Retailers, in the meantime, started working unusually early reductions this 12 months to entice buyers.
Goal Corp, Kohls Corp, and Amazon.com Inc ran so-called early Black Friday offers – the time period for the day after the Thanksgiving vacation – that discounted toys and another items by as a lot as 50%.
These corporations didn’t reply to remark for this story.
But even with steep reductions, shoppers will nonetheless should spend extra for well-liked merchandise like a PJ Masks toy automobile or Mattel Inc’s Mega Hauler semi-truck as a result of costs have risen quicker than promotions, in response to knowledge supplied by DataWeave.
Mattel didn’t reply to a request to remark.
The makes an attempt to lure buyers comes because the closely-followed College of Michigan shopper sentiment ballot was revised up Wednesday to as much as 56.8 from 54.7, beating the consensus expectation of 55.0 however nonetheless under the 59.9 index degree from October. Expectations for buying long-lasting manufactured items fell 21% as a consequence of excessive rates of interest and excessive costs, the survey discovered.
“The sentiment knowledge has been sliding sideways as shoppers attempt to reconcile stable financial and labor market circumstances in opposition to expectations of a recession and dangerous inflation,” stated Thomas Simons, an economist at Jefferies LLC.
Retailers have struggled to shift their choices as shoppers absolutely emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, leaving some corporations slowed down with extra stock.
Walmart Inc, for example, lifted its annual gross sales and revenue forecast as demand for groceries was anticipated to carry up regardless of increased costs. Goal, in the meantime, forecast a shock drop in holiday-quarter gross sales.
Shares of Walmart are up 7.5% for the month to this point, whereas shares of Goal are down 1.2%.
Division retailer Macy’s Inc raised its annual revenue forecast final week. Shares of the corporate are up practically 12% month-to-date. Kohl’s, in the meantime, withdrew its forecast because it faces weakening demand as a consequence of rising costs. Shares of the corporate are up 6.7% month-to-date.
Walmart, Macy’s and Kohl’s didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
(Reporting by David Randall Modifying by Nick Zieminski)